Book 6:: Chapter 59: Hope |
"You are..." Shinobu's eyes widened as the realization hit her after a moment of stunned silence.
Everything made sense now. She finally understood why this girl had felt so inexplicable—neither a demon nor a human possessing some unheard-of strength. It all clicked the moment she realized this was the very girl Yeruashi had taken away back then.
"So... you are acting on His will?" Shinobu asked, slowly lowering her blade.
She wouldn't dare raise a hand if this was the will of the God of Time himself.
"No, I simply wanted to," Kanao replied, shaking her head. She knew exactly who the Insect Hashira was referring to.
"Sigh," Shinobu exhaled, feeling a bit helpless at such a naive response. "So you decided this on your own? But are you not aware? It is impossible to turn a demon back into a human."
"Nothing is impossible," Kanao replied, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Her words gave the Insect Hashira pause. According to all known research, such a feat was a fantasy, but when it came to Yeruashi... anything was possible. Even reversing the transformation of a demon.
As Shinobu stood lost in thought, the Wind Hashira and Water Hashira appeared beside her, their expressions clouded with confusion.
"Hmm, how should I put it? Perhaps... an apostle?" the Insect Hashira answered, thoughtfully tapping her chin.
"An apostle? What are you talking about?" the Wind Hashira barked, bewildered.
"Apostles serve..." Giyu began, realization dawning on him instantly.
The implication hit Sanemi like a physical blow. 'Apostles serve gods!'
And in this world, they only knew of one true God.
"Then there is no helping it." A nervous tic pulled at Sanemi's scarred face. Even a man as volatile as he didn't have the audacity to defy the heavens.
"Though, I do not believe this is His direct command," Shinobu added, shaking her head.
Click!
She slid her Nichirin Blade back into its scabbard with a crisp snap.
Even if Kanao was acting of her own volition, the Insect Hashira had no desire to provoke an apostle of God. Moreover, her earlier words were worth considering. Nezuko could indeed be saved, provided Yeruashi himself willed it.
However, securing his favor was no simple matter. Despite their deepest desires, the Hashira had never even dared to ask him to rid the world of demons entirely.
"Please, give these kind children a chance," Kanao whispered. "They have never harmed anyone in their lives."
"But she's already a—" Sanemi started, scowling.
"A demon can be cured," Kanao interrupted softly.
"Has He... already agreed?" Sanemi asked, following her train of thought.
"I have not seen Him in a long time," Kanao replied with a small shake of her head.
"Then there's nothing to talk about!" the Wind Hashira snarled, frustrated that the girl was apparently just chasing shadows.
Swish!
In a fit of rage, Sanemi unleashed a violent swing of his Nichirin Blade.
Kanao met the attack with a casual flick of her rusted machete.
Boom!
The Wind Hashira's lightning-fast air-slash was instantly torn to shreds. A deep trench gouged through the snowbank behind the demon girl, yet not a single strand of Nezuko's hair so much as fluttered in the wake of the impact.
If the previous exchange had been ambiguous, this strike made it crystal clear: Kanao possessed an overwhelming advantage over the Hashira.
Her power was simply beyond comprehension!
Despite his fury and irritation, even Sanemi realized they stood no chance of reaching Nezuko as long as Kanao stood in their way.
With a grimace, he turned his gaze toward Shinobu.
"That is enough," she said, letting out a weary sigh.
"Fine. But I will strike that girl down the second she dares to harm a human!" Sanemi growled, slamming his blade back into its scabbard.
Without another word, he vanished into the snowy depths of the forest.
"What... what is going on?" Tanjiro finally managed to ask, his voice trembling.
"There are things I cannot tell you, but know this: Nezuko can be cured," Kanao replied softly as the boy approached.
"Really? How?!" he asked, his spirit instantly lifting.
The girl remained silent, shifting her gaze toward Shinobu.
"Yes... there is someone who can," Shinobu replied after a moment of consideration.
"Please, tell me! Where can I find this person?" Tanjiro cried out, rushing toward the Insect Hashira and bowing deeply without a second thought.
"I know where he resides, but there is no guarantee he will want to help you, or even see you for that matter. Besides, I am not at liberty to disclose such information..." Shinobu sighed.
"But why?" Tanjiro asked, looking up at her with pleading eyes.
The woman didn't answer, turning instead to look at the Water Hashira.
She naturally couldn't reveal the organization's greatest secret to an outsider, regardless of Kanao's wishes.
"I cannot tell you either. However... you might have a chance if you become one of us," Giyu said after a long hesitation, offering the boy a glimmer of hope.
It was a faint hope, at best.
Only those who had attained the rank of Hashira were permitted to know of Yeruashi's existence!
In reality, surviving the grueling training was difficult enough, and the Final Selection was even more lethal. Ascending to the rank of Hashira was a feat that many Demon Slayers spent years pursuing in vain, walking the razor's edge between life and death every single day.
And even after overcoming all those trials, there was no guarantee that Yeruashi would even deign to look in Tanjiro's direction.
"Please, give me that chance!" the boy agreed without a moment's hesitation, willing to endure anything for even a ghost of a chance to save his sister.
"It will be incredibly difficult," Shinobu said with a gentle smile. She paused for a moment before adding, "But... you just might be able to do it."
Whoosh.
With those final words, she vanished in a sharp gust of wind.
"Find an old man named Sakonji Urokodaki at the foot of Mount Sagiri. Tell him that Giyu Tomioka sent you," the Water Hashira instructed after a brief pause. "And make sure your sister never steps into the sunlight," he added as a final warning.
Then, he too hurried away.
Only Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Kanao remained in the clearing.
"Sister Kanao, I..." Tanjiro began, his voice trailing off into the silence.
"Do what you must, and never lose faith in yourself," the girl replied.
She had seen Tanjiro's past through the eyes of a god and even knew of the existence of Sun Breathing. He was certainly destined for an extraordinary fate... Perhaps that was the very reason Yeruashi had sent her here?
"I must go as well," Kanao said, bidding him a quick farewell.
A moment later, she vanished, following the path of the three Hashira.