DO NOT OWN ANY DEMON SLAYER, OR SWORD ART ONLINE CHARACTERS, ALL RIGHTS GO TO THEIR COPYRIGHT OWNERS,THIS IS PURELY FOR FAN SERVICE AND I ONLY OWN THE OC'S I CREATE AND THERE IS NO PROFIT INVOLVED WHATSOEVER THIS IS A HOBBY AND THE ONLY THING I GAIN IS A BAD SLEEP SCHEDULE FOR FREE, THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!
Bold = Important Text/Breathing Styles and Techniques
Italic Thoughts
Underline Whisper
Quick Author's note: This and chapter 4 were meant to be one chapter but I couldn't upload it because it was so long lol but uh yeah enjoy two chapters I guess lol.
Permanent Author's Note: I plan on doing Tanjiro X Kanao as the pairing for Tanjiro as I think it's a beautiful pairing and I've always liked it and I love fleshing in more Demon Slayer characters as I go, I have no plans to change Kirisuna, I'm sure I just upset someone, but hey the events I want to do for this story doesn't allow me to split up Kirisuna and now that I think about it, Neither do I want to, because I see nth wrong with that cannon ship, I will also add Sinon to Tanjiro X Kanao because she is SAO's best girl.
Chapter 5: Set Your Heart Ablaze.
"You were able to fight and defeat the boss even while injured, you fulfilled your duty as a Demon slayer, I truly have taught you well, Young Kamado." Rengoku says with a smile on his face.
"Mr. Rengoku…." Tanjiro says surprised.
"You're one step closer to being a Hashira, that's one step out of a thousand mind you, you may be a talented young man, but there is still room to grow." Rengoku says gaining a proud expression.
"I'll do my best….!" Tanjiro says while looking at the man with a smile.
"You have a deep wound in your gut, regulate your breathing, take full control of it, picture your nerves reaching all throughout your body, can you see it? The torn virtual blood vessel." Rengoku asks with Tanjiro breathing heavily while trying to concentrate. "Concentrate harder." Rengoku says before Tanjiro closes his eyes, concentrating and looking deep within his body before seeing the torn vessel in his virtual body as his heart beats loud in his ears with him gasping for breath. "That's it, now, close the wound." Rengoku says, causing Tanjiro to groan in slight pain thanks to the nullifier before Rengoku puts a finger on his forehead. "Focus!" Rengoku says as Tanjiro groans in slight pain more before gasping for air, causing Rengoku to smile. "Good, you succeeded, mastering your breathing, it will open many doors for you, now it won't solve everything, but it will help, you will continue to grow stronger." Rengoku says with the same smile as always, encouraging Tanjiro in the process with everyone watching in awe at the bond.
"Thank you….big bro…." Tanjiro says softly, causing Rengoku to smile warmly at the nickname.
"As for the others, everyone has made it out of this raid ok, thanks to all your hard work, I am very proud of the man you are becoming, Young Kamado, and one day, you will surpass even me, so don't strain yourself, make sure to rest up." Rengoku says with a smile, causing Tanjiro to give one of his own.
"Thank you, I will." Tanjiro says with his smile still as bright as ever.
"Good." Said Rengoku warmly before turning his attention toward a shockwave along with everyone else who look on in surprise seeing the smoke clear up.
"What the hell was that, another boss!?" Kirito said while sweating.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good….." Asuna said while getting ready to fight.
"Hey you guys ok!?" Agil yells, getting a nod from Asuna and Kirito who watch on with the rest of the raid party, seeing glowing yellow eyes in the smoke as it clears up, showing a man with short pink hair and pink eyelashes with glowing golden yellow eyes with the rank Upper 3 carved into them as well as blue sclera with lines in them connecting to the edge of the iris iris, the man has white skin with blue lines going all over his body with the most prominent ones being the ones on his face with a pair 3 curved lines going across both his eyes and a straight line in the middle of his face just stopping before his nose, this man wears a pink vest with black lines on it's back as well as white pants with a blue drawstring tied in two knots on each side of his waist that ends in pink fabric, the man also wears red beads around his ankles, seeing this man makes Rengoku grip his sword in caution as Tanjiro looks on at him in confusion.
"Those eyes, I've never seen anyone with eyes like those before…who is this guy, and what's he doing here…!?" Tanjiro thought as the man looks at Tanjiro before sharpening his eyes and leaping at him, going to smash his head in with a left punch, getting dangerously close to doing so as Rengoku widens his eyes a bit at his speed.
"Flame Breathing, Second Form!" Rengoku thought before quickly unsheathing his blade and slicing upwards at the man's arm, splitting it in half and stopping at the bicep. "Rising Scorching Sun!" Rengoku thought with a frown on his face as he watches the man backflip three times to get distance.
"Damn that guy's fast, I didn't even see him move!" Agil said aloud in disbelief as the pink haired man holds up his arm, before showing off the impossible by snapping it back together with it healing instantly.
"What the hell, his arm just healed instantly!?" Kirito says shocked, never seeing anything like that before in the beta.
"H-how is that possible, not even the beta testers found a regeneration skill with that kind of strength!" Mito says with widened eyes, widening everyone else's in shock and disbelief.
