Coco: Hey, guys, been a while...I'm sorry. As we all know by now, I am completely unreliable when it comes to keeping a posting schedule. Though within that time since I've been away, I feel like I've gotten quite a bit done at least.
I rewrote my SDS story...every chapter (still working on MHA)
I've got the first three chapters for my Black Bulter Story ready as it's what won the poll...or it was winning the last time I checked.
Still working on my other new stuff and the existing stories almost have new chapters ready to post!
But I'm still...so so sorry for making you guys wait so long as always.
Now, without further ado, let's get this chapter started!
Tatsuo let out a breath as she was practicing with her new Nichirin katana in the garden. She was maneuvering them with well-practiced ease as she went through a few of stances and motions of her breathing style.
"It seems like Yukimura-san, made you a fine set of blades, Tatsuo-chan," Suma said as she watched the girl practice.
Tatsuo paused in her practice to hold the blades up in front of her with a small smile on her face.
"Yes, I'm very lucky to have them." Tatsuo said.
She and Suma then turned towards the house as the doors were slid open. Makio stood there with a smile on her face.
"Tatsuo, your new uniform has arrived," Makio said.
Tatsuo frowned really hoping that this time around that the Kakushi had gotten her uniform right. And didn't send her another monstrosity like the last time.
—FLASHBACK—
"T-Tengen-sama!" Tatsuo screamed from her room as she stood in front of her mirror.
It took less than a second for the man to appear at her door while sliding it open quickly. He looked around for what might have caused her distress before laying his eyes on her. Tatsuo turned to look at her master with tears pricking her eyes as she stood there wearing her corps uniform. She knew the moment she picked it up from the box that it was going to be bad, but she had no idea how bad until she put it on.
The top they made her was open in the front like the one Mitsuri wore. It had no sleeves nor a back, which that part wasn't really an issue. However, having her chest partially exposed was not okay. Then instead of sending her the standard hakama, they sent her a short skirt. There was no way she could fight like this. At least in her kimono she had her leggings. She supposed she could wear them with her uniform as well, but that still didn't help her open chest problem.
"How am I supposed to fight like this?" Tatsuo asked as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't even have the figure for this kind of stuff, you know!"
Tengen didn't comment at first. In fact, he didn't even move. Not even when his wives came into the room to see what the fuss was about. However, as his wives started to comfort Tatsuo, his eye twitched as one of the veins in his forehead pulsated in annoyance.
"What kind of unflamboyant shit are those Kakushi trying to pull, huh?!" Tengen demanded.
He then turned to storm out of the room with his shoulders tense and fists clenched.
"Tengen-sama, where are you going?" Hinatsuru called out.
"To beat the living hell out of the moron who designed that uniform!" Tengen called back. "What the hell were they thinking?! She's too young to wear something that flashy!"
The front door was then slide shut with a loud clank as Makio and Suma were helping Tatsuo out of her uniform, so she could wear one of her kimonos instead.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
At the end of everything, Tengen got a scolding for terrorizing the Kakushi—even the ones who don't make the uniforms for the corps—by the master. But he got his point across, which Tatsuo believes is all he wanted. Then after discussing with Tatsuo what she'd be okay with wearing—as the Kakushi didn't have time to make her a completely new uniform— Tengen sent the details to the Kakushi with not so veiled threats not to screw up again. As Tatsuo entered the house, she saw Tengen was already looking over the uniform with a critical eye. He then grinned as he turned to Tatsuo.
"These should do, Dragon." Tengen said as he tossed the clothes at Tatsuo. "Hurry and change. We've been summoned by Oyakata-sama. It'd be unflamboyant of us to keep him waiting."
Tatsuo's eyes widened wondering why the Master would summon them. However, she didn't question it as she hurried to change as ordered. She didn't even bother to check out her uniform as she hurriedly put it on. It wasn't until after she had it on that she realized the similarities between her and Tengen's uniform. The uniform was the same dark turquoise color Tengen wore and was sleeveless as well. It was still backless like the first uniform they sent her, but at least the front of it could be completely buttoned up now. It still came with a skirt instead of pants, but she had her thick tights to put underneath the skirt, so she didn't mind the skirt, which was also a bit longer than it was before. It also came with the standard white belt, which would hold her swords against her waist.
