"During that fateful day when the mission to eradicate all demons from the Mugen Train had been completed... both sides on humans and demons had suffered casualties. The Demons had lost two members of the Twelve Kizuki. And Lower Rank and one Upper Rank. The only casualty that Humanity lost was Kyojuro Rengoku. On the hour of Rengoku's death, messenger crows were sent to every Hashira and former Hashira."
Reinforcements had arrived, ten minutes after Kyojuro Rengoku had died. The Kakushi tended to aid the Demon Slayers and treat the wounded. But the damage had already been done. Not just because of the Mugen Train falling off the rails, but they had discovered the state that the Demon Slayers were in. Inosuke Hashibira wailing and punching onto an upset Zenitsu who curled in a ball. Still mourning Kyojuro Rengoku's death. Tanjiro mourned for Kyojuro next to Nezuko's box. Which Nezuko was inside of... And Natsu Rengoku. Natsu was unresponsive. His sobs had turned down, his white sclera was pink due to sobbing and his golden pupils were filled with sadness. His forehead leant on the front left shoulder of Kyojuro Rengoku's corpse.
"Oh... this is bad." A male Kakushi said.
"Later on during the day, messenger crows would scatter across Japan. Letting allies and family know of Kyojuro Rengoku's death."
Senjuro Rengoku swept the front steps of the Rengoku Residence with ease with a smile on his face. But his mood was interrupted when a messenger crow had landed on the ground next to him and informed Senjuro Rengoku the news of his older brother, Kyojuro Rengoku.
Senjuro, shocked of learning the news had slowly broke down in tears. Mourning for the loss of Kyojuro Rengoku. "K... Kyojuro...!" Senjuro grabbed his chest as he felt pain within his heart. "Natsu!"
Shinjuro Rengoku overheard the news from inside the Residence as he had stood in front of the front doors with his arms crossed. There was no look of grief or regret on his face. Just... disappointment.
Elsewhere, A messenger crow had approached the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho and her Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri who were walking back to the Butterfly Mansion and informed the Demon Slayers the news. "Farewell... Mister Rengoku." Shinobu Kocho said in a sad tone as she had pitied Kyojuro Rengoku.
Kanao Tsuyuri frowned a bit.
'Poor Natsu...' Shinobu frowned.
Elsewhere, in an unknown town outside of a sweet shop. The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji and a fellow Demon Slayer, who accompanied her named Ozaki were taking a lunch break together and both were preparing to enjoy their cups of green tea and dango. The duo was then approached by a screaming messenger crow, which informed them of the news. Mitsuri's heart had sunken and her eyes when she learned she had lost her teacher. 'Mister Rengoku!' she chanted in her mind.
Ozaki felt really shocked after she learned of the news. She couldn't help but tear up and think of how Natsu might be feeling at that moment. 'Natsu!'
Elsewhere, within a bamboo forest, a messenger crow had discovered the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito walking and had informed him the news. But Muichiro did not respond as he had kept walking front and center. He then looked up to the clouds and spotted Kyojuro's face within it. 'That cloud kind of looks like Rengoku...'
Elsewhere, within Yoshiwara, Tokyo... the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui sat on a rooftop. He listened to a crow and learned the news of Kyojuro Rengoku's death from a messenger crow.
Tengen blinked then glanced at the crow on his right. "So, even though the Upper Rank demon had been defeated... but the victory still costed Rengoku life. Dammit!"
Elsewhere, Obanai Iguro stood on top of a house roof in a warm breeze. He was soon founded by a messenger crow and was informed of Kyojuro Rengoku's death.
"About time we killed an Upper Rank. But I won't believe that Rengoku is dead." Obanai said in denial. His face behind the bandages said it all.
Elsewhere, Gyomei Himeima and Genya Shinazugawa were previously training in the woods where they destroyed most of the trees in the area. They were then informed by a messenger crow of Kyojuro's death.
Gyomei instantly mourned for the death of Kyojuro Rengoku. He prayed. "Namu Amida Butsu."
"Heh." Genya chuckled after he learned that Akaza had been killed.
Elsewhere, Sanemi Shinazugawa trained in a facility where he had cut lots of bamboo. He barely broke a sweat during his training. After he finished, a messenger crow had appeared before him and informed Sanemi of the news of Rengoku's death.
"I'm happy that one of the repulsive Upper Moons was killed. But I'm gonna exterminate the rest of them." Sanemi replied with a half-smile and half-frown look on his face.
Elsewhere, Giyu had recently exited a family's Residence after protecting a family. He was then met by a messenger crow on the road and was quickly informed of the news. "Oh? So, that's it..." Giyu calmly replied.
