TRUTH, BEAUTY AND HATRED
CHAPTER I
In the higher levels of Mount Fujikasane, the air was heavy with an ominous stillness, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the roars and low growls of demons, as not even other nocturnal creatures seemed willing to share space with these apex predators. Fear and anticipation hung in the atmosphere, a palpable presence that coursed through the trembling trees and crushed the spirits of those enduring the seven-day trial.
Kaigaku knew that the most challenging days lay ahead, when the loss of sleep and malnutrition would finally weaken the less-prepared aspirants. He almost smiled bitterly; in a sense, it felt a lot like his childhood, except now he couldn't move over long distances, and there were fewer resources. But on the other hand, he was stronger and faster.
The first thing Kaigaku did was scan the challenging terrain of the forest, trying to recognize a pattern and search for edible plants and streams of water. He knew the demons he would encounter were those that had consumed only a few people, but if he needed to shift to a stealthier approach at any moment, it would be better to prepare in advance rather than improvising on the spot.
Survival was his enduring forte, as an innate fear of death fueled his very being. Whether it was because he feared facing the consequences of his own actions or because he dreaded realizing that everything – all the dignity, all the people, all the relationships, all the happiness – he had sacrificed along the way had been in vain, he couldn't say. And he didn't dwell on it because he was sure it would drive him mad with guilt.
On the second night of the Final Selection, as he ventured deeper into the sinister woods and the moonlight painted the surroundings with ethereal beams, he could feel the presence of something lurking in the shadows. Kaigaku was sure of it - a demon, but a weak one.
With a cocky grin, he allowed the creature to make the first move. And it did, with jagged, obsidian scales and a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, a humanoid body emerging from the darkness with a screech. It lunged at him with terrifying speed, claws outstretched. Kaigaku unsheathed his blade with blinding agility. His sword met the demon's slashing claws in a symphony of steel, the clang of their collision echoing through the forest. With precision, Kaigaku parried the demon's attacks effortlessly.
"Is this all you've got?" The black-haired young man taunted. "That's why you're stuck here on this mountain. You're hungry, aren't you? Come on, put more effort into it! Give me a good battle!"
The demon's greenish eyes narrowed as it hissed back in a guttural voice, "You... you dare mock me, prat? You'll regret your arrogance!"
The creature, fueled by anger, lunged at Kaigaku with a ferocity that matched its ominous appearance. Its claws sliced through the air, aiming to tear him. The young man swiftly raised his sword to parry again the oncoming strike, the impact reverberating through his entire being. Kaigaku positioned one foot back on the ground, steadying himself and dissipating the impact of the blow, using the torque of the sword to leverage the demon's weight and throw it away.
"Tch, you're really not worth it." Kaigaku swiftly struck the demon's forelimbs, targeting its claws and joints with precise slashes. The demon's balance wavered as its claws were deflected and its stance disrupted. The strikes caused the creature to stumble and falter. Before it could recover, Kaigaku concentrated on his breathing, each inhalation feeling like the gathering of electrical charge before a storm, and with each exhalation, as though he released bolts of crackling lightning that surged through his body and coursed along the blade of his sword. 'Second Form: Rice Spirit'
Kaigaku performed five semi-arched slashes into the demon, cutting its arms, legs, and then its neck, ending the battle. The bolt of electricity coursed through the demon's body, rendering it immobile, and a mixture of pain and fury contorted its grotesque features as it disappeared in a black cloud under the moonlight.
On the fourth day, Kaigaku reached the peak of the mount, hunger starting to set in. The sight that greeted him was both breathtaking and ominous. The moon cast an eerie, silvery glow across the mountain's peak, illuminating the ancient, gnarled trees that twisted and stretched toward the heavens. The wind was gentle yet carried a chill, a reminder of the high elevation. Despite the cold, the breeze felt refreshing against his face, a welcome contrast to the trials and dangers he had faced during the previous days. It was time to descend.
His journey through the unforgiving Mount Fujikasane had its share of demonic encounters. Surprisingly, the majority had been weak just like the first one he'd faced. He couldn't let that deceive him. Even the weak can become lethal if they attack by surprise, and not only that, but the quantity of the conflicts were truly taking a toll on his body, leaving him exhausted.
On the sixth day, he saw a person, of all things, feeding on a demon, the dark scene illuminated only by the dim moonlight. Kaigaku watched from a distance, his expression a mixture of disgust and disdain. He recognized the guy as one of the participants, the one with the messy buzz cut and a scar on the face. To him, the scene seemed grotesque, pitiful even. However, even though he himself had never considered this possibility, – hell, he didn't even know that was something possible - he had to acknowledge that it was a viable survival tactic, a possibility that shouldn't be dismissed depending on the circumstances, so he only chose to distance himself, not saying anything.
On the seventh day, he reached the base. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and exhaustion weighed down on his limbs. Every step felt like an arduous journey, and he longed for a proper meal and a peaceful night's rest, the wisteria not even bothering him this time.
