Sunlight. The pale yellow glowed like the shiniest star all around of the brightest beacon against the pale blue sky hanging overhead. Cotton clouds of white dotted its-once blank canvas. They streamed by slowly, delicately, leaving nothing but small wisps in its once beautiful wake. The trees of bright and dark green swayed gently with the wind. The hundreds of stray clippings of grass blew softly by. The dirt billowed and picked up like small typhoons across the beige ground. Only the breeze could be heard among the tender ruffling of the outside world. The world that greeted her strangely friendlier than she thought it would.
Legs crossed over the other. Hands folded elegantly on her lap. Shoulders hunched just slightly forward with her eyes staring widely at something so beautiful and pure beside her. Her eyes wavered with stars and silver. Her heart leaped lightly in her chest, pulsing softly to the small beat that threatened to become arrhythmic at the slightest recognition of it. It was as if she had witnessed a miracle itself.
"I've brought you some tea."
She didn't bother to lift her eyes. She kept her pupils concentrated on their current sights. Her lips quirked slightly upward at the smallest sound of snores now adding to the peace hanging between them.
Even though she hadn't peeped a word, another spoke for her. "Right. Thank you," A deep voice answered in kind.
A shuddered sigh escaped her. Swaddled in a pale lavender blanket. The rosy cheeks. The long eyelashes. The stark contrast of red and black tipped hair ruffled over its large and peachy head. Tiny mouth wide open revealing the tiny pink papillae sloshing inside between two pairs of gums with no teeth in sight. Not just yet. No semblance of conflict nor cry ever showed itself on its perfectly round face.
"Look how soundly he's sleeping," The first voice coo'd just right behind her. "Sorry about this. Looks like my wife's fast asleep, too. I really must apologize. Making our guests babysit like this."
Slowly, she finally leveled her eyes to the man speaking to her from above. They concentrated on his face; young yet mature. No scars. No signs of deterioration. Average height. Fairly tanned skin. Athletic. Muscular. Ruffled black hair with burgundy tips pulled back in a ponytail hanging behind his head. Black and green checkered haori resting on his shoulders. Eyes wide and bright with innocence. Smile with no underlying malicious intent trained on her. On them. A tray of food and tea resting in his outstretched hands. She only nodded staring up at him.
He nestled the tray between the three of them. Relieving them of the small sleeping baby that had been held so gently in her companion's arms, the man sat down with them to enjoy the scenery.
"No need to apologize. She must be exhausted. It's a lot of hard work, giving birth and raising a child," Her companion considerately replied. He plucked a cup of steaming brown tea from the tray and blew softly into it. Small tendrils of steam followed after his breath. "I'll be leaving after I've had this. It wouldn't be right to keep eating for free here."
The man stared incredulously at him. "Don't say that! You saved our lives! If it hadn't been for you, not only would we be dead, but this child wouldn't have been born, either," He gasped hoping to light some realization in his saviors.
She released another small sigh at the implication. At the woman sleeping just as soundly as her baby beside them. Birth. The act of committing a miracle. Bittersweet. Horrible. Exhilarating. Agonizing. Exciting. Impatient. Patient. Cruel. Beautiful. How could one person do so much? Feel so much in such a short amount of time? Without getting so overwhelmed in the moment? To even think in such a time? In the face of what could've been certain death?
Gently, she lifted a rice ball in her hand. She weighed it in her palm. Not inspecting if it had been tampered with. Just... a small fleeting thought of feeling something so warm yet so cool in her calloused fingers. So soft and so delicate. She didn't say anything, and neither did her companion beside her. He took small polite sips from his cup and kept his head leveled to the ground in front of them.
The man sighed in resignation. "Very well." But his eyes lit up once more. "Then the least I can do is to pass down your names to posterity."
"No need for that."
Once again the man looked desperate for anything. "But didn't you say you were at a loss because you have no heirs? Even if a humble charcoal-seller like myself can't do it, I'm sure that one day, somebody will."
"No need for that, Sumiyoshi," Her companion repeated just as kind and without the raise of his voice either.
Finally, he turned his head. He settled his mellow yet nearly emotionless maroon eyes on Sumiyoshi. The sun kissed his pale skin, his long spiky red hair tied in a wavy ponytail, his short bangs framing his slender yet muscular facial structure, and the marks of flames burned from the upper left most part of his face. His hanafuda earrings clinked gently with every small turn of his head, his aloof expression fixing itself on the saddened Sumiyoshi.
His voice never fell or raised. His face never changed expressions. Not even as he explained, "Those who have mastered their skill... share the same fate." His black-bladed sword sheathed in a rustic and worn golden scabbard suddenly became a tensed reminder. He stood and calmly replaced his sword in his waistband. "Even if it's a new era. Even if you must take a different path to get there, you'll always find your way back to the same place. You seem to perceive me as some kind of special person, but you're wrong about that. I failed to protect anything that was important to me, and throughout my life, I was unable to do that what I was supposed to do. My name... is as worthless as I am."
Wet stars brimmed the underlines of Sumiyoshi's eyelids. His eyes slowly flickered between the man and her standing with the resolve of being completely and utterly imperfect. Worthless. At fault. "Please don't. Please don't say something like that. Please, I'm begging you! Don't think of yourself like that!"
His pleading words fell on deaf ears. No matter how much he reached out it felt as if nothing would grab them and make them turn to the light.
Yet, what troubled her more was not the unfamiliar landscape she had been in but the sight of a wooden roof now hanging over her head. The sun streaming in through the window hanging just slightly ajar to her right, the curtain billowing in greeting. At the small tears now slipping down the sides of her eyelids and along her cheeks.
