A Place Of Butterflies And Healing
Hello everyone, allow me to gift you an early New Year's gift with the latest chapter of the Heart Of The Asura! I know it's a bit short but I think you'll find it entertaining enough and it'll still leave you time to think about your New Year's Resolution! For those wondering about what the New Year will bring for these stories I'll be announcing that and more on my Pat reon first. But for now, you came to enjoy a nice story and with no guest review questions to answer this week, to the story we shall go!
Daytime: Demon Slayer Headquarters
"They've seen Muzan Kibutsuji?!" Tengen exclaimed while knocking Mitsuri down on accident, "when, where?!"
"What did he look like?" Rengoku also questioned, "what were his powers?!"
"How is that even possible," Sanemi growled, "no one from the Corps has encountered him for centuries!"
"More people have than you think," Susamaru poked her head back out, "Tanjiro's just the first one to do it in centuries and live."
"But how did he know it was Muzan," Obanai narrowed his eyes, "and how would you know other slayers have encountered him?"
"I recognized him by his scent," Tanjiro explained, "my nose is like Urokodaki's, and sensei told me the only demon who can turn other people into demons is Kibutsuji. I memorized his scent that was left after he killed my family and turned Nezuko into a demon."
"Then that brings up the next question," Shinobu turned her gaze to the other two demon girls, "we know why Nezuko is with Tanjiro, but why are you two here? It was mentioned Muzan tried to kill you, Susamaru, why?"
"About that," she rubbed the back of her head, "Muzan put a curse on all demons under his control that kills us if we utter his name in the presence of an enemy. I said it in front of Tanjiro and spent the next several hours being torn apart internally. The only theory I've heard so far about why I'm still alive is because I ingested some of his blood."
"You ingested some of Kamado's blood," the Insect Hashira raised an eyebrow.
"The truth is, I thought I was a possible candidate to be a Kizuki," Susamaru sighed, "I was there in Asakusa when Tanjiro sniffed out Muzan and then ordered to kill him afterwards. Obviously I was unsuccessful and now I can say his name without repercussion which is dangerous for that cocksucker."
"You worked directly under Muzan?!" Sanemi practically shouted.
"'Directly' is a bit of a strong word," the Temari Demon laughed weakly, "like I said, I thought I was on track to be a Kizuki, though he said I already was which just made me even more loyal to him."
"Then what makes you so sure you were even working for him," the white-haired Hashira narrowed his eyes.
"He made it clear he was in charge," Susamaru responded seriously, "no other demon has an aura like his, no other demon commands absolute obedience like him. Muzan Kibutsuji may hide himself in many forms, but all demons know him when they see him. He also has a favorite form he likes to hide in and even when he changes the face remains almost unchanged."
"And what sort of face is that," Gyomei questioned.
"He almost always looks like a young man with short, slightly curly hair and reddish eyes," Susamaru described, "it may be because it's how he was before becoming a demon, but his complexion also looks somewhat pale and sickly. He's taken to wearing more modern clothing, often white suit pants, a fancy black coat and a white hat."
"So he's started wearing all that expensive silk the city folk are into these days," Momo commented, "it's not much but it's definitely a better lead than we've had in a long time."
"So that means this demon will prove at least somewhat useful," Tengen admitted, "but what about the spider girl? While it's been demonstrated that she's unlikely to attack humans, is there anything she'd be able to tell us?"
"I never saw Muzan myself," Gimiko informed somberly, "but Rui did and Susamaru's description is pretty spot on. As for how useful I could be, I'm good at restraining people with my spider silk and if I adjust my acid a bit, it could affect demons."
"Acid and silk," Tokitou tilted his head in confusion, "how do those work together?"
"It's, uh, how I used to eat people," the spider girl touched her fingers together in embarrassment, "I mentioned earlier I turned people into soup. The way I did it was by wrapping them in a giant ball of spider silk and then filling it with acid that melted them. I developed this particular Blood Demon Art after Rui granted me more power and it's obviously proven effective the few times I've used it." Naturally a couple of the Hashira were revolted to hear this.
