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Chapter Text

Kosame • 小雨 • Light Rain

Dark red eyes watched the raindrops fall from the sky onto the leaf and dirt covered ground from the window in his warm home. His mother gently caressed his hair while looking after her two other children.

“Okaa-san,” he said, eyes not leaving the window. “It’s raining and Otou-san is still not back from town. Do you think he’s okay? What if something happened?” Kie chuckled at her oldest child’s questions. He was always so worried about everything and everyone. “Your father is fine, don’t worry. Besides, it’s just light rain, not a storm.”

Tanjirou had mixed feelings about the rain. He liked the rain, but at the same time not. It was fun to play in the rain, the raindrops landing on his face always felt refreshing. But his shoes and sometimes his clothes would get dirty from the mud. Tanjirou also couldn’t smell that well, the scent of water and dirt muting everything else.

His younger sister, Nezuko, tugged at the sleeve of his green and black checkered haori. “Nii-chan, Nii-chan, can you show me Otou-san’s dance?” “You want to see the Hinokami Kagura?” Nezuko beamed, wiggling as she tugged his sleeve some more. “Yes, please! It’s always so beautiful!” Tanjirou smiled apologetically and shook his head, patting Nezuko’s. “You know it’s just for the new year. Sorry, Nezuko. But I’ll play with you and Takeo some more, alright?”

•

Tanjurou put down the basked and coughed lightly, sliding the door close. He called out a “I’m home!” and immediately was embraced by the little arms of his children. “Welcome home, Otou-san!” they all called out at the same time, hugging their father tighter.

“Welcome home, darling.” Kie said, coming out of the kitchen. “We just finished preparing dinner, sit down and rest for a while.” Tanjurou kissed his wife, brushing a few strands of her black hair out of her face. “Let me help you set everything up.”

Nezuko tugged at her father’s sleeve. “Otou-san, Otou-san, can you lend Nii-chan your earrings?” Tanjurou pat her head. “What for, Nezuko?” She beamed at him and pointed to Tanjirou. “So that Nii-chan can dance the Hinokami Kagura!” Tanjirou looked over worriedly. “Ah, but Nezuko, the Hinokami-“ Tanjurou interrupted his son. “It’s alright Tanjirou, I’d like to see you dance as well.”

Tanjirou smiled brightly as Tanjurou took off the hanafuda earrings, putting them on the boy’s ears.

•

Kie chuckled as she called for her husband to show him what she found in the bedroom. “What is it, Kie?” She shushed her husband and pointed at the middle of the room, to which Tanjurou quietly laughed. Their kids, Tanjirou, Nezuko and Takeo, laid in the middle of the room sleeping and cuddled each other. Nezuko’s hair was a mess, strands pointing into all directions, Takeo had drool running down his chin and Tanjirou laid under all of them, still wearing the hanafuda earrings.

Just as Tanjurou was about to place the kids on their futons, a knock echoed through the house. Both adults looked towards the door. People rarely ever visited them in the mountains, especially at this time. “Otou-san, Okaa-san?” Tanjirou yawned as he rubbed his eyes. “It’s alright, Tanjirou, go back to sleep.” The little boy nodded and laid back down, his siblings hugging him tighter.

But Tanjirou didn’t fall back asleep. The smell of blood, rotten flesh and bones filled his lungs, making him unable to breath. Then he heard his parents scream, the smell of blood becoming stronger. Nezuko, Takeo and him stared at the doorway, where their mother laid, head missing. “Tanjirou! Take your siblings and run! Run away, GO!”

Tanjurou grabbed the hatchet, leaping onto the man—the demon—that had killed his wife. He knew it was pointless, since the hatchet wasn’t a nichirin blade, but he hoped that if he hit the right places it would buy his children more time. Muzan tsked. “Such disappointing descendants you have, Tsugikuni.”

Tanjirou ran, Nezuko running behind him, holding his hand and Takeo on his back. They ran until their lungs burned and feet ached. Suddenly Nezuko let go, falling onto the ground. “Nezuko-!” Tanjirou froze, tears streaming down his face. The blood pooled onto the dirty ground from the slit in his sister’s stomach, a man standing above her.

