As Tanjuro ran down the road, the wind whipping through his hair, Haruka kept her eyes closed. "At this pace, we should get to Urokodaki's house by tomorrow!" the Demon Kamado called over the wind. "Do you think my Mother is really alright?!" Haruka cried. "I'm sure she's fine. Miss Tamayo is an amazing Doctor after all!" Tanjuro replied. The little girl clutched tighter to the bag with her Mother's Wedding Kimono, "you don't think-!" she began, before she trailed off. "What's wrong?" Tanjuro asked in concern at the fear in Haruka's voice. "You don't think the bad man will find them, do you?" she asked softly.
Due to his Demonic senses, Tanjuro was able to hear her over the wind, "Miss Tamayo has been hiding from Muzan for Centuries. He hasn't been able to find them in all this time. And I'm sure that knowing that you're counting on her to look after your Mother will make her be even more careful. They'll be fine Haruka" he assured. The little girl fell silent after that, snuggling closer to his chest. Tanjuro still felt guilty for what had happened. Since he'd become a Demon Slayer, it seemed that he'd hurt more people than he'd saved.
He may have saved the Shinazugawa Siblings from their Demonized Father, but in doing so, had caused their Mother to become a Demon as well. And his presence is what had caused Muzan to turn his 'Wife' into a Demon and abandon his 'daughter'. Had he really done that much good so far? Haruka clutched onto his Uniform with one hand, the other still clutching her bag. He glanced down at her, and felt his resolve firming. He had done good things since becoming a Demon Slayer. He'd saved one family, as well as this little girl.
Not to mention, he'd saved those three young Siblings and hopefully Miss Kanae would give them a new home at the Butterfly Estate. No matter what else happened, he had to remember those he'd saved. Soon Mount Sagiri came into view. "Look Haruka, we're nearly there now! That's Mount Sagiri!" Tanjuro called. Haruka peeked over at the mountain, but said nothing. Soon they were in front of Urokodaki's house. He set Haruka down on the ground, and walked up to the door. It opened before he could touch it. Urokodaki's irritation could somehow be felt even though he was wearing a mask.
"Another one, huh Tanjuro?" he asked, staring him down. "It's a long story" Tanjuro replied. "I'd love to hear it" the masked man replied, crossing his arms. He invited them inside, and Haruka looked around, seeing many children doing different chores or playing. "Daddy!" a girl's voice cried, as a little girl, a bit older than her ran over to Tanjuro and hugged his legs. "Hanako! How are you and the others?" Tanjuro asked happily, hugging her back. "I'm good! We've been having a lot of fun playing with the Shinazugawa's! They're really nice!" Hanako said with a wide grin. Then she noticed Haruka.
"Who's this Daddy?" she asked. Tanjuro placed a hand on the other girl's head, "this is Haruka. Her circumstances are a bit long, but I have to talk to Mr Urokodaki now. Can you introduce her to everyone, and find a place for her to put her bag please?" he asked his youngest daughter. "Sure! Can we play together later Daddy?" Hanako asked. "Sure. I have time today baby" Tanjuro replied with a gentle smile. Hanako's eyes sparkled with joy, "really! I'll go tell everyone!" she cheered. She took Haruka's hand and took her to meet the other kids. Tanjuro sighed, and turned towards Urokodaki. "So. How about you tell me what happened this time Tanjuro" the masked man said firmly.
The Demon nodded, "right". Then Tanjuro began explaining what had happened since he'd dropped off the Shinazugawa's. As he talked, the old man became more and more horrified. At the end of the story, he actually removed his mask and rubbed his forehead. Tanjuro stared at Urokodaki's face. He literally looked like someone's Grandfather, with a kind and gentle appearance. "So let me get this straight Tanjuro. You and Tanjiro ran into Muzan Kibutsuji on your second Missions. Upon seeing you, he abandoned that little girl, his fake daughter, and turned his fake Wife into a Demon.
