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When Tanjirio’s sister was spared on that snowy mountain and Giyuu Tomioka informed him to go find a swordsman he was stopped, a hand gripping his wrist that had him blinking. The Demon Slayer moved it into view before lowering the burgundy hair’s sleeve to show a mark on his wrist that wasn’t there before. It’s a pink ribbon, much like the one Nezuko wears wrapped around his wrist. Tomioka Giyuu then speaks.
“Hide this… Never show it to anyone. Demon, Human, or Demon Slayer…” He says and Tanjirio opens his mouth. He was about to ask when the man let go of his wrist and vanished, leaving the poor kid to stand there. Confused and staring at the pink ribbon mark on his wrist, looking over to his sister he blinks. There on her wrist looks like a burn mark with red flames on the edges, it’s the same color as his hair and it wraps around her wrist. Swallowing he covers his mark and Nezuko’s as well and when she awakens he buries their family. Praying for them before he starts his long journey. To the mountains to be taught by Giyuu’s old teacher.
His teacher found out about the mark, being warned beforehand and answering Tanjirio’s questions.
“It’s a Soulmark.” Urokodaki informs.
“Soulmark?” Tanjirio blinks as he looks at the pink ribbon on his wrist and his sensei nods.
“Only Demons have them.” Tanjirio looks up sharply, “We are not sure why they form them but the Demons that bear Soulmarks are a lot stronger and capable of supernatural abilities such as Blood Arts. Those that have these marks often group up with those that represent these markings and hunt together. Most times it’s just a partnership, something akin to family or platonic friendships. Other times it’s taken romantically… It depends on what the Demons experience in their human lives, often locked up in their subconsciousness…”
“But why would they develop them?” Tanjirio asks, looking over to his sister.
“A theory is that the Gods gave it to them so they can find their way back to humanity…” Urokodaki says. “A way to save a piece of their souls, it first appeared around… five hundred years ago.” His sensei says with a tilt of his head.
Tanjiro lets out a soft little ‘ oohhh ’ before looking back at the ribbon, a smile on his face- if this means Nezuko has it then maybe they could find a way to turn her back? Maybe Demons with the marks would be easier to turn Human?
“Though, you should keep it hidden…” Urokodaki says and his student looks at him in surprise. “The first time a human has developed a mark like this was connected to Muzan Kibutsuji. It’s often regarded as an omen if any human develops a Soulmark. Since only Demons have them and any humans that have it are often foreshadowed to die or worse.”
Tanjirio swallows and nods. He covers his mark and Urodaki pats him on the shoulder. “I will get you something to keep your sleeves from falling and revealing it. The same for your sister, to hide both of your marks is the best option. Which is why you should never show it to a Demon, Human, or anyone from the Demon Slayer Corps…” Tanjirio nods.
And so begins a life of having to make sure not to reveal it to anyone. Even when Lady Tamayo was bandaging him, he kept the mark hidden even when she paused as she looked at his back. She stays silent as she finishes bandaging him and Nezuko’s mark is still hidden by the clothes she wears around her wrist. Her patting Tanjirio’s back softly and gave him a sad smile and soft eyes before they left. Even when traveling with Zenitsu and Inoskue he manages to keep the mark hidden despite how hard it was.
But.. That- That kinda gets blown out of the water when he needs to get checked up around the same time as Spider mountain is finished. Apparently something happened while Tanjirio was unconscious that had Shinobu regard Giyuu with even more suspicion than she originally had when he defended Nezuko. At least it wasn’t revealed in front of the other Hashiras during his trial. And Again before his trial began that several demons popped out, during daylight along with a group of humans and demons. The chaos that ensued afterwards at the sight of strange humans with demonic features, Sanemi’s descendant being a blind snake woman and the explosive blonde he met at Lady Tamayo’s defending him. Then another demon with horns she can control defending Nezuko’s box. Fortunately the Demons that attacked them were slain and no one was injured but the tense atmosphere that surrounded the other newcomers was choking, how the two new demons standing in daylight regarded the Demon Slayers before the Wind Pillar did his test.
