[I hate this chapter T_T ... We might see Tanjiro and the others in the next two chapters or sooooooooo... I'm excited]
True to his word, Akaza-san did teach me how to fight. That was, of course, until he stopped midway when we were both hit by the harsh truth that I am utterly hopeless. At least at the fighting techniques he tried to teach me. Honestly, the training we did do was mostly just him successfully landing punches on me. Akaza-san seemed to be in much more pain than I was whenever that happened, though. One thing that I did excel at was speed.
Of course, Akaza-san is a hundred times quicker than I am but if I am facing a demon slayer, I could outrun them no matter the rank – they are still just humans, after all. Aside from successfully yelling in alarm, I can now add quickly running away in fear to my set of skills. We figured that's good enough for me to survive. Akaza-san did try to help me develop my blood demon art too but said it reminded him too much of Doma-san's so that went nowhere. To sum it all up, I learned almost nothing at all.
The two of us continued traveling from mountain to mountain searching for the blue spider lily. The nights spent combing the peaks, and the days spent hiding from the sun and resting. It was one such morning when I found Akaza-san staring at me intently.
"Y/N, tell me again how that happened." He asked, pointing to my eyes with Seventh Moon now written on them. I was neither an upper-rank nor a lower-rank. I was just the Seventh. I doubt Muzan-sama made me a member of his inner circle because of my battle prowess – which is nonexistent. He made me so because of the visions I'd get every now and then. He did say so when he etched them to my eyes.
"Well… he said this was my reward."
"I get that. But why seventh? Why not make you the upper-rank six? It's the Twelve Demon moons, not Thirteen." I just shrugged at that. Muzan-sama told me that being the Seventh Moon was my reward, but really, it's hard to tell with him. Akaza-san sighed then stood up, "let's work on your punches before we go to sleep. Come now." Urging me to stand up beside him. "Do we really have to?" I only received an exasperated look at that.
Days, weeks, months… I haven't really kept track of time. Our search for the flower still goes on. Sometimes I do it by myself as Muzan-sama requires Akaza-san somewhere else. I never really asked him what he does during those times. Muzan-sama never did call for me. My main mission is to just look for the flower, and he is already upset with the lack of results with that and of my visions which hasn't happened in a while.
Maybe because now that my body has tasted human blood, animals aren't enough. But then, if I could survive on human blood and not their flesh, am willing to do that? Will I be able to stop myself and not suck someone dry? Sometimes, I even think of trying to take a bite out of myself. I can regrow every limb… that's an endless supply of flesh right there. But that seems more monstrous than just killing and eating humans, somehow. Maybe I'm just starting to go crazy.
I found myself walking in a small village that night. Akaza-san was summoned somewhere else, and we agreed that I'd wait for him here. There were a few people walking back home, done with work and errands. It's been a while since I've been around this much people, so I had to try and disguise my eyes a bit. Akaza-san taught me a simple trick of hiding the etched markings on our eyes. I got the hang of it remarkably fast since I don't really stay away from humans, but I also don't seek them out. It's easier now since I have better control of myself.
A sleepy little boy tugged at his father's sleeve so he'd carry him… I can't help but smile at that. A young couple was walking ahead of me, they seem to be so close. People watching like this is something I found out that I enjoy. Maybe there's a part of me that yearns this semblance of normalcy, or maybe even become a human again. I don't really remember much about my life as a human. Akaza-san said it was normal for us, still I – "Oh!" The woman in front of me dropped her fan yet didn't notice. I don't know why, but I reached out for it and called out to her making her and her beau turn to me.
"Excuse me, you dropped this." A shy smile of relief broke out her face. "My goodness, thank you so much!" We bowed to each other but then the man she was with looked at me as if he'd seen a ghost. I was so ready to run out of there – maybe he can tell I'm not human – but then he said something that froze me on the spot.
"Nee-chan?" He made a move to grab me, but the woman with him stopped him. "Yusuke-san! She's obviously younger than us. What has gotten into you? Miss, I'm so sorry about him." She started to drag him off, still going on about how I can't be his older sister and that his sister has been missing for years.
