Demon Slayer: The Tainted Sun

by OMG04

Tanjiro Kamado was attacked by Muzan on his way home and turned into a demon. He manages to regain his humanity, but is soon decapitated by Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. However. Tanjiro regenerates for unlike every other demon, he was resistant to sunlight. After running away from home, Tanjiro must adapt to life as a demon while avoiding both Muzan and the Demon Slayer Corps.

15. Chapter 15

Hey everybody! Didn't expect me again so soon, did ya?

Well, I've got another new chapter for you! It's a long one, so grab a seat!

First off, I'd like to thank you guys for helping me reach 445 Followers and 370 Favorites! I couldn't have gotten this far without your support pushing me forward!

Second, I've noticed a little confusion with the timeline of this story. The end of Chapter 13 where Tanjiro and Makomo meet take place after the events of Chapter 14 and 15.

I hope that clears up any confusion on that.

Speaking of, I wanted to address the ending of last chapter. It was purely a fun way of ending the chapter, nothing more. As cool as it would be to have Jotaro pull up out of nowhere, this is strictly a Demon Slayer story.

Alright, with that out of the way, let's get moving! Enjoy!

Now...Time will begin to move again.

*I do not own Demon Slayer, Kimetsu no Yaiba. The Anime/Manga belongs to Ufotable and its author, Koyoharu Gotouge.

"Tanjiro" = Talking

"Tanjiro" = Thinking

Tanjiro - Middle Alignment = POV

Japan - Middle Alignment = Location

"Tanjiro" = Flashback

Crash! - Left Alignment = Sound effect

Water Breathing = Breathing technique/Blood Demon Art

---

Chapter 15 - The Might of the Twelve Kizuki /

Tanjiro's Awakening Part 2

Tokyo Capital

Tanjiro vs. Kamanue

Tanjiro and Kamanue exchanged blows, sword meeting fist multiple times. The Lower Moon effortlessly deflected the fledgling Demon Slayer's attacks as he focused his attention on the burn mark on his cheek.

"This burn isn't healing as fast as it should. Just what are those flames of his?" Kamanue wondered before jumping away from Tanjiro.

Tanjiro was also remaining weary of the Lower Ranked Demon. "This smell...it's horrible. It's like burning oil, it almost reminds me of..." Tanjiro shook his head before he could recall those...unpleasant memories.

"I don't know who you are, but that last hit was nothing but luck. I promise you won't be able to land another." He said.

Tanjiro didn't reply and charged at the enemy demon with a technique ready to go. Kamanue kicked the ground and sent large chunks of dirt at Tanjiro.

Tanjiro jumped over the projectiles and raised his sword next to his neck before unleashing a downward 360 degree slash.

Hinokami Kagura - Clear Blue Sky

Kamanue jumped back again before charging at Tanjiro who had just landed. He launched a left roundhouse kick at Tanjiro's ribs, but Tanjiro managed to catch it with his left hand. Tanjiro then tried to slice off his head.

Little did he know that Kamanue expected this and fell backwards, lifting his right leg into the air and kicking Tanjiro's jaw while avoiding his strike.

Tanjiro stumbled back and let go of his opponent's leg as Kamanue landed on his hands and flipped backwards.

Tanjiro recovered as his scar began to glow. Suddenly, he was engulfed in flames and vanished.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Phoenix Flash

Kamanue was shocked. "Where the hell did he go!?"

Flames appeared in front of the Lower Moon, revealing the Demon Slayer trainee swinging his sword down onto the demon's head.

Hinokami Kagura - Dance

Kamanue blocked the attack with both arms, Tanjiro's sword went about halfway through them before stopping. Tanjiro then kicked himself off of Kamanue's chest and jumped away into the air.

Tanjiro then sent some solar energy towards his right elbow and blew off his right arm which still held his sword. Kamanue was confused by this.

That was when a stream of fire shot from Tanjiro's bleeding stub and attacked itself to the detached arm. Tanjiro flipped in the air in a way that would send the detached arm and sword towards Kamanue.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Crimson Flare Chain, Extended Slash

Kamanue, not expecting such a tactic, leaned back as Tanjiro's sword cut through part of his neck.

Tanjiro landed on the ground and recalled his arm back to him, the fire chain reeled in the detached arm to where it was separated before fusing back together with the help of Tanjiro's flames.

Tanjiro smirked at his opponent. "I'm sorry, what was that about me not getting to land another hit?"

"Ah, his first shit-talking. *Sniffle* They grow up so fast!"

Kamanue held his neck as the wound closed up in seconds. "Damn it! I underestimated this kid! Never again!"

"Honestly, I thought you'd be tougher. What was Kibutsuji thinking adding you to the Twelve Kizuki." Tanjiro added.

"I honestly feel horrible for saying this, but taunting your opponent is one of the best distractions one can implement."

"You cocky brat! You're not fit to speak his name!" Kamanue yelled as he ran towards Tanjiro at quick speeds.

Tanjiro got into a defensive stance and prepared for the enemy's attack. Kamanue launched a left cross, a right hook, and jumped into the air into a bicycle kick.

Tanjiro dodged the cross, deflected the hook with his sword, and blocked the kicks with the flat of the blade while supporting it with his left hand.

He pushed Kamanue off of him and prepared a technique. Tanjiro jumped towards the airborn Lower Moon and thrusted his sword towards him.

Hinokami Kagura - Sunflower Thrust

Kamanue pushed the sword away with a right back fist as Tanjiro threw a left roundhouse at him. Kamanue blocked the attack with his right knee and the two demons pushed off of each other.

They both landed on the ground before charging at each other again.

---

Rengoku vs. Hairo

Blood Demon Art: Capture Cavity - Shadow Wolves

Hairo summoned wolf-like creatures made out of shadow and sent them to attack Rengoku. Kyojuro inhaled and swung his sword in a circular motion, cutting through all of the shadow wolves.

Flame Breathing: Fourth Form - Blooming Flame Undulation

After defeating the canines, Rengoku looked above and saw wine bottles with fire coming out the top. The bottles blew up as flames bursted from them and covered the area.

Hairo stared at the flames as that horrible memory replayed itself in his head. He saw Rengoku, but with eyes much more cold and hateful.

"Why...Why did she have to go to the afterlife while scum like you gets to live on...?"

"N-No! Please, please d-don't hurt me!"

Hairo remembered how that man cut off his arms with no hesitation.

"GYAAAAAH! AAAAAAAAGH!"

"I'm so tired...No matter what I do, it's all pointless..."

"Are you going to run away your whole life, you cowardly demon!?"

"That hair, those eyes...He's definitely the same Demon Slayer who chopped me up, body and soul!"

In his anger, Hairo aimed another pistol into his mouth. "Even though my physical wounds healed a long time ago, I can't control my anger or my fear."

"I hate it! I can't stand living in fear of him, my rage will get me killed!"

Bang!

Hairo shot himself through the head as his body started to fall back. Rengoku took advantage of this and charged at his enemy.

Suddenly, multiple bullets were fired and Kyojuro was knocked to the ground while blocking them.

Hairo had pulled a machine gun out of his shadow and fired at Rebgoku with it. "REVENGE! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE, KYOJURO RENGOKU!"

Rengoku recovered after being knocked back, having suffered a few hits from the bullets. Fortunately, none of them hit any vital spots.

"Brother!"

Kyojuro's mind went back to when he and Senjuro found their father passed out in his room from drinking too much.

"Ever since mother died, father has been laying on the floor. Is he...going to heaven too?"

"Don't say that, Senjuro. Father will get back up again, I'm sure of it."

"As the eldest son of the Rengoku Clan, I must become as strong as I can."

"Don't cry, Kyojuro. Do not let grief and sadness overtake you. I promised mother that I would become a Hashira so that I could help the weak."

Kyojuro charged at Hairo once again, the fire in his heart burning brighter and brighter as the grueling battle went on.

---

Mitsuri Kanroji

Meanwhile, Mitsuri was with the other Demon Slayers, searching for the bombs.

"Hurry! Find those bombs while Rengoku is holding back Lower Moon Two! If you see a wolf, be careful! These shadows can absorb our blades!" Yelled one of the swordsmen.

"What about that rouge demon and Lower Moon Six?" Asked another swordsman.

This time, Mitsuri spoke up while following her Kasugai Crow to one of the bombs. "Leave them! The rouge demon is fighting off Lower Moon Six and that's all that matters right now! We need all the help we can get!"

No one argued with Mitsuri and continued to look for bombs. Mitsuri was led by her crow to a stationary train and found one of the bombs.

"Found it. Thanks for showing me the way!" Mitsuri thanked her crow.

"CAW! Now take the bombs and give them to the demon. Tanjiro Kamado!" The crow instructed.

"Huh? Why?" Mitsuri asked.

"I have received information from a crow sent by Master Ubuyashiki! Kamado's power is to absorb the energy from sunlight and turn it into flames that can destroy demons! He can also absorb other forms of heat for a temporary boost, including fire and explosions!" The crow explained.

Mitsuri's eyes widened. "Whoa! That's awesome! And the Master knows about him too!? So...is he like a secret weapon or something?"

Mitsuri ran off with her bomb. "EVERYONE! ONCE YOU DISABLE YOUR BOMB, GIVE IT TO THE ROUGE DEMON! THIS IS THE WILL OF LORD UBUYASHIKI!"

---

T vs. K

Crash!

Tanjiro was launched into the side of a small building on the side of the road. Tanjiro stumbled out of the wreckage and began to breathe heavily. His wounds has healed but his forehead is was covered in blood, even hiding his scar.

He took out his last two Nichirin Pills and swallowed them both. He looked up ahead to see Kamanue slowly walk towards him confidently.

"Well, aren't you lucky!? You haven't even officially become a Demon Slayer yet and you're already facing one of Muzan's twelve elite assholes!"

"Onijiro, I can do without the commentary."

At that moment, Kamanue lunged at Tanjiro at frightening speeds. Tanjiro's eyes widened before Kamanue's fist collided with his face. He stumbled back before Kamanue continued his assault.

Tanjiro tried to swing his blade but Kamanue managed to hit him with multiple punches and kicks to the ribs, jaw, cranium, etc. Each strike was smooth and connected, yet held much power.

"His hand to hand skills are crazy! His movements flow like water!"

Tanjiro backed up and swung his sword left and right to get Kamanue to back off.

Hinokami Kagura - Raging Sun

Kamanue jumped over Tanjiro's attacks and landed on his sword as he held it outward. Before Tanjiro could react, Kamanue flipped backwards off of the sword while kicking Tanjiro's jaw.

Tanjiro was knocked back but recovered quickly, but Kamanue was already on top of him. Kamanue punched Tanjiro in the face once again...only for his fist to go through a rainbow colored mist.

Hinokami Kagura - Fake Rainbow

"What the...!? He disappeared again!" Kamanue thought in alarm before sensing a presence behind him. Tanjiro saw in the middle of swinging his sword towards his opponent's neck.

The blade met flesh and managed to chip Kamanue's neck before stopping in its tracks. Kamanue smirked. "Hah! Like a weakling like you could ever hope to cut through my neck!"

Tanjiro, however, seemed unfazed as he simply continued to glare at the Lower Moon. His scar began to glow, as did the blood on his sword that Kamanue failed to notice.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Red Hot Blade

Tanjiro's sword bursted into flames and turned red as it began to tear through Kamanue's neck at an alarmingly fast rate.

Kamanue was shook. Fortunately, (Or unfortunately, depending on what side you were on.) He smacked the hilt of the blade with his arm so that it would go the other direction.

Tanjiro's sword was knocked away before Kamanue kicked him away in the gut, hard. Tanjiro, after spitting up blood, was knocked back by the blow a few buildings away.

Tanjiro skidded into his back before coming to a stop. With a grunt, he managed to get back on his feet. Kamanue waited for his neck to heal.

He saw Tanjiro's sword and went to pick it up as the flames on it died. He grabbed both ends of the sword and smashed the blade over his knee before tossing them aside.

"Anymore tricks you want to show me, traitor!?" He called out as Tanjiro simply glared at him again.

"Just one." He said before vanishing again in cloak of flames. Kamanue was on guard.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Phoenix Flash

"Fool, he's going to go behind me again." Kamanue thought as he looked behind him. "Unless...that's what he wants me to think..."

Suddenly, he felt warmth above him. He looked up with wide eyes to see Tanjiro above him, scar and hands glowing. "ABOVE!?"

Tanjiro thrusted his arms forward as a stream of flames fired from both of his palms, combining to form of giant vortex of fire.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Scorching Blast, Inferno

Kamanue dived to safety, but was still caught in the blast caused by the attack. Meanwhile, Tanjiro was launched into the air by his move.

He made sure he was right above the recovering Kamanue who was burned all over his body and writhing in agony. Tanjiro raised his fist and set it ablaze with almost all the energy he could muster.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Solar Fist 10%

Kamanue managed to spot Tanjiro in the air coming towards him and sensed danger. He got out of there as quickly as he could but got blown away by the force of the attack.

He was launched into a building at the end of a three-way intersection after Tanjiro crashed into the ground, sending a large heat wave out. The result was a large crater.

Tanjiro was on his knees panting from total exhaustion. His vision was becoming blurry and there was a slight ringing in his ears from the large blast.

He tried to get up but couldn't even get one foot off the ground. His eyelids were becoming heavier. "Damn it...I've used up...nearly all my energy...I'm starting to lose consciousness!"

---

Mitsuri

Mitsuri was running down a road, following her crow to where that Tanjiro boy was with a bomb in hand. Suddenly, pools of shadows appeared in her way.

"What the...!?" Surprised, Mitsuri watched as wolf-like creatures slowly rose out of the shadows. They had multiple eyes all over their body and snarled at her.

"GAH! What's with these doggies!? They're so not cute!" Mitsuri jumped around, dodging the wolves' attacks as they lunged for her.

Mitsuri swung her sword at one of the wolves only for it to get stuck in its neck. "No good! I can't cut through! My sword just gets absorbed by their bodies! Calm down, Mitsuri, control your breathing."

While she struggled to pull out her sword out of the wolf, another came in a bit her left thigh. Mitsuri let out a yelp as her leg began to bleed.

Soon, the wolves began to surround the helpless young Demon Slayer. "I can't do it! Even though I worked so hard to learn Flame Breathing, I can't unleash its full potential!"

"Talk about bad luck, you got caught up in my senior's revenge plan. Well, that's what you get for becoming Demon Slayers."

"Am I just...not cut out for this after all?" The wolves had Mitsuri surrounded as the wolf on her thigh continued to sink its teeth into her leg. Tears fell from her tightly shut eyes.

"Help me...Rengoku!"

"Aaaagh!"

Mitsuri opened her eyes and looked further down the street. There was a woman and a boy being attacked by more wolves. The woman fell down as the child ran to her side.

"Go! Save yourself, don't worry about me!" The woman yelled to her child.

"Mommy!" The child yelled back as wolves surrounded the two. As they hugged each other, Mitsuri realized they were the mother and son she'd seen shortly before the bombs started going off.

She remembered the image of Rengoku holding the same boy on his shoulder...

Suddenly, Mitsuri simply vanished from her spot, the wolves surrounding her cut to pieces.

Before the wolves around the mother and son could feast, Mitsuri appeared out of nowhere. Faster than the average human could see, Mitsuri cut through all of the wolves and landed in front of the mother and son who were now safe.

"I did it! I cut them! But how!?" Mitsuri stared at her sword with bulging eyes. "I moved without thinking so I don't even know how I was able to cut them!"

Mitsuri's attention then went to the surviving wolves running towards her. Determination seeped into her heart as she raised her sword.

"Don't you worry, ma'am. I will protect you and your son and get rid of these pesky doggies." Mitsuri assured the two behind her as she charged forward and tossed the bomb she was holding into the air.

Mitsuri flipped into the air, twisting her body as she slashed through her enemies. Her breathing had changed into a unique pattern, one that made her heart pound.

"Kanroji, you aren't very strong. You can cut down lower demons, but you must learn to swing with your whole body to bring out your full potential. Fight with your blade as if it were an extension of your body."

"I'm sorry, Rengoku. I didn't understand when you said those words to me, but I think I get it now."

"I was always so afraid that I was unfit to be a Demon Slayer, mainly because I wasn't that skilled and that my dream of finding a worthy man was disrespectful to those who fought with everything they had. But then you gave me that advice."

"I chose to train you because my mother taught me that the duty of the strong is to help the weak. Despite your lack of strength, my instincts told me that you had the potential to surpass even me in swordsmanship. To this day, I do not regret that decision."

"Your strength and flexibility is impressive, and your hair color can attract the attention of demons while also cheering up those in despair."

"Above all, you have a loving heart. I am and forever will be proud to be your trainer!"

"Remember, Kanroji. When all seems lost, when you feel you can't win, just raise your sword and protect as many people as you can with your kind heart. Set your heart ablaze."

"I joined the Demon Slayer Corps to find a worthy man. But, I also joined so I could find somewhere where I could be myself."

"I must be flexible, lithe, I must be more like myself. That's what you would do, right, Rengoku? In times like these...I must set my heart ablaze!"

Mitsuri was left in the air as all of the shadow wolves faded away. She landed on her face with a yelp as the bomb she tossed began to fall down.

Before the bomb could hit the ground, Mitsuri moved to catch it between her legs. Panting, Mitsuri stared at her work in astonishment.

"I...I did it, I beat them! That technique I used, it was different from the ones I've been using. This is...my own style of breathing!"

Mitsuri got up and held the bomb in one hand. She ran towards the mother and son she'd save. "Hey! You're not hurt, are you!?"

The older woman seemed very surprised by Mitsuri's feat and took a minute to contemplate what just happened. "N-No! We're okay, me and my son!"

Mitsuri then noticed the boy looking up at her and smiled. "You know, I really love sakura mochi. I ate it so much that my hair changed colors! Haha, I know, that doesn't really make sense, does it?"

"Don't worry, you're safe now. Some people called Kakushi will help you. I'd stay but there's still something I need to do. Stay close to your mom, okay?"

Mitsuri then bowed and ran off before hearing the boy say, "Thank you, Miss!"

Mitsuri's widened at the sudden "thank you". "Come on, mom! Thank her!"

"O-Oh, right! Thank you, young lady! Thank you so much!"

Mitsuri began to cry as she kept running. "They...They thanked me. They really thanked me...Rengoku."

Mitsuri dried her eyes before her crow above her called for her attention and continued to lead her to the demon named Tanjiro.

---

R vs. H

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Whoosh! Clink! Swish! Clang!

Meanwhile, Rengoku and Hairo were still going at it. Hairo shooting shot after shot from the guns on his body while Rengoku blocked as many as he could and tanked whatever he missed. He was covered in wounds.

Hairo looked above the buildings with increasing concern. "I haven't heard any explosions in a while, and I sense fewer of the wolves I set loose. Kamanue seems okay, I can feel his opponent losing strength fast."

"Still, I need to finish up here and grab him before more corps members show up."

Suddenly, Rengoku came in faster than usual and his blade nearly reached the demon's neck. Hairo narrowly managed to duck and shoot at the man, getting him to back off. But before that happened, Rengoku cut off all of his shadow guns.

"Damn it! Who is this guy!? I've shot him with so many bullets, hit him with so many explosives, so WHY won't he FALL!?"

"Doesn't he get it!? Can't you see that I'm a demon!? Why face me as a lowly human with nothing but a katana!?"

Hairo could feel Rengoku's spirit burning, he was in awe. "This guy...Is the warrior standing before me the same man who insulted me?"

Hairo lifted up his pistol and aimed at Rengoku before pulling the trigger.

Click! Click! Click!

Hairo's eyes widened in rage. "Shit! I'm out of ammo! Did I seriously use all of my fire power on him!?"

"What's wrong?" Rengoku asked as he slowly walked towards his foe. "Don't tell me that's all you've got."

"..." Hairo's left eye twitched as rage built up inside him. He became so pissed off that his eyes and nose began to bleed.

"GrrrrraaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!" Hairo roared as he put his pistol to his head.

Click! Click!

After being reminded that he was out of bullets, Hairo threw his gun to the ground and his rage exploded.

"FUCK! Not yet! There must be something else I can use!" As Hairo tried to keep calm, a shadow puddle appeared next to his feet. A sword hilt began to rise from it.

"I won't lose, not to him! I must prove him wrong! I don't care what it is, anything will do! I just need a weapon!"

Hairo looked at the sword spawning next to him and he felt a great pain in his chest.

"Bushido is a thing of the past, get with the times already!" Hairo had an image of a bunch of men with rifles mocking him. "Do you really think you can cut our bullets with your pathetic katanas?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Hairo's mental image was replaced by the picture of other swordsmen smiling at him with a sense of brotherhood.

