The power of Constant breathing surged through Tatsuya like an untiring engine. He moved across the land in the dim dawn, every step leaving a trace of electricity. Two days and nights of high-speed travel was a burden most couldn't handle, but Tatsuya's breath remained eerily stable.
As the first light hit the Tokyo skyline, he reached Takinogawa in North Toshima. He found the Wisteria House designated by his crow. It was a quiet residence, the air scented with wisteria. Kakushi members worked in the shadows.
As he pushed open the door, a booming, anxious voice rang out: "HA! Izumo Tatsuya! Finally! We're on this mission together!"
Takeshi, the Stone Breathing user, stood up and slammed a hand onto Tatsuya's shoulder. "Thought you'd forgotten your friend from the selection!"
Tatsuya didn't budge under the heavy blow. "No way. We still have Taiyaki and sake to settle. But looks like we have to kill a demon first."
"Yeah! This mission... damn it, my heart is racing!" Takeshi gritted his teeth, lowering his voice. "A beast that targets pregnant women... I'm worried we can't cover everyone. If we miss even one..."
Tatsuya slapped Takeshi's sturdy back in return. "Takeshi, relax! When has the Demon Slayer Corps ever had enough hands? There were only a few of us left after Mount Fujikasane, remember?"
He glanced at the thick muscle on Takeshi's arms. "Besides, among the new recruits, you're the top tier when it comes to raw strength and frontal combat. As for me, I'm not half bad at moving fast and tracking clues. Between the two of us, we're the best 'starter pack' there is! We'll scout the situation and take it as it comes."
Takeshi scratched his short, spiky hair, feeling somewhat reassured by Tatsuya's confidence. "Tch, true enough. The Hashira are all out there risking their lives in even worse places... Fine! To be honest, thinking isn't my strong suit, so I'll follow your lead. What's the plan?"
The two quickly exchanged the intelligence they had gathered—mostly victim locations and timing provided by the Kakushi. The attacks generally occurred at night within the town and surrounding villages. After some deliberation, they decided to split up to maximize their search area. Takeshi would handle the open farmlands and outer villages to the west, while Tatsuya would investigate the more densely populated town areas to the east.
Tatsuya walked down the main thoroughfare of Takinogawa. It was a microcosm of the Taisho era, where the old and new intertwined: clerks in sharp Western suits brushed past women in traditional kimonos and clattering wooden sandals. Bicycles darted around rickshaws. The air was a mix of the milky scent of Western pastry shops and the salty steam of Oden stalls.
It was a scene of daily hustle and bustle. In a place like this, information traveled fast—especially news as gruesome as "murdered mothers." However, looking closely at the faces of the passersby, Tatsuya saw no trace of panic. Children played, vendors shouted their wares, and people strolled leisurely, as if those horrific crimes had never happened.
As I thought... Tatsuya noted inwardly. The Kakushi have done their job well. Once panic spreads, it only makes it easier for demons to strike during the chaos, not to mention the social upheaval it causes.
Ordinary citizens assumed there was a "serial killer" on the loose—disturbing, yes, but far less terrifying than the reality of man-eating demons.
Tatsuya turned off the main road, heading toward the district where clinics and midwives were clustered. The atmosphere shifted immediately. The air smelled of disinfectant and bitter herbs, and people's footsteps felt heavier. Tatsuya focused, quietly activating Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Silent Listening. The world of sound became a hundred times clearer.
From the murmurs of housewives and shop assistants gathered outside clinics, he extracted key information: The Sato Family, The Tanaka Family, and The Kochou Clinic all had women in late-stage pregnancy.
He immediately contacted Takeshi via Shiun-sai. The crow returned shortly: "Caw! West side! Three homes! Scattered! Hard to guard! Caw!"
The shortage of manpower felt like a cold needle in Tatsuya's heart. Three families in the east, three in the west—and only two of them to protect everyone. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
In a quiet residence near the town center, the air smelled of disinfectant and medicinal herbs. This was the home of the well-respected Doctor Kochou. A spacious washitsu had been converted into a temporary infirmary, where a pale but calm pregnant woman rested.
Doctor Kochou and his wife reassured her. "Please, rest easy. We are in the town center; no killer would be bold enough to strike here in the middle of a crowd. Besides, our whole family will be watching over you."
Outside on the porch, Kanae Kochou was meticulously organizing medicine vials with innate grace and gentleness. Her younger sister, Shinobu Kochou, sat with her arms crossed, her small face set in a look of vigilance beyond her years.
Their parents stepped out of the room after the patient fell asleep. Their gentle expressions faded, replaced by lingering worry.
"Kanae, Shinobu," Dr. Kochou whispered, rubbing his brow. "You must be careful, especially at night. That killer... I hear his methods are beyond cruel. We are near the market, but we aren't a fortress. Your mother and I can't afford private guards." He looked toward the infirmary. "We just have to be vigilant and hope that demon doesn't target us."
Mrs. Kochou took her husband's hand. "We will protect her. Kanae and Shinobu are alert too. Surely the killer wouldn't be so bold?"
Kanae looked at her parents, her beautiful eyes full of worry but softened by a gentle smile. "Yes, Father, Mother. Please don't worry too much. We will all be careful. As long as we are together, we will get through this."
Shinobu checked the dagger hidden in her robes, puffing out her chest like a mature adult. "That's right! I'll protect Papa, Mama, and Big Sister!"
Her sharp gaze swept the quiet courtyard like a small predator—a sight her parents found adorable despite the circumstances. "Hahaha... Little Shinobu, we're all counting on you then!"