The Fire That Defines Lives

Hello everyone and welcome to the latest chapter of The Heart Of The Asura! This time around we'll be dealing with the aftermath of the battle against Lower Moon Four. As you no doubt noticed, not everyone escaped unscathed. And speaking of notices, swing by my Pat reon for news, scenes samples, exclusives, and even commissions! Best part, you don't even have to be a member now, just drop $3 dollars and you can view any one of my posts from the time the new policy just started! Now then I believe that's everything, so without further ado, on to the story!

Many Years Ago

She was young when she was turned into a demon, a teenager at the age of fifteen. It all started when she and her mother were walking along a trail next to an area with known volcanic activity. Her mother had been carrying her little brother wrapped up on her back, the five-month-old infant somehow managing to sleep despite being jostled every few feet. "We should be there soon mother," Mukago had called back, "home's just another couple of hills over."

"Easy for you to say," her mother had snorted, "you don't have a little one you're trying to keep from waking."

"But that's why I picked this trail, it's a shortcut," the teenage girl had assured, "you won't have to carry Kacharo as long since we're going this way."

"When you're carrying a load even short distances seem a lot longer," her mother remarked as they entered part of the trail next to a very steep slope.

"I can carry Kacharo for a bit if it's starting to hurt your back, mother," Mukago offered, "the sooner we get home, the sooner we can eat."

"As if you could be hungry after eating all of that food at your grandmother's house," the older woman snarked before stopping, "but it's probably a good idea for you to get a bit of practice at this." She undid the bundle on her back, amazingly managing to keep from waking the baby up while doing so. But as she went to hand the child to her daughter, the ground suddenly shook. It was followed by a noise that sounded like an explosion of sorts.

"What's going on!" Mukago asked before noticing her mother was about to fall forward and caught her in order to steady her.

"It must be the volcano," she surmised, "tremors have been happening not too far from-LOOK OUT!" The mother shoved Mukago back, causing her to fall on her rear. Before the younger girl could even ask why, a piece of flaming debris fell on her mother and brother, kicking up a cloud that obscured her vision. When the dust cleared, all she could see of them were two ashen covered corpses.

She'd let out a cry of horror and despair that day, but it had only been the beginning. "It was your fault, why did you take them down that road, why didn't you pay attention?!" Her father berated her over and over for it, blaming her in his grief for the loss of his wife and son. His drinking had begun that day, and not long after that, the beatings.

Mukago hadn't understood it at the time, her father's sudden change in temperament. Like a naïve child she kept waking up every day thinking he wouldn't be mad about it anymore, but every day would just bring another disappointment. One night, she finally had enough and ran, fleeing into the darkness in the hope that her grandparents would be able to shelter her from the bastard her father had become. She never made it that far.

"What seems to be the matter," an unfamiliar voice made her stop dead in her tracks. Slowly turning her head, she saw a man she'd never seen before in a white hat and pants along with a fancy black suit jacket, "you look troubled, is something wrong?"

"W-Who are you," Mukago had backed away in fear, only to bump into the man as he seemed to just appear behind her.

"That depends," he'd answered back, "if you are in trouble, I may be able to help."

"I, I just," the teenager felt tears in her eyes, "I just want my father to stop hurting me."

"Do you want to hurt him back," the stranger inquired, his voice oddly inviting.

"I just want him to stop," Mukago sniffled, "I miss mom and my brother too, but I don't understand why he keeps saying it was my fault. It was an accident, just an accident."

"Adults are just that way sometimes," the man put a hand on her head, "but what if I told you I could make it where no adult could ever hurt you again?"

"How would you do that," the girl was admittedly curious.

"Just a little jab, and you'll be strong," he offered, "strong enough that no one, not even your father, will ever be able to lay a hand on you again." She pondered the offer, or at least that's what she'd told herself at the time. The truth was, the moment he'd mentioned being able to stop her father from hurting her, it had all risen to the surface. Anger, pain, and absolute rage consumed her in that moment, all telling her one thing: never let that man hurt you again.

"Do it," Mukago's eyes hardened with resolve as the girl steeled herself. The next thing she knew, the man she would come to know as Muzan Kibutsuji jabbed his finger into her forehead. After that, it felt like her world was on fire. That night was the birth of Lower Moon Four.

