It was still early and the moon was still in the sky. Ryuu moves through the forest trying to hunt some wild pig to be used as ingredients as well as find some herbs.
He didn't have to go to the trouble of hunting and even gathering herbs when it was easier to just buy them in the [ Store ] but preferred doing so as it gave him time to think.
Furthermore, it increases his sharpness and skills when he takes action rather than rely on something much easier. He isn't some protagonist who can have everything and needs to work hard achieving them.
He may be quicker than normal but in the end there's always going to be a limit to be surpassed. As far as anything goes, he is still human and mortals with a family.
Ryuu has no plan on reaching the top nor some stupid ambition like any other protagonist. He only wants adventure with his family and seeing the wonder the world has to offer as well give them a wonderful home.
Walking deep in the forest used his [ Byakugan ] to find some wild boar and found them close by. He used [ Second Form - Death flash Step ] which was the version where it increased his movement speed too close to lightning speed.
It made him appear to have vanished and reappearing moments later where the wild boars were feasting on some fallen fruits. They were able to react quickly enough when Ryuu arrived.
"Seventh Form - Blessing of the Spring."
In swift manner, the boar heads were sliced clean without any pain only like a peaceful morning of Spring. This was similar to [ Seventh Form - Blessing after the drought ] from the Water Breathing that merch kills the enemies.
Ryuu has no killing intent towards those who don't have any malicious nature only driven by their primitive instinct. He matured enough to learn things about life.
"Thank you for the blessing. May your soul find peace."
He looked at the four dead boar and used his [ Blood magic ] to drain their blood before using his daggers to skin the boar. It was relatively easy to dismantle it when he had Surgeon Innate skill that helped guide him through the process.
[ image of the Nichirin Dagger ]
After skinning then used the new leather skin as a bag to store all the meat and things he had collected. Ryuu found a long piece of wood and used it to carry all the meat after tying them at each end.
The smell was horrible but he already used the smell of meat after helping his mother on the market where people butcher meat.
He soon finds a nearby lake to wash himself from the awful smell. Afterwards, use his magic to raise the creature within the lake into the air and conjures a blood needle and swiftly kills them with the addition of finding some prawns in the water.
"Let's head back and see how they react!"
Ryuu left the scene with a large smile after seeing his harvest. He wasn't hungry since he already had breakfast but was excited about what to cook for Kamado.
It took a few minutes to arrive where he saw Tanjiro wide awake helping his mother. They were surprised to see him carrying four sacks and quickly greeted him.
"Good morning, Ryuu-Nii! What are you carrying? Can I help with that?"
"Hahaha Good morning and here, make sure to be careful since it's quite heavy."
"Whoa are these meat!?"
Tanjiro exclaimed, seeing pounds of meat that he had never seen before. They normally fruits and vegetables with the occasion of wild chicken as wild boar is too much for them to handle.
Kie was surprise when she saw the meat that was brought by Ryuu and wonder where he acquired that much meat.
"Good Morning, Ryuu-Dono. I thought you were still sleeping. How come you're awake this early in the morning?"
"Well it's just a habit I guess. I've decided to hunt some meat for you and cook for you later."
"Ara~ you're quite a hard working, young man but please we don't want to bother you too much. Let me handle the cooking."
"It doesn't bother me at all. You've accepted me into your home and given me a room to sleep in. The least I could do is help with a few things. However, if you insist then just take this meat that I hunted and cook a decent meal for the children."
His words left an impression on Kie who smiled from his kind gesture. Soon Tanjiro brought the meat to their home, storing them in claypots. Kie started cooking for her children while Ryuu and Tanjiro were outside.
"Tanjiro-kun, can you show me how the Hinokami Kagura is performed?"
"Sure thing, Ryuu-Nii!!"
Tanjiro didn't even try to know the reason why he wanted to know their family dance and showed his kind nature. Ryuu liked how his series portrayed him but personally meeting the protagonist made him appreciate more of his personality.
He was at the side watching Tanjiro showing him the dances which was rather interesting. It was impressive that after a hundred years was able to preserve the movement of the Sun Breathing technique.
His movement was still far from swordsmanship as it added few unnecessary swings and steps but overall Ryuu could already start to memorize every step.
"Alright, you can stop Tanjiro-kun. Your body still hasn't been trained in using a breathing technique."
He stopped him seeing he was already somehow out of breath since Tanjiro hasn't started learning Total Concentration Breathing. Therefore only able to show half of the dance.
"Are you alright, Tanjiro-kun?"
"I...haa...I am fine...just a bit tired."
"You should rest for now. Thank you for your hard work."
Ryuu helped him sit down before performing the same thing trying to fix every wasteful movement that surprised Tanjiro how easily he executed the Hinokami Kagura.
