Gyutaro and Tanjiro walked in silence on the road to Mount Kumotori. For the first time in nearly 3 years, they were going home, and it was to an empty house. The air around them was awkward, to say the least. Finally, Tanjiro spoke up, "I can't believe that the interesting flower that Mom showed us all those years ago would have ended up being so important. Hey! You think if we get enough, the cure could be completed faster?" he asked. "Don't know. But at least it will help, which is enough, as we can use all the help we can get right now. It's no question having Hakuji on our side will be a big help in killing Muzan" Gyutaro replied.
"I thought you didn't like Hakuji?" Tanjiro asked in confusion. "I don't like him, as a Demon who tried to kill you, getting close to our baby Sister. Even if he doesn't eat humans anymore. But if he wants to kill that Bastard too, then I have no objections to him helping us take his head. After all, I haven't gotten any more bad premonitions from him" the green-haired young man replied. "And if Hanako actually does like Hakuji, like it seems?" Tanjiro asked. Gyutaro looked down. In truth, he didn't know what to feel about the fact that the former Upper Rank 3 and their youngest Sister might like each other. No question, he wanted Hanako to be happy, but with Hakuji?! He just wasn't sure.
"I want to wait and see how this goes. See how they act around each other and if they actually do like each other. And if he hurts her, I won't hesitate to take his head" Gyutaro growled. Tanjiro sweat-dropped. He was also protective of their younger Siblings, especially his Sisters. But he wouldn't get in Hanako's way if she truly loved Hakuji. Judging by the scent both gave off, they were hopelessly besotted with each other. He couldn't help but be glad that his baby Sister had caught the eye of someone so strong. It meant that she would be protected. He wondered if, after all the other Demons had been killed, would Hakuji want to become human again?
After that, the two Brothers fell into silence, as they were focused on their own thoughts.
U*G.K
The two ended up having to stop at an Inn on the way home. They ordered some dinner, and put their bags (except for Ume's box) into their room for the night. Gyutaro ordered some Karage chicken and Tanjiro ordered Udon with grated Yam. As they waited for their food, Gyutaro overheard some conversation at a nearby table. "Have you heard of the haunted house of Mt Kumotori?" a man asked his friend at the same table. "No I haven't, what is it?" the other man asked. "3 years ago, a family who made Charcoal used to live on Mount Kumotori. But then one day, the whole family just vanished, poof.
When some of the Villagers went up to check, they found an empty house, and one grave left in the ground in front of it. But there was no sign of the rest of the family, who were all kids. Even the oldest two who lived at the bottom of the mountain had gone. Some people say that those kids were taken to the Spirit world by the ghosts of their parents who died. Some say that at night you can still see smoke coming up from the chimney and outside stove, like they're still making Charcoal up there. It's spooky, right?" the first man asked with a chuckle.
"Hey man, that's not right, joking about something like that. Those poor kids! I wonder what happened to them? I've got three kids of my own, and I'd be devastated if anything happened to them!" his friend replied. Gyutaro chuckled slightly, turning to Tanjiro, who was sniffing the air, "I think the food will be done soon" he said with a smile.
"Hey Tanjiro, apparently we're a ghost story now. Everyone thinks some Spirit kidnapped all of us, since Mom's grave was the only one left back home" Gyutaro said softly. "Oh. I never thought about how that would look from an outside perspective. Maybe we should visit Mr Saburo before we head up the mountain, just to let him know we're all okay" Tanjiro replied, sounding sad. Gyutaro nodded in agreement, "sounds good. Since we're Demon Slayers now, we can even have shifts to guard his house during the night. Now that I think of it, New Years is coming up, right? We should pick up the Ceremonial Robes from the house, I can't believe we left them there when we left" Gyutaro realized.
Tanjiro's eyes widened, and Gyutaro winced when Tanjiro slammed his head into the table, thankfully not cracking the wood somehow, "I can't believe I forgot those! Hinokami is surely furious with me!" he moaned. Gyutaro awkwardly patted his younger Brothers back as he sulked.
U*G.K
The next day, the Kamado Brothers began their trek up to the mountain again. With Total Concentration-Breathing Constant, the two made it back to the Village at the foot of their home mountain in two days. Tanjiro looked around. The Village had a lot more snow still than the Corps Headquarters. Mostly due to how much colder it was around here. It hadn't had a chance to melt yet. Tanjiro and Gyutaro breathed in the crisp air of their home and grinned at each other. They decided to only tell Saburo about their return, otherwise they'd never get to leave!
So they rushed through the Village, and finally came upon the little cabin at the foot of the mountain. By now it wasn't quite sunset, but it was close enough that if they talked to Mr Saburo, he'd insist they stay the night. Gyutaro wondered how the older man would take Ume's current state. Considering he'd lost his family to Demons, maybe it would be a bad idea to tell him about her. "Hey Tanjiro?" Gyutaro asked. "Yeah?" his younger Brother asked. "Do you think Mr Saburo would understand about Ume if we told him? After all, she doesn't eat humans, so he wouldn't have any reason to be scared." The green-haired man asked.
Tanjiro looked down in thought, "that is a good question. I hadn't even thought of that. I don't really want to travel back down the mountain in the dark, even if we're Demon Slayers now" he said. "Maybe we should take a chance. Surely he'd understand, right?" he asked. Gyutaro bit his lip, and focused on his premonitions. They didn't quite feel bad enough for Saburo to kick them out. Maybe he would just get scared? If that was the case, there was a chance they could explain things to him before he freaked out too much. Mind made up, he turned back to Tanjiro, "okay. Let's tell him the truth".
U*G.K
Tanjiro quickly grabbed the box where the Kagura dress was, not smelling any mold or mildew from the box, which had him smiling in relief. Then, as the setting sun was hidden behind the trees, Gyutaro let Ume out of her box and they all knelt down in prayer before their parents graves. Gyutaro had buried their Mother next to their Father's grave, so they could be together.
"Father, Mom. We're doing okay. Thank you for all of the help and guidance that you've given us, despite having already died. We're truly grateful, and, thanks to you, we're all doing fine. We hope you're resting well. I promise you, that we will avenge you Mom. And we will turn Ume and Nezuko back into humans. Don't worry. We'll be fine. Please keep watching over all of us. We all love and miss you both" Gyutaro said. After a moment longer, the two walked back down the mountain towards Saburo's house. "We'll get the flowers tomorrow" Tanjiro suggested.
"I really hope this will work. Flowers making a cure for Demonization or a poison that can kill Muzan seems too good to be true" Gyutaro said. "Well, there has to be a reason that Muzan is so obsessed with this flower. I don't think it would end up being nothing. Not when the Bastard has searched for it for a thousand years." Tanjiro replied. The Brother's were silent again until they reached Saburo's house at the halfway point of the mountain. They knocked on his door, using their breathing to keep themselves warm, now that that sun had set. Saburo peeked out of his window cautiously. Tanjiro noticed and waved at him cheerfully, like they hadn't been gone for almost 3 years, "hey Mr Saburo!"
The old man's eyes widened in surprise, before he moved to the door and opened it wide, "Gyutaro? Tanjiro?!" he asked in shock.