Gratitude

— Muichiro, you did your best, — brother's native and muffled voice spread through his body with a pleasant warmth. Muichiro didn't want to let go of his little child's hand. He need to squeeze tighter and never let go again. Now his brother here, smiling broadly, alive and unharmed. "Or am I the one who died?" — thought Muichiro to himself. Not that it upset him. Now he is with his family. He did it, defeated the upper moon, and helped Tanjiro and the others. — But it's too early for you to be here. — mother whispered in his ear in her gentle voice. How nice it is hear him again! What a joy it is to see mom, dad, big brother! Muichiro missed them so much. — Wake up. — Yuichiro demanded more loudly. He took his brother by the shoulders and tugged at him like a rag doll. But he did it gently and carefully. Muichiro didn't dare to move. His whole body went limp and didn't obey. Why? Why does his brother repels him away from him again? Why can't Muichiro stay? Everything will be the same as before. They will live as a close-knit family. No more picking up that damn katana. — Muichiro, wake up! — his brother's movements became sharper. The leaves from the trees fell even faster, and there were more and more of them. They swirled around, tangled in their hair and made it difficult to see anything. Yuichiro's features gradually blurred with the dance of nimble foliage. It's slipping away again, like water through fingers. "No! Not now! Just a moment, please!" — echoed the insides in despair. Muichiro wanted to shout for his brother to hear and stay. — Come to your senses already! — a ringing cry echoed in temples. It wasn't Yuichiro's voice. Body shuddered involuntarily. Coming to his senses, Muichiro inhaled hungrily and opened his eyes wide. All the while, he was woken up by Kotetsu, who jumped in surprise when he woke up. — Tokito-dono, are you feeling better? — Kanamori was alarmed. — You suddenly stopped breathing, so we got worried. — Kotetsu interrupted. Surely, how could the hashira forget that? Muichiro is alive thanks to his brother, who gave his life for him. So let his sacrifice not be in vain. He must continue to live, even if he really wants to stay. — I have to hurry... To Tanjiro's aid. — Muichiro tried to get up, but his legs wouldn't obey. He could hardly feel his limbs anymore, the poison had spread throughout his body with blood. Damn that demon with his quills, He doesn't remember his name... No matter! What to do? Lying in a blackout while Tanjiro sheds blood by oneself? "You're a pillar! Don't you dare show weakness, people need you!" — he dictated to himself. — But, Tokito-dono! In such a state, you are unlikely to do much good. — Kanamori the blacksmith tried to cool the wounded slayer's ardor. That's right. That fission demon is clearly one of a dozen. He won't give any indulgence. But what to do? Pillar can't just stand by and rely on Tanjiro. He has to help him... at least in some way. "Think. Thi-," Muichiro said. At that moment, Haganezuka came into his field of vision, continuing to sharpen the same katana. — Here it is! — Muichiro shouted out with a hint of joy and hope. The blacksmiths stared in bewilderment at the suddenly On a pillar that is suddenly moving vigorously. — Kanamori-san, can you help me? And you, Kotetsu? Both of them didn't know what kind of idea the young demon slayer had come up with, but they nodded obediently almost at the same time. Tokito then gave them a brief account of his plan. *** — It's crazy! — Kanamori jumped in amazement. — Quite so! — Muichiro smiled like a madman. What makes them think he's normal? The Pillars are inherently slightly insane. Kotetsu, at Tokito's request, stole the three-hundred-year-old katana right from under the nose of Haganezuka, who didn't really care about what was going on around him, so the "theft" was not too difficult. — Hurry! I can handle it myself! — Kanamori shouted after the fleeing katana thieves, holding an enraged Hotaru. He emotionally brightened up the thieves and Kanamori himself with curses. He emotionally covered the thieves and Kanamori with curses. Kotetsu held Muichiro and helped him walk. Slowly, they approached the scene of the battle. In the distance, he could hear the screams of Tanjiro and the guy with the gun, Genya, It seems... Tanjiro! Muichiro's voice broke in the middle of the name and trembled shamelessly. Stumbling over his own feet, the swordsman reached the edge of the cliff. Putting all his strength into the throw, he threw the katana towards Tanjiro. Then, having received a good slap on the back of the head from Haganezuka and finally exhausted from his wounds and poison, he fell heavily to the ground. He heard the worried voices of the blacksmiths, the eloquent shouts of Hotaru, some of which he had heard for the first time, and then all the sounds gradually faded away. Muichiro passed out again. Where are mom and dad? Where's the big brother? It was deserted. Only the leaves fell from somewhere in the sky, gracefully swirling and soaring, picked up by the gentle breeze. Why is he alone now? What did he do wrong? — Thanks, kid, you've made the old man happy! — a voice came from behind him. Who is it? So familiar. It's... — Tetsuido-san? — Muichiro shouted in surprise. — I'm so happy that you've finally found yourself. — the deceased blacksmith, in his usual manner and half-open kimono, sat on a stone nearby. He looked refreshed and full of energy, but still as Muichiro remembered him. — Thank you for worrying about me. And I'm sorry I got you in trouble. — the mist pillar bowed low, his fringes lightly brushing against the yellow carpet of leaves on the ground. Tetsuido is probably the only person who understood in any way the burden that the young slayer has to carry on his shoulders, and how he suffers from the inability to remember anything about his past. When a person does not know who he is, he is not able to stand firmly on the ground. He buckles under the weight of fear and uncertainty. Muichiro was able to overcome all of this, was able to shake off this weight. Now he is very grateful to the man who is now sitting on a rock in front of him. As soon as he returns, he will definitely visit Tetsuido and thank him again.