Chapter 16: A Warmth That Makes One Want to Cry
Tatsu sat on a moss-covered rock, holding a red bean bun in his hand.
It was a supply he carried with him.
He took a bite of the bun, feeling the sweet red bean paste melt on his tongue.
The faint energy that surged into his limbs as the food digested gave him a sense of groundedness, of being "human."
He swallowed the food in his mouth, brushed the crumbs off his hands, and cast his gaze toward the figure standing not far away.
"Kanae."
Kanae Kocho turned around slowly, her purple eyes like two pools of gentle spring water, reflecting Tatsu's face.
She tilted her head slightly, wearing that signature, soul-healing smile on her lips: "Hm? What is it, Tatsu?"
Tatsu jumped down from the rock, dusted off his pant legs, and looked straight at her, his tone inquisitive: "That demon has been dealt with. What are your plans next?"
According to the regulations of the Demon Slayer Corps, after completing a mission, Hashira-level swordsmen usually need to report to their leader as soon as possible or rush to the next mission location.
Kanae Kocho blinked, not answering the question directly.
She walked toward Tatsu with light steps.
The withered leaves under her feet made a soft "rustling" sound, which sounded surprisingly pleasant in the quiet night.
She stopped three steps in front of him, hands behind her back, body leaning slightly forward, her gentle eyes carefully examining Tatsu.
"Tatsu," "I want to take you back to the Butterfly Mansion."
She said this very naturally, as if inviting a friend to her home for tea, rather than inviting a demon to the medical headquarters of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The corner of Tatsu's mouth twitched slightly.
The Butterfly Mansion.
For members of the Demon Slayer Corps, that place was a sanctuary for healing, a gentle harbor.
But for a demon?
It was practically the 18th-level VIP box of hell.
Kanae Kocho looked at Tatsu's stiff expression, thinking he was hesitating, and continued in that hopeful tone:
"Along the way here, I have basically become convinced that Tatsu is different from other demons. You have no desire to eat humans, and can even restore your strength through human food. This is simply a miracle..."
Her eyes flashed with the light of "hope," the look of a scientist discovering a new species, or an idealist seeing the dawn of peace.
"I want to observe your physical condition carefully by spending time together and see why you can survive in this way. If Tatsu's special constitution could be applied to other demons, or if we could find a way to turn demons back into humans, or at least a way where they no longer need to eat humans... then, everyone wouldn't have to get hurt anymore, and the wish for humans and demons to coexist peacefully might actually come true."
She was serious.
This woman, kind to the point of being somewhat "naive," sincerely wanted to save the source of all tragedies.
However, another image instantly appeared in Tatsu's mind.
The Butterfly Mansion.
A petite girl with a fake, skin-deep smile and veins bulging on her forehead.
Kochou Shinobu.
If he followed Kanae into the gate of the Butterfly Mansion, he feared that before he could even take a sip of hot tea, he would be poked into a sieve by that future "Insect Hashira" using a Nichirin Sword coated in wisteria poison.
"Ara, sister, is this the pet you brought back? Although it looks well-behaved, it is a demon after all. For safety's sake, wouldn't it be better to chop it into pieces and make it into a specimen?"
Tatsu seemed to have already heard Kochou Shinobu's unique, trembling, black-bellied tone.
Not to mention the other "patients" in the Butterfly Mansion, those Demon Slayer Corps members whose relatives had been killed by demons and who hated demons to the core.
A demon waltzing in?
That scene would be like throwing a piece of fresh meat into a pack of hungry wolves.
"Um..." Tatsu took a deep breath, stepped back half a pace, and put on an awkward but polite smile, "Kanae, I appreciate your kindness. However, I've thought about it, and if I go back to the Butterfly Mansion with you, the outcome will likely be very miserable."
"Eh? Why?" Kanae Kocho was slightly stunned, looking a bit confused.
"First of all," Tatsu held up a finger, "The Butterfly Mansion is full of Demon Slayer Corps members, right? If I appear there, regardless of whether I eat humans or not, just the scent of a demon on me would be enough for them to draw their swords. I would be torn to pieces, absolutely torn to pieces in an instant."
He looked up at the moon gradually setting overhead, his expression becoming slightly more serious: "And, most importantly, I am too weak right now."
