"So, your Master and another Hashira are going to be on the train? Are you sure you can find them Tanjiro? I mean the train is filled with people" Zenitsu asked. "Don't worry. Tanjiro can find him, even with this many people. Did you forget about his enhanced sense of smell?" Gyutaro asked. The blond teen turned to look at the Oldest of them, "by the way, do you think it's safe to bring Ume and Nezuko on more Missions? Didn't they get hurt badly in the last one?" he asked worriedly. "Ume and Nezuko are Demons. As much as I hate the idea of them getting hurt at all, they're more likely to recover than us. They'll both be fine Kid" the green-haired Kamado replied. Then they entered another car.

"Delicious!" Kyojuro called, as he and Mitsuri ate Bento after Bento. The 4 Demon Slayers watched this, an exclamation of "Delicious" ringing out after every bite the Rengoku ate. Finally, the two Hashira seemed to have finished eating, as people came over to take all of the empty boxes away. "Ah! The Kamado Brothers, and other lads. And your Sister's, is that right?" the Flame Hashira asked. "That's right. Ume and Nezuko are sleeping at the moment though-" Gyutaro replied, just as Tanjiro's head shot around in shock, nostrils flared as he caught a scent.

Everyone became alert, "what is it? A Demon?" Gyutaro asked lowly, as his hand went to his hidden weapon. "Not a Demon-" Tanjiro replied, before he frowned, and ran off into a car further down. "Wha-! Tanjiro!" Zenitsu cried, while Inosuke was busy staring out the window. Gyutaro turned back to Kyojuro and Mitsuri, "if you could excuse me," he said, before running off after his Brother.

Ư*Ğ.Ķ

Gyutaro caught up with Tanjiro just in time to hear him cry out a familiar name: "Hanako?!" he cried incredulously. Gyutaro stopped in front of a young girl wearing a fancy Kimono (well, fancy to them) and carrying a wrapped bundle of things. The girl looked up, and, revealed that, yes, she was their youngest Sister. Hanako's Kimono was the colour of Nadeshiko flowers, and decorated with orange flowers. Her Obi was plain lilac, and she wore a violet Haori. Gyutaro's expression soured, and he grabbed his Sister and pulled her down the carriage. "Wha! Hey! Big Brother stop!" Hanako cried, trying to get her arm out of Gyutaro's grip, but he was firm enough that she couldn't. Tanjiro followed them back.

When they got back to where everyone else was waiting, the two Hahsira were stunned. "Hanako Kamado? What are you doing here?" Kyojuro asked in confusion. "Yes, that's what we'd like to know too" the green-haired young man asked, as he released the 12-year-old and she stepped back. She glared at them, "this has nothing to do with either of you Gyutaro. This train just happens to be going to the place I want to go" Hanako replied, fixing her outfit. "And where is that?" Tanjiro asked worriedly, "Hanako, you do know we're on a Mission. There are Demons on this train" he replied, emphasizing the Demons part.

"WHAT?! DID YOU SAY DEMONS?! I THOUGHT TO WERE GOING TO WHERE THEY WERE! NOT TRAPPED WITH THEM!" Zenitsu started screaming, but no one paid him any attention, too focused on the youngest Kamado Sister. "I'm going to visit Grandmother's grave. I have an offering for her. I was going to make sure I was on the train back before nightfall" Hanako replied, calming down slightly. "And if you didn't? Or if you got on the wrong train? I hardly know how vehicles like this work, you're lucky you got on the right train Hanako. And what if a Demon got you! We'd have never known what happened to you, since I'm assuming you snuck away from home.

How did you even get to the previous Station?" Gyutaro asked. "I asked a Kakushi to drive me. I did tell people what I was doing" the little girl replied. "But you just lied about coming with us." Gyutaro said, "and I bet you told the people at the Station that we were on the train so they'd let you board, right?" he asked. "How did you know that?" Tanjiro asked curiously. "Because it's what I would have done if I were trying to sneak onto a train" Gyutaro replied. "Hanako, you know this is dangerous, right?" the younger Brother asked. "So? You do this kinda stuff all the time. You're going around getting hurt, like we won't be worried if you almost die.

But then you get worried about one of us whenever we get hurt! Like it matter's for us and not for you! *sob* We worry about you! All four of you! We already lost Mom, I have to know that I won't lose you too!" Hanako sobbed. Gyutaro blinked. He thought they'd already delt with this, but evidently not, if their little Sister was still feeling like this. He hugged the 12-year-old close, "Hanako, we became Demon Slayer's to protect all of you. It's not like we don't care if we die, because we do. We don't want to die, and we don't want to leave all of you. But if we had stayed weak and you all got killed too, then neither Tanjiro or I would ever be able to forgive ourselves. Because we love you all too much to risk any of your lives like that. Okay?" Gyutaro asked, rubbing her back as she clung onto him, sobbing.

