Chapter Text
It’s already 2 years since Tanjiro forgot how to get a happiness again. At his 19 year old, he nearly get everything. He already become well swordman to slay any demon and get high rank in Demon Corp, and the best thing that he ever got that he engaged to Rengoku Kyoujuro, the man that he loved from the bottom of his heart. But, the hope that he got crushed like ashes. Just one month before their wedding, Rengoku and Sabito got a mission together, and they died in that mission.
They died in their heroic act, Sabito died while protecting the whole village. Tanjiro heard that even when his body already crushed, Sabito is still struggling to defend the innocent people from the demon. While Rengoku died when fight against a strong demon, that demon just called his other companion and surrounded Rengoku. But in the end, Rengoku win against them all, in exchange for his own life. Just one things that Tanjiro regret was because their last time together, they had a quarrel and Rengoku left for his mission before he could talk to Tanjiro again, and to know that Rengoku already pass away like that, before Tanjiro even apologize to him, it make him feel really guilty. A sharp pain just apperared if he remember that day again. What if he already say sorry to Rengoku before, maybe his little heart can accept the death of Rengoku Kyoujuro even if it’s only a bit.
Tanjiro’s heart was filled with void, he can’t even say anything due his own shocked after received that bad news. The funeral held together both for Sabito and Rengoku, and Tanjiro only can see the same despair that Giyuu show in front of the funeral, how he force to hold himself together and act strong in front of other people. All the comfort is just like nothing for them, not until all hashira gather after the funeral, and then both of Giyuu and Tanjiro just cried out loud that day. Tanjiro couldn’t even dare to think about how broken Giyuu heart was. He who only engaged with Rengoku already stab with a lot of pains, and he can’t even dare to imagine how hurt Giyuu actually now.
[8 days before 2nd death anniversary]
Tanjiro Kamado is now 21 years, and he just take over the position of his ex-fiance in demon corp as Flame Pillar. He let his hair grow longer so he can ponytail his own hair right now, and apparently he wore the same cloak with the one that Rengoku always wear before. Actually, both Tanjiro and Giyuu just working overlimit, they just want to created a pain on their body, just to hide their pain on their heart. It’s only 8 days left before 2nd anniversary of Sabito and Rengoku’s death and Tanjiro just took another mission without any rest.
“I wonder, what will you say to me if you still alive, Kyoujuro-san.” Tanjiro whisper to himself. He just slayed another demon when walking on his path. Tanjiro who was warm and gentle was already gone by now. He didn’t emphatized with any demon anymore and just throw a hatred toward them, because they just stole Rengoku from him.
Tanjiro didn’t realized that his mission was already gone by now. He just wander at ancient house, looking around and somehow, his eyes just gazed on silver pattern on the door, the only one which still stand in that abandoned place. His hand just touched that pattern, the one that just like a mix of fire pattern, Rengoku’s flame pattern. Tanjiro just smile sadly. “If i can meet you once more time, Kyoujuro-san.” And with that, Tanjiro just head back to the base, he just need to report his mission to Oyakata-sama before prepared himself to attend 2nd death anniversary.
That night, Tanjiro just pick random place in forest to rest and he dream about something strange. In that dream, it’s purely cold, the place which like old manor covered by snow. Tanjiro just wake up and see himself lay down on the garden, and he assumed it was the garden that separated one manor to another. It’s just like really big manor. Around that garden, there was a pile of rock, or more to say it’s kinda similar to small cemetery.
Tanjiro tried to make any movement using his fire breathe, but he got nothing. He couldn’t use his power in his dream. But, Tanjiro know that this place is kinda dangerous, he can tell it by his smell, the smell of death was spread around this place. Tanjiro tried to stand up and search any clue, he need to stay calm and focused, that’s what all he learn after become a pillar. He couldn’t let his guard down just because he thrown into another place like this. Tanjiro just wonder if this is one of any demon power so he kinda trapped in this place? All he can do was only get any clue.
