AN: I don't own Demon Slayer or Marvel's Avengers
Chapter 2
What A Long Strange Trip It's Been
Flashback- 1944
World War II
War.
War was an ugly thing to go through. What else would it be?
This was a battle zone. He hated it. He knew that it wasn't a game. His hands would be filled with blood once he would get a chance to fight.
Steve Rogers knew what he was getting into once the war started. It had changed him into a new man.
Physically and mentally of course. Steve knew the side effects once he joined the army, aiding the United States government's efforts in the Second World War.
He was a soldier. This was his job after all.
Dr. Erskine chose him for a reason. The Doctor died for a noble cause because he believed in him. He was fighting the battles for the people who didn't have the ability or will to defend themselves.
The Captain was split off from his team, recovering the blueprints from The German Air Force. His men would help infiltrate the building, taking out each of their military team of soldiers and bringing them into their headquarters.
Steve knew that his men were putting themselves on the line, putting their trust in him, knowing he was the key to their success. The Star Spangled Soldier knew it was more than that. Faith is an important factor in their mission after all.
Steve had begun to lead the invasion, throwing his shield as the colorful target ricocheted each of the walls, bouncing off the HYDRA soldiers, and knocking them out cold. The shield safely returned to his right arm, deflecting more bullets in the process, knowing he could do this all day.
This was the part of the base where they were holding the blueprints. Heading towards the entrance of the base, Steve knew he and his men had a long way to go but they were close. The American-themed soldier continued to barrel through, overpowering most of the men, thanks to the weapon Howard Stark had prepared for him.
God, it did help with his situation at the moment. Blocking the bullets with his shield with one arm, and in one aggressive throw, Steve threw his shield, knocking the firearms from each of the armsmen, his inner training taking over, overcoming the crisis.
The Star Spangled soldier sends out one strong kick to one HYDRA soldier in the chest, sending him flying into another of his comrades, knocking them out once they collide with impact.
Steve then began to pull his punches as his right hand formed into a fist, uppercutting another HYDRA soldier whose bones could be heard cracking as the man landed in a harsh thud, another enemy soldier fell in the hands of the American-themed supersoldier.
The men begin to scatter, attempting to surround the Captain, firing their firearms as Steve begins to block each of the bullets, doing his best to defend himself against the artillery. He gripped his Shield tightly as both legs moved rapidly and the adrenaline-fueled him to keep moving forward.
He barrages through, knocking another enemy soldier to the ground, then throws a sharp kick at another soldier, breaking his ribs he was sent spiraling backward as Steve roughly threw his Shield, knocking out another Soldier off heavy artillery falling to their demise.
More soldiers appeared as the artillery grew stronger as Steve held his shield, blocking the bullets. He had to push through! He couldn't give up here! Then, it would be all for nothing! Dr. Erskine's beliefs on him would have been for nothing!
Once the bullets stopped the fire, each of the HYDRA soldiers began to reload quickly, giving Steve time to recover his strength. He needed a plan. He knew he required backup at this point so he'd better come up with something in this instance.
Hearing the sounds of guns being reloaded, Steve quickly raised his shield, attempting to guard himself once more. If he was going to die, he was going to die here, defending his country from threats.
Before each of the Nazis could get a chance to fire their weapons once again, a silent blur appeared, silencing the men in the process.
There were no screams. Only silence. Dead silence.
Then, out of nowhere, loud thuds could be heard, breaking the ambient tranquility.
Steve's eyes narrowed in confusion, unaware of what just happened.
The men were no longer standing, quite the opposite. The heads of each soldier were missing, and each of their bodies fell on the cold ground, staining their uniforms in mud as Steve received a grim expression across his face. The heads were decapitated cleanly as a rain of blood, heads dropping from the sky fell on the hard ground, confirming their deaths in front of the Captain's eyes.
Steve's eyes widened in surprise, alarmed by the sudden demise of the HYDRA soldiers. They… were all dead.
How?
Steve's question was answered once his eyes landed on a shadow, standing far away from him.
He couldn't believe it. Someone else was here beside him?
Standing from a distance, was a man who was wearing some kind of odd mask. A fox? That was the first thing that came to Steve's mind. That wasn't it, however.
He was wearing… some kind of green and black-checkered pattern jacket that Steve didn't recognize. He had some kind of brown uniform underneath his jacket. It appeared foreign to his eyes.
What was a man dressed like that doing on the battlefield? The weapon he was carrying with him was some kind of sword or… katana that Steve did recognize from Country Japan, thanks to seeing a couple of pictures during training in the old base.
It was stained with the literal blood of the men he executed not too long ago.
Steve quickly got into a defense pose, preparing for he was next being executed by this strange intruder.
Unexpectedly, what he got was a completely different action from the mysterious intruder.
"Hello!" The man cheerfully greeted the Star Spangled Soldier in a foreign language. That immediately caught Steve off-guard.
Was this Japanese? Steve could understand it, thanks to the super soldier serum he was injected with. But still, this was a good time to test out his other skills from the serum injected into him.
"Hi…" Steve greeted back in a semi-awkward tone in fluent Japanese. That's it? That was the first thing this stranger used to greet him. They were on a battlefield, and at any minute, soldiers could appear out of nowhere trying to eliminate both of them.
Not only that but how could he be so calm about the situation?! He just killed four men and the first thing that came to mind was to say hi?!
All he did was just stand there in near silence, watching the Captain like a statue of sorts. What was this young man even doing here?
Unless… was this stranger an enemy to them? By the tone of his voice, he sounded like an adolescent, someone young perhaps. It didn't offer enough answers to Steve more questions in the process.
