Act 12: Dew and Thunder

Rise of the Demon King Tanjiro VS Demon Slayer Nezuko

**Originally posted in Fanfiction and Archive**

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

Kanon58: i recently published my own manga i hope you subscribe to it,i need 100subs to gain revenue ad on it. Struggling on rent. Plz help. Visit my WEBTOON or TapasComics titled 'Paradox Mansion'

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

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"Hmm..?" Kanao moves closer. "GO TO SWORD SMITH VILLAGE...OBSERVE AND PROTECT...! THE VILLAGE CANNOT PRODUCE NICHIRIN BLADE FOR SOME REPLACEMENT...SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPEN! CAW! CAW!"

Kanao set off to her mission.

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Orange of the past...it sang the reason to be sane in such sorrowful and delicate situation. "I'm hurting and tired...but I got to get stronger right?"

Ask by Tanjiro in the basks of sunset. He sat on the clinic bed prepared for Nezuko. As for Nezuko she was in her box,half of her body was exposed. Innocent tamed demon eyes stares at her brother's,Tanjiro smiles softly and gently he let her know the reality of their situation.

"Urokodaki-san and Tomioka-san is risking their lives for us...even Oyakata-sama allowed such thing-" Only to find Chibi demon Nezuko already asleep.

Tanjiro chuckles at the sight.

"You are sleep deprive aren't you?" Next was a very sad smile as he traced their scars. "I'll be a grown man one day,I'll be an old man and die...and then the Demon Nezuko will end up all alone. That would too lonely isn't Nezuko?" Finally having a confident smile, her big brother oaths to her once more...

"I promise you,I'll turn you into human okay?"

Nezuko heard it all,but she would never reply. After all, her vocal is blocked by never ending hunger and the bamboo gag itself.

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Demon Slayer Nezuko opened her eyes from that melancholic dream. Small tears had been spilled while she was sleeping. "...eh?" With her fingers she touches them and wipes them. "Oniichan..." sitting up, it was already noon. Nobody else was in the clinic room except a disabled Nezuko at the moment.

"A dream..." looking at her paddle, then to the window.

Nezuko is still sleeply but her heart was crying from such memory of warmth.

"Me too, Tanjiro oniichan..." she answers back, "I will bring you back home. Maybe you are hungry today, maybe you wanted Marechi badly. But I know deep inside you are still my big brother..." making her hands intertwine with a willful prayer. "Which is why wait for me, wait for us to cure you. Until then I pray to God that he will restrain your demonic side...before it is all too late."

A smile of hope was drawn to her lips.

"My beloved and one remaining family member...Tanjiro."

The wind blows...

Before the Sunset...Here are the morning events from Sword smith village, Haganezuka whispered in Kanao's ear and said to her. "Tanjiro's demon guards are here. We had been held hostage 15 days ago...act normal. Pretend you do not know. Ask for back up, you alone and against the current demon guard wont survive."

Eyes widen, Kanao did not say anything as she perfectly understood now why the sword smith village are rebelling against Demon Slayer crops.

Kozo remained silent as he watch the two.

Slowly Kanao turned her head to see Haganezuka's mask. She glared at them, then she scanned her surroundings.

There are no demons at all, despite the masks that covers their worried and guilty faces, Kanao can sense they were all trying their best to act normal. Not to endanger any of themselves before rescue.

'I see...for 15 days they obeyed them for us...' A nod. Kanao responded, "I will take my leave. I will ask Oyakata-sama to help me check the situation of the Well." It was an obvious lie. Haganezuka is glad that Kanao understood everything so fast. 'No wonder she was a Tsukugo. She is quick to catch despite the lack of expressing herself.' With that Haganezuka continue his act by making her go away.

"NOBODY NEEDS DEMON SLAYERS! DON'T EVER COME BACK!"

Watching the flower pillar left. They all thought it was safe.

To their lack of attention Kanao actually pretended to leave. 'I can't go back now, it does not guarantee their safety if you think about it. What if their blood is being taken?'

Tsuyuri Kanao decided to investigate by going to the Well.

...

Kanao waited for the sunset to come as she kept herself well hidden in the forests sides of the sword smith village. 'Alright...time to get working.'

Kanao knows this is dangerous,however she cannot quench the hesitation she feels on her heart. If only there was a coin to stop her irrational decision it could save her ass. Yet..."This is the Well."

The said Well looks fine, there is of course grass everywhere. Kanao slowly walk towards the Well with anticipation that maybe the Demon Guard is hiding inside it. But... "Hm..? This is..." peeking inside the well it was empty. There was no water at all.

"Then...where do they drink?"

Kanao's almost blind vision,she couldn't see the darkness of the Well. Her hands travel to it's body rock then she touch something familiar. "Eh?"

A shiny circle..it was...

"A coin...?"

Lifting the coin in her fingertips, it reflected something inside the deep well. Her eyes finally adjusted to see blurry pile of coins. Kanao remembered a memory where she was taken by Kochou sister's to make a wish on a Well. They toss a coin and she almost fell inside.

The memory ended up with Kanae and Shinobu laughing their ass off to her simple mind as a child with no voice of her own.

"A wishing Well..." cupping the coin to her chest, she was a little bit teary. "I see,this Well is a place for wishes..." curious how sword smith village has such thing. "Does all of them make a wish here...like this coin...?"

Looking at the coin in her left palm, it reminded her of him.

"Tanjiro-kun...it is like you said,it is the heart that drives people. Which is why this Well is full of coins...with different kinds of wishes in their hearts."

Then a voice scolds her from behind.