Due to it being both sleeveless and backless, Tatsuo's scars could easily be seen. Like the crescent shaped one on her shoulder where her mother had bite into her flesh and the three claw marks going down her left arm. She also had a few crescent shaped marks on her back that were also given to her by her mother. Honestly, if Muzan hadn't grown inpatient and forced her mother to leave, Tatsuo probably wouldn't be here today.
'In some twisted way, that vile creature saved my life.' Tatsuo thought with a scoff.
Of course, if he hadn't showed up at all, none of that would have happened. And Tatsuo wouldn't be the only one in her family still alive. Shaking her head to rid herself of such thoughts, Tatsuo reached towards her swords. However, she paused when her door opened. She blinked as Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma came in. All three of them carrying something in their arms.
'…oh more gifts,' Tatsuo thought with both embarrassment and fond exasperation.
Every time she turned around it seemed as if one of Tengen's wives had some kind of gift for her. Though Suma was the worst for spoiling her. Tatsuo appreciated the gifts, but it could be embarrassing at times to receive so many.
"It's just a few things to finish your uniform," Hinatsuru assured her when seeing her look.
"Yeah, so don't complain!" Makio added. "Now, hurry and put everything on. Tengen-sama is waiting outside."
"Yeah, Tatsuo, put them on!" Suma encouraged.
Before Tatsuo could even protest, Suma jumped her causing them both to hit the floor. As Makio yelled at Suma for causing problems, Tatsuo sighed from her spot on the floor. It took a few minutes to get their gifts on due to Makio and Suma fighting. However, soon Tatsuo was stepping outside the front door fully dressed and ready to go.
The items added by the three wives were a long pair of fingerless gloves that matched the floor of her uniform from Suma, a pale green obi from Makio, and a haori from Hinatsuru. It was Tatsuo's haori that she had ripped to make bandages for Tanjiro. However, the place where she ripped the sleeve away was fixed with the sleeve having been completely replaced with a new one. It looked as if Hinatsuru took the material off the bottom of the haori, which was now cropped to stop at her waist.
"Well, well, someone's looking flamboyant." Tengen commented with a grin. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to do me."
He said this while ruffling Tatsuo's hair causing her to blush slightly. Tengen chuckled at her look before growing serious.
"We need to get going." He told her.
"Right, Master," Tatsuo said with a nod.
Tengen disappeared in a single leap and Tatsuo was right behind him as their crows followed behind. As Tatsuo followed, her heart raced.
'It's finally time,' She thought.
She wasn't sure what the Oyakata-sama had in mind for her first mission, but she was ready. She wouldn't disappoint him or Tengen. Not after all the faith they put in her to do her very best.
'How could this be my first mission?' Tatsuo though heatedly as she packed a very small pack of rations to bring with her. 'I respect Oyakata-sama wholeheartedly, but I don't understand this. He wants me to observe a demon…protect it even if things come to point where it needs protection.'
The very idea made her ill. Demons were meant to be killed on sight. They were monsters. All they want is to kill and eat humans. Some even get sick pleasure of toying with their food. She didn't understand how the master thought this one would be any different.
—FLASHBACK—
Tatsuo, who had had her head bowed, lifted her gaze to the master as her eyes widened in shock. Her ears not believing what they had heard.
"Oyakata-sama, with all due respect, do you realize what you are asking of my student?" Tengen asked. "Not to mention, I flamboyantly disagree with the idea of letting this demon live. It and the boy carrying it should be put to death.."
Kagaya just kept that calm smile on his face as he sat across from the two demon slayers.
"I know what I ask is a heavy request, but I believe Tatsuo to be the perfect fit for the job," Kagaya explained his reasoning. "The training she has went through with you and your wives will come in handy as she tries to keep a close eye on and gain the trust of Kamado Tanjiro. Not to mention, being of similar age should put the boy more at ease around Tatsuo."
Tatsuo couldn't argue with that logic, but she still didn't understand. Kagaya hasn't even met Tanjiro or his demon sister. So, how could he be so lax about letting her live? Just because he received a letter from a former Hashira?
"I believe this is all worth looking into." Kagaya continued. "Both Urokodaki and Tomioka have sworn to commit seppuku if they are wrong about Nezuko being different from other demons. They stake their lives on this demon and her brother."
