The time Kagami knew she'd have to intervene had come.
With both of their arms tight around his waist, Kagami and Zenitsu had to tug and pull Inosuke from the window of the train as hard as they could! Like the psycho maniac he was, he had flung himself out of the train window and let his body flail wildly through the wind! He was lucky they caught him in time before he blew away!
No matter how fast the mechanical beast was moving or harshly the wind pulled at his body, the maniacal laughter and cackling never ceased! "HAHAHA! This is great! It's going so fast! AHAHA!" Inosuke screamed in the air letting it echo through the forest surrounding them.
"Inosuke, get back in here! It's dangerous! You might make it angry!" Kagami growled trying to pull his body back inside!
The small centimeters Kagami and Zenitsu managed to pull him inside were a waste of time. Inosuke immediately pushed himself back out, screaming, "Let me at 'em! I wanna race to see who's faster on foot! HAHAHA!"
Kagami planted her feet against the wall of the car, heaving him with all of her might, as Zenitsu screamed back at him, "You can't be that stupid, can you?!"
"I wouldn't."
They all froze and immediately grew quiet at the stern tone Mr. Rengoku spoke to them with. Even Inosuke stopped fighting against them, letting his body flail with the wind as if he were lifeless. Their eyes moved from Inosuke to the Flame Hashira. Though he still held that victorious smile, he was serious in what he said. "Who knows when a demon might appear?"
It was true. They needed to keep their guard up.
"Wait," Zenitsu suddenly gasped letting go of Inosuke. Kagami yelped and wrapped her entire body around Inosuke's legs to keep him from falling out of the train, as Zenitsu wailed at the top of his lungs, "Demons show up on this train?! Seriously?! NOOOO! I thought we were meeting up with them, not trapped with them! AHHHH! I'm getting off this train!"
Kagami dragged Inosuke's body in and glared at him with pointed daggers. She made a two-finger motion whipping from her eyes to his, making sure he didn't try and get himself killed again, before turning to her cowardly comrade. Sweat was beating down her fore-head, her body aching from just holding back Inosuke, as she huffed, annoyed, "What did you think the crow meant when he said 40 people went missing from the train, Zenitsu? It was obvious demons are targeting the passengers here!"
"Precisely," Mr. Rengoku confirmed with the nod of his head. "We have sent in several swordsmen. However, they have all vanished, and that is the reason I'm here."
They were quiet for a long time with their eyes stuck on Mr. Rengoku anxiously.
Oh, lovely, Kagami nervously thought. Several swordsmen have all but vanished trying to investigate the disappearances of these passengers from the train. They sent in a Hashira because obviously something dark and devious was happening. They also decided to send in four swordsmen with the last and lowest ranking in the entire corps. That doesn't sound very promising to her!
"AHHHH!" Zenitsu screamed out in terror. "Oh, I see now! Excuse me! This is my stop! I'm getting off!"
Kagami turned to him and growled, "Man up, Zenitsu!"
The door to the car open and in strolled a man wearing a uniform and a fancy looking hat. He began to walk right towards them with his head tilted down to the ground with a slight stumble in his step. She quirked her head at him when he quietly drawled, slowly and almost incoherently, "May I... see your... tickets, please?"
"What's happening?" Tanjiro asked Mr. Rengoku curiously.
"He is going to check that your ticket is valid," He answered and whipped out the small piece of paper they were all given when they entered the train station.
One by one, the man punched a small hole in their tickets using a small metal device he held in his hands. He hole-punched Mr. Rengoku's, Inosuke's, the sobbing Zenitsu's, then Tanjiro's. When Kagami brought out hers, and the man moved to grab it, she noticed how pale and grey his hand looked. It was sickly, his skin stuck to his bones, and he looked so frail. She slowly looked up into his face and noticed just how horribly he truly looked. His eyes held no light in them, they were sunken into his skull, and so were his cheeks. His voice was monotone and he moved with no sense of haste.
His metal device hovered over her ticket but he didn't move for a moment.
