Hinokami's Blessing

Chapter 17

12Thirtypain03

WARNING: This story is rated M for mature rated content. If some acts of violence, blood, or anything easily triggering makes you uncomfortable, please leave and do not read. Any change to a character, when introduced, killed, changed into demon/human, or more will be labelled in the chapter of occurrence. If a character has died in a chapter, that chapter will give a cause of death to that character.

Shinobu's POV

Shinobu was perhaps intrigued by what she was getting at.

While she had managed to get the antidote for certain demon slayers, she had yet to find Kanao.

And so, she worried a lot.

Once dealing with Zenitsu according to the sparrow's name, Shinobu continued look for Kanao, before she met up with Giyu.

"Giyu! Did you find Kanao yet?" Shinobu asked Giyu, who was clearly concerned and very worried for her own little sister. She had to find her.

Giyu shook his head, "I unfortunately didn't yet."

"Oh no." Shinobu mumbled repeatedly, hoping she wasn't dead.

"Please tell me she isn't dead…" She mumbled.

Before the two could continue, they heard a loud scream coming from the roof of the mountain.

"What was that?" Shinobu asked.

Giyu shrugged, "I don't know."

And thus, the two decided to quickly check the foot of the mountain, where they hadn't checked yet.

As the two made it up the helm, Shinobu was very worried. She was worried Kanao wouldn't survive.

She was worried, for everything.

"Please, let her be alive…" Shinobu mumbled, as she made her way over.

Giyu himself was leading the way, while she was trying to calm herself down.

Eventually, the two made it to the center foot, and immediately, Giyu ran forward.

"What's wrong?" Shinobu asked, before she gasped.

She barely saw the figure of Kanao.

"Please… No…" Shinobu quickly ran to her figure.

"She's alive, and breathing. So, injuries to her sides, but doesn't seem to have hit anything serious." Giyu explained, and Shinobu sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness…" Shinobu was on the verge of crying. "She's alive…"

"Take her down for medical assistance, I'll go further." Giyu explained, to which Shinoub nodded.

"Alright…" Carefully carrying Kanao, Shinobu ran down to get some medical attention to Kanao. She would definitely be alright; she was just injured.

As Giyu watched Shinobu run down with Kanao, he turned around and ventured further into the mountain.

What he saw, clearly shocked him.

"What are the two of you doing here?" Giyu asked, clearly not wanting Tanjirou nor Nezuko to be there.

Giyu looked around, and to his shock, he noticed something.

There, he saw the decapitated head of Lower Moon Five, who was giving the two of them hated stares, slowly disintegrating. As for the body, it seemed in very bad shape, being covered in swellings and dead skin, judging from the purple and red marks.

"Did you do this?" Giyu asked.

Tanjirou sighed, "Well, it was the combined work of me, Nezuko, and that girl with the butterfly haori."

"So Kanao had fought Lower Moon Five. Then these two are probably why she's alive. Or they hurt her."

"You didn't hurt her, right?" Giyu asked.

"No! I didn't even lay a finger on her." Tanjirou explained, "We found her injured from that demon, and protected her and took care of the demon for her."

"I see, well then good job Tanjirou, Nezuko. You both did very good." Giyu gave the two a nod of approval.

"Unfortunately, the two of you need to go." Giyu explained.

"What?" Tanjirou asked. "Why?"

"Some major members of the corps are here. You two aren't wearing your masks, I'm assuming they got broken?" Giyu asked.

"Yes, both of us." Tanjirou sighed.

"Well then you both will easily be seen as demons. The both of you need to leave while you get the chance." Giyu explained.

Tanjirou looked unsure, but seeing the now awake figure of Nezuko, he sighed.

"Are you sure, the demon slayers won't accept us?" Tanjirou asked.

"Yes. I'm sure. Even if Ubuyashiki gave the greenlight, we cannot risk your presence yet." Giyu explained.

"Oh, I guess we'll be on our way then…" Tanjirou sighed. And so, the both of them began to head out of the forest. They began to head out of Mount Natagumo.

"Oh right!" Tanjirou stared before he turned back to tell Giyu. "We found him!"

"What." Giyu asked himself before he asked in person, "Who?"

"Kibutsuji Muzan! In Asakusa! We found him, and tried to fight him for a bit. I mean he beat us down, but we put up a good fight." Tanjirou chuckled.

At this, Giyu's mind was at a standstill.

"Both of these two, found him? They found Muzan, fought him, and survived, how?" Giyu asked himself.

