THE COLOR OF THE WORLD

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Disclaimer: Kimetsu no Yaiba belongs to Koyoharu Gotouge

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Genre(s): Adventure/ Hurt/Comfort

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Warning(s): Typo is my most loyal fan, spelling mistakes because English is not my mother language, Possibly OOC and a lot of Angst. I hope.

Beta'ed by LamboLover36

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Manga: Chapter 20

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"CHIRP CHIRP!"

Nezuko's attention went from the ridiculous scene to the little, brown sparrow flapping its wings towards her, clearly in a panic, "whoa, whoa, whoa. Little guy, calm yourself!" she said, cupping the small creature on her calloused hand, "I'm still learning, so please slow down."

The bird somehow understands her request, in which it nodded, and started chirping a lot slower than the frantic tone it had before. It wings flopped up and down like it was describing something and trying to illustrate how high the level of emergency it was. Its head turned towards the boy—who was still clinging desperately to the unwilling girl. His plead turned more and more pathetic as the seconds ticked by—then flapped once more before it directed its doe eyes back to the pink haori wearer. Nezuko nodded in understanding.

"Okay. Just leave it to me."

She put the messenger bird to her left shoulder as the other was still occupied by her own companion, then strutted forward with determination. With one swift move, she snatched the collar of the sun-haired teen—eliciting a girly squeak from him—she ranted at once, "what are you doing in the middle of the road?" her red orbs burning into the scared yellow one. Nezuko pointed her index finger to the girl who could finally sigh in relief, "can't you see that the lady doesn't want this? Not only that, you also bothering the sparrows too! This is so unbecoming!"

"B-But I don't know if—" he started stammering, trying to feed her some excuse to justify his actions. However, his sight instantly zeroed in on Nezuko's black uniform under her haori, making him snapped his fingers in realization, "ah! You—you're the one from the final selection, aren't you? The scary lady with the scary right hook?!"

"Wha—you know me?" she blinked, confusion palpable. The ponytail girl did not remember having met this boy in the past—she would've remembered if she encountered a weirdo like him—before an imaginary bulb light up on top of her heard, she hummed. Her grip on his cloth slackened a bit after the recollection, "oooh...that's why I feel like I recognized the sparrow. It's you. The depressing boy with electric fog."

"Depress—I'm not depressing!"

"Yes. Yes, you are," Nezuko's eyes were blank, so void of emotion the male teenager recoiled, "you kept mumbling about dying and everything is useless back then at the mountain. Then you did the same thing this time around too. Even disturbing this lady from her morning walk with your pathetic proposal. Jump to the rice field and wash your face, maybe that'll wake you up"

"THAT'S WAY TOO HARSH!"

"Are you okay now, young lady?" the second oldest of Kamado asked while she plopped the demon slayer to the ground, ignoring his whine completely, "you should hurry on back home."

"Thank you so much," the girl said, relieved as she bowed low, "you really help me there."

"W-Wait!" the boy threw his entire body to the center of their conversation. The tears and snots were back, he cried, "you can't just take her away from me! She still needs to marry me! She likes me—"

"SHAME ON YOU, I DO NOT!" PLAK

Oof, Nezuko winced, a red bruise started forming on the hunter's cheek. That slap must've hurt. She held the civilian back by the armpits when the lady didn't show any sign of stopping her attacks. Not until after she let out her frustrations on him for a full five seconds though. Good lord, the boy needed those slaps to bring him back to reality.

"When did I ever say I like you?" she hollered, struggling from Nezuko's hold, "I only talked to you because I thought you were sick when I saw you squatting on the side of the road!"

"But! But! Doesn't that mean that you talked to me because you are worried about me?" for heaven sake, this boy is desperate! "because you like me, don't you?!"

"You have the wrong idea here," Nezuko chimed in, groaning, "this lady has other fogs intertwining hers. That means she already has a partner."

"Huh?"

"She's right! I have a fiance already so your reasoning about me liking you is completely impossible!" the villager confirmed, cheek puffed in agitation. Deciding that the lady wouldn't attack one of her comrades anymore (she still didn't want to acknowledge this fact, really. Yet the same uniform they wore confirmed that yes. Yes, They are on the same side), Nezuko let her go, the girl huffed, "I see that you're really energetic, so you should be fine! Let's never see each other again, hmf!"

"W-Wait!" the boy called her back almost pathetically. But of course, she didn't listen, stomping away angrily that they could literally see smoke rising from her ears. The other hunter bawled for the nth times, "Huwaaa! I'm gonna die! I'm seriously gonna die alone because of this demon business! And no woman wants to be my wife! I'm doom! Doom, I say! Huwaaaaaa!"

Nezuko sighed and put her hand on his back, "what's wrong with you? If you show your weaknesses so easily like this, people will take advantage of you, see?" she tried to console him, even giving him an encouraging quirk of her lips, "crying is not a bad thing, however. So come on. I'm here to listen. Why not try talking to me?"

