TW - death

Tanjiro's pov

I sat by Muichiro's bed, slowly caressing his hand, seeing how badly bruised his knuckles were. I felt absolutely horrible for letting this go so far.. I should have been with him right after the night we had the big fight.. but no.. I was fully blinded and stupid.

Suddenly Muichiro began to wake up. "Shinobu! He's waking up!" I yelled out and Shinobu quickly rushed over to me and Muichiro.

Muichiro opened his eyes and met mine "Mui! How are you feeling?! Is e-" I wanted to say but Shinobu interrupted me "shut up, he just woke up, you need to be slow with him" she said and looked at Muichiro "hey Muichiro, can you hear me?"

Muichiro weekly nodded, his eyes opened very little, if it was clear he was struggling to keep them open. "Okay, that's good, are you able to describe how you are feeling right now?"

Muichiro shook his head slightly. It was clear he was too weak to even speak now. "Alright, that's okay, just nod or shake your head when I ask you something, okay? Can you do that for me?" Shinobu asked and Muichiro gave her a tiny nod.

Shinobu then asked him a couple questions about how he's feeling and he continued to respond with small nods and with shaking his head a bit.

I couldn't help but look at him... he looked terrible.. so pale and clearly exhausted.. and it's all my fault..

"Alright, I'll get you some water, Nezuko said you barely drank anything and you need to stay hydrated to get better, after that you need to get some rest" Shinobu said and Muichiro tried to sit up but fell back down almost immediately.

"Woah woah, don't sit up yet, it's okay, Tanjiro will help you drink it" she said and walked out of the room to get a cup of water.

I sat there quietly, not knowing what to say to Muichiro, I felt like there were no words that could repair what I have caused.

I could see Muichiro trying to move his hand closer to me, he tried to reach mine but couldn't, and started to cry, still trying to reach my hand.

I immediately moved closer to help his hand in mine, slowly caressing the back of his hand with my thumb "it's okay.. no need to cry.. I am here now.. and I won't leave you again.."

Muichiro's eyes filled with more tears as he lifted his arms up weakly, asking for a hug. I happily wrapped my arms around him, being so happy that after all that, he still wanted me to hug him.. I couldn't be happier at this moment.

"I-I am.. so-sorry.." he said weakly between sobs. "Shh.. don't apologize.. it's not your fault.." I said and hugged him tighter "it's my fault.. I pushed you away when you needed me the most.. I didn't believe you with anything and yet when I managed to talk with you.. I didn't even try that much.." I slightly pulled away "but now I promise I'll be better.. I'll be with you.. I'll help you.."

Muichiro looked at me with tear-filled eyes and nodded slightly. I wanted to ask about how he said he loves me, it was circling my mind since the time he first said it.. but I didn't know if now was the right time to ask him.

"Here, help him drink it" I suddenly heard, seeing Shinobu standing next to me with a cup of cold water. I nodded and took the cup. I sat down next to Muichiro's head and lifted it up, helping him drink the water slowly.

After that I laid his head back down on the pillow and laid the half filled cup on the nightstand next to the bed.

"You should rest now, you look like you didn't sleep for years" I chuckled a little and Muichiro forced a small smile. "Do you want me to stay here or do you want to be alone?" I asked and Muichiro slowly reached for my hand again, signaling me that he wants me to stay with him.

I smiled "okay, I'll stay". He looked like he wanted to say something but I shushed him almost immediately "shh, don't talk, you don't want to drain your energy more, no? We'll talk properly when you get better, okay?"

Muichiro let out a quiet sigh and nodded. "Now rest, you need it" I said and caressed his head, seeing his eyelids closing a bit before opening again. It was clear he was trying to stay awake but with no success, he fell asleep almost immediately.

I smiled and kissed his forehead "I love you Mui.." I whispered to myself, hoping that things between us will solve and we won't have any fight like this ever again. I just wanted to be here for him but I trusted a person I barely knew for a week instead of a person I knew for months.

I stood up and went to look for Kanao, wanting answers from her, nothing added up, I needed to talk to her and later talk with Muichiro about this too.

