In Which The Hashira Fail And Muichiro Gets Force Adopted By Kokushibou

Two

Muichiro slowly became aware of a hard floor underneath him. His eyes were shut tight and he was lying on his back with his arms on his side. He guessed the room he was in was relatively small, and he could not feel the presence of anything living. He also could not feel his katana.

Keeping his eyes closed in case any light in the room might cause either a headache or temporary blindness, Muichiro tensed his limbs one by one. His legs were still in one piece though quite stiff, and his right arm was sore and numb.

He couldn't feel his left arm.

Muichiro slowly cracked open his right eye. The room he was in had no light, he couldn't tell if that was a good or bad sign. Muichiro slowly moved his remaining arm in circles. It caused his shoulder to burn in a pain that made his body shake, however if he gritted his teeth and forced himself to onward he could still use it. He pushed himself upwards and inhaled sharply as his eyes blurred over then adjusted to the lighting.

There were no windows in the room, just sliding doors making up every wall. The floor was covered in tatami mat flooring and there was a single unlit lantern hanging from the ceiling. Aside from these details there was nothing else in the room. It was a place that practically radiated the feeling of a home just before its new owners moved in, waiting, quiet and empty.

With his eyes fully adjusted to the lack of lightning Muichiro noted that his wounds had been bandaged rather well. Did-did Shinobu do this. . ? He thought. This doesn't look like the butterfly mansion, though maybe I'm just misremembering it. He frowned.

No. Shinobu is dead. Muichiro grimaced. He remembered the devastating cry of a crow as it delivered the news that his fellow pillar had been slaughtered by a demon.

She hadn't wrapped his wounds and this was not the butterfly mansion.

I passed out. I don't know where I am. Muichiro's breath hitched. I could literally be anywhere with anyone.

Muichiro once more looked over the room. It looked more like a civilian's home than any kind of military type housing, though his house as a pillar also had a similar feel. He couldn't tell much of anything in this lonely room.

Muichiro had a bad feeling in his gut. The lack of sunlight mixed with the lack of anything alive was suspicious. Muichiro had also been rendered defenseless against demons by the removal of his sword. Had he been rescued by slayers, or even most humans, someone would be nearby. There was no sign of anyone leaving in a rush, neither was there any sound of fighting or fear. There was just no one and nothing.

The lack of anything was worryingly abnormal.

However, despite how worrying this house was, getting out and making sure he wasn't caught by who he feared he had was currently more important than answers. No life meant no civilians, so Muichiro didn't need to worry about others' safety alongside his own.

Muichiro slowly breathed in and out through his mouth to restart his total concentration and try to work feeling back into his limbs. He slowly focused on the bleeding in his arms and slowed it down as much as he could. It had already considerably slowed during the unknown amount of time Muichiro had been unconscious, meaning he had probably been out for quite a while.

He hated when recovery had stopped him from firmly gripping the finite amount of time he had and using it to extend the brief time alive others had. Muichiro stretched in order to make sure he could fight if it became necessary as he thought over what had happened. He would make up for the seconds he left creatures to take years from others, however he had to make it to someplace he could confirm as safe.