Chapter 115 Look, Big Brother (Two in One)

Warring States period.

Kamado's house.

The summer breeze brushed past the treetops, and the sunlight passed through the gaps in the dense forest, sprinkling in the courtyard in front of him.

Tanjuro opened his eyes and sat quietly, looking ahead, the smell of soil and grass wrapped around his nostrils.

It's clearly a memory, but the touch that comes is no different from reality.

"I've said everything I want to say."

"Thank you for being willing to listen to me for so long, Sumiyoshi."

At this time, a somewhat low and plain voice sounded from the side:

"After drinking this cup, I should go."

Tanjuro was slightly stunned, and he subconsciously turned his head to look.

It's unclear whether it's because of being in the memory, he didn't notice the existence of someone next to him just now.

Beside him.

The man has a dark red high ponytail, holding a teacup in his hand, his eyes as deep red as a pool of water staring straight ahead, he slowly said softly:

"...I feel bad for eating and drinking at your house."

As he spoke, the flower card earrings on his earlobes swayed slightly.

The crimson mark on his forehead was particularly dazzling under the slanted sunlight from the eaves.

——Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

Tanjuro was looking at the vivid Tsugikuni Yoriichi in front of him, somewhat entranced.

Although he had always known what kind of existence this person was, it still felt somewhat unreal to see him alive and appearing in front of him.

The sunlight filtering through the broken leaves fell on Tsugikuni Yoriichi's face, making the atmosphere incredibly relaxed.

A Nichirin Sword with a golden handle was placed beside him.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's gaze was fixed on everything familiar around him. Years ago, he and his wife lived here, they had a cozy little home.

"How could it be, Yoriichi-san, You can stay as long as you wants!"

"My children really like you!"

This was said by Sumiyoshi's wife.

Tanjuro didn't speak, he glanced sideways at the direction behind him, that was his wife——Suyako, who was smiling and looking this way.

Not Kie.

He was currently in the memory of Kamado family's ancestor——Sumiyoshi from hundreds of years ago, during the Warring States period.

It seemed that due to an overly strong belief, Sumiyoshi's memory had been continuously passed down in the Kamado family's bloodline, so that even today, hundreds of years later, Tanjuro could still clearly see everything in front of him.

Just now, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was telling to Sumiyoshi, the story of his departure from the Demon Slayer Corps.

From his childhood, when he was still in the Tsugikuni family, all the way to his elder brother turning into a demon, killing the current Oyakata-sama, and him, as a younger brother, being expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps.

Tanjuro was in deep thought, he didn't speak all along.

He looked down at his own hands.

The situation seemed to be somewhat different from what he had imagined.

According to the original plot, Tanjiro, the eldest son, had also seen this memory.

But at that time, Tanjiro was unable to interfere with the memory in any way, he could only enter Sumiyoshi's first-person perspective and silently observe the development of events.

The words he said, the actions, all were uncontrollable.

Only when his emotions resonated with Sumiyoshi, could he occasionally say the same words from his heart.

But now...

Tanjuro's gaze moved away from Suyako, he looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi who was quietly sipping tea.

It seemed that he could autonomously control this body of [Kamado Sumiyoshi].

Creak...

He lowered his head, gently clenched his fist, the familiar power coming from his body made him stunned.

The power of resurrection still existed.

This feeling...

——It was extremely similar to the feeling in "Sekiro".

——In front of the Buddha statue, offering the guardian bell, and returning to Hirata Estate three years ago through prayer.

It's not an ordinary memory,

Suddenly, his pupils shrank slightly.

If that's the case.

Then what he is doing now——might directly affect reality hundreds of years later.

In the memory of "Sekiro" three years ago, what he did could also affect reality three years later to some extent.

For example, in the memory, if he killed someone three years ago, that person would also disappear three years later.

——Even if you had seen him three years later before you killed him.

!!

Thinking about it, Tanjuro suddenly raised his head, an exciting idea suddenly appeared in his heart.

For a moment, he didn't care about Tsugikuni Yoriichi beside him.

Whoosh!

Tanjuro stood up, his gaze looking into the distance.

He pushed off the ground with his foot, and under the puzzled gaze of his wife and Tsugikuni Yoriichi behind him, he rushed out!

"..." Tsugikuni Yoriichi quietly watched Sumiyoshi's retreating figure, he sipped his tea, a ripple appeared in his calm eyes.

Click.

The arm holding the teacup paused in mid-air for a moment, slowly putting the teacup back on the tea tray.

