January 13, 1915
Mount Sagiri, Japan
A few days ago, on the tenth, fifteen-year-old Tanjirō Kamado returned to Mount Sagiri from the Final Selection to find that his little sister Nezuko had finally woken up at last. Alongside Tanjirō's Demon Slayer mentor, Sakonji Urokodaki, she had been there to welcome her big brother back.
Both of them were elated and relieved to see that he had returned alive from Mount Fujikasane.
Now Tanjirō awaited the delivery of his nichirin, a special-katana wielded by Demon Slayers that were capable of vanquishing demons because of the ore used to craft the blades. The two girls, though one suspiciously smelled like a boy, had explained that it would take fifteen days of each nichirin to be made for the survivors of the Final Selection, meaning there were twelve-days-left.
But on this particular day, an unexpected visitor was coming to the Urokodaki residence.
The current inhabitants were all in the living room when the visitor came, Nezuko resting under a large, fluffy blanket on a cushion while Sakonji and Tanjirō sat nearby. Then, there was a knock.
"I'll get that," Tanjirō offered, standing up before walking over to the front door, which he opened to reveal a young Demon Slayer who was a few centimeters shorter than Tanjirō and seemed to be younger than him as well. The boy had long, black-hair that faded to pale-turquoise. His eyes were mint-green and large with an empty-look to them, reminding Tanjirō a little of Giyū Tomioka.
The boy wore a similar uniform to Giyū, however it was slightly turquoise-tinted and resembled a kimono. And on his feet, he wore dark-blue tabi socks and a pair dark-blue-strapped white-zōri.
Seeing the sword at the boy's waist, Nezuko hid her face underneath her blanket to not be seen.
"Oh, hello, can I help you," Tanjirō greeted the young Demon Slayer.
"Yes, is Sakonji Urokodaki here," the boy asked Tanjirō.
"Urokodaki-san's here," Tanjirō confirmed, stepping aside to let the boy in. "I'm Tanjirō Kamado."
"It's nice to meet you, Kamado-san," the boy replied as he stepped inside. "I'm Muichirō Tokitō."
Tanjirō closed the door once the newcomer, Muichirō Tokitō, was inside.
"Tokitō-san," Sakonji said as he got up and walked over to the boys. "What brings you here?"
"I was told by my fellow-Hashira that I should meet you, as well as Jigorō Kuwajima," Mucihirō said, before giving a deep bow of respect to Sakonji. "It's an honor to meet you, Urokodaki-san."
"What is a Hashira," Tanjirō asked, unfamiliar with the term, as Muichirō rose from his bow.
"The highest rank of the Demon Slayer Corps," Muichirō said. "Second only to Oyakata-sama."
"I though Kinoe was the highest rank," Tanjirō remarked, recalling what was said at Fujikasane.
"Technically, yes," Sakonji clarified. "However, the Hashira are the strongest in the Corps. And to become Hashira, one has to kill fifty demons as a Kinoe or kill a member of the twelve Kizuki."
"Kizuki," Tanjirō asked, unfamiliar with this term as well.
"Tanjirō, you remember what I told you about Muzan Kibutsuji, correct," Sakonji asked his most recent student, who nodded. "Well, the Kizuki are the strongest demons and serve under him."
"So I may have to go through them to get to Kibutsuji, huh," Tanjirō asked.
"It's likely," Sakonji confirmed, and Tanjirō nodded thoughtfully. Sakonji turned to Muichirō. "Why don't you come in and make yourself comfortable, Tokitō-san? I'll make us some tea."
"Thank you," Muichirō said as Sakonji went to make tea. While the boys waited, they went over to sit down where Sakonji and Tanjirō had been sitting earlier, next to where Nezuko was resting.
Or rather, she was hiding from Muichirō, afraid that this Demon Slayer might try to kill her.
"If I may, Kamado-san," the young Hashira asked. "Why did you join the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"Why do you ask," Tanjirō asked curiously.
"I've been noticing a trend," Muichirō replied. "A rather common one amongst the Corps."
"Oh, I see," Tanjirō remarked. "Well, a little over two-years-ago, a demon attacked my family. I'd been away selling charcoal in town. Everyone was killed...except...except for my little sister..."
Underneath her blanket, Nezuko tensed as she smelled Tanjirō's nervousness. Like her brother, she too had an enhanced sense of smell, it was a trait that ran in the Kamado family. Anyways, Nezuko also knew that Tanjirō was a terrible liar, never able to keep a straight face when trying.
"My family was also killed by a demon," Muichirō replied. "There weren't any survivors, though."
Tanjirō gave Muichirō an empathetic-smile, knowing he wouldn't want to hear something like "I'm sorry" because it always sounded disingenuous. Nezuko, meanwhile, started to relax just a little.
"What about your sister," Muichirō asked. "Is she here training to be a Demon Slayer as well?"
Nezuko gritted her teeth as she tensed again, hoping that her hiding place would stay unnoticed.
"Well, about that..." Tanjirō sighed, glancing at the blanket before looking at the floor. Nezuko felt unsure what to do since the secret about her being a demon was about to be spilled to Muichirō.
