TanKana Week 2020

Day 1: Eye contact

It's here! It's finally here!

Welcome everyone to my contribution for TanKana Week 2020, I hope you enjoy and don't forget to check out the tumblr and twitter for more TanKana content!

For those that don't know, the TanKana week will have seven different themes for each day, for the first day the theme is 'Eye contact/White Spined butterfly (freshness and prosperity)'.

So, without further ado, on with the first day!

Disclaimer: I don't own KnY.

'Hmm… I wonder what's wrong…' Tanjiro thought as he walked along the Butterfly State after finishing his latest mission.

He had found something strange happening every time he visited after finishing the Recovery Training.

Kamado Tanjiro is someone that always looks people in the eye when talking to them; this habit was instilled on him at a young age as the polite thing to do, no matter if it's a friend or a stranger, unless you are doing something that doesn't allow you to, always try to look them in the eye.

He did wonder for a while why he should do that but, in the end, he didn't really mind, he likes looking at people in the eye when speaking to them.

In the red haired fifteen year old's humble opinion, looking at someone in the eye shows that you are paying attention to what they are saying so he has always made sure to look at the people he talks to in the eye and, for the most part, the people he talks to do the same; the few exceptions are people that are working and can't afford to get their eyes off their task or, in some cases, people that try to look away when he speaks to them.

The latter case has been happening constantly to him lately because of a certain girl.

Tsuyuri Kanao.

Back when they first met Tanjiro can't say she made too big of an impression on him, the only reason he remembered her being in Mount Fujikasane back when he passed the Final Selection is because of the incredibly low number of people that managed to pass and the fact that she looked like she had taken a stroll through the mountain instead of battling demons for seven days; while the last part did stick to his mind more, he was too tired to actually think too much on it and between the relief of seeing Nezuko up, recovering in Mount Sagiri and then getting his first assignment, he simply forgot about her until he saw her again in the Butterfly State after his encounter with Lower Moon Five and the Pillar meeting where they decided his and Nezuko's fate.

Back then, things were fine, while he lost a lot against her during the Recovery Training, he eventually got stronger and able to at least keep up with her and he made sure to look her in the eye when speaking to her, even though she never really answered until he went to say goodbye to her.

But even when she spoke to him, he felt something was off, she did look at him but it was as if she wasn't really looking at him, just in his general direction and he happened to be in the middle.

While Tanjiro did feel something change when he gave her back her coin after telling her to follow her heart, he couldn't quite place it and he didn't have time to stay and find out. The Kamado thought he could talk to her next time he is near the Butterfly State and see how she's doing but, every time he tries, she seems to try and look anywhere but in his general direction.

He passed it off as her being busy at the time or doing something else, like the time he found her blowing bubbles and asked if he could stay and watch, she had nodded and continued to do her thing.

But each time he tried to talk to her it became more apparent that she tried to avoid his gaze.

She never left though, unless Shinobu, Aoi, or one of the 'caterpillars' happened to call her, and even commented about whatever he was talking to her about every now and then but each time she looked him in the eye, he noticed Kanao immediately look away.

Tanjiro is a very patient person but, at this point, he was really curious about why she reacted like that; using his nose could give him a bit of an idea but he didn't like to use it in that way, it felt like he is invading their privacy when he sniffs out another person's emotions so he tries not to do that unless he feels there is an absolute need to know, like when he first met Tamayo to ensure she wasn't lying.

'Then… I guess I'll just go and ask her.' To the Kamado, that was the obvious solution. So, after leaving Nezuko in the room the Butterfly State lends to them, he began to search around the mansion for the Insect Pillar's Tsuguko.

It was fairly easy to find her; Kanao is usually in her spot on the garden interacting with the butterflies around, blowing bubbles or just sitting there and relaxing.

"Kanao!" Tanjiro called out when he spotted her sitting in the porch. "It's been a while, how have you been?"

"Hello Tanjiro, I've been fine." She answered with a small smile while keeping her eyes close. "How did your last mission went?"

"…Kanao, sorry but, can I ask you something?" The red haired teen asked as he sat down next to her, making the girl look forward towards the garden.

"Hmm? Sure, what is it?"

