Chattering from the sailors outside mixed with the creaking cranes as they unloaded the cargo from his ship filled the ears of Captain Doragon as the old man stood in the captain's quarters. Here and there shouts rang around the vessel, originating from the official working for the harbour. He made sure everything went according to plan even if that meant he had to intercept from time to time.

For an amateur's eyes, this might look disrespectful, but in fact, it was a normal procedure. Of course, it was a weird feeling to see other people handling his crew, but the guys working for the ports his ship docked at knew what they were doing. Not only did they know every footbridge like the back of their hand, but they were also familiar with local customs. Better leave it to them to handle the unloading. Besides, his crew had long internalised how things were going in the harbours of this world, so there was no need for him to worry about anything.

Nonetheless, Captain Doragon dutifully observed the ongoing events through the round window in his cabin, bleached from the countless salty waves the ocean threw at his ship every time they were out in the vast wilderness that couldn't be tamed, no matter how durable or strong the ship may be. If anything shouldn't work how it was supposed to, it was his task to intercept and set things right.

From what he was seeing, there was no need for him to take action though. The unloading progressed smoothly and without incidents. The cargo was treated with care just as he had taught his men, so the old man retreated from the window and took a seat at his desk. His crew members were foul-mouthed and had never heard about manners, some might even call them a bunch of thugs, but they were good and reliable men. Countless adventures and storms they survived together had proven that.

Captain Doragon placed his feet on his wooden desk as he lit another pipe, its sweet aroma fogging his senses. He took a deep intake before he released a small smokescreen through his mouth. The experienced man thought about his latest journey and especially about the guest that had travelled alongside them.

He could still recall how Laura suddenly appeared on his ship, not intimidated in the slightest by the angry glares and snarls of his men. A moment later she had already asked them boldly if they could take her to Japan, not wavering in the slightest when one of his men threatened to throw her overboard. He smirked at that memory. Laura was young, but this girl had guts made out of steel, one of the reasons the captain liked her so much. And it was not only him. Most of his crew members had taken a liking to her as well with very few exceptions.

Above him, the lantern creaked as it swayed softly from side to side, following the motions of the waves rocking the entire ship. A fly buzzed around the candlelight inside, the only source of light in the captain's quarters, until it got too close and vanished in a brief flash.

Captain Doragon had seen many moments like these where life simply vanished from the face of the world, the remains often only dead, glassy eyes in a pool of blood of what was once a human body. It was the world Laura was about to enter and he wished she wouldn't, but he had seen the blazing fire burning in her eyes, the wish and the will to protect others from the claws and teeth of demons.

He wanted to stop her, but he couldn't because it would be uncalled for to trample over her conviction in such a way. Besides, who was he to judge her when he hadn't been any better than he had been at her age?

The old man lifted his feet from the table and seated himself properly in his chair, also lifting the captain's hat from his head, and placing it at the corner of the table. He opened one of the drawers and rummaged through the content until he found the items he needed.

A sheet of paper, an ink pot and a pen. Captain Doragon snorted at the sight. To think this was the most he could do now that the tooth of time was constantly gnawing at his flesh and bones. Naturally, he had more experience than any youngster, but their bodies had yet to reach their peaks, something his own had long fallen from. Instinctively, Doragon looked at the wall on his right, his ocean-blue eyes searching for the framed photo from years ago.

He has never been a sentimental man and would never be, but seeing this moment of his past captured for eternity dug deep into his heart. The photo showed him in his prime at twenty-five years, smiling so wide that he could only groan now at how stupid he looked. By his side were his best friends, Sakonji and Jigoro, smiling in the same fashion he did.

'Just what have we been thinking back then? Taking a photo like this?' he silently wondered because he was well aware that none of them would smile like that nowadays. Still, he couldn't deny how happy he had been and how much fun he had with his friends, no matter how dark and grieving the circumstances grew around them.

