Chapter 8:the path to a new tomorrow
"What is your name??"
Those were the first words that the girl with obsidian eyes said after he offered to accompany her to her house. A small cabin located in the mountains of a forest, with the minimum comforts to be able to live, too small for a large family but perfect for both.
"My name is Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Yoriichi Tsugikuni. My name is Uta Tsutsumi, thank you very much for staying with me" The girl said while making a small bow, now that the redhead noticed her, he could see that she had a small first aid kit in her hands, with only a couple of bandages and a few medications inside" Please, allow me to heal any wounds you have."
The redhead copied the action while partially removing his coat and clothes to facilitate inspection"It's a pleasure to meet you Tsutsumi-san."
"Call me Uta, it would be quite strange to call me by my last name when we are going to live together." Uta asked while inspecting the Tsugikuni's body, looking for wounds
"As you wish Uta-san"
After the introductions, both young people remained in an awkward silence, unable to know what to say, since neither of them knew each other at all and neither could he say that their first meeting was the most appropriate, not to say that it was a complete disaster.
"Thank you…"
Yoriichi blinked confused by Uta's sudden words. If they were going to start a conversation, he didn't expect to start that way and even less for that to be the first thing she would say.
"Why do you thank me??"
"For saving me, well, I could say that you saved me indirectly" said the girl somewhat embarrassed.
"Could you please explain to me how I managed to save you??"
The black-haired girl just sighed and remained silent for a few seconds as she continued to look for any wounds. "If it weren't for you, I would have been alone, not literally, I mean, the idea of taking those tadpoles was to avoid that, but it probably wouldn't have worked and I would have felt that way... But you appeared and offered to stay with me even though I'm a complete stranger, so thank you Yoriichi Tsugikuni, thank you for saving me."
"You don't have to thank me, I was just fortunate enough to pass by the right place at the right time."
"But it's still admirable that you decided to help me and come with me despite not knowing me." the girl insisted.
"No, I-"
"Just shut up and accept my thanks!!" interrupted the rather annoyed Tsutsumi, expressing it in the tie she was making in the belt of the haori, although this did not bother him at all "excessive modesty can be confused with arrogance."
"I'm sorr-!!" he noticed the pressure of the haori again and chose to simply agree with her"…ok, I won't say anything else."
"I'm glad to see that we agree" nodded Uta with a small smile while finishing arranging Yoriichi's clothes"can I ask something??"
"Go ahead" answered the redhead with a nod.
"What happened to your family??" asked the black-haired girl curiously.
Tsugikuni's stoic gaze wavered for a few seconds at the painful memory of the farewell and the recent death of his mother."I ran away from home, my father wanted me to become a Samurai because of my abilities, taking that wish away from my brother Michikatsu, even though he is the oldest and had a greater desire to be the head of the clan."
"I see...So you had nowhere to go??"
"You could say so. I wanted to run as much as I could and see how far the beautiful sky reached, running for a day and a night but still far from reaching the limit"
Uta just stared at him for a few seconds before letting out a small laugh, something that confused Yoriichi a lot, he was sure that he hadn't said anything funny
"Yoriichi-san, even if you had been running all your life, you would never have reached the limit of the sky, because it doesn't exist!!The sky is infinite!!"
"Oh…" was the only thing the boy could say, slightly sad for not being able to see the beauty of the stars up close" How do you know that??"
The black-haired girl just turned around and pointed with a small smile to a shelf that was in a corner, full of various books on astronomy, medicine and chemistry. "My father was a merchant who used to sell various products to samurai and nobles. He often received gold coins, but there were times when he would barter to obtain books. He claimed that in the future they would be revalued and become valuable to monks and scholars. So in the meantime, I dedicated myself to studying and reading them in my free time."
"Oh…"
"But you know?? I'm very glad that you believed that the sky has a limit."
"Why are you glad?" He asked curiously.
When Uta turned back to look at Yoriichi, she had a radiant smile that expressed the absolute happiness she felt at that moment. "Maybe it's a hunch, maybe it's a silly thing, but I think that what brought us together today was more than a coincidence."
Yoriichi couldn't help but smile slightly at her words despite still feeling a slight sadness at the loss. He may have lost his brother and he'll probably never see him again in his life, but he had gained a good friend to spend time with, who he could help, maybe help each other, and with that build a place together to call home.
Maybe fate wanted him to leave his clan that specific night to take him down the path that will allow him to fulfill his own dream and have a quiet life…
Despite the apparent temporary truce that had formed between the Demon Slayers and the young man with Hanafuda hair, the tension was still extremely dense, to the point that no one dared to make any noise, leaving the whole place silent, and despite the clear need for medical assistance, the Kakushis did not have the courage to move and heal the wounded Hashiras for fear of being torn to pieces by that boy who had shown an innate talent in the art of the Katana.