...He heard his former master's words. "Do not worry, Hairo. Our swords will never lose to guns."

"..." Hairo hung his head as Rengoku was about to strike him down.

Suddenly, Rengoku's blade was stopped once again by Hairo's shadow which now covered his entire body as armor. He took the form of a humanoid wolf with a sword in his hand.

Blood Demon Art: Capture Captivity - Warwolf of Horror

"...You said your name was Kyojuro Rengoku, correct?" Hairo asked, now a lot calmer than before.

"He covered his entire body in shadow. Now he can absorb anything that touches him." Rengoku thought.

"Yes." He answered the demon's question. Said demon looked upward.

"Ah...I thought so. I am Hairo, Kyojuro Rengoku. As a lone warrior, I will now kill you." He announced.

Rengoku raised his sword and smiled. "Very well...bring it on!"

---

T vs. K

Kamanue had finally healed from his wounds as he walked out of the building he crashed into. He found his foe collapsed on his knees from his exhaustion.

"Your Blood Demon Art is truly something. Just how many humans did you eat to gain such power?" Kamanue asked.

Tanjiro looked up and glared daggers at the Lower Moon. "None, I don't eat humans..."

"Hmm...Normally, I'd call bullshit. But you've been all full of surprises. You broke that man's curse, your flames feel the same as sunlight. And your breathing technique, it's just like his."

Tanjiro's eyes widened. "W-What?"

"Tell me, are you truly a user of Sun Breathing, the most powerful breathing technique ever invented?" Kamanue asked.

"'Sun Breathing'? Is he talking about Hinokami Kagura?" Tanjiro wondered.

"Well, no matter. Either way, you're quite the interesting demon. My lord will definitely want to meet you." Kamanue said with a cruel smile.

Those words froze Tanjiro. "His lord...He means Kibutsuji..."

Tanjiro's mind once again went to that day, the night he experienced hell. The night he was turned into a demon. He could still remember the pain and agony he suffered through. The paralyzing fear in his heart.

Tanjiro's breathing began to quicken as each breath became shorter and shorter. Sweat nearly drenched his forehead. His eyes became wild and unfocused.

He could hear Onijiro calling out to him, telling him to snap out of it. But...it was nothing but a faint echo to Tanjiro.

The poor boy could still hear that man's sickening laugh as he desperately crawled away from him. Everything Tanjiro went through since that day, all the nightmares...

Tanjiro saw a hallucination of Muzan appear in front of him, standing over the boy with a disgusted look on his face.

Fear struck the human in Tanjiro as he remained paralyzed. However, something in him began to turn that fear...into rage.

"His fault...It's his fault...Kibutsuji...He did this to me! He'll pay, pay pay PAY!"

Tanjiro's vision became clouded with a red fog as Onijiro kept calling out to him.

---

Onijiro

Dream Forest

"Hey! Tanjiro! Snap out of it, this is not the time to space out, you stupid piece of-!" Onijiro stood in the forest which made up the shared mindscape of Tanjiro and Onijiro.

Suddenly, the forest bursted into flames.

"What the...?" Onijiro looked around the burning forest before spotting Tanjiro with his back turned towards him.

"Hey, Kamado! What the hell are you doing here!? We have to escape from that damn Lower Moon! You heard what he said, he's going to take us to Kibutsuji!"

"We aren't nearly strong enough to take on that bastard! If we get caught, you can forget about seeing your family again. Hell, we won't see daylight again!"

Onijiro did not get an answer from Tanjiro, which only further irritated his demonic half. "Shit, he won't listen, and I can't take control by force unless he's unconscious."

"The fear he felt at the mention of Muzan, his demonic instincts turned that fear into rage. When demons are created, they are both with this trait but lose it as they gain more blood and intelligence."

"This is bad, even if we can escape, at this rate, the idiot might accidentally hurt a human and be executed...AND HE'LL BE TAKING ME DOWN WITH HIM!"

Onijiro could see it now, he and Tanjiro would be sitting in hell (Probably in the first circle since they haven't really done that much.). Tanjiro would probably say something stupid like "At least we have each other!"

Then Onijiro would proceed to punch the little shit in the jaw. He smiled at the thought of that before he shook his head put his focus back on Tanjiro's berserk state. He took a deep breath and laid down on the snowy ground which was beginning to melt. He closed his eyes and tried to relax.

"Well, it's out of my hands now. Guess I'll just put my trust in the boy whose idea of a fight, before Kibutsuji, was tickling his siblings..."

Onijiro's eyes widened in horror. "Oh, we're fucked."

---

T vs. K

Tokyo Capital

Kamanue stood a large distance from Tanjiro who had suddenly froze at the mention of the Lower Moon's master. "Heh, guess he got cold feet. Ironic given those flames of his."

Kamanue was about to make sure his opponent wouldn't get up again before something landed in front of Tanjiro.

Confused, Kamanue squinted his eyes before realizing a bomb had landed there, one of Hairo's bombs. Soon, more bombs landed near Tanjiro. There were five in total.

Kamanue looked at the roofs of the buildings where the bombs came from and saw a bunch of Demon Slayers standing there, including the pink-haired girl.

Tanjiro raised his head and got back on his feet. He grabbed a bomb and lifted it to his face. The Demon Slayers called out to him.

"There you go, demon! If you really are on our side, prove it!" One swordsman yelled.

"I don't trust you, but I won't complain if you take care of that Lower Moon for us!"

"Go get him, Tanjiro Kamado! You can do it!" The pink-haired young lady said.

Tanjiro didn't spare them a glance and grinned cruelly as his scar began to glow. Tanjiro held the bomb in the air and ignited it with a Scorching Blast

This caused a chain reaction as the bomb he held blew up and ignited the other bombs at once. A giant blast occurred before it transformed into a flaming vortex that was soon sucked up. The orange flames then became a more pinkish red.

Tanjiro stood with a black horn, black claws, paler skin, black veins on his body, and a pink, glowing flame mark on his forehead.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Awakening

Tanjiro lowered his head before looking up at the sky...He made a sound that everyone present would be haunted by for months, perhaps years.

"GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Kamanue froze as Tanjiro roared. "What...!? What is...this feeling!? Fear!? His very presence reminds me of...!"

The Demon Slayers on the rooftops also froze in fear, most of them dropped their swords. Mitsuri fell on her knees and began to shake. "That roar...it sounds horrible...So much pain...and rage."

---

R vs. H

Meanwhile, Rengoku and Hairo continued their intense battle before Tanjiro's roar reached their ears as well.

"GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!"

They both froze and wondered what that noise was.

Hairo sensed a menacing presence..."That traitor...I can feel his hatred...it's horrifying. It almost reminds of..."

Rengoku managed to muster the mental strength to turn his head towards the direction of the roar. "Was that...Kamado?"

---

Infinity Castle

Crash!

In the endless fortress that served as the hideout of the Progenitor of Demons, Muzan Kibutsuji stared wide-eyes at a broken vial with a blue liquid spilling out.

He was standing in front of a table with a bunch of science equipment. He was in the middle of his experiments to create a serum that would get rid of his weakness to sunlight.

As usual, they were fruitless attempts without the Blue Spider Lily, a rare flower that was nearly impossible to grow and gather.

However, something caused Kibutsuji to drop the vial. He felt a shock through his system.

"What was that...?" Muzan stared at his right hand which dropped the vial, he opened and closed it. "It was only for a split second...but I swear my hand just went numb."

---

T vs. K

Tokyo Capital

"GRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!" Tanjiro continued to roar before charging at the unmoving Kamanue.

"Shit! I can't move! What the hell was that roar!?" Kamanue thought before Tanjiro drove his right fist deep into the Lower Moon's gut.

Kamanue spat up blood before being launched into the building he walked out of earlier. Said building was actually a silk factory with a bunch of work stations lined up in rows.

Kamanue got up as the dent in his gut had already started to heal. He saw Tanjiro walk through the broken entrance with a smile on his face. His mark was shining constantly.

He lifted his right palm and supported his arm with his other hand. He sent a bunch of solar energy to his palm and released them in the form of multiple pinkish fireballs.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Scorching Blast, Rapid Fire

Kamanue dodged the first shot and ran around the machinery of the factory which was destroyed by Tanjiro's flames.

"Wow. Normally, I wouldn't care but you do realize you just put a bunch of people out of a job?"

"Burn. Burn! BURN!"

"*Sigh* Never mind..."

Kamanue reached Tanjiro and launched a roundhouse kick at his head. Tanjiro ducked his head before grabbing Kamanue's leg and throwing him to the other side of the room.

Tanjiro then summoned multiple fire balls in his hands and threw them around the room. Everything was wrecked as the balls bounced across the room at rapid speeds.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Sunny Temari

Kamanue jumped onto the walls and jumped around the room to avoid the fireballs. He jumped through the ceiling onto the roof. A few seconds later, Tanjiro jumped through the hole Kamanue made and followed him to the roof.

Kamanue gave a smile of his own. "Heh, finally shown your true colors? You're not here to protect shit, you just want my spot on the Twelve Kizuki."

"Well, sorry to tell you, but I worked too damn hard for this opportunity, and I'll be damned if some hotshot is just gonna waltz in and take it from me. Not after everything Lord Akaza has done for me."

"That said, you're tougher than I thought. Looks like I'll actually have to take this seriously." Kamanue said before Tanjiro charged and threw a reckless right punch at his face.

Kamanue caught Tanjiro's arm before striking his torso multiple times with two fingers and kicking the boy away. Tanjiro recovered and got ready to charge again.

Boom!

Suddenly, Tanjiro's chest was hit by multiple bloody explosions that came out of nowhere and tore the front of his hakama top to shreds, revealing his damaged chest.

Tanjiro stumbled back and looked at his wound with wide eyes before glaring at Kamanue and growling. Kamanue smirked before going on the offensive.

Tanjiro used his arms to block the Lower Moon's onslaught of rapid two finger strikes before pushing him off and lighting up his left fist.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Solar Fist

That's when Tanjiro saw the strange flesh buds on his arms, but it was too late.

Blood Demon Art: Flesh Bombs - Sticky Flesh Mines

Tanjiro's arms were blown off as the flesh buds exploded. Tanjiro got blood in his eyes before Kamanue came in and kicked the boy off of the roof.

Tanjiro landed in the road on his back, his anger and frustration growing. He got up and absorbed his lost blood that stained his body, a trick he learned to prevent losing blood with solar energy.

