Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-oOo-

The first time they met, both of them were with their respective father.

It was one of the few times she went down the mountain. Things in home were getting a little too much for Nezuko. Her mother was going through her last trimester of pregnancy, and although she had always been labeled as a calm woman, her hormones were getting a little out of control provoking her constant mood swings.

Everything had been fine until a few days after her birthday. Her mother had told her that his baby brother had been a little restless, moving from one side to the other, and then the mood swings started.

Winter was still hitting hard, and her father and Tanjiro spent most of their time outside, collecting charcoal and making outside duties. That let her in charge of the interior chores, but there was only so much that her small 9 year old hands could deal with. She had to take care of her younger siblings, Takeo had gotten the flu and the day after that Hanako catched it too. Shigeru was fine, but still too young to be of some help. And between taking care of her siblings, pleasing her very pregnant mother, and doing house chores, she ended tired to the bone.

Her father, noticing her weariness, had told her that Kie’s mood swings would pass quickly, and things would go back to normal soon, and she had smiled to him.

The next morning after that, she found the surprise that she would be the one going down the mountain with her father instead of Tanjiro.

“Take it as a small break,” her father told her. “Tanjiro offered to stay, so there’s nothing to worry.” And that’s how hand in hand they went down the mountain.

-oOo-

“How long will we keep walking?” asked Muichirou. His father laughed a little at his impatience, he had asked that same question four times in less than thirty minutes.

“We are already here, Mui,”he tried to appease him. “We will deliver the herbs to some merchants, and then we can take a small break.”

It was the first time he had taken Muchirou to his travels. It was nothing extraordinary, Yukiya was a well-known herbalist, so he made triannual trips to distribute his medicines. Last summer he had taken Yuchirou, so now it was Muichirou’s turn, tough he was proving to be more curious and hyperactive than his older brother. Yukiya had expected him to be calmer due to the coldness, but it prove to be wrong since Muichirou kept speaking and asking questions endlessly.

“There’s this man called: Saburo,” Yuikiya said. “He buys a lot of ointment, after giving him some we will look for something to eat, okay?” the boy simply nodded. He was starting to feel hungry, his mother said that as long as the twins were well fed, they would be fine.

They kept walking through the small town. Despite the cold weather there was a lot of movement, people were going from one place to other, running errands and getting their chores done. He felt a little overwhelmed. It wasn’t as if the town was that big or populated, but his family lived alone on a mountain, they rarely saw other people and it was his first time in a place that was located far away from home.

They kept walking through the town. Muichirou had been told from her mother that not only his father was a lumberjack, but a herbalist, and a good one. At that time he had blindly believed her words, tough seeing it now, it was bordered on the ridiculous. They had traveled enormous distances to deliver remedies and treatments. He hadn't thought his father would be that much well-known.

They were walking, the snow crunching beneath their shoes, when the young boy smelled something. It was sweet, the kind of edible sweet. His stomach grumbled, he was really hungry. Without stopping to think about it he started walking in the direction of said smell.

He arrived to what appeared to be a small business. It was a normal house, nothing out of the ordinary. With a small counter on the outside part, on the road. There were a lot of sweets he had never seen on his life, the smell was good. He must have been standing there and staring for too long, because the woman who ran the place talked to him.

“Are you okay?” she asked, making him snap out.

“Y-yeah,” he tried to smile a little, internally embarrassed of being caught staring. Staring is rude, his mom had told him and his brother.

“Would you like to buy some, young mr?” the woman asked nicely, well used to deal with kids of all ages.

“I would like to,” but his mode went down quickly. “But I don’t have any money.”

“I’ll share with you!” a small voice at his side claimed. He hadn’t realized there was someone else there.

It was a small girl, probably the same age as him. Her hair was brown, and it reached her mid-back. It was tied at the front with a small, pink ribbon. But her eyes were the most distinctive feature, they were a clear shade of purple, and they had lighter tone around the rims of her irises.

Pretty.

“Ah, Nezuko, you are as sweet as always,” the woman said. So her name was Nezuko.

“I-it’s fine! You don’t have too,” Muichirou was quick to say. He didn’t wish to be an annoyance to the pretty girl.

“Don’t worry, you can just take it. I still have this one,” she said, offering him a stick of dango. The other stick was well placed on her mouth.

“You should take it,” the elder woman said. “Nezuko is stubborn, she won’t back down.”

“I guess, that I could do that,” his voice faltered and he finally took the stick from her offering fingers.

The dango came along with some green tea, so they sat in a small bench next to the house to enjoy their meal.

“You aren’t from here, are you?” Nezuko asked, tilting her head. “I hadn’t seen you ever, tough I rarely come down the mountain”

“Do you live on a mountain?” he lived in a mountain too, what a coincidence!

“Yeah, this same mountain. Over there,” she used her index finger to point the upper part. “Though my brother is the one who accompanies my father here, but this time I came,” she beamed at him. The mint-eyed boy felt his cheeks getting warmer. She was really pretty.

“My name is Muichirou, and, no. I’m not from here,” he answered her previous question.

“You are not?”

“No, I’m not. I came here with my father to-My father!” he just remembered that he left without further ado. He must be worried!

“Is everything alright with your father?” she asked worriedly.

“Yes-no! I mean, we got separated. We are supposed to be here to deliver herbal medicine,” he explained as best as he could. He remembered something: “He said that we were going to eat after going with a man called… Safuro? Samuro?”

“Oh! Saburo-ojisan!” she hit the target. “I know where he lives! I’ll take you there!” she let out a small huff of self-sufficiency.

