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The First Light

Miyuki's POV

"Can you stand?" I asked, pulling Muichiro up slightly.

"Hm..." he replied weakly.

Kanamori approached us, and suddenly something bumped behind me. I looked down to see Kotetsu clinging onto my kimono. "I woke him," he said.

I smiled. "You did well," I said, patting his head. "T-To-Tokitou-Dono? Tokitou-Dono! Miyuki-sama, you saved us! Are you all right?" Kanamori approached thanking us. 

"A-Are you alright?" He asked looking at my bloodied attire. "Perfect!!" I gave a sharp thumbs up. Muichiro quivered, "I'm fine, I'm fine..." He stammered.

"Are you sure about that?!" Kanamori asked in disbelief. "Yeah. I really feel amazing right now, and I've got to join Tanjiro and the others right away..." Muichiro smiled faintly.

"You're looking really pale, you know! Are you sure you're all right?" the swordsmith questioned, still unconvinced.

"I told you, I'm totally fine. Are you even listening to me?" Muichiro began to pant.

"Huh? You're heaving! And you're trembling, aren't you?!"

Muichiro insisted, "Don't worry about me... Could you go check on Kotetsu and--" He suddenly began frothing at the mouth and fell face-first onto me, dragging me down with him.

I smiled dryly, "Can someone come give me a hand? Either drag us both out of this mess or get me a crane, please!" I chuckled weakly, trying to shift under Muichiro's weight.

"You're frothing at the mouth! Tokitou-dono! Oh, crap! Oh, crap! Is he going to die?! What am I supposed to do?! Hey! Somebody! Haganezuka-San!" Kanamori was, horrified to see the Hashira fall.

"Haganezuka-San!!" He called for Haganezuka but Haganezuka continued his polishing, ignoring the pleas.

"Dammit! He's not coming, is he? Well, he did ignore me even when I was this close to being murdered!" Kanamori realized the futility of calling for Hotaru's help and tried to aid Muichiro himself, though he only panicked more as Muichiro began to choke on the foam in his mouth.

"Let me sleep for a while... Hm?" I mumbled, closing my eyes. "This is bad! Wh-What... What should I do?! Even Miyuki-Sama is dying!"

"You should lay him on his side. Take him off her, let her breathe," Kotetsu instructed, joining them. "Huh?! R-Right!" Kanamori complied, laying Muichiro on his side and freeing me from his weight.

"Huh?!" Kanamori turned to see Kotetsu standing beside him. "Ahhh! It's the ghost of Kotetsu-shonen! Ahh!" Shocked, he panicked.

"No, I'm not a ghost since I'm not dead," Kotetsu reassured him. "No, ghosts are never aware that they're ghosts, that they're dead!" Kanamori argued.

Kotetsu explained, "This is the blood from the arm they slashed. It got on me when I was pressing on it."

Kanamori, now understanding, nodded. "How did you survive?"

Kotetsu revealed, "Tanjiro entrusted me with Kyojuro Rengoku's tsuba, which protected me from a more severe wound." I sat up, feeling a surge of determination. "Okay, let's go."

Seeing the tsuba reminded me of Rengoku, and I didn't want anyone to face the same fate as he did. "Muichiro, grab that sword off him." I pointed at teh one Hazanezuka was sharpening.

"Yes, ma'am." Muichiro got up firmly. "Should you two really be moving around this much?" Kotetsu looked at us nervously.

"It's alright!!" I smiled, assuring him, "We Demon Slayers are all masochists. It's practically a job requirement!"