"Are you alright Tanjiro?" the Demon Kamado asked, trying to remain calm. His Son seemed to be trying to control his breathing, which was good, "y-yeah. I'm okay Father. I can still fight!" he said, as he attempted to push himself up. Tanjuro shook his head, "I'm sorry, but in this situation, I can't allow you to continue fighting Son. Not only would your injury get worse, but we're on a deadly time limit. Please, stay here and let me handle this, okay?" he asked seriously. Tanjiro deflated, "alright. But be careful, okay?" he asked. The Kamado Patriarch smiled comfortingly, "of course I will" he replied.
Then he leapt back down towards the Demon, and drew in a deep breath, 'Hinokami Kagura: Raging Sun!' he thought. His flaming sword slashed through the pillar of flesh, eliciting a scream of agony to ring out through the whole train. 'This is what you get for toying with people's hearts, you piece of crap!' Tanjuro thought furiously, as the neck bone was now visible. He raised his sword, but a cry from his Son caught his attention, "Father! The Engineer!" he called. The Demon looked over at the man, expecting him to have woken up and be trying to attack Tanjiro again or something, only to see him still unconscious from the hit to the head he took, and the Demons fleash tendrils advancing on his prone form.
'Oh, you have got to be kidding me! He's trying to distract me from killing him by going after the helpless person? How low can you get?!' Tanjuro thought in frustration, leaping for the Engineer, and slashing apart the Demon flesh. When he looked back at the neck bone, he found it to already be covered by fleash again. The pillar reformed, and this time it had eyes all over it. The Kanji for 'Dream' was written in them, and when they flashed. Tanjuro found himself falling asleep again. But he once more burned away the effects of the Blood Demon Art before it could take effect.
'This isn't working, how can I do this with my eyes open without falling under his Spell?' Tanjuro thought, cutting more flesh tentacles apart. Then it hit him. 'The Transparent World. I could see his bone without seeing the eyes, so his Blood Demon Art won't work! Alright, time to try this thing!' he thought. Tanjuro let his instincts take over his movement as he cut apart the flesh tendrils, and focused his whole being on the area where the Demon's neck bone was. Slowly, the view of the train and the Lower Rank's flesh faded from his view, as he kept concentrating. Then, he saw it. The neck bone. It was buried pretty deep, but that was nothing his Blood Demon Art couldn't fix.
Tanjuro let his Sword burn with his flames again, the blade turning bright red as he charged towards the bone. The eyes flashed with power, but Tanjuro couldn't see them, so he wasn't affected. 'What? how is he not effected? He's not even getting caught and burning himself out of the dream like last time. His eyes are wide open, but it's like he doesn't even see my eyes, like he's looking right through them!' Enmu thought in shock. Suddenly an image appeared in his mind: a man with long red hair and a red Haori, blade bright red, charging towards him, and he felt a massive burst of panic. "STAY AWAY!" He screamed out loud, as all of his eyes burst into bright light at once.
In the Coal carriage, Tanjiro was immediately affected and fell onto the coal asleep. But Tanjuro couldn't see this. All he saw was the bone he needed to sever. He drew in a deep breath, 'Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun!' he thought, slashing the flesh pillar apart, then, "Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky!" Tanjuro cried, cutting straight through the bone in a single blow. A bellowing scream of agony rang out through the whole train, waking Tanjiro up from his sleep. Suddenly the train lurched again, almost throwing itself off the tracks.
"Tanjiro!" the Demon Kamado cried, jumping towards his injured Son, and grabbing him and the Engineer and wrapping them both in his arms as they were thrown from the train. The vehicle itself slammed into the ground, rolling over and over until it's momentum faded. Once he was sure they weren't going to be thrown around anymore, Tanjuro unceremoniously dropped the Train Engineer into the ground and checked on his Son. "Tanjiro! Can you hear me?! Say something, please!" he begged, moving to open his Uniform shirt to check on the damage. The 13-year-old groaned, "F-Father? Is that you?" he asked weakly. "Yes, it's me baby, I'm right here Son" Tanjuro hurried to reassure him.