"How did you survive a fight with him?" Giyu asked.

"I don't know… He struck me down, but he ran away instead of continuing to fight…" Tanjirou explained.

Giyu sighed, "I guess I'll have to tell Ubuyashiki about this…"

"About me and Nezuko? I'm sorry, but if this jeopardizes our safety, then I might have to run away…" Tanjirou explained.

"We'll figure something out." Giyu tried to soothe Tanjirou's worry.

"I don't know, this whole thing is a bit scary. Like what if we find ourselves being killed by one of the Hashira?" Tanjirou asked.

Nezuko, who had finally gotten up, began to sigh, "Did you finish him off?"

"Tanjirou nodded, "Yes."

Nezuko smiled, "That's good. Oh hey Giyu!" Nezuko smiled before hugging Giyu.

In that moment, however, Giyu felt something charging towards Nezuko.

Shifting his body, he angled his blade to block to incoming strike.

But Tanjirou blocked first.

That blade, was Shinobu's.

Immediately, Tanjirou recoiled at the smell of the blade.

"That smell… It's Wisteria!" Tanjirou exclaimed, as he quickly realized he couldn't afford to be stabbed by her. Or even fight her, for that matter. He would be dead if he tried to.

"Well, this is a surprise, a demon protecting, another demon, and a Hashira?" Shinobu asked, eyeing Giyu.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Giyu?" Shinobu asked, she was smiling, but Giyu could tell she was showing signs of anger. Tanjirou, too was able to smell it, even if it was difficult to because of the Wisteria.

Giyu sighed, "It's a long story, but these demons are important to me, and us now."

"How so?" Shinobu asked, "Weren't you the one who said demons and humans couldn't stand?"

Giyu eyed her firmly, "I said, not when they hurt and kill humans." Giyu corrected Shinobu, who merely rolled her eyes.

"That doesn't make a difference. What I see here, is two demons being close to Giyu." Shinobu pointed her blade to Tanjirou, who proceeded to cover his noise, as his eyes got red.

Shinobu could tell this demon, or demons, rather, were somewhat strange.

No demon in their right mind, unless the most collected, would be considerate enough to back down and keep their guard up around Shinobu.

In fact, most would lower their guard after seeing how small she was in stature. Regardless, many demons saw her as not much of a threat, would ironically would help her slay the demon as a result.

But these demons, they were reacting strongly to the Wisteria, and were smart enough to keep their guard up around her.

"That's odd, I've never seen a demon act like that before to my blade. Usually, they never realize its covered in Wisteria until it's too late." Shinobu thought to herself, as Giyu got up. "It's almost like they are aware of their morality, unlike some demons who wait until they get into that situation."

"I'm sorry Shinobu, but I cannot let you kill these demons. I won't let you." Giyu firmly told Shinobu, who merely smiled.

"Well, to expect Giyu Tomioka, out of all people to be working with demons, that's a surprise." Shinobu smiled, but could tell there was some malice in her tone.

But then, there was another issue.

"Do I know them? I feel like I recognize one of the demons, specifically the boy…" Shinobu thought.

However, to her shock, Giyu chuckled. It was rather quiet, but hearing the sound coming from Giyu sounded foreign. It wasn't a noise meant to come out of Giyu's mouth, according to Shinobu. It surprised Shinobu so much her thought of the demons went straight out her mind.

A laugh from Giyu. Shinobu was not expecting that. She didn't even know Giyu could laugh when he wanted to.

"I could say the same thing about you, Shinobu Kocho." Giyu responded to Shinobu, who flinched a bit when Giyu had used her full name.

"Why is he talking like that, all of a sudden?"

"Ara-ara, are you accusing me of being associated with demons?" Shinobu asked. "You got to have quite the evidence to lay down such a claim."

Giyu looked on staring directly into Shinobu's eyes, "I do. Does the names Tamayo and Yushiro ring a bell to you? If they don't then perhaps, I can ask Kanae Kocho instead. Lord knows how terrible she is at lying." Giyu smugly added. "Seems the both of you have been hiding something from everyone the entire time."

At this, Shinobu eyed Giyu, with a facial tone of purely and strictly seriousness. But inside, she was freaking out.

"He knows…" That was the only thing going through Shinobu's mind right now. Somehow, Giyu had managed to find out about the two demons. He had found out, and was now using it against her to keep herself quiet about his demons companions.

If that was the case, then why didn't he report this to the rest of the demon slayers. Yeah, he wasn't really liked or talked to, but anything a Hashira brings up is always crucial.

