Chapter 20: Upper Demon Moon Three, Akaza

Notes: Part 3 of the Mugen Train Arc.

'I can't die. If I die, that man will become a murderer. I can't die. I won't let anyone die!' he thought as he came to.

"Are you okay?!" Inosuke's voice reached him, as the boy came running, the train having stopped thrashing at last, "Santarou!" Inosuke kneeled beside him, moving him on his back, "Keep it together! You saved me from the demon flesh before! Now it's my turn! Your tummy okay? You got stabbed!" he asked, shaking him.

"I…I'm fine." Tanjirou said quietly, "How about y…?"

"I feel great! Not even a scratch! The demon's flesh was springy and protected me! Weird, huh?"

"Looks like I can't move just yet… You go save the others… Are there any injured people…? The driver was near the demon's neck…" Tanjirou asked after the civilians' well-being.

Inosuke went still and quiet at the mention of the man.

"I actually think it's all right if he dies." he said seriously.

"No…it's not…" Tanjirou sighed.

"He's the one that stabbed you in the stomach! Anyway, his leg is pinned under the engine. There's no way he can walk. If we leave him, he'll die."

"No, he's already suffered enough. Go help him. Please." he sighed.

Inosuke huffed.

"Fine. I'll do it. Because I'm a good boss. To make my underling happy." he said seriously, letting Tanjirou back down, gently, "But after I save him, I'm ripping out all of his hair!"

"You don't have to do that…" he replied, tiredly, opening his eyes to look at the sky, 'Dawn is coming. I've got to stabilize my breathing now… I gotta…help the injured…' he blinked, 'Rengoku-san…Zenitsu…I'm sure they are safe… I believe…' he sighed, 'Oh, I don't have the strength to get his blood. I'm sorry, Tamayo-san.'

Tanjirou pressed his hand against his wound.

Suddenly Rengoku-san's face appeared upside-down over him.

"It looks like you can do Total Concentration: Constant! That's impressive!" he said, excitedly.

"Rengoku-san…" Tanjirou said relieved.

"That's the first step to becoming a Pillar!" he said, "But that's just the first of thousands of steps to come yet!"

"I'll do my best." Tanjirou promised.

"You're bleeding from your abdomen. Concentrate more. Improve the accuracy of your breath. Focus on every inch of your body."

Tanjirou did as Rengoku-san was saying, drawing deeper, slower breaths.

"There are blood vessels. And they're broken. Concentrate more." the Flame Pillar said.

Tanjirou started to feel the wound.

"There. That's it… Hemostasis. Stop the bleeding."

Tanjirou gritted his teeth trying to will the bleeding to a stop. Rengoku-san tapped his forehead.

"Focus."

Tanjirou gasped at his managing to do it.

"That's it. No more bleeding." Rengoku-san said, "There's various things you'll be able to accomplish, if you master your breathing. That doesn't mean you can do everything, but you can definitely get stronger than you were the day before." he smiled proudly.

"Yeah." Tanjirou agreed.

"Everyone's safe!" the young man exclaimed, "There're a lot of injured people, but no deaths. So no need for you to push yourself any further…"

And just then, something crashed behind them.

Rengoku-san turned to face whatever had appeared, while Tanjirou tried to look upside down.

There was a young-looking man with pink hair, white skin and blue lines across his body, dressed in white pants and a pinkish-purple vest, who was looking at them.

'Upper Moon…Three? Why is he here now?!' Tanjirou thought, as the demon rushed towards them and made to strike him down.

In an instant, Rengoku-san had sliced the fist in the middle, forcing the demon back.

The wound healed almost instantly.

"Nice blade." the demon said, licking his blood.

"Now, I cannot understand why someone as powerful as you is targeting a wounded person first."

"I thought he'd get in the way, between you and me, and interrupt the conversation we're about to have." the demon said.

"You and I have something to talk about?" Rengoku-san wondered, "This is our first time meeting, but I already hate you."

"Is that so? I really hate weak humans, too. When I look at weaklings, I just feel disgusted." the demon was saying, "My skin crawls."

"It looks like you and I have very different moral values in regard to things." Rengoku-san replied.

"I see. Then, I have a wonderful proposal." he said, "Why don't you become a demon, too?"

"No, thanks!"

"I can tell your strength just by looking at you. You're a Pillar, right?" he said, "Your battle spirit is quite polished. You're getting to close to supreme territory."

"I am the Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyoujurou."

