Journey To The East

Snow melts, days pass, and the sun beams down on the city, illuminating its glory. Faolan still had bandages around his arms and body, and a local tailor was able to patch his damaged Haori as well as his Demon Slayer uniform. However, it would not have the same effectiveness as once before, but there was a comforting worth within it. Perhaps it was the village's peace that has brought it. 

The other Demon Slayers were packing their belongings and receiving a message from their crows, aside from Kagero and Ketsueki. 

"Looks like I have to head to the provinces down South; Demon sightings spotted," Arashi stated as he smiled wittingly. 

"Finally, I get to get away from you," Kagero laughed.

Arashi quickly raised his temper. "You idiot, you wouldn't survive out in the South. More powerful demons linger there," he said pridefully.

"I hope you live to tell the tale then," Kagero pointed and winked.

"Agh," Arashi decides to ignore the sound of his voice.

Arashi turns to Ketsueki, who is still battered from his fight with Faolan, he does not look at him in disgust, but in some way, he grows some respect for his commitment to his battle.

"Harumi-san would be proud," Arashi scoffed.

Ketsueki did not react.

Jasumin consulted with Yukina, "I see, so the Butterfly Estate needs my assistance in the matter of this particular Demon," 

"Do you believe Muzan is evolving?"

"No, I don't think Muzan is evolving. However, this is a special circumstance, it may have been a potential Lower Moon. Maybe something else entirely, keep the matter of this documentation for my research. We or I shall meet you there in a few days," Yukina stated, looking curiously at Faolan, who was reading his book. 

"Understood, I'll be heading there momentarily," Jasumin bowed and then approached Ketsueki.

"You remember to watch how much energy you throw yourself in," She peeks at Faolan, "You could've nearly died if it wasn't for that boy," she said scoldingly.

Ketsueki does not respond, and he is stationary.

"Hey!" Jasumin knocked on his head.

"Yes, yes, I understand," Ketsueki finally replied.

'What are his thoughts?' she wondered. "You and I are headed to the Butterfly Estate, and we need to get a complete diagnosis of your health. You lost so much blood. Maintaining breathing styles will be extremely dangerous if you have oxygen deficiency," she commanded.

"I must speak with Faolan," Ketsueki said, rising to his feet once more. Jasumin watched as he limped by and sighed softly.

Strolling over to Faolan, Ketsueki spoke to him closely. He wanted to ensure that no one else could hear their conversation. For Faolan was not a Demon Slayer after all.

"Faolan, it seems like we'll have to wait on this investigation," Ketsueki grunts in disappointment.

"Its fine, Ketsueki, you need to be healed, and I rather know that you're safe instead of being in potential danger," Faolan said as he nodded to him, signaling his approval to go.

Ketsueki appeared troubled.

"I won't be too far behind; Yukina apparently is 'on' with us," Faolan stated.

"I know; she told me about all her 'curiosities,'" Ketsueki shifted only his eyes to Yukina, who was crafting documentation of sorts.

His thoughts capture the night when Yukina revealed her inquiries. Her gaze gives Ketsueki a sense of unease. Her sharp words and penetrating confidence are something to behold, but he also recognizes her impressive curiosity toward Faolan and this situation. However, what he's worried about is how unpredictable she can be. 

'What is her intention? What is her end game?' he pondered.

"It's fine, Ketsueki; I'll follow what you've shown me," Faolan softly placed his palm on Ketsueki's shoulder.

Ketsueki paused; he took in the utter assurance of Faolan's incredible humility. 'This guy… he's grown a bit so fast. Maybe he's more unpredictable than she'll ever be,' Ketsueki thought.

"Just be sure to watch what you say and do. We never know what she might be planning," Ketsueki added.

"I know," Faolan understood.

Ketsueki headed towards Jasumin, and his crows suddenly knocked his head over.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!" Ketsueki shouted.

"Are you gonna scream like a child?" Jasumin questioned sarcastically.

Completely ignoring her, Ketsueki turned to face Faolan again, "Faolan, don't stop training, always breathe and focus. There's always more to learn, like 'Total Concentration Breathing: Constant,' go ask Yukina about it," he stated as he was now being dragged to leave camp.

Ketsueki waved to Faolan, and it seemed as though Ketsueki had obtained something deeper with Faolan. Faolan could see that there was something different about Ketsueki now, something inexplicably hopeful.

'Total Concentration Breathing but Constant, huh,' Faolan thought.

"He's right," Utazo added.

He was using a waterstone to further enhance the deadliness of his odachi.

"You fought commendably, I'll give you that, but you should learn the technique," Utazo turned and faced east with frustration.

"It'll give you an edge in combat and help you survive," Utazo's odachi form sparks with each powerful swipe he grants it.

"I'll be leaving now," he states.

"WAIT YOU'RE GOING UTAZO?" Kagero shouts.

"Obviously," Utazo replies.

"I have somewhere I need to be," Utazo gives him a stern look.

Kagero inspects his eyes and Faolan too. To Utazo's surprise, he can see Kagero's seriousness and Faolan's. Internally, Utazo seems to nod.

"We'll see ya then," Kagero states as he bows.

"Take care out there," Faolan adds as he bows too.

Utazo leaves the encampment, he heads towards the North East, and smirks. 

