Nezuko gave a hmph of affirmation as she was done with her job of removing the needles painlessly using her blood demon art.
Inosuke nodded.
"Beast Breathing. Seventh Form: Spatial Aware-"
"Everyone! I am here!" A very familiar voice yelled out. The figure becoming more and more visible, soon standing in front of them. It was Tanjiro with his iconic smile, unique hanafuda earrings and distinct haori, bearing the black nichirin blade covered in blood.
"So glad I found you!" I killed the demons who were pursuing us. Some of them ran to that direction" 'Tanjiro' pointing his index finger to the right. "Let us go this way!" he said with a bright smile on his face which changed into a serious one in an instant.
The others shocked, didn't utter a word for a second. Their faces scrunched up in disgust as they take out their blades. Nezuko growls, her forehead bulging in anger as she draws her claws out.
"What happe-"
"Shut up you shitty fucking insult of a copy" Inosuke spat, venom laced at every word he said.
Zenitsu said in a dangerously low voice, "What did you do with Tanjiro?"
"What do you mean guys? I am Tanjiro! Your friend!" He said with his ever present smile.
"Stop wearing that skin." Giyuu said as he narrowed his eyes. "Where. Is. He." He asked, his face turning into one showing disgust and anger even if his tone stayed neutral.
"What are you talking about?! ITS ME!!! YOUR FRIEND AND COMRADE!" 'Tanjiro' said as desperation started to creak up his voice.
"QUIT YOUR LIES ALREADY" Zenitsu yelled, face contorted in anger, tears appearing at the corner of his eyes. "TANJIRO EMITS A SOFT SOUND WHENEVER HE IS AROUND UNLIKE WHATEVER YOU ARE" Zenitsu pointing his accusing finger towards the figure who held his hands defensively infront of him (sword still at hand), eyes widened.
"Ne-Nezuko! You believe me right?" 'Tanjiro' said as (fake) tears appeared around his eyes.
The demoness hissed at this dangerously. Her eyes darting towards the bloodied sword and immediately concerned and worried at realization that it might be her beloved brother's blood. The others noticing it along with her, earning gasps as their anger grew even further.
"You! YOU! How do you have Monjiro's sword?! Whose blood is that?!"
The fake Tanjiro lowered his head and then let out a chuckle, slowly showing off the demonic eyes, claws and fangs.
"I had an idea the slayers are really proficient at their work but I had no idea, you would so good." The demon stated in a dark tone still using Tanjiro's voice.
"As for your question, I don't think I will tell you! And why bother he might as well be dea-" he never got complete his sentence.
The demon barely missed an attack from a certain boar head who almost decapitated him.
"Blood Demon Art: Illusion and Teleportation"
With that the demon created a fog like dust cloud.
The demon slayers huddled close. They still have one more obstacle to go through…and they didn't know how much time they have left.
Is that its demon art?!
Tanjiro felt completely paralyzed as he gazed into the crystal ball holding demon's yellow (only visible) eye. He could feel the rope tightening around his neck and now blocking his air passage just enough for him to gasp for air. The voices around him numbing just as body.
Where is everyone?
The demon visibly aware of his sufferings, answered the unspoken question. "Well you see, those who stare at my eye directly, get paralyzed temporarily and when not seen yet my eye is watching them, bad memories and thoughts plague their human minds. It is simple. Really."
"Now then, shall we?" He said mockingly.
"Blood Demon Art: Window of Memories"
The demon's crystal ball shines in white light which eventually turns into the same shade of yellow of its eyes. A (laser like) ray of light soon emerges from it, connecting directly with Tanjiro's head.
A severe pain shot through Tanjiro's whole head. The pain was greater than a brazier containing lit coals fall over you-
Wait- Is that what this demon can do? ….look at my memories while making me remember and relive them ?!
Another pain shot through his head as he remembered another memory, this one of him playing with his baby brother while (toddler) Nezuko made funny faces to make the baby laugh.
The next memory took him further back to time when he was the only child and was sitting on his grandmother's lap cheerfully. He remembers how after a while, his mother and father approach him with the news that he could have a younger brother or sister in the near future. He also remembers how happy he felt at the thought of having someone else to play with at the house and how he squeaked in joy.
