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

* f o r t y *

"Oh."

On your way back to the little girl's hometown, you stumbled upon a small clearing in the woods, filled to the brim with a wide variety of delphiniums. Determined that such a flower would please her mother, the girl decided to gather a bouquet of them for her gift.

Tanjiro stooped down, the ends of his haori spread lazily across the blooms, and plucked the tip off one of the plants. You were peering over the few flowers in his hand when he tilted his head and gestured for you to come closer.

Leaning in, you watched him curiously as he raised the hand with flowers to your head. Gently, he stuck the stem of delphiniums behind your ear, smoothing your hair down afterward.

He smiled. He opened his mouth to speak, then changed his mind and laughed instead.

You caught yourself staring and felt the heat rise up into your cheeks. "What?"

Not that you were complaining, though. His laughter rang out like pure, jovial bells, a welcome disruption to the quiet.

"Nothing, nothing!" he teased, still eyeing the delphinium in your hair. "I'll tell you later. Maybe."

"Oh, nuh-uh," you protested, pinching his nose lightly. "No 'maybes.' You're gonna tell me." He laughed again, smiled even wider, then got to his feet. When he offered his hand to help you up, you pretended to frown but accepted it anyways.

"Come on," Tanjiro called out cheerfully to the little girl. "When you get back, you can give your mom your present!" She nodded with a shy smile and showed off her bundle of flowers. For a girl who was on the verge of being devoured by demons, she seemed fine enough.

She stayed that way for the remainder of the two hour walk, to your relief. Quiet, uncomplaining, well-mannered. Maybe because she was so young, she didn't realize the gravity of her situation?

In any case, you were glad.

"Ah!"

Spotting the roof of her house rise up past the hilltop, the girl beamed. Upon getting closer, you saw a pretty woman standing on the front porch, with crossed arms and knitted brows.

"Mama!"

The little girl skipped down the well-trodden, dirt path with the delphiniums, tied neatly together with a red ribbon, hidden behind her back. A familiar aching welled up in your chest, so distinct and sad.

Home.

You watched as the she presented her gift to her mother, who gave an endearing hug in return.

...What a bittersweet word.

After a few moments, the little girl squeezed her way out of her mother's embrace and pointed her finger in your direction, then said something. The mother, surprised, turned and bowed her head to the two of you gratefully. Tanjiro grinned and waved back, and you followed his lead.

Unexpectedly, he reached out and grabbed your hand.

Thankful for the comfort, as always, you didn't pull away.

• • * • • * • • * • •

"Hmmm..."

You frowned. The sun was waning, beginning to retreat behind the trees on the horizon. Soon darkness would fall over the world like a deep shroud. You were tired, and dusk was approaching, but...

"It's so close..."

Tanjiro stood there wordlessly, tense. He seemed out of it; when you tapped his shoulder, he suddenly exhaled and shuddered. That was when you noticed that his face was flushed rouge, dripping with sweat.