"I'M ON IT!!!"
Tatsuya released like a bowstring drawn to the breaking point. Every ounce of his power and Thunder Breathing was compressed into the tip of his blade. The second Shima left the domain and the suppression vanished, his eyes erupted with golden light.
Speed is power... I won't give you a chance to go back!
A gold-red bolt of lightning rent the space. It was a speed that defied logic, an ultimate strike condensed from resolve and the chance his comrade had bled to create—
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash—Godspeed!"
The blade-light passed through Shima's neck as if teleporting.
Zip! The head, covered in tear stains and twisted with pain and madness, flew high into the night.
"Yes! We did it!" Takeshi collapsed on the ground, punching the earth, only to hiss in pain as his wounds throbbed.
Shima's headless body froze in mid-air before crashing heavily into the cold dirt. The head rolled away, stopping right next to the "infant" that had fallen from her arms.
"I'm... sorry..." Shima's lips moved, her voice a mere sigh. Tears mixed with blood flowed from her hollow eyes. "I was... a useless mother..."
Before the words finished, her remains and her tattered robes dissolved into ash, vanishing into the night wind.
Tatsuya rushed to Takeshi's side, propping him up. "Beautiful work, Takeshi! That last throw was incredible! I never would have gotten the opening without you."
Takeshi winced but grinned with excitement, slapping Tatsuya's shoulder so hard the boy staggered. "Cut it out! That strike of yours was so fast I didn't even see it! Slaying demons with a partner like you... what a rush!"
As their energy faded, their gaze fell upon the lone "infant" left on the ground. Its cry was no longer a soul-shredding shriek. It was weak, helpless, like a real child seeking comfort, sobbing: "Mama... Mama..."
The call sounded hauntingly lonely in the ruins. A moment later, as Tatsuya and Takeshi watched with somber eyes, the tiny figure dissolved into nothingness, leaving only a faint, inexplicable sense of sadness lingering in the air.
Takeshi stared silently at the spot where the infant had vanished. His abdomen throbbed with a dull ache, and his rugged face betrayed a rare trace of confusion and heaviness. Wiping the sweat and grime from his forehead, he asked in a low, muffled voice:
"Hey, Tatsuya... tell me. That infant at the end, the one crying for its 'mama'... do you think it was actually her original child? The one she couldn't save?"
Tatsuya, still supporting Takeshi's arm, remained silent for a few seconds. His gaze fell upon the empty ground.
"I hope it was... and I hope it wasn't," Tatsuya replied softly.
"Huh?" Takeshi looked at him, bewildered. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tatsuya sighed, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions. "I hope it was, because then... at least in her final moments within that twisted obsession, she was being called by the child she spent every waking hour pining for."
He paused, his tone growing heavier. "But I also hope it wasn't. Because that poor child should never have been 'born' in such a way. That infant's existence was built upon the slaughter of other innocent mothers and children. A 'birth' constructed from blood, tears, and theft is a sin. It shouldn't have been her child's destination, and it shouldn't be the end for any child."
Takeshi didn't respond. He simply furrowed his brow, staring at the clearing in deep thought.
The night shrouded the ruins of Shima's former home, though the scent of blood had not yet fully dispersed. In the distance, the silhouettes of Kakushi members began to approach to begin the clean-up.
"Slayers, thank you for your hard work! Let us attend to your wounds!"
The Kakushi worked in pairs, surrounding Tatsuya and Takeshi. Across Tatsuya's chest, three bone-deep claw marks had turned his flesh inside out. Blood had soaked through his uniform and undershirt; every breath felt like a searing burn.
Takeshi was in worse condition. A bloody hole where a claw had punched through his side was still oozing, and his shoulder was a mangled mess of meat and bone. His face was pale from blood loss, and beads of cold sweat rolled from his temples. He gritted his teeth as the Kakushi pressed disinfectant-soaked cotton into the jagged wounds, his muscles twitching from the intense sting.
"Sss... damn it... that demon's claws were sharper than a blade!" Takeshi hissed, glancing at Tatsuya. "You're pretty banged up yourself!"
Tatsuya, currently being stitched by another Kakushi, winced as the medicine hit his open wounds. He forced a wry smile. "Takeshi, we're even. But with that frame of yours, I'm impressed you're still standing. You're built like a tank."
