As Rengoku Shinjuro stood in stunned silence.
Asakusa.
Atop a villa surrounded by a police cordon, Tsugikuni Yoriichi quietly appeared.
Tap.
He landed on the rooftop as lightly as a dragonfly touching water.
He sensed everything around him.
Blood, souls…
Things related to humans appeared in his senses.
He looked down.
As expected.
The moment he held his Shikai Zanpakuto, he saw the souls of the unjustly deceased lingering there.
There were women, children, and some servants…
When Yoriichi looked at them.
The souls noticed his gaze.
Their eyes met.
Then, they all froze in place.
"You…"
A soul that looked like the mistress of the house hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.
She looked at Yoriichi, whose attire was extraordinary and whose appearance was sudden.
She couldn't help but wonder if he was related to those demons, or perhaps an opposing creature.
They had all been killed by Kibutsuji Muzan. A few days ago, Muzan had disguised himself as a human and lived here for quite some time, even marrying and having children.
However, when Tanjirou appeared, Muzan was exposed. To prevent any unexpected incidents with his goal of finding the blue spider lily, he decisively relocated.
During the relocation, all the humans he knew died unnatural deaths.
Perhaps due to lingering resentment, or some other reason, they couldn't pass on and were bound within the villa's area.
As souls, they couldn't communicate with humans, and they had thought they would remain alone until their demise…
Unexpectedly, a non-human looking creature appeared again…
If she hadn't been mistaken…
This man seemed to be flying just now.
"You are…"
The hesitant gaze from the woman in front of him made Yoriichi subtly frown.
He couldn't help but ask, "Are you the original inhabitants of this place?"
After speaking, he felt that the term "original inhabitants" wasn't quite fitting, so he rephrased:
"You must be earth-bound spirits."
"Who killed you?"
"I heard that a pale-faced man named Tsukihiko lived in this house a few days ago. Do any of you know him?"
"Tsukihiko?" Hearing that name, the woman's expression suddenly shifted from confusion to resentment.
She gritted her teeth, her voice heavy and shrill:
"He is my husband, and also my murderer! He is a monster!"
"He didn't even spare my daughter!"
As she spoke, she looked behind her.
Yoriichi followed her gaze, and about thirty meters away, he saw a six-year-old girl squatting in a corner, counting ants.
Her body was semi-transparent.
"..."
"I see…" The scene before him made Yoriichi instantly understand the cause and effect.
His eyes darkened slightly:
"Don't worry, I will kill him. Now, please tell me his detailed information and where he went."
"Also, do you wish to reincarnate?"
...
At this moment.
In a nearby alley.
Tamayo, who was out scouting for enemy intelligence, suddenly froze when she saw a familiar face.
She looked up, gazing at Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
Time seemed to rewind to four hundred years ago.
"You…"
"Are you still alive?"
She murmured to herself.
Beside her, Yushiro, seeing Tamayo suddenly stop and look up, also couldn't help but halt his steps.
His purple eyes slowly turned, reflecting Tamayo's delicate, elegant, gentle, and kind appearance. At this moment, Yushiro had only one thought.
—Miss Tamayo, even when she's spacing out, is so beautiful!
How could such a perfect being exist in this world!
Thinking this, he followed Tamayo's gaze…
Since the two of them were acting secretly, they hadn't expected to find any clues.
After all, Muzan was extremely cautious. Miss Tamayo had been his enemy for over four hundred years, and her goal of killing him had made no substantial progress.
But…
Yushiro believed that Miss Tamayo would succeed one day. And when she succeeded, he would surely have a place by her side…
That's what he had originally thought.
But…
Who was that person in the sky? Why did he make Miss Tamayo stop and gaze?
Was he an old acquaintance of Miss Tamayo's? Besides himself, was there any other demon by her side?
—Ah! My heart aches!
Yushiro clutched his heart, feeling as though his worldview had collapsed.
It was the first time he had seen Miss Tamayo wear such an expression.
Nostalgia, anticipation… How undignified!
Yushiro was unwilling.
He instinctively spoke, attempting to regain his dignity and status: "Miss Tamayo…"
"Shh!" Unfortunately, before he could finish, Tamayo raised her hand to interrupt him.
Placing a finger to her lips in a gesture for silence, Tamayo whispered, "Yushiro, don't speak further. Keep watching."
"..."
At these words, Yushiro's heart ached even more!
But it was Miss Tamayo's command.
No matter how unwilling he was, there was nothing else he could do.
He could only passively wait.
After a short while.
The black-clad man, who had appeared to be talking to thin air, suddenly stopped his conversation and looked directly towards their direction without concealment.
Mistaking him for a demon like himself, Yushiro met his gaze without hesitation.
Then.
Thud!
Yushiro suddenly knelt, as naturally as an ancient commoner seeing an emperor.
The pain in his knees startled him awake.
"Eh?"
Before he could react to what he had just done, Tsugikuni Yoriichi had already appeared before the two of them as if by instant transmission.
Ignoring the kneeling Yushiro, Yoriichi looked at Tamayo, his voice heavy with nostalgia:
"It's been a long time, Tamayo. I never thought you would still be alive after so many years."
When he encountered Muzan back then, the female demon by Muzan's side was her. She was also the first demon to break free from Muzan's control.
"..." Tamayo was silent for a moment, then forced a smile,
"I can't compare to you, Mr. Tsugikuni. I also never imagined that a human could live for four hundred years."
"You are still the same as when you were young, but, your clothes?"
"That haori? It should be buried deep somewhere, but that's not important." Tsugikuni Yoriichi's tone returned to calm, and he waved his hand.
"Back to business, Tamayo, are you also here to look for clues left by Muzan?"
"…That's right." Tamayo nodded, a hint of hatred showing on her gentle face.
"Since breaking free from his control four hundred years ago, I have wanted to kill him every moment."
"I heard his new base was in Asakusa, which is why I came to investigate, but I was still a step late… He is too cautious."
At this point, Tamayo suddenly remembered something and abruptly looked up:
"Mr. Tsugikuni, is your objective the same as mine?"
"Mm." Yoriichi nodded.
Seeing this, Tamayo showed a gentle smile.
Her elegant kimono further enhanced her Yamato Nadeshiko-like demeanour.
She smiled and suggested, "Since that's the case."
"How about we exchange information?"
"What do you think?"