"In a family… a father has his designated role to fulfill and a mother has hers in return. The parents protect their eldest children, and the eldest protect the younger ones. This is carried out no matter what. Even at the risk of their own lives. The way I see it, if you don't understand your own role in this life, there's no reason for you to live it," The demon, Rui, began to speak with his eyes completely attached to Tanjiro's. "As for you, I'll tell you your role. It is to relinquish your younger sister to me and disappear. If you can't do that, your only option is to die. For you cannot defeat me."

LOWER RANK FIVE

That was all Tanjiro could see in his vision. The blood red sclera, the blue pupil, and those haunting words staining his eye. Those words were taunting and challenging him, to make good on the threats he had spewed at the demon, to try and defeat Rui.

Tanjiro was heavily mistaken thinking the Father Spider Demon was the Twelve Kizuki that was mentioned to him. The large demon that couldn't be cut by anything, that took three Demon Slayers to outmaneuver even slightly, was unlike anything he had ever faced. Although, beforehand, he had his doubts. Why would Muzan Kibutsuji make a demon whose only attributes were strength and endurance a Twelve Kizuki? It seemed like a waste of perfect opportunity to promote a demon who was more worthy of the title.

But when he witnessed Rui's power, the way he held himself up high, callous, and cold, but also calmly, never hesitating or glancing back at the merciless deaths he inflicted, the strength of his threads, Tanjiro knew the demon was something different. Something entirely stronger than the Father Spider Demon. Seeing his eye only confirmed his suspicions.

He needed to defeat a member of the Twelve Kizuki. Not only to get a blood sample for Lady Tamayo but to also end the deaths of many innocent people whose lives were taken on that mountain. Although, cutting the threads wouldn't be easy. His sword was effortlessly snapped in half and he could only imagine the demon's neck was even tougher.

"I don't like that look in your eyes. Glittering like that…," The demon slowly huffed out at him. "How foolish. Don't tell me… that you think you'll be able to defeat me!"

Suddenly, the demon flicked his entire arm back with such force.

Tanjiro gasped when something behind him flew out from beneath the bushes. He looked up and saw Nezuko's body flying through the air above him! Threads had attached to her arms, and those were attached to the fingertips of the demon, dragging her out of her hiding spot and pulling her to the demon's grasp!

"Nezuko!" He screamed in horror.

The demon caught her in his arms and immediately wrapped one around her neck, holding her captive to his body. He whipped out his other hand, long sharp threads protruding out of his fingertips once again, and seethed, "There, I've taken her now. You understand your role now, don't you?"

Seeing her held against her will in the demon's arm, clawing and trying to fight her way out, snapped a cord inside Tanjiro's chest.

"Let her go!" He growled loudly charging for the demon.

"But I told you I'd spare your life, at least, if you didn't defy me," The demon scoffed seeing Tanjiro get closer and closer to him.

Nezuko, who had been in her human state, immediately powered up into her demon form. Her large pink eyes turned into slits, the muscles in her body growing, and claws extended from her nails. She raised her arm and brought five sharp claws down on the demon's face as Tanjiro ran closer and closer. He held his broken sword in white-knuckle grips, anger like none other coursing throughout his body, and screamed loud into the air.

Seeing Tanjiro getting closer, the demon whipped out his arm and sent five threads flying towards his way.

Tanjiro immediately slammed his heels into the ground, skidding slightly, before pushing his body into a low backflip. The threads harmlessly passed through the air above him and he landed roughly on his feet, once more far away from the demon. Except… Nezuko was no longer in the demon's arms! Where'd she go?!

A puddle of blood suddenly spilled in front of him from up above.

He looked up and was met with the most horrifying sight he had ever seen. With the moon glowing right behind her, casting her body in almost complete darkness, Nezuko's body was suspended upside down in the sky! Tens of threads had themselves wrapped tightly around her legs, arms, neck, and torso. So tight they pierced her skin and drew blood, letting it drip and line the threads in the bright crimson red substance. Surprise, shock, and pain was clear on her face, and it agonized her to even try and move a muscle!

"Nezuko!" He screamed her name seeing her bloody body.