Well, it wasn't exactly a secret, however neither were sure if the Hashira should know.
"What's under this blanket," Muichirō asked as he turned his attention to where Nezuko hid. The girl curled up into a ball, causing the blanket to move just slightly. "Is something under there?"
"Um...uh...how do I explain this," Tanjirō sighed, and Muichirō turned his attention back to him.
"Is your sister under here," Muichirō realized, and Tanjirō nodded. "Why is she under a blanket?"
"The reason she survived...it's because...well..." the elder-Kamado began, feeling very nervous.
Muichirō was starting to get suspicious. Tanjirō was dancing nervously around what was going on with his sister who was hiding under a blanket on a cushion and the windows were covered.
"...Muichirō...did you...did you have any siblings," Tanjirō asked Muichirō, smelling the suspicion that the young Hashira felt. But there was something else, compassion. Tanjirō didn't try to stop Muichirō from lifting up the blanket, knowing that that would only make the boy more suspicious.
"I did...a twin brother...Yuichirō," Muichirō replied as he uncovered Nezuko. Unable to hide from him, the younger-Kamado sat up and looked at Muichirō, who blushed slightly. "...a demon...?"
"Mmm..." Nezuko said from behind her bamboo-muzzle, a look of worry clear in her eyes.
"I...I'm going to find a way to turn her back...into a human," Tanjirō explained to the Hashira.
"She's really beautiful," Muichirō remarked, which made Nezuko blush.
"Uh," Nezuko responded, a small sound of surprise muffled by the bamboo over her mouth.
"Y-yeah...she...she was the most beautiful girl back home in Okutama," Tanjirō agreed.
It was about that moment that Sakonji returned with the tea for him, his student at Muichirō.
"Ah, I see you've met Nezuko," the former-Hashira said as he placed the tea kettle and three cups on the small table that was in the living room. Sakonji noticed that Tanjirō was still nervous.
"Yes," Muichirō said as he and Tanjirō joined Sakonji at the table, Nezuko following them over. "I must admit, she's very calm compared to most demons I've fought. Has she attacked anyone?"
"Uh...well...technically...only once," Tanjirō replied, which was news to the Hashira as well as the former-Hashira. "Me...when she transformed...but...Nezuko was just scared and confused."
"But somehow you got her to realize who you were," Sakonji asked Tanjirō, and he nodded.
"Yeah, and now she won't hurt anyone," Tanjirō replied, giving his precious little sister a headpat.
"Mm-hmm," Nezuko agreed happily, the girl sitting in between Tanjirō and Muichirō.
"And what will you do, Tokitō-san," Sakonji asked the young Hashira. "About Nezuko?"
"I don't think I could bring myself to kill her," Muichirō admitted, slightly-blushing again.
"I see," Sakonji said. "Well, that is good. You and Tanjirō will be able to get along well, then."
Sakonji was clearly implying something, and so Muichirō looked to Tanjirō for answers.
"Well, the Demon Slayer who sent us here was going to kill Nezuko," the boy explained. "It was right after I got Nezuko to calm down that he, Tomioka-san, showed up...and had to fight him."
"Tomioka-san," Muichirō asked, and Tanjirō nodded. "He's another one of the Hashira."
"He's a Hashira? Wow," the elder-Kamado remarked. "How many Hashira are there?"
"Nine, including myself," Muichirō replied. "I am the Mist Hashira, Tomioka-san is Water."
"Mist...Water...? Does that have to do with Breathing-styles," Tanjirō guessed.
"Yes," Sakonji confirmed. "I used to be the Water Hashira, alongside Jigorō, who was Thunder."
So there's more than just Water Breathing, Tanjirō thought. There's also Mist and Thunder...I'm learning a lot of new things about the Corps today...but I wonder what other styles there are?
January 24, 1915
Mount Sagiri, Japan
Twelve days have passed since the fourteen-year-old Mist Hashira had come to Mount Sagiri to meet the former-Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki. Intrigued by the kindhearted-demon that was Nezuko Kamado, Muichirō Tokitō had decided to stay, Tanjirō Kamado eventually feeling at ease around the younger-boy. Besides, his little sister seemed to really like the young Mist Hashira.
Anyways, at the moment, the three children were all inside of the Urokodaki residence. Although it was a beautiful day outside, being a demon meant that the youngest of them could not enjoy it.
Instead, she and Muichirō were playing with a temari which Muichirō had gotten for her recently from a nearby town, tossing it back-and-forth, sometimes rolling it across the floor to each other.
It was a simple activity, but at least Nezuko was having fun, and that was what counted. Tanjirō watched from nearby, occasionally joining whenever Nezuko decided to toss it to her brother. As the two fourteen-years-olds (well, Nezuko was chronologically fourteen-years-old, at least) kept playing, the soft sound of bells could be heard from outside. Nezuko fled to her blanket-covered cushion and crawled underneath the big fluffy blanket as Tanjirō went to see who was outside.
