Crow: South-southeast! The next place you two need to go is south-southeast!

Hawk: Would you shut up, douchbag?!

Y/n: Yeah, we heard you the first sixteen times.

???: Please!

They looked ahead and saw Zenitsu who was now wearing his yellow white triangle haori over a Demon Slayer Corps uniform bowing to a young girl.

Zenitsu: Please! Please! Please! Merry me! You know, I could die any day now! Marry me so I don't die alone! Merry me, I'm begging you! Please!

Tanjiro: Wh-What is he doing? What on earth?

A sparrow flew into Tanjiro's hand and chirped rapidly.

Tanjiro: Yes.

Y/n: I feel like I've seen this sparrow before along with the yellow moron who's harassing that poor girl.

The sparrow was still chirping as Zenitsu was still bothering the girl.

Tanjiro: So, that's it then? Okay, we'll try to help.

Zenitsu: Please, I'm asking you again, merry me! I beg you-

Tanjiro pulled Zenitsu by the back of his haori.

Tanjiro: Why are you making such a scene in the middle of the road? She's clearly not interested in you. Also, your stressing your sparrow out.

Y/n: Didn't anyone teach you to respect women, you delinquent?

Zenitsu: Those uniforms, and that mask. Aren't you those guys from Final Selection?

Tanjiro: Don't go pretending we know each other, cuz we don't! 'Kay!

Y/n: Wait. Tanjiro, we have met him. He's that blonde guy from Final Selection that was mumbling something about dying.

Zenitsu: See? Your friend remembers me just fine!

Tanjiro let go of Zenitsu's haori and talked to the girl.

Tanjiro: All right, you're all set to head home again. Do you need help with anything else?

Girl: No, thank you very much.

Zenitsu: Hang on! Don't you interfere! That girl was madly in love with me! The two of us are gonna get married-

Y/n pinned him down.

Zenitsu: Hey, what are you doing?

Y/n: You don't talk unless it's an answer to my question, or I'll brake your arms. Now, why were you bothering that poor girl over there?

Zenitsu: That girl talked to me, so she had to be falling in love with me.

Y/n: Uh. Miss, what exactly did you say to him?

Girl: I just talked to him when he was disheveled on the road.

Zenitsu: So, your telling me the reason you did that wasn't because you were falling in love with me?!

Girl: Considering that I already have a fiancé, that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you! But you seem to be perfectly fine now, except for having a crazy bird guy on your back who's threatening to break your arms.

Y/n: Hurry up and leave while I have him pinned down.

Girl: Thank you.

She walked off and Y/n got off Zenitsu when she was long gone.

Zenitsu: Wh-Why'd you two have to get in my way? This had nothing to do with either of you.

Y/n shook his head while Tanjiro just looked at Zenitsu.

Zenitsu: Why are you looking at me like that? Stop it! You're staring at me like I'm some pitiful creature or something!

Y/n: That's because you are.

Zenitsu: Now listen here, you two! The reason I missed out on getting married is all your fault!

Y/n: Did you not hear her when she said she already had a fiancée?

Zenitsu: Why won't your friend say anything? Look, during my next job I will likely die. The reason is, I'm just a weakling, do you understand? You two have to help protect me until I manage to get married, Misters.

Tanjiro: My name is Tanjiro, that is Y/n! And you are?

Zenitsu: Tanjiro and Y/n? That's good to know. I'm Zenitsu Agatsuma!

He graveled at them.

Zenitsu: Please, you got to do what you can to save me.

Tanjiro: Aren't you being a bit dramatic? Why did you even become a swordsmen? You're acting utterly pathetic right now.

Y/n: Who ever trained you must have a soft spot for failures.

Zenitsu: That's a harsh way to put it! I got coned by a woman and racked up a lot of debt! The old geezer who took it over for me happened to be this tough as nails instructor! He made me train to the bone everyday! It was so hellish that I just wanted to die! I was hoping that happened during Final Selection! But since I survived, this nightmare continues to haunt me! I'm so scared! Terrified! Frightened! I just know I'm gonna get eaten by a demon soon! My brains are gonna get sucked through my ears while I'm still alive!

Y/n: All right, let me get this straight. You spent all of your money on a girl, then an old man who turned out to be a trainer payed off all of your debt, and you hoped to die in Final Selection, but you're now scared that a demon will eat you? Is that it?

Zenitsu: Yes, you pretty much covered everything.

They eventually got back on the road.

