Regular text in Rui's memory: Narration

In the past, a group of kids played in the snow.

"Ngh! Three!" A kid shouted.

"Woah!" Another called.

"Hehehe!" Another giggled

"Hahahaha! Haha!" They giggled.

"There!" A kid called.

Rui, who was still a human child, stood on the side, watching the other children play. They tried to move forward, but tripped and fell. He coughed and looked at the sky.

"Rui! Rui! Rui! What are you doing? You know you're not supposed to be outside!" Rui's biological Mother scolded.

Mother (biological, that's her name from now on, same for Rui's official Father) sent Rui to bed.

'I've always been very frail, ever since I was a child. I was never able to run. Even walking was a trouble.'

"Ah..." Rui gasped, seeing a man in their window.

The man, Muzan Jackson, appeared in their room.

'That was until Lord Muzan appeared.'

"You pitiful thing. Let me save you." Muzan held his hand out.

'My parents weren't very happy about it. Because at the cost of a strong body, I could never see the sun again. I also had to start eating and devouring humans.'

Rui, as a demon, killed a demon and they left it half eaten. Father happened to stumble across this body.

"What have you done? What on earth have you done? Rui!" Father screamed.

Rui's mother came into the room and cried.

'Long ago, I heard this wonderful story. It was about a father who saved his drowning child. I was deeply moved. Such astounding parental love, and such a wonderful bond, too. The father who drowned in the river had fulfilled his role as a parent. And yes, for some reason, my parents...'

Father held a knife in his hands, preparing to kill Rui in his sleep.

'My own parents tried to kill me. All my mother did was sob, not even lifting a finger to protect me.'

As soon at the knife made contact with Rui's skin, they immediately killed both of their parents.

'They must've been imposters. The bond between us wasn't real.'

"I'm... sorry..." Rui's mother wheezed.

'She's saying something. Is she really still alive?' Rui thought, looking at their mother.

"I'm so sorry... for not giving you a strong... healthy body..." Mother muttered.

"Ah..." Rui gasped.

'Those were my mother's last words as she passed away.'

'She's dead.' Rui thought.

Rui flashed back to their Father following him.

"It's all right, Rui. We'll be following you soon." Father spoke.

'I was so enraged that my father had tried to kill me that his words went over my head. But in that moment, I realized that he meant to die with me atone for my sin of having murdered another. It was genuine bond. And that night, I served it with my own two hands. Even so, Lord Muzan gave me words of encouragement.'

"This was your parents' fault for refusing to accept you. Take pride in your strength." Muzan advised.

'I had no choice but to look at it that way. I couldn't bear the weight of what I'd done.'

"Ahh!" Rui screamed later that night.

In the present, Rui was beheaded. They glanced over to see Nezuko protecting Tanjiro. They attempted to wobble towards the siblings.

'Even knowing that I had myself to blame... dad after day, I missed my parents so much that I could barely stand it. Even after creating a fake family, that feeling of emptiness wouldn't go away. Since I was always the most powerful, there was no one who could protect me, no one who could shield me. The stronger I became, the less I remembered from the last time I was human. I was losing sight of what it was I wanted to do, seeking a bond that I could never have.' Rui thought.

Rui collapsed near Nezuko and Tanjiro. They tried to reach for the siblings.

'It was simply out of my reach, no matter who I strained to get my hands on it.' Rui thought.

"Ah.." Nezuko gasped lightly.

Rui's arm fell.

'That small body gives off the scent of overwhelming grief...' Nezuko thought, feeling bad for Rui.

Nezuko lightly placed her hand on Rui's back.

'So warm... hands as warm and gentle as sunlight... Now I remember it as clear as day. What I wanted to do was apologise. I'm sorry. Everything... Everything was my fault. I hope you can forgive me. But since I've killed so many people, I'm going to hell, aren't I? Father... Mother... I can't go to the same place as you, can I?' Rui cried.

In Rui's subconscious, Rui's biological father had his hand on Rui's back.

"That's not true." Father said.

"Ah.." Rui gasped.

"Even if it's to hell, we'll be going together." 

"Ah..."

"Rui..."

"Father... Mother..."

"Rui... No matter where you go, we'll be with you." Mother spoke.

Rui reverted to their human form and began to cry.

"Ahh!" Rui cried.

They hugged their parents tightly.

"Everything... was my fault! I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry!" Rui cried.

In the real word, Rui's body disintegrated.

"Ah.." Nezuko sighed.

Tomioka stepped on Rui's remaining kimono.

"Ah!" Nezuko gasped.

"Don't waste your sympathy on a demon that had devoured humans. It doesn't matter if it looks like a child. It's still a hideous monster that's lived for decades." Tomioka said.

"To avenge the people that were killed, to make sure there are no more victims... I'll bring my blade down on any demon's neck without mercy. But as for those for whom being a demon meant despair, those who regretted their actions, I will never trample over them! Because even demons used to be human at some point! They were once human, like you and I! Step off of them!" Nezuko yelled at Tomioka, 'They're not hideous monsters at all! Demons are hopeless creatures! They're tragic creatures!'

