PLEASE READ
Authors Note:
First things first, for those of you who are saying the book is the same as the anime, go back and read the [Story's Description] as it's there for your information before reading a story. 

Thank you. 

And now! Sorry I've been gone for so long! I've just been really busy with life and such, and a lot has happened recently with the passing of my grandma. But I have the next chapter here for you guys so go on and read!

___________

It's been around a week since they've been recovering in the Wisteria House. Zenitsu had finally gotten over the idea that the old beta wasn't a monster or demon. Although it did take some convincing from Tanjiro's part.

Their bones were pretty healed by now but they had to be careful as to not bend or turn too much so they wouldn't get irritated or further damage. This was more of an obstacle for Tanjiro and Zenitsu as they dodged and avoided Inosuke the best they could without getting headbutted in the back. 

Zenitsu has seen Inosuke do this to Tanjiro once and the blond had thought he would've died with something like that. Thankfully though it seemed Inosuke had been too weak and tired to actually inflict any real damage to anyone at the time.

It was honestly a mystery on how this guy has survived till now with how careless he is.

On Zenitsu's part it was fairly easy knowing when such an attack, a pig assault one mind you, would be coming. As Zenitsu had good ears he was quickly able to know when he needed to step out the way in the halls or rooms. But it's not like Inosuke was subtle about it anyways, so that helped too.

Currently Zenitsu was in their shared room and was sitting in front of the demon girls box.

Nezuko's bare scent was still odd to him if she hasn't asked Tanjiro to scent her. But despite this, Zenitsu finds himself always clinging around her and her faint smell of cherrywood and cinnamon. 

"Nezuko-chan~!"

"Mmph!" The demon girl gives a noise from inside her box and she pushes the wooden door open to peak out at the blond Omega.
Zenitsu holds up the flowers he's brought to her and Nezuko eyes the deep blue purple of the Asagao's in his hands. She reaches for them and plucks them gently from his fingers.

She brings the flowers close to her, a familiar routine in the late afternoon since a couple days back. She expresses her gratitude with a happy humm. 

Zenitsu feels his heart flutter at the sight.

Ah Nezuko-chan is so cute!

He closes the door for her as he knew she'd probably want to go back to sleep. When the wooden door closes Zenitsu lets out a happy sigh.

The Omega jumps when the shoji door slides open and the burgundy haired boy peeks in. He looks slightly concerned as he eyes Zenitsu next to the box.

"Zenitsu? Is something wrong with Nezuko?"

Gah, this worrywart.

"No, i was just giving Nezuko-chan some flowers! Tanjiro, your sister is so cute and beautiful!" Zenitsu fawns as he places his hands on his cheeks. 

Tanjiro smiled at the blond for praising his beloved sister.

"Yeah, Nezuko was the beauty in our hometown after all. But, Zenitsu..." Tanjiro pauses and Zenitsu opens his eyes to look at him. The burgundy boy's smile faltered ever so slightly he thought he imagined it.

"You've kinda been hanging around Nezuko lately… and you haven't asked me to scent anything either..." 

Zenitsu tilts his head.

He hears something unfamiliar in Tanjiro's tone. It was subtle but Zenitsu could still hear it. He tried racking his brain as to where he might've heard it before but he couldn't put his finger on it. 

"Tanjiro! I told you before, you don't have to scent everything for me all the time" 

"I-I know, it's just… mmm" Tanjiro rubs the back of his neck and a small hue appears on his face. 

"Nevermind, I... I'll be outside" The Alpha leaves the room shutting the door behind him and headed to the garden.

Zenitsu wonders why he faintly heard Tanjiro's heart patter just a bit faster than normal.

o0o

Dinner had been finish not long ago and the two remaining demon slayers in the room were conversing with one another.

"Packs are for weaklings! I'm not doing it" Inosuke growls under his mask while leaning back on his hands.

"But Inosuke, it's a good bonding exercise! My family use to do it a lot and maybe you'll like it too"

"No way! Like I said packs are for those who are weak, and I'm not weak like you and Yatsu"

"C'mon Inosuke just try it once and if you don't like it i promise not to bother you about it anymore, you should try things instead of assuming you not gonna like it"

Inosuke growls under his breath again and huffs. 

"Tch, if it'll make you shut up then fine!" The boar headed male turns his body to face Tanjiro.

Tanjiro smiled at him. 

"So what do you do?"

"Here" Tanjiro lifts his arm and turns it so that his wrist was exposed. He pointed to said area as Inosuke watched curiously behind his mask.

"Your scent glands are here on your wrist. But they are also here and here" Tanjiro says as he points to the sides of his neck and under his chin. 

"The way to actually scent something though is to rub the glands on something or someone else's gland" Tanjiro explains.

Inosuke only stares and with the mask in the way Tanjiro can't tell if he understands or not. 

"Is that why you were rubbing necks with Monitsu?"

Tanjiro blushes faintly and nods at the memory.

"So all i have to do is rub my wrist with yours?" 

Tanjiro nods again.

"Simple enough" Inosuke says as he reaches over to place their wrists together. He rubs them in a slow, experimental manner. Even with the light pressure Tanjiro can smell the distinct earthy scent that filled the air. It reminded him of when he would go and get wood from the forest on the mountain.

