Reminding everyone that this story is Slight AU but will still try to follow cannon as much as possible.

Two updates again because I love you all so much\\\(>^<)///

Share your thoughts and enjoy.

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Ruri became the Fire pillar when her brother suddenly went missing. She was a genius swordsman but Ruri has always believed that her Ruki-nii was still stronger than her.

He was afterall, very ruthless with his tactics and he was an exceptionally skilled pillar who worked nonstop to kill demons. All of his missions always ended up a success, all of them but one.

"Ruki-nii, come back safely, okay? I'm going on a solo mission myself. It's nothing dangerous but I can take care of myself so that goes for you too, okay?"

Her Ruki-nii smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Of course, Riri. I'll be back before you know it, wouldn't want you to take over my place so soon hehe~"

"What. Ruki-nii! Don't joke like that! You have to come back, OKAY? Promise me!"

"Hai, hai, imouto. I promise to come back. If I die now, I'd never be able to see my nephews and nieces! I can't let that happen!"

"Ruki-nii! Geez, it's not like that, okay? Nemi and I are just good friends!"

"You say that but the little shit even glares at me just for taking your time, not to mention that he practically tried to beat me to a pulp during training just so I won't be able to take you on a mission with me. And I'm a pillar, Riri! A pillar! That guy's an imp, always have been!"

"Nemi's not that bad! I mean, he does yell at me for talking to the other pillars when he's around but that's because he dislikes it when I'm not paying attention to him!"

"You've just proven my point. He's a jealous little imp!"

"He's not really that bad when you get to know him.."

"Riri, we've never gotten along. We've always disliked each other and it's been going on for years. I'll never understand how you can get along so well with him. Well maybe because you can see something on him that I don't but anway, he's still a little shit and I don't like him. I'll leave it at that."

"Ruki-nii, you.."

"Look, I just want to say goodbye to my cute little imouto, leave early to finish my mission and then come back for a nice dinner. Let's not argue now."

Ruri sighed before giving him a hug.

"Come back safely, onii-chan.."

But her Ruki-nii never came back. And it took her two months before she found out that he was never coming home, that the hug they shared before was the last they could ever share together.

For weeks, guilt and depression ate her away. It didn't help that she was suddenly given the position of being the Fire Pillar after her brother's crow came back to report that he had been defeated by a demon.

Ruri has never really known loss before because her perfect little world was something that always satisfied her despite the burden of demon slaying.

She was content with what she has and never really longed for more.

Some would say that she was invincible because she's never known the pain of losing someone, and would never know what it feels like to mourn for the loss of something or someone so important because she was a prodigy.

But then for the first time, Ruri lost someone and she stopped being invincible.

For weeks, she became obsessed with training and continued taking missions one after another that even Oyakata-sama took a time to seat her down and talk to her that overworking herself isn't going to accomplish anything.

"Riri, do you think your brother would be happy to see you hurting yourself like this?"

"Kagaya-sama... I'm sorry.. I just.."

"There's nothing wrong with feeling the pain of losing someone so important to you. I myself have carried the burden many times.. but Riri, these are drastic times and we must be stronger for them, for those who have fought valiantly and died. We are the one responsible for carrying their will. We mustn't disappoint them."

Ruri sniffed, not being able to control her tears.

"Kagaya-sama, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.. but Ruki-nii.. he.."

Ruri has never accepted her brother's sudden death that even her thoughts were overcome with the obsession of finding his corpse, wherever it was.

Ruki-nii, her brother, whom she adored so much, couldn't possibly defeated by a demon so easily.

That was the turning point, where everything began, the day she realized this, was the day Ruri's fate as a demon was cemented.

It was already set that she would soon find her brother and meet the root cause of demonization before years will pass and she would succumb to the blood inside her then finally, turn into a demon.

"Are you an idiot? You've barely rested from our previous mission and you're already setting out?! "

"Nemi-chan.. ahehe. I'll be fine! I'm a big girl, you know!"

"The only thing I see is a suicidal idiot! Do you want me to tie you up so you would stop making stupid decisions?!"

Sanemi was practically seething as he cornered her.

"I'm sure I'll be fine, Nemi~ And could you please not call me that? It's really mean~"

"Riri!"

"Oh fine! I'll rest! Geez! Nemi-chan's being too protective it isn't even funny!" She murmured the last sentence under her breath.

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing~"

If it weren't for Sanemi, Ruri would have really gone suicidal. If the pain hurt this much, then she didn't want to feel it anymore.

If she knew that losing someone important could hurt like this then why was it that she was suddenly this weak and desperate? Everything else just seemed meaningless to her.

Was this really the difference?

The difference of losing that one person who's always been in your life? Your own life's motivation and purpose?

Ruri could have never guessed that it was this painful but not as painful as the fact that she was slowly losing the one person who still cared for her.

And it was all because of her destructive behavior.

"Riri-san, you mustn't overdo it, you know ~" Kanae said.

"Your muscles are too strained and sore which is why you've been feeling pain all week long. It's because you've been pushing yourself too much these past few weeks."

"It's fine.. I'm alright, Kanae. I'm a tough girl~"

"Riri-san, you might be tough but it doesn't excuse the fact that your body still needs rest. "

Ruri sighed under the woman's stern glare before resigning to her fate and agreeing to stay at the Butterfly Estate for a week.

Sanemi visited her when he wasn't on a mission, even Shinobu would drop by.

Sickeningly, Ruri would endure Sanemi's interaction with Kanae while she was bedridden.

Of course, Ruri would never admit that she was too green with envy.

URuri has gotten more distant lately ever since her brother died so she isn't surprised that Sanemi would be too annoyed to talk to her and seek someone else's attention.

Ruri doesn't really listen to reason anymore.

She was too obsessed of the idea of finding her brother. Because she knows, deep inside her that he was still out there and very much alive. There was no body to bury afterall, not even a trace of him or his sword was left.

Sanemi has lectured her tons of time to stop being stuck on the past and just move one because she was disgracing the dead but Ruri never listened to him.

She knew that her brother was still alive afterall, she could feel it or maybe she was simply in denial but Ruri was going to find the truth for herself.

Sanemi was the only one holding her back from doing it afterall.

"Hey Nemi."

"What."

"You know...Kanae is really nice. "

"What of it."

"And.. She's also beautiful and really strong."

"What are you getting at, Riri?"

"Nothing.. I just think she's amazing. "

"Don't lie to me. I've known you for too long to tell when you're being true or not."

"Ahehe... Nemi-chan that really makes me happy. You're actually paying attention to me!"

"Tch. Don't think you could escape the question that easily."

"Ah... you're really smart, Nemi. But I guess if I'm going to be honest, then I'm saying that I'll support you and Kanae. You're my dearest friend afterall and my family. "

"What on earth are you.."

"Nemi."

".."

"Do you like her..?"

".."

"Do you like Kanae? Because I'll always be here to support you no matter your choice."

"Riri, stop."

"You really do like her... heh. You don't even deny it. I should be happy for you.."

"Just stop it I said!" Sanemi thundered and Ruri flinched at the menacing tone he used.

Her eyes were wide and her lips were parted from surprise.

A second passed and she managed to compose herself.

"I see. You've made your choice then."

"Riri--"

Ruri left that very night without any word, blinded by her obsession and driven by self loathing, she searched everywhere for her brother while avoiding the other demon slayers and the pillars.

For six months, she disappeared without a trace until her efforts finally yielded results and she came face to face with her brother.

Her brother who was no longer her brother...

But a demon in disguise.