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1ST POV
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We soared through the skies for roughly 20 minutes until my eyes locked onto our destination, a task made easier even for someone as directionally challenged as myself, thanks to the encircling wisteria trees. Predictably, Enoki succumbed to shock during the flight - honestly, I saw that coming. I mean, who wouldn't? I did not feel like walking all day, especially when, I'm used to cars, buses, motorcycles, and even the occasional horseback ride, thanks to Aot. Besides, the sooner I meet Kagaya, the better!

So, after we touched down, Enoki still blissfully unconscious-yeah, I'll have to apologize to her later for that one-, the door swung open suddenly, revealing a middle-aged, dark-haired woman. She startled me so much that I let out an entirely undignified screech.

'What the heck?! It's like she knew I was there!'

We locked eyes for what felt like an eternity, and it must have been quite a sight. A cloaked, masked figure carrying an unconscious Kakushi wasn't an everyday occurrence, after all. After an awkward cough to break the staring contest, I politely inquired if it was acceptable for us to enter. She readily agreed with a gentle smile upon recognizing Enoki's uniform. Well, that was a relief.

Once we stepped inside, I couldn't help but admire their courtyard as we made our way to the resting area. Chieko, the woman who had introduced herself earlier, informed me that other slayers were currently recuperating in neighboring bedrooms. It was interesting information to learn on the spot, but a quick scan of their auras left me slightly disappointed. They didn't seem particularly strong, which made me pout a bit. I had hoped to meet a pillar or something. My Canon babies weren't slayers yet, so I was counting on the pillars, but hey, I'll meet them in due time, Insh'Allah!

An hour and a half later, Enoki stirred awake on a futon graciously provided by Chieko. She seemed disoriented for a while, perhaps wondering about her surroundings, before she completely freaked out-honestly, she was giving Zenitsu a run for his money at this point-over the whole flying experience. I struggled to explain it to her, but I reached a point where I just said "screw it" and spilled the beans about the whole Goddess situation, preempting any notion that I might be an undercover demon. It's not like I had intended to keep it a secret in the first place. They lived in a world filled with demons and superhumans, so a Goddess didn't seem too outlandish, right? Well, apparently not.

If she had trouble addressing me as Colith-san before, it got even worse after this revelation. She started bowing incessantly, like those pure titans, and it took me an additional hour of persuasion to prevent her from continuously bashing her head on the tatami floor.

After numerous attempts, I somehow managed to coax her into promising to keep this divine secret to herself, which she surprisingly-still leaves me stunned-agreed to, claiming that I was "the first person to genuinely be nice" to her. That statement low-key had me worried, to be honest.

Chieko arrived with lunch, a polite smile adorning her face, before disappearing back to wherever she had come from. I patiently waited until Enoki took her first bite before I decided to reveal my face by pulling down my hood and removing the lollipop mask. The choking sound I got from her was kind of amusing, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, she had likely never encountered a person of color before. I felt at ease enough to share more about myself with her.

To my relief, she took this revelation rather well, especially in comparison to the whole Goddess situation, which, to be fair, was a lot to digest. After some casual conversation, we bid farewell to Chieko, who had thoughtfully packed us bento boxes for our journey. I couldn't help but enthusiastically shout, "THANK YOU!!" She was nice. Following that, I decided to add a bit of humor by placing the blindfold over my mask just for fun, lightening my weight for Enoki's comfort, and we set off towards the Ubuyashiki estate, with the girl piggybacking me.

I'm pleased to say that I had made a new friend in Enoki, and during our journey, I learned that she was actually 16 years old and had recently become a Kakushi after her Nichirin blade failed to change color, a common occurrence among Kakushis, as it turns out. It was a somber revelation, but she confessed that she was relieved by it because demons terrified her, and she cherished the idea of living a long life, which served as strong motivation.

As we traveled, we exchanged stories about ourselves, and I couldn't help but whistle in amazement when she revealed that she hailed from a household of 12 kids, with her being the 5th, and two of them being slayers, Tsuchinotos to be exact. I admit, I had no clue what that meant until she patiently explained the ranking system to me. Hey, I only knew Mizunoto, Kanoe, and Hashiras. Excuse me for the lapse in memory, but it has been a while since I watched that episode. Unless I pull out my phone to re-watch the anime and definitely read the manga again or consult the Wiki, I might forget a few things. But let's set that aside for now because Enoki was sharing stories about her 1-year-old baby brother...and Colith loves babies.

