I can't breathe, my lungs are freezing. The air slices at my throat, causing every breath to draw blood. My feet beat downwards as I force my legs to move, even if I cannot feel them.
I need to get away. I have to ensure that Shinjuro-san's sacrifice is not in vain. My consciousness is fading fast. My peripheral vision is being swallowed by a familiar blackness.
My wounds and exhaustion have blended together, finally enacting the toll forced upon my body. It's awful, but I still keep running.
My legs give way, they can't move any further. I have demanded so much from my body, to the point that it is on the brink of breaking down. My consciousness will give way next.
I'm slumped against a wall in an alleyway, less than ten metres away from a main street. My eyes are shut, they won't open even if I force them to. I'm doing everything I can just to remain awake.
"Tamayo-sama, why would we help him?!"
I can barely hear the voice in front of me.
"Because he looks like that man."
Someone else replies curtly, with no room for rebuttal from the other voice.
My consciousness falls into the void and all light disappears. I know this feeling of emptiness, it's something that has always been within me.
In this void, nothing exists. It is truly empty. The concept of existence is rebuked by this void, because it is on the border of life and death. I did not realise that my injuries were so bad that I might die.
For the first time in my life, I truly tread the line between life and death. My own weakness has led to this, defeated instantly at the hands of an Upper Moon.
Something catches hold of me, a hand that reaches out and grips with incredible strength. Just by looking at the hand, I know who it belongs to. That is Shinjuro-san's hand, but I cannot see him.
The hand pulls me away from the void and my consciousness returns. A bright light fills my vision, forcing me to raise a hand to block it out.
I have recovered enough strength to raise my arms, but my body still screams at every movement. It doesn't matter, because I have to keep moving.
It is only when I look around that I understand my surroundings. I am in a clinic of some sorts. The two voices that I heard before must have rescued me.
A woman sits by my bedside, her eyes widen as I force myself to sit up. The flowered kimono she wears belongs to an era that has passed.
I can tell right away, this woman is a demon. Instinctually, my hands have already begun to move. I extinguish the movement right away. My nichirin blade is not even at my side and this woman is clearly my saviour.
Even if she is a demon, she has healed me instead of devouring me. That is something that my brain struggles to comprehend. Every demon I have met has attempted to devour human beings, not save them from the brink of death.
"You must be confused, you have been through a lot. We found you on the brink of death and brought you back to our home."
Her voice is soft, as if she is addressing someone carefully.
"You have been unconscious for the past four days, so please be careful."
"Four days?"
I can't believe it. I was out for that long, I needed to return to the Rengoku Estate immediately. I needed to inform the master that Shinjuro-san had died in the line of duty.
"Yes. You were gravely wounded. It was lucky that you survived your encounter with Upper Moon Two."
She looks me in the eye as she speaks, her face is calm. She knows of the fight that took place and presumably of Shinjuro-san's death.
"Your face was horribly damaged, I'm afraid that scar will be permanent."
That causes me to laugh out of spite. The mark I was born with had been slashed and frozen, causing it to distort.
It was no longer a birthmark, instead it was now a proper scar. Where it had been sat on my face like a blanket, it now resembled an uneven wave. It was darker in colour than the original mark, closer to a deep red than the light pink.
I can see it in a mirror that she hands to me. It looks as unsightly as ever, but at least I am alive. My hair and face are clean, as well as my fingernails.
This woman had cared for me brilliantly. A demon nursing a Demon Slayer back to health was unheard of. It is obvious to me that this woman is special in some way, so I will not attack her.
"You look exactly like that man."
It sounds as if she is speaking to herself. Her eyes do not leave the scar on my face. They are unfocused, as if she is remembering something that happened long ago.
I don't know what she is talking about, but I stay silent because it sounds as if she is going to continue speaking.
"Does the name Yoriichi Tsugikuni mean anything to you?"
