A few moments, later the door creaked open, and Kiyomi looked to see the same man from her fragmented memory entered. As she took in his presence she noticed that he seemed about around nineteen years old and with a short stature, pale skin complexion, and a fairly muscular build. He has straight-edged raven-black hair of varying lengths, the longest reaching down to his shoulders and the shortest stopping at his cheekbones, which he wears down with two shorter strands hanging between his eyes. His eyes are almond-shaped and tilt upwards on the far sides, and are unique colored due to Obanai possessing heterochromia—his right eye is yellow and his left eye is teal. He is partially blind, barely able to see out of his right eye. His mouth is hidden by the bandage he wears over his mouth. He wears a black standard Demon Slayer uniform, tinted deep koamaru, along with a black and white striped haori, the hem and cuffs of which are striped lengthways rather than vertically, which covers his hands. Obanai also sports bandages as his leg wraps around his calves giving the resemblance of a more classic kyahan, as well as another set of bandages that cover his mouth, and white with blue-strapped zōri on his feet. He is also always seen with his white snake, Kaburamaru is a medium-sized white snake with reddish pink eyes and one long fang on each side of his mouth, wrapped around his shoulders. He stood silently, his presence commanding despite his smaller stature.

Kaburamaru as it rested around his shoulders, its tongue flicking in and out as it surveyed Kiyomi.

"You're awake," He said simply, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of relief.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice firmer now.

"Obanai Iguro," he replied, his mismatched eyes meeting her eyes. "I found you barely clinging to life in the woods. You're lucky to be alive."

'His eyes are very interesting. I owe this guy my life, yet I can't shake this feeling through that something is up with my memory with that voice calling out big sister.' Kiyomi thought.

"You saved me... thank you," She said, my gratitude genuine.

He nodded, his expression unreadable. " There's no need to thank me. For now, focus on resting. You haven't fully recovered, "He paused for a moment, then added."Once Shinobu deems you fit to leave we'll talk about more on what happened when I found you, and what comes next. I will bring you some new clothes for when you're released since your old ones got burned."

Kiyomi's brows knitted trying to recall how her clothes had gotten burned not recalling anything about a fire the last thing she remembered was Orochimaru and the forest of death.."What happened?" she asked, her voice soft and full of confusion.

"You were burned and attacked by a demon and fell into a river," Obanai stated."Your clothing was unsalvageable. So I will bring you replacements when you're ready to leave until you stay in the clothes given to the patients at the Butterfly mansion.'

Kiyomi glanced down at her bandaged arm, a reminder of her brush with death, but the mention of demons confused her even more on what was going on, though it was clear this wasn't the home she remembered, part of her felt she heard the mention of demons before. For a moment, neither spoke. Kaburamaru slithered down Obanai's arm as he moved closer to where Kiyomi was flickering his tongue.

"Your snake," She said in wonder as the snake gazed at her.

"Kaburamaru,"Obanai supplied."He's harmless he's just curious about you."

Kaburamaru after a moment returned to Obanai's shoulders coiling himself comfortably.

Kiyomi shifted slightly in the bed, her gaze dropping."I don't remember much, just a flash of a voice calling me big sister, yet I can't recall a little sister just two people I called big brother, now i'm not sure if the memory with the brother was fake, because something inside of me feels I might have a little sister."

Obanai's expression remained unreadable but something flickered in his eyes briefly."Memories can be tricky, especially after such a traumatic event. Just focus on resting if you have a little sister out there alive she will be found."

Obanai then started walking towards the door."We will discuss more about what is in store for you once you recover, and I will tell you more about what happened in the forest as well when I found you."

Kiyomi hesitated but nodded understanding she should focus on resting like he suggested."Thank you again for saving me."

He turned towards her as he stopped at the doorway, his mismatched eyes meeting hers one last time. "There's no need to thank me; I'm glad you're alive, kid. Kiyomi, I believe that is your name, which I faintly could read out on the tag of your burned clothes."

Kiyomi nodded, "Yes I remember that my name is Kiyomi," She replied.

"Now get some rest i see you again later," He said and with that he was gone, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Kiyomi lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling, despite the uncertainty and confusion swirling in her mind, wondering what would happen to her now.

Kiyomi world blurred into a quiet haze as she began to dift off to sleep as soon as Obanai had left the room she was resting in.

Soon Shinobu Kocho entered, her calm presence filling the room like a gentle breeze. She was holding a tray with a bowl of steaming udon noodle soup, her eyes soft as she observed Kiyomi's sleeping figure.

"Looks like she fell asleep," Shinobu murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She moved toward Kiyomi's bedside, setting the tray down on the overbed table beside her.

Gently, Shinobi reached out, brushing a lock of Kiyomi's dark purple hair away from her face as she quietly stirred her awake."Time to eat," She said softly her voice soothing.

Kiyomi blinked, slowly waking from her slumber. Her eyes met Shinobu's, and despite the overwhelming confusion clouding her mind, she offered a faint, grateful smile."Thank you."

Shinobu's smile was warm."You're welcome," she replied. as she rolled the overbed table closer to the bed. "Now eat. You need your strength to recover, and once you are done I will put more burn cream on your burns," she sated as she took a seat on the stool next to the bed as Kiyomi sat up in bed.

Kiyomi nodded as reached for her chopsticks and began to eat her bowl of udon noodle soup, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the journey ahead was far from over, and the answer to the mystery voice calling her big sister was still waiting to be uncovered as well who she truly is if Kiyomi Uchiha wasn't the real her.

Here is chapter two of The Serpent Pillar Tsuguko. In this chapter, Kiyomi slowly pieces together fragments of her memories and confronts her memory loss. She is also introduced to her savior, Obanai Iguro, and discovers that this reality was not the one she recalled where she was known as Kiyomi, and her journey to discover who she is is only beginning. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for reading! In the next Kiyomi and Obanai will interact with each other again and learn what is in store for her once she heals.

Question of the chapter: How long do you think it will take Kiyomi to recover her memories?

Word count:1,278