Chapter 50

Two more weeks had passed, and the trio had mastered Total Concentration Breathing. I tried using it at one point, but my right lung was damaged, making it difficult to learn. So, I decided to try again when I was in better condition. Currently, I watched the trio wave to everyone as they left. 'I don't remember much beyond this.'

I was interrupted by Tanjiro running back toward us.

"Ryou-sensei!" He stopped in front of me, and I raised an eyebrow. I watched him bow before he stood back up.

"Thank you for teaching us! When we meet again, let's spar!" In the background I noticed the other two try to hide a shiver. I turned back to Tanjiro.

"Sure, Tanjiro-kun." I placed my hand on his head and messed up his hair.

"Good luck, and stay true to yourself."

He backed away from my hand, smiling.

"Will do! Goodbye, Eri-chan!" I looked down to see Eri waving back at him. Once they were gone, I spoke. "Well Eri, time for us to head out too."

Eri nodded sadly. 'Seems like she already misses Nezuko. Cute.' I gave her a pat on the head and lifted her onto my shoulders. I turned to Shinobu, who watched me with a calm smile.

"Well, it's time for us to go. I've already packed our bags. Thank you for your hospitality."

I bowed slightly, and Eri did the same.

"It's quite fine. If you find yourself in the area do visit, We'll miss Eri."

I raised an eyebrow. "Not me?"

She chuckled. "If we see Eri, we'll see you too, no?"

I hummed in agreement and went to grab our things. 'Time to leave.'

The Buddha pendant wasn't fully charged, just about halfway, which wasn't a problem but slowed down what I was planning. 'Phenex tears would be nice.' Staying here longer had at least allowed us to do some things. Mainly, I was able to pursue something I was owed, blacksmith training. I had forgotten to ask Amaterasu about it during Ragnarök, so I instead asked Shinobu about the Nichirin blades. She told me it was classified and that the swordsmiths were in a concealed location. 'Annoying.' was all I could think while walking along a dirt road.

Before, I might have tried tracking them down. Now, I won't. My relationships with those I've spoken to and Gyomei, who has put his trust in me would be betrayed. Plus, I don't think my continuing weakened state could handle taking them all on. I had arrived here at about thirty to forty percent of my full strength. Now, I'd guess I'm down to about twenty to twenty-five percent. 'All thanks to the damn Nichirin and Wisteria.'

Eri had taken a liking to Wisteria flowers, so we both had them on us now. She wore a crown-shaped ring of Wisteria on her head, while I had a necklace of it. 'Fucking great.' While I was brooding, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I looked down to see Eri with a worried expression. I stopped walking and knelt down beside her.

"Everything okay, Eri?"

She looked down at the ground, then back at me.

"I got a b-bad feeling."

I tilted my head. "Like someone's going to get hurt?"

She nodded, and I hummed before responding.

"Is it us? Because you know I'm pretty strong." I flexed my arm for dramatic effect, but it didn't work. She frowned deeper.

"When did it start? Do you know?"

She looked down again and mumbled,

"When I saw T-Tanjiro-niisan and the others leave out of sight."

I twitched at that. 'Why does he get niisan, and I don't?' Shaking off the thought, I hummed and asked,

"And why didn't you tell me before? I'm not upset."

She started fidgeting, and I raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was a tummy ache."

I let out a sigh.

"That's fine. Well, do you want to go see them? Just to be sure they're all fine?"

She nodded rapidly, so I stood up, ready to walk back. I remembered roughly where they were headed. 'Something about a train... Oh shit.'

I looked down at Eri. "I forgot I had something to give them as well. How about we try to get there really fast?" I watched as she nodded. I picked her up tucking her against my chest, and took off, boosting myself slightly with cursed magic.

'It's been about a day since we left. If it took Tanjiro and his group a day as well, I'm two days behind them. Guess I better speed it up a bit more. Better not die, my dumb students.' I thought, ignoring the growing pain in my side as I picked up more speed.

-Tanjiro's POV-

It was all happening so fast.

One moment, we were boarding the train for our mission, and then we met the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku. Suddenly, I was pulled into a dream with my deceased family, only realizing it was a dream thanks to Nezuko. We were attacked by some of the passengers, who were under the control of Lower Rank One, the demon Enmu. When I tried to confront him, he revealed that he had fused with the train itself!

