Chapter 1: The End
Sup, my name is James D. Heavens and I am pleased to announce my first fan fiction story based on the anime demon slayer\ kimetsu no yaiba I've been thinking of writing this ever since I saw a question on reddit; ''what if kokushibo taught others his breathing style'' and my brain just went at it, not sure how long I'm gonna go, it all depends if y'all actually like it. So, It will be based around my own OC renjiro ikeda . Renjiro is the eldest child (15 pre final selection, 17 currently) sarcastic, speaks brashly, but over all a pretty intelligent person. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer
Demon slayer: kimetsu no yaiba is owned by Koyoharu Gotouge and ufotable. I own nothing but the OC(s).
Prologue.
Foot of Mount kumotori, okutama town, japan
1913 (October)
A cottage sat peacefully alone in a meadow, just a few 100 metres from the thick line of trees ascending highinto the mountain. The sun was already over the mountain top bringing some warmth to the cold land, a few metres from the cottage was a storage shed that was surrounded by a fairly large farm and currently the last of it's crops were being harvested, a farm of this size should be handled by a team of at least 10 men, was being done by 2.
''Are you sure you can keep going son?''
'' of course! who said I was tried!?''
Daigo ikeda was pleasantly surprised that his son was testing the limits of his endurance and he was even more shocked that his son renjiro had kept up with him in harvesting the crops from late last night till the break of dawn. They were picking the last of the daikon radishes.
Daigo is a young male with shaggy black hair which reached down to the nape of his neck. He wore a dirty brown noragi with black sleeves patterned in a style reminiscent to Bogolan, his eyes are a crystal green and his skin tone was tanner than most people in the town.
He is athletically built probably more thanost farmers should, and stood at a height of 6'2'' and wore a straw sugegasa on his head. He was a rather boisterous man, never seemed to be sad or angry, a Bright smile almost always on his face. His voice was rather loud.
''Okay then, don't pass out on me'' he said with a chuckle.
'Damn it, I was just about to give up but then he said that! Now I don't want to.' Renjiro groaned to himself, his arms felt like falling off and his lack of sleep was getting to him but continued on with determination pulling the vegetables out of the soil.
The bounds of daikons finally out of the ground and stacked in baskets, tallied up it was obvious renjiro didn't pick enough but he was happy his stamina actually improved and carried him through the night. Even though he was out of breath and sweating like a dog but his father seemed fine apart from a few beads of sweat. Yep he was still happy.
'' good job renjiro, you did it!'' Daigo said with a brisk thumbs up. He's loud voice helping to shock his son awake.
"Thank you for the praise," Renjiro remarked in a dull voice, his father only laughed at his response.
Daigo looked up at the sky, "It's early morning now. You should get some sleep kiddo!." He suggested before effortlessly carrying two baskets of their harvest, showing just how much energy he still had, walking away towards the farm shed.
"Alright, I'll do that right now." Renjiro answered trying to hide the fact that he couldn't fell his legs.
Renjiro ikeda has a fairly athletic form especially for a 15 year old, sporting long unruly black hair that blended into a dark purple that stopped short of his shoulders, He wore a dark noragi and grey monpe pants, his eyes are a dark green and his skin just like his father's was tanned but with a lighter tone.
He also stood a little over 5'6'' a good sign that he was healthy but renjiro was never a strong as he was now, he was weak at birth and it took a miracle for him to have lived through his early years.
His siblings born after him were all healthy, kioka, taiga even the youngest; yami. a small rumor went around town about him 'taking the burden of his siblings' and being a true older brother even before his sisters were born.
The rumors got daigo to put in enough faith in his son. Once renjiro clocked 9 years his father asked him to participate in their family sacred dance the ' tsukuyomi kagura' it was done during the night of a waxing moon.
His parents were worried though, as the dance requires specific breathing patterns that put a considerable amount of strain on a person. During the dance renjiro finally folded over short of breath and hacking blood, under normal circumstances a child would be traumatized by such an experience but during the night of the waning moon Renjiro asked to join again. The amount of trust young renjiro had in his parents was profound. So, if they thought him practicing the dance would do him good then he would try.
