Chapter Text
Tanjiro’s eyes fluttered open as his attention was forced upon Muichiro. The younger boy was still sleeping, but was thrashing around and making soft noises. Tanjiro took Muichiro’s face in his hands in worry.
“Mui? Are you okay?”
Muichiro didn’t wake up and began to shiver. Tanjiro didn’t really know what to do and attempted to shake Muichiro awake— to no avail. Tanjiro thought that maybe Muichiro was cold because the fire was dying down, so he tried to stake it. Only a small flame was produced, and it didn’t do much to warm them back up. Muichiro was still shivering and moaning, so Tanjiro attempted to pull him closer for warmth.
“…Yui… no…” Muichiro whimpered against Tanjiro’s chest.
Tanjiro’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.
Who’s “Yui?”
Tanjiro had never heard the name himself.
It seemed that Muichiro was having a nightmare, and though he was visibly cold, he was also sweating. Tanjiro didn’t want to leave Muichiro alone, but he thought he needed to get help from somebody in the house. He reluctantly got up and kissed Muichiro on the forehead.
“I’ll be back, okay?” Tanjiro rubbed Muichiro’s cheek.
“No… no…” Muichiro was still dreaming, but it was as if he were begging Tanjiro not to go. “Don’t leave me alone again….” A small tear fell down the side of Muichiro’s face. Tanjiro felt his heart sting with worry and he sat back down.
“Okay, okay. I won’t leave, Mui.” Tanjiro felt Muichiro’s forehead. He had a… fever? How was that even possible? His body temperature was still supposed to be lower than normal, but now it was above normal? Tanjiro scooped Muichiro up in his arms, though his body was still weak, and went to search for help.
Tanjiro opened the door with his foot and rushed down the hallway. He wasn’t super familiar with the cabin, so he had to use his sense of smell to try and find someone. He tracked the smell of the person he recognized to be Fumiko, the oldest daughter. Everyone else seemed to be scattered around the house, but Fumiko was in the kitchen.
Tanjiro was panting by the time he reached the kitchen, and Muichiro was a feverish mess in his arms.
Fumiko began turning around when she heard someone enter the room.
“What is it?” Fumiko’s head turned and caught sight of Tanjiro and Muichiro. Her eyes went wide with worry and she rushed over.
“Sorry for bothering you… but can you please help him?” Tanjiro was holding Muichiro against his body like as if he were scared someone was going to come up and steal him. Fumiko put her hand on Muichiro’s forehead and felt his temperature.
“I-I… yes. What happened to him?” Fumiko gasped at the sheer temperature.
Tanjiro clutched Muichiro tighter.
“He w-was sleeping and then I think he had a nightmare and he started sweating and he was crying… and I felt his head and it was really warm…” Tanjiro rambled, barely taking a breath between any of his words. Fumiko nodded and went to get a cold cloth. She wrung it out and walked back over to the boys.
Fumiko guided Tanjiro over to the couch so he could lay Muichiro down. Fumiko then applied the cloth to Muichiro’s forehead. It seemed to help sooth him a bit, but it didn’t help Tanjiro. The older boy was clutching onto Muichiro’s hand for dear life.
Fumiko sighed.
“I’ve never seen a bad dream affect someone like this before…”
Tanjiro bit his lip as hot, stinging tears threatened to break loose.
It’s just a fever. It’s just a fever. It’s just a fever.
Tanjiro knew it wasn’t that serious, after all, both of them had been through way worse; but Tanjiro couldn’t help himself from worrying to death about it.
Fumiko had gotten up and fetched a cup of water for Muichiro. Then Tanjiro helped lift Muichiro’s head as Fumiko helped him drink the water. Muichiro immediately seemed to calm down even more.
After a while of silence, Fumiko spoke.
“You guys are close, huh?” Her eyes were fixed on where Tanjiro was clutching Muichiro’s hand like as if it were going to fall off if he let go.
Tanjiro hesitated before nodding.
“Yeah.”
Fumiko looked away for a moment.
