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

---

"Is Uncle and big brother… fighting?"

Hanako lay by the window, watching the courtyard with curious eyes. When she saw Uncle Ryuji and Tanjirou standing opposite each other, holding wooden swords, her face lit up, and she clapped her hands in delight.

Nezuko, hearing her sister's excitement, turned quickly toward the door. She peeked outside and spotted Ryuji and Tanjirou facing off.

"Oh! Are they really going to spar?"

Nezuko clenched her fists eagerly, her excitement mirroring Hanako's. For the two younger siblings, the thought of a spar was thrilling, a rare lively break from their usual routines.

Inside the house, Kamado Kie, who had just been helped to rest by Ryuji, heard the commotion. The mention of Tanjirou sparring with Ryuji made her heart race. Despite the weariness that weighed on her, she struggled to her feet.

"This can't be good…"

Kie murmured with a worried frown. "Tanjirou's still so young; he's not ready to challenge Ryuji seriously… I should talk to him. It's too risky."

But as she stepped to the doorway and saw them in the yard, her concern eased. They appeared to be engaging in a friendly match, not a serious fight.

Still, Kie felt conflicted. While she naturally wanted to support her son, she couldn't help but feel reassured with Ryuji's experience and strength.

---

In the courtyard, Ryuji and Tanjirou held their wooden swords at the ready, each assessing the other in silence.

Though neither had truly mastered swordsmanship, they both understood the importance of the Breathing Technique.

Entering into their concentrated breathing state, their senses sharpened, and their physical abilities surged, their bodies momentarily rivaling a demon's strength.

However, this heightened power came at a cost. Once the breathing state ended, the resulting fatigue would be so overwhelming that lifting a finger would feel impossible. Only mastery of Total Concentration Breathing—a constant, rhythmic breathing maintained even in sleep—could eliminate these side effects, sustaining a person's power indefinitely.

---

The atmosphere between them grew tense, their heightened senses allowing them to feel each other's increased strength.

"Uncle, I'm ready," Tanjirou said, bowing slightly, aware that Ryuji would likely wait for him to strike first.

"Then come at me," Ryuji replied calmly, his posture unwavering.

In a flash, Tanjirou sprang forward.

Moving with speed beyond that of an ordinary human, he closed the gap in an instant, swinging his wooden sword toward Ryuji's neck. His training had drilled into him the necessity of targeting a demon's neck, the only way to end a demon's life aside from sunlight.

Though his sword was made of wood and carefully padded, a full-force strike to the neck could still be dangerous. Tanjirou held back slightly, ready to restrain his blow if needed.

Ryuji's gaze never wavered, tracking Tanjirou's movement with precision. With a small flick of his own sword, he deflected the strike with ease.

"Don't hold back, Tanjirou," Ryuji said firmly.

Even though Tanjirou was still young, the Breathing Technique had enhanced his strength beyond an ordinary adult's. However, his training remained incomplete, and Ryuji's skill was still far superior.

Hearing Ryuji's encouragement, Tanjirou nodded, steeling himself.

"All right…" he murmured, tightening his grip on the hilt. His eyes gleamed with resolve.

He knew he wouldn't be able to harm Ryuji, but he was determined to give everything he had.

---

"Thud, thud…"

In the courtyard, the clash of their wooden swords echoed, filling the air with the sound of their swift, powerful movements.

At some point, their wooden swords splintered, discarded on the ground.

Both continued to fight, abandoning weapons for hand-to-hand combat, which was faster and more intense.

For much of the bout, Ryuji remained on the offensive, while Tanjirou dodged and defended, focusing on staying in the fight as long as he could.

"Uncle Ryuji is amazing! Big brother… I don't think he can keep up," Nezuko murmured in awe as she watched her brother struggle against Ryuji's relentless attacks.

"Tanjirou is doing well, though," Kie said with a gentle smile, patting Nezuko's head. Her gaze shifted to Ryuji's tall form. "But Ryuji… he's on a different level."

…

To the onlookers, it appeared that Ryuji was overwhelming Tanjirou, allowing him little opportunity to strike back.

However, Ryuji felt differently.

While his strength clearly exceeded Tanjirou's, he was surprised by Tanjirou's ability to dodge or counter just in time, almost instinctively.

At first, he thought it was luck. But as the spar went on, he recognized Tanjirou's natural skill—a keen sense of timing and an ability to capitalize on brief openings, which gave him a surprising resilience.

Even so, the difference in raw strength became undeniable as Tanjirou began to tire. Seizing the moment, Ryuji struck him squarely in the chest with a well-timed palm strike.

"Boom!"

Tanjirou staggered back, his face pale, then collapsed to the ground, struggling to catch his breath.

Ryuji immediately approached him and offered a hand.

"You all right?" he asked, his voice softened with concern.

"I'm… fine," Tanjirou replied with a strained smile. "I gave it my all… but the difference in strength is too much."

Ryuji shook his head gently.

"Tanjirou, you did amazingly well. If you had the same strength as me, I might have lost this fight."

He wasn't just being kind—Tanjirou's instincts were remarkable, making him a natural in combat.

Hearing Ryuji's words, Tanjirou felt a renewed sense of pride and determination.

One day, I'll surpass him, Tanjirou thought. I just need to keep training.

"Uncle… how does our strength compare to the demons?" he asked, his curiosity undiminished.

Ryuji sighed, his gaze distant. "We're not even close."

"Demons are far stronger than you might think. Even the Hashira—the strongest of us—face fierce battles against them."

Tanjirou's eyes widened, but he nodded resolutely.

"Then we'll just have to train harder," Ryuji said, patting his shoulder.

"Yes, I won't let you down, Uncle!" Tanjirou replied, his determination rekindled.

Ryuji smiled and ruffled his hair. Just then, he looked up and noticed Kie standing nearby, watching them with a concerned expression.

"I told you to rest, didn't I?" he asked, frowning slightly.

Kie shifted nervously. "I… heard you two were sparring. I got worried."

"You need to rest; your body is still recovering," Ryuji said gently.

Tanjirou, noticing his mother's pale face, added, "Mother, Uncle Ryuji's right. You should take it easy."

Kie glanced between them, a soft, playful pout forming as she bit her lip, her eyes warm with gratitude. Her gaze lingered on Ryuji, a subtle warmth in her expression.

---

..

.

Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!

patreon.com/Kentaro_69