21. Siblings

The wind whispered through the trees, carrying a strange scent of blood and iron. The clearing was silent..too silent. Then, a voice pierced through the stillness.

"Your sisters will be my sisters. Starting today." Rui's voice was cold, almost cruel.

Hana's grip tightened on her sword. She stepped in front. "You don't actually think I'd ever agree to that. Not now. Not ever." Her voice was sharp, full of authority.

"Not to mention, Hana and Nezuko's are not a thing! They have their own feelings and will! There's no way they'll ever be your sisters!" Tanjiro yelled.

Rui tilted his head, a slow grin spreading across his face. "It's alright, no need to worry. I'll create a bond between us. A bond of terror. I am stronger than you. And I will teach them what happens when they defy me."

Tanjiro's voice broke the silence with rage. "I've had enough of this crazy talk! Using fear to chain someone is not a family's bond! Unless you fix that basic misunderstanding, you'll never get what you desire!"

Rui chuckled softly. "So irritating. Would you mind not shouting? We clearly don't see eye to eye, do we?"

Tanjiro turned to Hana and Nezuko. He removed the box from his back and took a deep breath before speaking. "Hana... I want you to stay here. I-"

Hana's eyes flashed with resolve. She stepped forward. "No. I will not stand aside. I told you we're in this together. I won't let you fight alone."

Tanjiro gave her a warm, trusting smile.
"Careful," he whispered.

Hana nodded without hesitation.

"I'll never hand Hana and Nezuko to you!" Tanjiro's voice rang out.

"That's fine. I'll kill you first, then take them." Rui's words were a cold promise.

"I'll cut off your head first!" Tanjiro shouted.

Rui's lips curled into a cruel smile. "That's the spirit! I'd like to see you try it. That is if you can actually defeat a twelve kizuki like me." He revealed the mark on his left eye, his aura pulsing with menace.

Hana's heart thudded hard in her chest. She tightened her grip on her sword, stepping forward instinctively. Tanjiro's blade was broken, and her own hands shook with both fear and determination.

"Family...Mother and Father protect their children while older siblings protect their younger siblings. No matter what, at the risk of their own lives. That's the way I see it," Rui sneered. "If you don't understand your role, there's no reason for you to live. What is your role? It is to relinquish your siblings to me... or die."

Hana glared. "And my role is to protect my siblings. That is my vow. And I won't let you harm them."

Rui's smile widened. "We'll see about that." In a sudden motion, his threads lashed forward.

Before Hana could react, a searing pain shot through her side. Rui's threads had already connected to her and Nezuko's limbs. He pulled sharply, yanking her high into the air.

"Hana! Nezuko!" Tanjiro screamed.

Hana's breath came ragged, pain burning through her body. She gritted her teeth and drew her sword. "Second Form: Water Wheel!" The blade spun, cutting through Rui's threads as she fell heavily toward the ground.

"Hana! Are you all right?" His voice trembled.

She shook her head, glaring up at Rui. "I'm fine!" Her voice was sharp, filled with unshakable determination. Rui smirked as he tightened his grip on Nezuko, his threads wrapping around her with suffocating force.

"Do you not understand, Hana? Don't you recognize your role? You're my sister now! Listen to me!"

Tanjiro roared, charging forward. "Let her go!"

But Rui only laughed. "I told you I'd spare your life if you obeyed me." Nezuko hissed and clawed at Rui, cutting deep into his face.

"Nezuko!" Hana screamed, rushing forward, but Rui was faster. He lashed out with threads, cutting deep into her arm.

Rui attacked Tanjiro with his thread but he dodged it with a backflip, regaining his composure.

"Nezuko's gone!" Tanjiro said, but blood dripped down on his hands making him look up and see the horrifying image of Nezuko strung upside down in the air.

"Nezuko!"

Hana gasped, her eyes widening. She trembled seeing her sister like that.

"Listen to me, Hana," Rui said softly. "Why don't you understand that you have no choice but to accept it. I'll turn you into a demon and we will be happy together."

"You're insane!" Hana growled, struggling against the tightening threads.

Rui's voice dropped cold. "Enough. I won't hold back." He flung her against a tree, threads wrapping her tightly, cutting into her flesh.

