"Character Dialogue"

Character Thoughts

_ = Scene Breaks

Chapter 3 - Ethic and Mastery

In the centre of a scorched clearing, surrounded by a ring of elegant torches and wise, watchful trees, a boy danced. With the katana as his instrument, he worked the blade into a harmonic symphony of movements, the blade dancing through the air in seamless parallel to the boy's traditional garbs, the brightly coloured clothing illustrating the rising and setting of the sun, its radiance and light.

Underneath the cloth over his face, his slitted eyes looked drained but focused. With sweat forming across his body, his breathing remained rhythmically sound but harder and louder. The intake of air, visible to the naked eye in each section of the repetitions. His peripheral vision was entirely concentrated on the guests he had in the audience, three in total. For a week, he danced. A week, he prayed. For a week, he practised. For a week, he grieved. For the seven lives lost, and the one created.

As the cloudy sky soon began to brighten to a pure white, the boy sharpened his movements, the climaxes of each part of the dance more precise in their movements and speed. Finishing in a brisk, final time, he stood still. Closing his eyes. Moving his head to the sky.

Reopening his eyes, his slitted red pupils refocused with a drive as he turned his head to meet his spectators. Their sight was a welcomed one, the broken vivid memories he held haunted his mind as he feared the worst had they not been here to help him. It is for this that he would forever be grateful to them. Walking over to the trio, he bowed his head in both gratitude and respect as the three reciprocated in kind.

"That's it then, isn't it?" The purple-eyed woman asked with slight sadness, receiving a slow nod in response from the burgundy-haired boy. Sighing, she smiled at the boy, "Are you alright?" She asked in concern, her posture and expressions making the boy's mind jitter in nostalgia. The teal-haired boy beside her had turned his head indifferent to the situation, attempting to remove his emotion from the encounter.

"I'll be fine, they are not people I truly knew anymore. But they deserved their due respect." The boy uttered in similar sadness to Tamayo, his eyes falling to his katana by his side. Tamayo on the other hand, looking on with persisting sorrow, So young, yet so scarred. She thought to herself, the older man walking toward the boy and placing a calm, warm hand on his shoulder.

"I'll be here for you Tanjirou, as I was before. You won't be alone." He said stoically, his eyes firm but deeply caring to the Kamado before him. The concern about him, caused him to raise his head, with a small, yet important smile, not hiding the sadness he felt but expressing the gratitude he felt toward the two. Even Tamayo's assistant, despite his cold demeanour, meant well. He could see that.

Walking past the group, toward the damaged house nearby, he sighed. Large chunks of the home were missing from its frame, the front entrance almost looked like it was going to collapse and the rest of the house slanted inward toward its giant wound. Dejection spread across the boy's face, the task ahead of him a difficult one considering he had no clue what to do and how to do it.

"The house is beyond repair, Tanjirou. I'm sorry, but it has to be taken down and rebuilt." Saburo stated whilst walking up to the boy, but upon seeing the determination in the boy's cat-like eyes, he knew that it wouldn't stop him. "You sure you're going to be alright with this? I know that homes like this hold a lot of sentimental value to people." He asked with cautious concern, Tanjirou only looked at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

"This isn't my home, Saburo-san. Not anymore." Tanjirou uttered, his voice coarse and gritty but becoming more fluid and clear. But, on seeing the confusion on the man's face, he turned his head slightly, his eyes reflecting the shame in his heart. "That house no longer holds any value being broken. They were not people who stayed broken, they stayed together. The divisions of the house physically insult me by extension." The boy clarified but still didn't abate the man's persistent confusion. But on reflecting on the words he'd said, it slowly clicked within his head with the elder's face lighting up in realisation but soon turned melancholy.

Hearing two pairs of feet trudging behind them, the local pair turned to face the demon pair, quickly noticing the slight sadness in the woman's eyes. "I'm afraid I am needed elsewhere, Tanjirou. Myself and Yushiro must take our leave." She spoke in regret, as Yushiro looked away, his eyes betraying the slight distraught he felt at leaving as well. Tanjirou, on the other hand, gently smiled at the pair whilst noticing the crow perched above, its purple scarf calmly flowing in the wind.

"You've done more than enough for me, Tamayo-sama. Your kindness is something I'll never forget." Tanjirou said with appreciation, bowing his head as he did. A peaceful smile plastered itself onto Tamayo's face, as Tanjirou raised his head, the atmosphere bitter-sweat and relaxed. Saburo also nodded his head in appreciation to the demon doctor.

