AN: I don't own Demon Slayer or Marvel's Avengers
Chapter 1
Strange Meetings
In the rising morning, Tanjiro slowly began to rise from his bed, yawning profusely as it was time to open the restaurant.
Normally, he would have gone for a run around at this time before work but an unfortunate meeting from a few days ago prevented his daily routine which was a shame.
He hadn't gotten a chance to try the new running shoes he bought a few weeks ago.
Ah well. Another time, another day for that.
Tomorrow would be his day off so it would give him a chance to catch up on his breathing exercises.
He thankfully paid the rent already from last week so it would give him more time on more personal matters.
Everything he had in his room was thanks to the salary he made over the five years he spent in New York, managing his restaurant and continuing to make customers happy due to his kind service.
It was sorta nostalgia in a way.
Before leaving for work, the red-haired restaurant owner decided to do a few push-ups to catch up on the exercise he missed in the past few days.
Gotta keep it up somehow.
Later in his cozy apartment after finishing his small workout, Tanjiro slowly removed his pajamas and began to enter his bathtub to take a hot shower.
The soothing water ran through Tanjiro's hair, causing him to be relieved and continue to wash his hair, letting it run wild in the water.
While in the shower, the former Demon Slayer continued to recollect his thoughts from his ordeal from two nights ago.
The fact that it happened in his restaurant is what surprised Tanjiro the most. It raised more questions than answers to the former slayer.
How long were they watching him?
Was this the first time they spotted him in the city?
Did they know he was a demon?
What exactly was Shield? Were they similar to the Demon Slayer corps from his original time? Sorta like an organization that protects the world from threats and monsters?
Does that mean they considered some type of menace in this decade?
Why? He hadn't hurt anyone nor would he plan to!
Even as a demon, his mother raised him with good manners and wouldn't harm another human. He swore it on his sister's life.
It was the last thing he yearned for and wouldn't consider it, not when he was alive as a human being.
All he wanted to do was live a peaceful life and forget all the war and blood he'd seen in the Taisho era. The many deaths that occur fighting Muzan's forces. This was meant to be a new beginning for him and he made a promise to his loved ones that he would keep living and couldn't afford to waste time wallowing in his despair.
He had a job to do after all.
Stepping out of the shower, the retired Demon Slayer grabbed a towel from the rack and continued to dry his red hair that he paid for from his salary.
As Tanjiro continued to dry his hair, the former slayer walked over to his wall-in closet outside of the bathroom and opened it with his hands.
There had to be something good to wear.
The now-turned-demon began to search for clothes to wear on a nice afternoon in the small part where he lived.
Upon grabbing the items he needed, Tanjiro grabbed black cargo pants, along with a light red shirt and a green and black plaid flannel shirt to wear over it.
What? He had a casual sense of style.
Why should he change it, despite the different decades?
Taking about ten minutes to get dressed, Tanjiro made his way into the kitchen and walked over to where the kitchen cupboards were located.
Opening one of the cabinets, Tanjiro smiled and grabbed a tea chest he had handmade before he left home and said goodbye to all of his loved ones.
Grabbing a clean pot kettle filled with water, Tanjiro placed the kettle on the stove and began to boil the water as the retired demon slayer took out a small tea bag from the chest and placed it in his favorite mug.
It was what kept his hunger in control, after all, along with the hours of sleep he had gotten from last night.
He'd owed Tamayo this blessing.
After finishing brewing his tea, Tanjiro had a few moments to kill before he left the apartment complex and decided on the one thing he did come to enjoy doing in this modern era.
Watching television.
The former demon slayer was still amazed at how much technology evolved over the decades he lived in. The fact that it was kinda like watching a play but behind a screen made Tanjiro's jaw drop to the floor the first time he encountered one back in the sixties to seventies.
Oh boy! If only his sister and former comrades were here with him, he can already imagine the wacky expressions on Zenitsu and Inosuke.
He wondered if Japan got the same treatment as well.
How long has it been since he visited his home country?
He does hope he can visit sometime in the future, and revisit his home once again.
Tanjiro was currently watching an American sitcom called How I Met Your Mother, which Tanjiro found amusing in a lot of parts. A good way to explain how the culture in New York works here.
He supposes but hey, it sure is entertaining. Not just that but there were other sources of entertainment to watch on his colorful screen of his.
One thing that did catch Tanjiro's attention was a type of animation that originated from his original country which was called "anime."
