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

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Kie stared blankly at the object in Ryuji's hand, unable to respond for a long time.

That thing... it wasn't bought because Ryuji wanted to raise a dog.

It was for her.

The realization left Kie feeling lost—and even a little humiliated.

"Kie, will you always be loyal to me?" Ryuji asked, his voice calm but his eyes narrowing as they focused on her.

He watched as she bit her lip, her teary eyes filled with obvious hurt, and her pale face quickly reddened with shame. The sight amused him slightly.

"If you're loyal to me, prove it," he said softly, his voice almost teasing.

"If you can't even do that, how do you expect me to trust you?"

His tone was quiet, but there was a cold edge to it as he gently lifted Kie's chin, his fingers grazing her soft skin. Since she'd come into his care, he had pampered her endlessly. Except for some small tasks, she hadn't had to lift a finger. In the past, her hands had been rough from years of hard work, but now, after all his care, they were smooth and soft again. All thanks to him.

As he lifted her chin, Kie closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly. She knew she should obey Ryuji's every request by now. But this... this was different. This request made her feel utterly humiliated, her entire body hot with shame and embarrassment.

She couldn't even imagine how she would feel if she actually agreed to his demand.

Ryuji, however, was in no rush. He gently stroked her long, flowing hair, sensing the turmoil raging inside her.

He enjoyed seeing her like this—torn between refusing and obeying. The contrast between her gentle, virtuous nature and the charm of her inner conflict thrilled him.

Finally, Kie seemed to make a decision. She opened her teary eyes, her delicate face flushed with shame. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the collar Ryuji had dropped on the ground, picking it up with trembling hands.

She stared down at the object, her emotions swirling—embarrassment, nervousness, and something else. As strange as it felt, there was an odd sense of excitement stirring within her as well. The longer she held the collar, the more that unfamiliar feeling grew.

Finally, Kie closed her eyes and put the collar on.

The moment she fastened it, something inside her shifted. She felt different, almost as though she were looking up at Ryuji in a new way—submissive, loyal, obedient.

Ryuji lounged lazily on the bed, watching her closely. A wicked smile curled on his lips as he took in the sight of Kie, blushing and clearly wanting to hide away in shame.

"That alone doesn't prove your loyalty, Kie," he said slyly.

Her embarrassment only deepened at his words. For a moment, Kie thought she had done enough. But now, she was uncertain again.

She slowly raised her head, her face filled with confusion, and looked at Ryuji, who was still lounging on the bed with a playful smile.

What is he expecting me to do now? she wondered. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. In the end, she simply lowered her head once more.

"Kie," Ryuji said softly, "if you truly love someone, you'll do anything for them. Anything."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a darker tone. "I have a controlling heart. I expect complete devotion—both body and soul. I need to know where I stand in your heart."

Kie bit her lip hard, so much so that it broke her delicate skin. Blood welled up, staining her lips like a beautiful, fragile rose bathed in crimson. In that moment, she felt as though Ryuji had her heart in his grasp—ready to crush it if he wished.

A low, almost inaudible sound escaped her lips, like the buzz of a mosquito's wings.

"So obedient..." Ryuji stood up, his voice laced with approval. "Very well done."

He reached out and gently stroked her hair before pressing his hand to the back of her head, lightly rubbing it. "Kie, you've done wonderfully. I'm very pleased."

The sun was rising, casting its light on the earth as the night passed.

Ryuji got dressed and stepped out of the room, feeling invigorated. His spirit was light and satisfied.

"That was... something else," he muttered to himself with a smirk. It was unlike anything he had experienced before, a feeling that made his soul feel as if it were soaring.

Stretching lazily, he breathed in the fresh morning air, feeling utterly relaxed.

"I should prepare something for the children's breakfast. I doubt Kie will be getting up any time soon," Ryuji said, glancing back at the closed door with a smile.

He had worn her out. Of course, he had a soft spot for her, but sometimes, his darker side took over, and he indulged his whims.

As he stepped outside, he noticed Tanjirou already up and training in the yard.

Ryuji couldn't help but feel admiration for the boy's dedication. It wasn't easy to maintain such discipline, especially without anyone overseeing him.

"Good morning, Uncle!" Tanjirou greeted, quickly putting away his wooden sword.

"Good morning, Tanjirou," Ryuji replied, smiling as he patted the boy on the shoulder. "You're really something, working so hard every day. I'm impressed."

"I still have a long way to go, Uncle. I need to work hard if I'm ever going to catch up to you," Tanjirou said, clenching his fists with determination.