Sakonji always found words to cheer them up, looking kinda ridiculous due to his red tengu mask. Demons made fun of his kind-looking face, the main reason why he chose at some point to hide it beneath the mask, but it was not enough to hide his gentle side, always flowing from him like a steady stream with every action he performed.

Jigoro, on the other hand, was always the first one to throw himself into a battle, trying to shield them from any harm even though Sakonji and he could hold their own. Considering that Jigoro was the shortest between the three of them, it was pure madness, but Jigoro had a righteous heart, always burning brightly with righteous intent like a lightning bold in the sky.

And if one of his friends should waver as they sank into the pits of despair, he would stand before them like a sturdy rock defying the forces of nature, defending them like a devastating typhoon that had emerged from the depths of the ocean.

For years they fought side by side, always back to back, their breaths and minds overlapping in the heat of battle. Captain Doragon remembered their adventures fondly even though they didn't come to a pretty end. One of the Upper Moons crossed their path at some point, proving to be a challenge too great to overcome and they were defeated.

But this was the past from long ago, something he didn't want to remember. Times had changed and Sakonji and Jigoro were now cultivators for the youngsters whilst he travelled the world, fulfilling the dream from his childhood when his world had still been okay. However, his old life seemingly couldn't let him go or was it he who didn't want to let go? Either way was fine for Doragon since it was a part of him. Furthermore, the time was due to follow his friends' path and help the next generation to the best of his abilities as well.

The words flew smoothly on the paper as his hand formed the kanjis, only stopping a few times for a brief moment before he continued. He was not much of a writer, has never been and would never be. His two friends would agree with him on that without a second's hesitation. Yet, it took him less than an hour to complete the task, filling the letter with every word he wished to say.

He opened one of the drawers again and fished out an envelope, putting the letter inside before closing it with a wax seal. He would give it to Laura when she came back tomorrow. "I hope it will help you in some way," he mumbled as he eyed the envelope intensively.

Captain Doragon continued to sit in his quarters for minutes, maybe even hours. At least they felt like this, but he couldn't say that he was bothered too much by it. Ultimately though, he decided to stand up since his old bones protested and desired a little walk. He pulled out his pipe, lighting it with a match before he took a long and deep intake as he opened the doors to his quarters and stepped out.

The nightly breeze felt pleasant on his skin as the old man checked the state of his ship. The unloading was long finished, only a few of his crew members still up and enjoying some hearty chatter with either a bottle of beer or wine in their hands.

"Yo captain! Wanna join us for a good drink?" some of the men on the upper deck hollered, the amount of alcohol in their blood easy to tell. Luckily, he planned to stay for a few days in Asakusa. Therefore, it wouldn't cause any trouble when some of his crew members were hungover and unable to attend to their work properly. That was why he had to decline their offer because someone had to keep a clear head.

Moving to the rear, he leaned against the railing and enjoyed the sounds of the night as he watched the slow waves beneath the ship until they fell apart when they hit the pier. It was a soothing scene to watch, especially because the captain was well aware of how fast little waves such as these could turn into ravenous beasts, hungry to swallow entire ships with a single bite. He had seen enough storms, cataclysms even, capable of such feats. However, there was one thing that disturbed him even more than a colossal wave threatening to swallow him whole.

A shift in the atmosphere made his skin crawl, a feeling he had experienced countless times in the past. Captain Doragon looked at the city that thrived with life before him with narrowed eyes. "To think they have become so brazen over the years," he mumbled lowly to himself, his voice nothing but a rumbling threat. He felt how the impurity lingering in the air turned into something more sinister as the foul taste of blood found its way onto his tongue. His body moved before he realised what he was doing.

It took him only mere seconds before he was back in his quarters, the door falling shut behind him with a metallic click. He might have grown old, but he was not a helpless infant either. He walked to his bed and kneeled, pulling out a long wooden box. A few moments of silence passed by in which he only stared at the container before he opened it.

