Chapter Text
The rain wouldn’t stop. The wind screamed, soaring through the sky and tearing through houses. Trees swayed back and forth, some collapsing onto dirt roads and marketplaces. There was a large swirl in the sky, a union of clouds, endlessly turning as another blood-curdling scream echoed throughout the air. The flesh of demons crawled. Leopards and panthers grimaced. Frantic footsteps traversed town roads to shelter innocents while others went to find the cause of the storm. One did. He stood in the rain, shoes sinking into the battered ground in mud, eyes wide. Sabito was dead. Pale hands were holding onto him, a demon withering away in the rain, its eyes wide as it stared at the weeping soul clinging onto the boy’s corpse. With each heaving breath, the wind grew brisk. With each scream, it howled. With each tear, it continued to pour. He approached, his clothes molded to his body as the rain grew fiercer, thunder in the distance. Any blood that had covered Sabito’s mangled corpse was washed away.
“Tomioka, look at me.” A bright light illuminated the side of his face, lightning striking the ground near him as a whimper left Tomioka Giyuu’s quivering lips.
“He’s gone! He’s gone and it’s all my fault!” A scarred hand tried to make its way onto his shoulder, but the raw shrieks never ceased. Sabito laid within his arms, a limp hand resting with Tomioka’s trembling ones. His eyes once so bright had become a milky lavender. He was smiling into the rain, just as the wind grew thicker, the air frigid. This was the deadliest hurricane seen in years. Houses were crumbling as if they were made of straw, clay tiles shattering as they collapsed on the ground. People couldn’t breathe without rain flooding their lungs, their cries mute to the desolate wailing of the hurricane. The demon slayers were scrambling, for once not knowing what to do. They couldn’t conquer a hurricane. No blade or gift from their candle could quell the storm of lost love. Panic waltzed with the wind and sang with the rain. Screams embellished the howls and cries. The grief of a one so gifted had cursed them all, damned them to fall prey to the demons that lurked within the mountains.
**
Rengoku Senjuro opened his eyes to the sun rising above the town, its golden light illuminating terracotta-hued rooftops and polychromatic flowers. The sky was a strawberry blonde and the wind was warm, whirling around him through his open window. When the sun rose, he rose. The boy raised his arms and stretched, a quiet yawn leaving his lips as he got ready for the day, making sure not to let out a single peep. The tiles of the casita were frigid, his tiny hands putting on his socks as he pulled his shirt over his head and pants over his legs. He had decided to sleep in the nursery this time, not his brother's room where he usually resided. He wanted to be alone for the night. It was an unspoken truth that today would be hard for him despite the boy’s indifferent attitude towards today. Nobody objected to his sleeping arrangements, but he sensed his brother’s uneasiness a mile away. Kyojuro didn’t argue, just wanting his brother to be comfortable in his own way. Everyone else was asleep as usual, their illuminating doors shut as Senjuro wiped the sleepiness from his eyes. He made his way down the stairs into the kitchen, the various windows in the casita’s hallways opening with each step he took. He wasn’t that lonely, anyway. The casita made sure of that.
Walking into the kitchen, light poured in through the freshly open windows as the drawers flew open, porcelain plates flying towards the boy’s open arms. He set the table, hearing low humming in the kitchen. That was new. Nobody was up this early. He quietly made his way to the kitchen’s furnace where he saw Kanroji cooking quietly, her braids swishing from side to side as she hummed, strong hands kneading dough, probably taiyaki. She stopped and turned around, her lips forming a gentle smile as she noticed the boy’s frazzled expression.
“Good morning, Senjuro. Did I wake you?” He shook his head immediately, shifting his weight in between his legs.
“No, no don’t worry. I’m just surprised you’re, you know, here and not sleeping.” She lightly patted him on the head, not paying mind to the flecks of dough that stuck to his yellow and red locks.
“I figured you could use some company for today, I hope you don’t mind. Here, you can help knead the dough while I start on some onigiri. The others probably won’t be awake for a while.” Senjuro’s small hands kneaded the dough, eyes studying Kanroji as she prepared some rice and fillings.
