Disciples of the Tengu

*Urokodaki POV*

That kid Asura he's different, somehow he is. His appearance is anything but human and his smell it's absolutely abhorrent. I know Tanjiro noticed it too but chose to never speak about it. That's to be expected seeing Tanjiro's current predicament. He's quick to help but determined to still wield his sword. I'm proud of the warrior he's become.

That kid, Asura reeks of blood despite how much his behavior seeks to prove otherwise.

My first meeting with him wasn't anything but pleasant. I had known that Tanjiro would be returning soon so I had decided to stroll through the mountains when I had come across the rats from Ashina. My father had told me that they were the Senpou monks ears outside of their temple but they were just demons in human skin. Killing anything and anything for anyone that paid enough.

I'll have to talk with the new Ubuyashiki Patriarch. Giyu had informed me that these 'slip ups' as the Alliance calls them are becoming all top frequent for my liking. My elder disciple had been my only living source of Pride. His determination to perfect my clan's Breath style had made him surpass me at such a young age.

If father had been alive he would've either been extremely jovial or extremely pissed. No one would've imagined someone from outside the Tengu clan mastering our arts let alone surpassing them. Perhaps I should try and teach Tanjiro and Giyu the forbidden methods. They would help them with their goals but more importantly, the methods will allow them a better chance at surviving in this world that Kami seems to have forsaken.

My run down with the rats had ended as anyone would've expected. All of them were dead in a few seconds. When I had joined the Corps I had sworn to never intentionally hurt another human and that all that joined should be treated as equals but I hated these Rats. I knew that a day would become when I would slip by a hair's breadth. Something that would've seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of things that would make my attack miss and then I would have my guts spilled open by the Rats as my clansmen had before me for generations.

I only wish that whatever be it may that kills me, in the end, isn't a child. For even in my final moments I do not wish to burden a child be it of a beast, human, demon, or devil to the burden of taking a life.

Suddenly giving my disciples access to the scrolls seemed a lot more important than before. I had rushed through the mountains killing every single one of those things that I could find with motions akin to rivers. I knew Tanjiro would be returning I held belief in my disciple.

I had killed almost a hundred of the Rats when I saw Tanjiro knocking two of them out.

'Never one to kill are you Tanjiro?' I thought and my words rang true as my disciple who I was proud to see return with a mark of the Corps on his hand knocking a few more of them out while the Boar? Beside him knocked the others out with decisive blows to their necks and heads. I guess Tanjiro made friend scratch that two friends as the other one seemed to be wearing a wolf pelt and fighting the rats with his blades drawn slicing through them with relative ease. The boy didn't hesitate once as he cut down his foes and the Black blood seemed to not even faze him.

His Breathing patterns were different from any I've seen but they were certainly effective. I knocked out the Boar and removed the Black blood while disposing of the unconscious rats. Tanjiro noticed but didn't choose to say anything. His eyes demanded answers and I'm sure I'll give him those but that'll have to wait and my youngest disciple was certainly patient.

That kid Asura inquired about the water and the Boar who seemed to be his brother but seemed satisfied with my answers. He seemed to distrust me but I've always been told by the flower Hashiras that my mask isn't the most friendly but I have my reasons.

We then proceeded to return to my home and after a somewhat interesting stare down with the boy about his brother I knew that he didn't mean any harm to Tanjiro or Nezuko. At the very least his care for his brother seemed to confirm that.

*Next Day*

I had woken up expecting to have to tend to the house by myself but the boy and Tanjiro took care of it easily and I didn't see the boy complain for a moment. Again showing no emotion except when his little brother was involved.

*Hours later*

I had been running in the mountains again on a regular patrol for the rats but my attention was caught by the sounds of battle and the all too familiar sound of a blade of a Water Breathing user colliding with an unknown Breath styles blade.

'Maybe the boy asked Tanjiro for a duel? Or maybe his brother.'

I ran towards the sound. No one fights my disciple without me knowing. As I drew closer to the battle I could smell blood. It was vile or rather strong as if thousands of humans have been put in a mochi maker and the result was a liter of red drink. It wasn't Black Blood I was sure of that so it most likely belonged to that kid Asura.

The battle seemed to be taking place at the Ancestral rock. Till now Tanjiro was the youngest one to cut through that thing at such a size.

My breathing hitched as I entered the clearing. My old lungs that I had felt like the strongest of my Organs throughout my years as a Hashira seemed as if they were a newborns trying but failing to catch breaths. It was Sabito, Makomo, Yahiko all of my students who seemed to be fighting a beast.

A feral beast with maws larger than knives and hair like the sharpest blades and it pounded through my students I hadn't even registered they were alive until I saw half of them buried in the ground and the other half buried in tree trunks. Only Sabito and Makomo were still standing.

I tried to intervene but that damm rock wouldn't let me pass. Damm that Stone Hashira for making stupid restrictions. I prepared to use my blade to cut through the rock knowing that it would fail to crumble as my students charged at the beast with a water Dragon guiding their blades.

I watched in horror as the Beast broke their blades with its bare hands and my eyes widened again when the beast turned into Asura and collapsed on the ground.

"I'm too old for this shit." Were my first words for that day.

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Author's Note: I wanted to write this chapter with hinting at Urokodaki's past. I have some ideas regarding water Breathing so look forward to that.

Still saving money for that new phone.

PS: the season 2 announcement was amazing.