Final. There is Something You Must Cut | Part II
Young One's Silhouette

The scent of home consisted of dried flowers, musty wood, and the faint fragrance of lemon. That was the scent of home, according to her big brother.

During the Before, home was warmth and kindness, all combined with the scent of burnt wood. During the After, home was the smell of wilderness, wetness of leaves in the forest, the scent of sunlight and chemicals with the tinge of familiar anger.

And now, paper spewn all over the wooden floor, Nezuko felt herself shake. It was afternoon, her brother had left the house some hours earlier, and-

Ah… Zenitsu died. He really died. The world quickly became dark, and a hiccup raised from her throat. She read his letters again and again, and this sudden sense of desperation gripped her suffocating heart.

Zenitsu's letters were a sign of hope. Every week they awaited the fragrance of lemon- it meant that his letters were near. It was something to look forward to- they waited for Tanjirou's crow to fly by, feet carrying a heartfelt message from their dear friend. Zenitsu was like family.

And now, the world took the letters away. Zenitsu was gone.

Another death. Another sad death. She wiped away falling tears. It was painful. Tanjirou was hurting so much, she couldn't let her own emotions hurt him even more. It was painful. Zenitsu was like family, and… And.

It was like Giyuu's death. Like Genya's death. Like everyone who died- it hurt. It hurt so much.

She sobbed. Wiping the skin at her eyes harder, at the flick of her hand, the candle encased in glass fell and landed on the ground, a loud thunk making her jumped at the impact. Nezuko stared at the ground, eyes wide. Heart quieting down, she took a soft breath.

It didn't break. Thank god. It didn't break. Glass breaking was bad luck. She thought about how her brother dropped the glass cup the other day. The small ember was flickering. Nezuko swallowed weakly, her eyes puffy and tired.

Well. She supposed. Was this it? It was so sad, though.

...

Hand trembling, she reached down for the lantern by the letters. Her chest was still hurting. The kimono was thin on her body, she felt cold. Picking up the lantern and properly setting it down, she grabbed for the paper that was beneath it-

Pink orbs widened. Nezuko stared.

Nezuko stared, and it was as if the world stopped before her.

… Words. Golden words. There were words so carefully written with the scent of lemon, marring the pages like spider webs.

Lemon. Zenitsu's letters always had the fragrance of lemons. At the scent, Tanjirou would have this eased expression- it was like a signal for him that it was Zenitsu's letter his crow was bringing in.

… Lemon.

A secret message written using lemon juice, only to be seen by burning it. A trick Kanroji had showed excitedly her one day, back when Nezuko was still a demon.

Tearing open the cabinet, Nezuko quickly pulled out all three hundred and fifty six letters her and her dear brother's friend sent them. She organized them across the floor, each date written clearly on their envelopes. Setting up the candle, she went through all of the pages, this odd sense of panic and nervousness rising-

Nezuko, it read, and suddenly, it felt as if the blonde was sitting across from her, a gentle smile resting on his lips. Nezuko held her breath, pink eyes trembling and tears threatening to spill. Zenitsu was sitting across from her.

Zenitsu.

You found my letter.

If the Shinazugawa Brothers had survived since the beginning, things could have been different. Alas, natural disasters could not be stopped. They were undefeatable- unable to be slain.

Because Genya could not turn into a demon. He eats them, which could also mean he was probably the closest to what Adam, the Millennium Earl, had tried so hard to create.

AKUMA virus could not kill Shinazugawa Genya.

Everyone had died because of AKUMA.

Within Agatsuma Zenitsu's letter, written in gold, careful characters, was his three-year long research on a mysterious flower. The flower that Muzan had tried to find, he clarified.

And within those letters, he wrote the truth.

Because he trusted Nezuko that she would be able to find them. These letters.

The Blue Spider Lily was a wish granting flower.

It took the shape of a sword, forged by an ancient swordsmith. The first user was a man named Tsugikuni Yoriichi, he was the one who had the first breath.

The requirements to use the sword was simple. You had to know and master the Sun Breath, the original breath.

Its other name was dance of the fire god.

Nezuko. Do you know what this means?

The end will be a tragedy, it is inevitable.

I'm sorry.

Tanjirou is too kind. He will promise to do the impossible, to save everybody. To put everyone at ease. If he ever does, then it will really be… Impossible. To find the alternative of his fate.

