Chapter Text
I can’t sense a damn thing in these clothes! Inosuke thought bitterly for what felt like the hundredth time that day as he attempted to pull the kimono neckline away from his neck to no avail. He could feel every inch of fabric on his body and he hated it . It was suffocating. More frustrating than anything however, was everyone telling him how ‘pretty’ he was. He hated it when people made comments. He didn’t care if they saw him as a girl per se- he just hated the attention.
He knew that that demon he chased down earlier had fled somewhere else, but he couldn’t pinpoint the direction, and without his swords he couldn’t use beast breathing to locate them.
He ground his teeth in frustration- a habit he’d picked up since he couldn’t grab his swords or put on his mask to calm his nerves. He needed to report to the Entertainment District’s Wisteria mansion about Makio’s demon abduction. First however, he’d been asked to deliver tea to the visitor’s room. Apparently some ‘high-and-mighty’ government officials or whatever were meeting with the Oiran and house lady today. Walking as quickly as the kimono allowed, he soon reached the finely decorated fusuma doors of the visitors room and knelt outside. Inosuke knocked gently on the hardwood floor twice, signaling his intent to enter, then pushed the sliding door open, bowed and shuffled awkwardly on his knees into the tatami room while holding the tea tray. He saw the kimono-clad ladies of the house sit opposite some fancy-looking men in hakama and haori. Inosuke quickly noted the katana at their hips. These guys were serious business- public sword carrying was only approved under certain circumstances to important people these days.
Despite his dulled senses, Inosuke’s neck prickled as he felt the intense stare of one of the men on him as he entered the room. Still keeping his eyes trained on the tatami, he could tell the gaze belonged to the man sitting furthest away from the door, towards the window. While the other two officials were much older, he looked only a few years older than himself, sporting a small ponytail and a neat appearance. When Inosuke looked up to glare at the ponytail man, the man quickly turned away, a flush suddenly blooming on his cheeks. Weirdo, Inosuke thought quickly before hurriedly placing the tea cups on the table, bowed, and shuffled out of the room again. Once the painted fusuma door was closed, he stood up and hurried back to the kitchen to dispose of the tea tray. All he needed to do now was sneak out the house to make his report to either the Wisteria mansion or Uzui himself. Thankfully the Wisteria mansion wasn’t far away, and with any luck he’d be there and back before nightfall and avoid the worst of the crowds.
He carefully slipped out the back of the house unnoticed- it was the ideal time of day in the Entertainment district when the men had yet to arrive and the women were getting ready for the night. Inosuke took to the back streets -relying on muscle memory and continued until he recognised the Wisteria symbol on the wooden door at the back entrance.
As he entered the building, two attendants walking the hallway caught sight of him and their eyes widened in recognition. Before he could get a word in however, the two started talking over each other in a hurry.
“Oh thank goodness you are here-!” cried the first, clutching a scroll in their hand.
“We couldn’t find your crow so we didn’t know how to contact you!” said the second.
“We’re so sorry-”
“We received this letter from the Insect Pillar, but we’re afraid it was too late!”
Inosuke cocked his eyebrow in confusion. He had no idea what they were babbling about.
In answer they held the letter out to him, who pushed it back into their hand.
“I can’t read- you guys read it to me,” he grunted.
They nodded and the first read aloud;
Dear Attendants of the Demon Corps Entertainment District Wisteria Mansion,
I understand that Demon Slayers Kamado, Agatsuma and Hashibara along with Sound Pillar Uzui will be in your care for the next couple of days. Please note they are all in perfect health and have no pre-existing conditions that you need to be aware of.
The only thing I would like to mention is the specially created daily medicine Inosuke Hashibara takes. Please note the medicine is hidden within the folds of his uniform and it is vital for the maintenance of his physical and mental wellbeing. As such, please take care to not wash the boar-fur waist pelt, where it is kept, as it would be ruined if it came in contact with water. He only receives a new supply once per month, delivered to the Butterfly Mansion, so please do not wash it, as a new supply will not be available for the next few weeks.
