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Gyomei has to hold Muichiro. Rocking him softly and whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Repeating over again that he’s alright, that nothing bad is going to get him, safe in the stone pillars arms.
It’s the same pattern as always. It doesn’t make either feel better.
His caregiver nearly tripped coming into the room a few minutes prior. There’s a discarded bottle of milk tossed onto the ground, stuffed animals and blankets scattered about haphazardly.
Gyomei still believing that somehow it is his fault that the younger slayer is always so upset when regressed, shaming himself for not being a better guardian. He knows the little needs to be able to express himself, especially when he never does when he’s big. The crying and tantrums are fine, he can handle them mostly. It doesn’t stop him from wishing the younger was a little less self-destructive in the process. The amount of sleep they are both now lacking is growing to be concerning.
Muichiro once again crashing so small and feeling terrible about it. Terrible about the fact that he’s overwhelmed by every small thing, to the point that all he can do is wail until his caregiver comes to hold him.
Eventually he takes a soother that’s offered to him by the elder pillar. It helps the little calm down further.
“There you go little one. You’re alright.”
Muichiro sniffles. He doesn’t feel alright. He feels icky and wrong, but doesn’t know how to say any of that. He presses his face into Gyomei’s chest, intent to hide there until he feels better.
He listens to his caregiver’s heartbeat, to the sound of his chuckling softly.
“Tired?”
He is. Emotionally exhausted from crying yet again.
“Do you maybe want to try and sleep again-”
He shrieks at the idea. He can’t remember what it is he dreams about but Muichiro knows it’s bad enough that he doesn’t want to go back to bed anytime soon.
Gyomei sighs, tries to grab the regressor’s flailing arms before eventually giving up on that and instead going back to comforting the little.
“That’s alright. You don’t have to.”
He doesn’t settle until it’s nearly morning, the sun peaking up over the hills. He feels miserable. No doubt that neither of them got any more sleep.
He’s carried around while Gyomei makes breakfast, putting up a fuss at the mere mention of being set down.
“You know it’s not the easiest thing to prep a meal while carrying you, you know. Wouldn’t you like to go play for a bit? Maybe cuddle with a stuffed animal?”
Muichiro just tilts his head to the side, hand tightening on Gyomei’s uniform.
The stone pillar sighs.
“Well I suppose not then.”
The food is cooked relatively quickly. The two sitting down at the kitchen table to eat.
Muichiro picks at the eggs dejectedly, not really in the mood to eat but feeling bad after his caregiver spent the time making them.
The little picks off the burnt bits. Gyomei will never know the difference anyway.
“Mui?”
He hums from around a mouth full of food.
“I was thinking of stopping by the butterfly mansion, I need to speak with master Kagaya and…” He trails off as if realizing the matter of discussion will go right over the regressor’s head. “Anyways, would you like to pack a couple things of yours to keep you occupied? I doubt you would like to be left alone and it will be very boring for you I’m afraid.”
“Mhm. Tay.”
He’s not going to grab anything. It’s embarrassing to be around the other pillars small, even if they are aware that he regresses. Only a baby needs a comfort object and he’s never seen any of the other little carrying something around.
He’ll be fine just on his own. Gyomei won’t take too long, and it’s not as though he hasn’t been bored before.
So after breakfast he waits for his caregiver to clean up.
“Ready to go?”
He nods, gently taking a hold of his caregiver’s hand, giving it a slight squeeze to show that he’s ready.
“Now you’re okay to walk?”
“Yes’um.”
Gyomei sighs, Muichiro isn’t sure why though. “Well it’s not too far and that path is pretty clear…”
And with that the two set off.
~~~
Muichiro’s sitting out on the deck while Gyomei is talking with the master.
Something about a mission going wrong and the total number of injuries. Muichiro isn’t quite sure, having left only a quarter of the way through.
There were a couple other pillars in there, and upon seeing them he quietly slipped away. It wasn’t an official meeting, there should be no reason he would have to stay.
So now he sits and watches the clouds, undisturbed for the most part.
“Hey there gem!” Muichiro flinches at the sudden voice.
The doors had opened, revealing both his caregiver and Tengen. He hadn’t even noticed until the sound Hashira had shouted.
He gives a small wave if only to be polite.
“I was talking with Gyomei here, what do you think about spending a very flashy weekend at my estate, hmm?” Tengen crouches down so that he’s, sort of, at eye level with the regressor.
“We can make a pillow fort, and play games. I heard a little bird tell me that my wives might make homemade ice cream for any sweet kiddos coming over.”
Now that catches Muichiro’s attention. “Ice cream?” He gasps a little, “Mint?”