Tanjiro found the art and the style unique and was glad to see that creative works from his original country were getting recognition in a way.
He remembered seeing a few when he first arrived in New York and the ones he can think of were Dragon BallZ, Fist of the North Star, and Yu Yu Hakusho to name a few.
After watching the first five minutes of the episode, it was unexpectedly interrupted by a breaking news story.
Tanjiro slowly set his tea on the coffee table, his eyes glued to the screen.
What could they be showing that was so urgent as the red-haired demon wondered curiously to himself.
"Last night in Nevada located in the Mojave Desert, a secret government facility collapsed, hundreds of workers were injured or killed, possibly trapped underneath the rubble of the building. We have reported that a glowing blue light occurred, a few minutes before disaster struck. Authorities are sent at this very moment, to rescue any survivors, and are investigating the current mysteries behind this catastrophe. More tonight at eight."
Tanjiro's eyes widened at the news. That was… terrible at what just happened. Could it have been an earthquake?!
No, that only happens in Los Angeles. And rare times the last time he's been there. This happened in Nevada which was strange, considering the points Tanjiro had brought up earlier.
It was both gruesome and bizarre at the same time. He thought about the situation. What if he was there?
What if… What if he was there? What if he took action and maybe did something to prevent it?
No, as much as he didn't want to admit it, it wasn't his fault. Tanjiro knew he couldn't blame himself for this. How could he? He was managing the restaurant a few days ago when this accident occurred.
And it happened in a different state no less.
Not only that but he would be bringing attention to himself. The last thing he needed at the moment. It wasn't helping that a secret organization knew about his whereabouts and would only earn him trouble from the start.
Reminding himself of the meeting from a few nights ago, Tanjiro remembered the man named Fury, about how the world needs remarkable people like him.
The Avenger's Initiative. Those were the last words he recollected, coming from the man who wanted him to be a part of something special.
Was it… Was it possible that his role as a Demon Slayer, let alone a hero, wasn't over yet?
This was becoming very conflicting for Tanjiro. What would his former master say about it? What would his sister say about it?
Turning the T.V. off, Tanjiro got up from his chair and went to his desk, to check on the mementos from back home.
Glancing from where his computer and bookshelf were, the box where he used to carry his sister was still in the same condition.
Opening it, Tanjiro was glad to see that the box still had his old uniform and green and black checkered haori from the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kami, the sight of his old uniform brought back a lingering feeling of nostalgia to the former slayer.
This and his Nichirin Blade are a few things from his past, reminding him of the responsibility he had when it came to taking care of his family.
But he wasn't the same man he was years ago. He was just your typical restaurant owner. That pretty much answers his question.
For now, Tanjiro would continue the same routine he has been doing for the past couple of years.
Waking up, getting dressed in the morning, having a cup of tea, locking the door to the apartment, heading to work, closing up the restaurant, heading back home to do it again, repeating the same steps the next day.
Still, he had to ask himself again.
Could he still help people with his "gifts?"
Shaking his head in irritation, the former demon slayer got a hold of himself and continued to sip on his hot beverage, trying his best to forget about the incident that just occurred on the news.
Finally finishing his tea and putting on a set of dark sneakers, Tanjiro grabbed the keys to his apartment along with his phone, closed the door behind him, and headed to open up the Hinokami Dragon once more.
Let's hope he has a good day this time.
Well said.
This was more like it.
After opening the restaurant, Tanjiro was in the kitchen and slowly placed the containers, filled with fresh food, and headed towards where the dine-in was located to continue to place the menus on each of the tables.
Tanjiro went into the back of the kitchen and continued to count all the storage he ordered for food items and began to stack them in their perspective order.
It was now time to get to work.
Customers soon entered and began to order from the menus Tanjiro had placed earlier.
This is what he needed. Just time to focus on something that would help with his living situation and working in the service industry.
After taking their orders and cooking their meals, another smile appeared on Tanjiro's face, already forgetting about the early commotion on the news.
Cooking ramen bowls and making sure the establishment was being managed well was making good time for the red-haired demon in disguise.
The day has been good so far. Customers had come in regularly and the pacing was steady throughout from the early morning to the late afternoon.
The business began to slow down after five since it was a school day after all. Tanjiro can understand, especially since he can agree education was an important factor in this current decade.
On weekends, families came together and became nearly packed with kids and parents having a get-together.
It sure did help pass the time, thanks to his past experiences in labor.
