Chapter 5: Hope in Hell Part One – A Young Girl's Loneliness

Is this hell?

Onui woke up in utter darkness. She couldn't see a thing. Everywhere she looked, every direction was the same. Just pure, empty darkness.

The last thing she remembered was the demon making a snack out of her bloody chest and then screaming for help.

Is this hell?

Onui thought it made sense. A cruel, unforgiving world where demons roamed the night. A world where innocent human beings were mercilessly slaughtered, just for living to the best of their abilities. A world where even a little girl's dream of supporting her family, just ends with her enduring slavish abuse in a cotton mill.

This was hell.

Onui finally understood the cruel truth of her reality all too late. She had already lost everything and everyone dear to her.

Her mother, her father, her little brother Tasuke, and the rest of the people in her village, they were all dead now.

Onui too must be dead now. Why else could she see nothing but darkness wherever she looked?

Even now, her body felt cold to the touch and a numbness steadily spread across her chest. The iron-like smell of blood assaulted her nose, sending her brain into a nauseating mess.

Huh?

Wait.

What?

Onui could still touch. She could still smell. She could still breathe. Therefore, she must still be alive.

But then why was all she could see darkness? Had she gone blind after the demon played around with her body? No. Onui felt around her eyes. She could feel with her fingers that her eyes were still intact. They were still working just fine.

Then the only reason left why she couldn't see a thing was…

"It's dark…" Onui's whispered.

Her voice cracked through the void, reverberating across empty space, and then returning as a ghostly echo.

Right, it wasn't that Onui's eyes were damaged, or she'd gone blind, it was just that there was no light in her vicinity.

Then that next begged the question, where was she? Why was she in a place without any light?

Even the darkest of nights had a faint glimmer of moonlight, but wherever Onui was, even that little bit of light had vanished.

Onui took another trip through her memories but came up with nothing. The last thing she'd seen was the angry look in the sword-wielding demon's face as he fought the demon doctor.

Right, Onui remembered now.

The demon with the swords was fighting the demon doctor. The other demon had actually protected her. Even though the two were both demons, they weren't allies.

Onui couldn't understand it either. All the stories her grandfather used to scare her and Tasuke when they were little said that demons were heartless monsters that preyed on humans at night.

However, that demon had indeed protected her. His enraged face, his unrelenting fury, his fearless wail, the memory of it all became clearer in Onui's mind. She began to even imagine that the demon had been angry on her behalf.

"Impossible…." Onui muttered under her breath.

She reached out her hand forward and felt around the darkness. Her fingers brushed up against something hard and cold. The smooth, solid feel to the touch immediately registered in her mind. Onui realized the metallic scent of blood wasn't the only thing she'd been smelling.

"Swords…?" Onui whispered in disbelief.

She felt around the darkness some more and became certain.

"It's all made of swords…?"

Onui could hardly believe it herself. But she was surrounded, it seemed, by a wall of swords in every direction. It was like a bunch of swords had melded together around her to form a giant box.

The gears in Onui's mind began to turn. If she was inside a box of swords, then that meant she was in a box the sword demon had most likely made. And since the sword demon hadn't shown any ill will towards her and even fought the demon doctor, perhaps the sword demon had made this box of swords to protect her?

It was an outlandish idea, even for someone as desperate Onui, but it was the only answer that made sense.

But now that the questions of where, how, and why were settled, the next problem was the question of what to do next?

Onui had no clue of knowing if it was safe to come out of the box. The demon doctor could still be around, eager to take another sip of her blood. Or perhaps the sword demon had already succeeded in beating or at least warding off the demon doctor.

Whatever the case, Onui soon realized she couldn't stay inside the box for much longer. Perhaps as a result of her waking up, she was beginning to use up what little air she had with her in the sword-box. Her chest began to weigh heavy on her, and every breath she drew became more and more painful.

"Have to… get out…" Onui weakly cried out. She tried to scream for help, but it was no good. Her throat was as dry as a blast furnace. It was no wonder, she'd screamed her heart out while running for her life from the demon doctor.

Onui pounded against the walls of the sword box, but she only felt the metal surface vibrate stubbornly in place. Her tiny, malnourished fists were powerless against the swords. It was pointless to even try to break free. She'd only be wasting her breath, and whatever energy she had left.

Is this it…? A cage of swords will be my end…?

But just as she was about to settle down in exhaustion, Onui felt something around her give. The metal wall of swords began to shift. The invisible sheets of darkness that covered her in every direction began to glow red and dissolve away into nothing.

Onui's eyes widened. She had seen this phenomenon before. It was the same glowing effect when the swords the sword demon carried disappeared after they'd been thrown away or destroyed.