For the next six years renjiro had been training his breathing and for reasons unknown to him the dances had made him even stronger than most of his peers, which brings us to present were he is training his stamina.
''Onii-Chan!!''
Renjiro woke up with a start, his head jerked upright, looking around he realizes he fell asleep kneeling on the farm.
'How tired was I?' He asked in disbelief. Finally he decided to stand up but just half way up...
BAM!
Renjiro winced as he got slammed by a miniature train but he already expected this, it was his sisters call that woke him up.
'' Onii-chan! Your awake!!'' Taiga yelled right next to his ear while hugging him as tight as her little arms could allow.
Taiga was the third child of the ikeda family, at 9 years old, stood around 4,8'' she was very excitable, had black hair that extended to her shoulders, bright blue eyes and she wore a grey dress with an equally grey monpe underneath along with a baggy shirt. Her skin tone was also much lighter than her brother and father.
Despite the fact he was nearly deafened renjiro found himself melting into the hug. ''Yeah, taiga I'm awake. So, you all just let me sleep in the cold huh? Also ease up a bit. Man your getting heavier.'' He said jokingly, taiga only giggled in response. ''Mom said we should let you rest!'' She finally Yelledanswered. They sat in silence just trying to see how long it lasts.
...
...
...
''What's going on here? Onii-Chan actually enjoying a hug?'' The voice of the second born exclaimed behind them breaking the silence.
'That's because you do it wrong!' If renjiro wanted voice his displeasure he didn't bother. They was no reasoning with kioka.
Kioka the second child of the ikeda family, at age 13 she was fairly tall 5'5'', her hair was the same colour as her brother's though a more faded purple it extended to her lower back, her eyes were an almost sinister dark blue, she was dressed in pale skirt and wore a pale pink haori along with a black scarf and black kimono underneath. Just like taiga she wasn't tanned in fact she was paler than most of the villagers.
''Also, I brought you a scarf and your haori.'' kioka said. Instead of simply wrapping the dark green scarf around him, she also slumped on renjiro giving him a hug. ''I hope you weren't too cold~''
'Here she goes again' renjiro groans internally, he would have just rolled his eyes at her antics but the combination of the slowly freezing air, his hatred of cold and her warm breath on his right ear was actually welcomed. That is until she tied the scarf around he's neck and draped the bogolan patterned haori with alternating triple white arrows positioned on the top and bottom of yellow diamonds littering the black background around him.
''Okay, now come on okaa-san said we should go buy some charcoal.'' Kioka said. Renjiro glanced up at the sky, 'what now? it isn't even dusk yet'
But, renjiro wasn't one to question his parents decisions, so he stood up and properly wore his haori. '' so, where did dad go?'' He asked, picking up the sack left over from the earlier daikon harvest.
''He went to find mochi, she ran off again'' taiga answered with a giggle. The calf 'mochi' seemed to have a nack for getting lost and their father also had a nack for attracting trouble.
Renjiro hummed in concern, he knew mochi couldn't survive on her own but his father always came home with stories that involved predator attacks, it was all laughs seeing that daigo never came home with a single injure though the scars on his body told of a different time.
''I guess that's fine. Taiga you shou-
''I already know, I'll wait for you two, hurry back okay!''Taiga yelled before running back to the house.
Renjiro nodded, '' We will!!. Man, taiga is so smart and adorable''
''Yeah. But damn is she loud'' kioka adds. Renjiro only chuckled as they made their way to town.
Okutama town
It had been about an hour since the siblings left home. They were in no rush technically, the person their were looking to buy from isn't easy to catch since he's got no shop to sell from. The two just enjoyed the scenery as they walked, the large mountain covered in lush greenery making up most of the landscape, a light fog covering the secrets that are held on its peak, a lake, just one of many in okutama but in that minute that lake was the most beautiful. The sun had somehow managed to peek through the clouds though it did not warm the air it did create a marvellous light show briefly turning an ordinary lake into a crystal ocean.
''Kinda romantic huh?'' Kioka sighed as she softly nudged renjiros shoulder.
