Demon Slayer : The Silent Journey

Chapter 126: To the final destination

[Seiji's POV]

"So that's how it was," Kanae whispered softly while her dainty fingers travelled around my scalp, gently massaging my head,

"I am happy for Mitsuri, she deserves to be a Hashira, she worked hard for every ounce of the weight that title carries," Kanae's praise came from seeing Mitsuri work hard for four months.

The both of us were in the small veranda overlooking the garden of the Butterfly Mansion. The silver sun was in the sky, its soft light shyly lit up the world yet neither of us needed the light. She was sitting on the futon, her legs dangling down the platform but not touching the ground.

On the other hand, I was lying on the futon, my head resting on her lap. Her supple thighs made for the second-best pillows in the world (the first obviously being the boobs).

The natural scent of her body was perfume for my nose, her magical touch soothed every bit of tiredness from my body, releasing knots of exhaustion in my spirit. One thing about Kanae that no one could replicate was the peace and rest I found in her embrace.

Her presence nearly made me forget I was in a world infested by bloodthirsty demons. Everything was so relaxing and serene when I was by her side.

Her fingers gently teased my earlobes, bringing an unknown sensation to my ears. It felt like at that moment, I could hear her touch.

"What else? What do you think about the other new member? Obanai was it?" she asked me but I was closing my eyes and only focusing on the pleasant sensation of her touch so I didn't see it.

We were talking about the Hashria Meeting that happened today. I was meant to inform her about what transpired but here I was, unable to even respond due to being so relaxed.

Misturi was already asleep in her own room. Somehow, someway, Rengoku had convinced her to drink sake to celebrate her promotion so she was drunk and had fallen asleep after the duo finished all of the food in the feast.

I had to carry her home as she was stupidly drunk. She was not a drinker so she did not know how to hold back.

"Don't you go dozing off on me mister, I want to know more," Kanae said and spread my eyelids so that I would look at her.

"How was the other newcomer?" she asked.

"He was okay," I said, trailing off as I thought about what more to add. Honestly, I never really thought deeply about it.

He was a Hashira in the original story, so I was not thinking about whether he was worthy or a good addition to the ranks, as the other Hahsiras did, or what Kanae expected me to think. I just knew that he was the right person to be a Hashira.

"He has my hatred, similar skills to Giyu and the attitude of Sanemi," I said, describing Obanai.

"Wow...that's...an odd combination," Kanae hummed.

"It is," I said. My thoughts lingered on the Snake Hashira since she brought him up. I wondered, would he be angry if he was aware of the possibility that he could've been with Mitsuri? A possibility that I robbed from him.

I was chucking him basically, although he didn't know it.

That was one of the issues I battled for the longest time in my relationship with Mitsuri. I always had the feeling that I was taking her away from the true love she was supposed to share with Obanai.

Whereas loving Kanae did not give me even the slightest guilt. It felt more natural - like fate was on my side if I loved her.

But I had long since been over that. Mitsuri herself helped me overcome that issue.

"Why did you love me Kanae?" I asked suddenly as my mind was on the topic of romance.

It was a generic question that has been asked countless times between couples, but I still.

I knew how she loved me. She slowly fell for me throughout our time together and she completely fell for me because I was always there for her, whenever she needed me.

What I wanted to know was why she decided to go along with that feeling, even when she had many opportunities to stop.

Why did she fight for it, despite being easier to forget about it?

"I didn't realise it until I had completely fallen for you. And at that point, I didn't know how to live without loving you anymore," she said, "Life had become about loving you. You were a part of my life now, one that could not be replaced or discarded,"

"Was it by chance?" I asked, playing devil's advocate.

"Was it by chance that we breathe?" she asked back for an answer and I thought over the question.

You had no memory or intention when you first took your breath. But by the time you realized you were breathing, it had become so vital to your life that if you stopped you would've died. Yet it was not by accident you breathe either, it was meant to be.

A question made for a good answer. That was a first. I envy her quick mind sometimes.

"What about you?" she asked me back, "Why did you decide to love me and jeopardize what you already had with Mitsuir?"

"...."

"Was it pity?" she so very slightly stilled when she asked that - as if she was afraid of her own question.

"You loved me even before I regained my own heart," I began, "I've always nurtured a hatred for myself ever since that day when the demon killed my family,"

"I had forgotten what it was like to even love myself. But I kept on going solely on hope alone, hope that I would find another love and another family," I said and my hand took her hand and held it gently.

"And you were the first treasure I found, the first fulfilment of my hope. You taught me how to love myself again," I said.

She needed me. That was the first real thought I had when I first met her. I knew her fate which was to die at the hands of Douma.

So the knowledge that she needed me was what destroyed the perspective I had of myself as a foreigner. I had no reason to live otherwise. Even without my presence, Tanjiro and others would put an end to Muzan.

But I felt needed in the case of Kanae's situation. And my existence became unapologetic from then on. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In that way, she unintentionally helped me with her existence alone and I love that.

In my search for a new love and a family, she was the first one I found.

"I've lost enough, I didn't want to lose anything again," I said.

I could feel the smile on her face.

"I understand," she said.

We stayed like that for the whole night. I did not just let her spoil me the entire night either as we took turns spoiling each other.

We talked and talked and talked. Sometimes we talked about the old times and sometimes we talked about our future.

We also did this thing where we told each other what the other could not sense. I told her what I saw, described the beautiful stars in the sky and in return, she would describe what she heard - the whisper of the wind, the sound of crickets and the fireflies.

In that way, we paint a complete picture of our surroundings. We filled the void in each other.

Like we always did, since the very beginning.

The one who needed help and the one who yearned to be needed. We saved each other.

"Do you get it now? We fit together like a puzzle," I said.

For reasons I was not aware of, Kanae's eyes started watering when I said that. She choked out a smile, a bitter joy.

"Yeah," she said, "Our love is not awkward, it is perfect too,"

I was not sure what that meant but I agreed.

"Yes,"

..

..

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(A week later)

"Goodbye," I said and kissed her on the forehead.

"Are you sure you can't bring me with you?" Kanae asked like a needy child.

"Unfortunately no," I said. What I was about to face soon would put her in danger, I couldn't bear to do that.

In response to my rejection, Kanae gave a small smile still.

"Okay then...stay safe," she said.

A chilly breeze blew upon us. Gone was the dry autumn air, the wind carried a hint of winter now.

I turned to Shinobu and said, "Take care of her, and take care of yourself,"

"You do know that she is also my sister, right?" she asked while rolling her eyes.

"But sure, if that makes you sleep easier," she replied.

"Seiji-nii..." Kanao called me, her eyes were much like Kanae's, begging me to take her with me but sadly, I can't.

"Keep training, like I taught you," I said.

"Remember, you are going to take the Demon Slayer exam next year," I said and she gave a nod.

"Okay,"

The sun was just about rising on the horizon, urging me to start my travel to the Gifu region and to the Kamado family.

"I'll be back soon, don't worry. It will only be a month," I said.

And with a final farewell, I left the Butterfly Mansion and made my way towards the Kamado family.

I was a Demon Slayer.

I reminded myself throughout the journey as I made my way to what could be, my final destination.

..

..

[IMAGE]

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Author : It was too quick so of course it's late.