A lump grew in her throat and a small sense of dread entered her stomach. She didn't like the look or sense of the man. He just stood there solemnly staring down at her ticket for a long, long moment. Then, the lights began to flicker again. She wouldn't have paid attention again, like the first time, but the tension in the air was so thick. It was hard to ignore something like that.
Then, he punched a hole.
And the lights went out.
They stood in darkness for only a second. The lights slowly turned back on... but Kagami gasped at came with it.
The horrible aura of something hideous began to blow through her hair and her face. It was sharp, powerful, and so thick she was practically drowning in it. She wasn't the only one troubled. Tanjiro whipped his head back and forth concernedly, a look of disbelief and dismay crossing his face, perhaps smelling something she couldn't. It lead her to believe it was a demon. It had to be! But the look on Mr. Rengoku's face was what startled her the most. That proud smile he had been wearing since the moment she saw him was gone. He looked completely serious and it was freaking her out.
But she needed to know where the aura was coming from. Behind her? In front of them? Above them?
"Thank you... very much," The man drawled again looking anywhere but her.
Without a word, Mr. Rengoku stood from his seat and swiftly turned towards the back of the car. They quickly took multiple steps back with a gasp when he whipped out his Nichirin sword that he had been hiding in his haori. "Conductor, apologies for the sword," Mr. Rengoku began to speak brandishing the wide smile once again. "But there is a reason, so please keep at a safe distance."
The lights ominously began to flicker erratically again. Their eyes stayed at the back of the car, shaking and wavering, waiting for someone or something to appear. Mr. Rengoku seemed to believe it was a demon much like Kagami and Tanjiro but they didn't see or feel anything. They could sense it but... where would the demon hide? How could it hide among all those passengers? They didn't seem to care nor mind about the lights. Though, if they knew a demon was on board and hunting them, they'd be terrified and screaming, much like Zenitsu.
The lights went out again coating them in darkness.
Then, they flickered back on almost instantly. Kneeling in the middle of the aisle was a demon!
Kagami gasped at it's sudden appearance! The lights had only shut off for a second! For the demon to appear out of nowhere and into the light in such speed frightened her! Its large, muscular, pale grey body contrasted the warm colors of the train car. Three ugly faces occupied its one head, all six yellow eyes with blue pupils were roaming all over the passengers that screamed in terror at its presence, and golden horns protruded its head and arms. When it stood on both feet, growling in anger and hunger, her eyes widened seeing the demon as tall as the ceiling! It was at least 213 centimeters tall!
"What a giant. Did you use a Blood Demon Art? It was difficult to detect you," Mr. Rengoku stated setting his golden fiery eyes on the monster.
He placed a strong hand on the hilt of his sword and breathed out deeply. Energy, power, and force began to emit strongly from Mr. Rengoku's body. A powerful vortex of wind and heat began to swirl around him, lifting his hair and waving his clothes in the hot breeze, when he drew his sword from its sheath. His bright red blade burned and glowed brightly with fire! It spilled flames and lit up the entire car as it crackled threateningly in the air! "Know this, if you bare your fangs at the innocent... I will see your bone turned to ash with my Bright Red Blade of Fire!" He shouted victoriously at the demon.
The demon didn't look happy at all. Its claws whipped out from its fingertips and it belted out a large roar. It was challenging Mr. Rengoku!
His smile disappearing, Mr. Rengoku spread his legs apart placing himself in an offensive stance. He held a tight grip on his sword, pushing the tip of his blade behind him.
"Flame Breathing. First Form..." He began to speak under his breath blowing out deeply. Sparks of fire flew out of his mouth and his eyes stayed firmly trained on the demon. Determination, concentration, and focus was all she could see and feel from him. As soon as the demon launched itself towards him, he raced forward at an impossible speed! The wind surged and pushed all around them, forcing them to hold onto the seats for dear life, as he continued to charge!
A line of the hottest and brightest flames spilled out along the edge of his blade and followed him as he raced down the car! It circled and spun around like a fiery halo! He raced past the demon, twisted his body around, screaming, "Unknowing Fire!" from the depths of his stomach!