After absorbing the blood on his eyes, Tanjiro opened them and lifted his arms in front of his face. They were healed up to the wrists with the hands not so far behind.

Kamanue jumped down from the roof of the factory and walked towards Tanjiro with a shit-eating grin. "What, you didn't think I was going all out, did you?"

Tanjiro growled in response and covered his arms in flames which morphed into larger arms with long claws.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Arms of Akuma

Tanjiro ran towards Kamanue before raising his fiery right hand. The hand grew to the size of Tanjiro's body before slamming the ground where Kamanue was before he jumped back.

Tanjiro's hand shrunk back to its original size before Tanjiro's other arm reached out and stretched forward. Kamanue jumped over the arm.

At that moment, flesh buds grew and fell from Kamanue's arms as he flew over Tanjiro. The flesh buds rained down on the boy.

Blood Demon Art: Flesh Bombs - Death From Above

Tanjiro then vanished with Phoenix Flash and reappeared above Kamanue who was still in the air. Tanjiro raised his flaming hands and put them together to make a hammer.

His hands grew in size before smashing Kamanue into the ground. Kamanue, his back burned by the attack, got up quickly and looked up at Tanjiro who was about to launch a giant fire fist at him.

Kamanue jumped away before Tanjiro could crash into him. Kamanue backflipped away from Tanjiro while leaving more flesh bombs in the ground between them.

Tanjiro, failing to see this, charged at Kamanue only to have his feet blown off by the bombs. He fell face first into some more bombs and was launched back by the blast. He landed on his back, his wounds very visible.

The bombs took the upper half of his face, everything from the eyes to the top. Tanjiro was knocked out due to his brain getting destroyed, the flames on his arms died out.

Onijiro's brain was also destroyed, meaning he couldn't take over. He was only able to do so when Tanjiro was knocked out by the Temari Demin was simply because his brain recovered first.

Kamanue panted as he observed his fallen foe. "You fought well, but it's over."

"Don't let him escape!"

Kamanue looked up to see the Demon Slayers who spectating before jump down from the buildings. He soon found himself surrounded. Among them was the weird pink-haired girl.

"Shit! Where the hell is Hairo!? Hasn't he killed that blonde freak yet!?" Kamanue got into a fighting stance.

---

R vs. H

Clang!

Clash!

Zrrt!

Sparks were flying around as Hairo and Rengoku moved around at inhuman speeds. Their swords clashed against each other again and again.

Hairo swung his sword at Rengoku's left, but the Demon Slayer parried the attack and swung his sword downward with tremendous force.

Flame Breathing: Third Form - Blazing Universe

Hairo's shadow absorbed the attack, he took advantage and thrusted his sword at Rengoku's heart. Rengoku stepped aside to dodge and yanked his sword out.

While Hairo was recovering from his missed attack, Rengoku charged at him and unleashed a flurry of slashes at Hairo's blade.

Flame Breathing: Seventh Form - Phoenix Rush

Hairo managed to fend off the attack but jumped back before Rengoku could continue. Rengoku was in a great deal of pain, his body was starting to give in to his wounds. This was unacceptable to Kyojuro Rengoku.

"I must unleash that technique. His shadow can absorb more force than his wolves, I must swing even harder."

Rengoku took up a high-stance as Hairo prepared for what may be their final dance. "It's over, Kyojuro! No matter what technique you use, you cannot get through my shadow!"

Rengoku's body and red blade began to heat up, he dashed at Hairo even faster than before as the Lower Moon responded in kind.

Their swords met, sending a small shockwave to the surrounding area. "Your sword is no match for my Blood Demon Art, now DIE!" Hairo yelled in his head.

But then, Hairo felt a great heat on his body. His shadow began to fall apart even though Rengoku wasn't touching him.

"What!? My shadow, it's melting! How is he doing this!?"

"Listen, Kyojuro..."

"The Rengoku Clan has hunted demons for centuries, becoming a Hashira is our pride. Like your father, you too will take up the seat of Flame Hashira and carry the Demon Slayer Corps."

"Set your heart ablaze, burn away evil demons and shine upon your fellow human beings. Hold in your heart a flame like the sun, become the Flame Hashira."

Rengoku bore his full body and spirit into this attack, the final technique of Flame Breathing.

Total Concentration

Flame Breathing

Esoteric Art

"Burn...Burn...BURN!"

"SET YOUR HEART ABLAZE!"

Ninth Form

Rengoku

Kyojuro finally managed to cut through Hairo's neck as his head went flying. Hairo was surprised, but at the same time...he was relieved.

"That...was an excellent technique...Master, you were right...The way of the sword...shall live on..." These were Hairo's last thoughts before his head and body faded away.

Rengoku fell onto his knees, he looked up at the sky as a sort of celebration.

"Mother...are you watching...? Your son has kept his promise..."

Crash!

Kyojuro's eyes widened before he started to get on his feet with a lot of effort. "That's right...this...isn't over yet..."

---

Kamanue's eyes widened as he felt Hairo's presence vanish. "No way...he lost?"

The Demon Slayers stood in front of him, all of them wounded and exhausted but still going. The demon had underestimated them. He only took one of their lives and that was because the one who was killed shielded one of his comrades from his flesh bombs.

"Damn it! If I don't get out of here, the guy who killed Hairo might come here next!" Kamanue grew dozens flesh buds on his arms and jumped back into the air.

He threw the flesh buds at the Demon Slayers who could not retreat in time. "LOOK OUT!" The pink-haired one screamed.

Kamanue smirked, confident that the battle was won. But then, a wall of fire shot out of the ground and protected the Demon Slayers from the flesh bombs.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Hinokami's Protection, Flame Pillar

The Demon Slayers looked at the fire wall in awe before looking behind them to see Tanjiro, his body and mental state fully recovered but his black horn gone. His glowing flame mark reverted back to its scar form.

He had his claws stuck in the ground, sending his blood through the soil. He looked like he was about to pass out from exhaustion.

On the other side, Kamanue cursed. "Shit, the brat's already recovered! I gotta get out of here!" Kamanue ran away from the Demon Slayers as the fire wall began to disappear.

Tanjiro saw Kamanue getting away and began to chase him. "Hey! Wai-oof!" But his legs gave out soon after and he fell on his face.

Tanjiro looked up at the retreating Lower Moon. "DAMN IT! I CAN'T LET HIM GET AWAY!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down, this is a blessing in disguise. There are too many Demon Slayers and you really wore him down, so he's retreating. That means we get to live to fight another day."

"No...if I let him go, he'll hurt even more people. If I fail here, I'll be responsible for the innocent lives he will take. I would never be able to face my masters or my family, that's why..."

"Tanjiro. Once you decide to defeat a demon, defeat it. Once you decide to win, win. Win, no matter what. Never forget that for every demon you kill, you save dozens of innocent lives."

"It's not a matter of if we can or cannot, this is something we HAVE to do. Don't you agree?"

"...Yes."

"Everyone!" The Demon Slayers looked at Tanjiro. "I know this is an odd request, but I need you all to stab me with your swords!"

The Demon Slayers looked at Tanjiro with confused looks. "Look, I know that I'm a demon and you have every reason to mistrust me. But just this once, please put your trust in me! I'll finish this here and now, I swear on my life!"

The Demon Slayers still looked hesitant...but then, the pink-haired girl, Mitsuri Kanroji, stepped up. She drew her sword and stabbed it into Tanjiro's shoulder.

She looked back at her comrades who were totally shocked. "Well!? Don't just stand there!"

Though still hesitant, the Demon Slayers moved to surround Tanjiro and stab him with their swords. Tanjiro could feel the solar energy being injected into his body. He felt like a new man.

"Alright! I'm good!" Tanjiro announced before the others took out their swords. Tanjiro got up and looked around for his sword. He found both broken pieces and picked them up.

He put the pieces together and held them at the connecting point. He heated up his hands, causing steam to rise from the blade. After a few minutes, Tanjiro looked at his reassembled blade.

Tanjiro then put the hilt in his mouth, put both hands behind him, and felt his palms heat up.

Blood Demon Art: Sun Conqueror - Scorching Blast, Propulsion

A stream of fire bursted from Tanjiro's hands as he shot forward like a hawk as his feet did not even touch the ground.

Kamanue was still running before he heard the sound of blasts. He looked behind him and one could only imagine the face he made when he saw Tanjiro coming near him.

In his panic, Kamanue flung multiple flesh bombs at the boy. Tanjiro grabbed his sword from his mouth and cut through all of them in a circular swing.

Hinokami Kagura - Burning Bones, Summer Sun

Tanjiro was almost right in front of Kamanue before the latter jumped high into the air in an effort to get away. He threw more flesh bombs down at Tanjiro who followed him into the air.

Tanjiro was now right in front of him, this was it.

Sniff Sniff...

Suddenly, Tanjiro visualized the smell of the demon as a trail of mist which began to close up into some sort of line which covered his blade and Kamanue's neck.

"What the...?" Tanjiro became confused at this image he was seeing.

The nonexistent mist then became thinner and thinner until it morphed into a loose thread connecting the tip of Tanjiro's sword to Kamanue's unguarded, vulnerable neck...his opening.

"...Don't focus on that, Tanjiro. You're right there! You have to cut his neck!" As he thought this...the thread suddenly tightened and became a straight line. It almost looked as if it was guiding the demon boy's blade.

Tanjiro twisted his body and cut through all of the bombs before reaching the Lower Moon's neck.

Hinokami Kagura - Beneficent Radiance

Kamanue felt dread creep into him. "No...Not like this...not to this brat! Not after everything Lord Akaza did for me! Not after...father...and mother..."

A memory that was once long forgotten had resurfaced...

---

-About a Decade Ago-

In an obscure village in Northern Japan, a cyan-eyed twelve-year old Kamanue, a boy with no tattoos on his face, no pale skin, and wearing a plain brown yukata, was standing in front of a kid his age he just beat up.

Kamanue never bothered remembering his name. All he could remember was the kid's spiky black hair and cocky smile.

The kid was screwing with Kamanue and pushing him around until the boy had enough of it and fought back. He could still feel the sting in his fists.

The bully was on the ground, crying with a bloody nose and a black eye. It wasn't long before the adults showed up. Kamanue was blamed almost immediately.

"You brat! What did you do that for!"

"Who the hell raised this monster!"

"How would you like it if we beat you up!?"