"I'm sorry *sob* I just-" the 12-year-old cried. "I know. It's okay. You're here right now, and we'll just have to protect you just like everyone else" Tanjiro said, rubbing Hanako's hair as his Older Brother hugged her.

Ư*Ğ.Ķ

When the younger Kamado had calmed down, she sat with her Brother's, Nezuko and Ume's boxes in the luggage compartment above them. "So, what brings you all here. A Mission?" Kyojuro asked. "We were told to join you on this train by a Crow. Hanako is traveling to visit our Grandmother's grave for her Anniversary." Gyutaro explained. "By yourself? That's very dangerous. What if a Demon attacked you?" Mitsuri asked worriedly. "I wasn't planning to be out at night. But I still wanted to do something. Her favorite meal was grilled Salmon, and I'm the only one who knows how to cook it, so I wanted to take it to her as an offering" Hanako replied.

"You should have told the Master. I'm sure he would have sent someone with you" Kyojuro said, arms crossed in front of his chest. "I didn't want to waste any Demon Slayer's time with a Mission like that. Plus I heard that the two of you were going to be on the train, so-" she said, playing with her fingers, her wrapped offering on the seat beside her. Gyutaro sighed, "well, nothing we can do about it now. Just be careful Hanako. And if we tell you to do something make sure you listen. You'll be in big trouble when we get home" he replied. The little girl sighed. This wasn't how she imagined tonight would go.

Suddenly a man entered the carriage. He looked exhausted. "May I- have your- tickets, please?" he asked, sounding just as exhausted as he looked. The man punched Gyutaro's ticket first. He blinked and suddenly he was standing in front of their old house. "What? Why am I here?" he asked, reaching for his Sickle, only to find that it wasn't there. "What?" he asked, looking down. He was in his old clothes, an olive green Winter Kimono over two layers of white Kimono's and black Hakama pants. His Haori was dark green. Suddenly he looked behind him to see Tanjiro helping their Siblings out of the cart. Takeo hopped out by himself, then Tanjiro lifted Shigeru and Hanako out, "oh, you two are getting heavy!" he chuckled.

Tanjiro then picked up Rokuta as Shigeru and Hanako ran excitedly towards the house, "Mom! Ume! Nezuko! We're back Shigeru cried. "Ah! Wait! Hold on a minute! Don't-" Gyutaro tried to stop them, only for Ume to open the door, looking completely unharmed and human, with her hair up in a bun and normal blue eyes. Gyutaro's mind blanked as she smiled a fangless smile, "welcome back everyone! Hurry inside so I can close the door. The cold won't do Mom any favours." Their younger Siblings cheered, running inside happily, while Tanjiro came after carrying a now sleeping Rokuta.

Only once they were all inside the house, did Gyutaro walk towards his little Sister in shock. She looked up at him with a smile, but it fell as she caught sight of her Older Brother's expression. Ume closed the door behind her and walked over to Gyutaro as well, so they were standing face to face. Her white hair was done up in a bun and there were no green highlights in sight. "Ume-" he muttered, before hugging his little Sister tightly. "Gyutaro!? What's wrong? Are you okay big Brother? You look pale!" Ume yelped after the surprise hug.

"I'm okay. It was just a nightmare. Thank God. You're safe. And Mom and Nezuko- ah!" Gyutaro released Ume from the hug and pulled her inside, hurrying to where his Mother and other younger Sister was. He walked right passed where everyone was taking their snow-covered boots off at the Genkan, entering the house without bothering to take his off at all. When he got to the kitchen where their Mother had isolated herself out of fear of spreading her Flu to her children, he paused. He noticed that his hands were trembling, and he clenched them to calm down. Then he pulled open the door. Nezuko was just taking an empty bowl from their Mother, who noticed him and smiled. "Welcome back Gyutaro. Did *cough, cough* you sell a lot of Charcoal *sniff* dear?" she asked.

Tears welled up in Gyutaro's eyes, and he collapsed to his hands and knees, shocking both his Mother and Nezuko. "Dear! What's wrong?!" Kie asked worriedly, as her Son, who'd only ever cried twice as far as she knew, crawled over to her and hugged her close, bawling like a baby. "I'm sorry Mom! I'm sorry!" he wailed, confusing the two in the room, as Ume and Tanjiro hurried in behind him, "big Brother, what's wrong? Why are you giving off such a strong scent of grief?!" Tanjiro asked, alarmed. All the green-haired Kamado could do was cling to their Mother and sob.

*Real world*

The three Kamado children were sitting together on their seats, fast asleep, alongside everyone else on the train, including the two Hashira. All three were crying in their sleep.