The name rings no bells, but Yoriichi is infinitely close to Yoichi. My own name means clear sun.
"I do not know that name but it is close to my own. I am Yoichi, a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
The name Yoriichi Tsugikuni sticks in my brain, I will not forget it.
"You look exactly like he did. Even the height and build is the same. You both have a scar in the same place too."
She sighs as she speaks. Her eyes show emotion for the first time, but I can't discern what it is exactly. Several emotions swirl within her purple irises before they disappear when she blinks.
"Your wounds have begun to close up, I will examine you once more and then you will be free to go."
She is quieter now, as if a lot of thoughts are running through her mind. Asking would be tactless, especially after everything she has done for me.
"My name is Tamayo, I ask that you keep my existence a secret from the Demon Slayer Corps."
She asks me as she bandages up the left side of my face as well as the various cuts on my arms. She tells me that she does not work for Kibutsuji, even mentioning his name causes her face to contort in anger.
This woman hates Kibutsuji with every ounce of her being, which convinces me to go along with her request. Anyone who hates that monster is an ally of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"I thank you for saving my life, Tamayo-san."
I bow my head to her, clasping my hands together. If I had died, everything would have fallen apart.
I thought she had another person with her, but I haven't seen anybody else. As I leave, it feels as if a pair of eyes are burning a hole into my back. I can hear slight movement but there seems to be nothing there.
I leave the house and pass through a wall, an illusion. The result of Tamayo-san's Blood Demon Art, I believe.
The sun is high, it must be past midday. I can make it to the Rengoku Estate in the morning if I run. My body aches but I can still move. Even whilst I was unconscious, I maintained Total Concentration Breathing.
With each step, the pain fades. Now I have time to reflect on what has happened. With the death of Shinjuro-san, three Hashira have been lost within the past year. Nine have become six and the foundation of the Corps has weakened.
I don't know if I have the strength required to fill one of those slots, but as Shinjuro-san's Tsuguko I was designated a position as a successor. I will have to prove my strength before assuming that role.
The first thing I will do is report his death to his family and send a letter to the master right away. His family should know first.
The sun falls and I still keep running. Sweat is running down my forehead, my body is not in any condition to run this hard for this long. I can feel my wounds screaming.
I tear the bandage from my head as I run, the cold night air stings the raw flesh but it keeps me focused. My nichirin blade feels at home on my hip, it was able to cut the flesh of the Upper Moon. If it wasn't for that blade, I would be dead.
I can hear a demon nearby, it has yet to find anyone for the night. With the noise that I am making, I sound like fantastic prey. My breathing is erratic and I am bleeding slightly. A demon would never pass up this opportunity.
My blade is already in my hands as it pounces from above, I don't even need to use a Breathing Technique. I swing with one hand and remove it's head without missing a step. It is fodder, I could kill it with my eyes closed.
Compared to the power of the Upper Moon, it is like a grain of sand at the bottom of the sea. I need to become strong enough to rival the Upper Moons, to surpass them and kill them all.
Even thinking of Upper Moon Two lights a fire within my core. He fought with a smile on his face, giggling slightly. I will never forget his face, the false emotions he showed or the way in which he disregarded something so precious. Even if it is the last thing I ever do, I will cut his neck.
I have been running for the entire night, something that even I am surprised about. The Rengoku Estate comes into view and I run the entire way to the gate.
The gate opens as I reach it and I fall forwards. Someone catches hold of me, stopping my body from hitting the ground.
Ruka-san looks down at me, tears already falling from her face. She is wearing black, instead of her favoured light colours. She already knows.
Kyojuro stands behind her, dressed in black too. The look on his face breaks my heart, the sadness of a young boy who will never see his father again. The heartbreak is accompanied by a rage so great that it feels as if ice has flowed through my veins.
Ice cold fury flows through me, colder than the ice of Upper Moon Two. It reinvigorates my aching body and I stand up. I prevent it from showing on my face because it would scare Kyojuro.