He hiccuped, wet and throaty, rubbing his haori sleeve to his distraught face, "then...then.." incoherent mumbling could be heard behind the rough voice when suddenly, the boy tackled her. Clinging onto her waist just like he did to the lady before. Wha—, "then I choose you! I don't care if you're scary and you have a mean hook, please! JUST MARRY ME!"

"Wha—wait!" Nezuko gaped, her brain stuttered to a stop. She could feel her cheeks reddening from the close proximity, "what are you—"

"Please, please, please, mean lady!" he didn't hear her, just kept on going, kept on pleading, "I know I'm going to die soon! This lifestyle full of danger is so not for me! That's why before I kicked the bucket, let me experienced the beauty of romance! I BEG YOU!"

"Wait, no—

"PLEASE, SAY YES!"

"I don't want—"

"MARRY ME!"

"Get off of—"

"I BEG OF YOU!"

"I SAID GET OFF OF ME, YOU PERVERT!"

BUAK

And the boy was launched into the air, a trail of tears streaming along the wake. While Nezuko stood on the solid ground, red face and eyes spinning.

This day seems like it'll shape into a 'good day' already; insert sarcasm here.

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"See, this attitude is the reason why ladies don't like you," she scolded the boy, expression completely uncaring. Both of them were kneeling at the side of the road—garnering the attention of people walking by—hands on their own laps, "please control yourself. Or you're going to meet my fist for the second time."

"Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry ma'am."

After an impromptu lecture and a late introduction—his name is Agatsuma Zenitsu-can-I-call-you-Nezuko-chan?—he started to tell her the reason why he was so...himself. He said it was because he was deceived by a woman ("I told you showing your weakness will bite you in the back someday", "I understand now, so please spare me some mercy") and he got into a buttload of debt because of that. The guy he owed money told Zenitsu that he also needs to pay for the woman's debt so he 'groomed' him. The yellow-haired hunter had gone through a hellish training in the name of said grooming, every day, anytime. During those bleak times, he really thought he might as well just die, but it was nothing compared to the Final Selection course; in which demons after demons prowled the place, ready to eat him anytime. In the end, he did survive—he kinda lost himself and proceed to kiss the entrance multiple times, grateful that he was somehow still alive—yet he ended up back in this hellish lifestyle again, now for good! Scary, scary! I don't want this! I don't want this at all help me—

He told her all this while doing an impressive bridge pose. Why, Nezuko didn't know. Though she gave him a rice ball to calm him down.

She understands, she really does. Her mentors were also really strict with her, including Sabito who literally dragged her through the mud while Makomo watched silently from the sideline, sometimes giggling innocently like Nezuko's suffering was nothing but a pleasant scenery.

Nevertheless, that doesn't mean he can keep causing trouble for other people, especially the nice sparrow. It had spilled all its frustration of being Zenitsu's caretaker from day one till now to the nice girl who willing to listen to its request; saying that the yellow hunter never wants to go to work, went after women whenever he sees one and snored really loud. Endless trouble after another, she relayed the message, pulling up the said bird who rested it's tiny body comfortably on her palm ("Wait, you can understand bird language?!", "Yes. Though not as good as my niichan. I'm still learning after all", "LIES! You're just making things up, right? You just want to make me feel bad!").

Her own messenger decided to step in when there was a lull in their conversation, cawing about their next mission, its place, and location and hurry up caw! Or the sun is going to set in! Starling Zenitsu so bad, he fell on his bum.

"Maybe we should exchange our companion," Nezuko belatedly offer. The sparrow on her hand perked up at that, "the crow can whip you up if you started slacking off so you won't abandon your work anymore."

"NO! THAT'S CRUEL, NEZUKO-CHAN!"

"I WOULD TAKE OVER YOUR MEAN HOOK RATHER THAN BECOME THIS CRYBABY BABYSITTER, CAW!"

Well then.

At the end of the thick meadow surrounded by tall trees, stood a two-stories old house. It was solely made of wood, although some of the supporting pillars were cover with metallic materials. Nezuko could tell from the black fog drifting around the environment that this was definitely a demons' nest. Except—

What is that? Her burgundy eyes caught a particular fog she never encountered before. Instead of having a single color as their primary fog, this one acted like a shifting rainbow. It's different from Tamayo's illusions—even with those pretty colors mingling around, the characteristic black of demon kind still overpowering others—no. This fog is literally rainbow itself, complete with clear blue sky and cloud swimming by as it background, albeit transparent. Nezuko felt like she was staring at a beautiful painting rather than a living being's string of fate.

"Nezuko-chan, did you hear that?" Zenitsu whispered, snapping her out from her reverie. His hands were cupping his ears, eyebrows furrowed in concern, "there's a strange sound coming from that house. What do you think that is?"

Sound? She didn't hear anything though. Don't tell me...does he have a unique ability too?

