Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101
Outside, the atmosphere was heavy.
"Aside from being in a deep sleep, no other abnormalities have been found in terms of bodily functions."
Shinobu Kocho completed her daily routine check-up, her brows slightly furrowed, her expression less than calm: "Her pulse and breathing are very stable, even more peaceful than normal, but this is only temporary..."
She paused, glanced around at the tense-looking people around her, and said with concern, "No one can guarantee how long this unknown slumber will last, or whether it will worsen."
This judgment cast a deeper shadow over everyone's hearts.
In the silence, a young, ethereal voice suddenly rang out: "Perhaps, Lord Yoriichi could have more contact with Miss Aori."
All eyes were on Muichiro Tokito, who was speaking.
The boy didn't seem uncomfortable. He tilted his head, his clear eyes staring at the closed door, and continued to point out the core issue in his own unique way.
"It was Miss Aori who 'awakened' Yoriichi. Conversely, could Yoriichi also 'awaken' Miss Aori?"
Everyone fell silent in thought.
“That makes sense, it must be some kind of magnificent ‘resonance’!” Uzui Tengen agreed.
resonance……
Giyu Tomioka and Sabito repeated it in a low voice, and the two of them looked at the silent red-haired swordsman beside them.
At that moment, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was standing on the corridor a little further away. Tokito Muichiro's words were like a pebble thrown into his heart, creating ripples.
He wanted to get close to A-Zhi.
This thought had been churning countless times in his mind, which had been dormant for hundreds of years.
From the moment he was "awakened" on the mountain until now, seeing her still asleep, this longing has never ceased, only he has firmly suppressed it.
Azhi... should have been his wife.
Before the abrupt wedding of Ji Guoyansheng and Azhi, everyone thought so.
When villagers familiar with him near Sheyun Mountain encounter him, they ask, "Why haven't we seen Azhi?"
In his spare time, his fellow Demon Slayers would jokingly tease him, "Looking forward to attending the Sun Pillar's wedding."
………
Yoriichi Tsugikuni recalled a scene from the Warring States period when he came to his father's sickbed.
The once majestic patriarch was now emaciated, his cloudy eyes filled with regret.
He said with difficulty, "If I had known this would happen... I shouldn't have looked down on that woman because of her lowly status... If I had arranged for you two to marry sooner... this situation wouldn't have happened..."
After Yoriichi Tsugikuni returned to the Tsugikuni mansion with Ori, although he disliked Ori for not being of noble status, he secretly prepared wedding supplies for Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Now, those items are covered in dust.
For decades, Yoriichi Tsugikuni has always been very lonely. Whenever you see him, he is always walking alone in the world.
During the long period of pursuing Muzan Kibutsuji, his emotions had become difficult to fluctuate, but at that moment, he was shaken to his core, and deep pain instantly welled up in his lowered eyes.
A sense of powerlessness gripped Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
If he had been more resolute back then, would the outcome have been different? Would Azhi have been spared all that suffering?
Yoriichi Tsugikuni has questioned himself in this way countless times.
Now, Ah Zhi doesn't remember him, and perhaps this is the best outcome.
It's good to forget painful memories.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni said this to himself.
However, with his contact with Aori during the "awakening," Yoriichi's sense of loss in his heart becomes more and more severe.
Even Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the current leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, noticed it.
At another gathering, Yoriichi Tsugikuni listened to the report in silence as usual, but was left behind by others in the end.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat opposite him. Although he couldn't see, his compassionate eyes could still see into people's hearts. He gently called out, "Yoriichi."
“…”
Yoriichi Tsugikuni possesses unparalleled power capable of slaying demon kings, yet he cannot comprehend the complexities and unpredictability of human nature and fate, nor can he undo the lost time and regrets.
Even if he tried again, he still couldn't see the road ahead.
Unable to find peace, with an almost childlike confusion and helplessness, he went to ask his revered lord: "My lord, what should I do?"
The head of Ubuyashiki said quietly and wisely, "The threads of fate are complex and intertwined, and the regrets of the past cannot be undone. What matters is the present and how you choose to act in the future."
"The desire to protect needs not only practical actions, but also to be conveyed through words."
