Nezuko's entrance was so sudden that even the wolf demon was caught off guard.
With an overgrown might, she kicked, sending the recently attached wolf's head flying again.
Then, Nezuko landed behind Kai and growled at the fallen beheaded demon, veins popping over her body.
Kai pushed himself up using his swords, his body shaking, and he put a hand over her head.
"It's OK," he said, smiling. "Calm down."
Kai didn't know how, but ever since the Insect Hashira had talked with the Package, Nezuko had somehow reluctantly accepted his presence. He could still feel a hidden hostility against himself in her hot pink eyes, but as long as she wasn't trying to get away from him, he cared little.
Kai letting her out freely did please the Hashira, though.
"Ara!" her voice entered Kai's ears, making him gulp. "Where did you go without telling me?"
Kai turned around to face her. Shinobu was smiling at him, letting no sign of anger.
But Kai could see a vein throbbing on her forehead, and her right foot, which kept stomping the vanishing spider demon's head.
Behind him, Nezuko shuddered and jumped into the wooden box, closing the door.
"Traitor!" Kai cursed the package under his breath.
"Not speaking now?" Shinobu's smile widened. She walked up towards him, and Kai backed away.
"Come on," she said gently, poking several holes into the wolf demon's body. "Can you outrun me?"
Kai smiled ruefully and sighed. His hand reached into his kimono's pocket and took out the things for which he had gone out, leaving the Insect Hashira alone at their temporary camp.
It was a big, pink salmon and a few snails.
"You haven't eaten something good for so long, Shinobu," Kai said, smiling. "I wanted to cook fish for you."
The Insect Hashira gaped at Kai, then the fish, and then back at him.
Her mouth pressed into a thin and she shot towards him, her stinger sword pointed at Kai's heart.
Kai closed his eyes but didn't move.
When no attack landed, he parted his eyes and saw Shinobu snatching the fish and the snails out of his hands.
"There was no need," she said, walking away, her cheeks as pink as the fish in her hands. "But now that you have already done such a foolish thing, there is no point. Hehe! Vanish again, and I will kill you."
Kai shook his head and followed her, the demon corpses disintegrating into ashy dust behind him.
*
*
The smell of cooked fish lingered around them like a thousand butterflies.
Kai and Shinobu were seated facing each other with the fire to their left. On a rock between them, the cooked salmon was steaming, its flesh charred at the edges.
Shinobu used some makeshift chopsticks to pry the flesh open and took a bite.
"It's hot," Kai warned, seeing her widened eyes. "Let me."
He took out another small chunk of the fish, blew over it several times, and then extended it towards her, a gentle smile lingering on his face.
Shinobu observed him for a moment. Suddenly, her hand flashed, taking off the flesh pinched between Kai's chopsticks, and ate it.
Kai couldn't help but laugh.
On their right, there was a little straw hut surrounded by snow. Inside the hut, Nezuko was sleeping soundlessly, curled into a little ball.
Kai made sure that the Package was truly sleeping, and then helped himself to a bite, his stomach roaring to devour a beast by itself.
With no sign of demonic hunger, Kai blew on another piece and handed it over to the Insect Hashira.
This time, she leaned forward and ate it off his chopsticks.
A snail popped to their left, fire crackling, dancing fiercely over the twigs and logs.
In silence they ate, forgetting the worldly troubles and worries. Over their head, the crescent moon shone, showering them with silvery light.
Kai's hand lifted and reached for her face.
Taken by surprise, Shinobu stiffened, her faded purple eyes landing on his innocent hazel pupils.
Kai's thumb gently landed on the corner of her lips, rubbing away a stray piece of morsel.
Color rose to her face instantly. "You…" she said, furiously scratching her lips. "Don't touch me like that."
"Haha!" Kai's laugh sounded playful, his gaze landing on the sky overhead.
Words came naturally to his lips, as he sang, bringing his gaze back on her, his voice ethereal, and weighed with longing and sadness.
…
On the mountains the snow sheens white;
Amid the clouds, the moon shines bright.
Today the banquet we attend;
Tomorrow we'll part by the moat end. [1]
…
Her hand, carrying the chopstick and going towards her mouth, suddenly paused, and Shinobu's pupils trembled.
She looked up at him and found Kai looking back at her with the same smile.
A buried sigh escaped her throat.
"Why aren't you using the Flower Breathing Style?" she reprimanded, her tone fueled with anger and pain. "Why are you so adamant about creating a new Breathing Style for yourself?
"It takes months and years to create a brand new Breathing Style. If not for your stubbornness, you would have already become proficient in it."
Even with her reprimanding words, the shock, praise, and pride were easily noticeable.
Kai was a monster. Give him a hint, and he could unravel the deepest mysteries by himself.
No teacher would have hoped to get a better student than him. And thus, the Insect Hashira hadn't held back, either, pouring knowledge and experience relentlessly into his mind during the last few days.
Kai took a deep breath and shook his head.
"It doesn't suit me," he told her. "No Breathing Style currently used by the Demon Slayers, as told by you, suits me. I know I can play it safe by just going along with the process. But is there any adventure in that?
"Haha! Who am I? The brilliant Doctor Arlen, whom even demons couldn't turn. No. I will create my own Breathing Style. And if I failed…"
Kai took a snail out of the fire, used the chopsticks to pinch the flesh out of the shell, and threw it in his mouth. "… Well," he said, his eyes beaming like stars, "then I will just have to start over, right?"
Shinobu gawked at him, her eyes reflecting the majestic appearance of Kai and the gleaming red jewel on his forehead.
Suddenly, she burst out with laughter as well.
"I have nothing left to teach you regarding the initial Breathing Style, Arlen," she said, looking down. "And it's too soon for you to know more than that. But I think, considering your circumstances, you must know a few details regarding Hashiras and Upper-ranked demons. And you are too humble to ask them from me…"
The last sentence had barely come out as a whisper, buried under her breath.
Kai had caught the words, nonetheless. However, he said nothing, keeping quiet.
He knew she would tell him by herself. The image that he had created of himself inside her heart had already taken root.
Shinobu sighed. "Now, I will tell you the entire journey of becoming a Hashira," she said, straightening herself up.
******************
[1] To a Faithless Husband - by Zhuo Wenjun
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