After he ran away, two Demon Doctor's turned up to help you, and took the new Demon with them. Then, after a fight with some Demon's Kibutsuji had sent after you, you brought Haruka here. Is that correct?" Urokodaki asked. Tanjuro nodded, "yes Sir. I'm sorry to have to leave you with another child to look after, but she needs someone to take care of her while her Mother is a Demon." He said. Urokodaki sighed deeply, "you really have a bleeding heart, don't you Tanjuro?" the Trainer asked. He groaned, and Haruka's voice reached them as she explained about her Mother's Wedding Kimono.
"Alright, alright. But I won't have room for many more after this" Urokodaki replied. "Daddy!" Shigeru cried, as he ran over with Rokuta, the three-year-old reached up to him, "Papa! Papa!" he cried. Tanjuro picked up both of his youngest Son's and held them close, "do you have to go again?" Shigeru asked, as he wrapped his arms around his Father. Rokuta tugged on his Uniform. "No, I don't have anymore Mission's yet, so I should be able to stay for a while. But your Older Siblings were hurt in their last Missions, so I want to go back in a few days, okay?" Tanjuro asked, hugging his youngest Sons gently.
"Are Tanjiro and Nezuko okay?" Shigeru asked, sounding scared. "Yes, they're fine. They just need to rest and heal for a while" his Father replied. "Okay" Rokuta replied, the three-year-old snuggling into him with a content smile. Tanjuro smiled warmly, relieved beyond anything that his children were all safe. "Daddy! Let's play!" Shigeru cheered, but Rokuta was already asleep in his arms. Tanjuro gently placed Shigeru down again and shushed him, "for the moment, Rokuta is having a nap. I can stay for a while today, so we can play later, okay?" he asked in a whisper.
"Okay" Shigeru said with an excited grin. Tanjuro carried Rokuta into the house, the 6-year-old following happily.
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Rokuta smiled as he clung onto his Haori, snuggling closer in his sleep. Tanjuro gently pat his baby's back, as Shigeru drew some pictures next to him, waiting for his turn to play. Takeo came into the house then with some firewood. "Dad!" he cried in surprise, almost dropping the logs. "Shhh. I'm glad to see you too Takeo" Tanjuro said softly with a smile. The 10-year-old noticed Rokuta sleeping in their Father's arms, and sighed with a smile. He placed the logs down, and walked over to them, "it's good to see Rokuta sleeping soundly. Ever since you and Mom have been gone, he's barely slept at all" Takeo said softly.
Tanjuro frowned, and looked closer at the toddler in his arms. Dark circles ringed the three-year-old's eyes, and he held Rokuta closer to him. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be gone for so long. But my job is Demon Slaying now, and as long as I have Missions, that means that people are in danger. I have to at least try to save them Takeo. You all almost lost your Mother and I that night. I don't want other's to have to lose their family's too" Tanjuro explained. His second oldest Son sighed, before he looked down, "yeah. I know Dad" he replied.
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After Rokuta woke up, Hanako asked Tanjuro to help her do her hair, which she had grown down to her waist. "Your hair is getting so long Hanako. Are you taking good care of it?" Tanjuro asked as he brushed it. "Yes! I want long, pretty hair, like Mommy!" the little girl replied cheerfully. Her Father smiled, "well, I think you're doing a good job then baby" he replied, as his youngest daughter giggled. "There are lots of kids here now. After I do your hair, why don't you and your Siblings play with everyone else for a while?" Tanjuro asked.
"Okay!" Hanako said happily. After Tanjuro brushed Hanako's hair, he did it up in a pretty plait. "There we go, all done" he said. His daughter got off of his lap and hugged him, "thank you Daddy!" she said happily, before running off to play with the other three girls in the house. The Demon stood up, before hearing a young voice, "Papa!" Tanjuro turned to find Rokuta reaching for him from his seat that he'd made up for the three-year-old. "It's okay Rokuta, Papa's here baby" he said, picking the boy up. Tanjuro couldn't help but wonder if Rokuta caused a lot of trouble when he wasn't here, considering how much he wanted his attention.