Afterwards when Nezuko was deemed ‘ safe ’ and allowed to live they vanished, going back to whatever future they hailed from. Wishing them luck against their fight against Muzan.
And well. Shinobu and the nurses will see the mark and if they had any hope they wouldn’t be questioned they were dead wrong, “You have two marks..” Shinobu comments with scrunched up eyebrows as she’s checking the ribs to see if they’re healing well. She has seen the one on his wrist when he was forced to change, Shinobu regarded it coldly. As if she was weighing her options of how to proceed.
“Two? No, I only have one.” Tanjiro raises an eyebrow as he turns his head to look at Shinobu over his shoulder.
“.. I think you might have developed a second one then. The one on your back looks like a doll with green roses blooming from it.” Shinobu looked over to Aoi who nodded knowing what Shinobu wanted without even needing it said, “Aoi’s going to see if your sisters developed another one.”
Aoi rushes back in and informs them what she saw “It was her box but with green roses growing up and around it to provide protection and shade.” Well when did that happen? Did it happen after they met Izuku? How does he know it’s about Izuku? Tanjirio closes his eyes and lowers his head, he remembers the feeling after meeting the Demon hiding in a hole. Like something familiar being slotted into place and an easy going friendship, how protective Izuku was and how worried he was for their safety before heading to Spider Mountain. If it is from Izuku they’re not telling the Slayers about him. So he stayed silent about the second Demon he carries the mark of. Keep their friend safe, besides he doesn’t even smell like Human blood! So there’s no way he’d be a hazard to let live!
===
Their fight against upper moon six isn’t going well- no, not at all, Tanjiro can feel a lot of things below his waist thanks to the building that came crashing down on him, and the brother of Daki coming his way to taunt him. He’s gotta get up and fight! He has to keep Nezuko safe as well as the other innocent people here. He has to move and protect her and stop these two Demons! He has to move because the individuals from the future sacrificed so much coming here and stopping everyone from being killed. At the cost of two of their future Pillars being turned into Demons, how seeing a future face that was reincarnated and living happily in the future due to the changes brought by Muzan’s defeat. He wanted to protect that! He wanted to make sure it comes true!
Gyutaru takes note of the bit of pink peeking out on his wrist “uh?” He bends down and picks his wrist up and chuckles “Daki, look at this. Little dude has a soulmark.” He says as he rips the remaining fabric to reveal the pink ribbon that wraps around his wrist. Tanjirio's heart is thundering in his chest as the Upper Moon observes it, his eyes glancing at Nezuko’s box.
Daki laughs, “They’re siblings and they have Soulmarks! Like us?” She looks at her brother, “I changed my mind! Turn him!” She says with a smile “It’s no fair his little sister is left alone with her soulmark while her older brother is still Human. Such a frail creature can be killed by anything! Cruel… Very cruel big brother!” Daki sniffles. As if sobbing in anguish at the Kamado’s situation. Gyutaro contemplates, even though he planned to snap the kids fingers and break his spirit, it would be rather cruel to have him waste energy to heal that while he should be protecting his little sister. Smiling widely and staring down at Tanjirio he offers.
“Become a Demon and be strong enough to protect your sister.” Tanjirio blinks, “This mark on ya’ wrist. It’s a Soulmark. No doubt your sister has one too, if so then that explains why you're always carrying her around in that box of yours.” the demon continues. Looking at the pink ribbon on his wrist even more. “What’s with the face? Oh, you must’ve been told how much of an omen and bad luck these markings are!” Gyutaro grins. “Don’t believe ‘em, Demons with these types of bonds are way stronger and capable of great feats, even the humans that have these markings are stronger than average. It’s often said that all parties gain each other's strengths through these markings. Even the one that shared a Soulmark to the Great One was strong and powerful despite being human, nearly killing him too and lived awfully long.” he chuckles.
