Hachijo Island.
Rain poured from the sky like a waterfall. Heavy drops struck the ground, splashing mud in every direction.
Through the thick curtain of rain, a thin figure ran desperately. Each step sank deep into the mud, leaving uneven footprints that were quickly washed away.
It was a boy of eleven or twelve. His clothes were torn, his seaweed-like black hair plastered to his forehead by the rain.
Between those messy strands were heterochromatic eyes, green on the left and gold on the right.
Despair and defiance coexisted on his face.
A crescent-shaped scar tore from the corner of his mouth to his earlobe, exposing raw muscle. It looked brutal.
Around his neck coiled a small white snake like a scarf.
The snake's vertical pupils focused sharply on the rain behind them, tongue flicking as if sensing a predator.
"Shua shua shua."
The sound of scales dragging across mud echoed through the storm.
Iguro Obanai's heart tightened.
He pulled the small snake from his neck and threw Kaburamaru aside.
He could die.
Kaburamaru could not.
In that filthy dungeon, Kaburamaru had been his only family.
"Kaburamaru, run!"
Obanai screamed hoarsely and pulled a dagger from his chest.
Originally meant for suicide.
Now meant for resistance.
The rain parted violently.
A massive snake-like demon burst forward.
Its upper body was that of a split-mouthed woman with twisted features and rows of sharp teeth. Its lower half was a thick black serpent body that writhed across the ground.
Its yellow vertical pupils gleamed coldly.
"Keep running. Wouldn't it be easier to just die obediently?"
The demon sneered.
"Go die yourself, monster!"
Obanai charged forward with the dagger.
He knew he would lose.
But dying in resistance was different from accepting death.
The demon casually struck him away. The dagger flew off into the rain.
"You should be grateful," the snake demon mocked. "All your family's wealth came from me."
Obanai coughed blood but did not cry out.
The demon lost interest in playing.
It opened its mouth wider and wider until it could swallow a human whole.
On the twelve-year-old boy's face, there was no fear.
Only hatred.
Suddenly—
A burning arc of sword energy sliced through the rain.
Half of the snake demon's body split open, black blood spraying.
The demon froze.
A strike like that meant one thing.
A Hashira.
Without hesitation, it fled.
"Damn Hashira! How did he find me?!"
Its wound healed as it escaped, but every instinct screamed danger.
The Flame Hashira was too strong.
It could only abandon its prey.
"I'll be back, child!" it hissed before disappearing into the storm.
A powerful presence swept past Obanai like blazing fire.
Rengoku Shinjuro's warm voice echoed through the rain. "Child, stay here!"
Obanai barely saw a blur of flames before the Hashira chased after the demon.
Silence returned.
Obanai looked down at himself.
He longed for that power.
But the thought faded quickly.
He was the descendant of a sinful family.
He deserved death.
Then a softer voice spoke beside him.
"Hello. My name is Yukito. What's yours?"
Obanai looked up.
Golden eyes met his.
They were bright, steady, and strangely warm.
An umbrella opened above his head, shielding him from the rain.
"I asked, what's your name?" Yukito repeated.
He handed Kaburamaru back to him. "Don't throw away such an important family member again."
"How did you…"
Obanai swallowed the rest of his words.
Kaburamaru slid back around his neck.
He stood slowly but instinctively stepped out from under the umbrella.
He felt unworthy.
The Iguro family had lived off wealth gained through demon sacrifices.
Every so often, they offered a newborn to the demon.
He despised the blood in his veins.
Joining the Demon Slayer Corps one day would be atonement.
But right now, he felt dirty.
Yukito stepped closer instead of retreating.
"You'll get sick standing in the rain. Think about Kaburamaru."
Obanai hesitated.
He glanced at Yukito and finally said, "Iguro Obanai."
"Yukito. Please take care of me from now on," Yukito replied with a grin.
Obanai frowned slightly. "Why did you help me?"
"I helped because I wanted to. That's all."
Obanai was stunned.
He had never heard such a reason before.
The sound of rapid movement echoed again through the rain.
That must be the Flame Hashira returning.
But suddenly—
A blue figure lunged from the side.
Another demon.
Yukito instantly sensed danger.
He had relaxed too much because a Hashira was nearby.
Too careless.
There was no time to fully draw his Nichirin Blade.
At the last second, Yukito shoved Obanai out of the way.