"Kyojuro Rengoku, is your hand alright now?" Tanjirou asked, looking at his empty sleeve.
"It's a little unfamiliar, but it's not a big problem!" Kyojuro Rengoku raised his left hand. As a towering Pillar, both his sword-wielding arms had been tempered through countless trials. Despite his appearance, he could even use his left hand to hold chopsticks and eat!
"Rengoku, there's something I want to ask of you." Seeing Yoizumi's serious expression, Kyojuro Rengoku also became solemn.
"Speak."
"I want to ask you to train Tanjirou and me." Yoizumi had never received systematic training in sword-wielding. What he knew now was merely imitation, remembering the movements of others wielding swords, with most of his actions based on instinct.
It would be perfect for Rengoku to train Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. Yoizumi fully recognized him as a powerful swordsman; his sword-wielding aura and power were both top-notch.
Kyojuro Rengoku agreed without a second thought. Young Kamado and the others were all very promising swordsmen, and Yoizumi had already killed multiple Lower Ranks, long qualifying him to become a Pillar. His sword techniques weren't mature, but Kyojuro Rengoku trusted his own skills and was confident he would guide them well!
"Alright! Let me train you all!"
"Let me tell you upfront, my training is very strict!"
Tanjirou clenched his fists. This mission made him realize how weak he was, and he still wanted to become stronger, his expression resolute.
"Please guide me!"
"That's a good expression! Young Kamado, why don't you all become my Tsuguko!"
"If you don't mind!"
"I will train you all into powerful swordsmen!"
"Yes!"
Yoizumi quietly distanced himself from the two who were speaking louder and louder. Their personalities must truly be compatible.
At this moment, Agatsuma Zenitsu, who was sleeping in bed, suddenly shivered, curling up and pulling the blanket tighter. Inosuke, who was secretly eating in the kitchen, also seemed to sense something. Momentarily distracted, he was discovered by Kanzaki Aoi, who smacked him on the head with a spatula.
Kanzaki Aoi stood with her hands on her hips, annoyed, "Go wash your hands before you eat!"
I should go find Lady Shinobu; I have some things to tell her.
Yoizumi exited the ward and walked towards Shinobu's room. Rounding a corner, he sensed someone approaching. A familiar presence—it was Shinobu.
He stepped aside to prevent them from colliding.
"Oh my~ Yoizumi, why are you here?" As she rounded the corner, she saw a small, blond figure appear, looking up at her.
"I came to find you. Are you free, Shinobu?"
"Yes, I am. Come with me~"
Following Shinobu to her room, Shinobu first went to brew tea. Yoizumi had wanted to stop her; he wasn't accustomed to the bitterness of that tea. But Shinobu was incredibly fast and had already poured the tea leaves into the teapot and added hot water.
Yoizumi swallowed. Was that amount of tea leaves a bit too much just now?
"Please help yourself~" A fair hand held a ceramic cup. The steaming tea was so dark red it looked almost black. Yoizumi didn't even need to drink it to know how bitter it would be.
"This is excellent black tea~ I've treasured it for a long time, and I specially brewed it for you, Yoizumi. Have a taste~" Shinobu smiled, pushing the teacup towards Yoizumi. Her violet eyes watched his expression intently.
Bracing himself, he picked up the teacup with a tense face and slowly brought it to his mouth. He took a sip, trying hard to suppress the urge to spit it out. The bitter taste filled his mouth, and Yoizumi unconsciously closed his eyes.
But Shinobu still didn't intend to let him off, clasping her hands together, her voice light.
"How is it? Is it delicious? I usually don't even dare to drink it much."
He calmly put down the teacup. After a while, when some of the bitterness had faded, Yoizumi slowly nodded.
"It's... delicious." This shouldn't count as lying to her, right?
"That's wonderful~" Shinobu rested her chin on her hands, looking pleased.
"Yoizumi, what did you come to see me about today?"
"I should be returning home with Tanjirou and Nezuko during this period." He had thought about it before. After experiencing that dream, Yoizumi's desire to return home grew even stronger. His usually indifferent face softened.
"Hmm, that's good news." Seeing Yoizumi like this, Shinobu recalled the first time she met him, how he was so detached and hollow, as if nothing mattered to him.
And now.
He had a home.
A gentle side that only emerged when facing his family.
Shinobu was genuinely happy for him.
"Later, I'll also make a trip to Asakusa. There are some things I need to ask Lady Tamayo first."
"Lady Tamayo?" Shinobu instantly became alert. She had never heard of this person.
"Yes, she's also a demon, but like me, she's free from Kibutsuji's control. Her goal is also to kill him," Yoizumi explained, not noticing Shinobu's unusual reaction.
"If there's an opportunity, I can introduce Shinobu to Lady Tamayo. She's also an excellent doctor."
"Oh~ She's a doctor too, huh."
Shinobu didn't realize her lips, which had been curving upward, were now drooping.
Was there anything she couldn't ask her?
Or was it that only that female demon could answer his question?
Shinobu admitted, she was very annoyed right now.
"May I know what the question is?" Her fingertips unconsciously tapped on the table, revealing Shinobu's inner irritation.
"Lady Tamayo knows a lot about Kibutsuji. She said that the concentration of Kibutsuji's blood in my blood is very high, and my power increases after every battle."
"So I was wondering if there's any connection there." The injuries he sustained this time were stronger than before, and he was directly exposed to sunlight. Normally, he might have fainted for several days.
This time, he didn't. He fainted, but only for a very short time.
"I see..." Although she understood it was a serious matter to ask about, Shinobu was still not very happy. Her gaze fell on the tea, which was still more than half full.
"Yoizumi, aren't you going to drink it? I specially brewed it for you."
"..."
He picked up the teacup, closed his eyes, and gulped it down in one go, frowning slightly.
So bitter... "Knock, knock, knock~" A knock came from the door, and Kanzaki Aoi's voice sounded.
"Lady Shinobu, Flame Pillar's family has arrived."
"Alright, Aoi, please greet them first. I'll be right there."
"Yes!"
Kanzaki Aoi's footsteps faded into the distance.
Shinobu handed him a cup of warm water to soothe his throat. Seeing his relieved expression after he drank the water, she chuckled, annoyed.
He didn't like it but didn't say anything, silly Yoizumi.
She took out a fruit candy from her pocket and placed it in Yoizumi's palm.
"Let's go, we'll go meet Kyojuro Rengoku's family together."
"Alright."
Yoizumi clutched the candy in his palm, following Shinobu step by step.
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