It will be a hard journey, Nezuko.

Mana is going insane. The Earl is fated to go insane. AKUMA will go crazy, and everyone at home will die. The Blue Spider Lily might try to keep him alive- revive him, even. To turn him something not him.

Nezuko.

She stood before Tanjirou's grave, pink kimono faded and eyes gazing tiredly ahead.

… She had been hit by the virus, actually. Multiple times. Maybe because she had been a demon, a demon who conquered the sun, her resilience against the virus must have been… Stronger. Zenitsu had tried to figure it out for her, in the letters. She memorized each and one of them.

She did told Tanjirou about it. She told everyone about it.

So everyone worked harder.

…

Her body was cracking apart. There were screams far away- was it a bakemono? That… That wasn't good. She had to go- Nezuko saw her brother and father danced many times. Surely, she could… Use the sword. Surely, right?

A bakemono was behind her. She saw its shadow. Nezuko couldn't get her eyes away from her brother's grave.

From the blue spider lilies.

There were blue spider lilies growing before her, and Nezuko held back a strangled cry.

The Blue Spider Lily is a wish granting flower.

"I'm so sorry," she breathed, reaching out and the world swirling from tears and water. "I'm so sorry, big brother.

"I'm sorry for leaving you behind."

Like black charcoal, her body broke into millions of pieces. She watched faintly at her outstretched hand, unseeing eyes staring at her brother's grave. Unseeing eyes staring at the flowers.

The flowers.

Please don't lose, she thought to herself.

Please be safe.

Please don't forget your breath. Please.

"Please live."

There had always been flashes of a vision- a boy with black hair and blue eyes. Blue eyes were always very beautiful and clear. They spoke more just by its gaze, and you could see the sky behind them.

A boy with black hair and blue eyes.

Giyuu had been sitting on his deathbed, skin too pale and clammy. There was nothing that could be done to prevent his death- only to slow down the process, but in turn drag on his suffering.

He coughed. Tanjirou flinched.

"... Hey," the Water Pillar began, his start still a tad bit awkward. Tanjirou met his eyes, and at the sight of a calm demeanor, the younger could only muster everything he could to stop himself from bursting into tears.

Giyuu's nose scrunched up. After an awkward minute, he continued.

"... You know, I never… I never thought I would actually get as far…" He paused, tired eyes glancing down to his hand. "Ah, I thought it was the end at that last battle with Muzan."

Muzan's name was still like a taboo. Many people died that night.

Tanjirou's hands gripped into fists. It was only a few weeks after that fight, and suddenly the Water Pillar knelt over with blood splattering on the ground, his eyes dizzyingly wide and choking for air.

Giyuu looked up to the wooden ceiling. Then he gazed out the window. He looked back at Tanjirou, and with the softening of his gaze, the former Water Pillar let out a quiet chuckle.

"Sabito was right. Tanjirou, thank you. You and your little sister changed this world. I am forever thankful. The salmon daikon dish at the village near my estate is… Pretty good. You should try it with your sister.

"... I am glad I got to meet you, Tanjirou."

Murata was waiting outside when Tanjirou exited the room. Giyuu had been talking to ghosts ever since The Battle, and the eldest Kamado could only sink back down against the wall, arms wrapped around his legs and a loud whine escaping the back of his throat and closed mouth.

Why must good people always die? Why must they die so early, even though the future finally became bright?

He placed his hands together as Urokodaki lit the incense. Giyuu was already like family since the very beginning, the day when snow fell from the sky and Nezuko became a demon.

The Water Pillar passed on. Urokodaki broke into tears. The Kamado Siblings cried.

The students of Urokodaki waited as Tomioka Tsutako extended her hand, Sabito standing right by her side with a brother's kind eyes.

The boy with black hair and blue eyes stood there, shocked, and at the moment clear water began to run down his cheeks, he ran forward, small feet hitting the ground as he ran harder.

"I'm home, I'm home," he cried out.

Since the daybreak they defeated Muzan, Giyuu had been able to see and talk to ghosts.

Giyuu was finally home.

Timothy stared at the far wall of the lobby. He was snacking on a hamburger, and with wide eyes, he stared at the far wall of the lobby. He gulped.

"... Hey, Tsukikami," his Innocence-spirit-whatever-companion blinked. "Am I seeing things?"

