Tanjiro gasps for air as he tries to keep up with Hakuji. 'How is he so fast?!' Tanjiro thinks to himself exhausted as he runs after Hakuji.
"Don't tell me your tired already." Hakuji says he slows down.
Tanjiro gasps for air. "Y-your...way...t-too...fast..." Tanjiro says between pants.
"Well your in luck, we've made it." Hakuji says as he gestures around them.
Tanjiro takes another breath before he looks around. Their in a decent sized village maybe a bit bigger then his own. A few dozen villagers are already working about as a few children run around as they play. Tanjiro smells some brand new scents and maybe some water a mile or two north. Tanjiro hears wind chimes singing somewhere.
"Wow...it's really nice here." Tanjiro says wonderfilled.
"Yeah guess so, anyway I'm going now." Hakuji says bluntly.
"Wait what?! I thought you were going to take me to Mr. Rengoku?!" Tanjiro exclaims.
"You can ask the villagers, besides I've been away too long escorting you here all day. She's probably so worried by now." Hakuji mutters to himself.
"Who's she?" Tanjiro asks curiously.
"Nevermind! Keep your sister safe Tanjiro. Maybe someday you'll be strong like me as well." Hakuji says.
"Alright I hope I see you ag-" Hakuji disappears instantly. "...nevermind." Tanjiro mutters.
Tanjiro adjusts the basket on his back carrying Nezuko as he starts walking around. Tanjiro makes his way to a nice looking woman and clears his throat.
"Hello miss would you be kind enough to tell me where Mr. Rengoku lives around these parts?" Tanjiro asks kindly.
"Oh sure little one, Rengoku-san lives on the edge of town. I've heard he stays there to spot out for any demons." The woman says with a kind tone.
"Thank you very much!" Tanjiro exclaims as he brings out some money to pay her.
"Oh sweetie I dont need payment." She says with a little laugh.
"I insist!" Tanjiro pushes the coins towards her.
"It's really not necessary." The woman protests.
"I INSIST!" Tanjiro yells out as he shoves the coins into her hands before running off.
Tanjiro continues on his run until he makes it to the outskirts of town. He sees various trees and some new smells. Tanjiro hears the birds chirp and the squirrels chitter. Tanjiro eventually let's Nezuko out of the box so she can stretch her legs a little. He imagines it must be rather cramped in there. He sees a few directional signs when he smells something...blood.
Tanjiro rushes towards the smell with a little fear until he makes it to a house. It seems normal, until he sees the broken glass and blood.
Tanjiro heads inside to see a demon, somewhat scaly and with long hair, eating an older man and woman.
"Hmm?" The demon vocalized as he noticed Tanjiro and Nezuko. "Oh are you a youngling? Go ahead its only fair us older demons share our kills."
"Y-you...Your a demon!" Tanjiro exclaims.
The demom takes a closer look, he thought he was looking at a demon because of the scent but now that he thinks about it he can smell two distinct scents. One human and one demon.
"What's a human like you traveling with a demon?" The demon asks as he stands up at his full height of 6'1.
"This is my sister Nezuko! I won't let you kill another human!" Tanjiro yells out as he grabs his Axe.
"Oh really?" The demon smirks. "Okay, DIE!" He yells out as he lunges at Tanjiro.
Tanjiro quickly reacts with a slash to the demons chest but the demon just laughs.
"Really kid? No offense but if you think something like that will take me down and then your pretty stupid." The demon says with an evil smirk as he prepares to kill Tanjiro.
"Nezuko run!" Tanjiro yells out as he holds the demon back with his axe.
"Kid she's a demon like me, she ain't worried about running. She's worried about her next meal, which is gonna be pretty soon at this rate." The demon responds as Nezuko stands over the demon bodies.
Nezuko feels drool run down her chin as her claws sharpen. 'Hungry...so..so...HUNGRY!' Her thoughts are filled with.
"Nezuko! Hold on!" Tanjiro yells out as he tries to figure out some way for him to defend his sister.
The demon takes advantage of Tanjiro's distraction to slit his throat but before he could move.
FLAME BREATHING, 1ST FORM. UNKNOWNING FIRE.
A slash went through the demons neck as he feels his head fall off his body. "W-wait what?!" The demon screeches as his body disintegrates into ash.
Tanjiro watchs with wide eyes until he smells the brand new scent that had entered the house.
