After the Hashira Meeting ended and the other Hashira departed, Kagaya Ubuyashiki asked Sui to remain behind.
The two sat facing each other beneath the eaves in the garden while Amane poured tea for them.
The overhanging roof cut the sunlight at an angle, casting a slanted divide across the wooden table between them. Sui sat in the sunlight, while the Master remained in the shade, avoiding the light.
"When did Lord Rengoku's death… happen?" Sui asked quietly.
"A month ago. Lord Rengoku disappeared while on a mission. Gyomei went to search for him, and in the mountains near Kyoto he found only Rengoku's broken sword and a scorched haori. Demons do not usually attack Kasugai Crows, but the demon that struck Lord Rengoku killed even his crow, so no information was ever sent back." Kagaya answered.
"Only an Upper Rank could do something like that," Sui said, her voice faintly unreal.
It felt as though a chain connecting her to reality had snapped.
Rengoku had been the Hashira who brought her into the Demon Slayer Corps. Even under the gaze of her Mystic Eyes, that man had possessed scarcely any visible flaws. And yet such a powerful man had fallen silently somewhere beyond her sight.
"Lower Ranks cannot kill a Hashira. Only an Upper Rank could have done it." Kagaya nodded. "Recently, the demons seem to have grown more active. Signs of Upper Rank demons have appeared in both Kyoto and Osaka. Miss Sui, please be very careful."
"Me?" she repeated.
"Yes. From beginning to end, you have hunted demons without relying on those eyes of yours. I assume you have been treating them as a hidden trump card. If even Lower Rank One was not enough to force those eyes open, then they may well become the decisive weapon that kills an Upper Rank demon."
"If one day you encounter an Upper Rank demon, and neither side knows the other's abilities, then those eyes—which can directly kill a demon and prevent regeneration—will be the key. Demons have grown accustomed to the fact that unless their necks are severed, they will not die. They will not be on guard against wounds inflicted beneath the gaze of Mystic Eyes."
"And this as well—" Kagaya handed her a letter.
Sui opened it and found a collection of aged pages inside. They had clearly been taken from different books, and some were even strips of bamboo slips.
Kagaya explained, "These are pieces of information I had people collect concerning Mystic Eyes. Some are recent rumors; others are records from ancient legends. If such things appear in history, then there must be a reason for them. And these eyes of yours must trouble you as well. I hope the Ubuyashiki family can help ease that burden."
Sui gathered the documents back together and slid them into the envelope.
"You have my deepest thanks, Master," she said.
"I am only glad if they can be of help to you." Kagaya slowly rose to his feet. "Now I must take my leave as well. Also… Kanae is waiting for you outside the estate."
"Butterfly… Miss Butterfly? Why?" Sui had not expected the Flower Hashira to be waiting for her.
"Kanae is the mistress of the Butterfly Mansion. You know of it, I assume? It is the Corps' medical facility, a place where injured children receive treatment and rehabilitation. Most of the caregivers there are children who have no talent with the sword. It is a very demanding organization."
"She heard that you possess an extraordinarily rare Marechi bloodline, and that it played a crucial role in your demon-hunting operations in Osaka. She hopes to invite you to the Butterfly Mansion and take some samples. If you do not wish to go, I can decline the request for you now."
Sui shook her head.
"Good. Then I shall thank Kanae on your behalf in advance." Kagaya said no more, and Amane supported him as the two retreated deeper into the estate.
The sun had slanted westward, stretching the shadows of the wisteria trees long across the ground.
Dusk was near. Evening had almost arrived.
When Sui pushed open the gates of the estate, the flower-like swordswoman was already waiting beneath a tree.
"Miss Sui," Kanae said with a smile. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons.
Only now did Sui notice that Kanae's irises were a rare pale cherry-blossom pink, like sunset clouds gathered softly into her gaze, warmer even than twilight itself.
"The Master must have already spoken with you?" Kanae asked.
"Yes." Sui nodded.
"And your answer?"
"I would be delighted."
"That's wonderful! Shinobu is definitely going to like you too!" Kanae clapped her hands in delight.
"Shinobu?" Sui repeated.
"My little sister, Shinobu Kocho."
