22

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Haganezuka has forgotten how silent his home really was. Now that she has left and returned to the demon slayer residence, not a single soul other than him has entered his home and things are back to how they were. He thought he would be glad, glad to finally have his privacy back and not have to deal with her all day. He must have underestimated her company... as he can't help but wish she was sitting here talking to him once again.

"Squawk!" Haganezuka flinches at the sudden sound coming from the window, and he is almost shocked to see her crow sitting there with a letter attached to its neck. Since she was in the village, obviously there was no point in writing to him, so it's been awhile since he's received a letter. He walks over, leaning on the window sill as the crow just looks at him.

"Did she... return home safely?" He mumbles and the crow holds its head up proudly.

"My master has returned to the demon slayer estate as expected. She is to complete a mission today and asked me to deliver this letter to you as she may not be able to write for the duration of the mission!" The crow informs and Haganezuka hums.

"On a mission already?"

"My master had already stayed here in the village for too long. She is expected to get back to work right away!" Haganezuka nods, going to remove the letter before stopping.

"You're not gonna try peck me? Are you?" He says suspiciously and the crow just stares at him. They stare at each other for a little longer, before Piiko sighs and hangs his head low.

"My master made sure to give me a stern talking to before I left... so no! I will refrain from pecking you, even if you deserve it for being so cruel to my master all the time!" Haganezuka sighs in relief, now comfortably removing the letter with little to no worries, and to his relief the crow keeps his word and for the first time ever doesn't try to bite his finger off.

"Thank you..." Haganezuka grumbles and Piiko just does a few little displeased hops, before leaving and Haganezuka rolls his eyes.

He unrolls the letter, glad to see her beautiful handwriting again and curious as to what she has to write to him.

Hello Mr Haganezuka,I'd like to inform you that I have returned safely to my residency and just like I thought it was very nice to see all my friends again! The girls loved the souvenirs and gifts I brought back for them, so thank you for having the patience with me and helping me pick them out. I'd like to thank you once again as well for being so welcoming and accommodating during my stay, and I'll find a way to repay you in the near future. I am to leave for a mission as early as sunrise. My stay in the village was longer than anticipated, and I'm afraid I'll have to make up for lost time as best as I can. The next few days are looking busy for me, so I've sent Piiko with this letter as it may be the only one I will be able to write for awhile. Take care Mr Haganezuka.Nakahara Hanako

Haganezuka places the letter on his table, a perplexed look painted across his concealed face. Something about this letter is, different, from the others. It's strange since it's just words on paper with no obvious emotion... but he can tell that she wasn't herself when writing this. Not once did she beg him to visit her or ramble on about something with no relevance. Perhaps she was in a rush while writing... or perhaps she's beginning to get tired of their one-sided friendship.

It's clear he's not putting in as much effort as she is, and he thought that things would be ok with that. However, he's starting to worry that if he continues to act cold and unbothered, he may very well lose her affections for good. At the very least, he should write back. Now that they declared they're... friends... he shouldn't be so unresponsive to her.

With a shaky and unsteady hand, Haganezuka bites his inner cheek as he tries his best to write as neatly as possible... despite his horrible handwriting.

-

I deliver the final blow, standing there panting as the demon begins to fade away into nothing but mere dust. Gathering myself, I place my sword back in its sheath and wince as I feel the bleeding on a deep gash on my arm. Sighing, I wrap it lazily in the bandages I brought while the villagers gradually begin to leave their houses where they were hiding.

"Oh thank you young one!" An older woman says, falling to my feet with tears streaming down her face. The other applaud as I quickly help her to her feet, shaking my head with a smile.

"There's no need for thanking me! I'm simply doing my job!" I say and she holds onto my hands tightly.

"This village will forever be in your debt miss..."

"Nakahara," I answer and she nods, holding my hands close to her chest.

"Miss Nakahara! How can we ever repay you!"

"Please, I don't need any repayments! Seeing that all of you will be safe is more than enough for me!" I insist and she looks down at my wounded arm.

"You're hurt! Please allow us to at least properly attend to your wounds!" She says and I go to decline, but she shakes her head silencing me. "I won't hear any more of this modesty! Kana!" She calls out, and a young girl maybe around 12 years old comes running to her side.

"Yes grandma?" She says.

"This is my granddaughter Kana, she will see to it that you're properly taken care of and have a comfortable place to stay for tonight!"

"Ma'am please I really-"

"Please, let us do this for you," I look around at all the faces in the village, smiling awkwardly as I give in. Kana smiles brightly and offers her hand to me, and when I take it she begins to lead me through the village as I smile awkwardly at all the thanks I get from the people I pass by.

Kana takes me into a small home and immediately begins rushing around, gathering water and first aid things as I sit patiently, observing the otherwise plain but comfortable home.