Their eyes widened in amazement watching Mr. Rengoku decapitate the demon so forcefully it sent his body spiraling through the air! The momentum of his attack drove his body towards the other end of the car. He smashed through the door but landed delicately on his feet with his sword arched high in the air above his head. The demon's headless body flew towards them but instantly exploded into a million pieces above them! Nothing of it remained!
"Amazing!" Kagami gasped out in awe.
"And with a single slice!" Tanjiro gasped after her.
Mr. Rengoku's attack, the flames that followed him and brightened his body like a shooting star, died as soon as what was left of the demon disappeared. No scorched marks, black ash, or traces of fire remained. He took the utmost care to make sure nothing and no one was burned by his attack. Even the passengers looked in awe of what happened. Or maybe they were just really confused and terrified by the encounter. It still doesn't change her mind! He really is amazing!
"There's still one more," She heard him speak lowly from the other car. "Come with me!" He ordered, not looking over his shoulder to them, and ran down the aisle.
Kagami and Tanjiro didn't hesitate to bring out their swords from their backs and chase after him. Inosuke was more than happy to do so, laughing, "HAHA! All right!" excitedly down the aisle. Zenitsu didn't initially move but the thought of being by himself forced him to chase after them, crying, "Hey, don't leave me here!"
Mr. Rengoku was fast! It was hard to catch up to him!
As they raced towards the next car over, they heard screaming and crying coming from the other side. They hurriedly squeezed by the flock of people fleeing for their lives as the sound of a terrifying monster coming from inside the car echoed throughout the train! With the door wide open, they could see a tall, flexible demon stretched over the tall seats of the train. A man was cowering and screaming at the demon hissing in hunger and enjoyment at him.
"You will not lay a finger on that man!" Mr. Rengoku shouted standing in the center of the aisle.
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Inosuke raced forward sharply drawing their swords from their sheaths with Zenitsu staying back cowering behind a seat. They stood in front of Mr. Rengoku protectively gripping their swords tightly. The new demon was more hideous than the last! Its dark green body was abnormally long and thin pincers as long as its body stuck out of the sides of its torso! It stretched and twisted around with such flexibility it made her own body hurt! Numerous spikes poked out its back and two tiny horns stuck out of its temples. Its four yellow eyes with pink pupils turned and landed on Mr. Rengoku with a loud hiss and vicious snarl.
"Let me make this clear," He growled to the demon, "Your opponent stands before you now."
Steam billowed out of the nostrils from Inosuke's mouth and he excitedly roared, "All right! First come, first served!"
Kagami looked at him in horror, screaming, "Are you crazy?! There's still a bystander-!"
He completely ignored her and interrupted her by dashing forward without thinking, as usual. "It won't matter once I kill this!" He shouted back raising his swords high then bringing them down on the demon!
He didn't have a chance to attack or even cut it in the slightest! More long pincers erupted from its torso and counter-attacked him! Inosuke was forced on the defensive and barely deflected it. His swords rung in protest, screeching and scratching against the demon's sharp nails, and he twisted his body away! Except, when he did, the demon lashed out a hand to grab him out of the air! Inosuke didn't have time to jump or twist away any further!
Suddenly, Mr. Rengoku disappeared from Kagami's side.
Faster than her mind could even comprehend, Mr. Rengoku ran to Inosuke's side and carried him to safety. He dropped him at a seat at the very end of the car and dashed back towards the demon! The demon mistakenly thought he was going to attack, lashing out a hand and two pincers, but its appendages only met air! Mr. Rengoku wasn't attacking it. He was saving the helpless bystander that Inosuke completely ignored! He had immediately ducked low, moved beneath the demon, and grabbed the man swiftly carrying him to safety! That's why his sword wasn't in his hand when he confronted the demon; his first goal was to get the survivors to safety before even thinking about destroying it!
He slid against the wooden floorboards back to them and settled the man on his feet. "You'll be safe in the back. Now go!" He commanded the man. When the man left, Mr. Rengoku joined their side, speaking, "We don't have to hold back now. Let's finish this!"
