Everchanging

High Maintenance

!!TW!! Slight bullying, talk of triggers, health issues (Such as heart/diabetes) discussed, talk of EDs/Food portioning

Tanjuro watched silently as his children made a mess of the bakery, Nezuko sitting on top of one of the many tables while her elder brother tried to wrangle the younger ones. Their friends, Muichirou and Yuichirou, were more inclined to focus on helping stock the many baked goods that Kie would be selling today. More of his children's friends were to be arriving soon, and Tanjuro had met pretty much all of them, but he could never shake the nerves that came with accommodating other people's kids.

"There's nothing to be worried about." Kie's voice startled her husband, her calloused hands coming to wrap around his thin bicep, resting her cheek on his shoulder as she read his mind. "You worry too much."

"I don't want to make an enemy of any of my kids' friends." Tanjuro chuckled, threading his knobby fingers through the woman's own hand. "The last thing I want is for someone's child to be hurt under my watch."

And yet, he had agreed to letting his family host a sleepover. But, then again, he could never deny his children when they had inherited their eyes from their mother.

"You've already met all of them."

"Except for a few. Kaigaku, I think his name was. And Senjuro?" Tanjuro could recall Tanjiro rambling something about those names, another striking his memory. "And Genya... Shinazugawa."

The name felt daunting, a name Tanjuro had heard so many times before. His kids' teacher and a classmate, a friend. But also, so much earlier than that. The name Shinazugawa was a name that Tanjuro had never figured he would have to hear again, but then again this was such a small town.

Tanjuro made himself small, sitting in the back of the classroom, like he always did. The other kids mingled loudly before the first bell rang as the boy zipped his jacket all the way up, checking twice to make sure his holter monitor was hidden. He had to wear it for two weeks, he just wished no one would notice it before that time ended.

It was difficult to keep it hidden, since he had five electrodes stuck to him, the wiring pressed against his belly and connected to the monitor, which he had clipped onto his belt loop. He kept his arms wrapped around himself, hoping no one would look too closely at him as more students trickled in.

"Oh, lookie! The glass doll is back!" A booming voice shook Tanjuro to his core and he cursed himself quietly as he watched a large boy stride towards him, his eyes piercing and his grin threatening.

"Kyogo, don't–" His little puppy scampered behind him, Shizu pleading as she hesitated to grab his jacket. "Kyogo, be nice."

"I am being nice, Shizu." Kyogo pouted his lips at the girl, and Tanjuro wondered just how oblivious the girl was to truly believe him. Many people claimed that love made you blind, but Tanjuro wondered if that was true or if Shizu was just stupid. "I'm just wondering what those cables are, yeah?"

Tanjuro wouldn't say he hated Kyogo, he didn't hate anyone. Hate was such a strong emotion, one that very few people could garner from Tanjuro. But he knew that Kyogo was the type of person that would only take everyone down with him. He was a man who craved power, craved control and freedom.

And Shizu was the opposite. She desperately needed someone to tell her directions, to point her the right way. It was only natural that she would glue herself to such a booming aura as Kyogo's.

Tanjuro almost felt sad for her, he hoped her love was enough to help Kyogo.

His chest ached and he couldn't breathe over the hold the pain had over his lungs. But Tanjuro couldn't bring himself to press the event button on his machine, since Kyogo's gaze watched with sickening curiosity. Tanjuro could even dare to say that the boy enjoyed the painful scene that was the pathetic Kamado as he had to eventually surrender and press the button.