Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hinokami Flames

A Mechanical Past

Tanjiro felt very confused. Yoriichi Tsugikuni who appeared in many of his visions and dreams, the voice he hears is standing before him. He wished to get close to the man, but his attention turned back to the young swordsmith and Muichiro.

"Just get away from it! I'm not giving you the key no matter what! I don't care that you're a Hashira! I won't let you use this! It's all I have!"

"This is not up for debate." Muichiro said.

Tanjiro and Nezuko watched as they continued to argue and wondered if they should intervene. Feeling annoyed at the child's persistence, Muichiro chops the latter's neck knocking him out, allowing him to grab him by his clothes.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Tanjiro yells as he confronts Muichiro, grabbing his wrist. "Release him now!"

"What a noisy person." Muichiro says. "Just who are you?"

"Did you not hear me?! Let that child go now!" 

Tanjiro begins to tighten his grip on the wrist. But Muichiro refused to loosen his grip. 'He's not budging! What kind of willpower is this?! His arms are thin and he's smaller than I am!'

"If anyone should let go, it's you." Muichiro then elbows Tanjiro making him release his grip, prompting Nezuko to help her brother. "You're already on the ground. It surprises me that you got into the Demon Slayer Corps. Weakling like you shouldn't even be in this life." He attempts to snag Tanjiro's hanafuda earrings, but his hand was swatted away.

"Don't underestimate me!"

Muichiro then felt less weight in his right hand. The boy was gone and saw that Tanjiro took him from his hold. 'He grabbed the boy.'

"Are you okay?" Tanjiro asked.

"Get away from me!" the young swordsmith demanded.

"But about yourself! We want to help you!" Nezuko said.

"I don't care! I can't give the key to anyone! I won't! Even if I'm put through torture! I won't let you break the only thing my ancestors left behind!"

"So, have you been through enough training to endure torture?" Muichiro asked. "Most adults are unable to withstand it, so I find it impossible for you to. Your determination will prove to be the world's destruction. So, what if it does break? Can't you not rebuild it from the ground up? As you rattle on with your nonsense, people are out there dying. That's what happens when mess with a Hashira's time. My time and yours have completely different value. If you used your brain instead of your heart, you'd understand. Swordsmiths don't have the strength to fight. They're unable to save lives. Their gifts are only useful for making weapons. Now, the key. Know you place in this life and act accordingly. You're a young man, not a baby."

The boy was about to cry, but Tanjiro slapped his hand away.

"You still persist. Why?"

"I... I... I just don't get you!" Tanjiro says flabbergasted. "Why do you act in such a way?! You lack consideration! Trying to act like the adult! It's just too cruel!"

"Cruel? What I said was true."

"Maybe so! I not saying that you're wrong, but I not saying you're right either! But swordsmiths are of equal importance and do crucial work! They're different from swordmen, but their skills are the most useful! If not for them, then we wouldn't have any swords to fight the demons!"

As Tanjiro continued to defend the swordsmiths, Haganezuka eavesdrops on them.

"Swordsmiths and Swordmen need each other! We all fight there as one! Can't you understand that?!"