Tanjuro watched as his children ran into sight, their Mother already in her basket on Nezuko's back. He sighed slightly, before focusing on the man with a sword at his throat again, once he noticed where his attention was. "Father!" Tanjiro cried in worry, seeing the man threatening their Father. "It's alright Tanjiro. Don't worry. Everything is fine," he called over to his oldest Son, before turning his attention back to the masked man, "you do know that that Sword can't kill me right? I am standing in direct sunlight" Tanjuro said calmly, not the least bit fazed by the blade against his neck.
After a moment, Urokodaki sighed and pulled his Sword away. "I had hoped that Giyu was just seeing things" the older man replied. He sheathed his Sword, "so it's really true then. You are immune to sunlight." Urokodaki stared at the man-turned Demon, his masked face betraying nothing of his panic. "So, what do you plan to do then? You could destroy the human race in an instant" the former Demon Slayer asked. "I have no such plans" Tanjuro replied calmly, his bright red eyes seeming to glow in the early morning sunlight, "all I want is to kill the Demon who did this to my Wife and I, protect my children and find a cure for both Kie and I. Those are my only goals" Tanjuro said firmly.
"And towards those ends, you wish for your children to become Demon Slayers. *sigh* It's not like we can kill you anyway, and you seem to have no ill intentions towards humanity. Alright! I'll test your two oldest children. Come with me" the masked man relented. "Wait. Would it be possible for me to become a Demon Slayer too?" Tanjuro asked, making Urokodaki groan loudly. "You have to make everything difficult, don't you?" he asked in exasperation. "Please Sir! We also want to be able to protect our family, and we can't do that if we aren't Demon Slayers!" Tanjiro cried, his younger Sister nodding beside him.
The masked man looked over the children, "fine, introduce yourselves" he said. Tanjiro went first, bowing to Urokodaki, "I'm Tanjiro Kamado. I'm the eldest, and I am 12-years-old" Tanjiro replied. "Nezuko Kamado. I'm the oldest daughter of my family. I am 11-years-old" Takeo spoke up next, "Takeo Kamado, 9" he said. "Hanako Kamado, 8-years-old" the little girl said shyly, peeking out from behind Nezuko. "I'm Shigeru! I'm 7!" the boy said with a grin. "And this is Rokuta, he's 2" Tanjiro said, stroking the toddler's hair gently from where he was now held in Nezuko's arms.
"My name is Tanjuro, and my Wife Kie is in her basket" Tanjuro explained. "I see," Urokodaki said, looking down at the basket where his Wife was. Then he turned his attention back to the other Demon in front of him. Tanjuro didn't show an ounce of discomfort at the gaze. "You are a Demon. How can we trust that you and your Wife are not danger's to humanity? Giyu spared you only because he couldn't kill you. And he knew nothing about your Wife. Why should you be allowed to be a Demon Slayer? What proof can you give that you will not lose control and kill and eat someone? Why should your Wife, who I have no information about, be allowed to live?" the Trainer asked.
"Our parents would never harm us. And they would never eat anyone. We'll make sure she doesn't harm anyone" Tanjiro said firmly. Urokodaki stared at the boy, "If your Mother eats a human, as a Demon Slayer, you must kill her, then yourselves for allowing it to happen. Your Mother, taking the life of an innocent person is the one thins than can never happen. Do you understand what I am saying boy?" the old man asked. Hanako gasped, "why would they kill Mommy?! She hasn't hurt anyone!" she cried indignantly. But Tanjiro was firm in his response, "that will never happen. Mom can control herself. And if she loses control, we'll stop her." He replied.
Urokodaki nodded, "alright. I will test you both to see if you're fit to become members of the Demon Slayer Corps. "Mr Kamado, I'll have to think of a different test for you" Tanjuro nodded. "Follow me to my home" the Demon Slayer said. The children were all piled up into the cart, and Tanjiro pulled on the basket with their Mother in it. The family began to run after the man. Tanjuro was able to keep up easily, despite pulling a cart full of children and their belongings. Tanjiro and Nezuko struggled to keep up. Even without carrying anything, they were still a ways behind. Neither of them was going to give up though.
"Come on Tanjiro, Nezuko! You can do it!" Takeo called back at them from the cart. "Yeah! Don't give up! We're only a little bit ahead of you!" Hanako cried. "Come on! You can do it big Brother! Big Sis!" Shigeru cheered. With the encouragement from their younger Siblings, the two kept going, running all the way to Urokodaki's house.
