Grimm Slaying Blade
Chapter 1
[Beginning Anew]
It is through ingenuity and resourcefulness in which man is able to stand tall against forces well beyond their measure. And it is in conflict where mankind employs their ingenuity and resourcefulness to their fullest. But with struggles, mankind learns lessons and achieves results.
But for there to be conflict, there must be an opposing force. And what better adversary for mankind to struggle against than those beyond their means?
Monsters. Demons. Prowlers of the night. Common names placed on those that go beyond normal understanding. Titles given to those who seek to harm the livelihood of man, whether through deliberation or circumstance.
Grimm. Wicked creatures created and left by their creator for one simple purpose: Destruction. Their simple hatred for those of the light fueling their instincts and purpose.
Demons. Those who have lost their humanity, unable to ever walk amongst the light of day again. Now forced to devour their once previous fellows of man for power and their desires.
Both scourges in their own right, nonetheless, both enemies of mankind. With such foes at hand, war was inevitable, and battles for 'peace' would occur. Through these battles, man fought hard and shed blood for their ideals. Many died, and countless more will follow suit. They fight and fight, until only one side is left victorious.
But through these conflicts, mankind gave birth to guardians who would protect all that is precious. Chosen ones who would lead them to a better tomorrow, utilizing their talents and strengths to find purchase in victory.
"But there will be no victory in strength."
Such a notion was proven with terrifying accuracy. Mankind was never perfect. Even their strengths had their limits. And even chosen ones could stumble and fall.
Whether it be a swordsman who failed in his life's purpose.
Or an ancient wizard stuck in a millennia-long feud who struggles to even push for a stalemate.
Man would be hard-pressed to grasp victory against such foes, so both wars raged on.
But one war seemed more hopeless than the other. The shadow war within Remnant proved to last much longer than expected, their chosen one continuing to bumble in the dark, along with his allies. So long as fear clouded his mind, unification would be just out of his reach.
The God of Light knew this very well, and so did his brother. For this war to end, the side of light must find their way out of the dark. The light at the end of the tunnel lies ahead of them, but some are afraid to take that first step, lest they risk bumping into walls.
Perhaps, divine intervention may be needed. Perhaps a spark was needed to spur them toward victory. Or perhaps...
"Victory lies within a simpler, more honest soul."
If one had to describe Yoshiwara in its current state, the words "Chaotic", " Ruined", or "Destroyed" would be accurate descriptions. Who could blame them when explosions suddenly sprouted out everywhere, with flames eating away at flattened buildings and bodies while a thunderous streak of lightning zipped around over it all?
The Entertainment District was in utter shambles from the raging battle between the Slayers and Demons, inflicting havoc upon the surrounding buildings and streets that had once been filled with lust and avarice. All that remained were the burning and charred husks of what used to be houses and brothels—homes of the Yoshiwara citizens and the most beautiful and desired Oirans.
The once bright and busy streets were now a shadow of their former self, most likely to never recover their once active nightlife from this unexpected calamity that had arrived like a sudden storm. Fortunately, all the civilians in the District had been evacuated and kept far away from the ongoing fight.
At least, the ones that hadn't already died during the ensuing conflict.
Two opponents continuously engaged one another as they traveled around the district at high speeds, their blades clashing against each other as they both aimed to slash and stab at their enemy in this deadly dance. Their duel carried them through another building, the two left unhindered from the sudden collision as they kept up their momentum, further causing destruction in their wake.
A swing of the man's cleaver released several more explosions that rocked the area in flashy clouds of smoke—further breaking down the already collapsing structures, as a swing of the Demon's kama sent out toxic blood sickles that had to be immediately deflected—each blood blade proving fatal to whoever would be struck by it.
Their struggle traveled further down the streets of the district, leaving nothing but ruined buildings and raging fires that surrounded them in their climactic battle, trails of explosions and sparks following their every step.
But one other quickly trailed the two.
To the side, a boy in a checkered, black-and-green haori followed alongside them to the best of his ability, sprinting as fast as he could to keep up with their high-speed skirmish; speeding past the myriad of rubble, flames, and smoke that engulfed the District.
With critical and keen eyes observing the two combatants, Tanjiro couldn't help but be left in awe at their immense strength. Even after four months of constant training since their first encounter with an Upper Moon, there was still that massive gap Tanjiro could feel between him and them; a wall that he couldn't yet pass as he heard the sounds of fighting ahead of it.
He still wasn't strong enough...
This battle and his previous fight against Daki had proven that.
So many innocent lives had been lost because of these two Demons. Lives that were cut short. Lives that suffered in their final moments. Lives that could never come back. The way these Demons so carelessly trampled on life sickened him to the core and made his blood boil ever so furiously.
He wasn't strong enough to save them, just as he wasn't strong enough to save the Flame Hashira back then. He couldn't help but remember his helplessness, then. He was a liability, another helpless person out of the hundreds on that train to protect. How he wished he could have saved Rengoku, but he was far too weak to be of any help. He only would have held him back.
But it was different this time.
He wasn't a liability! He wasn't helpless! He wasn't holding Uzui back! He had a role to fulfill!