Tengen laughs. “A very flashy choice little man, we’ll see what we can find.”
That does sound fun. He can’t remember the last time he’s made ice cream, if ever.
“Don’t you think that would be a nice idea Mui?” Gyomei gently prompts.
He wants to be able to go. He really, really does. But he knows the chances of him having a good time for the whole weekend would be slim. Not that he wouldn’t try to it was just hard sometimes, or a lot of the time. When being small meant feeling so helpless in nearly all circumstances.
He’d only ruin the weekend for everyone.
But he should go, Gyomei needs a break. It’s not as though Gyomei would let him be regressed on his own, despite Muichiro insisting on just that. He’s been small nearly every evening for the past week. He’s not stupid. He can tell that the older needs his own down time before sent on another mission, probably a long nap too.
Just another thing that makes him feel bad. Stupid nightmares and his stupid unbreakable habit of waking up screaming.
It probably won’t be too bad if Tengen is offering. The sound pillar seems so excited and it’s hard to fake that kind of enthusiasm. His wives are nice, and even if the sound Hashira overwhelms him, Muichiro reasons he could probably go to one of them.
He nods. “Tay.”
“Tanjiro will be staying the weekend too. You two will get along great! He’s been wanting to have a playdate.”
It’s at this point that he feels a bit sick. The sudden remembrance that Tengen doesn’t usually take care of babies. Kiddo range, toddler at best, but Muichiro is hardly ever that big on a good night.
Maybe it will be different. If he just doesn’t fully regress it should be fine. He could always say no, but that meant convincing Gyomei that he wasn’t already small.
“What do you think? It’s up to you.”
“Otay.” He mumbles.
“Awesome little guy.” Tengen holds out his fist, Muichiro steps away from Gyomei to tap his own against his. Tengen grins and so Muichiro offers him a small smile.
They are just about to leave and it seems like the stone pillar is having second thoughts.
“You’re sure now?” Gyomei asks.
Tengen only beams. “Of course I am!”
“Two little’s can be a handful though.”
“Nothing the four of us can’t handle. Besides I’m sure Muichiro is an angel. Please you’ll be doing me a favor. Ro’s been dying to have a play date but we aren’t too keen on having Inosuke or Zenitsu over.”
Gyomei gives him a puzzled expression. “But I thought they were good friends, did something happen?”
“Nah, only that they’ll rough house and Tanjiro’s still healing. It’s better this way. Should probably tell my wives though…”
He writes a small scribbled out message, handing it off to his crow. “Alright! We shall be off!”
~~~
Tengen talks idly, never one for silence. Muichiro tries to respond but looses track of the conversation halfway through.
No matter.
He follows along and listens, enjoying the background noise.
It’s a long walk back to the sound estate, something Muichiro hadn’t fully realized until he had declined Tengen’s offer to be carried. He clings to the older pillar’s side once there, shuffling his feet when they finally make it to the Uzui’s residence. He’s tired.
The door being thrown open with an excited squeal is not what the regressed pillar is expecting.
“Tengen, you’re back!” Suma greets, pulling her husband into the house.
“Yes I am! With another flashy little guest.” Tengen nudges Muichiro out from where he was hiding behind him.
Tanjiro gasps, “Mui!” at the same time as Tengen gets scolded.
“Lord Tengen!” Makio seems cross. “Again?”
“Hey I gave you warning this time.” The sound pillars says, lifting his hands up as if in surrender.
“A crow sent a half hour before is hardly warning.” Makio says, hands on her hips.
“At least I’m trying…?”
Muichiro doesn’t get the chance to focus on the conversation before a very excited Tanjiro is pulling his hand.
“Come on! Let’s play before dinners ready!” He’s practically bouncing from excitement.
Muichiro lets himself get pulled along, down the hall and into one of many spare bedrooms.
The room seems to serve more as a nursery or a playroom more than anything. Decorations softer and less overwhelming, a different style to the rest of the house. There’s a rocking chair, a bed covered in soft looking blankets, and a net in the corner filled with stuffed animals. Clipped up crayon drawings hung from a cord running across the wall. With the Uzui’s track record of watching over regressor’s, it makes sense to have a more dedicated space for littles.
He watches as the red head goes to a closet, opening the door and dropping to the floor. There’s a big bucket of toys that Tanjiro is digging through, scattering them about around him.
“Mamas is making. An she cooks super yummy food!” Tanjiro rambles.
Muichiro isn’t sure which woman Tanjiro is referring to as ‘mama’ he’s not about to ask either. Instead, he sits down slowly next to Tanjiro and peaks over into the basket.
