Demon Yoriichi Tsugikuni

Chapter 12: Old Friend

It was morning. Yoriichi was awake the whole night. Yoriichi is relieved to regain his memories. He even does not remember anything that happened very clearly but he knows he did see his brother.. althought it was not the REAL Yoriichi. That Yoriichi was a monster and was making hideous plans. Yoriichi's monstrous side is gone now that he is out of Muzan's control.

He heard a knock on the door. "Please come in." It was Tanjiro checking on Yoriichi. "Good morning Yoriichi. Did you have a good sleep?" Tanjiro asked. "Demons don't need to sleep Tanjiro. unless it to pass time." Yoriichi replied.

Shinobu then knocked on the door to let the two know she is here. "I informed master Oyakata. I must take Yoriichi to him." Shinobu spoke. Tanjiro then realized it was daytime. It impossible for Yoriichi to walk outside but came up with an idea. "Yoriichi. Can you be smaller? we don't have much shelters that can hide you in the shade so I'll carry you instead in the box." Tanjiro suggested. 

"Yes.. with enough Muzan's blood. I can shape my body." Yoriichi then turned smaller, he had the appearance of his younger self. Tanjiro was in awe as he opened the box for Yoriichi to hop in.

"Alright! let go and see master Oyakata. Thank you for convincing him Shinobu." Tanjiro spoke. Shinobu shook her head "Master Oyakata is a very kind man. Your ability to smell emotions or detect demons who disguised as humans was really helpful. You are able to tell their emotions in order for you not to get fooled." Shinobu replied.

After a few minutes of walking. They reached at Ubuyashiki's estate. Kagaya, the head of the demon slayer Corp was sitting all by himself with the crows. He was waiting for Yoriichi's arrival. Tanjiro put down the box in the shade and opened it. Letting Yoriichi out.

Yoriichi returned back to his tall adult form and knelt down to show respect to Kagaya. "Please there is no need to be formal Yoriichi. make yourself comfortable." Kagaya replied. 

"You must be Yoriichi Tsugikuni.. the one who lived more than 25 years.. and the first breath user." Kagaya spoke in joy to meet the strongest slayer in person. "Yes.. you got that right.." Yoriichi replied. 

"Yoriichi.. just to be sure. You must be from an era that is four hundred years ago right?" Kagaya asked. "Yes. I was born in the sengoku era. I did hear that people called it the golden age." Yoriichi replied.

"Yoriichi.. could you tell me more about yourself? And why you became a demon?" Kagaya asked a question that hurts Yoriichi the most. Yoriichi was hesitant at first but thought maybe this can get off his chest.

"I was born with a mark which has given me inhuman strength. Ever since I became a demon slayer I tried to teach everyone sun breathing. No one could master it but they did manage to create a derivation from sun breathing. Stone, Wind, Thunder, Water, Flame and Moon." Yoriichi explained.

Kagaya grew confused hearing the sixth derived breath. "Moon? like Moon breathing? whats that? I never heard of it." Kagaya was curious. "Moon breathing was created by my brother. It derived from sun breathing and it actually much superior than the other breaths except sun." Yoriichi answered

"That seemed useful.. the question is.. how did you become a demon?" Kagaya knew hes asking something painful. "I.. I was a really old man whose body grew weak. If I used too much of my strength it will push my body to my limit and can even cause death to myself. I encountered Muzan Kibutsuji at old age and my body could not take it when I fought him. I ended up collapsing in defeat." Yoriichi explained.

"I see. So Muzan turned you into a demon while you collapsed because he wanted a really strong demon beside him." Kagaya spoke.

"No." Yoriichi replied. "I became a demon at my will.. I became a demon because.. I wanted to see my older brother.." Yoriichi closed his eyes.

"Huh? your brother?" Kagaya replied. "Michikatsu was his name.. he is a very nice boy.. he always worry about me and he was there for me when I needed him the most. He got turned into a demon and I was not there to protect him. He suffered so much because of me... He took all the beating from my father to spend time with me.. he worked hard to protect humans when he joined the demon slayers.. and he encountered Muzan all by himself and I was not there to protect him." Tears finally drop in Yoriichi's eyes. 

"I see.. Yoriichi. None of this was your fault. It was Kibutsuji's. And I'll assure you that we will defeat him for good. For humanity's future." Kagaya encouraged Yoriichi to not give up.

"Thank you master Oyakata.." Yoriichi smiled.

Yoriichi got back in Tanjiro's box. "I have a question Yoriichi.. since it was Muzan who turned you into a demon what do you know about him?" Tanjiro asked. "When I first encountered Muzan. He was with another demon on his side. I tried to maintain my focus and ended up seeing something that made me shiver down my spine. That man. Has 7 hearts and 5 brains. And they were his weakpoints." Tanjiro also got terrified hearing Muzan having multiple hearts and brains.

"When I used my 13th form. the demon who was on his side didn't do anything to help him or anything. She just watched.. with her eyes shining with hope. I was in grief finding out someone is killing innocents just for fun. I simply asked him one question. 'What is the value of a life to you?' that man was in fear that he exploded as a way to escape. I did managed to kill thousand of his flesh but the smaller ones slipped through my sight that he managed to have time to regenerate. This is the day.. I failed to destroy the demon progenitor." Yoriichi looked down knowing he was always a failure.

"I see.. don't blame yourself Yoriichi.. you failed once but there is always a second try. Like everything. That what my father tells me. If I fail once I must try again.. and again until I get it right. That what people meant by 'we learn our mistakes'. I have one question actually.. who was that demon you mentioned? You said she did not help Muzan." Tanjiro replied. 

"Her name was Tamayo and she told me many things about Muzan. She said this man will never show up until I die which I suprisingly did at my incredebly old age.. only to get turned into a demon." Yoriichi replied.

Tanjiro then stared at Yoriichi with a hella big widened eyes. "Tamayo?! You know her?! I met her!" Tanjiro replied in suprise. It also suprised Yoriichi. "She was alive even after four hundreds of years? I wonder how shes doing.." Yoriichi asked. "Shes doing great! she helped me and my sister a lot. Since you know each other let pay her a visit." Tanjiro feeling happy to take Yoriichi to greet an old friend. 

A few minutes had passed until Tanjiro finally made it to Tamayo's hideout. Tamayo was outside in the shade and she noticed Tanjiro. "Tanjiro. Welcome back. Do you need help with anything?" Tamayo feeling happy to see Tanjiro again.

"No. But I'm sure the slayer who freed you from Muzan's curse does." Tanjiro put down the box and opened it. Yoriichi crawled out and got back to his tall adult form. Tamayo stared in shock suprised to see the slayer who freed her from Muzan's control was.. unfortunately a demon.

"Yoriichi.. you." Tamayo covered her mouth. She is even shocked that he turned into a demon. "What happened to you..?" Tamayo asked. "It a long story." Yoriichi replied. "Please excuse me.. Why don't we discuss it inside?" Tamayo bowed down and signaled Yoriichi and Tanjiro to come in.