Chapter Text
The forest within the mountain was a dense labyrinth of thicket that covered all light from the skies. Even the moonlight in certain areas. A thin blanket of early winter snows covered the undergrowth of smaller bushes that stretched for miles and miles. The forest hummed with life around the girl. The crackling of the twigs and leaves under her feet kept her on the edge for any unusual activity. The girl had been monitoring the dense forest for an hour now, strange noises were echoing in the looming darkness.
Noises were often heard in the forest-- the chirping of birds, the humming of the insects, the chittering of squirrels, cracking of branches and twigs, the whistling of the winds— but those weren’t the noises she heard tonight.
It was a strange concept, as much as one tried to ignore the noises around you, the more your mind paid attention to it.
Laughter. Howls. Screams. Growls.
Those were the noises that were coming out of the forest. Of course, any smart person could realize these were not human noises. But something else entirely.
Man Eating Demons.
For as long as anyone remembered, those filthy cretins had always threatened their world, their safety, their happiness. Demons fed on the humans in the dark of night and hid like cowards when the sun rose.
Mayhaps, demons were created by a desperate attempt to prolong life, but Demon Slayers were created to remind the world that hope, light and good would always prevail.
So would she.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, it was her sworn duty to protect the innocents and the weak humans who could not defend themselves. Over the last five years, she had done her duty diligently and saved as many people as she could so that no other child may suffer as she had. That was the promise she made the night she chose to become a Demon Slayer.
But those demons…she swore she would spare no mercy for those monsters. Just how they hadn’t shown any mercy to her family that night almost six years ago.
She shook her head, removing that horrible night from her mind.
Memories were a strange thing, when you wanted to remember certain things, you would forget. But when you wanted to forget, your mind would always remind you of those things.
Yet…it had been the same darkness as today, the same thicket of trees and bushes, the same full moon that shone brightly above her, the same cold winds that swept her away, almost like a leaf in the wind.
But this time, she was no longer a weak girl. This time she would not run and hide. This time she would not be powerless and helpless. This time she wouldn’t sit there and cry for someone to save her.
She was a powerful Demon Slayer and she was no longer afraid of monsters in the dark. They should be afraid of her.
The gusty wind blew thick flurries to sweep away her tracks, but she did not stop. The enemy was close by, she could feel it.
Many were blessed with certain gifts, some could hear their enemies, some could see for miles, some could scent them. The girl had been blessed with the gift of Death. Amaya was able to find a demon's presence by being close to Death. Her death, others death, just general Death had always given her an advantage and allowed her to track them without any difficulty.
There was also another perk.
Being at the brink of death also gave her one advantage and disadvantage. The advantage was that she could predict their moves and come up with a counteract to defeat them if they were a powerful demon using the Blood Demon Art. Amaya’s ‘gift’ also allowed her to feel if she would be fighting a lower demon or one of the ‘legendary’ twelve Kizuki.
The disadvantage—?
Well…dying.
A lower demon was easy to defeat, they usually always gave themselves away in their arrogance. They had little to no skill and always grouped together. Beheading them was quite easy and sometimes fun— watching their bodies burn away with her Nichirin sword...it felt like justice.
The more powerful ones however...took more time, more skill and brainpower....they had Blood Demon Art which made them powerful…but not invincible. They too had been defeated.
Goodness, light, humanity would always prevail above evil and darkness.
Amaya knew it was a terrible risk to her person to use her gifts so often, it always left her weak and drained if she over exerted herself—sometimes she fell into a sleep coma for days for her body to recover.
Hence, Amaya would only use her abilities when absolutely needed. Today seemed like one of those days.
The last time she had used her abilities, she had over exerted herself and slept for a week straight!
That had been more than a year ago.
She felt afraid of using her abilities since then. Well— there was also the fact that she felt afraid of using her abilities again because the last time she did that, someone close to her had died, her sword had changed its color and she had woken up with a strange mark on her arm that never seemed to go away.
The Flame Hashira and Oyakata Sama had forbade her on countless occasions to forsake using her abilities permanently.
