Chapter updated: 7/5/23
Ume had always chased after time.
For as long as she could remember when it came right down to it, survival was all about time. How much you had, how well it was used, and the effort of performing the right action at the right moment. In the old world, a person who wouldn't hesitate to kill her and her brother for weapons and supplies was just as rare as kindness in the hard-edged city. In the last few centuries, her time was spent doing whatever she could to please her dear Master, disposing of enough Hashiras before daybreak and providing enough money from her profession for him. Time was always fickle and compact for Ume and she loved it. It chose when it came and when it ran out, and opportunities for second chances were scarce. To time something just right was a matter of experience, a matter of effort, and sometimes some good luck. Or maybe they were the same thing. It didn't matter either way.
So to be here and now, in this place and period with time just ticking away, Ume found herself helplessly suffocating under the passing minutes of sitting in this medical room. She sat in pure silence, just listening to the humming of soft breaths and slow heartbeats that contrasted with the harsh winds building outside.
That was all she could do to calm her frazzled nerves.
Thinking of Gyutaro and how he was faring without her….Thinking of her dear Master and the other Upper Moons….thinking about how she was going to accomplish her whole atonement fiasco….thinking about how many tears that asshole Tengen is shedding over the fact that he's permanently asymmetrical…thinking how she could become the greatest Hashira….thinking about how she could be an actual Demon Slayer…..thinking about if it would be a good idea to smother Zentisu and Inosuke with their pillows in their sleep…..thinking about her strange dreams and the colors she's been seeing...thinking about how fucking long she has been in this damn room.
There was absolutely nothing to do and it was driving her insane.
She mourned her two old lives. The days when she and Gyutaro barely scraped by as humans and the days when she and Gyutaro were a terrifying nightmare to be reckoned with. She was still given a foreseeable purpose in her bleak life. Given the strength to dream again. Her contained rage stemmed from the misfortune that she felt of her shortened life, compounded by the regrets and pain she had harboured—she, at least, finally had a way to direct it somewhere.
But now she has nothing. No direction. No guidance. No companionship. No family. No true purpose. Nothing.
Ume knew this place in the tightly interwoven fabric of her new life. She sometimes wished she could go back to it because, in retrospect, her two old lives seems so secure compared to now, the last life when she was the renowned, posh Oiran that was hated and feared by all, and the life when she was that beautiful, strong-willed girl working tooth to the nail to climb the ranks of the Houses. At least, she was herself.
Ume gazed her empty eyes on the night skies out the window, looking at the silent and soulless world that seemingly reflected how she was feeling.
Gray.
It plastered the skies as far as the eye could see. Just a single, dull slab of colour; bereft of any warmth or compassion. However, it was not uncommon in the northern part of the Tohoku region with unruly weather for the skies to be drained of life. It was the kind of day that was filled with tension that was almost palpable.
Cold, brutally chilly. Even after the February snow melted away. Ume could never understand why the northern rural areas were considered a desirable region. Even if there was minimal demon activity, the weather was known to be brutally cold and made life for residents difficult clouds above her were swollen with condensation, and the weather was much chillier in this part of the region during the crisp month of March.
Ume took a deep breath, savouring the calm before the storm. She didn't like storms themselves necessarily, but it was the few precious moments before everything broke forth that stirred some sort of excitement in the pit of her stomach. The way everything was unnaturally quiet, the way nature seemed to be holding its breath… it was the thrill of anticipating something big that captured her like no other kind of weather.
She looked down at the lovely garden beyond the window, spring flowers of all colours painted the ground in vivid strokes. A small patch of Red Spider Lillies glowed vibrantly underneath the window. As she did this, her mind wandered to different days; days when she was small and innocent, the days when Gyutaro would take her to the outskirts, she would bring Gyutaro wildflowers she picked, and they would play in there before sunset. The grass had grown in patches around the smooth stones. She had liked to walk barefoot back then.
Days when she would silently walk behind her brother through the long, dirty streets of Rashomon Riverbank whenever they traveled out. Gyutaro was so much taller than her, she always had to tilt her head upwards to look at him when he spoke to her. Ebony was his hair and his pale green eyes that were like a fresh spring leaf.
Ume screwed her eyes together, blooms of red erupted behind her lids from the pressure. Her other senses tormented her in lieu of her vision.
The guilt that streamed from those memories was so pungent that she swore she could see it hanging over her head like a dark storm cloud.
Loneliness. Yeah, that was what was bothering her the most. It was heavy, it was burdensome, almost painful.
Even though Ume knew that she was in this large building buzzing with tons of humans, and this room full of the three familiar Demon Slayers around her, this was the first time in her life that Ume truly felt utterly alone. She had long forgotten what it was like to feel this way: hollow and empty; not a trace of warmth or light. She realized how blessed she was to have her big brother at her side, but she also came to the conclusion that she was stupid. Something that she had been called numerous times before when it comes to her impulsive actions. Stupid enough to never treasure these precious moments.
She glanced down at Tanjiro, wondering when he was going to stir awake. For the past long minutes, Ume had tried to wake him up by shaking, nudging, and even slapping him across the cheeks, to no avail. Despite her mixed feelings towards him, Ume genuinely wanted him to wake up. She wanted to start this atonement right now. Or at the very least, just so she could have someone familiar and interactable at her side.
"How do you snap a human out of a coma?" Ume muttered under her breath.
Ume wasn't so sure. She had no medical knowledge to speak of, but she did know that humans tend to fall into comas if their bodies are too injured. Ume could recall several girls she knew at the Kyogoku House who ended up comatose after they got on her bad side too many times. Sometimes they wake up, other times they don't. As far as Ume could remember, the best treatment for a coma was just time and patience, pure and simple.
With an audible sigh, Ume looked into his closed ambiguous eyes—eyes that revealed so many true human emotions—she gave the slumbering Demon Slayer a hopeless look, realizing how much younger he looked when his face was calm.
He looked like a different person when he slept.
The dark expression that harbored so much resentment, rage, and burdens — it was all gone now.
He looked so peaceful sleeping, so relaxed and so... kind even.
He looked nothing like the intimidating Demon Slayer she fought against. The lone soldier who carried valiantly on when all hopes should have been lost.
In all truth, Ume couldn't help but respect his bravery.
Maybe if they were born into a different world, you might have been a different kid, and maybe she'd be a different person as well. If they were born into a different world… then perhaps, things could've been different between them…Ume could see them being good friends.
"…You know…Tanjiro, you're the least worst person I know. I despise you as much as you despise me, but since I need you for this atonement thing, I'll be willing to cooperate with you and your goons." Ume whispered hoarsely. "But don't you dare me to give me any sort of trouble though, or I swear you will regret it!"
