Sun Hashira

Next, Kujo Tachibana told Tanjuro about the Demon Slayer Corps and the history between Tanjuro's ancestor, Kamado Sumiyoshi, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

This was the first time Tanjuro had heard any of it. After taking a while to process the news, he finally asked:

"So, you're saying the Hinokami Kagura passed down in our family is actually the Sun Breathing you mentioned?"

Kujo Tachibana nodded and replied with a serious expression:

"And it's the most powerful Breathing Style still in existence!"

(If you weren't chronically malnourished, you wouldn't look the way you do now.) Of course, Kujo Tachibana wasn't foolish enough to say that out loud.

"I see! So, what brings you to our home?" Tanjuro asked curiously.

Kujo Tachibana thought for a moment, then said:

"Mr. Tanjuro, there are two main reasons I came here."

"First, I hope you'll teach me Sun Breathing, also known as the Hinokami Kagura."

"Second, I hope you'll take your family and leave this place to join the Demon Slayer Corps."

"If you don't want to join the Demon Slayer Corps, that's all right, but you must move away from here!"

Tanjuro furrowed his brow and asked in confusion:

"I don't mind teaching you the Hinokami Kagura. After all, you're trying to kill man-eating demons. But why do you want us to move?"

"You have to understand, the Kamado family has lived on Mount Kumotori for generations."

"Besides, our family is happy here. Why should we leave and start over somewhere unfamiliar?"

"Whatever the reason, I won't move."

Tanjuro was adamant!

Kujo Tachibana helplessly patted his forehead. He supposed it made sense!

Tanjuro was highly capable, yet he'd rather go hungry than leave his wife and children behind and head down the mountain to seek his fortune.

(I, Tanjuro, am a family man through and through!)

If he'd wanted to leave the mountain, he would've done so long ago. He wouldn't have waited for Kujo Tachibana to come along.

"Mr. Tanjuro!" Kujo Tachibana called out, his voice stern. "Do you know how many powerful demons there are?"

"You've already killed four man-eating demons on this mountain. If they come again, they won't be the same weaklings as before!"

"I'm not underestimating you, but I'm afraid you won't be able to handle them."

"And even if you won't think about yourself, shouldn't you think about your wife and children?"

"What will happen to them when you leave home to work?"

"And you've probably noticed that your wife is pregnant again, haven't you?"

Kujo Tachibana's words forced Tanjuro to consider his advice. It was true—his wife was pregnant again...

Wait! How did this young man know Kie was pregnant, too?

Seeing Tanjuro's reaction, Kujo Tachibana realized what he was thinking and explained:

"Because I can see through the world."

Tanjuro understood. He didn't know that his special perception was called the Transparent World, but he understood what Kujo Tachibana meant by seeing through the world. It looked that way to him, too.

Realizing that Kujo Tachibana was "the same kind of person" as him, Tanjuro couldn't help carefully sensing Kujo Tachibana's body.

!!!

The moment he sensed Kujo Tachibana's lungs, Tanjuro leaped to his feet in shock!

He quickly took the axe from the wall, frowned, and asked Kujo Tachibana in a low voice:

"Are you human or demon? Why have you come to our home?"

Kujo Tachibana helplessly patted his forehead. He was only noticing now?

How could he be so slow on the uptake!

"My right lung was injured in a battle with a demon and no longer works. You can sense it for yourself."

"But I'm still human, and I still need to breathe. I just breathe differently from you. That's why I came to learn the Hinokami Kagura from you."

Tanjuro froze. A moment later, he lowered his axe and sincerely apologized to Kujo Tachibana.

"I'm sorry. I was rude."

Kujo Tachibana gave him a faint smile, showing no offense, and said helplessly:

"So, do you understand now how powerful demons are?"

"To be honest, even though I can't use a Breathing Style right now, you still wouldn't be a match for me."

"Think about it. Even before I was injured, there were demons I couldn't handle."

"Can you really protect your family here all by yourself? If something terrible happens, you'll regret it."

Kujo Tachibana's whole "persuasion campaign" left Tanjuro looking deeply conflicted.

Before he could make sense of his thoughts, Kie Kamado entered the main room carrying several dishes.

"Tanjuro, young man, dinner's ready. You can talk after you've eaten."

Tanjuro came back to himself and stood to take the bowls and chopsticks from his wife.

The Kamado children also came into the main room one after another. Since meals were served individually in Japan, each of them had a portion of food already set out in front of them.

As the guest, Kujo Tachibana naturally got the best of everything—the ingredients the Kamado family usually couldn't afford to eat.

Kujo Tachibana showed no sign of surprise. He quietly finished his meal, then put down his chopsticks.

"It was delicious. Thank you for the meal!"

Then Kujo Tachibana looked at Tanjuro, who had also put down his chopsticks, and asked:

"Mr. Tanjuro, are you finished?"

"If you are, could you take me outside for a walk?"

Tanjuro nodded, got up, and led Kujo Tachibana out of the house.

After the two had walked some distance from the wooden house,

Kujo Tachibana finally spoke. "Mr. Tanjuro, it seems your health isn't very good."

Looking down at the town below the mountain, Tanjuro replied softly, "They're just old ailments. It's nothing to worry about."

Kujo Tachibana shook his head. What a stubborn man.

"Mr. Tanjuro!"

"Even if you don't care about demon attacks,"

"do you want Tanjiro to end up just like you?"

"Stuck on this mountain, raising his children while going hungry himself?"

"And then, like you, leaving this world in your early thirties because of backbreaking labor and a stomach that's never full?"

"Unable even to live long enough to see your children grow up?"

Before Tanjuro could answer, Kujo Tachibana started down the mountain.

"Mr. Tanjuro, think carefully about what I said today!"

"I'll come back tomorrow. If you still feel the same way, I'll respect your decision."

Watching Kujo Tachibana reach the mountainside, Tanjuro took a deep breath and called out loudly:

"You're right!"

"Thank you!"

Kujo Tachibana smiled faintly at his words. Even if Tanjuro refused, he would still tell Ubuyashiki Kagaya about him.

Then Kagaya could send people to bother him every day!

Surely that would get him to move!

But it was even better if Tanjuro came to understand on his own. Kujo Tachibana raised his hand and summoned the Kasugai Crow, Zhong Kui, from the sky, asking it to relay the news about Tanjuro to Kagaya.

The message consisted of only three sentences:

"Master, I've found you a Sun Hashira!"

"He knows Sun Breathing!"

"Send someone to bring his whole family here at once!"