Soul || KNY x Reader

037 ≈ Home Is Where One First Appears After Dying And Almost Dying

This fanart was submitted by CrystalPanda on Quotev. I love the anime-style art and the choice of scene to adapt ((Y/N) vs chopsticks is just too funny to me).

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The year after (Y/N) left the mountain, Tanjiro's hair had grown out just past his shoulders and it was unruly, nothing like Nezuko's (even if he hadn't been combing and tying it like (Y/N) told him to, he doubted it would have ended up as tangled as his got). It got so bad that it kept getting in his face during training and he couldn't see through it. Urokodaki suggested tying it back so he tried it one night in front of the mirror, but when he looked at himself, he decided that he looked too much like his father and got rid of the hair tie.

Tanjiro climbed up the mountain again, his sword in his hands as small breaths left him. He'd been climbing this mountain for so long, it barely felt like it took any effort at all anymore. Even though the boulder was at higher point, his six months of training with Sabito and Makomo was paying off without him even realizing it.

As he entered the clearing, Sabito was already waiting for him, like every other day. At his waist was a real sword, sheathed but after all this time training with the wooden sword, he could tell that it was different.

"After half a year . . . " Sabito started, pulling out his sword, "You've finally got the look of a man."

Tanjiro pointed the tip of his katana at Sabito. "Today, I will win."

He already knew the rules of their spar. It would only take an instant to figure out if Tanjiro had grown over these six months. It was only the shortest moment that would determine whether he would be able to continue his journey as a demon slayer. He only had this chance to finally be able to find a way to turn his sister back into a human.

I only have this one chance to be able to catch up to (Y/N).

And the next second, they already knew the winner. For the first time ever, Tanjiro's blade reached first. Cracks formed in Sabito's mask, a straight line down the middle of the mask. It broke with a clatter, the pieces falling to the ground.

It was the first time Tanjiro saw Sabito's face and he was a lot younger than Tanjiro initially thought, looking to be around Nezuko's age. It was softer than he'd thought too, but with a large scar on his cheek, it might've been the smile that gently creased his face, and the way his eyes gazed at Tanjiro wit a mixture of pride and sadness.

Sabito disappeared the next second, Tanjiro only hearing Makomo quietly murmuring, "Win, Tanjiro, against them too."

Mist swirled around him and when it cleared, the boulder stood in front of him, split cleanly into two.

"I did it," He whispered, staring at the boulder. A part of him was still in shock, still hadn't completely computed his achievements.

Tanjiro smelled Urokodaki's approach before he heard him, leaves rustling behind him as the old man walked up beside him. Urokodaki stood in front of him, his mask the same angry goblin, but Tanjiro felt a sadness from it.

"I initially had no intention of sending you to the Final Selection. I didn't want to see another child die. But when (Y/N) cut her boulder and left, I knew that you would do the same, and that you would be the last children I teach." Urokodaki gently placed a hand on Tanjiro's unruly hair and when the wind blew against his face, he could feel the cool tear tracks on his face.