A sudden clap of thunder rumbled in the distance, vibrating through her thin body from her fingertips that rested on the grey claw that was Tanjiro's hand. The roaring, vicious wind she had been listening to had warned her of a sudden storm, but she knew that the foreboding weather was nothing compared to the storm raging in her chest.
The room seemed to have grown even darker; the blooming dark clouds threateningly pressed against each other, as if fighting to see which one would break first. The wind sounded like a wailing child. Icy droplets of rain began to patter through the window and down on her face. A loud crack was heard when streaks of lightning flashed and reflected in her solemn pink eyes. She could hear the rattling of the branches as the tall trees swayed in the merciless wind.
Ume found her mind wandering as she stared out of the window to observe the raging weather outside. Torrents of rain and wind thrashed the once serene and pretty world outside, showing no mercy to the great environment around it. Trees were swaying in all directions, threatening to come crashing down while the heavy raindrops collided against their branches.
While she witnessed this chaos wrecking the scenery, Ume found herself listening to the torrent, drowning in her thoughts. There was growing anxiety about the rain and the sound was enough to calm her, drowning out every other noise. In the distance, Ume caught white jolts of lightning snaking in the skies.
One white flash of lightning lit up the room and Ume's gaze fell on that flashy freak slumbering across the room.
His still form only served to conflict with her. A bitter scowl wrenched up her face at the memory of him striking her at such lightning speed, his sword narrowly beheading her. I should have killed him first as Gyutaro said. He kept saying that over and over, but I just toyed around like a deadbeat…
Why is he and that boar cretin blessed with good sleep and fortune? Her deep-seated anger flared to unseen heights and she trembled. Had only she been faster once she realized that his sword wasn't going to behead her, she could have saved herself a lot of trouble..
I could have saved myself a lot of trouble..
Then came the rain cutting from the heavens and pounding onto the grandiose estate without mercy.
Ume sighed audibly. It had been days since she has seen rainfall. It was a clamorous sound, yet she found herself strangely drawn enough to it. She didn't know if it was the sight of the rain or because of the soothing sounds that calmed her down. Ume smiled and reached out to touch the downpour, but a flash of red struck her, and she found herself halting.
Red. Blood red. Stark crimson like Master Muzan's brilliant eyes, translucent as Gyutaro's blood, sleek as her obi sashes whenever it slashed through human flesh…
With exaggerated slowness, she lifted her hands, the crimson hue of blood contrasting against her porcelain white skin.
This was the hands of a ruthless Upper Moon. Not someone seeking redemption for the sins she committed.
In a blink, all Ume could see was blood. Blood that cloaked Tanjiro's body from his wound, his burgundy eyes full of horror, and his cumbersome breaths demanded her to return back to the gruesome scene she left behind on the bloodstained alleyway. She tried to dispel those images, but another gruesome set assaulted her; those humans' severed heads and limbs, the billowing smoke of the demolished buildings, the blood spewing on that man's severed arm, the bloodied corpses lying amongst the rubble, Tanjiro's bloodstained eyes burning with hatred…
With absolute horror flashing in the depths of her eyes, Ume immediately submerged her hands in the downpour and began to furiously wash her hands, as if she were to cleanse the blood off her hands, her sins would go away as well. The blood clouded and tainted the once crystal clear water crimson before the sheets of rainwater washed it away; stark crimson, translucent, until the red finally faded into the same transparent clear water before. Once she was done, Ume stared at her hand and saw no crimson, breathing out heavily.
It was like her sins were washed away, long forgotten and gone, but even then, Ume found herself suddenly drowned in a vortex of fear and uncertainty. Her strength escaped her as her knees buckled, weighed down by her fears.
Is this a sign that she's not meant for this task? Is she even deserving of this role of a Demon Slayer?
Maybe this entire thing is just another mistake? Another snap decision that she failed to think over, another mistake.
She looked down at both of her hands. There was no blood to be seen, but she could still see the dried blood of the past tainting her skin. The skin of Daki, Yatamahime, as Warabihime and Ume herself. Two tainted hands seeking to cleanse in each other as a diversion.
Ume clenched her eyes shut as a building hollow vent formed inside of her. She didn't know its true origin, but it was a dreadful vacuum that drained her livelihood. It was as if someone had dug her hole into her chest and scooped out all her soul. All Ume was left with nothing but the large, painless void.
Maybe this is a fool's errand. Maybe I will never atone for my actions. Maybe it is futile to think that I belong in a place like this…I'm nothing but a deadbeat..
With each depressing thought crashing down on her, Ume felt the throat getting tighter as if to remind her that Gyutaro is not here to save her now, to help her pull through obstacles beyond her abilities. She couldn't depend on him anymore. She needed to do something. She was going to be trapped here forever if she didn't.
Without him, she was weak, helpless, and crippled.
Nothing but that frightened little girl, unable to do anything but whine and cry.
But before those growing cynical thoughts could fully override her mind, Ume's gaze fell back onto the patches of Red Spider Lilies below. In the great terrible storm, they stood beautiful and tall as blooming roses in summer, poised to show the world their vibrance, strength showing in how they remain so intact in the unforgiving gusts.
No. Ume slowly opened her eyes, revealing determined and narrowed-down pink pupils. I have to do this, only I can do this. Big Brother is counting on me. He would want me to be strong, to go down this path. I will not allow myself to fall apart. Not now.
She stood up tall from the floor, narrowed eyes staring out at the raging storm. She could feel her blood warming, her hot blood simmering. Her heart began to thump furiously in her chest like a war drum.
Things have changed. Everything is different now. I refuse to give up.
She moved her determined gaze back to Tanjiro, his unmoving form planted in his bed and in a heartbeat, the memory of the letter addressed to him flashed to her mind.
'The Final Selection…?" Ume echoed the one familiar term like it was an afterthought. Her mind was spinning in disarray, but somehow through the mess that was her mind, she zeroed in on that particular term.
Ume had frequently heard that term many times before through the spying ears of her sentient obi sashes. Young rookies prattled on about their experiences of the harrowing process when they think they were alone with their team. Apparently, it was an event where candidates must survive seven nights in a treacherous mountain called Mount Fujikasane which is full of wisteria flowers from the mountain's foot to its slope for an opportunity to join the esteemed ranks of the Demon Slayer Corps as official Demon Slayers.
Ume mulled it over for a moment. It sounded like a terrible gamble, probably a bigger one than the gamble she was taking now. The mere concept of a demon voluntarily heading into a great mountain full of noxious wisteria plants was a death sentence.
But to Ume, the thought of participating sounded like a blessing in disguise. The event shouldn't be too much of an issue considering that the Accidental Demon still has Upper Moon regeneration and the greater the regeneration, the less potent the poison is. From what Ume could recall from the numerous conversations she overheard, the area around the mountaintop does not have any wisteria flowers and is swarming with demons imprisoned on the mountain. So that meant that there was no sunlight residing there.
