A/N: Here's story 2 to my first Sanemi x Reader story - Cruel World! (Y/N = Your name | Y/L = Your Last Name)

(warnings: character death, blood, jealousy, cursing, smut, dark themes, aphrodisiac, anxiety, impregnation kink, mentions of abortion)

You felt old next to the other Final Selection survivors and the thought causes your heart to ache. You were an adult, far from the young age of 14 - the youngest apart of the survivors. To think children join the Demon Slayer Corps and put their lives at risk in order to help others - you wonder how old Sanemi was when he joined. Or Genya - all of the slayers you've met.

The morning sun shines bright ahead of you and the other five survivors. Your eyes look forward to the mountaintop shrine, a soft smile forming on your lips at the two children standing before the survivors.

"Welcome back." they say in Unison. "Congratulations on completing Final Selection. We're pleased to see that you're all safe.."

There's a low sniffle beside you. You hum at the sight - a young boy no older than 16. You recall just how terrified he was to encounter a demon coming at him with such speed that he barely managed to dodge its attack. It was raining that night and the boy's burgundy hair was clouding his vision. You intervene, slashing the demon's neck. The boy, Shinra, never left your side until now.

"First we must issue you all uniforms once we take your correct measurements." the dark haired child started.

"Then we'll engrave your rank on the back of your hand." the white haired child continued.

"You then will be given the chance to select the ore that will be used to forge your weapon - swords. It will be 10-15 days before said weapons are ready to use."

The black haired child claps their hands twice. Above you hear several crows, flocking their wings. You're excited, nearly ecstatic. You recall the many times you've been berated by Muichiro's crow and how she loved him dearly that you wished to have your own.

A crow flocks onto your shoulders. It flocks its wings several times before stopping, inspecting your face.

"Now that you all are demon slayers, you are each assigned Kasugai Crows." the white haired child spoke. "They are used to facilitate communication."

The black haired child turned away to remove the long, blue cloth that laid above a table."Now the time has come for you to choose an ore for your sword." he says, revealing several ore's for each of you to choose.

"Shinra." you call to the boy beside you, still sniffling. "Let's go choose our Ore."

Shinra's eyes are wide as you speak to him, but he nods nonetheless. He follows you closely as each of the survivors inspect the ore's. You yourself are none the wiser choosing an ore. You contemplate having laid your eyes upon an ore and just thought it was another random rock.

"Which one should we choose, Shinra?" you smile at the boy. "I sense…that one," you point to a medium sized ore. "Is a good fit for me."

Shinra furrows a burgundy brow, "H-How do you know?" he murmurs.

"I can just feel it." you respond. You go to grab it.

Shinra's eyes - a beautiful shade of azure, widen and he too grabs an ore - the one directly next to yours. "Okay." he nods.

Soon you make your journey back to Sanemi's estate. Your legs are aching for a break, but you do not allow them to stop. Your kasugai crow, who you learned was named Hiyori, now laid upon your shoulder as you walked. She had since grew tired of flying above you once she realized you had no intention of stopping for the night. How could you? You passed Final Selection and now was an actual Demon Slayer.

The sky was now a dark violet color when you arrived back at the estate. You had many people to see - you agreed to visit Aoi, Sumi, Kiyo and Naho once you returned. You grew close with the young girls, often visiting them when you didn't have to train until you dropped. You would have to thank Uzui, Hinatsuru, Makio and Suma for your combat training; Muichiro (and Ginko because she wouldn't allow you to not acknowledge her if you met with him). Mitsuri promised you pancakes one you returned and you were craving them with extra honey - her western cooking was the best you've ever had.

You opened the shoji doors of Sanemi's estate. It's quiet inside and doesn't appear to have anyone in it. You make your way around the estate and hum, Sanemi was not here.

You didn't let the fact bother you. Sanemi was a hashira after all and had responsibilities. He could possibly be doing his rounds before he returned home.

You take this time to bathe, allowing all the grime to be released from your skin was refreshing. You're unsure how long you've bathed for, but once your hands begin to wrinkle was when you decided to get out. You were refreshed now, dressed now in a light kimono tied loosely and your hair in a low bun.

