Chapter 5: Shadows of Mortality

The moonlight filtered through the windows of Shinra Yasumi's modest home, casting a silvery glow over the small gathering. Despite the serene ambiance, the room hummed with anticipation. As the leader of the 4th group in the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinra had called a meeting to discuss important matters with her team.

Her team, though small, was tightly knit and dependable. Seated on the tatami mats before her were Tetsuga Kamiyama and Goze, her adopted daughter and a rising slayer in her own right. Tetsuga leaned back with his arms crossed, a grin plastered across his face, while Goze sat with her usual quiet attentiveness, listening to the soul hashira.

"Our team is small," Shinra began, her voice even but firm, "but we've always relied on quality over quantity. That said, I've been considering expanding our numbers."

At her words, Tetsuga raised an eyebrow. "Expanding? Are we finally getting someone taller than me in this team?" he joked, earning a small laugh from Goze.

Shinra allowed herself a faint smile before continuing. "I've been in talks with the Sky Hashira, leader of the 9th team. He has a slayer under his command—Kazuo—who I believe would be an excellent addition to our group."

Goze tilted her head curiously. "Kazuo? Isn't he the one who defended the northern outpost from that massive swarm of demons last month?"

"Yes," Shinra confirmed. "Rikuya speaks highly of him. He's strong, disciplined, and trustworthy. I believe he would complement our dynamic well."

Tetsuga's grin widened. "If he's as good as they say, I'd welcome the help. Not that we can't hold our own, of course."

Shinra gave a small nod. "We'll see. I plan to meet with Kazuo soon to discuss the possibility. For now, let's focus on today's agenda."

Before Shinra could continue, Tetsuga interrupted, puffing out his chest proudly. "Speaking of good news—I have an announcement of my own."

Both Shinra and Goze turned their attention to him.

"I've officially ranked up," Tetsuga declared, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "From Kanoe to Tsuchinoto!"

Goze clapped, her face lighting up with genuine excitement. "That's amazing, Tetsuga, Congratulations"

Even Shinra's stoic expression softened as she offered him a nod of approval. "Well done. You've earned it."

The room filled with warmth and laughter as they celebrated Tetsuga's achievement, but their joy was short-lived.

A deep, resonant bell rang out, cutting through the night air like a blade. The sound was unmistakable—a warning signal that echoed through the Corps grounds, alerting all slayers to an immediate threat within the area.

The smiles vanished instantly. Shinra's hand flew to the double-sided scythe resting against the wall. "Stay here," she ordered, her voice sharp and commanding.

Goze's brows furrowed. "But—"

"No arguments," Shinra interrupted. "Lock the doors and windows. Don't move until I return."

Tetsuga nodded, his expression serious now, but Goze hesitated, worry etched across her face. Still, she knew better than to disobey Shinra when she used that tone.

Shinra bolted out the door, her scythe gleaming under the moonlight as she sprinted toward the source of the commotion. The bell's echoes grew louder as she neared the medical mansion, the Corps' central hub for treating injured slayers.

When she arrived, the scene was chaotic. Dozens of slayers crowded outside the mansion, murmuring anxiously amongst themselves. Shinra pushed her way through the throng, her sharp gaze cutting through the crowd.

At the center of the commotion lay a pile of ash—the unmistakable remains of a demon. Beside it stood a woman with long black hair braided neatly into two plaits. Her fox-like features and reddish eyes gave her an otherworldly air, though her expression remained calm and composed.

This was the doctor who had joined the Corps only six months ago. Renowned for her unparalleled surgical skills, she performed operations that most medics wouldn't dare attempt. She had quickly become a cornerstone of the Corps' medical team, but something about her presence now felt... off.

As the demon's ashes scattered in the wind, the tension in the air began to dissipate. Slayers slowly returned to their posts, reassured that the immediate threat had been neutralized.

Shinra lingered, her eyes narrowing as she studied the doctor. The woman's calm demeanor felt almost unnatural, as though she were entirely unfazed by the chaos around her.

Before Shinra could approach her, a familiar figure caught her attention. Souta Mizuhara, the Mist Hashira, stood a few paces away, his face pale and his hands trembling.

Shinra moved toward him. "Souta? Are you alright?"

He didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the ground, his breathing uneven.

Before Shinra could press him further, she heard a familiar voice call out her name. Turning around, she saw Goze hurrying toward her, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

"Goze!" Shinra snapped, her voice sharp with disapproval. "I told you to stay inside!"

Goze hesitated, her head lowering slightly. "I... I was worried about you."

Before Shinra could scold her further, a soft gasp broke the tension. The doctor's reddish eyes were fixed on Goze, her calm facade faltering for a brief moment. Without a word, she turned and retreated into the mansion, closing the door behind her.

Shinra frowned, her instincts screaming that something was amiss.

"What was that about?" Goze asked, her brows knitting together.

"I don't know," Shinra admitted, her gaze lingering on the closed door.

Shinra turned her attention back to Souta, who hadn't moved from his spot. Goze stepped forward and gently shook his arm. "Hey, snap out of it!"

