Demon Slayer: The Tenth Hashira with Dōjutsu

"Lingering Fear"

"Aoki-kun, what happened?" Shinobu Kocho asked, looking at Aoki, who was sitting on the bed, exhausted and slumped like a dog.

After catching his breath, Aoki wiped the sweat from his forehead. "When I went to rescue the girl, I ran into Upper Moon Two. I didn't think, I just ran; I didn't dare fight him."

Shinobu was startled. Encountering Upper Moon Two in that place was unexpected. He was the second strongest Upper Moon, likely even stronger than Upper Moon Three they'd faced on the Mugen Train. Aoki's choice to flee was sensible.

Shinobu felt a wave of relief that Aoki had escaped instead of testing Upper Moon Two's strength. The outcome could have mirrored the Mugen Train incident—near-death or worse.

Shinobu wouldn't blame Aoki for fleeing; his life was her priority.

"So, are you going to report this to the Master?"

Aoki shook his head. "No need. I didn't even fight him. Reporting it wouldn't provide useful information. And let me be clear, I'm not avoiding the Master because I'm afraid of fighting."

Aoki suddenly remembered something, his gaze turning serious.

"Shinobu, although I didn't fight Upper Moon Two, I've seen him before. At the graveyard, you described the demon who killed your sister."

"White-blond hair, multicolored eyes, a face as if stained with blood, a perpetually carefree smile, calm and gentle speech, and a golden iron fan with lotus patterns.

Except for the fan, which I didn't see him use, everything matched Upper Moon Two. I suspect he killed your sister."

A chilling aura emanated from Shinobu. Her face contorted, veins bulging on her temples, her hands clenching the corners of her haori.

Seeing Shinobu on the verge of losing control, Aoki quickly took her hands. Seeing his concern, she gradually calmed down.

"Aoki-kun, how strong is he? How much stronger than me is Upper Moon Two? If we fought together, what are our chances of killing him?" Her usual smile was gone.

"Shinobu, honestly, you and Upper Moon Two aren't even in the same league. Even three or four of you wouldn't defeat him. As for us working together… I'd give us a 30% chance of victory."

Shinobu was silent for a long time.

"Thirty percent… too little," she finally said. "I know I can't defeat him. I want to place my hope in you. Help me avenge my sister. Even if our chances are only 30% now, they'll improve with time, right?"

"So, please, Aoki-kun, let me sever my past attachments and live with you wholeheartedly."

Shinobu fell into Aoki's embrace.

After a long time, they remained embraced.

"I will," Aoki said.

When Aoki agreed, he discovered Shinobu had fallen asleep in his arms, looking completely secure.

Aoki smiled, unsure why.

He gently lifted Shinobu, carrying her out of his mansion and back to the Butterfly Mansion.

Everyone at the Butterfly Mansion was asleep. Aoki placed Shinobu in her room, tucked her in, and left.

Instead of returning to his mansion, Aoki sat on the roof of Shinobu's building.

He vanished and reappeared with a gourd of sake.

He didn't usually drink, at least not on Earth. In this world, he'd shared a few drinks with Sakonji Urokodaki, but his poor tolerance always led to him passing out.

Opening the gourd, Aoki sipped the sake slowly, finding a surprising enjoyment in it.

For a full hour, Aoki contemplated, sipping sake, until the gourd was empty.

He became drunk, his face flushed, looking almost cute. His eyes grew heavy, and he fell asleep on the roof.

He awoke at noon, the sun high overhead, nearly blinding him.

Still slightly drunk, he stood, swaying, and then fell off the roof.

Seconds before impact, Aoki regained his senses. He drew Yōgetsu, using sword techniques to lessen the impact, landing safely.

Feeling incredibly cool, he turned and saw Shinobu, also just waking up, looking dazed.

Honestly, Aoki preferred this disheveled, unkempt Shinobu to her usual composed self.

"Aoki-kun? Why are you here?" Shinobu asked, shaking off her daze.

Aoki felt embarrassed. When Shinobu saw the sake gourd and the faint scent of alcohol on him, she understood. Aoki had been drinking and had fallen asleep on the roof.

"You drank sake on my roof last night, fell asleep, and almost fell off this morning?"

"Something like that," Aoki admitted sheepishly.

Shinobu was speechless. She stepped forward, taking his hands, her usual smile returning. "See? Drinking is dangerous. You almost died. So, you won't drink again, right?"

"Ao~ki~kun~"

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