Archive of Our Own ^beta

Shinobu honestly held out much longer than Giyuu thought she would before she was entirely done with the way Giyuu and Kyoujuro kept haunting her estate to check on Tanjiro. So, only a week after Tanjiro finally woke up from his long sleep, Shinobu was insisting that he had healed enough to join his friends at the Rengoku Estate, where they had been training with Kyoujuro. This led to Kyoujuro standing and getting walked through a leaflet of care instructions while Zenitsu and Inosuke loaded Nezuko, Tanjiro, and their belongings into the small cart Kyoujuro had brought for the injured young man to ride in. 

“So, in short, he can move around now, but I’d rather it only be short bursts and never without someone to steady him for another week. Primarily keep him on bed rest or at least stationary when possible.” Shinobu said even as she kept an eye on the rambunctious Inosuke as he carried Tanjiro on his back. “After that, he can go around on his crutches more, and I or Aoi will be able to come by to remove the cast on his leg in about three more weeks. Once that’s done he can begin light recovery training.”

“Very well then, I will be diligent in his care, Kocho-san,” Kyo stated firmly, and Shinobu knew that Rengoku-san would keep his word. 

“I know you will. Just keep him from acting foolish. That boy sometimes fights like his sister isn’t the only one that can regenerate.” Shinobu huffed. 

Kyo sighed, knowing and seeing firsthand exactly what she meant. “And… his mental health? Is what was in the report still something I should watch for?” 

“He’s… he’s had some confusion but centers himself quickly enough,” Shinobu said after a moment before passing over a wrapped sword as she continued speaking. “He’s only given himself small bruises and scratches, but I’ve been keeping his sword separate just to be safe. Trauma like that doesn’t disappear. He doesn’t even know how many times he took his own life during that battle. He’ll have good nights and bad, but Nezuko calms him well enough and sits with him if he can’t get back to sleep. If you have a room big enough that can accommodate two comfortably and be sunlight-proofed, my recommendation would be to let them room together at your estate.”

“He doesn’t own up to it, and you wouldn’t think it looking at him, but he does have depression. I’ve noticed it after his other big fights. His main coping mechanism is keeping busy, so if he starts going quiet, just find things to keep him occupied.” Shinobu continued with a soft sigh. “He’s happy with something as small as folding laundry, but he does love to cook. Said it makes him feel closer to his family, so Aoi lets him help in the kitchen on his worst days if he’s physically able. He’s content as long as he feels like he’s being useful. It’s not the healthiest, but it keeps him stable, and few slayers are here because they had a happy life before the corps.”

Kyoujuro nodded. “I'll let others know then what needs to be kept in mind, though the only issue would be my father, but… I have a feeling it won't be bad. My thanks, Kocho-san. I'll make my way to where young Kamado is waiting.”

Approaching the cart he’d brought from home, he heard the trio long before he turned the corner to see them. The Crying one and the Boar-headed one were squabbling while Tanjiro wrangled them in with patience and experience of dealing with such issues. To be frank, Kyo was impressed by how fast he pulled in his friends and calmed them down. It was when they were nearly to the Rengoku estate that his crow swooped down with a message from Senjuro. 

“Mm, seems my little brother would like me to pick up a few things to make Young Kamado a proper Welcome dinner.” Kyoujuro laughed. “I’ll go do that then, and my crow can guide you the rest of the way to my home. Young Boar, why don’t you push the cart with Young Kamado!”

“He doesn’t have to go through so much trouble!” Tanjiro insisted as he sat up in the cart. He was sore all over from the ride and restless as can be after lying down for pretty much the whole journey. “He shouldn’t  bother with sending you after something special just for me!”

“Nonsense!” Kyoujuro exclaimed even as his heart ached at the barely hidden implication that Tanjiro felt himself undeserving of nice things, even if that thing was as simple as a nice meal. “You will be living with us from now on when we’re not on patrol until you’ve moved on from being my Tsuguko! It would be rude not to welcome you to our home properly!”

Kyoujuro saw Tanjiro opening his mouth to protest again, but instead of staying and giving him the chance, the blonde opted to dart off in the direction of the markets with his brother’s list in hand. He’d catch back up by the time the trio reached his estate with the pace they had to go to keep from overly jostling Tanjiro. Then once they all arrived, he could get Tanjiro settled in a bedroom or on the engawa if he wasn’t ready to lie down for a rest yet. 

