𝒮𝓊𝒻𝒻ℯ𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓂ℯ |Kny Au| Discontinued

12

Nezuko didn't sense a demon. But she was on edge. Listening to Mitsuri talk as they walked through the street and keeping her eyes on her surroundings. She never felt that gaze leave her, but she didn't sense anything threatening about it. She didn't know why it put her on edge. "It's nice having time to relax! Right, Nezuko?" Mitsuri asked her.

She smiled. "Yeah! Especially after having such stressful mission..." she stretched her arms up. "It's exhausting." Mitsuri nodded. "I don't have time for anything! I'm lucky to be with you right now!"

An awkward silence filled the place of their conversation. "Do what's been happening while we were both on missions?" Nezuko asked. "Well Shinobu became a Hashira after Kanae passed, and Kanao is her tsuguko." The mention of the death brought another silence. "Neither rod is could make it to her funeral, could we?" Mitsuri asked with a solemn expression. Nezuko held her breath. "Yeah." She finally said.

The memory came back. Of the Kasugai crow landing on the engawa to inform Tengen. He kept a calm expression but she could smell the sorrow and pain emitting from him. The moment she asked her heart dropped. She felt sorry for Shinobu. No matter how many times she smiled or laughed, Nezuko smelled the faint scent of rage, guilt, sorrow, pain. It was suffocating. She couldn't imagine feeling all that, while acting so happy. But she understood, it was for those around her, and her elder sister's wish.

"Hey... why don't you become my tsuguko!" Mitsuri quickly changed the subject, trying to bring over a vibrant atmosphere. "Shouldn't I consult Mr. Uzui..?"

"I'm sure he'd be fine with it! And we would see each other more often!" Nezuko knew she was right, but she couldn't imagine leaving Takeo. Mitsuri read her expression. "Worried about your brothers? I know, it was a stupid idea... I just thought you'd maybe enjoy the thought a bit..."

Nezuko looked over in surprise. "No, I'd definitely enjoy being with you! But I can't imagine leaving Tanjiro and Takeo like that... it feels..."
"Inhumane?" Mitsuri finished. Nezuko nodded. "I get it, maybe soon." Nezuko smiled, completely ignoring the feeling of stared now. She knew whoever watched her was getting closer, but she could defend herself, right?

The two girls were getting ready to leave when Nezuko was dragged out of a crowd, away from Mitsuri, who hardly noticed in the bustle. She scratched the person who grabbed her. They held her still and made her look at them. She was frozen. She couldn't grab her katana.

"Nezuko! Are you alright?! We thought you were dead!" It was the same man who asked her to confirm it was a cat, not him. The person who asked her to sniff a plate the day her brother couldn't come to town. She wishes that she went to town the day before the incident. Maybe he wouldn't be a demon. "Nezuko, who's that strange girl who was with you? Were you kidnapped?! Please, say something!" She could hear Mitsuri yelling her name in the distance, searching for her.

Nezuko couldn't move. Everything from that day was coming back, how her brother was covered in blood, the open gash on his neck, how Takeo desperately tried to wake him up, to no avail.

Takeo shook his brother desperately. He was alive, he was breathing, heart beating, body warm. He hoisted him onto his back and started crying. "What if we don't make it in time and he dies to?!" She looked her brother dead in the eyes. "We will make it!" She encouraged him and started running to get to town, a doctor, anyone. She heard an animalistic growl and turned to see her brother thrashing in Takeo's hold. They both fell, and she tied to grab their hands, but plummeted with them instead. They landed on the snow. Her brother had attacked them before Tengen could arrive. They did calm him down, and he didn't even know them. Yet he cried for the two. It was heartbreaking how kind her brother still was.

Nezuko heard the yelling, but openly hugged Mitsuri as she pulled her away from the friend. "I don't know who you are but my friend doesn't seem comfortable right now!" Mitsuri had her hand on the hilt of her katana, ready to slash at him. Nezuko forced her to hug back, making sure nobody could get hurt. Mitsuri glared at him and pulled her away. "Do you know him?" She asked. Nezuko slowly nodded. "I used to, before..." she didn't finish her sentence and began crying.

"Will my brother ever remember anything from when he was human, Mitsuri?" Nezuko turned to look at the shocked girl. "Y-you mean..."
"He doesn't know me. He doesn't know Takeo. He doesn't remember our family before they died. He doesn't know who he was." She cried quietly, unaware that Tanjiro heard what she was saying. He stayed silent, and just listened. He felt tears run down his face as she spoke. "He will! Every time you talk about him, you tell me how strong and compassionate he was! I'm sure he'll do it!" The girl encouraged. Nezuko smiled through the tears. Her head was hurting from crying so much. "Thank you, Kanroji-San."