Why didn't Giyu open up, if he knew about this?

There was only one logical explanation, and it had to do with the two demons right beside Giyu.

"I told Ubuyashiki about them." Shinobu explained, revealing the information to Giyu at last.

"Wrong." Giyu answered for her. "I know it was Kanae who told Ubuyashiki, you aren't the type to be so open about the smallest of things to people."

At this, Shinobu lowered her head, "I guess you caught me. I didn't think you out of all people would count my bluff. But does the master know about these two?" She pointed towards Tanjioru and Nezuko.

"Yes, they do. They were even allowed to complete the demon slayer trainee program under special circumstances." Giyu explained.

'So, they didn't go through Final Selection?" Shinobu asked. "Then how were they accepted into the corps?"

"Not necessarily, however both Ubuyashiki, Urokodaki and I all gave them the conditions to slay multiple demons. This included some in Final Selection when it was breached by demons, seemingly led by Upper Moon Two." Giyu explained to Shinobu.

At this, Shinobu's eyes wandered to Tanjirou and Nezuko. However, what she noticed shortly after was the cut masks. Two of them, seemingly on the ground.

The demon, whom apparently, they slayed, was a lower moon.

"Lower Moon Five, huh?" Shinobu thought. Even if she assumed these demons were bad, the sheer fact they defeated a member of the Twelve Kizuki was a feat on its own. That already met the requirements of becoming a Hashira, or at least a candidate.

Sort of like her.

In spite of this, she ultimately knew they wouldn't be accepted. There was no way.

"In fact, it was Ubuyashiki himself who recommended Tanjirou and Nezuko met with Yushiro and Tamayo." Giyu revealed that information, that caused Shinobu's eyes to widen.

"So…. So I guess you know everything…" Shinobu mumbled, "Can't believe you out of all people would find out before everyone else…"

"Yes. And it seems we both have a secret when it comes to demon allies from the rest of the Hashira. Despite the master's approval, it is ultimately a risk to tell the other pillars, for we may be seen as traitors." Giyu explained more, and Shinobu nodded.

"Well, what will we do with the two of them?" Shinobu asked. As she stared at the cut masks, she was trying very hard to decipher something, based on the mask.

Eventually, she knew she had to ask a gnawing question on her mind.

"Say, you boy." Shinobu pointed to Tanjirou.

"Me?" The burgundy haired boy asked, and here, she noticed the flame-like marks on the boy's face.

"What are those marks on his face? The girl has them too, but it seems to be vine-like…" Shinobu thought, before she asked.

"Were you at the Final Selection when it burned down? Did you fight any notable demons?" Shinobu asked.

Tanjirou's eyes widened, "Yeah, I was. Giyu and Urokodaki gave Nezuko and I the chance to become demon slayers if we managed to slay a specific demon."

"Was there any other demons, any strong demons you faced?" Shinobu emphasized, and Tanjirou's eyes widened.

"Yeah! There was! This demon had like ice-like abilities, and tried to like damage my lungs with them. I think he got mad eventually and then blew me away with some weird ice move, but at least I managed to save that girl." Tanjirou smiled.

However, as he looked at Shinobu, his eyes widened.

"The girl I saved, back at Final Selection, wore two butterfly clips. The girl I saved just now here, had one butterfly clip. This girl has a butterfly… I get it…" Tanjirou thought.

"Wait, did I rescue your sister or someone? I remember both girls I saved wearing butterfly clip, like you, and the three of you, now that I think about it, smells very similar…" Tanjirou mumbled.

At this, Shinobu recoiled.

"The boy has a very good sense of smell like my teacher…" Giyu looked down a bit, remembering Urokodaki, but he continued. "His smell is shocking in its accuracy."

Shinobu eyed the two demons, and ultimately knew, these two were demons were important, especially if Ubuyashiki was giving them the green light.

At this, Tanjirou sighed, "Giyu, maybe it's time we go to meet Ubuyashiki…" Tanjirou sighed.

Nezuko, who remained quiet the entire time, quickly refused. "We can't!"

"The risk is too great, I know…" Tanjirou sighed, "But what are we supposed to do? We have no place to go outside of Tamayo…"

"Wait. The two of you know, Tamayao?" Shinobu asked.

"Yes, I just told you they both met each other." Giyu explained, "Did you ignore me?"

Shinobu rolled her eyes, "I guess that makes sense, but couldn't you both just go with her?"

