Inei's POV.
The end of the long journey.........
Kanao successfully injects the medicine to Tanjiro and as for Tanjiro, he slowly reverted back, to being human as the drug took effect.
I slowly lay him down, as Nezuko, Kanao, Zenitsu, Tomioka-san, Shinobu, Inosuke, and some of the Kakushis formed a crowd us.
Until.......
Tanjiro slowly opens his eyes, his right eye, having a pale color, meaning it got blind, and as for the left arm, it's like a withered plant.
But nonetheless, Tanjiro woke up.
And with a smile, I greeted him.
Inei: Welcome back, Tanjiro.
Tanjiro: Nii-san, Nezuko........
And a cheer erupts as Tanjiro finally wakes up.
Tanjiro: How are your injuries?
Inei: No need to worry about our injuries.......
Kanao who is holding his hand.........bursts into tears.
Kanao: Thank the gods..........
Tanjiro: Kanao..........
Everyone bursted to tears, including myself........
And I guess I can finally say, it's over........
I finally fell but Shinobu immediately caught me as I heard these words from her.
Shinobu: Job well done, Inei.
-------------------
Three Hours Later. Butterfly Estate.
I opened my eyes and I found myself at one of the rooms at the Butterfly Estate.
I slowly sat up on the bed and I saw Shinobu, sleeping beside the bed.
Inei: I see, it seems like everyone brought me here.
Inei: Thank you, Shinobu.
And I slowly jumped out from my bed. I saw Shinobu still sleeping soundly. So I quietly picked her up, put her in bed, and tucked the blanket.
I gently kissed her forehead.
Inei: Good job as well, Shinobu.
I went out of my room and I ran into Maya-neechan who suddenly embraced me when she saw me.
Maya: Thank the gods you're alive!
Inei: I promised that.........and I never break my promises, no matter what.
Maya-neechan leads me to the main hall as everyone is busy treating those who were wounded in battle. I also asked her about Tanjiro and she said that he's asleep..........
Along with those who fought hard........
Tomioka-san and Shinazugawa-san also fell asleep.
So among those who fought Muzan head on........
I was the first one to recover rather quickly.
Maya: I thought the Demon Slayer Mark will be gone but it seems like it will be there for the rest of your life.
Inei: Yeah. Well, I was born with this mark, after all.
Inei: Also, I guess I would be a living history, about our tale.
Aoi, Kiyo, Naho, and Sumi welcomed me as I finally woke up.
I decided to help them since there are a lot who is injured.
Until after 30 minutes.
Inei: Maybe I'll go make some onigiris.
Aoi: Oh! We can really use some food right now.
Maya: Hey, Inei, make 30.
Inei: That depends.
I went to the kitchen and I saw Nezuko trying to make the onigiris.
Inei: Make sure that the rices is properly molded.
Nezuko: Woah! Inei-oniichan!
Inei: So, you're attempting to make the onigiris?
Nezuko: Yes, but I really can't get how you do it.
Inei: Here, lemme show you how I do it.
I made the onigiris properly and Nezuko watched me earnestly until she was finally able to properly make it.
Nezuko: I did it!
I went to grab a tray and placed a batch of onigiris.
Inei: Bring these to Aoi and the others, I'm sure they're hungry.
Nezuko: Okay!
She brings the tray and went to the main hall.
Inei: It really feels like I'm at home.
Inei: I still can't believe that we finally defeated Muzan........
And the fact that many lives were lost..........
We didn't have the time to mourn as we are currently helping those who were wounded and injured in the fight.
Kage: Caw!
I saw Kage perch at window.
Inei: Oh, Kage!
Kage: The Emperor learned about the incident and about our all out battle against Muzan.
Inei: Oh no......
Kage: Don't worry, the Emperor said that they will be the ones who'll pay for the city repairs.
Kage: Also, the Emperor will give each member of the Demon Slayer Corps 250,000 yen.
Inei: Woah! What!?
Kage: For defeating Muzan......
Kage: As for the demon slayers who died who still have living relatives, they will receive the same amount, as compensation for their loss.
Inei: But the government doesn't recognize the Demon Slayers.
Kage: It was agreed upon a secret meeting.
Kage: The Emperor came here earlier when he knew about battle that occured.
Kage: He talked to Kocho and to your sister and that was what agreed upon the secret meeting.
Inei: I see.
Inei: Well then, fly true my friend.
Inei: You've done your duty.
Kage: Thank you.
Inei: That's my line.
Kage: Until we meet again, Inei.
Inei: Yeah.
Kage finally flies toward towards the blue sky.
Inei: Goodbye, until we meet again, Kage.
I continued making onigiris and Nezuko continued to help me as well.
Until, we ran out of ingredients.
Nezuko: Awww........