They had no context of the situation, they just assumed what happened flocked together like sheep. Before things could get worse, Kamanue's father stepped in.

He had short black hair, an orange yukata, and a blue haori. "Everyone, calm down. There's no need for conflict. I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation."

"Shut your mouth, Itsuki!" Another man in a yellow-triangle pattern yukata pushed his way through the crowd, he was the other . "Your little shit punched my boy!"

Kamanue spoke in his own defense. "He's a bully, he's been beating up on me and other kids. I was just giving him a taste of his own medicine."

Kamanue's father looked at the boy and sighed before turning the mob of angry adults. "I'm sorry, I believe my son is telling the truth."

Kamanue smiled at his father for his faith, but what he said next wiped that smile right off. "However, I do not agree with his actions and humbly ask for your forgiveness. I will do whatever I can to make up for it." The man bowed.

Kamanue's father, Itsuki Kiyama, was a pacifist. He despised any and all forms of violence. The moment conflict would arise, he'd roll over and show his belly like an obedient dog.

This was the reason both he and his son, Kamanue Kiyama, were treated like dogs. Kamanue had been bullied for as long as he could remember.

---

"Why do never stand up for yourself?" Kamanue asked his father as they walked home. Itsuki sighed.

"You can't solve your problems with your fists, Kamanue. I thought I taught you better than that." Itsuki said. "If that boy was bothering you, you should've gone to an adult about it."

"I tried, he only ever got a slap on the wrist. Then he'd try to beat me up for telling on him." Kamanue explained.

"But I've never seen a single injury on you." Itsuki pointed out.

"I said he tried, I never said I let him." Kamanue saw the disapproving look on his father's face. "Relax, I didn't lay a finger on him until today."

"If you were able to hold back then, what changed toda-."

"He called you and mother cowards!" Kamanue blurted out. The two of them stopped in the middle of the road. "He said that you were worthless cowards who were only good for kissing the feet of those above you and that I should be like that too! That's why I gave that jerk what he deserved, I was defending your honor!"

Itsuki looked at his son with wide eyes. He then smiled warmly and patted Kamanue on the head. "I appreciate that, son. But, if you use senseless violence to defend another's honor, your own honor will be tainted."

"Furthermore, children are reflections of their parents. How would we look if our son immediately resorts to violence whenever someone wrongs him?"

Kamanue opened his mouth to argue but gave up as he began to see his father's point. "Don't be tempted by the pettiness of others, Kamanue. Otherwise, you will be no better than them. Understand?"

Kamanue's shoulders dropped and his head was lowered. "Yes, father..." He answered. After that, the two went home.

However, neither of them noticed a cloaked figure watching them through golden eyes with "Upper Rank" etched into his right eye and "Three" into his left. A smile creeped onto his pale face.

---

-That Night-

Kamanue sat in the back porch of his house, staring up at the moonlit night sky. He thought back on his conversation with his father.

Deep down, he didn't regret what he did, not one bit. That said, he understood why it was wrong. It was just that he genuinely believed that someone needed to knock that punk down a peg.

"I get what father meant, but...I can't just ignore my bullies. If I do that, people will walk all over me like they do father."

Rustle...Rustle...

Kamanue jumped as he heard a sudden noise. He looked around the backyard which only contained a small garden, a few trees, and some bushes at the bottom of the fence that covered the place. One of these bushes was moving.

"Hello?" Kamanue called out as he got off the porch. He began to walk towards the rustling noise before-.

"Kamanue?" The boy nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard a voice behind him. He turned around to see his mother, a kind woman with long, silky black hair in a purple yukata.

"Dinner is ready." She announced. "Please come inside."

Kamanue looked over at the bushes, there was no more movement. He decided to shrug it off and went towards his home. "Coming!"

Once again, he failed to notice the strange figure perching on the tree. The moonlight shined on his bright pink hair...

---

-A Few Weeks Later-

After that day, things went well for a while.

At least, that was until...

"Oof!" Kamanue was thrown against a tree in the woods which was next the southern part of their village. The kid he beat up had two older brothers who were bigger pieces of shit than he was.

The three of them caught Kamanue by himself and dragged him into the woods to "teach him a lesson."

Kamanue fought back, he managed to kick one brother who was the middle child in the shin to bring him to his knees which opened him up to an elbow strike in the face.

However, the eldest brother hit Kamanue with clothesline in the chest. Kamanue was knocked to the ground before the guy who hit him lifted him up by the collar of his yukata and began punching him in the face with the other hand.

After he pushed the boy into another tree, the middle brother who'd just gotten up ran in from the side and sucker punched him in the cheek, knocking him down to the ground.

Kamanue got back up only to be pushed against the same tree as before by the elder brother's arm. "We'll teach you to mess with our family, brat." He smiled cruelly at the boy.

"Damn it! Why am I so weak!? If I was just a little stronger, I could destroy these jerks! I'm done being their punching bag!"

"Put him down."

Everyone looked over to see a pale man with short pink hair, blue markings on his pale skin, a sleeveless dark pink haori with nothing else underneath, and kanji etched into his gold yellow irises.

"Who the fuck are you!?" Asked the eldest bully.

"Someone who despises cowards who gang up on others. I'll say it again. Put. Him. Down."

The middle child walked up to the pale man and got in his face. "Look here, pinky. You don't make the rules here. Now why don't you just-."

Smash!

"Ugh...? Ugh!?" Suddenly...the middle brother was missing his jaw. His tongue was hanging out from his gaping mouth. While the middle brother was freaking out, the pale man raised his fist before smashing in the middle child's skull, finishing the job.

Kamanue and his other tormentors watched as the middle brother fell to the ground. The eldest brother growled as he dropped Kamanue and charged at the pale man.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!" The eldest brother tried to punch the pale man who dodged the attack effortlessly and plunged his own hand through his chest.

"Gah!" The older brother could only watch helplessly as the pale man ripped out his heart. He tried to reach for it while life still flowed through him, not that doing so would help him.

The pale man smiled. "You want this? Take it."

Splat!

The pale man slightly tightened his grip on the still beating heart and shoved it through his entire head, causing it to explode.

"A-AGH!" The youngest, unlike his brothers, had enough common sense to run away. The pale man looked at him and then at Kamanue who's legs wouldn't move.

"Well? Aren't you going to pay him back?" The man asked as he approached Kamanue. "Do you want to be strong? Do you want revenge against those who wronged you?"

Kamanue couldn't think, but the adrenaline in his body was kicking in and he slowly nodded. The pale man smiled. "Good, cup your hands together."

Kamanue did just that, not wanting to do anything to anger the man. The pale man chopped off his hand as he held it over the boy's own. Blood filled Kamanue's hands, he began to connect the dots.

"Drink it. Drink it and you will become stronger than you could ever imagine. If my lord accepts you, you will evolve beyond the weak, cowardly humans."

Kamanue stared at the blood, almost every instinct told him that he shouldn't drink it. However, his survival instincts were singing a different tune.

Hesitantly, Kamanue lifted his hands to his mouth and gulped down the blood.

BUM-BUMP!

Kamanue felt a great pain that spread all over his body. He began to shake and fell over to his side, letting out grunts and growls like a wild beast.

His nails and teeth grew longer, his body slightly larger, his skin more pale, his pupils slitted, and the ends of his hair turned orange.

The pale man continued to smile as the young boy transformed...into a monster, a demon.

When the transformation was finished, Kamanue roared. "Now, time to eat."

Almost as if he heard the pale man, the demonized Kamanue ran through the forest on all fours. It wasn't long before he reached his former tormentor who looked behind him and screamed for help.

...A few seconds later, Kamanue got his first kill.

---

-A Few Months Later-

After eating more and more humans and receiving instruction from the Upper Moon Three, Akaza, of the Twelve Kizuki, Kamanue returned to his village and reigned hell.

Blood painted the streets, decorated by a bunch of corpses of both civilians and Demon Slayers. Kamanue was in the middle feasting on an old man before...

"Son...?"

Kamanue raised his head. He turned around to see a middle-aged man who looked absolutely horrified. Kamanue did not recognize the man...but there was something familiar about him.

"Kamanue..." The man began to grin as tears fell down his face. "Thank god...! You're alright!"

Kamanue stared blankly at the man. "When you disappeared, your mother and I were so worried! Come now, let's go home and-!"

"Hey, human. I don't know who you think you are, but I don't answer to trash."

The man's smile vanished in an instant as Kamanue got ready to pounce him. But then, another figure came out if the sky with a sword above his head.

Kamanue saw the surviving Demon Slayer coming at him from above and quickly moved out of the way. The man who called himself Kamanue's father watched in horror as a swordsman with black bangs and brown eyes came in swinging a sword at his retreating son.

"You won't get away!" The Demon Slayer yelled before catching up to Kamanue and cutting his right leg off. Kamanue lost his balance and tripped.

As he got up, the Demon Slayer moved towards him and prepared to cut his head off. Kamanue was helpless as the blade was about to move towards his neck...

Slash!

Kamanue closed his eyes, prepared for the pain...but there was none. He opened his eyes to see the man from before standing in front of him with his back to the Demon Slayer who accidentally sliced his back.

The man smiled at the shocked demon. His warm and loving gaze awoke what remained of the Kamanue before becoming a demon.

"SHIT! What are you doing!?" The Demon Slayer cried out as the man fell to the ground, his blood painting the road.

Kamanue was confused, and who could blame him? "Why...? Can't you see that I'm a demon? Why would you protect me...?"

The warm gaze the man held was replaced with sad, lifeless eyes. Suddenly, Kamanue felt a surge of rage. He gritted his teeth and breathed heavily, his vision turned red.

The Demon Slayer next to him recovered from the shock and prepared once again to chop off the demon's head. Sadly for him, Kamanue was much faster.

He struck the swordsman's body multiple times with two fingered strikes before kicking him into the air. Flesh buds were found all over the young man's uniform.

"No! NOOOO!" Were his final thoughts before Kamanue activated he newly acquired Blood Demon Art.

Blood Demon Art: Flesh Bombs - Sticky Flesh Mines

The Demon Slayer could only scream as he was blown to pieces. His blood and organs rained down on Kamanue who simply stood in the middle of the street, his father laying before him dead.

A single tear was allowed to escape his eye...

---

-Present-

Kamanue's head had fallen the middle of the road, his body fell near where Tanjiro Kamado had landed and fell on his face due to exhaustion.

Tears fell from his eyes as he remembered how his father had saved his life even after seeing the monster he became. The man who Kamanue thought a coward gave up his life to save his horrible, violent son.

