A/N: Hello guys, sanemi-whore here. I have posted these on tumblr and AO3 already under the same name if you'd like to go there if it's an easier read. This story (and all of the ones I post in the future) are Sanemi x Reader and will contain smut, angst, dark themes, etc. (Y/N = Your name | Y/L = Your Last Name)
(warnings: range (forced) marriage, readers father is abusive (not physically), mentions of death/blood, cursing, alcohol intake, sanemi being in denial of his feelings lol, unsolicited touching/groping/humping, masturbating (m))
"Fix your face." your fathers words were harsh as he spoke to you. He sits across from you, legs crossed and hands in his lap. "You should be honored that a man has offered so much to marry you."
Honored.
You wanted to laugh.
There was nothing for you to be honored about. There was nothing honorable about being married off to a man you've just met - a man twice your age at that. You never imagined being in a loveless marriage with nothing to live for but to be a trophy wife.
"Yes, Oto-san." you murmur, head low.
It wasn't long ago when your father was requested by a man - an older man who appears just as old as your father, if not older - for a meeting. They spoke in hushed tones while you were ordered to cook and serve tea for your guest.
Your hand shook as you served the tea when your ears picked up on the conversation.
You were the topic - your hand in marriage. Your head screamed for your father to deny it - to say that no money in the world could even buy you. However, he hadn't. He agreed without little resistance and you felt sick to your stomach. You couldn't hear anymore of the conversation and you sprinted to the bathroom. You fell to your knees and released the sobs you weren't aware you were holding.
"Sleep." your father ordered. "He will be here tomorrow morning to speak of the arrangements."
You nod your head. You stand from the cushion you sat upon and bow your head. Your father's eyes caught the way your throat tightens, but he chooses to ignore it.
You do not say a word to your father before turning away from him and making your way down the dim lit hall to your bedroom. The hardwood floors were cold against your feet as you made your way to your bedroom. You slide the doors closed behind you and lean against it.
You missed your mother. You were certain she wouldn't allow your father to do this if she was alive.
Your father himself wouldn't have done this if life wasn't cruel to the both of you. He wasn't always a harsh man that drowned himself in alcohol to escape reality. He was once a kindhearted man who adored his family - until said family was ripped away from him. From the both of you.
You're unsure how long you were leaning against the door lost in your thoughts. Your eyes began to burn and you blinked rapidly to retain the moisture in your eyes. Your eyes darted to the window - the moon shined through it, casting a glow through the dark room.
Your feet walk before your mind can register it. Before you know it, you're outside of your home in general and sprinting through the grassy field. You nearly trip over your kimono, but you manage.
You had nowhere to go. You were out of your mind. But you would rather be nowhere than be sold to that old man.
The area is dark and the only light guiding you is the moon above. Your chest heaves as your legs continue to run and you're positive they would give out soon. You cursed your lack of stamina.
Your eyes swell with tears when you feel a sharp pain in your side.. Your feet lift from the ground and you're being flung into the nearest tree. Your breath escapes from you and you're now groaning in pain.
"Well…"
Your vision is blurry, the tears streaming harshly down your cheeks. Your attempt to regain your composure, but you're badly wounded.
"...you shouldn't be out at night." a sinister voice booms through your ears. "You never know who lurks in the dark."
You can hear footsteps coming closer to you. Your fingernails dug into the dirt, arms trembling.
You scream when your hair is yanked backwards and you're lifted to your knees, an excruciating pain running through your veins. Your kimono and hadajuban is pushed down to reveal your bare breast and you feel what you assume are teeth sinking into you.
You were going to die - no doubt by a demon.
To think you survived this long - survived the massacre your mother and brother endured - just to die now on your own.
A gust of wind surrounds you, so rough that you fall forward once more. The demon's teeth are no longer on you and you take note that the demon itself isn't either. Your hand immediately goes to the wound onto your chest, blood seeping through.
You blink your eyes hastily to see your surroundings.
The demon was horrendous - eyes dark as the night and skin appearing as if it was burned off. He had horns coming from his forehead and on his lips was your blood. He licks them, eyebrows furrowing to the man in front of you.
