Gyutaro and Tanjiro made it to the Mist Estate. "We have arrived! We have arrived!" Tanjiro's Crow called. "So this is where Muichiro and Yuichiro live" the green-haired young man said as he looked it over. "Seems a bit big for Muichiro to manage on his own" Tanjiro muttered, before straightening, "right! Let's go!" he proclaimed. As the Brother's entered the building and walked to the Dojo, they heard the sounds of a wooden sword hitting flesh, "I guess Muichiro is already training them" Tanjiro muttered. "Please, I can't take this anymore!" a male voice cried.
"What are you talking about? If you can't even handle this, you're guaranteed to be devoured. You can't give up when facing a Demon" Muichiro said. One of the Demon Slayer's tried to attack the younger boy, but he dodged the attack, hit his sword with his bokken, then his arm, before slamming his wooden sword into the young man's side, knocking him down. His sword clattered to the ground, as the Demon Slayer pushed himself up. Muichiro pointed his bokken at the young man's chest, "you know if this were a real fight, you'd be dead three times over, right?" the black and teal-haired teen asked.
The young man looked down with a frustrated sigh. Suddenly Muichiro noticed the two Kamado Brother's. "Ah! Tanjiro! Gyutaro! It's great to see you again!" he said with a warm smile. "Hey Muichiro! I'm glad to see all your wounds have healed well!" Tanjiro replied with his own smile. Gyutaro and Tanjiro entered the Dojo, as Muichiro lowered his Bokken, "alright, take a break everyone. We'll start again soon" the Mist Hashira said. The Demon Slayers sighed and groaned as they stood up painfully. Muichiro walked up to the Brothers, "Yuichiro has been wanting to see you again Tanjiro. This is honestly the most Interactive he's been in a long time, so I admit I was hoping you would arrive soon" he explained.
"Really? So Yuichiro has been doing better? How's his mental state?" Gyutaro asked. "I'll show you" Muichiro replied, leading the two of them out of the Dojo and into the Estate proper.
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The three of them walked through the Estate, until they reached a door. "This is where Yui' and I sleep. He's too scared to sleep alone" Muichiro explained. He knocked on the door, "Yui'? We've got some visitors" he called softly, before opening the door. Yuichiro was sitting up in his Futon, a children's book in his one hand as he read it. The teen looked up with his distant gaze, before he lit up. "Father!" he said happily, slightly more aware than he had been last time. Yuichiro put down his book and stood up, before running over to Tanjiro, "I missed you Father! Did you sell all the firewood?" he asked.
For a moment, Tanjiro got a flash of memories. His younger Siblings crowding him in excitement after he came back from selling Charcoal in the Village. He smiled softly, and pat the younger boy's head, "yes Yuichiro. I sold it. So I'll be able to stay for a while, okay?" he asked. The burgundy-haired teen still felt uncomfortable lying to the poor teen. But it brought Yuichiro comfort, so he pushed down the painful feeling in his chest and smiled when Yuchiro smiled in joy. The 13-year-old hugged Tanjiro with his only arm, snuggling into his Haori, "Father" he sighed in contentment.
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After a while, Yuichiro began to fall asleep, so they got him comfortable in his Futon. Once they left the bedroom, Muichiro smiled gratefully, "I really am grateful for you pretending to be our Father. It really helps Yui'. Ever since he met you, he's hardly wandered off. It's helped me feel a lot more comfortable running this Hashira Training since I don't have to worry about Yuichiro leaving the Estate to look for me." He explained. Tanjiro frowned, "I still feel bad about lying to him. Especially when he can't tell I'm lying" he replied. "But if it helps him not to panic, or wonder off and get hurt, isn't it worth it Tanjiro?" Gyutaro asked.
"I guess" the younger Kamado replied. "Anyway, hurry up and get ready you two. The break is almost over" Muichiro said, as he walked away down the hall towards the Dojo. "Right!" Gyutaro agreed.
U*G.K
Gyutaro and Tanjiro watched as Muichiro spared with the other Demon Slayers. With each hit, Gyutaro couldn't help but flinch. It was obvious that the Mist Hashira wasn't used to sparing with the weaker Slayers. All he did was knock them down and then reprimand them for leaving holes in their defence, or panicking while facing him. Even Gyutaro knew that they wouldn't learn anything like that. "Hey, Muichiro!" he called. The younger boy looked over at him, "I don't think this is an effective way to train inexperienced Swordsmen." He said.
"I can't train them properly until they get the basics down. Right now, all they're doing is swinging their swords wildly and charging at me. I'm trying to show them that doing that repeatedly won't change the results" Muichiro replied. The other Demon Slayers looked down, shame in their barring's. Tanjiro frowned. Well, that was true, but still- "Pick up your Sword" the Tokito ordered. The young man did so, taking deep breaths, before yelling and running forwards to strike wildly. The Mist Hashira dodged the attack and smacked him on the back with his Bokken. "If you let your emotions guide your attacks, you'll never be a match for your opponent. In all seriousness, you'd be a moth flying into a flame" Muichiro said.
