Work Text:
Aoi was a lot of things
Strict
Uncompromising
Serious
Dedicated
Bossy(according to Zenitsu)
Blunt
Kind(according to Tanjiro)
In most situations, she would describe herself as a coward, grappling with the weight of that label. Her survival during the final selection was a bittersweet stroke of luck rather than a testament to her skills or bravery. The thought of confronting demons, fearsome adversaries that her sisters faced courageously daily, tightened her chest with anxiety. The fear of engaging in battle consumed her, leaving her paralyzed and doubting her place among them. While her sisters set out on dangerous missions, risking their lives for a cause they believed in, she remained painfully aware of her hesitation and reluctance to step into the fray. The conflict within her deepened as she yearned for the courage to fight, yet felt trapped by her overwhelming fear.
Aoi Kanazaki was many things, but one thing she was certain of was that she was not in love. Not now, not ever, and definitely not in a million years. Each time the subject came up, especially with her sister, Shinobu, Aoi would assert her certainty with conviction.
However, when Aoi voiced this declaration one afternoon, Shinobu couldn't help but laugh heartily, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh, Aoi," she said, shaking her head with amusement. "The only person you're fooling with that claim is yourself, sweetheart. You may not realize it, but your heart has a way of revealing things you're not ready to admit."
Aoi felt a warmth rise in her cheeks, but she stood firm, determined to uphold her stance. After all, she had built walls around her emotions for a reason.
She was a healer in a war against demons. Feelings like that were a distraction, especially for a man like him.
A man named Inosuke Hashibra, whom her sister claimed she had fallen in love with
"No chance, no way," Aoi said,
"Oh, but I think it's cute." Kanao smiled. Aoi gave her a blank stare.
"I don't know," Kanae smiled, that older sister smile that told her she saw everything. "You do interact with him a lot."
"cause he always comes back injured," Aoi defended, "what am I not supposed to heal him?"
"Of course," Kanae smiled at her.
There was no way she could be the crazy one in this situation, right? How could her sister honestly believe that she could be in love with him? It didn't matter that she had made him tempura at his request or that she was always the one stitching up his injuries and wrapping them carefully. She did those things out of duty, as part of her job; there was simply no way they could be misconstrued as signs of romantic affection for the idiot.
Inosuke was a force of nature; he embodied wildness and chaotic energy, a raw expression of freedom that was both exhilarating and intimidating. Aoi couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy toward him. It was frustrating to watch, as he seemed completely unburdened by the constraints of the world around him.
He acted on impulse, fearless in pursuing his desires, and somehow always managed to come out on top, no matter what the challenge. A part of her longed to possess that same kind of strength and unrestrained spirit. She wished she could break free from the confines of her own life and experience the exhilarating liberation that Inosuke represented.
She had learned water breathing.
She had learned to remain calm under pressure.
But that pressure could be suffocating.
She would admit that Inosuke seemed to take pressure as if it hardly mattered.
Inosuke would go about his life without fear in the world
He agreed to go to the entertainment district in her place, merely stating he had plenty of energy to spare
No matter the injury, he always seemed to get back up, getting ready to go to the next one, his signature line
"I'm coming through
She could admit that she found these traits admirable, inspiring even
But love
No
No way
No how
She was not even going to say it
Cause she wasn't
So, her sisters could forget it and get off her case
"Hey, Maoi," an all-too-familiar voice called out, making Aoi sigh.
"I told you, it's Aoi," she responded, having long since given up on getting him to say her name correctly. "What's wrong now?"
"Nothing much, really," he said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "But I wanted to give you something special." He paused for a moment, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Come on now, hold out your hand," he urged gently, his voice filled with excitement that made it hard to resist.
"Inosuke, I'm not—"
"Just do it."
"Fine," Aoi sighed. holding out her hand, Inosuke placed several acorns in her hand. "What's this?"
"Acorns," Inosuke smiled
"Okay, why acorns?" Aoi asked
"You seemed a bit stressed, so I thought I'd bring you something to lift your spirits," Inosuke said with a casual air, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. He smiled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I also wanted to thank you for all the delicious tempura you've been sharing," he continued, his voice warm and genuine.
"Inosuke I—"
"Nah, you love them," Inosuke laughed heartily, his boisterous voice echoing off the walls of the dimly lit mansion. With a grin plastered on his rugged face, he continued, "Of course, because I am the great Lord Inosuke, and I know everything!" His bravado was infectious, a mix of wild confidence and unfiltered excitement. Without another word, he pivoted on his heel, determination glinting in his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I have to find Gonpachiro so we can fight!" His feet pounded on the floors as he raced off, his wild hair trailing behind him like a dark mane. Just before disappearing around a corner, he called out over his shoulder, "I'll see you next time I want tempura, Aoi!"