Nezuko sighed, realizing her brother's point, "That's not ideal… We cannot."

"And why is that?" Shinobu asked.

"Because once we met Tamayo, she and Yushiro both were under threat by Muzan. We cannot risk going to see them if it risks their place of solitude." Nezuko explained, "We'll just risk going to them and revealing their position."

Shinobu sighed, "Guess that makes sense. So, what do you think we should do?"

Giyu looked on, "This is up to my tsuguko."

At this, all three of them looked at Giyu in shock, for different reasons.

Tanjirou and Nezuko were shocked that they both were finally called that term for Giyu. In a way, it solidified their stance in the corps and as a status.

For Shinobu, hearing Giyu call these two demons tsuguko was such a surprise, considering Giyu had not one, but two tsuguko's.

"This is certainly a surprise… So these two are the demons that both Urokodaki, Ubuyashiki, and Giyu all put themselves under, and are supporting." Shinobu thought.

At this, Tanjirou thought at everything.

"Nezuko, what should we do?" Tanjirou asked her sister in their mindscape.

"This is difficult to say… We cannot run else we'll be hunted as demons of interest from the Hashira, but if we go, we run the risk being killed." Nezuko answered.

"Not to mention many of the Hashira would not see us in the right light." Tanjirou added. Both of each other agreed that neither option was ideal.

What could they do?

"Shinobu, is it?" Tanjirou asked.

"Yes, what is it?" Shinobu asked.

"I'm sorry, but I think Nezuko and I need to go." Tanjirou bowed.

"I'm afraid I cannot." Shinobu tilted her sword.

"Please…" Nezuko begged Shinobu, not wanting it to come to this.

Giyu could only look on at the scene, clearly wanting to intervene. He had promised he would protect them.

And so, Giyu stepped forward. "Do not unsheathe your sword towards them."

Shinobu smiled, "Well, once again, you choose to side over these demons?"

Giyu nodded, "Yes. And if you take these two back, then I will reveal the presence of Tamayo and Yushiro. Think about this wisely."

Shinobu's eyes widened, before she sighed. "Very well, you two can go…" Shinobu said at last, clearly not knowing what to do.

Tanjirou's eyes widened, "Thank you! Nezuko! Let's go!"

Before Shinobu and Giyu noticed, both Tanjirou and Nezuko both began to run off of Natagumo Mountain, trying to find a place to live and briefly stay.

Meanwhile, Shinobu looked at the two demons run off, before she stared at Giyu.

She couldn't believe Giyu was someone who would have done such a thing. He had used a dirty move, exposing her own secrets to allow his tsugukos to escape from potential captivity.

She knew, that if she told the Hashira about Giyu's tsuguko's, then Giyu would return the favour, exposing the Hashira about the likes of Tamayo and Yushiro.

She needed the two of them to help achieve her sister's goal, and Giyu might interfere with it, if Shinobu did not keep her mouth shut.

And thus, Shinobu eyed Giyu warily. She had never thought Giyu was the type to do such a thing.

"I'm sorry Shinobu…" Giyu sighed. "But I have to protect the people I care about deeply. I cannot lose anyone every again."

At this, Shinobu had mixed feelings. While she understood what Giyu was doing, and why he did it. But on the other hand, the fact he did such actions towards her made her upset.

But in the end, he only did, what she and Kanae would have done.

"That boy…" Shinobu mumbled, "You know he's saved two of my sisters."

"I've been informed about this. I'm right here." Giyu mumbled, before the two made their way down the mountain.

Once they made it back to the estate, they were informed about the entire ordeal and the causality of the mountains.

All in all, around 33 demon slayers were killed in total, with only a handful of survivors.

Giyu remembered once of them, named Murata. Just hearing that name gave Giyu some very bad memories that he tried to ignore and repress.

"Ubuyashiki." Giyu called out once he got back to the estate and the pillars were alone. He had specifically told Shinobu to remain back so that the two could talk.

She probably did not expect for him to take this to Ubuyashiki. However, Shinobu did not mind it.

"Oh, hello Giyu, Shinobu." Ubuyashiki smiled. "How may I help you?"

"It's regarding my tsugukos." Giyu explained, "as well as Shinobu and Kanae's demon allies."

At this, Ubuyashiki smiled before letting the two in. "What is it the both of you want to talk about?"

"It seems both Shinobu and I have found out about each other's demon allies." Giyu revealed. "I would like it if you talked to her about them."

