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Chapter 9

"I guess she doesn't fit after all..."

"Does that mean we gotta make her a bigger basket?"
I groan slightly, knowing if we did have to do that, that it would probably take up a lot more time than we have for the day.

An idea must've come to him, because he soon spoke up.
"Hey... Nezuko? Remember how you got really big the other day?"

I raise a brow at him, and he shrugs before continuing.

"I have an idea. Do you think you can get smaller?"
He pats her back encouragingly, smiling.
"C'mon, Nezuko~ Get smaller for me."

His words made Nezuko sit up and hold the basket, before jumping in as she held it upright.

"Wha-!"
Both me and Tanjiro look worried for a moment, watching Nezuko move around in the small basket.

Soon enough her head emerges, and we're both in awe as we share a victory smile, seeing the much tinier Nezuko stare up at us.

"Good job, Nezuko! Who's a good girl? You are!"
Tanjiro softly pats her head, making Nezuko happily mumble.

"She looks so adorable!"
As I say this, Nezuko reaches her hand out for me and tugs on my robe again.

I give her my hand and she holds it tight, still happy. We cover her up with a cloth, making sure it's snug over the basket and start walking.

When we come by another person, Tanjiro asks for directions.

"Mount Sagiri? If you really wanna go there, the fastest way is over that mountain."

By now, the sun was setting, and luckily me and Tanjiro still had plenty of energy left within us.

"But the sun's already setting! And you seem to have an awful lot of luggage on your back. It's not safe."

"Don't worry, we'll be careful."
He smiles like usual, and I nod along.

"Thank for the directions too! You've been of great help to us!"

We bow and head the direction she pointed, hearing her call out after us.

"A lot of people went missing on that mountain recently! Don't get lost, alright?!"

Tanjiro waves to the woman as we keep walking, the two of us just talking to each other.

"Hey, I'm actually curious about something."

He hums as a sign for me to continue, eyes on the path ahead, still smiling like usual.

"Are you a bender? I haven't seen you do anything, and I never asked until now."

He chuckles and nods.
"Mhm. I'm a waterbender. I'm just not very good at it, so I keep it to myself most of the time."

"Ah, makes sense. I may have my master tattoos, but there's still a lot I have to learn through experience. So I guess we're both still learning, huh?"

We laugh and keep walking, night upon us as Nezuko got out of her basket, seeing as the sun wasn't a concern anymore.

I suddenly stop as I spot something in the dark.
"It's... a temple of sort?""