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Chapter Text

whenever happiness is destroyed, its followed by the scent of blood.

Nezuko secured the pack before her descent down the mountain. Since Tanjiro had broken his leg, Nezuko took over the deliveries of coal. Just as she was leaving her siblings came running to say goodbye.

"are you going already?" asked Shigeru

"Can we come? Please," said Hanako.

"she's not bringing the cart today," said their mother, "and she can't carry you when you get tired"

"Taeko," said Nezuko, "make sure to cut the rest of wood for tonight,"

"I was hoping do it with Tanjiro,"

"You know he can't do work right now with his broken leg, but next time I'll cut the wood with you, if that makes you happy,"

"I guess that's fine,"

Nezuko waved to her family as she left.

"Hey Nezuko," called out Tanjiro.

"You should be inside resting right now," said Nezuko.

"I know, but I wanted to give you something before you left,"

He handed her one of the Hanafudu earings.

"As good luck for your journey,"

"Thank you, I know how much these mean to you,"

Nezuko waved goodbye and headed down the mountain.

***

Nezuko made it to the village and sold the coal to different people. Before she left, she used some of her own money she collected to buy some gifts for her siblings. A nice present before full winter came.

She made the climb up the mountain to return home. The sun had begun to set and the air was getting colder. Nezuko pulled her hood over her head to keep warm and carried on.

"Hey Nezuko!" called Saburo, "You aren't going back up the mountain right now? It's too dangerous,"

"It's fine, I know the way fairly well," said Nezuko.

"come inside quickly. Before the demons show up,"

***

"for years demons have roamed our lands. You shouldn't walk alone at night. You can finish your journey at first light,"

"are the demons able to come inside?" asked Nezuko

"yes,"

"but wouldn't that mean they would eat everyone?"

"they could, but the demon slayers stop them and they have,"

Demons aren't real Nezuko thought though I remember my grandmother speaking of such things before she died

***

In the morning Nezuko started up the mountain. As she got closer to home, she sensed a strange aura. A gust of wind flew in her direction and with it

"the scent of blood," Nezuko whispered.

she ran faster home and gasped at what she saw.

Tanjiro who was covered in blood lay on the ground holding Rokuta protectively. in front of him was the axe they used to cut wood. Nezuko ran to the house praying that someone was okay. She fell to her knees when she saw the house.

"mother...Hanako...Takeo, Shigeru," gasped Nezuko.

They were all dead.

***

Nezuko ran down the mountain carrying Tanjiro. He still had a heartbeat. It was faint but it was still there. If there was any hope of saving him, she had to try. The air was icy and it hurt to breathe but Nezuko pushed onward.

"Just hold on Tanjiro!" Nezuko cried out, "Just hang in there, your sister will save you!"

A strange sound came from behind her, a low growl. Nezuko turned her head and her foot slipped on the snow and she fell. Nezuko landed on her back gasping for air. Nezeko got up and looked around for Tanjiro. She found him standing between the trees.

"Tanjiro, you shouldn't stand, you're hurt and your leg,"

wait, how is he standing? His leg was broken and it's barely been healed, so how-

Tanjiro lunged at her and Nezuko fell to the ground. Nezkuo used the handle of the axe to stop him. He growled at her and Nezkuo noticed that he had sharp teeth, and that wasn't the only difference, his eyes were different too. Was he a demon? But that was impossible, he couldn't be a demon. He'd been human since he was born. Even if he was a demon, he was not the one who kill their family. He was holding Rokuta as if he was protecting him.

while I was sleeping peacefully as Saburo's you were all being attacked. I wasn't there to help them.

"please Tanjiro, hang in there. Don't become a demon. You have to fight it!"

Nezkuo gasped. Tamjiro was crying. He was still there. he wasn't gone.

Nezuko saw something coming her way and saw the glint of a sword, SHe pushed Tamjirgo out of the way the blade cut part of Nezuko's hair. She hit a tree and Tanjiro shrank in size. She pushed him behind and her and stared at the stranger. He had his back turned to her and he wore a checkered purple Kimono. He had a katana that was light purple. He turned in the direction of Nezuko.

"Why are you protecting a demon"

Chapter Text

Before Nezuko could answer him, the swordsman moved and grabbed Tanjiro, now awake, kept trying to attack the swordsman, who remained unbothered.

"I'll ask you again," said the swordsman, "why are you protecting a demon?"

The swordsman raised his blade and pointed it in the direction of Nezuko.

"He's my elder brother, but he would never hurt anyone," said Nezuko.

"You have to be kidding. Just earlier, he would have devoured you,"

"He recognized me," said Nezuko, "He wouldn't hurt me. My family was attacked but it wasn't him. I don't know why he became a demon, but I'll find a way to fix him,"

"Once someone's been turned, they can never come back. There is no way for your brother to be saved. Even if there is a cure, what makes you think that you'll be able to find one,"

"I'll find one I promise, just please!" Nezuko went on her knees and begged, "please don't kill my brother,"

"Get up!" Yelled the swordsman, "I thought you said you wanted to find a way to save your brother. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable like that will get you no where. Do you really think you have what it takes to help your brother? That grovelling is pathetic. If you really wanted to save him, you should have fought me, why didn't you use that hatchet. Your failure are what led to your brother to be captured,"

The swordsman's words struck Nezuko. She sat there stunned.

Don't let this ruin you. I can only imagine what you are going through. Your brother a demon and your family slaughtered. If I had arrived a day sooner, then maybe things would be different. But you can't change the past, no matter how much you want to. You have to move forward. Use that sorrow and pain as the force that drives you. Use to accomplish your goals.

The swordsman raised his sword ready to kill Tanjiro.

"NO!" Cried Nezuko.

She threw a stone at the swordsman who knocked it out of the way with ease. Nezuko charged at the swordsman her arms raised behind her and the hatchet in her hands.

"An attack fueled by blind rage, a foolish mistake," said the swordsman.

He hit her on the shoulder and Nezuko fell down unconscious. The hatchet fell out of her hands into the snow.

"Though it was foolish, you did what you could to save your brother. I respect you for that, but I still have to kill you brother,"

Before the swordsman could draw his sword, Tanjiro escaped the swordsman's grasp and kicked him. He moved to Nezuko.

No! He'll kill her

The swordsman prepared to move to stop Tanjiro but froze. Instead of attacking her, Tanjiro stood in front of Nezuko, protecting her.

he would never hurt anyone

She wouldn't be the first to say that about a family member, only to be consume themselves. These two, may be different. Demons and siblings. How famailer. 

Tanjiro charged at the swordsman who easily dodged his attacks. He hit Tanjiro just behind his shoulder, knocking him out.

***
Nezuko woke suddenly. She looked to her side and sees Tanjiro who's now sleeping and has a bamboo muzzle.

"You're finally awake,"

Nezuko pulls Tanjro closer to her and stares at the swordsman.

"Go to Mt Sagiri and find a man named Sakonji Urokodaki. When you find him, tell him that Michikatsu Tsugikuni sent you. For the moment, it's cloudy. Never let your brother be  exposed to sunlight,"

The swordsman disappeared, leaving Nezuko with Tanjiro. The two return to their home and bury their family.

Nezuko looks at Tanjiro, "let's go,"

They leave the mountain, beginning a new journey.

Chapter Text

"How much for the basket, straw and bamboo," Nezuko asked.

"You can help yourself with the straw and bamboo, not sure what good the basket will do you, it's full of holes," said the man

"Are you sure I can't pay you?"

"it's fine, I have no need for it,"

"Thank you sir"

Nezuko took as much as she could hold and raced back to the cave where she left Tanjiro.

"Tanjiro?" Nezuko looked into the empty cave.

Tanjiro's head poked out of a hole in the ground.

Did he dig a hole? I guess he really wants to avoid the sunlight.

Nezuko starts weaving the bamboo and straw around the basket, making sure to cover the holes. She brings the completed project to the cave.

"Hey Tanjiro?" Said Nezuko, opening the basket, "I want to move during the day, but I can carry you. Can you fit in here?"

Tanjiro crawls out of the hole and into the basket, but can't fit.

"Hey Tanjiro, can you get smaller, like what happened yesterday?"

Tanjiro flipped the basket over and he fell in and shrank in size.

***
Nezuko carried Tanjiro up the mountain. She made sure prior to taking it out of the cave to cover it in cloth, just to be safe. She asked a woman on the road for directions to Mt Sagiri.

"My Sagiri? If you want to get there fast, the fastest way is over that mountain. The sun is about to set and you are holding a lot of luggage. It'll be dangerous,"

"It's fine. I'll be carful. Thank you for the directions," Nezuko waved goodbye.

"A lot of people have been going missing on that mountain lately. Don't get lost,"

***

Once it was dark, Nezuko took Tanjiro out of the basket. As the walked up the mountain, Tanjiro froze. He looked up the pathway and started running up the hill.

"Tanjiro!" Called Nezuko, "don't run off,"

Nezuko spotted Tanjiro and the foot of stone stairs and saw a temple. The lights were off and Tanjiro was staring at the building.

"Is something wrong Tanjiro?"

Nezuko climbed up the stairs and pulled the sliding doors open. she gasped horrified at the scene in front of her. A demon and two dead men.

"what are you doing here?" The demon said, "this is my territory, anyone who steps here is gonna pay,"

Tanjiro stares at the scene in front of him and starts drooling.

"Are you both human?" Said the demon, "something's not right here"

The demon lunges at Nezuko, who swings the hatchet at the demon. the demon jumps back and laughs, the wound already healing up.

"a hatchet is all you have, you'll need more than that to kill me,"

the demon charges at Nezuko who tries again swinging the hatchet but the demon pushes her to the ground. he uses one hand to stop her from swinging the hatchet and the other around her throat.

"that first attempt was lucky. Too bad you can't do it again, now I'm on a snap your neck,"

the demon's flies off it's neck. Tanjiro stands in front of Nezuko, putting himself between the headless body and Nezuko. Tanjiro turns to Nezuko to help her up. From behind, the demon's body moves to grab Tanjiro. Before it could grab him, Tanjiro kicked it away.

Did the body just move without its head?

"So the boy is a demon. What are you doing teaming up with a human?" Yelled the demon's head.

And how is he still taking?!

the demon's body moved to attack Tanjiro. 

"Leave my brother alone!"Yelled Nezuko. She grabbed the hatchet and swung it at the demon's body. 

Before she could bring the hatchet down, the demon's head jumped at her, having arms grown out of its head. The demon held onto the handle of the hatchet. Nezukotrew the hatchet at a tree, trapping the demon's head between the tree and the handle. She ran to go help Tanjiro who was fighting the demon's headless body. 

Nezuko found them by a cliff and she ran forward to push the demon away from tanjiro. She fell off the cliff and Tanijiro caught her just in time. The demon's body landed on the ground, the impact, having destroyed the body. 

Nezuko and Tanjiro went back to the temple and the demon's head was still stuck. She took out a knife and stared at the demon's head. She had to kill it or it would live on to kill more innocent lives. 

"you can't kill it with that,"

Nezuko turned around and saw a man with a red mask. 

"who are you?" Nezuko asked.

"I am Sakonji Urokodaki,"

Chapter Text

Sakonji Urokodaki,
I know we haven't spoken since my trial and I thank you for speaking on my behalf that day. I once again come asking for a favor, though isn't just for me this time.
I'm sending a young girl your way. Her family was killed by a demon and her brother has become one.
Her brother is different from the others and I ask you to train the girl. I believe she has potential to be a great demon slayer.
I know it's a selfish request but I ask you to care for and train her.
I hope we can speak again soon.
- Michikatsu Tsugikuni

"You can't kill it with that" the man repeated.

"How do I kill it then?" Nezuko asked

The man gave no response. Nezuko put the knife away and stared at the demon.

If stabbing it won't kill it, would that mean I have to destroy the skull entirely?

Nezuko picked up a rock and moved to the demon.

One blow won't kill it. I'll have to hit it repeatedly. It will suffer. But doesn't it deserve it? After what it's done.

Nezuko stared at the demon shaking, the rock growing heavy in her hands.

Michikatsu, this fir won't make it. Even when facing a demon, there is a scent of compassion.

Nezuko breathed in and walked closer to the demon. She raised the rock and closed her eyes. Then she heard the demon yell. Her eyes snapped open and a shine of daylight hit the demon. Soon it burst into flames and turned to dust.

The sun is barely up and it caused that much damage already! Wait...where is Tanjiro?

Nezuko dropped the rock and ran to look for Tanjiro. She found him hiding behind the trees away from the sunlight. She breathed a sigh of relief and brought the basket over and motioned for Tanjiro to go in. She put the basket on her back and went back to the temple. There the man, Urokodaki, was burying the bodies that were in the temple. Nezuko put the basket down and went to help him.

"Follow me," he said when they were done burying the bodies.

Nezuko followed after him and was shocked at how fast he was. They reached the end when it was nightfall. He instructed her to leave the basket in the house and to follow him up the mountain. As they went up, Nezuko noted that it was getting harder to breathe, almost like the air was getting thinner. Soon they came to a stop.

"Make it back down the mountain before daybreak and I will train you,"

"That's it?"

Urokodaki said nothing and disappeared.

It won't be that hard, I memorized the way here. I'll make it back in no time.

Nezuko started running down the hill than she heard a whizzing noise. She ducked down, narrowly avoiding a tree truck from slamming into her. She fell backwards into a small pit, but managed to climb out of it.

There are traps on the mountain. That's what makes this hard. If I keep running into traps, at this rate, I'll never make it back in time. I just have to try harder.

She ran into trap after trap. Even when she avoided one, another would ambush her.

Look for a pattern. These traps were made by people. They would leave some sign of the trap so they wouldn't fall for it.

