Disclaimer: I do not own Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba or any of its characters/story.

Side note: I fixed the last scene of the previous chapter, please go read it again so that I'm not accused of being too OOC. I felt like it was too much too early in the story, so I'd like it if you read just that last part again (it's minor changes, but still important).

XI: Nezuko

After who knows how much time passed, Kanao gently picked up Tanjiro and went to his room, dropping him off onto his bed. She saw that Zenitsu and Inosuke were asleep too, so she quietly leapt back through the window.

Running back across the rooftop with silent footsteps, she found herself back in her room.

She was also once again tired, so she lay down on her bed and fell asleep only moments later.

.

The next day had come, and it was time for the four to head back to the academy. They thanked the lady for taking care of them (well, more like Kanao, Zenitsu, and Tanjiro thanked her while Inosuke stood confused the whole time), then after a long time of walking, saw the academy come into sight.

Once they reached the front gate, each of them went to their different classes, as if everything were completely normal. Tanjiro stayed behind though, calling her name to get her attention.

"Meet me here after school, I want to show you something." He then left to go to his own class. She was curious as to what he would 'show her', but there wasn't any point in thinking too much about it. She'd find out after school.

Kanao then met up with Rose, who was standing near the entrance to the classroom.

"Oh, you're back. I was told to wait here for you. We're supposed to be studying in the library today, for that exam." She had an apologetic look in her eyes, but Kanao couldn't really figure out why.

But it was true that there was going to be exams soon enough. She inwardly sighed at the long hours of studying that would surely come her way. The two started walking to the library, with Rose telling her about how Kanao would have to see Shinobu at some point to give her the information about what happened during her mission.

Studying with Rose felt oddly normal, which isn't necessarily what Kanao would say that her life is. It was almost nice to do something that everyone else did.

During the period, Rose talked about her own assignments, and taught Kanao how to make a proper mission report. It was a useful little piece of information, and she was grateful for it. Time passed like this, and before she knew it, the bell rang.

.

After gathering her things, she waved Rose goodbye and went to the gate where Tanjiro was already waiting.

He didn't say anything, just started walking when he saw her. She got the message, and followed him.

A little while later, the two arrived at a large building. Kanao recognized it as the city's hospital. She drove by it several times with Shinobu, but she's never had any reason to go inside. Then she thought about how Tanjiro's sister survived the attack from the Demons.

Wait. If Tanjiro's sister is alive but in a coma…

Are we visiting her?

She kept following him, through the doors and to the front desk, where the receptionist waved and let them through to the series of rooms. Tanjiro must have been here many times if he was so easily identified.

He also seemed to know his way around well, and after just a few minutes the two found themselves in front of a door. Kanao unconsciously committed the room number, 1846, to her memory. Tanjiro looked solemn at the door, before gently pushing it open.

Inside the room was a bed, a few chairs, and all the other things that are typically in a hospital room. The walls and ground were a blank white, along with the bedsheets.

Kanao released a breath she didn't know she was holding at the sight of the girl lying on the bed.

She had long, dark hair with orange highlights at the bottom. Kanao could see the facial similarities between her and Tanjiro, and knew that they were siblings. But seeing her on the hospital bed, looking pale and small with eyes closed, Kanao felt a twinge of sympathy for the boy standing next to her. It must be hard, seeing your own sister like this. She imagined what it would be like if it was Shinobu or anyone else she cared about lying on that bed, and her compassion only increased.

"Nezuko's been like this for months. Occasionally, she'll wake up. But she has never spoken a word since the attack, and even though she does seem to recognize me, she isn't the same at all." Tanjiro supplied, voice strained with sadness.

Kanao kept silent as he continued. "Supposedly, she was traumatized to the point where she can't even speak. It's that, and the fact that nobody understands her condition. 'She's in an on-and-off coma', that's what they all say. I don't like to think about what happened to her."

He sat down at her bedside, taking hold of her limp hand. "I just… I just want her to be normal again. I wish she never had to go through this. Each time she falls back into the coma, I feel like those were my last moments with her and that she'd never wake up again."

Kanao took a seat next to him, staying silent but conveying all the feelings she needed to through her eyes, which were locked in contact with his.

I don't want you to suffer alone. I can stay here as long as you want me to.

He turned his head, closing his eyes. "Yeah, I think I'd like you to stay for a little bit. Do you have anything going on at home today?"

She didn't like the way he worded 'going on at home' (it reminded her of pain), but shook her head nonetheless. She could always tell Shinobu where she was later.

So they sat there in comforting silence, wistfully watching the girl who was attacked, who was given a fate almost worse than death, the girl who might never wake up again.

.

"Where were you?"

Kanao closed the door behind her, seeing Shinobu sitting on the couch.

Since she was asked a question, she was obliged to answer. That's what she was taught, so she replied. "I was with Tanjiro, visiting his sister in the hospital."

At that, Shinobu smiled. "Okay. It's late though. You should go to sleep."

Kanao nodded, and headed to her room.

Once everything was put away and she was changed, she lay in bed. But she couldn't sleep. She kept on thinking about Nezuko, and eventually pulled out her coin. Seeing the outcome, she put the coin away and grabbed her phone off the nightstand. Then, she browsed random social media pages, tired but unable to fall asleep.

TTTTT

Well, that's that. I was quite lazy, so it's a short chapter today.

There is a small reference in here, it's Nezuko's room number. 1846 backwards is 6418, which can be rewritten as 6/4/18. June 4, 2018 is the day the Demon Slayer anime was announced to the public to be coming out.

That's about it. Thanks for reading, favouriting/following, and/or reviewing!