Kagami couldn't lift a finger, not one, or even turn her head to know where she currently was. Just complete numbness spread throughout her limbs, pins and needles making themselves too well at home in her appendages. The only indication she was given she was safe was the plush cushions of blankets cradling her body and holding her head gently in an upright position. Her dry throat bobbed, her tongue smacking against the roof of her mouth unpleasantly, and released a croaked sigh. Her eyelids felt heavy but she forced herself to raise them enough and focus on what was in front of her.
She looked past the black tubes sticking themselves underneath the bandages wrapped around her arms, the machines full of clear liquid standing by on either side of her bed, and groaned against the pressure against her head to see someone sitting beside her. A look of both dismay and pleasant surprise stretched their features.
Kagami could barely groan, "K-Karasuma..."
Karasuma's eyes widened, a huge stuttered sigh escaping his lips. What she had known to expect from him, aloof and emotionless, gave way to relief. He stood from his seat from beside her bed and gave her a small yet nice smile. "You're finally awake," He mumbled with a light chuckle.
She stared up at him with wavering pupils, her consciousness threatening to give way already. "W-What... happened?" She forced herself to choke.
"You've been in a coma for two months ever since the battle against the Upper Rank 6's," He solemnly answered her.
Small snippets came flooding back to her. The devastation of Yoshiwara Entertainment District, Gyutaro and Daki's final forms in its aftermath, Mr. Uzui, she, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke battling with every last breath and energy they had left to simultaneously sever the demons necks free from their bodies. Just thinking about it made her body squirm with unease.
Kagami budged her head slightly in a painful nod. "It felt... so long ago. I almost forgotten it happened."
"What's most important is you finally woke up. Everyone will be thrilled to hear it," Karasuma reassured her with another smile of his.
She regarded him almost confused. "Everyone?" She muttered.
"Hey, he's out of his coma! Make some noise about that!" They suddenly heard loud and angry screaming echoing from somewhere down the open hallway. "You really are a scatterbrained, you know that?! You're supposed to call for someone! Say, "He's regained his consciousness!" You little IDIOT! Everyone's worried, okay?! Seniority doesn't mean jack, all right?! At least, not in this case!"
Karasuma winced at the sound of Goto and the small whimpers of a frightened girl trailing after it. Though, a small snicker spewed from him. "It seems Tanjiro Kamado has awakened the same as you. Just as I, Kanao opted to stay and speak instead of calling for assistance placing herself in trouble," He mused lightly with a smile. A distant look appeared in his black pupils. "She has been staying and tending to him ever since you were all dropped off here at the Butterfly Mansion. I'm glad... she found someone to pour her efforts in the last few months."
"Kiyo! Sumi! Naho! Fuji! Aoi! Tanjiro woke up from his coma!"
They both flinched at Goto's abdominal but rather obnoxious breathing technique shaking the entire foundation of the mansion to its core.
Karasuma released an exhausted and hefted sigh. He tiredly rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I might as well grab the army before Goto busts me down next," He said with another, turning to take his leave.
She quickly gave the shake of her head. "No, no. Please." She closed her eyes against the light and squirmed once again, begging with a small groan, "It's noisy as it is from over here. I don't think my brain will be able to handle the sensory overload of 6 people all at once in my room. Please, leave them with Tanjiro. He deserves their love and praise... much more than I."
He regarded her with an incredulous look. A mixture of disbelief at her stupid naivete. "You both deserve praise for what you've done. All five of you! Upper Rank demons have been challenged and defeated for the first time in over a 100 years. Do not downplay it as if it were a mere act of a miracle."
Kagami had no idea he was so passionate about the idea. The slight anticipated clench of his fists, the scrunch of his warm face, and the genuine look of admire in his eyes. She simply gave in and nodded her head. "Yes, you're right."
She transfixed her eyes on the ceiling. "What about the others? How's everyone? How are they doing?" She asked softly.
Karasuma regained his seat and folded his hands on his lap. "Miss Aoi was more than relieved to see you all return to the Butterfly Mansion. She's been in extreme guilt you all volunteered in her place. She'd been tending to you sick with worry day and night making sure you were comfortable, content, and taking all your prescribed medication recommended by Lady Shinobu. Lord Shinazugawa donated more of his marechi blood to speed up your recovery. You lost... quite a lot."
"Donated? Or forced to?" Kagami couldn't help but painfully snicker.
The look in Karasuma's eyes showed her the true answer. He continued to explain, "Zenitsu Agatsuma has already embarked on his first assignment since recovery just the next day," earning a complete look of frightened dismay from her. "Lord Tengen Uzui simply walked off the battlefield with his wives' help. I heard all the Kakushi recoiled at the sight. Too tough to believe. Inosuke Hashibira was on the brink of death just as you and Kamado were. The poison kept him from stopping the bleeding."
Her heart sank deeply in her chest at the memory. She remembered the terrifying agony of watching Gyutaro's poisoned sickle stab straight through his heart with no remorse, no mercy, and no hesitation. All with a smirk on his devilish face. Then, the mere memory of Inosuke nearly dying in her arms from the toxin. If it hadn't been for Nezuko, he most would certainly be dead.
Kagami felt monotone, almost at peace, when she whispered, "It sounds horrible. He must still be recovering then. I seem to be hallucinating because I see him attached to the ceiling."
It was Karasuma's turn to give her a frightened expression. He turned his head upwards and found a boar-headed freak staring down at the two of them.
"What the-?!" He nearly shouted jumping out of his seat.
A haughty obnoxious laugh belted from within the furry confines of the head. "Kawagamami! Good on you for noticing me!" He shouted his booming voice across the room.
