Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began When I Became Yoriichi's Sister

Chapter 654 The Invisible Yuko

The lion plush toy made a pitiful "plop plop" sound, and said angrily, "You little brat! You've got guts... plop~"

Rukia ignored their playful banter and fell into deep thought.

Lacking the ability to see souls, yet possessing superhuman strength and easily subduing the modified souls of Project Vanguard, there must be a secret behind this. If…

If this guy's brain hadn't completely malfunctioned at the time.

Rukia glanced at the lion doll on the ground out of the corner of her eye.

Ichigo.

"Huh?" The sudden shout made Ichigo stop his one-sided beating. "What?"

"You and this guy go back first, I have something I want to confirm."

"Huh? You're not still doubting Aunt Yu Zi, are you?"

Ichigo wasn't stupid; he quickly realized what was happening.

"What? Do you want to help?" Rukia rested one hand on her side. "Having you here will definitely make things much easier."

"After all, my current body is not suitable for being separated from the prosthetic body."

Ichigo was a little confused: "What are you talking about?"

What kind of body is unsuitable?

Rukia replied matter-of-factly, "Is there even a question? Of course, it's to test whether Professor Yuuko can see souls."

Ichigo scratched his head, clearly not very interested: "Let's forget about it. Aunt Yuko has never shown me that she can see spirits before, not since I was a child."

"And if we have to say, there are quite a few people who can see spirits, aren't there?"

"Xia Li can see it clearly, and You Zi can also make out its outline."

Rukia's temple throbbed with a vein: "That's why I told you to go and test them. Shinigami and Hollows aren't people that just anyone can see. Your sisters can't see Shinigami and Hollows, can they?"

"indeed……"

Even Ichigo only recently became able to see Hollows.

"Do you want to go? I'll support you from outside." Rukia patted Ichigo on the shoulder.

Before Ichigo could speak, the lion plush toy at his feet flipped over and stood up, raising its paws.

"I'm going! I'm going!"

"Hehehe, it's almost evening, and there's such a beauty..."

Before he could finish speaking, Rukia stomped him to the ground.

"Forget it, I'll go by myself." Rukia said, one foot stomping on the lion plushie and crossing her arms. "You and this guy go home first."

Ichigo scratched his head, somewhat confused by Rukia's thought process: "Whatever."

He disdainfully picked up the lion doll, whose expression had become distorted from Rukia's abuse, and left.

Rukia watched Ichigo's figure disappear around the street corner, then checked the time.

At this time, Ms. Yu Zi should still be at get off work. Let's go to the clinic and wait for her to come back.

In the end, I still had to go back to the Kurosaki family.

Rukia took a shortcut back to Ichigo's room and put the Gikai (artificial body) into the closet.

"There's almost no sign of my power recovering. Is it because it was absorbed too much?" Rukia looked down at her hands after removing her artificial body. She was still dressed in white, and her spiritual power showed almost no signs of recovery.

In this state, she is not much different from an ordinary person, and because of the nature of her soul, she is even more easily targeted by the Void.

Be careful.

Rukia left through the window, walked across the rooftops of several residential buildings, and arrived at Ikuko's clinic.

The second-floor window was locked from the inside, but because she was a spirit, she could easily pass through it.

Entering the second floor of the clinic, you can see Yuko's room through the window.

The room was laid out quite simply, with only a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe, and no other conspicuous items.

Before Yuko returned, Rukia searched the house but didn't find anything of interest.

The only surprising thing was that there were some primary and secondary school textbooks in the cabinet, and some medical books at the bottom.

She was familiar with medical books. Because of Ichigo's parents' relationship with Ikuko, Ichigo would sometimes bring some things to Ikuko-sensei on his way in the morning. She saw the medicines on the first-floor shelf and asked Ichigo about them.

It seems that Ms. Yu Zi used to work as a doctor.

But what about the textbooks for primary and secondary schools?

No, no, that's not the point.

The room is way too clean!!!

There was nothing she wanted to see; it was spotless, just like a hotel room.

Is it really that she is overthinking it?

Rukia stood in the living room, deep in thought, when suddenly footsteps came from downstairs, growing clearer and clearer.

are you back?

