A Cook, A Doctor, A Ghost and A Ronin.

Self-Conflict

My vision....is fading. I'm about to die...I've run out of air. Muichiro had given up. He is losing his consciousness and was about to black out due to lack of oxygen.

You must not decide on your own end. A soft voice replied. He could see Tanjiro, which he knew it is an illusion, a hallucination. The voice are not Tanjiro's and yet it felt so familiar to Muichiro. The voice told him to never give up until the end.

I don't want...to hear that from you. Muichiro tried to ignore those words, but he can't. He wanted to stop listening to the words of encouragement.

It will work out somehow, don't give up. Someone is sure to help you. Tanjiro assures that everything's going to be find and help will definitely come. Muichiro just had to believe in it and have faith.

What? In the end, you're leaving it to someone else?! That's the worst thing to do! Muichiro doesn't rely much from others. He hates feeling helpless like this. He should not rely on other people because he is a Hashira.

You can only do so much by yourself. That's why people combine their strength to work hard. Tanjiro replied. There's no human that could have achieved something impossible without the help from others.

No one can save me. Most people are weaker than me. I was supposed to do better, but I made a bad decision. I overestimated my strength...because I'm a Hashira. Muichiro overestimated himself and underestimated the Upper Rank Five, He should have known better. 

You weren't wrong, Muichiro. It's all right. Everyone make mistakes. Tanjiro keeps on ensuring Muichiro that everything's going to be alright. I made a lot of mistakes, so I'm done for. Muichiro closes his eyes.

*Swish!*

A knife thrusted its way on the water vase. It didn't managed to pierce fully and seems to be bounced back just like Muichiro's katana earlier. It was Kotetsu. He tried his best to free Muichiro from the grasp of the water vase.

"Not if I can help it! Tokito! Hang in there! I'm gonna get you out! I'll save you!" He stab the water vase over and over but it just seems to bounced off instead.

"Arghh! What is this? It's soft and gross!" Kotetsu complained at how the vase structure is very hard to poke. However, he didn't give up. If I can't cut through it, then you definitely can't. Kotetsu doesn't aware that he can't cut through the water vase.

There are things that you should prioritize over me. Protect the village chief. But maybe that's impossible for a kid like you. At least gather as many swords as you can flee from the village. Muichiro didn't understand why did Kotetsu would go to such lengths to help him. A fish demon sneak up behind Kotetsu without him knowing. 

What're you doing?! Look! Behind you! Muichiro tried to warn Kotetsu of impending danger that's creeping behind him. Yet, Kotetsu didn't seem to understand him.

*Slash!*

"Gyaah! Blood!" Kotetsu skirted away from the fish demon. He is wounded by the sharp blades of fish demons. He recoiled back in fear, but Kotetsu did not falter or run away. What are you doing?! Get out of here! Hurry! Muichiro urged Kotetsu to flee.

You can't do anything. Why can't you understand that? Hold the wound, hurry up! Flee! Don't stay with me! Don't try to help! There's nothing you can do. Muichiro, using every last bit of strength he had to warn Kotetsu to run away. But Kotetsu did not listen to him.

*Fwish!*

*Shunk!*

The fish demon rushed towards and stabbed Kotetsu right in the solar plexus. He's been stabbed in a vital spot. He's a goner. Muichiro knew that kid didn't have a long time.

*Tap*

*Tap*

"One Sword Style: Yakkodori!" A crescent moon-like projectile of compressed air to the fish demon with great speed out of nowhere. The fish demon were severed in two in a single slash. 

*Zing!*

*Shhk!*

Muichiro is out of air in his lungs and he blacks out. But before he could close his eyes for one last time, that Tanjiro that was made from his hallucination gave him one final message. The mist in his head began to clear a bit by bit.

Helping others, often means you end up helping yourself.

Human beings are creatures, 

Who can tap into an unbelievable strength when helping others, 

Muichiro....

"One Sword Style: 36 Pound Cannon!" A circular swing that launches the air compressed projectile spiraling towards Muichiro that's inside Water Prison Pot. 

*Swing!*

*Bosh!*

The Water Prison Pot was destroyed instantly with a single slash, breaking Muichiro free from the vase that's been holding him. He was finally free as he instantly gained his consciousness back. 

"Cough! Cough! Cough!" Muichiro coughed. Water had gone in his lungs as he gasped for fresh air. He was struggling to breathe. My lungs hurt from all the water in them. Muichiro's mind is slowly being less cloudy over time.

*Pok!*

*Pok!*

*Pok!*

Ughh, the numbness are horrible! These needles....I got out of the water but I'm already tired from the struggle.. Muichiro plucked the needles that struck him earlier one by one. His hands are shaking as he is feeling numb due to the poison contained in those needles.

"Kotetsu! Hang in there!" Muichiro immediately went to Kotetsu who was badly injured by the fish demon. He cradled Kotetsu in his arms. The boy is bleeding. Muichiro is worried.

"Tokito...F-Forget about me. Help....Haganezuka. Protect...the swords..." Kotetsu is struggling to form words from his mouth. He told Muichiro to leave him be and protect the swords inside the hovel and save Kanamori and Haganezuka.

*Tap*

*Tap!*

Sounds of footsteps could be heard approaching Muichiro and Kotetsu. It revealed a man, who wore a white yukata with black details and a green cloud pattern on its bottom. He wore a dark green jittoku haori with a mon of a black sun over a khaki gear, and zōri with a black strap.

"Sorry I'm late. The forest are tricking me. I feel like they purposefully wanted to keep me inside. Probably a Blood Demon Art." Zoro apologized for being late. He got lost, he just don't want to admit that he's lost.