Nezuko paid close attention to the surroundings and spotted signs of traps. A branch that looked odd, the placement of leaves or objects that should be where they were placed. Even though she saw the signs, she still ran into the traps.

However, thanks to her seeing the signs she made it back just in time. She threw open the door panting.

"I made it back" she said, before passing out due to exhaustion.

Well done, Nezuko Kamado, I will train you to be a demon slayer.

Chapter Text

Nezuko began her training the next day. She went up and down mountain avoiding new traps. This time she had to do this while wielding a katana. Each trap got deadlier and deadlier to the point where Nezuko was wondering if Urokodaki was trying to kill her.

She spent the past year training. Nezuko wrote down all of her training in a journal she could review and someday show Tanjiro what she had accomplished.

Since she started training, Tanjiro had been asleep. Urokodaki called a doctor and nothing seemed to be wrong with him. Nezuko was worried that her brother would never wake up. The only thing that kept Nezuko going was the hope she could save her brother and turn him back into a human.

***

It was a full year she trained until Urokodaki gave Nezuko her final test.

"If you can cut this boulder in two, I will allow you to go on to the Final Selection,"

Cutting a boulder in two? That's impossible. My sword will break before the boulder does.

After that, Urokodaki taught nothing else to Nezuko.

***

Nezuko spent the next 6 months training and reviewing her journal. She tried cutting the boulder and she barely made a dent. Thankfully her sword didn't snap. Frustrated, she kicked the boulder.

"Damn it! This is impossible!" Yelled Nezuko, kicking the boulder again.

"Silence!" Yelled an unfamiliar voice, "complaining will accomplish nothing,"

Nezuko looked up and saw a peach haired boy wearing a fox mask.

"A demon slayer will bear their suffering in silence, and isn't that what you want to be?"

He jumped down and swung a wooden katana at Nezuko. She instinctively blocked it with a the hilt of her sword. He kicked her and she fell down.

"You're slow, weak and immature. Not what I would call a demon slayer. Come and give me your best shot,"

"But your sword is made of wood, I could hurt you," said Nezuko.

The boy laughed. "How thoughtful of you, but you don't have to worry about that. I'm already more powerful than you, I've already cut through my boulder,"

So it is possible.

"Have you learned anything Urokodaki taught you? Have you even mastered total concentration breathing," he began swinging his sword at Nezuko.

"I'm giving it my all!" Yelled Nezuko as she blocked the boy's attacks.

"You have to give it everything. You have to beat it into your flesh and blood,"

The boy hit Nezuko, knocking her out. 

"I leave the rest to you," the boy said.

***

When Nezuko woke up, the boy was gone. Instead there was a black haired girl wearing a flower kimono. 

"are you alright?" the girl asked

"I feel better, but who was that?" asked Nezuko, "His swordsman skills were amazing, I want to learn how to wield my sword like that. Who are you?"

The girl told me her name is Makomo and boy's name is Sabito. Makomo points out my mistakes and helps me correct them

"We really like Urokodaki,"

she says that a lot. Sabito and her aren't siblings but Urokodaki took them in and raised them. Every day I challenged Sabito and every day, he would win. After six more months of training, I faced him again. This time his sword was real. That day, my sword reached first. 

The fox mask is split in half and Sabito smiles and Nezuko but it seemed almost sad. 

when I looked closer I realized that my sword had not cut Sabito's mask, but it had split the boulder. 

Chapter Text

Thanks to my training I can now seek out the opening thread. When I concentrate hard enough I can see an opening. It runs from the tip of my blade to the spot on my opponent. When it goes taunt, then I know to bring my sword down. 

"I never intended to send you to the final selection," said Urokodaki, "I didn't want to see another child die. I didn't think you would split the boulder, but you did. Nezuko, you are an amazing child. Make sure to come back, your brother and I will be waiting,"

Before leaving, Urokodaki gave me a mask. Its called a warding mask. It;s supposed to offer protection from evil. 

"Thank you Urokodaki. Say hi to Sabito and Makomo for me,"

Nezuko... how is it that you know the names of the dead?

***

Nezuko reaches Mount Fujikasane, the site of the final selection. Nezuko looks around and sees that Wisteria covers the mountain. She enters an opening and sees well over 50 people there. Two young children, one with white hair and the other with black hair enter the opening. 

"Greetings everyone," says one of them

"welcome to the final selection," says the other

"Demons hate wisteria, which bloom here even when they are out of season,"

"the wisteria cover that mountain until the slope,"

"from there wisteria does not bloom, so the demons trapped there roam free,"

"you must survive there for 7 days,"

"if you do, you will have passed,"

***

Nezuko carefully walks through the forest, looking around. Two demons emerge from the forest and fight over who is going to kill her. Before they agree on who gets to kill her. Nezuko slices through them, 

"water breathing, striking tide"

The demon's bodies begin to crumble and disappear. Nezuko jumps when she hears someone scream. Slowly she hears something coming in her direction. Something big. She hides behind a bush and watches and she sees a massive demon made of hands move. She ducks down horrified and she sees its carrying a dead child. It eats the child and Nezuko holds back a gasp and closes her eyes. 

"AHHHHHHH"

Nezuko eyes snap back open and she looks back. She sees that the demon had caught someone else, their sword has been snapped in half and the demon prepares to devour the person. 

help him. you can do it, you are no longer powerless. water breathing, second form, water wheel

Nezuko slices the demon's arm off and stands in front of the person she saved.

"It seems another one of my dear foxes hs come," said the demon. "Tell me girl, what Meiji Emperor sits upon the throne?"

"The imperial family is Taisho,"

the demon pauses for a moment before screaming in outrage, it begins clawing at it own skin which heals slowly. 

"I've been trapped her for so long that dyansites have risen and fallen! Damn you Urokodaki! Damn you!"

"How do you know Urokodaki?" said Nezuko?

"Urokodaki is the one who captured me in the first place. Because of him I've been trapped here for 47 years! Back then, he was still a slayer, in the edo period, the keio era. 

"you're lying," said the boy behind Nezuko, "No demon has been alive in here for that long. The demons that are here have only eaten 2 or 3 people. The killed by the salyers and will sometimes kill each other,"

"But I survived for a long time and I have eaten at least 50 of you brats. and you," said the demon, pointing to Nezuko, "will be the 14th of Urokodaki's brats I've killed. I've decided to kill all of his students. two of them I'll never forget. The peached haired brat was by far the strongest and the girl in the flower kimono. She was small and no very strong, but she was very agile. I can recognize you brats by the masks you where. I recognize the carving as the very same as Urokodaki's. He calls then warding masks, but they are reason why I devour them. When the girl brat heard that she cried and grew angry. Soon her movements got shaky. I tore her limb from limb,"

Nezuko yelled out and charged at the demon cutting through the hands and the demon released a whole barrage and her. The demon hit her in the side and she hit a tree. With the demon distracted, the boy Nezuko escaped, leaving her behind. The demon reached out to grab Nezuko. 

The voice of one her dead family echoed out, "Nezuko! Wake up!"

Nezuko eyes shot open and she jumped out of the way. She sliced through the arms but each time, they just regrew. Nezuko sensed something below her and jumped. Hands shot out from the ground. The demon sent a fist at her but she kicked it down and moved toward it's head. 

it doesn't matter. when she realizes she can't cut through my head, I'll kill her like í did the peach-haired brat. 

Nezuko constrates and rasies her sword and than she sees it, the opening thread. 

water breathing, first form, water surface slash

Nezuko's blade cuts right through the demon's neck and it falls to the ground. The body and the head crumble and disappear. 

***

Seven days pass and Nezuko makes her way back to the opening. When she gets there she is shocked to see that there are only 4 people, not including her there. One is boy with a scar on his face, another is a girl with two pony tails with ice pins keeping them together, a girl with a matching pin with one pony tail and a boy with yellow hair. 

The boy I saved, he didn't survive. I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you

the two children from day one stepped forward

"welcome back,"

"we are glad you are safe"

"We will provide you with uniforms, then engrave your rank"

"there are 10 ranks"

"kinoe"

"kinoto"

"hinoe"

"hinoto"

"Tsuchinoe"

"tsuchininto"

"kanoe"

"kanoto"

"mizunoe"

"mizunoto"

"right now you are all at the bottom of the rank: Mizunoto"

"where is my katanta?" asked the boy with the scar.

"today, you will choose the ore for your sword, then it will take up to two weeks for the katana to be finished. them we assign you a Kasugai crow,"

"this is a sparrow," says the yellowed haired boy quitely holding a small sparrow. 

"the crows are used for commun-"

"I don't care," said the boy with the scar, shoving the crow away.

He walks to one of the children and grabs one by her hair "I want my katana, the demon slayer corps katana, the color changing katana,"

Nezuko walks over to the boy and grabs his arm, "let go of her, if your don't I'll break your arm,"

"Who are you," said the boy, "go ahead try,"

Nezuko tightens her grap and twists his arm sliglty so he has tolet go of the girl and she shoves him away. The yellow hair boy gawks in surprise. the boy with the scar hold his arms and walks away, glaring at Nezuko. 

"if you are done talking," says the other child, "come over and pick your ore for your sword,"

***

Nezuko begins her journey back to Urokodakis. After the selection she is exhausted. By the time she reaches Urokodaki's, it's nightfall. the door of the house opens and Tanjiro walks out. 

"Tanjiro!"cries Nezuko, "you're awake,"

She tries to walk over but trips. Tanjiro runs to her and hugs her. Nezuko returns the hug and cries. 

"Tanjiro why did you sleep for long! I thought you would never wake up!"

Urokodaki walks out of the house and is relived that Nezuko has returned alive. He rushes over and hugs her. 

"You came back to us alive"

***

after 15 days someone arrives, bringing Nezuko her sword. 

"I'm Haganezuka. I'm the one who forged Nezuko Kamado's sword,"

"I'm Nezuko, please come inside,"

"this is a Nichirn sword," 

"I'll make tea"

Haganezuka continues on about the forging of the sword, not giving much notice to Nezuko. the man looks up and Nezuko and he is wearing a Hyottoko mask.

When they get inside the house, Nezuko draws her sword. It turns black.

"this is unusual,"said Urokodaki.

"is it bad?" asked Nezuko

"No, it's just very uncommon,"

Before Urokodaki can tell her more, her corw appears in the window. 

"Kaw! Nezuko Kamado. you must head for a town in the north. this is your first assignment. go to the northern town, you girls are disappearing night after night. you must go hurry!"

Chapter Text

Now with her nichirin blade and corps uniform, Nezuko leaves to on her first mission. Before leaving, Urokodaki gave Nezuko a new box to carry her brother during daylight.

This is mere speculation but instead of consuming human flesh, Tanjrio sleeeps to replenish his strength
***
Nezuko soon arrives at the town where the disappearances have been happening. As she walks through, she notices a young man walk past. His eyes are red from tears. Nezuko overhears some of the locals who she assumes is talk in about the man.

"Look, Kazumi looks so distressed"
"that's because he was with Satoko when she disappeared,"
"Night after night"
"It's so awful"
"When night comes, another girl will go missing,"

Nezuko races after Kazumi.Maybe he'll have answers that can help her locate the demon responsible for the disappearances.

"Mr Kazumi!" She calls, " may I speak with you?"
***
"I know you won't believe me, but this is where Satako disappeared,"

"I believe you Mr Kazumi, and I'm here to help,"
T
When nightfall came, Nezuko let Tanjiro out of the box to help search the area. As they search, Tanjiro turns to a different direction. He immediately starts running.

"Tanjiro!" Yelled Nezuko, "where are you going?"

Nezuko and Kazumi follow after Tanjiro who stops in the middle of the sidewalk. He points to the floor and Nezuko understands the silent exchange. She lifts her blade over the point where Tanjiro pointed to and trusts her blade in. Nezuko yanks her sword out and a black goo starts spitting out. Nezuko slices the hole open wider and sees a young girl in a green kimono. She pulls her out and drags her to safety.

"Mr Kazumi, stay behind me," yells Nezuko over her shoulder. The whole shifts and she sees something slowly coming out and she recalls what Urokodaki told her.

You will soon be facing stronger demons, ones with blood demon arts. The blood demon art is a special spell that gives demons unique abilities. Be carful.

A three horned demon emerges from the swamp.

"What did you do to the girls you kidnapped!" Nezuko yells

The demon grinds its teeth in response and goes back under.

"What is that thing?" Says Kazumi

"A demon. Mr Kazumi, hold the girl and stay close to me so I protect you,"

I don't know where the demon will appear next. It could come from the ground, the walls or even in the air. I might not be able to see it but the demonic aura is still present.

Nezuko moved out and sensed something below.

Water breathing, fifth form

The ground opened and three demons came out. Nezuko changed forms to cut the demons

Water breathing, eighth form, waterfall basin

The cuts were too shallow because she switched forms. The demons went back under and Nezuko moved back to Kazumi.

They all have the same demonic presence. Can this demon split into three? Urokodaki said the demons normally don't team up.

One of the demons that ad two horns shot out of the ground and moved to attack Kazumi. Tanjiro kicked it away and Nezuko attempted to slice the demons head off with second form but the cut was too shallow. The demon moved far back and started healing up the wound.

"Don't interfere!" yelled the demon, "you'll ruin the girl's freshness. she's already 16. With each passing moment she gets less tasty,"

The demon with one horn came out beside the 2 horned demon.

"You must calm down. I've eaten many of the girls in this town. It's good enough for me,"

"Well it's not good enough for me! I want to consume more!"

"If tonight goes well, then we will get to consume two girls tonight. that should please you,"

"Where's Satoko!" Yelled Kazumi, "the girl you took 2 nights ago,"

"Satoko?" Said the 1 horned demon, "Who is that? If her hairpin is among my collection, then I've already eaten her,"

Nezuko moved to attack the demon. She cut it but just missed the neck. One of the demons came from behind her. She would've have enough time to move out of the way. Tanjiro came in and head-butted it hard. it staged back disoriented.