Tanjiro looks at the strange man. He has bright hair that could be orange or red but Tanjiro can't quite tell in his dark light. The man has a katana in his hands and by the way he's holding it he clearly knows how to use it well. His scent is rather weird, it seems warm yet cruel.
The man doesn't say a word as he turns his attention towards a still drooling Nezuko.
"H-hey! However you are! Leave Nezuko alone!" Tanjiro yells out but the man does not stop.
The man walks over to Nezuko and grips his blade. Ready to strike if Nezuko moves even an inch.
Nezuko stands there, she's so hungry. There's food fright in front of her, its time to dig in! Before Nezuko moves though she notices the loud noises stopped. She looks to see a weird man with bright hair and a sword, she doesn't know why but she doesn't like the sword. She wants it away from her right now. Nezuko sees the kind boy as well, he's standing there and he seems scared. What is he scared of? Nezuko doesn't plan on eating him, she doesn't know quite why but she definitely doesn't want to eat him. So why is he so scared? Is it this man? Does the kind boy hate the man's sword as much as she does?
Nezuko completely forgets about her previous hunger as she walks over to the kind boy and gives him a hug. 'See...Safe...' Nezuko thinks to herself...
Tanjiro brings Nezuko closer with slight tears. He was so scared she was going to try and eat those corpses.
"Interesting, it appears Hakuji wasn't telling an elaborate joke. Then again that's usually not his style." The man says with his stoic voice. Even if he's just speaking normally it feels like his voice is booming in Tanjiro's mind.
"A-are you...Mr. Rengoku?" Tanjiro asks in a worried tone.
"Yes, although by your tone you probably wish I wasn't." Kyojonro Rengoku says with his usual cold tone.
"Oh no! I don't mean any offense! I was just worried you were going too kill Nezuko there! It's very nice to me-"
"What will you do when your sister kills a human?" Kyojonro interrupts.
Tanjiro looks confused for a moment. "Nezuko will never kill a human." Tanjiro insists.
"Fine, what will you do IF your sister kills a human." Kyojonro says a little annoyed.
"Well, Umm, I'll umm..." Tanjiro stammers.
"Then I'll tell you, if your sister ever kills a human or even hurts one then you will first kill her, then you will kill yourself to atone for the human your sister killed." Kyojonro answers bluntly.
Tamjiro looks at him with a bit of fear but then feels Nezuko's embrace. "I never will have too Mr. Rengoku, but if that ever happens I will do what you say with no hesitation."
Kyojonro takes a long look at Tanjiro before sighing. "Alright, I believe you. Let's head to my house and get some sleep."
Tanjiro lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he follows Kyojonro. After an hour of walking they make to a nice looking house, a bit behind the times.
"Is this your home Mr. Rengoku?" Tanjiro asks earnestly.
"No its a random house we're breaking into." Kyojonro responds sarcastically. "I'm too tired for stupid questions."
"Oh sorry."
"Find a place to sleep, I'll be waking you up at 6:30am exactly. If your not ready to train at full capacity by 7:00am then your not worth my time." Kyojonro says in a cold tone as he walks away to his room.
Tanjiro just goes along with it as finds a decent enough room. He makes room for Nezuko as she flops down and insantly falls asleep. Tanjiro lays down and then...starts crying. He tries to calm himself down knowing he'll need the sleep and yet the tears just don't stop. The images of his dead family members bodies are still fresh in his mind.
He's been trying to ignore it and with trying to keep up with Hakuji and fighting for his life against a demon it wasn't hard but right now. When everything is calm and he has a moment to think. The tears won't stop falling.
"Takeo...Hanako...Shigeru...Rokuda...Mom." Tanjiro mutters to himself. He so badly wants to hold them. He so badly wants his mother's warm embrace that always made the day more manageable.
"Why? Why did they have to die?!" Tanjiro whispers to himself so damn tired and yet he can't bring himseld to rest.
Their voices, their laugh, their smiles, he will never get to have them again. Demon's took that away. Whatever demon that did this is the reason why he won't ever get to play with his family ever again. Tanjiro feels a burning hatred boil in his gut. He will kill that demon. He'll drag them into hell itself with his bare hands. He'll-
Tanjiro then feels Nezuko shift in her sleep. Tanjiro looks at her and his heart softens a bit. 'Nezuko, I have to be strong for her.' Tanjiro thinks to himself determined.
The tears finally stop falling as Tanjiro's exhaustion overtakes him.
