Hinokami's Blessing

Chapter 12

12Thirtypain03

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

This is another warning because especially for this chapter, there is a sudden plot that may make a bit of you upset. Please respect my decisions and how I plot the story, and how it'll develop individuals going forward.


Back with Tanjirou and Nezuko…


Tanjirou and Nezuko had just managed to kill the swamp demon, after quite the fight. While the blood demon arts for that demon was something surprising, in the end, both Nezuko and Tanjirou managed to properly decapitate the demon.

Despite being unable to save Satoko, they prevented more girls from suffering the same fate. And that was what mattered.

In the meantime, both Nezuko and Tanjirou were heading toward a mansion. Based on the information the crow gave them, they were now responsible for killing the demon that was killing people within a mansion.

Tanjirou and Nezuko sighed, knowing they had to continue their missions. They were glad they were demons in the sense that their stamina regeneration was not falling, and with their regeneration, they assumed that they would be fine regardless.

In truth, Tanjirou was somewhat tired. Despite grabbing a snack and sleeping, both individuals were a bit exhausted, at least mentally from the fight with the swamp demon.

Despite this, they will continue, and persevere.

Immediately upon finishing their fight with the swamp demon, Tanjirou and Nezuko made their way to the mansion. Generally, both would take naps in between missions to recuperate themselves, however, there were three catches.

One, they were demons, and couldn't be out in the sun. Two, they were demons and could run for however long they wanted.

And three, they were demons, needing to avoid many people, especially other fellow demon slayers.

And so, Tanjirou and Nezuko continued on their journey, until they noticed the mansion straight up.

"Looks like we got here sooner than expected, huh?" Nezuko asked her brother, who merely nodded. Nezuko eyed Tanjirou a bit worried. Ever since the time they started slaying demons, his personality has gotten quieter.

"Are you alright?" Nezuko asked. "You know you can tell me..."

Tanjirou sighed, "Maybe in a bit... I'm honestly still trying to figure it out... Anyways, now that we're here, what do we do?"

Nezuko looked onwards, "Alright but I hope you figure it out quicker than you think, just like how we got here quicker than we thought..."

"I know, I didn't expect us to even make it this far so quickly… It's almost like our overall stamina improved, even as demons…" Tanjirou mumbled to himself and Nezuko, clearly just as surprised.

"Perhaps then, in spite of the difference, it seems demons too can become stronger like humans, it's almost intriguing…" Nezuko explained to herself as if trying to decipher the mystery herself.

As much as the two wanted to go in, they had a lot of complications.

The first was that it was becoming day soon, and both knew if they remained in with a demon, that could potentially be dangerous if they needed to escape.

The other was the risk of other demon slayers showing up, which could be a problem. As a result, Tanjirou and Nezuko had to look around to make sure they were clear.

Once they felt confident, the two entered an hour before the sun rose. This would give them around four hours to completely search around to make sure the area was cleared of demons.

However, before the two could enter, they noticed something. A couple of individuals were on the outer end of the mansion.

"I smell something…" Tanjirou explained. Almost immediately did he feel something strange. He felt some form of force like his instincts gnawing at him.

"What is happening?" Tanjirou asked himself. He looked and realized that Nezuko was mostly fine, and she could tell something was happening to her brother.

"Brother, are you alright?" Nezuko asked her brother in concern. Because she did not have a strong smell like her brother, she wasn't able to detect what was causing her brother to act like this.

"Must…." Tanjirou was so confused. What was this gnawing feeling? It was like his instincts were telling him to run wild. What was happening?

Tanjirou suddenly began to run into the mansion without warning.

"No! Brother no!" Nezuko quickly chased after her brother, curious and confused as to what was causing her brother to act out.

Eventually, she caught up to her brother, but he was clearly struggling. Almost as if he had managed to stop himself from whatever had caused him from lashing out.

"Brother, what's going on?" Nezuko asked, and Tanjirou was growling, and salivating.

"What's wrong with my brother," Nezuko mumbled.

"Caw! That would be the result of a marechi blood!" Nezuko's crow then flew onto Nezuko's own shoulder.

"What is marechi blood?" She asked as she was holding Tanjirou tightly while looking confusingly towards his brother.

"Caw! Marechi is a rare blood type that humans can have. They are deemed very valuable to demons because they are very nutritious. For your brother, his advanced smell is making it more difficult for him to withstand the marechi's entrancing stance!" The crow for Nezuko explained.

Nezuko didn't think of that. She forgot that her brother's smell must have made it more difficult for her brother to manage and control his own urges. She suddenly had a great respect for Tanjirou, for managing to control his urges, despite it being worse than Nezuko's own urges himself.

Nezuko, in the process of holding Tanjirou tightly, had accidentally taken off his mask, and she could see with her own eyes the demonic traits that Tanjirou was showing.

His nails had grown to pitch black, his teeth were showing their fangs, and the marks on his face were more virulent.

Whilst the base demon Tanjirou had one jagged mark coming from his left forehead, this form now had more connected marks sporadically coming out of his face, and his hair was changing to crimson red.

"Brother! Snap out of it!" Nezuko called out to her brother, who was clearly struggling. In spite of this, he was managing to at least keep himself still, not moving nor doing anything violent or reckless.

"You know, Tanjirou, I'm with you for not eating humans, but that marechi smells sooo good..." The demon inside Tanjirou fluttered as he was clearly entranced by the marechi.

"No! I'm not drinking a human's blood!" Tanjirou exclaimed. He gripped his head and spun it around to try and get himself away. It smelt so good, and Tanjirou's sense of smell was making it much more difficult to ignore it.

Plus, it was a first-time experience, and so he was running innately to what this was. He had to stop himself.

"Oh come on!"

"ARRGH! COME ON, I THOUGHT WE HAD A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING!" Tanjirou yelled. "WE'RE NOT EATING HUMANS! EVEN IF THEY SMELL SO GOOD!"

"Of course we do! I'm struggling more because I'm the demon part of you! You have it easier!"

"Then what can I do to make you stop?" Tanjirou asked.

