Author's Note: Thank you guys for all the favorites, follows, positive comments and feedback! Thank you all for interacting with the story, it makes me so happy to see so many people enjoying it!
Again, I am terribly sorry about the ultra long hiatus! (More explanation in the end notes so you guys can get to the story)! This has been a very intense chapter to get done but I have finally reached a point, in which I am satisfied with how it ended.
Anyways, I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter! ^^
"Kyoujurou!" Senjurou shouted as his brother began to dash further ahead of him and Muichirou. Senjurou was at his breaking point by now, no longer able to keep up with his mentor and brother. Muichirou had fallen back and stuck with him but Kyoujurou had ignored his calling until something grabbed onto his shoulder, pulling him back to reality.
He blinked and turned around to see Muichirou glaring at him, annoyance clearly plastered on his features.
"Slow down. Senjurou-kun can't keep up anymore." Muichirou told him and Kyoujurou opened his mouth to speak before realizing that he was right. He had lost sight of his brother and trudged back, remaining silent as the pair of Hashiras returned. Senjurou was leaning up against a tree, trying to catch his breath, and he looked out to see his brother and mentor returning.
"You two need to talk this out before we arrive." Muichirou stated and Kyoujurou blinked at the comment, "We need to stand on equal footing if we are to face an Upper Moon."
Kyoujurou breathed out silently at this and knew that the young Hashira was right. They really could not stand idly around and be forced to ignore each other of what Senjurou feared was to be there. He nodded in understanding before he stood Senjurou who wiped the beads of sweat off his forehead. Senjurou looked back at him, waiting for his brother to intimate the conversation, and Kyoujurou licked his lips.
"…I'm sorry." Senjurou said and Kyoujurou blinked, "I should have discussed this topic with you before I was accepted as Muichirou-san's tsukugo."
Kyoujurou opened his mouth but shortly closed it as he processed his brother's words and he replied back, "…I wish that you brought the subject up while he was at the Butterfly Estate."
Senjurou sighed and glanced at the lone Hashira staring up at the night sky before returning his gaze to his brother.
"It did not seem like the time," Senjurou replied.
"And when would have been the right time then?"
The question froze Senjurou, knowing that he was caught, and Kyoujurou waited for him to answer his impossible question.
"Senjurou…do you know how long father has been like this?" Kyoujurou asked next and Senjurou stilled, uncertainty built up in him.
How long had his father been suicidal?
"Flesh!"
Senjurou's eyes grew wide and it seemed like time slowed down for a moment as he saw an elongated arm reach towards him, claws flashing across his vision.
"Senjurou!" Kyoujurou's voice called out as his blade flashed out and sliced the arm directly in half. The Demon cried out and Kyoujurou stood in front of his brother, eyes narrowed and readied to shield him again.
Muichirou clicked his tongue at this and drew his sword out as well as the forest shuffled around them and chuckling surrounded them.
"Delicious flesh!"
"So small, how adorable!"
"Demon Slayers! Let us enjoy this meal!"
Senjurou's heart began to beat wildly at the occurrence of multiple Demons now surrounding them and his eyes grew wide as he saw their glowing eyes in the darkness of the woods. His throat became dry as he realized that they were now surrounded.
This was something he did not have a plan for.
"Aw, look at that little one! He looks so delicious!" One Demon with feminine features cooed at him with razor-sharp teeth and Senjurou remained frozen behind his brother, staring at the Demons.
He had never seen a true Demon before and this was now an eye-opening experience.
"Do not worry, Senjurou! Muichirou and I shall defend you!" Kyoujurou exclaimed and Senjurou remained silent as the Demon chuckled at him.
"Do you truly believe that you can defeat us?" One snarled and Muichirou's eyes narrowed as he took a small breath, changing his stance to Mist Breathing. Senjurou watched as his mentor easily slashed through two of the Demons using Second Form: Eight-Layered Mist.
