Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Genya, you’re alive! I’m so glad!” Tanjiro shouts, his arm entangling around his friend. “I was worried. I’m so happy to see you’re okay.”

Genya looks as though he’d been two halves stitched back together, a scar running through him. If the medical care didn’t put him back in one piece, the ferocity of Tanjiro’s hug would have done it. Even with one arm, Tanjiro’s love is overwhelming. 

Once, Genya would have rejected this affection. He’d have screamed for Tanjiro to get away, to leave him alone. Instead, now he finds himself returning the hug, eyes teary.

“Sanemi saved me.”

Tanjiro lets Genya go and pats him on the shoulder. “I told you he loved you! He would never let anything happen to you.” Tanjiro looks around the long wooden hallway of the Butterfly Mansion, as though he’s expecting Sanemi to jump out of one of the rooms and come storming in their direction.

“Well . . . something did happen,” Genya says, eyes dead and voice raspy.

Tanjiro’s face tightens. “I know about Muichiro, and I know how bad it feels—that someone stronger died while you managed to live. That’s how I felt when Rengoku bled out in front of me. But we’re all past that now. All we can do is keep living, burning bright, enjoying life. Especially in a world in which man-eating monsters and Muzan have been defeated. It’s what Muichiro and Rengoku would want for us.” He pauses. “We’re so fortunate to be alive. I know you can see my arm, but did you know this eye is now blind?” he points to his glassy eye.

Genya looks at Tanjiro carefully, as though he hadn’t noticed all of this. He thinks of the blood pouring out from his body, the prickles of stitches tearing through his skin, all without regeneration. Could he tell Tanjiro about it?

A moment of silence sits between them, and the wooden halls now feel like a cage. 

“Why don’t we go see Nezuko?” Tanjiro suggests.

Genya nods and offers a small smile.

***

“Nezukooo!” Tanjiro calls out, knocking on the door of the Butterfly Mansion room. “Genya wants to see you!”

Genya opens his mouth to clarify that he didn’t want to see her. Not in a mean way or anything—it’s just, it was Tanjiro’s idea and—

Before Genya can formulate a response, a light voice answers, “Come in!”

Tanjiro smiles at Genya and opens the door.

Genya looks around the room. It resembles any bedroom in the mansion, wooden and empty, aside from a bed with pink sheets, and a demon girl sitting beneath them.

“Good morning, Genya!” Nezuko says, a bright smile showing off her fangs.

“You can talk!?” Genya looks from Nezuko to Tanjiro, incredulously.

Tanjiro eyes Genya. “Oh, you didn’t know? She’s been able to speak since the day she conquered the sun. It started out as simple words and phrases, like ‘Good morning,’ but now she can have full conversations.” Tanjiro’s eyes are shining. “I can’t believe you’ve never had a proper conversation with each other.”

“Well, I’m not really worth talking to anyways,” Genya mumbles. He glances at Nezuko. “I understand if you don’t want to. Now that you can finally talk, I bet you want to talk to someone more interesting.”

“That’s not true. Everyone’s worth talking to. I’m sure there are interesting things you can say,” Nezuko says, getting out of the bed and going to Genya. “Let’s go outside. I want to talk to you specifically.”

Genya hesitates to go, but follows Nezuko once he sees Tanjiro nodding and holding his thumb up, a big grin spread across his face—as if to say, ‘Yeah, yeah! Get out there!’

Genya chuckles and follows Nezuko with a smile. The wooden halls twist and turn until the pair end up in the back garden of the mansion.

“Are you still a demon?” Genya looks at Nezuko’s mouth curiously, her lips pink as a petal. Genya’s cheeks feel hot for a second, a breeze passing by and swaying the plants. Blossoms are absent from their stems. She notices him staring, and words justifying his actions come tumbling from his lips. “W-what I mean is . . . you still have fangs.”

Nezuko smiles and then tilts her head. “I’m not sure.” She basks in the sun, her long black hair’s orange tips brushing against the shrubbery on the ground. “The medicine should have made me human already, but now, I’m not sure what I have to do.”

Genya pauses. The sun shines on both of them, as though waiting for a decision.

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be human again,” he confesses. “But without demons for me to eat, I guess it could happen?”

Nezuko moves closer to Genya and holds out her pinkie finger. Her bright smile makes lines around her light pink eyes crinkle.

“It will happen. We’ll become human again together. Promise?”

Genya reaches out and entwines his pinkie with hers. He feels a little ridiculous, but still smiles. Nezuko’s cheeks are pink, and he wonders if his match hers.

“I promise,” he says.

And he means to keep his word, no matter what.

***

“So, what are you and Sanemi going to do? Will you be going home together?” Tanjiro asks.

“Sanemi wants to stay with Giyuu and the Master.”

Tanjiro looks confused. “Why?”

“Well, they still don’t know if the mark will cut their lives short, even with Muzan gone.” He grits his teeth, annoyed at the fact that the war is over but his brother could still be in danger.

“Oh, Genya.” Tanjiro grabs Genya’s shoulder—Tanjiro offering comforting touch with his only arm seems like an instinct for him now.

“I’m not worried. Sanemi will survive.” The look in Genya’s eyes shows his belief in Sanemi—he’s determined to drag Sanemi away from death itself if necessary. If only he could do what his brother had done for him.

“What will you do, then? Stay with him?” Tanjiro interrupts Genya’s thoughts.

Genya laughs bitterly. “As if he’d let me. My brother loves me, but he still won’t let me into his life. Not yet. Not until it’s safe.”

Not until he’s sure I won’t be having to hold my dying brother in his arms like he once did.

But Genya feels he can’t tell Tanjiro this.

“Well, then . . . where will you go?” Tanjiro asks, searching Genya’s eyes for answers.

“I don’t know,” he says honestly.

“Come with me and Nezuko.”

Genya looks taken aback. “What? Why?”

“I can’t work with my arm like this, and Nezuko should be turning into a human soon, but the timeframe is uncertain. I’m not sure I can take care of myself. I need time—to recover, to get used to this, to make my home a place I can live in again. Besides, I think Nezuko and I could use a good friend on our side, cheering us on during this change.” Tanjiro smiles.

Genya looks at Tanjiro, seeing the sincerity shining in his eyes. To Genya, this feels like a trick, something too good to be true. He can be with Tanjiro and keep his promise to Nezuko. He can be useful as Sanemi finds a way to stay alive.

“I’ll go with you. But first, I need to talk to Sanemi.”

Tanjiro pulls Genya into a fierce embrace. “Thank you, Genya. Nezuko and I will leave with you when you’re ready.”

Genya nods, waving at Nezuko, who had lingered behind them. Despite being asked to take on responsibilities, Genya’s heart feels lighter.

***

“Sanemi?” Genya calls, wandering the halls. In this moment, it feels more like a maze than a mansion. He knows his brother is in the Butterfly Mansion somewhere—Sanemi needed major medical attention, and he should be recovering here. It’s a marvel that Genya recovered quicker than Sanemi, and part of him wonders whether it was because of his previous demonic abilities. If that’s true, then—

“What??” a voice shouts, breaking Genya from his whirlpool of thoughts. His eyes widen.

“Oh yeah, that’s definitely him,” Genya grumbles, heading in the direction of the annoyed voice. His lips curl up, an almost-smile.

Genya stops at the room’s door. He hesitates to open it. Sanemi may have saved him, grieved him before his life had left him yet, but he doesn’t know if Sanemi knows how to show the love he clearly has in his heart. Having a loving brother is all Genya ever wanted, but would he get that now? What had he done to earn that?

“Sanemi, can I come in?” Genya asks.

“Just come in already,” a gruff voice inside responds.

Genya takes in a breath and opens the door.

Sanemi is sitting on the floor and has his legs and arms crossed. The gauze on his stomach and chest are visible under his torn-open shirt.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Genya asks, his gut clenching at the sight of where Sanemi’s stitched up wound is covered in gauze.

“Meditating,” Sanemi responds, a vein seeming to pop out of his forehead. He looks anything but relaxed and engaged, more like enraged for no particular reason.

“Okay, yeah. Sure.” Genya fakes a cough. “Um. Tanjiro asked me to do something with him.”

“Is that right? He always needs something.”

“He . . . wants me to go with him, and Nezuko, back to their home.”

Sanemi closes his eyes. “I see.”

Genya wants to comment that he can’t see because he just closed his eyes, but he doesn’t want to make him mad. “Can I go with them?”

Sanemi opens his eyes and stares at Genya as though he’s a teacher hearing the most stupidly wrong answer from a student.

“The hell you want me to say? Of course you can go. There’s no point in sticking around here. I’m working with the Master and Giyuu to figure out the mark shit.” He pauses and laughs. He looks up at Genya with bright eyes. “Once all that’s cleared up, we’ll find a home, together.” He hesitates and breaks eye contact. “If that’s what you want.”

Genya’s heart grasps at his ribs, and he feels like crying. If that’s what he wants? Of course it is. That’s all he’s ever wanted. That’s why he crossed the dangerous taboo and ate demons. That’s why he needed to become a Hashira. Though he supposes none of that matters anymore.

Nezuko and I will become human again, he reminds himself. I promised.

“Of course I want that. I . . . I’ve wanted that for a long time. But focus on recovering first. I’ll be back, and we’ll be together.”

Sanemi nods. “Good. I’ll see you.”

“See you,” Genya says, readying himself to turn to face the door.

There’s a flash of movement, and when Genya looks over his shoulder, Sanemi is standing directly behind him. Sanemi wraps his arms around Genya, nearly breaking both of their bones. Genya gasps.

“I will see you again, little brother.”

Genya’s eyes tear up and he nods. “Mhm.”

He returns the hug, and once Sanemi lets go, he exits the room with a wave behind him.

***

Genya meets the Kamado siblings at the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion and leaves on the journey to their village. Nodding at Tanjiro and nervously smiling at Nezuko, Genya knows that helping the Kamado siblings will establish a new ‘normal,’ one that will change all of them. He has a second chance at a good life, and he’s not letting it go.

Chapter Text

Nezuko, Tanjiro, and Genya arrive at the Kamado household. The house seems untouched, despite so much time passing. It’s Genya’s first time seeing where Tanjiro and Nezuko grew up.

“We’re home! Oh, it’s been too long!” Nezuko exclaims, grinning wide. “Welcome, Genya!” Nezuko waves Genya to go inside, as she patrols across the front of the house as though she’s inspecting the condition of it. Nostalgia tugs at her, like Rokuta would at her clothes when she was sewing. She pauses at the edge of their front door.

“Tanjiro, isn’t this where—” 

“—Hanako would wait for me each night?” Tanjiro smiles, nodding in understanding.

“Yes, and Takeo would get mad because he was concerned about her when it was cold.” She pauses. “Hanako did have that habit of getting sick quickly.”

Nezuko’s eyes are shining. Despair and happiness stir inside her. I wish they could still be here, she thinks, making her way inside to guide Genya to his room. Along the way, she highlights where each sibling slept, but when she reaches where Rokuta slept, she can no longer speak.

“Excuse me,” Nezuko manages to get out, before fleeing to her room. Tanjiro follows after her. Genya shifts his weight nervously, eyeing the guest room.

***

“They’re everywhere here, aren’t they?” Nezuko asks, her voice shaking.

Tanjiro nods solemnly. “But they were always with us, even when we were far from home and fighting. We can rest now, and remember them.” He puts his hand on her shoulder. Nezuko holds herself, a habit she hadn’t quite let go of, and nods.

Tanjiro pulls her into a hug. “I miss them too.” He stands. “Come on, we can’t leave Genya’s house tour unfinished, can we?”

Nezuko’s eyes widen, and she feels surprised at herself. She realizes she wants to make a good impression on Genya. Leaving him stranded certainly wouldn’t do that. She nods at Tanjiro. “You’re right. Let’s get back to it.”

