Chapter 1: Blizzard
Chapter Text
„I can smell it.“
Tanjirou only realized that he had said it out loud when Inosuke turned around and tilted his head askingly. The cold eyes of his boar’s head burned into Tanjirou’s skin and he paused. He turned around, facing the wind, and closed his eyes. For a while, he was distracted by Inosuke’s gaze and the beating of his own heart, but then, with another gust of wind, he smelled it again.
“Something’s coming,” he murmured and turned back to face Inosuke. His stomach tightened and his hair stood on end. There was a faint smell in the air, one that did not belong. All throughout their mission, he had sensed summer taking its leave and autumn replacing it. The falling leaves, the muddy earth, the last blooming of life before everything grew quiet and cold. And Inosuke, always Inosuke’s scent that he had grown accustomed to. So much so, that even its presence already calmed him down.
But now, something was different. There was a new smell in the air, one he vaguely knew but that did not belong. A shiver ran down his spine and his eyes widened. If he did not err, they did not have much time left. “Inosuke, please give me the map,” he said and turned around so that Inosuke could reach his backpack.
“What’s wrong, Kentaro?” Inosuke asked, sounding as gruff as always. But to Tanjirou’s relief, he did not wait for a response and instead rummaged through his backpack.
Tanjirou did not reply, not yet. Not before he was certain. Paper rustled and a moment later, Inosuke handed him the map. It was dry and its edges crumbled as it mostly lay forgotten somewhere in the depths of Tanjirou’s backpack. Usually, he did not need it as he knew his way around most of the region by now. But today, they direly needed the one thing that made this map invaluable. Apart from paths and details about the terrain, the map included another crucial information – the location of emergency shelters scattered throughout the less densely populated areas. Shelters that served as temporary safe spaces for stranded or injured demon slayers, most of them deep in the forests where there was no other hiding from demons.
Tanjirou scoured the map, quickly trying to determine where exactly they were. This mission had sent them relatively far away and he knew that even if they ran the whole way, they would not make it back in less than a day. Another gust of wind came and Tanjirou shook his head. That was not enough, they did not even have half a day left. They needed to find shelter, and quickly. His heart started beating faster when he stared at the map. They were deep in the forest, surrounded by nothing but trees. There was a village, but if he read the map correctly, it would take them at least three hours to get there. The knot in his stomach grew and he ran his fingers over the map, trying to – there!
Hidden in the fold of the map was a small sign, the one he had been searching for. Tanjirou sighed in relief when he saw that it was close enough so that they could make it if they hurried. He stared at the map, memorizing the path they had to take, and then folded it back up. He carefully slid the map into the inner pocket of his haori and looked up at Inosuke.
“You’re acting strange, Tontaro,” Inosuke said, his voice quivering with suspicion. He had his arms crossed and leaned forward to stare at Tanjirou. “Tell me why you’re acting strange.”
Tanjirou took a last whiff of the air and nodded reluctantly. “A storm is coming,” he said. “We have to seek shelter immediately.”
Inosuke reached up and lifted the boar’s head from his own, taking it under his arm. His eyes narrowed and he sniffed the air pointedly. “I can’t smell anything,” he said and his look turned defiant. “You’re making stuff up.”
Tanjirou took a deep breath and shook his head. “I’m not, Inosuke. I can smell the snow in the air. It’s a winter storm and we can’t let it catch us unprepared.”
He looked at Inosuke, hoping to see him relent, but Inosuke’s face had taken on that stubborn expression that Tanjirou had come to dread. Inosuke opened his mouth, about to unleash whatever tirade he had in mind, and Tanjirou knew he had to act fast to intercept him. So, he took a quick step forward and grabbed Inosuke’s hand. “Inosuke, please. You need to trust me.” He paused and then added quietly, “I need your help in this.”
Inosuke froze and stared at him. Then, very slowly, he looked down at their hands. Tanjirou’s face started to feel hot and when Inosuke still did not move or speak, he carefully let go of Inosuke. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, his cheeks burning.
“Fine,” Inosuke said unexpectedly, his voice sounding slightly wary. “I’ll follow you. Lead the way.”
