Snowflakes

A sapphire sky, and the air, swift. Life in Sattokotta flourishes. People bustle about in a livelier mood than ever before. They feast, talk, and barter without worry. However, there lingers a tense flame among the crowds. The snow falls flat on the soil and streets, with some workers repairing broken buildings and other architecture due to recent events. Even so, they were happy to be at peace from the danger that stalked them for a long time. The Demon Slayers have accomplished their mission, for now.

"Agh," Faolan awakens, throbbing with pain. 

He peeks to see that he is in a tent with Kagero sleeping across from him. Ketsueki, though injured, sat beside Faolan's bed, resting as well. Faolan did not want to wake them. He steps out of the tent to see that it has gone quiet; a deep shiver sprouts from the winds. He looks at the campfire he sat in with the other Demon Slayers for the past few weeks. 

"You've finally awakened." 

Faolan turns to the voice of Yukina herself.

"Yes," Faolan replied.

He beholds Yukina as the sun's light further hides beneath the earth. Her ribbons float effortlessly in the wind, and the soft breeze engulfs the hanging threads of her hair. Her eyes pierced Faolan's. She smirked.

"You are an interesting character, Faolan-kun," Yukina places her index finger below her lip.

"You've been unconscious for a few days, and you suddenly sprout up and decide to wander," she added.

"It's been that long?" Faolan questioned.

"Unfortunately, yes," she replied.

They gazed upon each other. She was struck at the fact that Faolan would gaze. Leading her to hide her eyes from him.

"Everything seems peaceful, but the scars still wound the village," Faolan looks at the growing village. He can see the sprawling people going about their everyday lives. He reminisces about his time with his Mother. 

"Scars never heal, but they can gain... Vengeance," Yukina adds.

Faolan looked sharply at her. The words vengeance were like a blade being thrusted into his heart.

"Revenge is a fool's game," Faolan replied.

Yukina faces Faolan in disbelief but hiddenly expresses herself physically within her thoughts.

"A Demon Slayer with no sense of vengeance? Vengeance for those who murder and destroy the lives of families? These demons?" she intelligently questioned.

"Right, as if humans are any different," Faolan recalls his time filled with disgusting hatred.

Yukina looked at him in intrigue of his opinion. She perceives his notion.

"Intriguing. Was your hatred not justified? What is your purpose, then?" Yukina asks.

Faolan does not respond. Yukina lifts her chin and views Faolan from below her vision as he sits by the campfire stump of wood.

"Regarding this village, I suspect something more than demons is involved. Especially with all these inconsistencies in this investigation," Faolan stares blankly at the burning violet stars now glowing.

Yukina perks with curiosity. It is almost pleasurable for her.

'Very perceptive, Faolan,' she thought.

She skillfully strolls to Faolan's side and sits beside him, her leg crossed over the other and her palms resting on her skirt. A brief moment pauses between them.

"I believe the same as you do," she says.

"There is much more going on here than just demon attacks," she diagonally looks upwards.

"I've decided to interrogate the government official we met, and he had much to say. This event traumatized him so much he couldn't wait to spill it all," Faolan could feel the anger in her voice.

Yukina departs into her memories, and she interrogates the man with her nichirin blade. She interlocks her grip with the trigger mechanism that unleashes a deep freeze. The cold causes the skin to harden and turn blue. Her eyes were blank. 

"You have learned well, Yukina," a voice says.

"Vile people, they don't deserve to live," Yukina rolls her eyes.

Faolan listens quietly without uttering a word.

"I have reason to believe that these men were in cooperation with the Demon and collecting them and in the vast growth of this village. Seeing as this demon is nothing like I've ever documented. There must be some play, way larger than what we could imagine," Yukina stares at Faolan. The stars turn red, and the snow violently shakes under her vision.

Faolan listens.