You take note that the man is tall with white spiky hair that glows underneath the moonlight. His back is facing you and you cannot see his face, but he holds a large sword in his hands. His haori is white and appears to glow along with his hair.
"A Hashira, huh?" the Demon cackles.
Your eyes widen at the demon's words.
"H-Hashira…" you murmur, eyes glued to the tall man before you. You head of the demon slayers and the Hashira, but never would you have imagined being in the presence of one.
"Don't just fucking stand there!" the Hashira barks, head turning slightly to the side. You follow his gaze to see a group of boys, all sporting black uniforms and holding their own swords. They are frozen behind a bush and all jump at the Hashira's sudden bark. "Take the girl to Kocho!"
"Y-Yes, Shinazugawa-sama!" the group - 4 - of demon slayers say in unison. You witness them scurry off to you while the Hashira begins his battle with the Demon.
"You're losing a lot of blood, miss." one demon slayers moans sadly as he attempts to touch your wound. "C-Can you apply pressure to it while we get you to Shinobu-sama?"
You nod your head, but you feel dizzy suddenly. Maybe you had lost a decent amount of blood.
"Oh no." another demon slayer quips. "She's passing out. We have to leave now."
Your eyes shot open, your shoulder being roughly shoved. You looked around your surroundings.
"Y/N."
Your head snaps to the side, eyes widening.
"Onii-san…" your voice is high pitched and childlike. Your eyes drift to your lower appearance and child-like hands.
You then roam your eyes around the bedroom - the one you shared with your elder brother. It's bright - the morning sun shining through the windows.
"W-what-"
"You overslept." your brother flicks your forehead, an act you always hated but you could do nothing savor his touch.
Was this a dream?
Was this heaven? Had you succumbed to your wounds and died?
"Y/N…why are you crying?" your brother's voice is startled, wondering if he had flicked you too hard this time. He yelps when you crush your face into his yukata and continue to cry, tiny hands clutching onto him for dear life. "What's wrong?"
"I…had a bad dream, Onii-san." you sniffled after a few moments of your crying.
Your brother's eyes soften and he places a hand on the top of your head. "Baby." he murmurs softly to you. "Go wash up and then meet me outside. I have something I want to show you."
You do as you're told, far too excited to see your brother again.
As your feet slap against the cold hardwood floor, your heart is pumping again to be reunited with your family.
Your hands reach the shoji doors, ready to open it, the shining sun from inside your bedroom suddenly disappears and all that you are left with is the familiar shining moon light.
"Y/N, don't-" your brother screams - he appears to be far away, so distant that you ponder if he's in the same room as you.
What's going on? The door slams open and your eyes widen. The tall monster - you remember now. Tentacles sway around him. His skin was a disgusting green and his claws clenched onto your mother's kimono. She's lifeless, covered in blood.
A tentacle reaches out to swipe at you, but your brother flings himself in front of you - but he's nothing but a child such as you. He slams into the nearest wall, body just as lifeless as your mothers. Blood pools from his wounds and you can do nothing but scream at the sight.
You release a sudden scream, thrashing at the hands gripping onto you. "No!" you choke out a whimper.
"Calm down." the voice says - stern but sweet. "You're alright."
You're alright.
Your eyes manage to blink until they focus on where you were at. You're on a bed foreign to you surrounded by several other beds that are vacant. The room is quiet except for a few people surrounding you, your eyes recognizing a few of the demon slayers you encountered.
That was not a dream - you being attacked by a demon was indeed real.
Seated beside you was a young girl with blue eyes with black pigtails. She has a stern look in her eyes as she stares at you.
"My name's Aoi." she tells you. "You were having a nightmare."
You nod your head slowly. That part was also correct. You cannot remember the last time you dreamt of the night your brother and mother had died - until now.
"Where am I?" you whisper out before coughing. Your throat was dry and raspy.
"Here," Aoi leans beside you to grasp a glass of water from the bedside table. "drink this."
You do as you're told, mentally thanking her when the cool water hits your throat.
"Are you alright?"