“You will?”

“Yeah, my father and Saburo-ojisan must be together too. So what a nice time. Even if your father’s not there, we will help you to find him,” she got up and pulled him with her by the hand. “Let’s go!”

He couldn’t help but stare at their joined hands. It was most likely that Nezuko had taken him to prevent him drifting away and getting lost –again –. Despite his concern and the weather being cold, he felt warm inside him. Her hand was warm.

They crossed the town until they reached the furthest houses. The closer they got the more he could make out the figures outside the house. There was a man with a high ponytail and a plaid haori, another man with a big forehead and short hair, and right between them was his father.

“Otou-san!” Nezuko called a few meters before arriving. The tree adults turned towards them, as soon as they were in front of them Nezuko threw herself to her father.

Muichirou by his part noticed the moment when his father’s eyes changed from worry to relieve. He was quick to made up by his mistake and spoke first.

“I’m sorry. I drifted apart,” the younger twin recognized.

“Don’t tell you mother!” his father said hurriedly, interrumpting his apology. “She will kill me if she gets to know I lost you.”

“I won’t tell,” he assured him.

Muichirou had expected his father to be mad, but he wasn’t the least bit angry. He had been worried to the bones, but never angry. The young boy explained to his father what had happened. From how he got distracted to how he went with Saburo. And after Tanjuro introduced Nezuko to Yukiya and explained that she was his daughter was when Saburo decided to invite them inside.

The adults had their own conversation, normally under those circumstances he would remain silent. But he had a companion this time. He wasn't that much talkative with people he just met, but talking to Nezuko was so easy. She was so joyful and had a brightful personality, tough not the kind of bright wo may turn you blind or set you on fire. No. She was bright, the kind of bright that can light your mode and warm you up.

He suddenly found his heart was making funny things. He could feel a pull. He wished it could stop already, it made him feel awkward.

The next day, before midday, the Tokitos took their leave, not before thanking them all for the meals and the accommodation.

“I’m really thankful for all the things you’ve done for us,” Muichirou’s father said, and directed his gaze to the younger girl. “Thank you for taking care of my son,” Muichirou who was at the back blushed a little. Isn’t that a phrase a father would say to his son in law after marrying their daughter?

“There’s nothing to thank for, Tokito-san,” she smiled, her cheeks pink. The adults went back to their conversation and her eyes now directed towards Muichirou.

“I know it wasn’t your obligation to help me, but I appreciate you did it,” Muichirou said embarrassed. Nezuko had shared her dango and guided him to Saburo’s place. He hadn’t wish to cause her trouble, yet she had extended her hand on help.

“Whatever you do for others comes around to help you,” the young girl recited as one who has heard the phrase a million of times. “Don’t worry about it, Mui. Whatever I do for others, it comes from my heart,” she explained, and the mint eyed boy felt flustered. She was so nice!

“Will I see you again?” she asked, her small heart beginning to hope. She had just made a friend, she didn’t wish to not to see him anymore. Especially when they had hit it off so well.

“Most likely, yes. Probably next spring,” he smiled, and she smiled too.

-oOo-

The pair of Kamados were climbing up the mountain after retrieving his father’s meds and saying goodbye to the Tokitos. Nezuko seemed to be happier than when they had left home, she was humming to herself. Tanjuro noticed this, simply enjoying of seeing his oldest daughter being so cheered up.

“That boy seemed to be your age,” he approached the white elephant on the room-road?-.

“Muichirou,” she said out aloud, as if trying the name on her lips. “He had pretty eyes too. He is nice,” she smiled to his father.

“Really?” he tried to keep her going. Though he had a vague idea of the direction that conversation was taking.

“Yeah, he was kind!”

“He looked a lot like his father,” Tanjuro mentioned, remembering the resemblance they carried.

“Father,” she called him, her voice a strange mix of dreaminess and a seriousness that didn’t match her young features. “I think that I want to marry him when I grow up.”

“Really so?”

“Yeah!” she beamed. She sounded confident.

“If that’s what you want…” It was too soon. Her daughter had just turned 9 last month. But he couldn’t keep ignoring the fact that his illness was progressing. That may be the last act of love he could do for her daughter, let her in charge of a good family. He sighed and smiled sadly. “We could speak with them the next time they come. How about it?”

Chapter Text

-oOo-

The first time where Tanjuro proposed a union between the Kamado and the Tokito, Nezuko had been sick and couldn’t make it down the mountain.

Winter had already passed, his youngest son had been born. So when spring arrived and Muichirou showed accompanying his father and sticking to his promise to see Nezuko again, he found himself delaying his daughter’s request in order of studying the young boy and his father. Childs are reflects of their family’s values. He had to be sure of what he was going to put her daughter trough, to think of all possible scenarios and come outs.

He couldn’t simply hand out her daughter so freely because of her own request. This was an important decision, one that could define the rest of her life. It had to be given the seriousness it required. Tanjuro didn't want to think about the probability that in the future she would find herself stuck in a loveless marriage, regretting having based her life on a hasty decision made by her mere whims during her childhood.

The more he studied them the more relieved that he felt. His older daughter had made a good election. They had gotten along wonderfully to the point of finding it out of the normal. One would assume that their rapport was due to the fact that they were of same ages, though he could tell that was far from the true. They were on their own small bubble, perfectly in synch. And it seemed that Nezuko’s affection wasn’t unilateral, he had caught Muichirou staring more than twice, and despite his young age, he had noticed the way his face softened when their eyes conected to each other.

