#michiharu

They had just arrived back at the estate when Michikatsu noticed something.

Tanjirou's sword, tucked into the luggage just barely hidden.

Oh for the love of-

Of course Tanjirou had brought his sword with him. Why wouldn't have he?

With a sigh, Michikatsu picked it up and went over to the palanquin. "Tanjirou, how many times do I have to-"

Haruhime stopped Michikatsu with a finger on her lips, and motioned at the seat across hers.

Tanjirou was lying on his side on the seat, with Masayuki happily cuddling him. Tanjirou was asleep.

"Tanjirou fell asleep about halfway through the trip." Haruhime explained as she got out of the palanquin, holding Chiyoko in her arms. "Chiyoko slept through the whole trip quietly."

Michikatsu stared at Tanjirou and Masayuki for a moment before sighing. "Him and his unstable sleeping schedule..."

Despite having been at the Tsugikuni estate for a while now—and thus having the time to propely sleep and rest—Tanjirou has been reported to wake up in the middle of the night and either start doing push-ups or wander around the estate.

So, while in theory Tanjirou's sleeping schedule shouldn't be messed up, it still is.

"Take this back to the storage room, thank you." Michikatsu handed Tanjirou's sword to a nearby attendant before crouching into the palanquin and carefully picking Tanjirou up. Masayuki, although seemingly upset at the cuddle time ending, got off of Tanjirou before Michikatsu lifted the teenager up.

He knew what it looked like. He didn't care.

Haruhime casted a quick glance at him, her expression slightly amused, but the fondness was clear. Tanjirou stayed asleep even when Michikatsu lifted him out of the palanquin.

Infact, all Tanjirou did was sigh in his sleep and not stir.

"After you're done here, you all are done for the day. It's getting rather late after all." Michikatsu told the group of attendants, who nodded in response.

Masayuki followed closely after Michikatsu and Haruhime as they walked back inside, before suddenly tugging on Michikatsu's hakama. "Papa, I wanna sleep next to brother."

Michikatsu and Haruhime both halted and stared at their—technically still—oldest. Masayuki had his own room, and the boy didn't tend to like being too close with those he didn't know well and trust. His own room was a place Masayuki could escape to if he felt even a little overwhelmed.

But to Masayuki, Tanjirou wasn't an outsider. To Masayuki, Tanjirou was his brother, someone he could trust easily and know to recieve comfort and attention from.

Haruhime glanced at her husband, then at her son, before returning her gaze to Michikatsu. "What if we all slept this night in the same room? I'm sure Masayuki would like that, and I feel like we need this after... after finding about that."

Masayuki's eyes lit up at the thought of the idea, blissfully ignorant to what Tanjirou had told Haruhime and Michikatsu.

Logically, he should've said no.

But after everything that happened today, he couldn't. And besides, Tanjirou looked like he needed the comfort.

So, Michikatsu simply nodded. "Alright."

Masayuki grinned excitedly, and Haruhime smiled in response. Michikatsu noticed the glances a couple of attendants gave, and ignored them. He knew what would come of it later, it was expected at this point.

After three—Masayuki insisted that if given permission, he wanted to sleep in the same futon as Tanjirou—futons were rolled out into one room and they all had changed into nightware—Tanjirou was still in his kimono that he wore that day, only his hakama were removed for comfort—they settled in for the night.

Tanjirou hadn't woken up and was peacefully sleeping with Masayuki happily clinging to him. As if used to this—he probably was—Tanjirou wrapped his arms around Masayuki and hugged the boy close. Chiyoko was also still asleep in the futon next to Tanjirou's and Masayuki's.

Haruhime was humming something as she combed her loose hair. She paused for a moment before speaking. "Michikatsu?"

Michikatsu, who had been reading some reports and whatnot to catch up on the paperwork he missed during the trip to Mount Kumotori, glanced up. "Yes?"

Haruhime sighed. "Put the paperwork away. You'll lose track of time and not sleep at all again."

"It's just a few reports, it's fine." Michikatsu said dismissively. "It won't take long."

Haruhime was silent for a moment, before letting out an amused sigh. "And what would you say if Tanjirou was doing something similiar?"

