♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪
"Wait! Stop-Stop-Stop-Stop!" You cried, "Please-Please-Please! Stop it!"
"It's for your own good, (L/n)." Shinobu gives you a closed eye smile.
"No-Wait! Ta-Tanjiro!" You look over to the right at the redhead, "Tanjiro! Tanjiro, please! Please! Do something!"
Tanjiro steps back further away from you: "You know I can't."
"Kyojuro! Kyojuro, please!" You sob.
Kyojuro only gives the same blank look Tanjiro did: "We can't trust you to be loose. Please try to understand."
"You're making too much noise. It's scaring my girls," Shinobu speaks softly.
You look over to the left and see Kanao holding Aoi and the other girls. Aoi was looking at you with utter disgust.
Shinobu tightens the rope around your body that was keeping you bound to the chair. She gets a blindfold and tightly wraps them around your head to block your vision.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! PLEASE!" You were hyperventilating, "I WON'T HURT ANYONE! PLEASE! PLEASE! I PROMISE! PLEASE! LET ME GO!"
You had the blindfold on, but you can still see Shinobu's smile-no (F/n)'s smile-no, it was Tanjiro-wait, was it Zenitsu? Or Kyojuro? Or Uzui? Or maybe Inosuke?
"PLEASE! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG! PLEA-"
"-You should quiet down," the voice was a mixture of different voices, male and female, whoever it was, they forcefully stuffed a gag into your mouth, "You might tear something."
It tasted like gasoline.
Then you feel the press of cold metal against your temple.
You scream against the gag so hard, you feel something tear apart.
——
"(Y/N)! WAKE UP!"
Your eyes shot open as you instinctively slap whatever was in front of you. However, your wrist was caught before you made contact.
You cry in panic at the restraint as you try to break free, pushing away whoever it was.
"NO! NO! NO! NO!" You sob pathetically as you finally break free, falling backwards off your bed.
You crawl away from the person, your back hitting against the wall. You blink away the tears-though they just kept falling anyway-and look up.
Standing by your bed, Sekido had his hand reached out towards you, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were behind him. Tanjiro and Zenitsu had tears in their eyes, Inosuke still had his mask on, so you couldn't read his expression.
But one thing was clear, they were all worried and scared.
You look around the room then down at your wrists and ankles.
Right, you weren't...
You shake your head, willing yourself to stop crying as fast as you can. It hurt your chest; it hurt your eyes, it gave you a headache.
Your breathing was still heavy, but it wasn't as fast anymore. A few more tears escaped, but that was it.
You look up at them and offer a weak smile before standing up on weak legs.
Sekido steps forward, opening his mouth to say something, but you avoid eye contact and quickly leave the room.
Maybe some fresh air will help.
After Sekido's talk with everyone, you all retired for the night. Sekido had to sleep in a different room since the hospital ward you all stayed in has too many open windows. But his room was right next door.
Less than an hour after you fell asleep, you had a nightmare. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke were really scared, and they tried to ask you what it was about, but you didn't want to say.
Two hours later after you all fell asleep again, you had the same nightmare, and had the same reaction. They demanded that you tell them what was wrong, but you only told them you'd explain in the morning.
One hour later after you all fell asleep again, you had the exact same nightmare, and had the exact same reaction. This time, it was harder to wake you, so Zenitsu ran to get Sekido. It took 5 minutes for them to wake you up.
You knew exactly why you kept having the same damn nightmare, but you weren't about to tell anyone about it.
You weren't interested in making anyone feel bad, at least, not these people. They have it bad enough already, they've been through so much, you don't need to add your problems to their plate.
You just need time to yourself. Once you go back, you'll act like nothing happened and leave it at that.
You open the door to the backyard and step out to then engawa.
You shiver at the cool air and close the door behind you. You slowly sat down since all that moving from earlier was making the wound on your stomach hurt. Your legs dangle off the edge as you lean forward to get a better look at the bright moon.
You don't know when the trial is going to be held, you don't know if Ubuyashiki was going to let you and Sekido live. If he decides for an execution, maybe you cause a distraction long enough for Sekido to escape. He was an asshole, but he was a nice asshole that's saved you from literal death twice.
You owe him at least this much and more.
You hear the door open behind you, but you didn't bother to see who it was. Maybe the rule 'If I can't see them, then they can't see me' will apply to this situation and they'll go away.
"It's cold out here, (Y/n). Here," Tanjiro drapes his checkered haori on your shoulders before sitting close next to you on your left, "I don't want you to get sick."