Tanjirou did his best to keep his posture straight and firm so as not to show any weakness, although every second that passed was more difficult due to physical exhaustion, the pain of the open wounds and the amount of blood spilled. Still, he remained alert for any possible threat, with his right hand near the hilt of the Nichirin and his left hand next to Nezuko's, with his fingers intertwined with hers in a firm grip to calm her nervousness and show everyone his absolute support in case someone dared to attack her.
The other swordsmen only waited for some order from Oyakata-sama, some nervous about being near a demon, others holding back the natural instinct to attack for fear of provoking a fight that could harm their leader and finally there was Kanae, with her serious but calm face, standing between both Kamado and Shinazugawa to prevent her partner's volatile temperament from causing any problems.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki seemed to be oblivious to all this environment, as he seemed to be simply observing the entire mountainous environment, despite his blindness, while enjoying the pure mountain air.
"It is a really beautiful place, don't you think my children??"
"Oyakata-sama, with all due respect, I would rather not waste time considering it is daytime and the sun could rise at any moment due to…my sister's condition" Tanjirou said before anyone else could say anything.
"It is understandable young Kamado" nodded the leader of the Demon Slayer as he set his sights on the young black-haired girl "I am very sorry about what happened to your sister, how did it happen??"
The redhead only nodded in acceptance "unfortunately that isn't the only thing I have regretted today. My entire family was killed last night by a demon. Only me and my sister survived, but she transformed after finding the corpses of my family, I witnessed the process, she hasn't been responsible for their deaths. When she became a demon I took her away from the house so she wouldn't devour the bodies, arriving at this place and then I met the long-haired Slayer?"
Amane murmured a few prayers and made a small gesture to the Kakushi with her hand, receiving a nod from 5 of them, disappearing in an instant, while Kagaya could only sigh lightly, his happy expression was replaced with a look of pity "On behalf of the Demon Slayer, I apologize for not being able to avoid the tragic fate of your family, I am very sorry that my children could not arrive in time to save them."
The redhead just shook his head "no one knew this was happening, if anyone was the one who failed it was me for leaving them unprotected at night, knowing the dangers there are. But returning to the previous topic, I suppose you have come to convince me to join the Demon Slayer corps, right??" he asked seriously, receiving a nod from both Ubuyashiki "I accept, but with the condition of keeping Nezuko Kamado alive."
"NO WAY!!" Shinazugawa exclaimed angrily, but before he could even take a step, Kanae had the point of her Nichirin on the white-haired man's neck. "What the hell Kocho!!??"
"Keep calm Shinazugawa-san, or else you could suffer sanctions for disobedience, even as a Wind Hashira, you must obey the will of Oyakata-sama about not disturbing the Kamado family" warned the Flower Hashira.
"How are you so sure that they are the ones that Oyakata-sama was looking for?? And even if it were so, the brat is demanding that we protect a demon!! Having her near him is already a huge risk for the corps" complained the white-haired man with a clear tone of disdain.
The black-haired girl only looked at Nezuko's trembling figure for a few seconds before turning to her companion. "I only see a poor girl who is scared because she is being threatened with death. Also, I can confirm that Tanjirou-kun is the boy who saved me when I was attacked by the Upper Moon 2, so please remain calm."
Before the white-haired boy could complain, Kagaya slightly raised his hand, drawing the attention of everyone present. "Sanemi, I know you have the best intentions but I would like to hear what our guests have to offer before making any decisions."
"To be fair, Oyakata-sama," a cheerful voice from the blond swordsman intervened. "Shinazugawa isn't threatening a human, but a demon. Even if it's a misfortune, it can't be allowed to let her go free at the risk of her devouring people."
"I agree with Rengoku" added the giant as a cascade of tears came out of his eyes"it is a shame that a pure soul like a child receives such a cruel fate, but it would also be benevolent to end their agony now before they commit more sins."
"You can't unjustly condemn to death someone who has not committed a crime nor decided to submit to the will of Muzan Kibutsuji of their own free will. If they did, how different would we be from the demons in not showing mercy to the unfortunate??" Tanjirou argued in response to the accusations.
"Take back those words damn child!! Don't you dare compare us to those monsters!!" roared the Wind Hashira furiously.
Kanae just glared at him, before turning to look at Kagaya, nodding in agreement with the redhead's words. "One point in Tanjirou-kun's favor is that she hasn't shown any interest or indication of wanting to attack him, despite being unprotected and bleeding out. It's common knowledge that a newly transformed demon desperately seeks human flesh, so at the moment, no crime can be attributed to her."
