Chapter Text
The rising of the sun bathes the entire forest in warm gold colors.
Every leaf is reflecting the bright orange color, every cloud looks like it’s made out of cotton candy.
While the world is still sleeping, Zenitsu and Tengen found themselves at the same clearing as yesterday.
The birds are already chirping early morning songs, there are no wolves circling them, ready to pound them.
Just peace.
The air is crisp, almost cold even though it’s mid summer.
Every breath feels like a dozen knives puncturing his throat, but Zenitsu finds it calming somehow. He can feel the air flowing through every part of his body, ending at his lungs. They fill with more air than ever before, and when he breathes out, he feels the warm air escaping his nose, slowly.
Tengen has him training his full-concentrating breathing. Every inhale of air should be just as calculated as every exhale. Feel the air moving, make it feel like you're weightless.
“You need to breathe in deeper, you are barely getting any air into your lungs.” Tengen says and pokes at Zenitsu’s stomach with a stick he found on the way here.
This stick has been poking his stomach for the past hour.
“What do you expect? My lungs aren't as big as yours!”
Tengen scoffs and breathes in, for a few seconds straight, one big breath. He then lets it out slowly, his breath can be seen in the early morning air.
“There is no need to show off.” Zenitsu puffs and breathes in once again. It feels the same as it did before. How much more Air does he need to breathe in?
“That wasn’t the point. Look at the way my body moves when I breathe in.” The Hashira explains before he breathes sin once again.
The first thing that moves is his chest, it puffs out like normally. His shoulders move up, and his back straightens. It seems to stay that way until he breathes out. His shoulders fall back down, his chest caves back in. Nothing unusual.
“I still can't see the difference.” Zenitsu admits and gets an annoyed look in return.
But that isn't his fault! Kanao said that they had mastered full-concentration breathing. How was he supposed to know that he did it wrong? He still managed to break that vase.
“Okay, I’ll show you one last time. Tell me if you see a difference between this one and the one before.” Tengen explains but this time he puts one hand on his stomach. He then pulls a frown and mutters something along the lines, “Would be easier with two arms.”
But he breathes in, the hand on his stomach moves up as he inhales. For a few seconds, his hand moves up slowly, his body filling with air and pushing his hand up. His chest stays still this time.
He then exhales slowly, the hand falls back down as his stomach caves back in, his chest still unwavering.
“What was the difference?” He asks and Zenitsu is ready to give him the shortest answer ever but something in the look of Tengens eyes makes him stop. Take it seriously, he is trying to help you.
“When you took a breath, your stomach moved out, pulled your shoulders up higher but your chest stayed still. Your hand moved higher until it reached the maximum height. When you breathed out, your shoulders dropped, your stomach caved in but your chest still didn't move.”
Tengen looks impressed and breathes in again, Zenitsu should follow his movement. They both breathe in, slowly, excruciatingly slow. His lungs screamed for release but he was still nowhere as far as Tengen.
He feels his shoulder straightening, his stomach is moving out, but his chest is also moving.
Tengen moves in, places a hand on Zenitsu’s chest and pushes down slightly. Zenitsu wants to scream out, to breathe out. But he doesn't. He keeps trying to breathe in, his chest physically can't move now, so he concentrates on his stomach. It goes out even further and he can feel the air streaming deep into his lungs.
He breathes out with a cough, too quickly and definitely not the way Tengen did.
“Better. You felt the change, that's why you coughed, right?” Tengen asks and pulls his hand away. When Zenitsu nods, still breathing in and out too quickly. “You need to get used to that feeling. That’s why we are training.”
“How will breathing help me get better?” Zenitsu asks and Tengen sits down to explain the full meaning behind this seemingly useless exercise.
“You are training a very important muscle when you breathe like that. Other than lower blood pressure and heart rate, it also calms you down-”
“Yeah, I feel very calm right now.” Zenitsu jokes and is quickly poked with the stick again, “Listen. It slows down your breathing rate and you won't need as much oxygen as you did before, Because you are rationing it. It also uses less energy and effort to breathe like that. At least, once you are used to it.”