Nevertheless, Steve did the best he could to keep a calm composure. At best, it would be wise for him not to let his guard down.
"What are you doing here? This is not the time or place for a young man like yourself to be here?!" Steve shouted that last part loudly. That should help him get some answers. He didn't do it out of rudeness of course. His mother raised him better than that.
"Oh yes, I was just passing by. That's it."
"I see… Are you with the Japanese military? Were you sent here to aid or for another reason?"
The strange man in the fox mask stood silent for a few seconds, before shaking his head sideways.
"I'm just a simple wanderer."
That just offered Steve more questions than answers. "What did he mean by that? "Are you really?" Steve interviewed, a stern tone heard in his voice. "You're not with HYDRA?" Tension was beginning to set in Steve's tone of voice.
The man in the fox mask tilted his head to the right side, seemingly unaware of what HYDRA was. "Uh… no. I'm afraid I don't know what that is."
What? How on Earth does this man not know what HYDRA is?
"You don't know what HYDRA is?" Steve suspected.
The man in the fox mask shook his head, confirming his answer. "No, sorry, I was just passing by here."
"I see then."
Before Steve could ask another question, another voice interrupted their conversation.
"Right there! Enemy soldiers!"
More HYDRA soldiers had arrived on the battlefield. Great, just what Steve needed. A part of him didn't want to engage in combat, offering mercy to these men, but he knew he couldn't do so.
"LOOK OUT!" The man in the fox mask screamed, pointing his finger at the incoming enemies coming in their direction.
Steve turned the other way and threw his shield once more at another incoming HYDRA soldier.
The sound of a sword sheathing could be heard in Steve's ears as the young man in the fox mask cut the head off another HYDRA goon with a single swing of his katana.
Thank God this stranger was on his side for now.
Steve rushed forward, throwing his shield as it bounced each skull, the sounds of bones could be heard, crushed each time as the shield continued to bounce off each soldier, leaving them convulsed on the ground.
The sound of a sword cutting through meat was heard in the Captain's ears as another body fell to the ground dead. This man appeared like a blur like he was a ghost of some sort.
His eyes, he swears, those eyes underneath that fox mask, Steve could swear he could see that they were red underneath his mask.
In addition, the man had sorta of an animalistic style when it came to combatting his enemies. Swinging his sword was brutal but at the same time, it was quick and calm, like he didn't enjoy committing those acts.
It felt similar to him. Like looking at a mirror of sorts.
Either way, Steve could see that there was more to this young man, and he wasn't human for sure.
Was he just like him? An inhuman of sorts?
While the Shield bounced off another HYDRA soldier, in a sudden surprise, the man in the fox mask grabbed the shield, rebounding the direction of the shield, passing it over to the Star Spangled Soldier as he caught it with his right arm.
Both Steve and the mysterious stranger continued to overpower most if not all of the HYDRA soldiers, with their bodies being littered across the battlefield. It took a while but it soon came to an end. Once they were done, Steve turned his attention to the mysterious masked intruder.
"Thanks for the heads-up!" Steve begins to show his appreciation to the mysterious masked man.
"Arigato!" The man in the fox mask bowed, surprising Steve with his sudden manners. The man in the fox mask looked around the environment as he took steps away from the dead bodies of the HYDRA soldiers.
He then got in a crouching position Steve began to wonder what this man was about to do. He placed both of his hands together over the bottom part of his mask as his head was facing down the bloodstained dirt.
His action was unexpected, to say the least.
He was praying. Praying for these men…
"What are you doing?" Steve asked.
"Praying for these poor souls."
Steve just stared in silence before responding.
"Why?"
"Because I hope they find peace in the afterlife. Moreso, I hope in their next reincarnation, they will become better men in their next life."
"Reincarnation? You mean like being reborn again?"
"Yes, that is what I mean by that."
Hmmm, interesting. So this guy had some sort of religion. That's not to say Steve was religious at all.
He had great beliefs in one God. Someone who possessed great powers in the sky. Once in a while, when his mother was alive, may God rest her poor soul, they would attend church when they would get the chance.
So he at least had some understanding of the situation. He just wasn't expecting to see this young, masked man praying for the enemy of all people.
Still, who was he to judge?
"I see but why are you praying for these men? You do know they are responsible for this war after all." Steve inquired from the masked man.
"Yes, I do know that. These men have committed inexcusable actions and did deserve to be executed for it but… despite what they have done in their current life, I believe there is good in everyone. So much so that they didn't choose to have this kind of life for them. "
Despite wearing a mask, Steve could catch the determination in the young man's red eyes beneath his identity concealer.
"That's why I hope in their next life, they will be reborn with kindness. Emotions and feelings are what makes us human after all."
The man in the fox mask stood up, finishing his prayer as he turned his attention back to the Captain.
Steve began to grow curious about the nature of this strange man. This was new, even for someone like him.
Still, he had to ask.
"So… why are you here in the first place?" Steve contested the odd motives of this young man.
"I'm… looking for something." The man in the fox mask spoke, gaining more attention from the Captain's perspective.
Steve tilted his head, looking for more answers. "What is it that you're looking for?"
"A way to find myself. To find humanity once again."
Humanity? What did this young man mean by that?
Right as Steve was in his thoughts, he noticed the strange man in the fox mask walking off, avoiding stepping on the corpses they disposed of earlier.
"Well, I should make my way. Good luck with winning your war."
"Thanks… You do the same as well. I hope you find whatever it is you're searching for."
