Chapter Text
"NORTH NORTHEAST! NORTH NORTHEAST!"
Though he'd never say it to its face, Tanjiro did find the screeching voice of his Kusagi Crow to be a bit grating after the second to third hour of running. Zenitsu at least had multiple complaints to make on the way to a mission, which, though some would find annoying, they were, at times, perfectly fair.
Still, if there's a demon that demands his attention, he has to be there, he has to, he has to pass on what Mister Rengoku gave him, the ability to continue helping others. And if he helps those, they'll pass that ahead and help others. That's how it works for everyone.
He arrived at his destination at night, and, oddly, there didn't seem to be many people around, only a single shack by the side of the road. It looked well cared for at least, the wood seemed brand new. Does the demon live there? Doesn't seem so... there's not the distinct scent of demons. There's barely any scent at all, only a small trace of a rather nice scent that Tanjiro can't quite place.
If there's no demon around, Tanjiro figured he should at least knock on the door to explain the situation, or even get the situation explained in case the person inside knew more.
Three knocks on the door. "Hello? Is someone there?"
The door lightly creaks open. "Who's there?" The voice was weak, like they were struggling to get the words out from fatigue.
"I'm with the Demon Slayer Corp. I've been informed there might be a demon around here."
"A demon? No... there's no such thing here. They don't dare to invade this place."
They sounded so sad. So so terribly sad. "How can you be so certain?"
"If you would, please leave me alone."
"Please, wait!" Tanjiro stopped them from closing the door, because he felt if he didn't, he might not see this person ever again. "There might not be demons around here now, but something's wrong, isn't it? I can help, you can tell me!"
Their voice sounded more displeased this time. "What is your name, Demon Slayer?"
"I'm Tanjiro Kamado!" Freely given, no hesitation. "And I'm not leaving until you tell me how I can help!"
Tanjiro expected many reactions. Hesitation, pushing away, yelling, the works. What he did not expect was "Kamado?!" Aside from the few villages around his old home, almost no one knows the Kamado name, and now, over 2 years after he left for good, there must be even less people who know.
But this person did, and knew them closely enough to open the door fully, and walk out into moonlight, letting Tanjiro see the woman he was speaking to, and seemingly, the center of his mission.
And unusually expensive-looking kimono adorned her body for someone so far from other large cities. Her face was obscured by an uchikatsugi, a headdress adorned with a veil to hide it. From whatever he could make out, Tanjiro thought she was beautiful, reminding him of his mother's face. Or... maybe Inosuke? It's a veil, it's hard to tell.
"Why were you hiding out here? And why are you so sad?"
"I'm sad because... are you the son of Tanjuro Kamado?"
"Wait, you knew my father?"
"So you are his son. Yes, I did know him. When I heard of his passing, I admit, I hid away even further than I already had."
Tanjiro was too young to really know about his father's personal life outside home too much. To meet what could be an acquaintance of his, was an opportunity he would seize. "How did you meet him? Did you sell you charcoal? Were you a regular customer?"
She laughed. A small victory compared to her gloomy demeanor from before. "No, not quite. He... he danced for me."
"Wait! You know the Hinokami Kagura?!"
"Yes, I know it quite well."
"Whoa! Everyone I've ever asked has just said they've never heard of it and have no idea what it is! And you've seen it?!"
She laughed again. "Yes, yes I did. It was beautiful. It lifted my spirits like nothing else could."
"So, if I performed the Hinokami Kagura for you, would you go back home?"
"Huh? Well, I suppose..."
"Alright, then it's settled! I'll uh. I guess I'll... Improvise the robes and sword?"
When Tanjiro looked back, she had the blindfold with the kanji for "flames", and the belled Shichishito that Tanjiro's family had used for generations in their kagura dance. Or, at least, very good copies. "I kept these as mementos from those days."
And so, Tanjiro started working on his kagura dance.
It did not go great.