In his dark red pupils, Sumiyoshi's figure was reflected.

...

Soon.

Step.

Bang! Bang!

"...No way?"

Tanjuro stood outside the house, on the small road not far away, and stopped.

His gaze passed through the small road and looked into the distance.

He reached out his hand and slowly touched the air in front of him.

The sleeve of his short shirt seemed to touch something and deformed under pressure.

There was an invisible repulsive force here that prevented him from moving any further.

He slapped it hard twice, and the duangduang touch came.

The maximum range of action was only a little distance away from the Kamado family's yard.

——In memory, the idea of directly slaughtering Muzan with Yoriichi suddenly collapsed.

After sighing slightly, Tanjuro turned around and wanted to go back.

At this moment.

He saw under the eaves.

"Yoriichi-san!"

Suyako was laughing happily, she sat next to the porch, looking up at Tsugikuni Yoriichi who wanted to stand up:

"Can we see that very beautiful sword move?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi glanced sideways, he lowered his head slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed.

"Ah~" Seeing this, Suyako raised her hands, laughed and looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi, and hugged her young daughter who had just started to speak from the side:

"Please, please!"

She put the girl in front of her, laughing cheerfully.

The girl "Sumire" had drool at the corner of her mouth, she blinked her eyes, and also raised her tender hand to shout in baby talk:

"Plea...se!"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi was slightly stunned, looking at the appearance of Sumire, his eyes gradually softened, and he reached out and touched Sumire's head.

Silent, his eyes drooping, not knowing what he was thinking.

He didn't speak, just turned around and walked silently to the middle of the yard.

Click.

He held the Nichirin Sword at his waist.

"Ah haha!" 

The daughter Sumire happily waved her little hands, fell back into her mother's arms, and her little legs fluttered.

"Are you happy~" Sumiko also laughed happily, her gaze caught Sumiyoshi not far away, she called him over:

"Come here, Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi~"

Tanjuro who was called was stunned for a moment before reacting, then smiled and walked near the platform.

He sat down, his gaze focused on Tsugikuni Yoriichi in the middle of the yard.

Summer blue sky.

The high ponytail swordsman, swinging the bright red Nichirin Sword in his hand.

Swish——!

The blade of the sword cut through the air, and the red and golden tip of the sword reflected the sunlight.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's expression was plain, he seemed to be doing something ordinary, swinging the sword of the sword as if it were real or not.

The earrings swayed between the movements, collided, and made a wooden sound.

Tanjuro was in a daze not far away.

When he learned the Hinokami Kagura dance that was adapted into a dance was different from the real swordsmanship.

The movements are more gentle, and the rhythm is much slower.

Tanjuro, in years of practice, in his own understanding, eliminated unnecessary movements, memorized the smallest movements to exert the maximum force.

In the end, the original appearance of Sun Breathing was restored, and the way of breathing was naturally integrated.

At the same time, it also opened the transparent world in reverse with the perfect sword shape.

Swish——!

The swing of the sword in Tsugikuni Yoriichi's hand flashed an extreme sword light in mid-air, reflecting in Tanjuro's pupils.

"...So." Tanjuro murmured.

After witnessing the initial Sun Breathing with his own eyes, Tanjuro was enlightened.

——The Hinokami Kagura is still conservative.

Although the movements are the same, the power will be completely different if the user is different.

After using transparent world, carefully observing Yoriichi's breathing rhythm, muscle movement, subtle foot movements, and wrist twisting speed.

In his mind, his own flaws were gradually being remedied.

Since he could act freely.

Then...

There was no reason not to spar with this person who stood at the pinnacle of this world view.

And——

Tanjuro noticed the sadness that enveloped Yoriichi like a dome.

With a click.

He stood up.

...

...

"Eh?"

Suyako blinked her eyes, looking at her husband who was a bit different today, she was puzzled:

"What's what?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who had already demonstrated a complete set of Sun Breathing and sword forms, stood in front of Tanjuro. He bowed his head slightly, repeating Tanjuro's words:

"...Demonstration?"

"Ah, it's like this..." Tanjuro smiled, he spread his hands and explained:

"I'll take a stick, Yoriichi-san just needs to dodge or defend."

As he spoke, he glanced at his daughter Kamado Sumire, who was laughing happily:

"Is that okay?"

The reason for such a roundabout explanation was because Tanjuro knew.

——Yoriichi would absolutely not agree to his request for a spar.

He opened his smiling eyes.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who couldn't bear the feeling of beating others.

