Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
---
After listening to Yuichiro's account of his family encounter.
Gyomei gripped his weapon once more. His face was solemn as he stood up, and his aura became heavy.
The flail smashed into the ground, kicking up dust as Gyomei brandished his weapon.
"Uhh..."
Yuichiro was stunned. He raised his head blankly and saw the mountain of a man standing with his shadow looming over him. Sweat running down his face as he looks at Gyomei's serious face.
'Uh-oh...'
'It seems I said the wrong thing.'
He quickly realized what context the things he said could be interpreted in.
Looking at the man's brandished weapon and the grim expression of others.
'That six-eyed uncle is really not human.'
'So, I was right about my feelings!'
But...
Yuichiro recalled the past few weeks of Uncle Michikatsu's time with them. Apart from the fact that he spoke slowly, looked strange, had a rigid personality, and was very strict in his training...
He never turned down Muichiro's or Yuichiro's persistent inquiries about swordsmanship.
He gently guided them to find their strength and weakness.
He even taught them how to read!!
'He's a good guy.'
'He also saved Mother, so...'
'Even if he's a demon, he should be a good demon, right?'
Yuichiro looked back at the members of the Demon Slayer Corps in front of him. He unconsciously grabbed the hem of his clothes as nervousness crept into his heart.
After listening to Gyomei's stories and lessons, Yuichiro realized that the Corps...
They wouldn't care about the difference between good and bad demons. Their job is to eliminate ALL demons.
Yuichiro closed his eyes and apologized to Uncle Michikatsu in his heart.
'I need to think of a way to fool them!'
Yuichiro opened his eyes firmly. These people may be great swordsmen, but as long as he made some reasons that made sense, he should be able to get away with it!
Tanjuro was quietly observing Yuichiro. He sat closely to the boy and was deep in thought.
Six eyes with words written in them.
It is Kokushibo.
Tanjuro moved his gaze to Yuichiro's waist and the sword perched there. The cloth on the hilt shows signs of use and is ragged from sweat.
Three men, a father and sons, who were woodcutters and were taught swordsmanship.
In the original timeline, this never happened.
With the recent Yuichiro's story, Tanjuro's encounter with Kokushibo at the crack of dawn suddenly gained new light.
Yuichiro seems to be more nervous as he sees Gyomei ready for war again.
Although Yuichiro is a rational kid, he is still ten years old. Seeing that men are gearing up to hunt down a stranger because of his story makes him kind of guilty.
'Is it Kokushibo that taught them swordsmanship?'
This question seems to be the only thing that connects this family with Upper Moon One.
'But... why would he do that?'
Tanjuro recalled that before Kokushibo disappeared from his senses, the demon closed his upper and lower eyes so that only his normal eyes were open.
He wondered what message the man wanted to convey.
"What is it? What's wrong with the kid' stories?"
Shinjuro leaned over and asked Gyomei, sudden alertness about Yuichiro's story.
Gyomei turned to Shinjuro; a hint of surprise appeared on his face as if he hadn't expected Shinjuro to ask his question.
"Shinjuro-dono, Kyojuro described it in his last mission report..."
"...the appearance of the Upper Moon One."
"What he has written is the same as what the child said."
Shinjuro listened blankly.
He hadn't bothered to read any report or heard any news from his colleague about this. His focus was his Nichirin blade.
Gyomei turned back his attention to the child in front of him. He needs to be careful to proceed.
His ears were twitching as he listened to Yuichiro's body movement and the sudden change in his emotions.
Yuichiro was wavering in his place, realizing his close encounter with a demon.
Slap!
Yuichiro was thrown out of his thought by Muichiro giving him a face slap.
"Wait, wait!"
Muichiro pulled his brother aside as he stood in front of Gyomei. He seemed frightened as he waved his hand in a panic to explain.
"Uncle Michikatsu does have six eyes!"
"But now! There are no words in his eyes!" Muichiro shouted, clenching his fists.
He looked at Gyomei with fearful eyes and was sweating profusely while Gyomei stood ready with his chain and flail.
"Uncle Michikatsu is also a very nice person. He cured my mother's fever. He is also very good at swordsmanship! Sometimes he would teach us to read!"
"So, He Can't Be a Demon!"
Muichiro panted at the end of his tirade. He says a lot of words with just one breath; it's a wonder he didn't black out.
Yuichiro widened his eyes from the side. He pressed his hand against his brother's face and turned his attention to him. "Idiot! Now we're really in trouble!"
Muichiro's words were equivalent to telling the members of the Corps directly that there was indeed a guy with six eyes in their family.
Yuichiro forced Muichiro's head to bow. "Sorry about that!
We haven't slept for too long, and now he's rambling nonsense!"
Yuichiro also bowed his head while furiously thinking in his mind for a way out of this situation.
"This Michikatsu you mentioned."
Tanjuro interrupted the brothers and looked at Muichiro. "What's his full name?"
Muichiro looked at Tanjuro strangely but still answered honestly. "Tsugikuni... Michikatsu."
"I see." Tanjuro nodded.
Tanjuro finally stood up and patted the dust on his hakama. He nodded to Yuichiro, who was filled with anxiety. "I understand roughly now."
The kanji in Kokushibo's eyes has disappeared.
He remembered loosely because he was too concerned by an attack from the man to notice. Muichiro's confirmation of the name made many things make sense in Tanjuro's mind.
"Can we go to your house to rest for a while?" Tanjuro asked Soichiro.
!!
Hearing this, Yuichiro's face turned pale from fear. He stood up immediately. "NO—"
"Of course, you can."
Soichiro interrupted softly. He reached out his hand to comfort his child and smiled at the company before him.
"The houses in this village are destroyed, and I'm sure everyone is tired for the day. You are all welcome to come to my humble abode to rest."
"It's okay." Soichiro gently patted Yuichiro's back.
"Dad..." Yuichiro turned around in disbelief. "What are you saying—"
Before he could finish, he was stopped by a look from Soichiro.
Trust me. It said.
Yuichiro's expression gradually became more bewildered.
---
After saying goodbye to Tecchin and Kotetsu, the group followed the Tokito family and left the Swordsmith village.
Soichiro walked in front and occasionally turned around to have a conversation with the three swordsmen.
Gyomei and Shinjuro finally put away their weapons but remain alert to any sign of demon presence.
"Oh, right, Kamado-san."
"You said that... is it true a demon can live for a very long time, right, even forever?" Soichiro addressed Tanjuro with a look of confusion on his face as he asked.
"Of course, I don't want to live forever; I'm just curious." He laughed and explained.
"Yes, it's true." Tanjuro answered.
"Oh, I see." Soichiro nodded and turned his attention back on the road.
In his heart, a thought that surprised even him slowly emerged.