Everyone was silent and Sanemi spoke up, "You said that it will give us info and it just gave us this brat's past." He growled and Gem smiled in reply.
"I did give you info. Right, Oyakata-sama." She smiled, turning to the Demon Slayer Corps master who nodded with a smile.
She then stared back at the scarred man, "Besides, there are things in the past that you guys should understand before watching the future. Besides, these are my rules. I can't reveal much, but that doesn't mean I can't give teasers." She chuckled then turned her face back to the front, "You just have to be patient."
With a sigh, the white haired man sat down with a frustrated growl. Seeing that this fanfiction might get a little bit boring if it's just reacting to the show, the author decided to let them react to other universe. 'I'm excited about that.'
Before she could press play, she turned back to the others behind her. "You guys are listing useful info right?" She asked which the master nodded.
Gem thought for a second, "Okay." She simply said before playing the next episode. 'Should I tell them that I need to erase their memory after doing this or... Maybe, I should think about this later.'
The fanfic author's only purpose here is to make a watching the show fanfic, so what will be the aftermath of this...
Who knows😊
Chapter 2: Trainer Sakonji Urokodaki
Tanjiro was seen near a field, he was talking with one of the farmer who was hoeing the dirt. "Pardon me," He begun with a polite tone and he lifted his hand up to point at the bundle of bamboos, "I see you have a basket and some bamboo and some straw over there."
Aoi smiled towards the boy, "Glad to see you're doing fine after that, Tanjiro." She said to the redhead while Sumi, Kiyo and Naho nodded along the older girl's words.
Tanjiro smiled, "Thank you." He replied to the girls from the butterfly estate before turning back to the screen.
"Might I have them?" He asked politely and the farmer stop sowing the ground. The farmer stood straight, so he could face the redhead boy.
"Sure, but..." The farmer trailed off and you can see the farmer's wife staring curiously at the young boy, "...the basket's got a hole in it."
Tanjiro nodded, "That's fine, I'd like to pay for it." Tanjiro said and the farmer shook his head.
Gem chuckled at this, "Oh, this is gonna be gold!" She laughed out loud earning her confuse stares except for Tanjiro.
The redhead never found anything funny in his interaction with the farmer that was shown in the screen. He wonders why their host is laughing at something that isn't hilarious...
The farmer brought up his hand to gesture that he denies the redhead's payment, "There's no need... Not for a worn-down basket." The farmer told Tanjiro and like what the farmer did earlier. The redhead too, shook his head, as he denied the farmer's free offer.
Chuckles escape from Gem's mouth and she sat straighter in her street.
"You're kind, but-" She begun, as she gazed at the redhead who was listening to her. "Excessive Kindness might become your fatal flaw." When the girl said this, her face turned serious. "That trait might backfire on you, one day."
Tanjiro was silent and he was about to open his mouth when he stops. He thinks back about everything.
He sighed and nodded, "I understand, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop on being kind to others." He replied and their host nodded in understanding.
"No, I'm paying." The Kamado responded and the farmer shakes his head again with a sigh. "Please, just take it." The farmer insisted, "The bamboo and straw too." There was silent and the farmer then took one step back when the redhead boy suddenly shout out loud.
"I will pay you!" Tanjiro argued and the farmer responded with the same loudness.
Everyone raised their eyebrows at this and Shinobu decided to spoke up.
"Kamado-san, I know that we should be kind to others, but..." She trailed off with a bead of sweat dropping down on her forehead, "That's too much. The man was already insisting that you can have it for free."
Sanemi sighed, "I bet the man will be irritated at you, brat." He commented with arms crossed, "I'll be too."
The redhead chuckled, his face turning red. "But, I should repay him somehow..." He begins and Mitsuri decided to include herself in their conversation.
"In helping other out, there's no need for any repayment." She smiled, clapping her hands first before letting out a giggle. "Maybe the man was already satisfied that he had helped you."
The redhead was silent before nodding, "I wasn't thinking back then. I was kinda in a hurry there." He replied while scratching the back of his head.
There was clear irritation in the man's face, "Please don't! What a stubborn child you are!" He shouted to the redhead who gritted his teeth before pulling out something from his pocket.
Gem chuckled, pausing the scene first before entering the song: "Oh no by Cap one".
(A/N: Fun fact, this song was just rearranged and high pitched it up. The original came from the original song Remember [Walking in the sun])
She played the scene again and she couldn't surpassed her laugh any longer.
The man yelled in pain when the Kamado forcefully grabbed his hand before slamming the hard coins on it,
The the oh no no no part of the song entered and the scene paused. Gem let out a loud laugh and even the other slayers laugh along with her.
"That is flamboyant!" Uzui commented with a chuckle and Kyojuro nodded, as he let out another laugh.
Nezuko couldn't help, but chuckle along. The red haired Kamado slapped his face with his hand, as he felt the embarrassment kicking in.
Naho chuckled, "Oh no?" She begun and it was followed by Sumi, "Oh no!" She sung with hands up in the air. Then, it was finished by Kiyo, "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no~" She sung cheerfully, and the three of them received round of applause and laughter from the crowd.
"Here, it's only a few coins, but it should be enough!" Tanjiro yelled while keeping the polite tone in it.
Genya shook his head, "The politeness is still there." He chuckled, bewildered by the red haired teen's action.
With a nod, the redhead grabbed all the materials he need before running off. "Thanks and goodbye!" He shouted and in the background you can see the man tightly grabbing the hand were the Kamado nicely gave to.
Laughter and chuckles filled the room.
The farmer was clearly in pain, "Ouch!" He cried and yelp which Tanjiro ignored, as he proceeds to his destination.
Senjuro smiled, calming himself down from his laugh fest. "I feel bad for the farmer." He commented and everyone nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile the emotionless trio did not emit any kind of reaction from this scene. Tomioka kept his poker face while he watch this scene with blank eyes, Kanao didn't laugh because being emotionless was already ingrained in her, and Muichiro was staring at the background of the scene, wondering if that object was a potato or a tomato.
