TRANSMUTATION — CHAPTER #60 — METAMORPHOSIS

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Little note:
I'm going to start putting the drawings down bc wattpad keeps
lagging and causing me problems, anyways, just wanted
an silly excuse to draw my pretty girl Aoi (😛😍).
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...

...

...

You were only eight years old when the memory of that particular morning etched itself into your mind.

The sun had barely risen,

casting a soft,

golden glow,

through the curtains of your modest home.

You sat at the kitchen table, swinging your legs back and forth, as your mother bustled around, preparing for her day. She was always in a hurry, always on the move, and that morning was no different—except for the faint furrow of worry that creased her forehead as she glanced over at you.

"You don't look so good, sweetie," She paused in front of you, her eyes scanning your face for any sign of fever. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

You gave her a bright smile, one you hoped would convince her you were fine. "I'm okayyy. Reallyyyy. I feel totally fine!"

But your mother wasn't so easily persuaded. She studied you for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line, her instincts as sharp as ever. You could see the hesitation in her eyes, the way she was weighing whether to believe you or not. You knew she wouldn't want to leave you if she thought something was wrong.

"Are you sure?" she asked, a hint of doubt creeping into her tone. "Don't lie to me, (R/N). You look a little pale."

"I'm sure!" You nodded enthusiastically, determined to put her mind at ease. "I feel fine! I promise."

"..." She let out a small sigh, her expression softening. Maybe it was the way you looked up at her, with those innocent, pleading eyes, or maybe she simply wanted to believe that everything was okay. Either way, after a beat of silence, she finally relented.

"...Alright," she said, though there was still a trace of unease in her voice. "But if you start feeling worse, you have to promise me you'll call Miss Chokesondik next door, okay? She can come over and help if you need anything."

"Okay." You nodded again, eager to move past the conversation. Your mother crouched down beside you, brushing a loose strand of hair away from your face as she leaned in to kiss your cheek.

"Mwua! I made some dinner for you," she added, her voice softening with affection. "It's in the fridge, so you won't have to worry about that. I'll be working a long shift tonight, so I won't be home early. You'll be okay on your own?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," you reassured her once more, this time feeling a pang of sadness that she had to work so much.

She smiled at you, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. She kissed your cheek once more before standing up, grabbing her coat and bag. You watched as she hurried out the door, the weight of responsibility on her shoulders visible in her every step.

And then, just like that, she was gone, leaving you to finish your breakfast and get ready for school.

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When you arrived home later that afternoon, the silence in the house felt heavy, almost oppressive. The warmth and activity from the morning had long since faded, leaving the space eerily quiet. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to echo, a reminder that you were completely alone.

You dropped your backpack by the door, your body moving on autopilot as you made your way to your room. The entire day at school had been a blur, your head swimming, your limbs heavy, but you had pushed through it. You had told yourself that you just needed to make it home and everything would be fine.

But it wasn't.

The truth was, you had been lying all day.

You were in fact sick.

You had felt bad that morning, and the ache in your body had only worsened as the hours passed. But you hadn't wanted to worry your mother, not when you knew she had to work such a long shift. She was already so stressed, always so busy, and you didn't want to be another problem she had to deal with.

As you sat on the edge of your bed, you felt the room spin slightly, a wave of nausea washing over you. You clutched your stomach, trying to breathe through it, but the pain was relentless. You told yourself you could handle it, that it was nothing serious, that you'd feel better soon if you just rested.

You tried to take care of yourself the way your mother would have, but it was futile. You were only a kid—you didn't know what to do. You felt helpless, unsure of how to make yourself feel better. The medicine cabinet in the bathroom seemed intimidating, the labels and dosages too confusing for your fever.

You didn't want to be a burden. You didn't want to cause trouble.

So instead, you climbed into bed, pulling the covers tightly around you, hoping that somehow the warmth would chase away the chills creeping up your spine.