Tengen stops for a second and looks around the clearance. But he quickly starts again, “It prevents muscle strains and improves movement. Your breathing style is based on fast reflexes and movement, especially with your legs. And you are already fast, so breathing correctly will decrease the chance of tearing your muscles.”
So Zenitsu is learning this to make his breathing style better suited for his body. Maybe he will finally learn another form.
“It also reduces Anxiety and Stress.” Tengen tries to sneak in. Zenitsu should have known. This is about his fears. Normally he would be angry, offended or already storming off. But the sparkling guy is right, he stresses too much. And stress causes premature hair loss, he can't have that.
Tengen slaps his knees and stand up, holding out a hand to help Zenitsu up. He accepts and quickly gets hauled to the ground, right next to his abandoned katana. Zenitsu whinces upon contact and asks the laughing troll why he did that.
“Time to stretch those legs of yours.”
That was the only warning he got before the pain. His muscles are still strained and sore. Shinobu confirmed that they were already healed enough to start with slow exercises, Tengen heard full beat training.
The first exercise has Zenitsu lying on the ground on his back. Tengen then took one leg and pushed it up, closer to Zenitsu body, as far as it goes. Or until Zenitsu is screaming in pain. His eyes are already glassy but he can make out the amused smile on Tengens face.
Tengen does that with both his legs and decides that Zenitsu has to stretch his legs daily to make sure that they are the most flexible things on his body.
The next exercise has Zenitsu on his knees and hands, Body fully straight like a board. He then moves his right leg and pulls it in, like he is about to lunge and run away from this torture. As his right foot is outside the space between his hands, Tengen lifts his right arm straight up. As Zenitsu looks at his right arm, Tengen tell him to twist his torso towards the sky and hold this position. After ten second of torture, Tengen tells him to switch sides and after a bit of trial and error, Zenitsu managed to get into the right position again. After doing that about 5 times, Tengen seems satisfied and explains the next stretch.
Zenitsu is standing with his arms on his hips. He is then instructed to fold over and reach the ground with his arms, when Zenitsu locks his knees into place, the stick returns to hit them.
“Don't lock them in like that, they can bend a little. You aren't a statue.”
He is then instructed to roll back up, feeling each movement in his spine.
Zenitsu breathes hard, his legs hurt and they feel like they are being ripped off of his body but it wasn't as bad as he had imagined.
“That wasn't as bad as I thought.”
Tengen smiled. Zenitsu knew he should have kept his mouth shut.
The next exercises were brutal. He was folding in half in ways he didn't know where possible. He twisted and turned his legs so far that he was sure he would dislocate some joints. He didn't, it was a miracle.
By the time the sun was at its highest point, Zenitsu felt like a wet cloth that has been wrung out far too often.
“That's enough. If you touch me one more time I will actually consider the theory that you are a pervert.” Zenitsu threatens and Tengen laughs and smacks him on the back, and Zenitsu folds over again.
“OLD MAN! KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF ME!” he shouts and Tengen moves his hand away as fast as possible, finally realizing that Zenitsu was serious.
“That was the final stretch, I promise.”
Zenitsu is relieved and is about to stand up and walk back to the estate, ready to eat something and shower. But a hand grabs his shoulder and turns him right back around.
“I am so hungry, just let me leave. I won't tell anyone about your fetish.” Zenitsu beggs and Tengen looks mildly disgusted but pushes him down again. He then pulls out two bento boxes out from behind a stone.
They spend the next few minutes in silence, the only sounds were chopsticks hitting each other as Zenitsu eagerly tries to get some food with shaking hands.
“Agatsuma.” Zenitsu snaps his head up and looks at the Hashira, who is already finished with his box and already poking the ground with his stick.
“I have only ever seen you use the first form of thunder breathing. And while it's impressive how clean you use it, you might want to fight with the other ones too.” And There it is. Someone noticed. And of course it had to be the most annoying person he knows. How could he explain to a Hashira that only managed to learn the first form and never succeeded in mastering anything else?
