Many moments passed where they didn't speak. All they could do was look at where a demon stood just mere seconds ago. The Temari Demon had her body ripped apart from the inside out and it was… one of the most terrifying things Kagami had ever witnessed in her entire life.
She knew that demon was terrible. The demon wanted to kill them all, she turned it into a sick and deadly game, cackling and laughing at their failed efforts of killing her, but… Kagami knew not even a demon deserved that horrible painful death.
Kagami didn't think she'd ever feel remorse for a demon dying but… there it was, right in the pit of her stomach.
"Is… Is she dead?" Tanjiro asked softly.
"She will be momentarily," Miss Tamayo answered.
Wait… after all that, she still isn't dead?
Kagami thought she was finally going to be sick and vomit all the udon noodles she had earlier that night. Except, she forced herself to keep it down but her eyes couldn't leave the demon's twitching arm.
"That is Kibutsuji's Curse. The flesh will be destroyed by Kibutsuji's cells in her body. She will be ripped apart from the inside," Miss Tamayo explained almost as if she was in pain. "In general, battles between demons are futile. It's pointless. Because they can't inflict fatal wounds on each other. Only sunlight and the swords of the Demon Slayers can do so. Kibutsuji alone appears to be able to destroy a demon's cells."
When Kagami finally, painfully, pushed herself to her knees, Yushiro had raced over and slammed a white cloth over her nose and mouth.
She almost panicked but he quickly explained, "You can't inhale Lady Tamayo's spell! It's harmful to the human body! You got that?!"
When Kagami nodded her head, and held the white cloth to her face, Yushiro raced over to do the same to Tanjiro. It was quite puzzling seeing Yushiro care about their well-being and safety, but she wasn't going to reject it. She will try to no longer push him away, or anyone who tries to help her, just because they were a demon.
After seeing what happened to the Temari Demon caused by Kibutsuji's Curse, she was afraid to see it happen to anyone else.
"Kagami, Tanjiro," Miss Tamayo called for them where she knelt beside the dying demon, "She is not one of the Twelve Kizuki." Pointing a finger at the eyeball laying on the ground, she explained, "The Twelve Kizuki have numbers engraved on their eyeballs, but she doesn't have one. Most likely, the other demon isn't a member of the Twelve Kizuki, either. They were too weak."
Too weak?!
Kagami gasped against her white cloth in horror. She couldn't comprehend that the Temari and Arrow Demons… were too weak to be part of the Twelve Kizuki. She and Tanjiro had so much trouble fighting just one-on-one, she couldn't imagine what a fight will be with a real member of the Twelve Kizuki.
"Don't question her," Yushiro snapped at her. "If Lady Tamayo says so, there's no mistake." Then, he hissed, under his breath, "Pathetic. That demon was incredibly stupid. She thought she could get away with hurting Lady Tamayo. Served what happened to her!"
Without wasting another moment, Miss Tamayo injected a syringe in the dismembered arm and withdrew an entire worth of blood.
"With any luck, this blood will still be instrumental in developing the curse," she spoke delicately placing the syringe in a small wooden box. Standing, she worriedly looked over at Nezuko's sleeping state on the ground beside the house. "I need to take care of Nezuko. Not only did I medicate her, she also inhaled my spell inadvertently. For which I'm deeply sorry."
As Miss Tamayo moved toward Nezuko and the shattered remains of the room they had lingered in, Yushiro gasped and moved towards Miss Tamayo's side. He quickly turned around and screamed at Kagami and Tanjiro, "Don't move a muscle! You're on your own now. I won't leave Lady Tamayo's side! Not for a second!" before dashing towards her side.
Kagami found his obsession with Miss Tamayo weird but his reason was his own. Miss Tamayo did express she would only attempt to turn people into demons if they were terminally ill. Yushiro must've been one of her dying patients who turned into her undying loyal friend.
When she stayed on the ground, obeying Yushiro's orders, as well as giving her body a chance to breathe, she heard a soft cry, a soft plea emit from the bloody stain in front of her.
"Ma…ri," she heard the soft cry again.
Miss Tamayo is right… the demon is still alive.
