Tanjiro
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting its soft glow over the small room where Nezuko rested. The earlier chaos and uncertainty seemed to have faded, replaced by a serene calmness. Tanjiro sat beside her, his eyes never leaving his sister. His heart was filled with relief, gratitude, and a touch of anxiety as he waited for her to wake.
She looked different now. The most striking change was her appearance—she had grown into an adult, her once small and childlike form replaced by that of a young woman. Her demonic features had vanished entirely; her skin was soft and unmarked, her fangs and the marks that once adorned her face gone. She looked... human.
Tanjiro couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at his lips as he watched her breathe evenly. He knew she was healing, truly healing, and the thought filled his heart with hope. He hadn't seen her like this in years—peaceful, untouched by the torment of being a demon.
The first sign of her awakening was the soft flutter of her lashes. Tanjiro leaned closer, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Nezuko," he called softly, his voice trembling with emotion.
Her eyes opened slowly, hazy at first, but soon they focused on him. Her lips parted, and for a moment, she seemed uncertain. Then, like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds, she spoke.
"Onii-chan…" Her voice was soft, hesitant, and fragile, yet undeniably human.
Tears welled up in Tanjiro's eyes, spilling down his cheeks as he reached out to embrace her. "Nezuko! You're back! You're really back!" His voice cracked with emotion, and he held her tightly, as if afraid she might disappear.
Nezuko's arms slowly wrapped around him, and she rested her head on his shoulder. The warmth of her brother's embrace was comforting, familiar—a tether to the life she had once lost.
After a moment, she pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting his. "Onii-chan," she began, her voice still soft but gaining strength, "I feel… different. Like something has changed inside me."
Tanjiro nodded, wiping the tears from his face. "It's true. You're human again, Nezuko."
Her expression shifted, her brows furrowing slightly as though she were searching for something deep within herself. Then her eyes lit up with recognition, and she said, "Alex… I can feel him."
Tanjiro's breath caught. He hadn't told her Alex's name. There was no reason she should know it. Yet, she said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"You… you know his name?" Tanjiro asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
Nezuko nodded slowly, her gaze distant as if she were following a thread only she could see. "It's strange, Onii-chan. I don't know how, but I feel connected to him… like he's a part of me now. His name… it just came to me."
Tanjiro's thoughts raced. Alex had mentioned something about this before giving Nezuko his blood. He had said there would be a connection, something intangible but profound, between Nezuko and himself. At the time, Tanjiro hadn't fully understood what he meant, but now it was clear.
"That must be it," Tanjiro murmured, more to himself than to her. "He told me this might happen… that there would be a bond between you two because of the blood he gave you."
Nezuko tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "I feel… safe when I think of him," she admitted. "Like he's someone I can trust, someone who… saved me." Her eyes grew determined, and she grasped Tanjiro's hands tightly. "Onii-chan, I want to meet him."
Tanjiro hesitated, his protective instincts flaring up. Nezuko was still recovering, and while he trusted Alex, he wasn't sure if she was ready to leave the safety of their current location. "Nezuko, you can meet him," he said gently, "but not tonight. You're still healing, and it's been such a long day. Rest for now, and I'll take you to him tomorrow."
Her lips pressed into a pout, and she looked at him with pleading eyes. "But I feel fine, Onii-chan. I… I need to see him."
Tanjiro smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I know, Nezuko. I understand how you feel. But trust me, it's better if you rest tonight. Alex isn't going anywhere. You'll see him tomorrow, I promise."
Nezuko seemed to consider his words, her shoulders slumping slightly as she realized he wasn't going to change his mind. "Alright," she relented, her voice tinged with disappointment. "Tomorrow, then."
Tanjiro gave her a reassuring smile. "Thank you, Nezuko. You'll feel even better after a good night's sleep. And I'm sure Alex will be happy to see you, too."
Her eyes softened at his words, and she leaned back against the futon, her expression pensive. "Onii-chan," she said after a moment, her voice quiet.
"Yes, Nezuko?"
She hesitated before speaking again. "I don't remember much from when I was a demon… but I know you were always there for me. You never gave up on me, even when things were at their worst. Thank you, Onii-chan."
Tanjiro's heart swelled with emotion, and he took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. "You're my little sister, Nezuko. I'd go through it all again if it meant bringing you back."
A small smile graced her lips, and for a moment, the room was filled with a comforting silence. Nezuko closed her eyes, her breathing steady, and Tanjiro watched over her, his heart filled with gratitude and hope.
As he sat there, his thoughts drifted to Alex. Despite his initial reservations, Tanjiro couldn't deny the debt they owed him. He had done what no one else could—he had given Nezuko her humanity back.
Tanjiro glanced at his sister, who had fallen into a peaceful sleep, and murmured softly, "Thank you, Alex. For everything."
~~~
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