A/N: This exists because I didn't stop writing until I realized that I basically had the beginnings of a story.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he died.
He was, quite literally, in hell. The landscape of Tartarus had been diminishing his abilities, stopping him from going full power. So, he settled for dueling with the primordial of the pit with only swords. The arena was large, with many features that he could use to his advantage, but one of them would be his undoing.
The large tree in the center of the arena was a place Percy stayed for a majority of the duel. He relied on surprise attacks to win, knowing that he was no match for the primordial's strength. It was a last ditch attempt, he was getting tired, and his opponent wasn't. So, from this tree, he jumped up, hoping to decapitate the primordial on the downward swing, which he did.
However, this victory came at a price. Tartarus was able to react and position his sword, so that when he was in the middle of his swing, he would land himself upon the blade, impaling his enemy. This also worked. So, as the body of Tartarus was disintegrating into golden dust, going to reform, Percy Jackson lay alone in the arena of Tartarus, bleeding out on the sandy floor. His blood colored the gravel red, his breaths were the only sound he heard. He could no longer muster up the energy to fight any longer, just to relax and accept his fate.
His breathing became labored, his vision became fuzzy. He no longer possessed an awareness of his surroundings, either that or he didn't care. Anybody looking upon the scene would have just assumed they saw a dead body. For, that was what he was. A dead man walking.
Percy's last breath was spent inhaling poisonous air. Percy's last smell was that of rotten eggs. The last thing Percy felt was regret, and the last thing he tasted was blood. The last thing Perseus Jackson saw before his demise in the pits of hell was an orange mist above his good for dead form. He closed his eyes and saw no more.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he closed his eyes for the last time.
Percy Jackson was twenty years old when he woke up in an unfamiliar place.
The first thing he registered was water. He woke up in an infinite amount of it. About five inches deep, it went up to his ears but didn't enter them. Sitting up, gasping, he looked around in a blind panic. After confirming that he was alone, he looked at his chest. To his surprise, there was no blood there. He took off his shirt to confirm that the wound had disappeared, which, once again to his surprise, had disappeared.
"Ara ara," he heard a voice behind him say, causing him to jump up, dropping his shirt and creating an icicle sword using some of the water all around him.
The source of the voice was a woman, about 5'8" according to his estimates. She had long black hair and a pale complexion, startling ruby eyes looking at him, piercing through his very body. She wore a pink dress with black robes over them, the dress pooling around her shin, flowering out in the water.
"Hello, Perseus Jackson," she said, causing him to focus once more on her. "I see the tales of your body were not exaggerated," she said, giggling slightly.
"Who are you, and how do you know my name?" Percy asked, mildly creeped out by her sudden appearance. He could have sworn that she wasn't there a second ago, and he definitely didn't know why she, a woman he had never met, was making remarks upon his bodily stature. He held his ice sword at the ready, able to fight at any moment, but any ideas of doing so were dispelled when a massive heat radiated from the woman, melting his sword and evaporating all the water in the area.
"Why shouldn't I know you, Perseus Jackson?" she asked. "You are, of course, world famous after all that you have done. It was quite sad to see you die."
"World famous?" Percy said to himself, unsure of how that occured. "What pantheon are you from?" he asked, knowing that this woman was definitely not Greek.
"Quite an astute assessment," she said, finally deigning to give him an answer. "My name is Amaterasu, the Shinto goddess of the sun, and I need your help."
Percy Jackson was 20 years old when he made a deal with a Shinto Goddess.
Percy Jackson was 20 years old when Tanjiro Kamado was born in another universe.
He was a healthy young child, with jet black hair streaked with red. His eyes were a vibrant red, dotted with specks of bioluminescent green, giving them an ethereal look. He was a happy young child, almost never crying, laughing most of the time.