The demon far away from him didn't look bothered at the sight. His face that had been clawed by Nezuko was healed within a few seconds and he merely huffed, "Quiet down. This won't be enough to kill her. After all, she's a demon. But it looks like I'll have to teach her a lesson after all. I'm going to let her bleed for a while."

Tanjiro's body began to shake and tremble with uncontrollable rage. He could hear the painful muffled moans of his sister and hated the demon wasn't even sparing a glance in her direction.

"If she still doesn't learn to be obedient, I'll just leave her like that until sunrise… and then let her get scorched a bit."

The image of Nezuko fearfully watching the sun rise above the horizon and her skin burning in the daylight pierced his brain. The sounds of her muffled screams as her body caught fire was enough to tip Tanjiro over the edge.

"I won't allow it!" Tanjiro howled loudly before charging at the demon once again. "Let her go!"

The demon acted so fast Tanjiro didn't have time to comprehend it. He flicked his hand outwards but it wasn't like his last attack. Each thread attacked him in a stabbing motion, pricking and nicking his legs, arms, and shoulders painfully. The pain surprised him and forced him to fall flat on his stomach skidding his body till he stopped right in front of the demon.

The sound of the demon's footstep right in front of him caused him to gasp but, once again, he wasn't fast enough.

He was kicked so hard in the head his body was sent skyrocketing backwards. He flipped in the air multiple times then landed roughly in a large bush. The tiny and sharp stems stabbed into his torso, arms, and legs, but the pain in his head was even worse. A throbbing sensation that thrummed to the beat of his erratic heartbeat pulsed in his head as waves of blood spilled out of his mouth. He coughed on the thick substance, feeling it spill onto his clothes, but wasn't given any chance to recuperate.

The moment he looked up, his eyes half-closed and twitching from pain, the demon was standing right in front of him. He casually backhanded him but the force behind it once again threw Tanjiro's body away. He managed to stumble back onto his feet and face the demon… but he wasn't feeling well.

His head was pulsing with pain, his lungs were burning, and he couldn't help but continue to choke on his own blood. A singular line began to spill from his mouth and drip to the ground but he kept his eyes on the demon. No matter how much it agonized him, he kept his sword in front of him and his body in a defensive stance. With his shaking hands and trembling legs, he must've looked like a fool but he wasn't going to back down. Not with Nezuko's life on the line.

"Look, you…" The demon began to huff, "I'm sure I'm mistaken, but… You don't think that if you get close enough to me, you can chop off my head, do you?"

Tanjiro didn't answer him; he only kept glaring, seething, as he tried to stabilize his heavy breathing.

The demon smirked at his silence and walked closer to him, Tanjiro nearly taking one step back from him in suspicion. He then opened his arms wide, his smirk growing wider, and challenged, "Fine by me. Here. Give it a shot."

This time Tanjiro didn't wait to attack. He slashed for the neck as hard as he could but the demon effortlessly dodged it. He bent backwards and used the momentum to send his fist into Tanjiro's face, and then another. Tanjiro recoiled from the extremely harsh punches that sent lightning bolts of agony all across his head. But he moved with the momentum and swiftly turned around, bringing his sword up and back at the demon's neck.

The shattered sword made contact with the demon's neck… but bounced off as if he had struck a rough boulder. A terrified gasp spilled from Tanjiro's lips at the undamaged and unharmed neck of the demon.

The blade… It won't go through!

No matter how much he pushed, or shoved, the sword just wouldn't go through the demon's neck!

"Didn't I tell you…" The demon suddenly loomed over him, his eyes glowing with madness, and the darkness covering his face yielded nothing but the futility of Tanjiro's attacks. He growled lowly beneath his breath, sending chills down Tanjiro's spine, "You have no chance against me," and kicked out his leg.

Tanjiro's body was sent flying so hard, fast, and rough away from the demon. He bounced, rolled, and skidded against the rocky earth, feeling the pain of dirt clumps and sharp pebbles pierce into the side of his body. He didn't have time to breathe or even move a single muscle. He crashed landed into a large hill and suffocated against the dirt, dust, and grass that fell all around him and up into the air.

"My body is more durable than any thread I manipulate. If you can't even cut those threads, you don't have a chance of slashing my neck," He heard the demon speak to him from far away.