Ubuyashiki smiled, "Of course, and I'm assuming you two know about Tamayo, Yushiro, as well as Nezuko and Tanjirou, then? You both know they are all demons who've escaped Muzan's curse and grasp?"

Both Shinobu and Giyu nodded, and Ubuyashiki nodded, "Very well, I will explain to you all about them, and let you two decide what to do. As I've mentioned to the both of you, I've already sanctioned all of their cases, as they are not a threat to humans."

At this, both Shinobu and Giyu nodded, clearly not knowing what to do at this point.

Whether Giyu would eventually bring both Tanjirou and Nezuko, his tsuguko's to the estate, but knowing the result of the other Hashira and their reaction, it would be risky.

Tanjirou and Nezuko

The two made their way over, running as fast as they could before finding a cave when it became night time.

As the two sighed in relief, Tanjirou allowed Nezuko to sleep.

As she slept however, she was still able to talk to Tanjirou, through their mindscape.

"We managed to escape them… We actually did it…" Tanjirou told her sister, not believing they had both managed to do such a thing.

"I agree brother, we did it…" Nezuko reacted. "But wouldn't that make us at risk for being searched by the Hashira?"

"I think Giyu will pull some strings." Tanjirou reassured Nezuko, before he too decided to rest.

After all, he had just managed Lower Moon Five, and collect a sample of his blood. For now, he was smiling.

"We managed to kill a twelve kizuki member. We might become a human again soon, Nezuko…" Tanjirou smiled as he closed his eyes.

Once the sun went down, both Tanjirou and Nezuko made their way back towards Asakusa. How they managed to find their way back to Asakusa, they didn't know. for the time being, the two had to escape and find a place to reside.

They couldn't go to Urokodaki's house, since he was dead, unfortunately. They couldn't go back to Mount Natagumo, or even ask Giyu to remain in his estate secretly.

For the time being, they had to find a place to refuge. Why they went there, they weren't sure.

For all they knew, both Tanjirou and Nezuko now had the side of Muzan, and the demon slayers, now coming after them.

And they were terrified. Both of them couldn't afford to be caught.

They couldn't go back to Tamayo, not wanting to put them at risk.

And so, they managed to find an area to reside.

Thankfully, a small place was available for them, whilst also being cheap. It seemed that they were still being paid by the demon slayer corps, and thus were able to afford the place.

Sighing, he was glad that Nezuko was resting on a proper bed for now, as opposed to caves or small areas on the ground protecting them from sunlight, they had a roof over their heads now.

While it may be weird to only be out for the night in the city, they could at least have some sense of serenity, and calmness. For the time being, they could spend their time relaxing in Asakusa.

That is, until the demon slayer may come to find them. Until then, they're best hope was that Giyu would remain adamant, and make sure the demon slayers would keep them away from them.

In the meantime, they explored their house.

"Brother look! They have their own basement!" Nezuko exclaimed. Tanjirou looked down, and to his surprise, found that the basement was relatively big.

"This is a large basement for the price we paid…" Tanjirou commented, finding it a bit too much.

"You know what that means, brother?" Nezuko asked. "More training!"

Tanjirou chuckled at Nezuko's own mindset. She was clearly wanting to stick to her goal, and while he wanted Nezuko to take a break, he wasn't going to make her calm down.

And so, the two decided it would be best for them both to train.

This entire time, they had managed to survive everything, and through this, they were still weak.

They needed to get stronger.

As Tanjirou brought back a book, regarding the dance of the fire god, he was thinking back to everything he thought. He was looking over the techniques, trying to hone it down.

Considering his body was seemingly feeling better in managing to adapt more to the Hinokami Kagura, rather than water breathing, unlike Nezuko.

"Brother, are you reading that book again?" Nezuko asked.

"Yes, it's about the family dance. I'm trying to look into it." Tanjirou explained.

"Why is that? You've already used it very well." Nezuko commented.

"That may be true, but there's always ways to properly adapt and strengthen something you think you've honed down. You can never truly master something, there is always something to learn." Tanjirou told Nezuko.

She merely sighed, before she too went to read into it.

While Nezuko was reading it, she wanted to try it too.

"Brother, can I try it to?" Nezuko asked.

Tanjirou pondered, "I'm not sure."

"Why not?"

"It was something that took me my childhood to learn. Remember when I would collapse after overexerting myself?" Tanjirou warned Nezuko.

"That is true, but I've seen you breath, how you breathe when you use the dance and style, I want to at least try it!" Nezuko exclaimed.

