Chapter 1: Living after death chapter 1
Chapter Text
Prologue:
The morning sun was cruelly bright when Mitsuri opened her eyes. Pain ran through her body, sharp and seeming never ending. She tried to move and froze. One of her arms was gone. Her heart got heavy. She turned her head, vision blurry, and there he was Obanai. His hand was still gripping onto her, even in unconsciousness, his breathing shallow but steady. “Help!” Her voice cracked as panic overtook her. “Somebody please, help!” At last, a Kakushi appeared, eyes widening in shock. “Kanroji-san… you’re alive?!” He called for reinforcements, and in a daze of hurried steps and frantic shouts, they were carried to the Butterfly Mansion. Aoi worked tirelessly, her hands firm and steady, tending to wounds that should have been fatal. Mitsuri, weak and fading fast, turned her gaze toward Obanai. His face was scarred, eyes hidden beneath layers of bandages. “Will Iguro-san be able to see again?” Mitsuri thought she tried to reach for him, her heart aching for him, but darkness overtook her once more. Two weeks passed before Obanai awoke. Consciousness came slowly, heavy like a stone. He tried to open his eyes, nothing but darkness. Bandages pressed against his skin.“…Hello?” His voice was hoarse. “I can’t… I can’t see.”No one answered. The silence stretched until hours later with each passing hour his anxiety drew bigger for mitsuri, “what if she wasn’t alive, what if I couldn't protect her,” he wanted to go look for her but fear overtook him not wanting to face reality if it were to be true. When footsteps finally approached. Aoi entered, startled to find him sitting upright, waiting quietly. Without a word, she removed the bandages, assessing his injuries.Then, A familiar voice, high-pitched and trembling with emotion, rang through the halls. It was deafening.”Iguro-san!” His breath left him in a shaky sigh, half relief, half fear. She was alive. And for the first time since the endless night, he felt the world was finally steady beneath him.
Chapter one:
As Obanai mentally prepared himself for the emotional hurricane that was Mitsuri, relief slowly started to wash over him. The pain didn’t hurt as much anymore knowing she was fine, waiting for him all this time.
The high-pitched voice drew closer, and his nerves spiked. “What if she thinks I didn’t do well enough? What if something happened to her?”
When Mitsuri finally arrived at the doorway, she froze, shock written all over her face. Obanai panicked, he didn’t know what she was thinking.
Then, suddenly, Mitsuri flew across the room and into his arms, sobbing.
“Oh, Iguro-san! I didn’t know if you were going to wake up! I was so worried! Can you see? Are you okay?”
He just stared at her in disbelief they were here, together, after all their goodbyes.
Aoi quietly stepped back, giving them space, a small smile on her face as she felt a wave of happiness for them.
Mitsuri continued to cry into Obanai’s arms, telling him how much she missed him and how worried she had been. Finally, Obanai spoke:
“I missed you too, Mitsuri-san.”
Hearing that made her cry even harder.
Once Mitsuri calmed down, she stood, straight and determined. The pain where her arm used to be seemed to fade, replaced by excitement, relief, admiration, and love.
As Obanai’s vision cleared, he finally took her in, her smile, her hair, her eyes… but then he noticed she was missing an arm.
“No,” he thought. “It might be in there somewhere…” Words failed him, anxiety rushing back.
Mitsuri noticed him staring at where her arm used to be.“Oh! My arm?” Mitsuri said gently. “Muzan took it off, remember? It’s okay. I was supposed to lose my life. I’m lucky it was just my arm!”
Suddenly, Obanai felt the weight of the world crash down on him again, his body hurt, yet he felt numb, as if all the pain of the battle had returned in waves.
He kept on saying “I’m so sorry Mitsuri-San I wasn't able to protect you.” After Mitsuri calmed Obani down she said “Iguro-San don’t worry let’s go say hi to the others now they miss you!” Obani sighed reluctantly “if it makes you happy,” he said with a smile, as he slowly got up with her, they made their way to the kitchen.