From the distance, he could hear Nezuko fighting against her restraints, screaming for him against her bamboo muzzle. He wanted to show her he was okay and that he can win but… the demon is incredibly strong and extremely powerful.

The demon's, Rui's, power is on a whole different level than any other demon he had fought! He had finally got the faintest realization of what the power of the Twelve Kizuki is! He had no idea that what he was facing was the power of a demon with a higher concentration of Kibutsuji's blood. How was he possibly going to defeat him?

Nezuko kept fighting her restraints, screaming and shaking her head at Tanjiro from up above, but the demon turned his attention on her.

Lifting his hand and clenching it, he scowled up at her, "You're making too much noise. If you don't quiet down…" He didn't finish his sentence.

Something snapped in Nezuko to the point where she gasped and completely froze in her spot. A terrified scream fell from Tanjiro's mouth seeing the threads wrapped around her body tighten so much to the point where it sliced deeply and embedded itself into her skin. Waterfalls of blood spilled from her body and screams of anguish, pure agony, and torture pushed out against her muzzle, muffling the true sounds of torment that was emitting from her.

"Stop that!" Tanjiro yelled at the top of his lungs.

"As of today, I'm her big brother now," The demon hissed at the both of them. "And I command she cease that infernal wailing."

How… How dare he?!

Fury, wrath, and rage like none other coursed through Tanjiro's veins once again seeing the careless and merciless torture of his little sister. He wanted nothing more than to charge at the demon and make him pay for what he's doing to her!... But he can't! He needed to calm down! Getting emotional would get him to play right into the demon's hands and kill him!

He had to grasp his arm, letting his fingers wrap themselves roughly around his sleeve, and bite down hard on his teeth. It was easier said than done to not attack the demon relentlessly with no thought.

Then, suddenly, Nezuko fell asleep from where she was held captive. That caught the demon off guard; he looked at her as if she was a fascinating subject. He wasn't expecting her to pass out in the middle of the battle. No, of course he wouldn't. Nobody, only his friends and Urokodaki, knows Nezuko regains her strength and her health through sleeping.

With the demon focusing his attention on Nezuko, it was time Tanjiro released the final form of Water breathing with highest precision!

Concentrate! Control your breathing! Total Concentration…

Holding his sword tightly in his hands, controlling his breathing, Tanjiro dashed for the demon!

"You still don't realize how futile it is?" The demon scoffed whipping out two hands and letting threads dangle from all ten of his fingers. The threads one by one began to fly and make stabbing motions at him the same way they did before!

Water poured out of the tip of his sword and Tanjiro gracefully moved across the ground, rotating with each turn and his eyes trained on the threads flying towards him. He brought his sword down on one and deflected it away from him! If he couldn't slice them, he will might as well push them away and use each rotation attack to drive him closer to the demon!

One by one, he deflected the threads drawing more power, more force, and more momentum with each rotation he swung his body in. It felt light, effortless, and energy began to drive through every limb in his body. Every step he took was closer and closer to the demon.

Water Breathing, Tenth Form! Constant Flux!

Tanjiro twisted his entire body around and brought up his sword as a large water dragon appeared at his side, roaring in anticipation! He charged for two long threads and sharply brought his sword down! The sound of threads snapping and seeing them rip into was practically music to his ears and a light in the darkness! He actually cut the threads! Hope and determination turned over, over, and over again in chest, filling him with more energy than he ever thought he could drum up!

If he could continue closing the distance between he and the demon, he can win! Even though his legs were starting to burn and his arms were aching with extreme soreness, he never relented or gave up!

He ripped the last threads in half and continued charging with so much force and momentum behind him!

The demon, who looked mildly surprised before, went back to looking callous and cold. He held up his hands and they suddenly began to change color. Once pale, they were becoming stained with the deep crimson red color that matched with blood. The threads attached to his fingertips began to rapidly change to the same color, traveling throughout and towards Tanjiro!

"Hey, boy," The demon almost scoffed at him, "You don't think these threads are at maximum strength, do you?"

He suddenly ripped his hands backwards, snapping, "Blood Demon Art. Cutting Thread Cage!"

To Tanjiro's terror, a cage of threads covered in blood stained his entire vision red. All he could see, in that split moment, was a large red cage trapping him in a small circle. It began to close rapidly around him so fast he thought time slowed down!

