broken dolls (you're only human)

Chapter 2

Just wanted to remind you guys this is an AU, so it will be different. The Hashira's and Tanjirou are a lot more bonded because they were in the fight against Muzan was a lot longer, so relationships might be a bit different but I hope that's ok. Also, Muzan killed off all of the Hashira, and the deaths were all the same, just at different time points.

Brief mentions of suicide.

....

Kamado Tanjirou breathes.

The smell of fresh air instantly fills Tanjirou's nose, but he knew that was impossible. There hadn't been fresh air for ages, not after all the Hashira's had died, Muzan desecrating the surrounding villages in the rage that his Upper Moons all perished, gaining their humanity in their last moments.

He groans. Everything hurt. The smell of fresh flowers, thriving trees all surrounded his senses, and it came as confusion since it wasn't accompanied by the smell of blood. That man's entire essence smelled of death, so shrouded in it it made him clench his teeth and of sheer willpower he managed to not throw up. Another scent accompanied the beautiful scents, but it was impossible. They all died, so inhumanely as Muzan desecrated their corpses. He didn't even have time to mourn for them, nothing to bury as they left with their souls wounded and hurt, and it made his heart ache. No matter how long it was ago, he would never forget them, their scents so ingrained and all unique he would be able to spot them in a heartbeat. He didn't want to remember how they died, how they suffered, their faces so etched into his nightmares he would never forget. He didn't want to remember the screams of Sanemi echoing against the walls, so heart breaking with such raw emotion he wanted to cover his ears so bad. How Iguro and Mitsuri died along in each others arms, hugging each other before Muzan decapitated them. He hoped they were dead, so they left without pain and only with each others words of love.

Blearily opening his eyes, he scrambled to get his breathing under control. After everything, was he still not doing enough? Has Muzan found a way to keep him alive after he decapitated his own head? But he was sure he cut it, he felt the relief as metal met skin, as he closed his eyes for the last time. So why exactly were they opening again?

He wanted to scream.

"Did he not cut off his head?"

Tanjirou Kamado has changed. Permanently. His heart started to dent when the wildest, most brightest flame he knew had left extinguished, leaving behind a grieving father and child. When Shinobu's death was announced, clear and without mistake he wanted to believe it was a lie. It chipped when Genya and Muichirou had been slaughtered like animals, along with cries of a promise that was never kept. A piece of it crumbled when he faced Muzan, snickering in a crazed frenzy as he discarded bodies like food. His heart shattered when he saw Nezuko trapped in the dome, along with the new Kanji for Upper Moon engraved in his eye.

But he knew his eyes weren't lying, as the multitude of colours flourished around him. Colours that were only one colour the last time he had seem them. Red.

They were dead. He was sure of it. Memories can't be faked. And he saw, witnessed how each of his precious people willingly gave up their lives, all to protect what was left of them as blood smeared across the landscape.

When Muzan turned him into a demon for a brief second, he faced all of the memories Muzan had. He tried to resists but they just kept coming in, and he felt like he wanted to claw his own eyes out at how painful they were, each Hashira dying with anguished pains.

Muichirou, a boy he had become so close with. They went cloud watching once with just the two of them, and his older brother instincts flared up when he smelt a pang of sadness coming from him. And then Muichirou asked him an unexpected question, "Why do you think I was born, Tanjirou?" And he was shocked, mentally reminding himself that Muichirou was still only fourteen. And so, he answered him truthfully, with the first thought that came to mind. "Muichirou... you were born to be happy." Tanjirou didn't think about what to do next, he just instinctually moved. With his arm coming around Muichirou, he pulled him in and embraced him. He never saw him again. He must've died painfully, gripping onto the last of his strength to defeat Kokushibou, how he was cleaved in half, blood splattered across his body like a canvas.