He pokes at a couple of things, a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of toys. And this is only one basket.
“What do you wanna play?” Tanjiro asks.
Truthfully? Nothing.
He wants a pacifier and his stuffed animal. To go and bother someone to be cuddled, maybe be held in the rocking chair, and try and make up for a loss of sleep.
But that’s not an option right now so instead Muichiro shrugs. Going to pull out another container to look through himself.
He doesn’t see any gear close to his own age range.
He’s not sure what to think about that not, not sure why he’s disappointed.
He finds it hard to believe that the Uzui’s wouldn’t have something. He kind of wants to ask. But thinking about it and looking towards Tanjiro, maybe it wasn’t normal to regress super small.
Maybe he’s in the wrong.
He can’t recall seeing Genya or Inosuke this small the handful of times he’d seen them running around regressed.
Even with the pillars who regressed, a bit more private in that matter, he’s not sure they were ever this small.
“Dolls?” Tanjiro asks, snapping the pillar out of his thoughts.
He looks over at the toy he’s being offered.
It’s very pretty, about the size of his hand. The doll’s hair is black, face detailed to perfection, the dress adorning it soft and flowy. He’s shocked to find that arms and legs which are jointed, can be moved and posed.
It looks expensive.
He’s not sure if they should even be touching these, but if Tanjiro says it’s okay then…
“You can be the princess and I’ll be the umm… oh! I’ll be the evil queen who wants to take the princes away.” He takes out another doll, this one with mousy brown hair and a more traditional kimono. “Ooh! An’ I have a knight an’ that can be the prince that comes and saves her.”
Tanjiro starts talking again, this time as he moves his doll.
Muichiro smoothed out his doll’s dress, just examining the toy in his hands. It gives him the excuses to gather his thoughts as well.
He mimics Tanjiro placing the toy on the floor and moving its arm before he remembers that he’s supposed to talk in order to tell a story. The words freeze in his mouth.
“Pretend that you’ve been travelin’ for days an’ you jus’ now arrived.” Tanjiro prompts him, trying to be helpful.
Muichiro doesn’t like playing pretend. Doesn’t know how to given the role he’s supposed to be playing. It’s too much work trying to figure out what to say and when he tries the only thing he can think of is all the ways he could get it wrong.
Tanjiro frowns after a moment, huffing slightly as he sits up, putting the dolls away. “Is fine if you don’t wanna. Zen doesn’t care to play like this anyways.”
He can’t even focus on what Tanjiro is saying only feeling bad that he ruined the game. Stupid stupid stupid-
“We can do somethin’ else.”
Tanjiro doesn’t sound sad, or maybe he’s just good at hiding it. Either way he has far too much energy. Muichiro can’t hope to match. Gosh he feels small. Really, really small.
He doesn’t have to worry about that though, as he hears one of Tengen’s wives call out, “Boys! Dinner is ready!”
Tanjiro gasps. “Yes! Comin’!”
Muichiro wants to get up, but he feels rooted in place. He picks up one of the dolls again, enjoying the weight of it in his hands. Maybe no one will notice if he stays behind, they wouldn’t miss him…
“Up we go little mouse.”
Muichiro ironically gives a squeak as he’s lifted up off of the ground, startled by the sound Hashira sneaking up on him.
“Hey!” Tanjiro says with a small pout from where he stands at the doorway. “T’ought I was your little mouse!”
“You are. You’re both the flashiest little mice to me.” And with that the sound pillar scoops up Tanjiro from around his waist, carrying him under his arm like a sack of flour.
He swings Tanjiro up slightly into the air catching him with one arm and settling the regressor on his hip.
Tanjiro laughs, Muichiro can’t help but do the same, the joy contagious as he’s lifted up higher so that he’s sitting the older man’s shoulders.
“Again! Again!” Tanjiro shouts.
“Maybe later. We can’t let the food get cold.”
“Oh yeah.” Tanjiro says.
Muichiro giggles.
~~~
Dinner is chili with corn bread.
The soup Muichiro finds out is spicy, which doesn’t seem to be a problem for anyone else. It’s not too hot, but it makes his tongue hurt slightly and his brain is telling him it’s the end of the world. Muichiro pushes the bowl to the side, deciding to come back to that problem later.
He noms on a piece of cornbread instead. Still warm from the oven with melted honey over top. Much better.
His zones out as the Uzui’s talk around him.
It’s comfortable, hearing the sounds of the family without having to add in his own input. Not that he would normally past a hum and a shake or nod of his head.
