Act 10: Your Blue Name, I Utter

Rise of the Demon King Tanjiro VS Demon Slayer Nezuko

**Originally posted in Fanfiction and Archive**

Published: 04-24-20 - Finished: 07-16-22

Important note from the REAL author of this fanfic Rise of the Demon King Tanjiro VS Demon Slayer Nezuko: Please report Gaby_Dagohoy who reposted my fanfic here in WEBNOVEL, without my permission...what more he claimed he own this fanfic that I wrote with blood and sweat.

Kanon58: I dont know if anyone still reading this but...so um...those who are looking for Kanao and Tanjiro moment, i have good news and bad news. I have something dramatic for them, but it wont be on this chapter...maybe 2 more chapter before they reunite. But am slightly thinking to switch it so that...well maybe we get Kanao x Tanjiro faster...so uhh please forgive Tanjiro...okay? Tehehehe...About Iguro, I has to kill him fast to make you guys appreciate the antidote's power. I actually planned to give him more spotlight but I ditch it...cuz it won't make the antidote special if you get what im sayin...anyhow!

As Said English sucks so do Not Except it to be written beautifully or whatever. I'm doing this out of pure fangirling and fantasy.

My fan cover songs please check them, type on youtube:

Kimetsu No Yaiba From The Edge English [JeanaSama] (Full version!)

"Kamado Nezuko No Uta Nezuko Theme Song Demon Slayers" I use it to inspire myself on writing this fanfic...hope you like it too!

No Flames you are not a Breath Flame User xD

COME ON BARE WITH ME IM SORRY D:

Im just doing this cuz of Quarantine, But once everything is back to normal I will be busy on my Work again as an Adult. SAD ADULT FAR AWAY FROM ANIMES HUHU

REVIEW To inspire me to update. ROLF

Visit my dying chicken Gurenge Eng Cover thanks type youtube "Gurenge English Lyrics - Kimetsu No Yaiba [JeanaSama]"

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"Inosuke!"

"Huh?"

Hashibira Inosuke turns his back and saw Tanjiro happily approaching him. "What do you want Monjiro?" He find it's creepy yet appreciate for granted. The mention of his name incorrectly made the redhead frown that eventually turned into a pout.

"Gee...Inosuke, how many times do I have to tell you? My name is TAN-JI-RO okay?" Tanjiro gave him a understanding smile after that forced statement.

Inosuke felt goosebumps from such gentleness and began picking a fight. "SHUT UP!" Acting like a brat he is. "Nobody teaches Inosuke-sama! For he knows your name is KENTARO!"

Tanjiro snaps. "ITS KAMADO TANJIRO!" In a funny arguement scenery. "You have to call my name eventually! Say it right!"

Inosuke huffs proud and sarcastic.

"What would I get if I got it right?!" Tanjiro stops. He paused another gentle smile...

"I will recognize your voice..."

"Ehh..?"

"Just call my name...I will be with you, Inosuke."

Then the scenery turned dark...A demon Tanjiro charging to devour him in his boar mask.

"Tanjiro...!" Moving away and away...avoiding to be out of his brother like friend, Inosuke teared up, he anguish the thoughts.

'Why? Why aren't you recognizing my voice...? When I finally...memorized your name...!'

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"GYAH!"

Tears. Inosuke woken up with tears in his eyes. Without a boar mask, you can see his nose turned pink from a sad dream.

"T-Tanjiro...?" He thought it was real, then again he knew it was just the usual nightmares.

Inosuke was traumatize when Tanjiro attacked him with such urgency to kill.

"...This sucks." Grabbing his mask. Looking around his surrounding, he had wet his pillow with his tears. He was currently resting in Aoi's hospital bed.

"Wait...?"

But Aoi is nowhere to be found. He remember the last, Aoi was recovering from the slash that Flame Pillar demon did.

It has been days since only him and her were present at the butterfly estate. Noted Yushiro rarely appears. Also Giyuu is in comma still..Sanemi visits daily but he doesn't roam around so Inosuke consider them non existing to his care.

"Where did that woman go...?"

Again the same sickness.

"What was her name Again?"

GROWLS~

"Hmm...!"

Inosuke went to the kitchen.

"Master~!" Demon Mitsuri jumps to hugs their king as behind her is the Demon Iguro. Obanai Iguro had a smile on his face as Tanjiro pats the head of Mitsuri, especially her horns. Tanjiro chuckles so sweetly. "There~there."

Iguro marched forward and paid respect. "Tanjiro-sama, were off to go to fulfill your wishes. Is there anything else you wish?"

Tanjiro paused a bit, before he replied with a smile. "I want Mitsuri-san and Obanai-san to be always...together." it was a heartfelt wish.

Mitsuri and Iguro looks at each other and asks him. "Um...why do you always put us together?" They said in union.

Tanjiro blinks and is a bit confuse...'eh...? What made me always pair them like a couple would be...?'

Silence.

'No, no..I must not think further. It will make Muzan angry.' Letting a sad smile. "I'm not really sure...but you two, I want you guys to live together...and happily."

Iguro and Mitsuri blushes at his note. "Master..." Iguro bows at Tanjiro as he has the snake mouth, Mitsuri rubs her horns from getting complimented, for Tanjiro they did not look scary. Iguro looks at Mitsuri then to their lord. "I love her...and she loves me too...I don't know how you replicated us from who...but thank you Tanjiro-sama~"

Tanjiro laughs. "Hehe...!"

Waving at the two whose walking out of the mansion, the snow falls.

"Promise me to go back home together~! Take care! Obanai-san! Mitsuri-san~!"

Like a cheerful child the demon king, The succubus and snake made a promise that they thought they can fulfill.

"We will come back together Tanjiro-sama~! Until then, take care of your health as well~!" Cheerful farawell from Mitsuri.

Is the last conversation he had with his demon guards.

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"Taiyou no Ai, Shi No Kata Lovely Hurricane~!"

(("The bond between me and Nezuko...will never be cut by anybody...!"))

'T-thats it...!'

"Hii no Kami Kagura...Enbu~!"

CLANG!

"YOU WON'T ESCAPE MITSURI NEE SAN...!"

"TAKE THIS...!" The fire explodes.

SLICE...!

'You got to be kidding me...I never seen a Demon Slayer slice off a demon's head by nichirin blade in foot...Tanjiro...sama...I'm sorry...!'

"W...Why do you like me so much Zenitsu-kun...?"

"Because Nezuko-chan...I do not regret the day I protected the box. I know I has too. My heart wanted to."

"Arrgghh! What was that liquid he injected to me...?! P-poison...!? NOOO! HELP ME- TANJIRO-SAMAAAA!"

BADUMP...!))

'There was a thread...'

The loud noise of bell ringing. Tanjiro's heartbeat was bothered. His body trembled and felt the painful death they had just experience. He even heard their last words... "...Eh?" His eyes gasp, in front him is Kyoujiro whose walking up the mountains with him towards the Shinobi Clan journey.

'A mysterious bloody thread has been cut off from one of my limbs.'

Noticing the odd behavior he stops on his tracks. It was snowing a lot. But Tanjiro stood still, the cold never bothered him.

"Tanjiro-sama...?"

'The moment they evaporated.'

Tanjiro's mouth set apart. Tears streamed at his cheeks making Kyoujiro startled. He was worried. "W-what happen to you my lord?!" Kyoujiro was not able to feel it...that they lost some comrade only Tanjiro could, as they were made from his blood and memories.

'The moment my memories form in a Blood Demon Art was slain.'

Tanjiro mourns as he look at his own palms dramatically. "Mitsuri-san and Obanai-san has been killed..." glancing up to Kyoujiro with sorrowful eyes. Tanjiro cried. "They are gone...! The Demon Slayers killed them off...!" Frustration.

'A familiar sadness...'

Not knowing what else to do. "Please excuse my rudeness!" Kyoujiro pulls him to an embrace. "It will be fine Tanjiro-sama!" He said so loud. "I will always be here! Also...soon we will be reaching the Shinobi village! We can make our revenge up there...!"

Tanjiro cuddles to his clothes as he kept mourning for the deaths of his beloved demon guards. "Wuu...Rengoku-san...!" Sniffing. "I just wanted peace...! I just really wanted peace...!"

'Why did they have to be killed...again?'

His head is ringing...as if he remember something so distant. 'Again...? Was it again...? Huhh...'

Still crying.

'I cannot comprehend what changed inside me...?'

Kyoujiro waited till his master's sorrow dies down. The snowflakes never made them cold at all.

'I has to accept such sacrifices to fulfill my dream of peace...me and Muzan's...!'

Is Tanjiro's resolve.

'As if they previously died before...'

