Nezuko.

Nezuko stirred on the futon and curled tighter into a ball. The window was wide open, curtains flowing lightly in the wind.

Nezuko.

Nezuko's eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she blankly stared in front of her, registering the voice. Arching her back, the girl tilted her gaze at her watch lying next to the top edge of the futon. A faint signal was running through the black screen.

Sabito?

Nezuko rolled over on her stomach and hurriedly scrambled into a sit. Legs sprawled under her, she quickly latched the watch onto her wrist. A neurotic shiver ran across her spine, and instantly, the familiar voice echoed in her head.

Nezuko, are you awake?

Yes. Her own voice, coherent and clear, always disturbed her. Nezuko waved away the regular hesitation and ordered herself to focus.

Sabito, what's wrong?

A hologram of the day news projected from her watch. With growing astonishment, Nezuko watched through the scrolling subtitles and changing images how her brother decapitated a demon. Staring at Tanjiro's photograph, she missed some of the details, but it didn't matter.

What does this mean?

It doesn't matter at the moment. Sabito's voice was constrained and serious. You have to get out of the apartment.

What? Overflown with shock and fear, it took her several moments to catch on.

They have a warrant on your guys' apartment, Sabito quickly explained. He was distracted, as if talking to her and doing something else on the side. Checking this building's security system, Nezuko suddenly realized.

There was a sudden noise in the entrance, and the girl abruptly flinched. A ripple ran across her mind.

Sabito, what is it? Nezuko silently asked, standing up.

Police robots, Sabito replied after a brief, concentrated pause. They're opening your door.

Because officially, only brother lives in this apartment, Nezuko finished by herself. Eyeing the hallway, she stepped sideways until her hip hit the window frame. In a quick movement, the girl wheeled around and jumped onto the window frame.

The wind blew her hair into her eyes as she gazed at the lower levels spiraling downwards. The alleys glowed purple, sunlight filtered by the Wisteria District.

Her eyes flickered onto the opposite platform.

You sure about this?

Nezuko's claws slightly dug into the window frame. The muscles clenched inside her right foot, slightly slipping because of the socks.

Yes.

The wind hollowed into her ears, her body for a moment becoming weightless. Leaping across the void, Nezuko roughly landed and, dropping down until her knees almost touched the ground, skidded across. Her claws screeched along the concrete, and the girl unnoticeably winced.

Immediately, she backed into the alley as far as she could. It was ringing in her head, and her breath caught short against the muzzle.

Sabito?

Yeah, they're still outside, about to enter. Good work, Nezuko.

Nezuko heavily breathed out and slightly leaned forward, holding her shaking knees. Her heart was racing inside her chest, and she could feel the blood swirling inside the swollen veins.

What now?

They'll probably scour the area after they see that someone other than Tanjiro lived in the apartment. Do you have any place to lie low?

Hand gliding over the walls to steady herself, Nezuko carefully stepped over the puddles.

No.

There was a sigh, and suddenly, Nezuko felt warm, as if the being in her head smiled.

Then I guess I'll stay with you.


"Kamado Tanjiro, Agatsuma Zenitsu, and Hashibira Inosuke were charged and are currently held in custody for the direct and asssisted murder of Iikubo Akufumi and Suzuki Shin, respectively."

"This makes it the forty-first time in a row," Zenitsu mumbled, face plastered against the bars and arms drooping on the floor. Worn out, he looked at the guard motionlessly standing next to the prison.

"Could you turn it off? It's a pain watching the same coverage over again."

The guard, prosthetic eyes focused in front, did not answer. Zenitsu sighed and turned around. Gliding down the bars, he softly plopped down and outstretched his legs.

"Well?"

Lying on the bench, Tanjiro briefly glanced at Zenitsu, but didn't say anything.

"Well what?" Inosuke echoed, staring at the ceiling. "The demon wanted us to screw up, an' we screwed up."

He absently shifted his leg back and forth along the wall, remembering the details. "Did y'see that thing? Sliced through like air. I couldn't even scratch it."