"...Father...Father...Father..." Kamanue weeped internally.

---

Tanjiro

Sniff Sniff...

Tanjiro raised his head from the ground to see the decaying body of Lower Moon Six. He picked up a new scent from the demon. One that seemed almost...human.

"This scent...it's so sad." Tanjiro thought as tears began to fall from his eyes. "This grief...and regret. It's too much..."

Tanjiro, using what little strength he had left, crawled towards his opponent's body and placed his hand gently on his back.

"Kibutsuji...the people you turn into demons without so much as batting an eye...Some of them were horrible people in life...But there are also those who were law-abiding citizens...innocents who'd done little to no wrong."

"You turn these people into your monstrous slaves and force them to kill. You take their innocence and taint it, ruining any chance they have of getting into heaven or passing on peacefully. You...are a true demon."

"I swear...I will kill Kibutsuji and avenge the poor souls that he's tormented. But...for now, the best I can do is make sure they don't die alone..."

---

Kamanue

Kamanue's eyes widened upon feeling someone's hand on his back. It felt so warm and gentle. Almost like...

Kamanue's mind flashed back to the moment where his father patted his head...where his mother held him in her arms...

"Mother...Father...I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you! I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" Kamanue shut his eyes tightly as his head had almost completely faded away.

"Do not beg for forgiveness, son."

Kamanue's eyes snapped open, he found himself in an area of light surrounded by flames. He looked at himself and found that his body was back to normal.

"Kamanue."

Kamanue gasped, he recognized that voice. He turned to see his father behind him with a warm smile on his face.

"Father...but how, you don't belong here! You should be on the other side, in heaven!" Kamanue yelled.

Itsuki's smile did not falter. "I saved your life when that Demon Slayer was about to kill you. Had I not done that, dozens of lives would've been spared."

Kamanue felt even more guilty and started crying again. Itsuki continued as he got on his knees. "But if I could go back, I'd do it all over again."

"I do not regret my selfish act, those is simply the lengths a father will go to to protect their child. I always told you that violence was a bad thing and tried to steer you away from it."

"However, even if I failed, even if you were a monster, that doesn't mean I love you any less."

Kamanue broke down sobbing, he ran into his father's open arms and cried into his chest. He apologized again and again while his father gently stroked his boy's head.

"Don't worry, my son. Once your mother joins us, it'll be seen as if we did go to heaven." Itsuki said happily.

And so, the two embraced each other as the flames of hell surrounded them. But they could not get to Kamanue's slice of heaven...

---

Tanjiro

Tanjiro watched the body of the Lower Moon crumble away, clinging tightly to the back of his clothes. "Rest in peace..."

After praying for him, Tanjiro remembered something. He took out a syringe from his pocket and looked at the puddle of blood which came from the neck wound inflicted on the Lower Moon Demon.

He stuck the syringe in the blood until it was filled up. He after that, he heard a meow sound come from beside him.

A tricolor calico cat with a bag on his back and one of Yushiro's seals of invisibility on below his collar came out of nowhere.

Tanjiro patted the cat with a smile. "Hey, Chachamaru! Long time, no see!"

Before Tanjiro left Tamayo and Yushiro, Tamayo asked the boy to take blood samples of powerful demons and send them to her. She theorized that testing blood belonging to demons with a high concentration of Muzan's essence would help her make an antidote for demons.

Tanjiro put the blood sample in Chachamaru's bag before the cat ran off and let out another meow. This time, he disappeared again.

That was Yushiro's power at work. Every time Chachamaru meows, he can go from visible to invisible and vice versa. That way, he could stay out of harm's way.

Tanjiro had a few brief interactions with Chachamaru when he lived with Tamayo, the two got along well enough.

Shling!

Tanjiro's eyes widened as he suddenly found himself surrounded from the front by Demon Slayers, all with their swords drawn and pointed at him.

"Alright, demon. You're next." A young man with a buzz cut said.

Before Tanjiro could prepare a defense, a young woman stood in front of him with her own sword pointed at her comrades who were all totally appalled.

"Kanroji!? What the hell are you doing!?" One Demon Slayer with a bun on his head asked.

"Me!? I should be asking you that! This guy saved us, and now you want to kill him!?" Kanroji shouted.

"He's a demon! How do you know he's not just trying to gain our trust and infiltrate the Demon Slayer Corps!?" Another Demon Slayer asked.

"He said Kibutsuji's name, he's not associated with him!"

"Even if that's true, we can't any chances. There are no good demons, now let's kill him and end this nightmare!" The Demon Slayers cheered as they got ready to strike.

Kanroji put up a defensive stance while Tanjiro worried about her.

"Well shit, Kamado. You just can't catch a break tonight."

"ENOUGH!"

The Demon Slayers stopped and turned around to see a bloody figure with blond and red hair limping down the street. He was huffing and puffing the whole way.

"I will not...let you lay...a finger...on that boy!"

"Rengoku!" Kanroji and the other Demon Slayers called out. Tanjiro also turned his attention to the man.

"He must've defeated Lower Moon 2. Amazing..."

"Hey, uh, don't you think we should be more worried about ESCAPING!"

"Young Kamado protected my pupil and sustained multiple wounds to protect the people in this town! That makes him worthy of the title 'Demon Slayer'!" Rengoku yelled.

"If you wish to kill him, you'll have to kill me!"

Everyone was horrified by that statement, including Tanjiro. "HUH!? Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why go that far to protect a demon!?"

"And why are you complaining!? If the guy wants to be our meat shield, that's his business."

"ONIJIRO!"

The Demon Slayers looked at Rengoku, then back at Tanjiro. Though they tried their best to argue, they eventually gave up and put away their swords.

Kanroji then ran up to Rengoku and hugged him tightly. "WAAAAAAH! RENGOKUUUU! YOU'RE ALIVE! THANK GOODNESS!"

Rengoku looked like he could fall over any minute, the other slayers noticed this and tried to pry Kanroji off of him.

"Kanroji, let go! You're making his injuries worse!"

"Jeez! Why is she so strong!?"

Tanjiro tried to get up to help, but he felt his strength quickly leave him as it was becoming harder and harder to stay awake.

"Oh...no..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

---

...

...

...

...

...

Tanjiro opened his eyes to a snowy sky, cold winds were blowing and he felt snow under him.

Realizing he was in his mindscape, Tanjiro got up and looked around, his appearance once again changing to his original look. His eyes now more human-like.

"Hello? Onijiro? Where are you?" Tanjiro called out.

"I'm afraid your other half will not be joining us, Tanjiro Kamado."

Tanjiro's blood froze...his breathing hitched...his eyes became plum red and slitted. He turned around...and Muzan Kibutsuji stood only a few yards away from him, with a cruel smile.

"M-...Mu-..." Tanjiro's mouth failed to form the words. Muzan chuckled.

"Cat got your tongue, eh?" He laughed more, sending chills down Tanjiro's spine. He went back to that night, the night of mockery and cold laughter, the night of suffering and lost of humanity.

"H-H-How-...?"

"-Am I here? Great question!"

"I was just minding my own business when suddenly, my right hand goes numb. I knew that Hairo and Kamanue were fighting at the time so I checked in on them."

"Imagine my surprise when I found Kamanue fighting a demon who not only protects humans...but also wields flames that can burn demons like the sunlight."

"I tried to control you, and obviously, that didn't work. However, I could still feel the connection between us. You haven't completely broken free of me...have you, Tanjiro?"

Tanjiro took a step back as Muzan took a step forward. "My power in this realm is extremely limited. I cannot borrow your senses to find where you are, I cannot detonate your blood, and I cannot look through your memories."

Tanjiro took another two steps back. Muzan, two steps forward. "And yet, I can still communicate with you in your mind. It's really quite interesting, I lost communication with Tamayo centuries ago. You, however, are unique, you are special."

"The real question is...just how special are you?" Muzan asked. "You wield the power of sunlight, it's only natural for me to wonder if you've truly conquered the sun or not."

Muzan put on a warm smile in an obvious attempt to get Tanjiro to let his guard down, but the boy wasn't fooled. What Muzan didn't know was that Tanjiro's nose, which could sniff out emotions, made it pretty much impossible to lie to him.

"Tanjiro, I'd like to apologize for how our first meeting went. Those earrings of yours...they resurfaced some...unpleasant memories." Muzan's smile faltered when he said that.

Tanjiro picked up a scent of anger and...sadness? He couldn't really tell.

"I'm afraid I was a bit...frustrated, and I took it out on you. I truly am sorry."

That was bullshit.

"'A bit frustrated'...? You launched me into a tree, paralyzed me from the waist down, slit my throat, and made me experience hell as you turned me into a monster...and you say you were a BIT FRUSTRATED...?"

"Hmm...you should be thankful I wasn't downright furious." Muzan said with a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Tanjiro took three steps back, Muzan took three steps forward. Then four, then six, then ten. Tanjiro's heart was ready to pound out of his chest, his breathing becoming quicker and more shaky.

"I saw you in your battle with Kamanue, you were quite impressive. Normally, I'd be pissed that not one, but two Lower Moons managed to get themselves killed. In ONE NIGHT no less."

"However, I'm in a rather good mood. You amuse me, Tanjiro Kamado. In fact, I think you've earned a little...reward."

As he said this, Tanjiro felt an itch behind his right eye...an itch that turned into a burning feeling. Tanjiro grasped his hurting right eye before screaming in pain.

"WHAT-AAAAAGH! WHAT D-DID YOU DO TO ME!?" Tanjiro shouted as the tears began to fall from his eyes. Muzan continued to smile at the boy.

"Think of it as a gift for defeating Kamanue...and a reminder that I will be monitoring your progress with great interest. Till we meet again, Tanjiro Kamado. Hmm hmm hmm, hah hah hah, HAHAHAHA!"

Tanjiro fell on his back and moved further away from the Demon King before his back hit something. Tanjiro turned and saw a mirror.

After feeling no more pain in his eye, he got up and moved his hand away while Kibutsuji continued to laugh. Tanjiro's eyes widened to impossible levels as he beholders himself in the mirror.

...In his right eye, the kanji for "Lower Six" was engraved into his iris.

Tanjiro snapped his head towards the laughing Demon King and thrusted his hands forward at him.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" A column of fire shot from his hands and burned Muzan's subconscious form to ash.

What followed was deafening silence followed by the sound of Tanjiro's heavy breathing. The kanji on his right eye went away as his eyes returned to normal.

