The train conductor ran down the aisle of the train cars with tears flowing freely down his face. The passengers of the Mugen Train were fast asleep and even the Demon Slayers who had boarded the train. They slept without a thought or care in the world, and it looked like their sleep would be undisturbed. It was what the train conductor hoped, he feared they would've saw right through him when he hole-punched their tickets. The Demon Slayer with the long black hair was immediately suspicious the moment she laid her eyes on him. He didn't stare at her, he kept his eyes to the ground, and held his hand out for her ticket. Even when she looked him over through a suspicious gaze, she still handed it over nonetheless.

Now, she and the others fell into a deep sleep. That means... That means he did his job well! He deserves some type of reward from it, right?!

He continued running with whimpers falling from his quivering lips and finally reached the first train car. Immediately, the train conductor collapsed on his hands and knees. Panting through his exhausted lungs, he lifted his head and pleaded tearfully, "As ordered, I put them all to sleep, sir. Now please, do the same to me as well, won't you?" He dropped his head in anguish, his tears a mixture of grief and sorrow, as he cried, "Let me be reunited with my dead wife and daughter. P-Please, I'm begging you..."

It was quiet for a long moment but an airy, dreamy voice soon spoke, "Certainly," and something fell to the ground in front of him with a squishy splat. He lifted his head up and saw a gray hand laying on the ground, then watched as it propped itself on its fingertips. An eye protruded from the palm of its hand and on the side of its thumb, a wide mouth spreading across its knuckles. The kanji for 'Dream' was inscribed on each finger. "You did a fine job," It continued to speak much to his relief.

"Now sleep forever," Were the last words the train conductor heard before his heart stopped beating abruptly.

The last of his breath escaped him like a hard kick in his stomach and he collapsed to the ground. No more air entered or left him, and his heart went cold as his soul left his body.

"Pardon me."

The hand turned around and saw five children kneeling on the ground before it. Three boys and two girls, all of them having the same tired, soulless look in their eyes. The light reflected off their pale, gray faces unpleasantly and they looked at him for guidance. Or orders, much to its eagerness. "What would you like from us?" The girl in the green kimono asked the hand.

It smiled widely at them and chuckled, explaining softly with a commanding tone, "Those who are sleeping now will sink even deeper. Wait here until then. A few demon hunters will sometimes wake unexpectedly from sensing a demon. So be very careful when you are tying them up that you do not directly touch their bodies. I must remain in the first car for the time being. 'Til everything's ready to go, good luck. You all want peaceful dreams as well, don't you?"

"Yes," They immediately answered in unison.

The hand smirked but the owner of the hand smiled wider. Standing atop of the locomotive at the very front, hearing the insistent choo-choo of its steam whistle, it made him sigh out dreamily. The wind surged past him, his hair and clothes ruffling with the breeze, prickling his eyes slightly, but it didn't bother him. No, it allured him. Made him squirm with joy and happiness inside his heart. Every single passenger was deep asleep because of his power and the strength given to him by his very own Master Kibutsuji!

Lower One smiled in the darkness and lifted his arms high, sighing, "To die while in the rapture of a dream, a blessing indeed!" His thoughts drifted to the five Demon Slayers sleeping peacefully, one of which a Hashira. "It doesn't matter how powerful a demon hunter you are. The spark that drives these beings comes from the heart, the human spirit," He chuckled lightly. He drew his arm back and let his hand reattach itself on his stump. "All you have to do is stamp out their spiritual core. You can kill them just like that. All human hearts work in the same fashion. Like a delicate glasswork, they're so pitifully fragile and weak."

The five children were already tying their ropes to the Demon Slayer's wrists. The girl in the green kimono tied hers around the Hashira, the one in yellow tying hers around the boar-head freak, the boy in the olive green jinbei kimono did his around the yellow-hair boy, the boy in blue wrapping his carefully around the girl in the red glittery haori, and the boy in brown's rope lastly tied his to the demon slayer with the hanafuda earrings.

They all took a deep breath and started counting upwards, quickly falling asleep...

