Hey there! How have you been? Good? Cool! Me? Eh…I'm hanging in there, thanks for asking!
…Okay, that's enough of that.
Hope you're all excited, because now it's time for a new chapter of TTS (The Tainted Sun)!
Now, before we begin, I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews and I'm happy so many people enjoyed the last chapter! I am truly humbled by your kind words and hope to improve even more!
Speaking of reviews, the first one I'd like to address is from our old friend Rexmaster.
He talked about there being other traitor demons besides Tanjiro and Tamayo, according to the Farm Demon last chapter.
Yeah…Sorry to disappoint you, man, but that's not what I had in mind at all. That statement mainly referred to Tamayo and Yushiro.
Of course, there is a chance that there were other demons like Tanjiro. However, they were likely just regular demons who couldn't fight Muzan's demands like Tamayo once was.
After Tamayo escaped his control, I feel Muzan would check up on other demons to make sure they didn't turn against him through their curse.
Tanjiro on the other hand, like Nezuko in canon, was able to break the curse. But as for other demons, Muzan made sure those people were wiped out as soon as possible.
So, sorry but, that's likely not happening. I could make it happen, but there aren't a lot of characters I could use for that. That would likely lead to me creating an OC.
The problem with that is that I prefer to steer away from OCs as I'm not creative enough to come up with a compelling new character.
Making a new concept or idea for a certain story? I can handle that! Putting said ideas into a decent story? No problem! Creating an original character and/or original setting…Yeah…Not so much.
I also want to say that I'm not afraid of making Tanjiro OP, I just don't want him to get OP so soon for the sake of the story I have planned.
I mean, yeah, I really don't like stories that make the main character extremely powerful and one shot everyone, but that's not what this is about.
I just want to drag out the power up process, and the story, a little. If I have Tanjiro reach full power in less than a year, almost all of the plot lines I have planned go straight out the window. I hope you understand, thank you!
I'd also like to address a comment from JustSomeOtherRandomGuy, who asked about whether Tanjiro would be allowed to transform other people into demons.
Considering that Tamayo learned how, even if it was after a few centuries, I think Tanjiro would be able to learn from her and do it himself.
I think Tanjiro would be told to ask a person's permission before turning them into a demon. Also, he'd have to hide from Muzan and the Twelve Kizuki during the day so they don't learn about his immunity and come after him.
Also, he'd have to look after any demon he created himself to protect them, I think that's how it would play out.
Finally, there was a comment from Akuma-Heika which talked about how clouds and rain do not reduce radiation.
This puts a hole in the whole "Tanjiro cannot absorb sunlight on cloudy days" thing.
I see your point. However, if that's the case, how come in canon when Nezuko becomes a demon on a cloudy morning similar to the one in my story, she doesn't burn from the "radiation?"
If clouds do not reduce radiation, that's basically saying that the clouds do nothing to protect demons from the sun…I…think?
Keep in mind, Tanjiro's cells absorb sunlight the same way that demon cells are destroyed by sunlight.
(Spoiler Alert if you haven't read the manga ! ! ! ! Skip the next paragraph to avoid spoilers.)
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…
…
Granted, Nezuko is immune to sunlight in canon. But, it was shown in the manga that Nezuko was still burned by the sun before her body adapted to it. Tanjiro went through the same thing when he was turned into a demon in the manga.
…
…
…
It's been shown that demons only die from the sun when directly hit by sunlight, the same thing applies to Tanjiro absorbing sunlight.
Also, when it's a partly cloudy day, one can tell the difference in warmth between being in sunlight and not being in sunlight. Tanjiro's ability is no different from black absorbing more heat from sunlight than other colors.
Of course, that's just what I think. I'm not much of a science guy and there's a good chance most of my evidence was anime/manga bullshit. So, I might be wrong, I'm just curious, what do you think?
Alright! That's all I've got for now, on with the show!
*I do not own Demon Slayer, Kimetsu no Yaiba. The Anime/Manga belongs to Ufotable and its author, Koyoharu Gotouge.
"Tanjiro" = Talking
"Tanjiro" = Thinking
Tanjiro - Middle Alignment = POV
Japan - Middle Alignment = Location
"Tanjiro" = Flashback
Crash! - Left Alignment = Sound effect
Water Breathing = Breathing technique/Blood Demon Art
Chapter 4 - The Demon Traitors
Tanjiro Kamado
Some Open Field in Okutama
-Middle of the Day-
Tanjiro's Solar Power Level: Night - 3.8%; Day - 5.8% (Very, very, very tiny increase in strength, speed, and regeneration speed. Not very noticeable.)
(Note: I skipped ahead by about three days, each day having varying hours of sunlight. Also, I believe I mentioned that Tanjiro is stronger at day than at night. If I didn't, well, at least now you know.)
Tanjiro laid his food basket next to a tree as he practiced using his demon abilities. He had been doing this every few hours every day.
Tanjiro stood in front of a boulder that was three times his size. He then looked at the sun above him, indicating high noon.
"Ever since I fought that demon, I discovered just how much I'm capable of. That's why I've been testing the limits of my new demonized body."
"First, my strength has increased by a lot."
Tanjiro put his hands on the boulder and managed to push it ten whole meters before he stopped. He wasn't tired, but he knew that as long as he could move it, he could move it as far as he wanted.
"I've also discovered that I don't ever get tired or exhausted. I've never once felt the need to sleep, so I didn't bother. My guess is that demons have unlimited, or at least massive, stamina."
"Also, it's not just the strength of my arms that increased."
Tanjiro stood in the open field and crouched down before leaping six meters into the air, leaving a small crater where he stood.
"With my increased leg strength, I can jump even higher and farther than before. That said, it can be a bit overwhelming at times…"
Tanjiro made the mistake of looking down as he reached max height. Tanjiro gasped and started panicking as he started to fall down. Tanjiro screamed while flailing his arms and spinning in midair.
He managed to land on his feet, sending a small shockwave through his body. Tanjiro fell over from shock and laid on the ground for a few minutes to until he got his bearings.
"Not to mention that my headbutts have become more damaging. I'll need to make sure I don't headbutt a human."
Tanjiro was in front of a giant tree and leaned back before headbutting the trunk, creating a huge dent that caused it to fall over as Tanjiro stepped out of the way.
