Chapter 2: Recovery
In the days that follow, Zenitsu and Inosuke try to remind him of their adventures, Shinobu filling the gap of the time before he met the two, retelling what he had told her.
He's been in rehabilitation training for a few days, having to relearn everything, when one night Shinobu finds him crying.
"Tanjirou-kun…?" she landed next to him.
"They're all gone, aren't they?" he looked at her, "It's just me and Nezuko now. What…what can I do? I couldn't protect my family. How can I protect Nezuko? I…"
"I've known you long enough and well enough to know you've managed amazingly so far. You are not alone in this, though. Zenitsu-kun, Inosuke-kun, us here in the Butterfly Estate, we're here to support you."
Tanjirou leaned on her shoulder. Shinobu was shocked. Then she smiled, helping him settle down better, actually using her lap as a pillow.
"Is…is this ok?" he asked.
"I wouldn't have encouraged you if it wasn't."
"I miss them. I was going to get them pressents for the New Year that day. I was supposed to prepare for the Dance of the Fire God. Why them?"
"That…I am afraid I do not know the answer." she said, "I am sorry."
She didn't think she had seen Tanjirou so…lost before. He was always the one doing the protecting, always looking out for the others, even her even if she was a Pillar. Always the big brother. Seeing him like this was shocking, but also humbling, because he trusted her to let her see him vulnerable and protect him.
Nezuko spends her nights beside him, especially after he remembers who she is.
Shinobu makes sure they rest and are warm during the nights.
Things come back to Tanjirou slowly.
When he remembers his training, he starts practising his Water Breath.
He sometimes blinks and looks around him, confused.
"Tanjirou-kun?"
"Ah, sorry, Shinobu-san. I thought for a moment I was on a mountain. It's weird to think I can just walk out and not go through Urokodaki-san's trap course or without Sabito and Makomo helping me out." he replied with a sheepish smile.
"Sabito and Makomo?"
"Fellow students. Though, I always saw them at the boulder I was supposed to cut. I wonder where they sleep and eat…"
A couple of days later he was staring at his training sword.
"Turns out they were ghosts after all." he said, not even turning to see her, "Sabito was a strict teacher." he smiled, "Can you miss a ghost, Shinobu-san?"
"I haven't met one. But if you do miss them, then I guess it is possible for anyone to miss a ghost."
She stood up, picked another training sword and turned to Tanjirou.
"Would you like to train with me?" she smiled.
Tanjirou blinked and with a smile got to his feet.
Shinobu was usually busy. For her to even find time to talk him, was an honor he tried not to waste. But to train? It was almost like seeing his father do the Dance of the Fire God; an once-a-year special occurance.
She helped with his stance, his breathing and his flexibility.
They were exchanging blows for a couple of hours when she did a complicated maneuver that threw the sword from his hands.
"We'll have to work on your hold on your sword." she said, "But that should be enough for the day. You need to rest. Well done, Tanjirou-kun."
"Thank you, Shinobu-san." he smiled, blushing a little at the praise.
It wasn't long after that the nightmares started.
Shinobu was surprised they hadn't started sooner.
The reason? Tanjirou remembered meeting Muzan in Asakusa.
It wasn't uncommon to find Nezuko, Aoi, Kiyo, Sumi, Naho or Shinobu waking him up from his nightmare to calm him down.
He always apologised for the inconvenience.
"Stop apologising." Shinobu sighed one night, "We are not 'inconvenienced'. We are glad we can help you, even a little."
Tanjirou drew in a deep breath.
Then, as if it had a mind of its own, his hand found its way on the top of her head, patting her lightly, a soft smile on his lips.
"Thank you." he said.
Then he blinked, blushed and pulled his hand away, stuttering apologies again.
Shinobu chuckled softly with his flustered face, paying no mind to the pink that had risen on her cheeks.
"You are very welcome, Tanjirou-kun." she replied with a sweet smile, sending the boy's blush off again.
His nightmares seemed to have subsided after that.
He'd been in the Estate for a little over two months when he remembers Mt. Natagumo and the meeting with the Pillars.
When he woke up, he scared Aoi half to death when he dashed out of the recovery wing.
"Tanjirou-san?!"
"Ah, good morning, Aoi-san! Thank you for taking care of me so far!" he bowed, "I am looking for Shinobu-san. Is she here?"
"In her study." she berely finished when he took off again.
She blinked after him.
'What happened now?' she wondered, as she resumed her duties.
Which included giving Tanjirou his medicine.
She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
'Why am I the one dealing with the insane ones?' she lamented and turned to follow after the young Slayer.
Tanjirou had reached Shinobu's study and knocked on the door.
"Shinobu-san? Can I enter?"
"Come in." Shinobu turned from her desk and her work replenishing her poisons, "What can I do for you, Tanjirou-kun?"
Tanjirou bowed his head.
"Thank you for letting us stay here!" he said.
"What did you remember?"
"Mt. Natagumo."
"Ah. You're almost there, then." she smiled.
"Also. You didn't make a bad first impresion, Shinobu-san. It was an expected reaction from a fellow Demon Slayer."
"Still. It was quite the jarring thing to hear."
A knock on the door gave them pause.
"Yes?"
"Sorry to interrupt, Shinobu-sama, but Tanjirou-san left before I could give him his medicine." Aoi said.
Tanjirou looked embarrassed.
"Ah, I am so sorry!" he bowed towards the door, even though Aoi couldn't see him.
"Tanjirou-kun."
"Yes?" he turned to face Shinobu.
"Go take your medicine." she smiled, her face very close to his.
"Y-Yes!" he exclaimed, blushing.
Then he turned and opened the door, apologised to Aoi again and spent the day meditating.
Shinobu finds him that night on the roof with Nezuko, looking at the stars.
