Chapter Text
Chapter 3: The Butterfly Estate
At the age of ten, Tanjirou has started training and with other Pillars, just like Kanae and Shinobu had done before him.
He studies the different Breath Styles, wondering if he could use them with his Breath of the Sun.
It's also the year Kanae and Shinobu move out.
Tanjirou stared, watching them as they packed their things.
“Where are you going?” he asked in a small voice, trying to look strong.
“Not too far.” Kanae smiled, “But since I am a Pillar I need to have my onw place to stay and train Slayers.” the Flower Pillar said, “You can visit us whenever and as many times as you wish.”
“Can I come now?”
“Nee-san said 'whenever' didn't she?” Shinobu smiled.
Tanjirou beamed and with a bow, went to ask his parents if it was okay.
He followed them to their new house, not more than half an hour away, and helped them carry and tidy their things.
“Have you thought of a name?” he asked.
“Name?”
“Yeah. The Kamado Residence is also known as the Coal Estate to the village, because as a side-job we continue our family's job as coal burners. I started learning when Kanae-nee joined the Corps.”
They had sat down at the veranda, talking.
Shinobu noticed a couple butterflies flutter by.
“Butterflies.” she said.
Tanjirou turned to look, too.
Kanae smiled.
“How about 'Butterfly Estate' then?” she asked.
Tanjirou looked at the butterflies fluttering by, then at the Kochou sisters and chuckled.
“It suits it.” he beamed, reaching his hands to their butterfly hair ornaments.
The sisters blinked and chuckled along with him.
The Butterfly Estate becomes his second home.
His mother gives Kanae her butterfly-like haori as a gift.
Kanae shows him her Breath of Flower and he helps Shinobu as much as he can understand.
What he knows is that Shinobu took to medicine like fish to water. She is that good, making a name as a doctor.
(If a couple of those treated in that first year where Slayers who said something bad about Shinobu while Tanjirou was present, no one says anything. Because fully trained Slayers getting their hands broken by a ten-year-old while shaking its hand was embarrassing.)
(Shinobu knew. But she is a little bit thankful her young friend is looking out for her. She still asks him to stop injuring their Slayers. Kanae found it adorable.)
(Tanjirou did as she asked him, but none of those he forced to be treated ever said a bad thing about Shinobu again, so he counted it as a win. His mother wasn't as amused.)
During their first year at the Estate, Shinobu develops her first demon slaying poison and travels to the swordsmiths' village to help with the forging of her new sword.
Tanjirou throws himself in his training for the Breath of the Sun.
A month later Shinobu returns and starts going on missions with Kanae.
They don't have enough free time and whenever the two sisters are home, Tanjirou's two younger siblings beg him to take them to see them.
Hanako and Shigeru really loved them. And they always snickered whenever they saw him talk to Shinobu.
Kanae had noticed and had soon joined them in their little secret.
Tanjirou shrugged and let them be.
Since his father's illness weakens him further, Kanae and Shinobu go on more missions together.
Tanjirou promises Kanae to pass the Final Selection soon, and become a Pillar so he can fight at their side, too.
At different points in time during their second year at the Butterfly Estate, Kanao and Aoi join them.
Kanao infuriates Shinobu. Tanjirou can tell it's only because she cares too much for the girl. So he smiles and tells her to keep trying reaching out to her, she's her big sister now.
Aoi has the same knack for medicines as Shinobu, and Tanjirou is glad, because he barely understood half the things Shinobu explained and so he couldn't be of any real help to her. Aoi can do that in his place, so he thanks her when he hears.
He wished their days would always be like that.