ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ sʟᴀʏᴇʀ: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ʙʟᴏᴏᴍᴇᴅ "ᴋʏᴏᴊᴜʀᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴋᴀʀɪ"

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

"Mugen Train: Part 1"

Later that evening, Akari was seen in her usual spot at the backyard of the house where her favorite flowers were planted and they bloomed so beautifully, even in the night. She just came home from the hashira meeting they held. The moon wasn't full, but the sky was so clear. Tanjiro went outside to thank the woman who smiled at him and fought for him and his sister against all the other hashiras who wanted to hurt them. "Sorry to bother you, Mitsuma-san", Tanjiro smiled awkwardly and scratched his neck. She gestured for him to sit down. "Please sit down", she said to him and they both looked at the stars that filled the night. Shinobu saw them both, but went on her way and left them for privacy. "I wanted to thank you, for what you did earlier", he said in his sweetest voice. Indeed, his voice would make someone cry, but with his voice being this calm and sweet, it would make someone feel at ease. Akari looked at him with awe. "I would do what you did. Protect my sister at all cost, if only I could bring back time", she said and looked down. Tanjiro got nervous and thought he might have upset her. He knew that the flame and phoenix hashira were together and to be honest, he got scared of what Kyojuro might do – although that guy had a great smile on his face and was very enthusiastic in talking. "I- I'm sorry! If I made you upset, Gomen nasai!", he said and Akari laughed at him. "Tanjiro-kun, it's quite alright, thank you too, you made me realize a few things", she said and looked at him, her eyes smiling. A sudden pause occurred and only the sound of the breeze can be heard. Tanjiro looked at the beautiful woman beside him, he was mesmerized, but as her scent was brushed off by the wind, he could smell hatred, anger, sadness and regret all together. "Mitsuma-san, I'm sorry for your loss", he suddenly said and she gasped in shock. How did Tanjiro know she had lost someone? Clearly no one had said anything, because only a few members had known about her past, namely the hashiras and Oyakata-sama. "You feel regret for not being able to save them, and you're full of hatred and despair", he continued. Akari could feel her heart break all over again. It was harsh to say to someone that they hate too much, but he wasn't harsh with the way he spoke. He felt sincere. "You seem a little happy, but you're still... stuck", now a tear has fallen in her eyes. She was stuck and Tanjiro is right. She smiled upon answering. "Demons are nothing but a parasite living in this world. They devour and cause darkness, is it wrong for us to hate them?", she said, her voice slightly changes from her much calm self. "No, it is not wrong for us to hate them. But they were once humans who had no choice but to live their lives even if it was hard. I met a demon who wanted to help those in need, and another demon who was keen on protecting the one he loves. I can smell the fear, hatred, anger and sadness they feel. So, I understand them", he said. She wasn't angry, because of Tanjiro, she was angry because he had a point and because of herself. "Tanjiro-kun, you are so wise and that's good, I'm glad you are learning something in your battles, but no one can change what I feel", she said and stood up, ready to go to her room. "I'm sorry, Mitsuma-san, but your hatred will be the death of you", he said sadly and that broke her. It was like what Kyojuro said on their first mission together, "All you feel is hate". She was heartbroken and Tanjiro felt sad for her. She fell to her knees and cried, as she wiped her tears away, she said, "Thank you, Kamado Tanjiro". He was surprised on why she would say that. He turned around to look at her. She had a smile plastered to her face and her smell changed. She deeply sighed and stood up from her position. "You remind me of Shinobu, so insulting", she laughed and patted him in the head and his eyes turned into dots. Huh? He thought. "You know, Nezuko-chan seems a lot like my sister, she's tough", she said and jumped down, landed on the grass and went her way. She visited Kanae and prayed before saying anything. "Can I let go, Kanae? Will I let go of what hurts me?", she cried again. She poured her tears down. "Kanae", she said still crying, but then, all of a sudden, a smile is seen on her face. "I'm pregnant", she said.