It reminds him of eating with Mitsuri’s family. The love Hashira’s home loud and chaotic, but inviting and warm. His plate would be piled high with food at Mitsuri would constantly fuss that he was enjoying himself.
At least that’s what he could remember from the couple times he had spent the night.
“Mui.”
He blinks, having zoned out once again.
“Here, try this.” He watches as Suma dips her own piece of cornbread into the chilli and takes a bite.
He mimics her, pleased to find the soup a bit more tolerable. Still not great but he manages a couple bites before fully giving up.
He grabs a second sweet bread to munch on.
His hands are sticky from honey, the feeling is unpleasant but so is the idea of wiping his hands on his clothes to clean them.
“Here kiddo, let’s get you cleaned up.”
He likes the nickname, makes a warm feeling spread through his chest. He lets Makio clean his hands with little fuss, feeling much better after.
“We’re going to make ice cream after we clean up. Would you like to help?”
Muichiro nods even though he’s not sure how much help he will be. He just likes being with everyone.
He’s half hoping to be carried by Tengen again. Baby brain latching onto the idea of being tossed up into the air to be caught. It’s silly, but something he could never indulge in with Gyomei out of the elder’s fear of hurting him. Maybe Mitsuri, but he wouldn’t know how to ask. Not sure how to now, looking up at Tengen as though the sound pillar could simply read his mind.
“What’s up gem?”
He just looks away shyly.
“Oh I know, you were wondering if we had mint for the ice cream? How about we go and see?”
“Otay.” He slides out of his chair and takes Tengen’s hand.
~~~
They make ice cream, sitting on the back porch of the Uzui estate. A couple of hand crank ice cream machines that the women are in charge of.
Muichiro watches as Hinatsuru adds ice to a part of the contraption, Makio coming around with cream.
Suma and Tanjrio are excitedly picking out ice cream flavors, Tengen having to step in before they decide to add every possibly combination of flavors into a single batch of ice cream.
Strawberry and mint are the two chosen and Muichiro couldn’t be happier.
“I wanted chocolate.” Suma whines.
“Next time, the kiddos get first choice and you know that.” Makio says, ignoring the continuation of her wife’s crying.
“You want to try?” Hina asks, holding out the small device towards Muichiro. He’s never seen it before, apparently, it’s supposed to make ice cream by turning the handle.
Maybe it’s magic.
That’s probably it.
He nods.
The regressor sits in Hinatsuru’s lap, the small barrel sitting on his lap. The older women helps guide his hand to the crank and start turning it. The gears start to move spinning the contents around the basin.
“Is done now?” He asks after a few minutes.
Makio, who’s helping Tanjiro, over hears him and laughs. “You’re as bad as Suma!”
“Hey!” Suma cries.
“No darling, it will take longer than that. We have to wait until the cream starts to freeze” Hinatsuru answers.
“Oh…” That would make sense. Muichiro likes helping, but his hand is growing tired. He just wants ice cream.
It doesn’t take long, Hinatsuru doing most of the work, and before long Tengen is bringing out bowls and spoons and they are dishing out the dessert.
He settles on just having mint, instead of trying the strawberry one.
The ice cream tastes sweet, melting on his tongue. He hums, kicking his legs a little.
“Good isn’t it love?” Hina asks, taking a bite of her own ice cream. He hasn’t moved from his spot on her lap. She hasn’t prompted him to leave so the mist Hashira assumes it’s alright to stay and enjoy her affection for the time being.
Muichiro nods, taking another spoonful. Maybe it’s his imagination, but he swears it tastes better because he got to help make it.
A hand comes to wipe at his face and Muichiro squirms away. “You’ve got ice cream all over yourself, not sure how you managed that but I wouldn’t say it’s a very flashy look.” Tengen says.
The regressor scrunches his face up, prompting both caregiver’s to laugh. At least he’s not the only one upset by getting cleaned, Tanjiro trying to duck away from Makio’s attempt to clean both his hands and face, both of which are a shade of strawberry pink.
It’s on the last bite of ice cream that he messes up. The dessert is very melted by now and with uncoordinated hands it’s hard to probably hold the spoon.
Plop.
Muichiro blinks as his teeth click on the spoon, confused when he doesn’t taste mint.
He looks down at his uniform a blotch of ice cream on his pants leg.
He stares at the spot, tries to wipe it off with his hand and only makes it worse. And now there’s ice cream on his hand and suddenly everything feels wrong all over again.
“Mmmmm! Ick!” He flails his arm around, ice creams drips moving down his fingers and splattering around him.
“Alright I think that’s our que to get cleaned up.” Tengen says, catching the regressor’s hand, keeping him from flailing and hitting Hinatsuru in the face.