"W-what are you doing?!" Kotetsu emerge from the bushes and points at her. "Why are you still here!? Did you not understand the message?!" Kanao had sweat drops and focus her vision to Kotetsu. "Ah...I'm sorry."

Kotetsu goes towards Kanao and looks at her faded irises. "You are blind...yet you stayed, but why!?" He was worried for her.

The Flower Pillar softens, then smiles at Kotetsu. "It is my job as a pillar. To never fear." But Kotetsu huffs and says, "Its ok to fear than to be killed! Can't you understand the plan? You could have ask for backup! It is not just two demons,it is a Demon Guard! Pillar or not...my memories back then is clear! One Pillar saving a whole village was not enough! We need more pillar here...! At least two more!"

Kotetsu was referring when Tanjiro and his friends came as well at the village when human Tokito was present to save their lives from a sudden Twelve Demon attacks.

However Kanao shakes her head and defy him. "It will be too obvious if I left, then I returns? That is more dangerous...um?"

"Kotetsu is my name!" He proudly stated, Kanao nods and introduce herself as well. "Tsuyuri Kanao." Kotetsu fums and circles around her. "Ok, since you won't leave what is your plan?" Kanaowho doze off for short moment with an honest reply. "I was actually gonna ask about where is the demon guard-"

"Kotetsu, there you are."

A familiar voice.

"Eeek!"

Kanao gasp upon seeing the Mist of pillar is alive. 'Demon...' Muichiro look at them with very bored eyes. Rather than the usual surprise face, he look like he already foretell this event. "I see, A demon slayer is here~ and A pillar not the less.." glancing at Kotetsu with commanding eerie. "Capture her." Kotetsu immediately abandons Kanao. Kanao is not dumb,she knows this is what they had been doing for 15 days...to serve the demon guards and wish for a rescue.

"Y-yes Muichiro-sama!"

Suddenly Kozo and some random villager seize her to the ground. "Wha-"

Without much of resist, Kanao is pin down at the grass, she gaze up to see the cold eyes of ex Mist Pillar.

"Lock her up. I will be offering her head to Tanjiro-sama...but for now..." Muichiro knelt down and lifts her chin. "Yeah, for now let me see you survive imprisonment~" a smirk, "I'm very bored. Entertain me okay?" Eyeing her Nichirin blade with flower patterns, Muichiro guessed what kind of pillar she was.

"Flower Pillar~"

BAM!

"Ah!"

Throwing her off inside a storage room.

Kozo, the random villager and Kotetsu pretended cold at her. Kanao does not mind to get thrown like that to the ground. In fact she pity that they had to go all this hassle of acting.

Behind them is a yawning Muichiro, the sunset is slowly becoming a dark night. He flip his hair and turned his back with another command. "Feed her meals or whatever. Keep her healthy until Tanjiro-sama arrives." Just like that, careless it seems...Tokito Muichiro left them.

Eyeing each other, Kozo whispered to Kanao who has been silent.

"Psst, There is a way to escape...but you have to let us capture you. Sorry about the rough treatment." Kanao remained stoic and replied with professionalism.

"I understand. Till back up comes."

The door shuts, Kanao heard a lock.

CLICK.

If they won't really lock her,it will be obvious that the villagers has not give up. Yes, Kanao was been imprisoned to the storage room.

Standing and patting some grass in her skirts. Kanao scanned the surrounding inside her little box of cage. "There is a window...but too small to escape." Not actually bothered by her situation.

She is more like trying to memorize all the structures and stuffs that she can still see. "This storage room is near the Well where you can throw coins." Putting her hands inside her pockets, she found the coin she got there earlier and mesmerize it's heads and tails. "While I'm here..tossing them again will kill time."

Kanao toss the coin with a wish in her head. 'May back up come soon to free the sword smiths...tails is the back up,head is Tanjiro-kun's arrival.'

Kanao did not feel sensitive on the topic upon hearing the demon guard mention Kamado Tanjiro's name. It is something Kanao expects from all the things that have happen so far...Especially how the whole sword smith village is hostage.

'I don't know why I feel like he will come soon...' Definitely high chances that Tanjiro will come if he was craving so much to get a Marechi on his hands. 'Tomioka-san is still poisoned by master's...'

Kanao is recording them to her memories. How Nezuko mention that her big brother doesn't remember her.

When Nezuko cried as she clutch at the newsboy hat she got as a reminder that she did encounter her big brother.

Kanao swore more than ever to make them back together as family. "Tell me coin...tell me what it would be?"

TOSS!

CLING!

When it landed, it was tails.

"...!" Kanao is a bit disappointed that it was not heads. Kanao hugs the coin and shook her head. "I guess it is not the time yet for us to see each other...Tanjiro-kun."

Silently, Kanao's world is not yet breaking.

3 Days the reporting crow has not seen Kanao. Kanao has not left any message at all. It was suspicious and worrying enough.

Which is why Ubuyashiki Kiriya had ask two more pillar to go inside the sword smith village whose still refuses to give them a replacement sword, for those slayers who snaps them during deadly battles.

"So here we are..." the Lightning Pillar and Ice Pillar allowed the wind to sway their hair dramatically as they enter the gates of sword smith ville. Zenitsu's long pony tailed he catch them and brushes them. Zenitsu noticed something stuck at his hair strands.

"Hmm...?"

Aoi who looks at him. "What's up?"

Zenitsu notice his hair is somewhat wet. "Dew...?" Lifting his palms to check if the rain is coming. Aoi looks above the sky in response with Zenitsu's weird behavior. "It does not seem it will rain or anything..." walking pass by Zenitsu, Aoi pulls him from his cloudy thoughts. "Come on now, its time to work Zenitsu."

