A Long Recovery
Summary: Tanjirou got, once again, injured and ended up in the care of the Butterfly Estate's residents.
Notes: Used the tumblr prompt "It is incredible you haven't died yet.". I was out of ideas for a title.
"It is incredible you haven't died yet." Shinobu said, seriously.
Even Aoi looked a little pale when she looked at him.
When Tanjirou arrived at the Butterfly Estate, he was numb. He knew that he was in pain, or that he should be feeling it, but.
He was aware enough to know that Inosuke brought him in. That Zenitsu carried Nezuko. That he should be screaming in pain.
But he wasn't.
And that…that sort of scared him.
'Shinobu-san isn't smiling.' he had thought, 'That's really bad, isn't it? Am I dying?'
He looked up at Shinobu and the Insect Pillar reached towards him. She ran her fingers through his hair.
"Don't worry." she told him, "You're going to be alright. I'll make sure of that."
Something inside him eased. He thinks he might have smiled at her.
He isn't sure how much time had passed.
At some point he passed out. Or Shinobu put him to sleep. Either way, he is thankful.
When he wakes again, it's late at night and his body is on fire.
A hand rests on his forehead for a moment.
The next month passes in blurred images bathed in black and pink and purple and blue and hissed groans of pain.
There's a relieving pressure on his side, a scent he associates with 'home', bathed in the clear scent of medicines and wisteria, scents that make him feel safe.
He catches the scent of worry and anger and he wants to open his eyes and smile and reassure them he is doing fine, but he can't. He can't open his eyes, or smile, or lie.
Sometimes there is the burnt smell of thunder and the scent of animals beside him.
Sometimes it smelt like flowers, but the scent never stayed for too long.
It's been a little over month since he came to the Butterfly Estate broken almost to beyond repair, when he really opens his eyes for the first time.
It's dark and it's quiet and he is so glad for that.
Everything hurts.
It's dull, but the pain is there and he thinks this is a good sign. It means he's still alive.
There is something…not off, but different.
There's the familiar homey scent to his left and a strange mix of wisteria and sorrow to his right.
He tries to move, but pain shots through his body and he groans softly.
The two scents beside him stirr.
"…irou-kun?" a familiar voice calls faintly, "Tanjrou-kun?"
Hands reach for his face, both soft, one in his hair the other on his forehead.
He frowns, still in pain, when someone – the hand on his forehead has left – helps him drink something.
"For the fever." that voice says.
'Is she talking to me?' Tanjirou wonders.
There's something…soothing in that voice. He wishes she would talk to him more, despite…what? Who…? Where was he?
He drew in a deep breath.
The scent of medicines and wisteria he always assossiated with 'safety'. There was only one place like that in this world filled with Demons. The Butterfly Estate.
Then…these hands are Nezuko and Shinobu-san.
"…uko…?" he tries to call, "…obu-…an…?"
"Tanjirou-kun?"
Someone is holding his hand.
He berely manages to squeeze it.
There's this new scent from both of them, he thinks it's happiness, but that's not really it. It's a positive scent, he is certain of that, but what…?
"Tanjirou-kun, can you hear me?"
He made a small sound, trying to turn towards her, following her voice, but a hand stopped him.
"Don't move. You're still in some pain." she said, "You had us all worried for a little while there. Go back to sleep. Your body needs the rest."
Nezuko cuddled close to him and Tanjirou realised what that scent was; relief.
'Oh, I scared them a lot.' he thought, his hold on Shinobu's hand tightening just a little more, his head very slightly turned towards his little sister.
The pain lessens and he manages to open his eyes two days later. He looks around him, notices Nezuko's box on his left and the stool on his right.
There is also a familiar-looking haori folded on it.
He stares at it with curiocity, seeing as Shinobu-san never goes anywhere without it.
"Ah, good morning, Tanjirou-kun." she says, as she walks in.
"Good morning, Shinobu-san." he replies, his voice raspy and low from unuse, trying to sit up, only to feel a hand push him back down.
"How are you feeling?"
Tanjirou blinked, as he watched her put her haori on again, and sit back down.
"Had been better." he sighed, leaning back, eyes closed.
"You were quite banged up when you were brought in."
"Sorry for the worry." he said, looking at her.
"Inosuke-kun and Zenitsu-kun explained how you were ambushed and sepperated."
