After bathing in the sunlight's warmth for a good while, Kiyomi wiped the tears that had rolled down on her cheeks.
Smiling, Kiyomi quietly waited for Kanae to come back while practicing the auxiliary breathing technique that was close to upgrading another level.
Hoping to break through before the day ends, Kiyomi closed her eyes to concentrate on her breathing.
The slow yet powerful sound of breathing filled the inside of the huge courtyard.
Going unnoticed by Kiyomi, the wind blew and flew around the trees, rocks, and everything inside the courtyard.
Different from her usual breathing practice, Kiyomi felt a trace of warm energy flowing inside her lungs.
She fell into a weird state, and the energy washed the cells in her body.
Kiyomi didn't let go of this chance and immediately meditated and studied this new energy that flowed inside her.
A little different from the kind that she usually gains from eating and training her breathing, this new kind of energy was very warm and welcoming.
The cells in her body had a slight rejection towards this kind of energy at first, and they even had a tendency to attack this new energy.
But over time it started to accept the new energy and assimilated a piece of it.
'Rejection... is it the energy from the sun?'
Thinking of her recent actions, Kiyomi understood that this new kind of energy that she found within her body was from the sun.
It should also be the reason why her body rejected this kind of energy at first.
Maybe if she hadn't purified her demon blood to the point where she could walk safely in sunlight, then perhaps she would've been destroyed by this kind of energy.
Realizing that this should be the energy of the sun that kills demons when they touch the sun, Kiyomi wanted to take a closer look at the structure of this energy.
Thinking wildly about many conjunctions in her mind, Kiyomi didn't even realize that Kanae was already waddling back to her.
'The clothes I made should have reflected this solar energy and so that was the reason it allowed me to stand under the sun.'
'But because I have finally taken off my "Shield", this energy finally was able to get absorbed inside my body.'
'So this is the energy that kills the demons when they stand in the sun? Interesting...'
Just as she was about to delve deeper into the structure of the solar energy, Kanae finally reached Kiyomi.
"Hey, Kiyomi! Are you alright? The master is going to be here very soon! You should get ready!"
Opening her eyes, Kiyomi put back on the mask that was in her hand back onto her forehead.
"I'm alright Kanae, thanks."
Kanae gave Kiyomi a big smile and stood there motionless, waiting for Ubuyashiki to meet them.
'Wait.'
A thunderbolt flashed in her mind.
'Did she just take off her mask or was I hallucinating again??'
While Kanae was doubting herself, Kiyomi was staring at the porch, bored out of her mind.
Slow.
'Why is it taking so long?!?!?'
Finally, after a long and eventful wait, Ubuyashiki finally walked out slowly from behind the doors.
Seeing Ubuyashiki's current appearance, Kiyomi judged that the curse had already started to take effect, but not to the extent of blinding him.
The rotting purple skin on his forehead looked as if it were bitten by a poisonous insect and was never treated properly.
And although Ubuyashiki's appearance seemed a little scary, Kiyomi knew that he was a very kind and thoughtful man.
The same kind of person as Tanjiro.
Bending his back slightly forward, Ubuyashiki apologized:
"...My deepest apologies, I'm very sorry for keeping you both waiting for so long. I hope you could forgive me."
Ubuyashiki's unique, and calm voice soothed Kiyomi's angry emotions.
"No sir! It's quite alright! Kiyomi and I had an amazing conversation!" Kanae said very respectfully.
Feeling no need to embarrass the man, Kiyomi also responded:
"It's alright. No need to apologize for something as little as this. But, we have some things to talk about today, Ubuyashiki."
Ubuyashiki observed Kiyomi for a few seconds.
"Very well. Let us talk about your affairs first before moving onto different matters. Why don't you two come up and sit down?"
Raising one of her eyebrows lightly, Kiyomi praised Ubuyashiki in her mind:
'Hey, it's really different talking to someone who understands the hidden meanings in your words. He's very smart.'
On the surface, Kiyomi smiled and agreed:
"If that is alright with you, then excuse me."
Dragging Kanae to sit on a straw mattress next to her, Kiyomi stepped up onto the porch.
Kanae sat beside Kiyomi silently, listening to the conversation between Kiyomi and Ubuyashiki.
"First of all, you should already have known that I had saved Kanae from Doma, and gave Sabito and Makomo some advice. You should also already know that I am a demon from Kanae's mouth."
Keeping silent, Ubuyashiki nodded.
Continuing in a more doubtful tone, Kiyomi casually stared at Ubuyashiki.
"This shows I can be trusted, yes?"
"..."
Silence.
And then Ubuyashki laughed out very amused and happy.
"Hahaha! Of course, Kiyomi! You saved Kanae from death, and I admit that the false information was partly my fault."
Kanae uncomfortably squirmed a little but did not interrupt the conversation.
Suppressing his smile a little, Ubuyashiki said emotionally:
"You had also indirectly saved Sabito and Makomo by giving them the advice to train for another year before going to the final selection, which saved them from being killed by a demon that was way beyond their power at that time."
"So..."
Standing up, Ubuyashiki reached out his right hand towards Kiyomi.
"As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, I formally invite you to become the 13th pillar!"