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

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In the room, Ryuji gently picked up the girl and placed her on the chair beside him. She sat quietly, obedient and silent, her small frame still as if afraid to move. Watching her, Ryuji couldn't fathom how someone could treat such a fragile child so cruelly.

"How could anyone be so heartless?" he thought, running his fingers gently through her hair.

That kind of cruelty—it's worse than demons. Demons act on instinct, driven by their hunger for human flesh. But this child's parents? They inflicted harm not because of any fault of hers, but for their own sick pleasure, enjoying the fear in her eyes. Ryuji clenched his fists, disgusted by their twisted hearts.

"Some people are worse than demons," he murmured, his hand still resting on the girl's head. Though her hair was now clean, it remained dry and brittle, lacking the smooth, silky feel of Kie's hair.

"By the way, Ryuji, do you know her name?" Kie asked as she brought over some tea, her voice soft and curious.

Ryuji gave a small, rueful smile. "No, she hasn't said anything. I asked earlier, but… nothing."

Kie pondered this for a moment before suggesting, "How about we call her Kanao? If she ever tells us her real name, we'll use it then."

Ryuji nodded, smiling gently at the girl. "Kanao... That sounds nice. We'll call her Tsuyuri Kanao for now." A part of him suspected that this girl could be the future Tsuyuri Kanao—sharp eyes and a quiet demeanor, just like the one he had heard of. But for now, it didn't matter. What mattered was that she was safe.

Kie smiled softly at the suggestion, "Tsuyuri Kanao... it's a beautiful name."

"Just a random thought," Ryuji chuckled. But he felt a strange sense of destiny in it.

Kie knelt beside the girl. "Kanao, you don't have to be so tense. This is your home now," she said gently, her voice full of warmth.

As Kie spoke, Ryuji couldn't help but admire her. She was always so gentle, so kind—qualities that made her stand out like a beacon of light in his life. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms. 

"My dear Kie, you're the perfect wife. Always so kind."

Kei blushed, lowering her head. "I… I'm not as good as you make me out to be," she said softly, her face flushing pink with modesty.

Ryuji, unable to resist teasing her, leaned in and whispered, "By the way, I bought you some new clothes today. Why don't you try them on for me?"

"You didn't need to buy me anything, I have plenty of clothes," Kie said, a little flustered.

"I like them," Ryuji said with a smirk. "Besides, your usual outfits are a bit too modest for my liking. I prefer something... different when we're at home."

Kie's blush deepened. "S-stop it..." she mumbled, flustered, stealing a glance at Kanao, who sat nearby. She was too shy to let this conversation continue with the child present.

Ryuji grinned, lifting Kie's chin gently. "Go on, change into it for me, Kie."

Though hesitant, Kie didn't want to displease him. She retrieved the clothes he had bought and went to change.

Moments later, Kie returned, wearing a white knit sweater and a plaid skirt, paired with black stockings. The outfit accentuated her graceful figure, and Ryuji's eyes brightened at the sight. Kie stood there, blushing furiously under his gaze, both embarrassed and flattered.

"You look stunning," Ryuji said, his voice low and sincere.

Kie was too shy to speak, her face a shade of pink as she awkwardly stood there, not used to wearing such revealing clothes. But knowing Ryuji liked it made her happy, and she decided to wear it for a little longer, despite her embarrassment.

Dinner soon arrived, and the family gathered around the table. All eyes naturally fell on the new addition—Kanao.

Feeling everyone's gaze, Kanao seemed to shrink back, her small frame trembling slightly.

Ryuji noticed her discomfort and immediately spoke up. "From now on, Kanao will be part of our family. Be kind to her."

Nezuko, always the warmest of hearts, smiled brightly and extended a hand. "Hi, I'm Nezuko. It's nice to meet you!"

But Kanao didn't reach out, her eyes downcast, making Nezuko's smile falter slightly.

Ryuji quickly intervened. "She's a bit shy and doesn't talk much."

Nezuko nodded, though a small frown tugged at her lips. She couldn't help but feel a bit neglected, as Ryuji had been paying more attention to Kanao ever since she arrived. But despite the pang of jealousy, she was too kind to let it show.

Tanjirou introduced himself next. "Hi, I'm Tanjirou. Welcome to our home."

"I'm Hanako, nice to meet you!" Hanako followed cheerfully.

One by one, the others introduced themselves, sensing Kanao's quiet nature and refraining from overwhelming her.

Ryuji ended the introductions by saying, "Let's all welcome Kanao to our family."

