Chapter Text
It has been a while, I am Tanjiro Kamado, a man in his thirties. I was once a member of demon slayer corp. we were a group which killed demons, created by Kibutsuji Muzan and well, we finally killed him, but we paid a lot for it. after that, the corp was disbanded, until the second world war. Kariya, the leader of corp in that time, called the corp again so we can help other people during the war, even though we were never recognized by the government. The war ended, but the prices we paid this much were even more. Most of corp died due to the atomic bombs, including my best friends, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira, and my sister, Nezuko. And yet, it didn’t end there; my finance, Kanao Tsuyuri died, due to an illness caused by those gasses released from those bombs… I wish, I would have changed those events.
Right now, I am traveling to Kariya’s mansion. I always come here, most of the year, because the peoples that were killed and belonged to the corp, were buried here.
I knocked on the door “Who is it?”
I said “It is me Kariya-sama.”
He said “oh, Tanjiro, come in.”
I opened the door and then went into the room. he came in and hug me, after a few seconds, he let go of me “you have come early this time Tanjiro-san.”
That is true, I always came in here every three months “yes but well, today was the anniversary of Muzan’s death.”
He nodded “well, would you stay tonight?”
I said “yes… as much as I am sorry but there is no matter of transportation available.”
He said “don’t worry, it is great that I have someone I can talk to. Anyway, do you want something to eat?”
I said “thank you but I want to visit them first.”
He nodded “take your time then Tanjiro-san.”
I went to the graveyard Area. I first went to the master’s grave, he sacrificed himself up, alongside his family to kill Kibutsuji. The graves next to him, belongs to them.
After a while, I got up and left to the person which guided me to stay alive, Giyu Tomioka.
He died before the attack. He died due to the curse mark. He lived most of his life after the end of Corp with Urokodaki-san and Us. He didn’t get marry. It was revealed he was in love with Shinobu-san but due to how she had her life problems with that freakily, sham artist, Douma, they couldn’t get along.
Giyu-san was a silent man, but that wasn’t because he was rude or anything, it was because he chose to be silent rather than letting out his anger from how he lost many people. He was a true hero.
The next grave, belongs to Sanemi Shinazugawa. He was a hero, well, not as calm as Giyu-san but he was a hero in his heart. He also died due to the curse mark. He was in love Kanae Kocho but was scared of talking due to Shinobu-san.
The next grave belongs to a hero that died way before Kibutsuji, Kyojuro Rengoku. A true man that managed to hold of Akaza, the upper moon three without letting anyone to die, beside himself.
The next grave belongs to Tengen Uzui and his three wives. He and me were the first men to kill an upper moon after years of corp fighting against Kibutsuji. He lost a hand in that fight and then retired but came back and rejoined when the war started. He and his wives saved lots of people and evacuated many but they themselves were killed.
The next graves which are next to each other, belong to Mitsuri Kanroji and Obanai Iguro. They died after Muzan’s death. Their death scene made many to feel peaceful and yet sad.
The next grave belongs to Muichiro Tokito. A great hero and friend. He had lots of traumas but managed to conquer them and fight and die heroic.
The next grave belongs to Shinobu Kocho. This grave is empty. This is only for remembering her. She avenged her sister and helped the corps to defeat that piece of hell, Douma.
The next grave belongs to Gyomei Himejima a silent, yet a strong hero. He died due to the curse mark. He used it even though he was older than twenty-five and knew he would die, yet he held it out till the end of Muzan.
The next grave belongs to my friend, Genya Shinazugawa. He fought bravely against the first upper moon and died. He was a great friend, and a great hero.
The next grave belongs to Inosuke Hashibira. He did something no one ever did. The people who were close to the bomb’s explosion saw his heroic and well, kinda stupid action. He jumped into the air used beast breathing against the atomic bombs. He made them to explode in the air and lowered the damage, however low it was.
