Chapter Text
Even before the door opened, Zenitsu looked up from his laptop to smile brightly at the woman who just entered his office. “Aoi! It’s nice to see you!” He greeted cheerfully, happy to see the stern-faced woman regardless. He made a motion to stand up and greet her, saving the document he was just working on. “I was actually going to—”
Aoi held up a hand to stop him, already used to his lighthearted attempts to flirt with her. “Calm down, Zenitsu. I’m not here for a courtesy call; I have the files for your next patient.” She stated, causing the blonde-haired man to wither and resume his seat at his desk.
“Ah, I see…” Zenitsu trailed off, reaching a hand towards Aoi to accept the file. He had already been briefed on the general case of his incoming patient, but that didn’t stop the sad, shuddering breath that escaped him. “This is the…Kamado case, yes?”
Aoi’s strict face sombered, nodding solemnly. “Yeah,” She sighed, similarly feeling the pity that Zenitsu practically wafted. She watched him put the file down to regard her before she crossed her arms loosely, looking off to the side. “Entire family killed by a home intruder. The guy wasn’t even caught.” She seethed out, growing upset at the incompetent justice system that plagued their home town.
But then again, they lived in a relatively small town, all things considered. Settled near the mountainous forests, they were more recognized as a rural village with electricity by those that lived in the big city, to her internal chagrin. Small police force, small high school, small hospital. It was unfair that such large events had to have happened in their otherwise peaceful town.
Zenitsu shivered at the reminder, feeling his yellow streak climb up his spine. It was the news on everybody’s minds, and caused him to lose sleep for a week when he first heard of it; A strange man entered the house of a family that had just moved in from the province, slaughtering practically everyone. He could even recall the police pictures that flashed on the news that night, crying himself to sleep when he saw the stark blood that streaked the doors and the recognizably young faces that flashed on his TV screen.
The victims couldn’t have been more than ten years old.
The entire town had been on edge ever since, afraid that the killer was still roaming the streets and just prowling about for his next victims. However, a week, then two, then three had passed, and the entire town settled back into a wary normalcy.
Seeing Zenitsu’s brows furrow, his nose scrunch up, and his lower lip wobble, Aoi pursed her own lips. She recognized the telltale signs of Zenitsu about to burst into tears; it was a miracle that he never cried in front of his patients—doesn’t mean that he didn’t cry in front of anyone else though. True to her observation, the blonde sniffled as he reached for the handy box of tissues he kept by his table, taking a piece and wiping his eyes with them. “W-what were the specifics of the case again?” He sniffled, blowing into the tissue.
“Based on what her brother told us, she hasn’t spoken to anyone ever since…then.” She explained, recalling the worry-stricken tone that called the hospital over the phone. “She’s also been more withdrawn and anxious, but that’s to be expected.”
Zenitsu blinked in surprise at that, balling the used tissue up and throwing it away to the trash bin nestled underneath his desk. “Her brother?”
“The only other survivor aside from her.”
“Hm,” Zenitsu hummed, concern gracing his features. “Is he also going to be my patient?” He asked, only recalling one name and case being explained to him. Since they were siblings though, he would have understood if the hospital wanted them to have joint sessions and check-ups with him.
To his surprise though, Aoi shook her head, an equally worried emotion gracing her cobalt blue eyes. “He said he was fine, and that he was already talking to someone. He was mostly worried for his sister.”
Zenitsu frowned at that, cradling his chin in his hand and leaning back in his seat. “Is he the older brother?” That would explain the brother’s protectiveness over the other, but it may have also stemmed from both of them surviving—
“Oi!” Aoi called him back to attention, squinting at him. He gulped down his worry and tried to flash her a nervous, unassuming smile. No dice, as she pointed a finger at him and tsked. “Don’t go and get too attached to your patients again! Remember last time!”
He pouted at that, crossing his arms like a child and looking away. “Hmph, as far as I recall you don’t mind Inosuke either—”
“But still!” She reprimanded, her gaze softening to the blonde in front of her. Despite Zenitsu’s silliness and bad attempts at flirting, he really was kind, always willing to go the extra mile for his patients. “It’s nice how much you care for your patients, but you always get too attached to them. If you keep this up, Shinobu will—”
“I know, I know.” He sighed, running a hand through his choppy hair. “She’ll get mad, and say that I have to maintain a professional distance…although I don’t see what’s wrong with caring for them.”
For the first time since she’s entered the room, Aoi shot Zenitsu a genuine, soft smile. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Zenitsu.” She said, rolling her eyes good naturedly. “We just don’t want you beating yourself up too bad if things don’t…turn out.”
“Hmph, you’re saying as if I don’t deliver on my cases.”
“Don’t be dramatic. It’s just…a heavy case, y’know?” She reminded, then checked the clock hanging up in the room. “I gotta go; I still have to check in with Kanao.” She turned to move to the door, opening it for her to leave. However, before she left, she shot Zenitsu another smile and waved goodbye, the blonde returning it with his own lopsided grin.
Zenitsu pursed his lips as soon as Aoi left and he could hear her steps moving away, the desolate tale of his upcoming patient still on his mind. He picked up the file and turned it open, frown deepening as he saw a picture of a sweet looking girl smiling back at him. Pink, doeful eyes and long black hair framed her face, an innocence in her look that Zenitsu thought fit her. He checked the basic information listed down, committing them to memory.
Name: Nezuko Kamado, 20 years old
Blood Type: AB-
Familial Relations:
Tanjuro Kamado (Deceased)
Kie Kamado (Deceased)
Tanjiro Kamado
Takeo Kamado (Deceased)
Hanako Kamado (Deceased)
Shigeru Kamado (Deceased)
Rokuta Kamado (Deceased)
As he skimmed his eyes over each name, he could feel the familiar pricks of tears on the corners of his eyes. She and her brother weren't even older than him, and yet they had already suffered so much? His heart ached as he stared back at the sweet looking picture, smiling brightly at him.
