They've been traveling for at least two days now. They have to stay out of the sunlight due to Nezuko being a demon though they don't know why Tomioka told them to not expose her under the sunlight. They found themselves near farmland and Tanjiro had an idea after waking up from the cave they found.

"Optimus, are you awake?" Tanjiro whispered softly as he didn't want his sister to wake up.

Optimus opened his eyes and Tanjiro couldn't help a slight chill down his spine whenever he saw Optimus' eyes glowing even in the dark.

"I am awake now, Tanjiro. Is everything alright?" He asked in a low voice.

"I need to get materials like a basket, some straws and bamboo so I can carry Nezuko so we can continue during the day." He explained. Optimus hummed softly and he looked to where Nezuko was as she was leaning against him and sleeping soundly.

"Alright but be careful. I'll keep an eye on Nezuko while you're gone." He reassured him and Tanjiro smiled thankfully and quietly left the cave as Optimus put his haori over Nezuko as she slept peacefully.

Optimus watched the outside of the cave as the sun was starting to rise. Feeling movement beside him, he turned to see Nezuko waking up and looking at the cave entrance with what could be described as an uncomfortable look.

"I am guessing you do not like the sun, Nezuko?" Optimus pondered. Nezuko looked at him and nodded as she went to the back of the cave and started to dig a hole and Optimus couldn't help but stare in confusion and intrigued.

'The one from the mountain...' Optimus thought as the words of Tomioka appeared in his mind.

"She seems to be alright since it’s cloudy now, but never let her be exposed to the sunlight, okay?"

'He told us not to expose her in the sunlight so... maybe it's a weakness that all demons have...' He pondered as he looked out the entrance of the cave.

The sun was already in the sky and Optimus remembered the slight and mild stinging in his body when he walked in the sunlight. So maybe he has the same weakness of every demon but it didn't affect him as much but he'll probably need to train his body to resist the sunlight more.

He turned to Nezuko who was looking at the entrance of the cave with an unhappy look.

"Nezuko, I need to find something for me and Tanjiro to eat. Are you gonna be alright by yourself here?" He asked as Nezuko's soft pale pink eyes turned to him and she nodded with a small hum.

Optimus smiled and crawled out of the cave. The early morning sun shined down on him and he had to cover his eyes from the bright light. It still amazes him how such a peaceful dimension and planet has a sight to always see on rare times. He then went to the forest to find something for him and Tanjiro to eat. He knows that Tanjiro can get them something to eat from a village they're near but he doesn't want to rely too much on the kid and he'll try and help out as much as he can.

Taking a small yet deep breath, Optimus quickly scented two things. Something sweet and a small animal as well. Going in the opposite direction, Optimus found two small animals nibbling on some grass. He quickly identified them as rabbits. He hesitated since he's against killing species but it's for the best since he and Tanjiro need something to eat. 

Praying a small apology to the little animals, Optimus killed the rabbits swift and fast so their deaths won't be painful. He then looked for a stream that could help wash the blood from the small corpses and found one as well as some fish. He made quick work on the rabbits and took out the intestines and made sure to bury them but not before catching a fish or two and preparing them for him and Tanjiro to eat.

He then followed the scent of something sweet and found a tree with something orange. He heard about them from Miko, who called it Mandarin fruit. A type of orange in Japan.

He set the fish and rabbit meat somewhere wild animals couldn't reach, jumped up on a branch and plucked out four of the mandarins before jumping down and starting to head back to the cave. He even was able to find a beehive and got a small chunk of it for some flavor. He doesn't know how to cook but he remembered Agent Fowler teaching the kids how to cook a simple meal so, it's best that he put the limited knowledge he has on cooking to good use.

The morning was still fresh and started to prepare everything and started a small fire to cook the food but he couldn't help but wonder what Tanjiro was doing.

On some farmland, Tanjiro is talking with a farmer when he comes out of the forest for something.

"Pardon me, sir. Would it be all right if I took that basket and some straw and bamboo?" He asked as he pointed to where the basket and straw is as well as the bamboo and the farmer looked at him.

"You're more than welcome, for all the good it'll do you. The basket is full of holes." The farmer told him as Tanjiro felt relief. At least he can carry Nezuko without worrying about her being exposed to sunlight.

"Thank you, I'll gladly pay you for it." Tanjiro said but the farmer shook his head.

"No, you don't have to do that. I don't need it anyway." The farmer refused.

"Please, I insist." Tanjiro insisted. He doesn't want to just take someone just because he was given it.

"No, it's fine. Same goes for the straw and bamboo." The farmer reassures him but Tanjiro is determined to at least pay him.

