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

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Ryuji was lost in thought, sitting quietly in the room, when he suddenly felt the sensation of being watched. Instinctively, he raised his head.

By the door.

A small head peeked out, revealing a delicate and lovely face, with a slight flush on her cheeks. Her long eyelashes trembled softly, and her wide eyes sparkled with innocence.

Realizing she had been caught, Nezuko quickly pulled her head back, but she couldn't resist and poked it out again.

This time, she noticed Ryuji waving at her.

"Hey, Uncle! You're still awake?"

With her hands clasped behind her back, Nezuko walked in confidently, as if she hadn't been sneaking around just moments ago.

She tilted her head slightly, her large, curious eyes fixed on Ryuji.

Looking at the adorable girl, Ryuji scolded playfully, "Why do you keep calling me uncle? It makes me feel old."

"What should I call you then?" Nezuko blinked, confused.

"Just call me 'Oni-chan,'" Ryuji suggested with a grin, lightly tapping Nezuko's nose.

Nezuko scrunched up her nose at the ticklish sensation, sniffing instinctively. "I can't call you 'Oni-chan.' You're almost as old as my mom. How could I call you that? You're definitely an uncle," she pouted.

"Ha... Well, if I'm the same age as your father, does that mean you're going to call me Dad instead?"

"You're not my dad! I'd never call you that," Nezuko said firmly, crossing her arms as if she was making a very important point.

"Haha…" Ryuji chuckled, finding her seriousness adorable. He thought to himself that Nezuko really was the cutest at this age.

"But really, why are you still up so late? You know, girls won't grow taller if they don't get enough sleep," Ryuji added with a touch of concern.

"I couldn't sleep," Nezuko said softly, lowering her head.

Ryuji reached out and lifted Nezuko onto his lap, gently ruffling her hair. "Is something on your mind? You can tell me," he asked kindly.

"I'm worried about my father. He's been sick for a long time," Nezuko whispered, her voice filled with concern.

Hearing this, Ryuji comforted her, "Maybe Tanjuro will get better soon. Don't worry too much."

"I hope so…" Nezuko clasped her hands together, as if praying.

Looking at the girl, who was so earnestly wishing for her father's recovery, Ryuji sighed internally. Right now, she was filled with hope, but he couldn't help but think that the day her father passed would be heartbreaking for her.

Ryuji stroked her hair gently, noticing it was a little tangled. "Your hair's a bit messy. How about I comb it for you?"

"Okay," Nezuko nodded obediently, sitting still beside him.

Ryuji found a comb in the room and asked, "What kind of hairstyle do you like?"

"I like my mother's hairstyle," Nezuko answered softly.

Ryuji smiled and shook his head. "That won't do. Kie's hairstyle is for married women. You're still young and haven't been married yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate. When you grow up and get married, you can wear it."

"Oh, I see." Nezuko furrowed her brow thoughtfully before asking, "What hairstyle does *uncle* like?"

"How about twin ponytails? That would look cute," Ryuji suggested.

"Alright, I'll go with uncle's choice," Nezuko agreed cheerfully.

Ryuji began to carefully comb her hair. Nezuko's hair was soft, thick, long, and smooth to the touch.

"I didn't know you could comb hair, uncle. Even my dad never combs my hair. It's always been my mom. But lately, she's been busy taking care of my dad, so she hasn't been able to do it for a few days."

"Well, if you want, Nezuko, you can come to me every day, and I'll comb your hair for you. How does that sound?"

"Okay!" Nezuko nodded happily. "Uncle is really nice."

---

**Ten Days Later**

By the fire.

*Crackling...*

The firewood in the hearth crackled as it burned, occasionally sending small sparks into the air before they quickly faded. A large pot sat over the fire, releasing a mouthwatering aroma that filled the entire room.

Ryuji grabbed a handful of mushrooms from the small basket beside him, chopped some scallions, and tossed in a few cloves of garlic.

The scent grew richer and more enticing.

Inside the room, Nezuko, Tanjirou, Takeo, and Hanako all unconsciously sniffed the air, their eyes fixated on the large pot bubbling over the flames.

Inside the pot was a pheasant Ryuji had hunted in the mountains earlier that morning. After cleaning and chopping it into small pieces, he had worked on preparing a pheasant and mushroom stew.

The delicious aroma had everyone eagerly awaiting their meal.

Even Kie Kamado, sitting nearby, couldn't help but lean in slightly toward the fire, her broad chest gently swaying as she did so.

Ryuji, who was stirring the pot, accidentally caught sight of this and felt his heart skip a beat, as if a little wildcat had begun scratching at his insides. His throat went dry.

He took a deep breath, calming his restlessness, and ladled a portion of the soup into a small bowl. Handing it to Kie, he said, "Mrs. Kamado, please take this to Tanjuro. This chicken soup is nourishing—it might do him some good."