Tsukikami blinked again, and with a raised eyebrow, he looked over his master's shoulder and followed his line of sight.

"... Ah."

Timothy gulped again, eyebrows furrowed and slowly lowering his unfinished hamburger.

"It's… Not a ghost right? 'Cuz I heard that the Order's previous HQ was haunted, so they had to relocate… Or s'mthing."

Tsukikami remained silent for a long time. "... Ah, about that. Master…"

Bracing himself, the young Hearst gazed up at his "second" with wide eyes.

"... Erm… How to put it," the Innocence-person scratched the back of his head. "That's Innocence."

Timothy blinked again. Then he looked back to the far wall of the lobby, and then he looked right back to his Innocence-buddy.

There was a kid (whom Timothy definitely never met before) standing at the far wall of the lobby (which made it scarier since there weren't much light), staring right at Timothy with empty-looking eyes (which was hella scary).

"... It's looking at me?"

Tsukikami nodded slowly. "It is."

"... Should I go talk to it?"

Tsukikami pursed his lips. "Well."

The kid was wearing weird clothes- but it was almost like Tsukikami's, strangely enough. His eyes were very blank (which really unnerved the young exorcist), and he only stood there, bare-footed and everything. His hair was long, through. Black, even. Kind of red.

… Those earrings.

Timothy blinked again, this time squinting, and finally, he really placed the hamburger down. "Hold on."

There were card-shaped earrings beneath the kid's ears, and the kid's face had strange, red marks swirling like flames-

"Ah," Tsukikami said in realization, and Timothy slid right up to the kid in his rollerblades, and before the Hearst could say anything-

The kid spoke quietly.

"Come with me."

"... Excuse me?"

The young boy only saw him a few times- the exorcist known as Kamado Tanjirou Lee. He was general-class just like his master, Klaud Nine, and that was about as much as he knew about him.

That, and he was Big Bro Allen's friend, which was pretty neat. And Komui's brother, apparently, which also made him Lena's as well.

Then the news came. It was the first death Timothy Hearst witnessed in the Black Order, and he could feel the radiating depression that filled the entire Black Order.

Disheartening, really. He thought he was done with sad things happening, but apparently the world didn't care.

(Of course it didn't. Otherwise, his pops wouldn't have ever forced him to swallow that jewel, and the orphanage wouldn't have been in a bad position ever. Damn it.)

The ghost-Innocence-kid was a mystery. He was intangible, and no one else could see him- Timothy observed closely. Strangely enough, though, Timothy was able to. He suspected it had to do with Tsukikami- maybe he could see things related to Innocence? Well, that would be cool.

Or scary. He didn't know- he was only nine years old!

(Ah, well, he was known as Phantom G, but still. Ha.)

He followed the ghost-kid down empty halls. The corridor was lit dimly with warm lights, but it felt awfully chilly. Timothy eyed Tsukikami.

This is safe, right?

Tsukikami shrugged with a playful smile. Damn him as well.

"... Hey, what's your name?" Timothy settled with asking. His hands were at the back of his neck, trying to keep a relaxed demeanor. It was rather difficult.

The ghost-kid continued to walk without responding. Timothy frowned a little, unimpressed.

A gruff voice made him jump. "Kid," a guard stepped over, eyebrowless and scary-looking, "what are-"

With a smug look, Timothy quickly turned enough to show his silver rose-cross, successfully shutting the adult up. Stuttering a bit, the guard quickly shook his head.

"Ah, this place is restricted. You cannot be here."

"Hah?" He placed his hands on his hips. "Why's it out of bounds, good sir?"

Carefully, he eyed the ghost-kid. He was standing a little bit farther into the halls, but thankfully or eerily, he stopped for Timothy, head turned and blank eyes staring at him. The ghost remained emotionless looking. He was waiting.

"... Yeah, so spill. Why restricted?"

"T-that's confidential, Sir Exorcist. Please, allow me to take you back-"

"Nuh-uh," Timothy quickly interrupted. "Tell me. Right here, right now."

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Not gonna go anywhere 'til ya spill."

The adult looked positively going to blow up. Timothy loved it. Before he could give another jab, a shiver went up his spine as someone stepped out from the shadows behind the guard.

That presence.