The weather today is actually cloudy. The sun is nowhere to be seen. It is currently around 2pm already when they arrived, so it is safe to assume the sun faded behind the clouds as it is getting dark later on.

"Oh god!" Kozo who immediately spotted in the entrance the Lightning and Ice pillar has arrived to investigate. Quickly he run off with his feet to call out Haganezuka and Kotetsu to grab the key and free the Flower pillar from the storage room.

"Quick!"

"W-whats up with you Kozo?"

"Free her! It is the time! The back up is here!"

Silently the demon guard Muichiro and Gyomei had been standing above the trees...quietly watched the traitor masks unlocking the storage room.

Muichiro huffs rather than angry.

"I guess your fortune telling really is effective Gyomei."

Gyomei who rub his palms together as if he was praying, he nods and had the same call reaction like the mist of demon. "It is quite amusing these villagers thought they have trick us into their bidding. Little bit they know I already saw this coming from my ability to see the past, future and present." Staring down them, Tsuyuri Kanao emerge out from the storage room and is informed about the other pillar's arrival.

"If we took their blood by force, according to the future I saw...they would have consumed the wisteria tea to poison us indirectly. Clever for sword smiths." He chuckles.

Muichiro cold as ever, seized his gaze to the enemies. "Never the less now that we have confirmed that they did not really submit to Tanjiro-sama's kind proposal of peace..."unsheathing his demon nichirin replica sword. "It is time to hunt down these pillars and offer their bodies to be dump at the Well of wishes~"

The clouds have darken,

Pluck...

"Huh?"

Aoi and Zenitsu looks above the sky, then it drops heavily.

"Whaa!? Rain!"

SHAASH SHAASH SHAAASH!

"E-ehhh!"

Aoi and Zenitsu quickly scattered when the rain suddenly dropped down so heavily. Hiding to the available roof of someone's hut.

This was the moment they realized the villagers has not approach them at all. "Hey! Open up! Were the Demon Slayer corps! We would appreciate some blanket and umbrella!" As Aoi knocks to the door where she hid from the rain, someone peeked at the window.

The random villager whispered to her between it.

"Apologies, we will behave till its gone."

"What?"

Then Zenitsu heard a wind movement. 'Wait...this blood thumping sound...a demon...'

"Wait! Aoi-chan!"

Warned by Zenitsu, thankfully Aoi have dodge.

SLASH!

"EH?"

Just now, a blade sliced half of the roof.

CRASH!

"What the?!"

"Aaah! He's here!"

The roof fell, heavy dust with pouring rain... some villagers screamed inside their houses as mist of shadows appearing in their vision of heavy rain.

Aoi got exposed to the rain and stared blank before her. Zenitsu who stopped minding to get soak, he dashes out from the hut he had been standing to go to Aoi's side.

"You are...!" Tokito Muichiro is right there. With uncaring spade irises, he click his tongue. "Tsk, I missed?" Zenitsu like a scared cat pointed at him. "T-The mist pillar replica!" Says Zenitsu. Muichiro click his tongue again, in pure annoyance. "Why does everyone if you say it that way? I do not belong to any except Tanjiro-sama's...!"

Aoi unsheathes her sword and points at the enemy. "I see! This place has been taken over!" There was no need to ask, clearly the sword smith villagers had rebel against giving a replacement sword for them. That simple thing already pointed facts that maybe they were being hold off by some reasons...or because of the demons lurking in their village. Like the Red light district story.

Muichiro glared at Aoi and Zenitsu. "If you guys had not come to interfere there was no need for us to slaughter further. Making our lord's replication into nothing..." Pointing his replicated nichirin blade to his opponents. "It is all a disturbance to Tanjiro-sama! Unforgivable mongrels!"

Suddenly Muichiro teleported infront of Zenitsu and kicks him in his stomach. "Ack!?" Spitting some blood, Aoi shouts as she made her way to try and slice some limbs from Muichiro. "Zenitsu!"

Breathing, Zenitsu meanwhile had flew afar from the strong kick.

CRASH...!

Gaining bruises from the impact he felt as he slides to the ground. The cold rain dirtied his haori a lot. "*coughs*!" Unable to sit up at the moment. Zenitsu watched Aoi fighting Muichiro all by herself.

"Koori No kokyuu roku no kata-"

Muichiro did not let her focus her battle attack, Muichiro murmured his sword style. "Taiyou no Kasumi...((Mist of the Sun...))" his sword sparked its sharpness as he breaths out, "Hachi no kata~ Katai no Katachi! (8th form Harden Shape!)" A straightforward smash attack.

SWOOSH!

"AH-" Aoi thankfully able to defend herself from loosing a limb by using her nichirin sword.

CLANG!

Crack,crack.

'Ah...oh...!' Only for the force of weight to move her 5 meters away from Muichiro's. Aoi felt a sharp pain in her ankles. "Ugh!"

Trembling hands, Aoi grit her teeth as she knew she was been injured. 'Dammit...my ankle got sprained from his attack!' Cursing herself for already getting a bad injury, surely it will affect her movements.

It would poorly make her unable to run and jump. "Now die." The simple statement from Muichiro that was directed to Aoi, Zenitsu quickly got up and snatches her.

"MAN UP!"

Whooosh!

Tokito missed again, surprised eyes. 'This blonde hair...is fast.' Silently letting them run off. "What!?" Blushing, Zenitsu panics and yells like the old him. "L-L-LETS GET OUT OF HERE AOI-CHAN! WERE SCREWED!" Running away with the fastest speed as he carried Aoi in a princess cradle.

Zenitsu made his way to the forests skirts.