''It was till you ruined it.'' Renjiro scuffed, sounding more bitter than he intended. Kioka was a special case, renjiro has seen how the higuchi, kento, Shizuoka and even the kamado siblings show affection. So, he correctly deduced that kioka was showing it the wrong way; she was in today's term a ' bro-con'. Cause, Sisters don't lick their brothers ears when they hug.
Thankfully she wasn't hopeless since she showed interest in other boys around the town but she just deemed most of them ' not as great as Onii-Chan'
'Why did I have to set the bar so high!, my own talents are so vast it frightens even me.' He taught. If renjiro was trying to sound distressed he was doing a horrible job.
Once in town they are greeted by the usual cool palette of the buildings and atmosphere in general, they were a few bright colour here and their but not by much. After searching for a bit they finally find who they were looking for; a young male of about the same age as kioka, black hair that blended into red in fact it was just dark red, he frequently wore a green and black checkered haori which was the main reason they found him so quickly.
''Kamado! Get over here!!'' Renjiro yelled, his sister winced covering her ear. Why was everyone in her family so loud.
Tanjiro kamado gasped in surprise before turning to the direction of the call.
''Oh renjiro!, kioka! Good evening, it's a surprise seeing you two here, I hope your doing okay.'' He called while jogging towards them.
'' yes, yes! We're fine, now give us all your charcoal!'' Renjiro demanded. ''Also, only nezuko and I are on first name basis''
''Sorry, force of habit. We never used to care much about it as kids'' Tanjiro states sheepishly as he knelt down and started transferring his stock of charcoal from his pack into the sack.
Renjiro honestly couldn't argue with that. They barely get to talk or hangout anymore. Distance of their homes probably didn't help either.
''I hope she isn't over working herself.''
''No, she's doing fine...she...um...she asked me to remind You not to over work yourself.'' Tanjiro replied. Concern evident in his voice.
Renjiro was surprised, the last time he met with nezuko was five weeks ago. He taught she would be busy with work and the distance of their homes were too great it was a hassle for her to bother visiting. But, was he the one who was too busy? Who had been to busy training to be a good farmer to even visit his friends?
Renjiro Cast his head down staring at the ground. Tanjiro and kioka exchanged worried glances but before the could speak, renjiro interrupted them.
''Tell nezuko I'm coming for a visit tomorrow and also tell her to quit worrying so much'' he declared with a soft smile on his face.
They was a pregnant silence. Before a wide smile finally appeared on tanjiro's face. ''Yes! I'll be sure to tell her.'' He declared happily.
''As expected of my beloved onii-chan. He knows the solution to any problem'' kioka declared uncharacteristically proud.
...
...
''Kamado you like kioka right? Take her with you!''
''No!..I mean yes but she doesn't like me, your the one she likes''
''Don't be so modest kamado! You can just keep her for the night or something.''
''Why does it sound like your giving her out!!??''
Tanjiro and renjiro kept their back and forth going completely ignoring kioka's embarrassed complaints.
''Fine whatever, here's your money keep the change'' Renjiro groans, tossing a small sack of yen to tanjiro.
The eldest kamado son frowned down at the sack, '' this is still more than the actual amount.''
Growling in irritation, kioka grabbed renjiro's arm and started trying to drag him away, they were burning daylight here!
''Geez kioka, calm down. Tanjiro keep it, your used to this aren't you?'' renjiro calmly replied.'' Okay, bye remember to give nezuko my message!'' Renjiro dashed off dragging kioka with him.
Tanjiro stood still as he watched the siblings disappear into the distance,'' He said my first name.'' He muttered in disbelief then gave a soft smile before turning back slowly making his was home.
Outskirt of okutama
Renjiro and kioka where making their way home, but the walk was any thing but quiet.
''Why do we always pay tanjiro so much?'' Kioka curiously asked her irritation gone now. She knew they always did that but never knew why.