"Ah, good sir. Sir Exorcist," the guard jumped, quickly turning around. Timothy stared at the bespectacled man standing there with a sweet, kind smile.

The cardinal, Reever dubbed him. Timothy recognized the four eyes- he was the man who had a tray of sandwiches and might had gotten hit by a few eggs by some going-apeshit scientists (by accident). Yeah. Timothy recognized him.

That, and the man had gotten Tsukikami's attention.

"Cardinal," the guard began, and the cardinal raised a hand.

"You may go. I will handle this."

"Ah… Yes. Of course." Timothy kept his eyes on the old man. When the guard left, he totally looked like he wanted to get out of there ASAP. Too stressed, mayber.

"... So," Timothy began, swinging a leg as the four-eyes smiled at him. "What's so important here that it's restricted? Need explanations, since I'm an exorcist and all."

The cardinal chuckled.

"You are very young and bright. Now, Sir Hearst, should we go somewhere with more light?"

Timothy glanced at the ghost-kid, who still standing there ahead.

"... Nah, here would do. Really."

They stared at each other for a bit, Timothy unable to see behind the glasses of the man, and then the cardinal sighed in defeat.

"Well, the Black Order do have a lot of restricted areas. This place is not quite safe, so you should head back- in case if the supervisor requires your presence, no? Alas, you just came back from a mission, I believe…"

"... Yeah, from the Crazy-Rain Town," Timothy muttered quietly. "Hey, Mister. What exactly is in these restricted places?"

Yeah. Because he was totally not thinking about when the third exorcists went up and exploded. Totally.

And Allen was suddenly thrown into prison- and Timcanpy, too, no less. What the heck. Not to mention the mean-looking long haired pretty boy. Where did he go? Where did the red haired, eye-patch bro go, too?

Where was everyone?

Everything suddenly tore itself apart when Timothy decided to become an exorcist. If the ghost-Innocence appeared because it wanted to tell him something, then yeah, Timothy was going to this restricted area place.

… On hindsight, he shouldn't be too reckless, as well. Since he came to the realization that the Black Order was pretty shady and all… But still.

The cardinal remained silent for a bit.

"Ah, but you should head back first. You probably do not want to venture here alone, would you?" He smiled kindly again, the edges of his eyes soft. Timothy did not let his guard down.

"There are authorities and rules for a reason, Hearst. Head back first, and maybe first ask your supervisor about it, yes?"

The ghost-kid was still standing there, a cold chill faint at the back of his neck. Timothy nodded curtly, and he walked with firm stomps back to the main hall. Tsukikami hovered by him, he was looking back where the cardinal stood.

"... Tsukikami, he's freaky."

His Innocence-buddy paused for a moment, then he nodded in agreement. "I know."

Far ahead, Timothy wondered what was at the end of the spooky corridor. Nothing pretty, he would assume.

He wondered about the ghost-kid.

"Oi, Reever," Timothy rested his chin on the table as the scientist hummed, glasses sliding off his nose as he flipped through papers.

"What's with all the 'do not enter' places here?"

"... Well, the old headquarters had more."

"Ah. Why?"

Reever took a sip of soda.

"Komui."

Timothy stared at the scientist for a very long time.

"... Oh."

A silence.

"Everyone's been so busy," the boy commented. The pen in Reever's hand stopped moving.

He chuckled sadly, raising his head and meeting the younger's eyes.

"Yes. More so than the past."

"In the old headquarters?"

"Ah, after a few years Komui became the advisor. He pretty much carried most of the workload on his shoulders, at the time."

Timothy blinked slowly. "Oh… But ain't that tiring? Since he's advisor and everything."

Reever chuckled again, shaking his head. Gazing back down to his papers, he released a gentle sigh before continuing with the paperwork.

"He actually gets his work done- whenever I dragged him back to his office. Or when things become tough. You know, like… If Lenalee's wellbeing was at risk? When we found out about the Noah Clan for the first time, you'd be amazed how much he worked during those weeks, trying to learn as much as he could about the clan.

"Miranda had just joined the Black Order, as well."

The ghost-kid was at the entrance of the office. Timothy stared at the child's silent form.

And suddenly, Timothy felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand up, an obvious chill shooting up his spine-

"... A time keeper?"

Reever blinked. "Hm?"

With a no, nothing, Timothy quickly shook his head and ran off, running pass a few tired scientists.

