Gyutaro returned to the others slowly, as he didn't want to wake up the now sleeping toddler Nezuko. This whole situation was freaky. What kind of Demon had a Blood Demon Art that turned people into Toddlers? A twisted one, who like to eat small children, that's what. 'Fucking bitch!' Gyutaro thought furiously, clenching his jaw to express his anger. Well she wouldn't get anywhere near their little Sister, that was for damn sure! Soon they arrived back at the Cart. "Gyutaro! What happened? Where's Nezuko?" Tanjiro called. "Well. Nezuko's, um-" Gyutaro showed everyone the sleeping Nezuko, who was clutching tightly to his Uniform.
"N-Nezuko?! She's so young! And-" he paused, sniffing the 3-year-old. Tanjiro's eyes widened, "is she human?!" he gasped. Ume looked shocked as well. "It looks like it. That woman's Blood Demon Art must be some kind of time reversal. And since Nezuko was still human as a 3-year-old, she became human again" Gyutaro explained. Tanjiro got a strange look on his face as he looked down at his now toddler Sister. "We need to get out of here. Our change-over's will have to be postponed. We should find a Wisteria House right away and stay there for the night. I'll write to the Master and let him know the situation." The female Kakushi decided, as they began to hurry to the Inn.
Gyutaro clutched the shivering Nezuko close, hoping that she wouldn't get sick from the cold.
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As they travelled, Nezuko woke up, "huh? Where, am I?" She asked tiredly. "Oh Nezuko. You're awake" Gyutaro said softly. The sleepy little girl clutched at Gyutaro's Haori, snuggling up to her Oldest Brother, "'m hungry and cold" she whimpered. Gyutaro pulled his knees up to try to give little Nezuko some more warmth, "we'll reach an Inn soon where we can get nice warm clothes and yummy food. Just hold on a bit longer" the Oldest Brother assured. Nezuko whimpered and closed her eyes again. Soon she was once again asleep. "What are we going to do Gyutaro? I know we wanted to turn Nezuko and Ume back into humans, but this isn't what I had in mind" Tanjiro said softly.
"Me neither. But we'll figure it out Tanjiro, don't worry". It took another 30 hour before they reached the nearby Wisteria House, and by then, Nezuko was crying due to her hunger. "Hello Ma'am. These Demon Slayers need food and rest," the head Kakushi said. "We were on our way back from the Swordsmith Village, and need to stop here" she said. The woman in charge of the house nodded, "understood. Please come in" the woman said, leading the group inside. "Um, our little Sister is very hungry. Could you please do dinner first, if that's alright Ma'am?" Gyutaro asked. "Of course. Dinner will be done soon. Is Curry alright?" the Inn Keeper asked. "Yes. Thank you" Tanjiro said with a grateful sigh.
Once they were in their room, Tanjiro all-but collapsed, "I know Nezuko's hungry, but I'm just exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for 2 years, just like our Sister's did" he groaned, as Gyutaro closed the curtains and let Ume out of her box. "I can't help but wonder how Nezuko became immune to sunlight. We know from Lady Tamayo that it has something to do with her cells having changed. It just seems so random, that our little Sister could become immune for seemingly no reason" Gyutaro mused. "I don't know. I'm just glad it did. Nezuko would be dead without that immunity" Tanjiro sighed. Soon he and the 3-year-old were asleep again. Gyutaro stayed up for a bit, before deciding to write another letter, letting everyone know about Nezuko's new state.
First he wrote to Kagaya, then the rest of their Siblings. He didn't want to shock them too much with Nezuko's condition. Once he'd finished, Gyutaro went to check on his Siblings. He found Tanjiro sleeping in a Futon with Nezuko in his arms. Gyutaro smiled softly, and gently stroked Nezuko's hair. 'I promise we'll turn you and Ume back to normal. Then you'll be human at your real ages' he thought, reaching down to give the 3-year-old a light kiss on the forehead. 'Now that Nezuko's a Demon that is immune to the sun, I'm sure that bastard Muzan is going to try absorbing her to gain that immunity for himself. I don't even need Lady Tamayo to tell me that. But, while she's human, Muzan can't do that. So at least she's safe from him for a while' Gyutaro thought.
He moved over to the Futon next to Ume that had been fixed up, and immediately fell asleep.
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A few hours later, their Curry was brought in, and the Siblings woke themselves up only long enough to eat, before they fell asleep again immediately. The next time Gyutaro woke up, the sun was high in the sky, and Nezuko, who was no longer in his arms, was over at Ume's box and trying to get Ume to come out of her box and play with her. "Sorry Nezuko. I can't play with you now because the sun is out" Ume said from inside her box. "Huh? What do you mean? We played outside all the time. Mama and Papa wouldn't let us play outside without the sun being out because it was always too cold?" Nezuko replied in confusion. There was the sound of Ume moving around in her box uncomfortably. Gyutaro yawned and stood up to pick up Nezuko. He held the Toddler in his lap, "Nezuko, I have to talk to you. But maybe we should wake Tanjiro up first" the green-haired 27-year-old said. "Okay" Nezuko replied seriously. So the two went to have a bath first. By the time the two Siblings returned to their room to find Tanjiro sleepily sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Hey Tanjiro. I thought we should talk to Nezuko today, now that she feels better." Gyutaro said. Tanjiro was instantly awake, "yeah, we really should" he replied, smiling down at his little Sister. Nezuko looked around at her Older Brothers in confusion, "huh? Talk about what?" she asked. Gyutaro sat down with Tanjiro, placing Nezuko down in the 15-year-old's lap. "Now Nezuko, this might be really confusing for you, but try to listen, okay?" Tanjiro asked. The little girl nodded, "mhm" she said. "The reason why Gyutaro, Ume and I are older than before, is because it's actually been 12 years since you were 3-years-old. You were turned back into a Toddler by- by a-" Tanjiro struggled with lying about the Demon part, not wanting to scare Nezuko.
