Hello Nezuko

"Hello, are you lost?"

Nezuko stepped on the loose snow and approached Muzan, who was eerily standing in their yard and watching her.

She was trying to help but instinctively felt something off. Her heartbeat couldn't help but quicken when she noticed Muzan's slit eyes; those weren't human eyes.

Nezuko's muscles subconsciously clenched, her breathing naturally slowed down into a gentle rhythm, a rhythm that her father often used in his dance of Kagura.

'Is she becoming battle-ready? She's good; this must be why she survived Muzan's first attack in the original story—it's due to those instincts.'

Nezuko was talented. His goal today was both Nezuko and her blood. If possible, he was hoping she would become a demon and follow him as an upper moon.

But if he massacres her family or kidnaps her, Nezuko would end up hating him—just like Tamayo does. Nezuko has to join him willingly and offer her blood voluntarily. Considering that, Muzan soon thought of a trick to convince her.

"Hello, are you from the Kamado family?"

Muzan waved at Nezuko, who was ready to pounce on him. His sudden greeting broke her rhythm, and she stumbled.

Before she could fall, Muzan moved and caught her in his arms. They both looked at each other for a few seconds, then Nezuko averted her eyes.

"Thank you."

She said while clutching his clothes. She was feeling ashamed, both due to her previous caution against Muzan and her being held in the arms of a stranger.

Muzan didn't extend her embarrassment any further and helped her stand back on her feet. Nezuko quickly patted the snow off her kimono.

"I am sorry, yes, I am from the Kamado family. I am Nezuko Kamado. What can I do for you?"

Nezuko patted herself clean and asked the odd but calm-looking man. The man smiled again, his sharp canine teeth hidden behind his lips.

"I am Muzan. I'm here because the Kamado family are robbers. The house you've been staying in is mine, you know that, right?"

Muzan's smile was gentle, but the words coming out of his mouth were sharp, and they stunned Nezuko. She quickly waved her hand and denied the allegations.

"No! We are not robbers; we have been staying here for years. Maybe you have the wrong address."

She explained herself quickly, but Muzan didn't look convinced; he tapped the snow-covered ground with his shoes.

"I don't have the wrong address; this is my brother's home. If you don't leave my property, I will call the authorities."

Nezuko was starting to panic. She didn't know how to convince this strange man that this was their house; her mom and dad had built it themselves.

The ongoing commotion outside soon attracted the attention of Kei Kamado, Nezuko's mother. Kei wiped her hands on her clothes and opened the door.

After noticing a distressed Nezuko talking to an unknown man, she approached them with concern.

"What's the matter, Nezuko?"

She patted her daughter's back gently, which calmed her down. Nezuko carefully explained the misunderstanding to her mother and hoped she would clarify it to Muzan.

But Nezuko's hopes were dashed when her mother's face paled; she suddenly realized Muzan might be telling the truth. This may not be their house.

"Nezuko wasn't lying to you, Mr. Muzan; she simply doesn't know about our family's history. Please come in."

Kei Kamado apologized and invited Muzan into her home. Muzan smirked and walked in with confidence, like he owned the place.

Nezuko followed behind them with concern; they might have unknowingly committed a crime of stealing someone's house.

After Muzan entered the place, he felt a homely atmosphere. Kei brought some tea from the kitchen and served it to him.

"My husband and I found this place when we were newlyweds."

"We were poor and had nowhere else to go, so we decided to live here for a few days, until the owner returns."

Kei Kamado clenched her old kimono and bowed.

"Because nobody ever came to claim this house, and we didn't have the money to move, we stayed here."

"I am sorry; we didn't want to steal your property; that wasn't our intention."

After knowing the whole story, Nezuko also bowed. She felt sorry for taking someone's house, but she was even more nervous about their own future. Where will they go now?

The Kamado family was nervous, but Muzan was happy that they accepted his lies. Frankly, this wasn't his house either; he simply knew that this wasn't Kamado's property, because of the original story.

As for who the real owner of this house was?

"This is my younger brother Yorichi's house. I never came here, after his and his wife's death."

Technically this was the truth; this was indeed Yorichi's home, and his wife did die here, but this incident had happened a thousand years ago.

"I was surprised when I saw someone living in this place, so I may have hastily jumped to conclusions and called you guys robbers."

"Forgive me, you seem like good people. Although I do hope you will pay the rent you owe, for living in my house for 20 years."

Kei Kamado's and Nezuko's faces paled. Pay rent? Of 20 years' worth?! They can't afford that; they can barely afford food for their family.

Clutching her clothes, Kei Kamado steeled herself and apologized.

"I am sorry we can't afford that. But please don't worry, we will pay you back; please give us a few years time."

Muzan frowned slightly, as if he was considering her offer. Then sighed with a compassionate tone.

"Fine, I am not a demon. You can pay your rent slowly, but in the meantime, please leave my house. I have other uses for this place."

This made Kei Kamado stunned. If they leave their home, then forget paying rent; they will die of starvation on the road. They can't leave this place. Nezuko knew this too, so she pleaded on her mother's behalf.

"Lord Muzan, we have nowhere else to go. If we leave, we will die in the cold. My siblings are very young; please let us stay."

Muzan frowned harder and looked at the mother and daughter with sharp eyes, like he couldn't believe what they were saying.

"You guys are pushing your luck. Not only are you not paying my rent, but you want to continue living here?"

"You will live in my house with what money? You still owe me 20 years' worth of rent. Do you want to owe me even more?"

Kei Kamado was feeling out of options; she could do nothing but bow weakly. Nezuko was also looking down with sadness. Muzan let the atmosphere build a little longer, then dropped his real purpose.

Shaking his head helplessly, Muzan sighed.

"Alright, fine, taking your home would make me feel like a demon. But I can't leave empty-handed."

"I have an offer for you. I will take the most expensive thing from your family. Give me that, and your debt is cleared."

Kei Kamado's eyes lit up; she saw hope; she had a chance to save her kids. Her vast maternal love overcame her caution. She decided to ask what Muzan wanted, and she'll give it to him; everything was to keep her kids alive.

"Lord, can you tell me what you want? We are very poor; we may not have anything worth much money."

Hearing her agree to his demands, Muzan could no longer control his grin; he opened his mouth and exposed his teeth.

"What I want is simple; all I want is your daughter's blood. Kei Kamado, please give Nezuko to me."

The distorted voice coming from Muzan startled the mother and daughter; they hastily stood up when they saw Muzan's sharp teeth.

Kei Kamado screamed and stumbled backwards; Nezuko quickly stepped in front of her, protecting her mother with her own body. Muzan thoroughly enjoyed their fear.

"What's the matter? I just want your blood, Nezuko. Is that so difficult for you?"

Muzan hauntingly stood up; the feeling of fear in the room was intoxicating. Kei kept looking at Muzan with fearful eyes, but Nezuko's eyes had something else in them. Sun like flames of determination.

A/N

Tell me if this chapter was fun, okay or boring. I am trying to understand how to write Muzan's character. And by the way, the previous 5 chapters have been edited somewhat, especially the 5th chapter, it's been heavily modified.