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You didn’t know what to make of him, at first.
Coincidentally, he was in the same forest area, armed with only a sword. So frail and skinny. Like a weakened kitten, angry and hissing. Despite being around the same age, it was the type of personality that you knew to be sort of a lone wolf mindset.
Despite wanting to mind your own business, ignore him, and continue on, your sensei’s kindness and protectiveness had needled into you, and being a young fifteen year old, the only solution that one would come up with was determination and stubbornness.
Perhaps it was a yokai that came over your senses? Or an inner gut instinct to protect and really wanting to be friends with the lavender-eyed mysterious boy your age, made your body take action before your brain could keep up.
“Hey! What the hell!” He screamed, as your weight settled onto his lower back, forcing the thinner boy to be pinned down. Even you looked surprised at your own actions, but ran with it.
“You look too thin.” It was a poor explanation, and perhaps an even poorer execution (it was), but the both of you didn’t miss the way his stomach grumbled as you handed him one of the onigiri in your pack.
“That- that’s none of your business!” He hissed. “Get off of me, you lunatic!”
“After you eat. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.” You gave him his name, after the insistence of his “I don’t care!”
“How are you going to achieve your goals if you’re starving?” Bless Kyojurou-sensei’s logic, for the boy stammered akin to a fish gaping with it’s mouth, wanting to argue, but instead muttered, snatching away the onigiri in a defeated huff.
“Weirdo. I’m not paying you back!”
A grin only mirrored his agitation, yet the grumbling of his stomach was sated for now.
“My sensei’s adamant on extra food, so you can have these. Stay safe, Mohawk boy.” Bidding a guffawing fellow future slayer farewell, you went to complete the trial in which laid ahead of you.
Of course days later with the sun rising, only a select few made it through. Happily he was one of them, it was bittersweet that he held so much anger. Perhaps a broken arm would learn him something. Perhaps it was a teenager’s wishful thinking, on your part, but you had hoped that he would be okay.
………..
“Sensei, forgive me, I bullied a fellow slayer!” You bowed.
“What’s this? Did you apologize?!” An equally loud voice boomed.
“No! I couldn’t find him!”
“My, you’re not the type to bully others, young one, what’s the full story?” Kyojurou asked, voice loud, yet you could tell the concerning softness underneath. Having a younger sibling himself, it was as if he saw you as such. After you explained, he boomed out a full laugh.
“I see! This doesn’t warrant punishment, as your heart was in the right place, but!” He pointed at you, a full wide smile. “You need to make him at least one-hundred more onigiri as a proper apology! There’s a poor boy starving, and he seems as if he could use a friend!”
“Yes, sensei!” The agreement was on your lips before you could process it fully, yet for some weird reason, it made your heart lighter. More friends didn’t seem so bad, especially ones with really pretty violet eyes. A weird sensation fluttered in your stomach, but you pushed it down, thinking that it might’ve been akin to hunger.
Kyojurou gave an approving softer smile, ruffling your hair.
“Food from the heart is the best gift, young one. I’m certain his pain will ease with good friends.”
Which was easier said than done, but you knew that you had to make it right, somehow. It wasn’t until two years later, when you were freshly seventeen and a little more mature, having made more friends and gotten out of your shell, when you’ve seen him again.
“Mohawk boy!” He stilled, and then slowly turned towards you with the same murderous glare. Why did your stomach do a weird flip?
“The weirdo from the forest?!” He screeched, but you just smiled, holding up freshly made onigiri.
Unfortunately, surrounding yourself with hyper lovable idiots, such as Kyojurou and the Kamado boy, really didn’t help your social skills that much. Especially being an awkward teenager.
“I’m sorry for bullying you, so I promise to make you onigiri for the rest of your life!”
Kami, Buddha, and the more than sixty-five gods, give you and this poor boy mercy. His eyes widened comically, and you would be laughing, if not for the blood rushing to his and your ears. Oh boy.
“Oi! I-I don’t need a spouse!”
“I practiced in making the best food for you!”
Was shouted at the same time. A silence followed through, both faces beet red.
“So… um… this one has Umeboshi…” Was a meek offering, yet you basically forced it into his hand. After what seemed to be minutes, the fellow slayer turned away and huffed.
