UGB Chapter 9 Departure
Chapter 9 Departure
Mizuko listened to Yoshiyuki Tomioka's words and looked at him with some confusion.
[He...he's not going to kill my brother?]
Giyu Tomioka paused after the last sentence, then looked at Tanjiro lying on the ground.
"It's a good thing the sun isn't out right now. Remember, whatever you do, don't let your brother get exposed to the sun, or... he'll die..."
After saying this, Giyu Tomioka disappeared from the spot as if he had teleported.
Mizuko stared blankly at the spot where Yoshiyuki Tomioka had stood until he disappeared. Only then did she realize that if Yoshiyuki Tomioka had really wanted to kill her brother, she wouldn't have been able to stop him at all.
"Thank you... thank you..."
Her tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and Mi Douzi could no longer hold on. She knelt down on the cold snow, tears streaming down her face.
She was still a child after all. After experiencing the devastation of her family and the strange changes in her brother, she finally let down her guard and cried out like an ordinary little girl only after all the dangers had completely disappeared.
After she had cried enough, she knelt down deeply in the direction where Yoshiyuki Tomioka had disappeared, her forehead pressed against the cold snow, pouring all her gratitude into this bow.
However, when Nezuko looked up again, she saw her older brother Tanjiro.
Her pupils contracted slightly as she stared in shock at her brother, who had somehow awakened.
Until that figure slowly smiled at him with the same gentle smile as always, all the grievances and lingering fears instantly overwhelmed him.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Nezuko suddenly threw herself into Tanjiro's arms, buried her face in his clothes, and burst into tears, her tears instantly soaking the rough fabric.
Tanjiro, even though his body still retained the warmth of his demonic transformation and his consciousness was still somewhat confused, truly did not possess the slightest bit of malevolent energy, just as she firmly believed.
He raised his hand and gently patted Midouzi's back, just as he had done countless times to comfort his wronged younger sister. The warmth of his palm seeped through her clothes, making one's nose tingle with emotion.
"Brother... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Midouzi choked back tears, sobs mingling with her sobs. "It's my fault for not coming back sooner, it's my fault for not being able to protect Mom and my younger siblings..."
She didn't see the person in front of her as a demon at all; all she saw was her brother who would always protect her from the wind and rain.
Tanjiro simply repeated the action of patting his back in silence, his sharp fangs that had been exposed earlier now quietly retracted.
His mouth opened and closed slightly, and only soft sobs could be heard from his throat; he couldn't even utter a complete word of comfort.
He could only stubbornly maintain that gentle smile, using his remaining human consciousness to repeatedly tell his sister in his arms through his actions.
Don't be afraid, I'm still here.
After the snow stopped, Mizuko, along with her brother, buried their mother, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, and Rokuta next to their family's wooden house.
Mi Douzi knelt down in front of a row of small graves, her hands clasped together, her fingertips red from the cold.
Tanjiro stood beside her, his eyes somewhat unfocused, but his face still wore that warm smile as always, as quiet as a gentle statue.
"Mother, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, Rokuta, and Father..."
Mi Douzi's voice was as soft as falling snow, tinged with lingering sobs.
"I'm taking my brother on a long trip. I will take good care of him and do everything I can to cure him. Please bless my brother from heaven and keep him safe."
After saying that, she kowtowed three times, her forehead hitting the cold snow and leaving faint red marks.
As she stood up, she took one last look at the direction of the tombstone, her reluctance replaced by determination, and then she tightly grasped Tanjiro's hand beside her.
His palms were slightly cool, but he obediently held hers in his, his fingertips carrying a faint warmth.
"Let's go, brother." Mizuko looked up at the misty mountains in the distance, her voice firm, "We're going to Sagiri Mountain."
The mountain path was covered with a thin layer of ice after the snow, which crunched underfoot, and you had to be extra careful with every step.
Nezuko held Tanjiro's hand tightly, her palms damp with sweat, afraid of slipping and even more afraid that if she let go, her brother would get lost in this vast forest.
Tanjiro remained as dazed as ever, his steps light and unsteady, relying entirely on his sister's guidance to move forward, the smile on his face never fading.
He would only occasionally turn his head and gaze blankly into the direction of the wooden house behind him with his eyes that were tinged with a faint scarlet hue.
The wind, carrying snowflakes, brushed against her cheeks like tiny needles. Nezuko couldn't help but shrink her neck, but she still subconsciously pulled Tanjiro closer to her, using her thin shoulder to shield him from some of the cold wind.
"Brother, are you cold?"
She asked softly, knowing that Tanjiro might not understand at this moment, but she still habitually muttered it.
"Hang in there a little longer, let's find a sheltered spot to rest."
Tanjiro didn't respond, but simply turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Nezuko's nose, which was turning purple from the cold, and the smile on his lips seemed to deepen.
He clumsily raised his other hand, wanting to touch her face, but stopped in mid-air, then slowly lowered it and obediently put it back at his side.
Ni Douzi felt a warmth in her heart, but her nose tingled even more.
She gripped her brother's hand tightly, quickened her pace, and gazed into the depths of the mountains and forests.
The place was shrouded in mist, obscuring the road ahead, yet it held the only hope for healing her brother.
Although it was the dead of winter, holding her brother's hand, a small flame burned in Midouzi's heart, enough to support her through this long and unknown journey.
After walking for about half an hour, a sheltered mountain hollow appeared ahead, with some dry branches piled up in it.
Nezuko helped Tanjiro sit down, letting him lean against the warm rock wall, while she gathered dry branches around, wanting to start a fire to keep warm.
Tanjiro sat quietly, his gaze following his sister's busy figure, a gentle smile always on his lips.
It seems that no matter where you are, as long as there are Mi Douzi, you will feel at ease.
The flames crackled and ignited, their orange-red light illuminating their faces and dispelling some of the chill.
Nezuko sat down next to Tanjiro, tucked his hand into her clothes and covered it, and said softly.
"Brother, once the fire gets a little stronger, we'll continue our journey and we'll be out of this forest soon."
Tanjiro blinked, as if he understood, and nodded slightly, tilting his head back against Nezuko's shoulder, his breathing even and steady.
As Mi Douzi gazed at the flickering flames, feeling the warmth of her brother's hand on her fingertips, she silently murmured to herself.
[Mount Sagiri, we must get there quickly!]