Ң
Finally. The 12 and 11-year-old panted as they stood in front of Urokodaki's house. "W-we made it *gasp* all the way here!" Nezuko gasped, her legs shaking and about to give out. "*cough* W-we really, *pant* made it!" Tanjiro cried, as Tanjuro helped the rest of his children out of the cart, and pulled out a water canteen, giving it to Tanjiro and Nezuko. "Did we *pant* pass the test?" Tanjiro asked after his drink. "The test starts now. We'll be climbing the mountain" Urokodaki said. Nezuko looked like she'd died at the thought, barely able to go up and down Mount Kumotori when she would deliver Charcoal instead of Tanjiro. Tanjiro meanwhile grimaced, and sighed, knowing that there was no way out of it.
"Come on everyone. Can you help me take some of the luggage inside?" Tanjuro asked the younger children, while their host and his older children began up the mountain. "Are Tanjiro and Nezuko going to be okay?" Shigeru asked worriedly. "They'll be fine. Come on. Let's see if Mr Urokodaki has already set up a room for your Mother" their Father suggested, taking some of their luggage inside, and looking for a place to let his Wife out of her basket. Kie let out a tired hum from the basket.
"Don't worry Dear. I'll make sure you have a nice place to sleep" Tanjuro said. "I've fixed up a room for you and your children. If you'll just give me a moment, I'll fix up another one for your Wife, since it appears she's not immune to the sun like you are" Urokodaki said, going into the house and beginning to block the windows of one of the rooms. "We appreciate this Sir" Tanjiro said, holding the sleeping Rokuta in his arms. Once everyone was sleeping, Urokodaki led Tanjiro and Nezuko up the mountain. Tanjuro spent his time while the man was away alternating between checking up on his Wife and children.
"Pa-pa!" Rokuta called as he toddled over to him. Tanjuro smiled and picked up his youngest Son, being gentle and careful with his claws so as not to hurt the 2-year-old, "hey Rokuta, aren't you going to bed?" he asked gently. "Wan' Papa!" the toddler whimpered. "Oh, you wanted to sleep with me?" he asked. Rokuta pouted, tears welling in his eyes. Tanjuro hugged him, gently patting his back to soothe him, "there, there Rokuta, I'm here. Papa is right here Son" he said, cradling his baby in his arms. In some ways, becoming a Demon had saved him. He was sure that if he hadn't become one, he would have died that night. Now, he could stay with his family, and he didn't even need to eat humans. At least, he hoped that he wouldn't. Looking down at the tiny child that gave him his complete trust, despite his change gave him more determination than ever to never become like other Demons. He would never harm his family.
Ң
A short while later Urokodaki returned home to find Tanjuro watching him from the door of the room he'd given to most of the family. His red eyes stood out in the darkness, and he could smell the toddler on the Demon, before he even got close enough to see him sleeping in his Father's arms. "Tanjuro" the masked man said quietly, staring at the small boy. "Rokuta is scared of being in a new place, and wanted me to hold him" Tanjuro explained, before Urokodaki could ask anything.
"So, about my training. I don't need you to teach me Water-Breathing Sir. I have my own style that I'm going to teach Tanjiro after he's trained enough physically. As for myself, all I would need is a Sword. I already have my own power, and Breathing Style, so I don't need much from you in that regard" Tanjuro explained. Urokodaki let out a sigh, "I'll write a letter to the Corps Master. If he allows you to become a Demon Slayer, then you can have a Sword. Your children though, will need to pass the Final Selection in order to become Demon Slayers." The masked man replied.
Tanjuro nodded, looking down at Rokuta, "as long as I can protect my family, I'll do anything," he replied. He glanced back at his children sleeping in their Futon's behind him, "no matter what it takes" he promised. Tanjuro spent the rest of the night waiting for his two oldest children to return alongside Urokodaki, at some point placing Rokuta with his Wife, who curled into her. It was as the sky was just lightening up that a noise was heard outside the house. Tanjuro looked up as the door was slid open, revealing the exhausted, filthy and bloodied forms of Tanjiro and Nezuko. "W-We made it, Mr Uro-" Tanjiro wasn't able to finish speaking before both he and his Sister collapsed to the ground. Or they would have if Tanjuro didn't rush to catch them before they could hit the ground.
Despite how worried he was about his children's wounds, he was also immensely proud. "Well done you two. I'm so proud of you" Tanjuro said softly, so as not to wake them up. He glanced back at the masked former Demon Slayer, who nodded to him, "I'll accept them as my Students. Make sure they know that in two days their training will start in earnest." Urokodaki said, before getting up and returning to his own room.