In order to collaborate with Tanjiro, it was imperative that she underwent the same level of training regimen as him. Just as she underwent arduous training in the past to become a prominent Oiran, she now must endure the strenuous and rigorous instruction from the Master who had previously taught Tanjiro to become an accomplished Demon Slayer.
Just as Gyutaro once told her after their mother's overdue death; "You will never truly comprehend another's perspective until they climb into their skin and walk around in it."
"First, it might be a good decision to write a letter to this person. Anything to get the ball rolling." Ume decided, quickly searching for some writing supplies from the medical cabinets of the room. She had no desire to leave the room just yet, and thankfully she managed to scrap a few materials from the cabinets.
Once she had some paper, ink, a brush, and a piece of cord string, she settled herself at a small table arranged at the edge of the room, setting the paper down, and immediately knew what to write.
"Greetings, Urokodaki Sakonji-sensei, not long ago, me and Tanjiro underwent a harrowing ordeal that changed both of us. While stationed in Yoshiwara, we were targeted by two formidable demons, resulting in my brother's incapacitation and significant damage to the area."
Ume restocked the ink on her brush and tapped the wooden end against her lip, before continuing with her letter.
Though we were victorious in the end, it cost too much for me to move on from. I have come to the realization that I wish to pursue a more meaningful path from now on. It is with utmost humility that I express my interest in becoming a Demon Slayer and respectfully request your guidance on the traditions and practices of this esteemed profession. Additionally, I would like to request your consideration for approval into the Final Selection program, despite my current status as a demon. I assure you of my sincerity and unwavering commitment to fulfilling all the responsibilities of a Demon Slayer. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I respectfully request that you give thoughtful consideration to my appeal, please forgive the blatant oddity in my request. But I am unequivocally certain that speaking in person at your residence would be the most effective way to further discuss the matter at hand.
Sincerely, Kamado Nezuko.
With that, she ended the letter.
"Hopefully he'll be able to give me some answers very soon."
o o o —(O)— o o o
As soon Ume had finished securing the letter, a sudden mist of stark white flowed past her face. She looked down to see Tanjiro and gasped startled.
For some reason, the sight of it reminded her of Kaoruko's passing on that snowy afternoon. Ume could remember how Kaoruko waste away in that tiny room on the filthy floor in the single room they shared like it was just yesterday. Her green eyes hollow and dead, but still lively of hatred, her cumbersome breaths emitting a crisp white banner that assaulted the stale air of the room, her final words to her as cold and bitter as the snow entrenching through the roof.
Ume stiffened at that sudden memory and quickly made work to push it toward the back of her mind so she could focus on the matter at hand. The stark white mist brewing off of Tanjiro, emitted directly from his chest. Slowly, wafting up into the air, cold, bleak, and blanched, slowly billowing and flowing.
Ume sucked in a stiff breath and leaned towards Tanjiro's bed. She was baffled. He looked no different than he did before. Broken and senseless in this small bed, breathing short shallow breaths and each heart beating slow and smooth. He looked no different than he did before.
His health felt, sounded, and looked unchanged.
All that was abnormal was the column of pure white mist emitting from his chest.
But Ume could not shake off the deep-rooted feeling that something else was not right. It was a nagging feeling akin to an itching mosquito bug that you have to keep scratching. Something felt off obviously and it was in plain sight seemingly almost begging her to be noticed. It was almost as if the mist itself was trying to show her something, something that she was painfully missing.
Ume scrutinised closer, centralising her eyes on Tanjiro as if he was the only person in the room, and then in a blink of an eye, she finally saw it.
Through his skin, through his muscles, she could see his heart.
His crimson four-chambered heart pulsed from dimness to darkness against his fractured pearl-white rib cage, pounding ever so slowly, too slowly for Ume's comfort. In the middle of one of the large coronaries directed up to his heart, there seemed to be a forming buildup of a mass of tiny colourless disk-shaped particles mashed together with a meshwork of yellow strands.
She could see it and more.
His grey brain striped with pulsing black, white, and long red and blue veins and arteries, his fractured bones, his lungs weathered and beaten, all of the veins coursing through his entire body. His internal organs…his muscles…his bones...even his tissues.
She could see inside of the boy all with crystal clarity.
The sight of it was so disturbing that she felt her heart winched painfully. She instinctively shut her eyes for a brief moment before opening them again to see Tanjiro lying motionless in his bed, his entire body clothed and full.
Overwhelmed and stunned, she found herself unable to utter a single word or even move a muscle. All she could do was simply stare in disbelief at Tanjiro.
Was that my imagination?
No. No. It was not. I can feel it in my own heart. It was definitely not fake, what I just saw was real.
He's dying. The back of her head was home to a small, sad voice. He's going to die…
What she had witnessed had burned into the centre of her mind. Ume was convinced her own heart was being clenched by someone the longer she stared at it. She knew very little about cardiology, but she was aware that any heart abnormality was a serious sign of worry.
In her peripheral vision, Ume caught something advancing in the darkness of the hallway that resembled two forms of mist far away and approaching her vicinity. One a firm turquoise, one a light lilac. Humans. Breathing, pulsing organs, and blood circulating, all compact with their respective colors. The moment that Ume saw a glimpse of the first girl coming around the corner towards the room.
"Oi, over here," Ume called out to the short, blue-eyed girl carrying a small clipboard, her ebony twin tails swaying back and forth as she moved. She looked like a sort of nurse. Beside her was another girl, nimble and graceful with a dumb look on her face. A wisp of a girl with dark lilac eyes, a cascade of black ponytail fastened with a pink-green butterfly ornament, and dressed as pretty as a doll in a white cape over a purple skirted dress. The other girl seemed to be a nurse, however.
"Oh, Nezuko-chan," The first girl hurried her pace and entered the room with a palpable shocked expression. "What..are you doing here? Did you just speak?"
Ume wasted no time in confronting her. "One of his arteries is clotting up as we speak. I saw inside of him…his heart is clotting with these yellowish clumps and red blood cells." She took a fleeting glance at Tanjiro as she spoke, and immediately saw that the white fog circling his chest had begun to spread to the rest of his body like wildfire.
His heart was beating significantly slowly. His crimson four-chambered heart Her crimson-red heart pumped out an irregular rhythm against his pearl-white chest cavity. Each pound grew weaker and soft. Every passing second, his left artery continued slowly clotting up with a clump of particles….
"What do you mean, Nezuko-chan?" Ume caught Aoi blinking at her, baffled, "His arteries?" She breathed. "What do you mean by what you see inside of him?"
A spark of irrational anger flared into Ume's chest, and she had to refrain from cursing at her. "Just help him, there is something wrong with his heart!" But before Ume could open her mouth to further explain, she flinched at a sudden mist of purple gracing her eyes.
She whirled around to the door just in time to see another mist grace across her eyes, one of violet, a woman walking up the hallway.
