[Ghost Slayer] Those Years of Possession Pillars

"This is the mountain in winter..."

Heavy snow blocked the mountains, and the cold swept through the mountains and forests.

Yataro sat floating on the tree trunk, clasped his hands, but looked at the rising sun and sighed.

There was a tremor from the trunk below him, and snow fell sparsely from beside Yataro, and he staggered back and forth and fell down.

"—Tanjirou, help me!"

The boy who was cutting the tree immediately dropped the ax in his hand, and stretched out his arms to catch the falling person.

The fallen person passed through his fingertips, Tanjiro was not shocked, but showed a very helpless look.

"Yataro fell to his death..." Yataro, who was almost buried in the snow, wailed artificially, and the pale hands stretched out from the snow like ghosts imprisoned the boy's ankles.

Tanjiro looked down at him dumbfounded.

Yataro, who emerged from the snow again, slowly floated up, facing Tanjiro with his tongue out and his eyes hanging up.

"Tanjiro... I died so badly..."

Concerned that his younger brother Takeo was on the side, Tanjiro did not make any movements that others could not understand, but raised his hand and patted Yataro's head lightly, showing him a warm smile.

It was no surprise to see Yataro pouted in distaste and bored, dodged his hand and floated away.

"...Tanjiro, what are you doing?"

Takexiong, who was cutting trees in another area, walked over with an axe, and saw his brother make another strange move.

Tanjiro picked up the ax he had thrown on the snow as if nothing had happened, "It's all right, it's just that the ax fell out of my hands." He picked up the felled firewood into a bamboo basket and carried the bamboo basket on his back.

"Let's go, it's almost noon."

Takeo looked at him thoughtfully and nodded.

Light snow fell on the way home, and the crystal clear snowflakes fell on Tanjirou's dark red hair.In the town not far away, there was smoke from cooking, and every family started to make lunch by hand.

Pushing open the wooden door of the house, the aroma of bonito blows in.The two brothers shook off the snow that covered their bodies outside the house, put the wood in place, and then entered the house.

"Tanjirou and Takeo go wash your hands, you can eat later."

Mother Kuizhi poked her head out of the kitchen to give instructions, and went back to the kitchen to continue her work.

Mi Douzi is also helping in the kitchen, while the younger Mao and Hanako take care of the younger Liutai in the main room.

The little ones gathered around the warm futon, laughing and making noises, and when they saw Tanjiro coming in, they obediently called out to Big Brother.After warming his hands with hot water, Takeo couldn't wait to get into the kotatsu, purring comfortably, like a lazy cat.

The three little guys squeezed on one side, and Takeo occupied one side. Logically speaking, Tanjirou had two sides to choose from.

but……

[Hello Tanjiro! 】

【Tanjiro came back on time today~】

【I'm so hungry... The food made by Sunflower Branch is too delicious...】

[It's a pity that I can't eat it!Speaking of which, I really wonder what human food tastes like...]

The main room was full of "people" that no one could see except Tanjirou.

Not to mention that the two sides of the kotatsu that are said to be empty are actually already crowded with "people".

"Aren't Tanjirou going to sit down?" Takeo looked at him strangely, and even reached out to pat his side, "Come and sit down, Tanjiro, there's still a while before lunch."

Tanjiro watched Takeo's hand pass through the body of the person sitting beside him, the key is that neither Takeo nor that "person" felt the slightest discomfort.

【Tanjirou, please sit down~】

【It's even warmer when everyone gathers together! 】

[The winter in the mountains is still so cold, it's really strange how such a weak human can survive winter after winter. 】

Tanjiro smiled wryly in his heart, and slowly moved to the front of the kotatsu, and the "people" next to him enthusiastically squeezed to make room for him.

Tanjiro: ...

The mood is complicated, no matter how many times I watch it, I still feel amazing.

Ever since his third birthday, Tanjiro has been able to see things that others cannot see.For example, these guys who call themselves "little souls who make their home in the mountains".

At first, only one soul was seen.

It is "Yataro".

He is a lawless soul who is keen on role-playing. After meeting Tanjiro, he became even more presumptuous. Because only Tanjiro can see him, he can come out of some strange places to scare him at any time.

Then the other spirits came out, and to be honest, the sudden appearance of a large group of spirits that night really scared Tanjiro.

After going around for a few years, Tanjiro gradually got used to their existence.Sometimes it is very cute to see them interacting with their families.

[Wow ah ah ah——! !It's bonito! 】

The soul, which was about to throw itself into the soup bowl, gasped hard, showing obsession.

[Kuizhi's craftsmanship is getting better and better! ! ! 】

Another soul jumped over Mi Douzi who was sitting upright and shook his fist at him [Kuizhi's craftsmanship has always been very good, okay! 】

[Aooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh And And Andy!" !Pain, pain, Yusheng! ! 】

Tanjiro: "...Poof."

The surroundings suddenly became quiet, and all six people in the room looked over.

"What's the matter Tanjiro?" The mother's tone was a little worried, she put her hand on Tanjiro's forehead, "Do you have a cold?"

