Author's Note: Oh boy... this Chapter.
Also, some narration.
Ten minutes after the Mugen Train had just crashed with the death of Lower Rank Moon One, Enmu... Natsu Rengoku and his fellow Demon Slayers had completed their mission in securing the Mugen Train. Many passengers were hurt due to the Mugen Train tipping off the tracks, but there were no casualties on board. Inosuke went to help the passengers to safety.
Kyojuro had just taught Tanjiro how to stop the bleeding on his own after being impaled by a conductor with an ice pick.
"Guys! Bro! Tanjro!" Natsu chanted out loud as he had led Zenitsu toward their allies as Nezuko followed them. Leading her Kyojuro and a wounded Tanjiro.
Tanjiro gasped a bit when he heard Natsu's voice. He continued to lie on his back and saw his sister and two fellow Demon Slayers. "N-Natsu... Zenitsu... Nezuko... You're all safe!" Tanjiro gave them a look of relief.
Nezuko then bended a knee, grabbed Tanjiro's left hand and placed it on her forehead. Making his hand rub her forehead.
"I missed you, too, Nezuko." Tanjiro smiled and replied.
"You actually killed the one of the Twelve Kizuki, didn't you, Tanjiro?" Natsu happily questioned.
"Yeah. It wasn't easy..." Tanjiro grunted a bit. "But I couldn't have done it, alone... I had some help from Inosuke."
"I get it now. I'm happy you both made it out." Natsu nodded to Tanjiro, then looked to Kyojuro. "And I'm also happy you're okay, too, brother!"
"Likewise! This mission has become a big success! All the demons within the train had been slain and not a single passenger had died. I was just teaching Tanjiro, here, how to stop internal bleeding on his own just now." Kyojuro responded.
"That's cool!" Natsu happily replied, then raised his fist.
Kyojuro then raised his fist in response, knowing that Natsu want to bump fists with him. They were about to bump fists with each other as brothers... but it was interrupted by an enraged Nezuko Kamado who suddenly growled out of danger and anger. She glared within the direction of Twelve O' Clock. Veins appeared around Nezuko's eyes and her demonic pupils had sharpened itself.
"Hm? What's wrong, Nezuko?" Tanjiro asked.
Both Natsu and Kyojuro looked at Nezuko, temporarily until they felt bit of a rumble yards away from them. Kyojuro turned his eyes to his right, knowing that someone was behind him. Both Natsu and Tanjiro gasped when they heard a rumble.
Both Kyojuro and Natsu fully faced an entity unknown to both of them who hid in dust, temporarily. As soon as the dust cleared, an Upper Moon Demon named Akaza revealed himself to the group of Demon Slayers.
Kyojuro frowned toward Akaza.
Natsu gasped when he laid eyes onto Akaza. 'Who's that?'
Nezuko growled toward Akaza.
Tanjiro glanced at Akaza, backwards. "Those eyes..." Tanjiro then gasped when he saw the markings in Akaza's eyes. "He's an Upper Moon Three! What's he doing here?"
Natsu gasped a bit. 'Upper Moon Three?' Natsu gripped the hilt of his Nichirin Sword and prepared to go on the defensive against Akaza, despite meeting.
Akaza gazed at the group of Demon Slayers, one by one. First, he glanced at Kyojuro. Then looked at Nezuko who was next to him. She seemed pretty angry to him. Then he looked at both Natsu Rengoku and Zenitsu Agatsuma. He noticed the bandages around Zenitsu's face, assuming that he's been injured. And finally... he looks at Tanjiro Kamado, who's lying on the ground. 'Let's see... Eenie... Meenie... Miney...' Akaza then jumped and ran toward the group of fellow Demon Slayers.
Natsu and Kyojuro kept their hands on the hilts of their Nichirin Swords in case Akaza came and attacked.
'He's fast!' Natsu thought to himself, then jumped in front of Zenitsu to protect him.
Akaza decided to charge toward Tanjiro and tried to deliver a punch onto him. But Nezuko had already decided to act as a body shield for Tanjiro.
Tanjiro gasped. "Nezuko!"
'Flame Breathing. Second Form...' Kyojuro then slashed upwards, cutting Akaza's arm in half. 'Rising Scorching Sun!' Kyojuro chanted.
Akaza jumped backward a few times where he gained some distance. He then licked his left arm after it had quickly healed.
'He can heal fast!' Natsu's eyes stared at Akaza's left arm.
"Why would you go after an injured person, first after me?" Kyojuro asked Akaza.
"I thought that he would get in the way of our conversation." Akaza eagerly replied.
Tanjiro grunted while Nezuko helped him up onto his feet.
"What is it that you want to talk about? ANd since is our first time that we met, I already dislike you." Kyojuro said.
"Is that right? Well, I dislike weak humans in general. The sight of them makes my skin crawl." Akaza said with a smile on his face.
