𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙾𝚍𝚍 𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙾𝚞𝚝 || Demon Slayer

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙴𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 - 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚗𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜

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❝𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 

𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐦𝐞

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥❞

- 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙼𝚎, 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚕 𝚉𝚎𝚐𝚕𝚎𝚛, 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚢 𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚍

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Hinode Atsuki

When I woke up, I was in a different room than when I'd been with the Hashiras and their Master. It was plain and minimally furnished. A futon, that I was in, was pushed to one side. There was a dresser at another wall, below a window.

When did I fall asleep? How long have I been sleeping?

I slowly sat up, rubbing exhaustion from my eyes. My feet carried me to the window. I pulled back the curtains, preparing to cover my eyes from harsh light, but was surprised to see the sun hadn't yet risen. Actually, this isn't much of a surprise. I'm used to being awake at night and sleeping during the day.

The view made me realise I was still at the Demon Slayers' Headquarters. There was a pile of clothes on top of the dresser and a note with them.

-

Atsuki,

We recovered Lower Five's kimono from Mt. Natagumo and thought you might want possession of it. There is also a change of clothes you may wear if you wish. In the top draw is some thread and a needle if you need to make any adjustments. Mitsuri and Obanai will collect you in the morning. You may wander the Mansion if you desire but don't make any attempt to leave the grounds.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki

-

I put the note aside and unfolded the top item of clothing. My hands began to shake. They hadn't lied, it was my brother's kimono. I clutched it to my chest and sank to the floor. My shoulders shook with silent sobs. I hadn't had the proper chance to mourn my family with everything that had been happening. Sure, I'd weeped and screamed for Rui when he had been killed, but other than that, I'd had to suppress my grief.

I'm not sure how long I sat there, crying silent tears. Four minutes, four hours? Noises escaped me every now and then, choking gasps and small whimpers. I wasn't able to cry loudly, I couldn't risk being heard. Rui's clothes in my hands were the only thing that kept me anchored.

Eventually, I was reduced to occasional hiccups and sniffs. I wiped my eyes and face with the back of my sleeve, ridding most of the evidence of my sorrow. When I brought my arm back down, my makeup was smeared and some of it on my clothes.

Staying on the floor, I opened the drawers, seeing what was there other than the needle and thread. Paper and a mirror were what I found. I pulled out the latter.

With the mirror in one hand, I rubbed off the remaining makeup using my kimono sleeve. It was easy for me to see in the dark, some moonlight shining into the room, due to how I'd been living on Mount Natagumo. Once my face was clear, I removed my sclera contacts.