Both demon and Mr. Rengoku charged forward at the speed of light and met in the very center. The demon reared back its hand and moved to slam it down over his body! He didn't move out of the way. He, instead, got down on one knee and kept his hand firmly on the hilt of his sword, the other grasping the sheath tightly.
"Flame Breathing. Second Form..." He mumbled lowly unclasping his sword from its sheath. When the demon drew close enough, to the point where it almost touched him, he whipped his blade out swiftly, fire spilling from the inside, as he unleashed an upwards arching sword slash! "Rising Scorching Sun!" He exclaimed loudly as his blade made contact with the demon's neck. The entire train car lit up in the fiery flame's color, coating everything in the beautiful red and yellow hue, from the perfect sphere of flame he created.
They silently watched the headless body of the demon collapse to the ground and disintegrate before their eyes.
Their breaths were caught at the back of their throat staring at Mr. Rengoku. The thick tension in the air lifted, the heavy atmosphere dissipated, and it felt like everything was peaceful and quiet again. The disappearances of the Demon Slayers and innocent civilians were finally over. They didn't have to worry about anyone else dying. It was all thanks to... Mr. Rengoku!
"Th-That was totally cool, Bro!" Tanjiro screamed out crying tears of joy. "Talk about genius swordplay!"
Kagami smiled widely and jumped close to Mr. Rengoku, holding her hands closely in front of her chest, cheering, "That was amazing, Mr. Rengoku! I've never seen anything like it before! Please let me tutor under you!"
Mr. Rengoku crossed his arms and that proud victorious smile she came to love spread across his face. "Very well, then! I will make you a fine swordsman!" He exclaimed.
"Me too!" Tanjiro piped up.
"Can I join?" Zenitsu gasped.
"Yeah, me too!" Inosuke quickly jumped in.
Tilting his head back, Mr. Rengoku declared loudly, "I would be willing to take you all in!"
They gasped and smiled brightly at Mr. Rengoku acceptance of them all. To be tutored, to become the Tsugukos, of one of the most powerful Hashiras made them cheer louder.
"Thank you, big bro! You're the best, big bro!" They chanted jumping up and down in the air, pouring all the warmth and kindness into it.
Eyes sparkling and hearts lifting in their chests, their smiles widened and they continued clapping and hollering in pure joy. They danced in a circle around Mr. Rengoku, praising him, as he belted out laughs of delight. Kagami's eyes wavered staring into the face of the man who accepted them without hesitation. He didn't even think about it! No matter if they were low ranks, reckless, or inexperienced compared to him. The fact he took them in without question made her think higher of him. Perhaps he saw potential in them.
His smile, his eyes, and his heart captivated her. He was different from so many people she had encountered. He was strong, brave, proud, and courageous. He didn't think twice to save Inosuke and the man. Mr. Rengoku moved so fast, so elegantly, and so graceful it made Kagami's heart skip a beat. And the fire he produced! It was so strong and hot, it was as if he was pouring his entire soul into it.
"Now you have to tell us who gave you that necklace, Mr. Rengoku!" Tanjiro laughed teasingly.
Kagami eagerly nodded her head. "Please, Mr. Rengoku! We promise to keep it a secret!" She begged with a large smile.
"I don't," Inosuke almost immediately huffed out.
"SHUT UP!" Kagami screamed pounding her fist against his head. She swiftly turned back to Mr. Rengoku and smiled sheepishly, "Okay, well, the rest of us promise to not tell. You seem so confident in yourself and your abilities. It's tenacious and firm, as if nothing could break it apart. We just want to know who captured such a strong, powerful heart such as yours," She spoke softly with a slight shrug.
Mr. Rengoku belted out a small laugh then slowly casted his eyes down to the silver necklace.
He picked up a hand and softly folded his fingers over it. "It's the symbol of Michael the Archangel. Although I do not believe in such a being or know the full extent of this person, I will cherish this gift and protect it as long as I live. This treasure you see was given to me by none other than my beloved angel, Angela Tenshi," He gently explained with kindest and loving smile she's ever seen.
"Angela Tenshi? The Angel Hashira?" Tanjiro gasped out in surprise.
