═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*══════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*══════
I forced myself to crawl through the rubble. My body was all healed from everything, so nothing had really hurt now. I found Tanjiro a few feet away, his body curled protectively around his sword. He was breathing—thank god, he was breathing. Nezuko was sitting next to him as if nothing had happened.
Before I could say anything, a familiar snarl brought me back to reality. Dogpool trotted over, his tail wagging like we hadn't just survived a near-death experience. I laughed weakly, collapsing back onto the ground. "Of course you're fine... indestructible little bastard."
In the distance, the smoke began to clear, revealing the aftermath of Gyutaro's final attack. The battlefield was unrecognizable, the ground scorched and cratered.
It was over. Finally, it was over.
I flopped onto my back, staring up at the smoke-streaked sky as my body screamed in exhaustion. "Next time," I muttered, "remind me to let the main characters handle this crap. Because, clearly I'll end up having too much fun and I'll end up getting too distracted..."
Dogpool barked once in agreement, plopping down beside me.
I reached over and scooped Dogpool into my arms, holding him close like he was the only thing tethering me to reality. His fur was warm and reassuring, even though it smelled like ash and blood. "Yeah, you're the only sane one here," I muttered, pressing my forehead against his. "Or at least the only one with half a brain who knows when to sit a fight out."
Dogpool gave a soft growl, almost like he was offended, but his tongue licked my cheek anyway. I chuckled, the sound breaking through the heavy silence around us. For a moment, it felt like everything wasn't so horrible. Like we'd all actually made it out alive.
The faint sound of Nezuko's "mm-mm's" snapped me out of my bubble. I turned my head to see her waving happily, pointing toward Tanjiro, who was starting to stir. Relief flooded through me again. "Look at that," I whispered to Dogpool, my grip tightening around him. "We made it. They made it."
The sky was still choked with smoke, but somewhere above, I could see a single star twinkling faintly. I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of the battle start to lift. "Next time," I murmured again, clutching Dogpool like he was my anchor. "We'll keep it low-key. Maybe just sit and watch from the sidelines. I don't need this kind of cardio..."
Dogpool yawned in agreement, his tail thumping lightly against my leg. For once, I thought, we'd earned the right to rest. But than I heard Laura running towards me.
Her footsteps were frantic, crunching over the debris as she closed the distance. "What the hell were you thinking?" Laura's voice cut through the air, sharp and furious. "You could've gotten someone killed!"
I sat up, still clutching Dogpool, and managed a lopsided grin. "But I didn't, so you're welcome."
Laura's glare could've melted steel, but her hands were shaking as she grabbed my arm, hauling me to my feet. "You don't get to pull that kind of stunt and brush it off like it's nothing. Do you even realize—" She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes scanning me for injuries, even though she already knew I was fine because of my healing factors.
"I'm okay," I said, softer this time. "Seriously, Laura. Everyone's okay."
Her expression softened for a fraction of a second before hardening again. "That doesn't mean you get to play the hero. Leave that to them," she said, jerking her head toward Tanjiro, who was now fully awake and looking around with wide, confused eyes.
"Noted," I replied, raising my free hand in mock surrender. "But in my defense, I didn't plan for that demon to be a sore loser. That last attack was totally uncalled for."
Laura huffed, crossing her arms. "You're impossible."
"And you're predictable," I shot back with a smirk, earning an eye roll.
Behind us, Nezuko had taken to poking Tanjiro's cheeks, her humming growing louder with excitement. He groaned, sitting up slowly, his eyes darting around until they landed on us. Relief flooded his face, and he managed a weak smile.
"It's over?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah," I said, giving him a small nod. "It's over."
Zenitsu's voice tore through the eerie quiet like a siren. "TANJIROOOOO! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Laura winced, covering her ears. "How does he have the energy to scream like that after all this?"
I shrugged, cradling Dogpool like he was a teddy bear. "Zenitsu defies logic. That's his thing."
Tanjiro tried to sit up straighter, but his arms trembled under his weight. "I'm... here," he called weakly, though his voice barely carried.
Nezuko tilted her head at him, then without a word, she crouched down and effortlessly hoisted him onto her back. Tanjiro let out a startled noise, but she just hummed happily, securing him like a kid with her favorite backpack.
"Thanks Nezuko," Tanjiro said.
