Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
─────
Chapter 124: The Butterfly Sisters, Contract, and Trade
"Sister?!"
Shinobu stared, her eyes impossibly wide, unable to believe that the face which had flashed through her memories countless times was right in front of her.
In the next second, the young girl threw herself at Kanae.
She buried her face in her sister's chest like a willful child, her composure and emotional control completely shattering in that instant. "I missed you so much!"
There was no pinching cheeks or checking arms to verify if the sister in front of her was real. Because even if this was a dream, Shinobu was more than willing to lose herself in it for a little while.
"Mmn, Big Sister is right here~"
Kanae hugged Shinobu's petite body, resting one hand softly on her head and using the other to gently pat her back, soothing her crying sister. "Shinobu, I'm back~"
Shinobu lifted her head from Kanae's chest, gazing up at that deeply missed, familiar face, and murmured, "Sister, I have so many things I want to tell you..."
"It's okay. No matter what Shinobu wants to say, Big Sister will listen patiently to every word," Kanae said, a gentle, comforting smile gracing her lips.
And so, under Kanae's soothing presence, Shinobu poured her heart out, babbling intermittently about a million chaotic things. Her emotions were so overwhelming that her words often didn't make complete sense.
But Kanae didn't show the slightest hint of annoyance. She listened patiently to Shinobu's emotional flood, nodding occasionally and offering soft responses.
It was a beautiful picture of profound sisterly love.
It wasn't until about half an hour had passed that Shinobu finally stopped talking. She pulled back from Kanae's embrace and whispered softly, "That's enough. Thank you, Sister. I feel much better now. It's time for me to wake up."
Even up to this moment, the girl truly believed she was in a dream.
She knew all too well that her sister had died two years ago. It was impossible for her to be here. Aside from a dream, there was no other explanation.
Yet, even knowing this, she hadn't wanted to break the illusion. She had gone along with the dream, taking a brief moment of solace and comfort from the sister her mind had conjured.
"Wake up?"
Kanae tilted her head, looking at Shinobu in confusion. "But... this isn't a dream."
Saying that, Kanae reached out under Shinobu's bewildered gaze and gave her cheek a gentle pinch.
Shinobu clearly felt the faint sting of pain on her cheek—and more importantly, the undeniable warmth radiating from her sister's fingers.
Shinobu stuttered, "B-but..."
Her sister was dead. She knew her sister was dead. But the sensation on her cheek was so incredibly real.
Shinobu looked blankly at Kanae, desperately hoping for an answer.
But Kanae was equally lost on how to explain it. She could only cast a pleading look at Suyan, who had been sitting quietly on the sidelines the entire time, watching their heartfelt reunion.
After all, he was the one who had used some unknown method last night to materialize her spirit, allowing her to touch and hold her sister once again.
Suyan smiled reassuringly at Kanae, signaling her not to worry. He turned his gaze to Shinobu and asked, "So, Shinobu? Was the good news a big enough surprise?"
Perhaps because her sister was right beside her, and because the man sitting in front of her was someone she had already let her guard down around, Shinobu suddenly felt like the impulsive, hot-tempered little sister she used to be when Kanae was alive.
Clinging tightly to Kanae's arm, she glared viciously at Suyan. "You better explain this fast, or believe me, I'll bite you to death!"
"Huh?"
Seeing her act like this, Suyan was momentarily stunned, finding the sudden shift both hilarious and endearing. He decided not to keep them in suspense any longer. "Shinobu, did you know?"
"This world is a very strange place. Aside from the man-eating demons created by Muzan Kibutsuji, real ghosts also exist in this world."
"For example... your sister, Kocho Kanae!"
Suyan paused, offering Kanae a faint smile. Then, turning back to Shinobu, he continued, "It's true that your sister was killed by an Upper Rank demon two years ago."
"However, because she couldn't let go of her lingering attachment to you, she became a ghostly entity after death, constantly lingering around the Butterfly Mansion."
"As an Earth-bound Spirit, she's been silently watching over her troublesome little sister all this time."
"Sister... I'm so sorry..."
Hearing Suyan's words, Shinobu lowered her head in deep guilt. She had no idea her sister couldn't let her go to such an extent that she had stayed by her side even after death.
And yet, she had completely failed to live up to her sister's dying wishes.
Not only did she refuse to leave the Demon Slayer Corps and live a normal life, but she had fought even harder than before. She became the Insect Hashira, and in her arrogance, she had even started mimicking her sister's smile, wearing a false mask to avenge her while trying to live both of their lives at once.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry."
Kanae pulled Shinobu into a hug. "From now on, I will always..."
"Cough, cough!"
Suyan interrupted their touching moment with two pointed coughs. "As much as I hate to ruin the mood, I have to give you a warning."
"Miss Kanae, the power I provided you last night is limited. It's not enough to keep you manifested like this forever..."
"Eh?"
Kanae's expression froze. But she quickly accepted it in her heart.
The dead lingering among the living was probably something that shouldn't happen to begin with. She was already deeply satisfied just being able to borrow Suyan's power to touch her sister one last time and make up for her final regrets.
Perhaps it really was time for her to pass on?
"Shinobu, do you want your sister to stay by your side forever?"
Oblivious to Kanae's inner thoughts, Suyan presented his original plan to Shinobu.
"I do!" Shinobu replied with absolute sincerity. "Help me!"
"Excellent."
Suyan nodded. He held out his hands, manifesting two different pieces of parchment.
One was the standard Contract parchment. The other was the Equivalent Exchange parchment—the exact same type he had used on Makomo to turn her into his Nen Beast.
Suyan handed the parchments to the girls. "As long as you sign your name on this, you'll gain the ability to see spirits, as well as the same power I have to give them physical form."
"And Miss Kanae, as long as you agree to the terms of this exchange and trade your ownership to me, you can stay by Shinobu's side forever."
"You don't want your sister to vanish forever, right, Shinobu?"
─────
Support this fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations