Kimetsu no Yaiba doesn't belong to me. This story is a translation of another fanfic of mine. I hope you like it!
Sumiko picked up the cat that was at the foot of her bed. It was a calico feline with amber-colored eyes. It was the first time the girl had seen that animal, so she was sure it didn't belong to any of the people who worked there. However, it was wearing a black collar with a strange paper attached, so it must have had an owner.
But what caught the young girl's attention the most was the box placed on the animal's back. She left the cat on the bed and opened it, curious to see what it contained. Inside, neatly folded, there was a sheet of paper. Sumiko grabbed it and carefully unfolded it.
It turned out to be a letter from Tamayo, she confirmed as she began to read. As she progressed in her reading, the girl furrowed her brow more and more. What that demon was asking of her was not something simple, but at the same time, she was curious to know what was so important that she had to tell her.
Tamayo asked her to bring her sister as well and to keep it a secret. No one from the Corps could know what they needed to discuss. That last part left a bad taste in the young girl's mouth. Although she could take advantage of the fact that the Pillars were in the meeting, she would have to lie to the rest of the girls.
She would say she had a mission. That part would be relatively simple; the difficult part would be taking Nezuko with her. Although she could say that the crow had specifically asked for it when assigning her the mission.
The cat meowed at that moment and suddenly disappeared from her sight, becoming completely invisible. Faced with that, Sumiko couldn't help but startle and abruptly stood up from the bed.
She folded the letter, once again, and put it in her pocket before heading towards the door. She had to find Aoi and ask her to open Nezuko's room.
After searching for a while, she found the girl in the kitchen, with Hinatsuru and Makio. Aoi was cutting a carrot on the counter. Meanwhile, the other two women were chatting lively.
"Hello!" Sumiko greeted, smiling a bit. The three of them returned the greeting, and Sumiko approached Aoi. "Um... Aoi..."
"What's up?" the girl asked, setting the knife aside and paying attention.
"I've been assigned a mission," Sumiko began to explain, "and I have to take Nezuko with me."
Aoi furrowed her brow a bit upon hearing that and turned completely, almost confronting the other girl. "And you want me to give you the key," she deduced.
"Yes."
"I'm not sure," Aoi hesitated. "I think it's better to wait for Kocho to return and tell her about it."
"But, Aoi, it's a mission," Sumiko insisted. "I can't delay. And we don't know when they'll be back from the meeting."
"Are you sure they're asking you to go with Nezuko?" Aoi insisted, serious. Sumiko nodded vigorously, and the girl with the twin tails sighed. "Fine, I believe you," she said, and after reaching into her left pocket, she pulled out the precious key. Sumiko took it and smiled.
"Thank you so much, Aoi!" she said and quickly left the kitchen.
Nezuko didn't wait for her sister to finish explaining what they were going to do and climbed into the basket. Sumiko smiled slightly and put it on her back. The sooner they left, the better. They had to make their way to Nagoya, and as Tamayo had told her, Yushiro would be waiting for them at the city's entrance. How he would know they were coming was beyond Sumiko's comprehension, but she didn't intend to question Tamayo's words.
"We're leaving," Sumiko said, more to herself than to her sister. She left the room and encountered Kanao in the hallway. Upon seeing her, the other girl tilted her head slightly, visibly confused. "I'm going on a mission," Sumiko clarified quickly.
"Without Rengoku and with your sister?" Kanao asked.
"Yes, it seems to be a rather urgent assignment."
"I see. And where are you headed?" Kanao inquired.
"Nagoya."
"Oh, then I'll come with you," the girl offered.
"It's not necessary, Kanao. Really," Sumiko tried to dissuade her. "Nezuko and I can manage well on our own."
"You don't handle densely populated cities well," Kanao reminded her, serious. "Besides, if it's something so urgent, it's better for both of us to go, don't you think?"
Reluctantly, Sumiko agreed. Continued refusal would have been a bad idea. Kanao might have ended up suspecting something, and Sumiko didn't want to take any unnecessary risks.
So, after informing the others, they left.
Amane sat in front of the remaining seven Pillars and looked at them. The worry was clearly evident on the delicate features of the woman.
"We received the mission reports," Amane said, serious. "We can no longer use the wisteria houses," she explained. "We have sent crows asking them to remove the markings that identified them as such."
She hoped that if there was nothing indicating them as wisteria houses, those civilians would be safe.
