Sanemi hates to admit it, but he was kind of missing Giyuu. It's been a year since they departed from headquarters and they spent it all together. Sure, Giyuu was definitely one of worst companions you can have for a trip. But Sanemi would be lying if he said he didn't start considering him as a friend. After all they both are stuck in this whole time travel ordeal, and its always better to face problems with friends.
Who Sanemi was really missing was Kanae. He wonders how she's been doing. With a year of no contact, Sanemi has spent many long days feeling empty. It was nice to not be alone with Giyuu and later Jigoro, but Giyuu was cold and Jigoro emitted a sharp presence. Sanemi misses Kanae's warmth. Her carefulness. Her voice. Her scent. Her face. Her smile. Her... everything.
Sanemi let out an internal growl as he kicked a pebble on the road. The loneliness was really hitting him. It's been 19 months since he last saw her, and it hurts more that he will spend more months without her.
'Damn. I wonder how she is doing right now. I hope she is okay...'
But in the back of his mind, Sanemi knew she would be okay. Kanae was strong, and Sanemi acknowledged that. Regardless, his love for her could only carry worry for her. After all in the original time, Kanae was never here around this time. History that was previously moving without her has now found her present in new days.
With that being said, Sanemi can't help but think back to his and Giyuu's conversation with Kaguya. The intense (and complex) topic of fate. With Sanemi blazingly rewriting history, he feels paranoid on the consequences that it'll bring.
'Ah what the hell am I thinking. Everything will turn out okay. And if it doesn't I'll make sure it'll become okay.'
Sanemi took a deep breath before exhaling. As he looked at high noon sky, he closed his eyes as he felt the wind caress his face and takes in the smell of the wet grass and the puddles from yesterday. He never cares about these types of sceneries or small details. He personally doesn't see the point. However these were the types of things Kanae would always point out when they would walk together. Taking in these details makes Sanemi feel he's closer to Kanae at the moment.
Besides, what else is he suppose to do? All he's doing is following the Master's crow. As Sanemi opened his eyes he spots a black crow with a purple scarf circling above him. Kaguya's crow appeared a couple weeks back and has been guiding Sanemi (with suprisingly good Japanese!) towards the direction of Tamayo.
However Tamayo is an elusive person. While it seems she hasn't caught that she is being followed, she has been switching towns very frequently. This is only a habit she's been following for a 100 years, and for good reason. She always carries the risk of being discovered by a demon slayer (which technically already happened) or worse, being discovered by Muzan. Her short stays in towns are only a safety precaution.
And yet, her frequent moving has caused the crow to disappear for a while only to reappear after days and steer Sanemi in a different direction. Of course, Sanemi could run towards Tamayo and meet her before she moves. However Sanemi was in no rush and decided to just take his time in tracking Tamayo. Finding her faster wasn't going to make him see Kanae faster (unfortunately) and despite what he previously admitted, he doesn't miss Giyuu that much.
And so Sanemi took his time. Walk during the day and sleep in a inn by night. Occasionally Kaguya's crow will inform him of a demon sighting, and Sanemi would take a detour to take care of the problem. It solves the issue of Sanemi actively searching for demons, and he doesn't have to travel through the night to spot any.
That's how Sanemi found himself in the middle of the mountains 2 hours later. With the damp soil sticking on his sandals. The master's crow spotted a demon sighting around this area. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem to be a strong demon, but Sanemi was in the area so the crow reported to him. Not that Sanemi minded. He was itching to stab something.
As the sun sets and paints an orange sky, the trees paint long strike of shadow that cover the environment. The golden hour brightens Sanemi hair and saturates his face perfectly. Despite his scars, any women that were to look at Sanemi at that moment would surely feel their heart skip a beat.
But Sanemi doesn't care for such things, and neither do demons (or at least the ones that he fought). Right now Sanemi was on a mission that he intended to complete swiftly.
Once the sun fully set and the lighting switched from orange to white, Sanemi opened his senses fully.
He could hear a lot of things moving in the mountains, but he couldn't identify the source. Was it the demon? Was it a boar? Was it a bear? These questions are ones that are hidden in the shadows casted from the trees.
"Tch, alright. Guess you're making me do this after all" spoke Sanemi softly before unsheathing his katana. Then as he brings the katana to his forearm, he makes a small cut. As the blood slowly drops from his cut, Sanemi waits patiently.
One drop. Two drops. Three drops. Twelve drops go by before a sound comes behind Sanemi. Sanemi smirks before turning around and going for a slice. In a flash the demon appears from the shadows and finds their arms cut. Surprised, the demon lets out a roar before stepping back in retreat from Sanemi.
Sanemi take a good look at the demon. This wasn't your average demon. This demon stood at 9 feet tall, with multiple legs protruding from it. Its severed arms are bigger than his head, and its torso was incredibly wide with more legs coming out. It's face has multiple eyes, with a hard casing covering from the back of its head all the way down its spine. Small horns were on the top of its head, and its mouth was really a pincher with saliva dripping from it.
Looking at it whole, it appeared like a cursed humanoid centipede. This demon was extremely strong and was enough to give a Kanoe rank trouble. However all Sanemi saw was an ant begging to be squashed.
"How disgusting," spat Sanemi as his brows furrowed. "What? You want a taste of my blood? Well too bad for you. You'll be dying hungry today."
The demon stomped heavily, leaving a crack on the ground, before roaring and rushing Sanemi. However Sanemi just prepared his stance and took a breath.
"Wind Breathing, Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind..."
However instead of normally lifting his sword to strike, he instead dashes towards the demon. As he dashes, a horizontal cyclone of wind follows him and hits the demon, launching the 250 pound demon in the air. As the demon is launched in the air Sanemi leaps in the air and appears above it. Then he raises his sword in preparation-
"...Cyclone!"
-before unleashing four powerful strikes on the demon. The demon instantly dies and disintegrates before hitting the ground, leaving only 4 long imprints on the shattered ground. As Sanemi lands down, he stands in shattered earth and rubble created from his one form.
"Huh, how amazing!" said Sanemi with a grin. "That variation training with Jigoro really paid off! Man, I really wished that demon was stronger. I would have wanted to try my other variation."
Satisfied with his progress, Sanemi starts to leave the mountain with a smile on his face. There was something so satisfying and great to see that your efforts have been paying off. As he was walking downhill, Sanemi was just thinking how he could treat himself. Maybe sleep a whole 8 hours? Have some onigiri? Hell maybe he should even consider-
"HOLD ON A MINUTE! FIGHT ME!!!"
Sanemi stops dead in his tracks. There is no way this is happening. Fate wouldn't toy with him like this, right? As he slowly turns around, he prays that voice isn't what he thinks it is. However to his extreme disappointment, he was greeted with the sight of a shirtless kid wearing a dreadful boar mask.
"HEY YOU! FIGHT ME RIGHT NOW! HOW DID YOU DO THAT! GO AHEAD AND FIGHT ME! BEATING YOU WOULD MAKE ME THE STRONGEST!
"God, you have got to be kidding me..."