There are two different double door on where he stand, and after Tanjiro check it, only one that unlocked. Because Tanjiro couldn’t use his power at all, he just pick up random wooden stick just in case for his self defense. He just walk to pass the door and kinda shocked by the fact inside that old big manor. The place was just like abandoned place, really old japanese place with old wodden floor which already rotten, even some of them already break down. The wall already cracked with so much moss and weed. The place where Tanjiro stand right now was more like the main hall, the lobby because there were 5 separated door.
The place is really quite, Tanjiro heard nothing but his foot step, and the only light source for Tanjiro right now were only from the candle that lid on the corner of the wall. It wasn’t clear enough to see his surounding but at least he can see around by that limited of light. Tanjiro just walk straight and pick any random door, but it seems 4 other door were locked, so he had no other choices to go straight to the last one, hope that the door will be unlocked.
And his guts was right. Tanjiro open the last door and find himself on another different place. There was a big place with only one double door, but before that door, there was a big tree. Tanjiro can already guess than tree just by looking at it size, maybe it already exist for more than 50 years because it was really big tree. But somehow, when Tanjiro walk beside the tree, he just looked someone who familiar.
Tanjiro just froze, his throat just lost voices suddenly, he wanted to scream to call that person name, but he couldn’t do that. Tanjiro just run as fast as he could to catch up and follow that figure. But that figure just walk without see behind and just pass the double door, just like a ghost.
“KYOUJUROU-SAN!” When Tanjiro finally find his voices again, it’s already late. He stand on the double door that seem seal with many talisman and rope, and the old traditional padlock with four keyhole also stay there. Tanjiro tried to smashed the door, to force open and break the padlock but it’s pointless. Tanjiro cried, without he realized, his tears just flow from his eyes. “Kyoujurou-san.” Was what he can called between his sobbing.
.
.
.
[7 days before 2nd death anniversary]
Tanjiro just snap out, open his eyes wide and realized that he just wake up in middle of forest, the place where he decided to sleep before went back to Oyakata-sama place. But, something sharp and cold just touched Tanjiro shoulder. He could feel the sharp pain that craved on his back, but that pain just vanished after few second. Tanjiro tried to look at his shoulder but he saw nothing. Probably only his imagination, was what Tanjiro think that time.
Second time when he had this kinda of same dream again was when he stay at Inn, it’s the next day and just one day before he arrived to report his mission. Tanjiro took a rest after slay random demon that show up near the village, and because of that, the village just show their gratitude by asking Tanjiro to stay a night at their place.
“It’s okay, really. I’m really grateful that people in this village already kind enough to give me a food for my journey, i can sleep at forest so it’s fine.” Tanjiro smiled, he feel kinda guilty to refuse their hospitality.
“Only a night, Mr.Demon Slayer! Please just stay for a night, we want to show our thank you for saving our place.” And Tanjiro couldn’t refuse it. He end up stay a night at that village.
Tanjiro thought, maybe his wish granded yesterday when he meet with Rengoku Kyoujuro for the last time, but it seems that’s not the case. When he sleep and dream again today, he just stand on the same snow garden again. Tanjiro confused, is it even possible to be part of one demon’s spell? But, somehow deep down in his heart just glad to be inside this same dream again, it mean that he can meet with his beloved again, right?
This time, Tanjiro enter the same manor again, but the differences that there were trace of blood trail that lead him to other door. From the main hall, it lid by so many candle as long as Tanjiro remember, and he doesn’t even bother to wondering where this all candle come from. The blood trail allowed him to go to right side of the hall, which separated by 2 door. Tanjiro tried to open other door where there were no blood trail but it’s locked, so he tried to check the one with the blood trail one.
Last time he went to that door, it’s locked and he didn’t bother to try to open it, but by the hint that showed to him right now, Tanjiro tried to open it. The door really unlocked, and that door just lead him to other new different place. Around his surrounding were a bridge with water that flow under it. The place is kinda filled with a fog, and Tanjiro just wondering how could be there was no snow in this place, eventhough he could feel the coldness from the garden with small cemetery before. Tanjiro tired to walk but his eyes suddenly capture something strange. There is a shadow, or more like a man that walk in front of him.
