Time had passed since Zenitsu had seen Tanjiro at your grave. But it wasn't the last time he did.
At least everyday he had visited that grave; he'd talk about it and everything that had happened since he woke up. How well he and the others were doing, how Yui was, things like that. It was like he was writing in his journal again, but writing through speech to a grave.
I have to move forward... Tanjiro thought. It's—It's what she would want... for us.
"Hello there." One of the Kakuchi started. "I will guide you to the village since Oyakata-sama gave his permission."
Tanjiro bowed down to the lady in the uniform. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Tanjiro Kamado, I hope we can get along."
The woman held up a cloth, as well as four plugs that almost reminded Tanjiro of corks that went on glass bottles. "I can't give you my name because I am to be your guide. But it's nice to meet you too. Here."
Tanjiro scrunched his nose in curiosity. "What are these?"
"A blindfold and earplugs." The woman held them up for a clearer view. Yui came up from behind with Kanao and looked at them with a raised brow. "The village in where the sword smiths live is hidden. So I will be carrying you there on my back."
She thrusted the earplugs into his nostrils, taking him by surprise. "I heard your sense of smell is quite unique as well, so here are some nose plugs," she them stuffed the last set into his ears. "And then here are the ones for your ears."
Yui giggled slightly at the sight. "You look silly Daddy."
He caught her stifled laugh at the corner of his eyes and figured she was giggling at him.
He laughed back with her. "I'll be back Yui." He kneeled in front of her. "I'm just going to get my sword from one of the sword makers there."
She choked out a laugh again as he sounded weird with the nose plugs in, making his voice sound different.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, laugh it up."
She quickly grabbed hold of his arm and hugged it gently; looking up and resting her chin in his limb and gazing up at his own eyes. She mouthed an 'I love you' to him.
He ruffled her hair before getting in the woman's back and taking off towards the village along with the blindfold.
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The ride had been long; however, the reason as to why it had been because the Kakuchi that would carry him had swapped places each time. It was in order to protect the village from any demon attacks if possible, and also why it is a secret. In other words, the woman who carried him the first time didn't exactly know it's whereabouts.
Not only was it Kakuchi, but the crows that guided them were swapped as well. According to one of Kakuchi, the master's mansion had an even more complex route to get to.
Thank the world for smart people. Tanjiro thought.
Of course, Tanjiro being the sweet boy he always was, he thanked them for taking him and caring for him. Which always made them feel all warm and fuzzy inside; what a kind boy he was.
"Alright, I'll take this off now."
The red head felt someone grab the blindfold and untie it from behind, he adjusted his eyes to the bright light and gasped in awe. The village was huge! The houses almost reminded him of the ones in the Red Light District, but an extra third floor being added. The place was surrounded by thick oaks and evergreens. Some of the houses were even built on top of large stones and boulders.
"Whoaaaa! These buildings are amazing!" He gawked. "I know this smell... there's a hot spring nearby!"
"Indeed there is." The last Kakuchi tapped his shoulder. "You'll see a large house when you turn left over there. Make sure you greet them."
They both bowed to one another and Tanjiro thanked him greatly.
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"Hello there!" A small man sat on a cushion with a familiar mask on with two larger men sitting next to him. "I am chief of this village, Tecchin Tecchikawahara, it's nice to meet you."
"I may be the smallest in my village, but I also am the best at my craft. Now, bow your head so low it touches the floor.
Tanjiro bowed down for the third time now today. "I am Tanjiro Kamado, I'm honored to meet you!"
The small man smiled behind his mask. "What a good boy you are. Come here and have some dough cakes." He held a basket up with the delectables inside.
Tanjiro thanked him again in excitement. To be standing the presence of someone with such honor and high title in a village was a sweet privilege for anyone to have. And he was lucky to have been able to be here.
"Tell me, boy, why have you come to my village?"
"Oh." He munched on a dough cake. "I wanted to talk to Haganezuka about my sword."
"Oh, Hotaru has gone missing as of late. We're doing our best to locate him."
"Hotaru?" The red head questioned. Not originally knowing his full name.
"Yes, Hotaru Haganezuka."
"What a cute name."
"I am the one that gave it to him after all. But he keeps badmouthing me since he says it's too cute." The little man stated. "He always been like this since he was a young one. He always throws tantrums, then he runs off somewhere. I apologize for that."
"No it's me! I always end up breaking or chipping my sword."
"No it's not." Tanjiro looked at him for a second. Wondering why it hadn't been his fault for breaking the swords.
"It's his fault for creating swords that could actually break."
One of the larger men growled and waved his arms in the air with frustration. Yelling that Hotaru would pay for his actions. Tanjiro urged him not to be so violent.
"Oh, I heard your body still hasn't fully recovered yet. If Hotaru doesn't forge your sword by then, we will have someone else do it. The hot spring in our village does wonder for the aching body. I urge you to spend some quality time there."
One of the men with the masks had walked Tanjiro out and pointed towards the direction of the hot spring. He'd also mentioned food was going to be prepared soon.
"AHHHH TANJIRO-KUN! IT'S YOU!!!" Shouted a familiar voice. His eyes snapped over to find the Love Pillar rushing down.
"AHH! PLEASE BE CAREFUL!" He held his arms out as she came and plummeted down to her knees in front of him, crying.
"LISTEN! LIIIIISTEN!" She cried out. "HE IGNORED ME!! I GREETED HIM AND HE IGNORED ME!"
"Who did?"
"I DON'T KNOW! I ASKED FOR HIS NAME AND HE IGNORED ME! I'M A HASHIRA! ISN'T THAT CRUEL?!" She continued to whine. "NOW ALL THAT GOOD ENERGY I GOT FROM THE HOT SPRING HAS DISAPPEARED! WHAAA WHAA!"