"Calm your body down! When you smelt the marechi, your body freaked out which was enough for me to activate! I can't handle the marechi as well as you, so you need to calm your body to take control again!" His demon counterpart exclaimed.

Tanjirou growled as he was eyeing the marechi blood, however, as Nezuko was holding his brother off, with her blade in his mouth, she noticed something.

It seemed that Tanjirou was still fighting his urges, even when it seemed like he had fallen for it a bit, or when he lost course of himself.

Nezuko sighed, knowing she too had to play this role, in the case that one of them went berserk.

"Brother, please, don't leave me down if you go through this path…" Nezuko cried, and Tanjirou seemed to be calming down.

The demonic form of Tanjirou seemed to be reverting back to his original self, and Nezuko gave a sigh of relief, as she had successfully stopped her brother from being feral.

"Brother? What happened?" Nezuko asked her brother once she noticed he was hyperventilating. He was breathing heavily, as if to show the about of strain he was showing in trying to resisting the temptation of a marechi.

"So that's what happens... I guess my sense of smell makes it harder for me to resist the temptation..." Tanjirou thought.

"Exactly, you really need to get your emotions in check before you hurt more people, just like that kid."

Tanjirou's eyes widened, "W-Was I really close to hurting him...?

"Yes! You need to control your emotions before you hurt people! Isn't that what you stood against? Didn't you tell yourself you were reborn to kill Muzan?!"

"Yes..."

"Didn't you tell yourself you weren't going to do things your own way?!"

"Yes..."

"And who are you?!"

"I'M TANJIROU KAMADO!"

"There you go! Jeez, I'm seriously becoming like, your therapist or something..."

"Yeah... Kind of ironic that the demon in me is doing this..." Tanjirou chuckled, his demonic voice joining the laughter.

"You're too damn likable..."

"Huff…" Tanjirou mumbled as he was clearly struggling.

Before Tanjirou knew it, he began to cry, as he has begun to see the siblings, as his own.

"Shigeru... Takeo... Hanako... Rokuto... I'm so sorry..." Tanjirou cried as he felt his tears coming through. The siblings, originally alarmed, began to be confused, but Nezuko merely smiled at them, telling them everything was alright.

"If you're struggling to get through this mansion, then you can stay over here and keep the area safe from other demons who may try to come in," Nezuko explained.

"No…" Tanjirou shook his head, "I… I can manage…" Tanjirou was persistent, but Nezuko did not want to risk this. "It' just my smell... I was able to smell the boy's blood from so far away..."

"I think you should stay back, brother, I don't know what to do if you lose control again…" Nezuko sadly told her brother. Tanjirou, for his part, smiled sadly.

"You know I cannot do that, Nezuko, for I shouldn't leave you alone," Tanjirou told his sister, "At least we found the siblings safe, right?"

Nezuko sighed, "Alright fine, but please, take hold of yourself."

Tanjirou nodded, "You know I will."

Nezuko smiled before she began to lead the way. Due to the surprising maze of the mansion, they both eventually had to split up.

Tanjirou sighed, as he knew they would have to split up eventually. Eventually, the two did split up.

Apparently, Tanjirou was able to smell some other demons around and thus decided to take care of them as prepared. However, that was where some interesting phenomena occurred.

Children. Children appeared out of nowhere, and Tanjirou freaked out, so loud that Nezuko came sprinting to make sure everything was alright.

"What's going on?!" Nezuko asked, freaking out a bit.

"Nothing, just scared that these children were in the middle of the mansion when there's a demon around," Tanjirou explained.

"Why are you all in here?" Nezuko quickly asked the children, who hid behind each other.

"We're looking for our older brother!" One of them explained.

"Why are you looking for your older brother in here? Don't you know what's in there?" Tanjirou asked the kids who nodded.

"A monster!" They exclaimed. "They took our older brother when we were just walking out at night."

"What does your brother wear?" Nezuko asked the siblings.

"Uhh, an orange kimono." The siblings told them.

"I see-" Before any of them could continue, a figure was pushed out towards them.

"Watch out!" Tanjirou exclaimed as he grabbed onto the siblings and covered them.

"That was a body…" Nezuko told Tanjirou.

"What…"

"That was the body of someone… But I didn't see an orange kimono…" Nezuko informed them.

"I see, you two." He pointed to the siblings, "Can you give the person out there who died a proper burial? Nezuko and I need to solve and stop this demon from hurting your brother, alright?" Tanjirou asked the siblings.

Both of them nodded as they went out of the mansion to bury the individual who had just died.

Nezuko and Tanjirou both stared, determined to stop this demon from killing more people. They needed to save the individual the demon had now.

Unfortunately, the siblings decided to come back into the mansion.

"What are you thinking?! Don't follow us back in here!" Tanjirou exclaimed to the siblings.

"We didn't know what to do!" The siblings exclaimed, "Plus. We're unsure if outside is safe if those monsters can take our older brother!"

Tanjirou sighed, "Well, I guess you'll be safer around me than outside. But then again…"

"But then again what?"

Tanjirou shook his head, "Nevermind, but once it's day, you both are to go out this mansion."

Before Nezuko and Tanjirou could finish their statements, a sudden bong echoed throughout the mansion, and following that, the walls began to shift around erratically.

"Woah!" Everyone within the room began to scream in surprise as they felt their bodies being moved around.

"The room around us changed…" Tanjirou mumbled as he began to explore around.

"Nezuko?!" Tanjirou yelled and heard a faint yeah from Nezuko.

"Are you alright?!"

"Yeah…"

Tanjirou sighed before he yelled again, "I'm going to explore around, you do the same!"

"Don't worry about your brother, my sister will take care of him. After all, he both understand the connections between fellow siblings, alright?" Tanjirou told the girl. "What is your name?"

"Teruko…" The girl mumbled.

"Alright Teruko, I'll make sure you are alright here, ok?"

She nodded faintly, as she grabbed closely to Tanjirou's own arm.

To Tanjirou, this reminded him of his family, and he really was trying not to cry in front of them.

Meanwhile, Nezuko looked around, with the brother who was clearly calmer compared to the girl.