Yes, Muichiro was being his usual forgetful self...
"..."
The next scene shows a forest; then, a loud voice was heard troughout it.
"Nezuko?" Tanjiro called out, sitting outside of the entrance of a small cave somewhere in the middle of a forest. "Nezuko!" He calls again, "Hey, Nezuko!"
Nezuko chuckled and raised her hand, "I'm right here, onii-chan!" She laughed cheerfully and Zenitsu felt Cupid's arrow piercing his heart...
Quite literally, "Gah!" Zenitsu yelped when an arrow literally flew towards him and pierced his heart.
Gasps were heard, but their host calmly walk towards the blonde and pulled it out. She inspected it and let out a sigh, "There's no blood, it is just Cupid's arrow." She explained and Kuwajima raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean there's no blood?" He asked and the girl stared at the old man with a blank face plus thinking look.
She held up the arrow, "This arrows are not the physical type arrows that can kill you." She said; then, pointed her finger at the arrow's head which was shaped like a heart. "This type of arrow just passed trough and hit the person's heart in a not so painful way. This arrow only hit people with intense deep feeling of affec-"
Before Gem could finished her explanation, Zenitsu got up from his seat to quickly covered her mouth. The blonde huffed, "I get it, don't explain any further!" He begged with his whole face turning red and their host nodded. The blonde then removed his hand from her mouth before sitting down with a sigh.
Let's just say, the author decided to continue the episode once she sat back to her seat.
"Huh? Nezuko?" He said again, peeking inside the cave but not catching sight of his sister. "She's gone!" Just when he was about to rush inside, his sister's head poked out from a hole in the ground.
'She dug a hole?' Tanjiro thought. 'My kid sister turned into a mole.'
Hearing that comment, everyone laughed and Nezuko flushed red.
Inosuke smirked, "That's my underling!" He shouted with pride in his tone.
Zenitsu then glared at him for calling the younger Kamado his underling.
Nezuko simply remained inside her hole, looking like she was glaring at the light outside. 'And she's frowning! She must really want to avoid the sunlight.' Shaking himself from his thoughts, the boy stood up and took out the hatchet he brought with him. "Wait there for a second!"
Tanjiro proceeded to cut the bamboo and use it along with the straw to cover the basket before entering the cave and kneeling in front of the hole with it.
"Very crafty, Tanjiro!" Kyojuro praised loudly and Mitsuri agreed with him.
"Think you can fit inside this?" He asked, presenting the altered basket. "I want to keep moving during the day, too. I'll carry you, okay?" Nezuko simply blinked at him.
Giyuu raised an eyebrow when he realized something, "You always carry her in a fight, wouldn't it be easier if you left the box somewhere safe before charging?" He questioned with his voice in a blank baritone, "Because you'll worry about it in a fight and one mind should be focus when in a fight."
Tanjiro opened his mouth, "Then, I left Nezuko if I leave the box somewhere else..." He trailed off and Giyuu quirked an eyebrow at his statement.
"I didn't say you'll leave Nezuko. If Nezuko is out of her box and there is no sunlight; then, leave the box somewhere." He bluntly adviced and Tanjiro nodded in understanding.
'Does she not understand me?' Tanjiro wondered. "Can you fit?" He asked again, pointing at the basket. "In here? Basket."
Without any sign of acknowledgement, Nezuko climbed out of the hole and tried to enter head first inside the basket.
Gyomei sighed out, "This reminds me of a cat who always tries to push themselves in boxes or any containers." He commented first before muttering a soft prayer quietly.
"She kinda protrudes, huh?" Tanjiro thought out loud.
Only her head and the upper part of her torso were able to fit inside of it and despite himself, Tanjiro couldn't help but smile thinking how much she has grown.
"Oh, Nezuko, remember how you became big like an adult earlier?" He asked. "Do you think you can do the opposite? Get smaller?"
Not seeing any reaction from her, Tanjiro patted her in the back and chanted.
"Smaller, Nezuko! Get smaller!"
Nezuko groaned and turned red, "This is kinda embarrassing..." She moaned in ire, quite ashamed of her demon's self.
Mitsuri decided to cheer her up, "Don't think like that, Nezuko-chan!" She exclaimed, "Besides you're still cute!"
Nezuko smiled at the pink haired Hashira, feeling greatful at her compliment.
There was no sound of acknowledgement but the demon pushed forward, moving the basket upwards and climbed inside it, doing as her brother said and becoming as small as a child, her pink kimono with a black haori looking like a large blanket now that it didn't fit her.
"Good job!" Tanjiro said happily as he patted her head. "That's a good girl, Nezuko! I'm impressed!" He then grabbed a blanket and used it to cover the top of the basket. "I'll tell you when the sun sets so you can walk, okay?"
The demon seemed to smile and nod before her brother covered the basket entirely so no sunlight could get inside of it.
"Alright, we're off." With those words, he got out of the cave with the basket secured on his back and began to walk.
Urokodaki-san crossed his arms, "Looks like, I'll get to see what happened with you on the mountain." He chuckled and Tanjiro let out a sigh, as he recalled his training under his master.
"..."
'They said that Mt Sagiri is past that mountain... we're getting close.' The red haired boy thought as he walked.
He had been asking directions from the people that lived where he passed; they all told him the way to his destination was past a mountain in the distance and warned him to be careful since some people have been disappearing in the path.
Sanemi crossed his arms, "It's obviously a demon." He stated with an eye roll and the other pillars nodded in agreement.
Once the night came, Tanjiro let Nezuko out of the basket and the two kept walking together.
The path they were supposed to take was surrounded by a forest but there were no trees on the path itself so it was a fairly easy walk, they just needed to be careful not to trip.
"Look a temple!" Tanjiro said, as he saw some light. "You can see the light inside. We have company. Come on!"
"Which is a demon." Inosuke stated first before curling his mouth into a smirk, "I would have already sensed it with my inhuman sense of touch."
Nezuko didn't show any signs of agreeing or disagreeing and simply followed her brother.
