[AN: Whoa! That's it for Sanemi! I can't believe I've actually finished two routes! You guys are amazing for sticking with this and reading my silly ideas lol. Who's next? Honestly, I was planning on Uzui, but there is still no news about season 2! Ugh, what to do? Anyway, I hope you're all doing fine! Comment on who you want to see next. (Please do, let's talk).
Thank you for reading, as always!]
"My, my! I've never seen Shinazugawa-san like this before." Shinobu-san commented as she tried yet another salve on my burns. She winced a little, her own injuries hurting as well.
"It's weird. He's always angry, and loud. And scary like a rabid dog! But somehow, this silence is so much worse." Added Zenitsu. He's right about that. Sanemi's anger is usually red-hot and boiling. Always loud, and almost always violent.
"Speaking of silence, Zenitsu-san, please lower your voice. Tajirou-san and the others are still sleeping." Reminded Shinobu-san, a calm yet scary smile on her face, causing Zenitsu to yelp and whine. I smiled a little at the sight… if felt normal.
"There. Maybe you should get more sleep, Y/N-san." I examined myself in the hand mirror, seeing a huge bald patch on my head. Huge, burn scars were where hair should be. My face decorated with angry, red burns. No wonder Sanemi didn't want to see me.
"I don't get it. How come you're not healing at all? It's been two weeks." Genya wondered, examining my face a little too close for comfort. "Uhm… I'm not sure." It was a lie. I knew why I wasn't healing, and I knew just how I could recover. But with Sanemi mad at me, I don't think I could do anything at the moment. And I don't blame Sanemi for being mad at me, especially when I did exactly what he told me to not do. I should probably begin with what happened after the emergency summon.
We arrived almost at the same time as the other hashiras. We came upon what remained of the Ubuyashiki estate, and Himejima-san attacking Kibutsuji who was being held down by Tamayo-san. "This is it!" Sanemi declared as he unsheathed his sword. "Time to kill that bastard!" And as if triggered by Sanemi's words, many doors leading into the infinity castle opened up below us all.
We all rushed to our assigned teams, using my vision as a guide of the demons' locations. Before I could run off to Genya and Tanjiro, though, Sanemi grabbed me and planted a rough kiss on my lips. "Don't die!" He reminded, "you, too." Then Shinobu-san approached me, "I'm not going to kiss you, but you should hold on to this." She handed me a small case before running off to her assignment. I secured the box deep in my kimono and ran off to my team, taking care of all the low-level demons in our way.
Shinobu-san was able to make wisteria mist bombs. What it was and how it worked, I had no idea as she assured me that I'd die of poison if she demonstrates it and she'd rather not have Sanemi kill her. She took Iguro-san, Tsuyuri-san, and Inosuke with her to face Doma.
Sanemi was teamed with Tomioka-san, Himejima-san, Tokito-san, and Mitsuri-san to face Upper Moon One. They were aware of how the demon, Kokushibo, could have blades protrude from his body.
Tanjirou, Genya, and I were assigned to fight Akaza-san. It was an odd feeling. There was a need for me to face him – to avenge Kyojuro. But, at the same time, I didn't want him to get hurt. I still saw him as a friend. And by the look on his face when he saw us, he probably felt the same.
Tanjirou was angry; no, he was furious. Using his breathing technique, Tanjirou tried to cut off Akaza-san's head right away. And despite feeling like my heart would break, I did my best to support him by freezing Akaza-san's limbs. Genya used his gun and shot where Akaza-san would lean towards as he avoided Tanjirou's sword.
It was easy for him to break my frost and fight back, successfully hitting Genya and piercing his stomach – almost the same way he did with Kyojuro. I was quick to cut off my hand, barely even feeling the pain before throwing the limb over Genya and have him eat it.
