Hello! I am back with a new one-shot. It is Demon Slayer themed and set in an alternate universe. As to no one's surprise at this point, it is a family feels story. It isn't about Tanjiro and Nezuko though, but rather a non-canon sibling relationship that for some reason I loved so much. It may be because I love these characters so much or that cute fanart that I stumbled upon, but I fell down this rabbit hole and I just couldn't help myself. This one-shot is centered around Inosuke and Giyuu and a what if they were brothers scenario. I don't know why I love this idea. It's a bit random, but I am really excited to write this and I hope that you all enjoy reading it. With that said, I hope you are prepared for an extremely long fic! Please enjoy!

Giyuu stirs to the sound of loud crying and the hushing tone of his mother. His hair is a mess as he turns around. His blanket tangles between his thin legs and he lifts his somewhat pudgy hands to rub at his eyes. The soft glow of a lantern comes from the corner of the room. His mother hunches over and rocks slightly. "Mom?" Giyuu questions. The woman turns at the sound of her son. A soft smile on her face. As she shifts, Giyuu can spot the small baby nestled tightly in her arms. His mouth is open as he lets out more sobs. His hands clenched into fists as they rose into the air. His eyes squeezed shut with tears escaping and trickling down red cheeks. "Why are you awake, Giyuu?" His mother questions as she rocks the baby again.

"Inosuke's sad," Giyuu comments instead. His eyes wide as he looks at his baby brother. He carefully clambers out of his bed, careful not to awaken his older sister slumbering peacefully. He pads over to where his mother is crouched. His mom smiles at his actions, shifting slightly so that Giyuu can get a full view of the baby who continues to cry loudly. "It's okay, Inosuke," Giyuu murmurs as he reaches a singular finger to pat his brother's tiny hand comfortingly. As he does this, the baby slowly falls silent. His face relaxes and his squeezed shut eyes slowly open. Bright green eyes meet Giyuu's blue ones. Inosuke's hand unclenches from its tight fist and latches onto his older brother's finger. Giyuu stares at the baby with awe. His eyes wide and a smile spread across his face. He looks at his mother who has a fond expression on her face. "He stopped," Giyuu says.

"That's cause he knows his nii-san is here to protect him," His mother says calmly.

"Me?" Giyuu questions.

"Yes, you're his older brother," His mom says calmly, "Just like Tsutako takes care of you, you now have the responsibility to watch over Inosuke. Can you do that, Giyuu?"

Giyuu nods vigorously, "I will, mom! I'll make sure nothing happens to Inosuke!"

"Tomioka..."

"Tomioka!"

"Giyuu Tomioka!!!!"

Giyuu's eyes calmly open. His dream fades away even as he tries to hold onto the happy memory. He lets out a breath before stiffly sitting up. He turns to look at the person who woke him. "Kocho san," Giyuu says simply, "Is something wrong?"

"Master has requested all Hashira join him for breakfast," Shinobu states, "Come." With that, the Insect Hashira rises and slips away. Giyuu doesn't react as he pulls away his sheet and shuffles to his feet. His face is stoic as he slips his haori over him as he exits his room and then his estate. He doesn't react as the sun hits his face or as the wind rustles through his hair. His focus is elsewhere.

It had been a long time since he last dreamt of his mother and baby brother, but the wave of emotions it brought felt very familiar. He can taste the tears dripping down his cheeks and into his mouth. His ears ring with the sounds of thunder and screaming. For years, he has been plagued by that night. When his abusive father found out about their plan to escape his clutches and chased after them. They split with no way of contacting one another. Tsutako ended up caring and raising Giyuu in their mother's place, comforting the young boy who still couldn't comprehend where the rest of his family were. He always had hope that one day he would find his mother and Inosuke again.

He never expected for a demon to go after his sister and then to become a slayer. Where the only thing that happened is that he lost another friend and was gifted with even more nightmares to add to his already hefty arsenal. It was then that Giyuu's hope had completely fizzled out. His mother and brother were gone. There was no doubt about it.