Kagami's eyes slowly opened. Small moans of discomfort left her mouth as the first thing she saw was bright sunlight. She lifted a weak hand to shield her eyes and slowly sat up from something soft, sitting there momentarily with a large yawn. Letting her eyes adjust to the bright yellow light blinding her, she looked over her surroundings. She was slightly confused by the sudden shift in the atmosphere. The noises of the train, the bustling of people, and the snores from her friends didn't hit her ears. She neither felt the rumbling of the mechanical beast under her either.

Then, her eyes widened when she found herself in a room. Not just any room, her room from her childhood home!

Her eyes flitted frantically over the flowers that still adorned the sill of her window, the swords and blades she practiced with growing up sitting against the wall on thin, black stands, and portraits of her and her father sitting on the wooden desks and tables. She looked down and realized she had been tucked into her red futon. Strangely, she found herself still wearing her Demon Slayer Corps uniform with her sword still at her side. When... How... Why is she home?

Confused, almost fearful, Kagami pushed back the covers and stood. She slowly crossed the room, crossed the childhood memorabilia she happily collected over the years, down the halls filled with nothing but the drawings she drew as a child that her father proudly hung, and towards the outside world, the backyard she spent so many aching hours practicing her sword-skills. The large clearing that she rolled and tumbled in, the forest that lined near them where she would run off to, a forest she didn't know at the time filled with wisteria trees to keep the demons away, and the garden she constructed to bring life to their home. It was also the place where she buried her father. The beautiful pink and purple flowers swayed in the breeze, excited to see her, but showed none of the sadness she felt that day.

Kagami took a few steps towards it, thoroughly confused and horrified seeing no outline where she had dug and filled the hole, but stopped when something entered her view.

Tears prickled her eyes, her heart skipped a beat in her chest, and her lips trembled violently. Her cheeks were already soaking wet by the time she finally grabbed the courage to turn her head. Slowly, unsure, with an erratic beating heart that was about to jump out her throat, her eyes laid themselves on a man standing near the side of her house. She recognized the black fluffy hair, the green eyes staring across the clearing, and the crutch he used to walk around easily with.

No words left her mouth. All of them were trapped at the back of her throat. The only noises that choked out of her were whimpers of sorrow and despair. Then, she ran. She ran as fast as she could towards him without stumbling or faltering over her feet.

"Kagami, you slept in again," He turned huffing at her in annoyance. "I thought I told you-"

"Father!" She screamed loudly tackling him to the ground.

"AH!" He yelped when their bodies tumbled and hit the dirt hard.

Her arms wrapped around his torso tightly, her face dug into his chest, and she let out the most painful, agonizing wails she's ever produced. Her entire body trembled violently, her shoulders shook with so much force, and waterfalls of salty water poured out of her eyes, never letting up. Her mouth stayed wide open, crying and howling with pure pain, and her heart ached so much in her chest she thought it was going to burst. She didn't let herself take in deep breaths, not for a long while. The clothing of her father began to drench in her tears. She listened to his steady heartbeat and the slow rising of his chest, and let herself melt in his embrace.

Small noises of confusion left his lips. "K-Kagami...? Is something wrong?" He softly asked her.

Kagami cried harder, her hands clenching around his haori, when she felt the large weight of his hand on her head. She felt it pat and rub softly, gently, as he waited patiently for her answer. "Father... Father!" She continued to sob. "I missed you... I missed you so much...! Why did you leave me? I was... I was so a-alone! I had no one!"

"I never left you, Kagami. I've always been here waiting for you."

She slowly lifted her head and met his eyes. Those green eyes were filled with such kindness, warmness, and so much love. Love for her, his only child, his only daughter. The bangs of his black hair tickled his eyelashes and she barely realized how young but tired he look. How much she resembled him; their long black locks and their piercing green gaze.

"It... It felt like a terrible nightmare. Living and breathing without you," She mumbled softly to his face as the tears continued to fall silently.

Her father moved on his knees and she followed suit. He grasped her hands and smiled. "It's okay now. I am here, and I will keep you safe for the rest of my life. I love you, my little dragon."

