The first rain of spring fell softly, soaking the mountain paths. The wet earth clung to Giyu's sandals, each step sinking into the mud with a quiet sound.
He held a paper oil umbrella in one hand and carried a cloth bundle in the other—inside were rice and fabric for the Kamado family.
The day before, he had received a message from Tanjiro's kasugai crow. Kamado Tanjuro had passed away peacefully during the night, murmuring even in his final moments that Tanjiro should keep training his Breathing Technique well.
When Giyu reached the Kamado home, white mourning banners fluttered in the yard. Tanjiro, dressed in a rough mourning robe, knelt at the doorway burning paper offerings. His eyes were swollen red, but he did not shed a tear.
His mother stood inside, holding the youngest child in her arms, her shoulders trembling. The other children huddled quietly in a corner, sobbing softly.
"Tomioka-san."
Tanjiro noticed him and rose quickly, his voice hoarse and thin.
Giyu gave a small nod, closing his umbrella and handing him the bundle. "I'm here to help."
Over the following days, Giyu stayed to assist with the funeral. He found a carpenter to build the coffin, spoke with villagers to help with the burial, and comforted Tanjiro's mother and siblings.
He said little, but worked tirelessly—splitting firewood, carrying water, cooking meals. During the night vigil, he even guided Tanjiro's breathing, teaching him how to calm his heart and not suppress his grief too harshly.
On the day of the burial, the sky finally cleared. Sunlight filtered through the pine branches, falling gently over the fresh mound of earth.
Tanjiro knelt before the grave and bowed three times, his voice breaking as he cried out, "Father, I'll take good care of Mother and my brothers and sisters. I won't let you down!"
Giyu stood behind him, watching the small, red-haired boy's back, his heart heavy.
He knew this loss would mark Tanjiro deeply—but it would also be the start of his growth.
This eleven-year-old boy would now carry the full weight of his family's survival.
"Tanjiro," Giyu said once the mourners had gone, "come down the mountain with me."
Tanjiro froze, blinking. "Down the mountain? But… our home is here."
"The mountain is too remote," Giyu explained calmly. "It's hard for your mother and siblings to live here, and there's no steady income."
He paused, then continued, "I have an empty house in town. You can all stay there for now. I'll teach you and Tō to train your Breathing Techniques. In two months, I'll take you both to the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection."
He added, "If you pass, and become official members, your salary will be enough to support your family. You won't need to make charcoal anymore."
Tanjiro's eyes widened in surprise and hope. He turned toward his mother, who met his gaze and nodded, her expression gentle but full of trust.
"I… I'll go!"
He nodded firmly. "Thank you, Tomioka-san!"
…
After arranging the Kamado family's move, Giyu immediately headed to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya listened to his report, a faint look of astonishment on his pale face. "You're saying there's a demon who can help us fight Muzan?"
"Yes."
Giyu's voice was steady.
"Her name is Tamayo. She's a demon who refuses to eat humans and has devoted herself to developing medicine that could counter Muzan's power. Her existence could be crucial to defeating him."
He didn't mention that he had learned of Tamayo from his memories of another life—only that he had discovered her by chance.
Kagaya studied him quietly, his eyes soft with trust rather than doubt. "I believe you, Giyu."
He reached into his robe and drew out a sealed letter, handing it over.
"You may take three days each week to search for this Tamayo-san. Whatever resources you need, ask for them without hesitation."
Giyu accepted the letter and bowed slightly, feeling a weight lift from his chest. The Master's trust gave him confidence that he could persuade Tamayo to join them.
Leaving headquarters, he made his way toward the town where Tamayo had once lived—according to the memories of his past life.
It was a bustling city, alive with color and noise. Lanterns lit the streets, vendors shouted their wares, and the sounds of shamisen strings and laughter filled the night air. Compared to the quiet of the mountains, it was another world.
But Tamayo's whereabouts were always well hidden. To evade Muzan's pursuit, she frequently changed homes and identities, leaving little trace behind. Giyu had no choice but to investigate patiently.
For the next two months, he visited the city again and again—sometimes twice a week, sometimes more. In total, he made over thirty trips.
He searched every clinic and pharmacy, even the most secluded alleys, until one evening, he finally spotted a familiar figure.
A young man in a pale kimono, hair slightly disheveled, carrying a medicine pouch, was walking quickly into a narrow alley.
It was Yushiro—Tamayo's loyal companion, the demon whose Blood Demon Art allowed him to manipulate vision and perception.
Giyu didn't approach immediately. Instead, he followed from a distance, moving silently through several winding streets until Yushiro stopped before a small, isolated clinic.
The wooden door bore a simple sign that read Tamayo Hall. The building itself was plain and unremarkable, surrounded by empty houses and silence.
