Hiru had meant to offer a few words of comfort, but even through the tears streaking Yoriichi's face, he saw his brother slowly draw the long sword at his waist.
[Looks like there's nothing left for me to say.]
Lowering his head, Hiru quietly waited for the end.
[How ironic, really. Both times I've faced death, it's been at the hands of my brother. But this time… this time it'll probably be real. I just hope he can bring an end to this chaotic world in my place… Too bad I won't be around to see it.]
"I… truly am a useless man."
Tears fell from Yoriichi's eyes, but the blade in his hand never came down. He couldn't bring himself to strike—couldn't kill his brother, even if he had become a demon. Even if, in the end, that brother was still gentle and willing to face death by his hand.
"...Brother?"
"As a member of the Tsugikuni clan, I failed to protect our family. As an elder brother, I failed to protect my younger sibling. As a Demon Slayer, I failed to kill the man-eating demons…"
Yoriichi's face twisted in self-reproach. "Someone this powerless… I'm the one who deserves to die."
"No—wait, Brother, please don't cry. Just… please, don't cry anymore, okay?"
Hiru wanted to move closer, to comfort him, but stopped when he saw the sharp claws on his own hands.
"This isn't your fault. You don't have to bear everything alone! When the Tsugikuni clan was wiped out, you were out there risking your life to protect others, fighting the demons.
It was me who was careless. I was found by a demon, and because I was too weak, I had no choice but to take the potion that turned me into this. You couldn't strike me down because I'm your brother—because you still have that bond of family in your heart.
None of this is your fault, Brother! Please, don't blame yourself!"
"I'm sorry, Hiru. I'm so sorry."
For the first time in front of a demon, Yoriichi let go of his sword. He stepped forward and pulled Hiru into an embrace. His voice trembled with deep grief and guilt.
"If only I'd gotten to you sooner… just a little sooner…"
Hiru froze for a moment before returning the embrace, gently patting Yoriichi's back.
"It's okay. Don't blame yourself. I never once blamed you. Besides, none of this was your fault."
But Yoriichi didn't answer—he only cried silently, his sorrow heavy and raw.
To Hiru, however, that grief was a kind of torment.
[So hungry.]
[I want to eat.]
[Why does it smell so… good?]
He swallowed hard, again and again, opening his mouth only to clamp it shut each time.
[No. I can't.]
[If I do that, I'm no better than a beast with no control.]
[I have to die as a human… if I can still be called one.]
Even as he thought that, his head lowered almost involuntarily toward Yoriichi's neck, the scent of warm blood drawing him in. His throat worked, the sound of swallowing growing louder.
Yoriichi could feel the motion but didn't move.
If Hiru wanted to do it—then let him. After the bite, he could tell himself that the obedient little brother he once knew was gone, replaced by a lying, bloodthirsty demon. Then he would be able to strike without hesitation.
The scent grew stronger, sweet and intoxicating. Hiru's restraint finally snapped, and he lunged forward—
—but just as Yoriichi's eyes darkened with disappointment and his hand tightened on his blade, a loud inhale broke the air.
Yoriichi froze.
He turned his head slightly, glancing at his brother.
Hiru looked back at him with a somewhat guilty expression, his voice small and sulky.
"I was just smelling. I wasn't going to bite. Really. I'm just… so hungry right now. And you kind of smell… delicious."
Yoriichi blinked, then—unexpectedly—laughed.
[Thank goodness. He hasn't been consumed by it.]
"Why are you laughing?" Hiru asked, wiping at the drool at the corner of his mouth, frowning. "I'm doing my absolute best not to give in to hunger, you know? And you're laughing at me? That's cruel, Brother!"
"Yes, yes. My fault."
Yoriichi chuckled softly, ruffling Hiru's hair before stooping to pick up his sword.
"Stop that! I'm not a kid anymore!" Hiru protested, puffing his cheeks as Yoriichi slid the blade back into its sheath.
Watching him move, Hiru suddenly remembered the sight of a demon being burned to ash by the sun, and shivered.
"Brother… being killed by sunlight must hurt a lot, right? Can't you make it quicker than that?"
Yoriichi turned toward the faint light beginning to rise in the east. He took off his haori and draped it over Hiru's head, his eyes steady.
"I won't kill you, Hiru.
I'll take you with me to slay demons. When I've destroyed them all, I'll end your existence as a demon myself. Then, I'll perform seppuku and follow after you. I'll never let you be alone."
Hiru blinked in surprise.
"But… you're a Demon Slayer, Brother."
"I can't help it. You're my brother."
Yoriichi smiled faintly, placing a hand gently on his head. "At least this time, I'm acting on my own will—not someone else's."
As the morning light framed Yoriichi's silhouette, Hiru couldn't help but laugh softly.
"Alright then. I'll leave it to you, Brother."
Grrr~
Yoriichi glanced down at Hiru's stomach.
Hiru turned his head away in embarrassment, coughing lightly.
"Sorry… I'm really hungry. I drained a huge boar dry, but it still didn't fill me up. I guess I've become a bottomless pit now. I never ate much before, and I could usually endure hunger, but this… this demon hunger just doesn't stop."
Yoriichi looked once at the boar's withered corpse, then took Hiru's hand and helped him to his feet, a faint, gentle smile tugging at his lips.
"Come on. Let's get you to a nearby cave before sunrise. After that, I'll hunt for you."
"Okay."
Hiru's steps were light as he followed Yoriichi, his mood brightening.
"I'll do as you say, Brother."
He suddenly remembered something his brother had once told him when they were children—
[Will you always stay by my side, Brother?]
[Maybe not always. But as long as you're still my little brother, as long as you're still Hiru, I'll do everything I can to protect you.]