Tanjiro stared at his Siblings worriedly as they eyed the Swordsman like he was food. Drool dripped from their mouths as they slowly moved towards him. The only one who seemed calm was his Mother. Tanjiro stood with his arms out, "wait! You guys. Don't hurt him! He helped us!" he cried. The first one to move was Rokuta, the three-year-old moving like an animal on all fours.
"Rokuta!" Tanjiro yelped, grabbing his baby Brother and holding him close. The Toddler scratched at his back, trying to get free, but Tanjiro held him close, "you were hurt, weren't you? That man hurt you and everyone else! Well I won't let anyone hurt you again. Your Big Brother is here Rokuta, and I'm not going anywhere!" the 13-year-old cried. Rokuta's bright red eyes widened, and he dug his claws into Tanjiro's back harder, but stopped struggling.
Hanako was the next one to try something, drool slipping from her mouth. "Ah! Hanako!" Tanjiro moved in the way, and his youngest Sister stopped, tilting her head in confusion. "It's okay. The Mr isn't going to hurt you. You're okay now, please calm down" he said, wincing from Rokuta's claws, but otherwise showing no signs of pain. Hanako stared up at him, but didn't move. When Takeo stepped up, Tanjiro thought he was going to have to stop him as well. But he just stared up at him with bright red eyes.
Tanjiro took a chance and pat his Brother's now grey hair, "we're okay Takeo" he said softly. The Demon boy took his hand with both of his clawed ones when he removed it, staring at it unblinkingly. Shigeru and Nezuko came up to him next, the younger boy making sounds that weren't speech, but was also a far cry from the growls he'd been making before that. "Ahh. Taa-?" he said, his new fangs getting in the way. "I'm here. It's okay Shigeru" Tanjiro soothed. The Demon Slayer was watching all of this with wide eyes.
He'd never seen freshly turned Demons act like this towards a human before, even if the human was family. Nezuko looked up at Tanjiro, having shrunken back to her normal size now that the danger had passed. She was only a head shorter than him, being one year younger. Her Older Brother smiled at her, "thank you for helping protect me Nezuko" he said warmly. As his Mother stood next to her Oldest Daughter, she smiled at him.
Tears gathered in Tanjiro's eyes, "Mom, everyone. I thought you were dead for a moment there at first" he said, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Giyu watched all of this. It was amazing seeing Demons act this way. But, even if they wouldn't harm their Son/Brother, there's no telling how many more humans they would eat or kill if he let them go. He gathered his strength, despite the massive battle he'd just fought, gripping his sword tightly.
"I'm sorry" he said, catching the attention of the family. Tanjiro looked back at him in confusion, before he drew in a deep breath and vanished. Tanjiro stumbled back into the snow, Rokuta still clutched protectively in his arms. Before anything else could happen, his family had surrounded him protectively and Takeo punched the Swordsman's blade when he appeared to strike. The blade snapped, and Giyu was forced to jump back.
He eyed the Demons protectively surrounding the one human member of their family, before staring down at his broken Sword. He sighed deeply, and dropped it into the snow, resigning himself to whatever would happen. Giyu fell to his knees, his injuries fully catching up with him. The boost from Hanako's Blood Demon Art had fully worn off, the flower crumbling away, and left him feeling absolutely exhausted and weak. The last thing he saw as he fell forwards and lost consciousness was the human boy running up to him.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
Tanjiro ran forwards away from his family as the Swordsman collapsed into the snow. The strange flower Hanako had grown on his back had faded away into ash. He set Rokuta down next to the man and rolled him over. He had wounds all over his body, and his blood was staining the snow under him red. Tanjiro grimaced. If he wasn't treated soon, the man could die of bloodloss. Come to think of it, what happened to his family's injuries? They had gotten hurt plenty during that fight, but the wounds seemed to have disappeared as quickly as they'd come.