Inside rested a katana, its sheath unobtrusive since it was kept simple during its creation just as he wanted it to be. Old scratches lingered on the surface, scars from battles of the distant past. Yet, when Captain Doragon grabbed the blade itself, he felt like coming home. For many years it was his trusted partner and the time has come to invoke their partnership once more.

When he pulled out the blade, his view roamed across the surface, losing itself in the Mune, the back of the blade, for it was coloured in the same ocean-blue hue as his eyes. The Hasaki, the cutting edge of the katana, shimmered in a soft green, reflecting the light from the lantern dangling from the ceiling. Close to the guard was an engraving, the kanji reading "Destroyer of Demons."

Captain Doragon looked for a while longer at his blade before he sheathed it again, holding it in his left hand. With that, he left his room again and went back to the rear. The night was peaceful and quiet, almost too calm. A moment later it was blown away though as gale forces blew throughout the entire port and town, their speed increasing with every passing second.

"What the hell!" someone yelled in surprise as the sudden shift in weather caught them unprepared. Captain Doragon was unimpressed, however. He stood calmly at the centre of the brewing storm, his moustache and tattered cloak swaying in the wind. A moment later, the old man was already gone. Only a circular breeze on the floor remained in the spot where he had stood before it dispersed soon after. The storm vanished at the same time, following its master without a second's hesitation.

XXX

"Th- Thank you," a petite voice sounded behind Laura, but she barely registered it above the painful groan of the man she had just dropped on the floor. Heaving a heavy sigh, she allowed herself to plop on her behind, still shaking from her latest encounter. She wasn't trusting her legs to keep her standing any longer.

'Unbelievable I managed to get all of them out of there in one piece,' she thought as she recalled the recent events vividly. One moment she was walking through the busy streets of the town without aim and the next moment, she was already in a life of die situation in which death was almost as certain as the rise of the sun at dawn.

Some god in heaven must have felt pity for Laura though because she made it out of the alleyway without a scratch on her. The three people she saved from a most likely gruesome death were not dealing as well, but drastic circumstances called for drastic actions.

Though she had to admit that jump-kicking one of the men into his face while punching the other so hard into his guts that he passed out after she had already thrown him over her shoulder was maybe a little bit too much. Not that she had the mind to think about any less rough ways at that particular moment.

But still. "What a monster," Laura mumbled as the demon appeared in her mind again. Outwardly, he looked like a normal human being, but with her advanced sight, she easily saw through his disguise or rather, she was able to perceive the deadly aura swirling around the man-eating monstrosity, drenched in the colour of bloody red.

"This was certainly not how I expected my first encounter with a demon would go," she groaned, another heavy sigh leaving her mouth.

"Th- That man was a... a demon? I- I thought they were only rumours!?" Turning her head around, Laura came face to face with the woman of the trio as the statement that sounded much more like a question lingered between them.

The aura around the woman was flickering like a small flame about to go out, a clear sign that she was frightened beyond imagination. Even without her sight, Laura would still be able to tell that the woman was scared to her very bones. Her eyes were so wide that they nearly popped out of her skull, not to mention the cold sweat running down her face. Laura couldn't blame her though since she was not fairing any better. At least her body felt like it.

"Yeah," Laura lamely answered, not finding the strength nor the will to formulate a proper lie. "That guy was a demon."

For a moment, Laura thought the woman would faint by how frightened she had become by now, but surprisingly she held on. Instead, she began ruffling through her hair, grabbing fistfuls of it before she began pulling in a desperate attempt to calm herself down. Laura saw where this would lead if she didn't intercept.

"Hey! Stop that!" Laura ordered, immediately jumping to her feet in a swift and fluent motion. It took her only two long strides before she stood before the woman, grabbing her wrists and putting a forceful stop to her actions that would only cause harm. She avoided reaching for the already red spots though where she had held the woman when she was pulling her away from the alleyway as fast as possible.

