A Genius Among Humans

Addressing A Final Request

Everyone was immediately around me with saddened looks on their faces as they looked at the dead Rengoku I held in my arms

I gave him to one of the Hashiras with a scar over both his eyes and then proceeded to leave. No one tried to stop me, they probably figured I was too sad to talk about what happened.

I laid in bed and thought about what I would do. Should I honor Rengoku's wishes and take over his post? As I thought about it, Mitsuri and Shinobu opened the door to the room where I was staying.

"Tanjiro... if you don't mind can you tell us what happened?" Shinobu asked

"... Sure," I said

I then explained everything that had happened, their faces turned pale when they learned that Rengoku and I fought upper moon 3. 

"Tanjiro... please be more careful..." Mitsuri said

"What do you want me to do? I can't predict where an upper moon will be," 

"... I know but still. You could have lost your life during that fight, you do realize that right?"

I get why she was asking, since she could see through me she could tell how I wished I could have done more.

"It doesn't matter, I'll do whatever I want to," I said

"Ok Mitsuri let's leave Tanjiro alone for a while, by the way, tomorrow Master wants to meet you with the rest of the Hashira," Shinobu said as they were leaving

after a while after they left I left as well and went on a walk. I thought long and hard about whether I was going to accept the request

After a while of walking I turned around, another person seemed to be spying on me however he was much better at tailing people then Rengoku

"Come out..." I said as I put a hand on my katana

"Oh? So you really are something," the man said as he left the bush

He was Tengen Uzui, the sound Hashira

"What do you want?" I asked

"Well, I heard that we would be going on a mission soon together so I thought I would get to know you," he said with a smile

"When are we leaving?"

"No idea, however, the spies I have planted where we are going say that they may be an upper moon there,"

I didn't show it on my face but as soon as he said that I got reminded of what just happened with Akaza

"Let's talk later," I said as I started walking away

He then left leaving me to deal with my own thoughts

What could I have done better? Should I have done something else? Yoriichi said that I was strong but am I really?

After a while of thinking, I realized something, after spending all that time with Mitsuri I have started to grow soft, before I would have never have even thought twice about this matter but now I can't stop thinking about it.

'So it's my mindset,' I told myself

From then I swore that I would stick to how I always was, I would never let myself show weakness or sympathy, after all that was how I always had gotten by

I went back to the Butterfly estate to relax in my room, I had sworn to always be how I always was therefore I would not accept Rengoku's request. That was probably what the master wanted to talk to me about anyway since Zenitsu or Inosuke most likely told them.

The next day came and I was on my way to meet the master when I arrived all the other Hashira were already there kneeling however this time I stood tall standing. This clearly made some of the Hashira mad but they didn't speak out about it.

"Tanjiro, I'm sure you know why you're here," the master started

"Yes, about Rengoku's Final request,"

"I am willing to make an exception to have two love-breathing pillars so what do you say?"

"I am turning down his request," I said bluntly 

This suprised everybody that was listening, but most surprised was Shinobu who looked completely shocked while Mitsuri looked like she was about to cry

"M-may I ask why?" the master asked

"I don't want to, simple enough,"

"YOU BASTARD!" Sanemi yelled while grabbing me by my collar

"Want to fight again?" I asked while staring at him in the eyes

He then dropped me down but wouldn't stop glaring at me.

"Wait Tanjiro why-?" Mitsuri asked, but as soon as she saw my eyes again her heart broke. She realized that all the time she had spent trying to show me love had all been reversed, I was now the same person that she first met, and realizing this she broke into tears."

I then left without turning around once

The days went by without anyone trying to talk to me, which I figured. Mitsuri would probably give up on me now knowing that all of her work had been for nothing and Shinobu and Kanao would stop because of how cold I had been.

Just then though there was a knock on my door

"Our mission came in," said Uzui who still had a smile on his face "Entertainment District, you, me, and your two followers, plus the flower lady,"

"When do we leave?"

"Right now,"

I then got up to meet with my group. Zenitsu and Inosuke looked away from me so I assumed they heard about what happened and Kanao seemed to be in a dilemma about whether to speak to me or not.

"Listen closely, I am a God, to be more precise the God of Festivals! If I tell you to bark you bark! If I tell you to dance you dance! Understand!" Uzui yelled out

No one said anything but just stared at him "I am the God of the Mountain, pleasure to meet you God of Festivals!" Inosuke yelled back

"What the hell? you're weird kid,"

Inosuke then turned his head to the side but then Uzui spoke up again "Let's head out!"

(Done)

Hey, thank you for reading this chapter! A few things I want to point out, there is a reason why I reversed Tanjiro's character development however I won't say because spoilers, also with Kanao joining the group was something that I added in because I feel that she needed to have more action. Anyway thank you for reading and I hope to see you soon!