"Yeah, but no one will believe us," Zenitsu bent his wrists, eliciting short snaps. "No one ever saw a demon unaffected by sunlight or the nichirin blades."

"He probably was affected." Tanjiro's arms ached from being folded behind the head for too long, but he ignored it. "We just didn't notice it."

"At least we know the guy's deal." A disgusted shiver raced across Inosuke's outstretched arms. "A demon-turner."

Zenitsu gave a humorless smirk, lowering his hands on his lap.

"I'd rather not known that."

Inosuke slightly turned his head Zenitsu's way, before shifting back, face serious. Zenitsu sighed, looking away.

Tanjiro stared at the ceiling, slightly shaking his bent leg on the knee. He felt the familiar cottonness, occurring after a period of paralysis, trying to take over his limbs. He knew that feeling, and he had to think to counter that. Watching the dim light beating against the lamp, Tanjiro unnoticeably frowned. His leg shook slightly faster.

The demon resembled a hologram the most. The theory of a new evolutionary type was too conspiratorial and terrifying to believe in. So, a hologram.

A hologram always had a source. If so, the demon was in one location, and the hologram was in another. But holograms were purely impotent. It couldn't even touch a fly. Tanjiro closed his eyes, weariness spreading over the eyelids. A ridiculous thought was stuck in his head, about the demon being merged with the hologram, and it was too complicated to think about.

Letting go, his mind slowly sank into darkness. It bobbled, gently turned over by the current. Breath steadying, Tanjiro thought with a dull pang that he almost forgot about the two men. After nearly five years in the corps, all the emotions channeled into neverending fury against the demon, with nothing left for the victims.

It was maybe why the hashiras were so dead inside.

He refused to become like them.

Tanjiro slowly opened his eyes. The ceiling was hazy, but focused gradually into a coherent outline. Rolling over on his stomach, Tanjiro looked at Inosuke.

"Aren't you cold?" He nodded towards his friend. "Lying on the floor like that?" Not to mention that he unbuttoned his shirt.

"Naaah." Something like a faint smile appeared on Inosuke's lips. Head tiredly leaning against the bars, Zenitsu smirked.

"I bet you'll be coughing tomorrow."

"Bet all you want," Inosuke slightly grinned. The corners of Tanjiro's lips rose up. Zenitsu shook his head, trying to look dejected, but a grin cracked through his expression.

There was a sudden commotion somewhere from the office. The guard stepped away from the cell and disappeared in the adjacent office. Zenitsu jolted, craning his neck to see what's going on. His eyes narrowed.

"Someone's coming."

Inosuke swung his legs off the wall and swiftly stood up. Tanjiro sat up as well. His face hardened in concentration.

The guard returned almost immediately, a small figure following him in the shadows. Zenitsu finally stood up, eyes serious. The guard silently swiped the badge over the lock. The door beeped, and the figure pushed it forward.

Unclenching the fingers from the edge of the bench, Tanjiro rose to his feet. His limbs belatedly creaked from numbness, and his vision dotted black, but he forced himself to look straight at the visitor.

Muichiro silently stepped over the door frame. His face was blank. Not hurrying, he shuffled forward. Zenitsu and Inosuke politely kept their gaze down, but the muscles moving on their faces revealed their strained attention.

Muichiro stopped right in front of Tanjiro. The demon slayer firmly answered his gaze.

The hashira swiftly lifted his arm and slapped Tanjiro across the face with full force. The sound resonated in the room. Tanjiro almost unnoticeably winced, but looked back up at the hashira.

"Did you want to discredit the demon slayers?" Muichiro said unemotionally.

"No."

"Then why did you kill that man?"

"He was a demon, so he killed it," Inosuke's gaze darted briefly up on the hashira. "That's our job."

Muichiro's eyes didn't move from Tanjiro. "Your job was to kill the demon before it inflicted any casualties."

"That was not possible," Zenitsu grimly commented, looking at the ground. Muichiro's gaze finally slid towards them and narrowed.