Zenitsu gulps his food down and puts his halfway finished box down on the ground, he shifts around for a second before he raises his head and looks at Tengen head on.
“I cant use any other form.”
Tengen blinks a few times. He says nothing for a while, neither does he. So Zenitsu goes back to eating.
After Tengen seemed to get his facts straight, he spoke, “Aren't there six forms?” When Zenitsu nodded, he asked, “Why?”
Zenitsu knows what Tengen wants to know, how did you only learn one form, how did you survive this far, why aren't you ashamed?
Zenitsu has no answer, he simply couldn't. Never understood the movements, was never fast enough, didn't have enough force. The only form that stuck with him was the first one. It’s as simple as that. He himself has no idea how he managed to get this far without dying. So he says the only thing that makes him look a bit more useful.
“Simply didn't learn them, but I learned how to use the first form like 6 or 8 times one after the other. So I am even faster than the average user. That’s how I managed to survive this far. I know it's not ideal but it’s all I can do right now.” But Zenitsu ended up sounding even weaker and dumber than he meant to. Simply because he felt the need to explain his action, to justify them.
Tengen just nods. No remarks, no jokes, no insults.
Just acceptance.
“Well then, let's make sure that no one will ever be a better Thunderclap and Flash user than you. If you enhance this technique to your personal benefit, no one will be able to steal it from you.” Tengen promises and offers Zenitsu a hand.
His sword gets thrown at him and he is instructed to use the first form like he would normally.
And he does, perfect and clean.
“Boring.” Tengen comments and Zenitsu's heart drops to his stomach. Boring? A Hashira is calling the only technique he knows boring.
“Don't get me wrong, your form is perfect. I don't think anyone will say the opposite. But you aren't flashy. You don't show any personality or passion while fighting.”
"Passion?" I am fighting demons, not writing a love letter.” The younger one exclaims, in return he gets a jab at his side.
“How come you are fighting in a way that looks like you were forced to?”
What is that even supposed to mean? How do you look forced while fighting? It’s not like Zenitsu moves like a puppet attached to strings.
“You do realize that you choose to become a demon slayer? No one could have forced you to attend final selection, or to survive it. That was your decision. So fight like it.” Tengen explains and for a second, the diamonds on this man seem to shine brighter than before.
Tengen was right, sadly.
Zenitsu fought like a puppet, forced by some unseeable force. Sure, in some ways his path to becoming a slayer was forced by the need for shelter and food. Jigoro only offered him this, if he accepted his offer: become a demon slayer.
But the actually training, fighting and succeeding? That was purely Zenitsu's decision.
And still he acted like this. What a fool he is.
Zenitsu wants to skip every mission he gets, wants to go somewhere safe and stay there forever. But he ends up going anyway, and he finishes the missions. All by himself.
The force that has been making him get up and fight, that wasn't Jigoro, and for sure wasn't Kaigaku. It wasn't even shame or duty. That was simply the fact that fighting against demons was his choice. He chose to do it, so he does. Why should he go against his own beliefs and decisions? That would do more harm than good. So why is he acting like this?
“Are you ready to actually fight now?” Tengen asks and smiles at him, shining like the sun himself. And Zenitsu finally understands why people like that guy, he is actually motivating as hell.
Zenitsu takes the hand offered to him and stands up, grabs his katana and smiles, “Not for duty, but for myself.”
“Damn right.”
*
The sun was already starting to set and Zenitsu still wasn't satisfied with the results.
And Tengen wasn't either.
“Agatsuma, I told you to move your legs!” Tengen screams the same phrase he did for the past hour.
“How do you think running works? I AM MOVING MY LEGS!”
Tengen sighs and sits down on the ground. Zenitsu has learned that he does that when his tactics don't work and he has to think. He has also learned that these times are the only breaks he gets.
“I know you are running but you aren't fast enough.”
“With all respect I can muster up to give you, which truly isn't a lot, but how much faster do you want me to go? You already lose track of me when I run past you. Isn’t that what you wanted?” Zenitsu asks and rubs at the bruise that he got when Tengen didn't hear or see him sneaking up.