But he doesn’t want to get cleaned up! Well he does, but he also wants to sit and enjoy the warmth that comes with being snuggled close to Hina and hearing the others talking. And he still didn’t get to finish his ice cream! It’s unfair!
It’s also unfair at how close he is to coming to tears.
Why?
He was having such a good time.
Tanjiro is staring at him and he feels shy, suddenly ashamed at his actions. It’s a little ice cream. He’s fine. It’s fine. He shouldn’t feel so helpless. He’s a Hashira. He’s better than this. He’s-
A spoon is held to his lips.
”Mui wan’ mine?” Tanjiro asks.
His sniffles, nodding slightly. He opens his mouth, nomming on the spoon. It’s not his mint, but the strawberry is sweet too.
He feels a bit better.
“Aww that was very sweet of you baby.” Suma praises the other regressor while Muichiro lets Tengen pull him up to his feet and lead him back into the house.
He still feels crummy, whining as Tengen rinses off his hand.
“I know.”
No. Muichiro doesn’t think he does. But he doesn’t have the words to say this, energy spent on resisting the urge to throw a fit and start crying. He follow Tengen back into the play room, watching as the man digs through a separate closet containing miscellaneous outfits, mumbling to himself as he pulls out a couple.
Eventually the caregiver hand him a super soft Kimono to change into, humming in approval when he hold it up against the regressor.
“Is blue.” Muichiro says in awe.
“So it is.” Tengen sounds amused.
“Is pretty…” He rubs the fabric between his fingers.
“Of course it is. Nothing but the flashiest for my baby mouse.” And Tengen gives him such a silly smile that despite everything Muchirio can’t help but giggle.
He hides his face behind the fabric in his hands when his caregiver coos.
“Go get changed.”
Muichiro nods and ducks into the room.
.
.
.
The outfit is big on him, swamping his arms until he can’t see his fingers. It makes him feel tiny. He peaks out of the room once changed, seeing Tengen fidgeting with the beads of his headband.
Catching the light, the gems almost look like candy.
“Hi there. You’re adorable!”
The regressor gives a small grumble, hiding his face away once again, suddenly too shy to face the world. He’s slipping further, not sure how to stop the feeling what with how silly the other pillar is being, and the warmth that is practically contagious.
“Nuu. ‘M not.”
“Yes, I think you are. We will simply have to show you off, I can’t keep an flashy little thing like you all to myself.”
Tengen holds out his hand again, but this time Muichiro doesn’t take it.
“Nu uh,” It’s instinct to make grabby hands, he wants to be picked up. “Like Ro.” He adds for clarification.
Tengen pauses. Muichiro back tracks, quickly.
Stupid, stupid, stupid-
“Like Ro?” Tengen repeats, and it sounds so silly to Muichiro’s ears.
Of course it would. He’s not Tanjiro. It’s stupid to expect to be treated like him. He was only picked up the last time because he was being uncooperative. That’s all.
“Nuthin’” Muichiro tries to walk past Tengen, only to not make it further than a single step.
“No, tell me.”
His cheeks are burning with embarrassment and Muichiro once again hides his face with his hands, mumbling, “Wan’ up, bu’ like you did with Ro, high.” He explains as best he can.
“Oh.”
He’s still expecting to be denied. It’s such a stupid request. Why did he even say anything-
“Well why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Muichiro’s given no other warning before he’s lifted off of the ground. For a breathless moment he’s tossed into the air, caught a moment later. And he gets why the other little was laughing so hard. This is fun.
“Again!”
Tengen laughs. “Sure.”
He’s thrown into the air a couple more times. By the time he’s content with the impromptu game and settled the other on his hip the regressor’s a giggling mess.
“You two seem to be having lots of fun.” Hina says, with Tanjiro besides her, who’s now dressed in an outfit similar to Muichiro’s own, soft green and oversized.
“Perfect timing, we were just coming to show you how adorable Mui is, isn’t that right baby mouse?” Tengen says, smoothing out the little’s hair a bit.
Mui doesn’t answer verbally, just hides his face when Tengen’s wife coos at him.
“I’m thinking it’s almost time for bed.”
That gets a reaction, both little’s protesting.
“Don’ want to!”
“Well I don’t want to deal with two cranky toddlers tomorrow.” Tengen says. “I know, how about we work on that blanket fort I promised earlier?”
Despite the compromise, Muichiro decides that he’s going to enact revenge for the mere idea of bedtime being brought up… by chomping on the string of gems attached to the caregiver’s headband as they are walking. He’s very disappointed to find out that they don’t taste as good as they look. Actually, they kind of hurt his teeth…
Muichiro whines.
