Demon slayer: Breath Of The Eclipse

Chapter Sixty Two: I Even Ate Demons!.

Tanjiro finally arrived at Mitsuri's mansion.

"Hello Tanjiro, welcome to my home!" said Mitsuri as she happily greeted Tanjiro and welcomed him, as he enthusiastically bowed to her.

"I'm happy to see you as well." smiled Tanjiro. Tanjiro smelled the scent of honey, so he asked Mitsuri of she kept bees, Mitsuri put a honeycomb on bread confirming that Tanjiro was right, Mitsuri then pulled Tanjiro inside, she was going to make black tea and buttered pancakes for him, Tanjiro, being unfamiliar with western cuisine wondered what butter and pancakes were?......but he decided to go with it. When Mitsuri brewed the black tea, Tanjiro could barely recognize it as tea.....he was used to green tea and the blue tea that his family used to make, Tanjiro then sat down and was presented with fluffy pancakes covered in rich butter and honey. He was surprised to see what they were and didn't know how to eat them. Mitsuri sliced into the stack and fed him a piece.

"Oh, the teast is to die for!." exclaimed Tanjiro.

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Mitsuri concurred and added that once he was done, he must adone a pink uniform. Tanjiro joined the trainees, all of whom were embarrassed by their attire, but Tanjiro didn't care he was excited to begin. As Mitsuri's Kasugai Crow cranked a gramophone, the Demon Slayers danced to the music while twirling ribbons, following the Love Hashira's lead As trainees struggle to balance themselves, Tanjiro was able to follow each exercise successfully. Afterwards, she emphasized that flexibility was the key to sharper movements. With trainees paired up and their legs pushed against their partner's, Mitsuri commenced their stretching regiment.

"Ahhhhh, I'm sorry!" said Tanjiro, as he forced an unfortunate young man into a painful split.

"This training is gonna be hellish for you," said Tanjiro as the trainee howled in pain.

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Tanjiro arrived at Obanai's residents, who was waiting for him.

"Shut up, Daken, or I'll cut your neck!" threatened Obanai, Tanjiro was trying to tell Obanai that he was excited to train with him, but he was silenced by the threat to his life. The Serpent Hashira informed him that Mitsuri had spoken of her experience training him, adding that she seemingly had fun doing so. Mitsuri had sent Obanai a letter with her Kasugai Crow, Obanai read the letter, in the letter Mitsuri said that she had tea with Tanjiro after training, mentioning that he looked "So adorable" when ever he ate something she made, causing the Serpent Hashira to seethe with anger. Obanai told the Eclipse Hashira that he was not soft like the Love Hashira, Tanjiro, and Obanai absolutely hated each other from the beginning, so Tanjiro was really dreading this.

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Obanai presented the training designed specially for Tanjiro, and the boy was startled to see numerous trainees tied to posts throughout the Hashira's dojo, Tanjiro's objective was to swing a sword while dodging the "obstacles" to refine his swordsmanship.

"Is this an execution ground.....are you trying to kill me.....and what about the poor trainees that you have tied up, what crime did they commit to deserve such cruel and harsh punishment?!."said Tanjiro horrified by what he saw.

"Their crimes are weakness, failing to learn, wasting my time and annoying me." replied Obanai, causing Tanjiro to question how he would go about with his task. President with a bokutō, Tanjiro was given a single demonstration and watched as Obanai slashed between the trainees to strike spring-loaded chimes. He marvelled at the speed and accuracy of the attacks before being ordered to take his turn.

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Tanjiro took a stance and despite his mind being fulled with the inner voices of the trainees, all of whom were begging not to be hit, Tanjiro cleared his mind and focused on his swing, hitting the spring loaded chimes and avoiding hitting the trainees. Obanai was very impressed but refused to admit it, so he challenged Tanjiro to a spar inside the dojo. Tanjiro obliged. The two Hashira clashed, they strike each other while avoiding hitting the trainees, Tanjiro admired Obanai's fighting style, the Serpent Hashira lived up to his title, maneuvering around the posts at seemingly impossible angles, Tanjiro merged victorious ending the sparring match. Later Tanjiro helped the trainees practice, he wished to make things less troublesome for them, they appreciated his thoughtful gesture, after finishing practice, Tanjiro and the trainees looked at the onsen they were about to enter, all the trainees grimaced.....the pain of their injuries will be aggravated by the hot water. They entered the bath, Tanjiro was fine, but the trainees promptly screamed in pain at their cuts stinging.

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The training with Tanjiro and Obanai continued and the trainees were making good progress, they were improving each and every day, Tanjiro was really proud of them, the training was followed later that night with another hot bath, the night fulled with the trainees crys of pain.

"Shhh, please be quiet. Your howls of pain might attract a demon." said Tanjiro. That night, when Tanjiro went to sleep, he was visited by a spirit. He saw a man that looked just like him, but he looked burned and tortured. The man had a horrifying appearance.

"Who are you?" asked Tanjiro, wondering who the man was.

"I'm your grandfather Senshi." answered Senshi. After many decades, Senshi finally got to meet his grandson.

"What happened to you?" asked Tanjiro, horrified by his grandfather's appearance.

"I'm suffering in hell. I deserve it for who i was in life." was Senshi's reply. Tanjiro was fulled with anger, Senshi had inflected horrible suffering on their family, living with him was a nightmare, he was cruel and neglectful and made the lives of father, uncle and grandmother Akeno a nightmare.

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"I'm sorry Tanjiro, it is all my fault,I let my family fall apart and now i'm suffering in hell" said Senshi, Tanjiro felt sorry for his grandfather, Senshi was an awful person in life but he was still his grandfather, and was remorseful for his actions, that didn't justify his actions and Tanjiro wasn't going to forgive him so easily but it's a start, maybe Tanjiro will be  able to forgive him someday?. Senshi called Tanjiro to come closer, he wanted to get a good look at his grandson.

"You look just like your father and uncle when they were children." said the former Daimyo of the Tsugikuni clan as he put a hand on his grandson's shoulder, and those were Senshi's last words to his grandson before he faded away.

"I will have you in my prayers." said Tanjiro when he woke up the next morning.

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Autor's Note: This was an emotional and dramatic chapter. What do you guys think of the meeting between Tanjiro and Grandpa Tsugikuni?.