It was amazing that Uzui was holding his own against Upper Moon Six, but Tanjiro knew that this wouldn't be enough to beat the Upper Moon. With the poison running through the Hashira's system and his left hand missing, it would only be a matter of time until the Sound Hashira reached his limit first and succumbed to the inexhaustible physiology Gyutaro had. And with the Demon on the unrelenting offense, Uzui could only defend, unable to make a decisive strike.
Which left Tanjiro to make that decisive strike.
He had to do it! Uzui was counting on him! He'll jump over that wall! Breach that gap!
So before Uzui reached his limit...
He had to cut off that Demon's neck!
Tanjiro skidded to a halt as he turned, then quickly rushed in towards the two combatants for a chance to jump in. He readied himself as he lined himself up behind the two, his Nichirin Katana primed and ready.
His breathing became increasingly labored as he gripped his blade tighter, ignoring the pain that wracked through his injured body as ashes and smoke brushed against his face. He waited carefully for his moment.
No more second chances! Make it count, Tanjiro!
Uzui's Nichirin Cleavers held strong against Gyutaro's Flesh Kamas, the weapons clanging against each other with sparks emitting from each impact. Matching the Demon blow for the blow was an incredibly risky maneuver, but with his Musical Score technique, he was able to read the Upper Moon's every move as if he were reading a sheet of music, allowing him to keep up even with the loss of a hand. But the poison's effects were clear; he wouldn't be able to aim for Gyutaro's neck and end this himself.
Suddenly, the chain that connected Uzui's cleavers was severed when it was used to block a strike, leaving him reeling back and wide open.
Gyutaro quickly took advantage of this opening, his kama hooking itself right into Uzui's side, injecting even more poison into the Sound Hashira—but in doing so, the Demon was unable to avoid the Hashira's retaliating slash that cut off his left arm.
But in return, Uzui received a deep slice that traveled down the left side of his face, scarring and ruining his eye. He could feel the poison entering his face and into his bloodstream, his vision becoming hazier and his heart beating faster. He didn't think he'd last much longer.
"MISTER UZUI!" Tanjiro called out to him in distress.
Now wasn't the time to be worrying about him! He couldn't have the young Slayer getting distracted now at such a crucial moment.
Even as his body slowly shut down from the poison, he still had enough strength to push for one final attack.
So with a sudden burst of power and speed, "DON'T STOP!!" he lunged forward and ran his cleaver through Gyutaro's chest, lifting the Demon off his feet and exposing him in the air, "JUMP!!!" presenting Tanjiro an opportunity to finally cleave the Upper Moon's neck.
Having heard the command loud and clear, Tanjiro sprung up into the air above Uzui and Gyutaro, his haori fluttering wildly in the wind as his blade was primed by his side. He winded his sword back and came down in preparation to swing.
But faster than Tanjiro could react in time, Gyutaro brought his kama upwards and stuck itself through the bottom of the young Slayer's jaw, the tip sticking out from inside the boy's mouth.
Time seemed to come to a crawl as Tanjiro felt the coppery taste of blood touching his tongue, feeling the deadly poison coursing through his mouth and quickly traversing throughout his body. The rapid thumping of his heart reached his ears as his body worked overtime to try and resist the poison.
He began to feel more numb and felt his body become heavier than ever, but his gaze never left Gyutaro's neck; the weak point of every Demon.
He pushed through the pain, the poison, and the fear; he raised his sword into the air, its tip glistening in the light of the surrounding embers.
'Even if it costs me my life, I will behead you!'
He's not giving up! He'll cut off his head no matter what!
With every ounce of strength he had in his arms, he brought his katana down in the blink of an eye. The jet-black blade cut through the air and slammed against Gyutaro's neck.
Pressed firmly and pushed against the Demon's skin, the sword wouldn't budge!
It was hard! Just like last time, Gyutaro's neck was too tough to cut through—the blade being unable to so much as leave a scratch. It felt like hitting a steel wall!
This isn't working! At this rate, it'll end up the same as last time! His blade will get repelled and Gyutaro will recover!
He can't let that happen again! Uzui gave him another chance and put his faith in him, he won't fail! Not again!
'I can't do it with just my arms! I have to slash him with every ounce of strength I have! From the top of my head to the tip of my toes! Use it all!'
The doubts that filled his thoughts passed through his mind in a flash. Could he really do this? What would happen if he couldn't cut his head off? What would happen to Nezuko and the others if he failed...?
'Ignore it!'
His body screamed for him to stop. Previous fractures and injuries were further exacerbated by the strain he was exerting on himself. The poison and his exhaustion not helping as it all dulled his actions and thoughts. It was too much...
'Hang on!'
Striking with all his might won't be enough! Even when Gyutaro was weakened with the Wisteria poison he still couldn't cut through his neck. Even with every bit of strength in his body, it's not enough!
'One hundred times that strength! Summon it by force!'
His body temperature skyrocketed! His heart rate rose immensely! The searing sensation on top of his forehead revealed a flame-like mark burning itself over his scar. His hair ruffled wildly in the air as if it were igniting into a fiery blaze.
"HHRRUUUAAAAGGGHHH!!!" A cry from the depths of his gut escaped his lips as he pushed forth, his blade finally inching its way through the Upper Moon's neck, cutting halfway through.
