37

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Hotaru spent the day running some errands around the village, after all he wasn't exactly prepared for me to move in with him so quickly so he had to get some things. While he was out, I decided to do some cleaning up around his house.. since he hardly ever did it when he lived alone.

I hum softly to myself, peacefully and slowly cleaning and sweeping the house and I can't help but smile to myself. I feel as though I'm just a normal girl now, acting as a wife and taking care of her husband. I guess I am just a normal girl now anyway... As I'm cleaning, I hear a soft knock on the front door and I furrow my eyebrows, going to open it and I see Genji standing there with a basket of clothes making me tilt my head.

"Hello Miss Nakahara!" He says happily and I giggle. "Oh.. I guess you're not Miss Nakahara anymore are you.. Mrs Haganezuka!" He says and I just smile, shaking my head.

"How about you just call me Hanako Genji?" I say and he gasps happily before nodding eagerly making me laugh. "What's all this?" I say looking at the basket and he holds it up proudly.

"It's my things! I'm ready to move in with you two now!" He says and my eyes widen.

"O-Oh!" I say awkwardly and he runs into the house making me bite my lip worried. I don't know how Hotaru will feel about this... he already has to deal with me moving in with him so I don't know if he can handle Genji additionally... plus we still need some time to be alone with each other. "Genji.." I whisper but he ignores me, running around the house and peering into the empty rooms.

"Which is my room!? I can start organizing my things now!" He says and I follow after him, trying to get him to calm down.

"G-Genji please wait a moment!" I say and he turns to me with a tilted head. "We haven't properly discussed this with Mr Haganezuka yet have we... this is his house after all."

"But it's also yours now!" He says and I rub my neck awkwardly.

"But this is a big decision to make.. plus you still have your parents-"

"They don't care about me! I have to take care of myself anyway if I live with them, they don't care if I'm alive or dead!" He says and I sigh, kneeling in front of him as he sniffles softly. "Please don't make me go back to them.. I want to know what's it like to have loving parents as well," he whimpers and my heart breaks and I pull him into a hug which he immediately returns, seeming to hide himself in my arms.

"I understand Genji.. Mr Haganezuka and I will think about this, but please give us some time to figure things out ok?" I whisper and he's silent before nodding and pulling away. "In the mean-time, how about you stay here and keep me company until Mr Haganezuka comes back, hm?" I say smiling and he nods.

I then hand him a broom as I begin to cook dinner for the three of us, until Hotaru returns and I hurry to the door to greet him.

"I'm home!" He calls out, and I smile widely at him as I bow my head.

"Welcome home- H-hey!" I yelp as he pulls me closer to him by my waist, and I giggle as he moves his mask enough to kiss me softly. I don't object, and return the kiss as he seems to physically relax into my touch.

"I could get used to being greeted by you every day~" He whispers and I giggle, pushing him back slightly.

"A-about that..."

"Welcome home!" Genji runs over before audibly gagging as he sees Hotaru's arms around me. "Yuck!" He says and Hotaru nearly chokes on his own spit.

"You're seriously here again!?" He says angrily and I giggle, shaking my head as the two begin to bicker back and forth with each other. "When will you ever leave us alone and let us be?!"

"Miss Hanako is fine with me being here!"

"Miss Hanako?! Oh what are you her little pet or something!?"

"It's unfair that you get to spend every day with Miss Hanako and I can't!"

"She's my wife!"

"So what!?"

"Enough!" I finally yell, crossing my arms as I glare at the two who immediately shut up. "I made dinner for us all, are we going to eat or are you both going to keep arguing and leave me to eat alone?" I say and they both glare at each other once more before moving to the dinning room with me where I have all the dishes prepared.

We eat together and Genji and I laugh together, occasionally teasing Hotaru who sits there sulking the entire time. As we eat, I feel a warm feeling in my stomach that I've never felt before... and it feels as though I finally have the family I had always hoped for.

"Huh!? You seriously want to live here with us!?" Hotaru yells in shock as I clear away the dishes and Genji and him sit at the table together. "I never said yes to it!?"

"But I told you that once you and Miss Hanako were married I will become your son!" Genji whines and Hotaru groans, slumping his back with annoyance. "Miss Hanako is fine with it, she just said that we have to speak to you about it!"

"Hanako!" Hotaru hisses and I walk back over and sit next to him, rubbing his shoulder softly.

"His parents treat him so cruelly Hotaru... that's no way for a young boy to live," I whisper and he looks at me, hanging his head low. "How about we think about it for a few days, maybe talk it over with his parents, and then we'll see what happens hm?" I say and it's silent as Genji looks at him hopefully.

"Fine! I'll think about it!" Hotaru says with a groan and Genji and I both cheer. "That doesn't mean I'm saying yes though!" He hisses, standing up and opening the front door. "Now go home!" He yells and Genji giggles, hugging me before happily running out the door and Hotaru slams it behind him, gently banging his head against the door making me giggle. "I cannot believe you want to adopt that brat," he groans and I walk over, holding his hand.