'I don't know why, but I feel like I've seen this guy, before. But I can't think of where I met him...' Natsu thought to himself for a moment, until he gasped. Natsu then thought of the dream he had earlier that night. He remembered seeing a dark silhouette of a man who looked identical to Akaza. 'No way! Could this guy be the one from the dream I had? Is he the one mom warned me about?' Natsu thought.
"First thing's first. I've got to ask." Akaza pointed toward Nezuko Kamado, who was growling at him. "That girl right there next to you is a demon, correct?"
"So, what if she is a demon?" Kyojuro replied.
"Hah! I knew it! She's the demon I've heard about!" Akaza felt a bit more excited. "But I'm curious to know, why is a demon like her working with the Demon Slayer Corp... she should be killing humans, too, yes?"
"Because, she's my sister!" Tanjiro replied.
"Hm?" Akaza glanced at Tanjiro.
"My family was killed by a powerful demon, like yourself! So, I swore to protect Nezuko with my life, until I find a cure for her and turn Nezuko back into a human!"
"A cure? Turn her back into a human?" Akaza gave a moment of silence with a confused look on his face, but then his confused look turned into a grin. "Hahah! Don't be ridiculous! There's no such thing as a cure for demons! There hasn't been one for centuries! What makes you think there would be a cure, now, idiot?"
Tanjiro growled in irritation. "Because, I-"
Kyojuro raised a hand to cut Tanjiro off from talking. "What is it that you want from us? I take it that you didn't come here on a whim, correct?" Kyojuro asked with a serious look.
"I've come here to make you an offer. Join one of us. Become a demon like me." Akaza said as he offered a hand.
Natsu gasped. 'Become a demon like him? Why would he ever-'
"No thanks." Kyojuro easily replied.
"I can tell just by looking at you that you're strong." Akaza stared at Kyojuro and noticed the flamelike aura that surrounded Kyojuro's body. "A Hashira, huh? Your fighting spirit is like unbendable iron. What's your name?" Akaza asked.
"I'm Kyojuro Rengoku. The Flame Hashira." Kyojuro introduced himself to Akaza.
"I am Akaza." Akaza replied.
Both Natsu and Tanjiro laid their eyes onto Akaza as they just heard his name. 'Akaza, huh?'
"Kyojuro. Let me tell you that your strength is not enough to compete against mine, despite being a Hashira. Because, you are human. You humans are destined to grow old and weak and eventually die." Akaza offered Kyojuro a hand, once more. "Doing so will allow you to become better once more. You will elevate to the next stage of strength and power and you can live for multiple centuries. Is that "nor" what you want?"
'Of all the demons I met from when I took the Final Selections- up until now... this guy is the most dangerous out of all of them! And he's the first demon from the Twelve Kizuki I've actually met!' Natsu thought as he continued to stay on the defensive against Akaza.
"Growing old and passing onto the next world... those are what makes humanity beautiful. "They may seem like weaknesses to you, but human lives are more precious and honorable, because of them. True strength does not refer to the physical body. These boys are not weak! Do not insult them." Kyojuro slightly looked to Tanjiro and Zenitsu who were both wounded. "You and I will never see eye to eye. No matter how many times you try to convince me, I will always turn you down!"
A moment of silence had taken place after Kyojuro had given Akaza his verdict.
"I understand." Akaza cracked some bones in his fist, then cracked part of the ground with his feet. Akaza then summoned a snowflake-like diagram in the center of the ground where he was standing. 'Technique Development. Destructive Death, Compass Needle." Akaza chanted.
Natsu looked at the diagram under Akaza's feet and warned Kyojuro. "Brother! His feet!"
"Yes. I know. I can see the diagram." Kyojuro replied as he stared at Akaza.
Natsu had taken an offense position next to Kyojuro. "He looks like he's not going down without a hard fight. Let's take on this guy and beat him, together! Just you and me. Like we always dreamed about a few years back."
"Listen, Natsu. I appreciate you wanting us to fight together, but I think I think I'll fight this one on my own." Kyojuro told Natsu.
Natsu gasped. "But, why? This guy's an Upper Moon Three. I honestly think we have a better chance of winning, if we fight him, together!"
"Trust me, Natsu. I know how you feel-and I want nothing more but for all of us to team up against this guy. But the situation has changed a bit. Kamado and the orange Haori boy are still hurt and the boar-head guy went to help the passengers. And I don't know what he plans on doing with Nezuko. So right now, it's just you and me that are here and intact. I know it's not like me to ask for favors, but please do me one and protect the others while I fight." Kyojuro asked.
Natsu gasped. "Brother?"
"We also don't know if there are more demons like him might show up out of nowhere. You're the only one that is suitable to protect Kamado and the boy with the orange Haori for right now. And also, I don't want you or anyone else to get hurt, because of our fight." Kyojuro told Natsu.
