[Basashi - raw horsemeat eaten as sashimi; Rebasashi - raw beef liver sashimi; Well, that was Urokodaki only younger and maskless. I badly wanna know what his face looks like]
It is only now that I started to truly regret not putting in much effort in Akaza-san's lessons. I decided to protect my family, but have no idea how to go about it. Besides, what can I even do to a fellow demon? I think Akaza-san said that we are physically unable to off each other. I don't know, my memory's still fuzzy.
My brothers came back pale-faced. That is to be expected when you come across a mutilated body. "Animal attack." Was all Yori said before going off deeper in the house, Yusuke shuffling in behind him. The mood in our house changed drastically, and I can sense that this reopened some wounds and brought back painful memories.
Yuichii-nii's death was ruled as an animal attack – how that animal got in was not something they really pondered on. Rumors flooded the town about how that same animal from eight years ago was back again. The timing of my reappearance couldn't have been worse. It's not like my family told everyone I was back, still, I'll be a secret they'll be keeping.
Later that day, I found myself accompanying a distraught Yusuke. My youngest brother is more shaken than the others, and I can't help the urge to comfort him. We used to be very close. Despite the five-year age gap, you'd find him following my heels almost everywhere. I know you're not supposed to have a favorite sibling, but he's mine.
"It reminds me of that day, nee-chan. The day you and nii-chan…" his tear-brimmed eyes darted to the floor, prompting me to cradle his cheeks in my hands. Looking at him this close made me take note of how much he's changed. I'm not so surprised I didn't recognize him before, though there are still some features that stayed the same – like his eyes.
I blanked out. What can I even say to him? I understand how he feels? Everything's going to be alright? Maybe words weren't even needed. I wrapped my arms around my brother, showing through actions what I can't say with words.
I might physically be three years younger than him now, but he's still my baby brother. After he calmed down, we got to talking more. He told me the story about how he and his fiancée met, and how excited he is to start their life together. This somehow made me feel left behind, but I'm still happy for him. Very happy. Yori found us and joined in, just us three trying to put what happened earlier away from our minds.
I've been with my family only for a day, yet it already proved how difficult it is to hide the truth from them. "Why won't you eat?" My mother asked. A perfectly good and reasonable question. Instead of even attempting to explain, I instead opted to request for something different to eat, "I'm sorry if this is too much, mother, but I've been craving rebasashi… or maybe some basashi." Those meat sashimi's are technically what I've been surviving on… maybe eating only sashimi would be okay, even if it won't be bloody.
My mother set out right away, looking for beef liver or maybe even some horse meat to make into sashimi for me. I feel a little guilty about making her take these extra steps, but maybe this is better than telling her the daughter she's so happy to have back is a monster.
Once the sun set, I tried to look for the wandering demon. I don't think this is a particularly strong one… it's a hunch that I can't shake off. I also needed to feed – and I have to do it as far away from here. It's not neighborly to steal livestock, after all. The rebasashi was fine, just not enough. I found my meal at a patch of forest on the outskirts of town, near the mountain which was my original destination.
Clearly my looking for the demon proved to be useless for another person was eaten. The body was left out in the streets this time, making every person in the village fear for their lives. That meant people closed down shops while the sun was still up, people went indoors earlier and not many will be seen walking around outside.
Yusuke was complaining all day about how he won't be able to spend as much time with Keiko-san as much as he wants – to which Yori rolled his eyes. "He turned into such a lovesick puppy." Was his complaint, I found it rather cute.
Despite the precautions, however, another corpse was found in the next morning. Maybe it's time I really do something about it. That night I set off with the intent to catch the murdering demon but had my attention stolen away by my youngest brother sneaking out of our home. I decided to follow Yusuke, curious about what he's up to. I had a feeling he was off to rendezvous with his lover and I was right. I don't understand why not meetup while the sun was still up, but my youngest brother running up to sweep Keiko-san in a kiss made me hold that thought.
I turned away, heat traveling to my face from the neck. I can't believe my baby brother is… a sigh escaped me. He is a man now, after all. He and Yori grew up while I was stuck, not even feeling the passage of time. I was stuck doing a mission for a man I should hate.
The quiet giggles of the couple caught my attention. They both look so carefree as if people haven't been found dead every morning. I guess being in love and being with your loved one could make your world a better place.
I was about to leave them, to do what I came out for but the sudden movement made me stay still. Keiko-san's shriek was short, Yusuke's scream came from deep his chest, and the smell of blood was overwhelming.