Thankfully Gyutaro was able to lie easily, "by an Evil Spirit. But don't worry, we'll deal with the Spirit and turn you back to normal soon. Okay?" the green-haired Kamado explained. Tanjiro sent his Older Brother a grateful look. "So, I was really a big girl before?" Nezuko asked with an excited look on her face. "Yeah, you were a big girl before. Also, something else you should know. We actually have more Siblings now, since it's been a long time. We have three younger Brothers and another Sister. So when we get home, you can meet them all" Tanjiro explained. "What about Mommy and Daddy? Are they at home with all of our little Brother's and Sister?" Nezuko asked. Tanjiro cringed, looking away.
"We, had to live somewhere else for a while. Mommy and Daddy couldn't come, so they're back home." Gyutaro explained. "Oh. Okay" Nezuko said. "Anyway, about Ume. She was changed by the Evil Spirit, and can't be in the sunlight anymore. But don't worry, she's still your Big Sister, and she still loves all of us." Gyutaro said. "Yay! I love Big Sis Ume too! Can we play when the sun isn't out then?" Nezuko asked cheerfully. Tanjiro smiled warmly, "sure, but that will be a while from now, so until then, you can play with us, okay?" he asked. "Okay!" Nezuko's stomach then growled, "when are we having Breakfast?" she asked. "Soon." Gyutaro said with a laugh.
After getting dressed, and after Tanjiro had a bath himself, the woman who was in charge of the Wisteria House came to get them for Breakfast. After reaching the Dinning Room, Nezuko was in awe of how much food was on the large table. "Wow! There's so much food! Are more people coming for Breakfast Tanjiro?" Nezuko asked. "Nope, this is all for us" Tanjiro replied with a smile. "Waaah!" Nezuko said excitedly. Gyutaro chuckled, "take it slow Nezuko, you don't want to get sick" he said. "Okay!" Nezuko replied, and watched patiently as Tanjiro dished up a plate of food for her. While they ate, Gyutaro wondered how the rest of their Siblings were taking the news of both Nezuko's current state, and the fact that she'd conquered the sun while she was still a Demon.
Oh well, they would find out soon. Speaking of getting home, he wondered what the new procedure for taking them home was going to be, since they couldn't travel at night with Nezuko like this. And he didn't think she would be very comfortable with having her sight and hearing blocked off while she was so young. Gyutaro was so deep in thought while he ate, that he didn't even notice that they'd finished eating and the dishes had been taken away. "Gyutaro?" the green-haired Kamado was brought out of his thoughts when Tanjiro called his name. "Huh? Yes?" he asked, looking down at his younger Brother, "I asked how long we were going to be staying here. We need to get home soon" Tanjiro repeated.
Gyutaro looked down at his food, "I was just thinking about that. I was trying to figure out how we're going to do this with Nezuko like this. Especially overnight" he replied. Tanjiro nodded in understanding, "yeah. That's going to be a problem" he agreed. Nezuko, completely oblivious to what her Older Brothers were talking about, happily ate her Breakfast.
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Eventually, Kagaya wrote back with permission for them to travel the rest of the way home without their senses blocked. Gyutaro sighed in relief, as they travelled home in a new cart. It took a few hours for them to get back like this, and the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps asked to see them the next day. As they walked through the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Gyuatro called out to Tanjiro, "hey, I'm heading over to the Butterfly Mansion" he said. "Huh? Why?" Tanjiro asked in confusion. "I just want to make sure that Nezuko is healthy. Can you take Ume home for me?" the older Kamado asked, handing his younger Brother Ume's box. "Sure. See you guys soon" Tanjiro said, waving to his two Siblings.
"Where are we going Gyu?" Nezuko asked in confusion. "We're going to talk to someone before we go home. Don't worry, I know you want to go home. We will soon, okay?" "'Kay" Nezuko said with a yawn. Gyutaro was taken to see Kagaya. Upon seeing the man, Gyutaro couldn't help but bite his lip. Kagaya was covered in bandages. "Gyutaro. Amane told me what was in your letters. Nezuko conquered the sun, but was then turned back into a human toddler by a Demon" the man said softly. "Yes Sir." The green-haired Kamado replied. "I'm not sure. But Nezuko might only turn back once the Demon who used his her Blood Demon Art on her dies. Until then, at least she will be safe from Muzan Kibutsuji" Kagaya said, voice as soothing as ever.
"Yes Sir. That is what I figured as well" Gyutaro said with a nod. The Hahsira have already reported about the strange marks that they've all gotten during the battle against Upper Four. They said specifically, that they felt stronger with them. So, I have been thinking. All of the Hashira should get the Marks as well. We'll need all the power we can get to kill Muzan Kibutsuji" Kagaya said. "Until the training to gain them has been organised, you are off of Missions. Rest and take care of little Nezuko" he said softly. "Alright, thank you Sir" Gyutaro replied, before he stood up and moved to leave. Then he paused as a shudder went through him. The time was coming soon, when Kagaya and Amane would sacrifice themselves to try and weaken Muzan.
Gyutaro glanced back down at the bedridden man, silent for a moment. "Please take care of yourself, Kagaya" he said softly, before leaving the room. Now it was time to return home and show his Siblings what had happened to Nezuko.