The Present: Honoka's Village

Mukago saw it all as she faded into ash. How she'd killed a few innocent travelers before regaining her senses, the painful and burning death she'd given her father, and the power trip that followed. She'd killed and killed and killed, not just because she was hungry but because she'd become, in her mind, like a force of nature, like the volcanic activity that had taken her mother and sibling. Then she met the Demon Slayer Corps and got humbled.

Upon realizing there were humans capable of killing her out there, her efforts went towards strengthening herself so that she could deal with the slayers and continue living as she pleased. That drive was what allowed her to obtain the title of Lower Moon Four. But it was also during that time where she met the Upper Moons and was reminded that Muzan had been and always would be her master. The fear instilled in her that day would stick with her, causing her to become overly cautious.

It only got worse when she ran into her first hashira and barely escaped with her life. From that point on it became a priority of the demon girl to avoid anyone she'd deemed as stronger than her while mercilessly and sometimes even sadistically dealing with those who she found to be weaker. But now, here at the end, dying by the hands of one of the victims she'd created, Mukago realized something. She was not nor had she ever been a force of nature, just a monster.

With this realization came regret as tears poured from her eyes. 'What could my life have been like if I'd stayed human,' she couldn't help but wonder. Her grandparents would've taken care of her and her other relatives had never blamed her for what had happened. The chance had always existed that she could've lived her life, had a family of her own, and even been happy.

Instead, she'd chosen to take life after life despite only truly wishing to visit her wrath on one. Now here she was, dying a monster. "It's alright," she felt her head being picked up and cradled, "I don't know why, but the scent you're giving off, is one of pain and regret. If you're able to regret what you've done, then you're not beyond redemption."

"I'm," Mukago sniffed, "I'm sorry for trying to kill you. And I'm sorry for what I did to her family. Muzan was going to kill me if I didn't kill you, but I have no excuse for the other lives I've taken. For so long I thought I could just do whatever I wanted and the world tried to tell me otherwise. If I'd listened, maybe things would've been different."

"Maybe," Tanjiro nodded before holding up the knife he used to draw blood samples, "but you know, you can still help people. This blood sample, a doctor needs it for creating a cure to demonification. So you may be dying today, but what your blood can help accomplish will save a lot of people."

"Thank you," Mukago smiled, "and please, destroy that man. Destroy him and free us all."

"We will," Honoka promised while taking possession of the demon girl's outfit, "he won't get away with this anymore." The now former Lower Moon smiled one last time as she finished disintegrating. Her ashes blew away on the wind soon after.

And as the sun rose on a new day, Tanjiro and Honoka both stood resolutely. Though they'd shared a number of adventures up to this point, the policewoman and slayer now had a new kinship, a new connection: the demons and the reason they slayed them. Both had lost something precious to the beasts of the night and now Honoka, often drug into the fight against her own will, was for the first time fully committed. "Mom, dad," she looked over towards the location where her family home used to be, "I did it, I avenged you. But now I know there's so much more to do."

She gave a sad smile as the sun shown on her once spotless face, revealing her lower jaw and everything beneath it down her neck had been burned in the fight. It still stung and the surrounding heat made it hurt even more, but despite all of that, she stood taller than ever before. "Honoka," Tanjiro put a reassuring hand on her arm, "it'll be alright. Let's go and rest for now."

"Yeah, let's go home," Honoka wobbled before falling over, her ability to stand now gone thanks to the adrenaline finally running out. It was only thanks to Tanjiro catching her that she didn't crash into the ground, though he only just barely held up her tall frame due to his own injuries.

"I think we might need some help here," the boy swordsman sweat-dropped a little.

A Few Minutes Later

"Boy this woman is heavy," one of the Kakushi complained as they finished stabilizing Honoka's wounds and loading her onto a stretcher.

"Quit whining and put your back into it," the lead Kakushi ordered, "this is our job in the Corps, a slightly heavier-*grunt*-patient is nothing!" He said that, but it was clear he was having a bit of difficulty as well. As for Tanjiro, he was getting his leg bandaged when Yosoko came walking up.

"So, what in the brimstone hell happened here," the Breath of Thunder Wielder questioned.

