Solar Blade

Slumber

[Name] and Tanjiro were racing down the mountain. They didn’t speak to each other for the whole time. Many traps were sprung, and they were bloodied and cut. [Name] was probably the one who was injured the most. Tanjiro was constantly being sheltered by them, even though he was trying to do so.

“[Name], slow down! You're going to hurt yourself!” Tanjiro shouted.

“I’m already battered and bruised! It doesn't matter. We have to get down by sunrise, or we’ll have proved ourselves incapable of becoming slayers!” [Name] shouted back.

Tanjiro paused at their words. He felt an anger boiling up in his heart. How dare they disregard their health for this? Tanjiro boosted himself off a tree before picking up [Name] slinging them over his shoulder.

“Tanjiro?! What are you doing? Put me down!” [Name] protested.

“I’ll put you down when you’ve shown me that you care,” Tanjiro answered.

“Care for what?” [Name] asked as Tanjiro jumped over a rope.

“When you care for yourself.”

𐙚˙⋆.˚

Tanjiro and [Name] reached Urokodaki's home. As Tanjiro slid the door open, [Name] fell inside. The tengu-masked man looked at the two. So hey really made it.

“We’re back. And before sunrise, too,” Tanjiro puffed.

“It seems you both are. You have shown me that you're capable of becoming slayers. Now, get some rest,” Urokodaki speaks.

“Nezuko. Where's Nezuko?” [Name] asked, a sour expression on their face.

“She is in slumber, dear. Now you've expended much energy so I want you to sleep and regain it. Your training with me starts tomorrow,” he answers, before showing the two of them to their futons.

While Tanjiro was eating dinner with Urokodaki, [Name] skipped it altogether. They remained next to Nezuko, keeping her company as she slept. They wondered what a demon dreamed about. Blood? Human flesh? Or were their dreams plagued with traces of their human life?

“Nezuko-chan… you're very strong. You’ve been faced with the worst fate one can experience. You're not even human anymore. But Tanjiro is here for you. Tanjiro will take care of you,” [Name] whispered, patting Nezuko's head.

The muzzle was a sight to get used to. Normally, they would see Nezuko's radiant smile. Now, it was replaced with a piece of bamboo.

Tanjiro came around, holding a bowl. It was something warm inside, but [Name] was too tired to tell what it was. Tanjiro sat down next to [Name] giving them chopsticks and the bowl. He watched as they slowly brought each bite to their mouth, chewing slowly.

“Don't worry, [Name]. We’ll survive this,” Tanjiro reassured them.

[Name] stopped eating and placed the bowl on the ground. They then looked at Tanjiro before hitting him in the head with a chopstick.

“Stop being so positive. It's so unrealistic,” [Name] spat, before shoving their bowl into Tanjiro's lap, “Eat it. My appetite’s gone.”

𐙚˙⋆.˚

That night, [Name] slept alone. They pushed their futon to the opposite side of the room, not wanting to be near Tanjiro or Nezuko. Urokodaki watched silently as [Name] faced the wall. [Name] cried themselves to sleep.

Urokodaki slid the door closed. Tanjiro was still awake. He never expected [Name] to be so salty after this. Shouldn't this have brought them together? They were siblings, but [Name] certainly wasn't acting the part. Tanjiro wondered what training would be like.

Tanjiro closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep. But thoughts ran through his mind as he tried to still his mind.

4 years ago

Today was a day where staying inside didn't feel right. Tanjiro, Takeo, Nezuko, Hanako, Shigeru and [Name] were outside. Normally, it was to play in the snow or do chores. Today, Nezuko had found a slingshot to play with. Everyone was intrigued by it, even [Name].

As Tanjiro placed a rock in the slingshot, he aimed at the apple that they placed on a tree stump. He closed an eyes as he released his fingers, only for the rock to land in the snow.

“What was that? It didn't even go a metre forward!” Hanako asked, running up to Tanjiro's rock.

“Hey, at least it’s the furthest,” Tanjiro responded, looking at the rocks that followed his own.

Hanako chuckled sheepishly, seeing her ro k that was at Tanjiro's foot. Shigeru’s rock had gone up instead of outwards, and had landed behind him. Tanjiro looked to everyone. Everyone had used the slingshot, except [Name].

“Come on, give it a shot!” Tanjiro spoke, holding out the wooden slingshot.

“No thanks, I’m good,” [Name] responded.

[Name] angled their head down to the snow. They drew circles in the snow with a stick they found. Tanjiro felt the slingshot being snatched from his hand. He saw Takeo grab the slingshot and threw it at [Name].

“Nee/Nii-san! Play with us or- or- or I’ll break your needles and pins!” Takeo spoke.

With the threat of their needles, [Name] shot up. Tanjiro shot Takeo a grateful look. [Name] took their position, but not in the normal spot in front of the stump. Instead, they found a tree, and shot straight up. After a few seconds, a rustle was heard, and a bloodied squirrel fell from the trees. It had a rock lodged between its eyes.

“I’m not letting you touch this slingshot anymore. If I could kill a squirrel, you could definitely hurt someone,” [Name] spoke, before hiding the slingshot in their clothes.

“Nee/Nii-san! Why are you ruining our fun?” Shigeru shouted.

“Meanie!” Hanako protested.

[Name] disappeared into the house, and didn't come back out. As Hanako and Shigeru kept insulting their older sibling, Tanjiro tried to ease them.

“Now, now, they're right. Slingshots are dangerous and [Name] was right to take the slingshot,” Tanjiro spoke.

“But did they have to kill a squirrel to demonstrate that?!” Hanako asked.

Tanjiro shut up. Killing the squirrel was not the right move. He walked over to the dead squirrel and picked it up. The squirrel was limp, and didn't show any signs of life. [Name] had smoothly struck it and brought it down.

He placed the squirrel back down, “Let’s just go back inside.”

𐙚˙⋆.˚

That night, Tanjiro noticed that someone was missing. Where was [Name]? As everyone else slept, he crawled out of bed before rushing outside. Had [Name] run away?

He ran into the trees as he sniffed. [Name]’s scent wove around in the trees. He finally reached a tree, surrounded by snowmen that were destroyed. His eyes followed the trunk as he saw [Name] sitting on a branch, holding the slingshot. He was about to speak when [Name] stretched out the slingshot.

As they released, he saw the rock travel in the complete different direction. [Name]’s face was calm, and they didn't show any signs of alarm. He watched in shock as the rock was flung backwards.

It hit [Name] directly between the eyes.

A/N

Important question!! Do you think kid-version [Name] gives off Dazai/Tanjiro in the Mugen Train Arc vibes? Okay, anyways thanks for reading this chapter. It means a lot when people like to read my stories!!! Luv u all <3

Taisho Era Secret: Tanjiro burned that slingshot