The Demons cried out in pain as two of them were easily defeated and Kyoujurou tightened his grip as he performed Third Form: Blazing Universe.
Wow, Senjurou still had much more to learn.
Senjurou's hand itched as he moved it to his sword but watched in amazement as the two Hashiras continued their attacks on the Demons. He could barely keep up with their speed and amazing reflexes, trying his best to see through their attacks.
"Don't lose your attention, brat!"
Suddenly something grabbed at the collar of his yukata and yanked his back, causing a gasp of surprise from his lips. His eyes grew wide and watched as he was pulled towards the depths of the forest, out of sight from his brother and mentor. He struggled to yank out of the Demon's grasp and kicked his feet around, his heart pounding at the now troublesome situation he got himself into.
"How sweet! A little treat just for me to enjoy!" The Demon snapped at him and then before he knew it, he was slammed into a tree trunk the air from his lungs escaping in a violent gasp. He stared at the Demon, noting the pale ash-gray blue skin with a sickening grin with large prominent fangs that circled his entire mouth and lengthy green hair. Nails pierced Senjurou's skin causing him to wince at the pain and something began to burn at him.
"Aren't you lucky?! You get to experience such a wonderful death!" The Demon taunted and Senjurou's eyes grew wide as pain radiated from the Demon's hand around his neck and the Demon laughed. Its tongue drooled out of his mouth and Senjurou's hand moved to his blade, uncertain of what he could even do since he wasn't even a proper Demon Slayer.
"Yes, you will taste so sweet after you melt!" The Demon continued to laugh and Senjurou stilled himself, trying to relax as much as he could.
He wasn't going to back down.
He wasn't going to be stopped from saving his father.
The Demon froze and began to speak but Senjurou over-spoke him.
"Mist Breathing, Third Form," He said and his sword was unleashed as the Demon's eyes grew wide, "Scattering Mist Splash."
Senjurou released a circular slash in front of him and the Demon's grip released on his neck, allowing him to properly breathe now. The Demon swore and hung low as he stared at him, noticing the difference in Senjurou's appearance.
"…so you are a Demon Slayer!" He snarled at Senjurou who rubbed at his neck, his gaze turned into a glare. His grip on his sword returned and the Demon smiled.
"Shut up." Senjurou said and his eyes narrowed, "We don't have time for you."
The Demon's cheerful-like glee disappeared at this and its dark eyebrows twitched before shouting, "Oh?! You think you can kill me, brat?! Guess again!"
Senjurou remained still before he readied himself yet again and brought his blade up, staring at the Demon who now ran at him.
"Mist Breathing, Second Form," Muichirou's voice appeared from behind the Demon, having little time to react, "Eight-Layered Mist."
The Demon was gone before he realized anything and Muichirou appeared before as the mist disappeared. Senjurou blinked and he didn't even realize it but he had fallen to the ground in relief. Muichirou raised his eyebrows at this and bent down to his tsukugo.
"Are you alright, Senjurou?" He asked and Senjurou properly released a breath he had been holding before realizing stung him.
They needed to get back or his father would be dead.
Senjurou dusted himself off and looked over to see Kyoujurou putting his blade away as the remains disappeared. His brother ran to him and frowned at the sight of bruising beginning to form around his neck.
"We need to go." He spoke and struggled up with Muichirou taking grip of his hand, "Are all the Demons defeated?"
"Yes, but Senjurou-" Kyoujurou answered and was going to comment on his neck but he was already moving out of the trees back towards the pathway.
"We have to keep moving. There's no time to waste." Senjurou continued to beg and looked at his brother with a look he had never truly seen before in Senjurou.
Crazed desperation.
Senjurou grabbed his brother by his uniform and Kyoujurou glanced back at Muichirou before nodding.
"You will get medical attention from Kochou once she arrives on the scene." Kyoujurou told him and Senjurou nodded wildly, "Come, I'll carry you."
