Work Text:
Iguro Obanai lived a pitiful life.
His family includes grandmothers, grandaunts, mother, aunts, and cousins. Yes. He was the only boy in the family. The first male who born to their family, his family would say. As such, he was treasured.
But he didn’t feel like it.
Yes, he was given food and clothes, but he was given too much food. More than he could eat.
However, his world is the caged room he raised in. A small, damp room with bars that always keep locked, with only small air ventilation to allow fresh air and a little bit of sunlight coming it. The bar that was far above his reach and too little for his liking.
His family smiled at him. Obanai didn't understand why, but his stomach turned and twisted whenever he see them smiling. Their smile made him want to huddle up in the corner and cover himself with the blanket. Eventually, he decides he hates smiles. It made him sick.
To make things worse, every night, he feels like something was watching him. Something that was worse than his family's smiles.
Obanai can’t sleep at night. Not until the presence left.
His only highlight in the dreary daily life of his was a small white snake that wanders into his room. The poor thing was so small and skinny, Obanai feeds it and since then, the snake wanders in. Eventually, Obanai decides to adopt it as his friend and named the snake Kaburamaru.
...he doesn't know if his friend a boy or a girl, but he calls Kaburamaru a 'he' anyway.
Obanai wonders if this was how he would die. Alone, in this small, damp room, with pungent odor. After all, he born here, he raised here, so he would die here.
Except at his twelfth birthday, at one night in autumn, his cage room door was open, and he was given a thorough bath before dressed in nicer kimono (still plain white) and escorted to somewhere.
Obanai watched with wide eyes. This was his first time stepping out of the room. He may unable to see much from his right eye, but he wants to commit as much as possible to memories.
Perhaps... perhaps he finally can come out? Perhaps he can live like the rest of his family?
His happiness was short-lived, as he was brought to a shrine-like room... to the creature—no, monster enshrined there.
Never, in Obanai's wildest dream, he saw something as terrifying and as ugly as the monster. Her upper body was of a woman, but with the face of a snake, and her body from waist down is a long snake body. Several meters long. And around her...
Obanai feels weak on his legs.
...around her were skulls. Human skulls.
That day, Obanai learn the horrifying truth about his family.
He was born in the clan of thieves. The women who stole the wealth of the deceased and claim it as their own. To ensure there's always a surplus of wealth, they "prayed" and offering sacrifices to "Snake Goddess".
That sacrifice is a newborn baby. Preferably, Male Newborn baby.
And Obanai was the sacrifice. The "Snake Goddess" wants him. Attracted to his dual-colored eyes.
He was brought here to be sacrificed.
That's why everyone gives him so much food. They were raising him as cattle. They want to fatten him up to appease their "Goddess".
“You have beautiful eyesssss” Hissed the “Snake Goddess”. “Yess... I would keep them for decoration later. They would make wonderful decorations..."
Obanai wants to move. He wants to run. Run and run and run. To where he don't know and don't care. As long as he got far, far away from here and the Snake Monster. Yet his body betrays him. He can't move. He can't... just... can’t. His body can’t even stop shaking.
He’s scared.
“But you’re too thin.” Mused the Snake Demon. “Ssssshould I wait... or ssssshould I eat you now,,,?”
Wait. Please wait. Obanai doesn't want to die yet. He was not ready. Please.
"Hm... I guesssss I can wait for a few more yearsssss...."
YES!
“However,” Oh NO, “Let’sss give you a gift...”
The monster raised her clawed hand to Obanai's face and...
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!”
~X~
Stab! Stab! Stab!
Obanai stabbed the bar. Chipping the wood little by little.
I have to run, he thought. I can’t stay here any longer. I... I have to run. I have to escape. I have to run! I have to get away from here!
The thought filled his mind. Prompting him to steal a kanzashi and start chipping the wooden bar in his room, little by little. He would look around, making sure no one is watching, before start chipping the woods away. If he heard footsteps, or feel someone is approaching, he would stop it, hide the kanzashi under his clothes, and pretend he did nothing. After it was safe, he resumes his attempt.
CRACK!
The Kanzashi broke. Obanai stares at it before falling on his knee. Crying in despair.
