#inoshizu

It was the dead of night but Shizuka felt nothing but awake. Her heart hammered in her chest and she could feel every flex of her muscles. She and Inosuke faced a vampire who controlled the water in a nearby river.

"Leave me alone already!" the vampire screamed while directing a water blast at Inosuke.

Shizuka ran as fast as her feet would carry her and slashed through the water, disrupting its flow and creating a large spray. Inosuke lunged at the vampire in that opening.

"Shut the hell up already!" Inosuke used one blade to cut the neck and his second to pierce the heart simultaneously.

"GYAAAAAH! Hgh—! Ahhhhhh..."

As the vampire's shrill cries died, it went limp and shriveled up. Inosuke tried to shake the corpse off his sword but it failed to slide off easily due to the rotten flesh snagging on the chipped edge.

"So that's it..." Shizuka sighed in relief. Her heart started to beat differently, in a lighter way. "Ah ha!" She ran to Inosuke as he had finished freeing his nichirin blade. "We did it!" Shizuka threw her arms around Inosuke's shoulders and pressed a kiss to the furred cheek of his mask. Wait. In a snap, Shizuka, with her face burning hot, pulled away from Inosuke.

"O-oi! Hanaka!" Inosuke snapped, turning to properly face Shizuka. "What was that just now?!"

"I-I..." Shizuka averted her eyes. "That was—!"

"It made me feel all fuzzy! Do it again!"

"Again"?! I shouldn't have done it in the first place! Shizuka felt her heart skip a beat. "N-no way! You can't just demand things from me!" Please don't notice that I'm blushing!

Inosuke grunted. "Well then. How about... If we ever do a mission together, you gotta do that again!"

"I—!" Shizuka crossed her arms then huffed, "I suppose I could..."

.....

"Koyurika! We beat the demon!" Inosuke laughed while running up to the girl. "C'mon! C'mon! Do the thing!"

Tanjirou, who had been on the mission with Inosuke and Shizuka, looked over at the two.

"Hm? What're you two up to?" he asked and tilted his head to the side.

At the question, Shizuka colored up in the face. She choked out an uncharacteristically meek, "It's n-nothing much..." Then, she turned to Inosuke and kissed his cheek. Or at least the cheek of his mask.

Tanjirou blinked once. Twice. "Y-you two...? Isn't that a ki—?"

"Alright! Let's get the kakushi here!" Shizuka yelped as she stepped back from Inosuke and fanned her face. "Wow! Is anyone else feeling warm?!”

I never thought I'd see something like this from these two, Tanjirou mused. He walked up to Inosuke and patted his shoulder. Inosuke stuck up his nose and grunted. Tenderness isn't their specialty but a new side of them is nice to see.

.....

"Wh-wh-what the hell did you just doooo?!" Zenitsu's screech pierced the night.

Shizuka leaned away from Inosuke after giving him the usual peck on the cheek.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Shizuka scoffed. She held her head high and crossed her arms. "I'm congratulating Inosuke on a job well done!"

The answer made Zenitsu leap towards Shizuka. He tapped his pointer fingers together and tried to put on his best pleading expression.

"Since I helped too, I also deserve to be congratulated, right?"

Shizuka's expression was sharp, eyes narrowed and lip curled back. It was adorable on her though. So intrinsically her. Shizuka opened her mouth to speak but Inosuke spoke first.

"Back off, Ponritsu!" Inosuke rammed his head into Zenitsu's, eliciting a yelp out of him and knocking him back. "Yatsuka only does that for me because I'm the boss!" He proclaimed and pounded a fist against his puffed chest.

"Grah! No fair!" whine Zenitsu while he rubbed his forehead. "You don't even know the word for what Shizuka's doing, do you?" Why is the world so unfair?! Inosuke doesn't know how good he's got it!

.....

Tengen paused and rapidly blinked his good eye. While hobbling away from the battlefield with his wives' help, he had noticed Shizuka and Inosuke shuffling along together a way's off. He had almost called out to them when he overheard their conversation.

"Why won't you do the thing already?!" Tengen could actually see the frustration on Inosuke's face since he'd taken off his ridiculous mask to let someone tend to his head wound.

"I can't do it now!" Shizuka retorted. From where he was, Tengen heard the rapid beating of her heart.

"Of course you can! Your face isn't broken, is it?"

"Th-that's not the issue here!"

"Fine then! If you don't do it—!"

That's when Tengen watched Inosuke kiss Shizuka's face. In actuality, "kiss" would've been a generous word. It was more like Inosuke pressing his nose and mouth against Shizuka's cheek.

"That is..."

"Usually Shizuka is the one doing the kissing but I guess she's too shy to kiss his real face," Zenitsu grumbled, suddenly beside Tengen's group while on the back of a kakushi.

"She kisses the boar mask?!" Makio yelled, understandably confused.

The kakushi member carrying Zenitsu let out a disgruntled "eugh."

