A Little Spider
Summary: The calm of the night was shattered by the screams.
Notes: Very late Halloween fic, inspired by Shinobu's spider costume for Halloween 2020. Taking liberties with how widespread and known the Halloween celebrations were during the 1912-1936 time period, because Shinobu is the kind of little shit who would enjoy the scare part of it. Meant to be light and funny, turned deep and introspective near the end.
When October the 31st rolled around, Tanjirou and his friends were bedridden in the Butterfly Estate.
The day had started relatively normal; the three took their medicine, joined Rehabilitation Training and then either rested – Zenitsu – trained some more – Inosuke – or pestered Aoi to let them help with the chores – Tanjirou.
When evening came, Tanjirou looked around, realising something was missing.
"Is Shinobu-san out on a mission?" he asked Kiyo, Sumi and Naho.
The three little aides looked at each other.
"Uh…"
"She's out on a personal errand." Kiyo said with such conviction, Tanjirou wouldn't suspect anything.
"Ah. I hope she gets back home soon. It's getting late." the young Slayer said, looking at the sky, missing the looks the three girls gave each other.
As night fell, Tanjirou sat on the roof to meditate.
Suddenly the calm of the night was shattered by Zenitsu's scared screams and Inosuke's enraged shouts.
Tanjirou, worried, got off the roof and ran inside the room.
"Zenitsu! Inosuke! What happened?!" he asked, agitated.
"A spider!" Zenitsu cried, "There was a huge demon spider!"
"AND YOU WOKE ME UP FOR A SILLY SPIDER?!" Inosuke raged.
"Inosuke, quiet!" Tanjirou whispered, running to calm his friends, "It's late! People are sleeping."
"What about the demon spider, Tanjirou?!"
"Zenitsu, there's wisteria all around the Butterfly Estate. There's no way a demon passed through so easily and quietly. Besides, I don't smell any demons."
"But I saw it!"
"I'll go look for it, then, okay? You stay here, alright?"
"But…"
"Someone has to protect Nezuko. Can you do that for me, Zenitsu?" Tanjirou smiled kindly.
Zenitsu's attitude changed completely.
"I will protect her with my life."
"Thank you very much, Zenitsu."
And with that, Tanjirou left the patients' room, in search of the 'demon spider'.
He soon came to realise the Estate was curiously, and worriedly, silent.
Aoi and the girls would have normally come running upon hearing Zenitsu's and Inosuke's screams.
'I don't smell a demon, but I also don't smell Aoi-san and the girls.' he thought, worriedly, 'I hope they are okay.'
A rustle of clothes behind him had him turning to look over his shoulder.
A soft giggle coming from the front, made him turn forward again.
Tanjirou was starting to feel…concerned.
Just because it wasn't a demon, didn't mean someone hadn't attacked Aoi-san and the girls and was now trying to determine how serious a threat he was.
There was also the fact that Kanao was out on a mission and Shinobu-san was still unaccounted for.
'What if someone hurt Shinobu-san on her way back?' he thought with dread, 'No. Shinobu-san is a Pillar. She is more than capable to defend herself.' he shook his head, 'But then, where is she?'
Something tagged at his sleeve.
"Aaah!" he exclaimed softly, surprised.
Something vanished up ahead and with determination, Tanjirou followed the shadow in the training area.
To his dismay, he is unarmed and the wooden swords they use in practice are at the far end of the room, leaving him open to any possible attack, even if the room didn't provide with any cover to the assumed intruder.
He creeps inside carefully, only to see the silhouette of…something against the moon. He can clearly see a set of six legs, like a spider's, but he can also see a pair of very human legs and arms.
Then it's gone.
Tanjirou manages to keep his panic to a low level, trying to figure out where they went when he feels a pair of arms wrap themselves around his waist.
He freezes.
"Good evening, little fly. The moon looks beautiful tonight."
Tanjirou exhales, relieved.
He'd know this voice anywhere.
Even though he can't get a sniff of her scent.
"Good evening, Shinobu-san." he smiled, turning to look over his shoulder, "The moon will look even more beautiful from the roof."
Chuckling softly, Shinobu let go of Tanjirou.
"Weren't you scared?"
"More worried, really." he said, as the two of them went outside, "Aoi-san and the girls didn't react to Zenitsu's and Inosuke's shouts. And I didn't know when you came back."
"You thought something happened to us."
Tanjirou nodded, not daring to look at Shinobu, as they sat down on the roof.
Under the moonlight, Tanjirou saw finally what the Insect Pillar was wearing, realising why Zenitsu thought a demon spider had attacked him.
"Why the costume?"
"There is this western celebration on the 31st of October, where people dress up and scare others. I thought to give it a try."
"Maybe next year I'll try to scare Shinobu-san." Tanjirou smiled.
"Maybe."
"How come I couldn't smell you?"