Tanjiro fought back a sigh as he watched Kyoujuro dart off back toward the market district he’d pointed out on their way through the village near the Rengoku Estate. He really didn’t understand why they wanted to go through so much trouble over him just to have him released to the Rengoku Estate to finish recovering, let alone have something as extravagant as a proper welcome meal. This didn’t benefit them; he’d be useless for another three weeks at least before he could start training and helping properly. No one was listening to him, though. 

His small frown turned into a pained cry when Inosuke jerked the cart forward again to get them back on their way. “Inosuke! Gentle, please! I can’t have more medicine while we are moving so I don’t get sick.”

“Sorry, Gonpachiro!” Inosuke laughed, but he did stop going so quickly and started actually dodging the cart around the worst of the bumps on the dirt path. “The Tiny Bug Eyes makes really good tempura, so I wanted to get back so dinner could happen quicker!”

“I’m sure Senjuro-kun makes very good food, Inosuke, and since he and Rengoku-san insist on this, I’d like to feel well enough to eat with you all instead of being in bed.” Tanjiro huffed fondly. “When we get closer I’ll use my crutch so I can greet him properly, alright?”

Zenitsu twitched at that. “Are you sure that is wise? Rengoku-san was adamant that you stay off your feet.” 

“I’ll be fine, especially if it's a small walk. Shinobu-san had started to get me to walk the hallway.” Tanjiro stated. “It’d be rude not to be standing to greet Rengoku-san’s family properly.”

It took another thirty minutes to reach the gates of the Rengoku Estate, and Tanjiro was all too eager to shuffle his way out of the cart on his own so that he could stand on his crutch. His pace was still slow, but Zenitsu stayed close as he hobbled his way over to the gate where Senjuro was sweeping. 

“You must be Senjuro-san!” Tanjiro said with a smile as they got closer before bowing to the younger boy. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

“Kamado-san!” Senjuro yelped softly, looking frantically over Tanjiro for the casts his brother had mentioned. “Are you supposed to be walking? Aniue said your arm and leg were still broken!”

“I’m alright for short distances with my crutch,” Tanjiro said softly before noticing what the young blonde was looking for. “My casts are under my uniform.”

“Are you sure you’re alright, Kamado-san?” Senjuro asked worriedly. “You look as pale as a ghost.”

“Knock it off!” A gravelly voice interrupted before Tanjiro could respond, drawing his attention over to where a disheveled Shinjuro stood with a jug of sake in hand. He’d smelled him coming long before he appeared, and he was grateful for it since it meant that he didn’t outwardly glare at the man who had talked so poorly about Rengoku-san’s death in his first life. “You’re all just a bunch of scum with no talent anyway! Just like my worthless sons!”

“I’m honestly shocked none of you have died yet,” Shinjuro growled as he stumbled closer. “That’s all you’re any good for after all. Worthless. Fools just like my stupid sons! A person’s potential is determined the day they’re born. You either are a genius or live just long enough to get killed by one!”

“Quit that fucking whimpering! I’ve told you for years your stupid brother is going to get himself killed! You were the one foolish enough to get attached to him instead of just accepting it.” Shinjuro snarled just as the sound reached Tanjiro’s ears, and without thought, he stepped in front of Senjuro protectively. 

“That’s enough!” Tanjirou snapped as he moved to fully block Senjuro from view. “Don’t you think you should have some more respect for your sons?”

“Who the hell are you?” Shinjuro growled back. “Answer me or get the hell off my property!”

“Kamado Tanjiro,” Tanjiro stated firmly, never breaking eye contact, shuffling to the side to hide Senjuro more from his furious father’s gaze, knowing exactly what was going to happen next.  “Your son’s tsuguko and a member of the demon slayer corps.”

Tanjiro watched as Kyoujuro’s father shook with rage, the jug slipping from his grip and shattering on the paving stones of the walkway. He kept his face neutral, even if the sweet stench of sake made him want to wrinkle his nose. He hadn’t liked this man before, and he liked him even less knowing that his behavior wasn’t thanks to grief over Kyoujuro’s death. His father had adored all of them to his last breath. Tanjiro loved his younger siblings with everything he had, even when his heart broke every time he had to gently correct Rokuta for calling him otou-san. 

Now… now his heart broke for Kyoujuro and Senjuro. He knew not all fathers were great, but both men were so genuine and kind that it hurt to have confirmation that this is the kind of thing they got hit with at home. He couldn’t imagine his own father being this way, and he had been actively dying for just about as long as Tanjiro could remember. Tanjiro wanted to cry and hug them both knowing this is what they faced from the man who was supposed to protect and guide them. 

