Chapter 3
Notes: Minor spoiler for ch. 203, if you haven't read it yet. Like, super minor, it's only the beginning of the chapter.
'I smell Shinobu-san…No…That's wisteria flowers…' he thinks, tiredly, 'I can hear them calling out to me…'
Tanjirou opens his eyes.
"You are hurt. I am sorry." he mumbles quietly.
"HE IS AWAKE! TANJIROU IS BACK!" the Kakushi are shouting joyfully.
His friends swarm him, berating him playfully for scaring them like that.
He just smiles.
He notices Kanao is being treated some ways away and sighs in relief.
Someone is running their fingers through his hair and Tanjirou realises suddenly his head is resting on someone's lap.
He looks up and sees Shinobu smiling down on him.
'Ah…I really did smell Shinobu-san then…' he thinks, reaching out to cup her cheek.
"Are you ok?" he asked softly.
"I'll survive." she replied, with that soft smile.
"That smile suits you…" he sighed, closing his eyes, too tired to stay awake anymore.
When he opens his eyes again, it's late and he is in a bed. He would recognise that ceiling anywhere, he thinks. And that scent. He sighed, a content smile on his lips.
Someone stirred.
"Nii-san…?" Nezuko's voice was barely a whisper.
"Nezuko?"
"You're awake." his sister said in relief.
"Sorry for worrying you." he replied.
"It's alright. The others will be glad to hear it."
"Let them rest. It's late." he sighed.
"But, Shinobu-san said to wake her…"
"Shinobu-san will forgive me." he smiled, "Let them rest. They all fought so hard. Besides, I think I'm going back to sleep." he yawned, "I'd be asleep before they came to see me."
True to his word, Tanjirou fell asleep almost immediately.
When he wakes up again, it's morning.
Nezuko is asleep on her stool beside him. Tanjirou reached out and patted her head softly.
The door opened and Kiyo walked in.
"Good morning." he said quietly.
"Tanjirou-san!" she burst out crying, waking up Nezuko, and running up to his side.
Tanjirou patted her head with a smile.
"There, there. I'm awake."
"I'm going to call the others." she said, through her tears.
And with that, the little girl ran out of the room, shouting and calling the others.
Tanjirou chuckled softy.
"Every girl and Kakushi in this house loves you dearly, nii-san." Nezuko noted.
"They are important to me, too." he smiled, "This place…it was the closest I felt like home."
The door burst open and Kiyo, Sumi and Naho came running in, followed by Aoi, Zenitsu, Inosuke and a Kakushi.
"Good morning." he smiled.
"TANJIROU!"
The three young aides came up to his right, Aoi, Zenitsu and Nezuko at his left, the Kakushi man at the feet of his bed and Inosuke on his feet.
Tanjirou laughed.
"How is everyone else?"
"Kanao and Shinobu-sama are resting. I am surprised Shinobu-sama survived her wounds." Aoi was saying, "If it wasn't for that boy, Yushirou, we might have lost her."
"Where's Yushirou now?"
"In my old room." Nezuko said.
"I'm glad to hear he is alright." Tanjirou smiled, "I have to apologise for not being faster, though. If I had been, maybe Tamayo-san would have survived."
"Tamayo-sama…would be glad you survived." a new voice said, "And so am I."
"Yushirou…" Tanjirou looked at the other boy, "I wish I had done something more. Tamayo-san helped us so much…"
"You two," he said, looking at Nezuko and Tanjirou, "are alive because of her. Something of her legacy survived with your survival. You will always remind me of her. Not that I would ever forget her."
Tanjirou smiled. He reached a hand out towards him.
"I'd like us to be friends." he said.
Yushirou took it.
"You're not too bad." he amended, "And if you can stand, go see the one with the grudge, she has been trying to get out of bed the moment she heard you're awake. At least the other one can follow orders." he huffed.
Chuckling, Tanjirou sat up slowly.
"You really need to stay in bed, Tanjirou-san." Aoi said.
"Shinobu-san is worried, though."
"I'll carry him there." the Kakushi spoke up.
Tanjirou looked expectantly at Aoi. The other Slayer sighed in defeat.
"It's not like I can stop you."
The Kakushi let Tanjirou get on his back and then walked down the corridors towards Shinobu's room. They made a quick stop, so he could see Kanao, too. His sister and friends followed him.
The Kakushi knocked on the door.
There was some movement from inside.
"Come in." Shinobu called.
The Kakushi opened the door and walked.
"Good morning, Shinobu-san." Tanjirou smiled from the man's back.
"Good morning, Tanjirou-kun. Shouldn't you be resting?" Shinobu smiled.
Tanjirou got off the man's back, thanking him for getting him here and sat down beside the bed.
"It's fine. I think I can manage this little. After all, I am not the one who nearly bled out to death."
"I was that bad?" Shinobu asks, quietly.
"Aoi-san is surprised you survived your wounds. I'm glad I made it in time." he said quietly, reaching for her hand.
Shinobu watched him take her hand in his and hold it with a gentleness that could bring tears to your eyes. She smiled at him.
"Thank you for giving me the ability to cut his neck. For helping me take revenge for my sister."
"I am glad I could help Shinobu-san." he smiled.
"I am glad I met you." she replied, reaching forward and running her fingers through his hair.
Tanjirou leaned in her touch.
"Tanjirou-kun?" she called him softly.
"Yes?"
"Will you help me one more time?"
"Of course. What can I do for you?"
"Let me share in your future. Even for a little while."
Tanjirou's eyes grew wide and he blushed.
"I wouldn't mind sharing all of my future with Shinobu-san. I wouldn't mind at all." he admitted.
Shinobu held his hand and pulled him close.
Tanjirou found himself beside her.
With a smile he pulled her in his arms and felt her content sigh against his neck. Her scent, warm and sweet, filled his nose and his smile grew even softer, his hold on her tightening ever so slightly.
He doesn't know what the future holds for them, now that there are no demons to destroy the lives of innocents, but he is glad he'll be facing it with those he loves.