It may only help to console him, but I placed Tanjiro under. Suggestion while he was asleep, "all humans are your family. Protect humanity. Demons are your enemy. never forgive demons for the harm they do,"

"Tanjiro I need you to protect Mr Kazumi and the girl," said Nezuko

The ground beneath Nezuko opened up.

While Tanjiro protects them from that demon I'll follow the other two below

Nezuko jumped down adn found herself in an inky bog. around her, she saw torn clothes that belonged to the victims of the demon.

There are so many. This demon killed so many innocent people. I'll make him pay for it.

"You were foolish girl for following us down here," said one of the demons.

"There is hardly any air down here," said the other, "and the darkness weighs you down. You won't be able to move like you above ground,"

"You plunged down here like a fool,"

Nezuko smiled

You underestimate me. Where do you think I'm trained. The air on mount sagiri was thinner, and there is one move that works best underwater.

Nezuko prepared her stance and waited to see the opening. the demons began circling her and getting in range and she saw it. The opening.

Total concentration, water breathing, sixth form, whirlpool

Nezuko sliced through the demons, slicing their heads off. With the two defeated, Nezuko swam back to the top. Before she killed the demon, there was something she had to ask him.

There is only one demon in this world that has blood that can turn humans into demons. the one who became the very first demon over 1000 years ago. he's the one who killed your family. his name : Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

***
Tanjiro fought the demon. He kicked the demon back anytime it got too close to Kazumi and the girl. Though Tanjiro had the upper hand before, the demon was slowly wearing him down. Just as the demon was about to give a deadly blow, Nezuko jumped out of the bog and cut the demon's arms off. the demon fell back and crawled back up the wall as Nezuko walked over to him. She raised her katana and pointed it at the demon.

"tell me," she said "who kagaya Ubuyashiki?"

The demon's eyes widened in fear, "I can't tell you. I can't! i can't!"

He's so afraid now. Earlier he had a menacing aura but now there is nothing but fear

the demon's arm regenerated and he lunged at Nezuko. She swung her katana and cut the demon's head off.

i couldn't get any answers. I'm sorry Tanjiro, but i promise, I'll find a way to make you human again.

Nezuko walks over to Kazumi who was on his knees.

"Mr Kazumi?" Nezko said, "are you alright?"

"I lost my betrothed," said Kazumi, "how can i be okay?"

"Mr Kazumi, you may lose people over and over again, but you have to carry on. No matter how devastating the blows may be. you have to live to honor their memory,"

Angry, Kazumi grabbed the coat of Nezuko's haori, "what do you know! you're just a kid!"

Nezuko gently pulled Kazumi's hand off her haori and smiled softly. She handed him the cloth where the demon hid the pins.

"i hope you find something of Satako's in there. Something to remember her by. I'll be leaving now,"

Those hands are thick and hardened by relentless training. they are't the hands of a young girl. you've lost someone to.

"I'm sorry for saying such cruel things. Please forgive me!"

Nezuko smiled at him and waved.
***
after Tanjiro got back in the box, Nezuko set off. Her mission here was done. She hoped that Kazumi would find peace.

It isn't just my family that has been affected by Ubuyashiki. How many have you killed. how many lives have been ruined by your hand. Kagaya Ubuyashiki, I'll never forgive you!

Chapter Text

"Your next mission is to go to Asakusa Tokyo. There have been rumours of a demon sighting,"

Nezuko sighed. It was barely a day since her mission with the bog demon and she was already assigned a new mission.

***
It's so bright here and it's not even daylight.

Nezuko wasn't sure where to start. Perhaps she could ask some of the civilians if they've seen anything suspicious.

***
It was getting late and Nezuko hadn't eaten anything since yesterday. Asakusa was too busy  and crowded and Nezuko was hoping to find a quiet place to eat. She found a small udon cart just outside the city.

"One bowl of udon please,"

Nezuko and Tanjiro sat down on a bench near the cart. Nezuko was about to eat her udon when Tanjiro sat up. He looked in the direction of the city and started running.

"Tanjiro!" Nezuko called, dropping the udon.

She ran after him into the crowded street. He stopped in the middle of the road and was staring at someone. When Nezuko caught up to him, she saw that he was glaring at the man. The anger on Tanjiro's face was unnatural. A look that didn't belong on her brother.

"Excuse me sir," said Nezuko.

The man turned and Nezuko swallowed a lump in her throat. How could no one else here see it? This man was a demon. He wasn't just any demon. Tanjiro running into the city to find him and his look of hate, meant one thing. This man was Kagaya Ubuyashiki. The demon king.

Nezuko put her hand on the handle of her katana. She was about to draw it when she saw that Kagaya was holding a little girl.

"Daddy who is that?"

Nezuko removed her hand from the katana.

"Dear," said a woman who was beside Kagaya, "do you know this girl?"

"I do not. Perhaps she's gotten me confused for
someone else,"

Nezuko was the only one who noticed. She saw Ubyashiki scratch a bystander walking by. The man was turning into a demon. A distraction so Kagaya could escape from Nezuko. The man attacked his wife and Nezuko ran over to pull him off. As she was trying to restrain the man, Ubuyashiki was getting away.

"Kagaya Ubuyashiki!" Yelled Nezuko. "You won't get away from me. I'll follow you to the depths of hell and you will feel the edge of my sword on your neck. Because of the lives you've taken, I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

Kagaya looked back at the slayer and saw the earrings she was wearing. The memory of the slayer who wore those flashed back to him. The slayer that nearly killed him. This retched girl was wearing the very same, and that boy, he looked almost identical. They both had to be eliminated.

***
Kagaya was getting away but Nezuko couldn't let the man go. He hadn't killed anyone yet, he could still be saved. Because of the commotion, the police were called.

"Hey girl, get off that man, he's dangerous,"

"No, you don't understand. I don't want this person to hurt anyone,"

"Scent of illusionary blood, visual dream,"

Flowers, surrounded Nezuko, blocking her from the police. 2 people stepped forward. A young woman and young man.

"You called him a person, when that particular person is a demon," said the woman. "Perhaps we can help each other, I too wish to see Ubuyashiki deafeted,"

Chapter Text

After the close encounter with demon slayer, Kagaya dropped off his fake family at their house. Once they entered the house, he went into an alleyway. He spotted three humans ahead of him and waited until they passed. Once he was alone, he summoned 2 of the closest demons at his side. One had eyes on his hands and the other held a temari in her hand.

"What will you have us do master," said demon with eyes on his hand

"I want you to find the demon slayer girl with a hanafuda earring. there is a young boy with her with a matching earring. Kill them both for me and you'll be greatly rewarded. Failure will not be tolerated,"

"Yes lord kagaya," Said both demons

"A mission from lord kagaya himself," said the temari demon happily, "after this, we will surely rise up the ranks,"

***

"This isn't about them money," said the food stand owner, "what I can't accept is that you won't eat my udon,"

"I'm sorry," said Nezuko, "I didn't know my brother would run off like that. can I please get one more bowl of udon,"

The man handed he a new freshly made bowl of udon and Nezuko ate it. It was the best udon she had.

"Thank you for the meal," she said, handing him the coins, "it was delicious,"

"Good, come back again soon,"

Nezuko and Tanjiro left the opening and started walking when Tanjiro stopped. Nezuko looked in the direction he was looking at and saw the same boy in the city, the same one wth the woman who said she wanted to see Ubuyashiki defeated. the two were demons, Nezuko knew that, but they seemed different.

"Were you waiting for me?" Said Nezuko.

"Yes," he said flatly, "we're under a concealment spell, so there is no way for you to track us and besides. Are you aware that he's demon and he seems like a weakling at best,"

Weakling? Wait..is he talking about Tanjiro?!

"My brother is not weak! He was always working hard for our family. even when he was hurt, he still worked hard every single day. You don't know what you are talking about," yelled Nezuko as she followed the demon boy. "Are you even listening to me!"

***
"We're back," said the demon boy, entering the house.

"Welcome back," said the woman. She was sitting by a bed, tending to the woman who was attacked.

"Will she be alright?" Asked Nezuko.

"She'll be alright, but he husband, we've hand to confine him to an underground cell," said the woman, getting up, "I didn't tell you my name. I'm tamayo and the boy is Yushiro.

"Is it hard for you to treat people wounds?"

Yushiro hit Nezuko in the stomach.

"Yushiro," said tamayo, "why must you be so violent,"

"Sorry ms tamayo," said Nezuko, "i didn't mean to offend-"

"It's alright dear. It's not hard to resist. It's easier for me than normal demons as I've altered my body and removed Ubuyashiki's curse.

"Altered your body?"

"I no longer need to feed on people to survive. I only need a little bit of human blood,"

"You still need human blood,"

"I understand if you find it distasteful, but we only buy blood from people in need of money, we tell them it's for blood transfusions and we never take so much that it harms them,"

That's why their aura is different from other demons. though they still need human blood, that would explain why their aura is different from tanjiro's too.

"Yushiro needs even less blood than I do. I'm the one who made him a demon," said Tamayo.

"What!," said Nezuko, "but I thought only-"

"i know the rumors are that only Ubuyashiki can turn humans into demons and that is more or less correct. In more than 200 years I've only been able to turn Yushiro into a demon,"

"200 years! How old are you-"

Yushiro hit Nezuko again, "you of all people should know better to ask a woman her age,"

"Yushiro!" Said tamayo, "if you hit her again, i won't forgive you,"

"Alright,"

"One thing I don't want you to misunderstand is that i am not trying to increase the number of demons," said tamayo, "i only do if the person has a critical injury or an incurable illness and I always ask the first,"

"Ms tamayo, is it possible for those who've been tuned into demons to become human again?"

"A cure may exist,"

"Really!"

"Every illness and injury has a medicine or treatment, however at present, a demon becoming human is not possible. However we want to make a cure. To do this i will need to study a lot of demon blood. I want to ask 2 things of you. One, i want to examine your brother's blood. two, i want you to get a sample from a demon with a high concentration of Ubuyashiki's blood. Your brother is an extremely rare and special condition. From what i understand, he slept for 2 year, so his body must have changed in that time. Typically when demons don't eat human and animal flesh for a long time, they grow violent without fail, but Tanjiro doesn't have any of those symptoms. i think he might be the key. The other task will be difficult. Getting blood with a high concentration of Ubuyashiki's blood will man finding a demon that is close in strength to him. It won't be easy. But will you still try?"

"Yes I'll do whatever is takes to turn my brother back into a human," said Nezuko, "and besides it will help other people to,"

"It will,"

Nezuko smiled but she thought she sensed something. Yushiro noticed it too.

"Get down!" He yelled, pushing tamayo down.

Something came shooting into the building. It broke the wall apart. Before the thing that attacked retreated outside, Nezuko saw the glimpse of a temari ball. How could it do that much damage. The dust settled and Nezuko saw two demons.

"Ha ha. Just like you said Yahaba," said the temari demon, "a building appeared out of nowhere,"

The other demon moved out of Nezuko's sight.
The temari demon threw her ball again it damage the building again. The way it was bouncing was unnatural. It went at odd angles. Nezuko saw it bounce than knock Yushiro's head off.

"yushiro!" Nezuko yelled, "Tanjiro, get the woman somewhere safe,"

Nezuko took her sword out and put her self in front of tamayo who was holding Yushiro who was slowing regenerating.

This demon is different from the swamp demon. She is far more powerful.

"So you're the demon slayer with the earring," said the temari demon

"Tamayo go back inside, the demon is after me," said Nezuko

"Nezuko," said Tamayo, "don't worry about protecting us. Just fight. We'll be alright, after all we are still demons,"

The temari demon threw another ball at Nezuko. It was coming so fast that Nezuko used the water breathing form best suited for the job

Water breathing, seventh form, drop ripple thrust curve

Her katana went through the ball but it still moved, eventually flying off her katana.

"Lady tamayo," said Yushiro, "i told you not to get involved with a demon slayer, my spell can only conceal so many people and I can't completely erase that they exist.I hate it when anyone interferes with the time i get with you! I'll never forgive this!"

"Ha ha," laughed the temari demon, "what are you on about. Consider it an honour that i, one of the 12 kizuki will take your life,"

"12 kizuki?" Said Nezuko

"The 12 kizuki report directly to Ubuyashiki," said Tamayo.

"Let's keeep playing," said the temari demon, growing 4 extra arms, each holding a temari ball, "until dawn or until your life ends,"

She threw all the balls and Nezuko struggled to dodge them. Every time she tried striking the ball they moved in a different direction. The balls behaved as if they had a mind of their own. The balls weren't just attacking Nezuko, they were also attacking tamayo and Yushiro. Nezuko didn't have time to protect them and fight.

"We'll heal," said tamayo, "so don't mind us"

"Hey demon slayer,"said yushiro, "the arrows tell you the direction the balls are going,"

"What arrows?" Nezuko yelled, dodging one of the demon's attacks.

"Here, I'm lending you my sense of sight,"

Yushiro threw a paper with red eye like pattern. When it landed on Nezuko, she saw the arrows Yushiro was referring to. She looked up and saw the other demon from earlier. He moved to a tree.

"Thank you Yushiro," said Nezuko, "Tanjiro, the other demon is up in the tree,"

Tanjiro ran to the tree and knocked the demon out of the tree.

"Tamayo, are these demons close to Ubuyashiki?"

"They might be,"

"Then I'll get you some of their blood,"

Chapter Text

“Be carful,” yelled Yushiro, “If they really are one of the 12 kizuki, then they will be stronger than any other demon you’ve faced. Don’t let your guard down for even a moment,”

“Understood,” Said Nezuko.

“Lady Tamayo! We could use this as a diversion to flee,” 

Tamayo looked at him with a horrfied expression.