He shook his head. There was no time for that now! They seemed to be fine, and he could check their wounds soon. But this man was actively bleeding out. There was no time to get him to the Doctor in town. Looking back at his house, Tanjiro made a decision. "Mom, can you carry him? Without, you know?" he asked, looking up at his Mother. Kie moved over and picked up the man as easily as she would have Rokuta. Speaking of Rokuta, now that his attention was off the injured man, the toddler held up his arms to be held.
Tanjiro obliged and picked his baby Brother up. He looked up at the night sky. Thick clouds were gathering and promising more snowfall. He grimaced. He would need to use more of their unsold Charcoal tonight, especially with the door to their house broken. As he and his family moved inside their house, Tanjiro's mind was whirling with all the things he'd have to do.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
The first thing he did was start a fire in the Kitchen fire-pit. Then he blocked off the door as much as he could to keep the cold out. His Mother laid the injured man on a Futon Tanjiro had brought in with him from the Bedroom. His family huddled close together, watching him closely. Tanjiro quickly set to work on the man's injuries, removing his torn and bloody clothes. Several times his Siblings would make noises as he treated the bleeding wounds, but they stayed in their corner.
Finally, Tanjiro finished, and he covered the man in the Futon blanket. Once that was done, the young teen sat there, shivering. But he wasn't cold. The fire was doing it's job and keeping the cold out. No, he was shivering from everything that had happened that night. Finding that man attacking his family, seeing them all turn into Demons. Were they really Demons? From the stories he had heard from the older people in town and Mr Saburo, they certainly seemed like it.
Then there had been the massive battle with that other Demon- Tanjiro's head was pounding with an exhausted headache. He desperately wanted to go to sleep and wake up to find that this had all been some horrible nightmare. But the warmth on his skin and the lingering smell of blood from the injured man as well as his family proved to him that this was real. Even in his nightmares, blood didn't smell so real. After another moment, Tanjiro burst into tears. For a long moment he just sobbed all his emotions out. Then his breathing settled, his tears stopped and he dried his eyes.
Glancing over at his family, Tanjiro saw that they had fallen asleep curled up next to each other. He smiled. At least that was the same as always. That night Tanjiro kept watch over the man and his family. The smell of the Demon who had attacked them slowly faded from their mountain.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
The next morning, Tanjiro was woken by the Swordsman. His eyes snapped open to see the man grabbing his leg, his eyes wide open and eyeing his family, who were staring back from the corner. Tanjiro himself was a little unnerved by the glowing purple, red and pink eyes staring at them. He sighed slightly, knowing now that last night had not been a nightmare. He glanced down at the injured Swordsman. "It's okay. They won't hurt you" Tanjiro said calmly. The man's gaze snapped to him, "they just tried to kill me yesterday" he rasped. "Well, they won't hurt you now. Trust me. Their scent may be wary, but they're more scared of you than anything else" Tanjiro replied.
The man's look became incredulous. "Scared of me?! I saw what they did to Muzan last night, I'm not taking any chances!" he cried slightly hysterically. "Muzan? Do you mean that man that attacked us? Speaking of, I'm still confused as to what happened." Tanjiro asked. Giyu took a moment to calm down, using his Breathing to restore his pattern. He looked over at Tanjiro, who was staring at him with wide, trusting eyes. He sighed and looked away, "that man was the Demon King, the first one ever created and the creator of all other Demon's.
His name is Muzan Kibutsuji. He turns humans into man-eating Demons by injecting his blood into them. That's how your family is like this now" Giyu explained. Tanjiro's eyes widened, remembering how that man, Muzan, had had his hand stabbed through Hanako's chest when he got home. He had been injecting his blood into his baby Sister to turn her. He had done that to everyone. "However, I've never known Demon's to be able to defy him. Your family are the first I've ever known to do that. And also the first I've seen to refuse to eat human flesh when it's right in front of them." The man said.
