The Spider's Web (Rui Ayaki x Reader/OC)

Ch 1: The Beginning of The End

"Tanjiro! What's up?" I waved at him with a small smile etched onto my face. I slipped off my sandals and headed inside, tired from lugging around the groceries I had just bought.

The winds were tranquil, the weather was calm. It was peaceful, too peaceful.

He smiled warmly, embracing me in a tight hug. His hanafuda earrings jingled in the sunlight as he reached for the bags in my hands. His rough, calloused hands briefly brushed past mine as he firmly gripped the handle of the bag. Bowing slightly, I smiled sheepishly and scurried off to the backyard.

Tak...Tak...Tak...Tak...

My heavy footsteps slapped against the old wooden floor, signalling to the rest that I had arrived.

I saw Rui gaze longingly from the inside of the house as he saw Tanjiro's siblings play outside, his eyebrows slightly furrowed and his eyes, sad. He sat cross-legged on the cool wooden floor of the open hallway leading to the field that the children were at, just a few inches shy of meeting the warm embrace of the summer Sun.

Looking up at me, he gave me a small, weak smile. "I'll prepare you some tea," Rui whispered in a strained voice, using his tiny hands to push himself onto his two feet. Heading off to the kitchen, he leaned on the creaky wooden walls for support.

"No way. I'll do it. At least let me take care of things until you're better," I ushered him into his bedroom where he spent most of his time resting in. Unfortunate, but not much could be done about it, frankly.

"Plus, the doctors said that you weren't even supposed to be walking around yet," He avoided my gaze. In my heart, I knew that he was afraid. He was frail, and sickly. His savings couldn't last forever, and we all knew that. Tanjiro and I have been chipping in every month to help pay his for medicine, but we can only do so much selling bags of charcoal on the street.

"Let's get you some rest," I whispered, laying him down on his futon and tucking him in. I closed the curtains, I sat by his bedside.

"Get well soon, Rui," Rokuta peeked through the doorframe and whispered, his large, curious eyes peering onto the sickly boy.

"Get lots of rest for us," Hanako, who was always gleeful, quietly hurried into the room and laid her hand gently on his blanket as a comforting gesture, something that I would do to put her to bed when she was little. The ambiance was so tame, but in my heart held much turmoil.

Takeo, who was the second oldest among his siblings, simply stood at the doorway, observing. He appeared non-chalant and laid back, but we all knew that he was as worried as the rest of us. He shared a striking resemblance to Tanjiro, so much so that I would find myself mixing them both up when I was not paying enough attention.

"Actually... I've been meaning to tell you..." Rui started, trailing off while playing with his fingers. Tanjiro immediately picked up on the tense atmosphere, his eyes darting from me to Rui. Rui looked troubled.

"Come on, who wants to help me make some tea?" Tanjiro's face morphed into a smile, one that I knew was just for show. Strings of "Me!" were heard, the kids not picking up on the trace of sadness lingering in the dry air.

Takeo, the only one aside from Tanjiro who seemed to notice the change in atmosphere, gave us one final look as he shut the door gently, giving us some privacy.

"My condition... You know... It's... It's getting worse," he spoke in a hushed whisper, his face washed with a mix guilt and worry. We all knew that the expenses were only going to get much more costly from here on. We were already struggling to make ends meet, what now?

"We'll... do something," I sighed, balling my fists together and letting out a breath I did not notice I was holding in.

"Do what?" he snapped, his frail arms hitting the blanket with a thud. His expression softened. Burying his face into his pillow, he whispered once more, "Do what?".

"I... I don't know, Rui!" I was overwhelmed. I had a sharp pang in my chest. It hurt. He looked at me, his eyes a lovely violet hue. I heaved a few heavy breaths, my eyebrows pushing together as I was plagued by the endless possibilities of the future.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his gaze falling onto his frail fingers.

"No, no... It's not your fault, I'm - I'm sorry." I sighed once more and placed my hand on top his and gave his hand a reassuring rub with my thumb.

"I'll get the tea," I pushed myself up using my hands, my legs feeling cold and numb. Oh, what do I do now...

A little ray of light shone into the room when I opened the door, the look of pain and sorrow evident on Rui's face as I looked back.

Tanjiro, who was trying his best to distract his siblings, shot me a sympathetic look as I poured freshly brewed tea into an empty cup. I held the piping hot cup tightly, the heat almost unbearable as it nipped at my palms. I tried my best not to cry.

I couldn't cry, not in front of the kids. Not right now...

When I had went back into the room, Rui had faced the direction away from the door.

"I'll leave it here. Be careful, it's hot," I whispered, setting it down on the floor.

He sat up, holding the cup. "It's half empty," he said.

"Half full, you mean," I chuckled awkwardly. There was a short pause. I gulped.

"The kids were so bored that they drank most of it," My lips curved into a small smile, but it soon disappeared.

Rui's eyes seemed to show a feeling of emptiness.

"Look, I'll do all I can to pay for your treatment," I started, my hands balling into fists on my lap.

"I... won't visit tomorrow. I'll chop some pinewood to sell as charcoal. It'll probably take me a whole day," I said, the atmosphere growing ever as somber.

I sensed that he needed some alone time.

"I'm sorry... I'll leave now," I got up, and left, glancing at him one last time. When I shut the door, I heard soft sniffles and sobs coming from the other side. I left Rui alone, alone to wallow in sadness in that cold, dark room. All by himself.