The next day
"Wake up!" Calls out Kyojonro's voice as Tanjiro opens his eyes. The sun hasn't even fully rosen yet and he's already being forced to work?
"Oh did I interrupt a good dream?" Kyojonro asks rhetorically. "Well go ahead and sleep then, I'm sure your sister also is having a great dream even though she's a man eating demon."
"Okay okay! I'm up!" Tanjiro yells as he gets up. "I'm sorry I just needed a moment."
"Well against a demon a moment could be the difference between life and death, so you should always be on guard." Kyojonro lectures.
Tanjiro sighes as he starts getting dressed. 'I suddenly feel sympathy for Mr. Tatakai' Tanjiro thinks to himself.
outside
"Catch." Kyojonro says as he throws a wooden sword at Tanjiro.
"Woah!" Tanjiro exclaims as he barely catchs it.
"Now, before we begin your training I must understand where your starting point. How strong are you currently, how fast, how agile, your swordplay, and more. So we will spare until I believe I've gotten all my information, understand?"
"Okay! Let's g-" Tanjiro is interrupted by a blunt pain in his side and his sword going flying.
"Never shout what your about to do in conbat!" Kyojonro yells. "Now pick up your sword!"
"Y-yes Mr. Rengoku-" Tanjiro feels another pain in his side.
"You will call me master or sensi from now on!" Kyojonro orders.
"Yes master...-" Tanjiro spews blood as he feels a pain in gut.
"With spirit! If your giving up that easily your never gonna be more then a hindrance!" Kyojonro yells out.
"Yes master!" Tanjiro waits for the strike but it doesn't come. With a breath Tanjiro picks up his sword.
"Very well, let's begin."
Hours later
Tanjiro lays on the ground, absolutely exhausted. His arms creak with effort as he tries and fails to lift the practice sword. He's covered in brusies from head to toe. His breaths are labored. Tanjiro is just completely done.
"Hmmm, are you done already? Your gonna have to be tougher then that if you want to survive against a demon, let alone a Kizuki member."
"What...What are the Kuzuki?" Tanjiro asks slightly curious but mainly just wanting to get a break.
"You don't know what the Kizuki are? The demon moons?" Kyojonro asks in a tone like Tanjiro is a little child who doesn't understand how to count.
"Master, may I remind you that I only discovered demons even existed, yesterday." Tanjiro replies too tired to be nice.
"Hmph, very well. The 12 Kizuki, or the 12 demon moons, are the strongest of all the demons. There is the lower moons, the weaker 6, and the upper moons, the stronger 6. Lower moons are usually killed by hashria or up incoming hashria. Upper moons meanwhile are a lot stronger, usually only 1 being killed every other generation. The last one killed was 26 years ago although some say our current hashria are strong enough to kill one. I believe it's better to assume your too weak and then to assume your strong enough." Kyojonro lectures as Tanjiro tries to catch his breath.
"Wait, what are hashria?" Tanjiro questions, genuinely interested now that it seems important.
"Hashria are the strongest of all demon slayers. The prodigys and hardest workers. We usually average 6-7 hashria every generation but in this day and age we currently have 8, soon 9 as I've heard of a strong up and coming demon slayer."
"Wow the hashria sound incredible, were you ever a hashria master?" Tanjiro asks innocently.
Kyojonro's face darkens as he grips his blade tighter. "Enough, back to training."
Tanjiro barely had a second to breathe before they started up the "training" again. 'Did I touch a nerve?' Tanjiro wonders to himself.
Dear Nezuko, it's your older brother Tanjiro. You've been asleep for some reason ever since I started my training. Master suspects it's your way of conserving energy. No matter how hard I try to wake you up, you just stay asleep. So I'm gonna start writing these letters so at the very least you'll be caught up whenever you awake. Master has been training me to the bone.
"I want 1,000 more swings!"
"You can run faster then that!"
"Did you forget to breath?!"
But I have been feeling myself getting stronger. Master says right now he's just getting me ready for the real training, if this is juat conditioning then I'm a little scared to see "real" training. Anyway! I hope you wake up soon, I miss you!
"Tanjiro, let me tell you about the breathing styles." Kyojonro begins as Tanjiro gasps for air. Tanjiro had just finished his 1,000 swings and was ready to learn about this real training. He'd been training with master 5 weeks now and Nezuko had been asleep for all of them. Tanjiro would be worried but honestly he's too tired to be worried half the time.
