It was the next day when Tanjiro met up with a Kakushi who would be his guide.
He had to wear a blindfold, earplugs and even noseplugs as the village was hidden to avoid demon attacks.
I sweatdrop at the needed action when I met up with him.
“This village is really hidden huh?”I mumble under my breath as I follow the Kakushi.
I didn’t need to follow the precautions as I had already visited the village once to learn about swordsmithing.
I watch as Tanjiro would thank the next Kakushi who would carry him to the next stop.
We arrive after an hour of travelling and switching Kakushis. His blindfold gets removed to reveal the sight of a huge village with lots of large building surrounded by thick trees.
He sniffs the air around as he removes the noseplugs to exclaim in excitement that there was a hot spring nearby.
The kakushi then told him where to go, Tanjiro then replied with a loud ‘Thank you so much!’ as the Kakushi left.
Little did I know, there was 2 other Hashira here.
We make our way to meet up with the chief of the village, who goes by the name of Tecchikawahara Techhin.
“I may be the smallest in this village but I am the best at my craft. Now, bow your heads so low it touches the mat.”
I look at Tanjiro in shock as he smacks his head onto the mat so fast, I could see red on his forehead.
“Haru-san You don’t have to do that.”He spoke out when I tried to bow down.
“You have already been taught the best so please don’t bow down.”
“Oh please, I insist. After all, I did learn from the best.”My tone now gentle as I continued to bow down.
The truth was that I was taught by him as he watches how I easily pick up the skills needed to forge a blade.
He sighs before continuing, “What a good boy. Now come over here and eat some dough cakes.”
“Thank you so much!”Tanjiro went ahead to munch on the snacks given.
He then informs us that his SwordSmith had gone missing and they were looking for him.
He goes on about how he always throws tantrums right away then goes off somewhere.
“Oh, No, No!” Tanjiro replies with a worried look.
“I’m the one who ends up either breaking the sword or chipping it!”
“No. You’re wrong.”
“It’s his fault for creating a sword that could actually break.”He stops Tanjiro with his stern statement.
Another man then said to not worry and that they would find him, even going as far as to find someone else to forge his sword if it wasn’t done by the time his body recovered.
“Shall we head to the Hotsprings Tanjiro? I have been told that they do wonders to your body.”I ask him when we were done talking.
I lead him to the path when he agreed when suddenly a voice calls out to us.
“Ahh! It’s Tanjiro-kun and Haru!”
We turn to see Mitsuri running up to us in a yukata, revealing most of her chest.
“Mitsuri!Cover up please!” My eyes leapt out at the sight in shock before I lend her my haori to cover up as she got closer.
“Listen listen! I got ignored! I greeted him and he ignored me!”Mitsuri cries out to us.
“Eh who?”I asked confused.
“I don’t know!! I asked him his name and he ignored me!”
“Isn’t that cruel? I’m a Hashira!”She hangs onto my uniform, dragging me down to the ground.
“Mitsuri, please calm down…Maybe he had a bad day, that’s all!”I tried to cheer her up as I struggle to match her hand strength on my clothing.
Tanjiro then cuts in, saying that they were going to use matsutake mushrooms for dinner, making Mitsuri lit up.
She then makes her way downwards to get ready for dinner as we continue to travel upwards to the springs.
‘Hmm, I see that nothing much changed since I was gone..’I look at the greenery around the springs as Tanjiro looks at the water.
Tanjiro then calls out a name when I spaced out, I turn around to see him strip and jump into the water.
I almost choked on my saliva and turn my head away rapidly, blushing that he had done that when I was still here.
“Tanjiro!I am still here!”I rage at him for not giving me a heads-up at least before doing that.
I walk back down to see Mitsuri happily eating dinner with my haori still on.
The piles of dishes pile up as I eat with her, talking about random things. Even though I had known her for years, her ability to eat a lot always amazes me.
Tanjiro then entered the room after 20 minutes after I was done eating. He began talking about how he met with Sameni’s younger brother, although he would always say he doesn’t have one.
I began to space out as he chats about more stuff, Mitsuri had to leave when someone came to tell her that her sword was almost done.
We said our goodbyes to her as I slouch onto the table.
“Haa…Let me just rest here for a while..”I lay my head to the side as Tanjiro left me to go rest.
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