It was a mesmerizing sight especially when he drew his weapon and spun it around his body like a ribbon.
"Wow! How did you memorize it so easily, Ryuu-Nii?"
"Well my mind is able to store memory rather easily and allow me to never forget anything. Though, I can't instantly recall everything and need something to make me remember it."
Ryuu explained seeing his admiration that made him smile like an older brother seeing his young sibling. He had the same expression when his brother mentioned anime and other things.
Tanjiro left to help his mother, leaving Ryuu to improve his body. He took off his Yukata and upper clothes after being covered in sweat. Ryuu flexes his muscles taking a deep breath bulging his body before his body moves in the blink of an eye.
He was surprise how his movement didn't consume much stamina nearly made it seem like they were endless.
"It's true that Sun Breathing allows endless Stamina….too bad Tanjiro still hasn't learned breathing technique."
After half an hour, Nezuko came out as her mother told to get Ryuu to have breakfast and what greeted made the poor maiden blush at the sight.
Her eyes feast on the near perfect physique of the young man before her that glistens from his sweat. He was doing basic weight movements like push ups and sit ups.
"Hmm? Oh Nezuko-san, is something the matter?"
Ryuu noticed her presence before tilting his head as she wasn't responding then realized he was half naked and warmly smiled. He didn't expect that Nezuko was going to be the one going to call him.
Normally, he would blush but having three women with one being a nympho would be bound to make him used to women looking at him.
"Neeeezuuuuko-saaaan? Are you there?"
Ryuu moves closer to get her attention before she jumps back in surprise, being up close blushing at the whole ordeal. He chuckled lightly much to her embarrassment.
"Mytoldmetocallforbreakfast!"
Nezuko rapidly said running inside leaving Ryuu stunned at how fast her word was and was fortunate that he was able to hear things even how fast it may be. He shook his head to dry himself with a piece of cloth while dressing himself.
Meanwhile, Nezuko was inside with her heart pounding as it would explode from what just happened. Kie spotted her confused as to why she was out of breath.
"Nezuko, have you called Ryuu-san over?"
"H-Hai! If you excuse me, I'm going to help prepare the bowl."
Nezuko stiffly moved inside, confusing her mother, then tried to peek outside and blush when she saw Ryuu half naked. She couldn't help being allured by his attractive features.
'Wait, why am I suddenly blushing!? I'm a married woman and have five children!!*
Mother-like-daughter, Kie became a blushing mess that Ryuu unaware of what he had caused for their poor hearts.
Everyone was at the table accompanied by awkward silents. Ryuu warily smiles, staring at the mother and daughter duo who are trying to keep themselves calm. He pretended to not notice as they were only attracted to him and hadn't done anything to steal their heart.
Though, he was unaware that interacting with the Kamado had already left an impression on them. The silence is already noticed by the children and Hanako looks at her sister and wonders confused.
"Onee-chan, Kaa-san? Are you two alright? Why is your face so red?"
"N-No, Hanako it's nothing. How do we start eating before the food gets cold?"
"Y-Yeah it would be bad if we don't finish the food."
Kie played it off dodging her daughter's question while Nezuko quickly started to eat with the other children only shrugged it off and ate the meal. Their feast were simple bread and some boiled prawns.
They ate the food but frowned at the taste as it was bland and lacking compared to Ryuu's godly cooking.
"What's wrong, Takeo?"
Their mother noticed their disappointment and lack of enthusiasm eating the meal that she prepared. It lacked the proper cooking and preparation.
"Nothing...it...I like Ryuu-Nii's cooking."
"Me too! Ryuu-nii can you cook for us again?"
"Nii-Nii please?"
The three youngest pleaded with Ryuu that made their mother embarrassed that she was unable to satisfy her children and was bothering him once again.
He only warmly smiled seeing their cute faces that it made difficult to refuse them but didn't want to spoil them with his meal.
"I'm sorry I can't always cook for you and you shouldn't be picky with food or it will be bad for you. Now be good, then maybe I'll cook for lunch later alright?"
They stop trying not wanting to bother him and fail to have him cook for them. He lightly chuckled at their faces but it would be bad if they suddenly got too much good stuff. In the end, the children end up eating their cooking and left to play outside.
Ryuu saw them running around as Tanjiro excuse himself by taking the coal to the village. He turned to his side and spotted Kie.
"I'm sorry for how my children acted."
She was embarrassed the way her children acted while Ryuu couldn't help by sign every time she talked to him. It was difficult to put her side and try to avoid interacting with her.
"You know, you worry too much. I knew that they would act that way after tasting my dish. But I must say you've raised good children. Your eldest Tanjiro seems to hold the responsibility of man of the house."
Ryuu softly said while Kie listened to his voice as the two sat at the wood mat. He didn't have much to do besides wait for Tanjiro to continue teaching him about the Hinokami Kagura.