“I need you to be faster than any god.” Blasphemy at its finest.
“I think you set your expectations way too high. It’s impossible to be as fast as a god.”
“Then you need to be as fast as light.” Because that's easier? Tengen is losing his mind and Zenitsu is losing his as well. They have been training since the break of dawn, and it is almost night now. By the time demons would come out at night, Zenitsu would be too sore to behead them.
“I can't do that.” Zenitsu tries to explain but Tengen’s head snaps up, “I know you can!” he shouts. But it isn't supposed to be encouraging, it seems like he is trying to force it out of Zenitsu.
He has had enough.
Zenitsu stands up, sheaths his katana and looks down at Tengen, “It’s over. Send me a crow when you can think straight again.”
“Agatsuma if you walk away from me, I will hunt you down and force you to run until you meet my expectations.” Who does he think he is? Respecting your elders seems less important when the elder you are supposed to respect acts like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Don't speak to me like that. You have no authority to tell me what to do. I am saying it’s enough for today.” He tries to leave but a shiver down his spine makes him turn around once more.
Tengen is looking at him with such anger and danger in his eyes as if Zenitsu became a demon himself. He is about to unsheath his katana when Tengen speaks slowly , “If you walk away, I won't train you anymore.”
That is supposed to be a threat but if this is Tengens new way of speaking to him, maybe Zenitsu is better off without him.
“Maybe that's a good thing, I’ll find someone who doesn't expect me to keep up with a god.”
Zenitsu walks away from the clearing, despite the shivers down his spine intensifying.
He is angry at Tengen mostly. What happened to him? The whole day was going well and suddenly? Why does Tengen expect him to do something like that? Run as fast as light.
And to top everything off, he has had one meal today. One. And it was a bento box. He is starving and every muscle feels sore.
He has excited the forest and sees the gate of the Butterfly Estate, the sun is setting so everything is bathed in bright orange.
It's a calming sight, every bush and flower reflects orange back to Zenitsu, the air is cooler now but still warm. The ground under his feet slowly changes to Stone and he can spot the familiar bamboo fence that surrounds the estate.
But he also sees a spot of purple that isn't normally there.
The closer he gets, the more the spot looks like a person. And of course that person has to be someone that looks like the embodiment of strength. A guy that is almost as tall as Tengen and looks like he has been training for the end of the world. Zenitsu can see his muscles even underneath the purple vest and the demon slayer corps uniform.
He looks terrifying, his hair is long enough to fall past his shoulders and pitch black, the sides of his head are shaved. What is a scary looking guy like that doing at the butterfly estate?
He doesn't seem to be hurt, he just seems aggravated.
Zenitsu wonders if he can just sneak past him and into the estate but this guy is blocking the entire gate.
“Excuse me-” Zenitsu starts and the guy jumps and turns so quickly that Zenitsu wouldn't be surprised if he were to fall. Now seeing his face, he looks even scarier!
He has big eyes but pupils are so small that his eyes look mostly white. And he has a big scar that starts from his cheek, reaches over his nose and reaches the other side of his face.
And he is currently looking at Zenitsu with a face that screams danger.
But it’s not directed towards him or his face, but rather his katana.
After a few seconds pass and no one moves or says anything, this guy finally looks at Zenitsu with a scowl and says, “Fuck off.”
And in any other case, Zenitsu would have run the other way but he is hungry, pissed and is currently living in this estate. So even this monster of a teenage guy is not getting in the way of him.
“I live here.” He says with an equally annoyed tone and to his surprise the guy takes a step to the side and says, “Then go inside.”
But the tone is still there and Zenitsu is looking for someone to blow off steam, so he isn't ready to leave just yet.
“You go inside.” Probably wasn't the best response because other than annoyed, this guy looks confused now too. “I don't even live here.”
Zenitsu knows that but confrontation was never the thing he was good at. Running was. But after running for hours, he doesn't feel like it anymore.
“Then why are you here?” He asks and he means it. You don't just simply walk into a Hashiras estate, you need to be invited. This guy doesn't have to answer his question, but Zenitsu feels like snooping. And the guy answers, “Getting poison.”