"Just because she hasn't devoured humans doesn't mean she won't do so in the future" replied the black-haired man with the two-colored haori, his blue gaze then settled on both Kamados"What guarantees can you offer us Tanjirou Kamado?? How can you ensure that your sister will never eat or drink from the body of a human??"
"There is no guarantee I can offer beyond my words, but you also can't offer any guarantee that my sister will attack any human in the future. Likewise, no one here can offer any guarantee that her loyalty will change over time and join the ranks of Muzan Kibutsuji."
"Wise words from one so young," the giant said. "May the Kamis protect us from such evils! May they free us from any temptation and evil!" he added as he put his hands together and murmured several prayers.
"And certainly quite bold. Few would have the courage to say something like that considering your situation. That shows an admirable character and an unbreakable will to save innocent lives from any injustice produced by demons or even humans themselves," Rengoku said with a smile before changing to a more serious expression as Flame Hashira supported the young Kamado's request."
"I'm glad to see that you can see the advice in Kyojurou's criticism," Kagaya said with a soft smile before looking directly at the girl with the butterfly haori. "Shinobu, you have vast knowledge in the anatomy and physiology of demons. Could you give us your opinion on the situation?"
The aforementioned bowed before looking at Nezuko for a few seconds with an intense and analytical look"As my sister said, newly transformed demons show great aggression and desire for human flesh due to how exhausting the conversion from human to demon usually is and they will not regain consciousness until they are satisfied. However, the low amount of blood on the Kamado girl's clothes indicate that she has at least not been able to eat enough meat to be calm, so it is possible that she has eaten very little or has not eaten any human flesh at all. Then there is the fact that she has a bleeding and unprotected person next to her, not counting the injured Hashiras, but she has not shown any hostile intention, demonstrating a great will to suppress her wild instincts. Lastly, there is the issue that demons always lose any memory of their human lives when they transform, however she has undoubtedly shown that she recognizes Kamado as her brother."
"I see…" said the Kagaya contemplatively.
"Could we assume then that the girl still possesses some degree of humanity??" Amane asked curiously while making a small gesture to a couple of nearby Kakushis to come closer.
"You could say so" answered Shinobu a little thoughtfully, receiving a nod from Oyakata-sama's wife.
"Then we can't condemn an innocent soul, that is why as a Flower Hashira I also support Tanjirou-kun's request."
"But there is still one last issue that we should address" said the man in 2 haoris while pausing to choose his words well" As you said before, no one can ensure that the demon will attack any human, but if that were to happen, what would you do??"
Tanjirou's firm gaze wavered for a few seconds before the old memories of Michikatsu and the problems he caused when he betrayed the Demon Slayers. He was sure that Nezuko would not be able to do the same, but as he himself said, all of that was based on faith and not on facts.
"If something like that were to happen… then I would no longer be able to ensure my sister's innocence and as such she must be punished for her actions, even with the deepest pain in my heart, I would have no choice but to cut off her head and pray that she can find peace in death. I will also accept any punishment that is demanded of me for her actions, including my own life"
And it would certainly be something that he would comply with, as much as it hurt him, he did not want to see Nezuko Kamado become the same monster that his brother became.
"Why wait and risk your sister attacking someone instead of letting her rest in peace now??" the giant asked this time.
"Because my goal is to free my sister from the curse of the demons so that she can become human again"
"A demon that becomes human!! What a huge nonsense!!"
"I admit that even with my best wishes, I don't know if that is possible."
"What do you think Kocho?"
Shinobu remained silent for a few seconds before giving her verdict. "Well Tomioka-san, as Nee-san said, I find it highly unlikely to reverse a demon's transformation, especially since they are physiologically similar to walking corpses. It would be like reviving a dead person. Kamado-san, how are you sure it would be possible to cure your sister??"
"There is a person… she is a doctor with great knowledge about demons."
"Interesting" Kagaya said with a smile, Tanjirou could swear she knew something about what he was talking about. "And where is that person??"
Tanjirou was slightly nervous about that question, he knew they would ask him about Tamayo's location, even if they didn't know what he was talking about, but he couldn't admit that he didn't know anything about her since he was able to help her find a shelter some time after she broke free from Kibutsuji's control to research ways to destroy the demons.
But if there was someone who could help Nezuko it would undoubtedly be Tamayo, a demon doctor who was Muzan's right hand for several centuries.
"I can't tell you her location for reasons of discretion. But I can assure you that her medical knowledge about demons can help Nezuko find a cure"
"I can't help but think that everything you've said about that supposed doctor is just an excuse, do you even have a name to prove your word??"Tomioka commented skeptically.
