Mugen Train Pt 2

(Sleep deprived, gotta work in like six hours, I'll do it all over again just cause I can. Enjoy)

The silence was deafening. An Upper Rank of the Twelve Kizuki just decided to drop in and there was another demon with the title of Eclipse with him. 'Aren't they the Twelve Kizuki? There weren't any Eclipses in the Lower Moons!' Tanjiro's thought process was justified. Twelve Demon Moons means only twelve. Six lower moons and then six upper moons. Granted the real question was-

'Why is an Upper Rank here?' He did one of the things he did best, ask the right questions.

Rengoku analyzed that short altercation with all his experiences as a Hashira, and he immediately concluded that this demon was ,without a doubt, far above a lower rank. 'His speed of regeneration, and the malice behind his attack. This really is an Upper Rank.' Damn. "Why would you go after an injured person over me?"

With a sickeningly polite tone the Upper Rank responded. "Well I thought he'd interrupt our conversation, that's all."

"And what about your partner? She was prepared to attack my brother no less." There were some things you just didn't do, and one of them is mess with an older child's siblings.

The Eclipse was staring at her hand but answered the question all the same. "He doesn't have the same aura as you. I assumed my lord would be fine with him dying."

Jikon and Senjuro were tense and ready to spring at a moment's notice. This was a threat greater than anything else they'd ever faced and a single mistake would kill them. Jikon carefully slid a butterfly themed pocket watch out and looked at the time. 'Less than half an hour. We have to at least hold out for half an hour for the sun to be up.' Confidence was key and he believed they could pull that off… especially if the others showed up sometime soon.

"What would we have to talk about? This is our first interaction and yet I find myself disliking both of you."

Rengoku was making his point now that these two weren't the type he'd respect but Upper Three didn't look bothered. "Is that so? Well I dislike weak human beings. The sight of them makes my skin crawl in disgust."

Senjuro took a personal offense to that. "None of us here are weak! Each of us is strong in our own way!"

The Eclipse looked at him with a raised eyebrow and smiled. "That's a platitude of the weak. Bragging about different kinds of strength is something that those lacking the only strength do to feel better."

"If that's how you both feel then I don't believe any of us could ever get along." The Hashira was collected and his point was clear. He wouldn't ever see these demons as respectable due to their way of thinking.

"Be that as it may, I'd like to make you an offer." He lifted his hand with a smile on his face. "Why don't you become a demon?"

Jikon interrupted Kyojuro before he could deny the offer. "Why don't you become a Demon Slayer?"

…

…

…

…

Somehow it looked like the Upper Rank just lost his definition and went from a fully painted and detailed figure to a black and white sketch. "I think I understand how some people felt when I asked this question now." Literally nobody ever turned the tables on him like that in all of his centuries alive so this was a vast change of routine. "Wow… just- Yuki, has anyone ever asked us that before?" His partner looked just as surprised as he did, complete with detail loss.

"No… I don't believe anyone ever has. I'm not sure how to respond. No?" That felt right but somehow it didn't even sound right, he really just pulled off a full counter to their offer. "I think we say no, no we won't."

Rengoku started pulling the conversation back on topic. "And I will not become a demon."

Upper Three narrowed his eyes with that smile still present. "I can tell just by looking at you that you're strong, a Hashira eh?" His eyes quickly went over every one of them present. "I'll admit that each of you has some strength but yours sticks out the most, even after that one had a little awakening." He was looking straight at Jikon now. "We've been nearby just in case and I sensed your battle spirit go from a low hum to a decent level in under a minute. You're still weak but with potential like that you could reach the realm of the truly powerful at your rate. I'm not so sure about the rest of you."

"We would like to know your names."

Rengoku kept his attention on the most immediate threat, Upper Rank Three. "I'm the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku."

"I'm not comfortable giving my name to an Upper Moon." Senjuro had that hangup but the Hakuga only nodded in agreement once he heard it.

"I'm Jikon Hakuga." He started using recovery breathing to fix his cracked bones. 'I'm lucky to have Shinobu to tell me about some things.' His inside source definitely gave him a few benefits but by no means was he just using her as a stepping stone, that's besides the point now since they had two deadly enemies getting ready to monologue.

"I am Akaza and this is my Eclipse, Yuki. Kyojuro, Jikon, allow me to tell you how your strengths aren't enough. Because you both are merely human. I sensed another presence aboard the train, once that didn't match the battle spirit of a human at all."

The Water breather tensed for a second, realizing that Akaza knew Koujo was with them! 'There goes our surprise.'

"It was clearly one of a demon but their battle spirit was truly astonishing, it was only around the same level as yours boy." He looked at Jikon and started extending his hand. "But as a demon they have so much room and time to grow. Kyojuro, I ask that you especially become a demon. Doing so would allow you to improve for another hundred- even two hundred years."

The pain in Tanjiro's leg finally started to recede and he began standing up. 'These two smell sound much like Kibutsuji! I have to help however I can!'

"Growing old and passing away are what make being human so beautiful. Those things may seem like weakness to you, but our lives are so much more precious because of them. True strength is not limited to the physical body. You said these boys were weak, I ask that you don't insult them. They have a different strength than I possess, one that they cultivated and honed. My brother wasn't even able to use the same breathing as I can, but he pushed past that and learned something different and became a Demon Slayer in only a few months."

Yuki interrupted him then and there. "Different doesn't mean strong, his battle spirit is much more dull than yours is."

Jikon wouldn't let that one slide. "He doesn't have as much experience as a Hashira would, but Senjuro still killed a lower moon." And now Akaza was laughing. Not a taunting laugh, but more akin to a pity laugh.

"Those weaklings don't compare to even your Hashira, they were just fodder to us. His killing one of them doesn't mean much aside from doing it so early on." His arms were by his sides again and he was no longer smiling. "Even the weakest Upper Rank could've fought them all at once and won, why do you think only the lower ranks have changed over the last century? An Eclipse is already worlds ahead of the strongest lower rank- Oh! They're like your underlings as Hashira, what were they called? Tsuguko…"

"An Eclipse is the first line for an Upper Moon of the Twelve Kizuki. Not that it has mattered for the last century, but if an Upper Rank were in danger then their Eclipse has no reason to outlive them." Now she was looking at the trio of non Hashira amassing their strength. "But in a fair fight even the lowest Eclipse could beat a Hashira, and since they aren't supposed to be too far away it wouldn't be a fair one on one."