The others are pretending to be dead before they have ample time to strike the Demons and hopefully kill them. It’s definitely a much harder fight than they could have ever been prepared for, even if they had more training they don’t think the fight would be much easier. Thus continuing the battle at the most opportune time, and cutting both of their heads off through teamwork. Tanjirio disappeared to find their bodies and collect samples missed Zenitsu’s fearful look at his own back and Inosuke tensing at the shift of the individuals around him.
So of course when Tengan heard the Demons talking about Tanjiro having a soulmate mark he’ll stuff it away for later when there’s no fighting and nearly dying going on. And thus that means everyone in the corps will wind up learning that Tanjiro has a soulmate mark with a Demon, thus he’ll be viewed more werily by the other members. Tanjirio became isolated, despite his kindness many people avoided him now that his mark is well known. Well, Inosuke is still by his side and Senjuro often visits to see how he is doing. Never before… Never before has Tanjirio hurt like this when people regard him with fear and paranoia because of his Soulmark. Nezuko curls up by his side, holding the hand that has her pink ribbon wrapped around.
The pillars and Tanjirio wind up getting called to meet with the leader of the Demon Slaying leader on a discussion of his soulmate mark, luckily they only know about the one. Or they did until Shinobu spoke of the second one since he refused to release any information about them, why Shinobu? Why? It doesn’t help that those that come from nearly three centuries from the future have Soulmarks regardless of being Human or Demon, that they regard it as being lucky to have some form of bond. How it came with the territory of having ‘ Quirks ’, as if Humans in the future developed their own blood arts and managed to live comfortably with humans in their communities.
“Two marks… How odd.” Comes from the rock pillar. Tanjirio stays silent, he has seen the future version of Giyuu during an assignment, how he is doing in the future with a mark on his left cheek and a strange right arm. How he broke down seeing Tanjirio and Nezuko and hugging them for dear life. How he showed him the marks that are a tapestry on his skin, melding together to paint a beautiful scene with only parts of it being grayed out to resemble the individuals that have died. Tanjirio will keep that secret to his grave, how Giyuu nearly has over twenty soulmarks that blended together in a beautiful picture regardless if they are colorful or grayed out.
“ I will see you again Tanjirio… I will see all of you again in the future, so please. Come back to me when you're ready… ” Future Giyuu’s words echo as he covers his Soulmarks again before disappearing with whomever else came with him.
“Giyuu, did you perhaps know about this too?” Shinobu asks, keeping her voice level.
“No.” Giyuu gives a short and simple reply, one eyebrow arched up.
“What should we do now? Does this mean the other mark will try hurting them?” Mitsuri asks, worry in her voice as she looks at Tanjiro.
“Those with soulmarks are omens, and the Demons would kill and eat anyone regardless if they have their Soulmark or not!” Shinobu replies to Mitsuri’s question.
“No, they wouldn’t.” Sanemi interjects, causing many to look at him in shock. Tanjirio blinking at the Wind Pillar defending his Soulmark. “I have come across Demons who have strong bonds to their siblings despite not remembering them. The soulmarks prevent them from killing, harming much less attempting to consume them because of how painful it is when their own marks reject what they're doing.” One of the good things he’s seen when he’s too late to save someone, it gives him hope that if Genya never turns back that he’d be there to save him.
Well this is not something they’ve seen from Sanemi! At least not openly and around more than one or two people, so yes they’re going to find this as weird as when he properly wears the uniform.
“Do they eat humans?” Uzui asks Tanjirio, “The one that represents your second soulmark. Do they eat humans?” The question was nearly accusational. Everyone is regarding Tanjirio as he sits there quietly during the entire meeting up until this point.
“They don’t smell like Human blood, and when I asked they made a comment that Humans smell inedible to him. They find Demons edible, the amount of times I visit he is consuming a Demon that was unlucky enough to stumble on their territory.” Tanjiro says, quite happy to have found another Demon that doesn’t eat Humans, that’s at least two Demons who’ve never eaten Humans and four that’ve never hurt one either.