Tanjirou stared at him shellshocked but quickly regained control of his face and tried to hide his surprise and relief. Instead, he motioned for Inosuke to follow him and hesitated for only a moment, before he dove into the forest. Leaving the path was usually the least safe choice, but with what was coming for them, they did not have time for the long way. They had to make it to the shelter as quickly as possible.
They dove into the thicket, making their way through bushes and rivers of fallen leaves, grateful for every bit of solid ground beneath their feet. Thorns clawed at their clothes and more than once, Tanjirou’s haori got stuck. He felt it tearing him back, but then, Inosuke was there and freed him with swift, precise movements. It felt like an eternity until they finally reached the creek that would lead them to the shelter. With each gust of wind, the smell of snow grew stronger, and when Tanjirou looked up at the sky, he saw the clouds getting thicker and darker.
“Almost there,” he muttered, more to soothe himself. His heart was beating faster and his eyes darted around, desperately trying to find a trace of the shelter.
When a hand touched his shoulder, Tanjirou flinched. His head shot around and he saw Inosuke, staring at him through those lifeless eyes of the boar’s head. His hand felt warm on Tanjirou’s shoulder. “Breathe,” Inosuke said, and Tanjirou took a deep breath.
That helped. That, and Inosuke’s warmth. He focused on his breathing and after a moment, he felt calm enough to clear his mind. He closed his eyes and called the image of the map back to his mind. They had to find the creek, follow it until … until it bent in a strange angle!
Tanjirou’s eyes flew open and he grabbed Inosuke’s hand. Before Inosuke could protest, he dragged him along the creek, following the stream until they reached the spot he had seen through the trees. There, between two big rocks, the creek took a sharp curve, changing its direction. Tanjirou let his gaze wander over the forest, it had to be somewhere close. He felt Inosuke tugging at his haori, and when he looked at him, he saw Inosuke pointing towards a silhouette between the trees.
“That the place you wanted to find, Monjiro?” Inosuke asked.
Tanjirou followed his gaze and his eyes widened. “Inosuke, you’re my hero,” he blurted out and from the corner of his eye, he could see Inosuke freeze. “Quickly now!”
Tanjirou started walking towards the shelter. He had almost forgotten that he still held Inosuke’s hand and when he looked back in surprise, he saw that Inosuke followed him surprisingly calm. He did not try to free his hand or walk a different path, he just stared at Tanjirou as if he was trying to solve a riddle he could not quite grasp yet. Tanjirou’s heart fluttered again and he quickly looked back to the shelter.
When they reached it, he heaved a sigh of relief. Some of the shelters were in poor condition as they were only irregularly maintained. But this one seemed fine, welcoming even. It was a small but sturdy wooden hut that was nestled between three mighty trees, hidden away by their low-hanging branches, barely visible from far away. Had Inosuke not pointed it out, Tanjirou would not have found it that easily.
He brushed a branch aside and reached for the handle, praying that the door was not locked. And to their luck, it was not. The door opened into a small and dark space, illuminated by only the faintest hint of light. The hut did not possess any regular windows. Instead, it had small slits in its walls that allowed a demon slayer in hiding to survey their surroundings without being seen. Tanjirou walked towards one of them and ran his hands over the tiny opening. His relief grew when he felt cool glass under his fingers. For a moment, he had feared they were open holes they would have to fill up before the storm, but the glass would protect them. In the hind end of the hut was a fairly small fireplace, carefully lined with stones so that the wooden floor of the hut would not catch fire.
“We’ll be safe here,” Tanjirou said, his voice trembling with relief. “We just need to get a fire going before the storm comes.”
“I’ll go get wood,” Inosuke said and seemed almost eager to leave the dark room. He vanished through the door before Tanjirou could stop him and after a moment, even the rustling of Inosuke making his way out of the branches faded away.
Tanjirou sighed and looked around. The shelter was not much more than that, but with the gear they always carried for their missions, they would hopefully be fine during the storm. They had food, water, sleeping bags and even fire steel. In the corner of the hut, he saw something that turned out to be a small stack of firewood. Not enough for more than a few hours though, and thus, he was glad that Inosuke had volunteered to gather more. And while Inosuke was gone, he would do his best to prepare the shelter for what was to come.