Back to the present time when Uzui has swear loyalty to Tanjiro.

Here is Uzui Tengen getting himself some bandages to his dislocated fingers.

He was secretly eyeing Tanjiro whose sitting at the window. This house was the other 'houses' of Uzui has in Shinobi village. But the main house exploded, because Tanjiro got angry. Tanjiro whose mind seem to be floating as his demon cat eyes observing the falling snow over the window.

So silent...

'I wonder what is he thinking...?' Uzui is curious. He thought maybe to talk the demon king as he seems to be friendly, 'Yes...I has to get his trust...' is the plan plot on the ex sound pillar. So he dared..."T-Tanjiro...?" He did not mean to stutter but he messed up. 'Shit...! Not a good way to start...!' Uzui thought Tanjiro would ignore him as the boy seem to be having his own world block away from reality, but Tanjiro turn his head and he looked sad.

"..." long red locks, his hanafuda earrings made a sound.

Surprise how Tanjiro's face is still capable of sorrow. He thought to really ask now without plotting anything. "Whats wrong...? You look like someone died."

Tanjiro press his lips and left the window sit. He shared him the truth. "Because there is~" walking near Uzui, Tanjiro knelt on his level, the man was behaving himself at the futon they prepared for him. Tanjiro was invading his private zone, Uzui can't help to fidget a bit. 'His demonic features...so weird.'

"Uzui-san...Death is such a sad thing..." says Tanjiro with a very lonesome voice. Tanjiro is thinking about Muzan's struggle to live then others too. It makes him empathetic. Uzui thinks it is the chance to be caring...then again he remembered, 'Wait! I need to get information!' yes,to get some information on what on the earth Tanjiro is even thinking to propose peace treaty.

"You see~" looking at his own hand. "The people I replicate...once they get slain...I can never replicate them again..." teary eyes. "Those Pillars...they killed my Mitsuri Kanroji and Obanai Iguro..." Making an eye contact to Uzui's nervous eyes. "I'm still very sad about the fact they are gone..." Uzui couldn't came up of comfort response. He was lost how to reply to Tanjiro's drama.

'I mean...Mitsuri and Obanai are long dead to us before you became Muzan's successor...'

That is where it clicked. 'Hold up...him making dead pillars as his demon guards...meant he had memories right?'

Trying to test it out.

"Y-you...do you remember who you were before you became the new demon king?"

It made Tanjiro froze. "Ehh...?" Tanjiro is actually wondering why they know him...even though he does not recognize them at all.

He feels like it's ok to allow this conversation to keep going.

"Then let me ask you Uzui-san..."

"Y-yeah?"

"Who is this Kamado Tanjiro that you guys been comparing to my existence..?"

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Gasp...!

Nezuko has woken up. "Haahh..hahh...!" She was in a heart panic.

Throb, throb.

Her mind was in a mess as her whole body was in pain. Her eyes were shaking and unable to scan around her surroundings. 'Where am?! Where am?!' Her head hurts. Squinting her eyes to gain control of composure. 'What happen to me...?! Where is-' Then the memory of injured Zenitsu flashed in her mind. Finally sitting up at her bed. She calls the name of the blonde.

"ZENITSU-KUN!"

It was a bright morning with chirping birds, but then again it is winter.

Someone opened the door. CREAK~ It was Tsuyuri Kanao who had some medicine tea on her tray. "Eh?" noticing Nezuko is awake but seems to be scared. "Nezuko-chan...?" Nezuko has bandages on her head, her legs and other cuts she received where covered by patches. Finally seeing Kanao that she was on the door way. Nezuko clutches at her bed sheet as she was so worried. "Zenitsu-kun...! Where is he?! Is he...alive?!"

Her memory told her how bad Zenitsu's head injury were.

A little bit overwhelmed, Kanao decided to drop a smile hoping it will calm the other. "Zenitsu is on the other room." Walking near, Kanao placed the tray at the table beside Nezuko. Touching her hands for comfort. "The poison had disappeared automatically when the demon guard was slain according to the reporting crow and Senjuro's story. So he is alive, yes..." Eyes widen as relief tears escape. "T-thank God...!" Hugging Kanao.

Then she recalls other things. "Wait! What about the people?! The ceiling exploded...! There is noway people wouldn't discover the truth of demons!"

Kanao briefly told her how kakushi cleaned it up. "Well, it turns out Kanroji Mitsuri's demon replica had enchanted everyone in the night club. The moment she was slain, everyone fell asleep. They had no memories, and the waitress there said...more like she lied, as a cover up...she said something exploded. Basically everyone is safe."

'Oh...that waitress...she finally turned back to the right path. I'm glad...!'

Having a huge relief further than before. "Thank you Lord...! For saving us...!" She cries to Kanao whose patting now her back. "Nezuko-chan..."

As she sobs, she shared it to her. How it was sad. "Tanjiro oniichan...he replicated Mitsuri nee san and Iguro-san...but, it hurts...it actually hurts to see them die twice...!" Tightening hug. "Even though they were demons made from his blood...my heart is rip when I slice Mitsuri nee san's head...!"

Kanao understands...she thought herself in Nezuko's shoes. 'Am able to slay master's duplicate though...? Will I cry again...or do they no longer spill...?'

Finally Nezuko have calm down, Kanao sits at the free chair. "Here, this medicine helps muscle pain go away...drink it slowly." Giving her the cup, Nezuko accepts with a bow. "Thank you!"

Slurps...

Nezuko notice something. There was a calendar, it says the third day from the date she and Zenitsu with Senjuro have gone to Red Light District.

Strange.

"Hm...? That is weird...my wounds did not heal yet...?" Looking at her patches and bandages. Kanao explains, "Y-Yushiro...guy had check you up. Remember you still has the demon regenerating abilities...?"

Hesitant nod, "Yeah...I think so."

"He said those regenerating ability is actually starting to fade..."

Nezuko who did not get what was a the fuss on that made a chibi face. "EH?"

Kanao looked so serious though. "That means...the only reason you were even alive is because of it. But after getting too much wounds...according to Yushiro, it proves that the demon blood in you is slowly being eradicate with the continuous effect made by Tamayo and Master's antidote."

"I-I'm sorry my head hurts. I cannot understand hehe~" scratching her cheeks.

Kanao summarize for her. "In short, if such antidote is slowly eliminating your demonic regeneration abilities...then the antidote I had stab Tanjiro-kun should also have made a small side effect to his body...it must be just delayed, because it was too weak...the portion was too little at that time..." clutching at her skirt.

"Soon...Tanjiro-kun should be able to regain some of his human traits is what Yuishiro saying. The antidote I stab Tanjiro-kun still has effect...sure it was never enough...but it should have slight effect just like what happen to your body. You became human yet your wounds were healing than normal..."

"Ohh.." it starting to make sense. Nezuko got hyped. "T-THEN!" Trying not to scare Kanao as she was too happy to get some hope. "If the serum is given to Tanjiro Oniichan...he will revert back to human right!? While Yushiro-kun still perfecting the antidote...same time the first antidote that Tanjiro Oniichan had consumed should make him less demonic...!"

Kanao made a hesitant agreement though. She was scared for Tanjiro and Nezuko's too much 'hope'.

"Yeah but...if he drinks another Marechi. Yushiro said, Tanjiro might be able to eradicate the lingering anti-bodies inside him if he starts to notice..for now, from what Tomioka-san and you had experience upon encountering him...it seems Tanjiro-kun is not aware of anything at all...how he was being manipulated by his memories...Yushiro said that was a good thing for now...so that Tanjiro-kun will never attempt to remove the lingering side effects..."

Nezuko went sad. "Wait...is he saying we should not make Oniichan remember who he was? Or else he will felt so confuse that he might end up discovering the anti bodies and make them go away?"

Kanao shook her head. "Y-yes." Nezuko finally realize she was too hopeful...smiling "Noway...to keep Oniichan in the dark so that we can complete the antidote..." laughing with visible teary eyes that she did not want to spill. "Haha...t-that's hard."

Depressing smile.

"Nezuko-chan..." Kanao maybe blind but the determination within her has not faded. She looked at Nezuko with such a serious face,making Nezuko stare back to her blurry vision. "I promise to you...Nezuko-chan, I will do anything to bring back Tanjiro-kun to you...I swear with my everything."

It sounded good in Nezuko's ears...but somehow she fears such promise will push Kanao's body further to be in danger. Starring with the eyes, she almost went blind... Nezuko shakes her head. "No, Kanao-chan." Surprised, Nezuko's tearful eyes vanished into fury. A passionate resolve echoes. "We bring him together! Were sisters now...!" Pinching Kanao's cheek, "E-eh?" Blushing, Nezuko grinned. "Especially if you marry my brother! Might as well practice!"

