Birds and Butterflies

"..."

"Does it hurt a little? Just bear with it."

After carefully applying anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine to the bird, Butterfly gently wrapped a medical bandage around his forearm.

"You still need to be careful, otherwise your body won't be able to recover properly if you keep getting injured."

Asuka's training has entered its third week, and according to Muichiro, it can basically be over.

Without using breathing techniques, Asuka's mastery of swordsmanship is already quite proficient, and his reactions to life-or-death crises are more natural and swift; at least he no longer fights solely with brute force.

It is also because after today, Muichiro will be leaving the Ubuyashiki mansion to carry out other missions.

So this time he used all his strength against Asuka and asked Asuka to use breathing techniques to fight him.

The battle was fierce. Asuka was stabbed four times, the most serious one of which cleaved his collarbone. This shocked Lady Tianyin, who was watching the battle, and she was worried that Asuka might be seriously injured as a result.

As for Muichiro, he did not receive a single sword strike.

However, his Nichirin Blade was broken by Asuka.

Looking at Asuka, who remained silent and still immersed in the afterglow of the battle, Kocho sighed: "Mr. Asuka, training should also be done in moderation. Muichiro's situation is a bit special, and you can't just let him do whatever he wants."

"...Thank you, I'll be careful."

"Sigh, you always say that, but your injuries keep getting worse, you..."

Shinobu Kocho reluctantly put away the medicine and also collected Asuka's torn haori: "The clothes I just finished making are torn again. I'll give them to you after I mend them."

"Would Senior Shinobu do something like this?"

"Of course, I'm the one who altered Kanao's clothes. What do you think? They're quite different from the regular Demon Slayer Corps uniform, aren't they?"

Kanao Tsukihana is the girl who chased after Nezuko and fought with Asuka that day.

She is also Shinobu Kocho's adopted sister and stepson, and has always lived with her at the Butterfly Mansion.

Asuka tried to greet her, but he didn't expect the girl to be even more taciturn than him. She just smiled at him without saying a word, so he stopped trying.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Shinobu."

"Oh, is it just my imagination? I feel like Mr. Asuka is getting more and more polite." Shinobu Kocho covered her mouth, looking incredulous. "He used to be so cold and difficult to get along with, just like Mr. Tomioka."

Asuka frowned seriously: "Really?"

He thought about it carefully and realized that perhaps he had been influenced by Tanjiro, Lady Amane, and the members of the Butterfly Mansion during this period of time.

Sometimes I feel that if you're teammates, it might be better to be as friendly as possible.

"Haha, things have really changed, Mr. Asuka." Seeing his confused look, Butterfly suppressed a laugh and stopped teasing Asuka: "That's a good thing. People should always trust and support each other. It's too tiring to be alone."

As Shinobu finished packing and was about to leave, Asuka couldn't help but call out to her:

"Senior Shinobu."

Shinobu stopped and turned around, her eyes filled with a gentle inquiry:

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"you...."

Asuka originally wanted to ask about that strange dream, whether the woman in the butterfly's arms was real or his imagination.

...But looking at Shinobu's smile and the reassuring spiritual pressure emanating from her, Asuka was certain that her smile wasn't forced.

At least for now, let's not let her think about sad things.

"...It's nothing, goodnight."

"...You too, Mr. Asuka, remember to drink some calming soup before bed, it can relieve your nightmares."

Although she sensed that Asuka had left something unsaid, Shinobu Kocho didn't press the matter.

She maintained her gentle smile, slowly closed the door to the Japanese-style room, and silently wondered a question mark in her heart.

The Butterfly House became lively early the next morning.

Today is Asuka's day off, and she usually stays at the Butterfly House to help Shinobu with her work.

He leaned back on the veranda, closing his eyes to enjoy the mountain breeze, while also pondering Muichiro's words: to find one's own breath...

"Good morning, Mr. Asuka!" Tanjiro's energetic voice broke the tranquility of the courtyard.

He arrived at the courtyard with Zenitsu Agatsuma, the blond-haired user of Thunder Breathing, and Inosuke Hashibira, the user of Beast Breathing who always wore a boar headgear.

They were wearing the same rehabilitation training uniforms as the Butterfly House staff, and their spirits were much better than when they first arrived.

Zenitsu still had dark circles under his eyes and kept yawning, while Inosuke was swinging his arms loudly, his gaze under the pig's head mask frequently sweeping towards Asuka, and white breath representing his burning fighting spirit escaping from his nostrils.

The bird opened its eyes and nodded slightly in response.

"Are we practicing blowing the gourd again today? Or...?"