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"...So I said, 'Who the hell do you think you are to call Min' a girl?! Say it again, I dare you!' Then he retorted with, 'Pchh, Girlie! He'd have better chances selling his ass to some per-' I didn't let him finish; I decked him hard in the jaw, and he went flying, crashing into the hay about 20 meters away. He ended up unconscious with two or three missing teeth, can't remember."

I continued, "I mean, violence is never the answer, but it was so worth it, even if I ended up with kitchen duties for three whole months in the end. Although, I do think three months was a bit excessive for a single punch. Wonder why they went that far. Tch, no one insults my baby and thinks they'll be sa- what? Why are you tapping my arm? What is it?"

"We're here!" she exclaimed, gripping my thighs to prevent me from involuntarily stumbling-a mishap that had occurred two or three times, and I'm not exactly proud of it. She was panting slightly, having run continuously for seven hours straight, which left me genuinely astounded.

I had proposed a break for food after the first three hours, but she adamantly declined. Her reasoning was that, as Kakushis, they were accustomed to covering long distances while assisting injured slayers, with no time to pause in case of lingering demons or when delivering items too heavy for crows to transport to higher-ranked slayers. Kakushis might not excel in combat, but their value lay in providing assistance, which explained their deep admiration and respect for the Pillars, as they aspired to be of any possible help to them. While that was all well and good, I managed to persuade her to eat, even if it was just a brief 10-minute break. I even handed over my portion since it contained pork. What a bummer, especially considering how delicious it smelled.

"Hmm? That's why you stopped running five minutes ago?" I climbed off her, taking a moment to stretch my legs, which had been immobile for a while, all while the soothing scent of wisteria wafted into my nostrils. "Can I these off?" I inquired, although it was a somewhat redundant question, given that I had already extended my aura to gain a sense of our surroundings. Think of it as something akin to [Kenbunshoku Haki], but with a few added benefits, as I could pinpoint everything around me, even non-living structures, although it was easier with living creatures. This meant I could have 'seen' the way here, but I hadn't considered it at the time, partly because I was busy rambling about my beans.

"Not just yet," she replied, her gloved hand reaching for mine, which caught me off guard, as my focus had been on a distinct set of auras further ahead. One in particular had captured my attention with its weakened purple hue, steadily deteriorating-a clear indication of an underlying illness in their system, possibly Kagaya. "We need to obtain permission to enter first, as they weren't expecting us so soon. After that, you'll be free to remove it. Thank Kami-sama we arrived before nightfall..." She shuddered, confirming my earlier suspicion that it was indeed nighttime.

I shrugged casually, remarking, "You're the boss," and I could sense the warmth in her aura, a telltale sign that she was blushing in response to my comment. Enoki let out a light chuckle before taking my hand and guiding me forward, even though she walked slowly. It was a thoughtful gesture, though somewhat unnecessary, given that I could 'see' my surroundings just fine. So, walking with impaired vision wasn't a significant challenge for me. I might not be Gyomei-Gosh, I hope I get to meet him someday, that smexy tower of a man-but I could manage.

After knocking on the door, a fairly strong aura, stronger than Enoki's at the very least, answered it and then flickered in surprise at the sight of us. It appeared to be a guard. After Enoki explained the details of her mission, the guard allowed us entry, and I finally had the chance to remove my blindfold. The beauty of this place unfolded before my eyes, and I couldn't help but admire it. As I glanced around, another guard-clad in a slightly different version of the demon slayer uniform-went inside to inform someone of our arrival.

Unfortunately, this was where Enoki had to part ways, as she needed to return to the Kakushi's quarters, which were located further within the estate since her mission was now complete. It left me with a tinge of sadness because we had become friends, but I promised to send letters once I managed to secure a crow or some other means of communication. The hug we shared wasn't dramatic at all, absolutely not. The watching guard observed our exchange with bewilderment, probably wondering, 'What the heck is going on here?'