"Why do you always look away when we talk?" He said with a slightly sad tone.

"Eh?!" The black haired girl yelped, looking at him in shock.

"Did I do something that bothers you? Or am I giving you a bad look without realizing?"

"N-no, it's nothing like that!" Kanao quickly denied, with the loudest voice Tanjiro has heard from her since… well, since he met her.

"Then…?"

"I…" The Tsuyuri looked down, but it was to think instead of avoiding the Kamado's gaze. "I'm not sure myself…" Kanao admitted. "It's strange, I can look other people in the eye without a problem but, when it's Tanjiro, I just avoid your gaze without thinking, then I think that I shouldn't do that and try to look at you but I get flustered so I end up avoiding your gaze anyway. I've tried to think why that is but I haven't been able to figure it out… I'm sorry."

"No, it's nothing that you have to apologize for." Tanjiro assured her, once again making her look at him in surprise. "Maybe I can help you figure out why this happens… hmm, do you mind telling me what other people you usually speak to?"

"Well, my master of course, I've also been talking with Aoi, Kiyo, Naho and Sumi more." She answered. "Other than them, you when you talk to me and… I guess a few kakushi, but with the last ones it's just stuff related to missions."

"I see…" The Kamado frowned in thought and crossed his arms as he tried to figure out what the reason could be. "Wait, so other than me you rarely interact with other men, right?"

"I… suppose so."

"Maybe you're just not used to it and that's why you keep looking away." Tanjiro offered, looking at the garden to avoid making her uncomfortable.

"I… don't think that's it… I don't have a problem when talking to other men." She answered honestly.

"Hmm… maybe it's my eyes? You're not used to seeing eyes of my color?"

"That… seems more likely but I'm not sure."

"…I know!" Tanjiro suddenly looked at her again, making the purple eyed girl look away. "We can train so you get used to seeing my eyes!"

"Eh, train?"

"Kanao, please look at me." The Kamado asked gently.

It took her a moment, but Kanao did as asked and moved her gaze towards him, locking her purple irises with the teen's red ones,

"Alright, now try to keep looking at me; I'll keep quiet so you don't get distracted."

"O-okay." The girl answered with a small nod.

'Good, this should help her get used to my eyes, or at least figure out if it's my eyes or something else.' The Kamado thought happily as he continued gazing at the Tsuyuri is purple orbs. 'She's really flustered.' He thought, noticing the blush in the girl's cheeks and how her eyes kept wavering as if trying to look away. 'I… didn't notice it before but…'

"You have beautiful eyes Kanao." Tanjiro blurted out without realizing.

"E-eh?!" The black haired girl squealed. "Th-that-I mean… thank you." She said in a small voice, her entire face turning red.

'So cute.' Tanjiro thought, blushing a bit as well.

He is not sure what possessed him to do what he did next but, before he realized, he was gently cupping her face, his head filled with the want to continue staring into her eyes as if they had hypnotized him.

"Ta-Tanjiro?"

"Kanao~! Are you there?"

The spell was broken when they heard Shinobu's voice, making both break eye contact and for Tanjiro to let go of her.

"Oh, welcome Kamado-kun, I didn't know you were here."

"Hello, Shinobu-san." Tanjiro said back.

"Sorry but I need to borrow Kanao for a while."

"Yes, I'll be right there." Kanao answered.

Shinobu smiled at the two and left.

"Hm, Tanjiro…"

"Yes?"

"Could… could we continue with the training later?" She asked with her head downwards but doing her best to gaze at him even though her face was beet red.

"Of course." The Kamado answered with a smile, also blushing like crazy.

Kanao got up, bowed goodbye and went to see what Shinobu wanted.

'…her eyes are really beautiful.' Tanjiro thought with a blush as he stared at the spot she was before going to see Shinobu.

.

'I had really bad timing.' The Insect Pillar thought with a sigh. 'I'm sorry Kanao, I'll make it up to you.' The master of the Butterfly State vowed.

After all, what older sister wouldn't help her little sister get closer to her crush?

And that's the end of day 1!

Read you tomorrow.

Remember that you have time to participate, anything and everything that doesn't break the rules is allowed!

Until next time!