What up, peeps! I've finally returned with a new chapter!

Man, it's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry to make you wait, I had a teeny-tiny bit of difficulty trying to come up with stuff to write. You know how it is.

Anyway, it pains me to say that I'll be taking a break from this story for a bit to work on my other story. I don't know if you know, but you might've noticed in my account that I posted another story before this one that is not finished yet.

I've been super motivated to work on this story, but now I'd like to get back to my first now that I've gotten more experience as a writer. I hope you understand.

Anyway, we've FINALLY reached our TENTH CHAPTER! WOOOOO! We've sure come a long way, I really appreciate your support.

Anyway, REVIEW TIME!

This time, we only have the one review to address and it is from HmmXst. Our friend here talked about how Nichirin Swords not changing a second time.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, are you saying that Tanjiro's sword is stolen or are you talking about Tanjiro turning his sword red.

If it's the former, Kanae had Tanjiro's blade forged for him, making it his and his alone.

If it's the latter, there is a scene in canon Demon Slayer when Tanjiro is fighting Rui with Hinokami Kagura.

When he is about to decapitate Rui, Tanjiro's sword is unable to cut through until Nezuko uses her Blood Demon Art to set her blood aflame to protect Tanjiro from Ruiz's strings. At the same time, the flames spread to Tanjiro's sword and turn it bright red.

However, after the battle, Tanjiro's sword is black again. Tanjiro does the same thing with his blood and uses it to heat up his blade.

Turning a sword bright red is not the same as turning it any other color. Each color shows which style of breathing you're most suited for, while bright red swords are just power-ups or upgrades and will turn back to their original color after a bit.

If you were not referring to either the former or latter, please clarify for me. Thank you!

Anyway, I also wanted to thank everyone for their ideas for Sun Conqueror. They're all very interesting and cool!

With that out of the way, on to the chapter!

*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 10 - First Mission Part 2

Kanae Kocho

Somewhere in Yachimata

Kanae traversed from roof to roof, searching for the demon. She went as fast as she could, not wanting anyone else to die before either her or Tanjiro found the demon.

"Where could that demon be? I hope it hasn't hurt anybody." She thought as she looked around her to see any signs of conflict.

"Maybe Tanjiro's already found the demon...But, that would mean that he's most likely fighting the demon by now..." Kanae started to worry for the boy's safety

Kanae then thought back to a conversation she had with Shinobu.


Tamayo's Back Porch

-Twelve Days Ago, Night-

The Kocho sisters had just finished discussing how they would take care of both Tanjiro and the Butterfly Mansion.

Then, Shinobu spoke again. "By the way, sister." She called out as Kanae looked at her. "When Kamado engages in battle with a demon, do not try to help him unless an innocent person is in danger or he cannot go on."

Kanae blinked at her little sister. "Where's this coming from, Shinobu?" She asked with a tilt of the head. "I'm well aware of my priorities."

Shinobu sighed. "It's just...You seem to be getting a bit attached to him lately. I'm worried that you'll put yourself in harms way to protect him when he doesn't need it." She stated.

"Shinobu, don't worry. I know he doesn't need me to protect him, it's just...I don't like the idea of standing by while a friend gets hurt." Kanae said as she looked at the ground with a frown.

"Look, sister, whether you like to admit it or not, Tanjiro is a demon. I don't mean this in a bad way, I simply mean that besides his very VERY few weaknesses, he's practically immortal." Shinobu said in an attempt to reassure Kanae.

"So you don't need to babysit him, okay?" Shinobu asked as Kanae looked back at her with a bright smile.

"Okay." Kanae responded before adopting a more mischievous look. "And don't think I didn't notice you called Tanjiro by his first name."

"Gah! I-...I have no idea what you're talking about." Shinobu's eyes widened before she quickly regained her composure as Kanae continued smiling.


-Present-

Crash!

Kanae was snapped back to reality by a loud noise and looked around her before spotting a large dust cloud from far away.

"Speak of the devil...Or demon in this case." Kanae told herself an unfunny joke as she began to speed towards the source.


Tanjiro Kamado

-A Few Minutes Ago-

"Answer truthfully...and I'll make your death as painless as possible." Tanjiro said as he glared at the scorpion demon.

The scorpion demon seemed stunned, but only for a moment. After that, he laughed hysterically. "Hahahahahahaha! I knew there was something off about you, you're a demon!" He announced before laughing again.

"Hahaha! Recruiting a DEMON!? Now I KNOW the Demon Slayers are desperate!" The scorpion demon soon stopped laughing as Tanjiro continued to glare.

"Oh man! What, did they threaten you into doing this or something, did they send some Demon Slayers to keep an eye on ya? Tell you what, kid, after I'm done here, I'll help you get rid of those bastards. Maybe you'll get to eat them yourself."

Tanjiro felt something inside of him snap as he drew his sword, leaped forward at the scorpion demon, and immediately went for the head with a horizontal slice.

However, his demonic foe managed to dodge in time as he leaped back with a cocky smile. "Ho! Looks like I touched a nerve there! I'm guessing that's a 'no' then?"

Tanjiro vs. Scorpion Demon

The scorpion demon didn't have to wait long for his answer as Tanjiro charged at him. This time, he went for an overhead strike.

But, the scorpion demon used his right pincer to push the sword away before delivering a left front kick to Tanjiro's stomach which the boy managed to dodge by quickly backing up.

However, Tanjiro was not safe as the scorpion demon whipped its tail out at him to wrap around his right leg to stop him from escaping.

The humanoid scorpion then knocked Tanjiro off balance and reeled him back in to deliver a left punch to his jaw. Fortunately for Tanjiro, he was able to react with a breathing technique as he raised his sword next to his neck and delivered a horizontal 360 degree slash.

Hinokami Kagura - Clear Blue Sky

The scorpion demon's eyes widened as he quickly let go of Tanjiro's leg and backed away, but not before receiving a burning slash that went through a quarter of his neck.

The scorpion demon backed up even more while holding his neck with his right hand, his arrogant smile no longer present.

"Shit! What the hell was that breathing technique!? My neck feels like it's on fire!" He thought as his neck was starting to slowly heal.

Tanjiro was pushed back from the force of his technique and landed on his back before flipping over to land on his feet about ten meters away from his opponent.

The scorpion demon glared at the boy. "Alright, you little shit, I admit it. You surprised me there, but that's the fucking last time I'm underestimating you, understand!?"

Tanjiro did not bother responding as he continued to rush towards the scorpion-like monster. He leaped into the air and raised his right leg to axe kick the scorpion demon.

The scorpion demon jumped away as Tanjiro's foot met the ground, creating a large dust cloud that reached above the buildings.