“Did my brother ask for you to, you know, get up this early?” She merely chuckled and shook her head.
“No, I came up with this all by myself. We all know today’s going to be hard for you, so putting my best effort and support where I can is the best I can do, you know?” He nodded, eyes returning to the light yellow dough that rested within his hands. He loved Kanroji, he really did, but the atmosphere of pity dampened his heart more than the date itself already did. He took a deep breath and followed Kanroji’s instructions, trying to get his mind off of that night. It was the last thing he wanted to remember on a day like this. His anxious hands brushing the cool metal of the doorknob. His illuminated eyes and his brother’s hand on his shoulder. He shook his head and shut his eyes, the memory burying itself into the back of his head as he looked down at the dough that had seemingly toughened within a few seconds of his care.
“I might have overworked it. That never really happens, sorry.”
“Don’t apologize! It’s alright. Besides, I don’t really think anyone but Uzui would notice, you know how he is. Besides, Uzui knows today’s going to be rough for you, I wouldn’t worry.” That’s right, everyone knew today was going to be hard for him. It would draw more attention to him than he’d like to receive, but who was he, trying to ignore their genuine gestures?
Breakfast that morning was quiet. Senjuro sat beside his brother, knowing that occasional glances would be thrown his way.
“You guys, I really appreciate the help and everything, but today’s going to be just fine. I’m fine, let’s just try and make the most of helping everyone while we can before the ceremony.” Kyojuro placed a firm hand on his shoulder, looking at him. Senjuro knew his big brother felt partially responsible that night, when there was nothing of his doing that could have caused what happened. It was a nightmare for the both of them today, but Kyojuro would never say it.
“Senjuro, understand that you did nothing wrong and we’re all here for you. You are no different than any of us. You are still a demon slayer. You are still part of this family.”
“Your brother’s right. Tomioka lost his way in this family before. We don’t want you to follow in his footsteps,” Kocho spoke. A few sent a sharp glare her way at the mention of the name that they were never to speak. Tomioka Giyuu was a ghost, a figment of the past for everyone, including the townspeople. Nobody dared to speak a word of him, and the thought of becoming just like him made Senjuro’s stomach uneasy.
Every day, the demon slayer corps roamed the community, using their gifts to help their community. The town itself was a mosaic, filled with refugees fleeing from demon-infested lands, original town inhabitants, and those who wanted to witness the magic that lived within the casita. Of course, nobody in town dared to go into the mountains. Beyond the town gates lurked demons, victims and crooks in search of more power, fueled by the blood of the Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji. His name instilled fear into anyone who breathed, and those who stumbled into his presence were nothing more but souls in the afterlife or merciless demons starving for human flesh. His demons torched entire villages, many of those survivors scrambling to the town of the demon slayers where they would reach complete safety.
Senjuro personally helped anyone who needed him, but primarily stayed with his brother. As he ventured into the town that had just begun to wake, a few children followed him, hoping they wouldn’t be noticed. Senjuro paused and couldn’t help but smile, not turning around.
“Who’s following me?”
“Us! Rengoku, there’s just so many gifts we can’t seem to remember them all!” He chuckled and turned around, hands on his hips.
“Yeah? I think it’s time for a lesson. First of all, my brother Rengoku Kyojuro was blessed with the power of fire. He warms our town when winter comes and lights the way in search of people seeking refuge here from demons. Not to mention, he uses his flames to set our enemies ablaze!” The laughter he got in return made him smile, looking into the awestruck eyes of the children who continued following him. Himejima was carrying a temple on his shoulders, the townspeople watching in awe as he placed it down, heaving as he gave everyone a thumbs up amongst applause, the dust around them setting. One of the children’s jaws dropped, gesturing to the feat that they had all just witnessed.
“Who was that?” He managed, Senjuro biting the inside of his cheek, watching Gyomei anxiously take the praise he was given.
“That was Himejima! He was given super strength at his gift ceremony. When he was younger, his body suffered at the hands of a fever that rendered him blind.”
“Then how did he pass the exam and use his gift?”
