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"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Tanjiro feels his heart pounding in his chest, trying to find the right words to express how terrible he feels. "I- I'm... I'm with- I want to be with-"
Someone else.
"Someone else. " Aoi finishes for him, eyes on the ground. "It's okay... I... I figured."
He hesitantly reaches for her hand, but stops himself just inches away. He cannot stand to make this worse than it already is.
"I'm sorry." Tanjiro whispers. " I'm so sorry. I wish-"
He doesn't know what he wishes.
She never loved him? Never said anything? That he could love her back?
He doesn't know.
She looks at him, and the hurt on her face, the quiver of her lip, the way she fusses with her apron uncomfortably, it cuts him to the core.
He did this.
This is his fault.
"You can keep it." She gestures to the gift shakily, a small bundle of flowers and a plate of food, before standing up and walking away.
Tanjiro sees her shoulders shake, sees her break into a run and disappear around the corner, and all he can think is,
I'm a terrible person.
He's shaking. His breath is too fast, he can feel the panic beginning to settle in along with the realization of what he'd just done.
Oh my god.
If you feel this terrible...
Just imagine how she feels.
You did that.
Your fault.
He hears footsteps approaching and a voice calling his name. "-iro? Tanjiro?"
Tanjiro can't make himself confirm his presence. His eyes lock on the ground.
He'd suspected. Aoi had always been so specifically nice to him. Asking him if he wanted anything specific to eat, talking to him kindly while Inosuke or Zenitsu got their butts kicked in training with Kanao.
Why didn't you say something sooner?
How would he have brought it up?
Hey so I think you like me, but I don't like you, so this is awkward if you don't actually like me?
Tanjiro feels arms wrapping around his shoulders.
"Tanjiro?"
He brings his hand up to feel the sleeve of the person hugging him.
It's orange.
Zenitsu is here.
"Hi..." Tanjiro manages. "Do you... Need something?"
Zenitsu sighs. "Yeah but you're out here having a whole ass breakdown, so I'd bet money that you need more than me. What happened anyway?"
" I... Aoi... " He gestures at the gift helplessly. "I said no."
There's a moment of quiet where Zenitsu seems to think about this and the birds are the only ones filling up the silence.
"Tanjiro, do you mean that she said no?"
" No. " Tanjiro says softly.
"Oh."
" I'm being dramatic aren't I? " Tanjiro asks. "I broke her heart and I'm the one freaking out."
Zenitsu shakes his head. " You have too much empathy. You know you hurt her, and knowing how terrible she must feel makes you feel shitty. I think. "
"...Yeah." Tanjiro nods.
" You did the right thing. "
"I did?"
" Yep. " Zenitsu nods. "If you don't like her back, then you shouldn't start a relationship with her built on lies. That would only make the eventual break up worse. Trust me. It's better this way. For her and for you."
" Okay. " Tanjiro leans against Zenitsu for a moment, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He feels so empty. "...What should I do with the stuff?"
" You still took it!?! "
"She said to."
" Oh. " Zenitsu considers this. "Okay have an idea, give the flowers to Nezuko and the food to Inosuke."
" You are not giving my sister flowers. "
"Jeez! You do it then." Zenitsu releases him and crosses his arms with a huff. "Whatever makes you feel better."
"Do you think... We can still be friends?"
"Only if that's what she wants."
" Okay. "
"Great! Now let's go visit Nezuko-chan!"
"Don't get any ideas Agatsuma."
" After all that this is the thanks I get? "
"...Thank you."
" See? That's better. "
3 years later
Peaches symbolize prosperity and longevity.
That's what Kanao told Tanjiro when she proposed that they and their friends go pick them from a nearby farm.
They hang high up from trees and Kanao has to get on her tip toes to find the best ones.
She's adorable.
Fierce, powerful, brave.
He doesn't have good enough adjectives for how amazing she is, or how lucky he is to be her boyfriend.
"Ohhh there's a really good one up near the top!" She lowers back to the flats of her feet. " I can get it if I climb. "
Tanjiro doesn't question her.
Even is she's half blind, she could probably climb the tallest mountains with less struggle than most with two perfect eyes.
"I think I see it." Tanjiro tilts his head and squints his good eye to get a better look.
"Could you hold Kaburamaru?" Kanao asks him, carefully removing the snake from around her shoulders.
" Of course. " He takes Kaburamaru from her carefully, allowing the snake to wrap around his arm.
"Thank you." She smiles at him and kisses his cheek before pulling herself up into the branches.
Tanjiro smiles and glances over at where the others are spread out amongst the other peach trees, listening to them converse while picking out fruit.
"Whaddaya think of this one Sanemi?"
" Looks exactly like all the other ones Tegen. "
"No... It looks a little more yellow at the top."
" See! Thank you Tomioka! "
"He's being nice because he feels sorry for you."
" Rude and unnecessary! "
"Careful Nezuko-chan!"
" I am being careful! Besides you said you wanted this one! "
"Yeah but that doesn't mean-"
"Climbing a tree isn't the most dangerous thing I've done Zenitsu. I'll be fine. And you'll get your peach!"
"A little to the left... Perfect!"
That voice draws his attention.
Tanjiro turns toward where Aoi is sitting up on Inosuke's shoulders, reaching up in the leaves to pick out a peach.
Their basket is almost full already.
"Do you got it?" Inosuke asks excitedly, holding onto her ankles.
"Almost!" Aoi wobbles slightly, grabbing the tree trunk to steady herself.
"Hey! I won't let you fall!" Inosuke tells her proudly. "You focus on the peach and I'll keep you high enough to get it!"
Aoi giggles. " Okay, okay, a little more left please... "
Inosuke eagerly shuffles slightly left, eyes on Aoi like she's the center of the universe.
He loves her better than Tanjiro ever could.
He smiles over at them fondly as Aoi let's out a cheer of triumph. "I got it!"
" Lemme see! What makes this one so special anyway!? "
"It'll be just a bit sweeter and less soft. That's how you like yours right?"
" Yeah! "
"This one's yours then."
" Yes! " Inosuke doesn't let go of her ankles, even it his excitement. "Are you ready to come down now?"
" Yes please! "
"You're sure? Don't see any more peaches that you want?"
" Nope! "
"Alright!" Inosuke carefully lowers himself into his knees so Aoi can safely climb off his shoulders. "Back on this ground! "
"Thanks!" Aoi hands him the peach. "Here you go."
" Ahahaha! We got the best peach in the whole place! "
"Orchard."
"YEAH!"
Aoi laughs at him. "Okay c'mon, you pick the tree this time."
" That one! The big one! "
Tanjiro watches them walk off as Kanao climbs back down the tree, peach in hand. "This one should be perfectly ripe, if I'm remembering what Shinobu taught us right."
Tanjiro smiles and kisses her cheek. "I'm sure you are."
Kanao smiles softly, looking down at it. "Maybe... could we leave this for her?"
Tanjiro nods. "That's a great idea."
" Kanao! Nii-chan! " Nezuko dashes over excitedly. "Wanna race in a tree climb?"
Kanao considers this before nodding. "You're on."
" Great! You pick the tree. "
Zenitsu makes his way over to Tanjiro with his and Nezuko's basket of fruit, holding the one she picked for him in his left hand as the Kanao surveys the trees.
"Hi." Tanjiro says to him with a smile.
"Hi." Zenitsu says tiredly.
" Been climbing trees? " Tanjiro teases.
"No... Just worried Nezuko will fall..."
" You don't have enough faith in her. Or yourself."
"...What?"
" She'd never fall. And if she did, you'd catch her. "
"You think so?"
" Yeah.
It'll all work out. "