"Muzan is really out for my blood." Tanjirou sighed, "When I met him in Asakusa he seemed to recognise my earings and that seemed to scare him."
"Your earings? Why?"
Tanjirou tried to shrug, only to wince in pain.
"As far as I am aware, my family was a long line of coal burners. Never dealt with demons before."
Shinobu hummed. Tanjirou yawned and she gave him a soft smile.
"Rest. That's enough of extertion your body endured for today."
"Shinobu-san should rest, too." he sighed, "Shinobu-san has been working hard looking after me, after all." he said softly, with a smile, eyes already closed.
"And how can you tell, Tanjirou-kun?"
"Shinobu-san's smell makes me feel safe." he mumbled.
Shinobu stared at the, now sleeping, young Slayer with wide eyes, unable to comprehent how he, knowing her feelings so well, would feel safe near her.
She sighed and smiled, reaching to run her fingers through his hair.
"You are too kind, Tanjirou-kun. How can you feel safe near me, when you are far stronger than I've ever been?"
Getting back to his feet is a slow progress at first, but Tanjirou faces it with a smile that gives relief to the girls that had been worried to death over his wellbeing.
Whenever he winces, even slightly, Kiyo, Sumi and Naho make him stop and rest.
Aoi is very gentle with his rehabilitation training, despite him asking her not to treat him differently.
"I'll stop when you stop wincing each time you breathe." she had told him very seriously.
Shinobu's smile had wanned a little. Maybe a bit strained? Tanjirou felt somewhat guilty about it, even though he knew it was just a mask.
When he is slightly better, and sitting upright isn't a feat as hard as facing off Rui again, Tanjirou makes his way slowly to the kitchen.
"What do you think you're doing?" Aoi's stern voice stops him.
"I thought to make lunch today, as a thank you for looking after me." he smiled.
"You are a patient here, Tanjirou-san." Aoi sighed, "You should be focusing on getting well, not making lunch. That's my and the girls' job."
"Maybe I could help?"
"No."
"Please? I'll feel better about dumping my injured self on you so often."
"Tanjirou-san, go and rest."
"But, Aoi-san! You work hard as it is. I could help a little."
Aoi sighed.
"Just…sit down. You'll help only if you are seated." she gave in.
"Thank you!" Tanjirou beamed and sat at the table.
Aoi sighed again.
They worked in silence and once lunch was ready, Aoi went to call the others.
Tanjirou looked around, curious.
"Shinobu-san isn't coming?" he asked.
"She is still busy." Aoi replied.
Tanjioru frowned.
Once he had eaten, he prepared a tray for Shinobu and slowly made his way to her study.
"Shinobu-san?" he called.
"Tanjirou-kun?" she called back.
He heard her come closer.
"You missed lunch." he smiled, once the door opened, "Aoi-san said you were still busy. So I thought to bring it to you."
"Ah, thank you. Shouldn't you be resting, Tanjirou-kun?" she smiled, making to take the tray from him.
Tanjirou's hold on the tray tightened.
He smiled.
"It's fine. I can manage this." he said, walking after Shinobu and setting the tray down on an empty space on the desk, "Shinobu-san is working hard. You should take a break, too."
Shinobu stared.
"Did I say something wrong?" Tanjirou asked, suddenly selfconscious.
"No." she shook her head with a smile, "You are right. I should take a break."
"Then I should…" Tanjirou pointed to the door.
"You don't have to go."
"Won't it feel weird to have someone watch you eat, though?"
"I wouldn't mind the company." she smiled.
"Ah, well…" Tanjirou blushed and sat down on a stool.
He thought he'd feel weird, but strangely enough he was content. They didn't say anything and Tanjirou wasn't looking at Shinobu while she was eating, but the silence was…companionable. He felt warm and at ease. And Shinobu seemed to enjoy this moment, if Tanjirou's nose was right. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes, a smile on his lips.
Shinobu turned to look at him and smiled softly.
"You were tired after all, Tanjirou-kun." she said, standing and throwing her haori over him, "Wait a moment here, Tanjirou-kun. We'll get you to your bed. You'll be more comfortable there."
A couple of minutes later, Shinobu returned with Aoi, Kanao and the girls.
"I told him to rest." Aoi sighed, exasperated.
"And when did Tanjirou-kun rest when he could help someone?" Shinobu asked with a smile.
