Reincarnated as Nezuko

Chapter 19

Tanjiro's P.O.V.

We've been walking for a few days now, and we still haven't reached the town.

"Nezuko, are you alright? Nezuko?"

'Guess she's asleep.'

After a few more hours of walking, we finally made it to the town. I walked around town trying to get a layout and to see if I could hear anything about the disappearances. I heard a couple of women talking about a young man, Kazumi, who was walking about the town in a daze.

It seems like Kazumi was with the girl who disappeared last.

"Mr. Kazumi!" I yelled out to the young man. I walked over to him. I could hear Nezuko grumbling; I must have woken her up. Oops.

When I got to Kazumi, I asked him about his story. He showed me where the woman Satoko had vanished. He didn't think I would believe him, but I reassured him that I did.

I set Nezuko's box down in the shade, knowing she would be alright for now, and started sniffing the ground.

Nezuko's P.O.V.

Tanjiro had woken me up when he yelled out someone's name. I grumbled at being woken up; I like my sleep. Once I was fully awake, I started listening to Tanjiro's conversation.

'Ahh, we must've made it to the town. Kazumi must be showing him where the abduction happened.'

I then felt Tanjiro setting my box down. I pushed open the little window that was in the box that had a little covering over it (mini awning) to keep the sun from getting through. I asked Urokodaki if he could put one in the box so I could see out if needed, so I didn't have to open the door. After opening the window, I looked out and saw Tanjiro on his hands and knees sniffing the ground.

'Great, people are going to think you are a weirdo, Tanjiro. Way to go.'

To prove my point, Kazumi was looking at Tanjiro like he had grown two heads. When Tanjiro found the scent, he came back over to the box and picked it up. I made sure to close the window.

He then continued to sniff around, and Kazumi followed. This continued for hours. I was able to get in a nap I woke just before dusk fell. Once dusk came, I knocked on the box to let Tanjiro know I was coming out. He stopped and let me out. Making sure the box was turned away from Kazumi so I could grow to my correct height. I was careful to seem like I was coming out from a crouched position.

"Thank god," I said as I stretched my limbs out.

"Hey Nezuko, sleep okay?" Tanjiro asked.

"Besides, when you woke me up, I slept pretty well," I said while stretching my arms and giving him an eyeroll.

"Yeah, sorry about that," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

"It's fine. So, did you pinpoint where the demon is yet?" I asked.

"No-" he tried to answer, but was interrupted.

"Tanjiro, why did a girl climb out of your box?" Kazumi asked, staring from me to the box, then back at me. Then he looked at my brother.

"Uhhhh...." Tanjiro said unintelligibly. I rolled my eyes at my brother.

"I have a severe allergy to sunlight. I break out in a really bad rash if sunlight hits my skin. So, during the day I stay in the box and I come out during the night." I explained, hoping it sounded legit. I mean, it was a thing back in my world, so why not here? It's technically true, right now anyway.

"Huh, that's unfortunate," Kazumi said.

"I've learned to live with it. I'm Nezuko Kamado, by the way. Tanjiro's little sister." I said bowing.

"Kazumi. Look, it's getting late. Why don't we stop for today and pick up the search tomorrow? You've been at this for hours; you need to rest," he told us.

"I've been sleeping basically all day, I'll be fine. Besides the thing that took Satoko, it is only active at night." I told him taking my sword from where it's hanging from the box. There's a hook on the side that I can hang the sheath on during the day.

"She's right, we can't afford to rest. Besides, I just caught a whiff of a new scent." Tanjiro says, looking in the direction from which he caught the scent coming from. I sniffed the air and caught the same scent. I looked towards Tanjiro, and we both nodded and started running, Kazumi following.

We continued to run for a bit before we both jumped and landed in an alley. My sword already drawn, Tanjiro's hand was on the hilt of his sword. Tanjiro was looking around, confused, not seeing the demon. I caught his attention and nodded towards the ground. He seemed to understand we both stood where the scent was the strongest and stabbed the ground.

"Ngh!" the swamp demon grunted. Tokie floated towards the surface, and I was quick to grab her and pull her out of the shadow puddle. 

'Got her,' I thought as I held her to me. The demon still had a grip on her, so her sleeve ripped. He emerged from the shadow puddle. I checked the girl while Tanjiro questioned the demon. 

"Where are the other girls you kidnapped?" Tanjiro asked. The demon just gritted his teeth. 

"I have a few more questions for you!" Tanjiro exclaimed. The demon continued to grit his teeth and went back underground.

The girl seemed relatively fine. She'll be traumatized, but I don't see any physical injuries. Kazumi came into view, asking who the demon was. 

"Kazumi, take her and keep her safe. Stay within sight. Tanjiro and I will protect you if the demon decides to attack you." I told him, carefully giving Tokie to him. 

"What happened?" he asked, pulling her close.

"The demon kidnapped her. It's a good thing we got here so quickly. I don't know how much longer she would have lasted. Physically, she's fine, but she's most likely terrified. If she wakes, be gentle and don't make any sudden movements. If she freaks out, I want you to yell out for me. Got it?" I told him. He nods, and I nod back.