300 years prior…
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Once again running away from Kibutsuji, Lily continuously looked back to see her pursuer closing the distance. In a desperate attempt to give some distance, Lily dug deep into both her arms, and flung them at Kibutsuji, then snapping her fingers her blood began to burst into flames. Stopping just before the flames, Kibutsuji was thoroughly impressed at Lily's blood art. By just consuming a humans or demons' blood, she was able to change her blood art at will, but with the consequence of attaining their memories. And since demons live longer, they have more memories, in turn causes chaos within Lily's mind as to who she truly was.
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Present time, just moment before Tanjiro's and Nezuko's battle finishes…
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Still hanging from the wires, and remembering her own blood art, Kaguya awoke with a force and called out to Nezuko who was still closest to her. Extending her right arm out, this caused the wires to cut in deeper, but as she ignored the pain, Kaguya focused on Tanjiro's blood and clenched her fist. By doing so, Kaguya created a blazing fiery dragon that placed itself on Nezuko, in turn granting Nezuko a bit more stamina and strength to finish this battle.
As Tanjiro then successfully cut off Rui's head, the wire had begun to burn and snap, leading to Kaguya falling down towards the ground, landing with a thump. Grunting from the pain she felt when she came in contact with the ground, Kaguya tried to move only to feel her torn muscles cut in every way possible. Still doing everything she can, she managed to turn onto her stomach and stare at the Kamado siblings, who at this point were exhausted beyond belief. With Tanjiro forcibly switching breaths mid-way, it was understandable. And with Nezuko running here with all her might was also understandable. Now focusing more on healing, Kaguya's body began to burst into flames once more, and her wounds had begun to close more rapidly. But gaining the necessary strength to get up was another problem in itself.
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"Ne-chan. Ta-chan." Kaguya spoke weakly as she tried several times to get up on her feet, only to fall each and every time but inched closer and closer to the siblings. "Have to protect. Have to." Kaguya though to herself, as she had finally managed to reach Tanjiro and laid herself on top of him. "Tan-chi." She forced herself to say, as she noticed how much pain Tanjiro was in.
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Then feeling the emotions of hatred and disgust, Kaguya looked behind her, only to be sent flying. Crashing into the trees that were in her path, Kaguya continued to knock down several trees at a time, until after what seemed like hours of flying ended. Looking in front of her she noticed Rui walking towards her, ever so slowly.
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"Why…why is it that when you look like you give up, you always have a trump card in that sleeve of yours?!" Rui looked with detest as he grabbed Kaguya by the neck and began to choke her. "This time, I'll make sure you suffer!"
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Chocking and not being able to breath, Kaguya grabbed Rui's wrist with her tiny childish hands and with her remaining strength, tried to pry open his grip.
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"Look at what you became! This form of yours is disgusting. I can't even look at you!" Rui yelled. "You had so much power, and yet you don't use it, unless there is a human in trouble! This is why your weak!" Gripping at her neck more, vein-like structures began to pop up more on Rui's arm.
"I protect…" Kaguya spoke through her gags at Rui with her best efforts. "Human's so…they can learn to protect each other." Looking with determination in her eyes, Kaguya yelled. "It's you who looks detestable! MAYA!"
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Yelling a name Rui did not know, caused him to back up a bit, but still continued to choke Kaguya. In a matter of seconds, Rui found himself flying through the forest. After stopping himself from falling into any trees, Rui placed his feet into the ground and looked at the hair-like vine structures that flowed unconsciously. Looking at it with anger boiling behind his gaze, Rui once again screamed.
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"You granted your powers to others, but not me?! Why?! What did I do to not deserve your power?" Rui exclaimed for an answer.
"She wanted you to live a normal, peaceful life." A voice spoke from behind Rui, a voice Rui believed he had forgotten during his time as a demon.
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Turning around to see who was behind him, he froze to who he saw. A man sharing his appearance, but older. His hair was parted almost the exact same way and Rui's but was a bit grayer and uncombed. Backing up not wanting to believe what he was seeing, Rui overcoming with emotions cried out.