His parents were Kie and Tanjuro, and he was the first of many kids. He was born in the mountains, in a place where his little body adapted to little amounts of oxygen quickly. He first learned to help around the house when he was 4, cleaning up and moving things around. That was also the year that Nezuko, his little sister was born. She took after her brother, a peaceful child, sleeping a lot and very calm when she needed something. Tanjiro loved her to bits, often only going to bed when they shared the same room. It was in his nature to protect, something he inherited from his father. He was especially smart for his age, reading and writing things that people older than him might have struggled with.
Dreams were a big part of Tanjiro's life. He would often tell his mother about his dreams while they helped around the house, painting interesting tales of lives long past. He told her about the twelve year old boy who could manipulate water, learning about the existence of gods and monsters. He told her of the thirteen year old child who sailed a sea filled with dangers to rescue a person he didn't even know. His mom always listened in earnest, but did talk to his father at night, once their children were asleep.
"I feel like something's wrong with Tanjiro," Kie Kamado told her husband one night. He was hugging her, they were in their bed together, and he was patiently listening to her worries.
"How so?" Tanjuro asked, giving his wife the encouragement to say more.
"He's so smart, which is good, but it's so strange, that someone five years old can read chapter books the like of which I had struggled reading when I was ten. And then there's these dreams he keeps bringing up, they're so strange. They're set in America, for one, and he's telling me about this boy who's the son of a Greek God! I mean how does he even know about those?" Kie ranted, making her concerns clear. Tanjuro listened all the while, and finally imparted his thoughts when she calmed down enough.
"Our child is special, of that there is no denying. It is perhaps a gift, imparted upon us by the Kami of our land, who wish great things upon our family. However, tomorrow, when I dance the Hinokami Kagura, I shall ascertain these beliefs and ask our Sun Goddess for the answers." Every year on New Year's Eve, Tanjuro would dance the Hinokami Kagura, a ritualistic movement made to honor and respect Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess of their land. It was a tradition always performed by the eldest male in the Kamado family, and tomorrow was no different. Everyone was excited, because not only was the dance stunning to look at, but Tanjuro had promised Tanjiro he would teach the young boy.
Shortly after that discussion, Nezuko was implanted in Kie's womb, and a new sibling was on their way into Tanjiro's life.
Percy Jackson stayed 20 as Tanjiro Kamado aged and found out about his guardian angel's life.
Tanjiro Kamado was six when his life changed.
Percy Jackson's life was ingrained in his mind at this point, having learned everything that he did, said, and stood for in his previous years. He had also started helping his father with woodwork, helping cut down small amounts of wood with an exceptionally strong body for someone so young. His father taught him the basics of how to breathe to help his body sustain extended periods of strenuous physical activity, something that took its toll on the young boy. However, he was gradually getting used to it, making it easier to use it.
He was chopping wood under the supervision of his father, when his hand slipped and the hatchet he was using cut his finger. He was able to move it out of the way fast enough so that the finger wouldn't be cut off, but his middle finger still got scraped. Tanjiro cried out and fell back, dropping the hatchet on the ground, getting his father's attention. His father quickly grabbed the hatchet and tossed it in the basket of chopped wood, picking up Tanjiro and carrying him home.
The first thing they did at home was clean the scar. After grabbing a bucket of water, Tanjuro put Tanjiro's hand into the water, blood tainting the water red. Taking it out to bandage the cut, they were met with a curious sight.
There was not a mark on Tanjiro's hand.
Tanjiro wasn't feeling any pain anymore, his hand in the state it was before he cut himself. In fact, he felt better than before! Looking into the water, the blood was definitely there, meaning that he had gotten that cut, which was strange. No cut should heal that fast! So what happened? He didn't know, but he had an idea. His father was still staring at his hand, making him slightly uncomfortable, so he tried to worm his way out of his father's grip.
"Tanjiro, do you know about what caused this?" his father asked, receiving a no in response. He let go of his son's hand, presumably to go think. Meanwhile, Tanjiro rushed to his thinking spot.
It was a small clearing in the woods, where a plethora of wildlife was found. There were some rocks he had arranged in a small formation, which he could sit on. They were close to the foliage, so if he ever needed, he could hide.
