The burials went much quicker with Inosuke helping, and while I felt bad for being unable to help much, Tanjiro and Zenitsu agreed that helping keep Inosuke in check was enough.
By the time we had fully finished, dusk had settled upon us. The boys were praying and I had convinced Inosuke to practice his headbutting skills to keep him busy. The cawing of Tanjrios crow interrupted our silence.
"Descend the mountain! Descend the mountain! Alright everyone, it's time to follow yours truly!"
While Tanjiro gathered up Nezuko's box, Zenitsu helped me up from my spot and into my shoes. Looks like he'll be guiding me for now. Pulling me towards the group, Zenitsu stood me between Tanjiro and himself.
Inosuke, being himself, insisted Tanjiro finish their fight, while Tanjiro just brushed him off. How Tanjiro had enough patience, I'll never know because he distracted Inosuke into practicing his headbutt once more as we walked.
The evening air felt refreshing as we walked down the mountain, the stress of today rolling off my shoulders. I let out a sigh of contentment.
"That was a big sigh, are you feeling alright?" Zenitsu squeezed my hand as he spoke, gaining my attention.
"Yeah, I'm alright. Today was just very long and I'm glad it's almost over," I explained squeezing his hand back. I could feel him blush at my actions, but he didn't make a comment so I kept talking.
"You did great today, by the way. You protected Shoichi, right?"
"Yea I guess, although I feel like he protected me. I'm pretty weak so I don't know how I survived." I smiled at his honesty.
"Maybe you helped each other. I know I draw strength from the encouragement of those around me; although I know I'm weak myself, I do what I can."
"You help out a lot by just being around, you comforted the kids, you had food when we were hungry, you're really smart too." I felt myself blush at Zenitsus words.
"Thank you Zenitsu. That's sweet of you to say," I thought for a moment. "Uhm, what do you look like? Your voice is kind, when you're not screaming anyway."
I felt Zenitsu deadpan for a moment, before stopping to think. Absentmindedly rubbing his thumb across the back of my hand, he answered.
"I have a yellow haori with white triangles on it, I have yellow hair as well. I'm about as tall as Tanjiro, so a little bit taller than you- oh! And I have a handsome face with honey brown eyes. So, I definitely look like I should be your husband," Zenitsu's confident description made me laugh.
I could feel Zenitsu deadpan again, which made me laugh more.
"You don't have to be so harsh (Y/N)."
"Haha- no it's just," I took a deep breath to calm my laughter, but I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. "Your confidence, it's endearing. You sound very cute, Zenitsu."
Zenitsu melted at my words, nearly collapsing as his cheeks caught fire. I seem to have left him speechless, so I let the conversation end. The caravan stopped when the kids announced that they could go home on their own from here and Zenitsu found his voice once more, pleading Shoichi to stay and protect him.
I couldn't help but giggle at their arguing. Tanjiro ended up having to knock out Zenitsu to calm him down. After waving the kids off with a bird barf wisteria charm, the crow called for us to move again. I held my hand out, hoping Tanjiro could guide me.
"Sorry (Y/N), I can't guide you now since I have to carry Zenitsu. Inosuke, would you mind guiding (Y/N)? You just have to hold her hand and make sure she doesn't trip or bump into anything." Inosuke scoffed at Tanjiros request.
"Just use your breathing and follow us. It's not hard." I frowned, I know I should practice but it's been a long day.
"Please? Just this once?" Tanjiro pleaded on my behalf and I felt guilty for making him ask.
"No. I can do it by myself, but thank you Tanjiro," I smiled and prepared myself to use total concentration breathing. In and out, that's all, nothing to it. Hyping myself up I took my first step towards the boys. Tanjiro felt heavier, but that was just because he's carrying Zenitsu. Inosuke gave little to no vibrations at all, sometimes making his stomping silent.
I walked with the boys, feeling their footsteps and following suit. Tanjiro was more reliable, his steps let me have time to move if I needed to avoid an obstacle. His smooth even pace made this much easier.
Inosuke though, was distracting to say the least. His footsteps were erratic always landing in an unexpected place or position. Jumping over small twigs and stomping on rocks; he walked as if the world would bow to him.
"Fight me!" Not even five minutes and Inosuke wanted to fight again. "I swear I'm gonna find a weak point and bring you down, loser!"
I couldn't help but feel charmed by his motivation. Even when Tanjiro decided to keep talking with him, I was smiling at the two.
"My name is not "loser"! It's Tanjiro Kamado!"
"Gonpachiro Kamaboko! I'm gonna bring you down!"
Inosukes mispronunciation of Tanjiros name about put me on the ground in laughter. I'd swear to all the Gods and deities that the laughter that bubbled out of me was the ugliest noise I've ever made, even while covering it with my hand. Tanjiro hadn't given up on Inosuke though.
"Who the hell are you talking about?!"
"That would be you!"
"No, it's someone else!" My giggles started to calm now that the boys were talking in circles. I could finally breathe again. Almost anyway, until Zenitsu woke up from the noise.
"Can you talk any louder?!"
