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Chapter Text

"Onee-chan! "

The girl turned to the one who called her and found one of her little brothers, Tanjiro, watching her as she prepared a basket of charcoal. A few black locks fell before her eyes, forcing her to redo her bun. Not tangling her long curls in her hanafuda earrings while masking the birthmark, curiously resembling a flame, covering the left side of her forehead without a mirror would be almost a feat if Nezuko had no years of mastery behind her.

"You don't have to go sell coal,  I will go!" He said, his expression showing concern that she was going alone.

She smiles at him.

"I'm perfectly capable of doing it, Tanjiro, don't worry about it" She adjusted the basket on her back, fixing the sleeves of her haori; she was wearing her favorite, a pink one with an asanoha pattern. The kimono she had was also one she appreciated, dark burgundry with littles red carmin flowers shaped like cherry blossoms that she had embrodried herself.

" But ! It's dangerous ! It snowed so much last night! "

"Tanjiro." Their father's firm voice interrupted them. "Nezuko is able to go down to the village on her own even with the snow, you don't have to worry. "

"But ... I can go ..."

"No 'but' and I need your help to fix the roof if we don't want snow to invade the house." The father stated, cleaning the dirt on his daughter's face. "Takeo is already busy cutting wood while watching Hanako and Shigeru. We are lucky that Rokuta is still sleeping, otherwise he would have a tantrum if he saw Nezuko go. ” Latsly, he secured a red scraf around her neck.

Her brother heaved a long sigh, short of argument.

 "Okay, I'm going to sell as much charcoal as I can so we can have a New Year feast! I go !" The girl said goodbye to her family then started to descend the mountain.

In all honesty, Nezuko didn't really want to leave her family today. The horrible feeling she had felt since she got up made her think that something, something dreadful, was going to happen.

She understood well why Tanjiro considered that it was not her role to make physical efforts; she was indeed a young girl more used to household chores and the education of the younger siblings, doing her best as the elderst daughter since the death of their mother. However, he and their father had a lot to do with their coal trade and the regular work that their house required.

And it was not an odd feeling that would prevent her from making sure everyone had a full stomach!

Arriving at the village, her garnet eyes watched the streets. It's been a while since she came, maybe she could buy one or two souvenirs for her siblings?

" Oh ! Nezuko!" Called a woman "You came to sell coal? "

 "You are very brave to have come down in this weather" added a man "Be careful not to catch a cold! "

The door of one of the dwellings opened on the fly, giving way to a teenage boy with a bloody nose, a bundle in his arms and followed by an older woman who looked visibly annoyed.

"Nezuko!" Exclaimed this one "Please! I am wrongly accused of having broken these dishes! Help me!"

He presented her with pieces of broken crockery which Nezuko studied scrupulously. She noticed a hair on one of the pieces. She grabbed it and observed it more closely.

"It looks like ... a cat's hair." She said after a little while.

" Oh ? Would it be a cat?" Asked the lady.

" You see ?! I told you it wasn’t me !! "

" Your eye is still as sharp as ever, Nezuko! " 

The teenager let out a nervous chuckle.

'If only it was just a good view' she sighed mentally as the features of her interlocutors were blurred and gradually disappeared, letting her clearly distinguish the muscles, veins and organs ... then the features became clear again before erase again.

Nezuko rubbed her eyes to try to stop this sporadic cycle. This gesture was in vain, she knew it. What she could perceive would reappear in a few moments ...

***

‘It's good, I managed to sell everything’

Nezuko began her ascent of the mountain in order to return home, satisfied with her day. Shigeru, Hanako and Rokuta would surely be delighted to see the treats she brought back.

"Nezuko! Are you going back to the mountains? "

"Ah, Saburou-san" She greeted the man who was watching her through the window of his house.

"You shouldn't be hanging out, it's going to be dark soon," he said.

The sky was effectively starting to sport an orange shade.

"Don't worry, I have good legs ! I'll be home before nightfall." She replied

"Hmm be careful ... Pay attention to the demons" his serious air made the girl shiver. This heavy feeling twisted her stomach, recalling its existence.

She resumed her journey, deep in thought.

‘Old Saburou must have felt lonely since his family was killed by a bear ... Next time, I will ask dad to take the little ones with him.’

Nezuko knew this story well that for ages, human-eating monsters roamed the woods after dark. Dangerous beasts that caught their prey without it being able to perceive their presence.

'It’s just a myth that parents tell to scare children so they don’t walk around alone at night…

Hm, now that I think about it ...

If I recall correctly... o ur mother always told us this story very seriously...’

***

Night had just fallen when Nezuko arrived at her house, cold sweats dripping down her neck.

Something is coming...

She could hear the laughter of her siblings, the soft light coming out of the windows lighting up the snow.

‘Am I worrying too much? ...’

Her stomach knotted together, to the point of making her nauseated. Even outside the door, that feeling didn't go away, intensifying again and again. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that it hurt, a buzzing hiss in her ears.

Something is coming...

Something is coming...

Something is coming...

"I'm back," said the girl, opening the door.

Something is coming.

She found her father busy preparing the meal with the help of Hanako.

Something is coming.

Takeo and Shigeru bickered gently before Tanjiro who laughed at their attitude, Rokuta at his side.

Something is coming.

"Welcome back, Nezuko" greeted their father "Did it go well in the village?" She barely heard him with the ringing in her ears.

Something is coming.

She answered him absently. She felt like her heart was going to come out anytime, her stomach was twisted, her lungs oppressed ...

"Neechan?" Hanako seemed to be watching something behind her big sister, still standing outside the door. "Did you bring a guest? "

"!! "

Nezuko turned quickly and saw a pale-skinned man dressed in quality clothing, black hair and blood-red eyes with black slits for pupils, like a cat.

DANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGERDANGER

She had just enough time to prepare to take a blow from an elongated arm and changed into a kind of nightmarish bramble made of flesh, that she found herself thrown through the wall.

She felt her body bounce on the frozen ground and against a tree before falling face against the snow.

The last thing Nezuko saw was their father trying to protect Hanako from this stranger…

***

Nezuko, you have to wake up...

She brutally regained consciouness, her body aching and frozen, her clothes soaked in snow. Her vision was still blurred due to the shock.

'That voice ... Mom?'

She tried to get up but her muscles protested violently.

Concentrate, Nezuko... Breath...

The young girl took deep breaths, letting her instinct guide her to do so.

A brutal spasm ran through her, causing her to vomit a strange granular purple liquid. She tried to subdue the pain for several minutes and her eyesight finally clears up.

The first thing she saw was the still and bloody body of Tanjiro in a snow tinged with red, a few steps from the house, vainly protecting the little body of Rokuta just as bloody…

She joined them as quickly as the pain could allow, tears in her eyes.

