Please do be constructive with me - this is my first piece of writing!
All rights and credit go to the owner of Kimetsu no Yaiba.
This story focuses on the development between Kanao Tsuyuri and Tanjiro - and continues on from the ending of the manga.
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Pastel colours blurred from focus as she looked up at the cherry tree. Victory, it was named, and the feeling of finally living up to that name was bitter-sweet. As the tree stood tall and proud before her, Kanao realised that all that had happened so far, all of the grief, hardship, was now replaced with peace. Although this gave her relief she also felt the pang of loneliness within her heart. Having lost so much, not really having fully understood what those bonds with people had truly meant to her, she made a vow to herself. She wanted to live her life following the promise sealed by the flip of a coin - to listen to the voice in her heart.
Before she knew it - she heard the soft pad of footsteps approach from behind her, and immediately she recongnised a familiar face that made her heart jump from excitement. "Kanao!" Tanjiro exclaimed, "the blossoming tree looks amazing when you see it up close!".
As Kanao looked up towards the falling petals she described the legacy of the tree, and conveyed to Tanjiro how she wished to tell the story of victory to honour the first breath of flower user who had planted the tree.
What she did not notice however, was the caring and loving glance that came from the man stood next to her. Reduced sight was not their only similarity - both of them felt the uncontrollable pull that drew them closer together, but this was also shrouded with uncertainty as neither had expressed their feelings for one another. With a loving smile exchanged between them, they parted ways to go and prepare for the evenings festivities.
With the Demon Slayers now disbanded, everyone was having to decide where their future would take them. The remaining Pillars and Demon slayers were all gathered together in the great hall of the butterfly mansion. A great number of dishes had been prepared and there were plenty of hungry bodies ready to dig in.Whilst all were seated together for a feast of celebration, people began talking of their future and what it had in store for them.
Aoi and the others from butterfly mansion has decided that the best thing they could do for society was continue to treat wounded and sick by using it as a hospital base. Much to everyone's surprise, Inosuke had decided that he would stay too, declaring he was the only one strong enough to protect the hospital from any wrong doing. A fine excuse that was, when even he himself perhaps had not realised the dark haired beauty that drew him in and cooked for him most days.
Kanao knew that Tanjiro and Nezuko would remain close together, what she did not expect however, was Zenitsu vowing to follow Nezuko to the ends of the earth and treasure her always. She felt jealous of this, not of their romance but instead of Zenitsu's ability to openly express his emotion.
And so it was decided, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Tanjiro would be leaving to return to the mountain homeland and continue working producing Charcoal and Tanjiro and his father before him had done. With festivities celebrating victory drawing to a close, one by one groups were starting to scatter.
The left Kanao feeling a wave of distress - she had no future plan, and nobody had come to her to ask her to join them. From this, she decided that she must try and forge her own path, listening to her inner voice and speaking out.
One by one after sake had been flowing people began to retreat for the evening. Tanjiro stood up announcing his departure for the evening and Kanao's realised this was perhaps her only chance to discuss how she felt. She abruptly stood up announcing "I'll walk with you! I'm going to call it a night too!" With a few drunken cheers that she did her best to ignore from the likes of Inosuke and Inui, her face began to blush a shade of scarlet and she approached the evening walk with Tanjiro.
"So... the evening sky is quite beautiful..." Kanao began with. "Hmm... yes it is..." Tanjiro replied seemingly distracted by something. Almost as if they were entirely in sync they both went to speak at the same time, before awkwardly noticing and stopping themselves.
"After you, Kanao, sorry I didn't mean to interrupt..." he said. "It's ok! I was thinking the same thing... listen Tanjiro, I wanted to talk about your plans to return to the mountains..."
All of a sudden Tanjiro was knocked over, by the force that was a jealous Zenitsu! "You bastard! Having a romantic conversation under the stars with a beauty like Kanao!!! And you call yourself a man!!!" And just as a fight was about to break out, as though in the nick of time a gentle hand was placed upon his shoulder. Nezuko gave a small smile, as if to express, enough! And soon after Zenitsu returned to his harmless state smiling blissfully and following Nezuko back off to their accommodations.
Patting off the dust from his uniform as he stood up Tanjiro let out a large sigh... although a pain he would miss the busy nature of the Butterfly Mansion. He glanced over to see a rather shocked Kanae, who was still taking in the ruckus that had just occurred.
What he was unaware of however, was Kanao's inner thoughts fixating on how Zenitsu had referred to their conversation as a romantic encounter. Already blushing red Kanao began to panic, she didn't know how to share a romantic encounter with anyone, and found it difficult enough just conversing with Tanjiro.
She was abruptly snapped out of this though, as she heard Tanjiro speaking... "Sorry about that Kanao...You were saying?" Almost immediately Kanao felt a rush of embarrassment that she had spaced out and blurred out "Oh yes! I was saying the perhaps we could spend the day together tomorrow!!" She said with her eyes forced shut from embarrassment... "if you're not too busy, that is..." she mumbled as her hands were hiding her blushing face.
In response to this now Tanjiro himself was a deep shade of red, questioning if he was right to interpret this as Kanao asking for a date. Without even thinking, he replied by taking her hand from in front of her face and holding it close to him, saying "That's a great idea... shall we head out after breakfast?? I'll meet you out front in the morning!!" And with a smile Tanjiro turned and ran off, waving behind him as he left.
As he did so, Kanao let out a breath of air that she had no idea she was even holding, although she had failed to say what she originally wanted to, she had managed to take a small step towards doing so. She walked over the threshold over her room and flopped on the bed to relax, as she realised that she would probably struggle to sleep tonight from the excitement that she felt in the pit of her stomach. Eventually however, her eyes began to drop as she felt a wave of exhaustion come over her and she drifted off dreaming of the day to come with Tanjiro.
End of Chapter 1.
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So here it is! The first chapter in my series following the aftermath of the war! Please do let me know what you think!
Thank you for reading!
Xx
