Written by -CHEWIE-

⌒➴。NOTES:

• Requested by @Shizuka__ka
• Tamayo X Reader
• Gender neutral reader
• Angst to fluff
• Manga spoilers
• 3rd POV

—Note(s): Platonic relationship. note that most of Tamayo's family are unknown so i made up most of the things there. also i do not condone nor support child marriage but this is literally the 16/1700's. WARNING(S): mention of child marriage, curing, gore.

MOTHER'S PRIDE
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(Y/N)'s family wasn't what you would call poor, but they weren't exactly rich either. They couldn't afford expensive medicines or doctors for their ill mother.

"Please! She's on the verge of death! I'll do anything for you!" (Y/N) and her brother had their foreheads pressed against a traveling doctor's shoes.

With a swift kick, both children skidded away on the ground.

"You kids are so annoying, you want results? Give me money!" with a huff he had stomped away.

(Y/N) had crawled towards their younger brother, dusting off the dirt from his back still on the ground. Tears peeked through the corners of his eyes as the two stood up.

"(Y/N)-ni... Is Okachan ever going to get better? Is she going to die?"

The elder sibling perked up, a smile shining through their features, "No! We're going to get her better no matter what, don't lose hope Takeo! We'll do whatever it takes!"

Another one of their siblings came forward, their younger sister Tohru came running with a man in a robe behind her.

She shouted to the other two children, "I found someone who might help!"

Both of the children lit up with joy as they rushed towards their sister, the strange man introduced himself as a traveling doctor that's known for solving the incurable. His words lit the children with joy.

"I've seen your mothers disease before, and I'd like to see her first before I give any medicine. If that's alright."

All the children looked to their eldest, (Y/N). After a few seconds of thinking they spoke to him.

"How much do you charge? What do you want?"

The doctor merely smiled, "Whatever you can give me."

After another few seconds of thinking, the eldest nodded and the three children led the man to their home. The eldest son was outside carrying wood to the side of the small home.

The house was small, but not like a shack and easy to move around. It was isolated from the rest of the homes but still easy to access. Your classic country middle class home.

"(Y/N)!" the brother with the wood exclaimed at the robed man, "Is it another doctor? How much does he want?"

(Y/N) tried to take some logs from him, "He doesn't want anything right now, he just wants to see Okachan! Don't worry Midori, leave it all to me!" they pointed to their chest with pride while the lot made their way inside the abode.

The eldest led the doctor to the small room in which their sickly mother laid in a purple futon. Her hair and makeup disheveled, but her sweaty face lit up once she saw her eldest child enter the room.

"I found you a doctor, he says he's known for curing the incurable. He's seen a disease like yours before," they explained, sitting on their knees next to their mothers futon.

The doctor spoke, "Tamayo was it?"

She nodded, sitting upward. (Y/N)'s hand on her back. The doctor hadn't introduced himself, but instead put a hand on her forehead and measured her breathing. Then he asked for symptoms in which (Y/N) listed everything out for him.

Tamayo felt a pang in her chest when her eldest child started listing things off, remembering the joy she felt once when she realized she was pregnant with them. Tamayo would do anything to watch them and their brothers and sisters grow up. To spend more time with her husband... Any length was worth it.

For (Y/N), Takeo, Tohru, and Midori. For her loving husband working all day and night for her and their children.

"I have medicine to treat her, I will return tonight when the sun is set. Then I will give her something that can cure her forever." the man explained.

All the children outside eavesdropping all cheered quietly, while (Y/N) prayed that it would work. When the doctor left, the eldest invited him to stay for dinner.

"It's the least we could do, you can talk to my father about expenses and billing," (Y/N) insisted, pulling at the man's sleeves.

However, he shook his head, "I really appreciate the offer, but I need to retrieve my medicine from the hosts I'm staying with temporarily. I promise I will return."

With reluctance, they nodded.

"Tell me," the doctor started, "How old are you? You are the eldest, yes?"

(Y/N) nodded again, "I turn 16 in a few months, I want to move to the city and marry a wealthy man."

He hummed in response as he made his way outside, "I might take your hand in marriage myself, however I'm much older than you and not exactly rich."

Chuckling in response, (Y/N) escorted him outside and back into the city.

"If what you want is my hand in marriage for curing my mother, I'd be more than willing to give it to you."

