A/N: This exists because I didn't stop writing until I realized that I basically had the beginnings of a story.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he died.
He was, quite literally, in hell. The landscape of Tartarus had been diminishing his abilities, stopping him from going full power. So, he settled for dueling with the primordial of the pit with only swords. The arena was large, with many features that he could use to his advantage, but one of them would be his undoing.
The large tree in the center of the arena was a place Percy stayed for a majority of the duel. He relied on surprise attacks to win, knowing that he was no match for the primordial's strength. It was a last ditch attempt, he was getting tired, and his opponent wasn't. So, from this tree, he jumped up, hoping to decapitate the primordial on the downward swing, which he did.
However, this victory came at a price. Tartarus was able to react and position his sword, so that when he was in the middle of his swing, he would land himself upon the blade, impaling his enemy. This also worked. So, as the body of Tartarus was disintegrating into golden dust, going to reform, Percy Jackson lay alone in the arena of Tartarus, bleeding out on the sandy floor. His blood colored the gravel red, his breaths were the only sound he heard. He could no longer muster up the energy to fight any longer, just to relax and accept his fate.
His breathing became labored, his vision became fuzzy. He no longer possessed an awareness of his surroundings, either that or he didn't care. Anybody looking upon the scene would have just assumed they saw a dead body. For, that was what he was. A dead man walking.
Percy's last breath was spent inhaling poisonous air. Percy's last smell was that of rotten eggs. The last thing Percy felt was regret, and the last thing he tasted was blood. The last thing Perseus Jackson saw before his demise in the pits of hell was an orange mist above his good for dead form. He closed his eyes and saw no more.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he closed his eyes for the last time.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he woke up in an unfamiliar place.
The first thing he registered was water. He woke up in an infinite amount of it. About five inches deep, it went up to his ears but didn't enter them. Sitting up, gasping, he looked around in a blind panic. After confirming that he was alone, he looked at his chest. To his surprise, there was no blood there. He took off his shirt to confirm that the wound had disappeared, which, once again to his surprise, had disappeared.
"Ara ara," he heard a voice behind him say, causing him to jump up, dropping his shirt and creating an icicle sword using some of the water all around him.
The source of the voice was a woman, about 5'8" according to his estimates. She had long black hair and a pale complexion, startling ruby eyes looking at him, piercing through his very body. She wore a pink dress with black robes over them, the dress pooling around her shin, flowering out in the water.
"Hello, Perseus Jackson," she said, causing him to focus once more on her. "I see the tales of your body were not exaggerated," she said, giggling slightly.
"Who are you, and how do you know my name?" Percy asked, mildly creeped out by her sudden appearance. He could have sworn that she wasn't there a second ago, and he definitely didn't know why she, a woman he had never met, was making remarks upon his bodily stature. He held his ice sword at the ready, able to fight at any moment, but any ideas of doing so were dispelled when a massive heat radiated from the woman, melting his sword and evaporating all the water in the area.
"Why shouldn't I know you, Perseus Jackson?" she asked. "You are, of course, world famous after all that you have done. It was quite sad to see you die."
"World famous?" Percy said to himself, unsure of how that occured. "What pantheon are you from?" he asked, knowing that this woman was definitely not Greek.
"Quite an astute assessment," she said, finally deigning to give him an answer. "My name is Amaterasu, the Shinto goddess of the sun, and I need your help."
Percy Jackson was 20 years old when he made a deal with a Shinto Goddess.
Percy Jackson was 20 years old when Tanjiro Kamado was born in another universe.
He was a healthy young child, with jet black hair streaked with red. His eyes were a vibrant red, dotted with specks of bioluminescent green, giving them an ethereal look. He was a happy young child, almost never crying, laughing most of the time.
His parents were Kie and Tanjuro, and he was the first of what would be many kids in a normal universe. He was born in the mountains, in a place where his little body adapted to little amounts of oxygen quickly. He first learned to help around the house when he was 4, cleaning up and moving things around. That was also the year that Nezuko, his little sister was born. She took after her brother, a peaceful child, sleeping a lot and very calm when she needed something. Tanjiro loved her to bits, often only going to bed when they shared the same room. It was in his nature to protect, something he inherited from his father. He was especially smart for his age, reading and writing things that people older than him might have struggled with.
