~Nobody Else~ { M. Tokito}

Chapter 2 - Rest in peace

During the following day, Atsumi helped Sora with treating his eye. He now had a piece of fabric covering it.
"Thank you." He thanked her after tending to his wound.
"No problem."
He stood up from the floor and grabbed his sword, heading downstairs.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Atsumi asked worriedly.
He looked at her with a small yet assuring smile. " Don't worry. I'm going into town to get some wood. I'll be back before dusk. Stay here, all of you."
They all nodded, and he left the room, moving the dresser out out of the way.

He arrived back in one piece ( haha, get it) with a few wooden planks in his arms—enough to cover the bottoms windows. He set them down and left to find a hammer.
Within a few short hours, he was finished, with some of Atsumi's help. He tried to tell her that she didn't need to assist him, but she insisted.
Later on in the day, she heard his stomach growl.
"Aw! Damn it!" He yelled.
"What? What's wrong?" Kane asked.
"I forgot to get food before dusk! I can't go back out now. I'm sorry. We'll have to wait until tomorrow."
Atsumi had to admit, she was a bit hungry, but that could wait. No one was gonna risk it by letting Sora leave at this time.
During the night, lying in bed, she listened to the creatures outside. The owls, foxes, crickets, all the sounds were beautiful and relaxing. She soon fell asleep.
Everyone was so desperately awaiting the parents' return home, and that day was today. Chiyo was combing Atsumi's hair, then there was a nock on the door. Atsumi went down the stairs to see who it was and watched as Sora stood at the door.
"Who is it?" He asked. They then heard their parents' voices on the other side.
He excitedly swung the the door open to reveal our mother and father standing there.
"Hey, love!" Miyu pulled her son into a tight hug.
Atsumi ran over to them.
Miyu wrapped her arms around her, squeezing tight. When she let go, she went to Isui with the same enthusiasm.
They all went inside as the teo carried a few bags with they must've gotten it during their trip. They set their things down on a small table near the front door, and went to sit in the living room.
"So. Where are the other two?" Miyu asked.
Silence.
No one spoke a word. A few side glanced were exchanged, then Sora spoke. "Um...mom." he stuttered.
"Yes? What's wrong?"
He took a deep breath in before answering. "They...they're not here."
This confused her. "What do you mean? Where are they?" Her voice sound more concerned now.
Then he just said it. "They...they're dead."

• • •

Our parents sat there in distraught as he told them everything that happened. When he finished, he pulled down the cloth covering his eye.
Miyu gasped at the sight, cupping her hand over her mouth. "I can't believe this...we shouldn't have left you here alone."
Isui rested his face in his hands, and began to silently cry. Miyu rubbed his back, trying to comfort him, but she couldn't stop the tears that poured from her eyes.

Atsumi and her family went into town to retrieve their bodies and burry them. Sora led everyone to where they were attacked, hoping to find whatever was left of his brothers, but they were gone.
Someone must've gotten rid of them, Atsumi thought.
He asked a few people around if they'd seen the bodies and if someone moved them. One man stated that he came out of his house the morning after and saw them lying there. Horrified, he called on his neighbors to help him burry them.
Isui sighed. "Well, thank you. At least someone did the job. It's better than having them just lay here out in the open." He bowed respectively to the man.
"Of course. And...I'm very sorry for your losses."
He smiled sorrowfully. "Thank you."

The kind man led them to where he and his comrades buried the teo young men, arriving at a small cemetery. He walked everyone over to two mounds if first near a tree, apologizing for the lack of description on their tombstones.
The parents understood and let him know it was alright.
A mini funeral was held at that moment. They prayed for Haru and spirits to rest in peace, including the man that assisted us here.
My father felt extremely guilty for this outcome. He deeply regretted leaving all of us at home alone.

Once at home, my father went straight to his room.
My mother gestured for us to follow her to the living room.
"Before we get started, I just wanna say that...I'm very proud of you. Every one of you is the greatest part of my life, and I want you to have long, happy lives.
Your swordsman skills have definitely improved throughout the years of training."
You remember us telling you about the demon slayer corps, right?"
You all nodded your heads.
"Well, I think you're almost ready to enter the final selection."

Wait. What? Final selection? I knew this day would come, but not this soon.

During our training sessions, my parents never went too hard on me since i was so young. But for the past two years, they've been really pushing it.
Father once told us about someone who trained him. He called him Urokodaki. He lives up in the mountains, and has taught many children breathing techniques and sword wielding.

"And, me and you father decided to send you to his previous master. Urokodaki. He will teach you the arts of breathing techniques, along with better skills to slay demons."
"So... we're leaving home?" my sister asked, a small bit of sadness in her voice.
Mother sighed. "Yes. I don't know when or if you'll be able to come back again."
"Ok."
"But, until then, I'll keep training you. I don't think your father is feeling good enough to," She said.
"Ok. We'll start tomorrow." She got up and left upstairs.