"Tomioka," A booming voice calls out to. Giyuu snaps from his thoughts, realizing now that he has been deep in thought for the entirety of the breakfast meal. The Master is already being guided away by his daughters and the other Hashira have begun to move back to their estates. "Are you alright?" Rengoku questions, "You didn't eat any of your food." Giyuu merely nods his head as he rises to his feet. He bows slightly to his fellow Hashira before slowly making his way back to his estate.

———————

Once in the comforts of his home, Giyuu prepares himself a small snack and some tea. The lack of subsistence finally catching up on him. He sighs as he pours the hot water over the tea leaves. He crosses his legs in front of him and lets his eyes fall shut as he waits for his drink to brew. He takes slow, deep breaths in and out. His shoulders relax and his mind clears.

He sees himself in front of a wide expanse of the sea. Golden specks of sand underneath his feet. The soft crashing of waves hugging one another. Wind, birds, and laughter mixing together to make a beautiful song. He can see the familiar figure of his mother. Her hair tied back with a soft blue scarf that blows back and forth. She turns around and smiles when she sees Giyuu, a look that the Hashira returns. The expression feels foreign. One that he hasn't made in a long time, but welcomes with open arms. "Hello, my son," His mother says in a melodic tone. Giyuu nods in response. His words stuck deep in his mouth even though he has so much to say. "I know how hard it's been for you," His mother continues, "But, I need to ask a favor..." Giyuu's body stiffens for a moment, but doesn't stop the woman from speaking. "You need to find Inosuke," His mother states, "He needs his nii-san..."

With those words, her image becomes blurry. It ripples outward like a stone being thrown into a pool of water. The world in Giyuu's mind fades away and he is slowly brought back to reality. Giyuu's eyes slowly open and he stares at the tinged color of his tea. His reflection looks back at him with a stoic expression. The words his mother spoke plays through his mind.

It doesn't make sense to him. His brother is gone. Why would he need him if he died years ago? Unless, he is still alive. Maybe, his mother did something. She found some way to keep Inosuke safe. That would mean that his little brother is still alive. He's somewhere out there all by himself. He needs him. In a world where demons are on the rise, Inosuke needs Giyuu now more than ever before. "I have to find him," Giyuu murmurs to himself in a serious tone.

———————

From that day forward, Giyuu spent every free moment searching for Inosuke. It wasn't an easy task. He had no leads to go off of and no real description of his brother. The last he saw him, he had only been an infant. He could only imagine what the boy looked like now. The only tell-tale sign of the boy would be his green eyes, which is barely enough to shape a clear picture of Inosuke. Even though he didn't have much to go off of, Giyuu continued to search. The fact that his younger brother could still be out there spurred him forward. But, no matter how hard and long he looked, he had no luck. Inosuke was nowhere to be found.

Giyuu walks calmly through the Demon Slayer headquarters. He has just returned from a mission and is looking forward to being back in the confines of his own home. As he walks, he passes by the Insect Estate where two young slayers exit. One is covered in bandages and the other has a concerned expression on his face. "Tell me what happened again," The slayer asks his injured friend.

The bandaged young man groans, "Do I have to? It's embarrassing..."

"No one's here and I'm your friend," The other sighs, "Come on. Spill."

The hurt slayer sighs before launching into a full explanation, "I was heading to take care of a demon and I passed through this mountain. It was quiet and I didn't think anyone was there, but this crazy guy in a boar mask rushed at me for invading his home. He challenged me to a battle to see who was stronger...I tried to avoid it cause I'm a slayer and all, but he wouldn't have it. I fought and somehow he got the upper hand. He stole my swords and forced me to tell him everything about being a demon slayer..."

"Wow..." His friend says, "He must have been pretty strong to take you down."

