Maiden Of The Moon

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

After a long while I had the urge to update this little FF. 

That’s me.

Writing, stopping for a few months and then going back to writing. XD

The song today Yua sings is I’m on My Way by Phil Collins from the fantastic movie Brother Bear.

Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Mt. Natagumo

Time flows fast and Yua and her three idiotic comrades and wonderful Nezuko have been staying at the Wisteria House for a good six weeks.

Today the doctor declared them finally being healed.

The day started well.

It even got better as Kaguya and Tanjiro’s crow, Matsuemon, brought them new orders.

Their little group shall go North-northeast to Mt. Natagumo.

Finally, Yua could work on her goal of becoming a Hashira. She was starting to get crazy doing nothing but healing in the Wisteria House.

On one hand, she should really first go home and check on her family, yet the disapproving look and the lecture her grandfather would give her, how she managed for six weeks to do nothing and not at least raise a few ranks stopped her from doing so.

She would go back home when she at least levelled up a good three ranks.

Was she a coward?

Yes, she was.

The midnight blue-haired beauty was not ashamed to admit that.

She would rather fist-fight a demon than be criticized by her grandfather. That man could make you feel so bad about yourself, it should be a torture method.

Or better not.

Anyway, our group of four Demon Slayers stood ready before the door of the Wisteria House, Hisa was with them, seeing them off.

Today, Yua had decided to wear her long hair in two long pigtails. As she fixed one, Tanjiro, undoubtedly the one with the best manners, bowed before Hisa.

“We’re heading out now. Thank you for everything.”

The old kind lady smiled and had a stone and grinder in her hands.

Oh how nice of her!

“Now then, for good luck.”, said Hisa.

“Thank you so much!”

Yua, Tanjiro and Zenitsu turn their back to Hisa, as she strikes the stone against the grinder a couple of times, little sparks flying in the air.

And again it shows that Inosuke really only ever lived on a mountain surrounded by animals since he freaks out seeing that.

Only Yua's fast reflexes stop the boar-headed boy from attacking the old lady. She has him in a headlock, while he shouts: “What do you think you’re doing, old hag?!”

“What are you, a moron?!”, shouts Zenitsu back.

“Is that a rhetoric question, Agatsuma.”, deadpans Yua, gripping Inosuke tighter. “Stop struggling so much, Hashibira!”

The blond-haired boy explains: “She’s striking sparks for good luck! It’s a purification ceremony! Because we’re gonna go on a dangerous mission!”

“So stand down and accept it.”, adds Yua.

Still confused the boar-headed boy does as he was said and Hisa can complete the ritual.

All beside Inosuke bow before her in thanks.

“Always live your lives with great pride. I wish you luck in battle!”

The older girl thanks her in the name of the group and with that the Demon Slayers and one Demon Girl in a box set off.

It’s exactly quiet for five minutes before the wild boy speaks up.

““Great pride”? “Luck in battle”? What does that mean?”

Zenitsu can’t help himself and think what a moron Inosuke is, while Yua fights off the urge to facepalm.

Hard.

Like she said.

Idiots, besides Nezuko.

“Well, yeah, now that you mention it, it’s kind of difficult to explain.”, try however Tanjiro to explain to him. ““With great pride”… I guess it means that you know your place and that you behave properly so that you’re never ashamed of yourself.”

“Huh?”

“And the old lady is also praying for our safety.”

“So what is this “place”? What do you mean, “never ashamed”?”

“Well, it’s…”

“What exactly does it mean to “behave properly”? Why in the hell would that old hag pray for our safety, anyway? She has nothing to do with us, so why?”

“Ahh…”

“She has no clue what her own place is, does she?”

Before someone gets an aneurysm, most likely poor goodhearted Tanjiro, Yua step energetically forward and starts to sing.

“Tell everybody I'm on my way

New friends and new places to see

With blue skies ahead yes

I'm on my way

And there's nowhere else

that I'd rather be!”

This earned her a confused huh from Inosuke, Zenitsu fangirling and Tanjiro bilking at her surprised.

Neither one of them ever heard this type of song.

After six weeks they were used to the beautiful songs Yua sang, but they were more from their folklore, besides the one she called Gurenge and didn’t tell them who had taught her that.

“Tell everybody I'm on my way

And I'm loving every step I take

With the sun beating down yes

I'm on my way

And I can't keep this smile off my face!”

Also, she only sang in the morning, while she combed Nezuko's hair.

Suddenly starting to sing was new.

But not unwelcome.

“'Cause there's nothing like seeing

each other again

No matter what the distance between

And the stories that we tell

will make you smile

Oh, it really lifts my heart!”

All the boys, even Inosuke, loved her singing.

Yua had an amazing voice.

“So tell 'em all I'm on my way

New friends and new places to see

And to sleep under the stars

Who could ask for more

With the moon keeping watch over me!”

As Yua finished singing, the group looked at her in confusion.

She shrugged and said, "It’s a good song while you walk. Your squabbling didn’t really help us."

"Well, THAT was useless.”, snorted Inosuke “We still don't know what that old hag meant."

The midnight blue-haired girl just rolled her eyes.

She had hoped singing her wandering song would also stop this stupid discussion.

Inosuke was trough and trough boar-headed.

"Look, Hashibira, it means that we should be proud of who we are and what we do. We should behave properly and not bring shame to ourselves or our comrades. And Hisa prayed for us because she cares about us and wants us to come back safely."

 Zenitsu nodded in agreement, "Exactly! And we should appreciate her kindness and good wishes."

Inosuke grumbled but seemed to understand a little better now. Or maybe they all hoped it.

Tanjiro smiled at his friends and said, "Let's go then! Mt. Natagumo is waiting for us!"

And with that, the group set off on their next mission with determination and pride in their hearts.

***

In the evening Yua, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke finally arrived at the base of Mt. Natagumo.

The Aura-sensing girl hissed as she felt the vibes of the places.

Yes, demons alright.

And pretty strong ones too.

“Hold up! Would you mind waiting a second?”, screeched Zenitsu from the back of the group.

“Zenitsu? What’s wrong?”, ask Tanjiro worried.

“I’m scared, all right?! Now that we’re nearing our destination, I’m so scared!”

“Here we go again...”, mumbled Yua.

This was the Demon Mansion all over again.

“Why the hell is he sitting?”, pointed Inosuke on the ground cowering Zenitsu. “How creepy is that?”

“Who are you to talk, Pig Face?! Don’t tell me you’re not getting any vibes from that mountain!”

Okay, that was surprising.

“You feel it also Agatsuma? The Aura of this place is full of malice and I bet we will find some strong Demons there.”

Tanjiro and Inosuke turn to the mountain but it’s clear that they sense nothing.

“Still, what good will it do to just sit there?”, wondered Tanjiro.

Yua fixes one of her pigtails.

“That place may be full of malice aura, but I’m not afraid like Agatsuma. We should get going, guys.”

“I told you, he’s creepy.”, reminds Inosuke them.

“I am not in any way creepy! I’m normal! I’m the normal one! You guys are abnormal! Erm...I mean Yua-Senpai is special, not creepy at all she is just erm...”

“Agatsuma nothing you ever will say will get you into my pants.”, deadpans Yua with her hands on her hips.

Suddenly Tanjiro becomes all rigged and turns to the direction of the mountain. His companions look at him confused.

Zenitsu ask him what's wrong and Tanjiro's answer is that there is a smell.

This makes Yua reach out with her Aura Sensing, in the six weeks with the boys and Nezuko she learned, how good Tanjiro could smell and how fine Zenitsu's hearing was.

This means if Tanjiro smells something it must be important.

And she is right with her guess as she feels an Aura full of pain crashing against her senses.

It’s human!

“Follow me, boys!”, she commands and runs towards the direction of the painful Aura.

Tanjiro and Inosuke are right behind her and after a few seconds, Zenitsu joins them.

When they get closer to the mountain, they see a wounded Demon Slayer.

“Ngh… Ugh…Ah… H-Help me.”, cries the wounded boy.

“He’s got our uniform on. He’s a Demon Slayer!”, shouts Tanjiro. “Something must’ve happened!”

Yua can’t help but sass back. “Really? What tipped you off, that he is a bloody mess?”

Nonetheless, Yua, Tanjiro and Inosuke run up to their Demon Slayer comrade, while Zenitsu begs them to wait for him.

Tanjiro is the first by the boy and asks him if he is okay. Again Yua wants to point out what a stupid question this is when suddenly the wounded Demon Slayer rises in the air by fine strings. He shouts for help, but sadly he gets pulled back into the direction of the dense forest of the mountain.

The Hinoto gets a determined look on her face.

“Guys, let’s go!”

“Of course, Yua-Senpai.”, agrees Tanjiro.

“I’ll go on ahead. You can follow me, shivering.”, tells Inosuke. “This is making me hungry.”

Yua snorts.

“Strange time to get hungry, but let’s get moving guys. You listen to my word, since I’m the highest rank here, alright.”

Both boys agree, even if Inosuke grumbles.

The three run into the forest, leaving a scarred and crying Zenitsu behind.

They run up a trail when Inosuke suddenly stops.

“Huh? What the hell is this?”

Tanjiro and Yua stop to see what is with Inosuke.

That’s really strange.

“A spider web?”, wonders Tanjiro for them aloud.

“Jeez, this place is full of spiderwebs! What a pain!”

Again Yua lets her Aura Sensing sweep around to get what is going on, while Tanjiro thanks both her and Inosuke for being here with him since alone he would be afraid.

The girl waves it just away as she pit-points two auras before them.

Two familiar aura.

One is a welcome sight the other not.

“Murata-San, Katsumi.”, she greeted the two scarred Demon Slayers. “What is the situation?”

Murata, the black-haired male, seemed happy to see her, while Katsumi Tomita, the brown-haired one, looked like someone had killed his cat.

“Yua-Senpai! I’m so glad to see you. At least a Minoto! Tell me do you have a Hashira with you?!”, babbled Murata, tears streaming from his eyes.

She couldn’t even answer, before Katsumi hissed: “You want to lay your hope on the Moonlight Beauty, Murata? She and her whole family are cursed! We are totally fucked!”

Lovely, still the nicknaming asshole Yua had the displeasure of ever meeting. She could have gone her whole life without seeing the brown-haired young man ever again.

She grounded her teeth together and tried to talk herself out of it to just kick Katsumi's ass.

“You know Yua-Senpai?”, asked Tanjiro, joining them with Inosuke.

“I have met and killed with Murata-San a few Demons.”, revealed Yua. “Katsumi and I just know each other from one occasion.”

Katsumi scoffed.

“That one occasion was enough. You, Mochizuki’s, only bring bad luck and death with you!”

The midnight blue-haired girl takes a deep breath and tries to remain calm despite Katsumi's insults. She knows that getting angry won't solve anything, and they need to focus on the situation at hand.

"Murata, tell us what happened," she says, turning her attention to the tearful Demon Slayer.

Murata sniffles and wipes his eyes before speaking. "Th-The crow gave us the order! And ten of us Demon Slayers came here. Not long after we entered the mountain, the Slayers…the Slayers started killing each other! Tomita-San and I barely escaped with our lives.”

Yua nods, understanding the gravity of the situation. Behind the killing under the Demon Slayers was surely a Blood Demon Art responsible. What kind of Demon could take nearly over a full group of Slayers was the question?

They needed to go on with caution.

“Who is with you, Moonlight Beauty?”, spat Katsumi, eyeing Tanjiro and Inosuke. “A boy barely weened from his mother and a boy hiding behind a mask?”