Inei: It's all right, we had to feed a lot of mouths, after all.
Aoi: Inei-san, Nezuko-chan, you guys also take a break as well.
Inei: Ah, thanks, Aoi-chan.
We went out of the kitchen as Nezuko and I went back to the veranda of the Estate and there was someone waiting for us, it was none other than Shinobu.
Shinobu: Oh, it seems like you woke up, Inei. Are you okay?
Inei: Yeah. I'm feeling better.
Nezuko: Hehe, Inei-oniichan sure is strong.
Nezuko: But that doesn't mean that you have to be so reckless everytime!
Inei: Says the one who is clinging on to a demonified Tanjiro.
Nezuko: Uh........
Inei: Anywaaaaaayyyyysssssssss.
I sat beside Shinobu and Nezuko is sitting behind me, giving me shoulder massages.
Shinobu: Are you the one who put me to bed when you woke up? Because I woke up and I'm already on bed.
Inei: Yep. You really looked exhausted back then.
Inei: So, yeah. You deserve the rest, Shinobu.
Shinobu: But I'm still surprised that you're the only one who wasn't seriously injured.
Shinobu: Especially when you're one of the people who fought Muzan in a one-on-one deathmatch so many times.
Inei: Honestly, I always thought that one wrong move and I'm surely dead.
Inei: Luckily, I was always in the Transparent World.
Inei: And also, my evolved Demon Slayer Mark somehow helped me.
Inei: But, I guess this won't be of use now.
Inei: The King of Demons are dead, and since he is the progenitor demon, all the demons that he created are also going to die as well.
Inei: Except for Yushiro who is a demon who is beyond Muzan's control.
Shinobu: You really helped us a lot. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't survive the fight, but the fact that we still had many losses during the fight.......
Inei: All we can do now, is to honor them and keep living on, for their deaths aren't in vain.
Inei: For they chose to sacrifice their lives, for this future.
Shinobu: Yeah.
We heard Aoi's footsteps.
Aoi: Ah, Nezuko-san.
Nezuko: Hm? Aoi-san, what's wrong?
Aoi: Could you help us with the chores?
Nezuko: Sure! Nii-chan, I'll go help them, make sure you rest, okay?
Inei: Yeah. Thanks.
Nezuko left with Aoi.
Shinobu: Inei, I've always been waiting.
Shinobu: Waiting for everything to settle down.
Inei: Yeah. Now that I already completed my mission.........
Inei: ..........
Inei: I feel like I like to settle down now.
Shinobu: Have you ever wondered what do you want to do if demons haven't existed?
Inei: Me?
Inei: Maybe I'll set up a restaurant. Since I like cooking and all.
Shinobu: Oh, I wanted to help my parents, since they are medical experts as well.
Inei: Why not build a hospital.
Shinobu: !?
Inei: What's with the reaction?
Shinobu: N-No, I mean.......I'm also considering that as well..........
Inei: I'm sure it will be successful. I mean, you are a medical expert. Also, my sister is there to help you as well as she is also got a lot of medical experience.
Shinobu: Yeah.
Shinobu: But.......
Shinobu: I think that my wish is coming true.
Inei: Your wish?
Shinobu: To be just like this.
Shinobu suddenly lays her head down on my lap.
Inei: S-Shinobu!?
Shinobu: Hehe. Come on.......we almost had no time be together.........
Shinobu: But now........we finally have all the time in the world.
Inei: Yeah.
I gently stroke her hair........looking at her beautiful eyes.
Inei: I've also been longing to be with you, for so long.
Shinobu: Me too.
I lean down and kissed her forehead.
Inei: I love you, Shinobu.
Shinobu: I love you too.
Inei: Oh, by the way, I got a gift for you.
Shinobu: Really?
Inei: I placed it on your room, and sorry for entering without your permission.
Shinobu: You left something there?
Inei: It's on top of one of the shelves, corner right.
Inei: I also left a note there as well.
Shinobu stood up, and left to check the gift.
I waited for a few minutes until I heard her voice.
Shinobu: So this is the gift that you've been talking about, huh?
I turn to look and it is more than I expected.
The kimono really compliments her.
Shinobu: S-So, what do you think?
She's shy because she knows that she never wore such an expensive kimono.
I smiled at her.
Inei: Why are you asking me that? I was the one who picked that for you.
Inei: And I picked that kimono because I know that you'll look more beautiful in it.
Shinobu: .......!
Shinobu: T-That's not fair!
Inei: !?
Shinobu: You're always the one who's making the move.............
Inei: And who's the one who confessed? It's you, right?
Shinobu: I-I........
Shinobu: *sigh*
Inei: Haha. No need to be so embarrassed, Shinobu.
Inei: Just be yourself.
Shinobu: Be myself, huh?
Inei: Yep.