"Next is my increase in speed."
Tanjiro stood in front of a bunch of trees and jumped onto one before leaping onto another, and another, and another. All in the span of seven seconds.
"Thanks to my improved leg strength, I can run even faster and cover long distances in a shorter time. Then, there's my regeneration ability."
Tanjiro continued leaping off of trees before missing one of them and flying past it. "DAAAAAAMN IIIIIIT!" He yelled. There was a small cliff nearby that Tanjiro went flying off of. He held his hands in front of him as he hit the ground, feeling his arms break from the impact.
As Tanjiro rolled on the ground, he knew he had broken bones but noticed that it didn't hurt as much as it should have.
"My body has a higher tolerance for pain, which means I don't feel as much pain as I normally would. Today, after breaking my arms, it took only five minutes for my bones and scratches to heal."
After Tanjiro's injuries healed, he couldn't help but smile at this incredible ability.
"I will become human, no matter what…That said, even I have to admit that being a demon has its perks. Of course, that's mostly due to the fact that the cons of being a demon don't really affect me."
Tanjiro had all the good qualities of being a demon and rarely had to worry about the bad ones. He didn't eat humans, he could walk in the sun no problem, and he was even beginning to taste again.
One time, Tanjiro was eating his lunch, one watermelon, two carrots, and two pears. He just finished the watermelon when he felt something refreshing and sweet on his tongue.
"Wait…This actually TASTES like watermelon! I can TASTE again!" Tanjiro pumped his fist into the air and cheered before starting on one of the pears…It was bland.
Tanjiro let out a disappointed sigh. "Baby steps, Tanjiro…baby steps…" He muttered to himself.
A Village in Western Tokyo
Tanjiro kept on walking, sniffing for any demons hiding in the shadows that he could get information from. He stumbled upon a humble village, with many people walking through the streets.
Tanjiro could smell just about every one of them, and something inside him started acting up. He pushed down his demonic urges and decided to stop using his smell for now.
"If I accidentally pick up the smell of blood, my demon side might kick in again. I absolutely cannot let that happen."
Tanjiro walked through the streets, keeping his head down. He was doing a good job in keeping his desires in check, taking in a blueberry from his basket from time to time to satisfy his hunger.
"I'll start looking for demons here tonight. There are a lot of people so there's a good chance one is hiding until nightfall. Even if they don't tell me how to become human, I won't let them hurt anyone here."
However, something was bothering him. "Why do I feel like someone's watching me?" Tanjiro wondered as he walked past an alleyway and tossed another blueberry into his mouth, not noticing the light-green haired demon in a black hood staring at him from said alley.
? ? ?
"I can't believe it! A demon…walking in broad daylight AND eating human food!" The demon whispered, stunned by the new development before him.
He turned around and headed down a shadowy path. "I must inform Lady Tamayo immediately! This could lead to humanity's salvation…or its utter demise."
Tanjiro
-A Few Hours Later: Evening-
Tanjiro's Solar Power Level: 4.5% (No new developments)
The sun had finally gone down, but still slightly lit up the sky. Tanjiro continued his walk down the streets, he tried to get information about demons from the civilians.
He came upon a woman walking alongside a little girl, most likely a mother and daughter. "Excuse me, miss." He called out, gaining the woman's attention. The woman looked at Tanjiro and gave a little smile.
"And how may I help you, young man?" She asked as Tanjiro walked up to her.
"I was wondering if you've seen anyone strange around here." Tanjiro said as the woman looked confused.
"Strange how?" She asked.
"You know, like pale skin, long nails, sharp teeth, eyes with slits for pupils?" Tanjiro replied.
"I see. No, I can't say I've seen anyone like that." The woman said.
"Okay, well is there anyone who's gone missing or something in the last few days?" Tanjiro asked the woman.
"Not that I know of…Is there a reason you want to know?" The woman asked, seeming a little suspicious of the boy.
"O-Oh…Well…y-you see…I kinda…um, you know…I have a…a…well…I guess that…!" Tanjiro was fumbling words as he broke into a nervous sweat.
"If I lie and my face contorts, it'll be a dead giveaway! But, she doesn't know me, it's not like she knows I can't lie. But even so, it's way too suspicious!"
Suddenly, Tanjiro was saved when the little girl tugged on her mother's kimono and whined. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" The woman asked with concern.
The girl then pointed at Tanjiro, she looked scared.
"M…Monster…" She said, causing Tanjiro to let out an offended choke, a little hurt by the girl's comment. The mother didn't seem happy either.
"Emi! How rude! You can't just call people monsters!" She scolded the girl before turning to Tanjiro and bowing. "I'm so sorry, I don't know where that came from."
Tanjiro waved his hands in front of him, his sweating becoming worse. "It-It's okay, ma'am! Really! Don't worry about it, it's fine! It's my fault for pushing too hard!" Tanjiro yelled out, his face slightly red.
The woman stopped bowing and smiled at the boy. "Even so, that doesn't mean she can just insult you like that. But, thank you for your forgiveness." She said before gently tugging on her daughter's hand.
"Emi, do you have something to say to the nice young man?" She asked the girl, who was named Emi, who lowered her head in shame. Tanjiro kneeled in front of her, giving her a bright smile.
"I'm…I'm sorry, mister…" Emi said, earning a bright smile from Tanjiro.
"That's okay. Just make sure to be more respectful to others from now on, alright?" Tanjiro asked as Emi started to loosen up at the sight of his smile. She nodded, a little surprised at the demon's kindness, before giving a small smile of her own.
Tanjiro got back up and said his farewells before walking away. The woman called out to him. "You have beautiful eyes, by the way!"
Tanjiro slightly blushed at the sudden compliment on his pink eyes before turning around with a flustered smile. "Thanks! See you around!"
Tanjiro had seen his eyes before and they were definitely beautiful. As he walked away, he pictured what his siblings would look like with his new eyes.
That turned out to be a mistake as he stopped to grab the cloth near his heart as it almost blew up from cuteness overload.
Tanjiro took a deep breath before continuing to walk when suddenly.
"Hey, you there!" Tanjiro heard a voice, not knowing if it was meant for him. "Yes, you. The boy with the scar and the shredded sleeves."
Tanjiro looked at his sleeves and remembered that the farm demon from before tore them to shreds with his claws.