Kie nodded, reaching out to take the bowl.

Their hands brushed lightly, almost like a gentle caress, sending a faint tingling sensation through her.

Kie's heart skipped a beat, and a faint blush crept onto her face. She glanced up, only to find Ryuji's expression calm, as if the touch had been nothing more than an accident.

*Hoo... hoo...*

She took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling bubbling within her, and stole a glance at her children. Nezuko and Tanjirou were still focused on the meal cooking in the pot, unaware of her flustered state. Relieved, she lowered her head, clutching the bowl of steaming soup as she quietly walked to the next room.

Inside, Tanjuro Kamado lay on the bed, his face pale, his condition worsening by the day.

Kie's heart ached as she watched him. Tanjuro had grown so weak, showing no signs of recovery.

"Tanjuro, please have some chicken soup. Ryuji made it especially for you—it's good for your health," Kie whispered gently, sitting beside her husband.

Tanjuro barely opened his eyes, his voice weak. "I don't have an appetite... I can't drink it."

"But—"

Kie bit her lip, worried. Tanjuro had barely eaten anything over the past few days, and she feared his body wouldn't hold out much longer if this continued.

*Cough, cough, cough...* Tanjuro shook his head. "I'm really not hungry. You should eat. Don't worry about me. I'll rest a bit... After you're done, send Tanjirou in. I have something to tell him."

Kie nodded reluctantly, her heart heavy, and returned to the main room with the untouched bowl of soup.

"Did Tanjuro refuse to eat?" Ryuji asked, noticing her return so soon.

Kie nodded, disheartened. Tanjuro's worsening condition weighed heavily on her. The thought that he might not have much time left terrified her.

If Tanjuro passed away, Kie didn't know how she would hold their family together on her own.

Seeing the despair in her expression, Ryuji sighed softly. "He'll get better," he reassured, though his voice betrayed a hint of doubt. "Mrs. Kamado, you must take care of yourself too. You can't afford to collapse."

In her moment of deepest sadness and helplessness, Ryuji's concern felt like a lifeline. Kie lifted her eyes to meet his and saw that he was gazing at her intently.

That look...

It was as if he wanted to devour her.

Kie's heart raced uncontrollably.

---

The chicken soup smelled wonderful, and the chicken tasted tender and savory. Takeo and Hanako were enjoying their meal, sweet smiles on their faces. They were still too young to understand much about the world.

Naturally, they didn't grasp the concept of death. From their point of view, their father was just resting in bed for a while, and soon he would get up and play with them again.

But Nezuko and Tanjirou were different. Even though they were still young, they had begun to understand the meaning of life and death.

At least, they knew that once someone died... they never came back.

So, despite how delicious the food was, neither Tanjirou nor Nezuko had much of an appetite.

"Mother, is Father going to leave us?" Tanjirou looked up, his gaze resting on Kamado Kie, who sat quietly by the fire.

Kie's violet eyes trembled slightly, but she didn't answer her son. Instead, she lowered her head, gripping the rim of the bowl tightly with her hands.

At that moment, Nezuko also looked up. "Is Father going to get better?"

Faced with the hopeful eyes of her children, Kie was at a loss. She was afraid. Afraid of seeing the disappointment in Tanjirou and Nezuko's eyes if she answered truthfully. Afraid of confronting the reality that loomed over them.

But the children's expectant gazes pressed upon her, and Kie felt the urge to respond.

Her lips parted, her throat tightened, but no words came out.

Noticing Kie's struggle, Ryuji gently placed his hands on Tanjirou and Nezuko's heads.

Both children looked up, startled, and stared at him with curious eyes.

"Do you believe your father will recover?" Ryuji asked softly.

"Of course," the two replied in unison, without hesitation.

"Then why ask your mother these questions?" Ryuji's gaze softened as he looked at the two children.

"But..." Tanjirou began, only to be interrupted as Ryuji stood up.

The children quickly followed him to the door.

Ryuji opened the door, letting in a gust of cold wind that made everyone inside shiver. He pointed toward the sun in the sky and spoke in a gentle tone, "Life and death are like the sun. It rises and sets naturally. But as long as you believe in your hearts, there will always be a new day where the warm sun shines again."

He glanced down at Tanjirou and Nezuko. "Do you believe the sun that rises tomorrow will be even warmer?"

The children nodded firmly. "Yes," they answered in unison.

Ryuji closed the door and returned to the fire. He placed a comforting hand on each of their heads. "Just like the warmth from the sun, there will be moments when it sets. But you must trust that it will rise again. And just like the sun's warmth, your father will always be with you, even if you can't see him."

Watching as Ryuji comforted her children, Kie's grip on the small bowl gradually loosened. She lowered her head and took a slow sip of the soup.

