"Birth, aging, sickness, and death—such is the natural law of the world. There's no need to be sad. I met the one I loved, we were joined in marriage, had children and grandchildren, and they all turned out well. I'm already very content. What worries me now… is you, Yosuke-oniisan."
Yosuke looked at Kaori in surprise, unable to understand what about him was worth worrying over.
"If I'm gone, Yosuke-oniisan will have no one left to accompany you. I don't know why you devote yourself to such harsh training on this mountain, but there must be a reason. After all, Yosuke-oniisan is a divine being."
Yosuke gave a bitter smile. "Kaori, I am no god."
"What difference does it make? I've noticed it all along. Without anyone knowing, Yosuke-oniisan has always been helping us. During the torrential rains, when most of the village houses collapsed, ours alone remained untouched. When my child fell ill, piles of herbs appeared at our doorstep. I know these were all your doing. To me, you are a god."
Kaori's face shone with gratitude. There were many such examples. Though she had never seen who did these things, her heart told her without doubt—it was Yosuke.
A sudden impulse welled up inside Yosuke: he wanted to turn Kaori into a demon, to keep her by his side forever. But the very next moment, he rejected the thought.
To make Kaori a demon would only trample on the bond they shared. Allowing her to walk her path to its natural end in happiness—that was the best conclusion for their relationship.
In the final stage of her life, Kaori chose to live on the mountain. She cooked, washed, and cared for Yosuke.
But even companionship must eventually yield to parting. Kaori's life was reaching its end.
The aged Kaori lay weakly in bed, Yosuke faithfully by her side.
"I'm so sorry, Yosuke-oniisan. It seems our time together must end here." Kaori's face was filled with apology.
"That's enough. More than enough, Kaori. I'm already deeply grateful to you." Yosuke kept vigil by her side, accompanying her through her last moments.
"Yosuke-oniisan… my husband has come to take me." Kaori's clouded eyes turned toward the door.
"I'm sorry, Yuta. I should have come to you long ago. But I wanted, in these final days, to bid Yosuke-oniisan a proper farewell…"
At the door stood Yuta's figure, his face filled with acceptance as he looked at Kaori. "No need to apologize. This is only right. Yosuke-sama has done so much for us, while all we could offer was our companionship. I only hope Lord Yosuke will not hold it against us."
Kaori gently reassured him: "Yuta, Yosuke-oniisan would never resent us. He is so very kind."
She turned back to Yosuke, taking a pendant from beneath her pillow—a small earring engraved with the symbol of the sun.
"Yosuke-oniisan, you have shone upon me like the sun itself. I give this earring to you, so that your light will never fade. Well then… farewell, Brother Yosuke. I'll be going ahead."
Hand in hand with Yuta, Kaori's figure faded away. On the bed, her body remained, her face serene with happiness as her life came to an end.
Staring at her still form, Yosuke was dazed. He had long forgotten how to cry. Though grief surged within him, he could no longer release it.
Taking the earring from Kaori's hand, he pierced his own earlobe with a sharpened claw and put it on.
He buried her beside the graves of his parents, then sat silently before the tombstones for three days.
Though Kaori was gone, she had left an indelible mark upon Yosuke's heart.
He was no longer alone, no longer lost. For he knew that even as time flowed on, the memories etched in his mind would never fade. He would always remember that there had been a girl who stayed by his side, dispelling his loneliness.
Life returned to its former rhythm. Days became months, months became years—ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
Through his crow's eyes, Yosuke learned that the Heian period had ended, and the Kamakura period had begun.
One night, bloodied villagers came rushing up the mountain to find Yosuke.
"Divine Lord! Our village was attacked by demons—please, we beg your aid!"
The young man knelt, his forehead pressed to the ground, pleading desperately.
Though he addressed him as "Divine Lord," fear gripped his heart. The rumors said that the one dwelling on the mountain was no man, but a night-prowling demon. Yet this demon bore goodwill toward humans, so the village chief had sent the young man in hopes that Yosuke would help.
"Raise your head and let me see you." Yosuke's cool voice rang in the youth's ears.
Trembling, the young man lifted his face. Yosuke studied him, a wave of memory rising.
"Kōda Teru… what is he to you?"
The youth answered honestly. "Kōda Teru was my grandfather. I am his grandson, Kōda Ryōichi."
"Is he still alive?"
"Grandfather passed away three years ago."
"…I see. So many years have already gone by." Yosuke sighed, his mind filled with nostalgia.
He recalled the little boy Teru, wearing open-crotch pants, who had once run up the mountain while Yosuke was chopping wood. Cheerful and bold, Teru had insisted on helping. The two became friends. Teru often stole wine from home to share with Yosuke, even sneaking off with the family's chickens to feast together.
But twenty years later, when Teru had grown, he stopped coming. Now, decades had passed, and Yosuke could scarcely remember his face.
Ryōichi looked at Yosuke with unease. Though they seemed about the same age, Yosuke spoke with the air of someone far older.
Yosuke agreed to Ryōichi's plea and followed him down the mountain to the village.
The closer they drew, the stronger the stench of demons became.
After nearly a century, Yosuke's power had grown greatly. Unlike Muzan Kibutsuji, who grew stronger by devouring countless humans—by now likely beyond reckoning—Yosuke did not need flesh to strengthen himself. His power increased slowly with time, through training. His body now contained three hearts and two brains.
Though he might not rival Muzan in sheer strength, if Muzan wished to kill him, Yosuke could still escape unscathed.
As for destroying Muzan—other than sunlight, there was no way. Yet sunlight, too, was Yosuke's own weakness.
In the end, Muzan and Yosuke were the same: twin brothers, who had taken the same medicine, and both become demons. The only difference—one fed on humans, and the other did not.