Tanjiro used his sense of smell to track the scorpion demon who was waiting for the dust cloud to clear up.

Tanjiro also waited for the demon to see his figure through the dust cloud as he leaped towards him and shot his tail out at him.

But, Tanjiro saw this coming as he grabbed the tip of the tail with one hand and pulled on it to bring the scorpion demon to him.

However, the scorpion demon pulled back and lifted Tanjiro into the air. The demon then used his tail to launch the boy higher.

The scorpion demon jumped into the air as Tanjiro's body was flipping around uncontrollably for a bit. Soon, Tanjiro was able to turn himself upside down as his foe was almost in front of him.

Tanjiro then released an upside down horizontal slash at the demon's neck.

Hinokami Kagura - Setting Sun Transformation

But then, the scorpion demon grabbed Tanjiro's sword, taking the boy by surprise. Fortunately for him, he was able to react quick enough before the demon could break his sword and/or disarm him.

Tanjiro launched one of his signature headbutts to the scorpion demon's skull, forcing him to let go of the sword.

However, the demon was also able to recover quick enough to launch a counterattack. He wrapped his tail around Tanjiro's right leg again before doing midair summersaults to gain momentum.

The scorpion then threw Tanjiro down, causing him to crash into one of the houses. The scorpion demon then fell back to the ground on his back, still feeling the effects of Tanjiro's headbutt.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro struggled to get back up inside the house. Good news, no one seemed to be home. Bad news...the blood and corpses on the floor and walls indicated that the scorpion demon was already here.

Tanjiro felt his blood boil as his rage increased twofold. "He won't get away with this...I'll make sure of it!" He thought as he got up and ran out of the house to find the scorpion demon also getting on his feet.

Tanjiro wasted no time as he inhaled for another technique and rushed his demonic enemy.

Hinokami Kagura - Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance

Tanjiro's blade erupted into imaginary flames which took the form of a flaming dragon as he continuously swung his sword at the scorpion demon.

The scorpion demon saw Tanjiro coming for him and tried to swing at Tanjiro's face with his left pincer, only for his entire left arm to be cut off as Tanjiro swung his sword at a left-to-right upward angle.

The rookie swordsman then immediately turned his sword around to slash the demon's chest while keeping momentum.

The scorpion demon tried to grab Tanjiro's sword again with his other pincer, but the blade managed to split it in half while slashing his chest.

The demon backed away as much as possible. He was now on the defensive with Tanjiro swinging at him over and over.

"Who the fuck is this kid, is he really just a trainee!? The Demon Slayers I killed sure as hell weren't this strong or fast! Even if he is a demon, this brat's probably never eaten a single human, so how is he this strong!?" The scorpion demon wondered while trying to dodge Tanjiro's attacks.

"I've already used Hinokami Kagura four times. I should have at least four uses left before my body weakens, maybe more now that I've absorbed plenty of solar energy during the last two weeks." Tanjiro said in his head as his technique ended.

The scorpion demon was able to avoid most of Tanjiro's attacks as his arms began to grow back. Before Tanjiro could press the attack, the scorpion demon jumped up and used his tail to swipe at Tanjiro's legs from below himself.

Tanjiro was caught off guard and knocked off of his feet as he fell forward. The scorpion demon took advantage of this by kicking the bottom of Tanjiro's jaw.

Tanjiro was sent back a few meters before landing on his feet. He glared at the demon again before wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.

This time, the scorpion demon charged at Tanjiro after his arms finally regenerated. Tanjiro responded with his own attack as soon as the scorpion demon got in range.

Hinokami Kagura - Raging Sun

Tanjiro swung his sword twice horizontally, only for his enemy to jump over the attack and lift his left leg. He delivered his own axe kick to the top of a shocked Tanjiro's head.

Tanjiro's head was knocked downward as he felt a crack on the back of his neck, his eyes rolled back from the impact as his body tilted forward again.

Once again, the scorpion demon took advantage and grabbed the back of Tanjiro's head with his left pincer while still in midair.

As he dropped to the ground, he slammed Tanjiro's head into the dirt road. The scorpion demon then put his left foot on Tanjiro's back to hold him down.

"Come on, kid! Didn't you say you were going to make my death 'as painless as possible!?' Where did all your spunk from earlier go!?" He taunted the boy with a cocky grin.

He continued holding down Tanjiro's head and torso before the boy spoke as he pushed his head up. "...You seemed to have forgotten something..." He stated, confusing his demonic foe.

"I said I would make your death painless if you answered truthfully...But you haven't answered me yet...have you?"

Unseen by the scorpion demon, Tanjiro's scar began to glow a bright orange. The only other sign was the growing temperature of Tanjiro's head.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Sun Crown

Tanjiro's hair was suddenly completely set on fire, burning the pincer holding him down. The scorpion demon yelped in pain as he got off of the boy, staring at his left hand which appeared to be crumbling to ash.

"My-My hand...! It's not regenerating!? How the hell did this brat get a Blood Demon Art!? No, here's a better question. WHAT KIND OF BLOOD DEMON ART IS THAT!?" The scorpion wondered in panic, failing to notice Tanjiro getting back up.

Soon, the scorpion demon saw Tanjiro, who's forehead was covered in blood on his right side, right in front of him. Tanjiro leaned his head, which was still on fire, back before delivering a powerful headbutt.

The scorpion demon stumbled back and tripped, falling on his back. His eyes blinded by the flames from Tanjiro's head when he headbutted him.

Tanjiro wasted no time as he took his sword in his right hand and thrusted it into his opponent's chest.

Hinokami Kagura - Sunflower Thrust

Before the scorpion demon could try to break free from the blade, Tanjiro grabbed its hilt with both hands and began to run forward, dragging the scorpion demon across the ground with him.

The demon was blinded and too dazed to think straight which was why he hadn't used his tail to save himself. He left a blood trail as he slid further and further.

With a scream, Tanjiro ripped out his sword to let the scorpion demon slide a few more feet, his tail laying straight below him.

Tanjiro fell on one knee, panting as the adrenaline in him began to wear off and his scar went dim. "Not good. As I thought, using Hinokami Kagura and Sun Conqueror in tandem drains my stamina even faster." He thought as the scorpion demon started to get back on his feet.

He had burns all over his dented face which weren't healing, Tanjiro could also see hints of red on the demon's black jinbei along with a hole in his heart area. His sleeves were cut off at the elbows where Tanjiro slashed him.

The demon glared daggers, his eyes healed enough to see a bit, at Tanjiro who glared back in his weakened state. "ALRIGHT, FUCKER! YOU HAD YOUR FUN! NOW YOU'RE GONNA SUFFER!"

