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It was hot. That’s the only thing hitting Mizuki right now, sweat stinging her eyes as her chest heaved. Zenitsu wasn’t far behind, panting even louder than she was.
A loud, stern voice ripped her from her thoughts. “Chin up! Pay attention, you two. Do you want to die? Demons will not care for your daydreams.” Gramps swung his cane sharply under their feet. Both of them yelped as they toppled forward, landing in a heap on the dirt.
“Zenitsu!” Mizuki snapped, shoving him off as she got to her feet. “Stop lagging behind me! I can’t always throw the hits!” Zenitsu’s eyes were already glassy, his voice cracking into a wail.
“But I’ll die if I’m up front! You know I’m weak!”
Clutching at her haori like it was a lifeline, he nearly dragged her down with him again. Mizuki rolled her eyes, prying his hands off and standing firm.
“You say that, but I don’t believe you. What—you want me to die first? Yeah, not happening.”
Arms crossed, her glare locked with his.
Gramps’ cane thudded against the ground making his two students jump, his tone sharp and unyielding
“When thunder first strikes, the second strike is never far behind. If you two can’t stay together, you’ll both fall behind—and be killed. You never leave each other behind. Understood?”
For a moment, neither spoke. Mizuki and Zenitsu exchanged a look, half-frustrated, half-understanding.
“PLEASE MARRY MEEEEE!”
The shrill wail shattered the memory, snapping Mizuki out of her dissociation. Her eye twitched.
In front of her, Zenitsu was sprawled on the ground, clutching desperately at a poor girl’s haori. Snot and tears stained her clothes as he sobbed into the fabric.
Mizuki tipped her head back to the sky, as if silently asking the gods why this was her partner.
“I don’t want to die alone! You’re so kind, please, I’ll treat you right—OW! Owowow—!!”
He didn’t even get to finish his pathetic performance before Mizuki had him by the ear, yanking hard in an effort (and slight failure) to pry him off the terrified girl.
“Zenitsu, so help me—” she hissed, dragging him back with all the patience of a saint on its last thread. “You won’t have to worry about demons killing you in the night if you keep this up. I’ll do it myself.”
Her brows furrowed, locked in a gross, unyielding stare-down as he squirmed.
Zenitsu howled, tears flying everywhere.
“But I’m gonna die anyway! I’m too weak! Someone has to save meee!”
Mizuki rolled her eyes so hard it hurt, but her grip on his ear didn’t loosen.
The poor village girl, free at last, stared at the pair with wide eyes. The boy blubbering on the ground, the girl scolding him —were these really demon slayers? She backed away quickly, muttering under her breath. “They’re insane.” Then she ran.
⸻
Zenitsu’s cries carried down the road like a siren. Mizuki had him by the ear, trying to peel him off yet another terrified girl. The poor thing’s face was pale as she pried herself free, stumbling off without a word.
Mizuki tipped her head back to the sky and sighed.
“Why me? Out of all the partners you could’ve cursed me with…”
“Mizukiiii! You’re supposed to protect me, not rip my ear off!” Zenitsu wailed, thrashing in her grip.
“Protect you from demons, not women you’re harassing,” she snapped.
A new voice cut through the noise.
“Um… excuse me?”
Mizuki froze.
She turned her head, her grip still locked on Zenitsu. A boy about their age stood a few paces away, wearing a checkered haori, a wooden box strapped across his back. His expression was worried,
And that’s when that feeling hit her.
That strange pull in her chest , the one that sometimes told her when someone’s kindness was genuine, or when danger lingered behind a smile. His concern wasn’t an act. It wasn’t pity. It was genuine.
Zenitsu, naturally, ruined the moment by hurling himself at the stranger’s sleeves, snot and tears flying.
“Please save me! I’m too weak, I can’t do this anymore! She bullies me, demons are everywhere—I’m gonna die!!”
Mizuki groaned and dropped her face into her palm letting him go by the ear.
“This is so humiliating Zenitsu” she states with a long sigh
But her gaze flicked back to the boy in the checkered haori. That kindness was still there, even with Zenitsu clinging to him like a drowning man.
“…Who are you?” she asked before she could stop herself I mean she new it was a somewhat a stupid question given he was obviously with the demon slayers.
The boy straightened, offering a small, reassuring smile.
“My name is Tanjiro Kamado.”