Notes:

These first two chapter are somewhat of setting the stage, we'll get to the suffering and the action soon enough.

I made some of the hashira's states somewhat...vague intentionally, i'm not just shining the others more, it's simply those are the firsts we'll explore.

—START—

-3rd Person POV-

The Rengoku state was a place very important to her.

A good two years of her life were spent living there, training regularly and learning everything that being a Demon Slayer entailed.

Swinging a blade under the sun and sometimes the moon, spars, slicing tatami mats.

Everything one needed to do to become a master swordsman.

It was so important to her that Mitsuri would forever remember where it was, the village it belonged too and the people that lived in it.

Despite all of that, once she arrived her mind told her instantly, this was not it.

"Deary, I believe you got the wrong place" Kanroji remembered the path, she had taken to the road for two days to arrive here, made sure the town's name was the same, located her favorite restaurant just to make sure she was in the right place.

And yet, knocking on the mansion's door only got her an audience with an old lady that had apparently lived here for the past fifty years.

No mention of the Rengoku name, no Kyojuro, Senjuro, nothing.

Every hope she had of getting answers in the near future was destroyed, the Ubuyashiki's manor was simply too far for her to run there without the speed she once had.

The final selection location was also too fat away.

Mitsuri was getting anxious about all of this, she wanted to find about what happened to the others and try to get back…If any of that had been real, a little voice in her head whispered, messing with her, proposing something outrageous.

But without Rengoku here, who could she even go to ask for Demon Slayers.

Were they even real? had all been just her imagination?

She grimaced at the idea, what felt like years of hard work all thrown out and useless.

The girl wished she had actually understood to Obanai when he spoke of dreams.

…Obanai…

It felt hollow to her, the thought of him not actually existing much like it had happened with Rengoku.

He was always there for her, they ate together sometimes, went on walks when no missions were in need of them.

They shared dreams when it came to the future and what they wanted.

Him not being real…it hurt too much to imagine, her heartbeat accelerated in panic and she could feel tears trying to come out.

(Calm yourself Mitsuri, don't assume the worst) walking worked as a way to avoid thinking about that.

Her wandering ended up leading her to the restaurant she used to frequent with Kyojuro, a nice and cozy establishment that served the best Sakura mochi she had ever tasted.

One she had brought Obanai on several occasions…

With a heavy heart Mitsuri entered, maybe a bite would help her think.

"You two are done" the shouting of a man two figures stop.

Uzui Tengen watched as his sister fell to the ground, tired and bloodied, while he remained mostly unscathed, a sigh escaping his mouth.

He hated this, the struggle, fighting his siblings to the death, it was abhorrent for him, something that just felt wrong ever since he had been able to think outside of their father's indoctrination.

I only got worse after Uzui had that dream, making him realize how pointless it was to deter his father making it so there was nothing he could do about it.

Each hit with his fists, or a weapon, the crunching sounds, their screams. (Demons don't make this much noise when hurt) he felt disgusted.

Those thoughts forced him to shake his head, demons weren't real, all a figment of his imagination at the desire for freedom.

One he had two days ago.

At first he expected this to be the dream, a nightmare of a past left behind…but Tengen was in for a rude awakening when the first thing to do was sparring with some of his brothers, and the shinobi decked him in the face.

Pain would have returned him to reality, that's how it usually went, not only that, but everything was just too clean for it not to be.

There was a lot of things he thought through in this past two days, and after not having returned to what he thought was reality, Tengen simply had to give up on that world.

What a nice dream it had been, Kyojuro, Tomioka, Gyomei, and the rest of the Hashira, despite how cruel and horrible demons walking the world were, for him it was fulfilling.

It gave him a purpose of good, and not the actual reason their father trained them.

Being married had been another thing his fantasies gave him, was he so devoid of love that he needed three people to fill the hole in his chest? There was no guilt in imagining that triple marriage however, he loved Hinatsuru, Makio and Suma.