"Mari," she heard again louder, clearer, but still full of immense pain. She was crying, begging, for something in her dying state over, over, and over again.
The hand, the only thing left of her body, was extending towards the temari ball laying a couple feet from her. Kagami, still on her knees, slowly shuffle forward towards the ball. Keeping her white cloth against her face, and her other gripping her sword, pushing her forward with every aching muscle, she grabbed the ball and placed in her arm. Then, slowly but surely, she crawled to what was left of the demon and softly placed the temari ball in her limp, pale, hand.
Kagami sat back, using her sword as a crutch, choking out, "Here's your… temari."
She watched painfully as the hand tried to close itself around the ball. It twitched desperately but soon stopped, taking comfort in the fact her hand was within her toy's reach.
"Play… play with me," she heard the demon beg. "Play with… me, please."
Kagami gasped at the small soft voice, one that didn't belong to the demon who tried to kill her.
The demon sounded that of a small child, a little girl begging to play her favorite game with her favorite toy, but she was dying. She wanted someone to play with as her last dying wish. Or maybe she didn't even know she was dying. The Arrow Demon had called her childish and immature, but… what if the demon really was a child? A child who was forced into becoming a demon, brainwashed into working with Kibutsuji, and ultimately dying at the hands of someone she thought she could trust? To blindly follow and trust someone, to devote their entire life, was something a child would do. A child who didn't know any better, and had their naivety and childhood stripped away from them.
Tears welt up in Kagami's eyes and poured down her cheeks in waves of those of a waterfall, a small sob escaping her mouth watching as the small child begged to play with someone. A child who couldn't comprehend death. Letting go of her sword, Kagami placed her hand in the child's, crying, "I'll play with you. I'll… play with you! I'm right here, I won't let you play alone. I swear it!"
Even though she was holding the hands of a monster, who had probably killed scores of innocent people, the demon was still a child who wanted nothing more than to live, to play with someone, and be noticed. A child who wanted nothing more than to be a kid. What drove her into becoming a demon? What drove her into the arms of a monster who took no remorse and no mercy into killing a kid? Who would delude a child into believing she could become a member of the Twelve Kizuki?
The world around Kagami slowly began to light up in rays of yellow and orange.
Kagami didn't let go, not even when the arm disintegrated in her hand and left nothing for her to hold. She let it clutch air and let the sobs continue to force themselves out of her throat, into the open world around her.
When the arm disintegrated, the child's blood began to follow. The blood that had stained and soaked into the dirt floor disappeared without a trace. As if she never existed. As if her life meant nothing. She didn't deserve it. None of them deserved what they got. How could she look at someone and think they deserved to die a slow and painful death after suffering from something they possibly never wanted in the first place?
"You were forced to fight, to kill, and this is what happened to you. You were killed by the man you thought you could trust. I'm so sorry," Kagami cried into the ground. "Is this the price you pay for killing people? It's so cruel. This world is so cruel!"
Taking in a deep, shuddering breath, she whispered, "Please, please find peace wherever you are." Then, punching the ground hard, ignoring the pain striking through her knuckles, she growled under her breath viciously, "I will kill you, Muzan Kibutsuji, you foul demon!"
When the sun finally joined with the sky, Kagami gathered the will to stand on her feet and make her way inside the house.
"Yushiro! Miss Tamayo!" Tanjiro called for them joining her side.
With daybreak, Kagami expected them to be hiding in a dark area but they both heard, "We're over!"
They turned their heads and saw a trap door leading downwards to where Kagami suspects a basement sits.
"Not that you need to come at all," she heard Yushiro scoff. "But if you want to, then get down here."
"Yushiro!" she heard Miss Tamayo chastise him.
"Just kidding!"
It was quiet for a moment, then, "It's all right. Come on down, Kagami and Tanjiro!"
Kagami and Tanjiro carefully stumbled down the stairs, painfully aware of how much pain their entire body was in, before meeting the basement floor. The light in the hallway was lit and completely revealed Miss Tamayo and Yushiro standing at the end completely unharmed. Nezuko ran up excitedly and engulfed Tanjiro in a tight hug, who hugged her back just as tight. The two siblings rejoiced seeing each other alive and well.