A fair and dainty woman adorned in attire so fine and gorgeous that it took Ume's breath away. She was delicate and slight, yet she seemed robust and graceful for all that. She was the loveliest woman Ume had ever set eyes upon; lovelier than herself and the Accidental Demon combined. Her jet-black hair fell to her chin and framed her lovely face, and shimmering violet eyes matched her air. She was a Demon Slayer, Ume could tell from her purple-tinted uniform underneath her intricate haori of white, brilliant as a field of the new-fallen snow, embroidered with a butterfly wing pattern that fades into a pale turquoise then pink color on the sleeves and hem which are cuffed with black and white dotted trim. Ume found her so enchanting that she could hardly keep her eyes off of her.
"Aoi-san, any changes with them?" The woman's delicate voice came echoing through the hallway, but she stopped puzzlingly as soon as she stepped inside and saw the young girl's frozen expression. "Oh, Nezuko-chan, what..the matter? It's rather late for you."
"Tanjiro.." Ume approached her urgently. "He's dying... his arteries are clotting up, help him." She spoke incoherently and softly, yet urgently.
"What makes you think that?" Lady Kochō-sama asked questionably, her lovely eyes writhing with bewilderment.
Ume only nodded once as confirmation. She didn't know how she felt about this. Truth be told, she still couldn't comprehend the specifics behind these strange abilities of hers. The mist was just one of the oddities, but now she could see the insides of a person. Her main concern was another question that was at the forefront of her mind: how did she awaken it only now?
Shinobu's eyes glinted with confusion. "You saw one of his arteries is getting clotting up…?"
Ume bit her bottom lip. "Yes…"
From the look on her face, Ume could tell that the woman did not believe her just like the Aoi girl. Ume couldn't really blame her or Aoi really. Had she not been looking at his internal organs and someone came up to her and said the same things, she'd have been thinking that person was insane.
A pang of fear rushed through Ume as the aching seconds ticked away on Tanjiro's lifespan. She wanted to try to prove herself, she wanted to make sure this woman understood, but she had no clue how.
"I promise I'm telling the truth. I don't know how to explain it, but I saw…"
"I believe you, I do." Lady Kochō-sama cut through her sentence, before rushing over to Tanjiro's side. She reached down to the small dresser next to his bed and retrieved a stethoscope and examined him, laying the silver part of the item on his chest.
In an instant, the woman's serene expression flashed into one of alarm. "His heartbeat is concerningly slower than I last remember… Aoi-sama!"
After she said those words, she and Aoi sprang to action.
Lady Kocho-sama proceeded across the room and drew out another IV bag containing colorless liquid bearing the label "Heparin Sodium," Aoi came to Tanjiro's bedside and carefully and delicately removed the bag from the IV pole and unhooked the tubes into his arms and hands. Lady Kocho-sama came back, and by the time she reached his bedside, the new bag had taken the place of the old one. Then Aoi retrieved a syringe, a number of IV tubings, and a cannula, all wrapped in sterile wrapping, along with some disinfectant. Tanjiro's arm was taken by Lady Kocho-sama, who then placed the cannula into his vein and connected the IV tubings before filling them with clear liquids.
Ume migrated her gaze to Tanjiro's open form once more, and this time, she was not afraid when she saw his internal organs looking back at her. Instead, she felt a sliver of anticipation shot through her veins. She was intrigued, mesmerized, and sucked in as she watched the transparent liquid quickly travel directly to his heart after pumping like a river into his circulation.
Soon enough, the gel-like mass of red cells and yellow particles gradually started to disintegrate, one piece at a time.
And then the white cloud that was looming over him suddenly vanished into thin air.
With each inhale and exhale, the damaged structure of his diaphragm would contract and relax, resulting in a continuous and strenuous constriction within the expansive, rounded enclosure of his chest cavity. His scarlet heart pumped a steady rhythm against his crackled pearl-white chest cavity. Each thump resonated loudly and distinctly, almost resembling the sound of ancient war drums beating in unison. Dark red blood flowed seamlessly through his veins like the murky river that coursed through Rashomon Riverbank.
I can see inside of him... Ume thought in a daze.
She stiffened when a sudden sound roused her from her stupor. A soft pained wheezing.
"Tanjiro?"
He did not wake, but she could see his facial structures stirring briefly before relaxing.
He's going to live. Ume thought, a relieved smile threatening to break over her face. Good, my atonement still lives on.
This is how far medicine has progressed. Ume was astounded. She never tried to keep up with humanity's progress in medicine because of obvious reasons, but she did remember that back in her human days, medicine was either kampo remedies or bloodletting, but most of the time just prayers. All of which were expensive. Extremely expensive. In the underbelly of Yoshiwara where resources are scarce and people fight to the death over a single loaf of bread, medicine was more of a luxury only the rich could afford. Even with Gyutaro's career as a hard-edged debt collector and her profession as a rising Yūjo, they still could hardly save up enough funds to allow them both to afford medical treatment.
"What do you see now?" The curious voice of Lady Kochō-sama jarred Ume out of her engrossment.
"It's dissolving as we speak. The little clump is slowly starting to clear up." Ume replied slowly.
At that, Lady Kochō-sama gave her a smile as sweet as honeysuckles. "Your brother will be fine, thanks to you. He needs time to heal and more monitoring. I see that you've been endowed with sight, Nezuko-chan. I had no idea that you inherited special senses like your brother's nose."
Special senses…his nose..? Ume blinked confused. Special senses? Like your brother's nose?
Her eyes rapidly bloomed at her statement. Why didn't she see the connection earlier? It made all sorts of sense, and she didn't know why she hadn't thought of this before. Master Muzan once told her that there were peculiar humans who were blessed with heightened senses. That was why Tanjiro knew that she wasn't his sister when by all means, to everyone else, she looked and sounded like the Accidental Demon. The connection was so obvious, Ume couldn't believe she'd ever called herself brilliant.
If it was indeed as Shinobu had said, then perhaps the same applies to her too.
And if that was the case… She could harness this power. This knowledge… and further the cause of atonement, and it was an advantage that she desperately needed now — an advantage that could bring her closer to her true brother. Ume made a mental note to experiment with it later.
"I believe I did, ma'am. But I should be thanking you dearly for saving my brother's life. I am eternally grateful to you." Ume composed herself and spoke in a voice silk and sweet as a vial of rose oil. "You do me great honour, Lady Kochō-sama."
"You can call me Shinobu if you wish. No need for formality. I heard you contributed so tremendously to the mission, I feel that I should be calling you Lady Kamado-sama."
"If it pleases you, ma'am. You are most kind. But you are a Hashira, a pillar. And one that seems to be well-versed in the art of medical practice and treatment. You will always be superior to me." Ume smiled with feigned modesty. "You just saved my brother's life, I can never repay you for your service."
