TW : Mentions of Death, violence, blood, disturbing things, cursing, spoilers.
You have been warned.
Kimetsu no Yaiba is rightfully owned by Koyoharu Gotōge.
Using Google translation for some phrases. May not be accurate.
Images aren't not mine unless said so, and some are only found in the internet/Pinterest. I do not own them.
*
Dream
/drēm/
noun
1.
a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.
"I had a recurrent dream about falling from great heights"
Similar: fantasy, nightmare, vision, hallucination
2.
a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.
"I fulfilled a childhood dream when I became champion"
Similar: ambition, aspiration, hope, goal, design, plan, aim, object, objective, grail, holy grail, target, intention, intent, desire, wish, notion, yearning, daydream, fantasy, illusion, delusion, pipe dream, chimera, castles in the air, castles in Spain, pie in the sky
verb
1.
experience dreams during sleep.
"I dreamed about her last night"
2.
indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired.
"she had dreamed of a trip to Italy"
Similar: fantasize about, daydream about, wish for
*
"[name]," you hear a soft voice whispering to you.
You slowly open your eyes in a daze, looking at the figure in front of you. "Kaa-san..?" You asked, suddenly feeling confused.
Kie looks at you with a smile, used to see you in a daze when you wake up. "[name], breakfast is ready." She laughs heartily to you.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. I fell asleep." You scratched your head, sweatdropping.
"Oh, it's fine." She stands up, patting her kimono. "You were so tired from selling the charcoals yesterday."
"Oh, yeah. It was a lot too, is Tou-san already there?" You asked, folding the futon were you laid earlier.
"...What do mean..?" Kie looks away sadly, reminding her what happened. "Tanjuro.. is already gone, [name]. Please.. don't bring it up again.." Kie wipes a rogue tear that escaped from her eyes. She pursed her lips, walking out the room.
You continue to stare at the door, daydreaming about what she said.
Oh, yeah.. He died couple of days ago.. How insensitive of me.
You sighed at yourself, guilt rushing your throat as you continue to fix the futon. You went out the room, seeing your whole family preparing the utensils for eating. You sadly looked at the scene, not seeing Tanjuro.
"Ah! Nee-san!" An impact occured on your side, you cheerfully caught Shigeo while steadily fixing your footing.
"Shigeo! Don't do that! Nee-san would had fall!" Takeo scolds Shigeo who only sticked his tongue out.
You laughed cheerfully. "It's okay, Takeo. Thank you for worrying." Shigeo continued to tease Takeo after your remark.
"Nee-san! Can I join Onii-san to the village?!" Hanako tugs your kimono, trying to persuade you with her puppy eyes.
You looked out side, seeing the world in blotches of white falling from the sky, it was winter already. Time sure flies fast...
"Hanako," you see your mother shaking her head disapprovingly. "It's too cold outside, and you'll hinder Tanjiro's work."
Hanako used her puppy eyes to you, knowing you have the powers to convince Kie. "Well, mother knows best." You laughed at her expression full of betrayal, Hanako soon pouts and crossed her arms together.
"Haha! Nee-san didn't agree with you! What about me Nee-san?! I can go with Onii-san, right?!" Shigeo looks at you with expectant eyes.
"Same thing applies to you, Shigeo."
"Aww, what?! Fine." He pouts before rushing down to sit when the smell of food appeared.
"Oh, Nee-san. Good morning." You see Nezuko carrying a sleeping Rokuta on her back, as she enters the house. "Nii-san just left to sell the charcoals to the village."
"Oh, did he ate breakfast?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Oh! I better put Rokuta to bed." Nezuko says goodbye to you which you gave a nod to.
You sat down next to the twins and took a rice bowl and chopsticks. "Ittadakimasu."
"Ittadakimasu."
"[name]," Kie calls you suddenly.
"Yes?"
"Have you gave it a well good thought?" Kie asked you.
"U-hum, yeah." You nod dazedly, still eating the rice on the bowl.
"Great! I knew you wouldn't leave us like that!"
You stopped, "..what..?"
"You wouldn't just leave us to die here, right? You're such a good daughter of mine." Kie responds, caressing her cheeks while thinking how good mannered you are.
"...Kaa-san.. what are you saying..?" You looked at her bewildered, as you noticed that they looked at you in the same expression.
"...[name], you're not thinking of leaving us to die here right..?" Kie lowers her head, a sudden malice laced on her voice.
You looked around to see your siblings looking at you as if they couldn't believe that you'll abandon them.
