Reincarnated as Nezuko

Chapter 21

^^What Nezuko is wearing, along with her face mask (Ch. 18)^^

Nezuko's P.O.V. 

It took us a few days to get to Asakusa, but we eventually made it. By the time we got there, night had already fallen, so I was walking beside my brother, taking in the sights, but also being on alert. 

During our journey here, I debated whether to follow my brother when he caught Muzan's scent. It took me a few days, but I eventually decided not to. It's better if he doesn't know I exist, for now. 

Tanjiro was taking in the sights. This is pretty new to him, seeing as we have only ever been to small towns and villages. I was somewhat used to it since I've been in somewhat big cities back in my old life. However, all the new sights and smells are overwhelming to my new heightened senses. I'm guessing they got to my brother, too, because I was suddenly being pulled into an alley. 

When we got into the alley, we came across a couple making out. 

'Honestly, go somewhere a bit more private and do that.' I thought, rolling my eyes. Tanjiro went all flustered and stuttered out an apology.

"Ack! I-I beg your pardon!" he stuttered, then continued pulling me through the city. We finally arrived at an udon stand. 

'Food!' I screamed in my head. I headed over to the window and ordered my udon. 

"Excuse me, can I have a bowl of beef niku udon, please?"

"Huh? Oh, of course, young lady," the man said.

"Hey, Tanjiro, want something?" I called over my shoulder.

"What?" he asked, then looked at the udon stand. "Oh, sure. A bowl of udon with grated yam on top, please," he said, walking over. 

"Coming right up," the man said, then began making our food. 

We walked over to a nearby bench to wait for our food. Ten minutes later, the man brought over our food. 

"Here's your food," the man said, giving us our food.

"Thank you, here's what we owe," I said, giving the man the amount owed, plus some extra. "Keep the change," I said with a smile.

"Oh, wow, thank you, young lady!" the man said gratefully.

"You're welcome." I smiled brightly at him. The man walked back to his stand, and I grabbed my chopsticks and was about to dig in when I smelt something. I tensed and looked over at Tanjiro, who had tensed up too. He stood abruptly; his food would have fallen if I hadn't caught it. 

"Nezuko, stay here," Tanjiro said as he picked up his sword and ran back into the city. I knew where he was going. I said I wouldn't go with him, but I never said I wouldn't watch him from the shadows.

I put our food down on the bench and told the vendor that we would be back. I then grabbed my sword and followed my brother, making sure to stay far enough away that neither Muzan nor Tanjiro could tell I was nearby.

3rd Person P.O.V.

When Tanjiro caught up to the person he believed to be Muzan, he put his hand on the man's shoulder. 

"Hmm?" the man questioned as he turned halfway. 

'That's him!' Tanjiro exclaimed in his head.

"Daddy?" a voice asked. This made Tanjiro pause. Muzan turned around fully, and in his arms was a little girl. Tanjiro was shocked. 

"Wha..." Tanjiro said in confusion.

"Who's that?" the little girl asked. 

"It's all right. Don't worry." Muzan said to his 'daughter.'

Tanjiro's thoughts were going haywire. 

'H-he's living here, pretending to be human!' Tanjiro thought, in disbelief.

"Is there something I can do for you? You seem to be quite flustered." Muzan said to Tanjiro.

"Oh, my. What's going on?" a woman asked.

"Mommy!" the little girl said. 

Tanjiro put his hand over his mouth and gripped his clothes. He was horrified by what he was seeing: Muzan playing human. 

'They're humans! The girl and the woman... their scent is human! Don't you know? Can't you tell? That this guy is a demon? That he devours humans?' Tanjiro ranted in his head. 

Meanwhile, Nezuko was in the shadows looking on in thinly veiled disgust to what she was witnessing. She knew what was going to happen next, but she knew she couldn't stop it. It would reveal her too soon. 

"Do you know him?" the woman asked Muzan.

"No. Much to my consternation, I've never seen this child before. He must have mistaken me for someone else." Muzan said, then he scratched a man's neck who was walking by. 

"Oh, you think so?" the woman said, as Tanjiro looked at the man who was just scratched. The man was clutching his neck, wincing. 

"Dear, what's the matter?" asked the man's wife. The man just groaned. "Dear?" the wife asked again, but again there was no response. 

Suddenly, the man turned towards his wife and lunged. The man had been turned into a demon. The wife screamed as her now demon husband lunged for her. 

"Stop!" Tanjiro shouted, just as the man bit his wife's neck.