Chapter Text
Naho screamed as she held the now unconscious boy’s upper body that was hanging off the bed. She was already covered in his vomit and now has to hold his heavy body that feels like the weight is doubling every second.
It wasn’t long though until Aoi came in, slamming the doors open in worry of her sister. Scanning the scene, she saw one of the twins still asleep, and Naho holding the other. “Naho!” Aoi called before briskly walking over to her and placing the boy fully back onto the bed.
“Go get yourself cleaned up and bring a bucket of water with cloths.” She says while patting down the youngers hair. She then averted her focus to the boy.
‘I should’ve asked Naho what happened.’ She thinks. There was vomit trailing from his mouth and some on the floor. Aoi didn’t know if she should be taken aback or thankful. Taken aback because of the sheer smell of the sick.
Thankful because when the Kakushi first brought them in, this twin was already dead.
A sigh escaped her lips as she lifted the sheet slightly, examining the boys amputated arm. The infection has gone down by a lot, leaving green scarring around the base. Unlike the other twin, this one only had one injury. She’s got to get Shinobu to look at it later.
Aoi had always wanted to have patients to take care of on her own without Shinobu’s help. But now it turns out she can’t even trust her own judgment. These boys were good for dead just a month ago, who’s to say they have no undetected infections? Or if they developed something under her care? Aoi was only 13 but studied every book in the estate. Even so, her hands were shaky when drawing blood, would forget the recipe for the medication-
“Got it!” Naho charms as she waddles in with the bucket of water and rags.
Aoi quickly turns around and gains composure, clasping her hands together so Naho didn’t see them shaking. Shinobu left her in charge, ‘I got this’ She hums before approaching the younger, taking the bucket from her small hands and placing it on the stool next to the injured twin.
With practiced ease, Aoi rings the damp rag and wiped the face of the unconscious twin before wiping of the stained bedsheet, making a mental note to change it the next day. She then took the second cloth and scrubbed down the floor, cleaning off the vomit.
From below, Aoi had a good view of Naho’s dress and to her surprise she could still see the vomit stains on her dress.
“Naho, you didn’t change?” Aoi asks. You’d think after being vomited on, you would change clothes. Not Naho apparently. But the younger girl still stood there with a giddy expression on her face.
“Go change!” Aoi says, more confused than irritated as Naho skips out the room, once again leaving Aoi with the two unconscious boys.
Truth be told, one of them did wake up earlier, the one with two arms… Aoi cringed at her thought process, though it was true, the boys were identical, there were no other way to distinguish them apart from their injuries. Because when the one with 2 arms did wake up, he didn’t speak.
Not when asked his name, or if he remembered what happened.
Now supposedly this twin has finally woken up while Aoi was not in the room and vomited over Naho before falling back unconscious which is a symptom of shock or blood loss. Vomiting could mean anything if shes honest, anything bad that is.
Her eyes flick over to the clock. 4:26am. Dawn is coming soon, meaning injured slayers and more work. Aoi silently groaned, a huff escaped her lips. She wasn’t obliged to actually help other slayers since Lady Amane and Shinobu tasked her to take care of the twins as the top priority. But helping out wouldn’t hurt.
She turned to look at the boys one more time but found herself staring into the soulless eyes of the two armed twin. It wasn’t long though before he broke eye contact, turning to look at his unconscious brother with the same blank look on his face. That was his usual routine, including walking around the room at times and sitting on the foot of his brothers bed. He wasn’t allowed to leave the room though, which when he was first told, showed a look of mild irritation, nevertheless he complied. Finally deciding do leave and prepare rooms for new injured slayer soon to come, Aoi exited the room, closing the door firmly behind her.
.
.
Yuichiro’s regained consciousness, more alert than before. His head pounded and body stung with soreness. He wasn’t sure what time it was or where he was but he knew getting up now would do more harm than good. Apart from pain scorching his body, his eyes were hazy and no matter how much he blinked his vision remained blurred. He closed his eyes, feeling cool air rest on his face. He did want to sleep but he wasn’t tired anymore, this place is definitely not familiar and he couldn’t seem to remember anything from the past 10 days so something was definitely wrong. He can hear someone walking- pacing around. The sound of the footsteps all too familiar but Yuichiro couldn’t exactly distinguish who it was. The footsteps slowed, then Yui felt a weight at the foot of his bed.
If he didn’t feel pain before, he sure did now. He hissed in agony and clenched his eyes as the pain danced through his body. The weight at the end of the bed left as quick as it came.
Yui struggled to catch his breath, sweat surfacing over his body creating a cold chill. He squinted his eyes open as he propped his body up his elbow and ignoring the pain zipping through his head.
Infront of him stood Muichiro, who was probably the person that was pacing and sat on his bed. The sheet under Yuichiro’s elbow crinkled, then slipped, he instinctively fell to his left, falling in his left half-arm.