Natsu gave it a moment as he stared at Kyojuro, then nodded and understood. "Alright! I'll watch over the others!"
"Thanks for respecting my wishes, little brother. When the time comes, I'll give you a signal to jump in." Kyojuro gripped his Nichirin Sword hilt. 'Not right now, at least...'
Tanjiro gasped when he learned that Kyojuro was fighting Akaza all alone. 'Mister Rengoku's going to fight? All by himself?' Nezuko helped Tanjiro walk to safety.
"Okay. If I can't convince you... then, I'll just kill you."
Kyojuro grunted as he and Akaza locked eyes on one another. There's been utter silence until a single green leaf had fallen off a tree and landed on the dirt. That is when Akaza ran toward Kyojuro and threw te first punch, which Kyojuro blocked with his Nichirin Sword. Then, the duo were locked in close combat. Their bodies moved so fast that not even Tanjiro could see them move.
Natsu Rengoku's sharp eyes was able to see both of their movements for the time being. 'They're both moving real fast!' Natsu noted as he kept watching the duo fight, until he saw Akaza jump hundreds f feet in the air.
'Air Type!' Akaza chanted, then threw an invisible force punch at Kyojuro.
Kyojuro stood his ground, until he felt a force of wind pressure nearly hit his stomach. He grunted in a bit of pain.
Natsu gasped in shock. 'How did he-he's throwing air at brother?'
Akaza kept throwing Air Type attacks while in midair at Kyojuro.
'How is brother supposed to counter all that?' Natsu thought as his eyes were in disbelief.
"In that case..." Kyojuro stood his ground, again. 'Flame Breathing. Fourth Form...' Kyojuro swung his Nichirin Sword upward, causing a small fiery torando to defend himself against Akaza's air type attacks. 'Blooming Flame Undulation!'
Natsu looked and saw what Kyojuro was doing. He was on the defensive against Akaza's Air Type attacks. 'I can see it! That demon's winds punches or whatever!'
"If that demon strikes the air, then they will soon reach me.' Kyojuro thought.
"I'm not done, yet!' Akaza threw more Air Type attacks at Kyojuro, intercepted it with another Blooming Flame Undulation wave.
'Strikes travel, instantly.' Kyojuro thought.
Akaza had landed onto the ground.
'Good! He's back on the ground!' Natsu thought.
'I can't cut off his head while fighting long distance. If that case...' Kyojuro then sped up on Akaza without his knowing. "Close combat, it is!"
Akaza dodged Kyojuro's vertical upper swing. "Nice reflexes!"
Natsu gripped his knees and watched closely as he noticed that Kyojuro's fight with Akaza is getting mor and more intense. 'Please, be careful, brother!'
Suddenly, Inosuke had arrived to the scene after helping many passengers from the Mugen Train. His dual Nichirin Swords were already in his grasp.
"Inosuke!" Tanjiro called, then continued watching Kyojuro's fight from the sidelines. He tried to take a step forward.
"Don't come closer!" Kyojuro ordered, which caused Natsu, Inosuke and Tanjro to stay in place. "You can't open your wound, again! It'll kill you!"
"Tch!" Tanjiro grunted. 'He's right...' Tanjiro had a worried look on his face.
"Don't worry on them! Focus on your opponent!" Akaza said before throwing another punch at Kyojuro. "Show me your strength!"
Kyojuro grunted as he blocked another one of Akaza's punches.
Akaza jumped to gain some distance, again. "Keep your eyes on the ball."
Kyojuro charged and swung more attacks at Akaza, until he hit Akaza and sent him flying into the forest at high speeds.
'He's winning! He's winning!' Natsu thought after seeing Akaza be flown into the dark woods. This made Natsu's develop a light smile on his face. Then watched Kyojuro run into the woods after Akaza. "Be careful!"
"I will!" Kyojuro replied as he ran into the woods.
Thirty Seconds Later...
Kyojuro was sent flying out of the woods with a punch and part of the Mugen Train broke his fall.
"Brother!" Natsu dropped his light smile to a mild look.
"Rengoku!" Tanjro yelled.
"Watchout, bug eyes!" Inosuke yelled.
Kyojuro panted heavily as he slowly got up onto his feet. He had to use his Nichirin Sword to help stand him up.
"Are you sure that you don't want to turn into a demon?" Akaza asked as he slowly walked out of the woods and slowly approached Kyojuro. His right arm had been severed by Kyojuro while in the woods.
"Think about it. If you did, we could spar as long as we want..."
Natsu felt sickened by Akaza with his talk about becoming a demon. After seeing Kyojuro take a blow, he decided he wanted to help. Natsu jumped in front of Kyojuro and was prepared to fight Akaza. "Stay back!"
