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Zenitsu had always thought they aren’t meant to be friends. They were like fire and ice and oil to water. They contradict each other and doesn’t mix well. When the blond thinks they are having a normal conversation for once, Inosuke will then state something to aggravate Zenitsu that would result the latter insulting the former, ensuing a fight. If Tanjiro isn’t there to separate them, he doubts they will cease until one of them has his grabby hands on the other’s neck.
And Zenitsu is having the urge to do so right now. Golden orbs were narrowed, bushy brows almost meeting as he furrows and his lips downturned in distaste. The blond’s peeved gaze settling over the boar man eat, not only his share of food but Zenitsu and Tanjiro’s portion as well. He was creating a mess everywhere. Inosuke eats with bare hands even though Tanjiro—bless his soul—taught Inosuke how to use chopsticks with a lot of patience.
The blond ruffled his hair to get rid of rice stuck on the choppy strands. “Inosuke, use your chopsticks!” He complains, voice rising with every word.
“Hah?! I don’t need that stupid thing!” You’re the stupid one!
That pissed off Zenitsu more. He almost snapped his chopsticks into two due to his hard grip. Inosuke kept on refusing to act like a civilized person!
“Washt’s shat, Monshiro?” Inosuke asked, mouth full of food—Zenitsu grimaced—, inquisitive emerald orbs settling upon a plate full of vibrant-colored, ball-like dumplings on skewers at the center of the table.
Purple eyes blink, lowering it to gaze at what the wild lad was pointing at. “That’s dango. Aoi gave me that earlier for us to share. It’s supposed to taste sweet.”
That made Zenitsu wonder. “You haven’t eaten those before?”
Tanjiro shook his head, a kind smile on his visage, his eyes looking at Zenitsu but not really at him at the same time. “We never had those on the mountain. We only eat crops the farmers sell down by the village.” He replies whilst reminiscing of the past.
Then, a munching sound got caught by Zenitsu’s bizarre auditory. Inosuke bit on a dango, green eyes blinking as he let the sweetness invade his mouth. Slowly, he took another bite and then another before he hogs the whole plate, eating the sweet delicacy rapidly.
Zenitsu stared at the pretty boy in shock before a horrified noise escaped his lips. “Hey, we’re supposed to share! Give us some!”
“No.”
“SHARE!”
“NO!”
If that event didn’t occur, Zenitsu might have never knew about Inosuke’s obsession with sweets. But no, that isn’t Zenitsu’s problem. He could hog all the sweets for all his care. However, the stupid boar learned from a certain green and black checkered haori wearing guy that Zenitsu smells like peaches and citrus. He thinks that is a great idea? Curse you, Tanjiro!!
For once in his ever stressful life, Zenitsu finally gained a moment of peace. He was fully recovered from injuries and there weren’t any urgent calls for a mission. A good break for him and Chuntaro. It was a day for him to just sit down and breathe.
“SINZITSU!” And, of course, someone would ruin it as soon as he thought about it. Zenitsu’s life is miserable that way.
Being a boy raised in the wild, Inosuke came in charging at the scared blond. He let out a terrified squeak as the brute’s body hit him, making him stagger a few paces back. He was heavy and for some reason, he was squeezing him. “What are you doing? Get off me! I won’t fight you, okay?!”
A warm breath fan over his exposed neck, inducing shivers to crawl down his spine. It was a pretty chilly morning. However, the body against him radiates heat. Too much heat for his liking. “Uh… I-Inosuke?” He decided to ask again.
He heard a sniff. Zenitsu blinks. Did Inosuke just sniffed him? “Gonpachiro was right. You do smell like peaches.”
“Huh?” Zenitsu uttered, dumbfounded. He shook his head in disbelief and pushed himself out of Inosuke’s grasp which he succeeded to do so, surprisingly enough. He immediately regretted it when the algid zephyr seep through the thin, blue clothing.
He stared at Inosuke who decided to get rid of the boar mask today. He was looking at Zenitsu, a hand underneath his chin and emerald eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest. His eyes are pretty, Zenitsu can’t help but grudgingly acknowledge that.
“You smell sweet and juicy.” He started innocently but the comment still made the other’s face vibrant red in embarrassment. “Why do you smell like peaches?”
“H-How should I know?” He shifted uncomfortably whilst golden hues darting to a door, already scheming for an escape. “And don’t go around sniffing people like that! It’s creepy!” He says before he dashed away as fast as lightning.
Zenitsu heard him grunt as if he was considering something. He hoped it isn’t something bad. He doesn’t want to die yet. In any way possible.
"MONITSU!!" Inosuke screams with a large grin on his face as he raced toward the blond and enveloping him within his embrace.
This has become a daily occurrence much to the blond's chagrin.
"What are you doing? Hey, stop it! Let go of me!!" Zenitsu protests, limbs struggling to get away.
"NO! YOU SMELL LIKE PEACHES! I WANT TO SMELL LIKE PEACHES!"
"DON'T SCREAM RIGHT ON MY EAR, YOU IDIOT!"
Anyone, please, save him from this torture.
Cold. So cold. Numb fingers intertwined together to stop itself from shaking, seeking warmth. Chapped lips blew on the freezing skin as he buried himself even deeper on his blanket. Zenitsu’s whole body was shaking from the cold and even more when the boar man who laid beside him was hogging his blankets; leaving the blond with the half of his body exposed to the wintry climate. If he wouldn’t die from the mission, he’ll freeze to death, he was sure of it.
He sneered at Inosuke’s back as if he was the cause of his misfortune, well, not entirely but a part of it. It’s bad enough that they had to sleep out in the open where demons could be lurking around in the dark but he even has to deal with this blanket thief?!
He tugs at the white cloth, wanting its warmth. Why does he have to share with Inosuke? Why not Tanjiro? He eyed Tanjiro sleeping peacefully at the other side with envy. He shivered as wind drifted past. He unconsciously shifted toward Inosuke’s bare back, an inch of space between them. Then, he remembers the heat he radiates when he hugged him last time. It was tempting to just scoot over and embrace…
“Inosuke!” He hisses, tugging at the blanket harder. With every pull, the harsher he goes. The blanket might even tear from his grasp. “Give me the blanket, you stupid boar! I’ll die freezing in here!”
Inosuke let out sleepy grumbles and pulled the sheets to him. “Inosuke!!” Zenitsu fears his voice was loud enough to wake Tanjiro, but he can’t give a damn this time. He won’t let this swine do what he wants. He resumed to tugging the blankets away from Inosuke.
"Peaches..." A hoarse grumble and a body shifting next to him. It made the blond pause.
"H-Huh? What the—!" He squeaks as Inosuke turned to face him, forest green depths staring at him sleepily. There was an odd spark in his eyes.
Arms wrapped over his waist, inducing a shocked gasp from Zenitsu. He was pulled toward Inosuke's torso; a red face to a hard chest. Legs tangled with Zenitsu's trapping him in place. How can someone so underdressed be so warm?
"I-I-Inosuke?" His voice turned out a bit muffled, feeling the crimson heat slinking up his countenance. Golden orbs peered through yellow lashes, gazing up at the raven's face. He has his eyes closed, a serene expression on his features. It made Zenitsu hold his breath. Inosuke looks so content.
The blond stared at him for a moment before snuggling deeper to the warmth. He fluttered his eyes close, a warm smile tugging his lips. "Good night, Inosuke."
"Peach..." A face buried itself into the shorter male's blond locks. A giggle erupted from Zenitsu.
Hugs are nice, after all.