"...you had a happy childhood, I see" the demon stated with a frown as he continued.
"Now….Let's see through your memories…Find out the truths about your whole life to this point … and where are the headquarters of the demon slayers" This somewhat snapped him back to his senses. However everything seemed very slow in motion.
Just when the demon thought it had an upper hand and went to behead the demon slayers using the blade of a demon slayer.
How ironic.
Thats when it realized that the fog has grown more and more thin.
"Total Concentration. Water Breathing. Sixth Form. Whirlpool"
"BEAST BREATHING. THIRD FANG: DEVOUR!"
"Thunder Breathing. First Form. Thunder Clap and Flash. Six fold!"
His head rolled off in the side, disintegrating along with its body which was shredded to pieces. The illusion disappearing, showing its true colour.
Zenitsu moved up in front and grabbed the sword (which belonged to the real Tanjiro) putting it on his belt immediately.
He looked at Inosuke who got the sign as Zenitsu rushed to get Nezuko's box and asked her to get in which reluctantly she did. He wore the box on his back, ready on run on a simple notion.
"Beast Breathing. Seventh Form: Spatial Awareness"
"If Muzan finds about the headquarters, it could put us into huge disadvantage… He will continuously attack it or target it by his most powerful demons….I…can't let…that demon…see through those memories….as best as I can-" Tanjiro thinks as he takes (gasping) as much air as could by his breathing technique to increase his mental barrier.
"Kamado Tanjiro….so that's your full name…what an interesting name- oh?" The demon flinches. The rope demon who had been quiet all this time other than the occasional smug face, looked back and asked, "What happened?"
"This boy…he is repressing his memories…not letting me see them…he pulled up a mental barrier-" he looks up at him who was in a bloody state as his body has been constricted completely and tied up so tightly that it cut through his skin, making it bleed as the blood slowly trickled down. He can't even breath properly due to the noose around his neck.
One thing is for sure…conscious or semi conscious, he is aware of his surroundings even in such a pathetic state.
The demon thought to itself. "Tighten the grip-" he announces as it observes the boy.
"-especially around his neck."
His command was immediately followed as Tanjiro screamed out in pain as more blood flew down openly. He felt his eyelids grow heavier and heavier.
"Is this how I am going to die?" He thought to himself as spots begin to appear in his vision which was blurring.
"I will…..not let him…see whatever memory ….he wants… to see" was the last thought before his world swept into darkness.
"….humans have the most fragile state in their sleep or sleep like state. I can now see through his memories like it were an open book…Muzan-sama will be proud"
*Flashback*
The sound was as if someone strung a cord of Biwa as Kioku along with his 'siblings' landed in a place where all rooms were disassembled everywhere. They however sat in a room which seemed almost fine with a raised platform where a woman holding a biwa sat quietly.
Quite recently, they have swept off an entire village near the sea side in their hunger. All his siblings were talking among themselves about how the most worthy end up in this place so called 'Infinity Castle'.
"Are we to be rewarded?!" His sister, Rin finally asked, her voice showing happiness.
"Perhaps. Maybe our lord is to praise us-" Kioku said, cleaning his crystal ball for the umpteenth time.
"Muzan-Sama has arrived"
This silented everyone but unfortunately, their previous conversation was heard by the owner of the place as evidenced by what he said next.
"Very much so." Muzan's voice rang across the room. He wore a different outfit this time. He looked much like…a woman in contrast to when he turned him and his siblings into demons; back then appeared as an aristrocat man in Western clothes.
Its a shame Kioku can't seem to remember anything from his human life. Everything seems like a blur. This is only the third time ever he is meeting with the demon king himself, the first being the time he was transformed. The second time being on an accident where he said he could remember flashes from something he doesn't remember doing. He doesn't even remember what he saw back then and what happened after he said that to Muzan except the reply he received and got thrown to where his underlings where. All he remembers is, he was crying violently when he was offered to become a demon and that Muzan replied with "Everything will be okay now". Even now he wonders what happened back then.
"I believe my appearance is of the least importance so are your reminiscing of the past actions as of now" Muzan's eyes narrowing, showing his anger as if he read through kioku's thoughts.
Kioku's eyes widen at realization who immediately bows (his siblings follow) and apologized deeply.
