Kimetsu no Yaiba doesn't belong to me. Here is the third chapter of the backstory of Yoriichi and Kokushibo!
Michikatsu silently walked through the streets, getting closer to the hideout of the Demon King. He had altered his appearance to look like an ordinary human. Causing a scene and drawing excessive attention was the last thing he wanted at that moment. Besides, he couldn't back down anymore, not that he had any intention of doing so.
He fixed his six eyes on the house at the end of the street. That was it. Michikatsu stopped and focused, clearly sensing six demons inside the house. He grimaced in annoyance. None of those presences belonged to Kagaya; they were his wife and five children.
The six-eyed demon let out a sigh and resumed his march. He also couldn't sense the presence of his little brother. That was excellent news, the best he could have received.
He stopped in front of the house's door and, as he reached for the hilt of his sword, he quietly opened the door. He entered the hallway and looked straight ahead.
"Kagaya?" Amane's voice came from one of the nearby rooms. Michikatsu clenched his lips and remained silent. He heard footsteps, and the woman appeared. Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing him, but she quickly smiled. "Michikatsu!" she exclaimed, approaching him with quick steps. "Where have you been? Yoriichi was very worried, you know?"
Upon hearing his brother's name, Michikatsu growled and, without hesitation, unsheathed his katana, cutting Amane's chest in the process. Blood dripped onto the wooden floor as the woman stumbled back in confusion. She had put both hands over her chest, although the wound healed within seconds, fear and surprise still reflected in the Demon King's wife's eyes.
Amane glanced behind her, and Michikatsu followed her gaze, smirking. "So, there are the children," he murmured to himself. The woman, with her heightened hearing, caught his words and lunged at him, trying to take advantage of the distraction. They struggled, and she tried to wrest the Nichirin Blade from Michikatsu's grasp.
But Michikatsu sent her flying with a kick, and Amane collided with the wall at the end of the hallway. She quickly got up, ignoring the blood flowing down her head. The noise had drawn the children's attention, and one of them, Nichika, peeked out.
Worried, the little girl looked at her mother. She would have approached her, but Amane's scream stopped her.
"Nichika, get out of here!" Amane shouted, not taking her eyes off Michikatsu. When she saw him going towards her daughter, she didn't hesitate to step in between. The demon's blade sliced her arm, but she paid no attention, entirely focused on protecting her child. "Go find your father and Yoriichi!" she ordered.
Nichika nodded and retreated back into the room. Michikatsu made a move to follow, but Amane wouldn't allow it.
"You'll have to go through my dead body first," the woman said determinedly. There was no trace of fear in her gaze, just overwhelming determination that, under different circumstances, Michikatsu might have found admirable.
"You're only delaying the inevitable, Amane," the demon said, brandishing his weapon. He lunged at her, but she evaded and kicked him in the back, sending him to the ground.
"I won't let you lay a hand on my children," Amane informed him as she activated her blood technique.
Metal objects from the kitchen flew towards Michikatsu, and the demon growled in irritation as several knives pierced his body.
"Moon Breathing, Sixth Form," the demon began, taking a breath. Amane's arm hair stood on end, and she looked around frantically, seeking a way to dodge the imminent attack. "Perpetual Night, Lonely Moon, Incessant."
Amane leaped to the right, narrowly avoiding the barrage of attacks. Her heart pounded in her chest as she heard Michikatsu slowly approaching the room. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face due to the anger bubbling inside her.
When she heard Michikatsu stop at the door, she looked up. "Why are you doing all this?" she yelled, out of control.
Michikatsu looked at her indifferently, almost bored by her words. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't personal," he confessed.
"We've never done anything to you!" Amane shouted, throwing the nearest object at him. Michikatsu sliced the vase in two with his katana without flinching.
"You sheltered my brother," Michikatsu said, preparing his weapon as Amane backed against the wall. "The person I've always hated."
Amane's face contorted with rage. "You're despicable!" she spat fearlessly. "You don't deserve an ounce of the affection Yoriichi has for you!"
"Shut up!" Michikatsu lunged at her, and with a swift motion, beheaded her. Her head rolled across the floor as her body fell.
"Let me tell you something," Amane said, smiling ruthlessly. "People like you don't deserve happiness. I'm sure that no matter how hard you try, you'll never live the way you want. And I hope that if you ever find someone you care about, they'll be taken from you."
Michikatsu advanced toward her, showing no compassion, and cut Amane's remains into pieces until nothing was left but dust. The demon sighed and looked up. The children couldn't be too far away.