She raised an annoyed eyebrow at him. "I am laying down, you know. You're all I can see."
He dropped himself carelessly on her bed. His feet landed on either side of her legs with a heavy plop. Her mattress bounced uncontrollably forcing her aching body to bounce along. She stifled her whimpers of pain, Karasuma lifting his hands carefully to make sure she somehow wouldn't fall off, watching Inosuke through exasperated eyes as he stood straight and tall jutting a boastful thumb in his direction. "I'm the guy who woke up seven days before you did! You and Kampachiro are weaklings! The weaklings!"
"Wow, Inosuke. Amazing," She huffed almost sarcastically, eyebrow twitching.
Another boastful laugh. "Keep heaping on the praise! Also, shame on you for making us all worry!"
The tiniest gasp choked out of her at that. Where vexation had started to course through her tired veins, a comfortable warmth instead bloomed outward from within her core. Her heart leaped just slightly at his words. A small grin, though costed so much of her energy, stretched her dry lips. "You were... worried about me, Inosuke?" She shyly, bashfully, asked of him with a giggle.
Incoherent noises of embarrassment and confusion replaced his bravado in a split second. He froze like a statue atop her body and didn't move for a few eerie amount of time.
Kagami released another giggle. "I thought you would be too embarrassed to see me. Given the kiss and everything."
Inosuke went rigid even more so in his spot. His muscles tensed and shook almost violently at the thought of her lips pressing into the corners of his back in the darkness of the Entertainment District. Karasuma covered his mouth at the spit he choked on and swiftly turned his head away with a funny look obviously enjoying the display happening in front of him.
Inosuke suddenly shook his head profusely much to her dismay! Swaying it side-to-side as if in complete denial and rejection of her feelings! "Nothing like that happened! What the hell are you talking about?!" He screamed pointing an accusing finger directly in her face. He heaved like a ravage animal, it was so unlike him! "There was no kiss! There was-I, I, mean there was nothing! Nothing to speak about! I don't know what you're talking about! I am Inosuke Hashibira, the King of the Mountains, and I do not get KISSES!"
He raced from the room without another word leaving a tornado of dust and dirt in his wake. Kagami's eyes wavered staring at the empty doorway. The tears that had spilled earlier threatened to do so again. No, she wouldn't allow it. She refused to. She didn't know whether to take his words seriously or not. It was Inosuke, after all. Yet... the feeling of heartbreak still swirled in a storm in the pit of her stomach.
It wasn't a week later Kagami was on her feet almost completely healed and back to normal. She carried the excited Kiyo, Sumi, Naho, and Fuji with complete ease over her head. Even Tanjiro was recovered as well! She couldn't help but cry seeing him out of bed with nothing more than a few new scars adorning his body. She raced into his arms and engulfed him in a long, tight hug sobbing profusely and harshly into his shoulder. Tanjiro merely smiled and let her calm her heart until she was finished.
During their Rehabilitation Training, Inosuke was already embarking on missions of his own. His recovery rate was still beyond the imagination and science they knew. He was back to his proud, boastful state just as he always had been since the day they met. Except his demeanor changed. When Kagami went to see him off with the others in front of the mansion, he promptly ignored her, her farewells, and left without another word. She knew he was a right arrogant ass who believed he didn't need anything but his strength and luck on his side but it made her even more furious than lonely at his behavior toward her! It was just one kiss!
Zenitsu is still far away on his mission. She hadn't seen nor heard from him ever since she awoke from her coma. From what Kagami gathered from Aoi, he is someplace very cold and distant causing a nonstop racket with the other Corps members. She thought of not hearing his shrilly voice a blessing in disguise.
As for Kagami, she tried to wipe Inosuke and his stupid face from her existence while he is away. She focused on rehabilitation just like Tanjiro. She partook in their morning, afternoon, and evening jogs every single day. She'd sit on the large boulder by the pond getting her Total Concentration Breathing, Constant, back to where it was. She practiced the shinai in the garden with 1000 swings she had grown to memorize by Mr. Urokodaki. Kiyo, Sumi, Naho, and Fuji were more than happy to stretch and relieve her muscles of its atrophy.
As Fuji pulled Kagami's legs over her head, Naho worked on stretching out Tanjiro's back beside her.
"Hey, wait!" He started to chuckle, "Did a new sword come while I was asleep? To replace the one that I chipped?"
In unison, Fuji and Naho froze and released small whimpers. "A sword, you say? A sword..." Naho stuttered with an extremely nervous smile, sweat beading down her fore-head.
Fuji tried to swallow the lump building in her throat. "You did get some letters from Mr. Haganezuka. Would you like to see them?" She asked apprehensively, her grip on Kagami's legs now loose and shaky.
Kagami and Tanjiro's eyes widened in horror at the stack of black beaded paper in his hands. Ink angrily and messily plopped and swirled all over the crinkled and folded papers of beige and brown. Menacing, ominous dread filled in every single part of their stomachs, mouths open in terror. "I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! I'LL CURSE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HAVE NO SWORD FOR THE LIKES OF YOU!"
Tanjiro's eyebrow twitched erratically. "This is... really bad!" He chuckled bitterly to himself.
Kagami... could only thank God for giving her the proud but considerate swordmaker that was Watanabe.
Even as all six snacked on their lunchtime meal, Tanjiro wouldn't let go of his mail nor his frazzled expression. "Two months went by, but no sword ever arrived," Sumi regrettably informed him.
Tanjiro slapped his hands over his head in sheer desperation. "And it was only chipped this time! I snapped it in two last time!"