"Eh?" Akaza stopped walking and noticed Natsu in front of him.
"Natsu!" Tanjiro chanted as he and Inosuke approach Akaza.
"And whom might you be?" Akaza questioned.
"I'M NATSU RENGOKU! KYOJURO'S YOUNGER BROTHER!" Kyojuro proudly addressed.
"Oh, is that right?" Akaza then stared at Natsu and spotted a similar flamelike aura surrounding him. But it was a bit smaller than Kyojuro's. "Well, I hope you're just as strong as he is."
"I'm warning you right now! If you hurt my brother even further, then... then..." Natsu hesitated for an instant. "I'LL PUT AN END TO YOU, MYSELF!" Natsu shouted with anger as he stood before Akaza and was ready to fight him.
"Oh, really?" Akaza looked and could easily see the fiery spark within Natsu's golden eyes. "You sure have the angry look down."
Natsu growled openly growled in front of Akaza.
Akaza then took a fighting stance. "Let's see if you can la-"
"Natsu." Kyojuro called for Natsu's attention. "Please. Move aside. It's not time to jump in, yet."
"Hm?" Akaza paused.
Natsu looked back at Kyojuro with a bit of confusion. He slightly turned his body to Natsu. "Wha? But I just-"
"I SAID MOVE ASIDE, NATSU!" Kyojuro yelled at Natsu.
Natsu gasped in shock after hearing Kyojuro's yell. His eyes hesitated a bit.
Tanjiro and Inosuke were left in utter silence.
Akaza stepped out of his fighting stance.
"But... why?" Natsu was confused on why Kyojuro didn't want him to help him.
Kyojuro gave Natsu a few seconds of silence. "Because, Natsu. That demon and I have unfinished business. I still want to defeat him on my own terms. I can't have you getting in the way of that." Kyojuro said.
"But, I can help... I'm not some kind of weak link..." Natsu pouted with a sad look on his face.
Tanjiro can't help but feel sad for Natsu. 'Natsu...'
"No. That's not what I mean." Kyojuro placed his hands onto Natsu's shoulders. "I'm not keeping you out of the fight to hog all the glory. I'm keeping you out of the fight for your own safety. The world is a cruel place, and if you died... I would never forgive myself. To me... You are one in a million." Kyojuro said as he hugged Natsu with one arm.
"One in a million, huh?" Natsu muttered. Still feeling a bit sad.
"Yes. It's true. This is how I truly feel. I know that we may not look alike or be related by blood, but you are the only one who can take my place as Hashira, someday. There's no one better than you that I can pass my title down to. I cannot afford for you to die in a fight like this." Kyojuro said.
"Okay." Natsu said, then seemingly looking depressed.
"Oh. And there's one more thing I must tell you." Kyojuro then whispered something into Natsu's ear.
"I understand." Natsu said after hearing Kyojuro. Natsu then walked back over to his friends.
"Are you okay, Natsu?" Tanjiro asked, feeling worried.
"Yeah. I'm just a bit depressed, that's all. I'll get over it, soon." Natsu replied, feeling depressed. He decided to watch from the sidelines.
Inosuke would make fun of Natsu at this point, but instead decided to keep his mouth shut. He doesn't want to get yelled at by Kyojuro either.
Akaza looked to Kyojuro. "Are we done with the whole family affair thing? Because if you are... you can still become a demon, just like me." Akaza grinned again. "So stop stalling and just become a demon, like me, already." Akaza said, casually.
Kyojuro grunted in annoyance. "Never! I'll make this clear to you. I do not like you. So stop asking me to become a demon!" Kyojuro then rushed toward Akaza again.
"The duo continued their battle each other for the next two minutes. Akaza kept attacking Kyojuro with martial arts and air techniques and Kyojuro kept attacking Akaza with multipe Flame Breathing techniques. Akaza gained a few lucky hit by jabbing Kyojuro, breaking his bones over his right hip and severely damaging his left eye shut."
Natsu frowned as he watched Kyojuro be mortally wounded by Akaza during his fight with Akaza. Natsu want nothing more but to jump in and help Kyojuro beat Akaza, but he also knew that Kyojuro hadn't given him the signal, yet.
"Did he win?" Inosuke asked, referring to Kyojuro beating Akaza but that is far from over.
Tanjiro couldn't help but watch in sadness as he saw blood spill from Kyojuro's face. 'No way. This isn't...'
Kyojuro panted heavily as he clutched onto his right side where Akaza broke his bones. 'Brother...'
Natsu's mouth frowned, and his eyes were filled with sadness when he saw Kyojuro's current condition.
Nezuko looked sad when she watched from the sidelines.
Akaza just stared at the injured Kyojuro. Knowing he won't last long, soon. "Don't tell me you called it quits. I won't have you die one me right now."