“I’m just kidding,”

While Nezuko fights the temari demon, Tanjiro fights the arrow demon. As Tanjiro fights the arrow demon, he is kicked back and crashes into Nezuko. Nezuko watches as she sees the temari demon’s arm regenerate after she cut them off. 

She regrew her arms faster than the demons in final selection. 

Nezuko baerly dodges one of the temari demon’s balls. 

“Demon hunter,” yells Yushiro, “you take the arrow demon and we with your sister will fight the temari demon,”

“Got it,” yelled Nezuko, “Tanjiro make sure not to over do it,” 

Tanjiro nodded at Nezuko and goes to join Tamayo and Yushiro.

Remember, you need to get some of the demon’s blood. In order for there to be a cure made as soon as possible, I will fight any demon and win!

Nezuko ran to the arrow demon, lifting her blade. 

The opening thread, I see it!

The thread ran from the tip of her sword to the demon’s neck. Nezuko got ready to deliver the strike, then the tread snapped.

“What a dirty child you are,” said the arrow demon, “stay away from me,”

Nezuko looked down and saw an arrow created by the blood demon art. It moved back so when Nezuko swung her blade she missed. The arrow pulled again sending her flying into a tree. The eyes on the demon’s hand closed again sending Nezuko flying to the side. The demon continued to send Nezuko flying around crashing into trees. The demon’s blood demon art sent her flying into the air then it released her. 

I need to use a technique to soften the fall. Water breathing, eighth form, water fall basin!

“Susamaru” said the arrow demon, “isn’t that that one over there Tamayo the runaway? She’ll make a fine present,”

“Really?” said the temari demon, smiling. She threw another temari ball that nearly hit Tanjiro before he ducked out of the way. The temari demon threw another ball and Tanjiro got ready to kick it back at her.

“No! You mustn’t kick it,” yelled Tamayo. 

Tanjiro didn’t hear her in time. The ball cut threw his leg, severing it. He fell over and the temari demon kicked him into the wall. Tamayo went to Tanjiro to help him. 

“This is fun,” smiled the temari demon, “wouldn’t it be good to bring back 4 heads?” 

“We only need 2, the demon hunter and the runaway,” said the arrow demon, patting away dust, “we have no need for the other two,” 

“Hold still Tanjiro,” said Tamayo. The blood is still flowing. His rengeration is slow. “This drug will help your leg heal faster,” 

Nezuko tried to catch her breath. The demon has stopped momentary tossing her around. She needed to catch her breath and think of a new strategy. 

What should I do? I can’t afford to lose. Even if I could see the opening thread, I can’t land a hit on him. A technique won’t mater if I can’t make a solid hit on him. Even if it’s off, there won’t be enough force for it to be effective. And those eyes on his hands are just gross. 

The demon’s hand eyes blinked again, sending more arrows at Nezuko. Her blade couldn’t pierce them and they didn’t disappear until they hit her. The arrows wrapped around her arm. The demon was going to twist right off. Nezuko quickly spun herself in the same direction as the arrows to counter it. 

I need to start fighting offense or I’ll never land a hit. I need to change the direction of the arrows. I’ll apply the techniques. Whirlpool: flow! The arrows twisted following the movement of her blade. Second form: Improved. Lateral water wheel! Nezuko swung her blade at the neck of the arrow demon, it’s head coming off. Nezuko fell to the floor exhausted. She got up to see the demon’s body slowly crumble away. The head was a few inches away, the demon yelling at her.

“You good for nothing brat!” he yelled, “if I had killed you, I would’ve been recognized. I’ll never forgive you! Not ever! You got dirt on my face. I’ll take you down with me!”

Mutiple arrows appeared. Nezuko was pulled in multiple directions, one after the other. She used a variety of techueis to soften the blows, even then she still couldn’t cushion all of them. She just had to wait it out. Finally the attacks stopped. She breathed a sigh of relief, taking in as many breaths as she could. She was excited from using technique after technique. 

Tanjiro, Tamayo, Yushiro. Need to help them. 

Nezuko crawled over to her katana. Her limbs felt like they were going to fall off, but her brother was still fighting and she needed to help him. 

The temari demon barely caught the ball that was thrown back at her. Tanjiro’s leg had recovered and he was facing the temari demon. The demon threw more at Tanjiro and her kept throwing them back at her. One he headbutted hard and it nearly hit the temari demon’s head. 

“Lady Tamayo,” said Yushiro,”this-”

“The drug I used was just for recovery. It does not give the effect of strengthening the body. This is Tanjiro’s strength. He’s grown stronger on his own without eating human flesh,” but his opponent is stronger. If she fights at full strength, Tanjiro will lose. I must do something. 

“You sure are interesting little boy,” cackled the temari demon, “This time I’ll throw my mari harder this time,” 

“Girl of the 12 kizuki,” said Tamayo, “do you know the truth about Ubuyashiki?” 

The temari demon’s face lit up with shock and fear, “what would you know about it? You’re just a runaway!” 

“That man is always terrifed of something,” said Tamayo, “he is nothing more than a coward,” 

“Be quiet you witch! Shut your mouth!”

“Do you know the reason that demons are forbidden to group up?”

“Because we would attack and eat eacher other,”

“Except that’s not true. He tells you that to manipulate you. He’s of demon’s teaming up and attacking him. He’s afraid of you,”

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” yelled the temari demon, “he isn’t that weak. His abilities are fearsome. He’s stronger than anyone! Ubuyashiki is-” The temari demon put her hand over her mouth. Terrified. 

Magical aroma of daylight. Tamayo arm was bleeding. She was using a blood demon art. “You said his name, thus triggering the curse. I pity you, but I had no choice,” 

The temari demon ran yelling at the sky “please forgive me, I’m sorr-”

The temari demon stopped running and clutched her stomach. Nezuko watched in horror as hands shot out of the demon’s stomache and mouth. The hand reached over grabbing the demons head and crushed it. Slowly the demon’s body was crushed and reduced to broken flesh and bloody cloth.Tamayo walked over to the remains of the demon’s body. 

“Is she dead?” Nezuko asked.

“She will be soon. It’s the curse. Ubuyashiki’s cells remain in the body to destroy the flesh. Fighting between demons is pointless. They can only be defeated by a slayer blade or sunlight. Ubuyashiki however can destroy the cells,” 

Yushiro ran to Nezuko and put a cloth over her face, “don’t breath in Tamayo spell, or you’ll die too,”

“Nezuko,” said Tamayo, “the demon was not one of the 12 kizuki. The 12 kizuki have their eyes marked, she does not. The other demon is also not a 12 kizuki, he was too weak,”

Too weak!

“I have the blood. I’ll go treat your brother, on top of his wounds he also inhaled some of my spell. I’m sorry,” 

“What dumb demons. Serves them right for threatening Lady Tamayo,” said Yushiro, “hold your own cloth. I won’t be away from Lady Tamayo, not even for another second,” 

“Ma-ri,” said a small voice.Nezuko slowly got to her feet. The voice was coming from what remained of the demon. Nezuko took the temari ball and laid in next to what remind of the body. 

“Here is your mari,” said Nezuko. She sound’s like a small child, but’s she’s killed so many people. The sun rose burning the remains to ash. She was fooled into believing she was one of the 12 kizuki and was forced to fight and then Ubuyashiki’s curse killed her. There was no hope for her. After dying her bones disappeared without a trace. Is that the price for taking a human life? Ubuyashiki. He mistreats even those who admire him. He is undeniably a true demon.  

“Tamayo?” said Nezuko entering the house.

“This way,” called Tamayo, “underground,”

Nezuko went down the stairs and found the three. Tanjiro saw her and ran over giving her a hug. He turned around and gave Tamayo a hug. He reached over to pat Yushiro on the head who looked at him in annoyance. 

“Tanjiro has been acting this way for a little while,” said Tamayo

“It’s alright,” said Nezuko, “he probably thinks of you two as family,” 

“But doesn’t the hypnosis placed on Tanjiro only make humans look like family?”

“But were demons,” said Yushiro, pulling Tanjiro’s hand away from him.

“But Tanjiro sees you two has humans, I didn’t like putting him under hypnosis, but I’m glad he stiil seems have his own-” Nezuko trailed off as she Tamayo cry, “oh I’m sorry, Tanjiro let go, it’s rude, I’m sorry Tamayo,” 

Tamayo hugged Tanjiro, “thank you Tanjiro, thank you all,” 

“We are leaving this city,” said Tamayo, “we came to close to Ubuyashiki. If we don’t hide ourselves soon, it will become danhourse for us. Besides, although we were well hidden, as a doctor I dealt with humans and sooner or later someone would notice we are demons. Children and the elderly are patriculary perceptive. Nezuko?”

Nezuko looked up at Tamayo.

“May we take care of Tanjiro? I can’t say he will definitely be safe, but the danger will be less if than if he went into battle with you.”

Nezuko paused. It was true that it would be safer for her brother, but-. Tanjiro held onto his sister’s hand. The decision clear. 

“Thank you for the offer, but my brother I will continue to travel together,”

“I understand,” said Tamayo, “Then I pray for good fortune in your war. Take care,”

“Thank you,” smiled Nezuko.

“Nezuko,” called Yushiro, “your brother isn’t a weakling. He’s strong,” 

Nezuko smiled. 

“SOUTHEAST! SOUTHEAST! Your next mission is SOUTHEAST!”

“I got it, I got it,” said Nezuko, covering her ears, “Could you quiet down a bit?” 

“PLEASE!!!!!!” yelled someone upahead, “MARRY ME! I DON’T KNOW WHEN I’LL DIE! SO I WANT YOU TO MARRY ME! PLEASE!”

“What the-” 

Chapter Text

“What the-” 

Nezuko stared at teh scene in front of her. A yellow haired boy a little older than Nezuko, was holding onto a girl. The yellow haired boy had the standard demon slayer uniform and was wearing a yellow haori. A sparrow (the yellow haired one’s) flew over to Nezuko and rested on her hand chirping franitcially. 

“Alright I’ll help,” she said. The bird flew off and Nezuko walked over to the two and pulled the boy off the girl. “What do you think you are doing? Can’t you see that you are bothering her? And your upsetting your sparrow,” 

“Wait,” said the boy, “you’re a demon slayer, I remember you from final selection,” 

"so sorry about the trouble," said Nezuko to the girl, "take care," 

"thank you,"

"wait!" yelled the yellow-haired boy, "that girl likes me, she was going to marry me!"

"When did I say that!" yelled the girl, slapping the boy, "I never said I liked you. I saw you on the road and thought you were sick!"

"so you didn't stop because you might like me?" 

"I'm already engaged to someone else, so definitely not!" the girl turned around and walked away. 

"WHY DID YOU INFERE!" shrieked the yellow-haired boy, "I'LL PROBABLY DIE ALONE! WON'T YOU MARRY ME? THAT WAY WE BOTH WON'T DIE ALONE! WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M SOME PUTFUL CREATURE? STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT! I'LL PROBABLY DIE ON MY NEXT JOB! CAN YOU PROTECT ME TILL I'M MARRIED OR-"

"Why don't we start with introductions first," said Nezuko, "I'm Nezuko Kamado and you are?"

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Will you please marry me Nezuko? I'm Zenitzu Agatsuma. Can't you at least help me?" 

"I can't marry you Zenitzu, I will help you though. Why are you acting like this? Why did you become a swordsman if you are so scared of dying?"

"a woman tricked me into a lot of debt but this old trainer took on that debt and trained me to be a swordsman now I think I'm going to die before I married! I don't know what to do!"

"it's okay, just let it out," said Nezuko, lightly patting Zenitzu on the back.

Once Zenitzu stopped crying, the two continued on the road, following Nezuko's crow. 

"I get that you're scared, but you're upsetting your sparrow," said Nezuko, handing Zentizu a rice ball.

"how do you know?" said Zenitzu thorugh mouthfuls of rice.

"well your sparrow said you refuse to go on missions, you snore load-"

"you understand bird language!" 

"CAW CAW" yelled the crow, "QUICKLY NEZUKO! QUICKLY ZENITZU!"

"GAHHHH" yelled Zenitzu, "TALKING CROW!!!!"

The two quickly ran till they came to a mansion in the woods. Nezuko looked up at it. there is such a strange aura from it. there is no doubt a demon in there.

"Nezuko," said Zenitzu, "do you hear that?" 

"hear what?

The sound of rustling leaves brought their attention behind them. Just behind a tree, Nezuko saw a young boy and a young girl

“What are you two doing here?” asked Nezuko. They’re terrified, Nezuko held out her hand and the sparrow popped out. It chirped friendly at them easing the tension. 

“What happened here?” Nezuko asked, “Is that your house?”

“No,” said the boy, “it’s a house of monsters. It took our older brother while we were walking home at night,”

“So he’s in the house. Don’t worry we’ll help him,”

“He got hurt,”

“I promise, we’ll save him,” 

“Nezuko,” said Zenitzu, “the sound from the house…it’s getting louder. It sounds like a tsuzumi,”

DUN DUN DUN

Someone came flying out of the house and landed just outside.

“Cover your eyes,” said Nezuko, putting herself between the children and the body. She ran forward to check on the person. They were covered in blood, no doubt their own. Their breathing was shallow. When Nezuko got closer, she saw it was a young boy a little older than her. “Hand in there,”

“I-got…out,” he said weakly, “Am…I..going to die?” Nezuko held onto him as he died. When he died, Nezuko laid him gently on the ground. A loud roar came from the house, followed by 5 loud drum beats.

He’s dead. He was in great pain. I’m sorry you suffered. 

“That’s not my brother,” said the boy, holding his sister, “he was wearing an orange kimono,”

How many people have been captured?

“Zenitzu!” yelled Nezuko, “Let’s go,” 

“What?”