“How close?”
Tanjiro’s body tensed up. Part of him knew that not everybody would be accepting of his relationship. It still hurt. Tanjiro hated lying, but he felt it was safest.
“…We’re best friends,” Tanjiro lied. He had to turn his face away because the embarrassed blush was obvious from a mile away.
“Don’t lie.” Fumiko’s eyes were drilling holes into Tanjiro’s brain, allowing all of his secrets to spill out into the open for her to see.
Tanjiro knew that she knew. It was obvious. The two boys had been all over each other ever since they arrived at the cabin. Most friends didn’t act that way towards each other.
Tanjiro didn’t want to be rude. He hated having a tone with others, but he felt like that time, it was allowed.
“Why do you care so much about my relationship status?” His voice came out harsher than he meant for it to.
Fumiko sighed deeply.
“I didn’t mean to press so hard. I was just curious. I’m sorry.” A bit of an embarrassed blush creeped up on her cheeks. Tanjiro suddenly felt a little bad for getting so harsh with her.
“No… I’m sorry,” Tanjiro said softly. He looked into Fumiko’s eyes. Her eyes didn’t look threatening.
I should just tell her.
Tanjiro placed his hand on Muichiro’s cheek and caressed it softly.
“…He’s my boyfriend.” The words sounded a bit funny to Tanjiro, since he never really said it out loud.
Fumiko had a soft smile on her face and she nodded.
“I thought so.”
Tanjiro couldn’t help but smile as well. He felt a little relieved knowing that Fumiko respected their relationship.
After a bit of talking, Tanjiro figured out that Fumiko was sixteen— a year older than himself. They figured out that they actually had a lot in common, and became more friendly with each other. Tanjiro told her all about his different demon encounters and his missions, which she listened very intently to. They also noticed Muichiro perking up a bit. His fever seemed to go down and he stopped sweating as much. He was still asleep, but his nightmare seemed to be replaced by a peaceful sleep instead.
Tanjiro couldn’t help but feel relaxed. He had someone to talk to and Muichiro was getting better. He also couldn’t help but notice the blizzard dying down. Fumiko went up to the window and looked out of it, studying the weather.
“You two should be able to leave tomorrow morning at the earliest,” she mentioned. Tanjiro smiled and nodded.
“Okay, thank you.”
A bit later, Tanjiro and Muichiro had dinner. Muichiro was very quiet and didn’t feel great, so he didn’t eat really anything. Tanjiro was still worried sick, but he held back on smothering Muichiro until they were alone.
Then, when they got back to the room they were staying in, Tanjiro almost pounced on Muichiro.
They fell down on the futon and Tanjiro was cradling Muichiro’s body in his arms.
“Tanji?” Muichiro was surprised by the sudden movement.
Tanjiro kissed Muichiro all over his face and down his neck.
“You had me so worried!”
Muichiro turned a bit red at the kisses.
“Sorry…”
Tanjiro squeezed Muichiro.
“It’s okay. I’m just worried about you.”
Muichiro couldn’t help but allow Tanjiro to smother him.
“You worry too much about other people…” Muichiro whispered against Tanjiro’s neck. Tanjiro let out a small laugh.
“Maybe. But I don’t think I worry about you enough.”
Tanjiro continued kissing Muichiro all over his face and his plump lips. Muichiro couldn’t help but notice just how perfectly he fit in Tanjiro’s arms, almost like as if he were always meant to be there.
So warm…
Muichiro’s hands ran through Tanjiro’s hair as their tongues met in each other’s mouths.
Muichiro was becoming completely undone by Tanjiro, and the older boy couldn’t help but adore the younger in his arms.
“Tanji..?” Muichiro suddenly gasped out between kisses.
“Yeah?” Tanjiro’s response was rushed as his lips met Muichiro’s once more.
Muichiro reluctantly pulled away, still blushing furiously. His lips were all red and swollen.
“I think there’s something wrong with me,” Muichiro muttered, suddenly embarrassed.