The injured young man sighs, "And he knows it too...he's such a cocky bastard! As soon as he took me down, he ripped his mask off and shouted in my face that I should never forget the name Inosuke Hashibira. I swear...if I never see him again, it'll be too soon." Giyuu stops at the name of the person that the slayer faced. It could just be a coincidence. It may not be his brother. There can be other Inosukes out there, but the fact that his surname is Hashibira furthers his suspicions. That was his mother's maiden name. It would make sense for her to use it if she had been hiding from his father. This guy in the boar mask could be his brother.

"Excuse me," Giyuu calls out to the two slayers. They stop at his voice and turn to face him. Their eyes go wide when they identify the Water Hashira. They bow their heads in greeting. "How can we help you, sir?" The uninjured slayer asks.

"Tell me," Giyuu continues, "This boy you ran into in the mountains...did he have green eyes?"

"I...uh...yes," The bandaged man states stiffly, "And black hair with blue tips." A weird feeling passes through Giyuu's body. It's like relief mixed with nostalgia and longing. After speaking to these two, he knows that without a doubt, the boy on the mountain is his little brother. "Where did you say you ran into him?" Giyuu asks.

———————

Giyuu sighs as he comes to a stop at a nearby tree. His eyes narrow as he scans the area for a figure with a boar's head. He had scaled the mountain a little over an hour ago, but has had no luck locating his brother. He didn't expect it to be easy. He is going into this fairly blind. For all he knows, Inosuke has already left this area behind.

He has no idea how his brother has been living all these years. Based on the story he overheard from the slayers, Inosuke had become some sort of wild creature, fending for himself in the great outdoors. It pained Giyuu to think of that. The many nights his brother had to survive in the cold. The dangers of animals and lack of food. He must have been lonely. He knows that his brother is strong though. The fact that he has survived this long is a testament to that. Still, Giyuu is going to do everything he can to find him and bring him home. Inosuke is still young. He deserves to have a safe place to live and a family that he can rely on. And as long as Giyuu is alive and breathing, he plans on giving his little brother just that.

"Ahhhhhhh!" A loud shout echoes through the trees. Giyuu tilts his head to the side as he sees a figure rushing towards him. He steps calmly to the side as the person barrels past him. Giyuu looks at his attacker with a neutral expression on his face, which slightly shifts when he notices that the person is wearing a large boar's mask. "Inosuke..." Giyuu whispers quietly under his breath. He watches as his brother stomps around to face him. He is shirtless and wearing muddied pants. The boar's head he wears obscures his entire face and makes him appear like some unhuman-like creature. At first glance, the boy before him looks nothing like the small baby that used to wake him up in the middle of the night. And yet, Giyuu can feel that this is his little brother.

"Trespasser!" Inosuke hollers, "Who do you think you are!?" He rushes forward again. His hands reach towards his sides to reveal two blades. They have sharp indents in them as if they have been slammed repeatedly into a rock. Giyuu doesn't bother to reveal his own sword. He merely sidesteps again and slams quick chops at each of Inosuke's hands. The boy yelps as he drops his weapons and begins to rub at his wrists in pain. Giyuu uses this moment to pull out a long rope and quickly tie it around Inosuke's body. "Ahhhhh!" The boy shouts as he realizes the predicament that he is in. Giyuu looks at him with an unchanging expression. He doesn't like the fact that he has had to tie his brother up, but he had a feeling that he wouldn't listen to him otherwise. "How dare you!" Inosuke huffs, "Don't you know who I am!?"

"Inosuke Hashibira," Giyuu states simply.

"Yes! Wait!" Inosuke puffs out his chest before tilting his head to the side in confusion, "How do you know my name?"

"How could I not?" Giyuu responds. He walks over to his brother and lifts away the boar mask. Once it is removed, a youthful face looks back at him. Round, bright green eyes framed by medium length dark hair with deep blue tips reminiscent of his own. Now that he is seeing him face to face, he is even more sure of it. Inosuke, for once, doesn't protest when the mysterious young man touches his mask. His eyes locked on him. There's this weird familiarity he feels about him. It's as if they've met before, but he can't place where. "You..." Inosuke murmurs.