Kyojuro continued panting heavily. "Don't you get it already? You will never surpass me. As you can see..." The slash on Akaza's chest had healed itself. "My wounds have already healed. "While you are just bleeding to death. I have shattered your bones and smashed your left eye and damaged your organs to where they can no longer function, properly. What more do you have to lose?" Akaza asked while frowning.
Suddenly, Kyojuro had inhaled some air. He then lit himself like a candle. Surrounding himself with fiery aura in front of Akaza.
"So, this is how it all ends with you." Akaza said, feeling bored.
"I... I will fulfill my duties as a Hashira! No one is going to die here! Not on my watch!" Kyojuro yelled as he had taken a final stance of Flame Breathing. He seemed as if he was ready to hit a ball with a bat. 'I'll damage him as much as possible!' Kyojuro thought. 'Flame Breathing. Esorteric Art!' Suddenly, Kyojuro's body had burst into a stronger flame as he had taken his final stance.
Akaza gasped. "This fighting spirit is impressive! To move forward, despite your fighting spirit! That strong mind and ironclad stance!" Akaza had acknowledged Kyojuro as a warrior. "You are one of the strongest humans that I've ever fought! Please! You must become a demon!"
"Set your heart ablaze. Overcome your limits. I am the Flame Hashira, known as Kyojuro Rengoku!" Kyojuro said proudly. This caught the attention of Natsu Rengoku, who seemed depressed minutes ago, but suddenly the light had returned to his eyes. He watched Kyojuro's backside as he prepared to use the Ninth form of Flame Breathing.
Natsu gasped in amazement. 'That power... that strong fiery will... the drive to keep moving forward... Amazing. This is what it truly means to be the Flame Hashira! I see now, brother!'
'Ninth Form! Rengoku!' Kyojuro roared like a lion.
'Destructive Death! Annihilation Type!' Akaza chanted as he taken a powerful stance.
Kyojuro took one foot forward, then charged forward like toward Akaza. His Rengoku technique had taken the for of a flaming Asian dragon.
As Kyojuro charged toward Akaza with all he had left with the Rengoku technique, Natsu stood and clinched his fists in excitement and hope. He could feel the warmth and comfort of Kyojuro's flames through the air. Natsu gripped his Nichirin Sword, hardly. "DO IT, KYOJURO!" Natsu shouted at the top of his lungs.
Akaza laughed as Kyojuro approached charged at him with all he had left. He caught Kyojuro's Rengoku dragon, which caused a big explosion in the range.
"RENGOKU!" Tanjiro yelled in worrisome.
Natsu stood still like a statue as he saw a fiery tornado dancing in front of him. This was the Ninth and final form of Flame Breathing. As he watched the fiery tornado dance, this made him think back when he was a kid.
Flashback
When Natsu was eight years old, he decided to ask Kyojuro on why he wanted to become a Demon Slayer. It was a sunny day.
"Hey, big brother." Natsu called Kyujuro within the Rengoku Residence. They were sitting on the patio, together. Natsu was dressed in a white training kimono, while Kyojuro was dressed in a black Demon Slayer uniform. "How come you want to become a Demon Slayer?"
"Because, I must protect the weak!" Kyojuro happily replied.
"Protect the weak?" Natsu questioned.
Kyojuro nodded. "Yes."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, that there's not a whole lot of strong people out there, so as Demon Slayers... it's our job to protect as many people that can't defend themselves on a daily basis." Kyojuro explained.
"Oh, when you say weak, you mean people like Senjuro?" Natsu used Senjuro as an example.
"I wouldn't go that far into saying that..." Kyojuro embarrassingly chuckled. "But, I do say we Demon Slayers are keepers of the peace and it is a really hard job keeping that peace from demons. It's a bit difficult to find more strong people in the land, these days."
"It sounds like you Demon Slayers are going through a lot." Natsu said.
"We are. And we don't ask for anything in return from the people we help. No money. No food. No shelter. All we do mostly is try to put smiles on people's faces and give them hope." Kyojuro said.
After listening to Kyojuro's speech, Natsu decided to make the ultimate decision at the age of eight. He thought of it a bit, but then he decided what he wanted to do in his life. "Well in that case, I'm going to one day be a Demon Slayer, just like you." Natsu smiled.
"Really?" Kyojuro asked.
"Yes! I'm going to become the kind Demon Slayer who gives people hope and smiles on people's faces." Natus then grinned in front of Kyojuro.
"That's the spirit!" Kyojuro placed his hand on Natsu's red hair and they both laughed.
End Flashback
Back in reality, the area where Natsu and his friends were standing was covered in dust the fiery tornado had disappeared. Natsu
"D-did he do it? Did bug eyes win?" Inosuke asked if Kyojuro had won?"