Reever stared after him. He nodded.

"Right."

Sometimes there would be a whiff. This fragrance would reach his nose, and Timothy couldn't help but just sit down at one of the tables of the cafeteria, a good bowl of simmered salmon with daikon in his tray.

It tasted really good. The first time he had one was when he returned from an especially hard mission, and upon seeing the boy so exhausted and tired, Jeryy went and prepared him a simple dish. Reever was the one who suggested it, actually.

At the time, rain pelleted the windows. It was dark and cold, but the cafeteria remainted insanely warm and homey. The feeling was akin to having a fulfilling Christmas dinner with everyone back at the orphanage- Timothy sometimes missed the food there. And Mother Superior. He missed Mother Superior. Heck, he kind of missed Inspector Galmar's annoying bickering, as well.

He nibbled quietly on a piece of salmon.

Timothy knew from the beginning that the Black Order was probably a really messed up place. He could just tell- and the time with the thirds! Seriously!

Emilia was in such distraught when he came back to the headquarters, that day. She heard that Allen got thrown into prison, and that many people never came back. The tension caused by Kamado Tanjirou Lee's death suddenly tripled, and the Black Order was not so happy anymore.

"... Say, what is your name, anyway? I won't be cursed if I know your name, right?" He asked the ghost-kid. The kid stared at him with the lack of personality, and Timothy sighed into the table. He eyed the ghost.

"You're Innocence. Tsukikami said so. But who are you?"

Tsukikami was hovering beside him. The look on his face was neutral, curious and narrow eyes gazing at the ghost as well.

TImothy glanced at his buddy. "Tsukikami, do you know?"

It took two beats before he answered. Tsukikami's response was a calm one, albeit a bit hesitant. It was as if he, too, was trying to understand the existence of the ghost-kid himself.

"... Master, his earrings are the same as the general."

Timothy pursed his lips.

The ghost-kid only looked down to the bowl of salmon daikon. The look in his eyes was kind of sad. Timothy frowned.

… Maybe this ghost was the general himself. Or perhaps, a relative? But in the end, when Timothy looked carefully at the kid's features, he didn't resemble Tanjirou a lot- aside from the earrings and the weird marks, that was.

It was mysterious. A sad mystery. Timothy hoped that one day, there would be times when everyone could just be themselves and play some friendly games of chess. Wouldn't that be nice?

Timothy missed Timcanpy, as well. And Allen.

And since the day he heard Allen ran away from the Black Order and was labeled as a traitor, Timothy could only hold his breath and believe.

He believed that Allen was not a traitor, and Lavi and Bookman was not dead, and the pretty boy swordsman guy would come back with that smug look on his face.

He wanted to believe, and at the sight of sad eyes that belonged to the ghost-kid, Timothy believed.

"You want me to get Miranda and go to the restricted area." Blank eyes remained blank as the ghost-kid stared back at him. Timothy nodded.

Finishing the contents of the bowl in a matter of seconds, because parasitic types eat a lot according to Allen, Timothy slammed the empty ceramic onto the surface of the table.

"Alright then," he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Let's go."

He…

Was having a dream.

It was a very weird dream, but it felt as if he was floating. In the air. Like when his Innocence would activate, and he would have this out-of-body experience.

Gaining possession of an AKUMA's shell, he changed the makeup of the machine, turning it into his own from top to bottom. Divine Possession. Leaving the AKUMA would only purify it, thus destroying the demon puppet in an instance.

Timothy heard that Allen really cared for the AKUMA. He couldn't really sympathize, since AKUMA tried to kill the entire orphanage and not to mention Allen himself, but after hearing news after news about all the bad things that kept happening, he tried to understand.

Why did Allen care so much for the AKUMA? He asked around.

Krory said he understood. He loved an AKUMA very much. Her name was Elaide.

Miranda said she understood. Apparently, he cried when a Noah forced one to self-destruct.

Marie said that he was kind of- no, a lot- like Kanda. There was this bottomless sadness in his heart, and he was alone.

Lenalee talked about his foster father, Mana, and Timothy then learned about the man named Mana.

Mana.

Wow, so as Mother Superior was important to Timothy, "Mana" was like that for Allen. Allen turned Mana into an AKUMA, and… That strange curse in his left eye. The one that allowed him to detect AKUMA- wow. Lenalee left a lot of details, being that it wasn't quite her story to tell, but still.