“Oh. I see,” Nezuko turned around, took off the box, and placed it next to the children.

“Why are you looking at me like that,” yelled Zenitzu.

“I won’t force you to come with me,”

“I’ll go! Don’t leave me behind,” yelled Zenitzu following after her

“Keep an eye on this box,” said Nezuko to the children, “It will protect you if something happens,” Nezuko marched over to the house and Zenitzu followed after. 

“Nezuko, you’ll protect me right?”

“I don’t think I’ll be much good. In my last fight, I broke my ribs and they haven’t fully healed yet,” 

“WHAT! YOU HAVE BROKEN RIBS! WE'RE BOTH GOING TO DIE! I KNEW IT!”

“Zenitzu! You need to calm down,” said Nezuko, looking up, “Wait don’t follow us in here,” The two children ran into the house, the box not with them. “Why didn’t you stay outside?”

“The box made a weird scratching noise miss,” said the boy.

“I really wish you didn’t leave it behind,” said Nezuko, “That box means more to me than my own life,” 

DUN DUN DUN DUN

The rooms changed, separating the group. Nezuko was left with the little girl. Zenitzu and the boy were nowhere to be seen.

DUN DUN DUN

The rooms changed again.

“I’m sorry that we got separated from your brother. We’ll find them. I’ll protect you and Zenitzu will protect your brother,” said Nezuko, “what’s your name? I’m Nezuko Kamado,” 

“I’m Teruko,”

“That’s a lovely name,” 

Nezuko heard loud thumps from the hallway and looked out. A large figure, a demon stepped out. 

Of all the auras I sense here, this one is the most menacing. It has to be the master of the house.

“Teruko,” said Nezuko quietly, “hide by the shelves and don’t move,” Teruko nodded and moved.

“Why does everyone keep coming into my house,” muttered the demon, “Those damn bastards. I’m the one who found the brats with marechi blood,”

Nezuko quietly took out her katana, not wanting to alert the demon of her presence. She raised her katana, getting ready to slice its head off. The demon tapped one of the drums on its body and the room rotated, causing her to stumble and miss. 

“More pests, insufferable incents. Just another annoyance,” muttered the demon. 

The drum demon tapped the drum again and the room shifted. Nezuko remembered Teruko and ran to catch her. The drum beat again and Nezuko jumped out of the way of a claw-like attack. 

Each attack, each rotate. It’s at the beat of when the demon hits his drum. 

DUN

The room changed but the demon didn’t tap any of his drums.

Nezuko and Teruko walked out of the room and went down the hall. Then the smell of blood caught her nose. Someone was injured and they were close by. She opened a door and there was a young boy in an orange kimono. He was holding a drum that looked similar to the one on the demon. The boy got ready to tap the drum again.

“Kiyoshi!” yelled Teruko.

“Teruko?” said Kiyoshi. He dropped the drum and hugged his sister. “Who’s that?”

“I’m Nezuko Kamado,” said Nezuko, “I came here to defeat the evil demons. Where are you hurt?” Nezuko took out the salve Urokodaki gave her. It helped heal wounds faster. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“The monster came and took me into the house. It was going to eat me, but it got into a fight with another monster. The demon that took me had a drum on its back. When it got in a fight with the other demons, it fell off, and I used to survive. It called me marechi,”

“CAW!” yelled Nezuko’s crow, “MARECHI IS A RARE BLOOD. FOR DEMONS, ONE WITH MARECHI WOULD BE A FEAST!”

Nezuko paused, she could hear something outside the room. It had the same presence as the drum demon. It was close. 

“Teruko, stay with your brother,” said Nezuko, putting the drum in her hand, “Once I leave the room tap it. If you hear something outside tap it again. I’ll call your names when I’m done,”

Nezuko got up and left the room. There was the sound of the drum and the rooms changed. The demon looked at her and tapped one of its drums. The room rotated and Nezuko caught herself. Another drum and it was the claw attack. She jumped back, dodging it. The demon began speeding up with the attacks and Nezuko found it harder and harder to dodge it. Each time she moved her body ached. Papers from drawers fell out. The room rotated and Nezuko moved. The papers on the floor caught her attention. There was something on it. She moved so as to not step on it.

Wait. Avoiding the papers helped me figure out how to move without hurting my body and how to breathe effectively. I need shallow and rapid breaths. Before each claw attack, there is a darker aura. I’ll use that to know when it comes. 

Nezuko ducked as a claw attack came, dodging it easily now that she got the pattern. 

Total concentration, Water breathing, Ninth Form, Splashing Water Flow: Turbulent!

Nezuko got her katana ready and she saw the opening thread. “Your blood demon art was incredible,” She swung her katana and the demon's head fell. Once her strike was complete she landed back on her feet. She stumbled slightly her lungs hurt. She had taken in too deep of a breath. She recovered and got back up on her feet and saw the demon’s body slowly crumble. 

“Girl,” said the demon, “is what you said true? Did you really think my blood demon art was incredible?” 

“It was,” said Nezuko, truthfully, “but I can not allow the deaths of innocent people,”

The demon’s head crumbled away and Nezuko thought for a moment she sensed sadness and relief from it before it disappeared. 

Right, the blood. 

She took out a small gadget that Yushiro had given Nezuko to collect demon blood. She threw it at the demon’s body and it took a sample of the blood. She took it out and looked to the side and saw a small cat with a bag. It had a piece of paper with a red eye on it, similar to Yushiro’s blood demon art. Nezuko put the sample in the cat’s bag and it disappeared. 

“Kiyoshi? Teruko?” called Nezuko. She opened a door and a book hit her. She stumbled back and rubbed her forehead. She looked up and saw the two throwing things in her direction, “Why are you throwing things?”

“Sorry Nezuko,” said Kiyoshi, “the drum disappeared and we panicked,” 

“It’s alright. The demon is gone, we should go outside. Your bother and Zenitzu are probably waiting for us,”

They walked through the halls looking for the exit and Nezuko caught the scent of blood. She ran quickly and found the exit. 

“Come on move it!” yelled someone Nezuko didn’t recognize. “I’ve got a job to do and you’re making it harder,”

Nezuko ran outside and saw 3 people. The boy was hiding near the trees. A girl around the same age as Nezuko, maybe a little older. She was wearing a demon slayer uniform had her two ponytails tied up by snowflake pins and her katana was drawn. Zenitzu was shielding the box and had a swollen eye. He looked up and saw Nezuko.

“Nezuko,” said Zenitzu, “I protected the box. You said it was more important to you than your own life, so I protected it,” 

Chapter Text

A few minutes earlier 

Zenitzu woke up. He briefly remembered the events from earlier. He no longer heard the drums from the house. Nezuko must have defeated the demon. 

“Zenitzu?” Zenintzu got up. The boy from earlier was sitting beside him. “The force of the rooms changing tossed us outside. I’m fine but-”

Zenitzu pulled his hand from the back of his head, there a little blood on it. “I FELL ON MY HEAD!”

“Yes,” 

Someone ran out the house. It wasn’t Nezuko, but Zenitzu recognized her from final selection. 

“There’s a demon here,” she said, “I can sense it’s presence,” 

She looked in the direction of Nezuko’s box and took out her katana. Zenitzu dove in front of it blocking her from the box. 

“I won’t let you touch this box!” yelled Zenitzu, “It’s important to Nezuko,”

“Get out of the way,” she said, “don’t you know there’s a demon inside?”

“Of course, I know! I’ve known from the start!”

I knew she was travelling with a demon, but the sounds I hear from her are so kind. Demons and humans don’t make the same kind of sounds, but Nezuko sounds so pure, so I trust her. She must have good reasons for travelling with a demon. 

“I’ll ask her about it later, but until then..I’M NOT LETTING YOU NEAR THIS BOX!”

“Nezuko,” said Zenitzu, “I protected the box. You said it was more important to you than your own life, so I protected it,” 

“You’re being foolish,” yelled the girl, trying to pull Zenitzu off the box, “If I have to skewer you with the box so be it,”

“NO!” yelled Nezuko, she kicked the girl off Zenitzu and away from the box. 

“Are you Nezuko,” said the girl, “he said the box is yours,”

“Yes I’m Nezuko,” 

“Don’t you know that it’s against corps rules to be traveling with a demon?”

“I know but I have my reasons,”

“What reason could you have to be traveling with a demon?”

“He’s my older brother. I joined the demon slayers to find a cure,”

Something on the girl’s face changed. Her expression softened slightly like she remembered something, “your brother. I see. Fine. I won’t kill him, but if someone is hurt because of him I won’t hesitate,” 

“Thank you,” Nezuko breathed a sigh of relief. She helped Zentizue onto his feet, “Um, miss, I didn’t get your name,”

“Aoi Kanzaki,” 

“Aoi, there are other bodies I saw in the mansion. Can you help me bring them out to bury?”

They found the bodies in the house and buried them all. After burying the bodies, the three slayers followed the crow to a house with the Wisteria flower crest of the Fuji family. 

“CAWWW! REST REST!” Yelled the crow. “Rest until your wounds fully heal!”

“We can rest now?” Nezuko asked her crow as it landed on her hand. The door opened and an old woman came out.

“IT’S A GHOST!” yelled Zenitzu,

“Shut up!” yelled Aoi, smacking Zenitzu.

“You must be demon slayers,” said the old woman, guiding them into the house. “Here is a hot meal, and a place to rest,”

“SHE’S A GHOST NEZUKO. SHE-”

This time it was Nezuko who hit Zenitzu.

According to the crow, the Wisteria Flower Crest belongs to a family that the demon slayers saved. They take care of demon slayers for free. Later that night, the old woman brought a doctor over to check on their wounds. Nezuko had three broken ribs, Zenitzu had 2 and Aoi also had 2 (from a previous mission before she met the two). 

“Nezuko,” said Zenitzu, “why are you travelling with a demon,”

“You knew but you still protected the box,” said Nezuko, “Thank you Zenitzu, you’re really a great guy,”

“Awww, does this mean-”

“No,”

The next day, the old woman sent them off with a blessing of good luck for their journey. Both Nezuko’s and Aoi’s crow (and Zenitzu’s sparrow) had called for them to go to the same mission on Mt Natagumo. There was talk of demons up there. There must have been either many or one really strong one to send 3 slayers up there. But it wouldn’t be something that they couldn’t defeat. Right?

Chapter Text

It was night went they got there. The trio stood at the edge of forest. Nezuko could already sense a demon’s presence in there. The aura was so strong that the demon (or demons) were more dangerous than the ones Nezuko had already fought. 

“WAIT!” yelled Zenitzu, “Can we wait for one moment!”

“What now?” snapped Aoi, turning to Zenitzu, “How are you a demon slayer if your scared all the time?”

Nezuko turned around back to the mountain, hearing something. Someone was near the the edge of the forest. He was wearing a demon slayer uniform. He was lying down on his front, possibly injured. Nezuko wasted no time and ran towards him. 

“He-help,” he cried out.

“We’re coming! What happ-” Before Nezuko finished her sentence and invisible force pulled the slayer back into the forest.  “What the…”

“What the hell was that,” said Aoi, running next to Nezuko.

“Whatever it was, we have to go in there. He needs our help and there might be others in there to,” said Nezuko. 

And so, Nezuko and Aoi entered the forest. 

The forest was covered in spiderwebs. Nezuko and Aoi had to cut through some of the thicker parts. As they walked through they noticed another slayer. He was hiding near the bushes. He wasn’t the same slayer as the one they saw earlier. Nezuko wondered how many more slayers were in the forest, and what kind of demon was in here that they needed multiple slayers. Nezuko and Aoi walked up to him and Nezuko lightly tapped him on the shoulder.

“WHO!” he quickly spun around, his hand going to his katana. 

“We’re here to help,” said Nezuko, “I’m Nezuko Kamado, rank mizunoto,”

“And I’m Aoi Kanzaki, rank mizunoto,” 

“Mizunoto? We need a hashira. It doesn’t matter how many mizunoto they send, it won’t make a difference,” 

“Well, we’re here now,” said Aoi, “Who are you and why don’t you tell us what happened?”

“I’m Murata. A crow brought an order and 10 slayers came here. Not long after we came up, the corps members began killing each other,” 

Zenitzu sat at the edge of the forest. Nezuko and Aoi had already left. 

Do they hate me? Is it normal to leave someone behind? If we were real friends wouldn’t they try to convince me? If the two of them asked, I would have gone. But they went up that scary mountain in a hurry. Do they even care how I felt about being left behind?

CHIRP CHIRP

Zenitzu turned and looked at his sparrow. It chirpred back at him.

“I envy how relaxed you are. You don’t understand a thing about humanity,” The sparrow bit his hand. “OW OW OW! Hey you’re not being very cute right now. Nezuko is cute but a bird like you is a pain…WAIT! NEZUKO IS IN THERE IN THAT SCARY FOREST. NEZUKO!”

Zenitzu with his sparrow following him, ran into the forest.

Slayers had begun attacking Nezuko, Aoi and Murata. The slayer’s movements were odd. It didn’t seem like they were fighting of their own free will. The three stayed on the defense. Nezuko sensed something coming from above a slayer that was fighting her. She swung her blade above them and she saw thin treads fall. 

“They’re being controlled by the treads. Cut the threads!” yelled out Nezuko, avoiding an attack from another controlled slayer. 

Where is the demon that is controlling them?

There was another aura, the same she sensed from the slayers who were controlled. She looked at her arm and saw tiny spsiders crawling. They were attaching threads to her arm. Nezuko quickly cut them off. 

If the spiders are making the thread, it won’t matter if we cut them.

The slayers who they previously cut the threads from slowly got up and Nezuko could see the faint threads controlling them. 

“It won’t be enough to cut the treads. The spiders will just reattach the threads. We’ll have to pinpoint the area where the demon controlling them is,” 

Sensing something above them, Nezuko looked up. A demon child was standing on threads above them. 

