Chapter Text
You wake in an unknown place. You could have sworn you were sleeping in your bed prior to waking up, so you make the perfectly logical decision that you are still dreaming. You look around and find yourself in a rather dated train cabin. The talking around you is unintelligible at best to you, seems you aren't here alone at least.
A man wearing a conductor's outfit slowly makes his way up the aisle. He's looking rather pale and seems to be lacking sleep. He finishes with people in front of you while you were busy trying to take in where you are that you hardly notice him when he finally makes his way to you. In that same language you can't even begin to parse as he begins to speak. "Ticket Please."
You startle and turn to him nearly jumping out of your skin. You understood nothing of what he had said so you ask, "What was that?"
He gives you a puzzling look not quite understanding you either. He simply asks again. "Your Ticket Please, Ma'am."
You tilt your head really trying to figure out what in the world he is after and the longer you stare at him, the more he begins to unsettle you. There's something wrong with him and that primal part of your brain tells you to fear it. You try not to and offer him a rather vexing and confused smile. "Could you repeat that?" You ask, trying another language in your retinue. You know only two; English and Japanese.
He still gives you a strange almost pitying look, though you sense there may be a hint of fear mixed in that only raises the hair on the back of your neck further. "Your ticket." He makes a gesture at you, that had you been in your right mind, would have been much easier to understand.
A sharp pinpoint pain in your side makes you look down at the seat you were in. There rests a bird you don't recognize from any book, video, or zoo. Its feathers go from a starburst yellow, to a bright flame red, and to a rose pink, down its body and wings. Its size reminds you of a cockatoo and you could maybe believe it was one if not for the downright majestic tail feathers it sported and its coloring. You knew without a shadow of a doubt that this bird was not endemic to wherever you were now.
Your confusion only increased tenfold by the bird and with it your dread only increased as well. As it watched you from the seat you came to a startling realization. By pecking your side it shattered any semblance of comfort you may have had. You weren't dreaming. You had felt the sharp pain, but how were you here? You began to spiral down into your thoughts until you felt the same sharp pain as before.
You opened your eyes, (when had you closed them?), and focused back on the bird.
"He asked for your ticket." You blinked in confusion at the sound that came out of the bird's beak. While certain songbirds could mimic and even reproduce voices, you knew that somehow, this bird very much wasn't doing that. In fact you were so sure of this fact because you could understand exactly what it said. It was speaking in your language and had evidently somehow translated what the man had been saying. Or well so you assumed.
"My ticket?" You were a bit lost for a moment before remembering where you were. You were on a train that seemed to be frighteningly familiar to you, not that you had ever been on this particular train before. Maybe similar ones, but not this one, it was too out of date for that. "Where is this train even headed?"
The bird simply hums, which is rather strange for a bird to do in the first place. You would assume it would simply sing instead. If you weren't so close to panicking over everything happening you would very much question the animal for all you wished to know. After a couple of seconds of waiting the bird then deigns you with its answer. "Takasaki Station in Gunma Prefecture."
The sense of dread furthered. You still haven't the slightest idea why, but something tells you you don't want to be here in the slightest. You take in the cabin car again in a desperate attempt to understand why that is.
The poor man seems to be almost as anxious as you at this point. He gestures to you again and then makes a motion to indicate the tool in his hand, a ticket punch. Unfortunately for him, you weren't paying much mind to him right now.
You were vastly more focused on figuring out why you were having such a visceral reaction to being here. You looked out the window of the train noting it was obviously night time at this point, raising your anxiety further.
Ignoring the conductor's ask again for your ticket, you looked back at the bird. "Do you know what train this is?" Maybe a name would bring some clarity to the situation.
The bird simply hopped up onto your lap and began to preen itself, like you weren't having a major crisis at the moment. You heavily debated on chucking the bird or something with how nonchalant the creature was being. " I believe it's known as the Mugen train." The bird just oh so casually told you like it wasn't a big deal.
You nodded in understanding several times. You very much did recognize that name though it took a second for it to really sink in.
You were on the Mugen train.
You nodded at the thought. You turned your head to the man in the conductor's outfit during that moment of calm and really looked at him. Shallow cheeks and deathly pale skin. He wasn't so much as looking at you and even though you couldn't understand a word he had said, he sounded just tired as he looked. His hat cast shadows over the rest of his face so you couldn't see his eyes or the undoubtedly dark bags they no doubt had.
You took one last look around the cabin , which you never completely finished before the violent storm of realization truly hit you.
You were on the Mugen Train.
From Yokokawa Station to Takasaki Station in Gunma Prefecture.
You were on the Mugen Train at night.
The conductor looked dead on his feet.
You were on THE Mugen Train during the Taisho era.
Where 40 people had disappeared without a trace.
You were on THAT Mugen Train.
The Mugen Train from Kimestu No Yaiba.
Your face quickly fell into something of abject horror and true unadulterated terror pulsed through your veins. Forget the ticket! You weren't staying here! The fact you weren't screaming your head off at that moment in time was a miracle in and of itself. You quickly got up and pushed past the poor deathly looking conductor and ran as fast as you possibly could from the car, headed to the back of the train.