"It is the least I could do, Tanjirou. Are you sure about staying? The offer to join us is still available." Tamayo assured, her eyes failing to hide the hidden plea in her message. Tanjirou looked at her confidently, his red eyes reflecting the burning passion he held in his heart.

"Someone's got to repair this home. I'll be ready when I'm ready. We will stop that man, that much is certain." The red-eyed demon passionately proclaimed, the answer while disappointing the demonic pair, and was met with a final, kind smile before they started to walk away. But as they got to the exit of the area, Tamayo turned around briefly.

"Stay safe, Kamado Tanjirou, Saburo-san. I fear that you might be needed quicker than you think." Tamayo cryptically uttered as Yushiro and her quickly descended the hill, vanishing from sight. With his head trying to piece together the message's meaning, he tilted his head toward the tree he had spotted the crow earlier to find it gone as well.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Tanjirou turned his head to meet his elder. "We'll be fine Tanjirou." He quietly comforted the boy, but it didn't alleviate the concern screaming from the boy's eyes. Turning his eyes to the cloud-covered sky, he frowned in thought. There's more to come.

The sound of a single hammer smashing against a metal nail echoed throughout the treeline. In the centre of the clearing, the framing and external structure of a home radiated with fresh, novelty. Its young wooden planks opposed the ancient trees that surrounded it, as a tall young man wiped the sweat from his brow.

Placing the hammer on the planks he sat on, he spun around and lay on his back, his legs dangling over the edge of the wooden perimeter. Staring at the pure white clouds above. Taking long, deep breaths, he exhaled in bliss. For the first time since his awakening, he felt somewhat at peace, all that needed to be done was the interior and his self-made promise would be fulfilled. The Kamados could finally rest in peace. The symbol of their family, nearly repaired in the form of their ancient abode. At least that's the way that seems to stick with him, to provide him with some level of comfort.

Hearing the crashing of light snow, he shot up, his long ponytail flicking up onto his face as he did. On the other side of the clearing, he saw the old man whom he'd almost considered a father. As he looked at the building he sat on, the large grin that plastered his face brought a wave of relief and joy to the boy's heart. As he walked over, the burgundy-haired boy had gotten up from the walkway and rushed over to the man, gripping him in a tight hug.

The chuckling of the older man permeated throughout the clearing, the feeling of jovial calm seeping into the area. But like a knife through butter, that feeling immediately died, replaced with overwhelming concern as Saburo began to cough heavily. In deep concern, Tanjirou escorted him to sit down on the walkway he'd just finished. After placing him on the wooden planks the old man had calmed down, but the fear in the boy's eyes never retreated.

Like a ghost in the wind, he had disappeared, the imprints of sandals in the snow the only reminder of his presence there. Quickly returning, he held in his hand a bucket of water as the now six-foot boy had gently placed the bucket onto the walkway, next to Saburo. A few more moments later, after he'd drunk some water and caught his breath, the red eyes of the demon began to calm. "I'm sorry for worrying you, my boy." Saburo hoarsely muttered as Tanjirou looked at him, almost offended at the statement.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, Saburo-san," Tanjirou slowly said, his voice gritty yet fluid as he crossed his arms. On the other hand, Saburo looked at the boy with a sense of pride. He grew into a strong, capable person and despite all he'd been through, he never stopped caring about others. The only thing that bothered him, aside from Tanjirou's need for blood, was his detachment from his family. It saddened him deeply to see the boy push away his past instead of embracing it but who was he to judge? "Why are you here, Saburo-san?" Tanjirou asked with concern, irking from his voice, snapping the old man out of his thoughts.

"Am I not allowed to come to see how you're doing?" Saburo quickly replied, his eyebrow raised as he saw the boy sigh deeply as his mood dropped completely. Sitting down, Tanjirou leant backwards, pointing his head toward the sky.

"You know why I'm worried about Saburo-san. Your condition has not gotten any better across the month." Tanjirou mused with trepidation seeping into his eyes. "You need to be careful." He muttered with a sigh, all the while Saburo watched and listened to the boy's fears.

Saburo, looking toward the sky as well, smiled blissfully. "Live your life one step at a time is the way of life I've followed for a very long time." Saburo began, his tone nostalgic as were his eyes reminiscing. "It never provided me the best future but it provided me something better, for me anyway." Saburo continued, as during his pause, he glanced over to Tanjirou's turned head, the boy's eyes carefully listening to what he had to say. "I lived my life to the fullest. Every decision. Every mistake. Every moment of pain and joy. I never regretted any of it." Saburo said with a smile, seeing the cogs in Kamado's mind turning.