After the first time he held a wooden sword and sparred with others, he gave up the idea of being a samurai.

If it weren't for his wife being killed by a demon, perhaps Yoriichi would live on the mountain with his wife and children for a lifetime, living a stable and plain life.

Hearing Tanjuro's explanation, Yoriichi looked at him a bit strangely, but it seemed that he noticed the gaze of Kamado Sumire next to him.

And thinking about these days, the couple's hospitality to him, and just now listening to his Sumiyoshi.

"Alright." He finally nodded, slowly raising his head.

But when Yoriichi just raised his head, he was a bit embarrassed to find——

Sumiyoshi——had already excitedly picked up a stick from the ground and held it in his hand, as if he was waiting for his agreement.

"Okay, then, I'm going!"

Tanjuro stood in front of Yoriichi, using Sumiyoshi's body, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, shouting:

"Yoriichi-san!"

His lungs fluctuated slightly.

For the first time, in the world of memory, he used——

——[Sun Breathing·Total Concentration]

"Hiss——!" White steam overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

Tanjuro's eyes gradually calmed, and his body sank slightly.

Opposite.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi, with a plain expression, reflected Sumiyoshi's appearance in his pupils.

After seeing the action of Sumiyoshi's hand clearly, and the rhythm of the lungs in the transparent world.

His dazed expression was slightly stunned.

"Sumiyoshi..." Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked at the person opposite him with some surprise.

——Why are you...

The next moment!

Whoosh!

With a fierce stomp on the ground, Sumiyoshi, who was not far away, instantly stuck to his face, and the stick in his hand slashed straight down with the action of [Dance——Enbu]!

Step.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi leaned back, the stick brushed past his hair and slashed down, the hot breeze blew.

He stared at Sumiyoshi, his puzzled eyes slowly turned into surprise.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Tanjuro watched as his attack was easily dodged, he held his breath, and turned his body again.

First Form, Second Form, Third Form...

Whoosh!

Tsugikuni Yoriichi moved his feet to dodge, the sword form he created himself, the person who knew it best was naturally himself.

Plus, Sumiyoshi was attacking in a straight line in order, it felt like——he was deliberately telling himself.

Watching his own sword forms being displayed one by one by his friend in front of him, Yoriichi's expression slowly became dazed.

Staring at the actions of his friend in front of him.

In his transparent world, Sumiyoshi's muscle movements were clear at a glance.

Under the intense focus, time around Tsugikuni Yoriichi seemed to slow down.

Eventually, he looked at Sumiyoshi's expression, as if he had noticed something.

His expression gradually relaxed and expectant.

The white mist overflowing from Tanjuro's mouth was pulled into a straight line with his rapid steps.

Stomp!

He broke through the air! He abruptly stepped forward and rushed to Yoriichi!

——Thirteen Forms!

The wooden stick in his hand, aimed at Yoriichi's neck, and slashed straight across!

But Tsugikuni Yoriichi just stood there smiling, without dodging or defending.

He just suddenly stopped.

Whoosh!

Tanjuro's pupils shrank, and his stick hit Yoriichi's neck without time to withdraw his strength.

Crack!

The stick, which was too forceful, broke into two pieces on the spot.

It fell to the ground and bounced slightly.

"Huh——" Tanjuro straightened up, the high-temperature white mist overflowed from the corner of his mouth, and he looked at Tsugikuni Yoriichi in front of him.

——This is his own sword technique, improved after watching Yoriichi's demonstration.

However... as expected, he is still far from this person.

The latter was relaxed, took a deep breath, and looked at the blue sky in the distance with a smile.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi smiled, and the summer blue sky and white clouds were reflected in his dark red eyes.

His eyes were full of reminiscence and nostalgia for the past.

He recalled an afternoon several years ago.

His elder brother mentioned to him the problem of no one to succeed.

His answer at that time was the same as now.

Firm belief, and never changed.

"Look... elder brother." He had a peaceful smile on his face, and murmured to himself:

"I was right..."

"People with talents far beyond you and me... will be born in this world sooner or later..."

Those who exhaust their paths, their destinations are the same.

Very rarely, Tsugikuni Yoriichi turned his head back, his radiant smile seemed to forget all the unpleasant past.

His eyebrows curled up with a smile, looking at Sumiyoshi:

"Thank you."

He nodded gently.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's gaze was not only on Sumiyoshi.

Also, looking at the Tanjuro who had just swung the sword form in Sumiyoshi's body at this moment.

-----

read up to 20++ advanced chapters on patreon.com/GMadman