"Forgive me for my rudeness, Oyakata-sama, but I don't care if they're staking their lives on it." Tatsuo said fiercely. "There hasn't been one demon in history to forgo their basic nature, which is to consume human flesh. If we just let this one demon live based on a hunch, we could be putting several lives at risk."
All it took was one slip and she could kill dozens of lives before she could be stopped. Especially if her brother is so convinced, she's different. Tatsuo would bet her life that Tanjiro wouldn't be able to finish his sister off even if it meant saving human lives. He's too attached for obviously reasons.
"Which is another reason why I want you monitoring the two," Kagaya said. "If Nezuko does show any signs that she might or will harm a human, I trust you will be able to handle the situation for its unlikely Tanjiro will do it himself. I know I am asking a lot of you, but I hope you will take my request."
Tatsuo bit her lip harshly as anger coursed through her. Though she soon took a breath to calm her nerves. She bowed to Kagaya once more.
"If that is what you wish, Oyakata-sama, I will do what you ask of me," Tatsuo assured him. "I will keep an eye on the demon."
And kill it the moment it even tries to hurt a human.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
So, now here she was, preparing to leave so to eventually meet Tanjiro on one of his missions. She didn't dislike the boy, but she couldn't believe his choice to let a demon live. Sister or not. Tatsuo has learned firsthand that family ties won't save you when a demon is hungry. Maybe his sister has resisted her urges, but it won't last forever. The hunger will win out and she will be there when it does so to end the demon.
'Which means I need to hurry and find them before that happens,' Tatsuo thought as put away her rations into her small bag, which she then put on over her shoulders to rest on her back.
She then left her room to head outside where Tengen and his wives were waiting. Suma was already sniffling, and Tatsuo was sure the waterworks would start up soon enough.
"Do you have everything you need?" Hinatsuru asked as she adjusted the collar of her haori.
"Yes," Tatsuo said with a nod.
Hinatsuru smiled then gently moved her on to Makio who gave her hair an affectionate ruffle.
"Make sure to keep aware of your surroundings and take care, alright?" Makio told her. "You come back with any serious injuries, and we'll have some problems, you hear?"
"Not even a scratch," Tatsuo assured.
Makio grinned in reply before frowning when Suma snatched up Tatsuo and began crying.
"I don't want Tatsuo to leave us!" She cried. "She just got back, and it'll be too quiet without her!"
Tatsuo just stood there stiffly as she wasn't sure how to respond as Suma wailed against her shoulder. Makio finally got fed up and jerked the longer-haired woman off Tatsuo who was quick to get out of reach. As Makio yelled at Suma for being dramatic, Tengen placed his hand on Tatsuo's head, which had the girl tilting it back to look up at her tall master.
"I have a gift for you before you go, Tatsuo." Tengen said.
Tatsuo blinked wondering what it could be since it was rare for Tengen to dote on her. He does like to show her off sometimes and brag to the Hashira about how well she turned out because of him. But gifts weren't common. At least not from him. As seen earlier today, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma usually have something for her constantly.
"Another gift?" Tatsuo repeated.
Tengen nodded his head then held out a cloth that was wrapped around something. Tatsuo took it carefully as if it might break before unwrapping the gift. Her eyes widened slightly to see a white cloth that looked like Tengen's headband and had smaller pinkish-white gems aborning it.
"It's beautiful, Tengen-sama." Tatsuo said. "Thank you."
"No student of mine is going to run around looking drab," Tengen said then took the cloth away from her to right around her right arm. "Now you have some style."
Tatsuo smiled as she admired the band on her arm after Tengen was done tying it there. He knew she wasn't much for headbands or other hair accessories since she preferred to keep her hair short anyway, which is why he had the cloth fitted for her arm.
"You need to get going," Tengen told her as he poked her forehead. "Remember what I told you, little dragon. If things go bad, prioritize your own life first then the lives of the good humans."
Tatsuo, who had her own list of whose safety mattered most, nodded her head to appease her master before giving a final farewell. She then hurried off since she needed to find her targets as soon as possible. Before Kamado Nezuko gave into her hunger and harmed a human. Like her poor naïve brother. As she got farther away, Hinatsuru gave a sigh.
