I can feel my energy draining, but I have to hold out to make sure I can protect everyone.

"Do you want to know why no demons can group together? Or why they cannibalize each other?"
Miss Tamayo continued.
"Because he doesn't want us to group up. His fear is that we would attack him if we could. He manipulates demons to make them behave. Demons like you."

"Don't you dare. Don't say that! Shut up! He has no reason to be so petty! You can't comprehend the power he wields! No one is stronger than him! No more than Kibutsuji!"

Upon realizing her words, the demon covers her mouth in utter terror.

"You forgot you couldn't say his name, didn't you? You've just triggered the curse."

Susamaru whimpered, trembling.

Miss Tamayo's expression saddened.
"I feel sorry for you. But, farewell now."

She ran, screaming for forgiveness, dropping her temari, one of them rolling right by my foot.

The curse took full effect, her veins darkening and swelling as she held herself in pain. Arms broke out from her stomach and out of her mouth, one of them crushing her head, essentially killing her.

Her body now fell to the ground, her hand still twitching as she began to fade away in a pool of ash and blood.

"Tanjiro, Y/N. The demon we fought is not one of the Twelve Kizuki. The Twelve Kizuki all have numbers engraved on their eyeballs, but she doesn't have one."

"A number...? Engraved on their eyeball...?"
I ask, a moment of shock crossing me.

"Yes."

Ame.
Ame...

He had a number engraved in his eyeball.
It was him! It was Kibutsuji! Why my baby brother? Why would he force him to be a Twelve Kizuki?

A crying stops me, and my head turns to the demon's hand that still twitched, softly grabbing at something.

"M-ma... -ri... -Mari..."

My feet waste not a second more as I go and grab the temari ball, placing it by her side as I look down at her remains in pity, reaching to hold her hand, feeling her fear resonate within me.

"You were just a child."

Her voice softly repeats "play with me" in a saddened sob, and I gently push the temari closer to her.

"You're so terrified. And just a little child..."
Once her body faded, I feel a sad smile come upon me as the first rays of sun dawned on my skin.

I chuckle, still sitting on my knees as I feel myself cry, tears falling like waterfalls down my face.
Behind me, Tanjiro looked on in worry, supported by Yushiro and Miss Tamayo.

"I'm not doing my job so well now, am I? What a sorry excuse I am, huh?"
I can feel the tiredness creep up on me, and I feel so heavy.

"I'm not doing my job so well now, am I? What a sorry excuse I am, huh?"I can feel the tiredness creep up on me, and I feel so heavy

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