Souta blinked, his focus finally returning. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling as he spoke.

"I wasn't here at the beginning," he said. "But I saw her... the doctor. She didn't just kill the demon." He paused, his hands clenching into fists. "She... tortured it. Cut it apart piece by piece with a surgical knife before beheading it. It was sick."

His hands suddenly gripped Goze's shoulders, his voice growing desperate. "Promise me, Goze. Promise me you won't go near her. Stay away from that woman!"

Goze hesitated, unnerved by the uncharacteristic fear in Souta's voice. "I promise," she whispered, her voice shaky.

The tension from the night's events lingered as morning broke over the Corps' grounds. Goze tried to shake off Souta's warnings, but his haunted expression stayed with her. It wasn't long before her crow swooped in, its wings flapping furiously as it cawed an urgent message.

"Goze! Mission in the northern village! Join the 1st team at the north exit immediately!

Goze's heart sank at the bird's urgency. The 1st team was led by Kousei, Shinra's husband and the Corps' longest-serving Hashira, While she admired him deeply missions with him were always demanding. Still, she trusted his leadership implicitly.

Hurriedly, she grabbed her sword, informed Shinra, and made her way to the designated meeting point .

At the north exit, Goze was the first to arrive, as instructed. Soon, four other slayers joined her-three boys and a girl.

A tall man with a broad frame and a confident demeanor, introduced himself as Hideo. The girl, Kana, looked nervous but determined. The other two boys, Ryota and Sora

exchanged casual banter, their camaraderie evident

"Let's move quickly," Hideo said, his tone brisk. "The village is a day's journey, and we need to reach it by nightfall."

The team set ott at a brisk pace, their crows guiding them. As they ran through forests and over rocky terrain, Kana tried to lighten the mood. "This is my first major mission with the 1st team. I just want to make mr.izanami proud."

"You'lI be fine," Goze assured her though she couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in her chest

They stopped briefly to rest and eat The group's lighthearted banter helped ease the tension, but as the sun dipped lower in the sky, the weight of their task settled on them

When they finally reached the village, they decided to rest and eat at a small restaurant before sundown. The quiet ambiance was a welcome respite, but Goze remained unusually quiet

"Why so serious?" Ryota teased "You*re not scared, are you?"

Goze chuckled softly. "Just tired," she replied, though her senses were already on high alert.

As the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, the team ventured out into the streets. The village was eerily silent, and Goze's unease grew with each passing moment

Suddenly, without warning, Ryota's body was torn apart infront their eyes. Blood splattered across the cobblestones as his lifeless form crumpled to the ground

Kana let out a piercing scream collapsing to her knees as tears streamed down her face. "No! Ryota!"

"Calm down!" Goze snapped, trying to steady her own racing heart. "We need to focus- "

Before she could finish, another attack came out of nowhere. This time, Sora's arm was severed, and he let out a guttural scream of pain.

"It's invisible!" Hideo shouted, his voice trembling. "Run! Goze, take Kana and go!"

"No!" Goze protested, but Hideo pushed her forward. "We'll hold it off. Go!"

Knowing she had no choice, Goze grabbed Kana's arm and dragged her down the nearest alley

"Do you see anything?" Goze demanded as they ran, her eyes darting in every direction

Kana shook her head, her sobs making it hard to breathe. "No. don't see anyone.

The demon's attacks were relentless, slicing through the air as though coming from all directions One strike narrowly missed Kana, but Goze wasn't as lucky. A deep gash tore through her left leg, and she cried out in pain

"Run!" Goze shouted, shoving Kana forward. "Don't stop, no matter what!"

But Kana froze, her terror paralyzing her. " don't want to die!" she wailed her voice echoing in the empty streets

Before Goze could reach her, Kana's cries were abruptly silenced. Her lifeless body hit the ground, leaving Goze alone with the unseen predator

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she stumbled through the alleys, blood trailing behind her. The demon's mocking voice echoed all around her.

"You still think you can survive?" it sneered.

"I have hope," Goze spat back, clutching her sword tightly despite the pain. "I have my team!"

The demon's laughter was cold and cruel. "Do you think they're still alive? Foolish girl."

Goze froze, her heart sinking as the weight of his words settled on her. Tears welled in her eyes, but she forced herself to keep moving

She kept running and jumping away from the sudden attack until dawn. After the demon left the area Goze's strength gave up. She collapsed in a small, desolate alley, her body battered and broken laying in her iwn puddle of blood over hours.

She was too weak to move or even speak.

Around evening, She heard footsteps approaching and braced herself for the end, but instead of a killing blow, she felt strong arms lift her from the ground

"Goze!" Kousei's voice was filled with panic. "Stay with me. Don't you dare give up!"

He pressed his hand against her wounds, his medical training kicking in.

"You've lost so much blood," he muttered, his voice trembling "Dammit.. why didn't anyone reported this..?"

As Kousei carried Goze through the empty streets of the village, he kept glancing down at her pale face. Her blood had soaked through his clothes, but he pressed on, refusing to let her go.

"Stay with me," he muttered under his breath. "You're tougher than this, Goze."

