(OC x Kanae Kocho) My Precious Butterflies "Kimetsu no Yaiba"

Chapter 12 - Ambush

Two years after they found Kanao, who was now named Endo Kanao, Shinobu also found a young demon slayer named Aoi Kanzaki, injured during her mission. Shinobu took her home and nursed her back to health. Aoi was thankful and decided to stay in the mansion, helping with chores and cooking. A week later, Kanae returned home with three more kids.

"Seriously, you found more of these kids? First Kanao, then Aoi, and now three more?" Yamato exclaimed.

Kanae smiled warmly. "I couldn't just leave them behind. I wanted to be there for these kids just as you were for us, Yamato."

Yamato sighed, though his expression softened. "Alright, fine. I hope they can be friends with Kanao. Aoi has been tutoring her in basic etiquette and helping her with food. What are their names?"

"Their names are Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho. Poor girls, I found them all alone after a demon attacked the firework festival," Kanae explained.

Suddenly, a Kasugai crow flew in, cawing loudly. "Kawk kawk! Light Hashira! Light Hashira! Oyakata-sama has summoned you!"

Yamato frowned. "What does Kagaya want?"

The crow only repeated its message.

"You should go see what Oyakata-sama wants," Kanae urged. "I'll be leaving too. I just brought the girls here and already told Aoi the situation. Shinobu is waiting for me."

"Alright, be careful, Kanae," Yamato said.

"Okay, Yamato," she replied with a reassuring smile. "I'll be leaving as well Shinobu is waiting for me".

Aoi, Kanao, and the three new kids, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, waved goodbye as Kanae left for her mission and Yamato left for Ubuyashiki's mansion.

"Good morning, Yamato," Kagaya greeted.

"Hey, Kagaya-san. Do you need something from me?" Yamato asked.

"First, I want to talk to you," Kagaya began.

"Okay?" Yamato responded, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"As you know, you've killed many demons in the north. Because of that, Gyomei has informed me that the Twelve Kizuki have started partnering with each other," Kagaya explained.

"The Six Lower Moons are no problem for us if they team up, but the Six Upper Moons... I'm getting chills," Yamato admitted.

"You can't be too careful, Yamato. I've already informed the other Hashiras of this news. I just want you to be careful as well. We can't afford to lose any more slayers," Kagaya warned.

"You got it," Yamato replied confidently.

As he spoke, Yamato noticed a butterfly trapped in a spider's web in the courtyard. He walked over and gently freed it.

"Well, it's time for me to do my job. See you, Kagaya!" Yamato said, disappearing at high speed out of the mansion.

Bored and with no leads on any demons, Yamato ventured into a secluded forest area. After seven hours with no success, darkness fell. Suddenly, he noticed a bloodied child with long hair lying in front of a door.

"Hey! Hey, kid!" Yamato called out.

He then saw another child with the same hair and face, already dead with an arm cut off. Yamato quickly carried the surviving child to the Butterfly Mansion.

"Aoi! Aoi!" Yamato shouted as he arrived.

Aoi rushed over, eyes widening at the sight of the bloodied child in Yamato's arms. "Yamato-sama?"

"Can you take care of him? He's not in grave danger, but he's in a lot of pain right now. I need to report something to Kagaya," Yamato instructed.

"Okay, Yamato-sama!" Aoi responded, taking the child from him.