"How about this, I'll ask you a few questions and from there on I'll decide your fate, okay?" the Butterfly-Haori woman asked, still firmly pinning Tanjiro to the ground who hesitantly looked around, trying to find some means to escape, afterall for all he knew she'd still kill him after extracting all the information she needed, but considering his position Tanjiro didn't really have a choice, so he firmly met the eyes of the smiling woman above her and nodded, her presence was made only worse by the stench of rage that swerved around her which heavily contrasted her warm expression so drastically it was just plain eerie, "Alright then." she said clapping her hands together, "First off, how did you get that sword? You didn't happen to steal it from someone, right?"

"...I-It's mine. I… I was a… Demon Slayer."

"Oh? That's a shame. Second off, why did you spare that Demon Slayer? Are you trying to keep your pride?"

"I don't… Want to hurt people…"

"Really now? Then why'd you join this family? You know they're pretty mean to people, right?"

"...Was forced…"

"You were? Well, I have a more important question I should've asked earlier, how many people have you killed?"

Tanjiro remained quiet, he didn't kill anyone himself, but he wasn't sure how many people had died because of his traps which meant he could've technically killed a whole slew of people… No, he didn't kill anyone willingly, that's what matters here, "N-None…" he answered under his breath, the stench of rage increased a bit after he gave his answer, she definitely didn't believe him and the fact she kept smiling just made Tanjiro even more weary of her, like she's some kind of monster herself you'd encounter in your nightmares, "Oh my, oh my, that expression on your face tells me you know exactly how I feel about that answer." she suddenly said, it was true, Tanjiro's face had morphed into abject horror when he realized her increasing stench, Tanjiro screamed in his head, "This is it, I'm so dead! I'm so dead!", he closed his eyes, bracing himself for the blade that would definitely cut off his head any moment now, "I failed! I failed to protect Nezuko, I'll have to leave her behind…"

"Oh, are you bracing yourself? I'm not done asking questions yet you know."

Tanjiro let out a sudden gasp of relief, not yet, huh? That meant he still somewhat had a chance.

"Next up on the bucket list of questions, where did you get that Haori? I was told not to get too violent with the person wearing it, did you take it?"

"...Told not to 'get too violent'? Was she told not to kill me…?" Tanjiro thought, "It's mine…"

"Really?"

"Really!"

"Hmmm. I was told I'd probably be a little surprised when seeing the person that owns that particular article of clothing, so I guess that must be you. Oh, right! I was told to ask you something specific. What's your name?"

"T-Tanjiro, Ka-Kamado Tanjiro!"

"Ah, so you are the person I was told to keep an eye out for, they really didn't lie when they told me you'd surprise me."

Tanjiro let out a sigh of relief as the woman got off of him, they both soon stood up before the woman gave him a decent eyeing that felt… Uncomfortable to say the very least, frankly she still gave off that scent of anger which was the main thing that made him so uneasy about her, "You know, I had been keeping an eye on you for a bit longer than you're probably aware of, I was at first surprised when you kept freeing Demon Slayers from what I assume are your own nets, but I figured you had some bigger goal in mind, but now? Hm, maybe you are proof of my sister's dream… Oh well, I shouldn't linger on it for too long." she said when her voice trailed off slightly, she suddenly unsheathed her sword and held it firm up to Tanjiro's neck, from here he could clearly see that her sword wasn't… Normal? It resembled a stinger more, most of the sword was lacking the blade part entirely, he yelped when the blade came dangerously close to him, he could clearly smell the aroma of Wisteria lingering around the blade, "She- She's planning on poisoning me!?" he thought, "Don't worry, this particular mix won't kill you, probably just knock you out cold for a while." the woman said with a smile, "Afterall, I can't exactly let a Demon go free, can I?"

Tanjiro had to think, do something, he had to confirm Nezuko was alive first, "N-Nezuko!" he suddenly blurted out unconsciously, the woman's smile lowered and her face clearly gave wake to curiosity, "Did you just call out a name?" she asked, "Nezuko! Wh-Where's Nezuko!?" Tanjiro responded almost immediately after.

"Oh, her? She's somewhere on the mountain too, do you know her?"

"S-She's my… My sister!"

"Oh, I get it now, you two were separated last time you came to this mountain weren't you? Don't worry, I'll make sure she's alive by the time the mountain has been cleared of Demons… Aside from you, then we'll take you back to headquarters!"

"...He-Headquarters?"

"Mhm! I was told to collect someone with that particular Haori of yours. Oyakata-sama was very clear with his orders."

