Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began When I Became Yoriichi's Sister

Upon hearing Shinobu's words, Ikuko couldn't help but show a hint of confusion: "Shouldn't Kokushibo be a major enemy of the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Why is Ren defending him?

“Because…” Shinobu Kocho looked at her with clear eyes and a smile appeared on her face, “Yuko seems to be very troubled.”

Yu Zi was startled and instinctively avoided her gaze.

My heart was pounding with excitement.

What do you mean?

Should I endure...?

Her mind was still hazy, and Shinobu Kocho continued, "Even if you become a demon, family is still family."

"Isn't this the principle that Yuko taught me?"

Yuko snapped out of her reverie and shook her head with a complicated expression: "But Kokushibo is different from Yae and the others..."

He turned into a ghost on his own initiative.

That alone is unforgivable, not to mention the people he's eaten over the years.

Shinobu's eyes flickered slightly as she subtly observed Yuuko's expression: "So, Yuuko, you've already made your decision?"

"Hmm... next time we meet, it will be a fight to the death." Sending Kokushibo off personally was the only thing she could do.

Shinobu pursed her lips, about to say something, but was suddenly interrupted by Yuko.

Yuko rubbed her stomach: "By the way, is there anything to eat? I suddenly feel a little hungry."

"Huh? Hungry?" Shinobu Kocho's expression froze for a moment, but she quickly recovered and nodded. "Wait a moment."

She got up and left.

After sending Shinobu away, Ikuko slowly exhaled a long breath.

Although she was touched that Yuko was so considerate of her, she didn't want to worry others.

Moreover, Ren's concern might lead her to misunderstand.

To avoid awkwardness, it's best to change the subject.

Not long after, Shinobu Kocho returned to the corridor with soft, bouncy footsteps.

"Is this enough?"

"If it's not enough, I'll go get more."

Yu Zi turned her head and saw that she was carrying several blood bags in each of her hands.

Yuko was both amused and exasperated: "So Ren didn't know?"

"What?" Shinobu Kocho's expression was blank.

"actually……"

Yuko told Shinobu about Tamayo's research findings.

Shinobu Kocho's eyes and mouth widened slightly, and after a long while, she finally exclaimed, "Wow, Tamayo-san is amazing."

"They can even do something like this."

Yu Zi rarely saw her like this, so she smiled and asked, "So, is there anything to eat?"

"There's some dessert left over from Aoi's earlier meal, wait a moment." Shinobu Kocho smiled and turned to head towards the kitchen.

A moment later, she came out with a plate on which, in addition to the tempting pastries, there were two cups of steaming hot flower tea.

Shinobu Kocho placed the plate between the two of them and sat down: "Would you like to try some? This flower tea is something I carefully cultivated."

Shinobu looked at Ikuko with anticipation.

After learning Ikuko's true identity, Shinobu Kocho rarely enjoyed afternoon tea or anything like that in front of Ikuko anymore.

Unless Tanjiro and Kanao are both present.

Apart from that, she never behaved like this when she was alone with Yuko.

I have to say, Ren is really thoughtful.

Under Shinobu's expectant gaze, Ikuko picked up her teacup, blew on the steam, and took a small sip.

Yuko had barely taken a sip when Shinobu Kocho eagerly asked, "How is it?"

"It was delicious."

Shinobu Kocho smiled and said, "That's good."

Shinobu took small sips of her flower tea, while the rustling of insects echoed through the weeds in the courtyard, and a cool breeze occasionally blew from the horizon.

Time seemed to stand still.

Feeling the cold wind, Yuko suddenly remembered what had happened at Tamayo Laboratory not long ago.

He couldn't help but touch his arm.

There was no abnormal temperature on her skin, otherwise she would have noticed it much earlier.

Shinobu Kocho, holding a pastry in her hand, looked over with curiosity: "Ikuko?"

Yu Zi shook her head: "It's nothing, I'm just a little bothered by it."

"What do you care about?"

Adhering to the principle of speaking frankly and without reservation, Yuko told Shinobu about what had happened in the laboratory.

Shinobu blinked, somewhat surprised: "The blood temperature dropped to minus seventy degrees?"

"Yes, that's what Tamayo said."

Shinobu Kocho asked, "May I take a look?"

Yu Zi was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Shinobu quickly stuffed the pastries into her mouth twice, making her cheeks bulge, and then stretched out her slender fingers.

She swallowed the pastry with difficulty and said, "Give me your hand."

Yuko didn't think too much about it and stretched out her hands.

Shinobu Kocho grabbed her hands and ran her fingers up her arms.

After taking a look, she said, "Judging from the temperature of the body surface, although it is much lower than the normal body temperature, it is not as low as below zero."

"But since Miss Tamayo has said so, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Was Ikuko like this back then? Had she turned into a demon?" Shinobu Kocho asked, tilting her head to look up at Ikuko.

Yuko replied simply, "No."

Shinobu Kocho pursed her lips: "Then, could Ikuko try transforming into a demon?"

"I think the blood should also change in the demon form."

"Twisted into a demon..."

"Can't you?"

“No, it’s not that it can’t be done…” Yu Zi hesitated for a moment, then focused her energy on her body.

Shinobu Kocho watched intently, without even blinking.

Under the moonlight, Yu Zi's wine-red hair quickly turned white, and fine blue veins appeared on her originally fair and flawless arms, extending along the veins. Her jet-black fingernails also grew longer.

The wine-red double pupils gradually merged, turning into golden eyes, and the whites of the eyes were replaced by black.

Two menacing horns hung high on its head like tree branches.

Perhaps it was an illusion caused by Oni-katana, but in Shinobu's eyes, Ikuko seemed to have grown taller again.

Yuko let out a breath: "Is it okay now?"

"Ah, okay." Shinobu Kocho came to her senses and reached her hands back towards Ikuko's arms.

It's so cold...

If Yuko's body temperature was just a little low before, now, while it's not quite like an ice cube to the touch, it's definitely not the kind of heat a living person could emit.

Shinobu Kocho pondered for a moment: "It seems that in your demon form, your blood temperature has dropped even further."

"Theoretically speaking, extreme environments can affect the rate of cell regeneration and division, whether it is extreme heat or extreme cold."

Shinobu's eyes brightened slightly: "I think Ms. Tamayo is right. If things continue like this, Yuuko's blood might really be able to replace the function of the Crimson Blade."

"Well, that's what I thought too."

This is a good thing for Ikuko and for the Demon Slayer Corps.

In fact, we can start trying to extract her blood for testing now.

As long as there is enough energy replenishment, there is no need to worry about the blood being consumed too much and not being able to be supplied in a short time.

As Yuko was pondering going to Tamayo's place tomorrow, Shinobu Kocho suddenly stammered in front of her.

“That… Yuko…”

"What's wrong?" Yuko subconsciously looked up and saw that Shinobu Kocho had a suspicious blush on her face and was staring blankly at the top of her head.

Yu Zi followed her gaze and looked up at the ceiling, but there was nothing there.

"Um, may I touch it?"