After a moment of hesitation, Tanjirou decided to take a look at their provision first. They had more food than they needed, enough to last at least two days, courtesy of Inosuke who always packed more than any reasonable demon slayer would. Their water bottles however were decidedly empty and Tanjirou made a mental note to take a trip to the creek to fill them up before they holed up in the hut. Next, he laid out their sleeping bags and positioned them close to the fireplace and right next to each other, away from the walls. In another corner of the hut, he found three raddled blankets that someone must have forgotten, and after some consideration, he laid two of them them out under their sleeping setup so they would have more protection from the cold seeping through the wooden floor. He set the third blanket aside, it would come in handy to seal the crack under the door once Inosuke was back.
Finally, he stacked up the firewood in the fireplace so that they could make a fire from that and dry whatever Inosuke found next to it. But before he would light the fire, Tanjirou wanted to fill up their water supply. He cast a last glance at his preparations and nodded to himself. It was not much, but it was the best he could do under these circumstances.
When Tanjirou stepped out of the hut, their water bottles in hand, he froze. The smell of snow had grown overwhelmingly strong and the wind had gotten even colder than he had feared. A shiver ran down his spine and he quickly closed the door behind him and sprinted down to the creek. Even the running water seemed restless, as if it could feel what was about to come. He knelt down and reluctantly held the bottles into the water, shuddering when the cold bit his skin. He nervously glanced up at the sky, then at the forest around him. It seemed darker than it should, almost dark enough for demons to come out. And Inosuke was nowhere in sight.
“Inosuke, where are you?” Tanjirou muttered and stared into the twilight, hoping to make out the silhouette of a boar’s head.
When the water bottles were full, he closed the lids with trembling fingers, his hands aching from the icy water. Something cold grazed his cheek and when he instinctively touched it with his finger, he felt something melting under the warmth of his skin.
Tanjirou’s heart sank when he looked up at the sky and saw another snowflake tumbling towards him. He looked around frantically, staring at the still forest. Then, he ran back to the hut, hoping that Inosuke had slipped in while he was at the creek. But when he opened the door, the room lay dark and empty before him.
“Inosuke, please come back,” he whispered. “Hurry.”
Chapter 2: Fireplace
Chapter Text
With the wind came the snow and with the snow, the visibility faded away. Tanjirou had retreated back into the hut and gotten the fire going, hoping that Inosuke would return at any moment. From time to time, he could not take it anymore and wandered along the walls of the hut, peeking out of the narrow glass windows, but he could not see anything but the trees and the ground that rapidly turned white now. When the fire had finally grown to a size where Tanjirou was not afraid anymore it would go out all that soon, he walked over to the closest peephole again – and froze when he found it covered in white powder.
Tanjirou cursed under his breath and pulled his haori closer, wrapping it around his body. He grabbed his sword, cast a last glance at the dancing flames, and braced himself. He could not wait any longer, he had to find Inosuke right now and drag him back to the shelter before they got snowed in. When he felt prepared, he opened the door just enough so he could slip through and quickly threw it shut behind him again. He crouched under one of the branches and turned around one more time to memorize how the shelter looked covered in snow. If he did not find his way back, they would both be dead before they knew it.
Tanjirou took a deep breath and regretted it instantly when the icy air burned his throat. He coughed and closed the collar of his uniform, desperately trying to retain his warmth. His hands felt cold already and he quickly slipped them into his pockets. He looked around but the forest had changed its face and even if Inosuke had left any traces, they would be covered with snow by now. With the snowfall growing stronger by the minute, his sight also quickly deteriorated and soon, he could not make out anything further away than ten steps.
Once he had walked along the edges of the glade, using the creek as a landmark, Tanjirou came to a halt and desperately rubbed his hands to warm them up again. He had not seen Inosuke or his footsteps in the snow anywhere. Worry constricted his throat when another icy gust of wind teared at his haori. Inosuke did not wear an haori, not even a uniform, and his boar’s head would only protect his face. With each passing minute, the danger of hypothermia grew.
“Inosuke,” Tanjirou shouted, trying to drown out the howling of the wind. “Inosuke, where are you?”
He shielded his face from the wind with his arm, thankful for the tiny bit of warmth the fabric of his sleeve provided. He listened closely but all he could hear was the aching of the branches. Fear gripped his heart with its icy claws.
