Demon Slayer Oneshots

☁️Tanjiro/Reader: Bumpkins

Description: Two innocent children try to appease the guardian spirit of the land.

Gender neutral. Also you all are a few years younger here.

"Aren't you tired from carrying that, Tanjiro?" You shot him a sympathetic look. He had been hauling that heavy basket of coal for miles. Even your feet were starting to get sore and you had nothing on your back but a tiny satchel of snacks.

"Not really." He smiled pleasantly back at you. "My dad taught me breathing techniques to help me not get tired. Besides, I'm the eldest son, so I have to be strong."

"Woah... can you teach me what he taught you?"

"I would... but I'm not sure if it's a family secret or not. I'll ask him and let you know, okay?"

"Doesn't really help me right now..." You mumbled with a pout and he chuckled.

"If you're tired from the walk I can carry you back. After we drop this off first, that is."

"No way!" You gawked in disbelief. "You're working hard to support your family! I wouldn't burden you by asking such a thing!"

"You're so thoughtful, F/N-chan." As the gentle breeze flourished, his black hair trickled into auburn in the warm dulling sunlight, highlighting the smile on his round face.

"Psh. No. It's just common courtesy." You turned your nose up and away, trying to suppress the blush that always seemed to surface from Tanjiro's compliments. He seemed particularly doting today, probably because he was grateful to have your company. A tragic demon attack had befallen the nearest village, causing many of its residents to scatter from fear. This hindered the Kamado livelihood, resulting on Tanjiro having to travel greater distances to sell his family's wares. One would never know it though, as the optimistic boy by your side probably never uttered a complaint in his life. He even went so far as to say he was happy about the chance to build up his stamina and spend more time with you. In spite of this you could still tell he felt bad for not being helpful around the house as much; his little brother was hardly strong enough to chop wood, and the chill would be coming in soon. Even now the wind had a nip to it.

"Do you smell something?" Tanjiro's voice turned serious and you sniffed the air.

"I... do actually." You were shocked. Usually Tanjiro was able to smell things long before you could, assuming you could pick up on them at all.

"It smells like a fire! Someone might need help!" He grabbed your wrist and took off running. "Come on, F/N!" The two of you strayed from the path, dodging creeks and weaving through trees at top speed. The ashen scent on the wind seemed to thicken, and tufts of black smoke stung your eyes and clouded your vision.

DING DING DING

'Bells? Why are there bells in a fire?'  You wondered, trying to duck below the blackened torridity as you ran. At last the two of you broke through the tree line and looked around. Tanjiro looked disoriented. Never before had he followed a scent so strong and not found the source.

"Where... is it?"

"Maybe the wind blew it in a weird direction?" He approached the edge of the woods once more, noting a strange repetitive thrumming. It seemed to be getting louder before-

WHOOOOSH

"Ah!" The two of you gasped in unison when a large black creature came flying into the open. Midnight smoke appeared to be rising from its head, wisps of phantasmal hair, swirling and dissipating on the dusk air.