Kagami and Tanjiro's annoyed eyes landed on Inosuke as he ran around them, still trying to provoke or instigate a fight between the three of them. He would run up to their faces, shove a finger in their direction, scream profanities and other harsh words to anger them, but nothing worked. Both Kagami and Tanjiro would look at him then at each other, clear exhaustion and pain written across their faces, giving each other the subtle shake of their head.
It was clear they both didn't want to fight or deal with Inosuke, but the freak wouldn't take the hint.
"Come on and fight me!" Inosuke screamed once again shoving a finger at them. "I swear I'm going to find your weak points and bring you down, losers!"
Kagami and Tanjiro gasped in offence. "We have names, you know! It's not "losers"," She scoffed at him. "I'm Kagami Yamato and this is Tanjiro Kamado!"
"All right, Gonpachiro and Kamaboko! Let's fight! I'm going to bring you down!" Inosuke challenged them with his fists. He got their names wrong right after Kagami had just said them! What the hell is with that guy?!
"Who are you talking about?!" Tanjiro screamed in confusion and annoyance.
"You, of course!"
"No, you're not!" Kagami protested along.
"EXCUSE ME?!" Zenitsu suddenly screamed picking his head up and looming over them from her back. They all immediately shut their mouths seeing how angry and annoyed Zenitsu seemed looking at all of them. "COULD YOU KEEP IT DOWN, PLEASE?!"
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Inosuke were forced to walk side by side in silence until the sun finally fell below the horizon. The full moon rose into the sky and all of them became aware of the darkness looming around them. While Kagami and Tanjiro had their hands on the hilt of their sheathed swords, ready just in case, Zenitsu trembled violently behind them and Inosuke already had his swords out, literally demanding for demons to approach and attack them.
But it wouldn't happen.
The Kasugai crow they had been following down the mountain had them stop before a large mansion. The moonlight revealed the wisteria family crest painted on the front wooden doors of the gate surrounding the mansion. Kagami's never seen one before, only heard of it in the books on the Demon Slayer Corps.
"It's time to rest! It's time to rest!" The crow suddenly cawed at them loudly. "You've all had a tough day, rest up now!"
Kagami and Tanjiro's crows landed on their hands, Zenitsu's sparrow softly landing on his shoulder, Inosuke getting suspiciously close to Kagami's crow with excitedly clenched fists, all telling them the same thing: To go inside that random mansion and sleep there to heal their wounds. She didn't want to walk in someone's home uninvited but… she is hungry and exhausted.
She looked down at her crow and asked, "Are you sure that's okay?"
"Ke-ke-ke," Tanjiro's crow coughed out.
"Is that a laugh or…?" Tanjiro asked nervously.
Inosuke grabbed Kagami's Kasugai crow's tail, tugging at it, speaking in a low, hungry growl, "Let's eat this thing."
The crows, and sparrow, hearing Inosuke's hunger for their meat quickly flew high into the air and away from them all. Kagami, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu sent annoyed pointed glances in Inosuke's way who had tried to jump as high as he could to grab their birds before they could fly away. He missed them all and looked very angry about it.
The door to the gate opened and stepped out a little old lady with a kind smile.
"Yes?" She kindly greeted them.
Kagami and Tanjiro immediately bowed upon seeing her. "We're so sorry to bother you this late at night!" Tanjiro began but stopped when Zenitsu, still shaking and tremoring like a baby, cried, "A ghost! It's a ghost!"
"Quiet!" Kagami hissed at him.
"Who the hell are you?" Inosuke growled much to Kagami and Tanjiro's horror.
The kind old lady didn't heed Zenitsu and Inosuke's rudeness. She bowed back to them all, speaking, "Should I presume you're all Demon Slayers?"
"We are. What's it to ya?!" Inosuke growled poking and prodding at her silver hair.
Kagami rushed forward and yanked his hand from the old lady's hair, hissing, "Stop that!"
"Please come in," The old lady spoke turning around, seemingly not bothered by Inosuke's prodding, and walking away.
As they walked through the gate and closed the door behind them, the little old lady was already halfway through the garden when they barely began to walk on the cobblestone path to the mansion. Kagami and Tanjiro walked calmly, peacefully, and looked around the beautiful garden that held numerous wisteria trees, bushes, rocks, and a small pond, but Zenitsu was scared about the old lady's speed with Inosuke looking around every nook and cranny for anything suspicious.
Kagami looked at them and groaned to herself in embarrassment. And I thought I had no social interaction my whole life.