"I'll find your sister for you," Nezuko confirmed to the boy who was clearly nervous, just for the sake of his sister.

As the two continued to look around, Tanjirou continued to ponder in his head. He had to focus, but for some reason, he felt his own head hurting.

He was smelling the same thing again, and whilst he was told about the possibility of it being a marechi. Tanjirou knew he would have to be careful and full of willpower to make sure he doesn't lose it again.

He was thankful that Nezuko was there to help him snap out of it.

Similar to Tanjirou, Nezuko too was getting some mild headaches in her head.

The two siblings were getting headaches simultaneously, as they were rubbing their heads as they continued to do so.

"Are you alright?" Both siblings would ask them simultaneously, and both Tanjirou and Nezuko gave them the same reaction.

"Yes, I'm fine." Tanjirou and Nezuko both smiled at the siblings. Both did not want to worry the siblings. "I managed to get quite the hits on him, but it only seems to anger him.

Once again, for both Nezuko and Tanjirou, the rooms began to change again.

"That was right after a bong…" Tanjirou mumbled, trying to understand everything that was going on.

Before he knew it, he spotted something that made his eyes widen.

Quickly, he closed the eyes of Teruko, as he managed to lead the girl away from the dead body of a boy, that thankfully was not their sibling.

However, that wasn't something he needed to do, as the room quickly changed again.

Once again, Tanjirou sighed, as he was annoyed by the blood demon art.

At least he was getting used to it.

However, he then began to smell blood again.

"Stay behind me," Tanjirou warned Teruko, who followed Tanjirou's advice.

However, to Tanjirou's relief, and especially Teruko, it was an individual, with an orange kimono.

"Kiyoshi!" "Teruko!"

Both siblings hugged each other closely before Kiyoshi eyed Tanjirou.

"Who is that?" Kiyoshi asked.

Tanjirou Kamado had to keep himself in check, as whatever he smelt at the entrance of the mansion, was now amplified.

He continued to breathe in properly so that he eventually was able to calm his desires and instincts down.

"I'm Tanjirou Kamado. I'm here to slay the demon who tried to abduct you. Let me check on your wounds." He explained, and whilst felt himself losing his instincts, he quickly managed to wrap up Kiyoshi.

"So, how did you survive?" Tanjirou asked.

Kiyoshi sighed, "I only survived because the many demons were fighting and arguing over who got the eat me."

"I see," Tanjirou explained. "I guess for now, let's deal with the demon that manipulates the room. Getting the both of you out is a priority."

Both siblings nodded.

However, the risk of other demons made a dilemma for him. They were told to rescue these siblings from the demons.

"He called me a marechi." Kiyoshi revealed.

Tanjirou's eyes widened. "So that's why I almost lost myself… He's a marechi…"

Tanjirou shook his head, as he heard what his crow was explaining.

"Brother, help me…" Before Tanjirou could continue what he did, he suddenly heard the sound of his sister, Nezuko. His head simultaneously began to ache yet again, as he was now realizing he was hearing stuff, and this might've been the reason why.

"What…" Tanjirou mumbled. He wasn't sure if he heard it right, but he could have sworn he heard his sister talk to him.

But, he couldn't hear her, at least from the outside.

Was it happening, inside his head? Tanjirou was rather shocked when the countless pleas of his sister had managed to actually get inside his head.

"Nezuko?" Tanjirou thought in his head, closing his eyes and being surprised by the fact that Nezuko's own voice was echoing in his head.

"Brother? Can you hear me?" Nezuko asked.

"Yeah, I can, how can we talk to each other?" Tanjirou asked Nezuko.

"I don't know, but it happened, and I'm busy fighting the demon who's responsible for maneuvering the rooms. If you can find your way through to the main room, then you can find me fighting the demon, he goes by Kyogai, and apparently, he was a former lower moon served by Muzan." His sister, Nezuko had told Tanjirou, through an apparent mind connection.

That may have explained why both of their heads were hurting before entering the mansion, as both Tanjirou and Nezuko may have been developing the ability to communicate through each other's minds.

"We're going to have to run a test when we're alone to make sure this actually works," Tanjirou explained to Nezuko in her head.

How that works, Tanjirou wasn't sure, but what he did need to do, was rush to find and assist Nezuko with the former lower moon she had found.

"Wait, where are the siblings?" Tanjirou asked her sister, Nezuko.

"They're in the other room. They're being persistent, so I unfortunately cannot defend them, if you can get there and make sure they're alright, then that'll be golden." Nezuko told Tanjirou, who nodded in response.

Quickly managing to get past the rooms, he used his smell again to focus purely on the whereabouts of the demon. He had to make sure he could find them, and the sibling.

Before he knew it, he found Nezuko and the demon, but also the sibling. Quickly gathering the sibling and pushing him towards the rest, he allowed the three to hug each other, whilst he was in front, preventing Kyogai from seeing them.

"Well, looks like we got another fake demon slayer!" Kyogai exclaimed as he stared down at Tanjirou. Tanjirou could see the remnants of marks across this demon, which he could assume came from Nezuko.

"Boy! Do you know what you are preventing me from?" The former demon moon asked.

Tanjirou nodded, "A marechi?"

"Yes!" Kyogai exclaimed. "I used to be amongst the most powerful of all demons, with the demon progenitor! Until he booted me out because I was weak!"

Both Tanjirou and Nezuko flinched once they heard this.

"This guy was actually in the presence of Muzan. He has the information that may be crucial for us!" Both Nezuko and Tanjirou thought as they flinched once realizing they accidentally were communicating with each other.

"HA! Of course, he wants the marechi! I mean, I wouldn't blame him." Demon Tanjirou chuckled.

"Shut up, we can't afford to lose control here. The stakes are very high." Tanjirou warned his demonic counterpart.

"It going to take some time to get used to his…" Nezuko commented, as Tanjirou quickly shook his head, trying to focus on Kyogai.

"I must get that marechi!" Kyogai exclaimed in a rage, as he was beginning to get furious over Tanjirou and Nezuko.

Tanjirou sighed as he charged Kyogai alongside Nezuko.

Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash

Tanjirou stared at the demon with a single slash, trying to lower the distance between him and Kyogai.

