The Flower and the Butterfly

Alternative One - Until Death Do Us Part

Shinobu threw herself in front of the attack... to die in my place... at that moment, only three conclusions to this battle came to my mind, and in all of them, someone important was going to die, and in this one... Shinobu was pushed by someone to avoid being hit by the attack, and when I realized it, Obanai had thrown himself in front and was hit by the attack in Shinobu's place. His blood even splattered on me. As my attack had already been made, I was able to cut Muzan's left arm, and with another impulse he made, everyone, except Tanjiro, was thrown far by the attack. Thus, Obanai, Shinobu, and I ended up staying together as we were close.

-"Iguro-san!" I shouted, trying to pull him closer, but not reaching him...

-"Mitsuri! Keep fighting! I'll take care of him!" Shinobu said, pushing herself in the air and grabbing Obanai, shielding him from the attack against the wall. After dodging the blow, I held my Nichirin sword tightly and turned back to the battle. When I noticed, Muzan had turned into a giant baby or something, taking longer to die. Everyone was trying to hold him so that the sun would completely burn him, throwing shelves and even a car at Muzan. Sanemi used his breathing technique to attack him, and Gyomei tried to hold him with chains. Then, Giyu and Sanemi attacked him again and again, and when I got close, I did the same.

With every attack, Muzan died more and more... until finally, he was being disintegrated by the sun... Finally, Muzan was dead; his body completely turned to dust. Everyone celebrated, but some could not withstand the battle. Gyomei sat in a corner and... closed his eyes. Sanemi was all wounded and started to be bandaged... But most of all... I started walking back to Shinobu and...

-"Iguro... san..." He was lying with some bandages over his wounds, but the damage was severe. Blood was still pouring out. He wasn't going to survive this. I couldn't hold back my tears at that moment...

-"Kanroji... san... don't cry. I don't want my last sight to be of you sad..." He said, coughing up some blood...

-"Why... why did you throw yourself in front?" I could only ask that as Shinobu kept her head down in silence...

-"Because... if I hadn't, you would have been sad..."

I looked at him still with tears on my face...

-"But... I'm sad now too..."

-"But at least... the one you love will be by your side... I threw myself in front... because Kocho-san... would have died in your place..." That... he might not have been hit and could have survived this battle, maybe...

-"I didn't have much time left, Kanroji-san. My life was only about killing demons. Being able to talk to you... was my greatest happiness... And I know how Kocho-san would feel... if she couldn't be with you... So don't cry... Live a happy life by her side... And you, Kocho... keep fulfilling your promise... Otherwise, I'll come back just to kill you..." He laughed when he said that... Iguro was never one to laugh or smile... But this time... the last face he made before death... was a smile... Shinobu remained silent... holding back her tears...

-"I... I will..." She looked at the now dead... Obanai Iguro... My sobs were the only thing that could be heard there. The battle had exhausted everyone. I knelt there looking at him while Shinobu stayed by my side, hugging me as a form of comfort...

From here on, everything continued the same... In any reality, this moment remained unchanged. Muzan stayed alive in Tanjiro's body, but his friends fought to save him again. Kanao still had a cure for the demon form; she used it on Tanjiro, who managed to regain himself and overcome Muzan... Just like I did...

"Finally... it's over." It was all I could think after these events.

Three months later, at the Butterfly Mansion...