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"No, you're dead. I saw you die." Rui spoke trying his best to believe that this was all a false illusion. "I know, this is Big Sis's new Blood Art. She's still trying to break me, is that it?" Rui pointed at Chosuke, who at this point revealed himself from the shadows of the trees.
"No, it's no illusion." Chosuke answered as he had successfully managed to place one of his hand on Rui's cheek.
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Feeling a warmth, he had never felt in a long time, Rui was at odds with himself. Unable to make a decision, Rui had begun to extended his arms out to his father, who up until now, was believed to be dead.
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"Rui, it's time to stop this. You've done more than enough damage here. It's time to rest." As Chosuke spoke, another voice spoke.
"You must hurry Chosuke. Two demon hunters are fast approaching." As Maya spoke, the hair began to wave almost as if it was sentient.
"I know, Maya." Chosuke answered embracing Rui tightly. "Come on Rui, you must end this. Now!"
"Your right. This does have to end." Kicking Chosuke back, Rui put a considerable distance between him and the two new demons. Placing his hand together, wires upon wires had begun to intertwine with each other and in a matter of moments, Rui pushed on the wires and sent them to Chosuke and everyone behind him. "Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Rotation!"
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Seeing the oncoming threads, Chosuke began to breath in, which caught the attention of Tanjiro and Nezuko.
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"Is he using a Breathing Technique?" Tanjiro thought to himself as he noticed Chosuke's attitude change.
"Breath of Balance 1st Form: Gentle Breeze; Modified…" Chosuke then placed his right index finger pointed out in front of him and just slightly tapped the wires, which in response all the wires untwined and scattered. "Swallow Reversal."
Seeing that happen in front of them was unlike anything they had ever seen. As Tanjiro and Nezuko looked in awe, they noticed Chosuke walking up while tears had begun to stream down his face.
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"You're going to kill me again?!" Rui said with hatred in his voice. "I won't let you." As Rui lifted his hand once more to try and kill his father, he noticed his father no longer standing where he was. Then the sound of metal piercing the skin was followed after Chosuke showed himself yet again behind Rui.
"Forgive me…Rui." Chosuke said as his voice choked on his words and began to cry once more. "I promise you that I'll be joining you and your mother soon. But I have something important to do." After he pulled out what looked to be a needle from Rui's neck, Tanjiro smelled two distinct smells coming from it, Chosuke's scent, and Rui's.
"Is that his blood art?" Tanjiro thought to himself as he began to lose consciousness. "I wonder what it did to Rui."
Seeing Rui's fall down to the ground once more, Tanjiro and Nezuko both passed out due to exhaustion. But the last thing Tanjiro saw was Chosuke holding Rui's lifeless body as it began to disappear and burn. Trying her best to stay awake with mere will power, Nezuko crawled as the mark that had only appeared when she was emotional, had fully plastered itself on the right side of her body, in the form of a leaves on a vine. The vine formed around her right eye and curved just under her forehead and placed itself above the center of her eye, and ran down her face until it curved just under her eye making an S-shape then running down straight her neck, and wrapped itself around her right arm until it ended up in the center of her right palm. And in her hand was a blade that was giver to her by Tamayo.
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"I have to stay up. I also have to get Rui's blood; it could help Tamayo. And if I pass out now, who will protect Kaguya?" As Nezuko thought this, she began to hear footsteps in the distance. Turning her attention to the sound, she noticed the mishmashed haori that the slayer wore. But his attention wasn't focused on the obvious demons that were just a bit ways away, no it was focused on… "Kaguya!" Moving her body with what little strength she had, Nezuko jumped in front of Giyuu and his oncoming blade.
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Seeing this, Giyuu stopped his blade just before it came into contact with Nezuko's shoulder, following with a blast of wind that could've toppled a tree. Shaking beyond belief while trying to keep Giyuu from killing Kaguya, Nezuko stayed in placed hoping that her actions were enough to stop the man before her.