"Kyaaaaaah!" Zenitsu was the one screaming like a girl, pissing Aoi off she punches his body while careful for the sword not to slice any of Zenitsu's clothes or flesh.

"YOU'RE A PILLAR ZENITSU! WHY ARE WE RUNNING AWAY?!"

Zenitsu yells back, still scared.

"SOMETIMES RUNNING AWAY IS THE RIGHT OPTION! YOU SPRAINED YOUR ANKLE! SURELY YOU WILL DIE!"

Aoi doesn't understand why a afraid pillar like him is so strong and good at enduring hits, he wont let her go.

"GET ME DOWN! IDIOT! IDIOT!"

Arriving to stop at the center of the forest, Muichiro's voice echoed in the surrounding creating a somewhat haunted forest.

"Running is futile, the whole places is ours now~"

Chills on his spine, Zenitsu panics more in his body language but his voice is so little, making Aoi shuts her mouth off.

"And where do you think you are running?" The voice is so near that Zenitsu froze as he still had Aoi in his arms. Jerking his head to left and right. "W-where?!" Odd. 'What is this...? The rain has become lighter but...the fog...since when it was this foggy?!'

Sensing danger if he let Aoi down the grass, Zenitsu kept himself alert.

Muichiro's demon replica is a complete sadist.

"Well~well~ I think killing you guys right away will be boring. So let us have a short fun while it lasts. Let me give you some clue, this mist is a blood demon art of mine~ you are trapped already." His voice did not sound sweet but it clearly pinpoints a closet sadistic desire was there.

'Shit! Shit! This already happening when we haven't even found where is Kanao-chan!' Gasping. 'Wait! That is right! Where is Kanao-chan?! She isn't dead...right!?' Gulping down his fear, Zenitsu dared to communicate with the demon hiding on this thick dew.

"W-where is the Flower Pillar?! D-did you kill her already..!?" Zenitsu didn't want to assume but it was the only way to talk back to his enemy.

'Listen carefully Zenitsu...listen carefully he might attack in surprise!'

There was actually silence, only thing Zenitsu can hear right now is the gentle pour of rain that had previously made his ears deaf when it went down heavily earlier.

Because of that he failed to hear a demon guard was approaching.

Zenitsu is thankful that the demon guard is not up to kill them right away despite the emitting hatred he boasts.

Muichiro hummed, "hehh~what if I told you I did? What you gonna do about? Are you going to avenge your comrade~?"

Aoi was triggered by his statement, angrily she shouts as she kept her hands fist with her sword that had some cracks from earlier. "Kanao-sama ain't dead! I refuse to believe your lies!" Seeing frustrated tears from the twin tailed girl, Zenitsu felt bad.

"Aoi-chan..."

Muichiro on the other hand had laughed. "Aha..Ahahaha~! Thats it! This fight wont bore me! I know Tanjiro-sama will be mad if I play with food...but, I cannot miss this opportunity to toy with you pillars!"

Sweatdrops, sweaty hands, he and Aoi are frighten,unable to move in such place...the mist and rain doing a great job to kept them imprisoned in the forest. 'Dammit...the dew is too thick and the moist of the rain even make it harder to see where he is...!'

Zenitsu and Aoi's heart is actually nervous as hell right now. Imagine you had a demon guard as an enemy hiding in the mist. It was more scarier than fighting them in the dark. At least you expect them to spun from dark corners...but being in the middle of thick rainy fogs.

You cannot tell which direction the enemy will strike.

"Zenitsu..." Aoi whispers, looking at the girl. "I cant frankly fight much with my sprained ankles and banged up sword. You can put me down and focus to kill him." Zenitsu shakes his head as he whispers too. "I cant do that! If I put you down who knows he might drag your legs then eat you!"

Aoi frowns, "Then how are we suppose to win?!"

Muichiro's voice echoed again, he sound bored. "Enough with whispering and chitchats~ It is about time you guys tell me who wants to die first!"

Zenitsu knew its a bad move, but he cannot let it be.

Gripping at his hold to Aoi's body. Aoi sense a stupid idea will be voiced out in his mouth. "Zenitsu don't-"

Zenitsu screamed in his lungs. "KILL ME FIRST YOU COWARD!" Gulping down some oxygen of bravery. "H-HIDING IN BLOOD D-D-DEMON BLOOD, UNFAIR! SHOW YOURSELF!"

There was no response from the enemy, so Zenitsu gently put down Aoi to the ground. Aoi had sweat drops but decided to kept her mouth shut.

'Z-Zenitsu...?!'

"Fool."

Muichiro appeared in his front from the mist and punch his gut by the sword's handle.

WHAM!

"Gahh...!"

Coughing blood. Aoi got tearful. "Z-Zenitsu!"

Muichiro disappeared again in the mist allowing Zenitsu to cough some blood and hurled his stomach. Still worried for the other, biting his lips, he still bothers to warn the other. "Stay still Aoi-chan! Don't move!"

Muichiro whose thankfully only had one attention pointed at him, he was having fun. "You are fun to beat up. I wont kill you right away take this!"

Receiving a kick to his left side.

KICKS!

"Ugh!"

Reiceving a smack on the right side.

WHAM!

"Kuhh!"

SLAM!

Getting slammed to the ground.

"Kahhack!"

Muichiro appeared and is now visible to Zenitsu's and Aoi's eyes as the rain still continues.

"That is where you belong, in the ground."

"Ow..!" The lightning pillar hissed.

Stepping on Zenitsu's face. "I still wonder why Tanjiro-sama even bothering to share his sunlight of kindness to the likes of you people. Worthless demon slayers..."