The box made of swords dissolved in a mist of red, as did the floor beneath Onui. She yelped in surprise as she fell forward, rolling onto what felt like rough, jagged terrain. She groaned in pain and opened her eyes slowly.

Onui was once again met with darkness, only this time, of a different kind, the earthen kind.

She found herself to be in some kind of tight space underneath what looked like a bunch of rocks. She tried to touch the rocky ceiling above her but stopped when she saw the ceiling shift slightly and bits of dirt sprayed down on her face.

Onui wasn't in some kind of cave. She was trapped beneath a pile of rubble. One wrong move was all it would take for the earth above to her collapse and she'd be buried alive.

"So, this really is hell…" Onui concluded drearily.

She saw no sign of the demon doctor, but that didn't mean she was safe and sound now. She could still die at any given moment. Out of one danger and into the next.

Onui's lips twisted into an ironic smile. If she could, she would break into a hysterical fit. But somehow, she still had the good sense within her to hold back. Such erratic behavior would spell her doom. She had to keep her despair internal.

Well, it wasn't like Onui had any strength to laugh anyway. She was utterly exhausted. It took a tremendous amount of effort and several seconds of agony before she managed to sit up. She scanned her surroundings slowly and stopped.

Onui looked into the distance and saw something buried into one of the dirt walls. Onui stood up and walked towards it carefully, warily. But as she got closer and closer, the more her eyes began to finally adapt to the darkness, allowing her to see what the immobile wall fixture for what it was.

It was the sword demon.

Or rather, it was what remained of the Sword Demon.

Onui winced back when she saw the Sword Demon's gruesome state.

The once raging demon of madness had been reduced to a limbless torso, powerlessly embedded into the side of a dirt wall. Charred flakes of dead skin fell off his face. The flesh on his chest burned away, revealing his desiccated innards for Onui to see. The foul stench of his overcooked flesh assaulted Onui's senses.

"Urk! Ugh!"

Onui fought back the urge to puke, her palms firmly pressed against her mouth. She still smelled the acrid scent of her guts leak out of her breath.

The sword demon's chest looked like someone had taken a shovel and dug out everything below his rib cage, and then set his insides ablaze. His cremated organs were exposed raw. Onui could actually see his scorched heart faintly beating in a whimpering pace.

Yes, Onui could hardly believe it, but even in this ruined state, the sword demon was still alive. Even with over half of his body missing or burned to a smoldering crisp, the demon stubbornly still drew breath.

However, that was it. That was all the sword demon could do. Breathe.

He did nothing else.

He didn't open his eyes. He didn't move a muscle. He just stayed there, burned into the wall like a lifeless sculpture. Only the faint breath escaping his nose and the weakly beating heart in his open chest indicated he was still alive. But even those faint sparks of life seemed to be slowly dying out.

Although the sword demon was still alive, he wouldn't last much longer.

Onui gulped down a lump of fear and went back to taking stock of her surroundings. She trudged along the dirt walls around her, feeling her way through the darkness.

But as she wandered further, she realized how small the world around her literally was. The space between the walls was narrow. The air in the space thin. The darkness around them all encompassing.

In a matter of seconds, Onui had returned to the Sword Demon's side. She'd walked a full circle following the walls. Evidently, the space they had found themselves was like a closed dome. There was no exit point to be found anywhere. They were trapped.

Onui collapsed against the wall beside the sword demon. Her back slid against the rough earthen surface and sent a wave of pain through her chest. The wound she sustained from the demon doctor taking a bite out of her was getting worse. She tried to bandage herself with her torn clothes, but it was futile. It was too dark see anything. She could hardly tie a knot, much less bandage herself. She was also beginning to run out of oxygen. Her head was getting light and her breathing going hard.

She was most likely going to die here now.

Onui couldn't see any chance of survival.

After somehow miraculously surviving her encounter with the demon doctor, Onui would still die here, under a pile of rocks with the remains of the demon who saved her life.

It was a cruel reality. Onui had escaped one hell, only to enter the mouth of another. There was truly no saving her this time.

Time continued to pass in a daze and Onui closed her eyes. With every passing second in the dark, Onui felt her hope crumble away.

When she first woke up in darkness and realized she was still alive, she had instinctively felt a sense of relief.

Perhaps, in her sleep, she had forgotten the tragedy she had just suffered. But now, with the slow passage of time, she had ample opportunity to reflect, and to despair.

What was even the point of surviving? She'd already lost everything. She was alone now, without even a home to return to. No family left to welcome her. No reason left to keep living.

How many years had she endured abuse and slave-like conditions in the cotton mill, all to give her family a better future, but now they were all for naught.

Onui should just die.

There was no longer any need to struggle. Her suffering could finally end here. It would be a miserable end, but at least it was a relatively peaceful one.

Compared to becoming the demon doctor's research subject, dying from succumbing to her wounds or running out of air here in the dark was much better at least.

