Chapter 2: The Prince
Tanjiro quickly learned that traveling with Susamaru and Yahaba was going to be... interesting.
The two polar opposites demons had different approaches when doing everything. From eating, hunting, walking, you name it, they did it different, and they argued over it.
He likes them, he really does, but when father called him and the other moons to a meeting in the infinity castle, and those two couldn't attend, it was nice change of pace.
As he arrived, he noticed Kokushibo sat in his usual spot, and the upper rank one, gave him a look "Tanjiro."
Tanjiro smiled at him "Hello Sensei, how are you?"
Kokushibo nodded "Fine enough. Come and sit next to me."
Tanjiro chuckled as he sat next to the demon who taught him how to fight. They didn't speak, but he can tell that Kokushibo got more relaxed with his presence. The next one to arrive was Gyokko, Upper Rank five.
"Oh! Kokushibo-Dono! And the Prince himself!" He greeted "I hope you are great in this beautiful night! Matter of fact, I, Gyokko, made you a gift, my Prince!" He said as he placed a pot full of organs in front of Tanjiro.
Tanjiro smiled "Thank you Gyokko-Dono, I will look for a place fit for this."
Gyokko bowed, his ego satisfied and Kokushibo scoffed "Next time, you should reject his trash."
Tanjiro gave him a look "Sensei, he puts a lot of effort into it." He said as he turned to see Gyokko making another pot.
"If the bare minimum is a lot for you, we need to double your training my pupil."
"I already finished my training."
"With that mentality maybe. But we should always aim to perfect ourselves."
"How right, Kokushibo-Dono!" Doma agreed as he arrived and bowed in front of the Tanjiro "My Prince, Young Tanjiro-Dono, I hope that you are doing great, since the last time we met. Matter of fact, I got you a gift." He said, placing the head of a beautiful woman on top of the pot. "I planned to bring the rest, but I hope you understand I got hungry."
"No problem, Doma. It is good you take care of yourself." Tanjiro smiled and Doma bowed his head.
"How kind of you. Oh! Gyokko-Dono! I haven't seen you this well in the last 100 years! Did you work out?"
"P-Prince! I beg your forgiveness!" Hantengu crawled to Tanjiro and Tanjiro chuckled nervously.
"For what exactly?"
Hantengu cried in despair "For existing! Even when I am an innocent soul, I don't deserve to keep on breathing!"
Tanjiro smiled "Don't say that, Hantengu-San. You don't need to be forgiven for that."
Hantengu cried more "You are so kind..." He said as he crawled away.
"What a pathetic worm." Akaza commented as he sat next to Tanjiro and Kokushibo glared at him. Tanjiro smiled warmly at him.
"Hello Senpai, how has the hunt for the blue spider lily?" He asked and Akaza groaned.
"No clue on it yet. It is almost as if it doesn't exist." The demon complained and Kokushibo huffed.
"Perhaps we need a someone more competent for this mission." He stated calmly and Akaza growled in anger.
"What are you trying to say?"
Tanjiro chuckled nervously over the two demons about to fight when one of his hands was grabbed "Hello Tanjiro-Sama."
Tanjiro smiled at Daki who kissed his hand "How is my Prince?"
Tanjiro smiled kindly at Daki, making her blush "I am very good, thank you Daki. How are you and your brother?"
Gyutaro who walked behind her grunted "Been fine..."
Tanjiro smiled at Gyutaro who looked away "That's great to hear! And have you been taking care of yourself?"
"I do my best..."
Tanjiro nodded as Nakime, the biwo woman spoke "Our Lord has arrived."
The moons stopped whatever they were doing, as Muzan arrived and looked at them and simply said "Why... why still no one has found a clue of the location of the blue spider lily?" He asked calmly.
None of the moons dared to speak at first, until Gyoko did "Master, I am afraid none of us have find a clue of it for the past centuries."
Akaza nodded "With all the due respect, are you sure it exists master?"
Muzan glare hardened when Tanjiro spoke "It must exist. But we might be looking in the wrong time."
Muzan turned to his 'son' and smiled "Do you have a theory, son?"
Tanjiro nodded "I heard that some flowers just bloom in certain seasons or hours. Maybe the blue spider lily is one of those."
Muzan hummed and Kokushibo nodded "If it only blooms in day time, we might never reach it." The Moon Breather founder said and Tanjiro nodded.
"But we can get someone to do it for us." Tanjiro said and Muzan smiled warmly and patted his head.
"Like always, you come with the best solutions, my son." Muzan praised and Tanjiro smiled warmly.
"Thank you, father."
As the demons left, Muzan told Tanjiro to stay a bit longer "I will use the connections of my company to have someone look information on it. If what you say is true, we might be able to walk under the sun soon."
Tanjiro smiled and nodded "I can't wait the day for it to happen."
Muzan smiled and placed a hand on his shoulders "Your new bodyguards, are they a good choice? The last thing I want is for them to cause you unwanted trouble."
Tanjiro chuckled and nodded "They are the best I had so far. They argue a lot, but it makes things livelier when traveling."
Muzan nodded "And the girl?"
Tanjiro looked at him confused "What about Susamaru?"
Muzan smirked "I will find a worthy partner for you. Or multiple if that is what you desire."
Tanjiro laughed "Thank you father, but for now I am okay. But..."
Muzan raised a brow "But?"
"What about Daki? She is nice."
Muzan scoffed "Don't worry. I will find someone worthy. Now go, if your bodyguards argue, probably they fight too."
Tanjiro sighed "You are right again, father. I hope to see you soon."
Muzan patted his shoulder "Don't worry, we will meet again sooner than you expect, because I have a mission for you."
Tanjiro looked at him with a determined face and nodded "The lower moons as you know, are weak. Having to replace them every couple of decades is tiresome. So, I want you to make them stronger, or find good replacements. If they die this time, I don't plan to have new ones."
Tanjiro nodded "I won't fail you father."
Muzan smiled "I know you won't. Nakime, take him back."
As Nakime played her biwo as Tanjiro was taken back to the forest and the first thing he heard.
"Susamaru! You dirtied my kimono!"
"Oh, stop whining! I got us food! Hey Prince! How was the meeting!?"
Tanjiro sighed and smiled at his bodyguards "It was fine. And you two might join the Lower Moons soon, if you listen to me."
Next Chapter: The Best of the Low
A/N: Originally, I was going to make this Tanjiro x Makomo, that's why the title was a little fox, but then I changed my mind for something I like more.