Out of luck
Third Person
Stopping beside the frozen (h/c) haired girl, who was covering her mouth from shock, looking away from her he let out a silent scream, in front of him was Nezuko's and Rokuta's bloody bodies, laying in front of the house in the snow, letting out a pained scream of shock, Tanjiro dropped his coal straw bag and ran past (f/n)'s frozen form, and feel to his knees beside Nezuko and Rokuta, screaming Nezuko's name, he shook her, asking in hysterics "what happened here?" "what's going on?", Tanjiro looked up and walked inside the house, nearly falling to his knees again as he held on to the door, in shock saying their names as as he looked around the bloodied entrance of the house, about to let out another pained scream only to be stopped as (f/n) tugged his sleeve so hard, crying out that she was "still warm!" as she was cradling Nezuko's bloodied head to her chest, he gasped and quickly carried Nezuko up onto his back, screaming at the unconscious Nezuko to "hold on" as he descended down the mountain tripping in his haste as he was looking for help, meanwhile (f/n) stayed a little behind, closing Rokuta's eyes, she carried him inside the house and laid him down properly at the entrance of the door, letting out a silent "I'm sorry" as she quickly stood up and ran to catch up to Tanjiro, never looking back as tears heavily poured down her cheeks, all she could think of was "I'm so sorry everyone".
Reader's POV
I have to keep running forward! Tanjiro's already ahead of me! I have to keep going, even if it hurts to breath!
Running even if my lungs and throat was so dry, I kept running and stopped at the edge of the cliff where Tanjiro and Nezuko were supposed to fall, seeing Tanjiro keeling in the snow, in front of Giyuu who was restraining Nezuko with one hand around her wrists, screaming at Tanjiro looking down at him mad,
As much as I love this stupid depressi boy, I'm not going to let him hurt my babies!
Grabbing a conveniently sizeable rock, I jumped down the cliff, somehow landing on my feet, I screamed as he stabbed Nezuko, throwing the rock as hard as I could at him, only for it to be blocked, I ran past Tanjiro, grabbing another rock and throwing it again, grazing his cheek at the shock of another person being here, as I was about to tackle him he dodged the rock Tanjiro threw at him, making me fall to the snow beside Nezuko, he then hit the back of my head with the hilt of his nichirin blade, making me choke on the air as I gasped, falling face first into the snow, I tried to stand up, hearing Tanjiro scream and running towards us, I laid my head onto the snow, feeling so useless, I grabbed Giyuu's ankle, gripping it as hard as I could, when I heard he knocked Tanjiro out too, looking up at him when the hatchet finally hit the tree beside his head, speaking even if my head hurt
"please, t-their different." unable to keep my eyes open from how hard the hit was, I began to close my eyes,
Damn it, please, spare Nezuko, don't change the timeline.
waking up in a dark room I quickly sat up, only to be stopped by Kei, holding her hand that was on my shoulder, m eyes started to tear up, looking beside me the others sat down, looking worried at me,
"are you alright (f/n)-chan? that was quite the hit"
quickly sitting up properly I grabbed everyone as much as I could and proceeded to give the strongest bear hug I could crying harder,
"I'm so sorry! i'm so sorry!" only to be stopped when Kei had patted my head, pushing me away gently as I was still hugging the 4 kids, she wiped my tears away, smiling as she spoke,
"it's not your fault you know? you tried to save us, I know that now, time just went by too fast now didn't it?" before I could even reply, I started to feel light headed again, looking down at the kids who were holding me up they smiled up at me,
"look out for our big brother please onee-chan!"
"Were always here watching (f/n)-nee-chan!"
"were going to be okay nee-chan!"
"don't do anything stupid nee-chan"
hugging the 4 kids again, as I cried, I began to fade, only to feel Kei put something in my hand, as she held it tightly closed,
"I'm sorry but we have to leave you for now (f/n)-chan, take care of Tanjiro and Nezuko for me, okay?"
with that, I woke up.
Gasping and sitting up quickly, I clutched my hand to my chest, as I was about to look around me, I groaned, clutching the back of my head as I leaned down on to my knees, feeling it throb lightly,
I may be a simp for water boy, but fuck getting hit, thank god the snow was there to numb my pain.
"are you both finally awake yet?" gasping and looking up to Giyuu, I unconsciously gripped the sleeve of Nezuko who was beside me, only to yelp and be pulled into Tanjiro's chest has he clutched both of us, as if protecting us from Giyuu,
"Get to Mt. Sagiri as soon as possible, look for an old man named Urokodaki Sakonji, tell him that Tomiyoka Giyuu sent you, it's cloudy, so she seems to be alright or the moment, and don't let her ever be exposed to sunlight" Giyuu said looking away from Tanjiro then looking to me,
"sorry." looking at him dumbfoundedly, I was about to say "no", he was gone.