Tanjiro stared at her in confusion, he was told to be collected? Who's this 'Oyakata-sama'? ...On second thought, that didn't matter at the moment, he had to get to Nezuko, dropping his sword he quickly weaved threads from his hands and pulled the woman away from him, she gasped when Tanjiro's threads constricted her and strung her up, from the way she hung there was no way she'd get out anytime soon, which gave Tanjiro much needed time to escape, he quickly picked up his sword again, ignoring the immense stench of rage that began filling his nostrils more and more, and he ran off.

"...He didn't kill me, either…" the woman thought, "...Is he really just trying to get to that girl? Nee-chan, what would you do in this scenario…?"

The Demon's threads were more fierce than before, but Nezuko's training gave her the upper edge for now, dodging strike after strike she made sure to hide her blade by her body, attempting to cut the incoming threads would just result in a repeat of last time and she'd get another lashing from Haganezuka...
Although, her life was more important, and she was going to keep to that promise she made to herself, that she'd hurt this boy, bad.
"You've got that same look as last time on your face, I don't like it." the Demon responded flatly as he continued to bombard Nezuko with thread technique after thread technique.

Compared to last time, this was many times easier, thanks to Total Concentration Breathing - Constant she could actually clearly keep up with the Threads instead of having to rely on her sense of danger, as it stood right now she had the upper hand, problem was for how long?
From what she heard, members of the Twelve Kizuki were incredibly powerful, even the lower ranking ones which probably meant he was holding back, if he was that meant Nezuko would get overpowered sooner or later, but she remained determined, this monster took his brother, and she'd make him pay.

"Still not giving up? You're quite persistent. I can tell you improved atleast."

"I did! And I'm going to use it to kill you!"

"We will see about that.", another flurry of threads, faster than the last ones, it was clear he was getting more serious which was bad news for Nezuko, but she persisted, pushed further.
"Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
Using the footwork of the technique, she encroached upon her opponent, before she could land a blow she was forced to duck as threads threatened to decapitate her from both sides, rolling back she immediately jumped to dodge another attack, she had to be faster, and there's only one form that's faster than-
Someone else was approaching, they were making their way here fast, both combatants kept themselves weary of the incoming individual as they fought on, soon after a figure emerged from the bushes and Nezuko gasped after recognizing the few specific articles of clothing, "Big Brother…" Rui said, the newcomer landed next to Nezuko, sword drawn and glaring daggers at Rui, "...Did you come here to aid me?" Rui asked.

Tanjiro shook his head, raising his sword and aiming it at Rui who's anger immediately increased hundredfold from the sight before him, his supposed older brother had 'betrayed' him and broken their family bond just like that, "After this is over, I'll string you up and let you burn in the sunlight, immediately."

"Onii-chan!" Nezuko said happily, "You're alive!", Tanjiro gave a quick nod as he readied a battle stance, Nezuko following his example before the two engaged Rui together.

Giyu wasn't sure what to think of what just happened, one moment he was ready to cut down one of the members of this supposed family, the next his attention was drawn to a roaring figure coming from above, telling him to stay away from 'his family', he easily beat the monster in a few second of course but in the meantime that Girl Demon had escaped him which put him in a bit of a sour mood.

This especially was not the time for one of the Kasugai Crows to land near him, the crow steadied his footing before addressing Giyu, "Caw! Tomioka Giyu! Your fellow Hashira requires your assistance, she has been strung up by a Demon in a way that directly hinders her movement! Caw!"

"Well, that's what you get for trying to get too formal with a Demon", he thought, reluctantly he followed the Crow across the mountain, eventually ending up in a neat clearing where he could clearly see Shinobu neatly strung up among the tree branches, "Seems like you got yourself into a situation." Giyu said, "Ah, Tomioka-san, I was waiting for you, would you be so kind as to help me down? I think the Demon that did this is the one we were meant to bring back to Headquarters alive."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I don't think I would be the type to misjudge that, now could you please get me down so we can go after them?"

Rui crossed his arms, his lower arms slowly turning red while his two adversaries approached him, "You really didn't think my threads were at their strongest, did you?" he asked as he shot his arms outwards again, sending his threads barreling through the battlefield and both adversaries were skillfully doing their best to avoid the incoming chances to die, after all if they didn't then their journey would be cut short just like that.
Rui's new red threads proved to be much more powerful, still the two siblings avoided cutting them as to prevent their swords from snapping and were dodging strike after strike from Rui's assaults, his newfound strength and speed suddenly presenting a deadlock in which neither party could proceed.