"Regardless, I was quite impressed by how fast you are progressing through the ranks. At this rate, you might be part of the twelve kizuki who knows?" The others still bowing down and keeping their mind blank.
He continued, "As for why you are today, I believe you and your….group have peculiar demon arts, yes?"
"Yes Muzan-sama" they say in unison.
"However yours-" pointing at Kioku. "-allows you to peek into others memories and drag things out of it into real life from the records I received."
"Yes, I have the power to do so thanks to the blessing given by you" said Kioku still bowing.
"Hmm, I have an assignment for you. Search for a boy wearing a green-black checkered haori and hanafuda earrings. Bring him alive right back here. You can make him suffer as much as you want but make sure to not kill him. He must be alive. He is a skilled swordsmen however. Don't hold back."
"As you please, your majesty." Kioku said.
"I am not done yet." Muzan stated, he continued.
"I could have chosen any of my Upper Moons to do just that. However what brings me to you….I want you to search for namely two things. One for every slayer you come across, search through their minds…every bit of sanity for The Headquarters of Demon Slayers. Those pesty humans who kill our kind, all originate from that cursed place. Should we know the location. We will win this war and secondly…"
Muzan narrowed his eyes further as he stated the following,
"Every human you come across, search for the memory of a flower known as Blue Spider Lillies. I suspect those grow only during the day and humans should be able to gain access to them. These flowers could turn the tide of the war. These flowers are capable of granting demons immortality. Kill every human you look the memories through when you see they know nothing on the matter. The slayers must not know about this plan."
"I will not fail you, your majesty"
Muzan narrowed his eyes and soon they were pretty much tossed into a nearby forest as the whole palace vanished into thin air.
Concentrating his powers, his crystal ball eventually glowed up once more, opening a small screen in front of him. Showing glimpses of forgotten or fresh memories alike.
But to his frustration, no matter what the headquarters image stayed a blur even the voice and scenes apparently related to it, completely distorted and blurring beyond recognition as he carried on.
Tanjiro's face warped into one showing pain and discomfort, struggling against the bonds again uselessly .
"I can't believe this boy…Tanjiro… is putting up such a fight…his mental strength is higher than most people. He somehow managed to blur his prominent memories" he murmured to himself.
"Fine by me. If he doesn't let his guard down, I will forcefully do so." He said as his hands turn bloodied and then hovers his hands into the screen in front of him.
Only the bad memories.
But he didn't have to dig much like he has to for some people, the memories slowly started to turn to back to the ones which were sad, heart wrenching, paining,….terrifying even for a demon.
(A/N: Tldr, Basically the memories from the present day to back to his beginner days as a demon slayer and going further and further back but these memories are the bad ones not the good ones. The demon is showing them to him intentionally to let his guard down. So the memories are going from present to past. In short, Backwards.)
He watched the death of a guy named "Rengoku" who saved every passenger of the train except him. He watched how the demon marked as "Upper Moon 6" nearly killed a human under his watch, slowly progressing to other missions where people were killed mercilessly by demons during the final selection.
.
.
.
He watched how Tanjiro found the horrific sight of his family massacred, blood splattered everywhere. The silent scream that filled his core, making him collapse on his knees.
"Oni-san…the boy has stopped moving" the female demon said, breaking the other demon from its Concentration.
He looks up the boy completely still, the face still having the expression of pain on it as tears streamed downed his face. The pupil in his eyes slowly becoming cloudy as it stared at nothing in the vast sky above.
"I see…so he is sensitive about his family the most. Very well…"
"Oni-san…I think we all should leave- call the others back- now that we have him captured"
"Blood Demon Art: Window of Memories"
Despite listening to what his sister had to say, he couldn't help but find this 'Tanjiro' very interesting.
In his lifetime as a demon (which is just around 25 years) he has never encountered a single human…slayers or hashiras alike with such a terrible fate and such a strong mental barrier.
He hated to admit it to himself right now but should the boy have been uninjured, it could have been hard for Kioku to break in. He would have eventually but still, it would have been a struggle.
Regardless, he progresses into older or rather dormant memories. The demon sees the boy witness death of his father and grandmother in front of his very own eyes. The demon notices how the young boy was able to sniff nearing death, considering it as a curse in tearful eyes as he watches his loved ones pass away.
