In an unfamiliar room, Reader sat grabbing her head. She growned at the situation. She got to know that. For now, Muzan doesn't know that Douma is no longer one of his twelve kizuki and has severed connection with him.
Muzan is looking for her and has probably shared her pictures through his power and cell to every demon. She has to hide from him. Atleast, till she is able to understand her own blood demon art.
Douma can't possibly defend her infront of Muzan. He is still superior in terms of powers. According to Douma, once she will identify her power it may be superior than muzan or may not.
About where they are. There are in an inn far away from the city where her mansion is. Douma decided to find nearest inn after grabbing her unconscious body and running as much far as he can.
He only stopped after sun was about to rise. Luckily, he was able to find rooms without windows. It's still afternoon. She was fuming when she realised he knocked her out with his blood demon art and literally kidnapped her.
Obviously, it's a kidnapping because she didn't gave permission or her consent. Douma had to apologise to her for half hour. She forgave him because his motive wasn't evil after all.
They have one more problem. If muzan gets to know about Douma's situation and if he connects their situations together, it will be end for both of them. As Douma had literally informed his whole cult about her and had her painting on shrine's main wall in entrance.
She was so pissed that she wanted to hit Douma. But, he managed to calm her down and reassure her. They have to wait till sun goes down and moon comes up. They have decided to discard the shrine and get rid of painting.
They have to get rid of every single evidence and keep hiding for sometime. They have to handle this by brain rather than being eager. They have to form a flawless plan. But, it requires time and patience.
Douma was still smiling warmly. He come he is so tensionfree? Well, he doesn't feel much so it's understandable. She wish sometimes, what if she was a emotionless creature too? It would have been great to get rid of emotions, such a hindrance.
But, aren't emotions the very thing that make her human? Atleast, till few moment before. Now, she is suddenly a demon. How did it happen? She still remembers Douma telling her that demons have different physics and system.
So is that why she didn't got her moon cycles till now? She thought it was because of her intense training routine. From now going forward, she will not ever have her moon cycles ever.
Demons don't age also. So, is she going to look like this forever. Till, the date she dies? Death is permanent, no one can escape it. It just that they can have potentially a hundreds of year or thousand of years living capacity.
So, never having this stupid period and forever be young while not eating any human? It doesn't sound that bad. Wait, it's actually great. Ohh, now she loves being a demon. She can protect others more effectively with her advanced physical traits.
She will have her own blood demon art. She will have hundreds of year to perfect her ice breathing. Maybe she can fuse her blood demon art with her swordsmanship skills. That will be great.
Douma knocked her out when she was about to sleep. So, she doesn't have her katana or any money. Douma, also don't have any money. As he was desperately searching for her that he forgot to bring money.
When she asked him, how are they supposed to pay the bills? He just laughed hesitantly scratching back of his head. She threatened that she will make him pay manager by giving his golden fan. He was actually terrified that she will actually do it.
Soon, it was evening. Reader confirmed it by going out. Bill will be so high. They lived her for almost one day and also she ordered many food items as she was starving. She is very passionate eater after all.
She, Rengoku san and Mitsuri chan would always eat together. They all are alike. Speaking of them, she really miss them. All of hashiras. But, she can't meet them yet. She have to wait for right moment.
She drafted a letter to Oyokatasama.
"Dear Oyokatasama,
Greetings, My apologies for writing letter to you rather than being present in front of you. I wanted to give you such a valuable information face to face. But, for some reason i am not able to do that.
I have defeated and killed Upper moon 5 last night. Oyokatasama, i don't know how will you react but for some time i will be not able to resume my duties as a hashira. Though i will be in touch with you through letters.
I want you to please understand my situation. I will give you proper explanation after few months. Till then, if you want you can temporarily remove me from my hashira title.
Your sincere,
Reader, ice hashira."
She sealed letter and prepared to post this letter in secret way she uses from beginning.
"Reader chan, Don't you have any crows? I have seen demon slayer uses crows." Douma asked.
"I had one but he died. I was so attached to him that i never really tried to have another one." She answered sadly remembering her cute kasugai crow. Douma, really didn't know how people felt when someone close to their heart goes away.
He didn't feel anything when his parents who were supposed to be his close one killed themselves. How could he not feel anything then? He also wanted to experience emotion. Anything would do but he wanted to experience it.
All thanks to Reader chan, who came to his dull life like an angel and gave him warmth, emotion, care, love, friendship. He even experienced panic when he realised he may loose his only hope, Reader chan to Muzan sama.
He held her hand in his and stared at her eyes. No words were exchanged. But, she felt the warmth and relief in his eyes towards her. She smiled genuinely and patted his head.
She laid today's plan in front of him. She will first go to sent the letters to head quarters. Then, she will return and he will go towards her house and pick up cash from her house secretly.
Then they will together go to his temple and get rid of every possible information. They will also discard shrine and abandon it afterwards. They both agreed on plan. This will be a long night.
----------------------
It was midnight. They followed their plan as it is till now. They were really tired mentally by how much they had to convince the followers. They were really not letting Douma go.
