Chapter Text
The woodland surrounded them as the group of demon slayers journeyed to an area that had long been deemed cursed by the rest of the organisation. They had been walking for nearly two days when the sun had began to set once more.
Tanjiro was carrying Nezuko on his back, her feet needing a rest after trying to keep the pain to herself like she always did. Though she did not like the constant need for additional help, the Kamado sister knew that the nerves in her feet had been damaged irreparably that night. She was currently chattering away with Muichiro Tokito, who had brightened up over the past couple of days.
After that incident in the garden, something had changed in him.
The mist hashira was talkative, almost child-like in his nature, Tanjiro could not help but wonder just how long that side of Muichiro had been hidden under the mask of being the passive, forgetful hashira. He had brought over a light pink camellia earlier when they had made a quick stop to eat, the elder Kamado had noticed the mist breather fretting slightly before approaching Nezuko with the blush coloured bloom.
“It made me think of your eyes...” He had spoken quietly.
His sister had planted it in her hair just above her left ear, blushing slighted as she did so. He supposed it would be around that time when she would start to think about boys more often, perhaps he needed to speak with her regarding this crush of theirs?
“The castle is up ahead” Gyomei announced, grabbing their attention. Genya was stood beside the stone hashira when they all stopped to marvel at the grand building that was being slowly reclaimed by the forest.. The roof had collapsed inward though the rest of the structure remained strong, ivy clung to the brickwork like a growing rash.
Stood at the gates were a pair of the advanced kakushi that Gyomei had mentioned, dressed in a blood red version of the normal uniform. They were armed with both swords and firearms of some kind, they were fearsome to look at let alone speak to.
The giant of a man stood before them and handed over the letter that the master had written, the pair nodded before they opened a door that led underground. The hallways were brilliantly preserved and well looked after in comparison to the rest of the castle, burning torches lit their way to a pair of dark oak doors with black chains holding them closed. The key that had been found was prompted pushed into the lock, it made several clicking noises before the chains slithered away and the doors opened with an ominous creek.
The black archives were opened.
He placed Nezuko back on her feet before they entered apprehensively.
It wasn’t a large room but there were enough records that made his stomach churn, were there really so many people that turned against the demon slayers after working for them? Tanjiro shuddered to think as he scanned each shelf, he opened a book to see if he could find the information they needed only to find himself reading of an incident when one swordsman had been caught mistreating the women he saved from a demon.
He shoved the book back onto the shelf as if it had bit him.
The gentle giant walked over and placed a hand onto his shoulder, tears falling from his face. “This place is called the black archives for good reason. We will need to comb through this place, so be prepared to read something that you would rather not. You must lock away any emotion for now, we have a job to do”
The sun breather swallowed and nodded.
He wasn’t sure just how long they had been in this godforsaken place when he stumbled slightly and caused something to fall beside him. It was long and wrapped in a cloth, tied together with red ribbon. Curiosity filling his mind, he untied the ribbon, allowing the cloth to peel around from when was wrapped up.
An ink black blade, similar to Tanjiro’s own, glinted in the torch light.
It was forged beautifully, with ripples that curved through the metal like smoke. The hilt was finely crafted, the pattern resembling the mountain that he had once called home. His mouth began to dry up like a desert as an urge filled his body to touch the blade.
It was smooth, then darkness clouded his vision. The screams of his group fading into the black.
-
Tanjiro shot up onto his feet, it seemed he was back out in the middle of the woods.
“Was I… dreaming?” He questioned before he made out the sounds of footsteps racing in his direction. The scent was not one belonging to a demon, no it was the scent of fear, of horror, of…
He didn’t have time to think before he found himself running towards a pair of figures who had charged passed him. He saw the familiar chequered haori and shuddered as he realised that he was running alongside an ancestor who had been dead for well over four hundred years.
“Sumiyoshi!” The second figured cried out, there was no doubt in Tanjiro’s mind that this must have been a Rengoku ancestor. Would he have been the first flame hashira? Thoughts came in and out of his head as he watched the scene “You can’t run off, you’ll get yourself killed!”
Sumiyoshi Kamado did not respond, instead he hastened his pace even as the pain in his legs stretched into the meat of his thighs.
He could not stop.
Yoriichi needed him.