Elsewhere, Kagaiya Ubuyashiki and his family were inside their large and beautiful Residence. They had received a message from a messenger crow in their garden. Kagaiya smiled. "Oh my! Not only did none of the two hundred passengers survived, but they defeated an Upper Rank demon!" Kagaiya laughed, feeling excited. "Congratulations, Kyojuro! Natsu! Tanjiro! Nezuko! Zenitsu! And Inosuke!" Kagaiya's illness had grown down his neck. "A hundred years. The balance hadn't shifted for over a hundred years!" Kagaiya then turned to his wife with a happy expression on his sick face. "Amane. My love."
"Yes, darling?" Amane Ubuyashiki replied.
"Do you know what this means? This is an omen!" Kagaiya gently grasped Amane's hands. "And the waves of hope will spread. The light will rock this country and overcome the darkness! And eventually, they'll reach him." Kagaiya then looked at the clear blue sky with his pail eyes. "Muzan Kibutsuji! We, this generation will find you and we will defeat you! You are the only stain that is hard to remove from our clan!"
Later That Night
On the day Akaza had died, the remaining five Upper Moons-technically the six demons. Had all been summoned inside the massive Infinity Castle. They all had wondered why they were summoned to the Infinity Castle and two of the Upper Ranks such as Gyokko and Doma wondered where Akaza was. Nakime played her biwa in front of the Upper Moon ranks as she were performing. Daki, Doma and Gyokko stood on one platform while Kokushibo sat in another room with the sliding door open. Gyokko sat by some stairs.
"Has anyone seen Akaza, yet?" Gyokko asked his Upper Rank companions while he had risen from a vase.
"I was about to ask the same question! If he doesn't show up, soon, I will be completely worried about." Doma said as he clung onto hope while waving his fan.
"Pssht! Who cares about him?" Daki crossed her arms.
"Why, I do!" Doma laughed.
'He's so annoying!' Daki thought as she looked away from Doma.
"It's been about Ninety years, since we all met. Hasn't it?" Gyokko asked.
"How horrible... how horrible..."
Gyokko looked toward the staircase and saw the Upper Rank Four demon, Hantengu crouching down behind the banister.
"It seems that Gyokko lost his memory during the period we had not met." Hantengu said, sounding hollow. "It has been One hundred and thirteen years, since we've all have been summoned by Lord Muzan." Hantengu stated while thinkinng on the top of his head. "An advisble number... a strange ominous number... an odd number. How horrible! How horrible!"
"He's here." Kokushibo said, which gained the attention of the other Upper Moons.
Daki gasped after hearing Kokushibo. A big smile and small blush appeared on her face. "Lord Muzan is here? Where?" She turned her head left and right.
"Hello, everyone."
The Upper Ranks had sensed Muzan's presence from above. Hantengu groveled, Kokushibo didn't bother looking up while Daki, Doma and Gyokko had looked up and glanced up to the ceiling. As three of the looked up, they all had spotted Muzan standing upside down and creating medicine for his disease.
"Lord Muzan!" Daki happily smiled as she had spotted her master on the roof.
"Akaza is dead. The Upper Moons of the Twelve Kizuki are incomplete." Muzan had stated as he stirred serum inside a glass cup.
The news that Muzan delivered to his subordinates had cause great shock to two of the Upper Ranks such as Doma and Gyokko. Doma's ears had been deafened with the news. He had dropped his steel fan in utter silence as he could not believe that Akaza had been killed.
"What? A strong Upper Moon such as Akaza was defeated?" Gyokko asked as he frowned.
Daki couldn't help but stare at Muzan.
Kokushibo lowered his head in disappointment. "How unfortunate."
"I suspected Akaza would lose. He was too eager to fight strong opponents. And in the end... he had bitten more than he could chew. Meaning, he had stuck his nose where it didn't belong and now, he lost his entire head." Muzan stated the obvious about Akaza. 'This is the first Upper Moon death, since a hundred and thirteen years ago.' Muzan thought. "You all are worthless."
Hearing those words utter from Muzan's mouth made Daki gasp in shock.
"If an Upper Rank Three demon such as Akaza was killed-how can I even rely on the rest of you?" Muzan asked.
Daki had quickly fell on her hands and knees and groveled. "N-no! Please, don't say such things, Lord Muzan!"
"For the past few centuries, you all have been sitting on your hands and feasting on my blood-as if you have forgotten your purpose. None of you have even found the Blue Spider Lily. Which means, I have no use for any of you."