Unfortunately, a simple bong on the drum caused the room to shift and for Tanjirou to lose his balance, falling painfully over the counter.

Grunting, Tanjirou got up.

"I supposed I should have told you about that…" Nezuko mumbled, as she quickly adapted to the conditions.

Tanjirou sighed as he merely got up and eyed the demon,

"Alright, let's see what else he's capable of," Tanjirou mumbled.

"I've tried to get him off of the mansion, but to no avail," Nezuko explained.

Tanjirou sighed, "If the worse comes, we can focus on bringing the kids out since they've been reunited."

As the two continued their overall fighting against Kyogai, they had the problem of failing to get close to him.

"We're going to have to go with the momentum in which he changes the room," Tanjirou told Nezuko who nodded in agreement.

"I agree, we're going to need to use our breathing techniques to make it work," Nezuko explained further as she was debating over everything.

And so, as they stared at Kyogai, even the demon himself was confused.

"What are you both thinking?" The former demon moon asked, clearly confused.

"How to slice you down." Nezuko bluntly admitted as she once again charged at the demon.

Blood Demon Art: Drumming

"Rookie mistake!" Kyogai yelled out as he bonged his tsuzumi drums.

He then lashed out, and a massive slash mark began to manifest itself across the room the two were in.

Thankfully, both individuals dodged the attack.

"This demon is hard…" Nezuko commented.

"He will be, he's a former demon moon!" Tanjirou told his sister as they both got up. "Just follow the technique."

"I am yearning to see the power of a former blood moon..." Demon Tanjirou chuckled, as Tanjirou did his best to control the demon inside of him.

And so, Tanjirou eyed the demon, Kyogai, yet again and maneuvered himself closer toward him. Once he got close, and the demon bonged his drums, Tanjirou saw the chance.

Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel

Spinning himself in circles to preserve his momentum, Tanjirou successfully managed to hold himself together and slash the demon, Kyogai in the torso, breaking one of his drums, the one on his left shoulder.

Nezuko followed the same technique and sliced through Kyogai's arm, continuing to use her movement to then dodge any counterattack Kyogai could use.

"Gah! You bastard!" Kyogai exclaimed. "Now I can't use that!"

"Well, that's too bad," Tanjirou commented, as he continued his onslaught.

Kyogai, for his part, looked angrier, and thus looked at the slayers.

"You will regret this," Kyogai explained.

Blood Demon Art: Rapid Drumming

Within the span of a second, Kyogai had moved his hands so rapidly that Tanjirou couldn't tell where he was moving his hands. It was a struggle, and whilst he was trying to keep himself in balance, he eventually lose himself.

However, Nezuko wouldn't let this fall, and she took the chance, to strike him down now or never.

Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux

Nezuko was using the momentum of her technique to constantly swipe across Kyogai's body. Of course, it was difficult due to the constant change in the room structure, but she was hoping the constant movement she was making would help negate the demon art.

With a mighty swing, Nezuko had managed to cut Kyogai across his torso, slicing two of his tsuzumi drums. Kyogai at this point was angry and slashed at the tsuzumi drum, the severed one on his navel, which caused a 3-claw slash mark to appear on Nezuko's neck.

The girl yelled in shock and pain, and this caused Tanjirou to freak out.

"Nezuko!" Tanjirou exclaimed in shock, only for him to be hit by multiple slash marks across his torso and arms, causing him too to cough up blood.

Thankfully, the wound would close, but it was too slow. They were not regenerating as quickly as they were hoping.

"Why aren't we regenerating?" Tanjirou asked himself and Nezuko, as he was clearly confused as to why their wounds were healing.

"It may be because we're exhausted… We haven't slept nor eaten ever since the last mission." Nezuko thought.

Tanjirou sighed, "That would make sense. Without the energy to heal ourselves, we may find ourselves cut up and bleeding to the point of exhaustion…"

"I don't think we'll die, but rather be exhausted and be forced to rest. That means either lashing out for human blood or sleeping." Tanjirou theorized. "This could be a problem…"

Nezuko looked on, a bit apprehensive.

"Do we have the energy to take down this demon?" Nezuko asked her brother.

"I don't know…" Tanjirou told her back, "Either we'll have to evacuate with the siblings, and come back when we're better equipped, or defeat him swiftly and now."

"Very well." Was all Nezuko told her brother, as the two, with their injuries, continued their onslaught?

Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance

Water Breathing, Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow

Tanjirou and Nezuko knew that they had to give it their full out, and push past their limits, and so they did.

Nezuko bombarded Kyogai from the right, and Tanjirou to the left.

Kyogai, was clearly pissed that these two were continuing to pursue him.

Blood Demon Art: Rapid Drumming

"Just leave me alone!" Kyogai exclaimed in anger, as he began to rapidly bong the tsuzumi drums, trying to get the two demon slayers away from him.

"I'll give it to them, they're clearly stubborn and strong, but that doesn't mean I'll let them slay me!" Kyogai thought to himself, as he unleashed a new move he'd been working on.

"Let's see them fare against this new move! The one I've been working on to become a part of the Twelve Kizuki again!" Kyogai exclaimed as he clenched his hands.

Blood Demon Art: Sound Amplification of Drumming

As Kyogai continued to bong his tsuzumi drums, to both Nezuko and Tanjirou, the noises which the drums were amplified, and now Nezuko and Tanjirou were being blasted by the sounds of Kyogai's tsuzumi drums.

"Watch out!" Tanjirou's demon voice warned him, and before he knew it, he felt himself being bombarded with a ear banger of a noise.

"Argh!" Nezuko yelled in pain as she put her hands to her ears, whilst Tanjirou grunted, trying to focus on Kyogai's own neck.

"He's not giving up, no matter." Kyogai commented to Tanjirou, "Enjoy being deaf!"

He once again bonged the tsuzumi drum so loud, that it caused a pop, and Tanjirou was sent back as he also slashed his navel drum, causing Tanjirou to be flung back, alongside his hearing to be shot.

Tanjirou grunted, as he stared down Kyogai, or at least tried to, as he continued to rapidly bong his tsuzumi drums.

