Kyojuro, Tengen, and Nezuko had spent their time defending the eight train carts. The Hashira were actually impressed with the girl, her physical strength and Demonic Blood Art were commendable. She was actually the one who had helped them wake up, her flames she produced were the same ones that set them on fire in the dreams. It wasn't hard to defend the civilians, but it was tedious. Since the entire train acted as the body of the demon, the living environment was a constant threat. Whatever they slashed away or burned, only came back some seconds later. They didn't want to risk trying to cut the attach points between train cars, as they would risk the people still in them being devoured before the flesh faded.

Tengen saw the entire environment being able to take damage as cathartic. Every time they cut and sliced through the tendrils and mounds of flesh, the demon was sure to have felt it. He threw explosives, poisonous throwing darts, anything just to make the demon suffer and feel pain. He may have been sacrificing efficiency, but he saw that the bastard deserved it. It used his dead family and a false hope of a better future against him, what he was doing was only revenge for the wrong done against likely everyone. He could only wonder what the others had been forced to see. He knew Kyojuro saw something similar to him, he could only imagine what the boys had to see. He decided to help give this abomination a flashy send off to hell. "Fourth Form: Constant Rotating Slashes!"

Kyojuro hardly found satisfaction in slaying demons, only finding it in making sure he was strong enough to keep humanity safe. Today however he allowed himself an exception. This demon gave people perfect dreams through their memories, making him see what he wanted to. It brought back the heart of his mother, the soul of who his father use to be, and the life of someone he wanted to call friend. This demon taunted him with what he once had, and what he wanted. No longer shall this demon taunt the innocent with its promises of a false hope. It shall have it's bones burned to ash. "Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!"

Nezuko fought as hard as she could, she was surprised with herself. She didn't expect to be this strong. Maybe she just didn't want to disappoint the flame haired man and shiny man. Big brother told her to be on her best behavior, so she had to try her hardest for him too! She used her flames as much as she could, even when she found herself being tired faster than she wanted to. She was thankful they didn't hurt the nice people though. She couldn't spread her fire everywhere however, trying to run from box to box only drained her of more energy. An idea was quickly born in her head. She pulled her muzzle down and screamed. "Fire! Shiny!" She was happy to see them instantly telepoort in front of her. "What do you need of us young Nezuko?" "What's up you flashy little demon girl?"

She quickly grabbed onto the sword of the fire man. Dragging her palms across the sharp end. This caused the two to question what she was doing in a slight panic, she kept doing it though regardless of the pain. "Young Nezuko, you should not be trying to hurt yourself! We have civilians to keep safe!" The fire man shouted as she dragged her hands free from the pointy end of his sword. Using her Blood Art, she lit the sword on fire with her pink flames. The two stared in awe as Kyojuro smiled. "Fantastic work young Nezuko!" He quickly ran off to continue his efforts as Tengen held his cleavers in front of her. She put herself through the pain again before quickly lifting them on fire as well. "Tomioka was right about you kid! You really are worth having around!" Nezuko smiled at him as he vanished as well. The trio continued to do all they could to keep the people safe, they just needed to keep their strength until Tanjiro and his friends took care of the demon for good.

None of them knew just what happened in just a few short minutes. While they were defending the civilians, it felt as if the train has been derailed completely. The cars were flying through the air, and the air itself almost felt it was on fire. "Everyone hold on!" Kyojuro yelled across the train as he was at least thankful the cars were not tumbling and rolling across the landscape. Eventually they all came to a stop, hearing the sounds of skidding across the dirt of the earth rather than the metal of the tracks. Everyone was slowly beginning to wake up by the looks of it, a wave of relief washing over all. Tengen ran over to the demon girl, crouching down before her. "Oi kid, we're gonna need you to get in your box now alright? You did good, but now it's your turn to rest up." Nezuko nodded before giving him a small hug and ran away to find her box.