Tanjiro turned around to see a pale-skinned boy who looked only slightly older than him. He had short, dull, light green hair that became shaded at the ends.
He wore a grey button-up collared shirt under a white haori and dark blue hakama pants. However, the detail that got Tanjiro's attention was his eyes.
Tanjiro's own eyes widened as he saw the black slits in the other boy's lavender eyes. If that wasn't enough, he gave off a familiar smell.
"A demon!" Tanjiro deduced, trying to keep calm. The other demon had a sort of angry or annoyed look on his face, like he didn't want to be here or something.
"C-Can I help you?" Tanjiro asked before the other demon turned around and started walking away.
"Follow me." He said. "Make sure not to fall behind. Otherwise, I'm leaving you here." He said, leaving a stunned Tanjiro in his dust.
"H-Hey! Wait a minute!" Tanjiro yelled before chasing after him. "You can't just tell someone to follow you and walk away!"
Despite his words, Tanjiro followed his fellow demon all the way to some sort of deadend in the more crowded streets.
Tanjiro didn't smell any hostility towards the demon, the scent was more of a scent of annoyance than anything. The two demons stood in front of a large wooden fence as the light-green haired demon walked towards it.
"Hey, is something supposed to happen here or-?" Tanjiro asked before the other demon walked through the fence and disappeared.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"WHAT THE…!? WHERE DID HE GO!?" Tanjiro looked around in surprise, trying to understand what was happening. That's when the other demon's head popped out from the fence.
"HEY!" He yelled, causing Tanjiro to jump back a bit. "Stop screwing around and get in here before someone sees you!"
The demon disappeared again. After a moment of hesitation, Tanjiro walked towards the fence and went through it.
On the other side was a large, at least by his standards, house. Tanjiro looked behind him to see a brick wall that surrounded the house.
When he turned back towards the house, he noticed a talisman with a symbol that sort of looked like an eye. He looked around to see sakura blossom trees around the area.
"What is this pla-?"
Chop! Thud!
Tanjiro felt a sudden pressure on his neck and fell on the ground. Before losing consciousness, he heard the boy from before talking to a woman.
"Lady Tamayo, I have done what you asked."
"Thank you, Yushiro…but, I didn't ask for you to knock him out."
"Forgive me, my lady, but you know better than I that we cannot take risks with demons."
"Sigh…Very well, help me carry him to the basement."
…
…
…
Mt. Kumotori - Mountain Path
Tanjiro was walking back home after another day of selling coal.
"I can't believe I managed to sell all the coal. I hope Hanako and Shigeru and the others like the gifts I bought them."
Then, as he neared his home, Tanjiro stopped as he picked up a strange scent. He sniffed the air before he gasped. "The smell of blood!"
Tanjiro ran towards his home, hoping the source was an injured animal or something. But, his hopes were dashed as he neared his home.
He rushed to the front door and slid it open to reveal…
Tanjiro's eyes widened and dropped his basket as he saw a bunch of dead corpses and blood covering his family's home. He recognized each corpse.
Mom, Nezuko, Takeo, Shigeru, Hanako, Rokuta. They were all either on the floor or laid against the walls. Some had their intestines ripped out, some had parts of their face and neck chewed off, others were torn in half.
Tanjiro watched helplessly as a stranger whom he didn't recognize at first held a lifeless Nezuko in his arms, tearing at her neck with razor sharp teeth.
Tanjiro's shock turned grief, grief turned to anger, anger turned to pure burning rage. "Get…away…FROM MY FAMILY!"
Tanjiro was about to punch the stranger before the latter turned around and caught the boy's hand. Tanjiro gasped as he got a hood look at the stranger's face…his face.
The other Tanjiro was paler, had plum red cat-like eyes, shorter hair, and a strange mark on his forehead where Tanjiro's scar would be. Then, there was the wide twisted grin on his face that horrified Tanjiro to his core.
Tanjiro backed away from the monster before stepping outside and falling in the snow on his bottom. The other Tanjiro got closer to him as the poor boy was too scared to move.
"That…That's me?…But…why…why would I do something like this!?" Tanjiro wondered as tears filled his eyes. The other Tanjiro stood right in front of him.
"S-Stop…this can't…be real…I would never hurt them…it's a lie!" The other Tanjiro grabbed Tanjiro's ponytail and pulled him up to his face.
The imposter opened his mouth and whispered one thing. "Deeeeeeeee…moooooooooooonnn." Then he took a clawed hand and shoved it through Tanjiro's heart.
Tanjiro couldn't speak, he couldn't scream, he couldn't breathe. Suddenly, the other Tanjiro let Tanjiro fall to the ground and fall on his right side on the snow.
He coughed up blood, he could feel his life slipping away. That's when…
"t-tanjiro…w-why…?" Tanjiro's eyes widened as he heard the weak voice of his mother. Tanjiro spotted Kie laying against the wall parallel to their front door. She seemed to be the least injured, suffering only a few large scratches across her shoulders and legs. With the right treatment, she could make a full recovery.
But, the demon turned around and walked towards the mother of six. "T-Tanjiro…please…we're…your family…" Kie said, but her words fell on deaf ears as the demon kept creeping towards her with that terrifying smile on his face.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro watched as this whole scene took place. "No…don't…!"
"Tanjiro…It's me…your m-mother…!" Kie said, looking more scared as tears started falling from her wide, heartbroken eyes.
"Please! Leave her alone! Don't you dare touch her!"
The demon got closer and closer to Kie who began shaking. "Please, Tanjiro…This isn't you…I love you…we all…love you…s-son…Don't…don't do this!"
"…stop…"
"T-Tanjiro…!"
The demon grabbed Kie's shoulders, salivating as he prepared to bite her neck. Tears fell from Tanjiro's eyes as he tried to beg.
"Stop…!"
"Tanjiro! Tanjiro!"
Tanjiro felt his blood become warm, like there was a fire inside of him.
"Stop it! Stop it now!"
"TANJIROOOO ! ! !"
"STOOOOOOOOOOP ! ! ! ! !"
The demon bit into Kie's neck, causing her to let out a blood-curdling scream…
"AAAAAHHHHHH ! ! !" Tanjiro screamed as he woke up, a small burst of fire coming out of his mouth.
