Kimetsu no Yaiba doesn't belong to me. This story is a translation of another fanfic of mine. I hope you like it!
Kagaya lay on his futon while his wife diligently changed the damp cloth on his forehead for a new one. The master had been sick since the night before, with a fever that was too high.
Carefully, Amane removed the thermometer from his right armpit and checked the temperature it showed. 39ºC. Still too high, although at least it wasn't the 41ºC he had had during the night.
It was a good sign that it had gone down a bit, but Amane didn't get her hopes up. That didn't mean he was out of danger. Far from it.
"Mother, the doctor has arrived," announced Hinaki, one of their daughters, peeking in and looking worriedly at her father.
"Bring him here," ordered Amane, serious, moving away from her husband a bit and looking at her daughter. The girl nodded and quickly left. Amane turned her attention back to Kagaya. He was still shaking and sweating quite a bit.
Amane wiped his face with a cloth and, when the door opened again, she looked over there. An older-haired man entered, followed by Hinaki. The doctor was carrying a briefcase, Amane noticed. It was a doctor they had already turned to several times due to Kagaya's delicate situation. Dr. Hiiragi.
"Your daughter has already filled me in," said the man, placing the briefcase on the floor. "Have you given him water to drink?"
"Yes, a little while ago."
"Good, good," murmured Hiiragi, taking a stethoscope out of his briefcase. Amane, knowing what she had to do, pulled her husband's kimono back a bit, leaving his chest exposed. "Thank you," said the doctor and began to listen to his heart and lungs.
Amane moved away a bit to give him space to attend to him properly. The doctor frowned, and the woman feared the worst. Kagaya's health had never been good, and in recent months, he had been getting sick relatively easily.
Hiiragi removed the stethoscope and looked at her. "Can we talk in private?" he asked, serious. She nodded, and the two of them got up, leaving Hinaki with her father.
They walked to Kagaya's study, and Amane closed the door behind them while trying to mentally prepare herself. She had no doubt that she was going to receive bad news.
"His health will only get worse from now on," the doctor declared, sadly. "I'm sorry, but it's only a matter of time before he..."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" she interrupted. She had heard enough times that her husband would die young. She didn't need to hear it again.
"Even if I could, what kind of life would he have?" Hiiragi asked. He didn't like saying that, but at that point, he didn't see any other option.
"I understand," said Amane, trying not to sound too curt or dry. "Thank you very much for your help."
"There are certain substances that can..."
"No. Kagaya doesn't want that. Neither do I," Amane stated firmly. They had already talked about it, and her husband had categorically refused. And as his wife, Amane had to respect and accept his wishes.
"I understand, then there's not much I can do to help," Hiiragi acknowledged. "Keep him hydrated, and if his fever goes up again, don't hesitate to call me."
Amane nodded and silently accompanied him to the exit. She watched as the doctor left and maintained a neutral expression on her face, containing the emotions she felt. Now more than ever she had to be strong, for her children, and couldn't afford to crumble. Cursing Muzan for, indirectly, causing her husband's illness wouldn't help anyone.
Now, the only thing she could and should do was to stay by her husband's side until the end. And she would.
Hinaki watched her father with concern. The night before, his condition had been much worse, and Nichika and she had to help her mother prepare a bath of ice-cold water for him. Amane had also needed their support to bring Kagaya there.
It had not been easy to see her father in that state, almost delirious, but under the circumstances, they had had no choice. Hinaki was grateful that none of her younger siblings had seen him like that. It was too tough.
She removed the damp cloth from her father's forehead and, after wetting it in the basin of cold water her mother had left there, she wrung it out and put it back on his forehead. She silently observed the mark that covered almost all of his face.
There was nothing else she could do, nothing could cure her father's illness. She turned and looked at the door when it opened. Two of her younger siblings, Kiriya and Kuina, entered and approached her.
"Hinaki, how is father?" Kiriya asked, trying not to look at his father.
"He will recover," Hinaki replied. She wanted to convince herself of that, despite knowing deep down that her father would only get worse.
