Chapter Text
Perhaps this is how it was supposed to end. The end of a Hashira would almost always end in death, that much was well known from the moment she had truly understood what the title meant. Though knowing and living it were two separate instances entirely. Miyuki had been told to prepare for her death her entire life, she was supposed to leave this plane without any regrets. Her eyes moved to stare at the demon looming over her, in a matter of a moments all of her actions would be judged.
“Any last words false hashira?” the sneer in his voice carried while her thoughts drifted along with her vision. Her family slaughtered, family name tarnished, her title stripped, childhood ruined… the hopeless aching of panic, her regrets… and then finally the scent of cedarwood and burnt amber… of jasmine flowers and cool mountain air… warm touches to her cheek and promises. Kyojuro… regrets.
With a low and quick breath her body slid from underneath her looming death, her head pounded from the strain but the chance was there. “Snow breathing, third form. Glacial melt.” Another instant later and she stumbled forward, white katana in hand while the gray haired demon stood opposite. Hand outstretched and covered in a fresh layer of red blood. Miyuki looked down at the blood pooling down her kimono, staining the silk white crimson. The sight was fascinating, it might’ve been the blood loss or perhaps even the pain. She didn’t even turn her attention at the heavy sound of a head hitting the ground. Not even her body collapsing to the ground and being surrounded by her fiance and medics did anything to pull her attention from that familiar color.
Her shivering started as soon as her eyes went blank, her stare was straight ahead. That color had all of her thoughts swirling- until suddenly- it wasn’t. She was back at a familiar scene, one she wouldn’t forget for all her days, it was immediately after her and Kyojuro had agreed on a date- he had been sent to supervise a slaying on a train- if she hadn’t arrived when she had to slay the demon- she wouldn’t have been been reintroduced as a hashira- and more importantly. Kyojuro Rengoku, the flame hashira- her childhood friend and fiance would have died.
Was she dying? Was she reliving her memories, what would come next? The sight of her father protecting her siblings and her while their mother attacked them? Or would it be when she was forced to kill her siblings and father after they were also infected? She staggered forward, head pounding as the sight of red overwhelmed her once again. Miyuki had to be dying, a flash of her life before it all went dark…
It was like the day it happened- her body carried her the exact way it did before. The same path, the same everything. She just couldn’t seem to understand why? Hand on her hilt she came to the clearing, Tanjiro and Inosuke were at the edge injured but alive. Immediately her gaze turned to the fiery clash of flesh and blade, with every two swings of Kyojuro’s blade the demon met it tenfold. She knew the outcome if she didn’t intervene- he wasn’t on par with him. A member of the upper three… no hashira had ever made it out alive. Miyuki knew how it played out, right as Akaza offered him yet again to become a demon. To heal his wounds, to stand and be his sparring partner for thousands of years- he would refuse. As they moved to clash yet again she would intervene herself, using the snow technique to cloak herself and then together decapitate him. No one died, just as he had promised the night prior.
The young demon slayer beside her gasped as she went to move, the second she heard the sound her eyes flicked up to where his gaze was fixated. Her body froze in place itself, time stopped, suddenly a throbbing in her stomach was there. Her fiancé was frozen in place, the demon's arm pierced through his abdomen. Her head roared, vision blurry with crimson as she fell to her knees. Miyuki could distantly hear the sound of Kyojuro begging her to concentrate her breathing, to wake up. The distinct smell of blood and rot filled her senses as she tried to regain any sense of herself.
She had no idea how long it took her to finally snap out of it, but when she did… the sight was the same. Rengoku Kyojuro, her childhood friend and fiancé… the flame hashira. The man she had fallen in love with so many years ago under the cherry blossom trees training to be demon slayers… was dying. And somehow… just as she remembered thinking earlier… this didn’t seem right. This couldn’t be how she died, what a cruel way to go… she wanted to remember him smiling and warm. Despite the struggle ensued between the pair she didn’t move, no amount of effort could bring her to lift her legs to help. It wasn’t until the demon had broken free and Kyojuro fell to the ground that she moved.
“K-Kyo- please you- you can’t- this can’t be-“ Miyuki’s voice broke as she helped him up, whatever strength she had always prided herself in with difficult situations was lost. Her panic spread as her vision went blurry with tears, she was losing yet another important person in her life- she was the last remaining member of her family, unwed, dishonored- her thoughts spiraled until the warm rough touch of hands pressed overtop hers.
“Miyuki, it’s okay. You knew this was a possibility, we all did… I’m only sorry that I didn’t get to see you in your wedding gown before this.” His voice was warm as he stared at her, soaking up every inch of detail he could while he was conscious. Keeping one hand over her hands his other moved to wipe away her tears, smiling as she pressed into the warmth of his palm. The approach of sunrise lessened their time together, this would be the last time they ever spoke. They had known each other since they were children, wherever one went the other followed. She wasn’t weak but protecting her was more important to him than anything else in this life.