"You see demons, to put it bluntly, are superior to humans in almost every way. They can regenerate from any wound with enough time, they have unstoppable strength, speed, and agility, a normal human could only dream to even stand a chance against a weak demon."
"Is this supposed to be a reality check?" Tanjiro asks with a raised eyebrow.
"No, you see to be able to fight against a demon we humans have developed our own way of bridging the gap. Our breathing technique. It is the most useful skill a demon slayer could use.
"What's a breathing style or technique thing?" Tanjiro asks.
"A breathing style is a way of sword combat, specific movements that can deal true damage to a demon. Their superior to regular sword fighting because of the power they yield. I specialize in a technique called, flame breathing."
"Flame breathing..." Tanjiro mutters, committing the name to memory.
"Yes, every breathing technique has strengths and weaknesses. Water breathing users are prepared for any situation with its adaptability but they don't have a specialty. Thunder breathing is great for speedy attacks but other then the first form non of the attacks contain a lot of power. Flame breathing is much like an opposite. Flame breathing is all about strong, single attacks to beat your opponent completely, but flame breathing techniques are hard to use continuously."
"Wow...If I may ask, what's the strongest breathing technique?" Tanjiro asks.
"Well that's subjective, some breathing styles fit someone more then others. I'm a powerful flame breathing user but I would not be a good water breather."
"Okay! I understand master!" Tanjiro says with a wide grin.
"Good, first you will start with the first form. I will send you to final selection when I deem that you have mastered all 9 forms."
"Okay master! I won't disappoint you!" Tanjiro says.
"You better not." Kyojonro says with a cold smile that fills Tanjiro with dread.
Dear Nezuko, it's been 6 months since you fell asleep. I've been working hard to master flame breathing. Currently I've been able to master the first two forms and I have a good understanding of the third. I'll be working on the fourth tomorrow. I hope your having good dreams while your asleep. Honestly I'm getting really worried. But no matter what I won't give up or fail. I will turn you into a human again no matter what!
Tanjiro walks into the town, Kyojonro had run out of food and had sent Tanjiro to get some. Sometimes Tanjiro wondered if the only reason Kyojonro kept him around was because he did the chores.
Tanjiro enters a little shop and manages to find the things he needs when...
"Hey mister! I haven't seen you around here, what's your name?" Asks a little boy around 9 as he pokes Tanjiro's arm.
"Oh! My name is Tanjiro, you?" Tanjiro says.
"Horu, now where are you from?" Haru asks innocently.
"Oh I'm from a small village quite a few miles away. It'd probably take several hours on horse." Tanjiro says.
"So why are you here now? Why are you here now?" Haru asks.
"Oh well you see, my family was killed by demons...Now I'm training with mas- erm, Mr. Rengoku so I can kill demons." Tanjiro says with a little sad smile.
"Oh...you too?" Haru says as he looks down.
"...How old were you?" Tanjiro asks Haru with a sympathetic smile.
"5...I was saved by a demon slayer and brought here for safety, demons don't attack here often because of Rengoku-San. I want to become a demon slayer when I grow up!" Haru proclaims.
Tanjiro looks at the little boy and then squats down to look him in the eyes. "Haru, I promise to be such a good demon slayer that you won't have too. I'll carry your dream for you."
"Really?" Haru asks with little tears.
"Of course." Tanjiro smiles.
Haru hugs Tanjro. "Thank you Tanjiro-San."
Dear Nezuko. I've met a little boy recently, he kinda reminds me a bit of Shigeru and it's nice to be around him. I'm gonna try and complete Haru's dream as well and kill every demon. Anyway, You've still be sleeping but hopefully you'll wake up soon. I miss you!
"Tanjiro do you know about concentration breathing?" Kyojonro asks as Tanjiro practices the fourth form of flame breathing.
"Um no master, I can't say I do." Tanjiro says with confusion.
"Yeah I thought so, Tanjiro concentration breathing is the other way us demon slayers are able to reach the power of demons. By breathing a certain way we're able to bring more oxygen into our lungs, make our heart beat faster, increase our strength, allow our senses to be heighten, some of of the strongest demon slayers such as the hashria know how to heal themselves and stop bleeding with concentration breathing."
"Wow! That all sounds amazing!" Tanjiro exclaims. "Are you gonna teach me all that?"
"I'd be a failure of a trainer if I didn't at least try." Kyojonro says with a nod of his head. "Just be warned it's not as easy as it seems. It took me almost an entire year to master concentration breathing constant."