Rengoku's mind immediately realized the danger they could be in and was ready to give this coming battle two hundred percent of what he had! "Be that as it may, you and I Akaza… we will never be on the same page. No matter the reason, I will not become a demon."

Senjuro stepped forward and bolstered his stance, his eyes locked onto Yuki and gaining a fierce look. "I agree with my brother, I won't become a demon."

"The only reason I'd ever become a demon is if it guaranteed the death of Kibutsuji, until then I'll enjoy the short time I have as a human." A proud statement from the Hakuga that was followed by silence. Tanjiro didn't voice his own thoughts but if he did then Jikon was sure it would relate to only wanting to cure Nezuko and kill Muzan just like him… and he was right.

"I see."

Akaza's foot slammed into the ground and he entered a fighting stance. "Jutsūshiki Tenkai." (Technique Development). A large snowflake design flashed to life underneath his stance, kanji for the numbers one through twelve blinked on each point. "Hakai Satsu Rashin!" (Destructive Death Compass Needle). His right arm was extended with his palm facing out and his left fist was by his hip.

Yuki slid into a stance similar to Akaza's but her arms were crossed at chest level. "Jutsūshiki Tenkai." (Technique Development). An array of six circles connected by straight lines appeared beneath her, the kanji for the numbers one through six appeared in them… then seven and eight blinked in at the far right and left of the formation. "Hakai Odori Rokubungi!" (Destructive Dance Sextant). Sparks started flickering from her hands, then around her arms, even down to her feet.

Rengoku slightly raised his sword. Jikon shook his shoulders. Tanjiro inhaled. Senjuro tensed his legs.

"Oni ni naranai nara korosu."

Akaza shot off like a bullet. Rapid punches coated with a blue aura collided with flaming sword swings in an incredible display of power and speed. It wouldn't have been traceable by anyone not at their level… luckily nobody there was able to watch the event of an Upper Rank against a Hashira.

Yuki blitzed forward and with just one of her punches managed to create a deafening explosion. That isn't saying her punch was hard enough to create the sound, there was a literal explosion with her attacks. A waterfall followed Jikon's efforts to deflect the attack away from Tanjiro's skull and pink petals fluttered through the air as part of the ground blew away.

'Odayakana Sakura!' (Calming Cherry Blossoms). His graceful strike cut into the back of Yuki's hand and only a few drops of blood even showed he broke the skin. 'Her body's so tough!' Senjuro tried to move away but the Eclipse was too fast and had the back of her other hand ready to collide with his head.

Tanjiro saved the day for the younger Rengoku. Fire coated his sword and with a powerful downward strike, "Enbu!" (Waltz). That powerful attack managed to cut halfway into Yuki's wrist and force her explosive punch towards the ground. Now her eyes were on Tanjiro.

That was all his warning to move fast before he got his face blown off by a rising explosive kick. "Kamuro Saki Wari." (Crown Splitter). He avoided the attack but the concussive force alone sent him flying away where he looked over and saw Rengoku clashing with Akaza.

His bright red flame blade was locked in the Upper Rank's wrist. "As a fellow master of martial arts I just don't understand it. Not when only the chosen can become demons!" He threw a punch towards the Flame Hashira but a rising slash severed the arm from the bicep down. Akaza smiled as his arm popped back into existence like he wasn't even attacked and resumed his assault, throwing a hit that collided with Kyojuro's blade. "Watching the decline of someone blessed with strength it pains me more than you think!" He struck again but Kyojuro deflected the attack with a powerful flaming slash. Now the two were practically nose to nose, gazing into each other's eyes. "Die Kyojuro, while you're young and strong."

The Flame Hashira responded with a blazing attack that Akaza leapt backwards to avoid, and while he was in the air he clenched his fists. "Hakai Satsu." A faint blue aura coated his arms and he drew them back. "Kūshiki." (Air Type). He started throwing a flurry of punches in the air.

Rengoku's eyes looked around for whatever this attack could be and it was only by luck his blade intercepted a shockwave. 'Blasts of air!' He deflected a few of the attacks and watched Akaza send even more. 'In that case!' He switched his grip and inhaled. "Hono no kokyu, Shi no kata: Sei en no uneri!" (Blooming Flame Undulation). Spirals of powerful flames defended him from the barrage of air pressure attacks. 'These attacks are instant!' A few more swings and he protected himself enough to see Akaza fall and land on his two feet. 'I can't slice his head off at this distance. I have no choice.' Kyojuro burst forward in a spiral of flame. 'Close combat then!' A slice barely missed a smiling pugilist's neck.

"What reflexes! Amazing!" Kyojuro started a barrage of heavy slashes and Akaza's glowing hands deflected them with only some minor cuts landing on his person, but with his regeneration it didn't matter. "All these magnificent sword skills will be lost too!" He lost and regrew his forearm during the rush of attacks but his mouth didn't stop running. "Doesn't that make you sad, Kyojuro!?"

"It's simply part of being a human! Not upsetting at all!"

Jikon's water coated blade managed to scrape against Yuki's neck but it wasn't anything that made a difference . "Shi no kata: Uchishio!" (Striking Tide). 'Damn it!' The Hakuga immediately started shifting his weapon to deflect the explosive punches from blowing him away.

Yuki started to laugh once she realized what this boy's breath style was. "So you're a Water Breath user? I should have figured but I can't be too sure!" She went low and was about to chop him with her left hand, and he didn't want to know if that attack would explode too. By the skin of his ass did he manage to delay death by backing up just enough for cavalry to arrive.

"Ni no kiba: Kirisaki!" (Second fang: Slice). Inosuke's rushing attack of a crossing slash would've worked on a weaker opponent but this fighter wasn't weak at all. "Hubburdah?!" His boar mask hid the shock from watching his attack completely miss and this demon suddenly facing him with her stance ready to deliver powerful kicks.

Yuki's expression lost its mirth and she sent a flash of explosive kicks that launched Inosuke into the cars of the train behind the battlefield. "Ryūsengunkō!" (Explosive Flurry). Her foot slammed back into the ground and she turned to block a pink blade with violet swirls following it. "I don't know what breathing that was but it would've been worse than water to deal with." Senjuro started delivering slashes as quickly as his arms would let him and he was managing to just barely keep ahead of the explosive attacks coming for him. "Swift and agile attacks." She twisted and did the same upwards kick that Tanjiro just managed to stand from. "A style based on water maybe?"

The eldest Kamado took his eyes off both fights and saw Inosuke slowly pulling himself together. "Inosuke!"

