Chapter Text
The last thing Tanjirou had expected to see inside of Muzan’s private study was a young boy calmly thumbing his way through the latter’s collection of rare, leather-bound books, but the apparent absurdity of the situation couldn’t have mattered less. Not with the present danger still at hand. Tanjirou’s only concern lay with figuring out a way to ensure the young boy’s safety. He had to act fast, before anyone else found him.
He had to act now.
With no time left to spare, Tanjirou felt a slight pang of guilt as he hurriedly pulled him out of the room without an explanation, his mind too busy running through all the known blind spots in the mansion to notice that the boy had already let go of his hand. It was only once he’d turned the corner that he realized there was no longer anyone or anything trailing along behind him.
Tanjirou clutched at his stomach, his mind becoming hazy as the walls started spinning and closing in all around him.
“Still, after all this time…”
He was nearly ready to collapse when an oddly familiar voice called out, the sobering sound gradually bringing him back to reality.
“You’re awfully kind to children, aren’t you? So much so, you’re willing to betray me for one you only just met. Damn brat.”
Tanjirou slowly blinked twice. With one of the most beautiful women he’d ever laid eyes on still intently staring back at him, almost glaring at him now, he pinched his cheek just to make sure. This was reality, wasn’t it?
“Tch. What’s the matter with you? Did you get so mesmerized by my beauty that it rendered you utterly speechless?”
Muzan knew he was playing a dangerous game, but the thrill of seeing that fleeting recognition in Tanjirou’s eyes, teetering on the edge of his lost memories was simply too great a temptation to resist. Really, it was his own fault for being so much fun to tease.
“Yes, ma’am!”
So honest…! Even after spending hundreds of years as a Demon, the brat was too damn honest! Although it vexed him so, there was nothing else Muzan could say to that. He quietly reverted back to his original form, watching all the colour rapidly drain from Tanjirou’s incredibly red face.
His ruby eyes rolled right into the back of his head as Tanjirou finally collapsed into the chest of the all too familiar man in front of him. Muzan allowed a faint smirk to grace his lips as he welcomed the brat into his arms.
Of course the boy would faint before their lips even had a chance to touch.
He was still just a bud, after all.