The Pillars pause looking amongst themselves as they try to understand that there’s a Demon out there who doesn’t see Humans as food but instead sees its own species as food like a cannibal.
“Him?” Obanai points out, regarding Tanjirio suspiciously.
“.. Yes??..” Tanjiro doesn’t get why they’re being suspicious of the gender.
“Considering your sister’s Soulmark is platonic. Wouldn’t that mean the other one is romantic?”
Tanjiro stares at them, slowly blinking as he starts to think about this “I.. I don’t think so.” He never felt any romantic feelings and from all his interactions with Izuku, the green-haired never made any romantic gestures or declarations. In fact, the bond feels platonic, like close friends or found family. At least this means Izuku won’t have super max trauma.
“Don’t ‘ think ’?” Obanai presses.
“Well yeah? He’s never made any advances like that.” At least as of this point he’s got a more confident sound in his voice. “The bond doesn’t feel romantic… It feel’s platonic, like a found family member.”
===
At the hot springs in the Swordsmiths village he meets up with the kid from Final selection and from his first visit to the Butterfly estate, getting closer it looks like the kid’s pulling out a tooth and just tosses it over his shoulder.
“Hello!” Tanjiro says, giving the guy a wave.
Genya looks over to see who called out to him, oh it’s the soulmarked kid- as far as they know he’s soulmarked with his Demon sister. Which is- it tugs on some heart strings and mayybeee Genya’s not going to be as aggressive to him as he’d be if it was just a random Demon Slayer, “Hello.” Okay not the best but it’s at least not aggressive.
“Sooo.. You’re related to the Wind pillar? Or is it just a coincidence you two have the same last name?” Tanjiro is trying to strike up some friendly conversation with the other kid, he thinks this could work for friendly talks right? Genya blinks before he nods and answers the burgundy harried male as he sets the box down. The pink ribbon soulmark in full view and Genya stares at it, his emotion swirling around in his heart.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah we’re brothers.” Genya replies, The two sat there talking until they returned to their rooms. Tanjirio and Muichiro have a pleasant conversation until one of the Upper Moons comes in and begins the battle. But the Mist Pillar was blasted somewhere else and their attention is dragged off to further in the distance as the sound of swords clashing and people shouting and other things going off like loud sounds and trees breaking. Multiple battles raging around them as various Demons came from the woodlines as if on a mission.
“What in the world?” Tanjiro starts, luckily he’s managed to deflect some of the Upper Moon’s attacks to investigate the sounds and well- He really should have been prepared to see some crazy things but well, he wasn’t prepared to see a Bird shadow-thing tossing trees at Demons. The Upper Moon other emotions watching from above at the carnage, as if weighing to join in to squash them. Genya joined as range support and Nezuko hopped around to light the Demons on fire that came after her with intent to kill.
A Woman tosses the ball and chain while taunting the Demons, and man the woman looks muscular but also different as when she needed to dodge quickly some other person took charge of her body. The new individual is smaller, quick and throws metal balls at the demons to get certain limbs paralyzed. Then they shifted once more, orders spewing out of their mouth and everyone reacting to it.
And the Demon with yellow styled hair and weird clothing and a weird necklace on him screaming out in short bursts rupturing the other Demon's ears and making them pause from the force of the sound waves. He remembers the Upper Moon snarling at the blonde one, demanding answers and the Demon replying he isn’t on Muzan's side. The fact he spoke the progenitor's name without triggering the curse spooked the Upper Moon into action. Thus dragging the Love Pillar to fight. Thus having to run after the original and Nezuko choosing to sacrifice herself to the sun to throw Tanjirio at the demon and killing him.
His tears of joy of seeing Nezuko still alive and speaking to him with a smile, everyone above the cliffside and the strange blonde with a weird necklace sniffles with tears on his face as the male with a bird head hesitantly pats him on the back.
