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"Who's this guy?"
"He's wearing a Corps uniform—must be one of ours!" Two Kakushi stared at a person strung up in a tree wearing a boar's head mask. Confused, they removed it.
"Oh, it's just a mask!"
"This guy's badly injured—let's get him down and treat him."
Kaidō, passing nearby, noticed the Kakushi untying someone from a tree. Curious, he walked over—and recognized Inosuke Hashibira, the character who constantly yelled "Pig Assault!"
"Dragon Hashira-sama!"
The Kakushi bowed upon recognizing a Hashira. They'd heard plenty about Dragon Hashira Ryūjin Kaidō.
"No need for formalities! I happened to pass by. Need help?"
"We're fine, Dragon Hashira-sama. We can handle this."
"Alright then. I'll patrol the area. You Kakushi work hard!"
"Farewell, Dragon Hashira-sama!" After watching him leave, they resumed their discussion.
"Dragon Hashira-sama really is like the rumors say—treats everyone equally, no ego at all!"
"Right! Anyway, quit chatting. This guy's still hanging there—let's get him down and treat him!"
——————
"Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Rotation!" A small boy-demon wearing a white kimono with spiderweb patterns—the kanji for Lower Five in his left eye—was Rui. He unleashed his Blood Demon Art, attempting to eliminate Giyu.
"Water Breathing, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm."
SHRED.
Instantly, all of Rui's spider threads were neutralized.
'What? What did he do? Not a single thread touched him? He cut through my strongest threads!' Rui's shock was absolute.
'Impossible! I'll try again—' Before he could release another attack, Giyu decapitated him in one swift motion.
'I've been... beheaded?' As his head fell, Rui saw Tanjiro lying on the ground, shielding his sister.
'Must kill them... definitely must kill that brother and sister... I absolutely must... Wait, what did I even want? Right... what I wanted was...'
When Rui was human, he'd been sickly and weak—walking was difficult, running impossible. Born with a frail body, every step was agony.
During that time, Rui heard a story about a father who died saving his drowning son. He found this a beautiful bond—believed the father who died in the river had fulfilled his "fatherly duty." Days passed like this until Muzan Kibutsuji appeared.
Sympathizing with Rui's similar condition, Muzan gave him his blood, transforming him into a demon. Rui gained a strong body—but began needing to eat humans.
After Rui killed people, his parents felt immense guilt but knew they couldn't let him continue harming innocents. His father, resolved to kill Rui and atone with his own death, attempted a murder-suicide.
But Rui, now a demon, felt his father's killing intent. Remembering the story from his past and comparing it to his father's murderous intent and mother's complicity, Rui concluded his bond with his parents was false.
Ultimately, consumed by rage, Rui murdered his parents. However, his mother's dying words expressed only guilt toward him. Rui suddenly realized his father's determination to kill him and die together—understanding too late that he'd destroyed the genuine family bond with his own hands.
Muzan appeared then and encouraged him. Unable to accept reality, Rui gradually lost his memories. He tried to restore them by experiencing true family bonds. Eventually, he began building his own "family" on Mount Natagumo. But since Rui maintained bonds through fear, and the gathered demons were far weaker than himself as a Twelve Kizuki member, this "family" was utterly false. For decades, Rui played "house" with unrelated demons on Mount Natagumo.
After being beheaded, the headless Rui initially wanted to drag the Kamado siblings to hell even as he vanished. But watching Tanjiro desperately protect Nezuko made him question what he'd truly been seeking.
Finally, Rui recovered his human memories—remembering he'd been searching to reclaim the bond he'd lost.
"Such a sorrowful presence." Tanjiro stared at Rui's decapitated body lying before him. Smelling overwhelming sadness, he reached out his hand. Feeling Tanjiro's sunlight-warm touch, Rui finally remembered he'd always wanted to apologize to his parents. He vanished peacefully.
——————
Giyu approached expressionlessly, stepping on Rui's clothes.
"No need to pity man-eating demons. Even if they look like children—they're hideous creatures who've lived decades, maybe centuries."
"I'll cut off evil demons' heads without mercy. But you cannot trample on demons who feel remorse. They were human once—exactly like us. So please move your foot!" Tanjiro's voice was firm.