Dreams were a big part of Tanjiro's life. He would often tell his mother about his dreams while they helped around the house, painting interesting tales of lives long past. He told her about the twelve year old boy who could manipulate water, learning about the existence of gods and monsters. He told her of the thirteen year old child who sailed a sea filled with dangers to rescue a person he didn't even know. His mom always listened in earnest, but did talk to his father at night, once their children were asleep.
"I feel like something's wrong with Tanjiro," Kie Kamado told her husband one night. He was hugging her, they were in their bed together, and he was patiently listening to her worries.
"How so?" Tanjuro asked, giving his wife the encouragement to say more.
"He's so smart, which is good, but it's so strange, that someone five years old can read chapter books the like of which I had struggled reading when I was ten. And then there's these dreams he keeps bringing up, they're so strange. They're set in America, for one, and he's telling me about this boy who's the son of a Greek God! I mean how does he even know about those?" Kie ranted, making her concerns clear. Tanjuro listened all the while, and finally imparted his thoughts when she calmed down enough.
"Our child is special, of that there is no denying. It is perhaps a gift, imparted upon us by the Kami of our land, who wish great things upon our family. However, tomorrow, when I dance the Hinokami Kagura, I shall ascertain these beliefs and ask our Sun Goddess for the answers." Every year on New Year's Eve, Tanjuro would dance the Hinokami Kagura, a ritualistic movement made to honor and respect Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of their land. It was a tradition always performed by the eldest male in the Kamado family, and tomorrow was no different. Everyone was excited, because not only was the dance stunning to look at, but Tanjuro had promised Tanjiro he would teach the young boy.
Percy Jackson was 20 years old when he was reincarnated as Tanjiro Kamado on the wishes of Amaterasu.
Tanjiro Kamado was six when his life changed.
Percy Jackson's life was ingrained in his mind at this point, having learned everything that he did, said, and stood for in his previous years. He had also started helping his father with woodwork, helping cut down small amounts of wood with an exceptionally strong body for someone so young. His father taught him the basics of how to breathe to help his body sustain extended periods of strenuous physical activity, something that took its toll on the young boy. However, he was gradually getting used to it, making it easier to use it.
He was chopping wood under the supervision of his father, when his hand slipped and the hatchet he was using cut his finger. He was able to move it out of the way fast enough so that the finger wouldn't be cut off, but his middle finger still got scraped. Tanjiro cried out and fell back, dropping the hatchet on the ground, getting his father's attention. His father quickly grabbed the hatchet and tossed it in the basket of chopped wood, picking up Tanjiro and carrying him home.
The first thing they did at home was clean the scar. After grabbing a bucket of water, Tanjuro put Tanjiro's hand into the water, blood tainting the water red. Taking it out to bandage the cut, they were met with a curious sight.
There was not a mark on Tanjiro's hand.
Tanjiro wasn't feeling any pain anymore, his hand in the state it was before he cut himself. In fact, he felt better than before! Looking into the water, the blood was definitely there, meaning that he had gotten that cut, which was strange. No cut should heal that fast! So what happened? He didn't know, but he had an idea. His father was still staring at his hand, making him slightly uncomfortable, so he tried to worm his way out of his father's grip.
"Tanjiro, do you know about what caused this?" his father asked, receiving a no in response. He let go of his son's hand, presumably to go think. Meanwhile, Tanjiro rushed to his thinking spot.
It was a small clearing in the woods, where a plethora of wildlife was found. There were some rocks he had arranged in a small formation, which he could sit on. They were close to the foliage, so if he ever needed, he could hide.
However, after hearing a noise, the hiding led him straight to capture. He had dove into a bush, to get away from the large noise and the scary smell that kicked up, but in that bush was the threatening presence.
Before Tanjiro could react, a hand was holding his arms behind his back and a bag was thrust over his head, preventing light and sound from reaching him.
The last thing Tanjiro could do before he was knocked out was yell for his parents.
Tanjiro Kamado was six when he got kidnapped.