When the other Demons are dead the two Humans and their Demon friend wave goodbye and wish him good luck on his journey, vanishing to return back to the future they came from.
===
On their pillar training they get interrupted by Zenitsu shrieking causing Tanjirio and Inosuke to investigate. When they got to the waterfalls, seeing Zenitsu staring at his reflection in the water he has a soulmark around his neck with a yang symbol in the middle of the choker. Despite Tanjirio being there, his heart breaks as Zenitsu screams out someone’s name, tears in his eyes as he knows who this is. The scent of devastation and sadness as he covers the Soulmark- he really really hopes it won’t hurt when- if he’s going to meet his now Demon brother. It wasn’t until a few days later that Zenitsu received a letter, informing him of his master’s suicide to atone for one of his students becoming a demon and betraying the Demon Slayers.
The sound of revving up is heard not far off, and Mushrooms start to spread around like wildfires- all sorts of mushrooms, some they don’t even know what kind they are, someone firing off… Beams of light!?!?!- but there’s also shifts as the ground rumbles as trees fall down and one more thing happening the fallen trees- mostly the branches plus some rocks getting lobbed at Demons coming this way. The Pillars that arrived were the closest ones, The Rock Pillar and Wind Pillar. They assessed the battlefield with contempt at the sheer volume.
They’ll have to run away from these Demons- there’s so many but one of the Demons with the humans m-moves the rocks on the other Demons without even touching said rocks?!!? And another Demon with the Humans mimicking the voices of the other Demons, wow- the future really is crazy. From the distance there's a shadow demon facing off another individual, the demon taunting them that their leader would’ve ripped ‘ Tenko Shimura ’ apart by now and feasted on their corpse. The Shadow demon didn’t take kindly to that, portals opening to redirect attacks back to the user, when the Rock Pillar tried to end the two the shadow demon merely directed the ball and chain to his opponent and watched the opposing Demons head get smashed apart.
The group vanishes all the same, Tanjirio still trying to figure out what side the shadow demon that can create portals is on.
Thankfully Tanjirio was allowed to visit his second Soulmate, bring blankets and a box with gifts and letters he wrote during his absence. Izuku is still slumbering in his little cave, the limbs of demons he consumed littering around the room. Tanjirio smiles softly and places the blankets on Izuku and the box down on a wobbly, old table. He will come back… He will come back after Nezuko is cured and he will cure Izuku as well. Looking down he smiles at the pink ribbon that becomes red flames of the breath of the Sun that wraps around Izuku’s wrist.
He promises to cure both of them.
===
The fortress raid was rough with Akaza being defeated by Giyuu, Kyouro and Tanjirio. The three continue until they face Muzan as the crows report the other fights and how much time until dawn.
One report is quite a sight as one Demon seems to be fighting the Biwa woman has disintegrated enough of her fortress for everyone to see each other as well as the other individuals that weren't with them when they got dropped into the fortress. His comments that her blood art is a cheat and “OP” whatever the hell that means, but he seems to be understanding the patterns of what her Biwa can do and how much of a room she can move. His own blood art is dusting what he can’t properly dodge- terrifying, being ripped into nothing but dust- no body to bury if it’s used on a Human but also removing what all the Biwa lady is able to throw at him. Her soulmark in clear view of him, looks like what the other moons had- something relating to Muzan, “Hey, Biwa girl, I wonder if I kill you will the fortress disappear?~” His smile is wide as he takes in her looks again to see her pausing even if it’s just by a bit it’s still noticeable. Obanai and Mitsuri there, taking note of the white-haired demon picking apart the Upper Moon’s attacks, followed suit. Their ears pick up the musical cues as the fortress shifts around them.
That little pause will be her downfall as he laughs, his red hands twitching to destroy her. When he finally got close to her and she isn’t able to defend herself, time seems to slow down for the Biwa woman as the hand closes around her face, the fortress rumbles as the body starts to turn to dust trailing the rest of the fortress that’s apart of her hair and blood art. The fortress dusts as they all pop out in roughly the same area, amazing… If the white-haired Demon was not seemingly on their side they’re sure they would have died.
