Chapter Text
She's glad she doesn't have to go to the headquarters; she's heard that a few of her fellow kakushi have met the hashira. All of them told her they were absolutely terrifying.
She doesn't want to meet them yet (not on her first day at least) she's seen them from afar though, when she was being trained for the position and she didn't need to look at them for long to know the other kakushi were right.
Even though she's relaxed, despite of carrying a demon slayer on her back, the kakushi boy next to her is really nervous. He has a wooden box with him, the demon slayer says it's really important.
"I'm sorry for making you carry me all the way here," the demon slayer says. His voice is kind and soft and she finds herself grinning when she hears him.
"It's alright. This is part of my job after all."
"You're really strong!" He comments, making her blush.
"Thank you! What's your–"
"Are you alright?" Her fellow kakushi cuts her off suddenly, looking at the boy on her back. He seems nervous. "Is she hurting you?"
"Hey!" She protests, but the kakushi ignores her.
"No, I'm fine. Well, my arm hurts, but I suppose that's normal since it's broken."
"Give him to me."
She almost drops her patient, because as soon as they reach the backyard, the water hashira appears in front of them. Why is he there? She didn't want to–
"The Pillar gave you an order..." Her companion nudges her hard on the ribs. He's almost trembling.
"Tomioka-san!" The boy on her back says, he sounds happy, like he doesn't know he's in front of a hashira, perhaps he hit his head as well.
Looking irritated, the water hashira spreads his arms and the girl pales before immediately handing him the demon slayer.
"Tanjirou, my boy! Are you alright?"
She is petrified when another comes; the flame hashira leans over the young demon slayer, grinning at him before softly touching his forehead. Tomioka glares at the other Pillar, but doesn't move Tanjirou away.
What is going on? Why are they looking at him like that? Is every single hashira in the butterfly mansion?
"I'm fine!" Tanjirou mumbles, beaming at them. He's like the sun, she observes, his eyes, his smile, all of him is warm. "It's just my arm. I think it's broken."
"That won't do," Uzui says. Luckily, the girl is too frozen to scream, but she still gets startled when yet another hashira appears out of nowhere.
"Get us some medicine!" Rengoku tells the two kakushi and her companion quickly rushes into the mansion, leaving her completely alone with the Pillars.
The other arrive in the blink of an eye and suddenly everyone is gathered around Tomioka because he's the one holding Tanjirou.
Who's that boy anyway? Why are the hashira so... soft with him?
"Come on, Obanai!" Kanroji says, after glancing at Tanjirou. "Let's get him some rice balls. He must be starving!"
"Who did this to him? Answer me!"
She's not ready to face the rage of the wind hashira; she shivers and sobs.
"A demon, but it's dead now, Sir!" Her companion responds immediately, after handing the insect Pillar the medicine. He looks breathless, like he just ran all the way to arrive as quickly as possible.
"Don't be like that, Shinazugawa-san! They've been nothing but kind to me this whole time!" Tanjirou protests, making the wind hashira growl; he looks away from him.
"This only means you need to train more," he hisses, pretending he doesn't care, even though he keeps eyeing Tanjirou's injured arm.
"You're right..."
Tomioka finally sits on the ground, with the young demon slayer in his arms. Rengoku takes the wooden box away from the other kakushi and sits next to them. Uzui starts putting a few bandages around the arm (after resetting it). Kocho helps him drink the medicine while Rengoku asks him about the mission to make him smile and distract him from the pain while running his fingers through his dark red hair.
The water hashira looks at him and for a moment she thinks she can see him smile fondly at Tanjirou.
"What is going on?" She finally snaps in a whisper just in time for her to see Iguro and Kanroji arrive with a lot of rice balls. When Tokito offers Tanjirou to feed him, she feels completely lost. She doesn't understand anything apparently. "I thought they were terrifying all the time!"
"Not when they're with Tanjirou," the kakushi boy explains. "They always turn into soft puppies around him."
"Is he special?"
"He must be, because they adore him."