I really wanted to skip the movie
Netflix said no
Third Person:
The Mugen Train was running. A man was walking in one of the carts. It was empty. The light in one of the other carts turned off. A silhouette of a demon was in the other cart.
The man gasped and ran back. However, he got attacked and killed.
There was missing person sign hung up on a wall. A demon slayer walked up to it. He has short black hair, blue eyes, a pale blue haori, and a black uniform. He walked into a building and saw Rui eating soup.
Slayer: Arachnid Hashira, forgive me for intruding.
Rui: Come and take a seat. Hey, bring this guy the same thing as me.
The chef nodded and began cooking. They looked a bit mad.
Slayer: You sure about that?
Rui nodded.
The chef finished and brought the slayer the food.
Slayer: Arachnid Hashira, your work last night was magnificent.
Rui: Don't need to remind me of the truth. But how's the injured woman faring?
Slayer: According to the doctor, the wounds up she suffered won't leave her with any scars.
Rui: I see.
Slayer: Yes, and all thanks to your bravery.
The slayer prayed over his food.
Slayer: My thanks.
The chef left and extra dish.
Rui: What's this?
Chef: A little treat on the house.
Slayer: Many thanks.
The slayer slurped his noodles.
Slayer: Tasty. Hey, master. I bet you'd thrive if you set up a shop in Ueno.
Chef: Yeah, and what do you know about that?
Rui: How is business?
Chef: How's it look to you?
Rui: ...
Chef: Thanks to all the talk about the Slasher being at large here, people stopped coming out at night.
The chef held a newspaper which the headlines of read; THE SLASHER STRIKES AGAIN USING TRAINS FOR TRANSPORTATION
Chef: It's at the point where I even had to let my workers go. They say that a conductor was murdered just the other day. Also, in case you haven't heard yet, the Mugen train is out of service now. Rumor has it that around 40 of the passengers on board the train disappeared without any explanation.
Slayer: Sounds ominous. By the way, about that, the reason I'm here is about that train. We received word it was secretly transported to a certain storage area.
Rui: Is that right?
Rui took a bite out of his food.
Slayer: Are we heading to the Mugen Train?
Rui and the Slayer were walking outside.
Rui: Duh. But first we should inspect the station where the conductor's body was found.
A girl was looking at her food. She then sighed.
Old lady: Fuku, enough of that moping about. Go on and eat now.
Fuku nodded.
Fuku: Another day with hardly any customers coming by.
Old lady: I know I've been saying this every day, but it's dangerous to be out after dark. Tomorrow, you can start helping out in the afternoon, my dear, since demons lurk about at night.
Crow: All clear!
Slayer: I went ahead and scanned the area, and nothing seems to be amiss.
Rui: I see.
Fuku: There aren't any demons!
Rui and the slayer turned to where Fuku was yelling.
Fuku: Would you stop bringing that up? Please, I've got to sell as many lunch boxes as I can! It's hard enough mother's pregnant, and father's shop is failing. Well, I've heard it is.
The Old lady put her book down.
Old lady: You should leave that worrying to us boring, old grown-ups. While it's still dark out, I'll take care of things, all right?
Fuku: And what are we supposed to do if you get attacked by the slasher, too?
Old lady: I'd be more than happy to sacrifice my life for yours.
Fuku: Grandma!
Fuku felt a shadow over her. She looked up and saw Rui standing in front of her.
Rui: Good evening. I'm here searching for a demon. So have you seen any?
The crow and the Slayer were shocked at his boldness.
Slayer: What? Did he just say that?
Crow: Please, lord Rui! You're being far too blunt, don't you think?
Rui: do you know anything about it, ma'am?
Fuku stood up with her arms spread, blocking her grandma from Rui's sight.
Fuku: What? Demons? What's wrong with you? Just get out of here! I'm warning you!
Rui didn't comply.
Fuku: Get out of here!
Fuku threw her bun and Rui. He took it off of his face and threw it to the ground.
Fuku: There are no demons here, because demons don't exist!
Old lady: Fuku, that's enough. Take it easy. I don't believe he has bad intentions.
Fuku glared at him before she calmed down.
Fuku: Forgive me. I've been on edge lately cause of the slasher incidents.
Rui: If what I just overheard is true, you two work before dawn, selling off those box lunches of yours. You both have a bit of respect from me. Just relax though. I will eliminate the Slasher.
