A figure in purple hurried past the celebrating crowds and through the debris-strewn streets.
Shinobu Kocho's gentle violet eyes searched her surroundings as she followed the directions given by the Kakushi, making her way toward the rear medical station where Lady Tamayo was treating the wounded.
Someone she cared about more than anything was supposed to be there.
One sleeve of her butterfly-patterned haori hung empty at her side.
A simple bandage covered the stump of her severed right arm, though blood was still slowly seeping through the cloth.
She had lost that arm during her battle with Muzan, sacrificing it to deliver the poison that had helped bring about his downfall.
The price had been enormous, but Shinobu did not regret paying it.
In fact, her own injuries were barely on her mind anymore.
She was far more concerned about Shinichi.
'How is he doing? Has he woken up yet? With Lady Tamayo treating him, I'm sure he'll be fine.'
Her thoughts wandered as she hurried along.
'If Shinichi's awake, I wonder what he's thinking about right now?'
Was he worrying about her too, just as she was worrying about him?
Before long, Shinobu found herself drifting into increasingly sweet fantasies.
'Hmm~ Would it be too forward if I were the one to propose to him?'
The scenes playing out in her imagination grew steadily bolder.
Fortunately, before her imagination could run completely wild, she reached the temporary medical station where the Kakushi had gathered.
The area was bustling with activity.
Most of the injured Demon Slayers had been brought here for emergency treatment, and numerous Kakushi were rushing between patients, carrying supplies and tending to wounds.
It was a bloody sight, but despite their injuries, most of the Demon Slayers still wore expressions of relief and joy.
"Lady Insect Hashira! Your arm!" Several Kakushi hurried over when they noticed Shinobu's condition.
"Please, let us treat your wound!"
Shinobu gently shook her head.
"It's all right. I can take care of it myself. Please don't delay anyone else's treatment just for my sake. You've all worked so hard today."
Before they could insist, she asked where Tamayo was working and headed toward a wooden house that had remained relatively intact.
It did not take long to find her.
Tamayo was kneeling beside a severely wounded Demon Slayer.
Extending one sharp fingernail, she carefully cut her own wrist, allowing blood carrying a strange floral fragrance to flow from the wound.
"Please forgive me for this. Bear with it for just a moment."
As the injured swordsman inhaled the fragrance, the pain on his face gradually eased
. Once Tamayo confirmed that he had fallen under the anesthetic's effects, she began operating.
Yushiro stood close behind her, carrying an assortment of medicines and bandages. His face was filled with concern as he watched her work.
"Lady Tamayo, please rest for a while. You're already exhausted."
"I'm all right, Yushiro. If these young people hadn't fought so bravely and shed so much blood, Muzan could never have been defeated. Compared to everything they've sacrificed, what does a little fatigue on my part matter?"
"But…"
Under Tamayo's expert hands, the operation was soon completed.
Just as she finished, an urgent voice called out to her.
"Lady Tamayo!"
Shinobu hurried forward, unable to conceal the anxiety in her voice.
Tamayo looked up and smiled warmly, though exhaustion was plainly written across her face. However, the moment she noticed Shinobu's empty right sleeve and the blood still seeping through her bandages, her brows drew together.
"Miss Shinobu, your arm! You're still bleeding."
She immediately rose and reached toward the injury.
"Let me take care of that first."
Without giving Shinobu an opportunity to object, Tamayo guided her into a chair and gently but firmly made her sit down.
She then accepted the medical instruments Yushiro handed her and began carefully treating the wound.
"It's only an arm. As long as Muzan is dead, it was worth it," Shinobu said, barely paying attention to the treatment. "Oh, right, Lady Tamayo! Where's Shinichi? Has he woken up? Which room is he in? I want to see him right away."
Tamayo's expression shifted slightly.
She hesitated, carefully considering her words before answering.
"Miss Shinobu… Shinichi woke up quite some time ago."
Shinobu's eyes instantly brightened as though stars had appeared within them.
"Really?! Then where is he now? I'll go find him!"
"Shinichi…" Tamayo paused, something complicated flickering through her eyes. "After he woke up, he insisted on returning to the battlefield. I couldn't stop him."
Shinobu's smile froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"He woke up and went straight back to fight Muzan?"
"Yes." Tamayo nodded, unable to hide her concern. "His injuries were still very serious. I asked him to rest a little longer, but he refused. He said that his comrades were still fighting, so he couldn't simply lie there."
Seeing the worry spreading across Shinobu's face, Tamayo quickly added, "But the battle is over now. Tanjiro has defeated Muzan, and the Demon Slayer Corps has won. I'm sure Shinichi is all right. I simply don't know where he is at the moment."
Before Tamayo could finish speaking, Shinobu had already jumped to her feet and rushed outside.
"Miss Shinobu! Your injury!" Tamayo called helplessly after her.
Watching the young woman disappear, she sighed.
"Those two really are so alike…"
"Equally rude, you mean…" Yushiro muttered under his breath as he set down his tray.
But Shinobu was already too far away to hear them.
Her heart was pounding so fiercely that it felt ready to leap out of her chest. Worry and desperate prayers filled her thoughts as she hurried through the ruins.
Fortunately, she did not have to search for long.
After making her way through several streets, Shinobu spotted a familiar figure in an alley scarred by the recent fighting.
Shinichi stood behind a half-collapsed wall with his back toward her, gazing out at the distant city of Yokohama.
His bluish-green haori fluttered gently in the breeze, while his left hand held his Nichirin blade, its tip resting against the ground.
Shinobu did not care what he was looking at.
She had already waited far too long to see him.
She hurried toward him, so excited that she barely noticed the sharp pain shooting through her severed arm.
For a moment, the pain made her dizzy, but she kept going until she finally reached his side.
Then she threw herself against his back and embraced him.
With her one remaining arm, Shinobu wrapped herself tightly around his waist and pressed her cheek against his back, leaning her entire weight into him.
She could feel his warmth.
She could feel his heartbeat.
He was alive.
"Shinichi!"
Her voice carried a faint, wounded complaint, almost as though she were sulking because he had not come looking for her the moment he woke up.
"You! Why do you always have to push yourself so hard? Why didn't you come find us after you woke up? Do you have any idea how worried you make everyone?!"
Her words sounded like a scolding, but her tone was overflowing with affection and concern, with just a hint of spoiled sweetness.
Shinobu waited eagerly for his response.
She could almost imagine what he would do next. Perhaps he would turn around, gently ruffle her hair, and offer that familiar, helplessly affectionate smile.
"Sorry, sorry, Shinobu. I promise I won't do it again~"
Or perhaps he would be even more direct and pull her into a much tighter, warmer embrace.
Either possibility made her heart flutter.
Unfortunately, imagination was one thing, and reality was another.
Shinobu waited.
And waited.
But Shinichi did not move.
The body in her arms was as rigid as stone, without even the slightest response to her embrace.
"Shinichi?"
A faint uneasiness crept into her heart.
She loosened her hold slightly, leaned forward, and tilted her head up to look at his face.
It was then that Shinichi finally turned his head.
Their eyes met.
His expression was faint, almost completely devoid of emotion. Those black eyes were as still as stagnant water, without the slightest trace of warmth.
He simply looked at Shinobu as though she were a stranger.
"Hm…"
Shinichi finally spoke, his voice quiet and flat.
"Glad you're all right."
Then he gently pulled himself free of her embrace.
Shinobu stood motionless, staring into those unfamiliar eyes.
The warmth she had expected was nowhere to be found.
And in that instant, she knew.
"No…"
Her voice trembled as she stared at the man before her.
"You're not my Shinichi!"