"Brother, I don't think it's worth it, we'll have to evacuate, and come back for him when we're stronger…" Nezuko admitted whilst Tanjirou shook his head.

"I refuse to." Tanjirou shook his head, as he got up. He had unexpectedly talked louder, and he knew why. He couldn't really hear the outside noise, but that didn't matter to him. He had to finish this demon off.

He was temporarily deaf. No doubt if he was a human, it could cause permanent ear damage and hearing loss, but since he was a demon, it could recover.

Panting, and sighing, Tanjirou looked down at his sister. The neck and leg wounds were still there, but she had managed to land a good couple of strikes on Kyogai.

"Nezuko, protect the kids, I'll finish him off, right here, and right now," Tanjirou told Nezuko, who seemed very worried for her brother.

While her neck and leg were still healing, Tanjirou was in a worse condition than her, especially since his hearing was damaged from Kyogai's drumming sound.

"Are you sure?" Nezuko asked, as she too was panting. "I want to help.

"What?" Tanjirou asked his sister as he eyed Kyogai once again.

"Right, I forgot your hearing was gone. I'll repeat what I said..." Nezuko reiterated to Tanjirou. She wanted to slay a demon as well. Even if she helped, she wanted to have the very same results as Tanjirou.

"I will defeat you, and you will tell me everything about Muzan." Tanjirou told himself as he once again closed the distance between himself and Kyogai.

"Nezuko, can you do me one more favour?" Tanjirou asked.

"Yes, what is it?" Nezuko asked. Unfortunately, Tanjirou's own ears were so damaged by the sheer noise that he was unable to hear what Nezuko was saying.

"Nezuko, can you speak through this? I cannot hear you, my ears are damaged for now." Tanjirou explained through his mind, hoping she could understand him. She knew he would ask him that.

"Yeah, I can hear you, and sure. What is the favour you need me to do?" Nezuko asked her brother.

"I need you to cut the arms off of Kyogai. If we can do that, we can prevent him from hitting his drums repeatedly, or at least stall for time." Tanjirou explained.

"Are you sure that'll work?" Nezuko asked her brother, and he nodded.

"I'll make sure it works." Was all Tanjirou told Nezuko. "If not, then I will be the coverup for you to finish him off."

Nezuko sighed, eyeing the nervous kids, "Just remain here for a bit longer, alright?"

Both the siblings nodded as they hovered over, making sure they would be safe, as Nezuko once again entered the fray.

"Which part of this do you realize, you'll never learn!" Kyogai angrily told the two. As he once again went for his drums

However, before he could, a blur appeared.

Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide

Before Kyogai could even have the chance to strike down on his drums, he found both of his arms severed by Nezuko.

"Gah! You bastard!" Kyogai exclaimed in shock as he felt his limbs healing, albeit slowly. He tried to attack Nezuko, only for her to back off, and have a new individual go on the offensive.

Water Breathing, Fourth Form, Modified: Flashing Tsunami Dance

Total Concentration – Water Breathing, Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow

Tanjirou took the opportunity to slash more of the demon apart, and as he breathed in properly, adjusting himself to the breathing constant as he eyed Kyogai in the eye.

All the while, Nezuko bombarded Kyogai with slashes and stabs across his body, aiming at each of the drums so that he would be helpless. His blood demon art would no longer work.

He easily cut through the body of Kyogai, the demon was now incapable of using his blood demon arts with his hands.

By contrast, Nezuko was destroying the drums apart, as Kyogai's figure was missing his lower torso and arms.

Kyogai was shocked, and for the first time, he began to freak out, trying to reattach his limbs.

However, for Tanjirou, as he was breathing in his constant form, all the while being deaf for now, his vision flickered again.

Tanjirou could have sworn he could have seen the insides of Kyogai's body, specifically his veins, and bones, but that was all he saw for the brief second his vision seemingly flashed before his very eyes. It was in the course of while he was blinking.

However, to Nezuko, she noticed that Tanjirou's eyes and jagged scar had turned reddish orange, almost yellowish temporarily.

"What is going on?" Tanjirou asked himself. Despite this, he continued breathing, and using that brief moment he had of what appeared to be see-through vision, he cut through Kyogai's entire body, from his left hip to his right shoulder. Kyogai was now a cut-up portion of what his entire body was made of.

Kyogai panted. Without the marechi, his energy wouldn't be refilled, and this regeneration would be slowed to a halt. He was a former lower moon, but even then, he could only go so long before needing to eat.

And with the boy preventing him from at least reattaching his limbs, he couldn't do anything.

"This is my time!" Nezuko yelled, as with a mighty swipe, was able to land the killing blow to Kyogai's neck, ending her tsunami dance.

"H-How… How did you beat me so easily…" Kyogai asked himself, but it was clear that he was eying Tanjirou.

The boy, who merely was still deaf, as his healing was shot from the lack of energy, now needed Nezuko to communicate with him.

"He's asking you how you defeated him so quickly," Nezuko told her brother.

"It's simple. Since your blood demon art requires you to use your hands, it was as simple as removing them to negate it." Tanjirou explained as he approached Kyogai.

Kyogai was merely shocked at the sudden turn of events. One moment, he had seemingly managed to remove these two away from him. The next moment, in a single move, they had managed to subdue him.

Was he always this weak? Kyogai cursed himself.

For Tanjirou and Nezuko, they both could smell the regret in the demon as he begun to ponder everything. In the end, it was futile. As much as he tried, he had failed to reform himself into a new lower moon.

He was defeated by a mere boy and girl, who had successfully prevented him from consuming a marechi. All he could do was curse his life, and everything. He couldn't even be mad at the two who killed him. He knew the risks of what he did when he was going after a marechi.

"That blood demon art of his… Was incredible…" Nezuko mumbled as she was panting a bit, tired.

"The siblings…" Tanjirou mumbled as he went to make sure they were alright. Thankfully, it seemed that they were. Even then Tanjirou would have smelled if anything happened, especially with his sensitive smell to the marechi.

"Did… Did that kid say my blood demon art was incredible?" Kyogai asked as he felt his body failing to regenerate.