"..Nee-san.."
A voice calls you, tugging your kimono as your surroundings turned dark and red. You looked back, seeing a bloody hand from Takeo gripping your clothes. "Why..?"
"..What..?"
"...Why did you let him inside?! Why didn't you protected us?! Why didn't you—" A foot collides to Takeo's skull, a sickening crunch echoed as Takeo's red eyes grew dull, looking at you with a dead stare. Red blood flows to your sitting body, staining your white kimono in deep red.
You looked at Takeo with a horrified stare, you wanted to scream but you can't. Your eyes trailed up to the person who stepped Takeo's head, staring down on you was a pair of ruby red eyes filled with hate.
"Tsk, disgusting humans. Good riddance." He kicked Takeo's body aside, a loud thud echoing in the room. He slowly walks to you, narrowing down his eyes.
You don't know what happened. It was all too fast, as the world lights up, making you clearly see dead bodies on the floor.
You felt the tears descending as fast as waterfalls. You hear the silent cries of the nature as you followed it with your own unstable sobs. You can smell the stench of corpses left overnight.
You can't stop.
It felt like you were starved for centuries, the smell of blood intensifies as you continue to sink in you teeth to the flesh of corpses.
A scream halts your actions, you looked at the person with terrified eyes as Tanjiro looks at you with the same emotion. "...Nee-san. How could you..?"
"..no, no, no.. I didn't mean it.. I-I didn't kill them...!"
"What did you do?!"
"...Hey, hey! Wake up!"
You gasped, feeling the shaking of your shoulder as you quickly sat up.
"AHH!!" Someone screams but you ignored it and continue to even out your ragged breathing.
As your body calms down, you remember the nightmarishly dream you had and continued to stare at your hands, terrified to the core.
"We're you trying to kill me?! Why do you look like your not even hurt?!" A voice shouts again, gaining your attention.
"..What..?" You asked, confusedly. The person screaming was a boy, wearing a striped kimono and black hakama. You realized that it was the guy from the final selection, carrying Giyuu to safety. "Oh, wait. You're the guy from the exam, right?" You asked, giving him a small smile, remembering of his good deed.
"Tsk, yea. Apologize for hitting me." He tsked, rubbing his forehead irritatingly.
"I'm sorry..?"
"YOU SOUND LIKE YOU DONT EVEN MEAN IT!" He screamed, almost making you deaf.
"But, I don't know what I did though." You said, not knowing why he's making you apologize.
He sighed deeply and sounded problematic. "You were have a nightmare. I woke you up but your head collided with mine when you suddenly sat up. It hurts so bad!" He points his forehead as a bump grew. "There's even a bump! Why are you unaffected anyway?!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry." You nervously let out a laugh, knowing that your forehead wasn't normal. "Oh, is the selection done?"
"Yeah, since there's was a lot of participants got severe injuries like you and your friend, the Kakushi's are taking care of the injured." He explained, pointing out to his bandaged arm and to Giyuu who was still sleeping in the corner of the room with clean bandage on his head.
You sigh in relief. "What about the Sabito?"
"Who??"
"The pink hair guy." You deadpanned.
"Oh, he's outside, helping out carrying participants because he isn't injured." He explained again.
You let out a heavy sigh, knowing that everything is going to be alright. "Oh, yeah. I haven't introduced myself. My name is Kamado [name]!" you smile brightly. "What's your name?"
He boy looks away, almost hesitatingly thinking. "It's... Murata."
You slowly sink in his name, as you give him a blank stare. Murata who survived the war and got to join the picture in the ending of the anime. Gosh, what are the odds that you get to meet this guy.
"Murata.. nice to meet you."
Thank you for waking me up..
*
"Are you sure you're fine walking?" Sabito asked you a countless time you proceed to go back to Mount Sagiri.
After your talk with Murata, everyone was taken care for two days of recovery, picking out individual ores and crows. As you were assigned a crow, it flew to your bandaged head silently.
Right now, you three were walking to the dirt road, passing by fields of rice. As you bought them snacks by the road, lasting your appetite when you go home. The snack was hot stone-cooked sweet potato. It was tasty and cheap too.
"Yes, I told you already." You split a piece of the sweet potato, giving it to your crow in your head. The crow only pick it quietly, with a greatful nod.
"Why is your crow still on your head?" Giyuu asks, pointing to your eating crow.
"I don't know. He can stay if he likes." You respond, chewing a piece of the sweet potato.