"I moved her to the basement, where sunlight won't reach her, ahead of daybreak," Miss Tamayo spoke.
Then, removing herself from Tanjiro's arms, she curiously ran back to where Miss Tamayo and Yushiro stood. She threw her arms around Miss Tamayo in a surprising hug! Both Miss Tamayo and Yushiro gasped at the sudden embrace.
Yushiro didn't like that one bit.
He stiffened, eyes twitching, gritted his teeth, and screamed, "What are you doing?! Step away from Lady Tamayo! That's so rude!"
Miss Tamayo softly placed her hands on Nezuko's arms, looking over at Yushiro, speaking, "Calm down, Yushiro. I don't mind at all."
"Yes, ma'am!" he immediately obeyed stepping back from the two of them.
Nezuko popped her head up from Miss Tamayo's shoulder and extended a hand outward, once again rubbing Yushiro's head affectionately like she did on the battlefield.
He froze in his spot, his cheeks once again going red in embarrassment, screaming incoherently, "Wha-! I-! Stop!"
Nezuko didn't stop but Yushiro didn't do anything to keep her from doing so.
As she kept rubbing his head, never letting go of Miss Tamayo, she asked curiously, "It's a bit strange. Nezuko has been acting in this way ever since she awoke. Do you think she's all right?" both Tanjiro and Kagami.
Tanjiro chuckled and stepped forward, asking, "There's nothing to worry about. She's just fine. If I were to take a guess, I'd say she probably thinks you're a part of our family."
"Family?" she gasped out and looked even more puzzled. "But wait, I thought the hypnosis placed on Nezuko only made humans look like family. Yushiro and I are demons."
Tanjiro smiled widely, speaking, "Not to Nezuko. You two are as human as anyone to her. She wanted to protect you. At first, I didn't like the idea of putting Nezuko under hypnosis. Though, I'm glad to see that she seems to still have a will of her own—"
He quickly stopped speaking seeing the sight of Miss Tamayo break down into tears.
"AH! I'm so sorry!" he quickly screamed out loud. "Nezuko! Stop it! Get away from her! You're being very rude!"
Kagami, Tanjiro, and even Yushiro stood still in shock at the sight of Miss Tamayo crying and embracing Nezuko's tight hug. Digging her head into the girl's shoulder, she cried, "Thank you. Thank you so much, Nezuko!"
The two of them embraced each other tightly, the rest of them looking on still in shock, but didn't do anything to stop it.
Then, when they had let go of each other, Miss Tamayo announced, "Yushiro and I will leave this region. We've gotten too close to Kibutsuji. We must conceal our whereabouts soon or it'll be too dangerous for us. Not to mention, even if I think I've concealed my identity, when I interact with humans as a doctor, people sometimes see through me as a demon. The young and the elderly are particularly perceptive."
"So, Tanjiro…" she spoke looking at Tanjiro and Nezuko worriedly. "Would you like us to take Nezuko in?"
Yushiro behind Miss Tamayo immediately gasped and began to shake his head at her silently. A look of torment, horror, desperation, and fear was evident on his face. Kagami could only guess that Yushiro doesn't want another being around Miss Tamayo, so he could have her all to himself and not have to worry about another person taking all of her attention and affection away.
Miss Tamayo, who either didn't pay attention to Yushiro or didn't notice him, explained, "I can't give you an absolute guarantee that she'll be safe, but I believe it will be less dangerous than taking her into battle."
Kagami turned to Tanjiro and a look of confliction crossed his face.
She could only imagine he wanted what was best for Nezuko. As his duty as a big brother, he would be keeping Nezuko safer by not letting her tag along with them. Even though she's a formidable fighter and can hold her ground against any demon as they have witnessed, he was still risking her life. They were chasing a medicine for her cure, so Nezuko should tag along if she wanted to. Right? Why wouldn't she want to come along with her brother and help find her cure?
Then, Nezuko grabbed Tanjiro's hand.
She didn't need to move or say anything to him. Her face was set with determination, concentration, and the one thing she only wanted: to stay by her brother's side and fight alongside him. That she didn't want to be anywhere else in the world except by his side through thick and thin, easy and tough times, and help him find her cure.
