"Well I don't know. I just got back from a Mission and have a head wound, so I don't know if Shinobu would be happy if I went on another one so soon" Tanjiro replied after taking a moment to react to the sudden appearance and question. Tengan wilted, "oh. Of course. Sorry to bother you" the other Hashira replied, starting to walk away. As he did, Tanjiro caught the man's scent.
It was desperate, fearful, worried and agitated. He frowned. Something was very wrong. "Are you okay?" he asked to Tengan's retreating back. As the Sound Hashira looked back at the younger Hashira, Tanjiro walked over to him, "I would have to ask the Master as well as Shinobu, but I can come if the situation is desperate" he said. The Sound Hashira practically lit up.
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After being given permission by both, Tanjiro decided to take Hanako and Takeo with him on the Mission. As he was packing, Rokuta started to cry and clung onto him. "I'm sorry Rokuta. But I'm not taking you this time. Stay here with Mama, okay? Can you do that for me?" Tanjiro asked as he gently pulled his Demon baby Brother off of his Haori. Kie picked her youngest child up, and he wrapped his tiny fists into her Kimono, "be careful" she said.
Tanjiro nodded with a smile, "we will Mom. And I'm glad to see you doing so much better with talking now" he replied. His younger Brother and Sisters shrunk down and climbed into their box. Tanjiro pulled it onto his back, and patted his other Siblings on their heads, "okay, I'll be back soon. And I'll write letters, which Miss Mitsuri can read to you all, okay?" he assured. After seeing him off a much as they could for his Siblings not immune to sunlight, and waving him off at the front door for those who were Tanjiro met Tengan outside.
The man eyed his box, "so, you're brining some of your family with you for the Mission" he said. "Yes Sir, my little Brother Takeo and my youngest Sister Hanako. They'll be good, I promise, and they can help us fight" Tanjiro replied cheerfully. "Hm, alright. As long as they don't prove to be a danger to any of the humans in the District" the Sound Hashira replied. "By the way, where are we going for this Mission?" Tanjiro asked. Tengen grinned, "a place that's steeped in lust and desire. The Entertainment District in Tokyo!"
Tanjiro stared at him for a moment, before turning to re-enter the Love Estate, "I've changed my mind. I've been studying more places since becoming a Hashira, so I do know what that District is. I'm not taking my younger Siblings to a place like that" Tanjiro replied blandly. "Wait! Please, I do need the help of another Hashira! My Wives went there to investigate and have stopped sending reports. I need to make sure they're all safe!" Tengan said, practically begging.
Tanjiro looked down, before taking a breath, "alright. If people are in danger, I guess I can't refuse to go as a Demon Slayer" he decided, turning back to face the other Hashira. "Alright! Let's go Kamado!" Tengen proclaimed.
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"What did Kocho say about your head Kamado?" Tengen asked as they travelled to the District. Tanjiro rubbed the side of his head where a bandage rested, "I need stitches. I did slam it into a rock on my Mission and black out" he replied. "Hah! And you're supposed to be a Hashira!" Tengan laughed. Tanjiro frowned, "accidents can happen to anyone Tengan" he replied calmly. He eyed the box on Tanjiro's back, "so. Your 'Siblings' are in that box, huh?" the Sound Hashira asked.
"Yes they are, I've already told you that. The two of them wanted to come and help me. Is there something wrong with that?" Tanjiro asked, somehow sounding pleasant and defensive at the same time. "As long as they don't lose control and go after any humans we won't have a problem" the other Hashira replied. "They won't try to hurt humans, so I guess we won't" after that the two were silent.
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Finally, as they entered the District two nights later, Tanjiro looked around in awe. It was smaller than Asakusa, being a District rather than a City, but somehow more crowded. The streets were lit up as bright as if it were day, and there were people moving around everywhere. "Welcome to the Yoshiwara Entertainment District. Women are sold here to pay off their or their family's debts, and in return are given food, clothing and lodging" Tengen explained.
"Flashy, isn't it?" Tanjiro held his head, as the lights, sounds and smells made it throb, and caused his injury to ache. The Sound Hashira sighed, "come on, the Wisteria House is this way" he said, guiding the younger Hashira through the street.
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Once inside the Wisteria House, Tanjiro let his Siblings out of the box, and the Doctor at the house looked at his head wound. "Yes, you definitely need stitches for this" he said. "Thank you Sir" Tanjiro replied. "I'm going to go do some recognisance while he's treating you Kamado!" the Sound Hashira said loudly, making Tanjiro wince. "Sshhh!" the Doctor hissed. "Well, let's get this over with as quickly as we can" he said. Tengen left as the Doctor started.
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After Tanjiro's wound was stitched up, he was sent to rest while the Sound Hashira was looking for information. Tanjiro closed the windows and curtains, and let Takeo and Hanako out. "We're here guys. I've been sent to rest because of my head while Tengan is searching for information. So why don't we sleep together?" Tanjiro asked. "Mhm!" Hanako hummed cheerfully. Tanjiro set up the Futon's before the three of them went to sleep. With his head pounding, the Oldest Kamado felt content with letting himself sleep for the day.
