I decided to reply to him immediately and wrote Senjuro about the mission today and that I got a deep scratch in my forearm but that It will heal soon. I also wrote him about my encounter with Tanjiro and his two comrades. I folded the letter and attached it to my doves foot, "Love? Where's my next mission?" She chirped a few times "no new mission yet" I hummed and nodded "Alright then, please give this letter to Senjuro as soon as you feel ready to fly." She picked my cheek gently and flew off with my letter.

I returned back inside and yawned lightly "well...I have no new mission yet, what about you guys?" Tanjiro already laid in his Futon and hummed "we gotta head south, would you care to  join us?". I laid down as well and nodded "sounds good." "Great!" Zenitsu beamed and Inosuke answered with a loud snore, no way he was so fast asleep!?

I smiled to myself "goodnight guys" I whispered and turned around to sleep. "Goodnight yn!" Tanjiro answered with a whisper as well.

-

The next morning everything in my body ached, yesterday the pain wasn't so bad due the adrenalin but today i felt the sire muscles.

My back hurt from being thrown against a tree, my head hurts from that branch and my arm stung terribly from the deep cut.

I groaned when we walked up a mountain and Tanjiro patted my shoulder empathetically "we are almost there yn" I shook my head "no no I am fine...sorry to be a whiney baby" I giggled because Zenitsu suddnely crossed his arms pouting. "And it's really okay that I Tag along with you guys to your mission?" "Of course yn! Stay with us as long as you want, if you want we can also come along to yours when you got one! After all we are a team now!" I smiled at his words "okay!". "But to be honest, that mission is supposed to be just a smaller case, but...who knows what can happen" Tanjiro explained and I nodded.

"As long as I got something to do I am fine, I just can't stand sitting around with no purpose" I explained. "LOOK! THERES THE VILLAGE!" Inosuke yelled and ran downwards the mountain "CAREFUL!" I screeched after him. I sighed, watching the boy run down the slope. "how did he not break a bone yet?" I shook my head and Tanjiro just laughed loudly at my comment. We instead walked down the mountain slowly and careful, no way I'd hurt myself even more! When we arrived in the village the first thing we did was getting food, the sun didn't set yet. Inosuke just ran in an restaurant so we followed and all ordered some Ramen and Takoyaki.

I didn't know if it was just me but something felt off in this restaurant. I looked around but it was only dawn, so there couldn't be a demon. Yet I felt a very strong presence in this building.

"Excuse me, I will have to use the rest room" I excused myself and left our table. I actually followed the strong presence and it led me outside in a alley.

I frowned and walked along it. The presence grew bigger and much more dominant than I thought. It felt like a aggressive, chaotic pressure. But then I felt a second one, i cant pount it out! I grabbed my sword and turned around meeting the eyes of a man looking demon. "Looky looky! I thought I was gonna have no dinner tonight...but now-" he smiled and walked towards me, I wouldn't let such weak demon intimidate me. "Do I look like dinner for you? How nice" I said sarcastically, with a sneer. "How did you find me anyways? I hide my traces so well after all". I followed every of his movements with my gaze but suddenly he was gone! He just eluded in a dark puddle in the ground.

A cold breath on my neck made me freeze "you smell sweet~" "do I? Come take a bite then" I scoffed and when he launched to attack my neck I quickly brought my blade between his teeth. "What a filthy demon you are....let's end this" I sighed and thrusted the blade through his mouth all the way through his head and pulled it out again. Before he could regenerate I quickly slashed my sword across his neck and beheaded him.

I gently took my sword and wiped the blood off it with a cloth I always keep in my pocket. After cleaning it I carefully put it back in its halter. But I still felt it.

The other presence never wore off or grew stronger due the fight - it was constant. "You know...its rude to stare" I simply said and then I heard a thud behind me. I turned around with an cautios stance, holding my intense expression but this gaze dropped off my face when I met the eyes of that man.

"Rengoku-Sama? No-" the man gave me now the same irritated look "how do you know my name?" Then it hit me and I gasped. I immediately kneeled down, bowing to the man "Excuse my rude tone Kyojuro Rengoku." He crossed his arms with a smile "stand up, it's fine." I stood back up and looked up to the tall man "you look just like Rengoku-sama...wow" I was speechless how similar they looked by now. But now I saw it, his smile.

That smile formed that day when I last seen him, a fake smile that plastered his face. "Excuse me if this sounds rude but who are you?" - Ouch.

