[Hi guys! I can't thank you all enough for reading this. Seeing the comments is nice - it feels like you're all reading it beside me I hope you continue to enjoy this and that I'd hear more about your thoughts!]

I woke up to someone screaming. See, both Kyojuro and Tanjirou aren't in any state fit to travel yet that didn't stop them. They just had to go to the Rengoku estate and find a book. Of course, Tanjirou brought Nezuko and Kyojuro had the brilliant idea of shoving me in her box as well. I mean, we did fit and it was comfortable enough but I still am not happy about it. Mostly because I think both of them should be resting.

Nezuko-chan was still asleep, and since I was already awake, I listened to the screaming thinking they were in a fight. They weren't in any state to fight!

"It's because you became a swordsman despite having no great talent. That's why you're a one-eyed loser now! Pathetic, you're just a fool of a son." Rengoku-san? What? I continued listening, and it was just Rengoku-san screaming at his sons – how Kyojuro had no talent and was weak and how Senjuro kept on making pathetic expressions!

Rengoku-san was someone who intimidated me very much, but one thing that has been very obvious was how important his family was to him. He used to talk so fondly of Kyojuro and his wife and was very excited about Senjuro's birth. What happened to him?

Kyojuro stayed quiet – I couldn't hear anything from him – and it was Tanjiro who asked Rengoku-san to stop. He really didn't like that. "What's up with you? Get the hell out! Don't step into my threshold!" Tanjirou went on to say how he was a demon hunter which made Rengoku-san angrier.

"You… I see, you're a Breath of the Sun user, right? That's right!"

"He's not, father he –"

The telltale sound of a punch replaced Rengoku-san's screaming, and then both of his children were now screaming, telling him to stop, and then Tanjiro slammed the box down. "Ow!"

"Mhhm Hmm?" That woke Nezuko up. "It's alright, Nezuko-chan."

"I know those earrings!" Rengoku-san said, insisting Tanjirou was a breath of the sun user. Those hanafuda earrings again? How could something like that be so significant? And why would looking at them incite this feeling of fear deep within me when I would trust Tanjirou with my life?

I was too caught up in my thoughts to notice that the screaming stopped and the box Nezuko-chan and I were in was set gently on the floor. I knocked, asking if it was okay to come out.

"Senjuro-kun, wow." I can't believe how much the Rengoku men look so much alike. They all have the flaming hair and thick eyebrows, it was amusing. Senjuro's eyes went from the wooden box to me, then to his brother almost three times before Kyojuro decided to formally introduce me to him.

"Senjuro, remember my stories about Y/N-chan?" The boy nodded, "this is her." There were this smile and excitement that broke out on his face, then it was replaced by confusion. "Nii-san, she – ah! Nevermind."

The sheepish looks he was sending me gave me the idea that he wants to ask something that is probably embarrassing. "You know Senjuro-kun, you don't have to feel shy around me. You can ask me anything."

"Ah, it's just that with the stories I heard… I didn't expect nii-san to be older than you." Oh. Both Tanjirou and Kyojuro turned to me and observed my face – probably thinking that I'd be offended. I mean, while he did think I should be older, it was Kyojuro that he called old. Also, if he did just that he wouldn't be wrong.

All three of us opened our mouths to answer Senjuro, but none of us were able to do so as Rengoku-san slid open the door and strode in, carrying a huge jug of Sake. Of course, sliding open the door meant letting sunlight in. That prompted my demon slayer companions to cover me.

Rengoku-san started grumbling, complaining about how his guests are still here. After making sure no sunlight could touch me, Kyojuro stood to slid the door close. This made it possible for Rengoku-san's eyes to finally land on me. He was frozen and mouth agape. It seemed like seeing me sobered him up somehow.

"Y/N?" It was odd how his eyes changed – looking the same as I remembered. Kyojuro tried to say something but he barely said a syllable when Rengoku-san's mood soured once again. But with me being able to look him directly in the eyes, I can see that he was more sad than angry. It reminded me of how my father's eyes were back when mother died. Oh, of course.

It should have made sense long ago – why Rengoku-san suddenly retired. Losing his wife must've been very hard. Still, that doesn't make it right how he berated his sons and Tanjirou earlier. It was like the intimidating yet passionate man that he just became a very bitter man.