Yataro, who had just protruded a head from the wall, laughed wildly, and the whole main room was filled with magical laughter that only Tanjirou and the spirits could hear.

But Tanjirou could only ignore his voice and shake his head quickly.

"Just a cough, nothing serious," he explained.

Only then did the family feel relieved.

After the meal, Tanjiro had a short break, lying on the kotatsu, enjoying the warmth.

A magnified handsome face stretched out.

It's Yataro.

"Get up and play, Tanjiro!" Yataro was wearing a black kimono with dark patterns, looking at Tanjiro lying down with a smile.

Tanjiro, who had been chopping wood all morning, refused to speak.

Yataro, who had been harassed for a long time without any results, was discouraged, and got into the kotatsu to lie beside him in retaliation.

I felt a big ice cube on my side.

Even so, Tanjirou didn't want to leave the warm kotatsu.

Yataro: ... so angry!

Winter is getting deeper and the temperature is getting lower and lower.Tanjiro decided to get up early tomorrow and go to the town to sell some charcoal, and then buy some winter necessities for the family.

For these children, time passed quickly, and Tanjiro, as the eldest son of the Kamado family, took on the responsibility of the family early on.

After bidding farewell to his mother, Takeo and Shigeru and Hanako who were arguing to go to the town, and meeting Yadouko who was coaxing Liutai to sleep, Tanjiro embarked on the road to the town.

The snowy road is not easy to walk, the snow is too thick to see the trail under the snow, it may be better to walk if there are exposed stones or vine branches.Tanjiro can only rely on the memory of going down the mountain on weekdays to feel his way, so as to avoid slipping and stepping on the ground.

"Crack-"

"……Eh?!"

Not wanting to do anything, Tanjiro kicked a slippery vine, his feet were empty, and he fell down.

"Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow!

Yataro, who floated over after him, covered his face with a look of horror.

Fortunately, there were not many steep slopes in this section of the road, so Tanjiro stopped after sliding for a few meters.

"Are you alright Tanjiro?" Yataro drifted over to marvel, with a smirk on his face, "I didn't expect you to roll down the familiar road!"

Tanjiro raised his head from the snow, looked at him cutely, and shook his head slowly.

"...just suddenly forgot that there is a vine here."

Yataro, who was floating in the air, pursed his lips with a melancholy expression: "In this case, how can I rest assured that you will marry me, Tanji-chan!"

Tanjiro got up angrily: "...What is Tanji-chan!"

"Ah, my daughter's rebellion breaks my heart~" Yataro drifted away unsteadily after leaving these words.

Tanjiro: "...Yataro!"

The people in the town are very friendly, and when they saw Tanjiro going down the mountain to sell charcoal, they were very active in helping him.It's just that it was very late when the charcoal was sold out, and Tanjiro planned to go up the mountain at night, but was stopped by Grandpa Saburo at the foot of the mountain.Out of fear of ghosts, Saburo stubbornly kept his good boy Tanjiro.

In the small room, Tanjiro was sleeping on the floor, his eyes were wide open, and he didn't feel sleepy at all.

Yataro sat by the window, with one foot on the window and the other foot naturally hanging down.The warm moonlight shone in from top to bottom, making his complexion like jade.

"Yataro..." He whispered softly.

"Are there really ghosts?"

Yataro scratched his head, also a little confused: "I don't know, I haven't seen it before."

Even Yataro hasn't seen it, so it shouldn't exist, right?

Tanjiro felt a little relieved when he thought about it.

"sleep early."

At night, the howling wind blows up the broken snow that has not yet turned into old ice.The windows of Zaomen's house were scraped and rattled, Kuizhi frowned slightly and was worried.

Mi Douzi went to her mother and knelt down, comforting her silently.

Tanjiro should have settled down with Saburo at the foot of the mountain. It is windy at night, so it is safer to stay at the foot of the mountain.

but……

Kui Zhi covered her heart, and the heart in her chest was beating violently, as if hinting that something bad was coming.

Mao and Liutai slept together, and Hanako fell asleep just now, yawning.

Just when the mother and daughter were worried about being with each other, these six humans were not the only ones in the house.

[... To be honest, I don't feel quite right. 】

Soul, who was leaning against the wall in a daze, suddenly said a word.

[Don't just set up some flags that will fall down at any time, although I also think that these winds are a bit abnormal. 】

Looking at the icy edge of the window, the soul breathed a sigh of relief, and no surprise there was no trace.

Except for these two souls who stayed here, the other souls returned to the mountain—no matter how long it had passed, very few souls liked to contact humans, except for Yataro.

—and now to add both of them.

[Yusheng...] The soul by the window suddenly became serious [Do you think you can possess a human being now? 】

The soul Yusheng leaning against the wall floated up [...wait?What are you doing? 】

【Go to Possess Nezuko! 】The soul turned around and roared, and rushed into the body of Kuizhi, who was covering his heart and worrying, with lightning speed.

['Ghost' is coming! ! 】

In fact, all the spirits living in the mountains have never possessed humans.It's not just that no one will touch them, it's that they can't be possessed.

They are not just spirits, in fact they don't know where they come from.

If it weren't for Yataro, none of them might have the idea of ​​integrating into a human family.