"We'll find the Blue Spider Lily for you, I swear!" Daki teared up while groveling.
Hantengu screamed as he kept groveling. "Yes! Please, forgive us Lord Muzan!"
"I have no excuses. Ubuyashiki is skillful when it comes to hiding." Kokushibo thought of Kagaiya Ubuyashiki as he had bent a knee.
Doma bent a knee in silent. He still couldn't believe that Akaza had been killed.
Gyokko's head continued to levitate over his vase for a moment, until he thought of an idea. "Lord Muzan! I'm different and I have information! An I believe this information could bring your hopes up and-"
"I detest change." Muzan stated after ripping Gyokko's head off his shoulders and jumping back onto the ceiling, again. "Changing circumstances means, changes the flesh. And changing the flesh means, changing emotions. And most changes cause inferiority. I prefer unchanging." He stated as he held Gyokko's amputated head in his right hand.
'Lord Muzan is holding my head so delicate! Very nice and scary!' Gyokko stated.
"A perfect state is unchanging, forever! The first death, since a hundred and thirteen years ago... it displeases me, immensely. Don't ever think of telling me such unpleasant information, again." Muzan glared at his subordinate, Gyokko with his bloodshot red eyes. Then released Gyokko and let him fall to the floor. "From now on, you must struggle with great desperation." Muzan then caused intense pressure within the room by shooting his eyes fully open. This pressure caused the remaining Upper Rank Moons tremble-excluding Kokushibo. Nakime was also unaffected. "Do not disappoint me. THat goes for everyone else."
"Y-Yes, Lord Muzan!" Both Daki and Hantengu responded as they continued groveling.
"Gyokko!" Muzan had called.
Gyokko was put under silence for a moment. His amputated had grown baby-sized hands where he can stand without his vase. "When the information is confirmed, go there with Hatengu."
"As you wish!" Hantengu cried as he continued groveling.
"Daki." Muzan called.
Daki gasped when she heard Muzan's voice. "Lord Muzan?" Daki raised her head and looked to the ceiling.
"Come with me. I have a proposition for you." Daki said.
Daki happily blushed again. "A-As you wish, Lord Muzan!" Daki made a high jump and clung onto the ceiling with her pink sashes.
The doors on the ceiling then shut after Daki met with Muzan, upside down. The remaining four Upper Moons were left to deal with their own business.
'But, Lord Muzan... I have the information you need.' Gyukko sighed, silently. 'I guess that's fine.' Gyukko looked to his left to see Hantengu who is still groveling. He looked to his right to see Doma still in shock over Akaza's death. "Doma?"
"Akaza is... dead." Doma teared up. "Oh, well! It looks like I have to find a new best friend." He said as he stood on his feet and looked at the ceiling. His sad and teary persona suddenly turned into a happy childish persona in a moment.
Gyokko had been thrown off with his optimism. "Eh?"
"Well, I can't spend my whole life mourning those that are dead. Besides, there are lots of women in this country that I still want to eat-I mean, meet." Doma laughed as he told Gyokko.
"You are a strange demon." Gyokko noted as he felt a little uncomfortable around Doma. He then turned his head to the Biwa playing demon, Nakime. "Send me and Hantengu to the same place!"
"Very well." Nakime responded to Gyokko's request and played a single tune on her Biwa. Instantly transporting Hantengu and Gyokko toward the destination that Muzan had given them.
Doma spotted Nakime a few floors higher than him. "Ooh! Miss Biwa player! Can you and I-"
"I decline." Nakime had rejected Doma's proposal. She then played a tune on her Biwa. Instantly transporting Doma back to his fancy master room in the Paradise Faith Cult.
"Oh? I'm back within my chambers." Doma looked around within his master bedrooms to see decorations and ornaments hanging all across his master bedroom. He sat on his soft and cushy chair for a total minute without thought. "Now, I wonder... who's the one that took down the likes of Lord Akaza?"
Elsewhere, during that same night. The Demon Slayers were recuperating within the Butterfly Mansion. Natsu Rengoku. A Demon Slayer who was never physically hurt while on the Mugen Train but is deeply heartbroken with the results. Natsu had dressed in white patient clothing and curled up into a ball on an individual white bed. He could not sleep after what happened to his older brother, Kyojuro. His golden pupils were still empty.
'Brother... I-'
A clock in the room rings once both clock hands touch the number twelve. Meaning that it is midnight.
Once the clock had rung, Natsu gasped then thought of the image of Kyojuro fatally impaled by Akaza. That image had made Natsu bury his head in his knees and start crying on the bed.
To be continued...