"Do you recognize me?" Giyuu questions.

"I..." Inosuke starts before trailing off. A tiny bit surprised that he can't find any words to properly express what he's feeling. "My name is Giyuu Tomioka," He states, "I'm your older brother."

"What does that mean?" Inosuke questions.

"It means that you and I are family," Giyuu answers, "We are each other's reason."

———————

It was hard for them to get along at first. The fact that they were brothers didn't change the fact that they haven't grown up with one another. They were essentially strangers trying to learn to become a family. It didn't help that their personalities were like oil and water. Giyuu's struggles through life had put a bit of a damper on his emotional capacity, so he tended to be rather quiet. He was trying with his brother though and for whatever reason Inosuke always seemed to be able to get a rise out of him. Inosuke, who just so happened to be raised by boars, was as rambunctious and excitable as a wild animal. He never seemed to quit, but learned pretty quickly to respect and listen to Giyuu. Slowly they began to develop an understanding with one another and from there a relationship.

After a couple of years of living together, Inosuke had asked Giyuu if he would train him to become a demon slayer. It was a thought that horrified the Hashira, but he couldn't deny his brother's wish, especially when he said he wanted to become one to protect him. From that day forward, they trained, becoming brothers in both blood and arms. It was through this that the two solidified a real bond with one another. Swordsmanship and breathing techniques was something that the two both felt passionate about. A world and a dream that they both were willing to lay their lives down for. A time where no demons existed. A place where families like their own could live together in peace. Something that they would fight for together, as long as Inosuke passed the final test to become a demon slayer.

"I swear I don't know why I hang out with Senjuro," Inosuke huffs as he shovels another mouthful of rice into his mouth, "Hey, Giyuu-nii, are you even listening to me?"

"Hm?" Giyuu hums, "Yeah, I am..." The two sit outside of the Water Estate. A small spread of food before them. Giyuu is dressed in his normal Hashira attire while Inosuke has a blue kimono with an ombre effect that matches the shade of his hair. His boar mask sits at his side along with his two blades. The brothers are sharing a quick meal before Inosuke has to go to the mountain for his final test. The thought is enough to fill Giyuu with fear. He knows how dangerous the test is. He's seen it first hand. He's lost friends because of it. He didn't want to think that he could lose his brother today too. "Nii-san...Nii-san! Giyuu-nii!" Inosuke shouts. Giyuu instantly snaps out of his thoughts and looks up at his brother. He does his best to keep his expression completely neutral even though he knows Inosuke can read through him easily. "I'm going to come back," Inosuke states, "You know that, right?"

Giyuu slowly nods, "You're strong and you have two breathing techniques in your arsenal. You should handle something like this without even batting an eye." His tone is stiff and his eyes flit for just a second to the ground. His hands unknowingly clench into fists. It isn't until he feels arms wrap around him does he realize how tense he's been. "I promise I'll come back," Inosuke murmurs, "Don't worry." Giyuu lets out a breath before nodding and embracing his little brother back. The storm within his chest lessens a bit in that moment, but it is quick to start again when Inosuke heads out with his board mask back on his head and his swords in his hand.

Giyuu spends the rest of the night in the dark. His eyes closed and his legs crossed. He murmurs reassurances to himself as he drifts away, trying to calm his beating heart. It does little to solve his anxieties, but he remains in this stiff position for hours.

When Giyuu does open his eyes again, it is to the loud shouts of Inosuke as he bursts through the doors of the Water Estate with a wide smile on his face.

———————

Inosuke chokes as he is lifted into the air by a massive demon with a spider face. His entire body twitches in pain. His vision becomes cloudy and he struggles to get air to his lungs. His head is on fire as the fingers of the demon press into his skull.

