Kagaya's silent prayers were soon answered. Not long after, Horitake and Shinobu returned to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters to report the completion of their mission.
Upon hearing that the demon had been successfully slain and that the Flame Hashira's younger brother was safe and sound, Kagaya let out a long, heartfelt sigh of relief.
Kyojuro Rengoku was one of his most cherished subordinates—one of his "children." Had anything happened to the boy's brother, Kagaya felt he would never have been able to look Kyojuro in the eye again. Now that the situation had reached a happy conclusion, the weight was lifted. All that remained was for Kagaya to pen a letter to Kyojuro, explaining the details of the rescue.
With that matter settled, Kagaya took the opportunity to make a personal request. He looked toward Horitake, his voice gentle yet earnest.
"Kiriya is still young, and though the curse within him hasn't yet had the chance to fully manifest, the lingering threat is a constant shadow. Horitake, I must ask for your help in cleansing him as well."
Facing Kagaya's request, Horitake didn't act arrogant or put on airs. He nodded immediately.
"Please rest easy, Oyakata-sama. Clearing the curse from Kiriya will be much easier than it was for you. For one, Kiriya is young; his body is still flexible and highly resilient. Furthermore, he is in good health, which means his constitution can easily handle the stimulation of my lightning. Since we managed to purge your far more advanced curse, Master, Kiriya's will be a simple matter by comparison."
"Then my heart is at ease. I leave him in your hands."
And so, Kagaya called for his wife, Lady Amane, and his son, Kiriya.
Because this procedure was deemed less dangerous, the atmosphere was not quite as tense as the previous time, and Kagaya's four daughters did not attend. As before, Horitake settled Kiriya into a quiet, secluded washitsu. Lady Amane remained by her son's side to provide comfort while Horitake began the process of purging the curse.
The sliding doors clicked shut, and Horitake set to work. The procedure followed the same principles as the one performed on Kagaya, but because it was significantly smoother this time, there was no need for lengthy preparation.
Kagaya had absolute trust in Horitake. While his wife stayed inside with their son, he remained outside the room, waiting patiently. To pass the time, he struck up a conversation with Shinobu, who stood guard nearby.
Naturally, the topic was the details of their recent mission.
As Shinobu recounted the events, she carefully omitted certain "unmentionable" details—such as the pink toxic mist the female demon had sprayed during her flight, their physical reactions to said mist, and the... unavoidable measures they had to take afterward.
Even with those parts redacted, there was plenty to discuss.
Kagaya listened intently, his expression shifting from nods of approval to furrowed brows of concern.
"I see... I hadn't imagined a demon like that existed," Kagaya mused. "I assumed she was roaming the land, moving from village to village. I never suspected she was utilizing the waterways, an amphibious hunter. It's no wonder the members of the Corps in the Kansai region couldn't catch a scent of her. And for her behavior to be so... truly, an affront to public decency."
Kagaya sighed softly. "It is a blessing that you two were there to end her. Had she escaped again, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Who knows how many more lives would have been lost before we found her again?"
Just as they were speaking, the sliding door to the inner room creaked open.
Horitake stepped out, rolling down his sleeves with the steady air of a physician who had just completed a grueling but successful operation.
Kagaya stood, his voice laced with fatherly concern. "Horitake, how is he?"
"Rest easy, Oyakata-sama. The purge was a success. Kiriya is perfectly fine now, though you might want to go in and check on him. The poor boy went through quite an ordeal."
Kagaya nodded, offering another word of thanks before stepping into the room.
The moment he entered, he saw his son. Kiriya looked pale and frail, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. He was slumped against Lady Amane's lap, his lips trembling as he sought the comfort only a mother could provide.
Watching her son's pouting face, Amane stroked his hair with a tender, soothing touch.
"There, there... You were so brave, my son. Truly a child of the Ubuyashiki family. You managed to grit your teeth and endure while Horitake was here. Why is it that the moment he leaves, you can't hold it back anymore?"
Kiriya spoke through a choked sob, his voice small and fragile.
"Horitake-aniki was right there... I couldn't lose face. I couldn't let him see me cry! But now he's gone, and only Mother is here... Mother, it hurt so much! The pain... I felt like I was going to faint... I... I... waaaaah!"
The boy finally broke, burying his face in his mother's robes and letting out the tears he had so desperately suppressed.
It was understandable. After all, despite the weight of his lineage, he was a child not yet ten years old. He could play the part of a stoic successor in public, but in the presence of his mother, there was no need for masks. The pain was real, and the need for comfort was absolute.
Watching from the doorway, Kagaya felt a pang of guilt and deep affection.
In the end, Kiriya is still just a child, he thought.
To be forced into such heavy responsibilities at such a young age, to be compelled to be "strong" before his time—it was a testament to the boy's character, but also to Kagaya's own perceived failures as a father.
He so rarely gets to simply be a child with his mother, Kagaya realized. I should let him have this.
With a look of fatherly compassion, Kagaya quietly stepped back and closed the door, leaving the mother and son to their private moment.
Outside, Horitake grinned at Kagaya. "It seems Kiriya needs some one-on-one time with Lady Amane. I didn't think I'd see the day where even the Great Master would be considered a 'third wheel'."
Kagaya chuckled softly, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "The Ubuyashiki way has always been 'strict father, compassionate mother.' I am usually demanding enough of the children as it is. In times like these, it's best for Amane to provide the comfort."
"You're right, Master. Regardless of his title, Kiriya is a child. His performance lately has been nothing short of extraordinary—far exceeding any of our expectations."
Kagaya nodded in agreement, his heart swelling with pride for his heir.
Sensing the timing was right, Horitake decided to bring up his future plans.
"By the way, Oyakata-sama, Shinobu and I will be conducting some vital research at the Butterfly Mansion in the coming weeks. This research is of the utmost importance—it could very well change the fate of the Demon Slayer Corps."
He paused, offering an apologetic look. "Because of this, I won't be able to go out on standard missions for a while. Unless there is a task of critical importance that absolutely no one else can handle, I'd ask that you assign missions to the other Hashira or high-ranking members. I need to focus entirely on finishing this research with Shinobu as quickly as possible."
"I understand," Kagaya replied, his tone supportive. "I will make the necessary arrangements to ensure you aren't disturbed. I trust that whatever you are working on will be for the benefit of us all."
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