together in the framed ocean | g. tomioka

01 - Scar

Age 17

The Final Selection seems like a distant memory as five years had passed since then. Your past self would be proud to see you have finally risen to become the Blaze Hashira. Unfortunately, every time a meeting took place with the Master Kagaya and other Hashira, you ended up in situations where you could not attend. Therefore, you've yet to interact with the other pillars.

"The atmosphere feels the same as that day." You stand on packed snow, reminiscing about your snowball fights with your older brother. His snowballs were always sturdy and strong, no matter the size. A disgusting scent lingers in the air and your nostrils flare. "A demon and a large amount of blood." You sped up, running deeper into the forest.

-

You were a child born with radiant dark red eyes and long silky hair with faint burgundy streaks. You continued wearing the purple and cream checkered haori with hanafuda stitched onto both sleeves. Paired with the haori was a modified dark purple-tinted version of the standard Demon Slayer uniform with gold buttons, a white belt, hakama pants tucked into white tabi socks around your lower legs, and white sandals with purple straps for footwear. You could say your experiences and the things you've seen on your journey to becoming a Hashira (and then fighting as a Hashira) have influenced your development over the five years.

-

"..." The scent you followed led to the front doorstep of a small cozy home. The snow in front of the doorway is coated in a bright red, resembling fresh blood. You enter the house to a horrifying sight. The whole place is ripped apart, with blood on the walls and floors. But what is this third scent? There is an unmistakable smell of a demon and blood, but you follow the other scent outside. It led you to five buried bodies. "Someone was already here..." You bend down to pay your respect to this family.

"(Y/n). . . You came back."

Your eyes shoot open, and you examine your surroundings almost pulling out your sword. "I don't sense anyone... Am I just imagining things?" With the amount missions you have been on with no break in between, perhaps you were going crazy. But at the same time, you are sure it is that voice. The same kind and gentle voice of the woman who stood by you as you watched the man, who was supposedly your father, dance in your dream. The memory. You haven't thought of it since but, you often dreamt the same dream at night. The house you were forced to clean and the family you lived with couldn't have been a lie. But you always had a feeling. Pure black hair is a prominent trait in your family but, you were the only one with burgundy streaks in your hair. There were many cases when the family spent time together, but you felt as if you were not a part of them. There even seemed to be a gap between you and your loving brother. On top of all that, you were treated differently. Though in your mother's last moments, she looked like she wanted to save you. Of course, no one could watch their children die. But, no one could watch a child, who has been entrusted to them, die either.

"!" There are footsteps and bloodstains on the floor leading into the forest. "Survivors?!" You follow the tracks to uncover three new scents—one demon. Running on the packed snow reminds you of the first time you defeated a demon. That day marked many firsts. The first time realizing demons existed. The first time you fought to the death. And the first time someone saved you. Winters around the mountain are always bitterly cold, but whenever the man that you know as your savior comes to mind, the thought provides you with warmth. He was unforgettable, with his hair of winter fire.

As you run faster, two bodies on the floor come into view. You jump and gently land next to them, kneeling. There is a boy and a girl. They're both alive, but . . . This girl is a demon?! There is no doubt about it, but you don't sense any danger, and peculiarly, the girl has a piece of bamboo tied to her mouth like a muzzle. The boy is wearing a checkered, black, and seafoam green haori with hanafuda earrings like the ones on your sleeves. On his forehead is something that looks like a birthmark.