Please give them all my best wishes for a safe return and swift success with their mission,
Sincerely,
Shinobu Kocho
Insect Pillar
Demonslayer Corps
“We apologise sincerely for our blunder. We took your clothes to the laundry room as soon as you all changed into the yukatas, because well, they stank. But now…because of us… because of us, you…”
Inosuke had stopped listening and stood frozen for a moment in shock, unsure how to feel. So his medicine was ruined? Fine, ok, whatever. What was so bad about that? The beast breath user never fully understood why he absolutely needed to take that medicine in the first place anyway. At the thought of the medicine, his mind automatically flashed back to the old man he’d met in the woods when he was just a cub. The man had given him his name and he had ended up coming back to his house every winter ever since.
Inosuke had just assumed after the ‘big-doctor’ day, they had found something in his body they needed to fix. That day, 3 years ago, they had gone into the big city to see the special doctor, the old man saying “he was growing up now and he should grow into a real man”. He remembers being asleep for a while, then his chest hurting for a time afterwards, and ever since that day he’s been taking the special medicine. The old man said it was for his body, and to take it every day, but that’s about all he ever told him about it. He wasn’t stupid enough to not listen to the man however- if he told him to take it then he would.
Now, he would be without it for the first time in years. A small part of his mind was fearful of what would happen now that he was without it, but Inosuke quickly slapped himself and snapped out of it - he was the strongest fighter and being worried about something that couldn’t be helped wasn’t strong!
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Stop apologising!” He barked out, a bit more forcefully than he intended. With so much time being quiet, his already minimal volume control was not improving.
“Anyway, I have a report to make, and I need my swords.”
Inosuke quickly recapped the incident, his assessment of its strength and Makio’s apparent abduction. The attendants nodded and promised to deliver the message to Usui and the others as well as discreetly bring in his swords.
As Inosuke was led out of the Wisteria mansion’s main street entrance his head was so filled with worries of slippery demons and medicine, he hardly paid attention to where he was going- his body working on autopilot. He was vaguely aware that the sun had set and the streetlights had been turned on when he felt someone check his shoulder. It was only then that he looked up and noticed the crowds all around him, walking, talking, making noise.
Inosuke whipped his head left and right but everywhere he looked he saw strangers milling about, like koi fish reaching for food, all moving from different directions yet vying for the same space and jostling against each other. All his other thoughts disappeared like morning mist and were replaced with the need to escape, run, get away from these people who insisted on being so close together you can’t breathe. Too late, Inosuke drew a deep breath he hadn’t realized he needed, but it didn’t help, it wasn’t enough, he wasn't safe. He needed to get out of here, but when he tried to push his way to the side, he was pushed right back. He couldn’t focus- every time he moved, someone was in his way, blocking his path, blocking his exit. He was the strongest boar god of the mountain god dammit. So why was his heart beating so fast and vision going blurry. Why can’t he think, can’t move, can’t find a way out. A few started to stare at him from the flow of people and mouths started moving in his direction, calling out for him to move. A few reached out towards him, asking if he was alright, but he smacked their hands away. Eyes began following him- each pair flitting between annoyance, concern, disapproval, worry and desire. He wanted to bite them all. Then someone touched his backside.
His mind went blank.
Abruptly his body kicked into flight mode, and he took off down the street, unencumbered and unconcerned by the amount of bodies he crashed into. He ignored the indgnant shouts of surprise and ploughed through them and kept moving.
He ran and ran until all the bodies, voices, eyes and music was far behind him. He didn’t know where he was, nor did he care. Inosuke ducked into a small alleyway between two small houses and leaned against the building and shrunk down, holding onto his knees. Despite the fact that he fought life-threatening demons on a daily basis, the boar boy still found humans to be the far greater threat to his continued existence.
He sat like that for a while, trying to get his breathing under control when he heard someone approaching. He balled his hand into a fist- if they tried coming any closer they’d be getting a full pig assault- it was their own fault for coming too close to him, anyway.
“Inosuke? What are you doing here?” a familiar concerned voice asked.
Inosuke’s eyes widened and he snapped his head to see- “Monjiro!” he exclaimed. All the pent up emotions he was challenging in his fist died in that moment as Tanjiro walked up next to him. The beast breath user just stared as the boy knelt down next to him and smiled that gentle smile of his.
“What happened?” he asked with patience in his voice.
Inosuke wanted to reply, but felt his throat blocked by a lump and only grumbled noncommittally, not trusting his voice. Instead of speaking with words, Inosuke grabbed onto Tanjiro’s forearm with both hands and held onto it for dear life. Like a splash of cold water, the physical contact instantly stilled his mind and calmed his racing heart.