Tengen and Kyojuro moved to help all the civilians outside, plenty of them were injured, but thankfully it didn't seem there were any casualties. Even helping to find Nezuko's box, they moved outside as they began to look for the kids. "Looks like that new Tsuguko of yours and his buddies took care of the Lower Moon." "I agree! You may have some luck taking on young Agatsuma! Come though, let's find them! They may require first aid as well!" Tengen nodded as they quickly ran to the front of the train. It didn't take long to find them, following the sound of maniacal laughing and shrill concern. "Nice work you flashy little bastards!" Tengen offered some praise for the group, placing Nezuko's box next to Tanjiro. The Hashira looked over the boys, seeing that Tanjiro had the worst of it with a stab through the stomach.

Tengen quickly gave him some medicine to numb the pain and relax his mind. As he was applying bandages to his wound, Kyojuro spoke. "Kamado, focus your breathing. You are exhausted, but unless you calm down you will only continue to bleed. Relax yourself, hone your breathing and find peace of mind. There were no casualties, everyone is safe." Tanjiro felt relief as he did as Rengoku had said. He could finally calm down as breathing finally settled, feeling that Uzui was also done with the first aid. Tengen felt his ears twitch as he stood up, arming himself. "We have company."

All they could see so far was the dust cloud made from the impact. Everyone could feel their blood run cold from what they saw. It was a lone demon, with tattoos spread across it's entire body. But as their eyes traced over their form, they saw something that became fuel to their hatred: Kanji carved into the eyes reading Upper Moon 3. The part that annoyed them all was that the bastard was smiling, like it was almost happy to be there. It charged towards them in the blink of an eye, oddly aiming at Tanjiro first. Kyojuro acted quickly before the demon could make contact. "Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!" He slashed through the demons forearm, slicing in down the middle up to the elbow. It quickly retreated, everyone watched in slight horror from just how quickly it regenerated. The Hashira quickly learned what Shinobu meant by the power of an Upper Moon.

"You unflashy bastard, what makes you strike at an injured non-combatant rather than two warriors aiming to kill you?" Tengen quickly stood in front of the kids, keeping his eyes trained on the demon. "I thought he'd have gotten in the way of our talk. I can tell you both are strong, even that you are both Hashira rank." Tengen and Kyojuro shared a glance at once another before looking back to the demon. "Why don't you two become demons? Your fighting spirits have both been honed and trained to nearly the peaks they are capable of reaching at this time. What are your names?" Everyone had a look of disgust at the offer, Tengen even spitting towards the ground. "Tengen Uzui, Sound Hashira, and I'm never turning into one of you dull abominations." "Kyojuro Rengoku, Flame Hashira, and death is preferable than to exist as one of you."

"I am Akaza. Let me tell you both why even with your training, it still won't be enough. You are only human, destined to get weaker and die only by simply existing. You are strong now, but with time you shall grow old. Your bodies will slow down, and your senses becoming dull. By becoming demons, for the next century, even two, you'll be able to only get stronger! Tengen, Kyojuro, become demons like me." Akaza held out his hands to the Hashira, with a hopeful smile on his face. Kyojuro looked to him with a stoic expression, his eyes never taken off of the demon. "The value of life isn't just about strength or power. This finite time that we have, it is beautiful. Growing old and passing away, it is what makes every life as precious as it is. No matter what twisted reasons you may have to persuade us, we will never yield."

"Well spoken my flameboyant friend, there's another reason why we will never join you demon." Tengen raised his cleavers up to Akaza, pointing them with a malicious smile on his face. "Your frosty friend Upper two killed someone we knew, someone that we wanted to call our friend. Like hell we'd ever join the same side he's on." Akaza appeared to have been stunned by this, his face a mix of disappointment and jealousy. "That is your final answer? Well then, I guess I'll just have to kill you both then. Make sure you give me a fight like how that Water Hashira gave that bastard!"

Rather than jumping forward, Akaza launched himself into the air. "Destructive Death: Air Type!" He punched rapidly while he was airborne, leaving everyone confused what his plan was. Tengen could hear the sound of pressure waves breaking through the wind coming closer and took a defensive stance. "Kyojuro it's a shockwave attack! Constant Resounding Slashes!" Tengen was quick to defend himself, using the shockwaves of his own bombs as a way to cancel out the attack. Kyojuro wasn't as quick to defending, not having as well as hearing as he once did. He unfortunately took several hits, but still could defend himself. "Blooming Flame Undulation!" Blocking multiple strikes, the Hashira stared Akaza down as he landed.