However, after hearing a noise, the hiding led him straight to capture. He had dove into a bush, to get away from the large noise and the scary smell that kicked up, but in that bush was the threatening presence.
"Hey," Tanjiro heard, as he turned around in a panic to see where the unfamiliar voice was coming from. Scrambling out of the bush, he prepared to run, but was stopped by several different animated ice sculptures approaching behind. With a curiosity befitting a child, Tanjiro stopped his panic and stepped forward, brushing his hand across one that looked like one he had seen in his dreams. A dolphin, he believed it was called.
"Sally likes you, huh?" the voice stated, as the dolphin swam through the air around him once before vanishing. Now getting his first good look at the man, Tanjiro's eyes widened in shock.
"I know you!" Tanjiro shouted, pointing at the man. "I've seen you before, you're that Percy Jackson guy I've been dreaming about!"
"Dreaming about me, huh," Percy mused, sitting down in the snow, beckoning Tanjiro forward. "Well, Tanjiro, how about we get to know each other?"
"Yeah!" Tanjiro excitedly exclaimed, rushing over. Percy always seemed so cool when he fought, who would turn down his offer?
"Alright then," Percy laughed, as Sally the dolphin made another appearance. "So, this is Sally. I found her..."
Tanjiro Kamado was six when he met Percy Jackson for the first time.
Tanjiro Kamado was nine when he understood something crucial for years to come.
He and Percy had been meeting for a while now, and their meetings were kept as secrets from his parents, because they wouldn't understand him. The first time he told them about Percy, they kept him inside for a full two months before he was allowed to leave. Even then, he had strict curfew, and it wasn't until five months later that he met Percy again. However, the man was very kind and understanding, and continued to talk to him like nothing happened.
"You know, today's the three year anniversary of us meeting," Percy said, and despite Tanjiro not knowing what an anniversary was, he was happy all the same. A year of something had happened, and a year was a long time. A soft cry sound alerted him to Nezuko, who he had been asked to watch over while Tanjuro and Kie went down the mountain, wanting something. Not knowing how to respond until Percy took his hands and guided them, Tanjiro picked up Nezuko and held her to his chest, softly stroking her head and whispering things in her ears. Soon after, Nezuko was back asleep, and Tanjiro was able to set her back in her bed.
"How did you know how to do that?" Tanjiro asked Percy, who stood up from his position kneeling beside Tanjiro. "I mean she fell asleep so quickly! Was it part of your powers? Did you have kids?" Percy smiled, but that last question hurt, as he and Annabeth had made a pledge before he left, that they would be able to have kids eventually.
"No, I didn't have kids," Percy said with a sad smile, touching Tanjiro on the nose which made him giggle and shove the elder away playfully. "And I didn't do that. You did."
"I did?" Tanjiro asked, looking at his hands. "How? I didn't do anything special, just what you told me to do," he said, looking up at Percy.
"You're her older brother, aren't you?" Percy asked, and Tanjiro nodded. "Exactly. She responds to you, not me. That's why I couldn't help her, but you could, Tanjiro," Percy said with a wistful smile on his face. "I knew a lot of siblings in my time, and despite how well they got along, there was always one thing in common: they fought for each other. Especially the older ones. Do you understand, Tanjiro?"
"So, I will have to fight... for Nezuko?" Tanjiro asked. "Why? Who would hurt her?" The thought of his two year old sister getting hurt by someone was unbearable, and he clenched his fist thinking about it.
"Eventually, yes," Percy said, before turning a serious conversation into a funny one in his usual manner. "She's a very cute one, and the boys are gonna be all over her when she reaches you age, don't you think?" he asked with a cheeky smile.
"They better treat her right if they even plan on getting close to her," Tanjiro said, before realizing what he just said and looking at Percy in shock, who was still smiling. "Hey! What did you do to me?"
"I made you an older brother."
Tanjiro was nine when he learned what it meant to truly be an older brother through another.
Tanjiro was ten when Percy wanted to try something new.