She clutched her precious temari in her arms as she hid, Nezuko really enjoying Muichirō's gift.
Muichirō stood up, following the older boy to the door as Tanjirō opened it and peered outside.
"Oh, is that Urokodaki," Tanjirō wondered aloud. However, the boys soon saw a man wearing a sunflower-patterned robe over his clothing and large, woven hat with six floral wind chimes. On his back the newcomer carried one long package. The man's head was bowed, hiding his face.
Tanjirō and Muichirō stepped out of the house as the newcomer approached the house.
"It's someone from the Swordsmith Village," Muichirō noted. "He must've brought your nichirin."
"I am called Haganezuka, the apparent-swordsmith said as he arrived at the house, seeming to not notice either of the boys before him. "I am he who forged the katana for Tanjirō Kamado"
"I...I am Tanjirō Kamado," the Mizunoto greeted. "It's nice to meet you, please come inside."
"This is a nichirin sword," Haganezuka announced as he knelt and put down the package. Then he knelt down and unwrapped it to reveal a long wooden box that contained Tanjirō's nichirin.
"Is this...normal," Tanjirō asked the young Hashira standing next to him.
"Likely," Muichirō sighed. "The swordsmiths are very invested in their work."
"I forged this blade," the swordsmith continued, effectively ignoring the young Demon Slayers.
"I'll make tea," Tanjirō offered, a look of concern on his face as he turned to go back inside.
"The iron sand and ore that are the materials for a nichirin sword are gathered at the mountain closest to the sun," Haganezuka explained as he continued ignoring the very person for whom he had made this nichirin. "Scarlet iron sand and scarlet ore...both absorb sunlight."
"Your furoshiki wrap is getting dirty," Muichirō pointed out to the oblivious-swordsmith.
As usual, he doesn't listen to what anyone says, Sakonji thought from within the house as he sat next to the Basket Demon who hid from the sun while looking out from underneath her blanket.
"Whoa," Tanjirō as Haganezuka suddenly looked up at him. "A Hyottoko-mask!"
"Hmm," Haganezuka asked as he took a closer look at Tanjirō. "Hmm."
"Oh, you're a child of brightness," Haganezuka exclaimed excitedly. "What luck!"
"I'm the child of Tanjurō and Kie Kamado," Tanjirō replied.
"That isn't what I meant," Haganezuka clarified as he pointed to Tanjirō's face. "You have red hair and eyes! Houses who work with fire have such children. You should be happy for fortune!"
Muichirō sighed and walked back inside the house while Tanjirō took a step back.
"That means your sword may turn red," Haganezuka said, before peeking into the house, which caused Nezuko to cover her adorable face with her big fluffy blanket. "Right, Urokodaki?"
"Yes," Sakonji agreed as his student retreated back into the house.
Tea was made and Haganezuka eventually came inside the house much to the relief of Tanjirō.
The swordsmith sat next to Sakonji and handed Tanjirō a sheathed-sword while Muichirō chose to sit next to Nezuko, the adorable Basket Demon peeking out again from under her blanket.
"Go on, draw your sword," Haganezuka instructed Sakonji's student with anticipation.
"All right," Tanjirō said as he unsheathed his nichirin and held it up before him.
"Nichirin-swords are also called color-changing katana," the swordsmith explained to the young Demon Slayer sitting before him. "Their color changes depending on who is holding them."
And then suddenly...
Fwoosh!
...Tanjirō's blade became jet-black, as if it had been charred by fire.
"Black?"
Haganezuka and Sakonji were utterly confused. Under normal circumstances, the blade should have turned blue since Tanjirō used Water Breathing. But on the other hand, the former-Hashira knew better than to think that his most recent student was ordinary. No, Tanjirō was far from it.
"Eh? Is black bad," Tanjirō asked fearfully, his eyes wide as he pointed at his sword.
"No, it's not, however...black is rarely seen," Sakonji explained to his student.
"Aaieee," Haganeuka screeched as he lunged at Tanjirō, who was completely caught off guard by the swordsmith's sudden attack. "I thought I was gonna get to see a red blade! Damn!"
"Ow, careful," Tanjirō shouted as he held his sword away from him. "Please calm down!"
However, Haganezuka did not calm down, instead trying to use his legs to choke Tanjirō.
"How old are you," Tanjirō demanded.
"I'm thirty-seven!"
Fortunately, right at that moment, Tanjirō was saved from the enraged-swordsmith by the arrival of two Kasugai Crows, one of which had flashy eyebrows and landed on Muichirō's shoulder.
"Kaw," the other one crowed as it landed on the floor next to Tanjirō's head. "Tanjirō Kamado, you must head to town to the north! As a Demon Hunter, this is your first mission!"
"Tokitō-san, you are to accompany Kamado-san," the crow on Muichirō's shoulder added.
"I understand, Ginko," Muichirō told his Kasugai Crow, seeming pleased with this assignment.
"Oh, they're talking," Tanjirō exclaimed with surprise. "Wait, a mission?"
"In this northern town," Tanjirō's crow said.. "Young girls are disappearing! Night-after-night!"