It's as if destiny had wanted it that way, made for each other. Bonds like that were rarely seen and had to be cherished, that’s how he and Kie had ended together after all.

-oOo-

“And then, like this,” he was instructing her. They were sitting under the shadow of a tree, paper sheets scattered around them. Tanjuro and Yukiya were hanging out at Saburo’s, watching them from inside the house.

“Mui, this doesn’t look as a bunny,” Nezuko told him. Between her fingers was what was supposed to be an origami bunny. The corners a little ruined.

“I think you made some of the first folds wrong. Here, let me see,” he extended his hand, asking her to give him the paper form. Their fingers brushed for a mere second, something alike electricity running on their young forms. He was quick to recover from it.

“It’s supposed to be like this,” the mint eyed boy was quick to correct and re-do the folds. In less than a jiffy the bunny was ready to start hopping into the field. Still, Nezuko was directing a longing look towards Muichirou’s one.

“You can have mine,” he offered.

“Is it fine?”

“Yeah, I made it for you,” she took the origami figure. A smile formed on her lips, her cheeks turned pink. And without noticing, Muichirou found himself smiling too.

“You are too skilled with your hands. Where did you learn to do this?” he was already doing other figure.

“My mother taught me. She knows how to do a lot of things.”

“I would love to meet her!” he turned towards Nezuko and smiled. He could imagine them hanging together. He could imagine her being his home. The idea filled him with an inexplicable feeling of well-being

“You would get along well,” he took a small pause and kept talking. “I’m happy you could make it down the mountain,” and Nezuko put a confused expression. “Didn’t you told me last time that the one who usually accompanies your father is your brother?”

“Yeah, he usually does,” she rectified, happy that he remembered. “But I really wanted to see you, and father said he wasn’t planning on leaving without me too. I like being with you,” her words came out with such genuine glee that they threw him out of balance. His face heated up.

“... You make me happy.”

-oOo-

Summer was almost over and fall was just around the corner, and he was having tea with Tokito Yukiya. Keeping his word, the younger twin had newly accompanied his father to meet Nezuko. So, when Muichirou asked Tanjuro about her daughter’s whereabouts, he quickly explained that she was sick and couldn’t go down the mountain. Yukiya sent him outside after that sensing something off with the atmosphere.

They talked a little about the medicine, and how Tanjuro’s health was decreasing despite being taking the meds produced by him. Yukiya felt a little disappointed because of that, but Tanjuro explained to him that there wasn’t any cure for his disease, and that his medicine was good, but just not enough for someone who had reached a point of no return, like him. That’s when he reached the topic her oldest daughter had been pestering him about.

“I’m not getting any younger, neither any healthier. I’m afraid I won’t be able to grow old and therefore I am not capable of guaranteeing decent living conditions for my family in the future. But if there’s anything that I can do now, I will do it to assure a good future for them. Even if it's just to take care of one of them, I will do it,” Tanjuro spoke in a serious yet concerned tone. Yukiya listened to him attentively.

They’d been friends for a time now. Old man Saburo had introduced them to each other in an effort to find a possible solution to Tanjuro’s sickness. He knew the Tokitos were a good family, his young son was a reflect of the good education his parents had given him.

“I need to ask you a favor,” Tanjuro finally said.

“I’m listening.”

“It seems my daughter had been harboring feelings for your son,” he finally said. “I will die soon, it can be tomorrow, or maybe next month, I won’t be here too long. But I’m her father, I would like to assure her a future, with a good man,” the man with the hanafunda earrings spoke his concerns.

Yukiya stood in silence for a moment, processing all the information. He may not be able to understand Tanjuro at all, since he didn’t have daughters, but he had sons. He would do anything for his twins, and there is where he could perfectly understand Tanjuro’s concern about not being there and guarantee them a reliable future.

He would be lying if he said that Muchirou didn’t feel anything for the Kamado girl. He had been all excited to see her again, even convinced Yuichirou to let him go in his place since the older twin was supposed to accompany his father this time. That much had he wanted to see her that he offered to do his twin’s chores for two weeks for him to yield.

It seemed young and little Nezuko let such a big impression on him.

Though that had been proven an understatement. The second time they visited on spring his young boy had been gleaming with happiness at the mere sight of her. Feelings having solidified on his small heart already. She already had such a strong grip on him.

Yuichirou had begged him to not to take his brother with that family, since every time he returned Muichirou became more talkative and couldn't stop talking about a supposed Nezuko. Yukiya had laughed at that despite the twin’s frown. He knew Yuichirou got grumpy easily. But it couldn’t be helped, his younger twin was so whipped. So, of course he had expected this outcome, yet not that soon.

Weren’t they too young? The twin’s had just turned 10 a month ago.

“Muichirou hasn’t stopped talking about her. I’m sure she left such a big impression on him. But, don’t you think they are too young?” he asked hoping to know more about Tanjuro’s proposal.

“I was thinking on a middle to long term courtship. They can keep in touch, and marry when they are both grown-ups. I just want to assure my daughter will be happy,” that was a nice argument. Understandable.

“I-I can’t oppose to that, seems good to me. Though… I would like to speak to my son about it before giving you an answer,” Yukiya asked him to wait a few minutes and went to where his son.

Muichirou was waiting for him outside, and when he asked if they were leaving –his mode sour due to the absence of certain girl– he denied, and told him there were some matters they needed to adress before leaving. Father and son took a small walk through the town.

“Shouldn't you go to check on her? If we hurry we'll have a chance to visit her and see how she's doing,” Muichirou began.

