After introducing all of the Shinazugawa children to most of his other children (Tanjiro and Nezuko were still on their own Missions) Tanjuro explained that he had another Mission, and would have to leave again. "But I wanted to spend some time with you Dad! And Rokuta woke up from all of the noise. He wants you" Takeo said, Shigeru nodding next to him. Tanjuro smiled apologetically, and patted his two Son's on the head, "sorry. But I have another Mission I have to get to. And you have some new friends to make. There are 7 kids here now to get to know and play with. Plus, they've just been through a lot. Can you help make them feel relaxed you two?" He asked.
The two boys pouted, making their Father smile sadly. "How about this. When I get back, I'll request some time off so we can play together then. Okay?" Tanjuro asked. "Really?!" Shigeru asked excitedly. "Sure. I don't mind at all" Tanjuro replied. "Okay! We'll take care of the new kids!" the nearly 7-year-old cheered. The Demon Kamado smiled warmly at them, "thank you" Tanjuro replied. He waved at his children, and the Sinazugawa children who had come to see him off, "thank you for your help! We'll thank you properly someday Mr Kamado!" Sanemi called. Soon though, the house was once again out of sight. Tanjuro sighed. He hoped he'd get some time off soon, he wanted to spend some more time with his children and Wife.
Ң
The trip to Asakusa was peaceful as usual, but as soon as he got within sight of the city, Tanjuro could feel a very powerful Demonic presence. And a familiar one. One that both made his skin crawl with fear, and his veins bulge with fury and hatred. Tanjuro hardly ever felt that emotion. But this Demon more than deserved it. His memories of his transformation into a Demon were still a bit fuzzy, but he remembered this presence, and he also remembered what he'd done to his Wife. He had no doubt, that if his children had been home that night, they'd all be dead now, by that Demon's hand.
Muzan Kibutsuji. A snarl built in his throat, but Tanjuro fought to calm himself. No. Calm down. If he tried anything in the crowded City, that monster was sure to escape. He took a deep breath, and felt his Selfless State envelop him. Tanjuro waited until he was sure his human transformation would hold, before hiding his Sword and entering the city. As he walked through the crowded streets, the Demon kept his senses on high alert. "Father? What are you doing here?" a familiar voice asked from behind him.
The Kamado Patriarch turned around to find his Oldest Son behind him, Kie's box on his back. "Tanjiro. Can you smell him? That Demon is here" Tanjuro hissed. Tanjiro sniffed the air for a moment, then froze. "No way. Why he be here of all places?" he demanded, as the Father and Son began to run towards the presence/scent. "I don't know, but I do know that this could end up very bad. I want you to stay behind me Tanjiro, and be careful. Alright?" Tanjuro asked firmly, with no room for argument. "Yes Father" his Son replied. They began to move swiftly, yet carefully through the crowd of people, Tanjuro struggling to keep his Demonic instincts in check as he felt them nearing the threat to his family.
They came upon a man with his back turned, wearing a fancy black Western Suit and a white hat. Tanjuro's eyes were bright red with slits, and his fangs grown out as he reached the man. The other Demon froze upon sensing his presence, and turned slowly. Upon seeing him, his own bright red eyes widened, terror in them. Tanjiro gasped behind him, as a little girl poked her head over the Demon's shoulder, "Daddy? What's wrong?" she asked. Tanjuro gasped in horror, as he heard his Son do the same behind him.
'That's him! Muzan Kibutsuji! Why would he have a little girl with him? And why is she calling him 'Daddy'? He's the first Demon! There's no way he's her actual Father!' Tanjuro thought frantically, trying to decide what to do. Suddenly a woman wearing a blue and white Western dress with a blue hat walked up to Muzan, "Darling, what's wrong?" she asked. Suddenly Muzan tossed the little girl onto the ground, and in a flash, scratched the woman's face. Tanjuro gasped in horror as the girl screamed as she hit the ground. Muzan was gone in an instant, while people turned to see what had happened.
"DADDY?!" the child cried in confusion, tears in her eyes, with her arms and legs scraped from the impact with the ground. The woman's veins bulged, as the whites of her eyes turned black, the scratches on her face healing at an unnatural pace. "MOMMY?!" The girl called, scared, as her Mother suddenly lunged at her, nails sharpened into claws and long fangs in her mouth. Tanjuro slammed into the newly transformed Demon, wrapping his arms around her as she bit into his shoulder. Tanjuro didn't even flinch, as the girl screamed again. "It's okay! We'll help you!" Tanjiro cried, hurrying in and grabbing the girl off the ground.