This is what demons do to human beings. They destroy lives, they ruin precious things and they leave children without parents. Everyday the hatred within me grows hotter, even if they were human. Killing them alleviates them of their suffering, it is the kindest thing I can do for them.
I can never forgive them. Not even if the sun rose in the west and set in the east, or if the mountains crumbled into dust and became one with the wind. Tamayo-san is different, she is not truly a demon.
She may have lost her humanity and harmed human beings, but she shows incredible remorse. I could feel the hatred and loathing that she carries, the regret and disgust at what she is. For that, she is closer to a human than a demon.
A demon does not regret. A demon does not show mercy. A demon does not discriminate. Tamayo-san is not like that, so she is not a demon. A demon is more than a race, it is a state of being.
She has rejected that state of being entirely, so I will welcome her with open arms. Every other demon slaughters indiscriminately, killing and devouring with a grin on it's face. I don't care if it is for survival, no hunter feels joy when they take a life. I feel no joy when I remove the head of a demon.
A hunter does not smile when the deer falls, because it is necessary. A hunter does not mock and torment the deer, the hunter thanks the deer and prays for it.
This is why demons cannot exist, not in a world in which everybody is free. I will not allow it. I will destroy all of them, so that everybody can be safe. This is what I am, a monster that will eradicate the entire demon race. The rage within me will burn them all to ash.
For every life the demons have claimed, someone has risen in it's stead. Hatred is the backbone of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kibutsuji Muzan, you have awoken a monster that should have never been touched. I promise you, my blade will find your neck and I will send you to the depths of hell.
I am filled with such incredible rage that it makes everything around me feel as if it is not real. That statement makes everything I've ever said or felt seem like a lie.
The look on Ruka-san's face brings me back down to Earth. In this moment, my rage is unnecessary. It does not dissipate, but it returns to the core of my being.
What is needed is my human compassion. The first thing I do is embrace Kyojuro, holding him tight as he sobs into my chest. I will not let this happen ever again.
"Kyojuro, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't help your father."
I apologise to him for my weakness, because it is my fault. I should have fought harder, I'm sure that Shinjuro-san could have killed the demon if I had thrown myself in.
An open handed slap stings the unharmed part of my face. Ruka-san has slapped me, because of what I said.
"It isn't your fault… he died to protect your life. Don't apologise for that."
Her words are stern but her voice trembles as she speaks, the tears flow fast and free down her face as she drops to her knees and embraces both me and Kyojuro.
I am the only person who isn't crying, because the fury I feel doesn't allow for it. Instead of feeling sorrow, all I feel is rage.
After some time, the tears do start to flow. It's only when I consider how Kyojuro feels that sorrow beats rage. A boy who admired his father will never see him again. My heart aches horribly.
These people are my family. Without sharing blood, we have built a bond strong enough that I would call them family. Ruka-san is like a kind older sister and Kyojuro is like the younger brother I never had.
Shinjuro-san, I swear on everything that I am, I will protect your family until my life ends.
I swear a silent oath. He entrusted it all to me, so I shall see it through. I will stake my life on this oath, I will protect the family.
I have arrived on the day of the funeral. My crow had reported the incident but I was not seen for four days, so I was presumed dead. I would be, if it wasn't for Tamayo-san.
She saved me because I looked like someone she knew, but I believe she would have helped me anyway. Because she looked at me, a Demon Slayer, with such kind eyes.
I swap my crimson haori for a black crested haori, in honour of the occasion. I remain in uniform, because Shinjuro-san was a Demon Slayer. My nichirin blade remains strapped to my hip, because I am saying goodbye to a comrade.
The funeral is not a massive affair, fifty people turn up in total. Most of them are neighbours, some are even people that Shinjuro-san has saved. There is not a dry eye in sight. Shinjuro-san was a great man, because not a single person has a complaint about him.