“Don’t disturb the peaceful life of our family,” he spoke. “Mother will waste no time killing you,” The demon boy left, leaving the three to fight the controlled slayers. 

“I don’t think that was the demon controlling them,” said Nezuko.

“Then let’s find it so we can kill it,” said Aoi, dodging an attack, “Nezuko, you sensed that other demon child before us, think you can find the other?”

“Maybe?” said Nezuko, blocking an attack, “I’ll try. Can you keep the slayers busy?”

“I’ll do my best,”

Nezuko pushed back a controlled slayer and paused. She focused on her breathing, focusing on her surroundings, looking for a clue to tell her the source of the threads. The spiders probably made the treads, but something was controlling them. She noticed that the threads were all going in oe direction eventually and the threads appeared more clustered. That was her best guess as to where the demon controlling the treads probably was. 

“I think I know where the demon is,” said Nezuko.

“You two go on ahead,” said Murata, “I’ll take care of these guys,”

“What are talking about?” said Aoi.

“I know cutting the threads won’t work, but there might be stronger slayers who are bing controlled as you get closer to the demon. I’ll handle this. Both of you go!”

“Thank you Murata,” 

The two raced into the forest, following the threads. As they ran through, Nezuko could sense a demon’s presence. It was farther up ahead. Hopefully it was the demon controlling the treads. They came to a stop when a female slayer blocked their path. Nezuko could see threads attached to her. Her katana was stabbed through the neck of another slayer and the dead bodies of other slayers laid on the ground. 

“Don’t come this way,” she yelled out, tears dropping, “please, bring someone of a higher rank, just run!”

The threads forced the slayer to move forward. She swung the katana and Nezuko barely dodged the attack. Nezuko took our her own katana and blocked the attack as best as she could. This slayer was stronger than the others. The strings attached to the girl pulled her arms in directions that weren’t normal, breaking the bones. Nezuko flinched when she heard the bones break and the slayers pained cries. From the behind the slayer, Nezuko could see others coming out. All of them having threads attached to them. Their arms were bent in angles that weren’t normal. All of them looked severely injured. 

“Kil-kill me,” one of them said, “our bones are broken and are stabbing our guts, please. I don’t think any of us will live. Help us. End our misery,” 

Cutting the strings won’t do anything and I don’t want to use a special technique. So how can I immobilize them? Wait I got it!

Nezuko put her katana away and ran. She looked back and saw that the female slayer was following her. Her plan was working. She quickly spun back and grabbed the slayer and tossed her up over a tree branch. The slayer was stuck. 

“Aoi do what I just did,” said Nezuko, repeating her move to another controlled slayer. Aoi nodded and tossed up another controlled slayer. Soon all the controlled slayers were stuck on tree branches. Before Nezuko or Aoi could anything, the strings attached to the slayers pulled, snapping the necks of the slayers. The threads attached to the slayers let go, dropping teh bodies onto the floor. Nezuko knelt down to one the bodies. 

“Nezuko?” said Aoi, stepping towards her. She stepped back. Aoi could feel Nezuko’s anger. It was terrifying. 

“Let’s go,” said Nezuko.

Aoi nodded and they headed back through the forest with new determination. 

“How much longer till we get there?” Aoi asked. 

“I don’t know, but the demon’s presence is over there. I can sense it even more now,” 

“And that is the demon responsible for the threads?”

“I believe so,” 

“Then I’ll give you some assistence,” 

“Wha-”

Aoi picked Nezuko up and threw her in the direction of demon. As Nezuko fell she saw the demon. She angled her katana and got ready to deliver the killing strike. 

Water breathing, first form. But as she got ready, the demon held her hands up, embracing the attack. Water breathing fifth form, blessed rain after the drought.

Nezuko stared at the demon as its body began to fade away. The presence from it was so sad. They way she accepted death. Nezuko had switched forms to give her a painless death. 

“ Be careful,” the demon spoke, “there is a 12 kizuki here,” 

A 12 kizuki? I have to warn Aoi and Murata.

Nezuko quickly found Aoi and told her what the demon told her.

“We’ll have to be careful then,” said Aoi, “If that other demon was able to take out multiple slayers, the kizuki that’s here will be even more dangerous.” 

 As they walked through the forest, they found a river. Near the bank, they saw another demon. Both Aoi and Nezuko chased after her. 

“FATHER!” yelled the demon. 

From above something dropped. It was bigger than any other demon Nezuko faced. Its head was that of a spider. 

“STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!” 

“You fought hard to make it home. It seems most of my slayers have been killed. This may be the work of a 12 kizuki. It seems I’ll have to send in a hashira. Michikatsu. Douma, head to Mount Natagumo immediately,” 

“Understood,” 

Chapter Text

Water Breathing, Second Form, Water Wheel. 

Nezuko swung her sword. It barely went through the spider father’s arm. She jumped back dodging the demon’s arm as it swung at her.

“You okay?” Aoi asked Nezuko.

“I’m fine,” 

“Let’s work together to kill this thing,”

They both ran at the spider father using different breathing forms to fight him. None of their blows made an effective cut. The skin was too tough. The demon was also too fast. They needed him to stand still. Nezuko looked around for something to help them. She spotted a tree that looked big enough for the job. She looked for Aoi and when she made eye contact she gestured to the tree sending a silent message. Aoi nodded in understanding and took charge in distracting the spider father. 

Water breathing, second form improved, Lateral water wheel!

She swung her sword at the tree cutting it. It fell down on the father spider, pinning it to the ground. Nezuko jumped onto the tree trunk and ran to the spider demon and raised her sword over her head. 

Total concentration, water breathing-

“NEZUKO WATCH OUT!”

The spider father managed to get out from under the tree. He grabbed onto the tree trunk and lifted it. Nezuko held onto a branch to avoid falling off. The spider father swung the tree, throwing Nezuko off into the sky. 

“AOI! BE CAREFUL! HE MIGHT BE THE 12 KIZUKI I WAS WARNED ABOUT! I’LL TRY TO COME BACK AS SOON AS I CAN! SURVIVE!”

The fight with spider brother left Zenitzu tired. He slowed his breathing down to slow the effects of the poison he had been hit with. 

It’s getting harder to breathe. I’m sorry Nezuko. I tried. 

Through his blurry vision he saw someone with rainbow eyes.

“Hello there,” they spoke, “are you alright?”

To break the fall, Nezuko used the second form of water breathing to soften the fall. She had to get back to Aoi and help her. If that demon was a 12 kizuki, Aoi wouldn’t last long. Maybe together they could hold out till a stronger slayer or a Hashira came. 

“GYAAA!” 

Nezuko turned around and saw the same demon child from earlier and the other demon her and Aoi had chased before running into the spider father. The spider sister was kneeling and covering her face which was dripping with blood. The demon child had webs on his finger tips. The webs were covered in blood. 

“What are you staring at,” he spoke, “this isn’t a show,”

“What are doing?” Nezuko asked, “aren’t you two friends?”

“Friends? Our connection is nothing so superficial. We are family. Strong ties bind us. Besides this is a matter between me and my older sister. If you interrupt me, I’ll kill you,” 

“Whether you’re friends or family, both connections are precious,” said Nezuko, “just because you are not related by blood doesn’t mean a relationship isn’t precious. Besides, the relationship you two have isn’t one of trust but one of fear. That’s all I sense from you two. Nothing but hate and loathing. That’s not what I would call family ties. It’s a sham,” 

The spider sister finched back in fear after Nezuko spoke. 

“Look’s like I found just the right kind of demon,” said a demon slayer walking in on them, “even I can kill a demon like this. You stay back, this one is mine,” 

The slayer ran up to the demon child and before Nezuko could say anything, the demon child swung his arm and the slayer was sliced. His body fell apart, blood staining the ground. 

“You,” spoke the demon child angrily, “what did you say?”

The aura around him got so menacing. The air is so heavy and thick. I’m sorry Aoi, I’ll be there to help you soon

“I’ll say it again,” said Nezuko, “your family ties are fake,” 

“I don’t plan on killing you in one strike, but if you take back what you said, I’ll consdier being merciful,” 

“I won’t take it back. I meant every word of it,” Nezuko drew her katana getting ready to cut the strings as she saw them. Water breathing, first form, water surface slash. Nezuko swung her katana at the string, but when it made contact, her katana broke. The string broke it. Nezuko tripped as she tried to dodge the string. It cut her face and she fell over. My katata, it broke. Forgive me Urokodaki and Haganezuka. Because of my inexperience I broke my sword. I have to think. How can I get through the threads and avoid being cut. The treads move like their alive. Soon multiple threads formed blocking Nezuko with no way to dodge. Blood splattered. Nezuko stared in shock as her brother and jumped in front of her taking the blow. 

“TANJIRO!” she screamed.

Nezuko caught Tanjiro as he fell over. She carried him over to a tree and lookd over his wounds. They were healing but it was very slow. 

“Tanjiro,” said Nezuko, “I’m sorry. You protected me,” 

“Are you brother and sister,” spoke the demon child. 

“So what if we are?!” 

“Siblings. Her brother is a demon but she stays with him. Her brother protected him by leaping in the way. Theirs is a true family bond! That’s what I want!” 

“W-Wait!” shouted the spider sister, “please wait! I’m your elder sister! Don’t abandon me!” 

“SHUT UP!” yelled the spider demon, swinging his arm. The spider sister’s head was cut off. The strike didn’t just cut the spider sister’s head, but it also cut the the trees behind her. “In the end, you never fulfilled your roles. Not once,”

“W-wait. I was your elder sister! You said so. Let me make it up to you,” 

“Than kill the rest of the slayers that are wandering on the mountain. Then I’ll forgive you for your short comings,” 

“I understand. I’ll kill them,”

The demon sister picked her head up and reattached it to her neck. She ran back into the forest, leaving Nezuko, and Tanjiro with the spider demon. 

“Girl,” the demon spider spoke, “lets talk. I was moved when I saw the connection between you two. But even though it will breakny heart, I’ll still have to kill you. However there is a way for you to avoid that fate. Give me your brother. If you hand him over quietly, I’ll spare your life,” 

“What the hell are you saying,”

“As of now, I want your brother, to be my brother,”

Nezuko tightened grip on Tanjiro, pulling him closer to her. “There is no way I’ll accept that! Besides, Tanjiro is not a thing. He has feelings and a free will. He won’t be your brother!”

“It’s all right. Don’t worry. I’ll forge a bond. I’m stronger. So it will start as a bond of fear. He’ll know what happens if he disobeys,”

“Using fear! Are you insane!” yelled Nezuko. “Continue to think like that and you’ll never get what you want!” 

“You’re so loud. It’s very annoying,”

“I’ll never give Tanjiro to you!” 

“Of course you won’t. I’ll just kill you and take him,”

“Not if I kill you first,” 

“You’ve got spirit. If you think you can, then do it. If you have what it takes to defeat one of the twelve kizuki!” 

Chapter Text

The spider sister ran through the forest. If things went well tonight, she might earn Rui’s favor again. He couldn’t replace her. She was his older sister. 

I messed up! I really messed up! Even though I’m the only one who never messes up. I ruined our pretend family. We have no real blood, but we were afraid of the demon slayers and we wanted companions. Rui had all the abilities. The rest of us were minor demons and he shared his power among us. He was the master’s favoutite, so we all agreed. He made all of us look like him. The mother of our group was a child demon, she was so young that she still had her human memories and would often weep. This kept her from being good atv playing the role of the mother. She wasn’t good at transforming her face and body so she was punished almost everyday. Rui punished anyone who didn’t play their role. He could cut them, or steal their intelligence and leave them hanging in the sun. I only ever worried about myself. They were dumb, but I was different, but now I’ve messed up. When they killed mother, I thought if I showed him my real face he would snap out of it. But now I’ve messed up and I have only one more chance.

The spider sister spotted a slayer uphead. Before he had a chance to swing his katana, the spider sister released silk from her palms, incasing the slayer in a cocoon made of silk. 

“Using your katana will be of no use. It may be soft, but the silk is tough. The dissolution fluid will melt your clothes, then it will melt your body, then you’ll be my meal,”

“Did those threads really come from your palms?” asked someone from behind the spider sister. 

The spider sister flinchd and turned around. A demon slayer with pale hair, strange colored eyes, wearing a red harori was standing in fron of her. He had a ight blue katana with a snowflake designed hilt attached. 

“Good evening,” he said, with a fake smile, “isn’t the moon pretty tonight?”

The spider sister shot out threads at the slayer, but he dodged it easily. 

“It seems like you don’t want to be my friend,” he laughed, “that’s disappointing,” 

“Wait! Please!” shouted the spider sister, “Rui is forcing me to do this. If I don’t, he’ll cut me up, Help me!” 

“Oh, is that true. That sound awful. I can help you, if we can get along properly. Just answer a few questions for me,”

“You’ll help me?”

“If you answer a few questions, I can, so tell me demon. How many people have you killed?”

“Five, but I was under or-”

“Please don’t lie. I’ll know. You’ve killed at least 80 haven’t you?”

“No I haven’t,” said the spider sister.

“I just came from the west, that’s where you came from. I saw things a bit differently. In one area alone I found 15 of the same cacoons you trapped my fellow demon slayer. All the slayers in the cocoons in that area were reduced to goo. Why did you lie?”

“What does it matter?”

“I just want an accurate number,” 

“What for?”

“So I can punish you properly. Then when you are reborn, we can be friends,” 

“Punishment..”

“For all the people you killed. I can’t let you go unpunished. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the punishment fits the crime. Maybe I’ll gouge out your eyes or spill your guts. How does that sound? Let’s give it our best why don’t we? And since you are a demon, you won’t have any lasting effects! How lucky!” 