"Focus!" Kyojuro's callout was what saved Tanjiro from a surprise attack once he felt the maliciousness behind him. A twist of his body and he delivered a circular slash with a ring of fire burning into Yuki's hand. "

'Hekira no ten!' (Azure Heaven). The Eclipse actually looked pained for a split second but shed the look and resumed her attack. 'She would've killed me if Rengoku didn't notice! I can't afford to be so careless!'

There was a similar conversation in the main fight as well. "Don't bother with that weakling!" Akaza blocked a swing with his wrist and swung his fist forward into a well timed block with the hilt of a sword. Smart. "Show me your strength!" He leapt back and slid along the ground. "Focus on me."

Kyojuro ran ahead and swung his sword against the air, Akaza jumped over it and then landed into a stance to throw a straight blow. 'The power behind his punches is so great.' His sword was easily his saving grace, being able to block these blows. He swung again and watched Akaza leap backwards into the forest. "A chase…" He dashed into the greenery and kept his eyes peeled for any-

"Such skilled movements!" That attack nearly took half his head away but he managed to evade it and get behind the demon to deliver a strong swing that carved into his forearm. "Your attacks are so amazing! Do you really want these skills to die with you?!" Akaza's foot crashed into Kyojuro's sword, the force sending the Flame Hashira flying back towards the train.

Jikon's thought process was doing everything it could to let him survive this fight… namely keeping him focused on a singular goal. 'A Slayer protects people! If we die then what'll happen to the passengers?!' The veins on his face looked ready to burst from stress. "Minamo Giri!" (Water Surface Slash). Another scrape to her neck at best and it was gone that same second. A barrage of explosive punches that moved with a strange grace about them. 'Wait… It's a dance.' The technique was very literal when it said destructive dance. 'If their developments are like Koujo's then sneak attacks like Inosuke's can't work. Don't let her respond!' He started swinging even faster than he thought he could while Inosuke and Tanjiro rushed back in.

Burns were on Inosuke's skin, and only now was he considering wearing a shirt to counter that possibility. 'It feels like my insides got turned into mush, and she didn't even hit me. Goggle eyes and that glass eye guy are in a different dimension of power!' He jumped into the air and crossed his swords. 'But that doesn't mean I'll lay down and take losing! San no kiba: Kuizaki!' (Third fang: Devour).

Blood was coming from a cut along Tanjiro's sternum and his uniform was burnt away on some of his chest. 'Even though I dodged the kick it still cut me! Hi no kokyu: Enbu!' Fire in a downward slash that helped in Inosuke's aerial attack. 'She can't stop all three of us!'

Yuki caught a water coated blade with the back of her hand and shifted her attention towards Tanjiro with a seemingly reckless swing of her arm. "Kūshiki!" (Air Type). There weren't any barely visible blasts of pressure, it was just a singular explosion that Tanjiro blocked and jumped away from to lessen the force. Now her multicolored eyes were watching a pair of serrated swords slice into her arms but a quick release of point blank explosions sent the dual wielder flying. "I've never fought a dual wielding fighter, but that's not a problem here. You!" She turned back to a quick thinking Jikon.

'She didn't even throw a punch or kick to launch that blast at Inosuke! She can do them without actually attacking!' His blue eyes locked onto the Eclipse preparing another attack.

"You can become a demon or die." He watched her cock her arms back and the air around them started to distort. "Kishinya Enshin!" (Eight Layered Demon Core). Eight powerful punches that would be enhanced by her powerful explosions no doubt.

'Focus on protecting everyone! Another Lull is too dangerous, so I'll use my eleventh form!' He breathed and with a push through his feet he blasted ahead with ripples of water behind him. 'Shinobu helped me improve this, Oame!' (Heavy Rainfall). A series of rapid thrusting attacks met the crashing punches and the end result was a set of powerful blue and red explosions that sent Jikon flying away and Yuki skidding back on her two feet.

"No Water Hashira we've killed ever did that, I see what lord Akaza means by your potential." She was on him like locusts to innocent crops before he could even come to a stop. "I'd like you to become a demon!" Her fist lifted high and she started sending it towards him.

His impromptu defense managed to save his life from the immediate problem of the explosions and now here he was facing potential death once again. No time to think. He wasn't even done moving. Feet not touching the ground. Needed defense! "Nejire Uzu!" (Whirlpool). The sudden rush of spiraling water actually left some decent cuts against Yuki's thigh, torso, and cheek. Even though the damage was healed right after she jumped backwards. 'Those explosions- No wonder she's Eclipse Three!' Crimson fluid streamed from his bare and raw shoulder, his luck was really reaching a limit since that attack was supposed to rip a hole in his torso… But his will was strong. "I told you I won't do it. I won't turn into a monster unless it's guaranteed that Muzan dies."

Yuki dropped into her stance again and shook her head in disappointment. "If you feel that way then I'll have to actually fight to kill you, and lord Akaza will have to do the same for Kyojuro."

Hold up. Wait a minute. That's a huge exposition. She just injured each of them in under two minutes and she wasn't even the bigger threat! Rengoku was fighting an Upper Moon alone!

"That look on your face means you understand your choices here." It took him a second to actually realize he was terrified of the overwhelming power they were facing off against. "Even a bare punch from me is enough to destroy your organs!" A cloud of dust was the only thing showing she even moved. "Adding my blood demon art guarantees you dying!" She didn't bother getting too close with the attack and just fired off an explosive punch straight for him.

'The train's behind me! If I don't stop that then people will get hurt!' He chose to calm his body down and use the Eleventh form again. A raging lake started swirling around his-

"FIGHT! FIGHT!" He saw dark blue hair leap in and use both of his serrated swords to block the explosion, but it still burned his skin. "You knocked the mountain god's hide off me! If it got ruined then I'll mess you up just as much!" The force finally stopped and now there were two bloody and injured demon slayers ready to fight.

Yuki looked over to see what her superior was- "Kōun'na Kaki." (Fortunate Persimmon). First she had to slightly tilt her head away from that decent attempt on her life by someone so weak.

Akaza's right arm came back again and so did his offer. "Imagine how strong you could become. We could fight each other endlessly."

"Never!" Rengoku stood up and took up his sword. "I'll be clear about this again, I don't like you. I will never become a demon!" He charged in with his second wind and with powerful flames following his motions, he landed a downward slash against Akaza's torso. "San no kata: Kien Banshō!" (Blazing Universe).

