Rui's head falls to the ground, and his body collapses. Tanjiro also falls to the ground. The spider threads holding Nezuko burn away, and Nezuko falls to the ground. Y/n lands but then spits out blood and falls down next to Tanjiro
Y/n: I pushed myself too hard this time. I got the fight I wanted and in reward, I got this massive scar on my chest...
Author note: If you're wondering, the scar on Y/n's chest looks similar to Zoro's scar 👍
Tanjiro: Nezuko... Nezuko! Ngh... I won... I won... My father saved me... I'm not sure why I was able to unleash that attack with the kagura that's been in our family for generations. But that was what saved me! I was able to beat him!
Y/n: Hinokami Kagura you called it? That's an impressive technique!
Tanjiro: Y/n! That attack you blocked from killing me! It's scared on your body!!
Y/n: Yeah so what?
Tanjiro: That means it already healed!
Y/n: Well yeah. Did you see my eye? I got stage 2 now and you know that increases healing speed.
Tanjiro sits up, but his vision is blurry
Y/n: You probably need to lie down. I can't really move that well myself...
Tanjiro clutches at his chest
Y/n: Plus changing breathing styles probably hurt your lungs. Oh! and the ear ringing. You're probably in SO much pain.
Tanjiro begins crawling forward. Y/n gains a puzzled look
Y/n: You really gotta just focus on healing you kno-
Y/n and Tanjiro look behind them
Y/n: Tanjiro...We might have to actually fight for a little longer
Tanjiro: Come to think of it, I didn't smell ash after beheading him. Don't tell me...
Y/n: He's alive.
Rui's body approaches Tanjiro and Y/n
Tanjiro: Even though I chopped off his head?!
Rui pulls on some spider threads attached to his head
Rui: You thought you defeated me? Poor kid. Did your pathetic delusion bring you joy? I cut off my head myself with my own threads... before you could chop it off.
Y/n: Shit...
Y/n stands up slowly and walks over to Tanjiro to protect him. His legs are buckling due to his injuries. Even though they are largely healed they still happened, and he still feels fatigued even if the physical damage is gone
Y/n: Why can't you just die man...
Rui reattaches his head
Rui: It was only me and my threads that caught fire, right? I don't know if it's his sister's power, but thanks for getting me super annoyed. Now I can carve you up with no regrets.
Y/n: Just...calm down.
Rui: Blood Demon Art... Murderous Eye Basket!
Y/n's left eye slits and turns purple again as he gets into a defensive stance
Y/n: Why did it activate?
Blood Demon Art spider threads begin to surround Tanjiro and Y/n
Y/n: Go on.
Blood Demon Art spider threads cut into Y/n. He takes a knee as he's bleeding a lot. Due to his fatigue, his wounds aren't healing as fast as they would usually.
Y/n: This might be it...
Giyu comes up from behind and cuts the spider threads
Y/n: it's...you.
Y/n falls down to regain his energy. knowing that they're in safe hands
Giyu: You did a good job holding out until I got here. Leave the rest to me.
Y/n: Way ahead of you...
Tanjiro: Ahh...!
Rui: You're like an endless stream of lowlifes always getting in my way! Blood Demon Art... Cutting Thread Rotation!
Rui sends an attack at Giyu
Giyu: Total Concentration...Water Breathing...Eleventh Form. Dead Calm.
Tanjiro: 11th form?!
Rui: Who cares about your Eleventh Form?!
Rui's attack moves toward Giyuu, but the attacks do nothing
Rui: What? That's impossible! One more time!
Rui holds out his hands for another attack. In an instant, Giyu beheads Rui
Y/n: ...It's over?
Tanjiro: For real this time hopefully.
Tanjiro crawls to Nezuko and cradles her. Rui's disintegrating body walks over to them and falls. Y/n watches whilst leaning on a tree ready to stop Rui from trying anything but Rui disappears before getting the chance
Y/n: I guess we should start going.
Tanjiro puts his hand on Rui's haori but Giyu steps on it
Giyu: Don't waste your sympathy on a demon that has devoured humans. It doesn't matter if it looks like a child. It's still a hideous monster that's lived for decades.
Tanjiro: To avenge the people who were killed, to make sure there are no more victims... I'll bring my blade down on any demon's neck without mercy. But as for those for whom being a demon meant despair, those who regretted their actions, I will never trample over them! Because even demons used to be human at some point! They were once human, like you and I! Please step off of him!
Y/n: Eh. Who cares. Maybe he misstepped?
Butterflies appear in the area. Shinobu flies toward Tanjiro, Y/n, Nezuko, and Tomioka. Tomioka prepares to draw his sword
Y/n: Really?