This was it! Don't stop! Keep going!
'Set your heart ablaze!'
A solar flame erupted from the edge of his blade, his bones creaked in agony, his veins popped out from underneath his skin, his eyes rolled back into his head, and all his pain, doubts, and senses seemed to disappear for an instant as he pushed further and further.
"UWWOOOAAAAAAGGGHHH!!!"
*SCHLK!* *SWOOSH!*
The world was bathed in luminescent orange light as his sword arrived on his other side, having fulfilled its course through Gyutaro's neck.
Decapitating the Upper Moon.
And for a moment, everything went silent. The dancing flames and ashes that surrounded them, the smoke that enraptured the skies, the collapsed buildings and debris that fell flat, and the cracked streets below them. None made a single noise as the heads of Gyutaro and Daki were sent into the air, the starless sky and the full moon as their backdrop while dying embers encompassed them.
And as their heads fell to the ground, so did Tanjiro, dropping ungracefully onto his face and stomach with a rough grunt.
Right next to the headless body of Gyutaro.
But even after finally succeeding in beheading Upper Moon Six, there was no time to celebrate or rest. With great struggle, Tanjiro managed to wobble onto his knees and sit upright.
His insides churned as globs of blood continued seeping out of his mouth. Quick and hasty gasps for air were made as he felt his throat constrict itself, his lungs unable to properly take in oxygen, and his heart beating abnormally as it fought to function. The poison was circulating too fast.
'Th-The poison... Deal with it with your breathing!'
He struggled to gain even the slightest bit of oxygen with his ragged breaths. Uneven amounts of air entered his throat, but even more blood came out. His vision began to become hazier, the world around him becoming darker and inkier as the poison continued running its course.
'S-Slow down the poison as much as you can!'
A short length away from him, he spotted the battered Uzui slowly getting up and turning his attention towards him, a desperate look on his face as his complexion paled, a panicked gait towards his movements. Uzui began shouting at him, but Tanjiro's ears could barely pick up what the man was trying to tell him.
"̼̲̘̣͉͆̾K͍͆̔a̺͇̮͕̺m̸̟̱͎̩͓̲͍͒ą̼̟̤̣̞͊̃ͯͦͮͨdͩ͌̃̉̇ͮͦo̒ͧ!̘͔̜̦̯͎͎͐̎̐ͣ̇ͧ͡ ̯̱̩̯̾ͬ͘Gͮ̒ͧ͒͞ḙͥͦ͋t͚̫̍̈́ͯͩͪ͑̚ ̻ͤ̽ͣǔ̧̠͖̮̮͓͛ͥ̃p̠̗͔̽̑̊̓͋ͦ̕ͅͅ!̞̝̭̯̹̖̥͋̍ͥͦ̽ͩ ̶̮̃ͦI̶̮̔̾͋̉ͭt̫̼̭̟̩̻͕ͦͦ͢'̖̀s̷͓̦̮ͩͣͤ̋ͅ ̘̲͉̄̓͐̌̓n͙̺̹͎͔͐ͥ͑ͭo̸̞͙ͨť̆̽͑̀̾̈ ̲̟̝̥̃͑͜o̟̲͚̩̣̝̿̚̚v̨̞̹͓͎̞̮ͭͬͦ̚e̶̯̦̪͕r̛͙͔͙̎̓̆̊ ̝͚̥̲̲̦̔̇̍̅̎ͥͬy̬͇̲̰̱̌̎̽ͩēͧ͒t̺̭̲͚͂ͅ!̼̣͙̱̌̄̏ͧͅ"̷̯̱̝̾̐ͬ
'What... What's he saying...?'
Tanjiro's body fought to stay upright, weakly swaying from side to side as he tried to listen to Uzui's muffled words, the poison impeding his hearing as his senses and organs continued shutting down. Did he fail to cut off the Demon's head after all? Why else would the Hashira be panicking so visibly?
'Uzui is...'
"̰͇̺͡R̙̼͙̖ͣ̅̉̅ͤ͗̚u̦̝̯͗̅ͭ͛ͩ̚̚n͐!̶ͮͥ̀͊͑̋̌ ̢͈͉̦̣̞͍̼̋Y͍͖̓ö́ͬ̀͐͑̈́̓͏̜̝͇̣̟̖u̦̭̘̐ͥ̊'͑ͩ͑̑͌ͦr̳̪̼̤̫͖̉ͧé̵̮̟̲͖̥̜̌͂ͅ ̫̤̞̙̔̈̋̉̇́t̜̮͚̲̣͠ͅo̷̲̮͖̙͛̍̋͛̉ơ͎̱̬̒ͮ ̦ͬc͇̜̯͖͚̱̫̊̍̂̄ͪl͈̱̝̤̗ͅo̟ͧͅșͧ̃ͪ͛e͔̱̗̲̪̙ͦ̽̉͂̈́͆!͕̠̌̀̉ͩ̿"͕͚͍͒ͬ͒͋ͬ̂ͪ͘
'...saying something...'
The Sound Hashira hurriedly got onto his feet and shakily rushed towards the young Slayer. The disgusting sound Uzui had heard from Gyutaro's body was the same sound that occurred whenever the Upper Moon was about to unleash his powerful Blood Demon Art. It wasn't over yet... One last attack was about to happen; an explosive cyclone that would soon emerge.
