Work Text:
Consopition
/kon-soh-PISH-uhn/
noun
the act of lulling to sleep; a state of drowsiness or repose
“the gentle rhythm of the rain brought a welcome consopition, easing her into a peaceful slumber”
+++
Tanjiro and Zenitsu didn’t go on missions together very often. Since meeting Inosuke, the three had usually been together – with the exception of Tanjiro and Nezuko splitting off every so often.
Now, though, Inosuke had been sent on a mission. It worried Zenitsu a little bit – not that he would ever admit that – because if something happened, no one would know.
He hoped that never happened to him.
Shortly after Inosuke’s departure, Tanjiro and Zenitsu were summoned as well. It wasn’t a short walk – they never were – but that wasn’t what bothered the yellow haired boy. Upon arriving in the town, something was very clearly wrong. He would have noticed even if he wasn’t looking for a demon.
The townspeople smiled and waved, speaking politely. But their eyes had no light, and Tanjiro covered his nose whenever they passed by. No matter how hard Zenitsu strained his ears, he could not pick up the faintest traces of their heart beats. The sun had set, and Nezuko came out of her box to roam with the two boys. They were all on edge, but none dared to voice their concerns. Not until Zenitsu bumped into someone, that is.
It was just a light brush, but their skin was too dry, too raisiny, a freezing cold body with no sound or soul to accompany it. He let out a shriek, no longer able to ignore what was happening. He knew it wasn’t smart – they were trying to lure the demon out without letting it know they were aware of its existence.
“DEAD!” He yelled, jumping behind Tanjiro. He grasped the boy’s wrist, desperate to override the memories of rotting skin with something alive and warm. “THEY’RE ALL BODIES!”
Zenitsu wasn’t a stranger to dead bodies. Hell, this wasn’t even the first time he’d seen them moving around. This was different, though, because these… things were still acting as if they were alive. Had he been more ignorant, had he not been cursed with his senses, he would not have noticed a thing. Alas, that was not the case, and he couldn’t tell if the tears in his eyes were from fear or the increasingly strong stench of rot.
“Zenitsu!” But the warning was too late. The moment his screams echoed through the town, people started moving towards the group. It was a slow movement at first, as if the demon controlling them wasn’t sure if they knew everything. Once it had gotten confirmation, though, it gave up on making the bodies appear lifelike.
They twisted in ways no living person could, having no signals in their brain to make them stop. ‘They’re already dead!’ He reminded himself as he cut through flesh and bone.
‘They’re long gone,’ He thought as the body of a woman jumped towards him, her rotten flesh tearing from the force of her movements. Her nails were long and sharp, and they dug into his skin, ripping his skin so that it matched her own. ‘Every one is dead – no one will even know they’re gone.’
It was a terrifying thought, and it took him a moment to realize he was screaming again. Tears were blurring his vision, and he could barely fight – he never could fight, he still wasn’t strong enough.
+++
When Zenitsu came to, the battle was over. He once again laid on the ground, bruised and bloody, with no recollection of how he got there. His muscles ached, and he could feel blood dripping down his legs and arms.
He heard a voice in the distance and his body jolted upward, searching for the noise.
“Tanjiro! Nezuko!” He cried, tears soaking his skin just as much as the blood. It hurt, but he forced himself to stand. If he could find the Kamado’s, everything would be okay. The demon was surely killed – he had too much faith in them to doubt that. All they needed to do was find a Wisteria house, and they would be fine.
“Zenitsu!” Tanjiro slowly came into the boy’s line of vision, Nezuko trailing behind him. Her hair was a mess, and her heart was beating faster than usual. He liked the sound – it meant they had won.
Blood stained various spots on Tanjiro’s clothing, and Zenitsu stumbled towards the boy, collapsing into his arms. He let out a small oof at the sudden weight, but made no complaints.
“I’m so glad you guys are okay!” His voice was loud and shaky as he clutched onto the fabric of Tanjiro’s shirt, pressing his head closer so he could hear the boy’s heartbeat. “What happened!?”
Tanjiro smiled kindly, like he always did. He rubbed small circles into Zenitsu’s back for a moment before propping him up so that they could walk.
“I’ll explain it all later. Can you walk much on your own?”
Zenitsu shook his head. His legs were soaked in blood, to the point where the bits of flesh that had been torn were barely visible. They throbbed slightly, but he was quickly losing the remaining bit of feeling. On one hand, that meant less pain. On the other…
“I’m gonna die!” He wailed as Tanjiro slowly lifted him onto his back. It stung a little, his legs digging into the boy’s sides, but it was better than walking. Nezuko offered a comforting hand on his shoulder, and he smiled warmly at her. “Thank you, Nezuko-chan.”
+++
He couldn’t sleep.
Nezuko had passed out as soon as they arrived, the energy used during the fight draining her. She would probably be asleep for at least a day. Zenitsu envied her, but his own issues with sleep were currently the problem.
Memories flashed in his mind every time he began to drift off, someone screaming, a sound akin to a child crying if its vocal cords had long since deteriorated, fingers and nails digging into his skin, grabbing and tearing.
And he couldn’t place any of it. It was all blurry – no visuals to accompany the horrifying screams of the dead. They were garbled and raw, too much force without any real air. There was only one image that appeared in his mind; the woman lunging towards him, her skin too tight and her nails too sharp, pushing him away from two small children. They looked like her, in the memory, and some part of him hoped his mind was playing tricks.
Tears fell slowly from his eyes, but he tried not to make any noise. It was late at night, and both of his friends needed their sleep. They had earned it, after all. So Zenitsu laid in his bed, staring at the ceiling, allowing the pain from his injuries to burn and ache every time he remembered a memory that was not fully his.
“...Zenitsu? What’s the matter?” Tanjiro’s voice was soft, a gentle whisper beside him.
Had he woken him up? That wasn’t supposed to happen!
“It’s nothing Tanjiro, I just can’t sleep..! You should go back to bed.”
Tanjiro stayed quiet for a few moments, and Zenitsu thought he had really fallen asleep.
“I can’t sleep either,” He admitted quietly, turning to face Zenitsu. The boy did the same, his own dull eyes meeting deep red, “Is it because of..?”
Just hearing Tanjiro’s voice made Zenitsu’s heart calm. Along with the sweet sound of his heart beat, there was nothing more relaxing. He nodded slowly.
“I keep hearing sounds from the people we fought! And I know they weren’t alive, but they had been so quiet before, and now all I can hear is their voices!” It was a harsh whisper followed by a sob. His hearing was often more of a curse than anything, and now was not an exception. Tanjiro placed a rough hand over Zenitsu’s own, and he swallowed thickly, glancing down at where they were connected.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Zenitsu hesitated. Something to drown out the noise, to sooth his crowded mind. An answer came to mind, but he was far too ashamed to admit it. He looked away from his friend, his face burning and a pit forming in his stomach.
Tanjiro tugged lightly on his hand, prompting Zenitsu to look at him. When he did, he noticed the boy’s arm was raised slightly, a silent offer of comfort. The boy gave in immediately, sliding over so that his ear was pressed against Tanjiro’s chest, and his arm rested against the boy’s side. He avoided allowing their legs to touch or tangle (even if he wanted to), afraid that the wrapping around them would come undone.
“Can you keep talking?” He asked shakily, and it was the quietest his voice had been all night.
Tanjiro’s words filled his mind, and the vibrations when he spoke were a pleasant buzz. His eyes began to droop, and it became harder and harder to focus his vision. Slowly, his breathing evened out, and his heartbeat began to match Tanjiro’s.
It was a dreamless sleep.