Tanjiro's pov

The past days were really hard for everyone in the shelter, the only thing that we cheered about was us having enough food again.

Muichiro spent all those days in our room, barely coming out. He only came out to go to the bathroom. He refused to eat anything and when I did force him to eat he ended up breaking down once again.

Sanemi wasn't doing well either, he apperentaly grabbed some alcohol in the store and now was drinking it like water, trying to probably escape all the pain that was Genya's death causing him.

Shinobu and Mitsuri were also sad about Genya's death but they managed to cope with it better then Muichiro and Sanemi.

Me, Nezuko and Kotetsu were the comfort people now because we weren't damaged by his death as much like them.

Me and Kotetsu stayed by Muichiro's side and checked in Mitsuri and Shinobu multiple times, making sure they are okay. While Nezuko who shared a room with Sanemi kept him company and tried to get the alcohol away from him.

Muichiro's pov

I laid on Genya's bed, wearing his hoodie while just looking down on the floor. I had no motivation to think, eat, move, talk or anything like that. I just laid there.

Tanjiro walked into the room with a plate with food, that'd when I knew he will try to force me to eat once again.

He sat down next to me and said "come on Mui, you need to eat.." he sat me up and grabbed a fork, placing it close to my lips.

I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to do anything, I just wanted to sleep and forget about all of this.

"Couple bites, alright? You don't need to finish all of it now but at least eat something, okay?" He said and I sighed, thinking that if I eat at least a couple bites he will leave me alone afterwards.

I took a couple bites, looking away from Tanjiro still, not wanting to make eye contact with him.

After a while I couldn't eat anymore, the weird feeling of a pressure in my throat came back, not allowing me to swallow.

"You did great Mui, you ate a lot, you can finish it later" He said and patted my head. I slightly nodded and laid back down, hugging my pillow.

Tanjiro sighed and moved closer, hugging be gently. I felt tears building up again, my mind repeating "no.. not again". I returned the hug and started sobbing once again.

Mitsuri's pov

I was sitting at the table, playing a board game with Kotetsu, losing miserably. "Who's winning?" Shinobu asked.

"Me, of course" I lied, laughing slightly. "Liar! She's losing!" Kotetsu yelled out. Shinobu laughed and sat down next to me. I sighed in defeat and leaned back against the chair.

Kotetsu then stood up and went to get some food from the storage room, leaving me and Shinobu alone.

"Did Iguro answered you already?" Shinobu aske, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Nope, I don't have any signal here so if he did I won't be able to get the text anyway" I sighed sadly.

Shinobu laid her cup back on the table and moved closer to me "come on don't be sad, I am sure he's alright" she said and pulled me into a hug.

I leaned myself on her and hugged her tightly "M-Mitsuri! T-The cha-chair!" Shinobu yelled out. "The cha-?" Before I could finish the chair fell over, making us both fall on the floor.

"Ow.. Shinobu I am-" I stopped myself when I lifted up my head, seeing Shinobu's face so close to mine.

For some reason we didn't pull away, I was still on top of her, looking into her eyes. Shinobu smiled and grabbed my cheeks, pulling out faces together. I didn't refuse... I let her take full control.

Our lips almost touched until we both hear "MUICHIRO WAIT! I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!" We pulled away and both ran towards the yelling.

We saw Tanjiro trying to open the door to the bathroom while calling out of Muichiro.

"What happened?!" I asked immediately. Tanjiro sighed "we were just talking, then it got into a sensitive topic and then... we just started yelling at each other... and I said some pretty shitty things to him.."

"Are you serious?! He's going through enough down and on top of that you'll yell a-"

"Mitsuri calm down, yelling won't solve anything, let's just give him s-"

Before Shinobu could finish we hear something break inside the bathroom, like a glass or something like that.

Tanjiro's eyes widened, trying to open the door once again "Muichiro please open the door! I am sorry!"

"Maybe we should get Sanemi? He can kick out the door" Shinobu suggested. I nodded "who knows what he would do there, there's a lot of razors and stuff" I replied and Shinobu nodded before going to get Sanemi.

Soon enough Shinobu came back "Sanemi refused"

"Shit.." I whispered under my breath. "I'll do it myself," Tanjiro said. "Are y-" before I could finish he slammed his shoulder on the door, trying to open it.

