Ah… Kanao stopped her nichirin blade, the little girl in front of her had been cornered, but still firmly protected Yoizumi behind her.
She wouldn't let Kanao get any closer.
Putting her nichirin blade back into its sheath, Kanao bent down and asked softly,
"Are you Nezuko?"
"Clang!"
Shinobu and Giyu Tomioka simultaneously sheathed their blades, as if nothing had happened, their expressions normal, neither of them speaking.
"It's him, right? The guy with the injury on his forehead."
After confirming it was Tanjirou, two Kakushi Memberss carried him away.
Over there, Kanao was in a difficult situation. No matter what she did, she couldn't get Yoizumi from the demon named Nezuko.
Even a slight approach would be met with strong resistance from Nezuko.
The order was to capture Nezuko, but it didn't say whether or not she could be harmed.
What should she do now?
Should she still decide with a coin?
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Kanao looked back and, seeing Shinobu, nodded slightly.
"Master."
"Kanao, what's wrong?"
"This demon refuses to hand over the demon behind her, no matter what."
Shinobu looked at Nezuko on the ground. The originally girlish appearance had changed into that of a small child. Her cute face and beady eyes watched the two of them warily.
"Mmph!"
Is she protecting Yoizumi?
What is their relationship?
Shinobu thought to herself, her purple eyes gently watching Nezuko, her lips curved into a perfect arc, her voice soft:
"Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you."
"I know the demon behind you."
"Yoizumi and I are old acquaintances~"
Nezuko's beady eyes were wide, a little confused. Clearly, with her small mind, she couldn't understand how this person who had just tried to kill them was now so gentle, saying she wouldn't harm them.
She tilted her small head, her gaze falling upon Giyu Tomioka, who had also walked over. She seemed to have seen this person somewhere before.
"Tanjirou needs to rest now, you two will be fine." Giyu Tomioka said something nonsensical. Although Nezuko didn't understand, she felt she could trust this cold person in front of her.
She obediently let Kanao put her into the wooden box, her eyes unblinkingly fixed on Yoizumi.
Shinobu reached out and picked up little Yoizumi, a tiny bundle, completely unlike the original Yoizumi, she thought.
Touching the two tear-like bloodstains on his tender cheek, she rubbed them away with her thumb.
Why are you always injured every time I meet you?
Shinobu looked at Yoizumi in her arms with a complex expression. This time, she didn't know how badly he was injured to have become like this; even the already faint demon energy on his body had dimmed.
She almost didn't recognize him.
"Mmph!"
"Mmm~"
Nezuko sat in the wooden box, spreading her two short arms, gesturing towards Shinobu. How long was this person going to hold her brother?
Gently placing Yoizumi into Nezuko's arms, Shinobu felt a strange reluctance, her gaze lingering on Yoizumi, held by Nezuko, until the wooden box door was closed.
"Master?" Kanao looked at Shinobu, who was staring at the wooden box in a daze, a little confused.
"It's nothing, let's go."
The wooden box was carried on a Kakushi Members's back, and the group was led out of Mt. Natagumo.
"What's going on?!"
He remembered encountering a giant spider with a human face, then passing out. When he woke up again, he found himself poisoned and on the verge of death.
A butterfly floated down from the moon, then turned into a person?!
Although she was a beauty, but!
A butterfly turned into a person!
A monster!!!
Agatsuma Zenitsu, covered in bandages, had just woken up, only to be scared unconscious again by himself.
"Is he alright?" A Kakushi Members said, looking at the person who suddenly shouted and then fainted, speechless.
"Who knows? It's almost done here, we can get ready to leave." Another person chimed in.
"You're right…"
"After all, the sun is about to rise."
The orange-red glow of dawn spread across the sky. The once dim forest, illuminated by sunlight, was imbued with new vitality, dispelling all the cold and gloom within it… "Hey! Wake up! Hey, hey, hey!"
"How long are you going to sleep?!"
"Wake up quickly!"
"This is in front of the Pillars!"
The calling grew more urgent.
Tanjirou opened his eyes, looking at the completely unfamiliar surroundings. His hands and feet were tied, unable to move, and many imposing figures stood around him.
Where was this?
Right, he was attacked by a girl and passed out. Had he been captured?
Where were Yoizumi-nii and Nezuko?
No…?!
"I heard someone was traveling with a demon, and I thought it would be a flamboyant person, but it's just a brat."
"Hmm! Now we are to judge the boy traveling with a demon! I see!"
"This is the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. You will now face judgment, Kamado Tanjirou." Tanjirou heard the words spoken by the woman he had met on Mt. Natagumo.
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters!
He had indeed been captured. He failed to protect Yoizumi-nii and Nezuko!
"Before the judgment, please explain your reason for traveling with a demon." Saying this, Shinobu took a step forward.
"There's no need for judgment!" Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku said, his hands crossed over his chest, his hair like fire, his face righteous and stern, his voice booming. "Harboring a demon is a violation of the Corps rules. Even we can deal with it!"
"He should be beheaded along with the demon!"
Sound Pillar Uzui Tengen supported the shining forehead protector on his forehead, his body adorned with flamboyant jewels, his expression somewhat arrogant. "Then let me flamboyantly take care of it!"
Eh!! Are they going to kill such a cute child? I can't do it~
My heart aches, it's too painful.
Kanroji Mitsuri, with her cherry-blossom hair and cute face, looked at Tanjirou on the ground with unbearable pity.
"Hey! This is in front of the Pillars! Where are you looking?!" A Kakushi Members tapped Tanjirou's head.
Tanjirou couldn't spare a thought, his gaze searching everywhere for Yoizumi and Nezuko.
"Yoizumi-nii! Nezuko! Where are you?!"
His throat hurt so much, and his jaw too. His jaw seemed to be fractured.
It was so hard to speak.
"Let's discuss those matters later. More importantly, Kamado Tanjirou, why are you traveling with a demon?" Shinobu asked.
"Take your time, it's alright."
Tanjirou hesitated for a moment, then said, "My… my home… *cough*…" His dry throat was pierced with pain whenever he spoke loudly. Noticing this, Shinobu took out a water bottle, half-knelt in front of Tanjirou, and held the water bottle to his lips.
"It's better to drink some water. Your jaw is injured, so please drink slowly. There's painkiller added, it will make you feel a bit more comfortable."
"Please continue your explanation."
Swallowing the last gulp of water and feeling his throat more comfortable, Tanjirou looked up.
"Those two demons are my family, my brother and sister! My home was attacked when I left, and everyone was dead when I returned!"
"Even after they became demons, they haven't eaten anyone, and they never will!"
"They will absolutely never harm humans!"
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