Sumi crossed her arms. "Swords are always getting damaged, but Mr. Haganezuka just happens to be a bit difficult, doesn't he?" She sighed.
Kiyo gasped in realization. "Why don't you go to the village?"
"Maybe it would be best to talk to him directly," Naho added with the nod of her head.
Kagami quirked her head at them. "The village?" She curiously asked.
"The village where all the swordsmiths live," Fuji answered as if it were common knowledge. It was the first either Kagami or Tanjiro had heard of such a place! She thought they all worked in their own workshops part of their homes scattered across Japan. Not an actual village of Nichirin swordmakers!
Kagami and Tanjiro decided to make a petition to travel to the Swordsmith Village. He needed a new sword and hers needed to be repaired. Her hilt had been severely dislodged from the sheer weight and strength it endured in order to decapitate Gyutaro. Not to mention it looked rather ugly after the battle and she hoped Watanabe could make it prettier for her. She found it strange her sword wasn't immediately taken in by her swordmaker, but she believed it to be the excuse of a busy woman forging swords for other Demon Slayers.
The two of them waited outside the Butterfly Mansion donned in their Demon Slayer uniform. Kagami was in great relief to find herself back in her clothing with her red glittery haori swaying gently in the breeze with her, her long black ponytail following suit. Standing in front of them were two Kakushi with their hands held patiently behind their back.
"As the Master has granted approval, we shall be guiding you there," The female Kakushi stated.
Kagami and Tanjiro bowed their heads. "Nice to meet you! I'm Tanjiro Kamado and this is Kagami Yamato! Thank you for taking us!"
"As your guides, we cannot tell you our names, but we look forward to serving you," The male Kakushi spoke reciprocating their bow. They each held out their hands. Bundled in their palms each were white cloths and two small cones of white nestled on top. "Now then, put these on."
The two regarded each other with confusion. They wrapped the white cloth around their eyes, darkness immediately sweeping through and carrying away the sunlight, and cautiously held both cones in their fingertips. She couldn't see a damn thing.
"A blindfold and earplugs. The village is hidden. Also, we will be carrying you on our backs," The female Kakushi's explanation came through the shadows. They both made stammered noises. "Moreover, as you are known to have an acute sense of smell... take these nose plugs!"
Kagami cringed at the unexpected pain coming from Tanjiro's mouth.
"Also, you have an acute sense of direction of the wind. You'll have to be wrapped head-to-toe."
Before she knew it, Kagami was strapped back-to-back to the Kakushi wrapped in what felt like hundreds of bandages all around her body. She couldn't move, see, or even scratch the itch building at the tip of her nose. The living dead. The mummy. A body to be disposed of. She felt like she was never going to be free. She begrudgingly released out a muffled huff.
On the way toward their destination, the Kakushi were kind enough to give them information regarding the village and its people. The Swordsmith Village, where Nichirin swords are forged, was considered an extremely vital place for the Demon Slayer Corps. Its whereabouts must be kept secret at all costs to protect it from demon attacks. That's the reason nobody knows where the village resides. Neither do the Kakushi transporting them. After traveling a certain distance, both she and Tanjiro are passed to another set of Kakushi. Not only that, but both the routes and the Kakushi get changed up again and again. They are guided to the next Kakushi by crows but even those feathery creatures do a lot of switching up, too. Even more bizarre and fascinating, the mansion the master lives is hidden in an even more complex way! Kagami has no idea how they were able to think up of such ingenious plans!
It felt like the entire day had passed by when she was finally settled on her feet. After being ruthlessly twirled for over a span of a couple minutes to be rid of the bandages holding her captive, she blinked away the stabbing light she hadn't seen since that morning. Dizzy, and slightly nauseous, her vision slowly adjusted to the warm colors of orange, deep red, and yellow. Then... they widened in admiration.
It was a quaint and a rather small village. She expected it to be grand spanning for miles in the lush land of green with chimneys sticking out of warehouses puffing black smoke almost every passing second. The dirt road was rather narrow but crowded with passerby. Large and jagged edges bordered at the back of the village giving it the appearance of a rocky alleyway with tall houses constructed in just between. Even then, the architecture was exquisite. The walls were polished, smooth, with multiple sliding doors and windows adorning each side. Strong arches accented the roofs and pointed proudly to the sky.
But not to mention the calming heat the wind was carrying with it!
"This scent... There must be a hot spring nearby!" Tanjiro gasped rather excitedly too.
The new female Kakushi nodded her head. "Yes, you're right about that! Please go there later to refresh yourself," She offered but pointed in the direction down the road, "But first things first, turn left at the end of this street, and you'll find the chief's home. Please go there to greet him before you do anything else."
"Right!" They agreed.
The female and male Kakushi bowed their heads deeply to them. "I'll be taking my leave now, but I wish you the best."
"Thank you very much!" Kagami and Tanjiro expressed bowing just as deep and proudly.
Unbeknownst to them, their declaration echoed throughout the mountains and was carried away into the wind. Their voices, mixture of innocence and pride, bubbled and danced along the steaming pool of water with pure clarity. Two figures had been lounging peacefully by. Heads tilted back, long hair drenched in the heat of the water, sweat caressing and slowly dripping down their soaked skin, they shifted slightly at the sudden new voices now filling their ears. Braids of vibrant pink and green bouncing beside a drape of curtain black hair falling over their shoulders, pale green irises of love met those of deep loathing red.
Soon, Kagami and Tanjiro found themselves kneeling in a building staring face-to-face with the village chief. He was small, thin, partially balding on the crown of his head, and wore a hyottoko mask concealing his identity, much like his bodyguards sitting behind him. And everyone else in the village.