You can tell when people are simply being respectful towards the dead, but everybody present is truly devastated. Ruka-san is the chief mourner, even though she is heavily pregnant. It wouldn't be strange for the child to be born soon.
The master arrives after the service, to pay his respects to the fallen Hashira. Shinjuro-san's body was not recovered, but his katana and haori were left behind. Both of these are in my possession until Kyojuro is ready to inherit them.
The master has brought Kagaya-san with him too. It seems that he is being trained to become the next master. None of the Ubuyashiki live long, it is unknown why. The master is no older than twenty-five, yet he is almost at the end of his life.
The master invites me to a Hashira meeting at the headquarters, to inform the Hashira about the Upper Moon that we encountered. I will leave with the master and his family after the funeral. I will return as soon as I can.
I bid farewell to Ruka-san and Kyojuro. I hate that I am leaving at this time, but it is incredibly important. Ruka-san even has the strength to send me off with a smile, whereas all Kyojuro can do is cry. I ruffle his hair and tell him that I will be back soon.
It takes some days to reach headquarters. When we get there, the Hashira are already assembled. There are only six of them. Last time, there were nine. One has retired due to age, one due to injury and one has died in the line of duty.
The ones that remain are: the Stone Hashira, the Wind Hashira, the Mist Hashira, the Leaf Hashira, the Silence Hashira and the Flower Hashira.
The Silence Hashira wears a cloth headpiece that hides their face. Their gender is hidden too, beneath grey clothing that looks like it would hamper swordplay.
The Leaf Hashira is clad in a haori that resembles the forest floor in the autumn, it is beautifully made. He looks to be in his fifties, so he might have to retire soon.
The Flower Hashira is a woman in her thirties. She is small but powerful. I can tell from the way she carries herself that she possesses incredible strength.
All of these people have gathered again, this time the occasion is different.
"The Hashira are now six. Jigoro and Sakonji served brilliantly and I wish them luck in their retirement."
The master starts the meeting with that announcement, but everybody is staring at me. I am not on the master's platform, I am kneeling in the garden alongside the Hashira.
"I trust you all remember Yoichi?"
The master asks the extraordinary people assembled here today. Each one of them is fantastically strong, I can tell from sharing this space with them.
"This is the same boy from last year?"
The Flower Hashira speaks first, her eyes widen as she compares me to the memory in her head. It is true that I have developed drastically under Shinjuro-san. My training was not limited to swinging a sword, it was also about developing my body.
"Indeed. Yoichi served as Shinjuro's Tsuguko for over a year."
The master smiles as he speaks. He is not saddened by Shinjuro-san's sacrifice, he looks at it in a different light. Shinjuro-san protected something he treasured more than his own life.
"So he's going to be appointed today?"
The Leaf Hashira speaks, studying me up and down as he does so. As if he is appraising me, his eyes settle on my blade. His eyes narrow slightly before he shrugs his shoulders.
"Yoichi is a Hinoto, so he will not be appointed as a Hashira right away. Shinjuro believed him to have strength close to the level of a Hashira, but that has yet to be seen."
I'm a Hinoto? Didn't I start as a Mizunoto? When did I rise so high? Is it because of all the demons I killed at Final Selection, or because I was Shinjuro-san's Tsuguko?
"If the boy is as strong as we are, then why not let me fight him?"
The Leaf Hashira speaks again, it seems I have intrigued him. If he is as strong as Shinjuro-san, I don't think I could beat him. I was barely able to keep up with Shinjuro-san's speed and even then I only landed a single blow.
"I'm pleased to see your enthusiasm, Hideki. But the boy will be tested in another way."
The master waves away the suggestion and turns to face the rest of the Hashira. True to their name, the Silence Hashira has not made a single sound throughout the entire meeting.
Their identity is mysterious, but the fact that they are amongst the Hashira is proof of their strength. If the master trusts them, then I can trust them. I'm sure the other Hashira feel this way too.