Given his luck in life, Kaigaku could very well be a demon without even knowing it: he hated wisteria, despite its beautiful color and its rich, sweet fragrance. He could pinpoint the exact moment in his life when that flower with protective properties ceased to be something positive and began to instill all sorts of bad feelings in him. Though he had mastered the art of forsaking his past and burying emotions he deemed useless, it was hard not to be bothered by the wisteria branches in every goddamn place at the base of Mount Fujikasane, which is why he was almost relieved when the Final Selection began and now that have ended.
Kaigaku's heart swelled with a mixture of emotions as he contemplated the prospect of not returning to his master's house. The Final Selection had provided him with an opportunity to prove his worth on his own terms, and now he did feel a newfound sense of independence and freedom. No more puny, whiny, little, coward junior; no more master. They should really thank him for making this inevitable end quicker.
When master Kuwajima took Kaigaku in, he sincerely thought he had found a place where he belonged, only for time to once again prove that he truly only had himself to rely on. Served him right for having high hopes. At least that's why he didn't need to show loyalty to anyone. Swings and roundabouts of life. Kaigaku hummed, sad, he really was tired if he was getting even a little bit emotional over this.
His master and his junior had waited for him to arrive at Jigoro's door. The black-haired could see from a distance that they both had relieved, happy smiles on their faces that reached to their eyes. Zenko was clasping her hands to her chest, holding back from running to her senior and hugging him and master Kuwajima patted the young man's back affectionately as he approached. He didn't like it.
When he informed master Kuwajima that he 'would probably be traveling a lot, so it would be better for him to stay at the Demon Slayer Corps lodgings instead of returning home', more out of politeness than to actually justify anything, his master didn't seem surprised. Nevertheless, an unpleasant and heavy silence began to hang over them, the only sound coming from the fire Zenko was using to make gyunabe¹, heavily-seasoned with sauce, white peach and mirin, his favorite food. It seemed like master Kuwajima and the blond girl had spent a certain amount of money to prepare a small feast to celebrate Kaigaku's return from the Final Selection.
Despite his desire to distance himself from his master and his junior, he couldn't help but feel bad for dampening the celebratory atmosphere, his brows furrowing slightly as his eyes traveled to the floor.
"Well, in this case, there's nothing that can be done. We will miss you, Kaigaku." Master Kuwajima broke the silence, crossing his arms. He knew Kaigaku was lying. Kaigaku thought his master was lying too, his thick eyebrows furrowing even more. "Stay here until your Nichirin sword arrives, at least. Rest until then."
"If you would excuse me, master." Kaigaku bowed. Master and Zenko were really good at trying to make him feel sorry, even if he was the one that his master discarded as not good enough. The older pupil held them accountable for the lurking self-disappointing feeling he felt, despite his attempts to control it.
And so, against his will, Kaigaku waited for fifteen days, spending most of his time in the fields of Kuwajima's estate, near the trees. He was eating a white peach when he heard approaching footsteps, ones that were difficult to forget. As Zenko approached Kaigaku, her soft, delicate gait radiated an aura of apprehension and vulnerability, almost like the cautious stride of a small woodland creature unsure of its surroundings.
"You decided to haunt this side of the property too, imp? What do you want? Haven't found anything to complain about inside the house?" He started. Better to get this interaction over with.
She furrowed her brows, looking down; his words always got to her, no matter how many years have passed. He had thought that with time her expressions and mannerisms would change, that she would start to respond to him, ignore him or, better yet, flee from him, but she never did. On the contrary, whenever she wasn't too busy trying to escape from training or Master Kuwajima, and there was some kind of opening, Zenko did something for him. Even if it were with small things like organizing the materials before he started training or bringing tea for him without him asking, she tried to gain his favor. Well, whatever spell Zenko might have cast on Master Kuwajima, she could be sure it wouldn't work on him. The blond girl kept a distance of a few meters between them, but Kaigaku could still hear her as if she were practically by his side.
"Is it because of me?" She asked simply, not looking at him. The older one knew what she was talking about.
"You would be surprised to know that the world doesn't revolve around you, brat, as much as you'd like it to. No, it isn't because of you." Kaigaku lied, looking down at her. "You shouldn't think so highly of yourself, you don't deserve it. And if your whining and crying don't get you killed on Mount Fujikasane, you better get used to seeing the master much less after becoming a demon slayer."
She hummed sadly, averting her eyes to the side, small tears glistening in her golden eyes.
"You know, this…This might be the last time we see each other," her voice was small. "And I…There is something I want to tell you before you leave."
Kaigaku raised one of his eyebrows, trying to decipher her attitude as he looked her up and down. "And what could it be that you haven't already screamed in my ears up until this day?"
He could see Zenko clenching her fists at her side, a troubled expression making her nibble her lower lips. Despite the distance, it seemed like the girl's body was trembling. Suddenly, a wave of emotion crossed her face and she raised her golden eyes to meet Kaigaku's, a determined expression lighting them up. An unease started to come over the black-haired young man.
