Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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-Flashback-
A few days before the Tokito boys embark on their nightly adventure in the Swordsmith village.
They have just finished their last sets of sword practice for the night. Sweat poured out of their forehead as they wiped it with their hands.
Yuichiro took a deep breath to muster up the courage to ask a question of their benevolent teacher. Under his brother's confused gaze, Yuichiro called out to the tree next to him.
"Uncle!"
"What do the words in your eyes mean?"
Michikatsu was disturbed from his contemplation of life by Yuichiro's remark. As he processed the question, he raised his head to look at the two brothers. The kanji for 'One' in his eyes was already fading.
"You... can't read?"
"Cough!" x2
Yuichiro and Muichiro looked at each other, then shifted their gaze to the side as if Uncle Michi's question was unheard.
Yuichiro nudged his younger brother with his elbow. Muichiro widened his eyes as he looked at his brother in disbelief.
"I... I know... how to read...!" Muichiro said hesitantly, lowering his head as shame filled his heart. "Well... some words... the simple ones..."
Michikatsu didn't say anything.
When he learned that the Tokito family could not read, he felt insulted.
No descendant of his would be illiterate under his watch!
So, he began teaching the boys and Kaoru how to read and write during the breaks from sword practice.
The first sentence he taught was—
"Those who have exhausted their path shall return to the same place."
After that, he teaches them words such as "Tsugikuni," "Tokito," "Demon Slayer Corps," and "choice..."
During the night before their excursion, Michikatsu decided to write the note for the two brothers to read after he left.
"One day... you will decide your own path."
Michikatsu was kneeling in the porch of the entrance with a small wooden table in front of him and a writing brush in his hand.
"I'm not going to order you... or make any decision for you."
"What I did... was because of the path I took. My own choices."
The ink-soaked brush glided across the paper, steadily writing out the characters.
The clouds parted to allow the bright moonlight to shine on the man under the eaves.
Michikatsu slowly put down his brush and looked at the full moon in the sky.
"Now..."
He calmly said to no one in particular, though you can see a small smile grace his lips. "Fate has knocked on your door for you to make a decision."
---
"...decision?"
Yuichiro was still immersed in the contents of the letter he had read. His mind works so fast to understand what this would mean for him.
However, Muichiro was already a step ahead of him. He had an excited look on his face compared to his brother beside him. His eyes were full of anticipation.
He looked at everyone that had sat in the living room of his house in a circle.
"So..."
Shinjuro broke the silence between the two brothers. He tentatively pondered out loud. "You want to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Muichiro nodded quickly. His fist clenched in excitement and eagerness.
"Yes! The Demon Slayer is just as Uncle said! It's a good place to help others!"
He recalled the swordsmanship he had practiced and his increased strength during this short period.
He also didn't forget how helpless he was when his mother's illness was slowly taking her away from him.
'I don't want to experience that kind of weakness again!' Muichiro thought to himself. His clenched hands became even more forceful, turning his knuckles white.
"If I can help others be at ease, I'll join the Corps!"
"Wait, Muichiro!" Yuichiro finally snapped out of his daze and panically reached to grab Muichiro's arm.
"This is too fast! Calm down and think about it carefully!" He said hesitantly.
The way things have developed went beyond Yuichiro's little understanding. He, who considered himself the smartest in the family, was a little overwhelmed with all of the events going on.
"Muichiro is right."
Soichiro spoke up before Yuichiro could. He held a small basin of peeled chestnuts that he put down. Then, he sat down beside Muichiro.
He reached out gently and rubbed Muichiro's head. "Doing good is not just for others." He said in a gentle tone.
"Helping others will eventually help yourself."
Soichiro smiled as his eyes met Muichiro's one. He slowly looked at each of the guests sitting in his house. "After all, he is my son. If Muichiro wants to join, then I will join also."
Shinjuro nodded, then shifted his gaze to Yuichiro, who was still in limbo. "What about you?"
Yuichiro's head was still on a roller coaster.
"I..." He stammered. His eyes moved back and forth between his father and brother.
"Please wait a moment, Shinjuro-dono."
Another voice interrupts the conversation as Gyomei finally makes himself known. "I'm sorry, Soichiro-san."
Gyomei chanted a Buddhist prayer as thoughts flashed through his mind.
The most prevalent was that... the Upper Moon One... trained this family and left the decision to join the Demon Slayer Corps to them.
Such a good act from a demon is simply incomprehensible.
"This matter is not something that we can easily decide." He pondered for a moment.
Yes, there are many things that do not make sense and questions that can't be answered because the source of them is a demon.
"We should report this to Oyakata-sama as soon as possible and let him make the judgment."
Gyomei turned his head toward the Tokito family. "Before Oyakata-sama decides, can you please come with us to our headquarters?"
"Don't worry, the Demon Slayer Corps will arrange accommodation for you."
The boys of the Tokito family looked at each other after hearing Gyomei's proposal.
They turned their heads in unison to look at Kaoru, who was listening quietly while drinking tea.
Kaoru swallowed the tea in her mouth and smiled slightly. "Okay."
She had noticed how giddy her husband and her youngest had been about this opportunity. While her oldest was reluctant, she believes it will be for the best for their family.
"Thank you, we will rest for the night and set off together tomorrow morning." Gyomei said in gratitude and lowered his head in a bow.
Drip, drip.
As if waiting for its appearance, Gyomei's tears dripped down on the wooden tatami.
"Uncle! What are you crying about?" Yuichiro was startled by Gyomei's sudden crying. First, this big guy has an intimidating aura just by standing, and the next, he was crying his eyes out.
"Ah... what a beautiful family love."
Gyomei said. He puts his hands together to thank Buddha for the beautiful sight.
But in his heart, he was contemplating other matters.
'Oyakata-sama has already learned about the appearance of the Upper Moons in the Swordsmith village, and the village chief has decided to move the village before tonight.
There were many reinforcements to protect the villagers while they moved. And if, IF, the Upper Moon One appears again...'
Gyomei turned his head slightly to focus his attention on Tanjuro, who was reading the papers from the package he received.
'Then we will successfully kill another Upper Moon tonight!'
Gyomei clasped his hands together as he reverently prayed to Buddha for such an encounter to happen in reality.
A Dead Demon is the only Good Demon.