And Kamado was sitting right next to it.
Through the ringing of his ears and the booming of his heart, Tanjiro managed to make out one word as Uzui screamed at the top of his lungs in his desperation.
"RUUUUUUUUNNN!!!"
The Upper Moon's body began to spasm uncontrollably as the sound of gushing blood resounded in the area, unleashing his delayed Rotating Circular Slashes. Several torrents of the whirling dark-crimson blood blades came pouring out and chaotically lashed out at everything in the area, lacerating and tearing apart the land and everything that stood near it in its rampage as it grew larger in its uncontrolled state.
And right in front of Tengen Uzui, the boy who was known as Tanjiro Kamado...
Was ripped to shreds.
.
.
.
When Tanjiro opened his eyes, he felt his breath leave him at the nostalgic sight before him. Lush trees of green with similar foliage decorated the land, and an accompanying smell of honeydew pervaded the air. He found himself kneeling upon an engawa, basking in the nostalgic feeling of the land, along with the home behind him.
His home.
Tanjiro could never forget the very house he and his family—and even his ancestors—had lived in. The soft breeze and warm sunlight immersed him in the relaxing feeling of his home, reminding him of the simpler, more cheerful moments in his life. It was this place that housed his most valuable memories of his family.
The images of Takeo, Hanako, and Shigeru playing on the beaten dirt continuously replayed in his mind, the memory of their smiles and laughter echoing deep within his ears. Tanjiro looked back into the main room. He could picture Mom and Nezuko preparing a meal. It was never anything big, but it never failed to make him feel as full as he could be.
Their life was never a lavish one, but it was the life they had cherished with all their hearts, one they would never trade anything for. It would always be those moments in this home that had defined them and granted them their purpose.
They would've continued their days as coal burners. They would've continued their days living happily. It all would've continued and kept going for generations if it weren't for...
The color of crimson red splattered everywhere. The metallic smell of blood; so much that it was nauseating. The bodies of his family strewn around like discarded trash. Their blank, empty stares as he looked at them helplessly.
His home brought back beautiful memories, but along with it came the painful moment of his happiness being crushed and his life shattered; one of the reasons he had left his ancestral home. But his biggest reason of all would be...
Nezuko.
His precious sister. His only family member that managed to survive; turned into a demon.
Tanjiro knew what happened to himself. He knew he was dead. And he now knew that there was nothing he could do for his sister anymore. He left her behind, alone, without her family. His inability to help left him so frustrated.
That inability seemed to be a common occurrence to him.
Stewing in his discordant thoughts, he barely heard the whisper that reached his ears.
"Tanjiro."
Gentle and soft. A familiar voice that had always managed to reassure him nearly all his life. One that he'd never thought to hear besides in dreams or memories.
Tanjiro turned his head to the right. An emaciated face of a man, induced by his sickness, with a similar scar on the upper left side of his head, greeted him. The soft smile that was always set on his face, along with kind eyes that only ever seemed to understand what one was going through with love and care; the demeanor of a plant. His father sat beside him, orange and black patterned haori and all.
Again, Tanjiro felt his breath leave him as he sat still. His eyes wide, taking in the presence of his father suddenly appearing before him.
A soft chuckle came from his Dad. He raised a hand and placed it on top of his head, gently ruffling his hair. "You've worked hard, Tanjiro."
Tanjiro's breath got stuck in his throat. He could feel tears glistening behind his eyes. All the years he spent in his effort to find a cure for Nezuko and protect those assaulted by Demons... Only now did it seem it was all worth it.
The warmth in his heart planted by his father was a feeling he had missed. But that feeling disappeared in a fraction of a second, replaced by shame and regret. All that work would never truly be worth it without accomplishing his one goal.
Curing Nezuko.
The acknowledgment he received from his father only served to remind him of his failure. He didn't deserve such praise.
Tanjiro's head hung low in an attempt to hide the quivering of his lips and the tears that welled up behind his eyes. But knowing his Dad, he probably already knew what was going on. Tanjiro could never really hide his feelings from his father, especially if such feelings caused him turmoil.
His Dad retracted his hand. "Do you feel frustrated? That you should've done more? That your all was not enough?"
Tanjiro would've said yes to all of that, but if he uttered a single word the tears he held back would spill out, so he nodded his head instead.
Even after all that training, after all those missions, and the samples he sent to Miss Tamayo, it wasn't good enough. Nezuko was still a Demon, and now her chances of getting cured were incredibly slim.
He waited for his Dad to say something but heard nothing, just the sounds of leaves rustling and the wind singing filled the air. Maybe Dad was looking for the right words to say, or maybe he was waiting for him to lift his head and face him directly. All Tanjiro knew was that he felt uneasy under the scrutiny of his father. Was Dad disappointed in him? Did he pity him?
"...Do you wish for a second chance? Another opportunity?" his father asked.
Tanjiro raised his head and directed his gaze toward his father. The man faced the forest in front of them, seemingly staring far beyond the trees and bushes, beyond the hills and mountainsides, observing something that Tanjiro himself couldn't see. His father still held that calm and quiet expression, but something seemed off. It could be a trick of the sunlight, but his father's face seemed like it slightly glowed.
