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

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"I no longer have a home. Everything has disappeared. Nothing remains… nothing. For me, there's nothing left to lose. Apart from my sister… there is no future for me."

Kochou Shinobu's voice trembled, her small frame taut with suppressed rage. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but beyond that fragile veil was a burning hatred—a hatred for the demon that had stolen her happiness. It was the same hatred that now ignited an unrelenting determination to hunt down and destroy every last demon.

Ryuji studied her in silence. The Kochou sisters—once shielded by the warmth of their family's love—had been thrust into a nightmarish world where demons had ripped everything away.

"Please… teach me how to hunt demons," Shinobu demanded, her voice steady despite her pain. "Teach me and my sister how to cut off the necks of those monsters."

Her words hung in the air like a solemn vow.

Ryuji's gaze flickered to her, the weight of her request pressing against him. "Why the sudden request?" he asked, his tone calm but firm.

"That night…" Shinobu's fists clenched at her sides. "That night, I saw you. You were there with Himejima-san. I don't know how strong you are, but you stood with him, and that alone is enough for me to know you're a formidable swordsman."

Ryuji smiled faintly but did not confirm nor deny her assumption. Instead, he asked, "Have you truly decided to walk the path of a demon slayer?"

"I have," she replied without hesitation.

Kochou Kanae, standing a step behind her sister, bit her lip and glanced at Shinobu with worried eyes. Unlike Shinobu, Kanae was hesitant. Her concern for her sister was evident in her tense posture and the way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her kimono.

Ryuji's sharp eyes caught Kanae's unease, but he turned his focus back to Shinobu. "Hunting demons," he began, his voice soft yet heavy with gravity, "isn't just a task. It's a path drenched in blood. Not just the blood of demons, but often… your own."

Shinobu's body stiffened as his words settled over her.

"You'll lose comrades," Ryuji continued, his voice steady. "You'll lose people you care for. And one day, you may even lose your sister."

Her breath hitched.

The possibility he presented was one she hadn't allowed herself to consider. For Shinobu, losing Kanae wasn't an option. Her sister was all she had left—her anchor in a world that had been ripped apart.

"Think about it carefully," Ryuji said, his tone softening. "It's not too late to turn back. There's no shame in choosing to live an ordinary life—a life without this pain. Forget this hatred and find peace elsewhere."

But even as he spoke, Ryuji knew. Hatred like hers didn't dissolve so easily. It clung to the soul, fueling every breath and every step. He watched the sisters retreat, their silhouettes marked by loss and determination. It was inevitable; the Kochou sisters would join the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Uncle Ryuji," a familiar voice called, snapping him from his thoughts.

He turned to see Tanjirou approaching, his young face shadowed with curiosity and concern. "Is it really that dangerous to hunt demons?"

Ryuji rested a firm hand on Tanjirou's shoulder. "Demons are ruthless, Tanjirou. And without strength, they're even more terrifying." His grip tightened slightly as he added, "That's why I urge you to train. Don't leave your life—or the lives of those you love—in the hands of demons. Weakness is a cruel master."

"Then… I'll train harder," Tanjirou said, his eyes brimming with determination.

Ryuji's lips curved into a small, approving smile before he turned away.

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Back at their temporary lodging, Shinobu sat silently, staring into the darkness. Kanae knelt beside her, her expression torn between worry and love.

"You don't have to do this," Kanae whispered gently. "There's still a chance for us to live peacefully."

Shinobu didn't respond immediately. Her fingers clutched her lap tightly, trembling. "Kanae… I can endure the pain. I can face the dangers. But…" Her voice broke. "I'm afraid of losing you."

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"Forget all of this. Live an ordinary life, like ordinary people. Maybe… just maybe, you'll find your own ordinary happiness."

The words echoed softly in the dimly lit room as Kochou Shinobu sat in silence, her hands trembling in her lap. She raised her head slightly, her tear-filled eyes seeking her sister's.

Kochou Kanae, ever gentle, reached out and pulled her younger sister into an embrace. She felt the weight of Shinobu's anguish pressing against her, and her heart ached deeply. As the elder sister, Kanae bore her own grief—the loss of their parents had left an unhealed wound in her soul. Yet she knew her role now was to be strong, to protect the only family she had left.

"Sister," Shinobu whispered, her voice fragile as it cracked under the weight of her sorrow. "Tell me… can I forget it all? Can I just… avoid it?"

Shinobu buried her face in Kanae's arms, her small frame trembling as she sought solace. The question hung in the air, heavy and unanswerable. Kanae said nothing, her hand moving instead to gently stroke Shinobu's hair. The rhythmic motion was all she could offer, a futile attempt to soothe her sister's aching heart.

"I saw it all," Shinobu murmured, her voice muffled against Kanae's shoulder. "Mother… Father… they were killed right before my eyes. Devoured by those monsters while I stood there, helpless. How… how can I forget such a thing? How can I pretend it never happened?"

Her voice grew stronger, sharper, filled with an edge of bitterness. She pulled back slightly to look up at Kanae, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the flickering light of the lantern. "How can I lie to myself, Kanae? How can I pretend that everything is fine, and chase after some 'ordinary happiness'?"

Kanae's lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. She wanted to tell Shinobu that their parents would have wished for her happiness. That they would have wanted her to live a peaceful, joyful life. But before she could utter a single word, Shinobu shook her head, her voice rising in a mix of pain and anger.

"They're gone, Kanae! We don't know what they would have wanted. How could we? I was there, watching as their lives were torn away. You weren't there!"

Kanae flinched at the words, though she knew Shinobu didn't mean to wound her. The pain in her sister's voice was raw, unfiltered, and her heart twisted at the sound.

Shinobu clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to breathe. "Sister, I want to join the Demon Slayer Corps. I want to hunt those monsters. I can't forget what happened. I won't. The only way I'll ever find peace… the only way this hatred will fade… is if I kill every last one of them."

Kanae's eyes softened, and she reached out to rest a hand on Shinobu's shoulder. Her voice was quiet, but resolute. "No matter what path you choose, Shinobu, I'll support you. I'll stand by you."

Shinobu blinked up at her, startled by the unwavering determination in her sister's voice. "Kanae… you don't have to…"

"I do," Kanae interrupted gently, cupping Shinobu's face with both hands. "Because I only have you left, Shinobu. You're my everything now. I can't lose you, not to the demons… not to anything."

Tears welled in Shinobu's eyes once more, and she lowered her head. "But… I'm afraid, Kanae. I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid of losing you."

Kanae smiled, though her own tears glistened in her eyes. She rested her forehead against Shinobu's and whispered, "Then we'll stay together. No matter what. Even if we walk the path of ghost hunting, we'll face it hand in hand."

Shinobu's lips quivered, but a small, determined smile broke through her tears. She reached out and clasped Kanae's hands tightly, their fingers entwining. "Hand in hand," she echoed softly. "We'll never separate."

The sisters held each other in the dim light, their shared resolve solidifying like steel. Though the path ahead would be steeped in blood and darkness, they would face it together.

Together, they would take the first steps into the world of the Demon Slayer Corps.

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