'These people are strange, but… they've proven… agh whatever,' Utazo thought, his mind reminiscing Faolan and Kagero's actions throughout the last few weeks; he also thought about the number of deaths he witnessed. The way he watched as he let the demons thrash on the officials. He sheathed his odachi on his back, and he calmly exited. His eyes relax, he thinks of something in particular, a thought he holds intensely, and a wave of frustration waves through his heart. A deep, profound anger and malice towards one person in particular.

"So that's that then?" Kagero relaxes his head upon his arms. 

"I suppose it is, for now," Faolan breathes as his heart beats quicker.

"I met these two citizens, Uno-san and Kawamura-san. They were very grateful for what we were able to do for them and for the village," Kagero said, examining his thoughts. I wonder how long it'll take for something else to go wrong for these people," Kagero slightly frowned.

Faolan took notice, but Kagero's frown instantly disappeared.

"We can pray for the safety of this village," Faolan added. Kagero smiled and nodded, raising his fist up in fiery glory.

"I agree!" Kagero blazes loudly.

Faolan laughs embarrassingly, and Kagero just laughs, taking in the situation. Yukina finishes her documentation and approaches the two. 

"I'm not sure how prayer can stop evil manifestations of demons or even people themselves, Faolan," Yukina stated with an inquisitive eye.

Kagero went silent, "Oh." he said.

Faolan stood, approached Yukina, and examined her closely. Her eyes resonate with an unspoken, untapped fury, yet blizzards consume the darkness in her eyes. Her ribbon rests gracefully, and her red butterfly clip glows in the sun. Yukina encompasses something greater within her mind, yet locked away, a scheme she had built from within. Something she decides to keep frozen, to never burn her from within.

"Is it better to do nothing? Fight and die for powers these people cannot face themselves?" Faolan inquired.

"With prayer, at least there's something, something they can grasp onto. Suffering is real. Who else can they turn to? Us? No? They've lost so many lives to whoever is responsible for all this. What's needed is hope, hope for justice, and hope for goodness. Things may not be perfect, but it's better than dying," Faolan stated.

Yukina locks closely into Faolan, her face close to his, "There are fates worse than death, and you know that," she states.

"But at what cost?" Faolan added.

"Everything," Yukina adds quickly.

"There will be nothing if you lose everything," Faolan stated.

They both are extremely close to one another, eyeing the other down. Kagero spectates the event before him, the marvelously deadly butterfly girl and the awesome stones of steel boy face to face. They don't fear each other. Yukina stares deeply and finds pleasure. She laughs. Seeing him reminded her. It made her feel.

"Either way, Faolan, we will be leaving the village and journeying to the East; you're coming too, Kagero," Yukina stated, cutting off their standoff. She seemed satisfied with the debacle. Faolan stood his ground but gave himself a massive breather. 

"Why?" Kagero asked.

"The mission demands it," Yukina glances over to Faolan. We will need you for this; there's another key point of interest that demands it, and I need someone to be a practice dummy to teach Faolan's 'Total Concentration Breathing: Constant,'" she giggles softly.

"Wait a second! I don't even know that either!" Kagero combusts.

"You learn then," Yukina smiled.

"WHAT!?" Kagero flashed his arms and legs.

Faolan rubbed his forehead and down to his scar. He knew it was going to be a long trip. He interrupts Kagero's blistering to ask Yukina a question. 

"Yukina, where are we going?" 

Yukina shifts her palms and interlocks them behind her back.

"We will be heading to another demon-related active zone, or at least there once was, but there are similar issues of disappearances as well. So it could be both, and concerning what happened here," she refers to her interrogation with the government official Ken.

"Then we shall head to the Butterfly Estate." 

"I see," Faolan replies. Picking himself back and prepping his mind for the journey.

"We do need to explain everything to Kagero, though," Yukina adds. Faolan inspects Yukina, giving her a confirmative expression.

"Wait, why are you guys looking at each other all strangely? Is there more I should know about my existence as a Demon Slayer?" 

Kagero gives up.

As Yukina, Kagero, and Faolan exited Satokotta from the path through the Residential District, many people congratulated and greeted them. The village quickly fell back into place, full of life and peace for the time being. Faolan heard about the deaths the officers had taken and still thought about the lost children and Julieanne. Although he was happy, he also lowered his head. Heaviness swept him.

Right before they exited the village, Uno had found Kagero and wished him and the others a farewell. As they were passing by her, she grabbed Kagero and kissed him. Faolan and Yukina were shocked. 

"That's something I would never assume," Yukina giggles.

"Uhh," Faolan shakes his head as he squints in second-hand embarrassment.

The two separated from the long kiss.

"Woa and what?" Kagero questioned. Uno didn't respond and wished him farewell. 

The tall buildings and the infrastructure of the buildings slowly dissipated as the group continued onwards. Grassland further showed itself, and the call of nature howled greatly. The trees brisk sharply, and the sun beams through the greenery and the spaces they created. They formed powerful rays shining intensely and marvelously. Slowly, the sound of civilization became further and further. The empty silence of nature is what it encompasses. Snow still lingered but mostly melted away. Streams of crystal water flowed down tiny dirt crevices, passing into another stream and more water dripping from the ends of the leaves.

Faolan took in the environment. It reminded him of home, the peace and tranquility, and all the difficult moments he had to power through. He was grateful that he had the company he has now. Even though Ketsueki and some of the others have left, he will be forever grateful that they ever met. He feels interconnected as they journey to the East.