Tanjiro Kamado was seven when he met his first friend.
He had gotten used to his life with the kidnappers in the past year. He lived in a room with seven other kids, three boys and four girls. They were provided with minimal food, only barely enough to keep them looking well enough to be sold. Yes, sold.
The people that kidnapped him were part of a human trafficking ring. Capturing and reselling kids on the black market was the way that they made profits. Often, it was young girls, but sometimes boys were sold as companions and manual laborers. That's why, when the girls were taken away for 'training', Tanjiro and the other boys were sent to the mines and fields for physical labor, cultivating grain and mining coal. He was the second of this group to be put here, but was the oldest by about three months. As such, he took it as his responsibility to protect everyone as the older brother of the group. Often, during late nights, the kids would huddle together for warmth and comfort, everyone cuddling around Tanjiro. It was oddly peaceful during those times, simply alone with people you trusted, bonded with by circumstance.
It was after one such night that they were given a break from their labor and training, due to the introduction of a new person to their group. A young girl, about six and a half years old, shorter than nearly everyone there. The man pushed her into the room, uncaring for the fact that she stumbled on her way in.
"This is Kanao, she'll be joining you. Introduce her to the life here," the man said with a grin. Tanjiro hated the sadistic expression on his captor's face, but forced himself to nod and walk over to where Kanao stood, still exactly where she was after the man pushed her and closed the door.
"I'm Tanjiro Kamado, nice to meet you Kanao," Tanjiro introduced himself, holding out his hand. She took it and shook it tentatively, silently relaxing when he didn't react badly to her doing so. "Come on, let's introduce you to the others," he said, leading her to where the rest were sitting in a circle on the one futon they shared. They went around in a circle, stating their names and what their life was like before capture, until it was Kanao's turn.
"My name is Tsuyuri Kanao, and my family didn't care about me when I was born. I was willingly handed over here," she said, shocking many of the others in the room. She was startled when Tanjiro snaked an arm around her, pulling her closer to him. It was strange at first, and she definitely reacted against it, struggling for a second before realizing that it felt good, the heat of Tanjiro and his comforting aura making her feel safe in his arms.
"This feels nice. What is it that you are doing?" Kanao asked, clearly unsure of what was going on. Tanjiro was startled that she hadn't ever been hugged before, but accepted it and waved everyone else in, where they all joined in one big pile around and atop Tanjiro and Kanao.
"It's called a hug," Tanjiro stated, smiling down at her. "It's what people who care about each other do for each other."
"Oh," Kanao said, and she put her arms around Tanjiro's waist in an attempt to reciprocate.
Eventually, they separated, talking about what Kanao should expect. Tanjiro talked about working in the mines and fields, and the girls talked about the training that they went through. They did it privately though, away from the boys, and Tanjiro respected their decision, so he entertained the two other boys while they discussed that.
Tanjiro was seven when he adopted a new younger sibling into the family.
Tanjiro was eight when they tried to escape.
The plan relied on the schedule that the food came in. Every day, at what Tanjiro estimated was eight in the afternoon, the guard nearby would put the kids who just got back from their duties into the room, and provide them with food. Tanjiro sometimes gave his food to the others, ensuring that they all stayed healthy and full. After ten minutes, according to his estimates, the guard would come back to take the trays. The plan also relied on Tanjiro's sense of smell, which would be able to detect anyone they'd run into.
Today, they were going for that escape. When the guard came in, Tanjiro would use a piece of rock he'd smuggled in through the mines to hit them as hard as he could, while the boys would seize the weapons the guard had and hit him with it. Then, the girls would leave, pretending to be doing their part of the training while the boys made their way towards the fields. The two groups would meet by the boiler room, and escape through the fields towards somewhere else.
After the first step of the plan was complete, the two groups rushed to complete their parts. Tanjiro and the boys were safely in the fields when they saw the girls moving towards them, the boiler room in clear sight. However, the plan was to be foiled when the night watch saw figures running through the grass, and sounded the alarm. The kids noticed this, but didn't react, everyone looking to Tanjiro for advice as they ran through the grain.
