Tanjiro had just finished putting on his checkered haori. He tied his Nichirin sword to the hilt of his uniform. Feeling satisfied with having everything, he took a deep breath.
It'll be okay. Everyone will be okay.
"Tanjiro?" That familiar sweet voice echoed through his ear drums. Just hearing his name called out by that voice made his heart soar.
"Can I come in?" You called from outside of the changing area that you guys had found thankfully.
"Yeah."
You walked in and you saw him now in his demon slayer uniform. You had already put yours on and felt ready more than anything. But as you looked at him, he seemed odd. You could tell by the way he was sorta looking away and his eyes seemed to look different. But you couldn't quite place it. This had begun to worry you.
"Tanjiro?" You asked. He looked at you and he saw just how worried you looked for him.
"What's wrong?"
He wanted to cry. Why cry though? He was going to face another demon. And everyone would make it alive. But this time... this time was different. Thoughts had been racing through him mind like a tape recorder playing on repeat. Ever since night had fallen, he's had this uncertain feeling. And it was definitely new to him. Usually he was determined and ready to fight. But this time? He was actually scared. A feeling deep in his gut was telling him that this fight would be bad news. Something just wasn't going to go right. And he was scared.
And that feeling was directed more towards you. The feeling grew stronger in his gut by every passing minute. He tried to ignore it, but he couldn't. He just couldn't.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." He plainly stated as he grabbed a few more things.
"You know you can talk to me, right?"
He remained silent. This was not normal. Not that you've seen anyway.
"Tanjiro."
He still kept silent.
"Tanjiro!" Your palms gently but quickly cupped his cheeks and made it so his eyes could meet yours. He was surprised at first, but as he looked into your shining (e/c) orbs, his heart stopped. Seeing you this way. Worry clouding your soul. His lips quivered. His eyes becoming glossy. Emotions swarming inside him like a huge flood washing into a city.
His gaze averted to the side for a moment. Your warm palms feeling so wonderful against his cheeks. Your kind nature making his body heat up like the sun. Your beauty making him want to fall down to his knees.
"Talk to me, please." You begged as you rubbed your thumb against his cheek soothingly. His eyes came back to yours. He couldn't hold it in anymore. He knew he was acting weird. But he just couldn't hold it in anymore.
He wrapped his arms around you tightly into an embrace. He dug his face into your right shoulder as he sobbed into it. This caused you to be slightly flabbergasted. Why was he crying all of a sudden?
You hugged him back so he could feel as much comfort as he could. He wasn't feeling great right now. So you wanted to give him as much love as you possibly could for him. Whatever it was, you hoped it would go away. You didn't like seeing him like this.
"I-I'm s-so sorry, Y-Y/N." He stuttered out. You rubbed the back of his head and ran your fingers through his burgundy locks.
"It's okay... I'm here, Tanjiro. Shhh shhh." You soothed him as you continued to comfort him the best way possible. You were still confused. Why was he crying? Did something happen that you weren't aware about?
"Can you tell me what's wrong?"
He sniffed a few times before looking back at you with tears eyes. This sight broke your heart. You hated seeing him like this. Looking so heartbroken.
"It's just— I-I've had this feeling in my gut, and I..." He paused. Taking in some deep breaths. You put your hand upon his cheek once more and leaned your forehead onto his.
"It's okay Tanjiro. Take your time."
"I h-have a bad feeling about the mission... and I don't *sniff* want to l-lose you."
"Hey hey... look at me." He did as you asked and you he gazed into your (e/c) eyes.
"You won't lose me. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. I will always be here with you. I promise you... we will all live. We will make it through this. Just like every other demon we've faced."
A barely noticeable grin curved onto his lips. Hearing that made him feel slightly better. But, the feeling still remained. Should he tell you? What he's always wanted to tell you? Would now be a good time? Maybe... maybe he could try and tell you know. Before everything happens. He just wants to know... if you feel the same way about him.
"Y-Y/N—" You made him pause as you placed a finger upon his lips. Making him stop talking. He looked back at you and saw a sad grin form upon your face.
"Whatever you want to tell me... you can tell me after our mission, okay? We will make it. I promise."
Those two words. You promised to him right now. You promised you would stay alive. And he believed you. For you never lie. But you can't always promise things. But the certain feeling had started to go away slightly.
"O-Okay."
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
"Have you found anything yet?" Zenitsu questioned as he held his hand over the handle of his Nichirin sword. He was acting surprisingly calm. This was pretty new to you.
"Find the demon yet?!" Out of no where, Inosuke popped up in between you and Zenitsu, causing the blonde to screech loudly.
"INOSUKE! DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!"
Never mind... guess he's back to normal.