And my laughter continued as if it hadn't stopped in the first place. I lost my breathing technique during my first bout of laughter and have been following the boys voices, so when I tripped and fell over a wayward stone my laughter increased tenfold.
Tanjiro was the first to come to my aid, setting Zenitsu down on the way.
"Are you okay (Y/N)? I knew Inosuke should've guided you," his worried tone seeped through my giggles and let his words settle me once more.
"I'm-" I stopped to gulp down some fresh air, to force myself to breathe properly. "I'm alright, nothing I haven't dealt with before."
I push myself to my knees brushing my hands off on my kimono. Zenitsus hands found their way into my own.
"(Y/N)-chan, you've gotta be careful. You'll damage your- HOW ARE YOUR HANDS SO ROUGH!?" The contact sent his shock down my spine. This wasn't the first time we've held hands right? I pulled my hand from his grip as I stood up.
"How haven't you noticed it before?" Brushing my kimono for dirt, I try refocusing my breath. When Zenitsu speaks again I lose my focus again.
"But beautiful women like you should have soft delicate hands!"
I pause at his statement. My hands stopping their brushing motion to grip onto the fabric instead. Beautiful. I haven't been called that before. I know the meaning but it's never meant much to me. Not like it does for others.
"Zenitsu, please understand that I can't see what you do. My hands are just my hands, whether my face is pretty or not; I didn't even know I could walk unassisted until very recently, so touching things is how I got around." I tried to explain myself but my voice seemed to waver. Am I insecure? About my hands?? I didn't used to have a problem, but having them pointed out to me suddenly makes me self conscious about them.
"Zenitsu it's rude to say things like that to people. You should apologize," Tanjiros voice cut through my cloudy mind, bringing me back to my breathing.
Another deep breath and I'm back to feeling the world around me. I don't need anyone to hold my hand ever again, so it'll be fine.
"(Y/N)-" Zenitsu was starting to say something but I don't want any apologies. I plaster a smile on my face as I interrupt the boys chatter.
"It's fine. He didn't mean anything by it, so let's keep moving." Tucking my hands into my long sleeves I brush past them, following Inosuke who hadn't bothered to stop walking.
I felt awkward the rest of the walk, but did my best not to show it. I couldn't focus well enough to walk on my own so I tried just following Inosukes stomping. It must've been obvious I was struggling because Tanjiros kind hand grasped my own.
Without thinking I jerk away from his touch, but feeling my flinching made him recoil completely. He's worried is all, it's filled him to the brim since I refused Zenitsus apology.
Ugh. I feel bad for making Tanjiro worry, it's not a big deal really. Hands are hands, right? I'm just being sensitive over it. I sigh at myself and move back to Tanjiro, grasping his sleeve.
I could feel the cautious optimism roll off him as we walked together. I hoped not to worry him so much in the future.
Feeling Tanjiros warmth roll off him as we walked began to lull me to sleep, my head dipping and bobbing as we walked. Each step caused my weight to shift foot to foot; side to side. The sun was nearly gone, the last rays settling on the land around us.
It was almost cicada season, the chirping hum marking the beginning of the night. The ambient noises only worsened my fatigue, the gentle rocking of the walk, the warmth rolling off Tanjiro; not like I could tell a difference but I'm sure my eyes drooped closed.
The peace of the night getting to me until my sandal caught on the ground, my balance was lacking in my sleepy state so I just braced myself for the impact.
I never met the ground however as I heard Tanjiro begin to fret over me.
"Oh gosh! Are you okay? Do you need me to carry you (Y/N)?"
A yawn escaped me as I made myself comfortable in the arms that caught me.
"This is-" a yawn interrupted me, "this is fine, he's got me, right?"
I heard my savior scoff, tipping me off to the fact it was Inosuke.
"Like hell I'm gonna carry you! I oughta drop you right now you ungrateful littl-" Tanjiro must've already figured out the way to convince Inosuke into doing what we need him to.
"Oh- of course Inosuke, if you're just as tired as (Y/N) then I'll carry you and Zenitsu can carry her. No need to strain yourself at all."
"No way! I could carry all three of you and not tire out! I'm gonna carry her all the way to wherever we're going! You weaklings couldn't even make the trip there!"
The rumble of Inosukes voice resonated through his chest as he adjusted his hold on me. He slid his arms beneath my knees and pulled my torso closer to his own. I imagined how it looked, my small frame in the arms of this boar headed beast of a man. The image made me smile as I rest my head in the crook of his neck. His steps rocking me back to sleep.
"It's like that one fairytale, the beauty and the beast." I mumbled out in a semi delirious state.
"Hmpf. What are you going on about?" Inosukes voice rumbled through his mask and chest.
"It's a story where a girl falls in love with a beast," I yawn, rubbing my face into the fur of his mask; as if it were a pillow. "And because she loves him, he turns into a prince at the end."
"The hell is a prince?"
"A leader of a place, or a certain people. Kinda like the emperor," I feel sleep beginning to take hold as I try to think of what exactly a prince is, and Inosuke is surprisingly patient as I try to define it. "Or if you'd rather you can think of a prince as someone whose noble and chivalrous."
I only heard him grunt in response as we walked on, my dreams, and Inosuke, carrying me into the night.