***

“I’m a terrible house guide,” is the first thing Nezuko says when she meets Genya in the guest room. “I’m sorry for leaving you alone when I should be showing you around.”

“Coming home is hard for you,” he says, seeming to absentmindedly be thinking out loud.

“It’s just . . . a lot of memories,” she manages to say, trying to resist the urge to curl up and hold herself.

“Where is your happiest memory in the house?” Genya asks. 

Nezuko considers this question for a moment. Despite the hurt her family’s absence brings, this question reminds her of their presence, which she wants to hold onto. Because the memories of them are more than happy—they’re irreplaceable. Nezuko perks up eagerly once she thinks of what to say, and grabs Genya’s hand, bringing him to the kitchen. Tanjiro trails behind them, and settles himself into the living room, with a clear view of the kitchen.

“Mom cooked with what she had, which wasn’t much, but it was the simple stuff that made us happy as kids. My favorite memory . . .” (she pauses for dramatic effect, and Genya is leaning in a little closer, which makes Nezuko feel like it’s working) “. . . is when she taught me to make onigiri. The look on everyone’s faces as they bit into the food . . . ” She laughs. “They loved it. Or at least pretended to.”

Genya smiles. “We could make it again sometime. I remember I tried to cook onigiri during our training, but Tanjiro wouldn’t let me. Now I know where he gets it from.”

Nezuko looks at Genya curiously. There’s a spark like a flame. “What if we make them tonight?”

Tanjiro chooses this moment to chip in, almost strategically. “We do need essentials from the village after our trip.”

“Sounds like a plan. I could show you around town,” Nezuko tells Genya. She nudges him. “Or show you off to everyone. What do you say?”

Genya smiles. He looks a little nervous. Nezuko realizes she’s still holding his hand. She softly rubs his knuckles before letting him go.

 “I’d love to be with you,” he replies. His face turns red. “I-I mean, go with you.”

Now Nezuko smiles. “Off we go, Tanjiro! Don’t throw a party while we’re out.”

Tanjiro laughs as the pair heads out together.

***

As Nezuko and Genya walk through the woods, a gentle breeze greets them, and the pine trees shift around, responding to their laughter. Well, mostly Genya’s laughter.

Nezuko feels that Genya’s a good listener, and she finds herself wanting him to be enraptured by her storytelling. 

“So after he banned me from the shop, I made a plan: I had to befriend his entire family, but most of all, his kids.” Nezuko pauses. Genya’s studying her features, his eyes eager. She likes the way he’s looking at her, she realizes. Attentive and curious. “And slowly but surely, I did. His wife was soft-spoken, yet kind. Once I got to know her, I was able to watch his kids a couple of times.” She pauses. “Without him knowing, obviously.” She cracks a mischievous grin. “And one night, after the kids and I prepared dinner, they were screaming and crying, telling him, ‘Please, papa, let Nezuko come back!’ And that’s how I was personally invited back. I used to do a lot of shopping there when I was home, just to see if the ban was truly lifted.”

Genya throws his head back in laughter like he’s a little kid. Nezuko’s eyes shine a bit every time he smiles.

“You know,” Nezuko says, a bit more seriously, “even though I was often ‘window shopping’ in the village, I hoped one day I’d get the nice and smooth fabric or a beautiful kimono from my favorite store. I love the bright, solid colors, and especially patterns with flowers. Those are the ones I want most.”

“One day you’ll get what you want,” Genya says, seeming to once again express himself without thinking anything of it.

“That’s nice of you to say. Are you getting it for me?” She smirks, feeling playful.

Genya seems taken aback. “W-well, I am here to help you and Tanjiro, so I could.”

“You could, huh?” She elbows him lightly and smiles. Her fangs poke her bottom lips.

“N-nevermind,” he brushes her off. “Where do we go first?”

“Oh, right.” Her smile fades as she looks at the paper with a hard-pressed stare.

Tanjiro gave Nezuko a written list of ingredients needed to cook and other necessities for the upcoming week. Nezuko carefully navigates the houses and shops, and Genya carries everything she purchases. Genya’s body can barely be seen; he’s covered in bags and balances towers of objects in his hands (while also using his fingers to hold onto smaller bags).

After a bit of shopping, the sounds of the crowd reach Nezuko’s ears.

It feels like all of the villagers are talking about her.

“She looks so haunted. Poor child.”

“How could we have called her the town beauty? She’s demonic.”

“There’s the final demon. Someone should deal with her.”

“Nezuko, we’re going,” Genya says sharply.

“Oh, but—” she tries to protest, looking at the person she was conversing with.

Genya grabs her hand. “Nezuko.”

The hardness in his eyes causes her to give a ‘Goodbye’ and walk out of the shop.

“What’s wrong?” she asks Genya.

“It’s just—people are talking about you. They’re saying things you shouldn’t hear.”

“Well, it’s not like words will do anything to me,” she retorts. She quietly pulls her hand out of Genya’s. She wants to hold herself again. “I’ve heard worse,” she mumbles.

“We shouldn’t stay,” Genya insists. “We have everything on the list. Come on, let’s—” he looks up into the distance and stiffens, causing Nezuko to look. 

“Hey! There’s the demon. The town’s great hideous girl, one could say. If we consider demons ‘girls’ now.”

“Piss off,” Genya says, without reluctance and with disgust. His eyes are dark in a way Nezuko hasn’t seen, and she has seen them be actually dark after he’d consumed demonic parts.

“A bodyguard, huh? Not a bad idea. But we will deal with you, demon. Our village can’t live safely as long as you’re out there. It’s your fault your family is gone.” 

The man threatening them is big and muscular in a way that would be admirable if he wasn’t threatening them. Despite the man’s appearance, there’s an unspoken agreement as Genya and Nezuko exchange a glance: neither feel as though they’d lose in a fight. However, the end of his threat cracks something in Nezuko’s heart.

Before she can formulate a response, Nezuko’s eyes fill with tears. She grabs Genya’s hand and starts briskly walking away. He increases his pace, despite all the bags on him.

***

Once they reach the Kamado house, Nezuko is crying. “It’s not true,” she says. “I didn’t hurt them. I would never have hurt them. Why would anyone say otherwise?” She pauses. “I can deal with being ‘the demon.’ But they should leave my family out of it.”

“The villagers are just scared,” Genya reassures her. “It doesn’t excuse their words, but hopefully nothing will happen. Don’t worry. Tanjiro and I will be here with you. We both know that just one of us can take on that meathead asshole.”

Nezuko sniffles. She nods and offers a weak smile. “Thanks.”

Genya holds up his arms, which look like racks holding various bags.

“Let’s cook some onigiri,” he suggests.

“Sounds like a plan.” Nezuko pauses. “Let’s not tell Tanjiro about the end of today. I wouldn’t want him to worry about an empty threat.” She breaks eye contact, as it’s clear the man could pose a threat, but as Genya said, the two of them are more than equipped to handle him. They’d fought and won together before, and they certainly could do it again.

Genya nods hesitantly, and Nezuko opens the door.

“We’re home!” she shouts to Tanjiro, who is still in the living room.

“Ah, how was the—goodness, Genya, that’s a lot of bags!”

“You think I’m responsible for this?” Genya asks grimly.

Nezuko laughs as she starts rummaging through the bags. Genya’s setting them down simultaneously, so they keep bumping into each other, saying ‘Sorry’ occasionally.

When the time comes to cook, Genya and Nezuko move around each other as naturally as a river flowing on stones. The atmosphere shifts from tense and secretive to lighthearted and effortlessly enjoyable. Once the onigiri and other dishes are prepared, everyone sits together to eat, and Tanjiro makes a declaration.

“You two are a great pair. With you guys together, it seems like I’ll never have to cook again. Keep up the good teamwork and make that a reality for me!”

Laughter ensues, and Nezuko starts to feel a strange sensation in her chest—a fluttering, something fundamental shifting in her heart. She thinks back to little things from the day. Their handholding, her elbowing him, them accidentally bumping into each other a bit ago. How well they’re cooking together, which normally is a pain with anyone else. Being with Genya feels as natural as breathing. 

Why hadn’t she felt this close to him until now?

Chapter Text

Genya goes off to bed while Nezuko and Tanjiro are still talking together. It’s too early to sleep still, but he feels unusually nervous thinking about being with Nezuko. He attempts to sleep, wrestling with the blanket, but then he wonders if Nezuko—

“Genya?” a voice whispers.

Half-conscious, Genya groggily sits up and goes, “Nezuko?”

“No, it’s Tanjiro.”

“Right, yeah,” Genya says, his cheeks heating up. “What’s wrong?”

“Could we talk for a moment?”

Genya nods, gets up, and follows Tanjiro to the living room. Nezuko is no longer there.

“I know it’s nearly time for bed, and I apologize for waking you, but I wanted to tell you this so you can be prepared for tomorrow,” Tanjiro says as he sits down.

Genya nods. “Okay, I’m ready to hear it.”

“It’s about finding work. Lugging around charcoal isn’t an option anymore. Even if it was, I want to do more than I did before. I want to provide more for Nezuko.”

“I’m here so you can recover, too. I understand there’s work out there that you could do, but I can help you. For now, I can work so you can have income while resting. I’ll be here as long as it takes for you both to get settled.”

Tanjiro smiles. “You’re so kind, Genya. I appreciate your help.” He pauses. “And this house . . .”

“What about it?”

“I’m not sure if we should stay here. Because of the harsh winters, there’s a lot of upkeep, and I doubt any of us want to go through the process of managing this house.”

Genya can’t hide his surprise. “You want to move out of your childhood home?”

“Despite everything, no, I don’t. But I do wonder if I should. It pains me to think of going, but what else can we do?”

Both of them sit in silence.

“Look, don’t be too hasty,” Genya says. “There are people out there that could help you manage the house. You can still have this home, even if you’re not always here or if others come to assist you.”

Tanjiro smiles again. “Thank you, Genya. That does give me some ideas.” He stands up and offers his hand to Genya. Genya takes it and gets up. They both head to their separate rooms, but smile at each other before they go.

“Good night, Genya.”

“Good night, Tanjiro.”

***

Genya and Nezuko, cohabitating in the Kamado home during the process of finding work, spend their days as though they never lived apart. They split household chores, run quick errands together carefully, and sit close and cook and laugh over breakfast each morning and dinner every night.

Seeing Nezuko and Genya interact day-by day—and Genya suggesting finding help to manage the house—must have influenced Tanjiro, because he suddenly decides he is going to visit Kanao. Hearing this decision, Nezuko begins to fret.

“Tanjiro, you can’t go alone,” Nezuko repeats.

“He’ll be fine,” Genya says. “There’s no harm in him visiting someone, right?”

Nezuko glares at Genya. He looks away out of embarrassment, and he feels a sharp sensation in his chest. Did he do something wrong?

“You never know when there could be harm,” she snaps. “It’ll be winter soon, and that means snow, and people stealing from travelers.”

“Because of winter, I should leave before the snow and come when it’s settled. I’ve decided to see Kanao, Nezuko. Please wait for me to come back. I hope I’ll bring good news.”

Tanjiro’s eyes are shining, and Genya doesn’t know why. What exactly is he planning?

Tanjiro embraces Nezuko. “Take care. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“With good news?” Genya asks as Tanjiro comes to hug him.

“I hope.”

The trio walks down to the bottom of the mountain. Tanjiro beams, putting a bag of supplies on his back, and waves his arm as he leaves. Nezuko is waving ‘Goodbye!’ passionately. Genya wonders if she’s trying not to cry. 

“Bye big brother! We’ll miss you! Come back safe!”

Genya looks at the impassioned Nezuko for a moment, and realizes:

Wait, does this mean we have to be alone together?

***

“I think I should work as a seamstress,” Nezuko tells Genya. They’re comfortable on the cushions in the living room.

Genya tilts his head. “Why didn’t you think of that earlier?” he asks curiously. It seems obvious for her to use her skillset and strengths.