"Oh-..y/n y/ln. Your father teached me..I lived the past years in your home?" His eyes then widened for a short moment "oh? I am sorry I didn't recognise you. You grew....taller" I laughed light hearted at his blunt remark, "uhm...yeah I mean I hope I did! After all it's been 5 years" he nodded and still scanned me with his eyes, looking ne up and down with a steady exoression. "So...what is the famous future flame Hashira doing here?" "I was passing by and felt a demon but I suppose you took care of that already." I nodded "yes, I am sorry." "Oh don't be! Every demon dead is a good demon".

I can't point out what it was but it was somehow awkward "well...would you like to have dinner with me?" I asked him politely. "huh?" His smile suddenly fell and he gave me a surprised look "to catch up? We didn't see each other for such a long time and I am hungry. OH BUT I MEAN ONLY IF YOU GOT TIME OF COURSE!" after all he was a busy demon slayer.

"No...dinner sounds great! Let's go I know a nice place!" He spoke very loudly I noticed, and that smile was back on his face. I followed him out the alley and into a very small looking restaurant. And it was.

Inside were only about 5 tables and it was completely empty. He pointed to a free seat and I sat down "thank you".
"So" he started while sitting down himself "Yn..." I nodded. "You're the girl my father picked up the night before I left for my selection..." I nodded again. "He saved my life that night, as payment I promised him to become a demon slayer. And so I did, well...until...Ruka died" he flinched at my last words and nodded. "Too bad we didnt meet earlier and then in these circumstances." He remarked. I sighed and nodded "that's true...but he teached me enough. I know what I need to know and I trained alone with Senjuro since then. And now I am here" I smiled proudly.

He just nodded "Senjuro...how is he?". I sighed "lonely now that I left again". His fist clenched "but we write each other daily. He says he is okay" his fist relaxed again. "He just keeps telling me to hurry so I catch up with you" I rolled my eyes playfully and he raised a eyebrow "I mean...after all you're the future flame Hashira...the pride and joy of the Rengoku family...you know? It's hard to keep up as a small orphan nobody to get close this title" I joked and his face grew irritated, i had no idea what confused or angered him about the way i spoke, but it firmed a lump in my throat. Luckily our food got served just then "Rengoku-San...they are really proud of you. I am serious" His whole posture suddenly relaxed and he nodded with a small smile "that's good to hear..".

We ate our food and I was really conflicted by that mans behaviour,  he can go from a soft smile to a stern frown in just a second. It was difficult to read his face or emotions and he didn't talk a lot without being asked something.

"Listen Rengoku-San" i chose to break the silence "I know your family structure is complicated but they are more than proud of you. And I became a swordsman for the same reason as you. To make Shinjuro proud. He saved my life and I can't possibly let that be useless! He said the purpose of a demon slayer is to protect the ones who can't protect themselves. I couldn't back then but now I do so I want to become just as an amazing swordsman than he was. I will protect people who can't." I sighed and ate up the last bit of my food and stood up "It was nice seeing you again! I hope next time we meet you ranked up to an Hashira" I smiled at him. "it's been good to see you in good health. I will report that to Senjuro in my next letter. Farewell Rengoku-San" I bowed my head to him and walked out of the restaurant.

I hoped for a nice conversation with him but he seemed a little odd, tense. I shook my had to myself and walked back to our stay, I completely forgot about the others - I would have to apologise. I walked along the sidewalk when a loud voice made me stop in my tracks "Y/N WAIT" I turned my head and watched Kyojuro walking towards me "I am sorry for being so dismissive. It's just very hard for me to talk about father". I nodded with a apologetic smile "understandable".

He chuckled and looked down to me "it was actually...very lovely seeing you again. After all we only met once in...bad circumstances how you'd say." I smiled a little and nodded once more as i listened. "I am impressed how much you've improved and evolved. I look forward meeting you soon again!" "I do too Rengoku" I smiled at him and he smiled back. Why didn't he leave? Did he want to say something else? "Is there something bothering you?" I asked carefully and he shook his head "it's just...its good to see you" I giggled nervously "Okay..and now the truth?" He frowned and then laughed loudly "Can you look into people?" I shook my head "no but your presence is quiet big and feels a little chaotic. If you want we could sit back down and talk-" "No it's fine. I don't want to keep you from your rest." I laughed at his weird behaviour "Kyojuro...write me some letters from time to time. And senjuro would love to hear from you too. Goodnight" I smiled and bowed to him a last time before turning around to leave.

"I will...thank you" he smiled after me.