As usual, a very big thank you to euphoricimage who has helped me beta the chapter, as well as LittleDoot and Nobody(Super_NovaGrey) who have helped me proofread. Also, thank you for TungstenCat who has advised me with the romance aspect of the story!
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A flick of a bachi. The thrumm of a shamisen. Vibrations of sound, filled with power.
The room shifted dizzily… Until time abruptly stopped.
A masculine voice hummed. Slitted eyes narrowed. A message had been sent through the mind, yet it came back empty. Missing what was right in front of it, as if it was blindfolded.
How strange.
"Perhaps... I should make a visit soon."
Kibutsuji Muzan smiled.
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The sky woke up. Snow began to melt as green grass sprung to life. Birds sang cheerfully, greeting the end of hibernation. Their tweets were soon replaced with the song of cicadas as the air warmed up.
The frequency may have gradually decreased, but the exchange of letters never stopped as the seasons passed. Kanao had fully recovered by now, so she had returned to her duty as a Demon Slayer. Her job required her to travel around the entire country, which was why it took Tenma longer than usual to deliver their letters.
Tanjirou felt bad for the kasugai crow, so he always made sure to give her a hearty amount of nuts in return.
Besides, the decrease in frequency was compensated by the increase in length of Kanao's letter. In the beginning, her letter was as short as four sentences long, but ever since her last visit with Gyoumei, it had turned into at least a page long. Nowadays, Kanao made extra effort to describe everything she saw in her travels, no matter how trivial it seemed. Perhaps she had realised that the Kamado family had rarely gone to the village, much less travelled across the country, as they had been fascinated by Gyoumei's tales of the cities.
"Ha-na-bi?" Hanako sounded out the unfamiliar word before turning to her older brother. "What's that?"
"Hmm, I think Kanao explains what it is somewhere in the back…" Tanjirou scanned the letter once more before pointing at a paragraph, grinning. "Ah, there it is. Apparently, there's this thing called 'Fire Flowers' where people shoot explosives up to the sky. They are essentially bright giant flowers in the night sky."
"I've seen hanabi before, back when I lived in Kitashiobara," Kie added, closing her eyes in reminiscence. Her children leaned forward in interest. "They are truly a beautiful sight to see; exploding with a booming sound before colours bloomed to brighten the night. They can be as big as our charcoal kiln and as brilliant as the full moon."
"Woah…" his siblings exclaimed in wonder. "I wanna see those hanabi!"
"Should we?" Kie laughed as she patted Rokuta's head, who had been jumping around in excitement. "Let's see… The hanabi always appear during summer, but Rokuta is still too young right now. Maybe next year?"
"I-I'm a big boy already!" Rokuta protested.
"Unfortunately, not big enough to travel to the city, son. It'll be a very tiring journey."
"But Shinobu-nee-chan and her boyfriend only spent two days to travel from Kitashiobara to here."
Nezuko blinked at Shigeru's words. "They are a couple?"
"They aren't," Takeo argued, pouting.
"Yet," Kie smiled knowingly before turning to frown at Shigeru. "Anyway, Kochou-san and Tomioka-san were crazy. Don't follow in their footsteps."
"Aww…"
"Speaking of which, should we meet up with Tomioka-san when we go there next Summer?" Tanjirou suggested. "From what I recall, he stays in Kitashiobara a lot."
"That would be nice," Nezuko hummed. "We can probably ask Kanao-chan to pass the message on to him. It's the end of spring now; there should be plenty of time to let him know and decide on a date for next year."
"It's decided then," Kie clapped her hands together. "Ah! Ask Kanao-chan, Kochou-san and Himejima-san too. My, I'm so excited!"
Tanjirou grinned and began writing the reply.
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As the green leaves turned orange and the chill returned once more, Kanao made a surprise visit.
A surprise visit with an unknown young man.
"It's been awhile, Kanao," Tanjirou greeted warmly, though for some strange reason a part of him plummeted when he first saw this guy in yellow walking side by side with Kanao, chatting merrily. As if they were very close friends. "Who is he?"
"This is Agatsuma Zenitsu, a colleague of mine. He has been wanting to come here ever since I told him about you," Kanao gestured to her friend. Blinked, and turned to Zenitsu when he didn't introduce himself immediately. "Zenitsu-san?"
"That person," Zenitsu pointed shakily over Tanjirou's shoulder. "Who…?"
Tanjirou followed Zenitsu's line of sight to see his younger sister, who was approaching with a smile on her face.
"Oh? Who do we have here?" Nezuko tilted her head at the new boy, who had stiffened upon hearing her voice. "A friend of yours, Kanao-chan?"
"Yes."
"Nice to meet you," Nezuko then gave a little bow to him. "My name is Kamado Nezuko."
Zenitsu… exploded.