'Please, brother. Please, tell me that you beat him!' Natsu hoped as he carefully looked through the dust and saw two silhouettes hiding behind it. After a few seconds, the dust had cleared and Natsu was able to Kyojuro standing over Akaza. 'There he is! It's brother! And he's-' Natsu then gasped in horror when he saw Kyojuro fatally impaled in the lower chest by Akaza's right arm. Akaza's left face-close to the ear had been amputated, vertically.
Kyojuro coughed up blood from his mouth after he failed to execute Akaza.
Tanjiro wailed in grief.
Natsu dropped his Nichirin Sword and fell on his knees in horror and grief. A stream of tears had rushed down his face as he realized that Kyojuro had lost the battle. Everything around Natsu's ears had became muted. He couldn't hear Tanjiro wailing or Inosuke screaming.
"Hurry, Kyojuro! You know that you will die! Just say it! Say that you will become a demon!" Akaza begged that Kyojuro reconsidered about becoming a demon. His left chest and left arm, chest and ear had fully regenerated.
Despite being fatally wounded, Kyojuro chose to keep moving forward and try to slice Akaza's head by swinging, horizontally at his neck. Kyojuro roared.
Akaza gaged when he felt Kyojuro's Nichirin Sword try to pierce his neck.
Natsu gasped when he saw Kyojuro keep attempting to kill Akaza.
'He's still fighting?' Inosuke gasped.
'Mother... it was I, who was blessed to be born to such a woman as you.' Kyojuro then glanced over at the saddened and grieving Natsu. 'And it was I, who was also blessed to be Natsu's teacher!' Kyojuro then gave Natsu the signal, by giving him a fiery sharp glance while impaled.
Natsu saw Kyojuro's sharp glance toward him and quickly understood what it meant. Less tears streamed down his face.
Kyojuro continued to put pressure onto his Nichirin Sword to try and decapitate Akaza. 'I will not fail you, by letting this demon run away!'
Akaza grunted as he realized what Kyojuro was doing, then tried to throw a punch at him. But before he could land a punch onto Kyojuro's face... something else had happened. Within an instant, Akaza had suddenly felt his left hand and neck be severed and didn't know why. 'W-what?' His eyes widened in shock as he felt his head fall off from his own shoulders. His head then hit the dirt.
Tanjiro and Inosuke gasped from the sidelines as they couldn't believe what they saw.
Natsu Rengoku had landed back on his feet after he had decapitated Akaza by using a strong Flame Breathing, Flame Strike technique. Natsu had acted on instinct. He did not say or word, nor show any kind of emotion. His front face was darkened by shadow.
'Flame Breathing. First Form...' Natsu thought in his mind. 'Flame Strike!'
Kyojuro quickly caught Akaza's amputated left arm in time after Akaza's head was severed.
"H-he did it..." Tanjiro happily gasped.
"Redhead actually did it. He severed that other redhead's head-I mean... that strong demon's head." Inosuke stated as he pointed at Natsu's backside. "So cool!" Inosuke cheered, early.
'What? But, I don't understand! Did another strong Demon Slayer come from nowhere, or was it one of the three brats? If so, then hi-' Akaza then felt his head being pulled by the roots of his pink hair. "Ow! That hurts! Who's responsible for cutting off my head?" Akaza then gasped when he discovered that Natsu Rengoku was the culprit in decapitating him. "It's you! You severed my head!" He looked at Natsu's golden eyes and saw a look of rage, hatred and resentment within them and channeled it toward Akaza. He also noticed something different about Natsu. He saw a dark read fiery tattoo on the corner of Natsu's right face. Akaza saw that Natsu had awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, but didn't know how he did it. "Hey. What is that marking on your face?"
Flashback
An eleven-year-old Kyojuro Rengoku and a five-year-old Senjuro attended to Natsu's sickness. Natsu Rengoku was bedridden at the time. Natsu had a warm towel over his forehead to ease the fever.
"When Natsu was six years old... he came down with a mysterious fever that nearly ended his life. At the time, his heart rate was accelerating at Two Hundred Beats per Minute and his body temperature was over Thirty-Nine Degrees, Celsius. The only reason that he lived was because Natsu had his brothers, such Kyojuro and Senjuro to care for him. His father, Shinjuro Rengoku did not bother to help at all."
End Flashback
Natsu grunted and sucked as much air in as he could, then pretended that Akaza's severed head was a kickball by kicking Akaza's head upward, vertically as hard and as high as he could. Akaza's head then launched upward so far high in the sky that looked like he was going to fly past the clouds.
Akaza felt the hard kicked caused by Natsu's kick when he launched his severed head into the sky. 'Dammit! That kick really hurt!'
"Natsu just sent Akaza's head flying!" Tanjiro noted as he watched Akaza's head fly upward to the sky.
"Woah. That's so awesome! I want to send another evil demon's head flying next!" Inosuke said, feeling excited.
