Amare Flos (Demon Slayer)

Reality strayed far away from what it was supposed to be. Human minds inherently create a fantasy about what reality is supposed to be like. Yet, the two worlds constantly contradict the fantasy within one's mind and the reality as seen through their eyes. 

The linear path they see in their heads is constantly torn apart by several factors, some controlled and some uncontrolled. Disasters, accidents, internal turmoil, morality, death, life, emotions—all these aspects weigh heavily on reality and dictate it harshly. 

How could humanity still find hope in a cruel reality? Enough hope to fantasise for a better outcome? Yet, it is the never-ending hope of a person that creates a relentless hike towards their goals. Hope comes in many different ways, shapes and forms. One person's hope is despair to another. 

Hope. 

Eira awoke to warm air, soft sunlight fell on the soft yet firm futon she lay on. The entire room was filled by a delicate appearance, one that radiated a sense of peace and calmness. The dust in the air illuminated by the gentle rays floated ever so softly, carried by the kindest of breezes. She was lying on a floor mattress in a large room. It was peacefully quiet, a perfect area to read or write poetry

Eira's lit up with realisation. It hadn't been a wonderful dream after all, well obviously, but Eira's heart still erupted in glee. This was a gargantuan step for the Demon Slayer Corps, and of course, to Eira's plan. 

An Upper Moon had been defeated for the first time in an indiscernible amount of time. The news erupted amongst both sides of the eternal war. Demons all jumped at the possibility of becoming an Upper Moon, simultaneously cowering in fear that such a figure of power had been taken down. Demon Slayers celebrated heartily as hope exposed itself as a bright light. 

She pushed past the aches in her body and stood up. Her mind became less hazy and her senses came back to her. Only two members of the remaining squad hadn't left yet. Yukina and Ayumu. Yukina stood outside, while Ayumu was still asleep. Eira limped slowly towards the bright yellow aura that matched the energy in the air. Her fingers gripped weakly at the sliding door, fatigue still present in her slow movements. Fresh air hit her like a blessing as she walked outside.

"Hi Eira," Yukina met her with a friendly and bubbly smile, exactly what Eira appreciated in person. The ability to cheer her up with one glance. Eira returned the positive energy, she was already ecstatic inside, but Yukina's presence heightened that even further. 

A crow swooped down and landed on Yukina's shoulder. Unlike Ayumu and Eira, the rest of the squad wasn't injured to the point where they couldn't do missions. This was a pivotal moment in the age-cold clash, the Corps needed to take advantage of the shock the demon side must be in. 

"Good morning," Eira yawned and stretched, as she stretched her arms high above her head, her body felt the impact of last night's intense battle. Her eyes pounded, her arms were too sore to clench and her legs felt as if they would fall off.

"Already off to a mission? Good luck," Eira patted Yukina on the back as a friendly gesture. Just as Yukina replied, her facial expression seemed to droop a bit, a tiny fragment of her facade crumbled off her. 

"I was pleased to be a part of your mission," Yukina's sweet laugh filled the air, and her soft eyes met Eira's. Something was off. Something felt superficial, even though the way her brown hair flowed with the wind and her smooth skin glowed with beauty, something was off. Eira couldn't reply due to her being too caught up in this confusing moment.

"If… Ayumu wakes up, please tell him to write to me, I've left a note on the table but just in case he doesn't see it," Yukina's voice lowered a twinge. Eira could've sworn she saw her bright aura dull slightly. With that final message, Yukina faced away from the residence in which Ayumu still slept and began to walk. 

Eira inhaled deeply, watching the back of Yukina as she walked away. That final statement still stuck in her mind. Perhaps it was her paranoia, but Yukina didn't seem exactly as happy about last night as Eira would've thought she did. The wind had transformed from gentle to a bit rough, it scratched against Eira's skin. She stared up at the sky, a storm was coming over. 

Eira returned inside. 

 "You're awake," Ayumu's sudden speech startled Eira. Her eyes darted to him. She observed the heavily patched and bandage-wrapped appearance of Ayumu. His eyes were low, from fatigue or something else she wasn't sure. There was a certain vibration in the air, what was happening today? First Yukina acting odd, now Ayumu's gentleness in his tone had disappeared. 

"Yes, I just woke up," Eira smiled, attempting to brush the weird feeling off. Ayumu's still stared at her with that distinct glare. He slowly turned his body around to look for any signs of Yukina. 

"So… We killed Akaza," Ayumu sighed and faced Eira once again. 

"Yes, we did," Eira's face lit up with a smile once again. She hoped it came from an area of joy and triumph, but Ayumu's next words would solidify his state after the battle. 

"At the cost of almost everyone you recruited," Ayumu's eyes fell to the ground as his heart pounded. He could still see the vivid images of his fellow team members being brutally sliced into small pieces. The achievement was on the shoulders of unnecessary corpses. Both sides were correct in their opinion, death was inevitable in missions with that amount of ambition, yet Ayumu held his stance strong. He understood Demon Slayers often died at the hands of vile demons, yet this was not the case. Almost half of the dead died due to Eira. Due to Eira's selfish power, Akaza died, but at the cost of several lives. 

This day had started beautifully, yet had taken a sour turn. Eira's overactive mind immediately became defensive of herself. The desperate self-justification she needed for her hate for Ali, why did she need it now? She was confused as to why Ayumu even cared that she had killed half the squad. Eira's ignorance further positioned her as opposition to Ayumu.

Eira's fists clenched at her sides out of anger. Why did the world seem against her? Did no one appreciate the effort his head put into the entire mission? Her insides boiled.

"Did you want me to stop and let Akaza kill the rest?" Eira maintained her smile but delivered a sinister and hostile tone. 

Ayumu scoffed under his breath as he slowly began to pull his blanket over him again. 

"Did Yukina leave?" Ayumu asked softly as he felt the firm floor mattress press and mould against his sensitive wounds. The painful pulse of his wounds calmed a bit as he cushioned himself against the comfortable mattress. His dark hair fell flat on his pillow and his fatigued eyes slowly closed.

"Yes," Eira spoke bluntly, her eyes drifted to the table in the corner of the table, "I'll be leaving soon too,"

Ayumu hummed a little as he drifted back to sleep almost instantly. Eira didn't have a mission, she just couldn't stand being in a room full of so much… doubt. Ayumu's lack of excitement and faith in Eira annoyed her, she didn't want her own recruit to act as if they were on a higher moral ground than her. 

The air was thick, Eira's sharp glaze cut through the tension as she glanced at Ayumu and then back to the table quickly. She swiftly walked over to the table and just as Yukina had stated, her note was there. It was flat with no sign of motion. Eira's jaw clenched as she saw the neat handwriting on the small piece of paper. She glanced back at Ayumu. 

"You think I was in the wrong?" Eira thought to herself, a hatred-filled thought as she huffed. 

Eira grabbed the paper and crumpled it. Yukina's message was forever lost. Within the next hour, Eira had left. Neither had she told Ayumu what Yukina said, or let him read the message. 

Tension seemed to bubble more and more intensely, like a volcano so close to bursting. With emotions at an intense peak for everyone involved in this multifaceted journey, the explosive end was near.