"Er... Uhm..." You shrunk slightly at the three expectant stares pointed directly at you. "Well, Tanjiro asked first, right?" If you were being completely honest that was definitely an excuse. The last few days had been so hectic that you hadn't been able to spend much time with Tanjiro, which was a shame because he had such a pleasant and welcoming presence.
"O-oh, really?!" The auburn brunette stumbled over his words a bit, as if he was surprised that you wanted to go with him on a boring old errand. Even Tanjiro had to admit he would have been more intrigued by the mention of Inosuke's secret hideout. "Well, we better get going then."
"Agreed. We don't want to run out of daylight. Especially while you're still in recovery." Shockingly enough, the other two boys didn't seem to have any objections to your outing with Tanjiro. It probably had something to do with the fact that errands were short, sweet, and not likely romantic that Zenitsu held his tongue, and you were certain Inosuke just didn't think that far ahead in the first place.
"You better keep her safe, Tanjiro!" Zenitsu hollered from the gate of the Wisteria estate. There it was. You knew he wouldn't let you leave without at least saying his peace.
"I sure will!" Tanjiro called back, almost in a challenging sort of way, and you smirked. A ways up the road your stomach chose to break the comfortable silence with a gurgling growl. "You're hungry, F/N? Why didn't you say so? You didn't have to come with me. You should have stayed and eaten with Zenitsu." He halted in his tracks, almost as if he was going to send you back.
"Ah, no." You waved your hands nervously. "Don't worry about me. I wanted to come." The look of concern wasn't yet wiped from his gentle handsome features. "Honest. I can wait till we get back. It's really no problem." He made an uncomfortable noise.
"How about we compromise and I get you something from the market?"
"Don't waste your money on me!" You objected and he laughed at the appalled look on your face.
"Heheh. You're so thoughtful of others, F/N. I can see why Zenitsu and Inosuke fawn over you. You're very easy to love." Your eyebrows shot skyward at that remark and Tanjiro's cheeks went up in flames when he realized what he just said. He just stared onward blankly like his brain had malfunctioned.
"That's nice of you to say." You smiled and felt your own face heat up. "I think you are too, though." He followed suit when you continued walking, focusing on your steps in an attempt to stay composed. "To tell you the truth... in the race a little while ago... I was kinda... hoping you would win."
"O-oh?!" Tanjiro erupted into a blush more ferocious than your own, though you were too busy staring down at the dirt road to see it. "Sorry to disappoint you." He sheepishly ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I have to train harder." 'Does that mean she wanted to kiss me? No, I can't assume such things. ...But it still means she likes me, right?' Tanjiro wore a crooked smile of satisfaction. He really just wanted to hold your hand now. 'That would be okay, right?' He hesitated before reaching out, deciding it was a better idea to sniff the air to catch your mood first, just in case. However, when he took a deep, yet subtle inhale, a different scent entered his nostrils. "Do you smell that?" You mimicked his sniffing.
"I smell something... sweet?" It was hard to pinpoint precisely what you were picking up on, but it was some mix between fried batter and caramelized sugar. There was definitely some kind of party going on. Before you could comment on it your stomach growled loudly again.
"I guess we better hurry before you starve to death." Tanjiro chuckled.
"I told you I'm fine!" You protested but couldn't help but catch his smile when he reached out his hand to you. The two of you ran hand-in-hand the rest of the way. The sun was hanging low in the sky now as the smell's potency increased. It was easy to distinguish it from this distance, the taiyaki, candy apples, sizzling karaage; it was all you could do not to drool.
YOU ARE READING
Demon Slayer Oneshots
FanfictionNew phase: ACTIVATED! Get requesting, fam. There will be smut here, I assure you.