^ Chapter 33 - A Promise Kept ^


Birds chirped happily outside under the warmth of the midafternoon sun, and a gentle breeze flowed through the sakura leaves of the tree branches they rested upon. It was a tranquil day, so what better reason to sing their merry song than to just appreciate the calmness and beauty of nature.

The softly flowing leaves and the birds serenaded the occupants of a lone family home nestled comfortably in a clearing of the forest, a smaller shack close by being where equipment that belonged to the family was stored. At the moment there was a lone figure sitting outside the main sleeping room of the home, his long unruly maroon hair tied into a single ponytail swaying a little in the breeze. His outfit was meager and unimpressive, being just what was essential for them for travelling, but one thing that did stand out was that hanging from his ears were a noticeable pair of hanafuda earrings.

Inside of the room past the open sliding doors, sleeping softly on a futon underneath a blanket, was a woman with black hair who snored so silently one would have to listen close to hear her. Another resident of the home was sleeping right in the figure's arms; a child with plump cheeks and a cute expression was presently napping while swaddled in a blanket while the figure sat there getting some fresh air.

"I poured some tea. And I brought you a couple rice balls too, if you wanted a snack." spoke a voice from behind, the man perking up somewhat and glancing over his shoulder.

Approaching him as silently as he could with a circular wooden tray that carried two kinds of cups, a pair of rice balls, and a teapot for pouring was a younger man wearing baggy white pants and a checkered green and black kimono. His hair was also tied back in a shorter ponytail, being colored black with red streaks and tips, which kept it out of his maroon eyes.

"Ahh, thank you. You didn't have to, though." replied the first man as his gaze returned to the sleeping child.

"Wow, fast asleep...that's adorable." said the second man after setting the tray down between them. He sat down right on the other side of the tray and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly and laughed, pointing back at the sleeping woman behind him. "I'm so sorry, my wife also happened to fall asleep. Plus even though you're a visitor, you ended up watching over my child instead…"

"Don't worry too much about it. Your wife is probably tired. Birthing a child and raising them from youth is hard work." the first man replied without changing his expression much.

He allowed the second, happier-looking person to take his child away from his arms, freeing him up to nourish himself with the tea while leaving the rice balls untouched. He took a sip from the cup that had already been filled and closed his eyes, the taste of the freshly made beverage bringing him some comfort, as well as energy for the journey ahead.

"After I finish drinking this, I'll be on my way. I appreciate the rice balls too, but I'll leave them for you. i can't keep eating meals for free like this."

"Oh, no! I owe you my life. If you weren't around back then I, much less my child, wouldn't be here now."

The man with the hanafuda earrings didn't say anything, with his only response being the sound he made as he sipped some more on the tea with his eyes closed. After a few moments the second man then asked him if, at the very least, he could hear the first man's story so that he could tell it to future generations.

It was that sentence that made the man lower the cup from his lips and make a reply, telling him that there was no need to do so. Wondering why that was the case, the second man asked the first why, and mentioned that it would also help because there was no successor that the first man could rely upon. Even if he was just a coal burner, the second man stated that he'd attempt to spread his story as much as possible so that others could know of him.

"Really, there is no need, Sumiyoshi. There is nothing to tell of my legacy, nothing to take note of." said the man with the earrings as he finally set the cup down and looked at the coal burner with a soft expression that didn't show that much emotion. Sumyoshi's eyebrows dropped a little and he dropped his shoulders as well, while the man held his sword and stood up, facing away from him. "You seem to see me as some kind of special human...but that's not true. I couldn't protect a single thing that was precious to me. I couldn't achieve what I was supposed to achieve in life. Because of that, I am a man of no worth."

"No...don't speak like that, please. No one should think of themselves like that, never. You can't…"


Tanjirō's eyebrows furrowed somewhat and he groaned a tiny bit, his eyes soon cracking open to the glare of sunlight coming in through the window. He immediately closed them again when he was practically blinded from it, his vision still blurry from sleep, and waited until he felt a little more awake before trying again.

It wasn't as bad then and he made the tiniest of groans as he became aware of his surroundings, the first thing being the beautiful woman that he was sharing the bed with In fact, it was her bed that he was in, which made the warmth radiating in his chest all the better. Tanjirō smiled softly at the back of Shinobu's head as she continued to silently snore, the Hashira on her side with her back facing him. He had never seen her appear so defenseless before, which made Tanjirō feel special since he was one of the few people outside of her family to ever see her like this. She trusted him with her back, and even more than that, which he was truly grateful for.