''Cause, after the death of his father tanjiro took it upon himself to provide for his family. Dad admired that so whenever we needed charcoal he sent us to the kamados. But, he didn't want tanjiro to feel like he was some kind of burden to us so we only buy when we're completely out of charcoal that way we buy a whole stick in one fell swoop.'' Renjiro calmly answers. He continued with a slight laugh ''Hell, I don't even know the actual price of charcoal, dad says if tanjiro says 'this is too much' that means you're doing it right''
Kioka hummed in understanding , that explained a lot, the kamados were well known despite living far up the mountain and they were known for being hard workers; that must have been a good way to get father's favour. She looked upwards at the sky, the clouds were getting darker but it was more likely a sign of the day getting late than a storm approaching.
''Rah! I'm a demon! Quit running and get in my mouth!''
The siblings turn their attention towards a group of children of about 9 - 11yrs of age, they were playing a game that seemed to be an altered version of tag.
''Look onii-chan their playing 'demon vs humans' it looks fun right lets go and scare them.'' Kioka's mischievous words fell on deaf ears as renjiro made his way towards the children.
One of the kids turned around just in time to see renjiro walking towards them, from the stories his older siblings told him, he immediately recognized him as-
''Sup kid.'' Renjiro towered over the young boy. Flashing what he thinks is a disarming smile. It was the opposite really.
''It's Ikeda!! Run!!!'' The kid yelled in fear. And like frightened sheep half the children scatter, running as fast as their legs could carry them.
The children that remained and kioka stared blankly at a motionless renjiro.
...
...
...
''Onii-chan''
''It's fine, they just couldn't handle my Haki!.'' Renjiro declares proudly. The others sweat drop at this.
He turned his attention to the children only six stayed behind. Smiling at the fact that they were not scared of him. 'Not yet at least ' he sighed internally. ''Hey, you kids know that demons are real right?''
The children freeze, some were not expecting news like this. They thought demons were myths, stories meant to scare people.
''No! Thats not true! My brother says their hoaxes!'' A boy with slick brown hair spat, he was trembling with fear but still tried to stand up to renjiro supposed false fact.
...
...
''Who wants to play 'demon vs humans' but this time with the speed an actual demon has.'' Renjiro states darkly.
Before anyone could refuse or agree, the tanned boy shot forward grabbing two of the kids with him. ''Dead.'' He simply said, holding them above the ground before dropping them with a thud.
The children all let out fear-filled yells, scrambling in the direction to their homes.
Kioka stared in disbelief, her brother not only scared a number of children on purpose! But he moved so fast she couldn't even see him at first. And he did all that just to prove a point.
''Yay, onii-chan are you finally seeing the joys of causing chaos?'' she asks happily.
''Yes, i'm ecstatic even.'' He responded sarcastically. 'It's better if they learned to fear them now'.They turned back to the path leading home. Walking in relative silence, the sack full of charcoal draped over renjiro's shoulder lightly clattering provided a much needed distraction.
''Onii-chan, why do you believe in demons?'' Kioka finally breaking the silence.
''Because dad and mom said they were real.''
''Really, just because they said so?''
''Our parents have never Given us reason to doubt them before. Besides, there's a reason why dad always checks on the wisteria trees. Right? He can't be lying if he's always devotedly checking.'' Renjiro states as he turns to face his sister but he freezes once he's seen her eyes.
''I guess yo-''
''Kioka! Why are you crying!?'' Renjiro yells in concern while scrambling for his napkin.
Reaching for her face kioka feels the tears that drew a wet line down her face, she doesn't even know when the tears fell much less the reason.
''Here wipe your eye! Maybe your about to catch a cold?'' Renjiro's panicked murmuring goes unheard as kioka quietly dries her eyes, her mind still searching for a reason to the sudden tear up.
''Come on kioka, I'll carry you back home'' renjiro requested down on one knee with his back presented to her. The purple haired boy wishes his sister would have hesitated or at least pretend to be embarrassed at the prospect of her brother having to baby her. But, kioka was...kioka. So, renjiro found himself racing along the meadow paths at full speed, piggybacking his younger sister who had to clutch the sack of charcoal with both hands.
Ikeda Residence
The siblings finally arrive home though it was already late. Renjiro let kioka down but she was reluctant to let go of his neck.
