Work Text:
Hanamaru Gero, the world's oldest demon. The strongest too but he won’t bask in that title. Stuck at age 18, he’s learned a few things. One of the most important is that friends always come before yourself.
“Okay, if anything happens and someone needs to be brought back to life; just say my name and I’ll do the talking! By that I mean I’ll read your mind!” The tall white haired demon snickers as he runs away.
This was said a couple years back, in time of urgency, the name slips their tongues until it’s too late.
Just like now. With Mitsuri, Obanai, and Gyomei dead after the battle with Muzan, the others can live peacefully. Well until Sanemi and Giyuu reach 25, their lives still get cut short. After their death, the others can live a normal and happy life.
Hanamaru died at the hands of Muzan’s selfish traits and his own selfless personality. He took a fatal blow to his head, sending a garden of blue Lilies in his death. Unlike other demons, his body didn’t turn to dust, he simply became one with the earth. The way Gyomei told him was the best way to go.
Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke, and Zenitsu all live up in the mountains again, far far away from people. Uzui is having a nice retirement with his baby, Azukimaru. The name was a send off to the person who helped him most in life, the one who would heal a wound if only given permission first. The sight is horrendous, a missing hand and eye but he still never asked, so he never received.
///\\\
It’s been two years now and Tengen wakes up to a cold sweat. The voice of Hanamaru rings through his skull, shattering as he wakes up.
You can trust me with anything, I’ll be right there to fix it. Scars are going to be left behind, but I can't stop battle trophies. They show bravery and I’m afraid of taking that away! Are you okay with me walking away from you? Say my name and I’ll be back to fix anything you ask of me!
He quickly stumbles out of his shared room and makes it to the prayer room. Tengen has never been too much of a believer, but he decided to keep it up after Gyomei sacrificed himself. He silently kneels down onto his knees, and puts his head on the ground.
“Hanamaru… fix this. Fix it all. Every single piece missing from our hearts, mend those cracks. Give everyone a spot on this planet. Even the families they do rightfully deserve. Bring back the Kamado family and Inosuke’s mom. Zenitsu's brother needs to be back as a human and all the demons deserve a life of living as normal humans. Bring Gyomei back with those orphan kids and Shinobu and Kanae so they can hug their sisters again. Bring Genya and Sanemi and all their little siblings with their amazing mother. Bring Rengoku and his mom back and Obanai. Bring Lady Tamayo with her family and Mitsuri back to love hers. Muichiro and his brother deserve a place in all of our hearts with the mind to remember it. Giyuu and those three kids he talked about all the time, I want… no… I need them back. Master and his family should be reunited. Heal Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Me of these awful pains and loss of limbs.” Empty tears roll down his cheek as he sobs harder into the floor, attempting to become a puddle.
“Please Hanamaru… your flowers were pretty, but you were better. The real deal is better than the garden you left in the town… left forever in our hearts. Hanamaru, make everything normal again. I’m sorry I forgot your words and the beautiful name you get to call yours slipped my head. Let me make it up to you, all of you, that I care deeply and truly.” With the last of his words, he slowly picks himself back up and heads back to his wives.
Hanamaru, the white haired demon with ten blind eyes and powers of vengeance that were never used as such, finally heard his name called out. A sigh escapes him as he picks out the one blade riddled with the Kanji of his fallen father, the blood demon art he likes to call eternal death does quite the opposite, he slices a massive gash into his leg. A bite to the lip and a blood ceremony later, everyone is alive again and with their family. He changed the layout of everything, closer to each other's houses yet still far enough to keep distance and a town close by. He plasters a smile to himself as he watches the separate families soon fade to nothing to him. They’ll wake up in their respected houses, upgraded for only the best. Only his best friends, they deserve peace.
The next morning Zenitsu wakes up with zero pain in his hips, he slowly emerges from the cocoon of blankets and walks into the living area. There he spots a tanjiro with a fully moving left arm and a fully seeing left eye. Tanjiro reads out the beautiful letter they found on their kotetsu this morning.
“The names Hanamaru, I hope you didn’t forget me that fast! I know the last time anyone saw me I was blue lilies in the ground, but I have a special surprise at the main spot. Find me at the training arena! I’ll be waiting for everyone’s adorable little faces I sadly can’t see!” The letter ends with a drawing of Hanamaru’s crow that died with him the same night. The four get eager looks on their faces and quickly scramble to get stuff together.
Hanamaru has this all planned, each house is the same walking distance give or take to the training arena. The surprise would be exciting and nerve wracking all at once. But isn’t that the point of human biology? The demon wouldn’t know, only sighing as he waits for his human friends.
They all walk into the arena, spotting one another. The kid on Gyomei’s shoulder whispers the news into his ear. Hanamaru can only smile so wide as Tengen attacks him with a crippling bear hug.
A loud sob escapes the retired sound Hashira, “No fucking way. You actually did it! They're back! They’re all actually back!” Tears stream down the older male's face as he pushes himself away. A giggle erupts from the old demon.
Hanamaru just sighs with great fondness, “Tengen Uzui, previous sound hashira, remembers my name and my words. You did good. Never forget that.”
A group hug ensues with far more people than the last time they ever did this…
”Everybody! Group hug!” Rengoku shouted from the top of his lungs. The nine hashira and five bonus people gladly hugged, well except three people. Sanemi and Obanai. Giyuu was uncomfortable at most. The smiles and laughter combined made them come around eventually.
Gyomei clears his throat, “Why now? You could have done this sooner… could you not?” He cocks his head to the only other blind man in the group.
Hanamaru can only giggle as he recited his words he told with confidence before running off into the night, “Okay, if anything happens and someone needs to be brought back to life; just say my name and I’ll do the talking! By that I mean I’ll read your mind!” A wild smile breaks his lips as he laughs again.
The group leads to hanging out the whole week, not wanting to separate again. It was terrifying having them gone but they’re back again and that’s all that matters.
Rengoku, the man with the plan, loudly exclaims, “Why don’t we go to the springs? Calm ourselves down after being gone for a while!” The way Kyojuro words it makes it seem like they were on a long mission, and they finally came back. The group of boys and men nodded and a few of them raced. The water is hot, perfect for them.
There’s more men than ever before, and they could be more glad. Previously dead male family members and male demons are here to join the show.
Hanamaru plays with Gyomei’s hair as the man speaks, “I hope the ladies are nice with my girls. They’re scared of everything.” Hanamaru can only hum in response as he switches over to Tengen, attempting a poorly done braid.
Sanemi starts snickering, “The three biggest dudes are over here acting like wusses!” Gyomei has the urge to stand and show Sanemi who the real wuss is, but stays seated because he is naked like the rest.
“Oh please wusses don’t have massive dicks like we do! Where’s your Sanemi? Hiding?” A cackle escapes Tengen’s throat as both Hanamaru and Gyomei get a deep shade of red. They won’t know that they’re this color, only the other as they watch Gyomei’s hand go in front of his hips. The rest of the conversation proceeds to normal as they realize they can finally live. Live a life they dreamed about yet couldn’t believe would happen.
The happiest group of ex-Hashira, the world wouldn’t believe it was possible. But a demon towering at 6’11 proves one small fact everyone forgot.
He’s the living proof demons can be good.