Not that she listened.
Amaya had a terrible habit of being a rebel.
But if being a rebel and breaking rules meant she would save lives and kill those filthy Demons…then she would forever remain a rebel. She didn’t care if she put herself at risk if it meant saving another life! Her teacher had taught her that every life was worth saving.
Every.
She wiped her numb fingers over her eyes, cursing herself for forgetting her leathered gloves that Hashira Sama, Mitsuri Kanroji had gifted her for her 16th birthday last year. But there was no time to return to the inn, she could sense the danger from miles away.
Amaya had been in the nearby village for a previous mission, a minor demon had been terrorizing the villagers and kidnapping young boys. Through her gifts, she was able to find the demon and put an end to him quickly. The foolish demon hand managed to cut her arm, but nothing major, nothing a good night’s rest in the Butterfly Mansion wouldn’t solve. Hashira Sama, Kocho Shinobu’s medicine would heal her in no time, not to mention her company that always made her feel welcomed.
Then, her Kasugai Crow, Maveth, had sent a message via Lord Kagaya Ubuyashiki that she was to travel to the nearby mountain forest and kill the Demons haunting them.
For a few years, dozens of Demons occupied the forest, Mount Natagumo. They had killed the humans in the vicinity of the forest. Master had determined it was enough and it was time to put an end to all of them.
Her task also included finding other Demon Slayers, protecting them, and aiding the Hashira that would also be present.
If a Hashira was present, things were going to become worse, she thought. Master would never send a Hashira unless he suspected one of the twelve Kizuki.
She flared her nostrils again, trying to scent the demons and the dangers they posed. All she could smell was dirt and leaves, death and blood around her.
And then...
There it was, like a thread tugging her heart, like someone calling her name softly— she could feel it, the death, the demons....Amaya grabbed the hilt of her sword when she heard chittering in the distance.
She breathed softly, focusing on Total Concentration Breathing and then turned in the direction of the noise and began running.
As the voices grew louder, she slowed, the girl narrowed her eyes and found humans in the forest.
Not just any humans, fellow Demon Slayers.
She hid behind a tree, listening to them before she announced herself.
Amaya wondered what the newer Demon Slayers were gossiping about so loudly in the middle of a demon infested forest. What could be so important that could not wait till the sun rose? Or till their task was completed?
Every time she had been on missions with other Demon Slayers, silence was always the key to victory. The time for petty gossip always came later or during day time. Never at night when Demons relied on their scents and hearing abilities to kill humans.
“I came here first, I will kill them all,” one of the boys said.
The other scoffed, “No. I will. This demon is a smaller one. I will get all the money and rise up my rank.”
“You’ll still be Kanoe, idiot,” the third boy chuckled.
Gods, were they all fools? Did they not sense the danger they were in?
The smell of death was only getting worse, she had goosebumps on her body from the growing danger around them. She was not afraid, nor scared, only apprehensive.
Truthfully, she couldn’t wait to go back and have tea with Shinobu San, joke around with Mitsuri San and most of all, continue her training with her Hashira Sama.
The Demon Slayer tensed, noticing something on the other side where the boys were talking. They hadn’t heard it, that strange crunching that was growing louder and louder. She grabbed her sword and climbed the nearest tree. Jumping from one branch to another, she was determined find to that noise.
Due to her rigorous training from the Hashira’s, she had mastered the art of moving in silence. Lady Shinobu had trained her well during the Hashira training. She thought it was useless, but shit, it was useful in times like this when one needed stealth to operate. Hashira Kocho Shinobu was the smallest of all the Hashira, as such, she had taught Amaya to move without making any noise. She had taught her that size didn’t matter as long as you had determination.
As silent as a ghost she moved towards them, jumping from one branch to the other.
There.
She saw the demon moving closer and closer to the boys, spreading it’s hideous whip like hands and claws around the area where they were standing. It had one head with three set of eyes, but those arms…those could extend far.
Amaya unsheathed her sword and descended down on the demon before it attacked the younger Demon Slayers.