Flustered, "M-Marry What?!"

Nezuko laughs. "Hahaha! To think you can be that shy~!"

She made her forehead to contact with Kanao's bangs. "So take care of yourself...Kanao-nee chan."

Eyes widen.

'T-to think...Nezuko-chan approves my feelings for Tanjiro-kun...' closing her eyes as she had a smile on her face. 'Kanae-neesan, Shinobu-neesan...'

Remembering the two butterfly warmth memory.

'I found...love.'

Then Kanao remembered. "Ah," pulling away from the sisterly bond. "One more thing. Yushiro wanted to talk to you if you had used the serum and what were the effects...talk to him at night in Master's room. I mean...to Kochou Shinobu's lab once you able to walk. Okay?"

Happily nods. "Okay!"

...

The next day...

Feeling a bit down...Hashibira Inosuke's mind had been occupied by the red sunshine. 2 years he was having random dreams of his time spent with Tanjiro, before it bounces back to the horrifying demonification battle.

'Tanjiro...Tanjiro...' repeating his name all over his head, in order not to forget them ever.

'I wonder if you will be proud of me...If I say your name with your memories...?'

Inosuke is not aware himself, eversince he mention Tanjiro's name properly...he had matured.

He was less noisy, less bratty.

And is more engaged to talk to people, especially to Nezuko.

Stopping at the kitchen door. Inosuke watched the twintailed butterfly girl.

Busy.

Aoi is currently packing some bento boxes. There is our boar whose sneaking under the table sheets. 'That is right...' recalling his purpose to the kitchen. 'Am hungry...' eyeing Aoi whose actually busy. Inosuke took the opportunity to grab two onigiri's. He laughs mentally, 'Kekeke! So weak! She did not feel my great presence at all...! As expected from me! Inosuke-sama...! Kyahaha!'

As he chew the food, a shadow hover above him. "Huh?"

Behind is Aoi, she was so angry and pointed at Inosuke. "THIEF!"

"GAAH!?" Startled. Inosuke shivers. "W-What do you want!? You wanna fight me?!" Posing to martial art punches. "Go ahead! I'm stronger! Gyahaha!"

Kanzaki Aoi can only do a facepalm, heavy sighs. Eventually she shakes her head. 'He is giving me headache...'

"What's wrong? Afraid to loose?" Breathing in his mask. "Pff! Though so~!" Only then Aoi shove him a tray of 8 pieces of onigiri.

"Here~" dumbfounded, Inosuke was suspicious. "E-eh...?"

Aoi grabbed his hands and places the said tray. "From now on, if you are hungry talk to me. I will cook for you...!" Turning her back to remove the apron she was wearing, revealing her readied demon slayer uniform and her haori. "Stealing is bad~ never steal again, especially in our kitchen! Okay?!"

It sounded like a mother scolding her kid. Inosuke blushed and felt so fluffy inside his mask. 'This woman has been feeding me a lot, like why..?' Aoi steps out of the kitchen.

Wondering what to do with the tray of 8 piece onigiri made only for him...Inosuke lifted his boar mask revealing his adorable smile. "She makes them tasty too."

After finishing the meal, as Aoi went to visit Zenitsu, Senjuro and Nezuko's clinic quarters...

Drop))))

Agatsuma Zenitsu hears the movement of something.

Fabric, bed sheets...fluttering curtains. He finally opened his eyes. 'Uhhh...?' Moving his head to the left side, he saw someone at the other bed, in a sitting position. The person wearing demon slayer uniform with a fiery cape. He seem to have fallen asleep at the free bed while watching over him.

That person is...

"Senjuro...?"

Hearing Zenitsu's tired voice, Senjuro moved his head quickly. His eyes widen from sleepily ones to woke. "Oh! You are finally awake Zenitsu!" Is the happy cheer by Senjuro who did not have any patches nor injuries at the battle. He was normal.

Zenitsu had ignored his greetings though ,instead he was worried..."Nezuko-chan...w-where is she?" Trying to seat up, Senjuro left his bed and went to assist the Lightning Pillar.

"Hold on! Do not move much..." Senjuro fix the pillow behind Zenitsu's back before he finally answered the main question. "Nezuko is on the other room resting! Worry not! Though it may take time for her to recover...because she exhausted her legs...but she is not in any life threat!"

In response Zenitsu sobs, "Really?..I-Im so glad..." crying loud now. "NEZUKO-CHAAAN! WAA~!" Senjuro was just happy to see Zenitsu did not die from the poison and the injuries he had received from the Snake Pillar Demon Guard replica.

"Hehe..."

A few minutes later...Zenitsu is finally interested to find out how they were rescued. "How did we survive...? We did defeat them...by Yushiro's antidote..." furrowing eyebrows...

"Yes..."

Senjuro who can only share what happen after they collapse, he tells him the truth. "So...uhh when the demon guard Mitsuri the ex love pillar was slain by Nezuko..the enchantment she had put on me disappeared. It is then I saw before me a missing ceiling. Revealing the moonlight rays and falling snow...beneath the scenery, A naked Nezuko with your haori hovering on her...she is unconscious. I also found you with her, your head was bleeding and you were color purple..."

Zenitsu continued to listen. "But you know what? When I went to check you, the poison disappeared...I think it is because the demon guard Iguro the ex Snake Pillar had evaporated, it also made his poison eradicated." Laughing, "It was weird! Yushiro-san said...that does not happen on the old demon breeds. So to put, any magic abilities the new demon breed does, once they are dead...it will make their attacks die with them!"

Senjuro took his hands with tears of joy. "The only thing treated here was your open wounds and nothing else...! Isn't great Zenitsu!?"

Senjuro was so lovable.

Zenitsu blushes and tried to shove Senjuro's hands from him as he mumbles.

"J-just because you are a nice guy does not mean I do not consider you as a treat to my Nezuko-chan...!"

But Senjuro is deaf. "Huh? Did you say something?" Innocent smile, Zenitsu scratches his head in irritation. "KUUHHH DONT MAKE ME GUILTY!"

"EH?"

Senjuro still innocent as ever...

...

"Nezuko-chan...!" Zenitsu and Senjuro went to visit Nezuko's room. Nezuko sat's up, unable to move her legs. She laid her back on the bed in support with her pillow. She had teary eyes of joy, but she wasn't crying or anything.

"Z-Zenitsu-kun..! Also Senjuro-kun!" Zenitsu reaches her side and made himself cling to her waist, hugging onto her. "Waa! Nezuko-chan...! I'm so happy you did not loose any limbs...!" Runny nose..."Your legs...they are not disabled right?" Realizing what he said sound bad. "Ah! I-It is not like I would stop loving you if you loose any limbs or become disabled...! I swear!"

However, "Pff-" Nezuko giggles. Not having any idea why Nezuko is making fun of him. Zenitsu continued to have his knees on the floor as his arms onto Nezuko's waist. "Eh? Eh?" Nezuko is too cheerful. Senjuro also cannot tell why she was having fun either.

"Hahahaha~! Zenitsu-kun you really are a funny person." Nezuko says as she wipes her tears of laughter. "Ehh?"

It was then Nezuko stared at him in the eyes with a smile.

"Thank you for catching me at that time...thank you for covering me with your haori. My...Hisha..."

out of nowhere, Nezuko leaned and kissed his right cheeks. "Thank you, Zenitsu-kun!"

Senjuro gawks at the background.

"Eh...?" Slowly he cup his right cheek where Nezuko's soft lips had landed. "EH?" His whole body turn red as smoke went out of his ears. "EEEHHHH?!" Zenitsu has broke.

"EEEEEEEEEEEH!"

WHACK!

"OW!"

Only to get smack by Aoi behind. "SHUT UP YOU ARE DISTURBING OTHER PATIENTS!"

"Ah! Aoi-chan...! Inosuke-kun..!" Nezuko clasp her hands together in delight. Aoi politely bows from the greetings. "Nezuko-san am happy to see you won in one piece..." having a relief smile. "I'm so glad..." Inosuke then jumps to the bed and hugs Nezuko's legs.

"YA COOL! YOU KILLED A DEMON GUARD...! GYAHAHAHA! AS EXPECTED FROM MY BROTHERHOOD!"

WHACK!

"OUCH! WHAT?!"

Aoi smacks Inosuke's head and scolds him. "DON'T PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON HER LEGS! SHE IS STILL RECOVERING! BEHAVE!" Arguing back like a child he is...

"W-what! Nobody order around Inosuke-sama-!" But Aoi acted superior. "Behave!" Inosuke shrinks.

'T-This woman is so scary...!'..."F-fine..." pouting. Nezuko laughs. "Ahahaha...!" Patting Inosuke's head even though he still has the mask.

