|~Petals~| --Demon Slayer X Reader Oneshots

Invisible Strings

Request: no

Warnings: no. slight angst i suppose.

Title: "Invisible Strings"

"Imagine that there's this invisible string that attaches two lovers together for life, or, in your case, four, okay? She didn't even mean to take out her scissors and cut the wavering thread that tied him and I together."

Tengen looked at you with a sympathetic expression. He really didn't know what to say. He looked down at his tea. He normally had lots of things to say, but now, he was speechless. He didn't necessarily know what it was like to be rejected or divorced, but his heart panged for you.

You married Iguro Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, about two months after becoming a Hashira. It was true love, for sure. You thought he loved you, anyways. And, truthfully, he did at one time. But when the bright, positive, busty Mitsuri Kanroji joined the corps, he jumped out of your pool and ran to hers.

You didn't even think that was possible.

You often went and visited Tengen and or his wives. They were all very friendly and welcoming towards you.

Like family.

You should have noticed the signs earlier. He was less social with you. He always had "plans". He even yelled at you before bed one night because you brought up the possibility of children.

He wasn't being a husband anymore.

The other Hashira noticed as well.

Rengoku would often start to check up on you after it became obvious that your mental health was declining.

"Hey, is everything...alright with you Obanai-san?" he would ask.

You hated that name now.

"Yeah, really, I am."

Tengen continued to look at you as your expression remained stoic.

The more he looked at you, the more you reminded him of Tomioka. Which was getting a little scary.

"Listen, I know it hurts, but you gotta snap out of it. Look at yourself," Tengen said, pulling you out of the trance you seemed to be in.

"W-what?"

"Just look at what you've done to yourself. It's so unhealthy. And totally not flashy."

You looked down again.

Tengen set down his cup of tea.

He turned his body to you, who was sat next to him, and took your hand.

"You've gotta learn to move on. I know you loved him, I know it must feel like you've been stabbed a thousand times over again, but you have to keep going. You can't show him that what he did affected you this greatly," he wisely said.

You looked up into his ruby eyes.

"But- how will I ever fall in love again?" you asked, sniffing.

"You may not. That's life."

"But- I want to love. I want to be loved, Tengen-"

"You are loved."

You paused.

Tears welled up in your eyes. Your stomach no longer stung and your heart no longer ached as badly as it had before.

Those three words were all the words you needed to hear. The words no had bothered to tell you yet.

Rengoku offered his condolences but was rushed away to a mission before you could really talk. All you know now was that Rengoku no longer confides or communicates with Iguro anymore.

Half of the Hashira don't.

Shinazugawa and of course, Mitsuri were the only exceptions.

You leaped front your seat and into Tengen's arms, the warmth emitting from his body calming your senses. You dug your face into his broad shoulder, wrapping your arms around his neck in a tight coil.

He hugged back almost instantly, his arms securing themselves around your waist.

"Thank you," you whispered, barely audible.

You felt him nod and you hugged him tighter.

You heard the door open and multiple pairs of footsteps.

"Oh, Y/n! I didn't know you were visiting today!" Hinatsuru's chipper voice piped from the front door as she stripped off her winter kimono and hung it up.

"Y/n-chan's here!?" Suma yelled from outside happily.

'Oh, hello Y/n- what's going on? Are you alright?" Makio said as she entered the house.

I wiped my teary eyes and looked at the trio.

"Just- struggling."

-

After the three beautiful women sat down and allowed you to explain your situation as Tengen comfortingly rubbed your back, Suma cried and ran over to you, giving you a tight squeeze.

"I'm so sorry Y/n-chan! Wahh!"

You patted her back.

Once she calmed down, Hinatsuru and Suma got up to prepare dinner.

Makio looked at Tengen and he nodded.

Your eyebrow's furrowed.

"Y/n, as you know, we really enjoy your company here. We consider you family. And, to be honest, I've grown to really love you," Makio said.

This beautiful, strong woman just confessed her love to you.

"I as well. I've known you for quite a long time, and I've begun to love you as much as I love my own wives, truly," Tengen added.

You looked between the two of them. Your eyes became wet again.

"I- I don't know what to say..."

"You lived with Obanai, didn't you?" Makio asked softly.

"Yes, I still technically do. But my estate is being used as an extended infirmary by Shinobu for injured slayers, why?"

"We know it's a little early, but we would like you to come live with us. We want to give you the chance to love again. To be loved. To show you what true love really feels like, fine print and all," Tengen said, moving closer to you.

"And you know that 'Invisible String' you mentioned earlier? I've felt it tugging me towards you since day one," Tengen said, resting a hand on your cheek, gently wiping away a stray tear.

You didn't respond right away.

You wanted to move in with Tengen, Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru. Deep down, you knew you really loved them. And they loved you.

"I'll- I'll do it. I'll move in with you."