The rain becomes harder that there are now thunder sounds.

DUN,DUN,DUN.

It rings loud like the drums.

Clawing the mud, Zenitsu knows he must not collapse. 'Save Kanao-chan! And Aoi-chan! Not for Nezuko's sake but because...all girls deserve to be protected...!'

Then,

"~Hana no kokyuu...Roku no kata. ((Breath of Flower the sixth form.))" A flower voice breaths, the mist were cut in half to reveal a dashing warrior with two butterfly hairpins attached to her head.

"UZUMONO~! ((Whirling Peach~!))" A technique used after or during evasion, the user spins around moving with their body weight to deliver an attack.

SLASH!

Tokito Muichiro's right arm flew in the air with oozing blood.

"My...arm?" Almost doubting it happen. Kanao landed with a threatening sword stance. She was glaring at him, her white cape is so soaked but it gave you the vibes of justice has arrived. "Fight me, demon guard!"

A joyful reunion for Aoi, she was tearing up. "K-Kanao-sama you are alive!"

"Tsk. Will you stop speaking." Muichiro quickly aimed to kick Aoi whose noisy, "No!" Zenitsu notice it and shields her. "Aoi-chan!"

KICKS!

"GAH!" Getting Zenitsu kicked instead, both rolled over the mud. "Kyah!"

Kanao ignored them and fights on. 'Focus! Focus!' Muichiro didn't say another word but he slowly vanish as the mist eaten him. 'He hid...!?' Kanao forced her eyes to be alert than ever. 'Look around you, use your eyes...he is here...Even if your world is blurry, you can fight! You are a Tsukugo! A flower pillar!'

"Taiyou no Kasumi, Sachi no kata. ((Mist of the Sun Seventh Form: )) Oboro. ((Obscuring Clouds.))" A technique in which Muichiro drastically changes the tempo of his movement to disorient an enemy. When he shows himself, his speed will appear to be extremely slow but when he hides, he moves in the blink of an eye. This technique was created by Muichiro Tokito and first seen during his battle against Upper Rank 5, Gyokko.

SLASH!

SMASH!

"Hana no Kokyu! Go no kata! ((Breath of flower Fifth Form!)) Ada no Shakuyaku! ((Peonies of Futility)) A graceful flurry of nine consecutive attacks that flow and weave in on themselves.

CLANG!

CLING!

SLICE!

BAM!

Exchanging continues attacks, both were appearing and disappearing. The thunder roared as it goes on. "...Holy lord."

Zenitsu awed how Kanao and Muichiro were almost in the same level. Their blades clashing without delay and the sound effects in Zenitsu's sharp ears were tinggling. "A-amazing...so this is a tsukugo, Kanao-chan is half blind but...she is still so fast and skilled. As if she can see so clearly...!"

Muichiro turned serious when his cheeks were sliced off. "Mmm~"

"Hahh...hah..." though Kanao is getting exhausted. 'He is not playing fair by this mist...meaning he is not that strong. He doesn't need to hide like this just to toy us. His weakness must be behind this rain.'

Gripping tight to her sword.

'I saw him summon the blood demon art. He called it Rainy Mist. He is in advantage. I must find a way to remove this...to make the fog or the rain go away!'

"You...flower Pillar." Muichiro called her, she looks back with intemedating glares, both feel mutually angry at each other.

"I dont like the face you make. I feel jealous for no reason. Gyomei."

Hearing the stone pillar's name mention, it doesn't make sense.

"Eh?"

Suddenly, a chain wrapped to Kanao's body and pulled her away from Muichiro's reach.

"WuaAaaahh!"

Screaming.

"Kanao-chan!"

"Kanao-sama!"

Kanao was dragged off somewhere when the chains took her. At a rapid speed she disappeared.

Aoi scrumbled at the mud and crawled her best. Zenitsu on the other hand had forgot to move. 'Hold on! The mist pillar disappeared again! But...I can hear Aoi-chan is still alive and scrambling her way to get out of the mist so meaning...he isn't chasing him.'

Standing up all muddy. "H-hey...?"

"Aahh..!"

Landing to the ground with a rough thud.

"Oh no! The Flower Pillar!"

The sword smith villagers panic upon the sight of the flower pillar getting dragged back to the village. They were the audience of this battled field. Getting pulled by the chains to the ground, it hurt.

But Kanao is trained to always breath her techniques to fight up nonstop. Rolling over the ground she breaks away from the chains.

SHATTERS!

Some part of the said chain shattered but not completely. Because they were somewhat alive.

Gasp.

"Flower Pillar, Tsuyuri Kanao. What a wonderful creature you are." Himejima Gyomei is not hiding unlike Muichiro. Like a big stone, so clear and visible despite the rain making things more dramatic.

Thunder strikes to have his demon eyes illuminates eerie.

Kanao pants and wiggled in her legs as her other free hands supporting her somewhat injured arm for being abduct like that.

"The...stone pillar...demon version."

A small smile in the blind demon's lips. He was polite yet scary. "Nice to meet you, am Himejima Gyomei. One of Tanjiro-sama's demon guard. I admire your strenght and endurance, so I peeked into your past. Such pitiful..."

Eyes startled at such revelation that he can see the future and stuffs. Kanao narrowed her eyes with visible doubts and tangled thoughts.

'Should I believe him? No...master said demon tend bluff. Just observe and analyze the situation first! Let him talk...keep calm.'

"To think a child like you at such young age were thrown to slavery. Such trauma it must have you lost all your emotions. Your brain must have snap in half. Wonders how you are not like that anymore."

