44

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I race as fast as I physically can to the house, their screams getting louder and louder making my heart threaten to burst from my chest. How stupid could I be. I couldn't let go of my old life and who I used to be for one moment and now my kids are in danger. Genji was right, my duty isn't to the people anymore .. my duty is to my family.

And right now my family needs me.

The front door has been crashed through and I waste no time bursting in and following the screams to their bedroom, and I find one of the fish demons cornering the two.

They both sob endlessly as Kyousuke stands protectively in front of Seiko, clutching his bleeding arm. Without any hesitation, I slice through the vase of the demon with so much rage in me and as soon as the demon falls to the ground, I drop my sword and hurry to my children.

"Mummy!" They both yell as I fall to my knees, pulling them both into a tight hug as they cling impossibly tight onto me while crying their eyes out.

"Are you two ok!?" I say, pulling them away to look for any serious injuries as tears fall down my own face. They both can't speak, just stand there crying as I check their bodies. Thankfully the only injury is a gash on Kyousuke's arm and I hurry to tie a cloth around it to protect it.

"I-I" Kyousuke stutters through his sobs and I shush him, pulling them both into a hug once more as I rock back and forth, trying to calm down my own racing heart. I thought I lost them... I don't know what I'd do if I lost them.

"I'm so sorry my babies.. I won't leave you two alone ever again," I whisper as they nuzzle further into me.

"Daddy.." Seiko whimpers and I take a deep breath, pulling them away and hurrying to grab a blanket.

"Where's daddy?" Kyousuke says as I begin to fold the blanket and use my teeth to tighten the knots.

"Kyousuke help me... Seiko come get on mummy's back ok..." I say to them and Kyousuke wipes his snotty nose, toddling over to help me tie the blanket firmly around Seiko on my back. I stand, putting my sword back into its sheath and holding my hand out to Kyousuke. "We're going to find daddy ok?"

"B-But what about everyone else?" Kyousuke mumbles and I begin walking out the house.

"It's not safe here for us, but don't worry the demon slayers are here to protect everyone! We have to find daddy first ok.." I say and he frowns as I cautiously look around us to make sure no demons are around, before running into the forest with Seiko on my back and Kyousuke running next to me.

We make our way to the cabin Hotaru built for us, my senses on high alert the entire time in case we run into a demon. I can hear some crashes in the distance, but thankfully we make it to the cabin without running into any demons and I hurry to get inside.

Once inside, I let Seiko off my back and shut all the windows and doors, ushering them into the bedroom.

"Ok we have to stay here and be very quiet until the demon slayers defeat the demons... we're safe here.."

"Mummy.. I'm scared.." Kyousuke whimpers and I stroke his hair.

"Don't be scared Kyousuke.. Mummy will protect both of you no matter what. Kyouauke, come here mummy needs to clean your arm ok?" As Kyousuke takes a seat on a blanket with Seiko, I hurry around trying to find a first aid kit. Unfortunately, since this cabin was just built as a getaway we didn't bother stocking it with any first aid, so instead I just get some warm water and a cloth to properly clean his arm.

I sit next to them, finally allowing myself to breathe as their soft sniffles fill the house. I begin to hum softly, trying to distract them from the devastation they've just witnessed... which I had hoped they would never have to experience ever.

" What happened to your arm Kyousuke?" I say softly, stroking his head as he wipes his nose with his sleeve.

"T-the demon was... banging on the door trying to get in... I was trying to hold the door closed so it couldn't, but it burst through and scratched me..." he whimpers and I shush him, kissing the top of his head as I tie the clean cloth around his now cleaned wound.

"You're such a brave boy, mummy is sorry for leaving you two, I won't leave again," I say, pulling them both into a hug.

"Mummy... I miss daddy... I want him," Seiko whimpers and I bite my lip, pulling them tighter into me as they sniffle.

"Once the demons are defeated... we'll find daddy ok? And we'll make sure he pays for leaving us for so long ok?" I say, pinching both their cheeks with a grin as they both smile weakly at me.

We then hear a knocking on the door making us all freeze.  My head whips around as I immediately push the two behind me,  my hand reaching for my sword as my eyes never leave the front door as the knocking continues. We all stay impossibly quiet, almost to the point you could hear our hearts pounding in our chests.

"Mum? Are you in there?" My eyes widen at Genji's voice and I hurry to my feet to let him in. I open the door and he hurries in, closing it behind him before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Genji!? What are you going here!?" I say, pulling him into a hug.

"Genji," the other two yell, running over and hugging him tightly as he does the same. He winces and I notice his head and arm bleeding profusely and I quickly usher him to sit down.

"You're hurt, here come sit..." I say and he listens, allowing me to clean his wounds. "How did you find us?"

"I helped Mr Haganezuka build this place, so when I went to our house and didn't find you three I assumed you would've run here... I'm too injured to help in the main fight so I came here to protect you three at least... there's two upper moons here... the village is overrun with demons but there's two Hashira fighting... and the red haired boy named Tanjiro and his demon sister..."

