CW: !! CANNIBALISM !!
Tanjiro held Zenitsu's mangled body gently as he walked to the doors of his shared house with his sister and [Name]. He kicked against the door three times - hearing a click - he walked past Nezuko then closed the door back shut. He went inside the kitchen and placed the mangled body that once had light and fun inside of it onto the kitchen table. "I don't understand why you didn't bury his body." "mh-hm..." "Please be quiet, I was talking to myself. I didn't tell you to talk unless you want to be disciplined again."
Her pink eyes hollowed over as she shook her head slowly; earning a grin from her older brother. "Good girl, Nezuko. Remember that I'm only being strict because we need to have you take precautions or else [Name] might be taken from us." He said with a frown. Nezuko knew that he said that to scare her but she didn't mind.
"-Nezuko! listen to me!!" Tanjiro slapped Nezuko to the ground, earning her back to slam against the ground and worsening some of the bruises on her back. "I'm doing all this hard work for a better future for us three and you're just up in space. I'm sorry but you're disappointing me and [Name] right now. So just do better, Okay?"
Nezuko nodded quickly as she sat beside Tanjiro's tall figure by the kitchen sink.
He kicked her side; telling her to fetch him his sword in his room. "Don't look or even talk to [Name], they're still on punishment." Nezuko nodded once again and began to get up then rushed to the room as she slid open his door room - and closed it back - she leaned against the door and let out a heavy sigh.
Bowls and plates of food were left untouched in each corner of the room. She turned her attention to the fragile and underweight Hashira in the middle of the room.
She glanced at them with a sad expression but continued to get Tanjiro's sword before she took too long. She moved her way around the room and got the sword - a hand grabbed her ankle - she looked down and pitied the poor Hashira. "Nezuko, let me out of here. We both know I don't deserve this." Nezuko tried to look away from [Name] to not get into trouble with Tanjiro.
"We can get out of here and we- ugh!" They clutched their empty stomach and groaned loudly. "Hm!" She bent down and rubbed their back. Their groans got louder as they whimpered underneath her. Their ribs were visible from under their clothes. "Please. get me out of here, Nezuko. Get me out of here, you bastards!"
She stepped back and watched their body wiggle and writhe on the floor. She put her hands out and silently begged them to be quiet but they still groaned and moaned from hunger. The door slammed open and revealed a pissed-off Tanjiro holding a knife. "What's going on?" Nezuko and [Name] looked at him; they both regretted their decisions.
Tanjiro saw [Name]'s body and Nezuko. She held the sword above them. He walked to them and Nezuko immediately fell back down against the wall as she dropped the sword. "Hm!- hm! Mm-!" He jerked her up by her hair and looked at [Name] as he picked the sword back up, "We'll be right back, [Name]. Nezuko just needs to be talked to. Your food will be here soon." "Tanjiro. I'm sorry, it was my fault." He kicked their head and snapped back at them "Please don't test me, sunshine."
He walked to the door with [Name] who crawled behind him to try and pry Nezuko away from his grasp. They started to scream and grip the girl's clothes. "Damnit, Tanjiro. I'm sorry! Don't hurt her! Just leave her alone!" Tanjiro turned back and kicked their hand off Nezuko. He walked out the door and slammed it shut leaving [Name] to cry on the floor as they tried and regain their normal breathing pattern.
They slammed their fists into the wooden floor and yelled into the empty room. "Fuck you Tanjiro! Fuck you! Goddamit! Let me out of here! I hate you!" They kicked the door, smashed the single vase in the room, stomped on the ground, and punched the wall, they eventually tired themselves and lay down on their single mattress. "Save me. Save me, mommy."
Hours passed and there was a simple knock on [Name]'s door. They stirred awake and rubbed their eyes, they sat up from their lying position. They got up and walked to the door then opened it to see Tanjiro and a beaten Nezuko who stood at the door. "I hope you slept well from that unnecessary tantrum earlier but I know you won't do that again?" They nodded slowly and that seemed to be enough for Tanjiro. "Good! I hope you are hungry, [Name]! I and Nezuko made you lunch." He walked himself into the room and says down on the floor.
