Short one shots in every fandom

'Can I call you Mother?' A demon slayer fic

Tanjiro's heart raced as he stepped through the portal and into the past, determined to kill Muzan, the demon king responsible for his family's death. He had spent months tracking down this exact moment, studying every detail of Muzan's life until he knew exactly where and when to strike.

But as soon as he arrived, Tanjiro was taken aback by what he saw. Muzan was not the powerful, imposing figure he had imagined. Instead, he was a frail, sickly man lying on a bed, coughing up blood and struggling to breathe.

"Who...who are you?" Muzan rasped, looking at Tanjiro with sunken eyes.

Tanjiro hesitated, unsure of what to say. He had come here to kill, but now that he saw Muzan like this, he couldn't bring himself to do it. This man, no matter how evil he may have been, was still a human being, suffering and in pain.

"I-I am Tanjiro," he stammered. "I came to...to defeat you."

Muzan's expression changed from confusion to surprise. "You...you're one of them," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "One of the people I've killed."

Tanjiro nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. He had never thought about the lives he had taken, the families he had destroyed. But here, face to face with the demon king himself, he could see the human cost of his actions.

"Why...why did you come here?" Muzan asked, his voice growing weaker by the minute.

Tanjiro hesitated again, searching for words. He could lie and tell Muzan that he had come to kill him, but that would only perpetuate more violence and suffering. Instead, he decided to tell the truth.

"I came here to kill you," he admitted. "But seeing you like this...I can't do it."

Muzan looked at him with a mix of shock and understanding. "You...you feel sorry for me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tanjiro nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. "Yes," he said. "I do. You may have done terrible things, but you're still a person, and you're suffering."

Muzan smiled weakly, reaching out a hand to touch Tanjiro's cheek. "Thank you," he said. "No one has ever shown me compassion before. Not even my own family."

Tanjiro felt a surge of emotion, surprised by the connection he felt towards this man he had once sworn to kill. He sat down beside Muzan, taking his hand and holding it gently.

"What...what can I do for you?" he asked, unsure of what to say or do.

Muzan closed his eyes, his breathing becoming more labored. "There's nothing anyone can do," he said. "My time is running out. But before I go...can you do me one favor?"

Tanjiro nodded eagerly, willing to do anything to help this man. "Anything," he promised.

Muzan opened his eyes, looking at Tanjiro with a hint of sadness. "Call I...call you mother," he said. "Just once. Before I die."

Tanjiro was taken aback by the request, but he nodded anyway. "Okay," he said softly. " You may call me mother."

Muzan smiled, closing his eyes contentedly. "Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you for showing me kindness in my final moments, mother."

And with that, Muzan passed away, leaving Tanjiro alone in the room. He sat there for a long time, thinking about what had just happened. He had come here to kill, but instead, he had found compassion and forgiveness. And now, he had to figure out how to explain all of this to the Demon Slaying Corps and his friends.