Kokushibo sat in his designated room in the Infinity Mansion, the picture of perfect serenity from the outside. Inside his mind, though, he raged – both at himself and at the abnormality that had fought him almost to a draw. The boy had disgraced him, his style, his standing in the upper ranks of the Kizuki and Kokushibo would not ignore that insult. He would make that child regret ever having crossed swords with the Waxing First. He was positive he could defeat the child. He'd even been training to get stronger. The next time he met the brat, Kamado would die by his blade.

But before then, though, he knew his lord would make him prove his competence and position again. (He had never been so disgraced before, and he hated it.) As of the current moment, it was only a matter of time. He hoped that the opportunity to prove himself would arise soon though

Almost as if in answer to his thoughts (not unlikely), the door behind him opened into a large space. In the center, stood Muzan. Immediately, Kokushibo rose and hurried out, dropping calmly and elegantly to his knees in front of his master.

"Muzan-sama," he said respectfully.

"Kokushibo. I have a mission for you."

The younger demon's mouth twitched up in the barest approximation of a smile, the only indication he gave of the satisfaction and anticipation he felt.

"Of course, Muzan-sama."

xXx

Inosuke didn't get… people. Which was weird and a little disappointing seeing as he'd never really fit in with the boars either. Oh, he'd held his own against them, of course – he wouldn't have survived otherwise – but some things they just seemed to understand he… didn't. And once he found out that humans could fight on his level (or close to it in any case), he'd wanted to prove his superiority and join the humans in the rightful place of a revered leader.

But humans were… weird. Like, weirder than boars. Way weirder. And complicated for no reason. They made everything so difficult! It was… frustrating, he supposed, and he grew more and more thankful to his clan mother every day that she was able to raise him away from all of that. Some of the things humans did were just so… stupid. And they couldn't even see it! Admittedly, other things were incredibly awe-inspiring and so smart, but those were few and far between and every time he witnessed one, he vowed never to speak of his awe aloud. If he wanted to take his place as one of their strongest, he couldn't show that kind of weakness.

(Never mind that some of his new companions showed that kind of weakness often but were just as revered. He… didn't understand. Humans were so weird.)

The fact that he was beginning to understand them confused him. Should he be happy that he was learning their complex… well, everything or should he be horrified at his understanding? He didn't want to forget the sweet simplicity of the family that raised him, but he was also proud of himself for understanding and comprehending this new world he'd come into.

He also hated thinking about that and usually went out looking for a demon to fight or someone to 'train' with when he got caught up in thoughts like that. Just give him a good fight any day. Winning always made him feel better.

Which was why he was chasing the loud, whiny kid – Renitsu? – around. It would be better if he would just turn and fight, but this was simple enough that Inosuke only found himself getting a little angry at it.

Of course, Rezuko and her (utterly terrifying) brother would ruin it.

"Zenitsu-kun, Inosuke-kun, could I speak to you?" she asked politely drawing their attention away from each other. He never understood why she seemed so calm and collected when he'd seen her fight. She wasn't weak. She could do anything she wanted!

(Had he mentioned that he didn't get humans?)

"We're training!" Inosuke yelled at her.

Monitsu turned immediately anc cried out as he rushed over to her. "Nezzzzzuuukooooo-chaaaaaan!" he yelled, completely ignoring Inosuke! Why that… "I'm so glad you're alright!"

Oh… right. She'd been… well… almost a demon. But she wasn't now. He could sense it. That was good enough for him.

"Did you come here to fight?" he asked. Maybe this could be salvaged after all.

To his dismay, she shook her head.

"We… actually have something to tell you," her brother said, sounding more serious than any time Inosuke had seen him before. Well, the boar-raised boy hadn't seen him often, but it still counted.

"I'm training!" Inosuke said angrily. They tended to react better to that than the word, 'fighting'… for some really strange reason he didn't understand yet (and wasn't sure if he wanted to).

"This is really important, Inosuke-san," Nezurio said quietly, but her voice still sounded so firm… how could she do that?

"Just sit down, you insane, wild-man!" Zenizo said angrily.