“What is wrong with you!” Die you foul human,” 

Ice Breathing, Fourth Form, Wintery Icicles 

Before the spider sister could act, the slayer attacked. Multiple stab wounds appeared on the demon. The spider sister found that her body was slow to movement. What was that attack. My limbs feel numb. The slayer swung his katana and the demon’s head fell off, the body disintegrating. 

The slayer moved to the cocoon and sliced it open. The demon slayer inside was still alive. That was good news. 

“She wasn’t the real threat,” said red haroi slayer aloud, ignoring the other. “I wonder if Michikatsu has better luck,” 

The father spider held Aoi by the throat. Her katana laid on the ground, broken. 

Nezuko. I’m sorry. I know you wanted me to survive, but I don’t think I an hold out. I don’t want to die. I didn’t get to fulfil my promise. I’m sorry sisters. I couldn’t help you. Please forgive me,”

The grip loosened, then it was gone. She fell to the floor, gasping for breath. Dark spots filled her vision and she caught a glimpse of a slayer, cutting the demon’s head off. It was with such ease, the slayer had to be a hashira. She felt fatigue grabbing at her, and she let sleep take her. 

“In a family, a father has a distinct set of responsibilities. A mother has her own role to play. Parents must protect their children, and the older children must protect their younger siblings. Even at the risk of their own lives. I believe that people who don’t fulfil their roles, don’t have the right to live. Do you know what your role is? Your role is to give me your brother then disappear. If you can’t do that, you must die,”

I couldn’t cut through his threads. What can I do with a broken sword. What if his neck is tougher than his threads?

“I don’t like that look in your eyes. Don’t tell me you think you can actually win,”

Rui threw his hands out, releasing threads that went around Tanjiro pulling him back. 

“There,” said Rui, “I’ve already taken him,”

“Let my brother go!”

“I told you to give him to me and I’ll spare your life but-”

Rui was cut off by Tanjiro scratching his face. Nezuko took the distraction to swing what was left of her katana at Rui. Rui yanked threads and Nezuko ducked to avoid them. She jumpd back to avoid another. When she looked up, she saw that Rui wasn’t holding Tanjiro.

Where’s Tanjiro?

Nezuko felt blood drop on her. She looked up and saw Tanjiro caught in the treads. The threads had him tangled up, cutting into his skin. 

“TANJIRO!” 

“Stop your screaming. He is a demon so it won’t kill him. He must learn his new role. I’ll let him bleed for a bit. If he doesn’t learn to obey, I’ll leave him till sunrise and let the sun burn him for a bit,”

I need to calm down. I need to concentrate. Control your breathing. Total concetration, water breathing, CONSTANT FLUX!

Rui pulled more threads and Nezuko with her broken katana swung. Each swing became stronger than the other, cutting through them. She could do it.

I can make it. I can win if I keep doing this.

“Oh, did you think that was the strongest thread I could make? Blood demon art. Cutting thread cage. I’ve had enough of you. Good bye,” 

These threads are different from the others. They have a completely different aura from the others. I haven’t spun around enough to cut this thread. I can’t give up though…but there’s no way I’ll win. I’m going to die. 

There’s a theory that the reason your life flashes before your eyes just as your about to die is becasue you are looking through all your experiences to find a way to escape.

“Look tanjiro..your father is doing the kagura dance,”

Mother was telling Tanjiro about the kagara dance our father did. Mother was carrying me and didn’t know I was awake. I was very little at the time, but I remember. I remember our father doing the dance. Father gave Tanjiro the earrings telling him to wear them when it was his time to do the dance. Tanjiro gave me one. Tanjiro would do anything to protect our family, and I’ll do the same for him!

HIMOKAMI KAGURA DANCE!

Nezuko swung her katana cutting through the thread. It worked. She could do this. 

Tanjiro…Tanjiro…Tanjiro, you need to wake up. Your sister needs you. She will die without your help

Blood demon art! Exploding Blood!

The blood on the threads lit up, burning the threads away, allowing Nezuko to push past them. Each strike became stronger. As she brought her kanata to Rui’s neck, the blood on it lit up, pushing her blade through Rui’s neck.

“THE BOND TANJIRO AND I SHARE WILL NEVER BE BROKEN!” 

Chapter Text

I did it, I won. I don’t know why I thought of the Kagura my father did. I don’t even know how I managed to remember that, but it worked. I won. 

Nezuko had fallen on her front, exhausted. She had used the last of her energy to decapitate Rui. 

My vision is blurring. Was I too reckless? I need to get up. I need to find and help Aoi. Where’s Tanjiro?

Nezuko spotted her brother and crawled forward towards him. Each movement hurt and sent a spasm of pain. She pushed through the pain and moved forward. When she was halfway to her brother she sensed a dangerous aura from behind her. It was the same as Rui. But that couldn’t be possible. She cut off his head. He should be dead. Nezuko turned her head and saw the demon’s body get up and walk towards her. How could it still be alive!

“Did you think you defeated me? Before you cut my head off, I removed it myself with my threads. Did you enjoy your little moment of victory?” The demon reattached it’s head to it’s body, “And now I am going to kill you and your brother. I haven’t been this angry in a really long time,”

Come on! Get up!

“I am going to make your death as painful as possible! BLOOD DEMON ART! MURDEROUS  EYE BASKET!” 

Red threads spun around Nezuko, creating a net like trap around her. She had no energy left in her to make a counter move. The treads began closing in on her. She felt the treads cut into her skin. This was it. After everything, this was how she was going to die. 

…

Just before the threads could finish the job, they loosed and fell apart. She caught a glimpse of someone jumping over her, putting themselves between her and the demon. 

“You did well to hold out for as long as you did,” said a familiar voice, “Leave the rest to me,” 

“Blood demon art! Cutting thread rotation!” 

Total Concentration, Moon Breathing, Sixth Form, Perpetual Night Loney Moon Incessant

With multiple vertical strikes, the threads of the demon’s attack fell apart before they even reached the slayer. 

How did none of my threads reach him? Doesn’t matter. I’ll try again.

Before Rui could create another attack, the demon slayer swung his katana, killing Rui in one clean strike. 

While the demon slayer finished Rui off, Nezuko made it to her brother. He was okay. He was asleep but he was okay. They were going to be just fine. She looked up and saw the disintegrating body of Rui stumble towards her. It fell in front of her and she didn’t sense any malice from it. Instead she felt sadness. Tanjiro opened his eyes, and looked at the demon. He put his hand on it. Nezuko understood. They both did. She rested her on hand on the demon’s body next to Tanjiro’s hand. The body disintigrated, leaving nothing behind. 

“You shouldn’t waste pity on the demon. Even though he looked like a child, he still killed countless innocents and lived for hundreds of years,” 

“Shut up!” Snapped Nezuko, “I know he killed people, and too avenge those killed by demon’s I won’t hesitate to kill them! But I won’t belittle those who feel remorse for their actions. Because they were once human too. They were like me. Demon’s are not worthless monsters. They are pitiful creatures who once lived!” 

The demon slayer looked down at her and Nezuko got a better look at him. He was wearing purple and black checkered haori. He was the same demon slayer who spared her brother. Recognition showed on his face as he must have recognized her. 

“Wait,” he said, “your-”

Before he finished he drew his sword and it clashed with another. He turned around and raised his sword, protecting Nezuko and her brother. At the other end, Nezuko saw another demon slayer. He had pale blond hair and rainbow-like eyes. He wore a red haori. 

“Michikatsu,” said the demon slayer, “why did you block me? Please move out of the way. I would hate to hurt a friend,”

“We’re not friends,” said Michikatsu flatly. 

“Not with that attitude,” said the slayer, smiling, “hey girl! You know that’s a demon your holding right?”

“He’s my brother. He hasn’t hurt anyone,” said Nezuko, holding her brother close to her.

“Your brother? How sad. In that case, I’ll make his death as quick and painless as possible,”

“Can you move,” said Michikatsu quietly to Nezuko, “Take your brother and go,”

Nezuko picked Tanjiro up and got up. “Thank you Michikatsu,” she yelled, running into the forest. Nezuko grabbed Tanjiro’s box and ran as fast as she could. After this she would have to stay on the run. Probably have to leave the demon slayer corp. She never got to say goodbye to Aoi or Zenitzu or thank Michikatsu properly. Or talk to Urokodaki again. So many regrets and not enough time. 

From behind her, someone kicked her down. Tanjiro fell out of her arms and she fell. She couldn’t get up. She was already exhausted as is and had used everything she had earlier. She looked up and saw a female demon slayer who looked about her age. She wore a snowflake pin in her hair, similar to Aoi’s. She raised her katana to kill Tanjiro.

“NO!” yelled Nezuko, yanking the slayer back. “Tanjiro! RUN!” 

The slayer kicked Nezuko in the head, knocking her out and went to pursue Tanjiro. 

“Why did you let them go,” asked Douma, his sword clashing with Michikatsu’s. “You know it’s against corp rules. You could at least explain your actions,” 

“It was about 2 years ago-,”

“Oh please don’t tell me this is another of your long stories is it?”

“You’re the one who-”

Before Michikatsu could finish, Douma swung his katana grazing Michikatsu’s face. A small scar formed. Michikatsu covered it immediately. 

“Please Michikatsu,” said Douma, “don’t make this more difficult than it should be. I’m sure the master will understand,” 

“MESSAGE!” yelled one of the crows, causing Michikatsu and Douma to look up, “MESSAGE! MESSAGE! KAW! Take Nezuko and Tanjiro into custody and back to headquarters!. Nezuko is the demon slayer girl with the pink haori and Tanjiro is the demon with the scar on his head”

Nezuko woke up, her head hurting. Her arms were tied behind her back. When she opened her eyes, it was bright out. She was in an unfamiliar area. She looked up and saw 7 people in front of her. 

“About time you're awake,” said an unfamiliar voice behind her, “you are in the presence of the Hashira!” 

Chapter Text

Nezuko looked around. The people in front of her she didn’t recognize, well, other than the rainbow-eyed one. He was the one Michikatsu stopped from killing Tanjiro. Speaking of Michikatsu, Nezuko couldn’t see him anywhere. She hoped that he didn’t get in trouble for helping her. 

“Welcome. I’m Douma, and you, Nezuko Kamado, are on trial.” 

    Douma, Ice Hashira

“There’s no need for a trial,” spoke one of the others. He had purple-blue dyed hair, and his face reminded Nezuko of a fish. “Protecting a demon is clearly against the rules. Both she and the demon should be killed.” 

    Gyokko Managi, Water Hashira 

“Can she even call herself a true demon slayer?” spoke a white haired girl. She looked about the same age as Nezuko. Nezuko noticed that the girl’s hair covered a part of her face and could barely make out a scar. 

    Ume Shabana, Beauty Hashira 

“Even if she was protecting a sibling, punishment should still be necessary. We can’t make any exceptions,” The next one who spoke was dark-haired with green ends. He had scars covering his face. 

    Gyutaro Shabana, Posion Hashira

“This is a waste of time,” said one of the younger Hasira, “We should kill them both and be done with it.”

    Zohakuten Hantengu, Nature Hashira

Nezuko looked around. Where’s Tanjiro? Aoi? Zenitzu? Murata?

“Where’s Michikatsu? If what Douma said was true, he is also responsible for letting the demon boy live. He should be put on trial too,” spoke another hashira. She had long dark hair and wore a dark purple harori. 

    Nakime Otokawa, Music Hashira

“This is-” Nezuko coughed before she could finish her sentence. 

“Here,” said Douma, bringing her water, “This has a painkiller. Be careful, your injuries haven’t healed yet.”

When Nezuko finished the water, she spoke again, “My brother was turned into a demon, but he hasn’t eaten anyone. He hasn’t hurt anyone, and he won’t!”

“Of course you would say that,” spoke Gyutaro, “It’s only natural for siblings to protect and lie for each other.”

“My brother won’t hurt anyone!” Yelled Nezuko, “I became a demon slayer to find a cure for him! It’s been almost 2 years, and in that time, Tanjiro hasn’t eaten anyone! He has fought alongside me. He can fight with the demon slayer corps and protect people!” 

“That’s an interesting statement you’ve said,” said someone.

“Lord Hakuji!” said one of the Kakushi, “please put the box down!”

“Is she the idiotic demon slayer who is travelling with a demon?”

    Hakuji Soyama, Spirit Hashira 

Hakuji was holding the box that Tanjiro was in. 

“Hakuji, don’t do anything rash,” said Douma.

“Demon slayer, girl,” said Hakuji, looking at Nezuko, ignoring Douma, “you say this demon can fight to protect humans. That’s completely…Impossible!”

He drew his katana and stabbed it thorugh the box. Nezuko saw blood dripping from the box. Tanjiro’s blood. 

Nezuko got up on her feet, ignoring any pain she felt. “LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE A HASHIRA OR NOT, NO ONE HURTS MY BROTHER!” Nezuko ran to attack him and get the box away from him, while Hakuji prepared to block her attack.

“Stop!” yelled Gyutaro, “the master will be here soon.”

Hakuji was distracted, which gave Nezuko enough time to land a kick to his head. She managed to take the box from him and put it behind her. 

“If you can’t tell the difference between a good demon and a bad demon, then you don’t deserve to be a hashira!” yelled Nezuko.

“The master of the mansion has arrived,” said a white haired girl. She looked like one of the girls who greeted them during the final selection. 

“Good morning, my demon slayers. It makes me happy that we can have our twice-yearly Hasira Meeting without any of our members changing,” spoke a man, he looked around at the hashira who were present, “where is Michikatsu?

Some came running in. They slowed down and bowed before looking up. Nezuko recognized him as one of the other slayers in the final selection. He was the same boy Nezuko stopped. 