"No… her face hasn't changed one bit. It's her. Yukiko-nee." That name… it's mine, right? It wasn't always Y/N. But it's like the woman said, they do look a few years older than I am. Could I really be his sister?
I ended up at the man's – Yusuke-san's – house. His fiancée, Keiko-san, wasn't happy about it but was also unable to stop him. It wasn't like I tried to help her at that since I let him drag me. I admit that I am curious about this. She ended up going home by herself.
"Nee-chan, we still live here. You remember this house, don't you? Look at the crest on our gate!" He said, pushing me where he wanted me to look. I admit the crest does look familiar. It somehow reminded me of Wagashi. Huh?
Yusuke-san's hands were on my shoulders, shaking slightly. "It kinds of reminds me of Wagashi." I told him exactly what was on my mind. I was not prepared for his reaction. He turned me around so abruptly and told me, "you do remember! That's what our family does!" He was a ball of excited energy as he pulled me in the estate by my wrist. I can't say the interior of the house looked familiar to me.
Yusuke-san's family were all conveniently in one room, about to start with their dinner. Sliding the door almost off their hinges, Yusuke-san announced my presence to the room. "Father! Mother! I…" He was panting, mostly due to excitement, and went to take in a lot of deep breaths in between words. "It's nee-chan." He pushed me in, 3 pairs of eyes flitting to my face.
Bowls of rice collectively dropped to the tatami floor, and the woman – Yusuke-san's mother – was the first one to run to me. "Can it be? Is it really my Yukiko?" Tentative hands slowly caressed my face. She was looking at me so intently, examining every part of my face. The other two men in the room walked closer, both waiting on the woman's verdict.
"Is it really one-san? Impossible…"
"You look the same as you did all those years ago!" The woman finally declared, gathering me in her arms and holding me so tight.
I could hear the other two men's murmurs of it's impossible; it can't be… I don't really understand. Are they my family? Why don't I remember? I know my reason for leaving home was to keep them safe – I think. No… I'm sure of it. Muzan-sama threatened to kill my family. But these people… are they that family I tried to protect? Why don't I remember?
"How come you look like you're still fifteen? You look younger than both Yusuke and I. And it's been eight years! Where have you been all this time? We thought you - !"
"Yori! That's not important." The older woman – Yusuke-san's mother – scolded the other young man in the room whose name seemed to be Yori. "Your sister's finally back. I won't allow any of you to push her away!"
"Dear, we're not even sure – " The older man tried to say but was cut off, too. "No. Look at her!" The woman insisted, shoving me to who I assume is Yusuke-san's father. "I remember her face clear as day. This is my daughter!"
It took a while for the lady to calm down, and for her husband and older son to give in to her. All through dinner she kept me near her, doting on me. She offered me food, and I could see the disappointment in her eyes when I turned her down, so I lied and told her I'd already eaten. Yusuke-san was also convinced I'm his sister. It really felt odd being called nee-chan by someone younger than me.
After dinner, mother – she insists I call her that – brought me to Yukiko… my room. Her voice was heavy with emotions, and eyes were very misty when she talked to me. "I couldn't bear the thought of throwing out anything. Those books you like to read are still here, and that favorite hairpin of yours." She went to where I assume the hairpin was, but my attention was focused on something that stood out the most.
It was a beautiful kimono, so grand that I might be correct to assume it's expensive. It's a bridal kimono. I touched the sleeve, and the material felt so good on my skin. A distant memory flashed in my mind – the woman, mother, was putting on a tsunokakushi on me. I commented about it being too extravagant, but she brushed me off.
"Ah! It's still here. The day you went missing would have been the day that you'd wear this." She said, joining me at examining the kimono. "Of course, that day was something I'd rather not remember… losing two of my children."
Two? So, there's another one? Another sibling that I don't remember? "You're not even sure it's one-san." Yori-san's voice rang from behind us both. "Let's say you are Yukiko-nee, and you just happen to look eight years younger than you're supposed to, then where have you been all this time? Why did you leave just when Yuichii – "
"Yori!"
"No, mother. This is something we need to talk about. You were the first one to find oni-san that day, then you disappeared along with your fiancé. That's awfully suspicious." Yori-san said, and there were this deep sadness and anger burning in his eyes. Family seems to be very complicated.