“What’s the matter gem?”
“Ick.” He says, sticking out his tongue and hoping that Tengen gets the message.
He clearly doesn’t.
“The clothes don’t feel bad do they?”
“No.”
He doesn’t get to say anything else, being interrupted by Suma.
“Lord Tengen you’re always holding the babies! Let me!”
“Alright then.”
The older woman gives a soft coo and Muichiro finds himself being held by her instead. He doesn’t really mind, not enough energy to put up a fuss as long as he’s still being held.
They are both seated on in the nursery room on the edge of the bed, watching as Tanjiro and his other two moms start pulling out blankets and chairs in order to construct the agreed upon fort.
“Is a lie.” Muichiro pouts turning up to look at Suma.
“What is?” Suma asks.
“Tenten’s beads.” He says, pointing towards the sound Hashira. “Don’ taste like candy…”
“Huh? Wait… You didn’t try to bite them?”
Muichiro nods.
Having overheard, Makio looks as though she is trying very hard not to laugh. Which isn’t fair, mind you, he’s being very serious.
“Baby no! Why would you do that?!” Suma exclaims. He doesn’t answer Suma, just lays his head back down on her chest.
Tanjiro comes running up to him. “Wanna help? He’s holding onto a soft blue blanket.
“Nuh uh.” Muichiro’s content in watching. Besides he’s sure that he would managed to knock something over or mess something up from being too clumsy.
“Come on baby, I think you will enjoy it.” Suma presses.
Feeling a bit pressured Muichiro goes to help. Taking the blue blanket and trying to copy what the others are doing. Just drapping blankets over chairs in order to form ‘rooms.’ Of course nothing is simple when Tengen is involved, and Muichiro wouldn’t doubt if the structure could fit all six of them inside of it comfortably.
Hina helps him place a blanket, giving him praise as he does so.
It seems simply enough. So he grabs another one. Only it doesn’t go as well.
He over reaches, and a section of the fort falls in.
“Uh…” The regressor tries to pick up the blanket and fix it but then another part of the fort falls and Muichiro just feels terrible.
“Hey!” Tanjiro shouts.
“That’s alright.”
Muichiro takes a step back, mumbling, “Tol’ you I shoul’n’…”
“Well, we’ll have to fix it in the morning. It’s too late tonight.” Hina says, trying to retain the peace. It’s clear to the caregiver’s that both Littles are starting to get over tired.
Muichiro agrees with the idea. He just wants to sleep. Tanjiro on the other hand clearly doesn’t.
“Not fair.” He pouts, even as he’s picked up by Tengen, the elder clearly sensing that he’s upset. “Can we still sleep in it?” The regressor asks.
“Well… I suppose so, but I don’t think all of us will fit now gem.” Tengen says.
“But Mui and I can?” Tanjiro asks, perking up again quickly.
“Sure. If you both want.”
The pair both look at him. Muichiro agrees with a shake of his head. Even if he hadn’t wanted to he wouldn’t have said anything with Tanjiro beaming.
It seems to cheer Tanjiro up fully, clearly the right option then.
“And you’ll be fine sleeping alone?”
”Mhm.” Tanjiro nods. “Gonna be with Mui.”
”And your sure.”
Tanjiro huffs. “Yes.” He seems annoyed, though maybe Muichiro is just imagining things.
“We’re in the other room if you need us.” Hinatsuru says. “That goes for the both of you.” She looks towards Muichiro who nods.
It’s cozy inside the fort, getting tucked in with a blanket and an extra pillow. A lot more comfortable than he might have first thought especially realizing he can be snuggled into Tanjiro’s side. He hums softly.
“Good night loves!”
“Night!” Tanjiro calls and waves to the four adults a goodnight. Muichiro copies the other.
And with that the two of them are left alone.
The urge is back to have his paci, something he’s ignored for the past few hours, but now in the quiet he misses the soother. He hardly ever slept without one a habit brought upon by Gyomei always tucking him in with one in an attempts to help the little sleep more soundly. He should have brought his own, or asked if they had one, even if it was embarrassing.
“Mui okay?” Tanjiro asks, startling the pillar out of his thoughts. Muichiro hums. “‘S fine.” He feels Tanjiro snuggle closer to him. “Kay. Night then…”
Muichiro chews on his fingers while trying to fall asleep.
.
.
.
Muichiro must have fallen asleep without realizing, because the next thing he knows he’s being awaken to a strange noise.
Muichiro blinks, groggily pushing himself up onto his arms. Someone is crying and for once it isn’t him.
