Demon Slayer: Taking Care Of Tanjuro's Wife And Daughter

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Ryuji was awakened by the sound of crying outside. He quickly threw on a fur cloak and pushed open the door.

As soon as he stepped outside, the door next to him creaked open. Kamado Kie emerged, dressed in a simple white robe. In her haste, she hadn't properly fastened it, leaving part of her undergarments exposed, revealing a sliver of pale skin beneath the dim, flickering moonlight. Her skin seemed to glow with a soft pink hue under the cold night sky.

"Kie," Ryuji said softly, nodding.

Startled by the sudden encounter, Kie instinctively took a small step back, her head lowered, and her legs tightly pressed together. She placed her small hands over her abdomen, bowing slightly. "Ryuji," she greeted in her usual soft tone.

Her long, black hair fell forward with her bow, obscuring her face. Seeing the gentle, almost fragile figure in front of him, Ryuji couldn't help but notice her bare feet, delicate and pale against the cold ground.

She hadn't had time to put on shoes, and the biting cold made her toes curl inward as she stood on the frosty ground.

A cold wind whipped past them.

Kamado Kie shivered, trying to stay warm, but the night air was unforgiving.

Without hesitation, Ryuji untied the fur cloak from around his shoulders and gently draped it over Kie's thin frame.

Kie flinched slightly, like a startled animal.

"It's too cold for you to be out like this. You should wear more," Ryuji said, his tone firm but kind. He placed his hands on her shoulders, helping her fasten the cloak, not allowing her a chance to protest.

Under the dim moonlight, as Ryuji tied the rope of the cloak around her, Kie's heart raced. She hadn't been this close to another man since her marriage, and now, standing in such proximity to Ryuji, she felt her pulse quicken in a way she couldn't fully explain.

When he finished, Ryuji turned and began walking briskly toward the source of the cries outside.

It took a moment for Kie to regain her composure. She bit her lip unconsciously, watching his retreating figure, then took a deep breath to steady herself. The sound of crying pulled her from her thoughts, and her heart sank. That cry… could it be Tanjirou?

But it couldn't be. Tanjirou never cried—he was always so strong.

…

Ryuji quickened his pace as he stepped outside. The cold wind stung his skin, and he shivered involuntarily, having given his cloak to Kie. The thin clothing he wore did little to protect him from the bitter night air.

Hugging himself for warmth, he focused his gaze ahead.

Under the faint light of the moon, he saw Tanjirou kneeling on the snow-covered ground, his head bowed as silent tears streamed down his face.

Before him, Kamado Tanjuro lay motionless, his frail body lifeless.

Ryuji's heart clenched at the sight, and he rushed over.

"What happened?" Ryuji asked, though deep down, he already knew. Tanjuro should have been resting in bed—his body was far too weak to be out here in the cold.

Seeing Tanjirou weeping, Ryuji could only assume that Tanjuro had sensed his end coming and had ventured outside for one final farewell.

But what had he said in his final moments?

Soft footsteps approached from behind, and Kie appeared. When her eyes fell on Tanjuro's still form, her legs gave out beneath her, and she collapsed.

Ryuji hurried to catch her, his arms wrapping around her to keep her from falling. Kie's face was pale, her expression filled with fear and helplessness. She had lost the pillar of their family, and the weight of that realization seemed to crush her.

"Kie, it's alright. You're not alone," Ryuji said softly, his hands resting on her trembling shoulders.

At his comforting words, Kie broke down completely. She buried her face in Ryuji's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ryuji gently patted her back, whispering soothing words into her ear as her tears soaked into his thin clothes.

As he held her, Ryuji glanced at Tanjuro's lifeless body, lying still on the snow-covered ground, and then at Kie, who had crumbled under the weight of her grief.

Finally, he looked up at the night sky, his breath misting in the frigid air.

And in that silence, he mourned alongside them.

---

**The death of Kamado Tanjuro was a devastating blow to the Kamado family.**

But death is inevitable.

Once someone is gone, they cannot come back.

Though Tanjirou, Nezuko, and the others were heartbroken to lose their father, death is a part of life. No matter how painful it is to say goodbye, those who must leave, leave.

Death comes for everyone, and no one can escape it.

---

These past few days, Ryuji had been incredibly busy. Even though Tanjuro had passed away, there were still matters that needed to be dealt with.

