Mask of Remembrance || Inotan

Prologue

Tanjiro's Point of View

"WHERE ARE YOU!?"

Thunder shot across the clouds while large droplets of rain pelted my soaked clothing.

"Onii-chan, Inosuke will be fine, you need to get inside before you're struck by lightning!" Nezuko hurriedly shouted.

I collapsed to my knees, choking back a sob. The faint trail of my partner had been washed away completely; however, I held his ring in my shaking hands.

He must be hurting badly. No! He's fine. It's Inosuke. Even so, the scene that lay before me seemed similar to the attack that occurred years ago in the family home. The stench of metallic red, destruction, and absolute despair.

Blood spatter was everywhere, broken branches, and scattered leaves followed itself up the mountain. It landed where I cowered. From the scary scene, it looked like demons were still alive and Inosuke went into a battle without the duel nichirin swords that he carried like extensions of his arms. Inosuke was nowhere to be seen in the wreckage, nowhere on the mountain. He's alive, but where could he have gone off to after such an accident?

A drenched Nezuko frantically tugged at my clothes now, guilt washing over my grief. I slowly lifted my head to my little sister, not allowing myself to hurt her with my previous anguished expression.
"Nezuko, I'm sorry, you may get a cold. Let's head inside." I spoke, it was obvious Nezuko had been worried, especially now seeing what had happened to Inosuke. I slowly lifted myself from the bloodied ground, following Nezuko inside to a squealing Zenitsu.

I could've been there to help Inosuke, but I was too occupied at the bottom of the mountain getting ingredients for a large feast. It happened again. I'm sorry.

"Tanjiroooooo!! Where's that stubborn boar! He's going to get sick!!! And how could you make Nezuko fetch you, what's-" Zenitsu flinched after I met his eyes.

Nezuko whispered something to the boy, most likely what occurred while he was inside. I wouldn't judge him for not being able to hear past the loud storm.

I weakly smiled, putting on the best one I could to avoid anyone from worrying. "He'll be fine. He's had a much worse time in the past and brushed it off. I'm sure he went to find cover when the storm began."

"That guy would do anything to hide getting hurt from you Tanjiro, he's probably just protecting his pride. AaaaAAh, BUT WHAT IF HE DIES! TANJIROOO NEZUKOOO-CHANNN WHY COULDN'T HE JUST BE A NORMAL GUY, HOW DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH WIT-OW!" Nezuko smacked the emotional blonde over the head in response to his loud insensitive chatter.

"I think he'll return soon. Nezuko, why don't you go draw a warm bath so you don't catch a cold. I'll head into my room until you're finished." I raised a hand, patting Nezuko on the head.

Now it was Zenitsu's turn to interrupt, "Tanjiro, he went out looking for something to bring to you, that's why he left, I'm sure he just got busy."

Guilt pierced every inch of my flesh. "He got badly injured in his fall. It looked like a demon attacked him."

"A demon!? Oh no- Nezukooo-chan!~ Inosuke was eaten by a demon!" Another smack over the head followed Zenitsu, he held onto her, beginning to cry loudly into Nezuko's kimono.

I walked past the two, feeling their worried gazes follow my steps. I shut the door behind me, eyes watering at the sight of a shared futon: Half neatly made, and the other extremely messy. I was pulled into such a sweet memory, settling to give Inosuke his own blanket after realizing he usually ended up halfway off the bed.

"Hah? Why can't I share a blanket with you, Monjiro!?!" The boar head demanded, clenching the collar of my shirt without hesitation. That boy... always calling me everything but my name.

"You steal it in the middle of the night because you can't stay still, Inosuke. I get cold!" I gently placed my hands on his fist, he immediately loosened his grip when realizing his anger got the better of him.

"I can stay so much more still than you! I already told you I can do everything you can do. Are you challenging me?" The boar head released some steam from the nose.

"We'll see if you can tonight, but you're still keeping this blanket just in case. You wouldn't want me to be too tired for tomorrow, right?" I chimed, feeling his hand freeze before completely releasing me.
"Rrragh!!" The mountain king tumbled onto me, causing us both to collapse on the floor. He followed this attack with a rather soft bump to the head through his mask. It was cute... "I'll stay so still that you'll never be tired." Inosuke egged on. He raised his head, triumph flooding from his ego filled self. He, now on his hands and knees hovering over me. I let out a soft chuckle, raising my hands to catch his face. I pressed my lips to the nose of the boar mask and he gave off a happy grumble.

"Sentaro, stop making me so damn giddy all the time." I could tell his face was red behind his mask.
"Isn't that my job as your partner?"

"..."

"So you never want me to tell you that you're the best, and talk about all of the great things you've done, how you've saved me countless times from demons, h-"
"Don't stop saying those things!!" He jerked up, not allowing me to finish. Inosuke slapped a hand to my mouth in protest. "You can't because people need to hear how great I am! And I only like it when you tell the stories! Not stupid Monitsu." He intentionally let himself slip up on Zenitsu's name. Inosuke took his hand from my mouth, now fully splaying out on top of me, nuzzling his spiky-haired mask into the crook of my neck without another word.

"I'll never stop saying those things, but you'll have to deal with being giddy, alright?" I patted the top of his head, holding the aggressive boy in my arms.

"Deal."

I gasped, remembering where I was, Nezuko now in my room carefully patted the top of my head. I let myself sink into the covers of our futon, tears briskly falling and soaking into the fabric that smelled like a mix of Inosuke's scent and my own.

"I'm sorry, Nezuko. I shouldn't be scared, but I am. What if I wasn't able to make it in time and he won't ever return?" I pulled Inosuke's ring from my pocket, grasping it tightly.

"It isn't your fault, please stop apologizing, Onii-chan. He'll find his way back. I think he'd try to headbutt you for being so worried about him too, don't you think?" Nezuko softly soothed, rubbing the top of my head comfortingly.

She was right, he could see the boy's incredibly feminine face right up in his.

The voice was a complete contrast to those innocent green eyes.

"Worried about the Great Inosuke!? Do ya think I'm not as strong as you or somethin', Tanjiro? Well? Fight me! Fight me right now!"

I couldn't help but shake in quiet laughter at the thought. I sat up, wiping the tears from my eyes. Nezuko tilted her head, smiling softly.

"Onii-chan, let's believe in him until he gets home. We can cook his favorite meal for him."

"Tempura. Let's make plenty." I whispered to her, pressing Inosuke's ring into her palm. She stared back at me a bit confused. I could tell she wanted to give it right back.

"Please keep this with you until I know he's safe. It hurts too much to see that he had to leave without it." I shook my head, watching Nezuko curl her fingers around the ring, allowing it to disappear from my view.

I felt myself shiver, holding back more heartache with every fiber of my being.

"Inosuke, please come home."

-

Date Completed: 2/15/2022

Word count: 1472 words

Next Chapter: I'm Home!