Tanjirou put a hand over his mouth and nose. There it was again, the scent of blood and rotten flesh. It was so intense, Tanjiro could swear he was choking on the smell.

Muzan shook the blood off his hand, staring at the black haired boy’s corpse. He kneeled onto the last boy, ready to behead him. Then he saw it, saw him.

The hair was dark brown and shorter, but it was tied into a ponytail and had a reddish tint. Instead of the slayer mark there was a scar. Even the earrings were the same. And the eyes. Oh, the eyes. They were painted in the same maroon as his. The best part was the unimaginable amount of fear, regret and guilt reflecting in them.

Muzan had never wanted to see that man’s face ever again, but now? He wanted to see this expression everyday in his immortal life.

Tanjirou froze once again when he brought his hand down onto his neck. “What’s your name?” He just continued to stare until Muzan started to choke him, he writhed around. “I asked for your name.” Muzan let go and Tanjirou took a deep breath, coughing hard. “K-Kamado Tan-Tanji-rou,” he rasped out. “How old are you?” “I’m e-eleven..” Muzan hummed and thought for a while. Tanjirou flinched and shivered when Muzan showed him a “gentle” smile. “I’m Kibutsuji Muzan, but you will call me Muzan-sama from now on.” And with that, he dug his claws into the boy’s cheeks.

•

Glowing red eyes watched the raindrops fall from the sky down onto the leaf covered ground from the window of his new cold “home”. Tanjirou shivered as he breathed slowly. He didn’t shiver because of the cold, no. Demons can’t feel anything except pain. Tanjirou glances at his ripped open chest, Muzan’s blood still pooling out onto the ground. Muzan chuckled as he stared at the bleeding chest of the boy on the floor.

“It has only been a few weeks. Soon, your will is going to break and then you’ll accept my blood.” His face hardened into a glare at the lack of Tanjirou’s answer. “Nakime, bring me Kokushibo.” Might as well torture his Upper Moon One too.

Chapter Text

Ikigai • 生きがい • Reason To Live

Kanae sighed as she watched the little girl break down in the rain for the third time this week. She had found Nezuko on one of her missions, laying in the dirt next to the corpse of her little brother. Her parents’ corpses laid in their house, the mother beheaded and father brutally slashed. Nezuko has claimed to have an older brother too, but Kanae found no other corpse.

Nezuko was just nine years old and already lost everything.

In her first week at the butterfly estate, Nezuko refused to eat, to sleep, she refused literally anything. In her second week, Shinobu has been fed up with Nezuko and had forced her to at least socialize with Aoi and Kanao. Kanae has been glad it actually helped. Nezuko still had break down everytime it would rain, but at least she had opened up to her.

Nezuko sat at the dinner table, quietly eating her meal, her face as emotionless as a doll. “Nezuko,” Kanae called, to which said girl lifted her head. “When you turn 14, let me train you. I’ll help you become a demon slayer.” Suddenly, Kanae was attacked from the side. Nezuko hugged her tightly, face hurried into her side. She could feel her haori slowly becoming wet from the girl’s tears.

Nezuko would become a demon slayer so that nobody else would have to suffer like she had.

•

Tanjirou thanked every deity in existence for Kokushibo. He knew the demon could care less about him, since he was just ordered to take care of Tanjirou, but he was glad. Kokushibo, despite having six eyes and long black hair, reminded Tanjirou of his father, of home, with the way how he took care of him. He was less gentle and more serious, and yet.

The first time he met Kokushibo, Tanjirou immediately noticed the smell of hate, immense strength and... sadness. Longing for the love of somebody and regret. He also noticed how Kokushibo would never look him in the eye, no matter what.

“Kokushibo-sama?” Said man hummed, irritated from being interrupted during his meditation. “Can you teach me how to become stronger?” Kokushibo opened one eye to glance at the demon boy, who resembled Yoriichi so much. He was young, too young, just eleven years old and yet, Tanjirou was one of the strongest people he knew.

“Why?” Tanjirou flinched. He honestly excepted just a “no”. Fumbling with the edge of his haori, the boy stayed silent. No matter how much he liked Kokushibo, he couldn’t trust him. “I just want to please him.” Kokushibo stood up, walking away. Tanjirou sighed and curled into a ball.