Then, as soon as they appeared, the flames went away before Tanjiro even noticed them. Tanjiro started panting as he tried to calm himself, feeling his heart pounding from fear. Tanjiro woke up in a futon, tied down by ropes and knots.
Tears were present in his eyes as he looked around to see where he was. "W-Where am I?" He wondered out loud.
Basement
Tanjiro saw that he was in what looked like some sort of wooden cell. There was a door with a lock on it, the door itself was a bunch of horizontal and vertical wooden bars.
The walls were also made of wood and the floor was covered in some carpet-like material. Tanjiro couldn't break free from his restraints, partially because he didn't try very hard, he was still recovering from mental shock.
"I see that you're awake, I assume you just had a bad dream?" Tanjiro's attention went to his left to the door. He heard a woman's voice along with footsteps coming closer to him.
He also picked up the scent of a demon heading towards him. "I'm sorry for the restraints, I would've let you go but I didn't want to take the risk with you being a demon and all."
The woman stepped into view. She was definitely a demon. She had pale skin, lavender eyes, dark brown hair tied into a large bun which was held by a floral tama-kanzashi hairpin, and looked to be in her early twenties.
She wore a dark-purple medium-length hōmongi kimono decorated with wavy purple tree branches and red flowers with a cream colored taiko musubi obi to secure it around her waist. She also had plain white socks and violet zōri sandals.
The woman stopped in front of the wooden bars and noticed Tanjiro's tears, causing her to frown. "I am Tamayo, may I ask for your name?" She asked.
"Um…I'm Tanjiro Kamado." Tanjiro replied, causing the woman to give a small smile.
"Tanjiro, that's a lovely name." She said, causing Tanjiro to get flustered for the second time that day.
"Th-Thank you, Miss Tamayo." Tanjiro responded with a slight blush.
"Now, Tanjiro, I'd like to know how a demon not only manages to eat human food and suppress their demonic desire, but can also walk in the sun." Tamayo said.
"Oh, well…I'm not really sure myself. All I know is that I was turned into a demon and I could walk in sunlight which I only learned recently that other demons can't do." Tanjiro explained.
"I see." Tamayo nodded.
"Also, what do you mean 'eat human food?' Are you saying that demons can't eat normal food either?" Tanjiro asked as Tamayo nodded.
"Yes, I'm afraid demons can only consume blood and flesh, specifically that of a human. Otherwise, their bodies reject the food." Tamayo explained.
"Wow, you learn something new everyday." Tanjiro thought as he realized he still had a lot to learn about demons. That reminded him.
"Hey, so…you're a demon, right?" Tanjiro asked.
Tamayo nodded. "That's correct."
"Why do you seem a little different from other demons? Your scent seems much more human than the other demons I've seen." Tanjiro said, causing Tamayo to look down.
"Like you, I've also managed to suppress my demonic urges. Although, we are quite different." Tamayo said before explaining.
"I cannot walk in the sunlight, nor can I eat normal food. And I do have to consume a small amount of blood from time to time." Tamayo explained. Tanjiro frowned at that last part, making his displeasure known.
"I understand you find that shameful, but demons like me still need blood to keep our demonic selves in check." Tamayo continued.
"Thanks to the changes I've made in my body, I do not need a lot of blood to last. I get blood from donors and the poor and tell them that I will use the blood for transfusions. However, I never take enough to impair them."
"You, on the other hand, can eat normal food to soothe your hunger and completely repress your desire for blood and flesh. No demon has ever accomplished such a feat. You, Tanjiro, are very special." Tamayo finished.
Tanjiro was flattered by the praise but knew he didn't deserve it. "Thank you, but…I'm not that special. When I first turned, I was no different from any other demon." Tanjiro began.
"I was a monster…willing to eat anybody to satisfy my hunger. I was even willing to hurt my family, I bit into my own mother's shoulder."
"If it wasn't for my mom and sister talking me out of it…I-I hate to think…what might've happened…" Tanjiro remembered his dream as his guilt built up inside.
"Tanjiro…I know how you feel…" Tanjiro was surprised as he turned his head towards Tamayo, who looked equally guilty.
"Before I was turned into a demon, I had a husband and child. I loved them both so much…then, Kibutsuji came and turned me into a demon." Tamayo told Tanjiro who was confused by the name drop.
"Kibutsuji? Who's that?" Tanjiro asked, earning a gasp from Tamayo. Tanjiro picked up the scent of fear and concern which seemed directed towards him. Did he do something wrong?
Tanjiro expected something bad to happen. But, when nothing did, the tension slowly died down as Tamayo gave a sigh of relief followed by a chuckle.
"I should've known." She said, "It seems that you've already removed his curse. I'll explain later, I promise."
Tanjiro nodded as Tamayo continued her story. "When I was turned into a demon, I tried to fight it…But, I wasn't strong enough…I ate my family…"
Tanjiro's eyes widened after hearing that, it was clear to him that Tamayo had suffered more. The worst thing he did as a demon was injure his mom, but Tamayo…She was forced to devour her family, it was obvious that she still hadn't forgiven herself for it.
"Not one day goes by that I don't think about that night, the screams and pleading of my husband and child. After that, I was forced to serve Kibutsuji for centuries."
"Centuries! How is that possible!?" Tanjiro asked in shock.
"Oh, you didn't know? Demons don't age." Tamayo explained.
"Wow…" Tanjiro said, learning yet another new demon fact. Tamayo continued.
"I was his 'loyal' servant, until…I was saved." Tamayo said before looking at Tanjiro with a smile. "I was freed by a Demon Slayer swordsman."
"A Demon Slayer swordsman?" Tanjiro said, confused.
"Oh, do you not know what a Demon Slayer is?" Tamayo asked.
Tanjiro remembered Giyu Tomioka, the swordsman who "killed" Tanjiro and promised to look after his family.
"I think I encountered one already. Or to be more specific, I was decapitated by one." He responded.
Tamayo gasped, an understandable reaction in Tanjiro's opinion. "Yeah, that's actually when I gained my immunity. I still remember the sun shining on me right before I disappeared. Next thing I know, I'm perfectly fine, head and all."
"I see…" Tamayo replied. "That's very interesting. But, surely you must have been scared. You're just a child, to die at such a young age must be terrifying."
