In another life

Once I become a Pillar

Final Selection went by in a breeze.

(Y/N) didn't run into any of her friends, but she did encounter a few other slayers. She survived the examination mostly unscathed, save for a few cuts and deep bruises— possibly a sprained wrist.

But as the sun rose after the seventh day, she found herself not caring for any of the pain she felt. Instead, she pushed forward and past the tree line into the clearing of wisteria. She was the first to arrive, aside from Kagaya's daughters already being present, standing next to a table of what seemed to be rocks.

Slowly, (Y/N) left the shade of the wisteria, walking into the center of the monument. The remnants of demon blood that clung to her hakama dissipated in the cleansing light of the sun. Despite her flat face she was unbelievably tired, the only giveaway being the heavy breaths that left her lips.

A random slayer emerged from the tree line, looking relieved and winded.

A few minutes later, (Y/N) caught a glimpse of a striped haori from behind the bark of the wisteria. She immediately ran over to Iguro, a wide smile of relief and joy present as she went to greet him.

His sharp, glaring heterochromatic eyes softened ever so slightly when they landed on her approaching form.

"You're alive." He stated a-matter-a-factly.

She gave him one of her rare smiles, "You are too."

His eyes crinkled lightly, the telltale sign of a grin, but it left as soon as it appeared. It wasn't much longer until Kyoujurou presented himself, immediately going to gather his friends in a tight hug. (Y/N) counted the seconds as time passed by, and they waited for about an hour for any remaining slayers to return from the forest.

Only them and two others survived, out of the dozens who attended the selection.

"Welcome back, everyone." Ubuyashiki's daughters gave a brief description of the demon slayer ranks, one of them raising their hands and clapping twice. Suddenly, distant cawing and flapping resounded from above the group, each individual looking up to see the commotion. Crows fluttered down from the sky, latching themselves onto their respective slayers' arms or shoulders. The girls explained the birds, though the three teens knew what they were used for, having seen Shinjuro's own Kasugai Crow.

The slayers were brought to the table containing the rocks, which were revealed to be ores that they would choose for their swords. After choosing, a few more words were exchanged, then the slayers were dismissed.

The trio found themselves back at the inn, staying the night before heading home the next morning. They told each other of the demons they came across, and the struggles they encountered during their 7 days of surviving.

Senjuro was waiting on the engawa for them when they arrived, the little boy immediately hurling himself at the group of friends and crying into their sleeves, relieved that they were alive.

A few weeks later, their swords were delivered, each of them having a different sword smith. They opened their weapons one by one, Obanai going first. His blade's shape wavered like a snake's. As soon as he gripped the hilt, the sword flared up in lavender.

Kyoujurou went next, and as expected, his blade changed to red.

Now the attention was on (Y/N), who was in the midst of unwrapping the cloth from her gauntlets. When they were revealed, they were much more bulkier and had some new tweaks— as Hagenezuka explained. She slipped them on, clenching her hands into fists for the blades to extend.

Everyone in the room sat with baited breath, searching for any sort of color change.

Then slowly, from the bottom up, the blade dyed itself an iridescent white. A small chorus of 'ooooo's resounded as (Y/N) silently admired the color, especially while it glimmered in the sunlight pouring in through the window.

Kyoujurou grinned at her, "It really does have the same color as a star, doesn't it?"

——————

Two years pass.

Obanai, now 17, had moved out of the Rengoku estate to find a home of his own during those years.

(Y/N) and Kyoujurou had turned 16, and as they had agreed, they planned to marry.

But when they decided to confront Shinjuro about the wedding...

"No."

Kyoujurou's eyes widened, the vibrancy in them faltering, just like the smile that suddenly felt strained against his cheeks, "....Father?" He asked, hoping that he had misheard himself.

(Y/N) sat next to him, her knees folded neatly. She was equally confused over Shinjuro's blunt response, a cold sensation clutching her heart. Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe.

Shinjuro lay turned away from the pair in his mattress lazily, uncaring of the things going on around him.

"I said no." He clarified through an angry slur, "There will be no marriage."

——————

Kyoujurou softly shut the shoji to his Father's room, standing still in silence. (Y/N) stared at the back of who should've been her husband, feeling tears well in her eyes. She was confused, sad, angry...didn't Shinjuro agree to the deal all those years ago? Was he in such a slump that he didn't want even his children to find happiness?

Slowly, Kyoujurou turned to her, looking down at her steadily breaking form and gathering the female in his arms. (Y/N) let out a quiet sob, unable to hold her frustrations in as she clung to him. His heart ached at the sound and the way she feebly shook in his embrace, as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

He nuzzled himself into her soft, (H/C) hair, sighing in hopes to lighten the weight in his chest.

"I'm sorry, my love." He mumbles, "We will marry....and if not now, then once I become a Pillar."