"I couldn't protect you. Even until the end." It was a statement that took a lot of willpower from him.

This was the third time she had slipped from his grasp.

He had failed for three times.

He wondered when this cycle would end.

"You were a heartless woman. "

She gave up this life because she couldn't be with him.

For the third time, they were separated again.

How long would he wait again? Last time, it took a few decades.

Then the fourth reincarnation came.

He only waited for two years. It was a ridiculously short time than the last. It sounded impossible but he could never be mistaken.

He knew what she smelled like. Her scent alone distinguished her from the thousands of scents his nose could pick up.

Even without her scent, he knew deep inside that she was someone whom he could easily identify the moment he laid his eyes on her.

It was also because she was the only human who could tell that he was a demon at first glance.

Everytime they met, her eyes would dilate as if telling him that his identity could never be hidden despite his perfect persona.

The fourth reincarnation was a child who disappeared the moment he turned his eyes away.

It was because that person found her and took her away.

He barely saw the fifth reincarnation.

She was immediately whisked away when he determined her location. But he wasn't fast enough to stop that person.

The sixth reincarnation committed suicide for an unknown reason and her corpse was the last thing he found.

He knew she was raped from the wounds alone.

The seventh reincarnation was a young woman who was closely similar to her original appearance.

The seventh also acted similarly like the original.

He found her first. He made a decision to win her over again even if he had to deceive her.

This time, she stayed longer by his side for more than a year.

It was like they were back to their first life.

It was totally unlike the second reincarnation where he grew mad from her first death and accidentally killed her in her second life.

"It's unfair." She told him. At first, he didn't understand.

"I want to hold your hand under the sun. I want to kiss you day and night. And I don't ever want to feel the need to hide you because of what you are. Why is it so unfair? You deserve to be happy too..."

And somehow he did.

Even though centuries had passed, she had fallen for someone like him.

Did he deserve her?

"I want to go home."

He lied to her.

"Muzan knew! You knew! You didn't tell me at all! And I trusted Muzan!"

He had deceived her and hid the truth.

It was because he couldn't walk under the sun.

He was still unable to keep up his promise.

A lot of time had passed since she escaped and tricked one of his upper moons.

He didn't think she was capable of it.

But she escaped him.

"Tomorrow.."

He would find her again. Like all the times he had looked for.

The only reason he didn't find her so easily was only possible because of three things.

One, she had already died.

Two, she had gone back to her family.

And three, that person found her before he could.

He gritted his teeth.

It was possible.

That person didn't struggle under the sun. He was the very first demon who could walk under the sun without being burned.

Ironically, he was also the first demon he had created.

It was an unexpected accident.

Muzan's eyes turned redder.

"Send a message to all the Upper Moons."

♤♡◇♧

"Nao-sama got abducted by a demon." Shinobu said with a serious expression.

"I'm sorry!" Tanjiro bowed down to apologize.

"It's unexpected. A demon who can walk under the sun." Shinobu's eyes were conflicted.

This was a new development that they had not expected.

"We need to inform Oyakata-sama and the rest of the pillars. Fortunately, no one else got hurt. But Nao-sama being abducted again is a serious problem."

"She got abducted?"

"Tomioka-san?"

The Water Pillar, Tomioka Giyuu made an unexpected appearance.

He wanted to visit Nao after finally clearing his mission. Who knew that this was the message that would greet him.

"Tell me what happened."

"Giyuu-san.." Tanjiro clutched his stomach.

"It's rare for you to come here, Tomioka-san."

"That's not important."

"Ah, yes. Come to think of it.. Tomioka-san and Nao-sama are quite close. You often visit her manor every month, right?"

"Tell me what happened!"

"Ah, so impatient. But this is really quite important. I have to send a message to HQ. Please ask Kamado Tanjiro for the details." Shinobu didn't give him time to reply and left immediately.

"Tell me from the very start." Giyuu said as he looked at Tanjiro.

Tanjiro ended up retelling the events of what happened. Thanks to Shinobu's quick actions, the news that a demon who can walk under the sun has spread throughout the pillars and to all the members of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Oyakata-sama had called for an early pillar meeting due to this and every pillar was required to attend.

Tanjiro headed to Rengoku's residence after that and went to meet Rengoku's family. There was a misunderstanding at first but he was able to form a mutual relationship with Rengoku's family.

Naturally, Tanjiro also got invited to the pillar meeting so he could give a more detailed account of what happened. It was scary being the center of everyone's attention and it didn't help that he hasn't fully recovered yet.

Most of the pillars still didn't accept him or his sister and were looking down at him for letting Nao get abducted once more. To make matters worse, it wasn't even an upper or lower moon who appeared.

It was an unknown demon who was just as white as the Spider Family. But Tanjiro knew, that this white demon was stronger than the Spider Family he encountered.

Tanjiro wouldn't even be surprised if that demon was as strong as upper moon. The pressure he emitted alone was testament to his power.

Tanjiro was scared.

He had never encountered such an oppressive power before. He realized that he was still very weak and he needed to get stronger.

Thus, Tanjiro waited until he healed before immersing himself in training. However, his plans were halted when he encountered the Sound Pillar, Uzui Tengen, kidnapping some of the girls at the Butterfly Estate.

"We're going to join in their place!"

Thus, Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke except for the sleeping Nezuko were forced to disguised themselves as beautiful girls to be sold in the red light district.

Courtesy of Uzui Tengen, the Sound Pillar.

♤♡◇♧

Author's note:

I like writing about Tanjiro, lol. He has so much screen time since he's the real protagonist in the original plot. Also, Nezukoooo. don't forget Nezuko. Then there's Shinobu. Best girls for me♡