Finally, an old estate of some kind grew into his view. Tanjiro hurried alongside his ancestor, stopping only when the charcoal seller nearly collapsed upon entering the estate. The stench of sickness hit him in full force, not even when his own father had been on the brink of death had it ever smelt so awful,
Beside him, Sumiyoshi had started to weep as he entered a room tenderly, carefully, quietly.
Tanjiro could not hold back the tears.
The sun hashira, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, was laid out in bed. He was alive, but barely if the slow breathing was anything to suggest. His was pale, slightly gaunt looking with lips that held a terrifying shade of blue. He was shivering, yet would push anyone away weakly if they tried to touch him.
As the charcoal approached, the other hashira in the room were beginning to panic. One of them with green hair and deep blue eyes was becoming increasingly frantic, he couldn’t help but guess that this was the wind hashira judging by the way Tanjiro was reminded of Sanemi.
Beside him was a man draped in blue, with azure hair and eyes that matched, he was sobbing loudly to Tanjiro’s horror. He supposed this must have been the water hashira.
“Yuto! Kaito! We must leave them be...” The flame hashira spoke up.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Tatsumi, he may have been your friend before ours but we need to stay!”
Yuto replied harshly “What point is there? We can’t treat him, you won’t be able to treat him. Hell, he won’t let us anywhere near him...”
Tanjiro turned his attention back onto his own ancestor as the others argued, who was trying to sooth the dying sun hashira despite his own tears falling uncontrollably. The pale man swallowed tickly and mumbled something that only Sumiyoshi could hear. “l...loud...too… loud...”
The young sun breather could not help but notice how everything seemed to slow for just a second as his ancestor turned his head and stared at the other swordsmen. All three of them focused on him as the kind lights in Sumiyoshi’s eyes faded, replaced with a devastating level of wrath that would burn anything it wanted to a crisp.
His voice was smooth, still gentle but they held power like he had never heard before.
“Get out, all of you”
All three scattered and left, not wanting to find themselves facing the wrath of a gentle man. Quiet fell and Sumiyoshi took a deep breath. Both men in their black and green haori’s froze as a tear ran down the sun hashira’s face, he shifted slightly revealed several harsh bite marks that lined his shoulders and neck.
“W-what happened? Yoriichi, I was told you sat out in the rain for nearly six hours before you became sick. Why did you do it?”
The breathing was raspy, like the sun hashira was trying to gather the words to explain. He coughed, letting another tear fall. “I… did something. I did… something… unforgivable...”
“Yoriichi, you don’t need to talk if its too much for you, let me help you-” He was stopped by Yoriichi’s cold hand holding onto his own. “I… must confess...” He spoke as though his strength was fading quickly, Sumiyoshi sniffled as he leaned in to listen.
“I… did something. I have… taken lovers but… I did not think… that I would… take someone…who would harm me. They...” He swallowed, the tears flowing more now. “They…”
“Tsugikuni-san...” Tanjiro choked on his own breath, forcing himself to hold back the tears. The bite marks and bruises coupled with what the sun hashira could not bring himself to say was more than enough to paint a horrific picture in his mind.
“Who did this to you?” Sumiyoshi growled.
“If I… say. Please do not… confront them. They… will kill you.”
His ancestor went through the motions, thinking, considering, planning before finally relenting.
“Michikatsu...”
A silence fell over the room. “w-what...”
“The worst...thing. I wanted… I to be in… control. I… enjoyed it. I’ve sinned… in the worst way...possible.”
“You wanted to be in control because he was forcing himself on you! Yoriichi, its not that unforgivable! I can’t believe this, your own twin would force himself on you...”
Tanjiro thought he was going to be sick with how violently his stomach jolted. His own brother?
His own twin had, more or less, raped him?!
“I stayed… in the rain… to cleanse… myself...” He continued speaking until he suddenly stopped. “Have… the torches gone out?”
Sumiyoshi whimpered at the meaning of his words, and nodded. “Yes, they went out. Someone will light them up again shortly” He clung on as the breathing slowed still. He went to let go until Yoriichi seized onto his hands tightly. “Please...” The sun hashira pleaded tearfully, lights fading from his eyes “Please stay… I don’t want to be alone. Remember… your promise...”
A single tear fell as the his chest stopped moving.