Yoriichi's Passing

"I'm back," Yuko said, tilting her head slightly, a little shyly.

Yoriichi stood behind the door and smiled, "It's good that you're back."

"Come inside."

He moved aside, opening up half the doorway.

"Mhm," Yuko replied absentmindedly, lowering her head as she walked into the house.

Yoriichi could tell she was distracted and asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen out there?"

Compared to his younger days, the elderly Yoriichi had a more worldly, human air about him.

"No... it's just been so long since I've been home, I'm a little unaccustomed to it." Yuko offered a casual excuse.

Yoriichi chuckled, "You have times when you're unaccustomed?"

Yuko pursed her lips and looked up at Yoriichi.

Her fiery red hair was now streaked with many white strands, and wrinkles had begun to appear at the corners of her eyes.

Yoriichi had truly grown old.

Yuko felt a pang in her heart. Unable to exchange many words with her Older Brother, she fell asleep in a daze.

Early the next morning, when Yoriichi went to Yuko's room, he found she was already gone.

This was probably the worst decision Yuko had ever made.

Perhaps, after leaving this time, she would never see Yoriichi again.

In ancient times, fifty years was already considered old age; every extra year lived was a surprise.

Yet, she had run away instead of staying by Yoriichi's side to care for him.

Many years passed in a flash.

Yuko wandered this land in a daze.

When she finally returned to her hometown, she had actually walked there unconsciously.

How many years had it been?

Ten years? Or twenty?

The effects of immortality had made Yuko's sense of time incredibly inaccurate.

Many years had brought about many changes in the town. As Yuko nervously approached the familiar doorway, her five fingers hovered before the door, hesitating to knock.

Was Yoriichi... still alive?

Yuko began to regret her decision to run away last time.

Perhaps the house had new owners by now.

The moment Yuko withdrew her hand, the door was opened from the inside.

She hadn't sensed anyone approaching.

Yuko was startled for a moment and instinctively looked up.

What appeared before her eyes was an old man with a head full of white hair, frail with age.

Wrinkles covered the old man's face, making him look both ancient and unsightly.

Upon seeing the familiar markings on the old man's cheeks, tears welled up in Yuko's eyes.

Yoriichi smiled gently, his wrinkles shifting with the expression. It wasn't a particularly handsome smile.

"Welcome home."

Yuko's lips trembled, finally breaking into a single word.

"I'm sorry..."

She shouldn't have left.

Inside the house, Yuko lowered her head deeply, afraid to face Yoriichi.

Across from her, Yoriichi said softly, "Yuko, you didn't do anything wrong."

"But I haven't been back all these years."

Yoriichi said gently, "I understand your pain."

Yuko instinctively looked up, tears in her eyes.

Realizing her movement, she quickly lowered her head again.

Yoriichi suddenly took out several envelopes from his embrace and handed them to her.

"What is this?" Yuko asked, taking them with confusion.

Yoriichi smiled, "It's a letter from Tanjiki."

With Yuko's encouragement, Yoriichi and Tanjiki had kept in frequent contact since then.

Yuko opened the first letter. Inside were greetings from Tanjiki's family to the siblings.

They also inquired about her condition.

Tanjiki, with his keen senses, had noticed her abrupt departure that day.

Tanjiki comforted her in the letter.

Most of the remaining envelopes also contained greetings for them, along with invitations for them to visit again.

Judging by the yellowing of the envelopes, it was impossible to tell how many years ago they were from.

While Yuko was touched, she also felt a pang of guilt.

Yoriichi said softly, "Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of the human world. We should all face them with equanimity, shouldn't we?"

"But I..."

"Don't you still have something unfinished, Yuko?"

Yuko was slightly taken aback. Was it defeating Muzan?

Yuko nodded heavily.

Yoriichi smiled, making a rare joke, "Get some rest early. I'll be testing your swordsmanship tomorrow morning."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Yuko murmured.

This time, returning home, would she have to bid farewell to her older brother?

The life force within Yoriichi was dwindling, and he was nearing the end of his life.

He probably wouldn't live much longer.

She had returned at such a coincidental time, Yuko thought wryly.

After she fell asleep, Yoriichi, in another room, felt a strange, inexplicable feeling.

Was it unease?

Or something else?

This peculiar sensation drove him to leave home and the town late at night.

He went alone to the outskirts.

It was only upon reaching the outskirts that Yoriichi finally understood the strange flutter in his heart.

It was the unbreakable blood connection of twins.

"This is impossible... Why are you still alive?"

"Swordsmen who manifest the Markings are destined not to live past twenty-five."

"Why is it only you... who has lived this long..."

What Kokushibo couldn't comprehend was that after sixty years, his brother, who should have died long ago, had reappeared before him like a nightmare.

Tears welled up in Yoriichi's eyes, "How pathetic, brother..."

He was being pitied by this creature who was once his twin brother but was now frail and old?

Kokushibo's heart, gradually growing cold due to his transformation into a demon, stirred once more.

However... he felt no anger at all.

Instead, hearing the word "brother" from his lips, he felt a strange wavering.

It was an emotion called sorrow.

This was one of the few emotional words he had heard from his usually stoic twin brother.

But as long as the other party remained a demon slayer, he had to sever the intruder with his blade, even if it was his own brother from when he was human.

Even in his current fragile state.

Just as Kokushibo was about to draw his sword, Yoriichi drew his Nichirin Blade from his waist a step ahead of him.

The atmosphere in the area suddenly became tense. Yoriichi's aura pressed down on Kokushibo's shoulders almost tangibly, like a massive stone.

The stance adopted by this frail, elderly being was utterly flawless.

"I'm coming."

As if announcing death, accompanied by that aged voice, was Yoriichi's extreme speed.

It was so fast that Kokushibo barely had time to react.

The next moment.

Second only to Demon King Muzan, the strongest among demons, Upper Rank One.

A spurt of fresh blood erupted from Kokushibo's neck.

Why...

Why are you the only one, always the special one...

You're a swordsman with Markings, you're so thin you're nothing but skin and bones, yet the power and speed of your slashes are almost the same as when you were in your prime.

Memories that Kokushibo had long forgotten resurfaced in his mind.

Kokushibo's jealousy, dormant for decades, ignited once more.

I hate you, I really want to kill you!

Kokushibo turned around in anger, his ferocious face like that of a demon.

But at the same time, Kokushibo knew he wouldn't have a chance to dodge the next move.

Yoriichi's next strike would surely take his head.

That intense impatience and frustration felt like it was about to grind Kokushibo's insides into paste.

However...

Yoriichi didn't swing the next blade for a long time. He just stood there and, after his lifespan ran out, left the mortal world.