Demon Slayer: The Price Of Strength

The sun rode high in the clear blue sky, a bright disc casting long shadows from the midday trees, and headquarter building. It was clearly daytime; the air shimmered with heat rising from the sun-baked earth.

"Hey why are they going?" Tanjiro said in confusion.

"I don't really know" zenitsu said

"Why are they going when Master Announced Meeting?!!" Inosuke exclaimed.

"We don't know also Inosuke, stop shouting!" Tanjiro exclaimed

"Let's hurry go inside let's go" zenitsu said.

They all walked inside, all hashiras were there except kenta and Akira.

"Hello.." tanjiro spoke, just then kagaya arrived, everyone knelt down and greet the master.

"I'm not sad, about rengoku's death.. because of him no one died.. we should keep moving" kagaya said with calm expression. In 100 years, nothing was changed but now my beloved child rengoku changed everything by killing upper moon Three.

"I respect rengoku and his sacrifice for us" giyuu tomioka replied with his stoic expression.

Muichiro was staring at sky.

"What shape was of clouds?" Muichiro said as he looked at all of them.

Gyomei himejima was praying for rengoku.

Iguro obanai was looking down, sad about rengoku.

Sanemi was very sad about rengoku and his hatred for demons increased more.

Mitsuri kanroji was sad as well, she was remembering her memories with rengoku.

Kagaya walked inside the building, meeting was ended all of hashiras gone, before shinobu Kocho leave, she heard Someone called her name.

"Lady Kocho?" Tanjiro called her name.

"Oh hello tanjiro, zenitsu, Inosuke" shinobu turn around seeing them. "You have recovered from your bruises, I'm glad to see that"

"Oh yeah-" tanjiro spoke.

"But it's not why we called you lady shinobu" zenitsu said.

"We want to know who Ren is actually!!" Inosuke exclaimed.

"So you three heard about him also.. actually he's dead now" shinobu said with sad expression.

Tanjiro's eyes widened zenitsu's as well.

"He was weak-" Inosuke was going to say

"Inosuke!" Tanjiro said giving glare to Inosuke.

"What happened to them can you tell us please?" Tanjiro spoke up his voice tone was more like pleading.

"Of course, let's sit over there." Shinobu said as she walked towards bench and sat down, along tanjiro, zenitsu, Inosuke.

"I'll explain from very beginning" shinobu said, tanjiro zenitsu nodding while Inosuke not serious about it.

"The Takashi residence is one of the oldest families within the Demon Slayer Corps. It's a tradition for members of the Takashi family to become Hashira. That's how Akira became a Hashira, but he came here with his friend, Kenta. As far as I know, Kenta's first true friend was Akira. Kenta's family was quite poor, and no one really paid much attention to him. But at the age of fifteen, he met Akira, and they became inseparable. Kenta's family was struggling, his father had passed away, and he was an only child. When Kenta became a Hashira, news came that his mother had also passed away. Both of them joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and within three years, they rose to become some of the strongest Hashira. Akira was the strongest until recently, and Kenta was second. They were incredibly close, always going on missions together.

But things changed when Giyuu and I visited the Takashi residence. We discovered a young boy, sixteen years old, abandoned by his family and siblings. We brought him to the Demon Slayer Corps and spoke with Akira. He recognised the boy immediately as his younger brother, Ren. Akira sent a letter to his family, asking them why they had abandoned Ren and left him alone in that old house. Their reply was... well, it was quite shocking. They said that Ren didn't belong to their 'kind-hearted family' and that when Akira left to join the Demon Slayer Corps, Ren had wanted to follow him. They claimed that Akira's father had helped Ren learn the basics of swordsmanship, but one day, they caught Ren killing animals in a very cruel way. It didn't seem like he was hunting them; it was as if he was enjoying it, finding amusement in the brutality. They said they left him alone so that he could learn from his mistakes and come back to them.

Akira was devastated when he read that letter. He couldn't understand how they could abandon a sixteen-year-old boy. He felt responsible for Ren and decided to take care of him. He taught Ren proper swordsmanship and sent him to Urokodaki, the former Water Hashira, to learn Water Breathing. Ren's rank was Mizunoto, but he was quite strong for his level.

After Akira sent Ren to Urokodaki, it didn't take long for news to spread around headquarters. Many demon slayers witnessed Ren killing demons in a brutal manner. Some even admitted to seeing him laughing while doing it. It's good that he was killing demons, but finding enjoyment in brutality isn't healthy. When this news reached the Hashira, Akira summoned Ren. By that time, Ren had killed around 56 demons in a year. All of them were normal demons, according to the reports. Ren admitted to his actions and apologized. Master called a meeting specifically because of Ren's behaviour. Akira started keeping a close eye on him after that.

Ren's last mission was in the Red Light District. He went there with a few demon slayers. According to the report, there were three demon slayers with him. They arrived in the Red Light District early, around sunset. They investigated the area and then regrouped in the centre of the district. They investigated again that night, but Ren didn't return. The other demon slayers searched for him and found him fighting a demon. They approached, but before they could intervene, the demon slashed Ren's left arm, causing him to bleed heavily. Ren started laughing and ordered the demon slayers to stay back. They were drawn into the jungle while fighting. The report also says that the demon said something to Ren about how they could kill anyone they wanted. When the demon slayers went into the jungle, they couldn't find Ren, but they did find his broken sword.

After that, the news came here, but the reports were unclear. Akira led a search mission, and they found Ren's body parts, confirming his death.

One more thing. When you and Rengoku were on your mission at the Mugen Train, Ren also went to the Red Light District, where his mission was. It's not clear how long after you left, but it was around an hour or two. The news about Ren came to headquarters after Rengoku's death, about two days later, I think.

This is the whole story," Shinobu said, her expression sad but forcing a smile.