The steam rose, gently brushing against her long eyelashes, and her violet eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

These past few days had been overwhelming, and if not for Ryuji, she didn't know how she would have managed.

She owed him so much. If not for him, she wouldn't have known how to explain everything to Tanjirou and Nezuko.

Without thinking, Kie found herself gazing at Ryuji's calm profile. For some reason, a strange thought crept into her mind—how wonderful it would be if Ryuji could stay with their family forever.

The moment the thought appeared, Kie felt a wave of panic and shame rise within her.

---

**After dinner**

Tanjirou followed his mother's instructions and approached his father's bedside.

"Father…"

Tanjirou called softly, standing near the bed.

Kamado Tanjuro opened his eyes weakly, his hand reaching out from beneath the blanket to grasp his son's hand tightly.

"Father…"

Feeling the strength of his father's grip, Tanjirou called out again, his voice trembling.

Tanjuro coughed violently, but he didn't release Tanjirou's hand. "Tanjirou… I don't think… I'll live much longer."

"No, no! Father, you'll get better soon!" Tanjirou shook his head vigorously, refusing to believe his father's words.

Seeing the desperation in his son's eyes, Kamado Tanjuro couldn't help but give a weary smile. He knew his condition all too well—he could feel the approach of death, vague and indescribable, but undeniable.

For days, he had wondered why his health had deteriorated so quickly. Now, he had begun to piece it together.

Instinctively, his hand moved to his left forehead, where the mysterious 'mark' had appeared years ago. He had discovered that activating the mark granted him great strength, enhancing his physical abilities to extraordinary levels.

The power had intoxicated him, and he'd used it several times. But over time, he began to realize there was a cost. Each time he activated the mark, it seemed to drain something from him. So, he used it sparingly.

His condition worsened as the mark appeared, and now his body was on the verge of collapse.

Kamado Tanjuro, feeling that the mark was connected to his condition, wanted to ensure Tanjirou understood.

He grasped Tanjirou's hand and placed it on his left forehead, his expression serious. "Tanjirou, remember what I've always taught you? The importance of *breathing*."

Tanjirou, tears welling up in his eyes, nodded but remained silent.

Coughing again, Tanjuro continued. "If you ever have a mark like mine, you must be careful. It consumes your life. Don't use it unless you absolutely must."

His grip on Tanjirou's hand tightened as he spoke with a father's final words of responsibility. "When I'm gone, you'll be the eldest. You must look after your siblings, help your mother, and support the family. It's up to you now."

Kamado Tanjuro's hand moved to Tanjirou's shoulder, feeling how young and fragile his son still was. He wondered if such small shoulders could carry the weight of his words.

"Father, please…" Tanjirou's voice broke as he gripped his father's hand tightly, sobbing. "You'll get better. You have to…"

Tanjuro shook his head gently, wiping away the tears from Tanjirou's eyes. "Remember, son, the breathing techniques I taught you… never forget them. And… you must be strong. You're the man of the family now."

With that, he patted Tanjirou's hand once more. "Go… call Ryuji in."

---

**A few moments later...**

Ryuji entered the room quickly, his gaze falling on Kamado Tanjuro, whose breathing was weak and labored. He could tell at a glance that Tanjuro was nearing the end.

He might not have more than a few days left.

"Tanjuro-san…" Ryuji started, but Tanjuro stirred, trying to sit up. Ryuji rushed over to stop him. "Please, rest. Your health is fragile right now, but I'm sure you'll get better soon."

Tanjuro chuckled softly, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "I know my body, Ryuji. I'm not afraid of death. But… I worry about Kei and the children. Promise me… you'll take care of them when I'm gone."

"Don't say that. You saved my life from that black bear, Tanjuro. I swear to you, I'll look after Kei and the children," Ryuji replied earnestly, his tone resolute.

Tanjuro gazed at Ryuji for a long moment, his eyes filled with both relief and complexity. With his enhanced perception from the *Transparent World*, he could see things most others couldn't—like the blood coursing through veins, or the tiniest details on a distant leaf.

But lately, he had also noticed something else: the subtle affection Ryuji held for his wife, Kamado Kei.

At first, the realization had angered him, but as time passed, he found himself strangely at peace with it. He was going to die, after all. Perhaps… this was for the best.

At least, after he was gone, there would be someone to care for his family.

His thoughts grew heavy as he grasped Ryuji's hand tightly. "Promise me… you won't let Kei or the children suffer."

Ryuji looked up in surprise, meeting Tanjuro's eyes. Despite the weakness in them, there was a sharp clarity, as if he had seen through everything.

Ryuji's heart raced, knowing that Tanjuro had sensed the hidden feelings he had tried so hard to suppress.

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(A/N:- Your power stones and reviews will help me grow)