"There, there, thank you Inosuke."

Feeling fluffy for the praised, Inosuke cuddles to her sheets. "Yes..." As Zenitsu still fan-boying to the floor. Senjuro had to poke him.

"Z-Zenitsu...you still there...? Oiii...~?" Kanao arrive at the doorway and smiles at the light hearten scene with friends.

The New Pillars were happy that everyone is alive.

Another three days passed...Finally Nezuko able to walk a bit by using support from a wooden cane.

"How are you feeling...?" Nezuko is right now in the office or technically lab of Kochou Shinobu that is now owned by Yushiro. The demon who inherit Tamayo's skills as a doctor and scientist.

"I feel fine." Nezuko shrugs. Yushiro observed her up and down as he began walking around the lab to grab and check some vile lab materials.

"Now let us move to the main topic. You guys have used the sample antidote right? How did it go...?" Nezuko watching Yushiro moved his hands to examine the three bottles of experimented antidotes at the table...she casually talks back. "Mm~The demon guards...when the liquid was injected to them. They turned soft and red...before they turned in to blood as their original form."

Yushiro stops and narrowed his eyes to contemplate about the result. "Hmm...so it is either a poison,or...it makes them revert back to what original cell they were..." looking down at the color red yet blue lights in the said antidote. Nezuko added more information as she was sitting.

"One more thing I notice...when the moonlight rays shine upon the demon guard, they acted like it burns them." Knitting her eyebrows to think deeper on that incident. "Could it be...the sample antidote you had made is actually making their skin sensitive to the moonlight? Like how original demons afraid of the sun?"

Yushiro paused from her assumption. He was actually...agreeing to it. Placing back the bottle of antidote samples to it's holder. "If that's how you see it, perhaps you are right." Pulling out a new bottle with blood inside...Nezuko does not recall giving Yushiro a blood sample.

"Where did you got that?"

Yushiro flatly said. "The Senjuro guy took a blood sample from the demon guards you guys have killed, while you were unconscious with the noisy thunder boy." It hinted how much Yushiro is annoyed by Zenitsu.

Nezuko can only crack a laugh. "I-It is actually Lightning Pillar..."

Trailing off, Yushiro resumed the topic, as he is checking the blood droplets in the microscope. "If it is right...then, the next time anyone of you encounters Tanjiro, you can inject it to him." Nezuko got hyped.

"Really?!" Only then Yushiro hushed her by the next statement. "...But then again...if Tanjiro had fallen so far from his demonification, even with the lingering Tamayo-sama's anti bodies with him...this added antidote I made will either revert your brother back to normal or he dies from the poison of moonlight rays..."

Pulling away from the microscope lense. Yushiro walks near Nezuko and stared down at her as she was sitting in the available chair with her wooden cane. "Nezuko, it is up to you and your friends to make a haste."

Nezuko bit her lips, she was worried...

'The next time...we encounter Tanjiro Oniichan...we has to make a choice.'

But trying to be positive, she shakes her head and replied wih a bright smile. "Understand. Thank you so much Yushiro-kun!"

Yushiro was taken back and had a furious blush. He does not like how he was complimented like a friend.

"I-idiot, do not thank me!" Acting like a Tsundere, he crosses his arms and looks away "...I'm just here not to let Tamayo-sama's sacrifice in vain. That's all...!"

Nezuko teased his obvious flustered face. "Well aren't you cute~?" Putting her hands to her mouth to restrain her laughter. Yushiro snaps at him in defense.

"Who the hell are you calling cute?! Seriously...!" Nezuko continues to giggle...eventually Yushiro sighs to drop it by changing the topic. "Also.."

Hearing a serious voice, Nezuko stops laughing. "Eh?"

"Next time you battle, make sure not to get grave injuries...as your demonic regeneration abilities is disappearing. You might die next time. So be careful. That's all~"

Yushiro dismiss her. "Go back to your room."

Feeling hopeful...Nezuko once more determined.

"Right...am fully human by then, Oniichan will be partly human..."

Glaring at the stars through the window.

"Oniichan, I will...save you...!"

Looks like Nezuko will have to rest longer than Zenitsu.

...Early in Dawn

"CAW! CAW! INOSUUKEEE! AOIII! IMMEDIATELY TRAVEL TO FUJIKASANE...SOMETHING IS STRANGE...THE SLAYER TRAINEES ARE ENTERING THE MOUNTAINS WITHOUT PERMISSION...STRANGE...! STRANGE! POSSIBLE A DEMON GUARD'S DOING...! CAW! CAW! HURRY BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. LOOK FOR MISSING TRAINEES!"

Hearing the new orders. Inosuke and Aoi excused themselves from Nezuko and Zenitsu who will be stuck in the butterfly estate hospital for a while...as Senjuro plans to visit his father.

"Well then, were off~"

Aoi knowingly look at Kanao whose wishing for her safety.

"Aoi-chan...please return safely..." looking at Inosuke whose unbuttoning his demon slayer uniform already. "Inosuke-kun, please take care of Aoi-chan." Because she was smiling, Inosuke can't help but remember how Shinobu smiles at him.

Blushing a bit, he puts on his boar mask and acts almighty. "LEAVE IT TO INOSUKE-SAMA!"

.

.

.

.

.

.

Something actually been weighing in Aoi's mind.

'It was everything.'

When she found out Nezuko and Zenitsu almost died if not for the antidote given by Yushiro.

Aoi traced her battle with Flame Pillar. 'I would have died if...If Rengoku Kyoujiro's replica has not been holding back.'

Aoi actually felt weak. She was the weakest from all of them in terms of fighting.

Aoi is still feeling so cold...

'Tanjiro's demon guards are terrifying if they were not somewhat tamed...' Aoi had always wore a frown in her face. You will rarely see her smile. Even though she was afraid on going to battle...she kept the words of Tanjiro with her.

((~I will think of you on every battle Aoi-san~))

Clutching at her chest with more frowning... 'Tanjiro, thinking of you is the only way for me to be brave on fighting demons...'

2years...It was the urge to repay back to him. To make Shinobu's sacrifice not in vain. Aoi kept marching forward. 'Fujikasane Mountains...a demon guard lurks...who will it be?' She prayed not to encounter the Insect Pillar replica or she might froze again. 'I may die today, who knows how lucky I can survive by defaults...I may never see Tanjiro goes back to normal...that is why, on every battle I will think of you...Tanjiro.'

Aoi knows Kanao has feelings for the redhead. Aoi did had a small crush on Tanjiro...but thankfully it was not that strong for her to attempt on stealing his attention.

What Aoi wanted is to show Tanjiro he was the very reason why she was able to overcome her Final Section trauma, to fight again as a Demon Slayer.

Better, she was now an Ice Pillar.

The memory where her Nichirin sword snaps in half when the large demon with many hands was laughing at her in the mud.

(("~Kekeke~ you will be my meal~ goodbye twintails~"))

Shivering at that memory. Aoi tried to focus on her goal.

'I will bring you back Tanjiro...for Kanao-sama's and Nezuko-san's happiness...' still guilty why she has to survive all this time. 'I will face my fear to step inside...the Fujikasane final section place...!'

Ironically she had to go back there just to hunt some demons.

Kanzaki Aoi is trying to focus her nervousness into strength.

Thinking it will be a nice travel...

Aoi was wrong.

"You never listened to me!" Yells by someone. They are currently walking to a somewhat rice field. There was a farm of chickens and boar around. The winter was calm, so to hear a noise is totally going to catch attention.

Aoi whose not really interested on someone's personal problem, Inosuke actually stopped on his tracks. He was curious. "Hm?!"

Following the action of Inosuke, Aoi saw it, the man pulling a boar away from the storage room it seems. With a very rough treatment of pulling it's tail.

Aoi can sense why Inosuke paid attention.

It is because... "A boar...!" Angry to spot his 'relative' being mistreated. Inosuke charges to get involved. "HEY YOU BASTARD! FIGHT ME!"

Aoi knew this is trouble. "Wait up! Don't-"

But it was too late.

Inosuke boar thrust the man. "GAAHH!"

"DUMBASS!" Aoi pulls her own hair before snatching the stumbling guy as he was been hit by Inosuke. "W-what the hell is wrong with you?!" The Guy huffs.

Aoi tries to apologize, "Sorry he was a bit strange-" but the man was rude he shoves her and spats. "You and your woman is getting in my private loan! Get off before I call the cops..!"

A thunder strike came to Inosuke and Aoi's head.

"W-woman?!"

But they had different definition of it.

Aoi is blushing inside. 'S-such foul attitude! Bare it...do not punch him or he will really call the cops...!' The police force might confiscate their samurai sword since they are not official to the goverment.

