Demon Slayer: Taking Care Of Tanjuro's Wife And Daughter

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After spending a short time with Kamado Kie, Ryuji left the room, reminding her to take a good rest.

Kie had been through a lot yesterday, and her legs were still weak, so she didn't protest.

In the living room, Takeo, Shigeru, and Rokuta were chasing each other playfully, while Hanako was focused on a puzzle.

Nezuko sat with Kanao, trying to engage her in conversation.

However, only Nezuko was talking. Kanao, like a doll devoid of emotion, sat blankly on a small stool, her tiny hands resting neatly on her knees. She remained silent.

Nezuko's face puffed up slightly in frustration, as no matter what topic she brought up, she couldn't get a response from Kanao.

Meanwhile, outside in the yard, Tanjirou was still training hard. As the eldest son of the Kamado family, he had always been disciplined and hardworking.

Even though the family no longer faced such immediate dangers, Tanjirou never let up.

There was no doubt about it—this was a warm, loving family.

The children were adorable and well-behaved, and their mother, Kie, was kind and gentle.

As Ryuji stepped out of the room, Kanao, who had been sitting quietly without any reaction, suddenly stood up and ran to him, clutching at his sleeve with her small hands.

Seeing how much Kanao relied on him, Ryuji smiled and gently patted her head.

Nezuko, however, pouted.

Ever since Kanao had come to live with them, Ryuji had been giving more attention to her, and less to Nezuko. This left Nezuko feeling a bit jealous, as though the care she used to receive was being taken away.

She wanted to be mad at Kanao, but looking at her in this state, Nezuko couldn't bring herself to be angry. Instead, she sulked quietly.

"Why aren't you playing with the others?" Ryuji asked softly, holding Kanao close.

As usual, there was no response from Kanao.

Ryuji didn't mind. He knew what Kanao had gone through and understood why she had closed herself off from the world.

But he believed that one day, she would recover, and regain her innocence as a young girl.

That morning, Ryuji spent time with the children, laughing and enjoying the warmth of their company. He cherished these moments of peace, but he was always mindful of the cruel reality outside.

Evil still lurked in the world, and many happy families were destroyed by demons. Though he had moved the Kamado family from the mountains to avoid Muzan's wrath, danger was never far away.

Even in the city, demons could be hiding, waiting for a chance to strike when least expected.

Ryuji's thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Nezuko sitting off to the side, looking upset.

He gently patted Kanao's head and set her down before walking over to Nezuko.

Sensing his approach, Nezuko's ears twitched slightly, but she turned her back, clearly trying to show she was upset.

"Why are you sitting here alone?" Ryuji asked softly.

"I don't need you to take care of me," Nezuko replied in a muffled voice, her small nose twitching as she tried to hold back her feelings.

"What's wrong?" Ryuji squatted down beside her, resting his head gently on her shoulder.

Nezuko pushed at him weakly with her small hand but didn't push him away completely. Eventually, she gave in, letting his head rest there.

"Are you upset?" Ryuji asked, his voice calm and soothing.

"I'm not upset," Nezuko mumbled, though her expression told a different story. "You should go back to Kanao. She needs you more."

Ryuji chuckled softly, realizing that Nezuko was jealous.

Without a word, he gently pulled her into a hug. At first, Nezuko resisted, but soon gave up, resting in his arms, though she still pouted in frustration.

"Don't be mad, Nezuko," Ryuji whispered.

"I'm not mad."

"Really? You sure?"

"Of course."

"Then why's your mouth all puffed up?"

"Is it?" Nezuko instinctively touched her lips, only to see Ryuji's teasing smile. Realizing she'd been tricked, she balled up her fist and playfully punched him on the chest.

Her small fists were soft and light, making her punches feel more like gentle taps.

When she was done venting her frustration, Ryuji sat her on his lap. Nezuko hesitated for a moment but didn't resist.

Ryuji wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. Nezuko, though still a little upset, remained quiet, the faint scent of her youthful fragrance calming him.

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The air smelled fresh and crisp as the sun rose higher in the sky. Sunlight filtered through the trees beside the house, casting soft shadows that swayed with the wind.

Ryuji sat quietly, watching Tanjirou train diligently in the courtyard. Inside the house, Hanako, Takeo, and Shigeru ran around, chasing and playing.

At some point, Kanao appeared nearby, standing silently in Ryuji's shadow. Her pink and purple eyes gazed up at him as he held Nezuko in his arms, her expression calm and unreadable.

Time passed without notice.

Before long, night fell.

Kie had woken up sometime earlier and was now cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. A faint flush still lingered on her face as she moved around, tidying up the table.