But that would mean…
He turns and nudges Tanjiro’s shoulder.
“Tan…” Nudge. “Tan.” Another nudge. “Tan!”
The other regressor gives the smallest whine, blinking up at him with wet eyes. A nightmare probably.
He’s… crying. Tanjiro, of all people, is crying.
Muichiro doesn’t know what to do with this information, reaching out and touching Tanjiro’s cheek, shocked to find that no he isn’t just making this up, his fingers are wet with tears.
“Call your dad?” He asks, because that’s the only thing he can think of. He always wants his caregiver when he wakes up after a horrible dream like this, surely that goes for Tanjiro too.
“Who?” The redhead asks, sitting up and scrubbing at his cheeks with the back of his sleeve.
“Tenten?” Muichiro tilts his head to the side. Shouldn’t that be obvious? Maybe he’s not the only one who suffers from memory loss.
Maybe he’s wrong.
Maybe he was the one overthinking.
Maybe hearing Tengen talking about the Kamado siblings with such pride and fondness was something he was misremembering.
Tanjiro scrunched up his face. “Nah my dad.”
“Oh.” He didn’t know how to respond to that.
Tengen sure acted like Tanjiro’s dad. He always thought that it wouldn’t be long until the man tried to adopt both Tanjiro and his younger sister. Speaking of-
“I- I wan Nezuko. Bu’ can cause she sick, ‘m dats why ‘m here…” He hiccups between the words, voice cracking as more tears start coming.
Muichiro feels like a terrible friend. To stuck in his own mind that he hadn’t even begun to wonder why Tanjiro was spending the weekend with the Uzui’s, let alone without his sister.
It doesn’t matter because for some reason Tanjiro doesn’t want to get the adults so he won’t press it.
Muichiro goes to wipe away more of his tears, not sure what to do, only knowing that it feels wrong to see Tanjiro crying.
“Stop dat,” he says, because the feeling of bad, wrong, stop, is overwhelming his chest and he’s never seen Tanjiro not smiling before. Tanjiro flinches back and Muichiro feels bad for speaking up. Selfish, stupid. That’s not what Gyomei would say to him.
Maybe this is the first time this has happened.
Maybe Tanjiro also feels bad, like he’s not supposed to be like this.
Muichiro knows that he does.
To small and upset to be a good little.
Just a nuisance.
They’ve been through a lot and support was hard to come by. And it was so easy for someone to grow tired of looking after you.
He leans against Tanjiro with a small huff, not sure what to do and feeling too small to be helpful. Tears well in his own eyes the more Tanjiro cries.
He wants Gyomei.
~~~
“Tengen there is a noise!” Suma hisses, shaking Tengen’s arm repeatedly.
“Its probably the littles ones… go back to bed.” Her husband mumbles, turning around and snuggling back into his pillow.
“Oh yeah you’re right.”
There is a beat of silence as Suma laid back down.
“Wait a second… Why would they be up?!”
“Shit- Alright I’m up!” The sound Hashira bounds out of bed, successfully waking up his other two wives fully as the blanket is tossed from their sleeping forms.
.
.
.
They peek into the bedroom to find both little’s crying. It breaks the Uzui’s hearts.
“Oh mouse, what happened?”
Muichiro watches as Tanjiro is scooped up into Tengen’s arms. Held gently and rocked.
There’s nothing but incoherent babbles. Muichiro thinks he catches a couple people’s names but he’s not sure.
“Nezuko is okay. So is Zenitsu and Inosuke. I’m okay, your mamas are okay. You’re okay.”
It’s familiar, the reassurances that Tengen uses.
“Tan crying.” Muichiro says mostly to himself trying to process what is going on. Tanjiro, the resident sunshine child as multiple pillars and corps members have taken to calling him when the eldest Kamado isn’t around, is crying. It feels like his head is spinning.
“Yes he is. Are you alright Mui?” Hina asks coming to crouch besides him.
“An’ is fine?”
“Yes, Ro will be fine.”
Muichiro shakes his head. That isn’t what he meant.
He meant is it okay that Tanjiro’s crying.
It must be, watching as Tanjiro gets comforted by three of his caregivers.
No one ignores him.
No one tells him he’s being too sensitive.
It surprises him.
Not that he’s been told those things, but he can imagine that happening if he ever acted like that. And if he fears that then what about Tanjiro? Always happy and smiling. It’s a complete 180 of his personality. Isn’t he worried about what others think?
“You’re alright baby.” The older woman rubs his back comforting.
It doesn’t make sense, he’s not the one needing to be comforting.
Or maybe he does.
