(Tanjiro's Dream)
Under a blizzard in a forest, Tanjiro walks feeling unaware of his surroundings. 'This forest feels familiar, but at the same time, it feels completely different. Never mind just keep yourself prepared for any danger.'
"Are you alright?" Tanjiro suddenly hears a voice, and he grabs his sword ready to fight. He looks around as the blizzard clears and he then sees the man he visioned when he fought Rui. "You seem troubled. Are you feeling alright Sumiyoshi?" Tanjiro looked down and realized his appearance changed and he looked older. "Yes. Just having some memory problems." "Did you even forget my name?" Tanjiro in this 'Sumiyoshi's' body smiled saying yes. "Well, let me help you remember. It's Yoriichi. Yoriichi Tsugikuni." Tanjiro happily smiled. "Thank you Yoriichi." 'Now that that I think of it, his family name somehow feels familiar.'
(Zenitsu's Dream)
Zenitsu was back in his village still at his current age, and his hair normal black. Everyone that was killed is right in front of him. He was very happy, but he thought something was missing. "Hey, Zenitsu!" He looked to see some kids calling out to him. "The peaches are ready!" "Coming!"
As it sets into dinner, he sits alongside his mother and father. "Son, are you alright?" his father asked. "Yes faither. I just had a bad dream last night, and I didn't want to disturb you." "What was it about?" his mother wondered. "Our entire clan massacred by demons and I the only survivor." Zenitsu began to grow tears in his eyes, but then his father hugged him. Zenitsu rest assured, that we are going nowhere. We love you too much to leave alone." Zenitsu couldn't be anymore happier.
(Inosuke's Dream)
Inosuke was in a cave leading his friends who looked like anthropomorphic animals. "Hey boss! Boss?!" "Underlings 1 and 2! What is it?" "I can smell the monster's odor over there!" They look to see the Mugen Train that had a near appearance like a centipede. "That's our beast right there. Sic him underlings!" "Of course, Bossman!" But dream Nezuko was distracted. "Underling 3, what are you doing?! We have the beast right where we want him! Come on! I'll give you these yummy acorns!" Nezuko's eyes glimmered in excitement. "Let's get'em!!"
(Rengoku's Dream)
Rengoku finds himself at his residence in front of his father. 'Why am I here? What was I doing? That's right. I'm here to report to my father on becoming a Hashira.'
"So, what if you become a Hashira? It's just pointless. None of that matters. You'll never amount to nothing. Like I never did."
Leaving his father alone, he sees his younger brother Senjuro. "Brother! What did father say? Was he happy? If I become your successor to the Flame Hashira, do you think he'll acknowledge me?"
Rengoku kneeled down giving off his smile. "If I'll be honest. He wasn't happy. He said that it was pointless. Regardless, my passion will never be extinguished. My blazing heart will not die out! I'll never lose faith in this cause. Senjuro, I want you to hold this close to your heart. You have a older brother who believes in you. Whatever path you may take, even if you follow in our ancestors' footsteps like I did or the path that destiny choses for you, you're going to be a fine young man. Just keep that passion burning within your heart." Senjuro tears up hearing that his brother fully supports him and hug Kyojuro. "Just do your best and live. Even if it's a lonely life."
Meanwhile, the girl who entered Rengoku's Dream spies on the two brothers. 'I'm inside of his dream. I'm actually in!' She then runs from the Rengoku Residence. 'I need to hurry and find the edge!'
Through the ropes made by Enmu's Blood Demon Art, the kids are able to enter the subconscious, but must avoid detection. The desired dreams that Enmu casts don't stretch out endlessly. The dream is in the center of the circle with a border that's between the dream and the subconscious realm. She finds the border and uses an awl created by Enmu's bones. 'I have you quickly destroy the spiritual core, and I'll have happy dreams again!' cutting through it like paper, the border opens revealing Rengoku's subconscious that was covered with fire. 'Here it is! The spiritual core! I've never seen a red one before. I honestly thought demon slayer would have them protected. It doesn't matter. I just pierce this, and it's over!'
But before she could destroy it, she becomes unable to move, like she's choking. Because in the real world, Rengoku has her by the throat, while unconscious. His survival instincts were indeed powerful even when he's under Enmu's spell.
(Inosuke's Dream)
The other girl in Inosuke's dream is having trouble finding his spiritual core while trying to avoid the boar masked slayer. 'His dream is a maze. Is there even a border? Why can't I find this spiritual core?!' A feral Inosuke sneaks up on her, scaring her and starts chasing her.
(Zenitsu's Dream)
The boy tasked with Zenitsu is trapped in complete darkness. 'I can't see anything. What's with this Blond's consciousness? Do I really have to feel my way to find his spiritual core? Dammit!' He then hears electricity. 'What's that sound?' He then sees Zenitsu made out of electricity. "You're trespassing on sacred ground. Face the consequences." the boy was scared for his life and tries to run away.
(Tanjiro's Dream)
"So, do ever wish to go back in time for a second chance to destroy 'him'?" Tanjiro asked.
"Sometimes." Yoriichi answered. "There were moments when I thought to myself "why did I hesitate to destroy him?" But you can't turn back the clock."
"Do you ever think that many years from now, someone will finish this long fight?"
"I truly hope so. And then hopefully the many numbers of people in the future will be saved. And the demons will be freed from this long suffering, including my brother."
"Your brother?"
"Yes. My older brother, Michikatsu."