"What the -?" Akaza-san wondered, Tanjirou taking advantage of his momentary distraction. It went like that for a while, both sides unable to completely incapacitate the other. However, Genya and Tanjirou were still humans and they will get tired. We need to finish this quickly. I tried taking the lead, but whenever at do, Akaza-san jumped away from me.
He would dodge me then try and go after Genya or Tanjirou but would simply not attack me. It infuriated me, and that pathetic look he got on his face every time we locked eyes. "Fight back! You hurt my friends - murdered my friend but you won't fight me?"
"I can't."
"Huh?"
"I can't hurt you… not again." His face twisted in guilt and agony, the sight triggering a memory I seemed to have buried deep inside me. In the memory, I was surrounded by blood – the scent of it so enticing I felt my mouth water. Akaza-san looked like he was in pain, and clear guilt can be seen as he stretched his hand towards me. I took it, seeing my hand was covered in blood.
"Y/N-san!" Genya yelled, snapping me out of my reminiscing. Akaza-san's hand was on Tanjirou's neck after slamming him on the floor. I focused my frost on the arm holding Tanjirou, before sliding over to hit and shatter it and grabbing Tanjirou away.
"You! You said you can't hurt me again, yet you try to kill the people I care about? Fuck you!" Akaza-san froze, taken aback. Tanjirou grabbed the chance and seemingly appeared out of thin air and sliced Akaza-san's head off. My breath was caught in my throat, anger suddenly disappearing like a blown flame of a candle. "Akaza-san?"
His headless body stood a little too long, the smell of burning demon ash absent. Both Genya and Tanjirou slumped to the floor, while I stared at the stump where Akaza-san's head was at seconds before. An impossible sight – Akaza-san's head seemed to be reforming… then his voice echoed in my head.
"Are you happy?" The answer came up easily from deep within my heart. "I am." Then out of nowhere, Tanjirou grabbed me, jumping away from where Akaza-san stood before he exploded. As if he just gave up and decided to die.
"Is he?" Genya asked, looking towards the burnt crater. A crow answered him, announcing to everyone that we just defeated Akaza-san. Genya started laughing then, a very weird thing to do considering where we were and what we were doing. At the looks Tanjirou and I gave him, Genya finally thought to explain; "I can't believe you just said fuck, Y/N-san."
"Oh… I guess I did."
After the two of them teased me a little about Sanemi rubbing off of me – I say they teased me but the mood was a little off for that kind of thing – we all headed towards where Kibutsuji would be. And a crow announced our victory as we did ran as fast as we could. We needed to get there before Tamayo-san gets absorbed completely; before the many demon slayers get there and get brutally murdered.
"Is that?" Genya asked as the three of us skid into a stop in front of a giant glob of what looked to be flesh. I heard Tanjirou sniff, "That's him. Kibbutsuji Muzan."
"Hurry, while he's vulnerable!" It was only then that I noticed someone – Tamayo-san – halfway absorbed into the ball of flesh. Half her body was already absorbed, and I moved before I could think. I got hold of her back and pulled, but it was a mistake.
"Ngh!" I felt myself getting sucked in, getting absorbed by Kibutsuji. I heard Tanjirou and Genya call for me then, but my consciousness was taken over by something else. A vision? I saw Kibutsuji, smiling proudly at me and felt elated at the sight. No. It's not a vision. A memory. At the realization, my senses became sharper and I realized it was a familiar scent – Marechi blood.
Kibutsuji walked towards a crumpled, bloody mess which I only noticed then to be human remains. He plunged his hand into it, grabbing something before walking towards me. He knelt down and presented something in his hand. "You forgot the best part." Nestled in his huge palm was the person's heart and I thanked him, grabbed the heart, and ate it.
A sudden, searing pain pulled me out of the memory. "I'm sorry, but this is the only way to pull you both away." I felt my body furiously try to stitch up my torn flesh as Genya dragged me away, Tanjirou cutting off Tamayo-san from the ball of flesh before following us.