When she are near them, she can see the devastated interior of their house, the blood staining the floor and the corpses of her family members.

As confusion, anger, sadness jostled in her mind, Nezuko could only cry.

***

Only Tanjiro's body was still warm, as faintly as it was. If he quickly saw a doctor, maybe he could be saved.

Despite the fact that Tanjiro was taller and heavier than her, the girl still managed to put on an extra blue haori and hoist him on her back. It would probably have been better to use the cart but with that time, it was unusable.

‘Why did this happen? Who was this man ? Why did he attack us? Our family has no enemies ...'

The girl advanced as quickly as she could despite the pain, the extra weight and the storm. She had carried an ax with her, in case this stranger was still around.

The freezing air made even the slightest breath difficult, the wind whipping her face with force and freezing her tears on her cheeks. The thick layer of snow slowed down every step.

‘I have to walk faster… We are still far from the village… I will not let Tanjiro die. I will save him! Your big sister will absolutely save you! I swear it!’

Lost in thought, Nezuko did not feel her brother straighten up, opening his eyes to empty pupils…

"RAAAAH! "

The growl he uttered brought her out of her torpor. He began to gesture violently on the back of his sister.

"Tanjiro! Stop !" The teenager wanted to reason him. Was he panicking now that he woke up?

Nezuko felt herself going backwards, carried away by his brother. She tried to find a balance but the abundant snow made her slide towards the precipice.

'Oh no !'

Her fall stopped as suddenly as it started.

The girl did not move for a moment, gazing at the cloud-covered sky, seeing the edge of the cliff from where she had fallen.

'The snow ... the snow absorbed the fall ...'

She straightened suddenly.

'Where is Tanjiro?' She looked around.

Her brother was only a few meters away, wobbling on his legs, the blue haori at his feet.

"Tanjiro, you're injured, you shouldn't be walking!" She said, joining him.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly raised his head and threw himself on her, uttering an almost animal groan.

Nezuko just had the reflex to use the ax handle, blocking it between the teeth of his brother who tried to bite him, but found himself flattened on the ground.

" Stop ! What's the matter with you ?! " Panic gradually invaded her as the features of her brother became more visible.

His hair was a brighter red than usual. Prominent veins emerged on his forehead, his nails, or rather claws, painfully planted in Nezuko's shoulders. His eyes were now a scarlet red with a pupil slit, dementia making them shiny. Fangs decorated his mouth, ready to cut the young girl to pieces if it was not for the piece of wood wedged between them.

'A demon ?! Tanjiro is a demon ?! ’

As thoughts rushed through her head, the only image Nezuko could see was that of her loving brother, always ready for any sacrifice for their family. Had he actually been one of those demons that old Saburo warned her against?

'Impossible ! Tanjiro has always been a human !! I am sure ! This man must have done something to him! ’

The body above her suddenly took on more volume, forcing the girl to put more force in order to keep him at a distance.

‘His body has grown ?! He has become ... stronger too ... I will not be able to last very long like this! What do I have to do ? What do I have to do ?'

Nezuko felt tears fill her eyes as she desperately tried to stop her beloved brother from shredding her.

"Hold on, Tanjiro! I know, yesterday was terrifying, right? I'm sorry I couldn't do anything! Don't turn into a monster, please! I know you can do it! Don't become a demon, Tanjiro !! "

A tear fell on her cheek...

She widened her eyes full of tears at the sight of Tanjiro who also began to cry, trembling as if he had just realized what he was about to do to his sister ...

However, Nezuko did not have time to feel relieved as a figure armed with a katana appeared behind her brother, preparing to behead him.

She could just grab him in her arms and drag him along by rolling sideways, the blade cutting her bun instead.

Holding Tanjiro firmly against her, Nezuko watched the stranger with white hair.

He was dressed in a strange black uniform, the front of which was outrageously unbuttoned, revealing the multiple scars decorating his chest, a short white jacket strung over it, and in his hand, a katana whose blade was strangely dark green.

"What the hell are you doing there, kid?" Said the man in a particularly annoyed tone, staring at her with purple eyes.

"He's ... he's my little brother!" She replied. Little brother who, of course, chooses this moment to start gesturing with a grunt, trying to escape from his sister's grip.

"Do you call this thing your brother?" Said the man, a disgusted grin on his face.

He then rushed at them. Nezuko curled up in an attempt to protect Tanjiro, who was clearly the target of this stranger, but her arms closed over a void. The white haired man snatched Tanjiro from her without any difficulty and held his arms tightly locked behind his back, making escape impossible.

Nezuko got up and wanted to join her brother.

" Don't move." Ordered the man. "Look at him, do you really think he's your brother? He was about to shred you! Like he did to your family!" He barked.

"N ... no! Tanjiro didn't hurt anyone! "

"You must be damn stupid to believe that!"

"No it is true !" Cried Nezuko. "Last night, that man ... that monster came and he killed everyone! And now Tanjiro is like that, that man must have done something to him! Tanjiro will never hurt anyone! "

The man shrugged.

"One of his wounds must have received demon blood, that's how demons multiply. Your brother is just one now. "

"Tanjiro is not a man eater! He recognized me, I'm sure! I will make him human again! "

"It's impossible! "

"I will find a way!" And I will also find the one who killed my family so that he pays for it! "

He raised his saber in front of Tanjiro's throat.

"DON'T DO THAT ! "

He’s all I have left.

The girl knelt in the snow.

"Don't kill him, please. Let him live, I beg you… ”

A heavy silence settled as the stranger stared at this child kneeling in the snow begging for the life of his brother.

"DO YOU REALLY LEAVE TO A STRANGER THE RIGHT TO DECIDE THE DEATH OF YOUR BROTHER? !!" Roared the man startling the young girl. "HAVE YOU ALSO SUPPLIED THE DEMON WHO KILLED YOUR FAMILY ? YOU CLAIM TO WANT TO SAVE YOUR BROTHER AND AVENGE YOUR FAMILY BUT YOU REMAIN THERE WHINING INSTEAD OF ACTING! OPEN YOUR EYES, WHAT IS A WEAK GIRL LIKE YOU THINK SHE CAN DO? THE WEAK HAVE NO RIGHTS OR CHOICES, THEY ARE JUST CRUSHED! "

Nezuko was stunned by the vociferations of this man.

"EVEN IF THERE WAS A WAY TO HEAL YOUR BROTHER, I DOUBT THAT YOU CAN IMPOSE RESPECT ON DEMONS! NO ONE WILL HAVE IF YOU NEVER ACT! IS YOUR AX RIGHT THERE JUST TO LOOK PRETTY? WHY DON'T YOU USE IT INSTEAD OF STADING THERE? YOU HAVE NO WILL, YOU CAN NEVER DO ANYTHING! "

With these words, the man planted his katana on Tanjiro's shoulder, which growled in pain.