I'm going to be tested to become a Hashira? I assume it's because of the desperation to fill the ranks, but that wouldn't make much sense. Surely there are people ranked above me, so why would I be a candidate?
"Yoichi, for you to become a Hashira you must slay a member of the Twelve Kizuki. You have encountered Upper Moon Two, so you are aware of their strength."
The master speaks softly, as if he is tiptoeing around the subject. I know that the ranks are split and Shinjuro-san did not respond when I asked him if I would be able to kill a Lower Moon. If that is what it takes, then I will destroy all of the Lower Moons.
"Boy, tell us about Upper Moon Two."
The Stone Hashira speaks, he is a thin man with a long beard and a ponytail tied up behind his head. His katana rests at his hip and it shakes as he gestures towards me with his hands. His hair is blonde and his beard is blonde too, something you wouldn't normally see in Japan. His eyes are a deep green. Maybe he is of foreign descent.
"Upper Moon Two possesses incredible speed, moving faster than the eye can track. He wields a pair of war fans and is incredibly proficient in them. Shinjuro-san was not able to cut through them with his nichirin blade. His Blood Demon Art is focused around ice."
I speak quickly before sucking in another breath so that I can continue with the description. All of the Hashira have their eyes on me and they are listening intently.
"He made the air freeze, so that every breath burnt my lungs. I was able to cut deep into his flesh with my blade, but I could not sever his limbs."
I finish explaining before bowing my head to all of them. These people are my comrades, even if they are above me. I will show them the respect that they have earned.
"If Shinjuro couldn't do it, then they really are that strong."
The Flower Hashira lowers her head, I can see the sadness on her face. I imagined the Hashira to be distant from one another, but that doesn't seem to be the case. They all hold feelings towards Shinjuro-san's death.
"Yoichi-kun, that you survived and were even able to damage an Upper Moon is incredible!"
She raises her head and smiles at me. For some reason, it eases how I feel slightly. Her smile is soothing, although I don't think I am incredible at all. If I was incredible, I would have been able to ensure Shinjuro-san's survival.
"She's right, boy."
The Leaf Hashira looks at me, his appraisal seems to have risen slightly higher after hearing that I traded blows with an Upper Moon and survived.
"I don't know about being on our level, but if you can kill some of the Twelve Kizuki then I won't disagree."
The Stone Hashira passes his judgement. It seems that most of the Hashira agree on that point. They trust in the judgement of Shinjuro-san and the master.
"For Shinjuro to choose you as his Tsuguko, you must be spectacular!"
The Flower Hashira smiles at me again, it seems she holds Shinjuro-san in extremely high regards. It eases my heart slightly to know that the Hashira aren't all terrifying people. They are human beings that have lost just as much as the rest of us.
"Yoichi, do you want to become a Hashira?"
The master speaks again, a question that comes out of the blue. I don't know why he is asking it of me, because the answer is obvious. Everyone who joins the Demon Slayer Corps wants to become a Hashira, someone who supports the entire organisation.
"If becoming a Hashira means I can protect more people, then I will accept that responsibility without hesitation."
I don't even have to think about my reply, I know what to say immediately. Becoming a Hashira means that I will have the ability to protect thousands of people.
It's not as if holding the title itself will give me incredible power, but it will prove that I have the ability. If I am a Hashira, it means that I am at the pinnacle of strength.
Personally I don't know why I am even considered to be close. I have a natural aptitude for the sword and I use the Hinokami Kagura, but those two things do not make me great. I haven't trained for years, I haven't fought strong demons over and over again.
I lack experience, yet I'm judged to be close to the strongest? It makes my head spin, I'm not somebody great. If they think I am great, then they would fall to their knees at the sight of Tanjuro.
"For the sake of everybody you will save…"
His words ring throughout my head. Shinjuro-san saw something in my future, something that I cannot comprehend. All I can do is trust his judgement and move forward. If these people believe I have the strength, then I will do my best to live up to it.