And then, suddenly, he caught a whiff of an all too familiar scent. Tanjirou’s head shot up and he turned in the direction the wind came from. He sniffed the air and an electric bolt shot through his body. Forgetting all caution, he stormed towards it, dragging his feet through the snow. The storm tried to blow him back, keep him from going there, but there was nothing in the world that could keep him from Inosuke.
“Inosuke, can you hear me?” he shouted into the storm, his heartbeat almost louder than his voice. “Say something!”
The scent grew stronger but he could see nothing but white. Tanjirou’s heart thundered in his chest when he frantically looked around. He had to be here, had to be somewhere close. “Inosuke, please,” he begged, tears welling up in his eyes when he saw nothing but snow.
And then, from the depths of a mound of snow, he heard a faint groan. His heart skipped a beat and he threw himself at the heap of snow and started clawing at it with bare hands. He shoved the snow aside, his skin burning from the cold, and after a moment, he felt something under his fingers.
“Inosuke,” he gasped, and this time, he could hear the groan clearly.
The storm faded away and left only his shallow breathing when he wiped the last snow away. Inosuke’s skin was white as a sheet and the bristles of the boar’s head were stiff from the cold. But beneath the mask, he heard labored breathing, and all tension left his body when he wrapped his arms around Inosuke and pulled him close.
“Inosuke,” he whispered, “I’m here now.”
Inosuke moved in his arms and slowly turned around. In his own arms, he held a big bundle of neatly tied up firewood, pressed to his heart. “It’s so cold,” he said weakly, his voice muffled by the boar’s head.
Tanjirou’s heart ached and he carefully got up. He wanted to set the bundle of wood aside, but Inosuke held it tightly and did not let go. Tanjirou nodded and squeezed Inosuke’s hand. “We’ll go somewhere warm now, I promise,” he said.
Then, he carefully moved until Inosuke’s stomach was against his back. He grabbed him and gently hoisted him on his back, positioning Inosuke’s arm around his neck, the other still holding the bundle of firewood. “Hold on tight,” he said, and Inosuke weakly did.
Inosuke’s skin felt cold against his body, even through his clothes, and Tanjirou’s heart fluttered like a caged bird. He had to get Inosuke back to the shelter and its fireplace quickly. The snowfall had only become worse and Tanjirou could not see more than five steps ahead. His own footsteps had already started to fill up, but he could still see where he had come from. His breath forming little clouds in the air, he took the first step, breaking through the blanket of snow. Then, the second and the third.
Step by step, Tanjirou fought his way through the storm, driven by the faint but steady heartbeat against his back. The wind had turned and now came from every direction, tugging and tearing at him, trying to lead him astray. But even throughout the storm, Tanjirou knew where to go. When he closed his eyes, he saw the path to the creek, the creek itself, and the snow-laden branches that hid the shelter and the fire inside away.
After an eternity, he heard the gurgling of the creek through the storm and his heart sank in relief. “We’re almost there,” he whispered to Inosuke, and Inosuke moved ever so slightly.
They followed the creek and there it was, covered in snow. Tanjirou felt his eyes burning when he took the last few steps. His breath came ragged but he made it. He reached for the door handle, pulled it open, and dragged Inosuke inside with the last of his strength. Then, he closed the door and sank down to the ground, right next to Inosuke.
Tanjirou allowed himself a few seconds to breathe, then he forced himself to get up again. Now that they had escaped the snow, he had the chance to check Inosuke for injuries and frostbites. His hands trembled when he carefully lifted the boar’s head from Inosuke’s own head and set it aside. Inosuke’s eyes were closed and his face looked strained, but his breathing had grown a bit calmer. Tanjirou methodically examined Inosuke’s body but found no sign of frostbite. His skin was pale and cold to the touch, but it had not turned suspiciously red or even purple yet. Tanjirou sighed in relief. He had found Inosuke just in time.
“Good,” he muttered to himself. “Now we’ll have to get you out of those wet clothes.”
This was something he remembered from his childhood. His parents had allowed him and his siblings to play in the snow but only under the condition of them changing into dry clothes right away after coming back inside. Once, Nezuko had forgotten about it because their youngest sibling had been crying, and she had paid for it with a nasty cold.