Rukia narrowed her eyes, a wicked thought rising in her mind, and tiptoed to the entrance of the stairwell.

She didn't know why, even though she was a spirit, she had to act so timidly; perhaps it was just the atmosphere.

Because Yuko lives alone at the clinic, there is no door at the top of the stairs on the second floor. Going upstairs and turning a corner, there is a corridor for changing shoes, and inside is the living room.

Yu Zi came up from downstairs, carrying two bags of food.

"what!"

Rukia suddenly jumped out from around the corner.

Yuko walked past her without changing her expression, propping herself up against the wall with the hand carrying the food, and taking off her shoes with the other hand.

Yu Zi carried the bag into the kitchen, and soon the sound of chopping vegetables could be heard from inside.

Rukia remained in a frightening state for a long time, until she heard the sound of chopping vegetables behind her.

"real or fake……"

Rukia lowered her hand and rubbed her chin.

Given the circumstances at the time, anyone who could see her would definitely be terrified, right?

She was very careful to observe Yuko's expression, but was greatly disappointed. Yuko's reaction showed no sign of being frightened at all, as if there had been no warning signs.

Unless... her strength far surpasses mine, and I sensed it long ago.

Rukia hadn't given up yet, and followed Ikuko into the kitchen.

At this moment, Yuko was wearing a beige apron and was chopping vegetables on the cutting board with her back to Rukia, seemingly preparing her own dinner. Her signature red hair was tied back with a simple hair tie, revealing her fair neck.

Rukia floated to her side, bringing her face only centimeters away from Yuuko's, almost touching her, and carefully observing her profile.

Yu Zi's eyelashes were long, casting a small shadow under the soft kitchen light, making her wine-red eyes appear moist and full, with a touch of charm.

She's really a beauty!

Even Rukia couldn't refute the perspective of modifying souls.

"Hey~ Ms. Yuko~" Rukia suddenly spoke up, "You can see me, right?"

"You've been exposed!"

"..."

Yuko was completely absorbed in her own world, her chopping motions continuing without pause, and she didn't even blink.

"Ugh..." Rukia refused to believe it and suddenly poked Ikuko's eye with her finger.

Anyone would instinctively react to danger, especially danger coming straight at their face. Even if told beforehand that it wouldn't actually hurt, it's impossible to completely ignore it. However, even as Rukia's arm pierced through Yuuko's head, Yuuko showed no change in expression whatsoever.

Rukia was a little discouraged.

Do you really think too much?

The reason you could knock that idiot unconscious with a slap is because that guy was trash to begin with?

That's why they were abandoned.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have seen it on TV before; there really are people who, in a fit of extreme anger, can punch through a steel plate.

Rukia suddenly slammed her fist in her hand.

Oh, I see! She remembered.

It's that thing called adrenaline, isn't it?!

Otherwise, how can we explain the current situation?

Are you going to tell her that Ms. Yuko can actually see everything, and the reason she doesn't avoid it is because she's not afraid?

Just as she was lost in thought, a rich fragrance wafted into her nostrils, immediately drawing Rukia's attention.

Yu Zi had already prepared the vegetables and shrimp and was mixing the batter next to her.

"Oh! It's tempura!" Rukia's eyes lit up.

At this moment, Yu Zi suddenly said out of the blue, "We need to make one more serving."

Rukia's pupils contracted slightly, she gasped, and immediately took several steps back.

Should I make one more serving?

Ms. Yuko lives alone, and Ichigo says she doesn't seem to have many friends; her only friends are Ichigo's parents.

But the current situation clearly doesn't warrant sending food over.

Was she talking to me?

"Otherwise, Miyu will be so miserable tomorrow that she'll have to eat bread again."

Rukia breathed a sigh of relief. Oh, it was prepared for Miyu-sensei.

But Yuko-sensei is really a nice person. I wonder what Ichigo is so afraid of.

Yuko skillfully coated the prepared prawns with a layer of flour and then put them into the oil pan.

Soon, the shrimp meat turned golden and crispy, and an enticing aroma filled the kitchen, making Rukia unconsciously swallow and her stomach protest.

Yuko took out two bento boxes from the cupboard, scooped out the tempura, drained the oil, and placed them in the bento boxes.