"But I promise I only ate people because I couldn't take the hunger and because Rui made me," she insisted, "but I want to help stop all of that now and if I do break and try to attack a human you can go ahead and take my life. I never wanted to be a monster and I'd rather die than become one now that I've been given another chance!"
"Your words seem to be sincere," Ubuyashiki noted, "however, even with your words and actions today, there will still be those who are unconvinced. Therefore, you must go out and fight against the demons, prove your abilities and your usefulness to the Corps. At present, the surest way to accomplish this task is to go out and slay one of the Twelve Kizuki. Your words will surely carry weight then."
"We'll do even better than that," Tanjiro declared suddenly, "we'll all work together and defeat Muzan Kibutsuji! The chain of despair he's created, we'll finally break it!" Silence reigned for a few moments after he said this before the amused leader spoked again.
"You certainly have heart," Oyakata smiled, "but as you're clearly not ready to defeat Muzan, let's start with a Kizuki."
"Uh, yes sir," the boy swordsman flashed red in embarrassment. This made some of the Hashira struggle not to laugh, especially Shinobu and Mitsuri.
"You must realize the task you are undertaking would put you on the level of a Hashira," Ubuyashiki pointed out, "it should go without saying that they have phenomenal skill that's come about from training themselves to death and even defying death. Most of them have also defeated their own Kizuki, which is why the Hashira receive respect and are welcomed by others. So while I admit you had your reasons, from this point on I'd like you all to mind your manners when you speak with them."
"I'll do it if they're not a pain in the ass," Susamaru pouted but complied.
"Of course, Sanemi, Obanai," the leader gestured towards the two hashira, "don't torment the younger ones too much."
"As you wish," the snake man and scarred swordsman both reluctantly agreed.
"Now then, Tanjiro, I believe that concludes our business here," Ubuyashiki mused.
"In that case," Shinobu raised her hand, "please allow them to stay at my mansion." When the leader didn't object, she clapped her hands, signaling a few Kakushi to come and take them all away. The slayer and three demons were a bit dumbfounded by all this but couldn't do much to protest as they were again deprived of their sight and carried away.
"Now then, let us move on to the next topic of this Hashira Meeting," the leader requested.
"If I may, master," Sanemi spoke up after moving back into the line, "that story you told us earlier, about the girl in Canada."
"You wish for further proof, I take it," Ubuyashiki surmised.
"I do," the white-haired swordsman nodded, "it is not you I doubt, merely the reliability of the ones who brought such a story to you."
"If what I saw and experienced wasn't true," an unfamiliar female voice spoke as the sliding door on the left of Ubuyashiki opened to reveal a woman in her late thirties that was definitely not of Japanese descent, dressed in dark red riding breeches, high black leather boots, a dark blue tunic with a high-standing collar trimmed in yellow, a leather belt, and a long red RCMP-Issued jacket. Completing this look was an Ushanka hat which was said to be popular in Russia, though it didn't hide the woman's most distinctive feature; her greying hair ended in pointed white tips. "do you think I would've gone through the trouble of coming all this way to relay it?"
"Who are you," Mitsuri tilted her head in confusion.
"My name is Aiden Dolzhikova," she introduced, her face displaying little emotion, "I am one of the only remaining Chiefs of my organization, a level which could be considered on par with you Hashira. I was summoned by your leader to give a full account of Darcy Pierce's life along with any other proof I might have of her existence."
"And why did Oyakata summon you, specifically, to relay such a story," Gyomei questioned, already suspecting the answer.
"Because who better to give the full story than one lived much of it," Aiden responded, "Darcy Pierce was a remarkable girl even before she became a demon. I wasn't there when she was turned into a demon, but I fought alongside her as she fought against the nature she'd been cursed with, and was one of the people who lowered her into Lake Erie when she felt there was no other way."
