Chapter Text
Kanae and Sanemi moved in perfect synchrony as they faced the demon before them. The creature had a gaunt body that stretched unnaturally tall. Its skin was the colour of rotting ash. There were veins pulsed visibly beneath its surface, and its hollow eyes glowed with a sickly violet hue. Its mouth split into a jagged grin filled with needle-like teeth, while long, skeletal fingers dripped with a vaporous haze.
With a hiss, the demon raised its arms and a dense mist began to seep from its body. The vapor spread rapidly, curling along the ground before rising to envelop the battlefield. Shapes distorted within the fog, making it difficult to discern distance or movement, and the air grew heavy as though it sought to suffocate anything caught within it.
Sanemi lunged forward without second thought, his blade flashing in the night as Kanae danced gracefully beside him. Steel clashed against flesh as they coordinated their attacks, forcing the demon back. Sensing an opportunity, the creature lashed out with sudden speed.
Kanae stepped forward to strike, but the demon’s clawed arm shot through the haze, aiming directly for her.
“Kanae!” Sanemi shouted and rushed towards her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her out of harm’s way. The mist engulfed them both, swallowing their figures in its eerie glow. Sanemi braced himself, expecting pain or paralysis, but nothing came. The vapor dissipated harmlessly, leaving them standing unharmed.
He quickly pulled back, his hands moving over her shoulders and arms as he searched for injuries. “Are you okay?” he demanded, fearing for his wife’s condition.
Kanae offered him a gentle smile. “I’m fine, Sanemi. It seems the attack had no effect.”
Relief flickered across his face, but it was swiftly replaced by fury. Turning back to the demon, his eyes burned with rage. “You bastard, how dare you try to hurt her.”
With a powerful burst of speed, Sanemi closed the distance before the demon could react. His blade sliced through the air in a decisive arc. The demon’s eyes widened in shock as its head separated cleanly from its body. The corpse crumbled into ash moments later, carried away by the lingering mist.
Silence settled over the clearing. Both Hashira lifted their gazes to the sky. The stars still shimmered faintly above them, the first hints of dawn had yet to appear.
Sanemi exhaled slowly as he slid his sword back into its sheath. “We should find an inn and rest for the night,” Sanemi suggested, his tone more gentler than usual. “You’ve done enough for today.”
Kanae shook her head softly. “I think we should head back home.”
Sanemi frowned, glancing at her. “It’s still a long walk to the estate. You’re exhausted, Kanae.” He closed the distance and held her waist, afraid she might falter if he let go.
Kanae’s gentle smile returned. “I appreciate your concern, Sanemi. Truly. But returning sooner would put my mind at ease. There may be injured slayers waiting for treatment, and the girls will worry if I’m gone too long.”
“You’re always thinking about everyone else. Just this once, think about yourself. We can leave at first light.”
Kanae offered a small, reassuring smile. “Resting at an inn would delay us even more. Besides, the night is quiet now, and traveling together is no trouble at all.”
Sanemi furrowed his brow, clearly torn. “You doctors are all the same… always putting others first.” He sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “At least let me set the pace. If you feel even a little tired, we stop immediately. No arguments.”
Kanae nodded. “All right. I promise.”
He searched her face for any sign of strain. Seemingly reassured, he reached out and took her hand, his grip gentle. “Let’s go,” he said quietly.
As they walked along the quiet road, the rhythmic sound of their footsteps was interrupted by the flutter of wings. A Kasugai crow none of them recognised swooped down and circled above them in a frenzy.
“Caw! Hashira assistance required!”
Kanae paused, she was ready to follow the crow, but Sanemi reached out and gently caught her wrist.
“You should check yourself for injuries first,” he said firmly. “We don’t know what that Blood Demon Art might’ve done, just to be sure.”
Kanae waved him off with a reassuring smile. “I’m perfectly fine. Besides, you were hit by the mist as well.”
“I’m fine,” Sanemi insisted. “You should rest and let me handle this one. You’re a doctor. You’ve got more responsibilities waiting for you than I do.”
Kanae studied him for a moment before letting out a soft sigh. “Very well. Please be careful.”
Before leaving, she stepped closer and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you, Sanemi,” she said warmly.
