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"Where can I find the Twelve Kizuki?"
Tamayo and Yushiro were both taken aback.
Yushiro couldn't help but sneer. "You think you can find the Twelve Kizuki? Don't get ahead of yourself. With your current strength, you wouldn't survive a single encounter with one of them."
This time, Tamayo did not scold Yushiro for his sharp, sarcastic remark; instead, she agreed with him.
"Yushiro is right. You're still too young to be thinking about hunting down the Twelve Kizuki. Their strength is such that even a Hashira might not be able to defeat one."
*A Hashira? Wouldn't that mean standing at the very top of the Demon Slayer Corps?*
Cold Cry couldn't help but tremble, his fists clenching tighter, knuckles turning white.
There were things Tamayo chose not to say. If Cold Cry's sister had truly been taken by one of the Twelve Kizuki, she might already be dead or worse. Tamayo couldn't bring herself to force that cruel possibility onto the boy.
After a long silence, a tired breath broke the quiet of the room, and Cold Cry's voice rang out again.
"You said you were developing a drug that could kill demons. Has it been completed? Does having it mean we can actually kill them?"
Tamayo understood exactly why he was asking, and shook her head. "The drug I've developed only inhibits the regeneration of a demon's cells. It doesn't kill them, and it's still in the experimental stage."
*Inhibits cell regeneration? So once they're wounded, they won't heal right away?*
"Cold Cry, now that you have the Demon Slayer Corps behind you, use that position to seek help through the organization. Until you've reached the level of a Hashira, don't even think about approaching the Twelve Kizuki. If you die, your sister will be beyond saving, and the chance at life she gave you will have meant nothing."
"I... understand. Thank you." Cold Cry lowered his head. His expression was hidden, but the strain in his voice was unmistakable.
"Tell me what Muzan Kibutsuji looks like, and your sister's features as well. I'll keep an eye out for them and let you know if I hear anything."
Cold Cry felt an unexpected surge of hope at this. After thanking her again, he described Muzan Kibutsuji and his sister's appearance to Tamayo.
Yushiro stood off to the side, diligently jotting notes in a small notebook.
"There's something else you should know. The Twelve Kizuki are split into Upper Ranks and Lower Ranks, six demons to each. Every one of them bears a marking in their eye showing their rank and number, a sign of their strength. Use that to tell whether a demon you encounter is one of the Twelve Kizuki."
By now, Cold Cry was certain these two demons were unlike any others he'd met. Whether it was helping him track down his sister or developing a drug to slow demon regeneration, they would prove invaluable to his goal of one day killing Muzan.
"Is there anything I can do to help? You need blood samples, don't you? I can help with that. As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, it should be easier for me to get close to demons."
At those words, all three of them froze.
Noe looked at Cold Cry in surprise, but she quickly understood why he'd offered.
The Demon Slayer Corps and demons had always been sworn enemies. If the Corps discovered this secret cooperation, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Noe wanted to talk him out of it but didn't know how.
Tamayo smiled faintly. "You really do remind me of that boy. His name is Tanjiro; he also joined the Corps recently. His sister was turned into a demon, and he carries her everywhere in a wooden box, searching for a way to turn her human again."
*Is there really a way to turn a demon back into a human?*
"I promised to help him find a cure for his sister, and he promised to help me collect blood. If we can perfect a drug that halts demon cell regeneration, maybe we really can turn demons back into people."
Cold Cry seemed to catch a glimpse of hope and felt an inexplicable rush of excitement.
"I'm glad you're willing to help. With you assisting us, the drug's development should move much faster."
"Where can we find you again?"
"We have to keep moving to stay ahead of Kibutsuji; we won't be staying in one place. Yushiro will reach out if there's any news."
Cold Cry nodded.
It wasn't until the next morning, just before dawn, that the four of them stepped out of the hot spring inn together.
Having collected the demon blood they needed, Tamayo and Yushiro didn't linger. After bidding farewell to Cold Cry and the others, they left the town to search for demons elsewhere and continue their work.
Cold Cry, carrying the blood collection kit Yushiro had given him, returned to the Fukada residence with Noe.
Rounding a corner, he suddenly felt a wave of nausea, and leaning against the wall, he began to vomit violently.
It must have been the conversation from the night before catching up with him; he'd been holding it together until now, and the moment he let his guard down, the strain finally broke through.
Noe watched him, worried, gently patting his back.
A moment later, Cold Cry straightened up, his face pale, as though he'd just recovered from a serious illness.
Seeing his exhausted expression, Noe felt a pang of sadness. Her eyes welled with tears, and before she quite knew where the courage came from, she hugged him from behind.
Cold Cry stiffened, a flush spreading across his pale face, and hurriedly pried her hands loose.
"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
At his sharp tone, Noe lowered her head, fidgeting nervously with her fingers. "Mom said... if a friend is sad, hugging them makes them feel better."
Hearing that, Cold Cry's irritation melted away at once. Noe was like this in every part of her life ca: careful, hesitant, even when she was only trying to comfort someone, always afraid of overstepping.
He let out a deep breath, a pang of guilt settling in. His tone softened considerably, and mindful of her feelings, he thought for a moment before saying, "Your mother couldn't have meant it like that. A girl shouldn't just hug anyone. She must have meant a female friend."
"Really?" Noe gathered her courage and looked up. Seeing that he wasn't angry, the tension eased from her face.
"Of course."
"Okay, I must have misunderstood. Are you all right now?"
"Much better."
In the distance, mountains stretched to the horizon, and a beam of light broke through the darkness as night receded before their eyes.
In the quiet town, morning had begun; doors opened, and the smell of cooking drifted into the streets.
"Noe, there's something I need to ask of you."
"You need my help? What could I possibly do? You're always the one helping me."
"It's simple. Please don't tell anyone about meeting those two just now."
"Don't worry, I won't say a word."
"Thank you."
Since coming down from Mount Fujikasane, Cold Cry himself may not have noticed how much more often he'd been saying those words.
"By the way, now that the mission's done, when do we head back?"
"We'll rest today and set out early tomorrow morning."
The next morning, the two said their goodbyes to Fukada and set off for home.
Along the way, a sharp cawing echoed down from the sky. Before long, a crow swooped down toward them.
"Natagumo Mountain! Natagumo Mountain!"
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