Fuku: Just who are you?
Rui walked away without saying anything to her.
Fuku: Wait!
Rui turned around.
Fuku: If you don't mind... could you buy a few box lunches?
Rui: Okay... I'll buy a few.
The slayer was holding one bag of the box lunches Rui purchased.
Slayer: Wow. This is a lot.
Rui: It's just a few. Don't complain. I'll be going on alone now. Goodbye.
Fuku and her grandmother closed their shop.
Fuku: I don't know what that was all about, but I'm glad he bought all of those box lunches from us.
Old lady: we need to hurry home now, Fuku. Something tells me we shouldn't be here right now. I feel a chill going down my spine.
Fuku: What's wrong?
A train's whistle blows. A conductor was walking through the train when they saw Rui sitting on a cart by himself. He got nervous and then he calmed himself down a bit.
Conductor: Hey! Who are you?
Rui revealed one of his bags of box lunches.
Rui: I'm a box-lunch vendor.
Conductor: Okay... but this train is headed to a shed.
Rui: I'm aware. But I heard the Mugen train is there. Is that true?
Conductor: The Mugen Train? Sorry, but that train is no longer there.
Rui: Where is it?
Conductor: It was actually transported to a well equipped maintenance facility just this morning. Right over there.
Rui: I see. I guess I have to go off from here.
Conductor: What? Right now? Wait..!
Rui jumped off and landed on the train tracks that led to a train facility nearby. He walked up to the right train. The Mugen Train.
Rui: The Mugen train. Yes. It's faint, but there are still traces of a demon.
Guy: Hey, you! You know this place is off-limits, right?
Rui: I was sent here by the railroad bureau to deliver these box lunches.
Guy: What...? Hey! This kid brought food!
All the workers came for food.
Guy: Take one of the Tatsu in the office. He might still be there.
Worker: Leave it to me, Chief!
Rui: Why is the Mugen Train here?
The guy chuckled.
Guy: It's a bit of an actuation, but the word on the street is that it's somehow become a man-eating train. You don't know how bitter that makes us. But they need her back in service on the railways, so we have to get her up and moving. Just wish they gave us more time is all.
Rui: It's returning?
Guy: Yeah. Starts tomorrow night. That's why all of us are here.
A man screams. Rui runs to the scene.
Rui's crow: Demon! There's a demon here!
Rui stands behind the man who screamed on the floor.
Demon: Easy there.
The demon's thumb's nail was in the person he was holding's cheek. The fingers on his other hand were in his chest. The workers ran up to the scene.
Guy: Tatsu!
Rui: Back up!
Tatsu: Somebody help!
Guy: You bastard.
Rui: Let him go.
Demon: A Demon Slayer? How annoying. What is that stench?
The demon stepped on a box-lunch the worker had.
Demon: You know, since I became a demon, just the smell of human food is enough to make me want to vomit.
Rui: How dare you break something I spent so much money on. You'll pay for that.
Demon: It's not my fault it smells revolting. Speaking of which, your blood is revolting as well, isn't it?
The demon pressed his fingers deeper into Tatsu.
Demon: Humans that smell tasty, I devour, while the ones that reek like you are more fun to just play with.
Rui: How despicable.
Demon: if you find me that reprehensible... then do something about it!
The demon activated his BDA and started zooming around the place.
Guy: What's going on?
The workers began running away.
Demon: Can you try to guess who's faster than me? Here's a hint. No one!
Rui aimed to slash the demon and swung his sword but he missed.
Demon: What's the matter? You can't slash me with this kid in my arms, can you? If he's too much trouble, I can just kill him off.
Tatsu: Please... help me.
Rui: Relax. I'll save you.
Demon: You wouldn't think that if you saw me last night. I cut this woman up until I got tired of doing it.
Rui: Oh. Don't get too cocky. We thought you fled because we showed up, but apparently you never even detected us to begin with. You are quick to run away, at least.
Demon: What was that?
Rui: We were able to treat your victim from last night after you fled. show a cover that a single scar.
Demon: Even if you are telling the truth, she's doomed to live in constant fear for the rest of her pathetic little life.
Rui: The workers will treat the wounds of her soul. No matter how long it may take, she will heal.
Demon: Now I know what I'll be doing after I deal with you and this little brat. i'm going to do everything in my power to kill that woman.
Rui: Like you'd be able to find her.
