Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
---
"No! That's not it! You've got it wrong!!"
"Kamado-san!" Sanemi hurriedly ran towards the gate.
His pupils contracted. He quickly reached out a hand and instinctively took a step forward.
The group in the courtyard stared blankly at the mansion's door.
He had keenly sensed the shift in Tanjuro's eyes moments ago, the transition from surprise to understanding, and finally to sympathy.
"Wait right there!!"
Obanai stood rigid with a makeup stick in hand, his face cycling between dread and relief.
He slowly exhaled, his only hope at that moment being that Mitsuri would not appear.
Shinobu and Aoi stood together, watching the scene unfold in the courtyard with great interest.
"Hmm, not bad-looking indeed."
Tengen bent over as he held Inosuke while propping his chin with the other hand, squinting as he carefully examined the boy's features.
"Hey! You muscle-bound freak! Let go of me!!"
Inosuke flailed his fists in mid-air, his nape pinched and held. He glared fiercely at Tengen behind him.
"Bastard!!"
"Huh… a… guy… but the face is a girl's…" Zenitsu Agatsuma stood rooted to the spot, clutching his swollen cheek and muttering to himself.
"So weird..."
He stared at Inosuke's face.
Then his gaze dazedly dropped to the boy's exposed upper body.
After confirming the undeniably masculine, muscular build,
The flush rapidly drained from his cheeks.
"Ugh!" Zenitsu's face turned pale and nauseous. He clapped a hand over his mouth.
He quickly scurried away from Inosuke, bracing himself against a tree, bent over, and began dry heaving, his face pale.
A heavy thud of the wooden door closing sounded from behind.
"Hmm?"
Tengen heard the noise but paid no mind to Inosuke's struggling, merely keeping his fingers clamped on the boy's nape.
He glanced back towards the gate, an excited expression appearing on his face.
"Back already?"
He turned, carrying Inosuke, and strode towards the entrance.
Inosuke struggled for a moment, realized he was completely trapped,
His face stiffened, and he gradually gave up.
...
Behind the group,
Inside the Butterfly Mansion,
"What should we do, Dad? Tecchin-san is definitely going to be super angry!"
Muichiro lamented worriedly. "This family heirloom doll has been nothing but trouble!"
He spread his hands, then clutched his head in distress.
"Sigh… no helping it." Soichiro also shook his head, troubled. Interpersonal matters were never his strong suit. "…We'll have to ask Tsugikuni-san later."
Father and son exchanged a glance, both clearly seeing the helplessness and guilt in each other's eyes.
The Tokito family was fretting over how to explain things to the Swordsmith Village. They happened to be passing by the corridor and saw the courtyard.
Yuichiro walked alongside them, silent.
As they passed the corridor, he glanced at the group in the courtyard through the window. Seeing their current state,
!!!
He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyebrows twitching uncontrollably.
He stiffly managed to squeeze out a few syllables:
"What the hell are they doing? That's disgusting."
...
After much persistent persuasion from Sanemi, Tanjuro was dragged back.
"That's the situation."
Sanemi explained angrily, hiding his embarrassment.
"…"
Tanjuro sat under the eaves. He swept his gaze over the group gathered around him and thought about saying something.
But feeling it might be inappropriate, he decided not to.
'To deal with Doma… do they really need to go this far?'
'I feel like there might be an easier way.'
Seeing the hopeful, desperate looks in their eyes, seeking his understanding,
With no other choice, Tanjuro gave a nod and closed his eyes.
"I think I understand."
"Phew…" Sanemi let out a huge sigh of relief, his arms dangling limply as he shook his head helplessly.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Tengen stood in the middle of the courtyard. He clapped his hands, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
He cleared his throat lightly, his gaze sharp, and flicked his fingers.
"Everyone, listen to the flamboyant me say a few flamboyant words."
Shwoosh!
Tengen reached out and pointed sharply at Sanemi.
"From now on, your name is Miko."
He moved his arm, pointing at the now fully made-up Obanai.
"You are Bako."
Then, he held up Inosuke, who had been forcibly dressed in a kimono.
