In an establishment like this bathhouse, the night was the peak of its rowdy splendor, while the morning and afternoon were its most desolate hours.
No new guests arrived at such a time, and those who had spent the night were currently finished with their "business," resting or dozing off in their respective rooms.
Consequently, as Horitake and Shinobu made their way from the fifth floor down to the first, they didn't encounter a single soul. This was for the best; it saved them from the prying eyes of busybodies who might wonder about the nature of their relationship.
When they reached the first floor, the lobby was practically empty, save for a few lethargic staff members. The lack of witnesses made their movements much easier.
Without delay, Horitake and Shinobu began searching the rooms on the ground floor one by one, paying particular attention to those used as storage or utility closets.
Their objective was clear: find Senjuro Rengoku.
Horitake had learned of Senjuro's whereabouts from the female demon the night before, but before he could launch a search, he had been side-tracked by an "emergency" that required his immediate and personal attention.
Poor Senjuro had been left forgotten in the dark, and it was only now that his rescue mission was finally getting underway.
The search was simple enough, thanks to Horitake's Spirit Vision.
His Spirit Vision possessed a degree of X-ray perception. He only needed to stand at a doorway and sweep his gaze across the room to see exactly what was—or wasn't—inside.
Shinobu followed closely behind him, keeping a steady pace as they cleared the rooms.
As they moved through the corridor, they found that most rooms were either locked from the inside or contained nothing but mundane supplies. They had to be patient, checking every door.
As they worked, the pair found themselves in the mood for a bit of conversation.
Horitake couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. "Sigh... We really did the Flame Hashira's little brother dirty. We could have saved him much earlier, but because I decided that 'letting nature take its course' was better than suppression, the poor kid had to suffer through one more night."
Shinobu looked slightly sheepish as well. "That... well, it couldn't be helped. Who knew that demon's Blood Demon Art would be so insidious? I let my guard down for one moment and fell right into her trap."
She paused, a faint blush creeping up her neck. "I still feel like I've somehow been cheated, giving you such a windfall for free."
"What's there to feel cheated about?" Horitake teased. "Sister Shinobu was going to be mine eventually. Whether I got a taste of you sooner or later, it was bound to happen. You can't escape my grasp. Last night was just a catalyst that moved the timeline up a bit."
His expression softened, turning more sincere. "Though I must say, having our first time in a place like this and being forced to jump right back into a mission... I do feel a bit guilty. I feel like I owe you, Shinobu."
He leaned in closer, a playful glint in his eyes. "Next time, I'll make sure you are truly satisfied!"
Hearing Horitake's shameless proclamation, Shinobu's face turned bright red. She instinctively snapped back, "You're still thinking about a 'next time'? In your dreams!"
Horitake chuckled, looking utterly unapologetic. "Well, once there's a first time, a second time is inevitable, isn't it? Then a third, a fourth, and so on... It's only natural."
Shinobu remained silent, her face flushed as she chose not to argue.
As they bantered, they continued their systematic sweep of the first-floor rooms. Finally, just as the conversation drifted to another topic, Horitake's gaze sharpened.
He stopped in front of an unassuming door. One sweep of his Spirit Vision revealed the anomaly inside.
"Hm?"
Shinobu blinked, immediately alert. "Did you find him? Is he in there?"
Horitake deactivated his Spirit Vision and nodded toward the door. "Yeah. I see him. He's inside."
Without a word, Shinobu reached for the handle. The door wasn't locked; it slid open with ease.
The room inside was a mess. Just as the demon had described, it was a cluttered storage space filled with piles of junk and miscellaneous items.
Lying amidst the heaps of debris was Senjuro Rengoku—tightly gagged and bound hand and foot!
Having seen the original story, Horitake recognized the boy instantly.
Though Shinobu had never met him, the boy's features and hair color were a striking match to Kyojuro Rengoku. It was clear this was their target.
At the sound of the door opening, the drowsy Senjuro snapped his eyes open.
When he realized that someone had finally come for him, the boy became incredibly excited. Despite his physical weakness, he began to writhe and struggle against his bonds, muffled whimpers escaping from behind the cloth in his mouth.
Horitake stepped inside. With a swift hand-chop infused with a faint spark of electricity, he sliced through the ropes as if they were paper. He then reached down and pulled the gag from the boy's mouth.
Poor Senjuro was finally free.
Horitake supported him as the boy sat up, leaning against the storage crates. Senjuro carefully moved his stiff limbs and worked his cramped jaw, his face a mask of lingering terror and relief.
"I... I'm finally saved... I really thought I was a goner this time!"
Horitake checked him over with concern. "How are you feeling, Senjuro? Are you hurt? Can you move?"
"I'm alright. I'm not injured, just... I haven't had anything to eat or drink for an entire day while being locked in here. My body is just a bit weak."
The boy looked up, blinking in confusion. "Wait... how do you know my name? Did my father ask you to find me?"
Horitake smiled and explained, "It's not what you think. This lady and I are friends of your older brother, Kyojuro Rengoku. We're both from the Demon Slayer Corps."
Senjuro's eyes widened in surprise as he looked back and forth between Horitake and Shinobu. "You're my brother's friends? You're Demon Slayers? You were the ones who rescued me?"
He seemed to realize something and sat up straighter. "That's right, I was kidnapped by a demon. It makes sense that the Demon Slayer Corps would come. Please, what happened to that demon? Has it been slain? If it continues to roam around here, the casualties will only get worse!"
As expected of Kyojuro Rengoku's brother. The apple didn't fall far from the tree.
The Flame Hashira was a man of great character, and his younger brother was clearly cut from the same cloth. Even after being rescued from a traumatic ordeal, his first instinct wasn't to cry, but to worry about the safety of others.
Horitake patted the young man's shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. The demon that kidnapped you has already been taken care of. Two Hashira were dispatched for this mission—did you really think that demon stood a chance?"
"Two Hashira?" Senjuro stared at them in disbelief. "Both of you are Hashira? Like my brother?"
Shinobu gave a gentle, motherly smile as she introduced herself. "That's right, young man. I am the Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Shinobu Kocho."
Horitake followed suit. "And I am the Heaven Hashira, Horitake."
Senjuro had been impressed when Shinobu spoke, but upon hearing Horitake's name, he became visibly agitated. His weak body practically jolted upward.
"You... You are the strongest combatant in the entire Corps... the Heaven Hashira, Lord Horitake!?"
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