In this story, Yoriichi's swordsman skills are reincarnated into Tanjiro since birth. He has the same birthmark as him, and the rising sun earrings. Since he had lots of stamina ever since a small child, he started doing the Hinokami Kagura dance in...
Tanjiro trudged wearily along the path leading to the Butterfly Estate, each step heavier than the last. The recent mission had drained him both physically and emotionally, and all he wanted was the comfort of home. But first, he needed to pick up his son, Tatsuki, whom Shinobu had been kind enough to watch over during his absence.
As he approached the ornate gates of the estate, he let out a small sigh of relief upon noticing that Aoi wasn't in the front yard. He didn't have the energy for pleasantries or forced smiles today. Pushing the gates open, he walked through the serene gardens and into the main house, his footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floors.
Reaching Shinobu's room, he paused for a moment before knocking gently. A soft, familiar voice answered from within.
"Come in."
Sliding the door open, Tanjiro was greeted by the sight of Shinobu hunched over her cluttered desk, dark circles prominent under her eyes. Papers were scattered everywhere, and a few books teetered precariously on the edge. She looked up, offering him a tired but genuine smile.
"Oh, sorry for the mess," she giggled softly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It was a long night, you know?"
Tanjiro's eyes briefly scanned the disarray before settling back on her. He could see the exhaustion etched into her features, mirroring his own fatigue. But he wasn't in the mood for small talk.
"Where's Tatsuki?" he asked, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.
Shinobu's smile faltered slightly at his curt tone, but she quickly composed herself, her fingers fidgeting with a pen on the desk.
"He's in the backyard, playing with Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho," she replied softly, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice.
Tanjiro gave a brief nod and turned to leave, but before he could take a step, he felt a gentle hand wrap around his wrist. He paused, glancing back over his shoulder to see Shinobu looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"Wait," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.
He hesitated, searching her face for a moment before responding, irritation evident in his voice. "What is it?"
She swallowed nervously, her eyes briefly darting away before meeting his gaze again. "Can't you... stay a while? I... I want to talk."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Tanjiro's features as he gently pulled his arm away from her grasp. He clicked his tongue, clearly impatient.
"Fine. Make it quick."
Relief flashed across Shinobu's face as she nodded quickly. "I'll go make some tea... please, wait out on the porch."
Without another word, Tanjiro exited the room and made his way to the porch. He sank down onto the wooden floorboards, rubbing a hand over his weary face as he let out a deep sigh. In the distance, he could see Tatsuki laughing and chasing the girls around the yard, his carefree joy a stark contrast to the heaviness weighing down Tanjiro's heart. The sight should have warmed him, but today, it barely registered.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