The boy suddenly froze when a certain smell entered his nostrils.
"I smell blood! Someone must've gotten hurt!" He said before grabbing Nezuko's hand and running towards the temple.
The two quickly walked up the stairs and arrived at the sliding doors. He let go of Nezuko's hand and opened the doors with both hands.
He wished he hadn't done that.
Inside the temple, lit by a small candle, were three bodies, clearly dead, and a person with shoulder length green hair squatting over one of them.
Everyone remained calm, but you can clearly see that there is still anger in their faces.
"What the hell?" No, that was wrong. "This is my turf." It wasn't a person hovering over one of the bodies. "If you break into my territory, I'll make you pay!"
"Demons are really territorial when it comes to their hunting grounds, Sabito."
"What do you expect. They are demons, Makomo."
"Will onii-chan be okay, mom?"
"Your onii-chan is strong, he can handle it."
"Ara ara, I'm interested in how Kamado-san will handle this."
With blood on its hands, its face and around the corners of its mouth, the thing over the body was.
'A man-eating demon!' Tanjiro's mind processed, frozen at the scene in front of him, not even realizing that the basket that he was carrying with only one strap had fallen off.
Unbeknownst to him, Nezuko was completely ignorant of the demon's presence, her eyes were fixated on the three bloody corpses and she was salivating from beneath the bamboo piece over her mouth.
"Nezuko-chan, control yourself!" Mitsuri shouted and Tanjiro smiled.
"Don't worry Mitsuri-san. Nezuko handled herself pretty well." The redhead reassured her while Iguro let out a irritated grunt.
The Snake Hashira crossed his arms, "Now we will see if she really didn't eat any humans." He snarled and Sanemi agreed with him.
"There's something off about you." The demon said as it licked the blood on his fingers.
Tanjiro was frozen on his spot and seconds later, the demon realized something and that realization sent shiver down the Kamado's spine.
"You're human." He stated before leaping towards the redhead. The boy didn't reacted in time to dodge, but his senses and reflex kicked in.
Quickly, he grabbed the hatchet attached on his waist before swinging it up towards the demon's neck. It made a deep cut on the demon's throat and it decided to jump back to observe its wound.
Kyojuro praised him, "That was great Tanjiro! Even if inexperienced, you show great potential. Some people would already get killed."
The redhead chuckled and nervously scratched his head, "Thank you." He politely replied to the Flame Hashira's praise.
Tanjiro skidded on the ground due to the initial impact while the demon landed easily on its feet.
"A hatchet, huh? Not bad." The demon said with a chuckle, bringing a hand over the wound on his neck. "But a scratch like this..." He grinned maniacally at Tanjiro. "...should heal in no time." Just as he said that, the wound closed, only the blood around his neck showing that there was one to begin with. "See that? The bleeding's stopped already."
Sanemi growled, "Cocky demon... Fuck them..." He muttered under his breath and his anger was sensed by everyone in this room.
Tanjiro watched in shock when the wound really did healed like what the demon said. On the other side of the scene, Nezuko was still struggling in maintaining her hunger.
With Tanjiro, he was still shock, but he tries to shook it off. Not allowing himself to be surprised, Tanjiro began to stand up, hatchet in hand but never got the chance.
'Wha-?' In the blink of an eye, the demon had closed the distance, used its left hand to hold down the arm that was holding the axe and its right one to choke him. 'He's so fast! And he's unbelievably strong!'
"Onii-chan!" Nezuko screamed in worry despite knowing what had happened, but her brother only watched calmy. It had already happened, so no need to fret about it.
"You won't get me twice!" The demon said with the same evil grin on its face. "All right, I'm gonna snap your neck!"
Realizing what's happening, Nezuko quickly run towards them and kicked the demon's neck off. "Huh? Eh?!" Tanjiro could only stare at the place where the demon's eyes were glaring at him a moment ago, his mind only now realizing that its head was gone.
The body went limp and he quickly pushed it off of him, looking in horror at the insides of its neck.
Gem whistled, "The perks being of a demon. Every power really has a cause." She sighed and Oyakata-sama nodded towards her. Agreeing what on she said.
'Sh-she killed him!' The boy thought, looking at his sister in a mix of shock and awe.
Sanemi shook his head, "No, she didn't." He stated, "Demons can only killed by decapitating them or by the sun."
"Ara? But, Sanemi-san..." A voice said to him, "My sister can kill demons using her poisons, right, so demon can be killed with the right poison?"
The scarred man widened his eyes when he heard that familiar voice. He roughly stood up, startling the others who were near him, as he starts to scan the whole room. His eyes searched for the source of the voice.
Shinobu raised an eyebrow at his bizarre actions, "Shinazugawa-san, what are you looking for?" She asked and the man didn't responded for eight seconds, so she tried again. "Shina-" Although, before she could ask again. The man cut her off, "I think I heard your sister's voice." He stated and all words left the Insect Hashira's tongue when she heard what he said.
She shook her head, "You must be imagining things, Shinazugawa-san." She said to him, her voice slightly getting stern.
The scarred man stared at the short woman before shaking his head, "I swear, I heard her voice. But maybe you're right, I'm imagining it..." He sighed before sitting down to his seat.
'Oh, but wait! He's a demon, so-' He mentally shook his head off those thoughts. 'Think about it later, we have to go.'
"N-Nezuko-" He was interrupted by his sister yet again, this time she kicked the headless body as it tried to reach for him again, sending it flying and crashing against a tree. 'D-did he just move without his head?!'
Gem chuckled loudly, "This will be so hilarious!" She howled and everyone stared at her with puzzled looks, "Just watch; also, I even pity the demon in this scene."
Tanjiro was confused, 'What was in my first demon fight that was funny?'
"You bastards!" Adding to the already surreal sight, the head of the demon spoke. "One of you is a demon after all? You gave off such a weird vibe! What's a human and a demon doing teaming up?"
Urokodaki-san puffed out his chest in pride, "That makes them the perfect duo for combat." He stated and his former fellow Hashira let out a sigh while at the same time slapped his face using his right hand.