Thus, Ji Guoyuan initially stayed by Azhi's bedside, albeit under the guise of "resonance."
Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a soft glow on her pale face, making even the finest downy hairs clearly visible, and her soft black hair spread out on the pristine white bed.
During breaks in training, he would kneel on a futon not far away, his tall and upright figure like a small mountain, silently and reliably guarding the sleeping person.
Yoriichi's gaze lingered there for a long time, his clear eyes filled with the longing accumulated over hundreds of years, as well as deep worry.
He watched with such focus, as if he were trying to make up for the past few hundred years.
Sometimes, his fingers would unconsciously lift slightly, as if wanting to touch her cheek, to confirm her real existence, and to feel her warmth.
But just before his fingertips were about to touch her, he would always restrain himself with his strong willpower, slowly clenching his fists and placing them back on his knees.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
On a warm, sunny afternoon, Azhi slowly opened her eyes. Her mind was hazy, and countless fragments of memories flashed through her mind.
【000…】Azhi stared blankly at the ceiling, calling out in her heart, filled with confusion and helplessness.
"How are you feeling?" a mechanical voice immediately asked.
"Are those memories...real?" Azhi's voice was very soft.
Instead of simply stuffing memories into her brain, under 000's influence, Azhi personally experienced the Warring States period.
She was still unable to detach herself from it.
000 didn't respond immediately; it knew that Azhi already had the answer in her heart.
[Your timing of waking up is perfect. The Demon Slayer Corps has completed its final deployment against Muzan Kibutsuji. Yoriichi Tsugikuni is their greatest weapon; now that you've awakened, they can rush to the battlefield without any worries.]
This means that the moment Muzan Kibutsuji is killed, Ori's mission will be completed immediately, and she will be able to leave this world.
The final battle is approaching, and everything will come to an end.
【Huh?】Azhi blinked blankly, still not quite grasping the reality of having to complete a mission.
000 explained its agreement with the main system and what it did using that agreement.
Before she could fully understand what was happening, the sound of the tray hitting the ground rang out, and the news of her awakening quickly reached the ears of several people.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and then two heads squeezed in. Azhi saw people she hadn't expected... and a ghost.
"Miss Aori, you're finally awake!"
A bright smile spread across Tanjiro Kamado's face, his joy overflowing.
The last time I met him, he was still very young, but now he has become much more determined.
Before Azhi could answer, she saw the cute girl leaning close to the bed. Her big pink eyes were looking at Azhi curiously, and she was making cute "mmm" sounds.
Without any introduction, Azhi already knew her identity.
Their arrival temporarily dispelled the gloom in Aori's heart, and she couldn't help but smile: "Tanji-kun, Nezuko-chan."
Tanjiro Kamado sat down cross-legged and began to vividly recount recent events, informing everyone of their concern for her and the Demon Slayer Corps' recent deployments...
"It's so good that you're awake!"
He scratched his head, a relieved smile on his face.
"And Master Yuanyi is truly amazing! Although he doesn't talk much, when he guides us in cultivation, he can always spot the problem at a glance!"
"Everyone is making rapid progress, and their confidence in defeating Muzan is even stronger."
Soon, the room became even noisier, as Zenitsu Agatsuma, with his blond hair, and Inosuke Hashibira, wearing a boar's head mask, came running after hearing the commotion.
Their contrasting yet vibrant personalities shocked Azhi like never before.
A small hand took hers. Having just learned that Nezuko couldn't speak very well yet, Aori coaxed her, patiently teaching her to pronounce: "Nezuko, say 'sister'—sister—"
"Try calling me 'sister'—'sister'—"
Giyu Tomioka and Sabito heard the words from a distance. They practically rushed in, their faces still damp with sweat and filled with urgency.
When they saw that the girl was not only awake, but also holding Nezuko's hand with a gentle smile on her face, their tense nerves instantly relaxed.
The long-accumulated anxiety overwhelmed Giyu Tomioka's usual composure at this moment, and his icy blue eyes surged with intense emotions.
Without any hesitation, he strode forward and, before anyone could react, suddenly reached out and pulled Azhi into a tight embrace.
The embrace, still carrying the scent of dust and sweat, trembled slightly as it held her, as if afraid the girl would disappear again.