“I’m sorry!” Tanjiro tried to call that man, but his expresion just shocked when figure out that the man has no face at all. That man just walk to Tanjiro place, approached Tanjiro who still shocked. If that man was a demon, Tanjiro won’t even bother to tried to finished it, but that man in front of him, just as transparent as a ghost. Tanjiro tried to run away when that man begin to attack him, but as expected, Tanjiro couldn’t hit him. That wooden stick that he picked up just come through that body.
And what more terrifying that when that man touch a bit of Tanjiro’s body, it’s just like his energy been drained up. “Let me go!” Shouted him and tried to break from that spirit grasp. Tanjiro feel his body become weak because his energy just drained like that, but when he could stand up again, Tanjiro sprint as fast as he could to avoid that man. One things that Tanjiro learn, he couldn’t and musn’t get caught or even touch by any of this ‘resident’.
Tanjiro pushed the big door in front of him when he reached the edge of the bridge, and it seems that man didn’t follow him, probably lost track when tried to chase Tanjiro. When Tanjiro open it, he could see a big empty space with tatami, that place is pretty roomy, probably size around 80mx80m, the only one that separated each tatami only by a paper window. Each 20m of that room separated by a window paper. But since that place look really old and abandoned, the paper on the window already tore. There were actually lamp on that room, a yellow light, but it already run out of energy so the light just dim in and dim out repeatly, left Tanjiro with uneasy feeling.
“What’s wrong with this place, am i just trapped inside the ghost place?” Tanjiro looked around, still walking to his next destination, the door on the edge of the room. While Tanjiro walking around, he could heard a faint cry, it sound really sad, even Tanjiro could feel the despair behind that cry. He tried to look around but he found nothing, so he just open the next door. The crying still stay, it’s just like Tanjiro get close and closer each time he take a next step.
The next room are actually stairs, it lead to higher place with wooden roof on the edge, and there is a small box, just like a small shrine box, and Tanjiro could see a shiny things inside that box, which is probably what Tanjiro must check. Each step from the wooden staircase, and it let out a loud sound, that wooden already cracked and old anyway, so Tanjiro must be carefull when step on that. The fun things, Tanjiro didn’t heard any of crying sound anymore, it’s just purely silent now, and somehow he just got a goosebump.
Tanjiro just go ahead to the top and find himself to across the wooden roof to reach the small shrine box. He must really carefull or else he will fell into a darkness pit. Fortunately that Tanjiro blessed with a good balance so he can get across that wooden roof easily and reach his destination. His hand just open that small shrine box and see a doll inside. That doll is more like a cursed doll, it’s pretty similar to human doll with some hair intact, but the body is sewed and Tanjiro knew there was something inside the doll. The head just stabbed with a spike and on its sewed body, there is a paper that witten in Kanji ‘SEAL’.
Tanjiro just ignore it and rip open the paper, let out the things that hidden inside the doll’s stomach, and he found a key. The pattern on that key is kinda familiar for him actually. If Tanjiro not wrong, that patern exactly same with the padlock pattern when he tried to smash the door yesterday, when Rengoku’s shadow just pass through the door. It has 4 keyhole, Did it mean that Tanjiro must collect all the key so he can unlock the door? If that’s the case for be able see Rengoku once more, then he will do anything for it.
But, before Tanjiro even realized. There is actually something beside him, a long hair just feel down on his shoulder and Tanjiro can heard clearly a crying just exactly on his ear.
“GET-OUT-FROM-HERE!!!!!” That women just yelled then giggle before begin to sobbing again, and Tanjiro can see a woman with a lot of small cut and bruised around her face, just looked like that she got abused until her death. That women really get emotional easily. And her face, the imagine of her face just shocked Tanjiro to the core, with a white skin like a parceline and really horrified face like that with so many hideous scars. The crying just get loud and louder inside his ear and even though Tanjiro already cover his ear but that crying still can heard clearly.
And Tanjiro wake up. He panted a lot while struggling to keep his breathe. Within a seond, he could feel a sharp pain again from his shoulder, this time it more longer than yesterday, but when he wanted to check it, there was nothing, it’s like that anything that caused his pain dissapeared.