Nezuko was bouncing on her toes a little to adjust her grip before heading off in the direction of Zenitsu's voice.
"See?" I said, smirking as I turned to Laura. "Even she knows Tanjiro shouldn't be walking right now. Efficient and adorable."
Laura shook her head but didn't argue.
"I think I'm going to lie here down with Dogpool for a moment though.. Right buddy.."
Laura gave me a flat look, arms crossed. "Sure, go ahead. Just don't pass out or get yourself crushed under another pile of rubble. I'd rather not have to dig you out."
I waved her off with a lazy grin. "Relax, I've got Dogpool. He'll keep me alive." Dogpool barked in agreement, his tail wagging as he licked my cheek again.
Laura muttered something under her breath but turned to follow Nezuko and Tanjiro.
I flopped back down onto the ground, the cool dirt a welcome contrast to the heat still radiating from the destroyed battlefield. Dogpool snuggled into my side, his tiny, indestructible body the perfect companion.
From somewhere ahead, Zenitsu's wailing became more distinct. "TANJIRO! YOU'RE OKAY! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD! I WAS GOING TO—"
"Zenitsu!" I called out, smirking to myself. "Tone it down! You're making it worse!"
His voice cracked, probably from the sheer intensity of his screaming, but he didn't stop. Typical.
As the chaos of Zenitsu's meltdown faded into background noise, I let out a deep breath, staring up at the smoke-filled sky. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was quiet—not perfect peace, but close enough.
"Good job, buddy," I muttered to Dogpool, giving him a scratch behind the ears. "We made it through. Again. Like we always do."
His tail thumped against my side in agreement, and for now, that was enough.
The quiet didn't last long. Between Zenitsu's wails, Inosuke's loud complaints, and the occasional crackling of leftover embers, the world still felt alive, chaotic, but alive. I could feel the tension melting from my body as I cradled Dogpool closer, his steady breathing a weirdly calming rhythm against my chest.
My eyelids grew heavy, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. Dogpool yawned, nestling further into my arms like a living, furry heater. "Guess you're done being a badass for now, huh?" I whispered with a small smile, brushing some ash off his ears.
Somewhere nearby, Nezuko gently set Tanjiro down in the huddle of scorched earth that had become their makeshift resting spot. Zenitsu was practically draped over Tanjiro, his sobbing replaced with a weird mix of relief and nervous laughter. Inosuke, of course, was pacing around them, still grumbling about how he'd carried the entire battle.
I forced myself up long enough to shuffle closer, sinking down onto the dirt right next to Nezuko. Dogpool snored lightly in my arms, his tiny chest rising and falling in perfect, content rhythm.
Nezuko gave me a curious look, her humming soft and soothing. She reached out, gently patting Dogpool's head before tilting her head at me with a small, reassuring smile.
"Yeah, yeah," I murmured, leaning back against the nearest pile of rubble. "I'll take a break for real this time. Promise."
Tanjiro's tired voice broke through the faint noise around us. "Thank you..." His words were barely audible, but the sincerity hit hard.
I waved him off, the gesture lazy but sincere. "Don't sweat it. You're the reason we made it this far."
As everyone settled into their own version of rest, the overwhelming sense of camaraderie filled the air. No one said much, but we didn't need to.
Dogpool shifted in his sleep, letting out a tiny, content huff. I adjusted my grip on him, resting my chin against his head. "And, you're the only sane one here," I muttered, though my words carried no bite.
Before I knew it, my own exhaustion pulled me under.
When I woke, the first thing I noticed was warmth. Nezuko had leaned closer at some point, her soft humming still going as she adjusted Tanjiro's blanket. Zenitsu had fallen asleep clutching Tanjiro's sleeve, his face still blotchy from crying. Even Inosuke had collapsed, sprawled out awkwardly but completely out cold. Even Laura was laying down sleeping.
And there we were—this messy, weird group of survivors all huddled together in the middle of the aftermath. For a second, I let myself believe this was the calm before everything really got better.
Dogpool stirred in my arms but didn't wake, his little tail twitching in a dream. "Not bad, huh?" I whispered to him. "We made it. And somehow, we're still... us."
The faintest sliver of dawn broke through the smoke-filled sky. Maybe, just maybe, things would be okay.
END OF CHAPTER—
═══*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*══════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*══════