Lost Morals [DISCONTINUED]

#8| high hopes are getting low

⚠️TW ⚠️
• angst
•tankana (pls skip if you don't like it or leave, up to you)
•cringe
•wtf half of this is a flashback-

•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-two weeks later-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•

Tanjiro pov

some time has passed, what was a few weeks felt like ages. the corps was desperate to find Kanao back, fretting that this was sign of another hashira disappearance soon happening again. Oyakata-sama started sending us out with at least another hashira as a safety precaution. the corps was still searching for Kanao, but to no avail so far. almost all have started to give up, with only a few still with the slightest bit of hope— which is probably just us.

"Kamado-kun, are you alright? i understand that you are worried for Tsuyuri-chan, believe me, so am i! but i'm sure she wouldn't want you to worry about her!" Senjuro comforted from beside me, wearing his always bright but sad-looking smile. i nodded in acknowledgment, "thank you, Senjuro. let's focus on the task at hand for now." we were heading towards the city, but only passing through to a place nicknamed the Odayaka field. it was reported that there was a sighting of an unusual creature that appeared as a female with black hair, who looked rather young. that area was also said to have many gone missing, never to be seen again, only rarely have the victims escaped.

i looked up at the sky, the sun was setting, the horizon a beautiful ombré of orange, yellow and red. the orange orb was slowly going into hiding, letting the glowing, grey moon come out of its hiding and take its turn at observing the land and its inhabitants. but it was also the perfect time for demons to come out too. i stared at the sun set, feeling sentimental memories of the past rush back, during the simpler times.

flashback ( before the hashira disappearance)

"Kanao, look! the sun is setting!" i chirped, pointing at the sunset. she nodded in agreement. "looks like the moon will rise soon then. i like staring at the moon, it's not as bright as the sun, but still as pretty," she responded.

"is that so? you and Kochou-sama seem to really like the moon."
"yes. we used to watch it with our other sister. the moon is always beautiful, some nights it looks different, but eventually it's back full again, always glowing beautifully. Kanae-nee would teach me that the moon, no matter what phase it's experiencing, would always shine brightly for others, which is something we should all do. she really was an inspirational person, don't you think?"
i nod enthusiastically in agreement. was? what does that mean?
"if you're wondering why i said 'was' or why you've never seen her, she's dead now. her name was Kanae Kochou, master's biological older sister. she used to be the flower hashira until she sadly passed away on a mission. before that, she taught me flower breathing and now master helps me with my other skills, that's why we use different breathings. Kanae-nee used to be so bright and optimistic, sometimes too much for my taste, but that's what makes her so great. she was always sympathetic towards demons, even when she was on the brink of death, unfortunately now the world can no longer see her smile. her clip has now come into my possession," she said pointing to her clip, a look of sadness filling her face after, "Tanjiro, can i tell you something personal?" i nod, so she continues, "i honestly feel like i'm more of a weaker replacement for her. she should still be alive. i should have been the one that died— the burden."

i stare out of empathy at Kanao as she sheds a few tears. i pull her into a warm embrace. "Tanjiro-kun... do you think i should even be here? i couldn't even bring myself to cry at her funeral, but here i am crying about myself. you must think i'm selfish too. i hate myself. so mu-"
"NO! THAT'S NOT TRUE! I-I... i think you're very strong and skilled!" i admitted. "and pretty and kind..." i muttered under my breath, immediately blushing, unsure if Kanao had heard that. i look down i realise that Kanao had asleep, probably due to all the unfamiliar crying exhausting her eyes. thank god she didn't hear that... she looks so peaceful when she's sleeping though... how cut- W-WHAT DID I JUST-

end flashback

"...MADO-KUN!" i jolt back to reality as i hear an annoyed Senjuro call my name. "s-sorry, Senjuro. i must have spaced out again," i apologise embarrassedly. "Kamado-kun? are you alright? you're blushing a lot, are you perhaps... thinking about Ka-" Senjuro gasped, and smirking as he started to tease me, causing me to put my hand over his mouth. "N-NO! LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT THIS ANOTHER TIME!" i shout back in self-defence, turning my head away to hide my tomato-red face. i shake my head and my thoughts away, and focus back on the mission.

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-

the duo reached a three to four trees thick wall of cherry blossoms, a path leading towards a clearing before them. they walked along the path, while darting their eyes around cautiously. "OI!! KOMABAJIRO!" a booming, familiar voice comes from behind them, making Senjuro flinch violently. "oh god..." another, but more disappointed voice adds on.

"Hashibara-kun? Shinazugawa-san? what are you guys doing here?" Senjuro asked in confusion.
"THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK! ARE YOU TRYING TO STEAL MY TARGET?!" Inosuke angrily accused.
"of course not, Inosuke. i suppose we were all sent of the same mission?" i reasoned, waving my hands in front of me, trying to show him we're not trying to put up a fight.
"perhaps, Oyakata-sama did said the demon was assumed to be a worthy opponent, a very difficult one too," Genya informed us.

i put a hand to my chin and noted down the information, and gave a nod. "let's get going then."

we walk along the path and enter a colourful clearing that seemed to never end, reaching the warm sunset, but the sun being blocked by a black steel pavilion with vines creeping over the roof and hanging loosely down the sides. the pink and yellow waist-high flowers swayed in the refreshing breeze, tickling my skin.

third-person pov

Senjuro observed his surroundings, trying to pinpoint the location of the demon. "there's almost nothing in sight," he said, before embarrassedly turning to Inosuke, rubbing his nape, "Hashibara-kun, do you mind using your senses?" hearing this, Inosuke confidently smirked and stabbed his unsheathed swords forcefully into the dirt, keeping both arms parallel from his torso, he kept in his signature pose. he concentrated on his surroundings, letting his body detect the slightest even the slightest movement. Tanjiro attempting to use his scent to find clues, Senjuro curiously looking around again, Genya nibbling on a petal to find any leads— he could feel every inch of their bodies move. but there was one that stool out. about 500 meters ahead— the pavilion? Inosuke stood up, turning back in to their conversation.
"i can smell a demon, it's very faint, but still distinct."
"same, the petals had the taste of a demon, one of them clearly passed here."
"uh, i think there's someone at the pavilion. oh, have you found anything, Hashibara-kun?"
"yea, it's at the pavilion." he said, pointing at the direction of the sun set

Genya furrowed his eyebrows at Inosuke's calmness, but brushed it away for the time being. "let's head there then," he said, turning towards the pavilion and walking there, the other three doing the same.

there, stood a petite, young lady with a traditional pink, flower patterned paper umbrella. her long, silky, black hair flowed down her back, reaching her waist. she had a familiar butterfly patterned cape that was draped over her shoulders and fastened with something that couldn't be seen due to her back blocking the view of her face. she noticeably had a purple-tinted demon slayer skirt, tall, white and beige boots almost reaching her knees. the demon sensed their presence and turned around. her full eyes with deep magenta scleras were far too familiar for the red head.

"Kanao...?"

word count: 1415
sorry for the delay in the chapter, title inspired by the song 'parents' describes my parents very well lmao