"Kyojuro follow directly behind me!" "On it!" Tengen rushed forward as the attacks were relentless. He was low on bombs from using them for personal satisfaction against the train demon, he was beginning to kick himself mentally for thinking a mission involving the Moons would be so simple. "Now!" Tengen had finally closed the distance against Akaza, and now Kyojuro leaped over his friend and brought his sword down. "Blazing Universe!" Kyojuro brought down his sword, cutting off both of Akaza's arms. The demon regenerated even faster this time, a smile never leaving it's face. "Such coordination! I've never killed a Flame user before, and you must've developed Sound breathing all on your own! This is Magnificent!" Akaza dodged and weaved through the attacks. Both Hashira were offensive type fighters, so Akaza enjoyed people who were always capable of fighting like this. "If you two die, then so will these magnificent skills and techniques! Do you really want them to be lost to time?!"

"Not everything is meant to live on forever you dullard! Why don't you go tell your boss that?!" The Hashira and the demon danced to the beat of the fight. Every strike the swordsmen dealt landed, but was soon healed instantly. Tengen could hear the boys try to move forward, but quickly shouted at them. "Don't move from there! You're all still injured, do you want to die?!" He saw Akaza throw a punch and quickly sliced his hand off, but was caught off guard by a kick that launched him backwards. Hearing him clash into the hill, Kyojuro used his strength to push Akaza away into the forest for them to breathe. "Tengen, report!" "Just winded, bastard hits hard! He doesn't want to give us a break, don't give him one!"

Kyojuro nodded and rushed into the forest. He couldn't find Akaza, so the demon decided to appear right in front of him. "Why must you two fight so hard just to deny the greatest option?! Your skills must continue!" The two blocked and parried one another before Akaza retreated some feet backwards. "Explosive Fury!" Rushing forward, Akaza stopped just in front of Kyojuro and released an onslaught of kicks. Kyojuro could only block so much before being launched backwards. Tengen saw his friend flying towards him and was quick to catch him. "You alright?!" "Winded..."

"Crushing Type: Ten Thousand Leaves Flashing Willow!" The Hashira watched as Akaza was quickly coming down on them and were forced to split apart. He impacted the ground, shattering the area as the shockwaves kicked the dirt and stone into the air. "Are you two sure you won't become demons? Just Imagine the strength you could achieve!" Kyojuro and Tengen were beginning to grow tired of hearing his voice. "First Form: Roar!" "Third Form: Blazing Universe!" Both Hashira lunged forward the demon from either side. Akaza looked towards both, smiling with glee from the combat prowess. "Annihilation Type!" Akaza was stationery as he charged his energy to stop them in their tracks. Punching outwards, he used his fists to kill the momentum of their strikes and skidded backwards.

"What magnificent attacks!" Tengen watched as Akaza charged again, grabbing some wisteria bombs he requested by made. "Fifth Form: String Performance, Bursting Bloom!" He charged back at the demon, detentions going off one after the other as he was able to push the demon back. Evading a punch by ducking low, Tengen swung his sword upwards to launch Akaza into the air. He threw the last of his bombs after Akaza and threw his blades as well, watching a cloud of gunpowder and wisteria form. Tengen quickly caught his swords as he heard the demon fall to the ground and charge at him. "Destructive Death: Air Type!"

Kyojuro was now the one standing between the two, needing to defend his friend. "Blooming Flame Undulation!" Tengen felt relief as he was covered by him, quickly acting to save him from another kick. "Cover me Kyojuro!" "On it!" Tengen backed away as Kyojuro cut off the attacking leg. Tengen quickly searched around in his pouches before finding what he was looking for. He looked down at the wisteria paste concentrate, hoping this would help more than the bombs. "I trust in you Kocho." He quickly wiped his blades in the coating before looking up at the fight. He saw Kyojuro and Akaza in a bind, the two staring each other down. "This meaningless assault is futile! Unless you take my offer, this will result in only one outcome! One of you dying by my hand!"