Shinobu sits down beside me.
Shinobu: I should've worn this in a festival.
Inei: Yeah.
Inei: Oh, that's right........
Inei: Three months from now........
Inei: It's spring........
Shinobu: Spring, huh?
Inei: I know a lot of places where you can see a lot of cherry blossoms.
Shinobu: Ah, that's right. You traveled around Japan before.
Shinobu: *sigh*
Shinobu: I wish I could've traveled with you.
Inei: We can do that.
Shinobu: Really?
Inei: Yeah. I explored a lot of beautiful places.
Inei: Kyoto, Osaka, Nagasaki, Hokkaido........
Inei: Tokyo........
Inei: There are a lot of beautiful places in this country and I always wished, for you to see the sights that I saw.
Shinobu: Say, maybe during the summer........we'll have a trip.
Inei: Sure.
Shinobu and I spent our time all day, together. We went to the nearby city and we also decided to buy medical supplies while we're at it.
And when we returned, we checked at the wounded demon slayers.
It actually went on for a couple of weeks.
And then time passed by, and it is already been three months.
Tanjiro, is already recovered. Nezuko and I have been taking care of him, while Zenitsu and Inosuke are always with him.
Not to mention, almost everyone visited Tanjiro in the Butterfly Estate. Tengen-san and his wives, Senjuro-kun and Shinjuro-san, the swordsmiths, and the Kakushis.
As they are visiting Tanjiro.......
Kiriya-sama called the remaining hashiras to the Ubuyashiki Estate.........
For the Final Hashira Meeting.
Kiriya: Thank you for coming. Today marks the Final Hashira Meeting.
Kiriya: Sanemi. Giyuu.
Kiriya: Shinobu, and Inei.
Kiriya: You're the only four Hashiras left now. Most of the other children have left us.
Kiriya: But we managed to exterminate the demons.
Kiriya: Inei, the prophecy has been fulfilled through you and everyone's efforts.
Kiriya: You really did struck twice.
Inei: Kiriya-sama, prophecy or not, I wouldn't be able to fulfill that duty if I am alone.
Inei: I mostly took missions alone, it is only recently that I began taking missions with others.
Inei: I realized that I won't be able to work on my own. I may have the strength, but there are still things that I wouldn't be able to do alone.
Inei: I am grateful for Kagaya-sama for letting me realize this fact.
Inei: Also, Kiriya-sama, the work of our ancestors, have finally reached it's conclusion.
Kiriya: Yeah.
Kiriya: And thus the Demon Slayer Corps are disbanded as of today.
Sanemi, Giyuu, Shinobu, Inei: As you wish.
Then Kuina, Kanata, and Kiriya bowed to us.
Kuina: You risked your lives for the longest time.
Kanata: You fought and devoted yourselves for the people of the world.
Kiriya: We, the Ubuyashiki Family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Giyuu: Please, raise your heads.
Sanemi: We don't need any of your gratitude.
Inei: He's right, it is also through the efforts of the Ubuyashiki Family that we are here.
Shinobu: Kiriya-sama, you did a magnificent job. I'm sure that your father and your ancestors would be very proud of you.
I'm happy for Kiriya-sama, Kanata-sama, and Kuina-sama. Finally, they would've been able to live their lives, as ordinary children.
They cried their tears of joy as their duty is also fulfilled.
Sanemi, Giyuu, Shinobu, and I smiled at this sight.
The Demon Slayer Corps, is finally disbanded.
Sanemi and Giyuu parted ways with Shinobu and I.
As for the two of us.......
We went to a certain place.........
A certain place where a certain someone is resting.
It took us a long journey........
And our destination, is a abandoned house.
That house is what Maya-neechan described.
That is my family's abandoned home, the place of my birth.
The house is made of wood and it wasn't that big or small.
Shinobu: So this is where you're born, huh?
Inei: Yeah.
We explored the area and there.......
There is a tree and a gravestone.
It is written there.
"Saito Kazane."
I kneeled in front of the grave.........
Inei: I'm here, Mother. Even though we didn't meet face to face.......
Inei: But I'm glad that I was able to be here.
I took something out from my kimono and it is my father's handguard.
I placed it there.
Inei: Be at peace, Mother.
Shinobu joined me in paying respects to my mother. After that we explored the house, the place of my origins, and it is really desolated and old.
So, we just decided to leave it there, and went back to the Butterfly Estate.
It took us hours to get back and we're already back before sunset.
And when we came back, we saw Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke preparing to head off.
Tanjiro: Nii-san, thank you for everything.
Nezuko: We'll be going back home to our house. Nii-chan, you won't be going back with us?
I pat Tanjiro and Nezuko with each hand.
Inei: You don't have to worry about me. I already found my home.
Tanjiro and Nezuko smiled at me and Shinobu.
