Only two weeks after the selection, I received my uniform and blade. It's now been a month since I joined the Demon Slayers Corps as an official member, and the number of missions I've been sent to has left me feeling both excited and exhausted.

My uniform is an ensemble of a white long-sleeved collared shirt beneath an ash gray-fitting Gakuran, accented with white outlines on the breast pocket and collar. 

The back bears a bold kanji character "滅," symbolizing "to destroy." My lower garments include a long skirt reaching my calves, beige traditional Japanese sandals, and black tabi socks.

Additionally, Mother has requested Gakuran pants for me for days when I don't feel comfortable wearing skirts. 

My haori has a striking blue-red hue and an embroidered galaxy design, shimmering like the commitment of countless stars. 

My katana is as unique as my uniform, a purple, translucent blade and a purple handle with a crystal crescent moon-shaped handguard, a gift from Mother herself.

In the month since I started, I've lost count of the demons I've slain. I'm always called upon for missions when things get out of control. 

Tonight, at quarter to midnight, I'm on my way to Mt. Mizuhara for an urgent mission, the weight of my responsibilities heavy on my shoulders with every step.

- - - - 

"Hey, Mother! Mt. Mizuhara is just near Mt. Kageshima, right? Your mission is close by, right?" I bounced up and down joyously next to the Moon Hashira, clinging to her elbow.

We were getting ready for our missions, though sadly, not together. Ever since I became an official Demon Slayer, nothing excited me more than the idea of going on a mission with Madame Yumira. I wanted to show her everything I had trained for and fight alongside the well-respected Moon Hashira.

"If that's the case, can I join you after I complete my mission?" I asked eagerly.

"But it's not your mission, Shiori. It would be best if you rest instead" she replied, her voice filled with concern as we walked along the narrow dirt road. "This is no ordinary mission, Shiori. I am accompanied by a fellow Hashira."

"Please! I've always wanted to fight with you!" I leaned my head on her shoulder, pleading with pursed lips. "Please! I promise I won't get in the way!"

I pestered her several times, my excitement bubbling over, until she finally relented. I mean, who could say no to a cute kid like me? 

"Just make sure you're still able to fight!" she called out as I sprinted towards my mission, trailed by my dove, Fuki.

Filled with joy, I couldn't wait to prove myself and join Madame Yumira.

- - - - -

The air atop Mt. Mizuhara was thick with tension when I arrived, accompanied by eight demon slayers, among them was Aria, one of my trusted friends. 

Their anxious expressions eased upon seeing a Hashira's tsuguko, joining their ranks. My presence brought a sense of relief and determination but also added weight to the expectations of my fellow demon slayers.

As I assessed the situation, I knew we were outnumbered. I called them for a quick strategy discussion.

"Listen up," I called out through the eerie silence of the forest. "We can't afford to hold back. We'll split into teams and create a diversion. Aria, Taro, and Kuki will provide vanguard defenses."

The demon slayers nodded with determination on their steps to take their assigned positions.

"Hanemiya, Yumi, and I will cause a diversion," I continued, gazing at each member to ensure they understood the assignment and the gravity of our situation.

"Our goal is to draw the demons towards the center and let them fall into a trap. Shua and Mizi will finish them all in one go." With our roles assigned and our plan set, we moved into position, weapons at the ready, hearts pounding with tension.

As the demons charged, the vanguard team engaged head-on, slashing through the air to provide defenses in all areas. 

Kuki's lightning-fast strikes, along with Taro's exceptional speed and Aria's breathing forms mastery, the team held off the horde of demons and bought time for the diversion team to achieve their plan.

As I led my team through the chaos, a sobbing demon girl clawed one of them. I beheaded her with my blade in one swift motion, with no sorrow or remorse, as demons aren't objects of pity.

The suspense escalated with each passing moment, but we remained focused, knowing that our victory depended on the flawless execution of the plan.

More demons came charging at us, but I maintained my faith in Aria as we sped toward the heart of the jungle. On our heels left a trail of blood as the demon followed close behind. One misstep and we'll find ourselves dead like preys.

Following our plan, everyone showed up in the center with the demons closing in. But the brief second Shua hesitated, the demons lunged forward, snarling as they clawed the sword off his grasp. Mizi stood frozen, unable to compose herself at the sight of her struggling comrade. 