Giyu Tomioka said, "It's good that you're awake!"
Sabito followed closely behind. Although he didn't lose his composure like Giyu Tomioka, he couldn't help but grasp Aori's hand, his face filled with relief and excitement.
They had just finished training and rushed over as soon as they heard that Azhi had woken up. They didn't even have time to tidy themselves up, as they were still covered in dust and bits of grass from the training ground.
This rare display of emotion left the three little ones beside him speechless.
But they quickly realized that Ori was a very, very important person to Giyu Tomioka and Sabito.
After calming down, Sabito stood at the foot of the bed, a smile on his tired face, his eyes fixed on her, carefully observing her complexion.
Sabito's voice was gentle: "How are you feeling now? Is there anything that's bothering you?"
They genuinely care about her.
Aori was a little stunned by the sudden hug. She gently patted Yoshiyuki Tomioka's back and said softly, "I'm fine."
She noticed the new abrasions and bruises on Giyu Tomioka's forehead and Sabito's arm, and exclaimed in surprise, "You guys are injured?"
Sabito, who was in charge of explaining, said in a relaxed tone: "It was left over from special training. Mr. Yoriichi truly deserves to be the most powerful swordsman."
They also mentioned Yoriichi.
Azhi lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the corner of the blanket.
Lost in her own emotions, she didn't notice that at the moment she lowered her head, Yoshiyuki Tomioka and Sabito exchanged a complicated look.
………
The Demon Slayer Corps' training was in full swing, and Giyu Tomioka and Sabito did not stay long before returning to the training ground.
Azhi felt the urgency of the final battle.
She tried to get up by holding onto the edge of the bed, wanting to move around on her own, but due to weakness from lying down for so long, her legs suddenly gave way and she stumbled forward and fell.
A crimson figure rushed in instantly, and a pair of steady arms carefully supported her, preventing her from falling.
It is Jikuni Genichi.
He was the first to arrive, already waiting outside the door, his heart filled with countless struggles and hesitations, yet he dared not go in like the others.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni was afraid of seeing the unfamiliar look in Ori's eyes, afraid that his appearance would disturb him, but the moment he sensed Ori's unbalanced body, all his concerns were crushed by instinct.
He longed to be close to Azhi, to protect her; this desire, spanning hundreds of years, could no longer be suppressed.
"Be careful," Yoriichi Tsugikuni said in a low voice, his voice as steady as ever, but the muscles in his arm supporting the girl were tense, revealing his inner tension.
If it were Oori from the Sengoku period, she would probably have already become close to Yoriichi Tsugikuni by this time.
And that's exactly what she did.
Aori's hand naturally rested on Yoriichi's arm, and she subconsciously tilted her head up to look at Yoriichi's face.
The face was exactly the same as I remembered, except that the tightly furrowed brows and pursed lips revealed a deep sense of anguish and repression.
Memories and emotions tug at my mind. I have just finished reviewing the not-so-long memories of the Warring States period, and the trust and feelings that are deeply rooted in my heart have not yet been sorted out.
In that memory, she did not see Yoriichi Tsugikuni until the very last moment, and then left amidst 000's urging.
They didn't even say goodbye properly.
Azhi bit her lip, her eyes unconsciously becoming moist, a thin layer of water vapor rising in them.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni keenly noticed the tears in her eyes and subconsciously interpreted them as shock from being touched by a stranger.
Overwhelmed by guilt and surprise, he immediately released his grip after the girl regained her footing, quickly took a half-step back, lowered his eyes which were filled with pain, and said in a dry voice, "...Excuse me."
The red-haired swordsman said nothing more and turned to leave, seemingly calm, but A-Zhi sensed loneliness in his straight back.
[Should I pretend I don't know him?] A-Zhi's mind was unusually sharp, realizing that doing so would reduce a lot of trouble.
[...]000 paused for a moment, then gave what wasn't really an answer: "Do what you want to do."
She didn't want to experience regret again, so she reached out and grabbed a corner of his haori.
"Yoriichi".
Just like hundreds of years ago, Aori called out Yoriichi Tsugikuni's name.
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Chin resting on hand][Chin resting on hand][Chin resting on hand]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