You paid no one any mind at the no doubt confused people you passed nor the random exclamations you couldn't understand when you yanked open any car door you came across. Your main concern was to get to the back of the train as soon as you possibly could. Whether that would really help you in the short run at the moment remains to be seen, but if you've learned anything from various fan works and the movie itself, going to the back was the safest option or so you believed.
Unfortunately in your panic you were hardly paying attention to your surroundings and ran head long into the hanafuda earring wearing demon slayer and his retinue before long. You caused something of a domino effect on the poor group, all three being knocked over onto the ground as you toppled over poor Tanjiro. All four of you groaned in pain though one person sounded both amused and annoyed at the tumble.
Stunned for maybe a second you quickly got up and bowed profusely in apology. "I am so sorry about that." You said putting enough feeling for them to maybe understand what you meant even with the weird language barrier. You offered a hand to the poor boy you had knocked over in your haste. God how could you have been so reckless to have not even noticed the Kamaboko squad. They came through the back of the train of course you would run into them. "Please forgive me." You added in mortification.
Tanjiro for his part just looked at you confused, not understanding a word of what you just said. The sound of wings beating sounded above you and you quickly looked up at the mysterious bird that had, thankfully followed you in your panic.
The bird then decided to speak in that unintelligible gibberish that was somehow this world's Japanese, or so you assumed. You were going on pure guess work right now. "She apologies for running into you and asks for your forgiveness."
Tanjiro ended up looking at the bird while in some surprise instead of looking at you. Clearly the bird was strange to him since he ended up tilting his head and looking at it in puzzlement. This further proved that the bird definitely wasn't endemic to the area, even if this was a world straight from manga and anime to you. Great to know if you happened to live through the night or not.
The bird clearly having his attention simply landed on your shoulder before repeating what it had said prior or so you assumed. "This young lady apologizes for running into you and asks for forgiveness."
Tanjiro, bless his kind soul, perks up and takes your hand and you help him stand up. "It's fine. We weren't paying much attention either so we're also partially to blame." He gave a soft bow to you though his eyes were mostly on the bird on your shoulder. You really didn't blame him for it, you'd stare too if you were him.
The bird simply relayed to you what the boy had said much like it had done for you for him. You decided it's best not to question a bird that is very helpfully acting as your translator. It was best to not look a gift horse in the mouth, or so they say.
You gave the boy a small vexed smile, still very much terrified for your life and him being Tanjiro with a nose that knows all, clocked that anxiety even if it wasn't blatantly obvious that you were losing your mind to the throes of panic. He simply frowned in concern of why you were in such a clear state of panic. "Is something wrong? Did something bad happen to you?"
Upon hearing the translation from your feathered friend, whom you made a note upon your very soul not to lose track of, you simply shook your head. You went into a very long winded and extravagant rant over being confused, terrified of where you were and how you weren't even supposed to be here in the first place. Did anyone but the bird understand a word you said? No of course not, but at the very least you were able to get out a rant that had been festering for the better part of...however long you had been running for your life. The longer you went on the more Tanjiro grew concerned by the sheer spike of your emotions you were having.
The extravagant bird, gracefully and unceremoniously, pecked your shoulder after your continued spiral went a little long for its tastes. It simply would not translate the absolute word vomit you had spewed. You cut your rant short at the action, softly wincing at the sharp pain. "She is rather confused on how she found herself here and has been in a panic since she found herself in a place where no one understands her. She's also panicked by the fact she misplaced her ticket and the health of the conductor was questionable at best."
Tanjiro's eyes softened and gave you a, what he hoped, was a reassuring smile. "Don't worry Miss, we can help you if you'd like." He offered before quickly remembering how he hadn't introduced himself or his friends. "My name is Kamado Tanjiro, and these are my friends." He gestured behind him to a very dead Zenistu and Innosuke who was currently ranting and raving about both demanding Zenitsu get up and about wanting to fight whoever had run into them. He turned back to you instead of dealing with that right this moment. "Which I'll introduce to you later." He finished smoothly. That can of worms was very much for later when you weren't stressed or panicking.
You smiled at the boy the best you could, putting a little more feeling into it. As great as it would be to stay around Tanjiro and crew, you knew they would be dealing with demons soon enough and that you very much wanted to avoid as best you could. You let out a nervous laugh. "No, no. It's fine. I don't want to get in your way. Thank you so much for the offer, but it's very unnecessary." You declined which earned you another peck on your shoulder.
"She is in your care." The bird answered for you and even made a motion similar to that of a bow. "Her name is as of this moment a bit difficult to pronounce in your language so it would be best if you referred to her as Suzu for now."
Seeing Tanjiro nod and not get out of your way or insist on helping you like he probably would if he had heard you denied the help you got suspicious of your so called translator. You carefully took the bird off your shoulder to get a better look at it so you weren't just looking at its feathers. You looked in the eyes before questioning it because you knew for sure the bird hadn't told him what you actually said. "What did you say to him?"
