74
Tanjiro stirred awake at the sound of your screaming.
"Y-Y/N? Is something wrong?"
His voice was thick with sleep, eyes half-lidded and blinking in confusion, tufts of his hair sticking up adorably.
You reached over and gently patted his head like a tired golden retriever.
"Nah, Tanjiro. Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Just go back to sleep, sweetheart."
He blinked at you, brow furrowed like he wanted to say more.
But your voice was so calm, and your hand so soft in his hair, he just... sighed.
"Okay..."
With a skeptical glance and a tiny frown, he slowly drifted back to sleep, still looking mildly concerned.
You sat there in the dim moonlight, arms crossed and muttering under your breath.
"...I swear if Yoriichi shows up in my dream again, I'm drop-kicking him into the sun."
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘
Warm sunlight peeked through the shoji doors, casting golden rays across your face. You squinted and slowly opened your eyes, blinking away the sleep.
Your gaze met soft, red eyes staring right back at you.
"...Tanjiro. Really? Again?" you groaned, your voice raspy from sleep.
He immediately panicked, cheeks blooming red as he looked away like he'd been caught stealing cookies.
"S-Sorry... I didn’t mean to—I was just—" he mumbled, eyes cast downward.
You let out a sleepy snort.
"Pfft. I’m kidding. Stop sulking, you little cinnamon roll."
Your voice was brighter now, and Tanjiro relaxed just a bit, peeking up through his lashes.
"O-Oh...!" he blinked, a soft smile forming. "Well... we should probably get ready to go to the Swordsmith Village."
You stretched dramatically, arms overhead as you yawned.
"Yes, yes, the village of sweaty blacksmiths and suspicious hot springs. Let’s do this I guess.. "
After getting ready, you and Tanjiro stepped out of the Butterfly Mansion. The sun was already up, too bright for your taste, and the fresh morning air felt unfairly energetic.
Behind you, Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo followed with cheerful waves, fussing over your sleeves and brushing imaginary dust off Tanjiro’s haori. You let it happen.
Waiting outside the gate were two people in Kakushi uniforms. A boy and a girl, both masked, their faces hidden under white fabric.
"Hello. Nice to meet you," the boy said. His voice was calm, practiced. "As the Master has granted approval, my colleague and I will be guiding you to the Swordsmith Village."
"Nice to meet you!" you and Tanjiro chimed in together, almost too perfectly timed.
"I'm Kamado Tanjiro," he added with a warm smile. "And this is Y/N. Thank you for taking care of us."
You gave a small wave. "And thanks for not being secretly demons. Love that for us."
A short silence followed. The girl Kakushi tilted her head, probably trying to figure out if you were joking.
Tanjiro glanced at you, half-laughing. "She’s kidding. Mostly."
"Now please put these on," the girl said, handing you and Tanjiro a pair of earplugs and blindfolds.
"These are for your safety," she added. "Since the village is hidden, only the Hashira are allowed to know its location."
She then turned to Tanjiro, who was already inspecting the earplugs with confusion. Without hesitation, she stuffed them into his nose.
"You're known for having a strong sense of smell. So... this’ll help with that," she said casually.
Tanjiro blinked, flustered. "Uh... that makes sense, I guess?"
You were trying not to laugh as you slid your own blindfold on. Just as you finished, the boy stepped in front of you, dramatically kneeling.
"Please, get on my back, milady," he said, his voice suspiciously flirtatious.
Tanjiro stiffened.
"Uh... Y/N, maybe... maybe go with the girl? It'll be more comfortable that way. You know, smaller build and all," he added quickly, not quite looking at you.
You shot him a teasing look and mouthed a silent "thank you" before hopping onto the girl’s back.
She didn’t react much. The boy, on the other hand, sighed dramatically.
On the way...
The journey felt strange. The world around you was muffled by the earplugs, and the blindfold only let in vague blurs of light. You could feel wind brushing past your skin, the rhythmic motion of footsteps beneath you, but no real sense of direction and you quickly took off your earplugs.
"So you two aren’t coming all the way with us?" Tanjiro asked.
"No," the boy replied. "There will be a relay of Kakushi. Every time we reach a checkpoint, we’ll pass you off to the next group. That way, no one not even us knows the full path."