'Such a bragger. He hasn't changed.' Kuwajima thought to himself.
'It's talking!' Tanjiro yelled in his mind, his brain trying to process the sight.
He didn't have time for it since the body got up and ran towards Nezuko tacklimh her. "No!" The redhead screamed, as he held up his hatchet to attack the demon.
Suddenly he stopped his swing midway, when his eyes caught something. The demon suddenly grew arms, he gritted his teeth, changes his hatchet's position, so it could slice the demon's head.
Giyuu nodded in approval, "He would be a great Water Hashira." He stated and to everyone's surprise Kyojuro disagreed with him.
"No, Tanjiro would make a great Flame Hashira!" He smiled before turning to Tanjiro, "Right, Tanjiro!"
The redhead felt conflicted and Sanemi stared at the flame coloured hair man with a deadpan look, "Doesn't he use the Water Breath style?" He questioned and the Flame Hashira opened his mouth to respond.
"Tanjiro told me that he—hmph?" He raised an eyebrow when his voice was muffled. He reached up a hand to his mouth, to find it covered with tape!?,
He stared at their host with a confused look. Knowing it was her doing.
Gem crossed her arms, "No, spoilers. You can discuss that when we see Tanjiro doing that." She said and Rengoku's eyes widened in excitement when he realized that Tanjiro's other breath style will be shown.
Then, the demon caught the blade's edge in its teeth and used its new set of arms to grabbed on Tanjiro's haori.
Gritting his teeth, he saw that his arms were occupied and his shoulders are being held by the demon's head regenerated hands. "Stop!" He shouted pulling his head back before-
Sanemi and Inosuke had their eyes widened in shock, "Don't tell me-" They started, as they watched the scene.
Bringing it forward to deliver a headbutt to the demon.
The whole room went silent, but it was broken by Uzui's laughter.
"Hahaha hahahahahaha!"
Shinobu smiled, "What a great way to fight demons..." She trailed off and the Sound Hashira's laughter grew louder.
The demon let out a yell of pain and the hands grasped on the redhead's haori loosened because of how shock he was at the boy. 'This guy is a tough cookie!' The demon thought in shock.
Iguro raised an eyebrow, "Even a demon is hurt by a mere human headbutting it." He commented, quite unsure whether he finds this stupid or confusing.
Nezuko chuckled, "I remember the time you headbutted the boars in the mountain one time." She giggled and everyone stared at the redhead with shock. "Me and Takeo were being chased; then, you appeared out of nowhere and just straight up headbutted them!"
Genya crossed his arms, "What is the bone in your forehead made of!" He yelled and the redhead look confused.
In the background of their conversation, Gem and Uzui were laughing and were saying flamboyant at the same time.
Tanjiro wasn't done yet, he immediately grabbed it from its hair and head-butted the demon again.
Both Sanemi and Inosuke rubbed their foreheads, remembering the pain they felt being headbutted by the Kamado.
The demon gasped out, 'What kind of forehead-it's hard as a rock!?' It screamed, eyes rolling back.
Inosuke growled, "I'll get you back, Kanjiro!"
If he was still a human, the demon would eventually passed out.
Inosuke let out another huff, as veins popped out of his face.
Noticing that it was disoriented, Tanjiro grabbed the hatchet's handle and screamed as he threw it against a tree, the hatchet flew and imbedded itself in the tree, capturing the demon against it.
"That's a nice way to fight demons." Mitsuri commented and Kyojuro has sparkles surrounding him.
He smiled, "Yosh, maybe I'll try that too!" He declared and Senjuro shook his head.
"Brother no, Tanjiro-san's forehead is just constructed differently..."
"Yes!" He celebrated before turning around in the direction where Nezuko and the body went. "Nezuko!"
He turned left, running around a group of trees. When he turned to his right, he found his sister being kicked by the demon's headless body.
"Nezuko!" He called out, running towards them. "Leave her alone!" Tanjiro yelled, tackling the body.
At that moment, he realized that he should have paid more attention to his surroundings since, in his rush to save his sister, he didn't notice the cliff behind the two demons.
Inosuke chuckled, "I would have sensed if there's a cliff there!" He stated proudly and to tone that pride down, Aoi decided to slap the boy's head.
Let's just say that they begin to argue, but it quickly ended when Aoi told the teenage boy that she'll cook his favourite tempura and the Boar head agreed to that.
"Ah!"
Luckily for Tanjiro, Nezuko managed to grab him from the back of his shirt before he could fall so only the demon's body crashed against the ground.
Mitsuri gives Nezuko a thumbs up, "Nice save!" She said which the younger Kamado giggled in thanks.
Back to the demon's head, when it's body slammed to the ground. The demon let out a yelp of pain and blood gushed out of its mouth.
Tanjiro and Nezuko were back at the temple. The redhead noticed the demon's head that he had pinned on the tree. He took a sniff at it, "So there are different species." He noted, as he pulled out his small knife. "It smells different from what I found at home. This isn't the demon I'm looking for."
Oyakata-sama chuckled, "I like your will, Tanjiro, but he isn't an easy thing to kill and to trap." He stated with his gentle voice and Tanjiro sighed, nodding. He had encountered the monster and he should have known better at that time.
'If I just leave him here, he could break free and kill more people.' The boy thought and didn't even realized that he was beginning to hyperventilate, as he reached to that conclusion. 'If I don't kill him he'll attack more people! I gotta do it! Do it!'
Sanemi clicked his tongue, "Weak!" He shouted in disgust. "That thing is a demon, you have witnessed how it had killed our own kind!"
Tanjiro looked away when he heard the man's comment. Nezuko puffed out her cheeks, "Hey that was rude! Onii-chan was still new to this and doesn't know the concept of killing yet!" She argued, "I bet you even hesitated to execute your first demon kill!"
The scarred man was about to yell at the girl when he stopped, his face was blank and his hand that was pointed towards the younger Kamado was shaking a little bit. A brief glint of what looks like guilt passed through his eyes.