"What a magnificent attack!" The damage was gone and he was in front of Kyojuro instantly. "Hakai Satsu Kūshiki!" (Destructive Death Air Type). A single blast of air pressure forced Rengoku away but he ran right back into the fight without hesitation! Powerful sword slashes were countered by experienced and more powerful blows that had only slightly less intention to slaughter their target. If someone could watch this fight then they'd say that the two were in their own league, and that trying to get in the way would only inhibit whoever they were trying to help. Kyojuro evaded a fist that crashed into and shattered the ground. "This struggle is pointless! Keeping up this meaningless assault will only get you killed!"

"Hraagh!" An appropriate response. Rengoku started swinging harder and Akaza matched the force. His flame-like hair shifted with his head to dodge a blow but even being grazed still scraped his forehead and let blood course down his face. The Flame Hashira ducked under a punch and turned his body into a strike. "Shiranui!" (Unknowing Fire). He sliced off Akaza's arms and watched them regenerate.

Those fresh hands started a barrage on that unnaturally durable sword. "Killing you now would be a waste! You aren't at your peak!" For a second Akaza stopped holding back and landed a rib crushing blow.

"Ni no kata!" The pain wasn't going to phase him yet! "Nobori en ten!" (Rising Scorching Sun). The Upper Rank pulled back before the attack landed and began his new offense again.

"I'm just a few short years, your abilities can sharpen to a finer point!" His fist slammed into the edge of the blade and in the pushing match managed to glance against Rengoku's left eye.

"Kien Banshō!" (Blazing Universe). A sudden change in stance warned him of an impending attack and he shifted his stance before he could land a blow. "Sei en no uneri!" (Blooming Flame Undulation). Akaza leapt back and avoided every single strike before going back into his fighting stance.

"Hakai Satsu…"

"Hakai Odori…"

Both fights were reaching a very dangerous point. "Go no kata: Enko!" (Fifth Form: Flame Tiger). His swings formed a massive burning tiger that sprinted towards the pugilistic demon.

"Inosuke! Senjuro! Whatever she's about to do, don't let her hit the train!" Tanjiro's newly appeared voice and slowly bleeding side were on Jikon's radar but his priority was focusing on the woman splaying her arms out.

Inosuke jumped into the air and inhaled. "Go no kiba…"

Senjuro stood firm but loosened himself to respond to what was going to be a deadly threat. "Ni no kata…"

'I have to take this risk! Two moves is my limit, and the drawback will put me out of the fight but I have to!' He started moving his sword and fire traced his movements. 'Hi no kokyu!'

His body finally was in that same state of calm and he held his sword firmly. 'Nagi.' (Lull).

"Ranshiki!"

There was a barrage of blue shockwaves that crashed into the flaming tiger without mercy, but Rengoku didn't stop his slashing!

A series of explosions fired off towards the boys and the train they were preventing from being assailed. "Mikage Ume!" (Honorable Shadow Plum). Senjuro deflected each of the concussive blasts as best he could but the sheer number broke through his defense and sent him flying.

Inosuke unleashed rapid slashing attacks in every direction his body could manage. "Kuruizaki!" (Crazy Cutting). His simple but animalistic movements slowed down the seemingly infinite amount of blasts but his guard slipped and he too was injured and launched away.

Now there were only two left, Jikon's body was pushing itself to his limits and moving faster than he thought he ever could to deflect the rain of thunderous attacks. The defense he was creating was amazing in its own but it was still something he only just learned… even worse was that he wasn't as fast as it's creator and had to watch helplessly as some attacks went right by him. 'It's up to you Tanjiro! Don't let them past you!'

The eldest Kamado let loose a violent but graceful circular slash in a spiral of bright fire. "Shakkotsu Enyō!" (Burning Sun). That was the end of the line for the explosions. His attack was the one they were guaranteed to be stopped by, and even though it took the efforts of four different people, that was still a victory on its own.

The flame tiger dissipated and the two combatants were face to face. "Come at me!" Akaza's fist barely missed its mark and Kyojuro's sword landed a powerful slash with powerful flames lighting up the night.

Tanjiro collapsed to the ground with wide eyes, and he took painful gasps for breath. All their training managed to get him up to using two forms of Sun Breathing without being out of a fight entirely, but necessity demanded he use a third to make sure nobody was hit by the collateral of that attack from Yuki. His lungs hurt so bad that he considered just passing out then and there, but he needed to be ready once Rengoku killed-

"Don't tell me that's all." Blood dripped onto the ground and everyone directed their attention towards a healing Akaza. "Don't you see that your body doesn't measure up to mine? The attacks you inflicted have already healed. But you, smashed left eye, shattered ribs, internal organ damage… Irreparable." All Kyojuro could do was pant to try and compose himself while Akaza spoke. "If you were a demon those would be minor scrapes, but as a human it's likely fatal. In the end a human can't surpass a demon."

Inosuke was sprawled against the train, unconscious. Senjuro was on his stomach and struggling to push himself up to help his brother. Jikon was using his sword to keep himself standing. Tanjiro was on his knees pushing his hand against the ground to stay up. They couldn't help, and even if they could help, Yuki wouldn't let them past her. They were too weak to do anything but watch.

'Big brother! I have to help big brother!'

'All of my injuries mixed with the Sun breathing-! I can't move my body to help!' Tanjiro was barely clutching his sword as it was but he was still more than ready in spirit to do something… Anything that could help the Hashira.

Jikon was in a similar situation. His legs felt like metal and his entire body felt like a tree fell onto him. 'To think that almost stopping my heart twice would do this to me… if anyone can read my mind please don't tell Shinobu I thought that.' Immediate hindsight aside, he had to watch as Rengoku struggled to catch his breath.

Yuki extended her hand out towards him with two fingers held up. "That's two moves that not even a single Water Hashira we've fought have used. Whoever taught you must have had years to master their style, but I'm willing to bet they're old and much weaker now." She smiled at him, somehow gently despite everything they went through in the last-

'How long has it been?! He wasn't keeping track of the time but a somehow unnoticed glance led his eyes to Tanjiro, and through some very convenient link they luckily had his message conveyed and in Tanjiro's hand was his own silver pocket watch. 'Three minutes!'

"That shock in your eyes, you can't deny that things are running their course for you. Perhaps my lord was wrong about that one in the checkered haori." Her attention went to the boy who managed to slip his watch away in the nick of time. "You both, just barely, deflected and survived one of my strongest attacks. Not even Hashira but here you are alive. Become demons, hone that strength. We could all fight together till the end of time."

Speaking was not a liberty Tanjiro currently had so Jikon took the chance to stall for time. "And what? Have to kill and eat people to live that life?"