"Arigato… You as well." The man in the fox mask bowed to the Star Spangled Man, rivaling the manners his mother taught him when he was at a young age.
"Hey wait!" Steve shouted as the young man in the fox mask stopped in his tracks completely, turning to face the Captain one last time.
"You got a name, son?" Steve asked, wondering about the identity of the masked warrior.
The man in the fox mask stood silent for five seconds before revealing his name to the Star Spangled Soldier. "Tanjiro. You may refer to me as Tanjiro. What's your name, sir?"
"Steve. Steve Rogers."
"It's nice to meet you, Rogers-san. Maybe we'll meet again soon."
Steve displayed a small smile.
"Yeah… Maybe one day. Thank you for your help. I do hope you find whatever it is you're looking for out there."
Steve did mean it of course.
"You too, Rogers-san. May Kami help your battle against the enemy." The man in the fox mask waved as he turned in the other direction and disappeared in a flash, surprising the Captain with his other unknown capabilities.
Yeah, and Steve thought he had seen everything. But apparently, this takes the cake.
But yeah, it would be a while.
Until they meet again.
Steve turned from the other direction where he was originally facing and continued with his mission.
He hoped it would go well from here.
"And finally done!"
At the back storage in his restaurant, Tanjiro finished counting all the inventory for the ingredients he needed for his dishes and specials in case he ran out sometime soon.
Thankfully, the shipments arrived before opening, and Tanjiro was thankful for the perfect timing. He had opened the restaurant fifteen minutes early so he could get a headstart on assembling everything in the back.
All of a sudden, thanks to Tanjiro's super hearing, his ears perked up as the sound of a bell chimed as a customer entered his establishment.
'Another customer's in front! Better finish counting here first so I can attend to them at the front!'
Once Tanjiro finished counting all of the ingredients in the back inventory, the former Demon Slayer quickly put his white apron on, covering the black shirt he wore on the outside of his green and black-checkered flannel shirt.
Still displaying a grand smile on his face, Tanjiro let out his usual greeting like always.
"Hello! Welcome to the Hinokami Dragon! Our special today is Toro Kombu Udon! One that I can recommend in case you're in a hurry today!"
At first glance, a middle-aged man appeared to be around his late thirties to early or mid-forties who had a smartly dressed tuxedo.
Tanjiro blinked at the odd smell this man was giving off. Some kind of mix between warm amber with a hint of zesty aromatics. The smell was a little spicy for him, leaving a woody and metallic scent behind.
The man in the suit began to eye the environment of the restaurant, his eyes behind his sunglasses looking eyeing Tanjiro from behind the counter and all he could smell was a hint of curiosity, coming from this man.
But wait, it wasn't what caught Tanjiro's attention. As his nose caught a familiar scent he could swear he could smell… metal? There was shrapnel inside this man?
Wait a minute, Tanjiro knew who this man was. This was Tony Stark.
Tony Stark. The same man he saw on the television. If Tanjiro could recall correctly, this Tony Stark was some kind of genius, a prodigy, something along the lines like that. The former Demon Slayer still recollects on the same day when he arrived in New York for the first time in his life, that Tony Stark had announced himself as a superhero of some sort.
Ironman was the name of his alter-ego. Odd name but who was he to judge? Inosuke had referred to him with mispronunciations of the former Demon Slayer's name so this was nothing in comparison. At least with a name like Ironman, it was to play a different persona to this man's eccentric character so it made sense in Tanjiro's perspective.
That's not to say that this man didn't have an ego, after all, Tanjiro could smell from this man.
Cocky and a bit arrogant in his attitude, if not pompous to begin with, reminding him of his former companion, Genya so this wasn't the first person that Tanjiro met with a similar personality. Besides that, when it came to the very important stuff, Tanjiro knew the man, Tony Stark, would put his life on the line to protect others who couldn't defend himself.
During his thoughts, he heard a distracting voice, interrupting his line of thinking.
"Hmmm, that doesn't sound too bad. I always wanted to try something new. Heard nothing but good things about this place." Tanjiro heard the billionaire, complementing the nice reception of his establishment.
Tanjiro lightly chuckles. "Well, I hope that's true. I've always wanted to create a wholesome environment here for all my Patrons and customers to enjoy here."
The suited playboy began to develop a small grin. "Hmmm, I'll be the judge of that. Still, the atmosphere here seems pretty comfortable here. You manage this place all by yourself, kid?"
"Yes sir! I'm the manager of this establishment. Been running and managing this place all by myself for five years at this point."
Nodding his head at the current restaurant, all Tony could do was agree with his statement. "Wow… Color me impressed. How old are you, kid?"
"I'm older… than I look, sir. I'm certainly not an adolescent anymore."
"Ah, I see… Just wondering since you look very young to manage this place all by yourself. Well, enough of my rambling, I came here to order something delicious, of course." Tony reminded himself, removing his sunglasses completely.
"Oh, well, in that case, sir, try our most popular special on the menu!"
"And what would that be?" Tony questioned out of curiosity.
"It's called a Yamakake Udon. It comes with Udon Noodles, along with Mountain Yam, Sliced-up Onions, and of course Sliced Roasted Seaweed." Tanjiro explains the ingredients that came with the Udon.
A bit of skepticism appeared on the Genius Billionaire's face, recalling whether he should try the meal or not. This was his first time eating in this small restaurant, located in a small alley around Queens. "Hmmm, I see. You got something with a little more… I don't know, meat in it."
Hearing the question coming from the suited playboy, Tanjiro decided to recommend one of his old but beloved specials on the menu. "Why yes, we do. There is the Beef Curry Udon we carry here. Another popular choice in this establishment as well!"