Off only a little further is Muzan being fought by three of the Slayers and everyone runs to join in. Just as more people keep coming in and fighting the Demons that run in to fight against the slayers, one Human sets a crowd of them on fire with the swing of his arm. Humans coming out and fighting the Demons and Muzan just as fiercely as they, the current Pillars, would.
Using abilities to attack the Demons on nearly the same level as them, some work better against the Demons than others powers, specifically the men who can make fires, A few Demons paired up with the Humans- on of the Demons blood art seems to be boosting the humans abilities and the the blood arts of the Demons whose name she uses- Amazing! Everyone’s stronger now.
It’s a lot of skill and determination to kill Muzan! They can’t just stand around being amazed! They have to work with them to help them Kill Muzan and end his reign of terror. From the distance Tanjirio blinks, there on Muzan’s chest is his gray Soulmark. An individual performing a move of the Hinokami Kagura, flames forming around them in a beautiful display. Tanjirio blinks, memories of his ancestor of each of his interactions with Yoriichi Tsugikuni with a Soulmark of the moon phases on his dominant forearm and another on his chest that represents this monster. The first human bonded to a demon, the first human that created the breaths, the first human that came close to killing Muzan despite the pain his own soulmark caused him. The scars he left on Muzan from their battle, the pain he gave Muzan for his crimes.
Tanjirio was lost in memories as he moved. That is until one of them shouts out. “Don’t let him consume one of those demons! He’ll get immunity towards the sun!” The one shifting between different people shouts, their ball and chain redirecting to stop another wave of demons.
‘ What? He could get resistance from eating a future Demon?!? ’ Circulates through the current Pillars heads, they’ll need to speed up and kill him faster then! The drive to murder Muzan raising their body heat and hearts speed unlocking their slayer marks. Their blades turn red from clashing together or from how hard they’re gripping them, they need to end this here and now! Before he can get away and hurt more people!
Even if he can’t feel his legs or arms he needs to keep going! Keep going and help those who’re faltering- make sure they don’t die! “Twenty minutes!” A crow calls, only twenty minutes? It felt like it was so much longer, like more time should have passed them! Then he was moved out of the way, a whip striking the individual and Tanjirio watches as a future pillar was split in half. He opened his mouth, about to scream but he watched as they melted in mud. What? Then a few more of the same pillar appear, three taking their spot and Tanjirio looks around. Why were they so many of the same people? Tanjirio blinks, looking over and seeing the masked demon creating more, scratching at his head as his mind is torn apart from the amount of copies he made. Blabbering and incoherently shouting as the short female is by him using her blood art to power up his copies.
Tanjirio blinks, looking forward. That’s right… They are here to defend a future without Muzan’s reign. They have a lot at stake if they don’t kill him here and now then the future they live in is lost forever and replaced by whatever Muzan’s wanted in the future. That is until several bladed whips aimed at the Demon adding copies and the descendant of Senjuro shouting out as the copy demon pushed the small female away. The Demon Twice as he called himself being bisected by the whips, the future Flame Hashira screaming. Turning enraged as he attacks with the fury of a dragon whose horde has been disturbed, the copies around struggling to maintain form as their chest and throats turned blue. Fire, brilliant blue fire spews from their mouths, burning Muzan. The copies struggled to hold themselves as they tried to deal with the wave of demons until they melted into mud. Then walking past everyone, a woman tall with long strands of blue hair. Just as the crow shouted five minutes remaining and Muzan growing desperate she spread her arms wide for the monster.
“Lord Muzan!” She speaks with devotion and a large fanged smile.
“How-?!” One of the future pillars shouted, noticing the woman’s body phasing through the ball and chain. “NO!”
