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It hurt, a lot, really.
Everytime he moved, it felt like his body was being lit on fire and he was burning alive.
Fujima Mako and Kamado Tanjiro were sent on a mission together, they thought it would be like all their other missions. It was supposed to be..
Maybe the master overestimated Mako's strength, or underestimated the demon. Or maybe he just wanted Mako gone.
Because here Mako was, doing emergency first aid on himself, while his boyfriend fought the best he could against this demon whos blood demon art was to fog up humans' brains. Make their thoughts indecipherable and distant. The two slayers couldn't think right, so their attacks were messy and not quite right.
The ravenette hissed, putting pressure on the wounds that dug right into his solar plexus, and one that went right into his gut. Moving hurt like hell, but he needed to help Tanjiro.
He peaked around the tree he was sitting against, breathing softly to avoid too much pain.
Tanjiro was still fighting, it looked like he was winning, maybe.
Mako leaned against the tree again, maybe with that breathing technique Tanjiro told him about, he could stop the bleeding and get back out there and help.
But then the world started going dark.
"Mako!"
The voice sounded distant, but when Mako opened his eye, the owner of that voice was just inches away from his face.
"Mako!"
Tanjiro.
"T-Tanjiro.. hey.."
He felt warm arms wrap around him tightly, it hurt, but he decided not to say anything. His heart felt heavy, he felt dizzy and a little bit sick, but when he wasn't being squeezed, the places his wounds were felt numb. The only reason he knew he was still injured was the sharp tingling all around his body, and the shockwaves of pain that did show up when he moved.
"Did.. did you g-get it? I-Is the demon.."
"Yeah.. Yeah the demon's gone. It's okay." The red haired boy smiled as much as he could manage, despite the fact he was obviously exhausted.
"Can I pick you up? We should.. get somewhere safe, and get you help, I'm worried."
Mako looked at Tanjiro, especially his eyes, one of his favorite features about the red haired boy. Beautiful, shiny rubies for eyes. Mako loved them.
"C-Can we just.. sit here? A little longer?.." The ravenettes heart sank a little lower, an invisible weight getting heavier and just resting everything on his weak, already broken heart. One heart can only take so much.
But he had a feeling..
"H-ey.. Tanjiro?"
"Yes?"
"I love yo-u.. d-do you know that?"
"Yes, I know that. I love you too." Tanjiro replied softly, placing a gentle kiss on the ravenettes forehead.
Maybe Tanjiro had that same feeling.
The red haired boy held the younger one, and soon, he started crying.
"I want to help you, please.. Let me get you help." Two ruby eyes met one emerald eye. "Mako, please."
"Y-You've helped me.. so much. Y-Y'know that?"
Maybe helping him..
Tanjiro held Mako tighter.
Mako smiled softly. "I-I don't think there's an-y coming back for me.. Tanji."
"You never know! M-Maybe if we get you-"
Pale fingers found their way to hold tan ones. One's hand squeezed, the other squeezed back.
Tears filled the ravenettes eyes, a teary, green eye, met two teary red ones once more.
"I lo-ove you."
"Please don't leave me too.. Mako, please. I can't."
Another soft smile. "You're s-so warm."
For once, Mako's skin was freezing cold. Tanjiro hated that. His skin should be warm and bright. He was a walking heater. All of that heat was gone now, and his skin was paler than it should ever be.
Tanjiro hated it.
But...
…Maybe helping him...
Means letting him go. As painful as that'll be.
He wanted to be helped. He wanted to be saved, and recover and maybe one day, after the demon king gets defeated, he'd marry Tanjiro.
He wonders whose last name they'd choose.
Mako liked that thought. Maybe he'd become Mako Kamado.
He smiled one last time, and then he closed his eyes. He felt the tingling for a little longer, the pain of every breath, and he heard the soft crying of his lover at his side.
And then it was quiet and warm. There was no pain, no crying. Just peace and warmth. Mako liked that.
Tanjiro didn't let go of Mako, he didn't know if he ever could. But he had Nezuko. In the box. Where was the box? Tanjiro looked around, his eyes landing on the small box, sitting by the tree that he found Mako's unconscious form at.
He couldn't move. Maybe he could hang on for a little longer, Nezuko was okay, in her box, sleeping.
Tanjiro felt as Mako's skin got cold, he felt his lovers body become fully relaxed. It hurt, because he didn't do anything.
He could've picked up the ravenette and run to get Mako help. Like he did Nezuko when she became a demon. Why didn't he do that? Mako was light. Why didn't he pick up the younger boy and help him?