"This is where you'll be staying," The old lady spoke as they walked through the door. Then, she guided them to a room where four separate bundles of clothes were spread out. "A change of clothes to cleanse your body." After they had changed out of their bloody and dirty Demon Slayer uniforms, and bathed themselves clean, changing into soft white and black robes the old lady offered them, she then showed them to a room that had 4 zabutons and boxes full of delicious food in front of each one. "And a warm meal to cleanse your soul."
Zenitsu immediately grabbed hold of Kagami's arm, twitching, trembling, and screaming, "She's got to be a monster! Preparing all of this so quickly! There's no way she's human! It can't be! She's a monster grandma—! AH!"
Lifting her fist, Kagami brought it roughly down on Zenitsu's head, forcing him to shut up and hold his shattered sanity together, as well as letting go of her arm.
They all sat in front of their boxes and looked at the box of tempura, giant bowl of rice, miso soup, and vegetable soup in front of them. Kagami took a large whiff and sighed out in happiness, the homecooked meal really hitting the spot in her mind, heart, and soul. It reminded her so much of home and Mr. Urokodaki.
Eagerly picking up her chopsticks, she began to eat her fill, Tanjiro and Zenitsu doing the same, but they stopped once they saw how Inosuke was eating. He grabbed handfuls of his meal and shoved it into his mouth, both hands and mouth being coated in batter and crumbs. All of them watched in disgust at his lack of shame and/or manners when he suddenly began to grab handfuls of food from both Kagami and Tanjiro's plate!
"Hey!" Kagami groaned seeing her plate already half empty.
Inosuke smiled teasingly and arrogantly at them, his mouth full of their food, and his eyes twinkling with a lust to fight. He then reached forward, grabbed himself another serving of Tanjiro's food, and laughed in their faces. Kagami looked pointedly at Tanjiro, hoping he'd do something, but instead he smiled and picked up a bowl of his vegetable soup.
He offered it to Inosuke, chuckling, "If you're that hungry, you can have this, too. Here!"
Kagami scoffed at the kindness but Inosuke was even angrier.
He belted out a scream, grabbing and tearing at his hair, shouting, "No! I refuse!"
Then, with an angry and annoyed look, Inosuke kept eating his own box of food, staring daggers at both her and Tanjiro. Tanjiro just smiled and continued eating but Zenitsu was staring daggers at Inosuke, more than likely still angry about Inosuke's wrath kicking him in the face over and over again hours earlier.
Sighing, internally groaning, Kagami lifted her rice bowl and offered it to Inosuke. "If you're that hungry, just ask. I expect a "please" and a "thank you" next time, Inosuke," She huffed.
Inosuke looked at her like she was crazy when she offered her rice bowl. When he didn't take it, looking as if he was about to angrily refuse again, she placed her rice bowl in his hand and quickly went back to eating. When she looked back at him, she softly mumbled, "What the hell?" seeing stars bounce around his body and twinkle when he kept staring at her wide-eyed.
Later, after their meal, the old lady showed them to another room where they would be sleeping. Four purple futons sat on the floor right next to each other, the old lady speaking, "Your bedding is ready, lady and gentlemen."
"Again! The monster grandma—! AH!" Zenitsu began to scream but Kagami quickly hit his head again.
"AHA!" Inosuke laughed grabbing the first futon he saw. He then laid on his side, propping his elbow on the ground to hold his head up, a cheeky smile playing on his lips as he patted the cushion underneath him, chuckling, "I'm taking this one here! First come, first served!"
Tanjiro merely smiled and spoke, "That's fine. You can sleep wherever you want."
The smile on Inosuke's lips fell into an angry growl, another muscle spasming on his face.
Turning to Zenitsu and Kagami, Tanjiro asked, "Where do you all want to sleep?"
Kagami looked at the four futons and pointed to the one on the very far left. "I'll take the last one. Though, I feel it's wildly inappropriate for a girl to sleep in the same room as boys," She spoke with a shrug. "If my father was alive and ever heard me doing this, I know for sure I'll be practicing my shinai for a complete 24 hours. Maybe more depending on his mood."
Tanjiro nodded his head in understanding. "It's fine. I'm sure the kind woman would put you in a different room, if you wish."
"That's okay. I feel safer in a room full of Demon Slayers than by myself."
"All right," Tanjiro smiled. He then turned to Zenitsu, asking, "Which one would you like?"
"Uh—" Zenitsu began to speak but—.
"AAHH!" Inosuke screamed grabbing his pillow and throwing it so hard into Zenitsu's face he fell and collapsed on the ground.
