Authors note
Hello everyone! This fic is a AU that i believe AvatarQuake made that i found really interesting which is the soulmate colors AU, I did ask for permission to use it for those wondering and they said yes just in case anyone was worried that i just took it, also side note i made Tanjiro older when his family was killed he was 16 and by the time canon starts he is 18 now shinobu is the same age, now onto the story
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Truthfully Tanjiro always wondered what colors looked like, what his mothers eye color was, what his siblings were, what his fathers looked like, what the world looked like.
His mother once told him that no one could see colors until they met their soulmates, how and why it was this way has been lost to history no one remembers why it is this way.
But most of all Tanjiro wondered what his soul mates colors were going to be, he wondered what type of person they would be, he wondered what kind of life they have lived, it made him so curious!
Well that was until he one day came home to find his family massacred, and his sister now a demon, his soul mate took a back seat to that, and as he buried his family he swore that if he ever found his soulmate he would protect them like he had been unable to protect his family.
He was later sent to Sakonji Urokodaki to learn water breathing, it was a rough and hellish 2 years, and even when he managed to get it down, it still never felt right like it wasn't right for him, after getting help from Sabito and Makomo he finally managed to cut the boulder to the shock and sadness of Urokodaki he was sent off to final selection.
After defeating the hand demon and surviving final selection he gets his sword, to the shock of Haganezuka who forged the sword it was black, which also caused him to get angry and state that black blades never make it far in the demon slayer corps.
This slightly disturbed Tanjiro but he didn't care if he made it far in the demon slaying corps or not, as long as his sister nezuko was turned back into a human he didn't care, she was what mattered to him now, he felt terribly guilty for not being there for his family even if he learned there was nothing he could have done he wanted to make it up by saving Nezuko.
He hasn't thought of his soul mate much anymore, he truly wondered if he would ever meet them before he died, if so he felt bad that someone would never get to see colors but his priority would be his sister and it would stay that way until he cured her.
His first mission had him fighting a demon that could create a swamp with his blood demon art, after finishing off two of its clones he tried to get information about Muzan, to no avail as the demon would rather die than reveal any info on Muzan so he sadly killed the demon.
Thankfully he had made it in time to save a woman but sadly not before the demon got a lot of women in the town, he felt bad for the man who lost his soulmate only able to offer the lady's hairpin as a comfort.
He was then instructed to head to Asakusa by his crow as there had been rumors of a demon sighting there so he made his way over there, having grown up in the mountains and only seeing a small town he was amazed at the sheer size of the buildings. He wandered around and explored for a while before settling down to eat some Udon, until he smelled it, the scent of the demon who killed his family.
He quickly jumps up dropping the bowl of Udon he had ordered and rushed off to confront Muzan to surprisingly finding him with a family, he truthfully had no idea what to do, he could also smell the power difference between them he had no idea what to do Muzan quickly turned a nearby passerber into a demon to cause a distraction causing tanjiro to have to deal with the demon threat first causing him to lose sight of Muzan.
Two demons later came to his aid and introduced themselves as Yushiro and Tamayo, he learned Tamayo hated Muzan as much if not more then Tanjiro did and that she was trying to find a way to turn demons back into humans but for it to work she needed the blood of the 12 Kizuki, a task Tanjiro had decided to take on.
They were later attacked by two demons named Susamaru and Yahaba, who had managed to find them under Yushiro's blood demon art due to Yahaba's tracking abilities, the fight lasted a while but resulted in victory for Tanjiro, Nezuko, Tamayo, and Yushiro. Unfortunately Tanjiro sustained Injuries during the fight but still he was given another mission.
On his way to his next mission he run across an interesting sight of a young man acousting a young woman to marry him as he was likely to die soon and did not wish to die alone after a while Tanjiro managed to remove the young man to help the woman get on with her day, he introduced himself and found out the other guys name was Zenitsu Agatsuma and he continued on to finish his mission.
In the mission he faced off with a former key kizuki and met another slayer by the name of Inosuke Hashibara who he gets in a fight with to protect his sister Nezuko.
They later stop at a Wisteria crest home to rest and recover there the boys meet Nezuko for the first time as well getting to know each other a little better and Zenitsu asks Tanjiro if he can see colors.