Chapter Text
The kitchen was filled with the smell of breakfast, warm and comforting. Inosuke was hungrily munching away, shoving food into his mouth with both hands. Aoi watched him,her face written with smitten all over. She immediately spotted Mitsuri and Obanai entering and quickly wiped the expression off her face.
“Hey guys! I see you’re finally up, Obanai. Took you long enough,” Obanai stiffened
“Who are you again?” Said Inosuke looking straight at Mitsuri, “ I know you, you’re Iguro right? Yes you are Aoi made me help her everytime she cleaned your wounds, You’re a real pain you know! But who are you and what's up with your hair?”
Mitsuri froze, shock written all over her face. “What do you mean, who am I? You should at least remember me! I let you skip my Hashira training because you’re more flexible than me! Does that not ring a bell?!”
Inosuke blinked, then his face looked like it formed a thought. “Ah! Meat-surii, right?!”
Obanai’s eyebrows furrowed. “How dare you call Mitsuri-san that wrong?! What’s wrong with you, boar-head?”
Aoi stepped forward quickly, bowing her head. “Sorry, he’s not really good at names…”
Mitsuri let out a small laugh. “It’s okay.”
The group left the kitchen, heading to the living room. There,Tanjiro, and Nezuko were chatting quietly.
“Hey guys! Iguro-san’s finally up!” Mitsuri exclaimed, a bright smile on her face.
Obanai stayed quiet, standing stiffly, feeling a little like a puppy whose only purpose was to follow its owner.
Tanjiro glanced at him kindly. “Hey, Mr. Iguro, how are you feeling? You were out for quite a while.”
Obanai’s voice was calm and cold. “Not that it’s any of your business,” He said flatly “but I’m fine. Thank you for asking.”
Tanjiro smiled warmly. “That’s good. We were all so worried!”
Obanai internally groaned. I was already nice enough… don’t want him thinking he’s off the hook.
Suddenly, Nezuko ran up to Mitsuri and hugged her tightly. Obanai blinked. Why is she here? Wasn’t she a demon before?
Mitsuri giggled, Hugging nezuko gently, then held her hand. “Come on, let’s go say hi to everyone else.” Obanai followed, still trying to process the sight of the girl who used to be a demon.
They found Sanemi and Genya sitting together With Giyu in the middle of them both elbows stiff from awkwardness. Sanemi’s stern voice cut through the room. “I told you it was dangerous! That’s why I said to leave! You almost died, Genya!”
Mitsuri stepped forward, smiling brightly. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re both alive. That’s what matters.”
Sanemi huffed, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Genya looked slightly embarrassed, but the tension in his shoulders eased, and so did Giyu’s. Obanai watched Mitsuri, impressed at how effortlessly she lightened the mood.
Finally, they made their way to Muichiro. He lay in bed, pale and weak, a blanket pulled around him.
“You gave us all such a scare,” Mitsuri whispered, sitting beside him. “But look at you… alive.”
Obanai stood nearby, silently holding Mitsuri’s hand, letting her take the lead.
After some quiet moments, they stepped outside, the winter sun gentle on their faces.
Mitsuri exhaled softly. “We lost so many… but maybe this is what it means to live — to keep loving, even after.”
Obanai squeezed her hand. “Don’t start crying again. You’ll make me mad if you do.”
She laughed lightly, leaning against him. The world felt calm for the first time in months. For now, that was enough.
Notes:
Hay guys thank you so much for all the kudos on chapter one! I'm sorry for late upload school is slowly killing me, schools been so bad the Ao3 curse didn't even affect me, sorry for the rant anyways feel free to leave comments getting kinda scared my first chapter was bad since no one left comments... like its giving ominous and mysterious.
ErzaArts2888 on Chapter 1 Wed 08 Oct 2025 10:56PM UTC
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