DAMSEL IN DISTRESS • 𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐲 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

six

CHAPTER SIX, dependant

You were never really one for confrontation.

You grew up terribly. You grew up with pick up lines for parental figures, flirting attempts being your cradle and your fear being your pacifier.

You grew up too fast, and now, there was no going back. No reclaiming the innocence you lost.

Your footsteps echo in the empty mansion, hand still holding Tanjiro's. You hum as you walk, noticing that there aren't any windows in the building. "Despite all that, I still love my parents," you mumble, staring at the carvings in the wooden floor.

Tanjiro let's out a confused noise. You might've laughed, if the air didn't feel so heavy. "Sorry, didn't realise I was talking out loud."

He shakes his head, that kind smile provoking yours. "No, it's alright! You can tell me what happened, if you like." His features grow worried as you turn without an answer. If you just turned your head again- tilted it to the side, then you would see the desperation   in his eyes, creasing his skin and parting his lips.

Were you mad at him? You promised to protect him, that he could depend on you. He takes your further silence as an unspoken 'yes,' and he's about to yell before you speak. "They let men touch me," is all you say, the grip on his hand tightening.

He's about to comfort you. Assure you, hold you, anything to take that distant look in your eye away, to make you look up from the ground and to him. "We're almost there, I think. I see blood." You continue , and he nods.

"You boar-headed bastard, have you gotten us lost again??! Imagine how scared Y/N is!" Zenitsu wails, pounding at the doors. Inosuke slices at the door aggressively with his sword, but they only tumble into identical corridors, the same polished room.

"Idiot! We're fine! The king of the mountains.. I'm the king, alright?!" he shrieks inarticulately, though he's starting to pant, and it's obvious he's tired.

They hear a thump, a loud bang that reverberates around the mansion, echoing in their ears. Zentisu cries out, curling into a ball. "Wahh! It's no use! We'll die in here, I'll die without marrying her! what's wrong with you, huh? My Y/N! Maybe in another life, we'll be together!" he sobs, knees hunched against his hands.

Inosuke huffs with frustration, backing up and hurling himself against the door. He flies straight into a horned demon.

"Annoying! Annoying! Annoying!" It mutters, shaking its head, veins building on its paper-white skin. "Damned brats, so annoying! Get out of my house!" Raising a hand, it hits the left side of its embedded instrument. Inosuke lets out a confused 'eh' before he begins to fall.

"Tanjiro! What do you think is happening?!" you whisper-shout to the rougette beside you, who shakes his head. He looks equally perplexed. "No idea, but we've got to find the others! I smell three demons here, and one of them is really strong! This has gotta be their demon art!"

You nod fiercely, also sensing a powerful presence. Even if you didn't have the keen sense of smell he did, you would be a liar of you didn't feel something lurking in these halls.

"Tanjiro," you start, eyes narrowing in solemnity. His head darts to you, slowly unsheathing your sword. "Let's split up. I promise I'll find you if you're in danger." The word easily slips out of your mouth, but it plunges into his heart and renders him motionless like the most potent poison.

"You..promise?" He mumbles, and you nod slightly. He smiles, outstretching his pinky. You wonder why this affects him so much, but you humour him nonetheless. As his hand links with yours, he feels an undeniable glow - it felt as if he swallowed the sun. He'd do anything, anything to have the feeling happen to him again.

But as soon as he looks up, you're already gone. He smiles.

You were his, now, and he had no intention of letting you go.

No Taisho Secret today! The Kambako squad is too busy in battle!!