"STOP!" Cried Nezuko, coming out of her stillness and finding the strength to attack.

She quickly picked up her ax as well as a pebble which she threw on her adversary who had no trouble blocking it. She took advantage of a cloud of snow lifted by the wind to disappear.

The stranger blocked another pebble thrown from the right, then another facing him and another following from the left.

‘How many pebbles are around here, what the hell’  he fumed.

A new pebble appeared from the right.

‘Again ?!’ He parried him with the handle of his sword before preparing to stop another one facing him.

A snowball hit the right side of his face.

"?! "

The little figure ends up appearing in front of him, uttering a battle cry, the long haori flying behind her following her movements.

"Idiot !" He shouted, knocking out the girl once she was close enough. Half unconscious, she made a bow with her right arm, successfully cutting her assailant's arm with the scissors that she always carried on her.

'Shit ! I hadn’t seen that! ’

The girl collapsed in the snow. The man looked at her.

‘...Where's the ax?'

Right after that thought, he barely had time to spread his head as the tool stuck in the tree behind him. He looked back at the child.

‘… She made sure that I foresee her attacks before surprising me with this snowball. She threw her ax in the air taking advantage of being out of sight, then she threw herself on me, being careful not to show her hands. She must have taken out the scissors at that time. She knew she couldn't defeat me so she tried to surprise me. … .Not so stupid after all. ’

Suddenly, the man felt the demon wrestle and come out of his grip. The demon kicked him to hurl the teenage girl.

‘Shit, he’s going to devour her!’

That's what he thought ... but, to his surprise, the demon positioned himself above the girl in defensive position, groaning in warning.

‘He doesn't eat her? What is this madness ?!'

Normally, a hungry demon will jump on its own family without hesitation to devour it, as it is the most nutritious, especially for newly transformed demons. And he was well placed to find out, the scars on his face were proof of that ...

This demon must have used a lot of energy during the transformation and to heal his wounds. His only obsession should be to eat human flesh, but instead he was looking to protect this girl.

And above all ...

A few drops of blood from the cut fell into the snow. But the demon did not move, choosing to take the adolescent in his arms while staring at this stranger who had dared to harm his sister.

‘He completely ignores my blood! Seriously ?! It has no effect on him?'

Despite himself, the man felt a delusional smile forming.

‘These two… are different’

He propelled himself on the demon who looked surprised when they found face to face.

"Don't make me regret my choice!" He said before knocking out the demon.

***

Somewhere in her unconscious, Nezuko thought she heard her father's voice ...

"Nezuko ... Sorry to leave you alone. Take care of Tanjiro okay? "

'Don't go !'

She reached out to try to hold her family back… only to wake up in the snow again, her hand firmly holding her brother's haori, asleep at her side, a piece of bamboo now decorating his mouth.

"The nap is over?" 

The girl turned quickly and saw the white-haired man from earlier. She hugged Tanjiro against her, casting an evil glance at the stranger.

"Calm down, I won't do anything to him if he does nothing. Be careful not to expose him to the sun. "

"...?" 

"You want to cure your brother, don't you? "

Nezuko nodded absently.

" Good ! For that, you have to become a slayer and join our ranks. I will take care of your training but I warn you, I will have no mercy, got it? "

The girl nodded again.

"Perfect, now, get up, we have a long way to go ..."

The teenager finally manages to regain her voice.

"My ... my family ... they are still ..."

"No, I already took care of burying them. "

However, it was reasonable for her to want to say a final goodbye to them, so he accompanied the two children home.

After her prayer, the girl took the hand of her brother, whose gaze was desperately empty, and began to follow the slayer.

"... Kamado Nezuko, and my brother is Tanjiro ..." she said after a moment.

"Shinazugawa Sanemi ..." he replied.

Chapter Text

Demons are supernatural beings, moving at night to feed on human flesh. They are endowed with powerful physical abilities, their wounds heal almost instantly, and when a limb is severed, they can glue it back or regrow it. Some even develop powers from eating humans. The only way to kill them is to cut off their heads with a special blade or expose them to sunlight.

The role of demon slayers is to eliminate them. The organization has existed for centuries but is not recognized by the authorities. The slayers are human; their wounds do not heal quickly, and if they lose a limb, it is permanent. Yet they fight relentlessly to protect other humans.

Within the Slayers themselves there were different ranks, and the most powerful warriors in the organization are called the Pillars.

Shinazugawa Sanemi was the Wind Pillar of the organization and, currently, Nezuko's master.

To have someone of that stature must be an honor, the young girl thought... probably ... but ...

" Get up !! A demon will not give you time to stand !! "

He's the demon !!

She groaned, getting up painfully as she had just been flattened on the floor by her teacher. The bruises on her body and face tugged painfully at her, the hakama and juban already covered in dust. The sun had been up for less than an hour

***

Tanjiro,

Chapter Text

'There are so many wisteria in bloom, it’s not the season ...'

Arriving at Mount Fujikasane, Nezuko lost herself in gazing at the trees as she climbed the steps, the purple flowers glistening in the moonlight making the place look magical.

At the top, the young girl noticed that she was far from being the only one to have made the trip, a good twenty participants were also present.
Despite the months spent in training and the confidence of her teacher in her abilities, she could not help but feel intimidated by this crowd, most of whom had a bad look on their faces, often embellished with a scar. At least her own mark didn't stand out so much ...

"Good evening everyone." A quiet voice began, snapping Nezuko out of his thoughts. “Thank you for coming for our Final Selection. "

Two children dressed in lavish purple kimonos, each holding a lantern, had appeared. One had black hair and the other, white.

“Mount Fujikasane is populated with demons captured alive by your elders." Resumed the dark haired child. "These demons cannot get out ..."

"... because at the foot of the mountain bloom wisteria flowers all year round, which demons hate." The white haired child continued. “However, inside this enclosure, they are completely free to move around. You will have to survive there for seven days. "

"If you can do it, you will have passed the test successfully. Good luck. "

The children bowed and the teenagers rushed into the forest.

***

"Seven days" Nezuko repeated to herself, running through the trees. "I have to survive seven days to be successful"

A sudden rustle made her stop her run, putting her hand on the katana, waiting for an attack. Inevitably, she could feel an evil aura approaching ... but where was the danger going to arise?
The teenager tried to concentrate, scanning the surroundings carefully. Nothing on the left, nor on the right, nor in front, nor behind… which therefore meant…

"Above!"