"It's survival of the fittest. The weak only live to be crushed by the strong." Her smile turned to a scowl quickly. "But you three aren't the same, you're blessed with power. It just needs to be cultivated."

Jikon was actually getting mad listening to this but for the sake of surviving to daylight he had to keep calm. "What about you? You were a weak human too."

"My life as a human is gone. I'm glad it is. I was given this opportunity to stand by lord Akaza's side as long as I have and I don't regret it."

Jikon squinted. "Nothing to regret when you're one of the chosen to be a demon right?" His nose picked up a familiar smell and he resisted cracking a grin.

"Exactly. Only the strongest can ever become-"

"Kien Banshō." (Blazing Universe). A burning downwards slash that caught Yuki entirely off guard, somehow.

'That-! I didn't even notice him!' She jumped back and saw that her gi-esque top was perfectly open and that the bandages holding her bust down were cut right in half. Modesty was for maidens and she was a fighter so what did it even matter? "I'm surprised. Your battle spirit is so low that I didn't even notice you, and that excellent attack? It was like the Hashira's. Are you his Tsuguko?"

The fox masked figure just stood there silently. No response even as Akaza turned his attention to him and Rengoku shifted his head to look behind himself. Late but another fighter who could help them was appreciated. Especially one with near infinite stamina as to match their opponents.

"I won't become a demon. I fought my hardest to protect everyone here and now I'll fight with my brother." Jikon got a second wind and managed to stand well enough to enter a swordsman stance.

Tanjiro was the first to notice the abnormality. 'That smell?! It's amazing but… but it's wicked!" He looked and saw a woman in a black dress sitting… in the air… not the strangest thing he's seen but it was up there. 'Who is she?' The demons noticed her next and then Jikon managed to see her, but poor Senjuro couldn't move well enough to get a glimpse of what they were all looking at.

Akaza acknowledged her first. "Oh. Are you the one that Lord Muzan said would be here too?"

"Correct, but I found what I needed." One second she was in the air relaxing and the next she was standing behind the masked man. "Un demonio extraño."

"I don't know what that means but as long as you don't interrupt my fight then I don't care what you do with that one. Now-"

Heat and pressure. Battle spirit flared and flames roared to life around Rengoku. "I… I will see my duties fulfilled!" He took a new stance. A powerful stance with his sword over his shoulder. Now there was the threat of the Upper Rank, the Eclipse, and this woman. It was too often that the young and inexperienced didn't live up to their potential because of threats like this! He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't let that happen. "No matter what it takes, I won't let anyone die here!" He slid lower and flames erupted around him. 'I'll have to inflict as much damage as I can! Flame Breathing, Esoteric Art!'

Yuki sensed that whatever this attack was, it was dangerous. And her duties to protecting Akaza from anything came first and foremost. "Hakai O-" Natural reflexes have a deep base of protecting someone from harm and hers kicked in once a spiral of flame enhanced slashes came her way.

"Nenshō Kōjō." (Burning Deduction). Once again she couldn't even detect a trace of battle spirit from whoever this was.

Akaza felt the pressure from all of Kyojuro's exemplary fighting spirit, his solid stance, and the will to keep going after being pushed to such limits! "You have to become a demon, Kyojuro! Think about it! We could fight for the rest of eternity!"

'Set your heart ablaze! Overcome your limits!' He inhaled. "I am the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku! Ninth Form: Rengoku!"

"Hakai Satsu Messhiki!" (Destructive Death Annihilation Type).

Rengoku's blazing foot slammed into the ground and with a mighty roar- He blasted ahead like a burning missile! Akaza laughed with hands encased in a glowing blue aura, and he slammed them straight into the attack.

"Rengoku!"

"Big brother!"

A mighty cleave of his flame blade and Akaza's arm was split down the middle. He drew back, and sent the next hit for his neck. The demon laughed and sent the attack off course into his torso. "Hnnng!" He twisted the blade and faced it upwards, flames shot out of Akaza's body and his smile turned to surprise. "Hrroooaaah!" A tornado of flames erupted from the attack and threw debris all around.

Tanjiro looked into the dust with- There wasn't any way to describe the look. "Rengoku… Where is he?! Did-" The dust started clearing and he saw a figure. "Did he win?" He gasped once he saw it.

People can't survive a fist through the abdomen and out their back for long

"Kyojuro! This will kill you! You'll die! Say you'll become a demon!" All the damage dealt to him in that blow healed while he talked and now he was pleading for this man to become a demon! "Your strength is what makes you special!"

Strength… Special… Wait.

"Kyojuro."

"Yes! What is it, mother?" He awaited her response like a good son would.

"Do you know why it was that you were born with greater strength than others?"

He pondered it but his young mind had no idea of what the answer could be. "No ma'am I don't!" Somehow his baby brother wasn't waking up from his loud voice.

"It was so you could protect the weak. Those born with more bountiful gifts are obligated to use them for the sake of others. You must not use that strength for selfish desires, or to harm the less fortunate." Her point was making sense to the young boy. "It is the duty of those blessed to help the less able, to help with their strength. A responsibility that you must carry on. Be sure not to forget that."

"I won't!" She held her hand out to him and he was swept into a hug before he even knew it.

"Kyojuro, I don't have much time left. Having such a strong but gentle child is nothing short of a blessing… and I believe in you."

"Knngg!" His sword was in Akaza's neck with all the strength his body suddenly could muster. 'Mother! It was I who was blessed to be born from a woman like you!' His sword went another inch into the Upper Rank's neck! "Haagh!"

Akaza reeled the hand not through the man's stomach back and got ready to blow his head clean off but he found no purchase. 'He stopped it?! This strength! Even when my hand is through his solar plexus!' He looked over and saw that he really wasted time. 'The sun! It's rising! I have to kill him so we can escape!' Every step backwards was a step forwards for the Flame Hashira. Akaza was starting to panic. 'I can't pull my arm out!'

'I won't let you escape!'

Yuki saw what was going on from the corner of her eyes. Her powerful explosions weren't permanent against an enemy that could regenerate, but the shock of fighting a demon was lower than seeing Akaza struggle to escape! "Akaza!" That lapse in judgement to focus on something else is what put her in a similar situation. A blue sword found its way partway into her neck!

"Tanjiro! Senjuro! If you can move, you have to help Rengoku!" Senjuro finally managed to stand and sluggishly run towards his elder brother with Tanjiro right behind him.

Yuki grabbed the sword in her neck with one hand and with the other she grabbed the one going for the finish. "OUT OF MY WAY!" Jikon just responded by pushing harder and so did the one with him.