But before she could ask for confirmation, her sight landed on something hiding behind the bushes. Or someone. Children, to be exact, maybe around ten years old or younger; a boy with short black hair and a girl with black hair styled in dual pigtails. They looked pale scared, their bodies tense and shivering now that the pair's attention was onto them. The boy, who seems to be the older brother, was hugging the sister, frightened yet didn't intend to budge from their hiding place

"Hello," Nezuko said as she slowly walked towards them and crouched, hands away from the dual Zanbatos as she didn't want to alarm them even more. She decided to show a bit of trick to calm them down, opening her palm and making the sparrow appear out of thin air, even though the creature hasn't left her side from the very beginning—it really started to grow on her. Seriously, can Nezuko just take this one instead? The crow is really unpleasant. Pretty sure it mood is stuck in 'angry' or 'mocking' for the most of times. The sparrow made a light dance and sang a cute tune, trying to alleviate their fear also, "my name's Kamado Nezuko. Can I help you two in any way?"

The atmosphere was suffocating for a whole five seconds, though she managed to maintain her amicable grin. They fell to the ground after another five in awkward silence, body language was a lot more relaxed now that they knew this girl is not someone dangerous. She put her hands on her knees, smiling, "what's your name, if I may ask?"

"Sho-Shoichi," the brother stammered, "and my sister is Teruko."

"Shoichi and Teruko," Nezuko nodded, "what are you doing here? Is that house over there the home of the two of you?"

"No! No, it's not!" Shoichi immediately shook his head. His pale complexion turned even whiter and the shiver that wracked his figure was back with full force, "it's...it's the home—

"It's the home of the monsters!"

He told her that they were on a journey of going home after visiting their friends' house yesterday night, laughing and joking merrily when a monster abruptly appeared. It snatched their older brother—Kiyoshi—ignoring the other two, and brought him into that old house. They couldn't leave Kiyoshi alone. Of course not, he is their sibling. Especially because their brother is hurt, trailing blood all over the street. Nezuko was worried after this revelation (blood tends to draw other demons. And if he managed to escape—she wished, no, she hoped so—the blood would still beckon the devils to his hiding place whether he tends to the wound or not). With only that clue to go on, Shoichi and Teruko had followed the trail until it brought them here. And then they could do nothing because they didn't know what would happen the moment they stepped inside, so they've been stuck in observing the empty place since hours ago.

"Don't worry. Neechan will defeat the monster and rescue your brother," she vowed, planting her hands on their shoulder, "I promise, so please don't worry and stay hidden, okay?"

They slowly nodded and that was good enough. Nezuko turned her attention back to Zenitsu, who was still cupping his ears, trying to listen in on what happened inside the house, "do you hear something, Zenitsu?"

"Y-Yeah," he nodded, gaze glued onto the house, swiveling to the front door, the opening of the second floor, any entrance his electric eyes could land on, "this sounds...is really uncomfortable. It keeps ringing and ringing," Zenitsu gulped, sweat started forming at his forehead from all the tension around, "is that..."

"...the sounds of a drum?"

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DAP DAP DAP DAP

There was a sound of frantic footsteps—

WHOOOSHH

Someone jumped from the second floor. Bloody, broken, his fog is disappearing—

SPLATTT

And crashed to the ground head first, smearing the land with thick, red liquid.

"KYAAAA!"

"DON'T LOOK!" Nezuko shouted, covering their sight using her pink haori's wide sleeve. However, she knew it was clearly useless because the event happened faster than she could react, these siblings were going to have nightmares for several days onward. She gritted her teeth and stood up, instantly going to the unfortunate civilian to check on him. It was unsettling, to see such a young face so gory and full of bruises. Blood matted his black, shoulder-length hair, making it stick to his forehead and nape, "hold on! Hold on, please! Let me treat you—"

"Aah...I finally got...out," the boy mumbled, hoarsely, tiredly, Nezuko held back a choked sob. She rummaged her pocket pants, trying to find a medicine Sakonji made for the upcoming crisis. Yet the trembling hand of the victim stops her, Her hazy sight rested on the dying person no, no, no. Her tears gathering. Please, don't let me feel your body going numb. Don't let me feel your body going colder and colder and colder because I was too late to save you—, "I'm...going to die, aren't I? I'm...going to die. At least...at least..."

"At least I'm not eaten by those monsters..."

"GROOOOOOWWWWRRRRRR!"

The said beast decided it was the right time to let out a loud, unsettling roar. It shook the earth, swaying the trees, and sending chills down all over their back.

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BONUS SCENE

"Uhh...Nezuko-chan?" Zenitsu slowly started, unsure as he didn't know how her reaction towards his question will be but was curious enough not to utter it, "why are you covering your box like that?"

Indeed, Nezuko was kneeling on the side of the street. Half of her body was gone under the pink haori she took off and put it on top of the wooden box while she sneak under it, making it into an impromptu cover, "I'm trying to grab some food for you. Do you want some rice ball?"

"U-Uh, sure..." he answered, scratching his not itchy head while still hiccupping from his previous outburst, "but still. Why did you have to cover the box like that?"

"No reason."

Oookay...