Nezuko nodded, "He did."

To Nezuko's unexpected surprise, the demon began to smile. "T-That's a relief."

"Can you tell us anything about Muzan?" Nezuko asked Kyogai, whose eyes widened.

"Why would I tell you?" Kyogai asked.

"It's very simple. Aren't you mad at him for denying you a place in the twelve kizuki?" Nezuko asked.

Kyogai nodded, "Of course, but do you know of the curse?"

"What curse?" Nezuko asked.

Kyogai sighed, "Why do I have to tell the both of you… If we say his name, our body explodes and dies!"

Nezuko's eyes widened at that, before she chuckled, "Nice try. Now tell us the real reason." She said pointing her blade to Kyogai.

"I-I'm serious!" Kyogai exclaimed. "I have no reason to lie!"

Nezuko rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry, but this is something I cannot believe. What else can you tell me?"

Kyogai looked a bit distressed, "He can look into our eyes!"

"Muzan?" Nezuko asked, to which Kyogai nodded.

Nezuko sighed, "What else can you tell me? What about the current lower moons, huh?"

Kyogai continued, "One of them is in a mountain, with a pretend family. I cannot really tell you if they are accurate now, because lower moons come and go. As for Upper Moons, they usually stay."

"Very well, but what about this saying his name causes you to blow up?" Nezuko asked.

"His cells infect our body… If we ever say his name as a form of rebellion against him, the cells self-implode, and with that, our body!" Kyogai exclaimed.

Nezuko sighed, clearly not believing it. Eventually, she took off her mask to show Kyogai her demonic features.

"I too am a demon, and yet I can say Muzan's name just fine," Nezuko explained.

"H-How! Don't show yourself! He may see you through my eyes!" Kyogai exclaimed in nervousness. Nezuko quickly put back on her mask and eventually asked him again.

"Are you lying about Muzan?" Nezuko asked.

Kyogai shook his head, "No! Though he usually likes to look through the eyes of his current twelve kuzuki's. Not his former or the demons below. He has no time for the common demon like us."

"Is that so?" Nezuko asked. "Well then, you know where he used to be."

Kyogai backtracked, "Well, he may have moved…"

Nezuko shook her head, "I can tell you are lying, you know."

Kyogai panicked, "I-I can't…"

"Why…" Kyogai mumbled.

"I'm sorry, but whilst your blood demon art was incredible, as my brother had said, we both agree that we cannot allow you to kill innocent humans," Nezuko spoke.

"Indeed." Tanjirou agreed. It took time, but some of his injuries had healed, including his hearing.

"I cannot forgive you for what you did to everyone and to the humans you've killed, however." He then clasped his hands together, "I can only pray you are human and have a better life in the next one." Tanjirou spoke.

Kyogai's eyes widened, and before he knew it, Nezuko decapitated Kyogia.

As the two wished the former moon a better life, they eventually left the mansion. They patted the siblings, telling them the demon was dealt with.

Eventually, the two brought the siblings out of the mansion. By all means, it was a job well done for both of them.

"Alright, no be safe and don't be around strange places, alright?" Tanjirou asked the siblings who then nodded.

"That's good! Now see you!" With that, Tanjirou and Nezuko were on their way. The siblings were even nice enough to give Tanjirou some human food that they had. Some small snacks, that they apparently found in the mansion, and gave it.

It helped Tanjirou immensely with gathering his energy back. Unfortunately, Nezuko still needed some energy, and thus she was to sleep soon.

As the two began to leave the mansion, they were interrupted by a sudden, but severe call from the crow. Tanjirou was carrying a sleeping Nezuko on his back, before a crow came down, frantically.

"Caw! Head back to Urokodaki's house! Reports of a strong demon attacking Urokodaki! Giyu Tomioka, Tanjirou Kamado, and Nezuko Kamado are to head back immediately! This is an emergency!"

"What…" Tanjirou mumbled, his eyes widened, as he immediately began running making sure his sister was on his back. It was currently night, so they did not have much time before the demon attacking Urokodaki's house was to flee.

And so, as fast as they could, ignoring the weight of Nezuko on his back, and using the food and energy he had been given to make his way towards Urokodaki's as fast.

Upon the way, Tanjirou noticed Giyu also making his way back. Once he was close enough to the house, he could smell everything.

"Giyu!" Tanjirou exclaimed, and to his shock, he saw a rather concerned and stressed-out Giyu.

"Have you two just gotten here?" Giyu asked, and Tanjirou nodded.

As the two continued to get closer to Urokodaki's house, Tanjirou began to smell something. This act, Giyu noticed from Tanjirou.

"What do you notice, boy?" Giyu asked, clearly a bit hesitant to ask.

"Blood… That's not good!" Tanjirou exclaimed as he quickly began to run into the house. "Blood! Let's go Giyu!" Tanjirou ran as fast as he could, and Giyu was not too far behind him.

When Tanjirou saw Giyu passing by him, he realized he was using the total concentration constant.

"I have to push my limits! Even if my body is tired from using it to get to the mountain! Just a bit more!" Tanjirou exclaimed in his head, "Nezuko, please wake up, Urokodaki needs us!"

"Zzzzz." Nezuko was fast asleep.

To his surprise, he managed to catch up to Giyu, and the smell of blood became stronger.

Tanjirou began to have bad memories of the last time he returned to a house, and smelled blood.

He was hoping, what he was thinking, was not true.

Unfortunately, it was…

Giyu's lack of movement when he opened the door, and the overall condition of the house, said it all.

"G-Giyu?" Tanjirou mildly asked, also terrified to look, but seeing the reaction, and everything, Tanjirou knew what happened. Taking in a deep breath, he investigated the house, that was badly damaged.

Only, to find the broken body of Urokodaki. The area around his left eye had been removed, and both of his legs were missing. His left arm was severed, and he was bleeding out through his chest

Tanjirou could smell the angst in Giyu, the anger, the rage, everything.

"NO!" Giyu suddenly yelled out. It wasn't a scream of rage... Nor a scream of sadness and loss... It was a scream of desperation...

