35. Rengoku Estate

It hadn't been long since Rengoku's death. They were still healing; the scars from the battle lingered both inside and out.

Zenitsu walked towards Tanjiro's room, clutching a small basket of buns he'd "borrowed" from the kitchen when Aoi wasn't looking.

I never thought Tanjiro would be the kind of person to get depressed, he thought. He's always so strong...but of course he does. Even someone like Rengoku-san, whose spirit burned brighter than anyone's, ended up dying. That kind of shock could break anyone. Even Inosuke was crying back then...He must've been so frustrated. No matter how strong a person seems, they still feel pain and sadness.

His thoughts then drifted to Hana. But Hana-chan...she's been so quiet. Those pretty eyes that always sparkled with life now look so empty. She keeps saying that she's fine, but I can see that she's not. She keeps pretending, pretending that everything's okay, that she's moved on... but we all know that's not true.

He sighed. Still...we can't stay down forever. We have to keep striking at our wounded spirits until we can stand again. Rengoku-san would've wanted that. His sound was so strong and kind.

Trying to lighten the mood, Zenitsu slid open the door with a grin. "Tanjiro! I snuck some buns for-"

Before he could finish, Sumi came running in, tears streaming down her face.

"Tanjiro and Hana are gone!" she cried. "I'm sorry, Zenitsu! I looked everywhere, but I couldn't find them!"

"What?! Those idiots!" Zenitsu groaned, clutching his hair. "Hana-chan's wounds haven't even healed yet, and Tanjiro's still covered in bandages! What were they thinking?!"

Meanwhile, Hana and Tanjiro were already on their way to the Rengoku estate, guided by Rengoku's crow flying above them.

The sun hung low as they finally approached the entrance. Hana winced, pressing a hand to her stomach. "Uhh..."

"Hana!" Tanjiro exclaimed, rushing to steady her. "You should've stayed back and rested! You're still not healed yet! Why do you never listen to me?" His voice was stern, filled with concern.

"I'm fine, Tanjiro," she murmured, forcing a small smile. "It's nothing.."

Her gaze lifted to the grand gates of the estate. The air felt almost reverent.

"We're here," she whispered.

Tanjiro nodded softly, still tense with worry. "Yeah...we are."

Both of them noticed a figure standing at the entrance a young boy with hair like flickering flames, yellow and red, just like Rengoku's.

"Are you Senjuro?" Tanjiro asked softly.

Hana's heart clenched. He looks just like him.

As they approached, Tanjiro continued, his voice gentle. "Have you heard of Rengoku-san's passing? We have a message for you and your father. That's what we came for."

Senjuro looked up at them, his expression trembling. "We already heard," he said quietly. "Um...are you alright? You really look pale." His gaze flickered between the siblings.

Before they could reply, a harsh voice growled from behind.

"Stop it!"

The sound startled them. A middle-aged man stepped into view, sake bottle in hand, his presence heavy with bitterness. His fiery hair, streaked with duller shades, confirmed who he was.

"I'm sure whatever words he left behind are worthless!" he spat, staggering slightly. "It's because he became a swordsman despite having no talent. That's why he died! Worthless!"

Hana's hands curled into fists, her eyes widening in disbelief.

He took another long swig, his tone growing harsher. "Kyojuro was a foolish son! People's abilities are determined from birth. Only a handful have talent! The rest are just rabble, nothing but inconsequential rubbish." He pointed toward them. "That's what Kyojuro was. Of course he died!"

"Senjuro, the funeral's over," the man barked again. "Wipe that miserable look off your face already!"

Senjuro's knuckles turned white around the broom in his hand. Tears welling in his eyes.

Hana couldn't take it anymore. She stepped forward.

"That's a terrible thing to say!" she yelled. "Stop talking that way!"

The man's gaze snapped toward them, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Who the hell are you two? Get out! Don't cross my threshold!" He snarled.

"We're with the Demon Slayer Corps," Tanjiro said firmly.

The man froze as his gaze fell on Tanjiro's hanafuda earrings. The bottle slipped from his hand, shattering across the floor.

"You..." he rasped. "You're a user of Sun Breathing, aren't you? I'm sure you are!" He pointed at Tanjiro.