"How about you go to hell first?!" Water started surrounding his blade and he pushed a little more into her neck. "We can fix Upper Moons staying the same right now!"

He wouldn't let go! 'Why won't he let go?! I have to get away!' No matter how hard he tried… Kyojuro wasn't letting go! "HaaaaaAAAAAAAAHH!" Tanjiro and Senjuro had to cover their ears from that deafening scream but even at close range, Rengoku didn't give up!

'I won't let go! Not till your head is off your shoulders!' Another inch through! "HAAAH!"

"LET GO!"

'I have to move faster! Big brother will die if I don't!' Senjuro started running faster and pink petals trailed him. "Ichi no kata: Odayakana Sakura!" (Calming Cherry Blossoms). His sword was inches away from finishing the job when-

"Ranshiki!" (Disorder). Yuki made a last ditch effort and sent random explosions in every direction, burning the shirt and haori of Jikon and turning the masked man's sleeveless uniform top to ash. The shockwaves threw her assailants away and Akaza used that to slam his foot down and leap into the air, sans his arms and with a sword in his neck.

"We need to find refuge from the sun NOW!" He ordered as his limbs regrew. Both he and his Eclipse dashed off into the woods and Tanjiro managed to find a straight shot into the path they took.

'Yōkatotsu!' Tanjiro exhaled fire and flung his sword like a bullet.

"That took too long!" He ripped Kyojuro's sword out of his neck and kept running. "We need to find a- AAGH!" A sword ripped through his sternum and stayed put.

"Lord Akaza!" They both looked back and saw that idiot with the weird scar.

"Don't run away you cowards! Turn and face us now!"

Veins ripples through their faces at the mention of that insult. "Doesn't he have a brain in that head? We aren't running from him. We're running from the sun!" They maintained their gallops and leapt into the darkness. "The fight's already over! With that wound, he'll be dead soon enough!" And now they were gone without a trace.

"Damn it! DAMN IT! We fight demons in the dark! Where you have the advantage! Running away when we don't regenerate like you! You didn't win here! You hear me?! You could never match up to-" Tanjiro's fury went as quickly as the sun scared off those two.

Carmen was there with a massive wing coming from her back, tearing through her dress, and it was holding Tanjirō entirely still. "Screaming doesn't make you win." That wing threw Tanjiro towards the others and he landed beside Rengoku with a grunt of pain. Jikon and Senjuro watched with tears in their eyes as everything came crashing down on them. Kyojuro was struggling to keep awake while this mystery woman just turned and started walking over to him.

"Who are you? Koujo!" Jikon looked at his masked brother but didn't get a response. "What's going on?! Who's this lady?!"

"Young Hakuga… Please calm down…" Kyojuro spoke calmly as the severed arms near him turned to ash. "This woman doesn't fear the sun, I believe she is different, but still helping the demons… Why?"

She stopped in front of the Flame Hashira then looked at Senjuro's crying face. "Kibutsuji… I don't like him. But we need his help, so we will help him. Koujo, give your family and friend a goodbye present."

The now shirtless demon walked up to Senjuro, Kyojuro, and Jikon then took off his mask to reveal his face… Blank. Foggy eyes with no thought behind them. He dropped the mask to his feet and sheathed his sword. "Goodbye…" Even his voice sounded void of any feeling.

"No… NO! NO YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Jikon tried to attack this woman but her deceptively powerful hand locked around his wrist and stopped his sword short of hitting anything. "NOT RENGOKU AND NOT MY BROTHER!"

Senjuro stood up but that scaly bat wing wrapped around him and stopped his movements. Kyojuro started struggling even harder to do something to stop this. 'Senjuro… I'm sorry… As a Hashira it's my duty to protect you all… But here I am- Here I am useless.' All he could do was focus his breathing to slow down his blood loss but- but common sense dictated that it wouldn't help much.

"Koujo!" Tanjiro started getting up but he stopped when Kyojuro coughed blood. All he could do was watch as the Demon walked right to that mystery lady without a care in the world.

Carmen watched them all with a slight smile on her face. "Hush." Her wing slammed Jikon into the ground and left him there, although it was more to keep him still instead of actually hurt him at least. "Don't worry about him, he's already dead. I'll treat your brother very well, lo siento pero que… Ah, you don't understand that. Oh well. Come on Koujo." She didn't do anything of significant movement even as Koujo set on fire from the direct sunlight on him. Some crows and a hawk landed on the wreckage of the train. She just started walking away while they all were forced to watch with tears in their eyes from Rengoku's condition. They saw the blank demon take one last look at them and then turn without a word. Just like that he was out of their view.

"Senjuro… Tanjiro… Jikon… please listen closely. I don't know how long I have." The boys fought their tears and aching bodies to listen as best as they could, even as Jikon cried hardest at seeing his mentor/brother figure like this… and his actual brother being taken away.

"Big brother- Big brother I'm sorry! I was too weak to help you! Even all my training! Everything I did to try and live up to our family name! I couldn't help you!" It was a miracle he got that out with how much he was hiccuping. Total Concentration Constant was lost to this moment.

"Senjuro, don't blame yourself for this. It's my fault… As a Hashira it's my job to protect you all, but I failed. Even though no lives were lost, we lost something that could have been greater. That is my mistake. Little brother, please tell our father to take care of himself. I don't want my passing to be a burden on his heart." His breaths were getting more labored now. "These wounds are fatal, my chances to live past this morning are non-existent. But don't feel bad that I will die, any Hashira would've done as I did. Even Shinazugawa would lay his life down for you all because you are the future of this Corps. Tanjiro…"

"Y-Yes. What is it R-Rengoku?"

"Your sister. I should let you know that I already accepted her as a member of the Corps. Even before I saw her bleed for the people on the train, and Jikon…" The boy was barely sitting up but even he was crying fat tears of sadness. "I know that whatever happens, your brother will come back. You all… You all are the future. The young boar, yellow haired lad, even the demons that Koujo brought to us… There is a future where we can have peace between us, somehow, and I know that you will all bring that future to us… I'm sure of it. Set your hearts ablaze." His eyes started closing.

"Rengoku…"

"Please be sure to train hard."

"Big brother!"

"Do your best… to become the next Hashira of this Corps."

"KYOJURO!"

"You all can do it… Set your hearts ablaze." He finally let his head fall. Now the three of them stopped and just stared in disbelief. He wasn't moving. He didn't respond. He was just there.