“Well, I haven’t really talked to anyone in the village about hiring me before, and especially not since some of the villagers’ . . . comments.” She pauses, and Genya can see the heartache written on her face. He wants to reach out and hold the hand she’s resting on her lap, but he stops himself. “I just assumed sewing would be done when needed, not for earning money or anything,” Nezuko finishes.

Genya nods. “I understand. Tomorrow we can go to the village and we’ll ask around. And we’ll be careful, like always.”

“The seamstresses in town have always been kind to me,” Nezuko says, almost a bit shyly. She seems hopeful of the village accepting her once again, and Genya hopes for that, too. “Their kindness never did get me the kimonos I wanted, though.” Nezuko sighs in a dramatic way.

“Which one would you want?” Genya asks sincerely.

Nezuko looks at him, eyes sparkling. Something has flashed in her mind and taken her attention, and it almost looks as though she’s stargazing. “There was a seasonal one for the summer firework festival. It was maroon with intricate white flowers on it. I don’t think they’d bring that one back, but any of the floral ones for the festival would be a dream come true.”

Genya nods, trying to look nonchalant. He gets up from the ground. “I’ll make dinner tonight.”

“What are you making?” she asks.

“I’ll surprise you.”

She smiles. “Okay.”

***

Everyone seems to be in the village, but they all go out of their way to avoid Nezuko. She receives sneers of disgust, and the rumors of her being a danger are on the tips of everyone’s tongues. Nezuko enters the clothing stores with what Genya sees as an air of false confidence.

No one is able to hire Nezuko, and no one gives her a concrete reason why they can’t.

“This is bullshit,” Genya groans as they leave the fifth and final store that has denied Nezuko a position as a seamstress.

Nezuko closes her eyes and sighs, defeated. “Maybe I should work from home,” she mumbles. Her eyes open wide and she gasps. “You could deliver the products.”

“What are you saying?” he says, somewhat confused by her suggestion.

“I could be like a small business, doing sewing repairs and commissions.”

“Slow down, Nezuko.” Genya eyes her cautiously. “This sounds a little ambitious. It could be harder than traditional hired work.”

“So I do nothing? Just sit by, leeching on others, a useless girl—no, a dormant demon who lives only for herself. A burden who will drag everyone down with her.”

Genya feels like his heart is in his stomach. Why doesn’t she see herself the way he does? His distress builds inside him, as though his heart has started beating violently, in a place it isn’t supposed to be.

“Nezuko, come on. You’re not a burden, and you know that won’t happen—”

“Why? Why are you so sure that everything will be okay?” her voice is strained.

“Because I have to be!” he yells. It feels like time has stopped, with everyone in the village pretending not to look at them now having a reason to openly look at them.

Nezuko looks at him in shock and stays silent. This is the first time he’s really raised his voice at her. The opening of the store door beside them brings them back to reality. To each other.

“I’m sorry. I just . . . I can’t consider negative outcomes anymore,” he says.

“Okay,” she whispers. “I’m sorry, too.”

Genya and Nezuko look at each other before glancing around, and the crowd has gone back to ignoring them.

After a bit of walking in the village, Nezuko nudges Genya. Given that it’s crowded, her height gives her a disadvantage when looking around.

“I think someone’s following us,” she whispers.

Genya wraps his arm around Nezuko’s waist protectively. “To be safe, let’s go home.”

Nezuko leans into him, and they head back with Genya holding onto her.

***

“Didn’t think you’d see me again, did you?” the big man sneers, holding a katana to Nezuko’s chest.

Genya, who had been gathering wood outside, sees the man cornering Nezuko at the front of the house. Genya drops what he’d gathered and rushes to tackle the man. The man manages to nick Nezuko’s arm before his katana goes flying.

“Get the hell away from her!” Genya shouts. He’s on top of the man, ready to punch him in the face. Nezuko is on her knees, bleeding red onto her light pink dress.

“Genya . . .” she mumbles. The wound is deep, but she’ll be fine. That’s when Genya smells it, stinging and clear. 

Blood.

A demon’s blood.

Genya’s panic sinks in as he looks back. He knows he should beat the shit out of this guy, but his worry for Nezuko and what he could do in response to her blood wins over his desire to watch the bastard die.

“Leave and don’t come back, or I’ll kill you with your own katana,” he tells the man. The man’s eyes are wide, and Genya can see the fear in them. He imagines he looks demonic already.

“What the hell?!” the man yells, scrambling to run away from Genya.

Genya looks down at his hands and sees that his nails are now claws.

This isn’t a good sign. Especially since Nezuko’s blood suddenly smells sweet, and he wonders if—

He can’t wonder anything. He has to get away from her.

“Genya!” Nezuko cries out as he takes off into the woods. She runs after him.

Nezuko scrambles through the woods. She tracks Genya’s footsteps until she finds him at the base of a particularly large tree. Her bloodied dress moves like a leaf in the wind.

“Genya, you won’t hurt me,” she says.

“Stay back! You don’t know that,” he huffs. His mouth is watering. He has never been more disgusted with himself.

“I do know that.” Her eyes fill with tears. “What happened to being hopeful? To not believing in negative outcomes?”

“Please, Nezuko. I don’t want to hurt you, I don’t want to be like this. I’m sorry I’m like this.”

Genya’s eyes are completely darkened, and the tips of his hair are bright yellow.

“I’ve seen you like this before. I’m not scared of you. Come back to me, Genya.”

Nezuko runs directly at Genya and hugs him so tightly, it takes away his breath. He can hear her heart beating, and it’s enticing. He realizes he no longer wants her blood. He wants to keep her close. He wants to be reassured that she’s alive. The blood on her dress has dried, and her wound is healed.

“Look,” she says with a smile as she cups his face with her hand. “You’re fine now. We’re both fine now.” She laughs, embracing him again.

This is the moment when it hits him.

Despite being a demon, and Tanjiro’s younger sister, Nezuko, is, in fact, a girl—a pretty one who hugs him and holds his hand. One he loves cooking for and with. Someone he’s willing to fight for and someone he’s fought alongside. She just made him human again.

Oh.

Oh.

He’s blushing now. He doesn’t know whether to let her go. He’s panicking. Does he hug her back? Wouldn’t it be rude not to?

Nezuko looks up at him with teary eyes. They widen when she sees his face.

“Are you okay?” they ask each other simultaneously.

“I’m okay,” Nezuko smiles. “Your eyes and hair are normal now.”

“T-they are?” he asks, completely distracted by the brightness of her eyes and the softness of her touch.

Nezuko nods and intertwines her fingers with Genya’s. They begin their journey back home. 

Genya looks down at Nezuko’s hand clutching his, and he smiles. For a brief moment, his head pulls away from the panic and fluttery feeling Nezuko’s touch brings, and he notices his hands.

They’re normal.

***

The next day, they manage to get the bloodstains out from Nezuko’s dress.

“I’m so glad. This one’s my favorite,” she sighs with relief.

Genya smiles, and there’s a knock at the door. Nezuko sets the clothes down and goes to open the door slowly. She’s greeted by two familiar faces.

“Tanjiro! And Kanao! They’re—holding hands?!” she exclaims.

As Tanjiro and Kanao put their shoes away at the front of the house, Genya can tell Kanao is nervous. She shifts in place and goes to grab Tanjiro’s arm.

Tanjiro smiles. “I’ve decided to court Kanao.”

“This is such wonderful news!” Nezuko says, hugging Kanao with excitement. 

“Yes,” Kanao says, one eye widened, but returning the hug with her available arm. “I’m happy to be here. It’s good to see you both.” Her eye focuses on Genya for a moment, and he wonders if it’s because of his new scars.

“I’ll prepare a room for you. Follow me,” Nezuko takes Kanao’s hand, immediately going on about Tanjiro’s love life when he was a kid. Kanao laughs louder than Genya has ever heard her speak.

I guess Nezuko’s like this with everyone, he thinks. Unabashed and loving, sweet and welcoming. Watching her is like watching the sun settle into the sky, bright and softened by the clouds.

As the girls walk away, Genya can’t help but look at Nezuko with obvious longing. His heart flutters as he watches Nezuko’s silhouette slip away. Then he realizes Tanjiro is staring right at him. 

“Well, uh . . . Kanao, huh? Is she someone you think could help with the house?” he feels himself grasping at anything to avoid a conversation about him and Nezuko.

“Genya, we can discuss the house later. We’re not close to being married. Yet.” Tanjiro winks. “Hopefully that’ll be the good news I have for you and Nezuko.” He pauses. “Speaking of you and Nezuko—”

“I’m happy for you,” Genya interjects. “We can talk more later. It’s getting late. Let me ask Nezuko and Kanao what they want for dinner.”

Tanjiro looks like he’s about to say something, but Genya turns around and leaves as quickly as possible.

***

Genya goes to Nezuko’s room. He’s relieved to see she’s alone. Genya approaches Nezuko, reaches out, and grabs her hand. He’s blushing furiously. Her mouth is agape, like she wants to speak, but is unsure of what to say.

“Nezuko, I don’t know how to say this, but I . . . I-I think I’m—”

Tanjiro jumps up from behind Genya.

“Genya! Do you have a moment?” he asks.

“Gah! What is wrong with you!?” Genya shrieks, pulling himself away from Nezuko.

“Is there something wrong with me?” Tanjiro asks, turning to Nezuko. She shakes her head fervently, like ‘No, no, of course not.’

Tanijro smiles. “I’m all good, Genya! Now come on!” 

Tanjiro reaches out and grabs Genya’s sleeve, dragging him down the hall.

Genya sighs, following Tanjiro. “We just spoke. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I need your help preparing,” Tanjiro says. He doesn’t seem to elaborate.

“Preparing . . . for what?”

“Zenitsu! He’s visiting us.”

“He is?” Genya can’t help being confused. “Why?”

“What do you mean . . . ‘Why?’?” Tanjiro laughs. For some reason, it sounds strained. “He’s a good friend. I’m sure Zenitsu can’t wait to see us again.” Tanjiro pauses. “Or one of us.”

Genya grits his teeth at the implication. Zenitsu’s clearly not coming for Kanao. “Right. Well, let’s welcome him here at least. Do we need to prepare a room?”

Tanjiro nods. 

“Follow me.”

Chapter Text

The following morning, there he is—with bright, uneven bangs and dressed in a yellow haori, Zenitsu stumbles in front of the Kamado household. He’s carrying too much luggage for a presumably short stay. There’s a shared understanding that Zenitsu wouldn’t be around long. At least, Nezuko assumes everyone thought this as she walks out with them to greet him. Genya’s figure towers in front of her, and she finds herself wondering what he was going to tell her last night.

Tanjiro begins speaking upon stepping out of the house.

“Zenitsu, welcome! If you need help, Genya can—” 

Zenitsu blatantly ignores Tanjiro, as Nezuko has stepped out of the household behind him and Genya. Zenitsu’s eyes brighten, like a light shining in your eyes when you look at a jewel. He rushes to Nezuko, grabs her hips, and lifts her off the ground, spinning her around.

“Nezuko-channn!” rings out, and Tanjiro, Kanao, and Genya look at the scene with wide eyes. Nezuko feels like a doll being waved around, and she nearly reaches down to pull Zenitsu’s hands off of her. Instead, she forces a smile. After all, Tanjiro’s watching, and they’re such close friends. Zenitsu has always been forward with his feelings and has literally pursued her, but she was always able to run away a bit faster than him.

So this is what happens when he catches up to me, Nezuko thinks.

The first to break the silence is Genya. 

“How long do you plan on staying?” Genya asks. He sounds a little irritated, like he wants Zenitsu to not only answer the question, but he also wants the answer to be ‘Not long at all.’ Nezuko wonders why, and they make brief eye contact as she’s still suspended in Zenitsu’s arms. Nezuko now wonders how Genya feels when he sees her like this. 

What should he feel? Should this bother him?

What should I feel?

Zenitsu lets Nezuko down, and she sighs in relief when she’s released from his grip.

