Tanjuro carried Haruka as they walked down the road. Tanjiro walked next to him, Kie sleeping in her box on his back. "So, where are we going?" Haruka asked, with a yawn. "We're taking you back to Mr Urokodaki's house, you'll be safe there" Tanjiro explained with a smile. "Mission! Your next Mission is South, Southeast!" Tanjiro's Crow cawed. "How is that bird talking?!" Haruka asked in shock. "It's a special bird. It gives us our Missions," Tanjuro explained, before turning to the Crow, "we have to take Haruka back to Urokodaki's house first, then we'll go to our Mission" he replied.
"No time! Mission now! Mission now!" the Crow cried. "But-" Tanjiro began, before a yell drew their attention: "PLEASE!" a boy shrieked. The four of them turned to see a yellow-haired boy on his knees and holding onto a girl while crying, "PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MARRY ME! I'M BEGGING YOU, PLEASE!" he begged. "He's so loud!" Haruka cried, covering her ears with her hands. "What on Earth is going on here?!" Tanjiro asked in confusion. Suddenly a Sparrow flew up to him and began chirping frantically. "Alright, I get it. I'll do something!" Tanjiro said after listening to the Sparrow for a moment.
Tanjiro marched up to the two and pulled the boy off of the girl, "stop that already! She's clearly not interested in you! You're just harassing her!" he ordered. "Hey! Don't butt in! That girl is madly in love with me, and we're going to get married!" the blond replied, before the girl smacked him over the head. "Woah, hey, calm down!" Tanjuro cried, gently putting Haruka down and hurrying over to pull the girl away from the blond. Suddenly the boy froze, and stared up at Tanjuro like he had seen a ghost. He then went limp and fell into a dead faint.
"Well, I guess that's one way to get him to calm down," Tanjiro said, looking at the girl, while his Father checked over the other Demon Slayer, "are you alright Miss?" he asked, as Haruka hurried over to him and clutched onto his pants. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you. I can get home on my own now," the teenager replied with a smile, before looking down at the little girl, "your little Sister is really cute" she said, waving as she walked away, "bye now!" Tanjiro blinked in confusion, "my Sister? But Nezuko and Hanako aren't here?" he asked himself. The blond suddenly woke with a gasp of horror: "Demon! DEMON! DEMON!" he shrieked, before Tanjiro hurried over to him.
"Woah, woah! Calm down! My Father isn't going to hurt you, he doesn't hurt or eat humans!" he explained, as his Father backed away slightly. Haruka, scared of the screaming boy, clung onto Tanjiro tighter. The boy only stopped screaming when he ran out of energy a few minutes later. He just stared up at Tanjuro with tears of terror in his eyes. "It's okay. I don't eat humans. I never have. I don't even get hungry. So I won't hurt you, okay?" the Demon Kamado asked calmly. The other Demon Slayer took huge gasps of air, but he seemed to be less hysterical than before.
So Tanjuro decided to introduce himself, figuring it might calm down the teen. "My name is Tanjuro Kamado. This is my Son Tanjiro, and my Wife Kie is in the box. And this is Haruka. I'm taking care of her for a while. So, what's your name?" he asked with a gentle smile. By now the blond boy had calmed down enough to talk, "Z-Zenitsu Agatsuma. You really- don't eat humans? And the other Demon, your Wife, doesn't either?" Zenitsu asked carefully. "That's right. I haven't been hungry since I was turned" Tanjuro replied. Slowly, Zenitsu began to look less horrified, until he practically collapsed to the ground, making Haruka yelp in shock, "that's a relief. At least I won't die today" he said.
Suddenly Zenitsu's stomach growled loudly, and so did Haruka's. Tanjiro looked between the two of them, and pulled out one rice ball. "It's okay. Haruka needs the food more than I do" the crying Demon Slayer groaned. "How about we share Mr Zenitsu? Then, when we stop somewhere we can eat, we can both have a proper meal" Haruka suggested. Zenitsu lit up, "you'd really share with me? What a sweet kid! Thank you so much!" he cried. So the two ate, and Tanjuro smiled warmly at them.
After they finished, Zenitsu turned to Tanjuro, "So, uh, you're really a Demon, huh?" he asked nervously. "That's right. How do you know that anyway? I was sure my transformation and concealing my presence hid me perfectly" Tanjuro asked. "Oh, uh-" Zenitsu looked away, "I kind of have enhanced hearing. I can hear lots of things, including the difference between a human and a Demon. Despite being a Demon, now that I listen closely, you don't sound like the other's I've encountered. For one thing, I thought all Demons ate humans, but you don't even get hungry Mr Kamado. I've never met a Demon like you before" he said.
