The group sat together around a small campfire, the warm glow of the flames offering little comfort against the weight of their recent battle. Kuri sat quietly, her hands resting in her lap, her expression somber as she stared into the fire. The others waited for her to speak, sensing she was wrestling with something deep.

Finally, she broke the silence. "I hate to say this… but I can't see her as an enemy."

Tanjiro, seated beside her, frowned in disbelief. "She invaded your body! She hurt you!" he protested, his voice trembling with emotion. "How can you defend her after everything she's done?"

Kuri turned to face him, her blue eyes filled with sadness but also understanding. "Maybe she did… but it's not that simple," she said softly. "She's doing all of this because she was separated from the man she loved."

Zenitsu, sitting across the fire, nearly dropped his sword in surprise. "What? After all this destruction, all the demons, all the pain, it's just because of love?"

Kuri nodded, her gaze unwavering. "At the beginning of our world, Sadako wasn't the spirit you saw today. She was a human woman. She and her husband lived here, in harmony with the earth. Together, they discovered the source of magic—an incredible, boundless power. But that discovery came with a price. Half of the magic entered her, and half entered him. It changed them, and they ascended to the Spirit World."

The group listened in stunned silence as Kuri continued, her voice steady but laced with sorrow. "With the magic removed, our world began to wither and die. Sadako was forced to return to save it, but her husband remained in the Spirit World. She's been searching for a way to reunite with him ever since."

Nezuko sat silently beside Tanjiro, her gaze fixed on Kuri. Though she couldn't speak, the softening of her expression showed her understanding. She placed a hand on Kuri's arm, a small gesture of comfort.

Kuri smiled faintly at Nezuko's touch before continuing. "She's not doing this out of hatred or malice. She just wants to be with him again. But if they're reunited, it will destroy our world. The balance would collapse completely."

Tanjiro's hands clenched into fists. "But she's hurt so many people. She tried to take you away from us! Even if she has a reason, can we really forgive her for everything she's done?"

Kuri looked down, her voice quieter now. "When I was one with her, I felt everything she felt. Her love for him… her grief, her desperation. It was overwhelming. It's separate from me now, but it felt so real."

Reiko crossed her arms, her green eyes narrowing as she considered Kuri's words. "So if she's been banished from the Spirit World, how is she planning to get back there?"

Kuri hesitated for a moment before meeting Reiko's gaze. "She needs someone from this world to take her there. Someone strong enough to survive the journey."

Reiko's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned. "You mean…"

"Tanjiro," Kuri said quietly, her gaze shifting to Tanjiro. "I think that's why she brought us all here. She's been manipulating you, Tanjiro."

Tanjiro's eyes flared with anger. "So she wants to use me to get back to the Spirit World? I won't let her control me. I won't be her puppet."

Kuri reached out, placing a hand on his cheek. Her touch was soft, calming. "I know you won't. You're too strong for that. But we can't underestimate her. She'll do whatever it takes to get what she wants."

The fire crackled softly as the group fell into a contemplative silence. Zenitsu broke it with a nervous laugh. "Well, that's great. A lovesick spirit wants to use us to destroy the world. No pressure or anything."

Reiko shot him a sharp look. "This isn't a joke, Zenitsu. We have to figure out how to stop her without letting her manipulate us further."

Nezuko nodded, her eyes glowing faintly in the firelight as she stood. She pointed toward Kuri, then the group, a silent but firm statement: We're in this together.

Kuri smiled weakly. "One can only hope we find a way."

Tanjiro's gaze softened as he looked at her, his earlier anger fading. He leaned in close, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. "We'll protect this world," he said softly. "And we'll protect you."

Kuri's face flushed slightly, but she didn't pull away. For the first time since the battle, she felt a spark of hope.

"Not to worry," Reiko said, stepping forward with a confident smirk. "We'll think of something. We always do."