He had gotten some new siblings that year as well, Kie giving birth to two more young children, not twins but barely months apart. Takeo and Hanako they were named, one boy and one girl. Tanjiro was ecstatic, as was Nezuko who was now officially an older sibling as well. Of course, Percy knew about this development, but that didn't stop them from being a topic for the majority of their conversations.
"So, today, Takeo got to go outside the house for the first time! It was amazing, seeing how he reacted to all the snow, especially when one fell on him. Oh! You should've seen his face when..." Tanjiro rambled on as Percy tried his best to listen. However, something plagued his mind, so he spent his time mentally debating it as he smiled and nodded along absentmindedly as Tanjiro told him about his day. Finally coming to a conclusion, Percy leaned forward on the log that he and Tanjiro were sitting on and stood up.
"Hey Tanjiro?" he asked, not looking at Tanjiro, cutting the boy off halfway through talking about how Hanako's interaction with fire gave him a slight scar on his forehead which quickly healed over.
"Yes?" Tanjiro asked with an almost childlike innocence about him. That thought made Percy shake his head, as he had to remind himself that despite being around him for as long as Tanjiro was, the younger boy was still a child. However, if what Amaterasu had said about their lives ending up similar was true, something that scared him immensely, things were going to change soon.
"Do you remember when I told you about how you would have to protect your family?" Percy asked, still unsure of whether or not to proceed as he had planned.
"Of course! How could I forget?" Tanjiro rhetorically asked, standing up. "Is something wrong?"
"No, don't worry about it," Percy reassured, though even Tanjiro could tell that it was half-assed at best. "Say, Tanjiro, what would you say about getting my powers?" Percy asked, turning to look at the young kid, swaying to the side and putting a hand on his hip. Tanjiro's starry eyed look was all he needed to make him feel an ugly monster called guilt rearing its head inside him as the kid looked just like Nico Di Angelo had before Bianca was killed, as well as after meeting Will Solace, to a lesser extent.
"Yeah!" Tanjiro exclaimed, thrusting his arms in the air. "Wait, how can you do that?" he asked, elation turning to confusion.
"σε ευλογώ με τις δυνάμεις μου" Percy responded, closing his eyes and placing his hand on Tanjiro's forehead. A soft glow surrounded the two as Percy literally felt a part of himself leaving him as it entered Tanjiro, grimacing as pain took hold of the part of his genetics he took from his father. It felt like parts of him were disappearing as an aquamarine glow encircled the palm of his hand, spiraling circles connecting the two as pure energy flowed from one generation to another. Percy started to lose all feeling in his legs as he looked down, unable to stop the process as it continued absorbing his essence. The process tapered off, Tanjiro finally able to open his eyes as he felt the golden green glow disappear, stopping the blinding flash. Opening his eyes, Tanjiro looked around in wonder as he tried to find out what happened.
"Percy? Where are you?" Tanjiro asked, looking around in confusion. Then, he felt his right hand raise without him wanting it to, and waved in front of himself, though he didn't want to do that. Come to think of it, there was an unfamiliar feeling in his arm, much like when he stunned it using the muscles too much and making the nerve endings numb for a brief period of time. He had no control, but it was still a part of him.
In you, I think, Percy responded, however it wasn't verbal dialogue. Instead, it came from his thoughts.
What just happened? Tanjiro thought, looking around in confusion. It wasn't like Percy to disappear without notice. He heard the older boy, but where?
I think I'm in your head, Percy responded as Tanjiro finally understood what was going on.
You're in my head, Tanjiro thought, before whooping in excitement. You're in my head! he mentally exclaimed before realizing what it entailed. You're in my head..., he trailed off, thinking of everything Percy might see.
Oh, don't worry Tanjiro, there's nothing bad up here, Percy said, causing Tanjiro to feel relief, before feeling a smirk on Percy's metaphysical face. But what is this stuff about how to hurt someone who hurt Nezuko?
Tanjiro was ten when he learned what embarrassment was.