Then he glanced at the box Tanjiro was carrying, "is your Wife like that too?" he asked softly. "No, I think she does get hungry, but she mostly deals with it by sleeping. Also, unlike me, Kie isn't immune to the sun, so she needs to stay in her box during the day" Tanjuro explained. Zenitsu looked down, "I- I've never heard sounds like yours from Demons. It's so gentle, like you Tanjiro" he said, looking up at the younger teen, "I think- I'll trust you both" the blond said softly. Both Tanjuro and Tanjiro smiled. "Thank you Zenitsu. You're very kind" Tanjiro said with a warm smile. "CAW! Your next Mission is South, Southeast! Run Tanjuro, Tanjiro, Zenitsu! Run!" the Crow suddenly cried.
Zenitsu suddenly started screaming, "AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! THAT CROW IS TALKING!" he cried. Haruka winced at the noise, burying her face into Tanjuro's chest. "Zenitsu, you're too loud. You're giving Haruka a headache" Tanjiro said. "Oh! I-I'm sorry!" the blond Demon Slayer said apologetically. "Let's go you three. We have a Mission" Tanjuro ordered softly, running after the Crow while carrying the little girl still in his arms. Eventually the group reached a mansion in a forest clearing. "It looks like my old house" Haruka said blankly. "What?! Your house is a mansion?! How rich is your family?!" Zenitsu cried.
The little girl flinched back, making the blond apologise. "What's that smell?" Tanjiro muttered, looking at the house. "You can smell something? What about, that sound? You can hear that, can't you?" Zenitsu asked. "Huh?" Haruka asked in confusion. "What sound?" Tanjiro asked, but Tanjuro narrowed his eyes, hearing the sound of a drum being hit faster and faster. "Huh?" Tanjiro asked, before looking away from the house, "Father" he said, causing Tanjuro to turn towards where his Son was looking.
He saw two children clinging to each other in the shade of the trees. Tanjuro moved towards them, before the drum beat got louder. He narrowed his eyes as put Haruka down. Suddenly the smell of blood permeated the air, and the Demon leapt into the air just as a young man was thrown out of the upper floor window. He was covered in blood. Tanjuro leapt into the air and grabbed the young man before he could hit the ground. He eyed the younger man's wounds. Several deep claw marks across his torso. "His wounds are so deep! He's only got a minute at most! I don't know if this will work, but as a Demon Slayer, I can't just let someone die if I can save them!" Tanjuro bit his lip, before, making up his mind.
Tanjuro looked down at the young man, "there may be a way I can save you. I don't know if this will work, but if I can do it, would you want me to?" he asked. "I-I I don't, want to- die. Pl-please. I don't, want- to" the injured human whimpered, tears in his eyes. Tanjuro nodded, cutting open his wrist, "I don't know if this will hurt, but you'll either survive, or you'll still die. At least I can try" he said, letting some of his blood drip into the injuries. The young man gasped, spasming and curling up with a whimper. "I also don't know how long this will take, so can you wait out here? I'll come back for you after my Mission" Tanjuro explained.
He stood up, and turned back towards the two children hiding in the trees. "Excuse me? My name is Tanjuro Kamado. What are your names?" he asked with a gentle smile. The two children looked up at him, making the Demon frown at the pure terror in their eyes. "It's okay, we'll help you." Tanjuro said softly. The two children collapsed to the ground, sniffling. "I-I'm Shoichi. And this is my little Sister Teruko. Our big Brother was *Sniff* taken by a monster, l-last night. It just, dragged him away all of a sudden. There was a lot of b-blood, from his wounds. We followed them here *Sniff* we didn't know what else to do!" Shoichi said, through his tears.
"Really? You're both so brave! To follow them all the way here to try and help your Brother" Tanjuro praised. "Tanjiro, can you stay here and look after these two, while I go look for their Brother?" he asked. "Of course Father. I promise I'll look after them" Tanjiro said in determination. "Now, can you tell me what your Brother looks like?" Tanjuro asked. "Our Brother, his name is Kyoshi. And he's wearing, a green Kimono, and an orange Haori" Shoichi explained. Tanjuro nodded in understanding, "alright, I'll go save him" he said. The Kamado Patriarch turned to Haruka, "can you stay here with them for me?" he asked. Haruka nodded, "yes!" she said firmly.
Haruka went over to Shoichi and Teruko, "Mr Kamado will save your big Brother, don't worry" she said with a smile to the other children. Tanjuro patted Haruka, then the other two children on their heads. "Good luck Father" Tanjiro said. "Look after them Tanjiro, Zenitsu" Tanjuro said, before heading inside the house. The inside was dark, and he could sense several demonic presences. "I wonder how many Demons are in here. I have to find that boy quickly" he said to himself. Suddenly Tanjuro noticed a scent of blood that made his stomach growl in hunger.