Nezuko and [Name] followed as they both sat down. He placed a bowl in front of [Name] that consisted of soup - the liquid leaked on the sides showing its red color - a strange meat they couldn't recognize floated at the top and a couple of vegetables inside also. Tanjiro then placed a spoon beside them and smiled at them. "Go ahead and eat, [Name], it would be rude of you if you didn't."
They hesitantly grabbed the spoon and dipped it into the unknown mixtures in the soup, they held a spoonful of the unknown meat and vegetables, put the spoon to their mouth, and placed it inside as they started to chew on the meat and vegetables. Tanjiro had a menacing smile on his face as he watched them eat the food. "So?" He said while he stared at them uncomfortably.
"It's...good. I like it." They said as they dipped more spoonfuls in the soup and quickly ate it. They took spoonful after spoonful, and they quickly slurped and munched down the soup they were given, Nezuko looked at them sadly.
He sat up and told Nezuko to stay with [Name] while he went out to "get a gift " for them. As the door clicked shut, Nezuko quickly jerked the almost empty bowl of soup from them and spoon. "Nezuko? Why did you-" She pointed a finger to the soup and pointed to herself; making a gesture of her getting her throat cut.
[Name] stared quizzically at the girl as they shook their head, "I'm sorry. I don't understand what you're trying to tell me but Nezuko, let's try-"
"I'm back!" The door room slid open, the burgundy-haired boy walked in front of [Name] as he held something behind his back, "a present for you, [Name]! I know you'll like it! Take it." he said with a smile on his face as usual. They glanced at Nezuko and they waved their hand side to side, "No, thank you, Tanjiro. I'm sorry."
His smile faded as he grabbed up their hands and forcefully made them take it, "That wasn't a request, [Name], it was a demand. Now please take this gift I worked so damn hard to clean." They hesitantly grabbed the gift wrapped in a blanket, and they slowly unwrapped the blanket, to reveal a haori.
Yellow and a faded orange - decorated in white triangles - the back of the haori has seams stitching the cloth back together.
[Name]'s eyes watered as tears prickled from their eyes. They looked up at Tanjiro who smiled at them; seeing nothing wrong with the gift. "Do you feel more connected to him, [Name]?" "Tanjiro. What did you do to Zenitsu.." He snickered at their question and looked slowly over at Nezuko who was still holding the bowl of soup in silence.
"What did happen to Zenitsu, Nezuko?" Her eyes filled with tears as she clutched the bowl in her hands; her body shook under his terrifying stare.
The room felt cold and as if all sources of life had been drained in those quiet ten seconds. She raised her head ever so slowly and looked at [Name] with eyes that were filled with regret and guilt. She raised a finger to point to her mouth and then shifted it to point to Zenitsu's haori. They looked down at the haori in realization and grasped it tightly in their hands then up to their chest.
"You," they threw the haori to the side then jumped at Nezuko; the girl dropped the hot soup on her legs. "Monster!!" They swung their arm back and punched her across the face. Tanjiro laughed historically at the altercation. Nezuko blocked herself as punch after punch was thrown at her face and body.
Tanjiro got up and sighed behind the raging [Name] - who delivered hit after hit to his younger sister - he grabbed them underneath their armpits and pulled them back into his chest. "I know, I know. She did a terrible crime. But you need to watch who you treat like an enemy."
They breathed heavily as they were held back and struggled to be let free again. "You ate all of him, didn't you? I hate you! Both of you!" They screamed in agony. "Awh. It hurts me seeing you like this but you don't have to worry-" Tanjiro's hand slid down to [Name]'s stomach and he leaned in near their ear to whisper lowly
"- He's safe inside of you now. You'll keep him warm in your stomach."