Kyojuro let out a furious roar as he pushed him back. Akaza moved back into close combat, throwing punch after punch. Kyojuro blocked to the best of his abilities before feeling a grazing blow break skin on his forehead. Stumbling back from the unexpected attack, Kyojuro refused to falter. "First Form: Unknowing Fire!" Akaza blocked with both arms, having them both sliced off before they quickly regenerated. "Killing you now would be a waste. You two are already as refined as you could be before stagnation. You must be reformed into something greater to reach heights you could only dream of!" Akaza was caught off guard by Tengen dropping on top of the fight, his cleavers cutting across Akaza from shoulder to hip. "I'm already the flashiest man alive, I don't need advice from someone as dull as coal!"

Tengen set off a flurry of attacks, happy that even when they were blocked, they were cutting into the flesh of the demon. He wasn't sure how long it would take for the poison to slow him down even a bit, but even if it worked for only a second it would help. In between strikes, he was fearful to see Akaza step into his range, landing a solid blow to his lower ribs. He was forced to step back as he felt himself spit up slightly, he watched as Kyojuro now took the front once again. "Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!" Kyojuro swung upwards, and rather than stopping at a high guard, he followed his momentum. He repeated the attack, landing it multiple times as Akaza only continued to heal himself. Akaza started to throw haymaker strikes, slow and deliberate powerful attacks. Kyojuro blocked with the side of his sword, but failed to maintain his guard. A fist slid off the blade and crashed into his face, he could feel his eye being crushed from the impact.

His breathing began to waver, as he forced himself to grip his blade even tighter. "Third Form: Blazing Universe!" As he was about to make contact, he saw another strike about to make impact and desperately shifted to defense. "Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!" He was able to thankfully defend himself as Akaza was forced to back away. Tengen had by now regained his ability to breathe and rushed past Kyojuro. "Don't falter! They took one of us, we take one of them!" "Destructive Death: Disorder!" They saw as Akaza took a low position and laughed, starting to throw punch after punch. Kyojuro was able to catch up to Tengen, having his sword at the high guard. "Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!" "Fourth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes!" The two Hashira and the demon were relentless in their desires to see their opponent's dead. All three had been launched backwards from the energy, with Akaza losing both his arms and large gashes, and the Hashia exhausted with numerous minor injuries.

Akaza was already standing in front of the duo, looking almost disappointed. "Don't go dying on my now Tengen, Kyojuro. Don't you two understand yet? That fighting with those frail fagile bodies will never be able to amount to anything compared to mine?" Akaza rubbed his hand across his chest, healing himself. "Even with this poison and those astonishing attacks you both have dealt, I am already completely healed. You two however? One with a destroyed eye, the other shattered ribs, and both of you taking irreparable damage to internal organs. If you two could just take my offer, you would heal within a single blink. Those wounds would be mere scratches, neigh, only memories. In the end, as you are now, humanity will never be able to surpass demonhood."

"Tengen, can you buy me a moment? "I'll buy you until sunrise, just do what you need to kill this monster." Tengen used the last of the wisteria concentrate, before smiling at Akaza. "Let's make this flashy." Charging forward with a wicked grin, almost causing Akaza to freeze up. "Even when faced with death, you still fight on!" Tengen used his cleavers as nunchucks, using the motions to be able to switch between offense and defense at a moment's desire. He would focus his primary slashes at center mass, hoping it would allow the poison to spread through his system. Akaza was finally appearing as if he was slowing down, spitting blood.

Kyojuro felt his body truly become one with the flames of his soul, his energy becoming an inferno. "I will see my duty fufilled! No matter what it takes, no one shall die here!" Kyojuro took a stance as his breath felt it was become hot, as if the gladness inside him were desperate to escape confinement. "Flame Breathing Esoteric Art!" Akaza could only feel shivers run through his spine, looking past Tengen. "Even him! With that ironclad will and ready stance, you both still have this drive to fight on!" Akaza laughed as if this was the happiest he had been in centuries. "Now you both must become demons! Just think of how much we could all fight together! We could fight for eternity, reaching perfection itself!"