.
.
.
[6 days before 2nd death anniversary]
“Oyakata-sama, i’m so sorry about the late arrival!” Tanjiro kneel in front of the head of Demon Corp. Kagaya Ubuyashiki or what pillar and whole demon corp often called him by Oyakata-sama just smile, even though he couldn’t see but he can wonder what Tanjiro did. Tanjiro and all member of Demon Corp are his children and he knew so well each of them. The fact that Oyakata-sama just take attention of every detail from his children, it make all of them respect Oyakata-sama so much.
“It’s allright, Tanjiro. Just lift your head.” Oyakata-sama just smile gracefully, Tanjiro never tired to heard Oyakata-sama soft and comforting sound. “So, what’s happened during your journey?”
Tanjiro just finished his repot about his journey to the western side of Japan and slay so much demon, and end up by visit an old abandoned place.
“Oyakata-sama, can i ask you about something?” Tanjiro kinda hesitate at first, but his gut just tell him to ask for Oyakata-sama help.
“Go ahead, Tanjiro.”
“I... Recently i just dream about something ridiculous. It is possible to have continuation dream each from straight 2 days, Oyakata-sama? And in the dreams, it’s like i was sucked into ghost manor with their mystery.”
“and?” Oyakata-sama didn’t interupted Tanjiro, but he waited until Tanjiro finished his line, since he kinda hesitate when he want to talk about his next line.
“In that dream, i meet with Kyoujuro-san, Oyakata-sama. He—he just pass through the door that sealed so i can’t chase after him, but for the last time, only for the last time, i really want to meet him again, Oyakata-sama. I missed him,” Tanjiro stop for a while, he could feel his throat a bit choked out. “I miss him so much.”
Oyakata-sama just smile sadly. He knew about Tanjiro’s pain. Rengoku Kyoujuro also one of his child, and mosty of it, he is also a pillar which mean he more close to him personally. “You know, Tanjiro. The best things to move on from the past is actually how you do to forgive yourself. I know that you still hold a guilty inside your deepest heart, and keep blaming yourself from it. What if, that day you didn’t go quarrel with Kyoujuro, what if that day you also go to the mission together with Kyoujuro and Sabito.”
Tanjiro didn’t dare to lift his head, he know that Oyakata-sama word just pierce his heart, all what Oyakata-sama said is true afterall, up until now, he couldn’t even forgive himself, and that’s probably the reason why Kyoujuro still haunted him. Oyakata-sama hand then land on Tanjiro’s head and pat his head gently.
“You are also my child, Tanjiro. Just remember to value your life,” Oyakata-sama couldn’t see, but Tanjiro know that he knew Tanjiro’s pain just based on his gesture and sound. How Tanjiro talk, walk and acted. “Also, it’s better if you visit Gyomei, maybe he know about your recent dream. I—personaly didn’t want to think about it, if it’s true what caused your dream recently were actually ‘that one’. But i need you to make sure by talking about the dream with Gyomei first.”
“Thank you so much, Oyakata-sama!”
When Tanjiro just end with his report, he could see someone just stand near the gate of the house. Someone that he really know so well.
“Nezuko!” Tanjiro just received bear hug from his sister.
“How are you, Nii-san?” Tanjiro just hug his sister as tight as she hug him.
“I’m not actually good, but i’m fine. How about you?” Nezuko just let go her hug and face her brother, worried. “I’m good, but what do you mean by ‘not actually good’, Nii-san? Is something bothering you?”
“Actually...”
Tanjiro just told his journey and how he end up with his recent dreams. Nezuko just shocked and immediately hug his brother again, more gentle this time.
“I’m sorry, Nii-san. I’m sorry that you must face that kind of dream. Meet up with Kyoujuro-san like that just few days before his 2nd year death anniversary is kinda...”
“It’s okay, Nezuko,” Tanjiro just smile sadly, but actually he really curious about the dream that Oyakata-sama asked him. “By the way, do you know where Himejima-san, Nezuko?”
