The Beginning of A New Era (DKT AU)

Rehabilitation training (Part 2)

TW: blood, violence, gore(?)

(Nobody POV):

The Rehabilitation training lasted about a month. During this time, Nezuko, Akira, and Ishiyo improved more and more, until each of them could defeat any of the three Butterfly sisters. Finally, the day came when Nezuko, Akira, and Ishiyo would spend their last day at the Butterfly Mansion. After that, they would start going on missions again. 

The day began as ordinarily as ever. Aoi and Kanao had another meeting with the Hashira, apparently regarding something related to Suma. Because of that, Kiyo, Naho, and Sumi were left to manage the house and care for the patients on their own, and they seemed truly happy doing it. The three friends, on the other hand, were sitting on the porch, chatting. The trio was excited for their first mission in a long time, eagerly discussing which part of Japan they might visit this time, what kind of demon they might have to face, and whether they’d be assigned another joint mission. 

Akira and Ishiyo no longer argued—they just teased each other. Nezuko was glad that her two friends were getting along, but their banter made her feel a pang of nostalgia, reminding her of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. Even so, she was confident that someday they would succeed. They would turn Tanjiro back into a human, no matter what it cost the Demon Slayer Corps. The lives of the people were more important, and besides, Nezuko truly missed her brother... 

Suddenly, a loud scream broke her train of thought. The girl and her friends began to look around, trying to figure out where the sound had come from and who had made it. Soon enough, they realized the scream had come from the backyard, and they headed in that direction. They didn’t hurry, certain that everything was fine. Perhaps Naho had dropped the laundry basket, or maybe Sumi had bumped into something, or Kiyo had forgotten one of her chores... 

When they reached the backyard, the three of them peered around the corner of the building. Standing in the middle of the grass was Kiyo. A demon had punched a hole through her head with its fist. 

(Ishiyo POV):
I gasped and shoved my friends back, away from the bloody scene and the lifeless Butterfly sister. What now? The girl couldn’t be saved, but the demon had to be decapitated. 

I reached for my back to draw my swords, but then I remembered: none of us—me, Akira, or Nezuko—had brought our weapons out of the mansion. 

I yanked Akira back, as he looked ready to charge at the demon any moment. 
“What?” he snapped angrily. “We have to attack before any of the other girls get hurt!” 
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” I raised an eyebrow. Despite the tense situation, I managed to stay composed. 
“The swords!” Nezuko exclaimed. “Quick, let’s go get them and warn Naho and Sumi on the way!” 

The three of us bolted for the nearest entrance to the Butterfly Mansion and slipped inside. We ran through the corridors, not caring that we were likely waking the patients. Fortunately, our room wasn’t far, and we reached it quickly. We stopped only long enough to grab our weapons before dashing back the way we came. 

Just a little further... 

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed, and Naho came flying through the wall. She slammed into one of the beds and collapsed onto the floor, lifeless. Her face was covered in blood. 

Nezuko crouched to help her, while Akira and I rushed to the hole in the wall. The demon had thrown the small girl with brute force. Hopefully, he hadn’t injured her badly. 

Memories flooded my mind. Bloody bodies, lifeless people—people I knew, people I cared about. I felt anger surge through me as the world spun from the intensity of my emotions. 

I stepped closer to the hole and looked through it. In the middle of the yard, Kiyo still lay motionless, the light in her eyes gone. Dead. 

A few steps away, Sumi was kneeling. One of her arms had been severed and lay nearby. The demon extended its claws toward her face. 

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I leaped out of cover, ready to attack. 

But then the demon turned to look at me. 

I froze in place, overcome with terror. 

Upper Rank 5. 

(758 words)

Short chapter, I know. My motivation randomly died :)

Thanks for reading, and sorry if this part made you feel uncomfortable! 😓