A Cook, A Doctor, A Ghost and A Ronin.

Airhead

"You let go." Instead, Muichiro demanded Tanjiro to let go of him.

*Wham!*

"Urghh!" Muichiro elbowed Tanjiro's stomach. Tanjiro groans in pain.  Muichiro is a bit impressed that Tanjiro could withstand that.

"Not bad. I see how you got into the Demon Slayer Corps." Muichiro belittle Tanjiro, even though Tanjiro is much older than him. Muichiro then noticed the wooden box that Tanjiro is carrying.

"Hmm? Do I sense a demon? What's in the box?" Muichiro approached the wooden box that Tanjiro is carrying. He wanted to see what's in it. 

*Smack!*

"Don't touch that." Tanjiro warned. Muichiro tried extended his hand towards the box, but Tanjiro quickly reacts by smacking his hand away. With a fierce look in his eyes. He won't let Muichiro get to his sister. 

Muichiro stare at his own hand. It's throbbing with pain but he's still expressionless. It's not that hurt anyway. But Muichiro didn't expect Tanjiro to be quite strong. He'll take back what he said. Most importantly, Tanjiro get the little boy away from Muichiro in a flash.

"Are you all right? You must be upset. That was close!" Tanjiro asked the little boy if he was okay. He's worried for the boy. But the boy seemed to be also scared of him. 

"Go away! Let me go!" The little boy pushed Tanjiro away.

"I...I won't give the key to anyone! Even if they torture me! Never! It'll break next time!!" The little boy said something about a key and he refused to give it to anyone. The boy is shaking in fear. Tanjiro took note about it.

"Have you been trained to withstand torture? Even most adults can't endure it, so it's impossible that you could. You appear to be exceedingly dumb brat." Muichiro told the little kid that it's impossible for him to withstand torture and belittles him.

"So what if if does break? Why not make it again? While you're rattling on and on with your nonsense, do you know how many people will die?" Muichiro didn't understand why the little boy just fixes it? The little boy is wasting his time. 

"That's what is means to interfere with Hashira." Tanjiro is shocked. He felt disgusted by Muichiro's attitude and how he disregard the little boy's plead and treat him like a bug.

"Your time and Hashira's time is have completely different value. If you used your head just a little, you'd understand. Swordsmiths can't fight. They can't save someone's life. They could only make weapons." Muichiro said this with complete expressionless face. Saying that swordsmiths are basically useless in combat.

"So come on. They key! Know your place in life, and act accordingly. Because you aren't my baby." Muichiro extended his hand and demand for the "key" yet again. The boy is scared and shaking. He didn't know what to do.

*Smack!*

Muichiro's hand is smacked again by Tanjiro. Tanjiro's expression on his face changed from shocked earlier to a face full of disdain and anger. 

"What are you doing?" Muichiro tilted his head and asks why did Tanjiro do that again. With a blatant look on his face. 

"I...just...really don't like this! Why are you acting like this?! The lack of consideration! It's mean and cruel!!" Tanjiro feels icky and disgusted by Muichiro's lack of consideration.

"Cruel? But it was nothing. You-

"Maybe so! What you're saying is basically true, but while it isn't technically wrong..." Tanjiro cut Muichiro off. He usually didn't do this but he's really angry at Muichiro's rude attitude. It's  not like Tanjiro didn't agree with him.

"The swordsmiths are very important and do crucial work! They're different from swordsmen  but they still have incredible skills! I mean, we couldn't do anything without them!" It's true. They might not be the greatest fighter but if it weren't for them, humans would not have a weapon against demons.

"Swordsmen and swordsmiths need each other! We're both part of the fight! We just fight in our place!" Tanjiro is right. Both parties need each other. It's just that their fights are different, but they have same goal.

"Sorry, but I didn't have time for this pointless conversation." Muichiro had no time to waste. He immediately goes for a chop in Tanjiro's neck, attempting to knock him out.

*Tak!*

Instinctively, Tanjiro blocked that with his hand. Muichiro is surprised that Tanjiro managed to block that. Even Tanjiro himself is surprised. He purely block that out of instinct. Muichiro did another attempt using his left hand instead. 

*Woosh!*

*Tak!*

He blocked it again? Muichiro thought. This guy is stronger than he thought. Tanjiro could actually see the swift attack coming. He didn't understand. This isn't normal reflex at all. But Tanjiro knew what he supposed to do next.

*Bam!*

*Skreet!*

Tanjiro opened his palms and hit Muichiro on his abdomen, pushes the Mist Hashira away. Tanjiro is stunned at how he could do that. He wasn't this strong at all before this. What is happening to him?

Muichiro was pushed back but he didn't have any reaction. Instead, his mind is processing what should he do right now. He could see how Tanjiro is strong.

"You're strong. Not many had actually pushes me back before." Muichiro realizes he needs to get a little bit serious. Oh no! Don't tell me now he's actually serious! Tanjiro thought.

*Fwoosh!*

"Hey kids." Suddenly, a mysterious figure appear out of nowhere, standing right between them. Tanjiro recognized his voice. It was the Ronin!

"I think that's enough." Zoro commended for this to stop. There's no point in fighting against each other. It's not worth it.

"Ronin? I see that it was you." Muichiro greeted Zoro.

"Please, don't get in my way." He asks Zoro to not get in his way. He wanted the key, that's all. He didn't understand why people always gets in his way.

"Sorry I can't do that. Why don't you stop being a bully?" Zoro saw what they're doing earlier. He can't let them fight. It's going to be a one-side beating. 

" Although I have an idea. How about we settle things with a duel?" Zoro suggested that both of them fight instead. Muichiro raised his eyebrows. That sounds much better. Muichiro does want to fight against Zoro before but Zoro refused. (Challenged) 

Its an offer Muichiro can't resist.