Chapter Text
She's bleeding from her side and from her head, it was a miracle how she was still conscious. That demon got her good, especially when she slammed her against the floor. A few ribs might have cracked because of the impact. Her lungs felt like they were on fire and she closed her eyes, unsheathing her nichirin blade as she jumped sideways to dodge an incoming attack, her senses heightening . She used her Thunder Breathing as she closed her eyes, charging towards the demon and finally severing her head and putting an end to this godforsaken mission.
She stood there, her body barely able to keep its balance. Breathing hurt. Her head hurt. Standing hurt. Everything hurt. All she was feeling was nithing but excruciating pain. Her knees gave in and she fell forwards, landing on the floor with a hard thud as her body jerked in reaction to the contact. Her eyelids were half open, struggling to stay like that. Especially because her world, her vision, was slowly being surrounded with black spots.
"Tan...jiro..." she whispered, her breathing ragged. She didn't know why her brain immediately thought of him when she was like this. But just imagining him smiling at her and telling her she did a good job, despite being heavily injured and clinging to life, made her feel relieved. The sound of wings fluttering was nearby, she could hear it even from a mile away. She turned her head, seeing her sparrow flying towards her, crying. She mustered her strength to smile at it, feeling her body growing more tired by the second.
"Chun...taro..." she wheezed out, her chest hurting as she forced herself to speak those words. Chuntaro flew over to her, nuzzling his head against her cheek. Even with the black spots slowly filling her vision, she could see the tears in her companions' eyes. Slowly, she reached her hand and pet his head. And then her ears picked up something. The sound of footsteps, and the sound of several heartbeats.
"Over here!"
"CAW CAW!" the moment both Tanjiro and Genya heard Matsuemon, they both looked up, seeing him flying towards his master as fast as he could. The scarred boy blinked, confused.
"That's your crow, right?" Genya asked, receiving a nod in response.
"Matsuemon, what's wrong?" Tanjiro asked.
"ZENKO! BUTTERFLY ESTATE! WORRYING WOUNDS FROM HER MISSION!" Tanjiro froze at that, his face falling. Zenko returned from her mission. She was injured. She got badly hurt during her mission. It all clicked in his head just a few seconds later as he shot up, jumping back to his feet.
"Sorry Genya! I need to see Zenko right now!" he apologized urgently, quickly bowing his head down. Genya just nodded. He didn't know the full extent of Tanjiro and Zenko's relationship, but he did know that Zenko was important to Tanjiro. Nearly as important as Nezuko.
"Matsuemon! Guide me to the Butterfly Estate!" he begged. His crow nodded as he took flight, Tanjiro following after him immediately. Zenko. She was okay. She had to be. She was probably just getting a check-up, and Matsuemon was probably just exaggerating! After all, ever since Tanjiro started dating Zenko, Matsuemon had grown overprotective of the blonde girl and her little sparrow companion. It had warmed Tanjiro's heart to see his crow grow so fond of the other girl.
The two arrived at the Butterfly Estate, Tanjiro's nose immediately picking up the smell of blood. He exhaled shakily as he opened the door, seeing Aoi hurrying over to a room, about to enter it. "Aoi!" he called. The black haired girl stopped, surprised to see Tanjiro there.
"Tanjiro?"
"Is Zenko okay?!" he asked, hurrying up to her side. The nurse frowned.
"Her ribs are cracked and she lost a worrying ammount of blood. The Kakushi brought her and her Kasugai sparrow here just a few hours ago." Aoi told him. Tanjiro's breath hitched, his eyes slowly widening at the report of his girlfriend's state. He should have gone with her. He should have accompanied her on that mission, and not let her go on her own. Why did he say that she'd do great on her own? He raised her confidence and told her that she wouldn’t go down so easily and that she would do a great job, like always, yes! But that's a normal thing a boyfriend did for a girlfriend! And now Zenko was gravely injured, and he wasn't there to protect her!
"Come on in. We just finished treating her, but she's unconscious." Aoi sighed, seeing Tanjiro's face. Her words snapped him out of her thoughts. He looked up at her, his eyes lighting up in hope. He was allowed to see her. He could see his Zenko. He quickly rushed inside once the nurse opened the door and she went inside first. Once his eyes fell on Zenko, he felt his heart stop for a moment, his breath caught in his throat.
She was laying on the bed, her eyes closed and her chest rising up and down slowly. Her head was bandaged, her short hair undone and the ribbons she always had on it were now on the small table beside the bed. Her cute, freckled face was patched up, and she was covered by the bedsheets, though he could see the hospital uniform's collar.
He slowly walked towards the edge of the bed, his legs moving slower than he wanted them to. Slow, heavy steps, until he stood right in front of the bed. Right in front of her. If it hadn't been for Aoi being in the same room, he would have broken down right then and there. He slowly knelt down in front of the bed, gently taking her hand, holding it delicately. He was holding it as if it was a treasure, as if it was made out of glass, and that it would shatter if he let go of it. Which he knew it wouldn’t happen. Zenko was strong. She was. She really was.
"Do you want a chair to sit down?" Aoi asked, Tanjiro looking up at her "If you fall asleep while kneeling on the floor, it'll be uncomfortable." she told him. He blinked.
"Fall asleep?"
"She did the same when she woke up before you did after you came back from the Entertainment District. When she was conscious, she basically crawled out of her bed and crawled towards yours. She refused to let go of you. We had to get Kocho-sama to get her to let go." Aoi recalled, her face scrunching up at the memory. Zenko crying loudly while clinging to Tanjiro's unconscious body and babbling out stuff the nurse did not understand at all. It was... an experience.
Tanjiro looked back at Zenko, his gaze softening. Of course she would have done that. She did the same when he came back from the Swordsmith Village, basically not leaving his side and being there until she was forced out. And then her promising to be back with anything for Tanjiro to eat. It made his heart hammer against his chest, to have Zenko care so much for him. It made him feel more relaxed, not needing to be the one with common sense in the small group of friends he had. He squeezed her hand gently, only one thought running in his mind.
Do not let go.
She was there for him and waiting for him to wake up after the defeat of Uppermoon 6. She was there for him and cheering him up after their victory in the Swordsmith Village. He had to do the same. He was going to do the same. Because that's what a boyfriend does.
He just hoped Himejima-san wouldn’t scold him for it.