But you only grew worse. The ache in your body deepened, your head pounding, and your throat felt raw and dry. You felt trapped, the weight of your small, fragile body sinking deeper into the mattress.

And all you could do was hope—hope that it would pass, that you would get better on your own.

...

...

...

You were unconscious, your body limp and unmoving on the soft bed of the Butterfly Mansion. The familiar scent of herbs and medicine filled the air, though you were barely aware of your surroundings. The fever raged within you, pushing your body to its limits, your mind a haze of dark, disjointed images.

Beside you, Shinobu and Aoi stood at your bedside, their faces tense, speaking in hushed tones.

"I've never seen anything like this before..." Shinobu murmured, her voice carrying an edge of worry that was rare for her. She hovered over you, her brows furrowed in frustration as she studied the symptoms that refused to make sense. Your fever was beyond anything humanly possible, your body temperature so high that it defied the very laws of nature.

By all accounts, you should have been dead already.

It was inhuman.

The insect Hashira had always prided herself on being calm, logical, and knowledgeable in all things medical. But now, for the first time in what felt like forever, she was at a loss. This situation was entirely new to her, and that terrified her more than she would ever let on.

"We need to remain calm," Aoi said softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Panicking won't help anyone right now. We just need to focus on figuring this out and taking care of her!"

"..." Shinobu let out a small, frustrated breath, nodding, though her worry didn't fade. Aoi's words were logical, but they didn't lessen the weight of the unknown pressing down on her.

After Mitsuri had found you, hidden away in the attic and barely breathing, the mansion had descended into chaos. Everyone had rushed to get you to the Butterfly Mansion as quickly as possible, despite Shinobu and Aoi still feeling a little hungover from the previous night's events. Even in their slightly weakened state, they had thrown themselves into trying to help you out.

"I think we should review the symptoms again," Aoi suggested, glancing down at you. "Unholy body temperature, excessive sweating, heavy breathing... and she hasn't been able to wake up at all. Though she has been coughing a lot lately."

Shinobu's sharp gaze flickered across your pale, sweat-soaked face. The coughing had been a persistent, troubling sign, and they had to consider the possibility that this fever—whatever it was—might be contagious. Neither of them had dared to get too close without proper precautions.

"Do you think we should try giving her some medicine?" Aoi asked, her voice hesitant, unsure.

Shinobu hesitated, her mind racing. It was a risk, but doing nothing felt worse. She finally nodded. "We'll try something mild, see if it helps her calm down at least."

With steady hands, she prepared a small dose of medicine and carefully administered it, tilting your head slightly to help the liquid slip past your lips.

...

The moment the medicine entered your mouth, everything spiraled out of control.

"...!" Your body convulsed, and suddenly, blood poured from your nose, your ears, your eyes, and your mouth in a horrifying torrent. The crimson stains seeped into the bed sheets, a gruesome contrast against your pale skin.

Shinobu and Aoi's eyes widened in horror, their calm composure shattered.

Panic surged through the room as the two of them scrambled to stop the bleeding, moving with precision despite the shock that rattled them to their core. Aoi grabbed fresh cloths while Shinobu worked quickly, her hands deft despite the rising dread.

After what felt like an eternity, the bleeding finally subsided. Your breathing had steadied, but you still looked deathly ill, your condition barely improving despite their efforts.

Shinobu wiped her brow, her hands trembling slightly as she stood back to assess the situation. "She's stable, but... this isn't normal. None of this is normal."

You lay there, unconscious and vulnerable, while they could only wonder—what on earth was happening to you?

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...

You felt like you were on the edge of dying, the fever ravaging your small body with a relentless intensity.

"..." Somewhere in the depths of that fevered fog, you heard soft footsteps approaching, but they were distant, muffled by the throbbing in your head. You felt a cool hand gently press against your forehead, a soothing touch that began to pull you from the darkness of sleep. Slowly, your eyes fluttered open, squinting against the dim light of your bedroom, your vision blurred and disoriented.

