A wave of dread washed over Aoki. The air felt thick, like blood. His throat was tight, like he couldn't breathe.
He wanted revenge. But not now. Not like this.
Whoosh!
Muzan, who had been five meters away, stood right in front of him.
Blood Boiling's aftereffects made Aoki's head spin. He couldn't react.
Crack!
Muzan's hand closed around Aoki's neck, lifting him slowly.
Aoki's mind cleared. He grabbed Muzan's arm, but he couldn't even make him flinch.
The gap was too big.
They weren't even on the same level.
"What should I do with you?" Muzan studied Aoki, cold.
Aoki stopped fighting. His face calmed.
This is it, then. At least Takina and Master's wife are gone.
Heh... I wonder, when I die this time... is it really over? Or will I jump to another world?
"You're not afraid to die?" Muzan's eyes narrowed.
Aoki didn't answer.
Afraid?
Who wasn't?
But he'd died once before. It made it easier to face.
A cold smile touched Muzan's face. "I've decided. I'll turn you into a demon."
He'd been searching for a demon who could stand the sun.
This human... he was worth a try.
Aoki's face went white.
Turning into a demon... It twisted your mind. Made you a monster, eating people. It was no different from death.
And worse... If Takina and Master's wife came back... If they met him, a demon...
No!
He couldn't let that happen!
Thwack!
Muzan's fingers pierced Aoki's forehead, digging into his brain.
Aoki's thoughts stopped. His face twisted. Veins bulged at his temples, spreading like cracks.
"Let's see what you can do."
Muzan let go. He glanced at Aoki, then vanished.
Aoki lay on the ground, eyes rolled back. His body twitched. A sound, not human, came from his throat.
Patta, patta, patta!
Raindrops fell, big as beans. In seconds, it was a downpour.
...
Boom!
Lightning flashed, thunder roared. Wind howled.
Cold rain beat against her face. Aomura Rie woke up, dazed.
"Takina... where are we going?"
"I don't know!" Takina's voice was calm. "Just away from home. The only thing we can do is not make trouble for Aoki."
Aomura Rie felt ashamed.
She hadn't been as strong as her daughter. Not when it mattered.
"We can't just run! The mountains are dangerous at night, and in this rain... It's too risky!"
Aomura Rie took a deep breath. She grabbed Takina's hand. "Come on. I remember a shelter your father built. We can hide there."
They walked, rain soaking them, the path rough and steep.
Luckily, they were strong.
Living in the mountains... They climbed and walked all the time. They had to be tough.
Finally, they reached a low cave.
"Takina, just a little further. I'll start a fire!"
Aomura Rie arranged the wood, practiced and quick.
Soon, a yellow fire blazed in the cave. It pushed back the dark, warmed their shivering bodies.
"Good thing your father left supplies here. Otherwise, we couldn't..."
Aomura Rie stopped.
She forced a smile. "Takina, take off your clothes. Let's dry them. You'll get sick if you stay wet."
"Okay," Takina said.
They didn't speak. They sat by the fire, watching the time pass. Sleep wouldn't come.
After a while...
A noise woke them.
Rustle!
The makeshift door, made of branches, was pushed aside.
Aomura Rie pulled Takina behind her. Takina picked up a rock, quiet.
They were tense, scared.
Deep in the mountains, in the middle of the night, in a storm... Who would come here?
Two figures, wearing straw hats, stepped into the cave. As they moved closer to the fire, they became clearer.
They looked alike, beautiful. They wore similar clothes: dark blue uniforms under colorful butterfly-patterned haori.
The taller girl took off her hat. A gentle smile touched her face. She bowed slightly. "We're sorry to disturb you. I'm Kanae Kocho. This is my sister, Shinobu Kocho. We were passing through when the storm hit. We were hoping we could shelter here?"
"Of course," Aomura Rie said.
Her body relaxed.
For a moment, she'd thought it was Kazuhiko... following the scent.
"Thank you."
Kanae and Shinobu bowed. They put the door back in place, sat by the fire.
The Butterfly sisters were strange, but Aomura Rie and Takina couldn't talk.
Silence filled the cave.
Kanae and Shinobu looked at each other.
They could feel it. The fear, the worry, the pain, the sadness... It hung heavy on the mother and daughter.
The cave was bare. It wasn't a home.
They were running, too.
Kanae had seen it before. She'd lived it.
Kanae spoke softly, "If you don't mind me asking... Are you in trouble?"
"We..."
Aomura Rie opened her mouth, but tears welled in her eyes.
She couldn't think about it. Not about today.
If she did, she'd break.
Kanae asked carefully, "Does your trouble... have something to do with demons?"
"You... you know about demons?" Takina looked up, sharp.
Kanae lifted her butterfly haori, showing the sword at her waist. "My sister and I are members of the Demon Slayer Corps. We fight demons."
Takina saw the weapons.
Aomura Rie grabbed Kanae's hand. She didn't care that she was young, like her daughter. Tears streamed down her face. She sobbed, "Please! Please help Aoki!"
Kanae's face grew serious. But her voice was still gentle. She patted Aomura Rie's hand, soothing her. "Don't worry. Tell us what happened. Who is Aoki? What happened?"
Takina spoke quickly, "My father became a demon. Aoki is fighting him, to give us time to escape."
The Butterfly sisters' faces tightened.
It was worse than they thought.
But the most important thing was to save lives.
"Take us to the demon. Now!" Kanae's voice was firm.
"Yes! Yes!"
Aomura Rie and Takina were even more desperate.
Kanae kicked the branches away from the cave entrance. She lifted Aomura Rie onto her back, charged into the storm. Shinobu and Takina followed close behind.