The doctor nodded, with a bow he left. A promise to their family weighing on his shoulders.

He returned a lot later than (Y/N) and their family had expected. Both (Y/N) and their father stayed up, restless until the doctor would fulfill his promise and cure Tamayo.

Midnight, only then did the doctor come, a large trunk in his hand.

"I have arrived, I will heal her."

The rest of the children were asleep, and Tamayo's husband begged (Y/N) to sleep by themselves. They insisted they stayed up, to see the results themself.

Overall, the process wasn't all that long nor had anything unexpected. The doctor had Tamayo sit up as she drank out of a shallow dipping bowl. Then she was given an herbal soup, which she drank with caution due to the burning heat emitting from the broth.

With a content sigh, she lied back, her eyes heavy with exhaustion as she breathed heavily. Her fever almost diminished.

"Give it a few hours then she will be better as if nothing even happened."

"What would you like as payment? We're indebted to you." (Y/N)'s father held out yen coins to the doctor.

The doctor smiled as he put his shoes on, "No need, in the morning I'll come back to check in on your wife. If everything works out, I'll take your money and your eldest child's hand in marriage."

With reluctance, the father looked at his child and then back at the doctor and then nodded.

"Thank you sir."

(Y/N) sat next to their mother, laying their head on her thighs.

"You don't have to marry that man for me, he's at least 40 years older than you." Tamayo ran her frail hands through her child's hair.

(Y/N) looked up at her, "I love you, and I want to see you better."

Tamayo leaned down and kissed their forehead.

"How was I ever blessed with such an amazing child?"

It didn't take more than a half hour for shit to hit the fan. (Y/N) was awoken by screaming from Takeo and Tohru's crying. In a panic, they jumped up and slammed the door open. In the dark stood their mother, rabid, with Midori's neck inside her mouth. Blood stained the hardwood below her, their father rushing into the scene. All color drained from his face.

"(Y/N)! What's wrong with Okachan?!" Takeo cried, confusion and panic laced in his voice.

(Y/N) had relied of raw instinct and adrenaline as they rushed forward, shoving Takeo's futon blanket into their mothers mouth once the flesh had dropped from her jaw. Trapping the monster with their body.

Immediately she fought back, thrashing back and forth under the weight. It didn't take long for her to launch (Y/N) into the wall, knocking the wind out of them. Tamayo sunk her teeth into Tohru's arm, earning a bloodcurdling scream.

Father finally snapped out of his shock and tried to restrain his wife by wrapping his arm around her neck and trapping her between his legs.

"Let go of my lady! You foul demon!" he yelled.

(Y/N)'s lungs were in unimaginable pain, their chest and ribs exhausted. Wobbling, they hurried over to the remaining children and tried to get them outside of the house and get help.

The man's cries were heard as he was overpowered and then swiftly killed with an inhuman punch to the head— then silenced. The injured children hustled through the short span of woodland. Only lasting a few seconds before the demon had latched itself on the youngest. Taking chunks of flesh out of his back.

"Takeo!" (Y/N) cried, sobbing hysterically, "Okachan! Please stop!"

Takeo's cries weren't silenced, but muffled as his face was shoved into the dirt as his back side was being mauled. Only until his spine was snapped did his pain stop.

(Y/N) shoved Tohru forward, "Go find help! Run as fast as you can and don't stop for anything!"

Covered in red fluids, the demon lunged towards it's eldest. They violently kicked their stomach in an attempt to stop them, shoving their arm into her mouth to stall her.

"Please stop, you're killing everyone. Okachan please come back!" (Y/N) begged, their blood splatting on their face.

Her eyes were feral, like that of a rabid animal. Nothing but sad and pathetic begging before their arm gave out and their sight was met with red. A sharp pain flashed through their entire body before a cold end.

Tohru tripped over a root, allowing her former mother to dig into her flesh.

Everything was over. Everybody was dead.

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The memory was hazy but it was peaceful. Whenever he saw the color (E/C) she couldn't help but think of the child she held so dearly. The same child Tamayo had ripped apart.

That entire night came back to her in one single glance, the (S/C) skin inside the uniform of a demon slayer. The same stunning (E/C) she could stare into for hours. Tamayo's chest swelled with guilt and pride, tears peeking out of the corner of her eyes.

As soon as their gazes met, they knew.

"Hello again, Okachan."

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Written by -CHEWIE-

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