"I have to find them soon," the demon thought as he sprinted away from the house. Concentrating, he sensed five presences leaving the human settlement at superhuman speed. "I found you." Without wasting a second, Michikatsu chased after them.
"Let's go!" Nichika shouted, frightened. They were running towards the mountain near the city, as it was the place where their father had gone with Yoriichi hours before.
"Where's mom!?" Kiriya asked, catching up to her.
The four demons waited for an answer, but Nichika looked away and, after a tense few seconds, she replied with a trembling voice, "S-She said she would meet us later," the girl mumbled, crouching to dodge a low-hanging tree branch, "but we have to find father and Yoriichi first."
Kuina glanced at her, suspicious, but before she could say anything, they heard the sound of a drawn weapon. Something was approaching them at high speed.
Kanata looked back and her eyes widened in terror. "Duck!" she yelled as she did so.
Kuina, Nichika, and Kiriya managed to do so in time, but Hinaki was too slow, and the barrage of half-moons cut her in half. The children stopped, horrified, and tried to help their sister regenerate.
But upon hearing footsteps, Kiriya looked back and saw Michikatsu preparing another attack.
"We can't stop!" she shouted, pulling two of her sisters. Kuina looked in their direction and then focused on Hinaki. She bit her lower lip nervously, positioned herself in front of her sister, protecting her from Michikatsu.
"Kiriya, you go find father!" she ordered, never taking her eyes off the attacking demon. "I'll buy you time."
Kanata and Nichika protested, but Kiriya, understanding the situation, nodded and, dragging her two sisters, resumed their run.
"And what does a little girl like you think she can do?" Michikatsu mocked, observing Kuina and a newly regenerated Hanaki. The two girls clenched their fists and glared at him with anger.
"Enough to save our siblings," Hanaki said, serious. Thick white threads sprouted from both her hands, which she launched at Michikatsu, but the demon effortlessly cut them as if they were paper.
The ground beneath his feet turned muddy, and Michikatsu began sinking rapidly. He tried to get out, but it only made matters worse. In a matter of seconds, he was submerged up to his knees. He had to do something if he didn't want to be completely swallowed.
"Moon Breathing, Second Form, Pearl Flower Moongazing," he said, rejoicing as he saw the two girls unable to dodge his attack, and their heads fell to the ground. "You can't stop me," he said, unable to hide the smile of satisfaction as he resumed the hunt on that starry night.
Nichika looked back from time to time. She could hear her pursuer behind them. Her heart was pounding frantically, aware that he could catch up at any moment. They didn't even know if they would be able to find their father before that happened.
"Don't slow down!" Kiriya scolded her, pulling her forcefully.
"I'm sorry!" the girl apologized, trying to hold back her tears.
"There!" Kanata shouted, hopeful, pointing ahead with her left hand. Her two siblings looked in that direction and couldn't help but smile upon seeing their father and Yoriichi there. "Dad!" Kanata shouted at the top of her lungs, catching the attention of the two adults. But those were her last words.
A horizontal barrage of half-moons struck them from behind, slicing their necks at that moment. The children's heads and bodies fell to the ground before their father's horrified eyes.
Kagaya began shaking violently, and was about to approach, but Yoriichi stopped him and stood in front of him, his katana drawn.
"Please don't move," the swordsman said, fixing his dark eyes on his brother. Michikatsu stopped in front of them and looked disdainfully at Yoriichi. "Why did you do it?" Yoriichi asked.
"Does it even matter?" the demon wanted to know. "Let's fight."
Yoriichi lunged at him, and Michikatsu could barely defend himself. He growled as he saw the hunter's mark on his little brother activate, making Yoriichi's movements faster and more precise.
Gradually, the demon began to lose ground, and Yoriichi was able to slice his arms several times. "Why did you do it?" Yoriichi asked again, jumping back to avoid one of his brother's techniques.
"What does it matter to you!?"
"We could have all lived happily!"
"Me, happy living with you?" Michikatsu spat at him. "I'd rather die!"
"Then die," Yoriichi said, closing his eyes for a moment. Michikatsu growled as he saw his little brother start to cry silently while preparing his attack.
The demon felt the hair on his arms stand on end and looked up at the sky, scared. The sun was beginning to rise on the horizon. Instinct took over, and Michikatsu fled without looking back.
Yoriichi, realizing what was happening, ran towards Kagaya and took the demon to the nearest cave. Kagaya let him, completely oblivious and motionless to everything around him, which especially worried the swordsman.
Don't forget to leave a review! I would love to hear your thoughts!