Kioku then realizes the memories are slowly blackening out. He immediately understands that he doesn't have much time left to look for.
He is dying….and he is suppressing his being… Dont think I can look for the headquarter memory in this short time. Muzan-sama might forgive me for that but I might be able to look one more memory incase he knows anything about the flowers….though highly unlikely since so many ordinary people don't know about it and this guy is demon slayer. He might not even admire nature's beauty.
Kioku thought to himself quickly as he scanned through every last memory (not blackening) he was able to get his hands on.
He eventually found a memory which was still intact but a very dormant one. He decided to see through it considering this will be final piece where he can find something.
"Tanjiro, hold the basket like this" a female motherly voice said sweetly.
"Yes!" The child wearing a green-black checkered kimono said as he held the basket properly. He seemed like a 9-10 year old at max.
"With how many berries we collected, Nezuko, Takeo and Hanako would definitely be happy! They love this berry a lot" the child said cheerfully.
"Indeed. I have collected a few for your father too. These are beneficial for him"
"Eh 'kaa-san, what flower is that?" The child points at a bunch of very beautiful blue flowers growing under the direct sunlight.
The mother's eyes widen.
The demon watching the scene visibly intrigued. Could it be…?
"Those are a bunch of very rare flowers, Tanjiro. I believe they are known as Blue Spider Lillies"
"Can we take them home with us?"
"No, dear. Some things are better off left in their natural surroundings." She smiled sadly.
The demon wasting no more time, thrust his hand into the screen infront of him, only to realize the memory has blackened, leaving his demonic hands grab a bunch of black ashes instead. His hand burned in the sunlight of the memories while also blackening out the whole memory itself.
He started to panic. For all this time, he had a person with such a valuable asset for a memory and he wasted it so much time looking for a memory forcefully suppressed and had no chance of unlocking anyway.
This kid….is that the reason Muzan-sama wanted him alive?... I don't have much time…there must be one more coincidence where he saw it….
He starts to frantically search from the remaining of the memories. All of them turning into ash as soon as he tries to get hold of them.
Damn it! He is choosing to die rather than let me look through them…
He finally finds a short glimpse of a memory and maniacally tries to get hold of it. He successfully does and what he sees just runs more salt to his wounds.
The child now looking to be 13 years old, carried a huge basket of charcoal on his back. He still wore the same colour checkered kimono even after so many years. The weather was sunny and harsh sunlight fell on the ground.
As he slowly descends the mountain, he finds the same Blue Spider Lillies under another patch of sunlight. However the soil beneath, visibly cracked due to lack of water and the flowers visibly drooped down.
The boy progresses towards it and takes out the (bottle) gourd containing water and pours out some under the flowers. The flowers immediately fluttered in the gentle air as if thanking the boy for the water. The boy smiled to himself.
The demon immediately tried to snatch the flowers only for the memory disappear in the last second. Anger fuelling his whole being.
Muzan-sama won't let me live…
"MMMMMPHHHH!!!!!!" A demoness suddenly attacks out of nowhere, aiming for Kioku, whose eyes widen in shock.
"TANJIROOOOOOO!!!!" Yellow haired boy and Boar head yelled as they drew out their swords and charged. Another person's silhouette following them close.
Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Giyuu dashed forward as soon as Inosuke figured out his friend's location using his breathing technique and what condition he was at.
Nezuko didn't even waste a second as she tapped into her dormant hidden strength to gain extra speed to reach the place earlier as soon as the knowledge was told. The only one even coming near her was Zenitsu who was partially using thunder breathing to keep in pace with her. The other two following closely behind.
It didn't take long for them to find the horrid place. However the scene they saw in front of them was much much worse than what they imagined and froze them at their spot as they saw the whole view in front of them.
Their friend and brother for Nezuko's case was tied by rope, held up mid air as his own blood dripped on the ground, which had small puddle of its own.
Nezuko's eyes went to the part of the rope which was still continuing to tighten around his neck mainly the throat, effectively cutting off more of his oxygen supply which was all the more evident as his skin was slowly turning pale.
Zenitsu at the same time noticed at how weak Tanjiro's heart was beating.
It was Nezuko who broke the silence with her own battle cry and pulled her claws out to attack the two demons and get her brother out from their grasp.
