This is for @otakublogger. I loved doing this so I hope you enjoy it!! Once again I got a little carried away.
Summary: Shelyn is from the human realm but one day after visiting a bookstore she finds an old book with no title and reads from it. She is transported to the Demon Slayer world where she becomes Mitsuri's Tsuguko. She ends up meeting Inosuke Hashibira who she finds obnoxious but that soon changes when Inosuke and her have to work together to defeat the Demons terrorizing the Entertainment District.
Shelyn was your average girl living a somewhat normal life or at least she was until the day her whole life changed. One evening, while Shelyn was browsing through her favorite manga at a local bookstore, she noticed an old, leather-bound book on a dusty, forgotten shelf in the corner. The book had no title on the cover, just an intricate design that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Intrigued, she opened the book and discovered that it was written in a language she couldn't understand. As she flipped through the pages, she found a single page that was legible, containing an ancient incantation. Curious and a bit adventurous, Shelyn decided to read the incantation aloud.
As she spoke the final words, the air around her began to shimmer and warp. A bright light enveloped her, and she felt a strange, pulling sensation as if she were being drawn into the book itself. Moments later, she found herself in a dense, dark forest, with the moon shining brightly overhead. She could hear distant sounds of rustling leaves and faint whispers carried by the wind. Shelyn realized that she was no longer in her world.
A month has passed since being transported here and a lot has happened, for starters, she met the love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji who took her in and Shelyn became her Tsugoku.Their meeting was a turning point in Shelyn's life as a demon slayer. Mitsuri's warm and compassionate nature immediately put Shelyn at ease. One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Shelyn found herself sitting by a river, lost in thought. Mitsuri approached her, sensing the young girl's weariness and uncertainty.
"Are you alright, Shelyn?" Mitsuri asked, her voice full of concern.
Shelyn looked up and smiled weakly. "I'm just trying to figure out my place here. It's all so overwhelming."
Mitsuri sat down beside her, her presence radiating a comforting warmth. "I felt the same way when I first started. It's not easy, but remember that you're not alone. We all have our strengths and weaknesses."
Shelyn looked at her and smiled “You’re right. Thank you.”
Mitsuri smiled and wrapped her arms around her. Pulling her into a hug. ”I’m going to the Butterfly Mansion tomorrow. Why don’t you come with me? It’ll be fun.”
Sheyln nodded “I’d love to.”
The following day Shelyn was traveling with Mitsuri to the Butterfly Mansion. As they entered the premises she came across 3 males. She recognized them almost immediately. It was Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira. She bit the inside of her cheek at the site of Inosuke. She wasn’t particularly a fan of him. She thought he was obnoxious. Mitsuri led Shelyn over and introduced her to the 3. From the moment they met, it was clear that Shelyn and Inosuke were like oil and water. Inosuke, with his wild demeanor and penchant for shouting, immediately grated on Shelyn's nerves. His abrasive personality and constant need to assert dominance clashed sharply with Shelyn's more composed and thoughtful nature.
It was that night, they were all gathered around a campfire, Inosuke, as usual, was loudly bragging about his latest demon-slaying exploits. Shelyn, trying to maintain her patience, finally snapped when Inosuke started demanding that she prove her worth by fighting him.
"Why do you have to be so loud all the time?" Shelyn retorted, her frustration boiling over. "Not everything needs to be a competition!"
Inosuke, taken aback by her outburst, responded with his typical bluster. "If you can't handle my strength, then you're just weak!"
Shelyn stood up clenching her first “You’re not strong, you’re just obnoxious!” Inosuke was about to respond but Shelyn walked off before he could. Mitsuri followed her. Inosuke stormed off in the opposite direction.
A week had passed since Shelyn's first tumultuous encounter with Inosuke, and she had spent her days training hard and learning under Mitsuri's guidance. When her crow informed her of a mission at the Entertainment District, Shelyn felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. She knew this mission could be crucial, and she was determined to prove herself.
As she made her way to the bustling streets of the Entertainment District, Shelyn kept her senses sharp, scouting the area for anything unusual. She soon struck up a conversation with a sweet older lady who seemed to know a lot about the local happenings.
"Have you seen anything strange lately?" Shelyn asked, her voice gentle and polite.