After reuniting with everyone, Rengoku ordered Inosuke and I to find the demon's neck, while the others protected the passengers. We found the neckbone, but I was caught off guard when the conductor stabbed me. Even so, we pushed through, and Inosuke landed the final blow, killing Enmu, but the train derailed.

Everything was a blur after that, but Rengoku arrived just in time, teaching me how to stabilize my wounds using breathing techniques. I thought it was over, but then the Upper Rank Three demon appeared, and Rengoku countered his attack, slicing through his arm.

"That was a fine attack." the demon said.

Rengoku responded calmly. "I don't understand why you'd go after a wounded person first."

The demon smirked. "The sight of a weakling makes my skin crawl." They exchanged words, but something the demon said struck me.

"Why don't you become a demon too? I can tell your strength at a glance. You're a Hashira, aren't you?"

"Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro." Rengoku introduced himself.

The demon, now identified as Akaza, offered once again. "Become a demon."

Rengoku responded resolutely. "No matter what the reason, I will not become a demon!"

Akaza cracked the ground beneath him, readying his next attack. "Technique Development: Compass Needle!" If you refuse to become a demon, I'll kill you."

He moved at speeds I could barely see, faster than I could follow. 'almost as fast as Ryou-sensei.'

The fight between them was terrifying, a flurry of clashing blows. Rengoku managed to slice off Akaza's arm, but it regenerated instantly.

"It pains me... I can't bear it!" Akaza said, clearly enjoying the battle. He leapt into the air and unleashed an attack. "Destructive Death: Air Type!"

Rengoku barely blocked it. 'They're so strong!'

Akaza continued his relentless attacks from a distance. Rengoku responded with, "Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation!" A fiery arc blocked the onslaught.

Rengoku blitzed towards Akaza, but even at such blinding speed Akaza dodged and countered. Their clash intensified, with both moving too fast for me to follow.

'They've gotten faster than Ryou-sensei!' I thought stunned.

As they fought, Akaza kept speaking, almost pleading. "Your sword skills are too magnificent to waste. Become a demon, Kyojuro!"

The fight pushed them into the forest, but Akaza landed a heavy kick, launching Rengoku back toward the wrecked train. I struggled to get up, but the pain kept me down. Inosuke held me steady.

"Turn into a demon, Kyojuro." Akaza taunted, walking towards him again. "Fight me forever and get stronger with me."

But Rengoku remained unphased. "I will not become a demon!"

With those words, Rengoku surged forward with another powerful attack. "Third Form: Blazing Universe!"

Akaza barely dodged it, yet he smiled widely. "Magnificent! That's sensational!"

Their fight was an incredible blur, demon versus Demon Slayer, fist against sword. Rengoku unleashed another attack. "First Form: Unknowing Fire!" cutting off Akaza's arms once more. But Akaza just regenerated them, landing a blow to Rengoku's midsection in return. Rengoku tried to counter with. "Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun!"

Akaza dodged, moving in again, landing a strike to Rengoku's face. The battle raged on as Rengoku prepared his next move. "Fifth Form: Flame Tiger!" Akaza countered. "Disorder!" Their attacks collided in a flash of red and blue.

When the dust settled, Akaza looked unwounded, while Rengoku was clearly tiring. Akaza smiled again. "Don't die on me, Kyojuro. Let's fight more."

But Rengoku wasn't done. Flames surged around him, hotter than ever. "I will fulfill my duty!" he shouted, positioning himself for another attack.

'I have to help!' I thought, struggling to move.

With a final surge of power, Rengoku yelled. "Set your heart ablaze! Go beyond your limits! "Ninth Form: Rengoku!" He charged forward, his body encased in fire.

Akaza unfazed, took the attack head-on and I prayed for Rengoku to win. Their clash erupted in a storm of flames. I could hear the sounds of their blows, but I couldn't see through the smoke and fire. Then, the flames shot into the sky, and I saw Akaza, his arm sliced and his torso hanging loosely, but he was healing fast.

"No!" I screamed, seeing Rengoku hadn't noticed. Akaza poised for a strike toward Rengoku's midsection.

"NO!" I yelled again, desperately trying to reach them, but it was like watching in slow motion.

Rengoku seemed ready to accept his fate, but then something incredible happened. When I blinked, there was weight in my arms. 'Eri?'

I looked back towards the fight and to my shock, Rengoku was sitting on the ground, and Ryou was there holding Akaza's arm, straining to keep a grip on it.

"How?!" I couldn't believe it.

Even Akaza seemed surprised. "Who are you?" he asked.