A/n: Hello everyone!! Welcome to chapter 2 of "The Brightest Star in the Night Sky"! Please leave a review so I can improve! I hope you enjoy!
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke had been called to do some investigating at the Mugen Train since many people had been reported missing.
Upon walking onto the train, the three boys heard two familiar voices. "TASTY!" The first, a man, shouted as he ate from a bento box. "R-Rengoku-sama, please don't be so loud…" The other, much softer voice, belonged to the girl who'd often visited Tanjiro in the butterfly mansion.
Mikitama was the first to notice the boys as a smile caused her eyes to slightly scrunch up. "Tanjiro-kun..! It's been awhile..!" She let out a started squeak after Zenitsu grabbed her hands when she started to walk over to Tanjiro. "Greetings, beautiful maiden. I am Zenitsu Agatsuma, and you are?" Tanjiro immediately noticed Mikitama's anxiety and got in front of her protectively.
"Zenitsu, stop! You're making Mikitama-sama uncomfortable!" Zenitsu groaned after Tanjiro's statement. "Tanjirooo, why do you always have to get in the way of my love life?! At this rate I'm going to die an unmarried virgin!!" Mikitama shrunk back and clung to the back of Tanjiro's haori.
"Just stay behind me.." The redheaded slayer whispered to the younger hashira and she nodded with a soft whimper, her ears hurting from Zenitsu's volume. Rengoku walked over and helped distract Zenitsu, which Tanjiro and Mikitama were very thankful for.
Mikitama slept on Tanjiro's shoulder as the train moved along. No one had realized yet that the conductor was the demon they were after.
The young yokai eventually awoke and saw the relieved plum red eyes gazing at her. "Wh-what happened..?" She asked in a soft, sleepy voice. "The conductor is a demon. He used his blood demon art to put all of the passengers to sleep." Tanjiro explained and helped Mikitama up, leading her to the fight.
The group of slayers fought tirelessly, overwhelmed by the knowledge of the lower one demon becoming merged with the train. When they finally slayed Enmu they celebrated their victory.
However, their victory was short-lived….
The flame hashira stood in front of the five teenagers protectively. "Mikitama-san, heal the others. I can handle this." He said in a serious tone. Although reluctantly, Mikitama nodded and began to heal the wounds of the others.
"Become a demon!! We could be so great together!!" Upper moon three shouted and Rengoku growled. "I will never join you!! Humans have something that you will never understand as a demon!!" He responded as he prepared to attack. "Our humanity!!!" He continued and screamed as he jumped at Akaza to attack him.
The hashira and demon fought on for a while and Rengoku was exhausted. Mikitama watched with anxiety in her eyes and she stifled a scared cry when Akaza brought his arm back to punch Rengoku in the abdomen.
The young starlight hashira forced herself to her feet despite being exhausted from the fight and from healing the other slayers and, as fast as she could, jumped in front of Rengoku, taking the full brunt of the blow.
"MIKITAMA-SAN/SAMA!!!" Rengoku, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke all shouted simultaneously. Akaza's eyes were wide as he looked at his arm, sticking through the abdomen of the brave, young hashira before him. He growled and pulled his arm out of her body and ran off into the woods, realizing the sun was about to rise.
Tanjiro growled and started to yell at Akaza. "YOU COWARD!!! WHY WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE AFTER DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS?!" He threw his katana in the direction of where the upper moon had ran in before going to join Rengoku as he held up Mikitama's rapidly weakening form.
The flame hashira, with tears in his eyes, carefully removed Mikitama's mask so she could breathe better. A weak smile formed on her lips. "I-I'm glad you're okay, Rengoku-san…." Her weak voice was almost inaudible to the slayers.
"We need to get her to the butterfly mansion. She still has a chance of surviving since she's a yokai. We're going to have to hurry." Rengoku said as he lifted Mikitama up into his arms, holding her securely as she struggled to stay conscious.
The three boys nodded, determination in their eyes as they wiped away their tears.
They raced off into the direction of the butterfly mansion, desperately hoping Mikitama would be okay…
~the end~
A/n: Hehe, sorryy I'm mean, Ik