Gifts
It had been a long time since anyone had gathered in the Urokodaki home.
With the Corps now disbanded for good, and peace reigning through Japan for the time being, there was no longer a need to train the young ones into fighters. With no more demons how could there possibly be a need for more slayers?
Still as the old hashira quietly sweeps the dust from his small house, he couldn't help but feel a familiar old pang from deep in his chest. Those children he had trained had succeeded where he and the old ones couldn't. There were so few slayers now after Kibutsuji had almost wiped them all out in his final moments before the sunrise of that fateful day.
Yet...he was the only old Hashira left as well.
As a former Hashira he was trained not to dwell on the past. He knew the risks of getting close to others in that line of work, knew deep down that things could and would end in tragedy and loss. There would always be risk for forming attachments to those whose lives were dedicated to their single mission.
The mood of this old little place was melancholy at best as he finished his chores for the day and quietly sits on his porch. Sitting at his feet were little carved figurines and masks he had been making recently. Considering the season, he was tempted to send them to Tanjiro, Nezuko and Giyuu so they would know they were in his thoughts even if he wasn't in theirs.
It was times like these he missed Jigoro.
That short thunder breathing moron had quite the knack for cheering him up no matter the situation. Even when in the throws of battle, with a small quip or crude joke the former Thunder Hashira had him cracking a smile behind his tengu mask, especially when after their battles they would go get ramen or spend the night talking about what they would do when Kibutsuji was defeated during their time.
Maybe they could have had a quiet life together. Where he worked as a wood cutter and Jigoro would be a story teller to people who passed by. They would have a home in a small village somewhere and just enjoy the rest of their years dying of old age.
Instead he was here alone: Jigoro gone, all those children he cared for gone save for three and no other family to reconnect with.
Alone. He started his life as a demon slayer alone, it would only be fitting he died alone in his home one day. What young person would ever want to waist their time with a man in the twilight of his years?
He sighed softly as he placed his broom by the door and went to the small shrine he had made to light incense. A picture of Jigoro and himself from months back when a young woman wanted to take their picture together. He was looking at Urokodaki with such a rare serious smile as he sat on the bench beside him. To anyone else it was the gaze of a man who admired his closest friend...to Urokodaki it was the most loving look Jigoro had ever given him.
He removed his tengu mask as his greyish blue eyes stared at the last moment he and Jigoro had been together.
"...You were a good teacher, Jigoro..." He whispered, "An amazing one...it's not your fault your disciple chose such a life for himself...I hope you are at peace..."
As he slowly bowed before the photo with his forehead touching the floor it was then he picked up something. A faint scent that was coming from outside before he blinked when there was shouting from a distance. Quietly he stood up from the shrine and went to stand at the door and try to get a better smell.
It smelled so familiar...
"..nemi I told you to be on your best behavior with the young bloods."
"Then tell the hard headed mORON TO TRY NOT TO STEP INTO RICE PADDIES!"
"Shinazugawa-san, Giyuu-san I'm so sorry...!"
Urokodaki could only blink at the familiar voices that were approaching him from ahead, his eyes widening slowly. He gulped as six figures could be seen at the top of the hill where the trees were thickest. The first one who starts to come down is one person he hasn't seen in over five years carrying a bunch of small parcels on his back while wearing his thick light blue scarf and green and black checkered haori.
"Urokodaki-sensei!" Tanjiro beamed, his sister on the left side of him where his bum hand was in order to help support him.
The Kamado siblings beamed as they rush up to the old man. They were older now, adults but when Tanjiro jumps up and hugs him, it's like he's hugging the boy he had trained so hard long ago. He was completely stunned as he slowly lifted his arms to hug the young man.
"Aaaah! Tanjiro! Nezuko! Be carefuUUAAAAAAAAGH!"
"Shut up Monitsu!"
The one of the two young men who were following the siblings was pushed down and rolled down the hill...in a familiar black haori and with a mop of blonde hair on his head. The other one wore a boar mask and sounded rather annoyed.
"Nezukooo...did you see what he did to meeee?"
"Aaaw, poor Zenitsu~" Nezuko turned back to him and gently she helped him back to his feet, "Did you hurt yourself husband?"
The one with the boar mask grunted and crossed his arms while wearing a heavy fur cloak around his torso.
"Will you shut the hell up?'
Urokodaki blinked at the last two who come down. One of them the former Wind hashira wearing a dark green and heavy haori on himself and one of his older students, Giyuu who was also carrying some small parcels wrapped with red ribbon. When Tanjiro released his teacher he then pushed a few parcels into his arms with his usually smile of sunshine.
"For you sensei! We all worked hard to put all of these together for you! Oop!" Tanjiro blinked when Inosuke wrapped his arms around him and nuzzled rather aggressively against his neck while grumbling. Slowly he smiled at him before nuzzling the other and placing his hands over his around his shoulders.
"You...You all are here..."
"Of course Sensei," Giyuu spoke up as he put more gifts into the old man's arms and frowned, "We finally all had the time to come and see you. We wanted to make sure you wouldn't feel alone this year..."
Immediately he, Tanjiro and Nezuko bow to him keeping their eyes to the ground. Inosuke growled at the loss of his lover in his arms while Zenitsu huffed at the sight of his wife bowing to Urokodaki. Sanemi clicked his tongue and looked away grimacing softly. He wasn't close to this man not like Giyuu and the others.
"We're sorry we couldn't come before...there was so much we had to do! Rebuild our home, recover and other things..." Nezuko speaks gently, her longs hair almost touching the snow covered ground under her, "We just hope these can make up for that time."
A silence slowly filled the air as Urokodaki stared at these three young people he had watched grow into such powerful demon slayers. Even Jigoro's apprentince, the one he was so fond of like a son he never got to have, was here with two other men important to their lives. Here to see him and apologize to him for living their lives as best they could...
He dropped the parcels down and then this time he rushed forwards and hugged all three of them. Giyuu blinked, his eyes widening while Tanjiro used his good arm to return the embrace with his sister.
"Sensei..."
"Knowing that you all came all this way...knowing that even though we are not related by blood you still came to see me..." he pulled back and looked at the three of them with his eyes growing misty, "...Is one of the most precious gifts I could ever receive from you three remarkable people..."
To hear that from a man who had tried to hid his emotions away behind a mask and looking at them like a proud father would his adult children...it made Tanjiro tear up and smile while Nezuko looked content and Giyuu managed a weak smile. After a moment, Urokodaki wiped at his eyes before sniffling and then stepping aside.
"Come in come in, I shall put on some tea..."
The little melancholy house started to grow warm with each person that enters, as the owner welcomed them all inside. People may not come to this place often, but to know there are people who wanted to be here and would be here when they time allowed...it was a rare gift he would ever get to have as he closes the door to keep in the warmth and joy surrounding them.