Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Last night was a mistake.”

Beautiful maroon eyes stared up at the blonde Alpha, jaws dropping in shock and in horror. Something inside of him cracked at the rejection. He felt as if the Alpha was meant to be his. To finally have another into his family. To let an Alpha into an Omega’s Nest was sacred. An Omega’s Nest was their safe place. An Omega inviting an Alpha into their Nest during their heat, meant that the Omega wanted to bond with the Alpha that they have invited into their Nest.

Heart slowly breaking at the rejection, Tanjiro bowed his head down.

He had let the Alpha into his heart.

He had let the Alpha take his first time, meant for someone who was supposed to bond with him.

He had let the Alpha into his Nest.

He had let Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira into his sacred Nest.

“Please, leave, Kamado Shounen.” The Alpha spoke quietly. “If I have indicated that I wanted to bond with you, then you must have mistaken that. Our biology made us shared a heat. It is the way Alpha’s and Omega’s will always be. My duty is to the Demon Slayer Corps, to Oyakata-sama and my duty as the eldest and Alpha in my family to mate with a purebred Omega. I have a guest coming soon and they will not like it if there was another Omega’s scent in here. Though, I am grateful that you have saved me on the train that day!” The Alpha shot him a smile.

Meaning, it was another Omega that the Alpha is seeing.

The purebred Omega.

Eyes burning, Tanjiro stood up, wrapping the yukata around himself. His heart breaking even more. The newly bond from the Flame Hashira spasming in protest. His inner Omega whined at the pain.

It hurt.

So much.

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Days later, at the Butterfly Manor, the Sun Dancer Omega was making his way out of the Insect Hashira office after making a new discovery, when he stopped as his nose picked up a few familiar scents. Alpha scents. Uzui, Shinazugawa, Iguro and—

Tanjiro took a step back as he scent another smell.

His Alpha.

The Alpha that rejected him.

Hand clutching his chest, Tanjiro listened to their conversation.

“You and that Kamado kid shared a heat?” The Wind Hashira growled. “An Omega like that? I wouldn’t want to share a heat with that one.”

“We did.” The Flame Hashira answered. “It was a onetime shared heat.”

“And yet, you have an Omega visiting you today.” The Sound Hashira made a soft sound.

“It is my duty to find and mate a purebred Omega to carry on the family line. It is only common sense to do so. My father and mother were one.” The Flame Hashira said. “It is only natural to court the other.”

Oh…courting.

Did Kyojuro ever court him? Tanjiro thought to himself.

All the times the Alpha took him out to eat, inviting the Omega into his home to train him, or spend time with him and his little brother. Tanjiro wasn’t sure if that had considered as courting, but his inner Omega was happy and had accepted that as courting. It went on for months.

Months until the other day, when the Alpha had blatantly rejected him. Tanjiro let out a silent sob, as his eyes burned. A hand clutching to his chest—over his heart, and one clutching over his stomach where his most precious item laid inside of him. He needed to get away from the Demon Slayer Corps. Away from all the missions.

To get away from the Alpha that had rejected them.

Tears streaming down his face, Tanjiro finally made his decision.

“Tanjiro?”

The redhead jumped, startled out of his mind as he turned his face when he felt a tug on the hem of his haori sleeve. The Mist Hashira’s eyes were wide as he spotted the tears streaming down the Omega’s face. Something was wrong when the Mista Hashira woke up that morning. His Omegan senses leading him to the Butterfly Manor, to find the other Omega—Tanjiro standing at the corner of the hall, tears streaming down his face, with a hand clutched over his heart, and a hand resting over—

The Mist Hashira’s eyes widened.

Omega senses heightened when another Omega was in distress.

And clearly, Tanjiro was in distressed.

And, so very heartbroken.

And newly pregnant.

Muichiro watched as Tanjiro wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, giving him a kind and warm smile that he’s always loved seeing.

“I’m sorry, Tokito-san.” Tanjiro said. “I’m just feeling overwhelmed. But…since you’re here, I’ll be going away for a while.”

