January 16, 2020

Hello, darlings! Hello, hallo, hullo!

Muah.

Thank you so much for sticking with me and this fanfic after this hiatus. Chapters will start coming out again! But I can't guarantee chapters will come on a daily schedule. An assumption would be that chapters would come once every week or two.

Thank you so much for 2K and 3K Reads!

If anyone has any suggestions for the 2K and 3K Special Chapter, I am indeed still open! I'm actually thinking of making it a full on mini-book of scenarios you guys picked out! How does that sound? Like a huge drabble book.

That's all I had to announce! Again, thank you so much. I wish every single one of you lovelies a fun and safe rest of your day~

cursed

----

Warnings: Mentions of blood, gore, and anxiety

If any of those are a trigger, I do suggest to stop reading.

Tanjiro sighed as he leaned his whole weight back, his arms used as support for his aching body. The poor crimson haired and his colorful friends had been yelled at by the Sound Piller not once, not twice, but three times.

The crisp twilight air gently caressed the boy's face, entrancing him in a tired sigh as his shoulders gave in and his back slouched forward. The smell of sweet strawberry, tears, blood, and the pure emotion of anger could distinctively tingle his nose.

It also only took him a second to realize that their friend, (Y/N), had slipped out of the room during the quarrel, feeling that the air had rested and emptied of itself like water dumping into a river.

All that was left from her was a strawberry cake, lined with a glistening white frosting and topped with a glossy candy strawberry. Tanjiro's deep red eyes stared curiously at the dessert. He had never tried such a cake before, having to only had a few desserts in his life anyway.

Looking back up at his friends, Zenitsu was getting ready to head to bed, flattening his blankets, while Inosuke sat across from him, his elbow perching his head up as he flicked at the crumbs on the smooth table surface.

"Care for a cake, Inosuke?" Tanjiro offered as his arm reached to grab ahold of four ceramics plates on the kotastu. "(Y/N) left it here for us." He added on, beginning to slice the cake. The poor boy was confused, slicing the cake in squares.

Inosuke groaned, his head dropping forehead first onto the table. His hair draped out across the table and a mumble leaving his lips, Inosuke banged his forehead on the table a few more times. His movements rattled the plates on the table and shook the cake ever so slightly.

Tanjiro lifted his head as he could sense the frustrated aura of Zenitsu as he lifted his head from his pillow.

"Can you shut up? We have a mission, tomorrow!" He wailed out, his voice coming in raspy from screaming and tired.

Inosuke perked his chin onto the table. "Hand me that fancy bread," He demanded in a stern and heavy tone, brows pinched into a frown as he stared impatiently at his friend.

Tanjiro slid a plate towards Inosuke, handing him a utensil in the process but having Inosuke swipe it away with a single move of his arm. The emerald eyed boy stared, perplexed at this strange new substance on which Rice Girl had brought to them.

"It's cake!" Tanjiro chuckled, Inosuke lifting a brow to show his attention. "(Y/N) said it was good! I'm sure it is!"

Groaning, the two opposite boys dropped their heads, either on a pillow or on a table.

Inosuke seemed to stare at the said dessert, his pupils reflecting off the shiny cake as his mouth started to line with drool. Of course it looked delicious. He could chomp it down in a single breath.

But his head was somewhere else. Someplace far, far away.

He couldn't find the correct words for it. In fact, it had been a while since he focused on such a strange feeling.

Tanjiro stared, in fact longer then he should have. He was stuck on the black to blue haired fellow. He was also curious. Did the cake look that strange for him to stare at it for such a long and hefty time?

"Something on your mind, Inosuke?" Tanjiro asked as he nimbly slid a bit of the sweetness of the cake into his mouth. His tongue lavished on the taste, his eyes lighting up as he has never had such a delectable meal.

The said boy mumbled, raising his shoulder before dropping it.

"It's Rice Girl." He simply replied with a rasp sitting at the back of his worn out voice.

"Did she do something?" Zenitsu lifted his head from the other side of the room. "Perhaps you messed up on her." He scoffed before twisting his body to face his two friends.