You decide to do another round around the estate for Sanemi. You can hear them - faint 's coming from the opposite side of the mansion. Your feet begin to sprint across the cold hardwood floor, a wide smile on your lips.

Sanemi was here, you note, dressed in his usual Hashira attire. He appeared to have just came in from his rounds as you suspected.

"Nemi!" you exclaim, jumping to wrap your arms around the man. He doesn't move back an inch, even with the impact of you crashing into him.

Sanemi's nostrils fill with your scent - the familiar scent that he had longed to smell for the last week. His nerves begin to calm themselves at your touch, unaware that since you've been gone that he was unable to focus on anything but your survival.

"I'm back from Final Selection!" your heart is pumping with excitement. "I even have my own crow like you all! Her name's Hiyori!" you continue to babble on and on about everything that happened during your week, still wrapping him in a tight embrace.

Your face then crashes into his chest and you're silent. Sanemi doesn't notice it at first - he assumes you were overwhelmed with emotions to fully focus on one topic at a time. But then his bare chest feels it. Wet - were you crying?

Sanemi gets his answer when your shoulders shake and his chest appears to be even more wet. He gulps, unsure on what to do. Why were you suddenly crying? Sanemi didn't deal with emotions well. He hated when the lower ranks would cry, it irritated him to no end. It didn't help either that they were often crying because of him - but that's besides the point.

Sanemi places a hand upon your head. "Y/N…" he trails off. "What's wrong?"

Your face lifts to look at Sanemi. There it was again - the jolt. He hadn't felt the jolt in his heart in a week and swears he was cured of whatever sickness he had. Your eyes are teary and wet, lashes sticking to one another.

"I'm so happy!" you sob, lips quivering.

Happy?

You were crying because you were happy?

Sanemi's shoulders falter and now, he finds himself wanting to laugh.

"I'm happy that I passed Final Selection and you didn't waste your time training me." you continue, wiping your tears away with your shoulder so you wouldn't have to unwrap your arms from Sanemi. "I'm happy I was given the opportunity to make my own decision and not be fated to one." you're continuing to ramble on about how happy you truly were - claiming to be happy to be surrounded by such positive people even if they were working in less than positive situations.

You do end up unwrapping your arms around Sanemi to fall to your knees. You're bowing before him, tears not stopping. "Thank you, Sanemi."

Sanemi gasps, but he doesn't stiffen. "Y/N, you don't-"

"I'm grateful that I've gotten to train besides you and the other Hashira and slayers." you're sobbing full on now, dramatic tears leaking onto the floor. "I promise to make you proud as your tsuguko! I'll do my best on all my missions!"

Sanemi inhales. His heart is beating rapidly and he's unsure how to respond to you. To think that he, a Hashira of many years now and had fought demons upon demons…was going to die now due to heart failure. He hoped that Shinobu and Aoi would be the first two to cry at his funeral for denying him (a fucking Hashira at that) service.

Sanemi's mind wanders. He's happy, as well, he supposes. Genya was alive and well, even if he refused to look his brother's way, he often kept tabs on him. Sorai would tell him everything Genya did when he wasn't on missions. You were alive now, as well. Overly emotional and grateful as ever. Sanemi finds himself silently thanking whatever God there was out there that you wouldn't be yet another death on his conscience.

Taisho Era Rumor!

Rengoku: Shinazugawa appeared to be anxiour while Y/N was in Final Selection!

Uzui: Shiazugawa even had his crow, Sorai, check to see if Y/N was one of the survivors of Final Selections.

Kocho, from farther away: Don't tell Shinazugawa that I told you, Uzui!

Sanemi slams the door of the butterfly mansion open, a feral look upon his face. Naho jumps, her braids swinging around towards the sound. Kiyo's eyes widen at Sanemi while Sumi quivers. "Where's Kocho or Kanzaki?" he hisses at the three girls.

"S-Shinobu-san said-"

"I do not care." Sanemi dismisses them. He doesn't see either of the two girls he's looking for and he turns away from them. He stalks down the halls of the butterfly mansion, in coming slayers flinging themselves into the wall just to avoid him and his wrath.

It takes another five minutes to find Shinobu and it only took him slamming open three shoji doors.

"Shinazugawa." Shinobu's soft smile doesn't falter, not even when she's annoyed with her office being intruded. She leans back in her seat and tilts her head at him.