In that moment, Kagami's guard dissipated into nothing. She closed her eyes and let herself sink in the moment. The Demon Slayer Corps uniform she wore disappeared in a flash, her sword with it, and was replaced with a simple bright red kimono. Her black hair was pulled into a top knot and she felt younger, smaller, more naive, and childish of the world. As if the hardships she faced over the course of two years never existed. The friends that helped lifted her up and realize her potential faded into existence, the fear of demons and Muzan Kibutsuji were erased from her mind, and her knowledge on Dragon Breathing faded away. When she opened her eyes, she stared lovingly at her father, mumbling with happiness she never felt with anyone else, "I love you too, father."

Her father slowly wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks. Letting his smile fade into a stern look, he let go of her hands and stood using the help of his crutch. "As I was saying, you slept in and missed hours of training with your shinai. As punishment, you will practice until pass dusk."

Kagami, most times, would've scoffed in frustration. That time, she didn't. She instead smiled at him, wiped her nose clean, and stood, nodding her head in understanding. Her heart lifted in her chest as she left towards her home to grab the shinai. Everything felt peaceful. She was finally happy again.

She was finally... free.

His breath crystallized in front of him with every pant, his feet crunched under the thick blanket of snow beneath him, the snowstorm continuing to rage around him as Tanjiro made the lonely trek through the forest. He could hardly see anything in front of him, perfect white snow and snowflakes obscured his vision. He shuddered heavily, the freezing cold pinching and nipping at his exposed skin, with no way knowing where to go. It was so dark, cold, and exhausting. He had no idea where he was or how he got there.

One moment he was on the Mugen Train and then the next darkness. He didn't know how much time had passed since he fell asleep, it felt like an eternity but even that felt short.

Then, he heard a footstep crunch in the snow behind him.

Tanjiro immediately whipped around and drew his sword sharply from its sheath. He slowed his breathing to one of calm, stilling his racing mind, and steeling his shaking hands. The snowstorm that swirled around him ceased abruptly and revealed something he thought he'd never see again. Only in his nightmares he had seen their faces. They were covered in blood, lifeless eyes wide open with terror etched across their faces, and... dead. His family... was dead.

Except they weren't.

His little brother and sister, Shigeru and Hanako, were carefully walking through the snow carrying a small basket filled with berries and vegetables they gathered from their patch. Their cheeks blushed red from the cold, their pale complexions glowing and radiating against the soft white snow, and their red eyes were so bright and filled with life. It sent shivers down his spine and he couldn't help but watch them with wide eyes.

When they noticed him standing there, they lit up brighter and smiled widely. "Look!" Shigeru gasped happily.

"Brother's back home!" Hanako exclaimed cheerfully.

"Welcome home, Tanjiro!"

"You sell the charcoal?"

Their voices were just as how Tanjiro remembered it; soft, childish, happy, and full of life. Excitement and happiness were in their tones when they stared at him. They greeted him as if he had just finished selling that charcoal and came home. It was a day he had hoped to see; to come home to a family waiting for him and not the grizzly bloody mess that terrified and shook him to the core. Instead, Shigeru and Hanako greeted him with warm smiles and very much alive.

Is this a dream? Another nightmare? Shigeru... Hanako...!

Tanjiro didn't want to tempt fate. His trembling hand dropped his Nichirin sword and heard it plop against the snow hard. He didn't pay attention to it, not anymore, and kept his shaking eyes trained on his siblings. An exhale of disbelief escaped his lips at the sight of them. A large lump grew in his throat so thick he couldn't swallow, tears stung his eyes, and he slowly began to move towards them. His steps quickened instantly to a full run and he charged straight for them, quick gasps choking out of his throat with every step. He didn't hesitate to jump and tackle them to the ground, his arms wrapped around each of their shoulders.

He long forgotten about his sword, about what his mission was on the Mugen Train, because his entire focus was on them. When he lifted himself up from their bodies, pulling all three of them on their knees, staring at their worried and curious little faces, the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes did so one by one. Then, they became heavy like a river stream. Whimpers fell from his mouth, gasps still forcing themselves out of their throat, and he continued to gaze into the faces. Faces he feared he wouldn't see for a long, long time.