"Hey, hey, no more fighting." Tanjiro butted in before Inosuke had the energy to react and lift his fist towards the hazy blonde. "I'm sure Inosuke has his reasons. Why is that, anyway?" He crossed his attention towards the boy who had red across his frustrated expression.

And ever so slowly, with delicately shaky movements, he poked his index finger straight into his cheek, feeling his teeth on the other side of the flesh.

"She put her mouth here." His voice was lower then a mumble, raspier then usual, and almost sounding like he was on the brink of falling asleep.

It was then, did the entire room erupt into light.

----

The brisk afternoon air was nearly settling from a windy day. With due attached to the stems and leaves of nearby trees, to the damp floor of the dirt road, to the distant sounds of crows overheard among the hills, and to the silent tapping of a sheath hitting against a belt.

With fog starting to set and melt into the earthy floor, every breath taken in this time would be visible in the chilling setting. Nothing more then the cold nipping at your fingertips as you graze them across your warm cheeks.

The sky was starting to darken. The sun was starting to set, nearly the waves of its light disappearing and pulling away at the hills. Stars were barely visible, sneaking in through thin peaks of the clouds to find any chance to shine.

Nothing more then crickets and the ruffling of leaves were heard from around the environment. As night fell, you would much expect to hear something more sinister around these parts of the region.

My chest felt heavy as I let out a sigh from my lips, a deep rumble coming from my stomach as I lifted my chin into the air. It smelled damp, like a rain had rushed upon the scene with a clap. I could distantly pick up the air of an ocean. Perhaps I was still nearby.

With my crow nowhere in site, I continued to walk upon the road, my sandals brushing against the dirt and sand with a rough and crunchy sound emitting from the souls of my feet.

I wish I could explain how long I've been patrolling the region. Perhaps a week and a half? Counting the days doesn't seem to matter. After all, I'll be here long until Shinazugawa calls for another mission. Who knows when that'll happen.

My head has been full, as it most usually is not. Full of my senses being on a high, watching my environment and surroundings. Full of thoughts. When is my next meal? Where is the next village? How far away am I from civilization?

The tall trees above me could help with answering those questions.

Another part of my head was thinking about Inosuke.

No surprise there. After all, I can say that he's the one who took my first kiss. And I was the one who took his as well. It came as a shock, waking up in his warm embrace and soon being surprised with his lips on mine.

We were cut off short. A small part of me wished to stay like that forever.

At the same time, I felt guilty. I felt bad. I felt guilty for not saying anything about my feelings beforehand. I know I should've confessed to him first. It might've made more sense as to why I suddenly made a bold move to kiss him.

Goodness, even the word kiss starts butterflies to uproar.

Nonetheless, I have to confess to him. It's nearly a requirement now. It's to answer a huge question as well.

What are we? What am I to him?

To me, he's a boy. A boy who happens to be running around in my heart, sending off mixed signals with his electric and immense personality. A boy who caught my eye nearly immediately with his skill and passion. A boy who- I want to spend the rest of my days with.

I shook my head, ruffling a numb hand through my hair and tenderly rubbing the back of my neck. A chilling shock ran down my spine as I did that, cold biting at my skin like daggers were poking at me.

A second sigh was emitted from me as I could see my crow fly towards me from the distant. Its caw was loudly exhaled through the trees.

My ears stung from the sudden increase in noise as I offered my forearm forward. With sharp claws landing on my haori, my crow began to pant. I didn't even know crows could pant until I could see its little chest rising and falling.

"What's the matter?" I gingerly bounced my arm up and down, its head staying still. "Perhaps you need a rest from flying for so long."

"ATTACK-" It simply screeched before wheezing out.

I tilted my head. "Attack? Is there a problem up on the road?"

The crow shook its head instead. "FOLLOW!"

With that, it kicked itself off of my arm, wind coming from its wings as it flew up into the trees. The moonlight shadowing itself off, I could barely see its dark figure so high in the branches. But I could see its feathers as it fell from the air and onto myself and the road.

Shaking my head, I simply followed my crow's request. It could lead me to a potential point where demons were active.

And as a job for a Demon Slayer, killing them are my first priority. Well, now that I thought about it. As a person, protecting my loved ones are my first priority.

