I sit at the engawa of our quaint little house; feeling the coldness of the winter breeze. The chilly air nips my exposed skin, sending chills down my spine. The snow falls soundlessly to the ground, covering the whole area white with its powdery form. I watched over the breathtaking scenery as the sun began to set over the horizon.
Unlike the calm and gentle falling of snow, the feelings inside my heart were in turmoil. A mixture of fear, worry, sadness run rampant in this small heart of mine. I trust that he is safe given he is very strong and was with his friends, Zenitsu and Inosuke but it doesn't necessarily mean that I do not worry about him. He was hurt various times in the past and it still could happen now. The possibility of dying is still high as we are fighting demons which are more powerful than average people.
However, the most prevalent feeling is the one of missing him; The longing for his warmth, the craving of his presence beside me, I yearn for him with every beat of my heart. The food tasted like paper and the restless feeling inside keeps me up at night when he is not here. The place feels empty and desolate. I don't feel at home here in this empty house without his presence. I light up the lamps to ensure the place is not gloomy, perhaps providing him a guiding light to our humble house.
Tanjirou's crow came over in the morning, sending me a message that he will return home today in the afternoon. I was ecstatic. His favourite food was prepared and I wore my best clothes to prepare for his return. Now, the food had turned cold and I had changed into something more comfortable. Hours had passed by without any sign or message from the demon slayer. I was not angry at him as I know how difficult our work is. Rather, I was worried as well as lonely. I did not care one bit if he didn't eat the food I prepared for him or if he didn't keep his promise. I just want him home, safe and sound. I looked at the moon, offering a silent prayer to the heavens.
I am about to call it a day when I heard crunching sounds. A sign that someone was approaching. I steel my nerves, thinking that it was a demon. I clutched my sword which rests next to me. I try to look through the darkness, my eyes scanning the perimeter until I see a familiar figure. I dropped my sword.
I see his form at a distance. His green and black checkered haori over his Demon Hunter uniform stood out from the dark blue and white background illuminated by the full moon, flapping in the wind with every step he took. His rectangular earrings with the symbol of the sun, a significant telltale of his identity. I hurriedly wore my geta sandals and proceeded to rush to his side.
He notices me coming from the distance and puts down the box containing his sister. He catches me in a warm embrace. Tanjirou twirls me around with a smile which lights up brighter than the sun plastered on his face until we fall down on the cold powdery substance under the stars. I look at him worriedly to see if he was all right, to be greeted with his warm gentle dark eyes bearing into mine. He chuckles and holds me closer to him; feeling the warmness of being home that envelopes every fiber of his being. I lay on his heart; hearing the steady beat it produces; making sure that he was no illusion and was truly home. Time stands still for us at that moment, each of us fully savoring the precious moment.
After what seems like forever, he stands up with me in his arms and proceeds to carry his sister in a wooden box. Despite my protests, Tanjirou still does not let me go and walks back into our house, our home. While being carried by him, I brush back his disheveled snow speckled hair to place a kiss on the sun shaped scar on his forehead, eliciting a gentle hum from him.
"I missed you," I confess in a whisper.
"I missed you too," he replies as he nuzzles up against my body.
Upon reaching our warm abode, he places his forehead against mine and softly called out "Tadaima. (I'm home.)"
I giggled softly before responding him with a warm "Okaeri (Welcome home.)"
💖 A house is not a home without you. 💖
Epilogue
Nezuko comes out of her box. She knew that the day had turned to night. She was greeted by the sight of both her brother and his beloved sitting side by side, her head on his shoulder. Both enjoying the tranquil night all the while nodding to sleep. Despite being turned into a demon, she still loves her brother and enjoys seeing both of them together. She didn't want to disturb their peaceful time together after a long time. So, she slowly and quietly sneaks out to leave the two lovebirds alone in that warm room.