You blinked a few times, struggling to focus, and then you saw her—your mother, sitting beside you with a concerned expression etched deeply into her face. Confusion washed over you, mixing with the remnants of your fever. She wasn't supposed to be here, right? Wasn't she working? You distinctly remembered her saying she'd be gone for hours, working a long shift.

"Mom...?" you croaked, your voice weak and scratchy as you tried to make sense of her sudden presence. "Why are you here? Weren't you working?"

Your mother smiled softly, though there was a flicker of guilt in her eyes. She brushed a stray lock of hair away from your face, her hand lingering gently on your cheek. "Miss Chokesondik called me," she explained, her voice soft but filled with worry. "She said she saw you when you got home from school and that you didn't look well. I came as soon as I could."

Her words sent a wave of guilt crashing over you. You had tried so hard to hide how bad you felt, not wanting to be a burden, not wanting to cause any trouble. But in the end, you couldn't fool anyone, least of all your mother.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, your eyes filling with tears as you looked up at her. "I didn't want to get sick... I didn't want to bother you."

Your mother's expression softened even more, and she shook her head, gently shushing you. "No, (R/N), don't apologize," she said, her voice tender and full of love. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just upset that you didn't tell me you were feeling so bad."

She paused for a moment, her hand still resting against your burning skin as she looked at you with deep, unwavering affection. "You never have to hide things like that from me," she continued softly. "I'll always be here to take care of you, no matter what. You can ask me for anything, and I'll do everything I can to help. Your well-being will always be my number one priority."

Her words wrapped around you like a warm blanket, and despite the fever still lingering in your body, you felt a deep sense of comfort and relief wash over you. You leaned into her touch, your small body relaxing under the weight of her care.

"I love you," you murmured, your voice drowsy as exhaustion began to take over once again.

"I love you too, sweetheart," she whispered back, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. "Now get some rest. I'm right here with you."

With her gentle reassurance, you felt your eyes grow heavy. The warmth of your mother's presence filled you with a sense of security, and soon enough, you drifted back to sleep, this time peacefully.

The next morning, you woke up feeling like a new person. The fever was completely gone, and your body felt light and refreshed, as if the sickness had never been there in the first place. You remembered that night vividly, the way your mother had stayed by your side, making everything better.

If you recalled correctly, that had been the last time you had a fever ever since.

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"..." Your eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but with effort, you managed to open them, blinking against the soft light of the room. Everything was blurry at first, but the outlines of familiar figures began to come into focus. You weren't alone. "Aoi...?" Your voice was barely a whisper, rough from disuse, but it was enough to make the room still. A sudden rush of movement followed, and you found yourself surrounded by Aoi, Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo, their faces filled with overwhelming relief.

"You're awake!" Aoi exclaimed, her normally composed expression cracked, revealing just how worried she had been.

"Big Sis, (Y/N)!!" Naho squealed, her eyes sparkling with tears. Sumi clapped her hands together, beaming, while Kiyo wiped at her eyes with her sleeve, sniffling quietly. "We were so worried about you!"

"You were out for two whole days, big sis!" Sumi added with wide eyes, clearly trying to hold back a flood of emotions. "We didn't know what was going to happen to you! You were burning up so bad, we were scared you might..."

"Shh, shut!" Kiyo gently nudged her, though she too was holding back her relief-filled sobs. "Don't say it! Big sis is okay now... she's safe."

Aoi couldn't hide the warmth in her eyes as she knelt down beside your bed, her hand gently brushing a few strands of hair from your forehead. "How are you feeling?"

You blinked slowly, trying to piece together the events that had led you here.

The attic.

The fever.

Mitsuri finding you,

and...

Nothing else unusual.

The chaos of being rushed to the Butterfly Mansion. But everything after that was a blur, lost to the haze of sickness and unconsciousness. "I'm... okay, I think," you replied, though your voice still felt weak.

"...eh?" Aoi tilted her head.

"Wh—oh right. Sorry. I said that I'm okay."

