prismatica | text | un: konoha

Well, Tanjiro still has plenty of time...

[He was younger than her, after all. Still... She reaches one hand back behind her to briefly rest over the hand braiding her hair. Just briefly.]

But... I don't think it would be bad to think about the future for when you get home.

[The demons were gone now... and though she knew a lot of his recent life had been wrapped up in that desperate mission... Now he had to think of what came next.]

[He hums, leaning forward to set his forehead against her hand over his.]

Romance isn't really at the forefront of my mind, still.

[Encouragingly, she wriggles her fingers.]

That's why I said "future" just now, silly.

[It didn't have to be romance (even if, in love as she was herself, she certainly hoped he'd find that same happiness one day, too).

But she hoped it would be something positive. Something restful.]

[He stays leaned there for another while, quiet other than an affirmative hum of a sound, and eventually turns his head a little to speak.]

...I mostly just want a really long nap, at home. I have just about all I can ask for that's viable.

A long nap is a good start.

[After all he's been though... It's the sort of thing she can't imagine in her own world. Something with that many lives at stake, something so vital not even just to a single village but to a world... ?

Now that they can fit together a bit better this way, she nuzzles into his temple just a little, affectionate and warm.]

But after that... I want Tanjiro to promise me something. Just one thing, okay?

You're going to ask something of me that's terribly and awfully sweet, I just know it.

[He turns his head to smile at her, tired and worn but hopelessly fond.]

[That fondness is in Konoha's eyes as well... and it's why she asks him. Even though it could sound a little patronizing from someone else, perhaps, a little too simple, too matter of course...

She worries. Just a bit. And when he's back in his world and she in hers, because surely, one day they will be...]

After you've rested well... Promise me you'll find what makes you happy. What makes you happy.

[Not a duty, not just being an older brother, not just going through the motions... Even if it wasn't necessarily a romance.

Just something for the future, just for him.]

[His mouth opens, and he starts to respond-- of course he would, don't be silly. But then he thinks about it. Really, actually thinks about it, and... Well.]

[He can't really think of anything that makes him happy that's just for his own benefit? He liked so much to see others happy... And now he's wondering if that's wrong, if it's a bad thing-- maybe it's weird? Maybe it's selfish, in a roundabout way, because he was always using other people's happiness for his own. He cycles through a variety of half-expressions, mostly thoughtful and somewhat horrified, and when he finally looks back up to her he just looks pretty comically alarmed.]

...Konoha, I don't know if I know how to do that.

[When he hesitates,when he really thinks about it... Konoha just smiles a bit knowingly. See? She knew it! But that's why she's asking now, after all, while they're still together...

So pulls the finished part of the braid over her shoulder and runs her fingers over it, laughing a bit under her breath.]

Even if it takes you trying all sort of different things to find it... You still have to promise.

[Because there had to be something... and he's (slightly) younger than her. He has time to find it now.]

I can't-- how can I promise something if I don't know how to do it? How can I not know how to be happy? Oh my God, that sounds so stupid.

[He is suddenly apex stress.]

[Still laughing, not at all about his capabilities as he seems to be, Konoha shakes her head and twists about to smush his cheeks between her hands.]

That’s why you have to promise to find it! You don’t have to know it right this second!

[He mashed his face into her shoulder, grumbling.]

Konoha this is the stupidest thing everrrrrr.

[Even that just makes her keep laughing a bit, cradling the back of his head in her hand and rocking them back and forth.]

You've kind of been busy trying to save your sister and also like the whole world... ?

[He kind of hasn't had the time, no one is going to blame him!!]

Yeah but that's done! What kind of idiot doesn't know what makes them happy and spends all their time worrying about everyone else being happy instead?? I mean, seeing the people I love happy makes me happy, but that's not what you're wanting me to promise, but I don't know how to be happy without other people. And if I'm with other people I'm just happy when they're happy...!

[He's having a wholeass conniption about this, don't mind him.]

[She is not going to mind him... Instead she will just keep rocking him. Look, elder sons sometimes get to be babies, too.]

A selfless, kind idiot, that's who.

[Konoha occasionally bordered up on being the type, so trust her that she speaks from some measure of experience. But unlike Tanjiro, she hadn't had the dubious pleasure of needing to save a world, so she'd been able to explore a bit more of... you know. Wha made her happy.]

It's not at all wrong to want everyone around you to be happy... But you know what? Everyone around you probably wants Tanjiro to be happy, too, so if you have to think about it like that...

[Well, he'd just have to find a way to be happy for their sake's then!]

Just an idiot, [He corrects her, but there's no malice to his words.]

Takeo used to give me and Nezuko relentless shit for it, "you two never worry about yourselves, just everyone else," and he was ten.

[He feels very foolish right now. But it's underlined by fondness for Konoha pointing it out. Like his siblings had.]

Not just an idiot... a type of idiot.

[Who should definitely realize that if even a ten year old was able to see that, then he should definitely realize he had a problem... and now, he'd have the time to fix it!]

A dumb type of idiot, [He's apparently quite set on this, but wiggles himself forward to curl around her from behind, chin hooked over her shoulder and both arms around her waist, even if the left one just kind of drags.] ...but thank you.

[Even though Konoha definitely didn't want to stay in this shape long... it was kind of nice being able to fit together like this? It's so weird that he's bigger than her now... but she takes advantage of being able to in order to cuddle, resting her arms on his as she stretches out her weird legs and curls her toes in the grass.

Fine, he can win about the dumb part, but-]

So do you promise?

I promise to try, I guess. [He sounds so absolutely put out.]

That's all I asked.

[She's not so cruel as to extract a promise to succeed... even though she's sure he can. He has all the time in the world, now... and friends back home who will help him, his sister...

She sighs with a bit of contentedness, squeezing his arms.]

If there's anything else you want to do while I'm human shaped, you better think of it quick...

[He mulls over that question and shifts, frowning intensely and looking her over.]

Would you mind if I picked you up??

[Well- It's not what she expected.

But she laughs along anyway, nodding.]

If that's what you want- But watch out! I'm still kind of heavy!

[Barely five feet tall, sure, but she's still solid muscle beneath that kimono.]

[He's stronger than he looks!! And particularly determined with that warning.]

I'll manage!! [He gets to his knees and then his feet, dropping into a squat and sliding his good arm under her knees. He can brace his bad arm against her back, since he can still use his upper-arm strength, he just has no use of his hand.] Can you grab hold of my neck? Just so I know I've got you.

[Oh, was this the... what did they call it in Lunatia? The princess carry! Well, she certainly does feel very ladylike suddenly, obeying his request with a laugh, kind of excited for the never before imagined experience of Tanjiro of all people (any human of all people) being able to lift her.]

Okay, I’ve got you!

text | un: konoha

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