"DIE, YOU BASTARD!" Akaza screamed in anger at the top of his lungs.
As Akaza's severed head was still flying upward in the sky, he noticed that the sun was starting to rise from the east. 'Oh no! The sun is going to rise at any minute! I cannot end like this!' Akaza's severed head held his breath and tried to summon his body to him.
Suddenly without warning, Akaza's body had acted on its own and broke its arms from Kyojuro's grasp and lower chest.
Then Akaza's body jumped really high in the sky in order to catch his severed head. This act ultimately shocked Tanjiro and Inosuke.
'No way...! He's still fighting! Trying to catch his severed head and escape before the sunlight reaches him!' Tanjiro saw in shock.
'Does this guy ever learn to give up?' Inosuke gripped his blades.
Kyojuro coughed up more blood after he had separated from Akaza's body, but was still impaled by Akaza's severed right arm. He then fell to his knees.
Natsu gasped, then rushed toward Kyojuro. "Brother!"
"Rengoku!" Tanjro slowly ran toward Kyojuro.
Meanwhile in the sky, Akaza's body is a few miles close to catching his severed head. "Yes! That's it! I'm almost there!" Akaza smiled. In the next two seconds, his body had caught his severed head with his amputated wrists. 'Got it! Or should I say, I got me!' Akaza happily caught his head, then tried reattaching it by placing it back on top of his head. 'Now. All I have to do is jump back down to the ground... get sway from the Demons Slayers and find a sa-'
"Stop it, Hakuji! Please!"
Akaza then gasped in shock. 'That voice! Who said that? Where did you come from? Answer me!' Akaza then looked at the clouds above him and saw an image of a deceased and crying Koyuki from over a century, ago. "Who are you?"
"Please, you have to stop, Hakuji! This isn't you!" A crying Koyuki begged Akaza to stop fighting.
"Uh? What are you talking about? And who is this Hakuji?" Akaza was distracted by the and spiritual voice and the image of Koyuki in the clouds long enough to where he already started to evaporate in midair. Akaza quickly looked at the sun and gasped in horror when he noticed the sun had completely risen in his direction. "Oh no! It's the sun! I need to hurry and find a sanctuary before-AAAAAAHH!" Akaza screamed in agony as he had felt the full fury of the morning sunlight. This caused Akaza's head and body to evaporate, completely within midair.
Akaza is dead.
Meanwhile, the Demon Slayers on the ground watched Akaza die in midair, due to sunlight exposure. Soon, Inosuke Hashibira celebrated their victory by screaming and shouting. Tanjiro felt very relieved that Akaza had been defeated, then he realized needed to place Nezuko back into her box, before she could evaporated from sunlight exposure.
Zenitsu slept.
Natsu helped Kyojuro stand on his feet and placed Kyojuro's left arm around Natsu's neck. Natsu tried looked around the area, hoping that there was a nearby medic. He wanted to search for one, before Kyojuro could succumb to his wounds. "It's over now, brother. That demon, Akaza is gone. He's gone, forever. We're gonna get you a medic so they can heal your wounds." Natsu told Kyojuro, before screaming out for help. "HELP! MY BROTHER NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION! IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN HELP US? PLEASE! MY BROTHER IS HURT, REALLY BAD!" Natsu screamed at the top of his lungs. Most of the passengers of the Mugen Train were on the other side of the Mugen Train. Natsu's screaming caught the attention of both Tanjiro and Inosuke. Tanjiro
"No... I don't think I can be healed at this point..." Kyojuro muttered.
Natsu shook his head in denial. "No! Please, don't say that! Don't even think like that! You're gonna pull through! There has to be someone on the train who's a doctor." Natsu then screamed again for help. "HELP! SOMEBODY! WE NEED HELP! PLEASE!" Natsu screamed once again had no response.
Tanjiro and Inosuke slowly approached the Natsu and the dying Kyojuro Rengoku with sad expressions. Tanjiro wore the brown rectangular box on his back that kept Nezuko inside.
"Natsu. Please... set me down. As for this is... the last time that you and I will ever have a conversation." Kyojuro said as he felt Akaza's amputated arm evaporate from his lower chest.
Natsu's heart sunk when he heard Kyojuro's last words. Big bubbles of tears start to stream down Natsu's face as he then accepted Kyojuro's demise.
Within the next minute, Natsu had sat Kyojuro down so all three Natsu, Kyojuro and Inosuke could listen to his final words.
"You all did an excellent job protecting the passengers on that train." Kyojuro said, then looked to Inosuke Hashibira. "Young boar."
Inosuke sniffled. "Y-yeah, bug eyes?"
"You are head strong and that's... what I like about you. Do not try to isolate yourself from those that want to help you. Teamwork is very important... Never forget your friends." Kyojuro told Inosuke.
