Chapter 45: The Dense Tanjuro
"Hiss—!"
Tatsu sucked in a breath of cold air; this time it wasn't an act, it really hurt.
Although a demon's body is highly resistant to strikes, the soft flesh around the waist is a weakness for any creature!
"Ow, ow, ow! Mercy, Heroine! Mercy, Lady Kanae!"
Tatsu cried out exaggeratedly, leaning his body to the side,
but he didn't dare to actually dodge, letting Kanae administer "family discipline."
"So you know it hurts now? Why didn't you feel the pain when you were burning your hand earlier?"
Though Kanae spoke harshly, she quietly loosened her grip.
Seeing Tatsu's grimacing face as he begged for mercy,
the last bit of gloom in her heart finally dissipated.
"Hmph, if you dare to be so reckless again, I'll coat your entire body in wisteria poison!"
Kanae let go, put her hands on her hips, and threatened him with feigned ferocity.
But the slight upturn of her lips and the hint of a smile in her eyes that she couldn't hide,
completely betrayed her current mood.
As long as he was okay, that was enough.
Truly, as long as he was okay.
The atmosphere between the two became exceptionally romantic and warm at this moment.
The moonlight spilled over them, casting two long shadows,
occasionally overlapping, as if they were the only two people left in the world.
However...
In this world, there are always some "dense" people who appear at the most inappropriate times.
"Ahem."
A weak yet exceptionally clear cough abruptly sounded in their ears.
The sound wasn't loud, but in the silent night, it was like a clap of thunder.
Both Tatsu and Kanae froze simultaneously.
Everything that had happened was too thrilling, and they had become too absorbed afterward,
causing them to completely forget that there was a third person present.
As if struck by lightning, Kanae suddenly sprang away from Tatsu,
her entire face turning bright red, just like a ripe tomato.
Oh my god!
What was she doing?
In front of Mr. Tanjuro, pulling and pushing with a man, crying and making a scene, and even pinching his waist?
This... this was simply too unseemly!
Kanae hurriedly tidied her slightly messy Haori and hair,
then stiffly turned her head toward the direction of the sound.
Not far away,
Tanjuro was still standing there quietly.
He wore a somewhat worn checkered Haori over his shoulders,
his hands tucked into his sleeves, his thin frame appearing somewhat frail in the night wind.
But his transparent eyes were now calmly watching the two of them.
There was no shock, nor any confusion.
Only a sense of detachment from having seen through the world,
and a hint of... helplessness, as if watching his own naive children falling in love.
Kanae's face grew even redder.
She suddenly remembered that Tatsu's hand had been severed and then regenerated.
Mr. Tanjuro must have seen it all!
It's over.
It can't be hidden anymore.
A human seeing such a supernatural scene as limb regeneration would surely be terrified, right?
He would surely see Tatsu as a monster, wouldn't he?
At this thought, the shyness in Kanae's heart was instantly replaced by guilt and worry.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, shielding Tatsu, and bowed deeply to Tanjuro.
"Um... Mr. Tanjuro."
Kanae's voice trembled slightly, but her tone was exceptionally sincere,
"I am very sorry, we lied to you."
"Actually... Tatsu... he isn't an ordinary person."
"He is... a demon."
When she said the word "demon," Kanae grit her teeth as if using all her strength,
"But! Please believe me!"
"Although Tatsu is a demon, he has never eaten humans!"
"He's a good boy; he's even working hard to learn a Breathing Style to protect humans..."
"You saw it just now; he almost died for this..."
"Please... please don't be afraid of him, and don't drive him away..."
Kanae kept her head down, not daring to look Tanjuro in the eye.
She was waiting.
Waiting for Tanjuro's interrogation, or a scream of terror, or even an angry eviction.
It couldn't be helped.
After all, to ordinary people, "demon" was synonymous with terror and death.
However...
The expected scolding did not come.
The air was silent for a few seconds.
Then, Tanjuro's characteristic, mild voice rang out.
"The wind tonight is a bit chilly."
"Eh?"
Kanae froze and suddenly looked up, staring blankly at Tanjuro.
What kind of reaction was this?
The wind is chilly?
Is that the point?
Tanjuro looked at the dazed Kanae,
and a faint, all-encompassing smile appeared on his gaunt face.
He didn't pick up on Kanae's topic about "demons."
In his eyes that could see through the world, physical form had long since ceased to matter.
What he saw was the color of the soul.
The youth named Tatsu, though blood belonging to the darkness flowed through his body,
deep within his soul, there burned a flame hotter and purer than anyone else's.
It was the courage to swing a blade at fate in order to protect what is precious.
In that case, whether he was human or demon, what difference did it make?
Furthermore...
Tanjuro glanced at Tatsu, who had already fully recovered and was standing behind Kanae, then at the blushing Kanae.
Though his health was poor, he wasn't blind, nor was he a fool.
The atmosphere between these two young people, that bond that had long since surpassed ordinary friendship,
was somewhat dazzling even to an "outsider" like him.
If he let them continue like this,
they probably wouldn't get any sleep tonight; just watching them "flirt" would be enough.
"Kie should have finished brewing the tea by now."
Tanjuro tightened his Haori and turned to walk toward the small wooden hut,
"Since your body has recovered, go back early."
"The night dew in the mountains is heavy; it's not good for a girl's skin."
With that, he walked away without looking back, leaving only his receding figure.
"Huh?"
Kanae was completely bewildered.
She blinked her beautiful large eyes, momentarily unable to process the information before her.
That's... it?
Isn't he shocked? Isn't he afraid?
He didn't even ask "why did the hand grow back"?
This is just... way too calm.
"Um... Tatsu..."
Kanae turned her head to look at Tatsu behind her, her delicate face filled with confusion,
"Did Mr. Tanjuro... not understand what I was saying?"
"Or was he scared witless?"
"Why didn't he have any reaction at all?"
Seeing Kanae's adorable, dazed look, Tatsu couldn't help but reach out and gently rub her hair.
It felt so soft.
"Silly girl."
Tatsu watched Tanjuro's receding back, a flash of respect passing through his eyes,
then said to Kanae with a smile,
"Do you think Mr. Tanjuro couldn't see through my identity?"
"He knew all along?"
Kanae's mouth fell open in surprise.
"Yeah."
Tatsu took Kanae's hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, and said softly,
"Mr. Tanjuro, he knew all along."
"From the first moment I stepped into the house, he knew I was a demon."
"But he still let me in, still let me eat that meal,"
"and even taught me the Hinokami Kagura."
At this point, Tatsu paused, his tone becoming somewhat sentimental,
"That is Tanjuro Kamado... a man truly gentle to his core, and powerful to his core."
Listening to Tatsu's words and recalling Tanjuro's calm gaze from earlier,
a wave of unspeakable admiration surged in her heart.
"Alright, let's head back too."
Tatsu tightened his grip on Kanae's hand, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips,
"If we don't go back now, Mr. Tanjuro might come out to cough again."
"Oh! Stop it!"
Kanae blushed and tried to pinch Tatsu's waist again.
But this time, Tatsu was prepared; he dodged with a quick movement,
and pulled her along as they ran toward the small wooden hut.
The spring night wind was still a bit chilly.
But their hearts were burning hot.
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