A mistake.
A big one.
A gutteral scream left his throat as he fell back onto the bed. It felt like his body was ripping itself apart from the inside and his arm ached immensely. He rolled onto his right side, clutching the remains of his left arm whilst crying out in pain. Hot tears burned his eyes as a fresh dose of cold pain shot through him.
“Yuichiro!” Mu called out, running to his brothers side and clutching his shoulders with fear and worry written all over his face. Yuichiro figured it was him who was pacing and must’ve sat on his bed.
“Yuichiro are you okay?” Mui asked.
Though Yuichiro was slightly annoyed at the prolonged physical contact with his brothers hands on his shoulders, it was slightly comforting to hear the familiar voice. The pain sizzled in his left arm and he bit his lip hard, he didn’t even know he was starting to draw blood.
“Yuichiro you’re making yourself bleed! Stop biting your lip!” Muichiro cried, now clutching onto his brothers chest.
This was scary, for the both of them. And no matter how hard Yuichiro tried, he couldn’t remember a thing and he didn’t know why. His head doesn’t hurt so hes sure he didn’t hit it. He couldn’t pinpoint anything, his mind was all a mess. He didnt know where they were and things can go south very quickly. He pushed away his brother’s hands which were clutching at his chest and caught his breath.
“What happened.” Yuichiro asked. His tone rough but quiet.
“You don’t remember?” Muichiros voice called, his tone fused with confusion, hurt and disbelief. It seems like he knew what happened and maybe what was going on.
They were in this unknown room that was bigger than their house, Yuichiro was missing an arm, Muichiro was covered in bandages and their clothes…
Yuichiro looked down, he had a light brown-yellowy button up shirt on and trousers with the same material and colour as the shirt. He hastily looked up to see Muichiro in the same wear.
“Where are our clothes?!“ Yui raised his voice. Muichiro’s eyebrows furrowed as he answered; “I don’t know.” He said.
At this, the older twin concluded that Muichiro didn’t know what was going on.
This time, Yuichiro actually looked around the room. A desk with papers and gauze strips lying on top, a stethascope, cabinets and so on.
They were in a hospital of some sorts. Its not like they’ve ever been to one but Yuichiro has read about places like this and it fits the description perfectly. He looked back up at his brother who was now standing at the end of the bed and staring at him.
“Where are we. What’s going on?” Yuichiro demands, levels of stress increasing by the second.
“I don’t know. I think I remember seeing the Amane lady.. some other people were here but I didn’t speak to them.” Muichiro answered in a quiet voice.
Yuichiro cringed at the mention of Amane. Why did she always have to come up. She’s like a cancer that never leaves! Why couldn’t she just leave them alone?! They were fine and though Yuichiro couldn’t remember what had happened, he was sure that it was her fault and they would be better off without her intervention.
“What did they say to you?” Yui needed more information. His memory was holding him back enough so every drop of information was necessary.
“Well they told me I couldn’t leave the room, and that we are safe now.” Mui answered before Yui interrupted.
“Stop. Who is they? And what are we safe from?! Demons?!” Yui scoffs. “Muichiro you can’t seriously be feeding into their fantasies!”
Yuichiro was gonna be sick. Did his brother really trust these people? And now it was so painfully clear that they were in a place that is somewhat linked to the ‘Demon slayers’ Amane talked about. This can’t be real.
“What did you say Muichiro. You asked to go home didn’t you?” Yui begged as he looked down at his bedsheet and clenched his fist. “You told them we’re not staying right? We can’t be here.” Yuichiro pleaded.
If they were really with the demon slayers then what’s stopping them from taking Muichiro who was so eager to join them?
“I didn’t speak to them.” Muichiro replied, tone shaky as he took a step forward towards his twin.
Yuichiro glared up at Muichiro. “Do you have no survival instinct?! You really are a fool Muichiro! What happened! Where are we?! How long ago did you wake up?” Questions flew out of the boys mouth.
“About a week ago? I’m not totally sure“ Muichiro answered timidly. He knew his brother was getting angry and this wouldn’t end well.
“What happened Muichiro?! Stop avoiding my question!” Yuichiro’s chest heaved tensions in the room rose.
It was at this point that it became clear to Yui that Muichiro was avoiding saying what had happened to them and why they were with the demon slayers in a damn hospital.
“Yuichiro don’t get upset, we shouldn’t be angry at each other right now!” Muichiro plead. It was true. Neither of them knew exactly where they were and an argument was bound to do more harm than good.
As if on que, the door to the room flew open, revealing the girl muichiro saw earlier. Both twins instantly averted their gaze to look at the girl who just interrupted their ‘conversation’
“So you can speak.” She retorted as she stood at the door, crossing her arms looking straight at Muichiro.
