Chapter 23: Little Shinobu, Who Always Carries an Angry Smile
Night.
"I say, Kanae..."
Tatsu stopped in his tracks, his finger tracing the winding line on the map,
finally coming to a stop at a spot circled in red. He sighed somewhat helplessly,
"Looking at the route here, we probably have about two more days of travel before we reach Mount Kumotori."
Although he was a demon with infinite stamina,
this endless walking was truly boring for someone who was still a modern person at heart.
Hearing this, Kanae Kocho also stopped and tilted her head slightly.
At that moment, the moonlight happened to fall on the side of her face, outlining an exquisite silhouette.
She blinked, her gentle eyes fixed on Tatsu. A beautiful curve formed at the corner of her mouth as she softly replied:
"Mhm, that seems about right.
But with Tatsu by my side, these two days of travel should be quite interesting, right?
After all, Tatsu always says many fresh words I've never heard before."
"Interesting?"
Tatsu put away the map and shrugged helplessly.
"I just hope we don't run into any more blind fools on the way.
It's really a hassle."
The two continued forward, the fallen leaves beneath their feet making a crisp crunching sound.
After walking for a while, Kanae Kocho suddenly slowed her pace.
Her gaze fell on the dark forest path ahead, a glimmer of thought flashing in her eyes.
"Hey, Tatsu..."
Kanae Kocho suddenly spoke.
"Hmm? What is it now?"
Tatsu responded absentmindedly, his gaze still alertly scanning their surroundings.
"After this trip to Mount Kumotori is over..."
Kanae Kocho paused, seemingly organizing her words, then turned around.
Facing Tatsu, she held her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly.
Her eyes, full of hope, looked directly at Tatsu.
"Could you come back to the Butterfly Mansion with me?"
"Butterfly Mansion?"
Tatsu was stunned for a moment.
"Yes."
Kanae Kocho nodded, the smile on her face growing even more radiant.
"I want to introduce you to my younger sisters; they are also members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
I want them to meet you,
to let them know that there really are demons in this world who don't eat people,
that demons who can coexist peacefully with humans truly exist."
As she spoke, her gaze became distant, as if she were looking through Tatsu at the future she had always yearned for.
She wanted to share this special gift, this miracle named Tatsu, with her sisters.
The Little Shinobu who always wore an angry smile, and Kanao, who was still tossing coins to make decisions.
Tatsu looked at the woman before him whose eyes were full of expectation, but he could only give a bitter smile in his heart.
Inviting him to the Butterfly Mansion again?
Wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap?
Although Kanae Kocho trusted him, it didn't mean Kocho Shinobu would.
In the original story, Kocho Shinobu's hatred for demons was bone-deep,
especially if her sister were to meet with misfortune in the future, that hatred would become even more extreme.
And now, even though Kanae was still alive,
Shinobu's personality... she was a black-bellied girl who was always ready with wisteria poison, smilingly asking how you'd like to die.
Thinking of this, Tatsu couldn't help but shudder.
He stopped and looked at Kanae Kocho, teasing her on purpose:
"Whoa, whoa, Kanae, are you serious?
Are you sure that after your sister sees me having 'kidnapped' her sister for so long,
her first reaction won't be to draw her sword and slash me, but to sit down and chat over tea?"
"Kidnapped?"
Kanae Kocho was stunned for a moment, then realized Tatsu was joking and couldn't help but giggle.
"What do you mean 'kidnapped'? That sounds so awful.
We're on a mission; we're legitimate travel companions."
"In your eyes we're companions, but in your sister's eyes, a demon like me is a major suspect."
Tatsu gestured exaggeratedly.
"I can already imagine the scene.
She'll be smiling and saying 'Moshi Moshi' while stabbing her Nichirin Sword into my neck,
and then proceed to pour a whole bucket of wisteria poison down my throat."
Listening to Tatsu's vivid description,
Kanae Kocho couldn't help but picture her sister Shinobu's usual attitude toward demons,
and Shinobu's face, which always wore a 'kindly' smile.
"Uh..."
Kanae's smile stiffened, and a drop of cold sweat seemed to roll down her forehead.
There was no need to worry about Kanao; as long as she gave the order,
she would definitely be obedient, and might even toss a coin to decide whether to greet Tatsu.
But Shinobu...
Shinobu's hatred for evil demons was indeed deep-rooted.
Every time she brought up the topic of 'human-demon coexistence,' Shinobu always thought she was being idealistic.