Y/n: Somehow we ended up walking with this guy.

Tanjiro: You better?

Zenitsu: A bit. But now I'm feeling really hungry.

Y/n: Good, if you stay like that for a few weeks, you won't have to worry about the demons eating you because you'll die of starvation.

Tanjiro: Y/n, what did I tell you about talking to people like that?

Y/n: Hey, he's the one who wanted to die, I'm just giving him tips on how to.

Tanjiro: (sigh) I'm sorry about him, he doesn't like anyone interrupting our friendship.

Tanjiro pulled out a rice ball.

Tanjiro: Here. Take one of these.

Zenitsu: Really? Thank you so much.

Zenitsu took a bite.

Zenitsu: Aren't you two going to eat anything?

Tanjiro: That was all I had.

Y/n: And I don't really eat much.

Zenitsu: Is that why you're so short? Because you're not getting proper nutritions?

Y/n: I guess you could say that's one reason.

Zenitsu: I know it isn't my place to say this, but as his brother, you need to make sure he eats right, Tanjiro.

Tanjiro: Wait, you think I'm his brother?

Zenitsu: Yes, is that not right.

Y/n: We were trained by the same old man, but he didn't really adopt us so I don't even think we can officially call each other brothers.

Zenitsu: A simple no would've been enough.

Zenitsu broke the rice ball in half.

Zenitsu: You take this half, Tanjiro.

Tanjiro: You sure about that? Thanks a lot.

Tanjiro broke his half.

Tanjiro: Here, Y/n.

Y/n: No, you eat all of it.

Tanjiro: I'm not going to hear it! I may not be your brother, but Zenitsu is right. I do need to make sure you're eating good.

Y/n: Fine.

Y/n took his piece took off his mask in a position where Zenitsu couldn't see his face and quickly ate his piece.

Zenitsu: What's wrong with your face that makes you feel like you have to hide it?

Y/n: Very few people have seen what's under this mask.

Tanjiro: I know what you mean when you say you're terrified of demons, Zenitsu. But you should try not to worry your sparrow.

Zenitsu: Huh? For saying it was distressed? How can you tell?

Y/n: He told us.

Tanjiro: Yeah, he says you're always whining about going to work...

Y/n: And that you flirt with any girl under 40...

Tanjiro: And you snore really loudly.

Zenitsu: Wait, he said all that? You two can understand bird language?

Tanjiro: Yeah.

Y/n: I'm surprised he doesn't talk like us like my hawk. You know, I feel like we're forgetting something.

Hatake and Matsuemon came out of nowhere.

Hatake/Matsuemon: Run, Tanjiro! Run, Y/n! Run, Zenitsu! You need to run to your next location!

Y/n: Oh, right. We have a mission.

Zenitsu: (screams) That crow and hawk are talking to us!

Later.

The three of them were walking through a forest.

Zenitsu: Hey, Tanjiro, Y/n, maybe I should hang back for now. Even in I tag along with you, I'm not gonna be able to do anything.

Y/n: If you didn't want to come, then why did you follow us?

They eventually made it to a big house.

Tanjiro: It's a house.

Y/n: Looks more like a mansion to me.

Tanjiro: I can smell blood. But it's strange...

Zenitsu: Wait, you can smell something here?

Tanjiro: Yeah, but this is a whole new smell.

Zenitsu: A smell? I can't say I'm getting any of that. What about that sound? You're able to hear that, right?

Tanjiro: Sound?

They saw two kids, a boy and a little girl in the shade.

Zenitsu: There are kids here?

Tanjiro: They look scared. Hey there, is there a reason you're out here by yourselves?

They started shaking.

Y/n: We're not gonna hurt you.

He gently patted their heads.

Y/n: See? We mean you no harm.

They started to calm down.

Tanjiro: Talk to me, did something happen? Is this your house?

Boy: No. No, it's not. This house, it belongs to a monster. Our big brother got taken away. We were walking down the road at night, and this thing appeared in front of us. It went straight after our brother. Never giving us a glance.

Tanjiro: Did it take him inside that house?

Boy: Yeah.

Y/n: Can you tell us any extinguishing features about it?

Tanjiro: Why is that important?

Y/n: It might give us a small idea of what we're up against.

Boy: We didn't see much, only that it was big.

Y/n: How big?

Boy: As big as that door. And it really hurt our brother.

Tanjiro: It'll be alright. We're gonna go defeat the bad guy and save your brother.

