Connecting Light [KNY FF]

CHAPTER 17: Kind Hearted People

Ayume was sitting down on the bed. Tanjiro could sense that she was injured quite badly.

"Shinahora-san...are you sure you are okay...out of bed?" Tanjiro asked with concern. Ayume smiled.

"I'm okay. I've been in bed for quite a while. Getting some light exercise never hurt anybody." Ayume assured him.

"If I may ask, how did you get injured so badly?" Tanjiro sat down on the floor with his sister. Ayume blinked and recalled the night she could vaguely remember.

"You should have already knew that there are Twelve Demon Moons that work very closely with Kibutsuji Muzan. Six Lower and Upper Moons."

"Yes..." Tanjiro responded as he listened very tentatively.

"Well...a few weeks back, I confronted Upper Moon Two." Ayume informed with a calm tone. Tanjiro froze in shock as he heard the news.

"R-really? T-that's...absurd." Tanjiro muttered out. "Indeed it is. Me alive is just proof that I was lucky. I was unsuccessful to defeat him." Ayume said with hints of guilt.

Tanjiro's eyes widened.

"Even a pillar...has trouble handling the Demon Moons. If I were to encounter one...I think I would've died easily." Tanjiro thought.

"Well, what else can we do now, besides getting stronger?" Ayume had a smile on her face.

"Right!" Tanjiro agreed. "That is true. I have to get stronger. So that I can continue fighting..." he thought.

"Tanjiro-kun..." Ayume called out. Tanjiro faced her. "Do your best." Ayume had a smile that lit the room up.

Nezuko took a glimpse of it and crawled towards Ayume again. "Oh, she wants me to hold her again." Ayume laughed lightly and reached out to Nezuko.

"She seems to really like you. I think she sees someone of our family in you." Tanjiro said nervously. Ayume just remained calm about it.

"I get that a lot... who does she see in me though?" Ayume brought Nezuko into her arms. Nezuko shrunk to a child again and slept on Ayume's chest. "I am not really sure. Maybe our mother? Since you are very kind, Shinahora-san."

Tanjiro complimented. "I see. Thank you." Ayume smiled and gently stroked Nezuko's head.

The family member that Nezuko sees in Ayume, is not her parents or any of her dead siblings. Nezuko sees Tanjiro in Ayume.

"I hope you don't have any grudges against us, pillars. We are all from different backgrounds. So, having a situation to keep a demon alive is quite shocking. But, I don't think it is fair for us to silence your argument." Ayume stated truthfully. Tanjiro felt light around his shoulders.

"R-right..."

"I hope you find a way to turn Nezuko back to a human. I will offer as much help as I can." Ayume said assuringly with a smile on her face.

"Thank you so much for your support, Shinahora-san!" Tanjiro lowered his head for a bow. Ayume smiled. Tanjiro froze in realisation and shot back up.

"Ah-- c-can I ask something?"
"Of course. Go ahead."

Tanjiro took a slight breath before asking a question.

"H-have you heard of Fire Breathing? Or the Dance of the Fire God (Hinokami Kagura), before?" Tanjiro asked. Ayume developed a confused expression and thought for a moment.

"Breath of Fire? I apologise but I have not heard of it..." Ayume smiled with guilt. Tanjiro had a slight shock from disappointment and pouted.

"I see. It was something that was brought down in my ancestory..." Tanjiro explained.

"Hmm...but I think I have heard of this dance before..." Ayume stated. Tanjiro's expression lit up instantly.

"I don't know if this information is actually valuable, but when I was learning the Breath of Light, it showed some references to the dance. It wasn't copied. It was more...derived." Ayume explained as she recalled her learning experiences in the past.

"Did it mention if the dance was from a certain breath...or something?" Tanjiro asked.

"Unfortunately, it didn't say anything. I apologise if it wasn't of help." Ayume looked down sadly. "It's alright! Thank you anyway for trying to help!" Tanjiro bowed in respect.

"Fire...huh? Maybe you should approach the Flame Pillar. Rengoku Kyoujuro-san. He maybe heard a thing or two..." Ayume suggested. Tanjiro nodded.

"Alright. Shinobu-san also told me to ask him..." Tanjiro stated. Ayume smiled and faced Nezuko.

"She's asleep...do I put her on the bed or back in the box?" Ayume asked. Tanjiro jolted in confusion and tilted his head. "I didn't realise she slept. She is normally awake at night." he said as he walked to the box.

"You can let her rest on the bed. I will place her in the box myself." Tanjiro informed. Ayume nodded and gently placed the sleeping girl on the bed.

The room door then produced a knock before it slid open, revealing Shinobu by the door.

"Oh! There you are, Shinahora-san. I was searching for you. Why aren't you in bed?" Shinobu asked. Ayume faced her.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to move around. Is there something you need?" she asked politely. "I wanted to discuss with you about certain things...privately." Shinobu answered.

There was a silence as Ayume knew what Shinobu would like to converse about.

"Very well then." Ayume said and slowly stood up. She faced Tanjiro with a warm smile. "Have a good night, Tanjiro-kun. I will take my leave now." Ayume lowered her head.

"Okay! Good night, Shinahora-san!" Tanjiro bowed back. Ayume turned away politely and walked with Shinobu to the ward room.

"You shouldn't be moving around too much so we will discuss this in your room." Shinobu informed as they reached the room. She helped Ayume on the bed and sat down on a chair afterwards. There was a brief silence before Ayume spoke up.

"If I may assume, you would like to ask me about my encounter with Upper Moon Two, right?"

Ayume questioned calmly. Shinibu remained silent as she remembers the past events related to Douma.

"You feel of vengeance. I understand. I was unable to defeat him as you know. And... I apologise..." Ayume continued and looked down to the floor from guilt. Shinobu faced her with a confused expression.

"Why...?"
A silence followed after.

"For being unable to defeat him..." Ayume confessed. Shinobu's eyes wide open as she felt the purity of guilt that Ayume feels. She blinked before letting out a smile.

"You don't have to apologise, Shinahora-san." Shinobu finally responded.

"You didn't do anything wrong. I am actually very relieved that you survived. I believe it's a sign that we are one step closer to defeat him." she continued which eased Ayume a little.

"This may sound selfish but I would prefer if I could kill him myself. But that's not a choice, so don't apologise."

Ayume didn't say anything. "Shinobu-san..." She voiced out.

"Are you afraid?"

~

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