If she suddenly brought Tatsu back and told her 'this is a good demon,'
Shinobu's first reaction would almost certainly not be belief,
but rather that her sister had been bewitched by a Blood Demon Art, and she would strike without a second word.
"That... surely... it wouldn't be like that?"
Kanae Kocho said somewhat uncertainly, her voice noticeably weaker as her fingers habitually twisted the hem of her Haori.
Seeing Kanae's guilty expression, Tatsu was even more certain of his judgment and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"See, you don't even believe it yourself.
I'll pass.
I haven't lived long enough yet; I don't want to go to the Butterfly Mansion to be a guinea pig or a poison test subject."
Seeing Tatsu about to refuse, Kanae Kocho grew anxious.
She truly wanted her sisters to meet Tatsu, to prove that her dream wasn't just empty talk.
So, she took a deep breath, readjusted her emotions,
and that firm yet gentle expression reappeared on her face.
She took a step closer to Tatsu and promised solemnly:
"Tatsu, don't worry!
Although Shinobu is usually a bit harsh toward demons, she listens to me.
As long as I explain it to her properly, and once she sees how special you are, she will definitely understand."
She paused, her gaze becoming exceptionally serious:
"Besides, I also want to free Shinobu from her hatred.
If she can see a kind demon like Tatsu, maybe her heart will feel a bit better.
So, please, give me a chance, and give Shinobu a chance, okay?"
Tatsu looked at the face so close to his.
Under the moonlight, Kanae Kocho's eyes were crystal clear, filled with sincerity and earnestness.
She wasn't using him; she truly considered him a friend,
a partner in achieving her dream, even... an existence like family.
This feeling of being wholeheartedly trusted and relied upon,
had a lethal impact on someone who had transmigrated as a demon.
The wall of refusal that had been so firm in Tatsu's heart collapsed under this gentle assault.
"I really give up on you."
Tatsu sighed helplessly and scratched his hair.
"It's a deal then; you're the one inviting me, I didn't ask to go."
In truth, Tatsu had his own little calculations.
Since he had decided to cling to Kanae's support,
meeting her sister Kocho Shinobu was only a matter of time and was unavoidable.
Rather than hiding, it was better to meet that black-bellied Insect Hashira while under the protection of Kanae, the ultimate shield.
As long as he won over the Kocho sisters,
he would have a place in the Demon Slayer Corps' camp,
at least without worrying about being casually slashed like an ordinary evil demon.
Thinking of this, Tatsu joked with Kanae Kocho:
"Fine, since Lady Flower Hashira has said so, I'll risk my life to accompany you.
But you must protect me well when the time comes, Lady Flower Hashira.
Otherwise, I'm afraid your short-tempered sister will mince me into meat sauce, and that would be a real tragedy for me."
Hearing Tatsu agree, the light in Kanae Kocho's eyes instantly intensified, and her whole being seemed to brighten.
She clapped her hands happily, her smile like a blooming flower:
"Great! Tatsu really is a good person!"
"Good demon."
Tatsu corrected her.
"Mhm, good demon!"
Kanae Kocho nodded repeatedly, then puffed out her chest like a big sister and said:
"Don't worry, Tatsu.
If Shinobu really tries to attack you, I will definitely stand in front of you.
I am the older sister, after all; protecting you is my responsibility and my promise!"
Her voice although gentle, carried an unquestionable firmness.
At this moment, she wasn't just the gentle Flower Hashira,
but a warrior who dared to face any obstacle to protect her dreams and companions.
This gap moe touched Tatsu slightly.
Looking at the woman who was as happy as a child, he swore in his heart:
Since you trust me so much, I will never let you lose.
However, just as the warm atmosphere was heating up...
"Ah—!!!"
A deafening roar suddenly erupted from deep within the dark forest ahead.
Following the roar, countless birds burst from the trees in terror, fluttering their wings as they scattered.
Then, a voice filled with rage and hatred reached their ears:
"Demon!!! I will definitely kill you!!!"
The voice was shrill and resolute, every word squeezed through gritted teeth, carrying a madness that would not rest until death.
The smiles on Tatsu and Kanae Kocho's faces vanished instantly.
Kanae Kocho's expression became solemn in an instant, her originally gentle eyes turning sharp.
She instinctively reached for the hilt of the Nichirin Sword at her waist, her body sinking slightly as she entered a combat stance.
"This voice..."
Kanae murmured softly, her brows furrowed.
Tatsu also put away his joking mood,
his blood-red pupils constricted slightly as his gaze locked onto the direction of the sound.
This line... this tone...
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