"You're the one who swung the sword." He was still eyeing the two other demon slayers, and displeasure glimmered in his voice. "Do you have nothing to say to me?"

"No," Tanjiro replied after a short silence. Everything burned inside of him, but he couldn't get the excuse from his throat. "I don't."

Muichiro's eyes flickered back at him and, for a moment, his face scrunched up in frustration and regret. He turned around, making his way towards the exit.

"The prosecutor decided to pursue the case. Your first appearance before the court is in two days. You'll hear your charges there."

His foot paused midair over the door frame.

"The hashira meeting was moved up to tomorrow."

The guard closed the door after Muichiro, and the lock automatically clicked shut. Tanjiro slowly sat back down. Nervousness rattled inside him, but he painfully swallowed. The anxiousness receded. Breathing out, Tanjiro glanced up at his friends.

"It'll be alright," he quietly said. Inosuke gave him a long stare, but nodded. Zenitsu sighed, then passed his hand through his hair.

"Yeah. I just hope Nezuko sleeps through all of this."


Nezuko tiredly stepped over a puddle. They decided to go further into the deeper level as the robots wouldn't venture that far, but the idea was much more enthusiastic than they expected.

I'm too ill-equipped for this, Nezuko thought with a sigh. Her toes curled pitifully inside her socks, damp and cold. A small signal occasionally ran through her watch, indicating that Sabito was there.

Nezuko silently walked out from the alley onto the cross-building platform. A cruiser slowly floated above, nets of metal scrap swaying side to side. Cans occasionally fell out of the holes. One fell on a woman's shoulder. She dashed to the side and loudly swore at the cruiser.

Half-smashed robots sat on the ground, small junk laid out on the torn canvases. Many were smoking, thin tubes dipping into glass bowls filled with boiling water, spices swirling inside.

People were watching her, throwing quick glances at her legs, yet no one came up. Nezuko's eyes narrowed, but she continued firmly going forward.

You seem to navigate here pretty well.

They know I'm a demon. Nezuko ran quickly down the stairs to the platform below.

Exhausts piped into her face, and she coughed, trying not to bump into anyone. The place was teeming with people, running past each other. The stalls bulged from the walls, apartments stacked right over them. Nezuko had to duck to avoid the low electricity wires hanging from the beams. A man tossed a dead bird on a frying pan, the poignant smell tickling her throat.

You don't need to eat? Sabito jokingly asked. Nezuko smirked.

No, and neither do you.

I mean, at this point I'm up for a swallow.

Nezuko laughed, but her muzzle pressed the sound into her mouth.

They walked out a bridge. Stepping to the side, Nezuko leaned against the railing and squinted upwards. From the thousands of billboards, beams, signs, and electric wires blocking the sky, she told apart the purplish ceiling of the Wisteria District.

Do you think we travelled far enough? She wondered, gazing at the far away ceiling. It was hard to imagine anything beyond it. Every single time brother or Zenitsu told her stories from the top, she always assumed it happened here, at the Lower Level.

Probably. Are you just going to hang out here?

Nezuko sighed and, lowering her head, looked around. Stall canvases stretched into the horizon, bridges and staircases interweaving between disconnected platforms. The hum of humans and machinery buzzed in the air. Melange of scents, from burnt metal to sweat, hung low with the steam.

I don't know, Sabito. Nezuko rubbed her neck, looking at the ground and absently nudging her toe. I don't know what else I can do. Apart from sleep, her existence didn't involve much trouble.

It was like a cool breeze passed over her nerves. His sigh contained sadness without an answer.

A shadow abruptly fell on Nezuko, pulling her out of her thoughts. She roughly jerked her head upwards, but the quick figure was already disappearing, jumping on top of people's heads.

"Demon!" Someone screeched. People automatically sprinted into the alleys, stumbling into the first shop they could find. Vendors scrambled underneath the stalls, sellers scurried from their rugs. Ironically, they were still clutching their goods, kneeling down and picking them up when they fell from their hands.

Sabito! Nezuko mentally shouted and darted forward.