Yeah that was not the answer Zenitsu thought he’d get
.
“Why? You planning on taking it to get out of a mission?” Zenitsu knows that Shinobu uses poison to kill demons, but that's because her lack of strength makes it almost impossible to kill a demon with one swing. So why would a guy like that need poison? So the only other explanation for it would be to get out of a mission. Zenitsu has done that before, and it did not work. He just had to throw up the poison while walking to the mission, and he wouldn't wish that upon anyone. Especially not this random guy he had just met, better warn him.
“Ehm… yes.” The guy answered.
“Huh?” seems like a fitting response.
The guy looks annoyed once again and breathes in before he asks, “Are you dense? I said, I want to get out of a mission.”
“I heard you the first time.” Zenitsu shoots back and the other guy seems to lose it, he looks like he wants to shake Zenitsu to his senses when it should be Zenitsu who should check for a fever or something. Anything to explain this crazy idea of his. “Then what is the problem?”
The problem is that this guy looks like he could just squeeze a demon between his hands and it’s head would explode! He could easily kill demons with just strength alone! So why is he acting like Zenitsu would?
The guy looks at Zenitsu, waiting for an answer, and without much dignity to lose anyway, Zenitsu says the exact thing he thinks.
“Why would you want to get out of a mission? You look like you could kill a demon simply by trapping its head between your arms. Your katana swing must be deadly!”
And the guy’s face turns into the brightest red Zenitsu has ever seen on a person. He looks like steam is about to come out of his ears. Did this guy get flustered so easily? Simply by Zenitsu commenting on the very visible fact here?
The guy scratches his neck and looks away from Zenitsu before he mumbles a quiet thanks.
This might have boosted Zenitsu ego a bit. He was the reason that guy was red in the face, and not from anger! It felt good.
“I dont swing a katana.” He admits and Zenitsu jaw was on the floor, or it would have been if Zenitsu wasn't actively trying to explain his thought by confusing sounds.
Finally words start making sense again and he asks, “Do you fight demons by brute strength alone?” That would be sick. Zenitsu can see how strong this guy is but fighting demons without a weapon?
So what if Zenitsu is trying really hard to not imagine what this guy looks like without clothes?
It’s not weird!
He is just… jealous.
The guy chuckles and finally looks at Zenitsu again. His eyes don't seem that scary anymore, especially when they reflect the golden light back at Zenitsu. He can finally make out the color of that guy's eyes. They aren't black like he thought before, but they are a very deep purple. And that scar isn't as intimidating when it's almost touching his eyes because of the smile he wears currently.
“No, I use a gun.”
Okay, that's it! Zenitsu’s jaw is now hanging open, he actually moves his hand to his jaw and closes his mouth, simply for comedic effect and it works!
The guy is laughing again, and Zenitsu can see that this guy has crazy sharp teeth. He seems to notice Zenitsu's staring because his hand quickly covers his mouth and the laughing stops. Zenitsu feels bad for making this guy uncomfortable so he quickly comes back to the topic.
“You need to cut off a demon's head to kill it. How does a gun work?” Zenitsu asks and sits down onto one of the big stones that guard the entrance of the estate, the guy mirrors him and sits on the one next to him, facing him while explaining.
“The bullets are made of the same material as your sword. So if I hit a demon in its head or neck, enough times, their head will get decapitated.” He keeps his hand busy by tracing the mentioned gun that is currently resting by his hip. Zenitsu has never seen a gun so close and for sure never heard of a demon slayer using one as a weapon.
Curiosity got the better of him, “Can I see it?” He asks and the other guy stops for a second and looks at Zenitsu, as to decide whether to trust him with it.
But the next second he grabs the gun and hands it over. It’s heavy in Zenitsu’s hands and he turns it around a few times to truly see it. It has two barrels that are supported by a heavy piece of wood. It looks like something out of this world. Zenitsu looks up and sees the guy staring at him with such a soft look, not like the one before. Not cold or intimidating but very calm. And it's making Zenitsu feel warm, this guy is not mocking him or making fun of him in any way. Zenitsu knows that he has no reason to, but everyone else seemed to hate him when they first met him. But this guy seems different.
