"I did as I was told, I punched holes in their tickets. Please, put me to sleep quickly. Let me reunite with my dead wife and daughter again."
The conductor bowed down on the floor of one of the train cars. Tears swelling in his eyes as the train rolled by smoothly through the night.
A hand. Yes, a hand, had crawled on over towards the sickly conductor and looked over his figure as he begged to be given his dreams.
Upon the hands were numbers as well as a mouth on the back of the hand and a large eyeball just above the thumb.
"Sure thing." The hand said through its teeth. "You did a great job."
"Now sleep. And have a good dream where you can be together with your family."
And just like that, the conductors body stiffened and his own eyes grew wide. His body fell down to the ground as he then slept, and began to dream.
The hand then turned around to the sound of a voice behind it, "Ummm... what about us?"
There were five small looking children. Maybe about ten or eleven years of age. One was a girl with long braided locks and tired looking eyes. Those same eyes went for the two other boys who were together with her. Two other girls, one with black hair and one with bright and shiny blonde hair. Their eyes seeming to be sunken in from lack of sleep.
"Just wait here, and you'll get sleepier soon. The sharp witted demon hunters might wake up because they'll sense the demons and their thirst for blood. Be careful as to not touch their bodies when you get close and fasten the cord." The hand explained, "I cannot move from the locomotive for a while. Just do your best until everything is prepared. So you can have a wonderful dream."
They looked at the demon. Finally, they could have the dream they'd always wanted. A good one. Just once to have a good one. Anything.
"Okay."
- Meanwhile -
A man dressed in rather extravagant clothing. The top of him looking to be wearing a tux with some striped pants below. His hair cut to a bob below his neckline. The coral colored ends waved with the wind as two longer strands colored to a bright teal color waved along with them.
The man standing on top of the train smiled wickedly, "It doesn't matter how strong the demon hunters are. He driving force of human beings is the heart. The soul."
He held his hands forward as if waiting for the holy grail to just drop in his hands from the heavens.
"I should just destroy the 'core of the spirit'. If I do that, they'll be living corpses! All human hearts are the same. They're brittle and weak. As if made from glass.
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
The train echoed with distant clattering as everyone in the train car was fast asleep. And dreaming of what they had so desperately wanted.
☁︎︎
"Come now, Nezuko! The peaches are delicious here! And there's a lotta white clovers blossoming here too!" Zenitsu exclaimed happily as he took Nezuko's hand along with his own. Dragging her down the orchard full of peaches and other fruits both carrying smiles upon their faces.
"I'm gonna make you a flower wreath of white clovers! I'm pretty good at making them!"
"I'd love that, Zenitsu!" Nezuko exclaimed as she ran down along with him with a huge smile upon her face. She looked so precious and beautiful to him. He giggled and practically leapt up into the air. Throwing a fist up in joy.
"There's a river up this way. It's shallow, will it be alright?"
"A river?" She questioned. She stopped herself slowly as Zenitsu did the same, raising his brow up in curiosity. Her bright blossom colored eyes gazed up at him with slight worry.
"Zenitsu, I-I can't swim. What should I do?" She asked, causing him to flush a deep red.
"I'll carry you and we can jump right over! Nezuko-Chan, I promise I won't get He tips of your toes wet! Just leave it to me!"
☁︎︎
A very dark cave clouded Inosuke's vision as he had Nezuko and Y/n behind him. Both of the with small and cute little kimono's on as well as tall bunny ears.
"Explorers!!! Explorers!!! We're the cave exploring brigade!" Inosuke shouted as his voice echoed in the large cave.
"Boss! Boss!" A familiar voice boomed out through the tall, hallow cave. Two people came up. It was Tanjiro and Zenitsu, however, Inosuke gave them different names since he could remember their real names. Tanjiro looked like a raccoon-like creature and Zenitsu looked like a chipmunk?
Tanjiro came up, or... rather in Inosuke's mind, Ponjiro and Chuuistu.
"What's up Minions 1 and 2?!" Inosuke questioned.
Ponjiro came forward, "I smell the master of this cave from over there!"
"I can also hear his snores!"
"Okay!" Inosuke exclaimed raising a fist, "Here we go! It's show time!!"
"Come on Minion 3 and 4!" He yelled to you and Nezuko who sat there while watching the boar man hand over a handful of acorns to the two of you. Your eyes were dotted as you looked up at him with Nezuko.