After waking up the next day, Tanjiro felt a lot better, though he was hungry now. He noticed that Hanako and Takeo were still sleeping peacefully in their Futon's. He smiled, stretching and yawning. Tanjiro met Tengen in the dining hall. "Hey, you feel better Kamado?" the man asked. "Yes, thank you. My head doesn't hurt as much as before. Thank you for not hurting my younger Siblings as well" Tanjiro replied. "Well, you are a Hashira now, and the Master has accepted your family. So, I would be the one in trouble if I harmed them" the Sound Hashira said.
"Alright! I'll explain the Mission now, so listen closely!" Tengen said loudly. Tanjiro nodded, "there's a Demon hiding here in the District. I tried to find out information myself, but when I went in as a customer I couldn't get anything. So I sent my Wives in as workers to try and find out what's been going on. They were sending me letters about how everything was going, and anything they found out. But they've gone silent now. I needed female Corps members or another Hashira to help me with this.
I have to ensure their safety first and foremost. So you'll be going in as a worker. I would have preferred more than one person, but we'll have to make due" Tengen explained. "You'll be entering the Tokito House, to find information on my Wife Suma. I'll search for Makio and Hinatsuru myself" he continued. Tanjiro nodded seriously, "I understand. I'll do my best to find information for you".
"Alright! That's what I like to hear! I assume you're leaving your Siblings here?" Tengen asked. "Better not!" Takeo snapped from the box. Tanjiro laughed awkwardly, "no, Takeo would not be happy with me if I left him and Hanako here" he replied. "Alright, just keep an eye on them. If they attack anyone, it'll bee on your head Kamado!" Tengen replied with a sigh.
It was decided that Tanjiro would try to get a job as himself, since he couldn't really disguise as a girl. But upon explaining that he needed to make money for his Mother and multiple Siblings (not really a lie) the Madam of the Tokito House accepted his help. Tanjiro was very grateful. Takeo and Hanako were hidden in his new room with his Sword, while Tanjiro began to do chores.
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Tanjiro scrubbed the floors and washed the Futons. As he did, he kept an ear out for information about Miss Suma. After his chores were done, he went to check on his younger Siblings. "Hey Takeo, Hanako. How are you guys doing?" Tanjiro asked, after closing the curtains and opening their box. Hanako came out and sat on the floor, and Takeo grumbled at him. "You really don't like being in your box, do you Takeo?" Tanjiro asked.
"Well I'm sorry. You haven't conquered the sun yet, so you have to stay in your box to be safe, okay? I just don't want you to get hurt" Tanjiro replied gently. He heard someone coming towards their room. "Quickly, get back in the box!" he hissed. His Siblings did so, before a younger woman entered the room. "Oh! Tanjiro, there you are. Can you help me with my chores?" she asked. "Sure!" Tanjiro replied kindly, standing up.
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The oldest Kamado Son brought gifts for Oiran Koinatsu up to her. He placed them down in the room. The Oiran wasn't there for now, so he was going to return to his work. Then he heard two of the little girls who assisted the lady talking, "I heard that Miss Suma committed Ashinuke" one of them said. "Really?" the other girl asked. "What's Ashinuke?" Tanjiro asked curiously. The girls turned to him, looking nervous, "oh, uh, Mr Tanjiro, it's you" the first one said. Tanjiro knelt down in front of them with a kind smile on his face, "you know, my youngest Sister is only a few years older than you. I think you all do a good job here" he said gently.
The children looked a little more at ease. "You wanted to know what Ashinuke was? It's when someone runs off, usually with thee man they like instead of paying off their debts" the second girl explained. "And Miss Suma did that?" Tanjiro asked. "Well, we don't know for sure, but we've heard there was a diary where she wrote about running off with a man that she loved". 'Miss Suma already has a Husband. She wouldn't run off with another man. But for a Demon, Ashinuke is the perfect cover.
Anyone who disappeared would just be expected to have run off' he thought to himself. "Don't say things like that! No one's heard from Suma in weeks. Who knows what really happened to her!" a woman's voice said. They looked to see Koinatsu enter the room. "Miss Koinatsu, has Miss Suma really disappeared" Tanjiro asked. Koinatsu looked suspicious, "why are you asking about that?" she asked. Tanjiro remembered Tengan's lesson in going undercover: "when it comes to hiding the truth, the best thing you can do is mostly tell the truth!"
"She's the Wife of a family friend, and he was really worried about her. She's been sending him letters, and is very loyal, so I know she didn't commit Ashinuke! They just agreed to her working here for a while" Tanjiro explained. "Oh my! I didn't realise that Suma already had a Husband! Well then what about the letter she left?" Koinatsu asked in confusion, putting her hand to her mouth. Tanjiro clenched his fists, 'it's likely that the Demon already captured Miss Suma, and probably Tengen's other Wives too. Please be safe you three. We will save you all no matter what!' Tanjiro swore.