メモリ||Memory ~Demon Slayer||

十

Tanaka noticed Tadashi sorrow and gave him a spooked look.

"Is Yasaki . . . "

I shook my head.

"He's alive. We were . . . attacked four months ago. Yasaki lost an arm and fell into a coma from the bloodloss. As far as we're aware, he hasn't woken up yet." I explained gently, taking Tadashi's hand. "We have some new family that's looking after him while we travel."

Tanaka raised an eyebrow at us.

"You left him on his own?" There was a hint of judgment in his tone.

"We didn't have much of a choice." I said defensively. "I need to come to my grandfather, and Tadashi didn't want me traveling on my own."

"As far as I'm aware, Yasaki is Tadashi's father, not yours. Where's your family?"

I kept my face impassive but guilt was eating at me from the inside.

I was supposed to have died with them. But instead, I received this second chance and they did not.

"They're dead." I said, looking away from Tanaka.

He fell silent, most likely in shame, and didn't question us further.

We were more than half-way up the mountain when he spoke again. My legs burned a bit, since this was the longest I'd walked without a break, but Tanaka seemed totally fine.

Well, of course he is. He does this probably every day.

"I had a wife." Tanaka began. "She was paralyzed from the waist down, so she was always in bed. We were always worried we wouldn't be able to have children, but we were blessed with my son. He's your age, Tadashi. Older than you (Y/n). She was always nagging at me to take better care of my health. I miss hearing that, as much as it annoyed me."

He turned to smile down at us sadly.

"I understand."

I refrained from commenting that he didn't, since I doubt his wife was killed by a demon who was probably hunting him right as we speak.

"What's your son's name?" Tadashi asked.

"Gyomei."

I had to refrain from shouting to the heavens.

What is with all these DILF's- Not the time (Y/n). Tanaka is Gyomei's dad?! I can see it. He's also a giant, the hair is kinda similar, and I can't exactly confirm the eyes, but he has Gyomei's jawline and the shape of his lips.

Tadashi and Tanaka chatted while I drowned in my thoughts.

Okay . . . I've met Kanae. I've sorta met Kyojuro. And now I'll meet Gyomei. The main cast of Demon Slayer is started to fall in line from the more important people. Gyomei becomes the strongest Demon Slayer in the Corps, Kanae was powerful enough to stand off against Douma for a length of time, almost managing to keep him occupied until sunrise. She wasn't weak, she was quite strong as well. My guess is if she lived longer, she'd be second to Gyomei's strength.

I curled my fingers inwards, digging into my palms.

There's another thing though . . . . Sanemi and Genya Shinazugawa. I need to find them. It's not about protecting them, as much as I want to, but if I do, they won't ever become demon slayers. And the two brothers are essential to fighting off Kokushibo. Sanemi survives just barely but Genya . . . and what of the other useful slayers-

My mind froze.

Wait . . . that guy. The one that was stronger than Sanemi. His name . . . . . . Masachika Kumeno! Yeah! He was supposed to be the next Wind Hashira once he survived his mission, but he sacrificed himself for Sanemi and the others to get away! Crap, if I save Masachika, Sanemi won't become a Hashira. Doesn't mean he won't be useful though. And with a stronger Wind Hashira, we'll have a better chance in the war to end it all.