It is a fan favorite on his menu after all. Why not recommend that?
It took Tony five seconds to respond to his next answer. "Hmmm, alright. I trust you. In that case, I will order the Beef Curry Udon."
Tanjiro smiled back in return. Now was the time to show how well-cooked his dishes were. "Coming right up! Could I interest you in a drink in the meantime while your meal is being prepared?"
"Hmmm… yeah, now that you mention it, sure, I could go for a drink. After all, I'm on a break. Could use something to take the stress off once in a while." The Genius Playboy spoke one's mind, placing his sunglasses in his right pocket. "What kind of drinks do you serve in this establishment?"
"We serve a variety of drinks here. Sake, tea, Amazake, or Tapioca drinks." Tanjiro once again explained to the Genius Playboy.
"Got something with a little Alcohol in it? Nothing too strong. I do work with machines after all so gotta be sober to keep the job done."
"Why yes, as I just mentioned, we carry Amazake. There are only traces of Alcohol but not much. Consider this an alcoholic beverage without the alcohol or risks in it." Tanjiro gently assures the Billionaire Philanthropist, writing the order down in a small notepad.
Tony waved both of his hands, putting his trust in the red-haired restaurant owner.
"Alright. You're the expert here. In that case, I'll have a Beef Curry… Udon with the non-alcoholic beverage you recommend."
"Yes sir! Coming right up!"
Tony shook his head, waving his hand to reassure the restaurant owner. "Please. There's no need to call me, sir. Call me Tony. Sir just reminds me I'm getting older each day."
Tanjiro blinked at the suited man, scratching his head out by mistake.
"You know who I am, correct?" Tony begins to imply.
"You're Tony Stark, aren't you?" Tanjiro said, the sniffs confirming the identity of the man.
"Yep, the one and only. I know, I know. Never expected to see a Billionaire Playboy entering your local establishment. Hopefully, it'll get you more business to come here."
Yep, there was egotism coming from the man. Tanjiro could smell the huge ego as he knew the man acted like a big shot sometimes.
It reminded him of his boar-masked friend Inosuke, acting full of himself but in a way, did add charm to his character
… In his own way.
"I'm sure it will. Still, you're always welcome in my establishment. Think of it as a safe getaway from your celebrity life. Take a break from it all." Tanjiro ensures the Playboy Billionaire.
"Heh, that does sound nice once in a while. Welp, don't want to keep stalling you. Please, continue with your job. I'll be here when you get back."
"Okay, Tony-san. But yes, I'll have your order ready for you. As well, getting you started on your drink as well."
"Take your time as you need. Looking forward to what you're serving." Tony called out. This better be some food worth trying.
A few minutes passed, and Tony was sitting at the front chair, slowly sipping on his non-alcoholic drink as the former Weapons Manufacturer was starting to smack his lips together, getting used to the taste.
'Huh. Not bad. The kid knows his beverages. Wonder if he knows more than what he leads on."
Right as Tony sounded those thoughts, a cheery voice came to fruition.
"Well, lunch is now ready," Tanjiro announced cheerfully as he placed the warm Udon on the front counter where Tony was sitting.
Finally, lunch was here. Tony put both of his hands, rubbing them together. "Sweet. Can't wait to see what the big deal is all about."
Tanjiro gave one of his trademark smiles. "I promised you won't be disappointed by the result."
"We'll see about that." Tony lightly jested.
Grabbing the chopsticks that were gently placed on the counter table, Tony took a small sniff, absorbing the aroma coming from the freshly made Udon.
A pleasant smirk appeared on the genius playboy, his lips were starting to water a bit at the sight of the hot noodles.
Bringing one of the hot noodles to his mouth, Tony slurped, consuming the Udon as the mild and slightly chewy texture was beginning to give the smart playboy a rich taste in his mouth.
This… This… This was good. It's delicious. The soup had a sweet but savory taste as Tony could feel the juicy tenderness of the steak, along with the chewy noodles satisfying his taste buds.
"Hmmm… This… This is not bad at all. In fact." Tony slowly closed his eyes, gulping the noodles he currently had in his mouth. "Probably the best meal I had all week. Kudos to you, my good man."
Yes! Tanjiro knew he claimed another one on board! He gave himself a mental fist pump for that!
"You're very welcome, Mr. Stark-San!" Tanjiro said kindly, bowing his head in front of the Billionaire behind the counter where he stood.
"Kid, we already talked about this. No need for formalities. Just call me, Tony."
Whoops! Right, he almost forgot about that.
"Okay, Tony-San."
"Ah, again, drop the formalities, kid. It's okay. You won't be rude. I'm permitting you." Tony promised.
"Ok-Okay, Tony." Tanjiro awkwardly said. That was weird.
"There. See, it wasn't so hard. But yes, this soup here. Let me just say you did an outstanding job with it!"
Tanjiro scratched his head out of modesty. "It's my job after all to serve high-quality food to customers."
"And you, my friend, had succeeded well with that." Tony ensured.
Heh, it's a gift after all. Tanjiro certainly had an impression when it came to serving good food in his establishment.
"So, you go to school, kid. You know, still in college?" Tony asked, trying to make conversation.
Tanjiro slowly shook his head sideways, confirming his answer while he was pouring a bottle of Amazake into Tony's cup. "Ah, no. I graduated from a community college in New York a few years ago."
Tony blinked for a few seconds before nodding his head. "Oh, I see. Did you get a major in anything or a bachelor's degree?"