"By any chance it won't be Tamayo??"
Saying that Tanjirou was surprised was an understatement. He couldn't believe that Ubuyashiki knew her, had she joined the Demon Slayers?? If so, why the hostility against Nezuko??
"Yes, it's her…"
"What a coincidence" said Kagaya thoughtfully" it's been a while since I heard from her, but you're right Tanjirou, Tamayo is a person with a vast knowledge of medicine and anatomy, perhaps she could help young Nezuko with her transformation."
"So what the boy says is true??"
"That seems so Himejima, I guess that despite the madness of what he's asking, there is some logic and real possibility that Kamado can keep the demon under control, as Water Hashira, he accepted Kamado's request.
"If Oyakata-sama agrees, then as Stone Hashira I also support young Kamado's decision"
"Are you all crazy!!??" shouted the Wind Hashira furiously" are you listening to the nonsense you say??!! It's a fucking demon, what does it matter if it hasn't devoured anyone??".
"Shinazugawa, he has shown valid arguments" Tomioka answered with an annoyed look at the white-haired man "even if some are based more on beliefs than on facts, if they are confirmed they could be quite advantageous in the fight against demons"
"Young Kamado's faith is something very admirable, people like that are capable of making the impossible come true, that's why I want to see what these two young men are capable of achieving" Rengoku added with great joy.
Kanae couldn't help but smile enormously at the support of her companions "I completely believe in Tanjirou-kun. If he claims that he can cure his sister, then I will support both of them to the last consequences"
"Sameni-"
"No, I can't understand, Oyakata-sama. If she was human, I'd be okay with letting them live, but not a demon!" said Sanemi, visibly shaking somewhat with frustration. Despite his brutish nature, everyone knew why he was there among them, he did care about humans, and he did care about keeping them safe from the threat of demons. "Not after all that we the Demon Slayers have gone through in battle! Not after so many people have lost their lives! It's unacceptable!"
Some of the Hashira glanced back at Sanemi after this, looking at the man as he kept visibly shaking somewhat from his emotions getting the better of him for a brief moment. Even Kagaya barely lowered his chin in a half-nod in agreement with the Wind Hashira's sentiments.
Tanjirou could agree with part of what Sanemi had said too about those who had already lost their lives to demons, either by being a citizen who became their food, or as Demon Slayers who were killed or gave up their lives in the protection of innocents. There was no power over life and death, they can't ever be brought back.
But for the same reason he couldn't let Nezuko die, his own family was murdered and if he could save even one of them, then he would do the impossible to achieve it. That's why he is here, not only as Tanjirou Kamado, but also as the remains of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, whose last wish was to be able to free his brother. Michikatsu from the control of Muzan Kibutsuji, and to do so he had to kill the king of the demons, so that his former brother could rest in peace.
"I can't let Nezuko share that same fate."
"I'm tired of talking about this...there's only one way to prove this, once and for all!" Sanemi thought when he saw that no one was doing absolutely anything.
Immediately after, the white-haired man unsheathed his Nichirin, alerting Tanjirou along with the rest of the swordsmen, although to everyone's surprise, the Hashira stuck the blade in his own hand, letting several jets of blood flow in the direction of the snow.
Tanjirou could instantly notice that something was wrong when he noticed that Nezuko's grip became stronger, to the point that her nails dug firmly into his hands. He could also notice the moisture on her skin, indicating that she was nervous, and the clear increase in the putrid smell on her, making him assume that her instinct as a demon was awakening again.
Nezuko herself was aware of it as soon as the scent of the blood struck her nostrils, her eyes shot wide open and a sharp gasp escaped her lips when her body started to spasm and writhe, her heart beating many times the normal speed and her tongue unconsciously licked her lips at the intoxicating aroma of blood.
"Marechi blood is the most coveted type of blood among demons, not only for its intoxicating smell and taste, but the ingestion of a person with this type of blood is equivalent to devouring 50 people" the Wind Hashira reported with great joy "look, Oyakata-sama, I will prove it to you myself!,the sheer, true ugliness of a demon!"
"Sanemi-" Kagaya intervened but a gesture from his wife made him remain silent.
"Leave it… I think this may be the proof we need to know if Nezuko Kamado can be trusted."
Sanemi's smile widened further at Amane's support before he growled and pulled his arm away momentarily and stood up, turning his head to look at Oyakata-sama for a brief moment as he clenched his fist and caused more of his blood to seep out of the cut, the droplets splattering onto the ground near Nezuko. She grunted as the increased concentration of Sanemi's blood started getting to him again, her self-control wavering as she started to knash her teeth with some veins bulging around his hands.