I couldn't allow the plan to fail. With a sharp breath, I withdrew my blade from its sheath. 

"Moon Breathing 11th Form: Solar Moon—Break of Dawn!"

At once, a torrent of light rained at the demons to pieces. They shrieked in agony as the light engulfed them, their forms dissolving into ashes. The ground shook with the force of the blast, and for a moment, the mountain was illuminated.

When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, all that was left were the smoldering ashes of the once-threatening demons and the exhausted but victorious demon slayers. With me on the case, I swore by my sword to guarantee everyone's survival.

After surveying the scene once more, a sense of relief surged through me as I looked around at my demon-slayer companions. We knew that our duty as demon slayers was far from over, but for now, we could savor this hard-earned victory.

Our plan had succeeded, and Mt. Mizuhara was safe once again as Kakushis arrived to clean up the area. Nobody from the general public will ever know that the mountain once served as a battleground.

"MAY WE SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN! STAY STRONG AND KEEP FIGHTING!" I yelled to my comrades as I made my way down the dark, rough path toward the other side of the mountain to find Madame Yumira.

- - - - -

Dread surged through my veins with each step as I approached closer to the nearby area where my Master was stationed on her mission. 

The once serene wilderness was now filled with the ominous clashing of metal and the eerie screeches of battle. The thin mountain air felt heavy, barely enough to sustain my breath as I pushed forward.

I need to see her! I need to see the long silver-haired lady with the dark purple cloak. Mother, I'm here—

And then, as though the entire world collapsed, my eyes widened in horror as I stood motionless, witnessing the scene unfold before me.

A long black and teal-haired demon slayer lay sprawled on the ground, fighting to stay conscious as a gaping wound bled profusely on their back. Their breaths were shallow, struggling against the darkness. 

Across the blood-soaked battlefield stood the Moon Hashira, her weak form pierced through the chest by a purple blade. My heart shattered as I recognized the demon, the Upper Moon 7.

I never expected I'd come to face an Upper Moon...

"Mother!" The word ripped from my throat, a desperate plea that was consumed by the chaos around us.

The Moon Hashira, my beloved Master, was barely standing, her strength waning as blood soaked her dark purple cloak, with her silver hair now stained with red as blood dripped from her lips. 

Her blue eyes, usually so full of wisdom and life, were dimming, yet they still bore a fierce determination.

Her gaze found mine, and for a moment, the world stood still. She just smiled, a blend of misery and pride, but her body betrayed her, faltering as the Upper Moon 7 twisted the blade with a cruel smile.

I concealed my presence behind the heavy mist shrouding the mountain, my breath shallow and trembling. Through the veil, I watched in sheer terror as the demon's visage reawakened a memory I had long buried. 

Mother, once so full of life, now lay slumped in a pool of her blood. The demon's sharp and merciless claws tore the sword from her chest with sickening ease.

Paralyzed by fear, I felt like reliving that unbearable moment again, where the ground seemed to trap me in place. I felt helpless, forced to witness the life of someone dear to me slip away from my grasp. 

The suffocating sense of déjà vu was overwhelming—a haunting memory of the past that shattered my being.

What did I do wrong to deserve such merciless punishment? Why would the heavens strip away those who only mattered to me in this world?

All I wished was to live in the comfort of those people I care about. The weight of helplessness crushed me as I stood there frozen, silently witnessing the cruelty of life.

"Moon Breathing, 7th Form: Moon Letter Slash!" 

I stood on a sturdy tree branch, unleashing a barrage of long-range attacks to inflict continuous damage from an unassailable distance.

I'm no longer the person I was back then. I now wield power and my blade with confidence. I trained for this moment. This confrontation may seem like a mouse against a snake, but I must not allow Mother Yumira's efforts to go in vain. She fought valiantly to get this far, and I will be the one to finish it.

My attacks failed even to scratch the demon's tough exterior. It lashed out with its claws, and I barely managed to evade them. In that split second, I realized this was the same kind of demon that had massacred my family that evening.

From what I know, her mission was supposed to be in the nearby village, not in the forest. 

Were they ambushed by this Upper Moon? Was all of this planned by Muzan, using his powerful demons after so many years, as a declaration of war against the Corps?

Mother, please hold on a little longer, please...

"You're really easy to read, you know. I already predicted you'd do that. Do something more unpredictable, Shiori."

