Oneiron | Oneshots

6 | Hashibira & Kanzaki

A Dulcet Message
Requested
Hashibira Inosuke x Kanzaki Aoi

Zenitsu looked at his leaving friend. "Oh? Inosuke, where are you going?"

"Out! I'll prove to you," He pointed at Tanjiro beside Zenitsu. "That I'll defeat more demons than you, Gonpanchiro!"

"Get my name right first." Tanjiro chuckled awkwardly. He stopped, remembering the certain event that was held today. "Wait, you're not going to take the day off?"

Inosuke happily screamed "no" and proceeded to his mission. Before he could leave their sight, Zenitsu shouted. "Inosuke! Come back here! It's,"

The boar didn't hear his friend. Hopelessly, Zenitsu sighed. "It's Aoi-san's birthday today."

Tanjiro's eyes widened. "You knew?"

Zenitsu was baffled. Of course he'd know. He scoffed, feeling insulted. "Who do you think I am?"

That day, Tanjiro and Zenitsu went for their assigned missions separately. Of course, they went home early to celebrate a friend's birthday. They made sure to bring gifts too. It was just a small feast prepared for the maiden of the Butterfly Estate. Shinobu made sure the little surprise party went well and stayed for the preparations, while the other demon slayers did their jobs, prepared gifts and some even helped out with the Insect Pillar. The other Pillars may be busy, but some still gave their effort to bring a gift to the helper, especially the Ubayashiki family. Although for Aoi it was a little off, not seeing the familiar idiot around. They had been in a relationship in a while, it just didn't make sense how he was absent for his girlfriend's birthday. Yet, Aoi still remained thankful with the others around. Still, she made sure not to appear quite saddened at the disappearance of her lover. She understood the possibility that Inosuke would forget about the occasion, since he himself couldn't even remember names well. In the end, she still celebrated her lovely birthday full of honest glee.

Night fell fast. Inosuke just came home from his mission. Tanjiro saw the boar, and approached his friend. "Inosuke! It's so late. What happened?"

Inosuke remained quiet which earned a face full of confusion from the Kamaboko. "The celebration just finished. Didn't you know it was Aoi-san's birthday?"

The muscled man stood still. He laughed in triumph. Tanjiro didn't understand the situation and he just looked at his friend weirdly. Yet, still the boar replied. "I did."

Inosuke kicked the door opened to his lovers' quarters. Aoi, startled, looked at the entrance of her room. She was sitting on her chair, with her elbows on top of her desk and her cheeks meeting the side of her face. Her opaque blue eyes fought the urge to close. It looked like she was drained, and was ready to fall asleep. She smiled at the familiar face. "I'm glad you're safe. No injuries?"

The normal Inosuke would've cackled hysterically, and would've boasted about his day and his "abnormal" strength and resistance. Yet, he removed his boar head and placed it on top of a nearby drawer. He approached his lover and kneeled, bowing his head down. His hands, however, held an average-sized wrapped box, reaching out towards Aoi.

She blinked. Was she dreaming? She gently rubbed her eyes and adjusted her seating. With both hands on top of her lap, the confused helper asked her lover. "What is this?"

"A gift. "

Inosuke looked around. The sun was setting fast. He had come across this village he was so unfamiliar of. He was looking for a certain gift shop. The other two villages he visited didn't contain any store that sold a gift in a logical price or had a gift that was acceptable to his eyes and for his lover. He was in a silent state of panic as eyes of different strangers dart to his half-naked self. He needed to find a gift fast. He remembered it was Aoi's birthday when he was already far away from the Butterfly Estate and the last man who carried him out to his path already left. He was slowly losing hope and confidence, knowing he might disappoint his partner.

Shops already started closing. He couldn't think straight. He took a gander to the skies, and saw it was already the beginning of twilight. He bit his lip and decided to approach every store before closing.

To his dismay, the gift shops never contained any valuable presents. He sighed. He couldn't go home empty-handed.

"Hey there." He followed the sound of the voice, only to meet the eyes of a petite girl in a purple-patterned haori. She smiled. "Are you looking for a gift?"

Inosuke's eyes blossomed. He breathe a sigh of relief and nodded his head furiously. His small companion only chuckled and gestured for him to follow her. "I make certain accessories for women. I assume that is the present you seek?" The boar head nodded once again and they had approach a small building with a carefully decorated stall in front that was full of colorful flowers.

You'd think it was bouquets, but it was something simpler. The lady in a kimono handed out a few stashes that held intricate ornaments, hairclips and pins, necklaces, bracelets, keychains-you name it. It was the specified goal of a gift Inosuke was looking. His eyes dart around the pieces shown to him. From the looks of it, everything was hand-made. He huffed, not knowing which one is prettier for his partner or which one to pick. The seller just giggled, and hid her items one by one. "I'll pick for you. Name?"

"Inosuke!"

She snickered. "I meant the one you're giving a gift to, Inosuke-kun."

"Aoi."

The girl smiled. "Such a lovely name. What are her likes?"

"Me."

She cackled, a little bit louder than usual. "My, how sweet of you." She now placed a box in front of Inosuke and perfectly adjusted the tightness of the bow. "I picked a few butterfly and some wisteria accessories. They held a substance of the flower and held the fragrance the natural wisteria has. Take it."

Inosuke fumbled to find coins in his pocket, yet the seller shook her head no. "It's free."

The boar head looked up, looking for a clue. She might be lying, yet she gently pushed the box closer to his direction. "Take. It. Inosuke-kun."

The boar would've argued. He felt soft at the sudden gesture. His aura contained those of admiration. He was cut off, however, by her sudden introduction. "Onamae Sei. Now go, hurry!"

Still in a state of shock, Inosuke unconsciously grabbed the box and left. The petite lady shouted, "Stay safe on your home!"

He was now a few inches away from the village's exit. Inosuke looked back. The girl disappeared.

Aoi opened the gift and found a bundle of accessories that suited her liking. Surprised, she looked at her lover and embraced him. "Thank you, Inosuke!"

Inosuke whispered, his raspy voice ringing the ears of the helper. "Happy Birthday, Aoi." He then nuzzled his head on her neck, before engulfing her tighter than before. They stayed still like that for a while. She tilted her head to look at her partner, only to see him fast asleep. "Inosuke, I can't carry you to the bed."

The demon slayer flickered his droopy eyes open. He had let go of his embrace on Aoi and gently grabbed her wrist. He sat down to the soft bed and pulled his lover to his chest. He flopped his body down to the comfy furniture while hugging the helper.

A card then suddenly slid off on top of the now open gift box. There it was written, "For another year, with your existence in my life. I love you."