Everyone was shock at the man's silent and some of them were concerned.
Sanemi let out a sigh, as he looked up to the siblings and nodded an apology to them before slumping down.
Meanwhile, Genya who watched all this had a melancholy look on his face. He gritted his teeth and let out a sigh. The teen then slapped a hand on his face, 'Aniki, I'm sorry...'
Gem just resumed the episode.
He repeated the last part over and over in his head trying to move his body but try as he might it just wouldn't respond beyond twitching as he continued to hyperventilate. 'Do it, do it, do it, do-!'
"Did some of you hesitated in killing your first demon?" Kyojuro asked, "My father had drilled the concept to me at a young age that demons eat humans and to stop that. We should eliminate them."
Sanemi was quiet, seemingly not wanting to be part of this conversation.
Uzui shook his head, he was a shinobi meaning he had to kill people in his line of work before, so it won't be different to killing demons. But despite that, he values life.
Even if he doesn't show that trait much...
Mitsuri nodded at the Flame Hashira's question.
Tomioka was quiet as always.
Muichiro doesn't remember and was thinking where he is right now.
Shinobu only smiled, but her thoughts were gathering and an image of a woman who looks similar to her appeared in her mind.
Zenistu nodded and Inosuke look confused on why people are hesitating to kill. Living in the mountains taught him that the weak dies at the bottom while the strongest are on the top. Also, another thing he learned is that it's either kill or be killed when other animals tried to eat him when he was little.
Genya like his brother decided to not partake in this discussion.
Gyomei shook his head and whisphered out a prayer.
Iguro growled and shook his head. He already witnessed the evils of both sides, so he will not give pity to a demon.
Kanao didn't answer, she wasn't ordered to answer, so she can't answer. Besides the coin decided that she shouldn't speak. Although, it bothered her a little at the fact, she stared at her coin for five seconds before flipping it.
The others were just silent.
Tanjiro felt a hand on his shoulder breaking him out of his thoughts. The boy slowly turned his head to the sight of a red mask with a long nose and an angry expression.
"You can't finish him off with that." A male, hoarse voice said, coming from behind the red mask.
Kuwajima smiled, "Ah this made me remember the first time I met my students." He sighed; then, groaned a little. "That kid was troublesome, though..."
With his enhanced hearing. Zenitsu turned around, "Gramps!" He cried out, face flushing red.
'A tengu mask!' Tanjiro thought. 'I didn't hear his footsteps!'
The man with the tengu mask was wearing a light blue jinbei style kimono with a few clouds in it and covering his head with a white scarf.
Getting over the initial surprise, Tanjiro turned around completely.
"H-how can I finish him off?" He asked.
"Don't ask me!" The man answered. "Can't you use your own head to figure that out?"
Although not expecting that response, the boy heeded the advice.
'If stabbing is no good, I'll have to crush his head!' The red haired boy thought, looking around until he saw a rock of an appropriate size and went to grab it.
He then went back to stand in front of the demon and gulped.
Oyakata-sama sighed, "Innocents have been broken and many have suffered because of him..."
Gem hummed in agreement, "Although, it was a human's greed that made this creatures exist." She muttered, "Like great philosopher Augustine said, evil is just the absence of good."
Everyone raised and eyebrow at her for her comment, but like any other. She just ignored their stares.
'To crush his skull and smash it completely, I guess I'm going to have to pound him with this rock many times.' He realized. 'I bet he's going to suffer.' That thought alone made him hesitate even more than when he was just going to stab him.
Gem shook her head, "You're too kind." She commented. "Good thing that you're more aware now."
Tanjiro nodded, but her next words made him raised his eyebrows in shock.
"Although, unlike me. I would try to make it suffer." She informed them with a sadistic smile forming on her lips.
Mitsuri gasped, "Why Gem-san?" She asked and the brown haired girl shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm sadistic which is much more different from a pyscho besides..." She simply explained before smirking, "We are just ordinary people driven to revenge in the name of justice. But if revenge is called justice, then that justice breeds yet more revenge and becomes a chain of hatred."
Seeing that they became speechless, Gem hummed happily. Also-(A/N: Try guessing the anime character who said that quote.)
'Isn't there anything I can use to kill him with one blow?'
While Tanjiro tried to think of a way to kill that demon without making it suffer. The man with the tengu mask simply looked.
Said man was also realizing what's gonna happened, "Wait...will this thing also let me hear out my thoughts" He asked and their host nodded.
When they heard that, all of them begins to wonders if their thoughts might also be heard.
A pink haired girl's face became flush, knowing how embarrassing her thoughts were.
'This kid isn't going to cut it.' He thought, sniffing the air. 'He's too kind and can't make decisions. He's facing a demon, yet the scent of kindness remains. He has empathy for even a demon.'
Urokodaki-san shook his head, "Shouldn't have doubted you at first, Tanjiro." He said and the redhead nodded.
Then, the older Kamado realized something. "You can smell emotions too, Urokodaki-san" He asked, his eyes sparkling and the man nodded.
The masked man mentally sighed. 'Giyuu... he's never going to make it.'
Kuwajima shook his head, "My brat is a coward, yet I took him in." He stated to his former fellow Hashira. "And I'm proud of him!"
In the background Zenitsu groaned and turned red once again. Nezuko who was besides him chuckles, "Don't be embarrass." Nezuko said, patting his back. "Your teacher just love you."
The blonde's face only turned redder, 'I'm not used talking to her like this. She also gives off a pure kind sound just like Tanjiro.'
As Tanjiro stood there frozen in place, the head jolted awake, it looked around for a moment until its eyes landed on Tanjiro.
"You bastard, I'll kill you!" The demon yelled, moving its arms to try and reach him. "I swear I'll devour you! Get over here! Dammit! I can't go to you, so you come to me!"
Tanjiro wasn't listening, though, as he noticed the light on the horizon.
'I faltered too long, now the sun's coming up!' He thought. 'Now that I think about it, why did he tell me to not let Nezuko get hit by sunlight?'