"But-"

"No buts! I understand that you are trying to find a way to deal with your emotions, but afflicting harm on yourself won't do you any good," the blond girl said before she looked to the still-unconscious men. "Nor will it do any good for your brothers when they find you without any hair left on your head."

That seemingly did the trick since the woman calmed down slightly, her aura returning to a more stable state with less flickering. "I guess you're right. Thank you for stopping me from doing anything rash," the woman said, trying to smile fondly at Laura, but it was barely a twitch of her lips. "And for saving us."

Laura was flabbergasted by the sudden gratitude and averted her view elsewhere, suddenly finding a lot of interest in the floor. "I'm flattered, really, but I don't think I deserve your gratitude," she admitted. One look at the two men lying behind her was more than enough proof. Not to mention the soon-to-be bruises on the woman's arms.

"Also, I apologize for treating your brothers and you like this," she drawled. In response, the woman said nothing, an awkward silence lingering in the air. Long moments passed by in which neither of them said anything until the woman broke the silence.

"I think they will understand the reason why you acted as you did. And even if they don't I will remember it forever." Laura was surprised, almost even shocked, about the honesty and fondness resonating within the woman's voice, mimicking the emotions displayed on her face.

"Thank you." Laura weakly replied as she scratched the back of her neck, lacking the words for a better answer.

"Do you have a place to stay for the night?" the woman suddenly asked, catching Laura off-guard since it addressed one of her current problems. "If not, I would like you to offer our guest room. It's the least I can do for you." Laura sighed at the offer. Of course, she would love to accept the woman's gratitude, but considering everything that has happened in the last hour, she felt like she couldn't.

Laura wouldn't be surprised if the demon was currently looking for her, so staying here could end in a total disaster, something she wanted to prevent at all costs. Furthermore, there was still the issue of the two unconscious men. It would be quite difficult to explain why the girl who has beaten them up earlier was staying in their home. Just thinking about how this situation could turn out gave Laura a headache already.

The blond girl stood up and stretched her limps before she answered. "I'm grateful for your kindness, but I'm afraid I have to decline. I think it will be better this way." There was no need to voice her concerns, for the implications hiding in her last sentence were more than enough.

"Don't worry! I'll be fine," Laura pushed a second later, trying to reassure the kind woman that there was no need to be concerned. With that, she moved towards the door and opened it, waving one last time over her shoulder before she left the house and was back in the busy streets.

It brought her a strange feeling of repose when she observed how the world continued on its path without a pause even though gargantuan monsters were out there. People walked past her, most of them ignoring her presence even though Laura felt their stares at her. Not that she could do anything about it.

'Guess I will try and see if I can find a decent place to stay for the rest of the night,' she thought to herself. She would have to ask around, but in a town this huge, she shouldn't have any problems locating a free room. It was an easy enough plan, or so she had thought because Laura heavily underestimated the suspicion and prejudice the inhabitants would have against her.

The blond girl lost count of how many times she was turned down by the owners of taverns and hotels alike, all of them miraculously booked out entirely. An obvious lie, of course. They simply didn't want to house a foreign girl and lacked the guts to say as much.

Either way, the fact remained that Laura was basically homeless for the night and at that point she doubted she would find anything. Everything looked like she was going to sleep outside tonight. With a defeated sigh she plopped down on a bench she came across, allowing her body a little bit of rest.

"This sucks," she cursed under her breath as she tried to come up with a solution only to draw a blank. Absolutely no idea was coming to her mind, so she gave in and accepted her fate. "Looks like we are partners for tonight, buddy." She patted the bench with care, almost lovingly. For outsiders, she must look like a lunatic who has gone nuts, but Laura couldn't care less about the opinions others had about her.

Suddenly, a delicious smell pulled her out of her thoughts. Her head immediately snapped in the direction it was coming from. It was a small food stall and Laura wondered how she managed to overlook it. She must have been distracted a lot more from her current problems than she initially thought.

