When morning came, the four demon slayers were already ready for their journey. Nezuko was still asleep. Ume told the lady that she would be taking Nezuko with her. She seemed quite troubled. At that moment Nezuko waked up and was heading to the corridor. The lady stopped her and asked,
"Nezuko san are you sure you want to leave the village and accompany her?"
Nezuko nodded. The lady was hoping that Nezuko would stay with her. And when enough time had passed, she would turn her into her daughter in law. The dismay was clear on her face but she didn't persist.
At noon, they took their leave and thank the lady for providing them the place and food. When they had left the village. Ume stopped Nezuko and said,
"Nezuko san, I know of a person who knows much more about demons than I do. I have written this letter. You must give this to her. She lives on Mount Fujimo, so you must head south east," handing her the letter.
"But how will I find you," Nezuko asked concerned that Ume was trying to get rid of her for a while.
"You will find me, I will be waiting for you," she smiled and patted her head.
After which both of them went in different directions. Nezuko crossed several villages, asked strangers about the mountain. Ume warned her that demons came out at night, so she must take shelter at a safe place at night hours. She would live in other people houses, shrines and temples. After a week of travelling, she reached the base of Mount Fujimo. She asked a resident of the nearby village, if anyone lived on the mountain. To which the man pointed towards the peak. He told about a woman who live their alone. At seeing the peak, Nezuko was flabbergasted. The climb won't be an easy one. Moreover, it was passed noon and she must reach her before nightfall. After an arduous climbed she reached the peck before sunset.
There was a small cottage hut. She knocked at the door. The door opened a woman came out. She was wearing a kimono. Her hairs were long and was tied in a pony tail, reaching to her knees. Her face was hidden by a fox mask. Nezuko kept staring at her.
"What is that you want?" the woman question.
"Um … I have come to deliver a letter," Nezuko presented the letter.
"A letter for me! that is quite uncommon," she took the letter and read it on the spot. After reading it she looked inquisitively at Nezuko.
"So, your name is Nezuko?" she asked"Yes" she replied.
"Come in," she said.
The inside of the cottage was small. There was a fire place in the middle for cooking. And a futon laid near the place. On the wooden wall was a hanger where a sword was placed. The other side of the room had a table on which bowls and plates were placed. There was another room next to the main one. On the fire place something was being cooked. Shortly after dinner was served. Even being remotely situated from a market, the variety was astonishing. There was rice, fish soup, stir fried mushroom and deer meat. Both of them were silently eating.
"So, your brother turned into a demon?" she asked.Nezuko nodded.
"Is there a way to turn him back to human" Nezuko asked.
"None that I had heard of," she said quickly not paying much attention to Nezuko.
She put her rice bowl down and looked at Nezuko.
"Listen. Your brother came in contact with a demon. Once someone turn into a demon there is no bringing them back. As more and more time passes by, they become less and less human. Finally, they become a beast that kills and eats," she told Nezuko.
But Nezuko couldn't accept it at its totality. Perhaps her brother still had some humanness left. And she knew that it was true because he was shedding tears when he killed his family.
"Um, how are you related to miss Ume?" Nezuko asked.
"I'm the one who trained her to be a demon slayer. Didn't she tell you?" the lady inquired.
"Well, I was the former 'Poison Hashira.' My name is Tomiko. I retired from demon hunting a long time ago. But villages would pester me with request to slay stray demons. That is why I wore this fox mask and live a life of seclusion." She explained to Nezuko.
Nezuko listen attentively to her.
"Well, it's time to sleep!" she exclaimed stretching her arms upwards.
An extra futon was set for Nezuko at the other extreme side of the room.
"Well, my job here is done. Tomorrow I must find Ume san. It will be best to start from my village," Nezuko thought. Soon she felt asleep.
The sun rose early on the mountains. Nezuko woke up, set up the futon. She noticed that Tomiko san wasn't there. Her futon was most probably put in the drawers. Nezuko stepped outside. Tomiko was washing her clothes. She noticed Nezuko, who was standing behind her. She stood up and walked towards her.
"Thank you for providing me food and shelter. I will always be indebted to you. I will be taking my leave," Nezuko said as she bowed to her.
She watched as Nezuko started to depart.
"Who told you that you can take your leave?" she asked Nezuko.
Nezuko was dumbfounded.
"Perhaps you haven't read the letter. It says you are here to become a demon slayer," Tomiko told her while showing her the letter.