Bound by Destiny: A Love Story Written in the Stars

Chapter 8

The next morning before Inoskue woke up, Tanjiro was filled in on everything about Inosuke's confession. But Zenitsu didn't pay attention to anything about Kanae, Inosuke was the only one who knew of her existence. Even he had the sense to tell nobody.

"So~ Inosuke has a lover now!?" Tanjiro

"I guess so. Quiet down, Kocho-sama might hear you. I don't know how the idiot got a girlfriend before me" Zenitsu rolled his eyes.

"Nezuko's taken a liking to you" Tanjiro teased

Zenitsu's faced flushed with red, as if it were spray paint "Really!?" The blush disappeared then "Wait, you're not mad?"

Tanjiro laughed "As long as Nezuko's happy, I'm happy. I know you wouldn't hurt her in a million years, plus you may not know it, but Nezuko told me that you saved her life on the Mugen train"

Zenitsu was in silence, in memory of the Mugen train, and the hero who died by it; Rengoku Kyojuro. Before abruptly coming back to his senses "Wait what?! I can't use any breathing styles though" he felt confused

Tanjiro looked at Zenitsu, confusedly "Nezuko said you were using some lightning technique?" he couldn't piece together the puzzle

"I was trained in thunder breathing, but I can't use any of it. I stink at it"

"Wrong" Inosuke was awake suddenly "I hate saying good things about you, but you helped me take on the ugly demon woman"

"I HELPED KILL DAKI?" He yelled

"You were asleep" he said blatantly

"Asleep?" Tanjiro wondered if he had heard the man right

"You can sleep-fight for some reason" Inosuke clarified "Of course I did most of the work, but you did well (I guess)" he bragged

Aoi barged into the room "Wake up!" she saw the three "Oh, you're awake" she turned around "Come downstairs for breakfast"

Inosuke smirked, as if he were in a race; which he wasn't "OKAY" he rushed down the stairs ahead of Aoi

Aoi scowled "Slow down, would you!" he was far ahead of her

"Sorry Aoi-san" Tanjiro said, walking beside her

They sat down for breakfast, Kanao and Shinobu were waiting for them with friendly smiles. Aoi left the room.

Zenitsu smiled, pointing to the empty seat to his right "Aoi-san, aren't you gonna eat with us?"

"I have to take care of some people in the patient room, thanks though"

Inosuke glared at Zenitsu who strut back in fear at the monstrous sight

"Kanao-san" Zenitsu started

Kanao looked up from her plate "Yes?" she said in a fairy-like voice

"I didn't hear everything, but I heard people rushing downstairs last night, did something happen?"

Kanao reflected back to Inosuke calling her Kanae, she shook her head

Tanjiro sprung up "Did Inosuke do something to Aoi-san!?"

Inosuke blushed "WHAT!? NO I DIDN'T!" he yelled

"He didn't, so don't worry Tanjiro-kun, Zenitsu-kun" Shinobu Kocho smiled politely

"Good" Zenitsu said, eyeing Inosuke sharply. He glared back

Aoi was taking care of some patients, Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke were passing by the patients room.

"Miss" A boy Aoi was tending to started

"Yes?" She replied sternly

"You're really pretty, you know that" he was clearly trying to charm her, it wasn't working

The remark threw her off "Thanks . . ." She said skeptically

"What's your name?" he askedm smiling caringly, he had a pretty smile

It didn't fool Aoi one bit "Kanzaki Aoi"

"Aoi-chan" he said for the first time, it made her uncomfortable "That's a nice name" he smiled

Aoi looked at him sternly "Thank you"

"How old are you?"

Shinobu appeared behind the man "It's impolite to ask a lady her age" she uttered creepily

"Who are you?"

"I'm her elder sister, and I'm not letting anyone try and butter her up. Not that it would work" she smiled psychotically

Aoi stood in front of Shinobu, grateful for having such amazing sisters "Calm down, nee-san. You don't have to worry about me"

Shinobu smiled, despite all her fake smiling since Kanae's death, Aoi could tell that she was truly happy this time "I won't take any chances, but I know you don't need me to look after you anymore"

'Thank you nee-san' Aoi thought before walking off

Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke saw the whole scene play out "I don't know how Kocho-sama or Kanao would react if you told them about being in love with Aoi-san" Zenitsu remarked

Tanjiro urged Zenitsu "Zenitsu, that man had just met Aoi-san and was flirting with her. Inosuke has known all three of them for quite a while now, they would know that he wouldn't hurt her" He looked at Inosuke "Right?" he said tightly

"AH!" he screamed at Tanjiro's killer expression, "Yes" he replied obediently. Despite not at all liking Aoi the way Inosuke did, Tanjiro didn't like the thought of anyone trying to hurt anybody trying to hurt any of the butterfly girls, especially not Kanao.

They left the infernary promptly