"Wow," Shinobu exclaimed. "Nezuko-chan, your speech has improved drastically. You sound much more refined and polished than before. And might I add, your appearance is simply stunning. Your choice of the flowing obi and attire makes you quite a sight to behold."
"You are so kind, thank you." Ume found herself smiling genuinely for once. She always liked receiving compliments.
"I've never heard your voice before. Typically, you tend to mumble a lot." Aoi chimed. "You sound so well-spoken.."
Wow, was the Accidental Demon so simple-minded that she couldn't even speak?
Ume was chortling hysterically on the inside at that thought of the Accidental Demon being a lackwit but feigned a look of shyness on the outside. "Well, what can I say? I missed being able to ramble Tanjiro's ears off all the time so I strived to regain my speech."
Shinobu gave an amused giggle that sounded like a celebrating bell to Ume's ears. "Well, that hard work paid off. I'm certain that Tanjiro-san will be so delighted.''
He won't. That one cynical thought bubbled to the surface of her rosy-colored mind, but Ume ignored it.
"I hope so." Ume dampened her voice to sound sad and crafted a sombre smile on her face. "I hope they all wake up soon. I have so many things to talk to Tanjiro and the others about."
"Me too. It is truly a miracle that they're all alive." Lady Kochō-sama stepped to Tanjiro's bedside, gingerly pulling up the covers on him slightly. "All of their injuries are severe, but Tanjiro-san especially is very fortunate to survive. He lost so much blood. Broken ribs, a fracture on his leg, and internal bleeding.
No sooner did she utter those words, Ume held her breath when she saw a familiar colour manifest.
Red. A bright coating seemed to radiate from the woman like a viscous layer around her, a deep scarlet that flared like a raging flame. Ume was surprised to see a colour that was never there before. However, just like Tanjiro, it was there only for a moment, the next time Ume blinked; it was gone.
The woman sighed despondently. "To think that a day ago, he and they all took on two Upper Moons and managed to come out victorious. They are all truly blessed."
A day ago. At her words, Ume bit her lower lip and migrated her gaze to the floor. Her heart sank further into her stomach, praying that there was something to distract her from the flooding memories of the last battle flashing through her mind. It was hard to believe that everything happened just several hours ago…Their beheadings, the blood, the mass destruction, Limbo, now— Ume could still remember everything and it was still haunting her mind.
"Lady Kochō-sama?" The meek voice of the insipid girl jolted her to reality. She had been so silent and still that Ume actually forgot that she was there. She was at the edge of Tanjiro's bed, looking at him with a dull look. "Um….how long, Lady Kochō-sama…."
A genuine look of empathy veiled Lady Kochō-sama's warm features. "Only time will tell," She said after watching Kanao's expression contorted slightly with concern underneath the shadows. "But don't fret, they just need rest."
A couple of beats of tense silence surrounded the air, and then, "Of course….they will..…" Kanao's lips twitched up slightly, almost sadly even.
Ume seized her chance to put on a cheerful front. "I'm positive everyone will pull through."
Shinobu smiled gratefully in response. "That's right, Nezuko-chan, they will pull through. They always do. So don't worry, Kanao."
"…May I…stay here and assist you and the others care for them?"
"Oh?" Lady Kochō-sama sighed audibly, her expression gentle, but the slight twitch of her upper lip showed that she was hesitating. "I'm afraid you can't. We are all quite occupied this month with our new loads of patients. These three, in particular, need constant care and you have to prepare for our upcoming training session tomorrow."
Training? Oh, this ditz is a Demon Slayer? She must be a Tsuguko, given how close the woman is to her. Ume thought, grimacing at the palpable affection the Hashira had regarding the girl. Something resonated within Ume and the hollow numbness she felt was overshadowed by an emotion she was familiar with her entire life.
Jealousy. The familiar spiteful jealousy bloomed in her chest again. In one instance, Ume hated this girl as much as she hated the Accidental Demon. She envied her, not because of her looks since she looked as plain as a pikestaff, but because of her established close relationship with such an elite figure. She was clearly the Tsuguko of this Hashira which means that this Hashira is off limits for her.
Ume despised everything about her.
"…I…I apologise..." Kanao finally muttered after a pregnant pause.
Lady Kochō-sama gently laid a hand on the young girl's shoulder in a manner that a mother would to a child. "No need to apologise. I understand. It's hard to be separated from the ones that we care about. That's why we must do our best in their name."
Yes, that is what I wish to do for my brother.
For reasons beyond her, something within her cracked after she heard that. Ume felt herself breaking into a small smile at that. The tied-up letter she had tucked inside her pocket suddenly began to weigh heavy.
"Speaking of which.." A genuine sense of shyness struck Ume when she climbed her way to her true prerogative. "I would like to ask you something. Something that has been on my mind since I returned from Yoshiwara."
Shinobu gave her an inviting look. "What is it?"
"I seek to become an official Demon Slayer." Ume stood tall and dignified, and all the courtesies the Oirans had taught her over the centuries came back to her. "I intend of becoming a Hashira like you. I assure you that I will do my utmost to assist this organization with every skill and ability I have to offer." Her voice graced with all of the decorum of a proper lady. At the end of her request, Ume deigned a graceful bow before extracting the letter from her pocket and holding it out.
"I have written a letter for Urokodaki Sakonji, and I was hoping that you could assist me to deliver it to him so I can be trained by him."
A stunned silence played at her blatant declaration. The expression on the female Hashira's face as she digested her entire statement bordered on hilarious. Ume could easily see the woman's mystified disbelief and the confusion on the Hashira's face. The silence that loomed over the room seemed to last forever, the atmosphere growing tighter by the very second. Ume became greatly aware of the two other girls in the room, both stunned and wide-eyed as the Hashira, staring at her as if she had three heads on her shoulders.
It took an agonising moment, the hush that fell among them was stark against the noisy environment from a moment before made Ume green with anxiety.
"You seek to become a Demon Slayer…" Lady Kochō-sama finally said, her beautiful features clouded in visible bewilderment.
"Yes," Ume replied in a tactful voice as she drew in all of the knowledge of Demon Slayers that she gathered from her centuries. "I intend to become a Hashira, such as yourself, Lady Kocho-sama. I know this request I am making is strange since I am a demon, in fact, I know all of this appears outright strange as a whole. And I am aware there will be many restrictions for me. However, in order to attain the rank of a Demon Slayer, I feel that I believe I must undergo the teachings that my brother learned. There will be a lot of outstanding work on my part, I assure you."
With each prolonged second, Ume carefully watched as her delicate features began to flicker as she comprehended what she had just said.
"I see," Lady Kochō-sama finally broke the silence. "I must say this is quite a surprising development from you, Nezuko-chan. I can see that the extraordinary event has inspired your soul."
A wry look crept up Ume's face. "Ma'am, you have no idea. It was, to put it mildly, pretty eventful."