Senjurou continued to nod before Kyoujurou turned around, kneeling so he could properly carry his brother. Senjurou jumped onto his brother's back and Kyoujurou looked to Muichirou with a nod.
"Let us continue," Kyoujurou spoke and Muichirou nodded, staring at Senjurou's somewhat distant stare.
He was beginning to worry about what they would find once they arrived.
It was here.
Finally.
Shinjurou's heart raced in his chest at the sight of the Demon. The Demon was a muscular young man, likely around eighteen from the looks of it with skin so fair it looked bright green-tinged with white. A smile slipped onto his face as he stared at the group with yellow eyes and blue sclera with the kanji for Upper Rank Three etched into the irises. Bright pink hair fluffed out around his head and bore a simple short sleeveless dark purple-pink haori that was cut off at the waist and left open to expose his chest along with a pair of baggy white pants that were rolled just below the knee with a blue rope belt. Tattoos surrounded his body, with a center one running directly down his chest, halfway down his stomach and the other two branched off to the sides of his chest to join another two lines. Three lines were repeated around his waist and then on his arms that ran down to two rings on each side.
It was exactly like Tanjirou had described to him.
"The Demon's name was Akaza, Rengoku-san."
Shinjurou had little care for names nor personality traits when his son's killer was in front of him. The Demon scanned over them and Shinjurou's hand moved towards his sword, his smile on a thread.
"No…" Tanjirou muttered once he caught sight of the Demon, the murderous intentions clearly on display from the scent of it, "What is an Upper Moon doing here?"
Shinjurou stood up as he gripped the tsuka of his blade and the Demon smirked before he had disappeared. Shinjurou's eyes grew wide as he could barely keep up with where the Demon appeared and the hair on the back of his neck stood up as he felt the intense murderous rage right behind him.
Shinjurou swung his blade back as quickly as he could and swore when he passed away from Tanjirou. The Demon smiled and narrowed his eyes before looking down at Tanjirou, interest piqued at the sight of the earrings.
"You're the brat Muzan-sama wants?" The Demon taunted and Shinjurou's eyes narrowed until the Demon looked back at him, "So weak."
Shinjurou clicked his tongue as this was not what he expected to be facing since Tanjirou had informed him of how stuck on ideals the Demon and Kyoujurou battled.
He also did not heed to be reminded about his weakness.
"Oi, bastard," Shinjurou spoke and the Demon's gaze then locked on him but seemed uninterested, "Ignore the kid."
The Demon flexed his knuckles and his veins pulsed since Shinjurou tried to pull his attention towards him.
"…and why should I? You're clearly meant to be rotting away. You have fallen past your prime." The Demon contested and Shinjurou felt his lip rise at how blunt he was in his assumptions.
"The boy is nothing to be concerned about. He hasn't reached his peak just yet." Shinjurou stated and the Demon's eyebrows peaked at this.
"How do you know this?" The Demon wondered with a hint of curiosity and Shinjurou sighed before smirking towards the boy.
"He has not completed his training. He has not truly captured the swordsman spirit just yet." Shinjurou informed him and Tanjirou blinked, shocked at how highly praised Shinjurou thought of him. The Demon grinned at this and a chill ran down his spine at this as the Demon moved his footing.
"Is that so? But you're so weak." The Demon taunted and Shinjurou remained unmoved at this.
"I'm not as strong as I was but that doesn't mean shit," Shinjurou replied and forced himself from speaking more.
The Demon thought about this before grinning wide and something like a hint of realization flashed across his face.
"Oi, oi, oi, if you've survived this long," The Demon began and Shinjurou didn't wait for him to finish, choosing to attack him while blabbering. He arched his shoulders high as he performed Flame Breathing Second Form and the Demon made no attempt to move but his eyes did narrow as one of its hands were sliced off.
"So you were strong?" The Demon commented as the hand instantly regenerated and Shinjurou swore as he managed to land properly.
"Yet you reck of sake." The Demon retorted again and Shinjurou's eyes grew large.
