𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐞
(𝐯.) ; 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.
They watched as their heads flew off their bodies, only to land right next to each other and facing one another with their eyes wide opened.
"DID THEY GET THEM?! THEY DID! THEY DID! KYAAA!" Suma yelled out.
"They did it Hinatsuru-san! Look while you're crossing over to the other side!" only to have Makio hitting her harshly on the head.
"Do you even know what you're even saying?! Dummy!"
"Something's wrong here!" Hinatsuru yelled out.
"RUN!" Tengen yelled out as Gyutaro's body started to act up created a few cyclones of blood spray and [name]'s eyes could only widen as she quickly ran as well and only to notice how her feet wouldn't move.
"[NAME]!" Tengen yelled out as he quickly used his body to push her down and covered her from the sudden rage attacks of Gyutaro, and [name] could only gently place her arms around Tengen's body as she could hear the sound of blood splattering from his back, which she forcefully turned her body instead, allowing her to receive most of the damage.
Eventually, [name] and Tengen shifted as they emerged from the ruins. She stood up, helping Tengen to lean against a huge piece of wall and she remained silent. She could hear her hunger getting stronger as her blood turned hot for human flesh.
The moonlight silently reveals itself, and [name] sat on some ruins as she watched Tanjiro awaken. She watched silently as his eyes widened at the chaotic mess the place was in, and [name] noticed Nezuko right next to him.
"Oh, whoa... Everything's a wreck. Nezuko, did you save me?! Thanks..." he spoke out as he ruffled Nezuko on the head. [name] then smiled softly as she watched him get up, trying to find the other demon slayers.
"Tanjirooooooo! Tanjirooooooo!"
"It's Zenitsu's voice!"
"When I woke up, my whole body hurt! And why the hell are all my legs all broken? Who did this to me?! It hurts! I'm so scared I can't see!"
"You're okay! That's great!"
"No, I'm not! I'm pretty messed up, but Inosuke is even worst. His heartbeat is slowly getting weaker! He's over there! There!" and [name]'s eyes widened as she remembered the name Inosuke. She then looked over to him who was lying flat on the top of a roof that was still in its shape.
"INOSUKE! INOSUKE! INOSUKE! KEEP IT TOGETHER! INOSUKE!" and [name] watched as Nezuko placed her tiny hand onto Inosuke's body and set him on fire. Her eyes widened at her Blood Demon Art, and [name] knew Inosuke was healing.
"I'm hungry. Give me something to eat!"
"Inosuke!"
"NOOOO! DON'T DIE! PLEASE DON'T DIE-TENGEN SAMA! WE ALL MANAGED TO STAY ALIVE! AND WE WON! NO, NOO! WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE DEMON POISON? THE ANTIDOTES AREN'T WORKING! YOU'RE SO CRUEL, GODS! SO CRUEL!"
"I have some final things to say... Up until now, I've lived..."
"IF YOU LET TENGEN-SAMA DIE, I WON'T BE PRAYING TO GUYS ANYMORE! I WON'T EVER FORGIVE YOU!" Suma yelled out.
"HEY SHUT UP FOR A BIT! TENGEN-SAMA'S SPEAKING NOW! I'LL FILL YOUR MOUTH WITH ROCKS YOU DUMB WOMAN!" Makio yelled out as she started to stuff rocks into Suma's mouth.
"Both of you, be quiet!" Hinatsuru tried to get them to keep quiet.
"MAKIO-SAN IS BULLYING ME!"
"Are you kidding me? Am I gonna die without leaving any last words? I can't move my tongue any more thanks to the poison. Why is this happening I have the time to say some final words now, come on," Tengen thought to himself, and soon he felt someone's finger against his forehead.
His eyes widened as he looked at [name] who was smiling dearly at him.
"[name], are you alright?" he asked, and [name] nodded her head then as she sat down onto the ruin next to him and crossed her legs then, her wounds starting to close up slowly.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! WHO ARE YOU?! ISN'T IT WAY TOO EARLY FOR A CREMATION HERE?! HE ISN'T EVEN DEAD YET AND YOU'RE BURNING HIM! I WILL SPANK YOUR BUTT. YOUR BIG SISTER'S ANGRY NOW!" Suma yelled out as she held Nezuko by the shoulders, which [name] watched as Nezuko had set Tengen up into flames.
"Hold on. What the hell just happened? The poison's gone," he spoke out and [name] continued to remain silent, turning to walk away instead. Her light blue eyes laid upon Obanai who had arrived, and she walked past him.
Whispering something to him as his heterochromia eyes widened as he quickly turned, only to be greeted with her vanishing sight. His hands tightened into fists then as he swallowed the lump in his throat, looking towards where Tengen and his wives were.
"I should praise you or something," Obanai spoke out as he looked at Tengen and his wives.