"But doesn't that confirm Nezuko and the other demons will become an eventual danger," Sanemi barked.
"No," the Canadian girl shifted her eyes in his direction but only her voice gave away even the slightest sign of displeasure at his words, "it was a decision she made on her own. I begged and pleaded with her to just have a bit more patience, that we could find a way to cure her. All the way up to the moment we sealed her in that coffin and I watched her disappear into that dark water, she showed not even the slightest hint of desiring human flesh. If you want my honest opinion, that girl, Nezuko, reminds me of Darcy."
She produced a picture then, showing both herself and the one they all assumed was the demon girl in question. They also noted Aiden was missing a couple fingers on her left hand and the scar she had on her face was still fresh on the photo. "Certainly hard to claim falsehood with proof like that," Momo agreed with a nod.
"Again I thank you for coming all this way," Ubuyashiki offered.
"The honor is mine," she turned and bowed to him, "that being said, I also wish to know if the latest report you received is true?"
"That was to be the next topic of our discussion," Oyakata nodded, "I have, in fact, learned recently of a pair of demons Kamado encountered earlier in his journey. One of them is named Tamayo, and she is a doctor specializing in both humans and demons. Kamado sent a letter to Urokodaki recently informing him that her latest project involves creating a medicine to cure demonification."
Later That Day: The Butterfly Estate
Shinobu had not been exaggerating when she called her dwelling a mansion. It was a huge multi-roomed estate, large enough one could potentially get lost in it. That probably explained why no one came to greet them at the front door as they were either too far back in the mansion to hear them or taking forever to get to the front. Instead, the group circled around to the garden in the back.
It was likely this garden that gave the estate its name as numerous butterflies of various species were flying about, not seeming to mind the presence of the new visitors. "Can't you walk on your own," the Kakushi carrying Tanjiro complained.
"Sorry, I'm sore all over and now that the adrenaline's worn off I can't really move," he apologized.
"Not like you should be making a fuss about it," Susamaru remarked, "carrying people and their shit around is your job, isn't it, earn your keep."
"Why you little," a tick mark appeared on the Kakushi's head before their attention was diverted. The reason being was because they'd come upon a girl standing in the butterfly garden. It was the same ponytailed girl with a white cape who'd tried attacking Tanjiro and Nezuko before Shinobu ordered her off.
"Oh, Lady Tsuyuri," the Kakushi carrying Nezuko and Susamaru greeted, "we've come on orders from Lady Kocho, may we enter the mansion?" Kanao didn't answer, instead she simply stood there and smiled. "Is that a yes?" The girl gave them a closed-eye smile then but still no answer, only further confounding their confusion. Fortunately, that problem was solved another way.
"Who are you?!" A short girl with blue eyes, short pigtails, and a white medical robe over her slayer uniform demanded loud enough to make them jump.
"Fuckin' A, who forgot to put a bell on you," Susamaru couldn't help but ask.
"Lady Kanzaki," the female Kakushi waved her hands in a placating gesture, "we're here on orders from Lady Kocho."
"Oh, you're here with more injured," the short girl noted, "this way." She led them down a couple of the many hallways to the main medical ward. In hindsight, they probably could've found it if they'd used their ears.
"FIVE TIMES?!" The all-too familiar voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma shook the room as they entered. "I gotta take this five times a day and for three months?! If I have to take such a bitter tasting medicine I'm not gonna want to eat a single thing afterwards! How is something like this even supposed to heal my arms and legs anyway, what makes you so sure?!"
"Will you please stop shouting," a younger girl in a white dress with a red belt and pink butterfly clips in her hair pleaded. She was apparently one of the medical attendants in the mansion.
"Still making a fuss I see," Kanzaki sighed as they entered before heading over to the blonde's bedside, "how many times have we explained it to you either take your medicine and stop making a racket or we'll have to tie you down!"
"Zenitsu," Tanjiro noted the condition of his friend, "what happened to you? Did you come up the mountain after all?"