"Lord Tengen said that your Demon Blood Art saved him and Inosuke's life from the poison as well." Ume glanced at Aoi, giving her a sincere smile. "Thank you so much. You were truly a lifesaver for everyone that night."
Ume had to fight off a shiver. Not because of the cold air of the room, but of the sincerity in the girl's voice. Both females were looking at her now with looks of gratitude and affection.
It made her deeply uncomfortable.
Be sweet as a rose. Ume maintained her sweet smile and feigned a look of humility.
"You are kind to say so, Aoi-sama." She said tenderly. "But I shouldn't think so. At the end of the day, I did the same as my comrades. As my duty as a fellow ally of the Demon Slayer corporation, I must do whatever I could to ensure our entire team came back in one piece." Ume took a juncture to spare a furtive glance at Lady Kochō-sama, who seemed to be deeply satisfied with her words. When she looked back to Aoi, the girl smiled softly and nodded in agreement.
Ume had to resist the powerful urge to leap out of joy. Yes, she's falling for it! They're falling for it! Suckers! Hook, Line, and sinker!
"Well, Nezuko, may I ask what exactly made you want this all of a sudden?" Shinobu asked curiously.
"From watching the harrowing battle between my brother's team and Lord Tengen and those two Upper Moons, I wanted to fight, However, my brother thought it was too dangerous for me to participate, so I had to watch from the sidelines. As I observed their breathing techniques and painted the playing field, I was filled with fear that we would lose the battle. The two Upper Moons were equally strong and posed a great threat. Despite this, my brother and his gang managed to defeat them both. Although I don't regret my role as a healer, I feel the need to do more in future battles. I aspire to learn a breathing technique and wield a sword to fight alongside my brother and become an integral part of the team." Ume declared with a honey-laced air of conviction.
Lady Kochō-sama took on another stunned expression upon hearing her words. Her wide eyes shifted a glance at Tanjiro's still form and then back to Ume with a graceful smile. "I see, Nezuko-chan, I see that your time here has inspired you, however,"
However? Ume felt herself shudder inwardly at her words, feeling her stomach knotting in various directions. It was obvious she didn't like where she was taking this conversation. She didn't like the tone of Lady Kochō-sama's voice. Somehow, she felt like she wasn't going to be pleased with what she was about to say.
The following silence filled Ume with a burning sense of trepidation before she broke it.
"However, what?" she asked, both wary and curious at the same time.
Shinobu was still hushed, looking as if she was mulling starting, and just when Ume was starting to grow tense with her hesitance, she finally pried her lips open to speak. "I understand your request, I do. But I have concerns."
Ume arched an eyebrow. "Such as?"
"I have never witnessed a demon wield a demon-slaying blade. It is an unheard-of concept," she explained slowly to test the waters. When she saw that Ume had no shift in her tense expression, she continued. "I don't know if it is possible for you to become a Demon Slayer, or if it is safe. The last thing I want is to put you in harm's way. Your brother would be very worried for you."
"It is possible, in fact."
I know of a great Demon Slayer with the blood of a demon. His name is Kokushibo. The sword is like part of his arm and his blade was made up of his own flesh and blood. Ume almost said, but she thought she'd better not.
"I've touched Tanjiro-san's blade before and it didn't hurt me. Nichirin swords have been in my hands before and so I do know some swordsmanship. "
She wasn't entirely lying through her teeth when she said that, when she and Tanjiro concluded their airborne battle, she struck his blade with the back of her fist and it didn't hurt. And even though she had never wielded a Nicchirn sword, she had held them. During her first few centuries of being an Upper Moon, Ume once had a penchant for collecting the forsaken Nicchirn swords from the countless Demon Slayers that died at her hands. She liked the various bright colours of the blades. She liked the warmth that lingered on them, warm as a roasting fireplace. She liked how light they felt in her hands. She liked the way the blade shone when held in the moonlight, bright and shiny, and pretty to look at and most of all, she loved the sight of the marvellous craftsmanship of the blade. Nothing held an edge like Nicchirn steel.
But it was the swords of Hashiras that were her favourite. They were so majestic and powerful that they made the novice's swords seem paltry in comparison. Once she had exterminated her very first Hashira and taken his sword, she stopped collecting any random sword she found and only came to treasure the finest swords, ones from each of the seven Hashira she devoured as beautiful little mementoes.
Ume knew a certain amount of swordsmanship. Although her knowledge of breathing techniques is limited, she had a fair amount of experience with swordplay from the numerous Demon Slayers she encountered over the centuries. In all of those battles, Ume was always observant, discreetly watching their dancing movements, their clenched mouths emanating that steam whenever that strange breathing sound occurred, and above all, the materializing elements coming from their individual swords.
"You have?" Lady Kochō-sama questioned, disbelief colouring her tone.
"Yes, I liked to help Tanjiro with his training with my sashes." Ume lifted up one of her loose obi, earning an astonished expression from the Hashira. "They're as hard and sharp as Nicchirn swords themselves but impracticable to demons themselves. Once I saw Tanjiro perform his water breathing, I could not stop picturing myself performing one myself. I then saw Zentisu, Inosuke, and Tengen...and each of their breathing styles. I wanted to learn. However, I never had the opportunity to attempt it. Tanjiro always had his sword with him, and I didn't want to risk borrowing it from him when he always needed it. Even when we were small, my brother had a devoted passion for swordplay. He used to take me out into the forested area when I was a little girl to take up big sticks and we would duel one another until Mother calls for us."
Ume let out a gentle, almost mournful sigh. The story was of her true brother and Kaoruko never ask them to return home. Whenever she and her brother would venture outside the large metropolis and explore the outskirts of the woodlands, Ume liked to collect the loveliest flowers that bloomed in the meadows, while Gyutaro loved collecting large sticks. They occasionally engaged in sword combat, fencing against one another like samurai. Gyutaro once had dreams of becoming one, he often spoke of stories of adventure and excitement; far-off places brimming with wealth, beautiful women, and valuables.
"I see," Shinobu said contemplatively, her lovely gaze flickering from Tanjiro's still form and then back to Ume with a vibrant smile. "Your brother would be so proud to see you right now."
As soon as she said that, there was a hard gale of wind that cracked through the room with the resounding sound of a whip. All heads whipped toward the sudden disturbance. The turbulent sound of heavy rain rattled through the room, furious and heavy, cruel and destructive. There were a few gasps of shock and panic that sprang out in the room, but none from Ume.
I'll make him be. Ume retained her uncompromising gaze on Shinobu, even though the woman was watching Aoi and Kanao struggling to slam the windows shut against the howling winds.
