Nezuko packed up her things, trying to look forward to becoming a real Demon Slayer, but all she could think about were her family. The last time she had left them alone- their mother seemingly dead on the floor of their house in a pool of her own blood, her Father only saved by becoming something that wasn't human- she shook her head. Everything would be fine. Mr Urokodaki wouldn't let anything happen to her family. More than that, her Dad was a powerful Demon, he would keep everyone safe. Nezuko didn't realise that she hadn't been packing anything for a few minutes, when Tanjuro poked his head into the room, "do you need any help Nezuko?" he asked.
She snapped out of her worry, turning to smile at the Demon, "so Dad, I'm okay" Nezuko replied, putting the last of her things into her bag and grabbing it, "okay, I'm ready" she said, walking purposefully out of the room she'd shared with her Siblings for 6 months. Tanjiro smiled at his younger Sister as she walked out of the house. The younger children were in tears, Hanako and Shigeru crying, and Rokuta crying because his older Siblings were. Nezuko tried not to cry herself, but suddenly, the thought of leaving made her feel ill.
She gritted her teeth, trying to convince herself to go, but then an image of all of them lying dead and bloody in Urokodaki's house came into her mind, before a wave of intense anxiety filled her. Nezuko knew, logically, that with both Mr Urokodaki and their Father there, they'd all be fine. But their parents should have been fine that night too, and yet they'd been attacked by a Demon. Only becoming Demons themselves had saved them. What if it happened again? What if she came back to all of them dead?! Nezuko didn't even realise she was crying and hyperventilating until her Father was gripping her shoulder's gently but firmly.
"Nezuko! Breathe! You have to calm down and breathe!" he ordered. Nezuko tried to. She really did. But panic had gripped her body and mind, and she couldn't take a deep breath. The last thing she saw and heard was her family and Miss Kanae crouching over her in worry, before she lost consciousness. "Nezuko!" "Big Sis!" "Is she okay?!" Tanjiro, Hanako and Takeo cried, as the 11-year-old fainted in Tanjuro's arms. "She had an anxiety attack and fainted" Kanae said, checking Nezuko's pulse and breathing. "Let's get her back inside for the moment" Tanjuro said, gently lifting his eldest daughter into his arms and carrying her back inside Urokodaki's house.
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The Kamado Siblings almost didn't want to leave their Older Sister's side while she was still unconscious, but Kanae convinced them that she knew enough about medicine to help her more than they could. "Takeo, could you go chop some wood while Mr Urokodaki is talking with us? And Hanako, maybe you could go pick some vegetables for dinner? Shigeru, could you help her please? I'm going to put Rokuta down for a nap" Tanjuro instructed. "You promise you'll tell us if anything happens to Sis?" Takeo asked. Tanjuro pat his head, "of course I will Son. Don't worry" he replied.
Soon, all of the children were gone except for Tanjiro. Tanjuro stood up, "please excuse me for a moment, I'll be back" he said, carrying the half asleep toddler in his arms and taking him to his Wife's room. Kie was the same as ever, lying asleep in the Futon with the bamboo muzzle in her mouth. He gently placed Rokuta into her arms and tucked the blanket over them. "You can have a nice nap with Mama" Tanjuro said softly, before leaving the bedroom. As he left the room, he left the door open a tiny crack, since Rokuta didn't like the dark. Then he was back in the main room in a flash.
"Woah! Was I really moving that fast, or was that how it seemed?" Tanjuro asked, looking at his hands in surprise. "I'm surprised you're only just noticing your new abilities. You've been moving that fast during your training this whole time" Urokodaki replied, as he and Kanae looked at him calmly, while Tanjiro had stars in his eyes. "Yes, all Demons have enhanced abilities, strength, speed, regenerative power. It's normal" Kanae explained. "Now that you mention it, I did carry my Wife in her basket the whole way here from our house, albeit shrunk to fit in a basket, and pull a cart with all of our things and most of our children in it, and I didn't feel tired once" Tanjuro said in awe.
"Maybe you didn't notice because you've been doing the Hinokami Kagura Father. Since the breathing technique for the Kagura makes you stronger and faster anyway, you didn't notice the change" Tanjiro suggested. "Hinokami Kagura?" Kanae asked in interest, "what's that?" Tanjuro looked at the Hashira as he replied, "it's a ceremonial dance passed down to the males in my family. I normally dance it every New Year, to show praise and gratitude to Hinokami, our family's Patron Deity. But ever since I became a Demon, when I've danced the Kagura, it seems like my flames seem to grow stronger. I don't know why" he explained.