Mom… Dad… Tasuke… I'm sorry…

Tears began to leak out of Onui's eyes. The cooling sensation of her warm tears cracked her eyes open one last time. But still all she was darkness.

I left the village behind to make you guys proud. But in the end, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't survive in the big city. I hated everyday there…

Onui closed her eyes, and she looked back on the hell she'd walk through. The path she chose led her down the march of a sinner.

To be honest… when I first heard about the plague that hit our village, a tiny part of me was relieved….

I had an excuse…

I could finally abandon everything there at the mill with a clear conscience. I told myself that If I lost my reason for existing, all of you back at the village, then I could just throw away everything without a care.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but maybe this is my punishment for being a bad person?

When I wished for the world to just burn away after a hard day of work after months at the mill, or when I wished for supervisors to just drop dead, maybe the gods or Buddha heard all my evil wishes and decided to punish me by taking away everything I had…?

In Onui's final moments, she began to rationalize her ending. She tried to frame it in a way it would make sense, and the only conclusion the girl came to was that she'd been a bad person.

She left home for the factory to help her family. She regretted her decision and cursed the world. She prayed for relief from her suffering. So, the gods granted her selfish wish by taking away her family. She finally escaped the horror of the factory, only to return to find her home destroyed. It was a twisted cause-and-effect, but it satisfied her.

Onui would die here. Without achieving anything. Without reaching anything. Without anyone knowing.

She would disappear here, together with the sword demon.

She could accept that.

She was a bad person after all.

What are you saying, Onee-chan?

"Tasuke…?"

Onui slowly opened her weary eyes.

She must've gotten lightheaded from the lack of oxygen because she was beginning to see white.

Where once there was nothing but pitch-black darkness, now there stood the white silhouette of her departed little brother, Tasuke, smiling down at her. He'd grown so much in the years she hadn't seen him.

We didn't die to give you an excuse to give up.

"Dad…? No, you all died because I was a bad person…."

Another figure came into picture beside Tasuke. Onui's father stood tall and proud, a young man in the prime of his youth. His coarse exterior reflected his many years in the field. He had the same stern look he always used to give her during lectures.

You always had the wildest imagination, Onui. That's part of the reason why we agreed to let you leave the village. But still, even your wildest of imaginations should have some restraint. We didn't die for some foolish reason like that. You never needed an excuse to go home. We would've welcome you back any day.

"Mom…? No, I, I'm–"

A woman in a humble kimono stood next to Tasuke and her father. Onui's mother smiled at her with a gentle look. Her long black hair was tied back with a piece of cloth. She still wore the same clothes she wore when Onui last saw her all those years ago.

Onui blinked her eyes in disbelief. Her eyes must've been playing tricks on her. Her family was dead. She was alone now.

You're not alone. We'll always be watching you here. Now and forever.

"Grandfather…?"

Onui's voice trembled. She hadn't seen her grandfather since she was a little kid. He passed away when she was just six years old.

She must be dying. Why else would the souls of her dearly departed family be speaking to her now? It was because she was on the verge of joining them on the other side. It had to be.

Unfortunately, that's not the case, my dear daughter.

Onui blinked. Her mother's words startled her.

It's not your time just yet, Onui. There is still much for you to do on that side. You still have a long life ahead of you.

Onui's grandfather's words… they cut Onui's heart like a knife.

"No…! I refuse!" Onui's rejected, her lips trembling.

She had already come to terms with her death. Her ending was already plenty sad as it was. She didn't want to go on living anymore only to endure a worse fate down the line.

"No…!" Onui's voice cracked into a pathetic simper. "I don't wanna live anymore. I don't, I can't, without you all, I can't. It's too hard. Every day is just pain and more pain. I tell myself everyday it'll get better. That I'll get to see you again someday, but look what happened? Nothing went my way and it all went to hell!"

Onui had enough. Of life, of living, of pain. She just wanted to close her eyes and go to where all her loved ones were.

You can't, Onee-chan. Not yet. You still have to live a good life from here on out.

Her little brother's words were warm and kind, but to Onui's ears, all she heard was a cold, flat-out rejection of her heartfelt wish.

"How can you… ask for something so selfish like that, Tasuke?" Onui frowned bitterly. "Can't you see how horrible living is? It's so dark and cruel here. Demons live here. Isn't this hell? And you're telling me to live in a world like this?"

Sorry, Onee-chan. Just like you wanted us to live a better life when you left the village on your own, we also want you to live a better life.

"A better life…? Who on earth would believe in that now?" Onui shrieked ironically.

Onui's chest heaved up and down erratically. Her emotional outburst used up the last of her energy. The shaky ceiling above her trembled with her voice.