"I'll give you two some shiny acorns!"
"Let's go!!"
☁︎︎
What... Y/n... Where— Where am I?
Tanjiro's eyes slowly opened to find himself in a forest covered in a thick white blanket of freshly fallen snow. It still continued to fall as he walked along the snow. Leaving a fresh trail of footprints behind. The cold and bitter wind bit at his rosy cheeks. He could feel the air and how cold it was. His burgundy locks flying gently with he breeze. As if dancing together.
Another gust of wind flew by, causing Tanjiro to heighten his senses. His eyes widened and he gripped the handle of his sword. Looking around as if waiting for something. He felt like he was sensing something, but he wasn't sure what it was.
He drew his blade and looked up and down and left and right for something. He had a bad feeling, but at the same time, he wasn't even sure if it really was a bad feeling.
He heard footsteps behind his figure and snapped around,
"Ah!! Ni-chan! Your back!" "Did you sell the charcoal?"
This... no... it couldn't be! H-How—!? Oh my god...
Tanjiro dropped his sword down and looked with wide stricken eyes. His siblings. Hanako and Suigeru. They carried smiles on their faces. Such beautiful smiles. He missed those smiles so much. It was like seeing the sun rising after a huge storm. Their eyes gleamed like a bright light at the end of tunnel of darkness.
He shook in his spot as he wanted to move. He had to move. Towards them. They were right there. Right there. Just move. Move! Move!!
He took one step forward, and then another, and another, one after the other, until he broke into a full on sprint towards the two.
He leapt towards them and pulled them down into the snow as they let out small yelps. Hanako and Shigeru looked at their brother in worry and confusion.
"Nee-chan?"
The next thing they heard were the loud wails escaping Tanjiro. Salty tears falling down his face. He wailed in pain and guilt.
"I'm sorry! I'm so very sorry!! Aaaaah!! Aaaaaaaaaaah!!" He wailed and cried.
He was sorry. So very sorry. For not being there to help them. To save them.
☁︎︎
It was dark.
And it was cold.
Your body was cold.
You couldn't see.
So you opened your eyes and found yourself lying in a thick layer of pristine white snow.
Snow?
You raised your eyebrows as you sat up. Dusting off the remaining clumps of snow off your body. As you dusted the snow off your clothing, you looked around to see yourself in a large forest that was covered in a blanket of white. The snow fell gracefully down to join the rest of its family on the cold ground below.
You stood up and looked around cautiously and your head piled one question on top of another.
Where am I? Wasn't I on the train? Am I dreaming? No... this is too real to be a dream...
You continued to walk, brushing your fingers along the bark of the trees that reached up to at least two stories.
The snow fell into your (h/l) (h/c) locks. The clouds up in the sky rolled by slowly and calmly. Hey covered the sun as a few of their rays reflected down and onto the small snowflakes in your hair. They glittered like the stars on a clear night.
You continued to walk as you spotted something running towards you. You quickly grabbed onto your blade and unsheathed it. Awaiting for what it was that had yet to come.
But as it neared closer and closer, you noticed it wasn't a demon at all.
No.
It was a little lamb. It's hooves pierced the snow like a horse trotting through. The little lamb stopped for a moment, looking at you and just standing there.
All you could do was do the same. Raising a brow in questioning.
Then, the little lamb didn't see you as a threat and trotted over to your figure.
It brushed up against your leg and nuzzled it's head into your calf's. You reluctantly ran a hand through the little lambs wool coat on top of its head.
You didn't even noticed the distant yells that rang though the silent forest.
"Sissy!"
Your head snapped in the direction of the yell.
That voice...
"Hey! You found him!"
Your eyes widened in disbelief at the person who stood just a few feet away from you. Your heart beat quickened. Your breathing becoming irregular. Tears threatening to fall from your face as you looked upon the face you had so desperately wished to see.
"Hiroto..." you said under your breath. He couldn't hear you say his name.
You took a step forward.
"Hiroto—" You said his name again in a whisper as your voice cracked slightly.
"Sissy what's wrong?" He asked in worry.
His voice was like a heavenly melody you had only just heard for the first time in your life.
He then ran over to you, catching you off guard, and leaping out to you. Wrapping his arms around you like a bear hug.
You fell back in the snow and laid there for a second which seemed to be like hours. Your (h/l) hair sprawled out all over. You couldn't believe your eyes. He was here. You could see him. Feel him.