"That's a fine sword." The man said nonchalant before licking the red clean off his wrist, looking sadistic in the process.
"The sheer speed of his regeneration, and the pure malice of his attack, he has to be one of them." Rengoku thought with certainty. "Why would you go after a wounded person first over me?" Rengoku demanded, awaiting an answer from the unknown man.
"The boss told me to get the last attack bonus item, besides, I thought he'd get in the way of our chit chat is all." The pink haired man said nonchalantly, brushing off the fact that he was going to kill Tanjiro if it weren't for Rengoku.
"What is it you would like to discuss, while this is our first time meeting, I already dislike you." Rengoku says with distaste at the pink haired man's actions.
"Is that right? Well I dislike weak people, the mere sight of them makes my skin crawl." The pink haired man says with a smile on his face.
"If that is the case, I do not believe we will ever get along." Rengoku says with a frown.
"Be that as it may, let me make you an offer." The pink haired man says with a smile. "Why don't you become a demon as well." The pink haired man says, widening the eyes of everyone there, especially Asuna, who gets a flashback of what Argo said yesterday.
"No thanks." Rengoku declines with his frown still present.
"I can tell just by looking at you that you're strong, a Hashira huh? Your fighting spirit has been tempered like quality steel, and if you want you can bring that boy along with you, I honestly felt bad about striking at him earlier, he has such immense potential, your names?" Akaza asks with a smirk.
"I'm the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, and this Young man here is my talented Tsuguko, Tanjiro Kamado." Rengoku says, causing Akaza to grin.
"I am Akaza, Kyojuro, let me tell you why despite being a Hashira, your strength is not enough, because you're merely human, you should let your killer instinct awaken and stop being so soft, it makes you weak, ugh if I could I'd get rid of my aging completely, growing old only makes us weaker, become a demon Kyojuro." Akaza trails off while holding a hand out to Rengoku with a smile on his face. "Doing so will allow you to better yourself here and even in the real world, you'll gain power that you've never felt before." Akaza says with a smile on his face, causing Tanjiro to sweat even more.
"Of all the demons I've met so far, he's the first one who's openly admitted to losing his humanity! His scent, it's so foul and strong, I have to help fight him!" Tanjiro thought with panic in his inner voice.
"Both growing old, and passing away, these are things that make being human beautiful, those may seem like weaknesses to you, but our lives are all the more honorable and precious because of them, you see, true strength, just not referring to the physical body, this boy is not weak!" Rengoku says, causing Tanjiro to look up at him in surprise as Akaza frowns. "Don't insult him, or try to use him to convince me to become evil like you, let me be clear, the two of us will never see eye to eye, no matter what twisted reasons you give, I will not yield." Rengoku says with flaming resolve.
"I see…." Akaza says before tensing his wrist and stomping the ground, making it glow purple as he gets into a stance, right arm in front of him while his left is at his side, the purple light forms a snowflake that turns red. "Technique Development." Akaza says as the red snowflake turns blue with it glowing. "Destructive Death Compass Needle." Akaza says while grinning, his hair flowing with the power of the compass needle. "I guess I'll just have to kill you then." Akaza says, deepening his sly grin, sending a chill down everyone's spine before Akaza blitzes toward Rengoku in a blinding show of speed as he sprints toward the Flame Hashira who blocks a left hook from Akaza with his blade before dodging another left strike while weaving to left, avoiding a right strike from Akaza before responding with a flaming slash of from his sword, making the pink haired man jump back before once again sprinting at Rengoku and repeating his left strike that Rengoku blocks, allowing them to come face to face, only being divided by Rengoku's blade and Akaza's fist before the two burst off with great speed, becoming red and blue lightning blurs to everyone else except Tanjiro who watches the fight in slow motion with the See Through World.
"Amazing….so this is what Mr. Rengoku is like at full power!" Tanjiro thought with sweat coming down his face while watching the great battle.
"I can't see either of them, they're moving too damn fast for me to keep up" Agil says with a shocked face. "What about you Kirito, you see anything!?" Agil asks as the boy sweats.
"No, I can't, there so fast they look like blurs, how is this even possible, nobody should be able to move that fast!" Kirito yells out with wide eyes.
"It's like they're two bolts of electricity fighting each other for dominance, so this is what Total Concentration Breathing is capable of..….." Asuna says softly with wide eyes.
"In all my years hunting Total Concentration Breathing users I've never gotten to kill a Flame Hashira." Akaza says while throwing a downward punch from above in the air, missing as Rengoku dodges alongside dodging the kick Akaza throws before landing in a stance before throwing two punches which Rengoku dodges the first by leaning to his left and narrowly dodging the second by leaning to his right before being pushed back by a punch he blocked from Akaza before blocking a barrage of punches enhanced with Akaza's Technique development.
