キミノカオリ ー Moonlight, Wisteria Petals, and Thunderclap

Leave No Regrets

"...How are you feeling, Tanjirou...?" Kanao peeked in, holding a tray with tea and rice balls.

"Sorry, Kanao-san. Eating still might be hard for me...."

"Oh...no worries."

The teacups rattled a little when Kanao gently put the tray down on a small wooden table beside the bed.

"Where is...Zenitsu?"

"Ah, he's...out."

"Is that so...? I hope he comes back soon, it's going to turn dark...."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he will come back. He's a veteran in the Demon Slayer corps, after all."

"You think so?"

Tanjirou laughed, and turned his body over in the blankets.

"I hope he doesn't blame himself. My wound will heal, and we have to fight Muzan's forces in the future. This was only an accident that gave us insight about Muzan's abilities."

"You're absolutely right, but...if someone you love gets hurt, it's incredibly painful to watch."

"Huh...?"

"I'll leave now. Please rest up."

"Wait, Kanao...! What did you say?"

But it was already too late, because she had already left the room.

Could it be true? Could it be the case that Zenitsu really loved him still, after all that time of separation and heartache? Could it be true that he felt the same way as he did?

***

Zenitsu ran. He ran, ran, deeper and deeper into the forest, forgetting to breathe. His legs fired up, and he couldn't feel the cold at all. The only sensation he felt was a burning pang of regret.

The sun was setting, and everything in the forest—including Zenitsu—was soaked in an orange glow. He gripped his knees; he had stopped running due to extreme fatigue, but he had dashed through an ungodly amount of distance away from the butterfly mansion. His expression was blank, and his eyes were hollow without any life; big beads of sweat dripped from his chin.

"Haah, haah.... Haah!"

While catching his breath, he raised his eyes and saw a person standing right in front of him. He was so startled that he almost fell back.

'How did I not notice this person...? Who is this?'

A person with a white hair, like a sunlit birch tree. She looked at Zenitsu with eyes of compassion, which Zenitsu couldn't understand. Why are you looking at me like that? You don't know me! He wanted to scream.

"If you truly love someone, you want to be together with them until death. Don't you agree?"

"Huh...? I would lay down my life for Tanjirou, but...."

"Yes. He is the reason why you grabbed that sword and trained so hard again, right? You did it so intensely that you even coughed blood out."

"Right...."

"Then, what's the point of being apart while being nervous about his safety? Isn't it right to protect him all the more while you stay closer to him? Heck, even do a collaboration attack against demons. Eradicate them. And help him turn his sister back into a human. Don't you think that's a better idea than running away like this?"

"......."

"Hopefully you've found your courage again. I have to go now, but good luck to you. I pray and hope that you two will reach your maximum potential together."

Saying so, the white figure disappeared into the golden leaves. Although it was winter, and the forest was bare, Zenitsu couldn't sense where to the woman had disappeared.

'Did I see a mirage...? A shadow of reality?'

But, however he thought, it was still strange. But the woman's words resonated with Zenitsu, and he decided to go back.

"It's going to get dark soon. I will have to hurry—."

But it was winter, and the sun was setting at a scary speed. Zenitsu ran, ran, flopping his yellow ponytail, away from the noises of awakening demons. The forest's shadow was catching up to him fast.

"Damn, this is rough...why did I not think this through? You're still an idiot, Zenitsu...."

"Go!"

It was then that the Water Pillar Giyu Tomioka jumped out of the trees, defended Zenitsu against the chasing demons. He used his flowing water swordsmanship to chase away low-level demons.

"You have somewhere to go and someone to meet. Then go and talk to him already. Don't regret your actions later, like I did."

"Oh...thank you!"

While dashing away, Zenitsu wondered: Did Giyu have a similar past as him? But he could only look back once, witness Giyu's ultimate skill—water breath eleventh form "lull"—before completely escaping the darkening forest.