~Chapter three~

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Tanjiro Pov:

I continued to practice the things I learned from Urokodaki-san every day. Jotting down basic things like holding my breath and flexibility training in my notebook helped a lot. Though even after half a year, I still wasn't able to hack apart the rock. I was getting anxious. Not enough. My training is not enough. If I don't work harder... Work even harder! Even (Y/N) can't do anything about the rock. She managed to cut smaller rocks, but always failed at the big one.

"Say, Tanjiro." said (Y/N) as she looked up at the sun. "What is it?" I asked her. "How long do you think we'll take to slice this boulder?" she asked, glancing at me before looking back at the stone. I sighed, standing up from the spot I was resting on. "I'm not sure." She then smiled lightly, saying: "They both managed to slice it in less than a day." "That's right, I wanted to ask you something." I said, walking up to her. She turned towards me, waiting for me to continue. "You sometimes mention 'them', or 'brothers'. Who are they?" Her eyes widened before she closed them, smiling softly. "Well, they're my brothers, of course." My thoughts trailed off to my own family. Everyone... I really miss you all. "I'm sure you miss your siblings, too, right?" asked (Y/N), snapping me out of my thoughts. I simply nodded as she said: "Me, too. Just like you, I only have one sibling who's still alive." My eyes widened. I said: "I'm sorry. Losing your siblings is tough." She smiled at me, shaking her head. "Don't apologize. It's not like you could've done anything to prevent it. I mean, in both cases, it was a demon, so..." She trailed off at the end of her sentence, taking a step back. "Anyways, it's your turn." Her usual smile was on her face as she looked at me, then the rock. I nodded, knowing what she meant. So I got my blade ready, striking it a few times. But it did nothing.

I... can't do it?

Nezuko will... maintain her current state and die just like that?

Ah, I'm getting depressed! I'm giving up!

"I need to work harder! Work harder!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "Shut up!" yelled someone back. I froze as I heard the voice. It wasn't (Y/N). It was a male voice. "Such a shameful display of a man shouting nonsense." I looked up at the boy that was sitting on the rock. When did he appear?! No smell... Fox mask... "No matter how difficult it may be, you shut your mouth and deal with it. If you call yourself a man, if you are a true man." he said. Suddenly, he jumped down towards me, slashing his sword at me. I was quick to react and blocked his attack, but he kicked me, sending me flying away. I looked at him as he said: "Slow, weak, rusty, your state is not a man by any definition." I sat up, yelling: "What do you want, jumping out like that all of the sudden!" "I should be the one asking that question, what are you doing?" he asked back. "Doing? I'm training..." "How long are you going to sit on the ground like that? prepare yourself." Huh? Does he want to fight? Suddenly, a flash of (f/c) entered my vision. The back of her Haori was facing me as she held her sword tightly, glaring at the boy with the fox mask. "I'm not letting you hurt Tanjiro more!" she yelled angrily, storming forwards. "That voice..." he muttered as he easily dodged her attack, then kicked her away, too. She grunted as she hit a tree. "(Y/N)!" I called out to her, standing up. She, too, stood back up, clutching her stomach. "(Y/N)...?" asked the boy, turning to look at her. I ran at him, raising my sword. "Leave her alone!" I yelled, attacking him. But, again, he dodged. "Leave her alone? How could I?" he asked. My eyes widened in anger as I went to attack again. "You're not gonna lay a hand on her!" I yelled, slashing at him. My head snapped towards the direction of her voice as she yelled: "Stop!"

(Y/N) Pov:

That voice... That mask... B-But... I don't get it, but...! I smiled at him, waiting for him to do something. And just as I thought, he put his hand on my head, ruffling my hair. I giggled, throwing my arms around his neck. He hugged back, pulling me closer to him. "I'm sorry for kicking you." he said. I shook my head, smiling. "It's fine. I'm just so happy!" "Uh, (Y/N)...?" asked someone from next to me. I turned to look at Tanjiro, saying: "Ah, sorry, Tanjiro. I'm too confused and happy at the same time." He looked at me, a questioning expression on his face. I started giggling as I hugged myself closer to the warmth. "Tanjiro, this is one of my brothers, Sabito-nii." I said, smiling like an idiot. Sabito-nii cupped my face with his hands. I looked at his mask, still smiling. "I can't believe you've grown so much. You were cute before, but... I got the cutest sister in the whole world." he said. Even though he wore his mask, I could tell that he was smiling. "I missed you, Sabito-nii." I said, closing my eyes just to stop the tears from flowing. But... I then asked: "Sabito-nii, why are you here?" Tanjiro watched us as Sabito-nii was silent. "I missed your voice. I missed the way you called me. I missed playing with you. I missed your smile." I smiled wider with every phrase he spoke. "But I'm here, Sabito-nii. Right here." I said. "I know." He hugged me tightly again before looking at Tanjiro. He lifted me up, saying: "So you're Tanjiro, huh?" "Y-Yes!" answered Tanjiro nervously. "And you tried to protect my little (Y/N)?" "Yes!" "If you really want to protect her, you'll have to become a man. You'll have to get way stronger." He hesitantly let go of me, patting my head again. "All right, bring it on." he said, turning his attention to Tanjiro while gently pushing me aside. Tanjiro said: "But... you're holding a wooden sword and I'm holding a real sword." Then, Sabito-nii started laughing.

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Picture from:

https://www.pinterest.de/pin/695876579903709615/

𝕭𝖔𝖓𝖉𝖘 [Tanjiro Kamado X Reader] (Kimetsu no Yaiba)Where stories live. Discover now