“As long as you’ll have me,” he replies. His tone is neutral, not indicating ill intent or matched malice. If it is malice she’s correctly deducing from Genya’s tone. His arms are crossed, which doesn’t make him look any happier to see Zenitsu.

“Well, we’re glad you’re here,” Tanjiro says, offering a smile and placing his hand on Zenitsu’s shoulder. Zenitsu then runs to the mountain of bags and begins to pass them along to Genya.

Genya smiles at Zenitsu. Nezuko looks at Genya and knows it’s not genuine.

At this point, she can tell which smiles he’s faking. 

***

Everyone settles into their routines within a few days, with Zenitsu now sitting at Nezuko’s side on the living room cushions. Nezuko is sewing a personal project while Kanao and Tanjiro drink tea and talk. There’s quiet laughter. It’s a comfortable atmosphere.

But despite the company, Nezuko can’t help but feel a little lonely.

“Does anyone know where Genya is?” Nezuko asks, setting aside some fabric.

“Does it matter?” Zenitsu answers.

Nezuko looks at him with confusion written on her face. “It does to me.”

“I think he’s in the hallway,” Kanao says. Nezuko smiles and nods at her.

“Let me go check on him,” Nezuko says, getting up. Zenitsu, still sitting, reaches out and grabs Nezuko’s wrist—not in a way that harms her, but it still rubs her the wrong way.

What’s with him being so clingy?

“I have something to ask you,” Zenitsu says. His tone and eyes show that this is serious. Nezuko pulls herself away from him. Zenitsu looks away.

“I can wait,” he says. 

But he seems perturbed by Nezuko choosing Genya’s company over his.

***

“Genya?” Nezuko calls out, looking down the hallway.

Genya stops, at the end of the stretch of the hallway, near the front door. Nezuko wonders if he’s thinking about leaving. But why would he?

“Genya, are you okay?” Nezuko asks, almost reaching out to him despite the distance between them.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for checking on me.” He hesitates. “It’s just . . . weird, to see someone so familiar with you. That’s not Tanjiro, obviously. You two must be really close.”

Nezuko’s eyebrows furrow and she starts walking down the hall to meet him.

“What do you mean? Why is it weird?”

Genya turns to face her. He looks sad.

Nezuko looks up at him. She hadn’t realized their height difference until she’s so close to him. Maybe a little too close.

“I can’t explain it,” he says.

“Well, try to.” Nezuko doesn’t intend to be mean or forceful; she just wants to know what has him pacing in the hallway, isolating himself from everyone—even from her.

Genya scoffs and looks away. Nezuko thinks he looks nervous, in addition to being sad. Almost like he’s disappointed, but also resigned.

“It’s not that simple,” he manages to get out after a beat of silence.

“Wait, Genya, do you think I—”

“Nezukooo!” Zenitsu cries, clearly making his way towards the hallway.

Nezuko wants to groan. Why now? Zenitsu clinging to her side isn’t going to help her figure out what’s going on with Genya. In fact, it’ll probably make whatever this problem is between them worse. It’s also a little frustrating that Zenitsu won’t even let her have a conversation with one of her best friends before storming in.

Zenitsu steps out into the hallway, looking down at Genya and Nezuko by the door. He turns to where the living room is.

“Everyone, please follow me outside!” Zenitsu calls out. Kanao and Tanjiro proceed to the front of the house, and Genya slips out quickly before Nezuko can catch up with him.

Zenitsu grabs Nezuko by the hand, and brings her in front of everyone. Genya’s arms are crossed again, and Kanao is holding Tanjiro’s hand.

“You know what I learned while I was away?” Zenitsu asks Nezuko.

“What?” she asks, genuinely curious. For a moment, she forgets her and Genya’s unfinished conversation.

“This . . .” he grins, getting down on one knee, “. . . is a way to propose. Nezuko, will you marry me?”

Kanao gasps. Tanjiro’s face falls. Genya grits his teeth.

“Oh! Wow! Well, I, uh . . . I—” Nezuko stammers, her face pink.

“It’s a yes or a no,” Zenitsu says, quite seriously.

“I can’t . . .” she makes brief eye contact with Genya while surveying her surroundings, but she quickly averts her gaze. “I can’t answer right now. I need some time to think. Is that alright?”

Suddenly, Genya begins walking away from the group, in the direction of the village. Kanao and Tanjiro look at each other in surprise. Nezuko holds out her hand, wanting to go after Genya or say something to stop him, but she remains silent and stays with Zenitsu and everyone else, getting ready to deal with Kanao and Tanjiro’s reactions to the proposal.

Had Zenitsu even asked Tanjiro for his blessing?

***

Hours have passed, and Zenitsu finally gives Nezuko the space she’s been craving. Everyone’s in bed except for her. She sits in the back of the house, looking up at the stars. Tanjiro steps outside, surprising her a bit. She doesn’t say anything as he sits next to her. 

“How are you feeling about everything, Nezuko?”

Nezuko looks at him, eyes shining.

“I should feel good, right? A proposal. It’s a wonderful thing . . .”

“But?” Tanjiro implores, his question gentle.

“But . . . I don’t know if I want to be with Zenitsu. I haven’t really thought of him after all this time. I guess I’m just confused.”

“What are you confused about? It’s clear he cares for you.”

“Well, for starters, why? Why me? What does he see in me? What does he know about me?”

Am I really worthy of love as a demon? she thinks, but doesn’t say.

“Well, why not you? You’re kind, strong, the most beautiful girl in the village.”

Nezuko laughs. “Not anymore. With the way I am now.”

Tanjiro looks at her incredulously. “You still are! And Zenitsu feels that way.”

“I don’t know. I just . . . should focus on becoming human. Getting settled back home and being with you are my priorities. Why should I focus on some arranged wedding?”

“To be fair, it’s not arranged. I didn’t know he would propose to you,” Tanjiro admits.

Nezuko’s eyes widen. “This is what I mean. I don’t think it makes sense, me and him. Maybe to him, but not to me.” She pauses. “Does that make sense?”

Tanjiro nods.

“I understand. Don’t rush in or out of anything—take some time, like you told Zenitsu. Maybe interacting with him more will show you what to do for certain. Just know I’ll always support you and your decisions, Nezuko.” He smiles at her.

“I know.” Nezuko smiles. The siblings share a hug. Tanjiro stands up to leave, but Nezuko reaches out and grabs his arm.

“Wait—do you . . . know where Genya could have gone?”

Tanjiro shakes his head. “I have no idea. Most likely the village. I’m sure he’ll be back by morning. Don’t worry about him, he can handle himself.”

“Right.” She nods. “Good night.”

“Good night, Nezuko.”

Tanjiro closes the door, and a contemplative Nezuko stares at the expanse of sparkling dark, trying to decode everything—why Zenitsu wants her, whether she wants to be with him, where Genya is and what he’s doing.

She wonders if she could talk about this with Genya, but she’s not sure what she would say. She’s not sure he would know what to say, either, with their last conversation being marked by an underlying tension they hadn’t experienced before and didn’t know what to do with. There’s some feeling that Genya seemed scared to admit or share with her, and the more she thinks about it, the more it hurts.

Nezuko knows Genya’s fine, wherever he is. She knows he’ll come back to her. But there’s a part of her breaking at the seams, under the pressure to know, to decide, to be certain.

Why would Genya leave her at a time like this?

Even if he doesn’t know what to say, couldn’t he just stay?

What if that’s all she needs?

For him to just be here, with her.

Chapter Text

Morning arrives when Genya returns. He’s greeted by Zenitsu chopping wood in the front of the house. Zenitsu had slammed the axe down a little too hard when he noticed Genya approaching.

“Genya’s here!” Zenitsu calls out, collecting wood fragments and bringing them inside. Nezuko rushes out to see Genya. He opens his mouth to speak, but Nezuko starts yelling before he can say anything.

“Where were you?! Why didn’t you tell anyone where you were going? I was—we were all worried sick! You can’t just leave like that.”

Nezuko glares at Genya and he’s tight-lipped. She closes the distance between them.

“Someone just attacked me for being a demon,” she whispers, looking up at him. “What if that man came back? What if he went after you because of your ability to transform? What if—”

Genya pulls her into an embrace. She seems too shocked to return the hug.

“I’m sorry, Nezuko,” he mumbles, his arms tightening around her. She hugs him back. As Zenitsu steps outside, Genya lets her go and walks into the house. He sounds miserable at best.

Genya avoids everyone in the household throughout the day, moving around and feigning business when anyone glances his way. He’s barely ready to confront his own feelings, let alone anyone else wondering how he feels or why he had decided to storm off yesterday. He wants to see Nezuko again, to finish the confession he started just a few nights ago. But it seems as though so many things have changed. A marriage proposal! It must be serious, but Nezuko leaving feels wrong.

Is his love for her selfish? Shouldn’t her happiness take priority over his? What—or who—would make her happy?

Genya doesn’t know what he should say to Nezuko anymore.

***

Before dinner, Genya thought Nezuko could use his help cooking, since Zenitsu seemed helpless in the kitchen, but he decided to let her come to him on her own terms. If she needed his help, she would tell him.

Genya wanted her to come to him.

Leaving was brash and admittedly stupid, but Genya didn’t want to admit that his jealousy got the better of him. And, Genya supposes if Nezuko is considering marrying Zenitsu, they should be doing things like cooking together. 

Isn’t it strange how that was kind of our thing, but with him it’s romantic?

Genya almost panics at the thought that his and Nezuko’s small, mundane habits and moments amount to more than just being acquaintances, or close friends. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her that it was “weird” to see her being held with such familiarity because he wished it was him holding her instead. How could he confess to her at this point?

***

It’s late when Nezuko finds Genya alone in the spot at the back of the house—their backyard—where she had talked to Tanjiro about Zenitsu just the night before. Outside, the stars are obscured above him.

“Hey,” Nezuko says, sounding almost shy.

“I found a job,” Genya says, not making eye contact.

“That’s great!” She sounds relieved, as though she was expecting him to have done something else while he was away. Nezuko goes to sit down next to him.

“How’d you find it? Is that where you went yesterday?”

Genya nods, looking into her eyes. “I had to meet with this girl who put in a good word for me. She’s so kind, I couldn’t believe it when she told me it was happening. It’s a lot of manual labor, with odd hours and—”

Genya gets into the details of his new job, but he feels like Nezuko is only half-listening. She should be happy, given that he’s found stable work and they’ll have income until winter ends, so he wonders why she seems unhappy.

“Do you like her?” Nezuko gasps and slaps her hand over her mouth. She seems embarrassed that she said these words.

“What?” Genya asks, eyes wide. “Like who?”

“The—the village girl,” Nezuko manages to get out.

“N-no, I don’t.” He’s taken aback and flustered. His whole head is scarlet. He was so immersed in recounting the job hunt that he didn’t realize Nezuko was fixating on him talking to another girl. “I don’t have feelings for anyone,” he lies. “No good will come from someone loving me, anyways, just look at Sanemi,” he says this lightheartedly, but part of him means it.

Nezuko’s cheeks get pink, but she frowns in frustration. “That’s not true, I-I . . . well, Tanjiro and I, we both really love—”

“This conversation won’t get us anywhere,” he interrupts her, his voice firm. Nezuko’s eyes widen and her mouth is agape, but Genya keeps going. “You’re better off not thinking about me at a time like this,” he continues. “You have the chance to be happy, and I don’t want to screw that up for you. I’ll only end up hurting you.” He pauses. “I hope you can forgive me for storming off. It was selfish, and I would never want to worry you, but I have an early morning, so . . . good night.” He shuts the door and disappears into his room, missing the face of a crestfallen Nezuko.

