Our Halcyon Days || Reader x Tanjiro | RESUME 2022!

* t w e n t y - n i n e *

One.

Three.

Four.

How many more human puppets would you have to fend off?

For how much longer could you last?

As you were, your arms felt like falling off, the sword wound on your left one throbbing terribly. The burn scars on your shoulder and ankle prickled, anticipating the moment you'd let your guard down.

It was only a matter of time.

Murata, however, was not as incompetent as the situation framed him to be. He had adequate strength and intelligence, only lacking in the reflexes department. Needless to say, there was no need for you to babysit him around the clock.

"You're worried about them." Murata stated the obvious — it'd be weirder if he hadn't noticed. Crouching close to the ground, you flung a low kick at the legs of a controlled Demon Slayer, sweeping her off her feet. "How observant of you," you said shortly, before wincing at your rudeness. In intense situations, you tended to say whatever came to mind.

"Sorry," you apologized quickly. "I'm just..." You paused to cut a line of approaching spiders cleanly in two. "...stressed."

He gave a nervous and forced laugh. "I know. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be fine alone, if you need to go to them." But you could tell — despite his passable qualifications as a Demon Slayer, Murata wouldn't be able hold his ground without you. Even with your aid, he was struggling.

Go, one half of you implored. Murata will be fine. Tanjiro and Inosuke will need you.

But... Tanjiro asked you to trust him.

Tanjiro doesn't want you to leave his side. Why go against what you both wish?

You shook your head rapidly to rid yourself of such selfish thoughts, surprising Murata in the process.

A life was at stake. You couldn't be so irresponsible.

"They'll be fine," you told the boy in an attempt to convince the both of you. "They're strong. We should focus on keeping these puppets at bay, so they don't end up bothering anyone else."

Murata nodded, slashing through the silver threads once more.

There's gotta be a way to subdue them.

"Please..."

A girl with raven black hair held back in a ponytail stood with trembling legs, the influences of the spider demon controlling her movements. Her left eye was bloodshot. Tears pooled at the corners of her eyes and spilled onto the bloody ground, one drop at a time.

Through her voice, you could feel the agony she was enduring.

"...Kill us..."

Her arms bent back in unnatural angles, the Demon Slayer prepared to strike, a scream escaping through her clenched teeth. Smoothly, you parried her strike. "We'll save you," were your words, but they were half-empty.

There was no correct answer in sight. The ice from your Snow breathing techniques was broken near instantaneously, thanks to their enhanced strength. To kill them would grant them peace — to let them live would continue their pain. More blood belonging to their allies would be splattered onto their unwilling hands.

You felt a thread on the back of your sword hand violently pull it to the side. You tried tugging your arm back, but to no avail. Your scimitar wouldn't be able to reach it.

"Ah-!"

Murata sliced through the string, freeing you. "You good?"

You nodded. "Yeah. Appreciate it."