You thank him as you put your arms through the sleeves and hugged the warm article closer to your body. Sighing at the indirect comfort, you let your shoulders relax.
Tanjiro takes this time to look at you. Your eyes were bloodshot and you had dried tear stains on your cheeks. The tip of your nose was hued with a cute flush, so were your cheeks and lips.
Tanjiro can't help but think-even in times when you might think you look your worst-that you look extremely beautiful.
The moonlight wasn't strong, but the soft glow made you look delicate anyway.
Tanjiro didn't know how to tell you that it was okay to talk to him about what's troubling you. Maybe he can distract you instead.
"(Y/n)." Tanjiro's voice was barely above a whisper.
You tried to hum, but you really did a number on our throat from all your crying earlier, so it came out as a quiet squeak.
Tanjiro twists his torso to face you more comfortably, moving his right hand to your cheek. You notice movement in your peripheral vision, and turn your head to look at the redhead.
Tanjiro cups your left cheek and gently wipes at the tears stains with his thumb.
You tense up and feel your face heat up at his touch.
"You're too beautiful to cry," Tanjiro murmurs, his own face heating up at his 'bold' words.
Where is Tanjiro learning this?! Who taught him this? He's not supposed to be telling you this anyway!
You nervously look away and try to lean away, but Tanjiro was quick to cup your other cheek. His hold was still gentle when he pulled your face forward as he leaned in as well.
"Oh, hell no!"
Tanjiro yelps and immediately lets you go and leans away. His face was burning hot as embarrassment made his hands shake.
"I know you're not trying to take advantage of her when she's vulnerable, Tanjiro!" Sekido shouts.
You deadpanned at the demon, "Dude."
"No! I wa-I just-I wh-"
"-Save your excuses for someone who cares!"
Sekido marches over to the redhead and pulls him by the ear to make him stand up.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Tanjiro hisses while clutching Sekido's wrist as he movez to stand.
"(Y/n) is emotional right now, and isn't in the right head space to be making out with some pimp!"
"What?! No! I wasn't going to make out with-"
"-Can it, twerp!" Sekido leaned down to get in eye level with the 15 year old, "(Y/n) is vulnerable right now, so she's going to accept anything that will distract her mind from what's troubling her! What if she kissed you now, but later when she's feeling better, she realizes that's not what she wanted? How would you feel then?"
Oh.
Fuck.
Tanjiro really was being insensitive, wasn't he? This is the second time now that he tried to take advantage of you! Unintentional or not, it was still not okay.
Tanjiro tries to bow, but Sekido still had his hand to his ear, so Tanjiro didn't get too far with that.
"(Y/n)!"
You jump at Tanjiro's loud voice.
"I am extremely sorry for my shameful behavior! I know just an apology won't be enough, so please let me know if there is anything I can do!"
You look at Sekido for translation.
"He's sorry-"
"-I know you must've noticed my recent behavior to be... shameful as well. Because, the truth is," Tanjiro straightens up and avoids eye contact, fidgeting while Sekido is still pulling his ear, "The truth is, I really li-"
"-AAAAAHHHH! VULNERABILITY! SHE'S VULNERABLE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO CONFES-"
"-AH!" Tanjiro slaps both sides of his head before bowing as low as he can with someone pulling at his ear "I'm so sorry! I was being insensitive again! W-W-W-We'll have this talk another time when you're not vulnerable!"
You only look at Sekido and Tanjiro with confusion. What the fuck is happening?
Sekido finally lets go of Tanjiro's ear, "Just go and get some sleep, I'll talk to her."
Tanjiro frowns as he rubs his ear, not liking the feeling of being useless: "Will you tell me what's wrong when you can?"
Sekido shrugs, "If she'll tell me, and if she lets me share it with you."
Yeah, okay, that was fair.
"Okay. Goodnight, (Y/n)," Tanjiro smiles.
"'Night, Tanjiro."
Tanjiro bows slightly at Sekido before walking back inside and closing the doors behind him.
Sekido sighs and sits down on your right. You two sit in a comfortable silence for a while. You didn't want to talk about it, and Sekido respected you enough not to force it out of you.
Sekido's left hand was glowing bright, and you can see the bright, blue glow from under the sleeve of Tanjiro's haori.
Oh, you forgot to give Tanjiro his haori back. Speaking of which...
"You know," You start quietly, "I'm starting to think Tanjiro likes me."
Sekido deadpans, "Seriously? Starting to think? You can't be this fucking stupid."
"Of course I'm not!" You snap, "I knew he liked me a little after we arrived at this Estate. But whatever the hell he's got going on, it can't happen. It can't ever happen. Not with me."