"Hello there! I'm the chief of this village, Tecchin Tecchikawahara. Nice to meet you!" He greeted them in a mild manner. "The smallest person in this village... and the most important, is me. Well, why don't you bow your head down so low your forehead touches the mat?"
Kagami and Tanjiro didn't hesitate to slam both heads and hands against the ground.
"I'm Tanjiro Kamado!"
"I'm Kagami Yamato!"
"It's a privilege to meet you!" They greeted in perfect unison.
The chief waved a small hand in their direction. "Well, what fine children. Come here. Have some sweets," He offered placing out a bowl of caramel candies.
Tanjiro didn't wait to feast on them, Kagami giving him complete permission to eat his fill since she didn't have the stomach yet.
The chief soon sighed, "Oh, about Hotaru, at this time, he seems to have gone missing. Watanabe as well. We're searching for them both, so please be patient."
Kagami and Tanjiro faltered at the information. "Watanabe is missing?" She had mumbled in confusion.
Tanjiro, on the other hand, gave him a quizzical look. "Hotaru?"
"That's right. Hotaru Haganezuka."
Tanjiro smiled, cooing, "That's such a cute name!"
The village chief shared his sentiment and released a lovely chuckle. "Right? I'm the one who named him! But Hotaru himself said it was too cute and blasted me. That boy's been like this since he was a child. He loses his temper just like that and falls off the face of the earth. Sorry about that."
"No, please! It's my own fault for breaking my sword and chipping it so easily!" Tanjiro immediately pleaded.
The village chief shook his head. "No, you're wrong about that." All of sudden, his friendly demeanor gave way to disappointment and frustration. A scowl replaced that light-hearted tone of his when he said, "He's the one who forged a faulty sword, so it's all on him."
The bodyguards behind him threateningly swung their fists. "As soon as he's found, we'll apprehend him and bring him back here. So please, rest assured."
Kagami and Tanjiro suddenly feared for their swordmakers existence.
"I hear that you haven't healed enough yet to hunt down demons. If Hotaru hasn't forged another sword by then, I'll assign someone else to be your swordsmith. Same with Watanabe. She's just as fault as he is," The village chief spoke. With the goodbye wave of his hand, he finished, "Our hot spring can work wonders on a weakened body, so go have a good, long soak."
On the way, Kagami couldn't help but think of what happened to her swordmaker. She was a proud woman who loved working and perfecting her technique with every new sword she's crafted. For her to up and disappear, alongside Tanjiro's without a word, seemed almost inconceivable. She could only hope she is gathering inspiration or learning new ways to perfect her craft in some sort of range by herself. Unless she is in hiding with Mr. Haganezuka. Unless he kidnapped her! No, no, not plausible.
Kagami and Tanjiro stood at the base of a forest with a winding staircase of cobblestone leading further inside. A wooden sign reading BATH with a bright lantern had been propped up at the entrance. A trail of lights could be seen leading the way.
"The hot spring is at the top of this hill. It has all kinds of healing properties. Cuts, burns, hemorrhoids, bleeding piles, constipation, everything from gout to the pain of a broken heart. It works on anything, so please treat yourself to a leisurely soak," Their tour guide informed them with a bit too much for her liking.
Kagami dropped her head slightly and solemnly sighed, "Broken heart, huh?"
"I'll be down here, preparing your meals."
"Right! Thank you!" The two spoke bowing their heads.
"OHHHHH!"
A shrill unexpectedly penetrated the darkness and quiet of the forest. Kagami cringed heavily at the screeching as she finally upturn her gaze. Fleeing wildly down the steps, tears of despair streaming down rosy cheeks, braids of pink and green swaying on their shoulders, she could only focus on two luscious lobes bouncing erratically side-to-side for a moment. Quickly shaking her eyes free from the scene, they widened at the woman in her purple lavender robe crying and hurrying toward them at breakneck speed. "It's you, Tanjiro! Tanjiro!" She continued to cry his name.
Tanjiro's eyes widened in terror at her fast approach. "W-Watch out! Please be careful! Your breasts are this close to spilling out!" He quickly warned her jutting out his hands. Just as they collided, he grasped the ends of her brown yukata tightly and pulled it more taut around her chest, ignoring her pleas for a moment to secure the placement of her breasts.
The woman collapsed to her knees and placed both hands together in desperation. "Listen to me, please! Just now, up there, I got ignored! I said hello, but he ignored me!" She wept, if Kagami might add, so prettily.
"Someone ignored you?" He asked her.
"I don't know! So, I asked him his name, only to be ignored! Isn't that awful? I'm a Hashira, you know! And now all the good vibes I got from my bath have been canceled out!" She wailed placing her face in her hands.
Kagami stared down at the woman with wide eyes. A Hashira? Her? Tanjiro seemed to have been well-acquainted with her already. He smiled kindly and gently down at her. He opened his mouth to speak but a different voice, a hiss more-like, interjected, "Mitsuri, dinner will be ready soon. It's going to be matsutake rice. Your favorite."
They quickly swiveled around and found another woman lounging against the staircase. She wore a similar bathrobe of black but her face bore no friendliness. She lifted her black-polished fingernails and raised a slight eyebrow. Her eyes were covered in dark shadows leaving just the sour redness of her crimson irises. They penetrated them roughly, suspiciously, and almost hatefully. A small scoff left her mouth at their rigidness. Tanjiro gulped heavily in her presence. He must know who she is as well. Another Hashira?
Mitsuri lifted her head sharply. Her tears were instantly replaced with perfect bubbles and sparkles of pink and white. "What? For real?" She gasped with the brightest smile that rivaled even that of the sun. She raced forward and clasped hands excitedly with the woman, squealing as if what she endured no longer bothered her, "Kurai, we simply must feast together!"