Tanjiro and Inosuke both didn’t like how this Katsumi called their Yua-Senpai by the nickname she hated so much. She seemed ready to murder the brown-haired man. Normally she was calm and collected.

There was history between them, so much was clear.

 “I’m Kamada Tanjiro and he is Hashibira Inosuke, rank Mizunoto.”, answered Tanjiro for them.

He didn’t like this hostile attitude towards Yua-Senpai. He hoped he could turn the attention like this to them and away from Yua.

It worked half since Murata yelled: “Mizunoto… Mizunoto?! Why didn’t they send a Hashira with Yua-Senpai?”

“I told you Murata!”, groaned Katsumi. “The Mochizuki bring only bad luck with them. It would have been too much for the Moonlight Beauty to have other Minoto with her or even a higher rank.”

“No matter how many Mizunoto they send, it won’t help! Even with a Minoto now. It’s pointless!”

“It was pointless from the start with the Moonlight Beauty!”

Suddenly Inosuke let out a loud yell and punched Murata and Katsumi in the face.

Yua felt a sick satisfaction seeing Katsumi getting punched, she was only sorry for Murata.

“Inosuke!!”, scolded Tanjiro.

Violence against their brother-in-arms was surely not it, even if a tiny part of him thought Katsumi deserved a punch in the face for being so rude to Yua.

“Shut up!”, hollerd Inosuke. “As far as pointless goes, your existence itself has no point at all!”

“Who the hell is this guy?! Did you forget that Tomita-San and I have seniority?!”

“Of course, the Moonlight Beauty would travel with freaks?!”

“What is your problem with Yua-Senpai!”, now Tanjiro was nearly yelling. “You keep calling her by the nickname she hates and say her whole family is cursed. Why?!”

“Kamado, it’s fine. I don’t give a shit what Katsumi thinks of me or my family.”, tries Yua to calm him down.

Tanjiro's disbelieving look says it all. Of course, he must smell how she is ready to commit murder.

A little evil chuckle leaves Katsumi's lips.

“So you don’t know that the Mochizuki learned the Moon Breathing from a Demon? And not any Demon either. Michikatsu Tsugikuni was a Demon Slayer once and betrayed the whole corps. The first and only one who did this!”

Yua bit her lips and looked down at the ground. Sadly it was true.

“You can’t trust a family who won’t stop using the Breathing Style of a Demon. Their loyalty lies surely with the Demon who taught them!”

The Minoto takes a deep breath and looks up at Katsumi with a cold expression.

"My family's loyalty lies with the Demon Slayer Corps and protecting humanity from Demons," she says firmly. "We may have learned the Moon Breathing from someone who turned Demon, but we also learned how to kill them and protect innocent lives."

Tanjiro nods in agreement, understanding the weight of Yua's words. Inosuke just grunts, still angry at the insults towards his comrades.

"We need to focus on finding the Demon who uses the Blood Demon Art responsible for the killings," Yua continues, trying to steer the conversation back to the mission at hand. "We can't afford to let our personal feelings get in the way."

Murata wipes his tears and nods, grateful for Yua's leadership. Katsumi just rolls his eyes, not convinced by her words.

But he knows deep down that they need to work together if they want to survive this mission.

Suddenly they hear a strange sound. Murata tells the newcomers that it sounded also before the other Demon Slayers started to kill each other.

Immediate Yua sweeps with her Aura-Sensing the clearing they are in.

“They are coming!”, she tells the four boys, reading her Katana. The white blade seems to shimmer under the moonlight. “Get ready!”

A group of Demon Slayers hobbles toward them, ready to attack.

Murata and Katsumi dodged the attacks. The Demon Slayers attack Inosuke and Tanjirou, but they also dodge.

“Haha! These guys are all morons!”, laughs Inosuke. “They don’t know that it’s taboo for us Demon Slayers to fight each other!”

Swift and with grace Yua counters the sword strikes of the two Demon Slayers before her, upper-handing them, taking their Katana’s from them and throwing them far away into the forest.

“They don’t do it of their free will Hashibara.”, yells Yua, locked in a sword fight with a new Demon Slayer. “They are like marionettes, someone forces them to fight!”

“Yua-Senpai is right. Something controls them!”, agrees Tanjiro.

This only makes Inosuke take out his katana, ready to slice up the other Demon Slayers, only Tanjiro and Yua yelling at him that they can’t hurt their follow comareds since some of them are still alive, stop him.

“Do it like me. Upperhand them and throw the Katana far away!”, advised Yua, before she fully concretes on the opponent before her.

Tanjiro slices through the air above a Demon Slayer’s back, severing spider strings. The Demon Slayer falls to the ground motionless.

“Good eye, Kamado!”, praises Yua and cuts the strings on the Demon Slayer before her.

“They’re threads! They’re being manipulated by threads! Slash the threads!”, spells out Tanjiro for the rest of the group.

They continue to fight, cutting threads, till Yua Aura-Sensing tickles her.

She looks down at her arm to find two small spiders crawling over it.

“Spiders?”, she mumbles and then has enlightenment. “They are controlled by these spiders!”

As to prove her point her arms lift themselves from alone, thankful she can cut the threads again.

“Guys, we need to find the Demon fast. The spiders are so tiny and just put the threads we cut back on!”

“So, all we gotta do is kill those damn spiders, huh?”, wonder Inosuke.

It’s Tanjiro who answers him: “That would be impossible! Those spiders are tiny, and I’m sure there are tons of them! We gotta find the demon who’s controlling them!”

“My Aura-Sensing is at its limit I can’t find the Aura of the Demon.”, admins Yua frustrated.

She really needs to train it more! When they get out here alive, she will do so.

“Inosuke, if you have some kind of power that can pinpoint the demon’s location, then help me out!”, turns Tanjiro to him. “This weird smell has been flowing in, and my nose isn’t working great! Ngh… And also, um…”

“It’s Murata!”

“I’m Tomita!”

“Murata! Tomita! Yua-Senpai. We will find a way to deal with the people being controlled! Inosuke, you…”

Exactly at the same moment, Yua feels a terrible Aura. Shivering she looks up.

There on fine spider treads stands a Demon in the form of a young boy with white hair, red markings on his face and a simple white kimono.

“Don’t disturb my family’s peaceful life.”, tells the Demon boy in an eerie voice. “Mother will kill you all right away.”

Inosuke doesn’t seem to care and tries to reach him. It fails spectacularly.

“Damn you!”, curses the masked boy on his back. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?! Fight me! Fight…!”

The Demon boy just walks away.

“Inosuke!”

“Hashibira!”

“Why did he show up, anyway?”, ask Inosuke Tanjiro and Yua.

“That kid probably isn’t the demon pulling the puppet strings!”, tells Tanjiro.

“But we should be careful of the kid, it’s Aura is sicking!”, warns them Yua.

Tanjiro nods.

“Right, so first, let’s…”

“Okay, okay, okay! I hear you, all right?!”, shouts Inosuke. “You want me to find where that demon is at, right? Shut up already, Forehead!”

Inosuke sticks his swords into the ground, kneeling down and putting his arms up and sideways. Yua and Tanjiro protected him from the incoming Demon Slayer puppets.

“Ngh… Beast Breathing, Seventh Form, Special Awareness! Grrr…”

He takes a deep breath, feeling his way through the forest, finding the location of the Spider Demon Mother

“Found it. There you are!”

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Chapter 8: The Butterfly Mansion

The young woman didn’t know how long she slept.

She just knew it was still not enough as she woke up.

With a loud yawn, Yua stretched herself and blinked into the sunlight that streamed into the Butterfly Mansion Patient Room.

She knows the room well.

Wasn’t the first time that she was here for cures after a heavy battle with a demon.

You never quite forget the smell of the flowers and antiseptic in the air.

“Uurgh, what time and day is it?”, she asked into the room.

She hoped that Aoi-San was in the room or the least one of the little girls.

Luck was not on her side since a well-known and shrill voice shouted: “Yua-Senpai, you are awake!”

“Agatsuma...”, she growled, turning to him, a vein popping up on her forehead. “I just woke up, I’m cranky and ready to commit murder, I don’t need your shrill voice! Keep it down.”

A little shriek escaped Zenitsu, till he noted what he did and clapped his tiny arms over his mouth.

Huh...?

“What the heck happened to you?”, she asked astonished. “What’s up with your arms?”

The blond-haired boy started to cry softly.

And with a lot of snoot.

Urgh.

“It was terrible Yua-Senpai. I followed your guys up the mountain to protect Nezuko-Chan and one of these Spider Creeps injected me with venom! I nearly turned into a spider myself! That’s why my arms and legs are shrunk! With my breathing style, I could stop the transforming process long enough till Shinobu-Sama could give me an antidote. But I need to drink disgusting medicine till I’m back to my old self again.”, he told her all teary and winy his woe.

Yua just deadpanned.

“Woman-up, Agatsuma! Be glad you are still alive.”

He didn’t woman-up and whined into his pillow.

That’s when Yua saw Inosuke in the bed next to Zenitsu. The wild boy Aura was all gloomy.

Okay, now that was terrifying.

“Do I wanna know what happened to Hashibira?”

“I heard he lost his voice or something.”, answered Zenitsu anyway. “I don’t have all the details, but I heard he, like, got hit in the neck, and when he yelled at the top of his lungs at the end, that finished it off, and that did a number on his throat. He’s depressed now, so it’s made him gentle, and it really cracks me up! Hehehehe… Hehehehe!”

“Stop it with the creepy laugh or I will suffocate you.”, promised the midnight blue-haired girl.

Immediately the blond stopped to laugh.

He could smell how murders Yua was feeling. Better not to go on her nerves.

“Where are Kamado and Nezuko?”, she asked.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me. I’m worried.”, admitted Zenitsu.

With a sign, Yua got again comfortable in her bed.

“Then we can only wait and pray.”

***

Somehow Yua managed to fall asleep again.

The Spider Demon did really a number of her if she still was so sleepy and feeling weak.

When she woke up again, Yua felt a bit better.

She sat up and looked around the room, taking in the familiar surroundings.

It was quiet except for the sound of Zenitsu's soft snores. She glanced over at him and saw that he was asleep, his arms and legs still shrunk from the venom.

Inosuke was laying in his bed still as a statue, his Aura gloomy.

That didn’t fit him at all, but Yua didn’t know how to raise his spirits.

She wasn’t good at this kind of thing.

Yua sighed and leaned back against her pillows, wondering how long they would have to stay here before they were fully healed.

She missed being out in the field, fighting demons, rising in Ranks and finally becoming a Hashira. However, she knew that she needed time to recover after her latest battle.

It was just awesome.

After six weeks spent in the Wisteria Mansion, now she was in the Butterfly Mansion and who knew how long this time it would take to heal?

Her grandfather would give it to her, if she returned home and wasn’t at least a Kinoe, for all this wasted time in his eyes.

She flexed her arms, saying the secret password and watched the Kanji appear on her skin.

Kinoto.

She raised two Ranks.

Normally she would be proud, however, she could only think that if she raised one more Rank she would have been a Kinoe.

So close and yet so far.

How long would it take before she became one?

How long till they would offer her the position of a Hashira?

The midnight blue-haired beauty missed her family, besides her grandfather, and she didn’t want to stay away longer from home.

Yet it seemed she had to.

She would not face her grandfather like that.

Never.

As she lay there, she directed her thoughts away from this and to Nezuko and Tanjiro.

She hoped they were safe wherever they were, and that they would be able to join them soon.

Yua closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for their well-being to Tsukuyomi.

