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Zhu Ya led the group to their destination—the Wisteria House.
After giving a few instructions, the crow flapped its wings and flew off into the night.
"Oi! Just fly off like that after bossing us around?! You think you're better than me?!" Inosuke shouted, glaring at the bird. "I'll roast you and eat you, stupid crow!"
Zenitsu's jaw dropped as they approached. "W-Whoa… this house is huge. Even the door's taller than me…"
Tanjiro looked around carefully. The estate was surrounded by tall walls, and on the gate, the character for wisteria (藤) was painted clearly.
Yoriichi walked ahead. The gate creaked open, and an old man with an odd hairstyle stepped out. His eyes were half-closed, and a gentle smile rested on his face, giving off a calm, welcoming presence.
"Good evening," Tanjiro said politely, bowing his head. "Sorry for disturbing you so late."
"Monster… monster!!" Zenitsu suddenly screamed, trembling all over at the man's unusual appearance.
"Zenitsu!" Tanjiro scolded quickly. "Don't be rude!"
"Hmph, looks weak," Inosuke muttered as he sized the man up.
The old man glanced at Yoriichi, then at the rest of them. His smile didn't fade. "You're all demon slayers. Please, come inside."
Inside, a room had been neatly prepared. Four sets of fresh clothes were folded on the tatami mats. The old man knelt respectfully.
"Please change."
When they had changed, another room was opened—low tables, cushions, and trays of food perfectly arranged. Again, the old man knelt.
"Please eat."
The three youngsters whispered in amazement at how fast he moved. Meanwhile, Yoriichi stepped aside, noticing the old woman about to leave.
"Excuse me," he said gently. "Could you prepare one more set of clothes… and one more meal? For another person."
The old man looked up, slightly surprised, but after a moment he nodded and left.
Yoriichi quietly approached the wooden box. He gently poked the small figure inside with his finger, smiling faintly.
"Hey… Yunchuan, are you still sleepy?"
Tanjiro tilted his head. "Master Yoriichi… what are you doing?"
Inosuke crossed his arms proudly. "Heh! Pervert! That's the word—pervert!"
"No!!" Tanjiro panicked. "Master Yoriichi isn't like that! Don't call him that!"
I yawned inside the box, rubbing my eyes. "Huh? Already morning?"
Everyone stared at me. I froze, then quickly muttered in my head:
[Seriously? Again? Why do I always embarrass myself like this?!]
I glared at Yuichiro, annoyed. "What's your problem?"
"Come eat," he said simply.
"No. I want to sleep."
"Eat."
Just as we started arguing, the sliding door opened with a bang. The old man entered, carrying another set of clothes and food. Tanjiro and Zenitsu rushed to help him. He nodded once, then quietly left.
I looked at the food, sighed, and sat up. "…Fine. I guess I can't waste it."
That night, because there were so many of us, we split into two rooms. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko were together. I, of course, was with Yoriichi and Yuichiro.
I slid under the futon, glaring at Yuichiro. "Why are you staring at me?"
He sat upright, saying nothing, his eyes locked on me.
His stare made my scalp tingle. Annoyed, I pulled my blanket tighter and shuffled toward my box.
"…What are you doing?" Yuichiro's voice was calm, but there was tension beneath it.
"Going back to the box. To sleep."
Just as I was about to climb in, I felt a tug on my clothes—he pulled me back and pushed me down onto the tatami.
"Wha—?! What the hell are you doing?!" I struggled, face heating up.
"You can't sleep in the box," he said firmly.
"It's not like you can't see me in there!"
"No. You're not going in."
He lifted me easily and placed me on his futon.
"…Huh? What are you—"
"Sleep here. Together."
I froze. "You're insane! Why would you say something like that?!"
"I'm perfectly sane."
"You're not sane right now!!"
He didn't let go, but his grip softened. I stopped struggling, my breathing steadying.
[This… isn't like him. Something's different.]
A thought hit me. "Wait… don't tell me…"
Meanwhile, in the other room:
"Nezuko-chan Nezuko-chan" Zenitsu squealed, fidgeting with his fingers and twisting his body.
"Zenitsu, stop it!" Tanjiro blocked his sister, flustered.
Zenitsu lunged toward Nezuko. "Nezuko-chan!!"
"Stay back!!" Tanjiro grabbed Nezuko and ran, Zenitsu chasing them around the room.
Inosuke, half-asleep, woke up to the chaos. "Who's makin' noise?!" He headbutted Zenitsu, then Tanjiro, joining the wild chase.
Nezuko quietly slipped back into her box and went to sleep, ignoring them.
"Stop!! You'll wake everyone up!!" Tanjiro cried.
But Inosuke only roared louder, Zenitsu shrieked, and the room shook.
Suddenly—BANG! A sound from the next room froze them in place.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, moonlight outlining their body. My hair hung loose, my clothes messy, and a faint, sweet fragrance drifted out.
Behind me stood Yuichiro—face red, with a bright slap mark and several bumps on his head. He looked down like a child being scolded.
"You three…" My voice was calm, but laced with anger. "Are you planning to play until sunrise?"
A faint red light pulsed from my body. The air tightened.
"Go. To. Sleep." My tone was soft, but terrifying.