The lady began to speak when a familiar, irritating noise interrupted them. Shelyn's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but think, "What is he doing here??"
She gave the older lady a soft smile and thanked her for her time before heading toward the commotion. As she approached, she saw Inosuke, predictably loud and aggressive, yelling at a man who was cowering on the ground.
Rolling her eyes, Shelyn walked over and pulled Inosuke away from the frightened man. "What the hell are you doing here??" she demanded once they were alone.
Inosuke glared at her, his wild eyes flashing with irritation. "I'm here on a mission, obviously! What are you doing here, princess?"
Shelyn crossed her arms, trying to keep her frustration in check. "Same as you, I guess. But do you have to terrorize the locals to get information? You're scaring them!"
Inosuke huffed, his posture defiant. "It's faster this way! They tell you everything when they're scared."
"Or they tell you nothing useful because they're too terrified to think straight," Shelyn shot back. "We need to be smart about this."
Inosuke seemed to consider her words for a moment before grudgingly nodding. "Fine. But if we don't find anything soon, I'm doing it my way."
Shelyn sighed, knowing this was the best compromise she could get from him. "Alright. Let's try it my way first..and don’t call me princess!!”
By the time Shelyn and Inosuke finished their investigation, the sky had turned dark, and the bustling energy of the Entertainment District had given way to a quieter, more subdued atmosphere. It took a lot out of her, being around Inosuke for so long. They decided to find a place to rest for the night and located a nearby motel. After securing two rooms, which were conveniently located next to each other, Shelyn turned to Inosuke.
"Goodnight, Inosuke," she said, her voice softer than usual after the day's exhausting events.
Inosuke grunted in response, which Shelyn took as his version of a goodnight. She smiled faintly, appreciating the small progress they had made in working together. Shelyn then entered her room, closing the door behind her with a sigh of relief. The room was simple but comfortable, a welcome respite from the chaos of the day.
She removed her gear, washed up, and changed into more comfortable clothing. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shelyn couldn't help but reflect on their investigation. The information they had gathered pointed to something sinister lurking in the district, and she knew tomorrow would bring its own set of challenges.
As she lay down, she heard a muffled thump from the room next door, followed by Inosuke's characteristic muttering. She chuckled softly, imagining him wrestling with the unfamiliar concept of a bed. Despite his rough edges, there was something almost endearing about his straightforwardness and raw determination.
Just as she was about to drift off to sleep, she heard a knock at her door. Frowning, Shelyn got up and opened it to find Inosuke standing there, looking somewhat perplexed.
"What is it, Inosuke?" she asked, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb other guests.
"I can't sleep," he admitted grudgingly, his eyes darting around the hallway. "This place is too... quiet."
Shelyn raised an eyebrow, surprised by his admission. "Do you want to come in and talk for a bit?"
Inosuke hesitated but then nodded. Shelyn stepped aside, allowing him to enter. He looked around her room, clearly uncomfortable in the confined, peaceful space. Shelyn sat back down on the bed and motioned for him to take the chair by the small table.
"Why can't you sleep?" she asked gently.
Inosuke scowled, crossing his arms. "Too used to the wild, I guess. Can't relax."
Shelyn nodded in understanding. "I get that. It's hard to adjust sometimes. But you need rest. Tomorrow is going to be tough."
Inosuke nodded and got up to leave, Shelyn hesitated, sensing his unease about sleeping alone in the unfamiliar environment. She knew he was more comfortable in the wild, and she also felt a growing sense of responsibility towards him, despite his rough demeanor.
"Inosuke," she called out softly, just as he reached the door.
He turned to face her, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What?"
Shelyn took a deep breath, then spoke with genuine concern. "If you can't sleep in your room, maybe you'd feel more comfortable staying here? We can set up a space for you on the floor. That way, you won't feel so out of place."
Inosuke's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You want me to stay here?" he asked, his tone a mix of skepticism and confusion.
Shelyn nodded. "Yeah, I think it might help you relax. And honestly, I could use the company too. It's been a long day."
For a moment, Inosuke seemed to struggle with the idea, his pride and his need for companionship at odds. Finally, he nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Alright, but I'm sleeping on the floor. I don't need a bed."
Shelyn nodded. "Deal. Let me grab some extra blankets and a pillow."
