~BRAVE~ (Tanjiro X Reader)

Estate

"Yes, I've fallen victim to Shinobu's little test. That's how I know so much I suppose. Plus she always needed help. Oh speaking of which, who are those little girls?" She collected a small sample of blood from the cut then starts to flush it out with simple hydrogen peroxide. I could see the foam from my cheek.

"Ah those three, well they're new students to her obviously. It'll take some time with the training though. They're a handful. But very wise for their age. They came in like three years ago. Haven't you seen them?" Aoi cleans the outside of the scratch with a small cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol.

"Unfortunately no. I never really paid attention during my stays here. They didn't look like they knew me either. So at least that says something right?" I smile after wincing at the sting of the alcohol. Aoi places a small bandage over the scratch and dusts her hands, standing up from the chair next to the bed.

"I guess. You stay here with that demon girl and get comfortable. I'll go check if dinner is ready yet." With that Aoi left the room. She had forgotten to pack up the kit so I decided to put it back into its place for her. I sighed at the silence. The pain in my cheek reminded me of the pain in my feet. I had been walking basically nonstop all week. And now that I've gotten the chance to stop, they start to hurt.

I cried out as I tear the shoes from my feet. They were red and a bit swollen. Apparently I was on them for way too long. The box door opened revealing a drowsy Nezuko.

"Good morning sleepy!" I said with a smile. She looked up from the floor and her eyes widened. Standing up, she took hold of the cloth I was wearing. I had forgotten I was wearing Tanjiro's haori. "Sorry, do you want it? I should probably take it off anyway." Nezuko's smile was as clear as day on her face. She snuggled up close to the clothing once I took it off.

I thought it was sweet how she admired her older brother so much. I never really looked up to Diakoku because I was always getting yelled at on how I was doing my stances wrong.

"Nezuko, do you want to hear a story?" Her little lead whipped around and She hummed in agreement, drawing her attention to me like an eager dog for a treat. I laughed. "There once was a king. The first king of Mauretania. He was skilled in many ways but took a liking to astronomy. They say that he even made astronomy. They say... that this king made the first celestial sphere. But I believe that the historical people of our past made that. He was a great king. He was involved with the great god Hercules. His people named him Atlas. Because of Atlas's deeds, as king he got granted the title of Titan by the gods. In his myth, he lives on the western edge of the world. But the earth had no edges. No one has ever found Altas. He's said to hold up the world on his shoulders for eternity. But if he is, where is he? That's what I wanna know." I placed my chin in the palm of my hand as I gazed down at her.

"Dinners ready. Your one friend Zenitsu will join us. Will you be coming?" Aoi interrupted Nezuko's response.

"I will not be. Nezuko should though. Right?" I looked over to her and she nodded her head slowly. They both exited the room, Nezuko taking Tanjiro's haori with her.

And here I was, back in silence.

🌸

"This will be a never-ending tie. How long have they been at this for?"

"At least an hour. Look. They're both soaked."

"I can't tell who will end it. Aoi won the last round. If she wins this one, then the game's over."

The three girls communicated amongst themselves as Aoi and I stared at each other intensely, waiting for the next move. We bet that whoever looses had to make lunch. Neither one of us wanted to. Her sharp movements to reach a cup wasn't unnoticed and I stopped her progression in its tracks while I rushed to grab my own cup. With the swoosh of my hand she has drowned once again nn the water.

"There it goes again. Another tie." The girls complained behind us but I raised my hands in victory.

"I haven't lost yet Aoi! If I win again, you're making lunch." I smiled brightly at the angry girl. She too, as well as the young girls sitting at the side of the room observing our match were getting frustrated at the amount of time the battle was taking.

Aoi clenched her hair in frustration. "Just die already!" She complained. I chuckled at her desperation.

"Not until you make lunch."

"That's not gonna happen."

The game started again, but my smile never faded. I faked Aoi out with my right hand and she went to grab it. Instead, I had grabbed a cup with my left hand and drenched her in the water once more.

"Dammit! She screeched.

"Yes!" I jumped up from my sitting position and ran around the room in excitement. The girls laughed at me while I jumped and fell in joy.

Aoi glared at them. "Don't you have patients to attend to?" She sneered at them. The girl's eyes widened in realization. They had been sitting here idly for an hour. I put my hands on my hips as they ran out of the room.

"Awww C'mon don't be like that. No need to be salty now."

"Whatever. I'll just make it so that you don't like lunch." Her head shifted to the side, but I could still see that sinister smile that graced her face. I threw her a towel at her as I rapped mine around my shoulders.

"Go and get changed. I'm getting hungry. Don't make me wait too long." I snickered as I left the room. My hands gripped the towel around my shoulders as I thought about what I was going to say.

How I was going to apologize. I haven't seen my group in three days. I haven't been able to walk. And with the on and off crying about Daikoku. I haven't been too keen about seeing anybody. Regardless of my feelings, Nezuko stayed with me. She never really left the room. Though, she slept most of the time.

Before I knew if my feet planted In front their door. I took a breath before I gripped the door knob and I slid the door open with ease.
—————————————————————————
Original release date: May 10 2020