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It was late at night; Tanjiro sat in the small hut on the side of the mountain where he was being trained under Gyomei Himejima. Tanjiro still hadn't moved the boulder yet, but he knew soon he would; he could feel it.
Looking out the window, he saw it was pretty late, with the moon already a quarter in the night sky. Looking around the Koya, he could see many of the other demon slayers training under Gyomei as well as Zenitsu and Inosuke, but Genya was missing. Looking to his side, he saw the empty futon he had laid out for Genya was still empty.
'Is he still out training?' Tanjiro questioned as he looked out the window. Deciding to go out and look for him, he grabbed his sword and headed out.
The night was beautiful, with the moonlight going through the trees. Walking around the forest, he followed Genya's faint scent that led him deep into the forest to a boulder.
Looking at the ground, he could see it had moved, even more than his rock had, but it still wasn't to the end of the training grounds. Looking around, he didn't see Genya, and the scent also didn't smell that fresh.
"Where are you, Genya?" he said, before walking around the area until he picked up Genya's scent again.
Worried for Genya's sake, he continued on the path, passing nothing but trees until suddenly he heard the sound of a flute. Following the sound, he soon found a Minka hidden deep in the forest. Walking around the side, he soon found the source of the music. Sitting on the engawa of the house was Mr. Himejima, playing a shakuhachi flute.
"Tanjiro," he heard Mr. Himejima call him.
"I... YES SIR, I'M SORRY TO IMPOSE."
"Why are you out so late?" The stone hashira asked as he put his flute down. "There are demons out tonight, you know."
"I—yeah, sorry, I'm looking for Genya. Have you seen him?"
"Yes. He is sleeping."
"Really? Do you know where? I didn't see him at the Koya."
"He is safe; don't worry," Mr. Himejiema said.
"That's good," Tanjiro said, but something about not seeing him still left a panic in his chest.
"Is there something on your mind, Tanjiro?"
"Oh no, it's nothing; I was just hoping I'd get to sleep with Genya, even just next to him," he suddenly burst out saying as if it was normal.
"Oh, are you and Genya close?" Himejima asked, voice filled with curiosity.
"Well, I think we are. I mean, we have done a lot together. We've bathed together in the hot springs in Swordsman Village, and we fought together. Genya even give his life for me when fighting Upper Moon 4. Even now we've cooked together, eaten together; he's even given me a lot of good advice."
"That's a lot," Mr. Himejima said as he brought out his juzu and was now rubbing it as he listened.
"I know, and with us being so close, I wanted to sleep next to him when I got the chance, but now I can't find him."
"Do you often want to sleep with your friends like that?"
"No, not really, but then again I haven't done half of that stuff with anyone else like I have with Genya."
"What is your relationship with Genya?"
"We are boyfriends, I think."
"Are you in love with Genya?" Mr. Himejima asked suddenly, taken aback by Tanjiro's answer.
"What in love? No, I don't think so. I mean, I do like spending time with him, getting to see him smile like he did back when we had finally defeated Upper Rank 4. I would love to spend more time with him, but he is very distant. He also makes my heart beat faster and makes me feel warm and happy. I also know I can trust him a lot."
"Well, if it'll make you feel better, Genya is sleeping in that room over there, if you want to join him." Himejima said, giving Tanjiro a smile as he pointed to a fusuma.
"Really?"
"I believe Genya needs company," he said as tears began to slide down his face. So proud of that Genya had made a boy friend.
Being given permission, Tanjiro took off his shoes before getting up onto the engawa and walking into the open room before entering the other room.
Closing the fusuma, he turned around to see that Mr. Himejima was right as Genya lay sleeping in a purple futon. His hair was spread out around his face. His face looked soft for once as he finally looked relaxed.
Coming to sit next to him, he took off his haori and sword; he laid them next to Genya.
Looking back at Genya, he remembered all the times back in the butterfly mansion when he got to see Genya sleeping, but he was never able to join him, as he was in pretty bad condition, and by the time he was healed enough to move from his bed comfortably, Genya was already gone.
With a small smile, he slowly got under the futon with Genya.Once comfortable, he looked at Genya's sleeping face again. Cuddling closer, he could hear Genya's calm heartbeat and Genya's soft breath on the top of his head. Feeling his warmth made Tanjiro happy as his eyes closed to finally go to sleep as the sound of a shakuhachi could be heard.
'The girls are going to love the tea I have at the next meeting,' Gyomei thought as he played the flute.
________
The next morning Genya woke up hearing someone leaving the room he was in. Opening his eyes, he saw the fusuma door being pulled shut and also heard Tanjiro talking to Gyomei. Looking around the room, he saw it was the way he had left it.
Getting up, he put back on his yukata and put away his futon. Grabbing his gun and sword, he noticed there was an extra sword next to his that had a fire on its handle.
"What?" he said in confusion.
Exiting the room, he found Gyomei doing his prayer as three cats curled around him, meowing happily. Walking closer, Gyomei looked in his direction.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, do you know why Tanjiro's sword was in my room?"
"He must have left it."
"I get that."
"When are you going to tell me you had a boyfriend?"
"A what now?"
"Nothing, just messing with you."
Genya was very confused that morning, somehow being left with more questions than answers.