Sometimes, things don't like to go my way. Honestly, that's perfectly fine. Things never really went my way anyway. I had to get used to it either way. Even when you think my life seems nice, being a Tsukugo and living with Pillers, everyone has their own battles to face. Everyone has their own tasks and goals to handle.

My task is to defeat all the demons and protect all my loved ones. I was too late to save my uncle. I was too slow to cut off the demon who killed him off. Hence, I vowed myself to kill everyone demon in my path.

The anger and hatred for them only grew by the second.

However, my current task was finding a Kakushi team. Once I find a Kakushi team, I can lead them to Inosuke.

Inosuke?

Oh yeah. He's a demon slayer I recently met back at the Final Selection. Ever since then, we've been meeting all the time. Crossing missions, going on a joint mission, and now seeing him after Tomioka and I saved him from this spider demon.

It's strange since I've never met anyone like him. Anyone as stupid and blunt as him. I've never met anyone who really crossed my mind as much as he did. Maybe it was his attractive face or the way his swords looked. Maybe his breathing technique? Whatever it was, it kind of annoyed me.

But that didn't matter at this moment. He was crucially hurt with cuts all over his body. The only task for me was to get him a Kakushi team to retrieve him and get him alive. Otherwise, that would put my task of protecting others into failure.

I've been running for a few minutes, but I could finally see the Kakushi group that was wrapping bodies in linen cloth.

They were all running around, holding small bodies of humanoid spiders or holding up ladders to retrieve more people who were being held by a thread. It's a miracle that most of these people are alive.

Kanao patted my back as she turned to face me, finishing giving a few orders to Kakushi.

"Kanao? Would it be alright if I took a team of Kakushi? Maybe three." I asked her as I held up my three fingers, each one bandaged with a red hue leaking out. "There's a demon slayer in the forest who has critical wounds."

Before Kanao could respond with her coin, I heard a familiar hum behind me.

Turning around, Shinobu had her closed eye smile as she waltzed over to me. Her hair floated nicely as she seemed to be floating. Each move she made with her steps was like she was walking on air, gracefully.

"My, my, (Y/N), of course! In the meantime, I might as well send a few more Kakushi towards your area just to scan if any more demon slayers are nearby." She smoothly spoke out as she unwrapped a roll of linen.

"In the meantime, Kanao will lead this part of the mountain. I have a small chore I need to take care of." Shinobu sighed as she swung her sword out.

I bowed. "Is there anything I can do before I take my leave?" I asked as she handed Kanao a linen cloth.

Shinobu hummed as she poked herself in her chin. "Well... there's a demon slayer on the top of that shed," Shinobu pointed to a shed that was hanging in mid-air, being held up by spider threads. That must've been the place where a demon was hiding. "Before you go, please assist the Kakushi there for a moment.

In a flash she disappeared.

I was already on my way to the shed. I could see a group of Kakushi hovering over a certain spot. Murmurings and whispers were heard from them as they slowly moved out of my way.

There, I saw a terrible sight.

 A demon slayer with bright yellow hair was passed out, laying down on a stretcher as Kakushi tried their best to wrap his small limps. It seemed like he was poisoned and in the process to become a humanoid spider.

"Oh dear..." I sighed as I crouched down before the body. "Have you given him Shinobu's antidode?"

The Kakushi nodded. "Yes, but his pulse his gradually slowing down."

I could see that he was still breathing, taking deep breathes and long exhales. He's a smart boy, using his breathing to slow down the spreading of the poison.

"I see... well, he seems to be breathing quite fine." I planted my palm onto his chest. He immedietly tensed up. "Calm down... it's okay." I whispered down onto him.

It seemed like magic, but the boy calmed down quicker then I expected. And his face grew a deep red shade.

"Yes..." he breathed out.

He seemed to be in a fine condition. Everything was under control at this point.

"Alright! I'm going to need three teams of three in each. Shinobu ordered me to send two teams of three towards my area. The other team is instructed to follow me." I ordered immeditaly. Surrounding Kakushi were all listening while a few were carrying the yellow-haired boy away.

"You're ordered to scan the mountain for anymore bodies. Be sure to bring a handfull of Shinobu's antidode and a stretcher." I nodded my head as the Kakushi started to split into a groups of three.