Kanae and Sui walked side by side down the path beneath the setting sun. Since Sui did not know the way to the Butterfly Mansion, Kanae cleverly stayed half a step ahead, enough for Sui to follow her while also letting Kanae guide the way.
"I was already interested in inviting you even before you arrived at the Ubuyashiki estate. The Master told me about some of the methods you used while hunting demons in Osaka, and I was especially fascinated by the way you used your Marechi blood to lure demons out. At first I was worried you might refuse, so I'm surprised it turned out to be so easy," Kanae said.
"Then will the Flower Hashira who won me over so easily cherish me properly?" Sui asked, her closed-eyed expression as gentle and serene as ever.
With that posture and that tone, it sounded almost like a soft-spoken wife asking whether her husband would truly treasure her.
"You're too sly, Miss Sui. Don't say things that sound so suggestive," Kanae said, poking Sui lightly in the cheek.
"In that case, this is for you." Sui took out a small wooden box.
"What's this?" Kanae blinked in surprise.
"A gift. It contains peach tree seeds, selected from a fine strain from Mount Momo," Sui said.
"No need to decline. Please take it. I prepared gifts for everyone. I asked Mr. Tomioka beforehand about the Hashira's hobbies and preferences."
"Mr. Tomioka…?"
"Yes. Though he seems very cold on the surface, he is actually a very attentive person. He notices what the other Hashira like. For example, Mr. Uzui likes taking hot spring baths with his wives, Mr. Himejima enjoys playing the flute, and Miss Butterfly likes gardening, tea, and studying music theory. Mr. Tomioka told me all of that."
Her tone remained calm, but there was a strange magic in the way she spoke. For a moment, Kanae could almost picture that taciturn Mr. Tomioka quietly observing the likes and dislikes of the other Hashira and committing them to memory in secret.
"All right. Thank you, Miss Sui. I'll treasure it."
Kanae accepted the small wooden box in both hands and nodded solemnly.
"By the way, Miss Sui…"
"You can just call me Sui. And if you want to be spoiled, you can even call me Big Sister Sui," Sui said with a laugh behind her hand. "I asked around—you're only fifteen, Kanae, aren't you? What a remarkable child."
Kanae puffed up a little. "Are you older than me, then?"
"I'm sixteen this year. One year older than you."
"That's only one year," Kanae shot back, but the moment she looked at Sui's gentle, tranquil face, her resistance crumbled.
With her eyes closed, Sui looked like a sleeping beauty listening to a story. No matter what one said or did, she seemed ready to listen with patient warmth and a faint smile.
Kanae had to admit it—though Sui was only one year older, she carried the tolerant, sheltering air of an older sister. She really did seem like someone one could cling to and be spoiled by… but wasn't that far too embarrassing?
The Flower Hashira shook her head, scattering the image from her mind.
Before long, the last trace of twilight vanished beyond the horizon.
Night fell.
The two of them continued down the path side by side, and from time to time a bright, bell-like laugh could be heard—mostly because Sui kept telling Kanae little jokes.
"So there was this old samurai on a train," Sui said. "The conductor announced, 'Next stop, Asakusa. Passengers are requested not to lay their swords across the seats.' The old samurai flew into a rage and shouted, 'Insolence! Even the train dares to challenge me now?!'"
"And then?" Kanae asked, intrigued.
"He drew his sword on the spot. Later someone finally explained that the conductor wasn't issuing a challenge or insulting his honor—he was simply reminding passengers not to block the aisle with their weapons."
"Then why did the samurai think such a warning was insulting?"
"Because in the Edo period, if someone said, 'Your sword is improperly placed,' it could be taken as implying that you were unfit to be called a samurai—an insult that demanded a duel to wash away the shame."
As she explained, Sui found herself thinking again of Osaka.
In this era, a time barreling forward with barely any brakes, so many old and rotting things were being discarded at frightening speed.
Perhaps one day Demon Slayers would not even be allowed to wear swords at all.
Sui lifted her head slightly and let the warm summer night breeze brush over her face. The tiny wind chimes hanging from her earrings rang softly.
And so, beneath the summer evening sky, the two young Hashira walked on together into the deepening night.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter108)
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I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
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Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 70
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 99
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 95
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 99
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 92
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 47
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 44
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 43
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 26
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