Kagami and Tanjiro looked at each other and he sighed, "Guess I'll be take the futon beside Inosuke."
After they settled on which futon is theirs, the old lady had called a doctor to check on their wounds. After pressing his stethoscope around their chests for a total of 5 seconds each, he determined their injuries were severe. They all sustained broken ribs; Zenitsu 2, Kagami 3, Tanjiro 4, and Inosuke 5. Not to mention the giant bump that formed on Inosuke's fore-head. It was red, purple, and as big as Kagami's hand! It even took up his whole fore-head!
"Who would've guessed all four of us have broken ribs?" Zenitsu sighed into the night when they were all tucked into their futons with only a lantern giving them light.
Inosuke moved his uneven bangs from his fore-head, revealing the ghastly thing, with a loud huff, "This bump hurts a lot more."
"Sorry," Tanjiro spoke sympathetically.
Zenitsu stared pointedly at Inosuke, hissing, "Excuse me, but where's my apology? You also need to apologize to me. I'm hurting, too. You beat the crap out of me earlier. You sorry?"
"Not really."
"Just apologize!"
"Forget it!"
Tanjiro turned his head and hissed, "Hey! Be nice!" to Inosuke.
Zenitsu glared at Inosuke and scowled, "If you're going to be like that, we're not eating with you anymore. Meals always taste better when you eat together."
"He's right," Tanjiro spoke with Kagami nodding her head.
Inosuke, once again, looked at them as if they were crazy. "Huh? Did the three of you hit your heads or something?" He asked.
"Like you're one to talk about that!" Zenitsu screeched in annoyance.
The old lady appeared at their door, the paper-thin walls revealing the silhouette of her body, and asked, "Is there something I can help you with?"
"AH! THE MONSTER!"
"STOP THAT ALREADY!"
They continued talking into the night about the mansion they were residing in and how they each joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Houses that have the wisteria family crest are families that had been recused by Demon Slayers. For their eternal gratitude, they take in and take care of Demon Slayers free of charge. It still surprised them all that the family showed so much kindness and hospitality to the four of them. Kagami expected a small meal and some medicine but not special treatment.
Then, Inosuke talked about how he joined the Demon Slayer Corps. He grew up in the mountains and battled a Demon Slayer who stumbled upon his home to see who was stronger. In a turn of events, that are not surprising or shocking to them, Inosuke won and the sword of the Demon Slayer became his. Then, upon hearing the deadly "Final Selection", he became intrigued about the existence of demons and signed up. That's how he became a Demon Slayer.
"Hey, you grew up in the mountains, same as Kagami and I," Tanjiro chuckled with a smile.
Stretching his hands from behind his head, Inosuke scoffed, "Don't lump me in with the likes of you two. I don't have anyone I can call family." Then, with an arrogant cheeky smile, he grabbed his boar head from above him and placed it back on his head, adding, "Only one thing brings me comfort in this world, and that's testing my strength against others."
"Is that so? How sad," Tanjiro yawned his head nodding off before closing his eyes.
Kagami turned over, putting her back to the boys, preparing to sleep, when Zenitsu sat up. He stared at Nezuko's box sitting in the corner silently and softly spoke, "Hey, Tanjiro, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Why are you traveling with a demon?"
Kagami and Tanjiro softly gasped at his question.
So, he did know…
She turned over and watched as Tanjiro sat up, smiling kindly at Zenitsu. "You knew, and you still protected the box. You really are a good person, you know that? Thank you," He spoke caringly to him.
Turning red face, hugging his pillow close to his chest, Zenitsu began to roll around on his futon, speaking, flattered and embarrassed, "Oh, you don't have to compliment me like that. Hehehe!"
"I've got a keen sense of smell, that's how I knew from the start," Tanjiro chuckled. "You're a kind and strong person, Zenitsu."
All the flattery and embarrassment quickly left his body replacing it with darkness, shame, and slight anger. "Hey, I'm not that strong," He huffed. "Give me a break. That's why I wanted to bring Shoichi along with us but you ruined it. I still haven't forgiven you for that."
Taken back by Zenitsu's words, Tanjiro started to stutter in response when Nezuko's box began to shake.
All the anger, annoyance, and disbelief shattered in Zenitsu's body. Shrieking and yelping in fear, he quickly stood up and dashed away from the shaking box. "AH! What's happening now?! It's shaking! The box is shaking! Is it coming after us now?! How can you be so sure it won't hurt us, Tanjiro?! How?! How?!"
