Unforgiving World (Tanjiro x OC)

Chapter 18

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"Amaya. I found you."

A chill ran up the girl's spine as she listened to her brother's voice, it hadn't changed much even after 7 years of being a demon. She was stunned in her place, like a deer in headlights as she carefully assessed Hinata Katsumi, trying to make sure this wasn't a nightmare feigning to be a beautiful dream. He really was alive. After 7 years of mourning his death, here he was, slowly standing up to fully face Amaya's shocked self.

His appearance was different, yet it still resembled his old self. The deep purple locks and lavender eyes. Though the blueish skin and blackness in his eyes were clear indicators that he wasn't the same anymore. Amaya truly didn't know how to feel. She was happy, for she had found her lost brother after believing he was truly gone. She was scared, because she feared he wouldn't be the same and sad because she knew there was no good ending to this.

For Hinata, he was rather conflicted. This experience, it was otherworldly for him. Seeing his sister, whom he had searched for for 7 whole years, was truly relieving. He'd almost forgotten what she looked like ever since he became a demon, the same could be said for the sound of her voice. But it'd only make sense, nobody is the same person they were 7 years ago. People change and Hinata recognized that, despite not being a human anymore himself.

He slowly got to his feet, forgotten emotions welling up in his chest as he took a step closer. Amaya didn't move a muscle, anticipating any possible movement from her brother, it being an attack or an embrace. Hinata looked her over once more, immediately recognizing the Demon Slayer uniform and Nichirin blade attached to her hip, which made him realize something else. Amaya had probably been searching for him as well. It was both a relief and a nuisance to the demon in question, but he chose to ignore his worries for the time being.

"I... Is it really you?" asked the demon hesitantly, still slowly approaching Amaya. She calmly nodded her head once, not missing the almost elated sparkle in Hinata's otherwise cold eyes. The corners of his lips pulled upwards in the slightest, a breath being released from his lips as the tension rolled off his body. His steps became faster and bigger, his arms opening up wide and a rather large smile appearing on his body. Tanjiro, who was still standing behind Amaya, immediately tensed up at the movement, flinching and getting ready to draw his sword.

Amaya halted him by a simple raise of her hand before she was tackled in a bone-crushing hug from her demon brother, his arms tightly wrapped around her shoulders as he squeezed her close. "I can't believe it... After 7 whole years... I found you, Ama", whispered Hinata, and Amaya felt her breath get caught in her throat. She hadn't reciprocated the hug before, because she couldn't determine her own emotional state, but after his words of relief were spoken, she carefully placed her own hands on his back, staring up at the starry night in disbelief.

Hinata was ecstatic, his sister was right here in his arms! He'd found her and he'd found his old happiness as well. Now, he could take her with him, so they would never be separated again. "I'm so happy. You wouldn't even believe the stuff I've gone through to find you", muttered the boy, finally pulling away to look Amaya in the eyes, whose expression still hadn't changed as she stared into the darkness of his eyes.

Hinata's clawed hands grabbed Amaya's shoulder, his excitement not disappearing anytime soon as a sliver of his old personality made an appearance. "How have you been? I mean, it's been a long time after all, right? I hope you've made friends, but that speaks for itself though, you've always been so social. How are your friends from back home doing? Are they okay?" asked Hinata in a daze, but each question only seemed to bum Amaya out even more.

"Um, they're-" Amaya's silent explanation was cut off by Hinata once again, his head rolling around as he let out a slight chuckle, his fangs on full display. "Oh, what am I saying? Of course they're fine, they're with you! Man, my memory's been all over the place ever since I became... you know, a demon. Isn't that cool?" asked Hinata, both Amaya and Tanjiro totally and utterly confused by his behavior. Indeed, he was a demon, so why wasn't he attacking them? It was an odd thing, but Amaya just couldn't get a word in.