"Here?" Shiro questioned. He peeked inside the place and saw a lot of people inside, eating and chatting happily. He shuddered, there were still a lot of people. "T-t-t-that's a lot of p-p-people..."

"It's alright." Tanjiro patted his back. "This place is very popular and it's filled with customers 24/7. And I know the owner of this place, sorry about that..." Shiro shook his head as he stood up wobbly, holding into Tanjiro for support. "Let's get inside, shall we?"

The moment the doors opened, a lot of chatter attacked Shiro's ear as he immediately covered them up. There were really a lot of people there. They both made their way to the front desk, along the way, Shiro noticed a peculiar person sitting at the back, a hood over their head but a white snake was sticking out. That person was trying to be secretive but he was painfully sticking out like a sore thumb.

'Dumbass.' Shiro thought about the hooded figure.

"Excuse me?" Tanjiro ringed the bell and a pair of footsteps suddenly came running.

"Sorry! There's just been a lot of people- Oh! Tanjiro!" A bubbly girl came to the front desk, her pink hair faded to green and was braided into three different sections. "I haven't seen you in quite a while! Did I make an order and I forgot!?" She suddenly exclaimed, taking a notebook and scanning through it.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Mitsuri." Tanjiro shook his head, taking Shiro and putting him in front. "This is Shiro, he's here to stay for the night."

Mitsuri lowered the notebook as she glanced over at Shiro and smiled. "Oh! Nice to meet you, Shiro! I'm Kanroji Mitsuri! Nice to meet you!" Shiro nodded, still not used to being around girls and this girl was... well... "Well, then, we only have a few available rooms left! Are you going to stay too, Tanjiro?"

Tanjiro nodded. And Mitsuri took a key that said 814 and handed it to Tanjiro. "Here you go, how many nights?"

"Just for tonight..." Shiro answered as he took out his pouch to pay, Tanjiro said that he'll pay but Shiro beat him to it. After Mitsuri handed the key, Shiro immediately rushed to the room to hide from the group of people.

"You really aren't used to crowded people..." Tanjiro commented, sitting down on his bed as Shiro sulked on his. "This place is really popular because of Mitsuri. She's very popular and a lot of people know her for her beauty and strength physically and magic wise! And also, she's a very great cook! She built this inn all by herself!"

Shiro looked up, amazed by that fact. "That's amazing..." He said. Just on cue, his stomach began to rumble and he faced planted on his pillow. Tanjiro chuckled and told him that they should get some lunch and Shiro's stomach agreed.

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"Tasty!" Shiro and Tanjiro exclaimed happily after taking a bite of Mitsuri's food.

"Y-you really think so?!" She exclaimed as the two boys nodded. 'What cute little boys!' She thought as she headed back to the kitchen, ready to cook. She's the only worker in the inn, but she keeps the place in check with magic.

Shiro was very much satisfied with the food. It was very delicious. But it reminded him so much of his mother's cooking... "Are you okay?" Tanjiro asked, noticing the solemn look that Shiro had.

"Yeah... I just miss my mother..." Shiro sighed. "Huh?" Shiro stood up and looked around the place. Tanjiro asked in worry. "It's just... I felt like someone was staring at me..."

Tanjiro was concerned. "Let's eat for now, later, let's go into town so that you can get used to the people." Shiro nodded as they finished the last of their meal.

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'Ugh... still a lot of people...' Shiro thought in disgust as he stayed close to Tanjiro while wandering through town. He was fascinated at the place, sure, but the number of people, however, did not.

"Here." Tanjiro handed Shiro something. It looked like a small, shiny animal stabbed into a stick, and Shiro looked horrified. "Oh, it's candy." Shiro immediately salivated at the word. He loved sweet things. "Here you are."

"T-thanks..." Shiro muttered, pink in the cheeks as he took the candy and plopped it in his mouth. 'Sweet...' He hummed in satisfaction as they kept on moving.

A few feet behind them was a cloaked figure, following them and making sure that their face wasn't visible. Their blue eye clearly following every movement Shiro made. 'Who is that...?' They thought, stopping in front of a stall as the two boys in front stopped as well. 'He looks just like... him...' They continued his tailing. 'AND WHO THE FUCK DID HE THINK HE IS!? TALKING WITH HER SO CASUALLY!'

Just as they were about to follow again, a voice shot through their head; 'Iguro, the king is calling for a meeting. All of the Èxi must attend. It is obligatory.'

Iguro, the cloaked man clicked his forked tongue as he rushed into the shadows, taking off his cloak to reveal his face. One of his eyes was blue and the other was yellow, both slitted. His shoulder length black hair framing his face that had a few scales. On the side of his mouth was a large scar. And on his shoulder was a white snake.

"Damn king... and here I was talking with her..." He said as a large, black snake suddenly appeared out of thin air and wrapped around him as he disappeared.

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Shiro felt a shiver run up his spine as he looked around. The feeling from before came back. The feeling of something cold biting on his skin and he felt scared. "Tanjiro... I think we should head back now..."

"Okay!" Tanjiro cheered. "It's nearly night time too! We've been out for a long time!"

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Morning soon came as the two boys stood up from their beds. Tanjiro looked as bright as the sun. Shiro, on the other hand, looked like he just murdered someone and is currently on drugs.

"Shiro! Today is the day!" Tanjiro cheered. "Let's get ready! I'll accompany you to- AHH!!!" Tanjiro exclaimed when he saw the scary look that Shiro had. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I just didn't recognize you..."

Shiro sighed, trying to fix his fluffy white hair. "I'm just not the best morning person..." He stood up and made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. After cleaning up they left the inn and said their goodbyes to Mitsuri.

The two boys continued their walk until they were at the town square where a large vehicle of some kind was waiting, besides it was a table and a man wearing a coach's outfit, he had shoulder length hair with red and blue tips, there were also markings on his face.

"Hello! Are you two going to be going to the capital?" He asked as the two boys approached him. Tanjiro immediately shook his head and told him that it was only Shiro. "Oh, I see! That would cost you 3 gold! It's already dropped since you are still a child! And the travel time would be 9 hours!"

Shiro nodded and gave him the proper amount as he jotted down his name on the paper.

"I'll see you soon, okay." Tanjiro said, giving him a pat on the head. "Be careful on your way! Okay?"

Shiro nodded. "Thanks. I'll be sure to keep in touch. Please thank your family for their hospitality! And say that I'll be sure to repay their kindness in any way that I can!"

After giving each other their goodbyes, Tanjiro nearly crying, Shiro went inside the surprisingly large vehicle where a few other people were waiting already.

He made his way to his assigned seat and waited.

'Mother... I'm getting clues. Our family history, our relation with the Tsugikuni, and... I'll finally get to the Divine Lands. I'll meet uncle Yoriichi after a long time and... I'll ask the one who's a descendant of the God of Fate and Destinies.'

'I'll be sure to kick that useless man of a father right in his nuts and make sure he regrets ever leaving you behind!'