“She is being treated. And I don’t think we should do that, impose over someone’s home…” Yukiya took a moment to breath. “Did you know Nezuko’s father is sick?” he approached the topic.

“I knew it! Mr. Kamado infected her!” he accused.

“That’s not what I meant!” he pulled his cheek until it was red, much to Mucihirou's dismay. They both kept walking after his scolding. “Nezuko is having a small stomach infection, nothing serious. Tanjuro’s illness is a different and severe matter,” Yukiya explained.

“You are the one who was giving him medicine. Does something happens with Mr. Kamado?” the mint eyed boy asked curiously.

“Well, his illness is getting worse. It happens sometimes, and well… When that happens, sometimes… people die,” he was trying to be as gentle as possible.

“Will that happen to Mr. Kamado?” his son asked innocently.

“Most likely, yes.”

“Nezuko is gonna be so sad,” his eyes filling with concern. Yukiya smiled gently to his son, he was such a good boy, already worrying about her.

“Actually, Tanjuro wants to assure her wellbeing. She really likes you, do you know?” and his young face got all red. “Muichirou, Tanjuro is asking us, asking you to take care of her when you grow up. Do you understand what what I’m saying implies?” the boy nodded, his small heart racing. He wasn’t a fool –even if his brother claimed otherwise– the implication was clear.

“It would be an arranged marriage, though I would like to know your opinion. This is something serious, so it’s fine if you need time to think about it. Would you like to marry her once you grow up?”

“Yes,” he was looking directly at his father’s eyes, no hint of hesitance on his voice. “I would like to.”

-oOo-

Muichirou had been quick to find some paper and wrote a small letter to her new and small fiancee. Yukiya and Tanjuro had been watching as he hurriedly made his letter. The Kamado was looking at the boy with amusement, his Nezuko had made a good election, he was a good and sensible boy.

“Would you give this to Nezuko, Mr Kamado?” he had asked shyly back at that moment.

That’s how the letter had found it’s way to Nezuko’s small hands. It had taken a week for her to recover, and she had been more than happy with the news.

The letter was well hidden on her secret place, somewhere where none of his siblings would find it. The piece of paper had been folded and unfolded so many times that it was nearly falling apart. She had read it so many times to the point of having memorized it completely.

Right at the moment she was holding Rokuta, the small boy had recently turned six months. She had expected him to be more rebellious, but he was calm and well-behaved. She liked to talk to him, and that was what she was currently doing.

“He had long hair, and his eyes are blue, more like… the color of those candies mother buys for us. Mint! They were mint!” she said happily. “Who knows, maybe your big sister is going to be the first one to get married,” she threw a playful smile towards Tanjiro, who seemed to be having a heart attack at that last statement.

-oOo-

Muichirou had found a way to keep in touch through paper and ink. Letters had arrived, though more slowly than what was desired. His father had explained him that it took time due to all the distance between them. And adding the fact that both of them lived on mountains, so they depended on nearby towns to answer and send their letters.

The younger twin had learned a lot of things from Nezuko, from her daily activities to the newest member of her family. However, it was after the arrival of a particular letter that his interest in a certain matter was piqued.

“Snowbells?” asked Yukiya after hearing his son. He had approached him after reading her most recent letter.

“Yeah, are there any on the mountain?” Muichirou asked.

On her most recent letter Nezuko had told him about her name. Apparently her mother had named her after her favorite flowers: snowbells. That awakened his curiosity.

“Hmmm, if I’m not wrong there’s a few days until their season,” he pondered on it. “But I’ll remember it and take you out to see them when they bloom.”

“Thanks, dad,” the younger twin said happily.

-oOo-

“Why are you taking Muichirou out?” his mother asked. They had already finished their chores, there wasn’t anything else to do for the day.

“He wants to see snowbells,” Yukiya explained to his wife.

“Flowers? But why?” that clearly was something new. She didn’t know his younger son had an interest in flowers. If she had known she would have taught him a little about it already.

“Because her small girlfriend’s name comes from that flower,” his father teased him. Muichirou’s face was set on flames.

“A girlfriend, huh?” asked Yuichirou in a mocking tone. He had just arrived on the perfect moment. Great! Now Yuichirou was going to tease him too!

-oOo-

“Do not tell Yuichirou!” her younger son was begging her.

“Why would I?”

“Do not!” he kept begging her.

Muichirou had asked her mother to help him with a special task. He wanted to make a ring, a flower and weed made ring. He had seen girls on the nearby town wearing flower crowns, so maybe he could work with that, adapt it on a smaller scale.

His mother, by her part seemed to be divided between mirth and adoration. She found it funny, how a blushing mess his son could be reduced to, yet endearing. She was deeply moved by the way his son showed affection. Of the deepness of the feelings he held for said girl. That made her proud, proud to call Muichirou her son. She couldn’t wait to meet Nezuko.

“I won’t tell. But before making the good one you need to practice. Come on, we’ll go to look for small flowers.”

Chapter Text

-oOo-

The first time he failed to answer a letter, his parents weren’t there anymore.

He had been supposed to be visiting the small town near her hut that month. It had been half a year without seeing her, and two months without exchanging letters. Muichirou missed her. Things had gotten hard, his life had made a 180 degree turn in such a small amount of time.

Yuichirou had been a nuisance, controlling everything and imposing his will over Muichirou’s. The older twin seemed to be especially adamant in cutting Muichirou’s ties with Nezuko, preventing him from delivering his letters to the point of prohibiting him from going to the nearest town to even retrieve those that Nezuko had surely sent.

