Chapter Text
The sun was high in the sky as I made my way to the village for my patrol assignment. The warmth of the day felt good against my skin, a welcome change from the usual chill of the early morning forest. I was looking forward to this assignment, if only because it gave me a chance to explore a part of the region I didn’t usually visit.
As I approached the outskirts of the village, I noticed a group of familiar faces gathered near a small food stall. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were there, animated as always, their presence impossible to miss. Zenitsu was waving his arms dramatically, his voice carrying on the breeze, while Inosuke seemed to be challenging someone—or something—nearby. Tanjiro stood in the middle, trying his best to mediate whatever chaos was unfolding.
I smiled, quickening my pace to join them. Just as I arrived, Zenitsu’s voice rose in a familiar wail.
“Why does this always happen to me? It’s not fair! I just wanted some mochi, but they’re all sold out!”
“You snooze, you lose!” Inosuke bellowed, clearly relishing in Zenitsu’s misfortune as he stuffed his face with what was presumably the last piece of mochi. “It’s survival of the fittest, and I’m the fittest!”
“Stop eating it all, Inosuke!” Zenitsu protested, lunging forward in a futile attempt to snatch a piece from the boar-headed slayer’s hands.
“Inosuke, that’s not fair,” Tanjiro said, trying to calm the situation. “You should share with Zenitsu. We’re all a team, remember?”
“Team? Hah! There’s no such thing as a team when it comes to food!” Inosuke declared, ignoring Tanjiro’s attempts at diplomacy as he continued to munch away.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. It was always a riot when these three were together. Their personalities were so different, yet somehow, they balanced each other out in a strange, chaotic harmony.
“You three are always up to something, aren’t you?” I called out as I approached.
Tanjiro turned to me with a warm smile. “Oh, hello! Are you on patrol duty today?”
“I am,” I replied, stepping closer to the group. “But it looks like you’re all having your own little adventure."
Zenitsu immediately perked up at my presence, his earlier complaints forgotten as he flashed me a bright smile. “Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence! I must say, the day just got a lot brighter!”
Inosuke scoffed, glaring at Zenitsu. “Stop sucking up, you coward! She’s not going to save you from me!”
Zenitsu shot back, his voice rising to a near-shriek. “I’m not sucking up, you brute! I’m just being polite! Something you clearly know nothing about!”
“Enough, both of you,” Tanjiro said with a sigh, though there was an amused twinkle in his eye. “Let’s all calm down. We’re supposed to be working together.”
“I think working together is a bit much to ask,” I joked, glancing between Zenitsu and Inosuke. “But at least try not to destroy the village while you’re at it.”
Zenitsu nodded vigorously, as if agreeing with me would somehow protect him from Inosuke’s wrath. “Exactly! See? She understands! We need to be civil here, Inosuke!”
Inosuke’s response was to shove the last piece of mochi into his mouth, glaring at Zenitsu with defiance. “I’ll show you civil!” he mumbled through a mouthful of food, his words barely intelligible.
Before Zenitsu could launch into another tirade, a familiar voice called out from behind us. “What’s all the commotion here?”
He stood there with a relaxed posture, casually waving at a group of villagers who passed by, smiling warmly at them. The villagers, especially the women, giggled and whispered among themselves, clearly charmed by his presence. There was a sense of ease in the way he interacted with them, his hospitality evident in the way he asked about their well-being, complimented them on their work, and even helped an elderly woman carry her basket of goods.
As we got closer, his sharp eyes caught mine, and he flashed a wide, teasing grin. There was a playful glint in his eyes that told me he was up to something.
“Ah, if it isn’t my favorite frost flower,” he called out, his voice smooth and confident, carrying a hint of mischief. “What brings you to this quiet little village?”
I smiled back, trying to keep the warmth from reaching my cheeks. “Just on patrol duty. Didn’t expect to see you here, Tengen.”
“Well, someone’s got to keep an eye on things around here,” he replied with a casual shrug. “Besides, the villagers could use a little extra sparkle in their lives, don’t you think?”
Zenitsu, who had been sulking over some earlier mishap, suddenly brightened at the sight of Tengen. “Tengen-sama! It’s so good to see you!” His tone was a mix of awe and relief, and he quickly scurried over to the Sound Hashira.
Tengen’s grin widened as he glanced at Zenitsu. “Ah, Zenitsu! Always a pleasure. How’s life treating you? Still managing to avoid the demons and keep your head attached?”
Zenitsu nodded eagerly, though his nervous energy was still evident. “Y-Yes, Tengen-sama! Though I have to admit, it’s a lot easier when you’re around. You know, with all your… skills.”
Inosuke, not one to be outdone, puffed out his chest and marched up to Tengen. “Skills? Ha! I’ve got skills too, you know! I can take down any demon that crosses my path!” He jabbed a thumb at his chest, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Tengen chuckled, clearly amused. “Is that so, Inosuke? You think you’re up for a challenge? I might have a few tricks up my sleeve that could surprise even you.”
Inosuke’s eyes lit up, clearly excited by the prospect of a challenge. “Bring it on! I’m ready for anything!”
Before Inosuke could charge at him, Tengen raised a hand, laughing. “Easy there, wild boar. I’d hate to ruin the peace of this lovely village. Maybe we’ll spar another time, when we’re not surrounded by so many innocent bystanders.”