"What a good kid," Ryuji thought, admiring the boy's resolve. "One day, Tanjirou you will achieve great things. I can feel it."

He gave Tanjirou an encouraging pat on the shoulder before heading off.

He needed to go buy some breakfast for the children. After all, it had been a long night, and some of them had woken up late. Nezuko, Takeo, and Hanako could wait a little longer, but Tanjirou was different. His training required proper nutrition, and Ryuji wasn't about to let him fall short.

Kie had taken care of him so well. He couldn't let the children go hungry now.

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After all, Ryuji had promised Tanjuro that he would take good care of his wife and children.

Luckily, since they were in the city, there were still plenty of people selling food early in the morning. As long as you had money, you could get what you needed. It wasn't like being deep in the mountains, where even with money, finding food could be difficult.

As he stepped outside, the morning was already lively. He greeted several familiar faces, neighbors who lived nearby. Ryuji made sure to smile and exchange pleasantries with them; there was no need for any awkwardness between neighbors.

When he arrived at a nearby restaurant, the owner, busy with his apron on, greeted him. "You're the one who moved in recently, right?"

Ryuji smiled and nodded. "That's right. I'll probably be coming by often, so I'll be counting on you."

The owner chuckled. "No problem! With our food, once you try it, you'll definitely come back for more."

Ryuji appreciated the extra food the owner added, understanding the hint. The man wanted him as a regular customer, which suited him just fine.

After picking up the food, Ryuji returned home. Most of the children were already up and about. Of course, Kie was still resting, understandably so after last night.

He handed out breakfast to everyone and took a portion over to Kanao's room. Gently knocking on the door, he waited, but no response came from within.

"I'm coming in," he said, pushing the door open gently.

Kanao was already awake, sitting quietly on her bed. Her pink eyes followed Ryuji as he entered the room, but she remained silent.

"Why haven't you come out yet?" he asked softly, placing the breakfast on her dresser. Squatting down beside her, he added, "Here, have something to eat. I'll comb your hair while you do."

Without a word, Kanao picked up the bowl and began to eat as Ryuji stood behind her, patiently combing through her hair. The years of mistreatment had left her hair rough, with split ends and a dull appearance. But Ryuji knew that with time and care, she would recover.

As he worked through the tangles, he continued, "Today, Uncle Ryuji is combing your hair, but from now on, Aunt Kie will do it for you."

Kanao remained silent as she ate, her expression blank and robotic. But as Ryuji continued to comb her hair, he noticed her eyes blink more frequently, as if something inside her was slowly awakening.

"All done," Ryuji said at last, admiring the twin ponytails he had tied. A sense of accomplishment filled him as he looked at the neat hairstyle. "You look beautiful, Kanao."

He couldn't resist lightly tapping her head. "See? Just like a little princess."

Kanao remained expressionless, but her eyes seemed slightly more focused. After finishing her breakfast, Ryuji took her by the hand and led her outside to join the other children.

Once Kanao was settled, Ryuji returned to his room with his own breakfast. The room was in complete disarray: clothes were strewn across the floor, some maid uniforms were torn, and stockings were shredded. The usually spotless space—maintained meticulously by Kie—was now a mess, a sign of the chaotic night.

Ryuji smiled at the scene and made his way to the bedside. "It's time to eat, Kie," he said softly.

Kie's long lashes fluttered as her eyes slowly opened. She looked up at him, her entire body still weak and sore. Her face flushed a deep red as she met his gaze, filled with a mixture of embarrassment and tenderness. She instinctively pulled her feet—still clad in black stockings—under the blanket.

Kie tried to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate, leaving her utterly drained. Her eyes met Ryuji's with a mix of reproach and longing, tinged with a gentle resentment.

"Let me feed you," Ryuji offered with a smile, helping her sit up against his chest as he brought the breakfast tray closer.

As he began to feed her, Kie's beautiful eyelashes quivered, and she spoke in a low, embarrassed voice. "I don't understand you, Ryuji... Sometimes you're so gentle, but other times you're so... rough. Always coming up with strange ideas..."

Her pale face turned a deeper shade of red, her voice growing quieter. "You always bully me in so many ways..."

Ryuji sighed softly, stroking her smooth black hair. "I can't help it," he said affectionately. "You're just too charming, Kie."

Hearing his words, the small resentment she had been holding onto vanished. Ryuji's actions made it clear—it wasn't that he was tormenting her out of malice, but out of his deep affection for her.

Her heart swelled with warmth and happiness as she gazed at him, a gentle smile forming on her lips. "I'll be relying on you for a long time to come," she whispered.

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