"I—! Senpai, I-!"
"Kaigaku, Zenko, there you are!" Master Kuwajima spoke as he approached. Behind him, a short man with a hyottoko mask and black hair reaching chin-length came closer to the pupils. The man wore a pale kimono with black hakama and haori. It seemed he had already taken off his jingasa and was holding a sword in a wooden scabbard, secured with a cord. "Your Nichirin sword has finally arrived, Kaigaku. Come, test it out and see what you think! Zenko, why don't you bring something for the traveler?"
Kaigaku stared at Zenko, her face red and alert. "Ah! Y-yes! I will bring some green tea and wagashi! Please, wait a moment, I'll be back shortly." She quickly departed after bowing, the young man's eyes only leaving her when she disappeared in the distance.
"No need to trouble yourself, Kuwajima-sama. I have other sword deliveries to make, so I can't stay long." the man in the hyottoko mask said, waving his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kaigaku-san! Congratulations on passing the Final Selection! My name is Kozo Kanamori and I'm your swordsmith. The ore you chose from Mount Yoko contained pieces of copper and silver, which I think will be especially good for a Thunder Breathing user. Honestly, I'm quite excited to hear what you think of it."
"Come on, let's see the color of your Nichirin sword." Said Master Kuwajima.
Kaigaku had been handed his sword. He had heard stories of the different hues these blades could take on, a reflection of the user's soul, none equal to another. With anticipation and curiosity, he drew the sword from its sheath, exposing the blade to the warm sunlight. But as the blade caught the illumination, revealing its true color, a sense of disbelief washed over him. Every Thunder Breathing user had a yellow blade. But that wasn't the problem, his was a very bright yellow, resembling a bolt of lightning, while also reminding him of the exotic color of a certain someone's hair. There was a vibrant, white electric-like pattern gracefully traveling from its edges, a sight for anyone to behold.
"As soon as I finished making it, I knew it would be a distinct sword!" Kanamori-san spoke, admiring his creation.
"Indeed," Master Kuwajima stated, with one hand on his chin. "It's one of the most beautiful Nichirin swords I've ever seen! It reminds me a bit of-"
"I hate it."
A pang pierced through Kanamori's body, as if an invisible firebolt had struck him. His eyes widened behind his mask, a striking shift occurring in his usually composed demeanor. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, that have never happened to him before. As a swordsmith, did he…fail?
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! I'M SO SORRY, KAIGAKU-SAN!" Kanamori-san had thrown himself on the grass, burying the front of his hyottoko mask in the mud. "I'M SO SORRY IT WASN'T TO YOUR LIKING! FORGIVE ME! PLEASE, LET ME REDO-"
"GET UP, KANAMORI-SAN, THE GROUND IS DIRTY!" Master Kuwajima screamed to the swordsmith, only to point an accusing finger at his older pupil. "KAIGAKU, APOLOGIZE TO KANAMORI-SAN! AND BE MORE GRATEFUL! You won't even have time to look at your sword in the middle of a battle!"
While his master shouted at him and Kanamori-san whimpered on the side embracing Kaigaku's sword as if it were the body of a deceased loved one, the young demon slayer could see Zenko arriving with a tray holding a teacup and a bowl. Her long, blonde hair swayed in the wind, threatening to undo her disheveled hime cut put into a ponytail. From that distance, it seemed to him that she had a sad smile on her face.
Kaigaku didn't like saving people. He couldn't, for the life of him, understand why he should put his life at risk, potentially ending up with his body chewed while he was still alive, for people he didn't know, for people who probably wouldn't do the same if they were in his place. Throughout his years, he had seen how selfish people were, the poor killing the poor to steal what little they had, parents selling or killing their children due to hunger, the meek being destroyed by the stronger.
But wanting to become stronger, that he understood: to avoid being helpless, to prevent being crushed, to resist being driven to unspeakable acts by poverty and hunger. To prove to the others that he managed: to survive, to improve, to reach the top. A self-made man. Besides, fighting demons to become successful was still fighting demons, right? Everybody benefited from it. He would become a pillar, independent of Master Kuwajima's help and, especially, without Zenko.
That notion came to him after he began facing demons that wielded Demon Blood Art. The first demon, Sameura's Serpent, though strong and a bit tricky to locate and behead, used bodies of water to move, which proved advantageous for Thunder Breathing. After that, Kaigaku went through a series of... irritating battles, to say the least. The second was an amalgamation of a woman and a bat, which fed on travelers arriving at a village situated at the intersection of two trade routes and could manipulate shadows. This battle was particularly challenging because it occurred in an open area, and most of Kaigaku's breathing techniques operated from top to bottom, making them ill-suited for aerial foes, which left him with multiple lacerations and deep gashes on his arms, legs, and torso.
One day after he managed to stand up, he was sent to another mission. And another. And another. Until he ended at Mount Natagumo along with several mizunotos and mizunoes, where he faced a giant spider possessing a human head, another formidable foe, due to its use of height for protection and Kaigaku's wounds not being fully healed. At least, he was one of the few survivors, even though he had to wait for his legs to return to their normal size…And even though he had to share the dormitory with a loud-mouthed pigheaded rascal and a red-haired brat eager to be friends with him.