***

Lying to Nezuko isn’t a good thing. Genya knew this the second the words left him. He felt so bad he could barely say goodbye. Now, as he tries to fall asleep, Genya feels as though someone gutted him alive, and the scar running directly through his body prickles, like he’s being torn open all over again. Is this heartbreak? Regret? Shame? he wonders. Before he knows it, he’s falling—

Genya’s feet touch the ground. He’s in an unfamiliar house, with the windows showing the insides of other houses. Even in a nightmare, he knows he’s in the Infinite Castle. Nezuko is across from him in another room. He picks up his pace to run to her, but then there’s a sound of an instrument being strummed. The scene changes. A new room. He sees Muichiro’s dull eyes. The scene changes. A new room. He sees the corpses of Mitsuri and Obanai clinging to each other. The scene changes. A new room. Gyomei is smiling, crying, and embracing a group of children. The scene changes. A new room. Nezuko’s there again. She’s reaching out her hand. Genya manages to grab onto her.

“I have to go,” Nezuko says.

“No, you don’t,” he cries out. “Stay with me.” He looks at Nezuko closely and sees she’s in her fighting demonic state. A horn sticks out of her head, and her grin is huge. She looks feral, with cracks extending from her eyes into her skin.

“You don’t want me here. You said it yourself. I’m better off without you.” She grabs further up his arms, claws down with her nails, his blood running and her body falling—

Genya sits up abruptly, his breathing heavy. His heart is pounding so hard, he clings his hand to his chest to steady himself. He hurries to Nezuko’s room to check if she’s alright. He feels this is irrational and he’s paranoid, but he needs to do it. He also wants to apologize for being so coarse the previous night. He didn’t really mean it, after all. Genya wants to be with Nezuko more than anything, but part of him sincerely feels that path would only hurt her. And haven’t they been hurt enough?

But that flash of jealousy of the girl in the village, and the way Nezuko’s lips curved when she said ‘love’—could she want to be with him, too? Shouldn’t he have let her speak? She had, after all, sought him out alone, which was what he wanted.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Genya scolds himself as he rushes through the hall.

Many things in Nezuko’s room are disheveled and missing. It’s as though someone had stormed into the room, taken many of her things, and left.

Genya goes to the living room, seeing Tanjiro enjoying his morning tea with Kanao.

“Tanjiro! Where’s Nezuko?” He’s on the verge of panicking, and he’s unsure whether he’s doing a good job hiding it.

“Nezuko’s gone for a few days. Zenitsu is away as well. She thought it would be best if you didn’t see her go.”

Tanjiro doesn’t connect the dots for Genya—that Nezuko and Zenitsu are traveling, essentially eloping, together—but Genya picks up on it anyway. He heads to work, trying not to worry, trying not to regret his shitty behavior, trying not to envy.

It’s not working.

Genya thinks of the smile of the Nezuko in his dream. He feels the chill around him sharpen, and he grits his teeth as he goes to his first day, down the mountain and through the village. His regret causes him to miss Nezuko so much that it aches, but he knows that’s on him. He heard her talking about love and shut it down immediately. When really, that is what he wants to know.

Who do you love, Nezuko? he wonders, stumbling through the light snow.

Nezuko’s absence makes him feel like a part of him is missing and he’s supposed to what, undergo orientation?

It has to be this way, he thinks.

But he doesn’t quite mean that, either.

Chapter Text

Nezuko is walking through a patch of grass, feeling the warmth of the sun on her pale skin. Wind shuffles her hair as though it’s braiding the long strands. The weather is very unlike the winter season they just left behind, and she appreciates the vastness of the land. As much as she loves the forest back home, being able to see where you are seems easier, somehow. Safer. She thinks about the rice that could grow in the fields, something that doesn’t happen near her house.

“This is where I was struck by lightning,” Zenitsu says solemnly, staring at the top of a dead tree.

Nezuko’s eyes squint as she focuses on the top. “Why were you up there?” she asks, lightening her voice to not come off as impolite.

“Well, Gramps didn’t exactly go easy on me when I was training to be a Demon Slayer. He used to be a Hashira, after all. I had to get away somehow.” He pauses. “Now I wish I had never run away from him.” He looks down at the ground.

Nezuko doesn’t know how to defuse this situation. She’s not sure of the circumstances of his Gramps’ death. She’s not even sure if that’s his biological grandfather or just a nickname. Would it be insensitive to ask for further detail?

This whole time I’ve been worrying about whether Zenitsu knows me, but it’s not like I ever really bothered to get to know him, Nezuko thinks. Then, she has an idea.

“Where’s your happiest memory in your house?” she asks, shifting the subject the way Genya had when he observed her grieving. It hits her just how gentle and thoughtful of a question it is. “Or . . . with Gramps?” she amends. 

Zenitsu’s eyes, a bit watery, shine when he hears her. He almost smiles.

“My happiest memory with Gramps wasn’t here, but it was when he told me I was his pride and joy.”

“That’s lovely,” Nezuko says. It’s all she can say.

Zenitsu smiles at her. “Thanks, Nezuko-chan.”

After that tender exchange, the air between them shifts, like holding a conversation is like holding hot coal. They both exchange a glance before looking away. Nezuko shifts uncomfortably where she stands, and Zenitsu places his hand on the tree. She wonders if a memory with Gramps is playing through his head. She also wonders why they’ve been silent for so long.

Should I say something? Why are we just standing here without saying anything?

Part of her brain jokes that this isn’t new—when she wore her muzzle, she would never say anything as Zenitsu went on and on about his love for her.

Another moment passes like molasses. Zenitsu’s hand limply falls to his side.

“Let’s head back to the house,” he finally says.

Nezuko nods, and she follows him in silence through the grassy field and past orange-leaved trees. He doesn’t hold her hand or look back at her.

***

It’s clear to Nezuko that Zenitsu needs somebody. Not to replace Gramps, but to help him move forward. It’s also clear that she needs to reject his marriage proposal. She can barely talk to him. Their conversations are carried by Zenitsu and his memories, with Nezuko’s questions guiding him. They’re not good questions, but they prevent that burning sensation that undercurrents every conversation. Why is she so uncomfortable and afraid of being burned around him?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is a fragile flame that Nezuko wants to convince herself can grow into romantic reciprocation. But she supposes this comes from her own pity. After all, how could she just leave him behind when seeing and hearing that he’s so alone? Wouldn’t that be cruel of her? Could she help him without marrying him, despite that rejecting him would certainly break a perfectly good heart?

Nezuko wrestles with these questions as she tries to fall asleep.

***

There’s not much to do during this weekend trip. No nearby villages or shops. Not even any neighbors or visitors, which makes Nezuko feel worse about the fact that she wants to reject Zenitsu. That she will reject Zenitsu.

Because even at home, he’s so alone.

The night before Nezuko and Zenitsu are set to return to the Kamado home, Nezuko once again tries to teach Zenitsu how to cook, and the house nearly catches fire. She would laugh if she wasn’t missing the food back home and a bit tired of having burnt yakitori for the past few nights. The cooking routine her and Genya had wasn’t normal. This dawns on her now that she’s in the presence of an incompetent cook. 

Nezuko sighs as she cleans up the mess in the kitchen. To Zenitsu’s credit, at least he could make rice.

“I guess I’ll prepare the table,” he mumbles, almost apologetic, leaving Nezuko alone.

As Nezuko prepares dinner, she’s planning the speech she’ll give to Zenitsu—rejecting him in a way that won’t hurt his feelings. Is that possible? she wonders, her hands holding bowls and slightly shaking as she joins Zenitsu to eat.

Once they finish the meal, Nezuko inhales deeply.

“Zenitsu, there’s something I need to tell you,” she says slowly.

“Hm? What is it?” he looks at her absentmindedly.

“I—I’m honored, really. You asking me to be your bride . . . despite everything, I never saw it coming.” She bites her lip and looks down, her knuckles folded on her lap. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful to me. Even as a demon, you protected me and fought alongside me. You’ve cared for me with strong affection these past few years, and you’re a wonderful man. I just know you’ll have nothing but the best in your future. I hope you know that, too. And I will do anything I can to help you. After everything, after Gramps, I know you need someone now more than ever. Tanjiro and I will be at your side.” 

Zenitsu’s eyes are shining, watery due sadness, she imagines. He probably can’t believe this is happening; after all, she’d spent so many years literally running away from his courting, and now she’s going to cut off their romantic connection for good. Hopefully he wouldn’t sob in the way he often did before . . .

Nezuko readies herself to say it.

‘But, I won’t marry you. I need to focus on my family and on becoming human again. I made a promise and I need to fulfill it. I hope you can understand.’

Nezuko pauses, and Zenitsu, overjoyed, lifts her in his arms, repeating: 

“I will always love you, Nezuko-chan!”

“O-oh,” she laughs nervously, overwhelmed. “I wasn’t saying that I’ll—”

The words never left her mouth. Before Nezuko knows it, she’s on the ground, Zenitsu pecks her on the cheek, and he hurriedly leaves to begin packing.

What have I done? she groans internally, confused as to how she’ll explain this to everyone. What will Tanjiro say? Does Kanao feel that her and Zenitsu have always been love interests as far as she’s concerned?

And the burning question she refuses to entertain is: what will Genya think?

But didn’t she leave in the middle of the night partially to avoid the fact that Genya rejected her affection, dismissing the idea that she could need him to be truly happy?

***

It’s night when Nezuko and Zenitsu return to the Kamado household. Nezuko had barely allowed Zenitsu to stop on their way there; she was afraid to be alone with him. He wouldn’t hurt her or touch her inappropriately, but she didn’t know what could happen now that he thinks she’s his soon-to-be wife. 

There’s also the fact that he literally would not stop talking. He had gone through his entire ‘dating’/rejection history, and then through his interest in weddings from different cultures (which Nezuko admittedly liked to learn about), and then he started going through his family tree’s marriages, and he concluded their trip with suggestions on their wedding.

Oh Tanjiro, please help me get out of this, she hopes to herself. Or Genya . . .

And what would Genya do? part of herself scoffs as she peeks her head into rooms as she walks past them in the main hallway. He’s not going to care. He’ll be happy for me, if anything.

Nezuko’s eyes scan Genya’s room carefully once she reaches it. She sets her luggage down and slowly begins to enter the room. Genya is slumped against the wall, seemingly sleeping. Nezuko turns to leave, but then she hears it.

Her name on his lips.

“Nezuko,” he groans again. He sounds pained. Nezuko rushes to him, afraid he’s somehow hurt and she just can’t see it.

“Genya? Are you okay?”

Nezuko notices some glass bottles behind him.

Alcohol? she wonders. Nezuko leans in closer, and she picks up on the sake on his breath. Where’d he even get the drinks? The village?

Genya opens his eyes. He starts slurring. “N-Nezuko . . . I want . . .”

Nezuko sighs. At least he’s not hurt. “You want what?”

He looks at her, eyes shining with a strong emotion. “You.” Genya wraps his arms around her like ivy. “I want you.”

Nezuko holds him back, shocked by his words yet not fully believing them. She’s blushing hard and her heart is fluttering like a flying bird’s wings. She needs to leave, before Genya says more insincere things.

“You don’t mean that,” she whispers. “You’re drunk, Genya. You need to rest.”

She helps him to his feet, and he stumbles. Nezuko’s eyes widen. She’s caught between Genya’s arms and the wall.

“I mean it,” he says. The firmness in his voice makes him sound almost sober. Almost serious. Genya pulls Nezuko into another embrace. “I want you. I want to be with only you.”

Nezuko sighs again. “Oh Genya, you’re hopeless.” She gives him a quick squeeze. “Let’s get you in your bed.”

She takes his hand and guides him to his bed.

“Good night,” Nezuko says to a fast-asleep Genya tucked into the sheets. She realizes she wants to kiss him on the cheek, but that would be strange, wouldn’t it? She also wants to curl up beside him, watching his breaths move his scarred chest up and down. She wants to be in his arms and have him in hers but she cannot. She leaves the room, her heart weighing like a stone.

***

In her room, Nezuko sits with her sadness. She tosses and turns, unable to let herself sleep. Her thoughts rush over her like a current.