Muichiro frowned at that. “No. Don’t go.”

He didn’t want that warm sun to disappear. He knows what Tanjiro meant. It wasn’t a mission. It was something that meant to go away forever—never to be found. His Omega senses screamed at him to help the fellow Omega to get away from whatever was hurting them. Nodding, the Mist Hashira gripped the other’s hand, dragging them away.

“I’ll help you.”

“Wha—No, Tokito-san!  You’ll get in trouble!” Tanjiro protested, trying to pull back.

As an Omega, Muichiro had seen how they were treated. Like objects. Slaves. As a breeding stock. Never finding any happiness. Only a few were lucky enough to be bonded to an Alpha that will forever cherish them. And seeing Tanjiro crying made his inner Omega growl in anger at the Alpha that threw the amazing and warm Omega away. The Mist Hashira brought the other Omega to the gates of the Butterfly Manor. He took a key out his sleeve—handing it to the redhead Omega. The key was to a safe place home that was meant for any Omega in danger from their Alpha’s.  A safe place that no one in the corps knew of. Not even the other member of the Tokito family knew of. A place that the Mist Hashira found and made into a home.

“Please, go to this place. It is empty and there is no one there. A safe place for Omega’s. It is yours to use it however you want. And…” The Mist Hashira glanced down at the calloused hand over flat stomach. “You are pregnant. The Alpha threw you away, so…”

“But I couldn’t possibly want to intrude—” Tanjiro started to speak.

The Mist Hashira shook his head.

This was the most that he’s ever spoken to someone. But Tanjiro was so different from everyone else.

The redhead Omega smelled of home. Comfort. And warmth. The redhead Omega was very important to the Mist Hashira. As if he was missing a sibling bond.

“Please, go.” The Mist Hashira spoke softly. “And…who is the Alpha?”

He wanted to hurt the Alpha that had hurt his Sun.

The redhead Omega gave him a very sad, heartbroken smile. Maroon eyes glistening with tears, as calloused fingers pressed behind his neck. “Tell him to not find me, if he asks.”

“Who is the Alpha?” Muichiro asked once more, eyes narrowing at the fingers pressed on the gland.

Tears streamed down the redhead Omega’s face once more, as the Mist Hashira smelled pain and a very deep sadness.

“The one who wields fire.”

And now, the Sun disappeared.

Forever gone.

And Muichiro Tokito’s world has never felt so cold, so barren and so dark before.

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Kagaya Ubuyashiki, known as Oyakata to the others tilted his face upward. Sensing the shift within the air. The scent of rain that will soon fall upon them. Something has changed. Within the Corps. It was as if he the Sun had disappeared, and Kagaya has never felt so cold. Though, he may be an Alpha, he was grateful that the Ubuyashiki cherished every dynamic. Beta’s, Alpha’s and especially, Omega’s. His wife—his most prized and cherished mate, is an Omega. Though, she may be a purebred Omega, he had seen the scrutiny of how other’s treated Omega’s before he had become fully blind.

Then, came his child—the Tokito boy.

Strong and powerful and had become a Hashira rank within a few months.

Then, came the other Omega.

The one that will change the way the Corps will be.

To change the future of all Omega’s.

The Sun to every Beta, Alpha and Omega. Gone now.

Feeling a sense of loss, the blind Alpha knew that the Omega Kamado and his demonic sister disappeared.

“Take care, my child. I pray that the future of all Omega’s will change for you, so that all the pain that you have experienced, will be replaced with happiness only. That all Omega’s that were thrown away be found by someone who will love and cherish them, as much as I cherish my own—purebred or not. Every Omega deserves love and happiness.” Kagaya said softly, a tear streaked down from his eye.

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It wasn’t a few weeks later, is when chaos broke out at the Butterfly Manor.

Voices were heard.

Tanjiro disappeared.

The Omega disappeared.

Where is Tanjiro?!

It was so chaotic, that the Oyakata took the matter into his own hands.

All nine pillars knelt before their Oyakata, as the Alpha was brought to the edge of the engawa with the help of his children.