Tanjiro immediately grabbed their heads and pulled them into his body, releasing a wail so loud and so powerful the snow in the trees shook and fell to the snow softly. His heart burned, his lungs ached, and his shoulders shook violently with every sob, howl, and bawl that jumped out of him. Feelings of guilt, shame, and regret that he forced down into his core to forget, to bury and never feel again, revealed themselves and released all at once.

Ever since that day, he had regretted leaving his family behind. He had left to go sell charcoal to the nearby village and didn't return until the next morning. During the night while he ate a warm meal and slept peacefully, his family was being murdered by Muzan Kibutsuji! He should've been there, he should've been there to protect them and save them! His mom, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, and Rokuta were slain and Nezuko was forced to become a demon, and he thought if he had been there to confront Kibutsuji maybe it wouldn't have happened. Perhaps there was nothing he could've done but as the eldest sibling it was his job to fight for them, and he failed miserably...

Tanjiro's crying did not lessen, not for a long time. He kept pouring his soul, his tears, and agony while his siblings stammered and looked at each other then at him in concern.

"Sorry. I'm sorry!" He sobbed at them both and continued wailing like a dying animal.

He hadn't noticed but his Demon Slayer Corps uniform disappeared and was replaced with a white robe and black pants. His black to red hair was combed back in a messy ponytail, the Demon Slayer mark on the top left of his fore-head back to its original blemish, and blue scarf wrapped itself around his neck. He looked younger, as if two years of hard training and demon slaying never happened, and felt happier than he had in years. He felt... whole again. As if everything that happened, Kibutsuji, demons, meeting Kagami, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and the Mugen Train was just one big nightmare.

When he arrived home, Hanako gasped to their mom and the rest of their family, "And then he suddenly burst into tears! We were pretty surprised!"

"What an odd duck!" Takeo laughed snacking on sticky rice balls their mother made.

His mom turned her purple eyes on Tanjiro and he looked up at her both happily and sheepishly. She looked concern but lightly chuckled nonetheless, "Well, maybe you're just exhausted is all."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine," Tanjiro assured her softly with a smile.

She suddenly leaned in close and gently grabbed his face. "You don't have a fever, do you, dear? Don't push yourself. Just rest for today."

As Tanjiro glanced around the room, from his smiling mother, to Shigeru playing on his back, Hanako chastising him, Takeo and Rokuta snacking on rice balls, he smiled widely and let out a small sigh of relief. "I'm fine, I guess... I was just having a bad dream earlier," He mumbled and sighed again.

His family... is back.

"Hush now, my child. Sleep well, my child," Lower One began to sigh lightly. With his hands at his side, a large grin on his face, he kept staring in the night, speaking softly as if he was luring a baby into a peaceful, calming sleep, "Sleep soundly. Forget to breathe. Should a demon appear, sleep. Even inside its stomach, sleep."

He softly let his head turn to the train cars when he felt the Demon Slayers worries lift off their chests. Felt their anger, frustration, and hostility dissipate and happiness fill the void that blackened their hearts. The tense guard they always had around them felt so beautiful when they shattered and fell to the ground in millions of pieces. "That's delightful," Lower One spoke dreamily," You must be having such wonderful dreams. Fall deeper... and deeper still... into your dream. Continue to slumber... and... you shall never be roused again."

Zenitsu laughed and cheered as he raced along a beautiful green valley filled with hundreds of peach trees and white clovers that swayed softly in the breeze. The sun shined brightly down on them warming and lighting up the perfectly ripe fruit that hung delicately by their stems. In his hand held the woman of his dreams. It was soft, warm, and smooth in his grip and he heard her panting excitedly as she followed quickly behind him.

"Here. Let me show you!" He gasped out with a large smile on his face. "These peaches are delicious! And with all the white clover in bloom, I can make you a ring of flowers. I'm pretty good at it, you'll see."