Foggy images appear before him. The shadow of a woman begging him to forgive him at what appears to be a cliff. Her clothes are drenched in red and her eyes filled with tears. Then, he sees a young girl with a soft smile on her face. She holds neatly folded clothes in her hands and she says his name in a whisper. He sees Tanjiro and Zenitsu. His fellow slayers that he had met not too long ago. And then, Giyuu. The slight raise of his eyebrows and the faint shape of a smile. A look that he's only ever been able to give to Inosuke. He hasn't seen it or his brother in a long time. It's at this moment that he finds himself really, really missing his nii-san.

Inosuke coughs blood from his mouth. The entire world spinning around him. The growls of the demon sound echoey and distant. Footsteps follow, but Inosuke can't figure out if he's imagining them or not. That is until a sword slices through the arm holding him in the air. As the limb drops to the ground, so does Inosuke. The slayer groans in pain as he tilts his head to look towards his savior. His eyes widen slightly. A long sword is clenched tightly in the hand of a man with long black hair. His two pattern haori hangs over his shoulders. "Nii-san," Inosuke breathes as he pushes himself up. He watches as the demon lets out a growl. Its arm grows back before charging at Giyuu. The Hashira doesn't even blink as he moves forward to meet him. His sword moves in a smooth arc, slicing through the demon like its butter. As he lands back on the ground, the demon breaks into multiple different pieces.

"That was so awesome, Giyuu-nii!" Inosuke shouts before wincing slightly in pain. Giyuu turns to look at his brother. His stoic expression changes just slightly as his brow furrows before returning to its stiff frame. He calmly sheaths his sword as he walks over to Inosuke. He crouches down and reaches for the boar mask. "Let me see..." He murmurs as he pulls the mask off and places it gently on the ground. His lips curl into a frown as he sees the dark, purple blotches covering his brother's face. Blood trickles from his mouth and there are finger marks on his neck. Giyuu reaches into his pocket and begins to pull out some gauze. "I'm fine," Inosuke huffs as the Water Pillar begins to clean his face.

"The demon was about to kill you, Inosuke," Giyuu states.

"But, it didn't!" Inosuke shouts before wincing slightly. Giyuu shakes his head as he digs inside his pocket again. He pulls out bandages this time and begins to wrap them tightly around his ribs. "It would have, if I didn't save you," Giyuu says.

"Well, it's a good thing that you were here, nii-san!" Inosuke exclaims with a growing smile on his face. Giyuu stares at him with a deadpan expression. He lets out a breath as he tugs again at the bandages, eliciting a whine of pain from his brother. "You know this isn't how I expected our reunion to go..." Giyuu sighs, "After weeks of being away on slayer missions, without so much as a single message...I expected for you to stop by home soon...have a nicely cooked meal with your nii-san...take a shower...God knows you don't take care of yourself when you're out and about...but no! I just had to find you on the demon infested mountain that myself and Shinobu were sent to assist with!"

"At least, we're together again?" Inosuke says in a high pitched tone before a sheepish look appears on his face and he speaks with sincerity "I'm sorry for worrying you..." Giyuu takes another breath of air before slowly nodding his head. He double knots the bandage before pushing himself back to his feet. His hand finds its way comfortably on the hilt of his sword. "Just don't do it again," Giyuu states before starting to walk away, "I am going to go help out the other slayers."

"I'll come with you," Inosuke announces, trying to stand as well.

"You're going to stay here and wait for a medic," Giyuu says in a firm tone.

"Come on! You already patched me up! I'm fine!" Inosuke yells.

"We both know that my first aid skills are subpar at best," Giyuu responds, not bothering to turn his head to look at his brother as he walks, "You're not in a good condition right now. It's safer for you to stay here."