"Yes!" Mr. Rengoku proudly declared.
Kagami's lips tightened in shock at the reveal. She nervously stammered, "W-Wow, I just thought-" but stopped herself. She couldn't let herself finish! It would be extremely rude and inappropriate for her to say she thought Tenshi and Tomioka were in a relationship considering they were almost always around each other. The fact they both acted so intimidating and emotionless had solidified the thought further in her head. She was wrong. The two were clearly friends. Obviously! Clearing her throat, she quickly spoke instead, "She seems so... She doesn't seem as enthusiastic as you."
"Ah, I see," Mr. Rengoku chuckled but spoke, "My angel holds a serious disposition but she truly cares deeply for everyone around her."
Zenitsu let out a dramatic sigh and wailed loudly with tears in his eyes, "No way you're dating a total babe! She's so hot but she looks so mean and scary! How did you manage to catch someone like her?"
"Yeah, how did you two meet?" Tanjiro asked curiously as they began to walk back to their seats.
Mr. Rengoku smiled, speaking loudly, "It's quite a long story. I will give you all the short version!"
They hurriedly raced their seats, waiting eagerly for the story to come. When Mr. Rengoku finally sat down, he gazed lovingly down at the necklace, finally speaking, "She became a Hashira a year after I've accepted the position. Her beauty and presence immediately captivated me. Not only was she beautiful, she was also headstrong, determined, confident, and adamant on defeating every single demon in the land. My strong sense of justice and her craving for justice of the death of her brother instantly matched. Even though our personalities contrasted, we care deeply for our friends and for each other, a bond that began to run deeper than we intended. Our main focus was fighting demons but one shouldn't hold back their feelings from the person they love."
"So you confessed and became a couple?" Kagami gasped at the beautiful story.
"Indeed!" Mr. Rengoku exclaimed loudly with a bright smile. "It was a secret we've kept hidden for quite some time now. One of the many things we agreed on was never letting our emotions and feelings cloud our judgement. A perfect example would be Tanjiro Kamado and his demon sister. I didn't believe a demon who never ate a human before could exist but she was adamant it was different. We were both very stubborn. It would've broken apart any couple. Except we both understood each other's stances. A relationship that doesn't value the fundamentals of communication or the basis of understanding is one that will not last. If neither exist, then neither should the relationship."
Tanjiro gasped, "Wow, it sounds like you have quite the stable relationship. How does being Demon Slayers affect it?"
"It doesn't!"
"Huh?!" They choked out.
Mr. Rengoku lifted a finger and smiled, speaking clearly and sternly, "We're Demon Slayers first and foremost. It's a fact that cannot be changed. Our duty isn't to each other. It's to the people we swore to protect. We do not have the luxury to put the other first when the weak and helpless have no one to protect them. We spend the rare moments of leisure with each other but we understand that our duty is to the people first."
Kagami couldn't help but wonder if her parents went through the same or similar situation. Where they had to put each other and their relationship last. Except she got the feeling they didn't.
"I think it's very sweet," Kagami sighed out blushing deeply. "You two understand each other completely, accept one another, and know your jobs come first before each other, but that's okay. You both acknowledge that, in the end, you still love each other deeply and will always return to one another."
Mr. Rengoku smiled down at her and nodded his head. "Indeed, Young Yamato."
It was the end of the story.
As Kagami leaned back in her seat, she suddenly began to feel drowsy and sleepy. She didn't realize how much the demon battles took a toll on her, even though she hardly did anything. She let out a small yawn and rubbed her eyes, feeling her eyelids get heavier and heavier. Her eyes tiredly landed on her friends; Mr. Rengoku and Tanjiro were already fast asleep, small and soft snores falling from their lips, as their heads gently laid on top of the other. Zenitsu sat asleep on his seat completely undisturbed while Inosuke sprawled himself over her lap, belting out loud snores that could wake the entire country.
She laid a soft hand on his mask, covering its lopsided eyes from her view, and let the other land on his hand. She then let the darkness envelope her vision.
Kagami is just going to... take a small, short... nap...