Tanjiro felt his heart skip a beat hear Michikatsu's name.
"How did he turn into a demon?"
"One night, he encountered Muzan Kibutsuji, and he offered him to become a demon. After learning of a curse that was believed to kill him, he accepted the offer. After he completely transformed, he killed the Oyakata. As punishment, I was exiled from the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan and Michikatsu slaughtered all the Sun Breathers."
'That's why the Hashira stated Sun Breathing as the Forbidden Breathing Style. and Michikatsu became a demon out of his own volition! I refuse to forgive him!'
"Are you alright Sumiyoshi?" Yoriichi asked, snapping Tanjiro out of his own thoughts. "Yes. I just a bath to relax. I get it ready myself." As Tanjiro arrives at the river, he starts filling buckets, but then suddenly, he sees his refection as a demon slayer, and it pulls him under. "WAKE UP!! YOU'RE UNDER ATTACK!! YOU'RE DREAMING!! THIS IS A DREAM!! GET UP!! GET UP AND FIGHT!!!!" 'That's right. I remember! I'm on the train! But what can I do?! I don't know if I can wake up!!' He returns to the home having dinner with Yoriichi.
Meanwhile, the boy tasked with Tanjiro hears everything he and Yoriichi. "Well, I should find his spiritual core." Reaching the border, he rips through seeing a calm floor of water stretching on forever. 'It's so beautiful. It feels very warm and very infinite.'
(Mugen Train)
Back on the train, the demon slayers are still asleep, while Enmu's subordinates are struggling. But something was missing, or someone. The door to the forward car opens revealing Nezuko who stepped out of the car to use the restroom. "Ugh. That's the last time I have Bento box on a train. I'll just eat after the ride." She sits back down seeing her friends fast asleep. "Um Zenitsu? Inosuke?" Nezuko tries to wake them up, but they are unresponsive. "Hey, Mr. Rengoku do you know what..." Nezuko got spooked seeing Rengoku grabbing a girl strangling her not to move in his dream. 'Even a Hashira is affected by this?!' Nezuko quickly realized. 'Tanjiro!!' She rushes over to her brother. "Tanjiro! Tanjiro, wake up! It's me, Nezuko!!" But he didn't wake up. Nezuko scared for him headbutts him, but she injured. She begins to cry. "Tanjiro, please wake up for me! What am I supposed to do?!"
"Nezuko!" She then hears Tanjuro's voice once again. "The blood within you is your weapon. Use it." Nezuko then remembered the fight against Rui. 'This is still a work in progress. But what choice do I have?!' She pulled out her sword and faced Tanjiro. 'Relax! You're just doing a shallow cut!'
Blood Breathing, 9th Form:
Mental Sensation
Nezuko strikes Tanjiro's cheek, and he suddenly bursts into pink flames.
(Tanjiro's Dream)
"Through the arts of Sun Breathing, the way of defeating demons is extremely easy. But now that they are all but extinct, I have an offer I wish to give you." Yoriichi said. "I want to pass down my teaching and techniques to you and your descendants."
Tanjiro still in Sumiyoshi's body is shocked.
"Nothing lasts forever. Unless you protect it with all of your might. Out of all the people, Muzan Kibutsuji only fears me. And once I'm gone, the last hope to defeat the demons will be gone."
"So, you're asking me to start a tradition of learning these Breathing Techniques?"
"Yes. Sumiyoshi Kamado, you have the same physique I did when I joined the Corps. All I ask is that you save this beautiful world from a dark fate." Without knowing, a slash appeared on Tanjiro's cheek. "I know you can perform this task. After all, you are my incarnation, Tanjiro Kamado."
Tanjiro was shocked that Yoriichi learned his true identity, he didn't realize too late that he was in pink inferno. As it disappears, he's back in his demon slayer corps uniform. "You were fully aware of who I was?"
Yoriichi smirked. "It was very obvious. It all started in your Taisho Era two years prior. The moment you faced my brother, you awakened the Sun Breathing within you, connecting you to my past. Even now, this dream is providing us a moment for me to give you this wisdom." The dreamscape around them begins to slowly burn around them. "Tanjiro, you could be the one who could end Muzan Kibutsuji and his Twelve Kizuki. As long you continue to train your body, you'll be able to acquire new power. Your allies will learn from this and will rise to your strength. But before you go any further, you must awaken from this dream."
"How?! Even if I am still where I believe to be, I can't wake up."
Then Yoriichi's body is surrounded by the flames. "Tanjiro, what you need to cut, is within your reach." Yoriichi vanishes leaving Tanjiro alone. He wonders what it is for a second, but then realizes what it is. 'If I'm wrong, and what I do in the dream affects reality, then I truly die. No! Don't hesitate! Nezuko is all alone!! And I don't know what's going on with Zenitsu, Inosuke, or Mr. Rengoku! Death in a dream is the same as waking up in reality! Meaning what I have to cut is my own neck!!' Tanjiro yells as he slices his own neck open, killing himself.
In his subconscious, the boy is guided by small figments of Tanjiro's spirit. The boy then looks to see his spiritual core. "Why did you bring me here?" The spirits telepathically tell him why. "Because it was what I wanted?" The boy breaks down into tears. Suddenly the subconscious realm is destroyed, causing the boy to fall in the abyss, but is saved by Tanjiro's spirit.
(Notes)
I can't think of any notes.
We're two days from the Swordsmith Village Arc season.
And have a happy Easter!