"As fast as you can, go, I'll buy you all some time," he told them, stopping to turn around. Takeo, the elder of the two boys other than Tanjiro, nodded and grabbed Hanako and Rokuta's hands, the eldest girl and the younger boy respectively. Three other girls went with them, but one stayed back. Kanao did.
"Come on Tanjiro, come with us," she pleaded, pulling on his arm, her stubborn seven year old mind set on this outcome.
"We stand a better chance like this. Kanao, go now," he said, pouring his sense of urgency into that last word. He shrugged off her arm, then showed her his secret. It was a knife that he had stolen, sharp and ready to deal damage. "I can handle myself." He smiled at her, making her falter and finally relent.
"If you're not out in the next three days, I'm coming back for you," she said before running away. Tanjiro hid in the grass, waiting for the guards to come rushing. He didn't have to wait long.
As the first guard passed him, Tanjro held the knife out, allowing the guard to slice himself with the blade. The guard cried out in pain, his ankle slit, stopping motion in his left foot. A squirt of blood landed on Tanjiro's face, painting a red slice across his forehead. This drew the attention of the others, one of whom noticed Tanjiro. They started to chase him, to which he ran in the direction of the mines.
The mines were a dusty, dirty place, making it hard to see in the dark and even harder to avoid tripping on the rocks strewn about by the pickaxes that they used. Tanjiro grabbed one as he ran by, the others in the cave turning on the lanterns to see where they were going. Tanjiro hid behind a rock, his pick ready to strike. As the last of the four guards following him passed him, he slammed the pickaxe as hard as he could into the guard's back, causing him to let out a scream of pain. The other three turned around, running towards their fallen comrade. Tanjiro tried to pull out the pickaxe, but it was stuck too deep. Before he could react, his head was slammed into the rock and he knew blackness.
Tanjiro was eight years old when he learned the definition of torture.
Tanjiro was nine years old when he was to be sold.
After their failed escape attempt, all the kids were rounded up, unable to escape in time. They were all thrown back into the room and viciously beaten, none more so than Tanjiro for not only nearly killing two members of their operation but also because he took the blame for the others, claiming he forced them to run. The goons let them off with some injuries, but made them all watch as they stabbed, beat, burned, and brutally defiled Tanjiro. From that day on, changes were clear in all of the children.
Takeo was much more subdued now. Where previously, he'd been the most rowdy and enthusiastic one of the bunch, his energy had been taken away by what he'd witnessed. He'd often spend most of his time just sitting in the corner, only looking the slightest bit relieved when Tanjiro walked in. He clutched onto Tanjiro's clothes at night, refusing to let go for any reason whatsoever.
Rokuta was much the same as Takeo. He wasn't as proficient in his duties as before, despite his capabilities to do better. He had become spiteful, and sometimes made errors in places where he could not be faulted for it, causing Tanjiro worry and the guards ire. He was always a quiet kid, but he only really seemed to talk when Tanjiro was around these days.
Shigeru, Hanako, and Ryoku were a trio that couldn't be separated. They did everything together, whether it be work, eat, or sleep. They were always close, but it seemed like they were dependent on each other to function at this point. They weren't as close to Tanjiro as the others, but they still looked a lot better whenever Tanjiro was around them.
Kanao was the worst. She had gone mute, refusing to make even a sound after the failed attempt. According to the others, they had waited for Kanao to come with them a while away, but were caught when she led the guards straight to her. Despite their best efforts, nobody but Tanjiro could get a sound out of her, and even then, it always was either a yes or a no.
However, despite this, they were still close, maybe even closer than before. So, that's why they were so mad on the day of the auction.
They had known it was coming, it was foolish to deny it. But, when the notice came that they were being sold tomorrow, it took all of Tanjiro's influence to get everyone to calm down. The simple matter was that nobody was ready to part, so they all settled for trying to escape. Tanjiro went to sleep with plans for destroying the place in his mind.
Tanjiro's dreams were strange, and his ones about Perseus were the strangest. However, it seemed that after his death, his story continued. Tanjiro dreamed of the pact that Perseus made with Amaterasu, about being reborn in another world. Then, Tanjiro saw himself, only through the eyes of Perseus. It was then that he understood, that he knew what he was.