"What the-" the demon thinks as he barely dodges the demoness's attack and rolls back, his crystal ball emitting a dim yellow light. His eyes widen as he realizes that the attack towards was merely a distraction as he saw the female demon lunged towards the human boy. However he instantly recognizes the figure thanks to the Tanjiro's memories.
"Hey! Who are you to suppose to be?!" Rin shouts as she tugs on the rope holding Tanjiro captive, pulling him close to her immediately.
"He is OUR prey! Go find yourself someone!" She pointed her fingers towards Nezuko. Almost immediately the free part of her rope shoots it towards Nezuko's entire right hand's wrist and ties itself completely with it.
"Beast Breathing. First Form. Pierce!" Inosuke chants as he charges with very impressive speed and slashes the rope holding Nezuko's wrist and then immediately dashing towards the rope demon.
"You think you can get rid of me that easy?! I can control my ropes even when they are torn apart!" She says with a smirk as she fists her free hand. Immediately as if the rope had received life of its own, rose from where they fell and were falling and rejoined themselves and immobilized Inosuke completely by tieing him from his shoulders to toe in it.
"NOW!" Inosuke shouted.
"Thunder Breathing. First Form. Thunder Clap and Flash!" Zenitsu whispered as he charged towards the demon duo with everything he got.
"Blood Demon Art: Window of Memo-" but before Kioku could complete his words, a person behind him appeared with blue, emotionless dead eyes.
"Water Breathing. Second Form. Water Wheel" Giyuu said silently as he aimed for the Demon's neck.
"ONI-SAN!" Rin yelled as she watched.
However, Kioku acted quickly than anyone imagined, he quickly bent down in a second and threw his crystal ball in the place where his neck was a second ago and used his last resort trick where his crystal would make him invisible for a short time and take his form instead only to shatter into pieces as soon.
"I never thought it would come down to this" Kioku thought silently as he stretched his claws out.
Meanwhile Giyuu realized the trickery of the demon a second too late as his sword shattered the crystal ball into pieces.
However the demon didn't escape the Hashira's attention at all even with the invisibility escape, for instantly, Giyuu rushes towards Rioku, ready to take his life.
"I will not fail to protect someone this time."
However, the demon smirked as the hashira had fell right into his trap and stepped on the crystal ball's shattered pieces, which are still, a part of him.
"Blood Demon Art: Window of Memories!" yells Kioku as lights explode from the shattered pieces and hit the hashira at point blank, all the while gaining Kioku access to his memories, even though for a very short time.
Meanwhile, Zenitsu kept attacking Rin only for her to dodge him at the last seconds.
He panted, exhaustion hitting him after so many fruitless attempts at slicing off her head.
Rin didn't fail to notice this. "My, tired already? Humans are so weak and fragile." She laughed and continued, "But playtime's over, kiddo. Let us go from here without any resistance and your and your friend's life-" Eyeing towards inosuke who had been uncharacteristically quiet all this time, "-will be spared or should you choose otherwise, your little friend here will face consequences" She said as she looked at the unconscious boy held by her, the rope visibly tightening further earning herself a weak strangled cry from the captive.
Zenitsu sweated. He cursed himself mentally for being such a failure and not being able to free Tanjiro whose condition was starting to get even worse judging by his heart beat alone where it has lost its soothing, kind sound replaced with that of a sorrowful and painful one. It ached Zenitsu to his core.
But immediately, he caught the glimpse of a very familiar demoness who appeared behind Rin. Her arms and claws smeared in her own blood.
Turns out Nezuko took advantage of her momentary distraction and decided to do a surprise attack from the back, all the while indicating Inosuke of her plan who understood and played into it by staying quiet and stopping to struggle against the bonds.
Nezuko grabbed Rin by her neck and then pulled her backwards, making her lose balance and while trying regain her position, the demoness used one of her arms to paint Rin's face with her blood and using her other hand to tug Tanjiro away from her while also rubbing off a lot of her blood on the restrains.
Before Rin could do anything else, Nezuko launched her own blood demon art, making the ropes holding Tanjiro and Rin's face to burn causing excruciating pain to the latter who started screaming
This caused distraction over her control of ropes and as Inosuke's restraints loosened for a second, the boar-head didn't waste time to dislocate his joints and get out of it completely within mere moments.
