It took all day and into the next night for the Demon Slayers and Tanjuro's Demons to reach the nearest Wisteria House. The Kakushi ensured that the Police were notified of the train crash, and that they picked up all of the passengers, after treating their injuries. Tanjuro and his Demons carried anyone who was injured, earning an approving look from Rengoku. "Dad really, it's not that bad" Nezuko said in exasperation, as he'd insisted that Yukito carry her. "Please just let me do this Nezuko. It'll make me feel better" Tanjuro replied softly. His oldest daughter sighed, "alright" she replied.

Tanjuro made sure no other Demons were around by flaring his aura. All of the weak Demons that would have been attracted by the smell of blood were scared off. Tanjuro found it was easier than last time to ignore the smell of human blood coming from his children, and it helped him relax a bit. "L-Lord T-T-Tanju-r-ro?" Shizu stuttered. "Yes Shizu, what is it?" Tanjuro asked. "How l-long will i-it t-take to get h-home?" she asked. "Well, some of the others have to recover from the Mission, but I could take you back to the Love Estate if you want? Or you could ask a Kakushi to take you back with them when they go. I know you're worried about your children, but they're all fine. I promise" Tanjuro replied.

The small Demon woman glanced down at the floor, "y-yes. Right. Sorry for d-disturb-bing you" she replied softly, before slowly walking away. Kyojuro watched them in interest. "Don't apologise. You're used to having to worry about your children all the time. So it's fine" Tanjuro replied kindly. Shizu looked up at him with her ice-blue eyes, glad to have a Master like Tanjuro Kamado. She looked up at Nezuko, who had fallen asleep in his arms and frowned. Tanjuro noticed this and looked down at her, "what's wrong?" he asked softly. "Do y-you th-think, S-S-Sanem-mi is doing o-kay in his t-t-train-ing?" Shizu asked softly, worriedly.

Tanjuro looked ahead firmly, "I'm sure he's doing fine. I may not have known Sanemi as long as you have Shizu, but I do know he's just like Tanjiro. He's not willing to give up on protecting his family, ever. Your Son will become strong" he replied. There was a pause, before, "our Son" Shizu said. Tanjuro looked down at her, "what?" he asked in confusion. "All of my childr-ren cons-sider you to be their F-Father. So they're your ch-child-ren too" the black and ice-blue-haired woman said. Tanjuro blushed slightly. He didn't know that the Shinazugawa children had told their Mother how they felt about him. But, then again, they do call him Dad and Papa out loud, so it shouldn't surprise him that their Mother noticed and asked them about it.

"It really surprises me that you still care so much for your children Mrs Shizu! Though I suppose that's due to being one of Kamado's Demons" Rengoku suddenly spoke up, startling the short Demon woman. Tanjuro looked up at him, after placing a calming hand on Shizu's shoulder, "actually no. Shizu here became a Demon after her Husband had been turned and his blood got into her wounds. She wasn't originally my Demon. But even after being turned, she never once harmed her children. If fact, she first tried to get away from them so she wouldn't accidentally hurt them. I gave her a bamboo muzzle like the one my Wife has to keep her from trying to eat anyone, then I took her and her children to Urokodaki's house.

She spent a while there, but once I discovered that I could transform Muzan's Demons into my own, Sanemi begged me to change their Mother too. So I did. And now she's one of my Demons, just like Yukito and Sayuri" Tanjuro explained. The Flame Hashira crossed his arms in thought, "oh, I see! So you really are a Demon King?" the flame-haired younger man asked. "It seems so. However, I don't eat humans, and have no intention to create Demons for selfish reasons. Every Demon I've created has been in order to save their life in one way or another. If I can save someone, I will, no matter what I have to do. As long as the person I'm saving doesn't want to die, I'll turn them. That's it" Tanjuro explained.

"Hm!" Kyojuro hummed with a nod, as Shizu hugged Tanjuro. The Demon Kamado patted her on the head, wondering how Kie would take this when he told her? Finally they arrived, and the injured people were taken inside right away. "Alright, do any of you want to rest?" Tanjuro asked his Demons. "I think I've had enough of a rest Sir" Yukito replied. "I want to stay with you tonight!" Sayuri begged. "I- I'll keep a-an eye on y-your ch-children, L-Lord T-T-Tanjuro" Shizu decided. "Alright. Thank you both" Tanjuro said to both Yukito and Shizu. Yukito was his oldest Demon, maybe only by a few months, but he was. He trusted the black and silver-haired Demon, due to how loyal he was.

The two of them went back inside the house, and the remaining two Demons stared up at the sky together. "Yukito, could you go back inside for me?" Tanjuro asked seriously, as he stood up. "Sir?" the other Demon asked. "Please" the Kamado asked, staring into the surrounding forest. "Yes Sir, alright" Yukito replied, as he stood up and went back inside the Wisteria House. Tanjuro took a deep breath, and rocketed into the forest. After a couple of miles, he looked around, "alright Akaza, I know you're here. You want to continue our fight, right? then come out! I'm ready!" he called, drawing his Sword. Akaza walked out of the darkness, but his presence was completely different from the last two times Tanjuro had met him.

Where as before he had always been confident and assured, now the Upper Rank was trembling and had his arms folded across his stomach, like he was trying to protect himself. "Please help me!" he begged. Tanjuro blinked, trying to make sense of the other Demon's words. "What are you doing? Is this some kind of trap from that Bastard? I won't let that monster harm my family!" Tanjuro said firmly, pointing his sword at Akaza's throat. "No, please, wait! Just listen to me! I ran away from Him. I need help, please! Please give me Asylym!" Akaza begged weakly.