"Let me pay you!" Tanjiro insisted stubbornly as he started to get some yen to pay for the items.

"I said it's fine, so just take it, you stubborn kid!" The farmer shouted.

Tanjiro didn't listen and still paid for the basket, bamboo and straws with some yen he earned from selling charcoal and slapped it hard on the farmer's hand rather painfully.

"Take this small offering for your trouble, please!" Tanjiro said as the farmer cried out in pain and surprise.

Tanjiro picked up the straw, basket and bamboo before he started to head back to the cave.

"And thanks a lot for your help!" He said as the farmer just held his aching hand with a loud cry of pain.

On the way back up the mountain, Tanjiro stopped in his tracks when a very delicious scent wafted into his nose and made his mouth water and caused his stomach to growl. Upon arriving, he saw a fire and Optimus turning a stick with meat on it. Optimus looked up and noticed that he's back.

"Tanjiro, welcome back." He greeted with a smile which the redhead returned.

"Hey, Optimus. It smells good. What are you making?" Tanjiro asked as he set the basket, bamboo and straws down.

"I figured that if we'll be going to Mt. Sagiri, we will need to have food in our stomach." Optimus explained as Tanjiro nodded slowly.

"I could just buy us some food when we get to another village." The redhead said but Optimus shook his head.

"I know, Tanjiro, but I do not want to be a burden to you. So at least let me do this." He said as Tanjiro couldn't argue with that.

"It should be ready in a bit. Think you can wait?" Optimus asked and Tanjiro nodded.

"Of course! Oh, I gotta see Nezuko." Tanjiro got up and went to the cave.

"Nezuko? Hey, Nezuko?" He called but no reply or a peep.

He peered inside and his heart started to race when he couldn't find his sister.

"She’s gone!" He panicked.

He was about to turn to tell Optimus about it only to notice a head poking out from what appeared a hole as Nezuko groaned softly which relieved Tanjiro a lot.

"Hey, Nezuko…" Tanjiro greeted her but was still worried about why Nezuko dug a hole.

'Why'd she dig a hole? Is my demon kid sister turning into a mole now?' He wondered as he glanced at Optimus.

"Hey, Optimus? Why did Nezuko dig a hole? Is she turning into a mole now?" He asked in confusion.

Optimus looked up towards him and looked to Nezuko who was looking at them with a very unhappy look.

"She dug the hole when you were away. The sun was rising and she dug a hole to get away from the sun." Optimus explained as Tanjiro sighed in relief but was still worried for Nezuko.

He noticed that Optimus wasn't wearing his haori and he looked inside the cave to see that it was over Nezuko. Maybe Optimus put it over her? But the one thing he did notice is how Nezuko was looking outside the cave. Specifically the sunlight.

'And she doesn't look very happy about it, either. Guess she really wants to avoid the sun.' He thought as his eyes softened sadly before getting up.

"Hang on just a second." He told her. 

The food was cooked and Tanjiro got to work on fixing the basket so he could carry Nezuko and he ate some of the food that Optimus made and to say the least, it was sweet. He asked Optimus how he made it as he finished the basket.

Optimus found some cloth in his pocket and he used it to wrap up the remaining meat that they can eat tonight as Tanjiro brought the finished basket over to Nezuko who looked up at them as Optimus smiled.

"Nezuko? Nezuko? You think you could fit in here?" Tanjiro asked as he pointed to the basket.

"I wanna try to keep moving during the day too, but I can carry you, okay?" He told her as Nezuko looked at him curiously.

"Can you fit? In here?" Optimus asked as he pointed to the basket.

"Bas-ket." Tanjiro said slowly so she could understand.

She seemed to understand as she climbed out of the hole with Optimus' red and blue haori covering her head as she dived headfirst into the basket but she didn't fit.

"I... do not think that's going to work, Tanjiro." Optimus sweat drops.

"Uh, guess not." Tanjiro agreed as he smiled fondly at his sister.

'I can’t believe how grown-up she is. Seems like yesterday she was half that size.' He thought before he remembered how Nezuko became big two or three days ago.

"Eh?" He muttered in realization as Optimus looked at him.

"What is it, Tanjiro?" He asked as Tanjiro looked at him.

"I remembered something and it might help me carry Nezuko in the basket." He replied before looking at Nezuko who had half of her body in the basket.

"Hey, uh, Nezuko, remember how you got really big the other day? I've got an idea. Do you think you could get smaller?" Tanjiro asked as he started to encourage Nezuko by patting her back gently.