Authors Note: So What I'm gonna do here is actually make Blood Demon Arts a derivative technique of Total Concentration Breathing invented by Akaza that others will inherit, the regeneration part isn't a part of it so don't worry about that, that part is going to be a skill that only Demons like Akaza with power can obtain in SAO and in any other game, this does not include people like Death Gun or PoH because it would be boring for PoH which is a legitimate reason because I think he'd think that way about it and Death Gun's reason is cause he's too weak he isn't him like Akaza, THE ONLY DEMONS THAT EXIST HERE FROM DEMON SLAYER SO FAR THAT ARE CONFIRMED ARE DOUMA, AKAZA AND DAKI AND GYUTARO, AND KOKOSHIBO FOR LATER IN ALICIZATION I WILL TRY AND PUT MORE IN BUT IMA NEED SOME HELP FROM YALL, PLEASE PUT YOUR IDEAS IN THE REVIEWS FOR THE OTHER UPPER TWELVE KIZUKI.
"No one has yet to take me up on my offer either.'' Akaza says before being pushed back by Rengoku, causing him to jump and throw a kick at him which Rengoku blocks before blocking two more kicks from the Demon, Akaza throws aright punch that Rengoku blocks before going to throw another one with his left arm that Rengoku stops with his blade, slashing into Akaza's wrist. "Why do you think that is? As a fellow master of the Total Concentration Breathing I just can't comprehend it! Not when only the chosen ones can unlock their killer instinct and become demons!" Akaza says before throwing a underhanded Knife hand at Rengoku, who slice Akaza's arm off with his red blade, which Akaza instantly grows back. "You're gonna have to try harder than that to beat me Kyojuro, the only way to kill me is to cut off my head!" Akaza says, increasing his volume into a yell as he throws a punch that Rengoku blocks. "That power could be yours, but I have to sit here and watch the hideous decline of someone blessed with your powers, it pains me!" Akaza says throwing a left hook that Rengoku blocks, cutting Akaza's hand in the process. "More than you know! While you're still young and strong with the ability to kill, your life should be cut short." Akaza says with a grin causing Rengoku to let out a battle cry as he swings his flaming blade, missing as Akaza leaps into the air and does a backflip with a spin. "Destructive Death!" Akaza says while gripping his left hand into a fist and cocking it back, charging air into it. "Air Type!" Akaza says as he punches the air, making a sonic boom sound that makes Rengoku look around for the blast before being hit in the gut by the blast, making him groan in pain for a split second as the pain nullifier kicks in, making Akaza grin as he throws two more Air Type blasts at Rengoku who blocks one while sliding back at the force before blocking the second one, being further pushed back as he grits his teeth.
"In that case." Rengoku thought as Akaza throws more Air Type blasts with a mad man's grin before Rengoku breathes in. "Flame Breathing Technique, Fourth Form, Blooming Flame Undulation!" Rengoku yells as he swings his sword upwards, creating a spiral of flames that block the Air Type blasts. "If he strikes the air, the attack will still reach me!" Rengoku thought as Akaza throws more Air Type blasts while still being airborne, causing Rengoku to drag the flames in another swing to block more blasts. "His strikes travel instantly!" Rengoku thought before Akaza lands on the ground. "If I can only kill him by slicing his head off then I can't continue fighting him at a distance like this, very well." Rengoku thought before blitzing at Akaza full speed in a burst of spiraling flames, widening the eyes of Akaza who grins. "Close combat it is!" Rengoku thought as he swings his flaming blade at Akaza who dodges it narrowly.
"Those reflexes, brilliant!" Akaza proclaims with excitement before clashing with Rengoku's flaming swings with his enhanced barrage of punches. "Those breathtaking sword skills will be lost too! Doesn't that thought make you sad Kyojuro!?" Akaza asks, while trying to persuade Rengoku at the same time as they're clashing.
"They're simply aspects of being a human being, besides they will never be lost, if I fall they will live on in Young Kamado as they did I, so why would it!?" Rengoku yells with pride while clashing with Akaza as Tanjiro widens his eyes before trying to get up to help him. "Stay there! We can't reopen that wound of yours, it'll kill you! Rengoku says while looking back at Tanjiro before blocking a right hook from Akaza.
"Don't bother with that weakling, he may have potential but right now he's still weak, so show me your strength!" Akaza says while block a swing from Rengoku that cuts into his left wrist, causing the Demon to rip it off and regrow it with no problem as he thrusts his knew hand into a knife hand at Rengoku, as said man dodges he knocks Akaza away with a flaming strike as the demon lands on the ground sliding before stopping himself. "Keep your eyes on me." Akaza says sadistically as Rengoku charges at him an swings a flaming strike at him, aiming to cleave him in two but failing as Akaza jumps over it and spins before throwing out a left backhand that Rengoku blocks before knocking Akaza away with another flaming strike before following him. "Such skilled movement!" Akaza says before throwing a right hook that Rengoku dodges before moving in a circular motion and slicing Akaza's right arm off before blocking a kick from Akaza's left leg, launching him back and making him crash.
"Rengoku!" Tanjiro yells in concern.
"Watch out, he's too powerful for you or any of us here!" Kirito yells as Rengoku uses his blade to kneel and catch his breath.
"You sure you won't turn into a Demon? Think of it this way, if you did we could spar with each other endlessly without worrying about killing the other. Imagine how much stronger we'd become!" Akaza proclaims with a grin as he regenerates his right arm.
