Twilight ~ A Demon Slayer Fanfiction

Chapter 34: The most hurt

Zenitsu Agatsuma

The yellow haired male woke up to a searing pain in the head.  When he opened his eyes, he made eye contact with a ceiling.  And a face staring over him.  Zenitsu had blinked his eyes, seeing a familiar face.  Noticing her raven hair and the bamboo muzzle, he recognized who she was.

"Nezuko...?"  He had mumbled under his breath.  He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes.  Nezuko had a look of relief on her face, seeing that he was awake.  "Where's your brother...?"  Zenitsu had asked.  Nezuko then pointed over to her left, and he looked over.  It looked like Tanjiro was asleep right now.  "Ah, he's asleep, huh?  Is he doing okay?"  Zenitsu had asked.  Nezuko nodded slowly, giving him a thumbs up.  "That's good."  Zenitsu had stated, smiling slightly.

He then paused for a moment.  His expression had suddenly turned grim.  "Nezuko... where's Taeko?"  He had stated, asking for his girlfriend's whereabouts.  Nezuko had tensed up at that.  Before she could point out where Taeko was at, the door had opened.

"Zenitsu!  You're okay!"

Two familiar voices had called out to him.  Nezuko had turned around as well.  As soon as she saw who it was, she waved at them both.  "Hey, Nezuko!  Glad you're here too!"  One of them patted Nezuko's head gently, making the demon having a closed eyed smile on her face.  Zenitsu knew who those two were.

Emiko Miyazaki and Hiroshi Miyazaki.  Taeko's younger sister and older brother.  "Ah, hey.  I'm alright... Nezuko seems happy to see you both."  Zenitsu had stated.  Hiroshi had chuckled a little.  "She's adorable.  We enjoy her company."  He had admitted.

"Where's Hikari?"  Zenitsu had questioned, noticing the youngest sister wasn't there.  Emiko then pointed out behind them.  "Hikari's checking up on our sister in another room.  She'll come visit in a bit."  Emiko had replied.  "I see..."  Zenitsu had begun.  He stayed silent for a few moments before he spoke up.

"Emiko... Hiroshi?  Where's Taeko?"  He had questioned.  Emiko and Hiroshi looked at each other with worried looks on their faces.  Nezuko had stared at them with confusion.  "She's... in another room with the other two.  She's been holding onto her life ever since she got here."  Emiko had replied with a frown.

"W-What do you mean?"  Zenitsu had asked, tensing up.  Hiroshi then crossed his arms.  "When the Kakushi brought her here, her body was in critical condition.  Kanjoro and Shinozuka are going to be okay from what I'm told.  Kanjoro's a demon and Shinozuka's a lot tougher than I think.  But Taeko..."  Hiroshi had trailed off his sentence, tensing up as well.  Zenitsu felt himself tense up even more.  His expression slowly darkened.

"She's... not going to die, isn't she?"  He had asked, in a low tone of voice.  "I... I don't know."  Hiroshi had muttered.  Emiko then quickly shook her head.  "N-No, she wouldn't!  She's tougher than that!"  The female had exclaimed.  "Mmph!"  Nezuko had piped up, nodding in agreement.  "But... she gets hurt the most out of all of us here.  I'm scared for the worst."  Hiroshi had mumbled.  Emiko then glared at him slightly.

"Are you doubting her?  You can't possibly do that!  Not when she's at the verge of death!"  She had protested.  Hearing that, made Zenitsu's expression darkened completely.  "You're telling me she gets hurt the most out of the four of you?  Is that why she chose to protect me from the final attack?"

Hiroshi, Emiko, and even Nezuko even looked at Zenitsu with a look of anxiousness.  Emiko then frowned, crossing her arms, then looking away.  "I... I didn't know she would protect you from the attacks.  I didn't even know Muzan even pulled out a final attack on you all.  Protecting someone... it's just a natural instinct to her."  She had stated.

Zenitsu felt his hands clench up once more.  Why couldn't he protect her for once?  For as long as he could remember, he always saw Taeko step up to protect him.  More than he could protect her.  Why?  Was he always this cowardly to take a step to protect her instead?  He grits his teeth a little.

He was a coward.  He couldn't believe it.

"Why couldn't I protect her instead?  Why does she always have to be to get hurt instead of me?  I can't believe myself.  I'm honestly a terrible boyfriend for not even protecting her."  He had muttered under his breath.  The three had heard that, and Emiko quickly shook her head.

"Zenitsu, it's not your fault!  She chose to protect you!  I... honestly admire her for that!"  She had pointed out.  "Then why didn't I bother going with her when she left with Shinozuka to save Kanjoro?!  Am I really to blame for that?!  Why didn't I stop her from going?!"

He had suddenly raised his voice.  This caused a surprised look from Hiroshi.  Emiko had flinched a little, and Nezuko held onto her, a worried look on her face.  "Zenitsu... none of this is your fault.  She would've wanted you to be safe..."  Hiroshi had pointed out.  However, Zenitsu wasn't done talking.

"Screw me being safe!  I'm more worried about her!  She always does this!  Why doesn't she let me protect her?!  Why does she always have to step up to protect me instead?!"

Hearing that, caused the three to remain silent.  Emiko and Nezuko had a worried look on their face.  Hiroshi didn't know an answer to that.  Neither did Emiko.  Zenitsu had noticed the looks on their faces and his expression softened.

"I'm sorry... I really appreciate Taeko stepping up for me, I really do.  It's just that... I never did the same for her.  I... feel horrible."  He had muttered.  Hiroshi then placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Then maybe you should go talk to her about it.  She's your girlfriend after all."  Hiroshi had stated, nodding slowly.  Nezuko had quickly nodded in agreement.

"She's always stubborn on protecting us.  But I'm sure she'll understand from your perspective.  She cares for you after all."  Emiko had pointed out.  Zenitsu then looked down at his hands once more.

"Okay.  I'll go talk to her when things calm down."