“He has a really good sense of hearing, I’m surprised that isn’t his gift.” Senjuro kept walking, almost running right into Shinazugawa who was hovering right over him.
“Kid, watch where the hell you’re going.” The children cowered behind Senjuro, watching him with wide eyes. He only chuckled nervously as he turned down to them.
“This is Shinazugawa! He was-”
“I can explain my gift. I was given the gift of harnessing the wind. I can fly and manipulate the air in any way I want.” Some of the children’s jaws dropped and Shinazugawa only looked down at Senjuro.
“I’m gonna go now, Shinazugawa-”
“Whatever.” When he was younger, Senjuro would cower in fear in the presence of Shinazugawa, his younger brother Genya being just as terrifying. He would be getting his gift today, and he could tell Shinazugawa was pressuring him, but that was not exactly his business.
The children didn’t seem to leave Senjuro alone, catching the eye of Kocho who had come from curing a man bitten by a yamakagashi snake. She stood in front of the group, an innocent smile on her face, knowing Senjuro didn’t exactly forgive her for almost putting him in the same category as the unspoken Tomioka Giyuu.
“What do you have here, Senjuro?”
“The kids just wanted to know what everyone does.” She smiled, extending an arm out as a clear liquid leaked from her flesh, landing on the ground with an acidic hiss. Amidst the looks of terror, she waved her hands dismissively.
“I’m Kocho Shinobu, and I can create any venom or poison known to man. Don’t worry, I can also excrete antivenom and antidotes.” Kanroji had been walking down the street with Iguro, noticing the forming crowd of little ones to which she immediately flocked to, much to her husband’s dismay.
“Kocho, what do we have here?”
“Senjuro was telling the children what we can do.” There went his spotlight, which wasn’t out of the ordinary.
“Well, I have the gift of love aura, meaning I can induce a feeling of overwhelming love within someone! My husband Obanai can speak to snakes.” It was obvious the children admired her husband’s gift more than her own, but she didn’t seem to mind, and her husband just wanted to avoid as much contact with little kids as possible, taking his wife’s hand before walking away without a word. Senjuro waved his friends goodbye and continued to walk, surprised to see that the children followed him, obviously preferring him than anyone else.
They reached the town square where Uzui sat at the fountain, a wad of paper sitting on his lap as his hands flew in miscellaneous directions. Eventually, he threw the paper in the air as it shimmered in the sunlight, materializing into a real-life cart filled to the brim with flowers of vibrant colors and petal shapes. Senjuro smiled, turning to the children once again.
“This is Uzui. His gift is that whatever he draws comes to life.”
“Even people?” Senjuro chuckled, shaking his head.
“Nope, not people. It’d be nice, though.” Tokito was walking in the brightest part of town, holding the hands of a young woman as he looked up at the clouds. The clouds didn’t change for anyone else, but the boy seemed to be studying them with an intelligent eye. Eventually, he looked back at the woman, letting go of her hands.
“You’ll marry a man you just met, but it’s okay. He’ll be married to you for forty years before he-” He didn’t finish whatever prophecy that he was speaking as he took notice of a few butterflies that swirled around a shop’s sign that hung above the door.
“Before he what?”
“Who?” The woman left frustrated, Tokito shrugging it off as he walked off once again. Senjuro remembered when he got his gift vividly. He was amazed by the door but was immediately intrigued by a pair of crows that had soared in front of the moon moments later. It took a few minutes before he told everyone his gift. Senjuro watched the boy mindlessly walk off, a bit concerned but smiling anyway as he faced the children once more.
“That was Tokito. He can tell you your future as long as there are clouds in the sky. He just…gets a little absent-minded, that’s all!”
“My mom says that one of the demon slayers caused a hurricane, is that true?” A little girl queried. Senjuro fell silent, gaze inspecting the individual specks of dirt on the road that stretched into the mountains.
“Well, umm, yeah. Tomioka Giyuu.” Some of the townsfolk turned their heads sharply in his direction, seething with disapproval. He piped down immediately as Kyojuro approached, smiling as he patted him on the head.