“It seems the news has reached all of you of Tanjiro’s disappearance.” Kagaya said with a sad smile.

“Oyakata-sama, perhaps Tanjiro had been kidnapped.” The Sound Hashira said. “There are many of those who traffics Omega to be slaves—breeders.”

Kyojuro tensed at what his fellow Hashira was implying. His inner Alpha growled at that. That did not sit well with him. Though, there has never been an Omega in his family, save for his Hahaue, his Hahaue had always told him to cherish and care for any Omega in need. Especially, the one who will become his future mate.

“My children…there is no need to find Tanjiro.” Their Oyakata softly spoke. “He has resigned from the corps due to health complications.”

All of the Hashira’s, except Shinobu and Muichiro stared at their Oyakata in shock.

The Flame Hashira Alpha blinked a few times. “What do you mean, Oyakata-sama? Kamado Shounen is ill?”

“In a sense but it is best that Tanjiro left or the stress from going on missions and being here will further dampen his health.”

It was a lie and the truth that everyone smelled at the same time. It was strange that this is the first time that their Oyakata has lied to them. But they also sensed the truth underneath the lie. Gold with red irises watched their Oyakata. The other Alpha looked sad. It was the sadness that creeped into those blind eyes. Something about the Kamado Shounen had made Oyakata sad. And in turn, it made his inner Alpha whine at the loss of the Kamado Shounen, but Kyojuro reigned in his inner Alpha. He did not want to deal with his inner Alpha. It was already a hassle trying to juggle being an Alpha and his job as a Hashira, as well as find a purebred Omega to mate with to carry on the Rengoku line.

“But Oyakata-sama! What if Tanjiro needs our help?” The Love Hashira asked. “Poor little Tanjiro!”

Kyojuro nodded. “Kanroji is correct, Oyakata-sama! We must find—”

“If Tanjiro doesn’t want to be found, then leave him be.”

Everyone turned their full attention to the Mist Hashira. The boy has never spoken to all of them. The boy acted so cold towards them, even though the boy was an Omega. The very first Hashira that is an Omega.

“What do you mean, Tokito-san?” Kyojuro narrowed his eyes.

The Mist Hashira slowly turned his head, staring straight into Kyojuro’s own gold and red eyes. “The Sun has disappeared. Forever. All because of you. You threw the Sun away because of your views. Your words. Everything. You threw what was meant to be cherished away as if they were garbage. Tanjiro is not a toy.”

The Omega Hashira’s voice started to raise—shocking each and every one of them.

Muichiro stood up, eyes blazing with fury for the first time. “You threw Tanjiro away. Alpha’s are always like that. All the same! Taking something that was meant to be loved and cherished—throwing it away like trash! You threw Tanjiro away. You entered his sacred place that he invited you into, and then once you were done with him, discarded him.” The boy started to hysterically laugh, as everyone gasped.

Kagaya’s eyes widened in horror at that. He knew what it meant to be invited into an Omega’s sacred Nest.

“All Alpha’s will always be the same. And we, Omega’s will always be the one to get punished. And for what? Being an Omega? Someone who can carry children? What you did to Tanjiro…I just hope that it doesn’t kill him.” The Mist Hashira said, eyes turning golden, his inner Omega coming out. “I should kill you where you stand, Flame Hashira. If I could free Tanjiro from you, then he wouldn’t have gone through what you’ve done to him. But Tanjiro wouldn’t like it. Always so kind. So warm. So merciful. So bright to only be discarded like garbage.”

“Tokito-san…” Mitsuri gasped in horror.

Kyojuro’s eyes widened. The Mist boy didn’t look at anyone else but at him.

“What do you mean, Tokito?” The Sound Pillar frowned. He can hear the boy’s heart breaking.

