The Shadow of the Insect

~Chapter Nine~

It has been three months since Tanjiro Kamado's incident...

Inosuke the boy with a wild boar head as a helmet ran through the estate like a child with acorns in his hands. He was looking for a specific lady. "SHINOOOBUUU! I brought you something!" yelled the somewhat feminine looking one. "Ara Ara, Inosuke. Don't be so loud. Please keep your voice down." she said with a smile but with an ominous aura. The boy was briefly afraid for his life, but that went away again. "Shinobu here. I've picked out the most beautiful one's for you." "Ah, thanks Inosuke. They look beautiful." she said in a soft voice and took him in her arms.

The boar remembered his mother when Shinobu held him in her small arms. This warmth seemed familiar to him. He saw his mother in Shinobu. That's why he does everything she tells him. She returned to the poisons again she was working on. "Shinobu?" asked he, while fidgeting with his fingers. "Yes Inosuke? How can I help you?" said she with a calm voice. "You are a Hashira and you are very strong, aren't you?", still fidgeting with his fingers. "Mhh, that can be. What do you mean by that?", her interest grew by his question. "I know someone who is super-strong! That's my old man! Would you like to get to know him?! He can help you!" he said enthusiastically. "Inosuke. I don't know if we should disturb him." and shook her head. 

"Don't worry! He just looks a kinda dangerous, but otherwise he's nice!" Shinobu couldn't say no to him, he has behaved well for the past few days. Just maybe the old man from Inosuke can help us. "All right, we'll got to your father tomorrow morning." and patted his head. "YAAAAHOOOOO!" he could only scream. "Good night Shinobu!" She smiled and just waved. "I hope I haven't gotten into that too much." she sighed.

The next morning...

"Shinobu are you done?! We have to walk for a long time." and jumped up and down. He was very excited to go home again. "Yes, we still have to take some provisions with us." The two are now finished packing and could start marching. They had a long way to go. Inosuke lives at the foot of a mountain, which he said is also populated with wisteria trees around the property.

After a few hours they could see the property from a distance. Shinobu's mouth hung open. She has never seen a place like this before. It was gigantic. Inosuke went to a special entrance that few knew and knocked. The door opened and a little boy opened the door. The boy tackled Inosuke and was happy about his arrival. Inosuke just laughed out loud and greeted the boy with a hug. "Big brother Inosuke, you're back!" "HAHAHA, of course I'm, you are my family!" he said with pride. Shinobu smiled at the sight. "I'm happy that he has a family." Shinobu thought.
"Who is this woman?" asked the boy. "She is a very strong woman! We want to see the old man. Is he here?" "You're lucky, he just arrived. Come on in first." he invited the two.

Shinobu looked around in amazement. "This house looks beautiful. It has such an old traditional style. The man has taste when it comes to interior design." In the yard, some children were playing and stopped when they saw Shinobu. The group then came running towards her and asked her questions. "Woah, you're a pretty, big sister." said the little girl with black and pink hair. "Are you our father's girlfriend?" said the other. Shinobu was visibly confused by all of the questions. There were two children who asked her many questions.

Inosuke pulled Shinobu out of the hustle and bustle and scolded the group. "Keep playing over there!" The group was happy that the oldest from the house was there, they withdrew and continued playing.

The boy who opened the door introduced himself again correctly. "My name is Mena, I am the younger brother of the master of this Estate." Shinobu had to look twice. He has black hair and light brown skin. The character trait is the same as that of Rengoku's little brother. She shook her head slightly and introduced herself. "My name is Shinobu Kochou. Are they all of your brother's children?"

"Hehehe, no. He doesn't have a wife. They are all children who live with us. They are all orphans, like Inosuke. My brother found them and brought them here. He takes care of them." Your brother must be a nice person." she was astounded." Hehehe, that's my brother."