Chapter Text
Her crow had stayed quiet for a total of five minutes before it started barking out orders again. Nezuko pinched her furrowed brow in exasperation, the peace had been nice while it lasted.
“Head to Asakusa, Tokyo! A demon is lurking!” The crow perched on her head and tugged at her hair.
Nezuko swatted at it. “I just finished a mission and you’re making me go on another one already?”
“No time to rest, move it!” It squawked.
“This is child labor! I’ll sue you!”
Despite her protests, Nezuko grumbled as she continued on her way to Asakusa. Her stupid crow’s directions were always so vague! At most, it would give her the cardinal direction of the location and speak up when she was nearby. But this time she didn’t need elaborate navigation.
Someone would have to be completely blind to pass by Asakusa. The place was so bright and lively that it seemed like daytime even though it was the middle of the night. Nezuko wandered through the city with wide eyes as she gaped at all the lanterns and lights. She had never seen anywhere so crowded back on her mountain, here she was a complete country bumpkin.
She couldn’t admire the city for much longer, all the people chattering and lights were starting to affect her enhanced sixth sense. Nezuko grabbed her pounding head as she pushed through the crowd and ended up on the outskirts of the city.
Nezuko collapsed on a nearby bench after setting her brother’s box down. Maybe she should let Tanjiro out so she won’t have to keep lugging the extra weight throughout the night. She had her hand on the box’s latches when an unfamiliar voice interrupted.
“Hey, young lady,” A seller running a food cart waved his hand at her, trying to grab her attention. “You alright?”
Immediately, Nezuko hid her hands behind her back. “Oh, uh, yes! Thank you for the concern, haha…” She trailed off and averted her eyes. Perhaps it was a little worrying to see a young girl covered in dirt and sweat walking around the outskirts of a city.
She didn’t think about her unsettling appearance for long. Nezuko’s eyes zeroed in on the man’s food stall, specifically, the ramen simmering on the stove. “Actually, could I get a bowl?” She asked, with a watering mouth and eager smile.
The man grinned and patted the side of his food cart good-naturedly. “If you can wait a few minutes!”
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Nezuko slurped up her ramen within seconds. Perhaps it wasn’t in a ladylike manner, but when there was good food waiting, who was she to be picky?
Her brother’s box sat beside her and if she listened carefully, she could hear his soft breathing. The battle from earlier must’ve taken a toll on him. A small smile grew on Nezuko’s face as she gazed at the wooden box. Her brother always tried so hard to protect her, even as a demon. Even though everything was different now, some things never changed.
Though her heartwarming thoughts didn’t stay for long. Just as things were calming down, an overwhelming feeling of murderous intent seeped through the air. The scenery around her was turning a deep blood red and her heart raced. Nezuko stiffened immediately, clutching her chest as her head snapped to the side, facing the city.
This feeling, this danger clouding her senses, it was much too familiar. And it reminded her of the day her family passed. Nezuko stood up quickly, her hand aimlessly reaching for her sword as her eyes narrowed in conviction. A single thought rang inside her head.
I’ll find you.
Without another thought, Nezuko was racing down the streets of Asakusa once again. Except this time, the crowd didn’t bother her so much. Not when she had a single objective in mind. This sensation, this feeling, it had to be Muzan. It just had to! It was too similar to ignore. If she located it, she was sure she’d find him. And then she could make him answer for his sins.
Her breathing only got heavier. Out of panic or exertion, she had no idea. All she knew was that she was getting closer. The pressure of Muzan’s sheer bloodthirst was growing heavier, enough to swallow her whole. Nezuko pushed past people, ignoring their complaints. Just a little further, a bit more, right there!
“Stop!” She called out, a wild look in her eyes as she grabbed the shoulder of a man turned away from her.
Slowly, he turned around. And all of a sudden, Nezuko felt her unbending will to find him wavering. Everything in her body was telling her to run away, to hide far away from the monster before her.
A monster… dressed like a business man? A black suit and a white tie. His dark hair was combed down neatly and a simple hat sat atop his head. To anyone else, he looked like he belonged perfectly in the middle of the city.
But his blood red eyes didn’t lie. His pupils were shaped like demon slits and the cold look on his face did nothing to hide his arrogant demeanor. Malice and cruelty emanated from him like it was nothing. There was no doubt that she was in the presence of Kibutsuji Muzan himself.