"I apologise for that. I had to numb your nose for the day."
"The injection this morning." Tanjirou realised.
"The effects should be passing shortly."
Tanjirou took a deep breath and he caught a faint warm and gentle scent, mixed with the spicy tingle of anger, the soft scent of wisteria and the clear scent of medicines.
"Ah." he leaned ever so slightly towards those scents.
"Tanjirou-kun?"
"I hadn't realised that I missed this scent." he sighed. Then he blushed, realising what he had said and to whom, "Ah! Sorry!"
Chuckling softly, Shinobu leaned on the younger teen's shoulder.
"You can say that." she said softly, "I did steal your sense of smell. Though why you'd miss the scent of my anger is beyond me."
"It's not your scent of anger that I missed. It is true that Shinobu-san's anger is very potent, but it's not the only scent I get from Shinobu-san. But it is part of the scents that I associate with you, so it's only natural I'd miss it in conjuncture to them."
"What else can you smell from me?" she asked, curious.
Tanjirou hummed, in thought, looking at the moon.
"Are you sure? No one wants to know someone else can tell all they are feeling."
"You know of my anger. Something I did everything to keep hidden. I am aware that you can tell the majority, if not all, of my feelings."
"There is a deep sorrow and disappointment." he said with a frown, "The sorrow I can understand, but the disappointment…"
"I am not physically strong. I can't cut a demon's neck. And using poison doesn't mean I'll be able to kill a Demon Moon."
"If that fails, then I'll cut their necks for you." Tanjirou said seriously.
"Thank you." she smiled, "Go on."
"I can tell that you are a caring, kind and gentle person, there's a warm and cool scent coming from you, in moments of respite. There is playfulness, masking your seriousness. There's also the scent of medicines and wisteria lingering on Shinobu-san and that makes me feel safe."
Shinobu was staring at him.
"Safe?"
"I know that, when that scent reaches me, I'll be well taken care of."
"When you can tell and know all that about me…?"
"Even more because of that." he smiled softly at the young woman.
"How…how can you say that?"
"Shinobu-san. No matter what you say, no matter how you feel or how much you lie to yourself, I can tell you are a good, caring and strong person. You are determined and protective. And that's why I can say that."
Shinobu looked away.
"Thank you. For your trust and your kind words."
"I only said my truth. Nothing less, nothing more." he smiled at her, "By the way, Shinobu-san?"
"Yes?"
"How did you make the spider legs? And how are they attached to your kimono?" he asked curious, "And what is this celebration about?"
"The spider legs, I bought them. As for how they are attached, they're sewn to the obi, see?" she took the obi off, to show him, and the legs came off with it, "The celebration itself, is from the western religion and apparently leads to the day of remembrance of the departed."
Tanjirou hummed, watching as Shinobu put it on again.
"Does Shinobu-san have a spider-themed attack?" he asked.
Shinobu blinked.
"No. Why?"
Tanjirou shook his head and smiled.
"I just find it amusing."
"What?"
"That Shinobu-san, the Insect Pillar, would dress as a spider."
Shinobu stared for a second before chuckling softly.
"I admit it was an interesting choice, no?"
"Though, a butterfly would have been more fitting." Tanjirou hummed, "Shinobu-san is very much akin to one."
Suddenly a pair of hands wrapped around his waist, pulling him in an embrace.
"Dance of the Spider: Webs of Gratitude." Shinobu said softly, by his ear.
Tanjirou blushed furiously, but didn't hesitate to return the embrace.
"I was expecting you to ask me to explain what happened to Zenitsu-kun by now." Shinobu said, after a few moments, "Or at least go back and tell him you caught the 'demon spider'."
"Well, the truth is the 'demon spider' caught me, so there was nothing I could do." he shrugged lightly.
"And you'd surrender just like that?"
"To this 'demon spider'?" Tanjirou wondered softly, while taking a deep breath, "If I go by her scent alone, then surrendering doesn't sound as bad as it could have been. Actually, it might be one of the best things that could happen to me."
"You sweet-talking dummy." Shinobu hid her face on his shoulder and chuckled quietly.
They stayed like that for some time.
When Tanjirou felt he was starting to fall asleep, he helped Shinobu-san up and then escorted her to her room.
"Goodnight, Shinobu-san, and sweet dreams." he smiled softly.
"Goodnight, Tanjirou-kun. You too." she smiled back.
Upon entering the ward, Tanjirou found his two friends fast asleep.
Chuckling quietly, Tanjirou got into his bed and fell asleep.
When morning came and Zenitsu demanded to know what happened with the demon spider, Tanjirou smiled and said he didn't have to worry about it anymore, as the 'demon spider' wouldn't bother him anymore.
"What did you do?" Zenitsu asked, curious by his friend's sound.
"I just watched the stars with someone very dear." was the mysterious reply he got.