"Yoichi, you are a splendid child. Shinjuro protected your life because he could not allow that flame to be extinguished. We believe in you, it is time you began to believe in yourself."
The master speaks to me again, reassuring me. I will always continue to doubt my own strength, because it feels surreal.
Two years ago I was cutting down trees and selling charcoal, now I stand amongst the strongest human beings alive. I am considered to be close to their realm, yet I have wielded a blade for a little over a year.
I will never be able to view myself as strong, because I have failed where it matters most. It sounds pathetic, but I was unable to fight side by side with Shinjuro-san and he died. That means that I failed because I was not strong enough. There are no excuses for the matter, I lacked the strength to fight back.
All I can do is push forward and ensure that never happens again. I have to protect everybody, not just those important to me. I don't want anyone to cry over the corpse of a loved one that has been murdered by a demon.
"For every tragedy we suffer, our anger grows hotter. The flame that has been lit under Kibutsuji Muzan will consume him. I believe in each and every one of you, Kibutsuji Muzan will be struck down."
The master speaks again, his words signal the ending to the first segment of the meeting. I am invited to stay for the rest, but as it does not concern me I am to keep quiet. The only matter regarding me is the issue of who will oversee the area that Shinjuro-san was assigned to.
It is decided that I will take up that role after I return from a mission that the master has for me. A mission assigned to me and me alone. He announces this in front of everyone present, it seems like this will be my test.
"Yoichi, you are to go to Yokohama. Over thirty Demon Slayers have been killed. We do not know if it is the work of the Twelve Kizuki, but we suspect it."
Instead of sending one of the Hashira he is sending me. I suspect that one of the Hashira will not be far away, because we cannot afford to allow a Twelve Kizuki to escape. If it is an Upper Moon, I will be killed.
If it is a Lower Moon, then I will kill them. I might die, but I will certainly claim their head. The Hashira can deal with Lower Moons easily. This is the lowest benchmark, I do not know how I will fare against one but I will kill it.
I cannot afford to die, because I have made promises. They will not be fulfilled if I die and people will not be saved. I cannot protect anyone if I am dead.
"I'll depart right away."
I bow to the master and then to the rest of the Hashira before I turn to leave. The sun is already falling, but that is no issue for a Demon Slayer.
"Don't die, boy. Next time we meet, you'll be one of us."
The Leaf Hashira speaks again as I leave, he seems to see the same thing that Shinjuro-san and the master can see. I have to live up to these expectations, even if I don't think that I can.
I leave the headquarters and begin the journey to Yokohama. Everybody knows about it, the booming port town established so that foreigners could trade with us. It sees an incredible amount of people each year so it would make sense for a powerful demon to reside there.
If the demon that resides there is a Twelve Kizuki, I will kill it. Then I can be considered strong enough to join the ranks of the Hashira. That is only the start, I will keep on moving forward for everyone that believes in me. This road does not stop in Yokohama.
What's this, a super quick update? It has barely been twenty four hours? Yeah well I may be slightly addicted to writing and before I know it, five thousand words sit before me. Anyways, this story is fantastically fun to write. Yoichi is a character that lived within a nook in my brain for a few weeks before I sat down to write his story. As always I love to read your reviews and hear your thoughts on what is going on! Thank you all for reading, I appreciate you all greatly! -TheGrailsVoice
Sythe-elda: Love this story and it's concept! Always look forward to seeing a new chapter out of you since I love your style as well as the story!
Was wondering that now that canon has been shifted, does this potentially lead to Kanae not being killed by Douma? Just curious and no need to answer if it spoils something you are planning for the story :)
Can't wait until the next chapter!
I was very happy to read this, I'm glad you are enjoying it so much! As for the future changes, you'll just have to wait and see! Kanae is a character that I was on the fence about, but I have come to a decision regarding her fate!