"Good evening." she smiled, sitting beside them.
"Ah! Shinobu-san!" Tanjirou exclaimed, surprised to see her, "Ah, good evening. Um, sorry for…uh, it felt right."
"It's fine. This is your spot, after all."
"Eh?"
"It's not your first time on the roof. And so long as you don't stay long enough to catch a cold, it is fine with me."
"Ah, thank you."
"You like watching at the stars?" Shinobu asked him after a moment.
"Mmm. It reminds me a bit of home, of our mountain. Used to sit on our roof and watch them before…" he trailed off, "Your home feels a little like how my family's used to. So I come up here to watch the stars and the moon. I miss the fireflies, though." he laughed softly.
Nezuko nudged him.
"What is it, Nezuko?"
"Mmm mm mmm."
"Eh, I can try, but I don't have a hair clip on me right now."
"Anything I can help with?"
"Do you have a spare hair clip? Nezuko wants me to do her hair up."
"I'll be right back." she smiled and jumped off.
She came back with a comb and a purple butterfly clip.
"Here you go."
"Ah! Thank you very much!"
He turned to Nezuko, who had turned her back to him to give him access to her hair.
Shinobu stood up, thinking to leave them be, when Tanjirou looked back at her.
"We would like you to keep us company, if you want, Shinobu-san." he smiled.
"Well, then, if you insist." she sat back down, a little closer than before and watched Tanjirou work, "Did you always do your sister's hair?" she asked.
"Our mother was way better at it than I am. I had to learn how to while on the road. The fact she travels in the box is a blessing and a curse."
"How so?"
"I don't have to do her hair often, but I am not becoming better at it, for when Nezuko wants something new." he said, "And she does sleep a lot to preserve energy, so I don't want to wake her just because I want to practise in making her hair."
Shinobu hummed and watched him gather his sister's hair up, leaving a couple of strands down, in a shockingly familiar-looking hairstyle, and catching the rest back up with the butterfly clip.
Nezuko turned and smiled brightly at him.
"This is a good look, Nezuko." he smiled, patting her head, "Very pretty."
"It seems to me, Tanjirou-kun, you are downplaying your abilities." Shinobu said, leaning even closer, "This isn't easy to pull off on a first try without being shown. And I am pretty sure I haven't shown you how to make my look."
Tanjirou laughed nervously.
He knew she wasn't mad or annoyed with him by her smell. He just wasn't used to being teased by a beautiful woman. And he had found out that Shinobu loved teasing him. She didn't do it often, but her smell always got an amused warmth to it everytime.
"Maybe I should let you do my hair each morning, what do you think, Nezuko-chan?"
Nezuko looked between the two and with a look full of mirth, nodded.
"N-Nezuko?!" Tanjirou exclaimed, blushing at the idea.
Nezuko patted his head and left, clearly happy with herself.
"Nezuko?!" Tanjirou looked after his little sister as she walked off happy with her new hairstyle, "Ah…"
A hand landed on his head.
"You don't have to do my hair, you know. I was teasing." Shinobu said, "But at least now you know your little sister is okay with it if you decide to practise with my hair."
Tanjirou hid his face in his hands and screamed.
"Please, Shinobu-san, don't tease." he mumbled in his hands.
There was a soft chuckle behind him.
"Don't stay up too long." she told him and then she was gone.
Tanjirou was left trying to calm his heart.
The next time they meet on the roof, Tanjirou had a very solemn look about him.
"Tanjirou-kun?" she asked, tilting her head forward to look him in the eyes.
"I remembered." he said.
"Ah." she understood.
She shifted until she was behind him and then just leaned on his back.
"Shinobu-san…?"
"I just want to rest for a bit." she sighed, her hand grabbing onto his shoulder.
With a soft smile on his lips, Tanjirou covered her hand.
"My back and shoulders are always available, if Shinobu-san needs to rest." he said.
"It's good to have you back, Tanjirou-kun."
"Sorry for the worry I caused."
"I am more curious on how you ended up with amnesia, considering you have a really hard head. Sanemi-san was dizzy afterwards." Shinobu chuckled.
Tanjirou lookd up at the sky.
"Hard forehead. The demon got me from behind. I'm surprised it didn't crack open, really."
"You make sure that doesn't happen, all right?" she ordered, her hold on his shoulder tightening.
"And make Shinobu-san worry like that ever again? I would be a horrible friend."
"What does that say about me and making you sad?"
"Shinobu-san doesn't owe me anything. If I get very lucky and kill Muzan before Shinobu-san meets her demon, then we won't have to worry about anything. If not, I hope I'll be by Shinobu-san's side to support her."
"If I am on my own?"
Tanjirou turned suddenly around and pulled her in his arms, much to her surprise.
"Then, Shinobu-san should make absolutelly sure she stays alive until I can reach her and support her." he said, "I am not afraid to admit I am selfish enough to not allow Shinobu-san to die."
"I will do my best, then." she promised.
"Thank you." he sighed in relief.
"But I never would imagine Tanjirou-kun to be selfish." Shinobu said playfully.
"I am. I'm also angry at Muzan for killing my family and so many people. I really, really hate him." he said seriously.
Shinobu drew back to look him in the eye.
"It's only right Shinobu-san knows how I feel, too. I did put my nose in where I shouldn't, even if I can't help what I smell." he smiled.
"So, we are two people after revenge." she said.
She closed her eyes and shook her head with an unbelieving smile.
"And yet, you manage to be kind to other demons."
"Some of them are still hurting. I can't not show those compasion. Their sad smell fills my nose and I can't help it. But, I don't think I wouldn't do the same if I couldn't smell their emotions. I want to believe I would still show them the same compasion, regardless."
"I am sure you would." Shinobu said with a smile, "You have a beautiful soul, after all."