Have I sealed my fate? What can I do now when I’d essentially said ‘Yes’ just by visiting Zenitsu’s home with him? Why’d I even go? Stupid, so stupid.

And Genya. God, Genya. What was he saying? Why was he drunk? And . . .

. . . does he really want me in that way?

Nezuko’s heart races. She tries to fall asleep again, but is overwhelmed by the thought of herself in Genya’s arms again. 

She thinks of the intensity in his eyes, filled with a feeling she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Was it desire?

Nezuko lingers on the way her name sounded on his lips, even as he slurred his words. Despite her absence and partial abandonment of him, he was still thinking of her. Wanting her, and wanting her to be with him.

She also can’t forget the tender strength in his touch. He was always gentle when he touched her, but this time, it felt a bit . . . desperate. Like he couldn’t let her go—not again.

***

Nezuko wakes up to yelling. She quickly gets out of bed to see the commotion in the living room.

“Why are you here again?” Genya demands, pointing a finger at Zenitsu.

“Why wouldn’t I be here?” Zenitsu counters. He seems secure, as though there really is a reason for him to stay beyond being a good friend of Tanjiro.

“Genya,” Tanjiro says calmly, “I told you what Zenitsu said.”

“Well, it’s bullshit. I won’t believe it until Nezuko—” Genya’s eyes wander for a moment, and his eyes lock with Nezuko, who is standing in the hallway with her mouth open in confusion. “Nezuko, we need to talk.” He approaches her quickly, motioning that he wants her to go to the front of the house.

“I heard from Tanjiro that you’re engaged to Zenitsu,” he says.

“It’s not true,” she says. “Well, okay, maybe he thinks we’re engaged, but I didn’t say yes.” She sighs.

Genya searches her face as though it’s a map. Like it’ll tell him how to feel.

“So you won’t marry him?”

“Of course I won’t. Tanjiro’ll help me explain it to him, and then I can be with who I want.”

“What about . . .” his voice almost falters. She wonders if he’s still hungover. “What about our promise?” Genya asks, voice shaking. “You said we’d do this together. It feels like we’ve been nothing but apart this whole time. We’re not closer to being human.” 

“I’m sorry, Genya, I don’t know what to do. I should be with you, finding ways to make us human again, but there’s too much happening. You’re working and getting drunk and . . . emotional . . . on me, I’m half-engaged, and nothing makes sense. But I haven’t stopped thinking about it—about us. It’s part of why I didn’t say yes.”

“Then . . . come with me.” 

“What are you saying? Where would we go? Genya, I can’t just leave.”

 “You left with him,” he says. “Please, just . . . run away with me.” His eyes are pleading, bright and shining with tears. It seems the sake has, in fact, left him more emotional than yesterday. 

Nezuko slowly approaches Genya and hugs him.

“Now isn’t the time to be reckless. You belong here, not only with me, but with my family. Stay, Genya.” She pauses. “Unless you truly have to go. Write to Sanemi. See how he’s doing. And then get back to me so we can have a strategy.”

Genya returns the hug. “I’ll stay.” He pauses. “Even if that means seeing Zenitsu around you.”

Nezuko laughs. “Don’t be so dramatic. Zenitsu’s still a good friend, and he really does want to be with us.”

Genya scoffs. “More like he wants to be with you.”

“Guess you and him aren’t that different, huh?”

Genya’s entire face colors red. “W-what are you saying?” 

“You don’t remember?” Nezuko’s eyes are wide, and she almost looks hurt. “You said something to me last night. About wanting me.” She hesitates. “I—I know you were drunk, but do you want to talk about it?”

“I have to go.” Genya stumbles away, his head still red, cursing under his breath.

Nezuko tilts her head as she watches him leave, an imaginary question mark above her head. What are they even doing? Shouldn’t they talk about how they feel?

What does she feel, anyway?

She had wanted to kiss him. To hold him. He said he wanted to be with her . . .

Nezuko feels her cheeks flush. She needs to focus on Zenitsu.

Chapter Text

That night, Genya writes a letter to Sanemi, asking if the mystery of the Demon Slayer mark is any closer to being resolved. Sanemi doesn’t write back to him often, but when he does, it’s not much of an update. It’s like he scratched the page with ink—it’s chaotic, fragmented, and looks rushed. At one point, Genya would have suspected this means Sanemi doesn’t care about him, but now, he knows Sanemi does, and he’s grateful for a response. It really is better than the silence that cut through them for too much of their lives. Sanemi has never been really good with words. He would never expect detailed stories of Sanemi’s everyday life with Giyuu and the young Master—especially since Sanemi just ends up writing a lot of foul language every time he mentions Giyuu.

Genya doesn’t tell Sanemi about Nezuko; he isn’t sure which boundaries he should cross with Sanemi. Does his big brother want to know about his one-sided pining? Isn’t that just a bit pathetic? Would Sanemi even be happy with him crushing on a demon? They would mutually agree that it’s bad for him to be interested in Tanjiro’s younger sister—for very different reasons, of course. Sanemi still hates Tanjiro, after all, for no reason Genya finds to be valid. Genya has no clue how Tanjiro would feel about his feelings towards Nezuko. They’re all friends, practically family at this point. Would pursuing Nezuko cause a problem for everyone? Would everything fall apart because of these feelings?

In the letter, Genya mentions the New Year and his upcoming birthday. Everyone knows they’re traditionally celebrated together, but he lets Sanemi know he’d love for him to visit around that time, if possible. He doesn’t want to intrude, but he misses Sanemi.

Genya’s hands shake as he writes:

‘I miss you and I wish you well.’

Depending on Sanemi’s response, Genya may have to leave the Kamado household earlier than he’d like. Despite their lack of progress, Genya still clings to the promise he made to a demon girl in the garden.

***

Genya likes to think he’s changed. He’s grown so much from when he was younger. He’s not easily irritable or aggressive, he doesn’t raise his voice or snap at others, and he certainly doesn’t hold petty grudges over past grievances.

But this isn’t a problem of the past—Zenitsu is presently forcing himself into Nezuko’s life, and Genya can’t help but feel annoyed every second he sees Zenitsu. Genya jokes to Tanjiro that he’s seconds away from kicking Zenitsu out despite this not even being his own house, but Tanjiro just laughs.

“Whether he stays is up to Nezuko,” Tanjiro says. “I can’t intervene the way she wants me to. Zenitsu would never take a rejection from me seriously. He didn’t even tell me about the proposal in the first place.” He pauses. “Even I have to say that I never thought Nezuko felt the same towards Zenitsu, and I was surprised when she traveled with him. But to me, anyone who cares for Nezuko as a demon is worthy of being with her.”

Genya nods, taking in Tanjiro’s opinion. He meditates on the last line for a moment, and freezes like an animal realizing it’s being hunted. Wait, is he talking about me?

“There aren’t many of those candidates,” Tanjiro continues, “but I’m biased—I do have a favorite.”

Genya is going to be bold and just ask the obvious:

‘Who are you talking about?’

But before he can, Kanao enters the room.

“Apologies for interrupting.” She nods at Genya. “Tanjiro, could you come with me?”

Tanjiro takes her hand and smiles. “Of course.” He also nods at Genya. “See you later.”

Genya stands alone, still a bit stunned. He hadn’t told Tanjiro about how he feels about Nezuko. Is it obvious? Should he avoid Nezuko? Should he ask for permission to pursue her? Despite Zenitsu’s intrusion, despite his own desperate acts done in jealousy and drunkenness, despite him not feeling worthy of being with her?

What if he can be with her despite everything?

***

The winter season is unkind and has hit at full force. Snow trickles in and out of the clouds at different intervals, but remains around the Kamado household consistently. The weather demands more hours from Genya at his new job, which is the primary income for the household. Nezuko is struggling with her small business, but she persistently sews every day.

Kanao and Tanjiro spend most of their time inside, talking about the future and the logistics of their marriage. It’s generally unspoken, but everyone agrees: after the final phase, survivors deserve peace and rest. The miracle of being alive after such a brutal battle merits a blissfully mundane life, one that surrenders the idea of overcoming and embraces simply living again. Witnessing and experiencing the little perfections in life is enough.

However, Genya and Nezuko reject this notion with their promise; they don’t want to exist as they are. After everything, they must continue to fight to be human again. 

In the household, even Zenitsu contributes, in his own erratic ways. He straggles between doing small tasks in town and household work (which Genya begrudgingly appreciates, since he doesn’t have to do any chores when he arrives at the dead of night from work).

Genya makes a bold decision, but only in his head: he’s going to have a conversation with Nezuko. And he’s going to tell her how he feels. No alcohol in his system, no reservations, no enmity towards Zenitsu. Just a pure and genuine confession. From the moment she drew him back from his demonic state, he had known that he loved her. Why’d he have to ruin it all?

However, now that he wants to speak to Nezuko, they keep missing each other. 

Prior to leaving and bracing the early morning weather to head to work, Genya looks for a pair of gloves to take with him. He wonders if it’ll help with his hands getting calloused, and also just getting cold. In the drawer where Genya suspects thicker gloves should be, there’s paper like the kind he uses to write letters and an idea strikes him. 

He writes a note for Nezuko.

***

‘I keep missing you,’ Genya’s note says. ‘When are you able to talk?’

‘You miss me?’ Nezuko’s note responds the next night. She avoids giving him a time or place to speak. Genya looks at the note and his face instantly heats up. He wonders if he should go to her room and see her in spite of how late it is. He suspects that would be easier, and he could cut off this method of communication before it becomes a bad, sneaky habit. 

But part of him wants to see where this will go.

‘What if I do?’ Genya’s note replies. ‘Will you see me again?’

‘I’m a busy woman.’

‘You’re avoiding my questions.’

‘You’re avoiding me.’

‘That’s not true. You refuse to see me.’

‘That’s not true. I’d like to see you. I love seeing you. Why’re you always out, again?’

Genya’s bright red cheeks seem to have cut off blood from going to his brain. ‘I love seeing you.’ He can picture Nezuko feigning ignorance about his absence, as though they were engaged in a face-to-face conversation. Somehow, he still feels flustered over words on a piece of paper.

‘You know I have work, but I’d really like to see you. I miss you.’ 

(Genya felt like he was having a heart attack when he wrote the last sentence.)

‘I miss you too. How is work going?’

And so it goes. Genya and Nezuko end up exchanging notes throughout the house on an almost daily basis. Genya stopped pressing the issue and practical logistics of meeting in person—which was his initial intention with the notes—and instead embraced their newfound tradition of small paper exchanges. Both Genya and Nezuko don’t write about missing each other anymore, and neither asks the ‘What are we doing? What are we? Is this anything?’ in their notes.

The exchanges grow lengthier and more detailed; oftentimes, they’re recounting stories about their days. And, despite not addressing their romantic feelings, they continue to flirt, and tease, and express pride and admiration for each other. It may not be directly expressed, but there is love in each letter. Genya looks forward to reading Nezuko’s notes when he finishes a taxing day at work. He wonders how she feels when she reads his words. 

It’s a matter of time before they’re caught by someone else in the household, but who cares? What are a few notes between friends?

Genya wonders what would happen if Zenitsu specifically saw one of the notes.

Would that prove anything?

Friends. That’s what they’ve been this whole time. Maybe that’s all they would be. They’ve never talked about their relationship, and Nezuko still hasn’t told Zenitsu to leave. Was she lying about her disinterest in Zenitsu? Have her feelings for him changed, possibly?

But she wants me to stay, Genya remembers.

Nezuko cares for Genya. And he loves her. That’s enough to keep him waking up in the morning, stumbling through snow and massaging aching muscles before bed. He stares at a line from one of the latest notes. He notices a red smudge at the bottom. He immediately grows tense as he brings the page to his face and feels a stab of desire.

Despite the time of night, he goes to Nezuko’s room.

***

Nezuko sits up when she hears motion at her door.

“Who is it?” she asks.

