Tanjiro watched the massive, spiraling cocoon hurtling toward him. He lowered the tip of his blade slightly. As he stepped forward, he twisted his body, and the twin crimson flames flared in fierce resonance, spiraling into a vortex of their own. Without hesitation, he met the attack head-on.
The moment the two forces collided, violent air currents burst outward, tearing up grass and scattering leaves in every direction. Wreathed in flame, his blade cut straight through Rui's arms.
It tore through the spider silk as if it weren't there and bit cleanly into Rui's limbs. A searing pain—like molten iron pressed against his flesh—surged through him. To his shock, his hands did not regenerate at once.
In that brief instant of disbelief, Tanjiro twisted the blade again, carving a blazing arc across the air.
For a heartbeat, Rui felt as though he were staring into the rising sun—warm, yet unbearably fierce.
As his vision tilted and began to fall, memories from his human life finally surfaced.
That's right. He had once had a real family. But he had severed that bond with his own hands. And even after losing his memories, that obsession had lingered—like a venomous serpent coiling around him day and night, never allowing him peace.
[How long has it been…? As I am now, there's no way I can ever have that bond again… is there?]
Rui felt his head strike the ground. But none of that mattered anymore. He kept his eyes fixed on Tanjiro.
[It's so unfair… I wanted it so badly. Why are you the one who still gets to have everything?]
Tanjiro slid his blade back into its sheath. He looked at the body before him—still upright even as it began to crumble into drifting ash.
After a brief silence, he stepped forward and pulled him into an embrace.
"If there's a next life, I wouldn't mind if you were my little brother. Then… let's be a real family.
I'll protect you. I'll stay by your side while you grow up. Rui, you'll make real friends. Things will get better. So please… don't be sad anymore. Rest in peace."
He didn't notice the final tear that slipped from Rui's severed head.
He simply held him until the body in his arms turned completely to ash and scattered on the wind. Only then did grief touch his expression.
"He was still just a child… and yet he carried such sorrow in his scent. I hope… I was able to ease that pain, even a little."
"Ah! That's right—I need to find Nezuko and Takeo!"
His expression tightened with alarm.
"Takeo lost so much blood… it must hurt like hell. And Nezuko twisted her foot, yet she still carried him away…
I'm a terrible older brother. I was right there, and they still got hurt…"
His voice grew heavy with guilt. He took off in the direction they had retreated. But as he neared a thicket of bushes, the scent of blood reached him.
He stopped, inhaling sharply.
"This smell… Inosuke? Is he injured? No… there's someone else too. That scent—it's familiar."
As he stood there, puzzled, the owner of that familiar scent pushed through the brush and stepped into view.
Tanjiro paused for a beat, then broke into a bright smile.
"Shinazugawa-san, long time no see!"
"Hmph—"
Sanemi stepped out with the unconscious Inosuke slung over his shoulder.
"Don't act so friendly. I don't acknowledge you."
"I know," Tanjiro replied with an easy smile, naturally stepping ahead to lead the way. "Maybe it's because we train together so much, but you always feel pretty approachable to me."
"Approachable?" Sanemi scoffed. "More like appetizing. I saw you chatting away with that demon at the end."
"You were watching?"
Tanjiro blinked.
"I just thought that child was pitiful. He never met Hiru-san or teacher like I did. He never had proper guidance, so he ended up making those mistakes… While training under teacher, I've seen all kinds of demons. They live without purpose—empty, miserable. So at the very least, I want them to pass on in peace. Teacher's the same. He always apologizes to them, says he couldn't save them, tells them they're free to hate him. But when it's time to strike, he never hesitates. I want to be like that—protect who needs protecting, kill who must be killed. Human or demon, it doesn't matter."
Sanemi clicked his tongue.
"You should be grateful you're Yoriichi's disciple. Otherwise, you'd already be dead."
Tanjiro's smile only grew brighter.
"I am grateful! I'm really lucky I got to meet the teacher!"
"I wasn't complimenting you. Shut up."
After pushing through another stretch of undergrowth, Tanjiro finally caught sight of Nezuko and Takeo again.
Takeo, wrapped in bandages like a rice dumpling, was asleep against a tree. Nezuko sat nearby while someone checked the sprain in her ankle.
Tanjiro hurried over.
"Long time no see, Kanae-san. How are my brother and sister?"
"Ah, it has been a while, Tanjiro."
Kanae smiled gently.
"Nezuko and Takeo aren't seriously hurt. They just need proper rest. I saw your fight earlier—it was impressive."
"Thank you."
Tanjiro reached out and lightly ruffled Nezuko's hair, then tilted his head.
"Um… I have a question. Were the demons here really that dangerous? Enough that two Hashira had to come as backup? Aren't you usually very busy?"
"Thanks to Yoriichi-san, we're not as busy as we used to be," Kanae said as she finished securing Nezuko's bandage. "And you're mistaken—it was three Hashira. We've been following you since you entered the mountain."
"I see… so you were monitoring me?" Tanjiro tilted his head again. "Then Hiru-san probably meant to tell us that day, right?"
"Huh?" Sanemi set Inosuke down in front of Kanae. "That guy was planning to tell you?"
Tanjiro nodded with a small smile.
"But he must have forgotten and ended up training my Blood Demon Art instead. I guess I overdid it. I fell asleep inside the box and didn't wake up right away when Takeo and Nezuko were in danger… I failed. I promised the teacher I would protect my family."
Kanae reached out and gently tousled his hair.
"You've already done more than enough, Tanjiro. I'm sure Yoriichi-san would be proud to have a disciple like you."