Inosuke groans, "I don't need you to protect me, nii-san!" Giyuu stops at those words and turns to look at his brother. His face is stiff, but Inosuke can easily pick up on the tiny spark of annoyance in his eye. "Would you rather I tie you to that tree?" Giyuu questions.

"You wouldn't dare!" Inosuke shouts.

"Try me," Giyuu says simply.

"I'm injured!" Inosuke cries.

"You just said you were fine!" Giyuu retorts.

"Ugh!!!" Inosuke huffs as he lays back down. His arms cross over his chest and a scowl appears on his face. Giyuu looks at him for a moment before walking away again. "I'll see you at home," Giyuu calls out as he unsheathes his sword and takes off running.

———————

"Zenitsu..." Tanjiro calls out.

"Yeah?" Zenitsu questions.

"Where's Inosuke?" Tanjiro questions. The two are laying side by side on beds within the Butterfly Estate. Bandages cover their injuries they acquired from the battle with the demons on the mountain. Exhaustion weighs heavy on their bones, but their missing friend pushes all of it away. "How would I know?" Zenitsu huffs, "That crazy creature has a mind of his own..."

"He must have been injured too," Tanjiro murmurs, "Do you think he's in another room in the Estate?"

"I don't know, Tanjiro," Zenitsu whines, "Can we talk about this later? I'm tired!" Tanjiro ignores his fellow slayer's complaints as he pushes himself off of the bed and carefully walks towards the door of his room. "Tanjiro!" Zenitsu hisses, "What are you doing!?"

"I'm worried about Inosuke," Tanjiro replies.

"Why? It's not like he's going to be worried about us," Zenitsu huffs, "Just get back into bed before you get in trouble!" Tanjiro once again doesn't pay his friend much attention. He steps out of the room and looks around. Just then, he spots a figure with tied up hair walking by. "Excuse me!" Tanjiro calls out. The person stops and turns to look in Tanjiro's direction. Purple eyes widen ever so slightly, inviting the injured slayer to continue speaking. Tanjiro clears his throat when he recognizes the face of the young woman, "Kanao-san...do you happen to know where Inosuke is?" She doesn't answer at first. Instead, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a coin. She flips it before meeting Tanjiro's eyes again.

"He is at the Water Estate," Kanao states simply before slipping away. A blank expression settles on Tanjiro's face as he tries to process the information given to him. "Why would he be there?" He questions quietly to himself. It seems like a random location, especially considering they've never been to the Demon Slayer Headquarters before. How had Inosuke even found his way there? He is horrible with directions. "Maybe he did something to annoy the Water Pillar," Zenitsu says, appearing beside his friend.

"I've met Tomioka-san before," Tanjiro states, his hand settling onto his chin in thought, "He isn't that type of person."

"Inosuke brings out a part of ourselves that you never would have imagined," Zenitsu says in a song-song tone. Tanjiro still doesn't appear convinced though. His head swivels back and forth quickly before heading towards the front doors of the Estate. Zenitsu watches his friend with wide eyes. Panic seizing his body. "Tanjiro! Where are you going!?" Zenitsu hisses.

"To check on Inosuke!" Tanjiro exclaims. He continues to move, leaving Zenitsu alone in the room. The anxious slayer shifts back and forth on his feet. His eyes watch as Tanjiro's form slowly grows smaller. He lets out a huff before rushing forward to join his friend, even though he already regrets doing so.