"If you could search for a cure for your sister again, would you?" his father clarified. "Would you be willing to sacrifice your chance to reunite with your family, for the sake of the one that can't join you?"
Tanjiro became increasingly confused at his father's questions. A second chance? Another opportunity? Sacrifice?
"Do... Do you mean coming back to life?" Tanjiro asked. The very notion seemed impossible to him and went against his father's teachings and the ideals he'd gained on his journey. "Lives that are lost can never come back. Those that pass on must be put to rest."
Plenty of other lives had passed away before him. What made him special? Why was he allowed a second chance when others couldn't receive the same treatment? It all just seemed so unfair. If he came back to life, it would feel as though he was disrespecting the cycle of life and death and those who had died before him and devalued life itself. How could anyone truly cherish the small things in life if their deaths could so easily be reversed?
The knowledge that your life was finite, that it would end someday, gave value to every moment you lived. Each second you spend taking a breath, each minute you spend with your loved ones, each day you spend approaching closer and closer to that end. It's what made people value their time, value their lives. If death was such an easy thing to overcome, if it wasn't the end, then wouldn't that demean those moments you spend and life itself?
Everything ends at some point. Growing old and passing away was a beauty of life, and being offered to live again just seemed so disrespectful and unfair to everyone who had already died and didn't come back.
Including his family.
The tears behind his eyes had quickly vanished, replaced by an indignant fire that simmered as he stared at his father. "Why would you ask me that? Lives aren't meant to be treated so callously. You told me yourself to cherish everything I had while I could. Giving everything you have to live the life you wanted, attempting to chase after those goals and dreams no matter how difficult, and passing away are what make us alive and human. Isn't what you're offering going against that?"
Tanjiro's words included his confusion and annoyance but held no animosity. He was never one to truly disregard others' opinions and statements insensitively, but the questions his father gave truly perplexed him. Why would his father ask him those?
His Dad, however, only seemed to close his eyes, his smile growing wider. That radiance Tanjiro had noticed before seemed more prevalent now, his father's face glowing brighter.
"Yes. Life isn't meant to be treated so callously," his father agreed. "It should be cherished. So those who have lived and died cannot return, those are the rules."
His father raised his head to the sky, his eyes still closed as the spring breeze became more prominent. The leaves of the trees began detaching themselves and danced around in the winds, the earth seemed to look more smooth and flowing with life.
His father's head turned to him, eyes still closed as he beamed at him. "But what if, you did not return, but rather, went somewhere else? Somewhere far, far away..."
"Huh?" His father's words only left greater confusion.
"...Yes... I believe I have made the right choice." His Dad slowly opened his eyes.
Revealing irises of brilliant silver gazing back at him.
His father's body was enraptured in a glorious radiance, forcing Tanjiro to quickly stand up and close his eyes, covering his face with an arm to shield himself from the bright light. When he turned back, a tall, humanoid entity looked down at him. Its muscular body was made up of softly glowing pale, golden light. No other features could be seen upon its face, but large golden antlers branched out from atop its head.
Tanjiro was left without words. Everything around him, his home, the trees and foliage, the animals, the very earth... It all faded away in place of a white void with a light gold horizon.
Whatever it was in front of him, it wasn't his father.
"Tanjiro," the entity called out to him. "Forgive me for deceiving you, but I believed it necessary for a test. You embody the ideal qualities of one we are looking for. A needed spark that will help bring things to rest. Which is why I offer you an opportunity." He gave a small pause before continuing. "Do you still wish to save your sister?"
Tanjiro said nothing. The being before him left him in awe. Such a brilliant and holy aura radiated off of the entity before him. Tanjiro could only describe it as a God. A God that had singled him out and offered him another chance to try and cure Nezuko.
A moment passed between the two. Tanjiro looked up at the God, staring straight at where his eyes should've been. Tanjiro's gaze said everything that needed to be said, the unwavering steel-like resolve that burned through them gave his answer, as clear as day.
He knew he was probably one of the only ones who had been given this privilege to have an offer granted to him. He knew accepting this would be unfair to those who hadn't received such treatment.
But his family was everything to him, so he couldn't leave Nezuko to her fate.
Tanjiro would curse himself in the afterlife if he abandoned her after receiving an opportunity to save her. Even if he didn't feel so comfortable about receiving another life, he'd apologize to everyone in the afterlife and would make the most of this second chance, and work twice as hard to save Nezuko.
That, he swore.
The God seemed pleased at the unvocal answer and held his hand out, prompting Tanjiro to place his own upon it. "My Brother and I cannot return until certain conditions are met. When that time comes, I hope to see the impact you will have left upon those you meet."
Tanjiro slowly reached out to the God's hand, before entrusting himself to him and placing his hand atop the God's palm.
Suddenly, a flash of white filled his vision, making him cry out in shock and stumble backward. His hands came up to cover his face as he shook his head to rid himself of his daze. When he looked back, his sight blurred and spots filled his vision; he could barely see the image of the God in three, most likely caused by his disorientation.