"It happened again." Sanemi exclaims.

Shinobu raises a brow.

"My heart jolted again yesterday. Matter of fact," Sanemi steps inside the office. "it didn't stop jolting for another 30 minutes."

Shinobu snickers. "Y/N must be back from Final Selection already." she notes, more to herself than as a statement to Sanemi. "Please tell her to come visit us at the Butterfly Mansion for any injuries she may have."

Sanemi's eyes are glaring at the younger girl. "What the hell does that have to do with my heart?!" he was growing irate by the second. Each time he came to this place he was kicked out by giggling girls.

"I've checked your heart countless times, Shinazugawa." Shinobu states with a shake of her head. "There's nothing wrong with it or you."

Sanemi sighs and scoffs.

"Maybe you're in denial?" Shinobu shrugs her shoulders.

"In denial?" Sanemi hisses. "You and that other little brat are in denial about my health!"

Shinobu wants to laugh right now, but having Sanemi constantly come into the Butterfly Mansion and scaring the nurses (and the slayers) was becoming overwhelming.

"My," Shinobu manages to giggle. "have you…ever thought that your heart is jolting only when a certain someone is around you?"

Sanemi's eyes squint. "Where the hell are you getting at?"

"That maybe you've failed to realize that your heart is jolting because you happen to…like Y/N?" Shinobu doesn't want to cause Sanemi to convulse by saying the word "love" just yet. "There's studies that show that boys are less smarter than girls, so I'm not surprised you cannot tell the difference between pain and feelings."

Sanemi's ears and neck darken a crimson color and his hands clenched into fists. Shinobu's now full on laughing at him. He's had enough of her and Uzui's constant teasing.

"Fuck off." Sanemi hisses and then turns to walk away.

"Shinazugawa!" Shinobu calls before he can storm down the hallway. "I think she likes you, too. So do the rest of the Hashira."

Sanemi doesn't say anything and Shinobu doesn't expect him to, but the blush on his cheeks don't go unnoticed.

Sanemi makes his way out of the Butterfly Mansion and back towards his estate. He managed to bring his breathing calm, but his mind is going crazy. He thinks of you and how each time he was with you, his heart goes insane and his mind seems to go blink. His anger appears to subside when you speak to him with such a soft smile. Your eyes never show any disgust towards him, instead they're kind and warm.

"Nemi!"

Your voice echoes through his ears from behind him. He hasn't seen you the last few hours and when he turns, he's shocked to see your appearance. He swallows, throat quickly running dry. You're running towards him, a wide smile on your lips. He notes that he's rarely seen your skin - such smooth skin that now appears to shine underneath the afternoon sun. You've gotten your uniform and appeared to be an exact replica of Mitsuri.

"I got my uniform!" you say excitedly when you reach Sanemi.

Sanemi looks away to not catch himself staring too long at your appearance.

"Is that Y/N-chan?"

"She's so cute!"

You're beaming at Sanemi and he feels just how hot his body begins to feel.

"Do you feel comfortable?" Sanemi asks. You never showed this amount of skin before.

You slowly nod your head. "It'll take some getting used to, I suppose." you respond.

Sanemi licks his lips. His eyes roam around the area to find several slayers looking their way - your way. His nerves were now kicking in at the eyes on you.

"Do I look nice?" you ask him. "I do think it'll be a little chilly with the uniform, but I think I'll be alright." you giggle to yourself.

"Is Shinazugawa-sama blushing again?"

"Why do all the girls go for guys like him?!" a slayer throws his hands in the air.

"Here." Sanemi removes his haori and hands it over to you. He isn't looking at you when he does so. "So you don't get cold."

"Shinazugawa-sama is such a nice boyfriend!" a female slayer gushes.

"Who knew he was such a-"

The slayers scurry off when a pair of lilac eyes glare at them.

You take hold of the haori with wide eyes. "But what about you, Nemi?"

"I got more." Sanemi shrugs nonchalantly.

"Hm," you hum, feeling the fabric in your hands. "Thank you. I'll wear it on all my missions!" you place the haori over your shoulders and sigh happily.

Sanemi's heart clenches and he inaudible sighs.