“Sorry, master,” he spoke, “Moon Hashira Michikatsu Tsugikuni is unavailable to come right now. He’s asked me as his Tsuguko to come and speak on his behalf.”

“Thank you. Your name is Genya Shinazugawa, correct?”

“Yes, master,” 

“Master Kitbutsuji,” spoke Hakuji, “Could you tell us more about this demon slayer who is travelling with a demon?” 

“Yes, I apologize for not informing you, but I have accepted Nezuko and Tanjiro, and I want everyone else to do the same.” 

“I’m sorry, master,” said Gyutaro, “even though you request it, I simply can’t accept a demon in our ranks.”

“Demons can not be trusted, I’m sorry, master,” said Nakime.

“Even with my respect for you, master, I can not accept a demon to fight alongside us,” said Gyokko. 

“As demon slayers, it is our job to kill demons,” said Hakuji, “We must punish Nezuko Kamado. Michikatsu must also be held responsible, he allowed a demon to live.” 

The master turned to one of the girls, “Do you have the letter?”

The girl nodded and opened up a letter, and read it out loud for everyone to hear. 

“This letter arrived from former hashira Urokodaki Sakonji. I will read a portion of it. Please forgive Nezuko Kamado for travelling with her brother, who has been turned into a demon. Tanjiro has maintained his human reasoning. Even when starved, he hasn’t eaten or harmed a single human. He has persisted that way for 2 years. It may be difficult to understand, but it is the truth. Should Tanjiro ever harm a human, along with Nezuko, both I and Michikatsu Tsugikuni will atone by committing seppuku.”

“So what if they commit seppuku,” snapped Hakuji, “It doesn’t prove a thing!”

“Hakuji is right,” said Ume, “It won’t change that an innocent life was taken.” 

“You are correct,” said Kitbutsuji, “we can’t prove that Tanjiro won’t attack another person, but we can’t prove that he will. It is a fact that for the last 2 years, Tanjiro has not eaten a single person, and 3 people have staked their lives on him. If you reject this, then can you offer something greater than Urokodaki’s promise? Furthermore, Nezuko has crossed paths with Ubuyashiki.”

The hashira all looked up in shock and started asking Nezuko multiple questions. Kitbutsuji raised his hand, and the hashira fell silent. “Ubuyashiki has sent his forces after Nezuko, most likely to silence her. It may be possible that Ubuyashiki is also after her brother. Do you understand?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t,” said Hakuji, “I understand letting the demon slayer girl live even though she broke corps rules, but letting the demon live is unacceptable.” He drew his katana and cut part of his arm. “Demons are untrustworthy. I’ll prove it to you!” Hakuji dropped blood onto the box. 

“Hakuji, that won’t work,” spoke Zohakuten, “you have to be in the shade for that to work.” 

“My apologies, master,” said Hakuji.

Hakuji brought the box into the house and stabbed it again. Nezuko struggled to get up, but Zohakuten pinned her with his elbow between her shoulder blades. 

“Come out, demon!” yelled Hakuji, “I have the human blood you love so much!” The box opened up, and Tanjiro stood up. 

“Zohakuten,” said Douma, “you’re being too rough.”

“She keeps trying to break free.”

“Kamado,” said Douma, “if you try to use a breathing style while your lungs are compressed, your blood vessels will rupture.” 

“Blood vessels rupturing? That sounds cool,” said Gyokko.

Tanjiro stared at Hakuji’s arm. Nezuko struggled, yelling. Screw getting hurt. Her brother needed her. Just as the ropes broke off, Zohakuten’s arm was yanked off her. Gyutaro ripped Zohakuten's arm off her, and Nezuko got up and ran to the edge of the house. 

“Tanjiro!” she yelled. 

People are to be protected. I won’t hurt them! I will never hurt them! Tanjiro turned his head away from Hakuji. 

“I believe this proves that Tanjiro won’t attack people,” said Kitbutsuji, “even though your brother has proven himself, there are some who won’t accept him. I believe this is the proof we needed, and we have it. From now on, both Nezuko and Tanjiro Kamado will be accepted into the Demon Slayer Corps. If you and your brother can kill a 12 kizuki, the others may accept you.” 

“Thank you,” said Nezuko. 

“Nezuko, you may leave. Please take her to the ice mansion where her friends are to be healed.” 

At the ice mansion (where Douma lived), Nezuko, along with Aoi and Zenitsu, were going through training rehab. Murata was thankfully alive. His injuries weren’t as severe, and he was already on a new mission. While doing training rehab, Nezuko kept seeing a boy a little older than her. She later learned that his name was Inosuke from Kanoe, who was helping them with training rehab. Kanoe was one of Douma’s Tsuguko. Apparently, Aoi had also been offered to be one of his Tsugukos, but she had declined. So far, for training rehab, only Aoi and Nezuko were participating. Zenitzu was still recovering from almost being turned into a spider. Aoi had damage to her throat from the spider father, but she thankfully recovered without any permanent damage. 

Nezuko was doing some basic training outside on her own. She sat down to take a break. 

“You know, if you master doing total concentration breathing for 24 hours, you’ll get stronger,” said someone behind her. 

She turned around and saw Inosuke. 

“When Douma was training Kanoe, he had her blow into gords,” said Inosuke, pulling out a gord.

“To make a sound?”

“No. To burst them,”

“You mean break these gords?”

“Well, not these,” said Insouke, going inside, “these,” he came out with a bigger gord, one that was almost as big as Nezuko.

“How-”

“With enough practice, you should be able to break this gord and maybe bigger ones too. I may not be an official member of the demon slayer corps, but I helped train my siblings and other slayers.”

Nezuko had been practicing total concentration breathing, thanks to the help of Inosuke. 

Tonight, she sat on the roof practicing total concentration breathing. 

“This is an interesting place to be and this hour,” spoke someone beside her.

Nezuko looked to the right and saw Douma. 

“I understand that my son has been helping with total concentration breathing?”

“Inosuke is your son?” said Nezuko.

“Adopted if you want to get technical, but I still consider him one of my own,”

“Douma-sama, are you angry?”

“What makes you ask that?” said Douma.

He always seemed oddly calm, but Nezuko always sensed that there was anger buried within. He was good at hiding it, but Douma was hiding anger. 

“I just sense that you’re hiding anger inside of you.”

“I guess I’m always a bit angry,” said Douma, not changing his calm facade, “hard to be when the world is filled with injustice. My children, the ones I’ve brought in, all have suffered terribly because of this cruel world.” 

“I’m sorry,”

“There is nothing for you to be sorry about. I’m still working it out, but if the master accepts you and your brother despite him being a demon, then I will also accept you both. You and your brother are both remarkable children, and I do believe that you both might change our world.” 

In the weeks to come, Nezuko, Aoi and Zenitzu all finished training rehab. She had managed to break the gord, which had helped inspire Aoi and Zenitzu to try. When Zentizu complained about being tired, Inosuke hit him on the head, calling him a weakling. Haganezuka had sent her a new sword after yelling at her for breaking her previous one. Since the trio was all healed up, they were assigned a new mission, and Nezuko had heard that they would be joining a hashira. 

“You seem to be all healed up and ready to go on your next mission,” said Douma, “do you have any questions for me?” 

“Have you heard of the Hinokami Kagura?” asked Nezuko, thinking back to what happened on the spider mountain. She had been thinking about it for quite a bit. 

“Nope,”

“Uhhh, what about fire breathing?”

“Haven’t heard of that one either,” 

Nezuko explained to Douma what had happened on the spider mountain and if he had heard of anything like it. 

“So you think your father had used fire breathing?” said Douma, “I don’t believe I’ve heard of that. I know flame breathing exists,”

“They aren’t the same?”

“They are not, and titles of the breathing styles are important. We don’t have a current flame pillar, but Michikatsu, the moon hashira, is knowledgeable in many breathing styles. He might know about the Hinokami Kagura. If you see him again, you should ask,” 

“Did he get in trouble for helping me and my brother?”

“Since the master has accepted you and your brother, he has not received punishment. Though I think the master might favour him. Good luck, Nezuko, on your next mission.”

“Thank you, Douma,” said Nezuko, leaving. 

As she left the house, she saw Kanoe, who was holding a coin. Nezuko walked up to her. 

“You’re Kanoe, right?” asked Nezuko.

Kanoe flipped her coin, “Yes, you’re Nezuko?”

“Thanks for helping us with our training rehab.”

“You don’t have to thank me, I was just following Douma’s instructions.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why do you flip that coin?” 

“When I’m not given instructions, I flip the coin to help me decide. Just now, I flipped the coin to decide whether to talk to you or not,” said Kanoe.

“Why don’t you decide for yourself?”

“I don’t need to, it’s not important,”

“Of course it’s important,” said Nezuko, “can I borrow your coin for a moment?”

Kanoe nodded and handed her the coin.

“You said that you make decisions based on the coin.”

“Yes?”

“Then let’s have this be the last decision you need to make with a coin. If it lands tails, you get to decide what you want to do yourself, without the coin or something asking you to. If it lands heads, you can still use the coin, and I won’t bother you about it.”

Nezuko flipped the coin and covered it when it landed on her hand. She removed her hand, and the coin showed tails.

“I know you didn’t make the flip, so you don’t have to stop using your coin,” said Nezuko, “but can you at least promise you’ll try to make decisions on your own?”

Kanoe nodded, “I'll-I’ll try. Take care, Nezuko, and stay safe on your mission.” 

A demon with the kanji for the lower 6 appeared in a strange castle dimension. With the sound of a snake, the demon was teleported to a platform with 4 other demons. Lower 1, 2, 3 and 4. Lower 6 looked up and saw a strange woman on a platform in front of him. 

With the same voice as Kagaya Ubuyashiki, they spoke, “Lower your heads and bow.”

That was lord Kagaya Ubuyashiki’s voice. I didn’t recognize him with his disguise. 

“My apologies master,” said lower 4

“Did I say you could speak?” said Ubuyashiki, “only speak when I give you permission. Rui the lower 5 was killed. I want to know why is it the lower ranks are so disappointing. Just because you are one of the 12 kizuki it doesn’t not mean it is the end. The upper moons have shifted members but they have not been killed by demon slayers, unlike those in the lower ranks,” 

What are we supposed to say to that? Thought lower 6

“What are we supposed to say about that?” repeated Ubuyashiki, “why don’t you answer my question,” 

He can read our thoughts?

“What has you so worried? Tell me!” Ubuyashiki shot out his arm and the arm mutated and grew. It yanked the demon into the air, holding him upside down. 

“FORGIVE ME! PLEASE LORD UBUYASHIKI! PLEASE MERCY! I’M SORRY!”

The arm twisted into a mouth and opened up. It devoured the demon, causing blood to splatter all over the platform. 

Why is this happening? Thought lower 3 is he going to kill me? After I made it to the 12 kizuki? Why? I wanted to do so much more!

“Are you more afraid of the demon slayers then of me?”

“No!” yelled lower 4.

“And yet everytime you encounter a hashira, you want to flee,”

“No! I WOULD RISK MY LIFE FOR YOU!”

“Are you contradicting what I say?”

Before lower 4 could speak, the arm used to kill lower 6 crushed her. 

This is the end thought lower 3, he’ll read my thoughts. No matter if I agree or disagree with him, he’ll kill me. My only chance is to run!

The demon ran around the castle dimension, looking for an exit when suddenly his head was removed from his body. Ubuyashiki tossed his head onto the platform.

“I believe that the upper ranks may be all I need. I will get rid of the lower ranks. Do you have any final words?”

“I can still be of use!” yelled lower 2.

“What can you do at your strength that makes you useful to me?”

“Blood! Just give me some more blood!”

“What have you done to deserve more blood. What I say is absolute. You have contradicted  me and that warrants death,” 

Soon all that was left was lower 1. 

“Do you have any last words?”

“Yes,” said lower 1, “I am in a dream because I will die by your hand. I adored hearing the other demon’s death cries. They thrilled me! I revel in the misery and suffering of others. Thank you for leaving me for last,”

The lower 1 was struck in the neck, Ubuyashiki’s blood being injected into him. 

“You impress me, so I’ll reward you. You might die with the amount of blood I gave you, but if you survive, you will gain greater strength. If you kill a hashira you might impress me further. And if you kill the demon slayer with Hanafuda earrings, I’ll give you more blood,” 

With the sound of a snake, lower 1 was teleported in an alleyway. As the blood from Ubuyashiki flowed through him, he saw the image of the demon slayer girl with hanafuda earrings. 

“If I kill a hashira and that girl, I’ll receive even more blood and become even more powerful! What ecstasy!”

The demon’s body slowly began disintegrating. Nakime put her katana away. This demon was too weak to be the one responsible for the disappearances. 

“Are you alright?” she spoke to the civilian.

“I’m alright, thank you for saving me. I’m Dom. Here take this and gratitude,” they said, giving Nakime a basket of baked goods, “My parents own a bakery,”

“Thank you,” said Nakime, “I’ll be sure to visit after my mission,”

“Take care!”

Nakime left and walked to a train platform. There were strange disappearances happening surrounding this train. It was most likely the work of a 12 kizuki. And with every demon she’s faced, she would kill it. 

Chapter Text

Michikatsu Tsugikuni 

• Moon hashira

• Moon breathing 
• 16 forms 

Douma 

• Ice hashira
• Ice breathing  
• 6 forms

Hakuji Soyama 

• spirit hashira
• Attack breathing 
• 10 forms 

Zohakuten Hantengu  

• Nature hashira 
• Nature breathing
• 7 forms

Nakime Otokawa

• Music hashira
• Music breathing 
• 7 forms
• Each has 3 sub versions 
• Flat
• Sharp

Gyokko Managi 

• Water hashira

• Water breathing 

Gyutaro Shabana

• Poison hashira
• Poison breathing 

Daki Shabana

• Beauty hashira
• Beauty breathing