Rukia licked her lips, and a bold idea sprouted in her mind.

"Anyway...anyway, she can't see me."

"I'll just take a tiny sip, just a tiny sip, to let Teacher Yu Zi taste it."

It's not easy for a soul to touch objects in the mortal world, but Rukia is a Shinigami, so it's no problem for her.

She took a deep breath, and while Yuko finished making the tempura and took out the seaweed to make sushi rolls, she suddenly scooped a tempura out of the bento box and stuffed it into her mouth.

"Well……"

The crispy outer shell makes a crunching sound in your mouth, followed by a taste that seems to ascend to heaven that rushes into your brain.

The sea! The taste of the sea!

It's like running on the beach in a swimsuit on a hot summer day, or sinking into the depths of the ocean!

Rukia screamed inwardly, tears streaming down her face.

Are you kidding me! It's so delicious, what is she supposed to do?

Rukia finished one in a few bites, licked her lips with lingering satisfaction, and turned her gaze to the bento box.

How to do?

Have another one.

Seizing the moment when Yuko turned around, another tempura was served.

Delicious! So delicious! Absolutely delicious!

One more.

Mmm! Mmm! One more!

Just as Rukia popped the tempura into her mouth, Yuuko's gaze inadvertently fell on the bento box, and then she fell silent...

Rukia's heart leaped into her throat as she stared intently into the bento box...

when!

She only ate two or three.

The bento boxes that were originally crammed full of tempura are now reduced to one box with only one piece remaining, while the other box contains only a few golden crumbs.

Oh no! I ate too much! I've been caught!

No, no, no! It would be a miracle if they didn't notice after so much food was stolen!

So how many were there originally? Five? Six?

Seeing Yuko standing there in silence, Rukia bit her finger nervously.

call……

Thankfully, she can't see...

"I can't take it anymore..." Yuko said calmly, then turned around without giving Rukia any time to react, her wine-red eyes staring at her speechlessly, "I can pretend I didn't see one or two, but you ate all seven of them, you..."

"Don't you think that's a bit much?"

She couldn't pretend she hadn't noticed.

After all... tempura was almost wiped out in an instant.

Lucia: "..."

There are seven of them!

I feel the best course of action right now is to kneel down and apologize.

"Yes, I'm sorry..."

Rather than being surprised, Rukia now felt extremely ashamed.

……

A short while later, at the dining table.

Yuko brought out a bowl of rice and placed it in front of Rukia: "It's alright, although we're out of tempura, we still have plenty of other ingredients."

Rukia lowered her head in shame again: "I'm...I'm sorry..."

Yu Zi shook her head: "Alright, try it."

Rukia crossed her arms and rested them on her legs, remaining motionless.

Yuko added, "I actually really enjoy the feeling of having my food appreciated."

"So when I saw Rukia enjoying her meal so much, I felt very satisfied."

“Yuko…Teacher…” Rukia was deeply moved, feeling that the lights behind Yuko were becoming increasingly dazzling, as if pure white wings were fluttering.

Yu Zi smiled slightly: "Eat."

"I, I'm starting!" Rukia clasped her hands together and picked up a piece of salmon.

Yuko asked, "How does it taste?"

"...It's so delicious~" Rukia's eyes welled up with tears.

What kind of life did she live before?

"As long as you like it."

Yu Zi smiled slightly and picked up her chopsticks to eat.

After eating for a while, Rukia couldn't help but ask, "Um..."

"Who exactly is Ms. Yu Zi?"

Yuko tilted her head: "Hmm? Why do you ask that?"

"Because ordinary people simply can't see the Grim Reaper and Hollows."

"Why can't it be an ordinary person with exceptional spiritual power?" Yuko asked curiously. "Aren't there ordinary people in this world who can see Shinigami and Hollows?"

Although it's very rare.

"But ordinary people can't so easily knock out the modified souls of Project Vanguard, right?"

“Perhaps,” Yu Zi smiled and said, “but a soul of that level is nothing more than a small fry at best.”

“A nobody…” Rukia sweated. “But those are battle-grade modified souls that can fight Hollows.”

Yuko took a sip of soup and said calmly, "So, even the Hollows who can be defeated by him are just small fry."