With a swift motion, I blocked the demon's assault with my blade. The force sent me flying into a large tree across the clearing. 

My vision blurred as the demon turned its attention to the unconscious demon slayer on the ground, the Hashira who accompanied Mother on this mission. I grew desperate—I couldn't let it end like this.

I swore by my sword to guarantee everyone's survival.

 "Moon Breathing, 9th Form: Eclipse"

I murmured under my breath as I appeared in the distance between them, standing protectively with my blade poised offensively in front of the demon. Blood spattered down the side of my face, mingling with the dirt and sweat as the demon snarled in outrage.

With a swift stroke aiming between the cracks of the demon's hard shell, the demon's head flew off like a severed lid, and its massive body collapsed onto me as I covered the battered demon slayer beneath my body.

Despite the slim chance of success, the moment I approached the demon, I sensed its weakness.

Strings. I thought my senses had deceived me, but I was right. The demon was nothing more than a puppet, a sinister marionette tasked with massacring this town and annihilating anyone who stood in its way.

"The boss... will not... be happy!" the demon groaned, its voice distorted with malice as its body began to disintegrate into ash.

Boss!? Who? Muzan Kibutsuji? 

"Boss? Did Muzan send you here!?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the air as sharply as my sword ingrained in the demon's skull. The searing pain must have been unbearable, as evident in its grimace and quivering screams.

The demon's eyes darted frantically with terror. "I-I'm only a doll... created by the Doll Demon, Ningyo," The demon shrieked, its voice a piercing howl that cut through the dark forest. 

"The actual Upper Moon 7!" The desperation in its words made it clear—it feared its master more than death itself.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I watched the ashes scatter into the wind. The realization hit me—the true demon was still out there, lurking in the shadows. This was only the beginning.

How unfortunate.

I had dropped my weapon on the blood-filled ground with a loud CLANK. But it was too late. 

As I reached her side, Yumira had already collapsed. I brought her body into my arms. "NO!" My voice broke as I surged forward, every fiber of my being screaming in agony.

"MOTHER!" I trembled at the sight of her snow-colored skin as I desperately tried to stop the bleeding on her chest. "PLEASE STAY WITH ME!!"

Her once-vibrant eyes now stared up at me, glassy and unfocused. The world around us blurred, and all I could see was her.

I sent my dove to the headquarters, praying we could receive immediate rescue in time. Each passing minute felt like forever, my heart pounding with grief so intense it began to tear me apart. 

I can't lose my mother, not again. 

The thought clawed at me—the pain of past losses, my family, Sabito, and my companions from the selection, mingling with the nightmare of the present, threatening to drown me once again.

Shit, if only I had been a few minutes earlier, a few seconds earlier, I could've saved her; I could've protected her!

"Stay with me," I begged, tears streaming down my face as I held her in my arms. "Please, don't leave me."

Her body grew colder with each passing second, her eyes losing their spark, and her breathing reduced to shallow, raspy coughs. She raised a trembling hand to my cheek, her touch as light as a feather.

Despite all that had transpired, she blessed me with a smile. That familiar smile I'd grown to love—to fight for and live for. The smile that had lifted me from my darkest moments.

But what was the point if I couldn't even protect it?

"Mother... I'm sorry I was late... I couldn't-... I couldn't protect you," I sobbed, my voice breaking. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... please don't go!... please..."

I'm begging you. 

I couldn't do this. I wasn't ready to hear her final words, the last echo of her voice that would forever haunt my memories. Yet, despite my dread, I yearned to hear her speak one last time.

"I'm...proud of you," she managed to say, her voice barely audible. 

The deafening silence killed me.

My cheeks, now cold, missed the warmth of her hand that had been there moments ago. The person I called "Mother" was no more. Under the pale light of the moon, her face looked serene, at peace.

"Mother" I whispered.

She was cold. Dead.

Everything went black, suffocating, dragging me into a bottomless pit.

I had lost her, and with her, a piece of myself.

Ah... That's it. That's the end.

~ ~ ~

-Next Chapter Preview-

Love was possible, even in the harsh reality of our world

---

A space beside the Flame Hashira remained empty, a strong reminder of their loss.

『𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭』

In this story, instead of 12, there are 14 Moon Demons:
7 Upper Moons and 7 Lower Moons.

『Author's Note』

Your votes and reads are much appreciated 🤗💕
See ya next chapter 💝
- Rezella

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