But they weren't real, because he was fifteen as old as he remembers being when they were arranged to be wed…and yet the girls weren't here, his family was still the whole nine, when he remembered being only four left, and their father hadn't ordered any death matches.

And he was still trapped in here.

"Oi" Tengen could feel his heart break, a life without them now that he had somewhat experienced what it was like felt like hell.

Uzui was stronger than that, he wouldn't be dragged down despite how big his desire to simply give up one everything was.

"Tengen…Tengen!"

The person who he had beaten to the ground shouted at him.

A young looking girl not older than fourteen with white hair so similar to Uzui's while tied into twin tails.

His eyes glanced at her, answering in a dead tone. "Ah, did you need anything Meiyami?" It was the youngest sibling in his family, currently twelve, a girl with so much talent who'd only defect was being born after everyone else.

One of the three he remembers killing. (Damn it, forget about that, it wasn't real, she's there in front of you) The thoughts were distracting, and didn't let him concentrate properly.

All natural, as if all the experience was still there despite only being his imagination.

The girl got up, stretching her arms, and wincing due to the pain. "You won, and will be having a proper meal today, so what's the reason for that brooding face?"

Food, his father's favorite way of motivating them to improve, by letting those who win eat properly and those who fail fed enough to not hinder their growth but so they feel the hunger until the next day.

Either way, he wasn't about to share "You should worry more about your training" disregarding the concern she had.

It was because of that concern for each other that she was the first to go. (She's too compassionate) And that was exactly what their father considered a failure.

"Speaking of training, what the fuck was that? You've never moved that fast before" Ah, his reactions definitively felt much sharper these past few days.

It had also been a trend for his siblings to point out something about that, they all seemed to be muffled at his sudden improvement.

"Just experience, you'll get better with time" maybe this time he could ensure more of them survive.

Maybe Tengen could use this newfound insight and wisdom to stop this pointless massacre.

The two siblings were soon called into a dining room, a traditional styled place for the clan leader and his direct descendants to reunite.

In the table there were only five plates with food.

All of those that had failed today wouldn't eat there, rather they would be forced to watch them eat and would be locked into their quarters, where their rations awaited for them.

Such was the life of the shinobi that wasn't capable of completing their mission, at least that's what their father says.

Tengen joins the other three victors on the table, waiting for the last member to arrive, Father.

The man arrives a few minutes later, his grayed out hair and beard showing his age to be much older than them, around fifty. "Adequate job to those sitting on the table" It was a hollow praise, something that indicated they were acting correctly and accordingly.

"Tengen, Your growth these past two days has been exceptional, keep up that" Personal praise from the patriarch was scarce, only given when truly exceptional situations occurred.

The receiver would have felt happy for it if he hadn't actually seen love in the outside…Damn it, he's still thinking of it as if it was real.

(I can't even be sure it's how love and care works idiot, just accept father's praises) So he does, bowing his head down. "I am truly honored clan leader"

There were no more pleasantries exchanged after that, only eating, and watching from those who weren't allowed to.

This was the routine carried by the collective of the Uzui clan's main branch, one that was tailored towards the furthering of their strength and prosperity.

And Uzui Tengen couldn't wish to be somewhere else but here.

He was refusing to look at her.

There was no way he'd actually do so, not when he knew all of this was a lie, a fabrication.

One he would cling to like a lifeline if he even looked in Tsutako's direction.

Another knock on the door got his attention, he knew who it was, but wouldn't open. "Giyuu please, you haven't eaten in two days…I'm worried"

(You aren't, you're just my mind playing tricks with me) Nightmares were rare for Tomioka, his mind usually was a blank space when he slept.

He didn't like the darkness that it brought to him, but he'd take that void any day before this play his mind was using to trick him.

His sister has been gone for a long time, a truth he never got over, a constant reminder on his shoulders, figuratively and literally, as such, any image that contradicted it couldn't be real.

How could that night be fake, the day he saw his sister be devoured alive. Looking like a nine year old again wouldn't change his mind.