Her guess was correct as a bluish-looking demon descended on her with a cry of glee, quickly followed by a second demon with protruding elbows. The dull green blade pushed them back.

"Hey you!" The first cried, salivating excessively. "I saw this kid first, go away !! "

“What ?! It’s me who saw her, it’s up to me to devour her! Girls' flesh is always tastier! "

‘Two demons straight away! Damn, will I make it?' Nezuko tried to swallow hier uncertainty. ‘No, I will succeed. I have to.'

The two demons suddenly rushed at her, ending their childish feud.

"May the fastest win!" 

"It's been so long since we ate human flesh! "

The girl jumped up, raising her sword and swinging it down in several directions

'I don’t have to be afraid, I just have to stay alert and it will be fine… ’

Absolute concentration
Breath of the Wind
Fourth form
RISING DUST STORM!

Her blade cut the necks of demons one after another.

Nezuko couldn't hold back her relief that she had indeed grown strong. The time spent practicing, the teachings of Shinazugawa, it wouldn't have been in vain.

She watched the two bodies turn to ash, not even leaving their bones. Their existence simply evaporated without leaving a trace. She found it sad, these demons… these people probably hadn't asked to become bloodthirsty monsters…
The teenager prayed that their souls would find peace. It was a simple and small act, insignificant even, but for Nezuko it was the right thing to do.

“AAAAAH! "

A cry of dread sounded, followed shortly after by the appearance of a boy with a dark brown haori.

" What is that ?! They didn't tell there would be big misshapen ones like that ?! "

She quickly understood what terrified him so much when she saw the huge demon chasing him, with green skin, arms and hands covering his body and his small head with large yellow eyes and a cross pupil. He was truly monstrous, with the corpse of one of the participants in one of countless hands, which he soon devoured with a gigantic mouthful.

“What a horror!” Legs shaking, Nezuko took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down, her earrings tickling her cheeks.

The demon fused some of his arms together, throwing a longer arm in order to grab the boy who was trying to escape. His howl of terror prompted Nezuko to act.

‘Come on, do something! You are not as weak as before! You have to help him!' She jumped in the air.

Breath of the Wind
Eighth form
PRIMARY GALE SLASH!

The circular attack sliced off the arm and directed the demon's attention to the teenage girl in the green kimono.
When he laid his yellow eyes on her, Nezuko noticed that he seemed to be fuming with anger.

"Here's another…" he began in a strangely sweet voice. "Kid, can you confirm what he said? Are we no longer in the Meiji era? Japan ... changed emperor? "

‘What a strange question’

" Indeed." She asserted. “We are in the Taisho era. "

The demon's angry aura intensified further.

“RAAAAAAH! Japan has changed emperor again and I'm still stuck here!" The monstrosity raged, scratching its arms furiously. "You will end up paying for it one day, Urokodaki! Curse you !!! "

The girl briefly wondered who this person was with whom the demon had a personal vendetta.

" Curse you ! Curse you! You'll pay for locking me in here! It has been going on for forty-seven years! "

" Liar !" Exclaimed the boy Nezuko had saved. "No demon can have survived this long on this mountain! There are only demons who have devoured a maximum of two or three people! Between those who are killed during the ordeal and those who kill each other to eat ... "

“And yet, it’s the truth." The demon cut him, his expression twisting in satisfaction. "In this wisteria prison, I devoured fifty kids like you two ..."

Nezuko felt the anger rise in her.
Shinazugawa-sensei had insisted on one point in particular during her apprenticeship, the more a demon eats human beings, the more powerful he becomes, some of them shapeshifting and acquiring strange powers.
If this demon had devoured so many people, then ...

"Besides, it makes me think ..."

Nezuko returned her attention to him.

"... are any of the participants wearing a fox mask? "

" … Why ?" She asked weakly, having the unpleasant feeling that the answer would be horrible.

The demon laughed.

“This is the brand of Urokodaki, all his apprentices get one." He began to count aloud. The higher the number, the more Nezuko felt herself boiling. “… Ten… eleven… twelve… Yes! That's it ! This will be the thirteenth Urokodaki disciple that I will eat !!!" He exclaimed, bliss reflecting in his irises. "So far, there are two that have marked me more than the others ... Huhuhu ... the first was a boy with long black hair, I remember it well, he was very elegant in his technique… the second… " he seemed to be pissed off again. "Yes, the second… that damn brat in the flowered kimono, she was small but… but she was fast !! So fast !! She escaped at the last moment !!!" He was literally throwing a tantrum again. "I have decided to exterminate all the disciples of that damn Urokodaki! I must find her and devour her !! It's the only way ! And you two… "The demon suddenly remembered that he was not alone. "… You will kindly let yourself eat so that I become even stronger !!"

At these words, the monstrosity propelled several arms towards the teens, eliciting another cry of terror from the boy as Nezuko rushed straight ahead, her katana raised above her head.

Breath of the Wind
Second form
CLAWS-PURIFYING WIND

The demon seemed surprised that his opponent responded with enough force to negate his attack.

Nezuko was shaking with rage…

Somewhere ... there was a man who had taken in these children, he had trained them, inevitably bonding with them, had deemed them fit for the Selection ... and these children had never returned.
This trainer must have lamented an inconceivable number of times for having sent his dear students to their deaths, surely feeling responsible.
But the real culprit was none other than this misshapen horror in front of Nezuko. She couldn't let him continue!

The demon continued its assaults on the teenager who pushed back each time. Despite the anger, Nezuko still managed to predict his attacks thanks to the aura that radiated from them. During one of them, she noticed that the boy had taken the opportunity to flee.
At least she didn't have to worry about his security anymore.

She dodged an outstretched fist popping up from her left; as she propelled herself into the air, she perceived a dark spot on the ground becoming more and more prominent… on the ground?

No, in the ground.

A multitude of hands emerged, trying to grab the girl.

"You won't be able to dodge an attack while in the air!" Roared the demon, certain of his trap.

'Pff, air is my element! ’

Breath of the Wind
Fifth form
COLD MOUNTAIN WIND

The arched attack sliced through the appendages and Nezuko found herself on the outstretched arm of the creature it had pushed, hoping to catch the slayer.

The monster panicked a bit when he saw the girl getting closer and closer, but he recovered quickly. Once she smashes her blade against his hard neck, all he has to do is crush her ribcage, just like he did to that dark-haired boy before.

Nezuko readied his sword, trying to locate the most fragile part of the demon's neck with his special vision.

Breath of the Wind
First form
DUST WHIRLWIND CUTTER

The various sharp blows hit their mark and the foul head waltzed through the air before falling to the earthy ground, leaving the demon stunned at his defeat.