You hummed. "That’s... actually kinda smart."
The girl adjusted her grip on your legs slightly. "It’s protocol. One slip-up could put the whole village at risk."
You leaned your head against her shoulder. "Y’all take secrecy seriously. Got it. But uh... please don’t drop me. I bruise like a peach."
"Noted," she said flatly.
Tanjiro’s voice came again. "Y/N, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I’m good," you called back. "I trust this random masked stranger with my life."
"...That doesn’t make me feel better," Tanjiro muttered.
You grinned into the fabric of your blindfold. "Didn’t think it would."
Soon enough, you and Tanjiro finally arrived at the Swordsmith Village.
"Woah... these buildings are amazing," Tanjiro murmured, eyes wide as he took in the scenery.
"That's what everyone says the first time," the Kakushi girl replied with a smile, adjusting her mask as she stepped aside.
"This place looks even better than it did in the manga..." you muttered under your breath, half in awe, half in disbelief.
The girl let out a small laugh. "Well, this is where I leave you two. Good luck!"
Tanjiro turned to her and bowed quickly. "Thank you so much for everything!"
"Tanjiro, you dumbass! You're too loud!" you hissed, smacking the back of his head.
"Ow—sorry! I just wanted to be polite," he winced, rubbing the spot you hit.
The girl chuckled and waved before vanishing into one of the side paths.
As the quiet settled over the village, you and Tanjiro stood in the middle of a cobblestone street surrounded by colorful rooftops and lanterns swaying gently in the breeze.
"...Now what?" you asked, spinning slowly to take it all in.
"I think we're supposed to meet someone here," Tanjiro said, squinting ahead. "The swordsmiths are kind of... hidden, right?"
Before you could respond, a figure rounded the corner a short, cloaked man with wild black hair and a giant mask that looked like it belonged in a festival.
"You must be Kamado Tanjiro and Y/N," he said, voice muffled under the mask. "Follow me."
"...Do they always dress like this?" you whispered.
"Yeah," Tanjiro whispered back, then added with a grin, "It's kinda cool though, right?"
"Debatable," you said, but followed anyway.
"What a fine boy and girl... "Tecchin hummed. "Come here."
You both sat upright again as he looked at you closely, rocking slightly where he sat. His voice turned more serious. "So then, why have you come here? We don’t get many visitors unless something’s wrong."
Tanjiro straightened his back. "I came to see Haganezuka-san. I was hoping to get my sword repaired."
"Hmm." Tecchin crossed his arms. "You broke your sword again?"
"Y-Yes... I’m really sorry."
You glanced at Tanjiro sideways, trying not to laugh. "That’s, what, the third time now?"
He turned to you with a little frown. "Second, actually!"
"Still embarrassing," you whispered, smirking.
Tecchin chuckled softly. "Unfortunately for you, Haganezuka hasn’t been seen for a while. He vanished into the mountains after the last time your sword got damaged. I think you pushed him over the edge, boy."
Tanjiro’s face paled. "What?! He ran away?!"
"I didn’t say ran. He just… left. With a sword. And a lot of anger."
You blinked. "Well, that sounds healthy."
"I’ll have someone search for him," Tecchin continued. "But in the meantime, rest. You’re lucky to be here. Not many people ever find this place."
Tanjiro bowed again quickly. "Thank you so much, Chief Tecchin."
"Go get some rest. You both look like you haven’t slept in a hundred years."
"Honestly, that’s probably true," you mumbled, yawning as you stood.
As you and Tanjiro followed a new guide out of the room, he leaned toward you, whispering, "If I see Haganezuka, I’m apologizing with my whole soul."
You snorted. "Better bring him a cake too."
"Should I?"
"...Honestly? Might help."
He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as you both followed the path into the village.
You and Tanjiro kept walking until you came across a sloping hill where steam curled into the sky.
"The hot spring’s at the top of this hill," a man explained. "It has all kinds of healing properties cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, bleeding piles, constipation hell, even the pain of a broken heart."
"Thank you so much!" Tanjiro replied brightly.
You blinked slowly at the man. "...Alright. Can we go now?" you mumbled, not sure if you should be amazed or slightly horrified.
"Yes, Y/N!" Tanjiro grinned, already picking up the pace.
Before either of you could reach the top, a familiar voice echoed down the steps.