She quickly set up a makeshift bed on the floor, arranging the blankets and pillow to make it as comfortable as possible. Inosuke watched her silently, still looking a bit out of his element but also somewhat appreciative.
"Here you go," she said, stepping back to let him inspect the setup.
Inosuke grunted his approval and lay down, testing the arrangement. After a moment, he seemed to settle, his tension easing slightly. "Thanks," he muttered, almost grudgingly.
Shelyn shut the lights off “This was gonna be a long mission” she thought to herself. before drifting off to sleep. As the days turned into weeks, Shelyn and Inosuke continued their mission in the Entertainment District. Their initial clashes slowly gave way to a surprising but deepening connection. Despite their differences, they found themselves growing closer, each discovering new layers to the other.
That didn't stop their constant bickering though. It was driving the other guests in the motel crazy. Even some of the people in the district found you two annoying. Some of them are afraid to talk to Shelyn due to Inosuke. There was one particular incident.
As Shelyn and Inosuke continued their mission in the Entertainment District, tensions occasionally simmered beneath the surface, especially when Inosuke noticed Shelyn interacting with other males in the area. Despite her polite and professional demeanor, Inosuke couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy whenever he saw her speaking with someone else.
One evening, as they were gathering information from locals in a crowded market square, Shelyn struck up a conversation with a young merchant who seemed knowledgeable about recent disturbances in the district. Inosuke, who had been keeping watch nearby, noticed the merchant's lingering gaze and the way Shelyn smiled warmly in response to his comments.
Feeling a surge of possessiveness, Inosuke stormed over, his usual bluntness amplified by his jealousy. "What are you doing, talking to this guy?" he growled, his voice low but intense.
Shelyn, taken aback by his sudden outburst, tried to diffuse the situation calmly. "Inosuke, we're gathering information. He has useful insights."
Inosuke scoffed, shooting a death glare at the merchant who quickly excused himself, sensing the tension. "You don't need to talk to anyone else. I can handle this."
Shelyn sighed inwardly, recognizing the jealousy behind his words but also frustrated by his possessive behavior. "Inosuke, we're a team. We need to gather as much information as possible."
Inosuke grumbled something unintelligible under his breath but backed off, crossing his arms and casting menacing glares at anyone who dared to approach Shelyn for the rest of the evening. His jealousy was palpable, and despite his attempts to play it off, his protectiveness over Shelyn was clear. She didn't bother trying to talk to anyone else.
They were away from home for almost a month. On this particular night, they were walking around. There were still no signs of the demon. Shelyn pushed her hair back as they walked. She let out a soft sigh. “We’ve been at this for almost a month and we still have no leads! I’m beginning to think the demon isn’t here.”
Inosuke was about to respond when all of the sudden they heard screams coming from up ahead. They both took off running towards that direction. They pushed past the terrfied crowd of people and that’s when they finally came eye to eye with the demon they have been searching for. The air thick with the malevolent presence of the Upper Rank Six demons, Daki and Gyutaro. The streets were filled with the sounds of clashing swords, demonic laughter, and the desperate cries of the innocent caught in the crossfire. Shelyn and Inosuke fought alongside.
Shelyn found herself seperated from Inosuke on a rooftop, engaged in a fierce battle with Gyutaro. His grotesque form moved with a terrifying speed and precision, his poisoned sickles slicing through the air with deadly intent. Shelyn dodged and parried as best she could, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She could see the malevolent glee in Gyutaro’s eyes as he pressed his advantage, his taunts ringing in her ears.
“You think you can defeat me, little girl?” Gyutaro sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’re nothing!”
Gritting her teeth, Shelyn focused on his movements, waiting for an opening. She was determined to prove him wrong, to show that she was a force to be reckoned with. Just as she was about to launch a counterattack, she caught a glimpse of Gyutaro’s sickle arcing towards her from a blind spot.
Time seemed to slow as she realized she wouldn’t be able to dodge in time. She braced herself for the impact, but instead, she felt a sudden, forceful tug as Inosuke came out of nowhere, grabbing her by the waist and tackling her off the roof. Shelyn instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on tightly as they plummeted towards the ground.
“I had that, Inosuke!” she yelled, her voice a mix of frustration and relief.