''Kioka let go.'' Renjiro mutters with a noticeable sweat drop. She finally very reluctantly got down. They opened the wooden door to the cottage.
''Mom, were back.'' Renjiro called. Before his mother could respond taiga shot out from the kitchen.
''Onii-chan!, Nee-chan!!'' Taiga cried tears in her eyes; she ran at renjiro but he jumped over her completely, not giving up taiga changed her target to kioka, the eldest sister barely flinched before she got slammed into. They both fell to the floor.
''Geez taiga, you must have been lonely without us huh?'' Kioka asked, taiga only nodded in conformation. ''Well, you can blame onii-chan for us being late.''
Renjiro ignored the slight edge in her voice and turned his attention to His mother as she left the kitchen with the youngest child in her arms.
''Renjiro, welcome back. I hope the walk wasn't too much trouble.'' Rumi asked, her voice slightly above a whisper.
Rumi ikeda is a fairly quiet woman, she was a near opposite of her husband; quiet, fairly short about 5'4'' and it was obvious who kioka inherited her fair skin from. Rumi's skin was near white, if she was under better lighting you could mistake her for a ghost. Her hair was a bright violet, tied in a braid, crystal blue eyes, and wore a cream patterned kimono with a pale pink and long-sleeved kappōgi over the top.
Little yami, the youngest child and daughter of the ikeda was fast asleep, being only 2 years old came with it perks, her skin was a light tan, her eyes were blue but currently they were hidden. Nonetheless, she was just so adorable; without even thinking renjiro reached out and pinched her cheeks.
''No, it was great though the company could have been better'' renjiro answered glancing at kioka, focusing his attention back to yami, he realizes the little girl barely stirred. 'She must be tired, sleeping now does sound like a good idea'.
''Your father went out to check the wisteria trees.'' His mother softly informed, handing yami over to renjiro before retreating into the kitchen; later she returned with a large bowl of plain white rice and a equally large bowl of ozaku.
At the sight of the meal the siblings practically flew to to the table, properly sitted and set. It always brought a smile to their mother's face when they showed such enthusiasm.
She quickly served them, after the clapping of hands and a chorus of ''Itadakimasu" they began eating. Rumi quietly feeding the sleeping yami.
The mother expected her children to be chattering and discussing like they usually did when eating; 'Its probably because daigo isn't here' she taught sadly.
''Mom, do you think I'm over working myself?'' Renjiro mutters sadly.
'Huh?' Rumi froze, she and her husband always encouraged their children to be straight forward with their thoughts. But, this worked against her as she was left speechless from such a sudden question.
As if sensing his mother's inner turmoil, renjiro elaborated; '' I found out today that I've been working and training so much that... It feels like I'm ignoring my friends. I know I want to be like dad since he's so strong that we don't need to employ any help on the farm. I taught if I trained a lot I could help the family and my future family as much as dad does but even tanjiro struggles to support his family, I don't know if I can ever be as good as dad.'' He's tone solemn and heavy.
That helped a lot. His sister were listening intently even though they gave no verbal input. This was something only their mother could do.
''Renjiro, you know your father was never that strong or good at farming, he trained just as you do now, your only fifteen barely half your fathers age. You know just because you want to better youself doesn't mean you have to do it alone or without taking breaks, No one is rushing you to get better, take your time and enjoy being young and free; they're those who are forced to grow up quickly by fate, but has long as their still breathing... As long as you just keep breathing you can push through the challenges. your strong renjiro''. Rumi's voice was soft despite the awe-inspiring speech.
Renjiro was stunned he didn't know whether to cry or laugh, he hated acting all emotional but he just couldn't hold in the relief in his heart. A weight suddenly wrapped around his stomach. Looking downwards he see's his youngest sister giving him a hug, she looked back at him with big violet eyes and a small smile.
''Aww! Yami is giving her onii-chan a hug. I want to join too''. Kioka declared before jumping renjiro.
''Hey, me too. I like hugs!!''. Taiga yelledstated as she also wrapped her arms around her brothers torso.
Rumi smiled her kids were being loudhappy again. If only her husband could see them; 'daigo where are you?' She asked in concern.