No, Nezuko!

Nezuko abruptly stopped, not even able to take a step.

You won't be able to catch him in this crowd. Use your senses and trace out the likely target!

A likely target? Isn't that a bit too assuming? Nezuko tossed in irritation while running over to the opposite railing. Her stomach squelched as she roughly leaned over, smelling out the demon. The scent was speedily moving towards the lower bridge. Over there, people were frantically shoving each other, all clambering in different directions.

There are thousands of them! How am I supposed to know which one the demon will attack?

Do you really have to ask me that? The voice boomed in her head. Nezuko gripped the railing, eyes straining to see something special in the terrified, distorted faces. This is useless, she thought in frustration, gaze jumping from one person to another. It would've been quicker to just run after the demon….

Her nails accidentally scraped off the rust from the railing. Unbelieving, Nezuko stared at the small child, holding tight to a plush octopus, running across the bridge. The pompon on his hat was wildly shaking in fright to his small footsteps.

Mouth watering, Nezuko mechanically stood up on the railing. She dully listened to the unemotional countdown in her head. When her voice reached zero, she closed her eyes. For a moment, she remembered about everything that made her human.

In a flash, the demonic eyes opened, blazing with determination and controlled anger, and Nezuko pounced from the railing.

Her foot collided with full force with the demon's face, just as he was about to snatch the child. With a loud crash, the demon flew back and collided with the railing. The metal bars bent from the impact. Nezuko quickly took a couple of steps back, recovering from the air seethed from her snarled teeth, pivoting around the muzzle.

The child stopped in his tracks, staring wide-eyed at the two demons. The people around also froze, afraid of provoking either of them.

Coughing, the demon spit and slowly lifted his yellow eyes on Nezuko. The girl's face hardened as his lips drew into a crooked, suggestive grin.

"You're cute." The metal smashed under his grip as he propped himself up by the railing. Nezuko took another step back, protectively standing in front of the child. Her heart was acutely beating in her chest. She was afraid.

Upright, the demon was slightly shaking. He gestured with his hand, beckoning her forward.

"How 'bout it? Split the kid between the two, spend some time together?"

Trying to hold down the nervous nausea, as well as disgust, Nezuko shook her head. The demon lowered his hand, arching his brow in confusion.

"What, are you one of those no-kid jerks? Seriously?"

Grimacing from anger, Nezuko leaped at him, and he staggered back, barely escaping the kick.

"Hey, are y'a crazy?" The demon yelled, crouching down and releasing his claws. "The hell is wrong—"

His head detached from his neck. Nezuko hopped back down, lowering her foot. With grim satisfaction, she watched how the body reeled for a couple of moments, before toppling over the railing and falling down with the head into the abyss.

Nezuko turned around. The child was staring at her. So were the large, sewn from white string, eyes of the octopus.

Nezuko tilted her head and gave them a comforting smile. The child blinked, before abruptly wheeling around. With a sinking heart, Nezuko watched him run away into the alley, occasionally looking back to make sure she's not following her.

Don't worry about it, the soft voice quietly said among her thoughts. You saved his life, and that's all that matters.

Nezuko silently turned around, walking down the bridge. Even though she knew Sabito was right, she couldn't stop the frustration and disappointment from clouding inside of her. The people shuddered away from her, scattering as fast as they could. Nezuko lowered her head, hiding the pain on her face.

"Nezuko?"

The girl started from suddenness and glanced over her shoulder. The basket of fish lightly swinging from the back, the robot wordlessly looked at her.

You know this guy? Nezuko barely heard Sabito's surprised question as she ran up to the robot. Burning her head into his kimono, she wrapped her arms around the metallic carcass and squeezed her eyes shut. The thin, mechanical arm carefully hugged her around her back.

"You were amazing," Rubikku said quietly, emotion hidden from his voice. Nezuko only hugged him tighter, not hearing the heartbeat in the metallic chest.

Rubikku let her go first, taking a step back. His red eyes carefully fell on her wrist. "That an Auto-Consciousness?"

