#zenino

'Genya, can I ask you something?'

'Huh, sure, what's on offer?'

'Well... I would like to know, look, maybe you don't know, but, I'm Muichiro's partner...', what a revelation, no one would have known, by the way, it's sarcasm.

Genya pretended not to know, it's a shame he doesn't know how to hide it, well, that wasn't the point.

'Well, what do I have to do with that?'

'The thing is... I don't know, I don't fully understand Muichiro, I know I am his boyfriend, but, I would like him to treat others the same way he treats me...'

'Can you be more specific?'

And so, the story began that occurred during training at Tokito's estate, the preference was evident, it was obvious that Muichiro, although he loved spending time with Tanjiro, had to have some "toughness", but he couldn't, he was softer and understanding with him than with the others.

Let's say that was their "first fight", it wasn't anything serious, it was just that they hadn't agreed on how to treat each other, but they were still exchanging letters, so it wasn't that serious.

'I understand, and why don't you ask Zenitsu better? I mean, he's this stupid boar's boyfriend.'

'WHO ARE YOU CALLING STUPID?! MONJIRO! GET OFF ME!'

'I did, I asked Zenitsu, but he says that not even he himself knows how he puts up with Inosuke and his mood swings... So, I wanted to know, you're Senjuro's partner, right? How do you understand him?', eeeem, there was quite a difference.

Genya sighed, he had to admit that he thought the only reason Senjuro "respected" him was because of his height, but, he didn't know exactly.

He didn't deny that he loved him, but, it was a little complicated to understand, but I think he understood Tanjiro's point of view a little.

'Well, uuuuuh, let's say that our relationship is just starting to be stable, if you can put it that way. Senjuro, he's a good boy, but we're not always on the same page, and the only thing I do when it's a somewhat childish reason is to tickle him until he accepts that I'm right or make him accept that he's right.'

Tanjiro is not going to lie, that was one of the options, but when he tried to do it, the roles ended up being reversed and thus he discovered that hashiras had an amazing power to blow raspberries, he did not want to repeat that.

'Eeeem, Tanjiro? All good?'

'It's a bit difficult, considering the difference in strength between Senjuro and Muichiro, I tried to do it... I ended up crying and barely breathing'

'You're weak Monjiro! I wouldn't let them do that to me!', it's because your boyfriend is Zenitsu, Inosuke.

Anyway, Tanjiro asked Genya for help and he agreed, and do I know where Inosuke came from? Well, he was nosy where they didn't call him

'Tokito-San! There's a savage here!'

'What? Ginko, it's daytime... Demons don't come out during the day...'

'PIG ATTACK!!', and you will already know who the 'savage' Ginko was referring to was.

However, Inosuke doesn't know anything, even though he tried to tickle him, guess what, he didn't succeed and only earned Muichiro slapping him and Tanjiro and Genya having to separate him so he doesn't slap him back.

'LET ME GO! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO THE GREAT INOSUKE?!'

'Tanjiro, I thought I told you that... Inosuke... Wasn't a good influence on you'

'Ehehehehe, he's someone you can love, just, it's necessary to understand him...'

Yes, well, Muichiro sighed, he doesn't wanted another fight, but still, he told Tanjiro that he had to calm Inosuke down if he wanted to be on his estate and that's how it happened.

'So, how's your training going...'

'Well, I guess, some leave a lot to be desired... Others, they're good but still lacking, I'm trying to be a good teacher, but it doesn't seem to be enough'

Genya motioned to Tanjiro, he nodded and approached Muichiro, giving him a hug from behind, smiling as he snuggled up and seemed to relax.

'What if you take a break?'

'No need, I can handle this, I'm a hashira.'

'But still, a break isn't a bad thing at all'

'I guess not, maybe I'll consider it', well, this was too boring for Inosuke.

Genya coughed (sneakly), Tanjiro nodded and Muichiro's eyes snapped open when he felt a pair of fingers gently brush against his back, quickly stopping Tanjiro's fingers, no, he couldn't...

'What were you trying to do?'

'Well, convince you to take a break and be cheerful...?'

'Bad choice, now I'm gonna...'

'I'm sorry Tokito-San, but, I'm helping Tanjiro...'

Muichiro frowned, who did he think he was?! He only allowed that to Tanjiro, to no one else, but it didn't bother him, he just had to get it off his back and the matter was settled, shame about the height difference.

'Do you have any idea what trouble you just got yourself into?'

'I won't do anything for now, the one who will do it will be Tanjiro'

'He's not able to... GRK... Ta-Tahanjihiro...'

'If you're not allowed to relax because of training, then I'll help you to do it!'

And that was what Muichiro feared, why? Almost no one of the hashiras could make him laugh, if someone tried to tickle him, he would immediately bite them or kick them, but he didn't know how to let anyone touch him, so... Tanjiro was so far the only person who seemed to be able to do it, no.