He spread his hands, looking at his slightly pale palms: "Although I am a demon, my strength is really very weak. I cannot move under the sun, and during the day I can only hide in dark corners. This feeling... is very uncomfortable. A place like the Butterfly Mansion with plenty of sunlight is also a form of torture for me."
"So, I'm sorry, Kanae." Tatsu looked into her eyes and said sincerely, "I cannot go back to the Butterfly Mansion with you. If I go back with you, not only will my own life be at risk, but it will also bring you endless trouble. For the sake of both of us, let's forget this proposal."
For the current Tatsu, survival was the top priority.
He was not a brainless protagonist in a shonen manga; he knew clearly how high the hatred level of the Demon Slayer Corps was toward demons.
Hearing Tatsu's refusal, the light in Kanae Kocho's eyes dimmed for a moment, but quickly brightened up again.
She had long anticipated Tatsu's concerns.
"Tatsu, you've misunderstood." She shook her head gently and took a step forward, shortening the distance between them.
The night breeze blew her hair, brushing against Tatsu's cheek, bringing a hint of itchiness.
"Of course I am not taking you directly to the Butterfly Mansion headquarters." Kanae Kocho held up a finger and blinked playfully, her tone carrying a hint of mystery, "I have a private residence near the Butterfly Mansion. It is in a very remote location, and usually, almost no one goes there except me. Moreover, members of the Demon Slayer Corps will not approach there without my permission."
She put her hands together in a pleading gesture, her eyes so sincere that one could not refuse: "I want to take you there. It is very quiet, and the shade is very good; it can definitely ensure your safety. I can bring you human food every day, and we can slowly study your constitution there... Tatsu, I really don't want to let you wander outside alone. This world is too dangerous; not only are there demon hunters, but there are also other evil demons. You are so... special, what if you encounter danger?"
Her voice was full of pure kindness and care.
It was the protection of an older sister for a younger brother, and the respect of a healer for life.
She was truly worried that this demon named Tatsu would perish in the cruel night.
Looking at her gentle yet persistent appearance, Tatsu couldn't help but sigh in his heart: As expected of the "white moonlight" in the original work, this Madonna-like radiance (in a positive sense) was simply blinding.
But... a private residence?
Room and board included?
Keeping a mistress in a golden house?
Tatsu's train of thought suddenly veered in a strange direction.
He raised an eyebrow, his originally serious expression instantly collapsing, replaced by a cynical, bad-boy smirk.
"Um... Miss Kanae?" Tatsu deliberately drew out the tail of his words, looked Kanae Kocho up and down, and teased in a joking tone, "A private residence? Guaranteeing safety? And you want to bring me food every day?"
He leaned in closer, staring at Kanae Kocho's purple eyes, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of playfulness: "Lady Flower Hashira... are you trying to keep me as a kept man?"
The air seemed to freeze for a second.
"Keep... kept man?" Kanae Kocho clearly didn't expect Tatsu to come up with such a word.
Her cheeks, originally fair as jade, were dyed with a faint crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye, just like cherry blossoms blooming in early spring.
"Just like those rich young ladies keeping a gigolo outside." Tatsu suppressed his laughter and continued to add fuel to the fire, "Although I do look decent enough, I don't want to live off a woman. Besides, if your suitors found out, I'm afraid there wouldn't even be ashes left of me."
Kanae Kocho looked at Tatsu's annoying expression, the blush on her face quickly fading, replaced by a look of helplessness and doting.
She sighed softly, reached out, and flicked Tatsu's forehead with her index finger.
"Thump."
The force wasn't great, but it carried a hint of intimacy.
Kanae Kocho withdrew her hand, put her hands on her hips, and puffed out her cheeks in mock anger, but the smile in the corners of her eyes couldn't be hidden, "Honestly, we were clearly talking about something serious."
Subsequently, her expression gradually became serious.
That majesty and composure unique to a Hashira returned to her.
"Tatsu, I am serious."
"I know this sounds very naive, but I really hope I can do something for you. Not just for the sake of research, but even more so because... I think you are a gentle child. I don't want to see you struggling in the darkness because of your identity."
Her voice was not loud, but every word was a gem, striking at Tatsu's heart.
It was a gentleness that could encompass everything, a warmth that made one want to cry.