Tomioka saw Tanjiro and recognized them from that day on the mountain.

"Ah.. you're.." Tomioka trailed off.

Butterlfies appeared in the area. Then Shinobu flew towards the three. Tomioka placed his hand on the handle of his sword.

"Ah!" Nezuko gasped.

Nezuko clutched he brother closer while Tomioka stepped over the two protectively. Shinobu prepared an attack, but Tomioka blocked it. Shinobu landed on the ground.

"Oh? For whatever reason could you be getting in my way, Tomioka? Weren't you the one who told me man and demon could never become friends? How should I put it? This is exactly why nobody likes you, you know. Fufu..." Shinobu taunted with a placid smile on her face.

In the forest of Mt. Natagumo where Zenitsu fought brother, Goto of the Kakushi cleanup crew injected a demon slayer with an antidote.

"Haa... man, Lady Kocho's antidote is really effective." Goto sighed, wiping sweat off of his brow.

"Yeah. And all it took was one look at the situation to finish preparing it. She's truly amazing. That goes for that lighting-haired kid, too." A Kakushi said, pointing to an unconscious Zenitsu.

"Oh, that guy?" 

"Since he defeated the demon, the poison's circulation showed a bit."

Goto knelt down and stuck a note onto a wrapped up demon slayer.

"All right! This should do it. Looking good. Chances are, they'll all pull through." Goto said.

"Still, I'd like to wrap things up quickly, and leave this place as soon as possible, wouldn't you?" The Kakushi asked.

"Yeah, same here. I mean, this place really, really stinks!"

With Nezuko, Shinobu pointed her thin stinger sword at the three.

"Ah.." Nezuko gasped, seeing Shinobu's small sword.

"Now, now, Tomioka, please move out of the way." Shinobu said, her smile growing wider.

"I'm not... I'm not disliked by people..." Tomioka mumbled.

"Huh..?" Nezuko wondered.

"Ahh, I apologise. You have yet to realize what people think of you, huh? That was uncalled for. Please forgive me." Shinobu 'apologised'.

"What?! Ah.." Nezuko shook her head.

"Little girl!" Shinobu referred to Nezuko.

"What?!" Nezuko spat.

"You're protecting a demon there. I don't want to hurt you, so please get out of the way." Shinobu smiled.

"You're mistaken! Well, you're not, but... he's my brother! He's my older brother, so... you see...?!" Nezuko replied.

"Ahh, is that right? Poor thing. In that case... I shall use a gentle toxin to kill him so he won't suffer, all right?" Shinobu offered, reaching into her haori pocket.

"Ah.." Nezuko gasped, 'this lady is insane!'

"Can you move?" Tomioka whispered to Nezuko.

"Ah.." Nezuko strained to move, but it led no avail.

"Force yourself to. Take your brother and make a run for it." Tomioka muttered.

"Tomioka... thank you very much!" Nezuko forced herself to stand.

She picked up her brother and started running away.

"Isn't that against the Demon Slayer Corps rules?" Shinobu asked.

Nezuko ran through the trees with Tanjiro in her arms. She picked up Tanjiro's box and equipped it while still running.

"Ngh!" Nezuko cried in pain, 'my whole body is aching! It's so painful! I want to scream from the pain! Just deal with it! Deal with it! Deal with it, dammit!'

"Mm..." Tanjiro hummed, opening his eyes.

'Does this mean I'll have to quit my job? Even if he's my brother, there's no way they'll let a Demon Slayer travel with a demon!' Nezuko thought.

A girl followed from behind.

With Tomioka and Shinobu, they're clashing.

"I see you're taking this seriously, Tomioka. Who would've thought that a Hashira would defend a demon? Unfortunately for you, I have no intention of joining you in stalling time. And with that, farewell." Shinobu.

She leapt into the air. Tomioka went after her.

"If that your attempt at catching up with me? Fufu... I don't mind if you want to try stopping me, but don't forget about my Tsuguko!" Shinobu giggled.

"Ngh!" Tomioka growled.

Tomioka jumped after her.

Elsewhere, Nezuko ran with Tanjiro in her arms.

'Don't stop! Keep moving! I've got to get as far away as I can!' Nezuko thought.

A girl with a side ponytail and butterfly clip and the female Demon Slayer uniform with a white cape and a red clip for the cape landed on Nezuko's back. Her name was Kanao.

"Ack!" Nezuko cried.

Nezuko fell and dropped Tanjiro on the ground.

"Ngh!" Nezuko groaned, 'Oh no! What happened? It took all I had to keep running! Tanjiro!'

Kanao jumped in front of Nezuko, where Tanjiro happened to be.

'A Demon Slayer!' Nezuko thought.

Kanao drew her sword. Nezuko noticed this and grabbed Kanao's cape and pulled her back onto Nezuko's back.

"Ngh... Run! Tanjiro! Run! Make a run for it!" Nezuko cried.

"Mhm." Tanjiro nodded and ran away.