He was the reincarnate of the son of a god.
Tanjiro had been acting weird all morning, and the people with him noticed. He wasn't smiling his special smile, the one that made each of them feel safe when they were with him. They saw it, but didn't comment as they were taken to the stage. With their hands behind their backs, they were walked out, facing the crowd of people.
At least a hundred people had come to the auction, each interested in buying this crop of people. The announcer, some woman that looked a push away from crumbling into dust, gave some sort of introduction speech, stating the purpose of them being sold, etc etc. She called Kanao's name, and the girl in question was pushed forward by one of the three people that escorted them here.
"Let's start the bidding at a hundred thousand yen," the announcer said, to the shock of Tanjiro. That was a lot of money. The bidding war started, people from all different ages and places placing bids. By the time ten minutes had passed, bids had eclipsed a million yen. It was then that she was sold, to some old man, who had a very sinister gleam in his eye, mentally undressing the woman he had just bought. This was the last straw for Percy, who until now, was only watching. However, after seeing this, he took control of what was his body, and exacted his justice over those around him.
As Kanao was being walked to the winner of the bidding war, she heard a shink of ice behind her. All of a sudden, it was much colder. The hand on her shoulder went limp, and she turned around to face the guard.
A massive spike of ice had pierced through the body of the guard, extending up into the doors of the theater. Kanao traced the ice to the stage, where Tanjiro was seething in rage, his hand clenched, the ice seeming to come out of him as it spread on the back wall, from where it had reached through ice spikes going through the other two guards and the host woman.
"No god can save you now," Tanjiro said, but the voice was not his. It was something else, something much more powerful than what a boy like him should be able to do. "You're at my mercy." Then, Kanao's world was filled with white.
Percy, now Tanjiro, collapsed, the strain on his untrained body taking its toll. In his past life, he would be able to do this without breaking a sweat, but now he had minimal control, so doing this sapped his energy reserves. He fell to his knees, much to the worry of the people around him, but they were too focused on the fact that he just created ice to worry about him. He stood up once he had gathered enough energy, and cut his ropes on a shard of ice he had made with the rest. He also cut the ropes for the rest of the kids, and then sat down, the kids gathered around him.
"Find Kanao," he said through gritted teeth, trying and failing to get up. The kids scattered, everyone but Ryoku going to find her. Ryoku stayed by his side, helping him get up.
"Break some ice," Tanjiro said, confusing Ryoku, but she followed through with his request. He held the ice on his right arm, letting it melt with his sustained body heat. As the ice melted, it turned to water, replenishing his stamina. With said stamina, he broke more of the ice, letting the water drip over him, making him stronger. Ryoku watched in fascination as he seemed to be rejuvenated just after water was poured on him.
Rokuta came back, the rest of the kids following him.
"We couldn't find her," he said, and Tanjiro's hopes dropped. He got up and started walking, the rest of the kids following after him. Tanjiro stopped where he had last seen Kanao, and fell to his knees at the spot. The ice that coated the world was cold and comforting, able to leave him ready to face the consequences of his actions. The kids walked out of the frozen theater, ready to find their way back home.
Tanjiro was nine when he escaped captivity.
Tanjiro was ten when he found his family.
The rest of the kids had decided to come with him to his family, since none of theirs were around anymore. They had gone to each of the kids' villages, but in each, the family had moved or died. It was New Year's Eve, and Tanjiro hoped to get a glimpse of his father using the Hinogami Kagura once more. He had become more proficient in his ice based talents, his water manipulation skills increasing since he found out about them.
They had just reached the town when they saw someone getting kicked out of a house. Wanting to help, he ran over, just as the woman came out of her house.
"What happened?" Tanjiro asked, before any fighting could break out.
"This bastard broke one of my bowls," the woman said, showing it for proof. There was something wrong with that statement, Tanjiro realized, as he took a sniff.
"No, it was a cat," Tanjiro said, frowning slightly. The boy was still trembling slightly, hiding behind the strange man who came to his village. Tanjiro left, and met up with the other kids in town center.
"Let's walk up the mountain, I know where my parents live," he said, receiving nods from the others.
