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Chapter 20

"The scent of a demon is getting stronger."
Tanjiro added, to which I nod, looking around.

"There seems to be a house up ahead. Maybe it's in there?"

He nods and we arrive in front of the large, seemingly old and not maintained home, looking around for anything suspicious.
"I can smell blood, but it's strange."

"I can feel the presence of a demon nearby, but it's messing with my head."

"Wait, he can smell blood, and you can sense demons?

I nod.
"Good eyes,"
I point to myself, then Tanjiro.
"Good nose."

"I can't say anything about scents or presences, but do you guys hear that? You can hear that, right?"

"Huh? Hear what, Zenitsu?"
I perk up.

Tanjiro's attention is caught by something, and my eyes land on the shivering children hiding under the trees.
"There... Are kids here?"

"They look scared."

Out of instinct, I smile and slowly approach, crouching in front of them.
"Hello, are you two alright? You seem quite shaken up. Why are you all alone?"

They shiver as I get closer, so I take a step back. The fear in their eyes sent a shiver down my spine, the feeling one I'd hoped I wouldn't sense for a while.
"Don't worry, me and my friends are here to help. We just wanna know what's wrong."

Tanjiro approached, crouching by my side.
"I've got something really cool here. Wanna see it?"
He presented the sparrow, which stood fluffed up in his palm.
"Ta-da! It's a friendly sparrow!"

The little bird chirped and fluttered its wings, jumping up and down.

I smile to reassure them.
"See? We mean no harm."

Their expressions soften slightly, and they begin to let their guard down around us.
I slowly hold my hand out.

"My name's Y/N. What's your names?"
They don't answer, but I still hold my smile for any bit of comfort it might give them as they drop down. Poor children. I can feel the fear that emanates from you two.
The little girl reaches and grabs my hand, her small, cold and shivering hand gripping mine tightly.

"Talk to us. What happened? Is this your house?"

The boy spoke up, both of them starting to cry.
"N-No. No, it's not. This is- This house is- it belongs to a... M-Monster."

Tanjiro frowns, and I realize that the demon I felt really is there.

"Our elder brother got taken away. We were walking down the road at night and this... Thing, appeared in front of us. It went straight for our brother, never giving us a glance."

"Did it take him into the house?"
Tanjiro asked.

"Mhm."

"It's very brave of you to follow them here."
I nod.

"We used the traces of his blood to follow him here. That thing really hurt him."