"May the flame of soul set my heart ablaze. May I overcome my limits, and burn hotter than the darkness can withstand. I am the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku! Ninth Form: Rengoku!" He charged forward, his grip on his sword tight as he imagined himself as living flame. His friend was still fighting, he would protect all who he could, even Tengen with the gifts Kyojuro had been born with. "Final Form: Blue Silver Chaotic Afterglow!" Tengen was caught off guard, needing something to defend with this overwhelming force. "Forth Form: Constant Resounding Slashes!" Tengen did all he could to protect him and buy Kyojuro time. Tengen was feeling his body desired to fall apart, he wondered if this was how Tomioka felt with Upper 2. He could barely see the sun started to peak through the mountains as he was sent flying back. "I said until sunrise didn't I?"

Kyojuro watched as his friend sailed past him, hearing the impact of him hitting the ground. "Thank you, my friend." He closed the distance, his fury using his sword as an outlet to burn away its enemies. He sliced through Akaza's right arm, the demon only laughing even at a time like this. Pulling his sword back and in an upward position, he forced it downward determined to take Akaza's head. Akaza was able to deflect it however, able to push it to the side, cutting him from shoulder to stomach. Kyojuro refused to let this stop him, twisting his blade upwards. He could only let out a gutteral scream as ripped the blade upwards. He could feel the flames of his very being scorching the earth.

Everyone watching the fight no longer could see anything, as the only duelists left were surrounded by dirt and smoke. All questioned as to what happened, desperately looking for anything as an answer. They could see the signature red and yellow flaming hair through the clearing, feeling relief before it quickly shifted to horror. Akaza had punched through Kyojuro's abdomen, with his fist clearly showing through Kyojuro's back. Tengen and the boys could only watch in horror as one of their best had fallen once again. "KYOJURO!!!" Akaza looked up to him in fear, actually sad at the idea of his death. "Kyojuro, you must know this would will kill you! You must become a demon to survive! Your strength, it's what makes you special! One of the chosen!"

Tengen was seeing red as he grabbed his blades, no longer caring about how broken he had become from the fight. "Take your hands off my friend you disgusting hellspawn!" He jumped towards the two, intending to kill the demon while it was distracted. "First Form: Roar!" Akaza barely had enough time to dodge with Kyojuro limp in his arms. The ground where they just stood being destroyed as Tengen desperately tried to follow. "Give me back my friend you filthy abomination! You don't deserve to touch him! He's a better man than you could ever hope to be you tainted freak!" Akaza knew what he had to do, and so he desperately ran into the forest. "His strength must not be lost to time!" Akaza started to pump blood through his arm into Kyojuro's body, he hated to forcefully turn him, but he knew it was what had to be done. "GIVE ME BACK MY FRIEND!!!"

Kyojuro found himself in darkness. The last thing he remembered was his stomach being skewered through, and the demon stating his strength was special. Strength. Any time it was mentioned, his mother came to the forefront of his mind. The memory of one of their last conversations that helped shape him into the person he was today. He was a boy, sitting next to his mother's bed. "Kyojuro?" He sat up straight, his eyes focused on her. "Yes, what is it, mother?" His mother stared at him sagely, almost seeming as if she was already at peace. "I have something to ask of you, and I want you to answer me truthfully. Do you know why you were born with greater strength than those around you?"

He made several attempts to speak, but ultimately had no answer she was looking for. "No ma'am I don't." "It is so you can help protect those who need help to protect themselves. Those who are born with more blessings of the gods than others are obligated to use those gifts for the sake of others, for the sake of all brothers and sisters of humanity, for the sake of the very world. Promise me my son, that you will never use your gifts to bring harm to mankind, or towards a selfish goal or desire. It is the duty of those who are born with greatness, to help others achieve it themselves. The responsibility will be hard, and you will not always recieve thanks for what you do, but it is because of this strength you have that I know you can do it. Never forget this, my little flame."

