⚜ Demon Slayer One-Shots ⚜ Requests Open ⚜

Absolution By Dawn

Ship: Kyoujurou Rengoku X Tanjirou Kamado (RenTan)

Warning: Slight Angst, Fluff.

This was an old story that went unfinished, so I mashed it together to create a short story. Hope you all like it and please leave a comment or feedback. Always appreciated. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pain was never something he struggled to handle. His firm build often allowed him to strive for greater limits, offering more time when injured. While wounds were unavoidable, this time he had pushed it to the edge of his boundaries. The heavy smell of iron surrounded him, leaving his mind in chaos as he traveled the woodlands without much care. Pain was rocketing around his frame, leaving him to choke it down for the time. His vision was rocking and twisting about, leaving his sense of direction to fumble. Truthfully, he had been assigned a partner to work with on this mission, but a late notice left him alone. Who knew it would turn out so bloody?

His legs felt weak below him as he gripped the trunks of the trees he passed by. Red clung to the bark as he pressed onward, noticing the cut in the tree lines up ahead. Hope bubbled in him at the idea of caring for his wounds in hopes to avoid infections. Bacteria was a real killer, something he tried best to avoid in times of crisis. His heavy blood loss was not something to ignore either. It was making everything harder and only bringing his body temperature lower than desired. Even so, he never faltered at carrying on. Once repaired, he would head out for another mission, no matter the severity of it. That was his duty. To protect the world from the Demons that scurried the lands, slaughtering innocents who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Breaking the tree line, he took a moment to stabilize himself as he peered to the scenery before him. The trees were lining the massive area, leaving an open expanse of meadow and crystal waters. The moonlight reflected off the surface of the clear water, casting a dim glow to the surrounding area. The sight of the place was breathtaking to Kyojuro, if not for the fact his lungs already struggled to welcome air. Shuffling further inside the area, he crept close to a large rock beside the lake, just outside the water's outskirts. Leaning against it, he fell to the grass below. Every inch of him felt on fire and trembled from the endless pain and lack of blood flow. He had never anticipated the idea of dying, but in that moment, alone, it did cross his mind. Death was not something he feared, but he did not seek to welcome it either. He had so much he desired to do, but if fate chose his time to pass on, then he had no choice but to accept. There was nothing he could do.

His eyelids grew heavy as he breathed a shaky breath. There was no denying the moonlight's gentle embrace. It was soothing to him, even if it was the hour Demons roamed about. The sunlight gave a warmth to cherish, while the moon offered a cold touch that brought serenity to those beneath the glow. If he was to welcome death, basking in the dim light of the large white ball above him was not an issue. It was often desired. He sought for peace to wash over him before everything would eventually fade away. There was nothing he could do. Nowhere he could go. This was it for him, so he let himself rest where the best view was offered. The area was something unique, a sight he wished others could see. Letting his eyelids close, he exhaled a long breath, letting his mind wander as he brought a calm air around him. The only thought that plagued his mind was if someone would find his body. If not, it bothered him little. He would eventually return to nature, becoming of use to the beauty surrounding him in his final moments.

The everlasting black surrounding his gaze seemed to vanish over time. For how long he had been unaware of reality, he had no clue. All he knew was that upon opening his eyes, he found a bright light burning them without mercy. It forced him to scrunch his face and shield himself to recover before attempting to look out once more. He remembered laying against a rock to welcome death so many hours ago during the evening, yet here he was still alive. He could feel something wrapped around his stomach, leaving him to allow his gaze to wander and notice his clothes had mostly been folded to his waistline. A long bandage was wrapped multiple times around his chest, supporting the fabric underneath that was layered in blood. While there was no pain, he couldn't deny the feeling of the random stitches along his body. It left the main question; who had aided him?