"Come on, Nezuko. Get smaller for us." He said as Nezuko hummed before flipping the basket right side up much to both Optimus and Tanjiro's surprise as she suddenly dives into it as both Optimus and Tanjiro went to the basket to see that Nezuko shrunk into a child-like state and was small enough to fit the basket.

"Nice job! Who's a good girl?" Tanjiro praised her as Nezuko huffed in delight at the praise and Optimus couldn't help but think that in this small form, Nezuko looks adorable.

"You are, Nezuko. I'm impressed." Tanjiro smiled as he rubbed his sister's head which made her smile behind the muzzle in delight.

In the late afternoon, Tanjiro and Optimus walk down the path past a farm with Nezuko carried in the covered basket on the redhead's back. They came upon a woman and her children to ask for directions to get to their intended destination faster.

"Pardon us, ma'am, but can you kindly point us to the fastest way to Mt. Sagiri?" Optimus asked the woman.

"Mt. Sagiri? If you really want to go there, the fastest way is over that mountain." The woman said as she pointed in the direction but she had a concerned look.

"But the sun's about to set, and you're hauling an awful lot of luggage. It's dangerous." She said as she voiced her concern but Tanjiro just gave her a reassuring smile.

"Please, don't worry. We'll be careful. And thank you for the directions." Tanjiro bowed his head in thanks and Optimus followed his notion as the two started to head to the mountain to reach Mt. Sagiri.

"A lot of people have been going missing on that mountain lately! Don't get lost, okay?" The woman told them as Tanjiro and Optimus turned back to wave to the woman and her kids as they continued down the path.

Night time soon came and Tanjiro let Nezuko out of the basket as she grew back to her normal height and size. Optimus insisted that he carry the basket since he carried Nezuko all day. Tanjiro wanted to carry it since he doesn't want Optimus to be burdened but the older teen reassured him that it won't and Tanjiro gave him the basket with hesitation. They're walking alongside each other by a trail leading up the mountain and if they continue down this path, they'll reach Mt. Sagiri by sundown.

Noticing a light, Optimus noted ahead.

"There seems to be a light ahead." He said as Tanjiro looked to where he was looking and noticed it too.

"It's a temple." Tanjiro said as he turned to his two companions.

"Looks like the light's been left on, so somebody must be there. Let's check it out." He said as he felt a bit of relief that they'll get a roof over their head to sleep before they continue the journey.

"Indeed, Tanji-" Optimus stopped as his pupils went to slits.

Tanjiro took notice of his sudden change of eyes and noted how he tense up which made him worry.

"What's wrong? Everything okay?" He asked in concern as Optimus looked around before his eyes glanced at the temple.

"There's a scent of metal and iron yet it belongs to a human. Something is very wrong." He said as Tanjiro took a small sniff in the air and immediately smelled what Optimus smelled.

"That's the scent of blood." Tanjiro said as he grew worried as he looked to where the smell was coming from.

"This path can be pretty rough. Somebody must be hurt!" Tanjiro exclaimed as they quickly ran up the stairs to the temple.

The closer they got, the stronger the scent of blood and death and something else got stronger as they neared the temple. Once arriving at the sliding doors, Tanjiro opened the doors immediately.

"Is everyone okay?!" He asked only to gasp in shock as Optimus' hand went to his saber on his back but he and Tanjiro were both frozen in shock as the basket on Tanjiro's back fell off what they were seeing.

Inside the temple with the sounds of eating belonged to two demons. The demons were the ones who attacked the people in the temple and from the scent, both were male and they were eating the corpses of the people they killed.

The demon took notice of the three and gave off a threatening aura as he licked the blood off his claws.

"The hell are you doing here?" He questioned as he finished cleaning his claws off of blood.

"This is our territory. Anybody who sets foot on our turf is gonna have to pay." He growled as he bared his fangs but Tanjiro and Optimus were frozen in place. This is the first time they're seeing a demon other than Nezuko yet the sight of the demon scared them and made them freeze.

'There's two demons!' Both of them thought in shock and horror.

At the sight of the corpses, Nezuko begins to drool furiously as the urge to feed was starting to overcome her but she was stopping herself as the first demon looked at the three in confusion and annoyance as he stood up with his companion after swallowing a piece of flesh.

"Huh? Something's not quite right about you. Hang on. Are you three humans?" The second one asked as they faced them.

It was a tense stare off as both Tanjiro and Optimus stared at the demons as the demons stared right back as they waited to see who would move first. A breeze blew right into the temple and blew out the candle but it was enough to start a battle.