Kanao stood silently, looking at everyone with wide, uncertain eyes. Though she didn't say a word, a small part of her heart began to warm.

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But Kanao's inner world was not as still as it appeared on the surface—like a pool of stagnant water, it had started to stir. An unfamiliar emotion was bubbling up inside her.

Tsuyuri Kanao didn't understand what this strange feeling was; all she knew was that it was something entirely new to her. 

Here, there were no harsh beatings when her father grew angry. There were no vicious words, constantly hurled at her, meant to wound. It was... warm here. Everyone welcomed her.

When Nezuko had reached out to shake her hand earlier, Kanao hadn't responded, and the brief flash of disappointment on Nezuko's face had struck her. She had wanted to say something, anything—but no words had come. Kanao realized she no longer knew how to express her feelings. She couldn't speak her love, nor could she even voice her displeasure. 

This frustrated her. 

But she couldn't deny it—this place, these people, it all felt like heaven to her. And it was the man in front of her, Ryuji, who had brought her to this warmth. Unconsciously, Kanao clung to the edge of his clothing, holding onto it tightly. 

She had lived in darkness for so long, in a world full of misery, like weeds struggling to survive in the dead of winter. She had never known when the frost and cold would finally freeze her to death. But now, the warmth that Ryuji had brought into her life felt like a ray of light, illuminating her once desolate heart.

"Everyone likes you," Ryuji said softly, gently stroking her hair.

For a brief moment, Kanao's dull pink-purple eyes flickered with a trace of joy. But even then, she couldn't find the words to express her feelings. She wanted to tell him something—anything—but nothing came out.

It made her sad.

She had forgotten how to express her emotions.

"In the future, no one will bully you," Ryuji continued, patting her head with a touch of sympathy.

Though Kanao remained silent, she found herself leaning into his hand, savoring the sense of security that came from his broad palm. 

After the dinner welcoming Kanao, everyone retired to their rooms. Kanao was given a room of her own, which Kie had cleaned earlier that evening. It was spotless and tidy.

"From now on, this will be your room," Kie said gently, gesturing to the space.

Kanao looked around the room in silence, her eyes landing on the folded clothes placed on the small cabinet. Kie pointed to them and continued, "If you want to change, these are some of Nezuko's old clothes. Since it's late, I didn't have time to buy anything for you. They might be a little small, but I'll make adjustments for now. Tomorrow, I'll get you some proper clothes, and if I have time, I'll sew you something myself."

Kie's voice was soft and kind as she spread out the bedding on Kanao's bed. Kanao just stood there, listening to her words and feeling the warmth that poured from them—like a gentle spring breeze caressing her face.

It felt… so comfortable.

She had never imagined that one day, someone would take care of her like this. She had never experienced the feeling of being cared for so deeply.

"Good night, Kanao. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight," Kie whispered after finishing the bed, her voice laced with affection. When Kanao didn't respond, Kie sighed softly. 

Ryuji had told her earlier about Kanao's past, and Kie felt an overwhelming tenderness toward the girl.

As Kie left, she gently closed the door behind her. The soft sound of her footsteps faded away, leaving Kanao alone in the room.

She stood there for a long time, unmoving, as if lost in a daze. The small room in front of her seemed almost like a palace compared to the place she had come from.

It was small but well-equipped: a warm bed, a small cabinet, a dresser, and even a full-length mirror.

Kanao walked slowly over to the mirror, her reflection staring back at her. She wore Nezuko's slightly too-small clothes, but she didn't mind. They were clean, and the fabric was soft against her skin—more comfortable than anything she had ever worn before.

It felt like a dream. 

Kanao looked closely at the girl in the mirror. Was that really her?

In her memory, her face had always been dirty, her clothes ragged, her hair tangled and matted like a beggar's. But now, that filthy little girl was gone. The reflection showed a girl with porcelain-like skin, though still pale, with faint scars from the beatings she had endured.

Her slender frame and long legs made her wonder if this new girl staring back at her was really her.

Stepping away from the mirror, she walked to the bed, gently running her fingers over the quilt. It was warm—so warm. She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling.

The girl silently clenched her hands.

She wanted to hold onto this warmth. She didn't want to return to that miserable, dark life—a life where she had been treated like a stray dog. 

This life, where people cared for her, was what she wanted.

She knew that once she had tasted this warmth, she could never live without it.

"Uncle…" she whispered softly, her voice barely audible, like a dream.

She was deeply grateful to the man who had brought her into this life. Grateful beyond words. And she would do anything to protect it.

No matter what.

As she clutched the quilt tightly, the warmth enveloped her, and she gradually drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

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