"Good morning, Kaigaku-san." Tanjiro's smile seemed to even spread to his voice. "I brought you some daifuku. How are your legs today?"
"Good." The black-haired stated with an uninterested demeanor.
"Shinobu-san said it's going to be a while before you can return to walking. It can be difficult to find something to distract yourself with." Tanjiro continued, maintaining a respectful distance from the older slayer.
"Don't you have other things to worry about?" The crease on Kaigaku's forehead deepened, finally looking at Tanjiro. "Like the Corps discovering about that demon you've been running around with?"
Tanjiro paused for a moment, an expression of surprise crossing his face, only for a smile of understanding and empathy to settle on his features, his tone never losing its friendliness.
"I know it might seem strange to you, Kaigaku-san, but Nezuko isn't a typical demon-"
"Every demon is a typical demon," Kaigaku cut him off, his eyebrows crutching together. "That's why we're ordered to decapitate them. You're breaking the Corps' laws."
Tanjiro nodded, agreeing. How many times had he been in this situation before?
"I appreciate your concern, Kaigaku-san. The Demon Slayer Corps is already aware of Nezuko, even though the majority of them are still understandably suspicious." The red-haired boy placed the plate with the four daifukus on the bedside table next to Kaigaku, looking at the older one with determination. "But I believe we can work together to prove our intentions and loyalty to the Corps! And one day, I will find a way to turn my sister back into a human. I believe in her."
Before Kaigaku could exclaim that no, it was impossible for a demon to become human again and that Tanjiro shouldn't create random expectations, his sharp instincts made him reflexively throw his body to the left, barely missing the small rock hurled through the air with a swift and erratic trajectory; its impact was a sharp and audible thud that punctuated the air with a sense of hostility.
There, at the infirmary room's entrance, stood an infuriated Inosuke, his muscles tense and his voice full of challenge.
"It took you too long to wake, Kadonomaru Hiramatsu. Stand up and fight." They could hear Inosuke's harsh voice speaking loudly, as close as he could get from shouting with his damaged throat, his wild boar mask making his words even more intimidating. He was itching for a fight, and he didn't care if his opponent was at a disadvantage.
" Oi! Cut that weird calling, you dolt! I already told you it has too many syllables to pass as a mistake!" Kaigaku was seriously fuming this early in the morning. What's with these two guys spitting nonsense around him? Had he been thrown into some madhouse? Just this pig douche waits until he can get out of his bed! Kaigaku clenched his fists in frustration, an intense desire to beat Inosuke up welling up within him.
"You're really dense if you can't even recognize your own name."
"What did you say?!"
"Inosuke, apologize to Kaigaku-san." Tanjiro quickly stepped in, his voice raising a little with alarm as he tried to reason with the other boy. "It's wrong to trouble the bedridden!-"
"I'm NOT bedridden! I can still take on you, the boar, and any other loudmouths who think otherwise! You think I'm helpless just because of these damn legs? I'll show you that I can still handle myself!" Kaigaku retorted, with a fierce expression and anger in his voice.
"My, my, this room is pretty lively again today." the Insect Hashira chimed in as she entered, her soft voice carrying an air of amusement. Her presence instantly commanded the three boys' attention. "It's great to see the younger members of the Corps getting along, but I need to take Kamado-kun back to Rehabilitation Training. You too, Hashibira-kun. You won't get away."
"Ugh," Inosuke grumbled in response. He had been itching to explore the nearby forest and be in contact with nature again, but the piercing look from Shinobu made it clear that his options were limited. With a frustrated sigh, he reluctantly prepared himself for the training. Shinobu only smiled to the boar-masked boy.
"Inadama-kun, you can focus on upper body exercises to maintain your muscle strength, even while lying down. Deep breathing can help to maintain your stamina too. I'll teach you a new technique. Later on, one of the girls will help you with warming up, okay?"
It was Kaigaku's time to let out an audible grunt, displeased. The thought of someone, especially one of Shinobu's subordinates, assisting him with stretching exercises was highly uncomfortable and unnecessarily painful. He wasn't used to this level of care, and it irked him, but he knew he had no choice but to accept it silently.
"Oi, boar, your swings are too wild, you'll exhaust yourself before you even get close to a demon. How have you managed not to die in the forest like that?" Kaigaku had his arms crossed, grinning on the bed next to Inosuke. In the afternoon, while Tanjiro was training strength by lifting three heavy rocks, the other two demon slayers were battling with training swords.
"What do you know, Kagurabaku? As if you and those centipede-eyebrows of yours could give advice to anyone! I can take down demons just fine!" Inosuke growled as he fumed and took a fighting pose.
"Centiped—Are you serious, brat?! You've just been lucky to never have fought against any strong demons before! Also, don't get me started on that charging routine of yours. Swordsmanship is not a bullfight!" Kaigaku clenched his fists in front of him, glaring at Inosuke.
