Ascend The Multiverse|多元宇宙を昇る [Kny x Black!Reader x Countryhumans] {ON HIATUS}

Forty Two| 四十二

Where you dance to the beat of an aching writer's heart

A/N: Would you look at that? A new month, a new update. Let's not waste any time and jump right into it. Boss fight against Kyogai. English is in italics.

Or

I hear your heart beat to the beat of the drum (DU DU)

Enjoy.

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A yell reverberated through the mansion walls. The young boy squeezed himself deeper in warm arms as Kyogai's voice roared in rage from a distant corner of the house. It was loud, too loud for his liking. Had the two strangers not showed up in time, he definitely would have been...

"Kid. Hey, kid." A distorted voice above him spoke, subconsciously causing his breath to hitch. "Calm down, alright? You're safe now."

Was he? Could he truly believe that? He'd been trapped in a den of demons for hours, days, weeks...he couldn't really tell in his state.

"The kid in the persimmon-coloured kimono. That's you, isn't it? Your siblings have been so worried."

Siblings? Did they mean Teruko and Shoichi? He had to be sure.

"...w-where are they?" He cringed at how hoarse his voice sounded.

"Outside. They've been hoping for your well-being." Your hand gently caressed his back. "You'll be reunited with them very soon."

Finally, he pulled himself away to have a proper look on the two people that saved him from the scary creature. The hooded person with a funny voice, and a young man with a katana by his hip. At once, relief washed over him at the sight of a swordsman.

"Wh-who are you?"

The hanafuda wearer smiled as he crouched beside him. "I'm Kamado Tanjiro, and this is [L/N] [F/N]. We've come here to defeat the evil demon. Good job for hanging in there on your own."

Kiyoshi's lip trembled, stifling back a sob as he covered his face with his hand. Tanjiro frowned in sympathy, understanding his distress. It didn't help that such a young child was injured.

"Show me your wounds. If we don't treat now, you might get an infection," you said, already preparing to heal the kid. Unlike the earlier guy who was about to go on a express trip to heaven, this injury was a piece of cake.

Tanjiro's eyes widened in surprise. "R-really? You're going to heal him too?" The idea that you had the supernatural ability to repair wounds still didn't sink in his mind. That didn't make him any less excited though.

"Yes. I have enough stamina to spare." You nodded, beginning the process to heal Kiyoshi. The kid stared in shock as his skin sewed itself together.

Tanjiro in turn watched the process keenly as it happened at a slower pace. 'Her hand isn't touching his leg, and she's still wearing gloves. That must mean physical contact isn't necessary to heal others.'

"Good eye, Tanjiro."

"E-eh? Did I really..."

"Say your thoughts out loud again? Yes."

His face was a flustered mess as you stood up. He really needed to stop doing that. Thankfully, he managed to recover and get another account of events from the very traumatized victim. You had seen it all before in the anime, hence chose to step back for a brief moment.

After taking a break from Kyogai's delirious state driven by marechi, your mind was debating on his fate. You had determined three important things; he was hot, he was obsessed with marechi and general approval, and he was downright pissed.