'Did she cut my head off? This little girl? This cannot true! And to think that the only thing I will see before I disappear is the contemptuous gaze of a sla ... ’

However, it was not a hateful look on Nezuko, but one of pity, bringing the monster to tears ...

For the young girl, this body which was disintegrating, becoming ashes, a hand held out in the void, like some call, was very sad.

'Ô Gods, please make sure that this person, when he reincarnates, does not become a demon again ... ’ she prayed.

Previously, he too was just a simple child, easily terrified of the dark, seeking comfort and the warm hand of his older brother ...

When the last parts of the demon vanished, Nezuko suddenly realized that the place had been engulfed in mist.

Watching around, expecting a new demon, she jumped when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder, barely suppressing her cry of surprise.

She turned and in front of her was a boy, probably a little younger than herself, wearing a scarlet kimono. He had long black hair styled into a low ponytail and his eyes were the deepest blue Nezuko had ever seen. On the left side of his head he wore a fox mask whose irises and eyebrows had been painted the same blue as his eyes.

"Thank you." He said simply. “Everyone is at peace now, we will go back to Mount Sagiri."

He gave her a gentle smile, and Nezuko felt herself blush slightly. This boy was really cute.

"Please can you tell Makomo that no one is upset with her? We're all glad she escaped! "

Nezuko nodded, a little stunned by the encounter, noticing that there were other figures in the mist.

"Ah, also ..." the boy continued as the fog deepened around his body. “Tell Sabito he doesn't have to feel responsible, it was my decision and 'Giyuu' will get mad if he keeps blaming himself! Where did his wish to be manly go, seriously ... " He disappeared with a last smile, looking serene, engulfed in the mist, followed by the other figures.

'It was a little weird' the young girl thought before resuming the selection.

***

Over the next few days, Nezuko confronted a few other demons, systematically asking them if any of them knew a way to become human again, but they were deaf to her questions, thirsty for blood and human flesh as they were.

***

As the seventh day dawned, she finally came to the end of Selection and walked through the wisteria barrier, finding herself in a plaza where a few people were already.
They were Selection survivors.

'There are only five of us?' She thought in dismay, not even perceiving the boy in the brown haori she had saved. 'There were about 20 of us at the start ...'

" Congratulations to everybody. "

The two children in purple kimonos from the first day had appeared.

“Congratulations. We are very happy to see you safe and sound. "

"Okay, now what? What are we doing ? Where are our sabers?" Demanded a boy with shaved hair down the sides and dark eyes. Nezuko had the unpleasant sensation of having seen him somewhere before ... but where?

“First we need to get your uniforms ready. We will take your measurements in order to cut them to your size, then write your grade. "

“Speaking of grades, there are ten in all. In ascending order: Mizunoto, Mizunoe, Kanoto, Kanoe, Tsuchinoto, Tsuchinoe, Hinoto, Hinoe, Kinoto, Kinoe. At the moment, you are all at the lowest rank, Mizunoto. "

"I don't get it…" another short haired boy muttered, bangs covering his forehead. With his big green eyes and slender face, Nezuko could easily have mistaken him for a girl if he didn't display muscular bare arms and an equally muscular torso barely concealed under his juban.

"You will choose which steel will be used to make your katanas. It will then take between ten and fifteen days to forge the blade. "

"We are also going to assign each of you a crow."

The white-haired child clapped her hands and immediately a small flock of birds appeared. A crow landed on each participant's shoulder ... well ...

"This is a sparrow." The only other girl with Nezuko said de facto. Dressed in a lilac haori with a pattern of white triangles, she stood out for her natural elegance. Her long black hair was styled into a side, low ponytail, secured by a hairpin in the shape of a white peach blossom. Her plum eyes were curiously watching the little bird in her hand.

“These crows are mainly used to relay communications." The dark haired child continued, completely ignoring the girl's comment.

Suddenly, the boy with the shaved hair got angry, pushing his bird away and furiously strode towards the two children.

"We don't care about those lousy birds!" He roared. "What I want is my saber!"

He reached up to grab one of the two, but his arm was caught in its tracks. He turned in annoyance, yelling at whoever had stopped him.

Nezuko observed with surprise and fascination the last participant of the Selection, wearing orange clothes, who had acted before anyone even realized the situation without making a sound. He let the other boy scream his frustration without moving, not letting go until he calmed down.

He must have felt Nezuko's insistent gaze as he turned to her.
His blonde hair, like a river of gold, reached down to his waist, held in a high ponytail by a violet butterfly-shaped pin. His eyes were a warm golden brown but his expression remained stoic, as if the whole situation didn't affect him in the least.

Nezuko blushed furiously at being caught so easily and looked away. (Obviously, it was only because she was embarrassed, it wasn't at all because she found him handsome, no, not at all.)

"You have finished ?" Interrupted the dark haired child. “So now please choose your steel." He finished removing the sheet covering a table, revealing grayish pieces of various sizes.

“Your swords will be used to kill demons and protect yourself. So you have to choose the raw material yourself. "

Nezuko stared at the pieces of metal in front of her in confusion. Choose her steel? But she didn't know anything about it! What if she chooses the wrong one ?! How was she supposed to choose?

It wasn't long before the other girl picked up a piece and presented it to one of the children to then be measured for the uniform, followed shortly after by the blonde.

Nezuko swallowed and finally decided that it was best to follow her instinct who was promting her in taking this piece that was so dark it looked black, with a slight red undertone.

***

Further away from the venue of the Selection, in a splendid mansion surrounded by sumptuous gardens, sitting on the engawa, a man absent-mindedly stroked a crow.

“Five survived." He said. “That's a good number... So I have five more 'children'. I wonder what warriors they will become. "

Chapter Text

The return to the Wind Estate was long and painful for Nezuko, whose fatigue accumulated during the seven days of the event eventually reached.

While she was relatively intact, she was not at all spared from exhaustion, cramps, bruises and dirt. Only this blond boy was spotless at the end of the Selection ... Her whole body was sore and the extra weight of the uniform only slowed her down even more.

She only wanted to return to the Estate, to her teacher, Goto-san and Tanjiro.

The path seemed endless to her when at last she saw the building taking shape in front of her. Night had already fallen as she reached the yard, panting and relieved.

*BLAM*

One of the doors was kicked in, a figure emerging in the moonlight, advancing with an air both determined and distracted. Nezuko let out a little cry of surprise.

"TANJIRO !? You're awake?"

After two years of sleep, her little brother was finally out of his lethargy! She couldn't believe it! Is it real or was it an exhaustion-induced hallucination?

But Tanjiro rushed towards her in her call, Nezuko tried to join him as well but narrowly evaded to collapse on the ground, avoiding this when her brother wrapped his arms around her. The young girl felt the tears bead in her eyes, hugging Tanjiro in her turn.