Shaking his head sideways, once more, Tanjiro spoke out "Unfortunately not. It was a language class to improve my knowledge of English."
"Oh, English. Of course, it is a requirement for every job in the United States so that's a smart decision."
"Indeed it is. But yes, I'll let you get back to eating your lunch in peace."
"Hey, kid," Tony called out.
"Yes, Mr. Stark, I mean, Tony-san." Tanjiro quickly corrected himself, scratching his head out of mild embarrassment. This would take a while.
"How would you like to visit Stark Tower one day? Maybe offer you a part-time job there? As an intern of some sort."
"That would be a nice change of pace but I'm afraid I'll have to decline it." Tanjiro kindly rejected the idea since he was currently busy managing his establishment. "However, I wouldn't mind visiting one day," Tanjiro added, ensuring the genius inventor that he could visit one day.
"Gotcha ya. If you do stop by the tower, I hope to order carry-out as well… You do carry out too, right?" Tony inquired, wondering if this restaurant did delivery as well.
Tanjiro chuckled a bit after hearing the genius playboy's response. "As far as I know… no but I wouldn't mind bringing a few leftovers for lunch. Especially for a future friend."
Friend? That was sudden. Tony wasn't expecting that sort of response, coming from a man he just met.
"Friend huh? Yeah, I guess when you put it like that, it sounds a little cheesy for my liking. But… in this case, that's not a bad thing."
"Of course, it's never too late to make future acquaintances or friends for future reference." Tanjiro declared, knowing from his past experiences at making new friends.
Zenitsu and Inosuke were prime examples of that. Kami, he certainly missed those two. Small nostalgia settled in Tanjiro's mind, knowing they were the closest people to his family besides his sister when they were alive.
"You're right. It never is. But yeah, here. Take this." Tony proceeded to take a small piece of paper from his breast pocket.
"It's my card in case you want to stop by for a future visit. Or if I decide to have lunch at the last second in case I get tired of eating fast food for once."
"I'll keep this in mind. Thank you, Mr. Stark- I mean, Tony-san." Tanjiro stuttered awkwardly at the last second.
Tony allowed a small smirk across his face. "Eh, you were close but I'll take what I can get."
A sound of the bell chimed, alerting Tanjiro's ears that another customer had arrived at his establishment.
"Excuse me but I'm afraid I have to attend to another client. But yes, I wouldn't mind visiting your tower someday."
"Alright, I understand. Gotta keep your business running and Yeah, you should. Trust me, it's one of the most prominent places in New York, maybe take a look around if you're interested in having another career in the future."
"I will. Thank you, Tony-san."
Noticing the looks on the other clients from the other table, Tanjiro knew he couldn't stay long to chat with his new friend.
"Oh, excuse me. Gotta attend the next clients over that table there. But yes, I won't forget your offer."
Tony waved his right hand, reassuring the red-haired restaurant owner it wasn't a big deal. "Think about it. Never too late to give it a try. By the way, I never got your name, kid."
"Tanjiro. My name is Tanjiro Kamado." Tanjiro bowed in return. "And I hope to see you again in my restaurant again, Tony-san."
After Tanjiro left the counter from behind to tend to the next customer at one of the empty tables, Tony was alone on the counter, continuing to eat his Udon noodles. A small thought occurred in his head.
'He does seem like a nice guy. Wonder why Fury sees him as a threat? Or future recruitment for The Avenger's Initiative?' Tony thought to himself. "One thing's for sure, he's definitely not human."
Either way, human or not, the "man" knows how to make better noodles than most restaurants. He was initially planning to go out for Shawarma but this might cease that idea for a while.
Still, Tony had to be careful who he made "friends" with. The minute his back was turned, this man could strike from behind when he wasn't looking. And he couldn't have more casualties on his hands.
One thing's for sure.
This Udon was pretty damn good.
Flashback- 1918
Taisho Era
"Come back, Onii-Chan. Please… don't go…" Nezuko begged her brother to stay. She had just gotten from her mental prison, being stuck as a damn demon for three years. They were a family again and now… they would be apart once more.
It wasn't fair… It just wasn't fair to her and her big brother. Why was this world so cruel?
Tanjiro, who stood at the front entrance of their new Minka house, dressed in his recognizable green and black checkered haori with a dark hood over it and a traditional kitsune mask was placed on top of the left side on his head. "I'm sorry, Nezuko-chan… but I can't stay here anymore… Not in this condition at least."
Nezuko aggressively shook her head, disagreeing with her big brother as tears started to run down her face, her lips quivering as she couldn't believe her big brother was going through with it.
"Please stay! I don't care if you're a demon! You'll always be my big brother! Please! Don't go…" Nezuko continued to beg her only family relative to stay home.
Tanjiro closed his eyes in a solemn expression. "I can't… I'm sorry but with Muzan's demon lineage still out there, I can't risk more of those monsters out there, hurting innocents for their malicious purposes."
Tanjiro knew the risks of becoming a demon. He at least had his human instincts so he wasn't completely gone but at the same time, it doesn't change who he was.
He was a demon. Human mind or not, people would mistake him as the enemy of Japan. How long would it be until the remaining Hashiras hunt him down in case they saw him as a future threat?
Tanjiro couldn't blame them of course. It was their code after all. Hell, if Tanjiro was in their shoes when it came to hunting demons who were still alive, dangerous ones at least after Muzan's reign had ended, he would do the same thing as well.
That's why he needed to leave home, to end the curse once and for all.
"Plus, it might be the only way to find a cure out there. With Lady Tamayo gone, may she rest in the heavens, it's gonna be difficult to find one for sure. That's why I must go so we can be a family once more." Tanjiro explained to his recently cured sister.