“Tomorrow,” Tanjirou perked up. “I will teach you how to wield a blade and how to control and use your demon abilities.”

•

Kanae smiled at the way Nezuko’s eyes shined at the conversation she was having with Aoi while hanging up the laundry. A month ago the girl had been just a shell of grief with no will to live, but now, after what Kanae had promised her, Nezuko slowly but surely filled back up with life.

“Oi Kanae, who’s that new brat?” Said female turned towards the source of the rough voice. “Ah, Sanemi, good day. That’s Kamado Nezuko. I found her on a mission, she’s a survivor of a demon attack. Poor girl, lost her entire family.” Sanemi just stared at her. “The entire family, huh?” Kanae nodded. “I promised her to train her so she could become a demon slayer. She said she didn’t want anybody else to live through what she had.”

Sanemi hummed. “Anyways-“

•

Muzan glared at the demon that was bowing before him. “Kokushibo, I’ve noticed you’ve been going out with him. Care to explain what you’re doing in those hours outside?”

“Tanjirou had requested me to train him. I’m teaching him sword fighting and demon arts.” Muzan hummed. “Why?” “When I asked the boy, he said it was to please you. I think he’s trying to gain strength through training rather than eating humans.”

“I see. Dismissed.” Muzan closed his eyes, motioning his hand at Nakime, who brought him to his room. The demon progenitor sat down, glancing into the mirror and grinned. “Oh Tanjirou, you’re too naive.”

Tanjirou laid on the floor, muscles spasming as he coughed. Kokushibo had told him the training wouldn’t be easy, but he hadn’t expected being hit on the body parts with the most nerves.

Everytime he fell onto the dirt, his body asked him to stop, but he couldn’t. Tanjirou has to get stronger, so that one day, he could escape and hopefully stop Muzan. Maybe not directly Muzan, but many demons at least. He had to, for Okaa-san, for Otou-san, for Takeo and Nezuko, and for all the people that had suffered because of Muzan.

Tanjirou had to get stronger, for everyone and himself. That's the least he could do to apologize for failing his family.

•

Nezuko laid on the tatami mat, tired from today's work. She gladly helped everybody at the estate, it wasn't much work after all. Just doing the laundry, cooking and taking care of the injured slayers.

Everytime she gave a slayer their medicine, she listened to their stories of how they had fought a demon. She had to get fighting tips for when she would be the one to slay demons. Nezuko had to get stronger, for Okaa-san, for Otou-san, for Takeo and Tanjirou and for all the people she's going to protect.

Nezuko had to get stronger, for everyone and herself. That's the least she could do to apologize for failing her family.

Chapter Text

Natsukashii • 懐かしい • Nostalgic

He couldn't see anything, it felt like a dream, but it wasn't. Tanjirou ran as fast as he could. To where? He didn't know, he just ran to where his feet were taking him. Far, far away from Muzan hopefully. Now that he was a demon, he could run faster than a human, and when he breathed like his father taught him for Hinokami Kagura, he was even faster.

He didn't care about the blood pooling out of his chest onto his clothes, he could wash them once he had stopped. Tanjirou ran through the snow blizzard, neither the wind nor the pain bothering him. He ran until he couldn't breath anymore, until his legs felt absolutely numb. As if they weren't half broken and bleeding.

With his vision still hazy, he took a deep breath, sniffing the air. No rotten flesh or human blood, just his. Tanjirou smiled, "I did it.." and fell face first onto the snow covered ground.

•

Nezuko smiled at the slayer, who was telling her the story of how he defeated the demon that beat him into the butterfly estate. Tomioka Giyuu was his name, he was 18 years old and the water pillar.

”And then I beheaded him with the second form, water wheel." Nezuko beamed at Giyuu's plain face. "That's amazing, Tomioka-sama. You really are one of the strongest!" Giyuu shook his head. For a moment he had seen Tsutako instead of Nezuko. "I'm really not. I don't even deserve the pillar title. Somebody else should've been it." Nezuko grimaced at how Giyuu downgraded himself. He did that a lot. It honestly felt like biting into a sour lemon with its peeling everytime.