He hadn't touched a bottle in what felt like years yet the smell still clung to him.
"So what? He's a Demon and nothing from a Demon is ever good. Ignore his foolish attempts to catch you off guard. Focus on the battle at hand." Tsuyojurou's words bounced off his head and Shinjurou scowled at his brother's voice appearing as he landed. The Demon flexed his hand and stared at Shinjurou.
"Do you truly think a Demon Slayer past his prime can even try to fight me?" The Demon wondered and Shinjurou slowly stepped back.
"I have to." He snarled back and the Demon's eyes narrowed.
"Well then…let's see how long you last." The Demon spoke and the hairs on the back of Shinjurou's neck stood up as the Demon charged at him.
Pain began to form on Senjurou's neck from where the Demon had dug his claws into his neck and he swore under his breath as quietly as he could. It throbbed and he rubbed his hand to it but instantly regretted the choice of the increased discomfort.
"Are you alright, Senjurou?" Kyoujurou asked and Senjurou blinked before realizing that even with his brother's limited hearing, he still heard him.
"…yes. My neck is bothering me but I will be fine." He told him, hoping that this would deter him from wanting to stop and observe him.
So of course, he stopped.
Kyoujurou gently dropped him down and Senjurou immediately went to cover his potential wounds.
"What's going on?" Muichirou asked as he realized the other Hashira had stopped running. Kyoujurou stared at his brother and Muichirou returned the look of concern when he saw his Tsukugo hiding his neck.
"Senjurou's neck is bothering him," Kyoujurou replied and Senjurou glanced away, knowing he should have tried harder to keep himself in check.
"It's fine. We need to focus on getting to father." He retorted and Muichirou sighed.
"We can't get there prepared if you collapse the moment we arrive, Senjurou-kun." Muichirou responded back and Senjurou clicked his tongue as the two Hashira stared at him with wide eyes waiting.
He should get their worries over and done with so they could continue.
By their experience, he knew it wasn't good.
Kyoujurou's face was plastered with worry and his eyes grew wide staring at the wound while Muichirou looked shocked from the way his eyes parted up. Kyoujurou admittedly rushed over and looked at the wound closely.
"Senjurou! This looks painful!" He shouted and Senjurou winced at how loud he voiced his concern.
"It really isn't that bad, Aniue. It looks more painful than it is." Senjurou told him and Kyoujurou looked tentative at the blistering wound.
"…that looks…terrible." Muichirou bluntly put it and Senjurou wanted to glare at him but reframed from doing so. The pain was hardly anything he had felt before from when he began to learn to cook from scraps and burns.
"It appears to be wet and shiny…" Kyoujurou muttered and Senjurou knew that he likely got burned from the Demon gripping his neck earlier.
It likely was a second-degree burn then.
They had no time to worry about his wound when his father could be dying.
"I'll be fine. We have more pressing matters." Senjurou continued to press but they refused to move from the spot. Senjurou scowled before he pulled out the bottom of his yukata from his hakama pants and proceeded to tear off the end.
"I'll cover the wound. I will get it properly treated after we reach father, okay?" He said and Kyoujurou blinked as he watched his brother quickly wrap the wound up, "Let's go. We won't make it in time if we keep stopping."
Kyoujurou stopped Senjurou's hand from proceeding to wrap his wound and stared at him, eyes boggling.
His little brother didn't seem like the sweet innocent boy he knew anymore.
He was almost like a soldier.
"Can you carry me the rest of the way, Aniue?" Senjurou asked and Kyoujurou blinked out of his thoughts before nodding. Kyoujurou knelt down and Senjurou climbed on top of his brother, eyes wide, and wrapped his arms around his neck.
He prayed under his breath that his father would be alright until they would get there.
"Let's go."
Shinjurou swore as the Demon was already aiming for a lethal blow and barely managed to dodge the attack. He was practically face to face with him and the Demon's grin remained plastered on his face, raising his sword in time to block the next attack.