"Lower Moon Four," the boy swordsman explained, "her Blood Demon Art was volcanic in nature so several buildings caught fire during our battle. The good news is the people of this village are very good at putting out fires, so the damage isn't as bad as it could've been. By the way, have you seen Susamaru?"

"Got her right here," she held up a large basket she'd had slung over her shoulder, "some people still needed help getting out of the ruined buildings and Susamaru couldn't do it once the sun started rising. That and a geezer-looking mantis demon are why I wasn't able to make it in time."

"Still, thank you for getting Susamaru somewhere safe," Tanjiro smiled, "I was worried when she didn't make it back here before sunrise."

"Always happy to hear you care," the Temari Demon snorted good-naturedly. Though internally, she was way more happy than she let on. 'He was worried about me,' the demon girl thought. Susamaru didn't know why but the fact made her a little giddy for a moment before she recomposed herself.

"We should be able to get her transferred to Nezuko's box in one of the empty buildings," Yosoko suggested, "after that, we'd better get you back to the Butterfly Estate."

"Are you not hurt too," Tanjiro inquired.

"I got a little ash on me from the fires, but that mantis demon never touched me," the swordswoman waved dismissively, "I'll probably be sent out for my next job after resting a bit. Though I will say this, I never thought I'd see the day demons were helping the Corps. I don't know what you've been doing, but keep it up."

"Thank you, I will," Tanjiro nodded.

Later: The Butterfly Estate

"This feels kind of invasive," Honoka whined cutely, "surely I didn't get this many burns?" The reason for her protest was the fact that she was on a medical bed stripped down to nothing but her panties as the staff looked over her injuries. This room would normally be used for surgeries, hence why it was kept separate from the rest of the patient rooms.

"That's what we're trying to determine," Shinobu explained while currently examining all the parts of her left arm, "according to the Kakushi who brought you in, your body has extensive burns on it. Now we need to know just how extensive those burns are."

"Okay, but could you do it quickly? It's drafty in here without my clothes on," the policewoman complained, again cutely. She recalled something about people with burns sometimes being more sensitive to surrounding temperatures, but she'd never tested it out herself for obvious reasons.

"You're a big girl, no pun intended," the Insect Hashira gave an amused smile, "you can handle it for a little bit." Honoka sighed before resigning herself to the medical staff's examinations. "By the way, you're doing a good job, Gimiko."

"Thank you," the spider girl, now in a white medical gown of her own nodded, "Aoi and the others are really good teachers. It's incredible how much you know about all this." The medical room didn't have any windows, so with a bit of creative transportation via a basket and blankets, Gimiko had found she could occasionally help out with certain things during the day.

"You'd be surprised just how much can be learned in a short time with the right means and motivation," Shinobu smiled as they continued to dress Honoka's wounds. Unfortunately, there was one person who apparently hadn't fully mastered the art of reading.

"GIRLS!" Zenitsu flung open the door, loudly announcing his presence as usual, "I made it back alive! And I didn't get injured in a way that would make me take any of those nasty medicin-GAAAAH!" He was quickly silenced by a punch from Gimiko which sent him flying back out the door.

"Read the damn sign you pervert!" She shook her fist at him, "we are in the middle of an important procedure that is not for the eyes of boys!" The demon girl slammed the door and let out a huff before returning to her spot by the others. "Sorry about that."

"It's not like any of us blame you," Aoi remarked while continuing to wrap Honoka's other arm, "I'm pretty sure I wrote underneath the sign 'especially you, Zenitsu' when I put it on the door."

"Well there will be plenty of time to lecture him on proper medical room etiquette, again, after we're done with this," Shinobu pointed out, "now, get me some of the burn ointment. These two spots here look especially nasty." She received a quick 'yes mam' as the group continued their procedure.

As for Tanjiro, his injuries weren't deemed bad enough that he couldn't move around the estate. Though he had been advised against more training and going too far from the patient room until his wounds healed a bit more. Fortunately for him, Nezuko and Susamaru's room was close by. "Ah, what a day," Susamaru flopped down on one of the two beds in the room, "we're going to have to wash these sheets and everything else later because I won't be able to get the smell of burning building off me until tonight."

"I could always have the girls bring a washtub in here," Tanjiro offered while patting Nezuko's head. The demon girl had once again chosen to sit on the floor after exiting her box, leaving her brother the other bed to sit on.