The next grave belongs to his Finance, Aoi Kanzaki. She died due while she helped the peoples which were injured.
The next grave belongs to Zenitsu Agatsuma. He was our fast power house during the bomb attack. He evacuated most of the people using his breathing. The grave next to him, belongs to my sister, Nezuko, his Finance. They they’d after the bombing. As soon as the bombing ended, they fell down and died. They over exhausted themselves and with the bombing and the gasses they released, Nezuko and Zenitsu died.
The next grave belongs to my Finance, Kanao Tsuyuri. She was helping the injured people, she didn’t die due to the bombing, but she died due to the illness caused by it… in my house and I was… useless…
I sighed and went to the next grave.
This grave belongs to Lady Tamayo. she was a big help for Me and Nezuko. She also helped us to kill Muzan.
I sat on a bench that was near there and thought about how great and peaceful the old days was…
Suddenly someone, placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and saw a familiar man, er, demon next to me “oh hello Yushiro-san” … wait a second “How are you out in the sunlight?”
He sighed “geez, you have been that much deep in thoughts that you haven’t noticed that it has become night.”
I looked around “oh… sorry…”
He sat next to me “don’t worry, I understand.”
I looked down “I still don’t get it that why I didn’t die, even though that I am older than twenty-five.”
He said “listen, I understand how hard it is, and I will experience it more than you, but we have to cherish how they saved hour lives.”
“I could have with the end of the demons but this time? I don’t think.”
He said “you see, you told me that I am the only one who can keep Tamayo’s memory alive, so I will tell you this, you’re the only one who can keep their memories alive, however time it will be.”
“but I couldn’t even help a single person with how I was during bombings. They even sent me away from the danger.”
He helped me to get up. “Tanjiro, due to You, the Corp get what they needed to kill Muzan, something that seemed impossible to even Tamayo-san after that slayer’s death, you created a miracle.”
We got to the mansion’s housing.
Kariya said “Tanjiro-san, I thought you had left.”
Yushiro said “he was that much deep into thoughts that he had forgotten the time.”
Kariya sighed “okay then, Tanjiro-san, let’s eat.”
We all sat down and ate the food he had prepared.
Yushiro then got up and went to another room and came back. he came back after a minute and gave me a box “open it, it is for you.”
I opened it and it was a painting, a painting of the slayers corps.
I cried a little “thank you, Yushiro-san.”
After a while, I got up and left for my room and then went to my Futon and then sleep.
I opened my eyes, I was in a familiar place, which didn’t exist anymore, the butterfly mansion.
Then I suddenly heard a voice “so, this is the form your heart has taken, Tanjiro Kamado.”
I immediately turned to the owner of the voice “what are you doing here? you were supposed to die.”
He smiled “true, but I didn’t.”
I said “I won’t let you to control my body.”
He started coming closer to me “no, you see, the truth is that.”
Wait a second he said, this place is something like my heart, well then. I imagined my katana and it appeared in my hand “Sun breathing, Sunflower thrust.”
He summoned spikes and defended himself. “Hey, I was talking.”
“Like hell I talk with you.” I changed breathing style “Water breathing, Tenth form, constant flux.”
He dodged it “hey, settle down.”
I got even more mad “sun breathing Thirteen form.” I used the ultimate form and destroyed half of his body.
As he fell down, I said “now talk, how are you still in my body? What are you after?”
He said “so, first of all, you have your lie detecting sense of smell, so you can read me.”
I said “so, go on.”
He said “I didn’t die but was weakened. Due to that, I got some of old memories back… and how I became what I am.”
I said “explain it then. I can understand you are telling the truth.” While I am keeping my guard though.
He said “so yeah, I became a demon and killed the doctor that made me a demon, there are no doubts though, that the man was also a demon. After becoming the demon, I was able to live with only a little blood.”
“I see, you are telling the truth, but still, these are not enough to believe you.”
He said “my wife and daughter were assassinated.”
I said “By who?”