"Hey Tanjiro, can you see colors? Have you meet your soul mate yet?" Zenitsu asked curiously, Tanjiro smiles and responds
"No Zenitsu I haven't though I sometimes wonder if I ever will, I worry that if i find them I will lose them like I lost my family, or I will die on them so sometimes I wonder if I should even meet them at all? But then I realized that how would I stop myself from meeting them? I have no idea who they are and sometimes I long to meet them but other times I worry meeting them would be a mistake." Zenitsu is shocked at the answer he received from Tanjiro, he had never encountered anyone who was hesitant to meet their soulmates.
"But why Tanjiro? Why would you be so hesitant to meet your soulmate? Do you not want to meet them?" Tanjiro smiles and shakes his head
"Of course i want to meet them someday but I would hope that happens after I manage to cure my sister, she takes priority in my life right now, but that doesn't mean I don't wish to meet them and I do wonder who they will be" he trails off with that and after awhile more of discussion they return to bed and rest up in the Wisteria crest house.
The next day they are told to go to the north-northwest to Mount Natagumo it takes them a few hours to arrive.
The situation they arrive to was nothing short of a absolute terror and mess way beyond the caliber they were fit for, but they couldn't run away they had fellow corp members that needed to be saved. Fighting and figuring out the Mother spider demon wasn't the hardest thing they had to deal with on that mountain but soon the Father demon showed up separating Tanjiro and Inosuke.
He knew right away when he ran into Rui that he was easily outclassed, however he couldn't give up, he needed to help Inosuke, the fight was long and hard, Rui was playing with him for most of the fight, thankfully remembering Hinokami Kagura saved his and his sisters lives, and thankfully his sword didn't break or Haganazuka would kill him.
Tanjiro is resting for a moment with Nezuko after the tough battle with Rui, he was exhausted but he could still fight, as he stands back up he encounters a smell that he remembers from awhile ago and Giyu appears the water pillar.
"Ah Giyu-san, were you sent to provide us back up?" Tanjiro smiles in relief since that must mean Inosuke was ok
In his deadpanned calm voice Giyu responds "Indeed, you were the last I smelled, to defeat a key of Kizuki even a lower moon is a impressive feat congratulations" he nods towards Tanjiro
Tanjiro just smiles tiredly "It was a pain, he was strong and his strings where so incredibly quick, I could hardly follow them" he trails off towards the end before quickly drawing his sword causing Giyu to do the same as Tanjiro blocks a blow meant for Nezuko, and upon locking eyes with the slayer who tried to stab Nezuko his world explodes into color.
'So many beautiful colors, especially the purple of her eyes' was Tanjiro's first thought, and the next thought was the pain of sensory overload as he grabbed his eyes in pain, and from the smell he got off the woman she was also in a form of discomfort, but she hid it a lot better than he did.
Tanjiro rubs his eyes and tries to steady himself "who, who are you?" He asks knowing he just met his soulmate since now he can see colors, but now he needs to figure out her name. After his eyes get a little better and he can see a little clearer thanks to the darkness of the mountain he looks at the woman, she was on the smaller side, with black hair with purple highlights towards the bottom of her hair, she had a butterfly clip holding her hair up, she wore a long white and pink Hiyori and all around she was definitely one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen bringing a small blush to Tanjiro's face.
The woman blinks away the discomfort before lowering her sword slightly in shock, to be honest she never thought she would find hers "I'm the Insect pillar Shinobu Kocho" She in turn examined him he was about the same height as Rengoku, he wore a checkered Hiyori had black fading to red hair, he had beautiful red eyes and he radiated a natural kindness that she had never seen in a slayer before his eyes also held a fierce determination in them she would have blushed a little had she not been on a mission but seeing him guarding a demon confused her, why would her soulmate be guarding a demon?
Shinobu also looks over to Giyu who is doing nothing to attack the demon either, she decides to play it simply and ask for his name "may i ask your name?" Tanjiro gave another blush of embarrassment
"My name is Tanjiro Kamado!" He would have smiled at her had she not had her blade out still slightly pointing at his sister so it came off as more of a determined grimace.
Tanjiro seems to lower his own weapon, "I don't suppose I could convince you to not attack my sister could I?" Tanjiro could smell heavy parts of confusion and anger from her, she seemed to be having an internal battle until his crow loudly said "Tanjiro and Nezuko are to be taken into custody! I repeat Tanjiro and Nezuko are to be taken into custody!".