Tanjiro fell onto his knees and tried to calm down as the flames in front of him continued to burn. Tanjiro has to cover his eyes as a strong wind blew. Suddenly, it was starting to turn to night in the mind scape.

The flames parted to reveal a young boy who looked about Tanjiro's age. He had wavy black hair, a red haori, a black yukata underneath, and pure innocent, pink eyes.

His eyes...looked strangely similar to Tanjiro's when he was calm. The boy had a warm smile that seemed almost comforting to Tanjiro.

However, Tanjiro couldn't help but recognize the boy's features. "Is...Is that...Kibutsuji...?"

"Freak!"

"GAH!" Tanjiro clutched his head and burried it in the snow.

"That THING should be burned to ash before it kills us all!"

"Hey, why don't we help you get some sunlight? HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"What...is this!? These voices...MAKE THEM STOP!"

"Look at him. How anyone sane could love a monster like that is beyond me."

"Filthy demon!"

"Do you honestly think a horrible creature like you deserves to live?"

"You should've died when you were born! Your very existence is a sin!"

"Stop! Stop it! I can't take it! Please! NO MORE!" As tears began to fall from his eyes, Tanjiro raised his head and looked up at the younger Muzan.

His eyes were now the plum red, slit pupil, glaring eyes Tanjiro knew well. His smile turned into a simple frown, but Tanjiro felt as if a shinigami was looking down on him.

The flames spread around the forest. Behind Muzan, was a small house burning to embers. The horrible screams of a man, a woman, and several children could be heard from the burning house.

Tanjiro's mind was fighting to hold itself together when he heard one more voice...the voice of a young boy...whispering in his ear.

"If a demon is all they'll see me as...then I will be the worst demon of them all."

---

Muzan Kibutsuji

Infinity Castle

The Progenitor of Demons stood on a line platform, he opened his eyes after his chat with Tanjiro Kamado. He sighed.

"He's the spitting image of Sumiyoshi..."

Plum!

The sound of a biwa cord echoed throughout the endless space.

"You summoned me, my lord?"

Muzan turned to face his Upper Moon Three of the Twelve Kizuki, Akaza. He was already bowing before him. "Kamanue has fallen tonight."

Akaza's eyes widened, but it only lasted for a moment and he did not raise his head. However, Muzan could feel the irritation growing into anger, into rage. "I see...Do you know who did it?"

"A demon, a boy named Tanjiro Kamado. He is a traitor. He's broken free of my control but I still have a hold on him, just not enough to control him."

"Kamado? Didn't you visit their family at the end of last year?" Akaza asked.

"Yes, I found the boy at the bottom of the Mt. Kumotori. I gave him a little blood, and his heart stopped. I thought he died, but my blood must've had a tough time breaking through his spirit. I severely underestimated him."

"And you want me to find him?" Akaza asked.

"Yes, but be careful. I believe that, like Tamayo, he's already under the protection of the Demon Slayer Corps." Muzan warned.

"Would it not be easier to find the rest of the Kamado family and turn them into demons?" Akaza suggested.

"We don't know if they'll survive the process or if they'll even conquer the sun. For all we know, Tanjiro Kamado was just a lucky accident."

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to try, would it?"

Muzan went silent after that. "I have my reasons, do not question me, Akaza." He said with a menacing tone.

Akaza got the message. "Y-Yes, my lord, please forgive me. I will search for Tanjiro Kamado and destroy any Demon Slayer who stands in my way."

"It's not just the Demon Slayers you should worry about. You'd be wise not to underestimate this boy as Kamanue did, Akaza. I have reason to believe that he wields the power of sunlight."

Akaza finally raised his head with wide eyes. "Sunlight!? You mean...he's conquered the sun!?"

"I'm not a hundred percent certain. Either way, this boy will play an important role in our future." Muzan smiled darkly. "What that role is, however, remains to be seen."

---

Gasp!

Tanjiro's eyes snapped open. He found himself standing in the middle of a hallway. He soon realized that he was back in the Butterfly Mansion.

His breathing was still rapid and his heart was beating rapidly. He still hadn't allowed himself to relax just yet. "I...I'm back? I don't know...I don't know anything anymore!"

"Tanjiro? Is that you?"

Tanjiro jumped a little. "O-Onijiro!?"

"Where the hell were you!?"

"H-Huh?"

"I woke up two days after fighting that Lower Moon and I find myself controlling your body!? I couldn't reach you for a week!"

"...A week...? What do you mean you couldn't reach me?"

"What do you think, dumbass! I tried to talk to you again and again and you never said a fucking peep! I've had to deal with those butterfly bitches' shit days!"

"Every time I went to sleep and visited our mind scape, suddenly, you're nowhere to be found!

"I...I..."

"Tanjiro!?"

Tanjiro looked up to see Aoi turn the corner of the hallway with a good tray in her hands stare at him with wide eyes. Suddenly, she bolted back down the corner.

"LADY KANAE, LADY SHINOBU! HE'S BACK! TANJIRO IS BACK!" She yelled.

Tanjiro tried to move but stumbled and fell on his face. After he managed to get back on his feet, he saw a blur come around the same corner Aoi came from.

Tanjiro was able to figure out that that blur was Kanae who, like Aoi, also looked at Tanjiro with wide eyes.

"K-Kanae...I-."

Whoosh!

Before Tanjiro could speak more, Kanae dashed to him and pulled into a hug. Tanjiro's chin rested on the Flower Hashira's shoulder. The hug was so tight that Tanjiro couldn't move his arms.

"Don't you ever worry us like that again, you hear me, Tanjiro...?" Kanae whispered with a shaky breath. "We thought that something happened to your conscience, that your mind disappeared and Onijiro was all that was left."

Tanjiro was speechless, so he let Kanae continue. "Two days after you passed out, you started screaming throughout the entire night..."

"Shinobu and I rushed to your room...Tanjiro...What happened? What was so horrible that made you scream in such a heartbreaking way...?"

"The look on your face...you looked like you were in so much pain. I wanted to help you, to tell you it would all be okay...but I couldn't do anything..."

"Kanao came in and held your hand, but you just wouldn't stop screaming, she broke down in tears seeing you like that. I have never seen her cry, Tanjiro...not once."

"Kyojuro and Mitsuri helped hold you down despite their injuries...They didn't get hurt but the risk was too dangerous and we begged them to go rest..."

Tanjiro began to cry again. He had no idea he had caused so much suffering.

"When Shinobu was about to give you sedatives, you were covered in black flames. Suddenly, Onijiro sat in the bed, looking just as confused as we were." Tanjiro felt tears fall onto his back.

"For a week, I asked and he said the same thing. 'He's not responding.', 'I don't hear him.', 'He's still silent.'"

Kanae took a shaky breath and broke the hug. She cupped Tanjiro's cheeks in her hands with tears in her eyes and a frown.

Tanjiro looked down in shame. "Kibutsuji...he spoke to me..." Kanae's eyes widened.

"I haven't broken his hold, not completely...he can't see what I see, hear what I hear. He can't see my memories either."

Tanjiro gritted his teeth and held his right eye in preparation for his next words. "He...He congratulated me on defeating Lower Moon Six and...he made me...his new Lower Moon Six..."

"Kanae..." Tanjiro put his hand down and looked up at the shocked Hashira. "My right eye...does it...say anything? Be honest..."

Kanae had a sympathetic look on her face. "Yes...it says 'Lower Six' on your right eye."

Tanjiro narrowed his eyes and cursed inwardly. Kanae patted Tanjiro's head and smiled. "Let's not worry about that now. All that matters right now is that you're safe."

Tanjiro smiled and wiped his eyes of tears. "Okay..."

"Tanjiro!"

Tanjiro looked past Kanae to see Kanao turn the corner. Almost as fast as Kanae, Kanao tackled Tanjiro into a hug and cried into his shoulder.

"Th-Thank goodness! You're okay! I-I was so worried we lost you! Thank goodness!" Kanao said with way more emotion than either Tanjiro or Kanae had ever heard from her.

Tanjiro began to blush as his body started steaming. He looked at Kanae who simply gave him a relieved grin and a double thumbs up.

Tanjiro pouted but then smiled as he returned Kanao's hug. "Yeah, I'm sorry I made you worry."

"Ugh...feelings. I'm gonna be sick..."

"Come on, Onijiro. I can tell you were worried too."

"You couldn't tell SHIT! Who would be worried about a little bitch like you!"

"Whatever you say."

---

After getting his bearings back, Tanjiro decided to visit Rengoku and Kanroji whom he'd been told were recovering in the Butterfly Estate.

Kanae assured Tanjiro that none of the Demon Slayers who spotted him would rat him out. Kagaya Ubuyashiki managed to get them to swear to secrecy.

"Watch yourself around that Rengoku guy, Tanjiro. If you're not careful, your ears will bleed."

"Will you stop trying to scare me? It's not working."

Tanjiro found the door to the patient's room and and opened it.

"UMAI!" ("Delicious")

Tanjiro was startled by the sudden shout from the blonde man eating on one of the patient beds, Kanroji sitting on the bed next to him.

Rengoku took bite after bite after bite. "Umai! Umai! Umai! Umai!"

Tanjiro walked up to Rengoku's bed. "Um, hello!"

"UMAI!" Rengoku's head snapped to Tanjiro.

"U-Uh, y-yes! I'm sure it is!" Tanjiro replied.

"Young Kamado! I'm relieved to see that you have taken back control of your body! Your friend was very rude, but very good at lightening the mood!" Rengoku said with a bright smile.

"I tell you, this guy's humility is ridiculous! No matter what I said, he'd simply laugh it off as if we were buddies screwing around!"

"Lady Kanae told me about your situation! You are truly fortunate to have survived an encounter with Kibutsuji himself!" Rengoku said while staring at a wall or something.

"I'm not sure I would call myself 'fortunate'." Tanjiro muttered. "Also...what are you looking at?"

"He does that a lot. Confused the shit out of me too, but I just learned to live with it."

"Ah..."

"Young Kamado, I'd like to thank you for saving my pupil! I fear what might've happened if you had not been there! I believe it was fate at work!" Rengoku announced.

"I have single-handed defeated Lower Moon 2, meeting the requirement of Hashira! After I become the new Flame Hashira and you become an official Demon Slayer, you should become my Tsuguko!"

Tanjiro tilted his head with confusion in his eyes. "Hmm? But I'm already Kanae and Miss Shinobu's Tsuguko."