The scorpion-like beast inhaled deeply before shooting something out of its deformed mouth.

Blood Demon Art: Disintegrating Spit

Tanjiro's eyes widened, he barely managed to dodge the substance that came from his opponent by jumping back. Tanjiro noticed steam coming up from the green puddle created by the substance.

"What the hell is that!? I've never seen that type of substance before!? He shot it at me as a projectile, so it must be dangerous." Tanjiro thought as he tried to ignore his body's weariness.

The scorpion demon fired off another spit attack at Tanjiro as he continued to dodge. "What do I do about this Blood Demon Art? Do I deflect it with my sword?" Tanjiro asked himself before dodging another spit.

However, the spit still managed to graze Tanjiro's left arm. He winced in pain and watched the spit go through his sleeves and skin.

Blood and steam are visible before Tanjiro shakes off the substance on his. His eyes widened as he looked at the missing chunk of his arm before looking at his blade.

"Okay...Maybe using my sword to defend against that attack is not the wisest idea..." Tanjiro made a mental note while his arm healed, that's when he realized something. "Oh! That's it!"

Tanjiro couldn't help but give a smirk at the scorpion demon. "I see you've got some tricks as well, but I still have a few more of my own." He said before biting his thumb with one of his fangs.

Blood began to fall from the tiny wound Tanjiro caused which he rubbed all over the flat sides of his Nichirin Sword.

The scorpion demon fired another spit directly at Tanjiro's face, not noticing the blood on Tanjiro's sword or his scar glowing.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Red Hot Blade

Tanjiro's sword erupted into flames, his sword now changed to bright red. Tanjiro then swung his sword through the spit to cut it in half, resulting in its own ironic disintegration.

The scorpion demon's eyes widened before he scoffed. "Oh, I bet you think you're HOT SHIT, DON'T YOU!? BIG DEAL, I'll still FUCK YOU UP because you're just a STUPID BRAT!"

Tanjiro glared at the demon again as he stopped smirking. "Sorry, but you're wrong. I am not a stupid brat, I...am a Demon Slayer, and my face will be the last thing you see." Tanjiro announced, brimming with confidence.

The other demon growled like a crazy, wild animal and, with a roar, charged at Tanjiro. Tanjiro prepared himself for battle.

"I'll try not to use Hinokami Kagura for now. I can't risk my body weakening. I should also limit my use of Sun Conqueror. This way, I can save my strength for when I really need it." Tanjiro thought to himself.

The scorpion demon made multiple attempts to swipe at Tanjiro with his open pincers, occasionally spinning around to hit the boy with his tail.

Tanjiro dodged each attack by moving his head and body and jumping over any tail swings. Tanjiro would take the occasional swing to cut off his foe's arms, but he always managed to move his arms out of the way in time.

Tanjiro was being pushed back as he kept on the defensive, it was clear to the boy that he was slowing down.

He suffered a few scratches across his face and chest, along with taking punches to the arms every time he messed up.

Then, the scorpion demon threw a punch at Tanjiro's face. Tanjiro was unable to block it in time and got hit in the right eye.

Tanjiro stumbled back as blood fell from his smashed eye, he stared to pant due to the exhaustion getting to him.

The scorpion demon smiled again. "Hey, what's this!? Don't tell me you, a demon, are running out of stamina! Hah! I knew you were trash!" He mocked the boy who glared at him.

"Calm down, I can't afford to get reckless now. Bide your time and wait for an opening." Tanjiro thought as he moved his head to the right to dodge a jab from the scorpion demon's tail.

The demon started throwing in kicks along with his other attacks as Tanjiro was becoming overwhelmed despite managing to get a few slashes in across his chest even if he was unable to cut off the arms, legs, or tail.

After a couple of minutes of blocking and parrying and getting hit, the flames on Tanjiro's sword began to die out, his blade reverting back to its original color.

His uniform was covered with blood stains and holes from slashes. His wounds were taking longer to recover due to his depleting stamina.

Before the flames on his sword vanished, however, Tanjiro moved forward until he was in front of the scorpion demon and inhaled deeply.

He exhaled hot breath as the flaming sword sputtered to life one last time as if reacting to Tanjiro's breathing. He spiraled into the air as flames surrounded the scorpion demon.

Hinokami Kagura - Beneficent Radiance

Normally, this powerful technique would've finished off the scorpion demon. Sadly, due to Tanjiro's decrease in strength and speed from his lack of stamina, the scorpion demon was able to jump back in time, only losing both arms.

Tanjiro landed back on the ground and collapsed onto his knees, his sword now back to normal. He was breathing heavily as the scorpion demon was left shaking.

"Too close! If I had moved a second later, I would've been a goner! Seriously, just who the fuck is this guy!?" The scorpion demon tried to calm himself as Tanjiro comprehended his situation.

"It's no use, I'm out of energy! If I use Hinokami Kagura now, I'll just waste more energy. If I use Sun Conqueror, it'll be the same thing but on a larger scale." Tanjiro pondered how to solve this predicament.

"If only there was a way to restore at least a little bit of my stamina...Wait." Tanjiro looked at his sword as an idea donned on him.

"Nichirin Swords absorb sunlight, and I'm able to give it my own solar energy to increase its power...But what if...the opposite is also true?" Tanjiro smiled to himself again which did not go unnoticed by his demonic foe.

"What the hell is he smiling about? Don't tell me he has another trick! Fuck this, I'm outta here!" The demon turned around and began to run away.

Fortunately for Tanjiro, he managed to slash the demon's knees earlier with Beneficent Radiance which slowed down his escape.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro took his sword and stabbed his torso at an angle where the whole blade would be inside his body.

Tanjiro grunted in pain, but could soon feel the energy from the sunlight-absorbing metal being transferred into his body, which was regaining some stamina back.

After no longer feeling energy coming from the sword, Tanjiro pulled his sword out and cast it aside. "Since the sunlight in the Nichirin Swords are what allow them to kill demons, it's probably useless now that I've absorbed that sunlight."

Tanjiro got back on his feet and saw the scorpion demon escaping. Tanjiro gave chase, easily catching up to the demon who's legs were finally starting to heal.

The scorpion demon tried to speed up, slowly moving farther away from the boy. "You're not getting away!" Tanjiro yelled out as his opponent looked back.

"Shut up, kid! I'm not dealing with your freaky ass!" He responded as he was getting faster and faster. Tanjiro soon found himself unable to keep up even with his "second wind."

"Damn it! I can't let him escape! I have to avenge all those people!" Tanjiro thought as rage started to seep into his mind.

