Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 322 Family Reunion After a Long Separation

"Flying birds..."

"Walking on the unusually bustling streets of the Soul Society today, Shinobu Kocho suddenly called out softly."

"Hmm?" Asuka turned her head to the side.

"Weren't you a little too impulsive just now?" Shinobu Kocho's lips curled into that familiar, slightly sly smile: "That's the Zero Division, you know."

"If it weren't for Yoruichi stopping you, were you really planning to fall out with those people?"

"Of course." He admitted without hesitation, "If they dare to stop me from taking you away, I don't care about any Spirit King or anything like that."

Hearing this familiar, illogical, and utterly baseless nonsense, Shinobu Kocho couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The clear, melodious laughter swept away the heavy gloom.

"You...you haven't changed at all."

Shinobu turned around, pulled her hands away and put them behind her back, tilting her head slightly to look at him.

Those purple eyes sparkled with tiny starlight: "How come you're still that complete idiot who only knows how to solve problems with violence?"

"I never thought about changing," Asuka said, looking at her earnestly. "I just want the people I care about to understand me."

This statement is straightforward and passionate.

Shinobu's heart skipped a beat.

Her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly looked away, her gaze falling on the wildflowers by the roadside.

"By the way... could you come back to the Fourth Division with me first?" She tried to change the subject, but her voice involuntarily dropped: "Since Hinata did that, wouldn't Hina also...?"

'

"And what am I going to say to Lord Kagaya and Lady Amane when I see them...?"

"Don't overthink it, Ren, this isn't your fault."

Asuka looked directly into those eyes brimming with remorse and firmly promised, "Leave it to me, I will bring that child back."

Looking into Asuka's unwavering gaze, as if she were a demon, Butterfly's fear and self-blame were slowly replaced by a strong sense of security.

"Yes." Shinobu Kocho nodded emphatically. "I believe you, Asuka."

She knew that once this man made a promise, he would definitely keep it.

The two continued walking and eventually reached the Fourth Division barracks.

After asking around with her teammates, she learned that Hinai had indeed suffered minor injuries, but was otherwise fine.

However, I'm in a bad mood... so I've already gone home.

Upon hearing this news, Shinobu sighed, "Then let's hurry back. Hina must have gone to inform the lord..."

""

As they walked further and further away, the towering white walls of the Soul Court were left far behind.

The familiar Rukongai appeared before my eyes.

Whether it's the low-rise houses filled with the aroma of cooking fires, the wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys in the distance, or the homeless children darting across the streets from time to time.

All of this gave Fei Niao a sense of reunion, as if from another world.

"Flying birds".

"Um?

'

"Over the years... in other worlds, have you met any other lovely girls?"

Shinobu Kocho suddenly tilted her head, her tone carrying a dangerous probing tone.

This caused the bird to stumble and almost fall flat on its face.

Cute girl...

Looking at Shinobu Kocho's ambiguous smile, images of the red-haired high school girl from Fuyuki City, the strange, neurotic loli on the bridge, and the ahoge-haired king wielding a knight's sword inexplicably flashed through his mind.

"No! Absolutely not!" Asuka answered decisively, "There's nothing but fighting there, no girls whatsoever!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Shinobu narrowed her eyes, clearly not believing it: "Then why did I think I heard a woman's voice when you swung your sword?"

Asuka suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, shocked as to whether Shinobu Kocho had heard the voice in her heart, or whether some voice had actually escaped with the fluctuation of spiritual pressure.

In short, I cursed Francesca, that troublemaker, a thousand times in my mind.

"Huh? No, that should be the voice of the sword spirit! And it's a dog!"

First and foremost, I am a wolf...

The raccoon tried to explain, but was blocked by the bird.

"Hehe, then I'll trust you for now."

The two bickered as they walked through the bustling Rukami district.

The wandering spirits who were passing by looked at this usually dignified and gentle Fourth Division Commander, who was now acting like a little girl in love, playfully fighting with a man full of murderous aura, and they all cast surprised glances at him.

"So this is the type Miss Butterfly likes? How awful..."

"I'd heard it before, back in my day, that women love bad boys. I never thought it was true!"

"Looking at the modeling, the only thing you can do when you're being naughty is sexual harassment..."

Finally, before night completely fell, they arrived at the quiet courtyard.

In the courtyard, a dim yellow lantern swayed in the wind.

The towering Beimingyu Xingming stood silently in the courtyard, leaning on a broom, chanting Buddhist scriptures in a low voice.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat in the corridor, lost in thought, while Lady Amane gently draped a warm coat over his shoulders.

Hina sat at their feet, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the ground.

Clearly, the departure of Nichika and the turmoil in the Soul Society had put some pressure on this family.

The wooden door creaked open.

"My lord, we're back."

Xingming stopped chanting Buddhist scriptures, Yaozai and Tianyin raised their heads, and Hina also stared blankly at the door.

When they saw clearly the tall, sharp-eyed, black-haired youth standing next to Shinobu Kocho.

clack.

Xingming dropped the broom from his hand.

"Amitabha....

""

He suddenly clasped his hands together, and hot tears welled up in his eyes without warning: "Buddha bless... Flying Bird Benefactor, you have finally returned..."

Madam Tianyin covered her mouth, her eyes flashing with disbelief. She subconsciously grabbed her husband's arm, as if she needed to confirm that what she was seeing was not an illusion.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who was sitting by the corridor, slowly stood up.

In Asuka's memory, the weak man whose face was covered with purplish-black curse marks and who was blind was gone.

In the Soul Society, where there is no curse, he regained the upright posture that a healthy adult male should have.

"Asuka..." Kagaya's voice was as gentle as ever: "Long time no see, you haven't changed at all."

As for Hina... she had only met the man that Shinobu-sama was thinking about a few times, and they hadn't even exchanged a single word.

She wanted to speak but didn't know what to say, so she could only bow respectfully.

Asuka stood quietly at the door, her gaze sweeping over Gyomei's tear-streaked face before settling on Yaozai's family.

He was very pleased to see them so healthy and peaceful now.

"It seems the environment of Rukongai is quite nurturing."

As always, Asuka was not good at expressing strong emotions. She strolled into the courtyard and said, "Lord Kagaya, you look much better now than before."

This slightly dryly humorous remark did ease the somewhat somber atmosphere a little.

Shinobu Kocho gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, smiling tenderly and helplessly: "Mr. Asuka, you can't greet the Lord like that."

"Please come in, please come in!" Madam Tianyin quickly released her husband's hand, walked briskly to the door, and warmly welcomed Fei Niao into the courtyard.

Looking at Asuka's chest, covered in dried blood, her eyes were filled with heartache: "Mr. Asuka, you must have suffered a lot these years."

"I didn't suffer much, I just got lost and wandered a bit too far," Asuka replied casually.

Shinobu quickly walked to Hina's side and hugged her.

"Shinobu-sama... I'm sorry... Hinata... " Hinata's voice was heavy with sobs, muffled as it came from between them.

Shinobu Kocho didn't blame her; she simply stroked the girl's snow-white hair gently, comforting her, "It's alright, child."

"We'll bring her back, everything's alright."

Lady Tianyin turned her head away and quietly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Kagaya's smile faded slightly as he walked over to Hina and placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder.

"Alright, child, now is not the time to cry." Kagaya's voice was calm and reassuring: "Asuka-kun has come from afar, he must be very tired."

"Mr. Xingming, please prepare dinner. If you have anything to say, let's sit down as a family and talk it out."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Yes," Xingming replied respectfully, then turned and walked towards the kitchen in the backyard.