Note: My first Demon Slayer fic. I just finished the manga and was in need of something happy. So here I am!

This is an AU where they survive. So I've changed some things around to make it match my fic! I hope you all will enjoy! Please leave a review on your way out! It literally lights up my day!

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There was a stinging sensation, paired with a soft voice. It was distant and seemingly unattainable.

The tone was sad, that much he could figure out and echoing into his strange dreamlike state. Disrupting the brief rest he was getting.

Iguro focused on the words, clinging onto anything that wouldn't bring him back from wherever he was going.

He'd be thrown back to that cage he was practically raised in, the smell of grease and the begging growl his stomach let out when he'd refuse to eat. It haunted him.

Maybe it was hell he was encountering, maybe this was the only way to atone. Living his past until—

"Your face looks so much better today,"

It was clear now, that feathery voice. "I prayed so hard for you to wake up soon," it said. Iguro knew that worried crack in their voice, and the shaky breathing—it was Kanroji.

It was like a flame lit within him, all the dreams of her, and the peace that kept him going.

He wasn't sure how long this coherent window would linger, or if this were even real.

It felt real, for the most part he could decipher between the delirium and reality.

Usually he'd wake up whenever someone was tending to him, the pain would reach so deep that it'd snap him from any dream he was currently exploring, or shift the dream into a nightmare.

"For almost two months now," she continued sadly, Iguro focused on her voice. "But I won't stop, I know the Gods will answer soon.."

Kanroji sat beside his bed, she dabbed a special ointment over the healing wounds that dragged across his face—they'd healed, and were scarring nicely thanks to Shinobu.

She turned to dip the cotton swab again when she heard a struggled grumble and turned over her shoulder.

There was silence again, and his face still unmoving. "I must be going crazy," she said, brushing the medicine over his eyelids, the claw marks left silvery, pale scars over the structure of his face.

She gently followed the marks over the lids, dabbing the leafy colored ointment with precision and care.

After weeks of pestering, Shinobu gave her the blessing to treat him. It was minuscule compared to what Kanao has had to do in the wake of her sister's attack.

Kanroji discarded the cotton swab and plucked a new one from the bowl beside her.

She continued the treatment until each scar was tended to. The swelling had gone down miraculously around his eyes.

Her heart sank, she could still remember seeing him for the first time and being so taken with his eyes. She was envious even.

He always looked at her with kindness, even with the bandage over his mouth, she could always tell when he was smiling. Or about to laugh by the crinkle of his eyes.

And how the sun set in them, they were like jewels.

"I miss seeing your eyes, Iguro-san," she frowned. The tears were already blossoming as she swallowed the growing lump in her throat.

The sun was bright outside, sending jagged rays of light into the infirmary— but Kanroji continued examining his face while she wiped away her tears with the sleeve of his haotori. She wore it religiously. Hoping he'd wake up so she could return it.

"I'll be back tomorrow, Iguro-san,"

She cupped his right cheek and leaned in to kiss his forehead. She brushed his bangs back into place with her fingers.

tense.

"Kanroji.." he croaked out, he couldn't bare to hear her leave. Not when he could go back into a deep sleep again, and possibly never wake up.

She was crying into his chest now. Or so that's what he could make out. It was so bright, making everything hurt to look at. His vision was cloudy. But her sounds helped guide him to her.

The excitement overwhelmed him. All he could see was the outline of her, and the bright, beautiful pink hair.

There was a little sob in his throat that let out when he moved his right hand, patting her shoulder.

She jumped, almost falling back. Her scream startled him, and in reflex, his eyes widened and he let out a groan in pain. Covering his face, the stinging sensation swarmed him like tiny needles.

"Iguro-san!" she squealed and quickly grabbed a wet rag in the wooden bucket by her feet, she nearly kicked it over—"I know it hurts, h-here," she was shaking horribly as she moved his hands and placed the rag over his eyes.

The painful grumbles eased to a deep sigh, Kanroji blinked away the flowing tears.

She had so much she wanted to say that her words tangled together. "Just hang on," she was crying again. But she was smiling so big her cheeks hurt.

"I'll go get Kanao, so please—"

"Kanroji.." he cut her off, his voice was surprisingly gentle.

His hand flexed against the sheets as he searched for her, she placed her hand in his and he squeezed. A small smile spreading across his face. "You're alive," his voice cracked.

"Yes..barely," she brushed her wet cheek against the back of his hand. "We hardly got you back in time, that's what Kanao said,"

"How long...?" it dawned on him, everything that had happened.

"Three months." she replied. "I healed up in little over a month," she sniffled. "Kaburamaru will be so happy to see you, he's had a lot of fun with me,"

"I'm glad," was all he could say. He was exhausted, and then the darkness came over him again.