"DAMN IT! GET BACK HERE! NOW ! ! !" Tanjiro screamed at the top of his lungs as he reached out his right hand, his scar flickering to life once more.

Suddenly, a line of fire shot out of Tanjiro's hand and immediately caught up to the scorpion demon as it wrapped around his tail.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Crimson Flare Chain

Tanjiro pulled back on the chain-like flames and the scorpion demon was yanked backwards. "WHAT!?" He yelled as he was pulled towards his fellow demon.

"YOU'RE MINE!" Tanjiro screamed. The scorpion demon was right in front of Tanjiro who grabbed the back of his enemy's head while the flaming chain vanished.

Tanjiro slammed the demon into the ground, the boy now holding his face down in the dirt. The scorpion demon used its tail to try to stab Tanjiro's head.

But, Tanjiro slashed the tail with his right hand while using Fire Claws to set it ablaze and cut off the tail. He looked down at his opponent, preparing to finish the job.

"I'm sorry...But this is over." Tanjiro said with a hint of sadness as his left hand began to heat up. The scorpion demon let out muffled screams into the ground while scratching at the dirt before his head was suddenly blown into ashes by a burst of fire from Tanjiro's hand.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Scorching Blast

Tanjiro

Tanjiro waited until the scorpion demon's body went limp and began to disappear into ash. Tanjiro put his hands together and prayed that the man would not be turned into a demon in the next life.

Tanjiro then heard clapping above him. He looked up as his scar stopped glowing and his red eyes turned back to their friendly pink counterparts.

Tanjiro saw Kanae on top of one of the houses to his left. On the other side opposite to the house, there were a bunch of rice paddies.

"Bravo, Tanjiro! You were wonderful!" Kanae exclaimed with a proud smile, causing Tanjiro to respond with a more tired smile.

"Thank you, Kanae. But..." Tanjiro looked down solemnly. "Someone died because of me...I was too slow to save her."

Kanae jumped down onto the ground before walking up to and kneeling next to Tanjiro. Tanjiro saw a sympathetic look on her face.

"Yes, I saw the body on my way here. I've already buried her and prayed." Kanae said to Tanjiro before putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, I know it hurts to see someone die, especially when there was even a slight chance that you could've saved them. But eventually...we have to move on." Kanae's face also became sad.

"In all my years as a Demon Slayer, I couldn't tell you how many people I failed to save, and that guilt would always tear me apart."

"But, I always moved forward. I promised that I would carry the hearts of the people I couldn't save with me. I avenged each one of them for each demon I killed."

"There is always a price for victory, Tanjiro. You'll try to save everyone you can and people will look to you for protection...And sometimes...Sometimes, those people will die."

Kanae smiled sadly as she looked back at Tanjiro. "When our parents were killed by demons, Shinobu and I both realized that happiness always lies atop a thin sheet of glass. But even so, there are still those whose happiness haven't been destroyed."

"We made a promise to each other." Kanae put up her pinky finger in front of her face. "I'd like to make that same promise with you."

Tanjiro stared at the pinky in shock. But, Tanjiro reluctantly agreed and took Kanae's pinky with his own.

"Tanjiro. Once you decide to defeat a demon, defeat it. Once you decide to win, win. Win, no matter the cost. Never forget that for every demon you kill, you save dozens of innocent lives."

"We will defeat as many demons as we can, together. It's a not a matter of if we can or cannot, this is something we HAVE to do. Do you agree?" Kanae asked with a serious face.

Tanjiro stared into Kanae's eyes, both hiding the fire behind them. Tanjiro smiled before confidently tightening his pinky hold on Kanae.

"I'll destroy as many demons as I can, and I will become human again." Tanjiro announced as Kanae smiled warmly before grabbing the back of Tanjiro's head and putting their foreheads together.

"I know you will. You can do it, Tanjiro. I believe in you." Tanjiro's eyes widened after hearing Kanae's kind words.

Kanae got back up on her feet. "In any case, your first mission was a success! Great job, Tanjiro!" She said with a wide grin.

Tanjiro smiled back and got up as well. "Well, let's move out!" Kanae said as she walked down the dirt road.

"Right!" Tanjiro replied as he went to follow her. After taking the first step onto this new path...

Thud!

Kanae

"Tanjiro?" Kanae turned around to see her pupil lying face down on the ground.

Zzzzzzzz...

Zzzzzzzz...

Kanae simply stared at the scene with black dots for eyes. "Huh...I was wondering when that would happen."


Tanjiro

???

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...

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"...in there, Tanjiro!"

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"...Your fa...here with the doct...soon!"

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"...Big Broth...ease don't d..."

...

...

...

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...

"Tanjiro...Please, stay with us!"

Tanjiro slowly opened his eyes to find himself back in his house. But, something seemed off.

Nezuko and Takeo were sitting next to him with worried looks...and they were younger.

Also...He felt hot...Really hot. He was breathing heavily and there seemed to be something wet on his head.

"Oh...I remember this...This is when I got a bad fever six years ago. Father went down the mountain to find the doctor, but it was winter and a blizzard started. I was really worried about him back then. I thought he was going to die in the cold because of me."

"Tanjuro...where are you? I hope you're okay but..." Tanjiro heard his mother mutter at the front door.

Tanjiro soon became a little more awake. "Mom-...-my...?" He called out as Kie rushed to his side.

She held Tanjiro's right hand as she kneeled down beside him. "Yes, Tanjiro. Mommy's here. You're going to be alright, I promise." Kie tried to soothe the boy with a forced smile.

"M-Mommy...I don't feel...so good. I don't think...I can go down the mountain...with dad today...Sorry..." Those words caused Kie to have a look of heartbreak as she tried to keep her smile up.

"D-Don't worry, sweetheart. You...You just rest for today...okay?"

Tanjiro nodded weakly. "Okay...I'm sorry...I'll make sure to chop lots of firewood tomorrow..."

Tanjiro saw tears in his siblings eyes and soon, in his mother's eyes as well. His mother tried to pray for him, her last desperate attempt to keep the boy alive.

Takeo and Nezuko threw themselves over their older brother's body while crying their eyes out.

"Takeo...Nezuko...Don't do that, I...might be contagious." Tanjiro tried to warn them.

He started to eyes. "Maybe...a quick nap will...make me feel better."

But, before he passed out, Tanjiro suddenly saw a man standing over him at the foot of his futon.

"Wait...I don't remember this."

Tanjiro at first thought it was his father, but almost immediately saw that it wasn't. The man had long, ruffled, burgundy-tipped hair tied into a ponytail.

Tanjiro was barely able to make out the man's red haori, his empty dark red eyes, and a mark on his face depicting flames.