After a few minutes of restful silence, Yua heard a knock on the door.

She opened her eyes and called out, "Who is it?"

"It's me, Aoi." came the reply.

A little smile formed on the midnight blue-haired young woman.

“Long time not seen, Aoi-San," she greeted her.

Aoi entered the room with a tray of food.

"Indeed, Yua-San. Good morning," she replied with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"A little better," Yua admitted as she set down the tray on her lap. “So tell me, how bad of shape I am?”

“You have significant muscle strains all over your body, your cousin Sayako said you used the forbidden technique of the Moon-Breathing?”

She just nodded.

“It did a number one you, but Sayako-San said you could have broken bones too. Anyway, you need to rest, we bandaged both your arms and one leg, there were the strains the heaviest. The compression should help the swelling. Also, you need to put ice on the muscle strains. It should take more than a few weeks till you are good again. We will see.”, explained Aoi her.

Yua didn’t realize that Aoi had the ice packs in her hands.

“Eat and then put this on your arms and leg.”

“I will, thank you, Aoi-San.”

The girl with the pigtails nodded before turning to leave the room. "If you need anything else, just let me know."

Yua thanked her before digging into her breakfast.

After finishing her meal she put the ice packs where Aoi had said she should.

She noted how the area started to feel better.

Yua sat back against her pillows. It was somehow good to have some normalcy in her life again, even if it was just breakfast in bed.

She wondered what the rest of the day would bring.

A yawn left her mouth.

Well, she still was tired.

No problem to take a nap again.

And she did so.

***

Zenitsu's creepy laughter awoke Yua suddenly from her nice dream of her beloved late mother.

Angry she gripped her pillow and threw it in his face!

That shut him up!

“AGATSUMA, STOP IT WITH THE LAUGH!”, she screamed.

“Yua-Senpai!”, called her Tanjiro voice.

Surprised Yua rubbed her eyes to fully wake up.

There really was Tanjiro, kneeling beside Zenitsu's bed, a Kakushi was also there, but that wasn’t important.

“Kamado-San!”, called Yua back a bit too happily even for her taste.

She long ago decided that it would be bad to fall in love with Tanjiro, so why did she feel and sound so happy seeing him?

This feeling needed to die.

So she cleared her throat.

“I mean, Kamado, good to see. I assume Nezuko is alright too?”

Pointedly she ignored the looks of the two boys and no she didn’t think that a confused Tanjiro was cute!

Perish that thought!

Thankful Inosuke directed the attention to himself as he said in his crooked voice that they should forgive him for being weak.

“Hang in there, Inosuke!”, encourages Tanjiro. “It’s not like you to get depressed!”

“Come on, you did good! You’re awesome!”, added Zenitsu.

“Your Aura is creeping me out, that’s not like you Hashibira.”, tried Yua her luck to cheer him up.

It showed how bad she was at this since Tanjiro and Zenitsu (Even the Kakushi!) gave her WTF-Looks. The young woman may shrunk a bit into her bed.

“What?”, she crooked out. “It’s the truth...”

“Anyway...”, said Tanjiro into the awkward silence and turned back to Inosuke. “I’m just so happy that you’re alive!”

All of a sudden Zenitsu screamed about whether he took his medicine, if someone had seen him taking it.

A vein popped up on Yua's forehead.

“You took it before I fell asleep the first time. Can I have my pillow back, please?”

Tanjiro was so nice to throw it back to her and the girl didn’t waste time to put it over her head to block out the noises.

Could she get a single room?

Please?

***

She had fallen asleep again because the next thing she knew was that she needed to breathe. Slowly she put the pillow away and looked around the room.

It was sunset, and beautiful red and orange light falling into the patient's room.

Zenitsu was snoring away and even Inosuke seemed to sleep.

Only Tanjiro was missing.

Like her thought made him appear, the red-haired boy entered the room.

“Ah Yua-Senpai, you are awake.”, he greeted her as he made his way over to his bed.

“Kamado, from where you you coming from?”, she asked a bit curious.

“They were so nice to give Nezuko her own room. All dark so we don’t have to worry sunlight will hurt her.”, he explained, crawling into his bed.

Yua nodded.

It was probably for the best that the Demon Girl had her own room.

Yua closed her eyes and settled back into her pillows.

She felt a sense of relief knowing that Nezuko was safe and being taken care of.

It was good to see Tanjiro again too, even though she tried to hide her happiness at his presence.

She couldn't let herself get too attached or distracted from her goal of becoming a Kinoe and then a Hashira.

As she lay there, Yua couldn't help but think about the future and what it held for her.

She knew that there would be more battles and challenges ahead, but she was ready for them. She had worked hard to get where she was, and she wasn't going to give up now.

With a deep breath, Yua opened her eyes and looked around the room once more.

She saw Zenitsu snoring away, Inosuke still as a statue, and Tanjiro settling in for the night.

It was strange...even if she didn’t want to get too attached to people, these three and Nezuko had somehow wormed their way into her heart.

Sure most of the time she wanted to hit them for their stupidity, but...it was nice being with familiar people in the patient room.

This happens if you spend six weeks with the same people, she supposed.

Yua knew that it would take time for her body to fully recover from the Spider Demon's attack, yet she was determined to come out stronger on the other side.

And when that day came, she would continue on her path towards becoming a Hashira.

“Yua-Senpai.”, called then Tanjiro out for her. “You have fallen asleep before I could ask, but how are you feeling? How did the fight with the Spider Demon go?”

She turned to face Tanjiro.

"It was tough, but I managed to defeat the Spider Demon with the help of my strongest Moon-Breathing technique. However, it did a number on me." The young woman gestured towards her bandaged arms and leg. "But I'll recover soon enough."

Tanjiro nodded in understanding before settling back into his bed.

“I’m glad, me and Inosuke were worried when we left you alone to face her.”

“All is good Kamado, don’t worry so much. You will get grey hairs this way.”

This made Tanjiro laugh, till he held his ribs with a pained expression.

“I have a feeling your fight was a whole other number.”, guessed Yua.

And it was.

The red-haired boy told her, how he managed to kill the Spider Mother, but had to leave Inosuke behind in the arms of the Spider Father. Then it turned out that the Spider boy they had seen, was one of the Demon King Lower Moons.

Only with Nezuko's help and a new Breathing Style Tanjiro managed to keep fighting till the Water Hashira Tomioka Giyuu took care of the Lower Moon.

With only one technique.

That was impressive.

However, Yua was more fixed on the new Breathing Style that Tanjiro had suddenly used.

“The Hinokami Kagura Dance?”, she repeated surprised. “And it’s dedicated to the fire god? Huh...”

Cutely Tanjiro titled his head and now Yua didn’t want to pet his hair.

No!

Forget it!

He was not cute at all!

“Do you have heard of this Yua-Senpai?”, asked Tanjiro curious.

The young woman got comfortable in her bed, crossing her arms. It hurt a bit, but she could manage.

“My family has something familiar. It’s a dance called Jihibukai Tsukigami No Mai (Dance of the benevolent moon god). All children have to learn it.”, she starts to explain. “It mimics Moon Breathing. If you learn the dance without problems it means you are fit enough to learn Moon-Breathing.”

“Huh, what a coincidence.”, mubled Tanjiro.

“Kamado, I don’t think that it’s a coincidence.”

“What you mean Yua-Senpai?”

“A dance that turns into a powerful Breathing Style? And you are really sure your family was only coal makers? This sounds more like an ancestor of yours wanted to hide his Breathing Style in the dance.”

Tanjiro frowned and scratched his head.

“No, I’m pretty sure we were only coal makers, but I agree it’s strange at that Dance turned into a Breathing Style and then your family has something familiar for their breathing style...”

“Hey, don’t try to crack it now.”, advises Yua. “It mimics Flame-Breathing from what you told me, if I’m not mistaken one of the Hashira uses it. You should talk with Shinobu-Sama about it. Maybe she knows more about this.”

Now Tanjiro was smiling brightly, which did not make Yua blush. However cute and handsome Tanjiro looked.

No.

She probably had a little fever not more!

“When we are better, we can visit my home.”, offered Yua, stroking her hair to distract herself from Tanjiro's damn handsome face. “The Mochizuki Mansion isn’t far away from the Butterfly Mansion, but it will take us at least half a day. We need to get better first. Maybe we have something in our archive about the Hinokami Kagura Dance.”

“Really Yua-Senpai you want to help me?”

Oh no, was he going to start to cry from thankfulness?

Yua’s heart wouldn’t take this!

“Now, no tears, even thankful one!”, she admonished. “I’m not doing this out of the good of my heart or some sappy shit, I’m curious myself what’s up with this dance.”

This made Tanjiro only laugh quietly and send her a soft smile.

Okay, maybe she did blush now and felt shy.

Why did Tanjiro need to be so handsome and have a beautiful soul and heart?!

“You act all tough and rough, but I can smell how kindhearted you really are Yua-Senpai.”, told Tanjiro, pointing at his nose. “Don’t hide behind your anger, we are friends you can be yourself around me.”

“Be me?”, she repeated confused.

The midnight blue-haired beauty had to admit she didn’t know who she really was.

She was what people wanted her to be.

And when she didn’t get what they wanted, she reacted with anger, sarcasm and homicidal tendencies.

Probably not sane, if one thinks about it.

Eager Tanjiro nodded.

“I can see and smell that you are confused but...we are friends. I will help you to find out who Mochizuki Yua really is like you will help me with the Hinokami Kagura Dance.”

This made her snort.

“Seems like you got the worst deal. I’m a handful.”

“Not for me...not when it’s you.”

Did...did she hear right?!

Shocked she looked up his face.

Was she imagining things or was Tanjiro blushing?

He was playing shyly with his blanket at least.

In turn, this made her feel all mushy and clammy inside. Yua had never felt like this.

So she fell into her default behaviour.

Avoid, ignore and get pissed.

“Enough with the mushy stuff, Kamado.”, she hissed and let herself fall on her bed. She closed her eyes, so she couldn’t see him and his Aura. “Let’s just sleep. I’m tired.”

It was still for a few seconds till Tanjiro quietly agreed and she heard how he lay himself on his bed.

The older girl let out a breath and ignored the burning in her eyes.

Becoming a Hashira, and bringing her family honour was all that mattered, she repeated to herself.

Then why did feel these words like bitter medicine in her body?

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Kill La Hero: 01

In the lottery of Quirk’s Michi got on really special and annoying one. A living, sarcastic ribbon named Ares, who puts her into superpowered revealing outfits. But this won't stop the girl from fulfilling her dream of being a hero! Just watch her!

(But not too closely please!)

MHA MEETS KILL LA KILL!

!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

So I had this random idea while I finished watching Kill La Kill (I know it’s fucked up but also really funny and entertaining) that having a super suit like Senketsu would be an awesome and funny Quirk.

So Michi and Ares were born.

This is going to be IzukuXOC Pairing, so if you don’t like it, don’t read it!

Enjoy the ride!

Also made Michi outfits!

Chapter 1: The Girl with the Ribbon

Frowning at her reflection, the female fixed her red glasses.

At least the school uniform was black.

It didn’t look horrible on her with her salmon hair colour and her red, spooky (her cousin Lina’s words) eyes.

“You don’t get prettier, looking into your Vanity Mirror, Michi.”, sassed Ares, the bain of her existence from his place on her head.

She looked up at the sentient ribbon.

He looked down.

If his speaking without a mouth, didn’t make clear he wasn’t a normal ribbon, his looks sure would. He was dark maroon, then in the middle dark pink, followed up by red eyeballs, black scalder and yellow pupils.