Left in the wake of his exuberance, Aoi found herself standing there, her thoughts swirling in a mixture of amusement and contemplation. "Wait, did he...?" she wondered aloud, her gaze drifting towards the direction he had sprinted off. A flutter of warmth ignited in her chest, and despite her best efforts to suppress it, a smile crept onto her lips as she watched him dash through the expansive mansion, his energy nearly palpable.
"That was the first time he called me by my name," Aoi whispered to herself, a hint of disbelief coloring her tone. The realization sent a rush of warmth through her cheeks, making her heart race in a way she hadn't anticipated.
Suddenly, a voice broke through her reverie, startling her. "Who called you by name?" Aoi nearly jumped at the sound, turning to find Shinobu standing a few paces behind her, an amused glint in her eyes. The bright daylight streaming through the window illuminated Shinobu's graceful form, accentuating the sly smile playing at her lips.
"Oh, I see, Inosuke called you by name, huh?" Shinobu teased, her tone light yet laced with curiosity.
Aoi glanced away, trying to mask the flutter of embarrassment. "Maybe," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, "but it means nothing." She attempted to sound nonchalant, but the flutter in her stomach betrayed her.
"I didn't say anything," Shinobu replied, her smile widening knowingly as she leaned casually against the wall, clearly enjoying this unexpected turn in the conversation. The air between them was charged with a mix of teasing and unspoken possibilities, leaving Aoi caught in the delightful whirlwind of emotions stirred by Inosuke's simple yet significant gesture. "So, are you keeping the acorns?"
"I'll do something with them," Aoi said, leaving.
"That wasn't a no," Shinobu teased.
"Shinobu-sama, please let this go," Aoi sighed. As Shinobu laughed again
"Aoi," Shinobu began softly, her voice adopting the warm and reassuring tone she used when comforting a patient. She leaned in slightly, making sure her sister could see the kindness in her eyes. "I want you to know that it's completely okay to feel nervous; many people experience that same sensation. If you're unsure about what to do next, that's absolutely fine too. It's a confusing feeling that can arise in many situations, and you may find yourself overwhelmed by uncertainty, but I want you to understand that it's all part of the journey. You don't have to feel proud or worry about meeting any expectations. It's entirely normal to feel this way," she whispered gently, a smile spreading across her face as she looked at Aoi, hoping to instill a sense of calm and reassurance in her sister's heart. "It's okay that you're in love."
"Your way of base," Aoi told her.
"Am I?" Shinobu asked.
"You are," Aoi defended again, "and I'm not."
"Okay then," Shinobu smiled. "But if you ever are, you know you can talk to me, right?"
Aoi remained silent, feeling the weight of her thoughts as she turned to her sister, Shinobu. With the graceful poise she had practiced for years, she performed a polite bow, her movements fluid yet deliberate, before walking away.
Shinobu made no effort to follow her, which brought Aoi a sense of relief. In that moment of solitude, Aoi welcomed the chance to gather her thoughts. Everything felt so overwhelming and confusing, yet she was undeniably sure of her feelings—though they were tangled up in uncertainty.
As she walked, Aoi gently cradled the acorns in her palm. They served as a poignant reminder of the warmth that surged in her chest whenever Inosuke was nearby.
Beneath his wild and unruly exterior, she had come to realize that Inosuke possessed a tender heart. He was sweet, fiercely loyal, and deeply caring for those in his circle. Aoi had witnessed this firsthand; she could still recall the way he stayed close to Tanjiro during his injuries, often sitting protectively on top of him.
"It's his way of protecting me," Tanjiro had once explained, a soft smile on his face as he pushed through the pain.
Aoi understood that this was just one example of Inosuke's unique way of showing his affection and concern. The memory brought a faint smile to Aoi's lips even amidst her turmoil, as she pondered the complexities of her own emotions.
How he screamed at the other slayers when they disobey her
How he would always tell her how much he enjoyed her cooking
How she introduced him to her favorite food
How he defended her when men would not leave her alone
Aoi sighed, not tired from the long day of treating injured slayers or the chaos that came with being a demon slayer. Instead, she was exhausted by her emotions, which she felt she could no longer control. Or maybe she was still in denial. Looking at the acorns, a smile found its way to her lips. "I'm still not going to say it," Aoi whispered. "Not yet, not out loud."
"I'm not going to say I'm in love."