"No, I don't need your praise,"
"You're pretty late,"
"THAT'S RIGHT! Y-Y-YOU'RE SO LATE WERE YOU ACTUALLY COMING?! YOU'RE SO LATE!" and Obanai slowly turned to look at [name] who was standing somewhere on the ruins, far from where they were.
The look on her face tells him everything as he hesitantly nodded his head, watching as she turned her back on them and proceeds to leave.
"She's not coming back, isn't she?" Tengen asked as he let out a sigh, leaning against the ruin as he tilts his head up to look at the night sky full of stars.
"She nearly lost control earlier on, but she tried her best," Tengen added on and Obanai remained silent as they realized they were going to lose a Hashira.
For Yuizome [name] has decided not to return to the Demon Slayer Corps after what she had experienced during the fight against the Upper Moon Six. Deeming herself as dangerous, she no longer trusted herself.
Thus, deciding to go into hiding until she had enough of life and step out into the sun to allow herself to be killed off before she could devour a human body.
And they listened as the crows were fluttering around, listening to the announcement of how an Upper Moon demon was finally defeated.
Yet, it felt as if the Hashiras had lost something.
❆
The Hashiras was present in the room where it was lit up only a single candle which was placed in between Oyakata-sama and them as he was sitting opposite of them. They could only watch as Oyakata-sama was preparing his questions.
"Just as you all have reported, the demon's carnage has increased more than ever. Meaning that the threat to human life is greater than its ever been. We'll have to bolster the ranks of the Demon Slayers. What do you all think?"
"The incident at the Natagumo Mountain made it crystal clear. Only us Hashiras can survive with such injuries. If any of the lower-ranking demon slayers were to be the one deployed, they would have already died. Most of them are useless, the trainers must have been blind. You'd think they could at least tell if someone's competent or not," Sanemi spoke out with a scowl on his face.
"Adding on at the Red Light District and the Mugen train as well, it's mostly us Hashiras that managed to pull through, whereas the others are just plain troublesome," Sanemi added on.
"Well, Tanjiro sure seems competent. After all, he did land that flamboyant blow on you, Sanemi. He's got potential," and Sanemi had on a scowl once again.
"The more the human population increases, the harder it becomes to control and unify them. Not to mention that the times have changed considerably in this era," Shinobu spoke out with a smile.
"Other than those who've had their loved one brutally massacred, and joined the Corps, or those of distinguished pedigree who have hunted demons for generations, to ask anyone to harness as much or even greater resolve and drive to produce results would be cruel," Himejima added on as he placed his two large hands together.
"Still, considering that Tanjiro ran into a twelve kizuki so soon and quite often whenever he went on missions, he may have the power to draw them! Even we rarely get the chance to confront as many like him, it makes me envious!" and Tengen reached out, smacking Kyojuro lightly on the back of his head.
"Rengoku, you have already encountered the Upper Moon Three," Tengen pointed out and somehow they turned to look as the strong gust of winds were blowing into the room, only for them to remain silent.
"I see that Tomioka isn't around," Tengen added on and Oyakata-sama could only have a soft smile on his face then.
"Giyuu has gone on a mission, that only he can complete," Oyakata-sama added on and soon the Hashiras realized what he had meant and decided to remain silent about it as they continued with their chat in regards to the demons they had encountered.
"But the fact that the Upper Moon Demons are making such drastic move by trying to kill off the Hashiras that we have probably means Muzan is advancing towards his goal, given how he dared to show his face in front of [name]," Obanai spoke out.
"I believe that among you Hashiras who are present today, I've assembled the finest unit since the First Breathing swordsmen of the feudal era," Oyakata-sama said with a smile then.
"And that includes [name] and Giyuu as well,"
"And I must say, that I'm very proud of every demon slayer present in the Demon Slayer Corps. For it has been 100 years ever since an Upper Moon was defeated, and Tengen, I'm glad you are not retiring despite what Hinatsuru had spoken about before. This is a tough decision that has been made," Oyakata-sama added on as he started to cough and Amane held him gently.
"With that, we must continue to head for our goal and defeat Kibutsuji Muzan, to ensure that no more innocent lives will be lost, no more demons will exist," Oyakata-sama added on as he started to grow weaker.
"Oyakata-sama, you should rest," Himejima spoke out.
"Gyomei... Do let me know any news in regards to [name]... I believe Giyuu will be able to convince her somehow," Oyakata-sama whispered out and Himejima remained silent.
Words had gone out to the lower-ranked demon slayers that [name] nearly killed Hinatsuru due to how hungry she was, and nearly killing an innocent life as well. Yet, the Hashiras went against it, stating that [name] had bitten herself to control herself.
Which then the lower-ranked demon slayers pointed out that it was just temporary, telling them that there will come a day where [name] will end up eating humans and will kill them all before they could turn her back into a human.
Which made Kanae, Shinobu and Mitsuri get upset as the other Hashiras stood up for [name], including Muichiro who felt that they were all too weak and shouldn't be bitching about another Hashira when they have yet to reach the position.
