Chapter Text
-oOo-
It felt as if her legs would give up at any moment, and the sensation only worsened once she noticed the pain of her ribs, a consequence of her bad breathing due to the rush. Despite her poor condition, she kept running.
She wasn’t aware of what was going on, but right in that moment it didn't matter, so she continued running her path, to which she was being dragged as if it was about some electromagnetic impulse. Is this what people called a ‘hunch’?
An uncomfortable feeling settled on her gut and dizziness overcame her. Her judgment was still clouded, the transition from demon to human mentality with all that it entailed had been overwhelming. And even though her fatigue was not only physical, but also mental she knew she had to continue. Deep in her heart she knew, something else was about to happen, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on exactly what.
As busy as she was, trying to drown down her gasps, she failed to notice the moment her eyes started to shed tears, clouding her vision.
My name is Kamado Nezuko. My family was killed by a demon.
-oOo-
The place was full of Kakushis and other members of the demon slayer corp, he didn’t remember having seen so much members reunited as in that moment. Despite having won, the atmosphere was still tense, and the sorrow in the air was so thick it could be sliced with his own nichirin. The Kakushi had begun to take care of the wounded ones, and right there, before a new dawn, tears soon began to be shed once they recounted the lives lost in battle.
But right now that wasn’t of importance for the water Hashira. Tomioka Giyuu at that moment had only one concer present, and he had to make sure everything was okay. He made his way trough the wounded, triumphantly ignoring some Kakushi who insisted on treating him.
“Tomioka-san, Tomioka-san. Please, we’re begging you, don’t move,” but nothing they said could ease the discomfort settled on his chest.
“Where’s Tanjirou…? Is Tanjirou okay?” he wasn’t sure of what have happened. One moment he was helping Tanjirou to keep the grip of his sword, ready to slice Muzan in half, and the next, the boy had been absorbed by that horrible mass of meat. Every blow they had directed to Muzan, had been partly directed to the young boy of hanafunda earrings. That’s the reason why he had to check on him, to verify his health, because after all, he had a certaing sense of responsibility over the Kamado boy.
“Tomioka-san. You must receive first aid, please,” insisted the voice of a particularly preoccupied girl. But all noise faded into the background once he managed to spot the object of his concern.
Kamado Tanjiroo. The boy who had turn the gears on they favor on a battle that seemed impossible was laying on the ground. His hold still firmly on the sword’s handle, his grip still strong, a proof that even until the last moment he had remained firm.
Right at that moment, the air abandoned his lungs. He felt his pulse freeze. And the painful beat of his heart echoed in his ears, and he could swear that the sound echoed trough his whole body. Everything became slow, painfully slow.
The head of the young sun breathe user was pointed towards the ground, as if he had been defeated. But what a cruel joke! Weren’t they supposed to have won? And it had been thanks to him.
“He’s not breathing, and he has no pulse… Tanjirou,” the broken voice of the female kakushi confirmed.
The shock was such that he didn’t feel able to move. Tears began to blur his vision, and the pain of not having been enough invaded him again.
The guy with the kind smile and the will of a warrior wasn’t in this world anymore.
Using all his willpower, Giyuu moved forward and took a seat right in front of him on the floor.
“I failed to protect someone again” he lamented. And the old wounds were opened once again. Tsutako-neesan, Sabito, I failed again. “I’m the one always being protected by people…” he closed his eyes to the image before him in a vain attempt to stop the pain.
Kamado Tanjirou, the boy with the hanafunda earrings and auburn hair, the last user of the sun breathe. Tanjirou was… an older brother! How could it be? Nezuko’s face appeared on his mind.
“Forgive me… I’m sorry, Nezuko,” he let out a tired sigh. “I’m sorry,” but those were just words in the wind, he couldn’t bring Tanjirou back, never.
It all seemed to be a cruel joke. It was quite an insult for there to be a new dawn. That the sun rose only to enlight the absence of those who were once there, it was so unfair. He was in those thoughts when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps heading towards them. The water breathe user felt the urge to turn around to face anyone planning to disturb or make a scene, but once again, he froze once he recognized the owner of those dark locks.
“Tanjirou onii-chan! Onii-chan,” the distance was gradually reduced until the only remaining of the Kamados was close enough to realize what was happening. “Onii-chan…” she whispered. Her legs finally gave up and she fell on her knees right before her brother.
She felt dazed, overwhelmed. Her memories were blurry, she wasn’t sure of her existence, of everything that had happened in the time she was a demon. And now, the only remaining piece of her existence, the only one she could hold on to, the only capable of guiding her wasn’t there anymore. He was gone, her brother was gone. The pain that layed on her heart intensified a thousand times more and manifested itself in the form of tears.
She grabbed Tanjiro by the shoulders and shook him lightly, in vain hopes that he would open his eyes at some point, but nothing. The body of the eldest Kamado leaned forward, and fell right into the arms of his sister. This only increased her sobbing. There was no trace of life on his features, there would never be again.
“Onii-chan, I’m s-sorry. I’m sorry for being unable to understand what was happening this whole time. You carried e-everything on your own shoulders, onii-chan. Why are you the one always suffering?” She kept going with the hope that Tanjiro, wherever he was, could hear her. “Why are all the kind people working hard to survive, always being the ones being trampled on? It’s just so sad,” and the words stopped being clear and became murmurs and incomprehensible babblings. The little lady in the pink kimono was sobbing openly, hurling complaints to the sky.
Giyuu, feeling invasive enough with the scene taking place in front of him chose to withdraw, and give the young one her time and space. He slowly sat back up, and it was there that he realized that that scene was the source of everyone´s attention. The sadness had spread, and the tears and sobbing had increased. Suddenly he didn’t feel able to move, she needed backup.
A few steps behind there was the Boar boy, who had removed his mask and was currently clutching it to his chest. Tears were sliding trough his cheeks, and his eyes looked dull. He had lost his very first and best friend. Not far from him was Agatsuma, who was still receiving treatment, and had curled up in a ball on the floor to cry and babble. Despite being used to seeing the blonde whine this was a different case, he wasn’t whining neither screeching, and it was painful seeing them like this.
“Let’s go. Okay? Let’s go home,” Nezuko continued, her voice trembling and her soul aching. “Onii-chan? Without you, I’m not… my home is wherever you are, so, please,” and gave way to another round of pitiful cries.
What was she going to do now? Where should she go? Her family had been killed, and she had nowhere and no one to go. Her tears and sorrow seemed to have no end, the pain refused to subside. Why things had to turn out like this?
And despite it, the world continued it’s course. The sun was setting just above everyone's heads, announcing the beginning of a new day. The routine would resume, the world hadn’t stop spinning, indifferent to their ailments.
And knowing that the panorama remained unchanged despite everything that had happened made everything more difficult in some way. Insignificant, it was as if her pain was insignificant.