In no time, you three finally made it to the top of Mount Sagiri, spotting Urokodaki by the door, as if knowing that you'll survive. Your crow flies away to a tree, waiting for the next fifteen days of the command for your mission.
"...Ohayo, Sensei..." You gave him a wide grin, tears castrating down your face. "We survived." You ran towards him, hugging his waist as you sobbed, realizing that you almost died.
You could practically hear Urokodaki sighing in relief and gratitude. "I'm glad."
Urokodaki might be a strict teacher, but you know he always worry about his students.
*
"Tou-san," you hold Tanjuro's hand. "I'm finally a slayer."
You were informed that after fifteen days, you will get your own color changing katana, which you are thrilled to get. Right now, instead of boring yourself waiting for your own blade, you visited your family first. Now, you're here, back after a year of training.
"Really?" Tanjuro smiles. "That's great, [name]." He pets your head, which you appreciate.
You know the pressure of not saving your family for the adaption of the anime continues to haunt you in your dreams. That's why, you want a clarification. "I heard that, Demon Slayer's get paid a lot by completing their mission. So, I will continue to work hard to get that money, Tou-san. It might help you a bit for your medication and financial income—"
"[name]," you stare at Tanjuro who's looking at you with a serious expression. "That's your earn. Keep it."
You immediately shake your head. "No. I want to do this. This... This is the only thing I could do.. Help my family with my best of ability. I don't want my conscience to be filled with guilt knowing I did nothing to help my family." You pursed your lips in a straight line. "Please.. I know I sound selfish, only satisfying my guilt, knowing I couldn't save them in the end—" Tanjuro puts his hand on your head, forcefully stopping you.
"[name], stop that kind of idea." You looked down, hearing the unfamiliar serious tone. "All I want for my family is to live a normal life. I don't know what will happen to them in the future after I'm gone. I don't want you to stress out because of this. Everything.. happens for a reason. Everything is going to be okay."
"..."
"I'll approve of you giving your earn to the family, just not too much and don't starve yourself."
You think for a moment before nodding slowly. "...deal. Thank you, Tou-san."
You distract yourself, bonding over your family in eleven days before you decided to go. As they warmly express their undeniable love and kindness for you, the nightmare slowly fades away from your conscience. Realizing that your family would still be there for you.
Always.
You really needed that talk.
*
Giyuu was acting off. You noticed that after you went back from your trip, he wasn't really... feeling the weather.
He looked depressed and suddenly went out saying that he wants to take a deep breath outside.
Sabito worriedly follows him as you soon decided to follow them both, it disturbs you too because Sabito's alive and there no other point why Giyuu looked unhappy.
"That's not the point, Sabito! While you both were risking your lives, I got hurt in the beginning by a demon.. I was completely fading out." You see Giyuu shouting, motioning to himself as he stared at Sabito with tear filled face. "I didn't deserved to be selected.. I should have died that time—!"
You gasped, eyes widening when you hear a very loud audible sound as Sabito slaps the heck out of Giyuu.
Giyuu with a bleeding lip, falls to the ground, holding his cheek in shock where Sabito hit him. "S...Sabito..."
"Don't you ever say that you'd better off dying ever again." You couldn't see Sabito's expression but his voice says that he's really pissed off. "If you do, you and I are done. We'll stop being friends."
"Your sister was supposed to get married that next day. And, despite knowing that, she hid you from the demons and protected you. You have nobody else...? That's an insult to your sister." Sabito stood firm, as if making Giyuu understand his point. "You can't die. Ever. That life she lost to protect you? That future she left you?" You hear Sabito's teeth grinding together in irritation. "You're just going to waste it like that because you think you don't deserve it?! That's the most stupidest thing I've ever heard!"
"Hey, hey now." You tapped to Sabito's shoulder, hearing him rage out. "Let's stop here before anything gets worse." You take out a handkerchief, lowering body to meet Giyuu's height, you stretched out your hand holding the small cloth. "But, Sabito's right, Giyuu. You shouldn't think things like that. We're still aiming for the top, remember? To be stronger? Have you forgotten about that?" You noticed Giyuu looking down while listening, not taking the handkerchief. You sighed and slowly wiped the blood from his lip as he flinched.
You looked behind, Sabito was still there. "Ne, Sabito. When the slayer attire comes, are you going to wear your kimono or the plain white haori?"
"Why?" Sabito looks at you with a confused expression. "I'm going to wear my haori and its not plain." You could see that he felt insulted.