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"No doubt about it." Giyuu thought to himself, as he began to inspect Nezuko from top to bottom, seeing nothing out of the ordinary with her other than the weird tattoo plastered on her face. "She is definitely human. But if she is, what's with the mark on her face, and does she even remember someone like me?" Without waiting for Nezuko to speak, Giyuu spoke up first. "Do you remember me?"
"Huh?" Caught off guard with his abrupt questioning, Nezuko's only response was that.
"I'm asking if you remember me from when you were a demon." Giyuu spoke again not liking the response he received.
"I…was a demon?" Nezuko repeated but was quick to deny it. "No, I was never a demon. If I was I would…of…" Now turning her attention to her brother, Nezuko realized why Tanjiro kept their family's death a secret. "Did I…kill my family?" On the verge of tears, Nezuko thought she had pieced it together, only for Giyuu to deny her answers.
"No, you didn't. Your brother said there was another scent at your house when he came home." Giyuu spoke to grab Nezuko's attention but continued without delay. "Last I saw you, you were indeed a demon. But I guess your brother made good on his promise to turn you back into human. If that's the case, then the cure must be in your blood."
"That's right, Lily was there with Big Brother…and…me." As fatigue had finally set in, Nezuko fell back, and without even trying to stop herself, fell on top of Kaguya. Who at this point had wasted every ounce of strength she had and fell asleep.
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Seeing this, Giyuu placed his fingers in front of Nezuko's mouth to ensure that she was breathing. Several minutes later, Joichirou and Ozaki followed, with Shinobu right behind them. But as the young demon slayers tried to move in on the lone demon, Joichirou step between them and explained the situation entirely.
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The Next Day…
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"Hey, you two, wake up. How long are you going to sleep?" A voice spoke, now sounding irritated, the voice yelled. "I said wake up!"
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The first to respond was Tanjiro as he looked around to see 6 people standing in front of him.
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Shinobu Kocho, Butterfly Pillar: (Too lazy to explain, since I already did in a previous chapter)
Gyomei Himejima, Stone Pillar: His appearance is extremely muscular and stocky. He wears a large beaded necklace around his neck, and by Tanjiro's point of view, is holding prayer beads. He has black hair, and a scar running horizontally along his forehead.
Muichiro Tokito, Mist Pillar: A short young man of light complexion with long straight hair of black that fades to a turquoise and wears two clumps of hair on each side of his head.
Kyojuro Rengoku, Flame Pillar: A young adult with bright yellow hair with red streaks, black forked eyebrows, and golden eyes. He wears the standard uniform, like everyone else, but wears a white-yellow gradient patter haori with red flame-like ridges at the end.
Mitsuri Kanroji, Love Pillar: The most curvaceous woman you will ever see with fair skin and light green eyes. She also has long, pale pink hair that fades into a neon green color halfway. Her uniform is a modified version of the demon slayer uniform; the breast area left unbuttoned to accommodate her chest size and wears a short skirt in place of the hakama (or pants, In case you didn't know). She also wears a plain white haori.
Tengen Uzui, Sound Pillar: A tall muscular young man with white hair, though is seen wearing a headwrap with a headband covered with jewels of various sizes. He wears a sleeveless demon hunter uniform.
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Seeing these people wasn't the strangest thing Tanjiro had seen in his time as a Demon Slayer, but it was still weird for him to see so much personality in one place. Then coming to the realization that he was no longer in the forest, Tanjiro looked around to see if he could spot Nezuko. Looking around frantically, he spotted her just a few feet away from him, resting peacefully. Sighing with relief, Tanjiro forced himself up to his knees and in that moment, Shinobu spoke.
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"Tanjiro Kamado, you're in the Demon Slayer Headquarters. Once your sister, Nezuko Kamado wakes up, you both will be put on trial for not only traveling with a demon, but also for collaborating with several other demons in the past year."