He knew how he did it, but his touch was so soft and precise that Muichiro couldn't even think of an excuse or a plan to get out of there.

'WHY HE LAUGHED WITH YOU AND NOT ME?!'

'Maybe you were too rough with him, there's no need for that, Inosuke, a few strokes will do. For example, see if I gently trace his name on his belly'

'Tahahanjirohoho! Hehehey!! Stohohohoooop...', well, that was weird, wasn't it?

Inosuke didn't understand, how could soft and imprecise touches be better than hard and precise ones? Tanjiro showed him how he could do it and boy did Inosuke learn quickly.

Muichiro couldn't even get angry, it wasn't something that bothered him, even if the touch didn't come from Tanjiro, he seemed to like that activity.

'Do you feel more relaxed? He hasn't asked us to stop!'

'It fehehehels go-gohood! Ehehehehe! I-ihihihit doehehehesn't ahahahahaha bohotheheheheher me! Ahahahaha!! He-hehehehehey!! My neheheck!!'

'Thank goodness, I thought he would bite me for trying'

'Hahaha, calm down Genya, Muichiro can't be mad at you for this, he's liking it!', man, what a shame.

Zenitsu looked out the window at the thunderstorm from outside. Of course it was pouring down rain on the one day Kaigaku gets sick and has to stay home. He zoned out for the rest of class, thinking about how him of all people was chosen to be Ladybug. He wasn't strong enough nor did he have the leadership skills required for the job.

But Oyakata-sama saw something in him. Something in him that not even Zenitsu could find. He also saw something in that dumb cat too…

He had spaced out for so long he didn't even realize class was dismissed until Tanjirou waved a hand in front of his face. Tanjirou being a good friend, asked him what was wrong but Zenitsu just brushed him off. Oyakata-sama told him to keep his identity secret to everyone including his partner or there'd be consequences. He wasn't sure how much damage a sickly, bedridden, blind man could do but he certainly wasn't trying to find out.

As soon as he exited the warm school building and entered the freezing cold rain and thunder his least favorite person found him. He never really got to know the kid's name considering how every time they ran into each other Zenitsu was left beaten and bruised. On the days that it was extra gruesome, he'd sneak in through the back and hope Kaigaku wouldn't catch him again.

“Oi punk I thought I told you to stay out of my line of sight.” Mystery kid got closer and closer until Zenitsu was backed up into the school’s entrance.

“I mean we go to the same school, it's kind of hard.” He nervously rambled, looking for a way out. The nameless kid didn't like his word choice as he punched Zenitsu in the face. That one would leave a black eye for sure.

He was about to throw another punch at a now crying Zenitsu until the school door next to them slammed open. “What the fuck are you doing?” Inosuke snarled. Zenitsu couldn't help but notice how beautiful he looked with a green knit scarf wrapped around his neck and a plain green umbrella in hand, both matching the green in his eyes.

He involuntarily blushed, not going unnoticed by Inosuke. When did he start feeling like this towards him? When did he start feeling this way about boys in general? However there's no time to question your sexuality when your bully practically has you in a chokehold so Zenitsu lets the thought drift away as his airways close up.

Inosuke grabbed the other kid's hand and gently but still with force removed it from Zenitsu’s neck. Inosuke stared the bully down and he did it right back. “I said, what the fuck are you doing.” He said much darker than last time. Maybe he had caught Kaigaku’s sickness and didn't know it because he felt a lot hotter than he was a second ago. Not only that but Inosuke looked hotter.

“What's it to you? Mind your own business pretty boy!”

‘Pretty boy?’ Zenitsu thought, face painfully contorting with confusion.

“Nah." He huffed before shoving their classmate down the stairs, startling him enough to make him run away. “Man, what a coward!” Inosuke snorted and turned towards Zenitsu, making his heart race and body flush a slight shade of pink. “You alright dude? Your clothes are soaked.”

“Does that matter? Thank you for saving me! You really didn't have to do that.” He jumped at the clap of thunder.

“I did anyway.” Inosuke shrugged, not seeing it as a big deal. He had been itching for a fight, today was his lucky day. He was gonna mention how Zenitsu was shivering but his dad’s assistant pulled up in front of the school.

He sighed as he accepted his fate and dragged his feet to the car before stopping and turning right back to the shivering boy. He tugged off his scarf and wrapped it around Zenitsu. “You need these more than me.” He shoved the umbrella into his hand and- smiled?

Inosuke kissed a lovestruck Zenitsu on the cheek before turning back to the car that was impatiently waiting on him. “Thank you! I'll give them back to you tomorrow, I promise!” he called to the boy

“I don't doubt it” Inosuke lazily waved goodbye with his back still turned. Before he knew it, Inosuke was gone, leaving Zenitsu with two borrowed items and some feelings to sort out.