"Y/N! Tanjiro! You’re here!" Mitsuri’s voice rang out as she sprinted toward you both.
"W-Watch out!" Tanjiro panicked, eyes wide as he noticed her bouncing closer. He rushed toward her and tugged her clothes shut around her chest. "Please be careful! Your breasts are this close to falling out!"
You slapped a hand over your mouth, stifling a laugh as Mitsuri blinked down at Tanjiro, utterly unfazed.
"Y/N! Just now, up there, I waved at someone and they ignored me!" she pouted dramatically, turning to you with big, glossy eyes. "I said hello, and they just walked away like I wasn’t even there!"
You wrapped your arms around her, squeezing her tightly. "Who the hell did that? Point them out. I'm about to commit a war crime for you."
"I’m a Hashira, you know!" she cried. "Isn’t that awful?"
Before you could reply, Tanjiro stepped in. "I heard dinner's almost ready. They’re serving matsuka rice."
Mitsuri instantly perked up. "Wait—really?! Like, for real?!"
You snorted. "Nobody's sad when food gets mentioned. Honestly relatable."
"Yeah..." she giggled, wiping her eyes like the emotional breakdown never happened.
Tanjiro turned to you. "Oh—and, uh... are the hot springs shared or—?"
You cut him off with a look. "They're separated by gender, dumbass."
"Oh!" He quickly set down the box carrying Nezuko. "Can you bring Nezuko with you, Y/N?"
"Gladly," you said, smiling warmly as you picked up the box. "C'mon, baby girl. Let’s go get you warm."
Nezuko let out a soft little sound from within the box, as if she approved.
You and Tanjiro had parted ways at the entrance to the hot springs he went off to the men’s section while you carried Nezuko with you to the women’s side. The air was filled with mist and the soft sounds of splashing water. It felt peaceful, almost too peaceful after everything you'd been through.
You gently set Nezuko's box down near the edge of the water and opened it, smiling as she peeked out, her pink eyes glowing softly.
"Come on, baby girl," you cooed. "We're about to live the spa life."
Nezuko let out a small, content grunt before climbing out and stepping into the water with you. The springs were hot, soothing, almost magical. You sank in with a heavy sigh, shoulders slumping as the tension began to melt from your muscles.
Meanwhile, in the men’s section after meeting and talking with genya, Tanjiro was just stepping into the water when he overheard a few voices a little further down.
"Hey, did you see that girl earlier? The one with the attitude and the—whew—those legs?" one man said with a low whistle.
"Yeah, yeah! The one with the pretty face and the sharp tongue? I swear, she looked right at me and I forgot how to breathe," the other laughed, splashing a little water.
Tanjiro froze mid-step, frowning deeply.
"Did you hear the way she talks? All confident and mouthy like she runs the place," the first guy went on. "I like girls like that. Makes it more fun when you finally get to break them down a little."
The second one snorted. "Right? Bet she plays hard to get too. Shame someone like that’s wasted running around with that soft boy with the checkered haori."
Tanjiro’s fists clenched under the water. He felt his body heat rise beyond what the hot spring could cause.
"Y/N isn't 'wasted' on anything," he muttered under his breath, jaw tightening. "And she sure as hell isn’t the kind of person you talk about like that."
The men didn’t hear him, too busy laughing to themselves like idiots.
"I bet if you just cornered her for a minute, she’d drop the attitude," one of them continued, voice sleazy.
That was it.
Tanjiro splashed toward them, his presence radiating off him like heat. "Excuse me," he said calmly, though there was an unmistakable edge in his voice. "You should watch the way you talk about people especially ones you don’t know."
One of them blinked. "Huh? What’s your problem, kid?"
"My problem," Tanjiro said, eyes narrowing, "is that you're speaking like cowards. If you knew Y/N even a little, you'd know she’s braver, stronger, and kinder than both of you put together."
The other guy scoffed. "Relax. We were just talking."
"No," Tanjiro said. "You were being disrespectful. She's my friend. She's someone I admire and...love. If I hear either of you talk about her or any other girl like that again, I won't stay calm."
They laughed nervously, trying to wave him off, but Tanjiro didn’t move. His aura was quietly furious.
Back in the women's section, you and Nezuko were floating peacefully.