"We have to find an opening…!"Tanjiro thought as he dodged another flurry of blood-red threads, something had to be done, all he had were his own threads but surely Rui could sever them easily with his own, "Think, Tanjiro! Think!"

Nezuko herself was having a similar mental struggle, if they couldn't find a way to defeat Rui then everything would be over, something they couldn't afford.

As it stood, they were at a draw, neither of them could approach Rui properly, but Rui himself wasn't landing any hits that got him anywhere, if he wanted this fight to progress he'd have to use a Demon Blood Art.
If he had to, he had to, after finishing his current batch of attacks which were dodged equally by jumps, ducks, and leaps from his opponents he waited before the two were once again close together charging at him, he had them where he wanted.
Knowing what to do, he unleashed his most powerful art at the two, he had to defeat them.
"Blood Demon Art: Cutting Threads Rotation!"

The wall of threads forming infront of him grew and grew, taking the Kamados off guard quickly, they had skid to a halt as the threat before them made itself clear, it was then launched, it was fast and deadly, it would most certainly ruin everything once it hit.
Needless to say, the two were terrified as the Blood Art approached, not having enough time to leap to the side to avoid the attack.

Nezuko's life flashed before her eyes, an intricate web of memories that were flooding her at once, she had to find a way to survive but her memories proved futile in the endeavor to find something that would lend them a way out.
All she knew were Urokodaki's teachings, and the most powerful Water Breathing Technique could not be executed now, if she tried she'd get shredded before the attack became powerful enough to cut a single thread.

At the same time, something clicked inside Tanjiro's mind, a web of his own with fuzzy and hazy imagery flashed before him, a few of which brightened and became clearer in the moment.
One of them struck him, struck him hard.

"Look, Tanjiro. Your father is doing the Kagura dance." His mother said to him, young Tanjiro stood watching his father who was shrouded in a haze, a hard-to-remember figure dancing through the mist-filled night.
"Our family works with fire, so in order to keep us safe we offer a dance to Hinokami, the Fire God, at the start of each year." she said again as Tanjiro kept watching, burning the moves into his mind in a way that felt strangely familiar to him, yet he paid the thought no mind as his father danced on through the night.

The Hinokami Kagura, their family tradition dance that was passed on along with the Hanafuda Earrings, one day Tanjiro would wear these earrings too, and dance the same dance.
Supposedly, through the help of a special breathing technique his father was able to dance from dusk till dawn without fatigue, a man's voice rang out through the faint memory, "You'll be able to dance forever, too."

Sparks of fire sprung to life around Tanjiro's body as his eyes flashed with full realization, two years studying the blade has allowed Tanjiro to see the pattern in his memory, the swings, the thrusts, all of it, found in the dance he was taught by his father.
He took in another deep breath, filling himself with new air as his hands steadied around the handle of his blade.
"Hinokami Karura: Dance!"
With a firm vertical slash akin to a flame enhanced by his Demon Strength, the Demon Art had been struck down simply by creating a single fault in the series of threads, the remaining threads flew past the Kamados, creating a few minor cuts on their bodies.

Sparks of life and determination had sprung to life around the young boy who had just used something he had known for years, and would sooner or later learn the true potential of, this something would grant him victory, now or never.
He lunged, charged at the enemy Demon that threatened their lives just now, lunged to put an end to it all.

Nezuko's eyes widened in shock at her brother's actions, but upon seeing his expression she knew what she had to do too.
Breathe and beat the night.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux!"
Following the movements of her brother Nezuko charged at her opponent, rotation after rotation deflecting the incoming threads of a now completely shocked and frightened Rui who was desperately trying to get the two Adversaries away from himself, jumping back repeatedly to extend his chances.

Slash after slash, Threads were cut or deflected by the Kamado Siblings hot approaching the retreating Lower Moon, sparks of flames trailing the boy during his pursuit as his eyes yelled out his intentions and underlined his determination hard.
Something was readying itself in the mind of the young Demon Boy, something that burned, that ignited his will to advance and win, win for his family, win for his sister.
Slash after slash, that something became closer and closer to ready, the heat from his body increased as his blade began to shine a bright red, and before anyone could realize what had happened, it struck.
"Blood Demon Art: Igniting Figure!"
A surge of heat entered Tanjiro's mouth, before his body erupted into bright orange dancing flames that turned his blade a bright crimson red which cut through the incoming threads with remarkable ease, his body burning the leftover threads he rushed past.