"What's happening?! Why is Mommy doing that?! And where did Daddy go?!" she wailed in terror and confusion. "Hey, you two! What are you doing?!" A Police Officer called, as he and his colleges ran up to the Kamado's. "Stay back! It's dangerous!" Tanjuro called, as the Demon woman thrashed in his arms. "What's wrong with her?! Is she sick or something?!" one of the Officer's cried. "Hey, let go of that woman!" another ordered. "Mommy! Mommy!" the little girl cried, reaching for her Mother from Tanjiro's arms. "No don't! It's not safe!" the 13-year-old said, holding her back. "Please stay back! This woman has no control of herself! She'll attack you!" Tanjuro called to the Police.
Suddenly, patterns of flowers filled the air, blocking their view of the Police and crowd. "Another Demon scent? Where's it coming from?!" Tanjiro called. Footsteps echoed through the air, "you called that Demon woman a 'person'. You don't see her as a monster, even though you are Demon Slayers" a woman's voice spoke. Tanjuro felt the Demonic presence as she came into view. She was a beautiful woman with black hair and a purple kimono with various flower and vine patterns decorating it. She turned towards them, as a wound on her arm, that Tanjuro could see was expelling some kind of red mist healed. Her purple eyes were extremely kind, "please allow me to help you then" she said.
"You're a Demon too" Tanjuro said, still holding the Demon woman back. "I am. But I am also a Doctor, and I want to destroy that man too. I want to help that woman" she replied.
Ң
The two Kamado's took the Mother and daughter to the Demon Doctor's Clinic. Once there, she called a young man, who was also a Demon. "Yushiro, please take this Demon and lock her in the Basement" she said. The other Demon, now known as Yushiro, grabbed the still thrashing and snarling Demon woman from Tanjuro's hands and dragged her downstairs. "Where are you taking her?! What are you going to do to my Mommy?!" the little girl cried. "It's okay. Your Mommy isn't well at the moment. But we are Doctors. I promise, we'll help her" The Doctor said. She took out some medical supplies, "let's treat those scrapes. Okay?" she asked.
With gentle hands, the Demon woman quickly and gently cleaned the child's elbows and knees and placed band-aids on them. "There we go. All done." Tamayo said with a smile, before looking a bit more serious, "I need to speak with this man privately for a while. Will you be okay on your own?" she asked. "Tanjiro can stay with you, but she's right, I need to talk to her in privite now, okay?" Tanjuro asked.
"My name is Tanjiro Kamado. What's your name?" His Son asked. "I'm Haruka Kanata" the little girl, Haruka replied. "Haruka. That's a pretty name. My little Sister's names are Nezuko and Hanako. You know, I have lots of little Brothers too, so I'm used to playing with younger children. Is there anything you want to do Haruka?" Tanjiro asked. As the two talked, Tanjuro turned from the other two Demons, and back to Tanjiro, "oh, Son. You can let your Mother out of her box now" he called, before he left the room with the Doctor's. "Sure" Tanjiro replied, placing his box down, "you can come out Mom" he said.
Haruka looked on in surprise as the box opened, and a little girl with long black hair with silver tips, light purple eyes and a bamboo muzzle crawled out. Slowly, the girl grew until she was a woman. Haruka stared at her in shock as the woman hummed and moved over to her Son. "Hey Mom. Sorry I didn't let you out earlier" Tanjiro said, as she grew larger. His Mother turned to him, and her eyes lit up, "Hmm!" she hummed happily, hugging Tanjiro close. Haruka blinked, "this is your Mommy?" she asked curiously. Tanjiro nodded "yep. Mom and Father were both turned into Demons. But they've never hurt us. They don't eat humans" he explained.
The Demon woman turned to look over at her, smiling through her gag, and reaching for her head. Haruka flinched, closing her eyes in fear, before feeling a hand gently stroking her hair. She opened her eyes, looking up at the Demon, who was just stroking her hair with a smile. Haruka relaxed, and looked over at Tanjiro, "Why was your Mommy in that box, and how was she so small?" she asked.