They might hate her thinking she is the reason he is leaving them. It's not false accusation by the way. But, situation is really dangerous they won't understand.
Those people who didn't have anywhere to go were literally begging Douma to not abandon them. She really felt bad for them. She knew four of the girls in that group of people. Mina, miyu, fuki and miko. It made her more guilty.
So, she decided to use her one of the small mansion she own as temporary stay for them. She gave them address and told them to stay in shrine till morning and travel to the address afterwards. Least she can do is provide for them.
Anyways, it's better for some people of live in there rather than being empty. She strictly instructed them that only condition is not to tell anyone about abandon temple and don't gossip around.
Douma had other concerns he went on to grab every kimono he had bought for her and prepared bags of cloths to carry around. She deadpanned at him. He counter it by saying he bought all this for her with love and he can't just abandon them.
He can abandon the people he was living with but can't abandon kimonos he bought for her?
After clearing that out, they are going to her mansion where her parents live. She arrived there with Douma carrying her and bags simultaneously. This is the first time they will meet him.
She shared last warning to him before entering the door. "Douma, don't hurt my parents. Otherwise, it will be your last day on earth...or mine. I won't hesitate." He pouted.
"Reader chan, i know you love your parents. I won't hurt anybody whom you love. I know this will make me grow apart from you." She nodded satisfied. "It's good, you know this."
They entered main gate and knocked on the main door. After a while, light flickered open. Door opened by her dad. He was looking like he was in deep sleep. But, his eyes went hide when he saw his daughter with a man.
Reader gave awkward wave and push past her shocked dad. Douma followed behind after bowing to her father straight 90 degree. Dad was so shocked that he didn't even acknowledge Douma.
Her mom had same reaction. Douma bowed same to her mom. Her mom was also in awe thinking her doughter finally found a handsome boyfriend. Her dad went on stand beside his wife after closing the door.
"Dad, mom, this is Douma. He is m-" Before she could finish her dad cut in. "Boyfriend. I approve. He is such a handsome young man." She looked shocked.
"He is so tall. Such a pretty face and eyes. I like him. I also appove." Her mom chimmed in. "What? No-" Her dad's hand went to pat on Douma's back in encouraging manner. "You better treat my precious daughter right. I will give away my daughter to you." He declared his judgment.
She smacked her hand to her head. Here they go again. "Mom, dad. This is not my boyfriend. He is going to be my tsuguko." She clarified. They didn't listened.
They kept rambling about her childhood and likes, dislikes to Douma who was enjoying everything. They bring him to table and started gushing at him. Describing him as handsome, eye catching, pretty, what and what not.
She eyed everything with pure shock. What is happening? Why are they acting more like his parents rather her own? She rolled her eyes. Douma's eyes were sparkling he was feeling like this is his own family.
Does having parents feel like this? Why didn't he felt this when he was human and was with his biological parents? Why it feels pleasing now?
Lotus also came hearing everyone. She bend down to pick him. But, he straight went to Douma and tried to grab his attention by scratching his feet. What the- Douma picked him up and started playing with him simultaneously.
Reader grabbed their attention by shouting her lungs out. Finally, they did. She reapeated same thing. "He is not my boyfriend. He is my tsuguko." They all seemed disappointed including Douma.
Still they didn't loose hope. "I will root for both of you. You both look good together." Her mother squealed. Reader sometimes thinks she is adopted. Because, there is ain't no way they are her parents with how childish they can be.
She feels like she is raising them instead of other way around. "Mom, please he is my tsuguko and i will train him going forward." She lied smoothly. "Today, i am going to return demon slayer corporation with him. I am here to pack my bag and grab my stuff."
They seemed more disappointed that she is going to go this early. They complained to her that why she is going. She reminded them they could have spend more time together if they wouldn't have gone to china.
Still, they were more happy that they saw her with at least one boy. Otherwise she would drive everyone away or threatened them to leave her alone. They finally see some hope.
Reader informed them that maybe she wouldn't return for a while and instructed them to take care of themself. "Don't overwork. Don't forget to take occasional holiday and live your life together to fullest."
She also told them about her renting her one of the mansion in another town. That money will be directly going towards her corp. They didn't cared enough to ask additionally questions.
She went to her room to grab necessity, lot of cash, some precious jewellery and katana while Douma was creating his fake life story. He was vaguely lying and was trying to impress them while lotus laid in his lap.
He was complimenting them and their daughter. Finally his classes from his followers were paying off. He was creating great impression on them.
Reader returned downstairs with one bag. Because Douma already had a lot of kimono for her so she grabbed only her demon slayer uniform and cat food. She saw them still chatting and laughing together.
She cleared her throat to grab their attention. They looked towards her and went to join her till main door. "Douma san, we really look forward to involve you in our family." Her dad announced. She face palmed herself.
Douma nodded happily and bowed down 90 degree to both her parents. She grabbed lotus from Douma. Finally, they bid goodbye. She was sad thinking who knows when they will see each other again? She kept glancing back till they disappeared from her sight.