”Tomioka-sama," said man hummed in question. "I bet that whoever you've lost is proud at you." Nezuko gave him the most gentle and warmest smile she could manage. "N-Nezuko.." Giyuu saw tears blurring his vision of that smile. Yes, Nezuko definitely reminded him of Tsutako. And of Sabito, too.

”Before I came here, I lived up in a mountain. It was very beautiful there. Then, on a rainy fall day, it happened. A demon came and slaughtered my family. I was heavily injured and nearly died from the blood loss and hypothermia when Kanae-sama found me. Once I turn 14, I will be able to train to become a demon slayer."

Oh. Giyuu didn't know that. He thought Nezuko had just been a girl that had come here to learn nursery. Well, never judge a book by its cover, or whatever the western people said.

”When I was little, I had an older sister. On the day before her wedding, a demon attacked and she protected me. Later on, I met Urokodaki Sakonji, the former water pillar and my cultivator. He had another student, Sabito. He was my dearest friend, but he died in the final selection, while rescuing me. He was way better at slaying demons than me, and yet..."

Giyuu didn't even notice he was gripping the blanket too hard, when Nezuko put a hand on his. "Thank you, for sharing your pain with me."

Giyuu managed a weak smile. That Kamado Nezuko was something, huh?

•

The first thing a person did when waning up was to ope their eyes. But not Tanjirou. Due to his keen sense of smell, he always first sniffed the air. When Tanjirou knew he was awake, he took a deep breath and was immediately hit with nostalgia.

It smelled like the soap Okaa-san had washed their clothes with, like the coal Otou-san had sold in the village, like the flowers Nezuko sometimes had put in her hair, and like the dirt Takeo sometimes had ate with everybody panicking about his health.

It smelled like home.

Wait a minute. There were new smells. Medicine? And herbal tea? The scent of his own blood was gone, too. Tanjirou opened his eyes to look at his surroundings, sitting up. His wounds still hadn’t completely healed, huh? “You’re awake.” Tanjirou flinched. Who was that? When did they come? How did he not smell them? He took a look a froze. Kokushibo. Oh god Kokushibo had found him and now he—wait, no. That wasn’t Kokushibo. Tanjirou would’ve noticed his scent. This man had no scent at all and looked different too. He was, in fact, nothing like Kokushibo. It was just the hairstyle, the mark on his forehead and the sword on his hip. The man in front of him was really old, with white hair and maroon eyes like his own. He wore red clothes that seemed to be, like Kokushibo’s, from the sengoku period.

Tanjirou looked towards the window. The curtains were closed shut, but he could see it was daytime. Did the stranger knew he was a demon? “Good morning! Uh, I’m Kamado Tanjirou, and you are..?” The man nodded, facial expression not changing. “Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Tell me, Tanjirou. Why would a demon waste energy to run towards an abandoned house rather than healing themselves?”

Tanjirou flinched. So Yoriichi had known. “You see, Tsugikuni-san, I.. was on the run. I actually didn’t know where I was running, I just wanted to get away from Muzan. And this abandoned house is my home. I lived here with my family until he came.” Yoriichi hummed. “Tanjirou, how onld are you?” “Huh? Oh, I’m eleven.” Yoriichi shook his head. “Ah, but house had been empty for two whole years.”

What? Had Tanjirou really been gone that long? No way! Ah, but now that Yoriichi mentioned it... his hair felt way longer and the mat seemed smaller than before. “Did you.. did you repaired the house?” The man shook his head. “It was a demon slayer. I think it had been her mission to stop the demon, but she came too late. She even buried your family.” Tanjirou smiles in gratitude.

”Tanjirou, your wounds haven’t healed yet. You must be completely drained from energy. Why didn’t you jump on me when you woke up? Or am I too old for your liking?” “Ah, that’s not it, I swear! I just—I regain my energy through sleeping, not eating. I can’t stand hurting a human when me, my family, had once been human.”

Yoriichi hummed. “So you’d rather protect than eat humans?” The demon nodded. “I actually trained to get stronger, so that I could escape Muzan and help those that suffer because of him. Since Muzan isn’t here, I guess I was successful?”

