demon slayer ship oneshots • [MOSTLY YAOI]

Faded Ink | Inosuke x Tanjiro

academy au -

Inosuke and Tanjiro had met towards the end of their final year in Junior High. Inosuke had just gotten transferred to Tanjiro's class, shortly after relocating from the outskirts of town. Inosuke started out as a hostile person, he would yell or threaten anyone who'd rub him the wrong way. 

Tanjiro had strangely found a new friendship with Inosuke after they'd been in an argument that ended in a fight and many injuries. But at the end of that day, Tanjiro approached Inosuke in an apologetic manner, "I didn't mean for things to go that far," Tanjiro stated. "I only wanted to settle the dispute, I did not wish to harm you." He smiled. Inosuke remembered the soft feeling he'd felt in his heart that day, though wanting to sound reluctant, he only mumbled at Tanjiro in agreement. 

The two grew closer that year, Inosuke learned of Tanjiro's rather large family. And met Nezuko Kamado, his sister who was a year beneath them. She was sweet and caring when it came to Tanjiro and their family.  Though Inosuke didn't get a chance to meet them all until his first year of highschool, Inosuke was invited to dinner at Tanjiro's house. It was be the first time Tanjiro had ever brought a friend over. 

"Welcome, home, Tanjiro!" his siblings Hanako and Shigeru greeted. Their eyes caught sight of Inosuke who trailed behind him, holding onto Tanjiro's shirt nervously. "Who's that?" Shigeru whispered. "Is that...a girl?" Hanako whispered. "TANJIRO HAS A GIRLFRIEND!" The two shouted in unison. "Oh?" Kie, Tanjiro's mother stepped out from the kitchen, curious as to see what the children were fussing about. "Mom! This is Inosuke Hashibira! My friend from school." Tanjiro said. 

"Friend?" Hanako mumbled. "Yeah so knock it off you two!" Tanjiro laughed, ruffling their hair up with a wide smile. Inosuke kept his eyes on Kie, he seemed...hesitant around her. "Oh, um...Inosuke's pretty shy I suppose. Especially in environments he doesn't know much about.." Tanjiro hummed. "But that's why we have to make him feel at home!" He said, making Inosuke blush a bit from behind him. Kie walked over to Inosuke, she smiled happily. "Hello there, Inosuke. I'm Kie, Tanjiro's mother." She said, holding out her hand for Inosuke to shake. Inosuke let go of Tanjiro's shirt and cautiously put his hand in Kie's. The two remained silent as Kie found herself confused. "I...Inosuke..." Kie giggled nervously, shaking Inosuke's hand. "Oh! I-I'm sorry, I don't think Inosuke's familar with that kind of stuff." Tanjiro explained. "EH?! Of course I am!" Inosuke squealed, shaking Kie's hand with much force. 

"A-Ah, there..." Kie said as she pulled her hand away. "It's very nice to meet you." She kept her soft smile despite the awkwardness that occurred. Inosuke's face hued a darker tone of red but he kept on a scowl. "Same here!" He said. "Hm..?" Kie gazed upon her hand and spotted a smudge of some sort. "Is this...dirt?" Kie asked. Tanjiro raised a brow, until he remembered. "AH! No! That's pen ink! I wrote my name on Inosuke's hand this morning so he wouldn't forget it like he normally does!" Tanjiro stammered. "I see." Kie hummed. "Well, I can see you care very much for Inosuke, Tanjiro." Kie smiled. Tanjiro's guard dropped as he face grew dumbfounded. A tender shade of red appearing on his cheeks as he sheepishly nodded. "Y-Yeah.." 

Inosuke, Tanjiro and his family gathered at the dining table. Nezuko sat in the seat on Inosuke's left, while Tanjiro sat on his right. "Inosuke, you and Tanjiro have been friends since Junior High. But I heard back then, you two weren't as good friends." Kie said. Inosuke sat in silence for a moment, as he couldn't come up with a response. "Uh. Yeah. I guess. Gonpach--....." Inosuke froze. "T-Tan....." The boy's emerald eyes looked over to Tanjiro nervously. "Jiro....?" He murmured. Tanjiro nodded with a large smile. "Yeah. Tanjiro and I weren't friends back then. But we weren't exactly enemies." Inosuke said, looking back over at Kie. "I see." Kie said softly. 

"Now we're best friends!" Inosuke wrapped his arm around Tanjiro's neck and ruffled his hair with a bright smile. Tanjiro blushed immensely. "Right!" He chirped.  Kie's gentle gaze narrowed at the two boys as she placed a smile upon her lips. "Inosuke, surely your mother wouldn't mind if you stayed the night? We could give her a call if you want to." Kie said. "My..mom?" Inosuke muttered. Tanjiro jolted up and waved his hands frantically. "Um! Mom! Actually...Inosuke lives with Miss Kocho." Tanjiro said. 

"The pharmistic? Interesting." Kie hummed. "It's because...you see..." Tanjiro looked at Inosuke with an ounce of worry.  "I don't have a mom." Inosuke said. "......oh my." Kie's expression turned apologetic. "I-I'm sorry, Inosuke." She said. "It's alright. But...uh..." Inosuke smiled a bit. "If you're still offering, I could totally call Miss Kocho and ask to stay over." He laughed. 

-

"We'll sleep here! In my room!" Tanjiro blushed as he stood in his doorway. "To-Together..." He murmured. "Oh wow.....sleepover!" Tanjiro yelped. Inosuke darted over to Tanjiro's bed and plopped down on it. "Oi, Tanjiro, are you doing okay? You're all red in the face!" Inosuke said. Tanjiro hesitantly entered and shut the door just enough to leave a small crack. "Yeah, I'm fine." Tanjiro chuckled. Inosuke huffed, walking over and pressing his forehead against Tanjiro's. "You're not warm...so...it's not a fever." He grumbled. Tanjiro's face burned an even brighter red. "S-See? I'm fine!" Tanjiro said. Inosuke's eyes looked away, his face beginning to hue a soft pink. "I'm sorry....am I being to weird or something?" He said, pulling away from Tanjiro. "N-No! It's just that.....me...inviting you here...it's been a whole lot to take in." Tanjiro said. "Not because you're weird...but because I'm weird." He hummed. 

"You may be thinking "how is that possible?"...well! I just found out I'm in love with my best friend!" Tanjiro uttered. Inosuke once again stood there in silence, blinking with confusion. Tanjiro looked over at him, his embarassment went away as he realized Inosuke couldn't understand him. Tanjiro stepped closer to Inosuke and gently took his hand. "Inosuke, I don't want to be friends anymore." Tanjiro smirked, he thought with the way he worded that it would anger Inosuke, but Tanjiro's expression quickly changed as he saw a sparkle in Inosuke's eyes. 

Inosuke's mouth opened agape, "I-Inosuke..?" Tanjiro asked. Inosuke's eyes watered tenderly and tears fell from them. "You....don't....want to be friends?" Inosuke asked. Tanjiro had realized what he'd done. "In-Inosuke! I-I didn't mean it like that!" Tanjiro said. "I'm so sorry!" Tanjiro cupped Inosuke's cheeks. "L-Let me just show you what I mean!" Tanjiro smashed his lips into Inosuke's. Inosuke's pale face turned pink as his tears quickly left. His heart pounding, Inosuke shut his eyes and kissed back. 

After a moment, the two parted. Tanjiro's eyes looked into Inosuke's as smiles arose from both of the boys. "I love you...."