"Pfft. Sorry, sorry. But, it would be a waste to leave your kimono behind. Why not make into a mismatched haori? A mixed of white and your kimono. And, Giyuu could take the other half! A mixed of maroon and your kimono, symbolising your friendship!" You suggested suddenly, you have a thought that Sabito or Giyuu might not wear a mismatched haori and that might be a problem but it's a win-win.
"That's not a bad idea." Sabito agrees at your statement, as it also confirms your suspicion. "But what about you?"
"Oh! I'm going to wear my checkered haori! It reminds me of my family." You reasoned out, knowing that they'll think how much you ramble about your siblings.
You turn to Giyuu's way, almost forgetting him. "Giyuu,"
"You are not weak because you got hurt at the start of the exam. You're strong because you survived. ...If you still don't believe me." You looked at his dark blue eyes with the amount of seriousness he hasn't yet seen.
"Create a new goal. Get stronger and protect the weak." You let out a wide grin as your eyes speak the opposite.
In fact, you think you were more of a coward than Giyuu, despite the fact that his inferiority complex in the anime, he kept on living. You couldn't even protect your family, but here you are, giving a motivational quote about saving the weak.
...What a hypocrite.
*
"My sibling are so cute! They're so precious~!"
As you ramble to Sabito, Giyuu and Urokodaki about your lovely siblings were, the sound of wind chimes caught your attention. You head out the door as a knock follows the sound of wind chimes.
You open the door and see three different people with clown masks.
You poured the tea for everyone as Urokodaki talks to the swordsmiths. One of them was a man named Koenji, tasked to make yours. "I am very honoured to make your personal sword. The ore was found in specific mountain that always bathed from sunlight all day. It is a blade all Demon Slayers used to fight against demon, the Ninchirin Sword." Koenji explains for you three as he hands out your very own sword.
The scabbard was in a smooth cream color, a gold star hand guard and a very neatly tied black handle, a violet decorating on the scabbard on the top. It was simple but very pretty.
"Whoa, it's really pretty." You praised Koenji, who only crossed his arms, proudly tilting his head upright.
"Of course it is. I made it!" He huffed. "Just open it already!"
You looked at Sabito and Giyuu, noticing them looking at you with expectancy. Your eyes trailed at their unsheathed sword, already had a dark blue colour.
What?! I missed it!? Nooooo
You held your breath, holding the handl and slowly unsheathing it, letting the katana out. You hold it upright with both hands as you wait for the color to change in anticipation.
Metallic gray slowly fades away, turning into a more pale magenta color. "Wow." You said in awe, as you stare at your blade.
"It looks pretty." Giyuu said with a smile, as Sabito nods in agreement.
"Hm. I never seen this color." Giyuu's swordsmith scratched his chin, wondering. "Do you have a different breathing?"
"Oh," you snapped out from your thoughts. "Yes. I have a different breathing."
"Well, that explains it. This is the first time I've seen that color too but I don't think it's bad." Sabito's swordsmith said with a friendly tone.
"Hm. Since the delivery is finished, we'll go." Koenji stands up, as the two swordsmith follows him. You waved good to the trio as the boys get ready to wear their uniform.
When you entered, you see Sabito already wearing a slayer uniform. But the weirdest thing is, he's wearing a plain white haori. "Oh, [name]." Sabito calls you, stretching out a wrapped item. "For you." He coughs, hiding half of his face.
"What's this?" You asked, taking the item slowly.
"Just open it." He tsked, looking away with a close eyes. You looked at Urokodaki, who was not saying anything.
With confusion, you gently peeled off the wrapper. You looked at the item slowly, it looked like the similar fox mask that Urokodaki gave you but it had micro cracks around. "Wait. Did you put it back to together? When??"
"Doesn't matter. I fixed mine and Giyuu anyways so it wasn't a bother."
"I— Thank you, Sabito!" You hugged him tightly, Sabito struggling from your grasp with a red face.
"Let go, idiot!"
*
You nod, satisfied about your uniform. A demon slayer attire with an above the knee skirt. Might be a little short but you were thankful it came with a mini short.
Sabito was still in a room, checking out the uniform. You slowly draped your haori over your shoulders as you strapped your ninchirin sword on your waist.
You inspect the kitsune mask on your grasp, you gently placed it a table drawer, you don't want it to be broken again. Once, you settle down, you'll come back for it and it'll become a memorable item for your descendants — if you'll live and get a husband of course which most likely no one would marry you.
Ack, single life.