A small cascade of two different red petals sailed upon the updraft winds into the room and slid to Ume's feet. Some were the radiant crimson of a Red Spider Lily and the others were the silken petals of a blood-red rose. There was an air of wonder between the two. Both beautiful as one another, but yet both had different meanings. The rose petals radiated a sense of power, life, and loveliness, and the Red Spider Lily radiated the haunting sense of hell and death, the flowers of farewells. Two respective flowers that Ume grew to love as a child and more so as a demon.
Beautiful, Ume thought distractedly. Absolutely beautiful and tragically divine.
Mesmerized, she bent down and picked up a handful of each.
"He will,"
Shinobu snapped out of her little stupor and returned her gaze back to Ume.
"I know he will," Her charming voice trailed into a hard whisper, but her gaze was on the bud of scarlet petals of Red Spider Lilies and roses in the palm of her hand, instead of Tanjiro. "I swore to him that I would be different from what I was before. That was my last promise to him before all of this." The tone that she used was soft and poignant, but it hosted heavy conviction deep between each word. Her false smile vanished from her lips and was superseded with an urgent thin line, her dark pink eyes hardened into solid topaz.
"Lady Kochō-sama," Ume implored, her voice hardening into stone. "Please help me deliver this letter to Urokodaki-sensei. Tanjiro would want me to pursue my dream and become stronger."
Then the woman suddenly came close to her, extremely close with a vibrant, but rather intense aura that flickered off of her like a candle. Ume could smell the sweet scent of rosewater and jasmine wafting off of her.
For a moment, Ume felt her cheeks flush from embarrassment. She was so close to her, too close for her liking, she could feel her warm breath tickling her nose. For half a heartbeat, Ume had to resist the urge to shove her out of her space and maintained a dignified expression with her hands firmly at her sides. She was determined to not look like a fool.
"Yes, Lady Kochō-sama?" She inquired, studying every movement of her delicate features for a sudden shift.
Shinobu was looking at her with an indescribable expression, visibly contemplative though she quickly reverted back to a soft smile.
"Alright."
"Huh?" Ume froze at that one single word.
"Alright, I accept your proposal." Shinobu elaborated. "Although I'm still uncertain if it's possible for a demon to learn the rules of a Demon Slayer, there's no harm in trying. I will deliver your letter tonight and I will also be sending En to inform Oyakata-sama as soon as I can."
Her words sank into her, and slowly, Ume's eyes expanded. Even though she heard the words, loud and clear, she still remained frozen completely as her mind sped up to process the words. Once she finally did, Ume experienced a sudden rush of relief that left her feeling incredibly lightheaded.
The sensation of a warm, liquid something striking her hand caused her to jolt. It took her a moment to realize that it was a teardrop and that more hot tears were streaming down her cheeks. She wasn't sure why she was crying, exactly; this was the Demon Slayer Corporation after all, and she was doomed to die as an official deserter to her race and to her own master.
She had become Tamayo now. And even the smallest encounter with a random demon would sure be a quick ending to her. Or at least, that was what the realistic side in Ume's mind was telling her to persuade her of. Her atonement was an excuse for her betrayal. She held no devotion to this disgrace of a corporation, let alone to the fate of humanity itself.
Nevertheless, a little voice in her head began to denounce her. Ume, you're a traitor, just like Tamayo. Gyutaro would be ashamed of you lying down with the dogs. You do not belong here.
Ume gulped hard with guilt when the small voice in her head asked herself what would Gyutaro think about this. She recalled his last exchange in Limbo. He sounded so sad, so pitiful, so defeated. Is he disappointed? Angry? Embarrassed? Ashamed? Would he even want this for her?
Ume wasn't even sure if she was prepared for this, so she could only imagine what he was thinking right now. Is she even capable of pulling this off? To learn how to wield a sword more powerful than her own sashes, learn a breathing technique and perform alongside the rotten slayers of her own race? Hell, the exact same butchers that landed her into this role in the first place?
Suddenly her distressing thoughts were put on hold when a soft, warm hand swathed over her neck into a friendly embrace. Ume didn't even need to look up to know who it was.
"Aw, Nezuko-chan, what's the matter?" Shinobu said, concern engulfing her delicate features. "You look so depressed all of a sudden."
An obligatory smile framed Ume's face as she pulled away from her. She made sure to swallow down her true emotions and stood tall and fine as a blooming rose in summer. "My apologies. I just didn't expect you to say yes. I appreciate your generosity."
Shinobu seemed pleased by her response and smiled smoothly. "No problem, Nezuko-chan. I could never deny someone with this much passion such as yours," She held out her hand in anticipation, and in return, Ume handed the securely tied letter over to her. "You should head back to bed, okay? Aoi-san will be monitoring him. You should relax."
Ume clenched a hard fist at her side. Deep down in her, there was the tiniest twinkle of hope that wished for better days.
Perhaps if she was to become an elite, she might have a chance of meeting an Upper Moon, such as Lord Doma-sama or Akaza-sama or Kokusbiho-sama and somehow persuade them of her situation. Possibly Master Muzan...oh...Master Muzan, how deeply Ume missed him. Perhaps she will someday reconcile with him and return to his good graces. If she did, she could give him all the secrets of the Demon Slayer Corporation. That would make him so happy. Ume would love nothing more than to be by his side and be his darling Daki once more. But, even the dreamy side of Ume knew it was too late for Daki to come crawling back.
Daki is dead. A strong voice in her mind clashed with the small one. You are back to Ume. Atonement comes from sacrifices—this is necessary, there is no point in feeling guilty. Ume's heart crumbled at that painful realization, but she still framed the beautiful smile of a doll on the enemy.
o o o —(O)— o o o
Unknown Location
The rain ceased the moment that En perched on the window sill of the leader of the organization's grand chamber. The dimly lit room was engulfed in a serene ambiance, with a solitary candle casting flickering shadows against the walls. The delicate fragrance of jasmine permeated the air, lending an aura of tranquility to the surroundings. Seated at the heart of the chamber were Ubuyashiki Kagaya, a gaunt man whose visage bore the scars of a malignant curse, and Amane Ubuyashiki, a dignified woman with pristine white hair. Both were positioned in the traditional seiza posture, with their hands folded primly in their laps, exuding an aura of calm and composure.
Both looked attentively up at the crow on the sill.
"En, you're here." Kagaya smiled with acknowledgment. "What is your message?"
"Caw! Kamado Nezuko has requested to become an official Demon Slayer and she seeks the teachings of Urokodaki Sakonji. Lady Kocho-sama wishes to inform you that she approved of Miss. Kamado's request, believing that she's worthy of carrying on your traditions, but she is unsure to allow Nezuko-chan to travel so far away from the base."
With a slight surprise embroidered on his face, Kagaya nodded before saying, "Nezuko-chan wishes to become one of us. Hm. How is her state exactly?"