Nezuko and Tanjiro were walking together to their house. 2 years after they joined demon corp, at age 18 they already given a small house not far from Estate Butterfly, where The Insect Pillar, Shinobu Kocho’s resident, and sometimes their best friend like Zenitsu and Inosuke just crashed to their place and complain how Kamado sibling can get house when they didn’t. Actually Zenitsu is live with Uzui Tengen right now, and Shinobu just asked Inosuke to stay at her place. If Rengoku still alive, probably Tanjiro already live with him right now.
“I heard Himejima-san have a mission, he probably come back by tomorrow morning, Nii-san. Why don;y you just rest a bit? I’ll cook you a food and you can take a rest a bit.” Nezuko smile.
Tanjiro then looked at Nezuko, she realy Tanjiro’s precious sister. Tanjiro smiled. “Nezuko, can i go to somewhere before i come back to our home? I want to visit Kyoujuro’s graveyard since i already back.”
“Do you want me to accompany you, Nii-san?”
“It’s okay, i can go alone. I’ll come back as soon as finished, ok?”
Nezuko nodded before wave her hand and let Tanjiro to go to his next destination. The path are always the same, it’s never change even after nearly 2 years. Tanjiro just held a flower and head to the cemetery, but when he arrived, he just drop his flower.
“Kyou..ju..ro-san?” Tanjiro just see someone who just look like his beloved in front of Rengoku Kyoujuro grave, but when that figure look at Tanjiro, Tanjiro just realized. Ah, Senjurou. Kyoujuro’s little brother.
“Tanjiro-san?” Senjurou just finished with his pray and approach Tanjiro. Tanjiro just picked up the flower and greet Senjurou back. “Senjurou-kun, it’s been a while, you already grow up this much,” Tanjiro just stare at Senjuro, just one year and he already grow just like Kyoujuro now. Last time when he saw Senjurou, probaby after the funeral of Kyoujuro.
“Do you want to talk with Aniue? I’ll left you guys alone,” Senjurou smile to Tanjiro. “Oh, and Tanjiro-san, just please visit me and my father later if you have time. My Father will be happy to see and talk with you.”
After that, Senjurou give Tanjiro a little hug before excuse himself to let Tanjiro with Kyoujuro grave.
“I’m back, Kyoujuro-san.”
Later at the night, Tanjiro just dream the same dream again. He back to the snow garden with small cemetery again. But this time, Tanjiro didn’t bother to pick any random stuffs because what he will encountered were actually a ghost, so he only need to run or hide from them. Tanjiro just open the main hall door again, and the hall with so much candle still remain the same. The blood trail also still there, but Tanjiro just avoid it. He just checked his pocket and feel the key that he got from previous day still with him.
This time, Tanjiro just tried to go to other door, if his guts right, 4 door except the main double door will lead him to 4 keys, since he already get 1 of it, that’s mean he need to collect the other 3. Tanjiro already decided that he will collected the key and meet with Rengoku for the last time. Another door unlocked this time, the left upper side of the hall. When Tanjiro open that door, he just stay frozen for a little bit. What he could see only a big cemetery and the water flow around that cemetery. The water probably around half of Tanjiro’s body. Tanjiro just sighed before walk into the water to search the other key.
“Booo!!” For some times, Tanjiro just get jumpy when he encountered with a sunked women, that women just flow beside him. Tanjiro guess that she only tried to spook him but have no intention to do any harm like what the man with no face did the other day. Actually the size of this cemetery were really big, even Tanjiro get lost and walk in circle few times. He saw a few broken fence around with a lot of weeds around the graveyard.
“I hope i can find the key soon, it’s kinda gloomy around here.” And suddenly, Tanjiro could heard the scream from above. Reflect, he just look up to the sky and find a women just jump from the sky and try to catch Tanjiro. Tanjiro just avoid that quickly, still get heartattack by that ghost suddenly outbrust. One thing that Tanjiro feel blessed that he didn’t actually afraid about this ghost stuffs, so i guess he can accept this place and adapt it real quick.