"Interesting!" The Demon spoke as he swung his fist directly at him and Shinjurou swore.
This Demon was far more interested in taking him down instantly.
"You must have been strong in the past if you're still alive, old man! Now you are far past your prime so just die already!" Akaza called out and Shinjurou attempted to block the next attack but failed as he was flung back from the strength the Demon presented. He coughed out as he nearly landed against the metal of the Train and just barely stopped himself in time.
"Focus or you'll end up dying, father!" Kyoujurou's ghost shouted at him and he blinked, narrowly missing the Demon's next attack, punching straight through the metal. Shinjurou swore as he readied Third Form: Blazing Universe but the Demon was already gone by the time he had gotten the slash ready to arc downwards.
"Pathetic." The Demon hissed and Shinjurou's eyes grew wide as the Demon grinned wildly while baring his fist towards his blade.
If he lost his blade, he would be screwed.
"Have faith in yourself, Shinjurou-san."
His eyes grew wide at the sudden voice and he grits his teeth together as to both their surprise the blade sliced right through the Demon's skin. The limb fell off loosely as Shinjurou then moved to prepare Third Form: Blazing Universe. He clicked his tongue as he then unleashed the vertical slash to keep the Demon's regeneration slowed.
"Come on, old man! This is disappointing!" The Demon shouted at him and managed to duck another attack, cursing under his breath. He used Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun and the Demon grinned as the wave of flames rose to him but was countered with a barrage of punches.
Shinjurou could barely keep up with any of the attacks, only the ones he knew he could prevent any serious damage. Bruises were beginning to form under his uniform and he knew that he already had cracked a rib or two, making breathing harder than usual.
"Damn it!" Shinjurou hissed through his teeth and the Demon laughed at this as Shinjurou swung his sword down, catching the Demon's leg.
"Trying to be impressive, old man? You've done nothing!" The Demon taunted and Shinjurou knew he had to keep close but his body was slowly beginning to ache.
"Shut it!" Shinjurou snarled back and noticed Tanjirou reaching for his blade before shouting to him, "You stay out of this, kid! I've got it handled!"
"But Rengoku-san-!" Tanjirou called out and for a moment, the Demon swung his hand at Shinjurou's neck, aiming directly at beheading him.
"Watch your own neck father!" Kyoujurou called out and Shinjurou rushed his blade to his guard, only catching the Demon's hand and nicking it away from his neck. The attack instead hit across his cheek and directly under his right eye. Blood spilled out from the wound and Shinjurou tasted iron in his mouth, eyes grown wide as the Demon managed to make him bleed.
"There you go." The Demon teased him and proceeded to slam him against a tree with a kick. Shinjurou gagged out salvia and blood and the Demon again launched himself against Shinjurou. He ducked underneath and raised his blade, cutting through into the chest of the Demon. Blood spilled out but it quickly regenerated the wound, practically healing a second after cutting the Demon, and Shinjurou dashed back towards the train. The Demon grinned and followed right behind him.
He needed another plan. But what was he going to do?
He faced the Demon again who called out, "Don't lose focus, old man!"
Shinjurou swore and whipped his chin from the blood he had spat out before clicking his tongue. Shinjurou watched in anticipation as the Demon's grin began to spread across his face and dread began to pool in his stomach.
Then the Demon took a fighting stance and slammed his foot into the ground.
"Rengoku-san…Akaza's blood art…it could sense when someone with a battle spirit was approaching." Tanjirou's voice echoed in his head and he could remember scoffing at this
"So…like a three hundred and sixty-degree perception then?" He retorted and Tanjirou nodded.
"Very much so…even when I battled him, I had help from Giyuu-san."
Shinjurou clicked his tongue as he realized what was happening and the Demon's Blood Art started to awaken.
How had Tanjirou beaten him originally when the Blood Art would know exactly when he was going to attack?
He clicked his tongue as he could not even form a plan of attack against the Demon's Blood Art.