And neither would be awakening in his old home, accompanied by Tsutako.

This would be an ideal world, a second chance like this would be gold, but there was one little detail that told him everything here was fake, one thing that if it wasn't there he'd probably had accepted this as true.

(It doesn't matter how real it might look it's not)

Another knock at his door made him open his eyes in the general direction of it, not truly sure where it was since everything was dark to begin with. "Giyuu please"

Her voice, pleading like that, worried over him it was all so familiar, it was only a product of his imagination anyways.

A few more minutes passed at the insistence of Tsutako, trying, and failing to get the boy to listen. "Giyuu if you do not respond, I will make my way inside"

That was what the man dreaded the most out of all, her coming in, having to see her.

The door was opened, and there it was, the red haori he'd become so familiar with for as long as he was a slayer.

Her hair tied beautifully with a red bow, her hands approached him, there was no way to tell her expression as Tsutako involved him in a hug.

This was his punishment for failing them, for being so weak, Giyuu was sure of it. "Please, just tell me what happened" her voice was worse from up close, making Tomioka tense just from hearing it. "let nee-san help"

He doesn't know how much he could take from this, with her being here but with his own disgraceful mark on her.

One of the things Giyuu could say he was the most ashamed off, that he hated about himself.

Reflected as he looked at Tsutako.

Her face was a blur.

No mouth, eyes, or nose.

Because Giyuu couldn't remember how she looked like.

"This is pointless" Muichiro didn't feel right, in fact as far as he knew, this untrained body of his should not be this way.

For one such as himself, who still hasn't properly developed, the constant training helps him keep his strength consistent and avoids falling behind.

Which made it somewhat frustrating to wake up in a shed in the middle of nowhere, with his arms looking like the noodles he vaguely remembers having for dinner.

There was also the fact that he had apparently been in a fever for the past three days, which he doesn't remember.

But Muichiro doesn't remember a lot, so it may be the truth.

Alongside with that there was the kid who had apparently taken him here.

Muichiro thinks he's heard his name, but it's already gone from his mind. (Why here? The Corps had a perfectly good medic) purple was the only image that came to him with that thought.

In the end it didn't matter, he'd recover, retrain, and continue hunting as per usual.

The possibility of having forgotten how Tokito ended there wasn't an issue, just another everyday occurrence.

"What's with the look?" the boy had caught him staring at nothingness. "Has the fever cleared you from stupid ideas and left your head empty?"

He definitively felt familiar to himself, maybe it was his face. (Brat) It didn't exclude it from making him feel irritated just by hearing him talk like that.

"Don't know, I just want to see clouds" There was no real reason for him to engage him In conversation, but laying on a futon didn't give you many things to do.

He also doesn't actually feel sick in any way, but Muichiro stays there, Amane-sama would be mad if he got up from here when he was still sick.

Before the Tokito could even bother thinking any more of the person in front of him a deep mist began to shroud everything and anything that had been there.

The other kid doesn't appear to be aware of what is happening around them, walls are completely surrounded and covered, the ceiling goes completely white.

All until only he is left alone with himself.

There is no panic, no alarm.

This was not the first time the mist had come, and if Muichiro was honest, he felt more comfortable here than in that shack.

Seeing the other kid's face made his feel weird, as if there was something he should be getting the second he sets his eyes on him, but it's so clearly fake that his mind doesn't completely makes the connection.

Of course, finding his way out of this place would be much harder, but Muichiro knew it would fade eventually, it had done so before.

Maybe he'd investigate once the kid lets him get up, the mist was clearly not normal in any way, but as he was in no shape to fight, there would be little he could do.

More so without his blade.

He wasn't an idiot, there were clear indications that this place wasn't real and the mist was just the biggest of them all, Muichiro would simply bide his time for now.

Lacking the strength to act would just make anything he does doomed for failure, so he'd have to ensure his chance to leave and look if the others were here.

Creation was pushed out once more.

Such a mess of a mind that child had, like a river that flowed into a waterfall that simply went to the beginning of the river, one couldn't tell where it began and it ended, always covered in mist.