"It doesn't seem right, does it?" She hummed. "Just yesterday we were bringing her home and she was beginning her training."
"Yeah, and now she's getting her own missions," Makio said with a chuckle. "Time sure moves quickly, huh?"
Suma just sniffled as she rubbed at her eyes. Makio shook her head at the woman, but she did pat her on top of the head in comfort anyway. The three then went inside their home to prepare lunch as Tengen remained outside even after his student disappeared from his sight.
—FLASHBACK—
"Uzui, I think your tsuguko has finally tired herself out," Kyōjurō told the taller man.
Tengen, who had taken is eyes off Tatsuo, turned his head and saw her laid out on the ground with her eyes closed and her chest rising and falling at an even pace. She lasted longer than what he had originally thought she would. The sun had set moments ago casting the sky in a pinkish-purple hue and it was only growing darker by the second.
"She did well today," Kyōjurō complimented. "You lucked out by getting such a hardworking student! I am envious."
Tengen didn't reply verbally as he went over to Tatsuo and crouched beside her. He reached out and brushed her hair back as she let out a small snore. He snickered at the ridiculous expression she wore in her sleep.
"She still has a more to do before she'll be even half as flamboyant as me," Tengen said as he picked the girl up.
Easily moving her to rest in one arm with her arms going around his neck and her head laying on his shoulder.
"But it's not a bad start," Tengen admitted.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
'There's still room for her to grow,' Tengen thought as he turned away to head inside. 'But's she's getting there.'
"So, this is where Tanjiro's first mission is located." Tatsuo said as she looked around. "How many girls have vanished so far?"
"Over a dozen, Tatsuo-sama," her crow—Tsubasa—replied from his perch on her shoulder.
Tatsuo frowned because that wasn't good at all. She didn't understand why the corps waited so long to send a demon slayer to this location.
"I see." Tatsuo said. "This might be Tanjiro's mission, but it couldn't hurt to look around for traces of this demon as I keep an eye on him."
Tsubasa cooed as if in agreement before he took flight to watch on from a distance. Tatsuo hummed as her eyes took in the dirt streets before her perch on one of the buildings along the street. She was hidden within the shadow of the upper level of the building as she watched Tanjiro. He had arrived before it and it seemed he was hard at work trying to find traces of the demon.
'He must have a strong sense of smell,' Tatsuo thought as she watched him sniff the ground. 'Like Tengen-sama had enhanced hearing.'
Tatsuo didn't have either of those things. However, Tengen has commented on her strong sixth sense. The one that makes the hairs on the back of her neck prickle whenever something bad is about to happen. Even if that something was happening out of her line of sight or was too far away for even her ears to pick up. He said her father had the same quirk. That his was so strong his senses would warn him hours before danger struck. Tatsuo couldn't do anything like that, but she did use what she could to her full advantage.
"Night will be falling soon." Tatsuo said to herself as she looked towards the setting sun. "The demon will be hunting soon."
She then slunk farther into the shadows when Tanjiro's head suddenly snapped in her direction. She frowned at almost being caught. That sense of smell of his was going to be a pain to avoid. She knew she was meant to make contact with Tanjiro. However, she wanted to observe him at least for a little bit. She could tell from his first encounter that he was a kind person. His presence was almost soothing and reminded her a lot of Hinatsuru. So, maybe it was more that she wanted to observe his sister before she made her presence known. But she couldn't do that until the sun went down.
"Which means I need to be more careful, or he'll figure out I'm following him." Tatsuo whispered as she knelt on the roof. "…At least it won't be much longer now."
She then disappeared off the roof she had been hiding on, so to keep up with Tanjiro who returned to his searching. She let him get a bit a head of her before she followed. Mindful of how close she got and in which direction the wind was blowing. Another perk to training with Tegen, he taught Tatsuo many techniques used by shinobi. Like concealing one's presence. It was a technique that he made sure to drill into her since the beginning of her training.
—FLASHBACK—
Tatsuo kept her breaths as quiet as possible as she watched her master from her perch. Her movements were slow and silent as she followed the ex-ninja. She even kept her heart at a slow even pace in the hopes, he wouldn't hear her.
"Uzui, I've been meaning to ask," Rengoku began as he, Tengen, and few other Hashira were having a meal together—a rare occasion indeed. "But why aren't you will your tsuguko?"