The latter released a small sigh of exasperation but also a yelp of surprise at Mitsuri dragging her away by the hand toward the dinner hall.
Kagami watched them go with a raised eyebrow. "So, Tanjiro... who were they?" She asked stepping up beside him.
"That was Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, and Kurai Sato, the Shadow Hashira," He introduced them as their backs and bodies disappeared in the distance of the trees. He smiled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "They were there during my trial in front of the master nearly a year ago. Miss Kanroji advocated for Nezuko and I while Miss Sato... was less than pleasant. Two completely different personalities. I wonder how they get along."
Kagami wasn't going to question either ladies. They were intimidating to say the least, even if one was a total sweetheart.
The two of them finally continued to venture toward their original destination; the hot springs. The closer they walked, the warmer and more peaceful the atmosphere became. Just within proximity set Kagami's muscles relaxing and a heavy sigh of relief spewing from her lips. Bouncing her shoulders high, inhaling the deepest breath she could, she released it loud and proud. Her eyes wavered excitedly staring at the largest hot spring she's seen. It was bordered with large rocks, a ring of yellow lanterns standing tall every few meters basking the night with its glow, and the steam that billowed profusely in the air thickened with every passing second. Each was just as enticing as the next.
"Wow! It's so spacious!" Tanjiro gasped in complete awe.
Kagami smiled widely and was full of anticipation herself. She pointed off into the distance with a small finger. "I will be changing behind that tree over there. Just call if you need anything," She said before turning away. He nodded his head in confirmation and placed Nezuko's box on the ground from his back as she went.
Carefully peeling off her clothes, making sure no prying eyes could see her exposed skin from the shadows, and folding them in a neat pile at her feet, Kagami shrugged the provided white bathrobe over her shoulders and released a sigh. She had no jitters or anxious thoughts of bathing naked beside her friend. After what they've endured for the past nearly 3 years together, training with Mr. Urokodaki, sleeping under the stars, sharing the same board and restroom, not to mention surrounded by provocative women in the Entertainment District, she had no qualms. They were purely and mutually platonic. Nothing ridiculous hidden to be surfaced.
She heard the splash of water in the distance. Believing it was safe enough to approach, Kagami stepped out and started to undo the knot at her abdomen-
"DIE!"
A surprised shriek fell from her lips at the unfamiliar growl penetrating the air. She felt the mist of warm water. She shielded her eyes partially with the back of her hand. When she blinked away the droplets... a frozen but ragged breath shuddered from her body.
A pair of stormy dark violet eyes connected with hers. At first, they were hardened and full of immense anger. Though, once they realized they had been found, had been caught in another's trap, they wavered uncontrollably in complete terror. So did hers.
Kagami's eyes widened so big she thought they'd burst out of her skull. Her hands desperately clutched at the knot of her bathrobe in a white knuckle grip. Her breathing that was once calm became increasingly hyperventilating. Her shoulders and chest lifted and dropped erratically to an unknown rhythm she could only describe as having some sort of painful heart attack. What sent her into a terrified frenzy, as Sumi had told her of their name, was the naked and muscular body of Genya Shinazugawa standing tall above the water with his hand shoving Tanjiro's head violently underneath its steamy waves. The worst of her actions... She couldn't stop admiring his drenched mohawk running along his chiseled back. The dragging of her curious, trembling, anticipating eyes lowering from his heavily scarred, soaking body down toward-!
"AAHHH!" She yelled jutting her hands up to shield her burning face! It was hot! Extremely hot! She couldn't stop the madness from spreading throughout her cheekbones, armpits, head, and her entire body! It burned with the hottest red she could ever feel at what she had just beheld! The full glory of a man!
The... encounter ended as quick as it happened. In either anger or pure embarrassment, Genya Shinazugawa hurriedly fled the hot springs completely flushed to the bone.
Tanjiro sat idly by with a solemn look. A towel laid limp on his damp hair. "And here I thought we could bond in our nakedness. Making new friends sure is tough," He sighed as Nezuko happily paddled by.
Kagami... didn't share his feelings. Quivering knees curled to her chest, arms clinging to them tightly, she submerged the lower half of her face in the water in hopes of removing what she had saw from her mind. For all the healing properties the hot spring had been praised upon, it seemed removing one's memory was something it could not do... unfortunately.
Even as dinner arrived, the two of them feasting with the Hashira, she could not get the image out of her head. Her hand trembled holding her rice bowl with her eyes staring vacantly into the brown table in front of her. Why... Why is it bothering her so much?
"Wow! Amazing!" Tanjiro suddenly gasped.
Kagami's eyes widened at his exclamation, finally breaking her out of her thoughts, and took in the surprising amount of dishes surrounding Mitsuri. Three stacks of a dozen bowls and another of plates sat sheepishly in front of her while everyone else had the average amount of one plate and one bowl.
"You think so? I really only nibbled today!" Mitsuri giggled bashfully.
Tanjiro smiled widely. "I'm going to eat plenty, too, so I can get strong!" Then his face brightened. "Oh, the guy you met at the hot spring was Genya Shinazugawa, who is our fellow swordman."
Kurai, who had been silently eating with her eyes closed, quirked one open at the news.
Mitsuri looked in despair at what she seemed to have not known. "That would make him Mr. Shinazugawa's younger brother, right? But Mr. Shinazugawa said he didn't have a younger brother. I wonder if they're on bad terms. That's just heart-wrenching."
"Is that right? I wonder why," Kagami suddenly muttered taking a small stab of her rice.