He turned his head and his eyes met the most beautiful color of pink he's ever seen. Her bright curious eyes gazed up at him with love and excitement, her pink kimono and black haori ruffling as she ran, and her black and red tipped hair fluttered and moved behind her graciously. She smiled at him and nodded her head eagerly. "Yeah! Make a lot, okay?" Nezuko Kamado giggled. "I'd love that!"

Zenitsu's cheeks blushed red at her eagerness and he couldn't help but jump high in the air, squealing, "YAHOO!"

Nezuko giggled and pulled him back down to the ground, letting him speak faster and more excitedly, "We have to cross a river, but don't worry. It's shallow."

Then, her smile quickly faded. She halted in her step and Zenitsu quickly stopped. Her hand tightened on his and he could feel it shake slightly. He looked at her with worry and concern when she gasped out, "River?" Her fearful and apprehensive eyes, ones that held a look that she was afraid she'd disappoint him, met his and she whimpered, "But I can't swim at all. Zenitsu, what do I do?"

Zenitsu's face blushed even redder at the look she was giving him. "It's fine!" He yelped frantically with a large smile. "I'll just carry you on my back and jump over it! Not even your toes will get wet!"

When he got on one knee and let her climb on his back, he pressed his feet hard into the ground. Blue and white lightning bolts immediately crackled out of his body and pushed him straight ahead. With impressive strength, agility, and power, he jumped over rocks, down cliffs, and pass the river easily. Both he and Nezuko laughed and giggled like little kids. They both seemed to be enjoying each other's company a lot but he was just hoping Nezuko was having a good time.

Hoping Nezuko... will see him more than just some cowardly Demon Slayer.

"Survey Team! Survey Team! We are the Cave Survey Team!" Inosuke kept chanting along marching and moving to the beat of his own movements. He marched through a dark cave looking and scouring for a nasty beast that he heard was roaming and destroying the mountains! It was his job as King of those Mountains to defeat the monster and keep his rightful claim as said King! Anything or anybody who dare think they're stronger than him will fight to the death!

Following behind him was Underling Four, Tanzeko! With that stupid bamboo muzzle in her mouth, she grunted and hummed along to his creative and amazing chant!

"Hey, Boss!"

"Wait, Boss!"

"Stop, Boss!"

Inosuke growled at the interruption and turned to see his three other Underlings posing on nearby dirt mounds. "What is it, Underling One, Underling Two, and Underling Three?" He asked them with impatience.

His Underlings smiled and waved their hands excitedly at him. They all took the disguise and covers of animal minions. Ponjiro was a tanuki, Chuitsu a mouse, Korigami a dragon, and Lunzeko a rabbit! Their eyes, nose, and ears took the shape of their respective animal's and they smiled widely, warily, and flirty down at him.

Underling 1 pointed towards their left, exclaiming, "Over there! I smell the master of this cave, clear as trash!"

"And its snoring doesn't squeak by me!" Underling 2 squeaked with a small smirk.

Underling 3 waved a hand at her head, fanning herself frantically speaking, "I can feel its aura and presence, no doubt, but it's no match for our boss! His big muscles and amazing strength will kill the beast once and for all! I'll fall deeper in love with him if he keeps saving us over and over again!" She placed her hands on her cheeks covered in scales and stared at him with huge heart eyes.

Inosuke placed his fists on his hands and billowed out steam from the nostrils of his mask, chuckling, "Of course, Underling Three! It's my duty to protect the pathetically weak such as yourselves!"

"Thanks, Boss!" They all cheered happily.

As fast as they could, they ran towards the other end of the cave to see the massive monster! It was a large mechanical beast that took the shape of a centipede! "There he is, all right!" Inosuke roared out a laugh. "Underlings, go get him!" He commanded.

"You got it, Boss Man!" His Underlings enthusiastically exclaimed racing towards the monster.

When Inosuke only noticed three, he turned and saw Kezoko sitting humming to herself! "Hey, you!" He screamed back at her. "Don't fall behind, Underling Four! Come on. Look! I'll give you these sparkly acorns!" He exclaimed brandishing a handful of delicious acorns that sparkled yellow diamonds in her face! When she gasped and accepted them, Inosuke quickly joined in the fray, screaming, "LET'S GO!"

