PEACE | demon slayer

035

"h...hello y/n." 
the gentle smile on his face never faded. in a span of just a few days, kagaya was bedridden. amane wanted the head of the ubuyashiki to rest and allow her to speak with y/n however, the man was adamant to allowing y/n to visit him. 

"how are you feeling kagaya?" 
y/n asked, taking a few brave steps forward. 

"i've been better." 
being rendered blind, kagaya reached his hands out. y/n understood what kagaya meant and kneeled down. her hands clasping with his, y/n gave a silent prayer. 

"i take it as you've heard the news. time is ticking and i'm sure the clash would be very soon." 
kagaya halted with his words, coughing. y/n made circles with her thumb on the back of kagaya's palm. 

"apologies that you have to see me like this, y/n." 
the master apologised. his sickly tone making y/n unsettle. it was as if her heart was pierced through with a dagger that had been refined. the pain fresh and raw. it was hurtful to see the master in such a state. 

"it's alright kagaya. your rest is of most importance. please do not push yourself." 
amane looked over at her husband worriedly. moments ago, the master was hacking out blood and yet insisted on allowing the young woman to enter for a chat. 

a small smile adorned on kagaya's face. he appreciated the concern shown by y/n. yet he knew that his time was fleeting. he was merely just a pawn to his own game. one that he had been devising for the longest time. the next of his words would lead to a great devastation to the girl. 

"i do not have much time left. i plan to sacrifice myself to lure muzan." 

kagaya's words echoed in y/n's head loudly. her head was pounding. her mind understood his words but her heart didn't. she didn't want to believe it. 

sacrifice?
what does kagaya mean?
why?
why him?
why is he planning to leave?

unbeknownst to her, a lone tear had left her eye. the water droplet trailing down her cheeks. kagaya's hand left hers, making y/n suck in a breath. the lingering warmth on her hand made her feel even worse.  

don't take your hand away. 
was what she had wanted to say but all sense of courage had left her. it was as if she was a shrivelled tree begging for sunlight during midnight. 

right then, a soft pat was felt. mustering the last bit of his strength, kagaya had lifted his hand despite being bedridden. his feeble hand reaching to her hair, patting it gently-- like he was handling a flower that has yet bloomed amidst spring. y/n was fragile. she was very close to crying a reservoir. 

"i don't want you to leave me." 
maybe this was just her selfish words. maybe this was just her not thinking about the better good of the corps. maybe this was just her wishful thinking. 

"i believe that that is the only way y/n." 
kagaya calmly stated. he was willing to welcome death with open arms if it means that the burden of his slayers would lessen just the tiniest bit.

"but..."
the dams broke, waterfall tears fell. y/n was frustrated, despair circulated in her head. she was distraught by the reality of the situation. 

"i seek for you understanding that it's for the better good. i'll still be with you at every step that you take. i'm always here." 
kagaya clenched his hands and placed it above her heart. the thumps of her heart resonating on his hands. he could hear the irregularity of it but said nothing of it. 

in the softest tone that he could muster, kagaya opened his arms, 
"come here." 

immediately, y/n shuffled nearer to her father-like figure. her back arching downwards, engulfing kagaya in a hug. her tears were absorbed by the soft material of his futon. the hug was warm, tender. in all the tears and sobs, y/n had already came terms to it. 

y/n felt as though she was already saying goodbye.