Mitsuri's eyes turned brightly to her next. "You must be Kagami Yamato, Masako's daughter, the former Dragon Hashira. It's such a pleasure to finally meet you after hearing so much about you! I'm Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira!" She squealed excitedly wrapping her arms jovially around Kagami. "You're even more beautiful in person! I adore the dragon tattoo on you! It really shapes how delicate yet sharp your features are! Is it a sentiment toward your mom? How cute!"
Kagami looked away, flustered, almost shameful. Her fingers delicately rubbed against the black dragon that had crawled and created a nest on her face. It appeared after their battle in the Entertainment District but she had no idea how or why it had gotten there. She could only nod her head not knowing what else to say.
Tiny Nezuko made an appearance out from underneath their table and eagerly placed herself in the arms of Mitsuri.
"What is it, Nezuko? There, there!" Mitsuri coo'd gently poking and prodding the tips of her fingers into her arms, armpits, and stomach. Nezuko giggled against her bamboo muzzle, pale cheeks turning rosy at her tickles. "There are five of us siblings in my family, and we all get along so it's hard for me to fathom. I thought, "Those Shinazugawa brothers are scary!""
Kagami peered over at the other end of the table. A deserted area with nothing but untouched chopsticks and an empty cup sat where someone should've been. "Genya still hasn't shown up. I thought all of us could at least have a talk. Unless..." She started to mumble but quickly gave up at the immense heat flooding her cheeks once again! She held in her squeals of embarrassment with much restraint. Unless he's purposefully avoiding me because of what I saw! It wasn't my fault! H-He should've been the one to be more careful! Not I!
Kurai plopped her bowl carelessly on the table grabbing their attention. "Don't get your hopes up. He won't ever show. The villagers say he never takes his meals," She answered rather bluntly.
Mitsuri regarded her words with a sad look, mindlessly patting and petting the loving Nezuko hugging herself close to her body.
"Hm. I'll bring him some rice balls later," Tanjiro suggested.
She smiled bright at the idea. "Good idea! Let's do that!"
All five of them ventured down the empty yet dimly lit patio of their board and restroom. Lights inside the building lit up the transparent paper beige. Kurai slithered in the back keeping herself content in the shadows away from them, Mitsuri taking the lead cradling Nezuko's hand in hers singing a small song of praise for the girl, with Kagami and Tanjiro lagging just slightly behind. A tray of tea and rice balls were outstretched in his hands wandering toward Genya's room.
Mitsuri lifted her head and took a small sniff. "You know what? The sight of these rice balls is making me hungry again! Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps, Miss Kanroji?" Tanjiro curiously asked.
They heard a small groan from the darkness.
"Hmm? Me?" She giggled turning to look at him. Her fists placed themselves delicately against her cheeks. A storm of pink hearts swirled from her body. "This is embarrassing! Oh dear, what should I do? You want to hear? Well, it's..." Instantly, she flashed a bright red, squealing to her heart's content at a hundred mile rate, "To find the gentleman with whom I'll be spending eternity! I mean, any girl would prefer someone stronger than herself, right? Because we want to be protected! Do you know what I mean? Or maybe it's hard for a boy to understand! See, Hashira are powerful, right? But it's not like you can just meet up with one! So I knew I'd have to become a Hashira myself, and I worked really hard!"
All Kagami and Tanjiro could do was listen in pure dismay at her... unique ambition.
Finally they arrived to Genya's room but it was empty. Even the lights were shut off, too.
"Genya doesn't seem to be here," Mitsuri hummed thoughtfully.
"Lady Kanroji. Lady Sato."
They turned their heads at the sound of the Hashira's names and found a female Kakushi member standing just a few feet from them. "They'll be done honing your swords soon. We'd like you to come to the workshop to make some final adjustments," She informed them.
Kurai appeared from within the shadows a split second later, sighing definitively, "Finally."
Mitsuri released a sigh of her own. "Oh my, it looks like we have to go now."
"Please don't mind us. I'll be happy to walk you over," Tanjiro offered.
"That's all right. We'll probably be leaving in the middle of the night," She spoke waving it away with the small of her hand. Nezuko held herself even closer to that of the Hashira at the prospect of her leaving their side. She whimpered into her body and kept her arms tightly around the woman with a melancholic expression.
Tanjiro dropped his eyes solemnly to the ground. "Oh, I see..."
Mitsuri trained her tranquil pale green eyes on them both. Warmth were in those irises of hers. "Tanjiro, Kagami, we might not live to see each other again, but let's fight the good fight! You both took on an Upper Rank demon and survived. That kind of experience is priceless. Nothing can ever top what you've learned from firsthand experience. It's equal to five years, no, ten years of hard training! Right now, you're far stronger than you ever were before. Mitsuri Kanroji is rooting for the Kamado siblings and for Kagami Yamato!"
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Nezuko watched Mitsuri's body light in an angelic glow of yellow. Their eyes had been trained adoringly on the woman who held no malice or hesitation in her sweet-honey words. No falter in her smile or cheerful giggles spilling from her lips.
Kagami and Tanjiro bowed their heads, exclaiming, "Thank you very much!"
"But I've still got a long ways to go. Mr. Uzui just let me win, that's all! I'll work even harder! To defeat Muzan Kibutsuji!" Hard determination, courage, and resilience appeared deeply in both his tone and expression at his declaration. No wavering could be seen.
Mitsuri squealed at the sight. "You've been granted permission for a long stay, right?"
"Yes, we have," Kagami answered her.