Wisteria line ( the forest 1800 meters from the farm)
Daigo ikeda was beyond stunned, he had journeyed down into the forest to check on the wisteria trees like always but today he wasn't frozen in awe appreciating the beauty of the trees. Up ahead they was a traditional sliding door left open in the middle of a forest, if that wasn't strange enough the door seemed to be part of the ground.
This sight would have sent any normal person running, but daigo was curious, from the stories his parents told him and the words of Mr. Saburo, he came to the conclusion this was the work of demons, real demons.
For almost minutes daigo watched it, the sickle he took with him was poised for an attack. The bright orange yellowish light shone out of the door, the inside seemed to be filled with numerous rooms and stairs. 'Is this one of the things demons do? This is nothing short of sorcery!'
His train of thought stopped once he realized this door was beyond the wisteria trees meaning; 'whatever was in here is already out!' Panic flooded his senses that's when he took notice of the light foot prints in the soil. Now He was no matagi so he never could have noticed those prints but now that he did daigo couldn't help but blame himself.
Breaking into a full sprint, the head of the ikeda family ran faster than he ever could before up the mountain slope, dead set on reaching his family.
Ikeda Residence, okutama town
The family had finished with their meal, they were always fast eaters. Renjiro took the bowls to the kitchen, he observed that they was a covered bowl already there. 'Probably for dad.' He reasoned.
Then, just as he was about to begin washing, everything sudden slowed down. Renjiro felt like a weight was on him, he spun around as quickly as he could but his movement also felt slow. A yellow ominous light filled the room as his eyes caught sight of what he could only describe as a storm of luminous crescent moons, a giant moon sailing horizontally and another vertically surrounded by the smaller crescent moons and...
Blood? and limbs, his families limbs.
A shearing pain erupted from his shoulder, one of the small vertical moons went through skin and bone almost separating his arm from his shoulder. Another horizontal moon cut into his leg, right below the knee cap.
Finally, as though he had lost the power to slow time, the crescent moon vanished in a flash leaving gaping holes in the wall of the cottage. Then the living room exploded in a shower of blood and limbs ,renjiro's wounds shot a jet of the red life giving fluid. Through this all renjiro couldn't decide on what hurt more; he's family getting massacred or the intense pain going through his body, tears were already flowing down his cheeks.
CRACK! CRACK!! CRACK!!!
The sound of the walls and foundations giving out rang, the young boy despite the pain stumbled to the kitchen window and jumped out. He didn't get far from the house as he hit the ground with a silent 'thud' which sent more agony to his wounds.
CRASH!
The home of the ikeda family that has stood for generations tumbled down, crumbling on itself, the thatch roof fell in to the rooms, the walls falling on to an immobile renjiro partly crushing him under it's weight.
It was a miracle the injured boy hadn't lost consciousness yet, his breathing was off, the pain he felt doubled, his shoulder and leg bleeding profusely. He couldn't think straight, his brain sending nothing but sadness and pain. Through it all though his eyes caught sight of a figure standing at the former entrance to his homethe rubble.
The furnace that they had to keep them warm, was now taking the wood as fuel, setting part of the rubble ablaze. The light illuminated the figure; was a tall man of muscular build and a pale complexion. He possesses long, spiky black hair with red tips that were tied in a ponytail. His most notable feature is the three sets of eyes on his face with yellow irises and red flesh sclera. His middle set of eyes had kanji written in them but the distance made it impossible to make out, while his other sets of eyes feature black pupils and a cracked pattern in the irises. The creature also has red markings resembling flames on the top left side of his forehead and the bottom right of his chin.
It wore a purple-and-black hexagonal-patterned nagagi kimono and black umanori-styled hakama pants tied with a white uwa-obi. He had a scabbard that had fleshy appearance around his waist.
'It's a demon but why!? How!? What did we do wrong!?' The realization and sudden wave of despair weighed on Renjiro's mind, he wanted to scream but all that came was a strangled cough of blood. His vision slowly going dark; 'I don't want to die here, I-i have to kill that thing, what do I do?...mom, dad.'