Nezuko stamped down her growing unease and tightly gripped onto the handle of her sword. Fury filled her from head to toe. It was him. He was the one who slaughtered her family. Who slaughtered so many before them. She didn’t think for another second, she had to kill him! Nezuko quickly drew her sword, the name of a water breathing form at the tip of her tongue when–
“Daddy?”
Her hand faltered. What did she just hear? Nezuko froze where she stood, her eyes wide with shock and dread as she watched Muzan slowly turn around, an almost smug glint in his eyes as he revealed the sight of a young girl in his arms. A human girl, she couldn’t be older than six. Her eyes were big and innocent, flitting between Nezuko and the demon that was her father.
The child tilted her head curiously at him. “Who’s that?” She asked in her soft voice, small hands holding onto the collar of Muzan’s suit.
In response, Muzan smiled down at her. The gesture could be seen as fatherly and comforting as he gently told his daughter not to worry. However, Nezuko could clearly see that wasn’t the case. His aura twisted and turned, mocking her. You can’t do a thing. In a crowded street with plenty of witnesses. All you can do is watch. It infuriated her. How dare he pretend to be a human and roam free when he destroyed so many lives?
“Is there anything I can do for you, child? Are you lost?” Muzan’s voice interrupted her swirling thoughts overtaking her mind. The demon smiled pleasantly down at her, as if this was a normal interaction. As if he hadn’t brutally murdered and eaten her family like it was nothing.
Her fists were clenched tightly, nails digging into her palms. What could she say? What could she do? Before she could think of anything, a woman walked up to him. Another human, judging by her welcoming aura. She gently placed her hand upon his arm. “Oh my, who is this? Do you know her, dear?” Her voice was so calm and kind. She had no idea her husband ate humans, that he was the king of demons.
“I’m afraid not.” Muzan fixed Nezuko with a cold look in his eyes, quite the contrast from his smile. Though it was starting to quirk up on one side, as if he was enjoying this interaction. Finding it amusing. “I’ve never met her in my life. She must have mistaken me for someone else.”
Nezuko’s breathing grew heavier and quicker. How dare he? He knew damn well who she was. What he did to her, to Tanijro. Or was she simply another victim in his many murders that he didn’t bother to remember? Either way her fury only grew, though it was quickly replaced by fear after his next move.
Muzan discreetly reached behind him, slashing quickly at a random passerby with his nails. The poor man immediately buckled to his knees, clutching the back of his neck as his wife looked over him in concern.
No… no, this can’t be happening.
Nezuko’s pupils dilated and she clutched her chest. What did he just do? Turn a man into a demon right in public? Why wasn’t anyone doing anything? Why hadn’t anyone noticed?
The man’s groans of pain morphed into snarls. His wife who was just worrying over him now looked up at him in fear as he pounced at her. His claws pressed into her arms as he dug his teeth into her shoulder, causing her to let out a pained scream.
Her breath hitched in panic, her feet hesitated for only a moment before she sprinted over and tackled the man, wrenching him off of his wife. They both fell on the hard ground and Nezuko dug her knee into his stomach to hold him down while she grabbed his flailing arms.
“Run! Get out of here, hurry!” She all but screamed at the woman clutching her bleeding shoulder. No one else would die, not when she was here to prevent it. Another family wouldn’t be ripped apart. She struggled to hold down the man whose jaws were snapping at her fiercely.
Muzan! Where is he?
Nezuko’s head whipped around only to catch the sight of his back turned, the demon responsible for all this simply leaving with his pretend wife and daughter in tow. A white hot rage filled her to the brim. Along with a feeling of helplessness. There was nothing she could do. She had the perfect opportunity and all she could do was watch him leave.
She dug her knee deeper into the man’s chest without thinking, her grip on his wrists getting tighter before she turned her head once again and screamed into the air.
“I’LL FIND YOU! DON’T YOU DARE THINK YOU’VE ESCAPED!” Nezuko roared back at the demon retreating.
“No matter what, I swear that I’ll find you again!” She gasped between her shouts, her throat raw and her voice filled with emotion.
“And I’ll be the one to kill you, Kibutsuji Muzan!”