The Mist Hashira tilted his head to the side, eyes still holding Kyojuro’s. “Tanjiro said to not look for him. His words. Oyakata-sama, you can punish me, strip me of my rank, but it does not change the fact that I helped Tanjiro escape from the Alpha that he shared his heat with. Did each and every one of you Alpha’s forget? What happens when an Omega invites you into their most sacred Nest, after courting? It is meant to bond. Entering our Nest means we want you to bond with us. But no…Tanjiro was discarded away after he invited that man into his precious Nest. And now…Tanjiro is gone. Forever. My Sun disappeared.” The Omega continued to ramble, chest heaving, as the scent of sadness and distress permeated the air around them. The Mist Hashira’s body shook, as he fisted his hands over his chest.

“Tanjiro…Tanjiro…He threw you away. Because it was his duty to find a purebred Omega. His duty to the corps. Poor and beautiful Tanjiro being thrown away. That’s our fate as Omega’s. To be used and then discarded.” The Mist Hashira rambled, voice shaking.

Suddenly, the feral Omega Hashira launched himself towards the Flame Hashira with great speed, that had the said Hashira fall onto his back. Long black hair with mint green tints at the tips flowed around him, as a hand wrapped around his neck.

“Tokito-san!”

“Oi!”

“Your fault. It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t touched the Sun, then the Sun wouldn’t have disappeared.” Muichiro growled in agony. “It’s your fault for throwing Tanjiro away! If I was an Alpha…If I was an Alpha…I would never, ever use and throw Tanjiro away like that. I would cherish him, love him and make him happy. But no, I am stuck here in this body of being an Omega. You will never find him. Because I helped him get away from you!”

“Muichiro…”

The Mist Hashira let out a distress whimper at the voice of their Oyakata. The Alpha stood to their side, hands reaching out to cup the Omega’s face.

“Calm down, my child.” Kagaya murmured. “It seems I now know why Tanjiro has left the corps. Tell me, my child, did he look happy?”

Muichiro shook his head. “He was crying. Sad. Heartbroken. Discarded like garbage. And…”

Everyone held their breath, while Kyojuro watch from down below, as the Mist Hashira was still on top of him.

“And…?” Kagaya feared the next answer will further sadden him.

Hand pressing against flat stomach—

Fingers pressing against the gland that had the bond bite on it.

“And pregnant.” Muichiro finally said, letting out a sob. “The one who wields fire bit the Sun, permanently bonding him. Shackling him. And now…the Sun will die because without the Sun biting the one who wields fire back on the bond gland, then the Sun will die. But he chose to go, Oyakata-sama. He chose to leave. Because he hurt. Because he was thrown away. That’s why I hate and despise Alpha’s like the Flame Hashira. If I hadn’t been born an Omega, and born as an Alpha, then I would’ve protected Tanjiro from that man.” Muichiro hissed with sadness, eyes glancing down at the Flame Hashira.

Tanjiro? Pregnant? Impossible, Kyojuro thought. They weren’t chosen pairs. He didn’t feel the pull to Tanjiro. But even if he did, his duty was to the Corps and to find and mate a purebred Omega. It shouldn’t be possible the first time. Immediate impregnation almost didn’t happen.

“It seems if Tanjiro does not want to be found or want to come back, then we must respect Tanjiro’s decision.” Their Oyakata announced.

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5 years later…

Tanjiro ran through the forest.

His legs doing their best to take him as far as he can get.

Away from his safe place. His Nest.

Away from his children.

Tears streamed down his face. The group of demons found them. Found him. Tanjiro thought that he was safe with his children. He was making dinner, when he heard his daughter running into the kitchen, crying hysterically. He whipped around, suddenly regretting it as his very weak body protested. Sumiyoko had blood and cuts all over her. Blood matting her beautiful golden blonde hair. Eyes just like her Alpha father filled with tears. When she explained what happened, Tanjiro told her to go hide in their special spot—the only area inside of the house that had a inside courtyard within the home. There was a wisteria tree inside—a scarlet wisteria tree that wasn’t too tall or too short. There was a hidden ground door that lead under the roots of the tree. It had all the components of food and water to last for a month.

“Go hide. Okaa-san will be back, okay, Sumiyoko? Don’t make a sound and concentrate on breathing silently.” Tanjiro told his daughter.

Sumiyoko nodded her head as she ran to go hide.