"This one is Inoko."
Tengen put his hands on his hips, brimming with confidence.
"With this mission, I, the flamboyant one, will surely lead you all to a perfect success!"
Obanai's temple throbbed. He looked at Tengen with slight displeasure.
"Your naming sense is terrible."
"It's about time!"
Sanemi waved his hand grandly, his voice drowning out everyone else.
He stepped forward, pointing his thumb at himself with a bold demeanor.
"Since we're ready, let's go!"
Sanemi's lips curled up, a fierce glint flashing in his fierce eyes.
"To become the supreme leader's followers!"
The words echoed in the courtyard before fading into silence.
The bald cultist, who had been hanging his head, sensed something wrong. He quickly looked up and glanced around.
Sanemi was now turning his head, his pupils contracted to pinpricks as he glared viciously at him.
Seeing the Hashiras staring intently at him, the cultist shuddered.
He scrambled to his feet, his voice trembling.
"Yes, yes, understood."
He turned, slightly bowing, having none of the arrogance he'd shown when he first saw Aoi.
"Allow me to guide you."
"But remember, if you want to see the Leader quickly, we need a reason."
The cultist's gaze flickered as he glanced back at the group behind him.
"Once we reach the church, all we have to say is..."
His voice dropped low.
"The blue spider lily has been found."
"That will be enough."
Tengen frowned, unable to stop looking at Sanemi's appearance.
'This guy is definitely going to ruin the plan. I need to think of something…'
Lost in thought, his eyes wandered aimlessly around the courtyard.
"…Hmm?" He spotted the Tokito brothers not far away, sparring with a six-armed doll.
His eyes lit up.
'These two are way better than Shinazugawa!'
---
Since the target was almost certainly Upper Rank One, this operation involved an unusually large number of people.
Tanjuro followed behind the group.
The Wind, Serpent, Insect, and Sound Hashiras.
That alone made four of the strongest fighters in the corps.
His gaze shifted to Kanao, who was beside Shinobu.
The Insect Hashira's Tsuguko was also here.
And...
He slowly turned his head to look at Tengen behind him, who wore a mischievous grin.
"Why do we have to participate in this mission?!" Yuichiro's and Muichiro's faces had been touched up with make-up.
The two brothers were being carried effortlessly over Tengen's shoulders as he marched forward.
---
Meanwhile,
At Tamayo's Residence,
Warm light filled the room on the first floor. Small insects fluttered around the oil lamp.
"Tamayo-sama."
Click.
Yushiro spoke respectfully, placing the tea tray gently on the table. He turned his head to look at Tamayo, who was intently writing something.
"The medicine from last time…"
"Yes." Tamayo didn't look back. The candlelight illuminated her pale profile, her long lashes lowered, her tone gentle.
"After repeated experiments, I can confirm."
"The effects are essentially the same as when I first lost consciousness after smelling Kamado-san's blood."
Yushiro's form stiffened. Nervous sweat beaded on his forehead. He sat beside Tamayo, visibly uneasy.
"So, those weren't hallucinations…"
His violet eyes contracted, his pale hands beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
"What I saw was real…"
As the demon closest to Tamayo, Yushiro had volunteered to test the medicine's effects as soon as it was developed.
"Yushiro."
Tamayo stopped writing. She turned around, cutting off Yushiro's rising fear.
Her misty violet eyes fixed on Yushiro. She gazed at him for a long while until his emotions began to settle.
Only then did she slowly exhale. She lowered her eyes, a little helpless.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you saw."
"Whether it was a hallucination or not, I can't say for certain right now."
She gripped her clothes with a hint of self-reproach.
"I'm sorry…"
Tamayo had been the first demon to test the medicine.
She had hoped to see her daughter and husband again, but reality says otherwise. Tamayo could not reproduce the effect for the second time.
Concerned, Tamayo looked at Yushiro.
Since the experiment, Yushiro had been in a state of heightened tension and sensitivity. Even a soft word could startle him.
Tamayo had asked him what he saw, but recalling it only made him more afraid.
She had no choice but to drop it.