"I understand, that the others are not accepting in regards to the current situation that the Hashiras are facing. But I must thank you all, that in regards to preserving and standing up for [name], you have all shown great maturity. Knowing that she is our ally, that she is our friend still, no matter what form she is in," Oyakata-sama added on.
"Tomioka better be fucking bringing her back then since Oyakata-sama said it till this point," Sanemi muttered out as they walked out of the room once the meeting had ended and the Hashiras stood at the patio, looking up to the clear night sky that doesn't have many stars present.
"Well, it seems that we have a bigger role ahead of us," Kanae spoke out with a smile and soon her smile dropped as she placed her hands together, with Shinobu holding onto them as well along with Mitsuri.
For they hoped that [name] would be alright and that Giyuu will be able to convince her to return home.
❆
She trudged through the bustling town that she remembered so clearly. The night was young as she looked around, many recognized her due to how they had always remembered her to be the daughter of those who lived in the mountains.
Along with how her hair was as white as snow as well.
"It's been a long time since you last came here, [name]! Would you like some apples to bring home?" one of the fruit store owner asked and [name]'s light blue eyes laid upon the crate of apples, and somehow she felt hungry for them.
Nodding her head a little, the man chuckled as he quickly packed them into a cloth bag and handed it to her, watching as she rummaged through her uniform to find her money only for him to hold his hand out.
"It's alright. It's a gift from me to you, it has been a long time ever since that incident," he spoke out and her eyes widened as she realized what incident he was referring to. She slowly nodded her head, accepting the gift as she turned to walk away then.
A worn-out house soon came into view, and [name] smiled upon the view of it. It was left how it was, the bloodstains remained, left uncleaned after so many years. Her eyes soon travelled to the graves that the previous Flame Hashira had done for her parents, and soon she knelt before the two biggest ones, symbolizing her father and mother.
She held her hands together as she placed them on her lap, looking at the grave before her. She breathed in and out deeply and soon plastered a smile on her face despite tears threatening to fall from her face.
"Sometimes I wish it was snowing," she whispered out and she laughed softly to herself as she should hear her parents chuckling at her obsession with the snow. She shook her head then as she started to speak what was on her mind.
"I... Became what I never wanted to become," she whispered out and soon shook her head as she spoke with her heart instead, knowing that was what her mother often taught her when she wants to speak about what's going on in her life.
"Oh, right... I have a lover too," she spoke out with a smile as her mind drifted off to Giyuu, but soon a sad smile appeared on her lips then as she realized she had left him behind unknowingly.
"I kind of... Accidentally left him behind?" she spoke out as she tilts her head, and [name] swore she could hear her parents chuckling at her actions, scolding her for being such a bad lover too. Getting up did she walk to enter her estate, and she could only let out a soft sigh.
Everything was a mess, it was the same thing she had remembered ever since they the incident. The blood dried up as it stained the wooden flooring, yet, the bodies were no longer present. Her lips pressed into a fine thin line as she looked around.
"I'm... Home..." she softly whispered out to nobody in particular. Nobody responded, not like she was waiting for one from the start. She placed her baggage down as she took a good look of how detail orientated it was, symbolizing how her body loved it a whole lot.
She walked around, shifting the furnitures and placing them upright. Grabbing hold of an old broom, she proceeds to sweep the place. And then she stopped.
She turned to look at the room where she once slept in and her lips pressed into a fine thin line as she slid the door opened and was greeted with nothing but a clean room. The only room that the demon didn't touch back then for she was pushed out of the estate before she could get injured.
She walked deeper into the room, noticing the little things that continued to remain. She proceeds to pack her room just a little, and eventually moved on to the common shared space. Followed by the garden that was in the middle of their small estate.
Where the flowers had withered and weeds were growing as well.
Pulling out the weeds and clearing the area without another care in the world. She could only let herself drown out with the chores she had assigned herself to do so, trying her best to keep herself from crying.
It was the least she could do when she visits her hometown.
"I'm going to stay here, till I die," she whispered out to nobody in particular, only to have her light blue eyes widened as a pair of muscular arms was wrapped around her waist and she was tugged back against a toned chest.
"Tomioka-san?" she whispered out, and Giyuu forced her to look at him.
"Didn't I say to call me Giyuu?" he asked, and [name]'s pink-tinted lips curled up into a soft smile then as he pressed his lips against hers, and she couldn't help but let the tears slid down her face then.
"Why are you here?" she asked, rather surprised that Giyuu was able to find her. After all, she didn't tell anybody where she was going. But here he was now, hugging her tightly as he stared at her with his pair of dark blue hues.
"To stay with you, of course," he spoke out as he kissed her once more.
"𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞. 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, [𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞]. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫,"
he whispered out those words, and [name] couldn't help but break down in his arms.
"It's okay to cry," he whispered out.
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➸ 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝...