ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ sʟᴀʏᴇʀ: ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғʟᴏᴡᴇʀs ʙʟᴏᴏᴍᴇᴅ "ᴋʏᴏᴊᴜʀᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴋᴀʀɪ"

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

"All's well that ends well"

Both Tanjiro and Inosuke had successfully defeated the sleep demon and therefore saved a lot of people. All that was inside – Kyojuro, Zenitsu, Nezuko and Akari – protected the people and braced for impact. Tanjiro was badly hurt and needed assistance, but it would take an hour or so for the medics to get there and check all 200 passengers. "Just relax, Tanjiro-kun", Akari said, she bent down one knee and look at Tanjiro's wound. "You're bleeding from the abdomen", Kyojuro says, stating the obvious. "Isn't it obvious? Why are stating the absolute obvious?", Akari lets out an annoyed expression and sighs loudly. Kyojuro just ignores it. It was an open wound and it needed pressure so that he won't bleed to death. "Akari... I'll take care of Tanjiro. You help boar-head boy and the others check to see if anyone's in need of help", Kyojuro puts his hand on her shoulder. "Are you ordering me around?", she said, with a hint of joke, though Kyojuro took it seriously and got embarrassed. "Uh, no. You can do anything you want", he said scratching his head. She laughed at him and looks at Tanjiro with a smile. "Take good care of him. Tanjiro, you'll be able to stop the bleeding using your breathing. Kyojuro will know how to", she smiles again at the wounded boy. She stood up and immediately runs to check all passengers of the train.

Seeing the catastrophe that had happened, Akari saw people still asleep, people who doesn't know what had happened and people who are injured, but luckily, no one had lost their lives. All 200 passengers have been saved. At least, that's something worth celebrating. She saw Inosuke helping people while talking angrily to himself. She chuckles. Akari was overjoyed at the achievement of being able to save this many people – even though she literally saves a whole lot more on her assigned region. She, then, starts to help people out of the train and into an open area where they can be safe from any harm – unless it suddenly storms and rains, though that would be impossible. All of a sudden, her stomach starts to ache. She falls into her knees. Damn it, I forgot I was bringing someone along this fight. She was too reckless, she hoped nothing had happened to her baby. She mushes up the courage to continue and do her work. Zenitsu and Nezuko was unconscious so she had to help them and look for Nezuko's box, since in a few hours, it would be morning. Inosuke and Akari were pretty much busy, because they were helping a lot of people.

Meanwhile with Tanjiro and Kyojuro, as Tanjiro had stopped the bleeding, Kyojuro started to tense up, realizing that it still isn't over. A new demon had arrived and when Tanjiro looked at its eyes, it had an embedded number. It was an Upper Rank Demon. Nonetheless, it was the Upper Rank Demon Three. What is he doing here? Tanjiro thought to himself. The demon introduces his name as Akaza, the upper demon 3 of the 12 demon moons. Upon seeing the wounded boy wearing the earrings that Muzan specifically told his demons to kill, Akaza attacks him only to be met by the infamous Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira. Kyojuro was pretty quick to save Tanjiro from harm.

Akaza and Kyojuro fought and fought not stopping. Akaza offered Kyojuro to become a demon, but he gladly refused, because being human is a gift. Akaza was persistent and so was Kyojuro. As they fought, Kyojuro's sword pierced Akaza in so many ways that would kill a normal demon, but Akaza was no normal demon. He regenerated faster than the blink of an eye. Tanjiro could not do anything to help, he was too injured.

Akari continued to help so many people. As the others became conscious, they were able to get safely somewhere. Inosuke had went to Tanjiro to see if he needed anything, mainly because Akari had said to go to them and report that all passengers are accountable and safe. Not a single one has lost their lives, some were injured, but only minor. Of course, when Inosuke got there, Akaza and Kyojuro were already in a battle and even if he could have help, it would only mean death for him and a burden for Kyojuro. Akari thought of her baby while helping the people into safety. I hope he/she is alright in there. She was worried and for the first time. When she had found out, she was more worried of what Kyojuro might say or how will she be able to cope with a child. She wouldn't be able to do her job if she had a baby to raise. What would that mean for Kyojuro, too? Would he quit and help her raise or would it mean the end of their relationship? Akari had lot to think about, but she was finally ready to tell Kyojuro about the baby. Of course, she knew he'd be mad for bringing it in danger, but eventually would calm down.

Kyojuro is now at his limit. He was breathing heavily as Akaza stood up, unscathed. Tanjiro and Inosuke were now worried for Kyojuro. All of a sudden, Kyojuro changes position in a stance and smiles so gratefully at Akaza, his flame aura getting stronger than before, even Akaza noticed. He was really persistent on insisting that Kyojuro be turned into a demon. But Kyojuro's answer remained the same, and said that he will never become a demon, no matter the circumstances. So they fought again and again as Kyojuro released his final form. "Hono no kokyu, ku no kata: Rengoku", he shouted so loudly and a dragon-like creature appeared in flames and attacks Akaza, but he was also fast to counter the attack.

Akari had instructed the people to stay put until medics come into the area. She went to go look for the other surviving passengers – if there's more of them – and she helped them get up to safety. Just then, she saw an explosion nearby, that scared some of the passengers, but she calmed them down. She was successful at that. She looks at the explosion and recognizes it as Kyojuro's breathing form. What's going on? She asked herself. She felt an eerie feeling and went running, because something might be happening that she might regret from not stopping. She ran as fast as she could, but she was too exhausted. Not because of using much of her powers, but having a baby while fighting may have caused some damage to her energy. She was now getting angry at herself. She should have listened to Shinobu when she said to stay put and wait for Kyojuro to come back, but she had a gut feeling that she needed to tell Kyojuro as soon as possible. She ran and fell down her knees scraping it. Damn it! She hissed at the pain. I need to see what's wrong. I need to help. Kyojuro, I'm coming. She stood up and ran again, not stopping for even a second.

"Rengoku-san", Tanjiro shouted upon seeing Kyojuro in a circumstance they never anticipated. What is happening? Why is this happening? Rengoku-san, hang on. Tanjiro stood up, his only thought is to help Kyojuro. If only Akari had been there on time, maybe things would have ended a different way.