"I don't want to die..." He cried. "I don't want to die... I don't want to become a sacrifice... I don't want to be eaten... I haven't... I haven't seen the world... I haven't know anything yet... I don't want to die..."
He's just twelve. Still a kid.
Kaburamaru nuzzles his cheek affectionately before slithers away.
Obanai just becomes even more despaired.
He wished Kaburamaru had stayed. He is his only friend. Even if he's a snake too... at least Kaburamaru didn't make him want to curl up in fright. Kaburamaru is his one and only friend and... and...
Obanai broke out into a fresh peal of tears.
Sobbing and begging for anyone, anything, to help him.
The next day, Kaburamaru returned, and Obanai can’t help but cry in relief.
He hadn’t been abandoned!
The reunion was cut short when a deep voice asked, “Kid? What are you doing there? What happens to your mouth?”
Obanai turned and his eyes widened.
(Kaburamaru is a smart snake. No one knows how or why, but the fact he can understand human speech is truly something. As such, he understands his master's wish to escape, and decide to aid him.)
Kneeling down near the ventilation is a person. Obanai shakily walks closer to see him better (Him. A male. Another male. His mind whispered frantically. A help!)
The man has white hair, wearing blue uwagi with a cloud pattern and black pants, with a red mask covers his face.
“W-who...” Obanai rasped. “Who are you?”
"Urokodaki Sakonji. Demon Slayer." The old man replied. "Or so I used to be. Now I'm a mere cultivator, yet..." he trailed off before shaking his head. "Your friend there, the snake, he almost bites me then run. His behavior is very unusual, and so I follow him."
"I think he wants me to help you."
“Help...” Obanai’s eyes widened.
(In another world, Kaburamaru left and return, bringing Obanai a sturdier escaping tool. One that will not be broken as easily.
In this world, he did one better.
He's bringing help.)
“S-save me!” He suddenly said. “Please... please save me!”
Urokodaki was taken aback.
“My family... they... they are thieves! They worship a monster! The Snake monster who eat people and newborn! They raise me as cattle! As Sacrifice!” Obanai chokes. His legs suddenly weak when he remember the bone-chilling gaze of hunger aimed at him. "I don't want... I don't want to be eaten! Please save me! I beg you!"
Urokodaki clenched his fist.
“Very well. I shall shave you.” Obanai’s heart soared. “Step back. This is going to be dangerous.”
After confirming Obanai took safe distance, Urokodaki unsheathed his sword.
“Water Breathing First Form: Water Surface Slash.”
In one strike, the wall is crashing down. Leaving a big hole in its wake. More than enough for Obanai to climbs out.
“Hurry up." Urokodaki reaches out his hand. "Your... family... must be heard it. We have to run before they caught you."
Obanai didn’t hesitate.
He took the hand.
~X~
The monster—no, Demon chase after them.
His relative’s screaming had alerted her and she pursued them. Moving so fast that she caught them quickly. And they have been running for over an hour before she caught up.
So Fast! This is bad!
“Give him baaaaaccckkkk!!!” The Demon hissed.
Urokodaki ignores her. He instead focused on Obanai.
"I've brought an apprentice of mine." He told the boy. "She's a girl with flower-patterned Kimono and smiling fox mask. You will run and found her. Until then, run. Run because your life depends on it. Do you understood?” Urokodaki stopped and put him down. "Now run! I'll hold her back! Run!”
Obanai hesitates.
“RUN!”
Biting his lips, Obanai turned and running. Clamping his hands on his ears, trying to ignores the clashing sound, enraged screams, and sounds that suspiciously like a flesh tore off.
Run. Just... just run.
Don’t look back. Don’t stop. Just run.
He didn't know how far he had run (not far enough). His entire world used to be that room. His body never properly developed. This is the first time he runs, and it shows. His legs were shaking. His lungs hurt. It feels like burning while squeezed tightly.
He tripped and scraped his knee.
It hurts.
His feet hurt. His lungs hurt.
“YOU!” An angry voice bellowed.
Obanai found himself being pulled by the hair. He let out a pained cry as his cousin forces himself to look at her. All battered up with wounds blooming on her body.