“With flavored nori!” Was shouted at him, and he only walked faster.
You swore that you could hear a “I still don’t owe you anything! Weirdo!” Yet the feral angry heat in his voice was simmered ever so lightly.
Said sensei was booming out laughing as you recalled your run-in with the fellow slayer, and it didn’t deter you one bit in fulfilling an inner promise to make this boy your friend. Sure he’s gained muscle and a healthy amount of weight, but he was still angry and lonely, and your inner mother hen was in sync with your teacher’s.
Of course before you could fulfill in making the lone wolf more food, your crow fluttered it’s wings, landing gently on you with a mission with your sensei. Something about a train.
…………
Sitting in the butterfly mansion, you couldn’t help but stare into the empty space. Kakushi and other assistants tended everybody’s wounds, and yet you couldn’t feel the stinging stitches as numbness took over you. Eyes puffy and red, throat tight, it was difficult to breath. Your sensei laying there, bloodied and mangled, yet barely breathing as somebody was screaming for medic, then the realization dawned that it was you.
Hours passed, Shinobu, kind, but curt, offered you a room where you could just sleep and rest. Lilac eyes showered you with concern, but a watery smile was only offered in return. Gods, your stomach was in knots with worry, and the anxiety was crawling up your spine.
“Kyojurou-san wouldn’t want you overexerting yourself. Please rest assured that he will be fine.” Soft but strongly reassuring you, you could only nod in agreement. As soon as your head hit the soft pillow, sleep overtook you in minutes.
You took missions while your sensei was healing. Too busy to cook, too busy to laugh and chatter with your newfound friends. Tanjirou, bless him, offered a small, sad smile, along with treats that he and Nezuko had made. You were grateful, you really were, but your smile was a little lop-sided.
It was expected of the Corps to lose people, you knew that everyone was lucky that Kyojurou was alive, yet in a comatose state. It almost felt as if you were being irrational, and perhaps you were, but it was the only way a young sprout such as yourself knew how to heal.
Busy oneself until being chewed out by either Shinobu or guilt-tripped successfully by the Kamado-Squad to take better care of yourself.
You still had time for your plants. Gardening had became a favorite, peaceful past time for you, and it ironically was next to Genya’s bonsai trees. Genya, you’ve finally found out his name, seemingly was just surprised as you were gardening in the same space, but huffed out annoyance in which you felt wasn’t sincere disdain.
It was fate itself, for the Butterfly mansion had good soil in one of it’s private gardens, and you were there constantly after missions, either getting fixed up or helping out, so it made sense that you grew your own food while you were at it.
The little slice of peace early mornings was a blessing, although you awoke earlier and earlier, just barely missing the mohawk boy. It was alright to heal alone, sometimes.
Of course Genya still avoided you, yet you could catch him looking your direction with a look that was unrecognizable. If he caught your eye, he’d turn quickly and look away, yet oddly enough, his ears were tinged red. A small smile crossed your lips. Like a feral cat. A proper apology and your best cooking will be in order, when you figured out a sane way to approach him.
“What are you smiling at?” Zenitsu’s bored tone made you jump three feet.
“Nothing!”
“Mmm hmm, and I’m the pope.”
“Japan doesn’t even have a pope-”
“You moron!” He comically chopped at you.
“What’s that for?” You whined.
“Listen to your irregular beating heart constantly makes me so upset! Look at you, fawning over a boy, while I’m single and don’t have anybody!” He grounded out.
Confusion littered your features, causing the blond to groan.
“Ugh, and you’re so dense to boot!” He then let out a sigh.
“Look, we’re worried about you. Rengoku-san is fine. He’d probably scold you for not making your delicious food. Or feeding your stray “cat” obsession.”
“All I heard was a guilt-trip to make you all food… So, you think he’s akin to a stray cat, too?”
It earned you a hard blank look.
“Think, and think really hard on this conversation. I’m done.” He sighed walking away, yet you couldn’t help but already feel the tips of your ears red in realization.
