Chapter Text
The kakushi girl has learned a lot since that day at the butterfly estate; Tanjirou is special, there's something about him that makes every single hashira melt as soon as they see him.
Every. Single. One.
Even the scariest of them like the wind hashira. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.
They're taking a break; she's in the dining room with a few slayers and a couple of kakushi. The Pillars will be arriving soon so they're eating what they can before leaving the place.
However, one of them takes two ohagi that were left on a plate even though they clearly belonged to someone. She's waiting for the ridiculous fight (sometimes demon slayers argue with each other for nonsense like that).
"That was Shinazugawa-san's" a girl informs the boy, who immediately pales after hearing that.
"Those are his favorites," says another.
"You'll be dead soon."
"Just tell him Tanjirou ate them," a boy with short, yellow hair she doesn't remember the name of says, still enjoying his rice balls.
"What? I thought you were Tanjirou's friend, Zenitsu!" Says the demon slayer girl, almost outraged. "Why do you want Shinazugawa-san to kill him?"
If the kakushi girl hadn't been on the butterfly mansion that day, she would've been glaring at the blond as well.
Zenitsu sighs.
"He won't kill him because it's Tanjirou and the Pillars would never hurt him. Seriously, haven't you noticed? Where have you been?"
No one believes him of course and the boy seriously considers running away but the hashira arrive before he can do anything and Shinazugawa realizes what happened immediately.
A few demon slayers manage to run away, but the boy gets caught by the wind hashira; he grabs him by the uniform to lift him from the ground like nothing.
At least he's not grabbing him by the neck.
"Who ate them? Was it you?" He growls. For a second the kakushi girl thinks the young demon slayer is going to faint out fear.
"It was me, Shinazugawa-san!" Tanjirou arrives just in time. "I'm so sorry! I can make you more if you want!"
The wind hashira releases the demon slayer, who hits the floor immediately and grimaces in pain.
"There's no need," Shinazugawa huffs. "I wasn't hungry anyway."
He walks away, but ruffles Tanjirou's hair when he passes next to him. Everyone, except the other Pillars (who are already trying to get Tanjirou to sit next to them) looks like they're in shock.
***
She kinda enjoys when someone realizes what's going on; it's fun to see the confusion on someone else's face when they catch a glimpse of Tomioka smiling softly at Tanjirou or Rengoku carrying the boy in his arms every time he sees him.
"Look," Kanao, the insect hashira's tsuguko, mumbles as she sits next to her. A group of demon slayers have been training with Tokito and it's been a nightmare for almost everyone. "This is my favorite part."
The mist hashira starts throwing rocks at the ones he thinks are not moving correctly as they practice with wooden swords.
She can hear the way they hiss in pain whenever a stone hits them.
"Are you sure I'm doing this correctly, Tokito-san?" Tanjirou asks, looking as puzzled as some of his fellows slayers. He's the only one who hasn't been hit by a rock. Not even once.
"Of course, Tanjirou!" The hashira grins at him, taking both his hands almost lovingly. "Your movements are perfect! Actually, you can take a break now."
His voice is soft as he encourages Tanjirou to go eat something, but as soon as he turns around to the others an unimpressed expression appears on his face.
"That's what you call training, you incompetent airheads? We're going to keep this until you can't stand anymore!"
***
Even though Uzui is constantly flirting with Tanjirou (who seems to be oblivious to everything) he's the one stopping other demon slayers from trying to do the same.
It's understandable confusing for the others to watch as the sound hashira narrows his eyes at them from above (he's ridiculously tall) and then turn at Tanjirou with flirty smile curling his lips up whenever the boy gets close to him.
However, he lets one of the young ones follow Tanjirou (like a lovesick puppy) around everywhere.
"Who's that?" She asks, she's become really good friends with Zenitsu and often looks for him because he's the one that knows the most about that situation. "And why haven't they–"
"He's Genya," Zenitsu frowns. "He's the only one allowed to do that because he's Shinazugawa-san's little brother."
Huh. So that's why he looks terrifying as well. Also, he doesn't look little at all; he's even taller than most of the Pillars. It's weird that he usually looks so grumpy and murderous and yet when Tanjirou turns to talk to him he acts like a twelve-year-old with a crush.
"Tanjirou has no idea, right?" She asks, even though she knows the answer already.
"Not at all."
***
She definitely doesn't expect to find Tanjirou passed out on the ground when she and a few of her fellow kakushi are called to the hashira headquarters.
It seems Tanjirou got injured during his latest mission, but he didn't listen to the kakushi advice and rushed to greet the Pillars as soon as he found out they were in the headquarters having a meeting.
And now he's unconscious and the hashira are surrounding the boy and looking like they're in pain. The first kakushi that gets closer to Tanjirou gets growled at by the flame hashira, who instinctively puts himself in the middle.
"I'm sorry," Rengoku apologizes immediately, like waking up from a dream. "I thought you were going to hurt him..."
It's like the hashira's protective instincts have suddenly grown exponentially.
None of the kakushi dare to get closer again. Tomioka gets desperate and takes Tanjirou in his arms. For the first time since she met him he doesn't have a neutral expression on his face.
He's worried, almost in despair.
"I'll follow you," he tells the kakushi.
They check his injuries as soon as Tomioka leaves him in one of the rooms. Kocho strokes Tanjirou's hair kindly, smiling softly before turning to face the others.
"He'll be fine," she informs them. "But we have to let him rest."
That they do, but they remain outside the room; some of them have to go on missions already but Kanroji promises to send them a message as soon as Tanjirou wakes up.
Quietly, the kakushi girl observes as they take turns to walk in the room and stay for a while with him. Rengoku likes to take Tanjirou's hand in his and kiss it gently as he mumbles something the kakushi girl can't hear.
Tomioka looks down at the boy like he doesn't care about anything else in the world. She knows now that he's the one that met him first and wonders what happened then.
It's strange how things can turn from "I don't even know who you are" to "you're the most important thing in my life. I'd do anything for you."
Kocho helps Tanjirou sit on the bed and wakes him up herself only to give him more medicine.
Kanroji sobs a little bit, but doesn't say much. Uzui pushes a kakushi aside so he can change Tanjirou's bandages himself.
When he finally wakes up completely, Shinazugawa is back.
"Don't you ever do that again!" It's the first thing he says, growling. "Running away from the butterfly mansion just to say 'Hi' to us? Are you out of your mind?"
"I'm sorry," Tanjirou chuckles, not even a little bit intimidated by the wind hashira's irritation. "I didn't feel that bad at the moment. I thought I was fine."
"You weren't," Tomioka scolds him, but softens his expression immediately after. "I'm glad you're okay now."
Rengoku takes Tanjirou in his arms and Kanroji gives him a kiss on the forehead before Tokito starts arguing that it's his turn.
While the other kakushi look at the scene in shock, she funds herself smiling at them. Then, she desperately wishes them happiness because it's always difficult and a bit hopeless to love so much in a world like the one they live in.
Love makes everyone vulnerable, even the strong and powerful ones.