9- Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima

                                    

                                          
"I... won't- I refuse to tell you!" Sakura manages to get out as she nearly chokes on her own blood. 
"That's fine. If you won't tell me, I'll help myself to your memories" Muzan says as he grabs Sakura's head as he digs her fingers into her head, Sakura screaming as she is unable to keep Muzan out of her mind, "past the wisteria flower forest, by an old oak tree, a large dark brown wooden gate... is that... the faint scent of the blue spider lily? Yes, it is. Where is it hiding, Sakura? That... I cannot see. And there he is... the man of the hour... Ubuyashiki. Oh god, he looks unsightly". 
"Get out of my head!" Sakura screams. 
--- in reality ---
Sakura wakes up as she screams, sweat dripping down her skin, tears pouring from her eyes. She gets up as she runs to the window, throwing up as she sobs. She looks over at her bedside table and sees a letter. She opens the letter and it's from Zenitsu's Grandfather. She covers her mouth as she gets changed, putting the letter into her pocket as she runs to Gyomei's training.
There, she spots Tanjiro who's managed to move the boulder, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Nezuko watching. She grabs Zenitsu's wrist as he pulls him away. Inosuke and Nezuko follow after them as they hide behind a tree. The two of them watch as Sakura passes Zenitsu the letter, Zenitsu reading it as he bursts out crying. He falls to his knees as Sakura kneels down, hugging him tightly as he lets go of everything he needs to. 
"I'll talk to Gyomei about the training. He'll be understanding" Sakura says as she strokes Zenitsu's hair. 
"No. I want to... I need to finish the training" Zenitsu says sternly. 
"Okay... whatever you want" Sakura says as she nods. 
--- back where Tanjiro is ---
Tanjiro is laid on the ground beside his boulder when someone pours water on him. 
Himejima-san!
Tanjiro says as he sees Gyomei standing above him. 
"Namu Amida Butsu" Gyomei says as he pours some more water on Tanjiro, "Namu Amida Butsu" he says as he pours even more water on him. 
"Huh? Am I dead?" Tanjiro asks confused, "no, I'm alive. Thank you very much!". 
Gyomei pours some more water on Tanjiro who gets a mouthful of it this time. 
"You have completed the boulder drill" Gyomei says as he looks at Zenitsu, "in addition to that, you made the right choices at the village. I acknowledge you". 
"Village? Water-" Tanjiro says as he continues to be pummelled with more and more water, "that's enough for me". 
"At the Swordsmith Village... you put the human villagers' lives ahead of your demon sister's" Gyomei says as he pulls the bottle away from Tanjiro, "no need to be ashamed. I heard the story from Nezuko herself, but it took courage from you, as well. You are an exemplary swordsmith. You should be proud of your virtuous actions". 
"No" Tanjiro says sternly, "it's not like that. It was Nezuko who made that decision. It wasn't me. I was indecisive... and the villagers came this close to dying. It's not right to acknowledge me". 
These creatures called "children"... are pure and innocent... and weak. They're prone to lying and have no qualms about being cruel. They're selfishness personified. However, just as I thought... this child is different. 
Gyomei says as he starts to cry. 
"I'm always trying to keep myself on the right path.. . but I don't know what lies ahead" Tanjiro says as he looks down, "someone always helps me out, so I end up not straying from my path, that's all. That day, as well. It really was a close call. So... I'm asking you not to be so quick to acknowledge me! Thank you very much for the water. And thank you for training me until today. I learned a lot!".