“Breath of Stars, First Form, Light of Asahi,” she muttered as she flew down upon the demon and went straight for the head.
However, it saw her coming and moved slightly, the blow going to his arm that chopped it in half. The demon screeched in a monstrous voice when his arm fell, burning away into nothingness.
Amaya steadied herself as her feet hit the ground, she twirled immediately, hissing at the demon and aiming her sword at it.
From the scent of it, it was not a Kizuki, just another demon who could be easily killed. It hissed at her, exposing his three dozen teeth. It was green in color, it’s glowing yellow eyes were clear, no numbers on them.
Definitely no Kizuki!
The belly was large, and round, slowing his movements. Amaya knew her speed would be essential in its defeat.
“Food,” it growled at her.
She did not waste any more time, holding her sword up, she yelled, “Breath of Stars, Eighth form. Infinite Void Tsukuyomi!!”
The demon screeched once more, letting out a howl so loud it hurt her ears. But she did not stop. This form required she charged at her opponent at tenfold speed, closing all the voids between her Nichirin Sword and the demon’s head.
“DIEE!” she yelled as the Nichirin sword impaled itself in his neck.
The demon growled loudly, he grabbed one of her hand and pulled out sword, throwing her to the ground with it.
The girl coughed when the blow landed, she had hit the nearest tree and fallen badly. She went for her sword once more, standing her ground against it. Blood trickled down her nose and she wiped it before he got a whiff of her scent.
The demon smiled at her, he lifted his hand and then licked his fingers where her blood was sliding down.
Shit.
Shit.
This couldn’t get any worse.
There was a cut on her thigh and blood trickled down her leg. Even with her protection necklace Oyakata Sama had given her, she was sure the demon could smell her. The least she could do was stop the bleeding and prevent other demons from being attracted to her blood.
With one free hand, Amaya quickly dug through the pockets of her uniform pants and wrapped a bandage around her thigh, stopping as much blood as she could.
She’d made a promise, she could not break it again.
The Hashira training had taught her enough to never bleed in front of demons. Her Master had extensively trained her to avoid being hurt by Demons. Her Master had also had forced her to make a promise that she would no longer bait demons on purpose.
But even without actively bleeding, the stronger demons always caught a whiff of her scent and figured out what she was.
Her potent blood only attracted them to her, drove them into a frenzy and stunned them for a moment— their end goal would always be to savor her flesh. Apparently her blood was intoxicating to demons and her flesh rather nutritious. She was after all, worth a 100 humans.
It was a shame Amaya had made promises to her Master and decided she would no longer bait demons on purpose.
A few years go, it had been helpful many times— had been a fun thing to do by baiting the demons by using her blood. She had baited almost 50 demons once using her blood and led them to a trap, catching them all close to day break and watched as they all burned by the sunlight.
God, that had been fun, despite the evil streak!
After that....she had been promoted and reprimanded. Promoted by Oyakata Sama and reprimanded by almost every Hashira alive. Amaya had promised her Master, the Flame Hashira she would not endanger herself like that again. And she hadn't.
The demon sniffed, once, twice and then smiled at her. He licked his fingers clean and then snarled in his demonic voice. “Marechi!
Amaya swallowed in dread when he figured out what she was.
Set your heart ablaze, he had told her.
And so she would.
“You’re so dead now,” she hissed back and raised her sword.
As she ran towards him using her breathing style, she focused on her breathing. “Dance of the Starry Night,” she whispered and focused on the carbon dioxide in her blood.
She exhaled slowly, letting out all the carbon from her blood which would allow her unnatural agility and efficiency.
“Star Breathing, First Form, Light of Asahi.”
The demon did not see her movements as she raced towards him, gripping the sword tightly, she put all her focus on the sword and swiped it across it’s neck. Off came it’s neck in a single strike.
As she steadied herself and twirled, the demon’s head fell on the ground, followed by its body. She waited for the burning of the flesh while controlling her breathing once more.
