Tai Chi Blade

After savoring his mother's embrace, Tsugikuni Kuuga prepared to leave the Rengoku residence. From now on, this would also be his second home.

"Can't you stay a few more days?" Ruka Kyogoku asked.

"Auntie!"

"No, you should call me Mom now."

"Well, if I count the days, today should be the day the sword is delivered. I should also be heading out on a mission!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga still hadn't adjusted to suddenly having a new mother, so he couldn't react in time.

"Then be careful!" Ruka Kyogoku urged.

"Oh, and do you like that girl Shinobu? I think she definitely likes you—otherwise, why would she come running over here several times a day!"

"As a boy, if you like a girl, you should go after her. I think Shinobu is wonderful!"

Ruka Kyogoku had already started worrying about Tsugikuni Kuuga's future marriage.

Tsugikuni Kuuga did indeed like Shinobu very much, but he didn't know why he never had the courage to say it out loud.

Noticing that Tsugikuni Kuuga's face had turned a bit red, Ruka Kyogoku covered her mouth and laughed. She hadn't expected Kuuga to have a shy side.

"Kuuga looks very cute right now. Having a son like you is truly wonderful!" Ruka Kyogoku teased.

"I'll be going now. Please take care of yourself!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga rushed out in a hurry, nearly bumping into Rengoku Senjuro.

Senjuro stared blankly at Tsugikuni Kuuga as he dashed off. What had happened? Why did Brother Kuuga run away as soon as he woke up?

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Kuuga is probably just shy!" Ruka Kyogoku said with a doting motherly smile.

"Brother Kuuga can be shy too?" Senjuro was even more confused.

"You'll understand when you have a girl you like someday!" Ruka Kyogoku patted Senjuro's head.

"Mother, you're not talking about Sister Shinobu, are you?" Senjuro complained.

Ruka Kyogoku just smiled and said nothing. What Tsugikuni Kuuga didn't know was that during the half-month he had stayed there, Shinobu Kocho had already become close with the Rengoku family. This future daughter-in-law had already been accepted by the Rengoku household.

Tsugikuni Kuuga sprinted back to the Butterfly Mansion. Pushing open the gate, he saw a figure wearing a Hyottoko mask sitting under the eaves eating an onigiri, though the sword in his hand was clutched tightly the whole time.

This startled Tsugikuni Kuuga so much that he immediately slammed the door shut, because the one eating the onigiri was none other than Haganezuka Hotaru—the man who wanted to kill him.

Just as Tsugikuni Kuuga was still recovering from the shock, someone patted him on the shoulder. He was about to lash out, but immediately calmed down, since the scent was familiar.

It was a strong fragrance of Wisteria Flowers, mixed with a faint hint of body scent. Though Tsugikuni Kuuga didn't know what it was, anyone with such a strong wisteria scent had to be the Shinobu he longed for.

"Well, I feel like I can explain. Miss Shinobu, could you spare my kidneys?" Feeling the sharp pain radiating from his kidney area, Tsugikuni Kuuga complained.

"Oh? Someone actually remembers to come back. Do you still have a key to the Butterfly Mansion?" Shinobu Kocho said sarcastically.

At the same time, she increased the force of her pinch on Tsugikuni Kuuga. For some reason, the flesh around his waist was especially soft and satisfying to squeeze.

"Shinobu, I'm sorry, I really am!" Tsugikuni Kuuga begged for mercy.

"Someone said the same thing last time!"

"Uh! I promise this is the last time!"

"By the way, where's Older Sister?" Tsugikuni Kuuga quickly changed the subject.

"Older Sister went on a mission. Unlike someone who just knows how to sleep!"

Suddenly, Tsugikuni Kuuga broke free from Shinobu Kocho's grip and pinned her against the wall. His kabedon made Shinobu Kocho a bit flustered.

Shinobu Kocho struggled fiercely, but Tsugikuni Kuuga's strength was too great—she had no power to resist.

Tsugikuni Kuuga lowered his head, his lips just reaching Shinobu Kocho's forehead. She could even feel the warm breath washing over her, and her face instantly turned red.

"Someone might see us!" Shinobu Kocho said weakly, all her earlier confidence gone.

Tsugikuni Kuuga directly kissed Shinobu Kocho's forehead, then walked away coolly, leaving Shinobu Kocho frozen in place.

Tsugikuni Kuuga's words kept echoing in her mind:

"This one's payback for last time!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga felt he had pulled off the act perfectly. A real man never looks back—he only goes forward to face Mr. Steel's fury.

Tsugikuni Kuuga pushed the door open and waved at Haganezuka Hotaru in greeting:

"Long time no see, Mr. Steel!"

Seeing Tsugikuni Kuuga, Haganezuka Hotaru first quickly finished the onigiri in his hand, then reached into his chest and pulled out a kitchen knife.

"You brat actually dare to show your face? Die!"

Shouting, Haganezuka Hotaru raised the kitchen knife and charged at Tsugikuni Kuuga, who directly caught the blade with his bare hands to block the attack.

"Listen, you have to hear me out! My sword broke because I ran into a Lower Rank. Think about it—I'm just a rookie, and the enemy was a Lower Rank!"

Then Tsugikuni Kuuga tearfully poured out his grievances, snot and tears flowing freely. Haganezuka Hotaru actually wavered a little.

"Fine! Fine! This is the last time. Next time, I'll definitely kill you!" Haganezuka Hotaru said helplessly, because Tsugikuni Kuuga's snot was about to smear onto him.

"I promise I won't break it next time!"

"Huh? Why does that sound weird?"

"You're overthinking it."

"Anyway, you came to deliver my blade, right? Aren't you curious what color it'll turn?"

"That I am curious about, since you're a blade-breaking criminal!" Haganezuka Hotaru grumbled.

Then Haganezuka put away the kitchen knife and reluctantly handed the Nichirin Blade over to Tsugikuni Kuuga.

"Then watch closely!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga had no idea what color his blade would become. Yoriichi Tsugikuni's blade was a mix of black and red, and little angel Tanjiro's was black. Since he also used Sun-Breathing, it should be about the same.

As the blade slid from the sheath, the Color-Changing Blade did its work. Black and white began spreading from the Tsuka toward the tip, while the edge slowly dyed itself red.

Haganezuka was thrilled—not only had he seen a red like the sun, but he was witnessing a Nichirin Blade with three colors at once.

At that moment, one side of the blade's spine was black, the other white. On the black side was a white koi pattern, and on the white side, a black koi pattern. Paired with the red edge, Tsugikuni Kuuga's Nichirin Blade was truly beautiful.

"Why the hell does your blade turn three colors, and so harmoniously at that? This is the first time in my life I've seen this!" Haganezuka exclaimed, his hand unconsciously reaching out to touch it.

"Yeah, it really is beautiful," Shinobu Kocho said.

"Shinobu, when did you come in?"

"Right when you got cut!" Shinobu shot Tsugikuni Kuuga a glare.

Tsugikuni Kuuga didn't reply. Instead, he looked at his Nichirin Blade. Since it turned out like this, I'll call you Tai Chi Blade.