Fuming anger. Meanwhile... Inosuke was...'My woman...? So means...what? I own her...?' He thought Aoi is his woman is like his slave or underling...something like that.

Not knowing it meant as 'lovers'...Inosuke proudly pose a thumb to point at himself. "YES! She is MY WOMAN!" Mocking laugh, "NOW! FREE MY RELATIVES OR WE WILL GANG UP ON YOU! GYAHAHAHA!"

Aoi is so done with him. "LETS GO!" Pulling Inosuke's furr extension, Inosuke was shock how he was unable to release himself from Aoi's holding him to be dragged.

"I-idiot woman! What are you doing to me? Your Inosuke-sama...!"

The guy and the boar was dumbfounded at the two bickering somewhat mother and child instead of couples.

"Were going!" He was pulled more and he growls. "Raarrww!"

The boar secretly walks away as the man scratch his head. "Who on earth are they...?"

Couple of minutes later...

"You! What do you think you are doing?!" pointing at the wild boar, the farm is no longer in sight as they entered a forest outskirts. "We are on our way to our mission...! We must hurry and get Fujikasane Mountain before it is all too late...!" Inosuke debates back. "Shut up! I cannot leave my family like that!" Aoi did not know Inosuke's background to be exact...she was very confused.

"Huh? Family...?" Shaking her head, "I had been curious ..why are you like an animal...?!" only for Inosuke to stomp his feet like a kid explaining his story.

"It is because am an animal!" more confusion. "W-what...?" Inosuke had stop his fist from whining, he let them loose...as he was feeling rather lonely.

"...I was raised by boars, So they are my only family...I never met my real one." remembering how his real mother died when he falls off the cliff. Somehow it still feels painful. "...That is why I cannot let them be mistreated...!" the boar were his family and they are his family...Tanjiro and the gang, it was Inosuke's hope.

Seeing a fragile side of Inosuke, Aoi felt so bad. "S-sorry, I did not know that you never knew your parents... I mean, I thought everyone of us had the same background of our parents eaten by demons...I was not able to see it. Only found them dead..." Inosuke looks away feeling dumb for being worked up.

"Whatever. Fine...let us go..." But then Aoi stand still. This time it was Inosuke's turn to feel bad. Aoi is usually frowning, but right now...she looks very sad. 'What's with her...? She is hard to read...!' walking back towards her, Inosuke stomps at his feet. "Why are you so gloomy? What's wrong? Oi-"

his heart stop when Aoi muttered the name they wouldn't simply say.

"Tanjiro...do you think he will even revert back?"

"Huh? Where did that came from?" Inosuke did not want to even open the topic if Tanjiro will even return to them. He tried to avoid it, but it angered Aoi, she was in hurry... "It's a serious question! Answer it!"

"Ekk?!" Scratching his mask as if he was scratching his own cheeks from being cornered. "Ehm...t-the truth is, I believe Tanjiro will come back!" however Aoi argued back, she was having mood swings to be angry, sad and confuse...especially scared about the things she couldn't control.

"What makes you say that!? What makes you so sure?! He...he replicated all of the Pillars...hurting Nezuko-san like this...and hurting us...!" Inosuke shrinks back, he buttons up his demon slayer uniform to be obedient, he was bothered by how she acted out of maturity to being a frustrated little girl.

"Ehm..." Aoi bit her lips, she comfort's her own arms for support of her uneasy feelings she tried to freeze inside her. "You see...For 2 years...Tanjiro had feast on Marechi...his demonification surely had been deeper by now...Seeing Tomioka-san still in bad shape...still asleep in his nightmares...Tanjiro, he is becoming so devilish...I'm scared...!" tears made it's job to her usually strong demeanor.

Inosuke was lost. "O-oi...Koi...stop crying..." the twintailed demon slayer kept saying negative things that makes Inosuke uncomfortable. "And now were on a mission...what awaits us...? Will the sun going to come back to shine on us again...? Why does it has to be Shinobu-sama and Tanjiro...? The rest...!" eventually he got pissed off.

'what to do...?! what to do..?! think! think...!' debating what will be the proper response to a crying girl, it clicked to Inosuke. 'Wait! thinking is not my forte...! I will do what I usually do to my boar siblings...!'

Raising his hands in the air as he was irritated already.

"Arghh! You are stressing me! Shut up...!" Inosuke pulls her to his chest in a rough embrace. Aoi is stunned.

"W-what?!" Blushing and trying to push away. Inosuke hugs her tighter. "S-stop hugging me!" Aoi's cheeks were reddening as she felt her chest rubbing to Inosuke's chest. Though he was wearing the demon slayer uniform atleast...'Stupid Boar...! Is he dense about private space...?!'

"Let me go!" Inosuke says so loud. "Be brave!"

Looking at his boar mask to trace where the eye socket were. "Huh?" Inosuke sounded so confident. "If you break down...Nobody will make delicious meals for me! So be brave! You are my woman!"

Further embarassment. Aoi forgot the reason what made her so fragile. 'This dumbass...!' Getting released from the tight hug, "Do you even have idea what 'your my woman' means...!? You idiot!"

SMACK!

"Gyah?! Why do you have to be so violent!" His boar mask rotated 360 degress. He stops them and had vein pops. "Grr! Wanna fight me? FIGHT ME THEN!" Aoi stomps her feet on ground.

"Sheesh! I feel so stupid for being carried away in my drama...!" Turning her back, she starts to walk away. "Forget it! Let's keep moving...!"

"Hey! Wait up! Your my woman..! Listen to what I say...!"

Hashibira Inosuke follows her.

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.

It has been 3 days since they had travelled by foot. Inosuke was getting bored and tired.

"Are we there yet? I'm hungry!" The boar whines. The two pinned twin tail butterfly snaps. "You just eat two onigiri I made early! So stop saying you are hungry..!"

Inosuke is still upset at her though. Even though he can say names properly now...he intends it.

"Whatever Kohoi." Annoying the latter. "It's Aoi...!"

Inosuke and Aoi finally arrives Fujikasane Mountains.

The wisteria flowers were covered by the snow. Slowly, and careful...Aoi and Inosuke took the staircase up the rocks. It is a very dark night to be exact...

There is the shrine spot, where they gather demon slayer trainees before one by one of them never returns.

Scanning the quiet gloomy surrounding because of the winter atmosphere. Inosuke and Aoi kept themselves alert.

"There is no one here...?" Is Aoi's question. However Inosuke did not agree with her. "No, I can feel there are people..."

Looking at him for a bit disbelief, Aoi wanted to leave the searching to him. "Really?" Still looking around the empty place. "If you can sense people here...as your ability of six sense...then..." she pointed at the deeper part of the mountains.

"Let us enter the realm of demons."

...

Going inside the eerie and cold forest. Aoi kept on following behind Inosuke's swaying extended furr from his boar mask. Aoi is actually wanting to go closer to Inosuke as they go deeper.

'Calm down Aoi...it is just a distant memory...' her mind was being invaded by her memories of going alone in this path way, encountering demons, running away, crying for help, pathetically slicing the enemies but failed to aim their necks.

Aoi hated everything about Fujikasane mountains.

Trapped in deep thoughts, she accidentally bumps onto Inosuke's back.

BUMP!

"Oops! Sorry! I was not-"

"UGYAAA!"

Making Inosuke squeek in fear before turning to face her with a violent reaction. "W-WHAT..? YOU! DO NOT SURPRISE PEOPLE! ITS RUDE!"

'Eh...? He is...' seeing Inosuke's body is actually trembling. 'Is he cold or...perhaps...'

Not planning to embarass the other, but she was tempted to ask.

"Are you afraid...?"

Guilty response, Inosuke's body twitch before he acted tough. "HAHA? I'm n-not! It is just cold...!"

Aoi narrowed her eyes, "Ah...I guess the eeriness of the winter making it's job to disturb your special ability to feel."

Inosuke is the Beast Pillar. If Tanjiro has strong keen of smell, Kanao's sharp eyes, Genya's special taste and digestive system...Zenitsu's amazing hearing ability.

Inosuke has a super sense of 'feel'.

If he was not an airhead, he can possibly accumulate your negative energy into his...like Aoi, her nervouness making Inosuke uncomfortable. Just like how Tanjiro's kindness had rub to his skin.

Inosuke looks strong because he does not think.

If he was ..he would have been too affected by the earth's energy.

Aoi laughs. "Pff..."

Startled. "A-Are you mocking me?!"

Happy twintails passes over him, "Let's keep going~"

For some reason...Inosuke's heart skipped a bit when Aoi's twintails move as she had a small smile in her lips. 'H-huh..? My heart...?' Sensing something is wrong with his heart.