"Don't get caught! No matter what! Hurry—" Nezuko cried.

Kanao raised her leg and kicked Nezuko's head, knocking her out. Kanao sat up from Nezuko's back and began to race after Tanjiro. They made chase for a while until Kanao swiped her sword. Tanjiro scowled at the fact he had to shrink, but he did so to avoid being killed.

'He shrunk and turned into a child?' Kanao thought.

Tanjiro continued his escape, reforming into his teen form. Kanao began to plant more attacks, but Tanjiro kept avoided the, by ducking or jumping instead of shrinking.

'All he does is run away. He's not even attacking, but why? No need to ponder it. My only orders are to slay this demon.' Kanao thought.

With Tomioka and Shinobu, Tomioka held Shinobu in a low headlock.

"Tomioka? Earth to Tomioka. Since the purpose of my attack was to slay a demon, and therefore justified, I don't believe it would be construed as a violation of the rules. But we can't say the same about your actions, can we? You're actively interfering with my duties. Just what might your intentions be here? Don't you have anything to say for yourself? This is your final warning. Give me a reason at least." Shinobu went on.

"If I remember right, it was two years ago." Tomioka recalled, trying to get under her skin.

"Please spare me the long, rambling backstory. Are you doing this out of spite? Are you perhaps still angry at me for pointing out why nobody likes you? If so, it's true." Shinobu said.

"Ngh.." Tomioka rolled his eyes.

Shinobu revealed a knife in the back of her shoe.

"Ah.." Tomioka gasped.

Shinobu raised her leg to kick Tomioka with the knife, but a crow flying above spoke up.

"Message! Message! Caw! I bring a message from headquarters! Nezuko and Tanjiro are to be taken back to headquarters alive! Caw!" The crow cawed.

"Ah.." Tomioka looked at the crow.

"Ah..." Shinobu looked up at the crow.

"Nezuko and the demon Tanjiro are to be brought to headquarters, alive!"

Elsewhere, Kanao and Tanjiro stop in their tracks at the crow's announcement.

"Nezuko, dressed in a pink hemp-leaf haori, with a scar on her forehead! Tanjiro, a male demon with a muzzle made of bamboo! Bring them back alive! Bring them back!" The crow announced.

Kanao looked up at Tanjiro.

"Are you Tanjiro?" Kanao asked.

Tanjiro nodded.

With Tomioka and Shinobu, they sheath their swords and leave the area.

"Bring them back alive! Bring them back! Caw! Nezuko, dressed in a pink hemp-leaf haori, with a scar on her forehead! Tanjiro, a male demon with a muzzle made of bamboo! Bring them back alive! Bring them back! Caw!" The crow announced.

With the Kakushi cleanup crow, they find Nezuko unconscious.

"She has a scar on her forehead." A Kakushi said.

"All right, take her into custody." Goto said.

"Look, her jawbone seems to be broken, doesn't it?" 

"Hmm.. I feel bad about tying her up." 

With other Kakushi members, they find Inosuke tied to a tree.

"Ah! Who the hell is this?" A Kakushi exclaimed.

"I don't know. A demon? Couldn't be, right?" A Kakushi asked.

"Is it a human?"

One of the Kakushi poked off Inosuke's mask with a stick. Inosuke was awake but he didn't care what the Kakushi were doing and looked away from them

"He's wearing one of our uniform's trousers."

"Oh, hey, this is a mask! He's a human."

"All right, let's bring him in."

They prepared for Inosuke's retrieval.

"Wow, this guy's really banged up!"

"Why's he strung up like this?"

'There was nothing I could do... I couldn't even kill a single demon on my own. Y'know what? Maybe I'm not that strong...' Inosuke thought.

With Zenitsu, he sat against a tree, wrapped head to toe in bandages, the only thing visible were his eyes. He saw Kanao directing the Kakushi members.

"They wrapped us up like mummies.." Zenitsu muttered 'who are these people? They seem to be cleaning the place up really efficiently. And that girl over there... isn't she the girl from final selection? She had the same kind of hair ornament as the lady who wrapped me up.'

"Should we bring them all to the Butterfly Mansion?" A Kakushi asked.

"Yes, bring all the wounded to our place. I'll be hunting down the demons in the area so you can work uninterrupted." Kanao said softly.

'Actually, I've heard of them. The cleanup crew, the Kakushi. They're the unit that cleans up after the Demon Slayers battle demons. They say most of their members are people who have no swordsmanship skills.'

The sun started to rise.

"Ah.. the sun's rising." Zenitsu sighed.

In the morning at the Demon Slayer Headquarters, Nezuko lay asleep and tied up on her knees.

"Wake up. Hey, I told you to wake up! Wake... hey... hey, you! Come on, girl! C'mon! Are you going to nap all day?! Rise and shine already, will ya?!" Goto screamed.

Nezuko's eyes shot open in alarm.

"Ah!" Nezuko gasped.

"You're in the presence of the Hashira!" Goto said, pointing to a row of nine important-looking people.