The two children looked at each other, doubtful. They were also aware of the truth, just like her, they had witnessed his deterioration. But neither of them was able to contradict her at that moment.
Amane arrived at that moment and saw the three children. She sighed a little and approached.
"Hinaki, your father is trying to rest, it's best if you all go out," she said, speaking in a low voice.
The three children nodded and left the room, leaving Amane to take care of Kagaya.
Ayane was dragging the body uphill, wrapped in her fabrics to make transportation easier. She was in a bit of a hurry, Rui and the others were waiting for her at the house where they were taking refuge.
She glanced at her victim, a demon hunter who had been lurking around the area. Ayane had no choice but to end her life. At least it seemed like she was the only one around.
"I'm almost there," she mentally said, feeling Rui's impatience through their bond. "She was a hunter. I've killed her."
"Okay, but don't take too long, it's only a few hours until dawn," replied Rui.
"Don't worry, I won't be long," Ayane repeated. As she heard something approaching her at high speed, she stopped and listened. They sounded like footsteps, from three people coming towards her position. Running, if she took into account the rhythm of the steps. Could they be more hunters? "I'm afraid it will take a while. I think there are more coming."
Ayane felt Rui saying something, but she barely paid attention, as she narrowly dodged the girl who had tried to slice her neck with her katana.
She dropped the body she was carrying and examined the human. A young girl dressed in the hunters' uniform.
She shuddered when she felt two more humans behind her and glanced over her shoulder. They emanated an aura that made her nervous. She had never before encountered humans who gave her such a bad feeling.
They were a man and a woman, also young, but older than the one who had attacked her. Without further ado, Ayane prepared to fight.
She dodged the man's attack and, taking advantage of the woman being alone, Ayane threw herself at her without much thought.
That hasty decision was what sealed the young demon's fate. In the blink of an eye, the woman drew her katana and, although she didn't manage to slice Ayane's head off, she made several cuts on her chest.
Ayane stopped, confused by this. And she looked at herself, the wounds caused were already healing.
"You could have cut my head off," she murmured, not understanding. She couldn't say more. At that moment, she felt nauseous and, unable to stop it, vomited right there. There were a lot of blood coming out of her mouth.
Ayane wiped herself with the back of her hand, still not understanding what was happening. Demons didn't vomit. And certainly not blood. She opened her eyes wide then and brought her hands to her throat. It was becoming difficult to breathe and she was beginning to feel panicked. What had that woman done to her?!
Giyuu had never had the chance to see how Shinobu fought using poison, despite knowing that she used it. The demon's veins had turned an unpleasant black color, and she had just vomited blood. Her eyes had started bleeding, and judging by the way she was holding her throat, she seemed to be choking.
Giyuu prepared his katana. At that moment, the best, most merciful thing to do was to put an end to the suffering that the creature was going through. He took a deep breath and exhaled, quickly moved towards the demon and beheaded her.
"Th-thank you..." Ayane whispered with her last bit of strength, looking at Giyuu. The Water Pillar nodded slightly and, after cleaning his katana, put it back in its sheath.
"You didn't need to decapitate her, Giyuu," Shinobu commented, approaching him. "She would have died regardless."
"I know, but it seemed quicker this way," Giyuu admitted, looking at her. Shinobu watched him without saying anything and nodded.
"Well, the important thing is that I was able to test the poison," the Insect Pillar said, satisfied with that.
Kanao looked at the spot where the demon's body had been. It had already disappeared completely, leaving no trace of its existence. The young girl couldn't forget the agonizing expression on the creature's face. It had seemed almost human.
"We should look for a place to spend the night," Giyuu said, looking up at the sky. It was too dark to travel.
"We can rest at the wisteria house in the village," Shinobu suggested.
Kanao looked at them silently. And when the two adults started running down the mountain, she followed them.
Giyuu led the way, followed closely by Shinobu, and Kanao brought up the rear.
Rui remained still, silent, staring at the wall. He had been like that for a while and none of the other demons had made an effort to try to talk to him. They felt the anger devouring the demon through the bond that connected them.