Unfortunately, it was a little slow today so all Tanjiro could do was wait. In the meantime, he'll check if all the tables are clean and if he has enough inventory for his recipes and meals.
At an abrupt moment, the bell of the restaurant's door rang, catching the red-haired owner's attention.
'That smell… I think I can recognize who that is!' Tanjiro recollected the scent, located in his restaurant.
Turning to greet the customer, Tanjiro's eyes were on a particular face, his smile increased at the person at the entrance.
It was a bald middle-aged man, wearing a plain black suit with a white shirt and black tie over it. The man had blue eyes and a small smile on his face, as he too recognized an old friend.
"Coulson-san! Welcome to the Hinokami Dragon once again!" Tanjiro greeted, bowing in front of the man in the suit, happy to see one of his old patrons here.
The middle-aged man smiled back in response. "Ah, Tanjiro. Please, there's no need for formalities. You may feel free to call me Phil."
"Apologies Coulson-san but you already know me at this point. It was just the way I was raised."
The suited man chuckled in response. "Yes, I remember you explaining it to me. But yes, there is something you can do for me."
"Sure but first, would you like anything on the menu? Our new special is the Yamakake Udon. It became a highlight recently while you were away."
"Hmmm, sure. After all, it's one of the reasons why I visit this place frequently." Phil spoke, excited to try the new special.
Tanjiro let out a smile, bestowed on his face. "Alright! Coming right up! Could I offer you a drink in the meantime? It's in the house!"
"Water's good for me. I am looking forward to what you're offering at this time." Phil responded politely.
Afterward, Tanjiro headed back to his position in the kitchen and began preparing the food for one of his patrons here, if not, one of the few friends he had in this city.
After finishing prepping the order, Tanjiro placed the warm meal gently on Coulson's table as the middle-aged man, despite the stoic expression on his face, was still eager to consume the fresh Udon.
Phil took a hold of his chopsticks and took a bite of the noodles, anticipating the taste in return.
Phil's eyes widened in amazement, not surprised that Tanjiro failed to disappoint him.
Sporting a huge grin, Tanjiro knew he satisfied another customer with his recipe, thanks to his hard-working experience.
"Well, I'll be damned. You never failed to surprise me once again, Mr. Kamado." Phil spoke, complementing the red-haired owner.
Tanjiro chuckled at the man's words, knowing his response already. "Of course! It's my job after all."
"Yes, well, despite the terrific food, that's not why I came here today," Phil said, continuing to eat the Udon. "I came to discuss something personal to you. When you're done of course. I know you have a lot of work today and I won't get in the way of course."
Tanjiro became quiet, retaining a small smile but his curiosity was expressed a bit on his face. "Yes. I closed the restaurant today at eight. We can discuss this after closing. In the meantime, can I get you anything else?" Tanjiro asked politely, the kind smile still intact on Tanjiro's face.
"Yes, can I get a refill with water? And maybe a few of those rice dumplings on a stick."
Tanjiro gleefully smiled. "Coming right up!"
Hours passed and the restaurant came to a close. Many customers had gone and gone, keeping the business on a regular level, managing it all at once.
Flipping the sign over on the door, Tanjiro made his way to where Coulson was.
What could be so urgent he wanted to speak about?
Tanjiro took a seat at the table to face Coulson.
"So Tanjiro, I'm afraid I didn't come here to speak on positive affairs but it's more about what happened last night."
The sniffs from Tanjiro confirmed that Coulson was telling the truth.
"You're with Shield, aren't you?" Tanjiro asked with a neutral expression.
Phil blinked in response.
"How… did you know?"
"Let's just say there's more about me you don't know." Tanjiro led on, his smile returning on his neutral expression.
"I believe you. But no, this isn't about your meeting with Fury. And yes, I do know about that. Fury spoke to me before it began."
Fury. How long did Coulson know Fury?
"So… what's the problem then?" Tanjiro inquired.
"Problem is I'm sure by now you heard on the news recently that a secret facility in Nevada has been destroyed and thousands were killed or either injured due to the collateral damage."
Secret facility? In Nevada? Wasn't that the accident that occurred recently?
The former Slayer remembers watching that on the news recently. It happened two nights after Fury went to his restaurant to discuss important matters with him.
But what does this have to do with him?
"Well, I'm sure you heard about the Avengers Initiative."
Avenger's Initiative? Of course, how could he forget? It was one of the few things that were on Tanjiro's mind this morning.