Inosuke stuttered a bit and his body trembled as he tried to hold back the tears within his boarhide. "Y-you got I-it!"
Kyojuro then slowly glanced at Tanjiro Kamado. "Young Kamado..."
"M-Mister Rengoku?" Tanjiro's eyes were watered and filled with tears.
"In the past, I had dreamt and remembered. The Residence that Natsu and I stay in... you should visit. My brother, Natsu will take you there. There are notes left by the Flame Hashira that came before my father. My father, Shinjuro Rengoku used to read them, often. You might find the dance you mentioned to me, last night... the Hinokami Kagura. And when you do find it... try your best and teach Natsu Sun Breathing." Kyojuro told Tanjiro.
"I will..." Tanjiro responded.
"And another thing I must mention. Your sister?"
Tanjiro gasped, while trying to hold tears back.
"I believe that Nezuko is part of the Demon Slayer Corp." Kyojuro happily told Tanjiro.
After hearing that sentence, Tanjiro let tears stream down his face learning that Kyojuro acknowledged Nezuko is a Demon Slayer. He the groveled to Kyojuro. "Thank you, Mister Rengoku!"
Kyojuro then turned to Natsu, who sat between Tanjiro and Inosuke. "And Natsu..." By the time he looked at Natsu, he was already grieving for Kyojuro. Seeing Natsu cry was what made Kyojuro start to bubble in his right eye. "Remember. Justice. Not Vengeance. So hold your head high and reach past the sky.
Natsu did not say a word as he kept grieving for the dying Kyojuro.
"If you are feeling disheartened, then you are somehow not enough... set your heart ablaze." Kyojuro told Natsu.
"Yes... I will, brother." Natsu then lowered his head his orbs of tears had touched the dirt. "I won't let you down! I promise..." Natsu said he kept grieving.
"I know you won't. As I believe in you." Kyojuro said
A grieving Natsu heard a tear drop, then raised his head to see Kyojuro letting out a stream of tears through his right eye.
"So dry your eyes and look ahead. You might feel like fixing your mistakes, but the flow of time waits for no one. It won't give you anytime to grieve."
"Brother..." Natsu called.
"Don't feel bad that I'm going to die, brother. It's only natural that I protect you all, as a Hashira. I chose this path all on my own. The young buds, such as yourself must be allowed to bloom... Any Hashira would be willing to do the same as I..." Kyojuro said as he continued to bleed out. "Young boar... Young Kamado. The boy in yellow and orange... and most of all..." Kyojuro then placed his right hand on top of Kyojuro's red hair. "You, Natsu."
Natsu gasped as he felt the warmth of Kyojuro's touch.
"You all must continue to grow. And in time, you will lend your aid by becoming the next Hashira." Kyojuro said, then solely looked at Natsu Rengoku. "Especially you, Natsu. Become a Hashira that surpass all others. Become the Hashira that the weak can depend on. Become the Hashira that everyone can love. Become the Hashira that everyone can trust."
"I... I will. I love you, brother!" Natsu said as he tried his best to dry his tears in front of Kyojuro.
"I love you, too, Natsu." Kyojuro looked at both Tanjiro and Inosuke who openly cried. "I love you all. And I believe in each and every one of you!" Within a minute later, Kyojuro Rengoku had saw a spiritual entity of his deceased mother, Ruka Rengoku standing a few feet behind Natsu, then passed on and succumbed to his wounds with a smile on his face.
"BROTHER!" Natsu sobbed and wailed at the top of his lungs as he hugged Kyojuro's smiling corpse.
Tanjiro broke down on his knees as well as he felt like he couldn't hold it back, anymore. A bandaged Zenitsu Agatsuma placed a hand on Tanjiro's shoulder in grief.
Inosuke tried digging a deep hole in the ground with his hands that no one could see him crying.
Nezuko Kamado, who was inside the box cried in silent for Kyojuro Rengoku, despite fighting on the Mugen Train, together.
As the Demon Slayers were grieving in their own way, a snow-white fox with golden eyes had watched from the woods and saw the entirety of what went down when the Mugen Train had crashed. It then went back into the woods and walked off into who-knows-where.
Author's Note: The End... for Akaza. This was the most difficult Chapter I had to write, so far. I honestly thought about how Natsu could get his revenge on Akaza later on in the story, but I'd just be replacing Tanjiro and having him fight with Giyu against Akaza, while Tanjiro fight other Twelve Kizuki. Instead, I thought, "Hey, what if I had Natsu somehow defeat Akaza, now, so it won't be harder, later on? This could change the upcoming events of Demon Slayer if I got rid of Akaza, early." So, I thought about it and went with it.
Yes. Natsu has awakened his Demon Slayer Mark when he beheaded Akaza.
And another thing. The Fox at the end will be important character later on in the story.