----

At this point, I was running. Running down a hill and skidding my sandals into a halt the closer we made it to the bottom. Running? Why? My crow was certainly speeding up for no apparent reason. I couldn't quite comprehend why.

The balls of my feet were starting to ache, my ankles giving in every time I jumped down from a log or a high hill. Yet, I wasn't out of breath. Good thanks for that since we were running for hours at least. 

The moon's shine was shining down on us, illuminating the path before me with a hazy white hue, my eyes having to squint if I wanted to look past five meters before me.

To my right, I could distantly here another pair of feet speeding among me. Perhaps it was away by a few more trees, a faint sigh heard from my right as well.

It couldn't have been a demon. Right? If it were to be a demon, damn call it a smart one. It would've pounded its claws on me right away. But instead it's been trailing me for about forty minutes at least.

The brisk wind I was created hit my cheeks like knives, biting at my eyelashes every time I blinked to relieve my poor watery eyes.

"Yoshioka?"

Immediately, I pounded my sandals onto the dirt path. Picking up dust from around me, with a loud slip of metal and wood, I raised my sword before me and skidded my feet into a strong stance. A perfect reflex I had practiced for so long was finally coming in handy.

As the dust cleared, my shoulders were heaving as I started to breathe from my mouth. My body wasn't yet used to this sudden stop I was experiencing. Still trying to catch my own breath, my throat stung as the sudden rush of the wind bit itself into my lungs.

Before me, I could see a clean white and black haori. Stripes with that said color going vertically up and down sleeves and the back. With hair darker then the night, cut nicely near the shoulders, the figure lifted its head, giving me a side profile of its monotone expression. With wraps of linen tight around its lips and nose, a bright yellow eye struck right onto me.

"Why are you so messy?" Iguro Obanai groaned with a tightness in his throat, clearly this was the one who was tailing me. "Were you also called towards Yoshiwara?"

The conversation happened quicker then I expected. Hearing his familiar voice struck a chord on me. Quickly, I slipped my sword back into its sheath, bowing down to the Snake Hashira whom I haven't come in contact with in a while.

"It's nice to see you ag-"

"Quiet with the greetings, I already understand." Iguro quickly remarked as he appeared behind me, his back turned against mine.

He had moved so quickly, I didn't realize he was behind me until I felt a shift in the wind. Jumping to face his back, I gulped upon seeing him. He was quite intimidating to say the least, with eyes two different colors and having them set upon with a thin expression. Something that looks like he's bound to kill me if I move a muscle.

"Are you coming or not? In fact, it wouldn't much matter if you ended up staying." The Snake Piller waved his finger horizontally before me, his pearly white snake slipping around his forearm and hissing from his hand.

"I can prove to you I can be of use!" Pressing my feet close together I bowed down once more.

Iguro seemed intrigued. "I'm actually surprised you lasted though Tomioka and Shinazugawa's training. You're still extra weight, but I suppose they look at you as a tool for power." He lowered his head, turning it away as his eyes shot towards the towering trees.

"Whatever the case may be, you mentioned we were headed towards Yoshiwara?" I perked up, trying to look over the shoulder of the Snake Piller.

"I'm sure your crow gave you directions. In the meantime, we head the same direction. And since none of your beloved Pillers aren't here to lecture me, you're following me. If you can't keep up, you'll die." He sighed, no visible breath coming from his masked lips. 

With his hair cowering down over his eyes, a final push with his feet were commenced as the Snake Piller was soon jumping in the trees.

I gasped in awe as I saw the speed and momentum of Iguro. He was certainly someone with a strict temper, but his skill and movements were each so calculated and different. Anyone fighting him would have to continue to guess and guess his next move.

I took it as a challenge. Time for a new mini-task to be set in my head.

Get to Yoshiwara before-

Yoshiwara.

I was already sprinting down the dirt road as my thoughts started to come together. Like water being dumped over the dirtiness of the dust, the realization hit me.

Yoshiwara, the Red Light Entertainment District.

Wasn't that where Tengen, Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu were? All four of them are gifted individuals with amazing skill and passion. In fact, they should already be done with their mission. Why are we going to Yoshiwara?