"It's for the best," Kyojuro opined. "We can't put the lives of innocents at risk."
"But we can't let an Upper Moon roam freely!" Iguro protested angrily.
"I understand your frustration, Obanai," Amane said. "But in the situation we're in, we can't do anything else. We have already lost two Pillars to Upper Moons."
"We need to be stronger," Giyuu intervened. "Our current level is not enough."
"There's something that bothers me," Mitsuri confessed at that moment. "How is it possible for a demon to use a breathing style?"
"That's true," added Obanai. "And where does the Moon Breathing come from?"
Amane sighed for a moment and closed her eyes, trying to calm herself before answering that question.
"It was one of the styles created in the Sengoku era," the woman explained. "But after its inventor became a demon, it was considered a cursed style, and teaching it was forbidden."
The Pillars listened in silence, exchanging concerned looks. None of them knew exactly what to think about that. Shinobu was particularly distressed after realizing something.
"So, the Flower Breathing too..." Shinobu couldn't find the strength to finish speaking, but it was more than evident what she meant.
"I'm afraid so, I'm sorry, Shinobu," Amane replied. The woman looked away but didn't protest and did her best to ignore the looks of pity and compassion from her comrades.
"Are there any other forbidden styles?" Mitsuri asked, curious. To everyone's surprise, Amane nodded.
"The Sun Breathing," the patterned woman responded. "The original breathing style from which all others derive."
"And why was its use forbidden?" Muichiro wanted to know the reason.
"There was only one hunter capable of mastering it," the woman clarified. "And that man fell from grace after sparing a demon's life."
"Someone like that doesn't deserve to live!" Iguro exclaimed, losing control. The rest of the Pillars looked at him in silence.
"So, do you think Rengoku and I don't deserve to live?" Shinobu asked with a falsely sweet voice.
"I didn't say that!" Iguro protested, glaring at the petite woman.
"But Rengoku and I spared a demon's life, or have you forgotten, Iguro?"
"Your case is different!" he insisted. "We don't know if that other demon ended up eating someone or not."
"Please, don't argue," Amane pleaded. "Now, more than ever, we must stand united."
"We're sorry!" The two Pillars responded in unison.
Amane suppressed a sigh. They had another important matter to discuss. Now that Himejima had passed away, they had to do something about his territory. They couldn't leave it without the supervision of any of the Pillars. But at the same time, Amane felt like she was demanding too much from them, so she decided not to mention the matter.
Kyojuro and Shinobu listened intently as Aoi recounted the story. They had arrived just a few minutes ago and were surprised not to see Kanao or Sumiko anywhere. So, they asked Aoi about it.
"So, did Sumiko tell you she had a mission and was taking Nezuko with her?" Kyojuro repeated, his expression serious.
"Yes, that's right," Aoi confirmed for the second time.
"I see. Do you know where they were supposed to go?" Shinobu inquired.
"Well..." Aoi murmured, trying to remember. "No, she didn't say."
Kyojuro nodded and exchanged a glance with Shinobu. While it wasn't unusual for them to go on missions, he should have been informed about it.
"I shouldn't have let her take Nezuko, should I?" Aoi mumbled, starting to regret her decision.
"It's alright. I'm sure Kanao will prevent them from getting into trouble," Shinobu reassured her, trying to make her feel better.
Kyojuro nodded. He planned to ask for an explanation later. He had been very clear about Nezuko. Under no circumstances were they supposed to interact. And she had disobeyed him. Perhaps he had been too lenient with her before; he wasn't sure anymore if that had been a good idea.
But for now, with no knowledge of their whereabouts, all they could do was wait.
"Oh, Kocho," Aoi interjected, "Hinatsuru and Makio wanted to see her."
"Alright, where are they?" Kyojuro asked.
"I saw them in the courtyard a while ago."
"Okay," Shinobu replied and went off to find them.
Kanao followed Nezuko and Sumiko, maintaining a serious expression. They were finally approaching the city. The journey had felt endless for Shinobu's successor, as Nezuko hadn't made it easy. Besides, on the first night, she had almost forced Sumiko to reveal the truth about the supposed mission.
"The city entrance is right there," informed Sumiko, breaking the silence between them.
"I see," replied Kanao, realizing how curt her tone sounded. Sumiko made a remorseful expression. "I want you to promise me one thing," the young girl continued. "When we return, please tell the whole truth."
"I will, don't worry," Sumiko assured her.