"Last night...Shinobu and I...we really did it…" Tanjirō thought as he scooted up to Shinobu's bare back, closing his eyes again as he gently wrapped an arm around her. The scent of her hair and her body filled his nostrils, acting almost like a drug that he couldn't get enough of as he held her close. "The emotions...the feelings...I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was…"

The couple remained like that for a minute or two until Shinobu started to show signs of waking up, the Hashira stirring and shifting her feet around somewhat. Her eyelids moved around slightly before she eventually let out a tiny groan of sorts when she stretched, her arms extending out a little under the covers towards the edge of the bed. Shinobu then finally opened her eyes and yawned a little before she felt Tanjirō's warm breath hitting her neck through her hair, as well as the arm he had around her waist, which made her smile and press herself back against him.

"Good morning, Tanjirō…are you awake…?" she asked in a low tone, her opposite opening his eyes and gently nuzzling the side of her neck with his nose and cheek.

"Yeah...I woke up a couple minutes ago before you…" Tanjirō replied without moving his arm from around her or taking his cheek and nose out from the crook of her shoulder and neck.

"Did you sleep well…? I think I could say it was the best sleep of my life…"

"Same here, honestly...we were both tired…"

"We both know why…~"

Tanjirō's cheeks turned a slight shade of red, as did Shinobu's even though she was the one who said it, and she felt his arm move up from her waist towards her chest. She closed her eyes and made a soft sound when her ample bust was squished beneath it, their warmth spreading into his arm and back to his body.

"Part of me still can't believe it...that we actually...you know…" murmured Tanjirō as he placed his lips on her shoulder, his warm breath escaping through the gaps and rolling down her clavicle. "That we had...sex…"

"It was all real, Tanjirō...every last wonderful second of it…" Shinobu said back as she slid her right hand up out from under her pillow and rested it on his arm covering her breasts.

What had happened after they had climbed into her tub the night before for only a few minutes had started off slow, with both lovers testing the waters of their passion, before diving head first into their own locked away desires. Being away from one another for such a long time only added to the emotions as well, where in the span of less than ten minutes, they had gone from kissing, to touching, to the both of them losing their virginity to one another.

Their bodies wet from the bath water, they divulged in the passions and motions of sex well into the night, taking their time with one another and going at their own pace, before finally finding the time to sleep just after midnight. It had zapped them dry of all of their energy, leading to the pair waking up eight hours later in the exact same position they had gone to sleep in.

"Tanjirō...you know our lives will never be the same after this...right? Rengoku-san, Kanroji-san and Uzui-san all know...it will only be a matter of time before the others find out." Shinobu said as she gently pulled Tanjirō's arm off so she could roll herself around and look him straight in the eyes.

" I do know...but that doesn't mean it will change my mindset. It's the same for me with being a demon too. And besides…" Tanjirō started before smiling and moving his head forward, kissing Shinobu on the lips for a good little bit of time before pulling away. "I've still got a promise to keep. I almost failed at it once already, so I'm not going to let it happen a second time."

"Tanjirō...what am I going to do with you...when you make me feel like this all of the time…"

Shinobu buried her face into his chest as she hugged him, a laugh escaping his lips as he rubbed her back with one hand. Another minute or two of this passed by before Shinobu separated from him and smiled softly, leaning in soon after to give him one of her own kisses.

This one lasted longer than Tanjirō's, and it involved the Hashira scooting forward a couple of inches so that her breasts were pressed against his chest.

He took that as a challenge and while they kissed the covers shifted somewhat when he brought his hands up to cup them, a hand for each large mound, and then started groping slowly. Shinobu's cute moans returned and her cheeks began to turn red from the good feelings she was getting from his groping, this leading to her pulling away to catch her breath.

"T-Tanjirō...you know...my breasts are my...weak spot…" she said cutely, her hand coming up to cover her mouth shyly when she moaned again.

"I can't help it, Shinobu...it's too tempting...they're pretty big too…" Tanjirō replied when his thumbs found her nipples, his digits rolling over the perky pink nubs back and forth.

"M-Mou...Tanjirō…~!"