Rengoku grips the bottom of his blade and grits his teeth at Akaza. "Never! Let me make this clear, I do not like you, I will not become a demon!" Rengoku yells as he stands up and prepares his blade for battle before leaping at Akaza. "Flame Breathing, Third Form!" Rengoku yells before slicing downward at Akaza, slicing his chest open. "Blazing Universe!" Rengoku yells as Akaza jumps back, healing his chest wound almost instantly in excitement.
"What a magnificent attack!" Akaza says as he rushes at Rengoku who leaps back in anticipation. "Destructive Death, Air Type!" Akaza yells as he launches the blast at Rengoku who blocks it and skids back when landing before charging Akaza again with a flaming slash.
"I want to join the fight, but they're moving so fast, I can't find an opening!" Mito says while gripping her scythe, causing Agil to give her a look of understanding.
"Don't kick yourself down Mito, these two are on a whole other level compared to us, I'm pretty sure the only one of us here who can track their movements is Tanjiro, and he's injured all to hell right now, if we jumped in we'd get killed for sure." Agil says before gripping his fists. "Come on Rengoku, you can do this, do it for Tanjiro! That kid has been through enough suffering already….don't let him lose the one person he has in here." Agil thought with dread in his inner voice.
"Even if we found an opportunity to attack, we'd only end up slowing him down in the end..…." Kirito says while gritting his teeth while watching Rengoku and Akaza clash with each other.
"Mr. Rengoku….." Tanjiro says with worry etched into his voice as Akaza slams his fist on the ground that Rengoku was standing before said man dodges this attack, causing Akaza to grin as he rushes toward Rengoku, punching his blade and blocking it's second strike, letting it cut into his skin as he grits his teeth in anger.
"This struggle is futile, continuing this meaningless assault will only result in one outcome, your death!" Akaza yells, causing Rengoku to let out a battle cry that forces Akaza to flip back and rush at him once more, forcing Rengoku to block more punches from Akaza until being forced to dodge his right arm's punch because of his left jeeping his sword busy, making Rengoku's left forehead side split open and glow red, widening the eyes of everyone there seeing Rengoku finally sustaining an injury.
Rengoku rushes at Akaza who goes for a punch as Rengoku breathes in. "Flame Breathing First Form Unknowing Fire!" Rengoku thought while gritting his teeth, not leaving a second to spare as he slashes both of Akaza's arms off, the demon instantly regenerating them with no problem whatsoever.
"Killing you now would be a waste!" You haven't reached your peak yet!" Akaza says with excitement while punching Rengoku's sword as said man blocks it with said blade until Akaza punches the man in the gut, digging his fist in deep and making his right waist side glow red whilst knocking the air out of Rengoku who stumbles back and grips his sword once more before rushing at Akaza.
"Second Form." Rengoku says before slicing upward with flames at Akaza's wrists. "Rising Scorching Sun!" Rengoku yells before Akaza jumps back and starts to punch Rengoku's blade with intense hooks.
"In just a few short years, your abilities will be sharpened into a finer point!" Akaza yells before hitting the flat of Rengoku's red blade, Rengoku struggling to keep his fist back before it sides off the black and hits him in his left eye, smashing it as he stumbles back before regaining his barings and attempting to slice Akaza again.
"Third Form, Blazing Universe!" Rengoku shouts as he swings his sword downward at Akaza who throws a right hook at Rengoku, causing the man to jump back and change flame breathing forms. "Fourth Form, Blooming Flame Undulation!" Rengoku yells as he swings his flaming blade, changing it into a spiral slash, causing Akaza to jump back and get into a stance.
"Destructive Death!" Akaza says as Rengoku goes to charge at him.
"Fifth Form, Flame Tiger!" Rengoku yells as he gets engulfed in flames while charging at Akaza.
"Disorder! Hahaha" Akaza says while laughing like a mad man as Rengoku keeps charging through his blows before dodging a left hook and slicing his hand off with his flaming blade as Akaza jumps back.
Tanjiro looks on in fear and sorrow as Akaza stands up while regenerating his left arm, whilst Rengoku still stands there breathing heavily. "Don't go dying on me Kyojuro." Akaza says with a bored tone.
"Mr. Rengoku…..Rengoku!...Rengoku!" Thought Tanjiro with sorry in his inner voice as it slowly gets louder into a yell.
"Don't you see that fighting in that frail human body will never measure up to mine, someone who has mastered the ways of Killer Instinct and has gained super regeneration, those impressive attacks that you've inflicted upon me, have already healed completely, you on the other hand, a smashed left eye, shattered ribs, damage to your virtual internal organs, all irreparable until you get your hands on a restore crystal, but this raid part doesn't have any left do they? You all used them during the boss fight to restore lost HP that I could have easily regenerated, if you were a demon and unlocked your killer instinct to such a degree you'd be able to use this skill like me and many others and heal in the blink of an eye, and those wounds would be but mere scratches, in the end a human can never surpass a demon." Akaza says, trying to get it into Rengoku's head as Tanjiro gets up slowly.
"I want to go help him, but I don't have the strength to move. This injury from that boss, and using Hinokami Kagura with it to take down the boss, have taken their toll." Thought Tanjiro gripping his healing wound while trying to get up.