Doing her best to focus on Kyojuro she nodded, flinching at the sight of blood pooling around him as the arm in his abdomen began to fade away in the light. The sound of footsteps behind her did nothing to deter her attention away from her fiancé, she needed to commit his features to memory. Just as she did at night on the rare times they both were able to spend them together. “I know. I… I’ll move forward, I… I can’t tell you it will be immediately or even soon but… I will. I… I will carry you with me always…”
“That is all I would ask of you… you have no need to stay in our betrothal agreement, and before you protest. You deserve to grow old and happy, have a family…” His smile faltered as a trail of blood slid down his mouth, his gaze turning foggy and distant before refocusing again on her. “Take the young ones with you, train them, you have more than earned your title back in my eyes…” Miyuki felt her eyes water as he began to speak with Tanjiro. This had to be hell, perhaps she was already dead. There was no way that was real, watching him die… watching all of this unfold… a few hours ago… they… weren’t they sitting around discussing flowers?
“Miyuki Getsumei… I love you, remember that. Remember that beyond anything else… and remember that you are so much more than you believe.” The sound of his voice grew weaker with every moment, his body shaking with effort to stay alive. Suddenly his gaze moved far past both her and the boy sitting next to her. Her body twisted to see who it was finding no one; she realized that there was nothing more to be done.
As his smile fell and his body went limp her tears fell, body heaving with sobs. She cradled him in her arms, hand running through the unruly mess of flame colored hair. Her vision and thoughts screamed in pain, the same hurt in her abdomen as earlier- the same in her ear, the crimson sickening sight… but when she opened her eyes again. The sight was the same but admittedly worse. The love of her life broken and lifeless in her arms, turning cold… without hesitation she screamed.
This wasn’t death, death was peaceful. This was hell.
ELSEWHERE
The flame hashira was critical of himself, that was always a known fact. After last night he didn’t think he would ever forgive himself. While he had stepped out for an emergency pillar meeting- an attack. A week before his wedding. A week before he was supposed to marry the love of his life. And now she lay lifeless with a burst eardrum, broken ribs, and an inability to wake. If he didn’t know the situation he would assume she was only sleeping…
Miyuki looked serene… white hair splayed out behind her, chest rising and falling rhythmically. It was a false sense of security he hated, it made him feel as though she would wake up tomorrow morning. Kyojuro had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case whatsoever. Walking over to his sleeping bride, he let his fingers run over her temple. Frowning at the very feeling of just how warm she was, if that wound became infected… shaking his head he stepped back and moved out of the room. He needed a break.
“How is she?” Immediately his attention turned to the male, Kyojuro chastised himself yet again for not realizing his presence.
“She seems to be running a fever now, it could be an infection… I just can’t believe it, yesterday we were speaking of what flowers we should have at the ceremony… now this? Giyu I… I never expected this out of everything.” Kyojuro’s voice lacked it’s natural confidence, he felt defeated. His promise to his mother was to protect the week, yet he couldn’t even protect his future wife in her own home? What kind of a man did that make him?
Giyu took a moment to consider his response, no one expected this to happen so close to the hyacinth groves. The water harisha leaned carefully against the wooden beam before giving the open bedroom a glance. “What is it you always say? Grit your teeth and set your heart ablaze? You know Miyuki, she has more strength than most of us do. She can fight whatever is happening with her… she has handled far worse.”
He was right, glancing back he nodded. She had willingly gave up her honor and killed her entire family after they had turned into demons. Closing the screen to the bedroom, Kyojuro sighed, rubbing his temples before finally moving towards the entrance. “We need to find the second demon that escaped, if they have a blood art it could explain why she isn’t waking.”
Following along, Giyu nodded in agreement whatever was going on was far from natural to say the least. “We will be meeting to discuss our plan of action later this morning. I warn you that the others are suggesting you stay behind, and I agree. Miyuki would too, stay here and be safe. If you come with your emotions will get the better of you.”
“You’re right. I hate that you’re right… give me a moment… I’ll be right along.” The male stopped at the large cherry blossom tree near the front of the snow Hashira estate. With a small glance back Giyu nodded, continuing on ahead towards their meeting. As soon as the water harisha was out of earshot, Kyojuro placed his hand against the base of the tree. A thousand promises and words said under the shade of this tree.
”Is that the flame hashira under my tree? What is the occasion?” Her voice teased as she walked towards him, stealing a quick glance around before jumping into his arms. Lips pressing into his with a happy smile as he spun her around, neither of them cared of the cold snow falling around them.
A low chuckle from his throat before lowering her down slightly, one hand playing with her loose curls before capturing her for yet another kiss. “Do I need an occasion to see my fiancé? Especially when I return from a mission?” Giggling she shook her head already returning for another taste of his lips.
“Never…”
Kyojuro flinched at the feel of something wet hitting his skin, his eyes moving upward to see the beginning of snow start to fall from the sky. Her favorite. With a sudden renewed anger he stood straighter and began his walk down.
Miyuki was waiting for him.