"WAAA! Tanjiro! You were asleep for so long! I thought you were going to die!"

Suddenly she felt a hand stroke her head. She looked up and saw her master smiling proudly at her.

"Congratulations on having passed the Selection successfully."

He also stroked Tanjiro's hair.

"Finally up? You scared the hell out of us!"

From the side, Goto also looked happy, discreetly wiping away a tear ... until he noticed the demolished door.

***

Fifteen days later.

Anticipation grew in Nezuko as she waited by the entrance to the estate, hearing the sound of bells coming closer and closer when she finally saw a figure wearing a brown haori with a sunflower pattern. The man stopped in front of her. The young girl observed him in awe.

"I am Haganezuka." he announced. "I am bringing the katana I forged for Kamado Nezuko."

“That’s me! Come in !” she said but the man either didn’t hear her or didn’t listen and sit on the ground. The black-haired girl was unsure of what to do.

“Here is your ‘Blade of the Sun’” he stated, unwrapping the item. “I’m the one who did it.”

“Hum, please come in ?” she tried. “I will serve you some tea…”

“The minerals needed to make it can only be mined on Mount Yoko, the mountain closest to the sun. The 'scarlet sand' and 'scarlet nuggets' found there are irons that absorb sunlight.”

"You're going to get dirty, sitting on the floor like this ..." she tried again, feeling a vein start to pulsate on her temple.

But she was ignored once again.

"Mount Yoko is sunny every day of the year. There are never clouds or rain ..."

At this moment Goto arrived and refrained from scolding loudly the attitude of the blacksmith.

'Haganezuka, will he ever change then? He never listens to what he is told! '

"ARE YOU GOING TO GET UP? DON’T STAY ON THE GROUND LIKE THIS!" Nezuko finally raised her voice, annoyed. Inside, Shinazugawa snorted loudly, surprising Tanjiro who was hiding under the covers . "What are these manners ?!"

Startled, the man finally paid attention to her, raising his head, the young girl finding herself in front of a brick red mask with big cheeks.

"KYAA! What is this ?!"

Shocked, she almost hit the blacksmith.

“Hmm...? Hmmm?” Behind his mask, the man stared intensely at her, making her uncomfortable. “... you look strangely familiar… and those eyes… Would you be a child of Dawn perhaps?”

“No, I’m the daughter of Tanjuro and Kie.” She responded firmly.

“That’s not what I mean. Your eyes are incredibly red and shiny.” He pointed a finger at her, almost poking her. “You come from a  family working with fire, don't you? That’s a good omen.”

“Is that so…” she sweatdropped.

Nezuko wanted to cut short the uncomfortable discussion but the blacksmith continued to stare at her.

“I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere… Have we already met?” He insisted.

“I don’t think so.” If she had met such a particular character, Nezuko would have remembered him for sure!

Once she and Goto managed to bring the man inside, they all sat with freshly served hot tea.

Haganezuka quickly grew impatient and gave her the sword. The scabbard was black lacquered wood, the hilt black and dark pink, and the tsuba was hollow, shaped in such a way that it reminded her of a chrysanthemum.

“Go on, go on, take it out! Sun sabers are also called "color changing sabers" because the color of the blade adapts to their owner. There is a chance that yours will turn red!”

Nezuko took out the katana, holding it in front of her and waited.

After some seconds, the dull grey blade turned an obsidian black under the stunned gaze of the adults.

“It’s black...” stated the Wind Pillar.

“BLACK?!” The blacksmith complained.

“Is it a bad sign?” panicked the black haired girl.

“No, it’s just very rare,” said Shinazugawa. “so much that it is said that only untalented slayers have a black sword… but honestly, it sounds more like a bunch of bullshit, even more so concerning you.”

Nezuko raised a brow at her master’s commentary, not really knowing what he meant by that.

“GAAA! I HOPED TO SEE A BRIGHT RED!” Haganzeuka yelled. “I  hoped to see red! A beautiful, eye-catching red! " He threw himself at Nezuko but she dodged and a dark look from her prevented him from trying again.

“What’s this attitude? How old are you to act like that?” she asked, baffled by that adult who was trashing his limbs on the floor, throwing a tantrum like a toddler.

“Thirty-seven!” he answered without a hint of shame.

“CAW!” The sudden shout of her crow made Nezuko jump. “Kamado Nezuko! Here is your first assignment as a Demon Slayer!”

It talked! 

“You have to go to a village in the northeast where young girls disappear every night!”

The young girl frowed, then went to her room to change into her uniform, the blacksmith leaving the estate during this time.

However, she noticed that the chest seemed very loose and some buttons were missing once she put it on. She also got a skirt way too short compared to the regular one.

Perplexed, she went to see Sanemi and Goto who were the most able to enlighten her.

“Master, I wonder if I got the correct uniform? Or maybe having the chest exposed is a thing for Wind Breathing users?” she naively asked.

“WHAT?” The Hashira spitted his tea at her appearance, then he facepalmed. “ … no it’s not…”

Suddenly, Goto put a hand on her shoulder, a chilling smile behind his veil.

“You need another one, give me this.” he said sweetly.

“Ah ok...” I don’t really understand but Master and Goto-san are angry!

The two men provided another uniform for Nezuko and proceeded to burn the offending clothing while she changed.

It was a normal one this time, with a normal knee length skirt and the chest correctly covered. She fixed her collar, then put on the high black boots given to her by Shinazugawa for making the Selection.

She then put her pink haori, her earring tikling lightly her cheeks in the movement.

Before she got outside, Goto gave her a light wooden box in which she could transport Tanjiro during the day.

Her brother had looked at the box reluctantly before he finally decided to get in under Nezuko’s encouragements, making himself smaller.

“Be careful.” her master said simply, patting her head with a proud expression, warming her heart.

And then she took the road, following the direction given by her crow.

***

During the walk, she tried talking to Tanjiro but he was profoundly asleep and safe in the box on her back.

She smiled to herself, content that her hard-working little brother was getting rest. And now, it was less stressful for her, knowing that he could wake up without trouble.

‘Sleep as much as you want, Tanjiro. You have always sacrificed yourself for our family, you deserve it.’

***

  Nezuko was sitting in their small house, a sewing kit by her side as she examined the holes in the white and green checkered kimono.

“It’s a lot damaged now, wouldn't you not rather buy a new one?” she said, raising a brow.

“It’s fine, Onee-chan!” Tanjiro smiled, waving his hands in front of him. “I like this one a lot! And I prefer that our littles siblings have a full stomach!”

***

‘As your big sister, I will take care of everything. Once you’re human again, I will buy you new clothes and we will make a feast!’