"are you alright (f/n)-chan? Nezuko-chan?" looking away from where Giyuu flash-stepped away to Tanjiro I nodded and stood up, giving them both a hand, and pulling them up,
"we should go back and burry everyone, it's- . . . it's the least we could do as weren't there when they -" seeing him stutter, trying to hold his tears back, I gently grabbed and held Tanjiro's left hand, squeezing it gently,
"it's alright to cry."
watching his composure break, letting out pained sobs of grief, I pulled him forward and hugged him, looking at my right hand as I cradled Tanjiro's head on my shoulder, rubbing my hands through his now short hair with my left, I saw the wisteria pin I gave Kei as a gift when I first saved up my own money to buy everyone gifts or treats on new years, and started to tear up, hugging Tanjiro tighter, taking deep breaths to calm down, I gently pushed Tanjiro away, and wiped his tears away, smiling at him,
"let's go?"
Reader's POV
Sitting down beside Tanjiro praying, I couldn't help but hold my breath, trying to stop myself from crying again in front of Tanjiro again, I stood up looking down on the 5 graves of the Kamado's that didn't make it and sighed, touching the hairpin I put in my hair,
so Kei knows the truth of me wanting to help them, but how? and what did she mean that time went by too fast? did the "event" somehow skip days, because I was here?
shaking my head to stop my thoughts, I grabbed Nezuko's right hand, and leaned on her shoulder, having a ghost of a smile on my face when I felt her head lean onto mine, shifting my gaze back to Tanjiro, seeing him now standing up, he grabbed Nezuko's left hand and he nodded to wards me, looking determine albeit it being strained,
"let's go"
walking away from the house, he stopped making a strained sound, I said his name worried, only for him to shake his and continue to run away from the house, on our way to Mt. Sagiri,
just as I felt like everything was okay, I just had to run out of luck, huh.
Sitting in the cave Tanjiro told me to wait and watch after Nezuko, I began to think of the possible ways I could help Tanjiro and Nezuko about the demon in the shrine, eating the poor monks,
Maybe I should have went with Tanjiro and asked one of the farmers if they had an extra sickle or pitchfork, should I look around for sharp objects here? maybe a sharp rock and i could wrap my handkerchief on it to make a makeshift knife? or-
"Nezuko-chan? (f/n)-chan? their gone! ah! there you are, is (f/n)-chan with you?"
Not even noticing that Nezuko had already dug a hole, not just big enough for her but for me too, I popped up my head out of the hole enough just to see Tanjiro I waved my left hand to him in greeting, constricted in the hole with Nezuko, her hugging me trapping my right arm and legs in her hold,
"ah hang on just a second Nezuko-chan" watching him quickly stand up and fix the basket, I began to run my hands through Nezuko's hair, and began to braid it, making it into a French braid, humming as I was doing so, after I was finished, I said "tada!" smiling as she felt around her hair, making happy sounds she turned me around and tried braiding mine, only making frustrated noises as she couldn't get it right, laughing lightly patting her folded legs which were around me,
"Nezuko? Nezuko-chan? do you think you can fit inside here? I want us to try to keep moving in the day too, but i can carry you okay? can you fit? in here? basket." Tanjiro said inside the cave finally finished fixing said basket, he faced it down facing her, pointing into it, as he spoke slowly to her like a mother would to a child, sweat dropping at that, pushed myself out of the Nezuko's hole she had dug in and ushered her out, helping her into the basket only to laugh as she just flopped it like a fish out of water,
"I guess not, but-"
Tanjiro sighed and smiled, out of thought as if he was thinking, but he snapped out of it and kneeled closer to Nezuko's still body,
"hey, uh, Nezuko? remember when you got really big the other day? I've got an idea, do you think you can get smaller?" not getting an answer from the muzzled girl he started to pat Nezuko's back, encouraging her to get smaller, stifling my laugh as she actually did while almost toppling over the basket, I looked over to Tanjiro and let out a little laugh, him smiling he looked back to Nezuko and started to rub her head, sort of messing up the braid I did on her,
"Nice job Nezuko-chan! whos a good girl? you are Nezuko, I'm impressed!" shaking my head as it sounded like he was talking to a dog I finally stood up from my spot and walked out the cave, stretching in the sun, I dusted the bottom of my yukata and turned around only to see Tanjiro carefully putting the bamboo bag on his shoulders, offering him my hand, he grabbed it and squeezed gently and led us forward to the direction of where we think the mountain is,
this is going to be a long walk huh?
~ a few hours later, mid day ~
god my feet hurt, I'm also so thirsty, maybe we could stop somewhere.