Almost as if to answer his unspoken question, the sunlight began to hit the demon, quickly burning him and turning the head into ashes.
'He's gone with that much sunlight?!' Tanjiro thought in shock, letting go of the rock without even realizing. 'No wonder Nezuko shrinks from it!'
"Wonder why the sun is their weakness?" Mitsuri commented and Iguro decided to use this opportunity to chat with her.
"We will never know, but be glad that sunlight is their weakness or they will be more dangerous if they can be under broad daylight." The Snake Hashira stated.
Shaking his head, he turned around to see Nezuko was gone. Then, he remembered the man who appeared out of nowhere. 'Oh right, the man...'
He looked around and found him kneeling in prayer at one side of the temple.
'He buried the people who got killed.' The red haired boy realized, slowly walking towards him.
"Um..."
"I'm Urokodaki Sakonji." The man introduced himself. "I'm assuming you're the one Tomioka Giyuu sent my way."
"Y-yes!" Tanjiro answered, standing straight. "My name is Kamado Tanjiro! My sister's name is Nezuko, and-"
"Tanjiro." Urokodaki interrupted calmly. "What will you do when your sister devours a human?"
Tanjiro crossed his arms, "Now, I know the answer to that."
When Tanjiro heard that question, his whole body froze. Not able to process that. Noticing this, Urokodaki walked towards him and slapped him.
Mitsuri and Nezuko gasped.
"Why did you hit, Onii-chan?" Nezuko asked calmly, despite knowing the reason why, but doesn't want to believe it.
Sanemi growled, "Living in a household that is full of love can make one person soft. People who grew up like that became naive to what reality truly is." He leaned back to his seat, as he said that, "Surely some of you were hit or yelled at by your parents, so you could learn and remind you how hard life really is."
Everyone was quiet when the Wind Hashira said that. But you can see Iguro sighing out, Uzui was looking away and the Rengoku brothers were frowning. Even Kanao's usual fake smile dropped.
"Too slow!" He berated, as Tanjiro registered the pain. "You're just too slow at making decisions! You failed to finish off that demon before daybreak!" The masked man continued. "Do you know why you couldn't answer my question right away? It's because your resolve is too weak!" The red haired boy simply stared at him, not finding a way to refute his words. "There are two things to do if your sister devours a human. Kill your sister! Then slit your own belly and die! That's what it means to travel with your sister who became a demon!"
Tanjiro nodded and Nezuko felt sad at the fact that his brother was doing everything just to turn her back to human even if it cost his life. She really is greatful to him.
Meanwhile...
"Mom, isn't that harsh!"
"Takeo, that's what life is. This is the condition that your older brother needs to commit if he wants to turn your sister back to human."
'That's... that's true.' Tanjiro thought, realizing just how lightly he had taken the situation, he thought that his encounter with Tomioka Giyuu had made him realize it but he had clearly been too naive.
"Don't worry, Tanjiro." Zenitsu said, "You know better now."
The redhead responded to the blonde teen with a greatful smile.
"But that must never happen no matter what and you'd best not forget." Urokodaki continued. "Your sister, taking the life of an innocent person, that's the one thing that must never happen. Ever!" Having said his piece, Urokodaki turned away from Tanjiro. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes!" He answered, no longer feeling the pain on his cheek.
"All right, now I'm going to test you to see if you're fit to become a member of the Demon Slayer Corps." Even from behind the mask, Tanjiro could fell the intensity in the man's eyes. "Carry your sister on your back and follow me!"
"Wouldn't it be tiring to always carry that box, all the time?" Genya asked, "What if you suddenly came in contact with Muzan and he might influence your sister since he controls all his demons?"
Tanjiro smiled, "Nezuko got that handle, besides you haven't seen everything yet."
"..."
Tanjiro did as told and followed behind Urokodaki as best as he could, which amounted to 'Just fast enough to not lose sight of him'.
'He's so fast! Just how old is he anyway?' Tanjiro wondered trying to keep his breathing under control, as he ran behind the masked man.
Kuwajima chuckled, "His billions years old!" He joked and said man who was being shown in the screen let out a sigh.
Then, an idea came to the former Thunder Hashira. "Hey Gem, after this. Mind lending me a shogi board. I wanted to beat this guy really bad." He requested which their host smiled atm
"Sure, Kuwajima-san. I'll give it to you in our break." She answered him.
'And, like earlier, I'm not hearing any footsteps at all!' Realizing that thinking about that was useless, his mind went towards his sister.
Tanjiro smiled, "Now, I know how to do that!"
'Nezuko, I know it must be jarring, but please be patient...! Well, being patient is all that you've ever known.' A small pang of guilt made way into his heart, as he remembered one time he saw his sister fixing her kimono, he had offered to buy her a new one but she brushed the offer off with a smile saying that, that kimono was her favorite and that she would rather use the money, so the others could have more food.
That memory brought tears to the corner of his eyes but it also strengthened his resolve even more.
Mitsuri teared up a little bit, "That is so sweet. It's making me missed my own siblings too!"
Others watched that scene with a smile and Nezuko hugged her brother. Happy and felt blessed that he was her brother.
Kyojuro only smiled and patted his little brother's head.
Shinobu let out a sigh, as she remembered her own sibling. Same with the Shinazugawa brothers, they all remembered their siblings. Sanemi looked away while Genya casted his eyes down.
'I swear I'll turn you back into a human! I swear I'll buy you a beautiful kimono someday!' He used his sleeve to wipe away the tears and doubled his efforts to keep up with Urokodaki. 'Everything that I couldn't do for the others I'll do it all for you!'
"Onii-chan, it isn't your fault!" When they heard a young girl's voice. Everyone stood straight in their seat. Tanjiro had his eyes wide and he begins to scan around the place, but he couldn't pinpoint where the familiar voice came from.
Sanemi let out a growl, "I knew that I'm not the one who suddenly heard a voice!" He shouted and everyone turned to their host who blankly stared at the ceiling.
Gem whistled, "Sorry about that, there were some technical difficulties." She slyly grins, "Sometimes noises would randomly popped out."