Goze's eyelids fluttered. She wasn't unconscious, but she couldn't move or speak. Kousei brought her into the same restaurant they had stopped at earlier. The once lively room was now quiet, the laughter and camaraderie of her team replaced by an eerie stillness.

He carefully laid her down on a bench and set to work cleaning her wounds with supplies he had brought. His hands moved swiftly and with practiced ease, remnants of his years as a nurse.

Goze's face was emotionless, but tears silently streamed down her cheeks as she stared at the table. The memories of her fallen teammates replayed in her mind, their voices fading like echoes in a hollow cave.

Kousei paused his work to kneel beside her. His usually stoic expression softened, his voice barely above a whisper. "You did everything you could. Don't blame yourself for what happened."

But his words seemed worthless.

As the sun set and the shadows grew longer, Kousei approached the restaurant's chef, a kind older man who had been quietly watching the scene.

"Please keep an eye on her," Kousei said. "I need to go outside tonight, but I'll be back before morning. Make sure she doesn't move."

The chef nodded. "She'll be safe here."

Kousei glanced back at Goze, who lay motionless on the bench, before stepping out into the night.

Left alone with her thoughts, Goze's mind raced. She replayed the mission over and over, trying to find a moment where things could have gone differently. Her body ached with every breath, but the pain in her heart was worse.

"I failed them," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I couldn't save anyone."

As Kousei stepped into the shadows, his aura shifted, an almost tangible chill emanating from him. The air grew heavy, suffused with the presence of something foreboding—death itself. His katana, darkened with streaks resembling withered veins, hummed faintly as he gripped it.

From the darkness, a mocking voice echoed, low and dripping with arrogance.

"Ah, the infamous Death Hashira. I've heard tales about you. Tell me, does death ever scare its wielder?"

Kousei's expression was unchanging, his voice steady and cold. "You'll have your answer soon enough."

The demon emerged from the shadows, a tall and sinewy figure, its claws glinting like razors in the faint moonlight. Its glowing eyes fixed on Kousei with amusement. "You're too late. They're all gone. What will you do, slayer, mourn them? Or die trying to avenge them?"

Kousei moved without warning, a flash of steel slicing through the darkness. The demon barely dodged, its shadowy body warping unnaturally.

"Impatient, aren't we?" the demon sneered, reforming behind him and slashing with its claws.

Kousei twisted his body, his katana parrying the attack with a sharp clang. The force of the blow sent vibrations through the ground, but Kousei didn't falter.

The demon was fast, its movements erratic and tricky. It vanished into the shadows, only to reappear with its claws aimed at his neck. Kousei ducked, his blade flashing upward in a counterstrike, but the demon dissolved into smoke again, cackling as it reformed at a distance.

"You can't kill what you can't catch, Hashira!"

That demon was surprisingly strong for a regular one, the Hashira saw the mark in its eyes; a Lower Moon

Kousei's gaze darkened, his grip tightening on his katana.

"Death Breathing: Second Form – Reaper's Scythe."

He swung his blade in a wide arc, and a black, crescent-shaped wave of energy shot forward, cutting through the shadows and striking one of the demon's clones. The clone disintegrated instantly, revealing the real demon just behind it.

The demon snarled, retreating briefly. "Not bad… but you're still too slow!"

It launched a flurry of attacks, its claws and shadowy tendrils coming from all directions. Kousei moved with precision, parrying and dodging each strike. His movements were almost mechanical, cold and calculated, as if he were a reaper fulfilling his duty.

The demon's voice grew more frantic. "Why don't you flinch? Why don't you hesitate?"

izanami Chuckled "should i?"

The demon tried to retreat into the shadows again, but Kousei's blade followed it relentlessly.

"Death Breathing: Fourth Form – Oblivion Dance."

With a series of rapid, fluid strikes, he sliced through the demon's defenses, his blade moving so swiftly it seemed to blur. Each strike carried an oppressive weight, as though the very concept of mortality bore down on the demon.

The demon stumbled, its body marked with deep, blackened cuts. Panic flickered in its glowing eyes. "You can't kill me! I'm immortal!"

Kousei stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. His voice was cold and final.

"Death comes for all."

"Death Breathing: First Form – Silent End."

In a single, devastating slash, Kousei's blade severed the demon's head from its body. The attack was so precise, so swift, that the demon didn't even have time to scream. Its body began to crumble into ash, its voice reduced to a faint, desperate whisper.

"How…?"

Kousei sheathed his katana, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "you killed the wrong team.."

The ashes scattered in the wind, leaving only silence behind. Kousei exhaled deeply, the weight of his focus lifting. His thoughts turned immediately to Goze.

Without wasting another moment, he headed back toward the restaurant. The fight was over, but his concern for her burned brighter than ever.

True to his word, Kousei returned before dawn. His hands were dirty, and his uniform had a few new scratches, but he looked relieved to see Goze still alive.

"You didn't move. Good," he said, trying to sound gruff but failing to hide the hint of pride in his voice.

Goze gave him a weak nod.

He sat beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You'll heal, Goze. You're stronger than you think."