"I doubt that'll cut it for this," the Temari Demon tugged at her clothes, "the smell's seeped into my hair and everything. I'll need the big bath and all the soap products this place has got. Or were you hoping to 'accidentally' walk in on me while I'm in my birthday suit?"

"N-No!" Tanjiro waved his hands in denial while turning beet red, "I wouldn't do that to you!"

"I know," Susamaru giggled, "it's just cute seeing you get flustered about that sort of stuff, you're so innocent."

"I've tried learning what I can ever since Nezuko and I left home," the slayer rubbed his head in embarrassment, "but the world's changed way more than I thought. Before I ran into you in Asakusa, the whole city overwhelmed me. I didn't know buildings could be that tall or that so many lights could shine bright enough to make it seem like daytime. There were probably a lot of other things I didn't get a chance to see since I was working at the time."

"Remind me to show you what a car looks like at some point," Susamaru put her hands behind her head and laid down, "I didn't have a good first meeting with one of those things."

"Is a car a 'motor vehicle'," Tanjiro questioned, "I've heard that phrase tossed around the estate a few times."

"Based on what I heard. Though I also heard there are motor-powered bikes now, too," the Temari Demon shrugged, "anyway, the first time I saw one of those things was when I visited a port city. Can't remember the name of the place now, but I was strolling around during the night after a recent escapade. I won't go into details, but to be blunt I'd just finished getting food."

"Oh, I see," the boy swordsman nodded grimly, instantly catching her meaning.

"Anyway, I was full and getting a little drowsy so I wasn't paying as much attention as I should've been," Susamaru continued, "I decided to cross the street at some point and that's when a bright pair of lights blinded me. I had no idea what was going on or what that weird horn was supposed to mean. I also didn't have long to think about it as basically a second later the damn thing slammed into me."

"That must've hurt," Tanjiro couldn't help but remark.

"I've had worse, it was the surprise that got me more than anything," The Temari Demon waved dismissively, "anyway, the driver stopped the car and was all concerned that I might be hurt or something. Or at least he was until I popped right back up and demanded to know why the fuck he ran me over. He stuttered something out about how I just waltzed onto the road right as he'd turned a corner, but I admittedly wasn't listening much at that point."

"Did you kill him," Tanjiro dared to ask the obvious question.

"No, actually," Susamaru giggled, "I took him and shoved him under the backseat before kicking the car at full strength, knocked it right over on its side. It didn't occur to me until a couple minutes later that I had no idea what the fuck that contraption even was. It definitely wasn't a horse, I've knocked out horses before."

"Why would you knock out a horse," the slayer sweat-dropped.

"Because I'd forgotten the rule about not walking behind a horse," Susamaru shrugged, "one kicked me in the face one night so I went around and slugged him across the snout. It was lights out for that horse for a couple hours. Anyway, I started asking around about the thing and learned from a more recent demon what they were. Or at least I tried to learn. He was throwing out terms like engine, pistons, radiator, and all kinds of other words I'd never even heard of."

"I can't say I'm familiar with those terms either," Tanjiro shook his head, "though it seems a lot of your life involves you breaking things."

"You know me, the one thing I wanted to do in this world was play and have fun," Susamaru sighed, "I only recently realized how much my idea of fun was hurting people. But today, today I felt weird."

"Weird in a bad way," the Older Kamado sibling tilted his head questioningly.

"No, it was a weird fuzzy feeling," The Temari Demon tried to think of how best to put it into words, "when I was helping those villagers get to safety, the looks of relief they were giving me. No one cared that I was able to lift tons of wood and debris, they only asked me if I was there to help. I've never had so many people thank me for something before, so I had no idea how to feel."

"Several of the villagers were asking about you," Tanjiro recalled, "I'm certain you heard it while you were in the box."

"I did," Susamaru nodded, "dozens of people would've lost their lives if not for us. It's weird for me to care about something like that or to think about how my actions affect other people for a change."

"Most would say that's a sign of maturity," the elder brother smiled, "part of growing up and becoming an adult is realizing that what we say and do does have an effect on other people. It took me time to learn that too."

"Pft, how long did it take you," the demon girl snorted like she'd just been told a good joke, "You're fourteen going on fifteen and are a bigger saint than a lot of adults I've met. It wouldn't surprise me to hear you popped out of your mother and apologized to her for the pain of childbirth."