"Ughhhh... This is heaven," you sighed, arms stretched across the warm rocks. "Nezuko, we should live here. Forever. Just you and me. Maybe bring Tanjiro if he behaves."
Nezuko giggled, floating near a flower petal drifting on the surface.
"You don't get guys like him very often, you know?" you said to her. "Like, he’s so kind it makes my soul itch. In a good way. It's scary. Sometimes I think he actually sees me. Not in a creepy way just like... I dunno. It makes me feel like I'm real. Does that make sense?"
Nezuko blinked up at you and gave a soft hum in agreement.
"You get me. You're the best," you smiled, reaching over and ruffling her hair gently.
You had no idea that, just on the other side of the wall, someone had already fought off two men for daring to speak of you in a way that betrayed the very idea of respect.
And Tanjiro sat alone now, chest still rising and falling a little fast, thinking about how much he hated hearing your name twisted like that like you were some object. You were so much more than that. You were light. You were strength.
And no one would ever get to talk about you that way again. Not while he was breathing.
After the hot springs, you and Tanjiro sat at a long table inside the cozy dining hall, the warm scent of miso soup and grilled fish lingering in the air. Plates clinked, steam rose from bowls, and the hum of conversation filled the room.
You leaned back slightly, eyes widening at the mountain of empty dishes stacked in front of Mitsuri. "Damn, Mitsuri… I wish I could eat that much and stay skinny like you."
Mitsuri looked up mid-bite, her cheeks already full. She blinked, then flushed pink, her chopsticks pausing in midair. "Hehehe… You really think so, Y/N?" she giggled, twirling a strand of her pastel hair around her finger.
You scoffed, still chewing. "Duh? You’re like super pretty and don’t need a diet to look skinny. It’s honestly unfair."
Mitsuri’s heart skipped several beats. Her jaw dropped slightly as her brain short-circuited.
'Y/N complimented me!!! AWWWW I LOVE HER!! WHY IS SHE SO CUTE!! I’M GOING TO EXPLODE—'
Tanjiro nodded in agreement, gesturing with his chopsticks. "Honestly, it’s true! I was shocked the first time I saw her eat. It’s pretty impressive." He smiled warmly at Mitsuri, then turned toward you. "But Y/N, you’re also really beautiful. You don’t have to compare yourself to anyone."
You blinked, then rolled your eyes. "Aw, stop trying to be sweet, cinnamon roll. I already know I’m hot."
Tanjiro let out a small, bashful laugh. "I-I wasn’t trying to flatter you! I mean—it’s true though."
Mitsuri giggled again, recovering from her blushing storm. "Y/N, you’re so confident! It’s refreshing. No wonder everyone’s always looking at you."
You tilted your head, stuffing another bite in your mouth. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Oh please," Mitsuri leaned across the table, whispering like it was a secret. "Every guy in that hot spring was sneaking glances at you. If I hadn’t been there, they might’ve all passed out trying to catch their breath."
You nearly choked on your rice. "You’re kidding."
Tanjiro’s face darkened a bit, remembering the two men from earlier. "She’s not. Some of them were definitely… not being respectful."
You raised an eyebrow at him, mouth still half-full. "Oh? You heard something?"
He hesitated, fidgeting with the rim of his bowl. "Yeah… just some guys talking in the men’s section. They were talking about you in a… weird way. Like describing how you looked in the water."
Your chewing slowed.
"I was gonna say something but they left before I could," he continued quickly. "It really pissed me off."
Mitsuri’s eyes widened. "Ew! That’s disgusting!"
You swallowed slowly, eyes narrowing. "You should’ve told me sooner. I could’ve gone and shoved a sandal down their throats."
Tanjiro blinked. "I… didn’t want to ruin your peace time."
You gave him a lopsided smirk. "That’s sweet, cinnamon roll. But next time, let me ruin their peace."
Mitsuri laughed, a little too loudly. "I’d pay to see that!"
Tanjiro smiled despite himself, clearly a bit embarrassed. "Just promise you won’t actually hit someone unless you have to."
You picked up a rice ball, looked him in the eyes, and said, "No promises."
And across the table, Mitsuri blushed again while watching you, hiding her face behind her sleeves.
'She’s so cool… I’m doomed…'
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz