Chapter Text
Inosuke learned early on that unless you go for something you will not get it.
Most clear cut it applied to food. While the other piglets grew big and strong fast, his own body remained small and weak. He didn't have the concave snout for digging up the best roots and hidden vegetables, he didn't have the sharp tusks and strength to fight the others for their share. No matter if he ran on two legs or four he would always fall behind.
It's not that his flock was trying to kick him out or anything. The other pigs would let him cuddle up close when he was cold, and they would always keep an eye on him. But they also had their own survival to think about.
Most of what he remembers about his childhood is being hungry.
His title as king of the mountain did not come easy, after all.
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Inosuke has been very quiet lately. Tanjiro would be grateful, if not for the fact that it's so undeniable something must be wrong. Many words could and had been used to describe the wild child, but quiet had never been one of them.
Tanjiro isn't the smartest person, he knows this. Surrounded by so many extraordinary people like he is on the daily it's hard not to. He does pride himself on his ability to empathize with others though.
It has often come in handy when dealing with his closest friends, who are both rather self-serving by nature. He doesn't mind that. The important thing is that they both have the good will and strength to put themselves aside to help others when it really matters. And he knows in his heart, that his friends are good people.
Other than that there are not many similarities between Zenitsu and Inosuke.
Where Zenitsu goes into every situation expecting to fall short in every way, Inosuke approaches the same situations with a bloated sense of hubris. Where Zenitsu would rather spend his days curled up somewhere in the sun slacking off, Inosuke would not waste a second that could be spent in movement. While Zenitsu would cling to anyone that gave him the most basic of kindness, Inosuke prided himself on his independence. Where Zenitsu was well versed in the theoretical knowledge of things, Inosuke… Uh, never mind.
Point is, his friends was two very different people, yet somehow they did bring something out of the other that made them a surprisingly well-balanced duo. Zenitsu would stand up for himself and tell Inosuke off when he was being too much, forgetting his need to be well-liked in his presence and being tricked to live in the moment. Zenitsu's knowledge, skill and a sense of rivalry forces Inosuke to think about the consequences of his actions and use his words, saving him many broken bones and months of rehabilitation in the end.
And though they are not the easiest people to get along with, they both liked and would protect Nezuko and therefore he wholeheartedly believes they were good friends.
So it's not like he hasn't noticed that Inosuke, lately, has been quiet.
....
They are eating a simple meal made up of rice and veggies together while Zenitsu is off somewhere and Nezuko is sleeping. It's one of those lazy days at the Wisteria Manor when they're all mostly healed, but officially they're still healing. There's nothing on their schedule but simple exercises and resting. Of course, habits like working out and cooking were still hard to kill and he himself liked to follow his routine, although Zenitsu liked to skip out on the tougher parts.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Huuuh!?" Inosuke immediately puffs out his chest and extends his arms to look intimidating. "Why do you wanna know!? Whatcha' planning to do with my thoughts!?"
Even though it sounds like a diversion, not a hint of insincerity passes Inosuke's face at the accusation. Tanjiro doesn't rise to the obvious bait and just shrugs him off.
"You just seemed like there was something on your mind, is all."
Inosuke studies him carefully before sitting back down, slumping in on himself in sharp contrast to the aggressiveness he tried to channel just a second ago.
"Hey, Pachiro… How do you get someone to look happy at you?"
Tanjiro puts down the rice he'd been eating.
"What do you mean?"
"Smile! Look at you and tell you you're great and they want you to always protect them and no one else!"
"Oh." Tanjiro blinks. It's the first time he's heard Inosuke express such a wish out loud. Of course, he often expressed a wish for praise, but it had never before been focused on any particular person. "I guess people will smile when they're happy. If you make them feel happy and safe, they are going to trust that you will protect them."
"How!?" Inosuke sounds brusque as always, but his eyes are sparkling now with barely contained ambition. Tanjiro takes a swift sniff in the air. Behind the strong smell of food, he gets a hint of excitement or at least something close. A little hopefulness maybe. It seemed Inosuke genuinely wanted to figure this out.
Tanjiro takes a second to think about it, finger tapping at his chin. What would make him feel happy and cared for?
"I guess maybe if you give them a gift? That shows you've been thinking about them."
"Ahaa!" Inosuke stands up, chest puffed out and muscles tense with renewed vigor. "I will bring the best gift to show I am the strongest friend!"
Then he's off, knocking over an empty bowl in his hurry to get away. Tanjiro simply pushes it back upright.
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Zenitsu likes spending his down-time alone next to running streams of water. It might seem like an oddly specific interest, but the relatively quiet gurgle of the water has always been a relaxing sound to him and the way the light reflects is nice to boot.
Not to mention there has never been any demon attacking him coming out of a stream… So far .