Nezuko just stared at her big brother, the tears wouldn't stop streaming down her eyes but… she at least had a bit of an understanding as her voice came out in a calmer tone.
"O-Okay… I understand, Onii-Chan…" Nezuko reluctantly agreed with her older brother. Even with her approval, her sadness remained as she knew this might be the last time she might see her brother.
Tanjiro walked over to his saddened sister as he placed his right hand on her left shoulder. "Hey… I promised you, I'll come back and visit you and Zenitsu-san's children. My future nephews or nieces will be happy to see me once I come back in a better condition of course!" Tanjiro said cheerfully as he used his right hand, placing a finger on Nezuko's right eye, wiping her tears away as he continued to perform the same action to her other eye.
Nezuko then displayed a small smile as she placed both of her arms, wrapping herself around her big brother and she gave him the biggest hug in her whole life.
"Please stay safe, Onii-chan. Please come back in one piece, be safe."
Tanjiro nodded, determination was beginning to set in his emotions. "I will. I promise you I will return safe and sound."
Right after the two Kamado siblings finished their hug, Tanjiro turned away from his sister as he continued to walk out the door of their new house. Before departing, Tanjiro turned to give his sister one last cheerful smile as he placed the kitsune mask over his face. He then turned to the other side and opened the door, leaving his remaining family so he could find a way to be human once again.
Once Tanjiro was gone, Nezuko's tears returned as she could hear footsteps coming in her direction.
Zenitsu had appeared, giving comfort to his new partner as Nezuko continued to cry, letting her emotions run free as she could Zenitsu's hands, rubbing freely in her black hair, telling her it was going to be alright.
"Shhhhh, it's okay, Nezuko-chan. Tanjiro will be back soon. If I know the guy, he's too stubborn to die. Trust me, it's who he is after all." Zenitsu assured his Nezuko, giving a comforting smile to his newly engaged partner.
Nezuko looked up in her partner's direction, giving a small smile as she continued to hug him, hoping he was right.
"I know, Zenitsu-kun… I just hope nothing bad happens to him…"
"Come on. Let's go. Inosuke's going to be mad at us if we stay here too long. He hates saying goodbyes after all. We'd better get going."
Nezuko had one last thought before she left her new Minka house.
"Onii-chan… Please come back safe and sound… I'll wait here until you get back…"
Tanjiro woke up, realizing it was around 8 A.M. Alright, today was his day off.
That means he had more time to himself. Perfect! That's what a day off is for!
Soon, Tanjiro had gotten up early and was still in his pajamas, watching another American sitcom while drinking his tea.
Tea was one of the few things that helped him relax during stressful times, along with mediating and the occasional workout routine, improving his breathing style as well.
Usually, Tanjiro would have taken a shower around this time but it was his day off today so he figured he would just have an evening to relax, forgetting about his troubles in the past days.
Tanjiro still prays every morning, hoping his sister, former comrades he once fought side by side, and his master who taught him what it means to be a Demon Slayer was in a better place, up in the skies.
The retired Demon Slayer let out another sigh, knowing he couldn't change the past as it wouldn't do anything but remind him of past losses he earned over the years.
He knew he couldn't save everyone. His family, Rengoku-san, Shinobu-chan, Lady Tamayo, and even the innocent people who turned into demons due to being lost in a dark sight.
Despite his negative thoughts, Tanjiro pushed through, fighting the urge to give up on his pure beliefs. How could he? It would all be for nothing. His sister and comrades would be disappointed in him if he didn't continue to fight for others.
This Avenger's Initiative… What did Fury mean by that? Tanjiro desperately wanted answers and all he got were vague answers from a man and his mysterious organization who had been watching him for God, who knows how many years to come?
For now, he'd agreed with Fury. He had to keep a low profile.
So far everything was going well for him. Tanjiro took another sip of his tea, giving him a calming effect, a natural effect against stress and anxiety.
Unfortunately, a buzzing noise would like to disagree with that. Tanjiro sighed to himself, placing his tea on the coffee table. He didn't need to guess who that was.
Noticing the buzzy phone on the kitchen counter, Tanjiro made his way to where the droning noise was coming from and placed the phone to his right ear. "Hello," Tanjiro answered calmly.
Fury was on the other side of the line. "Mister Kamado. Coulson should be at your entrance in five minutes to pick you up. Get ready as soon as possible." Fury notified the red-haired demon on the phone.
"Okay. I'll be sure to give Coulson-san a warm welcome when he gets here today." Tanjiro gently promised the director.
The phone call soon ended and Tanjiro turned the television off, getting ready for his meeting with the spy.
Once Tanjiro picked out his clothes which were similar to the previous days, a knock was heard on the door.
'Oh, that's probably Coulson! Should get that as soon as possible!' Tanjiro said to himself, knowing the meeting was about to start soon.
Walking up to his apartment door, Tanjiro opened it, giving a warming smile to one of the few friends made in this decade. "Coulson-san! It's good to see you again! Please, come in!"
Phil smiled back in return. "Thank you, Mr. Kamado. Good to see you again." Phil said kindly, shaking the red-haired demon's right hand with his left one.
"So can I offer you a drink? I still have some tea left over in the kitchen." Tanjiro kindly offered it to the Shield agent.
Phil shook his head in return, declining the kind offer. "Thank you, Mr. Kamado but unfortunately, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Fury doesn't want me to drink on the job, even if it's not an alcoholic beverage. But maybe I'll take your offer in the future once all of this is over."
