-2 MONTHS AGO AFTER THE SWORDSMITH VILLAGE ATTACK-
**read chapter 29**
Satsuki froze on her spot, she thought it was because she had been kneeling on the tatami longer than she expected but that's clearly not the case.She stares at the head of the Ubuyashiki lying down,his whole body wraps in bandages but save for his mouth and nose, his condition is worsening,her nose can't deny that-the flesh is rotting underneath his skin,his cells are dying,he is dying.
"So how about it,Satsuki?"
Their attentions finally land on her,snapping her back from her own fear,
"I'm—i'm sorry—i must've misunderstand all those.I just heard something absurd because there's no way—"
But judging from Himejima's expression and smelling the ill man's scent,they meant dead serious.And it made her complexion fell harder,it all make sense,the puzzles are slowly coming to a one piece altogether.
She was absolutely clueless when they begin the discussion of the attack,a secret where the other Pillars are to remain in the dark but save for Himejima himself. But now,she gets it.
Why she was asked to assist with Kochō Shinobu's experiment on her blood with Lady Tamayo who had been invited to the resident but hidden from public eyes. Why she is to provide her blood over and over again for the past few nights.
The shock came late,Satsuki shot up from the ground with a sharp breath,
"Satsuki—"
"I cannot accept this!" she exclaimed, her furious eyes glaze over to Himejima who still kneeling on the other side of Ubuyashiki's bed,then to him,
"I will not let you do this,Oyakata-sama! I won't! There must be another way to corner him!"
"Satsuki, we have thought of this countless times. I am more than ready and willing to defeat Kibutsuji with all i have left."
"Oyakata-sama—"
"My wife and the children had seen this coming long before,it is their duty along with mine."
Her breathing came out shakily as her body drops down,having a hard time believe what were the words coming out of his mouth. She may not know him well but she know him enough to know he is a great leader,one who cares deep for his demon slayers.
"What about..the Pillars..?" she began,her voice small. She remember how the Pillars greatly admire and respect him even the ruthless Sanemi nor ignorant Giyū-that is enough proof for her to do the same.
"What if they are...sad?"
Kagaya smiles, "When they are sad,all they need to remember are the memories that will make them stronger,they have to go forward believing in the future-the future that i will help them to build."
Oyakata-sama knows he couldn't do much—that is why he wanted to become a strong foundation for us
Her eyes brims with hot tears,blurring her view,
"Even so..."
Then,this reminds her of Kyōjurō all over again.
The palms on the floor slowly clench to a fist,trembling her knuckles until they are white,
"Is there...really no other way..?"
The smile never cease off his mouth and it just made her wanted to cry even harder,
"I do not wish for the other children to see more deaths, that is why i can only ask of this from you and Gyoumei.So please," he tilt his head to the side though he can no longer see, he can hear she is choking back sobs through her bitten lip,
"Don't cry,Satsuki. I believe you can finish the mission i entrust you to."
Satsuki wipes her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform, after gulping down a lump, "What will you have me do Oyakata-sama?"
"Thank you." He sighs in relief, "I will leave the rest of the explanation to Lady Tamayo."
Huh..? Did he just said—
Her nose sniff the scent in the air, she whirl around to find another figure stood out of the door,her silhouette dances beyond the thin screen.
"Please come in." ordered Kagaya and then it slides open-revealing the very female demon that she had last exchanged letters months ago.
"Lady Tamayo.." gasp Satsuki
She smile upon seeing her, "Hello Satsuki, it is very nice to see you again."
Bewildered, Satsuki look back to Kagaya himself about to ask him for an answer but as if on cue, he continue;
"Lady Tamayo and i have discussed previously,all you need to do is to follow her instruction.Will you do it,Satsuki?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, pulling her lips to a firm line before nodding, "Yes, anything to ease your burden,Oyakata-sama."
"Thank you," he pause; "I can see why Kyōjurō had his faith on you.You are his proud successor."
She smiles through her tears,nodding again silently
"Do you believe in reincarnation,Satsuki?"
Eh? What's with the sudden...?
But does she?