"Yeah, it was. But that didn't matter. What did matter was that my family was safe and that I wouldn't hurt anyone anymore…At least, that's what I thought." Tanjiro added.
"What did you do after surviving that encounter?" Tamayo asked.
Tanjiro frowned as he recalled having to leave his family behind. "I left home, and went off to find a way to become human again."
"I knew that I couldn't see them again, not as a demon. Even if I can control myself now, how can I be sure that I'll always be able to keep those urges under control?"
"I couldn't risk it, so I left. They probably think I'm dead, and that might be for the best. If they knew I was alive, they'd just come after me. They'd most likely be in danger if they did that."
"I can't say it hasn't been hard…It's actually been really hard. All I ever think about is my family and how sad they must be. It's all my fault, if I had been more careful, I probably would have avoided that disaster."
"Then again, you never know. That demon seemed to be looking for me. If I went home, he probably would've killed my family instead. But still, that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."
Tamayo listened intently as Tanjiro felt more and more guilty and lonely.
"I will become human, so I can be with my family again. We'll have a big feast, I'll read every book we own, we'll play in the snow…or sun depending on the season. I don't care what it takes, I will become human again."
Tamayo smiled sadly at Tanjiro once again before sliding the door to the room open. "Come now, let's talk somewhere more comfortable." She said as she started to undo the knots holding down the demon boy.
Tanjiro was shocked that Tamayo seemed to already trust the boy. He was even more shocked when she started patting his head, almost as lovingly as mother to her child.
"You may not agree, but you are a strong child, Tanjiro. And you have a pure heart as well. If only there were more people like you, this world would be a much better place."
Tanjiro blushed at the praise before scratching his head with a nervous smile. "P-Please, Miss. You give me way too much credit."
Tamayo's smile grew wider. "Maybe…Or, you don't give yourself enough credit." Tamayo argued, causing Tanjiro to smile back.
Tamayo got up on her feet, Tanjiro doing the same. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make you human again so that you can be with your family." Tamayo swore.
"Wait, you think you can turn me back?" Tanjiro asked.
Tamayo kept looking at Tanjiro with resolve. "Yes, I don't know how but I truly believe it's possible. But, I'll need your help, is that alright?"
Tanjiro nodded, his own determination shining through. "Yes. I'll do whatever it takes." Tamayo took Tanjiro's hands and shook them firmly with a relieved look.
"Good. I look forward to working with you, Tanjiro Kamado." Tamayo said before leaving the room.
Tanjiro was about to follow when he heard grumbling and muttering nearby. He looked past Tamayo to see the light-green haired demon from before peeking from the door, staring daggers at Tanjiro.
Even though he was a demon, Tanjiro couldn't help but fear for his life. "Yushiro, that's enough." Tamayo called out.
The demon named Yushiro straightened and his face went back to normal. "Yes, Lady Tamayo!" And with that, Yushiro left with Tamayo, leaving a slightly confused Tanjiro in the basement.
First Floor
Tanjiro sat on his knees in another carpeted room. There was a beautiful painting of a volcano hanging over some candles. There was furniture, shelves, drawers and a wooden sliding door behind Tanjiro.
Tamayo sat in front of him with Yushiro sitting between them on another side of the room. "I believe you've already met Yushiro, I do hope you two can get along." Tamayo said.
Tanjiro nervously looked over at Yushiro who looked back. Yushiro gave a look and scent that told him only one thing. "Make one mistake…and you'll wish you were dead."
Tanjiro gulped. "I uh…I hope so too." He said. "Even though that seems highly unlikely."
"First things first, let me tell you about…Muzan Kibutsuji. The king of demons." Tamayo said as Tanjiro's eyes widened.
"The king of demons? You mean…that's the one who turned you into a demon?" Tanjiro asked.
Tamayo nodded. "And not just me. Muzan has transformed many poor souls into demons, one of those being…" Tamayo then pointed a finger at Tanjiro.
"Huh!?" Tanjiro pointed at himself. "M-Me too!? How do you know!?"
"Watch your tone!" Yushiro yelled before chopping the top of Tanjiro's head. "You truly know nothing about demons, a fool like you has no right to speak so rudely to Lady Tamayo!"
"Yushiro, stop that. Why would you resort to violence for such a minor thing?" Tamayo scolded her apprentice who immediately calmed down.
"Yes, Lady Tamayo. Forgive me." Yushiro apologized as Tanjiro rubbed the top of his head, a single pain tear falling from his eye .
"Anyhow," Tamayo continued. "I don't know why Muzan would hunt you. But, he might've suspected that you would be the one to conquer the sun."
"This is just a theory, of course, but that's the most likely explanation for why you specifically were targeted. However, I do not have a theory of how Muzan chose you as a target in the first place." Tamayo finished.
Tanjiro already thought of that, but hearing it from someone else made it seem that much more plausible. It also meant that if he had made it home that day, Muzan would've come after his family. For the first time, Tanjiro was glad he didn't make it home.
"Muzan wanted to create a demon who was immune to sunlight, and after centuries, he finally succeeded. That's why, we must make sure Muzan never finds out about you." Tamayo said, shocking Tanjiro.
"What do you mean? You want to hide me away?" Tanjiro asked.
"If Muzan found out you conquered the sun, he would stop at nothing to get you. If he catches you, he will consume your body and thus, gain your immunity. If that happened, he would become unstoppable…and humanity would be destroyed." Tamayo explained.
Tanjiro was horrified at the thought of all humanity, and his family, being killed off or turned into demons. He knew he could never let that happen. "I understand. I will make sure Muzan doesn't find out about me."
Tamayo frowned. "I'm afraid that's easier said than done, Tanjiro. It's not just Muzan you have to watch out for. You'll have to avoid his more powerful subordinates as well." She warned.
Tanjiro tilted his head left in confusion "What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"Muzan can see and hear everything his subordinates hear. Every demon Kibutsuji created is cursed by him. This curse prevents demons from disobeying his will, allows Muzan to keep tabs on all of his minions, read their thoughts, and can even kill any demon who utters his name or even just kill them on command." Tamayo listed off all the effects of the curse.
That's when Tanjiro realized something. "Wait! But we both said his name! Does that mean we both die!?" Tanjiro panicked.
"Calm down, Tanjiro. You and I have both broken from Kibutsuji's curse, nothing bad will happen." Tamayo assured the demon boy, slightly amused by his reaction.
