While they were running, Tanjiro asked Nayuta quietly, "So, are you able to leave the body in your ghost form, hmm?"
The black-haired girl with yellow circular eyes pouted and tightened her arms around his neck. "I can't! Boo, why is that!? Wasn't I a ghost? Then why do I get stuck in this body? That's not fair…"
She voiced her frustration openly, cheeks puffed out.
Tanjiro ignored the complaint for a moment. His mind had already connected the dots about her current situation.
'Oh… Is she not understanding what that really means? If it's like this, isn't she basically immortal? Since she was originally a ghost, even if this vessel dies, she can just incarnate into another one… and so on. What the fuck is she complaining about? What's there not to be happy about?'
He figured out her powers in a flash.
"Anything else you're capable of… something humans can't do?" he asked, wanting to know the full extent.
Nayuta wore a thinking look before answering calmly. "Mm, Onee-san can now see through people's bodies. Like seeing their blood flow, muscle expansion, organs and other things. It's super weird but pretty awesome, right? Right~?"
'… Transparent World?' That was surely it.
He gave a slight nod. "Of course, I also have that ability, you know. But that aside, what els—"
She only caught his opening words and spoke with a surprised look. "What!? You can also see through people?"
Showing a small smirk, he casually activated his Transparent World. His eyes darkened to a deep red as a faint pink luster shimmered within them. The world shifted colors; all his senses sharpened to an extreme level.
After acquiring a human body, Nayuta's extrasensory perception had advanced to another level. She instantly sensed Tanjiro's senses skyrocketing. Her own Transparent World activated automatically the moment she looked into his eyes.
"Whoa! This is amazing~! Both of us have similar ability, fufu~" she chuckled lightly, not minding that he had been hiding the Transparent World all this time.
The fusion of memories had made her a little silly and carefree, she noted easily.
Even her actions were childish, though she couldn't care less.
She was finally human again. Such small discrepancies didn't matter!
Feeling happy for her, Tanjiro stopped pressing with more questions.
She wasn't a child. She should be aware of where and when to use her ability and hold herself back from showing off.
Still, one last question lingered in his mind: 'She's not bound to me anymore, is she?'
Despite his curiosity, he chose to figure it out later.
Earlier, he hadn't gone too far from her while burying the man's body, so he still wasn't sure.
'Since she's not completely a ghost anymore, she wouldn't be affected by that restriction now… hopefully.'
"Tanjiro~ hurry, I'm hungry, wuu…" she said in her sweet, soft voice.
'Good grief, girl…'
Clicking his tongue playfully, he smiled and increased his pace. "Hold tight then."
"Wahh! Too fast!!" Nayuta closed her eyes but enjoyed the wind rushing against her face anyway.
Behind them, Shinobu's lips twitched unknowingly.
'He won her trust way too quickly…' she thought.
'Well, he's experienced with kids… Why am I surprised?'
Noticing she was being left behind, she picked up her speed to match theirs, or at least tried to.
....
Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, the three of them had already entered the Ubuyashiki Estate.
It was not yet midnight — they could tell from experience.
As they rushed forward, Nayuta breathed in the fresh, nostalgic scent of wisteria flowers all around her. Her heart and mind gradually calmed.
Tanjiro noticed her expression and intentionally slowed his pace, letting her savor the moment.
Shinobu matched his speed without a word.
They were almost there anyway. There was no need to rush.
An excited Shinobu appeared beside them and took out a syringe filled with crimson blood, holding it up for Tanjiro to see.
"We got Upper Rank Four's blood in our hands now. With this, we've already secured one of the main requirements necessary to help Kie-san…" Her lips curled into a small smile. "Mm, I bet you forgot about it, didn't you?"
Tanjiro looked at the filled syringe and replied warmly. "There's no way I would forget something that crucial. In fact, I believed you'd handle it for me. That's why I focused only on fighting. But still… thank you, Shinobu."
Outwardly calm, his inner mind was screaming.
'Fuck! It completely slipped my mind! Thank god she extracted some blood — I don't know how I would've handled the situation, especially with Nezuko… Bloody hell, she saved my ass…'
After hearing his words, Shinobu's heart skipped a beat. 'He believes in me…'
Her gaze softened as she carefully tucked the syringe away inside her clothes. "Mm," she hummed.
He easily picked up the wave of touching emotions radiating from her.
'She'll open up her locked heart soon enough… It's just a matter of time now.'
'Hmm? Jealousy?'
A familiar scent drifted into his nose.
He shifted his gaze to the right and saw a pouting face resting on his shoulder.
'Seriously… All these girls are unbelievable. They say one thing and think something else. Can't they just be a bit more honest…?'
A few minutes later~
Before they knew it, the three of them had already reached the Butterfly Mansion. The lights were still on inside.
"They're already informed, it seems… Hm, what do you think? Are they worried about us, or not?" Tanjiro asked jokingly.
Shinobu shook her head with a sigh. "I can't believe I'm unsure what to answer…" Being around a freak like him had slowly eroded her common sense. Everyone already knew about his absurd capabilities, so she had her doubts. Was anyone truly worried when a monster like Tanjiro was involved? She didn't think so.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Tanjiro chuckled lightly.
Unlike him, Nayuta held back her laugh, quietly enjoying her sister's reaction.
Tanjiro glanced down at the little girl now standing on her own feet and asked gently, "It's your home from now on, beautiful, right?"
'Damn, this girl doesn't know how to play dumb at all…'
Catching his hint, she gave a small nod. "Mm…"
Shinobu gently patted her head and invited her inside. "There are plenty of people living here, so this Onee-san will introduce you to everyone, okay? They're all kind and caring. I'm sure they'll love Nayuta~"
Nayuta followed her silently and gave a polite nod. "Um."
'Being treated like a little sister feels so weird… yet pleasant… Wuahh…' Her mind was secretly loving the spoiling.
Tanjiro's lips curled up unconsciously at the sight of them.
He had already sensed everyone's life signatures inside from a distance.
Some were asleep, while those who were awake had gathered together in the main hall.
'They were worried, alright… those cuties.'
Having so many people worried about him was a feeling he had only known in this new life.
It was strange yet heartwarming, and it made him grow more overprotective day by day.
He wanted to savor all these moments he could never have in his past life.
"Tanjiro?" A soft voice called from ahead, pulling him out of his sudden trance.
Shinobu and Nayuta were both looking at his face.
"Don't tell me you're zoning out," Shinobu said.
'…'
"Quiet, girl." He strode toward the mansion. "There's no way—"
BAMM—!!
The window of his room snapped open with a loud crash.
'Hahh!?'
A woman with long black hair ending in red leaped out.
There was no need for a second glance. They all knew who she was.
Tanjiro's mother. His demon mother.
After sensing her son nearby, she had shattered the window without hesitation and rushed toward him.
"Tanjiro…" Kie located him and closed the distance in a single second.
Even though he could have stopped her, he let her do as she pleased.
Kie jumped onto him like a monkey and wrapped her limbs around him tightly. "Where were you… Mother missed you."
Feeling her warmth, he gently patted her head and back. "Forgive me. It took longer than I thought… I'm back now."
Shinobu and Nayuta, standing nearby, stared at the mother-son pair with parted mouths, completely speechless.
Tanjiro's mother was such a kind, loving, and affectionate woman.
How badly they wished they had a mother like Kie too…