"CAW! A significant improvement. Remarkable progress, Kagaya-sama." En cawed out. "CAW! In the wake of the Yoshiwara mission, it appears that she has undergone many notable changes. Her intelligence has been fully restored. She said she could see the inside of Tanjiro-san. Her exact words were when she cautioned Lady Kocho-sama of a deadly clot forming in his heart. Caw! Caw! Her sight is on another level, even beyond the standard level of a demon or human."
A rare look of curiosity flickered on Kagaya's composed features as he absorbed the information. "Ah, I see. So the young lady has saved Kamado's life three times now?"
Another smile formed on his ruined face, one full of hope. "I have been hearing profound things about Nezuko as of late." Before the man could continue his sentence, he plunged into a violent coughing fit. A small trickle of blood sprayed forth as he struggled to breathe.
"Kagaya-sama!" The white-haired woman flung herself to his side in horror. She clung to him and held out a piece of cloth to his mouth to wipe the blood from his mouth."Children, wake up! Hot water and towels and medicine, now!" She shouted out.
The quietness of the house erupted with controlled chaos at her command. The distinct sounds of hurried light footsteps began to filter through the walls beyond the bedchamber.
Coughing and wheezing, Kagaya pushed himself off the floor. Sightless violet eyes like a doll appraised his wife as he slowly opened his bloodied lips to speak further.
"Amane, do you remember what I said not long ago?" He croaked as he struggled to catch his breath between coughs.
"Yes," Amane confirmed, clutching one of his bloodied hands as tight as he could.
"This proves that fate is shifting dramatically. There could be a new revelation. The deaths of the two Upper Moons have succeeded in sending waves that have touched that man's feet, and now it is possible that the deaths have led to the birth of a new Demon Slayer with connections to that man."
"Nezuko-chan?" Amane echoed after him for clarification.
The man opened his mouth to elucidate further, but an exasperated gasp emerged instead from his lips as an intense cough fit started to ravage his body. He could no longer control his breathing as effectively as he could before, and as he tried to inhale some air, he entered a fearsome coughing fit that made him double over in agony while gripping his stomach.
"Kagaya-sama, please stay still!" Amane locked her arms around him tighter to keep him from falling apart. She looked over at the entrance of the bedchamber and shouted to the children to hurry.
Kagaya managed to summon his voice between upheaved breaths and addressed En. "Could you fly outside for a moment? I may have a message for you in a moment."
En nodded obediently and took off without a hitch.
Soon after the crow's departure, the sounds of hurried light footsteps approaching caused the inhabitants of the room to turn to the door. The door slammed open, revealing five small children, four little girls with white hair and one dark-haired boy carrying pails of steaming water, towels, and bottles of medicine, and came rushing to provide first aid.
Once Kagaya was administered his medicine, Amane laid him down on the futon carefully and took one of the wet, hot towels to sluice the blood and phlegm off of his face, and then settled another on his forehead.
A stark silence enveloped the space of the bedchamber. Amane and the children remained by their father's bedside as Kagaya lay limply. No one dared to move or speak, watching Kagaya with intense trepidation.
"Amane, I must tell you…" Kagaya suddenly broke the silence with a strained whisper. The medicine was slowly beginning to lull him to unconsciousness for his body to convalesce properly, but he was still wide awake. "This means we may have an Upper Moon among us. I feel it, entrenching into my bones, it is all consuming and engulfing."
Shock instilled deep within Amane's soft lavender eyes when she heard that. But before she could formulate a response to her husband, Kagaya heaved out another sickening sigh.
"Speak slowly, Kagaya-sama." Amane placated. "Breathe."
Kagaya summoned a slight nod, before drinking in several long breaths. With slow and careful movement, the man fished into his front pocket, extracting out five small letters that a small group of Kakushi had handed him last night. He placed it on the floor, sliding it towards his wife.
"I have a few letters concerning Nezuko-chan," Amane reached out and opened one of the letters, scanning through the contents as Kagaya began in a sedated voice.
"Three Kakushi had written to me last night. All detailing to me how Nezuko carried Tanjiro to the cleaning brigade with her sentient obi sash tied around him. How her obi served a gauze of sorts, even stitched him up, stopping the bleeding. They said she spoke with intelligence and intensity. How she warned them of an approaching demon when they were returning back to the base even going as far as knowing the name of the demon she sensed. Gyokko."
Amane examined all of the letters herself, confirming her husband's summarizations before looking at him with a curious expression.
"Nijimaru spoke of a female demon wielding belts as swords, the exact same ability as Nezuko retains now. It may be a coincidence, but from what I can remember Nezuko was mute and unintelligible and already possessed a special Demon Blood Art in which her blood burns other demons. It is improbable that she would gain another abruptly that is unrelated to her Demon Blood Art and it is also unlikely she would suddenly regain her full intelligence in such a short amount of time without consuming human flesh."
Amane stared at him, almost befuddled by his words before a full flash of staggering realization slipped through her expression."Is this a ploy from him?" She asked cautiously.
Kagaya shook his head softly. "I doubt that. Nezuko remains detached from his control so he has no grasp of her location. There is no way of relaying information to him and any encounter with him or his servants would ultimately result in her death. And I have a feeling that the demon is aware of that. Perhaps that is why she still remains here. Moreover, based on the recent reports of the demon's actions, there are reasons to believe that she is not malevolent and may even seek to make amends. It is worthy to note that despite having ample opportunities to harm or flee, the demon opted to provide aid instead."
"What do you believe are the motives behind this demon's actions?"
"It is difficult to make a definitive assertion, but it is possible that this demon may harbour some form of sentimental connection to Tanjiro-san, as evidenced by her repeated acts of saving him. Furthermore, the Kakushi reported that the two spent an entire night together in a room at the local wisteria house, and no unusual behavior was observed. As such, it is reasonable to assume that the demon may have an ulterior motive that does not align with her former master's interests."
Amane gave a slow nod of understanding, but still, her lavender eyes shone brightly with concern."Shall I inform the Pillars of this matter?"
"No, not yet." Kagaya sat up slowly, his grotesque face taking on a contemplative expression. "I believe it is necessary to watch and wait. The disclosure of her identity so quickly could cause serious complications. The divine must have had a specific reason for allowing the Upper Moon to return to the living world in this manner. A demon becoming a Demon Slayer could have far-reaching effects."
He paused for a moment, drinking in a few wheezing breaths. "But first, children, summon En once more and please grab me some writing supplies. I wish to inform Urokodaki Sakonji about this matter. And for the time being, Mr. Urokodaki will be in charge of closely monitoring the individual. I will speak with this demon in due time and discover her true name."
Next chapter will be in mid-late July. Apologies for all of the dramatics, I'm going to take it slow from now on. I know there is a bunch of confusion to what's going on, I'm just editing and trying to omit certain story elements that I decided not to go with, and flesh out the story a bit more, and I think I went overboard and got a momentary case of writer block. I'm still writing this story and my other future stories.