"Then the village is in safe hands..." I say as I finish cleaning his wounds and he smiles sadly at me.

"I'm sorry mum... all those years of training and I'm still weak... I couldn't keep fighting..." I shush him, pulling him into a hug as I sigh.

"Don't apologise Genji... you did the best you could which is more than enough. Know your limits and pull back when you have to, don't be stubborn like me otherwise you'll end up retired with one hand!" I say with a smile as he grins before we both flinch. There's a commotion outside and the sounds of demons groaning making my heart speed up as Genji immediately gets to his feet with his sword in hand.

"Stay here, I'll take care of them," he tries to say proudly, not being able to hide his shaky voice and I stand as well.

"I'll help-"

"Mum no. Stay here with Kyousuke and Seiko..." He says sternly and as much as I want to object, I know I shouldn't. So instead I nod, hugging the two children close to me as Genji smiles before leaving out the front door.

Sounds of fighting can be heard outside as I hear Genji grunt in pain. I bite my lip, trying to resist the urge to go outside and fight with him. The two hide their faces in my chest as I hug them tighter, praying Genji returns inside with a grin on his face saying he defeated them...

But the sudden silence makes my stomach drop. I wait for him to walk inside, but he doesn't. I take a deep breath, pulling the two away from my grip and grabbing my sword... slowly standing.

"Mummy will be just outside... she's going to save Genji ok? Stay here you two..." I sat softly,  before leaving the house with my trembling hand gripping my sword.

I then see Genji, laying on the floor unconscious with the demons surrounding him.

"Genji!" I scream, getting the demons attention. There's about five of them that all rush towards me. I waste no time in dodging their attacks, running back a bit to gain some distance from them and working on slicing the vases on top of each one. It's no easy, I haven't fought demons in years and years and the baby in my stomach makes me wince as I try my best to fight like I once did. I manage to take down two with no problems, but the last three make my spirits falter as I feel out of breath and in pain.

As I try to dodge one of the attacks, my steps falter and I yelp as a deep gash is made in my thigh, tearing my yukata and making me fall to my ground. I stop myself from falling on my stomach at the last second, sighing as I can feel the kick of the baby.

"Hang in there sweetie..." I whisper before gasping and grabbing my sword, quickly jumping out of the way of another attack. My leg bleeds profusely and I limp as I try and create distance to let myself breathe, but as I try and create that distance my back hits a tree and I'm cornered by the three demons that roar making my eyes widen.

This can't be the end... I can't die now. I still need to protect my children, I still need to find Haganeuzka... I need to tell him I love him more, and be in his arms once more....

"Stay away from here!" Genji catches on of the demons by surprise, slicing the vases leaving only two left as they roar and turn to him. My eyes widen with happiness as he stands there with a wobbly posture, panting heavily. He clutches the side of his stomach which bleeds heavily and his right eye is closed with a cut going over it... but his face shows anger and determination.

"Genji!" I say happily and he sends me a weak smile.

"Sorry mum... I might need a little help after all..." he says smiling and I grin, nodding firmly.

"I can't let you have all the fun, I am the pro here aren't I?" I say and he return my grin, gripping his sword as I do the same.

We each take on one of the remaining demons, our injuries worse now but adrenaline and rage fuelling our fighting. Despite being retired and giving up the sword, all my last training that was drilled into my mind comes back to me as if it is muscle movement... and I fight alongside the very boy I trained to be the slayer he is now.

After what feels like hours, we both manage to slay the two demons just as the sun is coming up. I pants falling to my knees and dropping my sword as I feel like I can finally breathe.

Is it over... it has to be over... the sun is up? Surely that means the demons have been defeated or have fled... is everyone ok? Everyone has to be ok... Haganezuka has to be ok.... I did all that I could do, I hope I did enough.

"Mum!" I hear Kyousuke yell as he and Seiko crouch next to Genji's limo body. I snap out of my daze, struggling to my feet and limping over to them, my leg still bleeding profusely accompanied by deep wounds of my back and arm, but I ignore my pain.... Just focused on my children.

"Genji!? Genji are you alright!?" I say as I collapse to the side, shaking his shoulder as the two children sob. He's bleeding even more than I am and looks weak. "Genji, please... it's over now, you did amazing but I need you to wake up now ok?" We all watch hopefully.... Our eyes widening as he slowly opens his eyes.

"Am I...dead?" He says with a raspy voice making me sob with happiness and relief as the other two hug him tightly.

"No Genji... you're alive... c'mon, let's go get some rest ok?" I say and he smiles weakly,

I struggle to get him onto his feet, his arm around my shoulder as I push through the pain and try and help him walk, my own limp making us stumble. Kyousuke and Seiko help, trying to hold up Genji as he's half out of it... and we all slowly walk through the forest, just happy to be alive and together.... We made it through this together, just like I knew we would....