"Why are we – where are we going? We need to attack now!" I tried to get away from Genya, but it was hard to stand by myself without legs and an arm. "We will. But you can't go near Muzan – he's absorbing you! My bro – Nemi… Shinazugawa would kill us if we let that happen."
Of course, what he said made sense. But we need to take advantage of this moment! In my visions, Kibutsuji would kill several demon slayers. He'd kill so many that the dead would pile up like a macabre hill. I'm willing to try anything to change that.
But I wasn't able to think of anything, after all, what could I even do to Kibutsuji Muzan when he could absorb me when I come close to him?
"Kaw! Shinobu, Obanai, Kanao, Inosuke! These four defeated Upper-Rank Two! Defeated!" The announcement came, Tanjirou asking the crow about our comrades and it informing us that they were basically alright. "Shinobu-san didn't die?" I asked, a little breathless, and the crow confirmed that yes, she didn't die. That's one big change! The news bolstered my confidence – we could prevent Genya's and others' deaths as well! The first step would be to get rid of Kibutsuji right now.
"Genya, open up!" I manipulated frost to form a blade in my one hand, using it to cut off the newly formed foot. "Sorry, it's my foot." Genya made a face but ate the appendage anyway. I looked back to Kibutsuji, still a disgusting ball of flesh. "Y/N-chan, the same thing we did on the train? I slice, you freeze?" Tanjirou asked, ready to jump anytime.
"What are you three waiting for?" Came Iguro-san's voice before he leaped in front of us and slashed at Kibutsuji. I turned to see Shinobu-san running towards us – injured and exhausted, but otherwise still alive. Inosuke and Tsuyuri-san not far behind. It was time to move.
"Muzan's trying to digest the medicines I gave him. Right now, he's considering it the bigger threat." Tamayo-san added, seeing her almost fully healed. "Then let's slice him up to a million pieces while we can!" Declared Iguro-san, and everyone else followed suit.
"What? Impossible!" Iguro-san said, leaping back towards us. It was then that several other teams started to arrive, and the news of Upper-Rank One's defeat was announced.
"My sword… can't slice through?" Iguro-san looked toward Tamyo-san, as if she held the answer we needed. Genya fired his gun, his flesh bullet bouncing harmlessly off Kibutsuji's flesh cocoon. More people kept arriving, and instead of feeling confident – feeling stronger in numbers, I felt dread. An impending sense of doom settled within me because it was looking very much like my vision. Kibutsuji would jump out of his fleshy prison, and tube-like appendages would sprout out of him which he'll use to kill every single slayer. It was then that I realized how foolish it was of us to think we could actually defeat him by sheer number, or the power of friendship, or teamwork! Life does not work that way, especially when you're dealing with a monster like Kibutsuji Muzan. The only way – the only sure and real way to defeat him was to take him to the surface and let sunlight take care of him.
"Fall back!" I cried, everyone's attention on me. "We need to draw him out. Fall back now before he kills all of us!"
"Ha? This isn't a situation to be waiting! We don't know what will happen! We need to move now… with two hashiras with us –" a slayer I've never spoken to started to complain, wasting more time. But the very hashiras he was talking about were quick to grasp the situation, their experience letting them make better decisions than most.
"You should listen to her." Shinobu-san scolded. But there were others like him, too tempted by the seemingly defenseless state Kibutsuji was in.
A split second and Kibutsuji broke out of his flesh cocoon, going for the very slayer that complained. "No!" Pillars of thick frost – no, ice, erupted in between the slayer and Kibutsuji. Iguro-san jumping in time to grab him away. Besides me, Genya shot his gun towards Kibutsuji and activated his own blood demon art.
A tree sprouted where he hit Kibutsuji, which was easily snapped off. "A human using blood demon art?" I felt chills at the way Kibutsuji focused on Genya.