Not good! I haven't got enough rotations to cut through these threads! These are giving off a totally different scent than the other ones! But I can't afford to lose no matter what! I'm going to die!

Am I…?

The thought of death… of not fulfilling his duty, his mission, and his promise, not only to his family but to Nezuko, …scared Tanjiro to the core. He fought so hard, trained so much, and stayed alive for the sole purpose of turning her back into a human and avenging his family.

But, at that moment, staring up at the cage of death suffocating him lit a small light in his head.

When he was a small child, Tanjiro admired his father and wanted to do everything he could do. One of the many things he loved to do was watch his father dance outside with the bright hot flames lit around him. He wanted to learn and be able to do just that.

Tanjiro danced around freely, holding a small branch as a sword, trying to mimic the moves. Jumping from foot to foot, raising his hands and dropping them clumsily, he danced in the grass with a large smile on his face. Even though he did it terribly, he still had so much fun doing so. He would laugh, giggle, and smile to his heart's content, while Nezuko watched from the sidelines, happily playing her den-den daiko to the beat of his footsteps.

His father watched from the inside of their minka home. He held a small but proud smile on his face seeing Tanjiro and Nezuko have fun dancing.

He was frail, sickly, and looked immensely thin. He suffered from an illness that made his skin look dull, pale, and fragile. It stuck to his bones and made the appearance that he hadn't eaten in days. Even though he looked tired and exhausted, he always made time to look after his kids and continue dancing out in the night.

Tanjiro looked in his father's deep red eyes, his long black hair with red tips combed back in a ponytail, and listened to what he had to say.

"Tanjiro. Breathe. Control your breathing and become like Hinokami."

It was dark but lit with fire. The snow fell all around them and it froze them to the core, but Tanjiro wanted to watch. His breath crystallized in front of him, his eyes wide in admiration and adoration, as he stared at the clearing right in front of his home and who was inside of it.

The clearing was surrounded and lit by multiple giant torches stuck in the ground. His father was dressed like an Iwami Kagura dancer with a long-sleeved dark brown dress with golden and crimson red frames. A large white blindfold covered his entire face with the kanji for flames inscribed on it. He wielded a wooden blade giving the appearance of the kanji, the rising of the sun. Even though it was snowing, he was barefooted and didn't hesitate to dance out in the cold with nothing but the outfit on his back.

His father danced gracefully, smoothly, and with such agility. His feet knew where to step and place themselves with each spin, his arms waving elegantly in the air, and the wooden sword spinning effortlessly in his hand. Each swing of his arm, hand, and the rotation of his entire body was powerful and confident. Each move, step, wave, and spin were nothing but perfection and refinement. It was one of the most, no, the most beautiful thing Tanjiro had ever seen before.

"It's your dad's kagura dance," His mom spoke down to Tanjiro smiling with Nezuko wrapped to her back after falling asleep watching their father. "Our family works with fire, so to ward off injuries and disasters, we offer this dance to Hinokami, along with our prayers, at the start of each year."

Tanjiro looked up at his mom and spoke, "Mommy, father's always been pretty sick, right? So, how can he be out in the snow and still keep dancing and dancing? If that were me, I bet my lungs would freeze."

Laying against his father's futon, with his arms and head resting against his father's leg, Tanjiro felt his hand caress his head. When he asked his father about how he handled being out in the snow, dancing all night long, Tanjiro listened intently as his father explained, "There's a way to breathe. A way so that you won't exhaust yourself, no matter how much you move."

"Really?"

"Yes," His father smiled nodding his head. "If you master how to breathe properly, you'll be able to dance forever, too. Even the cold won't bother you." Suddenly, his father stopped smiling and looked down at him with seriousness. "Tanjiro, if nothing else, make sure this kagura and these earrings get passed down to you uninterrupted. That's what I promised."

His father's words and promise pierced Tanjiro's heart. He will not have his father's efforts be in vain!

The fear that had overtaken him was instantly replaced by concentration, determination, and focus. He quickly switched up his breathing style to one that was completely different from the Water Breathing. He had inhaled large amount of oxygen, increased the pumping of blood throughout his body, focused it on his legs, and was ready to focus his assault. He didn't question how he instantly knew how or what to breathe, but he did know his father was guiding him. When Tanjiro almost gave up, when he almost let fear cave into his chest, his father was there beside him to put him back on track and to use the breathing technique and dance he had long since forgotten.