“I offer you my life. Consume me. Consume me and never fear the sun again.” She says, offering herself as a sacrifice. Her blood art proving difficult as weapons phased through her, smiling at the ensured victory she handed to Muzan and Tanjirio screams out. Future Giyuu screams out as he tries to stop it. But the whips flexed, pushing all of Muzan’s opponents aside and colliding against buildings and being rendered unconscious. Tanjirio, on the ground, struggling to stay awake as he lifts his head. The sun peaking over the horizon and Muzan consuming the future Demon. No… No, this… This isn’t how it’s supposed to be…
Everyone is flung in different directions, knocking some of them unconscious and others a good distance away, Muzan smiles as the sun doesn’t kill him- his smile going sinister as he laughs finally defeating the sun! Tanjirio, struggles. He has to get up and keep fighting! Everyone is struggling to get up! Looking down, Tanjirio blinks. Nezuko’s ribbon is gone, no longer marking his wrist. His little sister is human again… Tears collect in his eyes as he struggles to make his body move. He made a promise… He intends to keep them! Then he sees Muzan standing closer in front of him, looking up as his heart thunders as the monster stares down at him. Sunlight behind him, bathing him in their brilliant warm rays.
“Are you him?” The Demon king asks, tilting his head, hand touching the grayed out soulmark. Tanjirio blinks, his grip tightening on his weapon, the Demon's eyes staring at the bright red nichiren blade. “Are you his reincarnation? That came back to haunt me?” Muzan asks, multiple blades appearing as if deciding to strike Tanjiro down or not. Tanjirio swallows the lump in his throat, the distant look in Muzan’s eyes as he touches the Soulmark on his chest. “How cruel, how cruel it is to feel these burns punishing me for what I did to him… Punishing me for my arrogance and foolishness towards the one the Gods made for me.. I wonder.. I wonder if he was the one to help me overcome the sun… How cruel… How cruel I was against the sun.”
Muzan crouches down a bit, tilting his head as a feral smile adorning it, “Maybe.. Maybe I should turn, you… My reincarnated sun…” The progenitor smile sends fear coursing through Tanjirio’s veins. The demon inhales as he nods, “Yes, Yes I will turn you, my reincarnated sun.” Clawed fingers reaching towards Tanjirio, planning to pump him full of the progienitor’s blood and turn him. Then one of the Humans in a bright jacket throws a marble at Muzan.
“The show must go on!” The individual says as he holds onto his hat and wears a strange white mask with a design on it. The other hand on his chest as if bowing before a purple portal opening behind him and swallowing him whole then closing. Muzan turns, cuts it in half and out pops Dabi with a wide grin as he sets himself ablaze as he grapples onto Muzan.
“Surprise bitch!” The burnt man shouts as Muzan screams out and pulls away from Tanjirio. Whips moving around and the young Demon Slayer watches the human burning him in brilliant blue fire, the smell of flesh burning reaches his nose. Muzan’s whips reacted, slashing everything around Tanjirio and behind Muzan to prevent any more individuals from interfering.
The others are struggling to get up, Future Giyuu rushing to grab Tanjiro away as Muzan screams. His whips flailing trying to get the burning man off of him, Tanjiro watches, helpless as he watches the blades stabbing into Future Giyuu. Hearing the burning man's pained laughter, his leg missing from being cut off by one of the whips and his flesh fueling the fire. Then Muzan manages to get a hold of the burning man and throws him off, a portal opens and the same white-haired demon that disintegrates anything he touches catches him. Holding him close as Dabi trembles in pain, quickly applying a tourniquet to his leg to stop the bleeding.
“Phase two is always a bitch…” Tanjirio absently hears and Dabi’s pained laughter echoes. Tanjirio not understanding the meaning of the words.
“At least we held off until phase two like you planned Tenko~” The demon flushes and scoffs.
“At the cost of your injuries and many lives…”
“That’s the price you have to be willing to pay Tenko… You have to be willing to accept that people will sacrifice their lives to stop the BBEG.”
“Stop being dramatic! You're not dying from these wounds!” The burnt man laughs out loud at the comment, being carried away from the ending conflict, vanishing into a purple portal.