"Kaigaku-san, you've got quite a unique way of giving advice." Tanjiro smiled nervously, a large sweat drop appearing in his forehead, trying to stay out of the older slayer's perfectionist aim. "Now, let's not get ourselves worked up…"
People tend to say that routine tends to lead to a sensation similar to familiarity and bond, even if a superficial one. Kaigaku could agree with that. After going through the so-called Rehabilitation Training – argh, the tag part was completely the worst –, he ended up getting used to the presence of Tanjiro and Inosuke. Surprisingly enough, the two younger demon slayers were good training companions. It was a different experience, as he always preferred and got used to doing things alone. Besides, he had his spare share of bad sparring partners. At the beginning, in the few times Master Kuwajima had him spar with Zenko, she would always ran from him rather than to him with her training sword.
The relentless pursuit of strength had forged an unspoken understanding between the three. Tanjiro's unique Water Breathing techniques and adaptable fighting style forced the black-haired demon slayer to refine his defensive maneuvers and become more flexible in his approach. Inosuke's raw strength and aggressive fighting strategy has forced Kaigaku to anticipate and counter untraditional combat techniques. This interaction was the closest he had to camaraderie.
"At least, I can use the sword in a crouching position. You're not as nimble as me!" Inosuke said, pointing two fingers at Kaigaku.
"Why would I want to use a stance that slows me down?! It's speed and agility that concludes a fight!"
"Ha! So, you recognize that I can do more than you! Don't fret, Kyomaru, as your leader, I will train you so that you become at least a little strong like me! Ha, ha, ha!"
"No, I didn't! Are you brain-dead or something, pig?!" Two veins threatened to burst on Kaigaku's forehead. He could give Inosuke credit for being a self-taught swordsman, but his poor social skills really made Tanjiro a monk for bearing with him.
"Inosuke! Kaigaku-san!" The other two stopped. Tanjiro's earnest voice carried a tone of diplomacy, a calm smile enlightening his face. "Thank you for the good training today. Kaigaku-san, your speed is truly amazing, and Inosuke, your raw strength is impressive! I've learned a lot with you two today. We are a good team."
The other two averted their eyes from the red-haired demon slayer, Inosuke with a grunt and Kaigaku with his ever-furrowed eyebrows. There was really nothing that could be said against Tanjiro's serene way of reasoning that seemed to inject an extracorporeal peace.
Suddenly, something started to prickle in every fiber of the older slayer's body. The three boys in the infirmary room glared to the closed door, as if something was about to happen.
The door to the infirmary creaked open, small fingers appearing and pushing it. There stood a petite child with brown hair and pink eyes, a large bamboo muzzle obscuring most of her face. The soft padding of her small feet echoed in the room as she entered, her eyes curiously scanning the surroundings. Her half-closed eyes and slow walking made her appear almost ethereal, outside of that reality. Kaigaku felt his jaw clenching, while a whirlwind of thoughts and possible actions ran through his mind. He almost put himself in a battle position until he reasoned about the different reaction that this demon had incited in the other two: it was Tanjiro's sister, and it was the first time Kaigaku was seeing her.
"Nezuko! You woke up! That's really good! I was so worri—uh?" Tanjiro approached, stopping a little before reaching his sister. She had stationed herself between Kaigaku's bed and Inosuke's, and now, she was staring at the older guy. While the brunette's rose-colored eyes were warm and innocent, there was an expression of profound hostility in Kaigaku's turquoise irises. He had sat back on the bed, maintaining unbroken eye contact. Of course, it was only natural Nezuko would be curious, she had never seen him before either.
Tanjiro knew that Nezuko wouldn't do anything to the taller guy, but he, on the other hand, seemed to be paralyzed only by some supernatural force – if wrath could ever be described as such. Kaigaku's eyes were hardened and narrowed into slits, his face contorted in hate. His entire body language resembled that of an animal on the verge of attacking. If moments before there was a good-natured bickering, now a heavy tension lingered upon them.
"You should get her out of here." Inosuke spoke to Tanjiro, his voice unnaturally serious.
"K-Kaigaku-san—"
Nezuko moved closer to Kaigaku, her childlike figure almost defiant, ignoring the inimical gaze directed at her. But then, instead of recoiling or showing fear, Nezuko, with the purity of a child, reached out and tugged at the hem of Kaigaku's sleeve, patting it. It was a gentle and innocent gesture, as if she were trying to include a grumpy older sibling in her little world. The older slayer, caught off guard by this unexpected action, glanced down at Nezuko with confusion in his wide eyes, breaking his antagonistic posture.
"Ne-Nezuko! It's rude to invade people's personal space!" Tanjiro swiftly scooped her up into his arms, moving her away from Kaigaku, despite the little demon waving her small arms toward the black-haired young man. "You got me so worried with how much you slept! Are you okay? Please, don't ever do this to your older brother."