"Tanjiro," the crying slayer finally seemed to register his presence before suddenly latching onto his leg, "TANJIRO! It was awful, I got bit by a spider and almost got turned into one! That girl's also been yelling at me ever since I got here! I hate my life right now!"
"You know this noisy person," Gimiko questioned from her box.
"Unfortunately," Susamaru answered, "afraid he's fine, this little act he's doing right now is pretty normal."
"Zenitsu," Tanjiro began, "if you're here, does that mean Inosuke and Murata are fine too?"
"I don't know anyone named Murata," the blond swordsman shrugged, "but Inosuke's right over there." He indicated the bed next to him. The boar boy was indeed there and wearing his mask despite being in the white medical outfit that patients had to wear.
"Wait, how did I not notice he was there," the boy swordsman wondered aloud. The Kakushi rolled his eyes at this before roughly depositing Tanjiro on the floor. He pulled himself up using Zenitsu's bed to get a better look at his friend. "I'm so glad you're safe! I'm sorry that I… wasn't able to come help you!"
Tears had started to fall from Tanjiro's eyes by this point. "It's okay," Inosuke spoke weakly, "don't worry about it."
"Inosuke, your voice," the elder Kamado sibling didn't miss how oddly quiet it was.
"I heard that his throat got crushed," Zenitsu explained while the Kakushi was busy trying to wipe the snot he'd gotten from the sniffling boy off his uniform. "I don't know all the details, but apparently he got hit in the throat at some point and when he yelled later that finished the job. It's made him really depressed that he can't yell right now and has to wait until his throat gets better." For some reason this fact made Zenitsu snicker.
"I'm sorry for being so weak," Inosuke rasped.
"Don't be sad, Inosuke, that's not like you at all!" Tanjiro pleaded, "I'm just happy that you're alive!"
"Yeah, you did awesome out there," the yellow-haired slayer tried to sound encouraging but there wasn't much he could say since he didn't witness any of their battle. "Wait, did I take my morning meds? Did anyone see me take them?!" And just like that, the atmosphere lightened up.
That Evening
Tanjiro's relief was palpable as he got situated and finally had a moment to rest. The others took the time to rest as well. It would be a few hours later when Tanjiro was finally able to move that he went to a room that was prepared with three beds. After drawing up the curtains so that none of the day's remaining sunlight could get in, he opened the boxes of the demon girls.
"It's safe now," he assured before stepping back.
"Ugh, finally," Susamaru grew to her full size and stretched her back, "I was starting to think you were gonna sleep for the rest of the day."
"Would you blame him if he did," Gimiko asked, "he survived a fight against a Kizuki. A Lower Moon, yes, but still a Kizuki." Nezuko mumbled her own thoughts on the matter.
"I'm sorry I didn't let you all out sooner," Tanjiro apologized, "I wanted to wait until sunset and it took them a little time to get this room together." He sat on one of the beds then but winced in pain. The Temari Demon sighed before speaking up.
"Be honest with me, Tanjiro, how badly are you injured?" She allowed a bit of her own concern to show. It was unlikely the other two girls would tease her about it, in theory.
"I've got some broken bones, bruises, and cuts," he recounted, "I'll be here for at least a few weeks before I'm cleared to go back in the field again. To be honest, everything hurts right now so I'm lucky to be moving as much as I am at the moment. By the way, thank you all, for fighting by my side. I know you're risking a lot."
"Where's this coming from," Susamaru raised an eyebrow before patting the younger Kamado's head, "Nezuko's your sister, of course she'd fight for you."
"And the Corps seems less sadistic, certain members notwithstanding," Gimiko added, "I've had plenty of time to think about my decision and so far, things have been better here than with Rui."
"I guess I should say something too," the Temari Demon sighed, "I owe you one, or a couple at this point. And if I'm being honest, you're kind of growing on me. One guy who's not a total nut job in this whole can of nut jobs we've been meeting lately."