"I'm sorry, Yori-san but I don't really remember much." I decided to confess. "I don't really remember much about before I… " Can I tell them that I'm a demon?
"Are you insinuating that she killed your brother?" Mother asked, completely ignoring the fact that I may not be her daughter, and that I said anything at all. And killed his brother?
"It's the only thing that makes sense! Yuichii-nii was killed and then Yukiko-nee disappeared along with that man… Kibutsuji" My gasp at the name caught both of their attention.
"Kibutsuji Muzan?" I asked just to confirm that we're thinking of the same person. "You remember him, but not us?" Yori-san, finding the situation simply unbelievable. "He was my fiancé?" Wait, this is big. How can I forget something like this? My connection with him.
I tried to think as far back as I could remember… and it was around the time I met Akaza-san. Also, this family had been saying that eight years had passed. Have I been a demon for eight years now? It feels so short, but also felt like forever.
"Yes. You were to get married when we all woke up to Yuichii-nii's mangled body." I think mother was crying by then, but I was too preoccupied with my thoughts. Yuichii's mangled body? Snippets of blurred memories were playing like visions in my head. The strong, metallic smell of blood clinging to the tatami floors… limbs scattered and an arm to my mouth…
"Hah!" Collapsing on the floor, my memories began flooding back like a horrible storm wreaking havoc in my head. I almost ate my brother; Muzan-sama took me away that night and I've been used by him to track down people and things that he needed and wanted. He got me to come with him because he said he'd kill the rest of my family the way he did Yuichii-nii.
"Look what you did!" Mother knelt down, gathering me in her arms. "Don't cry, sweetheart… you're home now. None of that matters." I didn't even realize I was crying until she mentioned it. "No… Yori's right. It was suspicious and… I remember."
"Just like that?" Yori asked, skeptical but curious. He joined us on the floor, eyes urging me to tell him what I remembered. "Muzan-sama killed Yuichii-nii. He told me himself that day when he forced me to go with him."
"What?"
"He said he was going to kill all of you unless I go… no." Will me being here means Muzan-sama would go through with his threat?
"You're talking nonsense. Both of you!" Mother said as if pleading with me. I don't understand why she wouldn't believe it. "It's true! He turned me – " no. Telling them I'm not human anymore would be stupid.
This is bad. Me being here is putting my family in danger. But the thought of leaving them again after all this time is breaking my heart. What should I do?
Our conversation that night was apparently a little too noisy that we attracted the attention of both father and Yusuke. It was like something within me was broken open and my memories of when I was human started coming back. Those memories were what it took to convince father that it really was me. Let me just say that a lot of tears were shed, and everyone hardly slept.
Staying in the morning after was very easy. They all wanted to talk to me, ask me about what happened in the past eight years. I had no idea what to tell them, so I tried to ask about them instead.
"Yu-chan, you're engaged now?" I teased my youngest brother. Blushing, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm eighteen now." He suddenly found it hard to look me in the eyes. "What about you, Yori-chi?"
"Ah! I don't call me that." He nudged my side, something he always does whenever I tease him. "What? Do you like chan better, Yori-chan?" It was like that all day. It felt great. For a moment I forgot about everything else.
"Yukiko, you said Kibutsuji killed your brother?" Father asked, breaking the light atmosphere. I nodded. "Then he took you away?" Another nod at that. "Did he touch you – ehem – inappropriately?"
"No." Everyone was relieved at that. "He kept you hostage all these years? How did you get away?" Yusuke asked. "Well, it's complicated." How do I explain that to them?
"What's important is she's here now." Mother said, putting her hand on mine. She was about to say something else when a scream came from outside. It was a haunting, shrill sound. Both my brothers bolted outside to see what the commotion was about, the rest of us following after. Father walked towards the gate as mother and I hung back our front door. Going outside enabled me to smell the blood. There was a lot of blood. The amount whenever a demon feed. Another demon is in our village, and instead of feeling afraid, I decided I will protect my family. I decided that if it's to keep them alive, then I'm willing to fight.