Once Enoki departed, I took a deep breath, turning around, only to freeze upon seeing the smaller figures standing in front of me.

'What the-'

"Greetings, Tobe-sama," the two white-haired children chimed simultaneously, their robotic tone sending a shiver down my spine.

"Huh?"

"It's an honor to welcome you to the Ubuyashiki Estate," they intoned in unison. Then, they bowed respectfully before straightening up, their doll-like features adorned with a polite smile that was eerie to witness on children. "If you will please follow us." In perfect synchronization, they turned and walked inside, leaving me to dumbly follow suit after removing my shoes.

"Wait, hold on- how old are you?"

"Six," the one on the left, adorned with a red ribbon on the right side of her head, replied in a detached tone. Meanwhile, her counterpart with a yellow ribbon simply stared on. Both of them briefly glanced up at me with their blank, plum-colored eyes. Their unresponsive reactions left me with a disapproving frown.

'This won't do at all! !' I thought.

The twins came to an abrupt stop and turned to face me, their expressions still blank. However, I noticed a flicker of curiosity in their light purple auras, which reassured me a little. Thank goodness, they still had emotions!

I crouched down to their eye level, adopting a friendly tone as I asked, "What are your names, kiddos?"

I had never caught their names in the anime, considering they appeared only briefly, if at all. Perhaps I missed it. The only one I remembered was Kiriya because, well, he was a boy with dark hair, which set him apart from his sisters. Weren't there another set of twins too? Dang Kagay-

The twins appeared somewhat surprised by the friendly tone I used. It seemed like nobody had treated them as children before, but I certainly would.

The one with the red ribbon calmly presented herself, saying, "I am Ubuyashiki Hinaki,"

Then, yellow ribbon chimed in, "Ubuyashiki Nichika."

For some reason, an uneasy feeling washed over me, though I couldn't quite recall why.

'Yep, I'm definitely going to re-read the manga!'

Setting that aside, I cheerfully clapped my hands together, maintaining a friendly demeanor since the kids couldn't see my face, including my smile. It surprised me that they didn't seem to shy away from my mask.

"Well, it's nice to meet you both!" The kids seemed taken aback, starting to bow again, but I shook my head, preventing them from doing so. "Alright, no need for that. Anyway, what's your favorite animal? That's if you even like animals. Do you?"

It appeared the twins weren't quite prepared for this question. Nichika, unsure of how to respond, briefly glanced at her sister for guidance. Hinaki nodded slowly, as if giving her approval to answer. I waited patiently for their response, finding their interaction adorable. It seemed that despite being twins, Hinaki was the older one, if Nichika seeking her guidance was any indication. The twins then hesitantly revealed that they were fond of cats, though they seemed a bit perplexed by the question.

I flashed a grin and said, "Cats, you say? Well, that's interesting because...tada!" With a flourish, I conjured two cat plushies, one red and the other yellow, into my hands. The sudden appearance of the plushies took the children by surprise, their eyes widening in awe as they hadn't seen that coming. Their change in expression brought a smile to my face. Success!

"Whoa...!"

"This is..."

"...for you!" I chirped cheerfully, extending the plushies to them. The twins blinked in surprise, their amethyst-colored auras betraying their desire to accept the gifts, even though they hesitated. I sighed softly. "Take it easy, kids. I understand you have responsibilities, but don't forget to enjoy being children, okay?"

In the end, they timidly accepted the plushies, gracing me with hesitant yet genuinely heartfelt smiles that melted my heart.

'My job here is done.'
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"Oyakata-sama will meet you shortly," the twins announced in perfect synchronization, performing a light bow while cradling their respective plushies against their chests. The sight was heartwarming, and it made me mentally victory dance, as their auras now radiated contentment, a stark contrast to their earlier placid expressions.

"Thank you for the present, Colith-sama. We will be sure to cherish it," Hinaki expressed, with her sister nodding along, barely containing their excitement.

"There's no need to be so formal, kids. Just call me Colith, okay?" I gently patted their heads, taking care not to disturb their bobbed haircuts. "Now go on, have some fun."