Thinking we could prevent everyone from dying was stupidly naïve of us. The power radiating off of Kibutsuji was horrifying. We need to gather all of the hashiras, or spread out and make Kibutsuji chase us to the surface. Sanemi and the others have already defeated their assigned demon moon, and no one from his team was announced dead so they should already be on their way. Unless they're hurt so bad! I stopped myself before dark thoughts consume me. I need to prioritize; don't let Genya die, and draw Muzan out.
I turned, planning to regroup but then saw Tanjirou absolutely seething. Of course, Kibutsuji murdered his whole family and turned his only living sister into a demon. But we needed to make smarter decisions now more than ever. "Calm down, Tanjirou-kun." Shinobu-san said, walking closer to us bring with her the scent of blood. She was injured, and I turned to look her over, seeing several cuts all over her body. She muttered that she was fine because of course, she was.
There was an obvious difference in Kibutsuji's strength and ours… but everyone stood bravely and ready to face humanity's greatest enemy.
"Persistent." Kibutsuji began, standing still as we surrounded him. "You're all seriously persistent and it bores me. It sickens me from the bottom of my heart. Whenever any of you open your mouth, you only remember that one dum notion about avenging your parents, kids, or siblings." He really did look like he was utterly bored. "You've all survived. That should be enough for you."
"So, your family got slaughtered. What's the problem here? Think of yourself as lucky, and go back the way you lived life before." I could almost feel everyone's shock at the words coming out of his mouth. Even I couldn't believe how someone could think like that. Someone… the one who stole my life. Someone who killed my brother. We really need to get rid of him.
"What are you saying? Uttered Tanjirou, "Look at it this way. Being killed by me is the same as encountering a great calamity." Kibutsuji looked content – he really believed in what he was telling all of us. "No need to think so hard about it. Rains; winds; volcano eruptions; earthquakes. You can't get revenge on a natural disaster, no matter how many lives it takes away. You can't bring dead humans back to life. Why not just stop fussing over the issue and live quietly to earn your daily wages?"
"Most humans live that life. Why can't you all do that? There's only one reason. The demon hunters are an assembly of deviants. And I'm tired of dealing with deviants. That's why I'm getting rid of all of you. I got rid of Ubuyashiki. Nakime already took care of the other hashiras you're waiting for. I'm the one who really wants to put an end to all this."
Screams of protest erupted from everyone. All of us here were touched by Kibutsuji, changing our lives and made them a living nightmare. Above all voices, I heard Tanjirou. He wasn't screaming, no. In fact, it was a calm sort of rage radiating off of him. "Muzan, you are a being that should not be allowed to exist."
I couldn't agree more.
It was chaos. A lot of other demon slayers already dead from Kibutsuji's quick attacks. But we needed to buy time. Until the sun was ready to kill Kibutsuji. One of his whip-like appendages hit Tanjirou in the eye, then another went for Genya and I found myself pulling him away.
"You should be fighting with me. I created you… gave you a better and new life to be my companion." He looked at me directly, almost ignoring everyone else around us. "You're mine!" He growled going straight after me – completely contradicting what he just said.
Well, I guess it wasn't much of a contradiction. He thinks I'm his… his to destroy. But he's a fool. I've never been his. And now, I've got a goal and am determined to come out of this a human and alive.
"She's not yours, you fucker!"
"Sanemi!" There was carnage around us; an immortal and powerful monster targeting me yet hearing his voice made me the happiest I had ever been. He was hurt and bleeding but still fighting. Oh… I love this man.
Right behind him came the rest of the hashiras – all injured but still breathing. The presence of every hashira bolstered everyone else. It's time to hit Kibutsuji with everything we got. But the appearance of Sanemi and the others shook Kibutsuji, screaming out "Nakime". He knew then… Yushiro was manipulating the biwa woman and Kibutsuji figured it out.
It's up to Yushiro now to force Muzan up and out. I just hoped he was strong enough to take complete control of the demon moon.