"M-Master! U-Urokodaki!" Giyu yelled out once again as he ran towards Urokodaki's bloodied, beaten body. He tried to find any semblance of life coming out of his mentor's own body.

"No, no, no, NO, NO!" Giyu yelled out, as he was trying to perform CPR on Urokodaki. "Come on! Breathe!" Giyu begged.

"Breaaathhhe!" Giyu yelled once again... All the while, Tanjirou stood there, his eyes widened at the body of Urokodaki.

"How could this happen..." Tanjirou mumbled in his mind, as he was merely in shock. All he could remember was the flashback of his own family's bloodied figure as well...

There was no doubt in Tanjirou's mind... That the demon responsible was very strong... Not because Urokodaki was a demon slayer or a Hashira. but because of the sheer injuries that Urokodaki suffered.

"COME ON UROKODAKI! STAY WITH ME! PLEASE!" Giyu begged his life for his mentor to stay alive. In Giyu's own mind, he had to keep Urokodaki alive.

"Those wounds... Those are wounds from a katana... But the smell is definitely a demon... A strong one at that..." Tanjirou mumbled.

Giyu had begun to spend more of his energy to CPR, still trying to get Urokodaki's heartbeat to work.

"KOCHO!" Giyu yelled out. This surprised Tanjirou, for why he was calling for some random person he didn't even know about. "PLEASE! SOMEONE! ANYONE PLEASE!" Giyu begged, but in the end, after seventeen minutes, Giyu was heavily breathing.

"Giyu...I think..." Tanjirou looked down. It was something Tanjirou himself didn't want to admit, but it was something he had to accept.

"NO! HE'S NOT DEAD!" Giyu yelled at Tanjirou's face, as he kept himself focused on trying to clean off Urokodaki's wounds and get his heartbeat going.

Actually... His heartbeat was actually working... Albeit, it was very weak.

However, Tanjirou knew it was futile. Urokodaki's body was simply too damaged to keep stable. Unless Giyu had managed to get some professional medical health, Urokodaki wouldn't survive the trip to a medical area...

And as much as Tanjirou knew Giyu was trying his best, he knew deep down, Giyu too knew it was Urokodaki's time.

Giyu was beginning to have tears coming out of his eyes as he was still trying to save his mentor.

"Please! Don't leave me too! Don't leave me alone in this world! Please!" Giyu continued to beg for some miracle to happen. He wanted some miracle to save his mentor and the remaining family he would consider.

"I can't be alone... I'll be all alone..." Giyu mumbled this time, as Tanjirou could smell exhaustion from Giyu's body.

Twenty-four minutes into this whole scene, Giyu collapsed, as he placed his hands on his forehead, and cried.

"NO!" Giyu sobbed, shocking Tanjirou... "NO! NO! NOOOO!" Giyu yelled in pain.

This was the cry of someone who was losing what little he had left. This was the cry of a man who was being pushed into a lonely hole...

"Giyu... I'm... I'm truly sorry..." Tanjirou wished he could do more. He wished he could have truly made a difference, to save Urokodaki's life. He wished h was stronger... He wished he was able to protect those who were helping him...

"Why am I so weak... I'm a demon and am able to keep up with the demons themselves in almost every way, shape, and form, and yet I'm not even able to protect a teacher who was clearly stronger than me..." Tanjirou sighed. He couldn't believe what had happened.

Giyu, meanwhile was going through a literal traumatic experience, and Tanjirou too, was seeing someone he cared for, traumatize himself. Specifically, how close he was to Urokodaki. He remembered the help Urokodaki had helped him.

"Urokodaki... Within the course of months, you have been able to teach me more about demon slaying, than what my parents had done in over my entire year... And you didn't even need to abuse me for every failure I did... You... Were a better teacher, and guardian for me, when I needed one..." Tanjirou bowed down, as he too began to let some tears out, for his fallen teacher.

Giyu... He was too traumatized for Tanjirou to help. All he could do, was let Giyu cry and let his system out. The poor guy was already going through a lot, and seeing him like this, broke Tanjirou's heart.

He was angry... Angry that he couldn't protect the very mentor who had taught him... The worst part was... Tanjirou knew Giyu was having worse thoughts...

This had been Giyu's mentor and only remaining close family he had left, and now he was gone... Who was Giyu going to go to when he was depressed?

Who was Giyu going to go to when he needed to talk? Who was Giyu going to go to when he needed some form of break?

Tanjirou shivered to see what would happen to Giyu.

And so, Tanjirou made a promise to himself, Nezuko, and Giyu. Even though the feat of tragedy, Tanjirou would remain strong... He was the eldest brother, and it was what he did best.

He did the same for the siblings when his father died and when he started providing for the family, by burning and selling coal... He could help Giyu...

Even if Urokodaki was someone who cared for him... Even if Tanjirou would never get the time to mourn and process the deaths and trauma he faced... Even if Tanjirou never got a break, he would still work, for he had to care for people going through worse than him...

As he looked around, he could grab a sense of how hopeless it was.

"Giyu... The damage to Urokodaki... It came from a katana." Tanjirou revealed.

Giyu's eyes widened, as he eyed a vicious stab that seemingly ripped Urokodaki's body in half, and he gritted his teeth. "To think a demon slayer... A traitor did this-"

"There's a demon's smell, Giyu... A very strong one..." Tanjirou mumbled.

At this, Giyu's eyes widened. A demon who can use a breathing style perhaps... This was unheard of and very tragic.

He sighed, as he looked down, letting more tears come out, as he failed to keep them concealed.

Tanjirou, himself, could also smell the sheer amount of blood. Some of it wasn't even Urokodaki's, but rather, a demon. A very strong demon, that smelled similar to the demon he briefly fought with right after the Final Selection situation.

"It must've been one of those Upper Moon demons they were talking about…" Tanjirou thought as he was getting very emotional.

He looked to Giyu in concern. Right now, he was smelling the person who felt that they lost everything. A person who had lost and was becoming full of hatred. A hatred, that needed to be filled somewhere. Whether this would bring Giyu down a path of hatred against demons, Tanjirou wasn't sure.