‘Its as if everything here is made to confuse me.’ Yuichiro thought as he looked at the girl. Who was she supposed to be? Muichiro knew her? He looked over to Muichiro who seemed to be in a trance, as if he couldn’t move and that infuriated Yuichiro for a reason he couldn’t pinpoint.
He looked back at the girl and clenched his jaw. He threw his legs over the bed, supported by his arm and was about to stand up until he heard the girl speak up again, not directed to Muichiro this time but himself.
“Don’t even think about it.” She said in a snappy and authoritative tone. At her voice Yuichiro’s irritation spiked as he sucked in a breath and pushed himself up with his arm and stood anyway.
Almost instantly, he regretted his decision. It was almost comical how fast he regretted standing, or attempted to that is. His legs gave out, his body collapsed to the floor.
It really wasn’t fair was it? Muichiro was hurt worse than him but could walk fine.
He groaned in agony as tremors rocked through his crumpled body. It felt like nettles running through his body and the stinging wouldn’t stop and he couldn’t breathe. His eyes felt like they were going to burst and his tounge fizzled in his mouth, leaving a metallic taste.
Next thing he knew, he was lying on the bed and the girl was standing on his right. The pain had subsided quite a bit and he could finally breathe. His fists unclenched as his body calmed from the painful high. He’s never felt this weak before and it hurt him to see his brother look so worried though he’d never admit it. He looked back to the girl who was on his right who was now frowning down at him. He squinted at her before looking up at the ceiling, his vision was now swimming and the pain in his head was indescribable like his head was about to burst.
The room door gently slid open, capturing the attention of the three inside. Yuichiro looked hard at this person, again, being someone he didn’t recognise. She had black hair with purple tips tied to a butterfly at the back, a white haori that fades into purple embedded with an insect-like design.
Yuichiro’s eyebrows furrowed. There was a clear pattern here, which was butterflys. Everyone he’s seen, though only two people, has some sort of butterfly on their person.
The woman who came in started to speak as she walked over to Yuichiro; “Ah it seems you’ve finally woken up. You gave us quite the scare when you first came. It didn’t look as if you would wake up.”
The room plunged into silence. Yuichiro was in complete shock. He almost… died?
His breath hitched.
It wasn’t everyday you woke up in an unknown hospital with one arm and no recollection of what happened.
He couldn’t breathe.
His breath came in shallow quick gasps as panic and fear filled his eyes.
He clutched his chest as he chocked on air, cold tears bubbling at his eyes. He felt hands on him but his mind was too hazed to focus on anything.
His neck and ears began burning as blood rushed through him. He needed to breathe, lungs screaming for oxygen.
As he attempted to suck in more air, he reminded himself he was on the verge of death not too long ago.
Nothing could’ve set him back more than that fact and he knew it. Who wants to hear that they were as good as dead? Especially with no memory of why.
His body stopped listening to him. He needed to get air but he’s forgotten how to breathe, he’s trapped inside his head.
Everywhere hurts.
Everywhere hurts!
He was in a state he couldn’t break out of. Heaving and clutching for breath whilst gasping for air. Eyes hazy and unfocused.
Cold. Something cold is on his head. He is painfully drawn out of his thoughts, his breath hitching once again before finally slowing down.
He felt hands on his shoulder and back, his skin burning at the contact. His body was still deprived of oxygen causing him to take gaping breaths. His eyes locked onto the bedsheet, fist clenched.
Wait, his head is getting colder. He uses his arm to swat away the cold object that was on his head. He looked to his right to see the woman with the insect-haori holding a bag with ice.
So that’s what was on his head.
The lady cleared her throat, gaining everyone’s attention once again but Yuichiro didn’t look up this time. His eyes stayed fixed on the bedsheet. “I take fault for that.” She says while setting the ice bag down. “I must’ve known saying certain details would trigger a reaction.” She says, her tone forlorn.
A smile crept back onto her face as she sighed.
“There is a visitor for both of you, the reason i came was to inform you both. She’ll be here any minute now, I’m sure she would appreciate privacy so me and Aoi will take a leave.” She clears her throat again, ushering Aoi out of the room leaving the twins to their own once again.
“Yui…” Muichiro starts. He’s never seen his brother panic like that before. It was scary. This was all so scary.
“Yuichiro” Muichiro walked over to the bed of his brother.
“Stop. Just stop.” Yuichiro scoffed. He was sick of everything. Nothing is going his way and he’s just made a fool of himself to everyone. Who even wanted to visit them-
The door rustles, the twins snap their focus to the door as it slides open.
She comes in.
Her white hair tied into a neat bun, kimono covering her legs to her ankles, the same soft expression on her face. Yuichiro hated it. He clenched his jaw as she stepped in slowly. So deliberately slow. She walked towards the twins. “Stop!”