"Of course." Tanjiro nodded at the middle-aged man's words.
"Yes, it's a type of gathering where many individuals use their talents and skills in a program that's a way to defend Earth from dangerous threats across the world. And that's where you come in. We could use someone like you." Phil explained. "After all, Fury's been looking for you for a long time." Phil quoted.
"I'm sure about that. What do you know about my skills after all?" Tanjiro asked, curious about the information that Coulson had on him.
"Well, from what I've seen from Fury, we know you have some kind of ability to heighten your speed and increase reflexes. Plus, the fact that you have been alive for a long time piques our curiosity. As well, from statements from our agents, you seem to outgo some kind of transformation at night. We'd never specified what kind of transformation it is but it does have something to do with how you can outclass our agents in chases and show some kind of hidden power at night." Phil explained in great detail, causing Tanjiro to be skeptical but impressed with the information they had on him this entire time.
'Wow, I guess they've been keeping track of me this entire time.' Tanjiro mentally thought to himself, impressed with this organization.
Still, he had to ask, what were they interested in him in the first place?
"Why are you telling me this, Coulson-san?" Tanjiro inquired.
"I'm telling you this because, in one week or two, there shall be a meeting between the chosen individuals who were recruited for this job. Mr. Kamado, this could be a good chance for you to do something that could benefit others and keep the world safe from other threats." Phil explained, knowing that the red-haired restaurant owner had more potential than just managing a restaurant.
"I'll think about it, Coulson-san. I just hope I can still manage my restaurant after all of this is over." Tanjiro spoke, hoping to avoid future circumstances.
"You may continue doing what you do in your spare time. This Initiative is also supposed to show that you are not a threat to everyone. Me myself, I'm doing the best that I can convince Fury to give you a chance since the past years I have visited here, you seem nothing but a good man, keeping a healthy establishment in his own time." Phil sincerely meant it with a smile on his face. "And a good friend to have a simple conversation with."
The sniffs from his nose confirm that Coulson meant those words sincerely.
"Alright Coulson-san, just let me check my schedule first and then I'll let you as soon as possible. I just hope you can still visit and try more from my establishment." Tanjiro said, smiling at one of the few friends he had in this current decade.
Phil chuckled, not forgetting what he meant there. "Of course, after all, no one I know makes good noodles as you do."
Chuckling in return, Tanjiro nodded his head and led Coulson his way out the door and made sure what was left to lock up the restaurant.
He was getting kind of picky. He could use something to eat.
He'd better prepare his tea once he gets home.
Once it was time to close, Tanjiro finished cleaning and counting the inventory he had in the back.
A lot of tasks he managed to complete during the night. Thankfully, it was nine around this time so he could head home early once he was finished with his current objectives.
His recent conversation with Coulson helped expand his hours. So it did delay the usual routine he had during closing.
Finally, after what seemed to last for half an hour, Tanjiro managed to complete everything he had left on his list.
Heading out the door and locking the restaurant with the keys, Tanjiro sighed to himself, continuing to walk to his next destination.
And that destination was his home of course.
Tanjiro continued to walk down the dark streets of New York, humming a tune to himself. His nose caught the scent of multiple people walking down the same streets as him.
There were many of them. Friends chattering in the background, chuckling in the conversations, an outgoing cheerful scent was the best way to describe it. Families eat in other restaurants, enjoying one's company, giving a campy vibe to the scent.
Tanjiro, while he may no longer be a human anymore, his emotions were still the same. If anything, the former hero of the Taisho Era was glad to see and sense good sentiments from these people.
The one thing he lacked in this current society was more company to talk to. While he did enjoy having conversations with his patrons and customers in The Hinokami Dragon, it wasn't the same companionship he was used to in the last decades when he was a former human.
Tanjiro hated to admit it but it just wasn't enough for him. Especially for someone who has different biological factors and the fact that an entire organization knew about his current whereabouts wasn't helping as well.
Demons were rarely seen here, in fact, Tanjiro might be the only demon left alive, but his identity was met with a critical dilemma.
Just a few miles left to his apartment, Tanjiro was glad to be close to his home.
Suddenly, an alarming scent went into Tanjiro's nose, his enhanced ears heard a shrieking scream in the background.
Someone was in trouble!
Tanjiro knew he shouldn't get involved with this situation but that wasn't a part of his character. His sister and mother would remind him of the moral choices he made in his lifetime. And it wasn't going to end here.