Tanjirou chuckled, "Perhaps with time. For now, I need to focus on properly mastering it."

"But what about water breathing?" Nezuko asked.

"You seem to be more adapted towards water breathing. Why do you want to deviate away from it?" Tanjirou asked.

"I don't want to deviate away from water breathing. I do like the form, but I want to vary my forms like you." Nezuko explained.

Tanjirou pondered, "But what about your blood demon art? I mean you unlocked it."

"Oh yeah! You did as well!" Nezuko exclaimed, "I remember blacking out, but I did see you change from your blood demon art!"

Tanjirou chuckled, "I know… To think what Tamayo was telling us about our own bloods… She was so accurate…"

"I know… It's kind of cool, pink flames…" Nezuko mumbled.

"Though, I'm a bit confused." Tanjirou sighed.

"What about it?" Nezuko asked.

"Well. I didn't even decapitate Rui before he died." Tanjirou exclaimed. "But he seemed to be in excruciating pain…"

"How so?" Nezuko asked, "How are you confused."

"I'm just a bit confused about how my blood demon art works…" Tanjirou explained, "All I know is that according to Tamayo, my blood cells are infectious to other demons who are loyal to Muzan."

"Well then that's it." Nezuko explained, "Though, I guess the crimson flames makes everything more confusing."

"Indeed." Tanjirou sighed. "I guess we can find other demons, and find a way to better understand my own blood demon art."

"We could, yeah, while we can practice our breathing techniques here, we unfortunately cannot risk our blood demon art on people, but rather only to demons." Nezuko answered back.

"For the time, we can practice our sparring here, and during night we can see how our blood demon arts work." Tanjirou explained, and planned, considering as Nezuko and Tanjirou had to fulfill more expectations.

When night time hit, Tanjirou and Nezuko went out, and began to hunt for demons.

As they went around, both Nezuko and Tanjirou had individually spotted demons.

For Nezuko, she had spotted a demon that was perfect for her.

Of course, she could tell this demon was responsible for killing some humans on the outskirts of the city.

And thus, Nezuko snuck up on the demons, and activated her blood demon art.

Blood Demon Art: Karmic Blaze

Nezuko felt the blood maneuver it towards her fingers and hands, as pink flames began to extend out her hands. Nezuko was surprised as she looked at it.

She felt that the rest of her own blood could be moved, to adapt to the flames.

And so, she felt her blood move across her body. Managing to pierce her own flesh, she felt the blood spew out, and to her surprise, the pink flames activated even when the blood left her body.

Even then, she was trying to move her own blood, and while she saw some semblance of movement, she couldn't move it too much.

She sighed, for now, she was fine with it, but maybe with some time of practice, she would be able to move her own blood outside. Flicking her hands, she put out the pink flames.

The demon, who was disintegrating, was dead, meaning Nezuko's blood demon arts was another way for her to kill demons.

As for Tanjirou, he was having a difficult, but intriguing time regarding his blood demon art.

Considering, he was able to use it in tangent with his breathing styles, he was able to make it stronger and more potent.

Blood Demon Art: Hinokami's Blessing

Tanjirou felt the demon slayer marks extend down, and his skin right above his artery began to bleed, allowing flames to surround his body. Once again, he raised his sword, as he eyed his own demon who was trying to run away.

Total Concentration – Hinokami's Fusion, Third Form: Raging Sun

Managing to strike the demon with a simple slash on the torso, the demon began to cough rapidly after a bit, before they collapsed.

Tanjirou looked at the demon in intrigue, as he was beginning to figure out what exactly was unique about his demon art.

He saw the area around the torso Tanjirou struck the demon became swelled and purple. As Tanjirou eyed the demon, who was hyperventilating and twitching, Tanjirou noticed that the symptoms, the purple discolouring, and painful swellings that was there began to expand. It was now reaching the demon's upper chest.

"P-Please… P-P-Put me o-o-" The demon didn't even get to finish their sentence, as Tanjirou saw it fall still.

The demon's eyes remained still and fixed, and it was to Tanjirou's surprise, that the demon was dead.

"But how?!" Tanjirou thought.

"How can I kill demons without decapitating it?" Tanjirou asked himself, looking at the blood on the ground, he gripped his hands and fingers tightly, watching the body of the demon surprisingly light up in scarlet flames.

Tanjirou was shocked for a bit, before he realized what was going on.

"Oh… My blood is going inside the demon, so I can burn them from the inside…" Tanjirou thought outloud. "That's useful."

