Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
(Artist: ??) (🎉REQUESTS ARE OPEN🎉)
It was a beautiful afternoon at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Unfortunately, it wasn't a beautiful day for the Serpent Hashira, who was in his usual irritated mood. His pet snake, Kaburamaru, had disappeared, and Obanai was struggling to find him. It was unusual for Kaburamaru to go missing, as he usually stayed close to Obanai, wrapped around his neck and never straying far from his side.
Although Obanai had a close and affectionate relationship with his snake, he became very upset when Kaburamaru disappeared without warning. The sudden absence frightened him. Kaburamaru's disappearance drove Obanai to search under every rock he passed, hoping to find even a trace of his scales. Kaburamaru would often venture out to hunt for food or enjoy nature, but he had been gone for quite a while. Just as Obanai was about to give up and trust that his snake would return on his own time, he found Kaburamaru wrapped around a random member of the Corps.
There you stood with a goofy smile on your face, chatting with the snake. Obanai squinted at you, scrutinizing your appearance. Like everyone else, you wore the standard uniform, but with a customized haori draped over your torso. The sunlight reflected off your hair, casting a glow around you and making you look almost angelic. Obanai shot you a piercing glare. He had never seen you before—understandable given the hundreds of Demon Slayer Corps members. His interactions were mostly limited to the other Hashira.
Even if he had met you before, he likely wouldn't have remembered you, as he was not fond of socializing. However, he wanted his snake back, so he stomped towards you, glaring at Kaburamaru. "Hey, you there," he said, standing in front of you. "Hm?" You lifted your head, turning your gaze away from the snake wrapped around your neck to focus on the Hashira standing before you. "Good afternoon, Master Iguro!" you said, bowing slightly in greeting. "Are you doing well?" you asked, smiling.
Obanai was taken aback. He nearly did a double take to ensure he was seeing correctly—a pleasant greeting and a bow? It was an uncommon occurrence for him. Only the Kakushi typically showed such deference, while most lower-ranked members avoided bowing out of fear of being stepped on. "I'm fine," he grumbled, his voice cold and stern. Despite the harsh tone, he sounded vaguely tired. "And you?" he asked, if only out of politeness. "I am doing fine as well. Thank you for asking," you replied.
Weird.
Iguro couldn't understand why he found such genuine politeness annoying. He glanced down at Kaburamaru, who remained perched on your shoulders, showing no sign of moving. "You like my snake, huh?" he remarked bluntly. You nodded. "I am quite fond of animals. I apologize if I took him from you." You extended your arm, and Kaburamaru slowly slithered back over to Obanai.
He took Kaburamaru, gently wrapping the snake back around his shoulders and neck. The serpent nuzzled its head against his cheek fondly, and the Hashira responded by stroking its back lightly. "It's alright," he said, unsure of what else to say. An awkward silence settled between the two, and Iguro struggled to find a way to break it. He cursed his lack of social skills.
"I'm happy to see you and your snake are doing well, Master," you said, smiling. His eye narrowed slightly, and he had to stop himself from huffing. "Why are you so polite?" he asked. The words were blunt, but there was no malice in them—he was simply confused. The smile on your face grew wider. "Being nice gives me greater satisfaction." Obanai scoffed at your smile as if it were intoxicating. "Being a doormat is dangerous," Obanai muttered, immediately feeling like an ass for the comment. But it was true—being too accommodating often led to trouble. He knew that better than anyone.
You tilted your head as you stared at him. "I never said I was," you replied. "You don't have to say it," he replied matter-of-factly. "It's written all over you." His eyes roamed over your form, narrowed and judgmental. "I see. I appreciate your perspective. I strive to be kind and considerate, but if there's something specific you think I should address, I'm open to feedback," you said with a smile.
Something about your smile stirred an unfamiliar feeling in his chest, though he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Your kindness, too, was infuriatingly excessive, and he couldn't understand why it bothered him so much. "It's going to get you killed one day," he finally said, looking down at you. "I have to disagree, Master. I believe kindness is a strength. It might come with risks, but staying true to oneself and treating others well is worth it."
"And why is that?" he asked, crossing his arms. His eyes remained narrowed as he looked down at you, still trying to figure you out. "If I were a doormat, then I wouldn't be a Demon Slayer," you replied, smirking. Obanai's expression remained impassive, but internally he was surprised. That was a pretty good comeback. He considered it for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. "Right," he said, "You wouldn't."
You smiled back, and it threw him for a loop. He couldn't quite decipher what made it so perplexing. "You smile a lot," he noted, his eye narrowing again, his arms still crossed. "Of course I do! You're never fully dressed without one," you laughed. A snort escaped him before he could stop it. "Who on Earth fed you that one, huh?" he asked, sounding almost amused, if faintly so. "Nobody, Master. I tell myself that. After all, a smile can change a person."
He paused, letting that sink in. He couldn't deny it; he knew how a smile could brighten someone's day. Not that he'd admit it, of course. "It takes more than that," he said, now uncrossing his arms and resting his hand on his hip. You hummed in agreement. "You're right." Obanai seemed surprised at how easily you agreed. Most people would argue, except for his fellow Hashira. "You're strange, you know that?" he said, the words a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
"So I've been told," you chuckled. It almost made him want to smile back—almost. "You don't seem bothered by being called weird," he observed. "You carry a snake with you," you pointed out. "Fair enough. Touche," he said, feeling Kaburamaru shift up to his hair as if agreeing with your statement. You smiled. "I can see why the other Hashira like you." Iguro nearly faltered but managed to stay calm and collected. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, now eyeing you with increased suspicion.
"You're very interesting. You're so calm and cool. I don't know how you do it," you said. That wasn't the answer he had been expecting. He was stunned by the comment. It was interesting. Him? Not a single person he'd met before had liked him—he was certain they all hated him. "I..." For the first time, he didn't know what to say. Your Kasugai crow suddenly came soaring down and landed on your arm, sparing Obanai from the awkwardness he was feeling.
"(Y/n) (L/n)! You are summoned to investigate the disappearances of villagers on the outskirts of the mountains!" the crow squawked before flying away. His eye watched the crow fly away, processing the message about the disappearing villagers. Obanai's gaze turned back to you. "I assume you'll be going?" "Yes! It was nice to talk to you, Master Iguro. I hope we get to speak again. Please take care of yourself." You bowed and walked away.
Iguro watched you walk away, his gaze following you until you were out of sight. He remained silent. Typically, he'd be relieved to see someone go, but part of him didn't want you to leave. It was a strange feeling, one he wasn't used to at all.