His words were like the wall where you wanted to lean when depressed. However Kanao was not like that. She was not an ordinary human after all...she was long ago broken.

"It was your king who put me back to pieces." She says with a darken expression.

"Hm?"

Gyomei tilt his head in curiosity.

"Tanjiro-kun...he made me decide on my own without a coin. He said to follow my heart...which is why!" Pointing her shining blade of determination. "I will slay you demon guards! Once you are all gone there is no reason for Tanjiro's heart and mind to debate which is the truth of him!"

Attacking.

"Haaaahh!"

RATTLE RATTLE...

Gyomei simply whips his dowsing chain weapon.

'The chains!'

Almost hitting her footing.

"Ow!"

It hit her toes but she bared with it. "Khh..!"

Meanwhile...Aoi on the muddy ground had rose up with hurting sprain. Scolding herself. "Stand up and run for Kanao-sama! Help her! Dont froze now...! Even if you break your footing stand up!"

Running, Aoi screamed the pain and kept on moving forward to reach the ville. "Graaarghhh!"

Eventually she reach her destination with a broken blade, Kanao spots her because of her loud voice.

"Aoi-chan...?!"

Seeing Kanao avoiding the chains of the demon stone pillar, Aoi dared to join in. "Koori no kokyu!" Gyomei snaps and whipped her some body part of the chain. "Stay on the ground pillar!" Getting hit in the face. "Uagh!" Aoi fell asleep in an instant.

"Aoi-chan!"

Kanao puffs the fatigue of battle while raining...scanning her surroundings with Kotetsu,Kozo and Haganezuka watching with everyone else...peeking in their windows. Hiding.

Kanao sense a lost of situation. 'Aoi-chan cannot fight anymore...I have to do this alone. I should be thankful enough the demon replica of stone pillar is not attacking any of the villager...it must have been Tanjiro-kun's command.'

Appreciating the fact that nobody was really harmed for 15 days, she had a small sad smile. 'I see...Tanjiro-kun even a demon still want to protect people...How much is the good and evil Tanjiro fighting over?'

Gyomei whose standing still speak ouy his thoughts for her. Unfazed of themselves all soaked in rain.

"Alright, have you given up the range of our power doesn't match?" Raising her one eyebrow, "No. I just think even as a demon now you are still the strongest pillar...your Lord has some good memories for him to replicate." Gyomei is amused.

He smirks. "I see you wont give up. Let me pay respect to a brave warrior...the fact that you are half blind and keeping up with our fight is honorable of you. How about you surrender to our lord already? If you do...I will spare you and your comrade over there."

Eyeing everyone that Kanao may not he able to protect. She opted to be stubborn like Shinobu and Nezuko. "Never!"

Gyomei sighs and calmly told her. "Let me tell you my secret. I see the past,present and future of my opponents. Do you believe you can win?" His orbs glows, hinting he is using them till now.

Kanao made a face. "I don't care."

Gyomei nods on himself and marched one footing,the earth gained cracks. "Hn, You wish death...I already saw this future, I still asks with little hope that would change...but I was wrong. Now tremble!" His horns swungs as he squats to utter some technique.

"Blood demon art rise of earth~!"

Kanao is not surprised, instead she readied herself. 'Here it comes...!' The rocks lifted like an earth bender as chains dowsing in all direction.

'Dont get hit! Dont get hit!' Anxious yet brave. Kanao kept her attention to the enemy, ignoring everyone else that seems to be getting out of their hiding spots.

"Quick! Get the Ice Pillar away from Battle field!" Said Kotetsu as they noticed that Aoi gained consciousness but badly beaten. Kozo and other random villager drags her away. "T-thanks and sorry for being incompetent." Ashamed for being kicked ass already, Kozo comforts her.

"Oh please pillar-sama! Don't say that! By just getting rescued like this is heart warming!" Aoi hissed at the seething pain in her body as she gets to a safer place as the battle of the Flower Pillar and Stone demon pillar happens. Just resting to one of the sheds, watching the two clash and dodging each other.

Aoi had a sad perspective. "Still...were overpowered. If the previous pillars were alive...Im sure this is just piece of cake for them..." silently Kozo and Kotetsu stared at her and into Kanao. No doubt...there was difference of strength and talents.

'We new generation of pillars are so weak...! And am the weakest..! Dammit...I thought I was able to become stronger!'

Aoi can only blame themselves.

SHAKE SHAKE!

Getting wound in her cheeks.

CLASH!

SWING!

Getting her skirt rips on the edges.

SWOOSH!

WHOOSH!

CLING!

Gyomei's dowsing chain going crazy, hitting sound houses, the ground, other rocks that happen to exist and some trees.

RATTLE RATTLE..!

Kanao is getting impatient.

'Every time I attack he knows what and when I will strike...! Does he really see the future then...?! This is bad...how can I defeat him? Master...!'

Closing her eyes for a second as her body flying and leaping to dodge, keeping herself in one piece but with blood trailing her head and lips and thighs.

It was funny Gyomei did not really move from his spot, only the blood demon art making the ground move on its own, glowing orbs and running dowsing chains.

Kanao heard a coin, it was a memory.

"Kanao~chan."

It was a memory where the kochou sisters starts to allow her to wield a bamboo sword for training purposes. However Kanao's child mind is in a mess if she should practice or wait for command.

"Nee san..." Shinobu facepalms, the former Flower Pillar approaches her.

"Like I told you the other day...use this coin to stop yourself on over thinking if you should do it or not! Keep calm and erase your thoughts!" Kochou Kanae beams and pokes her nose. "That's what I use whenever I fight some bluffing demons~!"