“I get it now… that means… you’re a Sun Breathing user, aren’t you?!” Shinjuro demanded angrily, and Tanjiro had to bite back the sassy reply he wanted to give because, yes, he was, but at this age, he was only barely figuring out his kagura as a breathing form. 

“What is that supposed to mean?” Tanjiro questioned instead, bracing himself as Shinjuro shot forward to grab him. This was going to hurt, but he didn’t care. Tanjiro would never, in any life, let this bastard talk badly about Kyoujuro or strike Senjuro without returning the favor. Tanjiro bit back a cry of pain when Shinjuro slammed him into the dirt, his leg and arm crying out in protest at the impact for all that he stayed silent.  

“Father, stop! Don’t do this!” Senjuro cried out as he tried in vain to pull the grip off Tanjiro’s only functioning arm. “Stop this! Can’t you see he’s in pain!”

“Keep your mouth shut, boy!” Tanjiro couldn’t see it happen, but he could hear it when Shinjuro struck his son and got a front row seat to the red blooming on his face when Senjuro’s body fell to the ground in front of him. 

“Keep your filthy hands off of him, you fucking bastard!” Tanjiro snarled, no longer able to hold himself back as he wrenched himself free from the hold by twisting despite how his shoulder cried in protest and kicking up to force the older man back so he could roll to resume his protective crouch in front of Senjuro. The anger threatening to consume him muted the pain as he switched his grip on his crutch and swung it until it collided with the side of Shinjuro’s face with a painful-sounding crack. 

“Why are you acting so hostile in the first place?” Tanjiro demanded angrily. “Insulting your own sons, striking them, what the fuck is wrong with you?!”

“Despicable.” Shinjuro spat. “You intend to mock us after everything we’ve been through? A Sun-breathing user would never bother to interact with people like us. I know all about those earrings of yours! It was in that book. Sun Breathing is the first and most powerful breathing technique that all others are born from. Flame, water, wind, all nothing but pale imitations of the Sun breathing no one was capable of replicating.”

Kyoujuro rushed to the market as quickly as he could, wanting to catch up to his Tsuguko at around the same time they reached his family estate. Namely because he wanted to be the one to show Tanjirou around his home, just like he’d done for Giyuu on the Water Breathing user’s first visit to his home. He also wanted to keep Tanjiro from pushing himself too far or having to have his friends carry him around. He’d asked Senjuro to light-proof and prepare the room directly next to his for the Kamado siblings before he and his other two Tsuguko departed the estate to pick up the pair from the butterfly mansion that morning. 

It took much longer than expected to gather the ingredients that Senjuro had asked for him to get, having been sidetracked by freshly baked sweet potato balls and sticky rice that he greedily ate before gathering everything else, sneaking even more sweet potatoes in, in hopes his little brother would cook his favourite. 

There was a sense of wrongness when Kyo turned the corner to his street, his eyes locking onto the tense situation between his raging, drunk father and Tsuguko arguing, Tanjiro’s body fully blocking his little brother from their enraged father… and oh, the fire that lit in those dark eyes… he could see why his Yuu said to wait and see. Even more so, Tanjiro was defending him to his father. 

In a blink, his father had thrown Tanjiro to the ground, and Kyoujuro felt his heart freeze knowing the broken bones hidden beneath the uniform Tanjiro had insisted upon wearing. Before he could move, though, his little brother did. 

“Father, stop! Don’t do this!” Senjuro cried out as he tried in vain to pull the grip off Tanjiro’s only functioning arm. “Stop this! Can’t you see he’s in pain!”

“Keep your mouth shut, boy!” Anger spiked instead of fear seeing his father strike Senjuro. He didn’t know what happened when he was gone, but his father had always avoided him enough that he knew for a fact that the retired Hashira never laid hands on Senjuro when he wasn’t away on missions. 

“Keep your filthy hands off of him, you fucking bastard!” Tanjiro snarled, and Kyoujuro felt himself freeze once more watching in awe as Tanjiro freed himself and struck his father so hard that the wooden crutch he needed to walk on his own shattered on impact.

He lost the next few exchanges of conversation, too taken with how Tanjiro looked when he was angry, how he kept Senjuro protected behind him like Kyoujuro’s brother was something precious to him and not just his mentor’s little brother that he’d only just met. It reminded him of the same ferocity he used attacking Shinazugawa at the trial when the wind Hashira stabbed Nezuko’s box. Tanjiro was badly hurt then as well. 

