Through Time She Returns

Chapter 2

"Kotoha-san? What do you mean you are in the Taisho Era? Isn't that the current age?" Zenitsu asked. Tanjiro tighten his grip on his box straps as Kotoha runs her hands through her hair, trying to think.

'Oh, how to explain this to people from before the internet?' She couldn't make reference to H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. They don't seem like the type of folk to have read it and it surely hasn't made its way over to the countryside.

Controlling her breathing it finally clicked in her mind on what she could make reference to.

Watching the villagers do their evening chores and Inosuke still trying to get to her to see her phone, Kotoha begins to speak.

"Have you heard of Urashima Taro?" Inosuke tilts his head at it. Zenitsu hesitantly answers her question.

"That story about a young fisherman becoming the groom to a princess. Then when he wanted to return, many years had passed even though he had been at the palace for a few months." Zenitsu ends it having slowed down.

"How can that work?" Inosuke asked, not understanding the story.

"It doesn't Inosuke, it's a legend." Tanjiro states.

"HA, A LEGEND?! THE ONLY LEGEND HERE IS ME!" Tanjiro sighs as Inosuke laughs at his own statement and kneels to Kotoha.

"Kotoha-san, what about Urashima Taro? Did you come from a different era in the past?" Kotoha swallows before looking at Tanjiro.

"I am the opposite."

—

Some more explaining and talking went down with Tanjiro thinking as Zenitsu began to lead the way to the nearest inn they could stay at.

"We can bring you back to headquarters to see if they know anything. This is way out of our league miss. In the meantime, I'll make sure you are safe!" Tanjiro bows and Kotoha just waves him off.

"Tanjiro-kun, you've already done so much. Your friend even stopped that creep-'

Kotoha pauses at that moment as her memory of the chase comes back to her. The details of the creep became much more sinister as she thought about it.

.
.
.
"Tanjiro..."

"Hai, Kotoha-san." Oh, what a sweet boy. She would have loved to have a little brother like him.

The features of the creep were all becoming more clear."What was wrong with that man with fangs and claws?"

"Kotoha-san...that was a demon."

Inosuke had ill timing at that point.

"HAHAHA, HE WAS A WEAK ONE TOO!!"
—
Kotoha was waiting patiently as Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke sat with her around a table as they waited to be served food.

Okay, so she was in Taisho-era Japan, a century before her time.

There are also apparently demons that kill humans like in legends but different. They sometimes have abilities like a kappa, sorcerer, or kitsune. Most importantly they do not die so easily.

Slayers know how to kill them. With a lot of swordsmanship, skills, and physical strength.

Alright, this is fine.

It's not like this could get any stranger-

Zenitsu barely grabs his chopsticks when Inosuke lifts his boar mask and starts scarfing down his food.

"Tanjiro...does Inosuke look just like Kotoha-san?" Kotoha pause her first bite of tempura as did Inosuke. It was quite comical but it was like looking in a mirror.

Tanjiro tilts his head, getting a different angle. A smile coming to his face when he sees it.

"He does. It's the eyes for me, though they do have the same hair."

Inosuke looks to Kotoha, even leaning in to look her up and down before going back to eating. Kotoha studies his features. They do look similar like they could be siblings with their age difference.

"Inosuke-kun, what's your family name?"

Inosuke chews for a moment, grinning before forcefully swallowing his food.

"Hashibira and you should remember it!" Inosuke goes back to munching on his food.

Kotoha turns to Tanjiro who seems curious.

"Sorry, I never had a Hashibira in my family." Tanjiro nods before slowly beginning to eat.

—
The evening came to an end with her scrolling through her phone, looking at the photos she had taken earlier...or, in this case, the future.

It was almost exciting, being able to be semi-Isekai. Luckily she wasn't killed like other characters would be in that situation.

She can only pray to Kami that there is a way for her to get back home. Back to her own time that she knows.

As much as this was a dream, she couldn't lose herself. She has to go back to where she belongs.

She curls on her side and feels the quality of the futon.

Perhaps in the meantime, as she thinks of impossible ways of returning, she can get ideas for songs. Find a source of inspiration for something lost to history. Get to explore what Japan was like before the major advancements of later decades.

Back when times were slow instead of all about work.

She'll let her new companions lead her to their headquarters where she can get answers.

Hopefully, she doesn't run into another demon.

—
He had just bit down into the calf of his meal when he was summoned by that strum of a Biwa.

Douma falls back, laying down as he continues his meal not at all caring as his lord works away at notes.

"Douma, I have a task for you." A thrill of pain races through him but he continues to chew before swallowing. Blood stains his fangs as he smiles.

"Hai, What can I do for you, Muzan-sama?"

His eyes are slashed, but he is unbothered, simply biting into the leg again as he regenerates.

"I need you to kill and absorb a female demon. She will be seen with a boy that wears Hanafuda earrings, devour him as well "

Oh? His lord is giving him a present? Though he could do without the male in his diet.

Douma can only grin, his eyes twinkling as he is given his mission.

"Hai, Muzan-sama."

He was soon dropped off at his temple and Douma remained on the ground, simply grabbing the arm of his meal before chewing.

He wonders how long this will take him.