Tanjuro and Shizu arrived at the town just after nightfall and they headed for the Hospital together. Tanjuro entered the building and went up to one of the Nurses, "excuse me, my name is Tanjuro Kamado. I'm here to pick up Akemi and her Mother." The Demon said politely. "Oh, they're not here" the woman replied. "What? where are they? Akemi's Mother should still be here. Her eye would in no way be healed yet" Tanjuro asked in confusion. "Well they're gone. Those crazies- I mean the two of them were disturbing the other patients, so the Doctor discharged them" the Nurse cut herself off, but the damage was done.
Tanjuro was boiling with anger, so much so that his veins began to pop out and his teeth sharpened with a low growl. "You discharged two people who almost died when one was still injured and the other was a helpless child?" he asked lowly, struggling to keep calm. "We didn't want them causing problems for the other patients, and they seemed fine-" she cut off again, seeing Tanjuro's bright red eyes glaring at her. "Wh-what? What's wrong with you?!" she stuttered. Shizu tugged on his arm, making Tanjuro snap his dangerous gaze to her. His Demon flinched back at the sight of his anger, but she swallowed, "l-let's go" she stuttered.
Tanjuro relaxed and let out a breath, before turning away from the Nurse without another word.
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Tanjuro and Shizu searched the town for the two, periodically checking for the scent of Marechi blood. "Will they be okay?" Shizu asked quietly. "If we can find them before the sun goes down. Hopefully nothing goes wrong" the Kamado replied. "Mommy!" Tanjuro recognized that voice. "This way!" he called. Shizu followed him into an alleyway, where they found the Mother and daughter sitting against a dirty wall. The Mother was unconscious against the wall. "Akemi! Are you both alright?" Tanjuro called as he walked up to the two. "Mr Tanjuro!" the little Auburn-haired girl called upon seeing them.
Tanjuro checked on the woman. Thankfully at least her eye seemed to be stitched up well from what he could see. "Let's go. I'll take you both somewhere that you can be looked after" Tanjuro said. 'Thankfully I can do both things at once now. But I'm still furious at those so-called 'Doctor's'' he thought. He picked up the woman onto his back, while Shizu gently picked up Akemi. "Let's hurry, I don't want to be out here when night falls" Tanjuro said. The two Demons ran off, carrying the two humans in their arms.
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Slowly, the Mother woke up, noticing that someone was carrying her on their back. "W-what-?" she muttered dizzily, unable to lift her head. "Mommy! Are you okay?" Akemi asked worriedly. "A-Akemi?" the woman asked, before laying back against the person's back with a groan. "Just rest Ma'am. You and your daughter are both going to be alright. We're taking you somewhere the people will actually look after you, and won't call you both crazy" Tanjuro assured. "Oh. Thank you. My name is Yukina by the way. My daughter's name is Akemi" the now named Yukina introduced herself, before she seemingly fell asleep again.
"I-Is she, o-okay?" Shizu asked, glancing over at the woman. "Yes, she just needs to rest more," Tanjuro replied, before they continued to run. Eventually they reached a spot with Kakushi waiting. "Tanjuro Kamado?" one asked. The Demon nodded, "yes Sir. This is my new Demon, Shizu Shinazugawa. I have to take her to see the Master. And I'm taking these two to the Butterfly Mansion" Tanjuro indicated Yukina and Akemi. "Alright, but we have to blindfold the two of them" one of the Kakushi said. "Huh? How come?" Akemi asked, confused.
"Safety reason's for the Corps. Don't worry, you'll both be fine Akemi, Miss Yukina" Tanjuro assured her. The two humans were blindfolded, and the Kakushi placed them into a cart. "Mommy?" Akemi asked, reaching out her hand for her Mother. Yukina took her hand, as the group left to head to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
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It took them three days to return to the Headquarters. And when they arrived, the Kakushi took Yukina and Akemi to the Butterfly Mansion, while Tanjuro took Shizu to see Kagaya. "When can we g-go see m-my children?" she asked. "After this meeting. Then I can take you to see them" Tanjuro assured. "Okay" Shizu replied with a smile. They travelled through the Headquarters, and Tanjuro wondered how the three Siblings were doing at the Butterfly Estate. He was grateful to them for testifying on his and his Wife's behalf during their trial, so he should probably thank them properly, not to mention Miss Shinobu would want blood from Shizu too.
