Chapter Text
The snow fell softly, blanketing the landscape in a white glow as Tanjiro and Nezuko made their way back to their humble home. The journey had been long and arduous, marked by the many battles over the past year that tested their strength and resolve. Muzan was finally dead and the tragedies he left behind could finally heal.
Tanjiro's left arm hung limp at his side, a constant reminder of the sacrifices made in their fight against Muzan. His right eye, once vibrant with determination, now bore the scars of battle, forever blinded by the darkness they had faced.
Nezuko walked by his side, her presence a beacon of light in the darkness that threatened to consume them. Freed from Muzan's curse, she moved with a grace and confidence that spoke of the strength she had found within herself.
But finally, they stood at the doorstep of the place where it all began.
Home.
Tanjiro raised his one hand into a symbol of prayer, “Mother. Father. Takeo. Hanako. Shigeru. Rokuta. I pray that all of your souls are now at peace.”
Nezuko placed a comforting hand on her brother’s shoulder, offering silent support in their shared moment of remembrance. They fought so hard for this day. To live to see the fruits of everyone’s labor was freedom from that nightmare.
Together, they stepped over the threshold, their home welcoming them back with open arms. Memories of happier times danced in the corners of their minds, mingling with the weight of sorrow that still lingered in the air.
Tanjiro's footsteps echoed through the empty halls as he moved towards the heart of their home, a small shrine dedicated to their fallen loved ones. He lit a single candle, its flickering flame casting shadows on the walls as he knelt in silent prayer.
Nezuko stood by his side, her presence a steady anchor amid their shared grief. Together, they offered their prayers to the departed, finding consolation in the quiet moments of reflection.
"Brother," she murmured, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes. "I-I'm so sorry for everything we had to endure... for all the pain we had to endure... But we... we made it through. Together."
Her words faltered as a choked sob escaped her lips, the weight of their losses crashing down upon her once more. Tanjiro wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as she buried her face against his chest, her tears soaking into the fabric of his haori.
"It's okay, Nezuko," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Unshed tears now glistened in his eyes, "We're together now. That's all that matters."
Nezuko's sobs intensified, her whole body trembling with the weight of her grief. Memories of their fallen comrades flooded her mind, each one a painful reminder of the price they had paid for victory. She clung to Tanjiro as if he were her lifeline, her fingers grasping desperately at the fabric of his haori as if afraid he might slip away.
"It's not okay, Tanjiro," she choked out between sobs, her words muffled against his chest. "I-I miss them so much. I miss Mother, and Father, and all the others. Why did they have to leave us? Why did they have to suffer?"
Her voice cracked with anguish, the pain of their losses threatening to consume her whole. Tanjiro held her tighter, his tears mingling with hers as he struggled to find the words to ease her suffering.
"I don't know, Nezuko," he admitted, his voice raw with emotion. "I wish I had the answers. But what I do know is that they're watching over us, guiding us from wherever they are. And as long as we hold onto their memories, they'll always be with us."
Tanjiro's heart ached at the sound of Nezuko's cries, each tear she shed felt like a dagger piercing his soul. He held her close, his arm a shield against the pain that threatened to consume them both.
"They didn't deserve any of this," Nezuko whispered, her voice heavy with sorrow. "None of them deserved to suffer because of Muzan's cruelty."
Tanjiro's grip tightened around her, his tears flowing freely now as he struggled to find the strength to comfort her. "I know, Nezuko," he murmured. "But we can't change what happened. All we can do is honor their memory and keep fighting to protect the ones we love."
For so long, they had fought tooth and nail against the demons that threatened to consume them, enduring unimaginable pain and hardship in their quest for redemption. But now, as they surrendered to the cathartic release of their tears, they found themselves free from the shackles of their past, liberated from the burdens that had weighed them down for so long.
In the embrace of the night, they allowed themselves to grieve—for the lives lost, for the battles won, and for the scars that would forever mark their souls. And as the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, casting a warm glow upon their tear-streaked faces, they knew that they were no longer alone.