Everyone chose to believe that, but their still suspicious.
"..."
The sun was almost setting by the time they made it to their destination, a small house at the foot of Mt. Sagiri.
Urokodaki looked perfectly fine as he walked towards the house and opened the door while Tanjiro was on the floor on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"N-now, have I..." He began through pants. "...passed... the test?"
Undoing his scarf to reveal short white hair Urokodaki spoke.
"The test starts now, we're going to climb the mountain."
Tanjiro could only give a choked scream at those words.
Almost everyone laughed at the expression on Tanjiro's face.
Gem shook her head, "Kinda like my teacher. After giving a long lecture, she would suddenly said quiz time even if we aren't given time to process everything yet!" She groaned out with her arms flailing annoyingly.
The scene cuts to Tanjiro and Urokodaki-san climbing up the mountain. 'I'm exhausted.' Tanjiro thought as he followed the man with the tengu mask up the mountains, he lost track of how long they've been walking but the moon was high in the sky so it was definitely late. 'My legs are starting to buckle! I'm starting to feel dizzy, too.' Shaking his head, he focused on following the older man.
Tanjiro crossed his arms, "Now, I know the reason why you're testing me to much." He said and the masked man nodded.
"Now, from here, go back down to the house at the foot of the mountain." The old man said, surprising the red haired boy. "This time, I'm not going to wait until daybreak!" Leaving those words behind, he seemingly blended in with the mist and disappeared from sight.
"Flamboyant exit." Uzui smiled.
'Eh? Is that all?' Tanjiro wondered, trying to find Urokodaki but he was long gone. 'I see, he thinks I might get lost in this thick fog.'
Tanjiro felt a bead of sweat droppimg down on his head, "Shouldn't have been overconfident..." He laughed awkwardly, as he scratched his cheek.
For the first time since meeting the man, he let out a sigh of relief. 'I just have to get back by daybreak, right? That's easy! I have a great sense of smell and I already memorized Urokodaki-san's scent.' Feeling confident, Tanjiro began to jog back down, trusting his nose to show him the way.
'Just need to- eh?' He suddenly tripped on something, making him stop moving. 'What was-? Ow!' Something flew towards him, hitting him in the face. 'Rocks?!' He took a few steps to the right to regain his balance only to lose his footing and fall down a pitfall. 'I get it now, so the place is filled with traps. That's the deal, huh?
Zenitsu stood up and bowed towards his teacher, "I'm greatful to you, gramps." He said and the old man chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah."
He quickly climbed out of the hole, only for his hand to touch a rope and activate another trap.
Mitsuri shook her head, "Poor Tanjiro." She said.
Meanwhile Sanemi and Iguro were enjoying the torture that the boy is getting though.😅
'Crap, more rocks?!' Tanjiro quickly jumped back and went to the side, but didn't see any rocks coming his way. 'Where- gah!' Instead of rocks, a large log tied with a rope suddenly hit him on his back sending him flying to the ground.
Some even winced at that. Giyuu raised an eyebrow, "You didn't make me went trough those traps so I can become your student." He said to his teacher, hearing what the Water Hashira said. Tanjiro's eyes bulged up in shock, but didn't utter a single complain.
'Crap, crap, crap; if I keep walking into traps like this, I won't make it down the mountain by morning!' He thought as he tried to take a deep breath. 'And besides, this mountain... the air's too thin here! It's way thinner here than on the mountain where I used to live! That's why I'm gasping for air like this and feel so dizzy!' Gritting his teeth, Tanjiro forced his body to move, following the trail Urokodaki left behind.
"I say, this reminds me of the old training my father force me to do." Uzui sighed, reminiscing the days he had during his father's care. Which in fact the days, he loathed and hate.
'Will I make it back? I might pass out!' But just as those thought entered his mind, he dismissed them. 'No, I gotta make it back!' He once again stopped, this time of his own will and not because of any traps. 'Get your breathing under control and sniff out each of those traps!'
Kyojuro nodded in approval, "Quick thinking, Tanjiro!" He praised and the redhead responded with a embarrassed chuckle.
Closing his eyes, he focused in order to smell each of the traps in his way. 'Alright!'
With a determined look, he began running away.
He tripped another trap, a rope that made more logs come at him but he was prepared this time and managed to dodge them, he continued his dash even as he kept activating the traps since, even if he could smell them that only gave him its approximate location, so he was ready to dodge them but couldn't see the ropes that activate them.
'I've got it! I've got it!' The red haired teen thought. 'Since they were set up by people, I can sniff them out!' Almost as if to contradict him, a new type of trap went out, a bamboo log that had been bended until it was touching the ground was let loose, going back to its original position and taking Tanjiro with it, only for gravity to smash him into the ground.
"Onii-chan is reallyy cool, Hanako-nee."
"You're right, Shigeru."
"I bet Takeo-nii won't even survive that."
"Yeah, you're right."
"Hey!"
"Now, now."
'That been said-' Three more bamboo trees came crashing down on him and he could only raise his arms to cover his face. 'I'm not suddenly going to be athletic enough to dodge every one of them!' Once the hits subsided, Tanjiro began walking again, using a tree every now and then as support. 'I will definitely make it back!'
Nezuko smiled and Urokodaki-san nodded proudly.
Oyakata-sama smiled, "A potential slayer with a will like that is what the Corps needed." He stated, "Gem-san, I'm gonna ask. When will you show us the future?"
Their host smiled, "Soon..."
"..."
The scene turns to the inside of Urokodaki-san's house. He was putting a blanket on the sleeping Nezuko. He suddenly looked up when he heard something outside.
Nezuko smiled, "Thank you for taking care of me, Urokodaki-san!" She said to the former Hashira who smiled behind his mask.
"I..." But, he had made it. "...have... returned..." That was the only thing he said before collapsing against the frame of the door.
Gem laughed, "This reminds me of my history lesson and the time General MacArthur said the same thing you said Tanjiro when he landed on Leyte Island." She smiled; then, puffed out her chest. "I have returned!"