She bounded forward and brought the two of them in a huddle. Slinging an arm around their waist each, she brought their heads in close together. "They say there's a secret weapon in this village that will make you stronger. Try to find it, okay?" She whispered delicately in their ears, her warm yet minty breath splitting the hairs on their lobes, her lips meeting their skin with a soft brush. Their bodies went rigid and tense under the gentle breeze. Then, she departed with a bright, "Goodbye!" with Kurai right on her heels.
Nezuko sadly waved farewell, more whimpers muffling against her muzzle, watching her go. Kagami and Tanjiro on the other hand... their noses wouldn't stop gushing a waterfall of crimson red. All she could think of was... What a woman...
The next morning, Kagami, Tanjiro, and Nezuko enjoyed themselves to a hearty breakfast provided by the village. In their table spread a bowl of rice, miso soup, a platter of skewered fish, various chopped fruits and vegetables topped with sweet seasoning, rice buns, and so much more. The delicious smell wafted through her nose and made her stomach growl unpleasantly but she didn't mind at all! It looked extremely appetizing!
"Wow! You're starting us off with a feast this morning!" Tanjiro gasped in awe.
A member of the village merely chuckled, "These wild vegetables were all picked on the mountainside here. And this fish was caught fresh from the river this morning."
"Oh, wow. No wonder it looks so good!" Kagami exclaimed tapping the ends of her chopsticks together excitedly.
"The chief has sent word that he'll be contacting you as soon as they've found Mr. Haganezuka and Miss Watanabe. Until then, please build back your stamina and get some rest."
"Right! Thank you so much!" They replied in unison. Then, they slammed their hands together in prayer. "Thank you for the meal!"
Just as they dug into their delicious meal, Nezuko swooped out of her box and dove underneath their table. She laid her head in Kagami's lap nuzzling lovingly into her leg and sighed deeply in content. Kagami suspected she was trying to recreate the feeling she had with Mitsuri. She didn't mind. She grinned down at the girl and gave her a pat on the head. The Love Hashira and Tanjiro were lucky enough to have grown up in a large family. She had been an only child. She wondered how her life would've turned out different if she had a sibling or two. She also wondered if Kurai had siblings of her own.
"Nezuko," Tanjiro started to speak earning his sister's attention, "I know we have to rest up, but while we're waiting for Mr. Haganezuka and Miss Watanabe, I wanna look for the secret weapon that'll make you stronger, the one Miss Kanroji told us about. Wanna come with me?" He turned to Kagami. "Is that all right with you?"
She slurped down the rest of her fish in one movement and enthusiastically nodded her head. "Of course! Anything for my best friends!" She smiled.
"Mm!" Nezuko agreed.
They trekked through the forest they hadn't yet seen illuminated in the sunlight. It bounced off the brilliant gradient shades of green. From grass clippings to twigs, branches, and bushes, the forest was alive with life. The birds sung happily, the bugs chirped peacefully, the warmth of the sun bouncing off their skin, the warm red and orange leaves scattered across the beige ground, it reminded Kagami much of her home.
She curiously placed a finger to her chin. "I wonder what kind of weapon it is. I mean, it has to be pretty powerful if it's in a place like this. A sword buried underground? In a boulder that must be pulled out? Imbued with magical enchantments?" She hummed thoughtfully in quick succession.
"I'm not sure, but it sounds like an exciting treasure hunt!" Tanjiro chuckled. He suddenly grimaced. Placing a shaky finger to his nose, he huffed, "I really like it here, but that hot spring smell is so overpowering. I guess not being at full strength is affecting my sense of smell."
She exhaustedly nodded her head in agreement. The wind kept picking up the steamy drafts and sending them insistently her way. To discern the wind from threat to natural occurrences, she needed to retrain herself. She wished the wind would do her a favor for the time being and stop pulling her every which direction.
"Quit pestering me! Give it a rest!"
A child's voice suddenly came through the trees.
"I've had enough of you holding out on me. You're wasting my time, arguing with me."
Kagami and Tanjiro poked their heads out from behind a trunk and came across two people standing in the spotlight. "A kid? And who is the other one...?" She mumbled.
The kid with unruly black hair pulled into a ponytail, an angry hyottoko mask concealing his identity but perfectly mimicking his emotions, started to berate the person standing in front of him. "Which part of "no" don't you get? Get lost! Why should I have to hand it over to you? I don't care if you're a Hashira or whatever! You're too full of yourself! Just get out of my sight!" The kid screamed angrily raising and waving his fists all over his head.
"Another Hashira? How many of them are here in the village?" Kagami asked in disbelief.
He was young, short, but she suspected his muscular physique was being hidden underneath those large and billowing robes of the Demon Slayer Corps uniform. His black hair was long and straight and faded into a mint green at the end of the tips. His eyes of the same color were empty. Almost emotionless. Lifeless. He stared down at the brash boy with an uninterested expression. He was even younger than Kagami, and for him to be called a Hashira...!
Tanjiro snapped his fingers in realization. "That's Muichiro Tokito! The Mist Hashira. He was also there during my trial with the master."
Muichiro held out his hand and demanded once again, although not sounding unkind, "Give me the key."
The boy angrily pushed out his arms once again. "I'm not handing it over! My ancestor made these, and they're precious to me!"
Tanjiro peered even closer. "Wait, is there someone else behind them?"
They both slowly stepped out from their covering and let their eyes lay upon two figures standing just behind the boy. A tall, muscular man with long spiky red hair pulled in a long ponytail stood there. A sword was strapped tightly to their waistband. Just beside him was a woman. Short yet bright orange hair cropped to her shoulder glowing like luminescence. Hands and fingers poised like claws at her side.
Kagami and Tanjiro gasped in unison.
I... know them.