"OI MONITSU!" He yelled immediately, getting the attention of the yellow haired boy and snapping him out from his surprise. Nodding to Inosuke who readied his swords, he whispered,
"Thunder Breathing. First Form….Thunder Clap and Flash!"
Meanwhile,
Kioku found himself in a beautiful landscape, surrounded with flora and the sky in its purest blue colour. He saw a small cottage in front of which a small boy and a slightly older girl were playing and laughing.
He moves forward in an attempt to hear what was being said.
"I cannot believe you are going to get married tomorrow, Onee-chan!" The small boy exclaimed, earning a light blush and giggle from the girl.
However, the scene is quickly fogged and Kioku sees a much different scene in front of him.
The beautiful place which was once filled with trees and flowers now weren't there. They seemed trampled over, cut down and they emitted smoke as if it had been burnt. The sky was cloudy and getting dark.
The small cottage existed no more instead remained its ruins and ashes.
Upon closer look, a small child is seen shaking to what seemed like remains of a human body. It would have been impossible to tell who it was as the body was just a bloody mess with no clue as to if it were a male or a female.
"Onee-chan…please….wake up…." A soft voice of a child is heard.
Kioku advances further and watches the child closely. The child's face had tears flowing down his face, clothes bloodied from the blood of the corpse in front of him. His eyes eventually losing their childish glow and getting replaced by soul-less, emotionless eyes, staring into nothingness and then directly into him. His expression turning into one of disgust and immense anger. Within seconds, a water torrent consumed him, only to part and show up the grown hashira, now seconds away from slicing Kioku's neck. However, he was experienced in situations where his victims would lash back for intruding in their memories. He knew one strike even in the memory lane can kill him so he brought both his hands in front of him, causing the fog to increase and eventually moving away and away from the hashira. He knew leaving people vulnerable in their own memory world could effect them in real life as well.
"Just a bit more till I paralyze him comple-"
"ONI-SAN!!!!!!!!!!!" Kioku snapped out from the memory Land and managed to save himself at the last second from getting beheaded.
He flicked his eyes to where Rin stood (her face burnt) who barely held on against the other two slayers, however his attention immediately went to Tanjiro who rested at Nezuko's arms who gently laid the boy on the ground. Her eyes filled with worry and sadness.
It was then that he felt his anger flare.
"I cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset" He thought furiously.
"ONI-SAN! PLEASE! HELP ME HERE!!!" Rin yelled desperately. Her ropes being teared apart by Inosuke while the blade of Zenitsu's sword dangerously close to her neck.
However, Kioku gazed silently upon the unmoving Hashira, no wonder still under the influence of his own weakness.
"I can threaten his life in exchange of Tanjiro's life…Saving Rin would no longer benefit me and with the way Muzan-sama asked for the boy and the flowers…I might get a huge gift of strength as a prize…" his expression darkened.
"ONI-SA-"
"You are on your own, Rin. I no longer need you" Kioku said with a blank expression, walking towards Giyuu.
Rin's eyes widen as she heard this and her neck get detached from her body by three blades slicing it off simultaneously, her entire being turning into ash immediately.
However despite noticing it all, Kioku quickly made his way over to Giyuu, his claws stretched out to slash the Hashira's head off his body once and for all. He heard cries from the other slayers and demon, begging the older boy to wake up as they themselves made way to stop the demon.
But that's when Kioku felt a pang at the backside of his head, suddenly remembering a memory of his own.
"Hey Oni-san, think you feel any better today?" A girl with kind crimson eyes, wearing a faint yellow kimono with a blue dotted design over it asked softly.
He heard a heart beat which was his own, his claws freezing at the spot, now mere seconds away from slashing.
He felt the presence of three bladed advancing towards his neck but he didnt move. He couldn't move. However, just to save his life, out of instinct, he somehow dodged them and flipped away with a good distance among the slayers and himself.
His primary goal was to just make the slayers somehow step onto his remaining pieces of intact glass shards somehow so he can activate his powers and immobilize them all eventually and getting hold of the boy, his lord wants and be done with this shenanigans.
He could think about whatever hit him before he could get rid of one of the many thorns.