"Are you going back home?" you ask him. "I can cook us lunch if you don't have anything to do!"

Sanemi nods and remains quiet.

"Good! Let's go!" you hook your arm in his and begin walking.

Sanemi doesn't mind your closeness, even if it does leave him surprised each time by just how willing you are to be entangled with him. While the pair of you stroll back to the estate in a comfortable silence, he's thinking about just how nice you did look in your uniform - and how he didn't like if anyone else thought the same.

Taisho Era Rumor!

Tomioka apparent saw Shinazugawa berating a Kakushi about giving Y/N a less revealing uniform.

When you suggested eating, Sanemi didn't think you would invite others. You've just finished cooking when a knock sounds on his shoji doors. Sanemi doesn't answer and you're scurrying off to answer it yourself. The door opens and you're beaming widely.

Sanemi wants to scoff when his brother is behind the door - him, for some odd reason Tokito and an unknown slayer with burgundy hair.

"I hope we are not intruding." he murmurs to you, eyes only glancing at his brother for a moment. He hadn't spoken to Sanemi in two weeks - not since the incident.

You are, Sanemi wants to say, but he only snickers to himself instead.

"Of course not!" you usher for them to enter. "I hope you all are hungry."

Tokito remains silent when he sits upon the cushioned floor. He's seated beside Genya and beside him, the unknown burgundy haired boy.

You go to serve the food for them, Sanemi grumbling to himself. He wanted to be with you - alone - not in his own home surrounded by brats.

You take your seat beside Sanemi and smile at the group of boys. "Please, eat."

Muichiro wastes no time in doing as he's told. Genya can feel eyes upon him, the glaring lilac eyes of his elder brother. He tries to think of your words two weeks prior - that Sanemi did love and care for him. It was hard believing you. He never made any attempt to speak with him after the fact and he grew slightly afraid that he would attempt to hurt him again if he tried.

"I met Shinra during Final Selection." you tell Sanemi after a few bites of the pork cutlet. "He's so cute." you gush.

Shinra's cheeks flushed crimson at the sound of his name and the compliment. He feels two sets of eyes on him - one from the white haired man who he learned quickly was a Hashira and then the boy with dark hair and a mohawk. They're glaring, he notes, with such dark eyes and hatred.

"Look's weak." Sanemi retorts, sinking his teeth in the broccoli you steamed.

"Very." Genya snorts.

Muichiro turns his eyes to look at Shinra and hums in agreement.

"That's not nice." you frown at the three of them. "Shinra's is a very capable swordsman."

Genya had no issue with the burgundy haired boy. He appeared to be close in age with him and Tokito. However, if he had your affection then that meant it was taken away from his brother (and him) and he didn't like it.

"Shinra even helped me defeat a demon, right, Shinra-kun?"

Shinra feels his throat clog up at the amount of eyes on him. He finds himself nodding - even if it wasn't the truth. You were lying to save him the embarrassment and that caused even more self-pity in him.

"Is that so?" Sanemi snickers. He leans forward. "He doesn't even look like he knows how to hold a sword. I'm to believe someone like him helped you?"

You nod your head. You weren't going to let them bring down Shinra's self esteem about himself.

"Then maybe you shouldn't go on missions yourself." Sanemi states. "If you need help from a weakling."

Genya watches the way his brother glares at Shinra and now he understands where this was going.

Sanemi was jealous - for no reason. Shinra was (for now) a weakling Mizunoto, yet you shared the rank with him. You were just lucky enough to have trained alongside several Hashira. Shinra was also only a child while you were an adult and only had eyes for Sanemi - but he knew his brother well enough to know that anyone was competition.

"Y/L-san is an amazing swordsman…woman…" Shinra's voice is low and barely audible. He's scared to even look the white haired man in the face but he's grown great respect for you. "She killed the most demons during Final Selection…"

"How many did you kill?" Sanemi questions.

"I-I…" Shinra gulps. He hasn't killed nearly as much as you or the other survivors. He only managed to cut the heads of three - and even that took a lot out of him.

"How about this," Sanemi takes a bite of the pork and stands. "you show me just how good of a swordsman you are."

"We're eating." you sigh, watching as Sanemi rounds the table to put (more like snatch) Shinra's shoulder.