Inosuke was about to yell some more when Neruko just said, "Please." And he could sense she really wanted to tell them… and they had called him their friend and given him fuzzy feelings he kinda liked…

"Aarg, fine!" he magnanimously conceded, but he wasn't happy about it, sitting down in a huff by Ronitsu in front of the engawa. The siblings both smiled warmly at him (well, it seemed he'd made the right choice at least) and came to sit in front of the engawa, facing them.

"I'm sorry this took so long for me to explain," she finally said, sounding regretful. That made him feel bad because he was supposed to protect his lackeys! Was he not doing his job well enough?!

"It's my fault, really," the demon boy spoke up. Inosuke frowned. Should he beat the guy up? Or just listen? Why should this boy tell them anything anyway? Not that he would complain – he liked being in the know, and he liked being considered important enough to be in the know – but still…

"I'm… well, from the future," the demon boy went on. (What was his name again? Tanario? Kanjuro? Monjiro? Something like that.)

Next to him, Zentirou went very still. Inosuke… didn't get it, though. What was he talking about? From the future? What did that even mean?

Then Ronitsu sprang to his feet and pointed down at Tanrizo. "YOU EXPECT US TO BELIEVE SOMETHING THAT RIDICULOUS?!"

"Zenitsu," Mizuko spoke, her voice hard and unyielding, "it's the truth."

"You can hear it, can't you?" the demon asked.

That stopped Zeniku short and he suddenly looked (and felt) utterly terrified in a way he hadn't felt before – something deeper and more… human.

This was why he hated trying to understand humans! What did that even mean?!

And why was all of this important? It probably had something to do with what Neruioko and the Sound Pillar Guy had been talking about in the red light district… like they knew things. Was that because of Tanujo?

The demon boy took a deep breath. "I've woken up on the same day – the day before my family is killed by Muzan – again and again and again. Every time I die, I wake up then, no matter what, because of a demon blood art."

Wait… he'd died?

And he came back?

Now that was strength!

"So you… know everything that's going to happen?" Zeniku asked, sounding quieter than he ever had before… at least in Inosuke's presence.

Tanuko sighed. "No. I know what can happen, and I've given all the information I can to the Corps but… we'll be going up against Muzan himself soon and you guys need to know – you need to get stronger!"

Silence met his words and Inosuke couldn't help but blink. They would… be going up against the demon king soon? He felt anticipation begin to rise inside of him and—

"But I can't be strooooong!" Renotsu shrieked. The sudden change in noise level had Inosuke kicking out and Rezitsu went flying. Well, it was only a couple of body lengths, actually, but eh.

"You stupid boar!" The yellow-haired boy shrieked, standing up from where he'd landed, face covered in dirt.

Inosuke couldn't help but grin under his mask. "Weaklings don't get to shout things like that." Unless he wanted to prove that he wasn't actually as weak as he claimed.

(Why did he claim he was so weak? That… just seemed like the stupidest thing he could possibly do! Most other humans didn't even do that! Was the Lightning Breather just that weird? Even for a human? Probably…)

Konitsu spluttered, but before he could get anything out, Ranjiro stood and faced the Lightning Breather.

"You can be strong," he said so surely it sounded like a matter of fact. "In my first life, which happened around this same time, I know you went up against a Kizuki – by yourself – and you won."

The yellow-haired boy's spluttering took on a far less angry and far more amazed tone. "B-but… but I… I mean… I never… I…"

"What scares you more, Zenitsu-san?" the demon asked, head cocking to one side. "That you aren't as strong as you want to be, or that you are?"

The other boy's face paled considerably.

They sat there in silence and Inosuke wasn't sure what to make of the fact that even he could tell this was not a time to speak up.

"I… I just…"

"You are strong, Zenitsu," the demon boy said softly and so warmly it gave Inosuke the fuzzy feelings he didn't understand. And the guy wasn't even speaking to him!

"Did you know? In thatss first life, Nezuko was turned into a demon and I had to become a slayer to try and find a way to turn her back? You and I… we were friends. Dear friends. You and Inosuke both mean so much to me because of that and I know you can both be strong. You were an inspiration then, and you can be now."