A few hours of walking letting go of Tanjiro's hand so he could properly support carrying Nezuko's basket by holding the bottom straps of the bag, we stopped in front of a house with a woman watching over her child who was playing, Tanjiro asking directions from the woman, my attention was brought to the little boy who had given my a guard full of water, thankful from what he did, I patted his head and said thanks, him letting me keep the guard, Tanjiro led me away from them, waving goodbye to them, I offered the guard of water to Tanjiro, which he gladly took, only taking a few sips, he gave it back to me with a "thank you", we continued our way to the mountain the woman had spoke about,
Night had finally fallen over us, I had finally convinced Tanjiro to let Nezuko out early as I saw there was not a lot of sun showing anymore, seeing him wince as he tried to stand up straight,
walking hand in hand, Tanjiro at Nezuko's left side and me at her right, we stopped under the shrine, where, initially is when Tanjiro and Nezuko fight their first Demon, sweating nervously I gripped Nezuko's hand tightly and sighed,
"oh, it's a shrine! the lights still on, must mean that their probably still awake right? let's check it out." tugging Nezuko and me to the shrine, only to stop and sniff the air stiffly,
oh shit, here we go again,
"t-that's the smell of blood, the path here seems rough, maybe someone got hurt! lets go check it out" running up the stairs, i had let go of Nezuko's hand and gripped the rock I had hidden in the sash of my yukata tightly, stopping a few steps behind Tanjiro and Nezuko, Tanjiro slammed the worn out shoji doors open,
" is everyone okay?!?! " gasping in shock, the gore before me was terrible, the demon eating the people peered back at us as he was still holding the arm he was just biting at, he spoke,
"the hell are you doing here? this is my territory, anybody who sets foot in my turf, is going to have to pay!" gripping at my stomach I continued to stare at the demon instead of the bodies
it's one seeing gore from the anime but, seeing it now in person if just-! sickening!
"huh? what? somethings not quite right about you three, hang on, are you two humans?"
oh god-!
Pushing Nezuko who was drooling a bunch aside, the light in the shirne was blown out by the force of the demons jump, who had crashed Tanjiro and himself through it, calling out Tanjiro's name he then sliced the demon's neck with the Hatchet, jumping back a few steps away from the demon he took stance as he saw the demon hold his chin, looking in disgust,
"a hatchet, not bad kid, just a little scratch though, should heal in no time, see that? the bleeding already stopped!"
disappearing from view, the demon then jumped on Tanjiro, strangling him,
move (f/n)! do something! Nezuko's not moving!
"you got luck boy, but it wont happen again, and now, I'm going to snap your neck!"
Running towards the demon without screaming I had brought the sharp rock up in the air and jumped on top of the demons back, stabbing the side of his head, now screaming,
"Get off of Tanjiro you bitch ass hoe!" pulling at the demons hair back, as he let out a pained and shocked scream he shook me off, making roll off of him, gasping in pain as the demon kicked me to the side, I hit my back onto the tree,
"ack!"
"(f/n)-chan!"
curling up into a ball, I saw the demon walk closer to me, pulling the rock out of the side of his head,
" did you really thing you could kill me with- what is this, a rock? haha! pathet-"
Looking up from where I was laying down, I saw the demons body fall on its knees, decapitated, Nezuko was beside me, checking if i was alright while "hmp"-ing at me, pulling me up to my feet, turning to look at Tanjiro who staired in shock at the now decapitated body of the shrine demon,
"N-Nezuko! (f/n)! the demon-!"
Nezuko picked me up, flash stepping beside Tanjiro and setting me down beside him, turning to look back at the decapitated body that was moving on it's own,
"i-it has no head! but- but its moving! "
"YOU BASTARTDS! SO ONE OF YOU WAS A DEMON AFTER ALL HUH! I COULDNT TELL WITH THE WEIRED VIBE YOU WERE GIVING OFF! BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING TEAMING UP WITH A HUMAN?!?!"
Hearing the sound of running foot steps I turned around to push Tanjiro away from the decapitated demons body, turning around in shock when the demons kick made a dent on in the floor, it fighting Nezuko, I ran back where the demon had dropped my knife shaped rock,
"Leave her alone!" Tanjiro screamed grabbing the hatchet he had dropped, screaming I tackled the head of the demon onto t he floor, pinning its small and freaky arms under my legs, I continued to scream at it as I stabbed it head repeatedly only for it to regenerate,
" YOU STUPID DEMON! WHY! WONT! YOU! JUST! DIE! ALREADY! YOU! CRAZY! SICK ASS! MIDGET! FUCK!!!!" screaming at him, with every stab I did,
"YOU CRAZY WOMAN! STOP IT! YOU CANT KIL- KILL! ME! AGH!!!!" scratching at my legs, me not feeling it I continued to stab it repeatedly, stopping as I realized he spoke in English,
"wait you- you speak English?!" staring down in shock at the demons head, with my hand above my head,
"of-fucking-corse I can! what do you take me for?! an illiterate fuck?!?" digging his fingers more into my legs I let out a yelp of shock, only to be pushed to the side, as Tanjiro lifted his hatchet above his head, only to be stopped as the demon bit down on the blade, grabbing on his shoulders, smirking, unable to stand up from the wounds on my thighs,
I can't get up, my legs are too scratched up, and my adrenaline almost gone, I can feel all the wounds the demon inflicted on me, I have to do somethi-!