"Tsk, not deep enough!" Was the stranger – the demon said. Keiko-san was on the ground, already bleeding as my brother hurried to her side. "How lucky, I get to have two people tonight."
An instinct… an urge I've never felt before came over me. In a flash I was in front of Yusuke and Keiko-san, shielding them with my body. My flesh was shaking, energy buzzing from deep within. "Stay away from my brother. I'll kill you!" That was the first time I uttered those words, and I wholeheartedly meant it.
"Yusuke put pressure on Keiko-san's wound. Don't move her too much." My brother didn't move – too shocked to do anything. I turned and grabbed his hand, helping him cover the wound on Keiko-san's shoulder. Both our hands coated with Keiko-san's warm blood.
"Yu-chan, I'm right here. I'll protect you." Like a predator to prey, I leaped off towards the demon. My hands went straight for his arms, and they came right off spraying his blood to the ground. I'm stronger and faster than him? Holding onto his shoulders, I pinned him to the ground hovering over him.
"You! You're one of the moons?" He was both scared and surprised. I growled, still angry at him for going after my brother and Keiko-san. His left arm was starting to regenerate, and I think that's what's going to happen if I cut off his head right now. I need to kill him! How?
My blood demon art? Switching one of my hands for a knee, I went on to lick Keiko-san's blood off my hand. The effect was almost instant. Frost traveled from my arms to his shoulders, preventing his arm from regenerating. Feeling triumphant, I punch his face completely obliterating the flesh and even indenting the earth beneath. I'm this powerful? I cut off all his limbs, making sure I cover the wounds with frost so they won't regenerate, and turned back to the humans I was trying to protect.
Yusuke's hands were still applying pressure, and it looked like Keiko-san's bleeding is under his control. But it still needed to be attended to or else she'll bleed out. My brother's face was painted with fear, so I made a move to comfort him and help Keiko-san.
"Stay back!" I turned; the demon was still on the ground where I left it. Was he telling me to stay back? A single step forward confirmed it.
"You're… you're like that monster! Your eyes, those are not my sister's eyes!" My hand flew to my face, almost as if in an attempt to rub at my eyes – to rub off the mark Muzan-sama engraved on them. All that did was spread the remaining blood on my hand to my face – making me look the monster that I really am.
"Yusuke, we need to get help for Keiko-san, or else she'll bleed out." Was what I said, despite the desire to cry. I made another attempt to help out, but Yusuke's won't let me. "Get away from us! Help!" He yelled, facing the direction of the village. I can hear some yelling and despite wanting to stay, I took off grabbing the incapacitated demon with me.
A clearing in the forest up the mountain was where I found myself. Pinning the demon torso to a tree with thick branches was surprisingly easy. Now, I have to make sure he dies once the sun comes up.
Morning was still hours away, and all I could do as I wait was think. My brother called me a monster. He's right, of course. But it still hurt, especially coming from Yusuke. Still, I don't regret it. Using my being a demon as a means to protect someone important to me. I'd do it all over again if it meant keeping him alive. I sure do hope Keiko-san is okay.
A new scent alerted me of someone else's presence. A demon slayer. Black hair in a topknot, and a face so gentle I almost don't believe him capable of swaying a sword.
He turned from me to the demon. "Can you get the frost off where the neck is supposed to be?" He asked, moving closer and pulling his sword out of its scabbard. My surprised face was enough to get my silent question across. "I need to cut at his head to kill him."
"Kill him? The sun won't be up for hours. And if I let him regenerate, he might – " he cut me off. "It's what my sword is for." I decided to humor him. Once enough of the necks flesh regenerated, he ran his sword through it, and demon started disintegrating. The suffocating scent of something burning taking over.
So that's how they kill demons. Their swords must be special. He turned to me then, probably preparing to kill me. I bowed my head, almost presenting my neck to him. Maybe with the presence of a demon slayer here, Muzan-sama won't send anyone to harm my family. No. With my death they'll be safe. Muzan-sama won't have any reason to go after them.
The demon slayer stopped before me. "You're not going to give me a reason to spare you?" It was like I heard the funniest joke in my whole life. My almost hysterical laughter rang around the forest, rousing so many critters from their slumber.
"I don't have any. I'm a monster. My… my brother hates me. I'd love to stay alive and spend more time with them, but that's not something a demon like me should desire." I looked at the slayer, realizing how he's only about my age – physical age – and yet look so experienced already. Still, there is this kindness to his face that almost makes me want to cry.
"I saw what happened. You said that man was your brother? You protected him." I nodded. "You're a demon moon. You know Kibutsuji personally?" Another nod. "You're coming with me."