"So…this is the 'not typical demon' you were talking about." Kaigaku shift his glance around the room, awkwardness lightly coloring his face red.
"I'm so sorry, Kaigaku-san! Please, forgive Nezuko! She always sees humans as her family." Tanjiro bowed with the small demon still in his arms. As if sensing she had done something wrong, Nezuko placed her small hands together, in a pleading position, bowing as much as she could in the spot she was.
Kaigaku clicked his tongue, still not looking at the duo. "Enough of this nonsense. We're demon slayers, not a family reunion." His eyes finally rested on the cherubic demoness, finding her curious gaze directed at him "So, what's the deal with your sister?"
"Thank you for understanding Nezuko's situation." Tanjiro gave him a gentle smile. "It means a lot to us. If you want to listen, it's a bit of a long story..."
"A demon has been spotted heading northwest. Eliminate threat. Caution advised. Master Kaigaku." Ryouma was one of the largest Kasugai crow Kaigaku had ever seen. Even its voice and speech seemed different, its tone much deeper than that of common crows, and its discourse more limited. It always perched itself in an upright position, making eye contact while communicating with its new master. At first, Kaigaku didn't pay much attention to the crow, seeing it merely as a contact tool, but over time, he grew to appreciate its assertiveness and presence.
"Where was the demon last seen? Have other demon slayers been mobilized to the location?" Kaigaku asked, recognizing the geography and landscape that began to take shape as he walked.
"Near Takahashi-gawa. Yes. All dead. Master Kaigaku. Caution advised." The crow sought Kaigaku's face as it circled in the air in front of him, a somber blot against the blue sky. The demon slayer felt a chill running down his spine, despite the warm sun. Were the Corps sending him to some kind of execution? What was that? He had a feeling that, despite the challenges of Mount Natagumo, something worse awaited him. Kaigaku tried to fight against this premonition. Remember your accomplishments. Remember everything you've been through. You're stronger. You're faster. You're a survivor. And you will survive again.
"'Caution advised', you say? Well, I've faced worse, bird. This won't be any different. Just watch." Kaigaku furrowed his brows, staring defiantly at his own crow, despite the cold sweat trickling down his neck. The crow remained silent for a moment, only to emit a gurgling croak, rising in pitch excitedly, seemingly happy with its master's confidence. If Kaigaku couldn't lie to himself, at least he could lie to his crow. And hope that this would suffice to make himself believe he could win when the time comes.
Kaigaku couldn't recall ever feeling such a profound turmoil within himself, his skin tingling, almost feeling numb. There was a sense of nausea and dryness to his mouth that he couldn't fight, as he ascended the mountain in a trance-like state, unable to halt his movements. He had walked among those same trees, through that same path, and near those same oddly shaped stones a thousand times before. He could almost hear master Kuwajima shouting at Zenko and her whining back at him as the girl was falling behind them.
At one intersection of the path, he finally stopped and automatically faced the horizon, reenacting a habit he had become accustomed to. There, just a few kilometers away, lay master Kuwajima's estate, not only devoid of any signs of life but also marked with a path of destruction of trees, earth and things he couldn't recognize from the distance he was – all the way to the peak of the mountain. True terror struck him, an unconscious urgency propelling him toward his destination.
Kaigaku stumbled upon the remains of some fellow demon slayers as he ascended the mountain, each lifeless form serving as a grim testament to the ferocity of the demon's strength, - bloody limbs scattered in the ground or in the destroyed vegetation, the ones that didn't had their bodies completely maimed had expressions of pain frozen on their faces. Some corpses looked to be the same age as Kaigaku's, most were younger. What was happening here? Every fiber of his being clamored for him to simply escape, to flee from that place. He was sure that if he wasn't so disconnected from his own constitution and his surroundings, navigating only because of his body memory, he would have done just that.
As he reached the mountain's peak, Kaigaku froze in place, his muscles tightening almost to the point of pain, his uncontrolled breathing becoming even faster. There, where Master Jigoro Kuwajima used to bring his apprentices to appreciate the sea breeze and the vastness of the ocean, as if to profane this unique custom of theirs, was the head of his master himself, impaled on his wooden crane stuck in the ground—a warning to the Corps, to the humans. Horror, grief, and fright surged within him, as he stared at the death of the strongest person he knew, creating a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. A few centimeters away, the perpetrator of that crime still gazed at his macabre handiwork.
"Ah, you are...the other pupil of the Roaring Hashira…" Three sets of yellow irises stared at Kaigaku, awakening a primal fear within the young man that he thought impossible to exist. "It's a shame that he was so weak that he won't even be able to see the Thunder Breathing disappear after his last pupil is dead."
Last pupil? So, does that mean Zenko—
"You seem to be stronger than the other disciple…Her body broke so easily, as if it was… glass…" His tone was slow, as if it was a calculating instrument of death itself. "What will you do in the face of the man who killed your master and your colleague? Will you…avenge them?"
