The Battle of Values .

The demon that was currently standing in front of them was not a normal one . It was a uppermoon nevertheless upper 3 . Toji said to kyojuro " it seems that lower one was just a trap to step up stage for him , that quite culling move from Kibutusji . " Rengoku just nodded at him and then asked Upper moon " why would someone as powerful as you would attack the wounded first ?"

Uppermoon replied " I thought he would interrupt the conversation we're about to have . " Rengoku said " What are you talking about ? This is our first meeting , but I already hate you. " Toji thought ' Reason of attack tanjiro could be order of Muzan .'

The uppermoon said " of course I also hate weak humans . When I see weakness , my skin crawls ." Rengoku responded " you and we different values." Toji currently was thinking for a battle plan white kyojuro was talking to uppermoon . There was not much time left in Sun rise , and he don't know anything about Demons techniques so, he decided to fight defensively till Sun comes up and then switch on offensive to put pressure on demon.

Meanwhile Uppermoon only laughed at kyojuro answer and said " AHA ... Then I have great a idea ....why don't you two become demons. " Toji and Rengoku said No with straight face . Uppermoon continued " I can see your strength just by looking at you two . You both are Hashira's right . You have developed your fighting spirit to the edge of perfection ."

Toji stayed quiet but Rengoku introduced himself" I am flame hashira Rengoku kyojuro and he is Water hashira Tomioka Giyu ." Uppermoon also did the same " I am Akaza . Lete tell you both why your power will never reach perfection. Because your a human. Because you age and eventually you'll die . become a demon kyojuro ,if you do you can train for hundreds of years and keep getting stronger . "

To this Toji finally spoke " Perfection you say huh ! I hate Perfection , when something is perfect there isn't any space left for growth . The imperfections make path for growth which make us humans stronger. "Tanjiro was trying to find his sword for helping them.

Akaza said " so you finally talked , I thought you were quite , well it's 50 years since I fought a Water hashira . My offer is still on table , become a demon and you don't have to die from old age."

Rengoku replied to akaza this time " Growing old and dying is what gives meaning and beauty to fleeing span of human life . it's precisely because we age and die that our lives have value and nobilty . Strength is not a word ,that means much in regards to the flesh . This boy is not weak do not insult him . I'll say it again ,you and we have different values .we have my reason for not becoming Demon."

Toji was not a person who find beauty in human life but he have no desire to live forever in regret of that he made same mistake when he was given chance to make amends .toji said to Rengoku " let's be defensive for now ,sun will rise soon and he will give us an open in attempt to save his life , so we will go on full offensive , Rengoku . Till then I will defend his attacks and you counterattack."

"Its a good strategy Tomioka , but be careful ." Rengoku said while taking a stance . Toji was ready to block Akaza's attack . Akaza said " I see, if you wouldn't become a Demon then I have to kill you . " And activated his blood Demon art .

" Technique development Distructive Death : compass Needle ."

He launched an attack and Rengoku used first form to counter it while Toji used water breathing night form to rush forward at high speed . Over two years Toji had improved the already existing water breathing forms little differently .

"Flame breathing : First form: Unknowing fire."

"Water breathing : Ninth form: splashing water flow, flash "

The three of them clashed against each other . Water breathing was most defensive breathing style and flame breathing was greatly offensive and together used against someone like Akaza this was a worse match-up . Toji was blocking his every attack and kyojuro was counter attacking with giving him a chance to attack Toji .

They together looked an invincible duo but Akaza was having fun in battle since from his prospective he pinned them and they was mostly defensive . Its him that attack first and they only block and counter attack.

This went for a while , Tanjiro could only follow them through his eyes . The speed at which they were fighting was something unnatural . They were on whole another level and fight was in different dimension which he couldn't enter even if he wanted .

Zenitsu was still sleeping near Nezuko and Inosuke was bringing people out of train. Akaza was having fun and said " the other hashiras I have killed in past didn't have flame . But None of them accepted my offer . Why is that ? As someone who walks the path of warrior I don't understand that . One cannot simply decide to become a demon . One must be chosen to be demon.

But you two have worked so hard to build such a magnificent talent would simply wither away ?

Such a waste , it's hard for me to except. I can't stand it . Die for me kyojuro and Giyu and do it while you are young strong ."

"Distructive Death : Air type "

He punched empty air but the force behind his attack made it air Cannons . Toji used seventh from to stop his barrage and kyojuro used fifth form to counter attack . Toji improved form instead of slowing down enemy , it stopped the attacks by attacking from certain Angles.

" Water breathing : Seven form : Drop ripple trust, curve"

" Flame breathing: Fifth form : Flaming Tiger"

This was quite effective combo to stop Akaza Distructive attack . Rengoku was thinking ' he strikes empty air but it came to us , Tomioka was able to Stop but we have to keep close distance to counter attack and stop him from using that .

Toji said to Akaza " Have still not understand after fighting so many hashiras . We never die , we become the will of future generation and fight with them. It unexpectble for us to become a demon and crush their will . They live in our swordsmanship , all these form ce to existence because one passed it to another and we will do the same .

Their and our wills would live forever and never be forgotten . People don't die when they are killed , no they die when they are forgotten and neither the hashira you fought are dead not there skills are lost . Only person who skills asre forgotten by time is you not us uppermoon . You are the one who is dead for world not us , we still live now and will live in future ."

Akaza was little irritated when Toji said it was he who was withered and lost in time but it was little true ,he couldn't remember what he was like as human but there was instinct from back them that told him to keep fighting . When Rengoku closed in to Akaza , Toji understood his reason and he too close in and attacked .

Akaza said " such amazing speed , your wonderful sword technique , Time will steal it kyojuro . Aren't you sad? " Rengoku replied " that's how it goes , it's normal . That's what it means to be human ." Tanjiro was trying to move so he can find his sword but kyojuro said to him " don't move , if you move your wounds will open and you'll die . It not your time yet . "

Toji supported his statement " he is right Tanjiro and trust us , we are here to protect you and other . Just wait there and let us fight here . " Akaza launched a punch at them but Toji blocked while Rengoku countered it . Akaza said " don't waste you thoughts on that weakling . You two need to concertrate on me .you need all your strength against me ."

This might have been Akaza's word but those two were barely injured and still holding back for sale of Toji's plan to go full offensive during sunrise . Akaza used his technique to attack them at large scale but Toji blocked it with eleventh form .

"Distructive Death : Chaotic type ."

" Water breathing : Eleventh form : Dead Calm"

Not a single a strike of Akaza landed on Toji and kyojuro and he said " that technique , it's a form right . I have never seen it before , last water hashira didn't use it and neither he used other techniques like the way you do . " Currently Inosuke also came to Tanjiro and was just amazed by the speed they were fighting . They was exchanging blows at blinding speed and this went on for while .

Rengoku launch counter and forced Akaza to back off again . Akaza was thinking ' it been quite a time but neither of them have taken any serious injuries from my attacks . Giyu only defend and kyojuro counter attacks . There is much time left in sunrise , I have to somehow finish the giyu and caught kyojuro during his counter attack .

Both Toji and Rengoku were already fighting for two hours and were little exhausted because of them using bunch of techniques during train crash . Tanjiro and Inosuke could only watch from behind . Tanjiro was worried about them while Inosuke was thinking ' there's no opening , I can't get in there no opening. I can't keep up with there movements.

They are like in another dimension . I feel like if I get to close there is only death . If I tried to help ,I will only get in there way . Akaza said to them " No Matter how desperately you two fight ,it's useless , the wonderful cut you made kyojuro is already healed . You two may not have much serious injuries for now but once I am done with him , you will be wide open for me to attack kyojuro .you two are exhausted but ...

...If you two were demon then you wouldn't have to deal with that . You could fight without care because serious injuries like this are only scratchs. Not Matter what humans can't defeat Demons ."

Tanjiro was looking down at ground thinking ' my limbs have no strength. Maybe it because I'm wounded but it happens every time I use Hinokami Kagura. Even though I wanted to help .'

The sun was soon going to rise so , Toji nodded towards Kyojuro as signal to go full offensive . Kyojuro understood this and said to Akaza " I will fulfill my duty and I wouldn't let anyone here die." Rengoku decided that he will attack board area instant and go up towards neck and took a stance for Flame breathing final and most strong form . Toji on other hand was also ready to attack Akaza and back Kyojuro for cutting his head .

He was going to use different version of eleven form that was greatly offensive . Toji will attack first and Rengoku will follow the suit and cut the head while Akaza was in mid of recovering from his attack .

Akaza was impressed by there stances . Where Toji looked wide open but he kee that he could block any attack in that form meanwhile Kyojuro stance was highly offensive and there was no weakness . He praised them both and said they should become demon. Toji needed extreme focus for this version which he felt during when Kyojuro was teaching how to stop his bleeding . The decided that he will take the gamble and try entering that state again .

Meanwhile he said to Rengoku " Kyojuro this will be out final strike to bring him down . Grab your sword as tightly you can become he will try to break it . Rengoku nodded to him in agreement and was ready to go at Akaza after Toji finishes his attack .

Toji entered transparent world and could see Akaza organs . Demon had extra strong muscles and bones if compared to humans . Akaza was shocked that Toji fighting spirit completely vanished which was not possible. Even a small child would have small amount of it , it was not possible to humans fighting spirit to vanish completely .

Before he could even say something Toji vanished from his eyes and appreared behind him .

" Water breathing : Eleventh form : Dead Calm , Tidal waves "

In that split second , Akaza was cut multiple times at multiple areas . This was most offensive technique at the disposal of Toji . This left Akaza wide open while was in mid of recovering from that attack that cut his body on multiple areas . Rengoku didn't let this opportunity slide and used Ninth form at Akaza .

" Flame breathing Esoteric art : Ninth form : Rengoku "

He as planned cut Akaza board area and then took his blade towards his neck . Rengoku cut his neck in half but his hand had recovered and he tried to stop kyojuro hand by grabbing . His other hand was also going to recover and Toji noticed it and thought 'This was not good if that hand recovered Akaza could put through Kyojuro stomach , I have to Stop him . " Toji made to sure to cut both hands of Akaza again using fourth form .

" Water breathing: Fourth form: Striking Tides "

Toji blade flowed like Water Tides and cut both hands of Akaza . Rengoku pushed through his blade with full strength and cut off Akaza head . The head dropped at ground and both of them took a breath of relief . Rengoku went towards Tanjiro to see if he was alright . In few minutes sun was going to rise . Akaza was in state of panic and was not going to break this easily .

He wound of neck closed and his body didn't falled even after his head crumbled . Toji shouted to Rengoku " KYOJURO THE FIGHT HAS NOT ENDED YET !!!" Rengoku looked behind and saw Akaza headless body taking a fight stance . He was fighting even after his head was cut off .

Rengoku thought ' his head is already cut off , its like he conquered his weakness , we have no option other then killing him with sunlight but good thing is that sun is rising .'

Akaza was ready to attack Rengoku but suddenly a voice came from behind him . a girl with tears in her eyes said "Jakuni that's enough !"

Akaza in his head said " let go of my hand , who are you? " The girl said " stop this let's leave this place ."

Akaza said " no ,I have to kill them "

She asked " why?"

He replied " to become stronger , I kill anyone who gets in my way ."

She again asked" why ? Why do you want to be strong ?"

Akaza said " that because , if I am not strong , I can't bring it back ... Medicine for my father ."

Akaza memories slowly started to came back to him he was seeing all the people he loved in those memories . Toji and Rengoku didn't understand Why was his body standing there sun was going to rise but they decided to wait if he tries to attack or tries to run.

Suddenly he attacked but it was not on Toji or Rengoku but it was on himself . He distroyed his body . His head that was only half growned was smiling . Toji and Rengoku didn't understand what happening with him .

Hakuji was sitting inside the memories and talking to people he loved . First was his father and hakuji apologized to him for not being able to do over his life . Then was his Master who said to him " that doesn't matter , whatever you have become , a son is son , a student is student . It doesn't matter what you became , we would not forsake you .

In Last it was Koyuki and she said " I cannot take you to heaven hakuji but I can go with you , where you are going ."

With those words his body started to crumble and while dying he said " thank you for making me remember what important Kyojuro and Giyu and stoping me from killing more people and staining my Master fighting style which meant to protect ."

The battle has ended and it was victory of demon slayer corps . After more than hundred years demon slayer corps killed an uppermoon . There were no caulities and they didn't suffer any major injuries . This was big victory for them .

Toji went to Rengoku and said " it was now little unexpected . He conquered his weakness but killed himself too ." Rengoku replied " my because he was able to remember something from his past that he killed himself ." Toji said " it makes me sick now thinking that how many humans did Muzan robbed of there memories just so he could make them his mindless fighting puppets. "

" Yes ,but in end he was able to get them back . " Rengoku replied . Toji was currently walking towards Tanjiro and said " yeah you are right but he will be not with them for a while because of deeds he did as demon because of Kibutusji ." Toji looked at tanjiro and said in low voice to him " give me the sring and yes I know about that , so don't worry ."

Rengoku went to see where Zenitsu was and Toji tool sting from Tanjiro . Toji already have seen it before went he went check secretly this belonging because Master said to Tanjiro to say hi to Tamayo san in hashira meeting . Other might not know who she was but Toji knew and he found Sring then which had no work in hands of bumpkin like tanjiro if she didn't gave him.

He went the pool of Akaza's blood which was slowly vaporizing because of sun .he touched blood with sring and it sucked the blood in. Then he gave the sring to Tanjiro and brought out a letter from his haori and gave him and said " give it to her if you meet next time . I want to work with her to find more about Kibutusji and his weakness ."

He went towards Inosuke and Zenitsu who were near Rengoku and we're jumping around him in happiness.

Somewhere :-

Far from this place at a Mansion a child was sitting reading from his book when he suddenly felt something and said " So , you lost and died ,Akaza I didn't expect this from . It been more than hundred year since and uppermoon have died but never from upper three ranks and were not even able to kill or seriously injured those two hashiras . They were smart and exploited your weakness but you gave me a gift while dying.

You were able to do something no other demon than me had done . You showed me that upper ranks can grow their heads back . Nakime !!" He vanished from his place with a door appearing under him .

At Demon slayer headquarters :-

Ubuyashiki was standing near a waterfall with his wife and daughters ,when he got news from Kyojuro Kusagai crow about Giyu and kyojuro's victory over an upper rank demon .he said happily " they defeated an upper rank demon. Congratulations Giyu and kyojuro . A hundred years !! the balance that have not tipped for hundred years have tipped , Amane do you understand this " she said yes but it was more of question then answer .

Kagaya continued " this is omen !! Fate is starting to move and these waves will spread and they'll rock the world , then they will eventually reach him , Kibutusji Muzan , we will defeat you in this generation . You the only stain on our clan . Amane , call all hashira for meeting this is an joyious news that I want to share with them together ."

The news of Kyojuro and Toji victory reached all the hashiras . Kocho was with her sister in town for work when she got the news and she said " finally someone was able to kill uppermoon , we have to go butterfly Mansion they might injured severaly ." Mitsuri was sitting in her estate eating sakura mochi when she got this news.

Tokito was walking in bamboo forest . Uzui was happy after receiving the news and said " so you Did kyojuro and with tomioka nevertheless . It a great news , I guess I can't left behind then ." Obanai just said " it's a great news " and Gyomei said " there will be a hashira meeting soon Genya . Master would want to share this news with us . NAMI AMIDA BUTSU."

Sanemi was in his estate training when he got the news and said " Finally those fucking upper ranks are falling and you at least did something other than being annoying Tomioka . "

At battle sight :-

They were currently at battle sight when Kakushi came at the sight of battle . They all were safe only Tanjiro was injured because of the attack that conductor did on him . He was taken to butterfly Mansion , toji and kyojuro had to go there two because of they might be case of internal bleeding since they got few injures from Akaza , Toji could stop all of them with sword alone .

They were not found with much injuries and only Tanjiro was the one who got heavily injured . Shinobu was happy since she didn't got to deal with much other then Tanjiro's injurey but Toji was then one she put that blame on and said " what were you doing Tomioka san when he got injured , sleeping somewhere ."

She said this because got information from Inosuke that Toji was the one was alseep under demon spell and kyojuro had to go in this dream to wake him up . though she was going to ask him about what was in Tomioka dream . That could be good material to annoy him, since other things were someone slowly not working against him .

She made them stay there for few days for rest before letting them go . She was little shocked that how they didn't have any major injuries and only one or two ribs were broken. This was not something that could happen in a fight against uppermoon . But kyojuro said that sun rise was near so Giyu said him to stay in defensive and only push when sun was going to rise .

Giyu's duty was to defend uppermoon attack and Kyojuro's duty was to counter attack so uppermoon don't attack Giyu . These went for a while till sunrise . But they were able to cut it's head but the Demon was able to regrow it . The demon killed itself after he got his memories back too . This made her sick of Kibutusji because he was taking precious memories of people and making them to fight for his amusement.

She was sitting on her table , taking look at paper work and report of injures of demon slayers . Then her crow En came and said " Kaw kaw Master Shinobu , there a hashira meeting tomorrow , kaw kaw ." She thought ' this must have being because of uppermoon death ' .

In infinity castle :-

An uppermoon 2 was suddenly teleported there and said " huh? We are summoned here , that me someone from our ranks died . I hope it's not Kokushibo or Akaza ."

( Sorry for any grammatical mistakes ... Next chapter uppermoon meeting and hashira meeting and Training arc )