"Why not? You don't like him or what?"
You shrug your shoulders slightly, "I don't know. I don't know if I like him, or if I just think I like him because he's Tanjiro... You know?"
"That didn't make any sense, but I completely understood anyway." Sekido starts to pick at his snake bite piercing, "But you said it can't happen with you. Why not? Are you gay and suddenly having heterosexual thoughts? What's going on?"
You laugh at that, "I'm pansexual. But no, that's-that's not it."
You lean your elbows on your thighs and rest your head in your palms, "I think Tanjiro was supposed to be with Kanao by the end of the manga. But I don't actually know since I never finished it. But in case it's supposed to be that way, I don't want to get in the middle of that. It's not fair to Kanao or Tanjiro."
"Oh..." Sekido mumbles, "There's something I need to tell you."
You hum for Sekido to continue.
"On my way here, I ran into Shinobu. She got pissed that I wasn't with you, but I told her you went outside and I still had to put on pants."
Your shoulders shook in quiet laughter as a grin fell on your face.
"Anyway, she told me that the meeting is going to be held later today in the morning. The Pillars are all going to be there, and we will be judged for our actions, and they will collectively decide if we should be executed or not." Sekido tells you, "If they let us live, we're going back to your world for 24 hours, and you're going to finish the manga."
"So that's why we're going back," You nod in realization.
"But," Sekido continues, "If they decide that we're to be executed, and Ubuyashiki agrees, I'm not wasting a second to send you back home."
You snap your head to Sekido, "What? No, that wasn't the deal. You said we were gonna stay here, together."
"(Y/n)-"
"-So we're gonna go through with this, together. That's what it means to be bonded like this," You pull back the sleeve to show him the glowing mark, "That's what it means to be together like this."
"I don't want you to die for a mistake I made two months ago."
"You saved my life back when (F/n)'s stupid gun dealer guy tried to kill me. Then you saved mine and Kyojuro's life from Akaza. You could've just let me die, it wouldn't have made any difference to you. You risked your life for me, Sekido." You soften your gaze and offer the demon a smile, "What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't willing to do the same?"
The demon's eyes widen at your words. Sekido can feel a warm fuzziness in his chest swell up, it almost made him go 'fuwa fuwa' out loud.
Friend.
You've only known spoken to him for less than 24 hours all together, and in those times, all you two did was bicker back and forth with each other.
Sekido admits that he never had any malicious intent behind his words, and was glad that you were able to keep up with him. You were really fun to talk to.
You saw Sekido as a friend?
Sekido exhales softly through his nose as he looks up at the night sky, the star captivating his eyes.
"I... I actually remember my life back when I was human," Sekido admits, "I was born with unnatural silver eyes and blue eyelashes."
"Ugh. Pretty boy privileges," You snicker.
Sekido shakes his head and laughs.
"Anyway. Back then, grey eyes were considered to be linked with demons, evil spirits, and ugly souls. So you can imagine how I was treated because my eyes were silver," The demon recites, "I was really lonely, and my parents abandoned me when I was really young. So I was alone almost my entire life, even more so now that I'm a demon."
Sekido looks over to you to see you already looking back at him. Listening to what he had to say.
"Then you showed up-or, I guess I showed up. For a month and a half, I was looking for you to bring you back, then the mark showed up again and I spoke with you for the first time. You are the only person who's stayed in my life for more than a day." Sekido smiles gently at you, "And you are the first friend I've had in 150 years. So..."
Sekido feels his face flush in slight embarrassment and looks away, "So, I guess, thank you. Or something... for... being my human or whatever."
"For being your human?" You hum, "Thank you for being my demon and my friend... hey... what's going on with your body? Whoah! Your eyes are glowing too!"
Sekido looks down at his arms in alarm. His face flushes hot at the sight of his skin darkening and small white marks started to litter all across his body.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." He answers quickly.
"Look!" You point at his right arm, "They're like little stars! They're connecting! Awww, your little freckle thingies are making constellations! And on your face too!"
Sekido hides his face with his hands, which didn't help since there were more stars making constellations on his arms.
"It happens when I use my Blood Demon Art or when I get emotional, okay?! Leave me alone already!" Sekido's voice was muffled through his hands.
"Awwww!" You cooed, "Are you getting emotional cause I called you my demon buddy?"
The number of stars increases and brightens: "No! Fuck off!"
"AWWWW!" You squeal as you pull Sekido into a tight side hug, "IT'S OKAY, SEKIDO! YOU CAN CRY IF YOU WANT!"
"LeaVE ME ALONEEEEE!"