Tanjiro seathes his blade and puts Nezuko into her box with a small sigh "We won't resist I promise" Shinobu sheathes her own blade as does Giyu and they lead him down the mountain.
During the walk to headquarters it was mostly in silence but Giyu could see them both constantly stealing glances at each other and was really confused.
After about an hour of this Giyu finally had enough "why are you two constantly looking at each other like that?" both Shinobu and Tanjiro look at each other one more time before Shinobu decides to answer the question "Were soulmates" she trails off more than a little uncertainty in her voice, the uncertainty wasn't from whether or not they were soulmates it was uncertainty about the whole situation her soulmate defending a demon,although since it was her sister she could slightly understand but still, and the confusion on the whole thing, and since they were being summoned to likely stand trial would her soulmate even be alive tomorrow?
Giyu's eyes widen quite a bit, of all the things he suspected that was not even top 100, truly that makes things way more complicated indeed, as they walk Shinobu's curiosity gets the better of her, she falls back to walking along side Tanjiro "So Tanjiro why do you travel with a demon? Even if she is your sister?" Tanjiro looked at the sky for a second and she could tell a visible aura of sadness had settled over him.
"About two years ago when before I had become a demon slayer I live on a mountain with my family I was a charcoal burner and I had left to sold charcoal at a nearby village for some extra money for a new year's feast for my family, I had stayed to late in the village so I stayed the night at some I had helped house when I returned my whole family had been killed brutally, except for Nezuko, from that day on I swore I would find a way to turn her back into a human, even if it kills me."
Shinobu's eyes widen, by he sheer determination that radiated from his voice and passion too, and his love for his sister, but one thing she couldn't comprehend was from the way she had seen him preventing Giyu from stepping on Rui's clothes is why he doesn't hate demon's she doesn't understand she doesn't ask anymore questions on their trip back.
Eventually they make their way to HQ where they meet the other Hashira's the meeting was tense especially when the wind hashira stabs Nezuko and Tanjiro headbutts him eventually after Nezuko proving herself against sanemi's merichi blood Tanjiro is sanctioned and is sent to the butterfly mansion.
After a few days of bed rest Tanjiro is sent to due rehabilitation training with the girls of butterfly mansion where he learns of Total concentration breathing constant.
Over the next few days Tanjiro became loved at the mansion, his kindness and always helping nature really endeared him to the girls, except Shinobu who has been almost noticeable avoiding him, it was fine with him as he wasn't really sure what to say to her either, plus even if they were soulmates she had no obligation to be with him or spend anytime with him she was also probably busy with her hashira duties.
One night Tanjiro was on the roof Practicing Total concentration breathing constant when his nose picked up somebody joining him on the roof.
"Why do you keep training when even your friends have given up? Aren't you lonely?" he turns around to see Shinobu's gorgeous purple eyes.
Tanjiro gives out a little eep and a blush covers his whole face before he gives a smile full of kindness and pureness "Well if I manage to master it then I can teach it to them!."
Shinobu's teasing smile fades into a softer one "You really have a pure soul don't you?"
Her smile then turns into a frown, "May I ask you a question Tanjiro-kun? Why do you have pity for demons? They kill and eat and lie, all they care about is surviving, they hurt and kill and yet you have pity for them, why?!" She didn't notice until she finished that she had lost her temper and desperation had seeped into her voice but she couldn't comprehend that the one who was destined to be her soul mate would have such pity for monsters.
Tanjiro loses his smile and looks down in sadness "you have a lot of anger in you, I can smell it, something bad must have happened to you, but believe it or not at first I was sort of like you, I hated demon for taking my family, but as I fought and killed I grew to understand that all demons once upon a time where human too, and that some didn't want to become demons, those that regret their actions is who I feel pity for, but for those who just mindlessly slaughter I have no pity for" he never looked away from her when he said this, he said it with such conviction that she truly believed him,
Tanjiro brings her into a hug, she wasn't expecting it but she buried her head into his chest and silent tears leak from her eyes. Anger as deep as she held wasn't something that could be cured in one night, but here in her soulmate's arms she felt better.
"Shinobu-san, why do you have such a scent of anger around you?" she stiffened in his arms, but she sighs and to Tanjiro it looked like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.