He gasped and clutched his stomach. 'I'm hungry? But I haven't been hungry for a year, why now?' he wondered, wiping the drool from his mouth. The closer he got to the smell, the harder Tanjuro had to clench his fists to control his growing hunger. It wasn't unbearable, but the fact that he was hungry at all was a concern. Tanjuro focused on his Mission, saving that boy and killing the Demons that threatened him. Suddenly a Demon crawled out from under a engawa. "What's this? A human? Finally, a meal!" the Demon cried, lashing out with his tongue. Tanjuro drew his sword as he dodged the strike.
Even though he could just heal from any injuries that were inflicted on him, he didn't want to waste too much time with a child in danger. The Demon attacked Tanjuro with his tongue again, which he sliced off with his sword. "Wait, what?!" the tongue Demon asked in confusion at the speed of the strike. The Demon Kamado sucked in a deep breath, "Hinokami Kagura, Dance!" he sliced off the Demon's head in a whirl of flames. The Demon shrieked as it burned away, fading almost instantly. Tanjuro let out a breath, "I have to hurry" he muttered. Suddenly, he heard a drum beat, and the hallway he was running in changed to a room.
"What? A Demon's technique? But I didn't sense any other Demons nearby" Tanjuro asked himself. He shook his head, and began running again, "I have to find that boy" he said. Tanjuro continued to search through the house, the smell of blood getting stronger and stronger. He calmed himself down and focused on thoughts of his children. Hanako's smile as she helped her Mother cook, Nezuko's tenderness as she rocked Rokuta to sleep. Shigeru's bright laughter as he played in the yard. Rokuta's soft mumbles as he clung onto him, still so much a baby at two years old. Takeo's grumbles, but helpfulness as he chopped firewood for their family. And Tanjiro's gentle kindness, towards everyone, even Demons.
Tanjuro took a deep breath, as the hunger that had begun to build due to the smell of blood ebbed away. It was still there, faintly, but he could ignore it. Focusing on thoughts of his children, Tanjuro followed the scent of blood with calmness that didn't suit his nature as a Demon. But then, right from the start he was different. Slowly opening a door, he found a young boy, the smell of blood coming from him, holding a drum. As the boy saw him, he gasped and moved to hit the drum. Tanjuro could tell that it was a product of a Blood Demon Art, so using his Demonic speed, he shot forwards and grabbed the boys arm before he could hit it.
"Wait, don't be scared. I'm a Demon Slayer. I came here to rescue you. Your name is Kyoshi right?" he asked the boy, releasing him and kneeling down in front of him. "H-how did you do that?" Kyoshi asked in a trembling voice. Tanjuro smiled gently, "I'm strong," he replied, "can I see your wounds?" he asked kindly. Kyoshi broke down in tears at that.
าข
Tanjuro gently cleaned Kyoshi's wounds, explaining that he and his Son had found his younger Siblings outside the house, and he had come in to rescue him. "My Son is outside with your Siblings, so they'll be fine. I have to get you out of here quickly though, the smell of your blood will draw Demons to you" he explained, finishing wrapping the large gash on Kyoshi's leg. "Th-that's why the monster- I mean, the Demons, keep finding me? I've been using this drum that came off the big Demon that had them growing on them to stay away from any that find me. But no matter where I go, it always seemed like another Demon found me quickly."
Kyoshi explained "One of them had drums growing out of him, that's where I got this one from. Two other Demons attacked his after he grabbed me, and after they fought, one of his drums came out. I grabbed it and hit it. Then the room changed. Everytime a Demon has found me, I've hit it and the room changed. That's how I've held on until now" Kyoshi told him. Tanjuro sighed, the smell of the cream that he'd put on Kyoshi's wound was covering the smell of the blood, making it easier for him to relax.
"I don't know how many Demons are in this house, but I've already killed one of them. We might run into more on our way out, so stay close to me, okay Kyoshi?" he asked gently. "Yes Sir" the boy replied, moving his leg slightly, "wow, it doesn't hurt anymore" he said softly in awe. Tanjuro smiled at the boy, and placed a hand on his head, "I promise that I won't let anything hurt you. I will get you back to your younger Siblings" he swore.
"But until then, I need you to keep being brave for me Kyoshi. Can you do that?" he asked. The boy nodded with a serious, if scared expression on his face, "yes Sir" he replied. Tanjuro smiled back, and crouched down, "climb on" he said. Kyoshi held onto Tanjuro as he carried him piggyback. Tanjuro, deciding that the drum the boy had been using would be helpful, had tied it to Kyoshi's arm in case they needed a quick getaway.
Suddenly, the Demon Kamado heard someone running thorough the halls, and they didn't have a Demonic presence. Tanjuro tensed, making the boy on his back look down at him, "M-Mr Kamado? What is it?" he asked, scared. "Hold on tight to me Kyoshi" Tanjuro ordered in a whisper, before he was forced to dodge a wild swipe from a teen wearing a boar's head. "Wh-what's going on?!" Kyoshi yelped in fear as Tanjuro landed a distance back from him in the hall. The boar-masked boy laughed, "I found you, you Demon!" he cried in a tone that was half excitement and half growl.