Nichika let out a small giggle, while Hinaki smiled, a noticeable blush on their cheeks. However, the younger twin appeared a bit fidgety, her aura conveying a sense of uncertainty, as if she wanted to say something, a detail I couldn't help but notice.

"What's on your mind, little one? Do you have a question?" I tilted my head curiously, observing Hinaki who looked to her sister for support. The younger twin, with a blush and the yellow cat plush against her chest, hesitated before speaking.

"I-is C-Colith-sama... a woman?"

"Nichika...!" Her sister squeaked in alarm, but instead of being offended, I chuckled and gently patted their heads.

"Good observation! How did you figure that out?"

"Eh...? Um, it's because y-you're nice... like our mother!" The young girl exclaimed and then blushed, her doll-like mask momentarily forgotten. "M-my apologies..."

"I'm nice like your mother? Well, that's amusing." I chuckled. "No need to apologize, you're absolutely right! But hey, could you keep it a secret, okay? I'd like to surprise someone, and it won't work if they find out beforehand."

Nichika's eyes lit up with excitement. She seemed to enjoy secrets. "Hmm! I promise!"

I smiled warmly, giving their heads another gentle pat. They thanked me once more before excusing themselves, their small footsteps pattering away down the hallway. I stood there for a moment, exhaling softly.

'Hope they'll be alright! I miss my beans.'

With a smile, I spun around and slid the door open, stepping inside leisurely. However, my eyes widened in surprise as I took in the surroundings.

"Gah damn, I wish I had been rich back there," I muttered to myself, closing the rice paper door behind me as I continued to explore the washitsu. At least I knew what it was called. In my opinion, the place looked quite cozy. "So, this is where Kagaya's going to meet me."

In the center of the room, there stood a sturdy brown table, its polished surface gleaming softly under the ambient lighting. Three pillows surrounded it, forming an unusual arrangement-one seat positioned to face the other two. The reason for this arrangement remained a mystery to me, but my curiosity led me to investigate further.

I decided to snoop around for a moment before ultimately selecting the solitary pillow positioned on the left side. After all, who knew if I might encounter someone else during this meeting?

As I settled on the pillow, I took a soft, deliberate breath. There was a faint wisteria perfume that hung in the air, its delicate fragrance likely originating from the outside world. An open doorway provided a glimpse of the exterior, where a collection of wisteria trees adorned a small yard, their purple blossoms swaying gently in the breeze.

I can't help but wonder how they manage to constantly surround themselves with these wisteria trees without feeling exhausted. I mean, sure, it's an excellent deterrent against demons and all, but doesn't all this purple ever become monotonous at some point? Even the girls' kimonos are predominantly purple, for goodness' sake! Okay, okay, I'm kidding; there are plenty of other colors around too. But the first thing that hits you when you arrive here is an overwhelming wave of purple. Isn't purple often associated with the bad guys?

Now that I think about it, why don't they distribute those wisteria bags to people? Perhaps they could visit the nearby villages or even start a business selling them, even if it doesn't bring in much profit. I get it; a lot of folks don't actually believe in the existence of demons. But by carrying one of those bags, they might at least have a 50 percent chance of survival, which is way better than just sitting around like a sitting duck, waiting for their impending doom. It might not work against powerful demons, but it's still a significant inconvenience for them. And if you're feeling particularly vindictive, you could shove the whole thing in their throat just to spite them.

Oh, and why not use wisteria as a perfume? I wonder if perfumes were even common at this time-

"Good evening."

"Sup"

I pause mid-thought and turn slowly toward the door, only to freeze as I'm met with a pair of amused purple eyes and a set of stunned plum-colored ones.

Oh.

Kagaya stood in the doorway with a serene smile, the disease visibly affecting his left eye and forehead, and creeping toward the other side. Yet, his right eye seemed to retain its functionality as he observed my motionless form. Beside him stood a white-haired woman, offering her support as he leaned on her-his wife, and if I were to guess correctly, the mother of Hinaki and Nichika, given their striking resemblance.

Did I just 'sup' him?! Shi-

I hurriedly scrambled to my feet, attempting an awkward salute before realizing that such gestures likely had no place here. "Uh, cra- I mean, hello! I apologize for intruding and thank you for having me here," I stammered quickly as I bowed.