"My gift to those who wish to preserve and protect life. You, Tanjiro, I believe are worthy of such a gift," the God of Light claimed. "What you choose to do with it will rely solely on you. And make sure to abandon all familiar reliances you've had before you died, it will be like beginning anew. The place you are going to is not dissimilar to your own, but there will be stark differences," he pointed out. "Until we meet again."
After imparting his words, the God slowly scattered into particles of golden light, carrying itself off into the wind that flew upwards, leaving Tanjiro alone in the white void.
Tanjiro felt his consciousness begin to leave him, the dull aching in his head forcing him to sit down and close his eyes. And soon enough, he began to fall asleep.
But before he succumbed to slumber, he heard one final remark.
"But do remember to cherish this second life you've been given. Try to live for yourself, it's okay to be selfish once in a while. Cherish the small things in life, and maybe live it out fully this time," the God said. "Your family's request."
Then it all went black.
In a separate realm, the God of Light stood still in his spot, pondering on current and future events. Had he made the right choice? Would one boy truly make a difference? He believed so. If he didn't, he wouldn't have given Tanjiro Kamado that offer.
"So you've finally made your choice. I can't say I'm surprised at your decision, it was obvious you would pick the boy."
The God of Light turned to look behind him, seeing a slim figure with curved, segmented horns atop his head. His body was made up of a deep purple matter that seemed to draw in any surrounding light, and like him, is devoid of any features on his face. His posture was as lackadaisical and lacking as ever.
"But to think you would also grant him a gift and send another along with him. You truly are stretching the rules now, aren't you, Brother?"
"It was part of the agreement," The God of Light responded. "After all, those two fates are intertwined, one wouldn't be as complete without the other."
The God of Darkness scoffed. "Then how come we didn't hand any gifts or send any extras with the last one?"
The God of Light had nothing to say.
"You truly are too soft, Brother. You go on and on about keeping order and following the rules, and yet you stretch and bend them as you see fit. Tell me, are you not a hypocrite?"
"...I will not deny those statements," The God of Light said. "But we've already agreed upon the arrangements of the previous one, and have done the same for this one. It's too late for any complaints, Brother."
"Bah. I do not complain. I simply state the facts. And the fact of the matter is, this makes four individuals we have sent to our first world."
"Four? We have only sent three." The God of Light figuratively raised an eyebrow at that. "What did you do...?"
The God of Darkness seemed to give off a mischievous grin. "You got to send an extra along with our agreed individual. It only seemed fair that I sent an extra of my own."
The God of Light sighed.
That was... Logical... The God of Light saw no reason to argue with his Brother's justification, even if he wanted to. He just hoped the one his Brother sent won't cause any mayhem. But knowing his Brother, they very well may. This looked to be another mistake.
But they've both made mistakes in their experiences. He had no room to lecture his Brother when he, himself, had made several errors of his own. But those mistakes seemed to keep popping up, reoccurring even when they said they would learn from them.
After creating another world, it seemed they'd, yet again, begun another shadow war.
Demons; a byproduct of his Brother's tomfoolery by forming a progenitor that should have died.
A chosen warrior; born to defeat their mistake. Gifted his amazing talents through the power of light, and granted his knowledge to others who would follow in his path.
Both sides continued to battle in a feud that seemed to have lasted millennia.
Their first and second world kept aligning themselves.
They had, yet again, made the same mistake.
So perhaps, instead of trying to move on, they should seek to rectify past blunders.
Maybe then, could they truly learn.
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("I was putting Rokuta down for a nap, or he'd make a scene when you leave. He misses Dad a lot since he passed away. And everyone follows you wherever you go.")
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("Don't give others the chance to murder you! Stop that pathetic groveling! If it was the least bit effective, your family wouldn't be dead! How can a weakling who can't take the initiative in such a situation heal his sister?! 'Hunt down' the enemy!? Don't make me laugh!")
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("I was sure you wouldn't be able to slice this boulder, but... Well done! Tanjiro, you're...a remarkable child! ...Make sure you come back alive from Final Selection. Both your sister and I will be waiting for you here.")
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("No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living—no matter how devastating the blow may be.")
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("Muzan Kibutsuji! I won't let you get away! No matter where you go! I'll follow you to the depths of Hell, and I swear I'll slice off your head with my blade!")
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("The bond between Nezuko and I... Cannot...be severed by anyone!")
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("In order to soothe the spirits of those it killed, and to make sure it claims no further victims... I will swing my blade down and lop off the head of any demon without mercy! But I will not belittle those who regret their actions...and suffer over the things they did as demons. Because demons were once human. Because they were like me.")
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("Demons do nothing but lie. Losing all reason out of self-preservation, they murder humans with their instincts laid totally bare... Tanjiro... Please do all that you can. Please protect Nezuko until the end. Knowing that you're working so hard in my place reassures me... I can rest easy now.")
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("Growing old and dying is what gives meaning and beauty to the fleeting span of a human life. It's precisely because we age and die that our lives have value and nobility. 'Strength' isn't a word used to describe just the body. This boy isn't weak! Don't insult him.")
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('Apparently, my father had the faint mark on his forehead from birth, but not me. I'm sure...I'm not a chosen user, but...even then... Even if you're not a chosen one, even if you're not strong enough, there are times when you can't back down. Because there are heartless monsters in this world. Those who take life without reason, without guilt, or remorse. I cannot condone such tyranny!')