"I see. If you don't mind, could you show me? The dance I mean" Kanae asked. "Oh. Sure. Just let me get ready" the Demon explained and got up to leave. He went to their family's things and took out the 'Sword' for the Dance. Then he went back out to where the others had now gathered outside. "I'll only do it once," Tanjuro began, before Urokodaki cut him off, "actually Tanjuro, if you don't mind, could you do it for more repetitions, I have a theory" he asked. "Alright" the Demon replied, before getting into position and raising the 'Sword'. Then he began dancing. As he did, his flames came to life, swirling around him, feeling like they were a part of his body.
Tanjuro soon worked out what Urokodaki was trying to check. When he started dancing, his Demonic flames burst forth. Tanjuro almost stopped out of shock, but instead he kept dancing. And then he noticed it. As he danced, the flames seemed to follow his movement, and the more he danced, the stronger, brighter and hotter those flames became. It almost seemed like the Hinokami Kagura and his Blood Demon Art were one in the same. He got lost in the flow, closing his eyes as he blocked out everything else. As he got to the last repetition of 12, his flames burst out of his body in a ball of flames.
The sudden explosion broke Tanjuro out of his trance, and he opened his eyes. He looked at the blackened grass in confusion, then up at everyone else, who'd been forced to move back to avoid the unexpected blast, "what happened?" he asked.
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The group was once again in Urokodaki's house, "well, it seems my theory was right, the more repetitions you do of the movements, the stronger your Blood Demon Art becomes. And it seems after 12 repetitions of all 12 movements, your flames explode out of you, much hotter and more powerful than they were at the beginning. This could be a special move of yours Tanjuro" the masked man suggested. "Oh! How about you call it Hinokami Flash!" Tanjiro said with a grin. "Hinokami Flash. Sounds good Son" Tanjuro agreed, rubbing Tanjiro's hair softly.
"I'm going to go check on Nezuko" Urokodaki said, as he stood up. "Oh! I'll come with you!" Tanjiro said, getting up to follow the man. "Thank you for everything you've done for all of us Sir. We truly appreciate it" Tanjuro said gratefully. As the two of them left to check on Kanae's soon to be student, the woman looked at the Tanjuro with a frown, "what are you going to do now? Both you and your wife are demons. Even if a couple of us accept you two, many of the Hashira won't. Once they find out about you, they'll hunt you down to kill you" Kanae said worriedly. "They can't kill me, and I won't let them harm my Wife.
We don't harm or eat humans, so they'll have no reason to kill us" Tanjuro said calmly. "You don't know the other Hashira. They aren't like me. Most of them despise Demons, and won't hesitate to kill you both. They might even go so far as to kill Tanjiro and Nezuko, because they let you both live after becoming members" the former Flower Hashira explained. Tanjuro's aura went from calm and peaceful to furious and murderous in a second, "they what?!" he snarled, veins popping all over his face in his fury. "Why would they kill my children?!" he cried, as Urokodaki stumbled into the room, "Tanjuro! You're releasing too much Demonic Aura! You have to calm down, or any Demon Slayer within a couple of miles will be able to sense you!" he cried.
Tanjuro focused his breathing as he struggled to calm down. Eventually, his Demonic Aura faded, and both Demon Slayers practically collapsed to the floor. "I apologise for that, but with the threat against my family-" Tanjuro said softly. He sighed, "all I want is to protect my family, and make myself and my Wife human again. Even if it means I may die soon after. I want to live and die as a human being, with my family by my side" he finished, bowing his head. There was a moment of silence between them.
"You're stronger than most Demons I've ever encountered Mr Kamado," Kanae finally said, as she pushed herself up with her remaining arm, "most of them didn't have anywhere near that amount of power" she said with a groan. "Are you alright Miss? Do you need help?" The Kamado asked, already having half gotten up. But after a moment, Kanae was on her feet again, "Don't worry about me. Just make sure you and your wife protect your children. You both are the proof of my dream, that humans and Demons can exist peacefully together. As long as you and your family can do that, I'll be happy. I promise I'll make your daughter strong, make sure that you do the same for your Son."
She smiled down at him, "I'm sure that you'll find a way for you both to become human again". Just then Nezuko walked out of her room, "Dad?" she asked. "Ah, there you are dear," Kanae said with a smile, "are you alright?" she asked.