Chapter 10: A Woman Who's Impossible to Refuse
After quite some time, a faint rustling sound came from the futon on the tatami.
Kanae Kocho's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and then, those violet eyes slowly opened.
She didn't get up immediately.
Instead, she lay on her side, her head resting on her arm.
Her black hair cascaded over the tatami like a waterfall, a few stray strands playfully clinging to her cheek.
She simply gazed quietly at Tatsu, who sat in the shadows.
"Good morning, Tatsu."
Tatsu was taken aback for a moment, his body instinctively tensing before relaxing again.
He let out a bitter laugh and shook his head somewhat helplessly:
"You were awake all along?"
"Mhm..."
Kanae made a long, drawn-out humming sound.
She extended a slender finger, gently resting it against her chin, a mischievous glint sparkling in her eyes,
"Probably around the time Tatsu's breathing became ragged and his heartbeat started thumping like a war drum?"
The corner of Tatsu's mouth twitched.
As expected.
As a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Flower Hashira who had walked the line between life and death countless times,
how could she possibly sleep like a log, truly defenseless, in front of a 'demon'?
She had been pretending.
She was still testing him.
"For a Hashira, sensing the atmosphere around you is a fundamental skill."
Kanae blinked,
"Especially bloodlust, appetite, or... that kind of goodwill that wants to protect someone."
She slowly sat up.
The blanket slid down with her movement, revealing the light pink undergarment she wore and the delicate lines of her collarbone.
"That must have been really hard for you just now, Tatsu."
Kanae's smile faded, her expression becoming earnest and gentle.
She looked directly into Tatsu's eyes, which were slightly weary from suppressing his instincts,
"Enduring that kind of hunger etched into your very bones must be incredibly painful.
But, Tatsu did it.
You not only overcame your instincts, you also... tucked me in."
As she said this, Kanae's gaze softened to the point it seemed it could drip with tenderness.
In this cruel world where humans and demons are irreconcilable enemies, where meeting means a fight to the death,
she had always held onto a dream that others saw as naive, even foolish.
That humans and demons could coexist peacefully.
Even though her sister Shinobu had teased her about it countless times, and other Hashira viewed it as heresy, she had never given up.
And now, right before her eyes, in this small inn room, she saw a spark of hope.
A demon,
a demon who, faced with the exposed neck of a defenseless Hashira, chose restraint, chose to protect.
"Tatsu, you really are very kind."
These words fell into the lake of Tatsu's heart like a stone, sending ripples spreading outward.
He looked at Kanae, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
This woman... she really plays too unfairly.
Clearly possessing the strength to sever his head in an instant, yet she insists on breaching his defenses with this gentle, imperceptible approach.
"I just don't want to lose my long-term meal ticket, that's all."
Tatsu turned his head away, muttering softly, trying to use this tsundere-like attitude to hide the turmoil in his heart,
"Besides, if I had made a move, my head would probably be hanging from your belt right now."
"Oh my, how could that be?"
Kanae covered her mouth with a light laugh, her eyes curving into crescents,
"If it were you, Tatsu, I'd probably ask for your reasons first, and then consider whether to act or not.
After all, Tatsu is special."
As she spoke, she stood up, her bare feet touching the tatami.
She walked to the table and picked up her Nichirin Sword.
The scabbard was a light pink, adorned with intricate floral patterns.
The moment her hand grasped the hilt,
the aura about her underwent a subtle change.
One second, she was the gentle older sister next door,
the next, the sharp, formidable presence of a Hashira faintly emanated from her.
She deftly fastened the Nichirin Sword at her waist, straightened her slightly disheveled Corps uniform,
then turned around, clasped her hands together, and looked at Tatsu with an expectant expression.
"So, as a reward for Tatsu passing the endurance test,
what would you like for breakfast today?"
"Whatever it is, as long as it's available in this town, I can buy it for you.
Oh, right, since Tatsu can eat human food, the options are much wider.
Would you prefer something light like porridge? Or sweet dango?
Or maybe..."
Seeing her enthusiastic demeanor, Tatsu's stomach betrayed him with a loud, unmistakable *gurgle*.
He had just expended a great deal of willpower suppressing his instincts, and now he truly felt a sense of emptiness.
Moreover, human food provided not just energy, but also that tangible feeling of 'being alive.'
"Tempura."
Tatsu blurted out without a moment's hesitation.
"Huh?"
Kanae was taken aback,
"Tempura?"
"Yes, tempura.
The kind that's fried golden and crispy, makes a 'crunch' sound when you bite into it, with shrimp inside that's still springy and juicy."
As he spoke, Tatsu gestured in the air, a flicker of craving for delicious food in his eyes,
"And best served with a steaming bowl of udon, topped with plenty of green onions and shichimi pepper."
Seeing Tatsu's drool-worthy expression, Kanae couldn't help but let out a soft "pfft" of laughter.
"My, my, such greasy food first thing in the morning?
Tatsu's tastes are really... robust."
Though her words said one thing, her eyes were full of fondness.
She walked to the door, slipped on her geta, which made crisp *clack-clack* sounds.
"But, since it's Tatsu's wish, I'll fulfill it.
After all, being able to enjoy delicious food is also proof of being alive."
She placed her hand on the doorknob, turned her head, and waved at Tatsu, who still sat in the shadows.
"Wait here nicely for me, okay? Don't run off. The sun is very strong outside; it wouldn't be good if you got sunburned.
I'll be back soon."
With that, she pushed the door open. Sunlight instantly flooded in, gilding her silhouette with a golden edge.
In that moment, she seemed like a goddess walking in the light, so dazzling Tatsu could hardly look directly at her.
As the door closed with a soft *click*, silence returned to the room.
Tatsu looked at the closed door, took a deep breath; the air still seemed to carry the faint fragrance from her hair.
"She really is... a woman who's impossible to refuse."
...
She didn't make Tatsu wait long.
About half an hour later, light footsteps sounded outside the door.
"I'm back~"
Accompanied by the cheerful voice, the door slid open.
Kanae walked in carrying a large food box.
A fine sheen of sweat dotted her forehead, and her cheeks were slightly flushed,
clearly having hurried back, but her smile was as bright as ever.
A rich aroma of fried food instantly filled the entire room.
"Sorry for the wait,
I had to stand in a really long line for this shop's tempura. They say it's the most famous one in town."
Kanae placed the food box on the table and deftly opened it.
One layer, two layers, three layers.
Golden, crispy shrimp tempura, vibrant green vegetable tempura, sweet potato slices fried crispy on the outside and tender inside...
The table was laden with food.
Beside them were two steaming bowls of udon, the broth clear and bright, topped with green onions and cute narutomaki fish cakes.
"Wow..."
Tatsu couldn't help but utter a sigh of admiration.
This was even more sumptuous than he had imagined.
"Here, Tatsu, eat while it's hot."
Kanae handed Tatsu a pair of chopsticks, then knelt by the table herself, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and said devoutly:
"Let's eat."