"Guys be quiet please!" Tanjiro yelled back in a whisper. He shifted his gaze to look over at you.
"Anything?"
You pulled out a small section of your sword and saw that your blade was still not glowing at all. You sheathed it back and shook your head no with dissatisfaction. He nodded back in response.
"Shouldn't the demon have already shown up? I wanna kick some ass!" Exclaimed Insouke as he drew his blades, being loud yet again. You rolled your eyes.
"I don't know. Don't you think the demon would've tried to come after us by now? I think it's odd."
"Maybe its w-watching us!" Said Zenitsu as he cowered with fear.
"If it were watching us, Zenitsu, my sword would be glowing right now. And Tanjiro would've smelled it by now."
"Maybe it's their blood demon art?" Tanjiro questioned. Trying to think of why the demon had not appeared yet.
"Well, we know that the demon is definitely somewhere. It could be hiding. Then again, I rememb—" You stopped mid sentence and looked down with widened eyes.
"What? What Y/N what is it?" Tanjiro asked. Your head snapped back up to meet his eyes.
"Do you remember how when we were trying to find Yui's parents?"
He nodded his head. Recalling going around and asking others about the girl.
"That woman mentioned something about young kids missing... so if the demon isn't here... it must be—"
"Near the orphanage." You finished. Tanjiro's eyes widened.
"Yui!"
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You ran as fast as your legs could carry you. You were all panting loudly. Lungs and legs aching. But you didn't stop. You couldn't stop. Yui was at the orphanage. If the demon isn't here, then it could be around the orphanage. You weren't going to let a demon have its way with many innocent children.
Run... run! You need to help them! You have to help them!
As you were running you pulled a small bit of your sword out and noticed it was beginning to slightly glow as you ran in the direction of the orphanage. Dammit! You hoped you weren't too late.
After what seemed like endless hours of running (which was only ten minutes), you finally reached outside of the orphanage. The large familiar sign hanging in the front. You all ran up to the front door in which still looked the same the last time you were here. You went and knocked on the door, but as you knocked, the door opened by itself with a loud creak.
Inside, you could see many of the furniture was overturned and some plants inside were knocked down. There were two woman and a man that laid lifeless on the ground, in a pool of their own blood. The man's arm was ripped off. The women still looked in tact but suffered the same demise as the man. Your eyes were wide with horror at this sight. You walked in cautiously but stopped for a moment. A horrible stench filled your nostrils as you instinctively coughed and covered your nose with your hand. The others did the same thing.
"This scent is so horrid it's hard to breathe." stated Tanjiro as he coughed into his haori.
"I agree with Tanjiro, this is really bad." Zenitsu came in.
"I've smelled a lot of things... but this ain't fucking one of 'em!" Inosuke gagged. You could hear the flies buzzing around as you walked past the dead bodies. How come no one in town has heard the possible commotion. Then again, you and the others didn't hear it either. You made it to the stairwell and noticed a sign with an arrow pointing upwards as it read; "Children's bedrooms."
You waved for your friends to follow behind you as you held the handle of your sword tightly. Reaching the top of the stairs, you cautiously walked down the short hallway. There was a large double door at the end that was slightly opened. But not opened enough so you could see. Although a small amount of light seeped through the small door crack. You and the others slowly approached the door with your guard fully up.
You took your hand and grabbed the handle of the door. You looked back at the three who had already drew their swords. You nodded your head towards them as if asking if they were ready. They gestured back with a nod. Taking a deep breath, you whipped the door open and drew your sword. However, what you saw next, made you gasp aloud.
You were indeed in the children's room. A large window with curtains flowing with the night breeze. The moon shining down bring light to the room... showing just how many children that were dead on the floor.
Young children. So many different ages. At least two to ten year olds laid lifeless on the ground. Some had missing limbs. Some had missing eyes. Others had their insides ripped open. But blood. Blood was everywhere. On the beds, the walls, the ceiling, the floor, the curtains, the lights, everywhere.
You clasped a hand over your mouth and dropped your sword and it echoed with a loud 'klang' noise as your loud and shaky breaths echoed through the room. You started to hyperventilate. Tears streaming down your face. These children were so young. Had a life ahead of them. And it was taken away. By a relentless demon.
You fell to your knees. Your heart searing with pain. You held your other hand over your heart as you clenched the uniform material into your fist. How could a whole demon go as far as to kill all of these innocent children? It's a demon. That's why.
"Oh my god..." said Zenitsu as he looked around completely horrified.
"...this demon is going to pay." Inosuke muttered as he held his blades tighter to the point where his knuckles were turning white.
