Q&A

Leaning his head on Kiyomi's shoulder awkwardly, Tanjiro smelled the pleasant fragrance of a few strands of Kiyomi's soft and silky hair.

Calming himself, Tanjiro sorted out his mind and prepared the questions in his head.

"So... I can ask any questions?" Tanjiro cautiously asked.

Still rubbing Nezuko's head, Kiyomi had an inexplicable glint in her eyes as she answered:

"Sure."

Tanjiro: "So, what that guy with the katana said... there are demons.. right?"

Chuckling, Koyomi looked in Tanjiro's confused and muddled eyes:

"You should already know Tanjiro."

Not believing what Kiyomi said, Tanjiro doubted:

"But... he said... demons cannot eat any food other than humans... and that they can't be in the sun??"

"Well, I'm special. See how Nezuko pounced on you? Demons eat human flesh to maintain their body functions. Just like how we eat normal food, demons eat humans."

Tanjiro, in a small trance, leaned on Kiyomi's shoulder for another few minutes.

...

Kiyomi: "You should have already known the moment you calmed down and compared my smell with the smell in the air."

Tanjiro: "..."

Kiyomi: "But you don't need to worry, I can promise you that I have never intentionally hunted a human to eat."

Tanjiro: "What about Nezuko? What would happen to her? The man laying over there on the ground wanted to kill her."

Thinking about her next plans, Kiyomi paused for a moment before answering Tanjiro:

"When that man wakes up, go and do whatever he says. As for Nezuko... she'll be following you as well. I'll write a note, remember to give it to him."

Realizing the hidden meaning in Kiyomi's words, Tanjiro sat upright and looked straight at Kiyomi:

"You're leaving again???"

Not knowing how to answer, Kiyomi stayed silent.

Tanjiro questioned Kiyomi: "But why? We were living very happily here!"

Kiyomi immediately refuted: "Because both Nezuko and I are demons now."

The harsh reality broke Tanjiro's dream in half.

Kiyomi: "I'm going to be taking that man's sword. Tell him nothing of me. If you have to say something, tell him that I died and you buried me already. As for Nezuko..."

Both of them stared at the cute little demon that was also staring at them cluelessly.

Kiyomi: "I'll make something for her so that she won't be able to even bite. She should be able to regain her energy by sleeping. When that man wakes up and sees Nezuko, he would let Nezuko go."

Tanjiro: "But what about our family? What would happen to Hanako, Takeo, Rokuta, and Shigeru??"

Kiyomi: "This is why I asked you to do what the man will ask you to do."

Staring very seriously at Tanjiro Kiyomi continued: "Just say that you know the existence of the Demon Slayer Corps and that you want to join. But on the condition that our family would be safe."

"If he asked you for your reason, just tell him that you want to avenge me. And... here's a real motivation for you, maybe one day you'll be able to turn Nezuko back into a human."

Confused at why his sister knew so much about the world, Tanjiro asked: "Demon Slayer... Corps?? And you said I can turn Nezuko back into a human?! Really?!"

Kiyomi: "That is correct. You'll meet someone called Tamayo one day, you should ask her. And, once you join the Demon Slayer Corps, you would have adventures with friends that you would make along the way. But you'll also face a lot of difficulties, Tanjiro."

Kiyomi looked at the half-hidden faces that were looking out from the door, scared of violating her orders:

"In those difficult times, always remember to breathe, Tanjiro. Both father and I will ceaselessly remind you of this, even in our deaths."

Silent, Tanjiro processed all of the orders and information Kiyomi had just stuffed into his brain.

Tanjiro: "Wait.. what about you, nee-san? Can't I turn you back into a human too?"

Kiyomi: "...", 'You can't. I'm a hybrid. I wasn't human in the first place.'

Feeling that her wounds had almost all healed, Kiyomi patted Nezuko's head twice and lifted her head off of her thighs, and stood up to walk towards Giyu to take his sword.

Tanjiro, who had seen all of the blood that was on Kiyomi, was shocked to see that Kiyomi got up and walked like she was alright, instantly forgot his previous question.

"Nee.. Nee-san?! What about your wounds??"

Taking the sword and waving it in her hands a few times to feel its length and weight, Kiyomi smiled, clearly satisfied with Giyu's katana.

'The metal used to make this sword should be better than that used for newbies that just became demon slayers. It's the water hashira's sword after all. The weight is on the lighter side, but it's okay.'

Walking to take some bamboo from the house, Kiyomi ignored Tanjiro's question and left it to his future teacher, Urokodaki, to teach him about demon and slayer rankings and strengths.

Remembering something important, Kiyomi also grabbed the umbrella she had used a few years ago and ran back to Nezuko.

Stabbing the wooden handle of the umbrella into the snow next to where Nezuko sat, Kiyomi patted her hands twice to get rid of the dust on her hands.

"Right. Remember to never let Nezuko touch the sunlight. She'll die. If you really have no choice, then use this paper umbrella I've made a few years ago."

Tanjiro, not even able to comprehend what has happened this day, had another weird piece of information stuffed into his head, creating another question inside his vast ocean of questions.

"Why??"

Kiyomi: "Don't ask. It's magic. And don't try with any other paper umbrella, only this one will be able to prevent Nuzuko from turning into dust. So don't lose it. After I make the bamboo restraint and write the note, I'll be leaving. Take care of them for me, will you?"

Tanjiro, saddened by the fact that Kiyomi will be leaving their family once again: "...Nee-san?"

Kiyomi, still concentrating on carving exquisite patterns onto the bamboo, didn't say much:

"Hm?"

It was a habit Kiyomi developed. Whenever she made anything, even if it was just a simple chopstick, she would make it as beautiful as she can.

She was so proficient in sewing and carving that her hands flashed around the bamboo without even a trace of her hands.

Tanjiro: "Can you stay with us for just another day?"

Kiyomi: "...It depends on whether the guy on the ground would wake up before or after I leave."

Tanjiro, who finally heard some better news, went up to Giyu, who was unconscious and laying in the snow.

*Crack~!*

Pausing for a second, Kiyomi mourned for Giyu: 'Rest in peace. I'll make sure that shinobu will be able to live happily.'

Finishing her mourning for Giyu, Kiyomi went back to carving the bamboo restraint.

...10 minutes later...

Carving the last engraving onto the bamboo, Kiyomi looked happily at her latest creation as she walked behind Nezuko.

Putting the bamboo restraint in Nezuko's mouth, Kiyomi took a step back and took in all the cuteness of the innocent and clueless demon Nezuko before nodding in approval.

Putting the paper umbrella in Nezuko's hand and holding her other, Kiyomi pulled her to the unconscious Giyu and put him onto her own shoulders.

Walking back to the house, Kiyomi called for Tanjiro to open the door.

"Tanjiro! Open the door!"

After a few seconds, Tanjiro opened the door to let Kiyomi and Nezuko in.

Putting Giyu onto a chair, Kiyomi went to take a look at Kie, who was hit by Muzan.

And another day just passed like this, with Kiyomi taking care of Kie, who was only unconscious, with no damage to the brain.

Shigeru, Takeo, Hanako, Rokuta, Nezuko, and Tanjiro also stayed next to the bed of Kie for the entire day, asking questions talking to Tanjiro and Kiyomi.