“Senjuro, we’re needed at the casita.” The boy waved goodbye to the children quickly, glancing at his brother who looked right ahead. He was quite thankful he saved him from the tension that invaded the air.
“I didn’t mean to mention-”
“Don’t worry, I’m not mad about that. I think everyone blows things out of proportion, really. Tomioka lost his way because everyone let him lose his way. That’s why everyone’s looking out for you today. We don’t want to lose you like we lost him.” All the boy could do was nod, walking up to the casita doors that flew open upon their arrival. Uzui was drawing flowers upon flowers, Shinaguzawa flying all over the casita to rest them where he ordered. Kocho glanced at the six doors that were blank at the top of the stairwell, glowing brightly. Senjuro avoided looking at them, his brother’s grip on his brother tightening a bit gently. Kanroji’s eyes scanned the list of the future demon slayers that would be among their ranks, turning to Uzui.
“Okay, we need two banners with the name Kamado on them. They’re a brother and sister duo. Tanjiro and Nezuko. Then, we need one for a boy named Hashibira Inosuke and another for Agatsuma Zenitsu. Of course, then there’s Kanao’s and Genya’s.” Shinazugawa loomed over Uzui’s shoulder, eyes narrowed.
“If you make my brother’s banner look stupid, I’ll send you flying straight into the mountains.” Uzui waved a hand, rolling his eyes.
“I wouldn’t do that even if I wanted to, now hush and let me focus.” His hand began to draw the banners, each one filled with individual designs and colors. Uzui personally watched the exam this year, so he knew what each of the children looked like. He designed the banners off of the haoris that Kamado and Agatsuma wore, butterflies for Kanao, flowers for Kamado Nezuko, and pistols for Genya. Shinazugawa studied his brother’s banner quietly as Uzui threw the papers in the air, each one shimmering under the sun before they landed on the casita’s floor, Iguro picking them up and moving to hang them with the help of the snake that wrapped itself around his neck. Senjuro knew that he would be of no use, but what else was new?
Kyojuro noticed his brother’s uneasiness and held his hand, looking down at him.
“Nothing is going to go wrong tonight, it’s okay,” He whispered, noticing how his brother seemed to look everywhere but him.
“What if one of them doesn’t get a gift? What if one of them ends up like me?” Not getting a gift was considered impossible until Senjuro’s gift ceremony. The both of them remembered it clearly. He had walked up the staircase, all eyes on him as he approached his door. He took his oath and touched the magical candle that had blessed the town with the gifts in the first place. His brother placed his hand on his shoulder and Senjuro had held his hand before he touched the doorknob. Instead of the door lighting ablaze with newfound energy and magic, it ended up fading into the wall, its glittering figure becoming nothing. An awkward silence had loomed over everyone in town before they were rendered hysterical. Kyojuro had hugged his sobbing brother immediately, some whispering Tomioka’s name under their breaths as they left the casita, disappointed. That was a day that would never leave Senjuro’s mind, and Kyojuro knew it. He knelt to his brother’s eye level and managed a smile.
“If one of them doesn’t get a gift, then that means they’re going to be working with one of the greatest demon slayers in this house. You are more than a gift, Senjuro.”
“It’s easy for you to say, you have one.” He sighed and hugged the boy tightly, falling silent for just a moment.
“There are plenty of times where we’ve felt weak even with our gifts. Sometimes, we feel burnt out to the point where we can’t even use them. A gift is one thing, but being able to use it well and having a sense of self is another. You know yourself well, Senjuro, and you do everything you can to help all of us. Without that support, we would be quite useless to this community.” He knew his brother was genuine, but even then, he knew that deep down a gift was standard in this home, in this organization. Everyone had one, and if he didn’t, did he really belong?
The bright blue sky blended into a luminescent lavender before growing dark. The town was arriving as well as the future demon slayers who were going to receive their doors that night, the candle that gave this town everything burning brightly at the window. Senjuro remembered his own gift ceremony was just like this. His brother had taken his hand, giving him a bright smile.
“It’s time. Let’s go welcome our guests.”