With everything they went through the last few months they still weren't strong enough to do anything that mattered. Every single Lower Moon was supposedly dead now, there was that, but in the face of the sheer power that the Upper Moons seemed to have, what did that matter? They all had to fight with what they had just to land one meaningful hit on the Eclipse, and she revealed that they weren't even going all out from the start… Maybe not even until the sun was coming up. These were the obstacles that they had to overcome to achieve their goals and yet- Yet it all seemed so impossible. How were they going to overcome this hurdle when even a Hashira was treated like a toy for a cat? What could they really do?

'Get stronger.' Jikon thought through the tears that he tried to wipe off without even having sleeves to wipe them with. 'I have to get stronger!'

Genya sat up in his bed and looked around the room. There was just a minor problem. 'This isn't my bed…' He saw his bare chest and looked down to quickly pull a comforter over himself. 'Where are my clothes?!' His eyes landed on the shape beside him and the reddish pink head of hair at the top of it. Oh. Oh! OH! His face was bright red once the memories of what happened last night caught up to him… Ami was very forward about things and with them entering a relationship it only meant it was a matter of time before things escalated this far. Now if only he could actually remember what happened.

"Hey! I know I look good but you don't have to stare!" And now she was awake and he almost screamed from being surprised. Not scared. "That was a pretty nice night. I don't remember much of it though." At least he wasn't the only one. The two of them got dressed quickly so they could resume their training. It took less than five minutes for them to be outside and in the presence of the Stone Hashira.

"I see you are both awake. I'm glad you aren't letting your personal relationship interfere with training." Genya flushed but Ami just smiled and adjusted her bear pelt. "We'll be resuming our-"

"Urgent news! Urgent news!" A kasugai crow flew down to them and started cawing information. "Last night the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, encountered an Upper Rank of the Twelve Kizuki. In the battle the demon escaped and tore a hole through his abdomen! The remaining Five Lower Moons were also present! Tanjiro Kamado, Inosuke Hashibira, Jikon Hakuga, and Zenitsu Agatsuma are responsible for aiding Rengoku in protecting over two hundred people from the demons, and slaying the lower moons! The Demon Slayer known as Koujo Itadake is also missing!"

Gyomei brought his hands together and tears began streaming from his blank eyes. "Namu Amida Butsu." A quick prayer to the entire situation. 'Losing Rengoku in such a way… This truly is a sad day for us.'

Ami and Genya looked horrified. 'A Hashira… Just like that?! While we were doing that stuff, they all were fighting super hard and goggle eyes kicked the bucket?!' Her fists were clenched hard enough to make her palms bleed and she wasn't alone. Genya may not have been as close with her friends but he did speak to them a few times, and since she liked them all he didn't think they could be that bad.

'Damn it. Fucking damn it! This isn't fair! They all probably fought their hardest and that's what they get?!' It wasn't a fair hand but oftentimes life isn't. The worst part was the sense of guilt he was feeling now. 'I don't even remember last night but while we were… They won't be able to forget! They had to watch a Hashira die!'

There were somewhat similar thoughts of the event as the information made its way down the grapevine to every Hashira. From cold silence. Deserved sadness over their associate's loss. Anger towards the demons. Denial that it could've happened. Wondering how even he couldn't take down an Upper Rank. Or even simple acknowledgment.

That calming voice that only earned respect out of them was speaking to their kneeling forms. "Two hundred passengers. Not even one of those two hundred passengers lost their lives. You all did a splendid job."

Tanjiro spoke up. "I can't accept that compliment, Master. Even after everything, we couldn't do anything to the Upper Rank or the Eclipse."

"It may be true that for now you aren't on that level, you all managed to overcome the odds and protect everyone from danger." Ubayashiki spoke to them ever so calmly. He was proud. Despite what happened they managed to fulfill their duty and protect everyone. "Hearing all of your accounts guarantees that you did your best and that no lives were lost."

Jikon clenched his fist and bit his lip. "My brother was still taken away, Master. Who knows what could be happening to him? What if Kibutsuji figures out a way to beat sunlight? What if my brother gets turned against us? What if they find out your location?!"

"Those are all valid concerns. However I'm quite confident that we don't have to worry about them, at least not for now. You three each managed to slay a Lower Moon of the Twelve Kizuki, effectively destroying that half of the hierarchy. Please be proud of yourselves for your actions, but that isn't all. You upheld your most basic obligation and to its limit."

Senjuro's tired eyes looked up towards the Master. "We don't deserve your praise Master, we failed. We weren't strong enough to handle the biggest threat that was there and- and it…" He couldn't bring it in himself to finish but his oncoming panic attack was canceled by the genial smile of their sickly leader.

"Please do understand that we're very upset over what happened. We will all get even stronger than we were before." Jikon said with a coldness to his voice.

Ubayashiki already made the decisions but now he should voice them before they went on another tangent. "Well I should inform you all of your promotions for your hard work. Senjuro Rengoku, because of your ability to directly slay a Lower moon and aid in protecting innocent lives I hereby promote you to rank Kanoe."

"Thank you Master. I'll try to live up to your expectations."

"Tanjiro Kamado, because of your actions in stopping Lower Moon one from eating any passengers aboard the Mugen train and helping fend off Eclipse Three, I hereby promote you to rank Tsuchinoe. And don't worry, Inosuke Hashibira and Zenitsu Agatsuma will be promoted to the rank of Tsuchinoto for their actions."

He bowed his head. "Thank you Master, I'll do my best!"

Then there was one. "Jikon Hakuga. For managing to kill not one but two Lower Moons of the Twelve Kizuki, while protecting the people aboard the Mugen train, and fending off Eclipse Three to nearly beheading said Eclipse… Not to mention applying a technique that took the current Water Hashira quite some time to create. I can only think of one suitable promotion."

That didn't make any sense. There's six ranks above where he was now. "I don't quite understand what you mean by that Master. There are some promotions that work well."

"Well this one is a bit spur of the moment and you'll have to be sure that you continue pushing yourself to these new limits as often as possible should you not feel deserving of it." Why did it sound like this was going somewhere it shouldn't be going?

Senjuro lifted his head up and so did Tanjiro. The two of them saw Shinobu standing there with a fresh version of Jikon's newer haori. "I'm glad I had Yuka put this together."

"Shinobu? Master, I'm very confused."

The blind man chuckled as his wife helped him stand properly. "That's to be expected but with the position currently available and with a direct recommendation from the Insect Hashira herself, combined with your actions on your recent mission… It's a fairly simple decision on my part." Shinobu was putting the haori on his back and kneeling with them just as quick.

