9 Chapter 9. Awakening

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"Kotaro-san!"

As soon the demon vanished into ashes, Mitsuri quickly ran towards Kotaro with tears of worry.

"Mitsuri."

Kotaro sat down with a breath of relief.

"A-Are you alright? I am sorry I wasn't able to help despite being more powerful than y–"

"It's alright. You don't have to feel so guilty over not helping me. It is my duty to protect you. So, don't worry about all this."

Kotaro just looked at her and smiled, making her hug him with tears.

"I-I was so worried."

"I know."

"I even thought what I would do if you d–"

"How could I leave you alone? Don't ever think again like that."

"Umm."

Mitsuri nodded again and then helped Kotaro to stand up.

The wound on his hand was slowly healing up because of Hamon.

"This…"

"We will talk at home."

Mitsuri didn't ask much and just helped him to walk towards the home. It's the wife's duty to trust husband, so she trusted him to tell her everything.

Festival was over. And the people just with the smiles unknown to the danger went back home the same cheerful way they came to the festival.

"Is he alright?"

Kotaro's acquaintances looked at him walking with Mitsuri's support which made the people worry about him.

"Yes. He is alright. Just slipped a bit while walking the stairs."

Mitsuri replied instead of him to the villagers to not make him take any effort and take rest all the way.

"Kotaro-san. You just rest on my shoulders. I will talk with the villagers for you."

Normally, Mitsuri would have blushed saying such bold words but for some reason she said it with a new found determination.

'Mitsuri, you…'

Being with her for months, how could Kotaro not see her change?

Now, Mitsuri rather than her usual shy nature was more looking like the Hashira he saw in the story.

The strong beautiful girl with determination to fight demons.

'Is this fate?'

Kotaro truly wanted to live an ordinary life. Even after this incident, he was more inclined to live a normal life forgetting all about demons.

It may be cruel since despite having the power to destroy demons which nobody has except him, he still instead of serving for the good chose the path of being selfish.

He can join the demon slayer organisation and help them to destroy demons but still he acted ignorant, not trying to meddle in the affairs for others.

It is cruel, it is selfish but Kotaro never regretted that.

Because he rationally chose this path. Just to protect himself and his closer ones. That's all he wants.

But now…

'It seems… I won't be able to stop her.'

Kotaro turned his head and looked at Mitsuri dragging him towards the home with a light in her eyes.

The light weak person carries when they found the way.

'My power…'

Kotaro looked at his palm and a small spark akin to electricity came in it. The Hamon. A power that is probably the most valuable power known to him.

'I was too confident.'

The fight with the demon was truly an eye opener for him. Kotaro from the start was very confident to defeat the demons because he has the power to destroy the demons.

But in the fight, he truly realised his shortcomings.

'That demon wasn't even a named demon. It didn't have any blood arts as well. But still I was about to lose and die.'

Kotaro thought he could easily fight the numbered demons, but now it seems like a fleeing dream at the moment.

Normally people after such an encounter would probably join the demon slayer organisation, but Kotaro still didn't want to join and actively fight demons.

But despite his wishes he knew that it was a matter of time.

'It is the course of fate… I can see it. I can see it in her eyes.'

The shy and unconfident Mitsuri who was always with him was now coming out of her cocoon.

—

Mitsuri in her life since her birth has seen countless people. Most people are afraid of her, calling her weird because of unusual physique, making her feel very alienated.

She failed at most work worrying her parents and in the end nobody was even willing to marry her until Kotaro accepted her.

She was very happy and looked at Kotaro with a gaze full of love and respect, since he accepted the defective her.

She, who never had any confidence, finally made up her mind to serve him with all of her heart.

But then she realised…

'What can I even do?'

Mitsuri looked at Kotaro wounded trying to protect her, fighting the demon.

And then she cried and lamented in her heart why did Kotaro have to accept someone like her? She can only cry and do nothing for him?

She remembered all the time she spent with him, smiling, crying, cuddling… all the moments she spent with Kotaro.

'I don't want to lose it!'

And in that split moment, unknown to her a power rose inside her.

The confidence rose inside her. She realised that she is not cursed by the god.

She is given the power to save people. God gave her more power than the rest so that she could save people, so that she can save her loved ones.

And then she ran towards Kotaro who was fighting with the demon.

And after all that, Mitsuri in her heart has already realised why she exists in this world.

Now, she is given a responsibility to protect people.

'I will protect Kotaro-san… I will protect everyone from the demons!'

And with the new found courage, it was really a matter of time that she would join and become the demon slayer.