"Huh? You're both still alive?"
The demon walked toward them slowly. "And not even a scratch."
"If I eat you, I'll definitely get stronger."
"Try not to break your teeth," Yuko spat out a mouthful of blood and gripped her katana tightly.
Michikatsu suppressed the blood rising in his throat and tried to push himself up using his sword.
The demon licked his lips. "I've decided. I'll start with your legs. I want you to fully experience the feeling of being eaten alive."
Yuko felt nauseated. "Foot fetish? You're disgusting."
She tried her best to regulate her emotions, easing the fear in her heart.
She had thought that, as a transmigrator, she wouldn't fear a creature she'd already seen countless times in anime. But when that grotesque humanoid form appeared before her in reality, disgust and primal fear surged up from deep inside.
The demon's forehead bulged with veins. He didn't understand everything she said—but he understood enough to be enraged.
When the demon rushed at her with inhuman speed, only one thought remained in Yuko's head:
Crap!
If she'd known this would happen, she would have swapped positions earlier and let Michikatsu take the front.
Suddenly, a breeze stirred, scattering the clouds and brushing through a strand of Yuko's hair.
Under the full moon, a crimson figure descended from above.
A blade in hand shone bright beneath the moonlight. That divine-like silhouette entered both of their eyes at once.
The demon's head was already flying through the air; its body collapsed before them and quickly disintegrated.
No one had even seen the movement.
After more than ten years, Tsugikuni Yoriichi appeared before them again.
Yuko let out a long breath and waved happily. "Yoriichi~ Long time no see."
Even after ten years apart, the three looked almost identical.
Especially the twins, Michikatsu and Yoriichi—aside from the markings on their faces, there was no distinguishing them.
Michikatsu's softened, calmer expression resembled Yoriichi.
Yoriichi's face, when given a hint of charm and gentleness, became Yuko's.
The only obvious difference among them was height.
Yuko, only 170 cm, was nearly 20 cm shorter than her brothers. Michikatsu stood at a towering 190 cm.
Even Yuko's height would be considered tall for this era. The Tsugikuni brothers, when standing among others, were veritable giants.
Yoriichi smiled slightly at her, then knelt beside his older brother.
"I'm sorry, Brother. I came too late."
He felt guilty for being unable to save Michikatsu's men.
Michikatsu quietly leaned against the tree trunk, looking at his younger brother. That jealousy he had buried deep within his heart for years began to flare again.
After so many years apart, the gap between them had only widened.
While he took pride in becoming a samurai, Yoriichi was now someone who could easily behead a demon.
From Yoriichi, they learned the truth: demons existed in this world.
Both Yuko and Michikatsu suffered varying degrees of injury.
After Yoriichi performed a simple treatment, he brought them to the Demon Slayer Corps for proper healing.
Throughout the entire process, Michikatsu barely spoke. Only Yuko chatted with Yoriichi from time to time.
"Your communication skills have improved a lot compared to before," Yuko commented.
Yoriichi smiled warmly. "Yuko, you haven't changed at all. Still as lively as ever."
Yuko patted his shoulder. "I'll take that as a compliment."
After settling them in the Corps' lodgings—still not as concealed as it would be in later generations—Yuko lay in bed, letting her thoughts run wild.
If nothing went wrong, the story timeline should have realigned.
She hadn't watched much of Demon Slayer—only Season 1, plus occasional viral clips.
Her understanding of the plot was fragmented at best.
The kind that would get her kicked out of a fan group after three messages.
But if she remembered correctly, Michikatsu would now join the Demon Slayer Corps and have no time for family matters. She could seize this chance to join too.
Then she could learn her brothers' Sun and Moon Breathing, rise to the top, and become Muzan's new daddy.
Just thinking about it made her a little excited.
As for what would happen to the Tsugikuni family after losing their head…
Well, Yuko could barely keep herself alive—no time to worry about others.
That house had given her no warmth ever since Akeno died and Yoriichi left.
Sure enough, after recovering from his injuries, Michikatsu told Yoriichi he wanted to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
Yuko raised her hand immediately. "Me too! I want to join the Corps!"
Michikatsu cast her a faint glance, making her shift uneasily.
If Michikatsu disagreed, then wouldn't Yoriichi listen to him?
Luckily, Michikatsu withdrew his gaze without saying anything.
Yuko let out a sigh of relief. She finally didn't have to get married.
Yoriichi, unaware of the family situation, took their decision as simple mutual support and became their recommender.
And so, after eighteen years of life in this world, Yuko finally stepped onto the right track.
Only after joining the Corps did Michikatsu learn from others how powerful his younger brother truly was.
Before Yoriichi arrived, Demon Slayer swordsmen fought demons with Nichirin swords and pure swordsmanship alone. The death rate was terrifying.
After Yoriichi's arrival, he not only created the original Breathing Style—Sun Breathing—
but also, because others could not master it, he used it as a foundation to guide people to develop styles suited to themselves: Stone, Thunder, Wind, Water, and Flame.
These greatly enhanced demon-slaying efficiency and drastically reduced mortality.
One could say Yoriichi's arrival lit the path for the Corps' future.
Yoriichi never withheld Breathing Technique instruction.
As for m his older brother and younger sister, the two received personal training.
Both stood in an open clearing, katanas in hand, eyes closed.
"—Hhss—"
Orange heat flickered at Michikatsu's lips.
Suddenly, his calm expression stiffened. A burning sensation tore through his lungs; he coughed violently.
He could not use Sun Breathing.
On the other side, Yuko forced herself to endure the searing pain in her lungs and continued Sun Breathing.
Just as Yoriichi sensed her limits and was about to interrupt, Yuko suddenly opened her eyes wide.
"I got it!"
Michikatsu—already drowning in despair—felt ice crawl down his spine. He turned his head.
"…"
Blood trickled from Yuko's nose and mouth.
Seeing her brothers looking over, she winked playfully and prepared to demonstrate Sun Breathing · First Form · Dance of the Fire God—and then…
The world went black.
Quite literally black.
After emergency treatment, Yuko sighed. "So I didn't actually learn it…"
Michikatsu: "…"
Yoriichi maintained his gentle smile.
"It's all right. Finding the Breathing Style that suits you best is the most important thing.
Sun Breathing isn't necessarily stronger than the others."
Yuko smiled outwardly but grumbled internally:
Who are you trying to fool?!
She'd seen the plot—Tanjiro with Hinokami Kagura (Dance of the fire God) nearly wiped out a Lower Moon.
Days passed as they practiced.
Michikatsu lacked the talent for Sun Breathing, but not talent in general.
He soon created his own Breathing Style based on Sun Breathing—one later recognized as one of the original forms:
Moon Breathing.
"Um… Brother, could you teach me?" Yuko forced a sweet smile and asked despite her reluctance.
Michikatsu's lips curled slightly.
"Funny how you finally use the correct title now."
A vein popped on Yuko's forehead. Her sweet voice vanished instantly.
"Fine! Don't teach me then!"
She'd make her own Star Breathing!
After Michikatsu created Moon Breathing, not only she joked about inventing Star Breathing—the whole Corps joined in.
"Yuko, when are you inventing Star Breathing?"
Yuko always replied:
"Today!"
But her understanding was nowhere near enough.
Just following along already fried her brain—creating a new style was impossible.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be begging Michikatsu to teach her Moon Breathing.