"It'll only be a moment." Sanemi yanks Shinra from his cushioned seat and pulls him to his feet. "I have an extra sword."

Shinra is visibly shaking in Sanemi's tight hold. He's pushed out the door and it causes Muichiro to snort. "Y/N."

"Huh, yes, Tokito?" you say to him, smiling apologetically. "Is the food alright?

Muichiro nods. He licks his lips before his eyes turn to you. "Please tell Shinazugawa that no one is planning on stealing you from him." he says nonchalantly. "All the slayers that do voice their attractions are scared of being castrated."

You laugh nervously, eyes going wide. You feel yourself grow hot with embarrassment.

"Genya even threatens a few that talk about you suggestively."

Genya whips his head to glare at Muichiro, cheeks flushed. "I do not!" he hisses, denying rather quickly.

"Yes you do." Muichiro takes a sip of his drink. "You talk down to anyone that thinks they could speak to Y/N." Muichiro scoffs. And he was supposed to be the one with memory issues.

You get up from your cushioned seat and nod your head at the two (now bickering, more on Genya's side than Muichiro) boys. You place a hand on both of their heads and it silences them. "You two are so cute." you tell them. "Makes me wish I had younger siblings." your eyes glance outside. You were going to have to save Shinra from Sanemi's torture right about now.

You bow and excuse yourself and make your way out the shoji doors just as Sanemi swings a wooden sword Shinra's way. "Sanemi!" you call, eyes glaring at the man. "Leave Shinra alone! We've come here for lunch not to train!"

Shinra's able to dodge Sanemi's attack by the grace of God, sweat pooling down his forehead and whimpering for whoever to save him.

Sanemi stops his attack and turns to you. You appeared to be upset, eyebrows knitted to a scowl. Your arms are crossed and for a split second his eyes flicker to your breast pressed together.

"Shinra, let's finish up your lunch, yeah?" you tell the boy who nods his head, far too excited to be away from the white haired maniac.

As Shinra enters the house once more, your eyes turn to Sanemi. "What's that about?"

Sanemi drops his wooden swords and goes to make his way back into his home. You step in front of the man. "You can't keep harassing the slayers. They're terrified of you!"

Sanemi scoffs. "If they're terrified of me then a demon would have their fucking heads."

You roll your eyes. "You're a scary man."

Sanemi tilts his head and crosses his own arms. "You aren't afraid of me."

"Of course not." you give him a teasing smile. "You're nice when I'm around."

Sanemi grumbles; maybe that's why others would rather you be present if they had to approach him.

"Promise me," you begin, coming closer to him. You take his large, calloused hands in your soft ones. "That you won't keep harassing the slayers. Especially Shinra and Genya."

Sanemi groans. He likes the soft and gentleness of your hands on his own.

"I can't promise that." Sanemi says. "They all enjoy pissing me off."

You giggle. "But they avoid you!" you exclaim. "Just try."

Sanemi nods his head with a roll of his eyes. "Whatever." he mumbles.

You wrap your pinky around his longer one, a tint of mischief in your eyes. "Swear."

"Swear." Sanemi murmurs. "Whoever lies will be made to swallow a thousand needles." the two of you say in unison, a wide smile on your lips and a low one on his.

Tokito Muichiro, with his hands on his chin in deep thought: Didn't you threaten to kill a Mizunoe who called Y/N hot?

Shinazugawa Genya, cheeks flushed: Shut up! No, I didn't!

Taisho Secret: Genya see's Y/N as an elder sister & loves that his Aniki has her in his life. He doesn't want anyone disrespcting her!

"CAW! Y/L Y/N is to report to Chiyoda City! A demon has been sighted in the Shrine!" Hiyori soars above you, her wings flapping.

Your eyes widen and you stand to your feet excitedly. "We're going on a mission? Our first mission!" you were ready for a mission the same day you were given your nichirin sword.- a long sword with a black handguard that wraps right above your hand, offering an amazing grip. The blade is long and shiny against the bright sun - an emerald color shining down the sharpest part of the blade.

"Sanemi's doing his rounds. I'm sad he wasn't home to hear." you feel saddened, but this was your moment to make him proud and assure that you'd come back safe.