The scents of noodles, onions, broth, several vegetables and pork filled the air and it made her mouth water, but she was also reminded of another problem she would have to fix as fast as possible. She was completely broke, probably another reason why nobody had accepted her even though she had offered to help out in the taverns and hotels to make up for her empty pockets.

Her crimson eyes followed every notion of the cook working inside the little shop as he prepared the next dish, mixing all ingredients one by one. Laura knew that she was only torturing herself, but it was like an accident. She couldn't look away no matter how hard she tried. It didn't help either that it was smelling so good, making her situation so much worse. When the cook was finished, he placed the bowl on top of the counter even though no customer was in sight.

"Stop gawking like a lost puppy and get over here, little Missy!" he suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs. Laura almost jumped at the loud noise because she didn't see this coming. But more than anything else she was confused about whom he was addressing.

She turned her head to the right and saw no one. Repeating the same motion to the left led to the same result. There was nobody around except her, but that surely couldn't be right. Not after all the rejections, she had endured in the short amount of time she was in this country.

"How long do you plan on just sitting there?! Your udon is getting cold!" the cook shouted again, leaving little room for misinterpretation. Laura was still in denial that it was really her, even after listening to the man's clarification. "By any chance, are you talking to me?"

When she was honest with herself, she already knew the answer to her question, but the raising eyebrows of the cook cemented it even further. She felt stupid now that she had asked. "Do you see anyone else besides you?"

The sarcasm in the cook's voice was evident, but Laura said nothing in retort. She deserved it, after all. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." Jumping back on her feet, she closed the distance with only a few strides, hoping her haste would prevent her from earning any other smart remarks from the cook.

A few seconds later she sat on one of the few stools available, the tasty smell wafting into her nose almost unbearable. "Took you long enough," the cook all but snarled at her, clearly not pleased, yet Laura politely ignored it. However, there was still a small problem.

"Thank you for the meal but I cannot accept this! I'm completely broke!" Laura shouted with conviction, shoving the bowl back to the cook even though her stomach protested vociferously.

"I know." the cook responded. "That's why the food is for free. Can't let a young teen starve to death, can I now?"

'Well... if that's the case then...' Laura pulled the bowl back, eyeing the content with ravenous desire. Her belly made noises again, growling like a feral beast that was about to devour its prey. On top of the bowl a pair of chopsticks was placed, the equivalent of western cutlery such as forks and spoons.

Laura silently thanked the heavens that her master had been a traditionalist, insisting to use chopsticks for their meals. Therefore, the blond girl was familiar with the proper usage of the wooden sticks and wouldn't make a fool out of herself.

Before she could grab them though, the cook suddenly leaned forward, holding a fork and a spoon in his hands. Laura smiled at his consideration. It was such a small action, yet it told so much about his character. She was happy that not all people were afraid of foreigners like her.

"Thank you, but this won't be necessary." She raised her left hand to support her words before she grabbed the chopsticks and clipped them open. Their weight between her fingers felt familiar and it took her only a few seconds to adapt. A moment later her first bite was already secured between the wooden sticks as she led it to her awaiting mouth. The food tasted as delicious as it smelled.

"Delicious!" Laura proclaimed as she dug in. She had no idea what this dish was, but she could care less when her taste buds were sent to cloud nine. She felt how new energy stirred inside her body, how the heat of the food was reaching every cell she was made off. Three months on the sea had been rough on her, so this food was like a dream come true.

Her reaction satisfied the cook as he leaned back with pride swelling inside his chest. No money in the world could replace the praise from a customer. Seconds later he searched through his cupboards for new ingredients because it was evident that his latest customer wouldn't be saturated with only one bowl of udon. When he had everything he needed, he began the preparations for the next portion.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're something else, young lady?" he asked her while he worked. Laura choked on the noodles in her mouth. She had been so absorbed in her food that the world around her became dull. Only now she was aware of her surroundings once more.

"I don't think so, though I'm uncertain what you're referring to. Also, it's Laura."