Zeniro just continued to stutter. "I… b-b-but…"

Yeah, Inosuke had had enough of this. "Of course we can be strong! We're awesome like that!" he said, surging to his own feet. Then he walked forward aggressively (and half of him may have been hoping to provoke a fight…) while pointing at Janjito's chest. "And we'll definitely get strong enough, demon boy!"

Sadly, instead of an aggressive response back, the Sun Pillar relaxed a little and smiled softly. "Good. I'm glad."

"B-b-but what about me?" Renitsu asked, sounding more lost than ever.

"Can you promise me you'll keep training, Zenitsu-kun?" Azuko asked. "Your new style is pretty amazing! And I know you can get stronger!"

Almost immediately, the boy's entire demeanor changed as he looked at the girl in front of him. "O-of course, Nezuko-chan! Anything for you!"

Why did he do that?

Seriously.

So.

Weird.

Inosuke kind of expected that to be the end of it, but Nezurio shook her head. "No, Zenitsu-kun. You have to do this for you. You have to get stronger for yourself. The… only thing I can do is tell you that I think you're worth it. You're worth all the training and all of the time and all of the pain. You're a good friend, Zenitsu-kun, and I'm glad I met you."

The yellow-haired boy just stared at her for several seconds, emotions too complex for Inosuke to pick them out racing through his aura.

"H-hai, Nezuko-chan," he finally said.

"I'll just have to train with you!" Inosuke said loudly. It was perfect! Both of them could get stronger this way! "But you'll have to actually fight me! Not just run away!"

Ronitsu bit his lip. "But… but what if I h-h-hurt you?" he asked quietly.

"Then I deserve it!" Inosuke replied. Wasn't that common knowledge?

(Humans.)

(And demons, apparently.)

"But you should realize that if you can hurt me, then it'll only make me stronger! So after I fight with Ranjiro-san, you and I will fight!"

That took the other two boys back and they looked at Inosuke, twin expressions of surprise on their faces.

"What?!" they asked at the same time.

"I don't really get you waking up on the same day after you died, but that obviously makes you super strong! So fight me!" Inosuke took out his blades and waited for the other to attack.

Ronitsu blinked again, then smiled… although it looked too sad for what Inosuke wanted. "Yeah… it made me strong, I guess… but at what cost? And even then, I'm not strong enough."

"Strong enough to do what?" Inosuke found himself asking, wondering why he had. Wasn't it obvious? But… something told him there was more to it and that it was important. So he asked.

"To fight and kill Muzan."

Inosuke blinked. What?

Ganjuro must have realized his confusion somehow, because he went on.

"I've lived almost 100 lifetimes, and I've only managed to kill Muzan once. I – and almost everyone else I knew – died in the process. Or were turned into demons." Tarujo met his gaze evenly. "That is the strength of the demon king."

Part of Inosuke wanted to say that that only told everyone how weak this boy was… but he'd seen the other move, and run, and train. He'd never seen the demon fight, but… there was a reason he'd been given the title of Pillar.

And about then, Inosuke began to really understand what they were up against. He felt a spark of what may have been fear strike inside him at the sheer power the king of demons must have… And yet…

They really had only two options. 1. Run away.

And Hashibara Inosuke would never do that. No matter what.

So that only left option two.

"Then we'll just have to keep fighting until we get that strong!" he said confidently. Which made him realize something. He'd left Meziko out earlier.

"Which means you need to fight me too!" he said, turning to the girl.

She blinked. "I… what?"

"We all need to get stronger, so let's fight!"

"Nezuko can't right now," Monjiro said, hands up in a placating gesture. "She's been given a clean bill of health, but she also needs to rest."

Inosuke set his jaw angrily.

"However," she spoke up quickly, before the boar-raised boy could say anything, "I am going back to my teacher's for more training." She smiled at him, looking so friendly and open… like nothing he'd ever find back on his home mountain. "I'll get stronger, Inosuke-san. But… thank you for caring about me."

He studied her for several seconds before nodding and looking back at the demon and Lightning Breather.

"Fine. But we can fight!"

Ganjuro sighed. "Well… you're not wrong, so sure."

"Wait… what?!" Renitsu asked as the Pillar drew his sword. Inosuke felt himself begin to shake in excitement.

