Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Introduction
“Good morning, Gyoumei-kun.” Tanjuurou greeted softly the young teen.
“Good morning, Kamado-san.” the boy bowed.
“Your friends?” the Sun Pillar smiled at the two girls trailing after him.
“I saved them from demons. Now they wish to join. I wanted to ask Oyakata-sama about it.”
“They need a home first and foremost before joining the Corps.” he said, shifting the baby in his arms.
The two girls peeked at Tanjuurou and his baby. With a soft smile, he kneeled down and motioned them to come near.
“Come. Tanjirou, look. New friends.” he said kindly.
The one-year-old boy stirred and looked at the two young girls, reaching a hand out towards them.
“What are your names?” he asked them.
“I am Kochou Kanae and this is my little sister, Shinobu.” said the oldest of the two.
“Nice to meet you.” Tanjuurou bowed his head, “This is Kamado Tanjirou. And my name is Tanjuurou. He is one year old.” he said, looking at Shinobu.
“Four!” she replied proudly.
“Seven.” Kanae added, when Tanjuurou looked at her.
“I'll ask Oyakata-sama if you can stay with us.”
“But, Kamado-san, isn't Kie-san…?”
“Kie would have my head if I didn't take them in, Gyoumei-kun, you know that.” the kind man smiled.
“The Master is here.”
“Hello, Gyoumei-san, Tanjuurou-san, Tanjirou-kun.”
Tanjirou made a happy sound, reaching for the young head of the Corps.
“Ya!” he called.
Kagaya opened his arms for the baby and Tanjuurou gave Tanjirou to him.
“You are spoiling him, Oyakata-sama.” Tanjuurou smiled.
“I won't be able to do that for long.” the head said, petting the baby's head, “Now, what did you want to talk to me about Gyoumei-san?”
“These two girls wish to join the Corps.”
“You are too young to join the ranks. If you are sure you wish to pursue this kind of life we'll have to find you a place to stay.” he told them, “The life of a Demon Slayer is hard and short. Are you sure you understand that?”
The two sisters looked at each other and nodded once.
“If we can help someone in the future, then yes.” Kanae said.
“I can take them under my care.” Tanjuurou spoke up, “It wouldn't be a problem. Kie would be mad at me if I didn't help them and Tanjirou seems happy to have more friends.” he smiled, as his son, one hand holding Oyakata-sama's arm had reached the other out for the girls.
Kanae reached out and took it, holding Shinobu's hand with her free one.
“Very well. Are the two of you all right with living with Tanjuurou-san and his family?”
The two girls nodded.
“We are.” Kanae said.
“Tanjirou. Time to take your two friends home.”
Tanjirou looked at his father, then at Oyakata-sama and reached out to pat the young man's face with a soft, almost sad, sound, as if he knew something. Then he went to his father's arms, while Kanae and Shinobu held on to the man's haori.
They bowed and left.
“Come on you three. Let's go home.”
Kanae and Shinobu froze at the word.
Tanjuurou smiled and waited for them to feel ready again.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to you here. Demons can't stand wisteria flowers. And there are a lot around our house.”
That seemed to reassure them.
“We are home.” he said as they entered.
A young woman walked out of the kitchen.
“Welcome home. Oh? Hello.” she saw the little girls.
“These are Kochou Kanae and Kochou Shinobu. They want to one day join the Corps.”
“I see. Well, until then, you will need a roof and someone to care for you, so come inside.” Kie smiled, as she picked Tanjirou, “I prepared lunch. Anyone hungry?”
Shinobu raised her hand.
Kie smiled.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Follow me.”