One day all the paper sheets in the house disappeared, indirectly forbidding the younger twin from even thinking of writing back, and therefore, cutting all possible ways of communicating.

That mere action marked a before and after in their relationship. Yuichirou must really hate him to do that to him.

Yuichirou could do as much as physically possible to prevent him from writing back or delivering his writings, but he didn’t hold control of his mind. Despite the prohibition, Muichirou found himself thinking about his pen pal. He wondered if Nezuko was still writing and sending him letters despite his lack of answers. Wondered if her letters were getting accumulated on the small mail office on the town. The mere thought of her letters getting piled up and dusty hurt him deeply.

He would have liked to explain it to her, to vent, or to go somewhere else so he could grieve openly. He missed his parents. He missed the person Yuchirou was before his parents died. He missed the seasonal trips, excuses he used to go seeing Nezuko. He missed her and her letters. He missed his old life.

So he held to what he could: his memories.

She had pretty eyes that very much he remembers. They were big, and happy, gleaming at the mere sight of him. Its color was a slight lavender, a really clear shade, it was really a pretty color. He hadn't been able to see anything that could get compared to them, to that shade.

That is until he traveled down the river further than usual. To the point where the ground changed. To where it became paler, and the water calmer, therefore clearer. He could perfectly see the bottom of the river from standing by the side, so full of sand and small pebbles. One in particular got his attention.

Taking off his shoes he ventured into the river. He carefully pulled his objective out of the brook, fearing that wasn’t he careful enough, the flowing water would take it out of his hands and along with the river flow.

It was a small stone, the color being an off lavender with pink and white undertones. It reminded him of her: Nezuko. The girl who he was supposed to be betrothed and that lived on that other mountain. Would she be fine? Would she be mad at him for not responding? He hoped she wasn’t. Yet he preferred her angry than sad or upset, the idea of ​​being the cause of her pain wasn’t pleasant to Muichirou. She had looked at him with such a docile and happy eyes, he didn’t wish to see anything but happiness on her orbs.

It was a nice and welcome memory. By a mere moment the weight on his shoulders felt lighter, he had gone through a lot of hardships, and was living a current hell.

Not only had he to deal with his parent’s absence, and Yuichirou’s attitude. But desperation and impotence were eating him up. He egoistically wished for Nezuko to keep thinking of him. She was the only thing he had left. He was afraid that if he took too long to go to her, she would slip between his fingers as the sand on that same river he was standing in.

“What are you doing?” a voice coming from behind him at the river bank asked. “Throw that back to the water and get back to the house instead of being dilly dallying,” and speaking of the devil. Nowadays his voice rarely lacked harshness. Yuichirou was all harshness.

On the hardest days, those when he felt exceeded by everything. He liked to re-read her letters. He had been cautious, once Yuichirou reacted and threw all the paper sheets away, he knew that what followed were her letters. So he hid them away, and only pulled them out once he was sure the older twin was already deep in sleep.

Later that night, he pulled the small boulder out of his pocket while reading the first letter she sent him. The stone was smooth and glossy, it felt cold on his skin sending a feeling of reassurance. It was fine. He was fine.

-oOo-

There were a lot of things that the young girl wished to tell him. She had wrote letter after letter in the vain hope that Muchirou would respond. It was hurtful for Kie –who was still grieving his husband –to see herself reflected on her own daughter; waiting and hoping for something –someone– which may not come back. She herself would have liked to approach said family to regard the topic of their children, but she lacked the knowledge about them. Tanjuro didn’t had enough time to share it with her neither.

Kie had been a little concerned about the whole disappearance thing. She hadn’t had the opportunity to meet the boy, and among the few things that Tanjuro managed to share was that he was a good person, and seemed to deeply cherish Nezuko. She didn’t question it, she knew he cherished her daughter. She remembered with special endearment how happy had Nezuko been when she found a small flower ring inside the envelope of his letter.

It’s a strong bond, Kie. As if they were each other’s home. No matter distance or time, his husband had told her. And she respected that, but even so it was hard to see her daughter suffer.

A lot of things had happened, Tanjuro’s absence was affecting everyone more than expected. Tanjiro had tried to stay positive and cheer everyone up, but there was only so much he could do. He was occupied with his new role as the man of the house.

Once certain season arrived Nezuko had technically begged him to let her accompany him down the mountain to sell the charcoal. Saying that maybe, her friend might be there, since it was that time of the season, and down they went. Only for her to find out that the Tokitos had technically disappeared. No one, neither Saburo nor his customers have received news from them since few months ago. It was as if the earth had swallowed them up.

Nezuko had been sad, but she still held to the possibility of them, of him coming back. Of Muichirou being fine, but having difficulties to held contact with her.

“Nezuko, who was him? You never ever mentioned his name around us,” Tanjiro had tried to pull out his name, surname, whatever, in hopes of helping her look for him.

“Can’t tell you,” she said, holding her index finger to her lips. Her eyes were sad, yet her smile was mischievous, she was trying to appear strong. “The name of the boy I like, it’s a secret,” and Tanjiro sighed. He didn’t like seeing his sister so heartbroken, maybe they could cook something special tonight to cheer her up.

-oOo-

“She said we’re descendants of swordsmen! We’re from a family of people who used the very first form of breathing techniques!” In the heat of the moment Muichirou had forgotten all about the law of ice they had imposed over each other. All excited about the information Amane-samma had brought with her.

“Who cares? Hurry up and wash the rice.” Yuichirou spoke as roughly as he always did. The heat of spring had him grumpier than usual.

