บท 94: End of Drama : Entertainment District!!
Author : I didn't want to stop right at the middle of the drama before things get resolved so here you go.
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[Seiji's POV]
"I see, so that's how it was..." Mitsuri said thoughtfully while looking at her reflection in the small pond.
We were at the Kanroji compound, sitting on the bridge that went across a small pond in the garden. Our legs dangled down from the edge and barely touched the water below.
It was afternoon now and the sun was starting its descent to the western horizon. It took me a little more than an hour to explain everything she wanted to understand.
"So following what is known from the previous mark bearers, you will die by the age of 25," Mitsuri repeated what I said and I nodded in response.
"That's right,"
"Isn't there anything you can do? Maybe there is a medicine out there that can cure you. Miss Shinobu is a genius doctor, right? Maybe she can help.." Mitsuri said hopefully.
"No. I have checked ever single cell of my body, there is nothing out of the ordinary with me physically. I believe that the mark is more spiritual than it is physical, like shortening my lifespan or spiritual essence," I said, brushing off her hope.
If the Demon Slayer mark had a visible negative impact on my body, my eyes would see it and curing would be much easier. But after many days of research and pondering, I came to the conclusion that it was more spiritual and magical, like the spells used by the demons through their blood demon art.
I saw Mitsuri biting her lips and she stayed in silence. It would be hard for her to accept the reality. I myself still had a hard time accepting it.
...
"But just because others die at 25, doesn't mean you will too," she said and turned to look at me.
Her emerald eyes were boldly locked with mine and without a flicker of doubt, she said, "You are different - like me - you said it yourself. So just because they die, doesn't mean you will,"
My throat closed up, my body froze at her words and confrontation. It might sound like a futile hope of a lover to other people but I saw the meaning behind her words.
I opened my mouth to reply, to give the poor girl another rebuttal but something stopped me from saying anything. In the end, my eyes went soft and I smiled.
"That's right, you are right," I said and she beamed me a smile of relief.
A part of me always knew that. It's just that the confidence I used to have in myself has wavered ever since I let Kanae down.
But now that Mitsuri had said it with such intensity in her eyes, I found myself believing again. The lack of faith I had in myself was replaced by the faith she had in me.
I laughed, "Hahahahahaha!!"
When have I ever put myself on the same level as others? When they spent their entire life mastering one breathing style, I mastered all of them. When they took years to sharpen their skills, I did it with a glance. When they despaired, I found reason to hate.
And when they died at 25 due to the mark, suddenly, I was going to follow them and die too? Ridiculous.
There was even someone, Yoriichi, who was able to live a full life while having the mark. Did I think of myself as inferior and incapable of accomplishing the same feat?
No.
Even if I was not born with the ability to overcome this challenge like he did, I will find a way.
"Now I feel stupid," I said and wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me. She looked down slightly with red on her face and I took the chance to kiss her on the head.
"Thank you,"
I really needed that nudge to believe in myself again.
I stayed with her for a long time on that bridge, waiting for the sun set into the horizon. There was silence and warmth between us.
But as the sun nearly dipped into the mountain and the sunlight had turned weak orange, I knew it was time for me to leave.
"I have to go now," I said.
I saw how she tried hard to not ask me where I was going but in the end, curiosity got the better of her.
"Where are you going?"
"Yashiwara," I said without much care, "To the entertainment district,"
I saw with the corner of my eyes how her entire body froze like ice. She stilled like a statue for a while before she erupted into a blushing mess. I could almost see steam coming off her head.
"I-I see," she said and fiddled with her fingers cutely.
I knew then that she had a completely different idea of the situation. Yet I didn't correct her because I enjoyed her reaction.
She thought I was going there to enjoy my time with a prostitute.
An interesting fact about that, the Japanese people especially during this era did not consider a man buying a prostitute to be cheating. They saw it more as the man relieving himself in a massage or something and not a betrayal of his marriage. If it was business with no emotional attachment, it was not considered cheating.
Then again, this was due to the prominence of arranged marriage. People rarely marry for love and would marry those chosen by their parents in name only. So usually, the wives didn't really love their husbands and couldn't care less if they have sex with a prostitute or not.
It was all just duty and responsibility. And as time went on, it turned into a culture thing.
Which was why Mitsuri's first reaction was to be shy and embarrassed before getting mad instantly like you would expect.
"But why would you go there?" finally, she asked and looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"If you want..that kind of thing, I can-"
I put a finger on her lips to stop her. Please, don't tempt me.
"Relax, there is a demon hiding there so I am going slay it," I said with a chuckle.
I didn't tell her to that it was an Upper Moon though, with what happened the last time I fought an Upper Moon she would be worried.
"Oh," she blinked her round eyes.
"I'll return before sunrise," I said and after a few seconds, I disappeared from my spot with a blur of speed.
..
..
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(The entertainment district)
The place was silent in the day but at night, it came to life. The whole district was filled with bright lights and lanterns that made the night as bright as day.
Even the stars in the sky were not visible due to light pollution.
The smell of alcohol and women's perfume filled the streets. Many drunk men were walking alongside women, some even fondling with their breasts to which the ladies giggled sweetly.
But alcohol and women were not the only things you could find here. It was the entertainment district after all, you could also see musicians and performers in every corner of the street.
There were different gambling places where you could bet on cards, a battleground where you could bet on fights and a place to bet on upcoming sports matches etc.
Basically, everything that could entertain a man was found in the Yashiwara district.
I stood on top of one of the buildings and scanned the entire layout of the city. The whole place spanned over five kilometres and I made sure to go through every inch of the city.
Which was hard, not because of how big it was but because...you could imagine why.
"Found you," I said out loud while my glowing eyes looked at the centre of the district.
My eyes ignored the distance and even the solid ground. I saw through everything else and my eyes fell on Daki who was underground with a new victim she just caught.
There were tunnels connecting the whole district and all those tunnels met at the centre where the demon was currently staying.
Time to do god's work.
..
..
[IMAGE]
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Author : Things are very complicated during the past few days. So updates will be inconsistent at best this week.
Will try to go full theottle again next week. Sorry for the inconvenience but life getting too real these days.
For those wanting to read ahead and support me you can join my patreon.
Emmanuel_Capricorn
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