Inosuke grinned, his wild eyes flashing with excitement. “Yeah, right! I just saved your life, princess!”
They landed with a thud, Inosuke absorbing most of the impact. He quickly rolled them to their feet, setting Shelyn down and drawing his swords in one fluid motion. Shelyn, still catching her breath, adjusted her grip on her own weapon and nodded in thanks, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
Gyutaro leapt down from the roof, his sickles spinning menacingly. “Two against one? How unfair!” he cackled, clearly relishing the challenge.
Inosuke growled, stepping protectively in front of Shelyn. “Bring it on, you ugly freak! We’ll take you down together!”
Shelyn and Inosuke launched their assault on Gyutaro. Their movements were synchronized, each attack flowing seamlessly into the next. Shelyn’s precise strikes complemented Inosuke’s raw, feral power, creating a devastating combination that began to wear down the demon.
As they fought, Shelyn noticed Daki attacking two other demon slayers, her eyes widen. It was Tanjiro and Zenitsu, they must’ve wondered by Inosuke hadn’t returned home yet. The two battles raged on, the Demon Slayers pushing themselves beyond their limits to protect the people of the district. Shelyn and Inosuke’s bond grew stronger with each passing moment, their trust in each other unwavering.
At a crucial moment, Gyutaro aimed a particularly vicious strike at Shelyn. Shelyn dodged, but her movements were slowed by fatigue. Inosuke, seeing the danger, intercepted the attack, his swords clashing against Gyutaro’s sickles with a resounding crash.
“Focus, Shelyn! We’ve got this!” Inosuke shouted, his voice filled with fierce determination.
Shelyn nodded, her eyes blazing with resolve. “Right! Let’s finish this!”
With a final, coordinated effort, they unleashed their most powerful techniques. Shelyn’s blade flashed with precision, cutting through Gyutaro’s defenses, while Inosuke’s swords delivered the finishing blow, severing the demon’s head in a single, brutal strike.
As Gyutaro’s body crumbled to the ground, Shelyn and Inosuke stood side by side, their breathing heavy but victorious. In the distance, they saw Tanjiro and Zenitsu finishing off Daki, the combined efforts of the Demon Slayers bringing an end to the nightmare in the Entertainment District.
Shelyn looked at Inosuke, her eyes filled with gratitude and something deeper. “Thanks, Inosuke. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Inosuke grinned, his wild expression softening slightly. “We’re a team, Shelyn. Now let’s go help the others.”
As Shelyn and Inosuke made their way back to the motel room after a particularly grueling battle, exhaustion weighed heavily on both of them. Shelyn, always meticulous about cleanliness, took her time to freshen up in the bathroom before emerging, feeling drained but relieved to be out of the battle-worn attire.
She collapsed onto the bed with a sigh, feeling the weight of the day settle over her like a heavy blanket. Inosuke, unusually quiet, watched her from his spot on the edge of the bed. His usual brash demeanor had softened in the presence of exhaustion and perhaps something more.
Inosuke hesitated for a moment, then reached out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from Shelyn's face. His touch was surprisingly tender, a stark contrast to his usual roughness. Shelyn stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering as she sensed his presence.
"Inosuke," she murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned in closer, his heart pounding in his chest. Without a word, Inosuke closed the distance between them, pressing his lips gently against hers. It was a brief, tender kiss, filled with unspoken emotions and the quiet understanding that had grown between them despite their differences.
When they parted, Shelyn gazed up at Inosuke, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and something deeper – a growing affection that had caught them both off guard.
"Inosuke," she whispered again, this time with a small smile playing on her lips.
He didn't respond with words, but the way he looked at her spoke volumes. In that quiet motel room, amid the remnants of the day's challenges, Shelyn and Inosuke found a connection that transcended their initial misunderstandings and clashes. It was a beginning, unexpected yet undeniable, of something new and promising between them.
As they settled into each other's presence, the night enveloped them in a comforting embrace, promising a future where their paths would intertwine in ways they had never imagined possible.
And in that moment, with the weight of the day lifting and their hearts beating in sync, Shelyn knew that despite the dangers they faced as demon slayers, having Inosuke by her side made it all worthwhile.
The night stretched on peacefully, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of newfound love.