How did he know? Sabito's voice was displeased. Nezuko felt like giggling; it wasn't often strangers caught on to him. She switched on the audio, and there was a slight reverbnation, almost like a sigh.

"Yo, kid. I'm Sabito."

"Rubikku," the robot simply replied. His eyes lingered at the watch in curiosity, but he looked back at Nezuko.

"How come you're not hibernating?"

She snorted and brought her fingers to the watch screen, about to type in the explanation.

Don't tell him. Nezuko started from surprise. Sabito, unnoticeably swapping back the communication, waited silently for her answer. She could almost feel his eyes drilling her - even though she did not know what he looked like.

This is not something you should talk about to outsiders. There was a pause. I hope Tanjiro and the rest don't discuss missions with him.

Nezuko felt her cheeks going extremely red. Of course no one kept their mouth shut.

We've known him for six years, she defiantly retorted in her head.

So?

"Did the cops knock on you or something?" Rubikku fixed the strap on his shoulder, delicately stopping the swaying bowls with his fingers. "I never thought Tanjiro would be so popular. They're broadcasting it even in Shishiga."

He looked up. "If you're pressured, you can stay at my place."

Nezuko quieted, gazing at the robot. She lowered her hand from the watch and softly shook her head.

"Do you not want to see my body?"

Nezuko tightly clenched her fingers into her palm. She didn't want Rubikku to know that she rarely thought of him as human. The possibility of seeing his actual body - she felt it would break her perception of him. Her fingers clawed in deeper. He secretly might know that already.

Rubikku was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and kneeled down so that their eyes were on the same level. Nezuko gazed into the glass framed by metal rings, a distant red light shining from within.

"It's not like I'm in square zero of the room. I'm in the basement." The red light wavered, mimicking a grin. "To make it simpler, you're not allowed in there."

Nezuko gave a small, gentle smile, the muzzle straps digging into the corners of her lips. Inside, the uncomfortable feeling remained, but it was overshadowed by gratitude and subdued gladness.

Well, Sabito? She mentally asked. She didn't feel right to go if he disagreed. A ripple brushed along her nerves as the AutCo shrugged.

I couldn't access his dimension, but I assume it'll be okay. It's not like we have many options available.

You tried to hack him? Nezuko wasn't sure if she was more embarrassed or angry. Rubikku already turned around, walking towards the platform.

Relax, he didn't feel anything. Even if he did, he wouldn't have minded. From what it seems, he's a chill guy.

Yes, but still, Nezuko argued while lightly running forward. Catching up with the robot, she automatically slipped her hand into his. She didn't notice how the robot's eyes slid in her direction, the metal fingers cautiously and delicately wrapping around hers.

Rubikku stepped off the bridge and silently led her down the platform. Walking around the vendors and hurrying passerbys, they made their way to the stairways at the edge of the building. The robot quickly began down, his right arm slightly outstretched behind him. Her fingers still interlocked with his, Nezuko wordlessly regarded the view.

The grey buildings stacked upon each other, alleys zigzagging between them. Cruisers hung low, the steam hiding the electric wires. Rubikku's footsteps echoed against the metal. He disregarded the scenery, continuing down the stairs. The platforms flickered one after another, differing smells and shouts invading from each one. One time, Rubikku dodged, avoiding a crashing drone. Another time, waste nearly spilled at them from a popped pipe. Still, the robot continued downwards.

"You live that far down?" Sabito finally asked out loud. They had been going for nearly ten minutes in one direction, and Nezuko was getting slightly dizzy. At the same time, she felt a sour taste forming in her mouth: it smelled of demons.

"The bottom is closer to the river." Rubikku carefully jumped over a missing step. Nezuko obediently followed. The scents became stronger. She slightly tugged his hand, indicating the danger .

"I know," Rubikku answered quietly without turning around. "This place teems with demons. They like it here."

The person in the watch smirked. "And you're not afraid of them?"

"Demons don't like vegetables. " There was some hilarity in the robot's voice. "In that sense, I guess they're similar to human children."

