In the calm and peaceful daily life, time flowed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, it was deep winter. The biting cold wind howled, and a thin layer of transparent ice had formed on the temple pond. "It might snow later." Doma changed his Founder's robes into a splendid kimono and looked up at the starless, moonless night sky. "Mmm—where should I go to play tonight?"
With his usual carefree smile, he left the temple with light and elegant steps, picking a random direction and dashing off. The hem of his clothes fluttered in the cold wind like the wings of a butterfly. A spontaneous trip is always enjoyable~
After walking and stopping along the way, the surroundings became more and more prosperous, and the number of pedestrians on the road gradually increased. "Mmm, Edo is just ahead." Doma strolled into the city of Edo, bought a bamboo dragonfly from a street stall, and wandered around while playing with it. There were still many fun things to do here at night, but he hadn't come across any delicious little snacks, which was a bit of a shame.
Thinking this, Doma slowly walked towards a more remote area. "Huh? This aura... it seems a bit familiar."
"Who was it? Mmm, whoever it is, I feel like I can say hello." Doma thought nonchalantly and followed the aura, finding his target in a sparsely populated area. Seeing the number engraved in the eyes of the young-looking boy before him, Doma had a look of realization. "Ah, it's Lower Moon Five. I saw him once in the Infinity Castle."
"Speaking of which, in just a few decades, the Lower Moons have been completely replaced with new faces." As Doma thought this, he smiled and waved at the demon boy who was staring at him coldly.
"Lord Upper Moon," the demon boy was stunned for a moment, then bowed respectfully.
"Huh? You know me?" Doma blinked his eyes. He was still maintaining his mimicry.
"I remember your appearance," the demon boy said. Because Doma's appearance was so outstanding and special, he recognized him at a glance.
"Oh—hello there, I'm Doma~" Doma said with an innocent smile. "What are you doing here?"
"My name is Suiu," the demon boy said after a moment's hesitation. "I am tracking a Star Demon."
"Eh, there are Star Demons here? Can I come with you? I haven't seen a Star Demon yet," Doma said with great interest.
"Of course, I will obey your command." Suiu lowered his head and said. Although he was reluctant, as eating a Star Demon would make him much stronger, he didn't dare to defy an Upper Moon's command.
"It's not a command, it's a request~" Doma waved his hand and said with an innocent look. "I'm very gentle and kind, you know." He had no intention of snatching his food; he was just curious and wanted to join in the fun.
"Yes!" Suiu didn't dare to take his words at face value. He raised his hand and pointed to the side. "That Star Demon is in this area, but I lost track of it nearby..."
"Mmm—" Doma closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, his fingers on his temples, casually spinning the bamboo dragonfly in his hand. "Ah, got it! Follow me!" he said with a brilliant smile, and ran towards a dark alley to the side.
Suiu was stunned for a moment, then followed closely behind. Because Doma deliberately slowed down, he was able to keep up. In Doma's perception, the Star Demon's aura was like his own kind, but his body felt a faint sense of repulsion, which was very strange. "An instinctive dislike? How curious~" Doma thought. Although he didn't feel any dislike in his heart, the sensation from his body was special.
The Star Demon's aura grew closer. As they ran past a long street, a scorching blade of light suddenly descended from the sky, like a firelight cutting through the night. "Flame Breathing, Third Form: Blazing Universe!"
The downward blade, carrying a flame-like sword light, decisively slashed at Suiu's neck. Suiu nimbly leaned back, raising his arms to block. Using the force of his hands being cut off, he leaped far back. "Demon, you will not harm an innocent person in front of me!" The young man in the flame-patterned haori protected Doma behind him and shouted at Suiu with great force.
"Eh?" Doma, who was being treated as an innocent bystander, tilted his head in confusion.
"Huh?" Suiu's mouth fell open, and his newly grown hands froze. Are you blind? The guy you're protecting is an Upper Moon! Upper Moon Two!
The first to react was Doma. He instantly showed a terrified expression, his rainbow eyes filling with tears. "So scary, so scary, I'm finally saved!" he said, wiping his tears. "I almost died, sob, sob, sob—"
"No, I wasn't trying to harm him..." Suiu said with a wooden face. I'd be thankful if he didn't harm me!
"I saw you chasing him!" the young man stood with his sword, his wide-open eyes full of spirit, his flame-red-tipped yellow hair like a blazing fire.
The corner of Suiu's mouth twitched. He glanced at Doma's crying face and said wearily, "You're a Hashira from the Demon Slayer Corps, right?"
"I am the Flame Hashira, Kojuuro Rengoku!"
Oh, the Flame Hashira. What a pity, so young and already blind. Suiu thought, getting into a fighting stance.
"Keep running! I will hold off this demon for you!" Kojuuro Rengoku turned to Doma and said. "Do not cry, do not be afraid! I admire your brave stance just now!" His spirited, large eyes stared at Doma without blinking, his gaze as hot as the midday sun.