My mind began to spin. With my head in the clouds, I nearly ran straight into a tree.

No, focus. We're not going to Yoshiwara. Perhaps a village nearby that district, but not there. Everything must be fine at Yoshiwara. Everyone is alive at Yoshiwara. They're probably at the Butterfly Estate sleeping off.

There's no way they would need back up for-

"Yoshioka!"

My eyes trailing up into the sky, I felt an arm quickly yank the collar of my haori. With such strength, a choking sensation was tight around me as I was pulled up into the trees.

I could see the familiar yellow and turquoise eyes of Iguro, his pupils thin as I pulled myself up to where he had harshly pulled me. Gripping onto a thick branch of the tree, I swiveled myself to catch my balance.

"Stand still." Iguro snapped, pushing me to the main stalk of the tree. "Keep quiet and look."

I was generously stroking my throat with my palm, a soreness coming from it after my own collar was choking myself for a few seconds. My eyesight was still trying to settle. We were higher in the trees, the moonlight shining itself in a more powerful ray then when I was running among the short ferns.

"Keep- excuse me-"

His palm slammed down on my mouth. His hand smelled of lavender oils.

Tilting my head, he gingerly showed it towards the direction his own eyes were looking.

Letting my face go, a strong gust of wind was suddenly emitted from the direction. Wind carried many things. And one of the things my nose picked up was smoke.

Smoke-

In the direction of the Yoshiwara district.

A distant explosion was heard.

"Come on!" Iguro announced as he was already on the ground running towards the explosion before I could process my own thoughts. "For fuck's sake, Tengen might be dead."

What.

What the fuck did he say?

----

Indeed there was a fire around the woods of the main city inside the Yoshiwara district. Iguro and I were confronted with crowds of people sitting on the dirt path as they watched the smoke emit from the horizon of their once lively city.

We were running above the crowds, hearing them murmur and shriek with fear heard in the crack of their voice. I bit the inside of my mouth, wishing to block their poor cries. I swore I heard a baby in the middle of their cries as well.

Iguro was jumping from branch to branch right ahead of me, ordering me with arm moves to direct me which way to go.

The deep smell of smoke bit at my nose, causing me to scrunch it and shake my head to rid it around me. I let out a hefty cough, the smoke coming in thick all of a sudden as another round of wind came whipping around us.

Emerging from the smoke, Iguro grabbed onto my collar once more, pulling me into a sudden stop of surprise. I gasped out loud, the smoke clouding my throat as I did that regretfully.

"You stupid child." Iguro spat as he watched me cough like my last breath were about to run out. "We're here."

My blurry eyes began to settle as a screech of metal against metal rung in my ears. 

"I want you to look for any survivors."

My throat tightened, nearly choking myself alive. With my eyesight starting to shift and blank, my knees were starting to shake and give in. My heart was pounding harshly against my rib cage, like a drum being hit so hard it would be able to break its head.

My breathing was picking up, inhaling the smoke around me quicker then usual. Yet, I didn't cough. I was engulfing it quickly with every breath watering my eyes and stinging at my lungs. A rush of pure heat ran from my head to my toes, ache running down my spine.

It was so sudden, so fast, Iguro slapped my back with a harsh slam of his palm.

"Hey, snap out of it!" He commanded, shaking my shoulder and pulling me to sit upright.

----

Iguro could see the pure panic in her eyes. His own eyes widened with surprise. Her pupils were thin, nearly invisible as the purely insane color of her iris deepened and widened to expand across the whites.

Tears prickled the corner of her eyes, her lashes dampened from the tears that suddenly came upon her dirtied cheeks.

Iguro looked back at the sight on which they arrived at.

Of course. The whole place was stuck in ruin. Pure ruin. What was once a city full of light, festivities, and crowds was tattered to the ground and only leaving behind the rubble, wooden structures, and fires that were emitted from different areas.

The sky above them was barely visible in the thick cloud that shielded the moon's rays. Only a few times would the moon peak through the smoke and overcast, few pockets of dark blue lighting up the ruined area.

The Demon Slayer beside Iguro