You notice it's a demon slayer - a young man who's eyes appeared to be glossy. "You passed out on the way here."
You nod your head once more. "Thank you for bringing me." you tell them and they each nod back, faces red. "If I may ask…where is the Hashira that saved me?"
Aoi sits straighter onto your bed, but the way her eyes roll does not go unnoticed. "Go get Shinazugawa." she tells the slayers who all freeze at her command. "Now."
The three slayers scurry off but appeared to be in no rush. Aoi turns back to you. "Just a warning." she begins. "Shinazugawa isn't…the nicest."
You tilt your head.
"He can be a little…rash." Aoi shrugs her shoulders. "Are you in any pain? I managed to stitch up your wounds."
You shake your head. "No. Thank you." you bow your head. "You are a nurse? You look so young."
Aoi's face reddens.
"I'm sorry. I meant no harm." you attempted to apologize, unsure if you offended her or not.
"It's alright." Aoi stands. "I do help around the butterfly estate more often while Shinobu-san is busy." she explains.
The door slams open and frightens the both of you. Aoi's eyes darted to the noise and her eyes turned to slits. "You don't have to be so abrasive, Shinazugawa-san." she hisses. "I'm going to get you something to eat." she says without as much of a look your way.
Shinazugawa only scoffs as the young girl pushes past him, closing the door behind her slightly. You noticed by his demeanor as to why the slayers were reluctant in calling for him - you guessed people walked on eggshells around the man.
Your heart flutters when his eyes meet yours.
The man is covered in scars, you note, and the amount is alarming. You assume it was due to him being a Hashira and his time in battle with demons.
"You look scared shitless." Shinazugawa's voice startles you.
Your body heats at the fact that you were staring. Your eyes dart away and you bow your head. "I'm sorry!" you quip. "I-I just wanted to thank you. For saving me."
You note that he doesn't say anything. Your eyes darted forward to see that he was now directly in front of you. Your heart skips a beat - Hashira's were stealthy.
"Why were you outside alone?" Shinazugawa questions. "Surely you know that demons exist."
You gulp. He was correct. You did know and yet, you still left without a care in the world of your fate. "I…"
The Hashira waits for your response.
"I didn't want to be home."
The Hashira doesn't make a sound for a moment. He studies your face before responding. "You left in the middle of the night in nothing but a kimono…because you didn't want to be home?" his voice is deep and condescending. "You could have encountered far more harm besides a demon." he spats.
Your hands clench onto the bed sheets you were under.
"Why didn't you want to be home? Your husband refused to buy you something?"
Your eyes widen. He was mocking you, surely.
"That kimono is expensive no doubt. You must come from money."The Hashira spats before shaking his head. "Just tell me where I need to bring you-"
"I'm not going back."
Shinazugawa's eyes widened at your interruption.
"I do not come from money, either. The Kimono is a gift from the man my father sold me off to marry." your tone matches his now. You wanted nothing more than to thank the man, not be judged about your decision to leave your home.
Sanemi is quiet, unsure of what to say. You shut him up, surely. He could only judge you by what you looked like - your hair wasn't a mess when he found you and you wore a kimono crafted from the best materials. It wasn't his fault and he wasn't going to apologize for it, either.
"So your father is broke." Sanemi states.
"No." you scoff. "He just doesn't want me around him anymore. I should be honored to be married off to someone his age." You say sarcastically. You do not realize you're clenching the bed sheets until you release them, witnessing how wrinkled they become. "Sometimes I even think he wishes it was me that died by that demon instead of my brother."
Sanemi's ears perk, but he doesn't say anything in response.
"He was sure to tell me each time he was drunk that he only wanted a son. It was my mother that wanted to have another child in hopes of a daughter." you laugh low to yourself. You're talking to yourself more than you are to the Hashira. "To think he lost his prized child and wife."
Now Sanemi was feeling guilty, even if he wasn't going to show it or apologize. It appears you had a shitty life with your father and he can only think of back many moons ago of his own disappointment of a father.