Giyu felt something stir inside him. His junior brother Kaidō had said something similar: "If it's an evil demon, I'll kill without mercy. But if it's a good demon, I'll let them live out a human lifespan in peace."
Finally, Giyu moved his foot. But recognizing Tanjiro and the muzzled Nezuko, something clicked—they looked familiar. After a moment, he realized who they were.
"You're—"
Before he could finish, a sound cut through the air behind him. Giyu immediately drew his blade and blocked.
CLANG!
"Tomioka-san, what are you doing? Why get in my way?"
Shinobu demanded angrily. Since Kanae's revival, Shinobu had returned to her old self—though some habits remained.
"You said yourself you wouldn't get along with demons. So what are you doing now? Acting like this will only make everyone hate you."
"I... I'm not hated by everyone!" Giyu said.
Shinobu: "..."
"You there, little brother!"
Tanjiro: "Yes! (Ω Д Ω)"
"You're protecting a demon right now—very dangerous! Please leave."
"No—wait, that's not right! She's my sister! She's never hurt anyone!"
"I see. Can you still move? Take your sister and run. Quickly." Giyu turned his head, whispering.
"Tomioka-san..." Tanjiro looked between Giyu and Nezuko, then resolutely picked up his sister and fled. "I'm sorry! Thank you very much!!"
"Tomioka-san, you're violating Corps regulations." Shinobu's voice was calm.
"..."
What Tanjiro didn't know: a girl was chasing him from behind.
——————
Kaidō sat on his greatsword, weaving through the forest. Suddenly, familiar shouting echoed nearby.
"Nezuko! Run! Run—"
He spotted miniature Nezuko running frantically while Kanao Tsuyuri chased her with a blade.
One swinging her sword in pursuit, the other hopping desperately away. Witnessing this scene, Kaidō couldn't help but laugh. "Now that's a classic moment!"
Nezuko noticed Kaidō ahead on his greatsword and sprinted toward him, leaping into his arms. Kanao stopped her pursuit upon seeing him.
"Good girl, Nezuko!!"
Kaidō cradled Nezuko, stroking her head. She smiled happily, eyes crinkling into crescents, nuzzling his chest. She sensed the familiar scent and kindness emanating from him.
"Alright, Kanao. I'll handle this from here."
Kanao said nothing, simply glancing between Kaidō and Nezuko before nodding.
——————
"What was that behavior about?"
"..."
"Say something, Tomioka-san."
"This goes back two years. At that time, I was—"
"Are you messing with me, Tomioka-san? That's way too long! Are you trying to stall by rambling, or are you still hung up about me saying everyone hates you?"
Giyu: "???"
By sheer coincidence, Kaidō arrived at that exact moment, Nezuko in his arms, witnessing another iconic scene: Giyu had Shinobu's neck trapped under his arm like a drum at his waist. Shinobu's temple vein was throbbing.
"Uh, Senpai, Shinobu-nee... what exactly are you two doing?" He couldn't help but ask.
Both noticed Nezuko in Kaidō's arms.
"Kaidō-kun, in your arms is—" Before Shinobu could finish, a crow interrupted.
"ORDERS! ORDERS! CAW! HEADQUARTERS ORDERS!"
"Bring Tanjiro Kamado and the demon Nezuko Kamado to Headquarters!"
"!!" Giyu and Shinobu tensed.
"Tanjiro Kamado: deep red hair, red eyes, scar on left forehead, wearing green checkered haori!"
"Demon Nezuko Kamado: bamboo muzzle in mouth, pink kimono under black haori! CAW!"
"Are you Nezuko Kamado?" Kanao asked the girl in Kaidō's arms.
"Dawn's approaching. Let's go." Kaidō picked up a nearby box, letting Nezuko climb inside.
Soon, Kakushi arrived. Seeing Tanjiro lying on the ground, they rushed to check on him.
"Scar on his left forehead—that's Tanjiro Kamado!"
"Correct! Restrain him and take him to Headquarters!"
"His jaw looks broken!"
"He seems kind of pitiful all tied up like this!"
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