Kanzaki Aoi thought her captain was only joking. Still, she raised her fist at Yukishiro in mock warning, as if to say he should be careful with his words from now on.
"Hey, hey, Yukishiro," Shinobu Kocho said suddenly, her tone bright with curiosity, "have you ever practiced martial arts? Among the five major Breathing Styles, which one do you use?"
As she spoke, she carefully unwrapped the bandages around his face. Strip by strip, the pale complexion beneath was revealed, smooth as porcelain and almost Demonly in the lamplight. His white hair framed his features, sharpening the contrast and lending him an otherworldly beauty.
"Wow," Shinobu whispered with an almost childlike delight. "What a handsome face! What a shame it would be to put this face into the Demon Slayer Corps."
Her delicate hands cupped his cheeks, her fingers cool and steady, her violet eyes staring into his as if he were a fine jewel to be examined. The faint fragrance of wisteria clung to her robes, and her breath brushed against him like the petals of a flower.
For a moment, Yukishiro was dazed. The gentleness of her touch, the closeness of her smile—it overwhelmed his senses.
Kanzaki Aoi, however, had seen enough. Frowning, she raised her hand and smacked the back of his head with practiced ease.
Yukishiro jumped up from his chair, his patience finally snapping. "You crazy woman! What are you doing? Do you want to fight?" His voice echoed through the small medical room.
Aoi froze, caught off guard by the sudden flare of his temper. His pale face was right before hers, the sharp lines of his jaw illuminated by the lantern's glow. Just as Shinobu had said, he was undeniably handsome, like a snowflake drifting down in winter—fragile, unique, as if it would shatter if held too tightly.
The closeness unsettled her.
For the first time, she felt her heart quicken in a way she couldn't explain. Flustered, she stepped back, stammering, "You—why are you leaning so close? Do you want to eat me? Fight me? Hah! You're just pretending to get beaten up so you can stay here in the Butterfly House!"
"Stay here? Who in the world would want to stay here?" Yukishiro snapped back.
Before the exchange could worsen, Shinobu Kocho calmly pulled him back into the chair, her small hands steady but firm. She resumed removing the last of his bandages as though nothing had happened.
"There, there. Don't get so worked up. See? I told you two—you should just have a fight. But Yukishiro, you still haven't answered me. What kind of breathing technique do you practice?"
"Breathing technique?" He looked at her blankly. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Since waking in the Butterfly Mansion, Yukishiro had felt as though he'd wandered into another world. "Demon Slayer Corps." "hashiras." And now—"Breathing Methods.
" What kind of nonsense was this? Breathing was breathing—what technique could there possibly be?
"You don't even know how to breathe," Aoi said coldly, crossing her arms, "and you think you can join the Demon Slayer Corps? Tsk."
Yukishiro gritted his teeth until they nearly cracked. First it had been those three ridiculous attendants mocking him, now this violent girl—and even she wasn't normal. Was there anyone sane in this mansion?
Patiently, Shinobu explained, "The Breathing Techniques are special ways of controlling one's breath. When used with swordsmanship, they give the body strength beyond human limits. It's the foundation of every Demon Slayer's combat."
Yukishiro blinked, then muttered, "So that's what you call it." After a pause, he added, "Ice. The martial art I use is ice. I don't fully understand this breathing you're talking about, but I have an idea of what it is."
Aoi snorted. "Listen to him. Talks as if he's some great master."
He ignored her, not wanting to argue further.
"Ice, you say?" Shinobu's eyes lit with intrigue. "That means Ice Breathing, perhaps—a derivative of Water Breathing. But I've never seen such a style before." Inspiration sparked across her face. She grabbed his arm eagerly. "Yukishiro, why don't you prove it? Why not spar with Koi?"
Both froze.
"Captain, are you serious?" Aoi asked sharply, half-hoping it was another joke.
But Shinobu nodded, her violet eyes gleaming. "Of course. You dislike him, and he clearly dislikes you. Why not fight? It'll be educational."
"But… his body has just recovered. If he gets injured again—"
"So you agree then?" Shinobu interjected sweetly.
"Agree? Where did I—"
But she gave Aoi no chance to continue, turning instead to Yukishiro. "Yukishiro, if you win, I'll take you to see Master Himejima tomorrow."
His head snapped up, eyes blazing. "Really?"
"Of course," Shinobu said smoothly. "But I must see your strength first. That way, I'll know what to tell him when I speak on your behalf."
Aoi nearly collapsed from exasperation. In order to study a new Breathing Style, her captain could weave the most shameless lies without blinking.
Yukishiro, however, nodded seriously. "That makes sense."
Makes sense? Aoi pinched her brow, certain her brain cells were dying just standing here.
"How should I prove it?" he asked. "Fight with her?" He jabbed his thumb toward Aoi without looking.
"Exactly!" Shinobu clasped his hand warmly. "Don't worry, you won't get seriously hurt. Use wooden swords instead of Nichirin blades. Anyway, you two can vent your anger this way."
After a brief silence, Yukishiro agreed. "Fine. This crazy woman said I don't know how to breathe. I'll show her. And I want to see the power of your Demon Slayer Corps, to decide if it's worth joining."
Aoi's eyes twitched. "Crazy woman? Again?"
"Hey! Who are you calling crazy—" She raised her fist, ready to strike, but Shinobu stepped in.
"Alright, alright, enough flirting. Save it for the match." She ushered them both toward the door, her smile mischievous. "Hurry up, hurry up. A night of spring is worth a thousand gold."
"Captain!" Aoi sputtered. "Do you even know what that phrase means?"
"Of course," Shinobu said serenely. "It means tonight is precious. What better time for a duel?"
Soon, the two stood in the courtyard. The Butterfly Mansion trio knelt on the porch with snacks spread before them, Kanao by their side. Shinobu leaned against her younger sister's shoulder, eyes glimmering with anticipation.
Under the silver wash of moonlight, Aoi and Yukishiro faced each other from a distance of ten meters, wooden swords in hand. The atmosphere was heavy, electric, like the stillness before a storm.
Shinobu raised her voice gently. "Koi, Yukishiro, are you ready? Then—begin."
Aoi's expression hardened, her resentment plain. "Dare to call me crazy? Tonight I'll show you the strength of the Demon Slayer Corps."
She bent her knees, drawing a deep breath. Her right hand gripped the wooden hilt, her left pressed against the blade as if about to unsheathe a sword.
"Water Breathing—Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
With that, she sprang forward. Her movements became fluid, each step whispering across the ground like rippling streams. Her body weaved left and right, the wooden sword glinting in the moonlight as she closed in on Yukishiro.