The man looked down at Tanjiro and started breathing in a specific pattern.

Inhale...

Exhale...

Inhale...

Exhale...

The young Tanjiro kept watching until, for some strange reason that he didn't know, he copied the man's breathing.

Inhale...

Exhale...

Inhale...

Exhale...

Kie noticed the change in Tanjiro's breathing, seeing that he looked a lot calmer and less in pain. She felt his forehead and was shocked to find that his temperature went down.

That's when she felt Tanjiro's hot breath on her face, which was way hotter than it should be. However, it seemed that Tanjiro was getting better, and she was thankful for that.

Kie, Nezuko, and Takeo all had looks of slight hope and relief as Tanjiro closed his eyes to go to sleep...He was exhausted.


...

...

...

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"His teeth are so sharp!"

"His forehead is hard too!"

"Look at those nails!"

"I can't believe we're seeing a demon this close."

"Hey! What are you doing in here!?"

"Ahh! Lady Aoi!"

Tanjiro heard three little girls scream simultaneously.

"Lady Shinobu told you not to bother him, get out of here before I tell on you!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Tanjiro's eyes started to open to a bright light, to which he held his left hand in front of his face in response.

After adjusting to the brightness, Tanjiro lowered his hand and sat up. He was lying in a white bed in a large room filled with other beds.

He looked down to see that he was wearing a white, long-sleeved buttoned-up shirt and white pants.

"Where am I?" Tanjiro wondered as he looked around before seeing another person. It was a girl with black hair in pigtails decorated by two blue butterfly ornaments, and a white dress over a dark blue version of the Demon Slayer uniform.

She had her back turned to the young demon and seemed to be writing in a clipboard.

"Excuse me-." Tanjiro called out.

"Aaahhhh!" The girl screamed as she turned around.

"Aaahhh!" Tanjiro returned the scream due to being surprised by the first scream, he then fell off of his bed onto his back.

Thud!

"Ow..." Tanjiro groaned as he rubbed the back of his head and got back up on his feet. He saw the girl's face to see dark blue eyes with white rectangles for pupils.

The girl seemed to regain her composure. "Well, it seems you're awake. Your name is Tanjiro Kamado, yes?" She asked.

Tanjiro dusted himself off before answering. "Y-Yes! I am a Demon Slayer trainee and the Tsuguko of the Flower Hashira and Insect Hashira, Kanae and Shinobu Kocho!" Tanjiro stated while standing straight.

The girl simply stared at Tanjiro. "Right...Well, Lady Kanae and Lady Shinobu both said that you can be trusted, so I won't give you a hard time for being a demon. My name is Aoi Kanzaki." Aoi said to the boy.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Aoi!" Tanjiro greeted with a bright smile which seemed to catch the young girl off guard.

"P-Please, I'm only a year older than you. There's no need for the formalities." Aoi crossed her arms and turned away.

"Okay!...So, where...am I?" Tanjiro asked as Aoi turned towards him again.

Butterfly Mansion

-Afternoon-

"You're in the Butterfly Mansion, home of the Flower and Insect Hashira. This is where Demon Slayers go to recover from their missions and heal their injuries." Aoi explained.

"Oh...So it's like a Demon Slayer hospital?" Tanjiro simplified Aoi's explanation.

"Well, if you want to put that way, I suppose you're not wrong. I'm one of the residents of this estate, I help out with medicine and taking care of patients." Aoi explained again.

But since you're a demon, it seems that you don't need to worry about healing." Aoi said while Tanjiro walked around his bed and towards the girl.

Suddenly, Tanjiro stumbled and fell on his knees, causing Aoi to rush to his side. "Although, it seems you still haven't recovered all of strength yet despite having been asleep for about a week now."

Tanjiro looked at Aoi with wide eyes. "A WEEK!?" Tanjiro yelled, Aoi nodded in response. Tanjiro looked down with a thoughtful look.

"I guess that makes sense. That mission was the first time I used Hinokami Kagura and Sun Conqueror to the same extent. It's only natural that my body would be so exhausted after that. But still, it'll be a major problem if I can't improve my stamina more."

Aoi took one of Tanjiro's arms and put it over her shoulder. She helped him up and led him back to bed. "Sorry for the trouble, Aoi..." Tanjiro apologized as he got back in bed.

Aoi shook her head. "Forget it, I've dealt with worse cases before. If anything, you're a breath of fresh air." She said with her hands on her hips.

She then walked away from the boy to the door which led out of the room. "Lady Kanae said you might get hungry when you woke up, I'll be right back."

"Okay!" Tanjiro replied with a smile as Aoi left while closing the sliding door behind her. Tanjiro laid back in bed and reflected on his encounter with the scorpion demon.

"So, I now know that using Hinokami Kagura and Sun Comqueror in tandem, while powerful, uses up too much energy. I should at least learn to win using only Hinokami Kagura until I can improve my stamina."

"Speaking of stamina, it seems that I can use my sword to recover some energy. However, it also renders my sword useless against demons, at least, that's what I think. Not really sure I want to test that theory."

"Finally, it seems that I can shoot out my blood while setting it on fire, that will definitely come in handy."

Tanjiro finished reflecting as he heard the door slide a bit. He looked at the crack to see dark lilac eyes staring at him.

The door opened up more to reveal another young girl who looked around his age. She wore a hakama with a pink top and darker pink bottom and carried a sword on her hip.

She had long black hair tied into a ponytail on the right side of her head which was fastened by a butterfly ornament similar to Kanae's.

She smiled at the demon and stood at the door...silently...for quite a bit. Tanjiro then decided to start a conversation.

"Um, hello! I'm Tanjiro Kamado, what's your name?" He asked as the girl continued to stare at him, making the boy feel a bit uncomfortable.

The strange girl then took out what appeared to be a coin. She flipped it and caught it in her hand. Without looking at the coin, she looked back at Tanjiro and walked up to his bed.

"My name is Kanao Tsuyuri. Like you, I am also Master Kanae and Master Shinobu's Tsuguko. Nice to meet you." She said with a blank smile that didn't really feel too genuine.

Nonetheless, Tanjiro was happy to get a name. "Nice to meet you too, Kanao! I had no idea Kanae and Master Shinobu had another pupil." Tanjiro stated.

Kanao nodded. "Yes, I was adopted by them as their little sister. When I was little, I used to be a slave. But, Master Kanae and Master Shinobu freed me and took me to this mansion." She explained.

Tanjiro's eyes widened. "Slavery? That's awful! I'm really sorry to hear that." Tanjiro said with sympathetic eyes. Tanjiro had heard of people practicing slavery, and he absolutely despised it. Like his family, he believed that it was wrong to forcibly take away someone's freedom and to treat them like objects.

