Connecting Light [KNY FF]

CHAPTER 2: Thrive

It has been two days since the incident. Everyone in the village was killed in their sleep except Shinosuke and Ayume. Shinosuke died as he tried to fight off the demon.

To pay her respects, she buried all the bodies and prayed for them to find peace. She even cleaned off the blood from the houses. It was tiring but she did it anyway.

"It's what they would've wanted." she thought.

Ayume even helped to harvest the farmer's crops like she said she would. She realised that she has to find for some help or live in another village. There was no way she could make a living alone in a dead village.

She packed enough food and all the things she needed. She wore the hair accessory that her mother gave her. Afterwards, she headed for the mountains to get to another village.

~Time skip~

Ayume was walking aimlessly in the mountains. She had no shelter to protect herself.

"It's alright...I'll be fine. Just...keep moving." She said to herself, not thinking about rest.

She has been surviving for a week in the mountains and she still hasn't found anything. Her food was already running low and she was getting dehydrated because her water ran out a few days before. It also started to snow which she wasn't clothed for.

"Ah...I'm done." Ayume couldn't walk anymore and fell down. She leaned against a tree and looked up at the sky.

"Sorry it took so long..." Ayume closed her eyes and her vision was starting to get blurry.

"Excuse me...are you still awake?" a man with a soothing voice called out to Ayume. Ayume saw a face with a gentle smile and smiled back.

"Y-yes..." Ayume said before she lost consciousness.

"She fainted. Please bring her along." The man said and some medic started to carry her.

The man's name was Ubayashiki Kagaya. Also known as Oyakata-sama. He is the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps. He heard about what happened to Ayume's village and wanted to check for survivors. Upon the conquest, he met Ayume.

~Time skip~

Ayume woke up from her slumber and jolted up. She was in a room with comfortable clothing and a food tray by her side.

"What happened?" Ayume asked herself as she examined the room.

"Where am I?" She asked again and noticed a heat pack by her feet. She then felt a head rush and held her head.

"Ah...I remember...I fainted..." Ayume said.

"And there was a man...is this his place?" Ayume questioned as she tries to ease her head. She then noticed her mother's hair pin was not in her hair.

"Mother's hair pin! Where did it go? Oh no...I must've lost it..." Ayume frowned and felt guilty. The door to the room then slide open.

"I see you are awake..." Oyakata-sama came in. Ayume faced him and instantly sat straight.

"Yes." Ayume said and waited for him to sit next to her. She then lowered her head.

"Thank you for...rescuing me." Ayume said sincerely and smiled. She raised her head and Oyakata-sama was smiling kindly

"How are you feeling?" He asked and Ayume felt at ease.

"I feel..." Ayume's expression faded. She teared up as she remembers everything that has happened. 

"You have went through a tragic incident. I understand." he said with a hint of a sad tone. Ayume wiped her tear away and looked down sadly with a smile. 

"I...I was lucky. My family...my friends...everyone else..." Ayume teared up again and she looked up with a sincere smile. 

"They're definitely in a better place. So they are lucky too!" Ayume starts to cry with her smile. She kept wiping her tears away. Oyakata-sama could feel her sadness. It was overwhelming at how true and pure her sadness was. 

"You must be suffering alone all this time..." Oyakata-sama comforted her. Ayume tried to stop crying.

"You don't have to hold back. You can cry." he assured Ayume and she cried a little bit more. 

She stopped after a while and explained what happened to her village. Oyakata-sama listened but didn't force her to tell him anything out of her own comfort level. She told everything she remembered. 

"I see. You have encountered a very powerful demon. And it is no lie that it was out of luck that he spared you. I should assure you that this demon you speak of, or any other demon, is unable to locate this place. So, you are safe." Oyakata-sama informed and Ayume had an embrace of relief. 

"I see...I didn't even know demons existed...I thought they were myths..." Ayume told Oyakata-sama with curiosity in her voice. 

"I can tell you all about them. If you like." Oyakata-sama offered kindly. Ayume had a guilty look. 

"Umm...is it alright?" Ayume asked. 

"It is..." Oyakata-sama replied with a very assuring tone. He began to explain the history about demons and the demon slayer corps. 

It took quite a while to explain the long history. Ayume was so interested in it. Like she was listening to a childhood story her mother would always tell her. But there was more sadness and guilt in her expression. 

"Kibutsuji Muzan...what a cruel man..." Ayume felt a hint of disgust but it was covered with sadness. The lives that were lost. The amount of effort placed in to capture this man. Ayume felt pathetic because she couldn't do anything. She was aware that Oyakata-sama is the current Master of the demon slayer corps.

"C-Can I...join this...organization?" Ayume asked hesitantly. Oyakata-sama smiled. 

"Why do you want to join it?" he asked. Ayume stayed silent and thought about it. 

"I...I don't want anyone to feel this feeling. If this...organization...helps others...protect others...then I will most definitely want to be in it. Even if the darkness seems like it consumes them, I want to be someone who is able to guide them to the chance...whether it be small or big. I want to guide them to it." Ayume said with hope and determination in her eyes. Oyakata-sama smiled at her dedication and reasoning. 

"Well...I cannot say no to that. Training to be one requires lots of hard work. And by the looks of it, I am unable to train you. But I can be a guide to what you can and must do." Oyakata-sama informed. Ayume thought about it some more. 

"I...will be ready to face it." Ayume had lots of determination in her voice and expression. It made Oyakata-sama felt relieved that she wasn't afraid anymore. 

"Very well then. I will give you time to recover first." he said and was about to leave. 

"U-Umm..." Ayume called out hesitantly. Oyakata-sama looked back at her. 

"Thank you." she said with a sincere smile and tone which somehow made Oyakata-sama feel carried. 

"Your welcome." he said before he left the room.

~

HELLO! thank you for reading! hope you guys enjoyed it! peace out!