Tanjiro quickly turned to where the direction came from, since nobody was around, Tanjiro took a deep breath, enhancing his speed thanks to a couple of his breathing techniques.
Grabbing a hold of his green and black checkered hoodie, Tanjiro made sure to conceal his identity, carefully guiding himself to where the noise was coming from.
Once Tanjiro arrived, his dark-red eyes, illuminating in the dark, analyzing the location, were met with an unpleasant sight.
A man was yelling at a poor woman, shouting curse words as the woman appeared wounded with bruises on her face. It was clear from the start that this man was abusing her.
A part of Tanjiro felt disgusted by this sight, knowing even humans can be demons in disguise.
The man looked like he was of an athletic build, rivaling the muscles of Inosuke but even comparing this scumbag was an insult to his former friend's grave.
Animal instincts were beginning to show on Tanjiro's face.
This man was trying to kill her. And Tanjiro wasn't going to allow that to happen. He had to do something about it.
"Total Concentration Breathing!"
Tanjiro leaned back, his legs getting in a defensive pose as he began to sprint at an inhuman speed, accelerating at the attacker's right side.
At that moment, Tanjiro cocked his fist back, releasing a sucker punch, knocking the man to the ground, blood spurted from his mouth, several teeth were knocked out, and a cry of excruciating pain was heard from the man.
That was the first time Tanjiro used his strength on a human in the last decades and years, in his search of finding peace for himself.
Tanjiro hated that he had to use physical violence on a human but when said human was picking on someone who couldn't fight back, that was his final limit. Thankfully, he did knew how to control his strength. He made sure of that.
It was similar to the moment when Tanjiro intervened, threatening and breaking the arm of a former finalist in the Final Selection by the name of Genya Shinazugawa due to harassing one of the proctors in the exams.
Tanjiro will never forget his former rival, before becoming a good friend and comrade to the red-haired turned demon.
At least Genya has developed into a better man, the same can't be said for this discourteous drunk.
The woman with bruises on her face looked shocked but regained her composure once she found the man that was abusing her was on the ground.
"Are you okay?" Tanjiro asked in concern.
"Yea… Yeah, I am…" The woman spoke hesitantly, tears began to run down her face. "Thank… Thank you."
A loud groan was heard, gaining the attention of the other individuals in the alleyway.
"Yo...You…You bastard! This… is… be…between me… and that… broad!" The injured man swore, continuing to spit his blood on the floor.
NO!" The woman screamed at the wounded man, hiding behind Tanjiro's back. "Leave me alone! I don't want anything to do with you!"
The man screamed, picking himself up, running towards the green and black checkered demon and the wounded woman in tears, attempting to get his licks in.
Not if Tanjiro had anything to say about it.
Right as the man reeled back his right fist to punch the former slayer, Tanjiro grabbed the man's arm, twisting it brutally, bones were heard cracking in the background as the man let out another scream filled with agonizing pain.
Tanjiro quickly apprehended the man, his demon attributes were beginning to come out.
In a quick flash, Tanjiro delivered a quick karate chop to the man's throat, knocking the man unconscious. He placed his right hand to check to see if he didn't kill the man by accident.
Sighing out of relief, Tanjiro was relieved that the man was alive, even if he was committing a horrible crime.
He'll let the authorities handle it here.
Taking another deep breath, Tanjiro's appearance was starting to shift back to his human appearance, his claws and teeth reverting to normal. Once Tanjiro was calmed and back into his happy-go-lucky self, Tanjiro narrowed his eyes at the sacred woman, shaking due to a traumatizing moment almost happening to her psyche.
"Excuse me, miss, but what is your name?" Tanjiro inquired politely.
"It's… Maya…" The woman introduced herself, wiping her tears from her eyes.
Tanjiro delivered a warm smile in her direction. "Maya-san, if it's okay, get yourself to a safe location, I'll make sure this man gets to the authorities and I'll make sure this man will never harm you again." Tanjiro ensured with a gentle tone in his voice, promising to not let anything happen to her.
The woman named Maya looked unsure but with enough reluctance, she agreed.
Not without hugging Tanjiro first, causing the scent of her brown hair to fill Tanjiro's nose as it was beginning to give the former Demon Slayer a hard time due to his other side calling to him.
It didn't help that the woman wore nice perfume.
"It'll be okay. Now get yourself somewhere safe, a friend or family member's home. Just somewhere far away from here." Tanjiro spoke, hoping the woman would get herself to safety as soon as possible.