Your ear made contact with his chest as you could hear his heart beat. His slow breathing.
Your eyes beginning to water.
He's really here. It's really him. My god...!
1:01 for vid
You choked out a sob before you cried louder and louder.
Your cries eventually turning into wails of guilt and pain. Tears fells from your face like no end. You clutched your little brother to your body tightly. Afraid of letting go and loosing him once more.
Your wails rang through the forest. Breaking the silence of it.
He was here.
Hiroto was here.
┌───͙⊱••✩••̩̩͙⊰•───┐
Just as they had all been dreaming without even knowing, the five people who were with the talking hand earlier, came out to see everyone was asleep. Even the ones in which they had been informed about.
Zenitsu looked like he was having the best dream of his life. Inosuke acting the same way. Rengoku still looked the same. You and Tanjiro they both noticed, were shedding tears in your sleep. They dropped freely down your uniforms as they saw you still holding hands together.
"Two demon slayers together?" One of them asked as they tied a rope to the boar man.
"Guess so."
"So we fasten the the arms with these ropes?" One of the girls asked. Looking towards the others for answers.
"Yeah, don't forget about he warning he gave."
He tied off the last one onto Zenitsu's wrist.
The five of them sat down in their seats and closed their eyes.
Just breathe deeply and count some numbers. One of them thought. Squeezing their eyes shut. If you do, then you'll fall asleep.
He began to count in his head.
One...
Two...
He began to feel it working. As his body became more and more relaxed.
Four...
Five...
Six...
Sev...
☁︎︎
"We were surprised to see Ni-chan crying!" Hanako exclaimed with a goofy smile across her face.
"He's weird! Haha!" Takeo chuckled.
Awhile after their reunion had come to an end. His siblings took him in and did whatever they normally did.
Kie, Tanjiro's mother, looked at her eldest son who sat just across from her.
"Well... you might just be tired Tanjiro. Just rest today and don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Tanjiro looked at his mother. "Mom! You're over exaggerating! I'm perfectly fine!"
"Are you sure honey?"
"Yeah," He smiled up at his mom with his bright burgundy eyes. "It felt like I was having a bad dream. But some of it wasn't bad... some of it was— good."
"Oh! Like what?" Kie asked with curiosity.
"Well, umm..." Tanjiro took his right hand and rubbed the back of his neck embarrassingly. Already feeling the heat creep up his cheeks.
"Wait a minute!" Takeo came in as he looked over Tanjiro, who was raising a brow in question at his words.
"I've never seen Nee-chan with that kind of face! But I know exactly what kind of face it is!"
"What?!" Shigeru came in, eager to know what his older brother was about to say next.
Takeo smirked and crossed his arms, "Nee-chan is in love~!"
Shingeru and Hanako grew wide eyes and smiled brightly. Tanjiro groaned and tried to hide his burning face in his hands.
"Oh my gosh he is!" Hanako came in pointing.
"Who is it?! I have to know!" Hanako jumped forward over her shocked mother's shoulder.
"Yes tell us!" Shigeru came in again. Sitting on the floor next to Kie.
All Tanjiro could do was whine under his hands. His face was burning so badly right now, his cheeks alone could probably put the sun to shame.
"U-Ummm, well... it was, someone I met while selling the charcoal."
"Okay~ and?"
"She was very very sweet and kind."
Hanako, Takeo, and Shigeru erupted in 'awwws'.
"What's her name?"
"Y/n... Y/n L/n."
Hanako gasped, "Thats such a pretty name!"
Takeo and Shigeru were saying their 'ooohs' and 'awwws' to tease him. When he looked at his mom however, he noticed she looked slightly shocked.
"So you've actually met her?"
He then remembered. The nightmare. You. You mentioned something about knowing his father. Maybe... maybe his mom did too!
"Yes."
"Well, since you have, why don't we pay her a visit." Kie stated, standing up from her spot and walking in the opposite direction.
"Wait, you know her mom?"
Kie nodded her head back at Hanako.
"Yes, dear. We haven't seen them in years. So I think it's time you meet an old friend of your father's."
The four siblings exchanged looked of curiousness and confusion.
Kie walked over and grabbed a pair of boots meant for the winter and looked at her young children.
"Well what are you waiting for? Get your shoes on sillies!" Kie laughed.
"Okay!"