Kuizhi, who was rushed into the body by the soul, flashed a dark red light in his eyes, and said softly to Nezuko who was possessed: "Children in the house, please take it deeper."

Yusheng manipulated the girl's limbs, walked into the house without saying a word, and woke up the children who were still in a daze.

Kuizhi cannot be injured.The possessed soul externalizes its own soul, and the blue flame covers the surface of the kimono. The original female face is changed by the climbing up the blue flame, covering the female body like an armor. whole body.

The soul manipulated the body and walked out of the house, giving Yusheng time to transfer the children.

Not far away, a figure slowly walked over, as if it was a girl from some family.But the perception of the soul was not wrong, it definitely determined that the breath of the person in front of him belonged to a ghost.

Zaomen Kuizhi, who was possessed by the spirit of the mountain, stretched out her fingers covered in fireworks armor, and rushed out quickly!

……

Tanjiro got up early the next morning, bid farewell to Grandpa Saburo, and walked towards the deep mountains with an empty charcoal basket on his back.

Yataro hadn't woken up yet, and was dozing in the empty basket in a daze.

The surrounding snow scene was constantly changing, Tanjiro walked home, he could vaguely smell a trace of blood.

"……Mother?"

Outside the door of the hut, the mother in kimono was kneeling in the snow, and she seemed to be holding someone in her arms.

Tanjiro rushed over in panic, the charcoal basket was thrown aside by him, and Yataro, who was squinting and dozing, crawled out of the frame with a displeased expression on his face.

"mom!"

The bloody smell became heavier as it got closer, Tanjiro finally saw who was in his mother's arms.

The younger sister Nezuko closed her eyes tightly, and there was a large bloodstain on her forehead.

He knelt down in the snow, wanting to touch Nezuko with his hands but didn't know how to do it.

Yataro floated over, first glanced at Nezuko who was lying down, and then looked sideways at the two souls who were hugging each other and crying.

"Wuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu whom the slightly tall and strong soul hugged his little friend.

The soul who was hugged and used as a pillow looked disgusted, and kept pushing him with both hands.

Yataro leaned over: "What's going on?"

Seeing that he couldn't push him away, Yusheng had no choice but to let his little friend rub his tears and snot all over his body in despair.

"In the early hours of this morning, ghosts attacked here." Yusheng tugged at his sleeves with difficulty, "Momota and I possessed Kuizhi and Neidouzi respectively."

"The sunflower branch possessed by me drags the ghost, and the Nezuko possessed by Momota diverts the children."

Tao Tai raised her head, tears streaming down her face: "It's so scary, so scary, I almost killed a sunflower branch..."

Yataro was silent for a while: "...What about Nezuko?"

Yusheng sighed: "After I transferred the children, I came back to help Taota. Maybe it was scratched when I was fighting with that ghost, and I was suddenly rejected by Nezuko."

"Fortunately, Tao Tai and I pretended to be dead, and Kui Zhi was fine..."

Yataro nodded, turned around and moved closer to Tanjirou.

Aoie, who was sitting in the snow, touched Nezuko's head worriedly, and said softly to Tanjiro, "Tanjiro, it was the kid over there who helped us."

She motioned him to take a look, and two very upright spirits appeared.Although they were still forced to stick together, Tanjiro stood up and thanked them solemnly.

The spirits who slowly brought the children over also appeared. Hanako was sitting in the arms of a tall and burly spirit, holding Shigeru with red eyes in his hand, and the older Takeo was holding a firewood tool. When he saw his mother and brother, he ran over quickly.

"Mom! Brother!"

Takeo dropped the ax and held onto Tanjiro tightly, his head buried in his neck, his voice choked with sobs.

Tanjiro patted his back reassuringly to calm him down.

After calming down, Takeo naturally saw Nezuko who was in a bad situation, he was a little surprised and worried: "This..."

Yataro reached out and touched Nezuko's head, "Nezuko's situation is a bit strange, Tanjiro will carry Nezuko to the doctor at the foot of the mountain to have a look."

There was no other way, Tanjiro nodded, and looked at his mother again.

"Kuizhi and the children should stay here with the spirit," Yataro explained, "the spirit will create some phantom formations to protect them, don't worry, Tanjiro."

Obviously it was the first time seeing these spirits, but Kuizhi seemed to trust them very much.

"I will take good care of Takeo and the others," Aoie handed Nezuko to Tanjiro, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and placed a light kiss on his forehead, "Please, Tanjirou."

Aoie touched Nezuko's hair on Tanjiro's back, her eyes were gentle.

"Please, Tanjirou. Be sure to take care of Nezuko."

The author has something to say: Mystery 1

Kuizhi had seen the spirit in the mountain before.

It was one day when Tanjuro came back from chopping firewood to make charcoal, and Aoizhi, who was worried about her husband, accidentally fell asleep after washing her hands and cooking. fur coat.But when I asked people in my family, they all said that they didn't know who put it on.

Later, every day, fresh food would be delivered to the door of the house, sometimes it was fish, and sometimes it was a hare.Kuizhi vaguely realized that something on the mountain was taking care of their family, and she was very grateful.