Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Flames

Chapter 20: Swordsmith's Fury

After a full day of rigorous training, Tanjiro and Nezuko sleep while maintaining Total Concentration Breathing. But then when they stop, they were suddenly whacked by Kiyo, Naho, and Sumi, waking them up. Apparently, earlier they asked the three little butterfly girls to help them with their overnight training. The next time they doze off to just sleeping, they would be violently woken up. The rest of their siblings could overhear it through the other room. 'If this is how they'll train every night, I don't know how they get any normal sleep.' Takeo thought covering his ears.

Ten days later, they begin their Rehabilitation Training again facing Kanao. But now as they use Total Concentration Breathing, they are able to finally beat her at tag and the reflex training. Zenitsu was indeed amazed on how his friends were progressing, but he glanced at Inosuke, who was peering from the doorway. "Don't feel pity on those who refuse the proper treatment." Aoi said. "But he's my friend and comrade." Zenitsu replied. Aoi sighed in defeat. "If you want to help someone who feels defeated, be my guest."

Zenitsu then looks outside seeing Tanjiro and Nezuko blowing into the small gourds breaking them, and again as the size gets bigger. Tanjiro was able to break the large gourd, but Nezuko however could not. 

Later in the evening, he was called to Shinobu's office. "So, what do you think of your friends?" She asks. "Tanjiro is trying his heart out. His personality is the kind to care for everyone who has and had humanity. I guess that's why he pities the demons." Shinobu smiles remembering how Giyu found him after Rui's death. "Nezuko is the exact same. She would get angry seeing people die in front of her. She would refuse to forgive the demons who would steal away the lives. But during training, she feels distracted for some reason." Shinobu then begin to feel she is to blame for that. "And then there's Inosuke. He feels guilty for not helping Tanjiro against the multiple spider demons. And right now, he feels at his lowest point. They are my friends Shinobu. And I really want to help them, like how you and Kanae helped me and Kanao." Shinobu stood up from her chair and whispered to her brother. "Then motivate them."

Before returning to the Sun Mansion Tanjiro was asked by Zenitsu to follow him. "What's going on?" Tanjiro asked. Zenitsu didn't answer and showed him a hidden room. Inside was a single bed with a girl in her early twenties attached to medical equipment. Tanjiro was horrified. "Her name is Kanae." Zenitsu explained. "She was the one who offered Kanao and I a place in the Butterfly Estate." "How did this happen?" Tanjiro questioned. "She encountered on of the Upper Ranks of the Twelve Kizuki. Before he could finish her off, Shinobu claimed that the sun was rising, and he was forced to retreat leaving her in a near death state. So, to maintain her body she put herself into a Total Concentration Breathing coma. This was over a year ago."

Tanjiro did remember that Nezuko had a talk with Shinobu the night during his Kagura Dance, how the Insect Hashira's sister was left wounded. "When do you think she'll wake up?" Tanjiro sadly asks. "I don't know. We tried every method, but it was all for nothing. We just come in here and pray for a miracle." "Zenitsu, you and are exactly the same, fighting to keep our families safe. If there's anything that you need, just ask and I'll help you any way I can." Zenitsu couldn't help, but smile. "I'm honestly happy to have someone like you as a best friend Tanjiro."

(The Next Day)

Inosuke was still feeling depressed and was refusing to train even with Tanjiro and Nezuko trying to get his spirits high. "What is even the point?" Inosuke wonders depressed. "But don't you want to get stronger?" Nezuko asks. The boar masked boy did not reply upsetting the siblings.

"So much for seeing the first Beast Hashira." Zenitsu said feeling disappointed. "What?" "I've seen many of the Hashira that created a new Breathing Style. And if we rise up to join them and you're left in the dust, don't come crying to us." Inosuke was starting to get angry. "Are you saying that I'm weak?!" "No, I'm saying that you're never going to be the strongest." "TO HELL WITH THAT!!!! I'M THE MOST POWERFUL DEMON SLAYER AND NO ONE'S GONNA STEAL THAT TITLE FROM ME!!! COMING THOUGH!!"