Tanjiro’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Muichiro snuggled up closer to Tanjiro for comfort and rested his head on Tanjiro’s shoulder.
“I keep getting these… I don’t know what to call them… memories…? But I don’t know if they’re real or fake.” Muichiro nervously twirled Tanjiro’s hair in his fingers.
“You’re getting memories?” Tanjiro’s voice was slightly surprised and hopeful.
“I think so…” Muichiro wracked his brain trying to understand what he had seen and felt. “I would get them when I was sleeping here… I don’t know why here exactly. But they didn’t feel like dreams or things I was imagining— they felt real. The problem is that when I’d get those memories, they’d drift away immediately. I can’t remember what I did remember. I just know that at one point I felt so sick and scared that I wanted to wake up but I couldn’t. That was probably when I got the fever…”
Tanjiro slipped his hand around Muichiro’s waist and looked down at him.
“I see.” Tanjiro’s expression was a bit solemn, like he had hoped that Muichiro actually remembered his past. “Does the name ‘Yui’ ring a bell by any chance?” Tanjiro remembered the name that Muichiro had called out in his dream.
Muichiro’s eyes went wide for a second and his body stiffened before returning to their normal states.
“I- um…” Muichiro began to speak, but every time a new memory came into his head, it was almost like something clawed it away.
A boy…
No…
Is this a mirror?
What…?
Muichiro snapped himself back into reality and looked up at Tanjiro.
“I can’t remember.”
Tanjiro nodded and stroked Muichiro’s hair soothingly.
“It’s okay. Let’s not rush it.”
Then, Muichiro was being laid down on the futon next to the fire. Tanjiro laid down next to him.
“It’s kinda hot…” A line of sweat was forming on Muichiro’s forehead.
Tanjiro realized that he felt a bit warm too, so he removed his robe and climbed under the covers. He helped Muichiro remove his as well.
Soon enough, the two boys were laying on their sides, facing each other. They weren’t really saying much, and Tanjiro was just running his finger over Muichiro’s soft lips. Muichiro couldn’t help himself and planted a small kiss on Tanjiro’s finger. Tanjiro smiled and moved closer, rolling on top of Muichiro. The two laid there for a moment before Tanjiro started leaving small kisses on Muichiro’s neck and shoulders.
“Aahh~ Tanji…” Muichiro gasped out as he felt those soft lips caress his skin. It was almost like an angel’s kiss.
Tanjiro continued to taste every bit of Muichiro’s skin that was above the blanket. He wanted to memorize it— to understand it.
Tanjiro’s touch was so gentle and careful that it made Muichiro realize just how lucky he was to have someone who loved him just that much.
Muichiro whimpered as he felt a tongue dart out against his neck before he felt a small pain. Tanjiro’s teeth were scraping against the younger boy’s neck.
“T-Tanji… stop.. we can’t…” Muichiro gasped out, not wanting it to stop, but knowing he couldn’t get too excited in a stranger’s home.
Tanjiro giggled as he felt something hard rub against his hip.
“My bad…”
Tanjiro rolled back over to his side and laughed at Muichiro’s pout.
“Look what you did…” Muichiro whined.
Tanjiro blushed and put his hand over his mouth.
“I’m sorry…” Tanjiro leaned in closer. “I bet I could help you take care of that real quick…” his voice came out as a sly whisper.
Muichiro shoved him away playfully.
“No! Not here!”
Tanjiro fell back, laughing. He pulled Muichiro close to him and kissed his lips softly once more.
“Let’s go to sleep then.”
Muichiro nodded, still pouty.
Tanjiro smiled and closed his eyes, resting his head against Muichiro’s chest. Tanjiro’s soft, fluffy hair tickled a little bit, but in a good way. Muichiro let out a small noise as he sighed, snuggling in closer.
“Goodnight, Mui.” Tanjiro’s voice vibrated Muichiro’s chest.
“Goodnight, Tanji.” Muichiro wrapped his arms around Tanjiro’s head and closed his eyes.
Maybe this time Muichiro would have a better dream.