[Revising] The Broken Pillar (Kimetsu no Yaiba x F!Reader | Slow Updates)

Chapter 2: Am I safe?

Third Person P.O.V

Two days had passed.
(Y/N) hadn't moved from her corner. Her small frame trembled with exhaustion, and her eyes were red and puffy from crying nonstop. She clutched her teddy bear tightly, unable to speak or think—only feel the silence.

Suddenly—

BANG!

The front door burst open. Startled, (Y/N) gasped and scrambled back into the same barrel filled with wisteria flowers—the one her mother had hidden her in. Her body was shaking with fear.

Had the demon come back?

But... it wasn't the demon.

Two people entered the house—a young man with a mismatched haori and a calm, unreadable expression, and a gentle-looking girl with two butterfly hairpins and a haori patterned like butterfly wings.

(Y/N) couldn't help but tremble. They both had swords. She was terrified... what if they hurt her too?

"Oh my... I guess we were too late," the girl murmured softly. "The demon arrived before us."

"Yeah... But do you see any survivors, Kocho-san?" the boy asked, glancing around.

"I don't see anyone, Tomioka-san."

"Hmm. Let's search the house just in case. There might be someone still alive," Tomioka replied.

"Right."

Before starting their search, both of them knelt in front of the slain couple and silently offered a prayer for the souls of the deceased. Then, they began looking through the rooms carefully.

Back to (Y/N)

Inside the barrel, (Y/N) held her teddy bear so tightly that her arms ached. She buried her face into it, whispering desperate little prayers that they wouldn't find her. She didn't understand—they looked human, but they had swords.

She was so afraid.

But then, the lid of the barrel opened.

Soft light entered, and she blinked up in fear. The girl with butterfly hairpins was gently peering inside.

"Tomioka-san! I found someone!" she called out. "It's a little girl!"

"Really? Let's take her to headquarters," Tomioka replied.

Kanae reached into the barrel, but (Y/N) flinched and pulled back. Tears formed in her eyes again, and her grip on her teddy bear tightened.

Kanae paused. She could see how scared the girl was. Her heart ached.

She must be their daughter... Kanae thought.

Her expression softened, and she lowered her voice to a gentle, soothing tone.

"Hi there, little one. Don't cry. You're safe now, okay?" she said softly, offering the girl a warm smile.

(Y/N) stared at her with teary eyes, still unsure.

"R-Really?" she asked, voice trembling.

"Yes, sweetheart. We're here to help you. My name is Kanae Kocho, and this is Giyu Tomioka. We're part of the Demon Slayer Corps. What's your name?"

"...U-Um... (Y/N)," she whispered shyly.

Kanae smiled sweetly.
"Ara~ Ara~ What a beautiful name, (Y/N)-chan! You also have the cutest little face... and such pretty (E/C) eyes." She paused for a moment. "Oh! And what's your teddy bear's name?"

"...(Teddy bear's name)," (Y/N) answered, glancing down.

Kanae giggled lightly.
"What a lovely name! That bear must be very special to you."

She gently reached out a hand.

"Why don't you come with us? We'll take you somewhere safe, I promise."

But (Y/N)'s face crumpled again.

"B-But... what about my Oka-san and Otō-san...? I... I can't just leave them here..."

Kanae's heart broke at those words.

"Don't worry, (Y/N)," she said softly, kneeling down. "Before we leave, Tomioka-san and I will give your parents a proper burial."

"...O-Okay," (Y/N) whispered.

Carefully, Kanae helped her out of the barrel. (Y/N) clung to her teddy bear with one hand, and to Kanae's haori with the other. Kanae looked down and gently patted her hand.

"It's okay, (Y/N). Your mother and father... they're in a better place now. You're not alone," she whispered, wrapping her arms around her in a comforting hug.

"Mm," (Y/N) replied quietly, hugging her back.

Together, Kanae and Giyu gently carried the bodies of (Y/N)'s parents outside and dug a grave beneath the morning light. They placed the bodies side by side and offered one more silent prayer.

When it was done, (Y/N) stepped forward slowly.

"Oka-san... Otō-san... is this goodbye?" she asked, tears filling her eyes again.

"I'm not ready yet! You can't leave me! I still wanted us to do so many things together!" she cried out, collapsing to her knees. Sobbing, she hugged her teddy bear like it was the only thing keeping her together.

Kanae knelt down beside her and wrapped her in a comforting embrace as (Y/N) cried into her shoulder.

After her tears had dried, (Y/N) looked up at Kanae. Something about her face had changed. Kanae stared into her eyes—and gasped softly.

Her (E/C) eyes... were now completely gray.

Kanae blinked in shock.

Her eyes were full of color earlier... How did this happen? she thought. Was it the trauma...?

Still, she gently brushed a strand of hair from (Y/N)'s face and smiled gently.

"It's okay, (Y/N). It's all going to be okay," she said softly. "Come on... let's take you to headquarters, alright?"

"...O-Okay," (Y/N) nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

She took Kanae's hand, her teddy bear still in the other. With Giyu walking silently beside them, the three began the quiet journey to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.