Tanjiro helps him by rubbing a bit more thoroughly. At this Inosuke takes his hand away and Tanjiro tilts his head in question and slight disappointment.

"What's wrong?"

"...That feels weird" Inosuke says as he looks at the slight redness on his gland.

"Maybe because you've never used it? Did you like it?"

"It feels like a tingling over my skin"

"Its okay if you want to stop, you don't have to continue if you don't want to" Tanjiro smiles, not wanting to push Inosuke if he felt uncomfortable. He realized from Zenitsu that it seemed people didn't scent so openly without a reason.

"Hah? Are you saying i can't do it?" Inosuke voiced with an air of challenge. 

"Of course not, I'm just saying you don't have to do it anymore"

"Hmpf whatever Doroitsu" Inosuke says as he lays back on his futon with his arms crossed under his head. And straight away he hears a snore and he assumes Inosuke had fallen asleep. Tanjiro sighs at Inosuke's once again mispronunciation of his name.

Then the door to the room slides open. Revealing the blond who stood at the doorway. Almost immediately after opening it, Tanjiro sees Zenitsu's nose crinkle and a hand flies over his face.

"What the heck? Why does it smell so strong in here?!"

It was nearly overwhelming how strong it was, and Zenitsu didn't have that great of a nose. He locks eyes with Tanjiro and a triangular brow lifts at him. 

"And how are you not keeling over!? Don't you have a super sensitive nose?" Zenitsu questioned.

Tanjiro shrugged his shoulders, he quite enjoyed the strong mixed scents. Growing up with a large family you kinda got used to things like that. And he sure missed Nezuko's natural scent of Sakura.

"I don't mind it" Tanjiro answered softly.

He really did missed this.

Zenitsu heard the longing in Tanjiro's voice. Something he could surely relate to during the times before he met Gramps. Tanjiro was smiling and it was genuine. But there was a hidden sadness behind those gentle scarlet eyes. 

It was something Zenitsu hadn't noticed before. But now that he could see it, the more he realized that he's seen the look multiple times since they first met. His Omega wanted to harbor the Alpha in front of him because of it. 

"Tanjiro?"

"Yes?"

"Are… are you okay?" Zenitsu asks, unsure of how to phrase his words. He's never tried to comfort others as most times he was the one that needed the reassurance most.

Tanjiro blinks at him. 

"What do you mean?"

"I-i mean, you… you sound sad"

"O-oh, do i?" Tanjiro looks away nervously scratching a finger to his cheek.

"Sorry if that's bothering you"

"N-no! I just, i was just worried" Zenitsu walks over slowly and sits down in front of Tanjiro as he looks back at the blond.

"Do you miss something? Or… Someone?"

Tanjiro blinks at Zenitsu and he suddenly looks down to avoid eye contact with the Omega. 

"I..."

Zenitsu could hear the spike of sadness in his voice as the word left his mouth. He hadn't made it worse had he?!

"S-sorry"

Zenitsu felt his heart pang in his chest when he saw Tanjiro swipe the sleave of his yukata on his face. Zenitsu puts a hand on his shoulder and gently rubs it to try and comfort him.

"Tanjiro, you don't have to be sorry for being sad"

It's then that Tanjiro lets it out, tears flowing down his face as he clutching the fabric of his sleepwear. 

Zenitsu didn't know what he could do for Tanjiro so he did the only thing he thought could help. He wraps his arms around the burgundy haired boy and embraces him. Tanjiro's breathing hitched slightly but he didn't hesitate to wrap his own arms around Zenitsu bringing them closer. 

They stayed like this for a while, Zenitsu rubbing comforting circles on Tanjiro's back and letting out his scent while Tanjiro cried into his shoulder. Soaking the clothing in tears.

When they were finally able to let one another go they talked a little, and Tanjiro explains what is was that had been hidden behind his eyes.

"I'm sorry that you lost your family" Zenitsu says softly. Tanjiro smiled softly at him. It was genuine but he was still sad.

"Here"

Zenitsu takes Tanjiro's wrist and he gingerly presses their glands together for scenting. Tanjiro just stares at the blond as he does this. When finished Zenitsu looks up to meet eyes with him. 

Zenitsu smiles.

"You seem to be soothed around my scent" Zenitsu says giving a small laugh, referring to when Tanjiro had said this to him when they first met.

Tanjiro gives a small chuckle of his own, truly feeling more relaxed. 

The two of them soon settled for bed, snuggling in their blankets for the night. Or for Zenitsu's case his nest.

With the lights out and the crickets in the distance Zenitsu's mind races with thoughts.

He never knew Tanjiro had such a tragic background. You wouldn't have guessed such a kind person would have a story like that. His whole family killed by a demon, and the strongest one at that. 

He honestly couldn't imagine what it felt like to lose loved ones like that. Afterall his own biological family threw him away at a young age. 

Zenitsu sighs as he tries closing his eyes again. Hugging a blanket he buries his nose into a particular spot where Tanjiro had scented it. Calm he starts drifting off to sleep to the sounds of nature outside and the other two in the room.