"Ah! You're back!" Kanzaki Aoi, who was cleaning the perimeter of the Butterfly Mansion, said as she watched Zenitsu return with Inosuke on his back.
But as she got closer and noticed the numerous wounds, big and small, on Inosuke and Zenitsu, Kanzaki Aoi's expression instantly changed, and she led them to the infirmary.
"What happened to you two?" Kanzaki Aoi meticulously disinfected Inosuke's wounds, injecting a dose of medicine that Lady Shinobu had prepared, which helped heal most injuries. After bandaging him, Kanzaki Aoi frowned.
Zenitsu scratched his cheek, unsure how to explain at first. His yellowish-brown eyes fixed on his feet, he pondered for a long time before finally speaking.
"Muzan is dead."
"Um… we… won!"
"Is that so…?!", Kanzaki Aoi didn't react immediately, but the next second, her eyes widened, and her voice involuntarily rose.
"What?!"
"Muzan… that Demon King?"
Zenitsu nodded, a hint of moisture in the corner of his eyes.
Even now… he still didn't feel it was real.
Kibutsuji Muzan is dead… there will be no more demons in this world… no more people will have their families torn apart by demons.
How amazing… everyone is so amazing… they defeated such a terrible foe.
Seeing that Zenitsu wasn't joking or lying, Kanzaki Aoi suddenly covered her face, tears streaming between her fingers, her voice choked with sobs.
"That's wonderful… that's wonderful…"
"Muzan is finally dead…"
Nezuko, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, repeated it blankly, but the next moment, her voice trembled almost imperceptibly. She walked up to Zenitsu, her face filled with worry.
"Mr. Zenitsu… where are my brothers?"
"Where are they?"
"Why haven't I seen them come back?"
"Are they still on their way?"
Zenitsu looked at Nezuko, an expression of unbearable sorrow in his eyes. He didn't want to tell Nezuko uncertain news; he was afraid Nezuko would be disappointed. But seeing the fear in Nezuko's pink eyes, Zenitsu's dry voice finally spoke after a long pause.
"…They might need a little time to come back."
"Nezuko-chan, just wait a little longer."
Her pupils suddenly constricted, and her eyes trembled frantically. How could a meticulous girl like Nezuko not notice the abnormality in Zenitsu's tone?
Tears rolled down one by one. Nezuko clenched her fists tightly and placed them against her chest, pressing against her constantly palpitating heart.
Just wait a little longer?
How long would that be?
"Mr. Zenitsu, please…" The sadness in Nezuko's voice almost made Zenitsu unable to lift his head.
"Please take me to my brothers…"
"I beg you…"
Nezuko-chan… Zenitsu pressed his lips together, not daring to look at Nezuko's expression at that moment.
If he went… Nezuko-chan might be even sadder… But… "I understand…" Zenitsu said in a low voice.
"I'll take you to find Yoizumi-nii and Tanjirou."
If he refused Nezuko today, Zenitsu thought he might live in regret for the rest of his life… By evening, the door they were guarding still showed no signs of opening. Every minute and every second that passed was agony for them.
Tanjirou leaned against the wall, raising a hand to cover his dizzy head. His body had overused Hinokami Kagura and should have collapsed long ago, but Tanjirou held on, stubbornly enduring until now.
His vision gradually blurring, Tanjirou squeezed his thigh hard, attempting to use the pain to keep himself awake.
"Tanjirou, go rest. I'll watch." Shinobu said in a deep voice, her voice slightly hoarse from being suppressed all day.
"You all should go rest. That's an order." Kagaya Ubuyashiki coughed a few times, standing up from his chair, supported by Amane.
"Master…" Shinobu stepped forward to check Kagaya's body. After confirming there was no major issue, Shinobu knelt on one knee and bowed her head.
"My apologies, Master… I cannot obey on this matter."
"Please allow my defiance."
"Until Yoizumi is confirmed to be alright… I will not leave."
Tanjirou also wanted to kneel on one knee, but his weakened legs gave out, and he fell straight to his knees, his knees hitting the ground with a thud.
"…Me… too."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki took a few steps forward, bent down, and helped the two of them up, his eyes filled with disapproval.
"If you all collapse from exhaustion, and Yoizumi wakes up, how am I to explain it to him?"
Shinobu closed her eyes, her voice obscure.
"Master… how dare I rest?"
Shinobu was afraid… afraid that the next moment she would not be greeted by Yoizumi's smile, but by news of his demise.
She dared not gamble, nor could she afford to.
"Shinobu…" Kagaya sighed deeply. He couldn't stop them… His light purple eyes seemed to pierce through the wall, falling upon Yoizumi, just beyond that wall.
Yoizumi… just as you said, everyone needs me.
You are equally important.
A hurried sound of footsteps came from outside. Tanjirou smelled Nezuko's scent, and just as he turned around, Nezuko rushed into his arms.
Tanjirou was stunned for a moment. He glanced at Zenitsu, then looked at his sister, who was trembling violently and crying in his embrace. Tanjirou managed a bittersweet smile, raising a hand to gently stroke Nezuko's head.
"Nezuko…"
"Bro… brother… I… I thought…" Nezuko cried, her words disjointed and choked with sobs.
His calloused hand gently caressed his sister's hair, while his other arm held her tightly.
With his chin resting on his sister's head, Tanjirou, who had been suppressing the urge to cry, suddenly had red-rimmed eyes, and tears rolled down his cheeks as he embraced his family.
"Yoizumi… brother?" The inevitable question came. Seeing the fear in his sister's eyes, Tanjirou guiltily turned his head away.
If he had been stronger.
If he had shared more of Yoizumi-nii's burden.
Would the outcome have been different?
Seeing that her brother didn't answer, Nezuko's suppressed emotions from the journey suddenly erupted completely.
"How could this be?! Yoizumi-nii just recently said he would buy me konpeito…"
She covered her mouth, trying hard not to wail, as large tears rolled down one by one.
Just a few days ago, Yoizumi-nii had gently stroked her head and said,
"Thank you, Nezuko."
"Nezuko's cooking is delicious, brother likes it very much."
Heartbreaking sobs echoed in the small room, yet none of them could offer comfort.
Because right now, crying was the simplest release.
Nezuko's wish was small.
She wanted her brothers by her side.
Nezuko's wish was grand.
She wanted her family to never be separated again.
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