"Hey Kanao" I said with a kind of annoyed tone. "Yes Tanji?" She said, making my eyes widen "don't call me that please"

"Why? Muichiro calls you that all the time, no?" She said with a smile and I crossed my arms "only he can call me that, now I have a question for you"

"Yes?" She smiled and I started to talk "after more thinking.. Mui passing out and all that.. I want to ask you if.. you were just trying to turn everyone against Mui.." I said quietly, not knowing if it was true, not wanting to hurt her feelings if it wasn't.

I could see her holding her laughter before her facial expression softened "no?.. why would you think that..?" She said with a hint of annoyance and happiness in her voice, she wasn't fooling me anymore.

"Tell me the truth, Kanao.. were you lying?" I said with a serious tone. She chuckled and then burst out laughing "you got me~ he did nothing wrong and yet all of you still trusted me.. I wanted him out for a long time now, it was either him or me who would be forced out of the shelter.. I guess I am going out now, huh~" she moved closer to me and placed her hand on my chest, the other hand slowly sliding down to my crotch "or am I?"

"Kanao, stop!" I yelled out and pushed her away. She laughed again "aw come on~ you are clearly enjoying it" she pointed to my crotch.

"I don't! Just fucking leave! Get out of this fucking shelter and n-" I yelled out but was immediately interrupted "what's going on here?"

I turned around to see Mitsuri "Tanjiro.. why are you bricked u-"

"That's not the main thing here! She literally just said that Mui did nothing wrong and that she made up all the stuff just so she can stay in the shelter" I yelled out and Misturi turned to look at Kanao.

Kanao started to chuckle, her chuckles soon turned into a hysterical laugh.

Muichiro's pov

I woke up due to hearing someone yelling. It was Tanjiro and Mitsuri who were yelling. I groaned and tried to sit up but fell back down.

"Don't touch me!"

"Come on Tanjiro! I know how much you want it!!"

I heard and immediately tried to sit up again, this time I managed to hold myself up. My whole body was shaking from the cold and weakness, but I didn't give up.

I tried to stand up but my legs immediately gave up on me "T-Tanji.." I stuttered out as I grabbed onto the edge of the bed and forced myself to stand. I leaned against the wall and took small careful steps.

The yelling from both Mitsuri and Tanjiro were getting stronger, making my head hurt even more than it already was before.

I came into the room and saw Kanao standing there with a wide smile on her face, trying to get closer to Tanjiro.

"Tanji.." I said weakly, feeling my legs slowly give up on me but I kept moving forward, trying to reach Tanjiro.

Tanjiro turned around and immediately rushed over to me "Mui!! What are you doing out of bed?! You should be resting!"

"I kn-know.. I-I am sorry, I-I heard yelling.. I-I was worried.." I stuttered out, feeling my legs shaking under me. If Tanjiro wasn't holding me now, I would definitely be laying on the floor.

"You!! You ruined everything!! I almost had it! I almost convinced everyone and you fucking ruined everything!" Kanao yelled out, trying to get out of Mitsuri's grasp.

"Get her out" Tanjiro said and Mitsuri nodded. Kanao was screaming and yelling at Mitsuri to let her go. She almost got out of her grasp couple times and tried to charge towards me but Tanjiro was protecting me.

Tanjiro opened the shelter door and Mitsuri pushed her outside. Tanjiro immediately shut the door and came back to me, holding me up so I wouldn't fall.

Kanao was screaming on top of her lungs, yelling at us to let her in. Suddenly her screams got louder "they are here!! Let me in!! They will kill me!!" She yelled out before letting out another loud scream.

She kept on screaming, crying hysterically before we saw blood slowly forming under the shelter door. I gasped and covered my mouth.

The screaming stopped completely, more blood slowly forming a bigger puddle. Mitsuri gagged and turned around from the door.

"We.. k-killed her?" I stuttered out, watching the puddle of blood slowly getting bigger and bigger. "No.. we didn't, if she wasn't screaming, they wouldn't hear her, it's her fault" Tanjiro said, turning me away from the door.

"Come on, let's get you back to bed, okay?" Tanjiro said and I slightly nodded in response.

...

Word count : 1686