Kie listening to his words made her rethink that it was true that Tanjiro had been more active and taking responsibility after his father had done and saddened he was being burdened by it. Not to mention, Tanjiro appears exactly like his father.
"Nii-Nii can you carry me?"
Ryuu was silent having a conversation with Kie when Rokuta the youngest approached him requesting to be carried. Kie was about to scold her son but was surprised when Ryuu moved and took him into his shoulder.
"Like this!? Hold on tight or you might fall."
"R-Ryuu-san, are you sure about this? Your hair?"
"Don't mind that, come hold on tight!"
He used his Aura to surround Rokuta to protect and prevent him from falling. Ryuu used his movement Technique to move around the place letting Rokuta feel the strong wind making him giggle.
"Nii-san carry me too!"
"No, I should go first!!"
Shigeru and Hanako argue wanting experience being carried by him since their father hasn't been able to due to his frail body.
"Alright, don't fight, you two will have your turn."
Afterwards, they played tag and hide seek, teaching a few games that he did when he was young. Kie watched them and could only smile seeing their faces.
"Here let me teach you how to write and read. Also count and add."
The children were being taught by Ryuu. They were rather intelligent, learning basic counting and arithmetic. He wondered if these rules of math had been discovered yet but didn't care and thought of a few things.
"Now if we have 10 rocks and remove 6, how many do we have? Yes, Takeo?"
"Five?"
"Nope but close. Keep trying. Shigure?"
"Two!?"
"Hehehe nice try but no."
They poured frustration on not being able to get the correct answer and patted their head. Hanako raised her hand and gave her answer.
"Four!"
"Hate to say it but…."
Hanako downcast thinking that she got the wrong answer and made Ryuu laugh much to her surprise.
"But you got it right! Great Job, Hanaka-chan!"
She felt a sense of accomplishment and puffed her chest that only fuel her siblings spirit.
"Ryuu-Nii, ask more! Maybe this time I'll get the answer!"
"No, I'll get the answer!!"
Few hours went by and the children felt tired from playing and took a nap. Kie took Rokuta and carried her while putting him to sleep singing the child in a lullaby.
Ryuu was allured by her mesmerizing voice that made him nostalgic. He recalls times of his late grandmother from his mom's side singing him a lullaby.
Headed inside to find Nezuko trying to knit her kimono that seems to have been damaged.
"Nezuko-san, do you mind if I help with that?"
Nezuko turned to the side as Ryuu sat beside her, which made extremely nervous and tried to calm herself. She didn't want him to have the wrong impression of her.
"No, it's fine. I can handle it."
"If you insist then I'll be outside."
"Wait, can you stay? I want someone to talk to?"
She wanted to know more about him and receive a smile as he sat beside her. Ryuu entertained her with stories while Kie caught them only smiling at the scene seeing herself and her late husband.
'Anata if you only see what I'm seeing…'
Kie shook her thoughts as she prepared to do some house work. She still had things washed and clean.
===============
A week has gone by since he had been staying with the Kamado family and grown even fonder than the children who started to view some sort of big brother. It was unbelievable how fast children grow emotionally attached to someone.
Ryuu and Kie decided that she will cook at Morning, while he is tasked to cook at Lunch and Dinner, which the children got happy with, and these few days train intensely.
While he was training after memorizing the Hinokami Kagura was approached by Tanjiro wondering what he's about to ask.
"Uhmm...P-please teach me h-how to use a sword!! "
He was a little anxious to make the request while Ryuu raised his eyebrow from his words. His mind drifted off looking at Tanjiro.
'He is supposed to start training in a year and a half in the original plot...but...i'd like to hear his reason. Furthermore, it wouldn't hurt training him early.' .
"Tanjiro...why do you want to know how to use a sword? Wielding a blade isn't something to be displayed and used to kill."
He asked, showing that it has no redemption one you've wielded the blade and killed someone. Tanjiro answered as his eyes filled with conviction and determination.
"It's because I want to protect my family! and because I am the Eldest of my siblings after all!"
Ryuu was impressed by his words, reminded of him when his brother protected him from the one he fought in gambling fights. It was fond memories of his brother. He couldn't help but chuckle and mention the similarities
"My brother said the same thing when he protected me. Fine, but be ready because your training is going to be hell! "
Ryuu patted his shoulder as Tanjiro furiously nodded, showing excitement within his eyes.
"Yes! Sensei!!"
From that moment, he started training Tanjiro teaching him basic strengthening and gave him some of the remaining [ Body Tempering ] that caused severe pain from his training but shockingly persevered.
Kie was worried at first seeing her son working hard but let him as Tanjiro deny stopping. It was an amazing will power when he was training under Ryuu.
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