The travel went on peacefully and Nezuko arrived at the village somewhat in the middle of the afternoon.

In there, the gloomy aura that emanated from the inhabitants baffled her, and all the buildings were surrounded by a dark fog that only she could see thanks to her special eyes.

Crossing the streets, she strained her ears for a clue, eavesdropping the conversations; after all, in the middle of the day, the demon wasn't going to show up right away.

“This is such a sombre period…”

“All of these disappearances are terrifying!”

“Oh, over there!” a woman who seemed to be in her fifties pointed to a young couple looking haggard. “Kazumi and Satoko are still looking for Tokie, it seems…”

“That's not surprising, she was with them when she disappeared ! I heard her poor mother hadn’t gone out a single time since then, she even refuse to eat or sleep!”

“A young girl is going to be taken away again tonight…”

“Shh! Don’t be so loud!”

‘Gossiping townsfolk can sometimes be useful…’

Nezuko didn’t waste time to approach the young man and woman.

“Kazumi-san and Satoko-san, can I ask you some questions?”

They shared a look before agreeing. 

***

“This is where Tokie-chan disappeared…” said Satoko mourfunly, clutching the right sleeve of her kimono in a red arrow pattern. “We were seeing her off, but she insisted that, since her house was nearby, there was no risk, so … we … We let her go but then we heard screaming! We rushed but no one was here!”

They were near an intersection, a large house standing in the street to the right. The black smog was equally present, a little more thicker. 

“We only found her purse here…” added Kazumi, frowning. “We are telling the truth, please, believe us!” 

"I believe you!" Nezuko asserted quickly, looking around where the smog remained thickest. The task was difficult, because several times it thickened before suddenly becoming thinner while it did not disappear completely, the demon had been lurking for a long time ...

Soon, the night falls …

“KYA!”

“Satoko!”

Nezuko turned around at the screams, only to see Kazumi gripping firmly Satoko’s arms as she  was being dragged by a sort of black swamp. 

The young slayer jumped and planted her sword in the shadow, right behind the other girl.

A sinister growl echoed in the alley.

The hem of Satoko’s hakama tore, and a clawed hand emerged from the swamp, soon followed by the rest of the demon, horned, with bluish skin.

“I have two questions for you!” exclaimed Nezuko, under the horrified expressions of Kazumi and Satoko. “Firstly, where are the girls you kidnapped? Secondly…”

‘SHRIK! SHIRK! SHIRK!’

The demon grinded its teeth, rubbing the lower ones against the upper ones, causing a terrible sound; Nezuko stared, confused and disgusted at such a sound, barely resisting the urge to plug her ears. 

It stopped, then plunged back into its swamp. 

“Kazumi-san! Satoko-san! Stay near me!” she ordered and they complied without question.

The young girl tensed, her katana in front of her, looking closely at her surroundings.

This demon could arise from the ground or the walls at any moment; it might even materialize in the air. Even though it was hiding, it still left an "aura" that it couldn't erase. Nezuko only had to focus on the thicker ones to predict its movements. And instantly she saw the demon coming from below. 

Wind Breathing

Third For… ?!

In place of the unique demon that the slayer excepted, it was three demons that surged towards her.

She quickly changed her stance, jumping lightly into the air.

Eight Form

Primary Gale Slash!

Arms go flying and blood spurt from torso but Nezuko gritted her teeth as she failed to behead even one demon, realizing that maybe changing forms in the middle wasn’t that much of a good idea.

As the demon dives back in the swamp, the slayer quickly returns near the civilians.

‘I need to stay calm, or my ability isn’t going to work properly! It’s alright, they all have the same aura and constitution,  this is just one demon split in three! I just have to observe and behead one after the other if I can’t behead them all in one time!’

Right at that moment, the two-horned demon appeared behind Satoko, trying to seize her.

Seven Form

Gale, Sudden Gusts!

Nezuko  leaps into the air while swinging her blade, feeling the gale-force wind following her moves, ready to shred her opponent.

Unfortunately, the presence of the civilians diminished the force of the move and her katana cut the shoulder before being stuck in the neck.

‘Damn! I was almost there! It's too shallow!’

The demon freed itself and moved away from the slayer, then began to shout at her. 

"Stop getting in my way! This girl is going to lose all her freshness!" Kazumi tightened his grip on Satoko, both of them horrified. "She's already sixteen! I have to devour her quickly before her taste deteriorates!" 

Nezuko felt a lump of anger forming at the back of her throat.

"Calm down." A one-horned demon also appeared, not far behind Nezuko. "There are evenings like this ... I've eaten a lot in this village, sixteen-year-old girls, and they were all delicious." he said nonchalantly. "I can consider myself satisfied." 

"NO! I'm not!" cried the two-horned one. "I want more!" 

'It's strange, it's the same demon though ... Does a different part of its personality take over the doubles to lead them? ' 

“You, monster!” exclaimed Kazumi with anger. “Where is Tokie? The girl you took two days ago!”

“Tokie? Which one was it again?” the demon tilted its head then opened its jacket, revealing a set of hairpins. “If you see her hairpin in my collection, that means I’ve already eaten her.”

As the civilians let out an appalled gasp, the first demon began to stare at Nezuko intently. 

"Hmm, you look like you are sixteen, don't you?" he asked, patting its chin with its index finger, then smiled. "Good, good! It's decided! Since you've come to me, it's you that I'm going to devour tonight instead of this girl!" 

A tremor of anticipation ran through her body as she laughed, a feral grin on her face. At the sight, the demon felt itself starting to tremble.

"You want to eat me? HAHA! Bring yourself! I'll give you the indigestion of the century, you bastard!" 

The three-horned demon rushed at her to the right. Nezuko raised her sword to the right, above her head. 

Second Form 

Claws-Purifying Wind! 

The blade fell, the claws of wind lacerating the demon’s arm. The young girl seized this moment, leaned against the wall and jumped just above the demon. 

Fifth Form

Cold Mountain Wind !

The circular cuts destroyed all below her, a first head was severed, the body of the double sinking heavily in the swamp. 

The slayer straightened up, wiping the blood off her blade with a snap. 

"Well then?" she asked sarcastically. "Weren't you supposed to eat me? I’m waiting!”

The two remaining doubles froze, stunned, a cold sweat running down their necks at such a presence.

Finally, they dive back in the shadow, Nezuko following closely their movements with the trace they left behind.

"You are alright?" Satoko asked, shaking with anxiety. 

"Perfectly well." she replied. "It's targeting me but stays close to me anyway, in case the demon changes its mind." 

She didn't have to wait long for the demons to show up, one in front of her and the other behind. 

