Early the next morning, when Tanjiro returned from Grandpa Saburo's house at the foot of the mountain—
"The smell of blood…" As he neared his home, his nose twitched slightly, and unease spread across his face.
He didn't even stop to rest, rushing breathlessly up the mountain.
The front door was open…
From afar, Tanjiro saw the wide-open doorway, and the uneasiness in his heart grew heavier.
Then he saw a figure lying at the entrance. Blood flowed out from the doorway, staining the snow in front of the house red.
"Ah—!" Terror instantly overtook Tanjiro's face. His pupils trembled violently. He wanted to scream, but his voice caught in his throat.
He hurried forward and knelt helplessly beside Nezuko.
"Nezuko, what happened to you?!"
"What's going on?! What happened?!"
After a brief moment, his terrified expression stiffened, and he abruptly looked toward the inside of the house.
"Mom! Takeo! Hanako! Shigeru! Rokuta!"
Panicking, Tanjiro searched the entire house.
No one…
There was no one anywhere…
Where did everyone go…?
Calm down. Calm down…
Nezuko is still breathing—she can still be saved… And the others might still be alive. At the very least, I have to save Nezuko first…
To be able to make such a decision so quickly, Tanjiro truly had talent.
He carried Nezuko on his back and ran down the mountain.
Yuko emerged silently from the forest and followed after him.
This was the incident where Tanjiro would encounter Giyu—the beginning of the Demon Slayer Corps accepting Nezuko. Yuko did not want to change it.
If she hadn't agreed to Nezuko's decision the night before, she would have taken the entire Kamado family down the mountain, found Tanjiro in town selling charcoal, and resettled everyone together.
Because Tanjiro was kind. As long as the situation was explained to him, he would definitely join the Demon Slayer Corps to help others.
Yuko had never doubted that.
But plans were just plans—reality always changed. If things were unfolding according to the original story, then not interfering was the best choice.
She did not consider herself a qualified teacher—at least, that was how she saw herself.
Tanjiro was still too young. His physical condition wasn't yet sufficient to use the Breath of the Sun. Following the original path and learning under Giyu was the best option.
Just like how many people mocked Rayleigh as a so-called fake master—but laying the foundation was the most crucial step.
Without a foundation, how could there ever be rapid progress later?
Yuko, following closely behind Tanjiro, suddenly froze as she saw him stumble on the snow ahead, lose his footing, and tumble down the mountainside.
Fortunately, the slope below was thick with snow, so he was unharmed.
But…
Nezuko's transformation was complete.
Yuko watched Nezuko from a nearby vantage point.
Tanjiro suddenly sat up from the snow and shouted loudly, "Nezuko!"
Seeing Nezuko standing nearby, Tanjiro hurried over to her.
"Nezuko, are you okay?"
"Don't move—I'll carry you to town."
What answered him was a demon's feral lunge.
Nezuko grabbed Tanjiro's arms with both hands and suddenly pounced, pinning him to the ground.
Tanjiro jammed his axe against her mouth, cold sweat pouring down his face.
'It's a demon…'
'Is Nezuko a man-eating demon?'
'No… that's not right. Nezuko is human.'
'But Nezuko's scent is different now. The blood in the house was left by Nezuko…'
'While I was sleeping peacefully under my blanket, something terrible must have happened at home…'
'And at the scene, there were two other unfamiliar scents…'
Yuko watched the situation below while running down the mountain.
The process of transforming into a demon consumed enormous amounts of stamina, and during the early stages after completion, most demons lacked self-awareness. At this stage, even their own family members would be devoured without hesitation.
The fact that Yuko had managed to overcome that cannibalistic urge and regain her sanity back then was likely not due to the Spider Lily alone, but also her unique constitution.
No matter what, Nezuko could be awakened too.
Suddenly, Yuko shifted her position to the side.
At the exact moment Tanjiro called Nezuko back to her senses, a shadow rapidly closed in from behind them—and then raised a Nichirin Blade high, slashing toward Nezuko's neck.
To be honest, even Yuko felt a moment of panic watching that scene.
But by observing Tanjiro's muscle movements and seeing him shove Nezuko away in time, Yuko finally relaxed.
No problem.
The story had returned to its proper course.
Yuko stood off to the side and watched their fight for a while. Calling it a battle wasn't entirely accurate—it was more like Giyu being unable to bring himself to strike due to the bond between the siblings, and beginning to doubt his long-held understanding as Nezuko shielded Tanjiro behind her.
Giyu was someone who couldn't honestly express his emotions. Put kindly, he was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
Just by watching the exchange, it was clear—he had already lost the resolve to kill Nezuko.
After observing for a bit and confirming that everything was proceeding properly, Yuko turned back the way she came.
No one was at the house. Tanjiro would definitely return.
But what Yuko hadn't expected was—
By the time the fight below had ended, Tomioka Giyu was leaning against a tree nearby, waiting for Tanjiro to wake up.
Tanjiro startled awake from his sleep.
"You're awake."
Hearing Giyu's voice, Tanjiro immediately tightened his hold around his sister.
"Go to the foot of Mount Sagiri and visit an old man named Urokodaki Sakonji. Tell him Tomioka Giyu sent you."
"There's no sunlight right now, so it's fine—but don't take your sister out into the sun."
Seeing that Giyu was about to leave, Tanjiro suddenly remembered his missing family and hurriedly shouted:
"My family is gone—please, help me!"
Giyu paused. He had nearly forgotten.
"There were two unfamiliar scents in my house. It must have been them…"
Giyu said calmly, "Some demons don't eat their prey on the spot. They take them back to their lairs and store them as reserves."
Tanjiro's face brightened. "Then…"
He truly hadn't smelled any other blood at the scene.
Everyone might still be alive.
Giyu gave a slight nod. "Take me to your house and let me have a look."
…
Yuko sat at the entrance of the house, carefully wiping her Nichirin Blade at her waist.
The black blade emitted a faint, chilling gleam.
Perhaps because she had been too deeply influenced by Yoriichi, the color of her blade only changed when she deliberately altered her breathing. At all other times, it remained in the form of a black sword.
After finishing, she sheathed the blade and looked up into the distance.
Footsteps were approaching.
It must be Tanjiro and Nezuko.
But as the footsteps drew closer, Yuko suddenly sensed something was wrong.
One set of footsteps was… far too steady.
Tanjiro's figure came into view. Just as she was about to raise her hand and greet him—
"It's her!"
The owner of one of those scents!
Tanjiro's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at her in grief and rage.
"Ah?" Yuko froze in confusion, her mind momentarily blank.
---
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