Calculating by time, Kyojuro was about eleven.
That rescued child was slightly older than him. Named Iguro Obanai.
A boy with jet-black long hair. Face resembling a girl's.
When I conversed with Shinjuro's wife Ruka, Kyojuro pulled Obanai over. Politely bowed to greet us.
Half of Obanai's face was covered with bandages. Eyeballs nervously darting around. Didn't dare look at me.
After Kyojuro helped introduce his name, he mustered courage to look up, meet my eyes...
Immediately, pupils contracted. Cried out in terror, "Demon—it's a demon!"
A silvery-white snake coiled around his neck. Hearing this, also hissed at me, flicking its tongue. Snake pupils glared at me alertly.
Kyojuro held his hand. "Yes! Lord Chihaya is indeed a demon! But no need to fear, Obanai. She's different from the demons you've seen."
By rights, besides the Nine Pillars, others shouldn't know of my existence... But helplessly, the Flame Pillar and Rengoku family had close ties. Already became a stable inheritance.
So as the Flame Pillar's family—could know more inside information than others.
And this child previously suffered deeply from demon torment. Letting him know some truth—might make him feel better.
Ruka placed her hand on the back of mine. Also beckoned to Obanai. "Don't be afraid, Obanai. Come. To conquer fear, you must personally experience it yourself."
Obanai lived at the Rengoku house for some time. Looked like he trusted Ruka's words... Though still shrinking, slowly shuffled over.
Ruka took his hand. Placed it on the back of mine. Also said gently, "See, Lord Chihaya's body temperature is very warm. Her aura also differs from demons. As long as you carefully distinguish, you'll know—she's not an evil demon."
Obanai stiffened for a while. I feared disturbing him. Also didn't move.
After a long time, he tentatively touched my hand. Then bit by bit, slowly raised his head. Cautiously looked at my face.
I saw clearly those heterochromatic eyes. Smiled. "Your right pupil is very similar to mine."
Obanai seemed to want to shrink back again. But still mustered courage to nod. Used a mosquito-like thin voice to say, "Yes..."
I also had my experience. Children like Obanai, too deeply entangled with demons—very difficult to return to normal life.
If no surprises, when he grew a bit older—inevitably would also join the Demon Slayer Corps.
And Kyojuro—even more undoubtedly, firmly would walk the same path as his father.
Ruka's health wasn't great. These days I came to the Rengoku house, she always stayed bedridden. Also had to care for her young son. Very hard.
I thought—rarely coming once, might as well help guide Kyojuro's swordsmanship.
He had great sword talent. Shinjuro constantly traveled outside for missions. Time guiding him very little. But I watched him practice sword forms—quite presentable.
When I held sweets, eating while guiding Kyojuro's training—Obanai would hide to the side, secretly watching... But when Kyojuro invited him to practice together, he'd refuse.
Repeatedly so. Kyojuro didn't lose heart. Loudly said to him, "I know you want to train like me. I can feel your desire... Though unclear what you're concerned about—doesn't matter. I'll keep inviting you until you follow your heart."
Perhaps people with contrary personalities often couldn't handle such straightforward temperaments.
After continuing ten days, Obanai finally reluctantly accepted Kyojuro's invitation. Also took a wooden sword to start practicing.
He had no sword foundation. Looked like he rarely exercised before. Physical foundation not great.
Could see swinging the sword was strenuous for him. But he never put it down. Gritted his teeth, together with Kyojuro—continuously practiced for an hour before his arms went soft, putting down the wooden sword.
After observing a day, I drafted a new training plan for him. Starting from the most basic running. First pull up his stamina.
Additionally, Obanai's appetite wasn't like Kyojuro's. Each meal, he only ate a small bowl of rice. Almost didn't eat meat. Taste very bland.
I privately asked if he disliked eating meat, or couldn't eat meat.
Because training needed nutritional supplementation. Only eating vegetarian couldn't keep up with such exercise.
He hesitated a long time. Finally quietly told me—he smelled greasy odors and felt nauseous. Perhaps related to his past experiences.
"Can you eat milk and eggs?"
Obanai nodded. I adjusted his menu. Incidentally told him he needn't train like Kyojuro.
"Kyojuro is cultivated as Flame Breathing's successor. His training is designed so his grown body can bear Flame Breathing." I carefully explained. "But you're not suited for Flame Breathing. Also don't need to imitate him."
From my perspective—compared to fierce Flame Breathing, Obanai might suit Water Breathing better.
I began bit by bit helping him adjust training direction. When he could catch up to Kyojuro, start regular training—time already walked to this year's end.
Shinjuro returned home midway. But always came and went hurriedly. Before long, had to leave again to execute missions.
Once during practice, Obanai's hair tangled on the wooden sword. Before I went over to help untangle his hair, he already tripped. Fell to the ground.
Because of this, he seemed determined to cut his hair.
But he didn't want to see outsiders. Then could only have me—this old lady who lived long, seen much—personally wield the scissors.
I found two scissors at the Rengoku house. Picked good weather to wash Obanai's hair. Sat in the courtyard, helping him cut his hair.
Scissors rustled along. Black hair fell in circles. He originally tensely stared at the ground. Watching accumulated hair on the ground grow more and more—spine slowly straightened.
My haircutting skill could only be called neither good nor bad. Cut to shoulder-length for him, then stopped.
Still worried he'd be dissatisfied. But Obanai touched his hair. Sincerely thanked me.
Between his brows, completely relaxed. As if throwing off some burden. Whole body became lighter.
Correspondingly, in training, he worked harder and harder. Almost to desperate levels.
During training breaks, he once asked me, "Does Lord Chihaya hate heaven?"
Why did he encounter such unlucky things?
Won't resent fate's injustice?
How to break free from tragic fate?
Though these words weren't spoken aloud—his eyes told me so.
Don't know what reason. After everyone knew my past, very few directly asked me. Seemed to think this would touch my sad matters.
Actually, I had no special feelings. Certainly because of Muzan, I couldn't live a normal life... But I also had experiences ordinary people didn't. Met many people I originally couldn't meet.
However, to comfort this child who asked me, wanted some psychological solace—I still said:
"Consider it heaven's test. Though we've all encountered some unlucky things—absolutely not misfortune. As long as you persist, maybe soon you'll encounter that reason making you feel happy."
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