"No, wait!"
Kagami had thrusted her hand out, hoping to stop the boy in the orange kimono from hitting the tsuzumi drum in his lap, screaming at him to wait. She had remembered Teruko's brother speaking of their lost eldest brother wearing the exact same kimono this boy was wearing being dragged into the house. This must be him!
She gasped seeing a small child in a pale pink kimono run past beside her.
Teruko had raced forward from behind her legs, gasping and crying, "Kiyoshi, we found you!" with her arms extended out.
He had gasped, in either fright or shock, seeing the small girl running towards him. His hand hovered above the tsuzumi in mid-air until he realized who it was running towards him. The distraught and fear in his eyes faded immediately at the sight of Teruko quickly making her way to him. Her small legs carried her across the first room and the one he was sitting in, tears flowing out of her eyes freely, exclaiming, "Brother! Brother!" before collapsing in his arms.
"Teruko!" The boy, Kiyoshi, cried, grabbing and hugging his sister with a large smile on his face.
At the sight of the family reunion, Kagami let a small smile spread across her face and slowly crossed the room. She watched as the brother and sister cried into each other's arms, the tension and fear mostly lifting from their bodies, and approached them.
When Kiyoshi lifted his head, his apprehensive shy eyes landed on her. "Who's she?" He asked Teruko.
Placing a hand on her chest, Kagami spoke, "I'm Kagami Yamato. I'm a Demon Slayer." Kneeling on the ground, the weight of two kids looking at her for reassurance, answers, and protection, she flushed red, nearly stammering, "You, um, You two hung in there really well. I-I'm, uh, I'm proud. I would like to see your wounds."
Teruko looked at Kagami like she was her hero and looked to her brother to see him suddenly breaking down into tears. He placed a hand against his face, letting his tears slip through the cracks of his fingers, and let the sobs rack through his body. Kagami's smile slipped from her face and she looked at him sadly. Even Teruko began to cry once more seeing her eldest brother break down into tears.
Poor kid has gone through so much. What would Tanjiro do?
Quickly digging into the sleeve of her haori, Kagami brought out a silver canister wrapped protectively in a sheet of brown paper. "You see this ointment here?" She gasped with a grin, bringing it close to their faces. They leaned into it looking wide-eyed and curious at what it could contain. "It's magical! It could help heal any wound and make the pain go away before you even know it."
She bopped Kiyoshi's nose softly with the tip of her finger. He looked up at her and managed a tiny grin.
Unwrapping the canister and popping it open, placing it aside, she carefully lifted Kiyoshi's bloody and tattered leg sleeve. The wound on his leg wasn't too bad but it was enough to scare a small kid like him. It would heal just fine with the ointment, some rest, and a healthy meal. Carefully ripping away the bloody sleeve, Kagami dipped a finger in the medicine and gently covered the wound in the creamy, light green ointment. Kiyoshi winced slightly, both he and Teruko watching her dress his wound, but didn't protest or groan in pain. He simply watched and wiped away the stray tears from his face, a look of awe and astonishment on Kagami's gentleness.
What a brave young man.
"I got this ointment from Tanjiro and I's master," Kagami began to speak dabbing just a bit more. "Tanjiro is a Demon Slayer like me, and the best loyal partner I could ever ask for. Always keep your family and your friends close to you at all times. They will always be the best thing that will ever happen to you."
Kiyoshi smiled as Teruko hugged his arm with a grin.
Grabbing a set of bandages from within her haori, Kagami swiftly wrapped his leg and create a giant knot, one not too loose but not too tight as well.
"You're all set!" She cheered clapping her hands once. "You feel better?"
Kiyoshi smiled and nodded his head. "Yes."
Kagami was happy and wanted to release a sigh of relief but knew she needed answers from the boy. She hated to ruin a good happy moment but any information on the Tsuzumi Demon he might know could help turn the tide of the oncoming battle she plans to fight.
"Please, tell me what happened here, if you can," She spoke as gently as possible.
Kiyoshi's smile immediately faded and fear quickly replaced the small amount of happiness he had. Body shaking, his eyes were wavering and they dropped to the ground, but, against his fear, he answered, "A monster kidnapped me, and I nearly got devoured. But just then, another monster showed up out of nowhere. They started fighting to the death over… who was going to e-eat me. A-And then, the one with the tsuzumi growing out of him…! When the other monster attacked him, he dropped this tsuzumi!"
He gestured to the tsuzumi lying beside him, continuing, "So, when I picked it up and struck it, the room suddenly changed. A-And I somehow held on until now!"
Kiyoshi had begun to cry again retelling the story, but it looked like he was finished. Teruko held onto him, seeming to try and comfort him, as Kagami pondered over the story.
A demon with tsuzumi's growing out of its body. That's the one who attacked Tanjiro and I.
"He's the one who called you a marechi, right?" She asked him.
Kiyoshi gasped and nodded his head. "Yes! He kept calling me "marechi" or something! I don't know what it means!"