"Thank you so much for saving our village," she says softly, sitting in front of me with the water as she bows her head and I smile bashfully, holding out my injured arm to her.

"It's no problem at all! I'm glad I could help!" I say and she smiles, unwrapping my quick bandage. I look at the bleeding wound awkwardly, slightly embarrassed I didn't do a better job at tending to it. I was in a hurry, besides it wasn't bothering me or anything!

"This is quite a deep cut... does it not hurt?" She asks and I shake my head.

"I've had worse, so a little cut like this isn't that big of a deal to me now!"

"Your job must be very dangerous..."

"It is... but I really do love it because I can help others!" She gently cleans the blood and I watch as the bucket of water turns from clear to a murky red color. "Where did you learn to do things like this? You seem to know a lot about tending wounds?" I say and she shrugs.

"Grandma has dementia so she quite often forgets her age... she thinks she can go to work in the fields like she used to and so she often hurts herself. I guess I just picked up a few things over the years," I smile at her.

"That's a very noble thing to do, looking after your grandma like that..." She looks at me shocked for a moment, before quickly looking away again. "And your parents?" She's silent for a bit.

"They're dead..."

"Oh... I'm so sorry I shouldn't have asked!" I say and she smiles shaking her head.

"That's ok, it happened years ago. I was young so I barely remember it."

"What... happened? If you don't mind me asking!" She seems hesitant so I go to reassure her that she doesn't have to talk about it if she doesn't feel comfortable, until she opens her mouth to speak.

"They were killed, by a demon," she whispers and my eyes widen.

"Kana..."

"It's ok... grandma says that they're at peace now, and that I don't have to worry about them being in pain." I see the glint of tears in her eyes, and I place a hand on her shoulder making her look at me.

"I know how you feel..."

"How? How could you possibly know?"

"Because I lost my younger siblings the same way," her eyes widen as I smile at her.

"R-Really?" I nod and she frowns. "Then you know how unfair it is. How cruel it is to take them from us when they were innocent and did nothing wrong! I hate demons! I'll never be able to forgive them for as long as I am alive because all they ever do is cause pain and suffering, how can a being like that even exist!" Tears stream down her face as she clutches her clothes in her balled up fists, her breathing heavy. I frown, pulling out my handkerchief and gently drying her tears making her look at me confused.

"I know exactly what you're feeling... anger, hatred, sorrow... I felt all those things for so long and sometimes I still feel that way. You're right, it's not fair, but you have to try and be strong for your parents. They wouldn't want to see their daughter living with such resentment, so try and see the light in each day so that they can smile down on you with happiness in their hearts," her lips trembles as he clenched fists relaxed, and she hangs her head lowly.

"How do I become like you..." she whispers and I smile, stroking her long hair gently.

"Kana... becoming a demon slayer doesn't get rid of the anger, it just pushes it down deeper. You have to understand your intentions for doing so before deciding. If your intentions are purely revenge, then you'll never be able to live a content life."

"Then what are your reasons?" I think about this for a moment, my heart aching at the thought.

"I chose this life... as an apology..."

"An apology?" She repeats and I nod. "To who?"

"A man and woman very dear to me... my younger brother and sister... everyone who has ever been hurt by demons. I promised that man and woman that I would kill the demon who took their children away from them, and I intend to uphold that promise and make up for my wrongdoings... in hopes they'll accept me as their daughter once again..." Her eyes widen as I speak, and I smile gently as tears roll down my own cheeks. "Thank you for tending to my wounds... but I have to be off now." I stand, bowing to her as she sits there frozen. "Find peace with your anger Kana, and you will feel so much happier and you'll be free from your grief, goodbye!" I wave before leaving her house and the village, making my way to my next assigned mission.

I walk slowly through the dark forest, humming the lullaby I used to sing my siblings softly to myself.

"This is all your fault!" She spits as I fall to the ground, blood trickling from my nose which mixes with the mud and rain and then tears streaming down my face. "Mother... father... please..." I say with a strained voice, my quivering hand reaching out to them as I beg and plead for the forgiveness. My father smacks my hand away, his figure looming over me as he comforts my sobbing mother in the heavy rain."You have no right calling us that... you are not our daughter." My eyes widen at his words, feeling as though a thousand knives have stabbed my already broken heart. "We never want to see you again. Our eldest daughter has died as well tonight... she has died in vain and disappointment." They turn, leaving me cradling my beaten body in the freezing rain... my whole world crumbling around me as I truly have nothing left to keep living for.

I look up at the stars with a soft smile. I clear my throat, dusting off my clothes as I take a deep breath.

"I'll make it up to you two... I promise... I will earn the right to be called your daughter again..."