The five of them quickly began to defeat the monster! Inosuke's never felt so strong and powerful before!

Inosuke was finally free... to fight whatever the hell he wanted!

When Kyojuro slowly opened his eyes, he curiously found himself kneeling in a familiar room. The doors to the outside were slid wide open letting sunshine warm the partially lit room and the birds peaceful chirping filled the air. His fiery golden eyes lightly glanced at every crevice, nook, and cranny that they instantly spotted. His eyes didn't catch anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, nor did his ears. Everything seemed calm and quiet, but there had to be a reason why he was there.

His hand lightly grazed the ground to stand but it lightly bumped against his Nichirin sword flame guard. That's when he noticed the man laying in a messily made futon in front of him. His unruly, fiery golden hair perfectly matched Kyojuro's, a beige traditional kimono robe was wrapped around his body, his back was completely turned to face him, and a book was propped open in his hand.

Right, he remembered then. He was to report to his father about becoming a Hashira.

With his hands clenched on his lap and bright large smile on his face, he spoke to his father about following his footsteps and becoming the next Flame Hashira. He accepted the position offered to him by Master Ubuyashiki and was excited to start his journey.

When he had finished speaking, his father didn't say anything for a while. He placed the book down in front of him and kept his head laid against his pillow. "So what if you've become a Hashira?" His father soon huffed at him. "Worthless. It means nothing. You'll still never amount to anything. Neither you, nor I."

The smile on Kyojuro's face had fallen listening to the harsh, pessimistic words of his father. To hear his father didn't care about his greatest achievement... Sorrow entered his heart when his father didn't acknowledge how much stronger he had become. How much he had to train and fight in order to secure his position as a Hashira. He let his eyes drop to the ground and stood from his spot. He bid his father farewell but even then his father stayed silent. He wasn't surprised by the feedback, not by a long shot, but he had hoped he'd get something else in return.

As he walked the perimeter of his home, the words of his father mulling over in his head, a small figure appeared from a room near him. Bearing the same unruly fiery golden hair and eyes, Senjuro's eyes brightened landing on him and he smiled sheepishly. "Brother!" He exclaimed jogging to meet him. "Did your news make Father happy? I hope when I become a Hashira, that father will acknowledge me as well," His younger brother spoke hopefully.

Kyojuro's sad eyes only stayed trained on Senjuro and his smile didn't reappear. It crushed his heart knowing both of them were yearning for their father's affection.

Truth was, their father wasn't always like that. Like the Hashira he once was, he was full of passion. And then one day, he quit being a swordsman... just like that. The man who raised them both with such enthusiasm, training them and guiding them with a smile always on his face... Kyojuro couldn't understand why. But he couldn't dwell on it. He won't dwell on the past. Not when his younger brother had been through worse. Their mother died when he was too young to even remember her... and anguish their father was in...

Taking a few steps forward and getting on his knees, Kyojuro lightly placed a hand on Senjuro's arm, softly speaking, "Senjuro, to be honest, he was not happy. He said that it meant nothing." Despair entered Senjuro's eyes but Kyojuro flashed him his victorious bright smile, adding, "Even so, that will not extinguish my passion. This flame in my heart burns strong! I'll never lose faith! Listen, Senjuro." He grabbed his brother's hand and held it lovingly held it in his strong grip. "Keep this firmly in mind. You have an older brother... a brother who believes in you. Whatever path you take, you're going to become a fine man. Just keep that burning passion inside your heart."

Senjuro had begun crying at his words, large droplets of tears cascading down his cheek, and they both embraced each other tightly. "Let's both do our best, no matter how lonely it gets," He concluded with a large sigh.

Kyojuro did everything for his brother, to make sure he didn't suffer as much as he did, and hoped... one day he'll become a fine man.

Lower One smirked at the feeling of the five children already fast asleep in their dreams.

"Everything's set," He giggled lightly. "The ropes which I created allow one to invade the dreams of whoever it is you're tethered to. I always use the utmost caution when I engage in battle. Hashira or not, once asleep, you are no different from that of a newborn. I will enjoy this savory feast after I have disposed of the demon hunters."