"It's impressive that young Kamado hasn't yet launched herself against Shinazugawa despite the blood condition. If she were human she would have undoubtedly gone very far with such an iron will."
"Poor unfortunate soul, her existence has been and will be marked by constant suffering, how long can she resist before falling into temptation?"
"It seems that for now, the demon's actions back up Kamado's words…"
"Even despite natural instincts, she seems to cling to her reason and fight against her impulse, perhaps she has a free will greater than that of an average demon"
"Nezuko-chan, please, you must resist. Do it for Tanjirou-kun…"
Sanemi's smile narrowed as he and the rest of the Hashira watched Nezuko, seeing for themselves the effect her special blood had on Kamado's younger sister. After the initial shock had hit her, and she was starting to get a little used to the stench, Nezuko looked straight into the hashira's eyes and growled before gritting her teeth and forcing herself to stop moving so much to use her free hand and grab her brother's arm in a helping gesture, receiving a hug from the redhead.
"G-Gyaagh…!" Nezuko groaned as he closed her eyes shut and started to struggle and trash harder, her breathing turning ragged and forced as saliva started dripping down the sides of her mouth.
Naturally, this act of resistance wasn't well received by the Wind Hashira, so he tightened the opening of his hand even more as he approached, letting more drops of blood flow. Kanae tried to use her Nichirin to immobilize him, but she didn't expect the white-haired man to take advantage of the opportunity to inflict several cuts on his arm while pushing Kanae away with a push.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING SHINAZUGAWA!!??" Shinobu claimed quite annoyed, with her Nichirin unsheathed and ready to attack the Hashira, but Tomioka's firm hand rested on her shoulder, preventing her from advancing"GET AWAY TOMIOKA OR YOU WILL ALSO TRY MY NEW EXPERIMENT FIRST HAND!!"
"Do not interfere with the test Kocho, it is an order" Tomioka said with an authoritarian tone, receiving a withering look from the youngest Kocho.
"Oi...Demon...it's time to eat!!Come on, get away from your brother for a while...!! Come sink your teeth into this!!" he exclaimed with a wicked laugh as he used his free arm and wiped some blood away from the cut and hurt it near her.
"G-Gyyahg..." she responded with a painful grunt, his body shaking harder as he kept fighting back the effects that the blood was having on him. "T-Tan-a-an-ji-rou" she murmured in a pleading tone, staring at him with several tears falling down her cheeks.
"Hold on Nezuko, I know you can take this, think of our family, of who killed them. You must not cause the same pain, you must avoid that pain, you must protect, not kill" the redhead murmured in support as he increased the strength of his hug.
"Shinazugawa, I think this is enough of a demonstration of young Kamado's will. Let's not prolong this unnecessary suffering" Rengoku advised, but only received an evil stare from Sanemi.
"Shut up Rengoku, I'm tired of this waste of time"
Rengoku just shook his head while Shinobu gritted his teeth and forced himself to calm down and not do anything rash, especially because of the attack on his sister. Tomioka kept his eyes focused on Nezuko, admiring how she did everything possible to keep her Sanity despite the constant suffering from the way her facial muscles swelled and contracted from the force with which she clenched her jaw to the saliva that ran freely from her lips like a waterfall. And the way Tanjirou whispered and did everything he could to keep her sane, made her mind project the image of himself and his late sister on them, how the unconditional love of both young people was comparable to the one he and his sister had years ago.
Himejima also watched with great sadness the pain of the Kamado girl, from the constant sounds and gasps, it seemed that she was being turned into a pig for the slaughterhouse, but still she refused to be guided by any evil of her demonic nature, something undoubtedly admirable considering her state.
And Kanae, she was furious at everything that had happened. Enough time had passed to prove Nezuko Kamado's will, it was clear that she would fight to the bitter end but they still allowed this punishment to continue, even Oyakata-sama did not exercise her authority to stop this torture!! It was absolutely deplorable to see one of their own act in such a way with another person, especially when hearing the young girl's anguish and screams of pain when she encountered the intoxicating stench and aura of Sanemi's blood.
"It's enough Shinazugawa!! Oyakata-sama, do something!!" Kanae shouted, but was completely ignored.
"Oi, oi, no need to force yourselves to hold back." Sanemi remarked with a cackle "Just show us your true colors, and I'll obliterate you right here!!"
"Ahhh, ahhh, AAAHH!!!" Nezuko screamed, her jaw beginning to shake as her knees slowly turned in the direction of the Hashira, causing Tanjirou to tighten the hug as much as possible. She was salivating so much that a pool of saliva and sweat had built up beneath her mouth, and her hands were opening and closing repeatedly with the veins on her back bulging like crazy.
