Ruby Tears (Inotan)

Tanjiro's new....cat?

"FIGHT ME!!!" 

Of all things that flashed through Tanjiro's mind when he offered to do anything that wasn't on the list (he'll deny what was on the list to his dying breath).

"You want to fight me?" The demon in front of him jumped up before taking a pose, hands on its hips. 

"I AM INOSUKE HASHIBIRA, KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!" The demon pointed at him "YA SAID YA'D DO ANYTHING IF I HELPED NOW FIGHT ME!" 

Okay, it was serious, it wanted to fight Tanjiro and it called itself the King of the Mountain? Wasn't that the guardian of that small village? He thought it was a "spirit" and not a demon considering the townspeople referred to the creatures differently.

Perhaps there's a reason? 

"Um, I'm flattered, I think? but I'm too injured to give you much of a fight" he tried a placading smile in hope his refusal wouldn't make the demon leave.

The demon stopped its loud rambling, finally stopping to fully look at the slayer, taking in his many cuts and bleeding wounds.

It seemed to come to an conclusion

"FINE! BUT YOU WILL FIGHT ME! I WILL ALLOW YOU TO HEAL! YOU ACCEPTED MY TREASURES AND MEAT THEREFORE YOU WILL BE MY UNDERLING!" The demon got close to his face again, the fur of its mask tickling his nose. "I didn't even attack you when ya threw some away, I can wait longer."  

Underling what? Threw some away, he didn't throw anything useful the demon had given him away? Then Tanjiro remembered the rocks, were those some of the "treasures" the demon spoke of?

"I'm sorry I didn't know they just looked like rocks." he offered seeing steam leave the boars nose at his words

"EH!? Ya didn't crack 'em open!?" the demon leaned down over him again before grabbing at his clothing, ignoring his protests the demon finally found one of the few he had kept. The simple red earth was pretty, he was going to polish it for a bracelet and give it to Nezuko but then the demon squeezed it between his fingers causing it to crack. Inside was….gemstones? They glittered in the low moon light, Tanjiro started to realize just what they were, amethyst slumbered inside the rocks…..

Geodes! They weren't just rocks! He thought back to all the ones he had tossed feeling at loss of just how many he had thrown to the side no questions asked.

"I uh didn't know I'm sorry." he said and meant it, it seemed to soothe the demon's ire, he reached out taking the cracked geo again and placing it back in his pocket. His fingers touching lightly with the demons, the boar's sweet smell growing stronger before shoving him away.

"I'll make you sorry when we fight!" Then the demon froze looking around.

"Did you hear that? Sounds like thunder!" He said before grabbing his cloak from the ground, the blood being demons already evaporated away. Unable to stop his curiosity he had to ask the demon while it seemed talkative 

"Why are you following me?" 

The demon was silent for what seemed like a long time even though it couldn't have been more than seconds.

"I'm the strongest, fastest and best! I beat the strongest of everything! You're the best human I've seen, I gotta beat you too!" He said while putting his cloak back on, Tanjiro couldn't stop the appreciative glance he gave the demon's body before he covered it.

"What happens if I win?"

"Ya get to be my underling, aren't you listening!" he yelled pointing at the slayer on the ground.

"And if I lose?" the demon stopped pointing and dropped his arm, giving off a confused scent.

"Ya get to be..my underling?"