Inosuke rushed out to the training grounds with Zenitsu walking after him. "I guess he lit a fire in Inosuke's heart." Nezuko said happily. "But it appears as if you are lagging behind your brother little Nezuko." Shinobu was right behind her. 'Twice! She snuck up on me twice!' Nezuko thought to herself. "You're having a hard time maintaining your concentration. You need to give it your all when you face a Twelve Kizuki. So, how about you show your true strength. Or should I tell Zenitsu our little secret?" Nezuko's face became red as an apple. "Training, here I come!" Nezuko ran after her friends. "What secret?" Tanjiro asks. "Sorry, that's between girls. You'll know it when you see it."

As everyone trains to get equal to the two Tsugukos, a Kasugai Crow is yelling on Tanjiro and Inosuke's new Nichirin Swords have arrived. They head outside to see their swordsmiths. "Mr. Haganezuka!! It's been too long! How have you..." Haganezuka started running towards him with a knife in his hands. "been?" Tanjiro could see his intention to kill him, so he dodges at the last second. Haganezuka was very unhappy to see him. In fact, he was angry. "You snap my blade in half?! How dare you, you damn brat?!"

"I'm terribly sorry! I was actually about to die! My opponent was a Twelve Kizuki!! Can you blame me?!" "Of course, I can! You got overconfident and let your weakness get the better of you!! That's why you broke the blade I made!!! YOU'LL DIE FOR THIS!!!!" Haganezuka kept chasing Tanjiro around for an hour as his siblings watch. "Is this even part of his training?" Shigeru wonders. "Not that I know of." Aoi reassures. "Why don't you gather your siblings, and I'll tell you why the Swordsmiths are very passionate about their swords."

"I apologize for Haganezuka. He's very passionate about his sword. He loves them more than his own life. My name is Kanamori. I was given orders to forge Inosuke Hashibira's blades." As Inosuke grabs his new blades, they turn into an indigo-gray color. "A very beautiful color. So how do they feel? You're honestly the second person who duel wields in the demon slayer corps."

"I'm honestly happy, because Inosuke's old blades had chips on them." Tanjiro exclaimed. Inosuke steps out into the yard and starts searching through the rocks until he grabs a jagged one. He then smashes the sharp edge, shocking Tanjiro and Haganezuka, while enraging Kanamori. "YOU ARE A VERY COCKY BRAT!! DESTROYING MY BEAUTIFUL CREATION IN FRONT OF ME?! I'LL CRUSH YOU!!!!" Inosuke then does the same thing to his second blade. "I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU!! I'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN A DEMON SLAYER!!!!" Tanjiro holds Kanamori back, until he calmed down. "I'm very sorry about him. He can weird at times." Haganezuka and Kanamori then leave after completing calming down. 'I'm taking better care of my sword from here on out.'

Then the following day, Tanjiro was called to Shinobu's office for his final checkup. "Open your mouth." she ordered. Tanjiro then followed her ordered. "Ok, your rehabilitation is fully complete. You are more than welcome to train here or help around here with your family." "Thank you very much Ms. Kocho." Tanjiro thanked. "Call me Shinobu." she replied.

Tanjiro leaves to go spend the rest of the day with his family. As he goes around the corner, he moves out the way of another demon slayer. But he purposely bumps into Tanjiro. It was one of the survivors from Final Selection. He was much bigger and taller than before. He then felt an unfamiliar smell coming from the scarred slayer.

The next morning, Zenitsu wakes up seeing Shinobu reading a newspaper. "Good morning Shinobu" "Good morning, dear brother." She then gives her paper to him, and he reads the headliner: MULTIPLE PASSENGERS REPORTED DEAD ON MUGEN TRAIN

"What is this?" Zenitsu asked.

"Your next mission." Shinobu replied.

Notes

I might be doing one-side chapters for the comedy audience. Comment down yes or no if you want them.

The next chapter is the start of the Mugen Train Arc.

Comment down on how you feel about the story progression.