He had been using its secret purpose for a while now, but he still couldn't use too many attacks in quick succession. And to do them all, back to back to back to back to back? It was just impossible for him at the moment. It was also a bit embarrassing, with both the woman and Nezuko now watching from the sidelines.
"You must be Nezuko." The woman didn't seem to mind that Nezuko was clearly a demon. She just enjoyed herself as Tanjiro made a fool of himself. They were sitting on a bench to the west of the shack, so that Nezuko would have more time in case the sun rose. "I'm glad you're safe."
"BWAH!" Tanjiro nearly collapsed multiple times during the "dance" if you can call it that, often at inopportune times. It definitely at least builds appreciation for his father's ability to do this non-stop.
"You're being so forceful. Try being more gentle." The woman advised him the last time he had to stop.
"Gentle?" He didn't quite get it at first.
"You're moving like you're trying to cut something. It's a dance, not a fight."
... But it is a fight. Hinokami Kagura is the legendary Sun Breathing at least according to Shinjuro Rengoku, former Flame Hashira and Kyojuro's father. He seems to know a lot about that era, even sending a letter to Tanjiro about the scar on his forehead, speculating it could be a sign of an ancient power known as "Demon Slayer Mark", that was spoken of in the 27th Flame Hashira Chronicles.
But Tanjiro doesn't know anything about it. Why did this Sun Breathing become Hinokami Kagura? When did this happen and why? Why does no one seem to know anything about Sun Breathing anymore? What did his father know? The Transparent World, what is that, really?
...
"It's a dance, not a fight."
Perhaps his father didn't know anything, just like Tanjiro. Maybe, it really was just a dance for him.
Tanjiro took a deep breath, like a Sun Breather would. This time, he does it slowly, with no rush. Paying attention to each movement, and their relation to the forms he's been using for a while now.
Hinokami Kagura
Dance
Clear Blue Sky
Raging Sun
Burning Bones, Summer Son
Setting Sun Transformation
Solar Heat Haze
Beneficent Radiance
Sunflower Thrust
Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance
Fire Wheel
Fake Rainbow
Flame Dance
The ringing bells in the Shichishito joined his senses in the dance, adding to the performance and accentuating his movements, which, were not strong or fast enough to really use in a fight, but enough to let him finish it in one go.
"Phew!" still incredibly difficult, but this is the first time he's done it uninterrupted. His training in the corp is actually paying off!
He wanted to see the woman's reaction. A simple, fond smile took over her face, a far cry from her disposition when they first met. She lightly clapped, moving almost like a ghost.
"You're a little stiffer than Tanjuro, but well done!"
She said it with such a smile, like she didn't realize how much damage to Tanjiro's pride it did. "Huh. What do you mean..."
"He moved without pauses, fluidly and without hesitation. I could see the different sections with which separated the dance to make it easier on yourself. Still, it's not fair to compare you to him, given he had much more experience with it. If you keep at it, you'll get there soon.
"I think..." She stood up from the bench, disturbing Nezuko who was now asleep. "I think I spent far too long inactive. Thank you Tanjiro. Your kagura dance was wonderful."
"The pleasure was all mine." Though it was mostly pain. "If you don't mind, what would be your name?"
The woman smiled.
The moment she answered, the sunrise framed her entire being. The name she gave was beyond Tanjiro's belief. It made several things suddenly make sense, if it was true. The strange pristine shack. Her otherworldly appearance. Her fondness for Nezuko and the Kamados, how she knew his father. It would explain something in the near future too, but at the moment...
Tanjiro had to rush to get Nezuko in the box again before the sun burned her to a crisp.
Also... "NORTH NORTHEAST! NORTH NORTHEAST! STOP MESSING AROUND!"
"HUH? THIS ISN'T WHERE MY MISSION IS?!"
"NO!" Then the crow headbutted him.
If that woman is who she said she is that also explains his crow's behavior.
"Hinokami..."