"He's not that bad... plus it's mainly because his parents will probably let him starve to death before they care.." I say sadly and he nods slowly. "It'll be doing a good thing, we both know what it's like to not grow up with loving parents.. don't you want to try and at least make sure he doesn't as well?" He looks down at me, pulling me into a hug with a sigh.

"You're too much of a good influence on me.. I was perfectly happy alone you know?" I giggle.

"And aren't you happier with me here?"

"Don't give yourself too much credit.. you're alright.." I gasp, hitting his chest dramatically making him chuckle.

"I guess I won't wait for you in bed then~" I say, walking away and I giggle as he stumbles over his words, grabbing my wrist.

"W-wait I didn't mean it!" He says and I roll my eyes, crossing my arms.

"So now you'll be nice to me!?" He chuckles, scooping me up bridal style as I squeal and kick my legs. "Put me down!" I giggle and he shakes his head firmly.

"This is what you get for being a tease," he says as he carries me towards our bedroom and I giggle, giving in as he gently lays me down on the futon. As he throws his mask across the room and litters my face in innocent kisses I can't help but giggle. He then hovers above me, fixing my messy hair and I gaze up at him with a smile and loving eyes. "What's that look for?" He says with a smirk and I giggle, reaching up to trace my finger down his nose and across his lips.

"I'm just so happy," I whisper and his eyes widen, and he grabs my hand to place a kiss on it.

"Then I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy, so that you look at me like that always," I blush at his words, pulling him down for another kiss and hugging him close to me.

-

We sit awkwardly across from Genji's parents in their home, no one saying a thing. Genji and I finally managed to convince Hotaru to let Genji move in with us, so here we are speaking to Genji's parents about it. Out of respect for their traditions, I now wear a mask to cover my face when I leave the house... only mines a little different. I asked to keep wearing my fox mask from when I was a slayer... purely because it feels as though I can keep that part of me with me now.

"So let me get this straight..." Genji's father finally slurs, a bottle of sake in his hand as he lays there lazily in front of Hotaru and I. "You want to take the brat in and have him live with you two from now on?"

"Yep," Hotaru says through a clenched jaw and Genji's father laughs loudly.

"What... so you two want to be his new parents or something!?"

"N-Not exactly... Hotaru would like to become his mentor in sword making and we think that it would just make things easier for everyone if Genji were to stay with us... you'd still be able to see him of course-"

"Like I want to see that pathetic excuse of a son," I hold my tongue, not wanting to escalate the situation. "I feel like... you two are suggesting that I'm not capable of parenting my own son?"

"Of course not sir," I say.

"Not to your face anyway..." Hotaru grumbles and I discreetly smack him.

"We are not making any comments about your parenting ability.. we are simply just trying to give Genji every possible chance of success. After personally using Hotaru's swords in battle I can say with confidence that they are truly some of the best our there.. and we think Genji could learn a lot from him," I bow my head and Genji's father scoffs.

"Yeah yeah we get it... demon slayer bitch," he mumbles that last part and I furrow my eyebrows, feeling Hotaru tense up next to me. "Well I don't particularly care that much, the kid means nothing to me anyway so do whatever you want with him, at least that means he's not my responsibility anymore and I never have to hear his whiny voice ever again..."

"So glad we came to an arrangement!" Hotaru's voice is dripping with sarcasm and I clear my throat, bowing my head to Genji's father and dragging Hotaru down with me.

"Thank you sir," I say standing, I then see Genji peering at us from around the corner and he perks up as I softly nod to him, extending my hand out to him. Without a second thought, he runs over and jumps into my arms making me giggle as I pick him up and we leave his house... without looking back once.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Genji squeals, not once letting go of me as we move his clothes into our home and set up the bedroom for him. Hotaru has been silent the entire time... but I know that deep down he also has a soft spot for Genji.

"That's ok Genji.. say thank you to Mr Haganezuka as well," I whisper to him as we snicker together. Genji then sneaks up behind Hotaru, before jumping on his back and laughing as Hotaru yells in shock.

"Thank you Mr Haganezuka!" He squeals, hugging Hotaru's neck making me smile.

"L-Let go of me!" Hotaru hisses, however making no attempt to push the boy away. I then giggle, running over and also jumping onto them making Hotaru stumble backwards onto the futon he just set up. "H-Hey!" He yells as Genji and I laugh our heads off, both of us sitting on top of Hotaru who lays there helpless.

"Can I call you mum and dad!?" Genji says and I gasp.

"Yes!" I exclaim.

"No!" Hotaru yells at the same time which makes Genji and I laugh.

We all lay there as Genji and I tease Hotaru, who tries to keep up a stern front... but the man can't ignore the warm feeling in his heart which swells with happiness... and eventually he gives in, chuckling softly with the two before hesitantly wrapping his arms around them.

That night, the three slept wrapped up together in the same futon... all of them finally having found the family they searched for all their lives.

a/n

hi everyone! I hope you're enjoying the story so far, I'm having so much fun writing it! Just wanted to let you know that there will be some pretty major time jumps since I do want to kind of pick up the storyline from the current demon slayer timeline.. but don't worry there will be moments leading up to it to provide context and I will indicate how much time has passed to try and not make it confusing!