Pain surged through her, but Hana bit her lip, her eyes burning with defiance. "I will never be your sister! Neither will Nezuko!" she cried.

"Then you must be punished," Rui said, his threads digging deeper.

"Hana!" Tanjiro shouted again, cutting through threads to free her. But Rui only smiled. "Stop that hollering. It won't be enough to save them both."

Hana's blood ran freely down her fingers. She clenched her teeth and tightened her grip on her sword's hilt.

"You... I'm sure I'm mistaken," Rui said as he stepped closer to Tanjiro, his pale face calm, voice almost playful. "But you don't think that just by getting close to me, you can cut off my head... do you?"

He spread his arms wide. "Fine by me. Give it a try."

Tanjiro didn't hesitate. He lunged forward with all his strength, only to be repelled again and again before finally striking Rui's neck.

'T-the blade won't go through!' Tanjiro gritted his teeth, forcing the sword deeper, but it was useless. Rui's neck was far too strong.

"I told you," Rui said coldly. "You have no chance against me."

With one swift kick, Rui sent Tanjiro flying, his body crashing against the ground.

"My body is tougher than any thread I control. If you can't even slice those threads... you'll never sever my neck."

Hana's chest tightened as she struggled against the bonds cutting into her skin. 'I have to break free. I have to help Tanjiro.' She thought desperately, feeling helpless.

Nezuko groaned and writhed in her bindings. Rui's eyes flicked toward her. "You're making too much noise. Quiet down."

The threads constricted mercilessly, sinking into Nezuko's flesh. She screamed in agony.

"Stop that!" Hana cried.

Rui turned his gaze on her, expression calm, almost disappointed. "You should quiet down too. I'm your older brother now. You will obey me."

"No! Never!" Hana spat back.

Rui sighed. "You haven't reflected at all. Then I'll have to punish you again."

The threads dug deeper into Hana's body, blood streaming from the wounds, clenching her sword tightly.

"You will obey me," Rui whispered. "Or I'll force you to learn your place."

Hana clenched her teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a scream. Her vision blurred, but her heart burned. "I will never give in... no matter what!"

Tanjiro's strained voice rang out. "Hana!"

Despite the pain, Hana steadied her breathing. Rui was terrifying, but her resolve was stronger.

Tanjiro roared and charged, slicing desperately. "Water Breathing, Tenth Form... Constant Flux!" A dragon of water coiled from his blade, tearing through Rui's threads.

But Rui was relentless. "Blood Demon Art... Cutting Thread Cage!"

Crimson threads expanded, weaving into a cage that closed around Tanjiro.

"Tanjiro!" Hana screamed, thrashing against her bonds until blood ran down her arms.

He tried to charge again, but Rui's thread caught his leg, making him stumble. Rui kicked him hard in the chest, sending him skidding across the ground. Blood burst from his lips before Rui's backhand snapped his head to the side.

"No! Stop! Don't hurt him!" Hana cried, her voice trembling.

Rui stepped closer to Tanjiro, smirking. "You still don't understand. You can't win."

Hana's voice broke. "Don't hurt him..."

The threads around her tightened again, making her gasp in pain.

"Hana! Please, stop!" Tanjiro begged, desperation in his voice. "You'll kill her!"

Rui smiled cruelly. "Before that. I'll turn her into a demon. She'll be my older sister forever."

With a flourish, Rui spun his hands. The crimson web-shaped cage shrank around Tanjiro. "I have no more use for you. Goodbye."

Hana's eyes widened, heart pounding. "Tanjiro!" Tears spilled down her face. "No... please don't die! Tanjiro!" She said weakly trying not to lose consciousness.

The web inched closer. Tanjiro's vision blurred as fear flooded him. These threads... they smell different. Stronger. I can't cut them...I'm going to die.

But then memories flickered before his eyes. Snow on the mountains. His siblings' laughter. His father's calm smile as he danced the kagura beneath the stars.

Father...

"Tanjiro," the memory whispered. "Breathe. Get your breathing under control. Become the Hinokami."

Tanjiro's heart thudded. Flames bloomed in his memory, then surged into reality. His water dragon ignited, transforming into fire.