And it wasn't anything strange either. Minutes before, they had all been able to feel the agony that Ayane suffered before being decapitated. It had been like if all their intestines were melting. A sensation that left them breathless. They perceived Ayane's pain and fear as if it were their own.
And Rui, ever since the bond that connected them to Ayane was severed, had been like this. Reviewing again and again the last moments of his sister's life, branding the face of her killer into his mind.
He clenched his fists, digging his nails into the palms of his hands, causing wounds that, before healing on their own, bled a little.
"I've got your face, you bitch," Rui hissed. He would avenge Ayane, causing her killer a hundred times the pain that his sister had felt.
"Rui..." his mother murmured, approaching.
"No," he cut her off immediately. He didn't want to hear words of consolation. The only thing that would relieve him would be to do justice and kill his sister's killer.
The woman remained silent. She looked away when she felt Rui's eyes fixed on her.
"We will avenge her," said another of the young demons, and Rui nodded. But for that, now more than ever, he needed to become more powerful.
"They were Pillars," declared the Fifth Lower Moon. He knew how to recognize one when he saw it, the energy and presence of those humans were different from the rest of the humans.
"All three of them?" asked one of the younger demons, fear in his voice.
"No, only the two adults," said Rui, serious. "We have to leave"
That mountain was no longer safe. They couldn't risk hunting there again and attracting the attention of another Pillar. Rui had thought that with the death of the Pillar that guarded that territory, everything would be quieter and they wouldn't have problems. But he was wrong, and Ayane had paid for it with her life.
Thinking about his sister again made the hatred that Rui felt increase. He was going to enjoy killing that woman. He also wouldn't allow another member of his family to die at the hands of the hunters.
Kanae wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her left hand. Douma watched her eat with a smile. They were in the building where the Upper Moon Two had his cult.
"I'm glad you've decided to come back, dear," he said.
"It was for the best," she admitted, shrugging. "But I don't plan on staying for long."
She moved constantly, never staying in one place for more than a couple of days. It wasn't safe, even though she had managed to avoid encountering other hunters, it didn't mean they weren't trying to hunt her down personally.
"Well, you'll always have a place here," Douma said, though he sounded somewhat disappointed. He couldn't deny that he had grown somewhat fond of that woman.
"Thank you."
Douma nodded and moved away a bit, letting the woman finish her meal. He picked up one of the books in the room and began to read calmly. Soon, the only sound in the room was Kanae's eating.
"There's something I'd like to ask you," the Lower Moon commented, and Douma looked up from his book and paid attention. "I understood that demons forget their human lives when they turn."
"Usually, yes. Our lord takes care of blocking our memories," Douma explained. "But with the Twelve Moons, there are some exceptions. In certain cases."
"I've retained mine since you turned me," she confessed. She hadn't told him that before.
Douma, interested, closed the book and, after putting it away, approached her. The woman furrowed her brow a little, as if something was worrying her.
"Although it's a bit strange that Muzan allowed you to do that, I don't recommend dwelling on it," the demon advised, serious. "And I hope that doesn't cause you any problems in the long run."
"I know I should hate you. For what you did to me," she murmured, barely paying attention to his words. "But I have no reason to, not anymore."
"And why is that?" he asked, curious.
"She was weak. When she was human, and thanks to you, I am now better, stronger," Kanae admitted, lifting her gaze and looking at the other demon.
"All humans are weak. But you are no longer weak," he replied.
"I know, but I am not strong enough yet," she declared, serious.
"You intend to rise in rank," he deduced, smiling a little, pleased.
"I want to enter the Upper Moons."
Douma's smile grew even wider. That was one of the traits he liked most about her, her ambition. And the idea of having her as a companion was tempting. There was something that had been on his mind for a while, especially after finding out what Rui, one of the Lower Moons, had done.
"I can help you with that," he said. He would ask for permission from Muzan first, as it was not something he could do without his approval. "But first, I have to ask Muzan for permission."