Tanjiro had gasped slightly but smiled gently at her.
"Miss Tamayo, thank you so much for your concern," he started, bowing his head deeply at her, "But Nezuko and I are staying together. We're not going to split up. Never again."
Kagami almost winced when something brushed and grabbed her hand.
When she looked down, she realized Nezuko had grabbed it and gripped it affectionately. Nezuko's bright pink eyes turned to her and nodded her head, wishing to stay by her side as well, to keep her brother and her friend together, to fight alongside them, and find the cure. Kagami's heart welled up and she swore she was going to cry again but forced it down.
For 13 years she was all alone. She only had her father for company.
No one visited her, her father, and no one except just the two of them ever crossed the threshold of their home. No matter how much she wanted to visit the nearby village, to meet the people who worked the markets, to just talk to someone who wasn't her overdemanding father, he never gave in to her requests. He rejected her so much that she soon learned to never ask again.
She didn't think she'd ever make friends, feared dying alone, but when Nezuko held her hand, her fears immediately dissipated. She wasn't going to die alone, not anymore. Kagami has two friends and two new ones in Miss Tamayo and Yushiro.
Kagami smiled and gripped Nezuko's hand back, speaking, "The three of us are a team. We'll never split up."
Miss Tamayo smiled and nodded her head. "I understand. In that case, I wish you long-lasting good fortune in battle."
Yushiro turned his head away, crossed his arms, and huffed, "Goodbye, then. We'll be leaving after we erase all traces of ourselves. You should get moving as well!"
"Thank you for everything you've done us. Goodbye," Tanjiro bowed his head again and turned to leave. Nezuko, overexcited, quickly ran through the hall and up the stairs out of the basement, Tanjiro screaming after her, "Hey! That doesn't mean you can run!"
When Kagami and Tanjiro had began to run after her, Yushiro suddenly spoke, "Tanjiro, wait!"
Tanjiro stopped in his tracks and curiously looked at Yushiro, Kagami doing the same as she waited on the first step.
His crossed arms tightened, a look of pain crossed his face, and his body began to shake. Turning his head further away from them, he choked out, "Your little sister… I guess she is a beauty."
Kagami smirked mischievously at Yushiro, who knew at some point he would change his mind, as Tanjiro chuckled happily at his new resolve. The two of them waved goodbye to Miss Tamayo and Yushiro, hoping to see them soon, as they climbed out of the basement.
With Nezuko inside her box strapped to Tanjiro's back, Kagami walking by his side, they walked out of the city of Asakusa, Tokyo, and back into the countryside. She inhaled deeply, wincing sharply at the pain in her side, but forced herself to drop it. It felt… relaxing and she felt relieved that she could see the blue open sky again, the fields of grass and crops surrounding her, and the fresh air and wind hitting her face delicately once again.
"South-east! South-east!"
The familiar squawking's sent Kagami and Tanjiro groaning in frustration and exhaustion. Their Kasugai Crows flew up above their heads, screaming and squawking loudly down at them, never shutting up! All they kept screaming was their next location of their next assignment! They couldn't even breathe or relax for a few hours before being sent on another mission! How many demons are there, and where are the rest of the Demon Slayers?!
"Your next location is south-southeast!"
Kagami huffed, "At least give us a break! We just faced two demons and almost died!"
"Stop squawking at us! We got the message! I'm begging you, stop! Stop!" Tanjiro had screamed-.
"PLEASE!"
A burst of wind rushed over Kagami and Tanjiro, completely and quickly bothered by what it was, when they looked at the dirt road in front of them.
"Please! Please! Please! Marry me! I could die any day, you know! That's why I want you to marry me! I don't want to die alone! Please!" a boy with yellow and orange hair screamed like a baby, grabbing the shoulders of an innocent girl who tried to shrink away from his grasp, as he kept wailing, crying, and sobbing all over her kimono.
Kagami made a face, immediate dislike settling in her stomach, as she watched the boy continue on crying and crying.
Oh, boy, what the hell is she going to get herself into now?