The injured woman nodded her head profusely, her head turning to face the other way as she left the area completely.
Sighing to himself, Tanjiro was glad to prevent another disaster that was waiting to happen.
Now then, where was he? Oh yeah, the man, right?
Causly turning to face the unconscious man on the ground, Tanjiro knew he didn't have much of a choice here.
A buzzing noise was heard in one of Tanjiro's pockets.
It… It couldn't be. It was the phone that Fury had left him, the same day they went to his restaurant to try to recruit him. A strange device that Tanjiro began to see around the early eighties to late nineties. Again, his friends and former comrades would drop at the sight of it. He can imagine the comic relief expressions on their faces.
Taking the phone from his pocket, Tanjiro quickly answered with a calm attitude.
"Hello."
"Hello, Mister Kamado. I hope you're not getting yourself into trouble." An impassive voice spoke on the other side of the phone.
Tanjiro shook his head in response. "No Fury-san, something just came up in my schedule."
Fury's voice on the other line began to change into a simpler one. "Well, don't worry about that. I just sent Coulson and a couple of agents to help with your situation. You should be at least expecting him in a few minutes."
Tanjiro wondered what Fury meant by that.
"Just be sure to stay out of trouble this time. I hope to see you tomorrow at our meeting. Take care of yourself."
With that, the phone conversation ended just now.
Well, that does confirm one thing for Tanjiro, he sure made the right call this time. No pun intended.
Hearing footsteps from behind him, Tanjiro got a good idea of who that was. "Hello, Coulson-san. Good to see you again." Tanjiro said with half a smile on his face.
Coulson had a neutral expression on his face, letting out a small smile. "Mister Kamado. I could say the same thing as well. You seem to have gotten yourself in a predicament this time around."
"Well, as I stated before, I am a wanderer after all," Tanjiro said.
"I know. I remember your first conversation with Fury after all. The man keeps a good track record of past conversations in his time being."
Afterward, a couple of Shield agents came out from the shadows, noticing the unconscious man on the ground.
The man was apprehended, and his body was removed from the dark alleyway.
Soon, once that was done with, Tanjiro and Coulson were the only ones left in the alleyway, making another good conversation. "Well, Mister Kamado, the good news is that no one besides that woman you rescued doesn't know about your presence, keep a clean record to yourself as possible."
Tanjiro sighed in relief. "That's good. I just couldn't let something horrible happen to that poor woman."
Coulson nodded his head, in accord with the red-haired man. "Agreed. Also, don't forget, Fury expects to see you in a week along with the other recruitment as well. So I should be expecting to see you tomorrow."
"Of course, Coulson-san. After all, Fury seems to be a good man. A bit mysterious but otherwise a good person after all." Tanjiro meant.
"Alright then, well, I'll be expected to pick you up tomorrow. Let's hope nothing goes wrong in the process."
Afterward, Tanjiro and Coulson went their separate ways.
Once arriving home in his apartment, Tanjiro sighed to himself, relieved to be home whatsoever.
The red-haired demon prepared to set up another cup of his special tea. Tea did calm his nerves and made up whatever issues he had, plus it was a good drink in general.
After work, he would always come to his comfy home, make tea, work out to practice his breathing techniques to relax his body, and head to bed for a good night's rest.
Humming a tune to himself, Tanjiro set the pot and continued to boil the water, recollecting the conversation he had with Coulson not too long.
A lingering thought came into the red-haired owner's head, recalling the previous night ago. The night that started this all.
"Avengers' Initiative?" Tanjiro questioned, noticing the man's expression change from a serious one to a calm one, a small smirk appearing on his face.
"Yes, that is correct. We could use someone with talents such as yourself. Think of it as a way to save the world, a way to incorporate your abilities to better use instead of managing yourself in this industry."
Tanjiro stood quiet, unsure how to respond to the man's words.
"If you want, I'll send an agent of mine in a few days to explain the details of how the Initiative works. I believe you can administer the situation very correctly. I do hope you can consider our offer, do think about it well." Fury explained.
"Alright, I'll give it a thought," Tanjiro spoke politely to the director.
"Good. And Mister Kamado." Fury spoke, catching the retired slayer's attention. "Keep up the good work in your local establishment."
Tanjiro stood silent, confused by the man's words but continued smiling onwards.
With those final words spoken, Fury slowly walked out of the restaurant, sending one last mysterious glance at the former Demon Slayer, looking forward to their next meeting, the suspicious scent leaving his nose in the process.