“And I don’t need your stupid commentary!”, she reminds him. “Especial today.”

“Why because you are going to a new school? It’s not the first time, Whirlwind. You needed to move here so your Mama could care for your grandparents. It’s not that different when you moved school because you broke someone's nose.”, he really had the gall to say.

Huffing she pulled Ares a bit. The ribbon cried out in pain.

Yes, he could feel pain.

“We are in Japan, you idiot. I’m used to moving to our city in Italy, from school to school, but here I’m a foreigner.”

“I thought Michela, La Vendetta, doesn’t care what people think of her and if they want to tease her she just punches them in the face.”, reminds Ares.

With another huff, Michela grasped her new school bag and went to the kitchen.

Did she really though this piece of cloth would get it?

“Ares.”, she tried again to explain. “In two years I will be finished with Junior High and try to get into one of the big Hero Schools. I can’t risk any more notes in my school records. I want to go to U.A. since Herakles University in Greece is now out of the question. U.A. is the best hero school in all of Japan! Only the best get in. And I intend to be one of them. If I have to play the role of demure school girl I will.”

It was still for a few seconds between them before Ares pointed out: “You have pierced ears, wear large hoop earrings, for your last birthday your parents allowed you a tattoo and your red eyes are creepy. Only your glasses make you look soft. You don’t scream innocent school girl more like Fight-Me!”

Michela could just grit her teeth together.

He wasn’t wrong.

It’s her Italian temperament that always gets her into situations where fist flies.

She wished she had gotten a bit more of the calm nature of her Japanese mother, however besides the hair colour, she came totally after her Italian father.

People never believed her when she told them she was half-Japanese.

In secret, she didn’t believe it sometimes too.

Michela loved her mother and her mother loved her, sadly they weren’t always on the same page.

Her father understood her better.

“Good morning, Michi-Chan.”, greeted her Obaa-San from the kitchen table.

Her grandparents and her father sat already, while her mother was putting the last dishes on it.

She greeted her grandparents back in Japanese, then switched to Italian to greet her parents.

Jiji-San had hearing problems, so he asked what she had said, and she repeated it.

Then she sat down and had to sign.

A traditional Japanese breakfast.

Again.

Since they moved in with her grandparents mother only cooked Japanese, since the two elders were a bit old-fashioned in the food department.

Michela or Michi here in Japan found the red eyes of her father. She saw understanding in them.

They both craved some Brioche with crema.

Father and daughter signed together.

What one endured for the ones you love.

***

Her new school, Aldera Junior High, looked straight out of an anime.

Normally she would enjoy this, but Michi was a tiny bit nervous.

She couldn’t be anymore the tough, fist-fighting girl she loved, so who the heck was she now?

A strange foreigner with a weird ribbon, she heard her schoolmates whisper as she got into the school.

An angry mark formed on her head as she changed her street shoes to indoor shoes.

Just stay calm.

Don’t start swinging.

“You are a bunch of rude kids.”, told Ares a group of a few girls and boys, who were whispering beside her.

This made the little group jump in fright. They didn’t expect that the ribbon could talk.

What Quirk was that?!

The salmon-haired girl just reached up and petted Ares.

“Ares, I don’t care.”, she told him in Italian. “You don’t have to fight my fights.”

“We fight together did you forget?”

It made her smile. When he wanted Ares could be sweet.

Her head holding high Michi walked past the gossiping people, trying to find her classroom.

She found it thankful before the school clock sounded.

“Alright, class, settle down!”, told her new teacher, her new classmates.

He looked at the paper in his hand and turned to her, who was still standing by the door.

“Massaro Michela?”

“Michi is fine, Sensei.”

“Alright, come here Michi-San.”

So she stepped beside him as he shouted into the class.

“Class meet our new student. This is Massaro Michi. She moved from Italy here. Please welcome her with open arms.”

As her mother had explained to her, she bowed in greetings.

“Please take care of me!”

Again the whispers started. Not only her, but she could also feel Ares getting annoyed about that.

“Michi-San, I’m Watanabe-Sensei, if you have a question just turn to me. Now would you like to tell us a bit about yourself?”

Tell this judgemental little bitches something about her.

Oh, she would like to start swinging, however, she got a better idea.

In her thoughts, she thanked again her older cousin Stefano for introducing her to Anime and Manga.

She had the perfect way to introduce herself.

“I’m Massaro Michi. I have no intention of telling you my likes and dislikes. As for my dream…I have a few hobbies.”

The flabbergasted faces of her classmates and the cough-disguised laugh of Watanabe-Sensei were worth it, to not play the demure school girl.

What was she thinking?

She was a rebel through and through.

So she nodded to her Sensei and picked the only free sit in the classroom.

Michi had a feeling it would be a long day.

***

Bored Michi picked at her bento box, while Ares took a nap.

It was finally lunch break and how the girl needed a break!

Here in Japan, they were way beyond the curriculum she had in Italy! It didn’t help at all that she could already speak, write and read Japanese when they were so advanced!

Her mother had insisted on learning Japanese, in the past it had been a pain in the butt, however, Michi was now glad for it.

Maybe she should forget U.A. it was too much work.

“No I shouldn’t think this way.”, she scolded herself. “All I ever wanted was to be a hero. My Quirk is a pain in the butt, but if I don’t use it for good, I would feel so bad.”

Thankful Ares was sleeping or he would hit her for calling him a pain in the butt.

Slowly Michi picked up a piece of salmon with her chopsticks to place it in her mouth when she heard it.

Something hitting someone.

This someone letting out a little quiet hurt sound.

The salmon-haired girl turned around on the bench where she sat.

What she saw made her instantly angry.

There was a small, frail-looking boy with wild green hair that reminded her of broccoli, sitting all alone on a bench, like her and behind him some punks threw paper balls at him.

Oh no, not on her watch.

Like she was fury herself she stood up and raced up to the frail boy before another paper ball hit him on the head. She caught it and threw it right back in one of the bully's faces.

“Hey, you bitchass assholes take someone of your own size!”, she growled.

The bullies were taken aback by Michi's sudden outburst and stood up to confront her. 

But before they could say anything, Ares unfurled himself from Michi's hair and glared at them with his menacing red eyes. 

"You really shouldn't mess with my girl," he warned, his voice low and threatening.

The bullies hesitated for a moment before backing down and slinking away.

“Thanks Ares.”

Her ribbon shrunk to its normal size.

“Anytime, Michi.”

Then Michi turned to the green-haired boy who was staring at her in shock.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

He nodded slowly, still looking a bit dazed. "Th-thank you," he stammered.

"No problem. I can't stand bullies."

“Is...is he your Quirk?”, wonders the boy shy, pointing at Ares. “I...I never saw something like that, it...it’s cool!”

“Thanks, boy!”, preened Ares, puffing himself up. “I’m quite formidable.”

“A formidable pervert.”, deadpanned Michi.

Ares may give her powers beyond imagination, yet the outfit it came in...shudder!

Her ribbon huffed, while broccoli boy titled his head in confusion.

Gosh, he was adorable.

“It’s whatever.”, waved Michi and sat down beside him. He suddenly turned so red, that he was giving competition to tomatoes. “I didn’t introduce myself I’m Massaro Michela but call me Michi, Class 1B. The ribbon on my head is Ares, he is part of my Quirk.”

It took him a while, however, the boy managed to answer her: “I’m...I’m...M-Midoriya Izuku. Class 1A.”

Strange that he didn’t tell his Quirk, but it was none of her business. 

Maybe it was an embarrassing one.

She knows this kind of Quirk well.

“Sucks, that we aren’t in the same class. I would love to know already someone nice there, but we can still be friends.”

Midoriya nearly falls over the bench. Did he hear right?!

“You...You want to be my friend?”

Michi shrugged her shoulders.

“You seem way nicer than anyone I meet today. All think me a freak for Ares and because I’m from Italy. In my eyes, you are a good friend materiel.”

Midoriya couldn't believe his luck. He had been dreading lunchtime, knowing he would have to sit alone again, but now he had made a friend.

And not just any friend, but someone who was brave enough to stand up to bullies and had a cool Quirk to boot.

He felt like he had hit the jackpot.

"I'd like that," he said, smiling shyly at Michi. "I don't have many friends either."

They spent the rest of lunch chatting about this and that.

Midoriya, who became fast Izuku, was curious about Italy and the Italian Superheroes she liked.

So told him all about the amazing Seraphina, who had an Angel-Quirk.

She noted that Izuku wanted to get something out of his backpack and Ares and she encouraged him to just get it out.

It turned out Izuku had such a passion for heroes that he wrote about them in notebooks, all he could find out about them.

Michi and Ares were impressed and Izuku nearly cried that someone (A girl nonetheless! And a nice entity) didn’t mocked him for his hero studies.

On the contrary, they helped him add some things too and described Seraphina in their best quality.

Then they talked about the Japanese Heroes and both found out that they liked All Might a lot. Mirko was Michi’s favourite Japanese Hero, but she owned some All Might Merch as well.

Izuku felt in heaven (Michi was turning into a goddess in his eyes) and Michi felt herself relaxing for the first time since arriving in Japan.

Maybe this new school wouldn't be so bad after all.

They continued to chat throughout the rest of lunch and even walked back to class together.

As it was time to part Michi asked for Izuku's phone number, which he repeated stuttering and sweating, such a cutie, and she gave hers.

How Izuku acted getting her phone number felt like she had given him the Holy Grail or something.

Yes, he was indeed a cutie.

With a hair ruffle, she left her new friend.

Never seeing how he happily freaked out that a girl touched him!

This was the start of a beautiful friendship, no question.

25.05.24: I decide to delete the second chapter and start new with this FF.

I hope you all like the new cover art too. :D

Next

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

So I made a pic of the passenger who entered Yua's mind and the rest of the Mochizuki family.

And as little treat how Yua looks in Inosuke’s dream.

I found a Beta-Reader the wonderful JayWalkerReal from Wattpad.

So it can happened that the chapter don’t come all two to three days but a bit later, till she corrects anything-

Hope you understand!

Now on with the Story.

Chapter 14: Beautiful Nightmares

Our four Demon Slayers enter the inside of the train.

Fascinate Yua looks around, as she had said she never had taken a train, so it was an amazing experience.

Inosuke thought the same and showing no manners like always, stormed between seat rows, scarring passengers, so he could look out the window.

“So fast! Hahahaha!”, laughed the wild boy in amazement.

“Sorry! We’re very sorry!”, said Zenitsu to the passengers and grasped Inosuke. “Forget that! Get over here, idiot!”

“So freakin’ fast! Hahahaha!”

“Boarhead, calm down. I know it’s cool, but show some manners!”, hissed Yua, as Zenitsu pulled Inosuke away from the window.

The quartet makes their way towards Rengoku.

“He’s a Hashira, right? This Rengoku person…”, ask Zenitsu Tanjiro. “Are you sure you’ll recognize his face?”

“Sure. He had this gaudy hairstyle, and I remember his scent, too.”

“That’s good to know, Tanjiro. My Aura-Sensing is useless if I don’t know what I’m looking for.”, tells Yua. “But in the next wagon is someone with a fiery Aura.”

“That could be him. I think I’ll know it’s him once we get close.”

Tanjiro prepares to open the door to the next train car. He only can open it to a slit, when all of sudden a loud shout of Delicious rattles even the windows!

This quiet shocks the four Demon Slayers.

Who has so much power in their lungs?!