The two demons charged at both Tanjiro and Optimus and knocked them out of the shrine and towards the steps of the temple

With quick reflexes, Tanjiro took out his hatchet and sliced at the neck of the first demon but it only caused a deep cut that would have killed a human and Optimus used his saber to slice the hands that was grabbing him as they stumbled back and the Prime stood beside Tanjiro as both of their hearts were pounding rapidly against their chest as the demons stood a distance from them.

The first demon that Tanjiro injured looked at his neck and the second one looked at his severed arm and they just scoffed and laughed. They're young yet they were able to injure them both.

"A hatchet and a katana? Not bad, you two. Just a little scratch though. Should heal in no time." The second smirked arrogantly as both Tanjiro and Optimus watched in shock as the severed limbs regenerated and the cut on the neck healed instantly.

"See that? The bleeding's already stopped." The first one told them. Optimus and Tanjiro knew this would be a hard fight since they don't have any experience fighting a demon.

"Hey, Kuro, I'll take the brat with the blue hair and you get the other one." The second one addressed the first one as Kuro as he smirked with hunger and bloodlust.

"Not a bad idea, Miro. I've been dying for fresh meat!"  Kuro smirked wickedly as both Tanjiro and Optimus tensed.

Back to the younger Kamado, Nezuko continues to stare at the bodies in the temple as she was struggling to fight the urge to feast on the corpses but it was hard since the smell of blood was too strong. 

The demons move too fast to see and Kuro pounces on Tanjiro, pushing the redhead to the ground as he can feel his neck being crushed and his air supply being cut off.

'He’s so fast and insanely strong.' Tanjiro thought with a grimace as he spared Optimus a glance to see that he was struggling as well.

Miro charged at Optimus who used his saber to block each swing of the claws but he was being pushed back towards a tree.

'Even with our combined strength, Tanjiro and I are inexperienced against a demon! Especially two of them!' Optimus grunted as he dodged another attack.

He was then pinned against the tree as the demon started to choke him as Miro laughed sadistically.

"You two got lucky but it won't work again. And now I'm gonna snap your neck and my companion will kill your little friend!" Kuro said as Tanjiro's eyes widened.

Optimus grunted as he felt his vision going black only for an instinct to take over as his nails sharpened and he slashed the demon that was choking him but with the attack, it was accompanied by marks that looked like stars and the cosmos.

"Blood Demon Art: Cosmic Tear!"

Miro roared in pain as he gripped his injured face but it was enough for Optimus to kick him away as he put his hand on his neck as his nails returned to normal as he breathed heavily.

"A blood demon art?!" Miro shouted in pain as his injury refused to heal.

Tanjiro was running out of air as he shouted in desperation and pain.

But it was enough to snap Nezuko out of her hunger haze. She heard her big brother's pained shout and she ran out from the temple and instantly kicked the demon's head clean off his shoulders. The head instantly hit Miro who was sent flying to the tree with the head of Kuro.

Optimus watched from where he was as he came to where Tanjiro and Nezuko are as he was in shock by what Nezuko did. Tanjiro was in a state of shock by what just happened as he looked to the demon's head and the second demon as the body fell on him and he quickly pushed it off him with a cry as he looked at Nezuko in shock who just stared blankly at the two demons.

'She- Nezuko, you killed him! Wait a minute! But he's a demon!' Tanjiro thought in shock as Optimus tried to process what just happened.

'Nezuko kicked the head of the demon clean off his shoulders and with such strength as well.' He thought in shock and disbelief.

"N-Nezuko." Tanjiro started only for the body of the headless demon was about to attack Tanjiro but Optimus swiftly used his saber to block the attack and it gave Nezuko an opening to kick the body away and it crashed towards a tree.

'I don’t believe it. Did that body just move and without a head?' Tanjiro thought in shock and disbelief.

"You bastards!" The voice brought their attention to the head as it was being held by Miro who was growling at Optimus.

"So the girl and the blue haired brat are demons after all, huh?" Miro growled as Kuro growled in annoyance.

"I couldn't tell with that weird vibe you two gave off. But what are you two doing teaming up with a human?!" Kuro growled loudly but the fact that the head was talking threw both Tanjiro and Optimus off.

'How's he still talking?!' They both thought in shock and disbelief.

Kuro's headless body runs toward Nezuko, jumps into the air and attempts to kick her. But she dodged but was hit by another one which caused her to grunt and cry in pain as she backed away as the body continued to attack her.

"Leave her alone!" Tanjiro shouted as he grabbed his hatchet and charged towards the body but Optimus quickly intercepted Miro who charged at Tanjiro but it gave Kuro's head to regenerate arms on the sides of his head and run towards Tanjiro with a feral growl.