Miichikatsu went to answer, but found that he had nothing to say in response. He knew what Haruhime was implying.

"You two really are similiar." Haruhime shook her head and placed her comb down. She then stood up and walked over to Michikatsu. "If you want Tanjirou to fix his sleeping schedule, you need to set a good example."

Michikatsu knew that.

Haruhime stared at Michikatsu for a moment before sitting down next to him. "You're doing it again." She reminded him, taking his hand in hers.

"I know." Michikatsu mumbled and let Haruhime intertwine their fingers. "It's just... difficult, not to."

"What are you worried about, exactly?" Haruhime asked. "You act as if you're still only starting your career, not like you've been doing this for years now."

Michikatsu hesitated. He never liked talking about this. "...Tanjirou reminds me of my brother, and that brings up memories of how our father treated us... I suppose that's a reason."

Haruhime didn't know much about Yoriichi—frankly, all she did know that Michikatsu had a brother who disappeared the same night their mother died. She doesn't know anything else, but knows not to ask.

She has heard some of the older attendants whisper about how Tanjirou resembles Michikatsu's brother. "That mark on his forehead. Is it a birthmark just like his?" "It's only a scar, luckily. It's a relief the boy wasn't cursed." "Those earrings. I remember him having those earrings." "Lady Akeno made them for him. I think I remember her wanting Amaterasu to heal his deaf ears."

However, in Haruhime's opinion, Tanjirou resembled Michikatsu more than his mysterious brother. Even the attendants agreed, only the older ones—and the ones who had almost nothing to do but gossip about baseless things—said anything about Michikatsu's brother.

"You know that I don't know much about your brother, but I think Tanjirou is more like you." Haruhime said. "Many here agree. You know that."

"...I know." Michikatsu nodded and didn't protest when Haruhime took the stack of reports from him.

The two sat in silence for a little while, watching the three children sleep peacefully.

It was nice to see Tanjirou so relaxed and at ease after that trip. The only evidence that Tanjirou cried at all was the faint and barely noticable marks on his face left by dried tears.

Now Tanjirou's breathing was calm and his expression devoid of any pain or sorrow. Masayuki was wrapped in Tanjirou's arms like it was normal, and Tanjirou had reached a hand out towards Chiyoko to comfort her when she started getting fussy.

"They look like this is natural for them." Haruhime remarked with a soft smile. "It's like he belongs there."

"Mhm." Michikatsu hummed in response. They really did look like it.

After a moment of silence, Haruhime stood up, tugging Michikatsu along with her. "Come on, let's not stay awake all night."

Leaving the small stack of paperwork discarded on the floor, Michikatsu and Haruhime walked over to the futons. Haruhime took the one where Chiyoko was sleeping in, tucking the baby girl against her side and smiling to herself when Chiyoko immediately grabbed onto her finger.

Michikatsu settled in the futon next to Tanjirou's and Masayuki's, only to halt when the teen stirred.

Still half-asleep, Tanjirou turned to look at Michikatsu in confusion. "...Dad?"

Michikatsu stilled and noticed Haruhime smile.

"I'm right here." Michikatsu gently patted Tanjirou's hair. "Go back to sleep, Tanjirou. It's in the middle of the night."

The comforting action and his words lulled Tanjirou back asleep, who managed to mumble a sleepy "Okay" before closing his eyes again.

Michikatsu waited a moment before speaking. "What's with that smile?"

"Nothing." Haruhime shook her head softly. "...Tanjirou called me "mom" by accident when he had that fever a while ago."

Michikatsu glanced down at Tanjirou before pulling the cover over the boy's shoulder. Haruhime stared the children before closing her eyes as well. Michikatsu remained awake for a little while longer until he followed their lead.

Tanjirou slept peacefully through the night without any nightmares of his family's bloodied corpses.

When morning came, Tanjirou woke up surrounded by a familiar feeling he grew up with. A small weight was curled in his arms.

Tanjirou peeked his eyes open and saw a head of black hair. Tanjirou closed his eyes. It was just Rokuta, he liked sleeping right next to Tanjirou.

...Wait a minute.