"There are no do-over's when you're fighting a Demon. Even if you've only made one mistake, one slip-up can be fatal. You need to hone all of your movements. Only then will you have a chance at surviving" Muichiro said. "Hold on Muichiro. If you keep going like this, then none of them will ever improve" Gyutaro said. "I'm just trying to make sure they learn. None of them even know the basics of fighting. And I can't move forwards with the training until they do" Muichiro replied. Tanjiro frowned, "I guess that's true, but the other Demon Slayers can't really learn anything if you're just beating them up" he replied. "Hm, that's true. I'll think about it" Muichiro replied, before leaving the Dojo.
Many of the other Demon Slayers collapsed to the ground, "urgh, does he have to be so intense?" one young man asked. Another looked over at the Kamado's, "hey, you two are friends with the Mist Hashira, right? Can you ask him to tone it down with the drills?" he asked. "Well, he has actually gotten better at that lately from what I can tell" Gyutaro replied. "Seriously?! If that's the case, we're doomed!" another young man groaned. The younger Kamado frowned, "I think he's just trying to make you all as strong as possible. He's lost a lot, and he doesn't want any of us to go through the same thing he has" Tanjiro replied.
"*sigh* I guess that makes sense. But still, the training that a Hashira considers 'easy' is a nightmare for us" one young man replied.
U*G.K
Three days later, Muichiro was still training the other Demon Slayers, and they hadn't seemed to make much progress, however, as for Gyutaro and Tanjiro- "That's good!" Muichiro called, as Tanjiro dodged out of the way of one of his strikes, "you're moving much better Tanjiro!" he praised
Suddenly the door to the Dojo opened, "Mui?" Yuichiro asked, poking his head into the room. He was in tears. Muichiro gasped, "Everyone stop!" he ordered. The other Demon Slayers stopped training, and looked between the two teens in surprise. Muichiro hurried over to his brother, "Yuichiro! What are you doing here? I told you to wait for me inside!" the Mist Hashira admonished lightly, checking his twin over for any injuries. "I got scared! I couldn't find you or Mother or Father!" the 13-year-old replied, gripping onto Muichiro tightly with his only hand.
"Yui" the Tokito said sadly, hugging his twin close. The other Demon Slayers looked at them in confusion, "two Tokito's! What?!" one of them asked in shock. "He's my twin Brother," Muichiro replied. Suddenly he looked up and glared at everyone, "and if anyone dares to say anything bad about him, your previous training will look like a stroll through a sunny field, understand?" he asked menacingly. "G-got it!" one young man replied, with many of the other Demon Slayers hastily nodding in agreement. Yuichiro turned to look around himself. That's when he saw Tanjiro walking up with a smile on his face. "Father!" he exclaimed happily.
He moved to hug the older boy, and Tanjiro hugged him back, "hi Yui. Are you behaving for your Brother?" he asked. Yuichiro frowned, "Yes, but, he keeps leaving me alone. Are you coming home soon Father?" he asked, looking up at Tanjiro with pleading eyes. Tanjiro grimaced at having to tell so many lies, but took a deep breath, Muichiro and I are working right now, so we can't come home. I need you to be a good boy for your Brother, alright?" Tanjiro asked. Yuichiro looked scared, "but I'm scared to be all alone at home" the teen replied. Muichiro stepped up then, "well, Father and Gyutaro's training is just about complete. So, why don't we all do something fun today?" he suggested with a soft smile.
"Really? Father will play with us?!" Yuichiro asked excitedly. "Sure, let's all do something fun together Yuichiro" Tanjiro replied, patting the younger boy on the head.
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Eventually, after some suggestions were tossed around, it was decided that they would have a drawing contest, and all of the Corps Members, eager for a break from training, excitedly joined in. Tables were brought outside, so they could draw in the sun, and everyone sat at them. "I'm going to draw our Siblings" Gyutaro said. "I think I have to draw the twins, to keep this illusion up" Tanjiro replied awkwardly. "What are you going to draw Yuichiro?" Muichiro asked his Brother. "I'm going to draw you" the boy replied. Soon everyone had started drawing.
The area was filled with quiet scratching sounds as the Corps Members drew their pictures. Gyutaro was so focused on his picture that everything else faded away. Eventually time was up, but Gyutaro was so focused he didn't even notice. Nor did he notice many of the other Demon Slayers gathering around his table to look at his drawing. Finally he put down his pencil and sighed, looking up to see faces of awe around him. Gyutaro blinked in confusion, "what is it?" he asked. "I didn't know you were so good at drawing big Brother!" Tanjiro said in awe. It was then that the young man looked down at his picture to find that he'd finished it without even realising.
Gyutaro smiled softly, "I didn't know either" he replied. Finally, Muichiro declared Gyutaro the winner.
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Gyutaro and Tanjiro stood in front of the Mist Estate with their things. Muichiro smiled at them, "well, you've both completed my training. Say hello to Mitsuri for me!" he called, as he waved goodbye. "We will! See you later!" Tanjiro called back. The two Kamado's then ran off towards the Love Estate.