“We could become swordsmen! Help people who have trouble with demons!” the younger twin proposed. “If we did that, I’m sure-” he was silenced by the sound of Yuichirou cutting a radish harsher than necessary.

“What could you do?! You can’t even boil rice by yourself! But you’re gonna be a swordsman and help people?! You really are exactly like father and mother! You are a dreamer! What’s wrong with your head?!” he kept going. “Helping people… is something only certain people can do! We’re just kids! Even if our ancestors were swordsmen, what can we do?” he asked, and not even waiting for an answer he replied.

“You wanna know what we can do? What we can do… is die like pointlessly dogs! This conversation is over! Got it?!” by that point, Muichirou was shedding tears. He wasn’t expecting his twin to behave otherwise, yet it still hurt. He had been temporally blinded with the idea of doing something for the better.

It would be better not to reach that topic anymore. Lamely, Amane-samma kept showing up, much to Yuichirou’s wrath.

-oOo-

It was winter, again. It had been a hard day, the cold was incessant and her family was struggling more than usual to go through it. She had been helping with some house chores and eventually went out to help Takeo with the wood. She barely made it to the end of the day, her body was aching and begging for a well-deserved rest. Yet once she put her head on the pillow she found out she couldn’t fall sleep. Could it be because of Tanjiro’s absence?

The boy had insisted on going down the mountain to sell charcoal, insisting on making as much money as possible to have a nice dinner for New Year. They had waited for him, but after a pair of hours after the sun had already went down they accepted that he would not be able to arrive for sleep and finally went to bed.

Her big brother would be fine, it was most likely that Saburo ojisan has offered him accommodation. Even so, she couldn’t help but feel restless. It was winter, maybe she should have gone with him. It was winter, the weather is not forgiving in that season. It was winter, maybe, just maybe, Muichirou and his father would appear this winter, maybe…

She denied with her head, dismissing that train of thoughts. Hoping always left her with a with a feeling of self-pity and hurt. It wouldn’t do any good for her to keep thinking of that, wondering about him, or his family. Yet she couldn’t help it, even when he didn’t consume her thoughts all day anymore, she still hoped, just a little. It couldn’t be blamed, their connection had been powerful, as if they had such a strong grasp on each-other's soul. The small flower ring he had sent her was well secured on her secret place, where all his letters lay safe and sound. She couldn’t find it in herself to get rid of them, neither it’s as if she wanted to, even if it hurt.

She still remembered how heartbroken she had been the first days after realizing the Tokitos missed his seasonal visit. Her mother had assured her that she would meet other boys, told her that she was of the prettiest girls on the town and that there would be no shortage of proposals once she grow up. Yet her small heart had already been claimed, her feelings being too deep for her own comprehension despite her being too young.

He is my koi no yonan, mom. Since the first moment, she had explained her.

It had felt natural, it had been something fresh and new. Lamely their love had sunk in its early stages leaving it in ruins. Yet it still floated.

Can I believe there is still a chance?

She sighed and shifted as soundlessly as possible, not wanting to disturb to any of his siblings. Mainly Takeo, who had been working outside a big part of the day. She spent what felt like minutes, hours, trying to fall sleep. Yet her body refused to let her rest. She finally gave up and pulled up. Only to find the door slightly ajar.

Her body tensed, she didn't remember leaving it like that. The hair at the back of her neck stood up, an augury. Something was wrong.

A red iris was watching her right through the slit of the door. She screamed.

-oOo-

He couldn’t place correctly where he was, not like it mattered. His hurting head was giving him a hard time, it felt as if his skull was being pierced, squeezing to the point of being pulverizing his brain.

He had been on what he had been told was called the butterfly estate. Yet the boy with the long hair couldn’t remember how he got there, his stay had been full of him being in and out of consciousness. Once he had been good enough to stand he had been carried to Ubuyashiki’s place. Where a long conversation had been held.

Muichirou had received information about the demon slayer corps and had been told the barely gathered information they had gotten about his life before arriving there. It seemed the corps had tracked him and had been having an eye on him for a while now. Clearly they were too interested in him since he was supposed to be descendant of swordsmen who used the first form of breathing technique.

Amane-samma, the master’s wife, had told him that his parents hadn’t been there anymore when she visited in the past to recruit him and his brother. Oh, yeah, apparently he had had a twin, who also happened to be his older brother. The one who had been slaughtered by a demon. That’s how it all tied together and how he had been found.

The mint eyed boy had lost everything. He should be sad, but he didn’t remember. He couldn’t grieve what he couldn’t remember.

So, recounting, he was supposed to have had a family and a brother. But everything seemed foggy to him. Even at moments when he tried to remember, he found that he couldn’t. And he eventually stopped caring. It was fine, he didn’t have to force his self to remember, Oyakata-samma had told him that.

Oyakata-samma was nice. He liked him a lot, he was kind and the volume of his voice made him feel calmer.

But even so, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of having loose something. Getting it all back was the difficult part, how was he supposed to look for something he is clueless about? Does he even want to retrieve his memories to begin with? Wouldn't it be easier for him as a swordsmen to maintain his-self without memories to be as efficient as possible? 

The small pebble on his pocket felt as if it weighed a ton. He had had said pebble with him since he woke up in the butterfly state that first time. The surface of the stone was smooth and cold, sometimes it helped him calm down. Yet it disturbed him somehow, to know such a small thing held that much power over him. It weighed too much on his pocket, yet he couldn’t find it in himself to get rid of it. Something deep inside him refused to the idea.