“You useless twat! Because of you, Milady is ANGRY! Because of you... because of you... all we've worked for three hundred years is gone!" She yelled and went to punch him. Clawing his face open, despite Obanai's pained cry and beg. "You should have stayed put! You should have let her eat you! That's why you were born, you ungrateful little shit! You—ack!"
She was hit by a wooden sword. The one who hit her is a petite girl with a floral-patterned kimono and fox mask at her head side.
"You should be ashamed." The girl's voice is soft like flowing water, yet her blue eyes are cold. "You sacrifice someone else to be demon's meat. You live off the wealth gained from blood and death. Just for worldly materials, you sold your own soul and your family's to eternal slavery to Demon. Have you ever think what would happen if you fail to give her sacrifices? Ah." Her smile was as cold as winter. "Stupid question. Silly me, you already know the answer, don’t you?”
“SHUT UP!” Obanai’s cousin yelled. Recovering from the attack, she tried to hit the girl. “You’re just an outsider! Stay out from this!”
The girl nimbly dodges it. "True. I am an outsider. A stranger. However," she side-stepped the next punch and hit Obanai's cousin in solar plexus. "I am a future Demon Slayer. As such, I have the responsibility to tracking down Demon so they may be killed."
She turned to Obanai. “Are you alright?”
“N-no.” Obanai gasped. His lungs hurt. His face hurt. His feet hurt. His entire body hurt. And yet... "U-Urokodaki-san... he... the Demon..."
“Don’t worry.” The girl smiled. “Urokodaki-sensei is former Hashira. He’s really strong, you know? He will be fine.”
Obanai found it telling of how pathetic he is when the girl easily lifted him.
~X~
The girl, (“Call me Makomo”) was right. Urokodaki-san is alright.
He comes back to their lodging, sword coated in Demon's blood, with few tears and stain on his uwagi, but otherwise, he's unharmed.
He told Obanai that the Snake Demon is no more, to Obanai's immense relief. However, his family won't accept him again. Ever. Obanai knew. His cousin's reaction is very much telling. And... to be honest... he doesn't want to be part of them anymore. He feels sick by just thinking about that.
Urokodaki-san offers to take him in.
“Why not? I already have two other brats. What’s more one more?” was his answer when Obanai ask if it’s really fine.
Obanai has no home to return, no family. He has nothing to lose, except perhaps Kaburamaru, but he's always staying by his side. Urokodaki-san had saved him from the Demon, Makomo-san had saved him from his cousin.
The choice comes as easy as falling rain.
~X~
Urokodaki's residence was a small hut at a mountain's feet. A simple, small hut, just enough for him and his students. A stark difference compares to the big mansion Obanai's family used to live at.
Obanai loves it.
He meets with Urokodaki's other two students. Both boys. One is a peach-haired boy older than him with a really cool scar on his cheek, unlike his own ugly scars to the ears. His name was Sabito. The other was around Obanai's age, with messy black hair and blue eyes. His name is Giyuu.
He learns more about the Demon and Demon Slaying world. He learns that Makomo-nee (who apparently is older than Sabito despite her petite appearance), Sabito-nii, and Giyuu are training to become Demon Slayer like Urokodaki-san. That they were losing their family to Demon attack.
Unlike Obanai’s family who sacrificed him to Demon.
Perhaps this is the ground why they are so nice, because...
“Obanai-kun! What happened to your mouth?!” Giyuu gasped in horror.
Obanai becomes very self-conscious. He was so relieved he’s finally free, that he forgot about the scar! He ducked and tugged the collar, trying to hide his scar.
“P-please don’t look...”
Please don’t get disgusted.
Sabito-nii immediately was on his face and shook him by the shoulders. His face is red with anger and Obanai wilted at sight of it.
Don't look at me with those eyes
“WHO DID IT!” He thundered. “TELL ME, WHO DID THIS TO YOU?! I’LL BEAT THEM!”
But Obanai didn’t answer because all he can think was ‘Oh’
Sabito is not angry at him. He’s worried and angry on his behalf. Obanai was too traumatized to be angry, so Sabito rages in his stead.
"Don't worry, Sabito." Makomo smiled. Her smile is dark and scary, but strangely enough, Obanai didn't feel threatened by it. "They already got what they deserve."
"Good." Sabito huffed. "But I still want to beat them up! Just... just who the sick fuck who thinks cutting a kid's mouth is a good idea?!"
