Let Me Down Slowly (Kamado Tanjirou x Agatsuma Zenitsu from Demon Slayer)

Part 6!!: Not Letting The World See Me

Parties were great. Well, at least before Zenitsu got turned into a demon, they were acceptable. Though, meeting people more successful than you, dressing up pretty to gain the respect of strangers, toning down your personality to fit in with others... Zenitsu didn't like that one bit. They were a hassle and besides all the cute girls Zenitsu could talk to, he had no clue why people liked parties.

It was near evening. The sun was no longer visible, the only thing proving its existence now was the remaining rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds. Zenitsu didn't really prepare much for Aoi's birthday besides combing his hair and sleeping in the day to conserve his energy. As usual, he woke up from his nap feeling terrible. Though it didn't really bother him and after a couple of times, it became a routine.

Zenitsu strutted lazily through the corridors, making his way to Tanjirou's room. If he was going to a party, he'd rather not be alone. He passed through Inosuke's chambers. By the sound of his loud, boar-like snoring, he likely wasn't coming to the party.

After arriving in front of Tanjirou's room, Zenitsu knocked on the white shoji screen three times.

Knock,

knock,

knock.

No response. This made Zenitsu feel annoyed, scared, and anxious all at the same time. Especially since he could hear Tanjirou and Nezuko's breathing.

"Tanjirou?" He called out, clutching his chest.

"Come in," Tanjirou's responded. His voice sounded a bit distant, but it made Zenitsu feel relieved anyway.

Zenitsu complied and slid the screen slowly. Upon entering, he was greeted by the image of Tanjirou putting Nezuko to sleep on the futon. He faced her as he covered her body with bedsheets. Her eyes were tightly shut and she shifted her position multiple times before settling on resting her belly on the surface of the futon, just like a turtle.

Tanjirou stood up and donned his green-black haori above his regular demon slayer corps uniform. "Okay, I'm ready," He announced, facing Zenitsu. "Let's go."

Zenitsu raised an eyebrow, "You're going to a party wearing that?"

"W-what's wrong with what I'm wearing?" He asked, his furrowed his brows confusingly.

"I mean, it's not bad," Zenitsu's tone was judging. He scrutinized Tanjirou's outfit from the edges of his toes to the top of his raven hair. "Okay, it is kinda bad. Like, your uniform? Really? We still have a lot of time, y'know?"

Being judged by Zenitsu was a weird feeling for Tanjirou. He sighed and began studying what Zenitsu's outfit was for reference. Zenitsu was wearing a black patterned kimono, tightly tied by an orange sash covered by his favorite triangular-patterned haori and his usual sandals.

Tanjirou grumbled after realizing that Zenitsu, the one who initially didn't even want to go near the party, was dressed better than he is. "Fine then, what should I wear?"

"Well, I'm not a fashion god or anything," Zenitsu admitted, walking towards Tanjirou's closet. His face put on an 'Are you serious?' expression when he opened the closet and saw the array, or more like disarray, of clothes Tanjirou had. The only thing worth seeing was Tanjirou's blue kimono he wore at the Final Selection, everything else was just his uniform. "Why don't you wear this instead?" He took the blue wave-patterned kimono off the closet and showed it to Tanjirou.

"Oh!" Tanjirou exclaimed in surprise. "Now that one brings back old memories."

"Yeah, I think it'll look good on you," Zenitsu pointed out.