Giyu lowered his head and gritted his teeth. He was getting fueled by rage, and no doubt, was confused and angry. Tanjirou worried for him and was clearly wanting to do something.

The sad thing is, Tanjirou had experienced this before, too. His family…

He had experienced this tragedy again, and this time, all he could do, was stare at Giyu's expression. The poor guy seemed devastated and seemed to be losing it.

Just like with his family, he had returned home, to find his family dead from a demon attack. Giyu never talked about his family, but to see his mentor dead like that would have shot him mentally. Tanjirou knew this.

Tanjirou put a hand on Giyu's shoulder, silently telling him he would help however he could. But even Tanjirou knew that whatever he could do to help Giyu, was limited.

"Giyu…?" Tanjirou asked Giyu softly, trying to get him out of his trance. "L-Let's get you away, I-I'll bury the body."

"No," Giyu spoke at last. When Tanjirou could see the eyes in Giyu, there was no emotion. Tanjirou couldn't smell any emotion. He couldn't smell the hope in Giyu anymore. Any small semblance, like the one he showed when he had found them as demons, was gone. "I'll bury him…"

Tanjirou could only look at Giyu, "Please… Let me help you…"

"No. I cannot…" Giyu mumbled.

"Please… Giyu… He was my mentor and teacher too…" Tanjirou told Giyu softly, which seemed to have gotten through him.

"I… Alright… fine…" Giyu said at last. Tanjirou could see the hopelessness in Giyu. Also, by smelling it. He was seriously worried for Giyu.

"Giyu…" Tanjirou put a hand on Giyu, "Don't run away from people… Okay?"

"What am I supposed to do? When everyone I care about is killed by demons? The only reason you and Nezuko are alive and my friends may be because you both turned to demons." Giyu theorized. "Why am I still living?"

"Why can't I die like them?" Giyu cried out softly.

Tanjirou's heart broke for Giyu after hearing that. And the reason it did, was because he had been there before... He had wished he had died alongside his family too...

"Regardless of that, you must learn to live your life. Honour Urokodaki's memory. He was an amazing pillar right?" Tanjirou asked, "They wouldn't want you to die after everything."

Giyu nodded, clearly feeling a bit of insecurity about the topic of a pillar.

"Well, then be the best pillar you could be, for him, alright?" Tanjirou told Giyu, who looked down.

All Giyu could respond was, "I shouldn't be a pillar… it should've been him… I don't deserve to be alive, or with the rest of the Hashira…"

For a second, Tanjirou could see a small amount of tears coming from Giyu. In a bid of wanting to make him feel better, and by smelling his state of mind, all Tanjirou could do was hug Giyu, after softly putting Nezuko down to sleep, of course.

"He smells… so broken…Giyu… What have you gone through to be like this… Why do the hardest-working people get trampled on so much… Why do the kindest people suffer the most…" Tanjirou was asking so many questions, "What else did you have to witness, Giyu…?"

Sakonji Urokodaki… was dead. Despite being a former demon slayer, despite being Tanjirou, Giyu, and Nezuko's own teacher. He too, met the same fate as Tanjirou's family.

He too, met the same fate as Giyu's sister. He too, met the same fate as Giyu's only friends.

All because of demons…

Tanjirou was shocked.

Giyu, was devastated.

Nezuko… Was sleeping.


A.N / Well… That end was kind of hard to write. I had to make sure Giyu's reaction to Urokodaki's death was sincere and believable. For those wondering what's the point of Urokodaki's death, we will figure it out soon, however, like I said, the entire plot changes, as well as the characters. In particular, we will see a different part of Giyu, Tanjirou, and Nezuko in this story now. As for the demon that killed Urokodaki, it'll obviously be an Upper Moon, as they are designed to be able to kill a Hashira when a Lower Moon cannot.

Also, I know I mixed up the arcs a bit, as Tanjirou and Nezuko were originally meant to meet Tamayo and Yushiro before going into the mansion, and meeting Zenitsu and Inosuke, but again, Tanjirou and Nezuko technically got there a bit sooner.

That doesn't mean Zenitsu and Inosuke don't meet, they actually are with two other demon slayers, and they still have some demons to clear from the mansion. They just won't be fighting the former lower moon, Kyogai.

However, next chapter, we will see two major shifts in the story, or two major plots, that I think will be fun to write: First, Tanjirou and Nezuko meeting Tamayo and Yushiro, and the aftermath, of Giyu's thoughts, and the Hashira's reaction to this. Btw, and this is something I don't mind sharing, but I plan that one of the Upper Moon's is the culprit, though you probably have an idea who the culprit is.


Character Profile:


Giyu Tomioka: Male, 18 years old.

- Status: Alive, Human.

- Height: 5'10" (178cm)

- Weight: 155Ibs

Sakonji Urokodaki: Male, 50 years old.

- Status: Dead, Human.

o CoD: Murdered by Upper Moon demon.

- Height: 5'8 (172cm)

- Weight: 140Ibs

Kiyoshi: Male, 18 years old.

- Status: Alive, Human.

Shoichi: Male, 16 years old.

- Status: Alive, Human.

Teruko: Female, 14 years old.

- Status: Alive, Human.

Kyogai: Male, unknown age.

- Status: Dead, Demon.

- Height: 5'11" (180cm)

- Weight: 174Ibs


Abilities: Blood Demon Arts


Kyogai:

Drumming: Containing 6 drums on different parts of his body, Kyogai can manipulate his surroundings.

Rapid Drumming: Can move his hands at superhuman speeds to quickly dizzy his foes.

Sound Amplification: Can slam his drums with his hands with such sound it can reach high-frequency intensities that may rupture the eardrums of humans and demons, causing deafness and hearing loss for anyone too close to Kyogai.

- Kyogai is immune to all of his own blood demon arts.


Abilities: Breathing Styles


Tanjirou Kamado:

Progress in Demon Slayer Mark and Transparent World

Able to perform total concentration breathing, constantly, and involuntarily, but it gets messed up when he shows a lot of emotions.

Giyu Tomioka:

He appears to know more breathing styles, at least modified, as he plans to create more.