Ư*Ğ.Ķ

*Gyutaro's dream*

Ume and Nezuko made Breakfast for everyone, their Mother now sleeping. "I'm glad you were able to sell all the Charcoal, but why didn't you come home yesterday? We were all worried about you" Nezuko asked. "Mr Saburo told us to stay at his house for the night!" Shigeru replied through a mouthful of food, "he said there were Man-eating Demons around at night" he explained as he swallowed. "Don't talk with your mouth full, you'll choke" Tanjiro chided gently. "He's right Shigeru, it's also rude" Ume added. The boy swallowed, "but it's just the same thing as what's in my bowl" he complained. "That doesn't mean we want to see it," Gyutaro said, "and it's also true that you could choke like that" the green-haired young man replied.

Shigeru sighed, before yawning. Their other Siblings were yawning as well, though Takeo looked like he was fighting not to. Rokuta had already fallen asleep in Tanjiro's lap. Gyutaro smiled, "once we've finished eating, how about we all have a nap?" he asked. "Mhm, yeah" Hanako agreed. Soon the bowl were in the sink, and the Kamado children were all in there Futon's. Gyutaro smiled as he watched Ume tuck all of their younger Siblings, including Tanjiro and Nezuko in. "I don't want any of you getting sick from the cold, and Mom doesn't either" she said. Gyutaro stared up at Ume's face. His little Sister had always been beautiful, but for some reason, seeing her now, looking just like she always did was making him tear up.

Ume frowned, "Gyuato? Big Brother, what's wrong?" she asked in concern. The green-haired young man sniffed, "I don't know. All of a sudden, I'm so happy and sad at the same time, and I don't know why" he replied. He turned on his side, 'it's like I haven't seen her like this in ages. Either her or Nezuko. And then there's the massive wave of pain and joy and relief I felt at seeing Mom. I don't know what's wrong with me' Gyutaro thought as he closed his eyes.

Ư*Ğ.Ķ

Back in the real world, Ume tried to climb out of her box, since she hadn't heard anything in a while. Only to fall out onto the floor. When she'd stood up, she was shocked to find every single person on the train fast asleep. She looked over at her Siblings. First she tried to shake them, then call out to them. But they wouldn't wake up. The two Hashira wouldn't either, which they should, since she's a Demon. Their instincts should have woken them, if nothing else. That only left one conclusion. "A Blood Demon Art. Something to do with sleep. Hm" Ume closed her eyes in thought. "If it's a Blood Demon Art, wouldn't Nezuko's own Blood Demon Art be able to wake them up? I'd try my own, but I'm not sure if it can release them from the effects of one like this".

Then she took her little Sister's box down from the luggage compartment and opened it, "time to wake up Nezuko. We need your help" she said, shaking the younger Demon, hoping that she'd wake up. Ume's prayers were answered when Nezuko opened her eyes and sat up. The 12-year-old looked up at her Older Sister with a smile. "Sorry Nezuko, we're in trouble. Our family, as well as everyone else here are trapped by a Blood Demon Art. I need you to wake our Siblings and the Hashira up" the white and green-haired Demon woman explained. Nezuko stepped out of her box and over to Tanjiro. She cut her palm with her claws and dripped the blood over her Older brother. Then the blood began to glow hot pink, before exploding into flames of the same colour.

Tanjiro flinched, then began sniffing the air in his sleep. "Nezuko. It's Nezuko!" he whispered urgently, but didn't wake up. The two watched him wince and frown, starting to pant. Nezuko whined through her Bamboo gag. "It's okay. He's aware now. And he's going to wake up. Can you do that to the other's too?" Ume encouraged. The little Demon went over to Gyutaro and did the same to him.

*Gyutaro's dream*

Gyutaro yawned as he went to the toilet. "Looks like it's going to be a lazy day today" he said, walking back to the bedroom. Suddenly he burst into hot pink flames. The green-haired Kamado gasped, "this is- I know this!" he whispered unconsciously. "These flames-" an image flashed in his mind, of himself, Tanjiro and Ume fighting Lower 5, Rui, and Nezuko using her Blood Demon Art to burn him, but not any of them. "Nezuko! It's Nezuko's Blood Demon Art!" he cried. Then he frowned, "wait a second, this means that we all must still be- on the train!" Gyutaro gasped. He gripped the handle of his Sickle that had appeared in his hand, along with his Uniform with his Haori on over it. As quietly as he could, Gyutaro headed for the door.

He didn't want to wake up his family. Even though this was some kind of dream, and all of his Siblings were still alive, the thought of making them, any version of them cry was too painful. Gyutaro snuck out of the house and ran down the mountain, 'I have to find a way to wake up! If we're all asleep, and the Demon who did this is close, then everyone will die! Unless we protect them!' he thought. "But how can I do that? I know this is a dream now, but I don't know how I'm supposed to wake up from it!" he groaned. 'There HAS to be a way to wake up! My real Siblings need me!' Gyutaro thought.

To Be Continued