'He's trying to take me by surprise and overwhelming me.' the slayer realized quickly. 

The two rushed, claws forward. 

Breath of the Wind 

* BLAF * 

!  

The demon behind her was brutally kicked by a foot suddenly exiting from her box . 

A horrible crunch was heard as the demon's neck twisted several times. 

"How come a mere human is walking around with a demon on their back?" the one with one horn wondered. 

Tanjiro climbed out of the box, biting fiercely on his bamboo muzzle, a slit pupil adorning his vermilion eyes for a brief moment before returning to their original roundish shape.

He approached Satoko and Kazumi absently, putting his hands on one of their cheeks. 

Nezuko watched him do sadly, remembering what her master had told her shortly before she left. 

*** 

“It may be useless but since we never had this kind of case before, we can only try and hope that it works. So while Tanjiro was sleeping, we tried to hypnotize him by repeating, 'Humans are your family. In any case, you can not hurt them but protect them. Demons are your enemies, punish those who harm humans.'”

*** 

With a growl, veins grew more prominent on his forehead and he charged against the demon; it plunged back in the swamp, right before Tanjiro slammed his fist on the ground, creating a small crater.

"Tanjiro! Don't chase it too far!" called Nezuko.

At her call, her little brother trotted in her direction, leaping quietly above the demon popping from the ground in an attempt to catch him.

The young girl couldn't stop her anxiety, seeing her brother being so reckless. 

'My master warned me that now that Tanjiro is a demon he doesn't need protection but ... can I really lean on him? If he stays with the civilians, that would give me a free rein to eliminate the remaining doubles.' 

After a moment's hesitation, Nezuko finally made up her mind. 

"Alright, Tanjiro, I entrust the protection of these people to you." she declared firmly and he nodded. "In the meantime, I'm going to make that jerk pay for the deaths of all those innocent girls!" 

Shortly after, that horrible gnashing of teeth started again and the demons reappeared once again; the one with two horns rushing towards Tanjiro who stopped it by clawing it.

'Well, Tanjiro can handle that one for a moment.'

Predictably, a dark pool formed below Nezuko, in her back, the demon springing from the ground with the firm intention of making the slayer its meal.

But Nezuko, being much faster, dodged it easily and spun her body around in an uppercut motion.

Sixth Form

Black Wind Mountain Mist!

The arcing cut sliced deeply through the chest, tearing the garment apart. A disgusting sound of gurgling and running blood escaped its throat with difficulty, unable to form a proper sound with the lower jaw missing.

A simple blow of the sword easily beheaded it.

Once the double was reduced to ashes, Nezuko turned to the last one, occupied by Tanjiro.

“ARGH!”

The demon vomited some blood after receiving a ferocious knee kick. Tanjiro then grabbed it and headbutted it.

‘Ah…’ Nezuko sweatdropped ‘Tanjiro’s forehead had always been very hard, this should be extremely painful, even for a demon.’

This observation turned out to be true when the demon staggered away painfully, holding its head with an abnormally recessed skull.

It recovered quickly though and severely scratched Tanjiro's face, almost knocking him out, and it was Tanjiro's turn to stagger in pain and blood loss.

As it was about to give him another blow, the slayer suddenly appeared and sliced its arms.

“Don’t touch my brother!”

A  kick sent it crashing into a wall where the demon slipped to the ground. 

"You and your doubles had an aura so murky and greasy, like rancid oil, it's really disgusting!" No trace of pity could be heard in her voice. "How many people have you killed ?!"

"SHUT UP! You girls, with age, you get ugly and filthy! That's why I'm killing you! I'm doing you a favor!"

Its jaw was cut off.

"Enough with your bullshit." the slayer declared threateningly. "Now you are going to tell me all about Kibutsuji Muzan! Try not to forget anything and maybe I will make an effort to kill you without too much pain!"

***

'Kibutsuji Muzan... is the only demon capable of transfiguring humans.' the Wind Pillar explained gravely. 'This is the very first of them to appear over a thousand years ago. He is the demon responsible for the slaughter of your family and I am sure he knows how to restore his humanity to your brother.'

***

However, instead of responding, the demon began to tremble, its heart pounding and a strong aura of terror enveloped it.

"I ... I can't ... say anything ..."

'He can't? How come? '

"I can't say anything! I can't say anything! I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING!"

The demon suddenly reformed his arms and attacked Nezuko who, far from being surprised, took a simple side step before finally chopping off its head.

'Pff, completely useless.'

The young girl approached her little brother who had fallen asleep against the wall in order to regenerate himself.

She put a hand on his bloodied temple.

'Sorry, Tanjiro ... just a little more patience. I'll make you human again, I swear! '

After putting him in the box, Nezuko picked up a piece of cloth and walked over to the two civilians.

"Kazumi-san, Satoko-san, are you two alright?" she asked.

The two looked up at her tearfully.

"Our friend was killed ... in such a horrible way ..." Satoko lamented.

"How could we be okay knowing that ?!" Kazumi almost screamed.

"Even when you've lost a loved one, you have to keep moving forward, regardless of the pain." the slayer advised calmly.

"What do you know about that?!" the young man got angry, grabbing the collar of her haori. "You're not much older either!"

This time, Nezuko frowned, a slight annoyance rising in her.

"Are you stupid or something?"

Kazumi looked shaken at her words, Satoko silently indicating to him to release her.

"It's clear that a girl walking around with a katana and her demon brother while chasing other demons is just the kind of thing you see every day, right? " Nezuko continued and Kazumi looked down. As he still wouldn't let go, she grabbed his wrist with her callused hand.

"I understand that you are in shock over your friend's death, so I'm going to pretend you haven't said anything." She turned on her heels, ready to hit the road. "However, do not imagine that I am on this path because I want to."

A flash of realization crossed his face.

She threw the piece of cloth at them, the one that held the demon's collection of hairpins.

"May you find a memory of your friend there."

And she departed.

Barely a few feet away, she heard Kazumi's voice ringing out behind her.

"Sorry for what I said! I'm so sorry!"

She gave him a simple wave without looking back.

‘How many other victims have you injured, killed ... How many people have you made suffer? ' thought the young girl angrily. 'Kibutsuji Muzan ... You will pay!'

Her thoughts were interrupted by her crow which crouched loudly in her ear.

"Direction Tokyo now! Asakusa district! Rumors speak of demons hiding among the population!"

"Huh, already another mission?"

"Yes, already!"

She sighed.

"On the way! On the way!"

Annoyed, Nezuko grabbed the bird. It had been a long night and she didn't want to endure its screams the whole way.

"I heard you the first time ..." she said, her tone cold and dark.

"Caaaw ...."

Nezuko would have sworn the crow was sweating.