20. A Forged Bond

"Tanjiro!" Hana called out, rushing forward and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.

"What happened? Are you alright?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.

"I'm fine, Hana." Tanjiro replied softly, smiling at her.

"So...did you defeat it?" Inosuke interrupted sharply, still fuming.

"Are you okay, Inosuke?" Tanjiro asked, glancing at him.

"I asked whether you defeated that thing or not!" Inosuke snapped back.

"I did," Tanjiro said quietly. Then, turning to him with concern, he added, "But... how are you feeling, Inosuke?"

Inosuke huffed, glaring. "Don't go showering me with your sensitivity and kindness! You hear me? Anything you can do, I can do too! Before you know it... my head will be harder than yours and I will be able to kick like Lana!" He trailed off, out of breath.

"It's Hana!"

Tanjiro's brow furrowed. He's wounded severely..Tanjiro approached carefully while Hana stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her brother's shoulder.

Tanjiro pulled a cloth from his pack. "Stay still, Inosuke!" he urged.

"Cut that out! I don't need that!" Inosuke shouted, swatting his hand away. "I'm totally fine!"

Grumbling under his breath, Inosuke finally let him work, though his wild eyes never stopped glaring.

Hana exhaled softly, tension in her chest.

Tanjiro's gaze drifted upward. "That demon...there she told me that.." he murmured, his voice tight. "There's a member of the Twelve Kizuki here."

Hana's eyes widened. "What?"

"The blood of a Twelve Kizuki demon carries a high degree of Kibutsuji's blood. If we can obtain it... the medicine to turn Nezuko back into a human could be completed sooner." Tanjiro explained.

Hana nodded urgently.

The three pressed along the riverbank. Each step stirred the water, sending tiny ripples across the moonlit surface. The air was thick and metallic, carrying a sharp, unnatural tang.

Suddenly a load noice was heard. Tanjiro spun toward the sound.

"What was that? A lightning strike?" Tanjiro asked.

Inosuke snorted without turning. "How should I know?"

Hana inhaled sharply Analysising her surroundings. "Not thunder...It's something else."

Tanjiro's expression hardened. "Inosuke, Hana and I will take this path." He pointed down a narrow ravine that cut through the pines.

"Go ahead and do whatever you want!" Inosuke barked.

"Are you descending, Inosuke? Going down the mountain?" Hana asked.

"Why would I? Just beat it!" Inosuke yelled, charging off like a living storm.

"You're injured, Inosuke!" Hana called.

"I'm not wounded at all!" he snapped back.

"No, Inosuke...your injuries... anyone can see them," Hana insisted, her heart thudding louder. The acrid scent in the air thickened.

They rounded a boulder and froze. A small girl crouched in the shadows.

A demon?

"I'm gonna tear you to shreds, you damn demon!" Inosuke roared from the rocks, dashing towards the demon.

The girl darted off, calling out, "Father!"

"Who're you calling father?!" Inosuke shouted.

The girl turned, and from the trees emerged a muscular demon, a mountain of flesh moving with lethal intent. He slammed his fists into land.

Hana flinched.

"Stay away from my family!" the demon snarled, striking the ground.

The girl slipped beneath the demon's swinging fist and bolted along the slick riverbank.

Tanjiro unleashed a Water Wheel against the demon's arm, but the blade rang hollow.

"It's not strong enough! The blade won't cut through!" Tanjiro cried.

The demon barely flinched and swung again. Inosuke leaped, only to be launched skyward like a jagged stone.

Hana hit the ground hard, hands digging into the shallow river to steady herself. She crawled to Tanjiro, who had found footing on a jagged rock.

"What do we do?" she panted.

"He's too strong... I can't slash him even with full force. What do we do...what do we do?"

"Don't come near my family! I'll kill you!" the demon roared, rushing toward Tanjiro. Hana's senses screamed. She darted to intercept him, but the demon threw her aside.

He pursued Inosuke as Tanjiro slashed a tree towards the demon, temporarily halting the it's advances. Tanjiro and Hana exchanged a glance before charging together but the demon rose, swinging the fallen tree and sending them both flying.

"Kentaro! Lana!" Inosuke shouted.

"Be careful! Don't die until we come back! That's one of the Twelve Kizuki! Whatever you do don't die!"

Hana crashed into a tree, only for Tanjiro to stumble into her.

"Are you alright, Tanjiro?" Hana asked sharply, eyes scanning him for injuries despite the blood dripping down her own forehead.

"I'm fine..." he said, before his eyes widened. "Hana your head, it's bleeding!"

"I'm fine, Tan-"

"I beg you, please stop!" a voice cried out.

They turned toward the sound and froze.

The scene before them was horrifying a small demon girl crouched with blood smeared across her face. Next to her, the thread-wielding demon stood casually, fingers weaving shimmering webs through the air. His grin was dangerous despite its calmness.

"What are you looking at? This isn't a show," Rui said silkily. "We're family. We have a bond." His cold eyes slid over Tanjiro and Hana as though they were insects.

Hana immediately stepped in front of Tanjiro, squaring her shoulders.

"What are you doing? Aren't you supposed to be allies?" Tanjiro asked, his tone tinged with worry.

"Allies, family... don't put us in the same category as something flimsy," Rui sneered. "This is between me and my sister. Don't interfere, or I'll tear you apart."

"You're wrong," Hana said, her voice low but steady. "Family or not, an ally with a strong bond is just as precious."

Rui's lips curled into a snarl. "You..."

Before anything more could be said, another demon slayer stepped forward confidently.

"Hey! A demon of the right size. I'll take down this kid demon!" he bragged, sword raised.

"Hold up a second!" Tanjiro shouted.

"You back off!" the boy snapped. "I want the safe route up the ladder. More kills, more money. My unit's gone, but if I slay a decent demon, I'll head down the mountain."

"Take this!" the boy roared, charging.

"Don't!" Hana screamed.

Rui flicked his hand. In an instant, threads lashed out, and the boy was shredded into pieces. Tanjiro and Hana froze, horror flashing across their eyes.

Rui's gaze slid back to them. "Now... what was it you said about your bond?"

Tanjiro stayed silent, sweat beading on his forehead. The air just got heavier... I'm sorry, Inosuke... wait until we deal with this demon first...

Rui's fingers twitched. "Say it again," he demanded.

"I'll say it as many times as you want!" Hana shouted fiercely. "I won't take it back. Your bond is forged with lies!"

"I'll kill you in one blow, carve you into shreds," Rui sneered. "But if you take back what you said... I'll make it quick."

"We won't take it back!" Tanjiro snapped, fire burning in his eyes. "What we said is the truth. You're the one who's mistaken."

The threads shot forward. Hana grabbed Tanjiro, pulling him aside, but another strike split them apart.

Tanjiro staggered toward Rui. Hana's blade flashed, slashing furiously through the silk threads, sparks scattering with each clash. The siblings fought side by side, twisting, blocking, cutting, their breaths steady despite Hana's blood loss.

Rui unleashed a storm of threads. Hana spun her blade, shattering them.

Tanjiro lunged for an opening but Rui's thread sliced his sword in half. Tanjiro fell back, blood streaking his cheek.

"Tanjiro!" Hana cried, rushing to his side.

He gasped, nodding faintly, shocked by the outcome.

"Well? Still refuse to take it back?" Rui mocked, his tone icy. "In that case... you'll be shredded into ribbons."

His threads sliced forward, aimed directly for Tanjiro.

"Tanjiro!" Hana screamed.

Without hesitation, she threw herself over him, clutching him tightly.

"I love you, Tanjiro," she whispered, bracing for the end.

The threads cut deep blood sprayed yet neither of them felt anything.

Tanjiro's eyes flew open. Hana's too.

"NEZUKO!"

Nezuko stood before them, her body torn and bleeding, having shielded them from the strike.

"Nezuko!" Hana cried.

Together, she and Tanjiro pulled her to a tree, leaning her against its trunk.

"I'm so sorry, Nezuko," Tanjiro whispered, trembling. "You protected us..."

Rui's eyes gleamed as he pointed a clawed finger. "That girl... the one from the box. Is that your sister?"

Tanjiro froze.

"So what if she is?" Hana snarled, stepping protectively in front of both siblings. Her heart thundered in rage, her blood boiling as she saw Tanjiro desperately trying to hold Nezuko together.

"I won't let you touch them again. I'll kill you before I allow it!" She snarled at the demon standing over her siblings.

"You stood in front of him. You would have died," Rui said coldly.

"I don't care!" Hana screamed, tears falling freely. "I'll do anything to protect my siblings!"

Rui's gaze flickered. Siblings...siblings... The girl has turned into a demon, yet she still stays by his side. She's even willing to die for him...That's a genuine bond...

"Rui?" his sister whispered timidly.

"I want it," Rui muttered, his voice trembling. Then louder, demanding: "I want THAT bond!"

"Wait! I'm your older sister Rui don't desert me like this!" his sister begged.

"Shut up!" Rui snarled, slashing her down.

"None of you ever manged to fulfill the role you were given. Never." He snarled.

"Wait. I was the elder sister you wanted, wasn't it? Give me a chance to redeem myself!" She cried.

Rui stared at her with cold eyes, "In that case go kill those people wandering all over this mountain. If you do that I'll forgive you for what just happened. "

With the demon girl gone his gaze returned to Tanjiro. "Boy. Let's have a chat. Step forward."

Hana instantly blocked his view with her arm.

"You see," Rui said smoothly, "your bond moved me. Truly. It gave me chills. And yet..." his smile twisted, "...the only fate left for you is to die by my hands. It would be tragic, wouldn't it?"

Then his tone hardened. "But...there is one option left. Hand over your sisters, or regret ever existing."

Both Hana and Tanjiro gasped.

"What?"

"What are you saying?!"

"Starting today your sisters shall be my sisters." Rui demanded.