The other pillars still standing rush over, cutting off the whips. Tanjiro moves too slowly to dodge a whip that cuts off one of his arms and he holds in a pained scream. Eyes blurry from blood loss and tears. Muzan’s last sight was Tanjiro’s blade cutting his head off, the others Pillars sticking the places where the scars lay to destroy every heart and brain. The progenitor blinks “My sunlight… My beautiful and deadly sun..”
Tanjiro falls back panting hard, wow everything’s starting to hurt so much, so, so much. It.. He’s not going to live much longer is he? If that’s the case there are so many people he needs to apologize for failing them. He won’t be returning home with Nezuko and.. And he won’t be able to help Izuku. He blinks, in the distance he sees the future Hashira’s surrounding future Giyuu’s body sobbing and begging around him. Tanjirio blinks, from the distants he sees his Giyuu rushing towards him, right arm missing and the mark on his left cheek. Sliding to his knees and shouting for medical attention. Ah… Giyuu can tell everyone that Tanjirio wants to apologize too.
“G-Giyuu, I- I ne-need you t-to do somethin’ f-for me.. Tel-Tell Nezuko I-I’m s-so sorry f-for leavin’ her..” He takes a shuddering breath, “An’ an’ I need y-you to tell Iz-Izuku I’m sorry too.. H-He’s got green fluffy ha-hair, green eyes, an-and freckles l-lots of em.” He hiccups, the tears coming out faster, his head feels like it’s buzzing. “T-tell my soulmate… T-that I-I’m sorry… t-that I won’t b-be com-coming back…”
His Giyuu is crying, moving and holding him closer, “T-their on the way. Y-you’ll get medical help Tanjirio!” Giyuu turns, his shouting ringing the burgundy hair’s ears. With only arm remaining, he hugs Giyuu one last time, basking in his warmth. “Just hold on! Please, keep your eyes open!”
“I… I promise… I-I pr-promise to come back.” he mutters, feeling his remaining strength leaving him. “I… I promise, I-I wo-won’t leave you a-alone for l-long…” Then Tanjirio went limp, being introduced to the afterlife with his parents and younger siblings waiting for him with tears in their eyes.
“Tanjirio…” His mother says a sad smile on her face, walking forward and reaching out he hugs her. Crying all the emotions he held back since that day on top of that snowy mountain. They stayed like that until someone tapped his shoulder. Turning he sees Nezuko there, tears filling her eyes and he hiccups.
“N-Nezuko! W-what are you-” She hugs him and sobs, the Kamados finally reunited in the afterlife.
===
Coming back to his senses Goro finds himself in Giyuu’s lap, his hands gripped on tightly to one of his arms. The Mist Hashira flushes, Giyuu smiling softly down at him holding him close to his comforting warmth. Goro blinks, his face red as he remembers Giyuu’s back with all of his Soulmarks, of all that are bound to him and what they represent. Yasu cooing as she takes pictures of the two, “So… How long was I out?” He asks, looking around.
“Ah, about thirty minutes or so?” One of them says.. What? Oh for fucks sakes, is he going to be blacking out for longer and longer? Goro made a choking sound and Giyuu blinks, patting his head to calm him down. The Water Hashira not minding at all for their shorter member to cling to him.
“So. Y’all know the whole soulmate concept right?” Yasu’s eyes sparkled and nodded rapidly. Giyuu blinks as he contemplates.
“Only a little…” Giyuu says, tilting his head a bit and Goro snuggles closer in Giyuu’s warm embrace.
“The entire branch I watched was a variation of it…” Goro mutters, “It stayed in the perspective of one individual but…” Goro looks at Giyuu. “Your soulmark is beautiful…” A warm blush covering his face as he gushes about his soulmark and how they all had one for him “It’s cute, we all had one for you and everyone in our group, like we were destined to meet and be together.” He’s blushing up a storm as he uses his hands to shield his face.