Cause the urge to cry is back with a renewed strength. His headspace is crashing and he finds his own cheeks wet with tears.
It’s all too much.
His heart aches.
He wants Gyomei.
Muichiro sobs.
Hinatsura tries to pick him up and console him, but she’s not Gyomei- not his caregiver, not his safety net. Muichiro pushes her away, feels bad about it a moment later, folding in on himself and lets out a wail.
He’s not sure how much time passes, his own thought a whirl of emotions. He covers his ears to block out the sounds of people around him. He can’t breathe. There isn’t enough oxygen in the room and he’s going to suffocate and no one will come back to save him, not Tengen, not any of the pillars, and certainly not Gyomei. He’s be left, alone, alone, alonealonealonealonealonealone…
Someone picks him up, strong arms supporting him around the waist, forcing him out of an uncomfortable position and bouncing him gently.
For a moment it feels like Gyomei’s back.
Opening his eyes, he finds Tengen instead. He’s not sure why this surprises him.
“I’m sorry baby mouse. I know I’m not him. I’m sorry.”
He clings to the sound pillar and cries. Tengen doesn’t let go.
Just holds them both tightly to his chest.
It seems like hours before Muichiro’s head clears, enough for him to stop crying. It’s probably only been a few minutes before he tries and wipe away his tears and do something about the horrible feeling in his chest. But he’s tired, and there’s nothing more to be done tonight so he resigns himself to feeling miserable and loosing sleep.
He looks around idly. They’re no longer in the previous room, but rather in Tengen’s own bedroom. There’s also couple people missing from the room. Namely Suma and Makio. He’s too tired to worry about that though, bumping his head against Tengen’s chest a couple times as he rocks himself.
“Careful, you’re going to give yourself a headache doing that.”
Muichiro whines.
“Just wait a moment.”
Suma comes back, holding teal and green bottles in her hands.
“The poor things.” Suma sniffles. “I feel so bad.”
“Now Suma don’t you start too, I can’t comfort three crying people.” Tengen teases, reaching out for the bottle in her hand.
“I’m not!” She pouts.
Tengen ignores her. “How about a bottle? Sometimes helps Ro go back to bed.”
He shouldn’t want to. Embarrassingly he can’t help but want to be treated younger.
Hinatsuru feeds Tanjiro, the other little held in her lap. Suma holds the bottle for Muichiro, while his hair gets braided by Tengen.
He’s about half way finished when Makio returns with an arm load of stuffed animals.
“Honey, I don’t think we’ll have room with all those.” Hina says, an amused look on her face.
“Sure we will. Stuffies make everything better.”
Tengen just sighs, shaking his head.
Muichiro reaches out clumsily taking the first stuffed animals his hands land on and giving a very happy hum at the soft texture under his hand.
It’s a shark plush.
“Rawr!”
He giggles as Makio gives a gasp dramatically exclaiming, “The scariest shark ever. What will I even do? Lord Tengen save me!”
Tengen does, picking Muichiro up leaning them both back until the regressor’s laying on his caregiver’s chest. Tengen tickles his sides causing the little to giggle again
Tanjiro lays down besides them with his own Tanuki plush. Muichiro reaches out at pets the top of the stuffed animal’s head. It’s soft like his is.
He’s to tired to be playful instead tucking his face into his new plush friend and wiggling under the blankets. He chews on his hand softly.
“Ah ah ah, that’s bad for your teeth,” he gets reprimanded by Makio, a soother being pressed to his lips instead.
He accepts with a happy gasp. It must have been obvious that he wanted the soother.
“Should have asked if you wanted this a long time ago, poor baby.” Suma says, once against starting to sniffle.
Tanjiro grabs another stuffed animal, an otter this time, and drops it on Tengen’s face.
“Oi.”
Tanjiro just giggles, grabbing another stuffed animal.
“No. Way too many. Pick just one.”
“Nu! All of dem.”
Muichiro takes the otter plush, cuddling it close, giggling at the look Tengen sends him.
“Not you to.”
He hides his face into the faux fur.
“Alright that’s enough from all of you, it’s far too early for all this.” Hina says, taking the pile of stuffed animals and placing them on the floor. “In bed. All of you.”
Muichiro ends up slightly squished in the middle of the bed between Makio and Tengen. Tanjiro seems to have given up on getting under the covers and simply lays on top of Tengen’s chest content to fall asleep there, Hinatsuru on the other side.
It’s funny, for having a breakdown he doesn’t feel as empty or sorrowful.
Rather he feels, cozy, allowing himself to snuggle deeper into the warm feeling residing in his chest.
Small and cared for.
He feels content.