Kanao didn't seem bothered, though, considering how she was still smiling. "It's okay, it is not your fault." Kanao said before staring at Tanjiro's face.

"How come your scar hasn't healed?" Kanao asked, earning a confused head tilt in response. Kanao then pointed to Tanjiro's scar.

"Oh, that!" Tanjiro realized. "I'm not really sure...It might be because I've had this scar way before I became a demon."

Kanao then leaned in closer as if to get a better look at his face, causing the young demon much discomfort. The two stared at each other in awkward silence for a seemingly long amount of time.

"Your eyes, they remind me of Master Kanae's. She seems quite fond of you." She said before bowing. "Farewell."

Kanao walked away, leaving a confused Tanjiro behind. "W-Wait!" Tanjiro called out, causing Kanao to turn back around. "I was just curious, but why did you flip a coin earlier?" Tanjiro asked.

Kanao looked at him for a while before taking out the coin and flipping it again. She caught it and stared at her hand without revealing which side it landed on.

Tanjiro noticed a slight strain in Kanao's clearly fake smile, along with a faint scent of disappointment coming from her. Kanao bowed again. "Farewell." And walked out of the room.

Tanjiro blinked as he stared at the door for a while. Soon, he laid back down in bed and looked at the ceiling.

"She was weird. Until she flipped a coin, I couldn't really smell anything from her. Almost as if...she had no emotion...hmm." Tanjiro thought before he started to blush.

"...She's pretty cute, though."

Sniff Sniff...

Tanjiro sat up again as he smelled something familiar "That smell...It couldn't be!"

The next minute, Aoi came back with a plate full of...fatsia sprouts. Tanjiro could feel his nostrils flare up, his usual reaction to seeing his favorite food.

"Lady Kanae informed me that your favorite was fatsia sprouts, so I made a bunch. There's plenty if you want seconds." Aoi said as she handed the plate to the drooling demon.

"Th-Th-Thank you..." Tanjiro said while staring at the fatsia sprouts. Aoi looked at him strangely before slowly backing away.

Once he was alone, Tanjiro dug in. After the first bite, he looked like he was in absolute bliss. With every bite, one could feel an aura of joy surround his body.

Tanjiro thought about how other demons weren't able to experience their favorite food again, that thought made him sad...for a minute. Then, he went back to eating.

Soon, he heard the door open again and saw Shinobu walk in on his lunchtime. "Hello, Master!" Tanjiro greeted the Insect Hashira.

Shinobu nodded back in response. "I hear that your first mission went smoothly." Shinobu said as Tanjiro looked down.

"That depends on what you mean by 'smoothly.'" He muttered sadly. Shinobu sighed and walked over to the bed next to his to sit.

"I know Kanae already had this conversation with you so I'll keep this brief. You can't blame yourself for every mistake you make, mistakes are one of the many things that make you human." Shinobu stated, gaining Tanjiro's attention.

"Sure, you failed to save that woman from that demon, but you saved dozens of future victims by killing it. You should be proud that you prevented more tragedies."

Tanjiro gave a small smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He responded.

"Trust me, I am." Shinobu said back with a smirk. "Kanae has already informed Lord Ubuyashiki of your performance, you'll be assigned a new mission within the next week."

"Normally, Demon Slayers would take at least three weeks or a month to heal from their injuries. But, you don't need to worry about injuries and your stamina should recover if given enough time."

"Also, don't take this personally, but it's best if you're out of here as soon as possible. It's not often that other Demon Slayers are brought here, but if they see a demon roaming around, chaos will spread among the corps"

"So, you'll have at least a week to rest and train before we leave for our next mission. If you need anything, you can find me in my lab. Aoi will show you around after you're finished eating." And with that, Shinobu got up and walked towards the door.

She then stopped in front of the door and glanced back at Tanjiro with another smirk. "You'll do great things, Kamado, I'm sure if it. No pressure." She said to Tanjiro's surprise.

He then smiled brightly and nodded before Shinobu left. He now knew that both his masters believed in him.


-Later-

Aoi gave Tanjiro a personal tour of the entire estate. She showed him the kitchen, the garden, the bedrooms, the training yard, the training dojo, the well, the tool shed, and the living quarters used by the residents of the mansion.

Tanjiro was able to walk normally, it turned out he just needed to stretch them out after not being used for a week.

As they explored the place, Tanjiro couldn't help but be surprised at how big, and beautiful the place was.

Their final stop was Shinobu's lab which was located next the door that led to the dojo. Aoi knocked on the door and asked if anyone was there. Shinobu responded, saying they could come in.

They walked in to see a medium-sized room with a bunch of lab equipment and bookshelves stocked with research books.

Tanjiro also noticed a bed which signified that Shinobu must've slept in this room sometimes. Tanjiro also saw a poster which showed the human skeleton with labels for all of its parts.

Shinobu was standing at a table, mixing substances in vials with her sword laid out in front of her. Tanjiro noticed that the hilt had an opening with complicated mechanisms inside.

That's when he picked up a scent that sent his nose into hell. Tanjiro winced and grabbed his nose, feeling like his nostrils were on fire.

Aoi seemed to notice this. "Kamado? Are you alright, what is it?" She asked with a hint of concern. Shinobu turned in surprise before regaining her composure.

"Ah, apologies, Kamado. I forgot about your advanced sense of smell, it should've occurred to me that Wisteria Poison would cause this reaction." She said as she put her vials down and went to grab some paper towels from one of her shelves.

She walked up to Tanjiro and handed him a small amount of paper. "Here, use these to plug your nose. Also, to be safe, try to stay away from the table. I'm currently working on new forms of wisteria poison."

Tanjiro took off small pieces of paper and plugged his nose with them. "Thank you, Master!" He bowed, his voice sounding clogged.

Shinobu nodded before returning to her work. Aoi showed Tanjiro around the lab while trying not to disturb Shinobu.

Tanjiro then spotted a wooden fish tank on the floor at the far end of the room. He walked over and kneeled down in front of the tank.

He saw mesmerized by the dozen goldfish swimming around, one could see a child-like sparkle in his eyes. Aoi stood next to Tanjiro and looked down at him strangely.

"What, have you never seen goldfish before?" She asked while crossing her arms. Tanjiro was shaken out of his captivated state and looked up at Aoi, shaking his head.

"No, I've always wanted one but there were never any in my town. There was a river where people could fish, but the fish were too big to be kept as pets." Tanjiro explained before continuing to stare at the goldfish.

"It's official, you are the strangest demon I've ever encountered." Aoi stated, not noticing the twitch in Tanjiro's eyes at the word "demon."