"That is fine! I do not mind sharing!" Rengoku replied, still staring at nothing in particular.

"Huh!? Wait, how would that even work!? Would I have to travel from Estate to Estate?" Tanjiro asked.

"Precisely!" Rengoku answered. "Think about it! If you keep moving and staying at different locations, it'll make it harder for Kibutsuji to locate you!"

Tanjiro thought for a second. "You do have a point..."

"OH HELL NO! I AM NOT PUTTING UP WITH MR. STUPID FLAME HAIR OVER HERE! YOU AND THE OTHER BUTTERFLY BITCHES ARE BAD ENOUGH!"

"Alright! Jeez!"

Tanjiro smiled politely. "I'll think about it, thank you!"

"Um, Tanjiro?"

Tanjiro looked over to Mitsuri Kanroji. "Yes, Miss Kanroji?"

Kanroji smiled at him. "Thanks for defending me back in the capital, it was really sweet of you!"

Tanjiro smiled. "Don't mention it, the way that demon was talking about you was totally rude and uncalled for. I just did what any gentleman would do!"

Kanroji beamed at that statement, she then got shy and put her fingers together. "Say, Tanjiro...how old are you?"

"Thirteen, why?" Tanjiro answered.

"Shoot! We're five years apart!? Oh well..." Mitsuri sighed. "The search continues..."

Tanjiro tilted his head again.

"She's trying to find a good man. Obviously, she considered you one of her candidates."

Tanjiro started blushing but did his best to hide it. "D-Don't give up, Miss Kanroji. I'm sure there's someone out there for you!" He tried to support the young woman's goal with a determined smile.

Kanroji was shocked. "HUH!? Was it that obvious what my goal is!?" Despite that, Kanroji returned Tanjiro's determination. "But, you're right! I won't give up! And I'm sure you'll become human again!"

The two gave each other a nod of respect and support. "Well, it was nice talking to you! I'm gonna go rest, see you around!" Tanjiro went to leave the room.

"Farewell, my friend!"

"Bye!"

Tanjiro walked out and closed the door. "Ah! Tanjiro, we were looking for you!"

Tanjiro turned to his right to see Kanae and Shinobu walking up to him. "Kanae, Master. Did you need something?"

That's when Tanjiro noticed a small box In Kanae's hands. "Before you left for your test mission, we wanted to get you something as a reward."

Shinobu scoffed. "You wanted to get him something. I said that you were spoiling him." But even though she said that...

"It was definitely Shinobu's idea."

"I wasn't gonna say it but...yeah."

"Whatever you say, little sister. You're so adorable when you're shy." Kanae lovingly patted Shinobu on the head before the blushing Insect Hashira smacked her hand away.

"Just give him the damn present so I can get back to my research!" Shinobu yelled, earning a giggle from her older sister.

Tanjiro couldn't help but smile as he remembered his little brother, Takeo. Tanjiro would always tease the boy just to get a rise out of him.

"Hey, Takeo! Don't overdo it, but make sure to chop plenty of wood while I'm gone, okay?"

"S-Sure!...Though I thought we could do it together..."

"Aw! There there!"

"HEY! DON'T JUST PAT MY HEAD ALL OF A SUDDEN!"

"There there!"

"I SAID KNOCK IT OFF!"

"Anyways, Tanjiro." Tanjiro was brought back to the present as Kanae handed the box to him. "Congratulations!"

Tanjiro opened the box to reveal two shiny red butterfly earrings made from multiple gems. "Wow! This is amazing!"

"I thought they'd make a nice temporary replacement for your Hanafuda earrings. Do you like it?" Kanae asked as Tanjiro took them out of the box.

"Like it? I love it! Thank you so much!" Tanjiro wasted no time putting them on. "Well, how do I look?"

Kanae beamed. "Ah! You look adorable! I can't!" She started jumping up and down like a little girl.

Shinobu smiled. "They look wonderful. I'm glad you like them...er, for Kanae's sake, I mean!" She lied again.

Tanjiro and Kanae then started laughing, much to Shinobu's dismay. "Hey! What's so funny! You won't be laughing when I poison both of your meals!"

---

-A Few Days Later-

Demon Slayer HQ

Shinobu, Kanae, and Rengoku stood in a line. They stood in front of the building where Kagaya Ubuyashiki stood accompanied by his daughters, Hinaki and Nichika.

"Kyojuro Rengoku." Rengoku walked forward, took a knee, and bowed. "You are an astounding boy. Will you support the Demon Slayer Corps as a Hashira (Pillar)?" Ubuyashiki asked.

"Yes!" Rengoku answered with a wide smile.

Ubuyashiki also smiled, as did Kanae and Shinobu. "Then from now on, you will be known as Lord Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira."

Rengoku stood with his head high as he stepped back in line, Shinobu and Kanae clapped and congratulated him. "Now." Ubuyashiki continued as a fourth figure stepped out of line and bowed.

He wore a black oni mask, a black Demon Slayer uniform, a sword at his hip, a green cloak, and two red butterfly earrings.

"Tanjiro Kamado, while you were not able to defeat Lower Moon 6 by yourself and become a Hashira, you still accomplished a great feat. Needless to say, you have passed your test with flying colors."

"Will you use your power and skills to fight for the Demon Slayer Corps and to protect humanity?"

"Yes!"

"Then you, my child, are now a Demon Slayer. You will start at rank Kanoe for your performance at the imperial capital. Congratulations."

Tanjiro stood and removed his mask, revealing the kanji on his right eye. He smiled at Ubuyashiki and gave a standing bow. "Thank you, Master. I won't let you down!"

"I know you won't, Tanjiro. I look forward to seeing what you will accomplish. You too, Onijiro."

"Heh. You're gonna be eating those words soon, buddy."

Tanjiro decided to ignore Onijiro, not wanting to let him ruin this moment. He was a Demon Slayer now, a warrior, a protector of humanity.

He looked into the sky and smiled. "If only you guys could see me now..."

Tanjiro imagined his family, including his father. "I hope you're doing alright."

---

DONE!

Phew! That was a long one! I hope you guys enjoyed!

Now you know why Tanjiro was wearing that mask during his encounter with Makomo in Chapter 13, to hide the kanji in his eyes.

Also, in Chapter 13, Tanjiro said his rank was Mizunoto but I changed it mid way since I assumed they would promote him immediately for defeating a Lower Rank. I'll change that detail in Chapter 13 soon if I haven't already.

Man, Tanjiro is now Lower Moon Six! I still can't believe it even though I wrote it! Also, it seems Muzan's story is a little more complex than we thought...hmm.

Anyway, I've also given any fan artists in the audience some material for a new appearance. What do you think about Tanjiro's new look?

Before I go, I'm afraid I have some bad news. I have midterm exams starting tomorrow and I likely won't be posting for awhile.

My grades have been slipping a bit (understatement of the century) and I have to get my shit together. I'll still be working in my free time, but my number one priority right now is school. I'm very sorry, and I hope you understand.

Thanks for being such a great audience! See ya next time!

---

Bonus!

Butterfly Mansion

After becoming a Demon Slayer, Tanjiro went back with Rengoku and the girls to celebrate their success!

The butterfly residents, Tanjiro, Mitsuri, and Rengoku sat at the dining table eating a feast prepared by Aoi with some help from Kanao, Naho, Sumi, and Kiyo.

Going clockwise, the seating locations were Tanjiro, then Kanao, Aoi, Naho, Sumi, Kiyo, Rengoku, Mitsuri, Shinobu, Kanae, and back to Tanjiro.

They were all chatting, telling stories about missions and training, all of which fascinated Tanjiro as he listened to each one intently, no matter how minor.

As they were eating, Tanjiro was enjoying his second favorite food, rice crackers. However, as he was enjoying them...

"Psst! Kamado!"

"Onijiro? What's up? And why are you whispering? You know no one can hear you but me, right?"

"Whatever, smartass. I want you to tell Aoi that her food is really delicious and that she's a great cook."

". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

"Hello!? Did you hear me!?"

"No, no, I got it, it's just...why do YOU, of all people, want me to compliment Aoi's cooking?"

"Just do it!"

Confused, Tanjiro decided to humor his other half. Besides, he was gonna compliment Aoi's cooking anyway. "Hey, Aoi."

Aoi looked over at the young demon. "Yes?"

"Onijiro said tha-."

"NO!"

SMASH!

"GAH!" Tanjiro felt his nerves go haywire as Onijiro manipulated his own brain to crash into Tanjiro's.

Kanao looked at him with concern. "Tanjiro? Are you okay?" She said hurriedly, clearly still weary from his last freak out.

"I'm...I'm fine..." Tanjiro gave a reassuring smile to his colleagues to let them know he was okay.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!? I WAS JUST DOING WHAT YOU ASKED!"

"I never said to mention my name, IDIOT! I have a reputation to uphold as the future Demon King!"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? AND WHY ARE YOU SO INSISTENT ON ME COMPLIMENTING AO-!?"

"...Wait a minute..."

"Tanjiro."

"No...! There's no way!"

"Tanjiro, I know what you're thinking and you're gonna have to stop before I smash your brain again."

"Tanjiro? What did Onijiro say?" Aoi asked, causing the startled Tanjiro to look over at Aoi.

"O-Oh! Uh...!" Tanjiro tried to come up with a convincing lie (by that, he meant something that his body wouldn't consider a lie).

He began to go cross-eyes while grinding his teeth. "Never mind! It's too inappropriate! You wouldn't want to hear it!"

Aoi looked at Tanjiro with a suspicious look, she was already familiar with Tanjiro's inability to lie. "Okay..."

Tanjiro exhaled as his face returned to normal. "Great food, by the way! It's delicious!"

Aoi smiled. "Thank you, the others helped too so make sure to thank them as well."

Tanjiro nodded and proceeded to thank Kanao and the little butterfly trio.

"So...you and Aoi."

"Kamado!"

"What!? It's nice that you have feelings for someone!"

"Do NOT!"

"Do too!"

"DO NOT!"

Tanjiro spent the rest of the night teasing Onijiro. He did wonder however just how did Onijiro manage to fall for somebody.

"DID NOT!"

"Did too!"

"DID NOT!"

"Did too!"

"DID! NOT!"

---

Next Time: Chapter 15.5 - Black and Blue

We'll be getting into what Onijiro was up to in the Butterfly Mansion while Tanjiro was in his mental battle with Muzan!

Potential Ship, Incoming!?