Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Arc "Kyojuro and Akari"

BY: RENEE PHYLLIS

FANFICTION

Chapter Twenty

"Arigato, Akari"

The wind blew pass her, her hair covering her view, but she could clearly see who it was. Her eyes grew big in shock and her eyes started to get teary, when that someone turned around facing her. She knew too well, whose smile she saw when a guy beneath the tree had turned around facing her, a grin plastered on his face. He wore a gray yukata and a black kimono that wasn't tied to his waist. Both his hands on each side of his waist and a smile on his face that you could see his teeth. She gasped at the sight of seeing none other than, Kyojuro. The man she has been waiting for to see.

She ran, her tears falling and flying away. The dandelions started to fly with her, because of the wind blowing. She ran, never stopping for even a second. She almost fell on her knees, but still, she kept running, just to reach the arms that held her with such love. She ran. She ran and ran. I'm here. He's here. He's with me. I'm with him. Is this a dream? Is it really you? Is it really you, Kyojuro? She continued to run. All my life, I've suffered loses, just like anyone, because of those wretched demons who attacked my home. They became the sole purpose of my being. They became what I needed to slay in order for those who are in the dark to live freely. All my life, I've never felt at ease. I grew cold and distant. The people around me worried, that I might someday, snap and become someone I can never come back to. I killed without mercy, without remorse for each demon I slay, not minding their feelings and not even thinking that they were once humans who lived so poorly. Humans, who became angry with the world they live in, that they could not stand it anymore, just like I did. All my life, I've never found someone, who would look me in the eye and tell me, that I don't need to feel the way I do, because it will only corrupt me. That is… until, I had found you. You became someone I hold dear. You straightened my path and helped me come back to myself. You were the one, who changed my perspective. The one who gave me something to fight for, other than my rage. You and your jolly ways, were the ones who changed the sole purpose of my being in this world. You gave me life, when I didn't know it could be given. Now, we're here, in this unknown paradise. Our unknown paradise. Where we once sat on and talked about a world, where they were no demons. Would have we met in that beautiful fantasy? Would I be the me I am now? Would we be something we are now? There's so many what-ifs in my mind, that the only what-if that has a concrete answer, is What if we meet again? Then I'm sure, we are to meet. Because I see you, in the very same tree, I slept in your shoulder. The very same tree we became together. I am here, now. I am here, my love. Kyojuro stood still. He smiled, ear-to-ear. She ran, reaching out her hands, her arms reaching out to him.

"Kyojuro!", she shouted and jumped on him. This unknown paradise, wherever this is, was the same place they had been honest with their feelings. The same place they would always meet. The place they would always go back to, just to see each other.

Time seemed to have slowed down. She jumped to him. Kyojuro opened his arms as she reached to him, shouting his name. They fell on the field of dandelions. She hugged him so tight and as they were falling, everything was slowing down. She smiled, closing her eyes, embracing Kyojuro. Kyojuro smiled, closing his eyes and hugged her like never before. They fell and just embraced each other. Akari cried so heavily. So much that her tears would have probably started to become a lake. "You're here. Kyojuro, you're really here. I'm really hugging you. I- I missed you so much, too much", she said as she was crying, voice breaking. Kyojuro chuckled and just hugged her, smiling. "You would not believe how long I've waited for you. Akari, I've missed you too", he said in a form of a whisper, just for her to hear. He lets go of her and they both stand up from their position. She held his cheeks and he held her wrists. "You're as beautiful as the day I left you", he said and his eyes started to well up. She smiled and her tears were still visible. He kissed her and she gladly kissed back. He embraced her once more. And she rested on his chest, embracing him as well. Then, she lets go. "If I'm here…then, I've really left Kajuro and Kyori", she said, looking in the sky, the bright blue sky. "Don't worry, we'll always be with them. We'll always see them even if they don't see us", he said and held her by the waist.

He grinned again and looked excited. "I want you to meet someone", he said and all of a sudden, his mother appeared. "Mom, this is Akari. Akari, my mother, Ruka", he said and gave Akari's hand to his mother. "R-Ruka-sama", she stuttered and felt embarrassed, her cheeks flustered. "Akari, what an honor it is to finally meet you", she was hugged by Kyojuro's mother. "See? I told you our son's a good picker", a man said behind Ruka. "Shinjuro-san", Akari said and hugged him. "Welcome, Akari", he said and embraced the girl. Kyojuro looked at Akari as she smiled. "I still have plenty of surprises, but I think this might be the best one, yet", he said and she was confused. She turned around to see two people in front of her. "Shinobu! Kanae!", she ran to them for a hug. Akari started to cry again. "Oh, how I've missed you both", she said and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. She hugged them. "We've missed you, too. Akari, you're still the same as ever, even with your children. We've been watching you", Kanae said with her happy-go-lucky personality. "You surely took your time, before getting here", a familiar voice said to her. She turned around to see Tengen coughing from Kyojuro smacking him in the stomach. That's a first. She went to hug her friend. And then, smacked him as well. "Yup, just like before", Tengen agreed to Kanae's statement.

Everyone she lost started to appear. She was too happy now. Kanae and Shinobu's parents thanked her for taking care of Shinobu after Kanae was gone and hugged her. She saw Sanemi and Genya with their family and she embraced Genya too tightly, crying like someone losing a pet. She hugged Sanemi as well, and the guy blushed in embarrassment. "Kanae's right there. If you weren't meant to be in the world of the living, you might have a chance here", she said to Sanemi, but he shrugged the thought. "Maybe someday, somewhere, but right now, I'm happy with my family", he said and smiled at her. She looked around the corner and saw a boy, a smiling boy, someone she'd never seen before and a twin beside him, who's expression has been the same as always.

