I'll Protect You, I Promise

Chapter 2: Just Like Me

Yoriichi had been heading back to his estate when a crow that had been following him around had urged him to go to where a demon might be residing

"Caw caw, northeast, go north east! A demon is north east from here!" The crow screeched in his ear.

"I am going northeast right now," Yoriichi responded, "no need to scream."

That seemed to subdue the crow, because soon enough it had stopped screeching. Instead it had opted to just perch on his shoulder.

~~~

Making his way over to where the crow had described the demon to be didn't take very long. It probably just took a few minutes. Where the crow had led him was a relatively thick forest. If it had been daytime, then there would be ample cover for any demons, Yoriichi presumed. But despite this, Yoriichi had sensed only one presence. Presumably the demon the crow on his shoulder has been screeching about.

As he continued to walk, Yoriichi had felt a somewhat thick presence. Until he heard something... no someone wailing. The sobbing and screeching had pierced his ears and would've made him flinch if he wasn't as vigilant as he was. Feeling as if this was important, Yoriichi started to sprint towards the source.

Yoriichi heard a rasping voice exclaim, "Stop screaming you stupid child!" In response, the cries only got louder.

Yoriichi was standing in front of a house, This was definitely where those two voices were coming from.

Throwing the door open, he saw a grotesque demon towering over a baby that looked no older than one year old. Behind them were two other bodies that looked like a couple. If they didn't look so different from the baby, he would have thought they were his parents.

In a few motions, Yoriichi had drawn his sword and decapitated the demon. It's head fell to the floor.

Yoriichi shifted his attention to the baby, who still was sobbing, but considerably less compared to before. He wasn't quite sure on what to do, having never taken care of a child before. As he thought that he felt his eyes get a bit watery. Wiping his eyes, Yoriichi decided that was something that he would examine later.

As he looked towards the baby, he noticed that they looked eerily similar to him. He hesitated once more before picking the baby up. Unsure with what to do with his arms, Yoriichi shifted the baby around into a comfortable position before he looked at them.

The baby seemed to have stopped crying Yoriichi thought

Inspecting the baby further, they seemed to be a boy, still young. Too young to have just lost his family. The thought was saddening, but true. This baby had nowhere or no one else to go to. He was all alone.

Yoriichi didn't quite know who that was directed to.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Yoriichi noticed that the baby had quieted, only making some hiccups. He started to lightly rock the baby, when he noticed a mark.

A red birthmark akin to flames marred the right side of his face, just like Yorrichi's own birthmark.

Not quite thinking, Yoriichi had brought his hand to the infant's temple, softly stroking the flamed patterns.

"Just like me," he breathed out, "you look just like me." As he repeated himself, Yoriichi couldn't help but smile looking at this baby so young, but already having experienced so much tragedy. He felt his breath quicken, until... he let out a sob, his body shuddering as he clutched onto the infant like it was his only lifeline.

"U-ta"

"M-my ba-by"

It wasn't until a few minutes later that Yoriichi met the small child's eyes with his own. They were red, like embers from burning coal, but slightly glassy and blood-shot from crying. The baby tilted his head, looking confused as to why the young man had started crying.

"Tanjiro," Yoriichi said before he could think of that name, he felt like it was the only name suitable for the baby. It was rather simple, a name for a commoner. But then again, Yoriichi wasn't anyone important, he wasn't of the Tsugikuni clan anymore. It only made sense that he wouldn't name his own child anything fancy or extravagant.

He froze. My child? He has no one left for him, but I can't just call him mine when he probably had a family of his own. One that loved him.

Before he could finish that though he heard Tanjiro giggle. He seemed to like the name. I suppose, he would be my child after all, Yoriichi resolved.

Yoriichi spoke again, "Hello Tanjiro, I'm Yoriichi," Tanjiro babbled in response, "and I'll be your family from now on."

After Yoriichi said that, Tanjiro had practically squealed. Beaming towards his new family. Yoriichi exchanged that look with a gentle smile. Making Tanjiro reach his hands towards Yoriichi's mouth

"Chi-chi!" Tanjiro squealed again, Yoriichi stilled for a second before smiling once more.

"Mmhm, Chi-chi will always protect you, I promise."