"So this is... Their story.." tanjiro's expression became more sad

"As master said we shouldn't Let ourselves in grief instead train more and become strong" zenitsu said, his expression was encouraging but he was scared to face more strong demons.

"Akira is hiding something from us... But.. why will he do that?" Shinobu said in decreased voice

"What did you say lady Kocho?" Tanjiro asked.

"Nothing, I should go now.. anything else do you want to know?" Shinobu asked.

(Shinobu thinking: Akira haven't told us the truth, Akira is hiding something, something about his brother and him, and when he came here he haven't told us what was happening in their family, he's hiding something)

"No.. we should get going also, let's go Inosuke, zenitsu" tanjiro spoke up and then they went straight outside the headquarter walking.

"So, where are we going" zenitsu asked as he looks at tanjiro.

"That town where demon slayers went and didn't return and no report about it"

Tanjiro said as they continued walking.

Zenitsu tries to hide his Scared expressions.

"Hahaha!!" Inosuke exclaimed "crybaby is scared once again hahahahah!!!

"I'm not scared!" Zenitsu replied.

Both started bickering, they arrived at town, it was sunset when they arrived.

"Finally we're here" tanjiro said.

"We arrived before sunset" zenitsu said laying on ground and Inosuke sitting on him.

"Yeah, after all king of mountain is with you" Inosuke said with full of confidence and proud look

"It's not because of you!" Zenitsu said

"What did you say?!" Inosuke exclaimed as once again they started bickering.

Tanjiro walked forward, Patting the box he's Carrying

"Nezuko, I swear to you I will get you back to human" tanjiro said in decreased voice, nezuko inside box sleeping peacefully bamboo stick is on her mouth, meanwhile Behind tanjiro, Earthquake Was There, Inosuke and Zenitsu Fighting each other.

"Stop fighting now!! Calm. Down!!!!" Tanjiro shouted at them, they stopped bickering and get up and walk towards tanjiro.

"He started first" zenitsu said and pointing on Inosuke as he walks

"What did you say!! Brat!!" Inosuke said looking at zenitsu in anger.

"Don't fight again!" Tanjiro said.

They walked forward in town there was silence. pathways was empty it was sunset, buildings Creating long shadows and Sun is dipping down an relaxing horizon.

"The town's deserted. So early. It's sunset, usually people love to watch sunset." tanjiro spoke up looking at the pathways "I think the people of town are aware of what's happening that's why it's so quiet in whole town"

Zenitsu and Inosuke nodded in agreement.

They walk further inside the town. The silence felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on them. It was too quiet. Even the usual sounds of birds or insects were gone, replaced by a stillness that made their hearts beat faster.

They walk further finally reach where most of townspeople avoid to come.

"Hey! There's something!" Inosuke shoulted pointing at something on ground.

They ran towards it and stopped Infront of it.

"It's...its" tanjiro's were readable he was shocked by the scene Infront of them.

"It's demon slayer's broken nichirin sword.." zenitsu completed tanjiro's words.

The sword was broken and dried blood on it was visible.

Shivers down their spine, as they felt an overwhelming presence, just behind them, they turned around and a Person was standing infront of them, covered in long black clothing, their face wasn't visible. As they saw the person, zenitsu tanjiro instantly remembered, last reports of this town was clearly indicating a person in black clothing who is now Infront of them.

"YOU FILTHY DEMON!!" Inosuke yelled and ran towards the figure

"Inosuke we don't know who's he!!" Tanjiro said as he tries to stop Inosuke.

Zenitsu: "Inosuke, you don't-"

Zenitsu started but his words were cut short

Inosuke's both swords were some centimeters away from the figures neck, and figure disappeared, Inosuke lands on ground, set himself in fighting stance, meanwhile Tanjiro and Zenitsu shocked at the sight of how figure disappeared.

"Inosuke I told you to stop!" Tanjiro said as he unsheath his sword.

"Inosuke beha-" zenitsu began but stopped short.

The figure is now reappeared, it's a massive Demon.

"It's like the demon we fought in that jungle.." Inosuke said as he saw the sight of demon.

"It won't be easy to face-" tanjiro started but stopped, the demon launch at them and slammed powerful punch to tanjiro's stomach, blood came out of tanjiro's mouth.

"Tanjiro!!" Zenitsu shouted as he saw the scene unfold, he was scared but draw his sword, his hands were trembling in fear and the thought of getting killed is running in his mind.

"Aahhhhh!!!!!" Inosuke ran towards the demon, aiming for his arms as he reached demon's arms.. demon turned his massive leg, kicking Inosuke sending him flying away crashing through trees to the ground, zenitsu yelled Inosuke's name, tanjiro jumped away from demon and gets in fighting stance.

"Inosuke!!!" Tanjiro yelled and ran towards the demon. "Water breathing 4th form striking tide!!" Tanjiro cut through demon's arms, Blood spread like rain, and his arms fell on ground, tanjiro lands beside zenitsu, his body tensed up, and gets in fighting stance.

"Zenitsu get ready" tanjiro's tone was more likely commanding. "What did you say?!?" Zenitsu replied.

The demon laughed maniacally and started to regenerate his arms, flesh is regenerating itself slowly.

"Zenitsu, behind you!!!" Tanjiro yelled, just then,

More demons appeared from behind zenitsu, Demon kicked away zenitsu, zenitsu sent flying away crashed on large stone, three demons ran after zenitsu.

"Zenitsu I've got you!!" Tanjiro said and runned after zenitsu but got blocked by more demons.

(Tanjiro thinking. is this why no demon slayer returned?)

Hello! I hope you enjoyed, English isn't my first language so if I have mistakes or I haven't explained scenes properly You Can Tell Me About It in comments Where It Lacks and I will edit the chapter.

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