Chapter 18: Chapter 17
Muzan POV
As I was walking through the streets filled with wretched humans I suddenly felt a weird feeling through my being, "Huh Gyokko died." I thought, quickly tuning into Gyokko's final moments. It was a pathetic display of weakness, but not entirely without value. It unveiled the emergence of a powerful demon slayer, someone whose aura echoed the legendary Yoriichi, it even seemed he had unlocked the transparent world an ability that had previously been lost. Yet, there was a stark difference between Yoriichi and this unknown person. This new slayer lacked the primal fear that Yoriichi instilled. Moreover, his breathing style was entirely foreign to me, making it impossible to assess its true potency in comparison to sun breathing. Nevertheless, it was clear that I needed a replacement for Upper Moon Five. I also decided it was time to expedite my plans, to accelerate the inevitable demise of demon slayers. Their days of safety were rapidly drawing to an end.
MC POV
A shiver, cold and eerie, ran down my spine. I turned to a seemingly random direction, my gaze fixed upon it. The feeling intensified, a deep sense of foreboding settling in the pit of my stomach. Whatever lay in that direction, it exuded an aura of formidable strength. "Hoshi, come on!" Rengoku's voice broke through my unease, snapping me back to the present. With my crows, my new companions at my side, I hastened to join the ranks of the other hashira.
{1 year later}
{Kusakabe Mansion 11:00 AM}
A year had passed since I had attained the rank of Hashira, it had proven to be a hard year for everyone. The loss of Kanae during our pursuit of Upper Moon 2 had been a heavy blow. Regrettably, we lost track of the demon after that, leaving a void in our ranks. It was Shinobu, Kanae's younger sister, who bravely stepped up to carry on her legacy. A mere month later, we faced another significant change as Kasumi decided to retire. In her stead, a formidable young woman emerged, radiating an aura of immense strength. She wielded a unique style known as Love Breathing, and her weapon of choice was a whip-like nichirin blade, marking her as a distinctive addition to our ranks. The ebb and flow of new Hashira appointments underscored the ever-shifting nature of our responsibilities and the challenges that awaited us in our fight against the demons.
{Flashback 5 months back}
As I was laying on a futon in a village we were investigating I heard a caw and a crow with a delicate flower atop its head suddenly flew in through the window of my room. It cawed loudly, conveying a critical message: "Found the cult, north village, 8 kilometers. 5 kilometers west." With this, the crow swiftly departed, retracing its path.
I was left momentarily stunned by the revelation. "She found it," I murmured, a mix of astonishment and determination coursing through me. I swiftly retrieved my blades from the nearby table and set off after the crow, pushing myself to my limits. Each step carried me closer to the destination, yet the air grew colder, the surroundings more desolate. When I finally arrived, a frozen forest with dead bodies of human women were all sprawled before me, its icy and deathly grasp reaching out in all directions.
And there, in the midst of this frigid landscape, lay Kanae. Her nichirin lay shattered, her wounds grievous, her once warm skin now as cold as the ice that surrounded us. I dashed at her and took her in my arms. Gently, I cradled her, my heart heavy with the weight of my own failure. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, my voice laden with regret. "I should have been faster." I muttered to her dying face.
Summoning the last of her strength, Kanae reached out with a hand stained with her own blood.
She touched my face and gestured weakly toward the west. I nodded solemnly, and as her hand fell limply to the ground, she closed her eyes for the final time.
Turning my gaze to the west, I pushed forward, a feeling I had never felt before in both my lives, anger, burning hotter than ever. With every stride, I hacked through the trees that barred my way, desperate to uncover any trace of the demon's presence. Hours passed in relentless pursuit, but my efforts yielded no results. Finally, exhaustion overcame me, and I sank to my knees, ragged breaths escaping my lips. Once more, I whispered, "I'm so sorry, Kanae." A solitary tear traced a path down my cheek, a silent tribute to the fallen.
{2 weeks later}
Amidst the solemnity of the Butterfly Mansion's backyard, surrounded by my fellow Hashira, I stood alongside Kanao and Shinobu. The air was heavy with grief, and tears flowed freely from most, though Kanao and I remained stoic. My gaze fixated on the stone marker bearing her name, and as I closed my eyes, memories of our time together flooded my mind.
We had been assigned as a team, tasked with investigating and trying to find and slay upper moon two. I could still hear her words, full of playfulness, and see the graceful sway of her movements as she spoke. Her smile had been like a beacon, radiating a light that rivaled even the stars I held so dear. And now, she was gone.
The weight of it all bore down on me, causing me to clench the hilt of my onyx blade with a grip that turned my knuckles white. It was then that Kanao came over, her touch on my right hand a soothing balm, coaxing my tense muscles to relax. After we all paid our respects, I gathered the Hashira, my voice steady but resolute.
"I understand that Gyomei typically goes on solo missions. However, from this point forward, I will be the only one embarking on missions alone," I declared. Protests and objections arose from my comrades, but I held firm. "You may rotate your teams as needed for each mission, but solo missions will be only performed by me."
Leaving the Butterfly Mansion behind, I set out on my investigation, determination coursing through me. Under my breath, I vowed, "I will vanquish every demon." The promise hung in the air, a testament to the unyielding fire that burned within me.
{Present}
{Kusakabe Mansion 11:00 AM}
I was brought out of my daze as a sudden shout from my eight-year-old brother jolted me back to the present. With his sword raised high, he charged at me, determination in his eyes. I couldn't help but smile, effortlessly deflecting his blade.
"You've tried that five times this week, little brother. It won't work," I chided gently.
His frustration boiled over, and he dropped his sword, protesting, "But it's not fair! You're bigger and stronger. I want to go back to studying!"
In my mind, I began to count. One... two... three... four...
"Alright, let's give it another go," he declared, storming back into the room, his determination undiminished. Snatching up his blade, he faced me with renewed determination.
"Come on, Tsukiko. Show me what you've got," I teased, my tone playful.
And so, the next two hours were spent in spirited instruction. I guided him through the stances, corrected his grip, and offered encouragement at every turn. Slowly but surely, he was improving.
As our training session drew to a close, the door swung open once more, revealing the figures of Grandpa Yamato and Grandma Kaoru.
"Oh, thank the heavens you came back two weeks ago. These old bones of mine couldn't handle teaching much longer," Grandma Kaoru said in a joking manner.
Grandpa Yamato let out a hearty laugh. "Nonsense! I could have kept teaching Tsukiko I am as spry as ever, just like when I was thirty!" His words were accompanied by a twinkle in his eye, a testament to his boundless spirit.
As I looked at the three people in the dojo whom I loved with almost all my being I truly felt glad to be back home even if it wasn't exactly because of family reasons.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Joanjudo
Joanjudo Welp yeah third chapter in one day as I had planned. Almost all Hashira are the same except for one which is Muichiro since Hoshi has his spot also I know this may be a bit fast but I am trying to make this story around 100 chapters more or less. Well Hoshi is 18, Rengoku is 18 and Tanjiro is 13 his family got killed oh and Hoshi(MC) didn’t go to his family’s mansion because of familial love even though he does love them it has to do with his investigation just in case someone was wondering why he was there after he had made a vow to kill all demons.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone