Hinokami Kagura!

(6317 Word's!)

Anos: "I hope you're battle will entertain me."

--------(Scene Break)---------

(Kibutsuji Muzan's POV):

Today I had called all the 12 demon moon's to listen to their reports to see if any of them have done anything noteworthy enough that they could receive more of my blood. However, in the middle of our meeting, Nakime spoke her tone one of surprise and confusion.

Nakine: "Kibutsuji-Sama. There is an intruder within our fortress."

Muzan: "What?!"

It wasn't just Muzan who was surprised. All the 12 demon moon's were just as surprised hearing the Biwa Demons words. Muzan quickly calmed himself as he spoke his voice carrying anger.

Muzan: "Nakime, is it Anos Voldigoad?"

Nakime shook her head and Muzan's eye's narrowed as he wondered who could have infiltrated their fortress. Muzan connected his vision with Nakime's, before he finally got a glimpse of the individual who had infiltrated their base. Muzan was so surprised that he couldn't help but mutter in confusion.

Muzan: "A human?"

Muzan's words surprised all the Demon Moon's even more. A human was the one who had managed to infiltrate their base? Muzan clicked his tongue in disdain as he spoke.

Muzan: "I'm not sure how he arrived in this fortress, but there isn't anything special about him. His body looks weak and frail as if he could collapse any second. Let's give him a little scare now shall we?"

Muzan spoke with a sadistic tone as he continued.

Muzan: "Nakime, send all our lower moon's to get rid of him. Make sure you all kill him slowly and painfully. Let him regret ever entering my domain, and if I enjoy your performance I will grant you all more of my blood understood?"

All the Lower Moon's bowed respectfully before replying.

Lower Moon's: "Understood!"

And then with a strum of her Biwa, all the 6 lower moon demons vanished from where they once kneeled before arriving before Tanjuro. Muzan decided to allow the Upper Moon's the chance to enjoy the upcoming torture session, so he connected Nakime's vision to the vision of all the Upper Moon Demons as well. With Doma the Upper Moon 2 demon being the first to speak.

Doma: "Awhh, it's not a beautiful lady. I'm so disappointed."

Doma's words annoyed the Upper Moon 3 Akaza, but he stayed quiet because he didn't wish to anger his lord. The next to speak was Upper Moon 6 Daki whose tone was full of arrogance and haughtiness as she spoke.

Daki: "How unlucky of this pathetic human. He thinks he can survive infiltrating our base of operations? I can't wait to hear his screams!"

After her Upper Moon 4 Hantengu spoke up. With tears running down his face and his body trembling he all but shrieked when he spoke.

Habtengu: "Eek! He must be here for me! He wants to kill me! Why?! I'm innocent! I didn't do anything! Why is everyone always after me?! (sob) (sob)"

The rest of the Upper Moons rolled their eyes at Upper Moon 4 reaction before focusing on the interaction of the human wondering what he will do after being surrounded by the 6 Lower Moon Demons.

(Tanjuro's POV):

After hearing Anos snap his fingers, I was transported to an entirely different place. The place I stood in was an endlessly large extra-dimensional space of wooden rooms, endless halls, and moving corridors. It possesses a warped direction of gravity, seemingly allowing demons to stand upright, upside down, or perpendicularly on the walls, or move in physically impossible directions.

Tanjuro: 'It doesn't matter how complex the structure of this place is. At the end of the day my only objective is to survive.'

And just as he finished his thoughts, 6 demons with the Kanji for Lower Moon Six to Lower Moon 1 appeared before me. Their expressions were of sadistic glee, arrogance, disdain, and disgust. Before they could even so much as open their mouths, Tanjuro made his move. Taking a deep breath, he drew the Tsumukari Muramasa. And when the lower moon's saw the bright glowing red blade, their cells screamed in horror as the image of a certain Sun Breathing User that almost killed Muzan 400 years ago appeared in their minds as Tanjuro used the 9th form of Hinokami Kagura.

Tanjuro: 'Hinokami Kagura 9th form: Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance.' Tanjuro unleashed a continuous fast and powerful sword attack that takes the form of a Japanese dragon made of solar flames. He moved so fast that none of the lower moon demons could even react to it. And by the time their minds caught up with them, they all felt an intense burning of their flesh then they were all decapitated with their heads sent FLYING. However, his hanafuda earrings were seen clearly by all the upper moons and Muzan himself. Tanjuro paused for a second as he assessed the current situation.

Tanjuro: 'I managed to kill all 6 of them at once so easily due to their ignorance and arrogance because I was a human. But, their rankings were lower moon's. So I'm assuming that Upper Moon's are the next group I'll be fighting. Hinokami Kagura was fine to use dealing with those lower ranking demon's as they weren't much of a threat. But I'm assuming that the Upper Ranking demons might force me to properly use Sun Breathing.'

Tanjuro sheathed his nichirin blade before he sat on the tatami floor of this dimension to conserve his stamina.

And of all the lower moon's, lower moon five started walking towards Tanjuro slowly turning to ash. Tanjuro looked on his eyes slightly saddened as even though the young demons head had been decapitated, his body was moving, searching for something or someone. And he didn't need the transparent world to know the child was crying. By the time the lower moon fives body reached Tanjuro, he was almost completely gone. Tanjuro catched the falling body of the demon child in a gentle embrace causing the fading body to tremble slightly at the gesture before it stopped as it finally relaxed before turning to ash completely.

As Rui regains his memories of when he was a human, and when he had first become a demon. He is overcome with grief, and remembers that what he wanted more than anything was to be with his parents again. However, Rui looks back on the many people he killed, and he starts to greatly doubt whether he can join them, and is almost certain he's going to Hell. However, much to his surprise, he opens his eyes to see that he has joined his mother and father, and has been assured by both that they are willing to follow their son even to hell. As his soul regains its humanity, Rui bursts into tears of joy and remorse, and hugs his parents while repeatedly apologizing to them.

At the same time, his disintegrating body is embraced by the sympathetic Tanjuro who mutters.

Tanjuro: "I pray in your next life you will live happily with your family."

Meanwhile Muzan and the Upper Moons reaction were more interesting. Muzan had 7 heart attacks before recovering instantly as he began muttering and screaming uncontrollably.

Muzan: "Nononononononononononononono! NO! HOW IS THAT ACCURSED BREATHING TECHNIQUE STILL ALIVE?! YORIICHI HAD LONG BEEN KILLED! KOKUSHIBO?!"

Muzan called out to the Upper Moon 1 whose six eye's were just as wide in horror as Muzan. However, he still managed to get an answer out.

Kokushibo: "I think Yoriichi might have passed his breathing technique onto a successor, and this successor has been passing on the breathing technique throughout their families many generations."

Muzan roared in anger as his mind and judgement were clouded as he spoke.

Muzan: "Nakime! Throw him out of this dimension right now!"

The biwa demon didn't hesitate to strum her biwa. However, Tanjuro didn't disappear from where he sat. He just continued sitting there... Menacingly.

Muzan: "What?!"

Nakime: "Kibutsuji-Sama, I'm using my blood demon art yet the man hasnt been kicked out!"

Muzan bit his finger so hard he drew blood. Yet the wound healed faster than even his blood could drop a single drop as he spoke.

Muzan: "Dammit All!"

They simply continued watching Tanjuro just sitting where he stood before the upper moon 2 spoke up, his rainbow coloured eyes contained lots of intrigue about the mysterious figure. Someone who could scare not just the strongest Upper Moon, but even his own master was terrified of this human.

Doma: "Muzan-Sama. Would it be alright if I went ahead and fought this mysterious person whose very existence svares your cells?"

Muzan hearing Doma's word's was about to shred him to bits, but paused as his mind regained it's clarity. He faced his second most powerful demon before facing Nakime as a hideous smile grew as he made a plan before speaking.

Muzan: "Nakime, you are to send all of the Upper Moons to fight this user of sun breathing. And you are to help them by preventing him from cutting off any of their heads. And to make it easier for you all to kill him."

A grotesque fleshy tentacle grew from Muzans back as its razor sharp edge stabbed itself into Nakimes, and all the upper moon demons neck before giving them more of his blood. And with his connection to their bodies, he was able to give them just enough of his blood to make them stronger and not die.

All the Upper Moons basked in the feeling of getting stronger, as Muzan spoke.

Muzan: "You are all to kill him no matter what. Don't dissapoint me by failing to rid this insolent mortal who dares hold sun breathing."

All the demon moon's bowed respectfully as they replied.

Upper Moons: "Yes Muzan-Sama!"

And with a strum of her biwa, Nakime sent all the Upper Moon Demons to Tanjuro's location. Once everyone had disappeared, Muzan spoke.

Muzan: "Nakime, send me away from the fortress. I have other business to attend to."

Nakime: "Understood Muzan-Sama."

And with a strum of her biwa, Muzan disappeared. And as Muzan disappeared, all the Upper Moon's arrived before Tanjuro who continued sitting where he was never moving. The demons looked intrigued at him except Kokushibo and Akaza.

Kokushibo: 'This feeling. No doubt about it, he's also mastered the selfless state. Damn you Yoriichi! Even in death you mock me.'

Kokushibo gritted his teeth as he even after 476 years he has still been unable to achieve the selfless state as his brother did. Meanwhile Akaza stared at the unknown man with confusion.

Akaza: 'He has no battle spirit? But how? Even newborn babies have a little amount of battle spirit. It's like what I'm staring at is a plant. Something that shows no bloodlust, anger, joy, sadness, and no battle spirit.'

Tanjuro's eyes swept over the entirety of the 7 upper Moons?

Tanjuro: 'Ah. The two of them share the same ranking Upper Moon 6 together. Then let's get this over with. It's time to get serious.'

Kokushibo drew his blade and immediately used his newest technique without hesitation as he roared.

Kokushibo: "Here he comes! Moon Breathing 17th form: Moon Palace Collapse!"

Tanjuro: 'Sun Breathing 11th Form: Fake Rainbow'

With a single swing of his blade, a giant 360 degree slash in the form of a full moon was released at a speed none of the Upper Moons could even see or react to as it struck Tanjuro who seemingly vanished once the attack had struck him.

Tanjuro performs high-speed twists and rotations, thus creating an afterimage that vanished once Kokushibo's technique made contact. And all the Upper Moons were bisected as well, but instantly regenerated as Kokushibo roared.

Kokushibo: "Becareful! If his blade cuts you your regeneration might be hampered slightly at best, and the worst is that you'll be unable to regenerate at all!"

Kokushibo cursed as Tanjuro disappeared his six eye's darting around in search of him before he spotted him besides Daki and Gyutaro. Gyutaro managed to notice Tanjuro as he conjured his Kama's before slashing at Tanjuro who still as calm as before met Gyutaro's attack with his own.

Tanjuro: 'Sun Breathing First Form: Dance'

Tanjuro performs a singular downwards vertical slash in an arcing motion. As the Kama's in Gyutaro's hands were sliced shocking him. When Tanjuro's blade was a few inches from decapitating both Daki and Gyutaro, a large ice pillar came hurling at him causing Tanjuro to forcefully change his technique.

Tanjuro: 'Second form: Clear Blue Sky'

Tanjuro spins and twists his upper body in a circular motion, releasing a 360° slash that cut through both Doma's ice, and the heads of both Upper Moon 6.

As their heads was sliced clean off their neck's, Daki started screaming and crying.

Daki: "Aghhhhh!!!! Onii-Chan! It hurts! It hurts so much Onii-Chan! Make the pain stop!(sob)"

Gyutaro immediately tried to comfort his beloved sister as best he could even when both their heads weren't facing each other.

Gyutaro: "It's alright Ume! Onii-Chan's here! Wait! I'll stop the pain somehow!"

Tanjuro watched the scene unfold silently before he vanished from the eyes of almost all the Upper Moon's except Kokushibo shocking them as he grabbed Gyutaro's decapitated head before reaching the decapitated head of the demon's sister in an instant. And as he started placing the head down, he muttered silently that only Gyutaro could hear.

Tanjuro: "I pray that in your next life, you find happiness with your family. Continue to cherish your sister, after all it's your job as her older brother to watch her grow up happy."

Gyutaro looked at the decapitated head of his sister slowly turning to ash as he imagined how in another world, he got to watch his precious sister grow up never being tainted by the darkness of humans as she hugged him with a beautiful and childish smile plastered on her face.

Gyutaro: 'Yeah... That doesn't sound like a bad idea. I will forever continue to protect you Ume no matter the time, place, or even the world we end up in.'

Gyutaro looked at his sister as he gave her the brightest smile he could muster as he spoke.

Gyutaro: "It's alright Ume, Onii-Chan's here."

The Demon Daki or her human name Ume sniffled slightly as she managed to squeak out a final word before perishing.

Ume: "Onii-Chan."

Gyutaro soon followed his sister turning into complete ash. However, when Gyutaro opened his eyes, all he saw was a black void before fire started rising everywhere. And Gyutaro immediately knew where he was.

Gyutaro: "Ah. I should have guessed it already, this is hell. Atleast Ume doesn't have to suffer the same fate as myself."

Just as Gyutaro was about to begin walking, he froze as a familiar voice called out to him. The voice of his cherished little sister Ume.

Ume: "Onii-Chan!"

Gyutaro: "Ume?! Why are you here?!"

Umei: "You promised me that you would never leave my side! Don't leave me Onii-Chan!"

Gyutaro: "I don't think you understand! This is my punishment! My punishment for failing you!"

Ume: "You didn't fail me at all Onii-Chan! You were always there for me. I was always so happy whenever you were with me regardless of what other people think!"

Gyutaro froze as he saw tears falling from his sisters face as she muttered weakly.

Ume: "Please don't leave me Onii-Chan. Even if I have to walk with you through hell I will. So please."

Ume closed her eyes and looked down as the tears continued falling. That was until she felt a warm hug envelope her as she heard the voice of her dearest older brother.

Gyutaro: "Jeez, what am I going to do about my dear Imouto's spoiled behaviour. Fine then Ume, will you follow your Onii-Chan even through the depths of hell?"

Ume gave her older brother that beautiful smile of hers that he cherished the most as she spoke.

Ume: "Of course! But Onii-Chan will have to carry me on his back like you did when we were kids!"

Gyutaro smiled at his sisters words as he gave her his back. She climbed onto his back hugging him like a koala as they both disappeared into the flames of hell together. The last thing ever heard in that void was a childish declaration, and a unhesitating answer.

Ume: "(giggle) I love you Onii-Chan."

Gyutaro: "And I love you as well Ume."

Tanjuro looked on at the spot where the two Demonic siblings once stood before he heard a carefree and amused voice speak up. It was Upper Moon 2 Douma who had spoken.

Douma: "My, how heartwarming. The scene of Gyutaro trying to calm his crying sister was so heartwarming I'm sure I shed a tear. It's a shame they died so soon, afterall I was the one who recommended them to Muzan-Sama. I know for a fact that Muzan-Sama isn't going to be happy about this development. Nakime-chan~ why didn't you prevent them from being killed? "

Nakime's voice was heard throughout the entire fortress as she spoke.

Nakime: "I apologise for my inability to prevent their deaths. He was alot faster than I had anticipated."

Douma hummed in understanding as he spoke.

Douma: "Indeed. He was so fast that even I could barely see him move. However, Muzan-Sama will definitely get angry with us all, so I guess it's time we got serio-"

Douma's words were cut off as Kokushibo decapitated his head just in time as a blade that glowed red almost pierced it straight off.

Tanjuro: 'Sun breathing eighth form: Sunflower Thrust.'

Tanjuro performs a singular thrust utilizing the tip of his blade to strike his target. Already expecting the Upper Moon 2 surviving his attack, he immediately used another technique as he was in the middle of the enemies formation. Akaza immediately took action alongside Nakime. Akaza threw his strongest punch at Tanjuro and Nakime had sent multiple rooms to try and crush Tanjuro.

Tanjuro: 'Tenth form: Fire Wheel'

Tanjuro flips into the air behind his opponent before unleashing a singular vertical slash in a circular motion to swiftly cut the target in half. Akaza managed to react just in time as he dodged the attack that sliced all the walls being thrown at Tanjuro.

(Clang!) (Spark!)

Steel met steel as Tanjuro was attacked by Kokushibo. Kokushibo's eyes held immense hatred as he gazed at Tanjuro's face that was still hidden behind his veil as he roared.

Kokushibo: "Answer Me! Who taught you that breathing technique?! And why did you decide to show up now?! Answer me Yoriichi!"

Tanjuro didn't react as the two clashed blades multiple times within the span of a second. However, Tanjuro noticed how the air was getting colder and that it was starting to get slightly difficult to breathe. He also took notice of how the ground was frozen, with multiple wall's being hurled in his direction, a punch which was so strong it's air pressure was sent hurdling his way, over ten thousand fishes with razor sharp teeth, wood dragons that chased after him that released thunder, sound waves, wind blast, spears, and a massive long-ranged curved slash that leaves dozens of crescent moon blades along its path.

Tanjuro instantly recognised the danger as he inhaled large amounts of oxygen and made a new technique on the spot.

Tanjuro: 'Focusing on speed to get out of this dilemma will be the best option. And taking out the ice user is even more important. This will cause me alot of pain, but it'll be worth it because I'm doing this to protect my family. Sun Breathing Fourteenth Form: Dance Of Amaterasu'

A new form developed on the spot and utilized by Tanjuro to deal with this situation. Tanjuro combined the first form: Dance , second form: Clear Blue Sky, fourth form: Burning Bones, Summer Sun , sixth form: Solar Heat Haze, eighth form: Sunflower Thrust, ninth form: Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance, and eleventh form: Fake Rainbow of Sun Breathing together to dance his way through all the attacks destroying them all as Tanjuro inhaled huge amounts of oxygen, increasing the pumping of blood through his entire body, focusing it on the legs, and releasing it all to assault multiple targets with the help of the combined new form. And on his forehead, his Demon slayer mark that was a flame symbol stretched out past his eyes burning his lifespan for greater power.

He moved so fast that none of the Upper Moon Demons could even react, and by the end of the attack, 4 Upper Moons had been killed. Upper Moon 5 Gyokko, Upper Moon 3 Akaza, and Upper Moon 2 Douma were all beheaded. Except Upper Moon 4 whose entire body was sliced into bits so tiny his flesh turned to ash from the sheer amount of heat Tanjuro's sword emmited when he sliced Hantengu's body. And for the first time, Upper Moon 1 saw someone who had managed to surpass his brother. And Upper Moon 1 was the only survivor of Tanjuro's attack had only managed to avoid the attack thanks to his ability to see Tanjuro's muscle movements. However still he had lost his entire left torso. However, because of the immense heat from Tanjuro's blade, the wound was cautarized and the burning feeling caused him to roar in agony. But Tanjuro wasn't unscathed from the effect the new technique had placed upon his body either.

Tanjuro: "GASP! *COUGH* *COUGH*"

Tanjuro was gasping for air fiercely as if he was a drowning man finally being able to breathe once more. His heart was beating over 200 However, Tanjuro never fell to his exhaustion. He managed to stand tall whilst still gasping for air as he thought to himself.

Tanjuro: '*Huff* *Huff* It's a good thing I've been doing the Hinokami Kagura dance since young. It's thanks to my body's extreme familiarity with this technique that the drawback isn't as severe.'

Tanjuro managed to stand up with the help of his blade as he slowly started approaching the wounded Upper Moon 1 who was still grasping the missing part of his left torso completely forgetting that Tanjuro was still there. However, when Tanjuro was several meters from Kokushibo, he raised his blade preparing to Decapitate him.

However, he didn't manage to bring his blade to decapitate his foe as he was forced to dodge a blast of air that came from his back. When he dodged the attack, the air pressure from the punch sent from behind him struck the wounded screaming Upper Moon 1 causing him to regain his sanity as he saw a sight that surprised not just himself, but Tanjuro as well. There stood the headless body of Upper Moon 3 Akaza in his fighting stance as he sent a flurry of punches and kicks that was so powerful the air pressure of his attacks reached where Tanjuro stood.

Tanjuro: 'He's still alive even after I decapitated his head? Ah, I see. He's refusing to die, not because he fears death, but because he refuses to lose. What a horrifying level of willpower.'

Kokushibo: 'Akaza has clearly been decapitated, yet he's still standing. What's even more incredible is he's actually healing! The wounds caused by the blade that surpassed the heat of my brothers blade, and he's still able to regenerate himself?! It seems I had severely underestimated Akaza's talent and potential. We all thought it would be impossible for a demon Upper Moon or Lower Moon to ever achieve the ability to survive decapitation like Muzan-Sama, how naive we were. And what am I doing? Groveling once more to someone who uses the same technique as my brother.'

Kokushibo gritted his teeth before he broke the part of his blade that had been sliced by Tanjuro before regenerating it with some of his flesh as he roared.

Kokushibo: "I AM UPPER MOON 1! I AM THE MOST POWERFUL DEMON AMONG THE DEMON MOON'S! DON'T YOU DARE UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER!"

Kokushibo took a deep breath as he swung the blade with his remaining hand and unleashed a new technique.

Kokushibo: "Moon Breathing Eighteenth form: Tsukiyomi!"

Kokushibo creates a sphere of sharp winds that looks like a solar eclipse full of sharp crescent moon blades in a second before the sphere rushes towards Tanjuro litteraly shredding everything in it's path.

And just as Kokushibo unleashed his final attack, Akaza finally regrew his head. Veins bulging all across his body as his eyes were blood red in anger.

Akaza: "DIE! Final Form: BLUE SILVER CHAOTIC AFTERGLOW!"

Akaza's ultimate technique. Where Akaza unleashes an omni-directional barrage of countless thin and sharp shockwaves that deliver over 10,000 blows to his target coming from everywhere almost at the same time.

Tanjuro looked on without any change in his expression as his grip on his blade became stronger then before as he decided to gamble on what he was about to do.

Tanjuro: 'I'm confident that should I use the 14th form again, I'll immediately collapse from exhaustion. And that's the good part, the bad part being that if I fail to kill them, I'll most definitely die.'

Tanjuro: "I'll risk it all! For this one last attack! Sun Breathing Fourteenth Form: Dance Of Amaterasu!"

At the end of Tanjuro's word's, his demon slayer mark had all but stretch past his head and now flowing down his entire body. But all three combatants never noticed this as their attacks collided.

(BOOOM!!!) (SHATTER!) (TSSSH!) (SIZZLE!)

Kokushibo looked at his headless body as his head flew straight off his body. His sword completely shattered and turned to ash. And as he got a look at Akaza, he saw his fellow Upper Moon still standing, even with his arms, legs, head and torso separated and cauterised by Tanjuro's blade his body and spirit refused to die.

Kokushibo: 'NONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO! IF AKAZA CAN REGENERATE HIS HEAD, THEN SO CAN I! I AM STRONGER THAN HIM! I AM UPPER MOON 1 KOKUSHIBO! I AM THE STRONGEST!'

Meanwhile with Akaza whose head was decapitated a second time couldn't help but feel extremely frustrated. Yet his body and spirit never wavered still standing firm even after his head turned to ash once more. That was until he heard an unknown voice calling out to him.

???: 'It's alright Hakuji, you can stop fighting already.'

Akaza's headless body froze as the voice spoke. But for some inexplicable reason, his spirit replied to the statement of the voice in his head instead of wondering who the voice was or where it came from.

Akaza: 'I can't! I need to become the strongest!'

The unknown voice spoke once more.

???: 'What reason do you need to become the strongest Hakuji?'

Akaza: 'It's, it's.... It's because I need to be fast enough to steal the medicine for my ill father. To protect him when the villagers come for revenge. A-and to be able to protect someone.'

???: 'Tell me Hakuji, who is it that you want to protect that you must become the strongest?'

Akaza: '.... Who do I want to protect? I-I can't remember?! Who was it that I've been seeking all this strength to protect?!'

The voice became more clearer than before. He heard the voice of a young girl who spoke.

???: 'Awwh, I'm a bit upset you don't remember me Hakuji. Even when you promised to take me to watch the fireworks, and even proposed to me.'

Akaza: 'Koyuki?'

Suddenly the spirit of a frail, fair-skinned young lady with large, rounded pink eyes with white pupils shaped as flowers. She had black hair which was always tied into a large bun fastened with a hairpin and decorated with a Kushi (hair comb) and three snowflake hairpins appeared before him. The girl wore a circle-patterned, pink kimono that faded into a snowflake pattern tied with an obi. She smiled as she spoke. The girl now identified as Koyuki gave a gentle smile as she spoke.

Koyuki: 'It's been a while Hakuji.'

Seeing the girl standing before him, his human memories came flodding him back. His body trembled as he started remembering how he had disrespected his master and father in law's technique by using it to kill innocent people. Akaza then heard a rather gruff voice speak up, it was the voice of his late father in law and master Keizo

Keizo: 'It's alright brat, we've been watching over you all this time. I understand what you must be feeling right now, so just give up. You've gone long enough with your suffering. So just surrender brat.'

Akaza: 'But I know that where I will be going, I won't be able to see you two.'

(Whack!)

Akaza was whacked across the head by his father in law & mentor Keizo who spoke.

Keizo: 'Don't go getting all sad thinking you won't be able to see us. We're a family, wherever you go we will follow.'

Koyuki: 'What do you say Hakuji? Are you finally ready to move on?'

Just as Akaza was about to answer, he heard the voice of his leader Kibutsuji Muzan speak.

Muzan: 'Akaza! Don't you even dare! Have you forgotten about why you desired this strength? If you give up now, you will never become strong enough to protect anyone!'

Akaza hearing Muzan's words started trembling as his headless body started to regenerate once more. That was until Koyuki slapped him across the face.

(SLAP!)

Koyuki: 'Hakuji! Are you telling me you'd dare go to that man than return to your family? After all, I'm still waiting for the day you take me to see the fireworks, and for our marriage after all.'

Koyuki spoke with a radiant smile and a slight blush on her face. Akaza looked on enraptured by her beauty, falling for her all over again as he smiled gently, his demon features dissappearing revealing his human features as he cried tears of joy and spoke.

Hakuji: 'I will never forget my promise to you Koyuki, even in our next life I'll come find you, and fall in love with you all over again.'

Koyuki's face became scarlet in embarrassment as she hugged Hakuji before burying her head within his muscular chest as she muttered gently.

Koyuki: 'And I promise you that in this life and every other life from now on, I will always come find you and fall in love with you all over again everytime. Because I love you Hakuji!'

Hakuji smiled warmly at her as he captured her lips with his for several seconds shocking her before breaking the kiss seeing his lover Koyuki a stuttering mess.

Koyuki:' Uwawawawa!!! How bold of you Hakuji!'

As the two lovers were lost in each others company, their father stood firm glaring at the roaring demon king.

Muzan: 'Akaza! Don't you dare think even for a second that you can escape my grasp!'

Keizo: 'Beat it weakling. You hold no sway over my son in law!'

Muzan: 'Weakling!? You damned human! I am Kibutsuji Muzan! The absolute strongest! I am perfection incarnate!'

Muzan sent dozens of razor sharp tentacles at Keizo only for them all to be destroyed by none other than the former Upper Moon three who gave a death glare that scared Muzan stiff even if only for a second.

Hakuji: 'Don't you dare touch my family!'

Keizo gave a hearty laugh as he spoke.

Keizo: 'Oi you stinking brat, it's my job as your father to protect you two you know that? Can't embarrass myself infront of my family now can I?'

Muzan's entire body bulged with veins even bursting in anger. Akaza turned around before grasping the hands of both his lover and his father before walking into and dissappearing within the depths of hell. And Muzan's spirit within Akaza was burnt to ashes as well by the flames of hell.

Meanwhile in the real world Akaza who had almost completely regrown his head once more stopped before he deployed his blood demon art and pulverised his entire body. Tanjuro manage to see him release a smile of one who has accepted the weight of his sins before Akaza forcefully stopped his regeneration. He was on his knees as his pulverised body looked upwards before turning to ash. His last thought was.

Akaza/Hakuji: 'You were an incredible opponent. I'm honoured to have been defeated by someone like you.'

Tanjuro returned Akaza's smile to before collapsing into unconsciousness. His body pushed beyond all his limits. However Upper Moon 1 had finally accomplished a feat that was considered impossible until he had seen it happen to Akaza. He had survived decapitation. However, his appearance became hideous and grotesque with protruding fangs and mandibles, large white horns on the front and and back of his head, pointed nails, red outgrowths on his face, his pupils looking at different directions, shorter and messier hair, several thin tubes poking out of his body, and numerous black and red scorpion tail-like appendages haphazardly sprouting all across his entire body. He roared before charging towards the unconscious Tanjuro only to freeze when he saw his face reflected on Tanjuro's blade. His 6 eyes widened in horror and disgust as he saw himself.

Kokushibo: 'Is that me?'

The realization of how ugly he had become in his pursuit of strength was causing him to lose the will to fight.

Kokushibo: 'All this time I chased after your shadow Yoriichi, constantly growing stronger in the hope's that one day I would surpass you. But in my pursuit of strength, I had become the one thing I never wanted to be, a hideous and grotesque monster. I still remember how even at the end of your life, you continued cherishing the flute I had given you when we were just kids. And yet not only did I fail to surpass you, I still killed you in cold blood after you had passed. I... I don't want to live anymore. If becoming the strongest means to become something this hideous, then I'd rather give up completely. User of Sun Breathing, please end my life. I refuse to continue living if it means becoming the monster I once despised.'

Yet no reply came from the unconscious Tanjuro. Instead, another voice came calling out to him.

???: "Michikatsu, allow me to be the one to end your suffering."

Kokushibo' s six eye's widened in shock as he quickly turned around only to see his brother. He was a tall man with a muscular build, fair skin, maroon eyes, and long spiky hair with red tips that he kept in a ponytail. He has a similar overall appearance to his twin brother Michikatsu, but unlike him, he was slightly more slender, had shorter bangs, and wavier hair than him. Yoriichi was seen with an aloof and solemn look on his face, still rarely showing emotion. Yoriichi wore a red haori over a very pale orange-colored nagagi kimono with a black umanori-styled hakama, a pair of zōri with red straps and white tabi socks, with a Nichirin Sword carried at the left side of his waist, conventional to most Demon Slayers. He sported hanafuda earrings created by his mother as charms when he was thought to be deaf.

Kokushibo: "How are you alive?!"

Yoriichi: "It seems like Kami has decided to let me be the one to end you as I should have over 400 years ago. To help us atone for both our sins."

Kokushibo: "Both our sins?"

Yoriichi: "The sin you committed by becoming a demon and taking innocent lives, and my sin for never being there for you. Never doing anything about your jealousy and failing to kill you on that fateful day we met when you had become a demon."

Kokushibo: "I see. Then please I ask this of you as your older brother Michikatsu Tsugikuni. My dear younger brother Yoriichi Tsugikuni, please end my life."

Yoriichi said nothing as his red blade glowed a crimson scarlet before he vanished and appeared behind his brother as he flicked the blood off his blade, and slowly sheathed it.

(CLICK)

Yoriichi: "Goodbye elder brother."

Once his blade had been sheathed, Kokushibo's head was sent flying and his body sliced to pieces as he slowly turned to ash. Yoriichi looked at his brother who had died with a grateful smile on his face before looking at his bloody robes that still held the flute he had given Yoriichi when they were kids. Yoriichi looked at the unconscious Tanjuro as he spoke.

Yoriichi: "I'm sorry you had to bare the burden of ending Kibutsuji's main soldiers. Do not fret for his time of judgement has arrived."

Yoriichi vanished from where he stood before he began destroying the infinity castle and arrived before the trembling form of Natsume. Yoriichi said nothing as he beheaded her, and the entire structures collapsed and vanishes. Yoriichi closed his eyes before opening them finding himself in a black void with his twin elder brother waiting for him. Michikatsu smiled as he spoke.

Michikatsu: "Come now my dear brother, hell is waiting in anticipation for it's latest guests."

Yoriichi smiled slightly as himself and his brother walked through the dark void with hell fire began surrounding the two engulfing them before they disappeared.

Meanwhile, everyone watching this scene only had one thought going through their minds at the moment.

Everyone: 'WHAT THE FUC-'

(AN: "Play Jojo's giorno golden wind after reading that last panel it reminds me of the ending of chess simp. Also, fun fact. Hinokami Kagura is the incomplete version of sun breathing. It was only after getting the memories of his ancestor Sumiyoshi, and watching Yoriichi perform sun breathing did Tanjiro switch from calling it Hinokami Kagura to Sun breathing. But yet despite fixing his breathing technique to match the og, Muzan still stated that Tanjiro's Sun Breathing although deadly is inferior to Yoriichi")

{Next Chapter: "The Death Of Kibutsuji Muzan"}