"Then, could you thank Urokodaki sensei, Giyu, Ozaki, and Honoka too?" Tanjiro requested. "They put their lives on the line for us too, at least Urokodaki and Giyu did. They all came to our defense when we needed them."
"I guess I could do that," Susamaru shrugged, "we can at least call it even if nothing else."
"Thank you," the boy slayer smiled, "now that we've been given this chance, we or at least I need to get much stronger. The master wasn't lying when he said I wasn't ready to take on a Kizuki right now."
"It's definitely 'we'," Susamaru insisted, "if I leave you and Nezuko to do this on your own you'll probably do something crazy again."
"I should also help," Gimiko spoke up, "it's too much for me to ask that you harbor me and I do nothing in return. I can learn to fight more effectively and I will prove my usefulness." Nezuko added her own thoughts with a few mumbles before laying down on the floor and closing her eyes.
"Oh right, you're probably sleep-deprived aren't you, Nezuko," Tanjiro smiled. A somber look crossed his face then.
"What is it?" The Temari Demon raised an eyebrow at the odd expression he was making.
"Well, I have a request, but it feels unfair in a way," he tried to explain.
"Just say it," Susamaru sighed in annoyance, "otherwise you'll get wrinkles if your face stays like that too long."
"Wrinkles is kind of the problem," Tanjiro rubbed the back of his head, "you see it could take me a long time to get strong enough to defeat a Kizuki. If I don't achieve that level of power and skill in time, I'll become an old man and pass away before we can find a cure for Nezuko. If that happens, would you two be willing to look after Nezuko for me?"
"You want to trust us with your sister," Gimiko tilted her head in confusion.
"I just think, it'd be far too lonely for Nezuko," the boy swordsman mused, "the hashira are strong and I've no doubt the Corps can protect her when I'm gone. But we'll all get older and pass away one day. You two, though, you could stay with her long after I and every else is gone. Again I know I might be asking a lot, but it would make me feel a lot better if I know Nezuko has friends she won't have to say goodbye too."
Susamaru was silent for several moments before moving towards Tanjiro and suddenly bopping him on the head. "Ow, what was that for?!" He rubbed his now even sorer noggin.
"For bringing up such depressing shit," she crossed her arms, "you promised your sister you'd make her human again, right?"
"Yeah, of course," he nodded.
"And you also made a whole bunch of other promises about what you'd do once she was human again, right?" The Temari Demon further questioned.
"I made all kinds of promises," Tanjiro defended, "it's not like I'm planning on dying-."
"Then ditch that stupid line of thought," Susamaru poked his chest, "you just work your ass off, get that blood and don't die. That'll deal with the whole problem and I won't be stuck babysitting your sister for the rest of eternity. It's not that I couldn't handle it but I got stuff I want to do too. And if you think only Nezuko would be sad if you died, you're a bigger idiot than I thought."
"I guess you're right," Tanjiro sighed before smiling, "thanks, Susamaru."
"It's nothing," the Temari Demon hopped in one of the beds with her back to everyone else, "just stating the obvious over here. Now I'm gonna rest my eyes for a bit."
"Of course, sleep well," the boy slayer nodded before getting up and leaving the room.
"My," Gimiko hummed in amusement once he was out of earshot, "would you possibly be one of the people who'd be sad if he died?"
"Would you possibly be able to get a Temari out of your ass if I crammed it up there," Susamaru remarked without looking back.
"Perhaps, but it's not something I'd like to find out today," the spider girl giggled before getting on the other bed, "see you all later tonight." And it would prove to be the first of many nights in the Butterfly Estate. As for tomorrow, it would be the first day towards recovery and the first step towards improvement.
And so the Hashira Trial has ended and our heroes have now finally been granted a reprieve. But how long will it last and what can be done for them to reach even greater heights of strength? You'll find out soon enough so in the meantime feel free to leave a comment or review about what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters! Stop in next time as our heroes reevaluate their training regimens and Gimiko starts working to fit into the team dynamic! And once again, Happy New Year everybody!