"Don't think too hard on it." Zenitsu sighed tiredly. "And don't bring it up with them. Inosuke's so dumb he doesn't know the word 'kiss' and Shizuka seems determined to not to hear the word."

Still at a distance, Shizuka and Inosuke screamed at each other.

"I'm just so glad you're alive, Inosuke!"

"Don't worry about me dying, Ruruka! Since I'm the boss, I gotta continue living for my minions!"

"Hmm! What an odd and flamboyant couple," Tengen remarked.

"So Gonpachirou, Kanitsu, and I were doing laundry—"

"Why does it matter that you were doing that specifically?"

"Shut up, I'm getting there," Inosuke said before returning to his story. "I was cleaning my underwe—"

"Ew. I know it's yours but I don't want the mental ima—" Shizuka was silenced by Inosuke's hand over her mouth. Oh gods! Why is he doing this? What if someone walks in? The warmth of Inosuke's hand, so calloused and strong, was nothing compared to the heat that rose to Shizuka's face.

"—and as I was cleaning, I realized I could read some of the stuff besides my name on it."

Wait, there's more? Shizuka shuddered at the thought of inspecting undergarments of all things for writing. Since Inosuke hadn't let her go, she raised a brow to press for more information.

"It was 'four,' 'moon,' 'twenty-two,' and 'sun.' I showed it to Ryuujirou and he said that it must be the day I was born!" Inosuke let go of Shizuka's face only to grab her shoulders again. "Can you believe it, Mokuka? I have a birthday!"

"Tch. Well duh, you have a birthday," Shizuka groaned as Inosuke rattled her body. "Everyone has a birth—" Wait. He said it was April twenty-second. That's tomorrow! I have to get him something! "AAAHHH!" Shizuka writhed out of Inosuke's grasp and bolted out the door.

Shizuka heard Inosuke scream after her, "Hey! The hell are you going?! What about dinner?"

"Tch! It should be ready! I can eat later!" Shizuka screeched back. I need to get something perfect for Inosuke!

Shizuka ran like her life depended on it and didn't stop until she reached town and the shopping district. While pausing to breath more relaxedly, she looked around at the shops. A general store, a bookstore, and various other buildings lined the street.

What would Inosuke want? First, I have to go off what I know he likes. Shizuka closed her eyes and crossed her arms. Fighting, training, sleeping, showing off... A frown crossed her features. Not exactly things I can shop for.

Shizuka inhaled deeply. An array of delicious smells entered her nose. She saw an eatery to her left but ignored her growling stomach.

I know he likes tempura. And... Shizuka spotted a pair of women talking out of a store, a folded up article of clothing in one's arms. He prefers cotton fabric when it comes to choosing blankets. Shizuka looked down at her haori. Maybe I should get him something for when it gets colder.

Nodding to herself, Shizuka made a plan.

After having gouged her wallet, Shizuka returned to the Butterfly Mansion. She held her purchases close to her body as she entered the mansion. Tanjirou and Zenitsu would be sure to figure out what she was planning but she would try to keep it a surprise for Inosuke.

The night passed and morning came.

Shizuka scrambled out of bed the second she felt conscious. She wrapped her first present to Inosuke before hurrying to the kitchen to begin prepping the second. The vegetables needed to be washed thoroughly. There was also the shrimp that needed to be shelled. Chopping and actually cooking everything was yet another matter.

Did I go overboard buying twelve kinds of tempura foods? Shizuka wondered while staring at the cluttered counter. Shaking her head, she reassured herself. I'm not going to do this halfway! Not for Inosuke!

Shizuka rolled up sleeves and got to work. For vegetables, there were standard produce like shiso leaves and pumpkin but Shizuka also dared to add broccoli on the suggestion of the seller. The meats of the tempura feast would be shrimp and squid.

"Good morn—What on earth?!"

"Good morning, Kochou-sama," Shizuka greeted over her shoulder.

"Shizuka, what is all this?" asked Shinobu as she walked up to the counter.

"Tch. I think it should be obvious but it's tempura ingredients."

"Tempura?" Shinobu picked up a slice of sweet potato, as if to inspect it. "But why so much?"

"It's Inosuke's birthday so I want to treat him."

A choking sound came from Shinobu before she giggled, "You really are like his wife."

SNAP!

Shizuka stared at the cutting board, snapped in two by her own hand, then glared at Shinobu. The Insect Pillar kept her blithe smile then walked away. It was as though she wasn't guilty of stating something as ridiculous as she had.

Breakfast was prepared by the mansion's staff but Shizuka couldn't let herself take a break. Her work was interrupted however, ironically by the person it was for.

"OI! Nodoka!"

"Yes?" Shizuka moved slowly while gutting the squid she had bought. There was only one so she couldn't afford to mess up. "What is it?"

"Come train with me!"

"Tch. I'm already busy with this."

