After Sanemi accepted Masachika's final letter, he completely broke down. Throughout the remainder of the meeting, he stayed silent at the side, tears slipping down his face from time to time. It was hard to tell whether he was even listening, or how much of what was said actually reached him.
Once the Hashira Meeting concluded, Hiru proceeded as usual to help Ubuyashiki purge the lingering effects of the Blood Demon Art from his body. When the treatment ended, Hiru asked out of habit whether there was anything else he needed. If not, he would take his leave.
"There is indeed one matter I would like to trouble you with."
"Hm?" Just as he was about to stand, Hiru sat back down. "That's rare. What is it?"
"I would like you to act as my guard and accompany me somewhere."
"Oh?" Hiru considered it briefly. "That's fine, but being with me is dangerous. Don't complain later if I end up watching you die."
Ubuyashiki chuckled softly. "If we were to encounter Muzan, witnessing that struggle firsthand wouldn't be so bad."
"Let's not talk about that." Hiru waved it off. "Who are you going to see? If you want me along, it means you want me to meet them too. Who could be important enough for that?"
"…It's said they're descendants of the Tsugikuni clan."
"Descendants of the Tsugikuni clan?" Hiru frowned. "That shouldn't be possible. The Tsugikuni clan was wiped out back then. I personally handled every single body—no one was missing."
"Even so, the rumors didn't arise from nothing."
"Go on."
"There's a family of four living deep in the mountains, surviving by cutting wood," Ubuyashiki said, holding his teacup. "I visited them once before, hoping to invite the man of the house to join the Demon Slayer Corps, but he refused. He said he couldn't abandon his wife and young children.
"Some time ago, I asked the Kakushi to gather more information. Instead, I received news that the wife had died of illness, and the husband fell to his death while gathering medicinal herbs.
"That family now has only two very young children left… so I thought I should go again, to see if I can offer them some support."
"I see…" Hiru nodded. "Then let's go. But first, I need to visit the Rengoku estate and ask Miss Tamayo to replenish my concealment medicine. I'll come back for you after that—will that be alright?"
"That's fine. I also need to make some preparations, in case something happens to me and the Corps' operations are affected."
"Alright, it's settled." Hiru stood and stretched. "By the way, what's that family's surname?"
"Tokito. Their family name is Tokito."
Hiru froze mid-stretch. After a long pause, he slowly moved again.
"Tokito…" he murmured. "That's a surname I haven't heard in a very long time. Understood. I'll return as soon as possible."
Ubuyashiki watched Hiru leave. After a while, he smiled faintly.
"It seems that even if those two children refuse care this time, there's no need to worry… I should make my preparations as well."
…
After replenishing his medicine with Tamayo, Hiru returned at once and departed together with Ubuyashiki for the Tokito household.
Because of Ubuyashiki's frail condition, their journey was slowed considerably. Hiru, however, showed no impatience. Instead, whenever they passed through a town, he would stop to ask what children liked. By the time they reached their destination, Hiru was carrying a large bundle filled with all kinds of odds and ends.
"…While I know your intentions are good," Ubuyashiki said gently, "I don't think they'll accept these things."
"Is that so? But wouldn't it be worse to do nothing?" Hiru followed behind him, carrying the bundle. "I can count as an ancestor, can't I? Buying a few things for my own descendants, helping them live a little better—there's nothing wrong with that."
"We're here." Ubuyashiki pointed toward a small wooden hut ahead. His breathing grew uneven, and he coughed softly. "I hope we won't be driven away outright again this time."
"I can carry you," Hiru said, helping him steady his breathing. "If you insist on pushing yourself, who else can you blame?"
"Haha… I suppose." Ubuyashiki coughed again. "I want to walk while I still can. Even though your help has slowed the deterioration, I can clearly feel my body falling apart day by day. I keep thinking that if I don't walk now, I won't have the chance later."
"You really are…"
"Excuse me—are you here to buy firewood?"
Hiru turned to see a black-haired boy with sky-blue eyes. He wore a sleeveless white kimono patterned with clouds and carried a large bundle of wood on his back, looking at them with cautious curiosity.
Ubuyashiki looked at him. "Muichiro, we meet again."
"Oh! You're that lord who came to see Dad before!" The boy smiled brightly. "How is your health?"