He heard Nezuko spread her arms wide in front of her brother and letting out a low growl, fully intending to protect him and warning him to not step any closer.
This expression alone made him have another stinging headache. When did he last have a headache anyway? During his human life- He shook his head violently.
Why am I remembering things right now of all times?!
"You are worse than just a demon." Kioku heard as he saw 'Inosuke' remove his mask and look at him directly. His expression showing disgust and anger.
"You let your own peer who called you big brother die. I don't understand all the relation things but THAT IS CERTAINLY NOT HOW YOU TREAT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS UPTO YOU" Inosuke yelled.
That's when Kioku was brought into his senses and attention completely on the field. He didn't take much time to notice that the yellow haired boy pulled out a syringe with a purple liquid filled in it and stab it in the Hashira's neck.
But before he could do anything, his neck met with two swords striking his neck on both of its sides, eventually slicing it off his body at an annoyingly slow pace.
"Why is neck so thick?!" Inosuke thought to himself, increasing his pressure to make them cut through faster.
"You don't understand!!!! YOUR FRIEND HAS SEEN THE BLUE SPIDER LILLIES TWICE IN HIS LIFE!!! HE IS A GREAT ASSE-"
However, Inosuke didn't have to wait much longer as the water hashira eventually joined in the venture to his surprise and sliced off the demon's head in one stroke.
The demon's body started crumble away as tears came out of his eyes and eventually turning into dust...except no one was there to see them this time.
A/N: Oh boy…this was one long chapter...welp
Hello there everyone, it's me Sylvie here! I hope this chapter was good and enjoyable
I won't disappear for another 6 months this time haha (I am really sorry for disappearing for so long, I will try to post the next update as soon as I possibly can)
Anw, I wanna mention a few points which I wanna bring in attention (if you noticed then congrats!! You are one heck of attention payer and genius and I mean it) I named the demons "Rin" and "Kioku" for a reason.
"Rin" in Japanese means "Companion" which would be perfect for she was the most loyal and best companion, Kioku could ever ask for.
"Kioku" in Japanese means "Memory". Now, as to why I named them would get cleared in the next chapter.
Now, more important thing, Kioku's main blood demon art came from his crystal ball just like Rin's did from her ropes therefore once they were destroyed/burnt, it nerfed their abilities to a great extent. However, as shown in Season 2, things which influence blood demon arts, demons can recover them to a great extent (for example: Daki's belt kept getting recovered no matter how late it took) Now Of Course, she was an Upper Moon while these 2 are aspiring ones but have killed many many humans and so they must have lesser extent of that type of powers. Leaving that behind, now the question rises why couldn't Rin recover his crystal ball yet was able to use his abilities? I think it might get explained better in the next chapter but for now, let's say it wasn't a part of his demon body part (constructed out of their own flesh) at all but rather an external piece which activated his powers to be greater extent.
Like to explain it, when Daki's belts were slashed off along her 'clothing', she recovered it along with her 'clothing' and she was able manipulate her belts once again, however when Nezuko's leg got cut off her body, she was able to recover her leg back but not the shoe she was wearing because it was an external piece.
Just like that, Rin's ropes were part of her own demon flesh while Rin's crystal was an external piece.
Also since Rin, Rioku and gang killed a lot of demons and are like lower Moons in my story, I'd like to think that's why their powers were so powerful and neck hard to cut through.
I hope that clears most of the questions lol
Again, I hope this chapter was found to be entertaining since I wrote it back from where I left after like 6 months lol
The reason I left writing has mainly to do with motivation…the last few chapters were I put in a lot of effort in writing got zero to no reviews lol and I felt like I was writing to well….nobody
I recently saw a reply from "Guest" but that was the reply which actually made me go "Yk what Imma complete what I started when someone finds it interesting" so thank you man, you really helped me out of my sulking!
Please please please leave a heart if you liked the story and follow if you want to see more of it!
Please give me your thoughts on what you felt about this chapter in the comments below!
I intend on writing the next chapter as an epilogue of sort and conclude things. I might add a bonus chapter if the response is good :)
Thank you for the ppl who supported me, see you all in the next update soon!
P.S: So, Fanfic. Net deleted all my italics, bolds and underlines and misplaced paragraphs so haha, very fun. I hope all these correction don't take much time and I can post this update soon.