"Thank goodness," she breathed, her voice soft and soothing. "You had us all on edge."

"We kept watching over you!" Naho piped up. "We made sure you were warm and comfortable!"

"Sumi even kept talking to you while you were asleep!" Kiyo giggled, nudging Sumi with a teasing grin.

Sumi blushed, glancing down sheepishly. "I just... I thought maybe big sis could hear us. I didn't want her to feel lonely..."

The concern in their eyes now, the way they surrounded you with such care—it made your heart ache with gratitude.

"Thank you... for taking care of me." You whispered, your voice still weak, but you managed a small smile. "What happened?"

Aoi sighed softly. "You scared everyone, that's what happened. Your fever was out of control, and we didn't know how to help you. Even Shinobu was at a loss. But... you're here now, and that's all that matters." Her hand lingered on your shoulder, and her gaze softened as she looked at you, her voice filled with a tenderness that made your heart flutter. "You scared us all, you know," she said quietly, her thumb gently brushing over your skin.

You could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the sleepless nights spent worrying about you. The butterfly girls had done their best, but the strain was evident, especially on Aoi's face.

"I'm sorry I worried you all," you whispered, guilt bubbling up inside.

Aoi shook her head immediately, her grip on your shoulder tightening just a little. "Don't be sorry. We were just scared... but you're awake now, and that's all that matters." She paused for a moment before adding with a small smile, "You always manage to make things more complicated than they need to be, huh?"

Despite the weakness in your body, you couldn't help but smile back. "Guess I'm just good at making things difficult." God, that was a little cringe.

Aoi chuckled softly, a rare sound that lightened the atmosphere in the room. "Well, you've certainly got a knack for it." Her tone was gentle. "Besides," she added, her voice dipping lower, "you never need to apologize for being human, for needing care. You're important to all of us. To... me."

...

The sincerity in her gaze, the way her fingers brushed against your skin...

"You really mean that?" you asked softly, searching her eyes for any hint of hesitation.

Aoi's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't look away. Instead, she leaned in just a bit closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "O-Of course I do," she said, her breath warm against your cheek. "You're... special to me!"

...

...

...

The room seemed to quiet, the presence of the butterfly girls fading into the background as Aoi's gaze held yours.

Kiyo, unable to resist the moment, leaned toward Naho and whispered with a grin, "Aoi's really sweet when she's worried, huh?"

Naho giggled, nodding eagerly. "I've never seen her like this before!"

"She's always so serious," Sumi chimed in with a knowing smile. "But when it comes to (Y/N)..."

"Gh—Enough a-already!!" Aoi cleared her throat, her cheeks darkening at their comments, though she didn't pull away from you. Instead, she focused her attention back on you, her thumb still brushing against your skin as if grounding herself in the moment. "...You should rest more," she said, her voice a little softer, but no less warm. "You've been through a lot, and we don't want you pushing yourself too soon."

"Okay..."

"But really, you should've seen how worried everyone was. Even Zenitsu was beside himself."

"I bet he was hysterical, wasn't he?"

Aoi's lips twitched upward in response. "Oh, you have no idea," she replied, her voice gaining a bit of its usual teasing edge. "Tanjiro had to calm him down so many times. And Inosuke... well, he was yelling about fighting your fever as if it was some sort of demon or some shit like that."

"Pff—" You couldn't help but let out a small laugh, the image of Inosuke threatening to battle your fever was silly. "Sounds like I missed quite the show," you murmured with a faint grin.

Aoi chuckled softly, her hand gently resting on your cheek for just a moment longer before pulling away. "You didn't miss anything that matters... Just focus on getting better, okay? That's all we care about."

"Especially Aoi~," Naho teased, nudging Kiyo, who giggled beside her.

"E-Enough!" Her blush deepened, but she ignored the butterfly girls' playful comments, her focus entirely on you. "...They're right, though," she said with a small, shy smile. "I was really worried. I just... I don't like seeing you like that."