Tanjirou opened his eyes again and saw Masayuki sleeping in his arms. Then Tanjirou noticed Haruhime and Chiyoko sleeping in the futon next to them. Then Tanjirou turned around and saw Michikatsu asleep behind him.

Tanjirou stared at them in silence for a moment.

He needed a walk.

Tanjirou went to sit up, but Masayuki clung to him tightly. As carefully as he could, Tanjirou slowly detached the toddler from his and placed the him into Michikatsu's arms. Masayuki, momentarily stirred by the small ordeal, luckily settled down.

After taking in a deep breath, Tanjirou crept out of the room and into the garden.

Tanjirou was in the Sengoku Era.

No wonder Matsuemon or anyone else hadn't found him yet, they wouldn't find him in the past!

Was there any way for Tanjirou to return home?

Tanjirou had a feeling that this was the cause of that demon he fought. He knew it had used it's Blood Demon Art, but it didn't put him to sleep.

Maybe if the demon got killed he'd be sent back home?

Did it work like that? Tanjirou hasn't seen much Blood Demon Arts, and the ones with lasting effects were usually related to poison or something similiar. Most of the Blood Demon Arts focused on making the demon more difficult to fight, not affecting the human.

Zenitsu had gotten injected with a poison-type Blood Demon Art during their mission to Mount Natagumo, and he needed to take medicine for the effects to disappear.

But Tanjirou was in the past, incredibly far from Kocho who could make any sort of medicine to treat the effects of Blood Demon Arts.

And this wasn't even a poison related situation. Tanjirou isn't poisoned or anything, he's literally just somewhere else!

...Was he stuck here?

The more Tanjirou thought about it, the more that thought made sense. He couldn't kill the demon who was responsible for this, said demon was in a complitely different Era than him. And Kocho's medicine, as amazing and impressive and life-saving as they were, treated poisons and other similiar ailments—not time travel.

...Tanjirou was stuck here.

Tanjirou had no way back to his friends, no way back to Nezuko.

Some days pass. Maybe even weeks. Tanjirou tries to come to terms with his situation, he really does. But everytime he thinks about his friends and Nezuko, he feels hopeless, like he might even cry.

And Michikatsu and Haruhime notice this.

"Tanjirou?" Junichi called out. "Would you please follow me? Her Ladyship and the master wish to speak with you."

Tanjirou blinked out of his thoughts and stood up. "Uhm, okay."

"Do you know why?" Tanjirou asked.

"No, I'm sorry." Junichi shook his head and lead Tanjirou through the Tsugikuni estate to Michikatsu's office.

Junichi opened the door for Tanjirou, who gave an awkward and stiff bow and muttered a thank you before stepping in. Junichi closed the door behind Tanjirou. He still wasn't used to the attendants treating him like this.

Michikatsu and Haruhime were the only other people in the room aside from Tanjirou.

"Have a seat, please." Haruhime motioned at the cushion across from them.

Tanjirou nodded and and sat down. "What did you two want to talk to me about?"

"Firstly, we wanted to ask if you're doing alright." Michikatsu started. "You've seemed down ever since our trip, and we're worried."

"Ah, w-well..." Tanjirou stammered. He could already feel the guilt for making them worry building up. "I..."

Tanjirou hesitated. How could he explain his situation and reason for his current mood? They didn't believe him when he told them about demons, why would the believe him if he told them that he was from the future?

...Best to keep it simple.

"I... I don't know how to get back to my friends and sister." Tanjirou answered. "I thought that I knew where I was and where I would need to go, but... I don't. And none of my friends have found me either, which is unusual."

Michikatsu and Haruhime shared a glance.

"B-but it's fine!" Tanjirou immediately added. "I know how to work basic odd jobs, so I can start somewhere new once I'm healed. I'll be fine."

Tanjirou pressed his forehead against the floor. "I'm very thankful for all that you've done for me, and I don't know if I can ever repay you."

Michikatsu and Haruhime were silent for a moment until Michikatsu spoke. "Raise your head, Tanjirou."

Tanjirou did as told, and looked up at the two.

"The other thing we wanted to talk to you about is this." Michikatsu held a paper towards Tanjirou.