Shinobu then pressed her hands against his chest and pushed him back while lifting herself up at the same time, the covers falling away behind them as she then sat on his abdomen with a smile. She had pinned him to the bed beneath herself, her thighs hugging his side and her hands still on his chest.

Tanjirō blinked at the sudden change of events but he laughed, prompting her to laugh to as she then bent down and gave him another kiss on the lips. Before pulling away she reached for his hands and held them carefully, taking them with her as she purposefully pressed them against her breasts, allowing him to grope them again as she looked over her shoulder down at his crotch.

"If you're going to be like...mmn...this...then at least...take responsibility for your actions…"

"That's...okay…"

Shinobu giggled a little as she let him grope her while she reached back and took his cock into her hand, gently moving her hand back and forth to help him get up to full mast. Once that did occur, she asked him to wait for a few as she lifted herself up and held his shaft still in order to position herself over his waist.

Once she had the right angle, she then sat back down on top of him and held her lips shut as a cute noise akin to a puppy whine came out when she felt him enter her. She didn't stop until her supple ass was resting comfortably on his pelvis, his entire member fitting snug inside of her. A sigh of relief came out of the gap between her lips and she looked back at Tanjirō finally, seeing him smiling at her with a blush like her's

"Your time was last night, Tanjirō-kun...before we go to breakfast...allow me...to take the lead…" said Shinobu when she began to lightly bounce up and down, her breasts jiggling a little beneath Tanjirō's palms as he held them.

"Shinobu...you feel...incredible…" Tanjirō said with a slight groan as his member throbbed a bit inside of her as she rode him at a gentle pace.

Taking it easier compared to last night, they went slow, with Tanjirō continuing to grope her ample breasts while Shinobu's hips moved on their own, up and down. Her bed crealed a little beneath them, and after the first few bounces Tanjirō's heightened sense of smell could detect the scent of her essence emanating from her groin.

She was enjoying herself, evident by the sounds her folds made as they slid along his shaft and the cute moans she made while doing it. And he was too, from the warmth of her insides spreading throughout his loins and down his legs to the feeling of her large breasts in his hands as he fondled them.

When her moans started to get a little too loud, Shinobu laid herself down on Tanjirō and began to kiss him so that they were muffled, while she continued to bounce her hips at her own pace. It wasn't until several minutes later when in the midst of their kissing they both told one another they were nearing their ends, which prompted her to speed up her motions a little more so they could reach it faster. Already knowing what to do before the end did come, before he blew his load, Tanjirō pulled out of Shinobu and groaned as his seed ended up on her ass and her lower back rather than in her womb.

Shinobu reached her orgasm at the exact same time and she kissed Tanjirō harder so as her squeal wasn't as loud until she had finished, her body twitching a little here and there once she managed to pull away.

"M-Mmngh...hold still for...a few moments...I need to calm down…" Shinobu said softly, Tanjirō nodding his head as he placed his arms around her and gave her a soft hug.

"We're going to have...to be careful and not...do this that often...or it'll become addicting…" he said in between breaths.

"Mhm...I agree…we still have our jobs to do…"

They laid there for another few minutes to allow themselves to catch their breaths before they attempted to move, where upon getting up they soon discovered they were more sore than they initially thought. Despite being well-trained demon slayers, with Tanjirō even being a demon, it turns out that a night full of sexual passion was an entirely different beast.

Neither Shinobu or Tanjirō regretted it though, because every time they looked at one another they were positively beaming, appearing happier than they ever had been before. Picking up where they had cut themselves short last night because of their feelings, they actually bathed together and properly cleaned each other before stepping back into Shinobu's room to take off the sheets and get them ready for cleaning.

As Shinobu was getting dressed, Tanjirō noticed the damage that had been done to her butterfly haori and immediately he stopped what he was doing, his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach. She noticed him staring at it out of the corner of her eye and she smiled softly at him, the Hashira approaching him fully dressed in her uniform and rubbing his arms gently.

"Don't worry about it, Tanjirō...things like that can be repaired. My sister had to do it a few times too, so this wouldn't be the first time." Shinobu said to try and lift his spirits, a small peck on the cheek following soon after. "I can just wear my uniform without it for the time being."

"It's not that, Shinobu. Seeing the stains and the scratches, it just reminded me how...I could've really hurt you and Kanao-san…" Tanjirō replied, Shinobu's smile dropping for a second as she cupped his cheek and brought his head forward lightly.