"My family would never eat humans!" Tanjiro instantly replied. Giyu eyed him, "other people have said the same thing about their loved ones who have been turned, only to get devoured by the ones they put their faith in" he replied. Tanjiro's face crumpled as he thought about that. "Your family didn't try to eat you, but did go after me. Can you be sure that they won't try to eat any other human if the opportunity presents itself?" Giyu asked solemnly. Tanjiro looked down at his clenched fists, "I won't allow that to happen. I will protect them, even if it's from themselves. I won't allow them to eat anyone!" he said firmly, looking straight into Giyu's eyes.
The man sighed and looked back up at the ceiling, "but are you willing to pay the price if it does? If your family eats anyone, you'll have to kill them and then yourself to attone" he replied. Tanjiro paused, looking down to think, before his expression firmed, "then I'll just have to turn them back into humans before that happens!" he said. Giyu's gaze snapped back to him, "that's impossible. There is no way to turn Demons back into humans" he replied.
"Even if there's not now, I'll find one! I'll protect my family and make them all human again! No matter what it takes!" Tanjiro replied in determination. His Mother moved over to him and ran her hands through his long hair, which Tanjiro had since taken out of his ponytail, to soothe him. Giyu sighed, "well, Demons have never acted like this before either, so I suppose there's a first time for everything," he replied.
He looked back over at Tanjiro, "if you're really determined to do this, then you'll need training. Most Demon's aren't like your family. They won't just give you any information they have, and won't hesitate to try to kill and eat you. I'll take you to my Master's house. Hopefully he'll accept to train you even with your family" Giyu said. "You mean after you've recovered, right?" Tanjiro asked. "I can direct you even in this state. And if their performance before was any indication, your family can take on any Demon themselves" he replied.
"Are you sure about this?" Tanjiro asked softly. "It's the only choice we have. I'll write a letter to my Master while you get everything ready for us to leave. Also, now that your family are Demons, they can't be exposed to sunlight. So you'll need something to carry them in during the day". Tanjiro nodded, his mind already thinking through everything he'd need. He had two basket that he could carry the younger kids in, but how to transport everyone if they couldn't go out in the sun? As he thought, Tanjiro couldn't supress a yawn. He decided to think on it more later, and looked down at the man, "do you mind if I go to sleep? It's been a long night" he asked.
Giyu sighed, "fine, but keep your family away from me, understand?" he asked. Tanjiro nodded, "oh! By the way, my name is Tanjiro Kamado. What's your name?" Tanjiro asked. Giyu Tomioka" Giyu replied. The Kamado nodded, "it's nice to meet you Mr Tomioka. Anyway, goodnight" he said. Then the boy stood up and moved to go to bed. Giyu watched as the Demon's eyed Tanjiro until he lay down next to them. Then they closed their eyes and went to sleep too. Despite Tanjiro's assurances, Giyu's instincts wouldn't let him sleep with so many Demon's so close. He stayed up all night, watching the family sleep.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
The next day Tanjiro changed Giyu's bandages and started to get things ready to transport his family. He had two baskets that some of his Siblings could fit in together if they shrank down, like how Nezuko grew the other day. And he had the cart that he hadn't used the other day to put them all in. most of his family wouldn't fit in the baskets though, so he decided that he needed something to cover the cart with as well. He got a sheet from the Linen Cupboard and tested it's size. It would cover the cart and baskets fine.
But there was still the issue of how to transport Mr tomioka since he was still injured. Tanjiro would also need food for the both of them for the journey. Maybe Mr Tomika had some ideas about how to do this. "your baskets have straps right? We can carry them on our backs while the others can hide under the sheet in the cart" Giyu said blankly. "Oh! Good idea! Thank you Mr Tomioka!" Tanjiro replied, running off. If his family shrunk down, two of them each could fit in the two baskets, while the other four could hide under the sheet and Giyu could sit in the cart as well. For the rest of the day, Tanjiro was busy fixing up everything they'd need for the trip.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
The Kamado family didn't have much of worth to bring with them, aside from the Ceremonial clothes for the Hinokami Kagura and their family records. So the cart was packed quickly. "Okay everyone, can you all shrink for me? You need to be the size of Rokuta!" Tanjiro prompted, holding up the toddler for emphasis, who giggled. After a few tries, everyone managed to do as asked, shrinking enough to fit in the baskets. Tanjiro placed everyone in the cart and covered it with the sheet. He had Hanako and Rokuta's basket on his back, while Giyu had Shigeru and Takeo's basket.