The memory ended

Faded pupils but gained some spark of idea, 'Ah...thats right. I shouldn't think my movements otherwise he would just keep seeing it. If so...I has to shut off my mind.'

Gyomei who had been smirking all this time, it disappeared when he notice the change of atmosphere the flower pillar emitting.

'Hm? Did she realize the weakness of my ability? I cant read her future movement's...'

Still dodging, her hands made their way to her skirt pockets to reveal the coin from earlier.

'I will..use this coin and decide my fate one more time!'

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Bleeding a lot of cuts and mud Zenitsu looks horrible.

'I feel sleepy...soon I will faint...'

Trying his best to stay wake as his knees and hands placed on the muddy ground. The thunder echoes, Zenitsu did wonder why he felt so alone.

'He had not spoken at all after Kanao-chan and Aoi-chan disappearance. All he did is attack me within this mist...'

Crystal eyes...Zenitsu felt bad. 'Is this how Tanjiro riled up his everything for Nezuko...?'

For some reason Tanjiro's hardship flashed un his mind.

Having a faint sad smile, Zenitsu chuckles inside his head.

'I want some Onigiri to share...especially Tanjiro's...'

Meanwhile Muichiro is observing him behind the mist walls.

'Such endurance...I wonder if he taste good once hedrop dead. I has to finish him off soon...who knows when the rain will stop. But...I cant actually go near him too much, for some reason...even though he was just standing there and now kneeling in the ground...a strange barrier within him I cannot conquer.'

Zenitsu is abominable to him. He had been hitting him a lot but Zenitsu never once run away. As if...he intend to keep the attention to himself, to avoid Muichiro chasing the girls to drop dead.

The lightning above the dark clouds were so sharp.

BADUMP, BADUMP.

Muichiro feels uneasy if he should do the killing blow now.

'As if I come near with such confidence...a lightning might drop. This lightning pillar is very strange...the only way is to weaken his movement by all those wounds and bruises I gave but he is still fighting... Why is he so durable? How annoying...'

Drip,drip,drip.

Even though the lightning were colorful above the rain is actually subsiding its noise. Zenitsu kept his concentration. 'The rain is about to fade, I hear his anxious heartbeat...could it be he fears to be close that's why he uses this dew to cover his presence...?'

It was getting clear, the sounds.

'Wait for him to get off guard...then eat him!'

The mist is still thick, but the rain is indeed dying out. The lightning made its way to attack the ground near Zenitsu's feet.

ZAPAAN...!

But Zenitsu heard the demon's heart instead and his foot movements, his clothes, the sound of his sword.

Zenitsu stances.

'I can hear him...in this mist...even if I do not see, as long as I hear him...I will be able to slay him...!'

Eyes closed.

'Do it one strike...!'

Memories of his friends, Kaigaku, Nezuko and his grandpa.

'Even if I do not sleep, I know...I can do this gramps! I mean I did it before...for Nezuko-chan wishes, for Tanjiro too!'

Zenitsu have ignored the thunder strike has fell down behind him so loud that Muichiro is the one who got startled.

Sensing the lost of focus, the lightning pillar glows a bright yellow.

"Kaminari no kokyu...Ichi no kata...((Breath of Lightning First Form: Thunderclap and Flash )) Hekireki Issen." The user dashes forward and slashes at their opponent with incredible speed.

Zenitsu has honed this ability to the extent of being able to repeat the dash multiple times in quick succession.

Noticing Zenitsu is somewhat snoring. Muichiro made a mistake.

'He's asleep? He is off guard? Time to attack him!'

ZAAAPT!

In a flash, the lightning strikes down hitting them both and cutting a tree in half.

BOOM!

Muichiro's eyes widen in horror. His neck and body were separated.

"Eh? He...cut off my head...?"

Zenitsu who had moved like the flash hero had put hos blade back to the sword handle.

Kachin.

"Hahh..hahh..." heavy breathing, his knees fell again to the mud. His ponytail seems to have burned when the lightning hit them both. Long blonde locks so wet...Strange he was alive...!

Muichiro's head roll to the ground as his body is still standing strong. The dew and rain had both faded. "Your blade...it has some strange liquid on it...poison...?" Looking behind him, Zenitsu bothered to response. "N-not really..." feeling so tired...Muichiro's headless body had walk towards Zenitsu's.

Zenitsu squeek a bit but remained at the ground kneeling. You can see in his pockets the vile of antidote is empty. He had indeed used it!

"Nichirin blades are not enough to slay a Demon Guard. Only replicated humans by blood demon art is killable with Nichirin...yet you cut me off by just a mere weird liquid brushed to your sword..."

Listening to his last words...Zenitsu did felt his world is fading. 'I can't...I'm sleepy...He is still speaking so long despite how his head already on the floor...demons really are boxchatter in my ears...like almost everyone. Except Nezuko-chan, I like her silence...I want to hear more...like how I miss Tanjiro's gentle heartbeat...'

Thud...

Back at the wet muddy ground. He urge to fight the fatigue. 'Don't sleep yet...this isn't a dream, this is your reality now Agatsuma Zenitsu...! You are a pillar with responsibility...become a proud man for the girl you love! To make Tanjiro accept me as...his...'

Deciding to keep his ears alive by listening to Muichiro's not yet done monologue. "You...a second ago was a real coward. I see, if you think of your dreams...you believe you can do anything because inside dreams...nothing is a mistake."

Zenitsu gulps some saliva as he tried to converse back. "Mist pillar...Tokito Muichiro..." wet lips trying to find the right words, he was pecular about it. "...w-where is Tanjiro? Where is my friend?"

The body of Muichiro began to change color to reddish bubbles.