The demon grunted. He looked at the box-lunch he squished.
Demon: Then how about those box-lunch vendors?
Rui: They have nothing to do with this.
Demon: But you do know them, right? Those are station lunches. I'll find out who made 'em.
Rui was about to charge.
Demon: Don't move! You really are despicable. But I'm sure having a great time. if you really want to play hero, you'll just have to get to the station before me. But before I slaughter them... I have to finish off this one!
Rui charged at the demon and sliced off his hands, freeing Tatsu. The demon gasped and ran away.
Demon: Keep up!
Guy: No... Can you save him.?
Rui put a pillow on Tatsu's chest wound, and wrapped it with a blanket to him.
Rui: He'll be alright. My comrades will be here soon to help out.
Rui's crow: This way! This way!
Four demon slayers arrived.
Slayer 2: Lord Ayaki.
Rui: Where's medical?
Slayer 2: They're on their way.
Rui: I've given him first aid. He's yours now.
Rui ran off.
Total Concentration Breathing.
Rui ran faster.
Old lady: You really didn't need to come. I have it under control.
Fuku: if I say, I'm going to help, I'm going to help.
The two looked up at a man in his window.
Fuku: Good morning sir!
Man: Hey there! You're here early as ever.
The demon arrived at the vendor's place. They weren't there. He sniffed the area, and grinned.
Demon: I smell you.
Fuku put a slip of paper on a counter. The sign above read BENTO STORE.
Fuku: Alright.
The demon walked into the hallway.
Fuku turned her head to look. She couldn't tell who was there because the demon was in the darkness.
Fuku: Station Master?
Demon: It smells. It smells. It's you, isn't it, carrying around the stench of these vile box lunches?
Fuku backed up a bit, fearful.
Demon: It's nothing personal, kid. I just have a score to settle with a Demon Slayer.
The demon grunted at they were hit in the head by a box lunch. The old lady threw it.
Old lady: Make a run for it! Quick!
The demon coughed.
Demon: What's the big deal, you hag?
Fuku ran out the door. She jumped over the bars and ran onto the train tracks.
The demon was in front of her and she gasped. They grabbed her by the neck and pinned her down.
Rui came running in. He cut off the demon's foot and grabbed Fuku.
Fuku: It's— It's you again.
Rui: Are you hurt?
Fuku: No. My grandma!
The demon was limping into the building.
Demon: Damn you.
The old lady backed away until she fell suddenly.
Demon: You're gonna regret throwing that filth at me.
Rui entered the building. The demon turned around it face him.
Demon: Bastard. How the hell did you catch up to me?
Rui: I said don't get cocky.
Demon: How about we play a little game? I win if I can slash this old hag's throat open. You win if you sever my head before I do.
Rui: Your game sounds like my job. Good luck.
Rui beheads him immediately.
Rui: I win. Arachnid Breathing. First Form, Uloboridae Silk.
The old lady gasps and remembers when a former slayer saved her. Rui did the same movements as them.
Old lady: I a remember now. This isn't the first you've saved us. I'm sure of it.
Fuku walked back into the building and kneeled beside her grandmother.
Fuku: What do you mean?
Old lady: How could I have forgotten your face and that bright haori? It's you, isn't it? Please forgive me. You saved my life before this. If it weren't for you, her mother and I would have been killed 20 years ago.
Fuku: What are you talking about?
Rui: You must mean my father. I'm too young to have been alive 20 years ago. I became a Demon Slayer just like him. It a coincidence that I ended up saving you as well.
Fuku gets on her knees and sighs.
Fuku: I still can't believe it. Do you think demons actually exist. I'm so sorry for doubting you, grandma.
Rui: You should just live your life without being a afraid of demons, that's all.
Fuku smiled.
Slayer: Arachnid Hashira! Are you alright?
Rui: Yeah.
Slayer: Is the demon gone?
Rui: Mhm.
Slayer: What about the Mugen Train?
Rui: The maintenance work will be done tonight, which means it will return tomorrow.
Slayer: What a relief. So then everyone can relax now, right?
Rui: Too soon for that. A demon who's devoured more than 40 people is surely on a different level.
Slayer: You mean the slasher was only here to serve as a distraction?
Rui: That might be true. But either way, there is a different demon on the Mugen Train. One that is far more powerful.
Slayer: So then you'll be going?
Rui: Tonight.
To be continued...
Thanks for reading! 💛