Rice Balls
An idea that came to mind and I felt like making.
Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kimetsu.
'So hungry.' While that sentence kind of made him sound like Inosuke a bit, Tanjiro couldn't help it.
His latest battle had taken the entire night since the demon he fought kept trying to escape and avoiding his attacks, it wasn't strong by any means, he was able to dodge all of its attacks, but its demon art aided in its escape making it a long battle, he just managed to corner it when the sun began to rise and the light cut off its escape.
The problem is that in one of their few exchanges, the demon managed to reach his haori and torn off the pocket where he kept some rice balls, sending it to the ground and sometime during the fight either the demon or him must have stepped on it because the next time he saw the wrapper it was crushed.
He was close to the Butterfly State, luckily, so Tanjiro hoped he could ask if they have some food he could eat, or to make it himself in case nothing is prepared.
'Almost there.' Tanjiro thought when he saw the figure of the Insect Pillar's home, placing a hand over his stomach when it rumbled at the thought of food.
The Kamado knocked the door before opening it and taking a step inside.
"Hello, is someone here?" He called out.
"Tanjiro?" He recognized the voice that had answered and, a few moments later, the owner walked in sight. "Welcome back." Kanao said with a small smile.
"I'm back." Tanjiro answered her happily. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, just… are you okay? Your haori is torn." The Tsuyuri said as she approached and inspected the rip part closer.
"Yeah, I was fighting a demon but it didn't manage to hit me, just torn my haori." The red haired teen assured her. "Later I…" RUMBLE "…would you happen to have some food?" He asked sheepishly. "The part the demon managed to tear off had my food in it and it wasn't edible after the fight."
"Hmm… I don't think we have any left overs." Kanao thought out loud. "Give me a minute, I'll go check."
"Alright, I'll leave Nezuko in her room and find you in the kitchen." Tanjiro waved at her as he walked away and Kanao did the same until he was out of sight before going to the kitchen.
…
"Sorry Tanjiro, there isn't anything made." Kanao said with a frown. "Master, Aoi and the others are out now too…"
"I see…" Tanjiro's stomach rumbled once more, demanding food. "Do you think I can use the kitchen? I'm too hungry to wait."
"Um… I guess there wouldn't be any issue." The Tsuyuri answered after a moment.
"Great, thanks, then-"
"W-wait!"
"W-what? Is something wrong?"
"I… I'll make something for you!" Kanao declared.
"…okay?"
"It's just… you must be tired so rest for a bit and I'll make the food… uhm… are rice balls okay?"
"…thank you, Kanao." Tanjiro said with a bright smile. "I'll take you up on that."
"R-right, I'll be done in a while so please be patient."
"Yes, I'll leave you to it then, thank you again!" The Kamado said before leaving the kitchen.
'…what am I gonna do?' Kanao had said she would make the food without really thinking after noticing how tired Tanjiro looked but… she doesn't really know how to cook. 'Ok, it's fine, Aoi and the others taught me for a bit before I became a Demon Slayer… I never really learned how to but I just have to think and remember what they said and I should be able to make something, rice balls are supposed to be simple… right?'
So, after grabbing the apron Aoi usually uses, she grabbed everything she thought she needed to cook and began her work.
.
.
Kamado Tanjiro never wastes food; because of the way he grew up, he was thought to not be picky and to make sure to never waste.
But, for this one time, he is kind of happy that his food got ruined.
'It's weird, I never thought I would be happy about something like this.' Tanjiro thought with a small smile, even as his stomach continued to rumble. 'Hmm… I would have liked if we cooked together, I should have asked her if it was alright.' He continued with his idle thoughts while he waited. 'Maybe I should go ask her now and… something's burning!'
Forgetting his original idea, Tanjiro ran towards the kitchen and opened the door.
"Kanao! Is everything alright?"
"Eh?! Tanjiro?"
The Kamado took a moment to process the scene in front of him.
"…did the rice burn?" He asked eventually.
"…sorry." The girl with the butterfly ornament said, looking at the ground to avoid his gaze. "I don't really know how to cook… but you looked so tired that I wanted to do something for you and…"
After she trailed off, Tanjiro calmly walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Kanao, I'm not mad." Those words made her look back up at him to see him smiling. "I'm really happy that you wanted to do this for me, how about we clean that one and make some rice balls together?"
"Really?" Her face lighted up immediately.
'So cute…' Tanjiro mentally shook his head to get rid of that thought. "Yeah but first." He walked to the burned rice, grabbed a spoon and looked for a part that wasn't so burned before grabbing it and taking a bite. "Ghh… I think you put too much salt in it." The red haired teen said as he looked for a glass of water, that Kanao quickly provided for him.
"You shouldn't have eaten that." She said worriedly as he gulped down the glass.
"But you made it for me, I wanted to at least try a bite." He answered.
"…hehe." Kanao suddenly began to giggle.
"What?"
"I was worried that you might get mad at me if I ruined the food… and I just realized how ridiculous that thought was, hehe."
'So cute…' Once again, Tanjiro had to shake himself out of his thoughts.
"Something wrong?"
"No… I just thought you look really cute when you laugh." He admitted while scratching his cheek.
"Th-that is… thank you."
"…right, food! Do you want to make some rice balls together?"
"I… will probably get in your way." Kanao admitted a bit sad.
"No you won't, I can teach you." The Kamado assured her. "And… I would like it if we cook together… only if you want of course."
For a moment, a very small moment, Kanao thought about grabbing her coin and throw it to decide.
"Alright." But she ended up agreeing before she could fully process that thought.
"Great!" Tanjiro gave another bright smile at hearing that. "First… we need to clean that." He said, pointing at the overly salty rice.
"These are amazing!" The caterpillars exclaimed as they each ate their rice balls.
"True, they're really good." Aoi agreed.
"Ara~ ara~, when did you get so good at cooking, Kanao? Have you been practicing without us knowing?" Shinobu asked before taking another bite of her own rice ball.
"No… I burned the rice on the first try." She admitted. "Tanjiro helped me make these after that."
"Well, then thank you for helping her, Kamado-kun." The Insect Pillar said.
"It was my pleasure." The red haired teen assured her.
.
.
After lunch was over, Aoi offered to wash the dishes while Kiyo, Naho and Sumi went to take care of their tasks, same as with Shinobu.
Tanjiro and Kanao went to the garden and sat in the porch.
"I'm full~." Tanjiro said with a happy sigh.
"Sorry that you had to wait more because of me." Kanao apologized.
"No, it tasted better because we ate them with everyone." The Kamado quickly replied. "And I got the chance to make them with you, I'm happy with how things turned out."
"…I'm happy too." The Tsuyuri answered.
"I see… all is good then…"
"Tanjiro? Are you okay?" She asked when Tanjiro suddenly began to bob his head up and down.
"Yeah… just a bit tired…" He answered, trying to keep himself awake, but suddenly fell to the side and on Kanao's shoulder. "Ah, sorry…" Tanjiro quickly tried to move away until he felt a hand on his head. "Kanao?"
Without a word, the black haired girl gently guided his head until it was resting on her lap.
"I couldn't make you food… so at least let me do this." She said with a shy smile as she slowly caressed his hair.
"Thank you… then, if you don't mind." The Kamado slowly closed his eyes, letting her scent and the feeling of her hands caressing his hair lull him to sleep.
"Sweet dreams."
Before his fatigue won out, Tanjiro was able to catch the glimpse of a beautiful smile from the corner of his eye.
-Content sigh.-
Sometimes, you just get an idea and have to write about it, hehe.
I hope you enjoyed and don't forget to comment.
Until next time!