"Which leads me to you. You are different, unlike any Demon Slayer I've ever seen. Have you looked at yourself? You bear a mark, yet it does not resemble the common mark Demon Slayer's can unlock," Yukina states.

In the occurrence of the battle with the Mother Demon–Julieanne. Faolan had tapped into an unknown power, marking across the scar on his face. 

"What is your intention here?" she asks suspiciously.

"I'm here to stop whatever is happening here from anywhere else," Faolan stands his ground.

Yukina traces herself in her thoughts. At the peak of her curiosity, she can finally confirm this whole predicament.

"You're no Demon Slayer," she states.

A blank silence appears between them. The stars ripple in half, and the protrusion of colors clashes in abstract glory, electrifying and freezing one another.

"To the Corps, at least," Yukina giggles.

Faolan faces her, seeing her genuinely laughing at the situation. He is a bit confused with her behavior.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me… I take it that Ketsueki knows, then?" Yukina adds.

Faolan gulps and faces away from her as she turns to face him.

" Yes," Faolan replied.

"Ah, already could assume so since he brought you here randomly in a very interesting mission report from the last mission he was in," Yukina states.

"It was my village," Faolan says with a homesick smile.

Yukina takes notice, a familiar look. It reminds her of–

"The village is safe. Demon Slayers routinely stay around for any other disturbances, but it has been extremely minimal," Yukina holds her chin.

"I must inquire Ketsueki of that whole situation."

"You don't want to ask me?" Faolan asked.

"You've done enough for me for one night," Yukina tilts her head to him, displaying genuine honesty.

"Besides, it's fun to interrogate him since he's been worried about you. Kagero is useless, though," Yukina smiles, looking into the village now.

The stars mold and fuse.

"I've brought you your book," she smiles, handing it to Faolan with both palms.

Faolan turns back to her and reaches for the book; his arm is filled with scratches and scars. He gently grabs the book.

"I'm thankful to you," Faolan slightly smiles.

Yukina gazes upon that smile, and her eyes flash brightly for a split moment. She attempts to capture the moment, but it immediately fades from her pupils. She decides to brush it off and think in the present.

"You carry a book full of interesting stories and themes. You do well to study them as your Mother has," Yukina commanded.

Faolan perked up and felt embarrassed at the statement, "I have to read and dissect it piece by piece. It takes time," he nervously laughed.

"You will have to explain to me the stories one day then," Yukina stands to her feet, facing away from Faolan.

"You have to be alive to tell it, you know," Yukina ordered.

Faolan nervously laughs as she departs from his company. Faolan ponders within himself. He thinks of what he learned in this place. This place, the inhabitants, Julieanne, the Demon Slayers, it is like shaping steel. The hammer pounds us, making us feel the thrusting pain beat within our minds and hearts. When we think we're safe, we're put into the flame to be burnt and hammered once again. Everyone suffers, but the blade must be made. There is an end to the hammering. However, once forged, it doesn't make one indestructible. Even forged, one can shatter completely or must be wholly hammered anew.

 —

In a darkly lit room with floors, walls, and ceilings of exquisite architecture, a being lit up by a single flame of a candle analyzes documents. He patiently reads passages of potential findings of many different kinds of subjects. He sighs softly but continues to explore recent progress. There is tension in his mind, gritting of teeth and clenching of his grip. He pauses.

A familiar Demon with unrelenting proportions enters the room. 

"My Lord, we have found the scent," it was Madam Aika.

"I was correct about that village boy. He has been found in Sattokotta by one of your own making," she engulfed in the pleasure of her confirmation.

He is quiet.

"This boy, he has the blood. He is what we need to advance," Madam Aika expresses contentedness.

She now awaits the response of her Master.

"Okami has been found again after all this time," he stands.

Madam Aika gazes with wondrous glory at her Master, and she is, in fact, proud of herself and the exterior amazement of her Master.

His eyes glow a translucent hue of a powdery azure.

He can feel the connection between Okami and himself. 

Faolan is marked.