[Demon Slayer] Raising a Wife

While wandering alone outside, Xiao Shi met a boy who seemed to be doing something secret. He often appeared by the stream with tools smeared in red liquid.

She watched him for a while. When the current once again washed away every trace of red, Xiao Shi decided to offer him the little food she had left.

He said his name was Shinazugawa. The fruit she had brought was poisonous. His short silver hair was as prickly as his temper.

Later, like a god descending from the heavens, he rescued her from her “father” and brought her home. Shinazugawa became two people: one was all bluster but softhearted, the other gentle and steadfast.

She always felt less at ease around Sanemi than she did around Genya.

*

After Sanemi became a Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps, he never went home. He never expected them to come looking for him.

The person he had picked up all those years ago had grown into a graceful, radiant young woman, and she and Genya were incredibly close. No matter how coldly he tried to drive them away, it never worked. She used to be so obedient when she was little.

Until he realized Genya seemed to like Xiao Shi.

They had grown up together. Surely they would get along wonderfully after they married, he thought, though his feelings were complicated.

The girl hobbled over. “Sanemi, could you do my hair for me today?”

He put on his usual unapproachable expression. “Come sit down.”

Xiao Shi cheered and obediently sat down. Her hair was still as difficult to manage as ever.

He picked up the hair ribbon he had given her years ago and felt inexplicably guilty. He had only agreed because she was injured.

*

Xiao Shi always seemed to get along with other people with ease. The twins were like that, and so was that owl. Even Iguro took a liking to her because she was close with the Love Hashira.

Sanemi finally couldn't take it anymore and called Genya over.

“I told you to leave the Demon Slayer Corps. Since she likes you too, go home and live happily together!”

Genya looked utterly confused. “Brother, isn't you the one she likes?”

*

[Bonus Scene]:

Cold.

Xiao Shi, lying between the two of them, worked up the courage to tug at the blanket.

The people on either side turned around at the same time.

She froze.

“Keep moving around and I'll throw you out!”

“Xiao Shi, did you have a nightmare?”

The two voices sounded one after the other. Sanemi and Genya exchanged a glance, then both let their uncertain gazes fall on her.

Xiao Shi clasped her gradually warming hands and stared at the ceiling. “N-no... I'm a little cold.”

“Tch, what a hassle.” A scorching hand on her left settled on her waist.

“Sorry, I didn't notice.” A warm hand on her right wrapped around her cool feet.

Before long,

waves of heat washed over her face. She secretly wiped the sweat from her palms.

Hot.

Reader's Guide:

The pairings are the Shinazugawa brothers, with separate 1v1 endings. Before the separate endings, there is no formal confirmation of a relationship.

Early on, the heroine has some family issues. They develop naturally as the story unfolds and are all covered in the first few chapters; they barely come up later. Feel free to check those chapters and decide if they're something you can handle.

The heroine doesn't kill demons. There's no complicated plot, and it's mostly everyday life, with plenty of original worldbuilding. You could call it my take on everyday life (?)

I personally like showing the characters' gentle sides.

Apologies for any OOC!

Theme: Opposing violence