Chapter Text

-oOo-

The first time they really met again, Muichiro had lost his memory and Nezuko had turned into a demon.

He didn’t mind. He couldn’t find it in himself to pay attention to anything that was happening at the moment. His mind was as cloudy as ever. They were having a Hashira meeting, and from the few things he had listened before tuning out the conversation, was that the boy of the squared-patterned haori had committed an act of treason against the corps. He had covered the presence of a demon he claimed was his sister, saying she had not harmed any human being and could fight with them. Not something that is seen on a daily basis, certainly.

Oyakata-samma would take care of that and make the right decision. He always did.

So, under his logic, it didn’t make sense to fight for something like that. Reason why he decides to abstain from the quickly escalating discussion regarding the matter and simply devotes himself to watch.

Ah, what a nice weather to take a nap .

Lamely there isn’t time for that. Shinazugawa is rampant, he had always known that. Though today he seems to be on the grumpier side, but then again, that isn’t something new. What truly took him by surprise was the audacity of the boy to confront the Hashira after he stabbed the box.

Both slayers seemed ready to jump at each other's throats. Yet one of the Ubuyashiki members had appeared and announced that Oyakata had arrived, interrupting their fight.

After a brief round of greetings the Hashiras are quick to state their opinions on the matter that made them all reunite that day. The opposite party seems to be really against the idea of letting the Kamado siblings depart without being properly punished. Sanemi seems especially adamant on ending the demon’s life.

So, after a bit of scandal Shinazugawa took the box and entered to Oyakata-samma’s chambers. The older Hashira claimed that he would prove that all demons were the same and made and made a cut right on his arm.

Ah yeah, Shinazugawa had marechi blood, so it would be impossible for any demon to resist it. Good thinking, Shinazugawa.

The door opened and the figure of a girl more or less his age emerged from the box. Muichirou’s eyes start to take in her image. Her body is draped in a pink kimono, along with a dark and plain haori. He takes in her hair, it is long and wavy, the tips being orange. Such a strange color , though he has mint colored tips, so he guesses he isn’t one to judge.

The tension is palpable, yet the demon stays still, standing in the middle of the room without making a move. It is at that moment that he noticed that she was staring at him. The young Hashira felt his heart do a weird thing and almost immediately his head began to hurt.

It's blinding and unbearable, a thousand times worse than a migraine. He had to get out of there to take his meds as fast as possible. He finds his-self clinging to the small stone in his pocket in an attempt to calm down.

Most of them stop questioning the demon’s capacities once it is proven that Nezuko can resist marechi blood. The reunion wraps up swiftly after that. Oyakata finally gives his blessing for the demon to coexist beside them and asks the Hashiras to respect her as if she were a fellow member of the corps.

The meeting is finally over, and Tokito flees from there in search of his meds.

-oOo-

Muichirou had been returning from a meeting with the village’s boss. He had been told that his former blacksmith had passed away, and that the village’s boss himself would be in charge of finding a suitable and highly capable blacksmith for him.

Apparently Tetsuido, his former swordsmith, had him in high regards, to the point where he considered him a young promise.

The thing is, that Tecchin had already picked one of his most skilled men to be his new swordsmith. Kanamori Kozo was his name, and he had to find him as fast as possible. The young Hashira entered the inn and approached what was supposed to be: Kamado Tanjiro’s room. He had heard from some of the workers that the boy had come back.

He may know Kanamori’s whereabouts.

He slid the door and entered the room. The lodging was nothing special or out of the ordinary, it was really similar to his, but that’s to be expected if you are staying in an inn. Tanjiro was sleeping, right in the middle of the room.

Tokito stood nearby and pinched his nose without giving it a second thought.

“Ngh,” Tanjiro groaned. He slowly composed himself, still looking a little sleepy. Though he quickly woke up once realizing he was there. And Tokito decided that it was time enough to ask him.

“Do you know a sword-smith named Kanamori?” the mist Hashira asked first.

“Wah! Tokito! Did you just pinch my nose?” the boy with the hanafunda earrings asked, impressed. He hadn’t perceived him.

“I did pinch it. And you reacted too slowly,” he matter of factly said. This boy was supposed to be a slayer, his reaction time should be better!

“No, no! What I mean, is that, I would have sensed it if there’d been any animosity,” he tried to elaborate.

“Well, not that I’d pinch someone's nose with animosity.”

“I know Kanamori. But why?” They returned to the main topic. “I’d guess he’s with Haganezuka.”

“Kanamori is my new sword-smith. Where is Haganezuka?”

“Shall we search together?” the Kamado boy proposed.

“Why do you care so much for other people? Don’t you have your own concerns?” His words could be so blunt to the point of being rude, but Tanjiro sensed no malice from him.

“Whatever you do for others comes around to help you, as well in the end. Besides, I was thinking of going to see them too, so you just arrived in time,” he smiled a little.

“Huh?” his words rumbling on his head. “What did you just say? Now… just now,” he needed to hear it again.

“Huh? I said that i-” the figure which was lying at his side sat up abruptly, head-butting the boy in the plaid haori. “Nezuko! You are up!” Tanjiro said joyfully despite being rubbing his aching chin.

Nezuko… that name. His brain was getting double assaulted.

A strange aura was emanating from her. It was calm yet threatening, like a silent promise.

“That girl is a strange creature,” Muichirou pointed out.

“Huh? Strange?” that wouldn’t be the word he would use to describe his little sister.

“Yes, very strange. What is it? I can’t find it with words.”

