The reincarnation of Nakime's child ||KNY Fanfic

Chapter 5: Lost in tune

Tanjirou couldn't help but furrow his brows. Before he lost consiousness, it was clear that this demon, replacement Upper 4, wanted to kill him. Despite her scent being calm and collected, the killing intent was still there. However, now that he was awake again, her scent was entirely different.

It was filled with sorrow, relief, anger, confusion, and disbelief.

Tanjirou didn't know why. Maybe the demon was confused, disbelieved, and angry because he had survived her attack. But sorrow and relief didn't make sense. Why would she be sad? Is she sad because her attempt at killing him failed? Then why is she relieved?

Tanjirou felt like he had seen her before. He didn't know where. But she looked oddly familiar.

Yushiro and Takeuchi are on edge. Yushiro has already gotten a new talisman ready and Takeuchi has taken his sword out. However, despite knowing that he really should also take his sword out, Tanjirou can't bring himself to.

Not when the demon is looking at him with a relieved and hopeful gleam in her eye.

Tanjirou feels bad. She looks like she's about to burst into relieved tears. He knows that this is Upper 4. A powerful demon that has killed dozens of humans and even tried to kill him.

Yushiro got enough of waiting and surged forward. Upper 4's gaze hardened and she picked up her biwa. She firstly dodged his attack and then sat back down at her previous place. Then Takeuchi also surged to attack. That got Tanjirou to move as well. He couldn't just let his comrades fight alone after they saved him just because he felt bad for the demon.

Upper 4's Blood Demon Art seemed to be the whole castle. Every time she raised her bachi and strummed a string on her biwa, something changed. Countless fastly moving pillars were sent in their direction to kill them.

However, no harmful attacks were ever directed at Tanjirou. He was always just moved away whenever he got close. It was like the demon was trying to keep him as unharmed as possible, which confused Tanjirou even more.

Tanjirou doesn't know how long they spent just dodging the attacks and trying to get closer, until Upper 4 seemingly had enough. Takeuchi and Yushiro were sent away by a shoji door that seemed to function as a portal, similiar to the ones that were used to bring the Demon Slayers into the castle.

Tanjirou was now alone. Upper 4's stare snapped to him and with one strum of her biwa, Tanjirou was moved to stand on a platform infront of the one she was sitting on.

What was going on?

Upper 4 stared at Tanjirou, and Tanjirou felt frozen in place. One side of him told him to attack. But the other side of him told him not to.

"Yoshihiko." The Upper Moon demon said. Her voice was filled to brim with relief, affection and longing. Tanjirou was reminded of his mother. "Drop your sword, sweetheart."

What? Who was Yoshihiko? Was she refering to him? But his name wasn't that, and she didn't even know his name. "My name is Tanjirou Kamado, and I will not drop my weapon."

"Tanjirou..." Upper 4 muttered. "So that's the name you've been given in this life."

Huh?

Tanjirou tightened his rip on his sword. "What are you talking about?"

Her gaze softened. "I should've predicted this... You don't remember me."

Tanjirou blinked and then suddenly realized why this demon was so familiar looking. The weird dream that he had when he was unconcious. He had seen a young woman and Upper 4 was nearly identical to her, if not counting her eyes. However, instead of bringing closure to his confusion, this only made Tanjirou even more confused.

Upper 4 sighed. "Yoshihiko, come here sweetheart." She gestured for him to sit down infront of her.

Tanjirou was a bit tempted to, but he knew that dropping his guard like that would be a death wish. So instead Tanjirou took one step back. "Stop calling me that. That's not my name."

"It is, in your past life." Upper 4 said.

Tanjirou blinked again in confusion, his body slightly relaxing. Past life? Did he perhaps resemble someone she knew as a human, and that's why she keeps calling him that?

"I can see your confusion, Yoshihiko." Upper 4 stated. "But a mother will never forget her child."

Tanjirou didn't know do to react to that. The weird dream. The woman in it. The fact that the woman had called him Yoshihiko. Upper 4 resembling that woman. Her calling him Yoshihiko.

The part of him that kept telling him not to fight suddenly got more louder. A part of him seemingly agreed with her. But another part of him kept insisting that he just resembled her deceased son.

Tanjirou was in denial and torn between the two sides of himself, but Nakime would never forget her precious baby. No matter how many times he'd be reborn, she'll recognise him.