He sighed and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose to try and keep himself steady, although his sympathy for the two only grew as he let out a shuddering breath.
As Zenitsu was in the middle of rearranging his files for the umpteenth time that day, he couldn’t help but feel the nervous energy climb up his spine. As a young doctor, he already had at least a handful of patients at his door, but none of them had ever had a story so...so tragic. He hoped he wouldn’t cry in front of them, and he cringed at the possibility of making his patients even more awkward than they must have already felt.
Aoi may have had a point yesterday; he did get too attached to his patients, too fast and too deeply. He hadn’t been at the hospital for very long, but more often than not he would try his hardest to help his patients; even going above and beyond what a doctor should normally do, landing him in hot water more often than not.
He would usually buckle after hearing a patient’s particularly sad story, even taking money from his own pocket in the rare instances that they said they couldn’t afford his services anymore. During one instance where a girl said she couldn’t afford her mother’s speech treatment anymore because her father had just died, he got chewed out by both Ms. Kanae and Shinobu, especially after they learned that the girl lied to them; her father was fine, and they did have enough to continue the treatments even without his help.
Suffice to say, their case was considered close and were promptly asked to leave the hospital.
Although, he had to admit, he was glad that his latest case, Hashibara Inosuke, ended with the two of them becoming genuine friends, even outside of hospital hours. One wouldn’t think so, with how often the two screeched at each, only for them to erupt into giggles and Zenitsu ignoring the soreness that rung from his sensitive ears thanks to Inosuke’s wild roaring.
That may have contributed to his efficiency of being a Speech Therapist, he’d like to believe.
With his acute hearing, even with the door to his office closed he could still hear the soft footfalls of the people passing by in the hallways outside. He could even pinpoint which footsteps belonged to who, if he was familiar enough with them.
The quick and steady footsteps belonged to Aoi, probably on her way to a decisive destination. She always knew where everyone and everything was, after all.
Similar steady footsteps walked behind hers, but with a gentler tone, her toes touching the ground first before her heels, a delicate nature to them. Kanao's footsteps, graceful but assured.
He could even hear the too quick, too loud, too heavy footsteps of Sanemi; the physical therapist of the hospital. His steps passed by swiftly, probably having just visited Ms. Shinobu at her office for his own files, heading back to attend to his patient.
Those were just a few of the sounds Zenitsu could hear behind his door, accompanied by muffled voices, the clattering of wheels against the tiled floors, people entering and leaving rooms. Ms. Kanae had been gracious enough to give him an office away from the main bustle of the hospital (With grateful tears streaming down his face all the while), but that didn't stop his ears from picking up every single noise that passed his vicinity.
His breath then hitched as he heard two pairs of footsteps stop outside of his office, but that wasn't what truly caught him off guard. No, that was the overwhelmingly clear, calm, kindest sound that emanated from the door.
He bit his lip nervously as he then stood up, hearing two knocks come from the door. But he was already standing up, quickly making his way across his office to open the door tentatively, his apprehension gone and just replaced with puzzlement and curiosity.
He choked back a gasp as that same, kind sound hit his ears, hitting him right in the heart. He came face to face with a man that looked to be the same age as him, expression staring back at him with the same incredulity he must have felt, red hair tousled and warm eyes widened. His hand was still raised halfway into the air, having just finished knocking on the door and surprised that it already opened immediately. The two stared into each other's eyes, blinking in surprise at the other's presence; even though both knew of the appointment, hence why they were even here. Zenitsu then heard a soft, curious sniffle, too feminine and quiet and scared to have come from the kind man in front of him.
It was then that Zenitsu noticed the girl standing behind the red-haired man, clinging on to his sleeve shyly. His heart ached as he recognized her as Nezuko Kamado, his patient for the day. Although, even with the same pink eyes and black hair, she looked vastly different from her picture. Her eyes had dark, heavy bags underneath them, and Zenitsu could see from the corner of his eye that the hand holding on to the redhead's sleeve had chipped, overbitten nails. But the most striking difference of all was her expression; brows were deeply furrowed, mouth set into a thin, strained frown as she clung unto her brother.
The three just stared at each other for a bit before the red head man opened his mouth to speak. "Ah, D-Dr. Agatsuma?" He asked, double checking the name plate on the door, Zenitsu's name embossed into the metal plaque.
Zenitsu blinked twice before clearing his throat, holding his hand out in what he hoped was a friendly manner. "Y-yes, that's me. But please, you can call me Dr. Zenitsu; it's nice to meet you."
The redhead's shoulders relaxed, gently taking Zenitsu's hand in both of his and giving it a soft shake in greeting. "I'm Tanjiro Kamado; thank you so much for helping us." He said, gratitude heavy on his tongue.
Zenitsu raised an eyebrow in surprise; they had just met, yet this guy was already thanking him so profusely? "Hm, right." Letting go of Mr. Kamado's hand, he then turned to Nezuko and gave her another smile, hopefully gentle and not at all nerve wracking. "And you must be Nezuko, right?"
Zenitsu expected her to give a soft nod of her head, a non-verbal confirmation to his query. Based on the written report, she hadn't said a word ever since her family died, so he wasn't really expecting much; he mostly wanted to gauge her awareness of her surroundings, and deem if she was at least ready for this. However, to his surprise she responded merely with a soft hum, the lilt in her voice showing a confirmatory tone.
Taking a mental note of that, and at least glad that she was aware enough to recognize her name, he stepped aside enough to let the two siblings in. "Please, come in.”