Wow.

Timothy wasn't sure how to feel about that.

He asked more people. When some stuffy staff members get all defensive, they gave Timothy a bit leeway since he was "just a kid." Like the old grannies gossiping, they talked about the bad rumors surrounding the former exorcist. No, not former exorcist. No way Allen wouldn't stop being an exorcist.

When Timothy asked Chaozii, Chaozii said that he didn't understand. That, or so he claimed, because Timothy could see a lot of hurt lurking in the older man's eyes.

"In the end, when you decided to step into this position," the Chinese spat through gritted teeth, eyes searing with held back tears, "there are things that you can't just… Forgive or just carelessly give mercy to. People are dying. Left and right. My family, others, friends and strangers. They dying. People who are still alive are dying!"

And suddenly, Timothy understood. Because Chaozii was not talking about the AKUMA- he didn't care if Allen loved the AKUMA or not. It was about the Noahs.

Don't trample on him.

He stared ahead.

In order to soothe the spirits of those it killed, and to make sure it claims no further victims… I will swing my blade and lop off the head of any demon without mercy! But I will not belittle those who regret their actions… And suffer over the things they did as demons.

Because demons were once human. Because they were just like me.

The forest was very thick. It reeked of this odor, tiny spiders scurrying about. In front of him was a young demon slayer, a hand covered in calluses on top of a white, web-patterned kimono.

Fierce, red eyes were glaring at him. Hanafuda earrings were touching the ground.

The boy was wearing a green and black checkered haori, and-

Move your foot, Kamado Tanjirou had said that night.

To Tomioka Giyuu.

They aren't ugly, worthless monsters.

Timothy whispered quietly.

"They are pitiful creatures, once living and now empty shells."

He grabbed Miranda's arm and dragged her out of the conversation she was having with his teacher, the general only blinking in surprise at the boy's sudden outburst. She made no move to do anything, however, and Timothy never felt more thankful for her than ever.

Maybe it was because of her Innocence-monkey, Lau Shimin or something. The monkey pulled on her sleeve and stopped her.

They were running. Down the halls with quiet but hurried steps, they were running. The ghost-kid was up ahead. They turned a corner and went down familiar stairs.

"Timothy?" Miranda squeaked from behind him, eyes wide and caught off guard. There was a bead of sweat trailing down the left side of her face. "What are you- what is going on?"

They hid behind a wall before a guard saw them. Timothy replied with a quiet voice.

"There's this ghost- he's Innocence, and he wants me to do something."

Miranda blinked. "Inno… Innocence?"

The boy nodded.

"He said something along the lines of a time keeper, and the only person I thought that had to do with time was you."

Miranda blinked again.

"... Time… Keeper?"

The guard passed. They kept moving.

"Wait," Miranda suddenly said. Timothy stopped and turned around. The look on her face was firm, and while her eyes were shining with uncertain confidence, her voice containing a slight tremble and all, she continued.

"We need more people. We should get more people."

Timothy nodded.

The ghost-kid was called Yoriichi, Timothy later learned. With Miranda, Marie, and Lenalee, they got through the labyrinth of a headquarters and ran farther. They kept going, Miranda constantly holding her breath on accident at every nerve wracking second, and they kept going.

Timothy followed the ghost-kid. The ghost-kid was far ahead, his small back visible with long hair like a cape. The hanafuda earrings made his heart wrench.

"Eerily enough, I don't hear anyone else," Marie said in a hushed voice. "I would think there would be more guards or… CROWs, I suppose, but there's no one."

The question came up: where were they heading?

Lenalee never questioned Miranda and Timothy's plea, however. She immediately jumped into action with such profession, and Timothy remembered how miserable she must've felt, seeing that her family died and friends disappearing as well. Her hair was getting longer, too.

She reminded him of that girl. Tanjirou's younger sister.

… But then again, what was Yoriichi trying to show him?

Reading the ground floor, Timothy stumbled and noticed something on the ground. It was in front of a heavy-looking door, the hall they were walking in narrow and damp and cold.

… There… There was this flower.

A spider lily. A blue one.

Timothy looked up. The ghost-kid was standing beside the door, eyes looking over his shoulder and expressionless orbs meeting the other's. Timothy held his breath.