"Sorry." you murmur to the Hashira. "Got carried away." you straightened yourself to look at him once more. "Thank you again. I know slaying demons is your job, but you could have left me there. I am forever grateful."
Sanemi doesn't realize it until it's too late. His neck is hot and so are his ears. If he would look at his reflection, he'd see that his face is red. "Don't thank me." he murmurs with a gulp. "Where are you planning to go?"
You're unsure of the answer yourself. There was nowhere for you to go. You had no relatives and going back to your father now was possibly the worst decision to do - you're positive his wrath would be hellish.
"A few years ago at the age of 15," you began. "My father said that I could always be a prostitute and maybe work my way up to be an Oiran." you begin to laugh and Sanemi couldn't believe his ears. Were you seriously laughing at the harsh words spewed at you by your father? "He was drunk and upset."
"Sounds like an asshole." Sanemi states.
You sigh, smile from your laughter still on your lips. "He was." you agree. "I cannot hate him for it. To answer your question, Shinazugawa-san-"
"Sanemi."
You furrow a brow at the Hashira.
"I'm not one for honorifics."
You nod your head. "Sanemi." you hum. "I'm not sure where I am planning on going. However, I'm sure wherever that is it will be better than my fate chosen by my father."
Sanemi grunts. You appear to be courageous in a way, not caring what the world dropped at your feet as long as it wasn't anything worse than your chosen fate.
"Why not become a demon slayer?"
You giggle. "I don't even know how to throw a punch, Sanemi." your eyelashes bash at him and again, he feels hot. "I would be useless."
"You can always train." Sanemi suggests.
You hum. "I suppose you're correct. But I don't know anyone willing to train me."
A knock sounds on the door before it slides open. Aoi walks through with a tray, a plate of soup placed on it.
"This should be light on your stomach." Aoi tells you once she places the tray on the bedside table. "Shinazugawa-san, would you like anything?" she says to him through gritted teeth. She was only being polite and didn't wish to hand him anything.
"No." is all Sanemi responds with and Aoi only shrugs.
"I'll be back in a half an hour to check in on you." Aoi says and retreats once more.
Your stomach churns at the aroma of the soup. You're unsure how long it's been since you ate and you were starving. You grasp the tray and do not hesitate to dig in.
"I can train you."
Sanemi only stands and watches the first ten minutes of you eating silently before he does speak. It catches you by surprise.
"Oh?"
"Would you rather be a prostitute?" Sanemi spats harshly. "Having different types of men on top of you at that. For that you could've married the man who paid your father."
You aren't fazed by his tone nor his words, your father has trained you for this since you were a child - bellowing insults after insults.
Your lips twitch.
"I wouldn't mind it if they were as handsome as you." you tease the Hashira and now he's taken aback, face fully flushed and his fists clenched. You giggle to yourself. "Just kidding, Sanemi. I wouldn't be a good prostitute, either. I have no experience." you take another sip of your soup and all Sanemi could think of was your last words.. "I would be honored to train with you."
Sanemi gives you one last look before turning away. "I'll talk to Kocho about you being released.. Until then, rest up."
Sanemi slides the shoji doors open and walks out, not turning to look back at you.
"Well," Sanemi speaks. "come at me."
You do, hands raising the wooden sword in your hand. You're trembling as you run towards him and Sanemi wants to laugh at the way you look. He does nothing but step to the side and watch as you fall onto your face.
"That was pathetic."
You gulp. "I know."
"Get up." Sanemi demands. "You're entirely too slow."
You were released the following day and like promised, Sanemi had returned. He doesn't say anything but motions you to follow him to his home - a large estate not far from the one you just came from. You were given a change of clothes - a black uniform-like bodysuit that fit you slightly loose. You were surprised to receive the haori that matched the one Sanemi wore, you even beamed and stated that you fit the aesthetic to be trained under him - he only grunted a response.
Sanemi wasted no time in jumping into training. He gave you a wooden sword and gave you little instructions on what to do.
"For fucks sake!" Sanemi hissed after he watched you run - if you can call it that - towards one end of his training compound to the other. "Have you ever run a day in your life?!"
You pout. "Not since my brother died. That was nearly a decade ago."
