The Ashen Slayer

Asakusa

After three weeks of training under Kyojuro's wings, she got finally ready to go to missions. She wasn't able to use Breathing Techniques but he teached her instead the Total Concentration Breathing and more about swordfighting. She got even the chance to meet a few of the other Hashiras. It was hard for her, but changed from her normal armor to a demon slayer uniform. After a successfull mission, she went at night for a small stop through a large, heavily populated city with large buildings and bright lights and marketplaces with dozens of business signs. After some walking, she stopped before a shop, looking at Omamoris and saw one with a flame pattern. While living in the Rengoku residence, she got closer with the sibling but felt a deeper friendship with Kyojuro. She took the flame Omamori, looking at it. The vendor of the shop saw this and walked to her.

Vendor: Found something, miss?

Byleth: This one. *shows him the Omamori*

Vendor: Ah, a flaming one, huh? Not what I'd expect for a pretty lady like yourself.

Byleth: It isn't for me. It's for a friend... I'll take it.

Vendor: A fine choice indeed. That makes ¥400. *Byleth pays him* Thank you. I'm sure your boyfriend will love it.

Byleth: *defensive* He's not... *sighs* Nevermind. *bows* Farewell. *leaves*

Vendor: *waves* Hope to see you back!

She put the Omamori into her bag and wanted walk forward when someone bumped into her. It was Tanjiro who had now a blue hood that covered his head, demon slayer uniform, black nichirin blade, green-black patterned Haori and a box in his back with a black haired girl with orange tips and pink eyes, wearing a pink kimono with a dark brown haori and a bamboo muzzle in her mouth in his side. He looked somehow desoriented and the girl tired. When he looked at her, his eyes suddenly went wide and backed a few steps away.

Tanjiro: *bows* Oh, I'm sorry. *turns to the girl* Come, Nezuko. *thinks* This woman... she smells strange... and around her glues the smell of blood from demons and humans as well... She must've killed a lot... But there's something off with her. I wonder what it is... Even this sword smells different... And that glare... this was scary, like she was looking through me.

Byleth could only look as they left, wondering what was wrong. The girl didn't look normal.

Byleth: *mutters to herself* Can it be that this boy travels with a demon..? Interesting but also dangerous for him. Even when the demon doesn't attack him, he kinda broke the rules. And how he reacted when he looked at me... have I scared him somehow?

After that, she continued walking and some time later, Tanjiro and Nezuko managed to reach the outskirts of Asakusa and stopped at an udon shop where an exhausted Tanjiro approached the shopkeeper. .

Tanjiro: Excuse me. *Toyo looks at him* A bowl of udon with grated yam on top, please.

Toyo: Uh, sure thing!

While Tanjiro waited for his food, they sat on a bench, next to the udon shop.

Tanjiro: I've never been to a place like this. It's way too crowded 

Then Nezuko, who sat beside him fell asleep and rested her head on his shoulder. He looked at his sister and smiled softly. At the same moment, the shopkeeper was done with Tanjiro's order.

Toyo: *holds out the bowl with udon* Here's your udon with grated yam on top!

Tanjiro: *turns to him* Thank you very much!

After receiving his bowl, he prepared to partake in his meal but suddenly detected a scent. In shock, he got up and dropped his meal. Tanjiro began to breathe heavily and looked at the city, taking his sword with him and ran into the city, leaving Nezuko behind. As he ran to the source...