It seemed that Tanjirou's own blood demon art was complimenting his breathing styles. As a result, he was intrigued about something else.

Total Concentration: Water Breathing Infused, First Form: Water Surface Slash

To Tanjirou's surprise, while he could sense the water within his blade, he also saw bits of his blood present in his own form. Quickly reacting while he was in the process of his form, he activated his blood, and the scarlet flames mixed with his water breathing form.

To Tanjirou's unfortunate disappointment, the water element he saw was not there. Instead, replaced with his scarlet flames.

"So, it seems that my blood just infuses itself in my breathing form, and my body…" Tanjirou mumbled, "And if I use the Hinokami Kagura, is when the flames look red and crimson in colour… as for what the crimson flames do, it seems that it turns my blade red…"

With that being said, Tanjirou made his way back.

He had learned quite a lot about his own blood demon art, and while he knew he would need more experience regarding it. As for their own breathing style, both Tanjirou and Nezuko were successful in improving their own technique.

The same went for the training Giyu had given them. They took what he trained them to heart, as they wanted to improve. Whether it was their concentration breathing constantly, as they were still trying to do, or for flexing and relaxing their muscles, endurance, and the likes, the two knew they had a lot of work to do.

"Nezuko! Down right!"

"Hya!" Nezuko exclaimed as she tried to strike Tanjirou, but he managed to block.

To a normal human, it was happening in an instant. For a demon slayer, or a higher ranked one, they could see the two demons sparring.

They were moving like a dance, as they continued.

For Nezuko, she was trying her best. It seemed that Tanjirou was better capable than her regarding their breathing styles. However, Nezuko's blood demon art was more flexible, the two could agree.

Unfortunately, Nezuko knew she couldn't rely on a blood demon art.

She was a demon slayer, and thus would focus on that.

She would get her breathing style stronger.

She was a water breather, and hell even Giyu saw potential in her being the future pillar.

She wouldn't let Giyu down.

As she leaped yet again, she struck down.

Water Wheel, Constant Flux

Nezuko spun herself around, but before Tanjirou could counterattack, Nezuko strung her attacks together and continued to relentlessly attack Tanjirou to the point of not being able to have time.

Tanjirou was dodging everything properly, as Nezuko continued to combine her moves together.

"Look at Nezuko go, she's able to twist her body to the point of nonstop combining and attacking me with her swipes. I can't even get the time to retaliate. She's moving and really aggressive." Tanjirou thought as he was eyeing Nezuko's eyes of determination.

Tanjirou quickly grabbed the sword of Nezuko's grunting a bit when he felt it slash through his arm. Thankfully, it slowed down just enough for him to get the distance.

"You're doing so well, Nezuko!" Tanjirou smiled.

Nezuko panted, before smiling, "I'm glad…"

"Are you tired?" Tanjirou asked.

Nezuko chuckled, "Just need to catch my breathe."

"But we don't even need oxygen…" Tanjirou mumbled.

"Oh, shut up, my body is tired from exerting myself…" Nezuko complained.

"Alright, but are we going to continue?" Tanjirou asked.

"Sure." Nexuko got up again, and she focused on Tanjirou.

And so, the two continued their sparring yet again. Neither of them were focused on the time, considering it was day time, so they couldn't go out.

They both were sheerly focused on being stronger.

They had to.

To defeat the king of all demons

KIbutsuji Muzan

The two of them needed to defeat him. Considering they both felt stronger, they eventually needed to achieve the guidelines and requirements to be able to defeat stronger demons,

They may have been able to defeat a Lower Moon, but there was still the Upper Moons, and Muzan himself.

Considering how he briefly fought one, Tanjirou knew that the difference in strength between the Lower Moon and the Upper Moon was large.

So even if they got lucky with a lower moon, they would get crushed by an upper moon,

That was something neither of them could let happen.

And so, the two continued. They continued to spar.

Until something unexpected happened.

As Tanjirou and Nezuko continued to spare, Nezuko was once again in the offense.

She was trying to land a strike on Tanjirou, who had regrettably struck Nezuko three times in her arm and side.

He of course, did not want to, but he got lucky with the shots and overextended.

For Nezuko, she was trying hard to properly hit Tanjirou.

She was even considering using her blood demon art, but decided not to risk it.

However, something else happened that gave Nezuko a trump card.