”It was just pure luck. You might be strong, but to protect humans you’ll have to kill demons. For that, you’ll have to be even stronger.” Tanjirou nodded. “I know. And I will become stronger. I already know I’m not under Muzan’s influence, which is an advantage. I also know how to kill demons and I only need sleep to survive.”

Yoriichi nodded. “Tanjirou. I am a former demon slayer and I’m still in shape. I will teach you my breath and knowledge.”

•

A knock on the door caught Nezuko by surprise, accidentally piercing her own finger. She yelped and put it into her mouth to stop the bleeding. “Yes?” Aoi stepped inside. “Ah, I’m sorry Nezuko. I just came to tell you that breakfast is ready.”

”It’s fine, Aoi. Thanks for telling me, I’ll be there in a minute!” Aoi hummed. “Are you fixing your kimono up again? Why not buy a new one?” Nezuko smiled. Tanjirou had once asked her that too. But now her answer would be different. “I’ve always had that kimono. And it reminds me of home.” Aoi nodded smiling, before leaving Nezuko on her own.

•

”Nezuko, please come here for a second!” Nezuko hung up the last cloth before hurrying towards Kanae and Shinobu. “Yes, Kanae-sama, Shinobu-sama?” Shinobu glanced at Kanae before bringing her hands from behind her. “Tadaa!” Both of them exclaimed. Nezuko stares at the pink cloth in surprise. “What..?”

”Aoi told us you didn’t want a new kimono because this one reminded you of your home,” Kanae started. “So we bought you a new one with the same pattern! You never told us your birthday, that’s why you’re getting it now. It’s okay if you don’t accept it. It’s not the same after all.” Shinobu finished.

Tears swelled up in Nezuko’s eyes. She took the gift and hugged the butterfly sisters tight. “Thank you, Kanae-sama, Shinobu-sama. I will treasure it. Thank you so much!”

Chapter Text

Murasaki • 紫 • Purple

Tanjirou finished drying himself after he had taken a bath. It felt so good to be clean again. He jumped a little when he saw himself in the mirror. Where once his scar had been, there was a dark red flame-like mark now. He had noticed such a mark on other parts of his body too, size always varying. There was also one on his right cheek towards his neck. Tanjirou’s eyes were a carmine red now. They seemed to glow even in the light.

The demon sighed, closing his eyes. Suddenly, he heard a swish through the air and turned around, only to catch a wooden sword between his hands. “Tsugikuni-sensei? W-What-“ “You have good reflexes and your senses are quite sharp. Remember, you have to be prepared for anything, anytime.” Yoriichi pulled away the sword. “I’ll give until sunset, then we’ll start training.”

Tanjirou left his haori on the tatami mat, making his way outside. When he looked around, he noticed three bulges on the earth beneath the snow. Behind the bulges laid small stones, although there were four stones instead of three. “Ah, those are.. graves.” But why were there only three bulges? It should’ve been four with an extra stone, since his corpse couldn’t have been found, right? Or...

“Tsugikuni-sensei? Could it be that one of them.. is still alive?”

Tanjirou smiled as he followed Yoriichi, copying his moves. He was glad that Yorrichi had been surprised by his knowledge of sword fighting. He still had to learn how to “breathe”, though. Yoriichi said his breathing type was called “Breath of the sun” and that it was the first breathing style ever created. Breathing techniques are used by the demon slayer to enhance their physical abilities in a fight against a demon, Yoriichi had explained. Tanjirou couldn’t help but notice at how similar the breathing was to the Hinokami Kagura. “Tsugikuni-sensei. Are Breath of the Sun and the Hinokami Kagura one and the same?” Yorrichi never stopped his movements, but still glanced at the boy. “It’s not exactly the same. Hinokami Kagura is a slightly changed version of Breath of the Sun.”

The demon smiled delightful as he fell onto the ground. He had just mastered the first form, Waltz. His muscles seemed to groan in protest as he forced himself to stand up and continue. Learning the first form was after all just the first step. He had many more to go before he could protect anybody. “Gather yourself. The night is still not over and you have much more to learn.” Tanjirou obliged.