Yushiro scanned the area cautiously before unlocking the door and stepping inside.
Inside the small clinic, Tamayo sat at a wooden table with a medical text in hand. Yushiro stood beside her, holding a bundle of freshly bought herbs.
"Tamayo-sama, I've returned. I didn't notice anyone following me."
"Thank you, Yushiro," Tamayo said softly. Her voice was gentle but tinged with weariness. "Do you regret that I turned you into a demon, Yushiro? Following me means hiding constantly, never living like a normal person, and always fearing that Muzan will find us."
Yushiro froze for a moment, then shook his head hard, his eyes burning with conviction. "I don't regret it! If not for you, Tamayo-sama, I would've died long ago. You saved me! No matter how much we have to hide, no matter if we must face Muzan himself, I'll always stay by your side!"
Tamayo looked at him and smiled faintly. Just as she was about to speak, the door creaked open without warning.
Both of them turned at once.
A man stood in the doorway, clad in a deep blue haori. In his hand was a Nichirin Sword engraved with the words Destroyer of Demons. A black kasugai crow perched upon his shoulder.
Tamayo recognized him immediately—he was the Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Her expression went pale; cold sweat dampened her palms and back. She could feel the immense strength radiating from him—and the crow on his shoulder was one used for communication within the Corps. If they were discovered, the consequences could be dire.
"Who are you?! Why did you break in here?!"
Yushiro instantly stepped in front of Tamayo, his eyes flashing with anger. "Get out! You're not welcome here!"
"Yushiro, calm yourself."
Tamayo reached out and held him back, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Then she turned toward Giyu.
"Water Hashira-sama," she said, her tone measured but tense, "what business brings you here?"
She hoped to reason with him, to explain that she was not a demon who consumed humans—because in this situation, reasoning was her only choice.
But Giyu didn't draw his sword. Instead, he reached into his haori and pulled out a letter sealed with the Ubuyashiki family crest.
"I apologize for the sudden visit, Tamayo-san," he said calmly. "I am Tomioka Giyu, the Water Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. I came to invite you to join us—to become our ally and fight together against Kibutsuji Muzan."
Both Tamayo and Yushiro froze, their faces filled with disbelief.
A Demon Slayer… inviting a demon to join them? It sounded impossible.
"What did you just say?!" Yushiro shouted, eyes wide in shock. "You want Tamayo-sama to join the Demon Slayer Corps? Aren't you the ones who hate demons most of all?!"
Giyu ignored his outburst and spoke quietly to the crow on his shoulder. "Read the letter."
The crow flapped its wings, unfolded the parchment, and began to read aloud in a clear, formal tone:
"To Tamayo-sama: I am Ubuyashiki Kagaya, leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
I have learned that you, Tamayo-sama, possess a righteous heart—that you abstain from consuming human flesh and are dedicated to the pursuit of a method to defeat Muzan. For this, I hold the deepest respect.
The Demon Slayer Corps wishes to cooperate with you. We are willing to provide all resources necessary to aid your research and together bring an end to Muzan's reign.
Should you accept, Tomioka Giyu will escort you to Corps Headquarters. From that moment forward, every member of the Corps will regard you as a comrade.
—Ubuyashiki Kagaya, written in his own hand."
As the crow's voice faded, silence filled the room.
Tamayo's hands trembled slightly as she held the letter, her eyes wide with shock—and an emotion close to fear.
The master of the Demon Slayer Corps was truly willing to accept her… a demon? That possibility felt more unreal than even facing Muzan himself.
"Tamayo-san," Giyu said gently, his voice calm but full of sincerity, "the Demon Slayer Corps needs your help. The people who have suffered under Muzan's cruelty need your help. We can provide you with every resource for your research. We will also do everything possible to protect your location and your safety from Muzan's reach."
He paused for a moment, then added quietly, "I know this is difficult to accept. You don't have to decide now. I'm staying at an inn on the west side of the city. This crow will remain here—if you have any thoughts or answers, send a message through it."
With that, Giyu placed the crow gently on the table, turned, and walked out, closing the door softly behind him.
Inside the clinic, Tamayo and Yushiro stood frozen.
Tamayo stared down at the letter in her hand, the inked characters trembling slightly as her fingers shook. The cold sweat on her palms hadn't yet dried.
Never had she imagined that one day the Demon Slayer Corps would invite her—a demon—to stand beside them. Never had she thought that, in her long struggle against Muzan, such an offer of alliance would appear.
"Tamayo-sama…"
Yushiro looked at her anxiously. "Can we really trust them? They're Demon Slayers…"
Tamayo didn't respond. She gripped the letter tighter, her gaze steady but conflicted.
Perhaps… this time, she could truly find a way to destroy Muzan.
A faint light—fueled by long-suppressed hatred—flared deep in her eyes.