He soon heard Shinobu walk over with a small bag in her hand which she held out to Tanjiro. He looked up at her to see a small smile on her face.

"Would you like to feed them?" She asked, to which Tanjiro's eyes widened in response.

"Me!? Are you sure, I don't know the first thing about feeding fish!" Tanjiro stated before Shinobu placed the bag in his hand.

"It's simple, you just grab the fish food out of the bag and drop it in from the top." Shinobu explained while moving her hand above the fish tank and making a sprinkling motion.

Tanjiro looked at the bag of fish food and grabbed some out of the bag. He moved his hand above the tank and dropped in the food.

He then watched in amazement as the fish swam towards the small flakes and gobbled them up. The sparkle returned to Tanjiro's eyes, he couldn't take his eyes off of the goldfish.

Shinobu said that he could give them a little more, so he did. A wide grin was present on his face, he sat there for about an hour until Shinobu had to drag him out of the room against his will.


Hallways

After exploring the mansion, Tanjiro was on his way to the training dojo where he'd wait for Shinobu to observe his Total Concentration training.

On the way there, Tanjiro spotted a familiar flower-patterned haori going around a corner in his direction. Tanjiro soon found himself face to face with Kanae.

Kanae's eyes widened at the sight of the boy before she grinned and ran at him, tackling him into a big hug. "Tanjiro! You're finally awake! Thank goodness!" She exclaimed while nuzzling Tanjiro's cheek with her own.

"H-Hi, Kanae! I'm happy to see you too!" Tanjiro said before Kanae finally let the demon go. Kanae then put each hand on Tanjiro's shoulders.

"Sorry if I hugged you too hard, I was just really worried after you wouldn't wake up for a week. I didn't think using Hinokami Kagura and your Blood Demon Art in one battle could drain you so much." Kanae stated.

Tanjiro nervously scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, me neither. I should really be more careful with how I utilize both of those things." Tanjiro responded.

Kanae then gave the boy a pat on the head and ruffled his hair even more. He managed to hide the blush on his face. He was still not used to being pat on the head so much. Usually, it was him who did the head pats with his siblings.

"Well, let's not dwell on the past. I assume you're on your way to the dojo to train?" Kanae asked to which Tanjiro nodded.

"I'm going to practice using Total Concentration Breathing while using my sword again. Hopefully, I make a little progress this time..." Tanjiro said while staring at the ground as if there was a gold coin down there.

"Cheer up, Tanjiro! You'll get it eventually. Remember, you cannot rush these things." Kanae stated. "Just work hard and do your best!"

That statement gave Tanjiro a slight but sufficient boost in morale. He smiled at Kanae and nodded. "Yes, ma'am!"

Kanae excitedly pointed in the direction of the dojo. "Now get in there and give them hell!" Kanae exclaimed.

"RIGHT!" Tanjiro answered back before running towards his destination, leaving Kanae to repeatedly pump both fists in the air.

"TANJIRO! TANJIRO! TANJIRO!" Kanae chanted.

Tanjiro made it to the dojo and opened the door before barging in and letting out a determined scream at the ceiling.

"AAAAAAHHHHH! LETS...DO THIIIIIIIIS ! ! !" Tanjiro screamed with fire in his eyes before staring at Kanao who was right in front of him, wearing her usual smile.

The two stared at each other in awkward silence, Tanjiro's eyes turned into white rectangles and his mouth hung open. Soon, Kanao took out her coin and flipped it.

When she caught it she looked Tanjiro dead in the eyes. "You're weird." She said with no change in her smile.


Shinobu Kocho

-Later-

Shinobu walked through the hallways of the Butterfly Mansion to meet with Tanjiro and Kanao in the training dojo.

"I finally managed to finish looking through some of the research Tamayo sent me...Hopefully, Tanjiro and Kanao haven't been waiting too long." She thought as she opened the door to the dojo and walked in.

Shinobu saw Kanao who bowed, Shinobu returned the bow. "Hello, Kanao. Is Kamado here?" She asked as Kanao nodded and pointed to the farthest corner from the door.

There, Shinobu saw Tanjiro taking up a fetal position in the corner with an aura of gloom around him. Kanae sat beside him, patting him on the back.

Shinobu had no words for what she was seeing here. She looked at Kanae who looked at her with a look of concern on her face.

"Do I want to know...?" Shinobu asked, Kanae shook her head. Shinobu sighed. "Thought so..."


Tanjiro

-The Next Day, Morning-

Training Yard

Tanjiro had trained all night in the dojo with Shinobu and Kanae teaching him and Kanao. Apparently, Kanao had already changed the color of her sword after only two months of harsh training.

TWO MONTHS! According to Kanae, most Demon Slayers took at least six-to-ten months of training before becoming skilled enough to change the color of their sword.

Kanao had also learned and mastered the first form of Flower Breathing in just three weeks, she was a true prodigy.

Tanjiro was a bit intimidated by these facts, but he wouldn't let it get to him. Sure, his sword hasn't changed color yet, but it's barely been a month since he got his sword. Not to mention that he's been asleep for like an entire third of a month, meaning that he's only been training for over half a month.

Like Kanae said, one shouldn't rush these things. He's made good progress but he was still pretty much a novice. The only thing that put Tanjiro above Kanao as a swordsman was Hinokami Kagura.

While he hasn't come close to mastering it, Tanjiro knew all the forms of Hinokami Kagura like the back of his hand. It was one of the reasons that he was allowed to go on missions in the first place, that and the fact that he's a demon.

Tanjiro moved outside to the training yard to catch the morning sunlight, he was doing one-armed push-ups to increase his arm strength.

He and Kanae discovered before their mission in Yachimata that Tanjiro could improve his strength and stamina through exercise like a regular human.

They asked Tamayo about it, but she was just as clueless. During all this time, she never considered the possibility.

Either way, like absorbing sunlight, this was a much better alternative to gain strength compare to...well, eating people. It also made both Shinobu and Tamayo wonder if there's anything else about demons that they don't know.

"I can't believe it. I've already done a thousand push-ups on my left arm alone, and now I'm about to finish the ones on my right. Demon stamina really does come in handy, there's no way I could use Hinokami Kagura without it." Tanjiro thought as he counted his 986th push-up.

"987, 988, 989, 990,-" Tanjiro counted his last push-ups. Despite all the sweat, there were no signs of fatigue.

"That said, the sooner I become human, the sooner I can see my family again..." Tanjiro thought before remembering a conversation he had with Kanae.


-About Two Weeks Ago-

Tamayo's House, Backyard

Tanjiro was practicing his swings while Kanae observed from the back porch of the house. Tanjiro bumped his swings to three thousand per day with no breaks.

