𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘳

10. HALO

a/n:
for reference, if you listen to kimetsu radio clips on youtube and hear inosuke's va... one time he introduced himself in a very airy and polite voice. This is my reference for this chapter. keep it in mind.
I will also write translation notes at the bottom, as you cannot rely on google translate because just as Sakurai's name is written "kitsu" but read sakura, many of these translations are written but read differently.

「行逢りば兄弟」

The first thing she noticed about the spirits of her fellow slayers when she returned was they were high and motivated, and Inosuke seemed to have his voice back. Not that it was any cuter.

That struck an idea in her head. "Inosuke, please say "Please stay with me forever, I am the cutest little pig," in a humble voice like Tanjiro," she requested, asking for the phrase in Kansai-ben.

"...? What does that mean?" he said.

"It means you're the strongest among all slayers!" she said, and Tanjiro was taking a moment to try and process it, though even he came out confused.

"... "Please st-ah with me fore..." "

"Forever."

"Forever! I am the cutest little piggy," he said, sounding completely unlike himself, and having accidentally said piggy. Something like Tanjiro indeed.

"—Eh?" Zenitsu had arrived in confusion. "Th-Who was that I heard just now? Are the smiths here?"

"It was Inosuke-kun," Sakurai said in between having a hearty chuckle, to which Tanjiro and Zenitsu joined in.

"Huh? What'd she make me say?!" Inosuke demanded. "I'm stronger than you, Rin'ai Sakuno!"

"Who's that? That's not my name! Those aren't even the right syllables!" she snapped before going into the estate with them. "Have you all gotten a hang of full concentration? I feel bad for not being able to help or motivated while I was gone! I had learned in but a lot of my muscle memory and strength wore off while sealed, so sorry for picking it up so fast. Inosuke-kun, you look like you have gained more muscle! And Zenitsu doesn't look so small anymore. Tanjiro as well looks invigorated—and I made you say "Please stay with me forever, I am the cutest little piggy," Inosuke," she admitted before taking off at a bolt as he charged her head first.

Then they were notified the smiths had arrived.

They ran out in joy and excitement, seeing Haganezuka with a hat just like Sakurai's, the bells chiming in the wind and wearing a sunflower haori. To his right was a red hyotokko masked smith, who Haganezuka shoved his belonging into the arms of.

Then he turned, a knife glinting in his hand, and charged full steam at Tanjiro. He indeed had worse a temper than Jirou.

But learning anything, a sword that breaks in the fault of a smith, not the wielder. Jirou's sword had aged, so it was not the fault of anyone.

Tanjiro had been run up a tree, but Sakurai was still standing unscathed by Haganezuka's knife. "Please," she said, "Tanjiro is still healing from his battle!"

Immediately, the glinting kitchen sashimi turned her way. "YOU! I CAN LET MY ANCESTORS BLADE SLIDE, IT WASN'T MINE BUT YOU PROMISED TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF BOTH BLADES! I MADE THAT WAKIZASHI!"

His blade barely missed her face, but as gentle heartedness goes—she wasn't turning-the-other-cheek Tanjiro. Instead, she grabbed his arm naturally, pulling him by so he'd land in the dirt, knife clanging away and a huff could be heard.

She bowed immediately. "I am sorry, Haganezuka-san. Though Tanjiro is not to blame, he was faced with a kizuki who is part of the group of the strongest of the demons. He fought with all his might but the enemy was stronger—but even broken your blade had the sharpness to cut the neck of a demon! So your blade is truly amazing, it was just unforeseen that we would face such an unfortunate foe."