"I'm well, thanks to others' care. Cough…"
"Please come in and rest!" Muichiro hurried ahead. "My brother is here too."
"Is he? That's good to hear."
Muichiro's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. "Hey, Oyakata-sama—are we really descendants of that… original swordsman? Is it true?"
"Yes. It is true."
"That's amazing…" Muichiro said dreamily. "I want to become a swordsman too. If I did, could I protect more people?"
Seeing the longing in his eyes, Hiru smiled slightly.
"If it's you, Muichiro, I'm sure you could."
"Huh? Thank you! And you are…?"
"Mm. I suppose you could say I'm a swordsman."
"Really?!" Muichiro's eyes lit up. "What's it like being a swordsman? Can you really help lots of people?"
Before Hiru could answer, another voice rang out from ahead, sharp with anger.
"Muichiro! I told you not to bring strange people into the house!"
"Brother, Oyakata-sama isn't strange. They're good people."
"Good people?" The other boy snapped. "Do you think bad people write 'I'm bad' on their faces?! Get over here!"
The boy wore a black cloud-patterned kimono and looked exactly like Muichiro, though his features were sharper. A kitchen knife was clenched in his hand as he glared at Ubuyashiki and Hiru.
"No matter how many times you come, it's the same! We're not joining the Demon Slayer Corps! Give it up!"
"Yuichiro, that's not why I—"
"Stop pretending!" Yuichiro yanked Muichiro behind him. "Even if we joined, what could we possibly do? Descendants of the original swordsman—you make it sound easy!
"Even that so-called powerful original swordsman couldn't achieve what you're talking about! What chance do we have?! You just want us to throw our lives away!
"In the end, saving people is something only the chosen can do. We can't do anything! So don't come back! If you do, I won't hold back!"
With that, he ripped the bundle of firewood off Muichiro's back, tossed it by the door, and slammed the door shut.
Ubuyashiki sighed softly as he looked at the closed door.
"It seems I dragged you into being scolded as well."
"It's nothing," Hiru replied. He walked over, neatly stacked the firewood to one side, then placed the items he had bought on top of it. "Shall we head down the mountain? I'll carry you."
"…I'll leave it to you." This time, Ubuyashiki didn't refuse. "What do you think of those two children?"
"How should I put it… they're pretty cute."
"…Hm?"
"Haha, it's normal to be confused," Hiru laughed, crouching down with his back to Ubuyashiki. "The boy in black was so scared his hands were shaking when he saw me, but he still remembered to protect his younger brother. He's sharp and very responsible.
"The one in white, on the other hand, kept circling you like a completely defenseless puppy. Super—cute. Maybe it's because I'm looking at them as an ancestor that I feel extra indulgent, like they're my own kids."
Ubuyashiki chuckled. "I'll leave those two children in your care."
"Alright. Once I get you back safely, I'll come clear out this area." Hiru lifted him onto his back. "This feeling—worrying about kids without ever having been married—is surprisingly strange."
"When you gain their trust, bring Yoriichi along next time," Ubuyashiki said. "I think he'd be happy too."
"That's true…" Hiru tilted his head slightly. "But you didn't bring me here just for that, did you?"
"…There have been reports of people disappearing in this area," Ubuyashiki admitted. "I don't have the manpower to send swordsmen to investigate, so I was hoping you could look into it while you're here."
"No more detailed information?"
"Cough… I'll have Kitaro deliver everything we know to you later."
"…You wouldn't happen to remember even the names of the crows, would you?"
"Not all of them yet…"
"You really are bored, you know that?"
…
After the twins could no longer see Hiru and Ubuyashiki, Yuichiro finally loosened up a little.
"Brother… weren't we a bit rude just now?" Muichiro stood behind him, looking dispirited. "Oyakata-sama was really kind, and that swordsman was gentle too…"
"You don't understand anything!" Yuichiro snapped, his voice rising sharply. "That thing was a monster! Couldn't you feel how dangerous he was?!"
"What danger? I just thought he felt really friendly."
"There's no talking sense into you!" Yuichiro barked. "From now on, don't acknowledge that man at all!" He flung the door open and kicked aside the bundle Hiru had left behind. "In the end, that so-called Demon Slayer Corps master just wants to use us!"