Little bit he know...he was in puberty.

Deciding to drop the arguement, he followed her. 5hours passed. Eventually they spotted people.

"Hold it." Was Aoi's command. "This is strange..." she says as they are hiding in the bushes.

Inosuke did not want to think, so he ask her. "What was weird?" Aoi pointed out the direction where 20 demon slayer trainees were forming a group of circle near a big rock. "They are missing people right? If they had been here...why they did not show themselves from the Mizunoto's who were a search party...?"

So suspicious they look fine. Though none of them have any sword.

Aoi and Inosuke remained hidden in the bushes as they eavesdrop.

One of them who looks around Tanjiro's height and age said something that will make you arch an eyebrow.

"Looks like they stopped sending the Mizunoto Slayers to find us..." said the boy. The other boy response. "Now we can go back to the unique boulder where Lord Sabito awaits..."

'Lord Sabito...?' Aoi now wonder if that was a demon or a human being. After all, there will be no other 'king' demon besides Tanjiro.

Inosuke whose surprisingly behave, they kept listening to the conversation.

"Ok. Let us head back to Lord Sabito. He said he wanted to know our blood types..."

Eyes gasps in realization. 'This is the same thing Nezuko-san mention of what demon guard doing in red light district...! To gather...blood for Tanjiro...!'

Urge to scold the teenagers. Aoi stood, Inosuke whose still hiding in bushes felt like an idiot. "Oi?"

Hearing the bushes moves. Aoi grumpily walks to the group of trainees. The boys and girls were shock upon seeing a Pillar found them. "Ahh! T-they found us...!"

"You!" Grabbing the collar of the nearest brat. Aoi yells at him. "What is this...you guys are betraying your masters...! Why are you guys allowing the demons to command you?! Why did you even lift a sword for?! Isn't because to slay demons and not to be under by them...!?"

Pulling away from her grasps, she let him as he made an excuse.

"You say that because you are strong...! You are a pillar...! But you know what...were different...haha, we are weak...so...so because we are weak we wanted to live." the boy whined with such fear and mockery.

"They could have killed us...! But they...they did not! They had converse to us...!"

Arching her eyebrows. "What kind of deal is it?" But the trainee shuts his mouth. "..." annoyed. "Why aren't you answering?!"

The other boy replied in his stead. "We were told not to tell any Pillars their plan..." it made Inosuke and Aoi react violently in union.

"HUH?!" The trainees, all of them went silent with visible glares. Getting tired of the stupid play, Hashibira Inosuke marches forward to scold the weaklings in front of him.

That he hates the most.

"I had been staying quiet because this woman told me so. But now I won't stay silent if that has something to do with the demon king...!" Grabbing his collar, the boy squeeks. "Ihhh?!"

Inosuke move his boar mask closer for a better look on the coward's eyes...trying to intemedate the latter. "Tell me." His first warning, but tue boy was stubborn. "N-no."

Piss off more than ever. Inosuke raised one of his fist, preparing to punch.

"Grr...!" Aoi tries to grab his attention by yelling at him. "Wait Inosuke no violence-" the boy was not punch but got slapped.

"GAH!" Surprise that Inosuke did listened to her, still...Inosuke snaps.

"HURRY AND CONFESS! OR BEFORE DEMON EATS YOU...I'M GONNA SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE IT AS CAMOFLAUGE TO HUNT THE DEMONS!" Shaking the boy.

"Eeeek!?" Aoi joins the peition. "He is not kiddin! Confess your crimes before he does!" Inosuke raised again his fist, this time he won't hesitate to punch, as well he can sense Aoi will not stop him this time.

"HERE I GO-" feeling the threat is real. The boy gave up. "FINE! WE WILL CONFESS IT!" Slowly he was put down the ground from his messed collarbone.

"Alright, talk now." Says Aoi as she crosses her arms. The boy cried out. "W-we were promised not to be eaten as long as we offer our blood to their lord 'Tanjiro-sama'...!" Inosuke was turned off, he is fully aware of Tanjiro's evilness..but to think these newbies were worst.

He points to all at them. "YOU and YOU! YOU GUYS ARE ALL WIMP! JUST DIE ALREADY OF YOU ARE ALL GONNA BOW DOWN TO THAT SHITTY PROMISE!" Everyone had different intake of his rude statement. Some death glared, some averted their eyes in shame. Some just did not have any care.

Sensing they might gang up on them. Aoi pulls Inosuke's shoulders to calm down. "Inosuke! Don't insult them too much...! Now is not the time...!"

Until time froze.

"~What is this? Demon Slayers?"

"Lord Sabito...!" Aoi can tell the male voice was Sabito.

BADUMP...!

"Ahh look whose here Sabito~" yet there is also a girl voice!

'This...voice...have I heard it somewhere before?'

Behind the newbies there was a big rock. It was not a perfect shape of rock...just, just a rock is there. Then...above were two figures of an animal.

"Eh...?" No... "Two fox...it's...!"

The lower demon guards gazing below them like high beings. Sabito and Makomo without their face hidden, fully visible their whiskers, fox tail and ears. Their demon fox irises glows with interest.

"Hello~" putting her fingers to her own chin with a montone smile. "I'm Makomo and this is Sabito. We are Tanjiro-sama's lower demon guard. Nice meeting you~"

Aoi gasp loud. 'No way.. this must be a nightmare again...'

Aoi didn't really wanted to set foot in Fujikasane...especially to see the familiar hero in her eyes.

To think Tanjiro knows her is a mystery forever. Why replicate her?

During her impending death at Final Selection, Aoi cannot move a muscle. Starting to shake. Inosuke noticed the odd behavior of hers. "T-that face..." she calls out the girl fox attention. "T-that outfit...am not mistaken i-it's you...that girl who..." pointing at her. Makomo tilts her head and ponder.

'She seems to be shaking up already? I wonder why...~?'

Her tail wags.

This is the truth. When Aoi was about to die, A girl came to rescue her from the Hand Demon.

The memory of her struggle back then replays like a slap im her cheeks.

'Kyaaaahh!' Screaming as her final, a younger voice echoed in the forest.

"I wont let you eat her! You demon!" Quickly the hands were sliced, the monster screeches. "Arghh!?"

Focusing to regenerate. Makomo with her wardoff mask and blue Nichirin blade, puts off a cool vibes. Aoi was staring at her back. 'Her propotion is good...she must be strong.'

Speaking up as still trembling. "Y-you are...? You saved me...?" Makomo gave her a cold replied. "Step out. Leave him to me...I have personal issues to settle with this hand meanie demon..." feeling like a burden, Makomo sense that the twintailed girl was hurt. So she turned her head a bit to meet face to face. Makomo smiled at the trembling twintail girl. "I'm Makomo. Urokudaki-san's best pupil~ I will not let you be harmed further. Be assured."

Turning again ber back with proper fight stance Aoi scramble to the ground to grab her own broken blade. "W-wait...I can fight too...!" Sadly she was rejected.

"NO. You are frozen in fear. It will be fine, because I do not fear anything anymore...just pure rage." Hearing the darkening voice...Aoi saw the rest of Makomo's fight with the scary Hand Demon.

The bloody reminder that becoming a Demon Slayer was never a piece of cake.

The horrid memories flash back ended. Aoi is sure.

"Yes...it was you! I survived the Final Selection by default when you fought the hand demon who taunted you! You were anrgy...and then he rip you apart...! That was the real reason I became more fearful of fighting demons...to see an actual person got rip while fighting...! Makomo-san...!"

Makomo steps back. "Ehh~? I did?" Thinking a bit before reverting to the lazy smile traced onto her DNA. "~Sorry but I do not remember..." Aoi though, was being dramatic. She pushed her story to be listened to.

"If you did not show up...I would have died.. I see, you were Urokudaki's pupil. How did I forgot about your background...Am awful...such a coward...!"

Entertained, Makomo whistled. "Hehh~..I see, well...If that is the case then we shouldn't fight." Inosuke interrupts the two as he felt disturb on the conversation been exchanged.

"Oi! oi! Aoi-oi! Are you blind? That is a demon guard made by Tanjiro...! Makomi or whatever she is called...She isn't the one you met at the Final Selection! Get real...!" Makomo laughs as if everything was chill.

"Now, now~ We are asking you guys to accept the authority of our big heart lord Tanjiro-sama...If you guys accept it, Sabito and I won't have to eliminate you both. We will let everyone live and be happy~ It was just an exchange of loyalty to give your blood without getting killed...Isn't nice to hear~?"

Sabito cleared his throat, he was unfriendly. "Makomo. I do not think they will ever consider to join our side. We should finish them off now..." Inosuke yells back.