Tanjiro was twelve when he learned the special dance.
The Hinokami Kagura was a tradition that transcended generations, passed down from one man in the family to the next. It was performed every year on the new year, as a prayer to the Hinokami that guarded their family for good fortune and blessings upon the land. For decades, Tanjiro's father Tanjuro danced from dusk till dawn on the new year as was the tradition handed down to the eldest Kamado male. And now that he was twelve, his father would teach him! It excited Tanjiro to the maximum, and he had never been happier, except when Nezuko swapped Takeo and Hanako's clothes for the day. That moment would live in infamy forever.
There were twelve steps to the dance, repeated in order over and over again, a test of strength, stamina, and patience. Given his father's wilting body, it was clear that there would be a point where he would no longer be able to dance, so Tanjiro was even more eager to learn.
He had been immediately enraptured by the dance as soon as he first saw it. After all, what would he not find cool about it all? Flames danced along the edge of his father's staff, the movements rhythmic and hypnotizing, enrapturing his concentration and making the concept of time disappear as he lost himself in the movements. Each swing, push, and stab of the sword wasted no energy, each movement providing a purpose. It was an elegant combination of grace, speed, and power, the peak of the human form.
According to his father, the dance had twelve forms, each one repeating multiple times during the duration of the dance. They were meant to be done in order, each one before and after another, providing for smooth connections and transitions. To fully master the dance, Tanjiro would learn each form in turn and practice it until he could perfect it. Then, his father would show him the next step in the dance and how to transition into it, adding a step each time. Tanjiro dedicated extensive amounts of time each day to perfecting the dance in an obsessed manner, multiple hours spent simply moving his body in repeated steps in the snow. By the time the first week was over, he could complete the first form in his sleep.
The next forms came just as easily, the influence and powers of a demigod helping Tanjiro whenever it became too strenuous. However, there was still one question Tanjiro had, one question that he was determined to answer.
"Dad?" Tanjiro asked, pulling on the sleeve of his father's coat when he returned home from selling charcoal to the village. "The Hinokami Kagura means you dance for a long time, right?"
"Yes," Tanjuro replied, setting down the basket he used to carry his coal and his profits. "It goes from dusk till dawn, and it is a very tiring task."
"Is there something special you do so that you can last that long? It seems so hard to just do one loop, much less twenty," Tanjiro said, looking with wide eyes at his father who debated within himself and then answered.
"Yes, there is a special form of breathing that I use when I do the dance. It provides my body the energy it needs to keep going," his father said. Tanjiro opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Percy seizing control of his speech, and Tanjiro instantly knew that something bad was going to happen.
"Is that how you give mom a lot of kids even when your body is so weak?" Percy asked through Tanjiro's mouth before Tanjiro retook control and slapped his hands in front of his mouth. However, the damage was already done.
Kie dropped the plate she was holding, Tanjuro froze in place with a strange smile on his face, Shigeru(the latest kid) looked up with a confused face, and Nezuko looked scandalized. Tanjiro had to keep himself from blushing as the roaring laughter of Percy filled his head, before his father shook his head and looked up.
"Yes," Tanjuro responded, making Kie blush and Nezuko turn away as Tanjiro looked up in amazement. His father truly was one of a kind.
Three days later, with the breathing technique mastered and the forms memorized, Tanjiro practiced the dance under the glow of the moon, his father watching intently the whole time. He didn't do perfectly, as he had to stop an hour before daytime, but it was much better than Tanjuro had been on his first time.
Tanjiro was twelve when he learned how to pray to the Shinto.
Tanjiro was thirteen when his father passed.
It was a quiet occasion, but by no means was it a private one. The closeness that the Kamado's had with the village despite the distance they kept was incredible, and it made sense that the funeral home would offer their services.