It wasn’t just friends that you wanted to be with Genya, no. You wanted to get to know him better and be a best friend. You wanted him to know your friends and like them just as much, you thought, as a swarm of cicadas buzzed pleasantly within your stomach.
Heeding Zenitsu’s words, and the possible threat of Kyojurou-sensei’s disappointment of you not fulfilling your promise, you headed to work. Omurice, tonkatsu, curry rice, and croquettes were the newest western influences at your disposal, and you couldn’t wait to make them. Mitsuri specialized in said western cooking, and the pink-haired lady was over the moon when you asked for tips.
Of course the Hashira of love wasn’t oblivious as you were, and she picked up on it quicker than a blood-hound when you explained the whole story. A squeal of delight pierced your ears, thus beginning your improvement on better meals.
………..
He had decided that you were the newest bane of his existence. What was your deal? Your motive?
Genya wanted to avoid the weird obsessive little shit like the plague, alas, life wasn’t like that. You’ve taken up a small part of the local gardening space in which the Butterfly Mansion had to offer. Sure your space was small, compared to the decent sized layout of the land, but there was no better soil for his bonsai trees.
If trees could talk, they’d be thankful for Genya’s dedication to them while putting up with the overly chirpy lunatic.
If it wasn’t for the love of his brother and his garden, he’d risk it all to drown you in the nearest lake.
Well, maybe fifteen seconds to get his point across.
Luckily for him, you did give him space. Not much, but you watered your plants earlier before him, only leaving a leaf full of your newest food creations near his bonsai. Sometimes you greeted him, and would talk his ear off, and yet waved goodbye cheerily before he could even get a word in.
Then there were days in which was blissful silence, and there were days that you rambled on about making your own food to share with your beloved friends, and him, too. Maybe opening up a restaurant, when the demons were all dead.
He hated it. What you were doing to him. Maybe he’d been starved for so long, the sun-soaked attention bleeding into his bones and muscle tissue, earning a tight squeeze in his heart, silently demanding for more.
Out of his own bitterness and pettiness, he refused to let you win. He couldn’t let you pity him and get in the way of his goals, and yet fate had seemed to intertwine the two of you together, for recently the Stone Hashira took him as an apprentice.
Aaaaand of course that you were out of a sensei for the time being, Gyomei offered to take you in until the flame pillar awoke.
Genya himself didn’t understand. Why your watery smiles and blank looks threw his heart into a clenching whirlwind, but it just did. Of course you kept acting as if everything was fine, and nothing was wrong, but he could just tell.
Fuck his life, he couldn’t train with the embodiment of a kicked puppy. Although you were obnoxious, you were growing on him. Like a wart, but it was still growth.
“Fine! Here, dammit! You win!” He huffed one day, thrusting a satchel into your arms.
It was a long day of training, both students soaking wet, arms sore from the stone hashira’s tutelage, stomachs growling from the onslaught of thorough training.
You peeked into the bag, retrieving carefully shaped rice-balls. Feeling his lavender irises pierce you, you turned towards him, he was waiting for something.
“Gen, did you make these… for me?” It was softly murmured, but he heard it. Blood rising to his ears, he growled, not expecting you to be demure about the shit.
“It’s nothing! Here’s your payback! I did it out of spite, so we’re clear!”
It felt as if the rain cloud above your head disappeared, when you threw him a radiant smile that almost rivaled the sun. As if you desperately needed Genya’s own kindness the way flowers needed sunshine and tenderness. And then you burst out laughing.
“What?!” He huffed, almost hurt, but you shook your head.
“I’m grateful extremely so! This is the best gift I’ve received, it’s just… payback? Spite?”
“Shut up!”
“Did you poison them? If so, I’ll gladly eat them despite of that!” You chirped, causing the already flustered boy to squirm.
“Kami, you’re so fucking weird!” The fear and anxiety was washed away, as you took a bite.
“Delicious!” Was chirped, instead of boomed out like the flame pillar.
“You-! I-! I- I’m just going to go!” Genya squawked, full face red as you laughed heartily at his cute expressions.
Yet he himself was sporting a genuine smile, much to his later shock as he caught his reflection in the pocket mirror that he carried.
What were you doing to him?
……..