"Oh yeah?!" Then Aoi interjects."Hold it...! I-If we agreed on it...what will happen to the years of our training to become stronger...!?" Of course she does not forget their mission.

The mission to eliminate the demons.

"Hahh~ Isn't obvious. Just throw it away. Give your everything to our demon king~ He will set you free." Makomo says so sweet and happy. Aoi frowns further.

Sabito shrugs he lifted his bamboo sword. "Makomo...It is no use to make further conversation." Makomo gave him a cold look.

"Sabito is so impatient." Smiling back."~Anyhow...I will be counting three, If we do not get your response to join us, we has to kill the two of you." She looks the boar and the twintail butterfly slayer.

Still feeling sentimental, Inosuke unsheaths his Nichirin swords. The demon slayer newbies sense a battle will play soon. Quietly they all moved away into hiding.

"There is no need to count..." Inosuke declares. Aoi gulps down.

Sabito huffs at his bravery and had a very dark chuckle. "Ahahahahah!" He heaves a mockery smile. "What a man? No...a boarman." Pointing his bamboo sword to the beast pillar.

Makomo became stoic. "AM HASHIBIRA INOSUKE!" he screamed with pride. "AM THE BEAST PILLAR AMD IM GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!"

Interested. Sabito leaps down. "Very well said Beast Pillar! I will take you on..!"

"Raaaaahh!" Charging forward to the incoming swing of Sabito's bamboo. Inosuke chanted his moves. "((Kemono Kokyuu San No Kiba! KUIZAKI!)) Breath of Beast Third Fang: Devour!" A Simultaneous horizontal slashes towards the target's throat.

SLASH!

The orange head fox demon dodges, though part of his clothes were indeed been sliced. Sabito disappeared a bit when his foot had stepped to land on the rock before making another high jump.

'Shit! Where is he...?!' Using his sense of feeling to be alert. The opponent fox was like a ghost in woods. Sabito appears behind him with a deadly move.

He sensed it.

"hmm~?! This feeling...!" Sabito chanted.

"((Taiyou No Mizu~San No Kata Ryuryumai!)) Water of Sun the Third Form: Flowing Dance!" The swordsman swings his blade at his opponent in a way that mimics the movement of waves on the surface of water.

CLANG!

"Krrr..!" Blocking. Inosuke made a hard flip back to make some huge distance. Inosuke received multiple small cutts to his body. Bleeding but not yet life threatening, he gulps down. "He is strong...!" Instead of excitement like he used to feel for stronger opponents. Inosuke is wounded and nervous. 'He is like...Tanjiro's fighting style...!'

If only he knew Sabito was Tanjiro's mentor back then. Everything will make sense.

"Not bad Beast Pillar." Sabito praised, he mocks him again with a harsh display of interest. "Show me if you can dodge this time!" Fox eyes glows. Inosuke sense he will be killed by the next move!

"((Taiyou No Mizu, Roku no kata! Nejire Uzu!)) Water of Sun the Sixth Form: Whirlpool!" The swordsman fiercely twists his upper and lower body, creating a whirlpool that cuts anything caught in it.

'I won't let him...Head on to battle...!' Inosuke did not wait and chanted once again.

"((Kemono no Kokyuu, Go no kiba Kuruizaki!)) Breath of Beast the Fifth Fang: Crazy Cutting!" Is the 'Mad Cleave' is a technique which slices everything in all directions.

CLASH! SLASH! SMASH!

Sabito stops his movement when he landed with his feet. "Hm?" His wardoff mask designed at his head fell down in half. CRACK...

His haori has been ripped and blood were gushing from all over his body. He was been hit by the beast.

Though Inosuke had the same issue. His whole body had wounds from their whirlpool fight, having painful open wounds. "Ggghh..." the beast to beast fight made them almost naked.

Infact Inosuke's demon slayer uniform was shred from Sabito's attack. Only his mask, furr and hakama pants remained. Strange ability from a wooden sword...

Sabito can see that his neck had a small cut. "You have almost cut off my head huh~?" He regenerates. "You are strong." Facing Inosuke whose weary. "What drives you to defy us?"

Inosuke spits blood and taunts Sabito. "Nobody will bow down to whose! Especially not to Tanjiro...!" Licking his bloody teeth, gulping down red saliva. Inosuke shows him a smug. "Inosuke-sama the Beast Pillar will be followed instead and worship by your demon king! Because Tanjiro is mine to use...!"

Triggered, Sabito didnt like it how Inosuke speak so low of Tanjiro their beloved little king. "You wish for death this much~ very well." Becoming serious. Sabito glares at the naked boar. "Die!"

Meanwhile...Aoi and Makomo is actually not fighting yet. Aoi was presistent to communicate. "I really appreciate your sacrifice for me Makomo-san...! But then again, I want you to rest...!"

Makomo was cool with it as she remained having a small smile to her demon lips. "Meaning~?" Aoi took the bravery for granted. She declares to her with such resolve.

"We will never bow down to Tanjiro! We are Demon Slayers...!" Sabito called out as he notice Makomo isnt doing her job yet.

"Makomo!" Makomo yawns. "I know Sabito." Inosuke yelled as well to tease them all.

"That is right you stupid fox demons! I'm a boar family! I won't join stinky foxes like the two of you...! Begone...!"

Angry. "Foolish boar! Know your place!" Sabito leaps so high and landed top fast. SLASH! spinning in the air, Inosuke's mask got sliced in half. "What the-!?"

Sabito's wooden sword was not a wooden sword...but a very sharp weapon...!

Crunch...

"Argh...!" Aoi wished she did not blink. Makomo was near her. Aoi's left shoulder bleeds. Makomo just now launch forward to capture her while she was off guard.

Aoi got bitten. "N-no...no!" Realizing her mistake. The Ice pillar remained frozen. Makomo giggles and licks the blood dropping to her fangs, she stopped bitting her.

"Woman, you are good~ Too bad you did not want to join Tanjiro-sama's utopia." Aoi swings her sword "Get off me...!"

Makomo twirls above and landed with her wiggling fox tail. 'She is very agile...! I cannot win physically it seems...Hmm I can use that.' Aoi is pissed that just now the fox took a blood from her!

"What was your name Pillar-san~?" Makomo was friendly. Aoi did not mind to amswer. "Am..." posing to her duel stance. "Kanzaki Aoi! The Ice Pillar...! Who will make you rest!"

The duel begins with the girl nine tsiled fox and the twintailed butterfly.

"((Koori No Kokyuu...Go No Kata..! KESSHOU SHIPU!)) Breath of Ice 5th form ICY BLIZZARD!" A type of attack to slash many times all over to create a force field on your body while the enemy cannot get near or else they will get wounds.

Grinning.

Makomo ducks down to make a ninja run towards her. Her whiskers became sharp as she said her move. "((Taiyou No Mizu~Ju no kata: seisei ruten...!)) Water of Sun the Tenth Form: Constant Flux...!" A continuous attack that increases in power with each rotation, creating a strong slash.

Aoi and Makomo, both of them receiving slice of flesh. "Ghh!" Aoi bares the pain.

Makomo stood as she waited for her wounds to heal.

SQUISH.

"What?"

Then she notice...her left shoulder, something was been stabbed. "Eh?" The strange liquid was absorbed with her closing wounds.

"What did you do to me...?"

Touching her own shoulder, the vile falls off. Aoi fell to the floor with an evil smirk. "I told you... Violence is a no..."

BADUMP...!

The moonlight rays felt itchy.

Makomo felt her insides errupting. "Kyaaahghffh!?" Yelling in pain. Sabito stops on attacking Inosuke and he watched Makomo turned red.

"Makomo?!"

Makomo cries in pain as she tried to focus her brearh..."hahh..hahh!" Hoping it will delay her death. "Sabito...! Help me...!" Yet she became soft until she was loosing her demon form.

Inosuke who also attracted to watch how the antidote works. He gawk at the scene. "She's-"

Makomo's body torns apart on its own...just like how the hand demon pulled her legs and arms away from her little body.

Aoi clawed the ground as she felt disguted at her own choice to defeat Makomo's replica this way than slicing off her neck...

'Im sorry! I know I cannot defeat you by physical fight...you were very agile so...I has to cheat!' Deciding to not avert her eyes.

Aoi watches Makomo dissolves.

Makomo said her last words as she was nothing but a memory. "Tanjiro...sama? He...help...me...!"

Demon Makomo turned into blood.

Sabito felt the fear of dying out of nowhere...

DOOM! DOOM! DOOMED...!

His body told him to run. "This is dangerous... if that thing is stab to Tanjiro-sama...!" Quickly he runs away. Inosuke snaps when he heard Aoi's command.