"And I am Akaza. Kyoujurou, I'll tell you why you aren't crossing into supreme territory. It's because you're human. Because you'll grow old. Because you'll eventually die. Become a demon, Kyoujurou. If you do, you can continue to train for a hundred, even two hundred years. You can become stronger."

Tanjirou carefully flipped onto his stomach.

'Of all the demons I've met up to now, this one smells the most like Kibutsuji! I have to help. Where's my wakizashi? Not here… It's gone…'

"Growing old and dying is the beauty of the fleeting creature called a human being, giving meaning to it's life span. It's precisely because we age and die, that our lives have value…and nobility. Humans are tremendous, lovable and precious. 'Strength' isn't a word…that is used in regards to the body." Rengoku-san said with conviction, "This boy is not weak. Do not insult him. I'll say it over and over again; you and I have different moral values. I have many reasons for not becoming a demon, no matter the motivation."

"I see." Akaza took a fighting stance, "If you won't become a demon, then I'll kill you!"

And with that the two charged each other.

'I can't follow them with my eyes!' Tanjirou realised.

"Of all the Pillars I've killed, none of them were of Flame. And still, none of them ever accepted my invitation. Why is that? As someone who also trained in martial arts and walks the path of the warrior, I find them hard to understand. And they say that only those who were chosen can become demons. You can not simply decide. Someone with wonderful talents is going to have an unsightly decline. This is unbearable! Just die, Kyoujurou, while you're young and strong!"

Tanjirou tried really hard to follow the fight, getting a glimpse here and there only when there was a mild pause in the fight.

Suddenly, Rengoku-san was before Akaza.

"Such amazing reaction speed!" Akaza called out, "Same goes to your wonderful sword style! They'll be lost Kyoujurou! Isn't that sad?"

"Nobody would be if they're human! It's just natural! That's what it means to be human!"

Tanjirou started getting to his feet, remembering his katana was still at his side.

"Don't move! If your wound opens, it'll be fatal!" Rengoku-san called back to Tanjirou, "It's not your time yet! Standby, soldier!" he ordered.

Tanjirou froze, shocked Rengoku-san noticed him moving.

"Don't mind the weaklings, Kyoujurou! Give it all you got! Focus on me! You'll need your strength for me!" Akaza called.

Suddenly, Tanjirou noticed Inosuke was there beside him, looking at the fight.

But what had caught his attention was the scent from Rengoku-san.

Tanjirou was worried.

"Don't die on me yet, Kyoujurou." Akaza said.

'Rengoku-san…Rengoku-san…Rengoku-san…!'

"No matter how desperately, even if you fight with the intention to sacrifice you body, it's all pointless, Kyoujurou. The wonderful slashes which you attacked me with have already healed completely. But what about you? Your left eye is crushed, your ribs are broken and your organs are wounded. Those are serious wounds. You can't recover from this anymore. If you were a demon, you would be cured in the blink of an eye. If you were a demon, this would be just a scratch. No matter how much you struggle, humans can't beat demons."

Tanjirou, shakily tried to stand up.

'There is no strength to my limbs! It's probably because I am wounded. But I want to help out too…!'

"I will fulfill my duties! I won't let anyone here die!" Rengoku-san said.

Tanjirou watched the two take their stances.

"What a wonderful fighting spirit…! You have so many wounds, yet your drive, your fortitude and your stance have no openings. You're full of determination. You really should become a demon, Kyoujurou!" Akaza called out, gleefully, "Let's continue to fight for all eternity!"

There was a moment of clarity for Tanjirou.

"Inosuke." he said seriously, as he stood up, his katana drawn, "Follow my lead."

As Akaza used his technique, as Rengoku-san used his own, Tanjirou struck.

In a moment when no one expected him, Tanjirou moved faster than ever before, fast enough to reach the two, and slice off Akaza's whole right arm.

"What are you doing here?!" Rengoku-san asked, shocked and worried, "I gave you an order!"

"I really should have killed you earlier!" Akaza shouted, as he drew his left hand back to attack Tanjirou.

Just then Inosuke struck, sawing off the demon's left hand, before pulling Tanjirou away, just as Rengoku-san got out of his shocked state and brought his sword down on Akaza's neck.

Tanjirou saw his wakizashi, fallen by a tree and picked it up, just as Akaza, with his neck half-cut jumped away, when Inosuke tried to help Rengoku-san cut his head, by stomping on the ground, breaking Rengoku-san's sword and making Inosuke fall down by the shockwave.

The sun was rising, forcing Akaza to ran away, towards the forest, Rengoku-san's broken sword still stuck in his neck.