"I'm here to pick you up so you can meet up with Fury and the rest of the Avengers."
"Alright then. Do I need to bring anything with me?" Tanjiro kindly asked the Shield agent.
"Just anything that might be a valuable asset to you. Something that can give you aid in the Initiative." Phil responded calmly, reassuring the red-haired demon.
"Got it. Alrighty, let me go get dressed then." Tanjiro said.
Phil nodded at his words. "Take your time."
Tanjiro gave a small nod before going back into his room.
Taking slow steps into his apartment room, Tanjiro gently opened the door from behind, entering where his bedroom was.
Walking to his closet, Tanjiro begins to pick a few clothes for his trip with SHIELD. He grabbed a couple of T-shirts, along with a pair of dark jeans as both of his hands began to gently fold them into the suitcase he bought a few years ago.
Standing from a distance where his desk was, Tanjiro narrowed his eyes to the one precious item he carried with him on his entire journey.
The box where he carried his sister in. Tanjiro walked over to where the box was once he got near it, his right-hand light caressed the front door, reminding himself why he pushed himself to the ends of the Earth.
Kami, sorrow was the first emotion beginning to set in the red-haired demon's mind.
All of that work just to find a cure for his sister. His red eyes looked in a solemn expression, softly praying in his mind, thanking the skies that his sister was in a better place. While he may have failed to cure himself, his sister was at least free from her disease. And to him, that was already the cure for himself.
Opening the box, his red eyes could see all the mementos inside. The muzzle that his sister used to wear on her mouth when she was a former demon, Inosuke's boar mask was another memento inside. Tanjiro could never forget the face of his former friend as he passed this mask down to him as a way to remember him. Tanjiro could swear that the Beast Breather was almost on the verge of tears once Tanjiro announced he would be leaving his home.
Say what you want. Inosuke may have been rowdy but even someone as wild as him has a soft side.
Not only that but there was also his trademark Green and Black Checkered Haori which was neatly folded, along with the Brown Demon Slayer uniform he wore underneath the Haori.
His right hand slowly touches the Haori, remembering the tribulations he earned during his training to become a Demon Slayer to find a cure for his sister and find the man responsible for murdering his family in the mountains.
There were also scrolls to all the breathing styles from each perspective Hashira.
This reminds him that after leaving home, Tanjiro got the chance to relearn all the Breathing Styles once he began to travel the world to end the last of the demon lineage out there.
Realizing he didn't have much time left, Tanjiro removed his white T-shirt, grabbed another dark red T-shirt from the closet, and began to put on another pair of blue jeans. Tanjiro then grabbed his freshly clean green and black checkered hoodie, completing his "ordinary" appearance.
Turning his head from the other direction, Tanjiro caught sight of his Hanafuda Earrings that were placed on his desk wardrobe he had worn ever since he was a child. The earrings were passed down from his ancestor to his father, and now, he was the one in possession of these earrings.
The former Demon Slayer vows to take care of these mementos until the day he dies. Well, if he could die in case. But that won't happen for a very long time.
Placing both of the earrings and with a determined expression on his face, Tanjiro was now ready to head out.
"Alright, Coulson-san. I'm ready. Let's go to where this meeting is." Tanjiro declared with a determined expression.
"Excellent. I'll notify Fury right as we go. Before we do, may I ask you a question?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"Have you ever been on a plane before? Or a vehicle that travels in the air."
That was an odd question. Why would Coulson-san ask something like that?
"Err… I believe so. Once or twice in my life." Tanjiro answered in a semi-awkward tone. "Why do you ask?"
Phil smirked to himself. "You'll see soon enough."
Tanjiro wondered what Coulson-san meant by that.
It'd better be some surprise for him.
The ride lasted for thirty minutes. Tanjiro was becoming quite comfortable, riding in the SUV with Coulson. He sure was wondering where this car was taking them.
Tanjiro had rarely ridden in modern vehicles before. He had taken the train a few times in New York on his way to the apartment once he got settled there. Hell, he never even drove in a car, let alone rode one.
Other than that, the former Demon Slayer didn't bother with it since he knew other ways of fast travel in the city.
Why drive when you already can increase your speed during breathing? It just seems a bit pointless to the past Hero of the Taisho Era. If not, a little redundant to him.
Phil turned his head sideways to face the red-haired restaurant owner. "So Mr. Kamado, are you at all curious about what this Initiative is for? Other than to prove to SHIELD you're not a threat to anyone."
Oh right! He was looking for answers after all.
"Yes, I have been curious about that. That is one thing I'm wondering… why did you and Fury choose me as one of the recruitments to this Initiative?" Tanjiro asked, curious about why he was a candidate for this job. Did they somehow know he had slain demons in his past life?
"Good question. Well, it would have to be due to the reason we are looking for an enemy who has stolen an important artifact from our Episonage."
"What kind of artifact was that?" Tanjiro questioned, tilting his head to the right.
"An artifact that can give you unlimited energy. We had this artifact for many years to come. It is called The Tesseract."
'Tesseract? Have I heard about that? I don't think I have.' Tanjiro thought in his head.
"Judging by the look on your face, you're probably wondering what kind of power this cube has."
"What kind of power does it have?" Tanjiro inquired from the Shield agent, wondering what kind of energy or mystic capabilities this object had.
"It has the power to open rifts into space, this cube offers a teleporter of such. It can take you anywhere you want to go in the world. Anywhere on Earth, anywhere in the galaxy… In space, mind you."
Space? Like outer space? Tanjiro did remember hearing stories about a man arriving on a moon around the late sixties when he was in America for a short while.
