Chapter Twenty One: Corp Rules
On a cold winter day, a young boy was watching as children play on the snowy streets, as he approached them the boy fell to the ground as he struggled to breathe. He turned over and looked to the sky, just as a woman came to tend to her son...Rui.
Rui's mother scolded him, the boy knew that he shouldn't go outside. Rui recalled his past, from his birth Rui he always been frail. He couldn't even run as even walking was challenging for him until Muzan appeared before him one night. The Demon Progenitor "Pitied" the boy and offered a way to save him. Rui's parents soon learned what became of their son.
Despite now possessing a physically strong body, the boy could no longer be in sunlight and had to devour humans to sustain himself. He still remembers when his mother and father first discovered that he had eaten someone, his mother cried in devastation while his father was in a state of utter shock and disbelief!.
Rui's mind then when back to a story he heard growing up about a man who died trying to save his drowning son. Rui was so moved by this story and by this act of deep parental love and by such a close bond, to him that man had fulfilled his role as a parent perfectly. On the other hand Rui never understood why his parents tried to kill him. One night as he slept his father raised a knife at Rui while Rui's mother did nothing to stop him, all she did was stand and sob next to the bedroom.
Rui woke up and mortally wounded them.
Afterward, he sat on the porch of his house. As Rui reasoned that his parents were imposters, he refused to believe that they had a real bond. As Rui sat there he heard his mother's final words.
'I'm sorry that i couldn't give you a strong body' Those were the mother's final words to her son before she passed away, this shook Rui so much that he suddenly remembered his father's final words to him.
'It's all right, Rui we're going to die with you' Rui was so enraged at his father's attempt to kill him that he ignored his last message, he was willing to die with him to atone for Rui's murder of another person. That is when Rui finally realized that they did have a genuine bond, but he severed it with his own hands!. Muzan then came to him and pushed the contrary, telling the young demon it was his parents fault for their inability to accept him. Devastated by what he had done, Rui forced himself to believe Muzan's words, unable to bear the wight of his actions.
As he dies Rui's headless body began walking to Tanjiro. Rui understood that he is solely to blame he missed his parents every single day it was too much to bear and even after creating a fake family the feeling of emptiness never left him, and because he was the most powerful demon in his family no one could genuinely protect him like he wanted. Rui also realized that the more powerful he got he started to remember even less about being human, and as his memories faded away he had lost sight of what he truly wanted, to seek a bond he could never claim.
Rui feel just short of Tanjiro and as he continued to fade and try vainly to reach out to him. Tanjiro picked up the scent of unbearable grief coming from Rui.
Tanjiro gently put his hand on Rui's back to show his sympathy, causing the demon to experience the feeling of warm gentle sunlight. Rui remembered that he wanted to apologize to his parents hoping that they can forgive him but Rui was certain that he would not go where his parents are, he had killed so many people, he was surely going to Hell and his chance of earning his parents forgiveness was gone, but then a familiar voice spoke from the afterlife.
'We'll be going together even if it's to hell' Rui was shocked, it was his father! then Rui's mother appeared as well.
'NO matter where you go we'll be with you' the mother said comforting her her son. Rui then started to regain his humanity and change back into a human as he rushed to hug his parents who held him as he sobbed and tearfully apologized for everything he has done, as the fires of Hell consume their souls.
Tanjiro watched Rui's body fade away completely, the last physical remnants of Lower Moon Five now gone. Tanjiro was shocked and angered to see Giyu step on Rui's clothes. The Water Hashira scolded Tanjiro for showing sympathy for a demon saying that even though it looked like a child it was still a hideous monster that had lived for centuries.
'In order to soothe the spirits of those it killed and to make sure it claims no further victims, i will swing my blade down and lop off the head of any demon without mercy!. But i will not belittle those who regret their actions and suffered over the things they did as demons. Because demons were once human. Because they were like me' said Tanjiro before asking Giyu to step off Rui's clothes. Tanjiro had realized a long time ago that demons are not hideous monsters but are tragic and hopeless creatures wich is why Tanjiro and Nezuko were determined to find a cure to save those who were turned and restore their humanity.
Giyu had recognized who these Demon Slayers are!, they were Tanjiro and Nezuko, the siblings that he helped two years ago. Nezuko rushed to Giyu and huged him, she had heard about him from Sabito and Mokomo and she felt really sad for him.
'Thank you ' Giyu said as he returned Nezuko's embrace. After that moment butterflies surround Giyu, he quickly knew who was about to appear and then from the trees Shinobu came speeding in. Shinobu asked if Giyu had slayed the Twelve Kizuke member.
'No it was the kid Tanjiro ' Answered Giyu, that was a shock to both Giyu and Shinobu, how could this boy be this strong and powerful?!.
Elsewhere a transformed Demon Slayer was given a medication dosage wich quickly eradicated the poison. The person who administered it was a man wearing a uniform titled 'Kakushi' the man was amazed at the medicines effectiveness!, it was Shinobu's making. Another Kakushi a woman added that Shinobu had determined it with just one look at the situation!. She called the Insect Hashira amazing and she added that Zenitsu is also amazing. As the Thunder Breathing slayer was being brought down from the suspended house. Zenitsu had succeeded in killing the demon responsible and it's death slowed the poison's circulation. The mail Kakushi applied a sign to his patient showing he has finished treatment and gladly stated that all those effaced can recover, while the female Kakushi comments that it is wise to pack up and leave the scene quickly.
Tanjiro's Kasugai Crow had arrived with the siblings next orders,to head to the Demon Slayer Headquarters to give their report, while Shinobu and Giyu will stay on Mount NATAGUMO for a little longer to hunt down any remaining demons and to help the injured, as Tanjiro and Nezuko descended MT.NATAGUO thay encountered a girl, a Demon Slayer with black hair and purple eyes.
Elsewhere
Another pair of Kakushi had found Inosuke who was still tied to the tree. The Kakushi were wary after seeing his boar mask but eventually they discovered that he was indeed a Demon Slayer and take him down and they were shocked at the extent of the boy's injuries. As he is taken Inosuke laments his inability to kill even a single demon and begins to doubt himself. Elsewhere Zenitsu with Chuntaro as company was put alongside the other treated Demon Slayers. The teenager wondered about the Kakushi...he noted their speed and efficiency. He saw the girl giving orders and recognized her as a survivor of Final Selection. The girl told the Kakushi to bring the wounded to her place the Butterfly Mansion, while she hunted for demons around the forest to protect them. Zenitsu then remembered who the Kakushi were, they were the Corps paramedics and clean-up crew they were composed of people without swordsmanship skills.
Dawn breaks on Mount NATAGUMO As everyone leaves the forest. Tanjiro and Nezuko were still walking with the Kakushi, eventually they arrived at a Grand Garden,the siblings entered the garden and were met with a group of swordsmen.
'You are in the presence of the Hashira' said a Kakushi.
Author's Note: whose your favorite Hashira mine is Mitsuri because of her kind personality.