Rengoku breathes in and bursts into flames, making his hair and Haori Cape flow with the flames as Akaza frowns. "So this is how it is then…" Akaza says somberly as Rengoku grips his blade and gets into a stance with a smile.
"I-...I will see my duty fulfilled, no matter what it takes, no one shall die here!" Rengoku yells with a smile on his face. Rengoku's stance is one that shows great power in the flame with him taking his blade and holding it high behind his head with his legs ready to sprint as he leans down. "Flame Breathing, Esoteric Art!" Thought Rengoku, making his fiery aura explode and expand around him, leaving a burning inferno around him and at his feet for the others to look upon in aw.
Seeing this display makes Akaza look upon Rengoku with chills in his body, chills of excitement. "What an impressive fighting spirit, to press on despite your bodily injuries, that brilliant strength of mind, and that ironclad stance!" Akaza says with joy before laughing like a mad man. "Now you have to become a demon, just imagine it, we'd be able to fight each other for the rest of Sword Art Online's Eternity!" Akaza says excited at the thought.
"Set Your Heart Ablaze, overcome your limits!" Rengoku thought as his body glows with fire power. "I am the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku! Ninth Form, Rengoku!!" Rengoku yelled as Akaza gets in a stance.
"Destructive Death, Annihilation Type!" Akaza yelled, prepared to take on Rengoku's attack as said man charges at him with immense speed, heating him up and engulfing him in flames in the shape of a dragon that roars with Akaza laughing in joy hitting it with his attack.
"Rengoku!" Tanjiro yelled with worry in his heart as he watches on with Rengoku still in the flaming dragon as he and Akaza let out a battle cry with Rengoku slicing down at Akaza's fist, cutting through his arm with ease with his flaming sword before pulling it out and going for Akaza's neck which unfortunately gets redirected by Akaza's other hand that redirects his flaming sword into his stomach which Rengoku lets out a battle cry, increasing the blades heat and setting it ablaze with hotter flames as he burns his way up Akaza's body and slicing his throat open with a slice hotter than any other attack he has produced before, creating a tornado of flames that dissipates in smoke.
"Mr. Rengoku….where is he!?" Tanjiro thought with worry.
"D-did he win!?" Asked Kirito with the smoke slowly dissipating.
Everyone widens their eyes in horror seeing Rengoku being impaled by Akaza's right arm with Rengoku letting out a gurgle of breath, causing Tanjiro to let out a pained scream seeing the big brother figure he has come to love being skewered by a Demon.
"Damn….this is bad!" Agil says with widened eyes at hearing Tanjiro's pained scream.
"With a wound like that, and with no healing crystals, he'll-!" Asuna choked out before covering her mouth in horror.
"Kyojuro, you must know this wound will kill you, save yourself, say that you'll become a Demon and I'll heal you!" Akaza says worried as his own body begins to self heal, putting itself back together. "Can't you see, your strength makes you truly special!" Akaza says with worry for Rengoku's life and strength being lost as Rengoku gets a flashback.
Flashback - Rengoku's Childhood.
We see a child version of Rengoku with shorter hair sitting at his mother Ruka Rengoku, a woman with long black hair and red eyes with white pupils wearing a white and blue flowery Kimono, Rengoku can be seen at her side as she turns to him. "Kyojuro." Ruka calls out.
"Yes, what is it, mother?" Rengoku says almost instantly with nothing but respect for his mother.
"I want to ask you something, and I want you to answer honestly. Do you know why it is, you were born with greater strength then so many others?" Ruka asks her son with a serious face.
Rengoku goes to give an answer, but struggles to find it before saying "No mam I don't!"
"It is so that you can protect the weak, those who were born blessed with more bountiful gifts than others, are obligated to use those gifts for the sake of the world, for all of our fellow brothers and sisters because one day you will find someone you see as your own family even if they aren't tied to us by blood. You must never use that god given strength to bring harm to mankind, or for your own selfish desires, it is the duty of those born strong, to help those who may be less fortunate, a responsibility you must carry onward, with due purpose, be sure, you never forget that." Ruka says to her son with a steeled face.
"I won't!" Rengoku says with resolve in his voice as his mother holds her hand out for Rengoku to grab in which the boy attempts to do so, only to be pulled into an unexpected hug from his mother.
"Kyojuro, I don't have much time left. Having such a strong gentle child, was a true blessing, I believe in you." Ruka says to her son with tears leaking from her eyes as she cries with him in her arms, with Rengoku on the verge of tears.
Flashback - End
Rengoku's veins start to show on his hand as he swings his blade down on Akaza's neck, slicing into it with a battle cry. "Mother, it was I who was blessed, to have been born to such a woman as you! I won't let my younger brother die, Young Kamado will live!" Rengoku thought as his veins appear on his face as he gives out a battle cry, slicing even further into Akaza's neck as said Demon goes to punch Rengoku with his left arm, but to his dismay Rengoku catches it with his left hand.
