Cozy
It was so cold tonight.
The snow was just starting to fall as the sun disappeared over the horizon. The woods of the large mountain were silent, almost eerily so, save for the crunch of snow under foot. People in the village had their lanterns on behind him that made the snow glimmer slightly as he walked further through it.
To anyone else the silence of the woods would scare others. Zenitsu found himself relaxing now that he couldn't hear anything too loud. Aside from the soft heartbeats of animals hibernating, this was something he found very calming. Ever since the world had become a more peaceful place he didn't find it as scary as when he was a demon slayer.
Knowing there wasn't any monsters waiting in the dark made him feel an ease he never thought he'd heave.
On his back he carried a basket on his back with a pink ribbon around it, full of goodies he had bought down in the market after selling coal. He had offered to do it for Tanjiro since his back was troubling him this morning and Zenitsu just wanted to be a good brother in law. Plus he didn't trust Inosuke to not jump at the food vendors and eat all of their hardwork. Again.
Besides his wife deserved some time with his big brother since it was rare to get any kind of alone time with two other men in the house.
Zenitsu shivered as a sharp wind blows through him while pulling his haori a little tighter as his grown out blonde hair blew back. He could feel the snow getting caught in it as he walked further and further up towards the place he has called home for the past four years. His best friends were there, his wife was there and it was so warm.
He remembered being a boy on the streets passing the houses with families who looked so happy and warm with each other. He remembered wishing he had something like that. People to go back to and to be warm with who were always welcoming and kind to him.
He loved his Gramps and perhaps if he had lived after the final battle he might be living with him now. He had felt something close to that warmth, however Kaigaku had a habit of ruining the good things for him. He can't even think of the place he once called home with out feeling bitterness wash over him. He was just glad he had Gramps ashes safely in his new home.
When the familiar sounds of his wife's laugh reach him, when the soft glow of the windows could be seen up ahead, Zenitsu felt all his thoughts of the past return to the back of his mind. His heart swells as he started to run up the path and feels a smile break across his face.
"I'm home!" he slides open the doors as a burst of warmth comes at him from inside.
Nezuko looks up and smiles as she has a warm pink blanket around her shoulders and is holding some warm tea. Beside her Tanjiro was currently massaging Inosuke's head with his one good hand as the wild man seemed to be calmed down by the action. Seeing how they all were now he honestly wouldn't have believed that they had defeated the greatest evil in Japan.
"Welcome back, Zenitsu," Tanjiro smiled as he stopped rubbing, only to sigh when Inosuke turns his face and nudges his hand for more stroking, "You made it home before the sun completely set. Did you get anything down in the village?"
Zenitsu takes the basket off his back and places it down on the floor before taking off his shoes and steps inside, "Well I managed to get some treats for dinner tonight since the snow was starting to come down before I left," he started to pull off his wet haori and shook off the snow from his hair, "i thought we could have miso soup!"
"Mmm...s'long as it's food, 'm happy..." Inosuke mumbled before he rolled on to his side to snuggle closer to Tanjiro.
Nezuko smiled as she stands and goes to open the basket to go through it, "Hmm...yes these will do nicely for dinner Anata," she turned to him and kissed his cheek.
No matter how many times she's kissed him it still made him start giggling like when he was a boy. Then he blinked when she gently placed her warm pink blanket on his shoulders as she takes the fresh ingredients to carry them to the fire. The blanket was still warm from when it was on Nezuko as he slowly pulled it tighter around himself. He managed a little smile as he leaned back against the wall and pulled it slightly tighter around himself with a happy sigh.
He watched Tanjiro pulling Inosuke to lie back on him, the ex beast breathing slayer mumbling as his lover wrapped his arm and blanket around him. He watched as Nezuko get to work on the soup while sitting by the warm fire that fills their little home with such warmth.
"Hmm? Zenitsu? What are you thinking about that has such a big smile on your face?" Tanjiro raises a brow with a smile.
Zenitsu blinked before turning to him, "I'm just glad to be nice and cozy after such a long day."
"Ah, I'm sorry you-"
"Niisan!" Nezuko puffed her cheeks as she waved a wooden spoon, "Zenitsu wouldn't have gone if he didn't want to help! Stop apologizing!"
"I'm so-" Tanjiro laughed when she points the spoon at him threateningly.
Inosuke grunted and cracked an eye open, "Eeeeh? You being soft again? Stupid Gonpachiro..."
Slowly Zenitsu started to laugh very softly. He had never considered he would have this cozy little life he did now with a new found family. When one thinks they're going to die every day of their life for years they don't dare to think they will have a happy ending.
Nezuko set the pot and then she moved to sit with her husband, blinking and then giggling when he wrapped the blanket around her. She moved to lean on his shoulder with a very soft sigh.
He thanks the gods every day for letting him live long enough to have a family.