Listening to Izumi Kiyokazu's words, a shadow of worry crossed Ume's face. She glanced at the wounds covering his body and said hesitantly, "Are you really going to be alright moving on your own in that state?"
"There are definitely problems. I'm not even sure myself if I can hold on long enough to finish buying the food. If I'm not back by the time you finish treating your brother's wounds, just leave. Don't wait for me."
"My sense of smell is very keen. I can track your scent, so it'll be easy for me to find you. But it's different for you; you won't be able to find me. When the time comes, don't hesitate. Promise me, don't linger. Can you do that?"
As Ume listened, a flush crept across her face at the mention of him smelling her scent. Her small nose twitched instinctively, as if she were worried she might smell of sour sweat.
Kiyokazu naturally noticed her reaction and what was going through her mind. He smiled faintly and said in a soft voice, "You smell very nice. Like the faint fragrance of plum blossoms."
"Idiot! Who told you to say things like that!" Ume snapped, her face now completely crimson. The vivid red climbed all the way to her ears against her snowy skin, like the striking hue at the tip of a plum petal. "I'm leaving! And you'd better come back! You have all my brother's money, so if you run off with it, I'll… I'll never forgive you!"
Though Ume was only about ten years old, in an era where girls commonly married at fourteen or fifteen, she already had some understanding of the feelings between men and women.
Izumi Kiyokazu was the first man, other than her brother Gyutaro, to treat her with such kindness. Moreover, the images of him fighting for her sake had left an incredibly deep impression on her heart. It would be difficult for her not to care about a man like that.
As she turned to leave, Ume couldn't help but look back. She bit her lip and whispered, "If you really run into trouble… it's okay if you just take the money and go. I can earn more myself. You've already done enough for me. You paid back the debt for that half a rice ball long ago…"
However, before Ume could finish, Kiyokazu stepped forward. He looked at her with firm resolve in his eyes and laughed softly.
"Even the biggest fool knows that saving a life isn't equal to half a rice ball. If we followed your logic, how would someone repay a person who pulled them back from the edge of a cliff? By cutting off a hand?"
Hearing his teasing, Ume's mouth fell open. She said in a panic, "D-dummy, that's not what I meant! I meant—"
Kiyokazu interrupted her again, his tone unwavering. "Until this body of mine has completely rotted away, I won't stop repaying my debt. Now, go. We're out of time."
Without giving Ume a chance to argue, Kiyokazu turned and ran in the opposite direction. He had already memorized the location of the market. The sun was nearing the horizon; most villagers who came to sell their wares would head home around four in the afternoon, given the rumors of demons prowling the area at night.
Most people chose to leave two or three hours before sunset to avoid the man-eating monsters. Time was of the essence; he had to make every second count.
Ume stood frozen for a moment, watching his retreating figure. She bit her lip slightly, the ripples in her heart refusing to settle. The near-absolute trust and care Kiyokazu showed her had transformed into a sense of security and a flutter of emotion she had never felt before, wrapping around her heart like creeping vines.
She didn't linger. She silently etched the sight of his back into her memory, swallowing the words "You must come back safely" back into her throat.
She channeled all her emotions into one long, lingering gaze. Then, Ume turned resolutely and ran toward home, the heavy medicine on her back. This time, her steps were steadier than before. As for why? Even Ume wasn't entirely sure. Perhaps it was because Kiyokazu's awakening had given her a new sense of hope.
She needed to get home and treat her brother quickly. The wounds on Gyutaro's back...
Having been stripped of his upper garments by Ume earlier, Kiyokazu felt a bit awkward. While it wasn't unusual to be shirtless in this season, the strange looks from those around him still made him uncomfortable.
In particular, the wounds on his back made the vendors give him a wide berth. In this era, ordinary merchants wanted nothing to do with desperate-looking characters or outlaws. Their food was their livelihood; if it was stolen, they might as well be dead.
It was much like the situation with Tanjiro's family—if the income from selling charcoal wasn't immediately converted into food, the entire family would perish in the snow long before Muzan ever arrived.
Kiyokazu felt helpless seeing the vendors avoid him. To make matters worse, there seemed to be a peace officer on this street—a man dressed in samurai attire who was currently walking toward him.
He didn't have time to explain himself, and he certainly didn't want to be taken in for questioning. With a quick stride, he stepped up to a farmwoman's stall.
"How much for these?" Kiyokazu asked, pointing to the brown, rough-textured hoshii.
Hoshii was a portable ration made by steaming and then drying rice. It could be stored for a long time and eaten after being softened with water or soup. It was a common staple in 1788, similar to modern-day compressed biscuits.
The farmwoman looked at Kiyokazu, startled by the wounds on his body. She instinctively recoiled, nearly tripping over a stone behind her. Just as she was about to fall, Kiyokazu reached out and caught her.
Coming to her senses, the woman looked at the sharp wooden plank behind her and felt a wave of lingering fear. At the same time, she felt a flicker of gratitude toward him. Seeing that Kiyokazu looked urgent rather than malicious, she timidly quoted a price.
Kiyokazu didn't haggle. He paid immediately and moved quickly to the next stall.
His movements were swift because, from the peace officer approaching through the shadows of the buildings, Kiyokazu had caught a scent that filled him with absolute loathing.
His instinct told him: that was the smell of a demon!
The fact that the man stopped just short of the edge of the shadows seemed to confirm Kiyokazu's grim suspicion.
────────────────────────────────────────
Support me here: https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
Spring Sale Special – 20% OFF!
Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki
Join the journey and become part of the story!
────────────────────────────────────────