He doesn't really interact with the water or anything. Back when he could he would bring an instrument and try to make a symphony together with all the sounds of nature. He'd tap the strings, making up songs and melodies. It was a good way to relax. With an instrument in his arms he could focus on one thing. Normally the sounds were too wild, too everywhere, all of them screaming for his attention at once. A bug scattering up a tree, the wind rustling some leaves, the distant clinking of a wind chime, worms wriggling in the dirt under his feet. His hearing had always been more a curse than a blessing. But as he played, it was like the world silenced for a moment and let him breathe.
Not that he was particularly good at it or anything. He just liked it. No one else had to know he did it.
In his for once non-panicked state of mind he can hear the surefire steps of Inosuke running through the bushes towards him from a mile away. He isn't sure how Inosuke knew where to find him, but he is running in a surprisingly straight line so it's no mistaking where he's heading.
Hiding is harder though. Inosuke reaches him before he even got halfway to the nearest bush big enough to cover him.
Inosuke barges through the trees with a dramatic entrance, and though he was well aware of what was coming Zenitsu still startles.
"WAAH! ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK?! SO CRUEL, I COULD'VE DIED FOR REAL!"
Inosuke completely ignores his screams and laughs confidently, slapping at his chest in some weird display of machismo.
"I'm here to bless you with my company! Kneel before the mighty me and I might let you!"
"Absolutely not!" Zenitsu throws a stray stick at him, which Inosuke just shakes off.
Then out of nowhere his body goes still, like remembering something, and he turns to stare at Zenitsu. Or well… Zenitsu assumes as much. That creepy boar head is always looking in who knows what direction.
"W-what? Why are you looking at me like that?" The blonde tugs nervously at his haori, like more coverage would offer protection from whatever evil Inosuke was planning. The uncharacteristic stillness was making him even more anxious. A thinking Inosuke was never a good sign.
He can't believe he will have to die here, with Inosukes stupid boar-face the last thing he would see. He could at least have taken it off so it would be Inosuke's unfairly gorgeous actual face instead if he was planning on killing him.
"I brought a gift."
Inosuke's expression doesn't change, probably. He just brings his hand behind his back and then seemingly out of nowhere he brings his hand back forth holding a potato, holding it out to Zenitsu. To his merit, he doesn't immediately slap it out of Inosuke's hands. Instead he takes his time to suspiciously inspect the nubby root, being careful not to touch it. It looks like a normal potato. Smells like one too, from what he can tell. Like dirt mostly, and a little bit of Inosuke (who also mostly smells like dirt. It's not entirely unpleasant though). All in all it just leaves him more confused than before.
"Food." Inosuke clarifies.
Zenitsu is just even more confused.
Frustrated, Inosuke finally pushes it into Zenitsu's hand.
"Uh… Thanks?"
Inosuke keeps staring at him expectantly. Slowly, to gauge his reactions, he brings the potato to his mouth and takes a bite. It's raw and starchy, not to mention full of actual dirt. Zenitsu is pretty sure he just sealed his own doom. He'll die from food poisoning, or intestinal parasites or something else horrible and painful.
But Inosuke is still staring.
"Mm. Yum!" He pretends anyway.
Inosuke nods finally and looks away. He seems satisfied, but not happy. Zenitsu tries to discreetly toss the rest of the potato into the water.
"Pig attack!" Inosuke then throws himself onto his turned back, making him lose his footing and flailing his arms, ripping the mask of his assailant in his attempt to get him off. He hits the ground hard enough to lose his breath, and the thought reflexively hits him that he might just have broken his back and will end up paralyzed for the rest of his life before spite takes over because at least he took Inosuke down with him.
Inosuke actually looks a little thrown off guard - a good look on him, Zenitsu thinks - before catching himself and his face morphs into a cocky smirk. What does the stupid pig even have to be cocky about? That Zenitsu took most of the brunt while he himself comfortably fell on top of him? That's just mean! Horrible!
Inosuke looks like he's just about to gloat about his victory and Zenitsu is readying himself to respond with a piece of his mind, but then something in his expression changes and he just stares at Zenitsu instead. The fight kinda drains out of him as awkwardness takes its place. Is there something on his face!? He had walked all through town this morning! His hand snaps up to feel his cheeks but there's nothing there. His sudden movement however makes Inosuke flinch and blood start to rush to his face at an impressive speed, considering the colour of his cheeks. He jumps off Zenitsu, grabs his mask and runs until he's at a safe distance between the trees.
"You got lucky your king decided to let you off easy today! Goodbye, minion!"
Then he's off.
Zenitsu is still on the ground, thoroughly confused. The water is once again the only sound apart from Inosuke's retreating footsteps and his own drumming heartbeat.
"What was that all about…"