Everyone was hella confused at what she just said, but regardless the girl didn't mind their weirded out stares at her. She just resume the episode.
'Barely made it, huh?' Urokodaki thought, getting up from the floor and walking towards him. 'Giyuu, you said that you felt that something was different with these two, while I can't say I haven't seen a similar determination as Tanjiro's before this is without a doubt the first time I have seen a demon that refuses to eat humans, even if they were already corpses.' The masked remembered how while Tanjiro was debating with himself about killing the demon back at the temple, Nezuko had just stood there, completely ignoring the corpses inside the structure. 'At the very least, I am willing to bet on their possibilities.'
"I accept you as my student, Kamado Tanjiro." He said softly before carrying the unconscious boy inside.
Mitsuri clapped her hands, "Congratulations, Tanjiro!" She smiled and Iguro was getting jealous that the redhead was getting to much compliment from Mitsuri.
The episode end there's, but another scene popped out.
It shows Tanjiro with a smile, "Now, it's time for a Taisho secret!" He said, his hands near his lips, as if he was whisphering something.
Oyakata-sama raised an eyebrow, "Oh, what is this Taisho secret?" He asked and Gem replied with a smile.
"It's just some extra information."
The older Kamado felt a bead of sweat dropping on his head, "I don't remember doing that." He said, tilting his head to the right, quite puzzled at the fact he never had done this.
Gem chuckled, "Don't question it."
"Mr. Urokodaki-san with the tengu mask, believe it or not, his age is-" He was cut off when said man called out his name.
"Tanjiro!" The man yelled and the red haired preteen stood straighter. "Hai!" He responded and the man spoke.
"What do you want for dinner? Nikujaga or Oden?" Urokodaki-san asked and Tanjiro was to slow to answer. Resulting him getting yelled at.
"To slow to decide!"
The boy sweat a bit, but he did yelled out his answer. "I want Oden!"
The screen turned black and Gem stood up, "We'll take a break and maybe have lunch after one more thing!" She announced and Gyomei decided to ask what it was, which the girl responded with a smile.
"I'll show you different pictures. Some might show the future and some that I just wanted you guys to see!" With that said, everyone nodded and Gem snapped her fingers. The screen turned on again and this time an image was shown.
(A/N: Pretend Tanjiro is using Water breathing in this pic.)
(Also, I can't find the artist. So, I'll put the link where I find this pic: https://www.wallpaperflare.com/anime-demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-inosuke-hashibira-kanao-tsuyuri-wallpaper-gxsdr)
"The great Inosuke approved of this!" Inosuke proudly laughed while the others were just in awe.
Tanjiro turned to the tall teen, "You look great, Genya!" He said to the teen who flushed red in embarrassment and shock at the compliment.
'This guy is weird. Even it is clear that I still find him irritating. That doesn't bothered him.' That is what the younger Shinazugawa brother thought.
The redhead also complimented Zenitsu who responded with a chuckle. But, when Nezuko complimented him, the blonde was screaming internally in joy.
Tanjiro then decided to compliment Kanao, "You look aswome and beautiful there, Kanao!" He praised and the girl had her eyes widened hearing that.
Then, she felt her heart racing a little bit. She was confused of what's happening to her heart and her brain kinda shut down in response, but she was snapped out of it when the girls in the Butterfly Mansion was also complimenting her, which made her smile.
Oyakata-sama smiled, "Looks like our new batch of slayers have talent and potential." He also praised them and some of the Hashiras agreed with him.
Gem smiled, "Here's another one."
(Picture belongs to @syugamo9)
All the girls in the butterfly mansion let out a sigh of nostalgia, as they saw the picture except for Kanao who was focused on Kanae's face.
Shinobu teared up a little bit, "Hey, can I get a copy?" She asked which Gem nodded, giving her one, but not the real life looking pics full of colours.
It will be weird if the past suddenly have a fully developed picture. So, she'll just giving her a copy that looks like the old photos in their era.
Shinobu smiled, "Nee-san, me and the other girls miss you..."
Meanwhile:
"I miss you guys too, Shinobu."
Gem showed another picture, "This will be the last before the break."
(There was no name, I can't find the one who draw it. But, I'll put the link where I found the photo: https://www.zerochan.net/2699555)
Gasp were heard through the room. Both Sanemi and Shinobu stood straighter when they saw how injured their younger sibling are, "What happened to them!" Both of them demanded.
Some of them also noticed the tears and desperate looks on the new batch of Demon Slayers' faces in the picture.
Aoi was shock, seeing the always expressionless girl's face in the picture. 'What's with the look on her face?' The girl couldn't help, but feel worry for the girl who was with her in the Butterfly Mansion since she was still young.
Their host just shrugged, "That's the future." She answered.
Genya was shock when he saw how concerned his brother look. 'Maybe, Gem-san was right... My big brother still cares for me!' A hopeful smiled formed on his lips.
On the other hand, Kanao was staring at the picture with an unreadable expression.
She really mastered her poker face.😅
Nezuko hugged her older brother and Zenitsu placed a reassuring hand on Inosuke's shoulder who was confused at what's happening.
Oyakata-sama decided to spoke up, "It seems something big had happened?" He questioned which Gem nodded.
"Yup and I'll be showing that later." She responded and the master of the Demon Slayer Corps nodded.
With that finished, Gem clapped her hands. "Let's take a break! I also want to take a nap!" She chuckled and Shinobu decided to thank their host one more time.
"Thanks for the picture, Gem-san." She said, placing the photo on the spot where her heart is. "I really missed Nee-san and the fact that you gave me something to remember her by, I feel greatful."
The other girl blushed, "Uhm-no problem!" She grins.
Suddenly a voice was heard through out the theatre, "I also missed you too, Shinobu!"
Everyone became alert and all of their heads turned to the source of the voice to see—
▪️▪️▪️
To Be Continued...
A/N: I'm already getting tired. It's already passed midnight, I should stop being an insomniac, it's bad for me. Thank you for reading, hope you stay for more.