"Sun... Breathing?" Tanjiro blinked. "What are you talking about?"

The man lunged forward.

Before he could lay a hand on Tanjiro, Hana stepped in front of him.

"Stay away from him!" she yelled.

The man swung without hesitation. Hana's body took the hit as a harsh punch slammed into her face. She staggered, blood welling on her lips, hot and metallic. Her knees threatened to buckle, but she refused to fall.

Tanjiro's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and fury flashing across his face.

"Hana!" he shouted, rushing forward, but she caught his sleeve, holding him back.

"Father, stop!" Senjuro cried, stepping forward only to be punched back, crashing to the floor.

"Senjuro!" Tanjiro gasped, but before he could reach him, the man's arm swung again, slashing Tanjiro across the face.

"That's enough!" Hana hissed, her voice low but deadly.

"What's wrong with you?!" Tanjiro spat. "Not only insulting your son who lost his life, but even hitting your other son! What is it that you want?!"

"You're mocking us, aren't you?" Rengoku's father growled.

"Why would you think that?" Hana demanded. "We have no idea what you're talking about."

"You're a Sun Breathing user! I know those earrings," he said, pointing at Tanjiro's ears. "It was written."

Could it be that by 'Sun Breathing' he means Hinokami Kagura? Hana thought.

"The original Breathing...the first ever techniques. The godly one. All other Breathing Styles were derived from Sun Breathing. Every other style is nothing more than an imitation, inferior copies. Fire, Water, Wind... all of them."

Our family has been charcoal burners for generations. Sun Breathing... Hinokami Kagura... wait, there's something more important than that, Hana realized.

"Don't get full of yourself just because you're a Sun Breathing user, brat!" he spat.

"How could I possibly?!" Tanjiro snapped, his voice cracking. "Do you know how devastated I am by my own weakness right now?! YOU SHITTY OLD MAN!"

Hana's eyes widened. Oh Tanjiro...

"Watch out, my father is a former Hashira!" Senjuro tried to warn, but Tanjiro had already swung.

"Don't speak ill of Rengoku-san!" He yelled.

The man's counterpunch hit first and hard, but before he could follow through, Hana shoved him back.

"Don't touch him!" she roared.

"Please stop it, Father!" Senjuro cried.

And then, with one last burst of strength, Tanjiro slammed his forehead into the man's head. The sound echoed loud and solid.

Causing him to collapsed, unconscious.

Inside the Rengoku Estate

"Your tea...here." Senjuro's hands trembled slightly as he placed the tray down.

"Thank you," Hana said softly, wincing as she straightened her posture.

"I'm truly sorry for headbutting your father. Is he fine?" Tanjiro asked nervously.

Senjuro managed a small smile. "He's fine. Once he woke up, he went to buy more sake."

"I see..." Hana murmured.

"Thank you very much," Senjuro suddenly said.

Hana and Tanjiro looked at him, confused.

"I feel relieved. I couldn't even talk back to him when he spoke ill of my brother. Please... tell me about my brother's final moments."

When they began to speak about Kyojuro's last battle, the room grew heavy with silence. Tanjiro and Hana spoke as Senjuro listened quietly, remembering the Flame Hashira's last smile, his blazing courage, his parting words.

"My brother....he fulfilled his duties until the end," Senjuro said, bowing deeply. "Thank you for telling me."

Hana quickly shook her head. "No, please... I'm the one who's sorry for not being of any help."

"I'm so sorry.." Tanjiro murmured softly, his head lowering in guilt.

Senjuro smiled through his tears. "Please don't worry about it. I'm sure my brother said the same thing, didn't he?"

Hana smiled faintly. "He did."

---

Later, Senjuro brought out an old, worn red book.

"I have an idea," he said. "This book...my father used to read it. I think this might be it."

"This... it's called The Book of the Twenty-First Flame Hashira. It might have what you're looking for."

"Thank you very much," Hana said, bowing slightly before opening the book.

"Is what you wanted to know written there?" Senjuro asked.

"This is..." Tanjiro's eyes widen when his eyes fell on the pages of the book.

The pages were shredded, torn beyond repair.

"The pages... they're all torn. Was it originally like this?" Tanjiro asked.