"Master… you don't mean…"

"As I said, if you don't feel worthy of it then I implore you to push yourself further and further to live up to that expectation. But to me and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps you, Jikon Hakuga, are now-"

'A Hashira.'

A young boy was examining a book from a shelf much taller than he was. It might've had something relevant to what he was searching for. Apparently the man with a decent sense of fashion was going to come back but for now it was just the provocative woman here. He could make do with that but her annoying personality traits could be more bearable if she were more serious about the things they supposedly had to do. No matter. Once he found what he needed then he'd help in their petty little plans.

The door downstairs opened and he heard the sounds of footsteps coming towards his current location. Akaza should be back soon but for now it looked like he was dealing with this. "Kibutsuji, I've brought you something." Carmen walked right into the room like she owned the building and she had someone shirtless in tow. Why was he shirtless?

"What is this? Who is this? What purpose does this serve me?"

Carmen ran her hands along his expressionless face and then into his red hair. "Well he's a demon." That actually made the disguised demon king pause. This person didn't have the aura of any of his demons so how could she so boldly claim that he was really-

"Wait a moment." He shifted from his young boy form to his normal appearance and eyed this familiar face. That red hair. Those red eyes. It was all coming back to him now. "You… You're the one from the alleyway in Asakusa. I remember now, that's odd. I'm sure I gave you enough blood to kill a human." He then recalled something that was deliciously ironic now. "Your skin looks a bit pale. I can sense that you haven't eaten any humans, why is that? Would the sword on your hip have any relation?"

He didn't answer. He wasn't even looking at the demon king, he actually looked like he was looking past him. "Oh right, I left him locked to only listen to me." Carmen waved her hand over Koujo's eyes and a pink glow followed.

"I'm a swordsman, and that will never change." It didn't have any drive behind it but the fact that it was the first thing he said proved he had some conviction. But devotion was what Muzan needed.

"Go kill and eat a human now." He flared some of his presence but this demon was unaffected. He tried again and quickly realized that his curse wasn't in place. 'Not even a demon for a year and you broke that?' Alright. "Command him to go kill and eat a human."

"You heard him, go do it." Koujo didn't even blink. "Go kill someone!"

"I refuse. I will never kill an innocent person." Alright this was going to annoy him. Carmen walked out of the room and left the two in there alone. Muzan stared this new demon in his eyes and tried to find out what he was really about.

"Easily as strong as a Lower Moon but never ate a human. How?" It didn't make sense. But then again sense was a loose concept when it came to their race. Carmen came back with a man enveloped in her scaly wing and with one quick pull.

"There." Now there was a headless man bleeding onto the wooden floor, she held his body above her with that wing and let the fluids hit the floor while Muzan looked at the staining wood. "Eat him." This time the Demon actually didn't hesitate to stand below the bloodfall and let the fluid fall into his mouth. "Looks like he won't kill anyone himself but eating them is fine, these boys and there stupid rules." Now he was taking tentative bites out of the body and creating even more of a mess on the dark wood floor.

'That irritation aside…' He looked at the consuming demon of his and tried to feel for even his mind but found nothing. This one was entirely separate. 'Well as long as he listens to her then it should be fine. And him being a swordsman gives me a hypothesis, maybe an experiment can be conducted to see what happens with this newfound information."

Crunching of meat between his sharp teeth. The gushing of iron rich liquid into his mouth. The feeling of power slightly growing in his body with every bite he took of this guy. 'It's… a waste… to let him… not be eaten…' That's what a voice in his head was telling him, and that voice was your own reason right? So why wouldn't he listen to it? What wrong could happen from listening to your own mind? None. The mind is always aware of things even on a subconscious level. If you follow your base feeling then you'd be fine, as long as they were really your feelings deep down… If they were someone else's then there was a problem, but that wasn't something he had to worry about.

"To think he progressed through so quickly, it's amazing isn't it Haia?" Shinobu was trying to talk to the usually bubbly girl but right now it was like getting honey from an ant hill. The medical ward was less bleak with the two of them here but it turns out that Haia might be a lot like Nezuko in a way. "Cheer up a little, I'm sure that things will be fine one way or another."

The purple haired girl just sighed. "Will they really be? Or are you trying to cheer me up, Miss Shinobu?" The girl was crying and carefully filling a vial with her blue tears. "It's fine if you want me to feel better but, I just feel awful with him gone. A lot happened so quickly. There has to be something we can do to help find him."

Shinobu changed the bandages of her current patient with her smile fading away quickly. "Well there could be a way but not now, we don't even know where to look. We can't find anyone without having a place to look first."

"Yeah I know. I just- There's something different without him here? I don't know. Change happens but this isn't the good type of change, Jikon said it was some lady and she just took him. I watched him fight Ryuji! How could some lady who isn't a Kizuki just take him away like that?!"

Shinobu chuckled once she saw the girl getting some of her mirth back. 'That blood demon art really brings the mood down.' She looked at the five vials of blue tears with a smile on her face, not because of the happy news involving her boyf- her uh- Jikon! Yeah! Not that at all. It was the breakthrough of Haia's tears. They could mend any object and repair it like it wasn't even broken. Useless and weak the demons would say, but to a human it could be useful to fix any broken items or valuables… Then they tested it in an emergency and found out what it does for a human's body. Closing up major wounds to make them incredibly less dangerous on a person. It was a scientific breakthrough but they had to keep it under wraps as long as possible, forever maybe.

"Well thanks for talking to me again Miss Shinobu, I'm gonna go find the girls! Maybe we can do something fun around here." Kocho had enough experience to know that the girl wasn't just sad because of her ability demanding that she shed tears, she could tell a fake smile when she saw one herself and right now that girl wasn't being sincere about her feelings. Then again what could you expect when the person who saves you ends up going missing?

"This is all so difficult. Times really are getting more complicated than ever." She looked at her patient and replaced the bandage over his eye. Carefully not messing with the soft tissue. "What would you do in all of this confusion right now?" It took a few seconds to come up with an answer. "You'd probably smile and have something positive to say. That's just who you are." She set the dirty bandages in the trash and started wiping her hands off, the slightly open window letting in a draft that tousled red and yellow hair. She started leaving the room with a wistful sigh."Your positivity would help Jikon but that's too much to ask from you right now isn't it Rengoku?" With that she left the patient alone to rest up from his hard fought battle.

A/N: Yes, yes I did. No Taisho commentary this time. Everyone has too much on their minds. Any questions you can just pm me, see ya next time.