𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎 , ᵏⁿʸ (discontinued)

Chapter 3

"Excuse me."

Tanjirou pointed a finger toward a small field of bamboo and straw, addressing the older man before him with a kind smile. "Could you please give me some bamboo and straw from over there?"

"Yes, no problem! But most of the bamboo is all shredded.." the old man replied. Tanjirou's smile widened. "That's alright, I'll pay you." the old man shook his head. "There's no need for that. The bamboo is shredded, after all."

"No way, I'm still paying."

The older man raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to. You can have the bamboo and straw."Tanjirou furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm going to pay anyway!" the old man bristled. "I already said there's no need to pay! You're one stubborn kid!" Tanjirou took the older man's hand and slapped a few coins, startling the poor guy. "I've only got a few coins, but I hope this is enough!!"

"Oww!!"

——

"Nezuko, (Name)?"

Tanjirou pointed to the basket he had weaved together with bamboo and straw. "Do you think both of you can fit in here at once? I want to travel during the day too."

When he got no response from either girl, he broke down his sentences to be easier to understand. "Come on, you two. Get in here, in the basket." Nezuko climbed out of her little den and attempted to fit inside the basket but failed miserably. (Name) gazed curiously from a few feet away.

"Just as I thought." Tanjirou sulked but then smiled. Both Nezuko and (Name) were so small until recently. They've grown so fast.

A lightbulb flickered to life in Tanjirou's head, and he grinned. "Nezuko, remember yesterday when you grew to the size of an adult? Do you think you can do the opposite? Get smaller?"Nezuko hummed and shuffled around in the basket, pushing it upright and shrinking all at once. Tanjirou held the basket still as she did so, cheesing with excitement. "Great job, Nezuko, that was amazing!" he patted her head gently.

"Now, for (Name)..." he turned toward (Name) and coaxed her over with a smile. "Can you get smaller as well?" she peered into the basket meekly, unsure of herself. Tanjirou pats her back encouragingly. "Get smaller. I know you can do it!"

She climbed into the basket slowly and began to shrink, becoming just small enough to fit beside Nezuko. Tanjirou beamed. "Good job, (Name). I'm so proud of you!" Nezuko laid her head on (Name's) shoulder, closing her eyes contently.

——

"If you want to get to narrow mist mountain, you must cross the mountain ahead."

Tanjirou smiled at the woman as she clutched her son's shoulder. "But, it's almost nightfall..." Her thin eyebrows arched with concern. "You're going with such big luggage on your back too? That's dangerous."

Tanjirou bowed deeply. "I will be cautious. Thank you!" Then, he went on his way. The woman waved him goodbye. "People have gone missing there as well! So please, don't get lost!" Tanjirou only smiled and waved in response.

Tanjirou walked for miles, but eventually, the sunset and the full moon showed off their glow. His back hurt, so he took that chance to let Nezuko and (Name) out of the basket and walk alongside them.

"Look, there's a cabin ahead! And the lights are on. So I bet someone's there."

"Mphmh."

"Mhm."

Tanjirou walked a little faster.

"Ah, it smells like blood!" Tanjirou sprinted down the pathway until he reached the cabin's wooden doors. "These paths are dangerous, so someone must have gotten hurt!" he slid open a door and froze.

A tall being sat hunched over a woman's dead body, her arm bloody and ripped from her shoulder. Blood stained the being's sharp teeth red, as did its claws and pale face. Tanjirou had to swallow the vomit that crawled up his throat at the foul stench of rot and guts.

"What? Hey..." The monster grumbled. "This is my territory. I won't forgive you if you destroy my feeding ground."

Tanjirou gasped, fingers trembling uncontrollably.

Nezuko bit down on her muzzle harshly, hands clenching and unclenching rapidly. She tried to blink the wetness from her eyes, but her vision remained blurry. Waterfalls of drool trickled down her chin and pooled on the wooden planks below her sandals. (Name) was no different. Her little claws caught on a bunch of Tanjirou's clothing and didn't let go.

"Huh..." the demon hummed, narrowing its eyes in suspicion. "You two girls seem weird. Are you human?"

When neither responded, it pounced, tackling Tanjirou out of the cabin and onto the rocky ground.