Kindling

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The day was young, with the blaring light of the sun shining down on a man strolling through a rock garden. He had long black hair that reached his shoulders, and a long white haori with purple and salmon coloured gradient flames reaching up from the bottom. Holding his arm out, a crow stood on his forearm, as the bird was speaking to him.

Suddenly, the crow flew off, as the man calmly exhaled. "I see." Spoke his soothing voice. "Upper Moon One has shown himself... and someone lived to tell the tale."

Behind the man was another figure. A woman of white hair and an indigo haori, keeping closely behind the calm person she was with. "A Demon who carries a blade, like my children. The thought of it shakes me a little..." The black haired man said to himself, before turning around to face his wife, revealing a heavily marked face. Infected, pinkish skin trailed down from the top of his face, and only stopped right at his eyes.

"...But maybe this is the catalyst we've been waiting for." Said the man, with a tint of hope in his voice. Both of his eyes were foggy, indicating blindness; But one of which had a faint hint of a deeper lavender behind it, holding a glimpse of light.

"The first hint of Kibutsuji's greatest Demon. Provided by a brave young man who survived all odds."

Suddenly, the man coughed heavily into his sleeve, before his wife quickly rushed to support him. "Kagaya!" She exclaimed in concern, holding onto him as he moved his arm away from his face. "I'm okay..." He replied, before noticing a speck of blood on his white haori.

"It's getting worse..." The woman quietly noted, as the man named Kagaya nodded. "Yes... but I'm not worried." He reassured his wife. "Even as my health declines... even if my vision is merely days away from leaving... I expect great things to happen before my time is up."

With the last shine of light in his eye, Kagaya looked up at the crow flying away. "May I be the last of our bloodline to share the blight of Kibutsuji's curse... because I predict that we'll see such brave, determined, and kind hearts join us in the near future."

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With a scowl on his face, Sekien followed behind Rengoku through the halls of the estate he recently learned was called the Butterfly Mansion. An estate for Demon Slayers, and on occasions like this, outsiders are treated for any physical and psychological harms inflicted by Demons.

Beside the blonde haired boy was his sister, glaring at Sekien. "Hey." Tanebi flatly spoke. "I don't care if you hate it, at least pretend to be grateful for any treatment, Mr Grumpy-Ass" She spat, glancing at the bandage sling now around Sekien's left arm.

"Tch. The treatment isn't what pisses me off." Scowled Sekien, recalling a previous conversation he had moments ago after lunch, with the Kakushi member, and the Hashira.

"Emergency surgery was already carried out the moment you were dropped here. Left any longer, and your arm wouldn't have had any chance of recovery from those shrapnel fragments." Goto's voice echoed in Sekien's mind.

"Indeed!" Boomed the memory of Rengoku. "But don't worry, Kanosora boy! Recovery should only take a few hours now that you're awake to-"

Sekien then recalled the Kakushi member rushing over immediately to whisper something in Rengoku's ear.

"...Scratch that! Recovery will take multiple grueling weeks for you!"

A vein visibly appeared on Sekien's forehead, recalling the false hope he had received about his arm being usable again. "I don't care if it was a mistake. I feel cheated!" Exclaimed Sekien internally.

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