Kanae seemed to be deep in thought, but Tanjiro didn't pay much attention as he was also practicing Total Concentration.

He was on his 1892nd swing when Kanae spoke to him. "Tanjiro, I've been thinking..." She stated, gaining the boy's attention.

Tanjiro stopped swinging and turned towards her. "What is it?" He asked while walking up to her.

"You want to become human so that you can see your family without worrying about losing control, right?" Kanae asked before Tanjiro nodded.

"Well personally, I think you've already shown plenty of control over your demonic desires. After all, you haven't lost control since Tanazawa." Tanjiro winced at the reminder.

Kanae held her hands up apologetically. "Sorry, I know you'd rather put that behind you but..." Kanae now looked guilty, but Tanjiro simply smiled.

"It's okay, please continue." Tanjiro said. Though it was clear that his smile was a bit forced, it cheered Kanae up anyway.

"Right. Well, me and Shinobu are humans and you've been spending a lot of time with us while showing zero signs of hostility." Tanjiro tilted his head with a raised eyebrow, wondering where the Flower Hashira was going with this.

"I guess what I'm saying is...don't you think we should at least see if you can be with your family?" Kanae suggested. Tanjiro simply stood there with a shocked expression which turned into a sad expression.

Kanae spoke again with sympathy in her voice. "I know you don't want to risk it but...Tanjiro, your family is most definitely still mourning your death."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but don't you feel guilty putting your family through that even though you're alive and well?"

"Even if you can't visit them, couldn't you at least send them a note or something? If there's one thing I've learned as an older sister, it's that keeping secrets from family never ends well no matter how bad it is...That's just my opinion, though..." Kanae finished.

Tanjiro looked at the ground with clenched fists, he had the exact same thoughts as Kanae, however...

"Kanae, I said I wanted to become human again, but...before that can happen, there's something I need to do." Tanjiro stated as Kanae looked at him in curiosity.

Tanjiro took in a deep breath and exhaled. He looked at Kanae with determination, and slight rage, burning in his eyes. "I must destroy Muzan Kibutsuji."

Kanae's eyes widened for a few seconds before going back to normal, her face becoming serious. Tanjiro continued.

"I alone can wield the power of the sun against demons, I've seen how useful my power is and how many I can help with it."

"Muzan is the strongest and most horrible demon of them all, but even he is helpless against sunlight. That makes a demon like me his worst nightmare."

"I know this might sound stupid and/or cheesy, but I think I was given this ability for a reason. I also think that reason was to kill Kibutsuji once and for all and save humanity."

"As for my family, if they knew I was alive and actively getting hurt, they'd be worried sick. I feel like them thinking I'm dead for now is a better alternative to constantly worrying for my safety."

When Tanjiro finished, Kanae gave a warm smile. "I suppose you have a point. Alright then, let's do it." Kanae said, causing Tanjiro to look confused again.

"Truth is, I've had the same thoughts about you being able to stand up to Kibutsuji. You have a special power, Tanjiro. One that could help so many innocent lives."

"While personally, I'd rather you didn't have to face such a monster, I have a feeling that fate has other plans. So, let's make sure you're ready before that happens."

Tanjiro was shocked by Kanae's words, but soon responded with a confident smile. "Yes, ma'am!"


-Present-

Tanjiro finished his push-ups a while ago, he sat on the ground and stared at the sun. Upon remembering that conversation with Kanae, he felt guilty.

He didn't lie to Kanae, he couldn't have. However, he hadn't told her the full truth either. The truth was that there was another reason he was too scared to go see his family, a reason that he was too afraid to share.

In Tachikawa Village, Tanjiro heard a voice after seeing that woman die. A voice that didn't belong to him, but was identical to his.

"You're always blaming yourself for shit you can't control. It's annoying, so stop it."

It wasn't all that strange that he heard a voice, something very similar happened the night he unlocked his Blood Demon Art.

"So you'd rather help others than mind your own business...Isn't that how you became a demon in the first place...?"

"You know I'm right...Why do you do this to yourself...? Is it really worth it...all this pain and suffering...?"

"...Don't be a fool...Just give up..."

What WAS strange was that in both conversations between him and his demonic self, said demonic self acted...differently.

The first time it spoke to Tanjiro, it acted as if it had no emotion, similar to how Kanao spoke but more cruel and heartless.

The second time, the inner demon seemed to develop its own personality and ego. Instead of telling Tanjiro to run away, it tried to fan the flames of rage inside the boy.

However, what was even more strange, and scary, was that both instances reminded Tanjiro of that dream he had before meeting Tamayo.

"Deeeeeeeee...moooooooooonnn"

That horrible dream where he saw a demonic version of himself eat his family, and got killed by the same demon. Could that have been his inner demon taunting him...?

Back then, that demon acted like a pure monster that could've put full sentences together. Tanjiro then remembered something Tamayo said about demons.

"Almost all demons start out as mindless beasts when they're first turned, Yushiro being one of, if not the only exception."

"However, as demons live on and consume, their intelligence grows as well as their raw power and Blood Demon Arts."

"When this happens, demons become more calm, more strategic...more cunning.This describes most of the Twelve Kizuki."

"That said, these demons will still keep their demonic urges and beastly nature as long as they live under Kibutsuji's curse."

"If you encounter a demon like this, stay on your guard and expect anything to happen. That is the only way you can prepare yourself for their tricks."

Tanjiro had a horrible theory at that moment. "...Could my inner demon be...evolving?"

Tanjiro sat in silence for a while before getting back up and went to the side of the tool shed where he laid his wooden sword.

"I'm sure it's nothing, if it gets bad, I'll tell Kanae and Master Shinobu about it. For now, I'd rather not give it too much attention." Tanjiro thought.

As he swung his sword...he ignored the gaze he felt on him.


Aaaaaaaannnd DONE! I hope you enjoyed!

First off, let's discuss Tanjiro's new moves!

Sun Crown - Tanjiro sets his hair and forehead on fire to increase the power of his headbutts and burn any demon who grabs his head.

Crimson Flare Chain - This move was proposed by CrimsonStarBlade, huge shout out to this user!

Tanjiro can shoot streams of his blood out of anywhere on his body and manipulate them to form firey chains to capture, pull in, or hold down enemies. The more solar energy he uses, the stronger the chains.

The chains can also be used for decapitation by wrapping around its targets neck and squeezing until the head goes POP!

A demon can break these chains, but will still receive burn marks from them.

And that's all for now, bye for now! And remember, I'll be back!

Next time: Chapter 11 - Release Your Inner Demon