"Zenitsu! It's the middle of the night! SHH!" Kagami and Tanjiro shushed but Zenitsu wouldn't stop shaking!
The door of Nezuko's box popped open.
"AAHHH! It's not even locked?! You're kidding me!" Zenitsu screamed racing around the room with tears in his eyes and snot in his nose. "P-P-Protect me! Someone, please, protect me! Even you'll do, Inosuke!" He shrieked racing for Inosuke's outstretched body on his futon, climbing on top.
Inosuke swiftly kicked his foot out into Zenitsu's face, growling, "Stay away from me!"
Zenitsu's screeching body was sent flying towards Nezuko's box and landed right in front of it. He let out a small yelp when the door opened all the way slowly and softly. Then, a small hand with sharp pink and red nails landed gently on the ground in front of her, her black haori bundling up at her shrunken hand and wrist.
"It's escaped!" Zenitsu screamed standing on his feet and racing for the closet of extra blankets and futons. "I gotta hide! I'm so scared!"
Nezuko popped her head out of the box and looked over at Zenitsu with a small, "Hm?" coming from her muzzled mouth.
There was complete silence and stillness when she looked them all over with her large pink eyes. Zenitsu was already one leg inside the closet when he turned and saw Nezuko, all tears and snot stopping in its confused and disbelief tracks.
Kagami and Tanjiro greeted her with a smile as she climbed all the way out of the small box. Her clothes were baggy and dangling off her body, her hair dragging along the ground. It was that of the size of a toddler's but stepping out into their room, she began to grow her body back to its normal size. She grew and grew until her clothes fit her perfectly, her hair dangling to her waist, and standing at a tall 5 foot.
"Hm!" She muffled in greeting.
Zenitsu made a sound, a mixture between disbelief and shock, as Inosuke, who took one look at Nezuko, stretched his arms, mumbled some words about thinking too much, then immediately fell asleep with his boar mask on his head, loud snores sounding through the nostrils of his mask.
"I'll introduce you. Nezuko is my—" Tanjiro started gesturing a hand to Nezuko but—.
"Tanjiro," Zenitsu suddenly spoke firm, stern, and with pure anger in his voice. Kagami and Tanjiro stood from their futons in front of Nezuko, confused to oblivion, seeing his body suddenly light up in a yellow glow! Sparks of electricity began to emit from his body, his head dropped down to his chest, concealing his face with darkness. "You didn't… Tell me you didn't!" He screamed whipping out his sword from… nowhere! "Just who do you think you are?!"
Kagami gasped, "What the hell has gotten into you?!"
"You've been traveling with two cute girls this entire time?!" Zenitsu screamed hands shaking as he held the sheathe of his sword and placed one on the hilt. "I bet you've been having a great time in the process of hanging out with two cute girls, haven't you?!"
Kagami and Tanjiro looked at each other then back at Zenitsu.
"It isn't like that! We're only friends, and she's his—!" Kagami began to scream at him but he interrupted her.
"Why did I bear all the pain and suffering then?! Give me back all the blood I shed!" He screamed louder and angrier. "Tanjiro, you jerk! You getting to be all 'ooh!' and 'wow!' with two cuties is not what I was toiling away for! I did not put myself in harms way to get pummeled and kicked around by some crazy boar guy!"
Tanjiro lifted his hands, slightly scared and nervous, gasping, "Zenitsu, calm down! What has gotten into you?"
"Did you think I joined the Demon Slayer Corps because I thought it was going to be all sunshine and rainbows?! Guys like you should be erased from this world immediately!" He screamed at the top of lungs before pulling his sword out of its sheathe, firmly stating with tears pouring out of his eyes, "I will finally make you pay for thwarting my marriage as well as sending my savior and protector Shoichi home! You shall face justice! Don't… ever… disrespect the Corps!"
All throughout the night, Tanjiro was dodging the relentless and angry Zenitsu. Nothing he said ever made the cowardly slayer feel better. He didn't even seem to process that Kagami and Tanjiro were strictly friends, and that Nezuko is his sister! With the room getting destroyed, Nezuko watching from the ground worriedly, Zenitsu chased Tanjiro all around the room, Kagami trying to stop the sword-swinging freak, all the while Inosuke slept on the floor snoring away.