Ryuji lay back on a recliner in the living room, glancing through the open kitchen door. He watched Kie's graceful movements as she worked quickly, washing the dishes and tidying the kitchen until everything was spotless.

After finishing, she washed her hands, removed her kitchen apron, and made her way over to Ryuji. Even in her simple white dress, her elegant figure was unmistakable.

Without a word, she began to gently massage the pressure points on Ryuji's head. Her hands were skilled, and the massage immediately made him feel more relaxed.

"Feeling a bit better now?" Kie asked softly, lowering her head to look at him.

"Mhm," Ryuji replied, stretching lazily. He reached up and undid the ribbon holding Kie's hair in place.

Her black, silky hair cascaded down to her waist, and Kie gave him a playful look in response.

Ryuji smiled, slipping his arms around her slender waist and resting his head against her chest.

Kie's face turned slightly red, but after a moment of hesitation, she gently wrapped her arms around his head, holding him close.

After a while, Ryuji lifted his head and looked at Kie, her face flushed in the dim light. He glanced out at the darkening sky.

"It's getting late. We should rest," he said.

Kie's fair skin blushed deeper under the low light, making her look even more beautiful. Ryuji smiled and scooped her up in his arms.

"Mhm," she murmured softly, resting her head against his chest as he carried her to bed.

Ryuji gently laid Kie down and pulled the blanket over her. Kie's long eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes slightly, watching him with a mix of expectation and uncertainty.

She had thought Ryuji might... But he didn't seem to have any such intentions.

Her body was still sore from the night before—her throat hoarse, her muscles weak. Even after resting for most of the day, she still felt exhausted.

Despite her initial worry about how she would take care of Ryuji tonight, it seemed unnecessary. He didn't appear to want anything more than to let her rest.

As Ryuji turned to leave the room, Kie's delicate hand reached out from under the blanket, grabbing the edge of his sleeve.

Ryuji turned back, surprised. Kie's face was mostly hidden under the quilt, her misty eyes peeking out shyly.

"Ryuji… don't ignore me," she whispered, her voice trembling with shyness.

Ryuji leaned down and kissed her forehead softly. "Take care of yourself, Kie. Get better first."

"Mhm," Kie hummed softly from beneath the covers.

Ryuji smiled, about to leave, but Kie's voice stopped him.

"Ryuji, stay here tonight… please."

He turned to look at her again. Kie peeked out from under the blanket, her eyes filled with concern.

"I have something to do," Ryuji said, his voice calm as he glanced out the window into the dark night.

Kie's heart trembled, and before she could say anything more, Ryuji was already gone.

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The city bustled with life, even at night. But beneath the surface of prosperity lay filth, darkness, and cruelty. Behind the lavish parties and bright lights, there were always shadows lurking.

Ryuji walked through the streets, heading toward the darker part of the city.

"Pitter-patter."

His shoes splashed in the murky water, the foul stench of the slums filling the air.

He stopped for a moment, his brow furrowed in distaste.

This was the slums—the filthiest part of the city, home to criminals, outcasts, and those who preyed on the weak.

Ryuji wasn't here out of a sense of justice. He was here to kill. These people—who caused so much pain and suffering—were better off gone.

He had no remorse for their deaths. But Ryuji wouldn't harm innocents. He wasn't like the demons who had lost their humanity.

Earlier that day, he had learned about a gang operating nearby, preying on the poor with brutal tactics. Tonight, he would put an end to them.

Up ahead, a large compound loomed in the distance. It stood out among the rundown shacks, its tall walls imposing.

At the entrance, two burly guards stood, arms crossed, looking fierce.

"Move it!" a loud voice barked from nearby.

A man with tattoos covering his bare chest dragged a young girl by the hair, pulling her toward the compound.

The girl resisted, clearly terrified, even as her hair was yanked painfully.

The man's patience snapped, and he slapped the girl twice across the face. She crumpled to the ground, blood dripping from her mouth, one of her teeth knocked loose. Her face quickly swelled from the impact.

"You'd better behave!" the tattooed man growled, reaching for her hair again. "Come with me, and I might give you a few more days to pay what you owe."

The girl, now sobbing, pleaded weakly, "I've already paid more than I borrowed…"

"You paid the principal," the man sneered. "But the interest, girl… the interest is what counts."

The girl's face drained of color as she struggled to escape.

Just as the man raised his hand to strike her again, he found his wrist caught in a firm grip.

A tall figure stood in front of him, holding his arm tightly. No matter how hard he tried, the tattooed man couldn't free himself.

"She's already paid what she owes," Ryuji said calmly, a faint smile on his lips.

The two guards at the entrance, who had been lounging lazily, immediately stood at attention, surrounding Ryuji.

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