Ң
"My name is Tamayo. What's your name?" Tamayo asked. "Tanjuro Kamado Ma'am. My Son is Tanjiro. Thank you very much for helping us back there. I appreciate it" Tanjuro introduced himself as he bowed his head. "Tanjuro. You're a Demon too, aren't you? How long have you been one?" Tamayo asked. "I've been a Demon for a year now. So has my Wife. I've never eaten a human, or even been hungry since I was turned. My Wife hasn't eaten any humans either, but she can't control herself as well as I can" Tanjuro explained. "Incredible. You've really never eaten any humans at all, or even experienced any hunger?" Tamayo asked in amazement.
"Not at all. I've also never been burned by the sun, like my Wife has" Tanjuro replied. Tamayo gasped in shock, "oh my- you're immune to the sun?!" she cried. "I never got burned at all. The first day after my transformation, I was chased into the sun by a Demon Slayer, but I didn't burn. The Slayer stopped trying to kill me, since his Sword wouldn't have been able to. My Wife did get burned though" Tanjuro replied. Tamayo was silent in shock for a while, before letting out a shaky breath, "this, is unprecedented. Tanjuro, do you have any idea how huge this is? You're the first Demon to become immune to the sun since Demons were created. If Kibutsuji discovered this, he would target you without mercy or restraint" she said.
Tanjuro clenched his fists. "I just want to protect my family and turn my Wife and I back into humans. The only reason my children are still alive is because they weren't at home that night. They would have been killed instantly." He said angrily. Tamayo nodded, "that is our goal as well. Yushiro and I are dedicated to creating a cure for Demonization. I promise, we will find a way to do so" she said in determination. Tanjuro smiled, "you really are good. I'm glad we met you" he said. "Would you mind doing something for me Tanjuro?" Tamayo asked. "Of course not. What do you need Ma'am?" Tanjuro asked.
"May I take blood samples from yourself and your Wife? They may help me develop a cure? Along with that, I'll need more samples, preferably for Demons as closely related to Kibutsuji as possible. Those Demons will be more powerful than most other Demons in existence. Extracting blood from such strong Demons won't be easy, and will be extremely dangerous for Tanjiro in particular, because he's human." Tamayo explained. "I don't mind if you take our blood. And I won't let anything happen to my children. I'll protect Tanjiro and Nezuko, no matter what" Tanjuro replied.
Something both tender and heart-breaking filled the Demon woman's eyes. Tanjuro frowned at the clear agony in Tamayo's eyes, before it was gone without any warning. "You're a wonderful Father Mr Kamado. Your children are lucky to have you" the Demon Doctor said softly. Yushiro came back up the stairs "the other Demon woman is locked up. I believe we should begin her treatment as soon as possible Lady Tamayo" he said. "Yes. Tanjuro, what will you do with the little girl? Do you have a plan in mind for her?" Tamayo asked. "I'll take her in. I've done the same for another woman who was turned and her children" the Kamado Patriarch replied.
"That may be best." Tamayo agreed.
Ң
"So I'll take you to live with my children and the Shinazugawa children until your Mother is human again" Tanjuro explained to Haruka. "What about Mommy?" she asked. "Your Mother will stay with these Doctor's until she's human again. But you can stay with my children, and the other children I've taken in until she is. What do you say Haruka?" he asked. Haruka looked over at Tamayo, "you won't hurt Mommy, will you?" she asked worriedly. Tamayo smiled gently, "when I became a Doctor, I took an oath to do no harm. I promise we'll do everything we can to help your Mother" she replied with a gentle smile. "Can I come to visit her?" Haruka asked. "I'm afraid that we may have to move soon, so we won't be here, but we'll write you letters about how your Mother is doing, and you can send her letters as well. Alright?" Tamayo asked.
"Okay. I guess that's alright" Haruka replied. Suddenly, Yushiro lunged for Tamayo, "get down!" he yelled, tackling her to the ground. Suddenly something smashed through the wall of the house, as Tanjuro leapt on top of the little girl, and Kie covered Tanjiro. Haruka screamed as the walls were smashed through with holes. "Stay down Haruka! Don't move!" he cried. Suddenly the attack stopped. As the dust settled, laughter rang out through the air. Tanjuro looked up, his veins bulging and red eyes becoming slitted as he saw two Demons through the dust, one wearing an orange Kimono, while the other had eyes in his palms.
The Kamado Demon growled, glaring up at the two enemy Demons, while the little girl cried fearfully in his arms.