Tomioka deflects Shinobu's attack
Shinobu: Oh? For whatever reason could you be getting in my way, Tomioka? Weren't you the one who told me man and demon could never become friends? How should I put it? This is precisely why nobody likes you, you know.
Shinobu points her sword towards the group
Shinobu: Now, now, Tomioka, please move out of the way.
Giyu: I'm not...I'm not disliked by people
Y/n: That's the thing you notice?
Shinobu: Ahh, I apologize. You have yet to realize what people think of you, huh? That was uncalled for. Please forgive me.
Tanjiro: What?!
Y/n: Hey I like Giyu! I think he's nice!
Shinobu: Little boys!
Y/n: Little?!
Tanjiro: Yes?!
Shinobu: You're protecting a demon there. I don't want to hurt you two, so please get out of the way.
Y/n: First of all I'm not a little boy! Second of all you already nearly stabbed us! And finally the demon is his little sister.
Shinobu: Ahh, is that right? Poor thing. In that case...I shall use a gentle toxin to kill her so she won't suffer, all right?
Y/n: That's...Yeah sorry but can't really let that happen
Y/n gets up. Still tired but less tired than before.
Giyu: Can you move Tanjiro? If you can't, force yourself to. Take your sister and make a run for it.
Y/n grabs Tanjiro's hand and lifts him up. He puts Nezuko on his shoulder.
Y/n: Alright we're off. Pleasure to meet you, short girl!
Shinobu: Short...girl?
Y/n: Well you ar-...You know what never mind bye-bye!
Tanjiro and Y/n run off with Nezuko
Shinobu: Isn't that against the Demon Slayer Corps rules?
Y/n: To make fun of your height? No probably not!
Shinobu: What a funny boy...
Tanjiro and Y/n run away from the 2 Hashiras through the trees
Y/n: My body hurts like hell! Do you think we can continue even running?
Tanjiro: We've got to deal with it!
Y/n: You're right.
Tanjiro: Y/n. Will we have to quit the Demon Slayer corps?
Y/n: Depends if they hear us out. We'll either get executed or will live if I could take a guess.
Y/n looks up and sees Kanao chasing them from the trees
Y/n: Hey Tanjiro. Someone is following us. Take Nezuko and run
Tanjiro: Thank you Y/n...
Y/n passes Nezuko to Tanjiro
Y/n: Safe travels you two!
Kanao jumps down from a tree and clashes with Y/n's gauntlets
Y/n: So what's your name?
Kanao doesn't say anything as she attempts to get past Y/n. Y/n grabs her arm and restrains her
Y/n: So you don't wanna fight? That's kinda sad. Well, I guess that works for me since I'm pretty tired right now...
Kanao tries to get out of Y/n's grip but she is completely unable to due to his strength
Y/n: I'm sorry I have to do this. As Demon Slayers we should get along
Crow: Message! Message! Caw! I bring a message from headquarters! Tanjiro, Y/n and Nezuko are to be taken back to headquarters alive! Caw!
Y/n lets go of Kanao
Y/n: That's our cue.
Crow: Tanjiro, dressed in a checkered haori, with a scar on his forehead! Y/n, has heterchromatic eyes! Nezuko, a female demon with a bamboo muzzle! Bring them back! Bring them back!
Kanao: Are you Y/n?
Y/n: Yes!
Kanao gets a rope out and ties Y/n up so he can't run away
Y/n: I wasn't going to run...
Kanao: I don't believe you.
Y/n: You have some trust issues you need to work out.
Kanao carries Y/n to the Kakushi members. When Y/n got there he saw a house suspended in the air. He was dropped next to a familiar slayer
Y/n: They really did me dirty man...
Zenitsu: Y/n?
Y/n: Oh Zenitsu! You actually went into the forest! Wow look at...you
Zenitsu: They wrapped us up like mummies...why did that girl from the final selection carry you here?
Y/n: We had a short fight and then I turned myself in. Me and Tanjiro are on trial for protecting Nezuko.
Zenitsu: Wow...You've been through a lot in just one night huh?
Y/n: You can say that again...
The sun rises in the sky. It looks beautiful
Zenitsu: It's daybreak...
Zenitsu looks over to Y/n who is sleeping. He's finally resting.
Zenitsu: Must've been a pretty intense night for him...
--
In the morning, at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Tanjiro and Y/n lie asleep and tied up on the ground
Goto: Wake up. Hey, I told you to wake up! Wake... Hey... Hey, you! Come on, dude! C'mon! Are you gonna nap all day?! Rise and shine already, will ya?!
They both wake up
Y/n: Morning...
Tanjiro: Ah!
Goto: You're in the presence of the Hashira!
Ryusei: Long time no see boy!
Y/n: For fucks sake...HE WAS A HASHIRA?
End of Episode 20 + 21