Tanjiro's pov

"So this is the place..?" I asked and Sanemi nodded "yes.. we just have to get in somehow.. or.. maybe contact someone i-" before he could finish the sentence, a bunch of people surrounded us with guns.

We raised our hands up, me almost accidentally dropping Yuichiro in the process. "What do you want here?! Who are you?!" One of the guys yelled and the other joined "are you infected?! Huh?! Are you?!"

"No we're not! We are looking for a shelter! The military shelter that should be around here!" Sanemi yelled out and one of the guys put his gun down, looking at us more closely before stopping to look at Muichiro "his shoulder, what's wrong with it"

Muichiro backed away slightly, clearly scared and not knowing what to say. "It's nothing! He's just hurt! It's not an infection!" Mitsuri yelled out but before she could get any closer to Muichiro, two guys grabbed him and looked at his shoulder more closely.

"Take him with you, I'll go with others and lead them to the shelter '' one of the guys said and Mitsuri's eyes widened with joy "wa-wait so are we at the right place?! Are we safe now?!"

"We'll see if you little friend is infected, if not, you are, if yes, it means that you tried to put us and everyone else in there in danger.. which means that you will get kicked out, if you refuse, we'll kill you"

My eyes widened as I looked at Muichiro who was just standing there, frozen in fear. "No no, don't panic Tanjiro, he'll be fine, he's not infected" I thought to myself and gave Muichiro a reassuring smile in hopes of calming him down a bit.

"Now take them" they all nodded and led us away from Muichiro towards the entrance to the shelter. Once the door opened, my eyes widened. People were happily walking around, eating their food and playing with their kids.

I looked over at others, the same facial expression of shock and joy planted on their faces. "We'll show you your room, it's a bit overcrowded here so you might have to be with someone else too later on, but for now you'll be alone, just in case"

We all nodded and followed behind him. Both Mitsuri, Nezuko and Kotetsu were sobbing out of joy and.. I couldn't blame them, I was so happy too, so happy that we are finally safe, struggling to hold my tears back as well.

He opened the door to one of the rooms and showed us a small but cozy room with two beds and one smaller matrace on the floor together with a small table and four chairs.

"We'll give you clean clothes soon, showers and restrooms are at the end of the hallway on the right" he said before closing the door. I sat Yuichiro down on the matrace and he asked "Muichiro is going to be fine.. right?"

I nodded "of course he'll be fine, don't worry" I gave him a reassuring smile and he smiled at me as well.

…

After a while, all of us were all in clean clothes, nicely washed and comfortable in our beds. Yuichiro, Mitsuri and Nezuko were peacefully asleep, Sanemi was helping around others around the shelter and I was brushing Kotetsu's hair, who was slowly falling asleep in my arms as well.

I was still thinking about Muichiro, it has been a while since they took him and I haven't heard of him. Suddenly, Kotetsu looked at me and asked "Tanjiro..?"

"Mhm?" I hummed and laid down the brush "what is it, bud?" I asked, seeing the worry and sadness in his eyes.

"Where's Muichiro..? Where did they take him..?" He asked with a shaky voice. "Hey, I am sure he's okay, he just went to get some check ups so they are sure he's okay, alright? Don't worry about it"

He nodded a little. I leaned him on me, pulling a blanket up to his neck "how about you get some sleep too? I'll go check on Sanemi and come back" I said and he nodded once again, closing his eyes and not too long after falling asleep.

I went out of the room, closing the door behind me slowly and walking outside. It was so nice to be outside and not have to worry about anything attacking me.

I was just walking around mindlessly before someone stopped me. "You are one of the new ones here, am I right?" The guard asked and I nodded "alright, follow me, we need to get your names"

"Okay.. also.. there was this one guy with us.. longer hair, blue eyes.. he had something wrong with his shoulder so you took him away to check up on him.. may I ask if he's okay?" I asked hopefully and he nodded.

"He's fine, we took care of the wound, they'll take him back in a bit" he responded, making me smile widely in relief.

The second we came into the hallway, I saw Muichiro together with another guard, walking at the other end of the hallway. I began to run towards him, the second I got to him, enveloping him in my tight embrace.

He wrapped his arms around me, sighing in relief and cupping my cheeks with his hands, pulling me into a tender kiss. I returned the kiss, grabbing one of his hands with mine.

When we pulled away, Muichiro looked at me with eyes filled with tears of joy, smiling widely "I am so happy we're finally here.. together and safe.."

"Me too, Mui.. me too.." I said and pulled him into another kiss that he returned soon after.

…

"And your names?" The guard asked, looking over at me, Muichiro and Kotetsu. We introduced ourselves but when it came to Kotetsu, they had an extra question for him "and your parents? Are they here?"

His eyes widened as he looked down at the blanket under him, not responding. "His parents unfortunately.. didn't survive.. we've been taking care of him for the whole time.." Muichiro responded instead, caressing Kotetsu's back comfortingly.

"I see" they nodded understandingly and stood up, walking out of the room soon after.

…

In the middle of night, I woke up and saw that Muichiro was gone. I gently pulled Kotetsu off of my chest and walked out of the room, looking for him worriedly.

It was pitch black outside and only small lanterns were making a little bit of light. I thought that maybe he went to the restroom but suddenly, I spotted him sitting on a bench.

I smiled and sat down next to him, asking "not able to fall asleep?"

He smiled "not really.. just.. thinking"

"About?" I smiled and moved closer, wrapping my arm around him. "Just.." he sighed "about many things.. like.. what would happen if Genya was here.. what would happen if nothing like this started.. about Kotetsu.. just.. everything.."

I saw tears starting to well up in his eyes. "Tell me about it" I said with a soft smile and he nodded slightly.

"with Genya it's like.. I wonder what it would be like if he was still here you know.. what if we were still dating but.. I was also in love with you.. If.. we would even meet if this wouldn't start and if.. With Kotetsu it's like.. I like him so much.. I care about him so much and.. it's like he's my son.. today when they asked about his parents, I wanted to say that I was his father so badly.. he deserves a family.. a good family and I want to provide for him.. I always wanted a kid.. me and Genya talked about it all the time and.. not that he's gone.. I still want a family.."

I smiled and patted his head "hey.. that's okay.. after all, we've a couple now, we can talk to Kotetsu about it, he clearly adores you, calling you a dad wouldn't be an issue for him at all"

"You think so..? I mean.. I don't want him to think that I am forcing him into it.. o-or just.. what if he doesn't want to..? What if he hasn't gotten over it yet and I just make him feel worse..?"

"Mui, come on.. he clearly adores you, he cares about you so much and if you'd ask him this, I am sure he'd be nothing but happy" I smiled and Muichiro did as well "how about we ask him tomorrow, have a big talk about everything and see how it goes..?"

"Yea.. I'd like that.." Muichiro said and I pulled him into a tight hug.

…

"Hey Kotetsu? Can we talk?" I asked and he nodded, standing up and walking over to me. I led him away from our room somewhere more private where Muichiro was already waiting.

Kotetsu smiled and ran over to him, raising his arms towards Muichiro who picked him up immediately. "Okay Kotetsu, we have to tell you something" Muichiro said and Kotetsu nodded.

"We were wondering if you maybe.. wanted us to adopt you.." Muichiro mumbled and Kotetsu's mouth dropped "wa-wait, really??" He said with a shaky voice and we both nodded.

"Yea.. would you l-" I said but Kotetsu interrupted him "yes! Yes I'd love that!" He yelled out and hugged Muichiro tightly. My and Muichiro's eyes filled up with tears as we both pulled each other into a group hug.

...

Word count : 1693