“Meet me here later in the garden.” It’s been weeks since you’ve had a proper conversation with him, and truth be told, Genya would’ve argued and called you names, if he hadn’t been feeling weird without your absence. Yet he had changed.
When you came back to reunite gleefully with an awakened sensei, he was dragged into the Swordsmith village by a hyper as fuck Kamado boy in restoring his sword. Why Tanjirou was adamant Genya go, he didn’t know, but it worked out in their favor by killing an Upper Moon Four.
A slice of humble pie, Tanjirou really can’t keep a secret, and a new found sense of maturity kicked Genya into a second gear that he didn’t know he had.
Needless to say, after some self reflection, he had a different attitude ever since he and the rest of your Kamado squad friends came crawling back bloodied and tuckered out from the Swordsmith Village.
Then the weirdest yet much needed thing happened in Genya’s life. Sanemi gruffly (yet caring) gripped his collar and dragged the younger sibling out to an opened clearing. Arms crossed, eyes piercing into him like a mother hawk, his voice growled out a demand.
“You’re marrying that kid.”
Genya.exe has stopped working.
“Aniki, I love you, and with all due respect, what the actual fuck?”
“Quit the corps, settle down, and get married, dammit!”
“Wha-”
“They already act like your spouse, and can bring in a good salary from the corps, you don’t have to struggle alone, anymore.”
“’Nemi, with all due respect you’re kind of being an idiot.” Was said with the most love that Genya had to offer, and luckily his brother knew, as well, but it didn’t stop the smack at the back of his head.
“Oi! Plus!” Genya squawked, “I was never alone, I always had you to look up to. It’s why I joined, to apologize for the awful things that I said!” Came the low growling whine of his younger brother, holding his head and squinting at his brother.
Sanemi’s face briefly fell, eyes a little too watery for his liking, yet he still yet held a scowl, pointing back at Genya.
“You moron! I abandoned you! Why the fuck are you apologizing! Goddammit, Gen, you were only eight! I should’ve marched right back there and dragged you with me! We could’ve…” Sanemi let the sentence die, lips pursed.
Lived a better life. Lived without demons and found somewhere safe, was all written out in unspoken words.
Genya, seeing his brother’s obvious distress, could only offer a warm, sweet smile.
“We’re both hurt and stupid, huh?”
“Yeah. Look, shit, this ain’t easy, but...I’m sorry. I fuckin’ failed you as an older brother. Don’t you dare argue with me,” Sanemi pointed again, and Genya’s mouth closed.
“the both of us were hurt, but I’m suppose to be the older responsible one, but I abandoned you. Never again, Genya. You can move in with me. Forget about the corps.” Sanemi breathed out slowly. His pride be damned, as he took in his younger brother’s heartwarming smile.
Then, of course, due to the Shinazugawa stubborn nature, the younger one wiped his eyes, and then pointed at his sibling with a confident grin.
“It’s not your fault, ‘Nemi. If it is, I’d forgive you in every lifetime. But! I’m not quitting the corps. I’ve came a long way, and developed some much needed self reflection as a man!”
Sanemi’s soft laugh ended up being a sigh, instead. His brother had now the maturity of a much older one, and by the end of the year, he’d probably grow an extra foot or so.
“After all of the demons are dead, we’re moving to a farm. You and that brat who keeps feeding you food.”
“They called me thin the first day I’ve met them! After sitting on me! They’re a little fucking weird!” Genya squawked, only for Sanemi to roll his eyes.
“You’re courtship stage sounds like mine. Rengoku literally shouted that I was pretty in one of our meetings, and wouldn’t stop wanting to train with me…and badgering to take me out all the time afterwords.”
Genya.exe crashed again.
“You and that flame pillar?! Since when!? And we’re not courting! No way… they….” Genya.exe slowly whirled to life, rebooting with the updates on all of the past interactions. Sanemi’s grin was feral at his younger brother’s demise.
“Guess we’re sharing a wedding.”
The conversation was a week ago, and Genya’s head kept reeling at the new prospect that his older beloved brother was courting? Being courted by an equally deranged loon that so happened to be your teacher.
Of course it grew on him. Like a weed.