"Give up on her already?" Sanemi questioned as he looked up from his food.
Tengen let out a chuckle as he pointed his chopsticks towards the always grumpy Wind Hashira.
"No," Tengen replied. "She's training right now in fact."
"Shouldn't you be watching her then?" Obanai questioned. "How do you know she's not slacking off?"
Tatsuo tried not to grumble at that accusation as she shifted her position, so she was perched above the table that Tengen and the others were at. Keeping her target in her sights.
"She's still training," Tengen said confidently. "We're working on stealth today. Her breathe training is coming along flashily, which is why we're switching it up."
Mitsuri, who was finishing her umpteenth bowl of food, blinked curiously at Tengen.
"So, are you two playing hide-and-seek?" Mitsuri asked then smiled. "Sounds fun~ I'll play with Tatsuo-chan if you want."
"It's not a game," Tengen said shaking his head. "I've given her a goal to achieve. She must remain unseen as she tracks her target then manage to strike said target by the end of the day."
Mitsuri pouted looking upset that she couldn't play tag with Tatsuo who was getting ready to strike from above.
"But if you know she's coming and you're keeping your guard up, how is that little brat supposed to attack you?" Sanemi inquired.
Tengen smirked at the white-haired man who had no idea what kind of danger lurked above them.
"I never said I was the target." Tengen informed his fellow Hashira.
Those Hashira paused in what they were doing to look at Tengen as his work sunk in. Sanemi then cursed loudly as Tatsuo, who dropped from the beam above and landed right on him. She knocked him clear out of his seat and on the floor with her legs and arms wrapped around him to try and keep him still.
"What the hell?!" Sanemi snapped as Tengen laughed. "Uzui, you bastard!"
He then sat up while easily reaching around and ripping Tatsuo off him. She blinked at him innocently as he glared daggers at her. She then tapped his nose.
"You're it." She said.
As he growled at her, Mitsuri slammed her hands on the table as she sat up. The pink-haired woman then pointed at Tengen.
"So, you're playing tag instead!" Mitsuri exclaimed.
As Mitsuri pouted and whined at Tengen to let her play with Tatsuo, Sanemi was loudly and aggressively lecturing Tatsuo about how dangerous and stupid it was for her to fall from the ceiling and on top of people like she did. Rengoku was laughing at the whole thing as Obanai was frowning at the noise. At the end of the table, Giyū, who wore a blank expression, silently slurped on his noodles.
—END OF FLASHBACK—
She's gotten even better at keeping herself hidden since then, but she never had to go against someone with a heightened sense of smell like Tanjiro. And she still had trouble hiding from Tengen. It was all a pain to bother with, but she just reminded herself again that soon she wouldn't have to keep herself concealed. Once Kamado Nezuko was able to move freely and Tatsuo collected some data on her, she'd reveal herself to the Kamado siblings. She'd interfere even sooner if things go too dangerous. But Tanjiro did survive the final selection, which meant he wasn't some pushover.
'I'm interested to see how he fights,' Tatsuo thought as she continued to watch from the shadows. 'If he's an acquaintance of Urokodaki and Tomioka-sama, he most likely uses water breathing. I've never gotten to see Tomioka-sama fight, which means this will be my first-time seeing water breathing in action.'
As the hours passed, night fell but Tanjiro did not give up his search. Even as the man, who had been his guide through the town, suggested Tanjiro rest. Tatsuo was a bit impressed with how diligently Tanjiro kept going. She was even more impressed with how calm he was. Despite the hours of searching, he remained cool and focused. Some demon slayers would have already grown anxious by now and agitated.
'I wonder if he's going to keep his sister cooped up in that box all night…' Tatsuo began to wonder.
She came out of her thoughts, however, as the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up.
'The demon…it's made its move,' she realized as her eyes snapped in the direct the dark feeling was coming from. 'It's grabbed another.'
Tanjiro seemed to realize the same thing as he took off down the road with urgency.
'Things are finally getting exciting…'
Coco: I know this chapter was lacking some action, but I assure you the next chapter will be more exciting!
Well, my dear friends, that's the end of this chapter. As always, until we meet again, remember to keep being your awesome selves and stay safe out there!