Few times and Tanjiro tried to avoid that sky jumper girl who tried to catch him, Tanjiro didn’t know if the ghost really have attemp to catch him or just spook him like that sunked women before, but all what Tanjiro can do only step forward. He finally reach the egde of the cemetery and find a stair that lead him to the ground without any water, and not far from his place, there is actually old well. First step on the ground and Tanjiro already greeted by another ghost. This time, Tanjiro just gulped, the women with broken neck just stand near him. The blood are still visible and the head it’s just like nearly come off from the neck.
“Hurts... it hurts...so much... why am i not loved? Why... Why...”
Just for a while, Tanjiro seems emphatized with that girl, he can guess that someone juts killed her and slice her neck until it nearly fell, but he couldn’t feel any pity right now, he had prioritized. Tanjiro looked around to see any place to hide, but alas, it’s huge field with only old well, and Tanjiro just don’t want to go back to the water and get caught by that sky girl too.
“Why don’t you guys just left me alone, really!” Tanjiro just sprint himself to the old well, ignore the fact that broken neck girl just chased him, and when Tanjiro near the old well, he just jump inside the well. That broken neck girl didn’t follow him, but Tanjiro know that she waited on surface.
All Tanjiro could see were a small shrine, all thanks to the moonlight at that place so Tanjiro can see a bit. Glad that the well is dry so there is no water inside it, but there actually a small shrine like the shrine that he meet the other day. Tanjiro just open that small shrine box and see the familiar doll again, exactly same like yesterday. He did it again, rip open that doll and another key just appear from the doll.
After that, Tanjiro just wake up with the same sharp pain on his shoulder, but he can feel the pain just spread more longer than last 2 days, and this time, even if it’s just for a while Tanjiro can see a pattern—just like a tattoo spread to his hand, but it vanished immediately.
.
.
.
[5 days before 2nd death anniversary]
Tanjiro and Himejima sit up face each other right now. When Tanjiro heard that Himejima already come back from his mission, he just waited for Stone Pillar to finished his report.
“I’m sorry for asking you like this, considering that you barely come back, Himejima-san.”
“Namu Amida Butsu. Don’t worry about it. I’d gladly to help you, you are part of the demon corp family, my family.” Himejima then listen to Tanjiro story, about his dream and strange things happen on his body lately. He also mention how Oyakata-sama asked Tanjiro to discuss it first with Himejima.
Himejima isn’t change since Tanjiro know, he is still calm, collected and most mature person from all the pillars, even though Tanjiro never ask why his eyes always let out tears like that non-stop. “I hate to admit it, but i think it’s the cursed, Tanjiro. Do you ever know the “Tattooed Maiden Story”? I think it’s only urband legend and i heard the rumors about it before, but i didn’t search for it more further.”
“What it is about, Himejima-san?”
“It is said that the cursed for people by haunting their dreams. Usually the one that consumed by grief and guilt over the loss of loved ones.” Himejima kinda hesitate to finish his line, he know that Tanjiro is still linger by darkness after he lost Rengoku. “Some people said that, they will feel a sharp pain, begin on their shoulder when they woke up from their dream. They can see some kind of bruise on their skin but it’ll disappeard when they tried to look at it again. Acording to the old folktale, that bruise represent the pain and longing of whose lover has died. It’s fit perfectly for what have you told me so far, Tanjiro.”
Tanjiro just looked down on the desk, gazed at the tea that Himejima serve for him when they reach Himejima house. Longing for the loss loved one? Yes, sure he is, from the day after Rengoku Kyoujuro left him behind, he just feel so empty. “Is there anything to get rid of this cursed, Himejima-san?”
Himejima only smiled. “I never heard any of it, but what i can be sure that you musn’t dream about it for more than one week, or you’ll be Spirited Away, some people who claimed have that dream also vanish and they never be found again until now. So, whatever dream lead you into that repeatly dream, you must solve the mystery, Tanjiro.”
Tanjiro didn’t know how to reach about this, so if he didn’t get rid of this cursed, he will gone forever in this world? Tanjiro wouldn’t mind of course, but he still have a family left, for Nezuko he must stay alive. Whatever happened, he won’t left behind Nezuko, he didn’t want Nezuko to lost her family more than this. It;s already enough that they lost their whole family when the demon attacked them few years behind, and Tanjiro didn’t want Nezuko to feel the same agony again.