They would visit after their meeting, he decided. While he couldn't bring himself to do things like Kneel to Kagaya, Tanjuro still respected him immensely for many reasons. The main one being letting himself, Kie and his other Demons live. The other being that he was like himself before he became a Demon. Kagaya was dying. He could smell that on the man. But he still worked so hard, despite his weakness and frailty. And that was something that Tanjuro respected. He remembered those days back when Tanjiro and Nezuko were still young, and his disease had sapped so much of his strength. His family still needed Charcoal to stay warm on those long, dark Winter nights, and enough money for food and warm clothes.
Tanjuro would travel up and down the mountain, relying solely on his breathing technique to do so. He would do it more and more as Kie gave birth to more and more children, until Tanjiro was old enough to split the work with him, before finally starting to take on the family business all on his own, when almost all of his strength had left him. Tanjiro. His little boy. Only 12-years-old and still so determined to do everything he could for his family. So Tanjuro would dance. Showing Hinokami his utmost gratitude for his beloved family. Every year. And now, Kagaya remined him so much of himself. Weak, going blind, but still fighting in his own way.
So, he would keep his promise to him. They finally arrived at the Master's house. Shizu removed her cloak, blinking up at the massive house with her icy-blue eyes. Two of those children from his trial, twin white-haired girls exited through a pair of sliding doors. They bowed to him and Tanjuro smiled and nodded back. "The Master is waiting to see you inside Mr Kamado" one of the girls spoke, as they turned to lead the two Demons into the house. As Tanjuro and Shizu removed their shoes at the Genkan, he couldn't help but wonder if everyone was alright.
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The twins led them through the house, towards one of the rooms. Once there, they knocked on the door, "Tanjuro Kamado and his newest Demon have arrived to see you" one of the girl's said. "Come in please" Kagaya replied. The girls opened the doors for them, before standing and leaving. The two Demons entered the room, looking over the man sitting before them. He was reading over reports with a white-haired woman at his side, handing him the pages. When Tanjuro and Shizu entered the room, he set down the papers and turned towards them.
"Tanjuro. I trust young Sanemi was dropped off safely at Sakonji's house?" Kagaya asked with a smile. The Demon Kamado nodded, "yes Sir, he's begun his training again. And I transformed his Mother, Shizu, into one of my Demons while I was there. As per our agreement, I brought her back with me" Tanjuro explained. "I see" the Master replied, turning to look at the small woman by Tanjuro's side. Shizu flinched nervously, before bowing her head to him, "um, h-hello S-sir. Th-thank you f-for, allowing my ch-children to s-stay here" she stuttered, still unused to talking again yet. Kagaya nodded, "it was no trouble, but you should really be thanking Mitsuri and her family. The Kanroji's allowed Tanjuro and all of his children and Demons to stay with them after all" he replied.
"So Tanjuro, what are you going to do now?" the Master asked. "I was first going to take Miss Shizu to see her children, then I wanted to check on those Demon Slayers I saved on Mt Natagumo. I hope they're doing alright" Tanjuro replied. Kagaya smiled, "I see. Thank you for caring so much about my children's safety. I also want to thank you. Because of your efforts up there, most of the Slayers I sent there survived. So thank you on their behalf" he said, bowing his head to him. "Of course. There's no need to thank me. I just wanted to save as many people as I could up there. So I did" Tanjuro replied. Kagaya turned back to face the reports on his desk, "I must continue this. Have a nice day Tanjuro. I hope to be able to speak with you again" he said serenely.
Tanjuro nodded his head to the man, before he and Shizu turned to leave. "M-my child-ren?" Shizu stuttered. Tanjuro smiled gently, "of course" he replied, leading her towards the Love Hashira's Estate.