Everyone was at the table accompanied by awkward silents. Ryuu warily smiles, staring at the mother and daughter duo who are trying to keep themselves calm. He pretended to not notice as they were only attracted to him and hadn't done anything to steal their heart.
Though, he was unaware that interacting with the Kamado had already left an impression on them. The silence is already noticed by the children and Hanako looks at her sister and wonders confused.
"Onee-chan, Kaa-san? Are you two alright? Why is your face so red?" She wasn't aware what's going on in the minds of the two women.
"N-No, Hanako it's nothing. How do we start eating before the food gets cold?".
"Y-Yeah it would be bad if we don't finish the food."
Kie played it off dodging her daughter's question while Nezuko quickly started to eat with the other children only shrugged it off and ate the meal. Their feast was simple bread and some boiled prawns.
They ate the food but frowned at the taste as it was bland and lacking compared to Ryuu's godly cooking.
"What's wrong, Takeo?"
Their mother noticed their disappointment and lack of enthusiasm eating the meal that she prepared. It lacked the proper cooking and preparation.
"Nothing...it...I like Ryuu-Nii's cooking."
"Me too! Ryuu-nii can you cook for us again?"
"Nii-Nii please?"
The three youngest pleaded with Ryuu that made their mother embarrassed that she was unable to satisfy her children and was bothering him once again.
He only warmly smiled seeing their cute faces that it made difficult to refuse them but didn't want to spoil them with his meal.
"I'm sorry I can't always cook for you and you shouldn't be picky with food or it will be bad for you. Now be good, then maybe I'll cook for lunch later alright?"
They stop trying not wanting to bother him and fail to have him cook for them. He lightly chuckled at their faces but it would be bad if they suddenly got too much good stuff. In the end, the children end up eating their cooking and left to play outside.
Ryuu saw them running around as Tanjiro excuse himself by taking the coal to the village. He turned to his side and spotted Kie.
"I'm sorry for how my children acted."
She was embarrassed the way her children acted while Ryuu couldn't help by sign every time she talked to him. It was difficult to put her side and try to avoid interacting with her.
"You know, you worry too much. I knew that they would act that way after tasting my cooking. But I must say you've raised good children. Your eldest Tanjiro seems to hold the responsibility of man of the house."
Ryuu softly said while Kie listened to his voice as the two sat at the wood mat. He didn't have much to do besides wait for Tanjiro to continue teaching him about the Hinokami Kagura.
Kie listening to his words made her rethink that it was true that Tanjiro had been more active and taking responsibility after his father had done and saddened he was being burdened by it. Not to mention, Tanjiro appears exactly like his father.
"Nii-Nii can you carry me?"
Ryuu was silent having a conversation with Kie when Rokuta the youngest approached him requesting to be carried. Kie was about to scold her son but was surprised when Ryuu moved and took him into his shoulder.
"Like this!? Hold on tight or you might fall." Ryuu said.
"R-Ryuu-san, are you sure about this? Your hair?" Kie nervously said.
"Don't mind that, come hold on tight!"
He used his Aura to surround Rokuta to protect and prevent him from falling. Ryuu used his movement Technique to move around the place letting Rokuta feel the strong wind making him giggle.
"Nii-san carry me too!"
"No, I should go first!!"
Shigeru and Hanako argue wanting experience being carried by him since their father hasn't been able to due to his frail body.
"Alright, don't fight, you two will have your turn."
Afterwards, they played tag and hide seek, teaching a few games that he did when he was young. Kie watched them and could only smile seeing their faces.
"Here let me teach you how to write and read. Also count and add."
The children were being taught by Ryuu. They were rather intelligent, learning basic counting and arithmetic. He wondered if these rules of math had been discovered yet but didn't care and thought of a few things.
"Now if we have 10 rocks and remove 6, how many do we have? Yes, Takeo?"
"Five?"
"Nope but close. Keep trying. Shigure?"
"Two!?"
"Hehehe nice try but no."
They poured frustration on not being able to get the correct answer and patted their head. Hanako raised her hand and gave her answer.
"Four!"
"Hate to say it but…."
Hanako downcast thinking that she got the wrong answer and made Ryuu laugh much to her surprise.
"But you got it right! Great Job, Hanaka-chan!"
She felt a sense of accomplishment and puffed her chest that only fuelled her siblings spirit.
"Ryuu-Nii, ask more! Maybe this time I'll get the answer!"
"No, I'll get the answer!!"
Few hours went by and the children felt tired from playing and took a nap. Kie took Rokuta and carried her while putting him to sleep singing the child in a lullaby.
Ryuu was allured by her mesmerizing voice that made him nostalgic. He recalls times of his late grandmother from his mom's side singing him a lullaby.
Headed inside to find Nezuko trying to knit her kimono that seems to have been damaged.
"Nezuko-san, do you mind if I help with that?"
Nezuko turned to the side as Ryuu sat beside her, which made extremely nervous and tried to calm herself. She didn't want him to have the wrong impression of her.
"No, it's fine. I can handle it." Nezuko said
"If you insist then I'll be outside." Ryuu nodded.
"Wait, can you stay? I want someone to talk to?"
She wanted to know more about him and receive a smile as he sat beside her. Ryuu entertained her with stories while Kie caught them only smiling at the scene seeing herself and her late husband.
'Anata if you only see what I'm seeing…'
Kie shook her thoughts as she prepared to do some house work. She still had things washed and clean.
===============
A week has gone by since he had been staying with the Kamado family and grown even fonder than the children who started to view some sort of big brother. It was unbelievable how fast children grow emotionally attached to someone.
Ryuu and Kie decided that she will cook at Morning, while he is tasked to cook at Lunch and Dinner, which the children got happy with, and these few days train intensely.
While he was training after memorizing the Hinokami Kagura was approached by Tanjiro wondering what he's about to ask.
"Uhmm...P-please teach me h-how to use a sword!! "
He was a little anxious to make the request while Ryuu raised his eyebrow from his words. His mind drifted off looking at Tanjiro.
'He is supposed to start training in a year and a half in the original plot...but...i'd like to hear his reason. Furthermore, it wouldn't hurt training him early.' Ryuu though himself.
"Tanjiro...why do you want to know how to use a sword? Wielding a blade isn't something to be displayed and used to kill."
He asked, showing that it has no redemption once you've wielded the blade and killed someone. Tanjiro answered as his eyes filled with conviction and determination.
"It's because I want to protect my family! and because I am the Eldest of my siblings after all!"
Ryuu was impressed by his words, reminded of him when his brother protected him from the one he fought in gambling fights. It was fond memories of his brother. He couldn't help but chuckle and mention the similarities
"My brother said the same thing when he protected me. Fine, but be ready because your training is going to be hell! "
Ryuu patted his shoulder as Tanjiro furiously nodded, showing excitement within his eyes.
"Yes! Sensei!!"
From that moment, he started training Tanjiro teaching him basic strengthening and gave him some of the remaining [ Body Tempering ] that caused severe pain from his training but shockingly persevered.
Kie was worried at first seeing her son working hard but let him as Tanjiro deny stopping. It was an amazing will power when he was training under Ryuu.