A Bystander's Guide to Growing Up in Demon Slayer

"The eyes of the one who longs are the color of the sea."

Ibuki Kiyoko lived a happy, fulfilling life until she was fourteen.

She had parents who loved her, an adorable younger brother and sister, a gentle and handsome older sister, and a cute little dog. Her days were spent helping her parents with their many chores, and little else.

Their modest but comfortable life had brought her to where she was now, and she thought things could go on like this forever.

Until the night of her fourteenth birthday.

Blood stained the floor red, and flames spread through the wooden house, devouring everything. The smell of burning wood swallowed up her quiet sobs and all other scents. Hidden beneath the bed by her parents, she watched a demon tear her sister apart.

From then on, everything changed. She stood before the burned-out wooden house, watching the sunlight rise, with nowhere to go.

This was the nightmare Ibuki Kiyoko could never escape.

*

"Give me your hand."

The boy's voice rang clear in her memory.

Mist blanketed the mountains, and the night was hidden beneath the thick fog. Someone seemed to grasp her wrist just as they had in her memory, and her arm was lifted against her will. The blade of her Nichirin Blade gleamed, dazzlingly bright.

"It's all right. There's nothing to be afraid of. This is easy. We've practiced many times."

The gentle touch felt both real and unreal. In an instant, the demon appeared.

Just as she had imagined and thought about countless times, the blade cleaved through the air and came down hard. She used her Breathing Style, and her body felt impossibly light.

Only when the demon's head had been severed did Ibuki Kiyoko stand among the dispersing ashes, gripping the hilt and gazing at her empty wrist. When she spoke softly, her voice was little more than a whisper.

"I did it."

She said,

"I'm still alive, Sabito."

A story born from a sudden idea.

The heroine really is just an ordinary person, and she's not very strong ( )

Not sure if this counts as having a CP. If it does, it's probably Sabito.

The heroine learns the Breathing Style shortly before Tanjiro does.

Sorry for the OOC. The writing is average, so read with caution.

Theme: Moving forward with an unwavering conviction.