「Nikko, you're too fast! I can't keep up!」

I wish I could turn back the clock, change everything.

———

"Nezuko?" Ichirou stood there as she ran behind her. She stared at the three running in circles in front of her. "What the hell..."

Nezuko tugged at Ichirou's sleeve and pointed at her hair.

"You want me to braid it again?"

She nodded vigorously.

Ichirou smiled. "Sit down."

Once the demon sat down, she started to braid it tightly. Once she was done, he reached for her hair to pull out the ribbon keeping her hair back on the left and used it to tie the braid. "There. You might want to get back in your box, the sun is starting to rise again."

Nezuko hugged her before going back in.

Once everyone calmed down, they sat down.

After the doctor told them they were all healed, the decided to relax until they got their next mission.

Zenitsu sat outside the box, holding flowers. "Nezuko-chan!"

Tennouji flew in and landed besides Tanjirou.

"Your Kasugai?"

Tanjirou nodded, holding his hands out as Tennouji jumped into them.

"North! North! Your next mission is North! The three of you are to go to Taizou! Children of all ages have been going missing each night!"

"Is it a confirmed demon?" Ichirou asked.

"Rumors!"

"Wait, three of us?" Tanjirou looked up at Ichirou.

"I can tag along anyways. It's not like I got a mission yet." Ichirou looked away. "I guess it's be nice to go back, too..."

"Is that your hometown?" Zenitsu asked.

"Yeah."

The four of them all got ready to leave, and thanked the old lady for taking care of them after she performed a purification ceremony on them.

•~•~•~•~•

Ichirou slowed down, causing the others to as well.

"Ichirou, we should hurry!" Tanjirou insisted.

"Or maybe not?"

"Don't be a coward, Zenitsu. Tanjirou, it's only the afternoon. We have time to walk." Ichirou moves the mask to the top of her head, walking along the familiar path.

"How often do you come back here?" Zenitsu asked. "It's kinda nice."

"I... don't usually come here. At least, not anymore." She pointed to the left of the town. "I didn't live directly in the town, either, but people still came a lot. Oh, Zenitsu?"

"Yeah?"

"Watch where you step. You go past those bushes and you're gone for."

Zenitsu looked to his left only to see a sheer drop to the land below. He screamed in terror. "You played here?!"

"I mean, why wouldn't I? I wasn't scared of the demons as long as it was day. Everyone knows to stay away from the cliff, anyways."

"Hah! You call that a cliff? I've seen taller!" Inosuke claimed.

"It's a cliff anyways?"

They reached the town, and the street was lined with shops.

"Ichirou!" A boy a few years younger than her ran up to the group. "It's been so long!"

"Kure, you got so tall!" Ichirou smiled.

"I'm big now, I can help Papa with the shop!"

"Huh? Mom, it's Ichirou!"

"Ichirou!"

The townspeople bothered around the group, greeting the light-haired girl.

"Guys, guys, really! I got assigned here, and I came here last month!"

"You idiot, it's almost been half a year!" an older boy exclaimed, smacking her head.

"Ow! Renji, I swear!" She punched his chest.

The crowd finally dispersed, leaving only a few people.

"You really are popular here, huh?"

Ichirou turned to the other three. "I mean, everyone would come to my parents. People here know about demons, after all, but... some don't believe in them..."

"Hey, Ichi-nii?" A little girl with short, brown hair tugged at her sleeve.

"What is it, Himawari?" She crouched down to the girl's level.

"I-I found this. It's was his gift for you before he..."

Ichirou placed a hand on Himawari's head. "It's okay. It's his, you can keep it."

Himawari shook her head. "He would want you to have it." She handed Ichirou the poorly wrapped package.

"Thank you... Oh, can you ask your mom if my friends and I can stay at your place?"

"She said you and any of your friends are always welcome." A male who looked like Himawari stood behind her.

"Terazawa!" Ichirou stood up straight.

"At ease."

The two were silent before they smiled and started laughing.

"Z-zawa, these are my friends Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke." She introduced the demon slayers, still laughing slightly.

Terazawa put a hand on her shoulder and leaned closer. "You didn't tell them, did you?" he asked quietly.

"I... no. I don't know what they'd do," she whispered.

"You need to come clean."

"Later." She pushed him away gently.

"Oh, how you wound me!"

"Shut up!"

•~•~•~•~•

"Ichirou, it's nice having you here again."

Ichirou smiled at his friend's mom. "It's good to be back."

"So, did you find any boys your interested in?"

"Kyoya-san! No, I'm not interested in anyone." She looked away, drinking a bit more of her tea. "I just want to kill that demon."

"I understand, but you're-"

"I know." Her grip on the cup tightened. "I'll find a way."