"The injuries don't matter, not any more...what matters is that you came back…" Shinobu replied in almost a whisper when then pulled his head down somewhat, nestling his cheek against her chest.

He could hear the steady beating of her heart through her clothes and skin, a soothing sound that made him slowly close his eyes and listen to it like it was some sort of nursery rhyme. Shinobu kept her hands around his head, holding him there against her chest for a minute or two so her words could really sink in, before finally letting go of him and giving him one of her trademark smiles.

Asking him if he felt better, Tanjirō responded that he did and gave her back a smile as he finished dressing himself and left his haori off as well. He'd need to get a new one made for himself since the old one had been damaged as well, so until then the both of them would go in just their uniforms to breakfast. Little did they know that they were in for a surprise when they arrived, a particular yellow haired and boar-headed surprise.

Zenitsu and Inosuke were sitting down in the middle of breakfast chowing down on the food that Aoi had cooked for them, with Aoi herself shaking her head side to side at how Inosuke still had an utter disregard for any proper manners. She was the first to notice Tanjirō and Shinobu enter and gave them both a smile and a wave, the former returning it before he looked down at his two friends and prepared himself for what he knew was coming.

"Hey Zenitsu, Inosuke...I'm back now! Hehe…" Tanjirō said out loud while rubbing the back of his neck, the two slayers instantly freezing and whipping their heads around.

They stared at one another for a fraction of a second before the scrambled up off the floor and practically tackled Tanjirō to the ground, Shinobu stepping aside to avoid being trampled herself while giggling at the three of them. Like opposite sides of the same coin, Inosuke began to berate and shout at Tanjirō for leaving them while Zenitsu cried into his chest in his comical way, overjoyed at his return. Of course that was flipped on its head when he switched right into thrashing Tanjirō around and yelling at him even louder than Inosuke, while also using as many profanities as he could.

Eventually they got everything that they wanted to say out of their system and the three young men all hugged one another, happy that Tanjirō was finally back after being gone for so long. He laughed at the two of them as he freed himself from their grasp and asked Aoi for some food for himself and Shinobu, which she happily obliged to do so and said she'd be right back before leaving.

"I'm not going to lie, Tanjirō, it's going to take some time to get used to your eyes…" remarked Zenitsu after returning to his spot next to his food, Tanjirō sitting down to his right right across from Inosuke. "Since they have those kanji tattooed on them now from when you weren't yourself."

"I feel the same way, Zenitsu. I don't really know of a way that can get them back to normal, but in a way, it's kind of an insult back at Muzan." replied Tanjirō with a smile, Zenitsu's eyebrow rising at the proclamation.

"What do you mean by insult?"

"Tanjirō-kun's point is that he would be the 'one who got away'. Kibutsuji failed to keep Tanjirō as one of his own...just that thought alone could infuriate him to no end." stated Shinobu with a knowing smile as she joined them, taking the last empty spot next to Tanjirō across from Inosuke.

Zenitsu's attention immediately skipped from understanding what she said to downright ogling her a bit without any sort of hiding it, something that made Shinobu giggle at him for. Tanjirō of course took a more active role in addressing that by smacking Zenitsu on top of the head and telling him off for staring at her like that, which made Inosuke laugh at his pain.

He demanded to know what that was for and Tanjirō repeated himself again, the two friends entering a short argument with one another while Shinobu only continued to giggle at them with a hand over her mouth. Of course Tanjirō wasn't going to tell them that he did it because the Hashira he was ogling was his girlfriend, not yet anyways, which made it all the more hilarious. Aoi came back at that moment too and managed to quell the argument with a simple, well-timed shout, before handing Tanjirō and Shinobu's food to them and taking away Inosuke's since he already finished.

"Anyways Tanjirō, what are you going to do now that you're back? When did you even come back, actually?" Zenitsu asked while he took a drink from his beverage, Tanjirō taking a bite out of his food and smiling.

"Yesterday morning, actually. I already had a meeting with the Hashira again and everything...I even got readmitted back into the Corps!" he replied with a laugh.

"Are you still at the rank you were when you vanished? Bonbitsu and I are at Kanoe." Inosuke added after leaning back on one leg and grinning at Tanjirō, his boar head pulled up since he had been eating.

