Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc "Kyojuro and Akari"

BY: RENEE PHYLLIS

FANFICTION

Chapter One

"The Beginning"

Akari Mitsuma was born into an average family. Although they had some slight problems with money, they were still able to have essential things in life. They had some hardships and it was never a bother to Akari and her little sister, Koji. Akari had a normal life. A normal kid, who would always play with her friends, Kanae and Shinobu. They lived in the same village and were neighbors, so it was easier for Akari to sneak into the Kocho household and play with them. Koji, on the other hand, was not like her strong sister, instead she was considered to be a weakling, because of her sickness. With the Mitsuma family being friends with the Kocho family, it was easier to ask for help whenever Koji would feel sick. Akari was determined to protect her little sister and be strong for her.

But then, Akari's life changes, when her household and the Kocho's were attacked by a demon. Akari, was somehow lucky to have avoided the attack since she loved flowers with strong scent and that hid her own as she slept alone in her room that was very far from her mother and father's and her sister's rooms. She was awoken by a strange noise coming from the Kocho's household. When she opened her door and went to see if her sister was okay and not cold, she fell down to her knees as she saw her sister covered in blood, face was scratched that you could not shape it anymore. It was completely torn out. She ran to her parents, carrying her sister; eyes filled with tears as she opened the door to see that her parents are also covered in blood. Her mother's right hand was gone and her father's guts were torn out, just like her sister's face. Her heart kept beating louder, she was beginning to have panic attacks. She had mixed emotions she could not understand. She was angry. Her head started to burn hot. She gasped for air as she stood in front of her dead family, staring at them. She fell on her head while hugging her sister.

She woke up by someone carrying her. A big, buffed man with beads wrapped around his neck and two girls by the man's side. A long-haired girl with a butterfly pin on both sides of her head, and a little girl with one butterfly on the back of her head. It was the Kocho sisters. She could not see clearly; her sight was a little bit foggy. She looked at the man carrying her and gasped a little to see a blind man. She drifts off to sleep again as she felt weak in her state.

Akari, along with Kanae and Shinobu stayed in Gyomei's house for a little while. Akari was still devastated that she wasn't eaten along with her parents and sister and wanted to kill herself. She even attempted too, several times, but was stopped by Gyomei or Kanae. She eventually gives up killing herself and was determined to become a demon slayer to avenge her family. She became one, alongside her friend, Kanae. When in battle, Kanae would often be saddened, thinking that humans and demons should get along with each other. Akari would not feel anything, as if her only intent was to kill them, and it was. Both Kanae and Akari rose to the highest rank, hashira, at the same time. Kanae Kocho being the Flower Hashira and Akari Mistuma being the Phoenix Hashira. The phoenix breathing was derived from flame, but it is mainly derived from the sun. Maybe it was the burning rage from Akari that made the Phoenix Breathing.

Gyomei took care of the three girls like his own family and Akari was happy with that. She was thankful for Gyomei's warming heart and positive attitude, but she wasn't the Akari, Kanae knew before. She changed. She became distant, although she smiles at them, the only expression she would show is a neutral one. They didn't try to change her back, because what happened to her, to them, was truly horrid and unacceptable. Akari was close to the other pillars, namely, Tengen, Gyomei and Kanae. Akari stayed with Kanae and Shinobu as they built the Butterfly Mansion. She didn't want to have a house of her own, because she didn't want to be alone. She also wanted to be close to the Kocho sisters, the only family she has left. She treated Shinobu like she would treat Koji.

When Kanae and Shinobu came across a man holding a rope and at the end of the rope was a dirty-looking girl, Shinobu with her angry attitude bought the girl from the man and ran as fast as they could. They went to the Butterfly Mansion and introduced the girl to Akari. They gave her the name, Kanao Tsuyuri. She was extremely thin and did not make a sound. Akari was gentle with her, given that Kanao was in a very hard situation where no children should go down to. Kanae, Shinobu and Akari became good sisters to Kanao. Even with the other girls residing in the Butterfly Mansion, Aoi, Naho, Sumi and Kiyo were like their second family. Akari's life turned around, for the better, because she has a family to protect, little sisters to be there to when trouble comes. The only problem was, she still wasn't able to move on from her family's death. It was impossible to move on, if every single day, she was reminded of her incompetence whenever she sees a happy family. "I couldn't save my own sister", she thought to herself. She remained like she was for years to come, until a certain someone came into the picture. Kyojuro Rengoku, the flame hashira.

Kanae died at a very young age, 17. Akari wasn't there for she was sent on another mission. She deeply regretted it, but even if she was there, it was an upper rank demon. There was no way she could have save her. Upper Rank Demons are known to be strong than your average demon. Also, demons are known to have blood demon arts that can be dangerous. Kanae's crow delivered the message regarding the death of Kanae Kocho, and so, the crow went to the Butterfly Mansion where she saw Akari and informed her of the shattering news. Akari was supposed to wait for the arrival of Kanae and Shinobu, but she never anticipated she would come home to learn that an upper rank demon has killed her friend. The girls looking at Akari and the crow, exactly knew what they were talking about and was upset, for they knew something had happened to one of the Kocho sisters, who they grew to love as a family. Shinobu inherited the Butterfly Mansion at also a very young age, 14. Shinobu proceeded to take care of the mansion and Kanao with the help of Akari. She then became the next pillar, the insect hashira replacing the previous flower hashira, Kanae Kocho. Although Akari was proud of Shinobu, she knew that Shinobu was very saddened by her sister's death and she was there for her, every step of the way. She knows what it feels like to lose a sister. Akari guided Shinobu and became her big sister. But as Shinobu became more like Kanae, Akari became more and more vengeful. She grew to hate demons even more and felt no remorse in killing them. Even if demons pleaded and was clearly scared for their lives, Akari never cared for she her anger got the best of her. Though truly, she was only sad and depressed by all the deaths surrounding her. Thinking of those people she could not save, including her family. Killing the demons were not enough for her. She wanted to kill the only man capable of creating demons, Muzan Kibutsuji.

The other hashiras, upon receiving the news, was saddened, another friend of theirs is dead. Sanemi, the wind hashira, was deeply hurt, considered he had feelings for the deceased Kanae. He regretted not confessing to her about his affection. Kanae was one of the people he admired and understood him, despite his hot-tempered personality. Akari saw his dispirited face and went to check up on him, but he was stubborn and hard-headed like he always was, so he shrugged her off and went away. Akari understood what he felt, but she didn't force him to show any emotions, if he didn't want to. Akari remained quiet for a few months.