"So…" kuri said, setting her backpack on the bed. "What is it that you guys are searching for, anyway?"
"We are searching for a cure," Tanjiro replied. "A way to turn Nezuko back to normal, and to defeat Muzan.
Kiana looked at Nezuko a moment. Bright pink eyes, markings, and an invulnerable body, and she didn't seem to eat…
"Tanjiro…you…and your sister," Kiana said slowly. "You lost everything…"
"Please," Tanjiro said. "Don't pity us. We are doing our very best!"
"Tanjiro," Kuri said. "You can't blame yourself. This is all Muzan's fault."
"It's going to be fine," Tanjiro said, surprisingly calm. He sat down on the bed and took off his shoes, preparing to go to bed. "I will turn Nezuko back, no matter what it takes."
"Where is Nezuko?" Kuri asked.
Tanjiro looked up at each other.
"She'll be in in a bit," Tanjiro said. "She doesn't sleep at night."
"I'll be back," Kuri said, grabbing some clothes and locking herself in the bathroom.
When she came back, Tanjiro was already in bed, and Nezuko had returned. It appeared that Tanjiro was already asleep. Kuri's bed was at the far end, so she had to walk past Tanjiro.
She walked over to where Nezuko was sitting. She sat down.
"Hey," she whispered. "I guess…you're awake right?"
"Mmhmm!" Nezuko replied.
Kuri smiled at her. "When I was little…I didn't hardly sleep at all…my brother would get mad at me. I still don't sleep well…anyway, what I'm tryin to say is…whenever I can't sleep, I'll come talk to you. You know keep you company and whatnot. It must be boring. I can read you a book if you want."
Nezuko took the offered book eagerly and smiled at her through the bamboo.
Kuri grinned. "I don't make many friends. So when I do, I'm gonna take care of the ones I got. And that means helping you guys with everything."
She patted him on the head and got into the bed.
The morning came. It was dawn when Kuri awoke.
The others were still asleep. Well…she assumed Nezuko wasn't asleep. But Tanjiro was. She tiptoed past their beds.
Tanjiro flinched in his sleep, but didn't wake up.
Nezuko was out cold.
Kuri went into the bathroom and closed the door. She dressed and washed her face. She pulled up her hair on either side of her head, getting it out of the way of her face as she washed it with the soap provided.
What a luxury…soap. She had barely had any at the inn.
When she was done with her face she untied both sides of her hair, and it fell down. She brushed it and went out in the room again and sat down next to Nezuko.
"Hey," she said. "I guess I got up too early."
"Mm!," Nezuko pulled on her hair and tapped her own head.
Kuri nodded and put Nezuko'S hair up to match.
"Alright then," Kuri said, standing. "Let's go. We can get breakfast and I can hit up my big bro for information while the two of them are still snoozing."
Tanjiro woke up late. He sat up and stretched. Nezuko was asleep again, but she'd be up soon. They always woke at around the same time. Maybe it was a Kamado thing.
He put on his haori while sitting in bed, then got up and dressed.
"Nezuko?" Tanjiro said. "You awake?"
Nezuko popped in and smiled her hair done up all special.
Tanjiro laughed. "Well I guess that answers that. You were with Kuri!"
Nezuko pointed at Tanjiro and made a heart with her hands. Tanjiro realized she meant him and Kuri, and he blushed.
The door opened, and Kuri came in, holding a tray of food.
Tanjiro ran forward, bumping into Kuri and knocking the tray out of her hands.
He turned and caught a blow to the head by Kuri. She had taken the empty tray and hit him over the head. The tray broke in half.
"You…ruined breakfast!" yelled Kuri, twitching. "I worked…so hard! And you ruined it!"
Kuri stood up. She left the room without a word.
"K-Kuri?" Tanjiro called after her. She didn't turn around.
Kuri went in the kitchen and stared at the skillet. She poured the stirred up eggs into it, and poked at them with the spatula.
"Stupid eggs," Kuri said. "You'll never get done, will you? And I'll just be standing here, poking you forever. Cooking sucks."
"K-Kuri?" Tanjiro came in the room. "How'd you manage to get permission to use this place?"
Kuri smiled. "I re-decorated a room for Shinobu. She was hosting a party today and some kids got in and messed it up. I know how hard it is, working so much…so I fixed it."
She frowned again, as if just realizing that he was here. "If you're here to ruin my breakfast again, you can turn right back around and leave. I have a hot spatula, and if you ruin my cooking again, I'll use it for evil!"
Tanjiro looked surprised for a second, then just burst out laughing.
"What? You can't laugh! I'm still mad!" Kuri yelled.
"But…but…you look hilarious in that apron and wielding a spatula like a weapon!" he said, still laughing.
Kuri glared for a moment, then she broke into a small smile. "Brother used to laugh just like that. When I got mad…he'd laugh and laugh. He always said I was funny when I got angry. And then, just like that, I wouldn't be mad anymore. I can't be mad when someone else is laughing."
Tanjiro sat on the counter. "Giyuu really did that? Sounds like he was an okay brother, after all!"
Kuri looked down and away, turning back to the skillet. "No…that was before. Before he became a Demon Slayer. He's a different man now. A man who believes a woman has her place. I became a Demon Slayer to help my brother. But I only made him ashamed. He doesn't understand that I can't just get married and have kids because I…"
Kuri stopped. When she spoke again, her voice was low and toneless. "Tanjiro. Please return to your room and inform your sister that I will have breakfast ready as soon as possible. While you're there ask Shinobu about the information I got from Giyuu earlier."
Tanjiro was startled by the change in Kuri tone. "Hey Kuri…I am sorry. For ruining what you made us before. I'll clean it up."
"Just go, okay?" Kuri said, her voice cracking, but still sharp and intimidating.
Tanjiro escaped the room quietly, and closed the door. He went down the hallway, and returned to the bedroom.
"Mm?" Nezuko questioned.
Tanjiro looked at his sister. "I'm not quite sure what happened. We were getting along…and then she just got quiet. Then she told me to leave. She said breakfast will be ready soon."
Shinobu came over and turned towards Tanjiros "What did you talk to her about?"
"Well…we did mention Giyuu," Tanjiro said.
Shinobu sighed. "No wonder. I think she really hates him."
"Oh yeah, Shinobu, she said you guys found some information," Tanjiro said.
"Yes, " Shinobu said. "Tamayo might have some new information on."
The door opened. Kuri handed plates of food to Shinobu and Tanjiro. "I hope it's alright. It might be a little black. I couldn't find any milk so I brought orange juice. I'm allergic to milk anyway."
Tanjiro didn't answer, he was too busy eating. Shinobu started eating too.
Tanjiro looked at Kuri. "What about you? You need to eat, Kuri."
"Oh…" Kuri looked at the tray. "I forgot. Be right back!"
She ran back into the kitchen. When she came back she was eating a bowl of oatmeal. "Yummy…oatmeal."