"Oh, uh, I actually can't remember...um…"

"He's at Kinoe~"

Inosuke fell over onto his back and Zenitsu nearly choked on his drink when Shinobu told them both the new rank. Tanjirō snapped his fingers and nodded his head, smiling at them still while confirming Shinobu's statement, before he was once again assaulted by Zenitsu pestering him with profanities while shaking him around back and forth.

"Kinoe?! You couldn't even remember you're at the top of the ladder, right below Tsuguko or Hashira?! Are you a dumbass or something?! You are a dumbass aren't you, you shithead!"

"Zenitsu, stop shaking me! It's not my fault! It was a lot to take in okay?! You try coming back after being an Upper Moon!"

"That's no excuuuuuse! Your memory is trash! Garbage!"

Again Aoi had to yell to get them to separate, even threatening to hurt Zenitsu if he did that again, which made him cross his arms and grumble things under his breath out of irritation. Free from his friend's rampage yet again, Tanjirō cleaned himself off somewhat and cleared his throat in order to answer the other question that Zenitsu asked before his trade.

"After this, I'm going to go to the Rengoku household. Rengoku-san asked me to meet him there today." Tanjirō said, the reveal about Kyōjurō being back in action making both Zenitsu and Inosuke sigh in relief. It was more good news for them on top of having Tanjirō back, since they had been the last ones with him when he had gotten injured and fallen into a coma. "What about you guys? You got back from missions, right?"

"Yea, we're taking the day off...turns out we got called to the same town over two different reports of a demon that involved the same one. Wasn't too much of an issue though, it was just a pain in the ass." Zenitsu replied, a heart laugh from Inosuke following his words.

"It couldn't do anything against the mighty Inosuke-sama! No amount of hiding could keep it hidden from me! Gyahahaha!"

The four of them eventually finished breakfast together and they thanked Aoi before departing, Shinobu and Tanjirō leaving together since before he left he wanted to check up on Nezuko in her room. Once there he cracked open the door and peered inside the darkened room, smiling softly at his sister deep in slumber on her bed with the blinds drawn so no sunlight could enter. She still had no mouth guard after she had broken the one that was given to her all those years ago, but thankfully she had been so exhausted that there wasn't any threat of her going berserk without it.

"I'll figure out something new for her to wear as a mouthpiece later, for now let's let her sleep...but keep the door locked as a precaution." Tanjirō whispered to Shinobu as he closed the door and ran a hand through his hair.

"Of course, Tanjirō~ You better get going though, you don't want to keep Renogku-san waiting." replied Shinobu as she adjusted his uniform for him, making sure it wasn't wrinkled after Zenitsu messed with it so much before she patted his chest and nodded, satisfied with her work. "There, now you look presentable. You're just missing one thing now."

"What is it, my haori? I could go and get it, though it's not the same anymore...I want to get my old one back, actually."

"No, silly. It's this~"

Shinobu pulled on his uniform collar and kissed him right on the lips, giggling softly to herself at how wide his eyes got, before he accepted it and hugged her back throughout the duration of their kiss.

Finally she pulled away and shooed him off, Tanjirō laughing and waving as he jogged away from her in order to leave the Butterfly Mansion. As soon as he was gone and she checked to make sure that he wasn't coming back, she quickly walked down the hallway the opposite direction and went straight to Kanao's room, where inside the Tsuguko had been waiting patiently for her to arrive.

"He finally left. It should take him a little bit to find Rengoku-san's home because he left without asking for directions, so let's hurry!" Shinobu said quickly, Kanao nodding as she got up off her bed and followed her out.

"They should all be waiting for us there, right? He's going to be really surprised…"

"Yes, he will~"


"I can't believe I forgot to ask Shinobu for directions…" thought Tanjirō as he dropped his head and sighed while standing in the middle of an intersection. Being that the only places he had ever been to at the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters was Ubuyashiki's home and the Butterfly Mansion, he had absolutely no idea where he was as soon as he had gotten a few blocks away from the latter. "Now I don't even know where I am in this huge place...who thought it was a good idea to have all of the Hashira homes here?!"

"You look lost, Tanjirō." spoke a voice from his right out of thin air, the young slayer turning and registering the origin with his sight first before his nose.

"Tomioka-san!" exclaimed Tanjirō happily when he saw the Water Hashira approaching him, the same aloof expression he always wore present on his face. "Am I glad to see you! I'm trying to find Rengoku-san's house, but I have no idea where it is."