Forgive me, Onui. Call it a parent's selfishness, but I want you live. No matter how cruel it really is, or how impossible it is, I just can't help but want to see a world where you find happiness.

"Dad…? Happiness? In this hell… Where?"

I'm sorry, my dear. We don't know where happiness is either. Looking back, when you left the village, none of us wanted you to sacrifice yourself for our happiness. Perhaps, if we had stayed together, we could've found our own happiness, one without your sacrifice.

"Mom… what are you saying? The village is gone now. I as well, should just…"

Live.

"I want to die."

Live please.

"I want to give up and go to sleep."

Live please. You can still wake up, can't you?

"No, I don't want to live in this world alone! I don't want to be alone anymore! I was so, so lonely in the city! You wouldn't understand. I always so lonely."

You're not alone. We're here.

"You're all dead!" Onui screamed.

The earth above her shook with her cry. Bits of dirt got in her face and Onui had to wipe it off in a fuss. She realized she had started crying at some point.

You're not alone there, aren't you?

Onui widened her eyes. She looked around her. Left, right, no one was there. The only one with her was…

He's a bit of a scary person. But I'm glad he saved you, Onee-chan. Now, it's your turn to help him.

"What are you saying, Tasuke?" Onui asked in a daze. "How can I possibly help him?"

This was really all sudden, but we're entrusting you to that person, Onui.

Our dear daughter, no matter how scary he may appear to be, we swear that person won't betray you…

He will become your strength and you will become his.

"Grandpa? Dad? Mom? Why do you all sound like you know of him? I don't understand," Onui asked doubtfully.

But no voice answered Onui's question this time. Their voices would not answer, they only continued to look on at her kindly before fading away into the darkness.

Onui was alone again. But for some reason, the weight on her chest had lightened. Perhaps just getting her emotions out like that had given her some catharsis, but the numbness spreading across her chest had stopped. A familiar warmth replaced it, giving her the courage to hope once more.

Onui craned her neck to look at the Sword Demon's face. The dying demon's appearance gave her a shred of reassurance. Her family's words lingered in her mind. She wasn't alone, not really.

Onui stared at the sword demon's parched, cracked lips. Only a small whisper of a breath could be heard. The demon looked like he would die at any second now.

Suddenly, Onui remembered something the demon doctor had said aloud before.

This is how a demon replenishes its strength on the fly.

Onui already knew the answer. How to save the sword demon, how to wake him up from slumber, how to escape from this hell. It was an arduous path that would mean enduring more pain, but still, it was the only way forward.

Onu opened her mouth and took a deep breath. She bit down on her lips hard. She felt her flesh as it was crushed between her teeth. She continued to grit her teeth in spite of the pain, and in a few seconds, a mouthful of blood sloshed inside her cheeks.

With tears streaming down her eyes, Onui brought her lips close to the sword demon's mouth and kissed him. She forced all of her blood down into his throat by swirling her tongue with his. Her blood and saliva dripped down the side of his lips messily, but the bulk of Onui's blood entered the Sword Demon.

"Please wake up. Please save me!" Onui managed to say as she collapsed into the Sword Demon's chest.

Her head pressed into the demon's warm chest. She heard his weak, dying heartbeat. She pounded her powerless fist against his chest.

"Please, help me… Live…! Don't leave me alone…!"

Onui closed her eyes. She'd already pushed herself to her limit.

Thump. Thump. Thump!

But as her eyes closed, the demon's heart began to furiously beat once more.

The sword demon opened his eyes and he screamed.

Demon Slayer Corps Records:

Onui (おぬい): A fifteen year old girl from Asagao Village who moved to work in the Tomioka Cotton Mill when she was just twelve. Records showed that she abandoned her job after news reached her of a plague outbreak back at home. She hails from a typical farming family.

A pink nichirin sword once hung on one of the walls of their family home, an heirloom from an old friend of Onui's grandfather. Nothing else about the girl's family is worth any remark. But before Enmi's untimely demise, he noted the special properties hiding in Onui's bloodline. The effects it has on demon physiology may be worth studying.

Author's Note:

There was going to be another scene after this showcasing everything from Shirou's perspective, from the first time he woke up after being summoned to the point where he meets Onui and Enmi. But this scene dragged on and plus the Shirou scene is still far behind (20 to 30% done). So I decided to cut it and let this scene be its own chapter.

But I mostly chose to upload this today just to let you guys know I am working on this story. Just really slowly due to real life.

The next chapter will be Part 2 from Shirou's perspective, honest.

Chapter 6: Hope in Hell Part Two – The Dream/Nightmare the Hero/Demon Saw

Once again, he was betrayed by his own ideals. But even so...

If you're feeling generous and can afford the trouble, would you buy me a cup of coffee please? (ko-fi dot com slash dhaturas).

Thanks for reading.