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("I'm sorry to leave you behind, Tanjiro. Take care of Nezuko for me, all right?")
Tanjiro's eyes shot open with a gasp for cold air. He lay on his stomach with the side of his face resting on the cold grass. There were sounds of a flowing river, the water glistening in the luminous light, along with the chirping of insects in the forest near him.
He sat up and checked his surroundings, feeling the chilling air brush against his skin and making him shiver. He leaned over the river and saw his dark red eyes gaze back at him, giving himself a quick assessment.
All of his previous wounds that had accumulated were gone, his face and hair no longer caked in grime and blood, along with any tatters or tears that had appeared over his haori and uniform. His sword was fastened to his side with his belt as if he never unsheathed his blade, and when he pulled it out, the blade had no evident chips or fractures, making him sigh in relief before securing the sword back in its sheath.
All in all, he seemed perfectly fine and well-rested. He felt like he was in top condition.
But he soon began scanning the area, worry quickly taking hold of him. God had said he would be given another opportunity to cure Nezuko, so where was she?
Taking a moment to carefully search his surroundings again, he caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Following the scent's trail, behind a tree, he saw it.
A large wooden box resting at the base of the tree.
Tanjiro quickly scurried over, inspecting the box.
No damage.
The strap that was snapped before was now fixed as if it never broke in the first place. Any punctures, dents, or holes that were originally put onto the box were gone as well.
With a bated breath, Tanjiro slowly grabbed onto the latch, and gingerly pulled it open.
He teared up at the sight of Nezuko. Her soft breaths were like music to his ears, the slow and steady bobbing of her shoulders helped put him at ease, and the bamboo gag that had been destroyed was now somehow restored and placed back onto her mouth.
It was like the events of Yoshiwara never happened.
He laid a palm on the top of her head and smiled softly. His sight became more blurry as tears began to leak out. He took a deep breath and exhaled, letting the relief settle in and calm his nerves. She was okay. Nezuko was safe.
Gently, he lifted Nezuko out of her box and held her close. "Thank goodness... Thank goodness..." The chilling air was long forgotten, replaced by the warmth of his sister's presence in his embrace.
"I'll be a grown man one day. And then, I'll grow old and die. And then, the demon Nezuko would be all alone. That would be too lonely, wouldn't it, Nezuko? I promise you I'll turn you back into a human, okay?"
He still had a promise to keep; having her in his arms reminded him of it. He died once already, he couldn't afford to leave her all alone again. He swore that he'd make this second chance count, and apologized to everyone who wasn't so fortunate to receive a second chance. He won't waste this.
But then he apologized again and again. To Nezuko, for leaving her behind once. To his family, who he'd denied a reunion. To Zenitsu and Inosuke for not saying goodbye. To the people he couldn't protect.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
He looked down at Nezuko, her features peaceful and serene as her head rested on his shoulder. Her hand clenched tightly onto his haori, intent on not letting go, as if it gave her comfort and was afraid it would slip through her grasp.
Here he was apologizing again... Nezuko would be disappointed. He could picture her face now, it would most likely be the same as last time. He could remember the very words she had said to him vividly.
"Big Brother, why are you always apologizing? If we're poor, does that make us unhappy? If we can't wear pretty kimonos, should people pity us? Are you so determined to blame someone? You think it was our father's fault for dying of illness. He tried as hard as he could, and it wasn't enough, so we just have to accept that! We're humans, after all, so none of us can expect everything to go our way.
"Whether you're happy or not is up to you. The important thing is now. Let's just look ahead. Let's try harder together! Let's fight! Stop apologizing! You of all people should understand! I want you to understand how I feel!"
He took another deep breath and breathed out slowly. Nezuko was right, he had to look ahead. There was no more time for apologies, he needed to work harder to find a cure for Nezuko—now more than ever since he couldn't rely on Miss Tamayo anymore. He had to move on, and trek forward.
And they'd do it, together.
Tanjiro wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his haori, then placed Nezuko back in her box and closed it. He strapped the box around his back and stepped toward the opening near the river. With one last glance at his reflection, he bowed and offered a silent prayer, thanking that God of Light. He began to turn away, but something in the reflection of the river caught his eye.
An image of the Moon appeared over the crystalline water, but something was off. It didn't seem whole, like a section of it was missing. It could have been the ripples in the water, but Tanjiro's curiosity got the better of him. He craned his head upward, his gaze wandering toward the Moon.
His eyes widened, his mouth dropping open slightly as his mind went blank for a second, struggling to comprehend what he was looking at. If there were any doubts that he was somewhere far, far away, then it all vanished at the sight before him. A large portion of its right side was missing, its broken pieces hovering close to it, but never to come back together and be whole again.
A shattered Moon loomed above.
Shock and amazement filled him. Never had he thought he'd see this kind of spectacle, such an impossible situation, and yet here it was. The Moon still gave off luminous light in its splendor but seemed so much closer than it ever had been before. It gave him chills going down his spine.
'What happened?'
His shock and questions soon ceased when a sudden scent appeared, starting faint, but quickly growing stronger, getting closer and closer. Tanjiro raised his nose and sniffed the air.
The scent of anger and hatred.