•

Tanjirou woke up to something, or rather, someone, poking him in the side. He opened his eyes and had to blink a few time to get adjusted to the light. Then he saw Yoriichi. He stood directly in front of the sun, the shine and rays making him look like an old god. Tanjirou noticed the sky was fading into a purple, but couldn’t say if it was sunset or sunrise. It had been too long since he’d seen the sun.

Wait, sun?

Tanjirou jumped onto his feet. He was outside! It was day! He would burn—ah, shit, he stood up too fast. Tanjirou held his head, waiting for the colors and shapes to go away. When they finally did, he looked back to Yoriichi, his worries completely forgotten in the moment. “Congratulations, Tanjirou. You’ve mastered all 13 forms of the sun breathing. And it seems you’ve conquered the sun as well.”

•

Nezuko yelled as she split a stone with her sword, using the fourth form of flower breathing, Crimson Hanagoromo. Nezuko had started her training a year ago, but she had already mastered the first five forms. She was nearly as good as Kanao, who was 16, two years older than her. Just like Tanjirou.

The girl snapped out of her thoughts when Shinobu called out to her. “Yoo-hoo, Nezuko! I’m going to buy some ingredients in the village north from here, do you want to come with me?” Nezuko sheathed her sword, running over to the insect pillar. Ever since Kanae died, Shinobu had become much more.. fake. She barely made any other expressions than a smile. Nezuko wished Shinobu would be able to let out all her anger freely one day, just like in old times. “Of course, Shinobu-sensei! But why the village in the north? I thought you always headed to the west, since that one is nearer.”

”Oh my, my, you’re very attentive, aren’t you?” Nezuko blushed at the praise. “You’re right, I usually head to the one in the west, but the store from which I need the ingredients got destroyed in a street fight. It will take a while until that store is built up again.” The younger female hummed in understanding, following the elder female out of the butterfly estate.

When the girls got back, the sky was colored in the same purple as Shinobu’s hair tips.

Chapter Text

Shinrin’yoku • 森林浴 • Forest Bath

Tanjirou turned around after he had prayed for the demon he had slayed and glanced at the unconscious slayer. She had pink hair which faded into a light green, put together into three braids. She wore the female uniform with green striped thighs and a short white haori. The most interesting thing was her long, bendable sword.

Her breathing style was unfamiliar to him even though he’d seen many from the slayers that had tried to arrest him but failed to do so. The way the woman had attacked with her sword was amazing and he wanted to learn more. But he had to wait until she woke up.

Mitsuri slowly woke up, eyes adjusting to the first sun rays. She only remembered how she had sent a message to Oyakata-sama, informing him that she has found the sun devil, then fighting a lower moon demon with said man. At least she thought the sun devil was a man. Mitsuri sat up, taking in her surroundings. She was still in the same place where she’d encountered the demon, but now she was sitting next to a tree, a green-black checkered haori laid on her like a blanket. Wait, wasn’t that the haori of-

”Ah, you’re awake!” Speaking Of the devil. Quite literally. Mitsuri snorted at her thoughts. And according to the voice, the sun devil wasn’t a man, but a boy. “Thank god you’re okay, I was starting to think you were seriously hurt.” Mitsuri gushed. He was worried about her, how cute!

”You’re so adorable! Thank you for taking care of me, sun devil-kun!” Sadly, Mitsuri couldn’t see his face behind the sun patterned fox mask. “I couldn’t just leave you on your own! By the way, your crow returned with a message. It wouldn’t let me take off the letter, so I think it’s secretive.”

Secretive? The message must be an answer from Oyakata-sama! Mitsuri only now noticed her crow sitting on top of the boy’s burgundy head. She called its name and it landed on her lap, letting her take off the letter and read it. Oyakata-sama was asking to bring the sun devil to the estate, so that he could properly talk to him.

A growl interrupted the silence suddenly. “Are you hungry?” Mitsuri looked up at the masked boy, blushing in embarrassment. “Let’s go to the village, I’ll buy you whatever you want!” Mitsuri wanted to take the offer, but hesitated. “No, no! I’ll-“ “I insist! You helped me out with the demon and I’d like to know more about your breathing style! Besides, the fight was pretty tiring, so you can eat as much as you want! No worries.” Again, she couldn’t see his face but she was pretty sure he was smiling with that amount of enthusiasm in his voice. So adorable!