He couldn't possibly think of that! Only the physical presence of the demon in front of him weighed down on Kaigaku, paralyzing him as if the Mount Fuji itself had fallen upon him: breathing was difficult, moving was difficult, thinking was difficult—his thoughts ran in circles and seemed to lead to only one place: survive, do anything to survive!
Kaigaku couldn't see when the demon basically teleported near him as it covered the space between the two so quickly; unsheathing a strange, distorted sword.
"Take a stance. Fight for your life." The demon's words barely registered in Kaigaku's mind.
The black-haired felt himself reaching for his Nichirin sword at his back, but not to battle against the demon, as fighting was equal to death. In that stark moment, a bitter truth clawed at him — he was a coward. A pathetic, good-for-nothing coward. His heart, once filled with the pride of a demon slayer, now trembled with the undeniable reality that survival was taking precedence over valor. He was a true disgrace for his master's name. Fear coiled around him like a suffocating serpent. He has never been good enough, everyone was better than him, including Zenko. The primal urge to live clung to his very essence, He was a worthless farse leaving Kaigaku to grapple with the raw and unvarnished admission that: those kids were right, he should have been the one who died that night in the face of impending doom, bravery had become a fleeting luxury. He should just give up and—
A flash of light shone before Kaigaku, only for a searing pain to strike the hand with which he held the sword, piercing every bit of his upper limb and sending his Nichirin blade out of his sight. The muscles of his hand spasmed in a painful contraction, as if the tissue could rip itself at any moment, a grunt of agony escaping his mouth.
"So, it seems…that that man has accepted you." The demon wasn't facing Kaigaku anymore, but some place behind himself. "Interesting."
This time, Kaigaku was becoming more aware of his breathing, concentrating on it to alleviate the tension in his muscles. As the pain subsided, he could pick a non-vocal sound vibrating through the air and through his body, barely audible to his ear. He lifted his gaze. There, near what remained of his master's body, stood a Zenko different from the one he knew.
"J̶̮͉̜̪͚̑̐̐̀͋I̸̙̼̪̣͍͒̉́̒̋G̸̭͙͔̦̩̈́͂̌̾́Ȍ̴̤̜͖̜̱͒̾̃͝R̴͈̻̪͉̘̓́̓͊͑O̴͈͔̗̗̰͒͐̐͗̿K̴̳͓̜̤̥̃́̈́̈̈́A̷̙̯͚̜͋̽́͌̆͜I̷̬̩͇̘̣͗̌̓͌͒Ġ̵̛͇̘̞͔͛̉̕͜A̴̛͓̻̻͚̘̓̔̌͘K̷̡̻͓̰̠͌͐͑͂̕Ů̷̯̺̻͇̯͆̾̓̚J̷̙͉̠̮̿͗́̊̓ͅÏ̵̟͉͇̖̣̿̇̀̀G̴̺͚̝̱̹̓̾͋͆͂Ơ̸̖͓͍̝̯̐̍̐̈́Ŗ̴͉̱͔̦͌͗̈̊̉O̵͍̜̦̬͇͒͐̊̍͋K̴̡̨̳̳̤̅̆͋̂̕A̵̛͙̦̪͈̥͋̋̃̾I̵̡̢̪̝̣͒̾̓͌̉G̷͚̱͈͓͖̿̈̑͗̾Ǎ̵̡̡̹̝͋́̑͠ͅK̶̨̛͖͔͇̜̂̃͂͝U̶͕̳̜͖̍͌̑̄̓ͅJ̷̢͕̬̱̖̍͛́͆͠Į̷̻̼͇̽͊̾̇͌ͅG̷̢̹̲͔̮̓̽́̂̕Ọ̵̢̨͎͗̆̌̓̂ͅR̶̨̗̟͉̤̿́̈͘͘O̵̦̜̝̫̘͋̍͐̌̚K̵̛̰͚͚̲̽́̎͜͝Ȃ̸̛̲̪̯̝̟̄̚͝I̸̧͇̤̣̭͌̈͋̇̕G̸̦͙̲͖̠͛͗̈́̐͘À̷̛̫̭̩͚̲̇͑̚K̵̢̢̘̲̺͐́̊̇̕Ȕ̸̜̗͕̲͉̐̉̂̾J̸̢͈̼͇͕̑̿̆͆͘Ï̷̪͇͖̤̳͊͛̐͝G̵͓̙̱̣͑̏̿͊͑ͅO̵͈̫̮̘͚̔̈́̎̔͠R̶͈̰̪̙̒͂̀͒̕͜Ó̵̦͇͚̮̀̄̚͝ͅK̴̟̬̠͕̟̽͑̈́͗̂A̷̬̙͚̯͊̄̇̈͜͝I̴̩̻̣̹̜̐̔́͐̕G̸̨̲̗͉̟̋͐̿̒͘A̴̧̭̹͍͚̽͌͘̕͝K̵̗̺̝̭̘̂͂̎͘͘Ų̷̲͉̬̦͑̉͌̈͒J̵̨̪̭͔̾͒̀̈͘͜Ï̷̢͇̮̗̂̈́̌͝ͅG̶̠̥̠̣̲̒̆́͘͠Ǭ̵̢̫̟̑̃͌̐͜R̸̩̪̪͓̗͐̇̌̇͘O̵̗̝̦̟̻̐͑͊̄̓K̵̨̛̯̗͈̹̃̍͛̍A̸̜̬̯̠̳̓̀̽̈́͝I̷͖̼͕̩̩͒͌͐͒͑G̷̬̮̩̮̠̊̿̄͆̊Ȁ̸̢͓̗͉͔̈́͒̈́̈K̸̳̰̗̯̦͑͊̅͛͝Ú̸̢̧̠̼̥͊̍͠͝J̸̦͔̦̪̗͒̔̓̅̂Ḯ̴̧̼̦̭̭̇̀͂̕G̶̨̡̖̯̘̀̊̿͝͝Ọ̶̦̙͇̝̓̅̚͝͠Ṙ̷͖̼̲̫́̀͋͊ͅƠ̵̻̣̖͉̹̂̃̄͠K̸͚̗͎͍͎͂̈́́͝͠A̴̬͖͔̦͙̅̔̈́̕͘I̸̭͔͇̹̣͆̒̈̀̈G̴̱̻͓̪͎͒̈͌͋̚Á̵̛͙̪̯̼̳̅̈̒Ķ̴̛̼̠͉̠̆̂̕͘" Her voice echoed through the air, sending tremors across the mountain. The timbre now carried an otherworldly quality, a fusion of a turbulent resonance and subtle echoes.
Kaigaku's breath caught in his throat as he took in the new demon before him. There was a change in her height and a new maturity that marked her features. Throughout her body, including her face, there were lines of cracks, as if her skin were truly made of porcelain and could shatter by itself at any moment. Her once ordinary nails had elongated; her teeth, once human, had sharpened, now resembling the feral bite of a beast. Her already long blond hair increased in its length, distributing itself as a long veil, a wild, untamed halo, adding ferocity to her form. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy, small sparks dancing across her form like a living manifestation of a thunderstorm.