“You think you’re better than me, boy?!” He heard his father snarl, drawing his attention from his memories back to what was happening before him. It felt like slow motion as he watched Tanjiro’s face transform until he was wearing the same bright smile and open earnestness he gave everyone. Only his eyes remained hard and cold, and Kyoujuro would be lying if he said the sight didn’t send a shiver racing down his spine. “Don’t think to get cocky just cause you use Sun Breathing! I can still put you in your place!”

“Of course not, Sir,” Tanjiro responded with a voice practically a purr as he wore that sweet smile. If the tone hadn't been so cold and dripping with utter disdain, Kyoujuro would have called it damn near seductive. “I know I’m better than you. Frankly, Kyoujuro-san is too just to put up with all your utter bullshit. After all, none of the children I raised are scared of me. Can you say the same, Rengoku-san?”

“You couldn’t hope to be even a quarter of the man Kyoujuro is. Senjuro isn’t even grown, and I would call him a man before I forced him to share the distinction with you.” Tanjiro continued, his smile dropping. “You think I look down on you because of my breathing style? No, sir. I look down on you because you are a sniveling, drunken child that can only feel worth something when you’re so drunk you might as well have bathed in the sake you drink and can only feel strong when you’re laying hands on the fucking child you’re supposed to be protecting!”

Kyoujuro moved forward, anger burning when he could see the pain that Tanjiro was in, how he rested heavily on his good leg. He could see his father about to strike out again, only this time Kyo wasn’t so distracted to let it slip by. He was shamed enough by the fact that he didn’t stop his father from hitting his brother, but he would not be able to call himself a Hashira if it happened again and he did nothing. 

Only, he did not get close, his arms being grabbed by his other tsuguko, their eyes wide and faces pale. 

“Sorry, Master Rengoku, but Tanjiro only swears when facing a really mean demon… they do not… survive the encounter. Let him deal with it.” Zenitsu swallowed. “Tanjiro is strongest when he’s protecting people a-and I think this time it’s you and Senjuro-kun that need protecting.”

“Be careful! He’s a retired Hashira!” Senjuro cried when Shinjuro struck out to attack Tanjiro again. A yelp filled the air as Tanjiro suddenly vanished from in front of Shinjuro just to appear with a shocked Senjuro in his arms, who he immediately pressed into Kyoujuro’s arms just to vanish again. 

The Rengoku brothers watched in awe as Tanjiro practically danced around their father. Some attacks landed, scuffing his face or knocking the wind out of him enough for other blows to land, but they didn’t go unreturned. Kyoujuro fought back a cry when one wild swing was done with Tanjiro’s casted hand, and he couldn’t help that he was grateful when the blow didn’t land, if only so it wouldn’t cause Tanjiro more pain. Eventually, Tanjiro managed to slip past Shinjuro’s guard as he leapt up and drove his forehead into the older man's head so hard that he crumbled to the dirt in a drunken heap. Tanjiro panted only just barely remembering to land on his good leg, still he stumbled as the adrenaline wore off and the pain forced its way back to the forefront. 

“Zenitsu. Inosuke.” Tanjiro called voice betraying none of the pain he was in as he hobbled carefully around Shinjuro’s prone form. “Could I bug you for a little help? I seem to have broken my crutch! Oh, and after you help me to the porch, could you drag this mess back in? Senjuro-kun and Kyoujuro-san shouldn’t have to handle trash like that.”

Senjuro immediately jerked forward. “Let me help you! It is the least I could do for protecting me.” 

When he reached Tanjiro, Senjuro was shocked as the older boy gripped his chin gently but firm enough that Senjuro knew better than to pull away and stood frozen as Tanjiro tilted his head to examine the mark on his face with a sad look in his eyes. 

“That’s going to bruise,” Tanjiro said sadly as he inspected the mark just like he used to do for any injury his little siblings received. “We should get some ice or a cool rag on that to keep it from swelling too badly. Aoi-san made me a bruise salve that I can share to help it heal better too. If you help me get to the kitchen, then we can get that looked after.”

“I can manage on my own, but please let me help you. Aniue, help us!” Senjuro called, knocking Kyo out of his bewildered and slightly aroused state. 

“Ah, yes!” Kyoujuro stated loudly, willing the blush to go away. 

But now he understood, the fire that burned in Tanjiro’s eyes, the protective rage… even at the risk of his own self. He saw that at the Hashira meeting, but this was somehow different, the aura so much stronger, and the fact that he was defending them, he and Senjuro, against their father without hesitation… Now he really understood what Giyuu meant the other day, oh, he has so many letters he must write… One to his Yuu and a much-needed one to Uzui because this… he needs help with this. 