Tanjiro and Nezuko bowed their heads to Shinobu.
Tanjiro: Shinobu-san, thank you so much.
Nezuko: For being there for Inei-oniichan.
Shinobu: P-Please, I should be the one who should be thanking you two. If it weren't for your family, Inei wouldn't be the person he is today.
Tanjiro: No, it is nii-san who really helped us.
Tanjiro: We know that he is going through a lot of pain but you're the one who still helped him get through all of it, Shinobu-san.
Nezuko: That's why, we're wishing both of you, for a happy life together.
Shinobu smiled at them.
Shinobu: Thank you, Tanjiro, Nezuko.
As for the Kamado Siblings, I gave them a farewell hug.
Inei: Don't worry, I'll be visiting you guys whenever we can.
Tanjiro: Yeah.
Nezuko: We'll be making your favorite onigiri when you visit us.
As much as we didn't want to let go, we have to. We eventually need to say goodbye, after all.
Inei: Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke.
Inei: Take care of each other, okay?
Inei: Zenitsu.
Zenitsu: Y-Yes!?
Inei: I won't give you my blessing to marry Nezuko if you haven't fulfilled my conditions.
Zenitsu: E-Eh!? W-What is it!?
Inei: You got to be a respectable man and stop being such a wimp. You already went past that and make sure you'll be a reliable husband to Nezuko.
Inei: Be a man, Zenitsu. If you won't fulfill these conditions, I won't give Nezuko's hand to marry you. Am I understood!?
Zenitsu: Y-Yes, nii-san!
Inei: Don't call me that yet until Nezuko marries you!
Nezuko: N-Nii-chan!
Inei: Don't worry, Nezuko. I'm sure you'll eventually bring the best out of Nezuko.
Inei: Tanjiro.
Tanjiro: Y-Yes!?
Inei: The curse of the demon slayer mark, you know what will happen, right?
Tanjiro: Yes. Unlike you who was born with it, you won't die at the age of 25.
Inei: 10 years, huh?
Inei: Don't worry about it, Tanjiro. Just live the best of your life.
Tanjiro: Nii-san.
Inei: I'm sure, there is already someone waiting for you.
Tanjiro: I-I........
Inei: Inosuke, well, I don't know what to say but, be sure grow up as you will be living in human society from now on.
Inosuke: Hah! That would be easy!
Inei: I'm not so sure about that.
Inei: So, you four. Goodluck.
Inei: Tanjiro, Nezuko, send my thanks and my regards, to your family.
Tanjiro: We will.
The four of them finally went on their way as we wave them goodbye.
Shinobu and I went to the veranda, sitting beside each other.
Shinobu lays her head on my shoulder, as we both watch the sunset.
Inei: Say, Shinobu, once Kanao, Aoi, Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho grow up and have their lives, I'm sure they will eventually leave the estate.
Inei: And I don't know about Maya-neechan. I mean, I told her that she should already get a husband.
Inei: And guess what, she and Tomioka-san are some getting along.
Shinobu: Pffft! Really!?
Inei: Well, I won't deny their happiness.
Inei: But to think that in the end, once it happens, the Butterfly Estate will be empty.
Shinobu: Yes. Though it is a bit sad that the mansion will be empty and lonely.
Inei: After all, we're like a family in here.
Shinobu: Yeah.
Inei: So.......
Inei: Why don't we make our own.
Shinobu: Huh?
Inei: You know, get married and have kids.
Shinobu: Oh.........
Inei: Hey.
Shinobu: Hm.
Shinobu sits up straight as somehow, she knows that I'm talking about something serious here.
Inei: But I've been thinking it over and over.
Shinobu: About getting married and all?
Inei: Yes.
Inei: After everything settled down.
Inei: And..........
Inei: Ugh, why does it have to be so hard.
Shinobu: Huh? What do you mean? Do you want to say something?
Inei: ...........
I then gently took her left hand.........
And pulled out a ring.
Inei: Kocho Shinobu............
Inei: Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?
Shinobu: *gasp*
Her reaction is full of shock and confusion, I mean, I guess she doesn't know this but.........
I heard that in Western culture, when a man usually wants to ask the woman they love to marry them, they would offer a ring, a symbol of their engagement.
Shinobu was shocked by the question....
Until.......
Shinobu: I never expected this to happen so soon......but........
Shinobu: Nonetheless.........my answer..............
Shinobu: Is yes.
Shinobu: Saito Inei, I also want to spend the rest of my life with you.
I slowly put the ring on her left ring finger, and it fits perfectly on her.
Then, Shinobu and I shared a moment, as we kissed on a beautiful sunset.
Also, on that night, Shinobu and I become one.
Eventually........
Three months later............
We held a wedding ceremony and we invited our closest friends to our wedding ceremony.