"Are you insinuating that's how others should live their lives?" Tanjirou asked with genuine curiosity, his eyes eager for the answer. The response from Saburo was entirely unexpected, however, as his eyes widened in shock as the old man began to chuckle.

"Kami no! If you or anyone else did that, you'd probably be on the streets like I was for a little while." He laughed out, his laughter quickly calming as he turned his head to meet the red eyes of Tanjirou next to him. "I guess what I'm trying to say, Tanjirou is this… Live your life however you want, just don't force yourself to make choices you'll regret. I've heard too many stories of what happens to people when they do." He concluded, his tone shifting initially from stern to a melancholy one. Tanjirou on the other hand, looked blankly at the man, processing the information whilst at the same time, he could feel something in his mind becoming more and more potent.

Placing a hand on his head, as the feeling grew, Saburo looked at him with concern but was stopped from doing anything by the hand Tanjirou had put out to stop him. Suddenly, like a light in the darkness, he saw something, a scene before him.

Standing in the middle of the circle of torches, a young boy sat still. His arms lay crossed, his hands on his knees and his eyes calmly shut. The boy's chest slowly rose and fell in frequent, rhythmic intervals. Hearing snow crushing behind him, he kept his eyes closed, with his eyelids shaking a little. The scent of the man approaching him left with no concern as calmness entered his heart in his presence.

Slowly the walking stopped as he too sat down, close to where he sat, the stare he could feel slightly unnerving him. But after a few more moments he slowly opened his eyes, revealing their dark red colour. Across from him, a man sat, with similar features to his own, burgundy tipped hair, dark red eyes and a red flame-like scar on his forehead. His black and orange chequered haori wrapped calmly around him. A small, proud smile on his face.

"Your breathing is getting Tanjirou, your practice is paying off." He said with a big smile, as in turn, Tanjirou too smiled widely at the praise. But he controlled himself, reserving himself a little which was noticed by the elder Kamado. "What's wrong, my son?" He asked in curious concern, leaning forwards a little as he did.

"It's nothing, father. I just can't take all the credit for my progress. There wouldn't be any progress without you." Tanjirou spoke with honesty, his eyes showing the awe that the man before him inspired. Chuckling at his son's honesty, he stood up and ushered his son to do the same as the left the circle and returned to where Tanjurou had just come from.

Stepping into a larger clearing, Tanjirou sees his mother, along with 3 of his siblings. Smiling, he turned to his father who was already glancing at him. "No one lives solely off of their merit but the aid of others." Tanjurou began, his son nodded quickly in agreement. "It is also true that nothing in this world is attainable without your own effort." He continued, the younger Kamado nodding again but with confusion laced in his face. "You must understand the line between what is your achievement and the achievement of a group my son. Take some pride in your achievement instead of placing them at the hand of another." Tanjurou spoke with sincerity, his son nodding hesitantly at the advice his father gave him but questioned still.

"I won't be here forever, my son," Tanjurou uttered, his face more serious than before, his smile sadden but also peaceful. "It is us who will be depended upon for our family to survive. We must be strong and caring to protect them." The elder Kamado further elaborated, his son nodded sadly at the statement set before him. Noticing the tear in his son's eye, he knelt, eye-level with him, and hugged him.

Removing the tear instantly, his son seemed to radiate a warm not too dissimilar to what people described of him, which caused him to chuckle. "I need you to promise something, Tanjirou. Can you do that?" Tanjurou asked amid the hug, feeling the nodding of his son's head. "Make sure our traditions live on." He spoke blissfully, the thought of them bringing peace and warmth to his heart and mind.

Breaking the hug, Tanjirou stood in front of the kneeling Tanjurou and tried to look at him with a serious, stern face. "I promise," He proclaimed, as his hand lay clenched at his sides. Chuckling a little, Tanjurou placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled.

"Thank you…" Tanjirou muttered, a tear flowing from his eye as he gazed at the point of the clearing that led off to the area where the dance is performed. With a sad smile he whipped the tear from his eye and gazed a,t the sky. I promise.

Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed.

The update last week was pushed back due to an illness I had over the whole week so that's why this is a little late. As for the chapter, as I said I hope you enjoyed it, hope this style of chapter went down as well as I hope.

The link to the discord server (Rcf7q3xd5N)will be provided at the end of each chapter as stated previously.

Hope to you in the next chapter and beyond. Stay safe.