Under different circumstances, Tanjirou would have chided Inosuke for not wearing a uniform during cold days, but now, it made his task easier. Careful not to accidentally hurt Inosuke, Tanjirou slowly freed him from his wet clothing. Once he had set the pants aside right next to the also wet boar’s head, he heard a faint sound from behind him. When he turned back around, he saw that Inosuke had started shivering, his teeth chattering ever so slightly. And even though that sight made his heart ache, Tanjirou knew that it was a good sign. Shivering meant that Inosuke’s body was starting to regain its ability to regulate its own temperature.
“Inosuke,” he said softly and gently touched his shoulder. “Let’s get you warm and cozy now.”
Inosuke’s eyelids fluttered and he mumbled something unintelligible, but he did not protest when Tanjirou scooped him up and carried him to his sleeping bag. He carefully helped Inosuke into it and then grabbed the third blanket he had planned on sealing the door crack with. But right now, Inosuke needed it more, and Tanjirou placed it over him and tucked him in.
When he was satisfied, Tanjirou turned to the bundle of firewood that lay forgotten where Inosuke had let go of it. He untied the knot holding it together and laid it out next to the small fire still crackling in the fireplace. To Tanjirou’s surprise, only the sticks and branches that had faced the outside of the bundle were wet. The wood inside was dry enough and with the fire already lit, he could risk adding a few pieces to it. The wet ones, he cautiously positioned close to the fire so that they would dry in the heat of the fire. Inosuke had gathered enough firewood that they could sit out the storm, and a wave of gratitude rushed through Tanjirou’s body at the comforting sight.
He turned around and looked at Inosuke. The fireplace emanated a warm glow that made Inosuke’s skin shimmer. He still looked paler than usual, but at least his body slowly lost the ghostly white color. Tanjirou’s head shot up when an idea came to his mind. He grabbed his backpack and reached for one of the water bottles he had filled up at the creek. They did not have tea, but a few sips of warm water would certainly help Inosuke get back to a comfortable temperature.
Tanjirou carefully set the bottle down close to the fire. It would take a while for the water to warm up and in the meantime, he could get some rest as well. He looked at the sleeping bags for a moment, then he pushed his one even closer to Inosuke before slipping into it. When the warmth of the fabric embraced him, he heaved a small, content sigh.
“T-Tanjirou?”
Tanjirou turned around so quickly that he heard fabric tearing. He held his breath when he found himself face to face with Inosuke. “You’re awake,” he gasped, his heart skipping a beat.
Inosuke looked exhausted. His face was still pale and shadows had formed under his breathtakingly green eyes. “Didn’t expect … snow so fast,” he said slowly, his voice raspy and strained.
Tanjirou shook his head softly and said, “It surprised me too.” He paused and his throat tightened when he thought back to Inosuke covered in a blanket of snow. His voice trembled when he quietly said, “I’m just glad I found you in time.”
For a moment, Inosuke just looked at him. Then, his green eyes glistened and the edge of his mouth slightly lifted. “I knew … you’d come,” he said hoarsely and his gaze made Tanjirou’s skin tingle. Inosuke slowly closed his eyes and his face grew calm. “You’d never … leave me…”
Tanjirou’s eyes started burning and before he could stop himself, he reached out and gently ran his fingers over Inosuke’s cheek. “Never,” he promised.
Inosuke sighed and moved in his sleeping bag. And when he nestled up to Tanjirou, the warm glow from the fireplace bathing his features in its golden hue, he finally did not look so pale anymore.
Amoratjt on Chapter 1 Sat 18 Oct 2025 06:10PM UTC
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Werfuchs on Chapter 1 Sat 18 Oct 2025 08:20PM UTC
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I_n33d_entertainment on Chapter 2 Wed 15 Oct 2025 07:11AM UTC
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Werfuchs on Chapter 2 Wed 15 Oct 2025 08:51PM UTC
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I_n33d_entertainment on Chapter 2 Wed 15 Oct 2025 07:11AM UTC
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Werfuchs on Chapter 2 Wed 15 Oct 2025 08:50PM UTC
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