Getting home was rough, but once you made it, you were happy, and you could finally relax. You didn't have to worry about your friends being here. You didn't want them here. It was the only place you didn't want them because your home life was based on a partial lie. You managed your aunt's many businesses by doing books or going to them. Some people who worked at the stores looked down on you because you were gone sometimes, and because of your little secret, you had been hiding from everyone except for the demon slayer master who knew. He had to know just in case you died at the hands of a demon. You were never going to tell your friends because you knew they would see you differently and probably never want to be around you ever again. In many people's eyes, you were a disgrace, and you were willing to live with that forever.

Your friends were slowly following the blood trail you left behind due to them still not being a hundred percent. They followed your blood trail to a village that was three days away, but when they got there in under two like you did. You went shopping for clothes and food before going home. When they went to your home it was nice. It was an upper-middle-class house with electric lights, which was something they weren't expecting at all. Your village wasn't much of a village but a thriving town that was rather large.

"You said this was a village," Genya said.

"There are bigger places, so compared to those, it is a village," Muichiro said as Tanjiro knocked on the door.

Your aunt opened the door, and then a small four-year-old went past her. She looked exactly like you but just smaller and happier.

"Hello, can I help you?" Your aunt asked.

"Hi, we are friends of Y/n. Is she home by chance? She um wasn't feeling great when she left us," Tanjiro said.

"My mommy has boyfriends?!" She asked excitedly.

"No, um, we are looking for your sister," Tanjiro corrected.

"I don't have a sister yet. Y/n is my mommy. My name is Grace Tokito Y/L/N!" She said proudly.

They looked at her shocked, and then they looked at Tokito, confused.

"Grace, go back in the house, alright," she said.

"Okay, Aunty!" She smiled and went back inside.

"Mommy, your boyfriends are here!" She yelled.

"She never told me she made any demon slayer friends that were men or otherwise. Her grandfather was a demon slayer, a metal breather. Come in, we will make you some food," she said.

"I don't think that's a great idea if she wanted us to know she would have told us," Tokito said as he was about to leave.

"Too late now, come in," she smiled.

"Mommy doesn't have any boyfriends," you said while making dinner.

"There are three guys outside talking to Aunty, and they say that you're friends," she said as you looked down at her.

"Stay here," you said as you got your sword and went to the door then drew it.

But as soon as you did, you saw Tanjiro, Genya, and Tokito. Your face went pale, and then you dropped your sword, not knowing what to do. Your wound, you got opened a bit and started to bleed through your clothes. You quickly covered it up as you heard your daughter's voice calling for you in the kitchen.

"Mommy! Can I have some food now!" She asked as you looked at your friends in shock.

"Yeah, I'm coming... you need to leave now," you said.

"Y/n, don't be silly they are your friends and guests now," your aunt said as you went back into the kitchen.

You started making food for them while your aunt was asking questions about their lives. Tanjiro tried to help you make food because they weren't supposed to be there, but you pushed him away. You were hurt, and no one knew it besides the three of them. Your daughter was running around happy as can be and was gathering odds and ends of things to make something.

"So Muichiro, how long have you known Y/n?" Your aunt asked.

"Several years now," he said softly as you were struggling not to lose your self-control.

You were angry and upset, but worst of all, it hurt because they followed you home.

"That's nice, I don't understand why she wouldn't tell any of you about Grace. You all have known her a while, and you three were so worried about her that you came to visit her," your aunt said.

"I was going to tell them when I was ready. How she came into this world is very hard to talk about for me, and you know that," you stated as your aunt sighed a bit.

"Y/n, they are your friends. You can't just -"

"Can't keep my emotions to myself? We have bigger issues to deal with right now. I was going to tell them when I was ready. They are men, and they wouldn't understand anyway. It's not like they have anything to worry about," you said coldly as you put the food on the table.

"Y/n is that blood? What happened to you?" She asked as you ignored her.

"It's a scratch," you said as you went to your room to change.

They heard a loud thud, which meant you fell. But you got back up and changed your bandages, then your clothes. You came back out, and your daughter ran past you.

"Can I braid your hair?! Please!!!!" Your daughter begged as Tokito didn't know what to say.

"It's time to eat, then you can if he says yes," you said.

"Okay! What's your name?" She asked.

"Muichiro Tokito," he said, making her eyes light up.

"We have the same name, Mommy! Is he my daddy's friend?!" She asked, "What was my daddy like? You were his best friend, right? My daddy died before I was born. Mommy says he was killed trying to save people in a house fire."

You weren't eating. You looked pale like you were going to burst into tears at any moment. He didn't know what to say or what to do, but things were starting to fall into place. The fire burns you had on your back. The reason why you never said anything about having a child and why you were helping him so much. He had something to do with this, but he couldn't figure out what.

"Grace, are you done eating?" You asked quietly.

"Yes! Can I play with Muichiro, please!!" She begged.

