DISCLAIMER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA BELONGS TO KOYOHARU GOTOUGE
Nezuko could've been staring at what she had done until sundown if not for Urokodaki-san coming up to her. She turned to see her teacher, suddenly her throat choked with emotion and she didn't know why.
"I did it," she managed, "I had helped so—"
Her sentence was left unfinished as her face was suddenly sunk into a sea of blue fabric. Urokodaki patted her head, his hand was full of affection and warmth. Nezuko's eyes felt hot with tears.
"I did not intend for you to go to the Final Selection." His voice was shaky but his words were hard. "I did not wish to have another one die, I underestimated you Nezuko."
He held her at arm's length, "You truly are an amazing child."
Nezuko had felt nothing more heavenly than washing up and putting on clean clothes, the clothes she had worn was a battered tunic that Nezuko had borrowed from Tanjiro which she made her pink kimono into a haori because it was the most familiar thing to her. Next to Tanjiro of course.
When Tanjiro saw her he had crushed her into a hug. He wasn't wearing his bamboo muzzle. If not for the slits in his eyes, he looked more human than ever. Nezuko took in his hug, he was so familiar and present amidst the alien world introduced to her: demons, swords, loss and so much pain. Nezuko buried her face into the smell of cottonwood soap and the worn fabric of Tanjiro's haori. The hands of their mother had sewn it, their family had been there with them always. Nezuko had sewn their kimono's into hers to always remember that. Always.
"Dinner is ready," Urokodaki-san grunted by the doorframe.
The sound of a hot meal was tantalizing, but just as she was about to go Tanjiro held Nezuko at arm's length and took a long strand of her hair. The black strand right next to the earring Tanjiro had given her three years ago. The earring was not alone, it's left partner right in front of her.
"It really has been a while hasn't it?" Nezuko asked.
Tanjiro had been a demon for a year.
"Is it hard? To be a demon?" Now that Tanjiro was so close, Nezuko could see circles under Tanjiro's eyes. "Get some sleep, Niichan. You need it more than ever now."
Tanjiro shook his head at her hair. You should cut it, it's dangerous to have long hair when you fight.
"After dinner, alright?" Nezuko smiled. "Get some sleep, I'll join you soon." She gave Tanjiro one last squeeze before joining Urokodaki-san for dinner.
The elderly knew how to make food. Dinner was oden and rice with egg. Modest but it was the best thing Nezuko had since eating stringy plants/ She was a petite girl but still managed to eat three bowls, Urokodaki-san was silent for the duration of dinner. Probably wondering how many more daikon and rice a girl like her can fit into her mouth.
"Thank you for the food," Nezuko sighed contently. She had nearly forgotten how much warmer the fire could be with close friends, except Urokodaki-san was nearly family now.
"You ate a lot," Urokodaki-san said. "That's good, a growing kid like you should eat a lot."
Her teacher got up and unhooked the pot from the fire, "In the Final Selection," Urokodaki continued, "you will see demons who have eaten many humans. As demons eat more humans, the stronger they will get. You will see very soon."
Urokodaki-san's voice was ominous and Nezuko had wanted to ask more. But he insisted her to sleep early, "A growing kid like you should also sleep early." He had said, "Demon or not."
Before putting out the candlelight Nezuko heard Urokdaki say: "Your brother had waited for you ever since you went to cut that boulder, he had been sleeping less and less."
Darkness enveloped the room as Nezuko climbed into the futon, despite the toil and soreness of her muscles. Nezuko took her brother's hand. His hand was cool, and yet still it was as if he still emitted that same warmth. The kindness and love so bright like the sun. And despite the promise Nezuko had said to be strong, Tanjiro still watched over her. He had watched the life wrench from their family as well, yet he still pushes himself to protect, always keeping his promise as an older brother.
Even as a demon and he needed sleep for nourishment, Tanjiro stayed up until she came back.
His favorite rice ball flavor is plum seaweed. Nezuko thought sleepily. Will he be able to eat it again?"
Nezuko had a fitful sleep, she woke up with surprisingly lightness and no soreness. Her eyes felt clear of sleep as she smelled the smell of breakfast waft through the tiny house. Nezuko got up and noticed that she was still holding Tanjiro's hand. She gave it a squeeze.
"Morning, Niichan." She said to him before tucking his hand back under his covers.
"Morning, Urokodaki-san." Nezuko said after she got ready. She decided to wear a white tunic and cinched at the waist with a pale pink ribbon and dark pants.
"Today's the Final Selection." Urokodaki said evenly. But Nezuko knew better.
"Yeah, I'm leaving after breakfast," She said as she took the bowl of rice porridge handed to her. Breakfast was more or less quiet, after cleaning up, Nezuko looked for Tanjiro to see if he was awake yet. Unfortunately, he wasn't. But Nezuko saw how peaceful he looked as he slept. Being the big brother, he knew from the start to not complain or cry. Nezuko worried that he bottled up his feelings and it would break him.
When Sabito had fought her on the first day, she had yelled louder than she ever had. Sabito had helped her unbottle her feelings and as she was thinking back at it then. Nezuko quietly thanked Sabito and Makomo more than ever.
Nezuko leaned over Tanjiro and kissed the top of his hair, it was clean and smelled like home. Nezuko got up and went to gather the last of her things for the Final Selection.
"I'm going!" Nezuko called to Urokodaki-san.
"Wait," he said before she left. He walked to the back of the room and opened a panel in the wall Nezuko hadn't noticed before. He produced a folded jacket and what seemed to be a mask.
"Take this," Urokodaki-said. "Please." He then added.
Nezuko took the jacket and noticed that the embroidery was the same as Urokokodaki-san's, although her teacher was wearing another blue jacket right then Nezuko remembered he had worn the same blue haori when they had first met. The threads mimicked the flow of water and the clouds settled over the blue like the mist would over a forest.
Nezuko placed on the jacket, it's interior was cool. Urokodaki handed her the mask, it's face half in the sunlight and half in the shade. Nezuko looked at it curiously, it was a bit like Sabito and Makomo's. It's eyes were opened like Sabito's and there was a smile just like Makomo's, but that was where the similarities end: at the corners of its mouth were two pink dots. And instead of being shaded black like Sabito's the mask's eyes had two pupils in fiery pink like Nezuko's eyes. On its ear was a pink ribbon tied to it.
"It;s a warding mask," Urokodaki-san explained. "It'—"
His voice cracked with emotion. Nezuko had never seen him like this.
"It's… supposed to ward off demons. The lesser ones wouldn't try to bother you." He swallowed, his Adam apple bobbing with difficulty.
"I understand," Nezuko said gingerly, taking the mask and worried for her teacher.
She held it to the light, "It's cute, just like Makomo-chan's."
Urokodaki stumbled as if he was punched. He made a sound in his throat that sounded a bit like: How?
"I'll be taking my leave now! Please take care of my brother for me!" Nezuko smiled and waved. "Say thanks to Sabito and Makomo-chan for me! And…"
She came forward with a hug: "Thank you, Urokodaki-san."
Nezuko pushed herself away, "See you later!"
She turned and ran off to the Final Selection, Urokodaki's blue figure grew smaller until he was just a dot of sea blue amidst the lifting fog of the forest. Light streamed through the trees in dappled drops like tears.
Was Urokodaki-san crying?
(A/N) Have a nice day everyone :D
