Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Flames

Prelude: Electric Flower

After Zenitsu witnessed his family being murdered, he lived the slums of a distance town. He would grab food whenever he'd get the chance and even drink water from the dirt. Four years have passed since the Agatsuma Clan massacre. Zenitsu has kept surviving in the impoverish world. As he walked, he was hearing many heartbeats, and conversations. He knew he would never get any peace and quiet.

But then one day, two paths intertwined. Zenitsu head a loud smack and yelling, so he went to investigate. Zenitsu saw a girl her exact age getting abused. "I thought I told you, no more noise!!" the man said. "Another peep out of you, and you'll be getting no food tonight!! Now go! I don't wanna see you for the rest of the day!"

Zenitsu was expecting her to cry, but she showed no tears. She wasn't showing any expression, pain, or emotions. All she knew was hunger and hopelessness. "That's too cruel. Why would anyone treat their child like that? And why didn't she show any emotion and reaction?"

"Excuse me?" Zenitsu turned to see the girl right next to him. "Gaaah!" "Are you alright?" she asked. "Umm? Why are you asking?" Zenitsu replied. "You have a sad look in your eyes. Why?"

"I overheard and saw what happened back there. I was a little upset that I couldn't do anything." And that's when he had an idea. "Do you want to be with me for the day?" "Sure." Zenitsu then offered his hand. "My name's Zenitsu Agatsuma. What's your name?" The girl didn't have an answer. "It's alright. You don't have to say it now."

For two years, Zenitsu and the girl slowly became close to feel like brother and sister to each other. The girl began to feel emotions once again, but only around Zenitsu. But then one day, it all came tumbling down. "How dare you?!" Her father smacked her hard. "What gives you the right to be happy while your mother and I go through hell, as you run around with little brat?!" Her eyes widened in horror. "Yeah! I know all about your little friend! Yesterday, I saw the two of happy and shit! Perhaps I should find him and teach him a lesson." The girl fearing for Zenitsu grabbed a knife and stabbed her father in the leg. Seething through the burning pain, he struck the girl so hard, he knocked her out. "You know what, I've had enough of you. The rest of your siblings are already dead, so who'll miss you when you're sold."

The next day, she was sold as a slave and had a rope wrapped around her waist. As she and her buyer cross a bridge, they come across two strange looking women. "Excuse me, but why is that girl tied up? Did she do something bad?" the older woman asked. 

"Do you really need an answer?" the man replied. "She's covered in dirt and smells awful. And the rope is a precaution in case she tries to escape." 

"Well, hello there. My name's Kanae Kocho." Kanae introduced herself to the girl. "What's your name?"

"The kids has no name. Her parents never gave her one. Now go away." He attempts to shrug off Kanae, but Shinobu slaps his hand away. "Don't lay a hand on my sister."

"What's with you? If you want to talk to her, pay up."

"Fine, we'll buy the girl." Shinobu sighed. "Should this be enough?" She reaches for her pocket and scatters money in the air. The man was completely distracted, that he loosened his grip on the rope, Shinobu grabbed it and started running with Kanae right behind her. "Hey! Stop right there you little scamming bitches!!!" They ignore his yelling as greedy people try to steal the money.

"I'm sorry that you wasted your money like that." Kanae apologized.

"It's no big deal!"

As they continued running, the girl looked down the right alley for a second and saw Zenitsu holding a wooden sword practicing his swings. And she knew that if she disappeared, she would never see him again. So, she dragged her feet on the ground making the Kocho sisters lose their grip on her, and she runs to her brother, hugging him. "Oh, hey there!" Zenitsu then notices the rope wrapped around her waist. "What happened to you?"