———————

When they arrive at the Water Estate, Zenitsu is clinging tightly onto Tanjiro's arm. It is pitch black outside and not a single soul seems to be around. The only sound comes from the soft chirps of crickets and the heavy breathing of Zenitsu. Tanjiro doesn't hesitate to shuffle forward and knock on the door. As he does, the front gates to the Water Estate slide open. Zenitsu makes a high pitched whine and tugs at Tanjiro's sleeve. Tanjiro sighs and shakes his head as he steps past the gate and into the Water Estate. It is just as quiet, if not more so, here than it is outside. There is this light mist that fills the air which makes the area even more eerie than before. ""Is anyone there?" Tanjiro questions, his eyes narrow as he scans for any sign of his boar mask wearing companion. He frowns when he doesn't spot anyone. It is as if the entire place is deserted. He sniffs once. And then twice. His shoulders lift slightly when he catches the scent of both Inosuke and Giyuu. They're both here, but where? "I don't like this, Tanjiro," Zenitsu whispers with a pale face, "Why don't we just go back? Hm? I'm sure Inosuke will turn up eventually..." Tanjiro opens his mouth to refute Zenitsu's request, but is cut off by a sudden shout coming from the side of the Estate. Zenitsu's entire body stiffens and he tries to run away. Tanjiro stops him by grabbing onto his shirt and forcing him to come with him.

As they round the corner of the Water Estate, they instantly find the source of the scream. Inosuke is garbed in a blue kimono that is haphazardly thrown over his shoulders. His mask is at his feet and his face is on full display. He leans towards the figure sitting next to him, who appears to be applying some sort of cream to the abrasion on Inosuke's neck. Tanjiro is immediately able to identify him as Giyuu. His messy untied black hair falls against his back. His tell-tale kimono along with a stiff expression on his face. "Ow!" Inosuke hollers, pulling away.

"Don't move," Giyuu huffs, "This is what you get for coming here when you're still injured. You should have at least spent the night at the Butterfly Estate."

"You know I would much rather be at home," Inosuke huffs, "And don't act like you aren't happy I'm back."

"I never said I wasn't," Giyuu sighs as he finishes up and pulls away, "But, your health is important."

"Shinobu-san said I could go back," Inosuke states.

"No, she didn't," Giyuu states.

"Yes, she did," Inosuke retorts, "She knew that you wouldn't get any sleep tonight unless I was back home with you."

"That's ridiculous," Giyuu frowns.

"Please," Inosuke rolls his eyes, "Everyone knows how much of a worrier you are, nii-san."

"Nii-san!!!!" Tanjiro and Zenitsu shout at the same time. The brothers shoot to their feet instantly. Their swords brandished in front of them as they eye the two who suddenly appeared. Zenitsu lets out a strangled cry when he sees the glint of not one but three swords pointed in his direction. He looks at Tanjiro with tears already forming in his eyes. "It's us!" Tanjiro announces loudly, holding his hands up in surrender, "Sorry for startling you!" Recognition passes through the brother's eyes and they both slowly lower their weapons. "Kamado," Giyuu states.

"What the heck are you two doing here?" Inosuke questions at the same time.

"We were worried about you," Tanjiro explains, "You weren't in the same room as us and when we asked Kanao, she said you were here...we assumed the worst."

"Why?" Inosuke asks as he plops back down.

"Cause it's you, idiot!" Zenitsu scowls, "Who knows what mess you could've gotten yourself into!?"

"I'm fine," Inosuke shrugs as he fiddles absentmindedly with his sleeve, "Better than fine actually! I'm home again!" A wide smile appears on his face and his eyes widen with glee. Giyuu looks at his brother and blinks a couple of times. He sighs, "Inosuke, stop shouting."

"Sorry, nii-san..." Inosuke murmurs.

Tanjiro stares at the two with a dazed expression, "You...you really did call Tomioka-san..."

"Oh, yeah, I guess I never told you guys," Inosuke says, turning to look at his newly made friends, "This is my nii-san. He's the strongest ever! The Water Hashira for the Demon Slayer Corps!!! Tomioka Giyuu!"

"What did I just say, Inosuke?" Giyuu questions. Inosuke flashes his brother a sheepish expression. He brings his fingers to his lips and makes a zipping motion. Giyuu shakes his head and his shoulders droop in an exhausted manner. "I can't believe I didn't notice it before!" Tanjiro exclaims, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two.

"I can't believe the boar has family," Zenitsu mutters.