They tried pick locking the door. It turned out to not be very locked, oddly enough, and at the next second, Timothy heard Marie's breathing hitch.

…

Ahaha.

Ha.

Lenalee took a step forward and embraced her brother in a tearful, heart wrenching hug- she was crying so hard, like a dam breaking and all the emotions began to pour and pour and pour.

Like a tsunami, and giving a good look in the chamber, Timothy kept his lips in a thin line.

Stone walls and ground. Barely any windows, but it was still bright. In Lenalee's arms was Tanjirou, and all around them was a vast, compact field of beautiful spider lilies. Tanjirou's hands were bleeding. It kept bleeding and bleeding and bleeding and the ghost-kid, Yoriichi, stood there beside Tanjirou.

He was looking at Timothy. Their eyes meeting, and then slowly, he averted his gaze to Miranda. To Time Record.

It took Timothy a few seconds, but then he suddenly understood. He finally understood.

Because whether you liked it or not, the world would keep spinning, like when AKUMA attacked the orphanage or when Sabito and Tsutako was killed in the hands of a demon. The world would keep spinning, constantly, never-ending or stopping, and it was devastating.

But now.

But now.

Because of Miranda Lotto. Because of Miranda Lotto. They had a time keeper on their side, and that changed everything. Time was on their side, and that meant they had time!

Tanjirou looked in great pain. He was writhing, eyes glassy and faint, and there was a whine escaping from the back of his throat. Lenalee tried to get him comfortable, she tried to best to help him.

With the raise of her hand, Miranda activated Time Record. It was her first time using it that way, but it was okay. It worked.

The world stopped for them. The world stopped spinning, and at Tanjirou, she reverted his time.

Sweat trickling down her neck. She tried to keep conscious, keep focus. It was a panicked moment, but they had to keep going. Timothy held his breath.

Timothy, a nine year old who barely saw the entire world and what it could bring to him, held his breath. And… And Yoriichi was smiling. It was a gentle, sad smile.

"You asked me who I am," he said quietly. Timothy nodded behind watering eyes.

"I asked if you could help Tanjirou before you died."

Timothy sniveled.

"I see. Don't remember, but I see."

Yoriichi nodded.

"So thank you."

Tsukikami hovered beside him solemnly. He placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, and Timothy swiveled harder.

The unconscious Tanjirou was awakened, and with one last goodbye, time sealed into just one second, the three hoped a safe journey for this dear friend. Time Record was not infinite, it could only do so much, but it was enough to keep Tanjirou awake. To keep the Fire Pillar aware.

Tanjirou was staring at them with wide eyes. He nearly broke down crying, but Timothy quickly stopped him before he could do so.

"Allen's somewhere out there. You gotta find Allen, Tanjirou. Before your head gets messed up and all of that. Yeah?"

His fellow student of Urokodaki nodded, and a gentle warmth rested in what was left of Tomioka Giyuu, Timothy's incarnation.

"Yeah," the eldest Kamado said wetly. "Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. I'll do my best. I'll get home."

The secret was sealed behind three closed lips. Yoriichi bowed, ninety degrees and all, at Timothy's direction. Timothy smiled sadly.

So that Kamado Tanjirou could finally return home, Yoriichi, the Blue Spider Lily, manifested and came into existence. This way, the Black Order would not be able to use his battered body ever again. It was all for this sake- this purpose.

Timothy knew that they'd manage to meet. Allen and Tanjirou. He knew they would be able to. Of course they had to.

Because the Blue Spider Lily was a wish granting flower, the care and love and worry from Tanjirou's past family was offered a chance to bend destiny. A chance to bring hope.

And...

Well.

That made him wonder. The man with glasses, the cardinal. Allen's escape.

… Was this intended? Or was it not?

But, either way.

Timothy broke into a big smile.

"Tanjirou, have a safe trip!"

...

The scent of home consisted of dried flowers, musty wood, and the faint fragrance of lemon. That was the scent of home, according to her big brother.

During the Before, home was warmth and kindness, all combined with the scent of burnt wood. During the After, home was the smell of wilderness, wetness of leaves in the forest, the scent of sunlight and chemicals with the tinge of familiar anger.

The beating of the waves crashing against the shore was so very audible. It was akin to a gentle heartbeat, and the fresh smell of seawater was drifting like a song within breezy winds.