Urokodaki's words of praise rang through Nezuko's mind as she saw what had just happened, her brother had awakened his own Blood Demon Art in the literal heat of battle.
With new resolve, she strengthened her own technique, now there was nothing Rui could do to win.

The two sides continued to dance around the battlefield, with the Kamados chasing the retreating Rui who was placing and swinging his threads all over during his retreat, only for them to be deflected, burned, or cut, by the approaching Demon and Demon Slayer, a surprisingly dangerous combo Rui had realized the true menace of.
With every jump back and with every cut or burning thread Rui realizes that the Kamados push closer and closer, he was pushed into a corner and he realized it strongly, something had to be done, he had to win somehow, then the thought hit him, if he cuts off his own neck he can wait for them to calm down and allow fatigue to settle in, after that he could attack once more and defeat the two.
But before he could act the first blade struck the left side of his neck, the girl had slipped past her brother and landed her blade firmly on Rui's neck, before the crimson blade of the boy struck the left side.

"Our bond will NEVER be severed, by ANYONE!" the two siblings yelled in unison as they pushed their blades hard, digging into Rui's neck until the two blades met halfway through, creating a metallic hum.
With a distant thud, Rui's head had been flung off of his shoulders with such velocity that he could barely register what had happened, two more thuds soon followed a few meters away from his body, the fire that illuminated the battle died out as Tanjiro let his Blood Demon Art end.

Suddenly, in an instant Rui's memories returned to him.
The child, the human, he used to be, the weak body that plagued his past and his parents that still loved him, until he became a Demon and his father attempted to kill him, the father he killed in retaliation, the father who's words went over his head entirely, and once he heard them properly he felt like it was his fault for severing his family's ties, his body willed itself back up on its feet and walked over to the sound of family crying, the Kamados had embraced each other after their victory, finally reunited after almost two months of being separated.

Tanjiro suddenly caught the scent, the smell of strong guilt and sorrow, he perked up and faced the source, seeing the headless and fading body of the Lower Moon stumbling towards them, he realized it, all he wanted was to have a loving family.

Nezuko felt the hug loosen, she looked up, seeing her brother reach out to the stumbling dying Demon, allowing it to enter the family hug.

It was warm, Rui felt the true embrace of a family as he was sent on towards the afterlife.
He expected it, he couldn't go to Heaven, he had done so much wrong as a Demon and no one would forgive him, not even his own parents…
But he was proven wrong, his parents forgave him, they were never angry at Rui, never held him responsible, and now they were willing to burn in hell with him for all eternity.

Before the moment passed, Tanjiro remembered something important, taking out a knife-like syringe from his Haori, he extracted some of Rui's blood before his body faded entirely, the two Kamados now sat across from each other, they had won the battle.
A meow alerted the two next, looking over a cat had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, a box fastened onto their back and one of Yushiro's papers on his neck, "Must be from Tamayo." Nezuko said, she took the syringe from Tanjiro's hand and began putting it in the box on the cat's back, once it had been put in properly she closed the box, the cat looked at her, then meowed, vanishing.

Nezuko returned to her brother's side, the two looked at each other and smiled, before Nezuko began to express her disbelief out loud at Tanjiro's changed appearance, much to the latter's dismay.

The tender moment was cut short as two pairs of footsteps rushed into the clearing, a woman and a man soon entered the battlefield, catching a glimpse of the last remnants of Rui's body fading to ash, "You fought a Demon, I see." Giyu flatly said, his expression unchanging, Tanjiro caught the incoming smell and was not very happy to see the face that wasn't very happy to see him either, the woman, Shinobu, approached the boy with that ever present smile of hers that attempted to mask her rage.
"Well, I can see you two have been reunited, but we have something important to handle." she said.

"That is…?" Nezuko asked as Shinobu crouched down next to the Kamados, before the two got an answer they both felt a firm chop on the sweet spot of their necks, letting Shinobu knock the two out single-handedly with both hands.

Tanjiro heard Giyu's comment just before he fainted, "...Why do you think Oyakata-sama wanted us to bring them to Headquarters?"

"Well, only time will tell." Shinobu answered as she got up, a group of Kakushi soon entered the clearing who looked like they were already prepped for the job at hand, with a few taking Nezuko's unconscious body, and another few warily took that of Tanjiro, covering him with a large blanket to shield him from the upcoming break of day.

Lil' sorry it took me a bit longer to upload this chapter, I'm part of an active roleplay community and some important plot-stuff is happening right now.

Also, Hashira Trial comes next, whooo- Marechi-

Last note, coming up with good Demon Blood Art names is surprisingly hard.