By now, nearly everybody knew Tanjiro, though nobody knew about Percy. With Tanjuro able to vouch for his relationship, Tanjiro quickly became someone people saw regularly around town, maybe twice a week when he came down the mountain. He worked hard, especially after his father fell ill. The familiarity with the villagers was hard earned, but it was worth it, because now he knew every person in the village by name and their fifth cousin. He just had such a likable personality that nobody could resist his charm! Despite the fact that he came for work only, doing things like selling charcoal and buying food, he always had time to stay, talk, and help out anyone who needed it. Sometimes, he would bring his siblings, and they would always have lots of fun in the area, everyone being accommodating simply because of their relationship with Tanjiro.
As such, the funeral of Tanjuro Kamado was something that barely no villagers skipped, the only people doing so were those out of town. The cremation ceremony was quick, as nobody wished to gaze upon his prone form for long. The funeral pyre stayed lit for a while after that, erasing every single remnant of his father's body from the flames, as Tanjiro and some villagers watched. Afterwards, the ashes were collected in an urn and washed away in a river, letting the earth consume the man who it bore.
As the eldest son, Tanjiro carried out the funeral processions from start to finish, not missing out on even a single step. At some point, he was left alone with the urn, while everyone else had left to go to sleep. He sat in the graveyard, not really doing anything, while he absentmindedly played with water in his hands, unconsciously making the shape of his father, still walking around, smiling, acting happily as ever. A warm hand on his shoulder caused the water to evaporate, making him take a sharp intake of breath.
Amaterasu appeared, the light signifying her entrance fading behind her. She seemed much more regal now, causing Tanjiro, who understood who she was thanks to Percy, kneel before her.
"Lady Amaterasu, how many I serve you?" he asked, head still bowed low.
"Rise, young warrior," the goddess spoke, Tanjiro standing up. He was shorter than her now, but that was because she had taken part of her divine form, the one which showed her full power. At seven feet tall, she truly was radiating a divine presence, one that Tanjiro fundamentally understood nobody else could feel.
"Do you understand why I called you here?" she asked, speaking more to Percy than to Tanjiro.
"Yes, my lady, I do," Percy said, his words coming through Tanjiro's mouth. Tanjiro had full control of when he spoke, he just let the demigod do so to avoid angering the divine being next to him(though Percy did have a bad track record concerning that).
"Good. Be aware that your journey has just begun, young warrior. I have high expectations of you, so you mustn't fail me now," she said, before turning away.
A cry of 'wait' called her back, making Tanjiro flinch at her gaze. He had just called out to a divine being to make sure she stayed. What was he thinking? Luckily, Percy was there to take control and help him with this.
"In my family, we have this dance called the Hinokami Kagura. My father," he said, looking towards the river. "My father did it every year at New Year's eve from dusk till dawn to honor the sun god. What does it do?" he asked. Amaterasu thought for a moment, then smiled.
"There is a reason I put you in this family, Perseus Jackson. There is an order to follow, after all. Do not chase after the answers, they will come for you," Amaterasu stated, smiling, before shrinking down to the size of a human. "I give you my blessings, Tanjiro Kamado and Percy Jackson. I trust that you will restore the balance that has been lost in this world where I could not." With that, Amaterasu disappeared in a flash of light, Percy closing his eyes just in time to avoid being incinerated.
He felt powerful, like he could do this. It wasn't the first time that he had been enlisted to help save the world, and it very likely wouldn't be the last. However, unlike all the rest, he felt ready this time, like he would be able to do it. Maybe this time he could avoid the same number of casualties resulting from his incompetence. Turning back to look at his father, Tanjiro kneeled in front of the grave.
"I promise that I will do the best I can," he said, speaking to many people at once. Closing his eyes and reopening them, the bright green of Percy replaced with the reddish-green of Tanjiro. Tanjiro stood up and didn't look back as he began the long trek up the mountain once more, ready to accept his destiny. He was ready.
And thus, the journey of the demigod Tanjiro Kamado begun.
I have no idea what I'm doing. Also, next chapter I start canon. Also also, I've only watched the anime.
Finished editing: 3/20. Also, if anyone wants to know what the Greek stuff was, I just threw "I give my power to thee" in translate and let the magic happen.