Upon seeing the state of his injury, the Demon winced. He could tell it was too deep, even without his ability to see his Son's torn Blood Vessel with the Transparent World. He moved up to the boy's head, stroking his forehead gently with one clawed hand, "Tanjiro, I need you to listen to me very carefully, okay?" he asked gently but firmly. "Y-yes" Tanjuro stuttered. "You have a torn Blood Vessel in your gut, and you're now bleeding internally. I know it might be hard, but you need to use Total Concentration Breathing to stop the bleeding, otherwise you could potentially die.
I'll be right here the whole time, but I really need you to try, you're the only one who can save yourself Son" Tanjuro said. Tanjiro nodded and began to try and concentrate his breathing. Tanjuro watched the wound carefully, and slowly, it started to stop leaking blood. He squeezed his Son's hand as a moment passed. Then he relaxed, "good job Son. You did it" he said with a smile. "Where's, Nezuko?" Tanjiro asked through his controlled breaths. "Hopefully not hurt. She could be helping get people out of the train" Tanjuro replied. He frowned sadly down at his Son, "I'm so sorry that I let you get so badly hurt Tanjiro. I should have protected you better Son" he said, tears welling up in his eyes.
"We were in, a battle. Injuries happen, Father" Tanjiro said through his breaths. "I still should have tried harder to keep you safe. I'm your Father after all" Tanjuro replied, hanging his head in shame. "Ah! There you both are!" Kyojuro called as he walked up to them. Then his smile fell off his face, "did something happen to young Kamado?" he asked worriedly. "He was hurt in the battle against the Demon, but we've already dealt with it" Tanjuro explained. "Ah! I see. Good! As for the other's! There are many injured but none who are fatal. Your Daughter is alright as well. She has a fairly deep cut on her arm from a piece of glass, but it should be fine!" the Flame Hashira explained.
Tanjuro sighed, "thank God. I'm so glad she's alright" he said, sitting down next to his Son. Tanjiro smiled and nodded, also relieved for his little Sister. "Now, I'm going to send word to the Kakushi about needing their assistance. Come back to the train when you can, alright?!" Kyojuro asked, and he turned to leave. Suddenely a massive presence washed over them, one that Tanjuro recognised. 'WHAT THE FUCK?! WHY IS HE HERE?! CAN'T WE JUST GET A BREAK, PLEASE?!' Tanjuro thought, pretty much at his limit for Demons tonight. They all looked towards the dust cloud kicked up from the train crash, a pair of glowing yellow eyes shone through it.
The Kanji for Upper Rank 3 showed in his eyes. Tanjuro growled in annoyance, but stepped protectively in front of his injured Son, hand on his Sword. "Stop being so dramatic and get out here Akaza! I don't have time for this tonight!" Tanjuro called. The Demon stood up and stepped out of the dust, and indeed it was Upper Rank 3, Akaza, looking just as Tanjuro remembered him. Kyojuro grabbed his blade as well now. Tanjiro shuddered on the ground, his eyes wide. "Awe, I'm flattered you remember me!" the other Demon said with a smile, while Tanjuro narrowed his eyes. "If you want to fight me again then fine. We can fight tomorrow night. But leave everyone else out of it" he said seriously.
"But waiting until tomorrow night's no fun. Why should I wait, when I can fight you right now!" the pink-haired Demon cried, leaping towards him, while Tanjiro let out a shriek. Tanjuro immediately lunged forward to meet the other Demon, Sunlit Flames roaring to life around him once more. Akaza altered his course and flipped over him, punching out with his Air-Type. Tanjuro's sword snapped out, his flames dissipating the energy behind the attack with a ripple of space around him. "Wow! You've gotten better!" the Upper Rank laughed. "And you're still as obsessed as ever!" Tanjuro growled, aiming to slice the other Demons head off the first chance he got.
"Father!" he heard Tanjiro cry out, as a fist smashed through his left set of ribs. They healed again instantly, and the Kamado Father sliced off an arm in retaliation, trying to get time to go for the neck. But the other arm was aiming for his face, as the one Akaza had just lot regenerated. "Why don't you join us! I'm sure you'd be a powerful Upper Rank Demon!" the pink-haired Demon asked giddily. "I've already said no! I have too much to live for to let myself become a murderous puppet!" Tanjuro snarled back. Back with Tanjiro and Kyojuro, the Hashira looked like he wanted to jump in, but knew better than to leave an injured person all alone like this when there was such a powerful Demon around.