"But how are we going to move him without waking him?" Naho asked.
"That is the riddle we have to solve." Shinobu said, "Girls, gently get his legs." she directed Kiyo, Sumi and Naho, "Aoi, you, Kanao and me will get his upper body."
They moved slowly, so as not to wake Tanjirou and carefully laid him down on his bed.
When Tanjirou wakes up several hours later, he is surprised to find himself in his bed and Nezuko sleeping at his side.
"When did I get back here?" he wondered quietly.
"You're awake?" a voice asked softly from his right.
With the start, Tanjirou realised Shinobu was there as well.
"Ah, Shinobu-san!" he turned to face her, "Good…evening…?" he says, looking at the dark sky outside and smiling sheepishly.
"How are you feeling?"
"Rested."
"You should have gone to rest, instead of bringing me my meal." she said, fondly, reaching over and feeling his forehead, "No fever, good."
"Shinobu-san is always looking out for me. I wanted to repay the kindness." he smiled.
"Not on the expense of your health, Tanjirou-kun, otherwise I'll think you want to stay sick so I can look after you."
Tanjirou blushes and struggles to find the right words.
A hand lands on his head, running through his hair.
"Thank you for looking out for me, Tanjirou-kun." Shinobu said quietly.
Tanjirou looks at her with wide eyes and reaches for her.
To their surprise, he wipes away a tear.
"Ah." Tanjirou was surprised, then as if his body had a mind of its own, he sat on the edge of his bed and drew Shinobu in his arms.
Shinobu hugged him back, practically hiding her face in his chest.
Tanjirou closed his eyes.
"I am sorry I worried you so much." he said, "You, Nezuko, Aoi-san, Kanao, Kiyo-chan, Sumi-chan and Naho-chan. I was a bit scared, too. I was numb, but I knew I was hurt really bad. And I thought, when I started training again, that Shinobu-san's smile was less vibrant than it used to be. I wanted Shinobu-san to smile brightly again. Because, if Shinobu-san is smiling, then the others will feel better. And since I was the one to make Shinobu-san worry, I should be the one to bring her smile back."
"Thank you." she said softly.
"For what?"
"For being such a kind soul. For taking the time to care."
Tanjirou smiled softly.
"Shinobu-san. I promised to do my best, didn't I?"
Chuckling softly, Shinobu looked up.
"Tanjirou-kun, you were always a kind soul, even before that promise."
"But I made that promise to you." he replied.
Shinobu's eyes grew wide upon realising. Then she smiled and patted his cheek.
"You did, didn't you?"
"I did. And so I will be kind and I will care." Tanjirou yawned.
Shinobu let go of Tanjirou and he let his arms fall from around her. Gently, she pushed him back to his bed.
"Get some rest, Tanjirou-kun."
"You too, Shinobu-san." he gave her a sleepy smile, before he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
He thinks someone kissed him last night. He thinks he might have been dreaming, too.
He's getting better each day, focusing more and more on his rehabilitation training in the mornings and meditating at night.
Aoi seems satisfied with his progress and the girls make sure to remind him to take small breaks, preparing him rice balls to eat.
His recovery is fast from the moment he started training again.
Still, Nezuko and Shinobu could be found hovering nearby every other night.
They had spent such a long time watching over his unconscious form when he was first brought in, it felt weird how quickly he had started to heal.
"Let's see…" Shinobu said that morning, when Tanjirou went for his morning check-up.
He sat patiently and let the Insect Pillar finish.
"You've all healed up. You're ready to go." she smiled.
"This feels a little weird." he said.
"How so?"
"I got used to seeing Shinobu-san and the others everyday. It'll feel wrong to open my eyes tomorrow and not see any of you." he said with a slight blush.
Shinobu's smile softened.
"We'll miss you here, too." she told him.
Tanjirou smiled, shyly, blushing harder.
Then he got up and bowed.
"Thank you for taking care of me again!" he said seriously.
"You are welcome."
Tanjirou looked back up, smiled and turned to leave.
"Tanjirou-kun."
"Yes?"
"You are welcome to visit even if you aren't hurt, you know."
Tanjirou's smile boardened a little.
"If the mission brings me nearby, I would very much like to rest here, thank you."
"Take care now." Shinobu smiled.
"I'll try to do better." he replied.
He heard Shinobu chuckle as he left the examination room.