"Hold on Nezuko, you are stronger than that, you are better than the demons, please, resist."
It was taking a toll on her, the stench of blood was exhausting her, pushing her into a more feral state with each passing second. Her mind was beginning to become hazy and she could feel her hunger only continuing to increase, and the splattered dried blood wasn't helping at all. She wanted to give in, to feast on the flesh of a human. To feel the blood pouring from her mouth as she bit and bore at a person for the first time.
"T-TA-AANNAAAAHH!!" she cried out again, her voice practically hoarse already.
Sanemi could only laugh happily at this, the agony and pain of a demon was music to his ears, and there was nothing he wanted more at that moment than to culminate all this with the decapitation of the demon and punish the boy for his insubordination.
Tanjirou's heart practically exploded in his chest when he heard Nezuko yelp out in torment, his pupils dilating somewhat as his rage further added fuel into the inferno building inside of him, especially when he heard the white-haired boy's mocking laughter.
"It's over, I've had enough, if they don't accept you, then I'll find my own way to cure you."
Tanjirou gripped the hilt of the Katana tightly as he took a deep breath to gather heat in his own body, concentrating it on his heart to slowly expand it to every fiber of his being. He could feel a familiar heat on his forehead spreading from the right edge to near his eyes, anticipating the full activation of his Demon Slayer Mark while the crimson fire characteristic of the Sun Breathing came out of his lips, just as it began to generate on the blade he was about to unsheathe.
But before he could complete the process or take out the Nichirin, a soft, trembling hand rested on his cheek, completely breaking his concentration only to see Nezuko, with a grimace that tried to simulate a smile, doing her best to look him in the eyes despite the constant tears that clouded the vision of her bloodshot eyes. Her labored breathing seemed to calm down slightly as her pink orbs met Tanjirou's crimson ones
"N-no..."
"Nezuko, let's get out of here, g-"
"N-NO!! G-Gyaagh!!" interrupted the younger Kamado with difficulty due to her tongue still being cut off"N-no,yo-you h-ha-v-eeve to re-ve-nge o-ou-ur f-famil-ly-y" with great difficulty she turned her head towards Sanemi, looking at him with a plea "K-ki-ill m-me bu-t le-let hi-mm aaahhh-li-live" And with that said, she closed her eyes to faint while her body was shrinking until she had the appearance of a girl of approximately 8 years old.
That declaration left everyone present frozen, Shinazugawa's sadistic smile was replaced by a frown, Rengoku and Tomioka were in shock with their eyes wide open, Himejima was practically shedding rivers of tears while he continued to mutter prayers and Shinobu had a blank expression, trying to process what just happened.
The moment of tension was interrupted by a loud crack caused by a strong punch from Kanae to Sanemi's chest, sending him crashing violently against a tree, leaving him completely unconscious. "The test is over!! Kakushis!!Attend to the Kamado siblings and the wounded!!" ordered the Hashira.
The Kakushis came out of their stupor and quickly ran towards the wounded swordsmen with several first aid kits and stretchers. Fortunately, the wounds affected the muscles and tendons more so they were not in serious condition. Even so, they will have a lot of work to do to repair the damaged tissues and organize the Demon Slayers to cover the Hashiras' missions, to Ubuyashiki's misfortune.
Tanjirou was able to let out a sigh that he didn't even know he held when the situation finally seemed to calm down. With great care he placed Nezuko in the snow and covered her with his haori before falling to his knees, quite exhausted by all the previous physical effort along with the tension of the moment. His body trembled slightly from the pain of the wounds and the loss of blood but apart from that, he could say that he was fine, he only hoped that things would finally go in his favor and that this would prove his sister's innocence.
A curious look at the wisteria caught his attention and when he raised his head he could see the girl with the butterfly haori approaching him, looking sideways at Nezuko's figure with some suspicion and distrust. When they were in front of Tanjirou, he bent down to his height and began to take out some bandages, cotton and disinfectants.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Tanjirou Kamado. My name is Shinobu Kocho, Kinoto-rank Demon Slayer and medic of the corps" said the girl while making a small bow. Now that the redhead looked at her better, he could see that she had a large first aid kit in her hands, with a large variety of medicines, bandages and devices inside, "Please allow me to heal any wounds you have."
The redhead copied the action as he partially removed his coat and clothes to facilitate inspection. "It is a pleasure to meet you Kocho-san."
"Call me Shinobu, it would be quite strange to call me by my last name when you call my older sister by her name" Shinobu requested as she began to spread a liquid on the redhead's left arm. "
"As you wish Shinobu-san."