"N-N-Nice to meet you!" he squealed before bowing ninety degrees. "I am Agatsuma Zenitsu! P-Please, m-m-marry me!"
Tanjirou felt a vein throb in his head.
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"He's cute."
"Say what."
"Aw, Nii-chan! At least, be happy that he's not Kanao-chan's secret boyfriend!"
"W-What does that have to do with—"
"Even without your sense of smell, I could tell that you were eyeing him suspiciously before I came."
"... At times, you're so much like Mum that it scares me, Nezuko."
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It was the first time Zenitsu had ever heard Kanao laughing.
Not full-blown laughter or anything. Just a soft tinkling sound of amusement he could barely hear from her. It was unbelievable all the same, that Tsuyuri Kanao was capable of being amused.
And the one who made her 'laugh' was an ordinary civilian man, of all people.
Zenitsu was honestly relieved, if not a little jealous. Before, Kanao was like a pretty doll; a well-oiled engine who was very dedicated to her work. Her smiling facade gave away none of her thoughts and emotions; only the flip of her coin revealed a glimpse of her uncertainty. She wasn't exactly living as a person should be, which had freaked Zenitsu out the first few times he interacted with her.
But now, she seemed more human. Unlike her usual muted smile, her voice now sounded genuine, a pleasant melody of clear water droplets to his ears. As she taught Tanjirou how to properly move with breathing techniques, her voice betrayed her amusement, contentment, pride. Just like Zenitsu's master, when he taught him the Thunder Breathing Style years ago.
It wasn't that no one had tried back in the Headquarters. Kochou-sama had always talked to Kanao whenever they were both in the Butterfly Mansion, and there were the helpers like Aoi-chan to spend her time with. Even Zenitsu always (attempted to) talk to her whenever he saw her. But there was something about Kanao that made it hard to approach her. Something about her stagnant smile, her curt reply. Her flip of a coin.
Turned out she just needed kind-hearted people who didn't care for such things and simply forced their way into her heart. Or so Zenitsu thought; honestly, a lot of things must have happened during her stay with the Kamado family some months ago for her to have transformed this much. Especially seeing how her smile was the brightest whenever the Kamado eldest son was around.
So when Tanjirou was alone, Zenitsu grabbed his shoulder and said, "You should take responsibility."
Tanjirou blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You made her that way," Zenitsu said, pointing at Kanao who was talking to Nezuko a distance away. Saw Tanjirou's expression and hissed. "I mean happy! You've made her happy, so stop looking at me with such suspicious eyes!"
Tanjirou blinked and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Is that so?"
"Yeah. Believe me, her voice was never this bright back in headquarters," Zenitsu crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at him. "That's why you should take responsibility. Even with a kasugai crow to carry your letters, a long-distance relationship like this will never work."
Tanjirou reddened. "W-what are you saying? We aren't like that."
Now it was Zenitsu's turn to be affronted. "You two clearly like each other."
"Kanao only likes me as a friend."
"Do you really not know or are you just deluding yourself?" Zenitsu grumbled before tapping his ears. "I just know, okay? I can hear it. Just like how I don't dare make a move on Kochou-sama because my ears tell me that a certain Water Hashira will sashimi me if I do."
Tanjirou nodded sagedly. "I knew it."
"How did you—Nevermind." Zenitsu grabbed both of the civilian's shoulders and looked him in the eye, his expression dead serious. Tanjirou visibly gulped. "Anyway, Kanao is happy, but long-distance relationships suck. You can't half-ass this, Tanjirou. Either you ask her to stay here with you or you move to the Butterfly Mansion and be the househusband or something."
Tanjirou spluttered, embarrassed. "T-That's…"
"Why are you being so shy? Your mum has six children, for God's sake. Ask her for some advice on—"
"Can we not talk about my mum, please."
"Okay, fine! Though on second thought, I guess you're more like your dad—"
"Agatsuma-san!" Tanjirou scrambled to cover the Demon Slayer's mouth with his palm. "I get it already! But I can't just ask Kanao to...to… Ugh, she's a Demon Slayer. I can't just ask her to abandon her job."
Zenitsu blinked before pushing away Tanjirou's hand. "Ah. Honestly, it'd be good if you can do that."
"Huh?"
"I mean, Demon Slaying has a very high fatality rate. Even our leader Oyakata-sama always told us that we're free to quit anytime we want. But many people have decided to do it anyway for one reason or another," Zenitsu shrugged before turning to look at Kanao from afar. "Kanao-chan, though, doesn't really have a reason to be a Demon Slayer. She's a Demon Slayer because her adopted sister is one. I would rather she leaves the job before anything happens. After all, she just had a close call a few months ago."
Zenitsu wasn't saying it lightly. He truly had been terrified when the news of Kanao's disappearance had reached his ears. Demon Slayers were all ready to die in their fight against demons, but that did not mean they felt no grief when one of their comrades was killed in action.