"Why don't we go for a walk Rokuta?" he asked, as he exited the house with his youngest Son on his back. The three-year-old giggled as he walked, hugging his head, "Papa!" he said happily. Tanjuro smiled back at Rokuta, glad that he could still be so cheerful after everything that had happened. "Wanna go for a ride? Let's go!" Tanjuro called, speeding up slightly as he ran around Urokodaki's house, his Son giggling the whole time.
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Soon, they returned to the house, finding Shigeru, Koto, Hiroshi and Shuya all playing together outside. "Hey guys, what are you playing?" Tanjuro asked curiously. "I'm showing Shigeru how you saved us Mr Kamado!" Shuya said excitedly. "Yeah!" Hiroshi agreed. "You were so cool Dad!" Shigeru cheered excitedly, standing up and hugging Tanjuro around the waist. Tanjuro chuckled, "well, I couldn't just let innocent children die, now could I?" he asked, patting his second youngest Son on the head. Rokuta was falling asleep on his back again, so Tanjuro headed back inside to lay him down.
Once inside, he found the Oldest Shinazugawa boy, Sanemi sitting at the door to the bedrooms. A pair of bright blue eyes peeked out of the darkness of the room. So, he was talking to his Mother then? How kind. Tanjuro smiled, "telling Miss Shizu about your day?" he asked softly. The white-haired boy turned to look at him, a guarded expression on his face. Tanjuro quickly went into his family's room and placed Rokuta down for his second nap. When he exited, he found Sanemi to be staring at him. "Don't worry. I think it's sweet that you're talking to your Mother. I know she can understand you, my Wife can after all" the Demon replied.
Sanemi looked down for a moment, before he suddenly spoke, "being a Demon Slayer. What's it like?" he asked. Tanjuro frowned, "it's very dangerous. And scary. The only reason I let my two Oldest children be Demon Slayers is because I have to. If I wasn't here, but Tanjiro was, for example, he could protect his younger Siblings in my stead because he'd become a Demon Slayer. I just want my children to be safe and happy. I'll do anything to protect them. That's the reason why I keep working hard. Because I am their Father, and I have to protect my family. Even if it costs me my life" Tanjuro explained.
Sanemi looked down again in thought, and was silent for a moment, "I wish it had been you," he muttered, but Tanjuro heard it due to his Demonic hearing. "Hm?" he asked. The boy brought his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, "our Father was a piece of crap. He was always beating up Mom and the rest of us. When he became a Demon, I thought: 'this is it. We're all going to die!' but then you came and saved us Mr Kamado. Hearing you talk about how much you love your family, I can't help but be envious of the Kamado kids. If we had had a Father like you, maybe our lives would have been better. Maybe we would have been loved by both of our Parents *sniff*" Sanemi said, sniffling at the end as he fought not to cry.
Tanjuro watched the 12-year-old boy sadly, feeling his heart break for these poor kids who'd had awful lives. He moved closer to Sanemi, before wrapping his arm around him. The white-haired boy froze in the embrace, and Tanjuro let out a sigh. "I may not be your Father. But whenever I'm here, if you want to do something together, or even just talk or vent. I'll be happy to listen" the Kamado said softly. Sanemi finally let out the tears he'd been holding back, and he clutched into Tanjuro and sobbed. "Why?!" he wailed, drawing his Mother's attention, "why couldn't he have been like you?!" the boy sobbed.
"Mmmm?" Shizu called through her muzzle, reaching out and grabbing onto her Son's Kimono. Sanemi gasped, and looked down at her, seeing his Mother look faintly concerned through the blank look in her eyes. Sanemi sniffed and moved to hug her, "Mom! I promise I'll become a Demon Slayer! And I'll turn you back into a human again!" he cried, as Shizu rubbed his back and patted his head. Tanjuro smiled at the scene, deciding to tell Sanemi about Tamayo, "actually, that goal may be closer than you think Sanemi" he began, making the 12-year-old look up at him.