It seems like she got embarrassed over her own words since she quickly stood up to leave, her hand giving yours one last reassuring squeeze, she said softly, "I-I'm going to let Shinobu know you're awake. Just rest for now, okay?"

She glanced at the door and paused. Her hand froze mid-air before she could touch the handle. A look of confusion crossed her face, and then, with a small sigh, she opened the door. "...shit."

"...!" Suddenly, like a domino effect, bodies stumbled into the room, limbs flailing as Kanao, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, all tumbled inside. They had clearly been eavesdropping on the other side of the door, and their failed attempt to stay hidden was both chaotic and adorable.

"(Y/N)! Oh god!" Tanjiro exclaimed, his voice filled with joy as he scrambled up, his face flushed with both embarrassment and relief. He quickly knelt by your bedside, his gentle eyes shining with happiness. "You're awake... I'm so, so, so glad!!"

"(Y/N)!!" Zenitsu, of course, was the next to throw himself dramatically to the floor beside you, grabbing your hand in his. "I was so worried!" he wailed, his face already soaked with tears. "I thought I'd never see you again! What would I have done without you?!" He buried his face into the blankets, sobbing pitifully while clutching at your blankets as though you might disappear again.

"MOVE IT, GONORRHEA!" Inosuke growled, shoving him aside with little care and then boisterously pointing at you. "You're not allowed to die without MY permission, got that? I'll fight off anything that tries to take you down again!"

Kanao, quieter but no less concerned, moved to your other side, her eyes soft as she gently placed a hand on your arm. "I'm so glad you're okay, (Y/N)," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine warmth. Though she didn't say much, the relief in her gaze was clear.

Tanjiro stood at the foot of your bed, his kind eyes full of concern and joy. "We were all really worried about you, (Y/N). I'm so glad you're feeling better. We've been checking on you every day."

"Sorry for making you worry about me..." The sudden onslaught of attention made your head spin, but their overwhelming concern tugged at your heart. It was a bit much all at once, you couldn't help but smile.

"Promise you won't ever scare us like that again, (Y/N)! My heart can't take it!" Zenitsu grabbed your hand, his tear-filled eyes locking onto yours. "I was so scared, (Y/N). You don't even know! I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat—"

"Senegal, you were DEF eating, damn fatty." Inosuke interjected, crossing his arms with a huff. "I watched you stuff your face."

"YOU FATASS, AS IF YOU DON'T DO THAT EVERY FUCKING DAY!"

"I INDEED HAVE A FAT ASS!"

"AGH—That's not the point!" Zenitsu wailed. "What matters is that I was emotionally devastated!"

Inosuke, meanwhile, crossed his arms and snorted. "Yeah, well... you better be tougher next time!" He paused, his voice lowering just slightly, almost too low to hear. "Because... I don't like it when you're like that."

Aw. You giggled, despite feeling a little weak.

Kanao gently squeezed your arm. "We've all missed you... I missed you." Her cheeks tinted slightly pink as she avoided your gaze.

Before you could respond, Zenitsu threw himself onto your bed again, nearly knocking Kanao aside. "You're the light of my life, (Y/N)! Don't ever scare me like that again!" He buried his face into your blankets, sniffling dramatically.

Tanjiro let out a soft sigh, stepping forward to gently pull Zenitsu off you. "Let's not overwhelm her, okay? She's just woken up."

"Exactly!" Aoi added, giving the boys a pointed look as she rubbed her temples in exasperation. "She needs rest, not a group wrestling match in her bed."

But despite the protests from Aoi and Tanjiro, it was clear that the group wasn't going anywhere without showering you with affection first.

Inosuke leaned in close, squinting at you with an intense gaze. "I'mma bring you some worms—"

Zenitsu clenched his teeth. "AND I'MMA PUNCH YOU IN THE THROAT IF YOU DO THAT!"