The guy quickly looks away when he realizes that he has been staring but his eyes get fixated on something on the ground. Zenitsu looks and sees a sword that looks like his Katana, just smaller. The guy picks it up and lays it on his lap, and because of Zenitsu's questioning look, he explains, “I also use a Wakizashi, if I cant use my gun.”
“So like a second option?” Zenitsu asks and the guy nods. That reminds him of Inosuke, he also uses two weapons. Mostly because he thinks it's cool but probably also if he loses one, he still has one left.
“I have a friend that uses two swords.” Zenitsu explains, “But I think it’s mostly for show. I have seen him fight with only one, and he fights just as good.”
The guy breathes out suddenly and chuckles a bit. He sighs and says, “That’s relieving. I thought you were about to mock me for using two weapons.”
That broke Zenitsu's heart a little, seeing a guy with so much strength and power be scared of showing off his unique weapons makes Zenitsu's heart heavy. He also only now realizes that that guys heart has been beating like crazy, now it's finally calm.
“Why would I?” Zenitsu asks and watches as the guy struggles to find a reason. Zenitsu knows that feeling, the constant fear of being mocked and made fun of even when you are doing nothing wrong.
The guy ends up shrugging and that’s the end of that conversation. Zenitsu gives him the gun back and picks up his own sword to show the guy.
“Sure, I use a katana but I truly believe that you are a better fighter than me.”
The guy suddenly shakes his head, “You haven't even seen me fight, you shouldn't get your hopes up.”
“Trust me, everyone is better than me. I can only use one form of thunder breathing. I am basically useless. The only thing I am good at is running, and even at that I seem to be bad at.” Zenitsu admits and looks away from the guy, shame finally winning over him. “You can probably use all the forms of your technique, and you use a gun as well. You beat me in every aspect.”
Suddenly a hand is on his arm and Zenitsu's head snaps to the guy, who quickly pulls his hand away. He is looking in his lap, at his sword. “I cant use any breathing style.”
The wind must have picked up because Zenitsu almost fell off the stone.
Has he finally met someone who is also struggling with techniques? Is there someone else in this world that feels like the biggest Idiot for not understanding them?
“Why?”
The guy breathes in and out slowly a few times and Zenitsu feels like he is trying to show him something. Suddenly the guy coughs, pretty bad. Zenitsu is grabbing the guy by his very muscular shoulder, oh my gods.
“Are you alright? Are you sick? Did you actually drink the poison?” Zenitsu asks but the guy waves him off while coughing. So Zenitsu sits back down, but still nervous.
“I was trying to show you that I can't use total concentration breathing.” He manages to say between coughs. Zenitsu jumps up, “I can teach you! I also struggled with it but then Kanao taught me some exercises and now I can!” Zenitsu beams and is practically jumping up and down in front of that guy. Finally a person that could learn something from Zenitsu, and not the other way around.
“That's very sweet of you,” The guy starts and Zenitsu already knows what is about to come next. He stops jumping around, stops feeling excited. All in one second, he feels useless again. But this time it's different. “But it’s not that I don't know the exercises. It’s because I have some lung problems.” The guy explains and Zenitsu can feel his heart drop.
He can't imagine what it must feel like to be physically unable to pursue your dream. This guy wants to be a slayer and was cursed with something that no medicine or training can fix.
“So you can’t learn any techniques because you can't breathe right?” Zenitsu asks and he knows how he sounds. He sounds cruel. Like he is about to make fun of him. But in truth, he is angry right now. Not at him, but at the fact that he himself has been acting like a spoiled and greedy child. He is physically healthy, he is able to move, able to breathe, able to learn demon slaying techniques. And still he acts as if he had it worse, simply because he only had one form to use?
He should have been thankful. There are people that would do anything to have that opportunity. Right in front of him is a person, who wants to be a slayer so badly. And even though it should have been impossible and he should have found something else to do, he found a way to fight.