“a demon of my Kin, I gave blood and demonized people that I found out and were about to experience a sudden death to illness and such. They also required little blood back then.”
I said “I see, I am interested, only interested.”
He said “he’s name is Nuro.”
I said “he is dead.”
“no, he isn’t.”
“what? How?”
He said “he ate blue spider lily and then burned most of them. By doing that he became a demon, separate from my order, that’s how he killed my family.”
I said “so, what is going to happen?”
He said “chaos, and it isn’t going to happen, it is happening.”
“what?”
“you see, there are many peoples which you sensed as wicked, they were demons, his. They were coming to kill you and steal me or yourself and then give it to him to eat it.”
“so you mean, they are near to attack us?”
He said “you are correct but you are calling it too short. Now that I am in right of my mind, I am one hundred percent sure that the japan’s government is controlled by him.”
“what? Then, what should we do? How can we defeat them?”
He said “defeat him? You do know that you also sensed lots of wicked smells in the town, right?”
“wait, you mean… there is a chance that we are surrounded?”
He nodded “yes, as bad as it seems.”
I said “So, what should I do, where should we run?”
“you are asking me for advice?”
I said “I can feel it that this time you are telling truth and you are planning to help me.”
He raised his hand “grab my hand, it will unlock the hidden demon powers of yours. Then I will tell you about it.”
What should I do? I know that there are peoples after us… but can I trust this man? He is telling the truth and I smell that he is good but…
I grabbed his hand.
I blinked a few times till I got it. I was in my futon, in a room in the Kariya’s mansion.
I got up and saw a familiar figure standing there, in front of the window “it has been a while since I have seen the sun.”
I asked “how are you alive?”
He said “I am not alive; I am a spirit. Only you can see me and I have no control without your conscious over you, but well, you can also summon me and I get a human form but it will decrease your energy.”
“I see, so what is our plan?”
He said “First say this, Demon blood art, true demon king.”
I said “demon blood art, True demon king.”
Suddenly, a red aura surrounded me but ended as soon as it started. “so, right now I am in my demon king form?”
He nodded “yes, a demon which doesn’t require blood and can swallow human food.”
I said “just to be sure, due to this form, even though it was hidden, I lived till now, right?”
He nodded “yes, now, look at your hand.”
I saw that it was healed. I rushed to the mirror that was in the room and saw that my eye was healed as well and was useable again, but something else also caught my eyes. “I don’t look like a demon.”
“it is due to the fact that your power surpasses me and you even have abilities which I never even dreamed off.”
I said “so, what is the plan?”
He said “get up and let’s go to the living room.”
I got up and went to the living room. “Kariya-san, Yushiro-san, something important has happened.”
Kariya looked at me “What is it?”
I said “I have gain some info that there are still demons alive.”
They both were shocked. Yushiro-san said “how? Muzan is dead, it should be impossible.”
I said “these demons are not controlled by Muzan.”
Kariya said “please show us your source of information.”
Ah, how can I show him?
Muzan said “okay, let me tell you how?”
Wait, he can read my mind?
“yes, I can, While I am a spirit though.” He sighed “imagine a scroll and then open it and place your hand under its content and think of summoning me.”
I did as he told me and I summoned him. As soon as they saw Muzan, they grabbed the Katanas that were there. Kariya said “how is he still alive?”
Muzan said “technically, I am not alive. I am a spiritual being living in Tanjiro and he summoned me.”
Yushiro said “why in the hell you summoned him?”
It took me a while to calm them down to explain the situation to them.
Kariya said “I see; it is true that my father also suspected that demons were in the government. We thought the government would change after the end of Muzan but it became even worst.”
Yushiro said “Tamayo-sama also thought of the same thing.”
Kariya said they might have also made America to use those bombs to kill you.”
What… you mean… there is a chance that they were killed, only because of me… I …. I…
Suddenly Muzan slapped the back my head “you, idiot; if you want to go full mad, at list turn back to human by saying demon blood art, cancel.”
