Both you and Giyu had managed to track down Tanjirou and Nezuko's whereabouts, but your vision was beginning to blur due to excessive use.
"Sorry Giyu, this may be just your fight." You sighed, fatigue beginning to catch up to you as you reached the opening.
"It's fine, that's what I am here for, " He leapt into the fight, freeing Tanjirou from the inside of a weird looking cage.
You ran over to grab the terribly weak boy, "(Y-Y/n)..."
His eyes quivered in exhaustion as Giyu stood in front to protect you both.
"You did well up until now, leave the rest to me, " He turned to you, "Heal him please-"
You grabbed both of Tanjirou's hands, "I'm on it!"
Whilst you gradually replenished the energy the redhead had lost in his battle, you overheard the many fighting techniques Giyu had used.
But the one that piqued your curiosity had to be the last one, that ended the small demon boy.
There wasn't even any sign of his opponent's attack! He managed to diffuse it somehow, and completely erase its effects.
Once the head of the demon was fully removed, you spoke up, "M-Mr Urokodaki only teaches his students up to 10 style moves..."
He glanced your way, "So that move of yours, 'lull', you made it yourself?"
He took note of the eagerness in your eyes, and how you clearly were interested in his special attack.
"I did." His eyes focused on both teens resting by you, "It is my unique technique, and I'm sure you have your own sword style?"
You smiled in pride, "Y-Yeah, I decided to focus on it... The Breath of Snow just speaks to me you know?"
He blinked in confusion, "No, I don't. Sorry."
His clear worry of upsetting you made a tonne of laughter erupt from your throat.
He watched in amazement as your whole being lit up in such contagious happiness. Nobody would suspect you had been through so much in only 3 years.
You were so busy laughing, that you hadn't noticed his small smile as he put his sword back.
But when you calmed down, wiping away tears you saw him staring into the distance.
"Tanjirou, " His voice was now serious as he spoke to the boy sat by his sister, "Don't feel sorry for a demon who ate humans, and doesn't matter if they had the appearance of a child..."
He stood onto the clothing the demon had worn, "He is an unsightly monster who lived for thousands of years. I will relentlessly wield my blade against the demons, that's a fact."
You stood up from your knees, "Then what about me."
"You were different (Y/n)..." He seemed in conflict but made a quick answer.
"Is that really all it takes for a demon to be spared by you?" Your eyes held deep emotion, "Then there are so many others that could've had such a chance. That boy was one of them maybe..."
You gestured at the cloth beneath the man's feet, "Please remove your foot. It's disrespectful."
Giyu sighed in slight annoyance, "(Y/n), this demon... He killed many humans, and that can not be dismissed."
"He is dead now, so stop dismissing his pain throughout his life." You snapped, making his eyes go dull in a matter of seconds.
It hurt you to see this, but he had to understand a balance was needed.
A balance of respect.
"Demons were human... Just like (Y/n) and Nezuko." Tanjirou spoke behind you, his sister close by his side, "Demons are just sorrowful."
Giyu glanced at the resting girl in Tanjirou's embrace, then to your stern glare.
He was about to say something with a shocked expression when you felt a rush of air brush past all of you, Giyu pushing you down with the others whilst he blocked an attack.
You looked up, placing your mask back on to see a dark haired small woman in a butterfly wing patterned kimono and the Demon Slayer uniform.
Her sword was also shaped very strangely and a little bit of substance leaked out the tip of the weapon.
'Poison!?' You internally panicked as she landed.
You looked back at Giyu who was hovering above you, his sword facing her in a defensive manner.
'He saved us.' Your ears tingled as the woman spoke up.
"Oh? Why are you getting in the way, Tomioka-san?" She had a morbid undertone in those cheerful eyes, "You said we can't get along with demons, but what's this all about?"
The man could only crouch in thought whilst the lady spoke, "If you do, everyone will hate you."
She pointed her weird blade at you all, "Okay Tomioka-san, get out of the way."
But the said male didn't move a muscle, your heart beating way too hard as he retorted.
"I am not hated."
This shocked both you and Tanjirou, as the man spoke so open-heartedly whilst the woman mocked him.
"Giyu.."
The way he protected you and Nezuko so willingly confused and warmed you at the same time.
The woman sneered, "Sorry you didn't realise you were hated. Pardon me for saying too much."
"Boy." She called to Tanjirou, and he snapped his head to face her in fright.
"Yes?"
"Boy, you're protecting a demon. It's dangerous so please get off her."
You gritted your teeth, "That's his little sister!"
She looked at you in disgust, "Well is that so? Don't worry then, I'll kill her and you with a sweet poison that won't leave you in pain."
Her darkened eyes confirmed your suspicion of her twisted ego, and you subconsciously held the back of Giyu's kimono.
"(Y/n), can you take these kids away from here." He asked you, eyes still focused on the creepy lady in front.
"U-Uh, yes." You helped Tanjirou up, and placed Nezuko on your back, "You will be okay right-"
"Just run, please."
'Thank you...'
Your mind was sent on overdrive as the panic settled in: this was life or death.
You started running with both of them, until you were out of the woman's sight.
"(Y/n)! Look out!" You ducked just as a girl with a sword had swung her blade for both of your heads, "She's a demon slayer too!"
You never got to see her face, as she sent many deadly hits your way. But you tripped on a large tree root, making you drop Nezuko.
And the girl was so close to killing you, had Tanjirou not yanked her backwards you would've been dead.
"Tanjirou!" She smashed her foot into his head, and you could only move yours to dodge her stabs.
She glanced at Nezuko, who was getting away, and decided to run after her, leaving you a tired mess.
"S-Shit... I knew this would happen." You watched as she began to shrink by surprise, "Okay, did not see that coming."
Just as you were gonna lose your shit and give up, a crow started screaming up in the treetops, "CAWWW MESSAGE, MESSAGE! RESTRAIN THE ONES NAMED TANJIROU, NEZUKO AND (Y/N)!"
It seemed you were saved by the crow, and you flopped onto the ground, your strength at its limit.
"BRING THEM TO THE HEADQUARTERS! TANJIROU HAS A SCAR ON HIS FOREHEAD, NEZUKO IS BITING ONTO A PIECE OF BAMBOO, AND (Y/N) HAS A BLOSSOM HAIRPIN AND PARASOL ON HER BACK!"
In no time, a group of men clad in a black kind of outfit appeared near you and Tanjirou, and that was when sleep decided to take you away...