After the introductions, both young people remained in an awkward silence, unable to know what to say, since neither of them knew each other at all and he couldn't say that their first meeting was the most appropriate, not to say that it was a complete disaster.
"Thank you…"
Tanjirou blinked in confusion at Shinobu's sudden word. If they were going to start a conversation, he didn't expect to start that way and even less for that to be the first thing she was going to say.
"Why do you thank me??"
"For saving me, well, you could say that you saved me indirectly" said the girl somewhat embarrassed.
"Could you please explain to me how I managed to save you??"
The brunette just sighed and remained silent for a few seconds while she finished adjusting one of the bandages on her arm. "If it weren't for it, I would have been alone, not literally but I would have felt that way. I think it's obvious but my sister is Kanae, the Flower Hashira. She was almost killed by the Upper Moon 2, and in fact, she confessed that she was sure she was going to die that day... But you appeared, and defended her despite the danger of the situation and the fact that she was a stranger, so thank you for saving my sister, and thank you for saving me Tanjirou Kamado"
"You don't have to thank me, I was just fortunate that Upper Moon 2 was confident and not aware of time, if he had wanted, he would have killed us both"
"But it's still admirable that you decided to help even without any experience as a swordsman"
"No, I-"
"Just shut up and accept my thanks" interrupted the rather annoyed Kocho, expressing it in the tie she made on one of the redhead's legs, making him grunt in pain"Excessive modesty can be confused with arrogance."
"I'm sorr- AH!!" she complained again about the pressure of another bandage"it's okay I won't say anything else"
"I'm glad to see that we agree" nodded Shinobu with a small smile while She extended her hands inside Tanjirou's clothes to inspect his body for more wounds. "If you feel any sign of pain, let me know."
"Understood," the Kamado replied. His wife stepped to the side when she saw a pair of Kakushis approaching Nezuko, one of them carrying a basket. The redhead tried to get up but the doctor's hands pressed hard on his abdomen, causing a small shiver from the cold touch and preventing him from moving.
"Stay still!! You must not move until I finish checking!!" the black-haired girl growled slightly annoyed, looking away at the Kakushi, receiving a nod "Don't worry about your sister, Oyakata-sama has already decided to give her protection so nothing will happen to her"
"How do you know that??" the redhead asked with quite a bit of skepticism
"If it's not enough to have the approval of the Flame, Stone, Water and Flower Hashiras, the will and love she showed before fainting was more than enough for everyone to have a favorable opinion of her"
"And what about you??" he asked with curiosity, also seeing how the Kakushis accommodated his sister inside the basket they were carrying.
The doctor just frowned slightly and remained silent for a few seconds with a lost look. "It is something… unusual, no demon has shown any regret for their actions or have the ability to express positive emotions such as happiness or joy without producing unpleasant acts, and much less love. In addition to resisting the marechi blood… without a doubt your sister is someone very interesting and despite being a demon, I would not raise my Nichirin against her. As you said, she is innocent."
"Thank you for y-"
"Until proven otherwise. I only hope that if it happens, you are ready to do what is necessary Kamado" she interrupted with a serious expression, with her violet eyes fixed on the boy's crimson ones, who responded with the same look.
"If it comes to that, you have my word Kocho that I will fulfill what I promised, but until proven otherwise, she is innocent."
The girl only nodded in response, finally separating from the elder Kamado when she finished her work and waiting for the medical items in the first aid kit that she handed to a nearby swordsman. "Follow me, Oyakata-sama wanted to talk to you when I finished speaking."
Tanjirou just nodded as he silently followed Shinobu, even though she assured them that they were both safe, he couldn't help but show some skepticism, especially for the unconscious Hashiras, who wouldn't assure him that they wouldn't attack them when they woke up??.
To his surprise, they were heading to their house and upon arriving he saw that Kagaya Ubuyashiki was in the yard talking to Hashiras and some swordsmen. A group of Kakushis were repairing the damage to the house and cleaning up the debris and blood stains inside, while others were with Amane helping to finish preparing the bodies and graves of his family for burial. They were all wrapped in white sheets and surrounded by various pendants and religious symbols, as well as several flowers, mainly the wisteria.
The redhead couldn't help but shed a few tears as he approached the bodies alone. Amane seemed to notice and with a nod, the Kakushis began to place them in their respective graves while she knelt down and chanted several prayers and supplications. It hurt him deeply to see them in that state, especially his siblings. They were all so young, with dreams, illusions and goals they wanted to achieve, great things to do, maybe they could have even become swordsmen and helped avoid tragedies that he himself could not avoid in the future.