"He stopped it!? What unbelievable strength, and even after I've skewered his body with my arm!" Akaza thought with wide eyes before widening them even further, hearing footsteps from two individuals in the distance with his enhanced hearing. "Damn it! There are more Demon Slayers coming, I have to kill him and make my escape before they can get here or they'll heal him and kill me!" Akaza thought with worry for his own life as he tries to pull his arm out of Rengoku's stomach. "Why can't I pull my arm out!" Akaza thought while struggling.
"I won't let you escape!" Thought Rengoku as Tanjiro takes up his blade and stands up, ready to dash at any moment.
"I know he ordered me to stay back, but I just can't any longer, this is my only chance, I need to slice that Demons head off, and fast, to save Mr. Rengoku!" Tanjiro thought as he looks up and breathes in before dashing while stumbling.
"They're getting closer, I have to get away, let go of me, let…go of me!" Thought Akaza with strain in his inner voice while trying to pull himself free, letting out a battle cry in the process as his vest shatters from the damage taken from Rengoku's Ninth Form.
"I won't let go, not until I remove your head from your shoulders!" Rengoku yells for everyone to hear as Kirito widens his eyes.
"This is it! This is our chance to help defeat this guy, come on Asuna!" Said Kirito, snapping her out of her stupor as she runs with Kirito toward Akaza who lets out another battle cry alongside Rengoku who lets out one of his own.
"Let go!" Akaza yells as Rengoku responds with a shout of passion that gives him the strength to cut through more of his neck as Tanjiro leaps into the air and holds his sword out.
"Hinokami Kagura, Sunflower Thrust!" Thought Tanjiro as his swords tip gets engulfed by spiraling flames that expand as Tanjiro descends toward Akaza's face with Asuna and Kirito rushing at him on the other side of his neck ready to swing before they get knocked back by a gust of wind that comes from Akaza ripping off both his arms and leaping into the air with Rengoku's blade till in his neck, having broke it off the sword entirely.
Akaza leaps back and makes a break for the teleport gate, causing Tanjiro to dash after him before stopping and breathing in while aiming his sword in a throwing position.
"That took too long, I've got to make it to the teleport gate!" Akaza thought while ripping out Rengoku's blade which shatters into blue glass particles as the Demon looks back he gasps for air until Tanjiro's sword pierces him, pissing him off before continuing to run.
"Don't run away! I'm not done with you coward, turn and face me!" yelled Tanjiro, pissing Akaza off completely.
"What the hell are you babbling about kid, don't you have a brain inside that head of yours!? I'm not running away from you, I'm running from his backup, if they made it and time and healed him I would have been done for, and besides now that I'm away this battle's already been decided, with a wound like that, he'll die before they even make it to him!" Akaza thought while yelling inside his head.
"Don't forget that you snuck up on us when we had already expended our strength on the boss, you had the advantage! We're not like you at all, we don't regenerate as fast, and when we lose a limb it's lost until restored! Don't run away you bastard! You're a coward, a coward! Mr. Rengoku is much stronger than you'll ever hope to be, much stronger! You didn't win against him, he kept everyone safe! He fought to the very end, so no one would die! You're the one who lost, Rengoku…is the true victor!" Yelled Tanjiro at the retreating Akaza who had already disappeared in the distance by now as everyone watches on with widened eyes hearing Tanjiro's pained scream of sadness followed by the tears leaving his face, causing him to fall to his knees, the adrenaline leaving his body as Rengoku looks on with his one eye wide before smiling sadly.
"Don't work yourself up like that." Rengoku says as Tanjiro leans up on his knees before looking back at the man, his tears showing on his face as they flee from his eyes. "You would reopen your wound, and that would be very bad, you dying my Young Kamado, would truly spell my defeat." Rengoku says with a sad smile as Tanjiro turns to him.
"Mr. Rengoku…." Tanjiro says with sadness clear as day in his voice, breaking hearts of everyone there seeing the sad moment between what would be Master and Pupil but is actually between brothers forged in tears and sweat and unfortunately with no blood.
"Come here lad, let us speak one last time." Rengoku asks Tanjiro, who stands and stumbles over to Rengoku before sitting down in front of him.
"Everyday and every night when I was a sleep I was dreaming of the past, and there was something I remembered, my old residence in the real world, you should go pay it a visit, there are notes left by the previous Flame Hashira there, you see, Hashira isn't only a Demon Slayer Core Rank, it's what the masters of Total Concentration Breathing are called, anyway…. I recall that my father used to read them often, but I'm afraid I don't know they're contents myself. Within those notes, you may find more information on the first breathing style, the Hinokami Kagura." Rengoku says as the arm that was snapped off from Akaza's body shatters into blue glass particles, leaving Rengoku's body with a hole in his chest with red marks on the sides inside of it, causing Tanjiro to widen his eyes as tears fall.
"Please, Mr. Rengoku, enough of that, just think about yourself now, can you heal up with a breathing technique?" Tanjiro asks worried for his big brother figures life.