Instantly, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and even Inosuke dove under their blankets like obedient children.
I rubbed my throat, muttered to myself, and shut the door.
Then I turned to glare at Yuichiro. "And you… don't touch my stuff again."
"…Sorry," he muttered.
"Sorry doesn't fix everything. Just—forget it. Go to sleep."
I shrank back into my box, shutting the lid.
Yuichiro sat in silence for a long while. Then, sighing, he dragged his futon next to my box.
"…Good night."
Time passed quickly. The injuries Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke suffered weren't too serious. After four days of rest, they were back on their feet.
As for me, I never left the room. This house faced the sun—if I opened a window or door during the day, I'd be burned alive. At night, Yoriichi always sat by my box, pulling the mat close, keeping guard.
"Gahhh! New mission! Mount Natagumo! New mission! Mount Natagumo!"
The Kasugai Crow shrieked loudly, as annoying as ever. Too bad it was noon—if it were night, I would've eaten that noisy bird before Yoriichi noticed.
Even though I couldn't go outside, I didn't stay idle. A faint red glow spread from my hand and shaped into a tiny golden seed. It shot toward the crow's voice.
Snap!
The paper window burst open as the seed hit the crow's head before the sunlight burned it away. It didn't explode, but the hit was enough to knock the bird out cold.
"..." Yoriichi, who had been meditating, glanced at me curled up in the box with a thoughtful look.
Mount Natagumo – Foot of the Mountain
We have to finish quickly. If Kokushibo tracks me, he'll send someone.
I pushed open the lid of my box slightly, peeking out. Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Yoriichi were all gathered, staring up at the mountain. The lower half looked normal, but above the middle, mist drifted eerily, making the night sky even darker.
Yoriichi set my box down against a tree and told the others calmly:
"I won't join you this time. This is your trial."
Tch… boring. No fun left.
At the Foot of Mount Natagumo
"Don't… get so close, alright?" I sat on a stone bench, munching melon seeds, glaring at Zenitsu pressed against me.
He hadn't gone up the mountain, and now he was trembling, practically clinging to me like I was his only safe place—even though I was a demon.
I sighed and whispered toward him, "Crimson Sun: Seal."
A red light wrapped around Zenitsu before he could even react. In a blink, he froze like a crystal statue.
"Ahhh! H-Hey! What is this?! I can't move! Help!" Tears welled up in his eyes as he struggled uselessly.
"Quiet. Or I'll make sure you stay silent forever."
"...Mm!" He whimpered, too scared to say another word.
Satisfied, I dusted my hands, stood up, and slipped on my haori. My red eyes glimmered as I gazed toward the peak of Natagumo.
"We're going in. Two rookies won't be able to clear all the demons alone."
Yoriichi glanced at frozen Zenitsu. "What about him?"
"He's coming too."
I summoned a thin platform of red light beneath my feet. Yoriichi stepped onto it without hesitation. Zenitsu floated up, sealed like a crystal doll, and landed beside us.
With a wave, the platform shot up into the air, slicing through the night as we flew straight toward the mountain's peak.
Inside the Mountain
A pale child stood among the trees, hair and clothes pure white with web-like patterns. His cold eyes stared at the severed head of a woman that looked eerily like him.
"Save me… I'm scared… Brother, save me…"
The head pleaded weakly, but the boy's face remained blank.
"…A sister who couldn't protect her brother. When the Demon Slayers came, you didn't fight back. You let yourself be killed. That's not family."
His threads snapped tight. The head shattered into countless tiny pieces before fading to nothing.
He looked up, spotting two figures in the distance. His "father" was already fighting one of them.
"A fake family. A family of lies…"
Tanjiro and Inosuke
"Inosuke! Hold on!" Tanjiro's forehead bled as he gripped his Nichirin sword, facing a demon with the body of a giant and the head of a spider.
"Tanjiro! I'm stuck!" Inosuke's head was jammed between two trees. He kicked wildly, making it worse.
"Sorry! I can't help yet!"
The giant spider demon roared, swinging a massive fist. Tanjiro adjusted his breathing, leapt into the air, used its arm as a foothold, and flipped behind it.
"Hinokami Kagura: Dance!"
A flaming arc slashed toward its neck—clang! The blow was blocked.
"So fast!"
Tanjiro shifted, kicked back, and cut off four of the demon's fingers before retreating.
He landed near Inosuke, shoved his head hard—pop!—and freed him.
"Hahaha! I'm out! Die, you monster!" Inosuke charged recklessly, swinging both blades.
"Inosuke, wait—!" Tanjiro hurried after him.
"Beast Breathing: Fang Cross Slash!"
Inosuke's blades tore through the demon's waist.
"Tanjiro!"
Tanjiro followed up immediately, flames wrapping his sword.
"Hinokami Kagura: Round Dance!"
His blade cleaved through the demon's neck. The giant collapsed silently, its spider face staring blankly as it turned to ash.
Tanjiro staggered, panting, using his breathing to stop the blood from his wounded arm.
Inosuke stood on the fading corpse, raising his swords proudly.
"Ha! I won! Hahaha!"
Far away, on a tree branch, a man watched with cold, expressionless eyes, sword in hand.
Tomioka Giyu.