"I'll do it instead! I can hug you! I can even kiss you too! I'll do anything so long as you stay happy and leave Nezuko alone!" Tanjiro's cheeks began to burn a fiery red as his words began to settle in.
"Have me instead, Zenitsu!"
(Sorry, I'm not...
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(Chapter 4: Have Me Instead) •°•°○●○°•°○●○°•°•
Whether he showed it or not, Tanjirou, our glowing sun, had his insecurities.
The cold and suffocating feeling of being unable to protect the ones he cared about, of never being strong or quick enough, always looming on his shoulders, constantly whispering to him. Causing constant doubt and pain to plague his mind.
It seemed as if the pure boy had been dealing with nightmares recently, which wasn't exactly unordinary. Considering the events that took place in his life that lead to him becoming a demon slayer, it was only natural.
And although at first shakey, he learned to deal with them and hide any trace of having them to begin with.
So when he was starting to fall asleep, he prepared himself for the worst. For the abrupt wave of pressure to squeeze at his lungs as he woke up in cold sweat.
But...nothing happened?
When Tanjirou had woken up, the first thing he'd heard was the droplets of rain hitting the window. He kept his eyes closed as he breathed in Zenitsu's sent, his grip tightening around the blonde as he snuggled in closer to the heat coming off of him.
It was soothing and he realized it was the same warmth he felt in his dream.
The same warmth that made him happy, yet feel an almost painful ache in his chest.
A small frown appeared on Tanjirou's lips as he recalled his dream, eyebrows furrowed as he fell in deep thought, shamefully holding onto Zenitsu, wanting nothing more than for the older to hold him tighter and make the pain go away.
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He'd dreamt of an open and endless sea of water. The sky, a clear azure blue with the water reflecting the vast clearing. Whisps of clouds appearing here and there, making little shapes and patterns. The air around him was fresh and sweet, bringing a smile to his lips as he took everything in. There he laid in the middle of it all, eyes closed, and mouth slightly parted as he allowed the water to flow around him.
He felt warm and protected despite the fact that he was just simply floating around in the open sea. No one was around, but he felt as if there was.
He felt himself being pulled into the water, though he didn't feel alarmed or threatened. A pair of gentle arms had pulled him back, holding him close to their body. Their lips touched the edge of his ear, and Tanjirou could feel the faint outline of a smile before being turned around, the persons arms still wrapped around his waist.
Tanjirou knew, he probably should back away, and up to the surface, he'd need to breath soon.
Yet he couldn't.
He felt safe.
He felt at home.
And he could breath better than he ever had before.