"Kyojuro… you brought a demon to my house?" Senjuro's gasp was all we heard in the silence that fell over us. "Demon?" Muttering some more insults to his son, Rengoku-san shook his head and went in deeper into the house, leaving us in peace as Kyojuro explained everything to his younger brother.

"That was unfortunate." The book that seemed to have the answers for Tanjirou had several pages ripped. And it was the pages he really needed, too. Tanjirou went back to the butterfly Estate empty-handed, leaving me and Kyojuro behind at the Rengoku estate.

"I agree. Though, I trust Senjuro would be able to restore it. I'll try to remember more details as well." All these breathing styles demon slayers use to fight demons is still something I can't wrap my head around. To think that books were actually written about it and that all styles were derived from one is amazing. It's unfortunate that I had to become a demon before finding out how amazing human beings could really be.

I turned my attention outside, listening closely to see if there are many people going about their business. Happy to say it didn't sound like many people were out. "I should be heading out, Kyo-kun." I haven't gone hunting in a bit, seeing that I never left the butterfly estate. A boar sounds so good right now. It's not gonna satisfy me, but it's a lot better than three bony chickens. "Maybe I should go with you." Kyojuro said, making a move to stand but wobbled a bit. "Oh, no. Kyo-kun, I'll be fine. Stay here and go to sleep, you're still recovering."

It was nowhere near dawn when I got back inside. The smell of sake was what welcomed me back. "Well, if it isn't the demon my pathetic loser of a son brought home." I can confidently say that I am slow to anger, however, Rengoku-san makes me feel so mad!

"Are you always like this to people now? Horrible? Even to your sons?" Despite the anger bubbling inside, my voice was still level and calm. He whirled around to look at me, eyes as fiery as his hair and brows. "You know I can kill you, girl." He made girl sound more insulting than demon. "I know. I, uh… ehem. I can kill you, too."

"Oh? You kill humans now?" He stood, towering over me. "No! I only eat animals and other demons. With the way you treat your sons and guests, I'd say you fit the bill. "Lookie here, you're all confident, now are you? You think taking an arm to your chest makes you invincible?" He must be extremely drunk because yes. I'd say that would make me invincible. He leaned on to me ever closer, breath reeking of sake. That close, I could see how sad his eyes were.

"Rengoku-san I… I'm sorry about your wife. I can't say I know how it feels, but I know it must have been hard." He took a few steps back and ran a hand through his hair before replying. "You don't know how it feels!" He made a move to take another sip of his sake but I just had to stop him. "That's exactly what I said! Ugh, give me that Rengoku-san!" I was able to pry the jug away from him which he halfheartedly tried to take back.

"I'll make you some tea. Sit and wait here." I busied myself in his kitchen, ignoring how rude I was to use their kitchen like this but I'm sure some tea would do Rengoku-san some good. "Rengoku-san?" He was not sitting and waiting where I left him. "I'm right here." I slid open the door and saw Rengoku-san bathed in moonlight as he sits at the patio. He was looking less drunk now, just nostalgic I'd say.

"Here." He grunted as thanks, and I sat by him. "Hmm. This is good. Thank you." I turned to look at him, searching his face for… I don't really know? What do I say to him, I wondered? I wanted to talk about how he treated his sons and Tanjirou but – ah! Tanjirou! "Rengoku-san, earlier you took note of Tanjirou-kun's earrings. The hanafuda cards?"

He scowled, yet still answered me. "Tsk. It's said that the first breath user had earrings like that. The Breath of the Sun user." If I recall correctly, Tanjirou is a Breath of the Water user, and when we fought the train demon, he used something he called Dance of the Fire God. I am so confused! Then again, the earrings… I had a view before; a family of three and the father was wearing those earrings. "Rengoku-san, was that person you're talking about had a daughter?"

"Ha? How would I know?" He turned away from me, busying himself with his tea. It's hard trying to talk to Rengoku-san. It wasn't like this before. "No." I was surprised by his sudden word, "what?" He rolled his eyes, acting as if talking to me was such a difficult chore and he'd rather do anything else. "The Breath of the Sun user. I don't think he had a family."

"Hmm, that's odd. I think Tanjirou's earrings were passed down from father to child since I remember seeing his father wearing it. I remember that time, the first time I saw those earrings in person. It made me feel very afraid – like I was going to get burned." Rengoku-san hummed, showing that he was listening and also prompting me to continue.