When he awoke again, this time it was dark. Which gave his eyes some form of a break. His face felt stiff and raw as he looked around the room.

His vision was blurred, more so in his right eye. Which was already partially difficult to see from. There was growing pain as he looked around and nothing but the moonlight and...snoring.

He glanced down, toward the foot of the bed.

Iguro squinted, the blurriness focusing in and out—but he could finally make out pink hair and what seemed to be his haotori.

He was too weak to lean over, but he wanted to hold her. The fleeting scent of honey and blood crossed his mind and he sat back into the pillows, letting out a groan.

Kanroji startled awake, she looked at Iguro and stood up, embarrassed. She redid her low bun and stood over the snake pillar—"I didn't mean to fall asleep like that, hehe,"

It felt like forever since he's heard that laugh. "I'm sure you're in lots of pain, Aoi brought over some medicine, but you were sleeping—" she paused, seeing Iguro so quiet and intently glancing her way. He could hardly meet her gaze without a flinch. "Oh I need to shut up and just give you the medicine, I'm so sorry,"

Iguro closed his eyes, letting them relax.

He could hear Kanroji's nervous breathing as she lifted his chin. He opened his mouth when she prompted him too; the fresh scar that lingered along the corner of his mouth stung.

"My useless babbling wont help you heal any faster.." she said, she grimaced with Iguro as he took the liquid—"I know it tastes bad, but when you're able to go home, maybe I can make you something," she said with a giddiness in her voice.

"I'd like that," he smiled. "And don't worry, it's nice to hear you talk, Kanroji,"

Kanroji felt her ears heat up, he was still the same in some ways. So kind to her.

"Kanao said she'd check on you when you woke up," Kanroji explained. "Shinobu is doing okay, but she's still bedridden, she said once she gets better she can teach me more about pharmaceuticals," she prattled on as if the last few months hadn't occurred. It was just so nice to be excited again, as guilty as that made her feel.

"I'm glad she's recovering," Iguro could still taste the metallic bitterness, but chose to focus on the hazy image of Kanroji before him. "Everyone else?"

"They're trying," she matched his sad tone. "Sanemi will be happy to see you, Tanjiro and his friends too, everyone," she said finally.

"He'll have to wear a bandage over his right eye for the next few weeks," Shinobu said. "Possibly longer,"

Little bits of fish food floated into the tank, she watched with a gentle smile.

Iguro was sitting at the kotatsu behind her, Kaburamaru sat on his shoulders and Kanroji at his right—"Kanao has been teaching you some about bandaging wounds?" Shinobu asked, she grabbed the edge of the table the fish tank was on before gathering her strength again.

"Shinobu-"

"Don't worry about me," she said with radiance. "I need to move around, we need to focus on Iguro-san's recovery,"

"Yes," Kanroji nodded. "Kanao has been teaching me, I was the one treating him just a few days before he woke up."

"Well, continue what you're doing, he's going to be very sensitive to light, so it's better for him to be in dimly lit places," she explained as she sat down at the end of the table.

Iguro felt the bandage over his right eye—he could hear the desperation in Kanroji's voice as they discussed him.

"And Kanroji, you need to be careful too, you still have some training to do," Shinobu warned, Kanroji fiddled with her single braid and pouted.

"I know," she agreed. "But I just want Iguro-san to be okay,"

Shinobu's gaze softened. She recalled hearing how heart wrenching it was finding the two curled up in each other's arms. They were presumed dead until Iguro awoke in brief consciousness, begging them to help Kanroji.

"He's shown great progress so far," Shinobu agreed, looking at the documents. "Iguro how're you feeling?"

"Better," he said curtly.

"Good.." she nodded proudly. "I don't know how well your sight will be when you're fully healed, I'm doing what I can with what we have,"

"There's nothing that can be done," Iguro said bluntly. He heard the deep inhale from Kanroji and slowly continued. "You're doing your best,"

"Yes, we are," Shinobu agreed with a smile. "We'll have a checkup in the next few weeks, but if anything happens, feel free to come by,"

"Is he allowed to go home now?" Kanroji pressed, the excitement in her tone lit up the room. "He's been in the mansion for months now,"

"I know," Shinobu looked over the papers again and sighed. "I think he should be able to go home, maybe Iguro, you can have a guest stay with you, you're practically disabled for now until you regain more clarity—"

"He can stay with me!" Kanroji clapped. "Kaburamaru will be so happy too!" Kanroji leaned over, tickling the serpent's chin.

Shinobu let out a small laugh. "Sounds like a plan,"