In the end, Mitsuri accepted the offer and they talked about her breath of love. He seemed amazed. She noticed he had strange dark red tattoos on his neck and right hand, and sharp fingernails. Strange. Maybe he liked to look fancy and unique, just like Uzui-san? She wondered the most how sun devil-kun could make his eyes glow, though.

”My breathing technique comes from Rengoku-san’s flame breathing, the same as yours.” The boy tilted his head, before shaking it and laughing. “I don’t use flame breathing. My breathing technique is the one of the sun, the very first one created and from which all the other techniques come from.” Mitsuri gushed. “For real?! That’s why your attacks looked so different from Rengoku-san’s!”

Mitsuri finished her 15th bowl, while sun devil-kun just stared at her. Strange, he hadn’t eaten anything at all. Well, him not accepting anything from the people he had saved was one of the famous rumors about him after all. “Are you not hungry, sun devil-kun? I feel kinda bad eating all alone..” The boy just shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’m not hungry at all! Are you still hungry, though? Let me get some more udon for you.” Mitsuri awed at the kind offer. “It’s alright, sun devil-kun! Ah,” Mitsuri remembered the letter from Oyakata-sama. “Do you mind doing me a favor, though?”

•

Nezuko grumbled nervously as thought after thought kept swirling in her head. Why had Oyakata-sama requested her presence at a pillar meeting? She honestly couldn’t figure it out. She kicked a stone in frustration. That stone ended up flying against a tree, burning a hole into the tree bark.

Nezuko sweatdropped. Her legs had always been that strong. While Tanjirou had inherited the hard forehead of their mother, Nezuko inherited the strong legs of her father. She sighed and lifted her head to look at the sky, continuing her way through the forest to the butterfly estate. Shinobu was waiting for her to take Nezuko to the Ubuyashiki mansion after all.

Chapter Text

Ichariba Chode • Once we meet, we become siblings

•

"I don't fucking trust this at all." Kyoujurou tilted his head at his pillar colleague. "What do you mean, Shinazugawa?" Sanemi aggressively gestured towards the closed shoji doors. "That sun guy with Oyakata-sama! He gives off bad vibes!"

"Absolutely." Obanai agreed, still fuming over how the boy had treated Mitsuri for breakfast. Shinobu simply hummed. "Is there something on your mind, Kocho?", asked Giyuu next to her and the attention went to Shinobu. "Ah, it's nothing, just.. doesn't it seem strange that he had requested Nezuko's presence?" Tengen lifted an eyebrow. "Your second tsugoku?" Shinobu nodded. "I somehow have the feeling I should know him."

Some of the pillars hummed in thought of that statement, others--Muichiro--ignored it and some--Sanemi and Obanai--continued to silently fume. "Didn't Nezuko told you that one of her brothers had disappeared after the attack? Maybe it's him!" Kyoujurou's voice broke the silence and Shinobu's eyes widened. It would make sense, wouldn't it? That boy seemed to be the same age as Kanao and he fought demons too! He could've met a demon slayer who had taught him that sun breathing technique as Mitsuri had stated. But then again, why hadn't the name Kamado Tanjirou appeared on the lists of the final selections survivors? And if he used breath of the sun, why was he wearing Urokodaki's fox mask like Giyuu had stated?

Shinobu's thoughts were interrupted when the shoji doors slid open, Kagaya and Tanjirou standing in front of them. "My dear children, I have made my decision. Our sun devil has slayn over 30 demons, one of them being a Lowermoon one demon. I introduce you, the new sun pillar Kamado Tanjirou." The gasp of a certain pillar filled the following silence.

Mitsuri squealed and Kyoujurou let out a hearty laugh. "Congratulations, sun devil-kun! Ah wait, do I call you Kamado-san now?" Tanjirou sat down and everyone could feel the smile behind the mask. "Just Tanjirou is completely fine. I honestly think the name the villagers gave me is strange." Mitsuri smiled brightly, Obanai raging silently next to her, and clapped her hands together. "Alright!"

