~BRAVE~ (Tanjiro X Reader)

Short series (2/3)

My eyes shift back up to the beaming boy. "Tennouji?" I asked.

"My crow. I'm not sure where he really goes to when he's not bugging us. I don't question it either. I like the...almost silence." Tanjiro deadpanned at his words. I know what he means. At least Inosuke can't yell and scream at us in words but in baby language.

"Alright then! Let's get down to business. Where's this library?" I asked. Tanjiro opened his mouth to answer but Zenitsu slammed the door open.

"I'm back with the peas you ask for (Y/n)!" He carried in a bowl full of cooked peas and I laughed at his eagerness.

"Great!" I picked up the baby and stuffed him into Zenitu's arms. "Feed him while you walk with us? We're going to the library. Hopefully we can get an idea of what we're looking for. Did you see anything specific?" I asked my yellow-haired friend. I handed the mask to Inosuke from Tanjiros hands. I wanted him to have something to play with.

Zenitsu fumbled with the baby in his arms. He never had a problem with the weight. He was strong after all. He shifted into a comfortable position. Although he wouldn't admit it, he thought that baby Inosuke was adorable. "No. He ate it before I could even catch a glimpse." Zenitsu glared at the baby boy in his arms. Inosuke looked up innocently but Zenitsu knew better. Inosuke was far from innocent.

"Ahh. That's too bad." Tanjiro took a hold of my hand and began walking out of the house. I followed with a smile and my heart thumping. The shuffle in the box on Tanjiro's back told me that his wonderful sister was awake.

I tapped on the wooden box. "Good morning Nezuko. We'll let you out once we're indoors okay? How did you sleep?" I asked her.

"Hmph!" 'Horribly!' I could imagine her folding her arms in discomfort.

"It was that bad? Why did you sleep in the box anyways?" Zenitsu asked. He tapped on the box like I did before. She didn't answer but she shuffled inside the box.

Ohh? This was something I needed to bring up to her.

After about half an hour's walk we finally made it to the library. Inosuke has already thrown half of the peas in the bowl on the ground. He didn't like them. What child would?

"Alright you." Zenitsu sat down with the baby and bowl in hand. Tanjiro had taken the mask away from him to place it somewhere high so that no one would step on it. Inosuke looked annoyed at the yellow haired boy and started yelling at him with his baby nonsense. It was like he was having an actual argument. "Don't yell at me like that! You got yourself in this situation in the first place! Now eat your food you ungrateful little-"

"Okaaaayyyy!!!! Ready to get reading? I'll deal with the baby, you just look for the nature books." I grasped Zenitsu by the shoulder and gently led him away from the main cause of his anxiety.

I scanned the room and gasped when I saw a stuffed teddy bear. This will be a perfect lesson for the boar. I took the teddy bear in my hands and walked up to the baby who was having a glaring contest with a bowl of peas. With how sharp his eyes were I bet even him being a baby wouldn't  affect the way he intimidated people.

"In-osu-ke!" I worded out. It got his attention quickly. The green eyes almost like the ocean looked at me with stars. He knew exactly what I was holding. I made sure the other two boys weren't looking at me before I knelt down to the baby's level. I took a pea from the bowl and offered it to the stuffed bear. Inosuke watched me carefully. Of course the animal wouldn't eat it. It's mouth was sewed shut. "Oh dear! You're not gonna eat it? Well then.." I held the bear up to inosukes face just to give him a clear view on what was about to happen. A second later I threw the bear across the room and he hit the wall with a thud. The sound drew the attention of both of the boys as they looked at me confusingly. Inosuke stared at the supposed 'dead bear' with surprise in his eyes. I had just put the fear of God in him. I just simply patted his head and watched him shove a handful of peas into his mouth eagerly.

I stuck around the baby as I scanned around the bookshelves. "In the wild, grocers, poisons...maybe?" I mouthed out the titles of the books. "What do you think baby Inosuke? If you were only older you would've already told me. You know, the whole growing up in the wild." That makes me question. How did he even become a slayer? I knew he beat up someone in the corps for a sword. I smiled nervously. I feel bad for him.

How old was I when I got into the corps? Twelve I think. Inosuke rolled onto his back and fell asleep quickly after eating. I was worried the peas wouldn't be enough for his monster self but he seems just fine.

The baby scratched his bare belly and started to roll. Off of the couch.

I started to panic. He's gonna hit his head and die. I sprinted towards the baby but I wasn't fast enough. A flash of yellow caught my eye but before I could do anything about it I crashed into the unknown item.

Zenitsu's body was sprawled out on the floor. The baby was still asleep, on his face. My body laid over his stomach. I groaned and sat up. "Thanks." I said before going to look for more books.

Zenitsu lifted the sleeping baby off of his face and glared. "I should've let you fall. Maybe that would make you smarter when you turn back. If you turn back." The yellow-haired boy stared at the sleeping Inosuke and then patted his head softly.

My fingers skimmed against the books as I took one out here and there. I placed the stack of books on the table and turned around.

Suddenly I heard a muffled scream. Where was Tanjiro? I looked around the corner and Nezuko was holding Inosuke's mask close to her heart. He had let her out but I don't think she exactly knew the situation. Tanjiro was patting Nezuko's back trying to explain the situation but she was crying too hard to hear. I smiled softly.

"Nezuko!" I whispered yelled. I waved my hand over to where she was and it caught both of the sibling's attention. Tanjiro's eyes begged for help and I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Come here."

She nodded behind her tears and lazily stood up with the help of her brother. I took her shoulder and guided her to Zenitsu and the baby.

Her eyes widened at the sight. Zenitsu noticed the beautiful girl and started to flip out. The masked dropped to the floor. That managed to wake up the baby. His little eyes opened slightly and then he started to cry.

"Uhhhh Tanjiro..." Zenith started and picked up the baby, but turned his face away from him. "He stinks."

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Original release date: August 18 2020