The next night, Kagami sat on the porch of the mansion, sipping the tea the old lady made, watching as the moon rose in the sky. It was about that time Nezuko was going to come out of the box, and she was right. Inside, through the paper-thin walls, she could hear Zenitsu chasing Tanjiro and Nezuko around the room. Not in anger, but rather in a love drunk. He finally understood Nezuko was Tanjiro's little sister and is hopelessly in love with the poor girl. Nezuko didn't return his feelings and Tanjiro, fulfilling his older brother duties, was not happy with Zenitsu's sudden and wild affections for her.
She didn't want to be in the middle of the love/fight fest, already having enough of her fill of Zenitsu after what happened the night before. So, she sat outside, having joined Inosuke's company, and the two sat side by side. They sat in silence and the only sound being made was her sipping tea.
"Would you like some, Inosuke?" She offered, lifting the second cup up to him, but he blatantly ignored her, either out of anger or disgust. She just shrugged her shoulders, mumbling, "Suit yourself," and continued on drinking when she heard a low grumble coming from him.
Kagami turned her head in Inosuke's direction. He had sat back on his hands, one foot dangling off the side of the patio and the other pressed into wood, when he sighed out. "Man, I'm hungry," Inosuke muttered down to his stomach.
"I think the old lady is making tempura again tonight. I can bring some down for you right now, if you'd like," Kagami offered as she placed her cup of tea down. When he just stared at her, the boar eyes looking lop-sided at her, she explained further, "You know, tempura is food covered in batter and fried to a golden brown. It seemed you really loved it yesterday."
Inosuke suddenly made a noise that sounded like a throaty sigh. Small white bubbles of pleasure and giddiness escaped the nostrils of his boar mask.
Kagami grinned, pushing a strand of her black hair behind her ear, and giggled lightly, "I'll take that as a yes," standing up from her spot.
Grabbing her tea, she ventured her way into the kitchen. She washed her dishes and kindly thanked the old lady for her generosity before asking if she could take a small plate of tempura for Inosuke. On her way back, instead of hearing Zenitsu's love-drunk speech, she heard screaming, gasping, and cries for help coming from their room.
She poked her head inside and groaned seeing Inosuke chasing both Tanjiro and Zenitsu around the room, Nezuko watching on from the corner with worry.
"That is enough! Stop it right now!" Kagami exclaimed sternly stomping her foot into the ground.
Her scrutinizing eyes landed on Zenitsu, who shrunk away in fear, and she spat, "Leave Tanjiro and Nezuko alone! Let her come to you, don't be a creep and chase her around!" Her eyes landed on Tanjiro. "Stop letting them push you around so much and put your foot down!" Then, they landed on Inosuke. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but stop trying to provoke Tanjiro into a fight! It's exhausting and, quite frankly, very annoying!"
Shoving the plate of tempura in Inosuke's hands, Kagami turned away from all of them and stormed out of the room.
So much anger and annoyance had built up inside of her the past few days she needed to let it out all out. She felt awful releasing it on her friends, especially Tanjiro, but what she said needed to be said. She let out a small sigh and sat on a rock next to the pond, placing her elbow to her knee and her chin in her hand. Staring into the pond, the moonlight shimmered and lit up the dark waters, the wind swaying calmly and peacefully.
Kagami dropped a foot in the pond, letting her toe glide smoothly across the waters, sending large to tiny ripples across the surface. She missed how simple life used to be for her. Even though it was boring and tedious, having to practice her swordskills day in and day out, it was a peaceful life, one where she and her father used to live together.
She let out a large, sad sigh.
Suddenly, the most beautiful sound she's ever heard pierced her ears.
It was music. It was flowing through the wind and softly hitting her ears, mind, and soul like nonother. The notes were dark, haunting, and sounded like soft wailing, but it was full, soulful, and evocative. Strangely, it made Kagami feel safe, at peace, calm, and… it felt so much like her father's gentle and kind but stern voice. The love she felt from him, the love she thought she would never feel again, was coming from outside the wooden gate surrounding the mansion.
It was so alluring, as if her father calling for her, beckoning, begging, her to walk outside the gate and into his arms. For her to go home with him and start a new life without demons, to abandon her duties as a Demon Slayer.
Hands shaking, legs trembling, and eyes wavering, Kagami stood from her rock and began to walk towards the gate. With every step she took, the music, the beautiful dark notes that were echoing in the air, grew louder and more overwhelming. It felt like it seized her heart, her emotions, and she somehow felt she couldn't think straight. The moment she would have the slightest thought, the slightest inkling, to turn around and rejoin her friends was immediately overtaken by the emotion to see her father again.
Her hand landed on the handle of the gate's door and she pulled it open slightly. She looked through the crack and gasped softly.