It took a couple tries but it eventually opened. There was broken glass on the floor with drops of blood around it.

Tanjiro immediately walked into the room, spotting Muichiro sitting under the sink, hugging his knees while sobbing quietly.

"Muichiro I am sorry, please let me explain" Tanjiro said, moving closer to Muichiro. Muichiro just pressed himself over against the wall, looking away.

"Tanjiro give him some time, sit next to him and try to talk to him after some time, don't rush him" I whispered before taking Shinobu's hand "let's leave them alone"

Tanjiro's pov

I sat down on the floor not too close to him. His hands were bleeding, most likely from the broken mirror.

I looked into a cabinet, seeing some bandages. I grabbed them and sat back down, giving Muichiro time.

...

After some time I moved closer to Muichiro enough to grab his hand. He tried to pull away but I held him tight, taking the small pieces of glass out of his hand before bandaging it.

After I bandaged them he immediately pulled his hands away from me, looking away once again. I moved a bit closer, trying to make eye contact with him.

"Come on Mui, please just listen to me"

He didn't answer but I began to talk anyway in hopes of him listening to me.

"I am sorry I said such things, I should have been more understanding towards you and not forced you into something you didn't want... I am really sorry for saying such terrible... terrible things to you... I understand if you need some time alone but... I just want you to know that I am really sorry... I hope you can forgive me"

I said and stood up, walking out of the bathroom, looking back one more time but still not seeing him following me.

11pm

I was laying in bed, getting ready to go to sleep, suddenly hearing the door open, seeing Muichiro slowly walk into the room. He took a quick glance at me before turning away immediately.

He laid down on his bed and hugged his pillow. I pulled a blanket over myself and turned the light off "goodnight" I said, waiting for Muichiro's answer but not getting one.

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep.

Muichiro's pov

I was staring at my bandaged hands, not being able to fall asleep. Today was rough, rougher than most days since Genyas death.

I wanted to end all of this, I had enough of contact suffering. I know we won't make it, I know that we will eventually just die and all this suffering will be for nothing.

I felt tears building up again. I tried to stop them, breathing deeply and blinking repeatedly to make them go away.

I started sobbing, not being able to stop myself. I pulled my blanket over my whole body, burying my face into my pillow, sobbing quietly so no one hears me.

I was still mad at Tanjiro but all I wanted now was him to hold me... But I couldn't force myself to go to him and ask for comfort.

Couple days later - Tanjiro's pov

It has been a couple days since the fight and Muichiro hasn't spoken to me since. I was trying my best to get him to talk to me but he refused... and I have enough of it.

I walked into the room and saw him lying on his bed. I walked over to him and sat down next to him. It was clear he knew I was sitting next to him but he didn't react.

I grabbed his hand and turned him so he looked at me. His eyes widened, trying to get away from me. "Why are you still ignoring me?! I apologized! What else do you want from me?!" I yelled out.

"Huh?! Tell me! What do you want from me!" I yelled out once again, my eyes filling up with tears. Muichiro's eyes widened as my tears fell down on his face. ""T-Tanji.." he said quietly.

I let go of his arms and looked at the floor, placing my elbows on my lap and burying my face into my hands "I-I am sorry.."

I started to hear sobs, before Muichiro grabbed my arm and wrapped his arms around it, sobbing into my shoulder. I looked over at him, tears streaming down his face as he looked at me.

"N-No.. I-I am so-sorry I-I.." he stuttered out before I pulled him into a hug. He returned the hug and wrapped his arms around my neck, sobbing quietly.

I smiled happily, knowing that I got him back, being so happy to hold him in my arms again. He wiped his tears and sighed "I-I am sorry..." he let out.

I wiped his tears and looked into his eyes "it's okay now Mui, no need to cry now... I am glad you forgave me" I said while smiling.

He slightly nodded and leaned his head against my chest, grabbing my hand. "I am sorry once again.. I didn't- " "stop apologizing... I was stupid for ignoring you for so long.." Muichiro interrupted me.

"Its okay.." I said and hugged him tighter, sighing happily "I missed this"

He nodded "me too.."

We just sat there, hugging each other and soon both of us fell asleep in each other's arms.

...

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