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

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

"A dream is only an illusion"

The people ran from their cart to the other, seeing a demon with long legs and arms. They were terrified, that's for sure. Everyone was now safe, except for one man who was stuck, because the demon had its attention on him. Inosuke tried to slash the demon without thinking it over. "Wait, we have to save the passenger first", Tanjiro shouted at his comrade who ran towards the demon. "It won't matter once I kill it", Inosuke shouted back, still running, as he launched an attack, but didn't kill the demon, instead, it launched an attack on him. Inosuke was able to dodge its every attack, but ended up in a difficult situation. Luckily, Kyojuro saved him in time and put him down in a seat. He saved the passenger as well and told him to go to the next cart where he'll be safe. "We're good to go. Let's finish him off", Kyojuro looked at Tanjiro and Akari who was sitting beside him. "I'm good. I'm sure Tanjiro-kun would like his shot", Akari said and smiled. The demon got angry not getting its food. It went on a rampage and ran towards the swordsmen who stopped it from eating. Kyojuro ran to it as fast as a flickering light and killed it, before it may victimize another. "Hono no kokyu, ni no kata: nobori en ten", and just that, as he unleased a move, the demon's head got cut off and it disintegrates. The trio were amazed by Kyojuro's skills as a fine swordsman. "That was awesome, Rengoku-san", Tanjiro exclaimed in tears of joy. "What wonderful sword skills! Please make me your apprentice", he added. "Fine by me. I'll make a fine swordsman out of you", Kyojuro said, arms crossed and looking proud. "Me too!", Zenitsu joins in and had a weird look on his face. "Me three", said Inosuke and pleaded. "I'll train all of you", Kyojuro said to the trio which made them so happy, they called Kyojuro their big brother. Akari smiled so widely, her heart full of love. She might have not said it to Kyojuro before, but she was super proud of him. Prouder than she could ever be, to her lover who now has three swordsmen wanting to train with him. Kyojuro laughed and the others leaped in joy as if they had won a lottery. They jumped and shouted in happiness. Akari remembered a time where she laughed at a sad-looking Kyojuro for losing another swordsman. "Your methods are hard and they keep running away", she was hysterical, but when she realized that Kyojuro was indeed saddened, she had felt a sting in the pit of her stomach. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be laughing", she apologizes, but then, she had forgotten that Kyojuro is an enthusiastic person, therefore, he wasn't worried about the swordmen he had lost. He was optimistic enough to say that he'll find more. Now, Kyojuro has three and Akari is happy for him. If only that were the case.

Akari woke up in her old house. "Nee-chan, wake up. Your husband will eat everything if you don't stop him", Koji had said and shook her sister, who was happily sleeping. "Nee-chan? Are you okay?", asked the girl as she looked at her sister who had a tear on her eye. Akari, then, hugged her so tight. "Nee-chan, you're sucking the life out of me", Koji exclaimed, trying to break free from Akari's grip. Akari was now crying. "Nee-chan, what's going on?", the little girl asked, only she wasn't the little girl before, she was a bit older than Akari had last remembered. She stops from hugging her sister and examines her. "Nee-chan, you're creeping me out", Koji said. "I'm sorry, Koji. I seemed to have the craziest dream of all", Akari wiped her tears as she looks at it, wondering why she was crying. When she stepped out of the room. A child had been playing outside with a ball. "Mama", the child said and Akari was startled, but then she looks upon the child and remembers it as hers. "Kajuro, your mom had just awakened", Kyojuro appeared with the ball. Akari carries the child into her arms as Kyojuro kissed her in the side of her head. "Good morning, Akari-san", he said and Akari blushed at at him. "Your mom's angry with you for sleeping so late", Kyojuro added in a whisper. "Kajuro, let's play, shall we?", Koji offered. "Koji, you can't play, remember? You might get really sick", Akari remained oblivious of what was going on. "Nani?", Koji looked confused. "Good morning, Akari", her father comes in the backyard and greets her with a cup of coffee in his hand. "Are you okay, dear? You sound really weird today", said her mother coming after her father. Akari paused for a second, thinking something isn't right. Did she dream all those chaos she encountered and lived through? "I- I don't know", she responded to her mother's question. "You work too hard. Next time, Senjuro and I will help you", Kyojuro said. Work? Help? What was going on? Not a moment too soon, she enjoyed her morning playing with her husband and their child, Kajuro. They continued to do so for a while and Akari had so much fun that she cherished every moment.