“Thank you, Himejima-san. I think i already know the answer.”
“Good luck, Tanjiro. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to stop by. Namu Amida Butsu.”
Tanjiro just walk outside the Stone Pillar house and just walk down without see the road, until he bump with someone.
“What were you thinking, walk around with that kind of face? How long you need to daydream until you bump into other person?” Tanjiro just looked up and see other Pillar, Iguro Obanai looked menancing at his place right now. Beside him, there is Mitsuri Kanroji.
“No way! Tanjiro, you already come back! Welcome back!” Mitsuri tried to approach Tanjiro and hug him but Iguro stop her.
“Ah... Iguro-san, Mitsuri-san. Hello.” Tanjiro just smile, those two already become husband and wife now. Actually, they are the first pillars who engaged to each other, and few year after them, Sabito proposed Giyuu and they got married. Tanjiro also nearly go into that step, not until the tragedy that day.
“Why you didn’t say anything, Tanjiro? I think Zenitsu and Inosuke will be glad to know you already back now,” Mitsuri smile so kindly to Tanjiro, really different with Iguro who stay silent beside her but looked at Tanjiro with sharp eyes, as if Iguro will give Tanjiro as his snake’s food if he dare to do something affectionaly to his beloved wife.
“Actually, there are some bussiness i need to take care before i meet with them, maybe i’ll see them tomorrow. I heard Zenitsu just move out to Uzui-san’s place by now? And Inosuke also move to Shinobu-san’s place?”
“Yes, you are right, Tanjiro. Uzui-san just claimed Zenitsu as one of his beloved, i think Uzui-san will asked if Zenitsu will be his husband later along with his 3 wives, and Inosuke just helping Shinobu to pick up some rare herb, in exchange for the delicious food that served in Butterfly Estated.” Mitsuri stop a while before look at Tanjiro. “How about you? I think it’s nearly one year since the last time we meet in... Sabito and Rengoku-san’s death anniversary.”
That’s it, everyone will always hesitated when they mention about his ex-fiance name. Tanjiro already well aware of this, he know that they just don’t want to bring that name again because it’ll caused other pain fo Tanjiro himself. “I’m fine, Mitsuri-san. My journey to the west only to do random visit and slay rumoured demon around it. I can’t let what happened to Sabito-san and Kyoujiro-san repeat again. If i have achange to finish the demon before they grow into large group, i’ll do that.”
And there is awkward silent between them. Mitsuri just feel kinda guilty for bring this topic up, she know that she caused another pain for Tanjiro by now.
“Just take a rest for few day, since it’s nearly their 2nd anniversary,” This time, it’s Iguro who begin to talk. “Sometimes, what you need to do is take a break before continue what you left again.”
And Tanjiro just looked at Iguro’s face. It’s true that he kinda worm out by now, day by day after Kyoujuro left him, Tanjiro hearts only filled with a hatred toward the demon and have ambition to slay every single life of them when he saw it. He never rest up and actually he really tired by now. Maybe what was Iguro say it’s true, he need a little break.
The night already arrive again, Tanjiro just wished that he won’t ever dream again, at first, he just happy to be able to see Rengoku again, but after he heard about the folklore and maybe he could vanished forever, he become afraid to left his little and only one sister alone. Nezuko is strong, same strong as Tanjiro, but he didn’t want his sister to tortured for left behind in this world alone.
Tanjiro get invitation that night, it’s Zenitsu pet bird and just mention that they held a welcome party for Tanjiro tomorrow morning, so he need to show up at Uzui Tengen’s place. Tanjiro also wonder if he need to visit Rengoku household too, after he meet with Senjurou at graveyard, maybe he will go to that place the day after the party. And somehow, he just thinking about how Giyuu also doing, maybe he will visit Giyuu soon. Tanjiro talked with Nezuko a lot that day, to fill his nearly one year left from evening until nearly midnight. After he got tired, Tanjiro then decided to sleep, and hope that he can solve another mystery in his dream today.