He spun on his heel—now watching the forest. Distant thudding could be heard through the greenery. The trees shook, their leaves trembled and fell from their branches as the footfalls became louder.
With a hiss of Nichirin metal, Tanjiro brandished his Katana, directed toward the sounds and scent rapidly approaching.
The ground below him shook, and the scent became scents. He could see it; numerous red eyes peeked through the bushes and greenery that surrounded him, snarling at him. A horde was here.
Out from the bushes came a creature of darkness on all fours. It looked like a wolf, only larger, darker, and a whole lot more dangerous. Its bone-like mask contained its glaring red-yellow eyes, sizing him up like prey as it bared its mouth, filled with sharp teeth meant for ripping apart flesh. Bone-like spikes protruded from its arms, back, and knees. Its long, sharp, white claws scraped and dug up dirt in its agitation.
Several more emerged from the foliage, growling as they encircled Tanjiro. The first one stood on its hind legs in a slouched stand and roared, prompting the others to do the same, soon beginning to draw in.
Tanjiro stood his ground. His grip around his blade tightened. His eyes darted back and forth as the creatures drew closer. There were more scents behind these ones, many, many more, approaching and encircling him.
Don't panic! Think of something!
He gritted his teeth but left a small opening for him to take in a large amount of air. The oxygen entered his lungs and hastened his blood circulation, his body temperature rising as it did so. Power filled him with each rhythmic breath, his very muscles and bones becoming tougher...stronger...
'Take in the maximum amount of oxygen and accelerate your blood circulation to its fullest! Increase your heart rate! Let your temperature rise! Let the strength flow through you!'
Don't let up! Stay focused!
With another breath, the closest creature's agitation reached its limit and lunged forth, seeking to rip Tanjiro in two with its claws.
Underneath the pale light of a shattered Moon, Tanjiro raised his black blade, and brought it down.
Author's Note
Heya. If you're reading this then I can only assume that you've read through the chapter and was curious enough to see what I've had to say. So lemme' just say this in advance before I go off on a tangent.
Thanks for reading and giving this story a chance, whether you liked it or not.
This story and chapter has been sitting on the backburner for months. Several revisions of half the chapter had been made, lots of moments of procrastination occurred, and even more times where I've had to re-think and re-decide on what to do happened.
I had originally planned to release this story during the beginning of Winter last year but I always ended up postponing it in case there was something else I wanted to change. I had also placed a metaphorical deadline on myself, a point where I had to publish this chapter no matter what before I completely forget about it.
That deadline is for me to post it before Season 3 of Demon Slayer came out, the Swordsmith Village Arc. Safe to say, at the date I'm posting this chapter, Season 3 will release in just a few days. I really am cutting it close.
I didn't want this story to just be forgotten and left in my documents collecting dust just because I was too lazy to post it, so I released the chapter as is. Hopefully you don't find too many problems with it and my lacking writing.
This chapter is what I like to call, "The Excuse". A reason as to why this character is in another world or setting for the story, even if it seems like bullcrap. The part after Tanjiro got ripped to shreds and somehow being sent to Remnant was the section I had to rewrite the most, eventually deciding on having the Brother Gods being the reason Tanjiro and others are on Remnant. A friend had even told me to just make up a one-off god that sends Tanjiro to Remnant, but the idea didn't seem that enticing to me.
And while I'm here, let me address a few things.
If you're gonna keep an eye on this story and wait for more chapters, do not expect consistent updates. Sorry, but I am just a High Schooler that has other things to do besides writing FanFiction. This is just a random hobby I decided to pick up just to experience it and let my random thoughts and imaginations of stories of pre-existing characters be manifested in wordy fanfiction form. Cuz, if you didn't already know, me and my friends love what-if scenarios and crossovers. Also, I will procrastinate. I may try to write another chapter, just to forget about it and remember after two weeks have already passed. Hopefully, I'll finish the second chapter before something in life suddenly pops up again.
By the way, before anyone asks if (This Demon Slayer Character) will be in the story... Perhaps they will. But not in the way that you may think. Right now, there are four characters who have been sent to Remnant, Tanjiro and Nezuko included. And no, it is not Zenitsu or Inosuke unfortunately. But like I said, they may appear in this fic, but not in a way that makes them relevant. And for a hint of one of the other two characters who have been sent to Remnant; they are not dead and haven't died yet in the story of Demon Slayer at its current point. Vague, I know.
And at what point has Tanjiro arrived on Remnant? Well, it's past Volume One. So, Tanjiro will not be going through initiation. But a quick warning; Tanjiro will still end up arriving at Beacon somehow. Not as a real student, but for reasons that will come up later. This story will also have moments where it'll align with original RWBY, so expect a bit of rehashing in some parts.
Welp, that's all I've got to say for right now. If I'm going to address more things, it'll have to be for the next chapter.
And do keep in mind that I am certainly no professional when it comes to writing. Neither am I experienced. Therefore, feel free to leave a review and comment your thoughts and feedback; I like seeing what other people think, good or bad, just keep it sensible. So I'd appreciate it if you don't just post a review with one word saying "Good" or "Trash". At least tell me what makes you think that way so there's something to learn.
Hope you've enjoyed. See you in the next chapter.