"Thank you for keeping it for now, Urokodaki-san." You thanked your teacher who nods silently.
You slipped out the door, walking behind the shack and unto the mountain you kept training yourself. As you pass by every trees, a translucent figure of you shows how you trained like hell, from jumping tree to tree, swinging your bokken, parring with Urokodaki and losing, everything.
You stopped, staring at the boulder chopped in half by you. A gust of wind came, letting your hair fly to the side.
(Art by me uwu. Please do not repost without my permission. You have been warned. Seriously, I will find you. :)
"Ne," you started talking to the air. "I apologize for not visiting you, Makomo. I couldn't feel your presence this past few days... I'm a slayer now. We barely survived the demon who killed you though.. I apologize for not killing the demon too, it felt like I'm not worthy to slay the demon despite you knowing I'm strong enough."
You knew. You were strong enough to kill that hand-demon, but you couldn't see yourself to be the one to kill him, you couldn't picture that moment. Because, Tanjiro is the chosen one, the character who'll set them free.
You closed your eyes, evening your slowly ragged breathing. "You've always believed in me that I can do it. You knew that I'd be able to kill the demon and that how you hoped for.. to be finally free. I kept lying to everyone and to myself shamelessly. I.. don't have the enough courage for myself, I kept making excuses because I know I'm not worthy for it."
You smiled, continued to talk freely in the wind. You don't know if she's there, but you hoped she was listening.
"Makomo... You've been.. the first friend I had in this world, the person who taught me to get stronger, but I wasted your hope for freedom." You return her grin, equally mournful. "I'll do my best to survive this world for you and for everyone. But I have one favor to ask you before I go, Makomo-chan."
You sniffed wiping your teary eyes. "When he comes here to become a slayer. Tell him that... in order to become stronger is ... train to death."
You stepped back, finally letting out your feelings as you walk away with a lighter heart. As the wind grew harsher, the sound of crows calling in the sky will be the start of a harsher reality.
*
There was an actual reason why I didn't let [name] kill the hand-demon. Cuz, killing the hand demon is bout Tanjiro's character development, that's why she didn't kill the demon and just escaped.
In my experience, stress can also manipulate your dreams from pressure and that's why I adapted it to this chapter. After the selection, [name] realized that it was just the start of a new beginning, where she would choose to let her family members die and I think that's a difficult decision, coupled with the weight of your own family.
When you kept stressing about something, you'll often dream about it. Like school, lovelife, etc. An example is about me, I kept having dreams about school, turning into nightmarish future but don't worry, I got used to it but the headaches are irritating.
What I want to say is, don't stress out a lot, especially when you're going to sleep.
Also, I wonder if you guys got nightmares to with monsters and stuff. Cuz, I'm so immune to monsters but afraid of school and I like horror and gore movies, my nightmares doesn't scares me -_-
I remember when I was younger I heard that you shouldn't look at mirrors on your dreams because it'll create demons and stuff, guess what my brain legit want to scare me that night. Didn't work tho, I didn't see anything.
Murata was actually in the same exam as Giyuu and Sabito. Sabito took the pieces of yours and his broken mask with his haori, thats why he wasn't wearing the haori in the selection. He felt bad and fixed your mask along with his and Giyuu's — that he later found scattered while helping carrying the injured slayers.
I'm not really great at imposing as the characters in the anime but I imagine Sabito being a tsundere. Idk why tho, kinda fits him.
The part where Giyuu thinks he's also unworthy to live is from his inferiority complex, thinking that he's too weak and would have died easily if not for Sabito. I think [name] also has this, because she's not that confident of her skills because she knows she's not the main character of the anime and just someone who disrupts it but it'll depend if she grows more confidence or sink in to the abyss of guilt.
I really like the idea where [name] gives the share of money from slaying demons that could help in Tanjuro, medically. But that might really not work much cuz of the sickness Tanjuro has (in my theory). The money could also help them financially for years.
Who do you think was the person referring by [name] in the favor to Makomo? If you got the person right, don't tell it in the comments so no spoilers would be made.
Also, since Sabito was alive there was a high probability that Giyuu won't wear a mismatched haori. So, [name] made a somewhat convincing talk bout wearing a mismatched, it's a win-win. Both Sabito and Giyuu will wear mismatched.
I do hope you liked this chapter, tell me if it's confusing for ya.
Images aren't mine unless said so, and some are only found in the internet/Pinterest. I do not own them.
Kimetsu no Yaiba is rightfully owned by Koyoharu Gotōge.