Hinokami Kagura... Dance!

Hana's voice rang out through tears. "Tanjiro!" Relief filled her eyes wide.

Tanjiro's blade blazed with fire as he surged forward. Rui's threads snapped one after another, burning to ash.

Rui's eyes widened. No way! My strongest threads... cut so easily?

"The bond between my siblings... will never be severed by you!" Tanjiro roared, striking down.

Nezuko's eyes snap open her palm glowing along with her blood, 'Blood Demon Art...' She chants her technique, closing her right palm, 'Exploding Blood!'

The fire spread throughout Rui's threads and to him but he still manages to dodge it. Tanjiro descends from the flames and raised his sword, successfully hitting Rui's neck.

Rui's head flew from his shoulders as his body collapsed. The threads holding Hana and Nezuko burned away, sending them both crashing to the ground.

Tanjiro, staggering, reached for them. "Nezuko... Hana..." His voice was barely a whisper. "We...won..."

Threads burned, screams rang out, and the air...

"Nezuko... Hana..." Tanjiro tried to scream for both of you, but only strained voices came out of his mouth. He closed his eyes, muttering to himself that he had won, remembering the memories that saved him.

Tanjiro lifted his head and searched for his sisters before noticing his vision blur. I can't see Hana and Nezuko...Is it because I took too many breaths? he thought before clutching his chest and hearing an intense ringing sound. Despite the pain, Tanjiro weakly crawled in Hana's direction.

Tanjiro's breaths came in ragged gasps as he crawled toward her, each movement trembling with pain and desperation. He cradled her head gently in his lap, his hands shaking.

"Hana..." His voice broke. Tears welled in his eyes, spilling freely.

"Hana... please..." he choked out, clutching her closer. "Hana..wake up... don't leave me...please...Hana!" His voice cracked, turning to anguished sobs.

Then, soft and trembling, Hana's fingers brushed his cheek. Two weak hands cupped his face.

"Tanjiro..." she whispered.

His tears fell faster. "Hana... you're going to be okay, right?"

A faint, tired smile touched her lips. "You...did it, Tanjiro... I'm so proud of you."

Tanjiro tightened his hold on her, pressing his forehead against hers as silent tears streamed down his face.

But then Rui's voice echoed behind him. "Did you really think you'd killed me?"

Tanjiro froze. The scent of blood thickened. Rui's head reattached to his body, his eyes now burning with fury an intimidating scent that made him stop. The scent of blood just got stronger..

"You thought you'd defeated me? Poor kid. Did your pathetic delusion bring you joy? I cut off my head myself with my own threads... before you could chop it off."

Hana got up and softly grabbed onto Tanjiro. "Enough. I'll kill both you and your sisters. I haven't been this enraged in a long time."

"Hana!" Tanjiro gasped as he saw her stand despite the deep wounds covering her body.

Blood seeped from her arm and leg, but her expression was fierce. Without hesitation, she threw herself in front of her siblings, shielding them.

She was about to fall under Rui's advancing threads when, with blinding speed, a raven-haired man appeared beside them, slashing the red threads apart.

"You did a good job holding out until I got here. Leave the rest to me," Giyuu said in his monotone voice as he faced Rui.

"You're like an endless stream of low lives, always getting in my way!" Rui exclaimed with irritation. Regaining his composure, he chanted:

"Blood Demon Art..."

He created a rotating wheel of threads and propelled it toward Giyuu.

Giyuu was quick and calm as he chanted his technique, "Total Concentration. Water Breathing, Eleventh Form... Dead Calm."

"Eleventh Form?" Tanjiro said with confusion, only knowing that Water Breathing had ten forms.

"Who cares about your Eleventh Form?!"

Rui's threads scattered around Giyuu, leaving him confused. What's going on? What did he do? Not one of them reached him? The toughest threads of all got slashed? This only added to Rui's frustration as he raised both hands.

"That's impossible! One more time!"

But with a blink of an eye, his head was cut off by Giyuu.

Hana was about to fall to her knees when two strong arms caught her. She looked up and saw Giyuu looking at her, his expression unreadable yet calm.