"Wait how did they know that? I was sure Nezuko and I weren't followed." Tanjiro thought to himself, only for him to cut his train of thought and realized that… "Wait. Where's Kaguya?!" Now realizing that there was someone missing, Tanjiro began to look around frantically. But seeing as she was nowhere in sight, he began to panic more.
"Kamado, I suggest you calm yourself and explain-" Shinobu was cut off by a booming voice.
"There is no need for a trial!" Rengoku protested. "Protecting a demon and working alongside them is a clear violation of the code! We're within our right to deal with him on our own!"
"Then I'll deal with decapitating him." Uzui answered after Rengoku spoke. "I'll show you the most flamboyant blood spray you'll ever see." He spoke as he placed his left hand on the left side of his head. "And I'm talking max flamboyance."
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As Tanjiro noticed all the pillars talking, he turned his attention toward Nezuko, who at this point was barely waking up, but still struggled to get up.
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"Nezuko! Are you alright?" Tanjiro exclaimed in a rush, only to begin coughing.
"Big…brother…where…where are we?" Nezuko asked slowly as the bright rays from the sun shined in her eyes.
"Oh, your awake Miss Kamado, now we'll be able to put you both on trial." Shinobu spoke once more.
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But Tanjiro never listened as he began to look around more and more for his friends, and his new family member, Kaguya. But just as he was about to get up, another voice spoke. Trying to find where the voice originated, Tanjiro looked around and saw someone laying on a branch, high in the tree. The one thing that caught Tanjiro's eyes were his eyes colors: with his right eye being yellow and his left being a turquoise.
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Obanai Iguro, Serpent Pillar: He's a young man with a short stature. He had a light complexion with black hair that is choppy and layered with two strands of hair in between his eyes. He wears bandages wrapped around his mouth and always had a snake wrapped around his neck. Same as the other slayers, Obanai wears the standard demon slayer uniform, and wears a black and white striped haori. But for his shoes he wears a blue strapped zori.
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"It's starting to become an eyesore, not seeing Giyuu in restraints." Obanai pointed at Giyuu who was standing a bit ways away from the rest of the group.
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Now fully awake, Nezuko took in the scene that had begun to unfold in front of her. Not aware of the situation, she turned to her brother only to see something that made her blood boil.
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"Now this is interesting." Yet another voice spoke, this time grabbing everyone's attention.
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As they all turned to face the owner of the voice, Tanjiro noticed a man covered in scars on his chest, hand and face. He had white, spiky hair. But what he held in his hand is what caught Tanjiro's attention.
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"Shinazugawa, I ask that you refrain from acting on your own." Shinobu replied, with a hint of anger in her voice.
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A few moments later, a Kakushi woman ran in from the side of the house and pleaded to Sanemi Shinazugawa to place down the box.
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Sanemi Shinazugawa, Wind Pillar: A tall, muscular… (I just noticed that all the males are all significantly tall, except for the women.) …and slender man with spiky white hair and large eyes
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"Please I beg of you. Master Nakamura left that in the shadows for a reason…" But she was cut off by Sanemi's outburst.
"You think I give a damn about what that old fart says! We are demon hunter. Our mission is to kill all demons." As Sanemi pulled out his blade, he pointed it to the box. "And that is what I'm going to do."
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With a smile spreading across his face, he began to force his blade into the box, and stabbed the demon within. Hearing a muffled scream, Tanjiro snapped and rose to his feet.
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Anyone who hurts my family, Demon Slayer or not, I won't ever forgive you!"
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Laughing at the sight, Shinazugawa slid the blade in more and in one swift motion, pulled it out of the box. Now completely angry, Tanjiro screamed and rushed forward.
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"Stop it! The Master will be arriving soon." Giyuu spoke up, causing Sanemi to hesitate.