"Uh—" Doma blinked his eyes, watching blankly as the other charged at Suiu with his sword.
The man and the demon had just exchanged two blows when a stone wall on the side of the street collapsed with a boom. A tall figure let out a beast-like low roar, its right arm transforming into several thorny tentacles, which attacked them head-on.
While Suiu dodged to defend, Kojuuro Rengoku stood in front of Doma with his Nichirin Sword, and the rampaging tentacles around them were cut into pieces almost at the same time. "Wow! So this is a Star Demon?" Doma saw the three black cross-star marks on the demon's exposed right shoulder. "Three stars? It seems it already has the strength of a Lower Moon," he thought. "What an amazing growth speed."
"But its mind seems very chaotic, lacking in intelligence." He watched as the Star Demon's arm extended again, roaring as it swung its tentacles and charged straight over. "Not very smart~"
Kojuuro stood firmly in front of Doma, swinging his long sword to protect him completely, and at the same time said with a powerful voice, "Leave quickly, it's dangerous here!"
Doma instantly got into character and said with a worried look, "What about you?"
"Don't worry! I will slay them all!" Kojuuro Rengoku let out a hearty laugh.
Ah! This person is so interesting! I want to tease him! Doma's eyes lit up. He then glanced at Suiu in the distance; this guy was clearly no match for Kojuuro. Playing is one thing, but it's probably best not to let Suiu die. He's a colleague, after all.
Doma nodded with a determined look and said with grateful tears, "I'll go now. Mr. Rengoku, please be victorious!" Saying this, he ran two steps, and there was a sudden crack in his ankle. He cried out "Ah!" and fell to the ground, struggling to push himself up, clutching his ankle in pain. "Oh dear, I've twisted my ankle!" Doma looked up at Kojuuro Rengoku with teary eyes. "I can't run anymore."
Looking at the figure standing firmly in front of him, he wiped his tears and said, "Mr. Rengoku, please don't mind me. Go and kill the demons!"
"I cannot be a burden to you. As long as the demons are slain, my death will have value!" he said with a determined gaze, as if he was already prepared to die.
"Don't lose hope, you will be fine! I will protect you and slay the demons!" Kojuuro suddenly burst forth with an even stronger aura. "This is my duty!"
"But... if I get you injured, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life," Doma said, shuffling to the side with tears in his eyes. He was cut by a thorny tentacle on the arm, and blood splattered.
"Don't move! I will end this fight quickly!" Kojuuro shouted anxiously, swinging his sword to cut the tentacles near Doma.
Watching the dedicated performance of Lord Doma, Suiu suddenly felt his own existence was somewhat redundant. After exchanging a look with Doma, he understood in an instant and turned and ran without hesitation.
"Stop!" Kojuuro was about to give chase but was blocked by a series of tentacles. He had to stop, protecting Doma from harm while launching a fierce attack on the Star Demon. "Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"
By the time he had beheaded the Star Demon with an attack like a fiery tiger, Suiu was long gone. "Did the Lower Moon escape?" Kojuuro muttered to himself, then turned to look at Doma. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern, crouching down.
"I'm fine. Mr. Rengoku, please go after that demon. Don't worry about me," Doma said with a pitiful smile. Then he looked at the other's left shoulder and covered his lips. "Oh dear, you're injured!"
"It's fine!" Kojuuro took out a bandage from his pocket, skillfully wrapped Doma's arm, and then carefully checked his ankle. "Can you stand now?" he asked with a sunny smile.
"Ah, I think so..." Doma tilted his head. "But your wound is bleeding profusely."
"It's no problem! I am a swordsman who slays demons. My body is very strong!" Kojuuro said with great spirit. He suddenly clapped his hands together, sandwiching Doma's hand between them. "But, sir, please, no matter what, do not give up your life so easily as you did just now!" he stared at Doma without blinking. "To live with all your might, that is the beauty of life!" he said with an impassioned tone.
"Eh—" Doma stared blankly at him. At that moment, he felt the person before him was as dazzling as the sun he hadn't seen in a long time.
"And, sir, your eyes are very beautiful! Like a rainbow!"
"Please, let them continue to shine!"
After saying this, Kojuuro helped Doma to his feet, confirmed that he could walk without any problem, said his goodbyes, and then ran off full of energy.
Doma silently watched his departing back, reached up, and tore off the bandage wrapped around his arm. The wound had already healed completely. "So stupid, to bandage a demon's wound," he muttered to himself.
But, he really is a very interesting and cute person. It's just a pity that people like him all end up in the Demon Slayer Corps.
"And he said my eyes are beautiful!" He suddenly covered his cheeks with his hands and smiled happily. "Oh well, I won't kill you this time." Doma let go of the bandage in his hand and walked off in the opposite direction.
After wandering for a while longer, he found that he had unknowingly arrived near the Yoshiwara Entertainment District. "Mmm, I'll go take a look."
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