Nezuko stopped and glanced at Kanao. She still didn't like that girl, and there seemed to be no way to separate them. They had grown closer during the time Nezuko had been apart from her sister.
"What are you planning to tell Yushiro when we arrive?" Nezuko asked, interrupting both girls. "Tamayo was very clear that it should only be you and me, Sumiko."
"Kanao can be trusted," Sumiko reassured. "They will understand."
The other young girl smiled happily upon hearing that. She felt a pleasant warmth knowing that Sumiko trusted her so much.
They stopped at the entrance and scanned the area for the demon, but with the bustling crowd entering and exiting, it was impossible to spot the boy.
"Do either of you see him?" Kanao asked after standing there motionless for over five minutes.
"Perhaps he hasn't arrived yet," Sumiko murmured, trying to suppress the dizziness she felt. She looked a bit pale, which Nezuko noticed with concern.
"What on earth are you doing?" someone hissed angrily behind them. The three girls abruptly turned around and came face to face with Yushiro, who looked visibly upset. "Lady Tamayo was very clear. It should only be your sister and you."
"Kanao can be trusted," Sumiko immediately defended her.
"You seem very sure of that," Yushiro commented, glancing sideways at the girl.
"I am. I trust her," Sumiko affirmed.
Yushiro sighed, not entirely convinced. However, if they wanted a chance to defeat and kill Muzan Kibutsuji, they had to provide Sumiko with that information.
"I hope the day won't come when you regret those words," Yushiro said.
Kanao and Sumiko furrowed their brows upon hearing that, but Yushiro didn't give them time to protest. He gestured for them to follow and began walking.
"Let's go, or we'll lose sight of him," Nezuko urged, following him.
Tamayo placed the teacup on the table and sat in front of the three guests. She smiled kindly and didn't seem bothered by Kanao's presence.
"I'm glad to see you again," the woman confessed sincerely. "I apologize for contacting you so abruptly, Sumiko, but it was necessary."
"In your letter, you mentioned that you wanted to discuss something important," Sumiko said, getting straight to the point.
"What do you know about your family?" Tamayo asked, ceasing her smile and adopting a more tense posture.
"They have been charcoal makers for generations," Sumiko replied, almost instinctively.
Tamayo nodded and crossed her hands on her lap. She fixed her gaze on the chest that was on the center of the table, and Yushiro, understanding what she wanted, opened it and took out the letters it contained.
"There is something I must tell you, Sumiko, Nezuko," Tamayo confessed. "Long ago, during the Sengoku era, I met the swordsman who created the first breathing style, the Sun Breathing. His name was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and he came close to defeating Muzan."
"What does that have to do with our family?" Nezuko impatiently interrupted. Sumiko and Kanao looked at the woman with surprise.
"He spared my life, but it cost him his expulsion from the Corps," Tamayo continued explaining, undeterred. "Nevertheless, he maintained regular communication with me. And in one of his letters, he told me that he had encountered a family of charcoal makers." Tamayo fixed her gaze on the two young Kamado girls. "Your ancestors, yes. He told me that he left them two things. His hanafuda earrings and taught them the Sun Breathing."
"But that's not possible!" Nezuko protested. Her sister, still silent, brought her right hand to her earring.
"My father passed these earrings to me shortly before he died," Sumiko explained, ignoring Nezuko's words. "And he taught me a dance style that has been in our family for generations."
"A dance?" Tamayo asked, confused.
"The Sacred Dance of the Fire God," the girl clarified. "Our father was capable of performing it from dusk until dawn," she recounted, proud of her late father. "But when I asked him about it, he said that the key was the breathing technique."
"Do you remember how it goes?" Tamayo asked, standing up abruptly. "I would like to see it, if possible."
"Of course."
Tamayo and Yushiro led the three girls to the backyard of the house. As instructed by Tamayo, Sumiko stepped towards the center and unsheathed her weapon. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her father and the different movements of the dance. She opened her eyes and began using the Concentration Breathing.
"Dance of the Fire God, Dance," Sumiko murmured and moved the katana vertically. The blade of her weapon became engulfed in flames as she performed the movement.
"That's the Sun Breathing!" Tamayo exclaimed, unable to contain her enthusiasm. Yushiro looked at her, not expecting that from Sumiko, but the woman smiled widely, in a way the young man had never seen before, and tears fell from her eyes.