Watching it disappear was one of her favorite things to do. Knowing they were going to die and going to Hell brought her peace. It felt like justice.
How she dreaded the demons once, how she ran from them once…and now…she had enjoyed this since the moment she had avenged her parents. Watching those demons burn by the first light or her Nichirin Sword still brought her comfort.
But did it bring her family back?
No.
Did it bring her loved ones back?
No.
But Amaya was determined that she would never let another family go through what she did. She would never let another little girl or boy feel the fear she did.
Never again.
Never again, she promised herself.
“Such. Tasty. Blood,” the demon slowly said, trying to reach for its vanishing fingers.
She bent her knees, looking at the demon in the eyes, “shame you’ll be too dead to taste any more of my blood.”
“Oh. But. He. Will,” it growled.
Amaya wondered who this he was, but the answer came too quickly. This ‘he’ was their master, the one who had created all other Demons. Their one true enemy.
Kibutsuji Muzan.
She gripped her sword once more, waiting for it to disappear into ash and nothingness. There was no scent of regret, not an ounce of sorrow on the demon. Even if there was a scent of regret, Amaya had no empathy for them. They were humans once, and maybe they deserved mercy- maybe those who hadn't hurt innocent people could be reasoned with...but any demon who ate a human did not deserve mercy or empathy! They deserve to die brutally!!
Behind her, footsteps approached quickly.
“What the—” the young Demon Slayer yelled.
“Demon!” the other boy yelled.
“It’s dead,” the third one said. “She killed it!”
“No fucking shit,” the fourth barked in horror.
The girl stood up as the last of the Demon’s remains vanished, she sheathed her sword and turned at the boys. They were staring between the vanishing Demon and her.
“Holy shit!” one of them yelled when they noticed her sword. “That’s a Red Nichirin Sword! Those are rare!"
“Yeah, I heard one of the Hashira’s saying those were rare. The Flame Hashira is said to have a red sword too.”
“And her,” one of them mumbled. “But hers is full blood red. How do you have a Red Nichirin Sword?”
By ill luck, she thought.
The last thing she wanted to do was remember that bloody night when her black sword had changed it’s color to bright red as she avenged her parents killers. The last thing she wanted to do was remember that bloody night when she lost her friend to those Demons.
Amaya sighed deeply, winking out the horrors of those night. Yet, memories were a fickle thing, it kept invading her thoughts repeatedly.
She wondered what would happen if she had listened to her friend and not been blinded by vengeance. Perhaps her friend would be alive, but so would those demons. Perhaps her red sword would remain black and the mark on her arm would never appear. Maybe she could live a long life and live to see the end of the demons.
Alas, she had learned to die ever since she saw her family killed by those demons at the age of 12.
Regret was no longer a part of her life.
Was sacrificing her life worth killing all those demons who took her childhood from her and killed her family?
Maybe.
Yes.
“My sword doesn’t matter. Get out of here,” she commanded to the Demon Slayers. “All of you.”
“No,” one of them immediately yelled. “We were sent here by the orders of the Master. And I want the money from killing them.”
She was in front of him in an instant. The others backed away in an instant, gasping in fear at her unnatural speed.
“Foolish boy,” she yelled and slapped the idiot. "You're here for the money when you will lose your life? Do you not understand orders?"
The boy touched his face and then trembled, “you…you can’t hit me. I—I’m a Demon Slayer too. Rank Hinoto.”
“Rank Kinoe, the highest Rank.” She raised her hand again, threatening to beat him again if he didn’t listen, “this forest is deeper and denser than others. I can sense dangers from miles away. There are way more demons than you think, possibly a Kizuki.”
“Then I—I’ll fight like you,” one of them stuttered.
“You’ll die,” she hissed. “Oyakata Sama has commanded me to protect all innocents. Get out of here before I drag you out of this forest.”
“You—you can’t—”
“I can,” she said. “Do you know who I am, foolish boy?”
“Wait,” one of them said, scanning her red sword, the sword guard that had a gold hilt of a star.