They enter the train car, hearing someone shout Delicious over and over again. Yua feels a warm and fiery Aura coming from this person.

They stand now behind a young male with blond hair and red strikes in it, eating Bento’s to his heart contentment.

“Delicious!!”, again he shouts and it looks like all the Bento Boxes fly into the air!

Yua was disbelieving, (was that the Hashira?!), as was Tanjiro, while Zenitsu hides behind them and Inosuke looks curious.

“Is that the Flame Hashira guy?”, whisper-shouts Zenitsu. “Not just some random glutton?”

“The aura is in any case fiery and warm like a flame.”, answers Yua, watching in bizarre fascination how the Flame Hashira eat and shouts with any bite Delicious.

He is like a shouty black hole. She never met someone who could eat that fast and with enthusiasm.

Tanjiro tells them that this is the Flame Hashira they searched for. He tries to talk to Rengoku, but he just eats and shouts to his heart contentment.

“Uh, we really get that part already…”

“The people in Kyoto get this part, what a shout...”, mumbles Yua with crossed arms.

Two nice attendants prepare to discard a tall stack of Rengoku’s empty bento boxes, as the overhead light flickers.

“And you’re the kid from that day at the Master’s.”, say’s He finally something different and stopped eating.

Yua wasn’t sure he could.

“Yes. I’m Kamado Tanjiro.”, answers her boyfriend. ”And they are my fellow Demon Slayers, Mochizuki Yua, Agatsuma Zenitsu and Hashibira Inosuke .”

Zenitsu and Yua bow in greeting, while Inosuke just puts his hand on his hips and lets out a loud huff from his mask.

“It’s an honour to meet you, Rengoku-Sama.”, greets Yua. “Kocho-Sama only had good things to say about you.”

That her fellow Hashira was a shouty glutton she had left out.

“Now none of that young Mochizuki, we are all comrades here. Rengoku is fine.”

In agreement, Yua nods.

Then Rengoku turns back to Tanjiro.

“And inside that box there…”

“Yes. It’s my sister Nezuko.”

“Right! That demon we saw that day, huh? Since the Master has acknowledged her, I won’t say any word for now.”

The Flame Hashira pats the seat beside him.

“Have a seat here.”

So they all settle down.

Tanjiro beside Rengoku, Yua with Nezoko’s Box in the seat in front of them and Inosuke and Zenitsu settle for a seat nearby.

The wild boy is so amazed by the train that he pounds the windows, shouting how fast the lord is. Thankful Zenitsu grasps him and makes him sit down again.

“What are you four doing here? A mission?”, ask Rengoku Tanjiro and Yua, while facing forward with crossed arms.

Yua raises an eyebrow. Why isn’t the Hashira facing her or Tanjiro?

Anyway, she answers him. “My crow Kaguya gave us orders. “The casualties of the Mugen Train are increasing. Join Rengoku on site,” she said. And here we are.”

“Yes! I see now! Understood!”

He still wasn’t looking at them.

“Right.”, says Tanjiro. “Also, there’s one more thing. There’s something I wanted to ask you, Rengoku.”

In bizarre fascination, Yua watches how Tanjiro tries to get more information on the Hinokami Kagura Dance from Rengoku. They both take turns in talking so it’s like she is watching a Tennis Match.

In the end, the FLame Hashira has no idea about the Hinokami Kagura Dance.

What a bummer.

“Um, can you try to help me a little more?!”, begs him Tanjiro.

“Why aren’t you looking him in the eyes?!”, adds Yua curious. “My Kaa-Chan always said that’s super rude.”

“You should become my Tsugukos, my apprentices! I’ll look after you both!”

“Hold on a second! And just what are you looking at?!”, shouts the couple together in disbelieve.

What was going on?!

“Flame Breathing has a long history.”, begin Rengoku with a little history lesson. “In any given era, there’s always been a Flame and Water swordsman among the Hashira. Flame… Water… Wind… Stone… Thunder…Moon...Those are the fundamental breathing techniques, even if we only had one Moon Hashira till now. The other techniques were created as offshoots of those six. Mist is a fork of wind. Young Mizoguchi and Young Mochizuki! What color are your katana’s?”

“Huh?! My name is Kamado. And the colour is black.”

“Mine is white.”

“Ah, white, the Mist Hashira Katana is white too and Noritaka’s also. He is your uncle, right Young Mochizuki?”

“Erm, yes.”

“That means you have a calm and distant personality, fitting for someone who practices Moon-Breathing.”

“Erm, thank you?”

The midnight blue-haired girl wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“A black sword, huh?”, Rengoku turned to Tanjiro. “Well, isn’t that unfortunate? Hahahaha!”

“For real?”, asked Tanjiro in disbelief.

“I’ve never known a swordsman with a black sword that became a Hashira. On top of that, I hear that they have no clue which style to master. Come to me, and I’ll train you! You can rest easy now! You also Mochizuki, you will be the second Moon Hashira we have in the corps.”

“No… No, thank you! And just what are you looking at?!”, chorus Tanjiro and Yua.

Silence falls over them and Yua takes the chance to do a good Aura-Sensing of the Flame Hashira.

Yes, indeed, like she had noted before fiery and warm. Also caring and just. He really cared for her and Tanjiro and wanted to help them.

Yua decides, that Rengoku might be a bit weird, but his Aura shows clearly a good heart and soul.

Meanwhile, Inosuke tries to jump out the window to try to race the train (Idiot!) and Zenitsu tries his best to not let him jump out.

“That’s dangerous.”, warns Rengoku. “You never know when a demon might appear.”

And that was the thing Zenitsu didn’t want to hear. He thought they were travelling to the demon and not that the demon was in the train as Rengoku explains.

Of course, the blond freaks out and wants to get off.

“If you wanna jump out a driving train be my guest.”, deadpanned Yua with crossed arms. “But I don’t think you would survive it Agatsuma.”

The scarred boy only shakes and whines more in fright.

Tanjiro sends his girlfriend a look and she shrugs her shoulders.

She was just telling the truth.

Yes, but you could say it nicer, it’s clearly written in Tanjiro's face.

A train crewman enters the train car and begins walking along the aisle

“May I… see your… tickets, please?”

“What’s he doing?”, wonders Tanjiro

“The conductor is going to check your ticket and punch a hole in it.”, explains Rengoku.

The conductor punched a hole in each ticket of the Hashira and the four Demon Slayers.

When he is done with Yua, the light flickers again.

Suddenly Yua feels how her Aura-Sensing goes crazy, but before she can check what caused this all turn dark around her...

***

She is underwater.

She is drowning.

Deeper and deeper.

There was something.

Something important!

Yua tries to swim, but her arms haven’t the strength.

She sinks deeper...

***

Yua is leaning on the Nezuko box. Tanjiro leans on Rengoku and Inosuke is drapped over Zenitsu.

All of them are sleeping.

None of them knows in which danger they are now.

***

Something is tickling Yua's nose.

With a little sneeze, she wakes up and looks around.

Huh?

The sun is shining warm down on her as she lays in her family garden.

“Strange...”, she mumbles. “Wasn’t it night? Wasn’t I somewhere else?”

Confused she scratches her head. There she notes how utterly long her hair is, even her bangs now reach her hips?!

What the...?

Why did she let her hair grow this much?

It will be a huge hassle in a fight with a Demon.

“Blossom.”, calls a sweet voice for her.

Immediately tears spring into her eyes and she stands up.

No.

It can’t be.

She hadn’t heard this beloved voice since she was 14 years old.

But...but there she is.

Wavy light pink hair.

Big red eyes.

A soft lovely smile on her hips.

Wearing her favourite cherry blossom Kimono.

In her hands a little tablet with a cup of tea probably.

It’s her mother!

But mother...but mother...wasn’t she...?!

“Blossom?”, calls again Kaa-Chan worried. “Is something wrong?”

With a shout, that resembles more of a wounded animal, Yua races up to her mother and hugs her tight. The tablet with the tea fell down on the ground.

“Mama! Mama! You are here!”, cries Yua, gripping her mother so tight, scarred she would leave her. Her tears wet the kimono of her mother.

“My sweet blossom, where else would I be?”, coos Mama, hugging her back and kissing her forehead. “Did you have a bad dream?”

“Yes this must be it.”, agrees Yua, still hugging and getting hugged by her mother. “Just a long bad dream...”

***

In the real world on the Mugen Train, Yua sheds tears.

She isn’t the only one.

Tanjiro dreams of his dead family and cries about being reunited with them.

Rengoku dreams of his family, especially his beloved brother.

Zenitsu dreams of his beloved Nezuko.

Inosuke has a wild adventure with a bunny Nezuko, a deer Yua, a raccoon dog Tanjiro and a rat Zenitsu.

They don’t know and feel the five people who bind themselves to each of them with a robe so they can enter their dreams.

And kill them from within!

***

All is so perfect, Yua can’t believe it.

Grandma Junko is fine! She didn’t die when she was a little girl and is now clan head.

It was her grandfather who had died.

Good riddance.

Under Grandma Junko's lead, the Mochizuki have abandoned the Demon Slayer Corps forever and are now just a big happy family.

Everyone living their dream job.

Aunt Chiyako has opened up a dress shop in the nearest city, selling beautiful Kimono.

Uncle Hansuke helps out his wife in the shop and works as a merchant.

Cousin Taiga, the oldest, who Yua had thought die, facing a Demon, is working as a wood carver. He always liked to make them little figures out of wood, she is happy her older cousin could make out of his passion a job he liked.

Cousin Daku goes to school and it seems like he will go to the university in Tokyo! Studying Physic he likes so much.

Cousin Kaito is enjoying for now kindergarten, but he likes to build houses with his wood blocks. Maybe he will be an architect?@

Her father Haruto has opened up a bookshop, sharing his passion for books with everyone.

Her mother and she help him out with it.

Yua isn’t sure if she wants to continue her father's work, but she enjoys the tranquillity of the job.

Uncle Keitaro became a fisherman, turning his hobby into his job. He isn’t often at home, but he lives his dream.

His wife Aunt Miwa decided to stay home and raise the kids.

Sayako, her beloved pain in the butt of a cousin, has an apprenticeship with the local pharmacy and is on the best way to take it over.

Hikari enjoys also kindergarten. The youngest is still too little to have a future job in mind besides becoming a princess.

And then...there is Uncle Noritaka.

Yua grins at her favourite uncle as he cleans his face from the theatre makeup from his last show.

His uncle always wanted to be an actor.

And he was it now.

“Peach, you seem so happy, it gives me the creeps.”, jokes Noritaka, ruffling her long hair.

“I’m just so happy...we all are free from the curse of the Moon Breathing. It’s amazing!”, she chirps and hugs her uncle.

“Yeah, maybe we are egoists, but our family has done enough for the Demon Slayer Corps. They can do just fine without the cursed Moon-Breathing.”, he agrees and hugs her back.

“My bitch.”, calls Sayako for her. Her cousin enters Uncle Noritaka's bedroom with a shit-eating grin. “Your little coal lover boy is here.”

For a second Yua doesn’t get what Sayako means-

***

She opens her eyes.

She is underwater again.

Something is wrong!

Something is wrong!

She needs to get out of the water!

It only drags her down more...

***

-Till she remembers again.

Oh right, her love Tanjiro.

Tanjiro and his family moved two years ago and started to sell coal around the city and to them.

They had become friends and now after years of pinning a couple.

“Thanks, you slut!”, she gives Sayako a kiss and runs out of the house.

There is Tanjiro waiting for her with Nezuko on his side, enjoying the warm sun.

...Something is not right.

