His name was Tanjiro. His family did charcoal-selling business.
Many years ago, I also knew a charcoal seller. Had a similar face and name to his.
Since this boy first saw me, his nostrils kept flaring lightly. Body also had some barely visible tension.
I figured his sense of smell was probably very keen. Already discerned my scent wasn't like a human's.
But he didn't expose this point. Only quietly observed me. Hearing me say I came to find Urokodaki, his body slowly relaxed again.
"So you're Master Urokodaki's guest." His smile became more genuine. Said very warmly: "I'm Master Urokodaki's newly accepted disciple. This is your first time to Sagiri Mountain, right? The fog here is very heavy. Going up the mountain at night, it's easy to get lost."
Right now I hadn't seen his sister who'd become a demon. I also didn't confess to him. Only asked if he could lead the way. Take me to Urokodaki's house.
Tanjiro nodded. Then looked somewhat hesitantly toward the path he came from: "I'd be happy to lead the way. But my training today isn't finished yet... And this mountain path has many traps. Very unsafe. Could you please wait here a moment? I'll go down the mountain to see Master Urokodaki, then come back for you?"
Just traps—no big deal. I waved my hand. Told him to continue his training. I'd follow behind. These traps couldn't hurt me.
He seemed to have a unique ability to discern lies. Hearing me say this, nodded reassuringly. Turned back to continue training.
I followed at a moderate distance behind him. Watched him dodge hidden weapons flying from all directions along the way. Also had to watch for suddenly collapsing ground underfoot. Suddenly understood why Sabito and Giyuu showed those expressions.
Good thing Tanjiro had already trained for a while. Narrowly dodged all the traps. Smoothly reached that cabin. Knocked on the door.
"Master Urokodaki, a lady calling herself Chihaya has come to visit you."
The door opened at once. An old man wearing a tengu mask walked out. First looked at him. Then looked in my direction. Nodded lightly.
"It's been too long, Lady Chihaya."
I slowly walked over. Also smiled at him: "Your new disciple is quite good."
Urokodaki seemed to have already guessed my purpose. Beckoned the astonished Tanjiro inside. Directly led me to an inner room.
In the bedding lay a girl. Lips biting a bamboo muzzle. Deep in slumber.
"This is Tanjiro's younger sister, Nezuko. Also that young girl who transformed into a demon."
Tanjiro followed in confused, asking: "Master Urokodaki, what's going on?"
I walked to the bedding and sat down. Gently stroked Nezuko's forehead. Remembered seeing them in the mountains a few years ago. And their parents.
Now only these two siblings remained.
"Just as Giyuu said, this girl hasn't eaten people." I said. "She doesn't look like ordinary sleep. Did something happen?"
Urokodaki turned back and said quietly to Tanjiro: "This is the Demon Slayer Corps' most respected senior. Her identity and origins are classified information only Pillars can know. I can't tell you much. But she won't harm Nezuko."
"It's fine to tell him." I said. "His ancestor had quite a connection with me. And he inherited those earrings. Can know these things."
To explain Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi's matter clearly would take quite some time. Not to mention explaining my origins.
I could only briefly tell him—Yoriichi was the swordsman of the original Breathing Style. His ancestor had some connection with Yoriichi. Inherited those earrings.
No, he inherited not just those earrings. Should be something more important.
Otherwise Muzan wouldn't personally come to kill them.
"Your family—passed down Sun Breathing, right?"
When Yoriichi gave away the earrings back then, didn't tell me who he gave them to. I also never asked.
Never thought it would be Sumiyoshi.
Precisely because even I couldn't think of it, Muzan didn't discover back then there was still someone who inherited Yoriichi's will.
But he still traced it here.
I felt very frustrated. If only I hadn't been in that muddled state back then... If my memory could be a bit clearer, perhaps they wouldn't have suffered such disaster.
Mentioning deceased family, Tanjiro felt somewhat sad. But still rallied and said to me: "Please don't blame yourself. This is absolutely not your fault. Speaking of it, I should thank you for saving Nezuko and me from the wolf's jaws back then."
Tanjiro changed the subject. Asked with concern: "Then do you know why Nezuko hasn't woken up?"
I pondered. While observing Nezuko, carefully recalled.
"Your ancestor Hisako also loved to sleep very much."
I suddenly remembered this. Hisako's constitution was also very special. Adding my experience as a demon, I boldly guessed:
"Since Nezuko doesn't eat people, she must use another method to replace flesh and blood to accumulate power... Right now it seems she's reducing energy consumption through deep sleep."
At least her body had no problems.
Getting this answer, Tanjiro looked very happy. Gratefully thanked me. Also didn't ask more about things I didn't mention.
Day had already broken. He made breakfast. After eating, simply washed up. Then went to sleep.
Urokodaki's training could be called demonic. This young man right now probably had no time to listen to me tell stories of the past in detail.
Moreover, before him was still the Final Selection. The Demon Slayer Corps' selection wouldn't relax standards just because I knew this person.
So better not disturb his mind. Let him concentrate fully on dealing with training.
After he fell asleep, Urokodaki and I walked outside to talk. Once again asked worriedly: "Lady Chihaya, Nezuko's mind has been like a young child's. And she sleeps without waking. Could you please give her some blood? Let her return to normal?"
Normally, I would do this.
But this time I hesitated. After considering, still refused.
"To resist the desire to eat people through one's own will—that's an incredible thing."
Even I could only slowly resist Muzan's blood because I'd lived long enough. And was also an ancestor of demons.
But Nezuko was only in her teens. To do this was very remarkable.
"Perhaps some incredible change has occurred in her. I think it's better not to destroy this change."
Don't know if I should call it intuition. Or fate's guidance.
When I saw those earrings, I suddenly had a feeling.
These siblings would bring storm-like change.
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