"Blood Art: Destructive Death." The Demon said and a shockwave attacked Shinjurou at his side, causing him to gasp in shock. He barely had time to react and Akaza charged at him, ready to finish him with the next blow. His blade caught just the edge of the Demon's fist and he flew across the battlefield, nearly crashing into the forest if he hadn't caught himself with his footing.
"Keep trying old man! You're no match against me!" The Demon shouted and Shinjurou blinked as some of his blood bloomed out from his now ripped uniform on his shoulder. He quickly rolled it around to make sure nothing was out of sorts as he managed to dodge one more attack by a hair.
His luck was starting to run out.
Now, the Demon crouched with both his arms at the side of his body ready to strike and Shinjurou blinked, confused at what Akaza was planning.
"Annihilation Type." The Demon hissed out and Shinjurou blinked as he could not stop the attack. Akaza lunged forward, creating two powerful circular shockwaves from the palm of his hands which he used to strike him. He barely had time to realize what had just happened to him and Shinjurou blinked in realization.
The Demon had completely torn his right arm off.
Blood erupted out of the wound and he could faintly hear the cries of the young Demon Slayers in the background. The sight of red filled his eyes before the laughter of the Demon taunting him overruled the boys.
Then a smirk fell onto his lips, the brief glimpse of his brother overriding his rationality. Tsuyojurou's blank expression fell onto the dismembered arm as his own wound bled out, nearly mirroring each other.
It was clearly retribution for him to lose a limb as well.
His blade was still balanced in his left hand, still getting over the brief shock of losing an appendage.
Then he laughed, the taste of iron filling his mouth as the scent of blood overwhelmed the battlefield, which caused the Demon's eyes to narrow in confusion.
"…you're different," Akaza stated and gripped the now loose arm tightly. He grinned menacingly as he crushed the limb to nothing but broken bones, torn muscles, and a massive gush of blood.
"You're wrong." Shinjurou said and wavered a little as he tried to focus on the battle at hand instead of the shock of losing a limb, "There's nothing impressive about me."
He balanced his blade and Akaza's eyes narrowed as Shinjurou focused on trying to still the blood pooling out from his missing arm.
"Now, we are equal, Shinjurou," Tsuyojurou whispered in his ear and Shinjurou waited a bit before laughing at this. Confusion spread across the battlefield and Shinjurou spit aside some blood from his mouth.
"True! True!" He called out and the Demon looked at him wildly, absolutely bewildered by his own words, "Perhaps you will forgive me for those years ago."
His brother scoffed before leaning against his shoulder and replied, "You would be mistaken. I am not willing to forgive you so easily. If you can bring honor back to the Rengoku line, then just maybe you can earn it."
Shinjurou grinned at this and adjusted his singular arm back, charging himself up. He took up a high stance and readied himself as Akaza's eyes grew wide at what was now occurring.
"Flame Breathing," He gasped out with the taste of iron lingering on his tongue, "Ninth Form."
The pressure from the form carved up the ground and he grinned wildly as he swung his sword back, knowing that his balance was off but the attack would do what was needed to be done.
He charged forward and echoed out the form's name, "Rengoku!"
End Note: The next chapter will be finale between Akaza and Shinjurou! It will be a tear-jerking!
So for my very extended hiatus...I lost the desire to write. Back in April, one of co-workers left to pursue a new job (which I was glad for them) but after they left, my focus was beginning to sway. I want to pursue a new job myself and I have been focused on applying and disappointment has been following me since. I have been stuck at this job for over 4 years now, which I've been wanting to depart for a year now, and I haven't had any luck with finding a new job. I've been stuck and dreading going to work now without my co-worker. I'm still searching for a job, hopefully luck will find me before ending of the year.
Anyways, thank you, guys, for being so patient about this chapter! Only two more left! My goal is to finish this story before the end of October / Early of November.
Anyways, thank you guys for checking out the story! Have a good rest of the week everyone and take care!
