The funeral had ended. Everyone in town had grieved over the loss of someone they knew. They knew (Y/N) as that charismatic and hardworking woman. But they lost her and left her young son alone.

Shiro was standing over the grave of his mother, dried tears on his face. His eyes were empty as he stared at the cross. Michiktasu was there but he had to go back to the capital. Shiro was alone.

"Shiro." A familiar voice was beside him. He recognized this voice. It was Kanagi. "I'm sorry... maybe... just maybe if I have seen her state all those years ago I might've sent her earlier and not make her force herself..."

Shiro shook his head, not bothering to answer but Kanagi can guess what he wanted to say. It was silent for a few seconds until Shiro spoke. "Miss Kanagi... my mother... had the high priest's protection... so why did she die?"

Kanagi's eyes widened, not a lot of people would doubt the high priest, yet there was Shiro. He was even his own relative. "Shiro. Don't speak of him that way. It's a big offe-"

"So what?!" He screamed, balling his fist and biting his lip. "Mother... if mother really had his protection then... Why did she die?! He was supposed to protect mother!" He was crying again. He didn't know how long he had been crying but it seems like his tears weren't over yet.

Kanagi patted his back as she took something from her pocket and showed it in front of Shiro. "Shiro, your mother wanted me to give this to you." She said, opening the black cloth with golden embroidery and inside was a hairpin and a note. "She told me that if something ever happens to her, she wanted you to have this."

Shiro took the item with shaking hands, keeping it close to his chest as he sobbed.

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Shiro kept his eyes on the ceiling as he sprawled on his bed in the place he once called home. He sat up, taking the note from his nightstand, wondering if he should read it. 'Mama gave it to me... I should...' Without much of a choice, he opened the note.

"Dear Shiro,

If you're reading this then that means that I've already passed away and Kanagi gave this to you. First of all, I want you to dry those tears. I don't want you to cry and be all depressed over me. I want you to live on and have a happy life.

And, I wanted to tell you this. I've known for a long time now that I'm going to die soon. My body was getting weaker and weaker by the day, so I prepared this just in case.

These things are important to me. Your father gave them. Although I can't remember when exactly he gave me these things, I know that it was from him. The color of the flower is a dead give away! I would like you to cherish these and keep them safe for me. They are the last momentum of your father to me.

And if you ever meet him one day. I would like you to tell him that I'm sorry.

Tell him I'm sorry for forgetting. If maybe I remembered, I could've found him. And maybe, just maybe we could've been a normal family just like what you wanted.

I'm sorry to you as well, Shiro.

I couldn't give you the proper things a family should have. It was my fault that you're alone now. I'm sorry my little angel. I'm sorry my white little prince.

Your loving mother,

(Y/N)"

His eyes were already dry from crying so much that no tears were left when he finished reading. He put the letter on the nightstand and took the handkerchief and the hairpin. 'Mama, you're right. The flowers really are a dead give away.' He chuckled, seeing the resemblance on his hair and eyes.

Then his eyes turned to the black handkerchief with the golden embroidery. He examined the image as his eyes widened. It was the Divine Lands. Michikatsu described it many times and he's memorized it to heart.

A grand temple floating in the clouds as flowers bloomed in the ground.

He was getting clues. Clues on to who was the person that left him and his mother alone, the person who left his mother to die alone. "Golden strings are not something someone normal can acquire. And..." He paused, his eyes examining every single thread. "For the embroidery to have magic..."

"Mother, I'll find this man and give him a piece of mind!"

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In the dead of the night, Shiro left his empty home, locking every door and window he could find and used his power to put a small barrier. Even though he promised his mother to not use it, he still practiced just in case something bad happened.

He pulled the hood on his head and ran into the quiet streets, avoiding anyone that was still awake. But before he left, he left a letter for Kanagi.

And so, Shiro began his journey. He ran and ran and ran until his legs couldn't take it anymore as he stopped in a dark forest, taking the water canister he had and drinking to regain his breathing. He looked around and saw nothing but trees and trees till his eyes could reach.

He sighed and jumped up a tree, finding the right position as he pulled the cloak over his body and slept. He had a lot of running to do if he wanted to find this useless man of a father of his.

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"Oi!" Shiro woke up, rubbing the sleep off his eyes. "Oh! He's alive!" A cheery voice from below the trees cheered. "Hello! Person in the tree! Could you please get down from there! It's very dangerous!" Shiro looked down and saw a peasant boy with burgundy hair and red eyes. "Are you listening?"

"Oh, sorry." He said, carefully making his way down. As he landed, he came face to face with the boy. "Sorry about that. I was just restin' is all."

"Oh! I see! I'm Kamado Tanjiro! Are you new in this area? I haven't seen you before." He introduced himself. Shiro nodded. "If you want you can come stay with my family for the time being, they're very nice!"

"R-really?" Shiro stuttered, his eyes wide. "Y-you would let a s-stranger like me in?! Isn't that super dangerous!?" Tanjiro chuckled seeing the distress and innocence he had.

"It's alright. I can sense that you're not a horrible person." He said, patting Shiro's head. "Come one, follow me. Mother just made breakfast, I'm sure you'll like it."

Shiro nodded, following the boy who carried wood in his back. 'Hmph. Mama's cooking will always be number one for me.' He thought as he looked around his surroundings. Then, his hand travelled to his head from where the young boy patted him.

It didn't take long for the two of them to arrive in a cabin in the woods and in front of the cabin were three children playing. "Ah! Big brother!" They cheered, going over Tanjiro and giving him a hug. "You're back! And with a friend too!"

Just as they said that, another girl came out from the house, holding a little boy. "Ah, big brother is back! And he brought a friend!" The girl said. Then, a woman came out, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Oh, I don't think I've seen you around here before." She said, walking over to Shiro and Tanjiro, the girl just behind her. "I'm Kamado Kie, I'm their mother."

"A-ah... nice to meet you... ma'am..." Shiro said, feeling a bit sad. "I-I'm (L/N) Shiro..."

"Mother, I saw Shiro sleeping in a tree, I asked him if he wanted to stay here for the meantime since he's travelling." Tanjiro said, placing the wood on the ground and soon a boy came and took it away.

Kie smiled, patting his son. "You did good Tanjiro, always help people." Then she turned back to Shiro. "Please, come in. You are now our guest, make yourself at home."

"Oh, thank you for your hospitality." He said, still feeling a bit awkward around new people. He was led inside, and there he met a frail-looking man, weaving a basket in his hand. The resemblance this man had to someone made Shiro stare at him with wide eyes. "Uncle?" 

》A.N《

It's happening! It's happening!

[I'm still not ready!]