44 (edited)
Tanjiro held your hand tightly, eyes glossy with tears.
"Y/N... don't die on us, please..."
You just blinked at him, expression blank.
'Why did you do that?!'
Yoriichi's voice rang in your head.
'Sorry not sorry. I couldn't let Kyojuro die!'
'Whatever...'
'Wow, never knew you could get mad, Yorii.'
He went silent for a second, then sighed.
'This time you'll survive... But next time, you'll die. I'm warning you, Y/N.'
'Yeah, yeah, got it. Don't worry about me.'
Just then, Kyojuro leaned in, his voice low but firm.
"If you survive this... then you're going on a date with me. That's an order."
He didn't blink. He didn't flinch but he did tear up when he thought about you dying
You blinked back at him, stunned for 0.2 seconds.
"I thought you'd never ask!!"
"Did you two forget that we're literally right here?" Tanjiro deadpanned.
"I did," you admitted, glancing at Kyojuro, "Not sure about him though-"
"Y/NNNNN, PLEASE STAY ALIVE!! I DON'T WANNA BE ALONE WITH THESE MFS!!!"
Zenitsu sobbed dramatically, clutching your blanket like a toddler.
You sighed and muttered, "Dumb bitch," under your breath.
Then, with a long yawn, you lay back down and snuggled into Tanjiro's lap like a cat.
"I'll just take a quick nap..."
"EH?! Y/N!! WAKE UP!!" Zenitsu screamed, but your soft snores were already echoing through the wreckage.
The next day...
"Ugh... someone close the curtains..."
Yep. That was the first thing out of your mouth when you woke up.
You squinted at the ceiling, shielding your eyes from the sunlight.
"Mhm? Who's here?"
Before you even sat up, Zenitsu flung himself onto your bed like a flying squirrel.
"Y/N!! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!!! YOU WERE OUT FOR A WHOLE WEEK!! WAHHH!!"
"CALM DOWN, BOZO!! I JUST WOKE UP!!"
You shoved him off you.
"WAHHHHHH!!" He kept crying from the floor.
The door slammed open.
"WHAT'S GOING ON IN HERE?!"
Aoi entered like a storm-and then gasped.
"Y/N!! YOU'RE AWAKE!!"
"Stop screaming... ughh..." you groaned.
Aoi ran out to tell Shinobu, and soon after, Tanjiro and Inosuke burst into the room.
Both tackled you in a group hug so intense, you couldn't even breathe.
"I can't... bReAthE-" you choked.
"Y/N!! WE WERE WORRIED SICK!!" Tanjiro sobbed.
"M/p/n, don't leave me like this again," Inosuke mumbled, trying to hide the way he wiped his eyes under his boar mask.
"Ara Ara..." Shinobu stepped in, smiling in her terrifying way.
"Alright, everyone OUT. Y/N-chan needs rest."
"I-But-You-" Tanjiro stammered.
"Out."
"Fine... we'll see you later, Y/N!" the three boys said in sync, shuffling away like scolded puppies.
Shinobu turned to you and smiled more gently.
"Well, how are you feeling?"
"Like shit. Feels like there's a Sahara in my mouth..."
She poured you a glass of water and handed it to you.
"Here."
"Thanks."
You chugged it down like you hadn't seen water in 84 years.
"We were all worried sick about you, Y/N..."
"Yeah, yeah," you mumbled, covering your mouth to hide a laugh.
"Oh, and you have a lot of visitors! They even brought gifts."
"Huh? Where?"
She pointed to a small table near your bed, stacked with boxes and flowers.
"Oh. Didn't notice that."
"If you need anything, call Aoi and she'll let me know. I'm glad you're safe, Y/N."
With that, she gave you a soft nod and left the room.
You laid back and stared at the ceiling, slowly lifting your shirt to peek at your stomach.
"Huh?? Where's the hole-"
"In my pocket."
You flinched and looked up to see Yoriichi materializing next to your bed.
"You scared me!!"
"Yes, I already know that, dear."
He gave a small, sad smile.
"Glad you made it out alive."
"Yeah... I can't believe I survived that..."
Knock Knock Knock
You turned toward the door.
"Mhm? Who's there?"
Yoriichi sighed and slowly faded from view.
"Well... I'll see you later."
And just like that, he was gone again.
Akaza's POV
Blood.
His hand was covered in it. Warm. Sticky. Human.
Her blood.
He stared in disbelief as the girl staggered backward, a gaping wound in her stomach where his fist had torn through.
She had pushed Rengoku out of the way. She had taken the hit that wasn't meant for her.
"I-"
The words wouldn't leave his throat.
She dropped to her knees, breath shaky, eyes wide. Yet she still glared at him. Still stood tall in her own way, even while falling.
The scent of her blood was overwhelming. He'd smelled so many humans before-fearful, trembling, pitiful creatures-but this... this scent was full of resolve. Will. Sacrifice.
Akaza looked at his hand. Then back at her.
Then his hand again.
Why?
Why couldn't he move?
Why did it feel like he was the one who had been wounded?
She wasn't even a Hashira. She was nothing special. And yet-
She looked me in the eyes.
Even now, collapsing into the arms of the crying boy, she wasn't afraid.
She was annoying. Loud. Chaotic.
The sunlight began to creep over the trees. His pupils contracted sharply.
No time.
He took a step back. One more glance.
Her body slumped. Rengoku yelling her name. The boy-Tanjiro-clutching her like his life depended on it.
For the first time in centuries, Akaza hesitated.
He clenched his fists.
I never hit women.
And now he had.
Was this... regret?
He turned away with a snarl, vanishing into the shadows before the sun could touch his skin.
The Flame Hashira knelt beside her, gripping her hand.
The girl had done what no one else dared.
She got in the way of his attack
End of chapter
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