Our Halcyon Days || Reader x Tanjiro | RESUME 2022!

* t e n *

It was suffocating.

Like water, but thicker, and grimier, and heavier. Strangely enough, it was possible to breathe, but only very little amounts at a time. You'd have to rely on the air you came in with.

Your eyes stung as they took in the surroundings of the swamp. It was dark, but not unbearably so. You could still spot the last remaining remnants of the women the demon had likely devoured. They floated aimlessly, without any current to guide their direction. Bits of cloth, sandals, whole kimonos...

You felt the muscles in your face contort, your grip around the hilt of your blade tense up.

Unforgivable.

Below you

was Tanjiro.

One demon had latched onto his legs and ankles, while the other straightened his own hand, preparing to impale Tanjiro's body. Tanjiro had not the opportunity to gather as much air in his lungs before being dragged into the abyss; you could see as much on his pale face. His burgundy eyes were narrowed in pain, his black Nichirin Sword lifted back in preparation to swing.

Both anxiety and fury seized you.

Not him.

You grit your teeth. Truly, moving about with no footing proved challenging.

I can barely breathe,

and it's suffocating.

The water weighs me down.

My movements are sluggish.

The water pressure is unbearable.

Even with your breath training and your increased lung capacity, inevitably, you'd run out. Even though air did indeed exist within this swamp realm,

you would drown.

Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it-!

You kicked your legs hard, propelling yourself towards the three.

Breath of Snow, Second Form:

Crystalline Thorns.

Shifting your hand position, you felt the weight of your weapon increase as ice ran along the blade, morphing into the shape of spikes. You brought your arm from above your head and swung as forcefully as you could. The icicles seemed to cut through the thick swamp and spun towards the demon holding Tanjiro. One of them shot right through its head, missing the neck just barely.

Surprised, the two demons zipped away, their figures a blur in the dark.

It's their domain. Of course they'll be faster in it-!

Tanjiro made his way towards you. You grabbed his outstretched arm and pulled him to your side, relieved to have come just in time. You floated, back to back, eyes fervently scanning the swamp for the agile demons.

Your heart pounded vigorously.

From which direction would they approach? And how fast? Would you be able to react quick enough? Could you still protect Tanjiro, who had less air than you?

Suddenly,

Tanjiro turned and shoved you upwards with all his might.

You didn't expect that kind of strength underwater. You didn't expect him to have pushed you in the first place.