The others seemed to do the same and looked at her Haori that was white around her shoulders and then faded to a light purple then to dark purple that looked almost black.
The Haori was embroidered only on the lower half part. It had golden suns, silver moons of all phases, silver stars and comets and constellations that sparkled in the daylight and in the moonlight.
It was as if she carried the entire universe on the soft cloth of her Haori; the night sky that she seemed to love so much and the stars that sometimes spoke to her.
“Wait. I know you.”
“This will be the last time I say it—” she started.
“You’re a Tsuguko,” he said, recognizing her. “The Flame Hashira’s Tsuguko, I saw you once with all of them. They say you developed your own breathing style that was lost for centuries.”
“You can all gawk later,” she hissed. “Get out of here. I command it.”
“Let us fight with you, Lady,” one of them fiercely said. “We will kill them all. We will help you.”
"You'll only slow us down," she said. "If you want to help then leave this place. Take any other Demon Slayer or humans you find and get them to safety."
"But there might be some injured—“
"Once the area is safe, we will alert the Kakushi," she said to them.
"Let us help,” one of them begged.
She sighed, closing her eyes in defeat. “Maybe next time. No demon is worth you lives. You are the future of the Demon Slayer Corps,” she said gently. “Go.”
The four boys looked at one another, silently conversing among themselves.
Amaya realized they would not bulge, so she lied through her teeth. Surely, some lies were okay to tell if they saved lives, right?
“Protect the village down the forest, who knows of demons will attack there?” she said. “You four can save all those people while we clear the forest. They’ll try to run, so finish them off for us.”
”Hai!” One of them agreed immediately.
She smirked, “and I’ll tell the Hashira about your bravery.”
”We will go!!” The others said in agreement.
Job well done, Amaya, she thought. Kyojuro San will punish you for lying…but Shinobu San will praise you for lying so smoothly.
In unison, they nodded and sheathed their own swords.
The girl extended her arm and whistled once. With the flapping of wings, her Kasugai crow cawed and landed on her arm.
She rubbed its tiny head and smirked, “this is Maveth, he will make certain you all leave this forest, or he will peck your eyes out and eat them,” she threatened darkly.
”Ummm—“
“Is that clear?” She repeated.
”Yes!” They all said.
”That’s right! Follow me, you stupid little boys!! Bloody bottom feeders! I’ll eat your eyes if you don't obey me! I am your Overlord!! Bow before me!” The crow cawed happily, a bit too excited by the prospect of murder.
“Do you understand?” She threatened.
“Ye—Yes,” the replied together, staring in horror at the crow who was cawing wildly.
The Kasugai Crow guided them out the forest and the boys were soon gone. Amaya sighed, thankful that they had fallen for her deception. She could not risk the life of more Demon Slayers when she could prevent it. Orders be damned.
A moment after, three Kakushi arrived with medicines and supplies.
“Tsugoku, Amaya Sama, where should we begin?”
She pointed towards west, “go that way. I saw some injured and unconscious Demon Slayers. It’s been cleared already by me. You’ll be safe there of demons. You can start your work without any hesitation while I go east and find the Hashira.”
”Do you know which Hashira they sent?” The Kakushi girl asked, her eyes eager. "I hope it's Lord Tengen, oh, he's so flashy and handsome!"
Amaya clenched her jaw, annoyed by the eager girl and her silly crush. "That's classified information."
"But I just-"
“That’s above my pay grade and yours,” she answered honestly. "Focus on your work."
Amaya had only been told to find the Hashira herself and aid them in whatever way they needed.
And so she would.
Once the Kakushi were gone and out of sight, Amaya bent her knee and broke into a run, travelling in the direction of the nearest demons and determined to decapitate all of them. She gripped her sword and sniffed once more, travelling in the direction of blood.
For whenever happiness was destroyed, there was always the smell of blood.
Taisho Era Secret:
Amaya made her own breathing style after struggling with Flame Breathing for years. She was able to create Star Breathing after becoming a Tsuguko to the Flame Hashira almost two years ago.