His Mother and Nezuko were in the cart, along with their belongings. Despite appearing uncomfortable with carrying the two Demon children on his back, Giyu didn't protest. The journey was slow-going, what with so many people, a cart and Giyu's injuries, but at least no Demons attacked them. Any who did were quickly taken out by the Demon Kamado's. Giyu had sent off his letter while Tanjiro was preparing for their departure, and he explained about the person they were travelling to meet while he did.
A few times at night, the man's injuries required him to sit in the cart while his family walked. Tanjiro didn't mind, but Giyu seemed annoyed by having to be cared for. It took several days and nights for them to reach the mountain that Urokodaki, Giyu's Master lived on. As they approached the base, the group found a man wearing a Tengu mask waiting for them. "Master Urokodaki" Giyu greeted. At that point Tanjiro's family were walking while the black-haired man sat in the cart. "Giyu. I'm glad that you really are still alive. After fighting Muzan Kibutsuji himself" Urokodaki said.
Tanjiro could smell the man's relief, before he turned his attention to the Kamado family. "So, this is the family you told me about then?" he asked. "Yes Master. This is the Kamado family" Giyu replied with a nod. "It's nice to meet you Sir. This is my Mother Kie, and my younger Siblings" Tanjiro introduced. After a moment, the older man sighed, "you've given me a lot of work to do, haven't you Giyu?" Urokodaki asked his former Student. "I'm sorry Sir. But this was the only thing I could think of. You're the only person I can trust with this" Giyu replied.
"*sigh* Hurry up and get your family inside then, before the sun rises" the masked man said with a sigh. "Yes! Thank you for this Sir!" Tanjiro replied, following Urokodaki towards his house.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
After they got to the small house, and his family were comfortably asleep in the second bedroom, Giyu spoke to the two of them, "I'm going to head to a place the Kakushi can pick me up from. Don't skimp on your training Tanjiro" he told the young teen. "I won't!" Tanjiro said firmly. Once the man was gone, Urokodaki turned to the 13-year-old, "alright. I'm going to test you to see if you're fit to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps" he explained. "Right! I won't fail!" Tanjiro swore. "Follow me" the older man said.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
Tanjiro was led up Mount Sagiri, and he looked around. This mountain was a lot taller than his own. He held his head as a wave of dizziness hit him, his breathes coming out more ragged. 'The air here- it's much thinner than on Mount Kumotori' he thought. Suddenly Urokodaki stopped and turned to look back at him, "now, find your way back to my house at the foot of the mountain. If you can do that before daybreak I'll take you on as a Student" he said, before vanishing in the fog.
"Ah! Okay! *pant*" Tanjiro called back to him. He closed his eyes and took a deep sniff of the air. Surprisingly to him, or maybe not so surprisingly, multiple scents of Urokodaki entered his nose. 'What are those scents? Has he really been up here so much?' Tanjiro wondered, opening his eyes. "I'm sure there's a trick to this. But I have to become a Demon Slayer for my family's sake!" Tanjiro said determinedly. He started to run down the mountain, when he suddenly tripped on a rope. Rocks were flung at him from the trees.
"What the-?" Tanjiro stumbled into a hidden pit. "Traps. Right" he muttered as he pulled himself up. He paid closer attention to Urokodaki's scent, and managed to avoid leaning on a rope when he climbed out of the hole. 'Focus! You have to succeed! Everyone needs you!' Tanjiro thought, as the faces of his family flashed in his mind.
ĐŚ·ĂÙ
As the sun started to rise, Urokodaki looked up from where he was sitting beside the sleeping Demons. Tanjiro stumbled inside, "I, I did it!" he panted, before collapsing into the Futon beside his Siblings. "Well, I guess I have a new Student now" the masked man said.