"Rengoku-san? Mm...follow me. I'll take you there."

Tanjirō thanked his lucky stars as he joined up with Giyū, walking with him down one of the roads just a step behind him. They walked in silence for the most part, with Tanjirō not really having much to say or ask of the Hashira, and because Giyū was a man of few words already.

Finally for Tanjirō, however, they were able to reach the front entrance to the Rengoku household, a favor that he avidly thanked Giyū for several times over while bowing. Giyū made no comment and only nodded in response, before telling him that he should go inside rather than spend time apologizing to him over a small thing like showing him the way to a home. Agreeing with him, Tanjirō walked through the front entrance into the small garden leading up to the home itself and knocked on the wooden frame for the doors to be let in.

When he didn't hear nor smell anyone coming to the door, he wondered if Kyōjurō or anyone of his family were in the back garden, so he went to his right and followed the stone path around the circumference of the building. As he got around near the back, his nose easily picked up Kyōjurō's scent, before detecting others that he recognized as well.

"Huh? What are they all doing here? I thought it was just going to be me and…" Tanjirō thought to himself once he reached the backyard, where he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Aha, there he is! Kamado, my boy! You're finally here!" Kyōjurō exclaimed as he caught sight of him and walked over from where he had been standing with not only an older, grittier version of himself he assumed to be his father, as well as both Shinobu and Kanao.

"Rengoku-san? What's happening? Why are Shinobu and Kanao-san here?" Tanjirō asked, his eyes glancing at them briefly and catching the smiles they gave him.

"Oh, it's not just them either. Your other friend showed up for this too!"

Kyōjurō put an arm around Tanjirō's shoulders and pointed with an outstretched arm to the shaded interior of his home past the back porch, where the living area was, right to a smiling Amai who waved enthusiastically at him. Her appearance was enough to render Tanjirō speechless for a few seconds before what Kyōjurō had said finally registered and he looked up at him.

"Wait, for this? What do you mean? What's going on?" he asked, Kyōjurō chuckling as he put his other hand on Tanjirō's right shoulder and looked him right in the eyes.

"This? This is a celebration for you, my boy! A welcoming back party, a thank you for your help before I had my unfortunate nap, as I like to call it, and a commencement for the promise I made to you back then!"

"A promise? Rengoku-san, I can't remember all that well, what are you talking about?"

"Kamado, my boy...I'm naming you as my Tsuguko. Exactly as I said I would."

Tanjirō's heart skipped a beat and his eyes shot wide open when he heard what the Flame Hashira just told him. In an instant his memories were jogged of their time on the train half a year prior to his kidnapping, to when Kyōjurō had promised to make him his Tsuguko after Tanjirō had proved himself in the eyes of the Hashira during their fight against Lower Moon One.

As if he needed help proving Kyōjurō's words as the truth, his eyes darted over to Shinobu and Kanao, where the former smiled proudly at him and nodded her head, and the latter gave him a thumbs up. Even Amai, who was separated from them because she couldn't be out in the sun, clapping her hands for him and jumped up and down excitedly. Tanjirō blinked a few times and then brought his gaze back up to Kyōjurō's singular eye, who closed as he smiled and laughed at him while clapping his shoulder.

"It's true, my boy! I wouldn't lie to you on that! I really am making you my Tsuguko, so that once I hopefully retire and settle down, you can have my place as one of the Demon Slayer Corps' pillars." said Kyōjurō to reiterate his statement, the man then taking his hands off Tanjirō so he could rub his hair like an older brother would. "Through all of the hardships you faced, from proving yourself in the face of adversity to fighting your own inner demon in order to return, you've earned it. Just as you will have earned the title of 'Hashira' once that time comes."

"You...do you really think that about me, Rengoku-san…? That I'm worthy enough…?" asked Tanjirō, still unable to comprehend what he was hearing.

"Of course, my dear boy. To be fair, I honestly believe you should already be a Hashira."

Tanjirō blinked again before he finally was able to digest everything that Kyōjurō had just told him, which he reacted to with a smile so wide and full of joy one would think he was trying to mimic the sun. Kyōjurō laughed and rubbed his hand through his hair again before walking him back towards everyone, right as Senjurō came out from their home after handing some tea to Amai with the rest of the cups he had.