Something tells her Nezuko shouldn’t be out of the sun.

Then her future sister-in-law smiles at her and she forgets the thought.

“Yua-Nee, nice seeing you.”

Both girls hug each other before Yua kisses Tanjiro's cheek and the couple embrace.

“Hello, love.”

“Hello, darling.”

“Okay, I will let you be happy for half an hour and then we need to get going alright, Nii-San.”

“Thanks, Nezuko.”, the couple chores and doesn’t even look how the other Kamado enters the Mochizuki Mansion.

They both are more invested in each other.

Their lips met a tender and passionate kiss.

***

Yume herself wouldn’t say she is bad.

Yes her actions are bad.

However, she isn’t bad.

Born from a prostitute mother, who stayed pregnant with her, a child with natural blond hair, she hadn’t had an easy life.

Her mother was abusive.

She saw in her the foreigner she had made Yuma with.

The foreigner who had promised her to take her away to the far land of England to marry and raise their child together.

All men were the same.

Only promise and nothing following up.

Yume had experienced the same.

Thanks to her exotic looks the boys swarmed her.

And she listened to their promises.

Opened her legs.

She had her first child at 13.

Thankful it was a stillbirth.

Or her mother would have killed her to bring another mouth to feed at home.

Then she ran away because she couldn’t take any more of the hate of her mother and did the same job as her.

Used, used and used.

The blond was only a thing to play for people.

Then a client gave her Syphilis.

And her life would have been over, hadn’t she heard about the Mugen Train.

She didn’t have the money for the cure, so dying in a beautiful dream sounded way better.

That’s why she helped the demon.

The blond-haired woman watched emotionless behind a tree how the female Demon Slayer dreamed about being together with the red-haired Demon Slayer.

All been cutesy and coupley together.

Something she never had the luck to experience.

It disgusted her.

Silently she turned around and searched for the border of the dream and the subconscious. She found it at the edge of the little Wisteria Forest.

With an ice pick, she destroyed the border and entered the subconscious.

In it, all air left her lungs.

What kind of subconscious was that?

The floor was silver with graters, and over her a bright night sky with a million stars, the sun shining warm down on her.

Yuma walked around.

Where was the spiritual core? Only if she destroyed it, the demon slayer girl would die and she would get her dream from the demon.

This landscape was so alien, yet so incredibly beautiful.

“I’m...on the moon?”, asked Yume herself.

It made sense somehow.

She seemed to walk for ages.

A never-ending silver landscape, only the sun taking vigil over her.

Then she found it finally.

The spiritual core.

It was all silver and white, reminding her of a pearl.

“Beautiful.”, she gasped. “A shame I have to destroy it.”

She raises the Ice Pick ready to stab it!-

***

Yua is floating down in the water, till all of sudden her Aura Sensing goes crazy.

She opens her eyes and screams!

The water vanishes.

***

The intruder in Yua's subconscious never gets to change to stab the spiritual core, since the floor breaks under her and she falls screaming into the darkness.

***

With a jerk, Yua wakes up.

Huffing she blinks frantically with her eyes.

She is back on the Mugen Train.

What the heck had this all been?

“Yua!”

“Mmh!”

The girl looks up and sees Tanjiro and Nezuko awake. Rengoku is in the background, still sleeping, choking some random girl, while Zenitsu and Inosuke sleep too.

“Tanjiro! Nezuko!”

She rises from her seat and hugs her boyfriend and her future sister-in-law. They hug her back just as tight.

“What is going on?”, ask Yua them.

Her boyfriend explains how they got pulled into a Blood Demon Art thanks to the train tickets. Then the people who hang them with robes have also a demon smell on them. They surely were sent into their dreams to harm them in a way.

Nezuko burns Yua's robes and then after Tanjiro asks her she burns the others because Yua notes that it would surely be a bad idea to just cut the robes.

They had a very strange aura around them.

So the two awake Demon Slayers try to wake up their sleeping comrades.

Tanjiro tries to shake Zenitsu awake, while Yua just slaps Inosuke. Hard.

“Okay, not even my bitch-slap helps.”, notes Yua dry.

What should they do?

What could they do? 

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Maiden of the Moon

What if Kokushibo had a pupil, whom he taught the original Moon Breathing before he deserted the Demon Slayer Corps?

Mochizuki Yua was born only for these reasons: To become a Hashira and make her family a respected one in the Demon Slayer Corps.

But if you only live for the expectations of others, who are YOU truly?

What will it take to find yourself?

A long, hard journey awaits.

I made some Yua family members, as we will see in this chapter with a Rinmaru Medieval Avatar.

Please take a look on my DeviantArt

Chapter 11: Home of the Moon

After being sent off in the early morning by their friends Yua and Tanjiro with Nezuko in her box made the journey to the Moon Mansion, the home of Yua family, the Mochizuki.

They were making a good tiSlayersey even met a nice man with his carriage and he drove them in the direction of the Mochizuki Estate.

The two Demon Slayers passed their time with talking and singing. They couldn’t slack off in Tanjiro’s Total Concentration Training, now could they?

Yua quite enjoyed the journey to her home with company. This was the first time she brought a friend over.

She felt a bit like a normal 17-year-old. It was a nice feeling.

“Your family will be okay with Nezuko?”, asked her Tanjiro right now.

His worry wasn’t without reason.

They would enter a home full of Demon Slayers.

Tanjiro knew how hostile the Hashira’s had reacted to Nezuko before Oyakata-Sama told them that he recognised Nezuko as Demon Slayer so she wasn’t to be killed.

Entering a home full of people who could kill his sister in one instant, made him nervous.

“Don’t worry, I wrote about your situation to my father.”, reassured Yua with a small smile. “He promised my family wouldn’t go against Oyakata-Sama orders. Nezuko is safe. Also, I would help you protect her from them if they attacked her.”

The boy stared at her in disbelief.

“You really would go against your own family for me and Nezuko?”

As an answer, Yua reached out and petted his shoulder.

“I love Nezuko like she is my own sister and I’m fond of you too. For me, you guys are family too.”

Her confession made Tanjiro feel all tingle and happy. He felt the blush rising in his cheeks, how his heart beat faster and the butterflies in his stomach flying wildly.

His crush on Yua just got bigger.

Shyly he squeezed the hand on his shoulder.

“You are for us family too.”, he told her.

For a second he imaged Yua as his bride, didn’t need to know nobody or how it filled his heart with happiness.

Yua gave him a thankful smile. She was also happy that the Kamado siblings loved her as a sibling. She would ignore this vision of herself as a bride with Tanjiro as her groom on her side.

Nope, not thinking about it all or what it meant.

Soon they entered a little forest of Wisteria trees.

It reminded Tanjiro of the forest on Mount Fujikasane where Final Selection was held. Just as pretty and mysterious.

They passed under a Torii with a half moon on it, following the way up a little hill.

After a few minutes, Tanjiro could see an old, traditional house which had also a half moon and the Kanji for Mochizuki over the entrance door. Around it grow beautiful flowers of any kind. You could tell that the garden was tended with love.

Before the house stood a tall man. He was wearing the Demons Slayer uniform with a green Haori with swirls on it. The man had long midnight blue hair in a ponytail and grey eyes.

That must be Yua’s father.

They looked alike.

“Otou-San!”, called Yua and raced up to her father.

He smiled happily and twirled his daughter around as they hugged each other tight.

Tanjiro was touched by the loving scene and had to fight his tears. This made him miss his father.

“Oh moon bunny, it’s so good to see you. Did you grow a bit?”, asked Yua's father, petting her head.

“I don’t know, maybe.”, answered Yua, then turned to Tanjiro and waved him over. “Otou-San this is my friend I told you about. Kamado Tanjiro, following swordsman of the corps and in the box is his little sister Nezuko. Tanjiro this is my father Mochizuki Haruto.”

Tanjiro bowed before the man.

“It’s an honour to meet you Mochizuki-San.”

“Ah, young Tanjiro it’s okay to call me Haruto. I’m happy that Yua found some friends. Any friend of hers is welcome here.”

“Alright, Haruto-San.”

Then Haruto got all sober as he told his daughter: “Your grandfather is expecting you in the Tea Room, moon bunny.”

Of course, Yua got scarred. She had stayed away from home for months and was only raised to Kinoto.

Her Grandfather would give it to her.

“Yua, are you okay-”

“It’s alright Tanjiro.”, she interrupted him. “Just go with my father, I’m sure one of my aunts is currently making lunch.”

With that, she stepped into the house and made haste to the Tea Room.

“I’m back, Grandfather.”, she announced as she entered the Tea Room.

Like she was taught she made a deep bow, waiting till her grandfather gave her permission to raise and sit before him.

It was eerie quiet.

Yua felt the sweat dripping down from her forehead.

Thanks to her Aura-Sensing she knew her Grandfather was not happy.

He was pissed off.

What hurtful words would he hurl at her?

“Ah, the lost daughter has returned.”, he spat, not even letting her rise from her bow. “You stayed away a long time from home.”

“I’m sorry, Grandfather.”

“Did I give you the permission to speak, girl?!”, he growled.

The girl started to shake in fright, she felt all clammy and like throwing up. She never had seen her grandfather like that.

She knew she had to tread carefully, but she couldn't help but ask, "May I know what I have done wrong, Grandfather?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Mochizuki Makoto let out a deep sigh and finally gestured for her to rise and take a seat. She did so hesitantly, trying not to make any sudden movements.

"You dare to stay away from home for months," he said sternly. "Then you have the gall to send a letter asking about the Hinokami Kagura Dance, not even telling us what Rank you are now."

Yua felt a pang of guilt in her chest.

He was right -when she was healing from her wounds, she actively avoided sending letters home. She was scared of telling her she was only a Kinoto now and what would happen as punishment. Then when she finally wrote them, again she didn’t tell her Rank because of this fear and asked for something.

"I apologize, Grandfather," she said sincerely with a deep bow, her forehead touching the Tatami mats. "I was in the wrong, I will do better."

He nodded slowly, still eyeing her critically.

"You better," he warned. "The future of our family depends on it. Now your Rank."

The midnight blue-haired girl stayed in her position, not daring to raise. Maybe if she stayed demure, her Grandfather wouldn’t verbally hit her.

Yeah, right.

She was just scarred looking into his cold grey eyes and saying hatred in them.

“Kinoto.”

It was still for a long time, Yua started to feel pain in her body because she had stayed in the bow so long, till her grandfather shouted: “Kinoto! KINOTO?! You dare to show your stupid face into this house after months, daring to ask about the Hinokami Kagura Dance and you are only a Kinoto?! You are a disappointment! A waste of space! Oh, why are you the only one who can use Moon-Breathing? Why have the gods punished me with a talentless granddaughter like you? You are not worth it to be a Moon Breathing User!”

Yua felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

She knew her grandfather was harsh, however, this was a new kind of harshness.

"I understand, Grandfather," she said softly, still not daring to look up at him. "I will work harder and strive to become better."

Mochizuki Makoto let out a snort of disgust.

"You better," he said coldly. "Because if you don't, you will bring shame upon our family."

She nodded silently, feeling the weight of his words on her shoulders. She knew she had a lot of work to do if she wanted to prove herself worthy of being a Moon Breathing User.

But no matter how hard it would be, she was determined to make her grandfather proud and show him that she was not a waste of space after all.

What else was there in life for her?

She was born to become a Hashira and make her family a respected Demon Slayer in the Corps.

This was her only right to existence.

Suddenly both inhabits of the Tea Room nearly jumped into the air as the door opened.

