Tanjiro
The first thing Tanjiro noticed upon waking was the soft sunlight streaming through the paper windows of the Butterfly Mansion. His body ached all over, his muscles stiff and sore, and a dull pain throbbed deep in his chest. Slowly, his senses returned, and he realized he was lying in a comfortable bed, the smell of herbal medicine lingering in the air.
Turning his head slightly, he saw Zenitsu sleeping soundly on a futon next to him, his face unusually calm. Tanjiro smiled faintly, but his expression quickly turned solemn as he recalled the events on Mount Natagumo. The memories were vivid—Rui, his family of spider demons, and the desperation of the fight.
From what the Demon Slayers who had carried him here told him, Zenitsu had narrowly escaped death after fighting one of Rui’s "siblings." If not for Shinobu-san arriving in the nick of time, Zenitsu’s fate might have been sealed. Inosuke had also been pushed to his limit against the Demon Spider Father, saved only by Giyu-san’s intervention.
And then there was Alex-san, whose intervention had been pivotal. Without him, Tanjiro knew he wouldn’t have survived. He owed Alex his life.
He clenched his fist weakly. I couldn’t even defeat Rui on my own... If it wasn’t for that moment, that technique... His thoughts trailed off as he recalled the sudden burst of power when he had tapped into something deep within—a memory of his father’s dance, the Sun Breathing technique.
"Tanjiro, you’re awake!"
A cheerful voice broke through his thoughts. Tanjiro turned his head toward the sound, his eyes meeting those of a young girl standing at the doorway. She was of average height, with deep blue eyes that faded to a lighter blue near the bottom, framed by straight black hair tied into twin-tails secured by blue butterfly clips.
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The girl approached him, carrying a tray of steaming tea and neatly arranged food. "My name is Aoi," she said as she placed the tray on a small table beside his bed. "You shouldn’t try to move yet."
Tanjiro offered her a weak smile. "Thank you for taking care of me. And... everyone else here."
Aoi huffed, though her cheeks turned slightly pink. "It’s our job. But don’t think that means you get to slack off in your recovery. You need rest."
"Where’s Inosuke?" Tanjiro asked, glancing around the room.
"Still recovering," Aoi replied, crossing her arms. "He’s in another room. Honestly, you three are a handful. Even Zenitsu here refused to leave your side after he was treated."
Tanjiro’s smile softened as he looked at Zenitsu again. Despite his over-the-top personality, Zenitsu cared deeply for his friends.
Aoi placed a bowl of porridge in front of him. "Eat slowly. You’ll need your strength."
Tanjiro nodded and took the spoon, his hands still trembling slightly. The warm food was soothing, and he felt a surge of gratitude for everyone who had helped him.
As he ate, his thoughts turned to the battle again. Rui’s words about family, the twisted bonds he had forced upon his "family," lingered in Tanjiro’s mind. The memory of Rui’s despair and cruelty was haunting, but even more so was the brief glimpse of humanity he had seen in the demon’s final moments.
"Tanjiro," Aoi’s voice interrupted his thoughts. "Don’t think too much about what happened. Focus on recovering."
He nodded, though the weight in his chest remained.
After a while, Zenitsu began to stir, mumbling something incoherent before his eyes shot open. "Tanjiro! You’re awake!" Zenitsu exclaimed, sitting up abruptly. "Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried! I thought—"
Before Tanjiro could respond, Zenitsu grabbed his hand dramatically, tears streaming down his face. "I thought you were going to die! And then I’d be left alone with Inosuke! Do you know how scary that is?! He doesn’t even talk to me—he just growls!"
Tanjiro chuckled softly despite the pain. "I’m fine, Zenitsu. Thanks to everyone here."
Zenitsu sniffled, wiping his nose. "You’re too reckless, you know that? If it weren’t for me—well, and Inosuke, I guess—you’d be in even worse shape!"
"I know," Tanjiro said sincerely. "You both were amazing out there. But did you shrink a little?"
Zenitsu froze, his hand still gripping Tanjiro’s. "W-What?! Shrink?! What do you mean I shrunk?!" His voice rose to a pitch that could probably shatter glass, his eyes darting to Aoi in sheer panic.
Aoi, completely unfazed, crossed her arms. "Yes, you’ve temporarily shrunk due to the effects of the cure we administered. The poison you were exposed to was highly potent and attacking your body rapidly. The medicine we used saved your life but caused some side effects, including the size reduction. It should wear off in a few days, so there’s no need to panic."
"No need to panic?!" Zenitsu squeaked—literally squeaked, as his voice was an octave higher than usual. He scrambled to his feet—or rather, he tried to, but the oversized blanket wrapped around him made him trip, landing face-first on the floor. "I’m tiny! What if I stay like this forever?!"
Tanjiro bit back a laugh, reaching out to help Zenitsu up despite his own injuries. "Zenitsu, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Aoi-san said it’s only temporary."
Zenitsu grabbed Tanjiro’s shoulders with both hands, his eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears. "But what if she’s wrong?! What if I stay small forever? I’ll be useless in battle! Inosuke will step on me like a bug! Nezuko will think I’m a joke! My dreams are ruined!"
Aoi sighed loudly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You’re already a joke," she muttered under her breath before speaking louder, "Zenitsu, it’s temporary. Two or three days at most. Focus on recovering instead of causing a scene."
"Two or three days?" Zenitsu wailed dramatically, throwing himself back onto the bed. "I can’t live like this! It’s humiliating!"
Tanjiro smiled gently, patting Zenitsu on the back. "You’re still the same Zenitsu. Size doesn’t matter. You were incredibly brave on the mountain, and that hasn’t changed."
Zenitsu’s lip quivered, and he sniffled loudly, clutching the blanket tightly. "T-Tanjiro, you’re too kind. I don’t deserve a friend like you..."
"You definitely don’t," Aoi muttered again, though she quickly turned on her heel and headed for the door. "I’m leaving before I lose my patience. Eat your food, and rest."
~~~
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