The water that had poured out of his sword transformed into bright red flames and engulfed the darkness and despair that had surrounded him. His water dragon transformed into a flame dragon that roared in determination.

Hinokami Kagura… Dance!

Tanjiro charged forward, spinning his body, and brought his sword down on the blood-red cage!

The cage was instantly decimated and lit aflame by the flame engulfing Tanjiro's shattered sword. He could see the surprise and the sudden fear in the demon's eyes but he didn't hesitate, misstep, or stop to breathe. He continued charging not giving the demon a chance to think about his next strategy!

The demon whipped out both hands and lined the entire forest pathway and everything surrounding him with blood-red threads.

Tanjiro kept moving not even hesitating with the threads in his path. They stabbed and sliced into his skin; his arms, head, and hands bleeding profusely, throbbing and pulsing at the pain skyrocketing through his body, but he didn't give up! He won't cave into fear or pain any longer!

Don't stop! Keep running! If you stop now, it'll bring on repercussions of forcibly switching from Water Breathing to Hinokami Kagura Breathing! When that happens, I may not be able to move! That's why I gotta do it now! Run! You have to protect Nezuko!

Nezuko!

Unleashing a roar, a scream, and a howl so loud and so harsh that it burned his throat, Tanjiro stormed for the demon who watched him in fear, surprise, and anticipation. Nothing was going to stop him! Not threads, not a demon, and certainly not a member of the Twelve Kizuki! By killing that demon, he will show he will do anything to protect Nezuko and find Muzan Kibutsuji. Killing that demon will send a message that he will never forget about what that demon had done to his family! He will avenge them starting with Rui!

Spinning in a ring of flame, slicing and slashing all the threads in his way, Tanjiro managed to get up close to the demon. In fright, the demon jumped away but gasped when Tanjiro didn't hesitate to close the distance.

Flames lined the forest floor, the entire night sky lit up, as Rui kept backing away from Tanjiro's insistent attacks. The demon was throwing desperate blood-curdling threads at Tanjiro, acting and looking like an animal was back into a corner, but he easily sliced them in half. He kept slicing, slashing, and cutting with no hesitation or second thought, and that was scaring the demon the most. The fact he was getting closer, bolder, and more confident with every spin, rotation, and step he took.

Suddenly, the Opening Thread revealed itself to Tanjiro!

You have to take him down now! Even if it means getting slashed by him in the process!

Tanjiro wasn't scared to get killed by that demon anymore. If the demon was killed by his hand in the process, Nezuko would be safe from endless torture. He wouldn't be able to help her find a cure but at least she'd be safe.

Rui flicked out his hands the moment Tanjiro slashed his sword horizontally at the demon's neck.

Suddenly, the blood that had been lining the demon's threads exploded into a pink blaze. The demon gasped in terror and glanced his wide eyes up to the sky, seeing Nezuko's pink slits glaring down at him. She had her fist tightly clenched, her blood exploding in a large pink flames, and destroying the threads Rui had meant to kill Tanjiro with.

Nezuko, you're amazing! As always!

Tanjiro belted out the largest scream he's ever produced and soared through the pink flames that didn't even burn him! He brought his sword out again and it collided against the demon's neck! Once again, it was like it clashed with a large boulder but he wasn't giving up! He won't ever give up! Not again! His red flames and Nezuko's pink blaze mixed together in various color, heating and lighting up his shattered sword at immense speed and heat.

"The bond between Nezuko and I... cannot be severed! Not by anyone!" Tanjiro shouted and pressed down even further!

Suddenly, he felt the skin of the demon give away and pushed down with all the energy that had been stored inside his body! All of it! He pushed, pushed, and pushed, the red and pink flames mixing together, and finally severing the demon's head free! Multiple rings of the red and pink flames surrounded them, circling them like fiery halos, and revealed the demon's head flying high into the dark sky.

All the anger, torture, and torment both he and Nezuko had went through because of that demon was finally over.

He… actually defeated a member of the Twelve Kizuki!