"I'm speaking of your language. It's almost on a native speaker level with a barely noticeable accent. I have met many foreigners who got tongue-tied or didn't even try to speak our language due to their arrogance. It's nice to see someone putting in the effort. Also, the name's Toyo."

Laura blushed at the unexpected compliment, scratching the back of her neck nervously. She felt like she didn't deserve the praise. If it hadn't been for her master, she would never have learned the language and so much else.

"Thank you, Mister Toyo, but I think the one deserving your compliment is my master. It was he who shaped me and showed me the path."

"That might be true, but in the end, it was you who poured all the effort in." Laura wanted to say something, anything to that, but her words failed her, so she had no choice but to accept what he said. The dull clonk as another bowl was placed in front of her marked the end of the silence that followed after Mister Toyo's last statement.

"This one is on the house as well. I will not let you leave until you are full." It wasn't a statement, but a declaration and Laura had no intention of commenting on it. After all, speaking is silver and silence is gold.

However, before Laura could take another bite she saw something in the corners of her eyes. She turned her head and her advanced sight immediately saw a pair of footprints that were an oddity. They were barely visible to the open eye, but her eyes did not fail her. One set belonged to a human, judging from the depth most likely a male. The other one though made her narrow her eyes.

'Why didn't I notice them earlier?' she pondered. Despite her lack of encounters with them, not counting the monstrosity in the alleyway, Laura could immediately tell that the second pair of footprints belonged to a demon. She knew it because they were different from all the others she could perceive on the floor.

Demons are different from humans. Demons are evil. Demons show no mercy. Demons only live to sustain their lives.

Laura remembered her master's teachings well, especially when he mentioned that she would understand everything once she saw them for herself and she had to admit that he was right.

'There's indeed a difference, but I have to wonder. From the looks, the demon and human were walking this path at the same time and there are no signs that the human resisted in any way. Furthermore...'

Laura's eyes followed the trail only to see another couple of footprints, also originating from a demon.

'Looks like this one led the two others away, but why would they do this? Master never mentioned anything like this. Could this be the effect of a demon's Blood Demon Art? A technique to invade one's mind and bring them to heel? That would be dangerous to deal with...'

Laura followed the footprints with her eyes until they vanished behind a turn. It took her only three seconds before she was standing again, not able to ignore the possible danger. Also, she wanted to see how such a strange occurrence came to be.

"Hey! Where do you think you are going?!" Mister Toyo suddenly screamed behind her, forcing a yelp of surprise from her lungs. Apologetically, she turned around to face the rightfully enraged man.

"I'm sorry Mr Toyo," she said while bowing her head. "Something urgent came up and I have to look into the matter immediately. Please keep this bowl warm for me! Also, I would like four more of them once I have returned!"

Laura was already sprinting as she yelled her parting words before she took the same turn the demons and humans had traversed earlier. A dumbfounded and cursing Toyo was left behind alone. "What the hell is wrong with the kids today?!" he shouted with all his might, secretly hoping that Laura would come back right after. She didn't.

He sighed in defeat as he took the still-steaming bowl of udon and placed it under a warmth holder. "At least she didn't drop my udon like this Tanjiro kid." With nothing else to do, the cook started preparing the other four bowls she had ordered, secretly making vows to hunt her down in case she wouldn't come back.

Since she had left most of her belongings behind though, Toyo doubted her words were a lie. He only knew her for less than an hour, but she didn't seem like a person who didn't keep her promises and he trusted his ability to judge people.

Sounds of boiling water and sizzling ingredients filled the nightly air as the cook awaited her return.

XXX

"You have been a demon for hundreds of years?! Tamayo-san, just how old are- Gah!" Tanjiro tried to ask, but a sudden and powerful punch into his chest left him snapping for air.

"You scoundrel! You don't ask a lady for her age!" The initial punch was followed by several others, each stronger than the one before as Yushiro clobbered every last bit of precious oxygen out of his lungs.