Neil Armstrong. That was his name. Still, Tanjiro was sure impressed and if not, a bit flabbergasted at the evolution of technology over the years.
"So if this… Tesseract is so powerful, how did it get stolen from your organization?" Tanjiro wondered.
"About a week ago, at our remote facility in New Mexico, an incident occurred there. We were conducting experiments and projects in the facility to discover the unknown energy that this cube had hidden. One of our scientists came close to cracking it right when we were close. That was until someone intervened." Phil explained the past events from last week.
"Who was it?" Tanjiro asked the Shield agent, wondering who was the one responsible for many deaths in the facility. It infuriated Tanjiro that many people had died due to the careless actions of this man. And he was going to find out who it was, whether it cost him his life or not.
"A "man" by the name of Loki. He is no ordinary man by any means. An extraterrestrial being of sorts. Managed to overpower most of the men in the facility and take the cube for himself. Is even capable of using mind control since one of our best agents was brainwashed by this man. After this, it's why Fury announced the Avenger's Initiative began. Which brings you here, of course." Phil finished his explanation, leaving the former Demon Slayer to ponder his thoughts on the situation.
Tanjiro was silent for a few seconds before responding. "I see. So that's why you and Fury were interested in looking for me. To help find this man."
Phil nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, that is correct. With your help, we should be able to find this man before he causes more chaos or destruction to happen in the world."
Tanjiro knew that Coulson-san was serious about this. So that's why they saw potential in the former Demon Slayer. A way to fight the battles for them. That they never could.
Tanjiro felt like he was back in the Demon Slayer Corps once again, how sentimentality was that?
"Alright then. I'll do whatever it takes to stop this man before more innocents get caught in the crossfire."
"I know you will," Phil said, knowing there was a reason why his friend was chosen for this initiative in the first place.
Yeah, now Tanjiro understands why he was chosen for this initiative.
Maybe… Maybe he wasn't done being a hero yet. Maybe Kami was telling him that there was more to his presence here.
Fate certainly has interesting ways of calling to him when he least expects it.
"We're here."
Tanjiro's head immediately perked up, looking out of the window. And he was in for a grand surprise for sure as eyes widened in the process.
It was large and flat. There were large lines drawn across the platform on top. There were four massive engines on each side as well, there was this small tower out over the deck and overall, looked too big for a "regular" ship.
Tanjiro had seen planes before but not to a bigger extent. Has technology advanced much over the years?
'How big!' Tanjiro thought to himself as Phil noticed the wacky expression on Tanjiro's face, making the Shield agent chuckle to himself.
This was even bigger than an airplane or jet for sure!
He said it before and he'll say it again but he knew that if Zenitsu and Inosuke were both here, both of their jaws would fall to the ground out of comic effect. Inosuke would probably mistake it for a giant beast.
Heh. Good times.
"Shall we go?" Coulson inquired, turning his attention to the red-haired demon.
Tanjiro smiled out of excitement. "Yeah, let's go."
Upon boarding the Helicarrier, Tanjiro caught multiple scents, lots were in a hurry to get to their prospective parts of the ship, and others were outside, working on the technical locations in the Helicarrier.
Man, these people were busy. He could understand of course. He worked in a restaurant so who was he to judge?
Right as Tanjiro and Phil arrived on the platform of the Helicarrier, Tanjiro's nose caught another scent, though this one was more familiar.
Looking at a close distance, it was a blonde-haired man wearing a brown leather jacket with a button-up white and blue shirt and loose khaki pants.
Tanjiro's eyes widened as he had a grand realization of who this man was. It… It couldn't be.
"Mr. Kamado, this is Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America. Steve, this is Tanjiro Kamado. An old friend of mine." Phil introduced both of the new recruiters for Shield's initiative.
"It's good to see you again, son," Steve said smiling, lending out his hand to shake the formed Demon Slayer's hand.
After that, all Tanjiro got was a wash of nostalgia. A trip from the past once again.
AN: Hello Everyone! Chapter three is officially out! Special thanks go to Meraj Alimi (King 101) for helping me beta this chapter!
Yes, I'm back! Thankfully, I was able to get this chapter out before school started for me! My God, this story has 255 favorites and 306 follows at the time of the release of this chapter! The support means well, guys! Thanks for that! AO3 has given a lot of attention to this story as well!
But yeah, the next chapter is where the events of the movie start and we will get flashbacks to Tanjiro's past interactions with the Avengers and also, how he arrived in New York and Los Angeles before the start of opening his restaurant. Also, there will be more explanation of what happened to Tanjiro's family and friends after he left home from Japan to search for a cure. But that won't happen for a while.
Also, thinking of maybe including some things from the comics to spice it up like maybe Bruce Banner/Hulk's origins or the mythology of Asgard and Norse Mythology as well. Probably might just keep it up until Phase 3 since yeah, Phase 4, I think we can agree is where Marvel started to fall flat on its face.
But enough about that, at least Marvel is looking promising with some of their future films like The College Trilogy for Spiderman, GOTG 3 was pretty good, Secret Wars is interesting, to say the least, and Deadpool 3 looks cool, I guess.
Demon Slayer Season 4 should be promising as well since I like that Demon Slayer is not being milked to death like other anime… Naruto/Boruto. But yeah, besides that, it's looking great so far!
Also, be expecting another chapter of Hero's Hell and I found a beta to help with A Dark Messiah's Atonement so be on the lookout for that!
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With all that being said, I hope you guys enjoyed the rest of your summer, stay in school and I hope you have a nice weekend too!
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