Just keep breathing.
With new determination he took in a painful breath of air. He remembered the stories his parents told him of how he was born barely alive, his heart and lungs too weak to pump or take in enough oxygen, how the doctor went out to the neighboring village to get the necessary instruments to help him breath better, when the doctor returned a day later though he expected bad news, he was surprised to find a newborn that could barely stay alive still breathing, fighting to breath.
Renjiro didn't know what was going through his head as a baby but he knew that fighting spirit had to be somewhere inside him.
So, he breathed steady breaths, even as he slowly fell unconscious his steady patterned breaths continued. The wounds he sustained stopped bleeding completely, temporarily saving him from a slow death.
Forest (800 metres), ikeda residence farm
Daigo ran without losing a breath, his stamina peaked after years of training. He's eyes caught a figure approaching him up ahead. The fact goosebumps and raised hair exploded on his skin told him whatever it was, it wasn't human.
Not losing speed daigo swung his sickle right at the figures face.
''There you are.'' The figure spoke, a chilling ominously calm tone. Its hand reached for what looked like a sword then unsheathed it and swung it lazily. What it didn't expect was for its target to launch itself 20 feet into the air.
Daigo swung the sickle again this time aiming for the figuresdemon's neck.
CLANG!!
But, was immediately blocked by the demons sword in a lazy one handed grip. ''So, this is what my technique has been reduced to. Pitiful''
Before daigo could blink, a massive cut appeared stretching from his collarbone to his hip. The pain was sudden and he had no choice but to kneel over. ''My family were are they!?'' He demanded, his voice stern and commanding even though he was the one currently on the ground bleeding.
The demon tilted his head curiously, before answering with a calm, level voice; ''their all dead. So, you can stop fighting and die peacefully.'' Unsheathing his sword again the demon swung and sent a storm of razor sharp crescent moons at the human.
Gritting his teeth in anger and sorrow, daigo ducks under the slash, the attack continued towards the dense forest, decimating the trees, he rushed towards the demons position. His left arm got severed by slash despite him dodging but that did nothing to stop his anger.
The sickle cut through the air aimed for the demons legs just before impact the demon vanished before the attack could connect. In the wake of the sickle's slash a crescent moon appeared covered in numerous pale yellow moons.
The demons eyes widen by a fraction. After quickly sidestepping the attack he was ready to swiftly decapitate the human but the sudden display caused him to pause, it has been centuries since anyone has successfully performed his technique.
Taking advantage of the distraction, daigo leaped high into the air right over his target. He was going to fight, even if he died trying.
The demon was once again stunned by this human, who wasn't even a slayer, had landed a hit on him, a vertical slash across three of his eyes though they healed immediately. It seemed he would have to take the fight a bit more seriously.
And that's it, I'm done! Hope you enjoyed it.
I admit, it's quite a slow start, i just wanted to show that renjiro had a life and aspirations before shit hit the fan, but yeah things will get more exciting as the story progresses.
As some of you already guessed the mystery demon is kokushibo and as you also noticed during the fight he barely acknowledged daigo as a threat and continuously underestimated him but we all know what's gonna happen when koku does take him seriously X(
Also, in this story every breathing style is physical ( i found it weird when someone told me those flashy elements that are a frontal part of demon slayer were imaginary, I understand why...but their just some stuff off about it, I'll let you search it up ).
So, the styles are physical though you can only see them if you're or were a demon slayer, normal people only feel it; water breathing is like putting your hand in to a raging river, its cold, it feels wet but you don't get wet. Flame breathing is like visible heat, you can get burned by nearing it and combust any thing combustible. Wind breathing is basically razor wind. Thunder breathing is able to electrocute when used full force and the light it gives off is also visible. Moon breathing crescents are wicked sharp. Mist breathing is literally mist. But, of course element projections can't kill the demons, they can at least slow their regeneration but yeah it has to be the nichirin weapon. Other breathing styles will be elaborated on as the story progresses.
What ever references that are made in the story are solely for comedy and does no pertain to anything in the story in-universe.
Please try to leave a review and thank you for reading.
See you next time... Hopefully :)