~•It had only just begun•~

Warning: Reference to ED (if this makes you uncomfortable in any way please skip!)

He survived. He knows he did. Walking home after fighting those monsters gave him a sense of relief. A relief that he can finally cleanse his blood. Though there was a sense of dissatisfaction. Only slaying 16 of those horrific things wasn't enough. He knew he had to at least die defeating the one who created them. Then he will be satisfied.

•
• 
•
•

Walking down the familiar path of stone, he sees the hut once more. His trainer waiting at the archway leading into the abode. He couldn't help but smile from under his bandages. Without thinking he started to pick up speed to meet his master once more. Well. That was until he saw a familiar face.
A teenager, bright lemon hair with fiery tips; matching eyes which have the beautiful contrast within the iris. Obanai couldn't believe who he saw. His owl friend. He hadn't seen him in over a year. His body wouldn't move.
Before the ravenette knew he was in a warm embrace with his friend Kyojuro.
Obanai missed the warmth of his friend. The happiness that he felt couldn't be described with written words. His sunshine.
"I missed you Oba..." the taller male stated, the shorter of the two was still in shock and just allowed himself to melt into the warmth emitting from his friend. He didn't want it to end, who knows how long it would take for him to see his friend again? Well only Buddha would know...

The hug was soon stopped by Kyojuro, "I'm sorry Obanai, I've got a mission that I was assigned earlier..." the ravenette was in shock, after a year of not seeing him he'll leave again?! Why?! But those questions he could answer himself. He knows why. He's a demon slayer, rank Kinoto and he is soon to become a hashira. The flame hashira. Iguro looked up at is heterochromic  friend, still pasting that iconic smill across his face.
"Alright..." Obanai stated, "stay safe." Was the last thing he uttered before his friend ran into the distance. The other went into the house to be greeted by the fresh stench of...ramen...

Even after 2 years of being in the confinement, the sheer smell of food makes him want go gag. He hates it, the look of it wasn't appealing to him. Coincidence that his childhood friend was a glutton...
Even though he knew of such he still tries to contain his disgust when 'eating' with Kyojuro, not wanting to ruin the other's day. By 'eating' he just stares longingly at the portion waiting for it to simultaneously evaporate. Although, he does take a few bites of the meal when his friend is around but it isn't pleasant for him.

Obanai's past haunts him, his body rejecting most foods because of the confinement he lived in for eleven years. The smell makes his stomach churn, the thought of food makes him feel ill. The feeling of dread whenever he sees such food tugs at his insides, day in and day out. Something most find pleasurable he finds grotesque. Its more like a chore than anything to Iguro. Having to wake up and put something in his stomach otherwise his mentor becomes concerned. He hates the feeling yet Obanai never seems to act on such.

The stench seems to disappear within a few moments, seeing a small bowl of Ramon with a side of miso soup. The only thing the ravenette seemed to digest was a flavourless watery mess. But his master seemed to understand that. Unlike others, his trainer was a kindhearted soul. He caught on that Obanai didn't see the pleasure of food, which he found rather unfortunate, but instead made it so its more like a medicine for the younger. Giving him smaller portions with a side of his favourite food hoping that one day he will be able to find the enjoyment of food.

Iguro soon knelt by his trainer, smiling at him from under the coverage. His trainer saw the bandages lift slightly and returned the gesture. The silence was stopped by the older man uttering a sentence, "I'm so glad your okay Obanai..." He felt happiness, being able to enjoy the company of the man. "Eat as much as you can, alright?" The older man stated. Allowing the youngster to take his own pace and time.
"Thank you..." was all that was said before they ate in silence.
The silence was comforting to say the least, they were able to eat in peace. Once the young male had enough he pushed his portion away and walked out the room. The portion of ramen had a sizeable divot gone but it was concerning on how so much was left and so little was eaten.
Thankfully the older was patient with the ravenette, he always was. Ever since Obanai had entered the man's life he was patient with him. Acting more like a father than anything; making sure the youngin' hadn't overworked himself; or to make sure that he had a good nights rest; to make sure Obanai had eaten at least something each day.

The thing is Obanai Iguro normally disregarded his own health, training to the point of passing out. He would go days without a single form of nutrients. Iguro would even go out in the night and come back at dawn to only have around 3 hours rest.

The boy was practically killing himself from the inside.
•

A few days later he was sent on his first mission, his haori having black and white stripe decorating it. His uniform had a dark blue tinge to it, made out of a waterproof, inflammable and durable material. The fabric hugged his body nicely and didn't show on how malnourished he was.

As he walked behind his flying companion, his hair swept from side to side in tandem with his loose fitting jacket. The black locks he had were tied into a loose ponytail as is was getting quite long. His mark on his torso ached as he continued to walk through the forest, it always ached when he specifically ignored his bodies sign for rest and nourishment. It was a price to pay for him having the trauma that lived with him.
For the rest of his life.

~ A few years later~

His mission was finally over, having battled a lower moon his body becoming weaker by the minute. The lower ranked slayers having been demobilised earlier during the mission, he was the only one to have come out of the ordeal relatively unscathed.

From his first mission to now his body had changed, his hair became for prone to breakage; his eyes began to soften; his figure giving in to his Omega genes. He was now 19 and yet his maturity still was halted. He was, by now, to have a mate. To have a family. To be staying home and raising the children with his mate. Yet he didn't.

•

Most in the demon slayer corps were either Betas or Alphas as the Omegas had either died from trama they had faced, causing their bodies to rupture. Or they gave in to their instincts and found a mate.

Omegas are sensitive in the ranks, more specifically their hearts are. When an Omega normally goes through some sort of trauma, whether that being the loss of a loved one or being kidnapped their bodies react in a way that if they aren't with an Alpha their bodies will just rupture. Their heart collapsing in on itself due to their heartstrings breaking, as they are more fragile than normal.

But yet Obanai's hadn't. His body acted like that of a Beta. His heart hadn't broken, his Omega body was 'dysfunctional'. All because he rejected his fate, his instincts.

•

Once the reassuring sound of his crows cry Iguro's body began to relax. It was a relief that the night was over and he could rest, but yet he couldn't. After a moment he only just realised... it wasn't his crow's call. It was The Master's crow....
The Master is the top, he is the Alpha of the Corps. And Obanai being called to be in his presence couldn't be good.

The ravenette's hair stood on end at the realisation, his stomach began to turn as he slumped forward. His mind began to race with thoughts and what if's... yet his feet began to plant onto the ground as he went to the estate of The Master. His body moving on its own accord as he walked, continuing reminder that his war wasn't over.

It had only just begun....

•

~

A/N: I know this took forever to post and I'm sorry if it is rushed. I went on an unexpected HIATUS because of personal reasons so I hope this did the chapter justice.

Also tysm for all the support and love you've all given this story!
Love you all sm!
Words: 1506