"INOSUKE! DO NOT LET HIM ESCAPE! TANJIRO MUST NOT FIND OUT ABOUT THE ANTIDOTE! SLAY HIM...!"

With that said, Inosuke proceed to chased him. "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING FOX!"

Leaving Aoi. Inosuke and Sabito continued a mouse chase in the forest.

"YOU WERE BRAVE EARLIER! HAHA! BE A MAN AND FIGHT ME FOXY!" Sabito shouts back with fury. "YOU PEOPLE ARE THREAT TO TANJIRO-SAMA...! I WONT LET YOU GUYS GET TO HIM WITH SUCH DANGEROUS ITEM!"

Sabito turns around the corner then to anothed corner. He disappeared.

"Tsk!" Inosuke whose back to being normally naked stabs his two swords to the ground and kneeled. 'Must not let Tanjiro know about the antidote...is she says...!'

Focusing his breath despite his wounds.

"((Kemono No Kokyuu Shichi no kata! Kukan Shikaku...!)) Breath of beast Seventh Form: Spatial Awareness...!" Inosuke can identify the position of enemies by feeling small disturbances in the air. This technique was so strong that Inosuke could sense all the demons spread out through a whole mountain.

There is only one demon here. The fox.

Spotting Sabito whereabouts. Inosuke dashes like a wild beast, though he had no boar mask as it was sliced earliee. Sabito saw him as a wild boar going to hit him dead soon.

What does the fox days?

'He found me...?!'

"GRAAAaaaah! DIE!"

SLASHES!

To his disappointment. He thought he cut off Sabito's neck.

"Where-" Sabito's neck did have a cut but it didnt go through that deep to be taken off...his head was still intact.. "oops...?!"

Sabito had led him to a cliff edge of the mountain!

"Shit! Wrong move! No!"

It was a cliff with the dawn visible.

Sabito remained one piece as he smirks at him. "Goodbye." Sabito disappeared again.

Inosuke was not able to stop his feet to find any ground. He fell.

"Aaaaaah!"

'Dammit! I almost have him...! Why does he had to be smart?!' It was a trap. Sabito led him to fall to this mountain cliff.

Sabito escaped meant Tanjiro will now be cautious of the antidote...

'I failed her...!'

Falling off the cliff, Inosuke saw the distant memory.

'It is...the same as that night...'

The vision of his gentle mother crying as he was a baby falling from her grasps...in a cliff view.

Words that he was not suppose to understand since he was an actual baby, not even a toddler...

"I'm so sorry Inosuke. Please live."

Inosuke's mouth bleeds. Trails of blood in his lips down to chin then his jaw. He cried.

"My mother..."

Memories of Tanjiro smiling at him with a hand full of blister. He gestured for a walk.

~"Here Inosuke,hold my hand...you won't get lost. Trust me!"~

More and more...Inosuke's innocent heart shatters. He cries out.

"TANJIRO...!"

Continuing to fall to his death.

'I guess...This is it...my death will be replayed just like that moonlight...in a cliff. To never see Tanjiro at all...it sucks a lot...'

Closing his eyes.

A miracle happend.

Paatt...paatt...

There was a cushion that impacts in his back. "W-what now...?" Hashibira Inosuke laying flat on his back...in a field of blue spider lilies.

Yes there were species of spider lilies in here.

Unable to move yet, he scanned them with his eyes and neck that attempted to rotate left and right. "Flowers...?"

Trying to sit up, Inosuke coughs some blood. The blood tainted some lilies to become 'red'.

"Huh...?" Inosuke was never found of flowers, he love nature but not flowers...but somehow he remember this flower.

Plucking one blue spider lily. Staring at it with his bloody palms. "If I got it right...These flowers are also in Oyakata-sama's garden...?" Confused. "Right...?"

Headache. "Argh!" Inosuke clutch his head and cursed. "Hurts...!" Able to stand up even though everything hurts a lot.

Inosuke looks up to see that he has indeed fall off to a cliff.

"He escaped..But I was saved..." Inosuke is not that dumb as be used too. He can feel it, the love of his dead mother had catch him while falling. "Thank you.."

Embracing his own self.

Inosuke heard a voice.

"INOSUKE! IF YOU ARE ALIVE...ANSWER ME...!"

It was the woman. His woman.

Snapping his head to where the voice coming from. Aoi Kanzaki was on the other side of the rock cliff, she seems to be going down to find his corpse.

"Aoi..." able to remember her name.

Inosuke walks a bit near to where he can be seen by nakrd eyes. He yells back. "OVER HERE...!"

Aoi who was frantic, jerks her head down to see inosuke is alive. Teary eyes of disbelief. "IDIOT! YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH!"

The snow had stopped and the blue spider lilies were not harmed.

Mystically speaking.

Crying, Aoi was so glad, She saw Inosuke still walking around to go near her below, he was bleeding out actually. Worried yet a smile was traced. "DUMMY! STAY THERE! I WILL GET TO YOU! I WILL PATCH YOU UP SO...!" When she commanded that, Inosuke stopped moving.

Aoi went ahead to go down the cliff. It took some time but atleast the sun has fully risen.

"Inosuke...!" She runs towards him but Inosuke shoves a flower to her face. "HERE!"

Dumbfounded. Aoi stops at her tracks as her nose were smelling the scent of the weird blue flower. "This is...?"

'A spider lily...? I'm not sure...'

Not paying attention to the weird blue field.

Inosuke was having a serious face that Aoi does not know how to react when she heard him say it. "For you!"

"What?"

Vein pop, Inosuke stomps his feet and force the flower to be taken by Aoi's hands.

"Like I said, I got it for you! I pick it up for you..." he meant plucking.

Eyes widen. "What...?" Another 'what' Inosuke blushes as he dreclared. "Y-You like flowers a lot right? Botanist, hairball or herbalist ehm, uhh or something...whatever you are called..." fidgetting, Inosuke huffs and faced her with confidence. Inosuke was smiling like a man.

"That flower looks like you!"

Pointing at the flower in Aoi's beaten hands.

Inosuke was referring to the tails of the blur spider lily. "Twin tails...and blue! You are like that flower...beautiful!"

Thats where Aoi realize what was making this atmosphere of lighrness.

Love flag is triggered up.

"W-WHAT?!"

"Argh! Annoying! How many times do I have to tell you?!" Repeating himself in a arrogant manner. "For you..! It looks like your twintails and your bluish features. Will you make me more meals?"

Aoi jawdrops.

She was in an awe from Inosuke's bold move of confession. Either Inosuke knows it or not...Aoi's heart fluttered.

'He..he isnt bad...so...maybe its okay..?'

Aoi had been thinking about it lately if she can be a normal girl around this time of age before they all die at age of 25.

Aoi sweetly smile, making Inosuke drop his guard. He heard her clearly.

"Ok. Inosuke...I guess am a woman in your eyes. Thank you."

Inosuke felt something in his bulk that he never experience before.

"Geeh?!" His heart throbs too. 'WHAT IS THIS STRONG FORCE?!'

Jerking away, he was sweating and points at her violently. "YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO AOI?! SHE ISNT THAT STRONG!"

Aoi laughs. "Hahaha~ stupid Boar! Let me patch you up!"

The frown in her face forever disappears.

'That is right...I must move on, to the next morning sun. Goodbye Makomo-san...Goodbye Fujikasane. I finally made it out of Final Exam.'

The mission ends

Inosuke is finally in full bloom puberty.

He was inlove but not aware of it. Soon Aoi will teach him...slow and well instructed.

To be Continued

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Kanon58: Surprise? Yes there was a field of spider lilies near wisteria mountain. It was just invented, but I always wonder you know...where the hell blue spider lily might be lurking, I thought to ironically put it where you least expected! Hope you guys like Tanjiro's developement and the battle of Aoi and Inosuke against Sabito and Makomo.

I always thougt Makomo and Aoi were at the same 'year' of Final Selection. I mean, Aoi did say she survive the final selection by default. Meaning...Sabito and Giyuu's Final Selection, then Makomo and Aoi's turn...before Tanjiro,Zenitsu,Genya and Kanao's turn.

That's how I portray it, tell me if you find it convincing...but anyhow! Now I can ditch the rest and focus to Kanao x Tanjiro finally...~!

Next: Receiving a live sample of Blue Spider Lily, Yushiro focus to it's components. Kanao is on her way to investigate the Sword Smith Village. They had been delaying the forge of Nichirin swords suspiciously. Zenitsu and Aoi was told to back her up. Senjuro went to his father then they went to visit the Shinobu Clan. Whose demon will they encounter? Kanao will see him soon, Tanjiro.