“why? Did something happen?”
He said “your demon king aura was leaking, look around.”
I looked around to see that I had sent many things flying and broke many of them. “I am sorry.”
Kariya sighed and said “I will send the crows to collect members, and then you ha…”
Muzan interrupted him “you can’t, they near you and you don’t have members you can trust fully as of now, if one joins, then you guys are dead.”
Yushiro said “What? Then what we can do then?”
Muzan said “there is a demon blood art, that might save us.”
Yushiro said “what is it? I know about all of your blood art.”
He said “you don’t. these powers were something I couldn’t use and belongs to Tanjiro.”
Kariya said “What are its effects?”
He said “it is an art that creates infinite potential. There might be other ways to fight but I want to use this blood art because it can be called a gift, yes; a gift for you all to believe that I am joining you.”
Kariya looked at me “Tanjiro, you choose. Choose to believe him or not.”
I said “I will do it Muzan.”
He said “so here is the plan. I will go back into Tanjiro then you guys will hold his hands, then he will turn to the demon king then he will think of a time that if he started from then, he would have changed everything. Then he will say, Demon King art, New road. Although, there is a problem with this art.”
“what is it?”
He said “you can use it only once in each thousand years.”
I nodded and then he disappeared. I then said “Demon blood art, true demon king.”
I turned to the demon king.
Yushiro said “So, this is the new demon king…”
Yushiro-san and Kariya-san held my hands.
Then I, thought about a time where everything would have changed, the best is when the bomb attack happened…
Suddenly Muzan said “don’t, this ability has no limits, expect the fact it needs to be born after you were born.”
Then before the battle with Muzan…
“no, it can be even before that.”
Then the Mugen Train.
“no, don’t forget, you can go even before that.”
Then before the final selection.
“Hey, at list go before when I attacked your family.”
Then when Douma killed Kanae Kocho… No… a month before my father’s death, when I was eleven years old.
“that is your choice?”
“yes.”
“then say it Now, Tanjiro Kamado.”
I said it “Demon King art, New road.”
Suddenly I started falling with Yushiro with Kariya. Yushiro said “What is happening?”
Muzan said to me “we are creating a miracle, if it works.”
Wait, what? “What do you mean by If?”
Suddenly, everything turned dark.
Pov switch: Yushiro.
I opened my eyes. Damn that Muzan, don’t tell me he did something and killed us.
I searched around, I was on my Futon. I got up and looked around. This wasn’t that mansion nor my house, yet it feels so familiar.
I heard a voice “Yushiro-san, if you are awake can you help me?”
I turned to source of the voice “how is this possible.”
I started crying, everyone was instead of me would have cried as well. This really is a miracle.
“Yushiro-san, are you okay?”
I said “Yes, I am feeling great.”
Pov switch: Kariya.
I opened my eyes. I was in the mansion. I looked at myself. I was smaller. Did Muzan made Tanjiro to make us younger or change our face and height so we can escape?
“Kariya, you are awake now.”
I turned and saw someone standing next to me that I never believed I would see. I started crying.
“Kariya, why are you dreaming.”
I rushed in and hugged him.
I don’t know what is happening, what Muzan did, where he is, but I must thank him, for whatever he and Tanjiro did.
Pov switch: Tanjiro
I opened my eyes. I looked around. I was in my house, so it was a dream…
I got up then the door opened.
Probably some of the villagers which sometimes come by. But wait, they won’t come to this room without knocking… wait, this room looks a little different.
I turned around and was shocked… a dead person is in front of me.
She said “Hello, Oni-chan.”
I rushed to the window and threw up.
As I was done, I turned around and saw Muzan who was standing next to the wall “Here is my present for you, Tanjiro Kamado. The chance to fix everything.”
Nezuko said “Oni-chan… are you okay? You are gazing at our room.”
We traveled to the Past.