“Your pen pal.”

“Genya?”

“Can I come in?” Genya inquires.

Nezuko opens the door, Genya enters, and they sit together on the ground.

Genya holds out the note with two of his fingers. Nezuko eyes him like he’s acting strangely.

“This is the last note I sent. What’s wrong with—”

“Why is there blood on it?”

Nezuko freezes. “I—”

Genya takes her hands in his. His are calloused from rough manual labor, but her hands look worn out, too. Too worn out to be from sewing a reasonable amount. She looks like she’s been scratched. She has poor posture and dark circles curved like the shadow of the moon under her eyes. He’s never seen her this tired before.

“Are you overworking yourself?” he asks softly. His face is etched with concern.

“I’m just trying to keep up. Can’t have you doing everything for us. Or Zenitsu,” she mumbles.

“Look, I don’t mind the work. Sure, it hurts and I’m tired, but as long as you guys are happy and secure, that’s what matters.” He hesitates. “Your notes, uh, help with that.”

Nezuko looks at him skeptically. “Really?”

Genya nods. “Really. I . . . like reading them each night.” His cheeks feel hot, but he doesn’t feel as nervous as he normally would.

Nezuko smiles and intertwines her fingers with his. “I like being your pen pal too. Do you think we could meet in person when it’s not midnight?”

Genya laughs, a light blush on his face. “That’s why I wrote the first note in the first place, you know.”

“Do you think you could stop working for a bit?”

Genya looks at her curiously. She makes eye contact and holds their intertwined fingers between them.

“It’s selfish. I want to see you more,” she admits.

He’s maroon. “Y-yeah. I could even find a new job. I gained a good reputation through all the work I’ve done.”

“Don’t forget Tanjiro and I when you’re famous,” Nezuko teases.

“Famous for factory work and other manual labor? You’re kidding, right?”

Nezuko shrugs. She separates her hands from his and leans her head on his shoulder.

“I think we can be anything,” she whispers. “Even if ‘famous’ just means being acknowledged by those you care about, and people that care about you. Isn’t that better?”

Genya finds himself nodding. He looks at her like he’s looking at the stars. It’s an enchanted and faraway look, like he doesn’t believe distance or his shortcomings or someone else can come between them. He wants to kiss her, he realizes, but buries the thought and leans his head on top of hers instead. He’s never noticed their height difference until now.

“You’re kind of short,” he says, without thinking.

“Go to bed, infamous factory worker,” she says, shoving him away with a smile. He laughs.

“No more notes?” Genya asks as he stands at Nezuko’s room’s door.

“No promises, but I will be seeing more of you, right?” she looks at him with hopeful eyes. “I really miss cooking with you.”

Genya smiles. “I’ll figure something out. Good night, Nezuko.”

“Night!” she says, squeezing his arm before he disappears into the hallway.

Chapter Text

“I don’t want to marry you,” Nezuko says.

Despite her stern stare aimed at the reflection in the mirror, there is no ‘umph’ behind her words. She means it, but she needs to be so serious that she seems scary. She wants no rebuttal, no ambiguity, no room for another misinterpretation. She needs to say ‘No’ in the most blatant and confident way possible in order for Zenitsu to truly understand.

Nezuko leaves her room and paces the hallway, muttering her thoughts and practicing her rejection speeches out loud, before thunderous laughter catches her attention. She follows the sound to the kitchen. She sees Genya and Tanjiro beside each other. Tanjiro’s body is shaking as he laughs. She hasn’t seen him this happy in a long time, and the sight brings a smile to her face.

Then there’s Genya. Her heart aches at the sight of him, his tall frame silhouetted by sunlight. Light that wasn’t afforded to them in their last conversation in the middle of the night. She wants to run to him and embrace him, but she pauses when she realizes he’s helping Tanjiro with a task—wrapping onigiri. She can’t hear their soft exchanges, but when Genya laughs, it’s light and bright like the sunshine surrounding him, and Nezuko’s heart flutters. He turns slightly and sees her. Once they make eye contact, he tilts his head, indicating he wants her to join them. Nezuko feels panic surging inside her, and she isn’t sure why. It’s just Genya.

Oh.

Oh.

It’s always been Genya, she thinks, playing with her hair in a way she hopes is nonchalant as she starts walking towards the pair.

Nezuko wants to get married, she realizes—but to Genya, who’s been her friend, fighting comrade, demon-in-arms, and a part of her family. She knows that this is crazy and sudden, but is it? She knows Genya cares for her. He once denied having feelings for anyone, but he then said he wants to be with her. Wants her.

Surely he would consider being in a relationship with her . . . and without a doubt, he feels the same way about her. He has to. She doesn’t know what she would do if he didn’t.

“Nezuko?” a small voice behind Nezuko asks for her, and she turns around quickly, her cheeks pink.

“What?” she looks over to the person standing behind her with confusion. “Zenitsu? What is it?” She tilts her head, but as she locks her eyes with Zenitsu’s, she can tell he knows—he knows that she’s fallen in love with Genya. But how?

Zenitsu tilts his head in the direction of the hallway. Nezuko follows him until they reach his room.

“I found this,” Zenitsu says, passing her a piece of paper. It’s one of the notes she had written to Genya.

‘I want us to be together again. I must sound so dramatic, considering we sleep under the same roof and all, but I do want to see you. I wish we could still spend our mornings preparing breakfast for Tanjiro and Kanao. Remember when you spilled the miso soup after promising you’d never spill anything when you first got here months ago? Good times. It’s been hard, without you. But I’m really grateful for everything you’re doing. It’s hard work, too. Harder than just sewing clothes. I wish things were different. I wish I could be beside you more often. But I’ll settle for your sweet notes.’

Nezuko doesn’t need to read the note to remember what she wrote. She remembers every word, as she spent a lot of time writing those letters. But this discovery between her and Zenitsu feels like the final crack in the glass—it’s only a matter of time before the rest shatters.

“You never told me you and Genya were so close,” Zenitsu says. He doesn’t sound hurt; rather, he seems disappointed. In her or himself—she can’t tell.

Nezuko holds her elbow with one of her arms. “Why does it matter?”

“I really do love you, Nezuko. But after seeing this, I realized—you never did say ‘Yes’ to my proposal, and you never told me you loved me, too, did you?”

She stays silent for a moment. “Zenitsu—”

“Just say it.”

Nezuko’s eyes tear up. “Not here. Not like this.” It feels like she’s about to throw up her heart. “I wanted this conversation to be dignified, clear, and kind. Because I care about you, Zenitsu, I do.” She pauses. “But, you’re right. I never said ‘Yes’ because I don’t want to marry you.” She holds her hands as she says this. “I never loved you and I’m not sorry I don’t.” She fidgets with her fingers, her claws causing the scratches on her hands to bleed, but they heal almost immediately. “But I hope you find love without me. And I mean what I said that night—Tanjiro and I are here if you need anything.”

“I’ll leave you to Genya, then,” he says dismissively.

“That’s—”

“None of my concern? Not anymore, I guess.” He sighs. “You know, I thought we would fall in love so easily. That you’d see why you belong with me. But I just don’t get it. Did I do something wrong? Why am I not good enough?”

“It’s not you, it’s me,” she whispers.

“You love him,” he says. It’s not a question, but Nezuko looks at him directly in the eyes and nods. “Well,” Zenitsu sighs again, “I hope I find someone else, but they’ll never be you. I will always love you, Nezuko-chan.”

Nezuko nods again, tears spilling from her eyes. “Take care, Zenitsu.”

She leaves the room to let him pack his things.

***

The next night is New Years, so soon enough, everyone is celebrating. Nezuko’s birthday had just passed, and Genya’s is in the upcoming month—so they are being jointly celebrated, as is the New Years tradition. It took Nezuko until late last night to prepare the dish, but she tried out a recipe she hoped Genya would like.

“I know it’s untraditional, but I just thought . . . you deserved something special. For your 20th birthday. It’s a big milestone, and I’m so happy to be here with you for it,” she says, extending her arms to give Genya a platter of wagashi. In pastel hues, the sweets have been styled to look like a collection of flowers.

Genya smiles and takes the plate from her.

“This looks amazing, Nezuko. Thank you,” he responds, almost breathless.

Tanjiro and Kanao cheer, taking Nezuko and Genya out of their moment.

“You should share with us!” Tanjiro says.

Genya looks over at them and laughs. “Of course I will,” he says, and before he can close his lips, he feels a soft texture touching him. His neck almost snaps as he turns to look at Nezuko and then down at his mouth. She’s feeding him a sweet with a smile on her face. Genya looks at her softly and takes a gentle bite. He pulls away slowly. “This is—” he begins saying, but is interrupted by the sound of someone dropping something heavy down the hall.

“Zenitsu?” Tanjiro asks in confusion. “I could have sworn he left already.”

Genya looks at Nezuko with a raised eyebrow, but she looks away.

There’s a series of crashing sounds. “Dammit!” a voice shouts.

“Sanemi?” Genya calls out in surprise. He sets down the platter and rushes to the front entrance of the house. Tanjiro and Kanao follow close behind, with Nezuko walking a bit slower. The gears are turning in her head.

If I want to be with Genya, I need Sanemi’s approval, she thinks. She clenches a fist and nods to herself. I can do this!

Sanemi is indeed here, watermelons in hand—or two in each hand. There are a few more on the floor. Genya hugs his brother, who is still struggling to hold the fruits. As another one falls, Nezuko picks it up. Sanemi looks at her warily. She greets him with a big smile, her fangs showing. He almost glares at her, but Genya shakes Sanemi a bit and locks eyes with him before Sanemi can react to Nezuko.

“I can’t believe it! You’re here!” Genya laughs.

“‘Course I am. You wanted me here.”

Genya nods. His eyes look watery. “Mhm! Come on, Nezuko made me the best sweets, and—” Genya continues to ramble, and Nezuko stares at Sanemi with interest.

Very soon into his visit, Sanemi notices something and becomes annoyed, but he won’t tell anyone what’s upsetting him. Genya looks concerned after quietly asking him if something is wrong, and as Nezuko goes to grab Genya’s hand, Sanemi looks more pissed than normal and demands alcohol. 

“Any drinks here?” Sanemi asks gruffly.

“Oh, we don’t really drink. Would you like some tea?” Tanjiro offers.

“I need a drink,” Sanemi mutters, heading outside. “I’ll be back, little brother.”

“Um, I’ll go with you!” Nezuko says nervously. Genya looks at both of them with wide eyes, watching his two different worlds collide.

Nezuko runs up to Sanemi and beckons him to follow. “C’mon, I can find you some good drinks.”

“You drink?” Sanemi looks at her skeptically, but that doesn’t stop him from walking with her towards the direction of their unannounced destination.

“No,” she replies. “But there’s alcohol in the village.”

***

“Y’know why I needed a drink?” Sanemi slurs. He’s already drunk.

Nezuko hiccups. She’s had a few drinks, too. “I don’t. Why?”

“I see how close you two are,” he says, referring to what she presumes is herself and Genya. She feels herself growing shy. “I realized that Tanjiro will be my brother-in-law. You’re still a demon and everything, but seriously, Tanjiro’s sister? Tanjiro? Couldn’t my little brother have considered the extended family a little more closely, for my sake?”

“W-well, I don’t know about getting married. Genya and I haven’t talked about it . . . about us.” 

“I still struggle with Genya’s taboo,” Sanemi says solemnly. He sounds sober, as though the topic of Genya eating demons hardens him. “Genya is different from you, though, and for the better—I can’t imagine a sibling being a full-demon.” 

Nezuko is hesitant to engage in this subject, and feels a little hurt by it. Being a demon wasn’t her choosing, after all. But she decides not to hold it against him. Of course a former Hashira can’t accept demons.

“Well, what about the rest of your family? Genya has never talked to me about them before.”

Sanemi stiffens as he mumbles, “They’re dead,” and takes another swig. 

