It was the next day when Yoizumi woke up. As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Nezuko-chan, who was lie on the bed. Seeing her brother awake, she smiled and raised her small hand, pointing at Yoizumi's head.
Following his sister's actions, his hand touched several small topknots on his own head. He helplessly patted Nezuko-chan's head gently.
It seemed Nezuko-chan hadn't been idle while he was asleep.
But... when did he come back?
Yoizumi's memory was still at the point when Rengoku Shinjuro left the ward. How did he suddenly fall asleep?
What happened?
He couldn't remember at all.
In a daze, he only remembered a fragrance, the scent of wisteria lingering around him.
It must have been Miss Shinobu.
She must have brought me back.
After thinking for a long time and still not remembering anything, Yoizumi had to give up.
He wondered how Tanjirou's body was now. He turned over and got out of bed, casually undoing the small topknots on his head, which made Nezuko-chan angrily pound his calves with her small fists.
Bending down, he picked up his angry sister, gently comforted her for a bit, and then Yoizumi spoke.
"Let's go find Tanjirou."
"Good morning, Yoizumi-ge!" x 3
Not long after walking, he met three young girls. Yoizumi nodded and asked if they knew where Tanjirou was. After getting the specific location, he bid them farewell and left.
Walking into the courtyard, Yoizumi and Nezuko stood in the shadows, watching Tanjirou, who was sweating under the sun, and called out softly.
"Yoizumi-nii! Nezuko-chan, good morning~" Wiping the sweat from his brow, Tanjirou said with a smile.
"Is your body alright?"
"Yes, the after-effects of the Hinokami Kagura have recovered. Miss Shinobu told me to rest more, but I can't sit still."
He still needed to work harder and harder. Perhaps only when his body was stronger and his stamina increased could he use the Hinokami Kagura freely.
Nezuko raised her hand and wiped the sweat beads from her brother's face with her sleeve. Tanjirou smiled and thanked his sister.
"Tanjirou..."
"Hmm, what is it, Yoizumi-nii?"
"Take me home."
Yoizumi's tone was calm, as if he was saying the most ordinary thing, but it was this one sentence that made Tanjirou want to shed tears.
Tears shimmered in the corners of his eyes, and a firm voice rang out.
"Okay, we're going home."
"I'll go pack my things first, Yoizumi-nii, please wait a moment!" Tanjirou eagerly ran off. They could finally go home together.
"Let's go pack up too." As soon as he turned around, he met those dark purple eyes.
"Are you leaving?" Shinobu reached out and held Nezuko-chan's small hand, greeting her.
"Yes."
"Then have a safe journey~"
"Shinobu, did you bring me back to my room yesterday?" Yoizumi looked at Shinobu and asked.
"Yes, didn't Yoizumi remember?" Shinobu admitted it openly without denying it.
"I don't remember, I only remember what happened in the ward."
Shinobu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After doing those things yesterday, she regretted it when she returned to her room.
She wasn't sure if Yoizumi would still remember. If he did, she might not even dare to face Yoizumi.
It was really good that he didn't remember~
"?" Looking at Shinobu's expression, Yoizumi thought for a moment and asked tentatively.
"Did I do something?"
"No~ Yoizumi was very obedient~"
"Remember, no getting close to alcohol from now on! Do you understand~"
He nodded blankly, his mind still not processing it. What did alcohol have to do with it?
But Shinobu had already left.
Never mind, if she says not to get close, then don't get close.
"Tanjirou, you must come back soon."
"I'm worried without Nezuko-chan by my side."
Agatsuma Zenitsu said reluctantly, his eyes never leaving the wooden box on Tanjirou's back.
"Tanjirou, go boldly!"
"I will become stronger during the time you are gone!"
"Hahahahahahaha." Inosuke bit into the meat bun in his hand and casually shoved one into Tanjirou's hand. It seemed that after Kanzaki Aoi said last time that he was so scared he couldn't even eat, to prove her wrong, he had been eating non-stop every day.
"Hmm, thank you, Inosuke, keep it up!" Tanjirou carefully put the bun Inosuke gave him into his pocket and waved goodbye to the two of them.
"Bring my Nezuko-chan back safely!" Agatsuma Zenitsu wiped his tears with a handkerchief, looking exactly like a doting wife sending her husband off on a long journey.
"What's there to cry about?" Inosuke leaned in close, food crumbs flying out of his mouth and splattering on Agatsuma Zenitsu's face.
He pushed Inosuke's face, which was inches away, away with one hand, and at the same time snatched a meat bun and put it into his own mouth.
"You just don't understand!"
..."Yoizumi-nii, Nezuko-chan, we're almost there."
After two days of travel, Tanjirou finally reached the foot of Mount Kumotori. Walking on the familiar streets of the small town, it was still the same as before, but now things were no longer what they used to be.
In the past, he was just an ordinary charcoal seller. His daily life was burning and selling charcoal, living a simple but happy life with his family.
But now, he was a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman. On his back was no longer a basket of charcoal, but his brother and sister who had become demons.
Tanjirou showed a lonely smile and continued walking down the street.
"Oh, isn't that Tanjirou?"
"Long time no see!"
A customer who often bought his charcoal recognized him, and Tanjirou smiled and greeted him.
"Uncle Ryohei, long time no see."
"Didn't you move? Are you back to live here again?"
Ordinary people had no idea about the existence of demons. In this era of undeveloped communication, people who suddenly disappeared were mostly assumed to have left the area.
"No, I'm just back to visit."
"Oh, I see. I thought I could buy your family's charcoal again. Your family's charcoal is the best here." Ryohei shook his head regretfully.
"Sorry, I need to get going now. See you next time, Uncle Ryohei!"
It was autumn now, and most of the trees in the forest had shed their leaves, turning yellow.
Most of the trees on Mount Kumotori were pine trees, and even in autumn, their leaves were still green, no different from how Tanjirou remembered them.
Winter would be here soon.
Winter always brought worries. The snowy roads were slippery and difficult to walk, and food was not easy to gather, but charcoal sold very well.
His family died in winter, but Tanjirou would not hate winter because of it.
His goal was always only one.
That was Kibutsuji Muzan, who should not exist.
He gradually walked to the familiar house. The house, which had been uninhabited for several years, looked somewhat dilapidated and overgrown with weeds.
The small mounds next to the house were also covered with weeds, and a few small flowers swayed in the autumn wind.
It was as if they were welcoming Tanjirou and his companions.
Tanjirou turned his head and softly said to Yoizumi and Nezuko in the wooden box.
"Yoizumi-nii, Nezuko-chan."
"We're home."
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