Amnesia

Summary: After a mission gone sideways, Tanjirou gets hit on the head. When he wakes, he has no memory. Of anything or anyone. For a little while.
Notes: Instead of finishing the stories I have already started, here I am writting new ones. OOC? Probably. AU-ish? Yep.

Chapter 1: Injury and Arrival

"SHINOBU-SAN! HELP! THIS IS TERRIBLE!"

The Butterfly Estate had rushed to the front gate at Zenitsu's cries.

It was a beautiful morning, calm, quiet, thankfully there weren't any patients.

Aoi blew a breath, thinking she should have knocked on wood when that thought crossed her mind.

Because of course those four would magically appear in need of healing.

The fact Zenitsu's voice had reached them long before they could even see them rushing was another feat in itself.

Inosuke was carrying an unconscious Tanjirou while Zenitsu followed carrying Nezuko's box.

"Prepare a bed, quickly." Shinobu ordered with a frown.

Aoi understood; if Inosuke was this silent, then Zenitsu wasn't exaggerating things.

Herding Kiyo, Sumi and Naho to prepare a bed and be ready to provide Shinobu-sama with anything she would need to help Tanjirou-san, Aoi turned quickly to get back inside the Estate.

Meanwhile, Shinobu waited for the two boys to arrive.

"What happened?" she asked once they where within hearing distance.

"He was facing off a really strong demon – we were facing others – and one moment he was cutting off the head and the next he was being blown back into another one!" Zenitsu was crying, "The second one managed to hit him hard on the head. We thought he died! Nezuko-chan was so mad, she teared the demon in two with her hands." the boy shivered.

"Yes, I would expect her to be." Shinobu mumbled as she led them in, understanding very well how the girl must have felt at that moment, "Put him here. Gently." she shot a glance at Inosuke, since the boy wasn't known for his gentleness.

And then started the long wait.

Shinobu cleaned the wound on his head, along with all the other cuts and told the two friends they had to wait for Tanjirou to wake up.

Aoi and the girls had tended to their wounds while she was focusing on Tanjirou.

The box was placed next to Tanjirou's bed and Shinobu made sure to cover the window by his bed so that Nezuko could come out.

One could say Kamado Tanjirou had become a semi-permanent fixture in the Estate and their lives – he got hurt that often.

Shinobu had often wondered aloud how on Earth he had survived so long if this was usual for him, seeing as he faced pain with a smile and the patience of someone who got hurt very often.

She didn't sleep that night.

Everyone else had practically camped out around Tanjirou's bed.

Nezuko came out late at night and climbed on the bed beside her brother, looking at Shinobu worriedly.

"Tanjirou-kun is strong. He'll be alright." she smiled, trying to encourage the young girl.

Trying to encourage herself.

It was early morning when Tanjirou groaned.

Shinobu was on her feet and by his side in the blink of an eye, leaning over him with a smile, as he opened his eyes.

"Good morning, Tanjirou-kun! You gave us quite the scare there."

The surprised silence that greeted Shinobu was not promising good things.

She opened her eyes and met his confused gaze.

"Tanjirou-kun…?" she started, a sinking feeling in her stomach informing her something was terribly wrong.

"Um…I…I'm sorry, but…um, who…who are you?" he asked kindly, clearly feeling embarrassed by his lack knowledge.

"I was afraid you'd say that." she sighed, sitting back on the stool beside him, "My name is Kochou Shinobu, pleased to meet you again." she smiled.

"Again…? We know each other?"

"Yes. I think I didn't make the best of first impersions, though." she smiled, "What can you remember?"

"Um…I…I assume my name is Tanjirou…?"

"Oh dear." she said, never dropping her smile.

Tanjirou took a deep breath.

"Ah. I am sorry." he said quietly, "I didn't mean to make you worry, Kochou-san."

"Shinobu. And at least there's some good news; your nose is sharp as ever."

At that moment Zenitsu woke up.

"TANJIROU! I WAS SO WORRIED! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD DIE!" the boy wailed, causing the rest of the gathered people to wake up with a start and nearly making Tanjirou fall off his bed from surprise.

"Ah…I am sorry for worrying you, uh…" Tanjirou glanced at Shinobu for help.

"Tanjirou…?" Zenitsu looked worried.

"Tanjirou-kun has a bad case of amnesia. Because of the hit on his head yesterday. He could remember things over time, or never."

"Eh?! No way! He has to remember!" Zenitsu seemed heartbroken.

"Of course he'll remember! He's my underling!" Inosuke boasted.

"I am?"

"Yes!" Inosuke said.

"No!" Zenitsu and the girls said, simultaneously.

Shinobu was smiling and staring.

"Well." she said, stopping any argument about to break out, "First things first. Introductions."

"Ah. Agatsuma Zenitsu. Friend and traveling companion."

"Hashibira Inosuke. Same." he added after a moment.

"Kanzaki Aoi, Shinobu-sama's aide."

"Takada Naho." the girl with the green sash said.

"Terauchi Kiyo." said the one with the red.

"Nakahara Sumi." the third with the blue.

"And that's Tsuyuri Kanao, Shinobu-sama's little sister and Tsuguko." Aoi said.

"Tsuguko?"

"The one to inherit my place as a Pillar in the Corps." Shinobu replied with that smile.

Tanjirou blinked. He looked around him.

"Is anything the matter?" Shinobu asked.

"Corps?"

"Well, we are Demon Slayers."

"Demons?"

Tanjirou seemed lost.

"Maybe that was a bit too much for a start?" Shinobu smiled.

"Um…"

"Everyone. We should let Tanjirou-kun rest a bit more." she smiled at the gathered people.

Zenitsu seemed reluctant to leave, even though he was a bit scared of Shinobu, but he followed Inosuke out. The girls all nodded and left to return to their other duties.

Shinobu turned back to her patient, who seemed to be struggling with his words.

"Um…I don't know if I should ask Shinobu-san this question. I…it might come off as…insensitive…?"

"You can ask." she smiled.

"Why do you smile like that? It…it doesn't seem to smell right…?" he asked softly, "It's painful to watch. You talked about retirement as if you're about to die and yet, you have that smile on your lips. And your smell is off. It's anger and sadness and…and sorrow mingled together with something else I can't name, but seems to fill the air here. And that box? There's someone in there. Why? Who are they and why is their smell familiar? And why do you make me feel like I want to cry while simultaneously feel determined to accomblish some impossible feat? Who are you? Who am I?"

He hadn't realised he was crying until Shinobu reached to wipe his tears.

"You are Kamado Tanjirou. In that box is your younger sister, Nezuko, who was turned into a demon. You joined the Demon Slayers to find a way to turn her back into a human. I've already told you my story once. If Nezuko-chan's scent is familiar to you, it means that you will remember at some point. I'd rather not retell such a sad story, if you don't mind."

"But, who are you to me?" Tanjirou asked, softly.

"A friend." she smiled sadly.

"Is this friendship one-sided on me or on you, Shinobu-san?" he asked, "I am such a bad person that I don't want you to be my friend or you don't want to be my friend?"

"No. It isn't one-sided. Our job is dangerous and I know that me being your friend will hurt you when I am killed by a demon."

"What is that smell?"

"Wisteria flowers. It is deadly to demons. I use it in my poisons."

"Ah." he closed his eyes, "I see. That's why you smiled…" he looked at her, "Yes, I think if I remember you, it will hurt when your demon kills you. It will hurt a lot."

Shinobu's eyes grew wide for a moment, before she looked away. She stood up.

"I should let you rest."

"I'm sorry, Shinobu-san. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I think we can both agree I am the one hurting you more." she said over her shoulder, with a sad smile.