Tanjirou frowned, mulling over Zenitsu's words. Good, he was thinking about it properly.
"That's why, I'll give up on Kanao-chan. I have no chance, anyway," Zenitsu said seriously. "Man up, Tanjirou! You gotta do what you have to do."
Slowly, Tanjirou nodded. "R-Right."
Zenitsu patted Tanjirou's shoulders one last time before letting go. Then he smiled brightly.
"In exchange, please allow me to—"
"No."
"I haven't even said it!"
Tanjirou gave him the stink eye. His 'sound' was a nervous staccato moments ago, but now it sounded like a raging boar. Zenitsu felt like crying.
"Do you know how dangerous it is to work as a Demon Slayer?" Zenitsu sobbed shamelessly. "I might die anytime, even tomorrow! I'm terribly weak, you see?! Yeah, I'm ready to die, but that does not mean I want to die without experiencing love first!"
"Then do it."
Zenitsu perked up. "Really?"
"Just not with my sister."
"W-why?!" Zenitsu whined before gasping in realisation. "Don't tell me, she's already engaged?"
"... Well, no but—"
"Then give me a chance, please!"
"You can't just decide that by yourself, Agatsuma-san," Tanjirou rubbed his face in exasperation. "You still need to ask for her opinion—No, ugh, nevermind. I will never allow it!"
"Allow what, Nii-chan?" Suddenly, a beautiful voice interjected. The two men spun around to find the subject of their conversation. Nezuko approached them, causing Zenitsu to almost pass out in euphoria.
"N-Nezuko-chan!" Zenitsu let go of Tanjirou and began clinging onto her haori. "Please, go out with me!"
Nezuko blinked before smiling brightly. Tanjirou screamed in denial. Zenitsu felt hope for the very first time—
"I'm sorry, Agatsuma-san," Nezuko replied apologetically, hand on her cheek. "But I don't like weak men."
Thunder boomed in the background.
"I-I-I-I'm strong!" Zenitsu argued desperately before showing off his Nichirin sword. "L-Look! I even have a sword!"
"Hmm," Nezuko closed her eyes and sighed cutely. "But I recall you saying something about dying tomorrow…"
"Who? Me? I said that? Haha, must be your imagination!"
"Then prove it to me, Agatsuma-san," Nezuko smiled at him. "Come back alive the next time you visit. Then, I'll reconsider."
"Really?!"
"Yep."
Zenitsu cheered loudly.
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"I wanna tease you. For revenge, I wanna tease you so badly, but… Why him?"
"It's okay, Nii-chan. Leave the teasing to us."
Tanjirou groaned.
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Kanao was, to put it simply, confused.
It was autumn now, and she had visited the Kamado residence nine times and exchanged letters with Tanjirou thirty-four times in total. Every time she came to Nishiazuma, the Kamado family would always welcome her with open arms. Rokuta would ask to be picked up. Shigeru would hold her hand. Hanako would request to braid each other's hair. Takeo would demand her to help him sew. Nezuko would chat with her and laugh. Tanjirou would pat her head. Kie would hug her as if Kanao was one of her own children.
They would always look and act the same every time Kanao visited… Except for Tanjirou.
He was still as kind and friendly as ever, but something about him felt subtly different from the last time she saw him. Perhaps it had something to do with the personal letters he had written for her. At first, Kanao noticed general things about him, such as how he bickered with his siblings, how he smiled whenever he finished his work for the day, and how he worried for his mother's health. She had made similar observations about the rest of the Kamado family, but for some strange reason, recently she began to unconsciously pay attention to his... smaller details.
How tall he was. How long and soft his hair looked. How mesmerising the hanafuda earrings dangling from his ears were. How striking the scar on his forehead was. How comforting his palm on her head was. How warm his gaze was. How deep his voice was. How pleasant he looked when he was chopping wood and his sweaty skin was glistening in the sunlight—
"Kanao?"
"Y-yes?!" Kanao yelped. Covered her mouth in horror, because she did not just squeak. "What is it?"
Tanjirou raised an eyebrow before smiling cluelessly. "I'm done chopping wood. Give me a moment to go get changed, and then we can continue our training."
Ignoring how nice the slight upward quirk to his lips looked, Kanao nodded mutely.
As he went inside the house, Kanao focused her gaze on the axe stuck on the stump. Noted each scratch on the axe's blade and counted every line and ring on the wooden handle. But her mind wouldn't stop reminding her how his arms had flexed when he brought the axe down on the log and even though she had seen countless muscled men training in the Butterfly Mansion he was just—
"Are you thirsty?"
Kanao coughed when he suddenly appeared from behind her. "Thirs...ty?"
