Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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"Please, I beg of you!"
Zenitsu lowered his head once more. His mind still hasn't woken up fully, and he did not realize the impact of his words.
'This is the first time I've been to heaven... and the first person I saw!'
'Be sure to seize the opportunity!'
He kept his eyes tightly shut until—
Grab.
Zenitsu suddenly felt his hand being held by something.
"Hm?" He finally opened his eyes and raised his head.
His gaze met with the dark face of Tanjuro.
The man was pinching Zenitsu's hand away from his daughter.
At this moment, he regretted bringing Zenitsu back to the mansion.
Nezuko and Tanjiro stood to the side, still stunned in their hearing because of how loud Zenitsu's shout was.
And to hear them at close range was enough to make anyone go deaf for a while.
Zenitsu's eyes reflected Tanjuro's figure, who seemed to be emitting black miasma.
"Ah ah..." His voice trembled.
He didn't know who the person in front of him was, but he was so terrifying!
His teeth clattered, and his face turned blue from fear. A chill rose from the bottom of his heart as his throat involuntarily squeaked.
He was so frightened that he pulled his hand back from Tanjuro's hold and frantically moved away, shouting his lungs out.
Until he bumped into his master, Jigoro, who was standing close to his bed while trying to call his name.
Zenitsu turned around in surprise to see... It's Grandpa!
Subconsciously, he breathed a sigh of relief.
But wait!
If Zenitsu were in heaven, and if he could see his Grandpa again...
Zenitsu's expression became even more remorseful. His arms supporting his body went limp as he processed Grandpa's face in front of him.
"Grandpa...?" He said hesitantly.
'Why... why would he see his grandfather... in heaven?'
His memory was still jumbled up. The last thing he remembered was hearing a thunderous sound and his vision filled with golden light.
He was on the tree, and Grandpa was right under it...
A terrible idea flashed through Zenitsu's still groggy mind.
"...No way..."
He muttered to himself, blinking his eyes hard to make sure he wasn't seeing things. His eyes turned red as his tears welled up in his eyes.
"Waaa!!"
He bit his lips and jumped up from the bed to hug his confused Grandpa with all his strength, crying his heart out. "Grandpa! I'm sorry!"
"What? What's wrong!?" Jigoro was confused as his hand was wrapped by Zenitsu, so he couldn't hold him back. He turned his gaze to Tanjuro helplessly.
"It's all my fault!!" Zenitsu cried out through the tears streaming down his face.
"If I hadn't climbed that tree, Grandpa and I wouldn't have been struck by lightning!" He shook his head guiltily.
"If it weren't for me, we wouldn't have been reunited in heaven! Waa!" Zenitsu rubbed his tears on Jigoro's kimono.
"Why did you come to my heaven, Grandpa?! Why!?"
Jigor felt an angry vein pop on his forehead hearing the nonsensical babbling of his student. He grabbed the cane that was forgotten at his feet.
Bonk!
And knocked Zenitsu's head hard on top of his head.
"Ow! Grandpa! That hurts!" Zenitsu immediately let go of his hug and covered his head. His sobbing stopped with some grievance.
He raised his head to look at his grandpa with a pitiful look.
"Idiot!" Jigoro used his cane again to bonk him.
He didn't have time for Zenitsu's idiocy right now. "You're still alive and recovering right now! Of course, I'm still alive!"
His grey mustache bristled with anger as he pointed his cane around him. "Take a good look at where you are!"
"What are you talking about, Grandpa..." Zenitsu sniffed and looked around, not really listening.
But after a round of checking his surroundings, his eyes saw two kakushi who had come to crowd around the door to his patient room because of his loud noise.
Zenitsu's crying stopped immediately.
Although he had never been to the Butterfly Mansion, he still recognized the uniforms of the Kakushi members of the Corps.
He had previously tried to escape from Peach Mountain and become a kakushi member to join their logistics team but was dragged back after being caught and severely reprimanded by his grandfather.
'I'm... still alive...'
He sniffed as he slowly turned his head to look at Grandpa.
"Grandpa... is still alive."
Zenitsu hugged his grandfather again.
This time, it was more gentle and less erratic compared to his hysteria before.
His voice was muffled by Jigoro's kimono, but there was a sense of relief in his body knowing that Grandpa and he were alive.
Zenitsu tightened his hug and his grip on Jigoro's clothes, not wanting to let go anytime soon.
Jigoro also froze in his place for a moment. His raised cane was slowly lowered as he looked down at his disciple's vulnerability. He sighed softly.
But then...
Zenitsu suddenly raised his head with eyes filled with tears. Jigoro's chest was already soaked to the bone.
"Grandpa! It's good that you're okay—" He started shouting, but before he could finish.
Bonk!
Jigoro's cane landed on Zenitsu's head first.
"Shut up! Don't ruin the moment!" Jigoro cursed angrily.
While Tanjuro was already leading Tanjiro and Nezuko out of the room.
---
"Fucking Crybaby."
"All he does is whine and cry all the time."
Kaigaku heard the cries inside the room and clicked his tongue impatiently. He crossed his arms and walked toward the stairs to get away from the disgusting display.
"Kids like him are not worthy of being swordsmen." He muttered.
He's going to the courtyard to practice his swordsmanship. He can't waste time anymore on this stupid affair.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor and stairwell.
---
At the same time.
At the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion.
"Himejima-sama."
The burly figure was stopped by a kakushi that served the mansion as a servant.
"Namu Amidha..." Gyomei nodded slightly in greeting.
"Is there any business you have at the mansion, Himejima-sama?" The kakushi asked.
"Yes, is Kamado-san here right now?"
"Yes, sir. He's on the second floor."
"Thank you." Gyomei nodded and continued his walk toward the mansion and up the stairs to the second floor.
He came here to have a discussion with Tanjuro regarding his recent perception ability.
He thought it would be better if it could be popularized among the slayer members of the Corps.
With this thought in mind, Gyomei was eager to meet with Tanjuro.
And thus, a fateful encounter happens.
Two figures.
Kaigaku, who had just come down the stairs to train his swordsmanship...
...met with Gyomei walking upstairs to meet the man that holds the key to increasing the fighting power of the Corps.
Gyomei looked up as he sensed a presence going downstairs.
Both of them instantly locked eyes with each other.
And froze in place at the same time.