Muichiro, along with his parents and brother appeared and she ran to him, hugging him tightly, squeezing the life out of him. "I'm already dead, but I'd like to die, again", the boy said, joking – partly, no. "Uh, Akari-san, it's me, Muichiro", the smiling boy changed his expression into a confused one and Akari looked at the one she's hugging. She was hella confused, but as she examined the two further, she noticed the differences and hugged the real Muichiro. "Muichiro-kun. I've missed you so much. Sorry, for mistaking you", she apologized, smiling awkwardly. "That's okay", Muichiro replied with a huge grin.

Giyu, who was now with his comrades, his sister and the best friend he talked about to Akari, Sabito, smiled at her as he greeted her, a genuine expression. She couldn't help but hug him, finally being able to see such a smile from Giyu. Urokodaki-san and all other demon slayers who lost their lives were there, too, which made her tear up, she would definitely fill an ocean. She smiled and bowed to all of them.

Of course, the two hashiras who vowed to be together, if ever they were reincarnated, soon joined in the show. Mitsuri ran and hugged her behind, her breasts bouncing on the back of Akari, which sent shivers all over her body. But she was too happy to see the girl who gave her smiles. They couldn't stop hugging each other and it kind of irritated Obanai, so Akari pulled him in the hug and he wanted to break free from her grip, but he gave up and just let her hug him. "I miss you too, Iguro-kun", she said and smiled at him. Kaburamaru climbing on her neck and rubbed itself against her cheek. She smiled at the snake greeting her. "A pleasure to see you, Kaburamaru", she said and the snake came back to its owner as soon as she lets go of Obanai and Mitsuri. The two seemed happy together, even if they aren't living anymore, or has never lived the life they wanted. "I'm so happy to see you, Mitsuri", she cupped her left cheek and Mitsuri blushed smiling.

Then Oyakata-sama, Amane and their two daughters appeared. She bowed down to them as well. Her tears started flowing like waterfalls, again. "Everyone's here. All we've lost are now found and here with us", Kyojuro walked behind her, putting his hands on her shoulder. She held on those hands and smiled at everyone. "Now, for my final gift to you. Well, it isn't exactly my final gift, but-", she looked at him, rather confused. There's more? He gestured for her to look further in those same field of dandelions. "Nee-chan!", someone shouted running. Pigtails on her head, a young girl was running towards her. She gasped to see who it was and she ran, letting go of her hold to Kyojuro's hand. She kneeled down and hugged her, tightly. "Koji!", she shouted in happiness. She hugged her, not letting go. "Nee-chan", Koji was so happy to see her again, Akari felt the same. Her parents appeared and she cried hugging them. She saw her family again. Something she'd been wishing has finally come true. "Koji, Mom and Dad. I'm so happy", she said and they all hugged together. Her dad kissed her on the forehead and smiled at her touching her cheeks. "How you've grown", he said and turned from his wife to his daughter. Akari was overjoyed, more than so, seeing her family again. But someone was missing. "Akari", a familiar voiced had called out, children laughing was soon heard. She gasped in both sadness and joy, seeing the one who saved her all those years ago, the one who protected her and the one who practically raised her, treating her like a little sister. "Onii-chan!", she shouted, sounding surprised and jumped on him, Gyomei carrying her. His hands wrapped around her waist. "Oi, Rengoku. Seems like someone's stealing your girl." Kyojuro grinned at those words that came out from Tengen's mouth and he side-kicked him on his left ribs. "I've never experienced this in the living world. Why am I getting beat up, here?", Tengen complained, his voice breaking from the pain. Though it wasn't exactly pain he felt. It seemed like nothingness, but his pride was hurt the most. "Onii-chan, I'm so happy", she said as Gyomei set her down and greeted the little children running around Gyomei. "You're so pretty", a girl said, brushing her hand against Akari's hair. "Thank you", she said and smiled. "So am I, Akari. So am I", Gyomei said with the biggest smile he has ever made.

Her end may have come, but it was only the beginning of her life in the afterlife. In the end, everyone was happy. When she looked around her, everyone was smiling. She went to Kyojuro and joined hands with him. "Let's go see our kids", he said and in a blink of an eye, they saw them and their family, praying in her grave that was beside Kyojuro's. They both knelt down and put their hands on each of their kids' shoulders. "We'll be here", she said. "Always", he added.

Kajuro and Kyori felt their presence and turned around to see no one. They looked at each other and cried. When they did, their spouses looked at them confused, but both smiled and hugged them. Akari and Kyojuro's grandchildren chuckled as they were wiping their tears away.

The two of them, along with Ruka and Shinjuro visited one last person. Senjuro was in the Rengoku family home as he lived there after he finished with school and started to work. He went to the backyard and reminisced the moments he spent there with his family. They visited him, Shinjuro and Ruka sitting beside him, Akari and Kyojuro on his back with their hands on his shoulders. Ruka kissed him in the forehead. "Goodbye for now, my love", Ruka said and the wind blew pass Senjuro, making him realize that his family was with him. He heard what Ruka said. And he smiled, tears falling down.

All was perfect in the end. Kyojuro and Akari stayed on the hill, holding hands as they sat under the tree, staring into the sunset. Kyojuro on the left side, sitting in an Indian position and his hands holding Akari. Akari on the right side, her head resting on Kyojuro's shoulders, her hands holding his. They remained there, just looking at the horizon. The breeze brushing against their cheeks, they remained there, not even talking. Eventually, Akari fell asleep like she always did, in the arms of her beloved. "Arigato, Akari", Kyojuro said as she kissed her in the forehead. The sun had set, night came and stars shined. He closed his eyes and smiled.

The End.