Chapter 37: The see-through world
Notes: Part 6 of the Pillar Training Arc. A short one this time. Two updates in a day again! I was meaning to rework this, as well, but it feels complete enough as is. Tanjuurou's crow's name is Tsubasa (翼), which means 'wing'.
Tanjirou was happily making his way back home, feeling both excited and relieved to be getting back to more familiar places.
He could soon see his family and Shinobu-san again.
Tennouji spent a lot of time perched on his shoulder during the trip home, much to Tanjirou's delight. He wanted to have a good relationship with his crow.
(He was glad that Tennouji, Tsubasa and Niji got along well, too.)
"NII-SAN'S HOME!" Shigeru shouted from the door.
Tanjirou chuckled, remembering the night they celebrated him making Pillar.
"I'm home." he smiled, patting his brother's head.
"Welcome home, Tanjirou." his father greeted him.
"Father!" Tanjirou ran up to him and hugged him.
In the courtyard a lot of Slayers were training.
"How's it going?" Tanjirou asked.
"They are stronger than when they came. But no one yet reached the level to see the see-through world."
"See-through world?" Tanjirou blinked.
"To achieve that, you need to learn how to fight without wanting to fight." Tanjuurou said, with his serene smile, "It's difficult to rid yourself of hate and anger and the intent to strike. To fight only because there is no other choice and only to stop a threat. I've shown this to you once, Tanjirou."
"The bear…" Tanjirou said after a few moments of silence.
"Very well."
Tanjirou nodded and took a wooden sword and prepared to spar with another Slayer.
They were at it all evening.
Tanjirou realised quickly how hard and how contradictory to his job as a Demon Slayer it was. But it also responded to his need to protect his family and friends.
Applying the ability to predict where the next hit would come, which he learnt at the swordsmiths' village with the help of Kotetsu-kun and what he learn during this Pillar training –Himejima-san's repetitive actions proved to be really helpful it turned out– Tanjirou was soon able to maintain a scary calmness as he sparred.
"Ah. I see." he said one evening, five days later, as suddenly his opponent's vital points became visible to him.
"You can see." Tanjuurou said, with the same calmness he did everything, "Your training is now complete. You did very well, Tanjirou. I am so proud of you."
Tanjirou beamed at his father's praise.
"Thank you!" he bowed, tears running down his face.
"There is one thing that you should remember, though. Reaching the state of mind to see the crystal clear world, isn't easy. And for someone so kind and empathetic to others like you, reaching that in the middle of the battle will be difficult. So, whenever you try to see in the midst of a fight, remember to clear your heart and mind. Your emotions run deep, son. Don't let them mindlessly lead you."
"I will, father!" Tanjirou bowed his head.
His father smiled kindly and patted his son's head.
"Now. You've been worried about Shinobu all this time, too, haven't you?" Tanjuurou asked with a smile.
"Yes. I… Can I go see her?"
"Since you completed the Pillar training, I can't see why you can't."
"Thank you, father." he bowed again.
"Though, you might find her a little busy."
"Eh?"
"Tamayo-san and Yushirou-san are temporarily staying at the Butterfly Estate. They've been working non-stop almost since the start of it." Tanjuurou explained, "Your mother is worried about the three of them not resting."
"I'll make sure that they do take a break." Tanjirou smiled, looking at the darkening sky, "It's…been a while since Shinobu and I sat down on the rooftop."
"Ooooh…!" Hanako and Shigeru grinned.
"Sounds romantic." Hanako said.
"Hanako!" Tanjirou blushed.
"Go, son." the former Sun Pillar pushed Tanjirou gently.
With another smile back at his family, Tanjirou took off.