Confused, Tanjirou took the paper from Michikatsu. It looked like a really official document or something. So many words and terms. Tanjirou could spot Michikatsu's and Haruhime's signatures at the bottom.

...Hold on.

Frowning, Tanjirou began to reread the paper. It didn't look like any sort of document.

...Was... was Tanjirou holding adoption papers?

Tanjirou looked up at Michikatsu and Haruhime. Their expressions and scents told him that they were seirous.

"...What?" He managed. "Eh- w-why?"

"I know this is sudden, but we've thought about it for a while now." Haruhime started. "It's been an occasional thought for maybe months now, but we started to seriously consider it a week or so ago."

Tanjirou stared at them in disbelief.

"I suppose we've thought of you as our son for as long as Masayuki has called you his brother." Haruhime smiled. "We would love to make it official."

"However, we understand if you don't want to. This is a big decision." Michikatsu added.

Tanjirou was silent. What does he even say to that?

Tanjirou stared down at the paper in his hands. An official paper that once signed by everyone involved, would officially register Tanjirou as Michikatsu's and Haruhime's oldest son. It already had Michikatsu's and Haruhime's signatures, and was waiting for Tanjirou's.

Tanjirou has nowhere else to go. The Tsugikunis have been nothing but kind and welcoming to him. They have treated him like family for so long that Tanjirou has started to see them the same way.

At first Tanjirou was embarrassed about it. He didn't know why he was so quick to associate Michikatsu and Haruhime with his parents and Masayuki and Chiyoko with his siblings. Then he was afraid of letting that feeling grow.

He didn't belong in this time, he didn't even exist according to records.

And then Michikatsu and Haruhime, after all the kindness they've given him, tell him that they see him as a son, tell him that they want to give him a place to belong.

Tanjirou is conflicted. A part of him feels like he's taking advantage of them if he accepts—but another part of him wants to accept no matter how it looks.

"Really?" Tanjirou manages to mumble out as he looks up at the two. "You- you think of me that way?"

They nod.

"I- I don't know what to say." Tanjirou glances between the paper in his hands and at Michikatsu and Haruhime. "What if someone thinks that-"

"This isn't about how it looks like to an outsider or about what others think, Tanjirou." Michikatsu interrupted him and stood up, walking over to him and sitting down next to him. "This is about what you want."

"I..." Tanjirou paused.

Tanjirou should decline. He has bothered Michikatsu and Haruhime enough. He's more than capable of taking care of himself, even if he's in a century he doesn't know how to live in.

But... A part of Tanjirou wanted nothing more than to accept, not because it would be easier for him, but because he didn't want to leave—because that part of him really did see the Tsugikunis as his family, in a way.

Michikatsu placed a hand on Tanjirou's shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Does this bother you?"

"I- No, no it... it doesn't." Tanjirou shook his head. "I'm just- I didn't expect this."

"We didn't either." Haruhime admitted, joining Michikatsu in sitting next to Tanjirou. "But you have a special way of getting into someone's heart and never leaving."

Tanjirou looked at the ground sheepishly, only to raise his gaze back up when Haruhime placed a comforting hand on his cheek.

"We understand if you do want to leave and start new somewhere on your own." She said. "But we would love nothing more than if you did stay here as our own son."

Tanjirou doesn't know what he's supposed to say. The longer he sits here, contemplating the idea of accepting, the bigger that part of that does want to accept becomes.

...Would it be bad if he did accept? Some might think that Tanjirou accepting would be him taking advantage of Michikatsu's and Haruhime's kindness.

But this isn't about how it looks like to an outsider or about what others think. It's about what he and Michikatsu and Haruhime want.

Michikatsu and Haruhime want to adopt him.

And Tanjirou... doesn't find himself to be against the idea.

"Would you... would you really want to adopt me?" He asks, looking up at the two.

"More than anything." Haruhime nods. "But we also understand if you don't want that."

"Tanjirou, I'll ask this plain and simple, and you only need to nod or shake your head. You don't need to say anything if you can't find the right words." Michikatsu said. "Do you want us to adopt you?"

Tanjirou hesitates.

And then... he nods.

It's stiff and awkward, like he's trying to get himself used to the motion. But he means it.