"I won't mother! I promise I will uphold them as long as I have this fire inside of me!" His mother held out her hand, inviting him to move closer. As he did, she pulled him into a hug and rubbed his head softly. "Kyojuro... I don't have much time left. Having such strong yet gentle children like you and Senjuro, have been my blessings by the gods. Being a mother to you both, has been truly a gift. I believe in you, burn brightly, until darkness itself flees from how you shine." All he could do was nod as he began to cry. Even when he hid against her chest, he continued nodding. "I will mother. I will!"

Kyojuro finally came to his senses and woke up, feeling as if all the pain he had just lived through was gone. He found himself being carried by someone through the forest, suddenly remembering what had happened. "Kyojuro you're awake!" His eyes went wide as he recognized the voice of Akaza. "I had to turn you into a demon, it was the only way you would live!" The monster had actually sounded happy, as if he believed him a new ally. Kyojuro even when he was unconscious, found himself still holding onto his sword. 'Mother... My strength was not my only blessing, nor was it what I was most proud of. To have been born to such a woman as you, has been the only blessing I am truly thankful for.'

With newfound strength, Kyojuro brought his sword down onto Akaza's neck, catching the demon by surprise as they fell to the ground. "What are you doing you dull fool?! I saved your life!" "You have only ruined my death!" Kyojuro swung with power and speed he never could've achieved before, his blade being caught in the demon's neck. Akaza had no choice but to try and destroy who was meant to be a new comrade. He punched through Kyojuro's chest once again, destroying one of his lungs. He aimed to destroy his head as well, but Kyojuro stopped his arm with his free hand. Suddenly, he found he was being pulled backwards, back in the direction they had just fleed from.

"What are you doing you idiot?! Let me go or we'll both burn to death! You'll die in the sunlight now! After all I did to keep up alive this is what you do?!" Kyojuro started to scream as he regenerated around the arm in his chest, locking Akaza in place as he continued his efforts. Akaza was spending his time focusing as to not be decapitated, so he couldn't fight being dragged. "If I am to die a demon, then may I find atonement in dragging you to hell with me!" Akaza would be impressed with his strength of will if it weren't about to be the reason for his death. "Leg Type: Crown Splitter!"

Kyojuro felt his head become blasted apart from a kick of desperation and heard his blade snap to pieces. As he was slowly regenerating, he saw Akaza continue to flee. "Dammit... There is still one way I may atone for my newfound existence..." Kyojuro walked back, back towards the treeline in hopes of seeing his comrades one last time. He could hear Tengen and young Kamado yelling out in anger, realizing his newfound demonhood healed his long damaged ears. As he moved closer, they appeared to have heard and smelled his arrival. Tengen weakly raised his blades as he moved in front of Tanjiro. "Kyojuro, that you there buddy? Talk to me. Say anything, something, just fucking talk to me man."

"It's me Tengen, just not the same as several minutes ago." Kyojuro stood behind a tree, peaking out to revealing his eyes to his friends. "He forced me to become a demon, but I retain my humanity." Tengen painfully smiled as he laughed. "This is amazing! We can find you shelter, hide you from the sun until we get you back to Headquarters! If the master allowed sanctuary for Nezuko, he can surely do it for you!" His smile dropped as he saw Kyojuro shake his head. "It's how I told Akaza, I would rather die than to exist in this state... I am sorry." Tengen could only laugh as he and the boys began to softly cry. "You magnificent flashy bastard, being your honest self to the very end..."

Tanjiro walked around to see Rengoku in front of him, standing in the shadows. His new demon eyes still had their flame red and yellow color, and still somehow had that warmth and sincerity to them. "Young Kamado, I thought you were told not to move. Your wound still risks reopening." Tanjiro sniffled as he moved closer to him. "Memories of the past are the last things that came to me, they are what kept me from being forced to exist as a monster. As they guided me, I hope they will guide you as well. Visit my home, there are notes left by my father, the Flame Hashira before me. They may have the information you see, that of the Hinokami Kagura."

"But please Tanjiro, I also ask of you a favor. I have a younger brother named Senjuro. Tell him to follow his heart, let his flame guide him to where it may burn hottest. And tell my father... To look after himself, his flame has long since lost it's will to burn ever since my mother died. And lastly, about Nezuko. Tell everyone that Tengen and I accept her as a member of the Corps. She shed demon blood, and bled herself, for the protection of the people on that train. No matter if she is demon or not, she is a protector of humanity." Kyojuro walked out into the sunlight, already feeling his skin begin to burn.