You make your journey out of the estate with Hiyori flying above you, leading the way. You're pumping with excitement that it's ridiculous. You were going head first to a demon - but you were bouncing with joy as if you were meeting your husband. You were just ecstatic to kill as many demons as you could and work your way up the ranks. You heard the amount of people wishing to become Hashira, but you're content not being one. The 9 Hashira you've met were more than amazing at their jobs.

You reach the area in the middle of the night, the moon shining brightly and the area quietly. The air appears to be murky and foggy, a low fog that's nearly blinding. You slow your walk, drawing your blade while your eyes scan the area.

A sound to your left heightens your senses. More sounds from your right, above and even forward you. Small figures appear, no taller than toddler sizes. They're demons - eyes black and soulless. There's scars oozing blood beneath both of their eyes and there's a shadowy smoke that surrounds them as they push closer to you. As they come closer, you note that they appear to be floating rather than walking.

You raise your sword and swing when one shadowy figure lungs at you. You slice at their head, cutting off each one with swift movements - but they appear to never stop coming. It's as though as soon as you kill one, five more come sprinting after you. Each shadowy figure has their own weapon - a knife, sword, cutlass.

"That man despises you." a gravelly voice hisses behind you. The shadowy figures disappear and you're left in complete silence.

You turn around, eyes glaring into the darkness. "Show yourself!" you call into said darkness.

Your feet walk stealthy behind the shrine where what appears to be a large pond is located. The water is still; unnerved.

"You're nothing to him!" the same voice hisses, this time besides you and now you sense it. A hand slams against your cheek and you're sent flying towards the pond. It wasn't deep, luckily, and you managed to keep your sword clenched into your hands.

You leep from the pond just as the demon lunges at you. It appears to be a woman. She's tall, appearing just a few inches smaller than Uzui. Her eye sockets are wide but they're soulless, no pupils in sight. Her hair is long and flowy behind her, but appears to be wet and stringy. Her skin is a dull gray color and she's snarling at you.

"Look at you," the demon snarls, her fingernails gnawing at her skin. "So young and beautiful. No man will ever respect such a whore!"

The demon lunges at you once more and you manage to cut her hand off, long claws falling onto the ground below you.

A loud, blood curdling scream echoes off the trees, coming from the demon. The sound is unbearable and you're sure the demon is causing your ears to bleed.

You got to your knees.

"What would your father think seeing you now?" a voice says.

"What about your mother? Your brother?"

The atmosphere appears colder now, the screams of the demon growing louder and louder.

"What do you think Sanemi would think of you once you die here?" the screams appear louder and you're certain your ears are bleeding. "When you die here tonight, you will be forgotten - just like your father forgot about you."

You can feel the anger inside of you bubbling at the taunting words of the demon. "Come with me, I'll put you out of your miserable misery."

You lift your sword, trying your hardest to ignore the ringing in your ear. The demon flings itself at you and in one quick movement, you're dodging its attack and slicing off her other hand. You get to your feet, sprinting towards the Demon. It wails loudly once more, but you ignore the painful ringing in your ears. "Wind Breathing: Second Form!" you lift the sword upwards towards the right and above your head. You release four vertical slashes resembling claws towards the demon. "Claws-Purifying Wind!"

You dash towards the Demon as your attack slashes them, black blood oozing out from their wounds. You make it your mission to get rid of this demon once and for all, raising your sword and bringing it down on the demon's neck.

You drop to your feet, eyes on the demon's head a few feet screaming releasing from its throat grows silent by the second as the head begins to disintegrate.

It takes you a moment to move, your mind racing at the words the demon said.

That man despises you.

No man will ever respect a whore.

When you die here, you'll be forgotten.

You sheathe your sword and begin to walk. Your ears are ringing as you make your way back towards your destination, Hiyori flying above you. By the time you'd return, the sun will be present and you'd hope to come face to face with Sanemi once more. You've grown close to the man and it causes you great shame to know that the words of the demon got to you; causing your heart to ache. You no longer cared about your fathers thoughts about you; you dealt with the man for years and his harsh ways. But the thought of Sanemi - someone you considered to be a great friend, even someone you loved dearly - forgetting about you; despising you.

You exhale, deciding to pick up your pace to get back to the estate - and Sanemi - faster.