The One We Couldn't Save

.+* Chapter 9 ~ Back From the Dead?? *+.

PoV: Zenitsu

The Thunder Breathing Hashira, followed by two coworkers, the Kitsune Breathing Hashira, and the Blood Breathing Hashira, tracked through the cold, and dark snowy mountain, weaving around the thick trees that cut into the path.

Zenitsu led the other two along, his heightened sense of hearing allowing him to determine where any demons were hiding. He was following the sound of one demon, before he paused, caught off guard for a few moments.

That sound… Could it be..? He suddenly veered to the side, off the small, dirt path they were following, and into the thick woods. "Agatauma-san wait!" Yukko yelled, following him, with Haruto trailing not far behind. 

"Agatsuma-san where are you going?" Haruto yelled, confused by the sudden change of course. Zenitsu ignored the two, and quickened the pace, snow crunching under his feet, spraying everywhere behind him.

The trio came across a small clearing where Zenitsu stopped, and looked around. "What the hell?!" Yukko questioned him, her voice going shrill with anger. Zenitsu shushed her, and gazed around the clearing.

A small ring lit up around the clearing, before bursting into flames. Pink flames. The three Hashiras drew their katanas, getting ready to fight. Before hearing the soft crunch of snow. Their heads whipped around in surprise, finding themselves face to face with Uppermoon One herself.

Zenitsu's jaw dropped, as his arms fell limply to his sides, his katana clattering uselessly on the ground at his feet. "Nezuko-chan?.." he asked, tears forming in his eyes. "Agastuma-san, you know this demon?" Yukko said, her voice and expression ridden with utter confusion, the same for Haruto.

"Know?" Uppermoon One grinned, "Why, we go way back! Don't we dandelion~?" The last part of her sentence came out teasingly, maybe even flirtatious. Nezuko walked up to Zenitsu, who was still frozen in shock.

She looked down at him with a smirk, and placed a hand under his chin, bringing his face up to hers. "My my, seems you missed me, hm?" She asked, gently wiping the tears from his hazel eyes. "Nezuko-chan you… You're alive? We all thought…" Zenitsu trailed off, he didn't want to finish that sentence.

"What, that I was dead?" Nezuko chuckled, "Dandelion, my dear, oni-chan would never kill me." Zenitsu gulped, noticing her gaze darkening slightly. 

An annoyed scoff could be heard from the other two Hashiras, as Haruto spoke up, "Alright, screw the sappy reunion, let's slay this demon." He said with a grin, him and Yukko gripping their katanas tightly, ready for battle.

"Wait." Zenitsu said sternly, his voice almost a whisper. "Nezuko-chan, I have a question for you…" Nezuko looked down at Zenitsu, her smirk widening, "Well what is it dandelion~?" Zenitsu gulped, refusing to meet her taffy coloured gaze. "Have you… You know... Devoured any humans?" He asked, after a few moments of heavy silence.

Nezuko chuckled, before laughing. "Dandelion, I'd never eat a human! You know I can't, haha! Eating one could kill me, my body is different to other demons, you know this!" She said, struggling not to burst out laughing again. Zenitsu gave a sigh of relief, smiling for once, breaking his usual monotone face.

"Never devoured a human? Not once? Utter bullshit!" Yukko yelled angrily, "Let's just slay this demon, alright?" Haruto nodded, "I agree with Yukko on this one." He said, his tone laced with incredulousness. "Wait no-" Zenitsu said before suddenly being cut off by Nezuko placing a finger on his lips to shush him.

She frowned at the other two, before scooping up Zenitsu, and leaping into the trees, disappearing with him, before the circle of pink flames burnt themselves out, the clearing going dark again.

It took Zenitsu a few moments to register what had happened, but next thing he knew, he was held tightly I'm Nezuko's grip as she leapt from tree to tree. Further than he could.

I must admit… That is quite impressive… Wait no- Don't think that now Zenitsu… She's a proper demon now, she'll kill you in a heartbeat if she feels like it.

Nezuko came to a sudden halt, jumping down onto the fresh snow below the two of them. In the blink of an eye, Zenitsu was pinned against a tree by the demon holding him. His feet were dangling an inch or two off the ground, yet Nezuko was still taller than him. He did not like that.

He could feel her warm breath on his face, it made his lips tingle and his face heat up. He was now what you'd call a blushing mess. Nezuko smirked, looking down at him.

She brought her face right up to his, their noses almost touching, just mere centimeters apart. "Become a demon Dandelion." She said quickly, staring him in the eyes.

Zenitsu shook his head, "I… I'm not going to become a demon Nezuko." He said firmly. Her smiled faded, turning to a frown, she then tilted her head to the side, confused.

"But we could be together… Forever!" She responded, a grin stretching across her face. "Become a demon! Show me how much you love me! And don't deny it, we both know it's true, Dandelion~"

Zenitsu felt his face heating up again, reddening even more, if that was even possible. "I…" He looked her in the eyes, those beautiful pink eyes he'd loved so much… 

No. He wouldn't become a demon, what would gramps think? What about his friends? But oh how he wanted to, he wanted to give in and be held by the girl he loved. But he couldn't, and he wouldn't.

Zenitsu shook his head again, and Nezuko scowled. "Fine then, have it your way, but we will meet again, and you will become a demon. And that's final." She gave him a peck on the lips, before dropping him and disappearing in a spurt of pink flames. 

Zenitsu leant against the trunk, sliding down to a sitting position. He was shaking as he brought his knees up to his chest. He felt felt familiar burn of tears welling up in his eyes, blurring his vision.

He blinked, and the tears began racing down his face. He didn't know why he was crying, but he began to sob. It felt nice to cry, a weight lifting off his chest.

He wished he could go back to when he was younger. He missed Nezuko, and he missed Tanjirou. He just wanted to be with them again, he just wanted all of his pain to end. 

The tears just kept coming, and he couldn't stop it. He didn't know how or why, but he was sure this had something to do with Nezuko. His lips still tingled where she'd kissed him.

He placed a few gentle fingers on his lips and burned over them. He shivered. He shouldn't have enjoyed that, she was a demon now. He stood up, still crying. But that didn't matter anymore.

He began his way back to the other Hashiras, they had a lead now. Maybe, just maybe, they would soon be taking down the Demon King.

Zenitsu was ready to right a million wrongs and put the evil deeds of Muzan Kibutsuji to an end. Once and for all.

A/N: Wow, three chapters in one day! Aren't you lot lucky? I'm quite proud of this chapter heh. Around 1200 words, that's a personal record for me! Anyways, hope you've enjoyed this chapter! :D