The Bad Days [Tanjiro X Reader]

5 | The Drummer of Death |

The two walked towards the children, Y/N knelt down on one knee again. "So tell me, what are your names?" She asked comfortingly.

The little girl stuttered, suddenly huddling closer to her brother. "T-Teruko."
"And you?" Tanjiro asked, his tone calming, if not even more than Y/N's.

"Shoichi." He said in a wavering voice, trying to be strong for his little sister.

The two demon slayers warmly smiled at their innocence.

"Alright well, Shoichi, Teruko." Y/N started, her voice becoming slightly serious, but her smile never leaving her face. "We're going to investage inside the house, and I promise, we will do our very best to find and bring your brother back safely to you."
"Yeah, so both of you stay out here okay? It's the safest." Tanjiro continued, slinging his wooden box over his shoulder. He gently placed it under the shade of a nearby tree. "This box will protect you, no matter what happens alright?"

The siblings nodded, huddling near the box.

By the way.... where's Zenitsu? Y/N glanced around the area, locating the cowardly demon slayer, hugging himself behind a tree as he muttered stuff to himself.

....Oh my god...

She spun on her heel, not even bothering to comfort the boy.
Just let the stupid boy be like that, it's not like he'll do anything away.
....Maybe I'm being a bit rude..?
.No..no..no no no..
Ugh just stop thinking you stupid little--

Tanjiro smelled the scent of slight irritation coming from Y/N as she walked towards the mansion. His eyebrows furrowed in worry.
"Zenitsu!"
The yellow boy slowly cranked his head around to meet Tanjiro's gaze, his face was sulken.

"...We're going." Is all he said, turning on his heel and joining Y/N.
Zenitsu poked the ground with a stick, pausing for a moment.

"WAITT!! DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE HERE!!!"

The three demon slayers descended deeper into the mansion, or so Y/N titled in her head: the mansion of death.
Even at these times her crude mind had a sense of humor.

I'm going crazy from the fear, aren't I?

Tanjiro was surprisingly calm, his calmness calmed her down, no matter how cliche it may be.

The mansion itself was beautifully decorated. The wood covering the floor, walls, and ceiling had been polished to the brim, as shiny as new carved diamond. The color was a deep brown with a tinge of red, fantasically saturated. But Y/N couldn't help but acknowledge the growing pit inside her stomach.

Suddenly, Zenitsu screamed, shattering her train of thought.

She jumped, placing a hand on her chest as she stared wide eyed at him. Zenitsu shaked, pointing to the corner of the hallway behind them.
The siblings, Teruko and Shoichi, poked their heads out from the corner, tears whelling up in their eyes as they ran down the hallway and clutched onto Y/N's clothing.

Y/N pushed down her irritation at Zenitsu and let her nurturing side manifest. She gently placed both her hands on their heads, looking down.
"Hey, what happened to you two?" She asked in a soft voice. "It's dangerous inside here."

"T-The box! I-It started t-to move!" Shoichi stuttered out, his small frame terribly shaking.

Tanjiro frowned. "That box is more important than my life...."

Nezuko.. Y/N slightly frowned as well. Teruko noticed, tears started to stream down her face. "I-I'm sorry!"

Sympathy coated Y/N's heart once more. She kneeled down, flashing her signature, toothy smile.
"Hey, don't worry about it. It's more dangerous to go back, so we'll go together alright?"