Kyōjurō took the time to introduce Tanjirō to his family, starting first with his little brother and then his father Shinjurō, who gave him a firm handshake as well as an approving head nod.

"Kochō-san told me about you, we actually talked somewhat about you and what you were wanting to find out about your father and the "Hinokami Kagura" that you inherited from him." Shinjurō said, immediately catching Tanjirō's attention for a brief second or two before the older man shook his hand and chuckled a bit. This was no time for them to talk about matters such as that, since right now it was supposed to be a time of celebration for him. "That can come later. What I will say though is that Kyōjurō talked quite a lot about you since coming out of his coma. It's a miracle that he was able to help in bringing you back to your senses...we need more like you in the Corps."

"A-Ah, thank you very much sir! Your words are appreciated!" replied Tanjirō quickly with a bow of respect to the elder and former Flame Hashira before his son.

"Another thing...this is pretty new to me, having two demons in my own home...but I can see why how you and Kochō-san believe so much in that dream of yours...it looks like there's actual proof of it…"

Shinjurō glanced over at Amai as she was sipping on some tea, the woman already sitting down on a cushion provided for her by Senjurō. She noticed his gaze and lowered her cup while giving him a warm smile, showing she was part of the group even though she couldn't be right there next to them because of the sun.

That brought up another point Kyōjurō's father mentioned, specifically Tanjirō's special immunity to the sun and its effect on demons. When asked about it he was told how even he didn't know what caused it to occur, just that it happened when he rescued a few kids from a former Lower Moon Demon that used room altering drums as his weapons. Before Shinjurō could probe him any more with his question, Shinobu approached them and placed a hand on his arms, giggling and telling him that he could ask more from Tanjirō later after they were done. Senjurō laughed with his older brother at their father while Shinobu then turned to Tanjirō and giggled at him next when he put his hands on his hips.

"So you came here as soon as I left without even knowing the way here? That's heartless, Shinobu!" he exclaimed, the Insect Hashira waving her hand nonchalantly at him before hugging him.

"Oh, don't be such a bad sport, Tanjirō~ Especially when we're still waiting on one more guest, a really special one at that~" Shinobu replied, which sparked Tanjirō's interest.

"A special guest? Who would that-"

"Tanjirō!"

The young man's eyes once again shot wide open when the old, grizzly sounding tone full of authority laced in care reached his ears, followed by an old familiar scent that he had come to know after several long years of training. Shinobu looked toward the voice first and let go of Tanjirō, who was a little slower than her as he brought his head around to see someone he thought he hadn't seen in a long time.

Approaching from the same pathway around the house as he had, with a slightly smiling Giyū right behind him, was his old master that initially trained him in Water Breathing himself, Urokodaki. With his face still hidden behind his red, frowning Oni mask, the oldest man there quickly approached Tanjirō at a fast pace.

Before Tanjirō could even say anything Urokodaki slugged Tanjirō right on top of his head, beating him down to his knees and making both Shinobu and Kanao gasp with their mouths covered by their hands. Even Kyōjurō and his family were shocked by the violent meeting between master and former student, before Urokodaki then crouched down on one knee in front of Tanjirō and embraced him in a caring, firm embrace.

"I heard about what happened...I left my home immediately to try and find you, but never could...I thought you had died, and left Nezuko all alone…" Urokodaki said, his gruff voice softer than normal full of care.

"It's true, sensei...I was lost for a while...but thanks to everyone who searched for me...I'm back…" replied Tanjirō with a thankful smile as he hugged Urokodaki back, the pair remaining like that for another minute or two before the latter let go and helped his student back to his feet.

"From former student, to Upper Moon Six, and then Tsuguko to the Flame Hashira...you've had quite a journey, haven't you, Tanjirō?"

"That's one way to put it, sensei...haha…"

With all of the guests now present at the Rengoku Household, Shinobu and Kyōjurō, the masterminds behind the get together, gathered everyone around close to Amai so that she could participate with them. Only Giyū didn't join them, preferring to stay a few feet away, which no one really objected to since that was what he did.

Once everyone quieted down, Kyōjurō took the lead by bringing Tanjirō next to him and clapping him on the shoulder. He congratulation him again, before taking a more serious approach as he asked him properly if he would like to become his Tsuguko. Unsurprisingly he agreed wholeheartedly, and with everyone there as a witness, the establishment of Tanjirō as Kyōjurō's successor was made official. The drinks that Senjurō had passed around to everyone were then raised as a toast to the young man, before they all drank in celebration.