Tanjiro calmed down a little. "Really? That's possible? Wait…how did you know I broke the curse?" He asked.
Tamayo smiled nervously. "I…didn't…" She replied.
…
…
…
"HUUUUUH!? What do you mean you DIDN'T KNOW! Why didn't you at least tell me that I had a SELF-DESTRUCT PHRASE! Were you planning on waiting and seeing while I-!" Before Tanjiro could finish his rant, Yushiro struck Tanjiro's ribcage with a flurry of palm strikes.
"FOOL! Know your place!" He hissed as Tanjiro fell on his back and held his ribs. "Why would Lady Tamayo waste her breath on warning a filthy demon about something they should know!? Be grateful that she bothers with you at all, pest!"
"Yushiro…" Tamayo called out, calmly but sternly. "If you hit that boy again, I will make you regret it."
Yushiro immediately went back to his seating position, calming down in an instant. "Yes, ma'am!"
Tanjiro got back on his knees, still holding one hand on his ribs. "Ow…So much force…I hate to think what that would've done to me as a human." Tanjiro thought.
Tamayo sighed. "On that note, I'm very sorry, Tanjiro. Not only could you walk in the sun, but you could also suppress your demonic urges. I was curious if you had broken the curse like I had."
Tanjiro felt the pain in his ribs stop as he looked back at Tamayo. "No, I'm sorry for snapping like that. It was very rude of me." Tanjiro returned the apology with a bowed head.
Tamayo smiled. "That's alright." She said before her face became serious again. "Now, I have to ask. By the look of your torn up sleeves, I assume you have already encountered a demon, yes?"
Tanjiro nodded. "Yes, about three days ago. I knocked it out and it was killed by the sun.." Tanjiro said before realizing something. His eyes widened as he realized his blunder. "Wait, that demon saw me in the sunlight before it died. Does that mean Muzan is already aware!?"
Tamayo shook her head, giving a relieved smile. "No, I don't think so. Muzan can't see through the eyes of all demons at once, and he mainly looks through the more powerful demons. If you encountered this demon three days ago and Muzan hasn't made a move yet, I believe you're safe."
Tanjiro sighed in relief as Tamayo continued. "That said, you'll have to avoid being seen in sunlight by the stronger demons."
"Stronger demons? What do you mean 'stronger'? Is there some way I'll be able to tell?" Tanjiro asked.
"Demons get stronger as they consume more humans. These demons are stronger, faster, and regenerate more quickly than most demons. They even possess powerful spells called Blood Demon Arts." Tamayo explained.
"Blood Demon Arts?" Tanjiro repeated, not having a clue what those are.
"Spells made from a demon's blood, every demon's Blood Demon Art is unique. After consuming enough humans, demons are able to use their blood to form all sorts of fatal attacks. From utilizing elements, to creating weapons and/or projectiles, to a boost in stats, etc., the possibilities are endless." Tamayo explained.
Tanjiro had a look of disgust at the mention of consuming humans. "So, the more people they kill and eat, the stronger they are?" Tanjiro summarized.
Tamayo nodded. "Exactly, and Kibutsuji is the strongest of them all. Below him are the Twelve Kizuki, twelve of Muzan's most powerful minions who were all given a vast amount of blood from him."
"Wait, Muzan gives demons his blood?" Tanjiro asked.
"Yes, that's how they become more powerful. Demons who are chosen by Muzan are given ample amounts of blood and become living nightmares to most humans and even some demons." Tamayo explained.
"You must avoid these people during the day so they do not report you to Muzan. Now, as for how you can tell one from the other…hmm." Tamayo put a hand to her chin. "I hear that you can tell how many humans a demon has eaten if you have an advanced sense of smell."
Tanjiro gave a proud smile. "Oh! My nose is really good, I can pick up multiple scents from far away. Actually, ever since I became a demon, I'm pretty sure my sense of smell has improved. But…how does that help me find the strength of a demon?"
Tamayo looked to be in thought for a second. "Well…you've encountered a weak demon and Muzan who is the strongest. Surely there was a difference in their scents." She suggested.
Tanjiro was taken aback a bit. He had no problem recalling the Farm Demon's unpleasant scent. But Muzan…that was one of two days Tanjiro wanted to push to the depths of his mind.
Tamayo seemed to notice this as a frown formed on her face. "I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me. I of all people understand that some memories are better left forgotten."
Tanjiro shook his hands in front of him. "No, it's fine! I just…Just give me a second…" Tanjiro requested before remembering the awful smell that Muzan gave off.
"I remember the first demon I fought had an unpleasant smell, like something beginning to rot. Muzan…I remember a powerful smell, I wanted to throw up…but, my body was completely paralyzed, I couldn't move a muscle. All I smelled was anger and death…" Tanjiro shook at the memory.
Tamayo nodded. "That's how you know, then. The closer a demon's scent is to that, the stronger they are. If you learn to truly master your sense of smell, you should be able to tell exactly how many humans a demon has eaten." She stated.
Tanjiro nodded before Tamayo continued. "Now, there's also the matter of your secondary enemy, the Demon Slayer Corps. A group of swordsmen who have dedicated themselves to the complete and total annihilation of demons."
Tanjiro's mind went back to Giyu Tomioka. When Tanjiro became a demon, even with his further enhanced senses, he failed to notice the Demon Slayer who cut him down as easily as a regular person. Tanjiro did not like the idea of fighting more people like that, and he doubted they would be as merciful or understanding.
Tamayo continued. "You are immune to sunlight, and from what you've told me, you can survive decapitation from a Nichirin sword." She recapped.
"A Nichirin sword?" Tanjiro repeated as he tilted his head to the left.
Tamayo suddenly got up and went to one of the drawers, taking out what appeared to be a katana sheath.
She walked back to her spot and got back on her knees before unsheathing the blade and placing it between Tanjiro and herself.
"This is a Nichirin sword, a type of katana forged from a special ore capable of absorbing sunlight. That is what makes it possible for Demon Slayers to kill any and all demons, excluding you." Tamayo explained.
Tanjiro stared at the blade in awe as it almost felt like the sword was calling to him, as if he was born to wield a sword. But, that was ridiculous so he pushed the thought out of his mind.