Out of nowhere, a loud scream echoed, you and your friends snapped your heads up and noticed it came from outside. You picked yourself up and ran out by the door showing a balcony that overlooked a large lake that glistened in the moonlight. It was a rather beautiful sight to see, but your thoughts were interrupted by hearing an odd noise coming from below you. You looked down the hill and saw a dock that was upon the lake, and on it was a young girl close to the edge of the dock and a rather large figure moving closer and closer.
"YUI!" Tanjiro shouted as he gripped the railing.
The young girl looked up towards the familiar voice and noticed the kind people that took care of her during the festival.
"D-Daddy?! Mommy?!" She cried out with a slight hint of relief in her voice. The creature in front of her growled and approached closer. She was coming close to almost falling off the deck.
"HANG IN THERE YUI!" You yelled out as you and the others scurried down towards the dock. Yui waited for them. They were coming. Help had come. She wanted to cry tears of joy.
Her head snapped back up at the strange creature. However she knew exactly what it was. She watched it devour the entire orphanage right in front of her.
A demon.
Yui then noticed your figures coming down from the hill. You raced over and stopped at the start of the dock and looked at the large demon that was in front of Yui. You drew your sword which made a loud 'shing' noise that echoed and pointed your blade at the demon. It turned around and faced the four of you.
Your eyes widened. Your heart pounding through your ears. Blood running cold. This demon...
"Well well well... what do we have here~?" The demon grew a huge smirk.
"Y-You... Y-You're the—" you couldn't even speak. This demon. You knew exactly who this demon was. How? How did he end up all the way here? Almost across half the country. How? Of all demons. How? How?!
"Well hello, darling. Guess I got to see you again after all."
This demon.
He was the one who harassed you back at home. Before your parents were murdered. When Tanjiro saved you from him that one day and the first time you met.
"Wait you know this demon??" Zenitsu asked.
"Who cares!" Inosuke started as he drew his swords. "Let's kill this poor excuse of a demon!"
"Ahhh... don't get all cocky with me now, demon slayer." The demon chuckled. He then looked you over. He licked his bottom lip and smirked showing his pointed teeth.
"Damn, your even more beautiful now. How longs' it been? Two? Maybe three years now since we last met?" He asked looking you up and down. You gulped slightly. The hairs on your neck standing up straight. Your hands shaking. Lips quivering. He looked slightly different now. His skin was slightly paler. A small horn was on the right side of his forehead. His eyes were now a red color. His eyes.
"Tanjiro," You whispered. "He's one of the twelve Kizuki. Lower Five it looks like."
Tanjiro nodded back slightly but you noticed.
"Leave Yui alone." You said. The demon laughed.
"But she's so young and adorable. Probably tastes' delicious." He turned his head slightly to look at Yui who was quivering with fear. She didn't know what to do. The demon then looked back at you. And you could see his eyes were filled with bloodthirst and lust.
"But you probably taste even better~" His voiced trailed off. He licked his lips again.
Tanjiro was fuming right now. Just who does this demon think he is? Thinking of you like that. Disgusting! The grip on his sword increased within every second.
Suddenly, without even getting the chance to process what had just happened, he noticed Y/N had vanished. And her sword dropped onto the dock. He looked down and looked at your sword that was glowing a bright purple. His eyes widened. He heard a sound and snapped his head back up and his breath left his lungs.
There you were. The demon had you in his grip. The same way he did when Tanjiro first saw you. You gripped onto the demon's arm as his grip tightened. You took in large breaths while shaking at the same time.
He was suffocating you.
"Give her back." Tanjiro said. "I SAID GIVE HER BACK!" He yelled back, causing the demon to chuckle deeply.
"You have two choices. And only the mighty demon slayer with hanafuda earrings shall decide." Out of no where, the demon then grabbed Yui by the neck and held her over the side of the dock. She yelped loudly and tried to pry his hand away from her neck. She kicked her legs trying to get out of his grasp.
"LET THEM GO!" Tanjiro shouted.
"NO! YOU DECIDE ON WHO YOU TAKE WITH YOU! EITHER THIS CHILD," he started as he gripped her neck even more. Yui began to sob uncontrollably. "Or... have Y/N back... actually," he started. He looked to be thinking for a second before smirking again.
He then took Yui and put her on the dock. He pushed her forward as Yui ran into Tanjiro's arms. He hugged her tightly. Although it wasn't for long. He told her to get behind Zenitsu, himself, and Inosuke.
"You can have the child back. I have something even better. Let's have some fun." He whispered into your ear seductively. He then ran down the dock with you in his grasp. You screamed at the top of your lungs before the demon jumped into the water with a loud splash. The air bubbles piling back up to the surface.
