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Inosuke was sitting in one of the recovery beds in the Butterfly Mansion, with Shinobu sitting on a chair beside him, cleaning a large cut on his arm.
The exact causes of his injuries during the Hashira training, Shinobu doesn’t really care for anymore, probably due to the abundance of them. Though, if she had to guess, this one was probably from him being stupid enough to challenge the Wind Hashira. Again.
“You really shouldn’t be so reckless with your own body, Inosuke-kun. At this rate you’ll get permanently injured.”
“But I need to get stronger! As strong as that big, blind man! Especially if we are going to fight the demon king soon!”
Sigh
“Well, you won’t be able to fight him if you’re too injured.”
She must have sounded somewhat angry or irritated saying that, because she could tell he was getting slightly nervous. Inosuke gets nervous whenever she reprimands him ever since she had to scold him for breaking through one of the mansion’s windows.
“I’m not angry, Inosuke-kun, I’m just worried about you.”
Worried.
That’s what Inosuke is when he sees other slayers embark on missions. Worried that they’re not strong enough, and will get killed.
Worried is what he is when he and his friends come across a strong demon. He doesn’t show it, but he’s worried that he isn’t strong enough to kill that demon and protect his friends.
Is Shinobu worried that he might not be strong enough for the upcoming battle? Impossible. She knows how powerful the great Inosuke is. This reminded him of a conversation he had with Tanjiro a while ago.
Inosuke and Tanjiro had been recovering from a recent mission, but were well enough to walk around, so Shinobu made them go to a nearby village to run some errands. Mostly just buying groceries and other goods for the mansion.
On their way back, they witnessed a man, probably in his 30’s getting scolded by an older lady. Inosuke was staring confusedly at the scene before them.
“Hey Gonpachiro, why is that man letting that old lady be angry at him?”
“I assume because that lady is his mother, and she seems to be worried about him.”
“So? That man is clearly old enough to take care of himself!”
“No matter how old, strong or smart someone may be, their mother will never stop worrying about them.”
“Why?”
“I think it comes naturally. That motherly instinct, to want what’s best for your child, and to make sure they’re doing okay.”
So even though that man should be able to take care of himself, his mother still worries about him, because she’s his mother. But that just raised another question for Inosuke.
“Sometimes when we get back from a mission, Aoi gets angry and says I made her worried. Why is she worried about me when she’s not a mother and she knows I’m strong?”
“That’s different, Inosuke. Aoi-san is someone who worries quickly about others in general, though she might be extra worried when it comes to you actually.”
Tanjiro chuckled lightly after saying that. What was so funny about that?
“Huh? Why?”
“Well, I don’t know for certain, but I think she really likes you.”
“Like you and Nezuko?”
“No, no! Nezuko is my family. The love you feel for your family is different. Love for your friends is different too. I think Aoi loves you romantically.”
So Aoi’s worried about him because she loves him, but not like family or like friends.
Why is Shinobu worried about him then?
She isn’t worried about him because she thinks he isn’t strong enough. She isn’t someone who in general gets worried about others very quickly like Aoi. She isn’t worried about him because she loves him romantically.
Does that mean Shinobu is naturally worried about him? Because it's an instinct for her? Because she wants what’s best for him, and wants to make sure he’s doing okay?
Like a mother?
Is Shinobu a mother?
Is Shinobu his mother?
Children listen to their mothers, no matter how old, strong or smart they are, because their mother is worried about them, and wants what’s best for them and wants to make sure they’re okay, so he should probably listen to Shinobu.
Inosuke takes his hat off in order to look at her properly, but is unable to meet her eyes. He turns his head to the other side of his bed, away from her, with a light, but to Shinobu, very visible blush on his face.
“Okay… I’ll try to be more careful from now on… if you want me to.”
She looks at him dumbfoundedly for a few seconds.
“I- … That- That’s great Inosuke-kun, I’m glad to hear that!”
As she finishes wrapping a bandage around the cut, he turns his head back around and looks at her with a shy expression that he definitely hasn’t shown anyone else before.
Shinobu can’t help but smile back. Not with the fake smile she usually wears on her face. With a real smile.