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Chapter 6

As you're eating, the little girl, whose name you learned was Hanako, suddenly asked :

"What's with the arrow on your forehead? And the ones on your hands?"

You perk up and smile softly at her.
"They're airbender tattoos. They're given once someone masters all thirty-six tiers of airbending."

You feel everyone's eyes on you, and you're suddenly flustered, wondering if they're impressed or weirded out.

"Your parents must be very proud of you."
Miss Kamado adds as a way to ease your nerves.

"I'm sure they are!"
You laugh, slowly starting to bond with the Kamado family.

It felt so nice to spend time with other children, laughing together as you shared a warm meal. You no longer felt like you were the Avatar. You felt like just a normal child, spending the night at a friend's house.

You offered to help clean the dishes, once everyone finished Miss Kamado smiling as she let you.

"Thank you again for letting me stay, ma'am."

"Of course, What kind of mother would I be to send a young girl out in the blizzard so late? You're lucky Tanjiro and Nezuko found you."

She thanks you once you finish and guides you to the room you were going to sleep in, where you see all the Kamado siblings.

You smile and wave before sitting down near Nezuko, almost nervous until they initiated conversation, friendly and curious towards you.

"You're an airbender, right?"
Nezuko asks, to which you nod, her smile easing the tension slowly.

"What's it like? I've never seen an airbender before."

"We mostly live together in temples, so that's why. I lived in one, where I trained with my master Kana."

"If you guys don't move around much,  how come you're here all alone?"
Takeo asked, everyone very curious of you.

Your breath hitches, but before you could even think up an excuse, the door opens.

Miss Kamado dropped off another blanket and mattress for you, as well as a kimono to sleep in.

You thank her and go change, leaving your robes to warm up before returning Tanjiro's haori.

When you returned back into the room, you saw Hanako bend the water from the snow, forming little shapes with it, Nezuko cheering her on with a smile.

You sit down and smile at her, an idea popping into your head as you grin wider.
"Hey, Hanako? Can you make small little ice crystals?"

She curiously nods and does so, holding up the multiple small ice pieces in the air, everyone's attention now turned on you.

"You said you wanted to see me airbend, right?"
You chuckle, a wide grin spread across your face.

Everyone got excited, and you stand up, using your airbending to guide the ice crystals in a spiral, making the two girls clap and laugh in amazement, the boys more silent, except for Tanjiro, who cheered you on with his entire spirit.

You laugh with them and start messing around, having fun with the small ice cubes and snow as you moved them over and around everyone, enchanting the younger siblings the most.

The lot of you probably grew really loud, seeing as Miss Kamado came in to shush the commotion.

She paused as she saw you airbending, fascinated for a moment before wishing you all goodnight.

All of you chat and enjoy the time before bed together, and you feel that same comfortable warmth in your heart flutter.

You tell them you'll sleep soon, bidding them goodnight as you sit cross-legged.

A sense of happiness floods your senses as you look at the kids fast asleep, silently snoring.
Tears prick at your eyes and you wipe them away quickly, still smiling.

Something must've woken up Tanjiro, as he sat up and stared at you meditating, seeing the tears drip from your face.

He sniffed the air for a moment, sensing the sadness that emanated from you. He moved towards you and placed a hand on your forearm, making you open your eyes.

"Sorry to bother, but, are you okay?"
He softly whispers, and you soon realize what he means as you wipe your tears.

"I'm alright, it's just that... eating dinner with your family, and seeing all of you so happy... It made me nostalgic."

"How so?"

"..."
You remain silent for a moment, sighing before you whisper again.
"My parents were killed by a demon a few years ago, and I recently lost my brother. So being welcomed so kindly by your family made me miss them."

"I'm really sorry to hear that... It must've been pretty hard on your own."
You can hear the apologetic pity in his voice, but smile softly at him and quietly chuckle.

"I had nothing to complain about. My brother was with me, my mentor treated me like her own child, the nuns were practically my second family."

His smile is softer now, and he pats your head softly.
The two of you share a moment of peaceful silence, a mutual sense of understanding being exchanged only through glances and a small nod.

"I should sleep too. Good night, Tanjiro. And, thank you, for not leaving me out there to die."

He smiles sweetly and nods, the two of you settling under your respective blankets.

You fell asleep last, much easier than normal as you felt at peace, your burdens lifted from your shoulders for once.

《 •|• 《♡》 •|• 》

End
● Chapter 6 : ●
● "Kamado." ●