Shadows of the Moon

Chapter 12: Beneath the Wings of Compassion

Tanjiro POV:

I wake up, my senses muddled and my head pounding. As I try to rise from the bed, my body betrays me, and I collapse onto the cold wooden floor. The room spins, and my vision blurs, leaving me feeling lightheaded and disoriented. Panic wells up within me, but before I can succumb to it, a figure materializes before me.

It is Shinobu, the Hashira with her distinctive butterfly-patterned kimono. Her eyes, sharp and analytical, flicker with concern as she rushes to my side. Her presence exudes an aura of both authority and compassion, a rare combination that instills both trust and trepidation.

With grace and strength, she lifts me from the floor and gently places me back onto the bed. Her touch is light, but her grip is firm, a testament to her skills as a doctor. She asks me questions, her voice calm yet filled with a sense of urgency.

"How are you feeling, Tanjiro? Are you experiencing any pain or discomfort? Tell me everything you can."

Her voice resonates with an air of authority, but her eyes hold a genuine concern, urging me to share the depths of my affliction. I muster the strength to respond, my voice weak and strained.

"I feel... lightheaded, and my body is weak. It's as if my strength has been drained from me."

Shinobu nods, her eyes darting to a nearby medicine pouch. She swiftly retrieves it and explains how the contents within should help alleviate my symptoms. With a delicate touch, she administers the medicine, and I can feel its effects coursing through my veins, like a soothing balm to my weary body.

The room fills with the aroma of freshly brewed tea as Shinobu prepares a cup for me. She carefully hands it to me, and I bring it to my lips, the warmth seeping into my fingertips and spreading through my body. With each sip, a sense of calm washes over me, momentarily easing the turmoil within.

But as I close my eyes, seeking respite in the embrace of slumber, the shadows of my mind begin to take shape. I hear the anguished cries of my family, their voices echoing through the corridors of my consciousness. Panic grips my heart as their accusatory cries grow louder, and I feel myself spiraling into a vortex of guilt and despair.

In that moment, Shinobu's voice pierces through the cacophony, cutting through the haze of my torment. Her words, firm yet compassionate, snap me back to reality.

"Tanjiro, focus on my voice. You are safe. Those voices are not real. Breathe, and let go of the darkness that haunts you."

Her soothing voice anchors me, providing a lifeline in the midst of the tempest. With each word she speaks, the hallucinations lose their grip on my mind, gradually dissipating into the recesses of my consciousness. Shinobu's concern is etched upon her face, her brows furrowed with a mix of determination and worry.

Determined to aid me further, Shinobu retrieves another herb pouch from her supplies. She explains that this particular concoction will help restore my strength and facilitate a rejuvenating sleep. I accept it gratefully, recognizing her expertise as a doctor, and place my trust in the potential relief it may bring.

As I drift into the embrace of sleep, guided by the healing properties of the herbs, a sense of gratitude washes over me. The Hashira, Shinobu, has become not only a caretaker but also a beacon of hope in this world shrouded in darkness.

And so, as the night enshrouds me and dreams take hold, I surrender myself to the healing power of slumber, knowing that under Shinobu's watchful gaze, I am in safe hands