A brief silence hung in the air. 'Did I mess this up already? Damn-' But my growing panic was interrupted by light chuckles. "???" I straightened up, only to be met with smiling faces.

Oh.

"I see that Urokodaki-san was indeed correct. You seem much more energetic than I anticipated," Kagaya remarked with a smile. "Please, have a seat. There's no need to feel nervous." He and his wife continued walking further into the room, heading for their own seats.

'The heck-what did Tengu gramps tell them about me?' I cleared my throat and nodded. "Ha- uh, yes, of course. My apologies for the outburst. I wasn't quite focused," I admitted, dipping my head in apology before taking a seat. Kagaya settled in front of me with his wife's assistance, a reminder of the toll the disease had taken on his body. Poor lad.

Kagaya simply nodded in understanding, then conveyed a tender "thank you" to his wife, who reciprocated with a soft smile. Their shared affection was evident in the synchronized swaying of their auras.

'Bruh, I want that.'

My eyes remained fixed on Kagaya's wife, whose name I still didn't know. She gracefully rose from her seat, bowing with the poise befitting a woman of her stature, and announced her intention to fetch tea. After excusing herself, she left Kagaya and me alone.

An awkward silence settled in, and it didn't take a genius to realize that I had no idea what to say. Sitting stiffly in seiza, I attempted to break the ice. "So... um... that's your wife, right? She's really beautiful. Great jo- I mean, yeah, sorry," I stammered, cringing at my awkwardness.

Kagaya chuckled warmly. "No offense taken. I can tell that you don't seem comfortable. Please sit in a way that suits you." He eye smiled.

I blinked for a few seconds, then let out an awkward laugh, mimicking those awkward anime main characters. 'Busted.' Without waiting any longer, I shifted into a crisscross applesauce position, releasing a sigh of relief as my legs were no longer under strain. "Thanks, I'm still not used to this."

He nodded understandingly. "I see. Urokodaki-san informed me that you're not from around here, though I must admit, your Japanese sounds quite good." Bruh, I cheated. "I believe I have yet to introduce myself. I am Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Colith-san." He inclined his head in a polite bow, which I mirrored. "May I inquire about your place of origin?"

"Oh, huh-" I pondered for a moment whether or not to reveal my face, then mentally shrugged. "I suppose I should remove this, then..." I muttered, reaching for my hood.

Kagaya remained patient, his lone functional eye quietly observing me with curiosity. He wondered why I had felt it necessary to conceal myself entirely, although the swirly orange mask was... intriguing? Urokodaki had skipped the description in his letter, going straight to the point about a potential alliance. This piqued Kagaya's interest since such directness was rare for the former Pillar.

I lowered the hood, letting my locks come into view before reaching for the mask, which I carefully removed and placed beside me. I then offered a warm smile. "I'm from Mali, a country located in West Africa. I apologize for keeping the mask on; I had my reasons."

I was prepared for a range of reactions - surprise, shock, maybe even disgust, considering the unpredictability of humans. However, what I didn't expect was... concern? Ayo-

"Is everything alright?" Kagaya inquired, his voice laced with a genuine worry.

"Eh?"

"Pardon me," he hurriedly apologized, "I didn't intend to bring up painful memories with my question. It's just that... I've heard dreadful stories about how they treat people with darker skin..." For the first time since our encounter, Kagaya's usually composed expression carried a hint of anger.

"Eh?"

"For centuries, we've been fighting demons to protect humanity, and yet... some among us deem it acceptable to degrade a significant portion of our own kind." His countenance shifted from cold anger to somber determination within the span of a breath. "I realize this might seem out of nowhere, but are you okay? I'm truly sorry that you felt the need to conceal yourself to move through our land-"

"Wait, wait, wait! I think there's a misunderstanding," I hastily raised my hands in defense, my chuckles carrying a nervous edge. This caught me completely off guard. "I'm not an ex-slave or anything, Allah no."

I observed Kagaya's bewildered expression, realizing that he had likely made certain assumptions upon seeing me. What dark and troubling history lesson did I miss? Being Black during those times must have been a hellish experience. Speaking of times...