"Tanjiro-sama...is stuck on his dreams...like me, dreaming something I forgot...what could it be?"

Not making sense, Zenitsu coughs hard. "*coughs! coughs!*" unable to keep on conversing, Muichiro is now dissolving back to red liquid.

"Tanjiro-sama.. becareful...these humans are...your enemy..."

Finally Tokito Muichiro has evaporated completely. The mist has disappeared and the rain had stop.

Agatsuma Zenitsu decides to fight his fatigue and began standing up. "Walk...get up..." his ears are still hearing a demon's heartbeat and the screaming of the villagers. "Protect all the girls...protect all your friends...I..the Lightning pillar is not useless anymore."

Staggering...

"Need to back up...Kanao-chan and Aoi-chan...wait a moment...I will be there soon..."

Half asleep, Zenitsu made his way out of the forest skirts to the village.

With people booming sound in his sharp ears.

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"Why do you...dislike me so much?!"

Tomioka Giyuu harsh breathing, his fever is still there. Shinobu playfully teased and pretend to feel bad.

"Eh...? Sorry but.. do I know you personally? I think not..or maybe you guys will spout nonsense that we are related before or something~just like how you people causing headache to Tanjiro-sama. Poor lord~ our poor king of kindness in pain~" fake sobs, Sanemi is very annoyed.

"Tell Tanjiro to fuck off! Were better off when he died as a hero! But that fucking Muzan had to pull him with him in hell...then Tanjiro bring you all back from the grave, so fucking irritating you know!" Shinobu covers her ears. "Aahh~ cannot hear any bad words you just mention!"

Giyuu realize the demon guard is indeed a replica, they had same personality from the late insect pillar. "Sanemi...calm down." he asks him with pleading sick eyes. Sanemi click his tongue. "Am calm! You rest idiot Tomioka!" seeing Tomioka barely have strength to stand for so long at the bed. Giyuu shake his head to insist his ridiculous decision.

"Not with a demon in front of us...the residence of butterfly estate,we has to protect them...especially you." disgusted how Giyuu is worried about him, Sanemi blushes and growls in embarrassment.

"I can handle myself!"

Shinobu narrowed her eyes with devilish grinning.

"Hehe~what a friendship! Fufu...hey Marechi Shinazugawa Sanemi, I'm glad you are all well. Though you seem to have loose some fingers~but that is ok! Rest assured we won't decapitate you and your limbs...but we need to extract your blood for Tanjiro-sama~So please behave and come with me!"

Annoyed, Sanemi points his sword to his enemy. "The fuck you think I would?!" but Shinobu is still insulting him. "My~my! So hot headed! Guess what...if you obediently come with us, I will cure the Water Pillar Tomioka-san from my poison! Sure he has woken up...but does not mean he is safe from danger~"

Giyuu steps in, getting off the bed. Landing his feet to the wooden flooring. "Shinobu..." weak shrugs,"...no, she isn't you. Kochou Shinobu is one of the person who turned Nezuko back to human and defeated Muzan...which is why I do not respect you!"

Shinobu smiles with vein pop.

"Am not even talking to you Tomioka-san~ are you still half asleep? Hmm~?" taunting. Nezuko and Inosuke happen to slide the door open as they heard some commotion.

"G-Giyuu-san!"

Only for Shinobu to leap an attack with her poisonous claws. "Good night~!"

"Nezuko! Beast Pillar! Watch out!"

Giyuu yells, quickly Sanemi pushes them off the other side, Shinobu missed then Giyuu pushes her to the ground. Letting the weak human hover above her, Shinobu is giggling. "Hehehehe~try hard."

Sanemi who hovers above Nezuko and Inosuke at her side. He scold the two, but technically referring to Nezuko."The fuck Nezuko, get the residence of butterfly estate evacuate with the Beast Pillar!"

Nezuko sits up as Sanemi moves. "Let us help-" but Sanemi glared at her. "Your job is to save everyone at the moment! Lead the slaying to us!" hurt from being rejected...Nezuko realize the situation is bad that a demon guard is inside this place. "O-ok...please be careful."

Noticing Nezuko looks down at his cold treatment, Sanemi softens with his voice matching his sudden gentle big brother face. "Hey now...all my life this Marechi blood is a curse. Am always in danger,I don't need to be extra careful. Am always watching my own back...so get out of here okay?"

Surprised, Nezuko is almost tearful. "Sanemi.. san..."

Inosuke behind them scratching his head with the boar mask on, he calls out.

"Oii! Nezuko-chan hurry! Lets get them all out of here!"

Some people are already screaming, they knew their job is to evacuate them and leave the battle to the Wind Pillar and Water Pillar.

"Let's do it Inosuke!"

Battle commence between Shinobu, Sanemi and Giyuu.

To be Continued

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Kanon58: I know my previous summary is about SANEMI but this chap...welp, Kanao is the star at the moment and yes...Zenitsu killed Muichiro gomene, it was fast. I know Aoi is always hurt, sorry but I can't really imagine her to be that strong hahaha! Yep,yep Tanjiro is coming soon! You can look forward for him and his friends reunion! Sadly, Senjuro,Inosuke and Nezuko won't be around but it's ok! I KNOW SLOW UPDATES BUT LEAVING A REVIEW MAKES ME GUILTY LOL. SO YES, REVIEW...BTW, please subscribe to my own manga 'Paradox Mansion' :D

Next: Kanao decided to revert back to her old self just to win against the demon stone pillar. Zenitsu can hear a familiar heartbeat that he missed. He and Sanemi were like the heads and tails. Kamado Tanjiro is coming to town...very,very soon.