Inosuke huffed, quite loudly, before stomping footsteps were heard. Then, a hand clamped down on Shizuka's wrists. She locked her body so the knife wouldn't go awry. Looking to Inosuke, Shizuka saw him frowning, not in anger but more petulance.

"C'mon!" Inosuke tugged on Shizuka's wrist. "Let's train!"

Shizuka sighed. She really couldn't turn down a request. "Very well. Just let me wash up first."

"Why bother? You're gonna get sweaty and nasty anyway."

"Tch." Shizuka rolled her eyes. "The mess from cooking and the mess from training are different."

"Whatever."

Training with Inosuke, Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Kanao lasted longer than Shizuka had anticipated. Midmorning turned to afternoon as the hours passed until the teens collapsed from exhaustion.

Shizuka felt her whole body tremble and her vision swam. Their training wasn't especially intense though. Still, she felt absolutely drained.

"It's time you guys took a break!" a voice called from the door. "Wash up and then come grab lunch!"

Dammit! Shizuka buried her face in her hands. I guess I can have everything prepared for dinner!

A soak in the bath and a hearty meal revitalized the teens, Shizuka most of all. Shizuka finished eating and was prepared to return to the kitchen only for Inosuke to stop her.

"Hey. You're gonna teach me how to read more stuff, got it," he said plainly.

"Inosuke, you can't just demand things from a girl," Zenitsu chided. "Besides, me and Tanjirou can teach you too."

"Well you two suck at teaching!"

"Say that again, you swine!"

"Calm down, guys!" exclaimed Tanjirou as he tried to play peacemaker. "Inosuke, you don't have to be so critical. And Zenitsu, you don't need to be so offended!"

"Tch. Seriously?" I was going to agree anyway. Shizuka glanced at Kanao. The other girl gave a close-eyed smile and shrugged her shoulders.

In the end, Shizuka ended up bringing Inosuke to her borrowed room at the mansion to read through some children's books, courtesy of Shinobu. They sat side-by-side on her bed, the book of focus held between them. They went back and forth reading sentences and if Inosuke ever stumbled, Shizuka would get him back on track. Occasionally, Shizuka would glance at her pillow, under which her gift was hidden.

The reading session lasted until evening due to Inosuke's insistence of reading every book.

"The end," Shizuka said while closing the final book. She looked out the window and at the early night sky. The dinner is going to be late I guess. Her eyes were drawn to the pillow. Shizuka reached a hand under it and slowly slid the wrapped haori out from under.

"Hey, Shizuka."

Immediately, Shizuka's head turned at the sound of her name, her actual name. Inosuke smiled at her, differently than how he usually did. This time, his grin was soft. He slung an arm around Shizuka's shoulders and buried his face in her hair.

Shizuka felt feverish from head to toe. Her heart skipped. Her breath hitched. All because of Inosuke's closeness.

"I know I drag you around a lot but it's 'cause I like spending time with you," Inosuke whispered. "Especially today. It's the first birthday I really got to have. And having you be a part of it was nice. Thanks."

Turning, Shizuka let go of the wrapped gift then embraced Inosuke.

Shizuka paced up and down an empty hallway. There was a scowl on her face. Her arms swung at her sides. She took a pause from pacing and crossed her arms.

The conversation that she just had was… Ridiculous to say the least.

“Stupid Inosuke and his stupid ideas,” she grumbled to herself. “Not even realizing the implication of calling me Shizuka Hashibira.”

All of a sudden, her heartbeat quickened and heat flooded her face.

Saying it out loud again, this time on her own, the name had a different ring to it.

Shizuka put a hand to her cheek, the warmth feeling pleasant.

“Imagine me, Shizuka Hashibira, the wife of Inosuke Hashibira,” Shizuka whispered to herself, letting the idea sink in. Her scowl weakened then changed into a contemplative expression. “Shizuka Hashibira, the wife of a feral man.” She smiled to herself. Why does it sound kind of nice when I say it out loud? “Shizuka Hashibira… Shizuka Hashibira…” She repeated the name to herself as she left the hallway.

..........

In the hospital wing of the Butterfly Mansion, Zenitsu shuddered and grumbled to himself, “I think I need to gouge out my ears.”

In the next bed over, Tanjirou was curious about what could’ve upset Zenitsu enough to say that.

..........

Later that same day, Shizuka sat across from Shinobu in the Pillar’s personal office.

“About the paperwork you filled out,” Shinobu said while plucking up a single sheet from her desk.

“What about it?” Shizuka asked, frowning. She wasn’t afraid of Shinobu, per se, but the woman made her mildly uncomfortable.

“I wasn’t made aware that you and Inosuke got married.” Shinobu held up a sheet of paper with two hands and beamed. In the box designated for a person’s name was written “Shizuka Hashibira” in the girl’s sharp penmanship. “Congratulations!” Shinobu chirped, sounding a little too happy.