Tanjiro decides to ask about what concentration breathing constant is a bit later as Tanjiro has a question to ask. "Hey master?"
"Yes?" Kyojonro replies with a rasied eyebrow.
"Why aren't you a hashria? Your only 32 so your still in your prime, your skills are amazing, and based on your scent I'd say your as strong as Hakuji-San. And you said he was a hashria himself."
A dark look comes upon Kyojonro's face. The same one that always came when Kyojonro talked about his time as a demon slayer. "...Very well, since you are my student you deserve to know about the Rengoku family curse."
"A curse?" Tanjiro whispers. "What do you mean?"
"You see, 100 to 150 years ago. One of our own, a flame hashria, decided to become a demon." Kyojonro says sadly. "Because of that we were shamed for an entire generation. Eventually we made our way back into the corps good graces but that's when we discovered our curse. No Rengoku has ever survived being a hashria longer then a year. They all have died to unknown causes. Leaving for missions that they never return from. That's how I lost my Mother, sister, and brother."
"Oh master! That's horrible! Is there any way of breaking the curse?" Tanjiro asks.
"We haven't yet figured it out. Me and another cousin are the only Rengoku's left. He's already married so more of us should be born soon. For now the only thing we can do is train swordsman in the hope they become a hashria and break our curse."
"Master, my goal is to turn my sister back into a human, but I promise to try my best to help beat your families curse as well!" Tanjiro proclaims with passion.
Kyojonro looks at Tanjiro's determined face and softly smiles...before, "OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH SAPPY STUFF! I WANT ANOTHER 2,000 SWINGS!"
"Yes master!" Tanjiro yells as he begins his swings.
Dear Nezuko, I promise with all my heart that I will turn you back into a human but, I also plan on helping everyone that I can along the way. I will meet expectations and become as strong as I can. Master has been training me to the point where I feel like I might die but I have to keep going.
FLAME BREATHING, 8TH FORM. TORCH LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.
Tanjiro takes a deep breath as he successfully uses the technique. "I did it...I DID IT! MASTER I DID IT!" Tanjiro yells out happily. It's been over a year an a half since his family died. Tanjiro has gained some muscle in that time and has been getting more and more skilled.
"Hmm, it appears you have." Kyojonro says in a tone of voice that to others would sound cruel but with Tanjiro spending so much time with the man he knows that he's proud of him. "Very well. I believe it's time to teach you, the 9th form..."
Taisho era secret!
Tanjiro: Hello! It's time for the Taisho era secret!
Kyojonro: Yes it appears it is, very well go ahead.
Tanjiro: Okay! Today'sTaisho era secret is! The 9th form of flame breathing is actually special! Only people of the Rengoku family can learn and teach it! Anyone that wasn't taught by a Rengoku doesn't have the ability to properly use the 9th form!
Kyojonro: Yes, and soon I'll be teaching that form to you as well.
Tanjiro: Yes! In the next episode, "Tanjiro kindles his flame!"
Author's notes
(Hello again! Here I was lowering your expectations and still posting before the end of the week. I just had time and it's not too hard to write as long as I set a time to do so. Now for the changes I've made. 1, Yes I've made the upper moons a little less strong, don't worry their still gonna be unstoppable especially upper 4 to upper 1. This is mainly so it doesn't seem like Tanjiro is such a choosen one protagonist. That the world still spins even without his help, he's just here to keep it going. 2, Yes Kyojonro is a complete OC but I thought it'd be boring if I just made Tanjiro a water breather again. Plus Urokadaki is a demon in this verse.
Side rant: Urokadaki is a horrible teacher. Dude didn't tell Tanjiro about concentration breathing, ghosts had to do it because Urokadaki wanted Tanjiro to fail and give up. Urokadaki still didn't tell Tanjiro about concentration breathing constant earlier as well! How hard would it have been for him to go, "Hey Tanjiro you know that concentration breathing thing your going, yeah just keep doing that and try to do it 24/7 even while your sleeping, it'll make you stronger," Sigh...Okay rant over.
3, I know we don't have full information about the 6th, 7th, and 8th form of flame breathing but don't worry I have some ideas. 4, I know the whole breathing techniques have different strengths and weaknesses thing should be obvious but it feels like the manga and anime never really tooks advantage of this so I'm gonna flesh it out some more. Anyway, I'll try to post again next week. Goodbye for now!