Inosuke huffed, but didn’t push the issue, clearly still eager for that promised fight. Zenitsu, on the other hand, edged a little closer to Tengen, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
“T-Tengen-sama,” Zenitsu began, glancing around nervously, “maybe you could show me some of your... other skills? You know, the ones that don’t involve fighting?”
Tengen’s smirk turned mischievous as he leaned down, his voice dropping just enough to make the others strain to hear. “Ah, Zenitsu, you’re asking about those skills, huh? Well, let’s just say it’s not something I can teach you in a single session. It takes… practice, if you catch my drift.”
Zenitsu’s eyes went wide, his face turning beet red as the implication sunk in. “P-Practice?!” he stammered, his voice squeaking in his usual dramatic fashion.
Inosuke, completely oblivious to the innuendo, tilted his head in confusion. “What kind of practice are you talking about? Is it some sort of special training?”
Tengen laughed, clearly enjoying the confusion on Inosuke’s face. “Oh, it’s special, alright. But I’m afraid it’s a bit too advanced for you, Inosuke. Maybe stick to what you know best—bashing heads and taking names.”
Inosuke frowned, still not understanding, but he didn’t seem too bothered. “Hmph. I’ll figure it out eventually.”
Tanjiro, ever the peacekeeper, chuckled softly, though there was a slight blush on his cheeks as well. “Maybe it’s best if we focus on the task at hand. We still have a bit of patrolling left to do.”
Tengen nodded, though his grin didn’t fade. “Always the responsible one, Tanjiro. But you’re right. Duty calls.”
Before we could move on, Tengen turned back to the villagers, his tone suddenly more serious, though still warm. “Take care of yourselves, alright? And remember, if there’s ever any trouble, don’t hesitate to call for help. We’re here to keep you safe.”
The villagers nodded, thanking him profusely, and as we walked away, I couldn’t help but notice the genuine affection in Tengen’s eyes as he watched them. Despite his flashy exterior, there was a deep sense of responsibility and care in him that often went unnoticed. It was clear that he valued the lives of those he protected, even if he hid it behind a mask of flamboyance and humor.
As we made our way through the village, Tengen fell into step beside me, his usual teasing grin back in place. “So, how’s life treating you, Frost Flower? Still keeping the boys in line?”
I rolled my eyes at the nickname, but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “As best as I can. They’re a handful, but it’s nice to have some company for a change.”
“Ah, I see,” he said, his tone light. “But you know, if you ever need a break from all the seriousness, I’m always up for a little… fun.” He winked, his voice dripping with playful innuendo.
I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll keep that in mind, Tengen. But for now, I think I’ll stick to my patrol duties.”
“Suit yourself,” he replied with a chuckle. “But the offer stands. You never know when you might need a little extra sparkle in your life.”
With a final, exaggerated bow, Tengen bid us farewell, his presence lingering in the air long after he had disappeared from sight. The trio watched him go, each with their own thoughts—Zenitsu still blushing furiously, Inosuke looking determined to figure out the “special training,” and Tanjiro, as always, calm and focused.
As we continued our patrol, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of lightness in the air, as if Tengen’s playful energy had left behind a ripple of joy that would carry us through the rest of the day. And as we moved on to our next destination, I knew that the challenges ahead would be met with a smile, no matter what they might be.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft orange glow across the sky, I made my way back to the Butterfly Mansion. The day had been uneventful—no demons, no battles—just the quiet peace of the village that lingered in my mind. My thoughts wandered as I walked through the familiar halls of the mansion, the scent of medicinal herbs and blooming flowers filling the air. It was a calmness I rarely experienced, and I savored every moment of it.
Reaching my quarters, I pushed the door open to find Muichiro already inside, his expression as blank as ever. His long, dark hair with teal ends caught the last rays of sunlight, giving him an almost ethereal appearance. In his hands were two neatly wrapped boxes of furofuki daikon.
“Ah, there you are,” he said in his usual monotone, holding up the boxes. “I brought these for… someone.”
I raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at my lips. “For someone? Did you forget who the other box is for, Muichiro-san?”
He blinked, his expression showing a rare moment of confusion. “Oh… right. I guess I did.”
Chuckling softly, I walked over to him and took one of the boxes. “Thank you, Muichiro. I’ll take this one then. Maybe the other was for you?”
He seemed to consider this for a moment before shrugging. “Perhaps. But if you want both, that’s fine too.”
I smiled at his nonchalance, setting the box aside on my desk. “You really need to be more careful with things like this, Master,” I teased lightly.
His eyes flickered, the barest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Maybe. But it’s not too important.”
As I placed the second box beside the first, something caught my attention from the corner of my eye. A dark silhouette, barely distinguishable against the garden’s fading light, slipped away quietly, disappearing around the corner of the mansion.
“Did you see that?” I asked, glancing back at Muichiro.
“See what?” He tilted his head, following my gaze, but his expression remained unbothered.
“Never mind,” I murmured, shaking my head slightly. It could have been anyone—a passing servant or perhaps another Hashira—but something about the way they moved had caught my attention. There was a fleeting familiarity to it, but I couldn’t quite place who it could have been.