"Another thing, Kamado, my boy. I happened to notice that your sword was chipped, most likely from your battle with the former Upper Moon Six, correct?" questioned after he had his drink, Shinobu standing next to him while they stood with Tanjirō independently from everyone else.

"Ah, I think so. Oh no...Haganezuka-san is going to be even more pissed with me then last time…" uttered Tanjirō as all of the color left his face when he remembered being chased around by the swordsmith with a knife.

"Is that the name of your smith? Hm...very well then! I shall draft an order that you can take to him for the creation of a new sword!"

"What?! You can do that, Rengoku-san?!"

"Hmn! Of course I can! What man would I be if I didn't get my new Tsuguko a brand new sword?"

Kyōjurō laughed when Tanjirō then hugged him in the blink of an eye, their brotherly bond and mannerisms causing Shinobu to giggle at them with a hand over her mouth. Tanjirō let go of Kyōjurō so that he could step inside and get that written for him, leaving him alone with Shinobu along with everyone else at the gathering.

She smiled at him and took a step closer, standing on her tiptoes a little before trying to give him a peck on the cheek. His eyes widened and he frantically tried to tell her that now wasn't the time, before they both heard a chuckle from Shinjurō, who had seen what happened and gave them both a wink.

"We already know. Kyōjurō was rather forthcoming with that information, so feel free to act normally when you're at our home."

"O-Oh...well...in that case...um…"

"Because you did that, you're getting this instead~"

Shinbou grabbed him somewhat forcefully by the cuff of his uniform and pulled him into a kiss, which surprised even Urokodaki as he chuckled and pulled his mask to the side somewhat to take another sip of the sake in his hand.

"The youth are getting crazier and crazier these days…" he remarked, Kyōjurō's father nodding with a light chuckle.

"You can say that again…"

The kiss lasted as long as it took Kyōjurō to return to them with a folded up letter that he gave to Tanjirō for safe keeping. Once he had put the piece of parchment in his uniform, Kyōjurō smiled proudly at him again and rubbed the top of his head, which made him blush a little like he was getting doted on.

"I would suggest you leave tomorrow for the Swordsmith village, so that way you can return here with your new sword and train with me! We have lots to discuss, especially regarding that Hinokami Kagura of yours!"

"Can do, Rengoku-san!"


^ Part 2 - Lost, then Found Again ^

^ End ^


A/N Hahaha! We did it bois, two parts of this fanfic in the bag! Granted Part 2 isn't as long as Part 1, but hey, who cares?! XDDD Hope I didn't blindside you guys with another lemon in this chapter, I couldn't contain myself from it, it wont be a habit I swear. .

It's just that I was wanting to post the last chapter so badly that I forced myself to cut the last lemon short, so I thought to make it up with this chapter having a more fleshed out one (which turned out vera nice)

Also I'm happy to see that many of you GREATLY enjoyed Michael getting his ass absolutely HANDED to him on a silver platter by Rengoku! I loved that part too, haha! With this being the end of this second part of my fanfic, I'd like to take a moment to once again thank everyone that stuck around with me through my story for this long. 300,00+ words is a lot for a fanfic, at least for me, I'm only 100,000 words short of my record fanfic, which is an Akame ga Kill fanfic named "A Different Path" that has twice the amount of chapters this story has.

It's just absolutely incredible and I can't thank you guys enough for all of the kind words you've said in your reviews (this is my most reviewed story). I especially thank you for sticking with me during this past Fall Semester, which was a tough one because of writing my Thesis. It makes me smile knowing I have such amazing readers like all of you, whether you're the ones that leave reviews or not. It makes me sad that I can't reply to any of you who leave guest reviews too, so I guess I'll do it here! No better time than now! I love all of you guys, each and every single one of you! :}

With that, THAAAAANK you so much for reading till now. No plans on stopping yet, especially since with the Demon Slayer Manga, we've only reached the halfway point. There's plenty more content on the way, so stay tuned for that!

Leave a fav, follow and review telling me what you thought about this chapter, or I SWEAR I REALLY WILL STEAL YOUR COUCH. XD See you guys!

Bye!