It is a matter she never had the time to mull over; sure she heard them as myths and old folks often tell tales about them but she never paid too much attention to it.So when someone like Oyakata-sama brought it forward...what does she think about it?
"I believe this won't be the last time we meet,someday and somewhere, we will all see each other again."
Perhaps it is because of his gift that somehow uttering those simple words,it made her believe in that instance.A reincarnation-when you die you will be reborn again no matter how you look like but you will know yourself.
"Satsuki," called Tamayo breaking her thoughts, "We have plenty to do and there isn't much time."
"Go." assure Kagaya again, "Good bye,Harukigahara Satsuki."
So she then bows deeply,knees gather as one and dip her head down until her forehead touches the floor,
"I wish you happiness even in the afterlife,Oyakata-sama." she looks up slowly,
"And i believe we will see each other someday again."
————
Blood curdling scream resonates the room and even through the dark corridor but perhaps it's because they are two floors underneath the basement,it became soundless above the ground.Her scream follows by whimpers,moaning in pain and even hisses. Tamayo could only watch with the endurance of patience,she can't help her. Not when she recalled how Satsuki is ready to face the consequences for the side effect of this poison.
Tamayo gnaw on her lower lip as she watches the girl doubled over on the floor,her trembling limbs struggle to keep her up.
"Satsuki." She called but she didn't answer,only her heavy panting echoes
"Satsuki,are you okay?" she is genuinely worried, she tries to make the poison as tolerate as possible inside a human's body because after all,it meant to be for a demon.
"I'm fine.." she finally manage to choke out
The effect began after Tamayo had injected two shots of the liquid into her veins, letting the reaction took over not even 5 minutes later. She gather herself up and Tamayo scramble over to help the girl,guiding her to take a seat on a chair.Her face is pale and her whole body is covered in cold sweat,her veins were purple underneath her skin but is slowly fading away.
"Is it working..?" Satsuki ask after noticing how Tamayo's eyes studies them
She nods, "Yes."
"I see.." she murmurs, "I don't feel so good."
"You will feel nauseous for the next two days at least."
"Okay..." she nods vaguely,Tamayo grabs the napkin she prepared on the desk,from the side of her experiment tools, then dabbing it on her face to wipe the sweat and let her head fall onto her chest to rest
Now her heart ache;the poor girl who only wanted to be happy,living a simple life, the poor girl who fights for justice and the good,to protect people from demons. The girl who is able to love and care for her comrades and friends,is willing to put her life on the line.
Her hand slowly tugs her fringe away from sticking onto her cheeks, if she was able to remain human and watch her daughter grow,will she grow like a darling Satsuki is? Is this how it feels to have a child?
A tear prickled at the corner of her eyes
"Why are you crying?" Satsuki chuckles faintly,forgetting she is able to smell people's sadness including demon's
"Don't worry,Lady Tamayo." Assure her; "I chose this so no need to feel guilty about it."
Tamayo's mouth quirk to a small,mellow smile,taking her weak form to her embrace that it remind Satsuki how her mother used to embrace her,she have the same warmth despite a different creature.
No need to feel guilty about it because like Kyōjurō,i lived a splendid life
-PRESENT-
Satsuki's golden hues stare at the sword reflect how her eyes are in her hands,still admiring the carve of 'Rengoku' above the hilt,letting the tip of her fingers traces every lines. The night is so quiet-too quiet that all her senses tingles and sharpens at every movements,smell and sound.
Including Kibutsuji's
She sheathe her sword back,standing up from kneeling on the floor and went to grab the haori folded neatly on the desk. She swung them perfectly to wore them,letting the piece of cloth flutters behind her back;the haori that belongs to the previous Flame Pillar- white-yellow gradient pattern and red flame-like ridges at the end,the signature of the haori that has been passed down from the Rengoku succession.
She exited the veranda,studying the full moon lit up too bright in the night sky.When the wind picks up that is when the smell of the demon progenitor grew stronger into her nose.She took in a deep breath,exhaling them rather slowly,
"I'm coming for you,Kibutsuji Muzan."