The night sky was thick with clouds, a blanket of darkness that seemed to press down on the earth with an unsettling weight. The moon, hidden behind the clouds, offered no guidance, no light. It was the perfect cover for what Muichiro planned to do.
Tanjiro had been asleep in their shared camp, exhausted from the mission they had completed earlier in the day. The air was cool, a slight breeze rustling the leaves of the nearby trees. The faint crackling of the fire was the only sound that broke the silence—until Muichiro stepped from the shadows.
He had been watching Tanjiro for days, obsessing over every small detail of his movements. The way Tanjiro laughed, the way he cared for others, the warmth he exuded even in the darkest moments. Muichiro had long since stopped trying to push the feeling away. He had convinced himself that this—this desperate need, this obsession—was the only way to truly understand what they were meant to be. Tanjiro had rejected him, but Muichiro couldn’t let go. He wouldn’t.
He had to make Tanjiro see. He had to make him understand that they were meant to be together, that this was the only way forward. So, in the dead of night, with the others asleep or out of sight, Muichiro made his move.
---
Tanjiro awoke with a start. Something wasn’t right.
The fire had dimmed, and the usual sounds of the forest—crickets, rustling leaves, the occasional owl—were strangely absent. Tanjiro’s eyes snapped open, instinctually reaching for his sword, but before he could react, a sharp hand clamped over his mouth.
He barely had time to gasp in surprise before he was dragged from the warmth of the firelight and into the dark woods.
"M-Muichiro?!" Tanjiro’s voice was muffled, panic rising in his chest as he struggled against the hand covering his mouth.
"Shhh," Muichiro whispered, his voice strained but firm. "It’ll be okay, Tanjiro. I’m doing this for you. You’ll understand soon."
Tanjiro’s mind raced. *Muichiro… what is happening? Why is he doing this?*
But his thoughts were quickly interrupted as Muichiro lifted him off the ground, his grip unyielding. Despite his strength, Tanjiro fought back, kicking his legs, but Muichiro’s hold was like iron.
"Muichiro, let me go!" Tanjiro gasped, his heart hammering in his chest. The fear and confusion swelled inside him, but Muichiro only tightened his grip.
"We’re going somewhere safe," Muichiro muttered, his voice almost soothing, like a lullaby, but it was laced with something darker, something desperate. "You’ll see. You’ll understand why I did this."
Tanjiro’s breath caught in his throat as they moved deeper into the woods, farther from the camp. His heart beat faster as the panic set in. **This isn’t Muichiro. This isn’t the Muichiro I know.** The cold, empty eyes, the hollow voice—it was like a stranger had taken over his body.
As they walked, Tanjiro’s mind raced. He couldn’t let this happen. He couldn’t let Muichiro take him away from the others, from everything they had been fighting for. There had to be a way out.
---
His chance came sooner than expected. As Muichiro’s grip on him momentarily loosened, Tanjiro took a deep breath, bracing himself. He pushed forward with all his strength, his foot kicking back hard against Muichiro’s shin. The move was unexpected, and Muichiro faltered, his grip slipping for just a moment.
In that moment of hesitation, Tanjiro broke free, stumbling away from Muichiro, his heart pounding.
"Tanjiro!" Muichiro called out, his voice dangerously calm, but with an edge of frustration creeping through. He moved after him, but Tanjiro didn’t hesitate. He ran.