Flower Breathing, First Form: Flower Cutter

To Tanjirou's surprise, the purple-light pink on Nezuko's blade became more apparent, as she continued her pursuit, swiftly cutting low towards the base of Tanjirou's stance. When Tanjirou felt himself being swiped down, Nezuko went for another strike, this time a downward one. Tanjirou could only roll back before bringing himself up quickly.

Tanjirou backed up, but felt his bicep get striked in the process.

Tanjirou looked at Nezuko with an impressed look, but also with shock.

"Nezuko! Where did you learn that?" Tanjirou asked his sister excitedly.

However, Nezuko looked unsure. She looked confused, as she stared at her blade, which was now returning to a darker blue colour. The one she was used to.

"What was that…" Nezuko asked herself and her brother, as the two now had another strange anomaly to discuss.

"Does the book have anything to do with this?" Nezuko asked.

Tanjirou quietly picked up the book he had left on a nearby area, and begun to read into it.

Unfortunately, he did not see anything.

Sighing, Tanjirou shook his head, making Nezuko sigh in shame.

"Not your fault, brother, but that is strange…" Nezuko mumbled.

"Do you know why that came up like that?" Tanjirou asked.

Nezuko nodded, "I tried breathing like you."

At this, Tanjirou could only mumbled and think in confusion.

What did Nezuko just learn? And how did she?

For the time being, all he knew was Nezuko was more powerful and secretive than Tanjirou thought.

If he wanted to get stronger, he needed Nezuko to also be stronger. And so, he decided to let Nezuko go with what he was comfortable with.

A.N / So there are some things that seem to confuse some of you.

The first is involved with both Tanjirou and Nezuko's age, especially as demons. For those informed, demons don't age as they're demons. However that is their physical age, which doesn't change. Their chronological age remains changing, going up one per year, obviously. There are some changes to the story. The first is that Tanjirou is 13 years old at the start, whilst Nezuko is 12. I usually put them at a two-age difference, chronologically. For simplistic purposes when they turn human, their chronological age will become their physical age when they're human. They also trained for just around a year, whereas Nezuko slept for three and a half months. I'll explain in the character profile. If it's confusing overall I may change the ages of each character later on.

Character Profile:

Tanjirou Kamado: Male, 15 years old.

Status: Alive, Demon

Height: 5'7" (170cm)

Weight: 132Ibs

Nezuko Kamado: Female, 13 years old.

Status: Alive, Demon

Height: 5'2 (157cm)

Weight: 112Ibs

Giyu Tomioka: Male, 19 years old.

Status: Alive, Human

Height: 5'10 (178cm)

Weight: 155Ibs

Shinobu Kocho: Female, 18 years old.

Status: Alive, Human

Height: 5'0" (152cm)

Weight: 85Ibs

Kagaya Ubuyashiki: Male, 23 years old

Status: Alive, Human

Height: 5'10" (178cm)

Weight: 148Ibs

Abilities: Breathing Styles

Tanjirou Kamado:

All forms of Water Breathing, except 11th

All forms of Hinokami Kagura, except 13th

Total concentration breathing, constant, almost for 24 hrs.

Vision flickers for up to a second.

Hinokami's Fusion, Third Form: Raging Sun

The user will unleash two arching slashes around themselves to the sides to strike incoming attacks from both sides. With the infusion, the flares can extend far from the strikes, catching anyone off guard.

Water Breathing Infused, First Form: Water Surface Slash

The user generates momentum to slash horizontal one time. Tanjirou's blood can infuse with the technique, allowing for scarlet flames to be produced. If the individual comes into contact with the flames, they will be burnt, but not infected by Tanjirou's cells.

Nezuko Kamado:

All forms of water breathing.

Total concentration breathing, constant (learning).

Infrared vision.

Flower Breathing, First Form: Flower Cutter

The user makes swift an precise cuts across the legs of the opponent, with the aim of breaking their stance. If the opponent falls, the technique is completed with a final strike downward, meant to finish the demon on the neck.

Giyu Tomioka:

All forms of water breathing.

Extraordinary sense for fluids, including water and blood.

Excels in endurance and defense.

Shinobu Kocho:

All forms of insect breathing.

Intelligence for healthcare and poison.

Incredibly agile.

Taisho Secret:

- Zenitsu and Kanao both have suspicions that both Nezuko and Tanjirou are demons respectively. Kanao's vision allowed her to tell something strange about the two figures, however, her vision also allowed her to tell that both Tanjirou and Nezuko are both good willed people. As for Zenitsu, his hearing allowed to decipher that both of them were demons. However, his appreciation for Nezuko overpowered his own observations.