Tanjirou drew a deep breath, took aim and threw his wakizashi with deadly accuracy through Akaza's heart.

"Where are you going, you coward?!" he shouted, running after the demon, his wound forgotten, "Don't run away!" he shouted, stopping a short distance later, "The Demon Slayers will fight you in the darkness of the night when it's advantageous for you! We're flesh and blood humans! Wounds don't simply close up! And the limbs we lose won't ever come back! Don't run away, you damn coward! You coward! Compared to the likes of you…Rengoku-san will always be more amazing! He's strong! He's not gonna lose! He never let anyone die! He fought to the end! He protected everyone to the end! You're afraid to admit your defeat! You're the one who lost! Rengoku-san is the winner!" he shouted after the long gone demon.

Tanjirou panted, tears going down his eyes.

"There's no point in shouting so much now, kid. The wound on your stomach is open again and you don't have minor injuries, either. Kamado, my boy, if you die here, I won't have my victory. Come over here. Let's have a chat."

Tanjirou carefully walked back towards the Flame Pillar. He kneeled and sat down before the man.

"I don't know if I'll make it." he said, "But in the case I don't I want you to deliver two messages for me, my boy. Can you do that?"

"Okay." the young head of the Kamado family nodded his head, trying to hold his tears.

"I want you to tell my younger brother, Senjurou, that he should proceed down the path that he thinks is right, as his heart tells him to. And tell my father, to take care of himself. And also, one last thing… Kamado, my boy, will you be my Tsuguko?"

Tanjirou chuckled, softly, despite himself, through his tears.

"But I was. I was for a little while."

Rengoku-san chuckled softly.

"Yes, you are right. I did train you." he said, "Live with your chest high. Stand tall and be proud. If you get knocked down by your own weakness and cowardice, if you feel unworthy, flame up your heart, keep it burning, grit your teeth and move forward." he spoke softly, "Even if you stop in your tracks and cower, you're not gonna stop the flow of time. It won't stop while you wallow in grief. Don't be saddened by the fact that we're all reaching the end." he sighed, "Don't worry about me. If you're a Pillar, it's natural to become the shield of your juniors. If you're a Pillar, you'd do the same thing as everyone else, no matter who they are. Young buds shouldn't be plucked early." he turned to smile at them, "Kamado, my boy, Boar Head boy, and Golden boy, you all have ways to grow, to learn. And next time, you all will become Pillars who will support the demon hunters. I believe in you. I truly do."

Tanjirou cried.

Zenitsu found them just then, catching the tail end of Rengoku-san's speech.

The man in question had lost his consciousness so suddenly, Tanjirou had believed him dead.

"When the train went off the tracks, Rengoku-san used a bunch of techniques to minimize and keep the damage to the passenger cars to the bare minimum." Zenitsu explained.

"I suppose." Tanjirou said quietly.

"For him to be in such a state… Did an Upper Moon actually come here?" Zenitsu asked.

"Yeah…"

"Why would an Upper Moon come here like that…? Was it really that strong? That can't…"

"Yeah…" Tanjirou said, tonelessly, "I hate it… Even though I should've been able to help him out more, there was another thick wall right in front of me. Even though amazing people were constantly fighting right in front of me, with such skill and power, I still couldn't do much for them. I'm so far behind them. It felt like I was stumbling then… So…can I even become like Rengoku-san…? Like father?"

"Don't dwell on such weak thoughts and spew out timid ass words!" Inosuke shouted suddenly, surprising him, "All that talk about whether you can be or can't be like them is pointless! He said that he believes in us! Don't think about anything else except living up to it! Creatures that die just return to the earth! They won't come back, even if you bawl about it! Don't cry, even if you feel regret, or you are frustrated!" he shouted, openly crying himself, "No matter how miserable you are, how embarrassed you are, even if you think you're wretched and unworthy…you have to keep living!"

"But you're crying too. There are tears coming out from that headpiece…" Zenitsu mumbled.

"I ain't crying!" Inosuke headbutted Zenitsu.

Zenitsu fell to the ground with a cry, holding his head.

"Come here! Time for training!" he shouted, pulling at Tanjirou, and starting to punch him, not as hard as he normally would.

"Wait, why are we crying?" Zenitsu wondered.

"Rengoku-san…" Tanjirou started.

"What about him? He's just passed out." Zenitsu blinked.

That froze the other two.

"He's…alive…?" Tanjirou mumbled, finally losing consciousness.

And that was how the Kakushi found them.

Notes: REJOICE! Rengoku lives!