The Infinity Castle began to shake and move around, Sanemi jumped to where I was and looked me over for injuries. It was stupid – I heal. He doesn't. "You're hurt." I said, caressing his face as if there wasn't chaos surrounding us. "I'll live." He said, smile looking entirely out of place. He quickly pecked me on the lips, resting his forehead against mine as we closed our eyes.
"Don't die."
"I won't."
We were thrown out, and despite everyone banding together – the best of the demon slayers – Kibutsuji was still much too powerful. We were like annoying ants that he was just tolerating and could squish anytime.
There was still an hour and a half when we got outside. It was much too long! But I've learned that demon slayers are stubborn and persistent. But Kibutsuji was furious. I focused my blood demon art in protecting them. It was difficult, trying to cover and protect them from Kibutsuji while making sure they stay flexible and able to move.
But I'm nowhere near as good as Kibutsuji when it comes to using my powers as a demon. The other slayers took it upon themselves to protect the hashiras with their bodies – acting as human shields.
Amidst the confusion, I heard Tanjirou screaming for everyone to regroup and attack together. And then he started coughing and writhing. I could not help but run to him, fear taking over me once I got a good look at him. He was starting to turn into a demon?
Kibutsuji was telling everyone that Tanjirou received too much of his blood – that that amount is like a fatal poison and declared that Tanjirou was already dead. But he's wrong. I know I saw Tanjirou become a demon.
Sanemi threw bottles at Kibutsuji, the whip-like appendages breaking the glass and dousing him in liquid and then lighting him on fire. "Tsk, not enough!" I turned my focus to him – defeating him should be our priority! I produced the coldest, and thickest ice I could and willed it to wrap around Kibutsuji's legs. I visualized his flesh; his very cells to go cold and freeze, making them brittle and break when he moves. I tried to do the same to the rest of his body, leaving his neck free for the slayers to cut off as much as they need.
I could hear screaming, angry yells but I stayed focused on my task and for a while, no human was hurt. But a new appendage sprouted from Kibutsuji's neck, and it went straight at me! Sanemi was quick to slice it off, however.
"You're still trying to hurt her? I'm never going to let you touch her again." Sanemi declared, smiling as he casually threatens the monster before him. "And just who do you think you are?"
"Her real fiancé, and the man she loves." I know it was only putting Sanemi at the top of Kibutsuji's kill list, but I felt relief. Liberation. And yes, I also just wanted him to know. It angered Kibutsuji, and he broke all the frost I wrapped around him. Regenerating instantly every part that broke into shards of ice.
Only several cuts appeared on his body, then Iguro-san and Tokito-san – whose blades were both red – were successful in cutting off many of Kibutsuji's limbs.
"If you cut it with a red sword, the regeneration slows down! Even for Muzan." Sanemi triumphantly declared, then Shinobu-san appeared beside me with several more of her wisteria mist bombs. "Y/N-san, this is poisonous to you. You better go to Tamayo-san and Yushiro-kun. We got it from here." Sanemi agreed.
His sword was also red by then, so was Tomioka-san's. Tsuyuri-san, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Genya were also directly attacking Kibutsuji. It'll be alright, they are all talented swordsmen. And if Shinobu-san starts using poison, us demons should really stay away.
Tamayo-san and Yushiro were both helping the injured, and I started to make myself useful. If I can't fight, then I'll help keep them from dying. "Here, give them these serums." Tamayo-san handed me syringes of the serum and started administering it.
A lot of people lost limbs; a lot of blood was spilled. We frantically tried to stop them from bleeding out, helped a lot with their pain. I even used ice to help with both. Somehow, a cat was helping us. "Wait, is that a demon cat?"
"Yes. Chachamaru." Yushiro said without looking away from his current patient.
"Ah… Is that Kamado?"
I heard someone say, and true enough, Tanjirou was back on his feet and was fighting Kibutsuji. All the others were already exhausted. I found Sanemi, and I wanted desperately to run to his side. Still, I turned back to the others who needed my help. Sanemi is too stubborn to die.