"How about I play with you? Your mother has to talk about business with them," your aunt said, making her sigh.

"Aww, okay. Can we play afterward?" She asked.

"Yes, of course, we can," Muichiro said as your aunt took her daughter away.

"I'm sorry, Y/n, I should have sent them away," your aunt said as you were trying to figure out what to do.

You looked at them and at your food, which you hadn't touched and was now cold. You didn't know what to say or do. But before you could say anything, Muichiro spoke first.

"I'm sorry, Y/n. I know nothing I say will make it up to you, but you don't have to say anything you don't want us to know, and we will leave. We were just worried about you because you lost a lot of blood, and you didn't seem to notice or care. It was like you were a different person," Muichiro said as you looked at him sadly.

"Every festival I took you to I also went with her. My parents used to take me on the same route every year up until they passed away. You know that spot with the river and all those really beautiful flowers, that's where my house used to be. I still think it's my fault someday for what happened. If I had just stayed inside like I was supposed to that day, then maybe they would still be here," you said softly.

"Y/n," he said as you stopped him.

"Look, you three are already here, so you should know why I named my daughter after him and why I sometimes don't act like myself," you said.

"Are you sure you want to tell us?" Genya asked, knowing fully well why the father wasn't around.

You grabbed a picture that was hand drawn out of a dewar, then gave it to them.

"My family mostly on my dad's side was very wealthy, and it was hard for him to find anyone to love him as him and not for his money, so he pretended to be poor. My mom did the same thing because her family owned several businesses, but they were modest in what they got from them. They fell in love and had me as well as my younger brother Deven. Well, as luck would have it, it wasn't meant to be. When I was... 12  I was outside playing with my brother, and my mother asked me to go inside to help her, but I wanted to play some more. Men passing by saw me, and they thought I was the most beautiful little girl they had ever seen.

That evening, while we were eating, they broke into our house and killed both my parents and my brother. Their original plan was to sell me off, but they had changed their mind about halfway to their base camp. They um.... beat me and other things until they were too tired to do anything else with me. I knocked over an oil lamp by accident and started a fire. I had to burn the rope off, and, in doing so, I burned my shoulder a bit. I barely got out of there alive. I was bleeding from the about times they whipped me and bruised me, forcing me to do what they wanted.

It was snowing rather hard, and I didn't know where I was going. I was trying to get away and go to my aunt's house. But it was dark and cold out, so I didn't make it so far before I passed out. Muichiro found me lying in the snow while going to hunt for a demon, and he came and took me to the butterfly mansion. Once came around, I asked who brought me here, and it was him. I lost everything and had nothing to live for. I wished I had died and when I went home to my aunt I was broken. But three months later, I found out I was pregnant. I was so angry, and I almost ended my life because I didn't want this, but then, of course, I never thanked you for saving me or anything like that. So after my daughter, I became a demon slayer.

I knew my grandfather was one, and he did teach me some things when I was younger, so why not right? Then I found out you had no memory of your family, so I thought I could help and do everything I did with mine with you. Even if it didn't work, it made it easier for me to do it again. The only reason why I tied your wrist to mine was because I didn't want to lose you like I did my family. Plus, I did that with my daughter. I wanted to tell me, believe me, I did, but how was I going to explain this? How was I going to be able to handle how you looked at me after I told you? I didn't want you to treat me any differently, and I also didn't want you to think less of me like you already do. My breakdowns have been getting worse, and that is because her father didn't die in the house fire. I saw him, or at least I thought I saw him a month ago. My nightmares have been getting worse, and I'm always worried he's going to do exactly what he did to me or, worse, kill her. Without her or even you helping me in your ways, I wouldn't be here, and neither would she," you said as tears ran down your face.

"Y/n...., we would never have looked down on you for what happened. It wasn't your fault. You always were there for us whenever we needed you. We will always be there for you," Tanjiro said as you tried to make yourself stop crying, but Tokito did something you never expected he didn't say anything but he got up and hugged you which made you cry harder.

"He's right, I'm sorry I didn't remember you, and I'm sorry about the things I said. I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't want you to leave, and I know at times I was reckless. I'm really sorry, I promise to be a better friend to you than what I have been," Muichiro said as you smiled a bit.

"Thank you, I'm sorry I didn't tell you all sooner about her. I just didn't want you all to think badly of me," you said.

"Mommy! Can I play with Muichiro, please?" Your daughter begged as she ran into the kitchen.

"Yeah, we can play now," he said as she took him by the sleeve and led him to the living room.

"We will clean up!" Tanjiro said as he started collecting all the dirty dishes.

"Thank you. I need to change out my bandages, I think," you sighed.

"Do whatever you need, we will cover you, don't worry," Tanjiro smiled as your daughter came in with make-up she stole from her aunt.

"I'm going to make you look so pretty!" She said as Genya didn't know what to do as she took home to the living room with her.