Seeing his older brother quite tame around the slightly weakened flame pillar, ears tinged red as the two sipped tea, Rengoku laughing and cheerily talking about everything and anything under the sun, while Sanemi’s shoulders relaxed. A slow genuine smile crawled on his features. The same smile that had been greeting Genya after every mission.
Although he kept voicing his disapproval of Genya’s decision to remain within the corps, it had less heat, and more urgent care, with the affirmation from Tanjirou.
It was only a matter of time before Sanemi began training exercises with Genya, right along with Gyomei. The older brother more violent and restless, yet only out of fear for his brother’s safety. It made Genya more quick on his feet and took actions without much thought, something that he very much needed in life or death situations.
For the first time in a long time, Genya was genuinely, truly happy, and even if he didn’t admit it, he kind of missed you, who was busy with missions and everything else.
…………
“You’re glaring, again.” Zenitsu sighed, and you couldn’t help but school your features.
“Ugh, I’m turning into you.” You laughed, causing the lightening boy to gawk.
“I’m not an obsessive creep staring at Nez- Okay, a little, but! Oh shut up!” He shook your shoulders as your eyes pierced the gaggle of girls. Two years have passed since the death of Muzan, and after everything said and done, you foolishly still didn’t confess.
It took you and everybody nearly dying, and yet words were like a graveyard in your throat; unspoken as each day crawled on.
True to Sanemi’s word, he bought a quaint little farm where the eldest and youngest Rengoku sons moved in, alongside Genya. He looked handsome. Baby fat gone from his cheeks, taller, and the farm work did him wonders. Of course he sported the same mohawk and held sort of a gruff demeanor, but he was much softer with you now.
Even after a thousand onigiri, you still fed him for free at your own restaurant in which you proudly co-owned. It wasn’t fully yours, since learning the business took time, but the elderly woman who you ran it with, was an excellent teacher of the trade.
Now he was beet red, surrounded by a gaggle of girls, in which you couldn’t really blame them, but the poor man was at loss for words. That and you were jealous. A bit.
“I feel like a leopard dragging it’s prey up a tree so nothing else can get to it.” You muttered.
“For the love of god, please just rescue him so we can stop hearing about it.” Zenitsu scoffed, seemingly just finally done, pushed you towards the crowd of girls despite your protests.
“Oh look, ladies! His beau is here! Now please give the love-birds some space!” He laughed in a screaming, manic manner, which didn’t help his or yours, or the pouting girls case, but they left anyways.
“I’m going to kill him.” The older black-haired man muttered, still flushed, yet his shoulders slumped down when you got near.
“Please don’t. Tanjirou’s our friend and would be sad.”
“You’re awful.” Followed by a genuine deep laugh.
The two of you stood awkwardly in the middle of the street for a little while, refusing to look at each other in the eyes as the two of you fought for what words to say.
“Would you like to walk with me?” You asked suddenly, heart pounding. Hands clammy, you let them sway to the side, peeking at him in the corner of your eye. He grunted, swallowing a lump in his throat before answering.
“Sure.”
It was only a moment of silence between you two. The cool spring breeze was welcoming, rustling through pink sakura petals gently as they offered up shade over a bench. The little spot was perfect for the moment, over-looking a koi pond abundant with fish.
“Remember when I sat on you?” You broke the silence, sitting down first. A loud guffaw, followed by an ill-hidden smile stretched his features.
“Bet you couldn’t do that, now.” He then grinned, irises alight with mirth.
“No, I couldn’t.” You chuckled, yet then sighed, biting your lip before taking the plunge.
“That’s when I first liked you.”
A silence followed right after that. Your heart rammed within your rib-cage, and yet, it felt so good to get it off of your chest, despite the nervousness crawling up at your spine. Gathering what little courage you had, you glanced at him.
His eyes were zeroed in on you. Full blown and wide, yet piercing yours as if hunting for something. Of course when the realization hit, he stammered and fumbled, turning even more red.
“I-! You! That long?!”
You could only wait, trying not to panic as thoughts span rapidly in your brain. You could’ve worded it more sincere and slow, or eased him into the confession that’s been dying to break out for years. Now he’s going to find ways to let you down, easily. Of course he didn’t like you like that, you were an annoyance the first day you’ve met him.