Then the demon smiled. It looked utterly friendly but… it felt far more menacing… not like he'd like to eat them, but like he was about to dish out some serious pain.

"Hit me if you can," he said… and then vanished.

If Inosuke hadn't been able to sense things, he wouldn't have known where the guy had gone. Even as it was, he barely dodged the other's blade.

"Nii-san!" Keziko yelled.

But before Inosuke could do anything, the boy had disappeared again. Then he heard Zenrietsu scream and looked over to see the yellow-haired boy barely blocking the demon's sword.

Oh… this would be fun, Inosuke thought as he took off towards the two boys. He swung his blades down on thin air where the demon had been, but he expected nothing less. Without hesitating, he turned to the left to follow the Sun Pillar.

As the fight wore on and he gained more cuts, he couldn't help but feel exhilarated. (That was a word Nekuko had taught him, and he was so proud of himself for remembering it.) He also found himself realizing just how powerful this demon was… and he wasn't as strong as Muzan?

What a… well… almost scary thought. Almost.

Inosuke left the training sore and bruised, but he also felt stronger for it. And he vowed he would get stronger, no matter what.

For himself, for Nezuro and Zinesku… but also for Kanjiro. The boy wanted to end this all, and he seemed so tired, but he'd still taken the time to train Inosuke and his friends. So he would do everything he could to help the demon.

It was the least he could do.

(Besides, it would be fun… so who could ask for more?)

xXx

Tanjiro sat on the roof of the Butterfly Estate, smiling peacefully at the sunset. Nothing but the wind and insects moved outside as the others had gone inside for dinner. He hadn't wanted to really be around food right then and had wanted some time to his own, so he'd sent them on ahead and climbed to the top of the building. It all felt so… peaceful. It had been a good day with plenty of training and growing. He still didn't feel prepared to go up against Muzan, not by any stretch of the word, but he did feel better about the whole situation. And he also liked that Zenitsu and Inosuke had begun to get to know him. It wasn't like his first life – it never would be – but it was something and it was better than what they'd had before and honestly, he'd take it.

As he watched the sun set, though, Tanjiro remembered something he hadn't wanted to think much about. Takeo would be going to the Final Selection tonight. Seven nights of demon fighting… and he – the older brother who should protect his siblings – wouldn't be able to be there. He hated that but… he trusted the Pillars that would be there. Tokito-san and Giyuu-san. They would look after his brother, he knew, along with all the other applicants, of course. He still wished he could be there himself but… Nezuko and Ubuyashiki-sama were right. He needed to get stronger himself, and studying with all the Pillars was helping him. A lot. He almost felt as if he could go up against Kokushibo again and maybe even win this time.

It was… a good feeling.

But he needed to get stronger to go against Muzan. He knew that in his bones – to his very soul. He wasn't strong enough. Yet.

Hopefully this time around, he'd live long enough so that he could be.

(He wasn't entirely sure what he would do if he had to start all over again…)

"Caw! Caw!" the sound of a crow flying through the night drew Tanjiro out of his slowly darkening thoughts and to the approaching bird he could make out against the sunset.

"Hello!" he called out with a friendly smile to the crow. The bird wasn't his, but it still circled and dropped onto his outstretched arm. Tanjiro was a little surprised the Kasugai Crow had allowed him to take the missive strapped to its leg, but he wasn't about to complain.

Unrolling the little scroll, he quickly read the contents and then nodded firmly. Oyakata-sama approved of their plans to take Sanemi and Kimiko to the Ubuyashiki Estate. He smiled. It had only been a couple of hours since their request had been sent.

Nodding, Tanjiro stood and hopped down from the roof. Then, determinedly, he strode inside.

xXx

AN: So yeah, here we are! This chapter is here because Kaylessa pointed out that they were going to tell Zenitsu and Inosuke. It was going to be a little thing... and then Inosuke took over, like he tends to. LMHO.

Thank you to Kaylessa, TimeLordTim, Found and Quathis for their help on this! I really appreciate it! And everyone reading this.

Discord: discord. gg/xDDz3gqWfy (without spaces)