"Ha! Of course! I'm the man who's going to become the strongest Stone Hashira!" Takeshi tried to laugh, but the movement pulled at his stitches, making him grimace in pain. "Next time we're paired up, let's see who chops more heads."
"Deal. But only after you finish nursing those holes in your body."
By the time the horizon turned pale, the two had received preliminary bandages. The ruins were being cleared with systematic efficiency. As Tatsuya and Takeshi prepared to leave for the nearest Wisteria House, several figures appeared on the path.
The Kochou family approached, with Kanae and Shinobu supporting their parents. Dr. Kochou's left arm was splinted and bound to his chest; he looked haggard from pain. Mrs. Kochou, her head wrapped in gauze, leaned weakly against her husband.
"Mr. Izumo! Mr. Takeshi! Please, wait!" Dr. Kochou called out.
Mrs. Kochou stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Brave saviors, you are both gravely injured. Please, come back to the Kochou home. We have medicines and clean rooms. Let us do what little we can to help you recover."
Dr. Kochou took a deep breath. After receiving a determined nod from his wife and daughters, he looked at Tatsuya with a solemn expression. "Furthermore, after discussing it throughout the night, our family has made a decision."
He paused, his voice clear and resonant. "The Kochou family is honored to accept the Demon Slayer Corps' invitation. We will officially become a 'Wisteria House'."
"Really?" Tatsuya's eyes lit up. "That's fantastic! Dr. Kochou's skills combined with the convenience of a Wisteria House... our comrades will be much safer in this region now. This is great news!"
Kanae stepped forward with a gentle smile. "So, Mr. Tatsuya and Mr. Takeshi, coming to our house for recovery is technically going to a Wisteria House!"
"Exactly!" Shinobu added, nodding vigorously with a serious face, trying to sound like a mature professional. "Papa and Mama are experts! We are professional assistants! Come on!"
Inside the spacious infirmary of the Kochou home, the scent of medicinal herbs lingered. Kanae worked with gentle, professional precision, carefully unwrapping Tatsuya's blood-stained bandages to check the sutures.
"There are no signs of infection. Your recovery rate is incredible, Mr. Tatsuya," Kanae said. Her voice was like a spring breeze, naturally soothing.
As she applied the new bandages, she spoke in a whisper meant only for him. "Mr. Tatsuya... I... want to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
Tatsuya, enjoying the expert care, froze. He looked at her in surprise. "Join the Corps? Kanae, after this attack, your parents are hurt, and you saw firsthand how cruel and terrifying demons are... Why would you still want to join?"
Kanae's hands faltered for a moment. She looked down at his wound, her voice soft but immovable. "It is because I saw it. I saw innocent people slaughtered. I saw my parents get hurt while trying to protect others. That is why I must join."
She looked up, her clear eyes shimmering with a crystalline light. "I want to use my own strength, these very hands, to do something for those harmed by demons. I don't want to just heal wounds in the rear; I want to be on the front line, ensuring no one else has to suffer."
Tatsuya frowned, thinking of the broken arm and the head trauma her parents had just suffered. "Do your parents... agree with this?"
Kanae's cheeks flushed slightly. She looked away, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of a bandage. "I believe... they will. So..." She glanced at him with a pleading look. "Please don't sell me out, Mr. Tatsuya. I'll tell them myself when I'm ready."
Tatsuya looked at the resolve and the slight hint of mischief in the girl's eyes. He sighed and shook his head. This little lady certainly has a mind of her own... I'll have to keep an eye on her.
"Fine," he muttered. "You'd better actually tell them."
"I will!"
Somewhere in the darkness...
"Oh? My connection with little sister Shima has been cut?"
"That's quite a bother. She was such a fun little toy. To have her head chopped off just like that... what a waste."
"It's Shima's fault for only eating pregnant women and babies. If you had followed my example and eaten more fresh, succulent young girls, you wouldn't have been caught!"
"My, my... and I even promised Lord Muzan that I had found a promising seed. Perhaps I should gouge out my own eyes to apologize to him?"
Gloop.
"..."
"What's this? Lord Muzan isn't responding... How boring."