He watched in silence as her figure receded down the road, her silhouette gradually fading into the darkness. Only when she disappeared from sight did he turn to the crow and follow it towards his next destination.
By the time Kanae returned to the Butterfly Estate, the sky was painted with the first hues of dawn. The estate was already stirring with quiet activity. She saw Aoi in the kitchen, carefully preparing breakfast for the girls.
“Welcome back, Kanae-neesan,” Aoi greeted with a polite bow.
“Good morning, Aoi-chan,” Kanae replied gently, her fatigue finally catching up with her. She made her way to her room, the familiar tranquility of the estate offering comfort as she prepared to rest. It will be a long day ahead.
***
Aoi didn’t know if she had hit her head or somehow travelled into another dimension. One moment, she had been quietly washing dishes; the next, she was standing in front of Kanae, who was lecturing her about misplacing medical equipment.
It was a mistake Aoi rarely made. The last time had been when she first started working as an assistant, and once more during an especially hectic period when the hospital had been overwhelmed with patients and she had been forced to rush.
Even stranger was Kanae herself. She had barged into the kitchen looking as though she had just been deeply insulted and demanded Aoi’s immediate attention. The other girls were left bewildered, and when they tried to ask what was going on, Kanae quickly shushed them. They fell silent, watching in shock at both her tone and the harshness of her words. Aoi wanted to snap back with a retort, but she knew better, so she kept her quiet.
“I’m sorry, Kanae-neesan. I’ll be more careful next time. It won’t happen again,” Aoi apologized instead, hoping the conversation would end quickly. It was already embarrassing enough with everyone watching.
Kanae pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly irritated. “Sorry doesn’t mean anything. You’ll need to prove that you mean it with your actions.”
Aoi bowed her head. “Yes, Kanae-neesan.”
Kanae huffed. “Just get back to work.” She turned and walked away, leaving the room in an awkward silence until Kanao broke the tension.
“What’s wrong with nee-san?” she asked softly, looking around for invisible clues of what might have set Kanae off.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her like this before,” Shinobu replied, her expression filled with concern for her older sister’s unusual behaviour.
Kiyo hesitantly suggested, “Maybe we upset her?” She glanced at Sumi and Naho. “Do you remember anything we did wrong?” The three of them usually did everything together, so perhaps they might know.
The two girls shook their heads.
“We did everything we were told,” Sumi recounted their activities. “And we only played in the garden afterward.”
“I’ll go speak to her about it,” Shinobu said, rising to her feet. Kanao stood as well, intending to follow but Shinobu gently stopped her.
“Let me handle this, Kanao-chan. Nee-san probably needs some space. You should help calm the little ones.”
Kanao nodded in understanding. She turned to Aoi and gave her an apologetic smile before ushering the three girls to start on their chores, giving reassuring words while heading out.
Aoi sighed softly and returned to the sink, the sound of running water the only thing breaking the lingering unease.
***
Shinobu stood before Kanae’s room, her hand hovering uncertainly near the door. She was nervous—more than she cared to admit. The worst Kanae had ever reacted in the past was mild irritation when someone upset her or caused harm to her sisters. Even then, she would always bounce back to her cheerful self as if whatever it was had never happened.
There had only been a few occasions when Shinobu had seen her angry, but never like this. And it is getting on her nerves.
Taking a steadying breath, Shinobu raised her hand and knocked.
After a few seconds, Kanae’s voice called from inside. “Come in.”
Shinobu slid the door open and stepped into the room. Kanae was seated behind her desk, a towering stack of paperwork piled neatly in front of her.
Shinobu hesitated, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for the sister she knew. Kanae spoke without looking up from her documents.
“Don’t just stand there. Hurry up. I have a lot of work to do.”
Shinobu swallowed her unease and stepped forward. “Nee-san… I wanted to talk about what happened earlier. You were quite harsh on Aoi. It’s not like you to lash out like that. What happened?”
Kanae’s pen paused mid-stroke. Slowly, she lifted her gaze, her violet eyes narrowing slightly. “I was doing it for her own good,” she replied coolly. “If I’m not strict, they won’t take things seriously. I’ve been too soft on them, and it’s done more harm than good.”