He wasn't clueless either, there was a clear notice of wrongness much like the two other black haired mans. One was smart enough to know it wasn't real and the other's poor response to trauma made his memories of specific events faulty.

The others however, what a quick indulgence to their traumas, weren't these supposed to be their greatest enemies, they all looked so pathetic in their eyes.

Luckily for him, the others were mostly climatizing to the idea of their life being fake.

Even if he had to concentrate most of his efforts into the woman that smelled of wisteria, there was desperation for her sister's embrace but she wasn't a fool.

One mistake could make her notice, she was similar with the blue eyes man, a craving for their family that could thwart even reasoning sometimes.

They took a lot of effort just to construct the worlds of mind after all, it was simply what was expected.

All they had to do was wait now, make all lower their guards before striking with their worst.

This kid however, he was shaping up to be a problem.

Sanemi was ready to turn this place into a broken pile of wooded scraps.

Destroy the last remains of the nightmarish bullshit that was this whole scenario developing in front of him.

"Sanemi-nii, please" But seeing her, seeing them all here, actually living their lives and without having to worry of demons or their father. "We can go with you"

It was both a dream and a nightmare.

(This world) Two days he had spent here, first there was a belief that it was his brain playing with him, however as time passed, it became evident that it was not.

But this was also not the world where he came from, where demons pillaged and ate people, the towns folk would have rumors of places not to go for strange disappearances if they were.

Sanemi knew how to fish for information.

With all of those options discarded there were only two possibilities in the Hashira's mind.

He was dead and his quest to exterminate demons had earned him some form of redemption, or this was a completely different world he had reincarnated.

The second was closer to what his belief aligned with.

"Maybe next time, just help Ka-san this time" It felt unnatural to pick up this role of himself again, the soft persona of a brother he was putting to convince them he was still the Sanemi they all knew.

And how ironic it was when the face that hurt the most to see wasn't them, but rather the one who had survived the rampage of his demonized mother.

Genya…was just how he remembers him, just like the one he left behind in the old world when he came here.

In conjunction with his treatment of the boy, the guilt accumulated rather quickly, his true intentions and reasons for his behavior towards him left never spoken.

And all while he remained in the corp. (Fucking…deep breaths Sanemi) They were still around, he couldn't allow himself to be vulnerable nor aggressive around them.

He was their support now that the shitty asshole they called a father was gone.

A field of flowers was the perfect place for an outing.

Shinobu couldn't agree more with her sister.

The grief and anger was dulled and left behind by that smile that shone over everything, the one Kanae always ported.

Enjoying the little moments these past few days were a bliss and rest for the Hashira, no longer confined by her mask.

Living again instead of just stumbling forward like there was no reason other than vengeance.

That train of thought was stopped by Kanae, offering her a bite of her own food.

Unaware of how each attempt to think outside of the present is interrupted by her.

Creation isn't letting anyone else go like the other three.

-AAA

Kagaya never arrived, and Gyomei has been biding his time imprisoned, wondering how and what had happened to lay him here again.

A place with a presence so familiar that he'd expect to be released from soon enough was still his cage, the place where he'd be forced to spent the rest of his time.

Rotting away unable to do anything, always wondering why or how.

Another who was better to be left doubting where he couldn't act, at least not without going against his principles.

The Rengoku state remained where it had been built centuries ago.

The whole family lived with no other occupation outside of carpentry, and Kyojuro couldn't help but wonder where everything had gone.

Asking his father came with a strange answer of not having any knowledge despite what their bloodline entailed.

Demons were not a thing here apparently, the current status quo of this home showed that better than anything else.

Creation would stoop to any low he could just to keep them under wraps.

Here he was again, a cloud of mist.

It was novel at first, all of the interesting shaped creating an environment pleasant to be in.

But after the tenth time, even his lackluster memory would remember it everything.

Muichiro was getting tired of it, maybe he should look for the others now and ask what happened

—END—