"Hold on, what year is it?" I asked, curious about the temporal context.

This question seemed to surprise Kagaya even more, but he replied, "1912...?"

'Dang, his voice is so smooth!-I mean, no wonder he reacted like that.'

I nodded. "I guess I can understand where you're coming from." Kagaya still seemed somewhat puzzled, so I decided to seize the moment and reveal my true nature, recounting the same information I had shared with Tengu gramps two weeks ago. Kagaya's lavender eye widened as I spoke, which was expected. However, he didn't interrupt or call my claims into question during the entire conversation. Perhaps it was because he placed absolute trust in his former Pillar's words. Who knows what Tengu gramps had written in that letter? Plus, my little telekinesis demonstration with the furniture probably bolstered my credibility.

Kagaya's wife returned with tea just as I was halfway through my explanations. Her eyes widened when they landed on me, and like her husband before her, she couldn't hide her concern for my well-being. I chuckled in response, appreciating their kindness, even if it felt surreal. It was heartwarming to see their genuine care. It turned out that many Africans, especially those brought by the Americans/Europeans over the years, were slaves.

Yup.

Humanity in all its glory. Splendid.

Setting aside the formalities that they insisted upon, I had to practically beg them not to address me as 'Colith-sama.' Seriously, what was it with all the politeness? In the end, we reached an agreement: I would offer assistance to any Slayers I encountered, while they could speculate about my identity to their heart's content. Kagaya asked why I preferred to remain anonymous, and I simply revealed that it was for trolling purposes. They did not what trolling meant, but I clarified that it was safer this way. If demons got wind of our alliance, they might go into hiding, making it even more challenging to locate them. I had this situation under control.

Since Tanjiro wasn't a Slayer yet, they were unaware of the existence of demons like Nezuko. Or maybe they did know? After all, wasn't he in contact with Tamayo? Well, regardless, I decided to let the story unfold as it should over the next two years. I couldn't risk altering crucial events in Tanjiro's growth. If I ever came across demons that the kid was supposed to defeat in the anime, I'd simply steer clear. The kid needed that character development, and I didn't want to mess with it.

After we had finished dinner - and they had thoughtfully considered my preference to avoid pork, thanks to Tengu gramps! - an idea crossed my mind.

"So, Kagaya, about that illness of yours, it's related to the big bad guy, right?" During our discussion, I had asked if it was alright to address them by their first names, both him and his wife Amane. To be honest, I wasn't accustomed to the whole '-sama' formality, and besides, I was older than him, right? He was around 21, so they agreed without any qualms.

Kagaya blinked in surprise before a resigned smile graced his face. "Yes, it is. Unless we defeat him, the curse will continue to afflict our family. This... is the price we must pay... for giving birth to the progenitor." As he spoke, there was a subtle but noticeable shift in Amane's expression for a brief moment before returning to normal. Poor woman.

I hummed, removing my gloves. "Do you mind if I try something real quick? I might be able to do something about it."

Kagaya gave a slight start and glanced at his wife, who had been patiently listening until now, before returning his attention to me.

"You can?" he inquired with a mix of hope and curiosity.

"hm-hm, assuming it has something to do with MJ, maybe I can..." I leaned forward, reaching for his forehead with my right hand before pausing. "May I?" I turned my gaze toward his wife, who seemed startled by the attention. She nodded with a small smile. I wouldn't dare touch someone's loved one without asking first.

I took a moment to carefully assess him, so you can imagine my surprise when I detected some red demonic particles feeding on his life force, slowly deteriorating his health. No wonder they couldn't do anything about it, even though I almost overlooked it. Muzan was a Ubuyashiki, which meant he had a blood bond with them that turned out to be poison for anyone related to him who wasn't a demon. Unless that fiend met his end, their suffering would persist, so that was motivation enough to deal with him.

My hand gently rested on the purple section of his forehead. Kagaya didn't even flinch at the contact, having lost the sense of touch at that spot. I had noticed that my energy, aura, or whatever you want to call it, was harmful to demons, as demonstrated in the fight - or should I say, slaughter - back in the shelter. Obviously, punching Kagaya wasn't an option, so if I used my [instant heal] on him, which was just a fancy way for my aura to mend things, something might happen, right?