“I’m sorry to disturb you!”, it was Tanjiro.

In disbelief, Yua turned to him.

Tanjiro fixed her Grandfather with such an angry look, that Yua wasn’t even sure if this was really the Tanjiro she knew.

This was a completely new side of him.

“Who are you boy?”, hissed her Grandfather angrily. “You dare to disturb me and my granddaughter talking.”

“With all due respect sir, you didn’t talk to your granddaughter you insulted her! And I will not stand around hearing you insult Yua. Yua is my friend and one of the strongest people I know! You are in the wrong about her!”

Makoto narrowed his eyes at Tanjiro, clearly not pleased with the interruption. Yua watched in shock as her friend stood up to her grandfather, defending her honour. She had never seen anyone do that before!

"How dare you speak to me like that," her grandfather growled. "You are just a mere Demon Slayer. Probably not higher than Kanoe."

Tanjiro didn't back down, his expression was unwavering. "I may be a lesser Rank, but I know a good person when I see one. And Yua is one of the best."

The room fell silent as the two men stared each other down. Yua held her breath, unsure of what would happen next.

Then her grandfather gasped and pointed at Tanjiro Hanafuda-Earings.

“You have the earrings?! Of course, this red hair, red eyes and the scar on your forehead...you are a Sun Breathing User.”

Both teenagers were more than confused.

“That’s why you asked about the Hinokami Kagura Dance.”, mumbled Grandfather rubbing his chin. “Now it makes sense.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, sir, but apologize to your granddaughter.”, growled Tanjiro angry, his red eyes ablaze like the sun. “She doesn’t deserve your harsh and unnecessary words.”

This only made Makoto laugh nasty.

“You may be a chosen one of the Sun, but you have no authority here, boy. This is the realm of the Moon and I’m the clanhead. I can do as I wish.”

To show Tanjiro he meant it, Makoto suddenly grasped Yua by one of her hair buns. The 17-year-old shouted in pain, tears streaming down her face.

Tanjiro could only stare in shock. He never saw how the family treated each other this way.

“She is merely an extension of my will.”, told Makoto. “She was only born to be a Hashira. She doesn’t have any other reason for existing: I can do with my Granddaughter as I wish!”

Things happened fast then.

From one moment to another, Yua felt like her grandfather would rip her hair out, then suddenly his hand got slack and a terrible crunch was heard.

Tanjiro had headbutted her grandfather.

Yua's mouth met the floor, while her Grandfather was knocked down by Tanjiro's headbutt.

The room fell into stunned silence as Yua's grandfather lay on the ground, clutching his nose. Tanjiro stood over him, his fists clenched at his sides. Yua couldn't believe what had just happened. She had never seen anyone stand up to her grandfather like that before.

"You can't treat people like that," Tanjiro growled, glaring down at the older man. "Especially not your own family."

Makoto looked up at him, his eyes filled with anger and disbelief.

"You dare to strike me?" he spat out, wiping blood from his nose.

"You deserved it," Tanjiro said firmly. "No one deserves to be treated like that. You are a bitter old man who bullies his own family to his enjoyment because he couldn’t become a Hashira. You should feel ashamed of yourself. Instead of seeing what great progress Yua made, you are obsessed with her becoming a Hashira. Even dirt is better than you! I met demons who showed more humanity than you...you piece of shit!"

With that, Tanjiro helped Yua to her feet.

Yua felt a rush of gratitude towards her friend. She had been so scared and alone at that moment, but Tanjiro had come to her rescue without a second thought. She knew she could always count on him to have her back.

As they left the Tea Room together, Yua felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew there would be consequences for what had happened today, but she didn't care anymore. For the first time in a long time, she felt free - free from the weight of her grandfather's expectations and free from the fear that had held her back for so long. With Tanjiro by her side, she knew she could face anything that came her way and come out stronger for it in the end.

Maybe that’s why she did what she did next.

No one has ever defeated her honour quite like that.

She must show him her thanks.

Softly she called out Tanjiro's name, he turned to her, opening his mouth, probably to ask her if she was okay, however, Yua leaned down, wrapping her arms around his neck and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

Tanjiro was shocked by Yua's sudden gesture, but he didn't pull away.

Instead, he wrapped his arms around her curvy waist and deepened the kiss.

Yua felt a warmth spread through her body as she kissed him, grateful for his unwavering support and protection.

As they finally broke apart, Yua looked down at Tanjiro with tears in her eyes, both of them breathing heavily.

It was madness that she had done it, love had no place in her life, but...how could she not love Tanjiro after he faced her, her biggest fear?

Maybe she could love him and be a Demon Slayer.

She only knew she always wanted to be on his side.

This was the only sure thing in her life.

Softly she smiled and Tanjiro returned her smile and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Yua nodded, feeling a surge of love for him in her heart. "I'm more than okay," she whispered back, leaning in for another kiss.

This time she slipped her tongue in his mouth.

They continued to kiss passionately, lost in their own world.

Yua couldn't believe how natural it felt to be with Tanjiro like they were meant to be together.

Like two pieces of a puzzle.

Like Yin and Yang.

Like the Sun and Moon!

As they finally pulled away from each other, Tanjiro looked up at Yua with a deep sense of love and admiration.

"I don't know what the future holds for us," he said softly, "but I do know that I want to spend it with you."

Yua's heart swelled with happiness as she heard these words.

"Me too, Tanjiro," she whispered softly. "Thank you. For everything."

Tanjiro smiled up at her, his eyes filled with affection and admiration.

"I'll always be here for you," he promised.

And with those words, Yua knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead of them, they would face them together - as equals and as lovers.

“Wow, that was some hot, sappy shit.”, called a female voice, which Yua know really well, while Tanjiro nearly jumped to the roof.

It was Sayako, Yua's younger black-haired cousin with pretty green eyes.

Deadpanning Yua looked over Tanjiro's head to her younger cousin.

“Hello you pain in my butt, you have splendid timing as always.”

While Tanjiro resembled a tomato, Sayako giggled with a shit-eating grin.

“I’m a lesbian, but even I got hot seeing you both making out with each other. Leave something for tonight.”

“You are so weird, Yako, also don’t you mean wedding night?”

“Oh please, you gonna deflower the little redhead the first chance you get YuYu.”

“Charming.”

What did Sayako think, that she had no self-control? Tanjiro was still two years younger than her, she wouldn’t overwhelm him with that!

Poor Tanjiro resembled a teakettle with the sounds he made and how red in the face he was.

Kissing his temple, Yua took his hand to calm him down.

“Ignore my stupid cousin, Tanjiro, Sayako likes to rile people up.”

“I’m here, you know.”

“Sadly.”

Huffing Sayako walked up to them and made a little bow.

“Whatever, it’s nice meeting you Tanjiro-Kun. I’m as Yua said Sayako, her cousin, 15 years old and Kakushi of the corps.”

Seems like Tanjiro calmed down enough to greet Sayako back with a bow and a smile.

“Ah you are a cutie.”, cooed Sayako, petting his head. “Take good care of my cousin, please?”

“I will, I promise!”, he shouted.

“Also did you break our shit grandpa's nose or something, everyone heard a loud crunch?”

“He did.”, confirmed Yua proud of her love. “Grandfather is licking his wounds, I don’t think he will come out of the Tea Room.”

“Then we will have a nice lunch. Come you two, food is ready.”

So they followed Sayako to the dining room where the rest of the Mochizuki was already waiting in excitement.

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

So Tanjiro and Yua kissed and are kind of together, aww.

Wouldn’t it be terrible if all would go to shit after they leave the Mochizuki? *whistles innocent*

But what I’m saying, all is good. ;D

Nothing is True

… Everything is permitted.

What is real?

What is not?

Is she just turning crazy or are other powers at work?

One thing is clear Kohana will get to the bottom of this and maybe change the whole Ninja-World at the same time.

S.I. Third Shinobi World War 

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!

Since Obito’s Grandma doesn’t have an official name I gave her own. ^^

I hope you like it. :D

Chapter 8: New Discoveries

The next day, before it was time to meet with her team, Kohana walked into the Uchiha District.

Where else could she find information about Uchiha Madara and hopefully his lover, her ancestor, Haruno Sakuya?

Soon she reached Obito's house and knocked on the door.

Her teammate opened it after a few seconds.

“Yes, hello?”, he yawned cutely, still sleepy and in his sleepwear.

Konoha wished to have a camera to immortalize this moment.

Obito was adorable!

But she was here on business.

“Morning Obito-Kun, shouldn’t you get ready to meet up with our team?”, she couldn’t help but tease.

It was like lighting struck him, waking the Uchiha full up.

“Huah! Konoha-Chan?! Aww, don’t tell me you really will pick me up till I get my tardiness under control.”, he whined.

Gosh, he was so cute.

The urge to kiss his cheeks was strong in Konoha.

Why was her crush such a cutie?

So unfair!

“I’m also here for that.”, she told him and hid a giggle as he groaned. “But I need your help with something.”

“Huh? What is it, Konoha-Chan.”

She took a deep breath.

What she was going to ask could get Obito in trouble and that’s the last that she wanted.

Needless she said: “Uchiha Madara. I learned recently that my ancestor Haruno Sakuya was his lover did you know this?”

Obito's eyes widened at the mention of Uchiha Madara and Haruno Sakuya.

So he knows something!

That was surprising.

He quickly composed himself and replied, "Yes, I've heard about it. But it's not something we talk about openly in the district. It’s all hush-hush...Uchiha’s don’t normally date or marry outside the clan. But..."

The boy waved her over. Konoha stepped closer so that he could whisper in her ear.

She ignored the warm shower over her body as his hot breath stroked her skin.

“But...My Grandma told me that Sakuya was a special case. She was a welcomed guest in our clan since she was a Miko devoted to Amaterasu, our patron goddess. So as she and Uchiha Madara courted, the clan was okay with it. Even the Elders and they were always a pain in the ass.”

Huh, that was interesting.

“Sorry, but wasn’t Madara the Clan Head? Couldn’t he marry whoever he wanted?”, wondered Konoha.

The Uchiha shook his head.

“If you want to bring an outsider into the clan you need the permission of the Elders. Whatever just a normal shinobi or the clanhead.”

Double huh.

“Konoha-Chan do you wanna come in? Grandma knows more about this stuff than I do. She met Sakuya when she was a little girl.”

Well, if Obito's grandma personally knew her ancestor, who was she to say no?

Konoha thanked Obito for inviting her in and followed him into the kitchen.

His grandma, Uchiha Keika, was sitting on the kitchen table drinking a cup of tea.

“Obito-Chan who was it on the door?”, asked the elderly lady.

“Gran you remember my friend Konoha?”, said Obito putting a hand on Konoha’s shoulder. “She wants to ask you something.”

The Haruno bowed down.

“I hope I don’t disturb.”

That’s when Keika looked at her and blinked owlish.

“Incredible...you look exactly like her! Aren’t you a Haruno, child?”

“Yes I’m Uchiha-San.”

“Aww, any friend of my Obito can call me grandma, sweetheart.”

Now Konoha awed in her head.

Obito's grandma was as sweet as she remembers

“Alright, grandma, I look like who?”

“I met her when I was a child and she a grown woman, but you have the same face, eyes and hair colour as Sakuya-Sama.”

Konoha couldn't believe it.

She looked like her ancestor, Haruno Sakuya.

That was unbelievable!

And also strange.

Not only was she reliving the life of her ancestor, but she looked also like her.

Something was definitely not normal about that.