"No….., very soon I'll be dead, before that happens I need you to hear me out. I have a younger brother named Senjuro. Please tell him to follow his heart and walk down the path he feels is right, and tell my father, that I want him to look after himself. And lastly, about your sister." Rengoku says, catching the attention of Tanjiro and those who knew his story. "Know that I believe in her, I accept both you and her as part of my family as my very own younger brother and sister, your sister shed blood to protect your family against demons, sacrificing 2 years of her own life to a coma, and anyone who does that, regardless of what is said in blood, is a rightful member of my family, I know she'll wake up, no matter how long it takes." Said Rengoku, hearing this widens the eyes of Agil and his party members as well as making Liten tear up and cover her mouth as she sobs into a mournful Shivata, whilst Asuna stands there silently leaking tears of her own beside Kirito who's hair shadows his eyes. "So hold your head high!" Rengoku says, causing Tanjiro to leak more tears. "If you are feeling disheartened, that you are somehow not enough, Set Your Heart Ablaze, dry your eyes and look ahead, you may feel like digging your heels in, but the flow of time waits for no one, it won't patiently stand by as you grieve, don't feel bad that I'm going to die, as a Hashira, it's natural I'd protect you all, the young buds must be allowed to bloom! Any other Hashira would have done the same as I, Young Kamado, you must continue to grow, and eventually, you will end your aid by becoming the next Hashira, know that I believe in you." Rengoku says as Tanjiro leaks tears continuously, covering his eyes in mourning of his master dying before his eyes as he smiles before widening his good eye seeing his mother in the distance.
"Mother…did I do well? The responsibility I-...I took upon myself to fulfill, was I successful?" Rengoku thought as his mother nods and smiles.
"I'm so proud of you my son" Ruka says in Rengoku's thoughts, allowing him to smile brightly and warmly one last time before his HP hits zero and his body starts to glow, catching the attention of everyone but most of all Tanjiro who watches on in horror as Regonku's body shatters into blue glass particles, leaving only his swords guard behind floating down into Tanjiro's hands as his Haori Cape appears on Tanjiro's shoulders in a flash of blue as Tanjiro stares at the guard for a second before grabbing a hold of it and holding it close in a tight hug.
"Mr. Rengoku….Rengoku…..Rengoku..!" Tanjiro yells one last time before screaming out in agony with leaking silent tears as he grips his guard up to his heart before going dead silent.
"Tanjiro…." Asuna says silently while looking at his unmoving form as two people arrive with great speed, kicking up dust in the process but as the dust clears it shows Shinobu and Kanao standing there, Shinobu looks around for Rengoku before spotting Tanjiro, prompting her to walk up to the boy and kneel down at his level, looking at him with a concerned face.
"Tanjiro, are you alright…?" Shinobu asks with a soft tone, getting no answer from the boy, worrying her. "Where's Mr. Rengoku…and why are you wearing his Hoari?" Shinobu asks the boy, worried at not getting an answer before widening her eyes in shock along with Kanao, and everyone else there seeing Tanjiro lift his face up, showing his broken pupiless maroon eyes leaking tears unconsciously. "I see…Mr. Rengoku has…" Shinobu says sadly, giving a sad face alongside Kanao, seeing the boy they once saw with a bright smile of joy now broken and filled with sadness at seeing his mentor's death right in front of his eyes. Shinobu pulls Tanjiro into a hug, allowing him to silently sob into her shoulder as he passes out. "Thank you….all of you for being here with him, but for now we must go, this grief will haunt him, I know from experience, so please excuse us as we try to heal the wounds of his soul." Shinobu says while looking around before disappearing out of thin air with Kanao now holding Tanjiro in tow, leaving an afterimage of where they once stood.
"Damn….what has the world come to, to have an innocent and gentle kid like him, looking so broken inside…it's messed up man…." Agil says softly for everyone to hear as his party members silently nod, a couple of them shedding a few tears remembering how Rengoku saved them from the boss without a second thought or seeking any kind of reward for it. "We may not have known him for long, but I can tell that he was a good man with a heart made of gold." Agil says getting a nod from everyone there as he smiles sadly. "Let's not let his sacrifice be in vain, we need to keep pushing forward like he said so that not only can the new years party go on, but so that we clear this death game in his honor!" Agil says getting solemn nods from his party members, Argo who had been silently tearing up at the loss, and Shivata who had been holding the crying Liten close trying to help her feel better. "Alright, we're heading out now, good luck and get back safe, all of you." Agil says as he and his party members wave goodbye. "Same with us, we still have to get things ready for tonight's New Year's Eve countdown party. It'll be tough to bounce back from this loss, but we have to…for everyone in the ALS and DKB." Shivata
Timeskip - Many Hours Later
We see Akaza now outside of the dungeon in a town on floor 5, wearing a black cloak to conceal his identity in public, allowing him to be standing by a pillar next to a tall man also wearing a black cloak with an exotic, handsome face (Kirito's words not mine, check the wiki yourself lol) with a tattoo on the right side of his face, this man is named PoH.
"Reporting in as you requested, boss" Akaza says with respect clear as day in his voice.
"So, were you able to get it?" PoH says, causing Akaza to frown.
"I attempted to retrieve it, but came up empty handed, I couldn't get my hands on the guild flag, the one who got the last attack bonus was well guarded, I will try and live up to your expectations, forgive my unworthy efforts, but as you ordered, I was able to eliminate one of the Hashira, rest easy knowing that much." Akaza says, causing PoH to grin like a mad man with a cackle.