A sudden explosion erupted from where Kibutsuji was which threw a lot of people. Sanemi? I frantically looked around but was unable to pinpoint where he was. Turns out I didn't have to. They stood; they gather. No matter how many times, until dawn breaks, until their last breath the demon slayers would fight.
"They're doing their part, Y/N-san. We must do ours as well." Tamayo-san reminded me. "You three should take cover, the sun is rising!" A slayer came to tell us, helping us three to move in the shade.
"Tanjirou!" I heard someone call, and I turned to look only to see an abomination. "Don't let it enter the shade!" It was Kibutsuji. It was trying to enter a dark alley, pushing away the vehicle in its path when Sanemi swooped in to cut off an arm. Iguro-san sliced off the other as Himejima-san wrapped his chains around the neck and started to pull.
"It's trying to bury underground!" I froze the earth beneath it, trying all my might to prevent it from burying into the ground and seek refuge there. The hashiras who could still move all went in to attack. Slicing at it seemed to make it burn much faster.
"Ahhh! AHHH!" It wailed as it began to turn into dust. It was bright by then. The rise of the sun ending the age of demons.
"WAAAAAAAAAAA"
"We won! We took down Muzan!"
"Muzan is dead!"
Tears and screams erupted around us once more, only this time they were of joy; celebration!"
"Sanemi…" I called out as I looked at the kakushi that were giving him first aid. They couldn't just move him, and he's out in the sun. I just have to have my faith in them to save him… Sanemi.
Panicked cries suddenly came out of nowhere, breaking the tearful celebration we were having.
"Those who can still move! Take your weapons and gather together!" Someone – Tomioka-san?" Announced, "Tanjirou has turned into a demon! Expose him to the sun to kill him! Kill him before he murders someone!"
"He's not burning?" I racked my brain, trying to remember my vision exactly as I saw it. I was too focused on the fight with the upper moons and Kibutsuji that I didn't pay much attention to after we defeated him. Though, I think I might've assumed that Tanjirou would be like me. Like Nezuko, Tamayo-san, and Yushiro. That wasn't the case.
He started attacking Tomioka-san, and Inosuke. Everyone else was too tired; unconscious. "Tamayo-san, the medicine you made, it will work on Tanjirou, right?"
"It should. Ah! That's Nezuko" She pointed, and sure enough, Nezuko was there, holding onto Tanjirou. She's human again?
"AHH!" An explosion came from Tanjirou, then several whips – bones? Whips that looked like bones erupted from Tanjirou's back, reminding me of how Kibutsuji looked just moments earlier.
Tanjirou started to attack everyone! He started to move, heading straight to where Sanemi laid defenseless as the kakushi and slayers try to cover him… I took out the box Shinobu-san gave me earlier. I turned towards Tamayo-san, her eyes widening as she saw what I had in my hand. "Y/N-san…"
"Please don't let Sanemi die… don't let anyone else die." And I ran towards Tanjirou, not caring if he slices my flesh. only made sure to protect the medicine. I ran past where Sanemi lies unconscious. I felt the sun start to burn my flesh – my hair catching on fire. Still, I persevered and reached Tanjirou, plunging the syringe into his neck – hoping that would make it work faster.
It felt like I was melting. I closed my eyes and pondered that this was fine.
"Hurry! Cover her before she burns completely!"
This was fine.
"Ahh The wind dude!" Yelled Zenitsu, shaking, which prompted Shinobu-san to hush him. "Ah, finally decided to visit, Shinazugawa-san?" She asked, the ever-present smile on her face. Sanemi didn't answer, but we somehow knew what he wanted.
Shinobu-san sighed and ushered Genya and Zenitsu out. Tanjirou, Iguro-san, Himejima-san, and Mitsuri-san were still passed out so this was as private as it's going to be. Sanemi walked towards me, eyes lingering on where my hair used to be. I looked away from his face, it was suddenly too painful.