She opened her feral mouth, emitting an admixture of a roar and a rumble, a sound that definitely shouldn't be possible to be made by a throat made of flesh and bones, demon or not.
"I see…Very well, I'm looking forward to the things you will do in this new life of yours." The older demon said, more to himself than to the newborn one in a frenzy. "Take him as your first meal. We will meet in the future. Until then…become stronger…"
The red-haired demon disappeared, not giving a second look to the young demon slayer. Kaigaku involuntarily took a step back, his body subtly leaning away as an instinctual response to the unpredictable transformation before his eyes. The air around him seemed charged with an unspoken unease as he contemplated the potential threat posed by the demonized version of his junior. There was a subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Seems you want your revenge after all these years…"
With a sinking feeling in his gut, he was helpless against this altered Zenko, his Nichirin sword nowhere to be found. His eyes glistened with a steely resolve, darting around, searching for an escape route, while the muscles in his legs tensed, ready to propel him away from the female demon. A bead of sweat traced a path down his temple, a physical manifestation of the escalating tension. He was left with no choice but to try and outrun her. At least as humans, he was the faster between the two.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kaigaku pivoted on his heels, muscles coiling for a swift escape. However, despite his agility, Zenko rapidly closed the gap between them. The air crackled with energy as she reached out, her touch sending jolts through Kaigaku's body. His muscles spasmed, a grimace of pain contorting his face as voltage surged through him. The shock left him momentarily paralyzed, his chest rapidly rising and falling as she closed her arms around him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
If you made it to the end: congratulations! You are like Kaigaku: a fighter and a survivor, since this first chapter turned into a behemoth, with 6,941 words and 9 pages in Word. This chapter was especially difficult to write, as there aren't many references to Kaigaku's personality and way of speaking in both the manga and the anime, apart from what other characters say about him or show in a few flashbacks. This is one of the reasons why I would like to finish this AU before he gets more screen time in the anime.
A lot of things came out rushed, especially at the beginning, because I wanted to delve into his personality and show him reacting to different situations without the chapter becoming longer than it already is.
Some things to consider:
1. Zenitsu has a sparrow, so Kaigaku's "crow" is a raven, so it speaks and behaves differently from the other Kasugai crows. But since neither he nor the majority of the characters know the difference, it will continue to be referred to as 'crow' in the narrative.
2. Zenko will use mostly "senpai" when she talks to Kaigaku, and not "aniki".
3. The surname used for Kaigaku, "Inadama," is the same he receives in Demon Slayer High.
4. The description of the location where Jigoro Kuwajima's property is located was based on Okayama, a Japanese prefecture known for its white peaches, like the one Kaigaku is seen eating in episode 17.
5. This fanfic has been beta-read by AmyUnshader. Thank you so much for helping me and keeping up with my anxiety!
6. This fanfic has been crossposted on AO3 and Wattpad.
I truly hope this AU can please you and help you forget your problems for a while. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review. Until next time!