Yoriichi's Reincarnation in Tanjiro

The Worry Of Comrades

Tanjiro and Tatsuki trudged up the path to their home, the moon casting long shadows in the quiet night. The air was thick with tension, and Tatsuki could feel the unease radiating from his father. With each step, the weight of the unspoken words between them grew heavier, a burden neither seemed ready to confront.

When they reached the house, the front door slid open, revealing Zenitsu and Inosuke. Their faces were etched with worry, the kind of worry that only close friends can feel when they sense something deeply wrong.

"Tanjiro! You're back!" Zenitsu called, his voice a mix of relief and anxiety.

Inosuke crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in an attempt to mask his concern. "What's with the long face, huh? You look like you've been chewing on a sour lemon!"

Tanjiro's expression remained stoic, a mask of calm that barely concealed the storm brewing inside. "I'm fine," he replied curtly, stepping past them without so much as a glance.

Zenitsu and Inosuke exchanged worried glances, their hearts sinking. They knew something was terribly wrong, but Tanjiro's rigid demeanor made it clear he wasn't ready to talk. As Tanjiro led Tatsuki inside, the tension in the air grew thicker, a silent storm brewing just beneath the surface.

Nezuko appeared from the kitchen, her eyes wide with concern as she saw her brother's hardened face. The gentle warmth that once radiated from Tanjiro was replaced with an unsettling coldness.

"Brother, you're home," she said softly, her voice trembling as she reached out to touch his arm.

Tanjiro paused, his gaze meeting hers for a brief moment before looking away. "Yes, we're home."

Nezuko's eyes flickered to Tatsuki, who looked up at her with a small, tired smile. "Aunt Nezuko," he said, his voice laced with exhaustion, but also a longing for comfort he hadn't found in his father.

"Hi, Tatsuki," she replied, her voice gentle, though her heart ached with worry. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat."

(A/N: Yes I realize that Nezuko shouldn't be talking this much as she's just a demon but it just feels more humanized to me so I'm keeping it)

Tatsuki shook his head. "No, thank you. I just want to go to bed."

Tanjiro nodded, patting his son's head with a hand that felt heavier than it should have. "Let's get you to bed then."

As they made their way to Tatsuki's room, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko followed at a distance, their concern deepening with every step. Tanjiro seemed to be slipping away from them, into a darkness they couldn't reach.

Once inside the room, Tanjiro helped Tatsuki change into his pajamas and tucked him into bed. He sat on the edge of the bed, his face softening for the first time that evening, but only slightly. The weight of his sorrow pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

"Goodnight, Tatsuki," he whispered, his voice breaking under the strain of holding back his tears.

Tatsuki looked up at him, his wide, innocent eyes searching his father's face for the warmth that had once been so easy to find. "Dad, can I ask you something?"

Tanjiro's heart tightened, the question pulling at the threads of his fraying composure. "Of course."

"Why do you look so sad all the time? Do you not love us anymore?"

The question hit Tanjiro like a physical blow, shattering the last of his resolve. His eyes closed as he took a shaky breath, trying to hold himself together. When he opened them again, they were filled with a mixture of pain and love, a heartbreaking combination that made his voice tremble.