The successful development of the medicine was thanks to Michikatsu, who had volunteered to test it.
He later confessed that he had seen his younger brother from his past and even seemed to have sparred with him.
"I'm sorry, Tamayo-sama. I was out of line."
Yushiro gradually calmed down. He came back to his senses and saw Tamayo's self-reproachful expression. His heart clenched.
He lowered his head, frowning slightly, his expression pained.
After a moment of internal struggle, he sighed and spoke in a low voice.
"…I'll take my leave."
With that, he slowly stood up, his back slightly slumped. He stumbled for a moment before pushing the door open and leaving the room.
Outside the door,
Yushiro seemed to let out a sigh of relief. He slumped against the wall, all strength leaving him. He looked up with his violet eyes.
He stared blankly at the electric light on the corridor ceiling.
The dim light reflected in his mirror-like pupils, flickering faintly.
His mind involuntarily drifted back.
After testing the medicine, Yushiro had seen—
Tamayo-sama, standing in the sunlight.
Turning back, slowly looking at him.
And then, turning to ash.
In his memory, Yushiro's recollection was hazy. He frowned.
No.
It wasn't just Tamayo standing in the sunlight.
Accompanying her was that six-eyed sword-wielding demon.
And a stranger covered in tattoos with pink eyelashes.
Continuing to recall what he had seen that time, Yushiro fell into deep self-doubt. He took an involuntary deep breath.
Then he lowered his head and slowly exhaled.
"What is this…"
"Even people I don't know appeared."
Yushiro shook his head gently, trying to reassure himself with self-mockery.
"A prophetic dream?"
"As if something like that could exist… What a stupid hallucination…"
"Why can't it just me and Tamayo-sama...?
Bang!!
A sudden, dull thud came from outside the residence, jolting Yushiro from his thoughts!
He instinctively stood up and quickly walked down the corridor and looked towards the open entrance of the residence.
To facilitate travel, the entire courtyard of the residence was covered with sun-blocking shades.
Sizzle—!!
There he was, Michikatsu, with smoke rising from his searing body, carrying the even more severely scorched Akaza.
He had crashed into the shade covering, creating a crater.
Yushiro stepped out of the residence and stood under the eaves.
He glanced hesitantly at the setting sun in the distance, his lip twitching. He couldn't help but speak to the courtyard with a hint of exasperation.
"The sun is almost down. There was no need to rush that much."
Clatter.
Michikatsu's regenerating, charred fingers gripped the edge of the crater. He pulled himself up with difficulty.
Yushiro watched the blackened burns on Michikatsu's body.
'Is this the time to say something like "As expected of Upper Rank One"?'
Yushiro's gaze fell on the other blackened, unconscious figure in the crater.
Crackle…
The burns on the unconscious figure also rapidly regenerated.
Revealing the striped tattoos of a sinner on his skin.
Yushiro's pupils suddenly constricted. His gaze darted to the figure's eyes.
Pink eyelashes came into view.
They were exactly the same as the stranger he had seen in his hallucination!
He froze, stumbling backward a couple of steps.
He blinked in disbelief, his body momentarily threatening to collapse.
"…So… it really was a prophetic dream…" He murmured, dazed.
Michikatsu remained composed. He stood up, ignoring Yushiro's reaction.
"Akaza…" He glanced back calmly at Akaza lying in the crater, his tone unsurprised.
"Trying to take me down with you?"
He turned around, his upper body bare, as his haori had been burned away, revealing his muscular physique. His six eyes opened wide.
His pupils shifted downward, fixing on Akaza. Yet his voice held a hint of admiration.
"Your spirit has grown."
A couple of minutes ago, Michikatsu was in a nearby house waiting for the sun to set before departing.
The unconscious Akaza had suddenly awakened and launched a frenzied attack on him.
A chain of Demon Arts techniques, surpassing his previous capabilities, had forcibly dragged Michikatsu out of the house.
With no other option, Michikatsu had knocked Akaza unconscious again.
Fortunately, the fading sunset hadn't been too harmful to the two demons, allowing them to reach Tamayo's residence.