Miss Tamayo was in the middle of temporarily healing Kagami and Tanjiro's wounds after their battle with the Temari and Arrow Demon. She had turned to Kagami with curiosity in her eyes. "I didn't want to bring this up when we first met. I was afraid it would be deemed rude or inappropriate to ask, but I assume you have questions as to why the Temari and Arrow Demon were so hellbent on drinking your rareblood."
Kagami, wincing at the pain in her arm, nodded her head. "It's the second time I've been targeted for my blood. I don't understand why it's so special," She sighed.
"You are known as a marechi, a person who has a rare type of blood running through their veins," Miss Tamayo began to explain. "Every living thing in the world have different types of blood. The scarcer, or the more uncommon, the blood is, the more desirable it is to a demon. One marechi can equal to eating 100 human beings. It can grow any average demon into one of full power. It is, in a terrible word I cannot substitute for, a delicacy for demons."
Gulping, Kagami asked, "Did you know I was a, uh, marechi before?"
"Yes," Miss Tamayo bluntly answered. "The blood of a marechi is powerful and can lure in demons from miles away. Because Yushiro and I do not require a substantial amount of human blood to live, and have no desire to grow in power, we do not easily fall victim to its aroma."
Kagami nodded her head and let out a sigh of relief, before flinching at the pain of her cracked ribs.
Then, she dropped her head, mumbling, "So, that means for the rest of my life, I have to protect myself against demons who will want to kill me and drink my blood? So that they can grow stronger? And, anyone who is around me will get hurt trying to protect me?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I'm sorry to tell you that it means your blood is extremely valuable to demons," Kagami spoke softly laying a hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder. "Don't worry, though," She quickly added seeing more fear creep up in his face, "I'm a marechi, too. If I can help it, I'll make sure they come after me first and get you out of here alive. You have my word."
Kiyoshi and Teruko nodded their heads.
Kagami's head quickly darted back to the door, her hand on the hilt of her sword, suddenly feeling the same sharp aura she felt when she first encountered the Tsuzumi Demon.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
"It's here," She mumbled looking out into the hallway where she could hear the loud footsteps coming from. Turning back to the terrified Kiyoshi and Teruko, she quickly spoke, "I'm going out there to fight the demon. Whatever you do, please keep calm. It's going to be all right. I will take it down and get you all out of here alive."
Placing a hand on Teruko's head, she said, "Your brother is really exhausted right now. Look after him, okay?"
Both Kiyoshi and Teruko looked terrified, especially as the demon's footsteps were getting closer and closer.
Kagami, keeping a level head and calm look on her face, finished speaking, "As soon as I leave the room, strike that tsuzumi to change it. Just keep doing it how Kiyoshi had been doing up until this point. Strike the drum when someone tries to open the door, hear something outside, or if you feel you're in any danger. Striking the tsuzumi will remove you from any immediate danger and help you escape. I promise I will come back for you once the demon is dead. I'll follow your auras and call your name when I am near."
Grabbing them into a group hug, she added, "Just hold out until I come back. I know you can do it."
Pulling back, she gazed into their faces to see them set with determination.
Such brave kids.
"Wait, why are you helping us? We're just a bunch of random kids to you. I know it's your job to hunt demons but… you're going above and beyond for the two of us," Kiyoshi asked, eyes wavering.
Kagami thought back to her father who taught her about defending the innocent and the helpless. He ingrained in her that when a person has the ability to help someone, in any way they can, they must use it to defend those around them. Well, she has the ability to protect these kids, but Kiyoshi is right. She is going above and beyond for them. Though, when she looks down at those kids staring at her like she was their protector, she couldn't help but remember how she once looked at her father like that.
"I guess it boils down to family," Kagami grinned. "I used to look at someone the same way you're looking at me right now. If I could bring him back, I would in a heartbeat. I was alone. I wish I have a little brother or sister to look after, but that's ok. I have my friends now, and they're practically family to me."
Rubbing their heads affectionately, she spoke one last time, "Always look out for each other."
THUMP! THUMP!
She turned and saw something moving from the side of the open door. Peering into the adjacent room from the hallway was the Tsuzumi Demon. His snarl widened and his giant crimson red eyes widened at the sight of them. She needed to get those kids out of harms way-fast!
Kagami immediately raced into that room, sword drawn, screaming, "Strike it now!"
DUM!
They're out of harms way. Now it's up to me to defeat him. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, I hope you're okay. I hope you can find those kids and rescue them while I handle this demon.
The Tsuzumi Demon looked angry seeing the two other kids disappear into a different part of the house but his eyes lingered on Kagami, who stood ready to fight. She fought the burning, painful sensations in her legs, arm, and abdomen, and lifted her sword up high, challenging the demon to come after her.
"Marechi… I found you," He growled. "I will drink every last bit of your blood and become stronger, and better!"
Extending her leg back, Kagami set her resolve, fighting the fear driving in the pit of her stomach, and hardened her soul. Her shaking hands held onto her sword firmly, letting it light ablaze and the dragon coming alive in a bright yellow color. She felt energy course through her body and used it to give her a boost.
She kept eye contact with the demon, never backing down, and growled, "Then, come and get it!"