"However, I believe there is still one thing that can kill you." Tamayo said to Tanjiro's surprise.
"Wait…Really?" Tanjiro asked, his eyes wide.
"Tell me, Tanjiro, have you heard of wisteria?" Tamayo answered the boy's question with one of her own.
"The wisteria flower, you mean? Yeah, I've heard of it. What does that have to do with demons, though?" Tanjiro asked, slightly confused. This earned an annoyed scoff from Yushiro who rolled his eyes. Tanjiro noticed this, but decided to ignore it.
"Demons despise wisteria and try to avoid it at all costs. The Demon Slayer Corps has taken advantage of this. They use wisteria to make poisons that can temporarily paralyze even the Twelve Kizuki themselves. Then…there are the Demon Slayers who use more potent wisteria poison to kill demons."
Tanjiro gulped before Tamayo went on. "These swordsmen use a special type of Nichirin sword. A katana with a normal hilt, but the blade is replaced with a rod ending in a needle-like tip. This type of sword is designed to inject powerful wisteria poison into demons through stabbing. Once you are poisoned, you're as good as dead." She explained as Tanjiro gulped again.
"Fortunately, there are very few Demon Slayers who use this strategy. Actually, as far as I know, there is only one poison user who has mastered the technique, I believe she became a Hashira a few months ago. She's an acquaintance of mine, though, so I don't think you'll have to worry about her as long as I explain things." Tamayo assured the boy.
"Either way, if you are approached by a Demon Slayer with a sword that resembles an insect's stinger, I highly recommend running away or hiding. However, if you have no choice but to fight, do not let them stab you even a little." Tamayo warned.
Tanjiro nodded before asking a question. "Um, Miss Tamayo? What's a Hashira?"
"The Hashira are an elite group of Demon Slayers, the best of the best. Out of all swordsmen in the corps, the Hashira are some of the strongest, fastest, smartest, and most skilled. While Muzan has his Twelve Kizuki, the Hashira are the most powerful fighters in the entire Demon Slayer Corps, and just as dangerous." Tamayo explained.
"And you said you're acquainted with one of them, right?" Tanjiro asked.
"Yes," Tamayo replied. "She and her sister, who's also a Hashira, help me out with my research from time to time and vice versa."
"So they trust you, even though you're a demon?" Tanjiro asked, hoping that there was a way to keep the Demon Slayers from attacking him. It wasn't that he was worried about himself but that he didn't want to accidentally hurt anyone.
"Well…trust is a strong word. They both seem like kind people but they are dedicated to killing any bad demon. It took a little while before they were even comfortable being around me." Tamayo admitted.
"Truth is, they were ordered to help me by the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, whom I also have connections with."
Tanjiro was about to speak again before Yushiro interrupted. "Don't bother. We all know what you're about to say. No, we cannot vouch for you. There is little to nothing we can do to protect a demon from the corps."
"Unfortunately, he's right." Tamayo added. "Like I said, there are still many who do not fully trust me. I wish I could ask them to leave you be but…the word of a demon means very little to them. That's why I say you should just avoid them at all costs."
"I see…Are they really that dangerous to someone like me, though?" Tanjiro asked. "You said it yourself, there's only one Hashira who can actually kill me and that I shouldn't worry about her."
Yushiro chucked. "Moron, you think just because you're not hurt by a little sunlight means you can take on the Hashira? What a joke." He mocked.
"Listen, boy. Clearly, you didn't hear Lady Tamayo. The Hashira are the greatest swordsmen in the world. Even if they can't kill you, don't think for a second that that puts a weakling like you on their level. The same goes for the Twelve Kizuki, whom some also have ways to kill you." Yushiro warned.
"Yushiro, that's enough." Tamayo scolded as Yushiro stepped down. Tamayo sighed and looked back at Tanjiro. "That said, he's not wrong. It hasn't even been a week since your transformation, your power level as a demon is very low."
"Demons can only gain power through consuming blood. According to your story from when you first transformed, you managed to get a little bit of blood." Tamayo stated as Tanjiro hung his head in shame.
He was reminded once again how much he hurt his family, physically and emotionally. "Yeah… that's right…"
"I'm sorry…" Tamayo said, "I didn't mean to bring it up so suddenly."
"It's fine…" Tanjiro said as he looked up, giving an obviously forced smile this time.
Tamayo stared at Tanjiro with sad eyes before continuing. "It's obvious that you don't want to consume blood from humans again, and I assume hunting animals is also off the table. Good news, you can eat normal food so you won't have to. Bad news, you will likely remain weak forever if you continue like this."
Tanjiro realized how stupid he had been. She was absolutely right, he couldn't get stronger without killing and eating living things which was out of the question. He refused to sacrifice all those lives just for his own gain, that would go against everything he stood for.
But, this would make his mission to become human much, much harder. He could ask the weaker demons if there was a way to become human again, but he doubted that they'd have the answer. Maybe these Twelve Kizuki know, but there's no way they'd tell him and beating them was seeming more and more impossible.
"If your plan was to get information out of other demons on how to become human again, I wouldn't recommend it. It's too dangerous with all the powerful demons out there, and most demons aren't really the social types. Not to mention the risk of being discovered and captured by Muzan." Tamayo said as Tanjiro's doubts were confirmed.
"However," Tamayo continued, peaking Tanjiro's interest. "I have been researching a way to turn demons back into humans, and I think that you would be a great help in the development of a serum."
Tanjiro's eyes widened at that proposition. "A serum? How could I help?" He asked.
"I'm glad you asked, it's simple really. I only require permission to take a bit of your blood to study it." Tamayo said.
"My blood?" Tanjiro replied.
"Yes, I've collected the blood of many weaker demons and studied it in hopes of creating a cure. What with you being a demon who conquered the sun and retained its humanity, your blood could be crucial to its completion." Tamayo explained.
"All I ask is for your permission and cooperation. What do you say?" She asked.
Tanjiro looked at the ground as he already knew his answer, but needed to clarify something. "Miss Tamayo, this cure…It won't just be me, right?" Tanjiro asked as suddenly looked up with a bright smile on his face.
"Everyone who was turned into demons, they'll be cured too!" Tanjiro said as Tamayo's eyes widened in surprise.
Then, a warm smile appeared on her face. "Yes, that's right." She replied.
