The Human That Remains

Chapter Twenty-One

A few more days had passed and Mono has been watching over Tanjiro. He had been practicing Total Consentration Constant. She was just making sure he wouldn't hurt himself. Mono looked over and noticed the three girls watching Tanjiro. Mono waved at the three and they waved back. The girl turned back to Tanjiro. He had been the only one training. Zenitsu and Inosuke hadn't shown up at all. 'Maybe they've got a fever. I should make them something later.'

**
"Tanjiro-san's been working hard everyday." Naho said.

"We should bring him some rice balls, and the gourds too." Kiyo added. The girls all agreed

****

The group sat on the engawa. Tanjiro and Mono were eating the rice balls the girls had made. They had brought out some gourds for Tanjiro's training.
"Blow into the gourds?" Tanjiro asked. The girls nodded their heads. "When The Hashiras were training Kanao-san, Shinobu-sama often made her blow into a gourd." Sumi said. "That's an interesting way to practice. Does it make a sound or something?" Tanjiro asked. Sumi shook her head. "No, she made her blow into the gourd to destroy it." Tanjiro paused, his mind went completely blank. 'Destroy...?'

"Destory this thing? It's really hard." Tanjiro said, tapping on the gourd. Sumi nodded her head. "These are specially crafted gourds that are harder than usual ones." Tanjiro was shocked. "They increase the size of the gourds slowly. Now Kanao-san can destroy... This gourd." Sumi said pointing to the large gourd the two girls had brought it.

'That's so big!!'

"Mono-nee, can you destroy this gourd?" Naho asked patting the large gourd. Mono looked at the younger girls. "I can try." Mono said, sitting infront of the gourd. The white haired teen blew in to the gourd. A couple seconds later the gourd had completely shattered into hundreds of pieces.
The girls complimented the white haired girl. Tanjiro just stared at the white haired girl astonished. There was no way he would get up to her level. No, he had to try. He may not be as strong as Mono, but he had to be strong for Nezuko.

*************

Fifteen days had passed, Tanjiro had been working hard to recover. Zenitsu and Inosuke hadn't been showing up to training in a while. They refused to go.
Tanjiro sat on the rooftop of The Butterfly Estate. Just below him was Mono and Rui along with the three butterfly girls. Mono had been training with Rui to help him protect others. Tanjiro was a bit skeptical when it came to Rui. But within the past month, he's really improved since Natagumo. "Hello there." A voice said next to him. Tanjiro's eyes shot wide open. He turned his head to the side. Kocho Shinobu The Incect Hashira. "I see you're trying hard there." Shinobu said. Shinobu got closer to Tanjiro's face. "Even though your two friends went off somewhere else." The woman sat down and smiled at him. "Are you lonely all by yourself?"

"No! If I can do it, I can teach them how to do it. Besides I have Mono-san to help me as well!" Tanjiro said. "I see." The woman looked down at the girl and the demon. "... You have a beautiful soul." Shinobu said. The two looked down at the small group down below. The three butterfly girls encouraged their new friend. Mono was wrapped in threads. "Nicely done, Rui-san." Rui had a small smile on his face. "Thank you Ane-chan."

"Why do you think she kept a demon around? I haven't heard her reason yet. Do you know why, Tanjiro-san? You two seem to get along just fine with demons. I wanted to entrust my dream on to you two." Shinobu said.

"Dream?" Tanjiro questioned.

"Yes... a dream where humans and demons can get along. I'm sure the both of you can do it." Shinobu said, with a gentle smile on her face. Tanjiro stared at the young woman. "Are you angry?" Tanjiro asked. Shinobu's purple eyes widen. "You smell as if you're always angry at something. Even though you're smiling all the time..." Tanjiro said. Shinobu had explained to Tanjiro about her beloved big sister. She was slaughtered by a demon. Everytime people would lose there loved ones to a demon. All the tears they've shed, the anger in her would rise. "Please do you're best Tanjiro-kun. Please protect Nezuko-san to the very end. When I imagine you doing your best in my stead, I feel relieved. I feel much better about it." Shinobu said standing up.
Before Shinobu could leave, Tanjiro spoke up. "Mono-san did tell me about, why she brought Rui-san." Tanjiro suddenly said. Shinobu turned her head towards the young teen.

**********

"Mono-san, can I... ask you something?" Tanjiro asked. Mono nodded. "Why did you bring Rui-san with you?" Tanjiro asked the white haired girl. The two young teens sat down on the engawa. "Do you remember what Tamayo-san said about demons? Why they can't be in groups and such." Tanjiro nodded his head. "Yeah, I remember." "If we can befriend even the strongest demons, we'll have a better chance at beating Muzan."

"Tanjiro-san I don't want them to live in fear. They should be able to feel the sun again like we can. They should be able to know what it's like to be human again." Tanjiro stared at the teen, listening to everything she had to say.

"Tanjiro-san, do you know what it's like to be manipulated?" Tanjiro had thought long and hard about what Mono had said.

"Do I know what it's like to be manipulated?"

**********

"You'll have to ask Mono-san yourself." Tanjiro said. "Then I'll have to ask her." Shinobu said. The young woman disappeared, leaving the male alone.

********

"Naho-chan, Kiyo-chan, Sumi-chan. I want you to help me with my training. If I ever stop doing Full Focus Breaths, hit me as hard as you can with these futon beaters!" He said to the three girls. Mono covered her mouth, trying her best not to giggle.

'You have an odd way of training, Tanjiro-san.'

************************ Taisho Secret *************************

Mono: "Time for a Taisho Secret. Did you know that Muzan had a love interest for my ancestor? According to Muzan, she was the most beautiful, most kindest person he's ever met. She had a pure heart. "