"Alright, you might feel weird, but let me just..." My eyes and palm suddenly glowed as I activated it, prompting a gasp of surprise from Amane as she witnessed the display.

I recalled using this ability frequently during Trost's attack, healing soldiers on death's door, even regrowing limbs out of nowhere before erasing their memories to prevent panic. To put it mildly, this power was incredibly op, far surpassing the regeneration abilities of shifters.

My focus returned to Kagaya, and I noticed the purple mark receding at an alarming speed until it vanished completely, evidence that my aura was indeed a potent demon repellent. I'd need to be cautious around Nezuko. However, a small remnant of the curse still lingered within Kagaya's core, which made me furrow my brow. It was insignificant, yet it persisted, as if something stubbornly clung to it, refusing to fade entirely. What in the world... I attempted to erase it once more with "[instant heal," infusing more energy, but it proved futile. The curse lingered like a stubborn parasite. This led me to the realization that until Muzan chose to walk under the sun, the curse wouldn't fully vanish. What I had accomplished was merely resetting it to a dormant state. With a sigh of disappointment, I withdrew my hand.

"I'm sorry, but until we kill him, a bit of the curse will remain. Thankfully, I managed to reset it to a dormant state, which I've surrounded with my aura to keep it contained and block its growth. This should enable you to live a normal life for as long as I'm alive..." I trailed off, noticing that they seemed not to hear me. When I opened my eyes to gauge their reaction, I was met with the sight of a shell-shocked Kagaya and Amane. "Guys...?"

I watched as Kagaya blinked, tested his hands by opening and closing his fists, realizing there was no strain on his muscles anymore. Then, we both heard hiccups coming from his left. Oh no...

"Kagaya-sama...your eyes..." Amane's trembling hand slowly reached for her husband's face, caressing the now unblemished skin of his forehead as tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. His eyes...his face...he looked so much healthier that the sight brought her to tears.

He didn't even have time to blink before she immediately caught him in a warm, tight embrace, forgetting all about etiquette and sobbing quietly on his chest. Kagaya's aura swirled with many emotions, shifting from shock to confusion before finally settling on relief as he embraced his wife in return, whispering soothing words to her.

'Dang I still want that'

I just...sat there awkwardly, waiting for them to eventually notice me, which I immediately regretted because Amane suddenly whipped her head towards me - which scared the life out of me, to be honest - and began bowing repeatedly, expressing her gratitude for the blessing I had bestowed upon them. As you might imagine, this flustered me to no end! Kagaya joined in, conveying his profound gratitude as well. He was still visibly shaken by the fact that he had been somewhat cured, even though I quickly pointed out the lingering issue he still had. Nevertheless, it was truly astonishing to witness his return to a more normal state.

"I...I cannot thank you enough for this, Colith. Please accept our offer to house you for as long as you wish. The Demon Slayer Corps, no, the Ubuyashiki family is forever indebted to you."

I scratched my cheek sheepishly, replying, "Well, I did say it wasn't that big of a deal... Plus, I wasn't able to entirely cure you."

Kagaya shook his head, insisting, "No, this is definitely enough as it is." His tone still carried a sense of disbelief, but both husband and wife smiled brightly, their gratitude apparent.

"If there is anything you wish for us to do, please do tell, and we will provide it to the best of our abilities," Amane suggested.

I paused, contemplating her offer. 'Do I need something...?' At the moment, I had no specific plans or destinations in mind. While I could start wandering around, using my sensing abilities to locate towns, villages, and even demons, the idea of sightseeing ancient Japan was tempting my inner tourist. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head.

"Hmm, what about a crow? Is it possible for you to lend me one? Just for the time it takes me to familiarize myself with the area, and I'll return it as soon as possible-"

Before I could finish my sentence, they wholeheartedly agreed to my request.

Oh well.

Guess they're my friends now.
__________

Hiiiiii, as you may know, yours truly is an artist too!
I was wondering if commissioning me might interest y'all?
Just askiiin'!

I do :

5€ chibi head like these
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Dm me if interested! Or ignore it 🤷🏾‍♀️

HAVE A NICE DAAAAY!

EDITED