First though, he needed to help Tanjiro. Without hesitation, he went over and scooped the younger man into a bridal carry to get him completely off his feet. He would have been annoyed at seeing him standing to begin with had Tanjiro not been defending both Kyoujuro and Senjuro so fiercely against their father’s verbal abuse. He would have allowed it without the fighting because he knew his Tanjiro valued being proper and courteous, but now to have fought while so injured and clearly in pain from the long, bumpy journey here? Kyoujuro would be insistent on carrying the young man wherever he wished the rest of the day!

“R-Rengoku-san! I can still walk!” Tanjiro yelped even as he looped an arm around Kyoujuro’s neck for security. 

“Call me Kyoujuro!” The blond responded instead of acknowledging the complaint as he walked confidently into his family home. Hearing the younger man use his given name had sent a thrill through him every time it was said during Tanjiro’s altercation with his father. He decidedly did not want to go back to only being Rengoku-san to the young redhead.

Red burned Tanjiro’s cheeks. “I simply cannot, it would be improper since you’ll be my trainer, Rengoku-san.” 

“I insist!” Kyoujuro huffed as he paused in the doorway. “Would you like to go to your new room to change into something more comfortable after the journey or into the sitting room with the others?”

“Sitting room, I have the bruise cream on me. I would like to tend to Senjuro’s cheek first,” Tanjiro stated firmly, taking in the pleased smell radiating off the flame hashira before smiling sheepishly. “Then perhaps a dose of my pain medication.”

“Of course!” Kyo said with a smile of his own as he made his way into the sitting room and built up a bona fide nest of pillows and blankets for Tanjiro to rest, all while cradling him close to his chest with one arm. 

“Rengoku-san, you really don’t need to go through all this trouble,” Tanjiro whined, trying very hard to fight the urge to bury his face into Rengoku’s chest and inhale the scent of him right from the source because the longer he was close to it, the more addictive it became. Not yours, not yours, not yours!

“Kyoujuro!” Rengoku corrected as he finished arranging the nest of soft things and gently lowered Tanjiro into it, even going as far as to put a light blanket over his lap to combat the chill in the room from the fire not being lit yet. “Are you comfortable, young Kamado?”

“Rengoku-san, I’m not going to call you by your given name if you don’t call me by mine,” Tanjiro said with a pout as it became clear that the older man would not be letting this go. “That would be disrespectful and rude.”

Senjuro watched his oblivious brother dote on the one everyone had told him was the one who saved his brother's life, the one who protected him from their drunk father, and held back a groan. He could see that his brother liked him very much; he was acting the same way he had when Giyuu-san first began to come see them. 

“Anuie, did you get everything on my list? I'll need to start cooking soon, once Tanjiro-san looks at my cheek.” Senjuro stated, distracting his brother. 

“Oh! Yes, I got them!” Kyoujuro said with a smile. “I dropped it outside. I was going to intervene, but Zenitsu and Inosuke stopped me.”

“You dropped my groceries?!” Senjuro exclaimed before rushing outside, fussing about possibly bruised apples as Inosuke and Zenitsu came in dragging Shinjuro by the legs. 

“Gonpachiro! Where are we supposed to put the trash?” Inosuke questioned loudly. “We brought him back in like you asked.”

“Huh, I did do that, didn’t I?” Tanjiro mused, looking at his friends in amusement. Kyoujuro got a front row seat to his eyes going cold and hard again as they dropped to his father’s unconscious form. He really needed to write those letters. 

“Take him to his room if Senjuro-kun or Rengoku-san has shown you where it is.” Tanjiro huffed softly. “Make sure to cover him up. If he catches a cold, then that's more work for Senjuro-kun.”

“Alright!” Inosuke stated as he and Zenitsu dragged away Shinjuro.

“I’ll be back, I'll make sure he's comfortable before gathering the medicine for you. I cannot cook, but I do know how to make tea.” Kyoujuro hummed as he eyed his unconscious father.

“You’re a good man, a good son, Kyoujuro-san,” Tanjiro said as he relaxed more into the mound of pillows supporting him. “Don’t let him convince you otherwise.”

Kyoujuro paused at that, swallowing thickly as he felt the prickle behind his eye. No one, no one, has ever said such things to him… a good Hashira, skilled warrior, person, yes… but never has anyone called him a good man and son. He knows his neighbours pitied them, refusing to help even though the change after his mother’s passing was obvious, but here was a boy who had just met his father and…

“Thank you, Tanjiro, for the kind words,” Kyo whispered thickly. “I’ll be back in a moment.”