Tanjiro sighed to himself, glad that was over. He was just happy he could finish closing up his restaurant, yearning to get to his home soon.
He was just glad he didn't have to resort to getting physical. It was one route he wished wouldn't go there.
Forgetting what just transpired, Tanjiro grabbed the broom he placed next to the counter and continued to sweep, closing up the restaurant.
Once Tanjiro began to sweep underneath the tables, he noticed a particular object on one of the tables.
It was a phone with a sticky note on it.
Eyeing it with curiosity, Tanjiro grabbed the sticky note, reading what it said on it.
"Left you a present as a contact. Be sure to answer the next time we call you, Mister Kamado."
Afterward, Tanjiro sighed and continued to sweep the tables, continuing to do his job.
After finishing his train of thought, this brings the former slayer to his current situation, contemplating his next choice.
What would his former master say? That… destiny was calling out to him? That it wasn't too late for him to take his sword, wielding it for one's purpose?
At that point, Tanjiro realized what he needed to do.
If something horrible happened in this city and he wasn't there to stop it, he would never forgive himself.
It was hard to forgive myself for what happened to his sister. His whole family for that matter.
But he knew he couldn't dwell on the past further. This was not who he was anymore.
At least not at this moment. Maybe… Maybe this was fate telling him that it was time to become the man he once was.
"Bye Mrs. Parker-san! Thank you for your patronage and I hope to see you in my restaurant again!" Tanjiro appreciated it, waving his hand to an attractive woman with dark hair and waving goodbye to the restaurant owner.
Yep, business was going well at this time.
It'd had been one week since his meeting with Fury and Coulson, and Tanjiro had carried on with running The Hinokami Dragon.
He had seen old faces and new faces come through. Coulson had stopped by a few days ago, only to stop to grab a bite or to make small talk, unrelated to the current dilemma Tanjiro faced at the moment.
Some students from a high school named Midtown had stopped by with a couple of their families and had a nice dinner in his establishment on weekends.
Even some stop by to try some of his famous Dango sticks and other desserts he had on his menu. Those were the most popular choices from the younger crowd.
One customer he had recently was a man from Hell's Kitchen, a… lawyer of some sort from what Tanjiro could recollect.
Tanjiro could remember his scent, thanks to his other attributes.
The man had these red-tinted glasses, appearing he was blind. Despite that, the man knew what to order, hearing all the wonderful specials he had in this establishment.
After finishing his meal, the man informed Tanjiro it was a good meal, before handing him a card, telling him if something were to happen in a court of law, he could use a lawyer in this case.
Tanjiro accepted the small card, placing it in his pocket. The man waved goodbye, placing a tip on the counter, and headed out the door with a smile on his face.
But Tanjiro knew there was more to the man than just his appearance. Either way, he didn't judge. He was just happy to have more patrons supporting his business and friendly conversations with them was just a bonus.
At an abrupt moment, the sound of a small bell tinkled on the door, alerting the red-haired country boy's ears.
'Another customer! Guess I've better get back to the counter!' Tanjiro thought with a cheerful mindset.
Centering his attention on the sound of the bell, Tanjiro's red eyes got a good look at his latest customer, his nose caught another familiar scent. One he hasn't seen or smelled in a long time ago.
A man stood at the entrance, carrying a look of curiosity and a bit of interest shown across his face.
He wore a gray leather jacket with a white button-up shirt. He had blonde hair, combed neatly, and had khaki linen pants on.
It was weird. Tanjiro didn't want to be impolite but the scent this man had on him… It felt very familiar. Has he seen this man before in his life? Never in his restaurant.
Regardless, Tanjiro knew he had to welcome him, just like other patrons here.
"Hello! Welcome to the Hinokami Dragon! Our special today is Beef Curry Udon!" Tanjiro began to greet with the same welcoming vibe he's been using for the past years.
"Hi." The man greeted the red-haired restaurant owner, politely with a simple response. "I'm… not sure what to order yet."
"Well, if it helps, I can offer what tends to be the popular choice that most customers prefer." Tanjiro recommending to a potential client.
"Really? What is it?" The man asked with a curious expression.
"Well, that would have to be the Udon. It's a special dish which is a soup that includes unique spices, grated with yam and egg. It's a pretty popular choice for regulars that come to this location."
The man appeared hesitant, before responding. "Hmmm, alright, I guess I could give it a try."