"Help him!" Tanjiro cried out, catching Kyojuro's attention. He looked down at the Oldest Kamado Son, who was staring up at him with pleading eyes, having rolled over onto his stomach. He was trembling and covered in sweat, but he still looked utterly desperate, "please help my Father!" Tanjiro begged, struggling to get up, but having no strength to do so, "I can't right now, but you can! Please Mr Rengoku!" he pleaded helplessly. Kyojuro gained a determined look on his face, and gripped his sword. Maybe Tanjuro Kamado couldn't die in this fight, but neither could he afford to let the Upper Rank Demon escape.
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Akaza was loving every minute of this battle, Tanjuro was even more brilliant than he remembered! The other Demon only got faster and stronger as their battle went on, sunlit flames roaring around them. "Are you sure you don't want to join me? I might even be able to convince Lord Muzan to spare your family if you do?" Akaza suggested. Tanjuro's reply was to explode with Hinokami Flash, the other Demon crying out as he was burned by the flames. Then Kyojuro entered the battle, lunging for the enemy Demon's neck with his Sword.
Akaza sent out an Air-type attack as he healed up to keep the two away. Then he lashed out with a brutal kick, catching Kyojuro right in the stomach and throwing him back a couple of steps. Tanjuro took advantage of the opening to use Fake Rainbow in an attempt to catch the other Demon off guard, but Akaza jumped out of the way of the attack. Tanjuro took the opportunity to calm himself down, settling into his Selfless State as he did. The Upper Rank's eyes widened when he could no longer sense the Demon standing right in front of him, though he could see him clearly.
The Kamado Demon then rushed forwards, 'Hinokami Kagura: Solar Heat Haze!' Akaza tried to snap Tanjuro's sword with a punch, but found that his opponent wasn't there, "Beneficent Radiance!" he cried, spiraling into the air and performing swirling upwards slash. The attack hit home, slicing deep into the other Demon's shoulder and burning his flesh as it did. Akaza's fist shot out before Tanjuro could do anything and smashed through his skull. Tanjuro's world was plunged into darkness and silence as he fell to the ground. Somehow he thought he heard Tanjiro screaming for him, even though he didn't have any ears at the moment. Tanjiro. My Son is in danger. He needs me. I can't leave him in danger like this. Even with most of his brain missing, these thoughts still pounded in his mind, and his regeneration sped up.
As it did, his hearing came back. "I don't care if you're an Upper Rank or my Father is a Demon! I won't let you hurt him anymore!" Tanjiro screamed. "I'm not interested in a weakling like you, I want to fight strong people. The weak deserve to die" Tanjuro could hear Akaza reply. Tanjuro head slowly regrew itself, until his eyes returned. When they had they widened. Akaza was aiming a punch straight for his Son's head, as he clung onto him. The Father wrapped his arms around the young teen and rolled away. The punch that hit the ground shattered the earth and blew up another cloud of dirt.
"Tanjiro! What the hell were you thinking?! You could have been killed!" Tanjiro cried, furious and worried. Furious at Akaza for trying to kill his Son, furious at Tanjiro for being so reckless. And furious at himself for making such a costly mistake. His Son nearly died! "Don't bother with that weakling! Focus on me Tanjuro!" Akaza cried. Tanjuro glared at him, the full force of his Demonic aura flowing out in his rage. And all of it was directed at Akaza. The Upper Rank froze, as did the humans. "This Demon Slayer is my son. And if you ever try to harm him like that again, I will erase you from the Earth!" Tanjuro cried, utterly furious.
Akaza blinked, something different coming into his eyes. Tanjuro moved Tanjiro behind him, and took up his blade, ready for another attack. But it didn't come. Akaza was just staring open-mouthed at the two of them. He seemed to try and talk several times, but nothing came out of his mouth. Then he closed it, and got out of his fighting stance. "I'll find you again tomorrow night and we can fight then. I have to leave for now" the Upper 3 said finally, before seemingly vanishing. It took a moment for everyone to realise it was over, and they slowly relaxed. Tanjuro snapped his attention down to his Son, "we will be talking about this later Tanjiro, I won't forget" he said seriously with narrowed eyes.
"Dad!" Nezuko shouted. They turned to see Nezuko and all of Tanjuro's Demons running over to him from the train. "Tanjiro! You're both okay!" she cried, leaping to hug her Father and Older Brother with a sob. Tanjuro finally relaxed and hugged both of his children close, "yes, we're both okay" he replied.