Yuichiro spoke up, Amane halted in her steps. “Why are you here?! Why won’t you leave us alone Amane?!” Anger engulfed the older boy. This whole ordeal was probably her fault! He hated this! Every second of it!
Amane hummed, a small genuine smile formed on her lips. The smile only people who have been through the worst had.
This made Yuichiro’s anger flicker, but only for a moment before it raged back up.
“I have come to relay information.” She says, her calm tone filling the room. Yui and Mui look at each other briefly before looking back at Amane.
“We are currently at the butterfly estate”
‘Well that explains the butterflies.’
“Of the demon slayer corps.”
What.
He knew all too well he was in a place related to the demon slayers but hearing it out loud and in your face adds a whole new layer of reality that he couldn’t escape.
“Why did you bring us here?! Why is no one telling me what happened and whats going on!” Yuichiro shouts, he doesn’t want the woman to get any closer. Amane looked slightly shocked, not because she was yelled at but because Yuichiro didn’t remember.
“You were both really hurt. As you can tell.” She gestures to his left arm. “But thats not the reason im here now.” The room fell silent, thick with anticipation.
“Unfortunately Yuichiro, you are unable to accept my request even if it was given to you.”
‘Its because of my arm isn’t it.’
“So Muichiro, the offer is still up. Would you like to become a demon slayer?”
…
Is she insane?
She must be.
“No.” Yuichiro answered, not giving his brother a moment to speak.
“No he’s not joining your scam.” He retorted again. He clenched his teeth.
Demons aren’t real! This is like trying to get them to believe in santa. Its all a fairytale made by man and it’s all so stupid.
Amane looked at the twins with gentle eyes. She’d expected this, it was no different from when she visited them back up into the mountains. She looked at Muichiro who was looking down and wringing his hands between each other. There was no use asking again, it’d just warrant the same response.
“I can assure you the demon slayer corps is not a scam. We fight to protect the innocent, for the greater good of humanity-“
“Demons aren’t real!” Yuichiro cuts her off. This whole ordeal is nonsense. His train of thought was cut off by his brother.
“Yes they are Yui! We were attacked by one! How do you think you lost your arm?! Why do you think we’re in a hospital?” Muichiro exclaimed anger filling his once soft tone.
What? Attacked? By a demon? Them? What? Yuichiro could only stare into the eyes of his twin as he processed his words.
They were attacked?
Yuichiro couldn’t believe it. Yuichiro wouldn’t believe it. It’s a lie. It’s all a calculated lie. He stared at Muichiro, unable to turn to Amane even if her eyes were kind.
He clenched his teeth and clicked his tounge. “Get out.” He growled. Amane looked shocked.
“Get out!” He repeated, louder. He was now looking at Amane, his expression as fury and breathing heavily.
Amane’s expression faltered before smiling once again and bowing.
She looked back up at the boys before slowly walking out the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Muichiro’s words rang in his twins head.
‘We were attacked by one.’
Yuichiro hates that he couldn’t deny it. He’s lost his arm. Muichiro is covered in bandages. They are in a hospital. He could only go off of Muichiro’s words, because its as if his memory was wiped. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t remember anything!
He couldn’t remember that night.
He couldn’t remember how Muichiro begged to leave the door open.
He couldn’t remember how he gave in.
He couldn’t remember how the heat bit at his skin.
He couldn’t remember when the demon walked in.
He couldn’t remember how Muichiro stood there as the demon slashed at him.
He couldn’t remember how he pushed muichiro out the way, sacrificing his arm.
He couldn’t remember how much it hurt.
He couldn’t remember Muichiro’s screams mixed with his own.
He couldn’t remember the blood pooling at his knees.
He couldn’t remember Muichiro leaving him.
He couldn’t remember being all alone.
He couldn’t remember loosing the feeling in his limbs.
He couldn’t remember begging to whoever could hear him to save Muichiro.
He remembered.
He remembered all of it.
He remembered and he didn’t want to.
He couldn’t freak out now. He held his breath and before he could decent into panic, he felt a hand on his chest. It was probably Muichiro but he didn’t care anymore. Hot tears pricked his eyes but he refused to let them fall.
He clenched his eyes shut, regaining control of his breathing. His eyes squinted open, staring back at him was Muichiro’s glassy eyes.
“Muichiro.” Yui’s voice whithered, he hated it. He didn’t want to speak when his voice sounded this way. Why did things have to be like this?
“Promise me you won’t become a demon slayer.” Yuichiro pled.
He’s scared.
A scared 11 year old that doesn’t want to loose his brother.
“I promise Yui.” Muichiro vowed, forcing his pinky finger into his brothers.
Yuichiro could do nothing but hold onto his words. He was an amputee at 11 and couldn’t stand without nearly passing out.
‘Please keep your promise Mui.’ Yui silently begged.
Things are just going to get worse aren’t they?