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Then as Tanjiro jumped out of the way of Sanemi's deadly blade, Sanemi was distracted by Tanjiro's moment, that he completely ignored the girl who tripped him. As he finally realized what had happened, Sanemi looked down to see Nezuko twirling with on her back causing Sanemi to trip toward the ground. Even more so, since Tanjiro completely headbutted the heck out of him. As all three collapsed towards the ground, Mitsuri choked a laugh which grabbed everyone's attention.
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"I'm sorry." She answered in embarrassment.
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As Nezuko pushed herself towards the box, she grabbed one of the straps and began to wrap her hands as tightly as she could. Then looking back, Nezuko spoke.
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"Kaguya, are you alright?!" She asked in a panic, only to receive a grunt of pain coming from the box.
"You bastards…Now you've gone and pissed me off." But everyone, in that exact moment, felt a presence so heavy it caused the air around them feel like they were sinking into the ground.
"So… my words mean nothing to you, Shinazugawa. Then I guess that means, I can pound my ideals into you until you break." Joichirou's calm, yet stern voice spoke. Then turning his attention behind him, Sanemi saw Joichirou with an angrier look, something he had never seen before.
"I don't get you. At first when I joined, you showed no interest in interfering with what I did, now all of a sudden it's like you came back as a different person." Sanemi answered with malice and hatred, but with a hint of fear, but only noticed Joichirou walking over to Nezuko.
"Hand me the box, miss. I can assure you that it will be safe in my presence." Joichirou said in a calm soothing voice.
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Hesitant as to whether or not she should hand the box over, Nezuko just stared with suspicion at Joichirou. Seeing this, he knelt down and looked at Nezuko directly in her eyes with a sweet smile, showing no sign of deceit. Seeing this, Nezuko calmed down and began to unwrap her hand from the strap. Grabbing the box, Joichirou placed the straps on his shoulders and turned over to Sanemi.
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"Shinazugawa, I may be old, but that doesn't mean you should ignore my orders." It only took second for Sanemi to be put down towards the ground and for Joichirou to remove and take Sanemi's sword into the estate.
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Seeing the old man move was astounding to both Nezuko and Tanjiro. They had never seen speed such as that, and they thought that Urokodaki was fast. But this man topped their teacher's speed by 10, but at a cost. After landing within the shadows of the estate before the Pillars, Joichirou had begun to cough uncontrollably; And it lasted for a full minute.
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"Sensei, are you alright?!" Kanroji said as she approached the estate in a rush.
"I'm alright, Kanroji, don't concern yourself with me." Joichirou responded to the kind girl as he looked at her and wiped his mouth.
"You're bleeding." Mitsuri spoke up once more, catching everyone's attention.
"Is that true, Sensei?" Shinobu asked.
"As I stated before, do not concern yourself with my health. That is my problem to undertake. And besides, the Master is here."
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Turning their attention towards the opened doors, entered a man whose calm demeanor caused everyone to bow to their knees, all except Joichirou, who had begun to stand just behind the Master of the Demon Slayer Corp.
As the Master began to walk forward closer to the edge of the estate, with the guidance of two girls at each of his sides, his features were shown. He had light skin and black shoulder length hair. And while his overall appearance didn't interest the Kamado siblings, the marks on his face did. Seeing this, Tanjiro couldn't help but think what the marks were all about.
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"Good morning, everyone." Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke in a calm, soothing tone after looking up to the sky for a bit. "I am glad to see that we have all made it to are semi-annual Pillar Meeting, with no personnel change." After saying those few words to the Pillars in front of him, Kagaya turned his attention towards Joichirou, who was just within the shadows of the estate. "Joichirou…yet marks another year of your time as a Demon Slayer. I am glad to see that you are still in good health, despite the complication you had."
"I thank you for your kind word, my dear friend." Joichirou answered Kagaya. "And if I may, I wish to state something before we begin our Pillar Meeting."
"And what may that be?" Kagaya asked.
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Giving a few seconds of silence, trying to gather his words, Joichirou began to breath in then out to try and calm his now raging heart. Then after recollecting his thoughts, Joichirou spoke.
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"I've, once again met the group of demons that had saved my life."