"Yushiro," Tamayo-san warned, her voice gentle but firm at the same time. Yushiro immediately stopped punching Tanjiro and seated himself properly again.

"Yes, Tamayo-san!" he exclaimed, a little bit too excited that she had addressed him directly. Not that Tanjiro would say anything. He was still short on air and his chest hurt like hell. Yushiro might look slim, but the strength he possessed was evidence of his demonhood. Still, Tanjiro could easily tell that the smell of Yushiro was so much different from all the other demons he has met so far. In a way, it was even similar to Nezuko's scent. The same applied to Tamayo-san.

"You mustn't hurt our guests." She looked apologetic at Tanjiro, silently asking him to not take the actions of the younger demon to heart. He offered a small nod in response, causing Tamayo-san to smile as well before she spoke again, continuing her story.

"Tanjiro, as I said I have been a demon for hundreds of years. In fact, I'm one of the first persons who was turned into a demon and in all these years, I have never seen a demon like Nezuko."

She shifted her gaze to his sister, laying on her back as she was flailing around her legs in the air.

"According to your tales, two years have passed since she became a demon, two years in which she never fed on any living being. I'm sorry for voicing it like this, but by all means, she should be beyond starved and behave like a wild animal without a shred of sanity. Yet, she seems perfectly fine to me. It's truly a miracle."

Tanjiro smiled at her. "Don't worry, Tamayo-san."

He didn't take any offence at her words. He was even somewhat relieved to hear her honest opinion. Nobody in this world had any answers for him, so meeting Tamayo-san by chance felt like a miracle. He nudged Nezuko's face with his left hand and his sister immediately leaned into his touch. She seemed happy and that was all that counted.

"I believe something is happening to Nezuko-san, something Muzan didn't see coming." There was a pause, the smell of uncertainty embracing the female demon. Tanjiro noticed the shift the moment it occurred.

"And that's why I have another request to make, Tanjiro-san. Would you permit us to research samples of your sister's blood? It's just a thought, but Nezuko-san could be the missing piece to find a cure to return demons to humans."

Tanjiro took a deep breath, his hand instinctively searching for Nezuko's smaller one. Tamayo-san noticed the motion but said nothing and he was glad she didn't. She was so kind, her scent one of purity and honesty and he was repaying her with mistrust.

Still, he disliked the idea of letting Nezuko become a guinea pig even with the best of intentions, especially because he had no idea how he should explain this matter to her, so she could give her consensus. Deciding over her head was one of the things he feared most, even more so when he could recall her adamant self from more than two years ago so vividly.

Nezuko had always had her own mind for as long as he could remember, even when she had been a cute little toddler. He knew her past self would be sad to see her current condition, unable to decide about her fate with her own wits.

Suddenly there was a tight squeeze around his hand. "Nezuko...?" She nodded her head thrice, each time giving an affirming, muffled noise. Tanjiro smiled at his sister.

"Tamayo-san, Nezuko is fine with your request and so am I," he confirmed after getting Nezuko's approval. He felt in his heart that this was what she wanted.

Before another word could be spoken though, Yushiro suddenly jumped at Tamayo-san and pulled her away. Without a second's hesitation, Tanjiro mimicked the notion and did the same with Nezuko – just in time. A second later something shot through the walls, wooden splinters flying through the air, as the object bounced from wall to wall, each jump accompanied by the ringing of small bells.

'A Temari? How can one cause such massive da-'

He haltered his thoughts as his nose was invaded by a foul stench, the mixture of blood and rotten flesh. Tanjiro only knew of one creature in this world that was drenched in this odour. As if reading his mind a voice rang out from the outside, sending chills down his spine.

"Found You." the voice drawled out, sounding almost like a sweet coo.

XXXXXXXXX

It's a lot of fun to bring someone from overseas into this story. There are so many ways to make use of the differences in cultures even though Laura knows a few things about Japan due to her master. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in the next one! Stay tuned for the ideas I have. :D