Nezuko lightly slapped his arm, and Rubikku chuckled.

The staircase ended abruptly, the last steps and railing bluntly torn off. Releasing the girl's hand, Rubikku slightly crouched and jumped down. The flaps of his kimono shivered, revealing the thin, metal joints. Nezuko swiftly jumped down next to him. Straightening out, she scanned the abandoned plaza.

It was completely dark, illuminated only by dull lamplights. Old posters hung on the walls, graffiti peeling off. Broken crates were scattered across the concrete. An empty, scrunched can rolled up to Nezuko's feet, but she didn't pay attention.

Thousands of different demon scents circled in her nostrils. She winced, unable to tell them apart. Her eyes traveled in uncertainty at Rubikku; completely unfazed, he was walking across the plaza towards one of the small alleys.

It's alright, Sabito quietly comforted her, switching again to mental communication. There are a lot of scents, but that's only because they live here. It doesn't mean that a demon is actually here.

Nezuko moved her shoulder, silently thanking him for the support, and cautiously moved forward. Because she was constantly glancing around, she almost tripped over the indent of the sewage lid.

"You okay?" Rubikku called out to her from the alley. Ankle burning, Nezuko quickly hopped over to him.

Spherical balconies bulged over one another. Most of the windows were broken. The canvas overhangs were torn. The sewage quietly streamed down the exposed pipes.

Rubikku fumbled next to a sealed door, metal fingers tapping on the rubber buttons. The lock clicked, and the robot pushed the door. He switched on the lights as he walked in.

Nezuko blinked, getting used to the brightness. It was a simple, wide room without any windows. Most of it was occupied by empty bowls and aquariums. A thin mattress with an undone blanket was tossed next to the wall. Nezuko's eyes paused on the door embedded in the wall across from her.

The boy was probably in there.

The baskets and bowls tinkered next to her as the robot lowered down his belongings.

"I'm sorry for the mess," he apologized, walking over to the mattress. Nezuko shook her head. She watched as Rubikku fixed the blanket on the mattress.

"You can continue hibernating here."

He looked over his shoulder. "Cool?"

Nezuko crouched next to him and looked into his eyes. She didn't know how to correctly express her gratitude, while showing him a screen with 'thank you' spelled out seemed too detached.

A minute passed. Rubikku looked away first, giving the mattress a small slap.

"Well, that's that." He stood up and walked back to his baskets.

"You'll watch over, Sabito-san?"

"No problem, kid."

She might have imagined it, but Sabito's voice was slightly kinder than before. The robot slightly tilted his hat in gratitude and heaved the bowls on his back. His fingers hesitated on the light switch.

"See you, Nezuko."

Still crouching and watching him, Nezuko nodded. The light flickered off, the door softly swishing forward before shutting back. The lock automatically snapped tight.

Nezuko tiredly laid down on the mattress and closed her eyes. Without opening them, she undid her watch, yet kept it on her wrist.

Will you stay here? She wearily asked, pulling on the blanket. Even in the room, it smelled of demons, and she couldn't tell what exactly was the scent of the blanket.

I'll pop back and forth. The hashiras must be on their feet right now. I'll see what I can find about Tanjiro.

Okay. She was already drifting asleep. The fight and journey here was pushing away all her thoughts, especially since she was pulled awake in the first place.

I checked the security of this room. It's safe.

Thank you, Sabito, Nezuko whispered in her mind, curling up into a ball. The watch was quiet, allowing her to fall asleep, before blinking and turning black.


A/N: I'm back with another chapter!

I always thought it would be Muichiro speaking to the demon slayers given their age proximity and the strong bond that he shares with Tanjiro (which is why I didn't choose Rengoku or Giyuu, who's out of town right now). In general, one of the goals for this story is to, more or less, give a considerable amount of screen time to many characters (not all, because my head would burst, but definitely all the hashiras). And Nezuko of course, with her demonic side.

Thank you so much for your feedback and feel free to add more :) See you around!