PEACE | demon slayer

003

the grave markers, worn by time and weather, lean slightly with age, some cracked but nevertheless still well maintained. their kanji inscriptions, faded but dignified, whisper names long forgotten by the world beyond these woods. they were once lives of husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, friends. 

bamboo wind chimes clink softly near a small wooden shrine at the edge of the path, their tones muted by the damp air. incense smoke curls from a rusted censer, left by a recent mourner, mingling with the scent of earth and decaying leaves. a few chrysanthemums, already browning at the edges, rest in a chipped porcelain vase beside a grave, their gesture both tender and resigned. they were never forgotten, always just there, a stark reminder of how much the corps has lost over the years. 

y/n knew all the deceased members of the corps by heart. the cause of their death, their friends, their family and lastly, the letter they had written. it was like she had an encyclopedia in her head. she practised the same methods as kagaya, memorising the history of the deceased members. it was a so-called tradition that was upheld by her small clan, too. she vividly recalled coming with her mother every weekend to pay respects and read. 

she was physically weak; that much was a fact. compared to the high-mighty hashiras or a low-ranking demon slayer, y/n will never hold their respect in terms of power. she couldn't contribute in a fight, nor could she use her wisdom in fights. it would have probably ended the moment she even tried to think. all she knew was to train crows for the slayer's mission, nurture and teach them in hopes that they would lead the way to victory. that was the only support she could offer. 

despite the seemingly insignificant role and the powers that her clan had somehow wielded, y/n never truly thought of herself as special or important. yet, she was highly valued in the demon slayer corps in the eyes of kagaya. 

y/n walked slowly, careful not to disturb the quiet that clings to the place like the morning fog. it was already nightfall, the scent of wisteria lingering around. each footstep lands softly against the mossy path, sending tiny puffs of breath into the cool air. 

at the top, a lone figure carved in stone, a jizō statue, the protector of souls, weathered but serene, waits beneath a tattered red bib, its eyes closed in eternal prayer. prehaps a family or a friend left a handful of dried berries and a tiny toy drum at its feet. y/n kneels and bows her head before searching for kyojuro's grave. 

a breeze stirs the hem of y/n's haori that was gifted by gyomei, carrying with it the sharp scent of wisteria and the faint trace of incense. she walked to kyojuro's grave, new and unaged. low and behold, kamane's body was resting on the stone slab, sleeping, her body unmoving.

y/n didn't want to startle the crow but wanted to communicate with it, or her trip would be in vain. her heart wasn't as strong as she thought it would be. y/n had always been an empath and a crybaby. she would cry when people around her were crying. that's just how she was.

settling on the ground, where there was incense burning and offerings laid out, y/n kneeled down and bowed down in respect. the crow laid beside her, unaware of her presence. y/n may not have known the flame hashira personally, yet the stories from gyomei lingered in her head like a forgotten textbook. his big appetite, bright and young soul, him having the heart to train the current love hashira. y/n had wished she had known him. yet it all just stayed as a wishful thinking know. 

"kamane? it's me, y/n... wake up kamane."
y/n called the crow up in a gentle voice. kamane woke up almost immediately. its eyes are getting all teary again

"la...lady y/n."
tears spewing out from its eyes, the crow flew up to her shoulder. kamane then nuzzled her bird head on y/n's neck. the scenes of watching her handler die in front of her eyes as the upper moon puncture a hole echoed in her little crow's head. 

"it's alright..."
y/n said in a soothing voice, caressing the grief-stricken bird.

"kyojuro-sama passed away. because... of me."
the crow tried to contain its emotion and simply couldn't. kyojuro was nothing but an amazing handler, always making sure kaname ate and, without fail would converse with her. kaname had once complained that kyojuro's voice was loud, and he just laughed, kaname wished she hadn't said that because she couldn't hear him ever again.

y/n felt for the crow and unbeknownst to her, tears ran down her eyes and then her cheeks.

"it's not your fault kamane... you did your best. my dear, it's not your fault."
y/n reassured the crow.

"if i could fly faster... i could have informed someone."
the crow replied guiltily. by the time word even got out of the upper mooon 3's presence, the flame hashira had already perished.

"even if so, don't put the blame on yourself. because nothing can be rewritten. what you can do, is to improve for the future."
y/n encouraged her softly.

"really?"

"really."
y/n wiped her tears and the crow decided to stay with y/n a little more to enjoy her comfort. 

there was a figure approaching the two. but his steps were halted.

do i still approach them?