Girl: Is that true? You'll help him?

Tanjiro: Yes! I promise!

Y/n: Me too.

Zenitsu: Hey, Tanjiro, Y/n, what is that strange sound? It's really unnerving, it never stops. It sounds like a drum.

Tanjiro: A drum? I don't hear anything.

Y/n: Me either. Maybe this guy has some sort of supernatural sense of hearing like your keen sense of smell, Tanjiro.

They all heard the beat of a drum until a bloody man flew from the second level window and hit the ground hard.

Tanjiro: Just cover your eyes!

Y/n: Don't look.

Tanjiro ran to the man.

Tanjiro: Are you all right? Can you hear me? Just hang on!

Man: Even though I was able to... escape from that horrible place and make it here... was it not enough? Am I still gonna die?

Tanjiro hugged the man as he died.

Tanjiro: He's gone.

Y/n walked to them.

Y/n: Look on the bright side, at least he's free.

He ran his hand over the man's face and closed his eyes.

Zenitsu: Hey, Tanjiro and Y/n, could that by chance these kids...

Zenitsu was interrupting by a huge roar from the mansion.

Y/n: What the hell was that?

Tanjiro: Hey, is this your brother?

Boy: No. No, that isn't him. He was wearing an orange color kimono.

Tanjiro let the dead man go.

Tanjiro: Zenitsu, Y/n, let's go!

Zenitsu looked around frantically.

Tanjiro: Look, we're the only ones that can help them.

Y/n: Don't bother, Tanjiro. He'll just get in the way. It'll be easier if you and me just do it.

Zenitsu: Wait, Y/n! Don't be all mean! I'll go!

Tanjiro: (sigh) Don't let him force you.

Tanjiro placed Nezuko's box in front of the kids.

Tanjiro: In case you run into trouble, I'm leaving this box. If you need help, it'll protect you.

Y/n: And I expect you to protect it with your live as well. Because if you don't, I'll make this monster seem like a wet kitty compared to what I am.

Tanjiro: Okay, we'll be back.

The three walked into the house.

Zenitsu: Tanjiro, Y/n, before we continue. If anything comes up, you two will protect me, right.

Tanjiro: Zenitsu, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I recently broke my leg and a rip. And Y/n is pretty drained from his last fight.

Zenitsu: Ah! I'm gonna die! What am I gonna do?!

Y/n: Simple, just kill the demon before it kills you.

Zenitsu: That's so easy for you to say! You must have some great talent if you're that confident you can kill demons!

Tanjiro: Stay back!

He saw the kids come in.

Tanjiro: You two shouldn't be here!

Boy: We're sorry, there were sounds coming from inside that box.

Tanjiro: Still, I you haven't left it behind. That thing is more precious to me than my own life.

Y/n quickly ran out and grabbed the box and put it on his back then back to them.

Y/n: I got it.

Zenitsu: (Thinking: He's faster than his short legs make him seem.)

The house started to shake and Zenitsu accidentally knocked Tanjiro and the little girl into a room.

Zenitsu: Whoops, sorry.

They disappeared.

Y/n: What the hell.

Y/n went in that room and it began to change until he was in a room with a desk.

Y/n: Did I just change the room I was in?

With Tanjiro.

He was with the little girl who was crying on him.

Tanjiro: I'm sorry you got separated from your brother. But I'm gonna protect you no matter what. And Zenitsu and Y/n are going to protect your brother. Don't worry! What's your name?

Teruko: It's Teruko.

Tanjiro: Your names Teruko?

Tanjiro smelled something and a huge muscular demon with tsuzumi drums all over its body walked in front of the door of the room. Teruko was about to scream but Tanjiro covered her mouth.

With Zenitsu.

Zenitsu: I'm gonna die. It's over, it's over, it's over, I just know it! I can't believe we were separated!

Boy: Teruko, you here? It's Shoichi.

Zenitsu: Hey, hey, hey! You can't go around yelling like that! If the bad guy hears us and finds us, it's not gonna be pretty! Let's just go wait outside!

Shoichi: Huh? Why would we do that? Are you trying to escape all by yourself? All this constant whining, aren't you a little ashamed? It's pathetic that you're clinging to the sleve of someone that's younger than you. Why does a coward like you have a sword on your hip in the first place? I'd rather be with the bird guy.

Zenitsu felt like he was stabbed in the heart.

Zenitsu: Those words, they cut me right to the core.