“Hey, it’s ok, take your time, Inosuke. I’m not going anywhere,”
How did he always know the exact words to say to calm him down?
True to his word, Tanjiro simply let his arm be held in a deathgrip. After a while, Tanjiro began stroking his hair, and Inosuke minutely leaned into the touch. Inosuke had always found Tanjiro’s presence calming, but it felt especially true at that precise moment. He swallowed down the damn lump and looked up into those infinitely patient and kind maroon eyes.
“How did you find me?” Inosuke managed to mumble.
Tanjiro lifted the hand that petted his hair and wiped at a dampness on his cheek. Since when had he been crying?
“It doesn’t matter how far away you are, or how many other different smells there are, I can always find your scent among a million others, no matter what.”
Now Inosuke really wanted to cry. Instead, he chuckled around a new lump in his throat and looked away, hoping he didn’t see his cheeks burning in the dark.
“You mean I stink so bad you always know where I am right?”
Tanjiro laughed and ruffled his hair.
“Haha, that’s right Inosuke.”
After another few moments, Inosuke’s breathing fully calmed down, and his mind and heart were back to normal. Upon sensing this, Tanjiro spoke up again.
“Shall we get going? I think Ogimoto house will be missing Inoko at this point,”
Inosuke finally let go of Tanjiro’s forearm and rubbed at his eyes and slapped his face hard.
“Yeah you’re right, the mighty boar can’t be moping around forever!” he said and jumped up, revitalized and energised. Tanjiro held out his calloused palm towards him.
“Come on then, I’ll take you back.”
It was somehow even busier when they re-entered the Entertainment District. With so many people milling about, Inosuke was more thankful than ever to have Tanjiro lead the way and carve a path between the throngs of people. Inosuke looked down at their clasped hands and felt another strange warmth spread throughout his body. The physical connection also helped ground him in the moment, and prevented him from freaking out.
As they approached, they spotted the madam of Ogimoto house waiting outside the gates, anxiously searching the crowds. She stopped when she noticed Tanjiro and Inosuke walking together.
“Finally, Inoko! Where have you been?!”
Before either of them got a chance to speak, the madam cut them off with a wave of her kimono sleeve. “Nevermind, just hurry along inside for now,”
Reluctantly, Inosuke nodded and let go of Tanjiro’s comforting hand. Inosuke glanced back one last time to see Tanjiro wave his hand and smile sympathetically back at him. He knew he’d probably be punished for escaping for so long, but he didn’t care.
As he parted the noren curtains of the house however, he was greeted by a very different scene than what he was expecting. Instead of an empty entrance hall, he was met by the three government officials that had visited earlier, surrounded by the other ladies of the mansion gushing over them. When the ponytail man spotted Inosuke his face lit up like the sun. The raven haired boy couldn’t help but cock his head in confusion and looked across to the pointy-nosed madam who simply pushed him forward and whispered urgently into his ear.
"The young one took an interest in you earlier and kept asking about you until we relented. He wants you to accompany them for their evening’s entertainment and meal. He’s already paid for your company. We know you’re not good at conversations, so we told him you had a sore throat and don’t want to aggravate it. All you have to do is nod and smile and laugh when he thinks he’s saying something funny. Once it’s over you hurry back here. You got that?” The way she said it, it wasn't really a question. He had to go through with this, or else.
He really didn’t wanna deal with more people right now, and the thought of having to pretend to be friendly physically made him puke. Yet when Inosuke stopped to consider it for a moment- maybe it wasn’t a bad idea to scope out other areas of interest? At the very least- free food! As soon as he’d nodded his head in agreement, the madam pushed him ahead of her with a saccharine sweet smile towards the officials.
“Here she is! We’re so sorry that she kept you waiting- she was just powdering her nose haha” the madam said and shoved Inosuke into the arms of the man who’d paid to be his escort for some reason. Yet as the ponytail man nervously looked down at Inosuke, he couldn’t get rid of a bad feeling seeping through his body- he couldn’t explain it, but the man was naturally irking him - something about him set Inosuke on edge. Being too friendly to someone you’ve just met always meant an alternative motive. Thinking back to Tanjiro’s earlier rescue, it renewed his courage for the crowds outside as the group of officials set off down the street. He guessed he’d just have to wait and see what the night would have in store for him. Not for the last time that evening would he curse his pretty face for getting him into this mess.