าข

The Kamado Patriarch stared seriously down at Akaza, "you can't be serious. Just yesterday you tried to kill my Son, now your requesting Asylym with me? Why should I beleive you?" Tanjuro asked. "Because I broke Muzan's Curse. And if he finds out he'll destroy me! Please, I'm begging you! I remember my past, and I don't want to hurt anyone else, or be forced to. Please Sir! I'm begging you to believe me!" Akaza begged, on his hands and knees. Tanjuro narrowed his eyes. A part of him wanted to believe Akaza, but another part was terrified for his family. He couldn't take any chances with two of his children here, both of whom were hurt.

Akaza seemed to sense his hesitation, because his face twisted with desperation, "if I told you what happened, would you take me in?" he asked hopefully. Tanjuro sighed, "fine. Convince me that I should trust you. Tell me everything that happened since last night" he ordered. Akaza nodded, "yes Sir" he replied, and began to speak.

(Flashback)

Akaza travelled through the forest, confused as to why he'd just left like that after finding out that Tanjuro was that boy's Father. It was like he recognised something about that. But what? He shook his head, it didn't matter. What did matter was reporting to his Master. Akaza shuddered, Lord Muzan was not going to be happy about this. Not only did he not find the Blue Spider Lilly, but he didn't kill a single Demon Slayer at the Mugen Train crash Site, and he didn't even fight the Demon with the Hanafuda earrings this time. He was sure to be tortured brutally for his failures. But, it wasn't like he could just not report to Lord Muzan! He had no choice but to do as he was told.

So, as he arrived in the town, Akaza quickly headed for the Upptown Mansion of the family his Lord was currently masquerading as the Son of. Heading to the second level of the house, Upper 3 landed lightly on the windowsill. "I have returned Lord Muzan" he said to the child form of his Master. The 'boy' turned around and soft purple eyes suddenly bled bright red, as Muzan's Demonic aura began to fill up the room. "And? Did you find what I asked of you?" the Demon King asked. "I looked into it, but I could not even find a trace of it's existence. I could not find the Blue Spider Lilly" Akaza replied. "And?" Muzan demand. "I will work harder to live up to your expectations in the future" he recited.

"And what of the Mugen Train?" Muzan asked. Akaza winced. This would not be good. "I reached the Mugen Train Site. And I fought with the Demon with the Hanafuda earrings" he began, before biting his lip, "but, I was unable to weaken him enough to bring to you my Lord." Akaza finished. There, he'd said it! Akaza braced himself for his Master's wrath. The child-looking Demon turned to look at him slowly. Oh crap! "So you did not even kill a single Slayer, nor did you bring me that pathetic Demon who dares to try and usurp my authority and power. I'm curious," Muzan began, as he pointed one clawed finger at him. A massive ripple of agony burst through his body, and Akaza struggled not to scream.

His blood boiled in his veins, and his internal organs felt like they were being shredded. He clenched his teeth tightly as blood began to bubble up from his throat. "Did you expect praise? You return here with not the slightest part of my orders accomplished and you expect me not to crush you the way you deserve?!" Muzan hissed, ripping the book he'd been reading apart with ease. Akaza felt his bones starting to crumble inside him as the pressure on his body increased, and he collapsed to the floor, arms unable to support his body anymore. He gasped in air to scream, but felt his vocal cords melt along with the rest of his internal organs. He was left mouthing soundless screams and pleas for mercy, eyes wide, before his vision faded along with his eyes.

The Demon writhed on the floor, feeling his skin start to dissolve in large chunks, sending his blood leaking all over the floor, "I will ensure that you never fail me so again. After all, you're only useful to me if you're alive" Muzan hissed. The pain suddenly increased to the point where he was screaming silently, as every cell in his body ripped itself apart, Akaza mouthed silent pleas to anyone and everyone. Suddenly a vision appeared in his mind, and despite feeling like his brain was melting along with his body, Akaza knew that he knew this place. A simple house, with a weak and sickly man sitting in a Futon inside it. He smelled of medicinal herbs and when he smiled at him, his heart broke for all of the pain this man had to endure.

A Dojo with a man dressed all in white with a bright grin, and patiently showing him Martial Arts techniques, even when he got frustrated. A petite girl with a pink Kimono and snowflake hairpin coughing until she couldn't breathe, and his own hand soothing her and giving her water. The girls flushed face looking up at him with complete trust and pink eyes with flower-like iris's. The sick man, Father. The smiling man, Keizo. And the girl, Koyuki. The people he had loved the most. And a name, being called out by all three of them, happily and lovingly: "Hakuji!" Hakuji gasped as his body healed the damage, his mind reeling from everything he had just regained.

He kept his head down, as his eyes reformed without the Kanji in them, and his body healed up. "How far you've fallen Upper 3," Muzan said, turning away from him in disinterest, "leave now" he said. Hakuji leapt out of the Mansion, before breaking into a sprint away. His mind was spinning so much, his head was beginning to ache. But he didn't stop. He couldn't Hakuji knew that if Muzan discovered that he was free, he would never escape. 'I need to find somewhere safe, somewhere I can be sure Muzan won't find me. Then I can figure out my own head' he thought.

Then Hakuji thought of Tanjuro, and how he was a Demon King too. Could he risk going to his enemy like that? The other Demon was sure to kill him this time. But maybe, just maybe, he could appeal to the other Demon and request Asylum. That seemed to be his only choice now. So Hakuji went in search of Tanjuro Kamado.

(End of flashback)

Tanjuro stared down at the former Upper Rank Demon as he prostrated himself, "please, I'm begging you. I don't have anywhere else to go!" Hakuji pleaded. Tanjuro looked up at the sky with a sigh. What should he do?