Then, Tanjiro forced his weak body towards to where his daughter had told him, where his son, Sumijuro was. He knew the moment he left the corps, and Kyojuro, his body will slowly become weak. He knew the stories of incomplete bonds will kill the Omega. Omega’s have always been the ones to die. It’s why there hasn’t been many Omega’s being born the past century. Tanjiro knew the risks of leaving. He’s already lost so much in his life.

And to have his chosen Alpha—the one that he had invited into his Nest rejected him.

He had sent Nezuko to stay with Lady Tamayo for a few weeks at a time. Just so, Lady Tamayo can help Nezuko. Tanjiro loves his sister so much, but his body was becoming weak, and he didn’t want to worry Nezuko about taking care of her. Nezuko was slowly talking—which had made Tanjiro so happy. His children loved their aunt so much, that it made Tanjiro want to weep with tears.

Shaking his head, Tanjiro appeared in a large clearing, the moonlight bright and shining, as he saw four demons chasing his son.

“Sumijuro!” Tanjiro yelled.

“Hahaue!”

Tanjiro swung his sword up, decapitating the demon’s head, as he snatched his son and ran in the opposite direction. When they were safer for a brief moment, Tanjiro turned to his son. He did a once over check. His son had cuts and bruises, and blood but the blood didn’t smell wasn’t his son. Which was good.

“Sumijuro, whatever happens, do not find me. If you hear anyone calling for you, do not answer them! I will come back to find you. Go to your sister! Now! Remember what you learned, okay? Now, go!” Tanjiro pushed his son.

Beautiful gold and red iris eyes, filled with tears glanced over small and slim shoulders. One Hanafuda earring dangling from his son’s ear, as Tanjiro wore the other. Suddenly, Tanjiro felt the ground shook, making him slowly turn around.

“You…I know you.” A familiar voice called out.

The moment Tanjiro fully turned towards the demon, his eyes widened in horror.

“I remember you from the Mugen Train. That boy with the Hanafuda earrings that saved Kyojuro. I almost died that day, you see.” Akaza chuckled darkly. “Say…how is Kyojuro doing? I hope he’s doing alright.”

And then, that voice turned even colder and darker.

“And that little boy…has your hair and Kyojuro’s eyes. How interesting. Did the both of you mate?” Akaza growled. “Someone who is unworthy of being Kyojuro’s mate has children. But I suppose, I got lucky tonight. The moment I saw the boy and his sister, I knew it would lead me straight to the source but…”

Eyes tracked all over Tanjiro’s body—from head to his feet.

“You do not smell bonded. A partial bond—breaking almost completely.” Akaza started laughing. “I wonder…if I take you now, will your Alpha come save you? Muzan-sama will be delighted in seeing you. But first…I think I will have fun with you first.”

Then, the Upper Moon lunged towards at him, as Tanjiro never stood a chance to begin with because his body had become so weak—so damaged to the point that he felt like dying.

His vision was engulfed with darkness.

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A Kasugai crow circled around the clearing, heading towards a particular home of a certain redhead Omega and the adorable children. The Kasugai crow that the Mist Hashira sent every few weeks to check on Tanjiro and the children. The crow circled above the home, eyes inspecting at how quiet the home was in the morning. The children were not outside. Usually, the twins were outside playing, helping their Omegan Mother.

Then, the Kasugai crow noticed the front door wide open, as a few of the shoji doors sitting between the engawa and rooms were opened as well. A scarlet wisteria tree stood in the tiny courtyard in the middle of the home, as the home surrounded the tree.

Something was really wrong, the crow thought.

The crow flew into the tiny inside courtyard, settling on the tree.

“Tanjiro Kamado, you have received a letter from Muichiro Tokito!” The crow called out.

No sound.

No voices.

Nothing.

The Kasugai immediately flapped its wings. The crow needed to report back, soon. Something was wrong within the household.

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There was an emergency meeting for all of the Hashira’s.

All of them knelt in front of the engawa as their Oyakata appeared before them.