"I had a older sister who I loved dearly, she thought alot like you, in fact her dream was for demons and humans to one day coexsist, and one day she was attacked by one of the keys of kizuki, Upper 2 and even in death bed she still believed in her dream, but how can i believe in it after demons just take, take, and take!? Its why I have so much anger and hate!" Shinobu was much more emotional than usual as Tanjiro gently rocks her in his arms.
Tanjiro sighs as he holds her "I can't blame you for the anger you hold, you have seen all the pain demons have inflicted, however i believe your sisters dream can be achieved, i've meant demons that hate Muzan and can survive off just blood, and Nezuko who doesn't even need blood or human flesh. I believe the first step to achieving your sister's dream is to defeat Muzan and develop a cure for demons who wish to be human again."
The tears in her eyes increased, but Tanjiro got the scent of happiness coming off of her, for the time she had spent in his arms her anger disappeared.
After a little bit and her tears dry she gets a teasing smile on her face "you've stopped breathing Tanjiro-kun~" Tanjiro freaks out a little at this and resumes his breathing.
She then gets up and smiles at him, a true smile not one of her fake ones "Thank you Tanjiro-kun, I don't believe my anger is gone I don't think it will truly be gone for awhile, but thank you and i would like to say i believe you will be able to turn your sister back into a human, and the butterfly mansion will always be open to you both now i'm going to get some sleep, goodnight Tanjiro-kun" she then drops off the roof, she found the smile stuck on her face as she makes her way to her room.
After a while Tanjiro also went to bed, the 3 little aids standing by his bed side with the rug beaters.
Over the next few weeks the girls noticed the tension that was once their between Shinobu and Tanjiro was next to non existent and she would frequently take breaks from her work to watch him train and give him helpful hints, over the next few weeks they gradually grew closer to each other, they weren't madly in love but they obviously cared a great deal for one another and when Tanjiro finally mastered Total concentration constant she cheered for him.
When he was trying to teach the breath technique she found it hilarious that he wasn't a very good teacher so she stepped in to help Zenitsu and Inosuke with it by properly motivating them and they too soon after mastered the technique too.
The night Zenitsu and Inosuke were given clean bills of health Tanjiro knocked on Shinobu's door and he heard a muffled "Come in" from the other side.
After he entered and smiled at Shinobu and she smiled back, they both had a small aura of sadness with both of them, Tanjiro returned to missions tomorrow and the life of a demon slayer was always uncertain who knew if he would live on his next mission.
Tanjiro spoke up first "I wanna thank you for taking care of us four Shinobu-san, and that I'm going to miss you" he blushes at admitting this but smiles at her.
She giggles at him "Tanjiro-kun you can come to the mansion when you have breaks on your missions to visit" she gives a smile when his face lights up.
"Really?" his smile was certainly pure and kind and she nods her head, "That's what I meant that night when i told you the mansion was open to both you and Nezuko you can come visit us anytime you don't have a mission" she was not expecting to be pulled into a hug by Tanjiro but she smiles and hugs him back after he gives a blush and they seperate he smiles at her once again before getting up.
"Well im going to get some sleep before tomorrow thank you again Shinobu-san" as he starts to walk to the door Shinobu called out to Tanjiro "Tanjiro-kun can you come back over here for a second i want to give you something." He turns around and walks back over to her in curiosity and she holds out a bottle of pinkish liquid he looks at her confused but takes it anyway.
"Its a bottle of the Wisteria poison I use, I know you don't use poison yourself since your strong enough to decapitate demons but it may come in use to you, and I have one more thing to give you" He takes the poison thankfully before looking confused once again.
Until she pulls him by his shirt and gives him a kiss on the lips "Try to come back to me alive, even though i've only known you for 2 months ive grown to care about you and i know you have a major reckless side, so please try to come back to me" Tanjiro's face was cherry red, before he managed to stutter out a reply.
"I could say the same to Shinobu-san even though you are a Hashira you should be careful too" He gives one more smile and then bids her goodnight.
The next day when he got his mission to go join the flame hashira on the mugen train she wished him goodbye again along with the girls of the mansion who were all sad to see him go, even Aoi who was a bit of a tsundere.
He and the other two waved goodbye as they walked away and too their mission.
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DANG! This fic is the most ive ever written, hehehehe and im sorry alot of its just recap but i hope the cute scenes made up for the recap, also i'm beginning to work on a multi chapter series, however i'm having trouble deciding between two ideas anyway if you made it this far thank you for reading!