A/N: Oh look it's my art of Gerik on the chapter cover! Wow! Amazing! Cool! Etcetera! Etcetera!
(Yes, that is a cat tattoo on his neck, he has to match with his wife even though she has it in her shoulder blade. Yes, his mask has no nose, he thought it'd be funny. Yes, he has piercings in both earlobes, Gerik just built different.)
♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪
Fuck!
What did you do?
What did you do?
What did you do?
What did you do?!
You were silent on your way to the backyard where Tanjiro was leading you and Uzui. So it turns out, the Kakushi said four hours, not four days. And now Gerik was here with your blade or weapon or whatever.
And Uzui was here. And Genya was here too, way earlier than he should be. Maybe you were overreacting, but it was still nerve wracking to know things had changed.
Was it bad that Genya and Uzui were here?
Would it be bad if they were to meet now? Uzui and Genya never had any official interactions in the anime or manga, so it wouldn't be so bad.
But Uzui might mention the curly haired boy to Sanemi, and that might not be good.
"(Y/n), are you okay?" Tanjiro's soft voice breaks you out of your train of thought
Well, it wasn't really a train of thought.
More like seven trains on four railroad tracks narrowly missing each other while all of the conductors are screaming bloody murder.
"Yep!" You lied, "I'm just a little nervous."
A little was an understatement and Tanjiro understood why. You've only been training for almost two months, and in that time, Tanjiro and the others have had a hard time trying to teach you to use a breath.
Well, that's kind of true. He can smell a different air around you while you train, you're doing something but he doesn't know what. And he doubts you've noticed it in yourself.
Inosuke told them that you couldn't get any forms down from Beast Breathing, but you have gotten more flexible due to the attempt to use some of the forms.
Zenitsu is actually the one who's making the most progress training you. Zenitsu said it was because he was the best teacher and isn't insanely rough with you.
But they all knew it was because you're more adaptable with the Thunder Breathing technique. However, Zenitsu mentioned that you were altering the forms he showed you, well form since Zenitsu himself can only do the first one.
Anyway, the blonde had heard it in your sound that you were quick to adapt in using Thunder Breathing. There was just something different that you were doing with it, so they couldn't really say you were using Thunder Breathing.
"I'm sure it'll be okay, (Y/n)," Tanjiro reassures, "Just try to focus on something else."
"Think about what your blade is going to look like!" Uzui supplies, "I bet it will be flamboyant! Unless you just got a plain one...."
"You guys talk to me like if you think I can understand the fuck you're saying," You sigh.
"Huh?"
"You shouldn't swear, (Y/n)." Tanjiro frowns.
Oh, that he understood?
"Tanjiro, you're my friend. And you're so precious to me. But I'll do whatever the fuck I want."
If there was one thing you fucking loathed, was people telling you how you should act. You didn't care who it was, you weren't going to let others run your life just because they were raised differently than you.
Ubuyashiki was obviously different when he corrected you. You owe him a lot for letting you stay, but if he were to tell you to stop being 'unlady-like', you would've told him-as politely as you could muster-to shut the fuck up.
Tanjiro mutters, "Sorry."
"You're so flamboyant, (L/n)! Always speak up for yourself!" Uzui cheers.
"I'm not trying to degrade her!" Tanjiro wails, "I just don't want her to get in trouble one day for a misunderstanding! She doesn't exactly have the ability to explain herself to someone who only speaks Japanese."
"Yeah, I guess that's true." Uzui hums.
You look ahead past Tanjiro and see the doors to the backyard were already opened, there were people out there talking.
Well, arguing, but talking nonetheless.
You furrowed your eyebrows; it was Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Gerik. Why were they yelling?
Anyway, this was still a problem.
You couldn't tell Uzui to go away, you didn't want to be mean since he seems genuinely interested to see your new weapon. But you didn't know if it would be okay for him to meet them yet.
You took a deep breath as you three walked outside.
Gerik was standing at the edge of the engawa (After many years, you finally learned the proper term when Tanjiro was teaching you the name of certain things around the estate. Goodbye patio, hello engawa), tugging at the large, long box that Inosuke was trying to take. Zenitsu was behind Inosuke, trying to get Inosuke to stop.
But the blonde twink was no match for the brunette twunk.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?!" You shout at the boar kid.
Inosuke jumps in fear and immediately lets go of the box. Zenitsu was still pulling at his torso, so they both fell back, and Gerik had fallen back with the box.
You rush to Gerik's side: "Hey, are you okay?"
"That weird... boar monster....!" Gerik points accusingly at Inosuke, "Tried to take the box!"
You sigh and help him back up when you see he was unharmed.
Maybe only traumatized.
"Yeah, he does that sometimes," You look over at Inosuke, "Shame on you, Inosuke!"