Tanjirou handed her a cup of mugicha. "Mum just made it. The air is chilly so it'll help warm you up. It's still a little hot, so be... careful..."
Their fingers touched. The cup of mugicha was warm, but when her fingers brushed against his, his skin felt hotter. Kanao quickly took the cup and moved away.
"... Thank you," Kanao mumbled and took a sip. The tea scalded her tongue slightly.
(She didn't notice how long Tanjirou was silent, red-faced.)
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Tanjirou had noticed how beautiful Kanao was the first time he saw her, but he didn't know that she could look even more stunning when she danced.
Mint. Plum. Orchid. Peony. And a myriad of other sweet scents he could not identify emanated from her as she performed her Flower Breathing katas. She was like a butterfly flitting about in a field of flowers, her steps light and her arms stretched wide like wings. Dry orange leaves floated and swirled around her, following the movement of her swift blade.
Tanjirou watched her use her Flower Breathing techniques with wide eyes. His hands itched for his mock-sword so he could dance along with her. He wanted to see her shine brighter under the sun. Give her the warmth of spring she sought for.
So once she was done, Tanjirou approached her and blurted out, "Do you want to dance with me?"
Kanao slowly exhaled and blinked. Tanjirou rubbed the back of his head, abashed.
"I mean, not now. Later. A month from now, during New Year's Eve," Tanjirou stumbled over his words. "If you want to, of course. It's okay if you're busy. I just—It's—You—I mean, you were so graceful back then and I really… want..."
Tanjirou trailed off, because Kanao… Kanao covered her mouth with her hand and laughed softly.
Kanao laughed.
"Why are you laughing?" Tanjirou asked as he did his best to suppress a whoop of joy. Or uncontrollable squealing at how cute her giggle was. Dear Hinokami, she finally laughed!
Kanao blinked and stopped laughing. She was still smiling, however.
Aargh.
"No coin," Tanjirou grinned and gently pushed her rising hand away from her skirt pocket, where she always stored her coin. "I want to hear what you're thinking. Why are you laughing, Kanao?"
"Um," Kanao looked down at his hand. "It's because I thought the same thing when I saw you dancing the Hinokami Kagura."
"Wasn't that a year ago?"
"Yes."
Tanjirou bit his lip, giddy at the implication. Kanao looked up at him and smiled.
"Why are you laughing, Tanjirou-san?" she asked in return.
Tanjirou raised his hands in denial, schooling his face. "I'm not laughing."
"You are."
"I definitely am not."
"You definitely are."
Tanjirou guffawed. This wasn't funny, yet he couldn't help but laugh at their exchange. Even more so seeing how infectious his laughter was, as Kanao's hand rose once more to cover her soft chuckle.
"So, is that a yes?" Tanjirou asked, a broad smile still on his face.
"Yes," Kanao smiled. Tanjirou had another strange urge to squeeze her red cheeks. "But is it really fine for me to join you? After all, the Hinokami Kagura is meant to please the Sun God."
"I'm sure the Sun God wouldn't mind a pretty butterfly dancing under His light," Tanjirou blurted out. Screamed internally upon realising what he had just said.
"T-Then that means you have to quickly master Total Concentration Breathing before New Year's Eve." Kanao looked away shyly. "Otherwise, I might accidentally cut you down."
Tanjirou blanched.
"... Can't you use a fake sword, instead?"
"It'll weigh different from my Nichirin sword, so no."
"I'm not sure if you're joking or not, Kanao."
"Can my sister come? Shinobu-nee-san has been wanting to see your Hinokami Kagura."
"Um, sure. But you haven't answered my question."
"Thank you. I will let her know when I see her."
"I'm begging you, use a fake sword, please!"
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Winter soon arrived, bringing with it the harsh chill that seeped deep into the bones.
The landscape quickly turned white as layers of snow covered every inch of the forest floor. Permanent grey clouds blotted out the sun, casting a dark shadow over the Earth below. Animals went into hiding to avoid the harsh season, the resulting silence further worsening the sombre atmosphere.
However, it didn't stop the Kamado family from bustling around merrily. After all, the average demand for charcoal was the highest during Winter, as people sought comfort from its warmth. Everyone worked together to produce as much charcoal as possible, just like the year before.
But for Tanjirou, there was something different this time round. Something to look forward to. A crow's call. A ping of a flipped coin. A sweet smile, bringing with her the pleasant scent of flowers and spring.
New Year's Eve was coming, and Tanjirou looked forward to the day they would dance together.
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But that day never came.
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Kanao had once told him about demons.
They were man-eating monsters. Extremely brutal and insatiable. The apex predators of the night. Abominations with fearful appearance and cruel intent, just like the Oni told in the folklores.
Kanao had told him that demons were inhuman beings. But Tanjirou never expected a demon to look so…
Human.
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