"Simply that you are in his care and to call you 'Suzu'." The bird simply looked at you rather bored while you had to restrain the pure terror you were currently experiencing as well as the irritation you felt towards the animal.
"What do you mean I'm in his care?!" You shrieked causing most people in the car to grimace but you were beyond caring right now. Even Zenitsu winced at the sheer volume of it and he was currently dead! "I shouldn't even be here in the first place and it'll be demon central soon enough! I mean sure these guys are slayers but this whole train is going to fuse with a fucking demon soon enough and i don't want to be in their goddamn stomach longer than I have to. Wait.. The entire train turns into his stomach so nowhere is safe! Holy fuck I am so fucking screwed!" You were starting to hyperventilate the longer your rant went on.
Your mind spiraled and it then miraculously latched onto one little detail that made the sheer panic and terror simply cease into bafflement. "Why 'Suzu'? Why not my actual name?" You asked quietly instead of continuing to scream like a banshee.
"It's simply easier to keep track of." Plus the bird was rather fond of it themselves. Though you hardly knew that. To you it just sounded like a name it pulled out of left field.
"Fine whatever. Not like it matters right now anyways." You grumbled to the bird who had shifted to perching on your arm instead. "Since you can talk, do you even have a name?"
"You may refer to me as Zaku." The bird puffed up its chest as if proud of itself and its name.
You thought about the name choices the bird had and tried to make some semblance of sense. A funny little thought crossed your mind of all the anime and video game references it held. "So like Suzaku?" You asked now thoroughly distracted from your unholy demise.
"The very same." Zaku puffed up their chest further in pride if that were even possible and you just nodded at the revelation.
Yes, that made total sense.
It made as much sense as being here on the Mugen train during the Taisho Era in a story from a manga and anime.
Which was to say none at all, but really what were you expecting from this nightmare of a scenario you were somehow not dreaming of.
If you died here would you die in real life?
Is this real life?
While you were having a major breakdown for all to see on the train, Tanjiro was helping his friends up and busy trying to bring Zenitsu back to life. Inosuke thankfully had been convinced not to attack the screaming, possibly hysterical lady that had run into them. Though really Tanjiro heavily wondered why you flitted through so many emotions at once, to say it was overwhelming was an understatement. There was however no mistaking how you were still very terrified and anxious.
What you wore also didn't make sense to him. You were wearing baggy pants that cuffed to your ankle and some sort of closed long sleeve shirt made of the same baggy material. You had no shoes on and on top of that you had only one sock on your foot. The sock had a rather odd pattern woven into it of what could be described as a music note...maybe? I mean it had the look of one but it also had a face on it and... were there teal pigtails? The shirt also had some bizarre pattern affixed to it that no one but yourself would be able to make sense of, though it did look like his earring. Maybe you were into hanafuda? Though he did wonder what the writing around it said.
Zenitsu, finally having been roused from his death, groaned and whimpered. Complaining this way and that about the poor misfortune he had been brought and how his poor Nezuko had almost unwittingly been an aid in his own death. He glared at Tanjiro for the undeniable slight towards him and his words came to a stand still as he peered upon the beauty that was you. He shoved his way past Tanjiro and towards you, the exotic angel of the train.
You were sidetracked by your conversation with Zaku that you hardly noticed the kid and he started screaming and latching on to you. You of course being on high alert, jumped out of your skin once again and screamed this time at the top of your lungs. You tried very hard to get the boy to unlatch before you saw who exactly it was and upon seeing quickly stopped screaming.
Tanjiro was already coming to your rescue giving Zenistu a talking to as he tried to pry him off of you. You would be flattered by the compliment of Zenitsu hitting on you if you weren't on a train you very much would like to be anywhere but on.
Zaku, who had taken flight as soon as Zenitsu had latched onto you, simply looked upon the scene in pure amusement. You really couldn't really blame the bird since you very much enjoyed the boy's antics when you watched them from the safety behind a screen. "I'm not translating that."
You simply hummed in response, not about to ask it to.
Taisho Secrets
☼ You do not have a ticket for the train.
☼ The languages present within the world of Kimetsu no Yaiba are entirely different from the languages you know, hence why they nor you could understand each other.
☼ Zaku, unless stated otherwise, is always translating what characters say word for word. However they do at times take creative liberties with what you say from time to time.
☼ The top you are wearing is actually a hoodie of official Demon Slayer merch that can be found at Target.
☼ The pattern on the sock is of a Miku Otamatone. Whether these socks truly exist is not something the author is aware of.
☼ Zaku adores most roasted food, but its favorite is roasted sweet potatoes.
Author's note: I read too many kny reader fanfics and decided to put my hat in the ring. Some things may not be totally accurate to kny but I will try my best.
Where the train is headed may not be accurate at all, but it is where the Mugen train ran during the movie's promotion in Japan. So I just used that instead for fun. I tried looking up the actual story but it seems it wasn't mentioned when i searched for it.
If you read this far, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the story.