He learned how to use a gun and how to wield a sword without a proper technique, simply just because he wanted to fight.
Even though Zenitsu has just met him, he was willing to trade their position in life right this second. He deserves the opportunity to become something great, unlike Zenitsu.
“Yes. But I found another way to fight. That’s why I came here.” He admitted and Zenitsu didn't understand. He said he was here to find a way to skip a mission.
Oh.
That was a lie. A guy like him, who went through so much to have the chance to fight, would never skip a mission.
“I lied about getting out of the missions.” Zenitsu was right, “You just caught me off guard and I didn't want to spill my secret of not being able to fight with a katana right that second.”
This time it was Zenitsu who had to laugh, because he just realized how absurd their whole meeting was. They started off hostile and very annoyed with each other, and a few minutes later they were spilling out their secrets and insecurities.
“Funny how a few minutes ago we acted as if we were blood enemies and now we are discussing our problems like old friends.” Zenitsu managed to croak out while laughing.
The other guy joins him, and Zenitsu knows that their laughter could be hard across the whole estate but his anxiety isn't stopping him from having a good time.
Especially not if the person he is laughing with is as cool as…
“Hey what's your name?” Zenitsu asks the guy, who stops laughing and thinks about it for a second. What is there to think about, a last name isn't something you need to think about-
“Call me Genya.” His given name. This guy is allowing Zenitsu to call him by his given name. Zenitsu has to stop himself from jumping up and down from excitement but it doesn't last long because he decided to give that pleasure back.
“Then call me Zenitsu.”
“Zenitsu. Goodness, right?”
Zenitsu stops in his tracks, that guy knows what his name means. He shouldn't feel special for something like that but he does. Someone actually listened to him.
“Yes. Yours means mysterious, doesn't it?”
“Very edgy, right?” Genya asks with a smile on his lips, not one of embarrassment but of actual joy.
“It fits.” Zenitsu admits and Genya shakes his head as if he disagrees.
“I just met you and you already know about my lack of fighting techniques. Not very mysterious of me.”
Zenitsu has to laugh again but he does truly agree that his name fits him, “True. But there is still so much I want to know about you.”
Genya gets red again and Zenitsu knows why, that sounded very much like something he would have said to one of his girlfriends.
“What’s your crow's name?” Zenitsu asks, he wants to stay in contact even while Genya is on his mission.
“Hashibami. Yours?”
This time Zenitsu is not afraid to confess that he has no crow, so with all the confidence he can muster, he says, “Actually I have a sparrow, his name is Ukogi but I call him Chuntaro.”
“We are truly special aren't we? A demon slayer with a sparrow instead of a crow, and a slayer with a gun instead of a katana.”
Zenitsu smiles at him and Genya gets up from the stone. The sun is already hiding behind the mountain and the sky is draped in dark blue ink. The only light left are the stars and the moon. So Zenitsu and Genya are standing in the moonlight, not quite ready to say goodbye yet.
But Zenitsu can make out the steps behind him and who they belong to.
“So a truly annoying guy is going to be here any second and I really want to spare you the painful interaction you are about to witness.”
Genya nods and sheaths his sword with one hand and holds his gun in the other.
“Well then I better go.” Genya says and turns around but not before he waves goodbye.
Zenitsu watches as Genya walks away, into the darkness of the night.
The peace doesn't stay long because an arm suddenly drops onto his shoulder, Tengen is back.
“Who was that?” the noise man asks and Zenitsu doesn't feel obligated to share Genya’s name so he goes with, “A demon slayer who uses a gun instead of a katana.”
Tengen looks confused for a second but decides that Zenitsu is talking bullshit.
“Okay, then don't tell me. See you tomorrow at dawn.”
But one question remains, where is Genya going?
“Tengen, do you know if anyone is training a demon slayer with a gun?”
Tengen stops and thinks about it, “I think I have heard about a demon slayer with a shotgun, if that is him. I can figure out who trains him.” Tengen offers and Zenitsu beams, “Would you do that for me?”
“Only if you get as fast a light.”
Zenitsu will, simply because he wants to know more about Genya.
“I will.”