Tanjiro gasped and swung his hatchet and stopped the demon’s head with his hatchet and the demon grabbed Tanjirou’s shoulders. But he couldn't be distracted, not when his younger sister is being attacked.

"Nezuko!" He shouted in worry as she grunted in pain from each attack.

The headless body kicks Nezuko several times. It throws her deeper into the forest and out of view which greatly worries both Tanjiro and Optimus.

"No, Nezuko!" Tanjiro shouted as he turned to Kuro's head who smirked at him and it just made him angry.

'What the hell is with this guy?' He thought as Optimus let out a cry and pinned Miro's body against the tree with his saber but it was deep enough so he couldn't escape.

'D-Damn!' Miro thought as Optimus panted and turned to Tanjiro.

The demon’s hair begins wrapping around the handle of Tanjirou’s hatchet but the redhead needs to help Nezuko before she gets hurt.

'Who grows arms out of the side of their head?! I've gotta help Nezuko!' Tanjiro thought as he had an idea as he looked at the demon angrily as he grew confused 

"Hmm?" The demon uttered in confusion.

"Out of the way!" Tanjiro shouted and headbutts the demon. Hard.

What should be painful for humans was nothing compared to Tanjiro's head. Tanjiro once demonstrated how hard his head was to Optimus by headbutting a tree with apples and to say the least that Optimus was in shock and disbelief by it and he asked how hard his head was.

'So hard. This kid's head is...' Kuro thought in disorientation as Tanjiro grabbed the hair and headbutted him again.

'Damn hard!' Tanjiro grabbed his axe that the demon still has his hair wrapped on and threw it towards a tree as the demon babbled loudly from the force of the spin until he was pinned against the three.

"Yes!" Tanjiro turned to Optimus as he went to his side.

"Optimus, are you okay?" He asked as Optimus glanced at him and the demons.

"I... I am alright, Tanjiro. Just overwhelmed." He said as he and Tanjiro ran into the forest to aid Nezuko.

"Wrapping my hair around his hatchet wasn't a great idea. Damn." Kuro said as Miro winced and his vision was going dark.

"At least you didn't get hit by a blood demon art. That blue haired boy smelled human but he can use a blood demon art." Miro said as Kuro looked at him in shock as Miro lost consciousness.

Deeper in the forest, Tanjiro and Optimus search for Nezuko.

"Nezuko! Where are you?!" Tanjiro shouted as he looked around.

"Where are you, Nezuko?!" Optimus called out as he and Tanjiro stopped to look around before they continued running only for Optimus to hear something.

"This way!" Optimus told Tanjiro who followed him as they eventually found Nezuko who was still getting kicked by the body.

"Nezuko!" Tanjiro shouted as both of them neared them.

"Get away from her!" Tanjiro tackles the body as Optimus helps Nezuko up only to realize that Tanjiro flung himself and the body off a cliff.

"Tanjiro!" Optimus shouted in fear and worry.

Tanjiro felt cold fear gripped his body as he started to plummet down but two hands grabbed his hands and stopped him from his near death. He looked up to see that it was Optimus and Nezuko that caught him as the body continued to fall down below until it hit the hard bottom on its neck before it fell limp and the head back at the temple felt it and fell unconscious.

Tanjiro breathed heavily as he tried to calm his racing heart as Optimus and Nezuko helped him back up the cliff. Tanjiro panted as he sat on his knees as Optimus was sitting down as the adrenaline was starting to die down in their systems.

"Are... Are you okay, Tanjiro?" Optimus asked as he looked at Tanjiro over to make sure he wasn't injured.

"I'm... I'm alright... Just... out of breath." Tanjiro panted as Nezuko hummed and humphed in worry as if she was asking him if he was sure.

"I'm alright, Nezuko. Thank you for catching me, you two." He thanked them before Tanjiro stood up slowly but his legs gave out on him.

Optimus smiled a little before he turned his back towards him and looked at him.

"I'll give you a ride back to the temple on my back, Tanjiro." Optimus told him as Tanjiro looked unsure.

"Are you sure?" He asked with uncertainty.

"I'm sure. And I don't think you can walk for a moment." Optimus reassured him.

Tanjiro knew he was right and Nezuko helped him on Optimus' back and Optimus made sure that he was sure on his back as the redhead wrapped his arms around his neck as the trio started their journey back towards the temple.

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As scheduled. Part 1 of episode 2. I'm bad at fighting scenes so please don't judge.