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

* t w e n t y - f o u r *

After decapitating the demon, your momentum carried you out into the hallway and crashing into the wall. Luckily, you managed to turn your body so your back took the brute of the impact instead of your face or injured arms.

You coughed as you slid to the floor.

"...You brat..."

Remembering, you drew out the needle-like device Tamayo and Yushiro constructed from your pocket and flung it at the demon's headless body. The blade stuck cleanly into the arm. While you weren't sure if this demon qualified as "close-enough" to Kibutsuji Muzan as necessary, it wouldn't hurt.

"You destroyed... my drums."

Slowly and painfully, you rose to your feet to collect the blood sample.

"I had to," you said. "And I'd do it again."

The demon seethed.

"You..." he accused, pointed teeth bared in fury. "You dare to... trample upon my work... My drums. You're... the worst of... them all—!"

So that's what this was about.

You smiled bitterly. You thought you had none of Tanjiro's patience, and very little of his compassion and empathy for demons — had your comrade been present, he surely would've laid the demon's grievances to rest.

And yet you found yourself saying,

"Your life as a performer ended the moment you chose to kill humans. But your Blood Demon Art was... certainly something. Incredible, even."

Perhaps that last line of yours was what he wanted to hear, for the demon's face softened up, and he no longer bared his teeth. He crumbled away into nothing without another utterance passing his lips.

The device fell to the floor, and you finally allowed yourself to sigh. It was done.

Tanjiro, please be safe.

Ignoring the throbs of pain that wracked your body, you retrieved the demon's blood. When you turned, you thought you'd have a heart attack — a cat had materialized from thin air, and looked up at you expectingly. Given Yushiro's trademark talisman hung from the cat's collar, you knew it belonged to Lady Tamayo. You slipped the prize into the satchel latched onto its back, and gingerly rubbed the spot behind the cat's ear.

"I'm in your debt," you thanked. "Please be careful on your way back." (You never imagined yourself talking to animals, but oh well. There you were). The cat seemed to acknowledge your words and promptly disappeared from sight, leaving you alone in the room.

With the immediate danger gone, your arm automatically went to sheathing your Nichirin Sword, but you hesitated.

What if he didn't kill the other demons yet? What if he's locked in battle with one at this moment?

You bit the inside of your cheek and strode past the half-ruined sliding doors, scimitar held at the ready.

Don't drop your guard. Do not rest until you know Tanjiro and the kids are safe.

With no sense of which was the right way, you decided it best to get moving first and leave it to chance, whether or not you stumbled upon familiar faces. After all, what else was there to do? You needed to heed Tanjiro's word, and keep faith in him — he had asked as much of you, and it was time for you to deliver on your promise.

Yet still you found yourself ill at ease. All you could think about was the worst possible outcome, despite how you knew of his capabilities.

"Kiyoshi!" you called out, going around another corner. "Teruko! Answer me!"