Inosuke ignores you though, since he and Zenitsu were busy looking up at Uzui. Inosuke and Zenitsu got up on the engawa with Tanjiro fretting over what just happened.
Zenitsu was S H O O K at the sight of the flamboyant man.
"Y-You were the friend!" Zenitsu points at him, "The friend she was with! Ligma!"
You snort, "Zenitsu, that's not his name!"
"Your Japanese has certainly gotten better since I was last here." Gerik comments.
You smile up at the sword-smith, "Yeah, but I'm still struggling. It's definitely an improvement, though!"
"Who are you, anyway?" Zenitsu asks Uzui.
"Who, me?" Uzui was smug, "Oh, I'll tell you who-"
"-Zenitsu, that's Uzui Tengen. He's the Sound Pillar!" Tanjiro interrupts unintentionally.
"A Pillar?" Inosuke cackles, "You must be strong as hell! Fight me! Fight me so I can beat you and become the strongest!"
Uzui screeches, "You're just disgusting! And you! You damn brat! I was going to make a flamboyant introduction! How dare you interrupt me! You jackass!"
You sighed in annoyance and rubbed your temple, "I feel a migraine coming on."
Gerik nods, "Yes, this is... overwhelming."
Choosing to ignore the yelling group, you raised an eyebrow at your sword-smith: "What are you doing here so soon, anyway? Not that I'm complaining, but I thought you'd take longer."
Gerik slumps his shoulder in shame as he hugs the box closer to himself, "Yes, about that. I have decided... to forging only one weapon. I know I promised more than one, but-"
"-Hey, hey, hey. You don't have to apologize," You cut him off before he could degrade himself further, "I'm more than grateful for just one."
"Right, but I-"
"-Ehhhhhhhh bep-bep-bep-bep! No more! If you talk more shit about yourself, I'll fight you."
"BUT I-"
You shake your head before taking a fighting stance, "'Ight, mate. Square up."
"Wait, what-"
"I'm joking," You drop your stance, "Seriously though, please don't stress about it. One is more than enough."
Gerik looks ready to protest, but another voice had beat him to it.
"U-Um... (L... (Y/n)... Are you... out... here?"
What the hell is Genya doing here?!
Everyone snapped their heads to look at the new comer.
Genya was hiding half-way behind the doorway, searching the crowd before his eyes landed on your stressed-out figure. He moves from the doorway and steps out onto the engawa.
Genya is torn between looking intimidating so the others would leave him alone, and not looking intimidating so you wouldn't run off.
Fortunately, you took the initiative to go to him so he didn't have to do much other than just look at you blankly, willing himself not to blush.
"Genya, hey! Uh...." Crap, how do I say- "What are you doing here?"
Genya furrows his small eyebrows in confusion.
"She asked you what you are doing here." Gerik, bless his soul, translated for you.
Unfortunately for the blonde, he was going to do that for the rest of the night.
"Oh, you told me-she told me to come find her when I had the time." It was easier for Genya to talk to Gerik, "But it looks like you're all having a party or something."
Zenitsu hides slightly behind Inosuke at Genya's tall and intimidating stance. Uzui and Inosuke were just watching silently.
Tanjiro walks up to Genya, "It's nice to see you again!"
Genya's face showed confusion first, but it quickly changed to one of anger and annoyance.
"Drop dead-"
You tried to muffle your laughter, but you couldn't hold it in.
"-And don't talk to me like I'm your friend!"
"But, you're (Y/n)'s friend, right? So that makes us friends." Tanjiro tries to reason.
Genya's cheeks flushes red as he looks at you then back at Tanjiro, "Wh-N-Th-That doesn't make us friends, dumb-ass! You broke my Goddamn arm! Don't tell me you forgot!"
You slow down your laughter, now, a slight amount of anxiety fills your lungs.
You didn't understand much, but you can't help but feel like this isn't supposed to happen yet. You could worry about that later, though.
You let out a dramatic gasp, "You broke his arm?!"
Gerik looks (He still has his clown mask on, but you just knew, okay?) done with everyone's shit: "She is appalled that you broke his arm."
"That's right!" Zenitsu cries, "That's right! I remember!"
Tanjiro huffs, "Hey, you hit a girl. I had to. You're completely at fault. You're Genya, right?"
You were actually shocked by this, well you only understood the 'hit a girl', but still. In the anime, Genya only pulled the girl's hair, but now that you think about it, he did punch her in the manga!
Stupid anime censoring everything!
"You hit a girl?" You frown.
"Mistress is asking for confirmation if you actually hit a girl." Gerik sighs.
Gerik was so excited to show you what he had made for you, but it seems that it was going to have to wait.
Genya tense up and waves his hands frantically in the air as he turns to you, "I-I-I-I wh-I-I apologized when I-I-I saw her! I swear! And you!"
He points to Tanjiro, "Don't call me by my first name!"
Gerik sighs again, "He apologized to her."
