Chapter 58: DSWS: Chapter 58
"Shattered"
Butterfly Mansion, Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
Shinobu Kocho, wearing her colorful haori, was watering the garden. The rising sun cast a warm glow, highlighting her perfect figure. Any man who saw her would be captivated.
Humming softly, Shinobu Kocho's expression shifted between shy smiles and annoyed scowls, both equally charming. She hadn't even noticed her watering can was empty.
A crow suddenly appeared, its voice sharp and urgent.
"Reporting battle results! Reporting battle results! Reporting Mugen Train battle results! Aoki's team, along with Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyōjurō, defeated Lower Moon One.
Hashira Aoki delivered the killing blow!"
A smile touched Shinobu Kocho's lips. "Impressive."
"However, they then encountered Upper Moon Three. Hashira Aoki and Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyōjurō forced Upper Moon Three's retreat, but Hashira Aoki suffered critical injuries and is near death.
Requesting immediate dispatch of medical personnel to rendezvous!"
"Clang!"
Her smile vanished. The watering can slipped from her hand, falling to the ground with a sharp clang.
"Master!"
She stood frozen, the crow repeating the message several times until Kanao Tsuyuri called out to her.
Without responding, she rushed to her room, grabbed her medical kit, and ran towards the forest.
"Master!" Kanao Tsuyuri called after her, but Shinobu Kocho's pace didn't falter.
Several Hidden Division members, their faces concealed and the kanji for "Hidden" marked on their backs, entered the mansion after Shinobu Kocho disappeared.
"Kanao-sama, Master Butterfly…"
Kanao Tsuyuri interrupted. "Gather all necessary supplies and equipment. Follow me."
"Yes!"
"What a joke!" Shinobu Kocho, moving through the forest like a butterfly, looked haggard, her eyes red and brimming with tears, constantly wiping them away to clear her vision.
Shinobu Kocho's thoughts: He promised to return safely… What a joke! If something happened to him… why? Why? Why must I endure this pain again?
She was overwhelmed with memories of her sister, Kanae Kocho's death, a turning point in her life.
Hearing that Aoki was critically injured, she relived that trauma, consumed by anxiety, fear, and desperate prayers for his survival.
After running for about half an hour, Shinobu Kocho spotted Rengoku Kyōjurō running in the opposite direction.
He carried a badly injured person. She quickly descended from a tree and landed beside him.
"Shinobu!" Rengoku Kyōjurō stopped.
"Rengoku, he…" Shinobu Kocho looked at the person Rengoku Kyōjurō held—Aoki, near death.
She covered her mouth, fighting back tears. She opened her medical kit, placing a white blanket on the ground and carefully laying Aoki down.
She began emergency treatment. Each time she saw Aoki's terrible state, tears welled in her eyes, but she fought to control her emotions to avoid mistakes.
"Why did this happen? Two Hashira together… few demons should be able to defeat you, even Upper Moons shouldn't be this strong," Shinobu Kocho asked.
Rengoku Kyōjurō replied, "Yes, before, I thought two Hashira could defeat even an Upper Moon. But after this encounter, I realize how incredibly strong they are; far stronger than we imagined."
"If I'd faced that Upper Moon alone, I'd be dead."
Shinobu Kocho focused on treatment. Rengoku Kyōjurō stood guard. While demons wouldn't attack during the day, unforeseen circumstances could still occur, and absolute quiet was essential for emergency medical care.
After about half an hour, Kanao Tsuyuri and a group of Hidden Division members arrived. Seeing Shinobu Kocho working, Kanao Tsuyuri signaled for silence.
"He's out of immediate danger," Shinobu Kocho said, wiping sweat from her brow, her tense face finally relaxing slightly, though mostly with exhaustion. Her face was pale.
"He'll be unconscious for a while. Take him back. I'll stay by his side twenty-four hours a day."
"Rengoku-san!" Tanjiro and the others arrived, having taken longer due to Rengoku Kyōjurō's speed.
They saw the Hidden Division members carefully placing Aoki on a stretcher and carrying him towards headquarters.
"Don't worry, your senpai is going to be alright. He'll be unconscious for a while," Rengoku Kyōjurō said, patting Tanjiro's shoulder.
"Okay," Tanjiro whispered, his fists clenching unnoticed. He felt intense self-reproach. If he were stronger, even slightly, if he could have intervened in the fight, Aoki wouldn't be in this state.
"I'm so useless…"
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