"What...?" Senjuro paled. "No... it can't be. The records were supposed to be preserved. I think Father must have... I'm very sorry."

"It's not your fault," Hana interrupted gently. "Please don't worry yourself."

Tanjiro nodded. "Yeah. Please don't blame yourself."

Senjuro's eyes glistened. "Still, you came all this way... and in the end, you found nothing about Hinokami Kagura and the Sun Breathing."

Tanjiro smiled faintly. "It's fine. I know what I need to do now. I'll train harder from now on."

"I'll become strong enough to protect everyone, to live up to what Rengoku-san stood for."

Hana's gaze softened hearing her younger brother's words.

Senjuro sighed sadly. "My brother never had a Tsuguko. I was supposed to be his, but...my blade never changed color. No matter how much I trained, it stayed the same. So I gave up being a swordsman. So, I tries helping people differently. I won't inherit the title of Flame Hashira, it'll always be a black mark on our family's history, but I'm sure my brother would forgive me." He said tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Then find your own path." Hana said softly.

"Yeah," Tanjiro added with a grin. "And if anyone insults you for it, I'll headbutt them myself."

Senjuro laughed, tears still streaming. "It's not necessary."

"I'll try to restore the Generational Flame Hashira Record," he said. "I'll look up other books too. I'll also try to ask my father...I'll send a message via crow when I find something."

As they prepared to leave, Senjuro stopped them at the entrance.

"I'm glad we were able to talk," he said. "Please, find your way home safely."

"No, it's us who need to thank you," Hana said as she and Tanjiro bowed.

"One more thing," Senjuro said, holding something wrapped in cloth. "Please take this."

When Hana unfolded it, her breath caught.

"The handguard... from Rengoku-san's sword."

"We can't accept this-" she began, but Senjuro pushed it toward them.

"I want you to have it. I'm sure it'll protect you."

"Thank you," Hana whispered.

He waved goodbye as they left.

The siblings were walking back to the Demon Slayer Corps when Hana suddenly felt striking pain in her stomach. Her legs wobbled as she walked.

Am I getting sick? she thought. It hurts... She shook her head, pushing it away. No it's nothing.

"Hana? You don't look fine! We have to get you to the Butterfly Mansion soon."

"It's fine, Tanjiro..." she said weakly.

Suddenly, they saw a figure approaching them. Their eyes widened as the swordsmith appeared before them, glaring at Hana furiously.

"Haganezuka-san?"

"How could you lose your sword, you stupid girl?! You deserve to die! Both of you!"

He lunged forward with a butcher knife in his hand. Tanjiro clutched Hana's hand and ran towards the butterfly estate, shielding her from the furious swordsmith.

The siblings sprinted as fast as they could, Haganezuka's enraged shouts and the pounding of his footsteps echoing behind them. By the time they reached the gates of the Butterfly Mansion, Hana's strength was fading. Her vision blurred, and her knees buckled.

"Hana?" Tanjiro's voice trembled with worry.

"I... I'm-" she gasped, her legs finally giving out.

Before she could fall, a familiar pair of arms caught her. Strong yet gentle, steady as water.

"Easy..." Giyuu's low voice murmured near her ear, calm and grounding. He held her close against his chest, his hand instinctively brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her breathing steadied just from the warmth of his touch, the faint scent of rain and steel surrounding her.

"T-Tomioka-san..." she whispered weakly, her fingers curling into his haori as if she didn't want to let go.

His eyes softened, just for her. "It's okay," he said quietly, comforting her.

Then his gaze lifted. The softness vanished.

Haganezuka was still running toward them, shouting incoherently. But the moment Giyuu's piercing blue eyes locked on him, the swordsmith froze mid-step. That single cold, sharp, and commanding glare was enough to silence the outburst completely.

Haganezuka faltered, taking a hesitant step back.

"Hana...she needs to be taken inside," Tanjiro said, voice filled with panic. "She's...she's not well!"

Giyuu gave a small nod, tightening his hold around Hana. Without another word, he turned and carried her into the Butterfly Mansion.

Inside, the peaceful air of the mansion welcomed them. Giyuu gently lowered Hana onto one of the soft beds, his hand lingering on hers for a moment before the healers began their work.