The sisters' tragic misfortune was, to Yōsuke—who had long been accustomed to life and death—nothing more than a fleeting episode.
The dead were gone, the living must go on.
Dawn was approaching. For the two sisters, it would soon be another new day. All they could do was hope they might put down their grief and keep moving forward.
The hem of Yōsuke's robes swayed in the night wind as his figure gradually faded from their sight.
"Elder sister… what should we do?" the younger one asked, panic in her voice, her eyes clouded with confusion.
The elder sister was silent. After a pause, she reached out her hand. Her younger sister took it, and together they knelt before their parents' graves, bowing their heads in reverence.
The two exchanged a glance, their eyes firm with resolve, and then set out in pursuit of the phantom-like yet undeniably real figure.
As the sky grew lighter, their anxiety deepened. They had the sinking feeling that once daylight fully broke, they might never see that man again.
By chance—or perhaps by fate—they found him. To avoid the sun's rays, Yōsuke had sought shelter in an abandoned firewood shed and was resting inside.
When the sisters stumbled in, breathless from the search, Yōsuke was momentarily taken aback.
"You two… why are you here?"
Falling to their knees, the sisters spoke in unison:
"We wish to become your disciples, Master—please teach us how to slay demons!"
Yōsuke shook his head and refused.
"Consider what happened to you as nothing more than a natural disaster, and live an ordinary, peaceful life. Would that not be better?"
"The hateful faces of those demons, and the sight of Father and Mother being slaughtered… those memories haunt us every moment," the sisters said, their eyes burning with hatred.
"Life is not made of hatred alone. When you still have the freedom to choose, choose the path that will bring you happiness—not one that will plunge you into endless suffering."
Looking at their faces, already clouded by vengeance, Yōsuke continued:
"Besides, you are not without family. You still have each other—an elder sister and a younger sister. Do not let hatred drive you to abandon the bright future you could yet have."
But the sisters only pressed their foreheads against the ground, unmoved by his words.
Yōsuke let out a helpless sigh.
"Since you've already made your choice, I won't try to dissuade you further. You can seek out an organization called the Demon Slayer Corps. They will teach you how to fight demons."
Still, the sisters persisted.
"But we wish to follow you, Master. Please, take us in."
"You cannot follow me. Our very natures are opposed. As humans, your rightful place is with the Demon Slayer Corps."
The sisters stared at him, bewildered, unable to grasp what he meant by "opposed."
Yōsuke revealed the truth plainly:
"I am a demon. The same kind of being as the one that murdered your parents. Now—do you still wish to follow me?"
Fear replaced the confusion in their eyes.
When Yōsuke rose to his feet, they both instinctively stepped back in terror.
He walked to the doorway. Outside, the weather had turned; where it had been bright moments ago, a steady rain now fell.
Using the shade of the trees, Yōsuke departed.
He had already said and done all he could for the sisters. Whether they lived as ordinary humans or chose to become Demon Slayers—that was a path only they could decide.
It was not that he was unwilling to give them an opportunity, but rather that this was not an opportunity he should grant them.
For the likes of Hakuji and Gyūtarō, who had long since lost the right to choose their own paths, Yōsuke had offered a chance.
But the sisters were not yet so bereft. They still had the freedom to shape their lives.
The road of demon-slaying is one of blood and tears, a requiem of tragedy. Yōsuke himself was nothing more than one note in that mournful song.
After he left, the sisters broke down into sobs.
"Why… why is the one who saved us also a demon? Sister… what should we do?" the younger asked, utterly lost.
The elder's expression shifted. As the older sister, she had to shoulder the burden of responsibility.
"Shinobu. Even if that man is a demon, he is still the one who saved us from death. For us, he is different. To lump him together with those wretches would be an insult—not only to ourselves, but to him as well!"
Through her tears, the younger asked, "Then what should we do? Should we go to the Demon Slayer Corps?"
Biting her lip, the elder had already come to a decision.
"No. I still wish to follow that man. I believe not all demons are the same. The ones I want to cut down are only those who commit evil without remorse."
Her eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve as she looked at her sister.
"Shinobu, will you walk this path with me?"
The younger wiped away her tears and nodded.
"Yes! I'll always stay by your side, Onee-sama!"
Once more, the sisters caught up to Yōsuke. He looked at them, weary and conflicted.
"Even knowing that I am a demon, you still wish to follow me?"
"We have already made up our minds. We will not be consumed by hatred. We choose to fight for the sake of protecting others' happiness, and to slay the wicked demons!"
Yōsuke was silent for a while. The coming decade or more would be a lull: Muzan Kibutsuji, having learned that Kamado Nezuko could endure the sun, would not reveal himself until he, too, could walk in the light.
Cautious and cowardly, Muzan had eradicated all who knew of the Breath of the Sun, yet even then he could not rest easy. Only when he himself conquered the sun—becoming the ultimate being—would he emerge once more.
And when that day came, his first act would likely be to kill Yōsuke. After all, the world had no need for two Demon Kings—especially not one who sought his death.
But for now, this long interlude was enough. Enough time to train these sisters.
Yōsuke regarded them quietly.
"I only hope you won't regret this decision. Very well. You may stay by my side for the time being. I'll teach you the breathing techniques of human demon slayers. Once you master them, you may decide your own paths."
Tears of gratitude welled up as the sisters bowed low in a disciple's salute.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Work hard. Once you've chosen this path, there is no turning back. Tell me—what are your names?"
"Kochō Kanae."
"Kochō Shinobu."
Yōsuke froze.
"…."
Rubbing his temples, he let out a wry sigh. Was this world truly so small?
Hakuji and Koyuki. Gyūtarō and Ume. And now Kochō Kanae and Kochō Shinobu.
He muttered inwardly to himself: Get used to it. You've already endured crossing paths with two future Upper Moons. What are two future Hashira compared to that?
Taking a deep breath, Yōsuke turned away.
"Let's go."
Kanae and Shinobu fell into step, one on either side of him, as the three of them once again set out toward an uncertain future.
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