I caught a pigeon today, I let him go after I gave him a little cuddle and the bitch just face-planted the floor 😭

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{third POV}

"What kind of deal mama?" Tanjiro asked sweetly, deciding to call Muzan using feminine pronouns since he was in his woman form.

Muzan stroked her hand down Tanjiro's cheek and lifted his face to look at herself "you won't like it but just hear me out ok? If you just listen to my idea I'll tell Akaza to give you back fluffy"

Tanjiro brightened at the idea of getting fluffy back, nodding his head vigorously "yep! I'll listen I'll listen!" He exclaimed while moving a little on Muzan's lap.

"Well alright then..."

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"Muichiro please calm down!" Aoi yelled, the three butterfly girls crowding around the doorway to see the commotion.

Muichiro held the bore by the collar of his shirt, he had already chucked Inosuke's mask to the floor. The bore head looked completely emotionless, very different to what he would usually be like. The pillar was practically seething with anger in contrast, his features confirmed with rage as he held up his fist.

"Why didn't you protect him!" Muichiro roared, tears seeping down his cheeks as he gritted his teeth.

Inosuke's body hung limp in the boy's hold before he suddenly threw an unexpected punch at Muichiro and which made him release his hold "shut it misty! You can't say shit you weren't there asshole!"

Inosuke tackled the pillar to the ground, the duo engaging in a pitiful brawl "you were with him! You should've been there to help! It's your fault he got taken!" Muchiro shouted back, venom seeping into his tone.

"Fuck off! Don't go acting all high and mighty! I was helping dumb people get out of the train!" Inosuke gripped the pillar's hair and yanked it harshly, resulting in the boy to punch the bore in the jaw. Inosuke was sent scattering backwards before he was pinned again "... and why do you care so much!"

Muichiro's eyes widened at Inosuke's question "it's.. none of your fucking business" he hissed, still holding Inosuke by his collar "oh really? Guess you won't mind me making him mine" Inosuke smirked slyly, another wave of anger overcoming the pillar.

"If he's still fucking alive for you to to make a move. Just know that his blood is on your hands."

He finally let go of the slayer with that statement. Leaving Inosuke spitting blood on the floor with a swollen eye.

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"Tanjiro, I know you don't want to hurt your friends. Which is why I'm giving you the option to turn them all into demons..." Muzan spoke with a little hesitance in his voice, watching as Tanjiro's expression twisted in surprise.

"H-how would that work?" He shakily questioned, having a hard time processing the information.

"Simple I'd give you enough of a dosage of my blood to you in a small vial, then you simply insert it into their food... that's all it takes"

Tanjiro was sceptical "but they wouldn't want that..." he mumbled sadly, looking at the floor.

"Would you rather that? Or have them all die" Muzan sighed, Tanjiro's kind persona could be quite difficult to work with sometimes.

"You don't want what happened to Enmu happen to anyone else do you?"

Tanjiro's eyes widened at the mention of Enmu, the dread which he had tried hard to forget washing over him again. Just like that, he cried.

Salty tears streaked down his chubby cheeks, his nose running a little as he sniffled and balled his little fists "hey hey, don't cry" Muzan tried to comfort, pulling Tanjiro into her chest and snapping her fingers.

"You called Muzan-sama?" Akaza appeared before him, head bowed as usual.

"Get fluffy, Tanjiro learnt his lesson"

Akaza nodded his head and produced the toy out of thin air, giving it to the demon before promptly leaving again.

"Tanjiro~ look fluffy's here" a smile crossed the woman's pale face as she tickled Tanjiro a little under his arms, causing him to giggle a little through sniffles and look up with tear filled eyes.

Muzam had a tendency to spoil Tanjiro... I mean who wouldn't? He was adorably irresistible after all. As a result, Muzan still treated Tanjiro like a child. And Tanjiro was quite happy with this, which is why he always acted so childlike.

The boy wiped away his tears and gave a wobbly smile, wrapping his arms around the toy and bringing it to his chest.

Muzan smiled at the sight.

"It's getting late for you Tanjiro, go get some rest and we'll sort everything out tomorrow ok?" The demon gently lifted Tanjiro by his waist and placed him back on the floor, pressing a small kiss on his forehead.

"O-ok...night mama"

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Tanjiro was finally in his old room after changing into a baggy shirt Douma had given him to wear as pyjamas ages ago. Douma was very tall so the shirt never fit the boy, but he loved it because it was comfortable and had a nice scent too it.

Tanjiro looked at himself in the mirror of his little wardrobe, the clothing reaching just past his knees and hanging off his shoulder.

'Ugh... why don't I grow quicker' Tanjiro thought to himself with a little pout, flopping himself into his comfortable bed and huddling up into the feathered duvet.

Tanjiro always seemed to be on the more skinny and short side of the spectrum, it annoyed him to say the least since he looked up to the upper moons whom mostly had muscular builds and were tall.

The boy spent a little time reflecting over the day till his eyelids felt heavy, the darkness of his room closing in on him as he finally gave into sleep.

~Tanjiro's dream~

I stood in the demon slayer corps, the surroundings were deathly silent.

Only the overhead screeches of crows and subtle continuous dripping noise entering my ears. The day was dark, heavy overcast clouds floating close to the ground; creating a humid and claustrophobic feeling.

That smell... the smell of blood. It clogged my nose. I don't like it, it's everywhere.

I looked down at my feet once I felt a damp sensation seeping through the fabric.

No.

How could this be?

Mitsuri, Tengen, Rengoku... Muichiro.... Everyone

How did this happen?! I panicked as more of their blood surrounded my feet, their Stoke cold expressions seemingly staring straight through me. Many of them had foam around their mouth, some were merely reduced to disgusting piles of unmoving sludge.

T-this was my fault...

I gave them dad's blood

I killed them... this can't be!

I didn't mean too! I just didn't want them to die! I was just trying to protect them

It wasn't my fault!

~end of dream~

Tanjiro snapped awake with a sharp gasp, his face set with tears as sweat dampened his forehead. Tanjiro panted to catch his breath, desperately willing away the awful imaged from his dream.

His eyes were wide with fear as he quickly grabbed Fluffy and shuffled out of his bed and into the hallway, making his way to Kokushibo's room which was the closest to his.

He gently knocked on the door and opened it a little when no response came, peeking his head inquisitively through the frame.

Tanjiro didn't except the demon to be awake, his eyes glued to a little book which he was writing in using a feather and ink; a small candle on his bedside table giving a deep honey like glow to the dark room.

"K-Kokushibo-san..." Tanjiro mumbled, leaning nervously in the doorway.

The upper moon ripped his eyes away from whatever he was writing and smiled at the sight "it's nice to see you again Tanjiro, are you ok?" Kokushibo asked with a little head tilt, long hair falling over his face.

Tanjiro twiddled with his fingers "can I sleep with you tonight? I had a nightmare"

A slight chuckle escaped the demon's lips "come on in little one, you're hopeless"

Tanjiro grinned and closed the door behind him, happily skipping over to the bed and clambering into the bed as Kokushibo set down his feather and boom to the side.

The boy happily snuggled into his side, resting his head on the demon's chest as he curled into a tight ball; Kokushibo's hand rubbing soothing circles in his back and lulling him to sleep once more.

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There's a man standing outside of my window