"What is it about?" she asked, interested.
"If I give you some of my blood, it is possible that you can control ice, like me, although not at my level."
"I did not know that was possible."
"It is not usual," Douma admitted, shrugging. He hoped Muzan would agree to it. "But, changing the subject, I recommend you rise among the Lower Moons. Once you occupy the first position, you can consider entering the Upper Moons."
"And if I don't make it?"
"Well, then you don't make it. Nothing would stop you from trying again."
Kanae nodded, that was true. Failing would not be the end of the world, although she hoped she would not find herself in that situation. She glanced at Douma, he believed in her, that she would be able to achieve it sooner or later.
"I will not fail," she said then. She would train enough and become stronger.
Douma watched her, silent, and with a certain fondness, he stroked the woman's cheek. He had always been aware that not having emotions made him an anomaly, an abomination. And so it had been until the fight against Kanae. Taking her and turning her into a demon was not just because he saw potential in her. It was the first time someone had felt compassion for him. A feeling Douma, at that time, was completely unfamiliar with.
For a while, he believed he had done it because of the resemblance Kanae had with that woman, Kotoha, but as he had the opportunity to get to know his new companion better, he realized how different they were. Kotoha had been pathetic, always depending on others, while Kanae was completely the opposite. And he liked that a lot.
He did not regret doing it, giving her the opportunity to become a demon. He was becoming more and more certain that Kanae should stay by his side.
Enmu walked calmly through the train cars, amused by what he saw. Since he had started feeding on the people who traveled there, he had become more powerful. Although he had noticed an increase in demon hunters' presence on the train.
But, no matter how many they sent, none could escape his blood technique. They didn't even see it coming. From the first moment, Enmu made sure not to leave any clues about his presence.
He stopped in front of the recruits they had sent: a man and a woman wearing the hunters' uniform. He licked his lips a bit, dying to taste their flesh. It wouldn't be long before he could eat.
"I already destroyed their cores," the girl who worked for him commented. She was sitting in front of the two hunters and looked at him with obvious disgust and fear. It was something that the demon didn't care about; after all, as soon as he got tired of this modus operandi, he would get rid of her. Sooner or later, that would happen.
"I know," Enmu said, satisfied. He had to admit that, for such a young human, she was quite good.
"Can I leave now?" she asked, standing up and moving away from him. She had never been good at hiding what she thought of him.
Enmu shrugged, and the girl took the opportunity to quickly leave the car, leaving the demon alone. There was no one else there, so Enmu could eat in peace without another human interrupting him.
He knelt in front of the woman, unbuttoned her black jacket, removed it, and did the same with her shirt, leaving her neck completely exposed. He leaned over it and bit, severing the carotid artery.
He tore off a piece of skin and meat, chewed with relish, and swallowed. The woman didn't even flinch; her eyes, although open, were completely empty, lacking will and not reacting to external stimuli.
Enmu removed the woman's clothing further and continued devouring the hunter, slowly but surely.
Amane silently read through the latest reports they had received from the police and various other people who worked for the family. As feared, demonic activity had increased in recent years, and they barely had enough hunters to cover all the possible sightings.
They still hadn't uncovered the motive behind the Kamado family's murder, and after failing to find any more clues, they had to abandon that investigation. After all, they had more pressing matters to attend to.
Things weren't going well, and Amane knew that in the next meeting, she would have to inform the Pillars about the worsening health of the boss. She held back her tears as best as she could; she couldn't cry, no matter how close her husband was to death. Her children couldn't see her like that. She had to be strong for them.
Should she advance the meeting with the Pillars and inform them? The idea was quite tempting to the woman. She knew how much they valued Kagaya and didn't want to hide it from them. Perhaps she could also take her son to these meetings and get him used to the idea of leading the Demon Slayer Corps.
Even though she couldn't understand her unease, Amane had been feeling for several days now that even darker days were ahead for the hunters, and they needed to be more prepared than ever.
See you soon with the next chapter! Don't forget to leave a review! I would love to hear your thoughts!