Said winds bushed against burgundy hair. Kamado Tanjirou breathed and took a deep breath.

The world was a beautiful shade of blues. It was the break of dawn, and the skies were pink and pale.

Wind brushed against burgundy hair. Dark strands fell to his brows and nose.

The Fire Pillar breathed.

Retrace.

Recede.

Look back, and see.

He opened his eyes, and he stared at the world around him.

Breathe.

"... So, I can go home now, right?" Nezuko stood beside him. Her hand was barely touching his, and they stared at the shore from the cliff-side together.

"There is something you must cut. Father said that before, in your dreams," her words were a gentle murmur. Pink eyes closed, she smiled up to him. "I will always be by your side."

It was serene. Tanjirou returned the smile, and it came to him that he was unbelievably tired.

It wasn't that bad. He could do some sleep.

Gazing at the horizon, he watched as the eastern skies lit up. Rays of light pierced through cloudy eyes. He squinted at the light.

The rising sun was beautiful. Blue spider lilies grew at his feet.

Drawing his sword, the blackened blade glistened, and at that moment, he remembered a song from the distant days. He remembered the scent of home, tinged with the faintest bit of anger but at the same time warmth.

He smiled.

He smiled brighter.

...

With one last breath, he looked up to the heavens.

"Now, we shall finally be at peace."

Knock knock, little bunny… From the little mountain. Why are your ears so long?

Wind tore through the air.

Waves crashed.

When she was small, my mother ate the leaves of a tall tree…

And that is why my ears are so long.

("There are many ways how the body gain energy. Knowing how to breath is simply one of them," Shinobu explained gently. Strings of light entered her office. He could see the dust floating in the space around them. "Air is pumped into the lungs, the blood, and is carried to every cell of the body. That is how our muscles gain energy.

"But, that is only when the body has enough oxygen. Have you ever felt your muscles burning, your vision blacking out… Or feeling extremely sore after intense exercise? You see, if we go into the extreme, chances are that our muscles aren't receiving enough oxygen. It is impossible to breath so fast and replenish what we need in the span of seconds, especially when the battle is in seconds.

"Yet how are we still able to move, despite the lack of air? Tanjirou, the cells in our body can convert energy in two ways. First is by oxygen, and the second is with the lack of oxygen."

Pausing, she smiled sadly to the other.

"Except, while we are able to move so intensely without air, something akin to poison would build up in our bodies. It's dangerous, and can only be used as a last case scenario. In the end, the human body is nothing like a demon's. There is no way our bodies could receive air so fast at the rate we must wield our weapons- against demons like the Upper Moons.

"Do you understand? That is what it means to be marked.

"It's a building poison.")

A field of red spider lilies stretched before him. He stared ahead, eyes wide, and at that quiet moment, burgundy eyes saw them. All of them. The golden light cast by sunlight made them glow- his family.

They smiled brightly, beaming at him with unshed tears.

"Tanjirou!" Muichirou grinned, tackling the older with a hug. Tanjirou held tightly on him. He was struggling not to cry.

Everyone was here.

Everyone was here...!

"Welcome home, Tanjirou."

Thank you for reading! This is the final chapter setting sun, starring Giyuu, Timothy, and Yoriichi!

As you might have noticed... There were a lot of things I wanted to stuff into this story (that was originally set to end at Chapter 13: Setting Sun), so whilst I managed to put most of it in this chapter, there were still a few things I wasn't able to convey. That, and Timothy was really fun to write, actually. It was oddly refreshing.

That being said! Yes. There will (probably) be an extra chapter, hopefully closing some plot holes. Please look forward for it! Once again, thank you for reading! I hope this fiction brought some entertainment to you all, please have a nice day!

Note:

There are two ways the cells in our bodies get energy (ATP), aerobic (with oxygen) and anaerobic (without oxygen) respiration. Anaerobic respiration while produces energy (but much less than aerobic), it also produces something called lactic acid, which is not good for the body. This happens when you train too rigorously and overwork yourself, which seems like something Tanjirou is prone to doing, that and observing a certain chapter in the manga (*chapter 82).

This is a very abridged lesson on how the mitochondria generate energy, thank you very much.

(In which Makomo's lesson on Full Concentration Breath immediately made me think of biology class.)

ko.