Demon Slayer Swap AU

Chapter 21: Tsuzumi Mansion

He.. he's dead. Nezuko thought, holding the man's corpse. He was in great pain.. he must have suffered..

"Th.. that's not my brother," said the boy, still hugging his sister tightly. "My brother was wearing an orange kimono."

So.. several people have been captured. Nezuko thought, her eyebrows creasing in concern and worry. She laid the dead man on his back on the ground. I'm so, so sorry.. but when I come back.. I'll see you get a proper burial.

Nezuko then got up to her feet. "Kanao! Let's go!" She shouted. However, Kanao just shook her head, letting out a 'nuh-uh!' With sweat dripping down her horrified face as she trembled. "Oh.. I see." Nezuko said, turning away from Kanao and walking back towards the children.

"HYAAAH!" Kanao squealed. "Why are you looking at me with such disdain and pity.. almost like I'm not here at all?! I'll go! I'll gooo!" Kanao yelled, clinging onto the box on Nezuko's back that held Tanjiro, tears pouring down her face.

"I don't want to force you," stated Nezuko, feeling as if she was going to snap any moment at Kanao's whining and cowardice.

"I'LL GOOOOOO!" Kanao wailed.

Nezuko set Tanjiro's box down in front of the two young siblings. "While I'm gone, stay close to this box. It will protect you if anything happens," said Nezuko, standing up and walking towards the mansion with a trembling and crying Kanao in suit.

Nezuko and Kanao then headed inside the mansion; Kanao still quaking and weeping.

"Nezuko.. hey, Nezuko.. you'll protect me, right? If anything happens, you'll protect me," asked Kanao.

"Kanao. I'm sorry, but I broke my ribs and leg in my last fight and they haven't healed yet. So.." Nezuko briefly explained.

"WHAAAT?! WHAT? BROKEN BONES?! YOU CAN'T BE HURT! IF YOU'RE HURT, YOU CAN'T PROTECT ME! AND THAT MEANS I'M GONNA D-D-DIE! GYAH! WHATTA WE DO ? WHATTA WE DO? WE'RE GONNA DIE! DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE! MOMMY! BROKEN BONES?! THAT'S AWFUL! I'M DEAD... OR PRACTICALLY DEAD, ANYWAY!" Kanao blubbered loudly, her eyes practically about to burst out her sockets as she yelled and wailed.

"Kanao, be quiet. You'll be fine," said Nezuko as Kanao panicked and freaked.

"You can't fool me! I know!" Kanao shouted.

"No, I understand you–" Nezuko began to say, before she noticed the two children running towards them. "Oh no! Don't follow us in here!"

"Uh, miss, your box is making scratchy noises," said the boy as he and his sister rushed towards them.

"I said to stay near it! That box holds the thing I value most. More important than my life itself!" Nezuko exclaimed, remembering Tanjiro, who was inside the wooden box the two kids left.

Suddenly, the tsuzumi sound could be heard, and Nezuko and the young girl, who was clinging onto her, were in a different room. Then, the tsuzumi could be heard once more, and they were in yet another different room. It then happened once more before it stopped.

Did we move? Nezuko wondered, looking around the room they were now in, which was empty besides two bookshelves on either side of the room. No, the room changed around us.. in time with the drum!

"Waaah.." The girl cried, hugging Nezuko tightly.

"Sorry to split you up from your brother, but don't worry... I'll protect you." Nezuko gently pried the girl off of her, softly patting her head as she cried. "And Kanao will protect your brother. It'll be alright. What's your name?" Nezuko asked as she wiped the girl's tears.