At the top of the mountain, as the light was turning to dark, was a decent sized cabin that had lit fires. Tanjiro and his troupe saw this, and walked forward, eager to meet with Tanjiro's parents. Tanjiro took the lead and knocked on the door, an unfamiliar man opening it to meet him. Tanjiro's hope died down, but he still took the initiative.
"Hello, my name is Tanjiro Kamado. I'm looking for my-" Tanjiro said, before he was cut off by the sound of glass breaking. Hurrying to the door was a familiar woman, Kie Kamado.
"Tanjiro?" she asked, both of the adults looking at him.
"Yes, mom." he said as he looked her in the eyes. "I'm home."
It was a pain having to explain to Nezuko that she had six new older siblings.
Tanjiro was ten when he returned home.
Tanjiro was thirteen when his father passed.
It was a quiet occasion, but by no means was it a private one. The closeness that the Kamado's had with the village despite the distance they kept was nonexistent, and it made sense that the funeral home would offer their services.
By now, nearly everybody knew Tanjiro, though not many people knew his tale. With Tanjuro able to vouch for his relationship, Tanjiro quickly became someone people saw regularly around town, maybe twice a week. He worked hard, especially after his father fell ill. The familiarity with the villagers was hard earned, but it was worth it, because now he knew every person in the village by name and their fifth cousin. He just had such a likable personality that nobody could resist his charm! Despite the fact that he came for work only, doing things like selling charcoal and buying food, he always had time to stay, talk, and help out anyone who needed it. Sometimes, he would bring his siblings, and they would always have lots of fun in the area, everyone being accommodating simply because of their relationship with Tanjiro.
As such, the funeral of Tanjuro Kamado was something that barely no villagers skipped, the only people doing so were those out of town. The cremation ceremony was quick, as nobody wished to gaze upon his prone form for long. The funeral pyre stayed lit for a while after that, erasing every single remnant of his father's body from the flames, as Tanjiro and some villagers watched. Afterwards, the ashes were collected in an urn and washed away in a river, letting the earth consume the man who it bore.
As the eldest son, Tanjiro carried out the funeral processions from start to finish, not missing out on even a single step. At some point, he was left alone with the urn, while everyone else had left to go to sleep. He sat in the graveyard, not really doing anything, while he absentmindedly played with water in his hands, unconsciously making the shape of his father, still walking around, smiling, acting happily as ever. A warm hand on his shoulder caused the water to evaporate, making him take a sharp intake of breath.
Amaterasu appeared, the light signifying her entrance fading behind her. She seemed much more regal now, causing Tanjiro, who understood who she was thanks to Percy, kneel before her.
"Lady Amaterasu, how many I serve you?" he asked, head still bowed low.
"Rise, young warrior," the goddess spoke, Tanjiro standing up. He was shorter than her now, but that was because she had taken part of her divine form, the one which showed her full power. At seven feet tall, she truly was radiating a divine presence, one that Tanjiro fundamentally understood nobody else could feel.
"Do you understand why I called you here?" she asked, speaking more to Percy than to Tanjiro.
"Yes, my lady, I do," Percy said, his words coming through Tanjiro's mouth. Tanjiro had full control of when he spoke, he just let the demigod do so to avoid angering the divine being next to him.
"Good. Be aware that your journey has just begun, young warrior. I have high expectations of you, so you mustn't fail me now," she said, before turning away.
A cry of 'wait' called her back, making Tanjiro flinch at her gaze. He had just called out to a divine being to make sure she stayed. What was he thinking? Luckily, Percy was there to take control and help him with this.
"In my family, we have this dance called the Hinokami Kagura. My father," he said, looking towards the river. "My father did it every year at New Year's eve from dusk till dawn to honor the sun god. What does it do?" he asked. Amaterasu thought for a moment, then smiled.
"There is a reason I put you in this family, Perseus Jackson. There is an order to follow, after all. Do not chase after the answers, they will come for you." With that, Amaterasu disappeared, leaving Tanjiro to go back to his house.
And thus, the journey of the demigod Tanjiro Kamado begun.
I have no idea what I'm doing. Also, next chapter I start canon. Also also, I've only watched the anime.