Twilight ~ A Demon Slayer Fanfiction

Chapter 13: Tears of Anger

Inosuke Hashibira

He thought that it was a dream.  He truly thought that he was being messed with when he was told those words.  However, he knew now that it wasn't a dream.

It was something harsh that he had to face.  And it didn't take long for him to realize.  He joked around a lot and didn't exactly know how to react to something grim as this.  He didn't know much human interaction anyway.

Inosuke had always picked fights with his allies.  He didn't know how they all had put up with him.  He got scolded a lot for constantly being noisy and being reckless.

However, the one person who had put up with him the most was Shinozuka.  He was aware that Shinozuka was in the same situation as he was before he became a demon slayer.  So, he could sympathize with him a bit.  And since then, he was getting better at knowing human interaction.  He did grow up with boars after all.

And when he came to terms with it, anger had taken over him.  It took Tanjiro and Aoi to hold him back from doing anything rash.  He remembered the shouts of telling them both to let him go.  Tanjiro and Zenitsu were upset as he was.  However, they wouldn't have the plans to go after Muzan too... would they?

Inosuke had recalled his own reaction to Shinozuka's death.  Along with Kanjoro and Taeko.  Inosuke and Shinozuka may have been in the same situation, but their personalities were quite the opposite.  He was hot headed, reckless, and always picking fights with others.  However, Shinozuka was a lot calmer and more collected he was.

He didn't realize it, but he was falling in love with Shinozuka.  He always had denied it at first.  But after talking with Taeko about it, he had realized his feelings.  Taeko had pointed out the signs of him falling in love with Shinozuka.  She even had to tell him what that love truly was for him.  This was his first time falling in love with someone, and he didn't even realize.  Even now, he still accepted for who Shinozuka was.  And supported him.

Even when Shinozuka had told him that he was born as a female and was insecure about it, he didn't care.  He still accepted Shinozuka for who he was either way.  But ever since Shinozuka was gone along with Kanjoro and Taeko, he felt as if everything had stopped on him.  He was no longer the loud and reckless self that everyone was used to.  He was a completely different person.

He was quiet and closed off.  He would seclude himself in a room every day, blaming himself, telling himself that it wasn't his fault.  Aoi would keep telling him that this wasn't his fault.  However, Inosuke wouldn't take those words from her.  And when he would be alone in the room, his anger would come out at the most unprompted times.  He wouldn't realize it, but he would throw stuff in the room against a wall.

He was caught doing that a lot, and Aoi had to calm him down.  However, would that work on him?  This had worried everyone.  In fact, it had scared them.  The death of Shinozuka had changed him drastically.  A few others had come to check on Inosuke to see how he was doing.  Mainly Aoi though, since she was there to hear the news of the death of the three demon slayers that Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke deeply care so much about.

Aoi wouldn't scold him for breaking things, however.  But she would always tell him that Shinozuka wouldn't want this.  And she was right, Shinozuka wouldn't want this for him.  But even if he had said so himself, why would Inosuke listen to him?  Shinozuka was gone now.  There was nothing for him anymore.  But deep down, he knew this.  He knew that Shinozuka wouldn't want him to grieve for much longer.  He would want him to keep moving forward.  Just like Kanjoro would've wanted for Tanjiro.

Recently, Inosuke had remembered the wave of demons that suddenly came for the headquarters the other night.  He wanted to go out there and fight.  However... he wouldn't do it.  Why?  He wasn't sure.  If he were to go out there, he would definitely be a lot more reckless than usual.  He might even get himself killed.  And if Shinozuka were there, he would be pretty upset.

Inosuke then glanced at the wolf that had been sitting next to him.  He had been taking care of White Fang for Shinozuka ever since he ran back to the headquarters.  He then patted White Fang's head gently, since he was asleep.

"Sorry.  But I can't let you get involved in something like this."

Seeing the sun set at its horizon now, he had slowly stood up.  He then closed his eyes, looking away from the window that he was looking into.  He then grabbed his two dual swords, then immediately opening the door as soon as he ran up to it.  As soon as he stepped foot into the hallway, a voice had stopped him.

"I-Inosuke?"

Inosuke had turned around, seeing a female with raven hair tied into pigtails with the usual demon slayer uniform.  Aoi.  The female looked rather stern, but a worried look was on her face.

Inosuke didn't say anything.  Instead, he took the boar mask that he just took with him from his room and put it on his head.  He then turned back around, then running out of the Butterfly Mansion.  He didn't even bother to hear Aoi's shouts from behind him.  As he was running, he had taken notice of a male with a green and black checkered haori running off as well.  Inosuke instantly recognized who he was.

It was Tanjiro.  Maybe he was running out here for the same reason he was?  Tanjiro did love Kanjoro after all.  And he knew well that he still did.  Nonetheless, he decided to catch up with him.  But there was something wrong.  Where was the box that he usually had?  That caught Inosuke off guard for a moment.  However, he knew well that there was no time for questions right now.  He needed to catch up with Tanjiro, and then he would ask him questions later.

"I'll do whatever it takes for finish him for you, Zuka..."