"I'm sorry." Then I felt him engulf me in a hug.
"They said you burst into flames. That's the first thing they told me when I woke up. I thought you died… and I felt like I was dying." I felt him bury his face onto my shoulder, his tears soaking through my clothing. "Then I came to see you and you're hurt so bad! I – " he leaned back, looking me in the eyes. "And you were like that – like this because of me? You promised, Y/N. Even if it was me, you promised you won't sacrifice yourself."
"I couldn't bear the thought, Sanemi… of you dying. I can't."
He shook his head, "I love you. I don't think I could live with myself if the woman I love died for me. You do that and you just kill us both."
"Then you understand how I feel. I'd burn before I let you die." His eyes widened at that, a soft chuckle coming out of it. "Yes. But understanding doesn't make it better. You really could have died and burnt to death. How can you be my wife if you die?"
"I know you'd do the same for me." Hye shook his head, "I can't win against you, can I?"
"No. And you better get used to it." I said, smiling. It felt weird due to the burns on my face. His hand wandered over to them, touching; caressing each and every mark.
"Burns really does not heal automatically, hmm? But we both know how to remedy that." I knew what he wanted to do. "You know Sanemi, if you wanted to kiss me you could just say so."
He laughed, then took a knife out and sliced across his palm, and presented it to me. "Oh!" Well, that was embarrassing. I began to lap at the blood, making sure to him my embarrassment. Then I felt him lean in to whisper in my ear, "You know Y/N, if you wanted a kiss you could just ask."
I could already feel his Marechi blood work wonders – I think even my hair was starting to grow back. I gathered all of my courage and asked him, "Kiss me." He obliged. In between kisses, I managed to promise that I'd never do what I did again.
"Tsk tsk. You already promised that, and you already broke it."
"Hmmm." I tilted my head, pretending to ponder. "Then I guess you just have to keep your eye on me and make sure."
He smiled. "Forever?"
"Forever."
I could hear them laughing as they played outside. It's always nice to have Genya around.
"Are you ready?" I heard my husband ask as he peeped inside our room. "Sanemi, love, help me up." He whistled as he helped me up, "Whoa. I don't think you've gotten this big before."
"Hey, that's not a proper way of talking to your wife, you know?" I teased, knowing he meant well. It was true. I've been having a harder time standing and moving around during this pregnancy. Suddenly, Sanemi's arms wrapped around me, hands resting where our next child is. Letting go, Sanemi offered me his arm which I happily took.
Walking outside, several tiny heads looked our way and started cheerfully telling us what uncle Genya did – as if we couldn't hear them from inside. Four little children – and another one on the way. Sanemi wanted a huge family, another thing we agreed on.
"Ready to go?"
The train station was not much of a walk from our home. Genya and the children were walking ahead, leaving Sanemi and me to walk and talk in relative peace. Well, as peaceful as Sanemi gets.
"I can't believe that boar head is getting married." That's right. We were headed to Inosuke's wedding.
"What's unbelievable about that?" I wondered.
"You know that kid. He's rude and rough. Unbelievably thick-headed. It's a wonder he got someone to fall in love with him." My dear husband ranted; the irony lost on him. I couldn't help but laugh at that.
"I wonder how many people thought that about you when we got married." He sputtered, but I only rested my head on his shoulder and squeezed his arm in reassurance.
"Okay. I was rude."
"Still rude."
"But I'm not thick-headed."
"Ah! I believe the word Tomioka-san used was simpleton." He snorted before continuing, "Rough?" I hummed. "I like it when you're rough." He paused, halting us both.
"Oh? Maybe we should just ditch this wedding and go on our own honeymoon again?"
"This is why we're already on our fifth child, Sanemi. Hmmm, Maybe after. It is a beautiful hot springs town we're going to after all."