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

Part 8: The Dreams We're Telling Ourselves

It was December, the month when the leaves stop falling and the snow starts appearing. The winter has always been a hassle for demon slayers, for the night comes sooner on this season, making the demons appear more frequently. Though even with all the snow, sunshine still shines on the dorms of the Butterfly Estate. Shining on all except for a single room where the doors are shut and the windows closed.

Tanjirou opened the shoji screen slightly, only stealing a glance at a fluffy yellow futon. Next to him, a pig-tailed girl carrying a pile of bedsheets and toiletries. He whispered, "...Zenitsu is still sleeping?"

"Yeah," Aoi answered, peeking from the gap of the screen. " He hasn't moved an inch."

"Oh. I see," Tanjirou muttered, slowly sliding the screen close. He exchanged a look with Aoi.
"Um, hey... Sorry again about your party."

Aoi sighed. "How many times have you apologized to me now?" She began to walk along the corridors.

Tanjirou shrugged. "Probably ten. Or more." He followed her path through the building.

"Or more is about right. Anyways, it's been months since the party," She said as she walked from room to room supplying them with day-to-day appliances, Tanjirou only a few steps behind her. "I'm not that angry at you to begin with. I was at fault for not keeping Mako in check."

Tanjirou quickened his pace to walk alongside her. "About Mako... I wanted to apologize to her too." He clapped her shoulders, making her look his way. Then, he rubbed his back in shame. "It wasn't nice of me to say those things to her. Even if she was being a bit... mean."

Aoi smiled gently, then let out a tired sigh. "That's fine. I'm sure she feels horrible about it too." She turned her gaze away to look at nothing in particular. "She's been going through tough times, but it wasn't right of her to lash out on you two."

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't know." Tanjirou said quietly.

"It's not any of your business anyway." She flashed him a quick but reassuring smile. "So don't worry about it. Anyway, promise to not bring this topic up again? Please?"

"Huh? Oh, alright. If that's what you want."

"Thanks." She continued pacing through the hallway, Tanjirou following her like a baby duckling.

"No problem. And sorry again about before-"

"Oh gods." She shook her head. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"I did! But-"

"No buts!"

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It was noon, and the bell rung- signaling the hour for lunch. Tanjirou scurried out from the training hall, sweat covering every part of his skin. His white kimono wasn't hiding any part of his silhouette, and his tan skin could be seen from the wet parts of his sleeves. Truth be told, the tsuguko loved seeing this scene (except for Aoi and perhaps Kanao).

Before Tanjirou made his way to the dining hall, he took a breather and sat down below a sakura tree. He fanned himself with his own hands but it proved to not help, so he stopped and closed his eyes for a while.

"Hey." A deep, husky voice could be heard ringing in Tanjirou's ears.

"Huh...?" He awoke to the sight of a black-haired boy, the edges of his hair and his eyes blue. Inosuke wasn't wearing his iconic boar mask.

"Well look who missed lunch," He scoffed, then promptly sat next to Tanjirou. "Shame. They were having tempura and it was sooo good!" He teased, trying to get a reaction from the raven-haired boy.

Tanjirou merely smiled at him. "I'm glad you liked the meal." Inosuke groaned at the lack of anger from Tanjirou.

"Whatever."

There was a moment of silence before Inosuke broke it. "Hey. How's... You-know-who?" He threw his gaze away from Tanjirou.

"Huh?" Tanjirou cocked his head confusingly. "Do you mean Zenitsu?"

"Well, yeah. Who else should I be worried about?" He muttered under his breath, his face reddening.

"He's... not waking up," Tanjirou said, his head down. Ever since the incident on Aoi's birthday, Zenitsu fell into an everlasting sleep just like Nezuko. Tanjirou felt partially at fault, he should have checked Zenitsu in with Tamayo sooner, but he hasn't got the time to.

Inosuke noticed him sulking and nudged his shoulders, cheering him up. "Hey, it ain't your fault. I mean, I wasn't there before so I guess I'm just as bad."

"That's not...!" Tanjirou spoke up in protest.

"See that?"

"Uh, see what?"

"When you blame yourself it just makes people feel bad," Inosuke explained, pointing at Tanjirou's face. "So stop. blaming. yourself. I'm sick of seeing you like this!"

Tanjirou let out a heavy sigh. He knew Inosuke was only trying to help, but it kinda hurt being told off like this. He stared at Inosuke as he leaned back to the trunk of the tree, holding his head with both of his arms. "I know. I'm sick of seeing this too."

"So stop." Inosuke followed Tanjirou's motion and laid his body on the grass, gazing at the clouds.

"It's not that easy."

"Is it really?"

"I've tried all I could to stop thinking about it, y'know?"

"And?"

"And it's just... too hard for me."

"The one that's making it hard is you."

"I guess you're right."

"Oh, I know I am." Inosuke beamed, turning his head to Tanjirou. "I'm the king of the mountains after all."

"That's true." Tanjirou chuckled. The two no longer exchanged words and just laid there, basking in the peace they were living in now. The smell of fresh air, the light colors of the flora, the relaxing sound of the friction of the leaves. Tanjirou was lulled by nature's lullaby and began to close his eyes one more time.

The moment was broken by the sound of Tanjirou's grumbling stomach.

"Jeez, you hungry?" Inosuke groaned stiffly, his face scrunched up in annoyance.

Tanjirou laughed at Inosuke's irritation. "Very much so."

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author's note :
when i first wrote this fic i was preparing myself to write a bunch of angsty scenes.
i realize now that im much better at writing contemplating scenes, really 😔

ALSO!!! my girl aoi is finally in the anime yee 🤠🤠