Just then, the door opened again, and Shinobu entered the room, her eyes immediately landing on you. For a brief moment, you saw her composure falter, her knees seeming to wobble slightly as she took in the sight of you awake and alert. Her lips pressed together in a thin line, though it was clear she was holding back a smile.

"You're awake..." Shinobu whispered, her voice trembling with relief.

The commotion around your bed died down instantly at her presence, and everyone turned to look at her. But the wave of relief on her face was soon replaced with her usual composed expression as she glanced sternly at the group surrounding your bed. She was indeed a professional.

"All of you," she began, her voice soft but firm, "out."

The Kamaboko squad collectively groaned, Zenitsu especially wailing in protest. "But(Y/N) just woke up! We need to make sure she's okay!"

"You'll overwhelm her if you all stay here," Shinobu said, her tone final. Her eyes flicked to you, softening again as she spoke directly to you this time. "You're finally showing progress, and it's important that you rest properly. We can't risk your condition worsening again."

A chorus of groans erupted from the Kamaboko squad as they realized they were about to be kicked out.

"But I just got here!" Inosuke protested.

"Please, just a little longer!" Zenitsu whined, clutching onto the blanket again as if he could physically stop Shinobu from making him leave.

Shinobu raised an eyebrow, her voice firm as she replied, "I'm sure (Y/N) appreciates all of you being here, but for now, she needs rest. We can't have her getting worse again."

"Listen to her," Aoi added, though you could hear the fondness in her tone. "We don't want to overwhelm (Y/N). She'll be fine as long as we keep things calm."

Tanjiro gave you an apologetic smile as he ruffled your head. "We'll come back soon, I promise," he said, squeezing your hand gently before standing.

"Yeah, don't think we're leaving you for long!" Inosuke added, scowling at Shinobu as if he could somehow argue his way into staying.

Zenitsu, of course, was the last to leave, dragged by the back of his haori by Kanao as he cried, "But (Y/N), wait—!"

Once they were gone, the room was finally quiet again. Shinobu sighed, rubbing her temples before approaching your bedside. "Sorry about that," she murmured, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "They've been frantic since the moment we brought you here."

Aoi nodded, now back at your side, her soft fingers brushing against your arm again. "They've all been beside themselves with worry," she said with a small laugh. "Though... I think some of them may have been a little too worried."

Shinobu hummed in agreement as she carefully examined you, checking your pulse and placing a cool hand on your forehead. "You're improving, but we're still not out of the woods yet. We're going to give you some medicine to help stabilize your condition."

You gave a small nod, but as Aoi brought over a small cup filled with the liquid, you couldn't help but eye it suspiciously. The strong, pungent smell was enough to make your stomach churn.

"Is that... the medicine?" you asked, dread filling your voice.

Aoi offered you a sympathetic smile. "It's not the best-tasting, I know, but it will help you."

You winced but took the cup from her, steeling yourself before downing the contents in one go.

GODDAMNNNN BROTHER EWWWWW.

Immediately, the taste hit your tongue like a punch, bitter and foul. You gagged, squeezing your eyes shut as you tried to hold it down.

Aoi stifled a laugh at your expression. "That bad, huh?"

You shot her a look of utter betrayal, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand. "I feel like I'm dying again," you croaked.

Shinobu, standing by with a small smile, couldn't resist adding, "Think of it as a small punishment for worrying us so much."

"..." You grumbled under your breath.

Ain't no way you're going to be drinking this shit everyday.

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Taisho Secrets.

— The medicine you're drinking contains wisteria.

— Dodo has been resting in your head this whole time. He hasn't woken up. When Tanjiro ruffled your head to say goodbye, he accidentally ruffled the crow but he didn't notice it.

— Sanemi carried you to the Butterfly Mansion when they found you in the attic.

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...it feels weird writing this chapter after the length of the previous two (this feels too short, it took me so little to write like, 2 hours ?) I'm focusing more on finishing the script rather than writing. I'm up to chapter #66 and let me say that chapter #65 is gonna be wild. Be aware.

Xoxo, azamishomie.