Tanjiro was about to speak up, but it seems someone had enough.
"QUIET! ALL OF YOU! ABSOLUTELY ANNOYING! ALL OF YOU ARE SO ANNOYING!" Uzui shouts.
Everyone jumps at his sudden outburst.
"I came here to see the damn blade! It's been more than 5 minutes and I haven't seen shit! Now all of you, sit!"
Everyone excluding Uzui sits down in a nice circle. The order went to Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Gerik, Genya, then you. There was an empty spot between You and Tanjiro so Uzui could sit as well.
Uzui flops down at the empty space, "Fucking finally."
You couldn't hide your grin: "Hey, I think it's a good time for introductions!"
Gerik holds back a groan of annoyance, "She thinks we should introduce ourselves to each other."
"Hello! My name is (Y/n)!"
"Hi (Y/n)." The teenag boys reply very monotonously.
This reminds you of the group therapy you used to go to.
"No, we're not doing that!" Uzui snaps, "Just show us the blade!"
Gerik nods and sets down the box in front of you. The box was long, maybe about three feet? Maybe more, and the width stretches to about a foot.
"Here. I hope you find this to your liking. I took inspiration from a few American fantasy novels, I hope you'll like it."
You widen your eyes.
American fantasy novels? Did that mean he went out of his way to find and read them just for you? Just so your weapon can match you?
As you reach forward, Gerik tells the others what he just told you. They talk to each other in excitement, but they quiet down when you pull off the lid and set in behind you.
(Sorry, it's hella blurry for some reason?? Sorry if the weapon looks off, I'm not the best at designing/drawing weapons!)
It was a Kama in a color black, or maybe a dark grey. There were rings wrapping around the long handle in five different places. The one at the very bottom and very top were a light, and vibrant blue. The three in the middle were pitch black. One the side that was facing up, there was a small hook protruding out at the bottom. Most likely to hook something on there.
At the bottom of the handle, there was a hole that had a long, iron chain attached to it, it had to be two feet long. The hole was bigger than the chain, so you could move it without it getting stuck.
At the other side of the chain, was an octahedron in the same color if the handle with a small, hollow circle protruding at the end, most likely to hook something on there as well. Each face of the octahedron was dipped in with sharp edges.
The blade was a little more than a foot long and dipped down a bit in a crescent shape. The dull, grey blade was thin, but definitely thicker than the normal nichirin blade.
Folded next to the blade, was a white belt used for the Demon Slayer's Uniform. Separated evenly on each side of the belt, were two buckles. It was for the small hooks on the Kama. There was a thick wrapping on the other side of the blade in a cream shade. It's used to cover the blade.
"Whoah...." Tanjiro sighs.
"I know you are inexperienced, but I still hope this will be useful to you in battle." You could hear the smile in Gerik's voice.
"It's so beautiful.... and badass...." You praise.
"What?! Why is your weapon so cool?!" Inosuke huffs, steam coming out of the nostrils of his mask, "Let me fucking see it!"
Inosuke leans forward and reaches to grab it.
"NO!"
Everyone shouts at the boar in a frantic manner. Uzui takes Inosuke's wrist in a light hold, but it was still more than enough, stopping him from touching it.
"Huh?! Let go of me!"
"You dumb-ass!" Genya shouts, "If you touch it, it'll change color!"
"Hah?! So what! She can just touch it and it'll change!" Inosuke struggles against Uzui's hold.
"No, it won't. Once it has changed color, it will stay that way forever." Gerik explains, "Just because hers is made into a Kama, the rule still applies."
Inosuke understands immediately, "Oh...."
Uzui lets Inosuke go and Inosuke sits back.
You smiled softly, "Hey. It's okay, Inosuke. It was just a mistake. I'm not upset or anything."
Inosuke huffs and leans his elbow on his knee to rest his head in his palm. But he doesn't say anything.
"So?" Gerik looks at you expectantly.
"Right...." You look at the Kama, "Just know, if it doesn't change color, I'm gonna paint the blade so no one can tell."
"Can you not use a breath?" Gerik asks.
You shake your head, "Last time I checked, no."
"I see. Well, either way, I hope you'll accomplish great things with this."
You nod, "Like what the penis said to the vagina-"
"-What?"
"-I'm going in."
You pick up the handle of the octahedron and hold it up. It was relatively light, maybe a pound, the octahedron was a little heavier.
You all stared at it in anticipation.
But nothing happened.
"Wubba Lubba dub dub." You deadpanned.
"Well...." Uzui click/ his tongue.
"HA-HA!" Inosuke laughs, "Loser!"
"Hey!" Zenitsu frowns.
"Inosuke! That's not nice!" Tanjiro scolds.
"You fucking pig!" Genya snarls.
"Inosuke, I will literally kick you in the fucking dick!" You snap.
That's when your blade starts to change color.