“O-oh—I’m so sorry,” she says, struggling to recover. “Well, my family is dead, too. I’m sure you know all I have is Tanjiro. And I’m happy to know that he loves me despite being a demon, and I know Genya is grateful that you do the same for him.”

“Talked about that, have you?” Sanemi chuckles darkly. He drinks again.

“He loves you very much,” she reassures him. “He doesn’t need to tell me for me to know. I can see it. I can see him trying so hard, harder than anyone. To be better. To get past his mistakes. To be human again, for all of us. That’s why I love him.”

Sanemi’s eyes shine with an emotion Nezuko can’t quite place.

“I approve of you,” he says quietly.

“Sorry?” Nezuko asks, believing she misheard him. 

He rephrases his approval. “I can tolerate Tanjiro for Genya’s happiness.”

Nezuko smiles. “You’ll only have to approve of me if Genya wants to be with me.”

“And you know he wants that, don’t you?” Sanemi laughs as Nezuko grows pink.

“We should head back,” she diverts, but her stomach just did a little victory leap.

Sanemi nods. “I’m gonna have one hell of a hangover.”

***

The next day, hungover Sanemi talks to Tanjiro, with Genya, Nezuko, and Kanao onlooking before sending Sanemi off.

“Everything was great,” Sanemi mumbles.

“Sorry?” Tanjiro asks, in the same disbelieving tone as Nezuko the night before.

“The celebration, the food. It was really good. You’re a good brother, and I respect you and your family. I’ll see you all again soon.” 

Genya, Nezuko, and Kanao look at the oddity of the interaction in awe. 

“By the way, Genya,” Sanemi says, turning as he gets ready to step outside.

“Hm?” Genya looks up as Nezuko approaches his side. 

“The mystery of the Demon Slayer mark is almost resolved. Yushiro’s been good help, I’ll give him that.”

Genya grins and pulls Sanemi into a hug. 

“I’ll make it back to you soon,” Sanemi reassures him. Nezuko can tell Genya’s nearly crying from the small nod he gives his older brother.

Hearing the news, Nezuko feels more at peace, as though a puzzle piece that was missing has now been sorted into place. She didn’t know what the full picture would be, but it felt like they were closer to each other after this. They had a future to look forward to.

What a relief.

“I won’t miss any more of your milestones, and we can be together as long as you will have me, little brother,” Sanemi continues.

He leaves the Kamado household behind him with a smile.

Chapter Text

“Sanemi told me he approves of Nezuko,” Tanjiro tells Genya casually over tea.

“Seriously?” Genya looks at him with shock. “Wait. Approves her for what?”

Tanjiro smiles. “You have my approval, too.”

Genya feels his face growing hot. “Are you saying—”

“Yes, you can court Nezuko, if you’d like. In fact, I’d like you to. I am giving you my blessing, but it’s obviously up for Nezuko to choose.”

Genya’s red. “T-thanks. I really appreciate your support. I promise to take care of her, even if we’re not involved romantically.”

Tanjiro nods. “I trust you. I feel bad for Zenitsu, but you were my favorite.” He winks.

Genya laughs. “I’m glad.”

Tanjiro continues talking, but Genya’s only half-listening. He feels like he’s in a dream, one that he’ll wake up from any moment. He has to tell her. He’s waited too long. Zenitsu’s gone, Sanemi somehow approves, and now Tanjiro does, too.

All signs point to the possibility of being with Nezuko romantically. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t dreaming about her, both day and night.

Throughout the day, Genya thinks of the tingling sensation he feels when his fingers intertwine with Nezuko’s, or the way her head rests on him every time they hug. The way she sinks into his arms so gently; he can hold all of her and still not feel close enough.

At night, his yearning grows so strong he thinks he’s going to throw up from longing. Keeping his pounding heart and lovesick stomach under control grows harder with every moment—especially after his drunken confession. 

Because although they hadn’t talked about it (or, rather, he’s trying to never talk about it), Genya remembers being drunk and saying he wants Nezuko. He remembers his desperate embraces and his admittance of wanting to be with only her. 

It feels like that was the only time he was clear about his desire for her, but it hadn’t done anything because he was drunk and evasive afterwards. How could he face a vulnerable confession situation again?

Once Genya heads to his room, a different wave of insecurity hits him. With all obstacles out of the way, is he alone good enough to be with Nezuko? What if his older brother doesn’t know what’s best for him? Is what he wants what he should have? 

In Genya’s spiral of anxiety, when he spools questions like webs and overthinks everything, he forces his mind to think back to his time with Nezuko—to remember and reflect on all of the things he loves about her. Her porcelain skin tinting pink in the sunlight, how she puts her long hair up to cook, the way she stretches her hands before sewing and how she furrows her brows in concentration. The brightness of her smile, with fangs that seem to grow smaller every time he peeks at her lips. Her lips, pink like cherry blossoms and glossy like the surface of a river. He’s been downplaying his love for her, but he feels like he’ll burst if he doesn’t tell her now, despite himself.

Genya quickly heads to Nezuko’s room, hoping she’s returned safely from her trip to the village with Kanao. Kanao may be quiet, but she’s strong. Nezuko is especially strong given that she’s a demon. After seeing him in his demonic state, Genya’s certain that the man who attacked Nezuko won’t be trying again. Either way, he’d be dealt with.

“Hey, Nezuko?” Genya knocks on her door.

Nezuko opens the door for him, and they stand together in her room.

“Hi, Genya. Do you need something?”

“I just need to tell you that I—um—” he starts stuttering, looking at anything but Nezuko. “I want to be like you,” he says suddenly, pressing his head in the nape of her neck and wrapping his arms around her. “I want to be just like you.”

Nezuko wraps her hands around his neck. Her long, stiletto nails caress his hair.

“You are like me,” she whispers.

Genya pulls away from her slowly, a grimace on his features. He’s holding in his tears like a raincloud. Nezuko moves her hands to his cheeks. She rubs his face softly.

“How are you not like me?” she asks, bright pink eyes meeting his brown. He averts his eyes, missing the gentle smile on Nezuko’s lips.

“I wish I was better for you. It doesn’t matter if I’m only a demon temporarily; it’s because of the choices I made that my body is this way, and I might never be human again. You didn’t choose to be a demon, but you did choose to make a promise with me. I’m so grateful for you. For everything you’ve done, said, and are. But despite everything, despite you, I’m a failure. I chose to be this way. No one should love me.”

“I think . . . I love you,” Nezuko says slowly.

Genya freezes, as though he’d been struck in the face. His cheeks color like roses, his eyes widen, and he takes a step back. Nezuko pulls him into a hug before he can move away further. She nuzzles her cheek against him, which only encourages the butterflies in his stomach to flutter erratically.

“Do you feel the same?” she asks.

Nezuko bites her bottom lip, a fang peeking out. It’s barely visible.

Genya grabs Nezuko by the shoulders. Now it’s her turn to be surprised, her eyes wide and bright as the moon as he pushes some space between them. Genya sees the stars, closes his eyes, and leans in to kiss her before his thoughts can stop him.

Nezuko returns the kiss and wraps her arms around his neck. Genya cups her face with his hands. Their lips meet over and over again. She smiles into their final kiss.

“You didn’t answer.”

“How could I not love you?” he answers breathlessly.

“You could not love me. You could even hate me.”

“I love you, Nezuko.” He hugs her. “I love you more than I love myself.”

Nezuko laughs. “Well that’s not okay! You need to work on that. And what you just said is wrong. You’re good for me. You’re not a failure. I may have asked you to promise me, but you returned it to me. You’re loyal, and sweet, and trying so hard to be good. That’s all anyone can do. That’s what it means to be human.” She smiles.

Genya’s arms tighten around her. “I want . . .”

Nezuko looks at him curiously. Genya’s heart is pounding as though he’s panicking.

“Nezuko, I want—”

The door to the room slides open aggressively.

“Genya! Nezuko!” Tanjiro shouts, his presence in the room too bright and loud to ignore.

The atmosphere quickly shifts. Genya nearly shoves Nezuko away out of instinct. He quickly unwraps his arms around her, standing as straight as he can with his arms at his sides, hands pointed towards the ground—like a soldier. Except his face is a bright red. Nezuko intertwines her hands, her nails digging into her skin nervously.

“Hmmm? Why were you two hugging?” Tanjiro asks cheerfully.

Their responses come out at the same time:

“N-no reason!” // “Genya is my boyfriend!”

“What!?” Genya shrieks. He looks like he’s on the verge of fainting—from sheer shock or a lack of air going to his brain is anyone’s guess.

Nezuko nods emphatically. “It’s true. We’re together now.”

Tanjiro pauses, his mouth curved like an ‘Oh!’ 

A smile quickly returns to his face, so tender and genuine—you’d think he just received the confession. 

“I’m so glad. I’m very happy for you both. You have my blessing.”

Nezuko places her hand in Genya’s, their fingers shyly intertwining.

“Why’d you come to see us?” Nezuko asks.

“Oh, right! Dinner’s ready. We’re eating outside tonight, and Kanao and I worked hard to treat you.”

Nezuko’s beaming. “Let’s go, Genya!”

Genya nods, still in a daze, lovestruck. He lags along behind an eager Nezuko, her still flushed cheeks deepening in color as she dashes through the cold air.

***

Over dinner, Tanjiro tells Genya and Nezuko that he has big news.

Genya perks up and looks at Nezuko. Her mouth is slightly agape in surprise. 

“What is it?” they both ask at the same time.

Tanjiro places his hand in Kanao’s. She smiles shyly.

“Kanao and I are going to get married in about a month’s time,” Tanjiro says. 

Nezuko is ecstatic, and she clasps her hands. “Oh, exciting! Congratulations, both of you!” She gets up to go give each of them a hug. As they laugh and cheer, Genya wonders how this will change the household dynamic.

“Where will you live with Kanao once you’re married?” Genya asks.

“Kanao has inherited the Butterfly Mansion. I believe life will be easier if I take on the role of being the head of the Butterfly Mansion household. The staff would help with finances and chores, and I would be able to live a peaceful life with Kanao.”

Nezuko and Genya exchange a glance. Genya presumes that like him, Nezuko’s unsure of where this leaves them. What happens to the Kamado household?

But Genya decides to not press questions, and they all spend their dinner discussing details about the wedding. Nezuko eagerly gives her opinions, and Genya can’t help but smile at her passionate preferences regarding decorations and the outfits everyone should wear.

***

Genya meets with Nezuko in the middle of the night at the back of the house, which now feels like one of their hangout spots, for better or for worse.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” Nezuko laughs. “You’re in between jobs. I can see you during the day.”

“Isn’t it nice to be under the stars?” Genya asks. He looks upward, and Nezuko does, too. He shifts his head slightly so he can look at her. She looks so beautiful. He feels like kissing her, but his anxiety makes him talk to her instead—after all, that’s why he asked her to meet him here.

“What will we be doing in the future?” Genya asks finally.

Nezuko looks at him quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“Will we still be together? Do you really want to be with me? Or is it because I’m close to you?”

Nezuko scoffs. “If forced proximity made me fall in love with someone, I would have married Zenitsu a long time ago.” She puts her hand on his. “But I want you, Genya. I want to be with you, even as we are now, and regardless of what we’ll be in the future.” She hesitates, but she pulls her hand away from him.

Genya looks up at her, and Nezuko looks incredibly serious.

“Can you make me another promise?” she asks.

He goes to reach out for her hand again—he wants to intertwine his fingers with hers, but she pulls out her pinkie, just as she did in the garden several months ago, which feels like a lifetime ago.

Genya smiles. “I can.”

“Do you promise to love me in every life?”

Genya’s eyes soften, and the love in his heart is reflected in his eyes, shining like the stars above them. He wraps his pinkie around hers, and they add pressure, sealing the deal like a stamp.

“I promise. I’ll love you for all time.”

Nezuko smiles, and Genya leans in to cup her face and kiss her gently.