"Grandma, I'm so grateful for your time. I've been trying to learn more about my ancestor and her connection to Uchiha Madara for months," Konoha said eagerly.

"Of course, dear. It's always nice to see young people taking an interest in their family history.", Keika smiled kindly to her and then turned to Obito. “Take an example from your friend Obito-Chan.”

“Gran!”, whined the boy.

“Obito-Chan go make some tea for Konoha-Chan, while we talk. Sit down, dear.”

Both kids did as Keika asked them.

So while Obito heated up the tea again, Konoha sat in front of the older Uchiha.

"Can you tell me more about Sakuya's relationship with Uchiha Madara? How did they meet?" Konoha asked, leaning forward.

The old woman took a sip of her tea before answering. "Sakuya-Sama was a Miko devoted to Amaterasu, which is our patron goddess. She often visited our clan to perform purification rituals and offer blessings. That's how she first met Madara."

The old woman giggled.

“Sakuya-Sama was a real beauty. A lot of men and women in our clan crushed on her. When I saw her the first time, I thought she was some nature deity herself. I bet you will grow up to be just as beautiful.”

This made Konoha bashful, looking into the tea cup Obito placed in from of her as the boy joined them on the kitchen table.

“Really Gran?”, wondered Obito. “Some of our clansmen were crushing on Sakuya?”

Keika nodded. "Yes, but ironically it wasn’t Madara who first caught her eye. It was Izuna, Madara younger brother. They were inseparable from the moment they met. They became quite good friends, their relationship resembled the one siblings had. Madara was quite jealous that a woman spending so much time with his beloved brother and also he felt like Izuna was favouring a stranger over him. Actually Sakuya and Madara butted heads on more than one occasion, they were like cat and dog."

Keika took another sip of her tea before continuing. "But eventually Madara saw the error in his ways, after a lot of shouting matches between him and Sakuya and between Izuna and himself. It’s said that Izuna told his brother he would always be his most precious person, but he was allowed to have others too. Madara accepted their friendship, but then Izuna died at the hands of Senju Tobirama. You both truly know the story."

Both kids nodded.

“I know that Sakuya was also friends with Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, I can’t image how it felt to hear your friend killed your other friend.”, mumbled Konoha.

"It was a devastating time for her and Madara. But this was the Warring States Era for you. Friends could become foes in one second, foes could become your friends.”, shared Keika with them. “In their grief for Izuna, they became friends and eventually in time Madara and Sakuya fell in love with each other.”

"Their love was a forbidden one, as Uchihas were not allowed to marry outside the clan. But Madara was the Clan Head and had some leverage, so he went against the Elders' wishes and married Sakuya in secret. They kept their marriage hidden from everyone, even their closest friends and family members."

Konoha's eyes widened in surprise. "They got married? I had no idea."

"Yes, my dear," Keika said with a smile. "Their love was strong enough to overcome any obstacle. But unfortunately, it was short-lived. Madara became consumed by hate and his desire for power. He never could forgive Senju Tobirama for killing his brother, even if it was war back then and it was killed or to be killed, then he didn’t become Hokage and our clan was tired of the fighting. Sakuya had found in her heart the power to forgive Senju Tobirama and worked with Senju Hashirama, Tobirama and Uzumaki Mito to create a peaceful village and better life for all of us. Sakuya couldn't bear to see Madara become someone she didn't recognize anymore. She tried to save him from himself, but you know it was fruitless.”

Keika sighed sadly, "It was a tragic end to their love story. Madara and Sakuya parted ways, with Madara going down a dark path that ultimately led to his downfall. Sakuya continued to work towards peace and prosperity for the village until her death. She married a civilian man, and had a son and a daughter with him. Her son, Haruno Oga is your great-grandfather, right?"

Konoha simply nodded.

Keika took a deep breath and continued, "But you know, Konoha, I always felt that Madara regretted his actions towards the end. He realized too late what he had lost in Sakuya and how much she meant to him. It's a tragedy that their love couldn't survive the turmoil of those times."

The Haruno listened intently to Keika's words, feeling a sense of sadness wash over her. She couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if Madara had chosen differently.

Would her ancestor still be alive today?

Would their love have survived?

Obito cleared his throat, breaking the sombre mood in the room. "So, Konoha-chan, did you find out everything you wanted to know?"

Konoha nodded slowly, still lost in thought. "Yes, thank you both for sharing your knowledge with me. It means a lot."

"Anytime dear, it was lovely having you over. And Obito-chan," she turned to her grandson with a stern expression, "make sure you're not late for your team meeting again."

Obito groaned playfully as Konoha stood up from the table.

"I'll wait for you outside then, Obito," she said with a small smile.

Quickly Obito finished his tea, got dressed and joined Konoha outside.

As they walked towards their meeting spot, Konoha couldn't help but think about the tragic love story of her ancestor.

It was both beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.

She wondered if such a forbidden love could exist in today's world, where people were more accepting of different cultures and backgrounds.

It made her think about her own feelings for Obito.

She had always found him cute and charming, but now she realized that there was something deeper there.

Maybe it was the way he talked about his grandmother and his clan with such passion, or the way he had helped her uncover the secrets of her family history.

Whatever it was, Konoha knew that she wanted to explore these feelings further.

However, at the same time, she couldn't shake off the feeling that their love would also be forbidden.

After all, they were from different clans and had different backgrounds.

Would their relationship be accepted by their families and friends?

Would they be able to overcome any obstacles that came their way?

When they approached their team, Obito turned to her with a serious expression. "Konoha-chan, I hope you won't tell anyone about what my grandma told us. It's a sensitive topic in our clan."

Konoha nodded understandingly. "Of course, Obito-kun. Your secret is safe with me."

Then Konoha was reminded again why thinking about being with Obito was useless since not even a second his eyes landed on Rin, he left her side to talk to his crush.

Something like a dying whale sound left her lips.

“I don’t get what you see in this idiot.”

Shocked Konoha turned to a deadpanning Kakashi beside her. She didn’t even hear how he had approached her.

“I-I don’t know what you mean...”

The Hatake just deadpanned harder.

“Of course.”

Konoha felt her cheeks heat up as she tried to compose herself.

She couldn't believe she had just made such a sound in front of Kakashi. But the truth was, she couldn't help it.

Watching Obito fawn over Rin was like a punch to the gut every time.

She sighed and looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment from Kakashi. However, he seemed unfazed by her outburst, almost amused even.

"You know," he said after a moment of silence, "sometimes what we see in others is not always rational or logical."

The Haruno looked back at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

Kakashi shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe Obito sees something in Rin that we don't. And maybe you see something in Obito that he doesn't see in himself."

She felt her heart skip a beat at his words.

Was Kakashi suggesting...no, it couldn't be possible. She shook her head and tried to push the thought out of her mind.

Yet as they continued to watch Obito and Rin together, Konoha couldn't help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than meets the eye. And maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for her own feelings towards Obito after all.

“Good morning, kids.”, called them Minato-Sensei.

Surprised Konoha blinked at the beautiful red-haired woman on his side.

She seemed familiar...

Suddenly she got one of her visions!

Minato-Sensei and the woman, Kushina were her name, throwing themselves at the claws of the Kyuubi to protect a little blond baby on an altar. In their last moments, Kushina talks to the baby, Naruto, their son, giving him advice to become a good man...

With a little hiss, Konoha messaged her hurting temple.

God this was a heartbreaking vision!

What would happen if she didn’t manage to change the future?

In no way in hell would she let Minato-Sensei and Kushina get killed, leaving little precious Naruto alone in the world?

As the team gathered curious around Minato-Sensei and his guest, Konoha tried to keep her composure and focus at hand.

Sadly her mind kept drifting back to the vision she had just experienced. She couldn't let it become a reality!

“Kids, I want you to meet someone, this is Uzumaki Kushina.”, presented Minato-Sensei the grinning red-haired woman. “She is one of Konoha's best Fuin Jutsu and Kenjutsu Masters, also she is my girlfriend.”

“Nice meeting Minato-Kun cute little Genin.”, cooed Kushina at them. “He told me a lot about you, let’s see..”

The red-haired started to point at them.

“Cute brunette with lilac stripes and already a prodigy in medical Jutsu you must be Rin.”

This made Rin giggle cutely.

“Charming black-haired boy with goggles who is really good with his fire jutsu, you are Obito from the Uchiha Clan.”

The boy rubbed his nose shyly.

“Adorable green-haired girl with cool glasses, a prodigy in assassination techniques and has this cool weapon named Hidden Blade, you must be Konoha.”

Konoha couldn’t help but blush at the praise.

“And the last of you....”, dramatically Kushina stopped before she grinned even brighter. “Kashi-Kun we already know each other.”

Kakashi ignored that Obito seemed to die of laughter, hearing Kushina's nickname for him and just deadpanned at her.

“Hello Kushina-San.”

Minato-Sensei had also an amused smile on his face. “Kushina here wanted to see for herself how good you guys already are. So today you will spar against her.”

Why did Konoha have a bad feeling about this? Kushina smiled at them promising a world of hurt and pain.

“So we four against Kushina-San?”, asked Rin to clarify.

“That’s right, Rin-Chan.”

Kushina got her Katana out, heaving now an evil look on her face.

“You four need to work to together to get me, Dattebane!”

Then she started her attack!

The four Genin were no match for Kushina's skills.

She moved with such speed and grace that they could barely keep up. Also, she threw at them Fuin Jutsu traps like no tomorrow!

Kakashi tried his best to coordinate their attacks since he had already fought Kushina in several meetings, sadly it seemed like they were just getting in each other's way.

Kushina was enjoying herself immensely, laughing as she dodged their attacks effortlessly.

It was clear that she wasn't taking the fight seriously at all.

This was so frustrating.

Suddenly, Konoha had an idea. She signalled to the others to back off and let her take the lead.

They looked at her sceptically, yet she gave them a determined nod.

The Haruno actives her Eagle Vision.

The world turned into the familiar black space, highlighting the persons in a blue Aura.

Since Kushina was their opponent she was tinted in red.

And in gold were the weak points of the Fuin Jutsus Traps!

Perfect.

A little smirk formed on Konoha's face.

She totally ignored Kushina's sword slash and concreted to hit with her Hidden Blade the weak points.

The Fuin Jutsu Trap destroyed themselves with satisfied pops.

“What, Dattebane?!”, shouted Kushina shocked.

Not only she was shocked.

Anyone was.

How did Konoha do this?!

Grappling the change that Kushina was distracted, Konoha made fast handsings.

She thanked her brother Kizashi mentally that he had shown her this Jutsu.

“Earth Style! Headhunter Jutsu!”

Thanks to the Jutsu Kushina was buried to the head into the ground.

The other Genin rushed forward to help Konoha finish the job, however, Kushina just laughed and broke free from the trap with ease.

"Not bad," she said approvingly. "You kids have some potential."

Minato-Sensei clapped his hands together in admiration. "Well done! I'm impressed by your teamwork."

The four Genin beamed at them.

“I’m impressed by you Konoha-Chan. How do you find the weak spots of the Fuin Jutsu Trap and disable them like that...Are you interested in Fuin Jutsu?”, wonder Kushina.

Before Konoha could say something Obito shouted: “What the heck?! Konoha since when do you have golden eyes?!”

Oh shit, she had forgotten to deactivate Eagle Vision.

Now all looked at her interested.

“Konoha.”, said Minato-Sensei calmy. “Do you need to tell me something important...like how a new Kekkai Genkai, especially a Dojutsu, awakened in you?”

Oh shit, what should she do now?!

!!!!PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!!!