Genya, trying not to have a mental break-down, saw the wilting look on your expression.
“I like you too, damn it!” He blurted out, causing you to whip your head to look at him in comical almost disbelief. His heart clenched. After the battle of him and his brother against the final upper moon, had him thinking about things.
His mother and five younger siblings. The day after Muzan’s death, when he and Sanemi visited the graves in which the town buried. How he broke it down to you, and you just listened. Of course his annoyance with you had fully vanished months prior, but he looked back and remembered that particular day you tackled and fed him.
He wouldn’t admit fully that he was growing fond of that particular memory.
The reason that yes, you were odd, but it was the only way you knew how to show kindness to his stubborn self.
It was sappy, and Genya wasn’t good with that sort of thing, yet to leave you vulnerable in a long-awaited confession wasn’t very manly at all.
Of course, Sanemi bugging him and teasing him, to outright groaning for Genya to “grow some balls” for years, would be coming to an end sooner or later.
You just beat him to the punch.
“Ever since you first started feeding me. Probably before, then, but I am… was, too dense to see it.”
He drawled out, making sure that the words were equally special and endearing as the adorable blush flushing down to your ears and neck.
A moment of silence.
“So, are we courting, now?” It was endearingly odd to hear you ask it so shyly, but damn it was it cute.
Equally flushed, with his heart hammering through his chest, and perhaps the mental image of his mother, Sanemi, Sumi, Teiko, Hiroshi, Shuya, and Koto cheering him on, Genya took that final push to give you a quick peck on the lips, before turning away quickly.
Your lips tingled pleasantly, as he barked out equally flushed, eyes darting from the petals floating down softly, to your flushed face and lips that he wanted to kiss again.
“We’re past that point! We’re basically already married!” Arms crossed, he huffed, but you could tell that it wasn’t out of anger. A warm smile spread across your cheeks as your hand felt itself intertwine with his, causing a slight jolt, yet victory was yours as he laced his fingers with yours.
Unfortunately the sweet moment didn’t last long.
“About goddamned time!” Was followed by Rengoku’s boisterous laughter of congratulations when the two of you jumped.
“Nemi, what the hell?!”
“We’re just enjoying the scene that’s long overdue!” Your former sensei butted in, grinning as if he was the cat who caught the canary. His taller form leaned in slightly to Sanemi’s, who’s grin was feral, but it was obvious that it was a genuine happy one.
“Came to fetch you, but don’t bother coming home ‘til after the wedding!” The elder one cackled, gripping his lover’s hand as Kyojurou let out a genuine smile.
“Don’t fret, we’ll save you a room. Perhaps one farthest away from us.” The gall of him to actually wink with his one good eye.
It took you longer to admit before the innuendo clicking.
“Sensei!” It was your turn to sputter. “You’ve been corrupted!”
“Actually, it’s the other way around.” Sanemi butted in.
“We didn’t need to know that!” Genya’s voice reached your own octave seconds prior. “Just leave already!” One hand still holding yours, he waved the other one in exasperation, causing more cackling.
You didn’t say it, but inwardly you were threatening to kiss this man right in front of the other two in order to establish dominance.
“Fine, we’ll stop teasing, for now. It’s nice to see that the two of you finally admit your feelings.” Kyojurou smiled warmly, one eye twinkling with happiness.
You couldn’t help but let out melodic laughter as Genya’s arm self-consciously pulled you in close, as if to shield you away.
“Just leave!”
“Have fun!” Was the last snicker from Sanemi, as he trailed by your sensei’s side, giving one last victorious grin and a thumb’s up at you.
Peeking up at him through your lashes, you hummed as you scooted closer. His heartbeat quickened as the pale violet irises that you’ve come to adore stared down at you. Catching himself staring, and seeing that you weren’t backing down, you smiled when his heartbeat had quickened, followed by a handsome pink flush adorning his almost shy expression.
“Do you want to make onigiri with me for the rest of our lives?”
A skipped beat.
“Yeah.”
It was your turn to drag him down to kiss you properly, which Genya really didn’t mind.