If Takeo and Rokuta had an affinity for Sun Breathing, who says the rest wouldn't have it too??
But regardless of what they had decided, he was sure they would have been happy, forming their families and eventually leaving this world in absolute peace next to their loved ones. Unfortunately, their lives were taken violently and tragically, spending their last moments in terrible pain and fear…just as it happened with Uta. All because he wasn't there again, because he decided to choose altruism over selfishness, and now he would bear the weight of their deaths in this life and the next.
"…I deeply regret not having been there to protect you. As a brother and as the head of the family I have completely failed. I have dishonored our family name and you have paid the price with your lives. Nezuko is the only one who survived but she also paid a very high price…and for that I swear, on this day and under your resting place, that I will not rest until she can walk under the sun again, and I swear that I will not rest until I finish what I started that day."
Despite hearing several footsteps approaching, the redhead remained in his place, watching as the Kakushis finished decorating the graves with small flowers and amulets. A soft touch diverted his gaze to the side to find one of the Kakushis holding the basket he had seen before, bringing it closer in a clear sign for him to grab it, which the redhead quickly did to look at the state of his sister. Luckily, she was still sleeping peacefully inside, although now she had a bamboo in her mouth, as a way of preventing her from biting someone, although this did not please the Kamado very much.
"You don't have to worry about your sister Tanjirou, you have my words that no Demon Slayer will attempt against her life, regardless of the opinion they have of her. So do not worry about her when you travel together on missions."
"Thank you for accepting her Oyakata-sama" answered the Kamado, turning to bow.
Kagaya just shook his head at the gesture. "No, I am the one who should thank you for accepting our request, despite failing to protect your family."
"As I said before, no one can predict the future. If anyone failed them, it was me."
"As you say. Take your time, when you're ready, Shinobu will take you to visit a nearby cultivator, who will take care of your training."
Tanjirou nodded again in response, turning his attention back to the graves to kneel and begin praying for their souls. The Demon Slayers quickly left once their business was concluded, leaving only Shinobu at his side, repeating the redhead's action.
"I also lost my family when I was a child. Kanae was the only one who survived, luckily she didn't become a demon"
"I'm sorry for your loss, although it's a relief that Kanae-san didn't suffer from the curse"
"The day you saved her, I remembered again the fear I felt that day, not for myself, but for losing her. She is the only thing that keeps me sane in this constant fight against demons, because she reminds me that there are more things in life than killing and surviving… I wouldn't know what to do if she ever died"
"Yes, I understand that, I was also lucky that Nezuko lived, even if she is like a demon but she is still with me."
"It is understandable, but others would have also chosen not to extend her agony as a demon and would have let her rest in peace."
Looking at it from that perspective, Tanjirou had to admit that she was somewhat right. Living as a demon was already a sentence to a miserable existence, but having to suppress for months or even years that instinct and desire to feed would probably be a constant torture. Maybe he was being selfish.
"But you know what?? I am so glad that you defended your sister."
"Why??" he asked curiously.
When Shinobu stood up she turned around again to see Tanjirou, she had a small smile that expressed the hope she felt at that moment "Maybe it's a hunch, maybe it's silly but I think your sister might be the motivation you need in the future to face the challenges that await us" Immediately after, the younger Kocho ran off at high speed, closely followed by the older Kamado.
Tanjirou couldn't help but smile slightly at her words despite still feeling a slight sadness for the loss. His family may no longer be with him and he now had the responsibility of curing Nezuko from Muzan's curse, but he had gained allies that would help him fight the demons and end once and for all the war that lasted for so many centuries.
Maybe fate wanted him to leave his family on that specific day to take him on the path that would allow him to fulfill his own destiny and finally end the pain and suffering of people...
A/N:Well, lately I've been making longer chapters than before. At first they were 3000, then they went up to 5000 and now this one is close to 8000, uff that's quite a lot compared to what I had in mind but if I divide this, I'll never advance in the story. Anyway, it seems that the sun now has the approval of the Demon Slayers and can begin his search to finish off Muzan, and this time he has a butterfly with him!! We'll see if this is just temporary or maybe it's a more permanent companion.
By the way, something I forgot to say is that Shinobu's hair is that of the Beta version, she won't use the typical hairstyle that she has in the canon, why? Just to differentiate her a little more from the canon, so it could be said that it is a side effect of Kanae still being alive (and if it's not clear, her haori is the same, the butterfly one, remember that Kanae now has a flower one, similar to the kimono that she would have when her spirit meets Shinobu after the infinite castle)
Anyway that's all for now, we'll see what awaits the Kamado now that his true entertainment begins to recover his former glory as the new incarnation of the sun.
Thanks for reading :)