"No... no... no. No. No! No! NO! NO! GIVE HER BACK YOU BASTARD!" Tanjiro screamed. He then threw off his haori and ran down along the dock towards the end.
"Tanjiro! What are you doing?!" Zenitsu called out, although it didn't help.
Tanjiro dove straight into the water. He had to get you back.
You were his light.
His life.
His love.
His everything.
He swam like his life depended on it. Swimming as fast as he could. He looked everywhere he could. Although nothing showed up. It was completely dark. He couldn't smell otherwise water would fill his lungs and he'd drown.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed a dark spot in the distance. He swam deeper towards the spot. As he got closer, that figure, was you. You were floating like a lifeless corpse. No air bubbles left your body. Your lungs had lost all its air. He swam as fast as he could to you. When he did, he reached out to you and grabbed you and pulled you up. He was beginning to run out of air.
Am I going to make it? My lungs hurt so bad they feel like their on fire! I have to push myself. Past my limits. I have to save her!
He then reached the surface. He whipped his head up and gasped for air. A few coughs escaped his lips. Panting heavily as he pulled you up. Although you did not wake up.
"Daddy! Mommy!" Yui cried out as she was at the very edge of the dock. Tanjiro swam while pulling you with him to the shore. He was still trying catch his breath while pulling you. He came to shore and began to pull you out. Zenitsu and Inosuke came over and helped pull you out onto the shore. You were soaked to the bone. A couple of hairs stuck to the sides of your face. Your hair soaking wet. Your uniform soaked as well as it stuck to your body.
"Y/N! Y/N can you hear me?!" Tanjiro asked loudly.
No response.
"Tanjiro..." Zenitsu came in. He averted his burgundy eyes to look at the amber eyed boy. "I can't hear her heart beat. And her lungs are filled with water. I can't hear it."
No... no no no... it's not possible... she's not.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Yui called as she came over to your limp body on the ground.
Tanjiro wasted no time and began to perform CPR. He blew breaths into your mouth and began to do chest compressions.
"Come on. Come on!" He cried out. Tears beginning to form at the brim of his eyes.
You promised me... you promised me you'd stay alive. I know you're there. I know you are! Fight! Come back to us! Come back to me! Please!
He kept on going and going. His arms were beginning to hurt. But he didn't care. Yui was crying. She wanted you to live. She got to see you again. You were everything to her. You were the best person to her in years. Even if she had just met you today, she felt connected to you. And she saw you as family. And more of a family than her life at the orphanage.
"Y/N PLEASE! PLEASE! COME BACK!! WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP!" He begged. He needed you. If you were to go, he would've regretted not telling you. Telling you how he really felt about you. He wanted to tell you. You needed to live. He couldn't live without you. Like how everyone breaths oxygen. You were his oxygen. You were everything to them. You were everything to him. You are his everything.
"Tanjiro!" Exclaimed Zenitsu as he held a hand out and put another hand to his ear.
"Her heart! It's beating! I hear it!"
Tanjiro snapped his gaze down at you and looked at your face. He took your hand in his.
"Please." He pleaded. His lips quivering.
Wake up. Please wake up. Fight it. For them. For Yui. For me.
Your body then jolted slightly and you gagged water out of your mouth. You turned to your side and coughed out the liquid trapped in your lungs. You inhaled shaky breaths as you grasped for air. Grasped to your life. You were thrown into a coughing fit mixed with heavy pants.
When your lungs were now satisfied, you lifted your head up slightly to see Inosuke, Zenitsu, Tanjiro, and Yui. You blinked a few times trying to adjust your vision to the surroundings.
"Y/N!" You blinked your eyes a couple times and saw Tanjiro. The moon was behind him creating a glow effect on him. His hair was soaking wet as tiny droplets fell down from his hair and down his jaw line. His eyes were watering as his hand was clasped over his mouth, muffling his sobs. His heart leaped with joy. You were alive. You were here.
"Oh my god!" He exclaimed with relief as he cupped your cheek with his free hand, rubbing his thumb against your soft skin and held your hand in his.
"Y-You were dead..! Your heart s-stopped!" He stuttered while crying at the same time.
You gave him a manageable grin while talking breathlessly, "It's okay... it's working now."
He leaned his forehead against yours as he cried happily. Tears of joy streamed down his face. The palm he was using to cup your cheek also ran through your wet hair in a soothing manner.
"Do you want to stand?" He asked. You nodded your head as he then helped you up. As soon as you stood up, he threw his arms around you. His whole body was noticeably shaking like a loose leaf. You embraced him back and his body seemed to calm down slightly as he cried into your shoulder.
A small grin formed onto your face, "It's okay Tanjiro. I told you, I'll always be here,"
"Thank you."