Tanjiro nodded. "In that case, I'm happy to help!" Tanjiro agreed.
"Excellent. Now, I just need a sample of your blood." Tamayo said as she got up again and went to another drawer to take out a needle and a small wooden box.
Tamayo kneeled in front of Tanjiro and took his right arm with her left hand and stuck the needle into the blood vein in his wrist. She pushed up the pump on the top of the needle as it was filled with his blood. She took the needle out and put it inside the box before closing it.
"There. That'll be all for now, Yushiro will show you to your room. I know you don't exactly need it, but try to get some rest. From what you've told me, you definitely deserve it." Tamayo said, still keeping her warm smile despite Yushiro snapping his head towards her with a shocked look.
Yushiro looked like he wanted to argue but then gave up as he started to get up and walk to the door.
Tanjiro nodded as he followed a muttering Yushiro out the room.
Upstairs
Yushiro led Tanjiro to a small room in the upstairs of the house. It had a futon folded up, along with an extra door leading to a bathroom and his food basket.
"This is where you're staying." Yushiro said with very little motivation.
"Thank you!" Tanjiro said, expressing his gratitude. However, this only earned him a scowl from his fellow demon.
"Can you not?" He said in an almost growling voice. Tanjiro tilted his head in confusion.
"Um…Sorry, can I not what?" He asked as Yushiro pointed a finger at him.
"I'll admit that I'm impressed you got Lady Tamayo to fall for your little 'perfect good boy demon' act, for now anyways. But you won't fool me. If you hurt Lady Tamayo in any way, I'll destroy you and personally deliver your mangled body to the Demon Slayer Corps." Yushiro threatened as Tanjiro gulped.
"I-I understand your concern, Yushiro! But I swear, I'm not lying to you or Miss Tamayo. Trust me, you'd know if I was lying." Tanjiro said in defense.
"Your sharp tongue won't sway me, demon! I know your kind. There are the mindless beasts who only live to hunt and kill. Then, there are the gutless cowards who act friendly to get someone's guard down and eat them when they least expect it. All demons are monsters who cannot be trusted!" Yushiro shot back.
Tanjiro blinked before responding. "…Um, I don't mean to be rude but…Aren't you and Miss Tamayo both demons?"
Yushiro suddenly punched Tanjiro's stomach, causing the boy's upper body to lurch forward and fall on his knees.
Yushiro walked past the coughing Tanjiro. "I've got my eye on you, Kamado." He said before walking downstairs.
"*Cough* *Cough*…Got…it…*Cough*" Tanjiro groaned.
-The Next Day-
Demon Slayer Graveyard
Kagaya had just finished paying his respects to his fallen children, as he had always done every morning.
He was about to head back to his home when he heard the sound of a kasugai crow. The man, who was half-blind due to his illness, looked up and raised an arm for the crow to land on.
Kagaya took the message tied to the crow's leg and gave the bird a smiling nod. "Thank you."
The crow flew away as Kagaya opened the note, it was quite long. "Ah, it's from Tamayo. I wonder if she's made any progress." He thought.
"Dear Kagaya, I hope that you are in good health. I have come across a special demon. A boy that Yushiro saw walking among humans in broad daylight. Yes, this demon has conquered the sun.
The message was not what Kagaya expected. He began to frown at the new information he had received. "A demon who has conquered the sun…This doesn't seem good." He thought as he read on.
"This boy, Tanjiro Kamado, was living peacefully on a mountain with his mother and five younger siblings. His father passed away from illness about a year ago. Muzan seemed to specifically target him and transformed him into a demon."
"When he turned, he said that he injured his mother and has not forgiven himself for it. According to him, Tanjiro survived being decapitated by a Demon Slayer and his family likely assumed he was dead. He ran away so that he wouldn't hurt them.
As he began to make it to the end of the message, he started smiling again as some of his worry went away. However, it was more of a sad smile.
"Tanjiro is unlike any demon I've ever met, he has learned to suppress his hunger and can even eat normal food. Not only that, he acts as if he's still human."
"He has a kind heart, I can tell. In fact, it may be too kind for his own good. He has fully agreed to cooperate in my research. But what shocked me was that he cared more that other demons were cured rather than himself. I have a feeling Kanae would love him."
"Speaking of, I would appreciate it if you told Kanae and Shinobu about Tanjiro so they aren't shocked the next time they come here to help me with my research. I would also like you to keep this a secret from the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Tanjiro will be staying with me as I continue my research, it would not go well if a Demon Slayer comes here to look for him. I know I am risking a lot trusting this boy, but something tells me that he won't do anything wrong. So please, humor me. I believe this boy is the key to finding a cure for the demons."
"Thank you, Kagaya. Have a good day. Sincerely, Tamayo."
After finishing, he placed the note in his pocket and continued walking.
"Tanjiro Kamado…" He said to himself. "You may be right, Tamayo. This boy may be special indeed."
Aaaaand that's all, folks!
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Again, sorry if it was too long. I wanted to stop earlier but I was on a roll so I decided to keep it rolling.
It seems our boy, Tanjiro won't be so alone anymore. Things seem to be calming down for now. But don't worry, the action will pick back up.
I've also foreshadowed future interactions that I hope you'll look forward to!
Yes, Kanae is still alive. In this timeline, Kanae does not have an encounter with Douma yet and Shinobu gets to join her sister as the Insect Hashira.
Also, Tamayo has been working with Shinobu and Kanae for about seven months, so they know each other quite well.
Of course, Shinobu knows much more about medical stuff but Kanae also dabbles a little, so she's also a big help to Tamayo.
As for the plan from here on, I plan on Tanjiro being trained in combat by Yushiro so he can defend himself.
I also plan on doing a small one month time skip to when Tanjiro unlocks his Blood Demon Art. I'm so excited to show you guys!
However, it might be a bit before I release chapter 5. For the past two weeks, I've dedicated my time to this story and have been neglecting my first one for a while.
I can't leave my other fans hanging! So, I'll be focusing on that story for a bit. I also have an idea for a new story based on a recently trending YouTube video. I'll leave you all to guess what it is.
As always, make sure to leave any questions or comments in the reviews! Thanks for your support!
Alright! OMG out, peace!
Next time: Chapter 5 - Sun Conqueror, Tanjiro's Awakening