"I'm certain I didn't do that," Tanjiro responded in a deadpan tone but with an amused smile nonetheless.

"Alright, it took you exactly one year to achieve appropriate adult behavior," Susamaru shrugged, "then sainthood on the second year."

"You really give me too much credit," he laughed lightly, "I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination."

"No but you're definitely worthy of whatever holy shrine maiden wants to marry you in the future," the Temari Demon remarked.

"That just makes it sound like I have really high standards for women," Tanjiro sweat-dropped, "I wouldn't ask my wife to be an absolute saint or anything like that."

"Come to think of it," Susamaru glanced his way, "what sort of woman would you even think about dating?" She shifted position so that she was on her stomach looking at Tanjiro, "are you into the softspoken, cute type or the blindingly gorgeous woman with a serious presence?"

"Are those my only two options," the boy swordsman tilted his head.

"Ugh," the Temari Demon groaned into the mattress before looking back up, "I'm just asking what sort of woman do you consider your type? It should be a pretty straightforward question."

"The question is straightforward," Tanjiro rubbed his chin in thought, "but the answer isn't always so straightforward. You have to understand, I've never really thought all that much about it. I'm only fourteen going on fifteen, after all."

"A lot of people would consider that as the age to start thinking about it," Susamaru pointed out.

"True," the slayer nodded, "I guess if I had to pick, a woman kind of like mother would make a pretty good wife."

"That's great," the Temari Demon smiled sarcastically, "I've never met your mother."

"Oh, right," Tanjiro rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "it's been a little while since I talked to anyone about my mother besides Nezuko so I never thought to describe her. Let's see, how best to put it?"

"Was she a saint too?" The demon girl already half-suspected the answer. But this time she would be a little surprised.

"You would think so, but she wasn't the picture of a perfect mother all the time," the boy swordsman corrected, "it's true, she was kind, nurturing, and patient in a lot of things. She had to be in order to raise me, Nezuko, my four other siblings, and take care of my father who was pretty sickly most of the time."

"How in the world does a sickly father have the stamina to produce six chil…. Actually never mind," Susamaru had a look of odd realization on her face.

"What," Tanjiro tilted his head questioningly.

"It's nothing," the Temari Demon assured with a dismissive wave, "I just answered my own question is all."

"My father was sickly because he had a weak constitution," the Eldest Kamado sibling clarified.

"And I'm pretty sure your horny mother milking him dry was the cause of said weak constitution," Susamaru tried not to burst out laughing.

"What," Tanjiro was confused for a moment until the same realization dawned on him, "no, no it wasn't like that!"

"I think I know what kind of woman your mother was now," the demon girl burst out laughing then, "one that didn't take 'no' for an answer when she was in the mood!"

"You've got it all wrong," the boy slayer waved his hands in denial, "she wasn't like that!"

"Oh, did you keep a running tally," Susamaru wiggled her eyebrows at that.

"No, I just know that they weren't like that," he let out a heavy sigh.

"It's alright, I believe you," the Temari Girl decided to grant him mercy, "but that does bring up the part you haven't gotten too. In what way was she not always the ideal wife and mother?"

"Well, obviously she was very strong," Tanjiro continued.

"Gotta be to push six kids outta the womb," she snorted, trying not to laugh again.

"Susamaru."

"Sorry, keep going."

"You know about how hard my head is," Tanjiro pointed to said forehead, "I actually inherited this from my mother. She once used her own hard head to stop a charging boar."

"Damn, that explains a lot," the Temari Demon mused, "so your temper and incredible bravery also come from your mother."

"I guess you could say that," Tanjiro rubbed the back of his head.

"Tell me more," Susamaru requested, genuinely listening now. After all, if his mother was a surprising tomboy at times then maybe, just maybe, there was a chance. And on that day, the seed which was planted some time ago, grew into a desire.

And so our heroes emerge from their latest trial burnt, bruised, but more determined than ever to face down the demon responsible for it all! But of course, Mukago is hardly the last of the demons they'll be facing. Let me know which of the Kizuki you think is next in your comments and reviews along with what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters! Also, swing by my Pat reon for news, scene samples, exclusives and more! Last thing, stop in next time as our heroes prepare for the next challenge! 'Til then.