Zenitsu grabbed Shoichi's sleve and ran.

Zenitsu: Listen here, you! I'm not gonna be useful in this fight! So let's just find an adult to help us! Because this isn't something us kids can do on our own!

He walked them to the door to outside but when Zenitsu opened it, it was just another room.

Zenitsu: No way, you've gotta be kidding me! I'm sure this was the front door! Did I misremember?

He started to rapidly open doors until he opened one where something with a muscular male body, and a boar's head.

Zenitsu: It's a monster!

With Y/n.

He was walking through the mansion.

Y/n: Man, I forgot how lonely walking alone can be.

He then released something.

Y/n: Wait, I'm not alone. Nezuko, scratch the inside of the box if you're awake.

He heard scratching noises.

Y/n: Great. Come on out, it's safe.

Nezuko got out of the box.

Y/n: It's nice to have someone by my side.

Nezuko muffled something.

Y/n: Ugh, take that thing out!

He pulled the bamboo muzzle out of Nezuko's mouth.

Y/n: Now, what did you say?

Nezuko: I said, it's great to be with you too.

Y/n and Nezuko we're both surprised.

Nezuko: I can talk?

Y/n: Yes, and your voice.

Nezuko: Is there something wrong with it?

Y/n: No. It's just that, it's more lovely than I remembered.

Nezuko blushed hearing this.

Nezuko: (blushing) Uh, thank you.

Y/n released what he said and blushed under his mask.

Y/n: I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable.

Nezuko: No, it's fine. There are actually some things I've wanted to talk to you about.

Y/n: All right, let's talk.

Back with Tanjiro.

Tanjiro and Teruko were still silently looked at the drum demon.

Drum demon: If it hadn't been for them... if it hadn't been for them and their meddling.

Tanjiro: (Whispering: Teruko, you gotta try not to scream. The room might change again, so don't go far. All right, go hide behind those shelves.

Teruko did what Tanjiro said.

Drum demon: Curses! Curses! Thanks to them, he was able to get away! That prey was mine and mine alone! Damn them! Why do all these unwelcome guests keep barging into someone else's home? It's maddening! That pray belonged to me! I found it with my own two hands on my own property!

Tanjiro drew his sword.

Drum demon: Those filthy rats! I'll make them pay!

Tanjiro: Hey, you! Listen up! I'm a Demon Slayer, ranked Mizunoto, Tanjiro Kamado! It's my duty to slay you now!

Drum demon: A child with marechi that I found myself!

Tanjiro ran at the demon and was about to cut its neck, but the demon hit the drum on its right shoulder and the room Tanjiro and Teruko were in rotated to the right which moved Tanjiro too.

Tanjiro: Teruko!

He saw Teruko was fine.

Tanjiro: (Thinking: This must be his Blood Demon Art. This entire mansion is his territory!)

Tanjiro smelled something.

Tanjiro: (Thinking: What's this? There's an odd scent, but it's not a demon.)

The boar headed guy busted into the room.

Tanjiro: (Thinking: Who is this guy? He's wearing a boar's hide!)

He noticed that the boar guy had two Nichirin Swords with lots of gaps in them.

Tanjiro: (Thinking: And he's wielding Nichirin Swords!)

Boar guy: All right, you monster... die on the battlefield and serve as my catalyst, so I may become even more powerful and soar to new heights!

Drum demon: Infuriating! Just infuriating!

Boar guy: Hope you're ready for me, 'cause I'm comin' through!
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Preview.

Zenitsu: Hey, Tanjiro, Y/n, I think that girl you two rudely pull away from back there really did love me after all.

Tanjiro: What are you talking about? It was so obvious that she wasn't into you!

Zenitsu: No way! She may have said all of those things, but she could have just been playing hard to get!

Y/n: If you're going to continue with that statement, I'd suggest you to reconsider.

Tanjiro: It's time for a Taisho-era secret! I hear that Zenitsu gets so nervous in front of girls his heart starts fluttering like a hummingbird.

Zenitsu: Well, I just can't help it! They look so adorable, and soft, and they smell really nice!

Y/n: You pervert.

Zenitsu: You're just mad because you don't have a cute girl to think about.

Y/n: That's not true. I have-

He stopped mid sentence.

Zenitsu: What was that?

Y/n: Nothing.

Tanjiro: Next, Chapter 12, "The Boar Bears Its Fangs, Zenitsu Sleeps."

To Be Continued.