For instance, almost all of the funeral arrangements fell on his shoulders.

Kamado Kie, Tanjirou's mother, had fallen ill and was too weak to assist. Nezuko had secluded herself in her room, silently crying. As for Takeo, Hanako, and Shigeru, they were too young to help and needed to be cared for.

The only one who could assist Ryuji was Tanjirou.

Perhaps watching his father die before his eyes had changed something within Tanjirou. The once cheerful boy had grown quiet and seemed to be maturing far too quickly.

Instead of the smiles he was known for, Tanjirou now moved through the days in silence, following Ryuji and doing what little he could to help with the funeral.

---

The winter wind was harsh.

The mournful sound of horns, drums, and monks chanting carried through the cold air.

Kamado Tanjuro's funeral was arranged with great care. Ryuji had traveled to town and spared no expense.

In stark contrast to the commotion of the funeral procession, the Kamado family remained solemn.

"Uncle, will Father never be with us again?" Nezuko asked, her small hands tightly clutching Ryuji's as she watched her father's body being lowered into the ground. Her wide eyes searched Ryuji's face for an answer.

Seeing her tear-filled gaze, Ryuji gently wiped away the crystal tears from the corners of her eyes.

He wanted to say something comforting, but words felt heavy. Instead, he knelt down and gently stroked her soft hair.

"Tanjuro is going to a faraway place, Nezuko," he said softly. "One day, we'll all go there too. And when that day comes, you'll see him again."

"How long until that day?" Nezuko's grip on his sleeve tightened slightly.

"I don't know," Ryuji replied, shaking his head. "But I do know one thing—your father would want you to be happy every day."

Nezuko didn't respond. She just lowered her head, and her quiet sobs filled the air.

Ryuji pulled her into his arms, holding her close as they watched the townsfolk continue with the burial.

Nearby, Tanjirou and his mother, Kamado Kie, were burning paper offerings for Tanjuro.

The flames danced and flickered, sending ash into the cold wind, before they too faded and disappeared.

Tanjirou's face was pale, and he seemed lost in thought, silently tending to the fire.

Kamado Kie, dressed in a simple white funeral robe, knelt upright beside the brazier. The rope tied around her waist accentuated her thin frame. Her face was paler than usual, a sign of the illness she had been battling for days. The cold wind seemed to cut through her fragile body, causing her to tremble.

Ryuji, still holding Nezuko, walked over to Kie. Seeing her condition, he removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"Tanjuro is buried now," he said gently. "You shouldn't be out here in this cold. Your body won't take much more."

Tanjirou looked up, his expression filled with concern as he turned to his mother. "Mom, it's okay. I can handle the rest. Please go inside."

"I... I'm fine," Kie murmured, her voice soft as she placed another paper offering into the fire. "I want to stay."

Ryuji sighed and turned to Tanjirou. "If your mother stays out here any longer, she's going to get worse. I'll take her back."

Tanjirou nodded, a look of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Uncle."

Kie opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Ryuji scooped her up in his arms, ignoring her startled gasp.

" Kie, don't move. You know how weak your body is right now. Do you want your condition to worsen? Who's going to take care of you if you fall seriously ill?" His voice was stern, but his concern was clear.

Kie stopped struggling immediately, her face flushed with embarrassment.

---

The mountain path was rough and uneven, made worse by the harsh winter weather. Ryuji carried Nezuko in one arm and Kie in the other, but the weight of both made his steps heavy, and soon he was out of breath.

"Ryuji... you can put me down. I can walk on my own," Kie said quietly, her voice hesitant as though she was afraid of upsetting him.

Ryuji, feeling the strain, gently lowered her to the ground. As Kie stood, she glanced at Ryuji, who was still holding Nezuko and breathing heavily.

"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes filled with a mix of guilt and relief.

Ryuji simply nodded. "Let's go back."

The coldness in his voice made Kie's heart sink, and for a moment, fear gripped her.

What if he left?

What if Ryuji, the only person who could help them now, walked away and never came back?

In these mountains, without a man to help protect them, how would they survive? How would she care for her children?

Her thoughts spiraled, and she found herself glancing up at Ryuji every few steps, terrified that he might disappear from their lives, just like her husband had.

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