Slayer Hero: Tanjiro

A New Threat

"Hey, where are you going?!" Izuku called out to his friend who was now running out of the UA dorms.

The only thing Tanjiro could hear was the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears. From what he knew, demon slayers didn't exist in this new world. Tanjiro was the only one who could defeat it. Cold beads of sweat formed on Tanjiro's face as he ran towards UA. The smell of the demon was only getting stronger.

Tanjiro saw the silhouette of the UA building come into view. Just then the smell of the demon was unbelievably close to Tanjiro. As he looked to his right, Tanjiro was face to face with the creature.

"Why hello there, Tanjiro Kamado~"

Out of instinct, Tanjiro made an attempt to headbutt the demon since he didn't have his sword, but it dodged and threw a punch at Tanjiro's head. This attack was faster than any other demon he had fought before. Tanjiro was flung backwards, his head was bleeding.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did that hurt~?" The demon spoke in a low, raspy tone. It had a pale face with red eyes and a crooked smile. It's hair was a dark blue and was held in messy bun. As for clothes, it was wearing sweatpants and a torn jacket.

The demon slowly approached Tanjiro who was struggling to stand. "I've been looking for you, you know.."

Tanjiro didn't waste any time. He started running away again, towards UA. His head was throbbing but he had to focus on retrieving his katana.

"Hello again~" The demon appeared in front of him out of the shadows. Tanjiro had already picked up momentum, so he jumped over it. But it grabbed a hold of his leg and threw him into the ground. "Why are you leaving? I just want to chat..."

Tanjiro strained his body to look up at the demon. "Who are you?!" He asked.

"Call me Shuichi. I am the Demon King." The demon showed Tanjiro a sinister smile.

Tanjiro couldn't believe what he was hearing. From what he knew, Muzan Kibutsuji was the Demon King. "What about.. Kibutsuji?!" Tanjiro asked.

For a moment, Shuichi just peered down at Tanjiro who was still bleeding on the ground. Then he started laughing, "Muzan~? Hahaha, I demolished that wretched rat ages ago!!"

Fear washed over Tanjiro's face. If this demon was strong enough to defeat Kibutsuji, then the power it held was unimaginable.

"Haha you should see your face~." Shuichi laughed, "Don't you like it here~? It's interesting isn't it~? I thought you would enjoy it."

"What are you talking about?!" Tanjiro asked.

"Hahaha~. You were the only Demon Slayer I've ever felt sympathy for, so I sent you here to live your best life." Shuichi bent down and patted Tanjiro's head, "Aren't you grateful~?"

"Grateful?!" Tanjiro put all of his strength into his hand as he grabbed onto the demon's wrist. "Why would I thank you for this? Where's my sister?!"

Shuichi only smiled, "I thought you would ask about her... Nezuko~"

Tanjiro tightened his grip on Shuichi's wrist. He knew about Nezuko, this was Tanjiro's chance to tell what had happened and if he would be able to get back. "Where is she?!!"

"Oh Tanjiro, I sent you here so you wouldn't have to grieve over the ones you've lost." Shuichi easily broke free from Tanjiro's grip, then he stood up while Tanjiro was still laying helplessly on the ground. "Ever since you left, I've killed everyone you've ever known~. I've also killed all other demons, why do you think there's none here in this new world?"

Tanjiro couldn't move. Even though his body was bleeding and throbbing with pain, the real reason why he was frozen in place was because of the information this demon was telling him. Everyone he knew..? Zenitsu..? Inosuke..? Kanao..? Mr. Urokodaki..? All the Hashira..? Nezuko....?

All dead.

Tanjiro wouldn't have expected them to live this long... but this demon killed them all on purpose. "No... how could you...?" Tanjiro managed to say, then he looked up at Shuichi and formed his sentence out of rage, hatred, and pain. "HOW COULD YOU?!"

Tears formed around Tanjiro's eyes, and they began to rush down his face. Memories and images of Tanjiro's beloved friends and family flashed through Tanjiro's mind. "YOU'RE A MONSTER!!" Tanjiro struggled to grab a hold of Shuichi's leg, but he backed away before stepping on Tanjiro's back. There was a crack as another shock of pain spread throughout Tanjiro's body. A broken bone. "Agh!"

"Forget about them, Tanjiro~. They're not important." Shuichi said, lifting his foot off of Tanjiro's back.

"How.. could you say something like that?!" Tanjiro planted his hand on the ground and focused his remaining strength on lifting himself off the ground, despite his broken bone and the rest of the pain in his body. Tears and blood took over what little sight he had left in the dark of the night.

Tanjiro knew he had to fight this demon, he had to get his katana.

The sharp pain was excruciating, but Tanjiro had to persist. He stood up, onto his feeble legs and concentrated on his breathing. Using his nose to recognize his surroundings, he continued running towards the UA building. 

"How irritating..." Shuichi appeared in front of Tanjiro again and pinned him against a tree. "If you say a word about me to anyone, I'll kill you and all of the new friends you met here~. Is that understood?"

Before Tanjiro could respond, there was a familiar voice in the distance drawing nearer. "...shoot style!!"

Shuichi held up his hand and caught Izuku's leg that was flying towards his face. Then he turned his head to face him, "Gotcha~"

"Izuku! Don't fight him! He's a demon!" Tanjiro said. Then Shuichi let go of Tanjiro and he fell to the ground and winced from the pain in his body.

Izuku's eyes widened as Shuichi let go of him. "A demon?! Here?!"

Shuichi looked back at Tanjiro with a murderous glare. "What did I just tell you would happen if you told anyone about me.. you stupid boy.."

"Don't worry Tanjiro! I'll protect you!" Izuku ran in front of Tanjiro with his quirk activated.

"No... don't! He'll kill you!!" Tanjiro desperately warned his friend. Tanjiro could smell anger rising in Shuichi. Izuku was in grave danger.

"It's a shame your life must be cut short.. you came here unknowing of what was going to happen to yo-" Shuichi was interrupted by a blue light that began swirling behind him, he glanced at it and said, "My portal is here... Don't think for a second that you're safe. I will be hunting you down, and I won't stop until both of you are dead. Tell anyone else, and their fate will be the same as yours. Let me make that promise to you~"

With that, he turned and walked into the swirly, blue portal and it disappeared once he was gone. Immediately after, Izuku bent down to help Tanjiro. "Oh no, you have some broken bones.. We need to get you to a hospital. Stay here, I'll go get Mr. Aizawa."

Izuku ran away, to call for help. Tanjiro was left alone with his thoughts. A demon, more powerful than Kibutsuji, killed everyone that Tanjiro knew and loved, then sent him here to this strange new reality. Now, that same demon is determined to kill Tanjiro and his new friend Izuku.

Tanjiro didn't know what to do but cry. Thick tears streamed down his face, creating a puddle on the ground. He imagined Nezuko in his arms, smiling like the sun... Zenitsu with a fresh-picked flower, gifting it to her... and Inosuke, well, doing things that Inosuke does...

He'd have to live with the fact that they were dead... and that there was a new threat to look out for...