Dispassionate

36

Lmao I haven't updated in way to long🫄

36) Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen

Tanjiro had been on his way back, the sun not yet risen. The rain had long stopped and he was just relying on the warmer air around him to dry him off.

In the distance, through the darkness, he could see the white wall that surrounded the Butterfly Mansion. "I'm already here, I thought it was a lot further." He muttered to himself.

However, he shrugged it off and walked back inside, clothes still damp and uncomfortably clinging to his skin. He shuddered from the chill that rushed down his spine.

He smelled someone who hung around him often. Aoi. She burst the door open with the laundry from before, ready to hang it out to dry. "Oh, you're back. And not injured? That's shocking. But you're soaked."

He stood still as she spoke to him, the conversation, like all with him, being one sided. "Well? What are you waiting for, come inside before you catch a cold! I'll dry you off."

She held the door open for him, watching him walk towards her. Although she sounded a little rude, he could smell the sincerity in her. That's how Aoi was. She acted all grumpy and bossy, but she cared about them.

Even Zenitsu had a soft spot somewhere in her heart. It would just take a lot of looking, and maybe a microscope.

He stepped onto the engawa, letting her grab his hand and lead him inside. "I heard from Kanao that you were doing the laundry this morning before you were sent on a mission. Thanks."

She said as she led him down the hall. He let out a hum of affirmation. "She couldn't figure out how to dry them, so she had to wake me up for help." She giggled a bit at the memory.

"At least she's thinking for herself now." She smiled a bit, before going back to her normal expression. Tanjiro made sure not to miss it though.

Aoi stopped and knelt down, rummaging through a basket. Tanjiro could smell warmth, probably clean towels and blankets. She pulled out a towel and wrapped it around his head, using softer motions to dry his hair.

"I'll take your haori, dry yourself off with the towel." He nodded, handing her the green and black checkered jacket. She walked out of the room as he dried himself off.

He wrapped the towel around his head and nuzzled into it. God, he was fucking tired.

Tanjiro sat next to Kanao in a peaceful silence. They were both on the roof, watching as the sun rose, turning the clouds and sky shades of pink, orange, and an oncoming blue.

"It's nice out today." Kanao muttered, glancing over at him a few times. Tanjiro hummed as he leaned on his knees. "It's getting warmer." He responded in a low whisper.

She nodded. "I think I hear Aoi." Tanjiro nodded, pointing down to the girl who had just came outside. Tanjiro stood up and looked over at Kanao. "I think I'll stay here for a few more moments."

He turned away and jumped down from the roof, leaving her up there. She let out a hum as she looked at the disappearing stars and clouds.

Tanjiro looked at Aoi as she turned around. "You both should eat something, you just got back from a mission and she's probably starved." She crossed her arms as she let a smile creep back onto her face.

"Um, She said that, uh, she was going to stay up there for a bit longer." He muttered just loud enough to hear. She hummed as she looked back up to the roof.

"Well, I suppose that's fine. As long as she eats when she comes back down." He followed her inside and walked into a kitchen that smelled like, I don't know food, ig. He looked down at the three little girls.