Demon Slayer - What If...? Happiness & Death

Nightmares (Survived part 2, kinda)

Narrator

Kanae was nearly on the brink of death, but in the end... she was saved from Upper Moon 2, Doma. However, there was an aftermath, Kanae had a coma that lasted for a few days, and Shinobu began having nightmares that seemed to never end.

Every night, Shinobu had similar nightmares, but all had the same ending... Kanae always died. She always woke up, sweating, crying, or both. And in the middle of the night, she would go to her sister's room, to check if her sister was alive and well... her sister was always both alive and well, but Shinobu climbed into her bed.

Shinobu's mental health slowly declined, she was not resting well and sometimes not eating properly. Even if she did want to sleep, there were times where she couldn't sleep at all, probably from fear from having nightmares again

Morning, Kanae POV:

I slowly sit up as I see Shinobu curled up beside me... everyday ever since my battle with that Upper Moon, I see her here... my concern grows more for Shinobu. Oh... she's waking up...

As Shinobu wakes up... I see them... the eyebags under her eyes, it gets more obvious as the days pass. She's hiding something from me, I know it. Everyday she sleeps at her own room, and whenever I wake up every morning... she's here, obviously more tired and sleep deprived each time...

"Shinobu..." I call

"Nee-San...?" She replied, yawning

"Are... you okay? Would you... rather sleep here? You keep ending up here each morning..." I say, clear worry in my tone

"O-Oh there's no need for that, nee-san! Besides, aren't I too old to sleep with you? And I- I always wake up next to you, because I'm actually a sleepwalker..." Shinobu responded as she stretches and scratches the back of her head

Shinobu is lying... usually she doesn't lie... but here she is... Why? She knows she doesn't have to hide anything from me... I'm her sister aren't I? Am I... not reliable? I need to know what is making her this way... to see if she's struggling through something or if I'm the problem...

Shinobu POV:

(She's catching onto me... no, Shinobu, you can't show weakness... you can't... you have to be strong, just like Nee-san... You can't let her know about your nightmares, I can't disappoint her, I don't want to make her sad or worry about me...) She thought

One night... it was Shinobu's worst nightmare yet...

(Still Shinobu POV)

I "wake up" to see sister fighting that Upper Moon... I try to move, but I couldn't... just like every other dream I had... it always ends the same... Nee-san is going to die... because I am not fast enough... because I am too weak to do anything... I could only stand here and watch, and even if I did try to intervene, I know I would just be an obstacle...

I see every breath my sister takes become more faster and harsher... it was like as if her lungs were about to explode. She could collapse any moment, but she still decided to keep fighting against an Upper Moon that was still unharmed and kept on smiling... I hate it when he smiles... I hate it every time I see it... and whenever he talks... it was like as if he's trying to make friends even though he's completely doing the opposite