Looking up in shock at the sound of a loud bang and choking sound, I saw Tanjiro head butting the demon, letting go of his shoulders, he grabs the demons head and head butts him again,
ACK IT SOUNDED LIKE SOME ONE THREW A ROCK AT THE WALL TWICE, TANJIRO HOW HARD IS YOUR FOREHEAD?!?!?!?!
Looking at him in awe, he took the handle of the hatchet, took a stance of a pitch ball thrower, and threw the the hatchet as hard as he can at a tree, effectively trapping the demon, to the tree, calling out to him, I pointed to the forest where Nezuko was thrown in,
"run after her! she needs help!"
"but-!" shaking my head no vigorously, I pointed back to the direction where the fight was happening,
"I'll be fine! just help her! she needs you!" with a little hesitation, he nodded, running into the forest,
"I'll be back! just stay there (f/n)!" sweat dropping, I sighed looking down at my wounded legs, wincing as I tried to move my legs into a comfortable position,
It's not like I can go anywhere huh?
"hey you! girl! help me out and I wont make your death as painful" the demon said, scratching at the wood of the tree, looking at him dot eyed,
"u-uh, does it look like I can stand home boy? look at what you did to my legs you dimwitted fuc-" I stopped my talking as soon as I saw the demon choke out blood, passing out,
"k, . . . I guess that means that Tanjiro and Nezuko's coming back now huh?"
after getting patched up with the help of Tanjiro, cutting up the bottom of my yukata up to the middle of my thighs to make bandages and stop the bleeding of my legs, leaning on Nezuko, he finally faced the passed out demon, holding a knife, hesitating to kill it,
just how long is Urokodaki going to get here? what's up with everyone taking their sweet time huh? man I'm going to pass out after all of this
"that knife isn't going to do the job."
ah, speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
"o-oh okay, then how do I kill him?"
"think for yourself, or aren't you capable of solving your own problems?" snickering lightly at Tanjiro's taken back look from how Urokodaki belittled him, I pointed out to the rocks beside him, gesturing he had to crush it, visibly seeing him gulp, he nodded grabbing a giant rock enough for him to crush the demons head, he lifted the rock above his head, hesitating still,
This boy is the nicest boy I know, I feel bad that this was the turning point of his life, but he needs to learn for himself,
Staring at the demon, noticing it finally woke up, I limped slowly to Tanjiro, shaking his shoulders as the demon tried to grab him despite being restrained by the hatched lodged into the tree,
"YOU BASTARD! GET OVER HERE! I'LL DEVAOUR YOU DAMMIT! AUGH! GET OVER SO I CAN REACH YOU LITTLE BRAT!"
"hey asshole" I said in English, the demon stopped flailing slowly looking at me angrily, I smirked and pointed at the right side of the forest where the sun was just rising,
"suns up, you a morning person?" He then panicked and looked to the right and tried to cover his face with his arms, screaming, he disintegrated from the morning light, snickering lightly, I look back at Tanjiro who dropped the rock he was holding, him gasping, as he tried to cover his mouth,
it's as if I can hear his thoughts, shit, this hurts, I know what's going to happen anyways, I'm going to sit by the steps of the shrine, I think imma pass out.
hearing in the distance Urokodaki scolding Tanjiro, I leaned myself down to the steps, folding my arms under my head to be a pillow, I sighed, closing my eyes, thinking,
maybe he can train me too? eh after this nap.
~ Bonus ~
Third Person
After finally finding Nezuko inside the basket covered with the cloth that was wrapped around it Tanjiro sighed, only to panic again when he didn't see the (h/c) girl with Nezuko, turning around to look for her, he saw (f/n) on Urokodaki-sans back, asleep.
thank goodness she's alright! she was so hurt I was sure she was-
"carry your sister and follow me, I will test you if you are ready to be part of the demon slayer corps!" nodding his head, he went to grab Nezuko, running after Urokodaki who was carrying name on his back, they stopped finally in front of Urokodaki's house, they went in and set (f/n) and Nezuko down properly on an already made mattress, leaving again for the top of the training mountain, Tanjiro placed his hand son both their heads, smiling as they both nuzzled into them,
I'll get stronger, for the both of you.
~ Chapter End ~