"Coming right up! Can I get you a drink? We have various choices such as tea, sake, beer, or even soft beverages?" Tanjiro asked politely.
"Water's good. Thank you." The man said, a small display on his face.
After Tanjiro was finished taking the man's order and placing the cup filled with water, Tanjiro went to the back part of the kitchen he owned, quickly prepping up and cooking the meal for the man he had just met.
It was odd but Tanjiro could have sworn this man felt… familiar somehow. Somewhere he had seen him a long time ago but his finger couldn't place where though.
Ah well, maybe it'll come back to him. For now, he had the order to make.
After freshly cooking the Udon soup, and placing the noodles in a clean bowl, Tanjiro made his way to the front counter, placing the hot bowl in front of the man. The scent of the soup seemed to have made a good impression on the man.
"Thank you." The man spoke, causing Tanjiro to nod his head in response.
"You're welcome. This was made with fresh ingredients, flown from today." Tanjiro ensured.
The man took his chopsticks, placing them in the bowl as he took a slurp from the meal. To his surprise, it was delicious, judging from his facial expression, one that would rival Rengoku's declaration.
Kami, may he rest in peace.
"This… This… This is good. You made this yourself."
Tanjiro scratched his head out of modesty. "Well, yes and no, an old chef passed the ingredients to me when I came to his booth for the first time when I was just an adolescent. Since then, it's been a favorite among customers here."
"I can see that." The man smiled, continuing to eat the meal while taking a sip of his cold water.
"Okay. Well, then don't mind me, I'll let you continue feasting on your meal. I'm glad you enjoyed it so far."
"Thank you." The man showed gratitude again.
"You work here all by yourself?" The man asked.
"Yes, I do. I owned this restaurant."
"Wow. Didn't expect a young man like yourself to manage this on your own."
"Well, it's easier than it looks. At the very least, it's a good way to make an easier income this year." Tanjiro lightly jokes, causing the man to chuckle in response.
"What's your name, son?"
"Tanjiro. Tanjiro Kamado." Tanjiro introduced himself, grabbing a hold of the man's right hand. "And you are, sir?"
"Steve. Steve Rogers."
"Nice to meet you, Rogers-san. Well, I'll let you get back to your meal. I hope to continue seeing you here. It'd be nice to see more friendly faces once in a while."
Steve smiled, shaking the red-haired owner's hand in return. "I'll be sure to make a few visits here in the future."
With that said, Tanjiro returned to attend to more customers while Steve continued eating his meal, glad he seemed to make another acquaintance this time and decade.
It was weird but Steve got a sense of nostalgia. Almost recollecting he was speaking to an old friend before.
Steve didn't why but it made him feel like he shared a lot in common with the red-haired man he met not too long ago.
Either way, he was just glad that good food existed in this current decade.
For once, he left like he was at peace with himself in this current time.
AN: Hello Everyone! The second chapter of The Last Slayer has finally been posted! Special thanks go to Meraj Alimi (King 101) for helping me beta this chapter!
Wow, I wasn't expecting this story to gain a lot of support from the last couple of months, with one chapter of all means!
One thing I did hope for this chapter is that Tanjiro's character was well-written and not too OOC, considering this is an AU Demon version of him.
People in the comments have been asking if Tanjiro's going to have other breathing styles, along with his Sun and Water Breathing techniques. And to answer that, let's say it's a surprise at the moment since his Demon abilities are going to be the focus for a while.
And yes, Tanjiro will encounter other characters before he sets aboard the helicarrier for his trip to capture Loki along with the rest of the cast. Will also have a huge impact on the story, diverging from canon.
Speaking of other characters, guess the secret easter eggs and references to those said characters in this chapter. Looking forward to how Tanjiro interacts with the rest of the cast and explains his past background and how he came into the MCU in the first place.
As well, the second chapter of Hero's Hell should be coming out soon since it is in its beta stage so look forward to that!
Please leave a favorite, follow, and review this story! Means well that you guys are enjoying this so far! Follow me on Emerald Library with the Discord link to get updates on future stories and chapters! The support means well, guys!
Feel free to PM me as well if that makes it easier for you to discuss ideas or any positive feedback for my stories!
I also started a SpaceBattles account as well and there should be a link in my profile soon as this chapter gets posted! Look forward to that!
Overall, I hope you guys have a pleasant day and enjoy the nice weather depending on where you're from!
Aside from that, you guys stay safe, stay awesome and I'll see you next time! Adios!