"Now that I'm looking at you side by side, you two really do look similar!" Tanjiro beams. Giyuu glances over at Inosuke, whose chest puffs outwards slightly in pride. The Water Pillar shakes his head. Only his brother would be this happy about being likened to him. At this rate, the boy is going to get so worked up that he isn't going to get any rest tonight. He shakes his head as he clears his throat and turns to look at the other two slayers. "As nice as this is, it is getting late and you are all still healing," Giyuu states, "I suggest that you return to the Butterfly Estate and get some rest. You can continue this conversation another day." Tanjiro and Zenitsu both nod their heads in understanding. They bow their heads before quietly slipping out of the Estate the same way they came in.

Once they are gone, Giyuu turns to look at his brother. "You never told me that you knew, Kamado," Giyuu states.

"I just met him recently," Inosuke admits, "I recognized him from that mark on his head...he and his sister are just like you said..." Giyuu hums under his breath and nods, remembering how he told his brother about the mission he went on a couple of months ago. He never expected for Inosuke to ever run into Tanjiro, but he can't say it is a bad thing. The two are similar in ways. They seem to get along well. "I'm glad that you're making friends," Giyuu says simply.

———————

"Why are you sleeping in my room?" Inosuke huffs as he tugs his blanket over his body, "Yours is literally right across the hall."

"This is my Estate. I can sleep wherever I want," Giyuu replies simply, "You chose to come back here, so don't complain." The brothers are laying on cushions inside of Inosuke's room. Their sheets are lined up side by side. It is rather cramped and yet comforting at the same time. The close proximity is reassuring after hours spent fighting demons and bringing home the dead bodies of their fellow slayers. The weight of today surprisingly presses into Inosuke's chest. The young slayer can only imagine how it feels for his brother, who most likely had a clear view of him being strangled by the demon. "I'm still alive, nii-san," Inosuke says in a quiet tone.

"I know that," Giyuu breathes, "I...I want to go back to how things used to be...just for tonight." Inosuke slowly nods his head, understanding even though he doesn't remember much of their life back then. His brother has told him stories before. The small house and the one room that the four of them would all squeeze into. A space where every sound awoke someone. A spot where it got too hot and too cold all the time. A room where they would all be safe cause they had each other. "I saw mom," Inosuke states.

"What do you mean?" Giyuu questions in a concerned tone.

"And Tsutako-nee," Inosuke continues, "When the demon was strangling me, I saw them both..."

"Inosuke..." Giyuu whispers.

"It's weird. I don't remember them, not really, but I miss them a lot," Inosuke says, "That's why I'm glad that I have you, nii-san. You help me to remember our family...and you're always there for me. If it weren't for you...I think I would have been really lost and lonely..."

"Sometimes...I'm afraid that I'll wake up and you won't be there. Like I never found you or completely gave up on searching," Giyuu murmurs, "What would my life be like then? If I never found you...the last of my family..."

"That's silly, nii-san," Inosuke states, "We would've found one another. No matter what. Even if there was a world where we had no idea we were brothers, I know we would have been able to recognize each other. Us being family is never going to change." Giyuu turns to look at his brother with a touched expression on his face. He's never heard his brother say anything so thoughtful before. Maybe, the boy really is growing up. "I mean come on! Our hair is identical!" Inosuke exclaims, shattering the moment, "I may have been raised for a good part of my life by boars, but I would notice that blue color instantly!"

And that's the end! I just feel like their dynamics would be so much fun. Inosuke is like an unhinged little kid and Giyu is the responsible older one carrying way too much weight on his shoulders. I am really considering developing this into a full-length story just cause there aren't enough fics like this and as all fanfic writers know...when there isn't a story that satisfies what you're looking for, you just have to write it yourself. If you would be interested in something like that, please let me know in the comments below! While you are at it, please also vote, follow me, add this story to your library, and check out all my other stories here on Wattpad! I will see you in my next fic. Have a great day!