Sanemi groans. He wasn't sure what he expected training you. This is why he never had the desire to train anyone and why he doesn't have a tsuguko.
"You'll need to gain stamina." Sanemi groans. He was sure you would need that before he even teaches you about total concentration.
You groan along with Sanemi.
"I know just the person."
You follow Sanemi as he leaves his estate, but he doesn't bother to wait for you. He's a few feet ahead of you now and you're trying with all your will to not be left behind.
You reach another estate, your legs burned with the amount of walking. Sanemi reaches the shoji doors and knocks a few times, impatiently tapping his foot against the wooden floors.
"Shinazugawa!" the door slams open, startling you. A large man makes his way out from behind the door and your eyes widen at the height.
"Uzui."
Uzui is tall, you note, and beautiful. His eyes are a beautiful color of fuchsia and his hair is just as white as Sanemi's. He offers a dazzling smile before turning to you.
"My," Uzui hums. "Who is this woman with you?" The man's eyes inspect you for a moment. He even goes as far as to walk around to give you a once over. His arm reaches out quickly and before you can react, the palm of his hand - rather large - slaps your butt. "She has child bearing hips. Very breedable."
You yelp, completely taken aback by his bold statement plus the rough slap upon your ass. All Sanemi could do was hiss at the older man.
"Stop being a fucking creep!" Sanemi roars, hands clenched into fists.
Uzui only chuckles, painted nails pointing at Sanemi's angered expression. "Do you want me to slap yours too?"
Sanemi isn't amused in the slightest with Uzui's humor and takes a step forward. The tall man erupts in laughter, raising his hands.
"It's about time you found yourself a wife, Shinazugawa." Uzui's eyes flashes to you for a moment before darting back to Sanemi. "Someone that can calm you down when needed." Uzui wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, a knowing smirk forming onto his lips.
Sanemi scowls deeper, tips of his ears red. Tengen, being older than him, always had an immature side to him, always joking around at the wrong time - especially with his sexual humor. Surprisingly, it was tame.
"I'm training her." Sanemi hisses through gritted teeth. "She needs to work on her stamina."
Tengen raises a brow. "So this is not your wife?"
Sanemi wants to reply with a snide remark, but refrains.
"You always said you never wanted a tsuguko. What changed?" Tengen asks. Sanemi is a stubborn person. A few slayers - those who weren't as cowardly - asked to be his tsuguko and he had rejected them harshly, what made you different?
Sanemi doesn't respond, but Tengen believes he doesn't have to. You appeared weak, not an insult in the slightest. A regular civilian and not a fighter at all. You could have dodged his slap onto your ass if you were at least a slayer.
Maybe Sanemi was but a man. You weren't bad to look at - cute face, nice body and even nicer assets. Your breast could surely feed to satiate any child Sanemi could put into you no doubt.
"Stamina assistance, huh?" Tengen hums. "Have you tried sex?"
Your body feels hot once more. Uzui was the obvious joker of the two.
"Uzui-"
"So unflashy." Tengen rolls his eyes. Sanemi was never any fun. "By the looks of it, she doesn't run a lot."
Did he call you fat? Unhealthy?
"I can change that in a week." Uzui smirks at Sanemi. "Imagine going from a regular civilian to training with Hashira without even passing final selection first? You've been blessed by a God - me."
You find Uzui's personality funny - when he wasn't spewing sexual nonsense for shock value.
"You are a Hashira, as well?" you ask Uzui and he nods.
"Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen." the smirk that forms onto his lips is one of vain. "Leave her to me, Shinazugawa."
Sanemi scoffs. "I'll stay." he insists. You didn't know Uzui. Though he had three wives of his own, Uzui was not one to not flirt. He was a touchy person and to the wrong people, it could come off as harassment.
Uzui pushes past the two of you and back into his home. He slides the shoji door open wider for the two of you to enter. "I'm not going to steal your girl." he snickers. "Though I'm not opposed to having a fourth wife. You would fit right in-"
Sanemi shoves Tengen who then chuckles at the wind Hashira's reaction.