"What do you mean first time seeing it in person?" I don't think I've ever told anyone much about my visions before. Maybe the Oyakata that I've written to over the years? Yeah, just them. "You remember I get visions?" He nodded, "I've been seeing those earrings for a very long time. I think I saw it in a vision from the past. A time before any of us were even born."

He made a sound as if he snored. Then he was snoring. "Rengoku-san? You're sleeping?" I dragged him in, sleeping outside in the cold wind can't possibly be good for him. And yes, I do think I can carry him inside, but I think he deserved to be dragged inside. I didn't even bother taking him to his room – I'm not sure which room was his anyway – but I'm not a monster, so I did find a blanket and put it over him.

I was in a dilemma. After leaving Rengoku-san, I went to where I was to stay and realized that I should not stay there after all. Kyojuro's room was a reasonable size, but I realize staying with him in his room is not uhm… very proper? He's not – he's a man now. Despite thinking that, I found myself sitting down and looking at Kyojuro's face intently. He might have his father's hair and brows, but somehow, he looked so different. Especially now after losing an eye.

Kyojuro is much kinder; his face always graced with a smile. His eyes – eye, I think he got from his mother. I can't deny that he's a good-looking young man, the kind of man my mother and father would approve of. The kind – 'I wanted to marry you when I grow up, Y/N-chan!' Ah! This is bad. I don't think… I shouldn't.

Is it bad that I felt only as old as I look? The passage of time felt different when I was human. I know I was able to watch my family grow old, but it didn't feel as if time was flowing. I feel stuck. And maybe staying where I was made it feel much stronger. I let go of a heavy sigh. I don't know anymore.

I decided to walk around outside to kill time until dawn. I slid open the door, planning on slipping out as fast as I could to not let the cold air in, but was startled when Kyojuro spoke up. "You're back, Y/N-chan." His voice was still heavy with sleep, making me feel bad about waking him up. "Sorry." Quietly sliding the door closed, I stepped out and proceeded to walk as close to the fence as I could.

The huge ginkgo tree in their yard was beautiful. I wish it was big enough to provide a nice shade – maybe I could sit outside even during daytime. "Aren't you cold?" I jumped in surprise making Kyojuro apologize while chuckling. I can't help but smile with him. He draped a blanket over my shoulder before sitting down beside me. My cheeks felt like it was on fire when I realized how I felt warmer from his presence than the blanket.

When did I start feeling flustered around him? What's wrong with me? I turned to face him and found him already looking at me. I sharply inhaled, realizing how beautiful his eye was. It looked like it sees everything and also kind. My sight drifted towards the eye that he lost. His bandages were removed just before leaving the butterfly estate, and he seemed to have removed his eyepatch when he went to sleep.

The skin was still bruised, and my heart ached at the sight. My fingers caressed his skin as I continued to look at his face, and I felt him leaning into my touch. "Kyo-kun…" I recalled how it happened. I know I had a vision of that fight between him and Akaza-san minutes before it happened. I should have stuck by his side! "I –" Kyojuro's hand enveloped mine that was still cupping his face, and he softly shook his head. "I know what you're going to say. You know, my mother taught me that as someone who was born strong, it was my job to protect those weaker than me. Being a demon slayer and protecting people is the best way for me to do that. Getting injured is something that comes with it."

He said it as if it was nothing. I remembered how he was also ready to die. I sighed and tried to put my hand down. He let me take it off his face, but he still didn't let go making my hand rest on his lap as he held on to it. I smiled at him, making sure to show him how proud I was. "You did exactly what you said – you protected everyone that was on that train. No one died because you did your duty well." I expected him to flash me that big smile of his, so seeing his face fall took me by surprise. "What's wrong?"

His other hand traveled to my chest – right where a hole should be. "I let you get hurt." Oh. "Kyo-kun, you know it would take more than that to kill me." Despite looking unconvinced, he nodded. "I know. But -!" I shook my head before taking both of his hands in mine, "I know I'm not a good fighter, and there's not much that I could do. Being able to take hits like that and not die is what I'm good at. Let me protect you, too."

Kyojuro looked at me, mouth agape in mild surprise. For the first time, I found it hard to read Kyojuro. I couldn't tell if him being surprised was a good thing or a bad thing. I was about to apologize when he suddenly engulfed me in a hug. "Ah – Kyojuro!" I felt him nuzzle against my hair… I felt him smile. That moment… It was the happiest I've ever been.