𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 | 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞𝙧𝙤 𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙤

𒆜 8 𒆜

   Tanjiro made a 'shush'  motion, encouraging Aurelie to do the same before grinning and trying not to giggle. It was hard enough since we were trying to sneak out of the cottage without waking up Akui, who was half-asleep. That was thanks to Inosuke, who said he could simply climb through the attic and jump off the roof, only to land with a hard thud on the ground and making birds squawk. It had alarmed everybody and made Akui wake up, but Inosuke was still silently cheering on the ground.

   A minute later, Zenitsu decided to do something similar of combing on the roof, but his steps were light and he then crawled onto a nearby tree. However, the branch he was holding onto was near-dead, and it snapped, causing him to drop on the other branches before falling unconscious on the forest floor. After examining both of our partners'  strategies, me and Tanjiro decided to simply sneak out of the house regularly.

   First you sent Aurelie since she knew all the weak points of the house, but Tanjiro's eyes widened when he heard footsteps in Akui's room, indicating he was probably exiting it. Your eyes locked with Tanjiro's, and you quickly pointed up, swiftly jumping up and grabbing the house's wooden boards up above, clinging to them and hoisting your legs to latch onto them as well. You grabbed Tanjiro and forced him to do the same just in the nick of time. Akui left his bedroom, but Tanjiro visibly winced when Aurelie had been caught in the kitchen.

"What the f**k do you think you're doing awake at this time, Aurelie?" Akui scowled, immediately stomping towards her and scolding her. He grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly and yanking her along beside him while she stuttered and tried to make up an excuse, stumbling behind him and trying to escape from his death grip.

   Your eyes widened and you quickly crawled upside down on the roof, jumping down without sound and clearing your throat from the shadows, from which Auki froze, not turning his head. Aurelie felt his grip lessen, and she slipped her hand from his, instantly rushing towards you and hugging your figure rigidly, obvious tears rolling down her freckled, delicate cheeks. "What was all that about? We were grabbing a midnight snack, Akui." The hostility in your voice was palpable, and his whole body stiffened before he turned around, a sense of loathing in his gaze.

"Nothin'. Just sending her back to sleep. It's late, y'know."

"Yes, I do know. That's why it's called a midnight snack. Because you eat it at late hours."

   His stare hardened, but he scoffed and rolled his eyes before brushing you off. "Yeah, okay. I'm going back to bed." All three of you watched him walk back to his room and slam the door shut, grumbling audible from behind the walls. Tanjiro hopped down next to you, a shaky breath of relief breaking loose from his chest before he gave you a fist bump.

"That was close. I'm proud of you; you handled it well." Tanjiro shot you a glowing smile, and you were suddenly aware of your heartbeat.

"We have to go."

"Agreed. C'mon, Aurelie, we're going somewhere safe!"

   Our voices were still hushed, and we raced out of the house. You found Zenitsu and carried him on your back, charging with light footsteps to keep up with the others.

You all still had miles to go...

                                            ≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

   Everyone was tired after running so fast and long it had turned noon. Agatsuma had finally woken up and was walking on his own feet now, but you were now supposed to carry Aurelie, considering she was still a child and you had roped her into this in the first place. Hashibira had seen smoke rising out of a house, which soon turned out to be a whole town.