"I'm looking forward to working with you all! If you want to know anything about me, feel free to ask!" Sanemi and Obanai just tsk'ed amd turned their heads. "Tanjirou, if you use the sun breathing, how come you wear Urokodaki's fox mask?" The burgundy haired boy chuckled. "Ah, that's because I have met Urokodaki-san on my travels! He was the one who had also given me a slayer uniform. Speaking about Urokodaki; I've met Sabito!" Giyuu's eyes widened as Tanjirou's voice went softer. "He told me to tell you to stop blaming yourself, Tomioka-san. It wasn't your fault, and you do deserve the position as the water pillar."

Giyuu bowed, stood up "Please excuse me for a moment." and left. After a while, Shinobu broke the silence. "Tanjirou, did you request my tsugoku's presence because she's your sister?" Light tension filled the room, everybody awaited his answer. "Nezuko's your tsugoku? Amazing! What breathing technique does she use? I'm so proud of her!" Nobody could see his face, and yet he practically shined like the sun. Shinobu gave him a real genuine smile. "Nezuko's using the flower breathing. She's doing quite well."

"Ah, I'm so glad!" Sanemi scoffed. "What's up with that fucking mask anyways? Do you even see shit? Can't you just wear it on the side of your head and show us your face?" Tengen elbowed Sanemi to which the latter hissed and Mitsuri started scolding Sanemi for being rude. "It's alright, it's alright! Thank you!" Thankfully the pillars stopped, giving Tanjirou room to speak. "I will take off my mask, but please don't do anything thoughtless."

Tanjirou reached behind his head and slid the mask off his face. His face could have been described as any other teenage boy's face, if it weren't for the dark flame marks and red glowing, slitted eyes.

"You're a demon." Tanjirou nodded, smelling the confusion and disbelief. "You fight demons because you hate Muzan for what he has done to your family." Tanjirou nodded again, crossing his arms. "You don't eat humans and conquered the sun." Once again, he gave a nod. Before Sanemi could stand up and test him, the door slammed open, or rather, close. Giyuu had enetered without anybody noticing. "Kamado may be a demon, but you heard what Oyakata-sama told us. Besides, he has made no attempts to kill any of us," he turned to Tanjirou. "I'm looking forward to work with you, Kamado Tanjirou, pillar of the sun."

Knocking broke the tensed silence. "Kocho-sama? I brought Nezuko-san per Ubuyashiki-sama's request." The stares went from the door to Tanjirou, who practically beamed of happiness. If not for the demonic features, it would have been hard to believe the boy was an outcome of Muzan's blood. "A reunion between long-lost siblings, how flamboyant!" Shinobu stood up. "Please bring her to the room next to this one, thanks!"

•

Nezuko looked up from her fidgeting hands when the doors slid close and a boy with a sun patterned fox mask sat down on the opposite side of her. "You're.. the sun devil." The boy simply nodded. "Are you the one who had requested my presence? Why?" Tanjirou took a deep breath. It was now or never. He reached behind his head and put the mask onto the floor. "I am Kamado Tanjirou, eldest son of the Kamado family. I am the sun pillar and also a demon."

Nezuko's hands flew to her mouth as her vision blurred slightly. "T-Tanjirou? But you-you!" The burgundy haired boy smiled. "I-I know this must be a little too much at once, but-I missed you, Nezuko! I swore I'd find you and never let you suffer again! A-and I swear I've never eaten a human! Muzan tried to make me but," Tanjirou tried to stop the flow of his tears and regain his composure. Nezuko needed him to be strong, especially now that he had her back.

Suddenly Tanjirou was knocked onto the ground. Nezuko was hugging him and crying. "Wah, Nezuko, please don't cry! I'm sorry I took so long! I'm sorry!" Nezuko only wailed more. "Nii-chan you're alive and safe! Y-you came back to me! I'm sorry I've never searched for you! Promise you won't ever leave again? Promise?" Tanjirou strokes Nezuko's hair while smiling brightly.

•

In the other room, Gyomei prayed for the happiness of the Kamado siblings and Mitsuri cried into Obanai's haori, as the others silently smiled at the wailing next door. Sanemi just grimaced at the thought of a boy with black hair and yellow tips.