"Hey wait, it looks like they'll be done dinner soon." She looked up at him hopefully. "I heard they used matsutake mushrooms."
He face immediately brightened. "WAIT REALLY?! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
She jumped up and turned the other way, humming a song to herself as she walked fast towards the direction of where the food was being prepared.
She really likes food.
Tanjiro sauntered over towards the smell of the hot spring and looked in awe.
Woah! It's huge!
Something flew by and hit him in the side of the head. He held his hand up to his head and felt something inside. He removed his palm and looked to see... a tooth?
Who'd lose a tooth?!
He noticed from the corner of his eye that same figure he hadn't seen in a long time. The same ebony colored Mohawk that Nao-Chan had told him about as well as his name.
"Genya Shinazugawa!" Tanjiro called. Earning his full attention to the crimson eyed boy, as well as a hard glare.
"Drop dead!"
Tanjiro's face fell as he gasped. He jumped in (taking his clothes off) and yelling over. "It's been so long! How've you been doing? You have the same name as the wind pillar!"
Genya stopped over through the warm water and shoved Tanjiro's head in the water. "DON'T TALK TO ME!"
Later, Genya had left him there as Tanjiro enjoyed himself in the water, wondering why in the world he couldn't say something nice.
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The food that both Tanjiro and Mitsuri had waited for was finally ready to be eaten. There were so many delectable dishes and his mouth watered at the sight. Nezuko laid on the floor in front of the table and looked at all the food in curiosity; kicking her legs in curiosity.
Tanjiro took a bowl of rice with some tempura on the side. He had a bit and his face brightened.
"It's good!"
"You really think so?" He looked over with a mouthful of rice and stared in shock at how many dishes were piled up. About twenty of them! Including a whole pot of tea for herself. "I didn't eat a whole lot today."
"I'm gonna eat a whole lot and get stronger one day too!" Trying to ignore the amount of dishes.
"Who was that boy that visited the hot spring? Do you know?" She asked.
"Oh, that's Genya Shinazugawa. He's in my batch."
"Oh, is that so?" She raised a brow. "He has the same name as the Wind Hashira. Meaning that's his little brother. But he didn't tell me he had one! Maybe— they don't get along."
"Oh, why?"
"I don't know, really. I guess the brothers are just scary." She looked over as Nezuko hummed through her muzzle and waved her tiny legs and arms as Mitsuri played around with her. "I have five other siblings and we get along just fine."
The door opened at the side as one of the men with a mask came in with a fresh batch of food.
Tanjiro felt his heart sting as he knew what the food was.
Y/n's favorite food... He frowned at the thought, dropping his arms down with his rice bowl and chopsticks in the other; resting them on his knees.
Mitsuri caught his sight and noticed him staring at the plate of food and his sudden gloomy expression. She felt herself grow sad. She knew who he was thinking about.
"Listen... I—I'm sorry about her. You both were inseparable. She was a kind person, and a great warrior." Mitsuri motioned to try and make him feel better.
"She was." Tanjiro stated. Fighting tears from coming out from the dark. "But I'm going to push on, for her. It's what she'd want. And I'll fight for a future for every human."
She felt a tiny grin cloud her facial expression. "What admirable words."
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"Kanroji-San, why'd you join the Demon Slayer Corps?" Tanjiro asked, walking down one of the halls of the building.
She stopped and grew a face of ignominy.
"O-Oh... well— it's kinda embarrassing." She put her hands up to her face, cupping her cheeks in embarrassment.
"I JOINED SO I COULE FIND A GENTLEMEN COULD MARRY ME FOR LIFE—!" She blurted.
She then explained how women during their times now find it attractive to have a man who can protect them and are stronger than them. He stood there with sweat dropping down his face and a look of confusion. He wondered if anyone was thinking what he was thinking.
"Kanroji-San." A voice called to the side, snapping him out of his confused state of mind. One of the Kakuchi had found them. "Your sword'll be done very soon. We'd like you to come to the workshop to add a few more touches."
"Awww guess I have to skidaddle now." She whined slightly.
"Oh well... see you."
"Tanjiro-kun." She started. Earning a raised brow from Tanjiro. She wore a simple smile towards him. "I don't know if we'll be able to see each other again... alive anyway. But let's do what we can."
"You've fought an uppermoon. You've grown a lot stronger then last I saw you." She pat Nezuko's small head with a closed eye grin.
"Thank you." He held his chest high. "I still have a ways to go though! I'll work harder than ever, and defeat Muzan Kibutsuji."
She awed at his determination. "Hey wait, you have permission to stay longer, right?"
She came directly up to his ear, "I heard there's a secret weapon amongst the village that makes you stronger. I'd suggest looking for it."
She backed away quickly and waved to the sibling pair. "Later!"
They tilted their heads at the same time.
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It was the next morning as the burgundy haired boy traveled through the woods with the sweet songs of the chickadees.
I wonder what the weapon was she talked about... Tanjiro thought as he trudged through the path laid before him. I can still smell the hot spring from here, but I can't smell anything else. Is my nose still recovering? I wanna find Haganezuka-San but— oh...?
He looked over towards the left and noticed a pair amongst the trees. A smaller one with the familiar mask as well as someone taller with a sword at the hip. Long locks of dark hair with tips of a bright color of turquoise.
A kid...? And who's the other one?
The taller one looked over and he knew immediately who it was. That familiar pair of eyes rang a bell in his head.
That's Tokito Muichiro... the Mist Pillar!