The hours passed and Tanjiro was the only one awake, Nezuko had fallen asleep in his arms. She wouldn’t let him go and each time he tried to lay her down, she would tremble and shake, as if he would be gone forever. She would whimper in her sleep, call out for him, and curl up in his chest.
Tanjiro gently stroked his sister’s hair, a good bath for the both of them would be needed when woke up.
“Tanjiro? Are you in there?”
He looked up at the door, “That voice? Zenitsu?”
Carefully, he freed himself from Nezuko's embrace, tucking her in with a tender kiss on her forehead before rising to his feet.
“What was Zenitsu doing here?”
Opening the door, he was met with the sight of Zenitsu standing in the doorway, his face sweaty and red, from what he would assume traveling so long in the snow.
"Zenitsu," Tanjiro greeted him. "What brings you here at this hour? Now that I think about it. How did you find where we lived too? "
“Would you believe me if I told you a bird told me?”
“Yes. Come on in. Be quiet though, Nezuko’s sleeping.”
“My sweet, sweet, Nezuko. You should let your future brother-in-law take care of her,” Zenitsu's nose was bleeding at the thought of taking care of the girl.
Tanjiro had to hold in his anger? Usually, Zenitsu’s quirkiness didn’t bother. It’s just who he was. Something had changed in him, it was more than just a sibling feeling that he always had, there was something else. Muzan’s desire for Nezuko only intensified Tanjiro’s want to protect and coddle his sister from the world.
“Muzan’s blood… it’s still affecting me. I’m still a demon then…”
“I’m not letting you ‘take care’ of my baby sister, Zenitsu.”
“Come on. You are blind in one eye and only have one usable arm. Let me help out around here.”
“You can help with the physical labor, but Nezuko’s off-limits. She’s mine.” The ending of Tanjiro’s words deepened and it almost made Zenitsu question what the hell was going on with him.
Zenitsu's expression shifted from his usual carefree demeanor to one of concern and confusion as he regarded Tanjiro. The change in Tanjiro's voice, coupled with the intensity of his words, gave him pause, provoking unease within him.
"T-Tanjiro," Zenitsu stammered, his voice wavering slightly. "I-I understand that you want to protect Nezuko, but... you're not thinking clearly. You're still recovering from your injuries, and Muzan's influence..."
Tanjiro's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a steely resolve. "I know what I'm doing, Zenitsu," he replied, his voice firm and unwavering. "And I won't let anyone come between me and Nezuko.”
“Alright. Alright. I brought Inosuke along too, we just wanted to help you out since we still have to find somewhere to live.”
“I’m sorry, Zenitsu. Just tired. Wait. Inosuke? I didn't see -”
It was too late when the door got kicked open by Inosuke who had multiple fish in his hand,
“Ahh. I’m ready to eat, Mr. Forhead.”
Tanjiro's eyes widened in surprise as Inosuke barged into the room, his trademark boar mask perched atop his head and a handful of fish clutched in his grip. The abrupt entrance caught them all off guard, momentarily breaking the tension.
"Inosuke!" Tanjiro exclaimed, a hint of exasperation creeping into his voice. "You can't just kick the door open like that!"
But despite his scolding tone, there was a flicker of amusement in Tanjiro's eyes as he watched his eccentric friend, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Inosuke's unpredictable antics never failed to bring a sense of silliness to even the most somber situations.
Inosuke grinned back at him, his sharp gaze darting between Tanjiro and Zenitsu.
"Sorry, Mr. Forhead," he said, his voice muffled by the mask. "I got hungry and couldn't wait any longer. But don't worry, I brought enough fish for everyone!"
Zenitsu couldn't help but chuckle at Inosuke's unabashed enthusiasm, as laughter bubbled up between them.
"Looks like we're having a feast tonight," Zenitsu remarked, a playful glint in his eyes as he glanced at Tanjiro.
Tanjiro sighed in resignation, a fond smile on his lips despite his weariness.
"Well, I suppose we can't let this food go to waste," he conceded, his tone laced with amusement. "But let's try to keep the door intact next time, Inosuke. And save some for Nezuko too."