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The first time Ruri met Tanjiro, was when he was seating on a ramen stand, situated in a rather dim alleyway.

"Ojou-san! Have some ramen while it's still hot! The air tonight is really cold!"

Ruri gave a terse smile at the old man before politely refusing, her eyes connecting with that of the young demon slayer a few distance away from her.

"This smell..." She heard him say in shock before placing a hand over his nichirin sword.

Ruri simply shook her head.

"I heard of a demon slayer traveling with a demon, I did not expect to meet the rumored one here. "Ruri's sharp teeth flashed as she looked onward with an amused look on her face. "I guess Sanemi must've thrown a fit. "

The boy stared at her in shock.

"You... You're..."

Ruri smiled sadly at him.

"....Riri-sann..?"

"Ah..." Ruri scratched her chin a little. "Shinobu-san must've told you about me, am I right?"

Tanjiro was about to answer when Ruri just shook her head.

"No need. Kochou has always been like that. Was she mad because I left? Kanae's death took a great deal out of her and she must think I'm also dead because I left without a proper goodbye. "

"Shinobu-san was indeed angry but she was smiling when she spoke about you..."Tanjiro took a step closer. "Riri-san!" He shouted. "The reason Sanemi-san is so hateful of demons and how distant he is right now, it's because he was the last person to see you before you disappeared!"

Ruri chuckled. "Ahh... But Nemi-chan has always been hateful of demons. And by now he probably hates me the same way he hates the monsters he's been slaying all his life. And Genya-kun, I miss him so much..." She trailed off.

"But it doesn't matter. I know they're doing fine. Though I heard that Rengoku-san was killed during one of his missions."

"!" Ruri's words shook Tanjiro's expression and she could see the boy biting his lip and clenching his fists in frustration.

"Ahh... Rengoku-san, he was a great person. "Ruri reminisced as the wind started blowing her silver white hair. She looked up at the moon shining brightly in the sky and looking bigger than before.

"He was the sun, you know."She said in a soft tone. "Always smiling and guiding people to their right path. He was like Ruki-nii but still different. Fun times being with him, hmm."

Ruri turned around and started walking away. Tanjiro opt to call her back but realized that he can't move. Nezuko was still sleeping inside her box and he didn't want to bother her. There was black smoke oozing down from his feet and after a few seconds, they disappeared and he was allowed to move.

Tanjiro looked up. He still wanted to talk to Riri. She was the answer to the mystery that has been bothering the other pillars. Shinobu told him that although Riri was very mysterious and detached, she was very well liked by the other pillars especially Sanemi.

She was like their master, a female version of Oyakata-sama. Her voice was calming and sweet and Riri has a certain way with people. She knew how to ease them just by her presence alone.

Thinking deeply, Tanjiro never felt any fear or danger when she approached him.

And although she smelled like a demon and a human, a combination of both, she was calm and distant as she talked to him.

Her words were soothing and while he was listening, it felt like he was listening to an old friend telling him stories of the good old days.

It was an interesting situation to experience to say the least.

But he was frustrated at the fact that he wasn't able to receive some answers to the lingering questions in his mind.

Afterall, she smelled like Muzan.

♤♡◇♧

"Riri-san! It's been so long! Your hair has grown longer again!"

The busty love pillar went to embraced me and I unconsciously embraced her back.

"Mitsuri, I've missed you but I want a haircut. I can't put up with this length anymore." I moaned as I whined on her shoulder.

She giggled softly, a sweet sound that you could get used to when your friends with the good natured love pillar.

"I'll cut it for you and style it! Shinazugawa-san would be thrilled to see you sporting a new look!" Mitsuri said as I slowly pulled away from her.

"Nemi?" I scratched the back of my head.

"It doesn't really have anything to do with him but I just want a new look. It'll be nice to see his reaction. "I said as I rubbed my chin.

"Leave it to me! I'll give you a brand new look!"

I simply shrugged as I went with the love pillar. Days like this were common with the two of us together and it's no secret how much Obanai hates me for taking up so much of Mitsuri's time.

But I could care less about the serpentine pillar, he was secretly coy afterall. He has it bad for the love pillar which I find amusing sometimes.

Strangely, Mitsuri gave my waist length hair a huge trim until the strands of my silver white hair fell just below my shoulders. It was nice and I wanted to laugh at how similar I would look to Sanemi because of this kind of hairstyle.

Mitsuri thinks otherwise.

"You can do it, Riri-san! I'll be cheering you on your date!"

I raised a brow. "I'm just asking him to eat outside, it isn't a date."

Mitsuri ignored me and continued to spout encouraging words.