“Language!” Urokodaki-san hit him on the head.
Obanai look between them, and hesitantly asked, “you... aren’t disgusted?”
Giyuu tilted his head. "Why should we?"
Perhaps he was not actually here. Perhaps Giyuu's trauma left him a bit out of touch because Obanai can name a lot of people who would scream at the sight of a boy with mouth torn ear to ear and resembling a snake. Yet, it brought warmth to his heart when the other boy didn't see anything wrong with him.
For Giyuu, Obanai is just Obanai. Nothing more nothing less.
We’re going to be great friends, he thinks.
~X~
Obanai thinks about it, long and hard.
In the end, he approached Urokodaki-san.
“Urokodaki-san. I want to become Demon Slayer too.”
A pause.
“Why?”
Because you're a great man and I want to repay you back. "So I can save people. Like how you saved me. I want to keep Makomo-nee, Sabito-nii, and Giyuu safe, too." You are the best thing that happened to me, after Kaburamaru, so I will treasure you all.
“...very well. Your training starts now. Run to the village and back.”
“Ha’i!”
During dinner that day, Obanai barely could move his body. Panting hard. He has so much to catch up.
Makomo and Giyuu fussed on him. Sabito worried in his own tough-ish way. Urokodaki-san... no, Urokodaki-sensei watches them from his spot. Even with his mask on, Obanai knew he's worried, so he flashed him a tired, but (hopefully) reassuring smile.
This is the road he chooses. So he will bear with the pain.
When they tried to persuade him to choose a safer, simpler life, Obanai took a scissor and chopped his hair short. As short as Makomo-nee's.
After that, they stop trying to make him given up, and instead pushed him hard.
~X~
The family is weird but unbelievably warm and kind and Obanai loves it.
Makomo-nee is an odd combination of a mother-figure and a big sister-figure. Sabito-nii is a tough and boastful older brother figure, but one who's caring in his own way. He pushed Obanai hard, because he wants the best for him and believes he can do it." Giyuu is an aloof but cheerful and caring brother. Urokodaki-sensei is a strict, but very kind parental figure. One that Obanai never has before.
It was after one long, grueling training session (he finally trains in the mountain, yay) that Obanai slipped up and calling Urokodaki-sensei "Tou-san". It took him several moments to realize the slip-up and apologize.
In his defense, he never had a father, OK?! Urokodaki-sensei is the first male he ever saw!
Urokodaki-sensei said, in uncharacteristically flustered tone, that he can call him Tou-san.
(Later, Makomo would call Giyuu and Sabito a bad influence.
Apparently, Obanai has absolutely zero ideas about how a boy should behave, being raised by an all-female clan. And guess who he used as role models?)
~X~
“Makomo-nee,”
Makomo paused and look at Obanai.
Her newest brother had come a long way from the shy, fragile boy he used to be. Right now, while traces of uncertainty and insecure still present, he was more confident, tough, and aloof (she blames Sabito and Giyuu for this) but can be quite clingy.
This was one of his clingy moments.
“Yes, Obanai-kun?”
“Please come back.” The boy said. “Promise me, you will come back, alive. You don’t have to pass, but please come back nee-san.”
I don’t want to lose you, went unsaid.
Makomo smiled and entangled her pinkie with Obanai's.
“Nee-san will come back. Pinkie promise.”
(She did come back. Bruised, with one shoulder dislocated and a broken leg. Barely could support herself and have to be carried halfway the village by a helpful villager.
But she’s alive. That’s more important than anything.)
~X~
Obanai is good at Breath of Water, but he feels something was off. He doesn't know why, but he feels it doesn't fit him the way it fits his family.
Tou-san said, maybe he should develop his own breath.
Makomo-nee, Sabito-nii, and Giyuu supported the idea.
So Obanai creates his own style. One that is flexible and has attacks coming from an unusual direction. Unpredictable.
“What do you want to name it?” Giyuu asked.
Kaburamaru hissed softly and nuzzled Obanai.
"Serpent," Obanai said. "Breath of the Serpent."
“After Kaburamaru, huh? Man,” Sabito grinned and lightly tapped the white snake on the head. “Aren’t you flattered?”
Kaburamaru just hissed happily.