"Well done Akaza, man I knew sending you there was gonna pay off, this is why you are Upper Three, the third strongest member of the soon to be guild we will form, it'll be called Laughing Coffin, and if I'm being completely honest with you I wish you were Upper Two instead of Douma I honestly prefer you over him, but I guess it what it is, I doubt the one you tried to kill had it anyway considering how frequently these floors change, it wouldn't surprise me if the bonuses started becoming random as well." PoH says before laughing, getting a grin out of Akaza who widens his grin more at the praise.
"It's Showtime!" PoH says with a grin.
Far away from Floor 5 we see an unconscious Tanjiro dreaming of the past few hours he had with Rengoku and his fight between Akaza. "Mr. Rengoku…Rengoku….Rengoku!" Tanjiro yells waking up from a nightmare of flashbacks that was the battle of the floor 5 boss.
"So you're finally awake." A voice says, causing Tanjiro to look over in the direction of the voice in surprise before calming down seeing the Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui.
"M-Mr. Uzui…." Tanjiro says surprised as the Sound Hashira gives him a sad smile.
"Hey there kid, long time no see, I would ask how you're doing but from the news I got from my crow earlier today I already know what happened….." Tengen says, causing Tanjiro to look down in sadness, tears welling up and falling from his face.
"I'm so frustrated, soon as I manage to break through one wall, it feels…like I just hit a higher and even thicker wall! And all the while, I can hear the sounds of my heroes fighting just beyond it, but I can't make it over to join them! If I'm still here fumbling around here in the dark….how could I ever! Is becoming someone like him…..even possible for me..!?" Tanjiro says while crying tears of grief and regret, causing Uzui to look at him with a frown.
"Stop moping around and crying like a child, it's so unflashy! He already said he believes in you, he's told me himself that he believes you are the future, so stop crying and work hard, harder than you ever have before to get there! Feeling sorry for yourself isn't gonna change the past, and we can't turn back time, his sacrifice is forever stained in history, so don't let it be in vain, keep moving forward with your all and be the flashy Hashira Rengoku and I believe you can be!" Tengen yells at Tanjiro while letting out tears unconsciously while smiling brightly, widening the boy's eyes as he sees Rengoku's ghost beside the man with the same bright smile as Tengen before fading.
"M-Mr. Uzui…..you're crying." Tanjiro says, causing Tengen to touch below his eyes, feeling the watery substance that is his tears before smiling.
"Well what do you know, I am crying, how unflashy of me!" Tengen says as he laughs, causing Tanjiro to smile for the first time since Rengoku's death. "Now Kamado, get out there and dance, the sun is starting to set and you need to live up to your family's tradition, now get out there and perform the Dance Of The Fire God, Hinokami Kagura!" Uzui yells to Tanjiro, causing him to smile and wipe his tears away before gaining resolve in his face, remembering Rengoku's words.
"Yes sir!" Tanjiro says before standing up and going to leave, before turning back hearing his name.
"Tanjiro, one more thing, on my way here I was stopped by that girl with the pink and green butterfly clip, ya know Shinobu's Tsuguko, she told me that she hopes that you feel better and is sorry for what happened to Rengoku, she also gave me this to give to you so here, take it." Tengen says pulling out from his menu in a blue light before throwing it to Tanjiro who catches and looks at it with surprise seeing a new red and black checkered haori with a new cutoff design on the edges of the sleeves and bottom it, showing the red checkers fading into the same yellowish orange as Rengoku's Haori Cape and the black into white with a similar flame pattern as Rengoku's Haori Cape. "It's to replace your old one that was destroyed in the boss fight, as well as something to remember Rengoku." Tengen says widening Tanjiro's eyes
"Kanao…..you did this for me?" Tanjiro thought with a warm smile on his face before pulling it close.
Timeskip - 10 minutes later.
We see Tanjiro now standing just outside the town surrounded by a circle of torches in Hinokami Ritual robes identical to the ones his father wore back when he was young along with a piece hanging over his face, Tanjiro then looks up at the sky before breathing in and beginning to perform the Hinokami Kagura ritual dance, getting flashbacks of the time spent with Rengoku. "Mr. Rengoku….thank you….for everything…Big bro…" Tanjiro thought sadly as the sun sets, Tanjiro dancing in the way of Hinokami as he strikes a pose as Fireworks begin to go up into the sky and blow up, making loud noises and pretty colors for all to see, widening Tanjiro's eyes in aw before smiling warmly as he keeps dancing.
"Set Your Heart Ablaze." Rengoku's voice calls out inside Tanjiro's head as the boy smiles.
To be continued…for real this time...
FINALLY I CAN END THIS LONG CHAPTER IM SO HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE I'M FORCED TO KILL OFF MY FAVORITE HASHIRA FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMEENTTTT UGGGHHHH whelp at least I still got the rest of my top five, Giyu, Muichiro, Shinobu and Tengen, no particular order mind you except for Giyu he's definitely second, anyway LEAVE A REVIEW COME ON DAMN IT! PLEASSEE IM BEGGING YOU GUYSSS WHO ARE READING THIS IT HELPS ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND WHAT YOU THOUGHT Anyway have fun reading whatever else you're reading ig, till next time.