The Hidden Demon Slayer (DEMON SLAYER X OC)

Chapter 5: The Dark Past

"Nariko, sit here," Tamayo pointed to a chair and she followed. "I'm going to start from the beginning. When I was human, I faced a life-threatening ailment and was desperate for a cure. Muzan came to me and said that he can heal me. I trusted him, but little did I know, he was actually planning to turn me into a demon," she continued.

"He's really insane! He would really do a horrible thing and not even flinch or feel anything!"

"Yes, that's true. After a while, I began causing ruckus and murdered my family. I also ate a number of humans. But after some time, I realized what I've done and was driven to despair. A lot of things happened and I became one of his underlings and I became obsequiously submissive."

Nariko gasped after she heard about Tamayo's family and she bursted into tears. "I'm r-really sorry to hear about that. It m-must have been v-very hard for you."

She kept sobbing which made Tamayo worried. "You don't need to be sorry. I should be the one who must apologize," she said while rubbing Nariko's back, trying to calm her down. After a while, she finally settled down.

"As I was saying, I served him while wanting to get my revenge for my family. It continued until we met the strongest Demon Slayer who managed to overpower him and almost had the chance to kill him." Nariko was very shocked upon hearing the last phrase.

"Wait, do you mean the very first Demon Slayer who made the very first breathing technique?! Did you actually bumped into him?!" She asked with her eyes filled with excitement.

"U-uh… yes. I certainly did. I was very dazzled seeing his power while taking him on and my spirit to kill him suddenly reignited. Unfortunately, Muzan is just too smart that he scattered himself to pieces and escaped, leaving me and the demon slayer alone. He spared me my life and I managed to escape. I didn't knew his true intentions, but I theorized that maybe he realized that we shared the same hatred for Muzan. I somehow managed to survive without devouring living humans. He said that he believes in my wish to defeat Muzan, so I tried my very best to regain my sanity and refuse to attack humans, no matter how painful it got. Many moments have passed and I successfully removed the curse by my own will and now I study treatments for demonic curses." She ended her quite bizarre adventure. Thankfully, Nariko was attentive enough to listen.

"I understand now. It must have been very challenging and yet you managed to overcome it. You are very impressive, Tamayo-san," Nariko cheered. Tamayo felt butterflies in her stomach after hearing the compliment. 

"By the way, about Himari's curse. How did you remove hers?" Nariko's curiosity went further as she wanted to hear more of Tamayo's stories.

"Well, she did asked me a favor to tell you about her actual past."

"Actual past? So everything she said to me about her past was a lie?"

"She had a dark past like me. When she was still a human, she used to usurp everything she fancied. Be it money, clothes, jewelry, or medicine. She would do everything to get what she wanted, even if it means being a criminal. One day, she got caught and was sentenced to death. She was about to be beheaded when Muzan interrupted and claimed that he was Himari's father. The ones who punished her weren't even from the higher ups, so he swiftly took advantage by bribing them with money. Afterwards, they let Himari go and Muzan took her in his arms. What she didn't knew was he was planning a scheme against her; to turn her into a demon. He thought that she was very useful so he put his plan into action. After Himari became a demon, she killed the whole village who wanted her dead. After ten days, she found out that she ate her little sister along with the villagers. The whole reason why she wanted to steal is because her sister was bedridden and they didn't even had a piece of bread. She blamed herself and wanted to get revenge," Tamayo elucidated. 

"She did mention her little sister, but she told me that her sister died because one of Muzan's underlings ate her. Things really get worse because of that bastard," Nariko cursed. She was filled with anger. She wanted to take him down once and for all, but even a dumb person knows that no one can defeat him so easily.

"She tried to find a way to remove the curse but never succeeded. She had to eat humans to survive, but she had a very strong sense of guilt inside. She resorted to eat animals instead of humans while finding a way to remove the curse. Few years passed and she bumped into me. She begged for help even though she never knew me in her life. She told me everything and I told her about my past. I helped her break free from Muzan's grasp by generating a medicine that can help her regain her sanity and remove her hunger for human flesh. I also taught her how to make treatments so she can help others in exchange for taking lives," Tamayo added.

Nariko understood everything now. They were nothing but victims who fell under Muzan's trap. Her hatred against him fueled and her thirst for vengeance grew more. 

"Don't worry, Tamayo-san. I will help you in your vengeance and kill him for everything he has done. He's too manipulative and quick-witted," Nariko reassured. "Can you tell me anything you know about Muzan's plans?"

"Muzan is searching for the blue spider lily to gain immunity against the sun so he can perfect immortality."

"So there is a way to turn him into a complete monster. Where can you find it, anyways?"

"It blooms only in the daylight hours, two to three days in a year. We can say that it's impossible for him to find the flower, but if he actually finds it, he would be unstoppable. We have to make sure it never gets into his hands."

"Good thing he can't actually find it. But what if there was a demon who can actually withstand the sun?"

"Then I'm sure Muzan will do everything he can to get his hands on them. But as far as I've known, no demon has ever survived under the sun," Tamayo implied. Nariko thought for a moment and reminisced the time when she tried to go out the day she woke up in Himari's house. Her arm touched the sun so she should've been dead from now. She just shook it off and thought it was just mere luck. But it didn't make sense because her arm regenerated for a whole day. She didn't even bothered to check if her arm was still there.

"Nariko? Nariko, are you ok?" Tamayo brought Nariko back to her senses. "I'm sorry, I just got lost in my mind. Anyways, I have a question."

"Sure. Ask away."

"Why am I here again?"

Tamayo was confused. Did this kid lost her mind or something? Why would she ask what she was here for? 

"Oh, I forgot to finish my sentence. Why did Himari brought me here? Does she want us to only have a conversation?"

"YOU IDIOT! WHY WOULD YOU ASK SUCH THINGS TO TAMAYO-SAMA?! DID YOU EVEN LEARN GOOD MANNERS? YOU'RE A REAL IDIOT!" Yushiro yelled from outside. Of course, Tamayo knew they were eavesdropping. They didn't actually left the other room and listen to Tamayo and Nariko's conversation instead.

"Yushiro, please calm down. I told you to treat her nicely."

"I'm very sorry, Tamayo-sama. I'm going outside now to reflect on my mistakes." Yushiro hurriedly ran outside and took out his diary. 

"What in the world is he writing in his notes?"

"It's a mystery only he knows. Anyways, about your question. Himari brought you here to meet me and figure out a way to make you stronger. She also mentioned about your blood demon art, so I was interested into making it more powerful. I just have a question. Do you want to stay as a demon?"

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Is this what you call "MIRACLE"? Just kidding. I actually pulled of to make another chapter despite of my laziness. Thankfully, I still had the urge to write. So I decided to put Tamayo and Himari's past because I just want to. Remember when Himari said that Nariko was her first friend? That's because she treats Tamayo as her mother and she isn't friends with Yushiro. That's all, happy holidays!