Shinobu blinked in disbelief. Since when had anyone at the estate failed to take their duties seriously?
“But, Nee-san—”
“Are you questioning my methods?” Kanae interrupted, her voice edged with steel.
Shinobu stiffened. Her older sister had never used that tone with her before, and it made her skin prickle. “No…”
Kanae returned her attention to the paperwork. “If you don’t want to be scolded as well, then do your job properly.”
“Yes, Nee-san,” Shinobu replied quietly. She wasn’t sure what else to say. It wasn’t that she didn’t know her sister—rather, this version of Kanae felt like a stranger, and Shinobu had no desire to provoke her further. It will be best to stay quiet and observe first.
After a brief silence, Kanae spoke again. “Is that all?”
Shinobu bowed her head. “Yes.”
Without another word, she turned and quickly left the room, the door sliding shut behind her.
As she walked down the corridor, an uneasy feeling settled deep in her chest. Something was terribly wrong with Kanae, and Shinobu couldn’t shake the fear that this was only the beginning.
***
Kanao was training in the garden when she heard the familiar sound of footsteps approaching the main gate. Glancing up, she saw Genya returning from his mission, his expression tinged with confusion.
“Kanao,” he greeted, still looking slightly dazed.
She tilted her head, sensing something was off. “Did something happen?” she asked softly.
Before Genya could respond, another figure appeared on the path. Sanemi walked into the garden, greeting them with an energy and brightness that felt strikingly similar to Kanae’s usual demeanor.
“Good morning!” he called, a wide smile spread across his face.
Kanao stared at him in silence, her gaze slowly shifting back to Genya.
Genya scratched the back of his head. “I ran into him on the path while I was heading back from my mission,” he explained. “He was already smiling like that, so I thought something really good must’ve happened.”
He paused, still trying to make sense of it. “It’s… strange. Aniki never smiles like that. And he was talkative too.” A small, sheepish smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll admit, though… I kind of enjoyed him being so kind during the whole walk.”
Kanao remained quiet, her thoughtful eyes lingering on Sanemi as she processed the unexpected change. He had softened since marrying Kanae, though his brash nature still surfaced from time to time, especially when his temper flared.
The Wind Hashira suddenly announced that he was going to see Kanae. With abundant energy, he marched off toward the estate, his steps almost bouncing with enthusiasm, a bright smile still plastered across his face.
“I’ll catch up with you two later!” he called over his shoulder, waving casually as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Kanao and Genya watched him go, both frozen in place, their expressions mirroring the same confusion. The sound of his cheerful humming lingered in the air long after he disappeared around the corner.
After a moment, Kanao turned to Genya, her head tilting slightly. “Genya,” she said softly, “are you sure something good just happened to him… and that he didn’t hit his head or something?”
Genya blinked, still staring in the direction Sanemi had gone. “I was pretty sure at first,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head. “I thought maybe he’d just come back from a successful mission or received some good news.”
Kanao considered this, her expression thoughtful. “Has he ever acted like this before?”
“Never,” Genya replied immediately. “I mean, he’s been in a very good mood once or twice, but this?” He gestured down the path. “He was talking the entire walk back. Asking about my mission, if I’d been eating properly, even telling me to visit them more often.” He paused, his sheepish smile reappeared. “He even said he was so proud of me that he will reward me with many ohagi.”
Kanao’s eyes widened slightly at that. “That is… unusual.”
“Yeah,” Genya chuckled nervously. “Not that I’m complaining. It was actually kind of nice. But now that I think about it…” His smile faded. “It’s really strange. He never smiles like that, and the way he’s walking—he’s practically skipping.”
Kanao glanced again toward the mansion. “Perhaps we should follow him,” she suggested. “Just to make sure everything is all right.”
Genya hesitated. “Do you think something’s wrong?”
“I’m not certain,” Kanao admitted. “But both Kanae-neesan and Sanemi-san are behaving so differently at the same time… it feels more than coincidence.”
Genya frowned. “You’re right. And if he really did hit his head, someone should probably check on him, before he does something even stranger.”
Kanao gave a small nod. “Let’s go.”