----

I ordered the teams to seperate areas on the mountain. As a team was running behind me, I could hear running beside me. It was distant, but I could hear it. It wasn't of the Kakushi behind me, but... to my right.

What I saw was kind of strange.

There was a boy carrying a little girl. The boy was wearing a checkered green and black haori. As the wind was blowing harshly, I could see he was wearing a demon slayer uniform.

I could also see his harsh wounds on his face and the girl.

Behind them, I could see..

"KANAO!" I shouted as I started to run a little faster.

I suddenly remembered the Kakushi behind me.

Steering my ankles into a stop, I turned and teetered my body to face them.

"There's an injured demon slayer if you keep running that same direction for a few more meters! He doesn't look like he needs the antidode, but please be careful with him either way!" I called to them.

At once, the Kakushi obeyed me nicely.

I'm sorry, Inosuke, I'll just have to check up on you later.

"Kanao!" I called to her once more just as I caught up to her.

Kanao nodded ahead of me. "That boy is carrying a demon." She smoothly sighed.

"A-A demon?" I stammered out as I stared back at the boy in front of us. He was limping horribly and I could hear that his breathing was starting to stagger. Surely, he was also a demon slayer, right?

Kanao suddenly jumped up.

It a quick motion, she slammed a harsh kick onto the boy's back.

He gasped in pain and dropped the demon.

"RUN! NEZUKO! RUN!" I could hear him shout.

But just as he spoke those words, I was already running towards the demon with my sword swung out. The demon was quite fast, despite the large clothes that were on it.

One thing that lingered in my mind.

Did that boy name the demon? I'm sorry, but who would ever name a demon?

Quickly, just as the demon turned its head back, I swung my sword horizontally as I aimed for its neck.

But immediately, she shrunk.

"What..." I gasped out as the demon, now as small as a child, was running and jumping around the logs.

In a whoosh of wind, Kanao suddenly caught up behind me.

She was so quick, she even caught up to the demon. I guess that gave me a sign to catch up and resume my original task.

As I ran back into the other direction, I caught up with the original Kakushi team.

"M-Master (Y/N)?" A Kakushi stammered out as I jumped up ahead of them.

"So sorry about that! Kanao has the situation under control!" I called back to them.

But we were close.

I skidded to a sudden stop, the Kakushi behind me waving their arms in the air to catch their balence. The air was thinner. This was definitely the same spot where I saved Inosuke. But- he wasn't here?

A tickle of worry stung inside of me.

"Inosuke?" I called out.

Actually. What the hell am I doing?

I jumped over to a tree stump.

Yeah, he was here. He was leaning against the tree, his head hung low as his arms were hung to his side. He looked... dead.

"SHIT!" I cursed out and swung myself to sit in front of him.

I grabbed his shoulders. "Inosuke? Inosuke?" I called out his name a few more times as I lightly shook his shoulders.

There was no response. His head only bobbed back down.

I didn't want to ruin his privacy, but I had to do it.

I clasped my hands on either side of his mask. No reaction.

Slowly, I lifted it up.

I could see his blue hair, fading into black as I made my way up. I could see his chin, dripping with blood. But I paused for a moment.

He was breathing, slowly. His shoulders lifting up slightly as a warm breath came from his mouth.

"Stop..." he groaned. His voice was raspier then before. It was like he was aching for water as his voice was deeper as well. He lifted a shaky hand up to grab my arm.

Quickly, I planted his mask back onto his head. 

"I'm sorry, Inosuke. Do you think you can get up?" I asked him as I called over the Kakushi. As I did so, I grabbed a vase of water.

There was no response.

"Here, you need this water." I sighed as I carefully gripped his hand and placed it on the vase. "Shinobu put an ointment in there to numb some of the pain."

There was still no response.

"Inosuke! Respond to me!" I cried out. I didn't even know my eyes were tearing up until he turned up to face me. I backed up, taken aback from my actions and embarressed. I also felt ashamed for doing something without his permission.

The Kakushi came, ready to grab Inosuke.

Quickly, I wiped my eyes. "B-Be sure to be careful with him. His breathing seems steady and his pulse is okay. His wounds may open up, but be sure to wrap them in cloth. Not too tight and not too loose." I staggered out as I straightened my back.

The Kakushi nodded as one lifted Inosuke up. He wasn't responding at all. He was even limp as he was lifted up onto a Kakushi's shoulder. I was worried about him. He wasn't boasting or shouting anymore. This really wasn't normal.