The trio remained sitting seiza in the middle of the room. Muichirou tilted his head a little, there was something on her that caught his attention. He noted that her hair was dark brown, it flowed down her back into some messy braids. She had the appearance of a child. That thought passed to the background once he noticed that her eyes were locked on his.

His pupil dilated, the fog cleared for a moment. Her eyes were pink, and he got the feeling that they should be a little bit more lavender. Like the pebble on his pocket.

“Have we met before?” he blurts. It happened in a small fraction of second, he could swear something alike recognition passed in her eyes. Then she cracked –what Tokito assumed was –a smile in his direction.

He didn't have time to rejoice in the warmness of it. A strange noise sounded from outside. Both Muichirou and Tanjiro turned towards the source of the noise.

“Hmm? Is someone here?” the boy with the hanafunda earrings asked.

“Yes,” the mist Hashira recognized.

The door slid slowly, and a claw appeared into the room. Muichirou recovered quickly and was fast to make the first move. The Kamado boy didn’t take long to join him into battle.

-oOo-

He had been a fool. Too caught up in his fight, he had technically rushed into Gyokko’s trap. The upper moon had activated his blood demon art and caught him in a water prison.

He would die of suffocation if things kept like that. He had already tried to break free by using one of the mist breathing forms, but it had been in vain.

The young hashira’s vision was fading. He had already run out of air. He was having strange visions due to the lack of oxygen.

I over-estimated my strength… because I’m a hashira. I made a lot of mistakes, so I’m done for .

The water prison was disturbed, right at the other side the masked brat he had saved was trying to break him free. He was using a knife, as if it was enough to go through it. But he had been so focused on it, that he didn’t even perceive the goldfish demon coming from the back. Kotetsu fell right in front of him, even in his last breaths he was trying to help him.

Why couldn’t he run away?! Why did he have to try to help him?!

‘Don’t worry about it, Mui. Whatever I do for others, it comes from my heart.’

‘Helping others… often means you end up helping yourself. Human beings… are creatures who can tap into an unbelievable strength when helping others, Muichirou.’

Yes, I know .

-oOo-

It had been as if all things made sense once he got out of the prison water, everything fit into place. Muichirou could remember. The memories of his life before joining the Demon slayer corps were coming back, and clearer than ever.

He thought of his father, a wood-cutter and well-known herbalist. Afternoons with his mother, who had been the loveliest woman on earth and fell ill from pneumonia. How alone he had felt when both of them died. His older twin: Yuichirou. And how his heart rotted after the death of their parents.

He remembered… lavender eyes, and the prettiest, kindest smile he had ever seen. He remembered, sharing dango, exchanging letters and accepting a proposal. He remembered her, Nezuko.

It was as if his heart held muscle memory, it immediately started beating livelier, stronger.

He was having a new opportunity, and he would be a fool to let it slip between his fingers.

He freed from the water vase, and got back to action. He still had to stop Gyokko.

-oOo-

His brain had been working non-stop. It had been as it was processing and filling all the blank spaces on his memories, and updating them with the missed ones. Even when he was tired to the bone and therefore supposed to be sleeping dreamless, he found out that he had some dream episodes in the middle of his rest.

Though that didn’t mean they were welcomed. There were things which should remain as memories, not as vivid nightmares. As a result his sleep became lighter, his senses sharper as a defense mechanism. So it came out as a natural response for his senses to kick in at the presence of someone else.

He opened his eyes and registered that it was still dark, he was in the butterfly state. He had just been in the middle of a nightmare about the same night where Yuichirou had been slaughtered. Dreaming about beating that demon with his bare hands and some weapons. It had all been so real, he could swear he had felt the demon’s blood trailing on his fingers. But back to reality, the young Hashira hastened to look to his left, where his senses had been tingling, alerting him of the presence of someone else.

Nezuko was right there.

What good timing did she had. He registered her appearance. It felt as if it was the first time he was truly looking at her. She no longer held the appearance of a child, but of a girl her age. She was sitting on the floor, her arms were folded on the bed –on his bed –her head resting on her arms. Her body language indicated that she had been there for a while, looking at him while sleeping. A small blush crept to his cheeks at the mere thought of her doing that.

Oh for Kami, it’s as if he was back to his old self! And just in the blink of an eye!

“What were you doing?” he asked, not completely sure of how to approach her now that he could remember her.

It seemed his words had triggered a reaction from her, because she shied away and retrieved her form from the side of his bed. He hadn’t imagined a demon could look flustered. But well, she wasn’t a demon… she was different. She was Nezuko.

The mint eyed boy noticed that they weren’t the only ones in the room. He noted that the bed located to his side was Tanjiro’s, and right in the space that divided both beds was Nezuko’s box. Maybe that’s why she refused to talk, to not make noise. Was he right, he remembered she had retrieved her ability to talk again back at the village.

 “Is your brother alright?” he tried another topic. She nodded, and turned to look at the aforementioned. Her gaze softened, and she rearranged the older Kamado’s pillow in an attempt to accommodate him better. Then she turned towards Muichirou and did the same with him.

It felt alien to him. It wasn’t unwelcome, but it still felt weird being the object of someone else’s concern, especially after having spent that long by his own.

He thought of questioning her about her actions. But when she threw a little smile at him he felt disarmed. Nezuko took his sheets and tucked him, patting his head a few times in the process. The young hashira assumed it was her way of telling him to go back to sleep, so he did, fully trusting that Nezuko would take care of him and keep his nightmares at bay. The thought of it resulted him strangely pleasant.

He was coming back home.