"But… I think if my brother and I became swordsmen, we could help more people…"
"Honestly—both of you are like this!" Yuichiro grabbed Muichiro by the collar, his frustration spilling over. "Why are you so optimistic? What are you even thinking? Someone who can't even cook wants to become a swordsman? You make it sound so easy! This ends here! Don't bring it up again! Go throw away everything he gave us!"
Muichiro pressed his lips together, then obediently picked up the bundle and left. Only then did Yuichiro's rigid front finally collapse. Panic crept onto his face as he gasped for air.
From a young age, he had been exceptionally sensitive to people's presence. He could clearly perceive the qi surrounding others, and he had long relied on that sensation to judge them.
He had been the first to notice something wrong with their mother—her qi had weakened. Soon after, she was diagnosed with a serious illness. Their father, trying to gather medicinal herbs to save her, had fallen from a cliff…
Yuichiro shook his head hard, forcing those thoughts away.
He had seen swordsmen accompany that master before, but none of them carried such a terrifying aura. The qi surrounding Hiru made his body tremble uncontrollably, even though he couldn't explain why. One thing, however, was certain—someone with that kind of presence could never be weak.
"How could demons that require a monster like that to deal with ever be something we can handle… Muichiro, you idiot."
"Brother, did you just call me?"
"No!" Yuichiro exhaled deeply. "Alright! Once you've thrown everything away, hurry up and wash the rice. Don't just stand around like an idiot!"
What Yuichiro didn't expect was that the swordsman would return very soon—carrying another large bundle.
"Why are you back again?! I already told you we're not joining the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Yuichiro stood there gripping an axe, his whole body tense with vigilance. Hiru raised the bundle in his hands and walked over with a smile.
"I saw the things I bought before were thrown down the mountain, so I switched to a different batch this time. Want to take a look?"
"Get lost! We don't need your fake concern!" Yuichiro swung the axe reflexively. "Stop bothering us!"
The sharp blade sliced straight through the cloth wrapping the bundle. Colorful little trinkets spilled out in a rush, scattering all over the ground.
"Brother! Even if you're angry, you shouldn't swing an axe like that—"
"Shut up, Muichiro!" Yuichiro looked even more agitated. "And you—get out of here!"
"Looks like I still didn't pick the right things," Hiru said mildly, not seeming offended at all as he looked at the mess on the ground. "And honestly, I feel like you're way too guarded around me. We've only met twice, right? You don't have to hate me this much."
"Why would I like you?!"
"…Fair enough," Hiru laughed. "Alright, I'll leave then. But I'll trouble you two with cleaning this up. Next time, I'll bring something more suitable."
Seeing Hiru leave without pressing the issue, Yuichiro finally relaxed—but he hadn't expected that "next time" to arrive the very next day.
"You again?!"
"Well, I can't help it," Hiru said, once more carrying a bundle, his smile unchanged. "I just can't leave you two alone."
"We have nothing to do with you!"
"Of course we do."
Hiru's sudden seriousness made Yuichiro tense up. "W-What do you mean?"
"Your surname is Tokito, isn't it?"
Yuichiro swallowed. "So what if it is?"
"My surname is Tsugikuni."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Muichiro peeked out as well. "I don't remember our family ever meeting anyone named Tsugikuni."
"Oh, you have. It was just a very long time ago," Hiru said, ignoring Yuichiro's glare. He set down the bundle and picked up the axe by the door. "How about I help you chop some wood? Given your age, it must be hard to fell larger trees and haul them back to sell, right?"
"Don't just decide things on your own! And put our axe down!"
"What's wrong with that? Being cautious is good, but you should also learn to accept kindness sometimes."
"Who wants your kindness?! Get out of here!"
With Hiru maintaining a routine of checking on the Tokito brothers during the day and searching for traces of demons at night—persistently hovering around them—he very successfully won Muichiro's goodwill. When they were alone, Muichiro would ask him about how to exert strength properly, pester him to tell stories about demons and the Demon Slayer Corps, and Hiru was more than happy to oblige.
Yuichiro, however, remained extremely wary of Hiru. The moment he spotted him, his whole body would bristle as he tried to drive him away.
That was… until that incident occurred.