“I am sorry to have this emergency meeting. But I will get to the point. Tanjiro Kamado is missing. A Kasugai crow that our dear Muichiro sent to Tanjiro has come back.” Kaguya said.

Kyojuro felt his lungs freeze at that. He’d stopped thinking about Tanjiro for a few years now. And since then, he’s been courting a purebred Omega for roughly two years now. Each Omega that he had met, just didn’t sit well with him. His inner Alpha seemed dissatisfied at all the Omega’s. So, Kyojuro locked his inner Alpha up, and dealt with the problem. He will just court a purebred Omega, and then mate them. It was his duty after all as the eldest son.

“Our dear Mist Hashira has been sent out an hour ago to Tanjiro’s last known location.” Their Oyakata said. “What I am worried about…is the well being of Tanjiro and anyone within the residence. From what I have heard, there was an Upper Moon not too far from where Tanjiro’s home was. I would like to send two extra Hashira’s. Just in case anything happens. Tengen and…Kyojuro.”

The Flame Hashira Alpha perked up at that. As his inner Alpha woke up from a long sleep. Tanjiro, his inner Alpha purred. Kyojuro could feel his eyes changing to bright red as he looked down to the ground. He was having trouble keeping his inner Alpha in check. And the fact that Oyakata-sama specifically named him for the mission? He wasn’t sure if it was a coincidence at all. He knows that his Oyakata is furiously angry with him still. He could always sense the inner anger from the other Alpha.

“Do you have an issue with the mission, Kyojuro?” His Oyakata asked.

“No, Oyakata-sama.” Kyojuro answered quickly, eyes still staring at the ground.

Tanjiro, his inner Alpha purred once more, slowly waking up even more.

Precious Tanjiro.

Beautiful Tanjiro.

His inner Alpha growled in anger at the thought of someone harming his Tanjiro. Kyojuro fisted his hands on top of his thighs. Why did his inner Alpha have to wake up? Over Tanjiro? There was something about Tanjiro that his inner Alpha liked and wanted. It made all the other Omega’s fall beneath Tanjiro. His inner Alpha liked that Tanjiro was strong. Fertile. Kind and warm. Kyojuro can still remember the Omega’s scent. As if it were just yesterday that they shared that one-time shared heat together. His inner Alpha liked that scent very much.

Tanjiro.

Tanjiro.

Tanjiro. Tanjiro. Tanjiro.

TanjiroTanjiroTanjiroTanjiroTanjiro, his inner Alpha growled, claws reaching to that nearly broken mating bond, tugging hard on it as Kyojuro felt his heart seize in panic and fear. The Flame Hashira immediately stood up, causing the others to jump in shock, as glazed and unfocused golden and red eye that wasn’t injured stared up at the sky. Arms going limp at his sides, as the wind shifted in the air around the Alpha.

Bring Mate home.

Our Mate.

Your Mate. The one you abandoned. The one you tossed away, his inner Alpha hissed and growled at his human side. Useless Alpha! We are useless! Not worthy of our Mate! Go! Feel the broken mating bond that you’ve caused! Bring our precious home!

Kyojuro stared up at the sky, his good eye seemed to dilate in and out, mouth parting as he let out a stutter as his body shook and prepared itself, “What…”

His body seemed to have a mind of its own, as his inner Alpha took hold of the reigns and engulfed in fire, he disappeared; following the nearly broken mating bond, leaving everyone in shock behind.

“I believe you will have to follow Kyojuro, Tengen.” Kagaya said. “The Kasugai crow will lead you.”

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Somewhere, deep within the darkness, the redhead Omega let out a painful whimper.

Eyes unfocused and delirious, as the Omega’s head lolled back and forth.

“Alpha…Alpha…It hurts…” The Omega let out a distress Omegan call for their Alpha that will never hear their call. “My babies…Alpha…Alpha…”

The Omega let out a wail of pain as pain burst on his inner thigh. The scent of heavy blood filled the air. He was being eaten—being torn.

It hurts so much!

Only laughter was heard, as dark spots filled the redhead Omega’s vision, tears streaming down their face.