"Hey! You wind-wielding bastard!" Inosuke finally couldn't hold back any longer, pointing at Asuka and interrupting him, "Come on! Fight me too! I'm starting my special training!"

"Don't yell like that, you idiot!!" Zenitsu was terrified and immediately lunged forward to hug his waist. "Do you want us to get scolded to death by Shinobu-neechan?! And Asuka-san is a Jun-Hashi!! She'll break your newly healed bones!!"

"Stop being so nagging, Wenyi! I'm already fully recovered!"

"Who is Wen Yi?!"

Seeing the two arguing fiercely, Tanjiro quickly stepped forward and stood between Inosuke and Asuka:

"Calm down, Inosuke! It's good to want to train and get stronger, but you need to show some respect to Mr. Asuka!"

"Huh?! You'd better fight me first!!"

Asuka was already used to the familiar chaotic scene before her.

Ignoring Inosuke's usual provocations, he calmly focused his gaze on Tanjiro and said, "Tanjiro, maintain your full concentration and normal level for me."

Tanjiro immediately stood up straight, his expression becoming incredibly focused:

"yes!"

He expanded his chest, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled, trying to regulate his breathing rhythm.

Visibly, the muscles in his body seemed to have tightened up, and his overall energy and spirit instantly increased, exuding a sense of power.

After this period of training, all three of them have basically mastered this ability, which is the foundation they must build to become stronger swordsmen.

They didn't slack off, whether it was day or night, which is good.

"Not bad, you've improved very quickly. As long as you keep this breathing as natural as your heartbeat and never stop, your strength will advance even further."

He couldn't teach Tanjiro and the others anything else, so he could only start with the basic skills he was familiar with and help Shinobu Kocho with their rehabilitation training.

"Yes!" Tanjiro replied happily, pleased that his efforts had finally paid off.

However, Inosuke had other ideas. He finally shook off Zenitsu and shouted angrily:

"Hmph! Let's see what I'm capable of! A charge forward like a pig!!"

He roared impatiently, and the ferocious power of the Beast Breathing technique erupted instantly!

With a powerful push off the ground, Inosuke shot forward like a cannonball, hurtling headfirst into a thick training stake in the center of the courtyard!

boom--!!

The wooden stake was smashed open by the violent force, leaving a deep crack and splinters flying everywhere.

"Inosuke! Those are training equipment!" Zenitsu screamed again, looking at the damaged wooden stakes with heartache.

"Haha! How about that! Now even Takumi can't beat me!"

Inosuke scrambled to his feet, rubbing his boar headgear, and shouted excitedly.

"...Your strength is decent, but your openings are too big." Asuka pointed at Inosuke's body: "If you charge too hard, you won't be able to turn around. If you encounter an enemy who can dodge nimbly, or who has a second or third attack, you'll be the one who dies."

As Asuka spoke, she mimicked Muichiro Tokito's movements, making a swift and concealed sideways movement, instantly adjusting her center of gravity to maintain balance, while her right hand was loosely gripping near the hilt of her sword, ready to parry or counterattack at any moment.

He was demonstrating to Inosuke that he could easily dodge Inosuke's attacks and immediately counterattack if he wanted to.

Inosuke stood frozen in place, his eyes, hidden behind the pig's head mask, seemed to gleam.

Although he still scoffed and said "tsk" indignantly, his eyes subconsciously glanced at the deep pit he had just stepped into, and then tried to imitate the bird's slight adjustment movement, appearing clumsy but thoughtful.

"You're up really early, Mr. Asuka."

A gentle voice sounded from behind Asuka. Shinobu Kocho appeared at the corner of the corridor without anyone noticing, carrying a wooden tray with a medicine bottle and clean gauze in her hand.

"It's time to change the dressing. And the three of you..." She looked at Tanjiro and the others, "Aoi and the others are waiting in the tatami room. Let's start with tea-splashing training today."

Tanjiro and Zenitsu immediately stood at attention: "Yes, Shinobu-senpai!"

Inosuke snorted and followed Tanjiro and the others to the side courtyard. Before leaving, he gave Asuka a deep look, lost in thought.

Asuka silently walked down the corridor and sat down in the spot designated by Shinobu Kocho.

Shinobu Kocho put down the tray, gently untied the tie at his collar, and carefully removed the gauze covering the wound on his collarbone. She spoke in a casual tone:

"The guidance you just gave was very useful. Although it was simple, it was more helpful to him now than any advanced techniques."

"It seems that during his time at the Butterfly Mansion, Mr. Asuka has not only improved himself, but has also begun to understand how to pass on his experience to others."