On the rooftop, basking in the moonlight, was the body of a teenage boy. He was lounging against the tile rooftop and holding a flute-like wooden instrument in his hands. His fingers delicately pressing down and covering the holes, a different note playing every time, music pouring out of the end. He wore a black long-sleeve, a red scarf wrapped around his neck, long black pants, and black pointed shoes. Even though he wasn't turned her way, she could see tattoos that seemed to glow lining his body, his white hair with black tips flowing in the cool breeze, and blue eyes so bright she was nearly blinded.
He was the most attractive and beautiful person she has ever seen in her life. She wanted to meet him, see him, maybe even touch him. He was so gorgeous she thought she would burst inside.
It seemed like he had read her thought. He turned his head and his eyes, so beautiful, light, and bright, met hers. Her cheeks rose to a high heat, her heart fluttering, and her legs quivering. The flute was no longer touching his lips but the music was still flowing through the air as if he was still playing. It was strange but so dark and loving. He then held out a hand to her, a smile widening on his lips, and beckoned her closer.
The aura, his aura, was nothing like she's ever felt. It felt… dangerous yet gentle. It was… intoxicating, so much she couldn't resist slowly lifting her hand in the air.
She took one step out of the gate—.
"Kagami."
A hand landed on her shoulder and she shrieked, her heart thumping and jumping violently in her chest. She immediately turned around, drawing and pushing her fist in the air, and punched whoever had suddenly grabbed her.
She gasped seeing her fist connect with Tanjiro's face and watched as he collapsed to the ground.
"Tanjiro! I'm so sorry," She quickly spoke closing the gate door and helping him to his feet.
He rubbed his face, muttering "ow" under his breath, groaning, "Wow, you can really throw a punch." She shrugged her shoulders sympathetically but froze when he asked, "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night at the gate? We waited for you at dinner but ate when you never showed. We're all in bed, waiting for you to come inside, but I got worried when you never came back. I came out to check if you were all right."
"Middle of the night? But the moon barely rose—" She spoke with a raised eyebrow but, when she looked up, she realized the moon was directly above her head. "Huh? But, how? It feels like it's only been a couple minutes," She gasped out.
Tanjiro slouched his shoulders and sighed, "I'm sorry we made you so upset. Please forgive us, Kagami."
Kagami's eyes widened at him and she quickly shook both her head and hands. "N-No, it's all right. I'm not angry at all. I'm sorry for losing my temper."
He let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "It's okay. Anyways, It's late, you must be tired. Let's go inside and get some rest," Tanjiro spoke and began to lead the way to the mansion. As Kagami caught up to him, he asked, "So, what were you doing out here? I saw you opening the gate just now. Did you see or hear something?"
Before Kagami could answer, her voice got caught in her throat and her mind felt fuzzy. Her heart began to race slightly, a cold sweat forming at the brow of her fore-head, and her breathing became shallow. Grunting, she grasped her head, feeling a tickle of pain when she tried to remember what she was doing out there, but sighed. "I-I don't know. For some reason, I can't seem to remember," She spoke in between breaths.
She tried to play it off with a smile but Tanjiro looked slightly suspicious nonetheless.
When she entered their room, Zenitsu was slowly crawling his way towards Nezuko, his eyes in the shape of hearts, Nezuko frequently scooting away, with Inosuke snoring on his futon like nothing was ever wrong. Or, nothing suspicious was happening right outside. What… did happen? Why can't she remember any of it?
"Oh, by the way," Tanjiro started picking up a small plate from the ground, "He won't say it was from him, but Inosuke wanted you to have this."
Curiously, Kagami grabbed the plate and realized it was filled with some food. It was the tempura the old lady was making for dinner. It wasn't the plate she offered Inosuke, but rather a newer clean one. "Oh!" She gasped and looked over at his snoring sleeping state. Heat rose to her cheeks and she smiled to herself. "Thanks, Inosuke," She mumbled before taking a bite of the tempura.
After finishing, she placed the plate away and got under the covers of her futon. Her tired eyes scanned the moonlit horizon, feeling as if she saw or heard something rather strange, but decided not to think of it. She was much too tired to do anything else but sleep. Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed to one of a steady beat. Her friends fell into a deep slumber as well and all felt right and safe in the world. All worries and suspicious had been momentarily forgotten.
What she didn't notice was the teenage boy still lounging against the rooftop. With one arm beneath his head, his eyes staring directly at Kagami through the paper-thin walls, his lips slowly widened into a malicious smirk.
"Marechi…" He purred to himself before dashing away.