We were steadily walking back to the group. Inosuke, strung up on a Kakushi's shoulder, was still unresponsive.

It was for a small moment, but his hand twitched before it relaxed.

I bit the inside of my mouth for a moment. He must be in a lot of pain and I know he hates to admit something like that. I wondered if I could do anything to help him out.

Slowly, my hand made its way to his.

I hesitated for a moment before clasping my hand on his.  His hand was cold and dry. There were blisters forming on his hand as well. Even my own hands had blisters. He tensed up as I did so, even lifting his arm a little.

"It's okay, Ino." I whispered to him. He started to calm down gently. I could hear a small sigh come out of him.

"MESSAGE! MESSAGE!"

I flinched and quickly let go of him.

Above us, a crow was flapping above us.

"TANJIRO, DRESSED IN A CHECKERED HAORI WITH A SCAR, AND NEZUKO, A DEMON WITH A BAMBOO, ARE TO BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND BROUGHT TO HEADQUARTERS!"

Tanjiro?

I suddenly remembered the boy with the green and black checkered haori. He was the one that Kanao nocked out in one kick with her ankle.

Nezuko?

The demon girl who I was chasing? The one who shrunk into the size of a small girl?

Tanjiro and Nezuko.

Okay, okay.

I guess I should be expecting them back at home as well.

----

As we made our way back to the group, I could see that there were bodies wrapped in linen everywhere. Each one had a paper on them reading "FINISHED TREATMENT."

I even saw the yellow-haired boy wrapped in linen. He had a small sparrow on his wrapped head. His bright yellow eyes were scanning the area, as his limps were immoble.

"Be sure to send Ino to the estate to be treated." I pointed to a group of Kakushi.

Quickly, they nodded and started making their way down the mountian. Inosuke's head bobbed up to me. His shaky arm was raised.

I carefully held his hand one last time. "It's alright. You're gonna be fine." I smiled down at him as I reached into my pocket. "Here, my last one." I handed him a small onigiri rice ball as he was hoisted up onto a stretcher.

"We're ready to send the first group down the mountain." A Kakushi told me.

I nodded at them. "Go ahead. Kanao and I will stay here and organize the other groups."

They nodded at my command and started to walk down the mountain.

As I saw Inosuke's body disappear, I felt satisfied with my work. Something weird was stirring up inside of me. Maybe it was the horrible smell on the mountain. But it made my stomach feel weird.

"Kanao?" I asked as I stood up behind her.

Kanao nodded to me, her smile brightening up.

"(Y/N). I'll be hunting down the other demons in the area. Would you mind keeping track of the groups going to the estate?" She asked as she adjusted her sword on her hip.

My eyes widened with surprise. "Oh! Of course! Good luck, Kanao!" I chuckled as I pat her head.

Kanao gave me a calming closed-eye smile, similar to Shinobu's, and started to walk into the forset.

"Master (Y/N), shall we take the wounded to the Butterfly Estate?" A Kakushi asked as they bent down in front of me with a wrapped body in their arms.

Oh dear... all these people were damaged by the demons on this mountain. I'm aware that the estate has plenty of room. I might as well send them to the estate to get better. I wouldn't want anyone else dying here.

"Yes. Be sure to watch their pulse and be aware of the rocky terrain. Send the wounded ones who already had poision take affect to the west wing for special treatment." I advised them.

The Kakushi obeyed and all started lifting bodies down the mountain.

A sudden beautiful orange hue shot throughout the mountain.

I turned around and saw the sun peaking through the tops of the trees. A mix of purple and orange in the clouds were planted in the sky as it bled a beautiful and calming pallete for a sunrise. I could hear the birds chirping their morning songs as the air of the mountain suddenly turned warm with a cool breeze.

"Wow..." I sighed out as I stared up at the sunrise.

My name is (Y/N) Yoshioka. I'm the Tsukugo of the Water Piller, Giyu Tomioka. I don't really know why, though.

Even with my life in a messy twirl, I can't just stop and let everyone down.

----

Hello! I'm back from my short hiatus. Giving you a small update, I do now feel safe in this Wattpad environment. I'll be updating every three or two days now until my next hiatus. Thank you so much for reading my fan fiction and I hope you enjoy the next chapters to come!

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