Tengen and the boys all hugged him, each trying to hold back their tears. "Please my friends, if you ever feel you are not enough, if you ever disheartened... Set your heart ablaze." Tengen hugged his friend tighter as he kept crying, but smiled for his sake. "I'm sorry buddy..." Kyojuro felt his body turn to fire under his clothes, but the comfort of his friends distracted him from the pain. "Do not mourn for me my friend. You are still alive, I am the only fatality. This, is a victory. Everyone... Continue to grow, continue to get even stronger. For yourselves, for each other, for me, and for Tomioka. So long my friends, I'm off to see him now... We will watch over you." Kyojuro felt his body begin to fall apart, his head falling down to the ground, scattering to dust and gone with the wind.

He did not find himself in darkness once again, not even surrounded by the flames of Hell. Instead, he found himself surrounded by light. Confused, he looked around until he found himself stunned by what he saw. His mother stood before him, he face as stoic as ever. Kyojuro fell to his knees before her, feeling anxious. "Mother... Did I do good? Was it enough? Even as I had become a demon, did I-" He was cut off by his mother hugging him, holding him close as if he was a young boy once again. "My little flame, I could not be more proud. You burned away the darkness itself, and retained your light. You have done more than enough." Kyojuro smiled as the tears began to flow, holding onto his mother as much as he could. "Thank you, mother."

They sat their in the endless light together, embracing one another as they had when they were both alive. Kyojuro could finally understand what it meant to be at peace. Before long though, he heard a voice, one he thought lost. "Kyojuro." His head shot up from resting against his mother's shoulder. He saw him. "Tomioka." He and his mother stood up, watching the man walk towards them. "I am sorry, we could not avenge you. Now they have taken two of us..." Kyojuro lowered his head in shame as he looked down. He felt Tomioka pat on his shoulder as he walked past him. "You burned away in the sun to dust, Shinobu only found my arm. Your death was confirmed, I'm only thought to be dead."

Kyojuro's eyes went wide as he looked back up to him. "What? You... You're actually alive?" Giyuu nodded, laughing slightly. "I've been teetering between life and death the last month, and now, I finally have the strength to wake up. As you tried to avenge me, I will try to avenge you." Giyuu continued walking, turning his back on the light. "Tomioka wait!" Giyuu stopped as he turned back, having an idea what he wanted to talk about. "I am sorry, we are all sorry. Those of us who acted negatively against you, and those of us who did nothing to stop it. We tried to visit you on Mt. Sagiri, but we caught you at a time we couldn't speak. I want to say this now while we are face to face. We have tried all that we can to improve ourselves since you're leaving to make up for our pasts. I understand if you do not forgive us, I just want you to know. We are trying to be better."

Giyuu finally walked back to Kyojuro, pulling him into a hug. "All is forgiven my friend. I don't regret my outburst entirely, I'll admit I felt better after letting everything out. However I think that may have just been from allowing myself to feel once again. In the month that's passed, I'd like to think I've been improving too. Ironically enough, I haven't felt this alive in years." Giyuu let out a laugh as he let go. "I've been watching over you all, I've seen your efforts, I don't hold any resentment anymore. May we be better friends in the next life." Kyojuro was now the one to pull Giyuu into the hug, smiling widely. "Thank you Giyuu." The two separated as Giyuu began to walk away once again, leaving Kyojuro to stand by his mom. "Set your heart ablaze Giyuu!" "And never allow yourself to drown Kyojuro, no matter the depth of the waters you find yourself in."

News on earth had quickly spread of Kyojuro Rengoku's passing. The remaining Hashira were filled with dread and nearly pleaded with the gods that they not lose another. Ever since the Hashira were established, there was always Flame and there was always Water. Two constants, two pillars that have always stood tall against time, and now both had crumbled apart. All had felt the grief wash over them once again. Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This was the life they had chosen to sign up for, they knew death was a possibility at any moment. Through the act of death however, one feeling was often born. One the living acts on in the name of the dead, revenge.