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It was cold at the end of November. Snowflake had fallen early since the evening, covering all over the ground in front of Wind Estate's porch with a layer of pure white cotton. A cold breeze blew through the remnants of leaves on the cherry blossom branches, creating a rustling sound in the middle of the night. In just a few months, that cherry blossom would bloom with pale pink flowers symbolizing the beauty of spring.
Sanemi laid in his room, the wind blowing from the outside with tiny snowflakes was freezing cold but he paid no mind. His body now only had a smoldering warmth left.
The Former Wind Pillar vaguely looked out of the porch. The moonlight that was obscured by the smoky gray clouds in the night sky could not shine its bright light. Everything was dark and cold. The only thinh that could keep this place warm was the slowly burning flame of the fireplace near the mattress he was laying on.
Sanemi's eyes were getting tired, sometimes they went down and sometimes they tried to get up. He knew they couldn't take it anymore, but the young man still wanted to open his eyes wide enough to see that person again. His breathing was weak, his body was sluggish, even doing the simple movement of his fingers was hard for him.
The wind was still whistling, pounding hard on the door, on the branches, ignoring Sanemi who was losing his strength little by little.
"Sanemi, everything will be fine."
His friend, his all year round companion in slaying demons, Sourai, laid on top of the mattress, saying comforting words to Sanemi. Demon Slayer Corps' Kasugai Crows were all specially trained so they were smart; therefore the young man knew that his Sourai had already known he didn't have much time left. It wanted to stay by his side untill the end in order for him not to feel lonely, despite the cold wind that walked in and out of the room.
"Thank you, even to the end only you are here with me."
Sanemi gently smiled in response to Sourai. He continued looking towards the door. He's coming, he thought. He didn't want to let himself fall asleep before that person arrived.
Time went by. The thread binding the young man with this world was gradually breaking. The fire of the fireplace also began to extinguish its warmth. Outside, the wind was still blowing, the snow was still falling, the cherry blossoms was still stading there unyielding to the rigors of nature, even though it had only a few scattered foliages left. What a pity. Sanemi still wanted to see cherry blossoms blooming one last time.
His eyelids gradually dropped, opening his eyes was exhausting for the Former Wind Pillar but he still tried. If they closed, he would open them again. Once, there was nothing besides a bitter cold night. Twice, he saw the wind blowing violently and the snow drifting onto the porch. Three times, he saw a silhouette.
It's you! He shouted happily in his mind.
"I knew you would come to pick me up, Giyuu."
Sanemi didn't know if every word he just said came out loud but he still opened his mouth to speak clearly.
Perhaps that person heard what he said, he slowly approached Sanemi, extending his right arm towards him. Sanemi had no regrets, his right hand which he hardly move much now could easily reach out with its five finger to grasp the other's hand. The young man's eyes closed, he no longer bothered to open them.
On Sanemi's scarred face, Sourai saw a gentle smile, a smile as if this young man had taken a load off his mind. Then, it flew away, flew through the frigid night with heavy snow covering people's eyes. It flew, flew forever to inform everyone living here one thing:
Tonight, Shinazugawa Sanemi turned 25 years old.
Also tonight, Shinazugawa Sanemi passed away at the age of 25.