At that moment, the sound of Sumiko's katana hitting the ground distracted them. It had slipped from her hands, and soon, without warning, the girl was also on the ground. She was gasping for breath and seemed unable to move.
"Sumiko!" Kanao and Nezuko shouted simultaneously as they ran towards her.
"I'm fine," Sumiko said through gritted teeth, visibly exerting herself. "But I'm having trouble moving right now, as if I have no strength in my body."
The two girls helped her up and brought her to Tamayo and Yushiro. The woman continued smiling, extremely satisfied.
"What you just did is the first form of the Sun Breathing," Tamayo informed her, still smiling.
It was Aoi who informed Kyojuro and Shinobu of Sumiko and Kanao's return. The two Pillars immediately went to the entrance of the house to receive them.
By the time the girls entered the foyer, they were already waiting for them. Both had their arms crossed over their chests and wore serious expressions.
"Where have you been?" Kyojuro asked, locking his gaze on his successor. Sumiko swallowed nervously, trying to think of an excuse. Kanao must have realized her intentions as she nudged her and gave her a warning look.
"Tamayo, the demon we met in Asakusa, wrote to me," the young girl murmured, lowering her gaze slightly. "She wanted to talk about something very important in person and asked Nezuko and me to go to Nagoya," she continued explaining.
"So, you went without telling anyone where you were going," Kyojuro added.
Sumiko hesitated, unsure if it was a good idea to mention that Tamayo specifically asked them not to inform anyone. So she simply nodded.
"But that doesn't explain why you accompanied them, Kanao," Shinobu intervened, looking at her pupil.
"I didn't want them to get into trouble," the girl excused herself.
Shinobu sighed. The Kanao of the past, the one who relied on a coin to make decisions, was no longer present, which pleased her, but sometimes in moments like these, she wished she didn't take things so lightly.
"And you took advantage of our absence," Kyojuro continued speaking. Shinobu glanced at him. Rarely had she seen the Flame Pillar so serious. "What would you have done if it had been a trap?"
"Tamayo wouldn't do something like that!" Sumiko protested energetically. Kyojuro observed her, far from pleased.
"And how can you be so sure of that?" he asked. "You barely know her. How many times have you seen her? Only once before all this, right?"
"But she saved us from Muzan," Sumiko said, with less enthusiasm than before.
"I don't want something like that to happen again," the Flame Pillar concluded. "If she writes to you again, I want to be the first to know. And if she asks you to meet her, I will go with you, understood?"
"Yes..."
"Now go and take your sister to her room."
Sumiko nodded and hurriedly left. Kanao, on the other hand, remained still and looked hesitantly at her teacher.
"May I go now?" she asked.
Shinobu sighed slightly.
"The next time something like this happens, please, Kanao, let us know and don't go along with it."
"Alright, Shinobu," the girl replied and also left.
The Insect Pillar turned to say something to Kyojuro, but the man was no longer by her side. She sighed again and went to the courtyard. Before the arrival of Kanao and Sumiko, Hinatasuru and Makio had wanted to tell her something important.
The two women were waiting for her standing in front of the rock she had asked them to split. And the massive boulder was now split in half. She smiled, proud of both of them.
"Congratulations!" She congratulated them. They were ready to go to the Final Selection.
Sumiko closed her sister's room door. She had just left her there. As she turned around to leave, she was startled to see Rengoku there, as she hadn't heard him approach.
"I'm sorry. I know I should have informed you before doing it..." she murmured. She would have liked to apologize earlier, but she hadn't dared to.
"Don't do it again, alright?" Kyojuro requested, and without warning, he hugged her. Sumiko's eyes widened in surprise. "Promise me?"
"Yes," she replied.
"My duty as a Pillar and as your teacher is to protect and assist you, but I can't do that if you hide things from me."
"I won't do it again. I promise," she murmured, feeling regretful.
Kyojuro released her. Sumiko noticed that he seemed more upbeat now.
"And what did that woman want to talk to you about?" the Pillar asked.
Sumiko told him everything they had discussed with Tamayo, and what had happened to her after performing the first movement of the Sun Breathing technique.
"Interesting," commented Kyojuro when the young girl finished recounting everything. "Although what you're telling me could be due to your body not being ready to execute that type of breathing, so I advise you to continue using the Flame Breathing . At least until you're able to use it without your body suffering."
"Alright."
See you soon with the next chapter! Don't forget to leave a review! I would love to hear your thoughts!