After a deadly battle with Daki and Gyutaro, who costed him his right eye and the awakening of his mark, Goku defeated the two Upper Moons. Then, he crumbled to the floor. From afar, Tanjiro and Tengen were watching. "Did... Did he win...?" wondered Tanjiro. "He did... But we have to rescue him, or he'll bleed to death!" said Tengen. The Sound Hashira reached for Goku. Now that the battle's over, the Sound Hashira could take a look at Goku's body. His face was covered in blood, a scar on his right eye. His arms and legs were bleeding, and so was his entire body. But then, suddenly, Gyutaro's body released one last amount of slashes, exploding nearbvy. Fortunately, Nezuko quickly neutralized it with her Blood Demon Art. "We risked..." whispered Tengen. Then, he looked back at Goku. "Kamado... We need to heal him now! Remove the poison!" he exclaimed. "Yes! Nezuko, heal him!" exclaimed Tanjiro. Nezuko nodded, and she slowly reached for Goku, placing her hands on his body. Goku was engulfed by crimson flames, and the poison inside him disappeared. "He's probably out of danger now..." whispered Tengen. "My friend... You fought against two Upper Moons alone... and you win. I confess I would have died if in your place..." he said, even though he knew Goku couldn't hear him. "He's critically wounded, but thanks to Nezuko, the poison disappeared and the bleedings stopped..." whispered Tanjiro. Then, Tengen carried Goku on his shoulders with his only remaining hand. Once they returned to where Inosuke and Zenitsu were, the two boys opened their eyes. "What... What happened...?" wondered Inosuke. Then, he saw Goku's conditions. "Boss!" he exclaimed, in fear. "Don't worry. He's alive. Just... critically injured," said Tengen, calming him down. "Let's just say I didn't find a part of his body that's not being cut or hit..." he added. "He... He fought alone, didn't he?" asked Zenitsu. "He did..." answered Tengen. Then, the Hashira placed Goku back on the floor, allowing everyone to see him better. "He really is my boss... To fight and defeat those two alone..." whispered Inosuke. Suddenly, Nezuko stepped up, and without warning, she hugged Goku's body. "She must be very attached to him..." said Tengen. "She is. Probably, because they're both good demons..." said Tanjiro. "My legs hurts..." whispered Zenitsu. "Compared to Goku's wounds, you're practically unharmed..." said Tengen. "Tengen-dono, is your friend alive?" asked Hinatsuru. "Yes, he is. But we have to bring him at the headquarters to heal. And I don't even know how much time he'll need to fully recover," said Tengen. "You really scared me, Tengen-dono! I thought you were dead!" exclaimed Suma, hugging her husband. "I'm a tough man to kill, Suma..." whispered Tengen. "Fortunately, Kamado's sister was able to remove my poison and Hashibira's before it was too late... Now we're all fine, no need to worry...".
Suddenly, from afar, Tanjiro heard one -- no, two -- voices. "Nezuko, follow me... I hear voices..." he whispered. When he arrived, Tanjiro saw Daki and Gyutaro were arguing, with only their heads still there. "I was just trying to help!" exclaimed Daki. "I was battling him! You just arrived there and ruined everything! I had got him! If only you didn't intervene, I would have kill him!" exclaimed Gyutaro. "You could've just split his head in two! And why didn't you use your Blood Demon Art?" asked Daki. "I forgot, okay? You, on the other hand, why didn't you kill him when you were alone? Weren't you strong enough?" asked Gyutaro. "It's not that! I would have killed him, if it weren't for his allies!" said Daki. "Shut up, nobody believes you! You're just lying!" exclaimed Gyutaro. "You shouldn't have born in the first place..." he then said. But before he could finish the phrase, Tanjiro placed a hand on Gyutaro's mouth. "That's a lie. I know you don't really mean it. You're just driven by anger..." he said, calmly. "In this world, you two siblings had nothing but each other... I understand this. I am a big brother, and I'm willing to protect my little sister, even if it costs me my life..." he continued. "Why don't you shut up? It's also your fault if we're in this conditions now!" yelled Daki, starting crying. "Fix this somehow, onii-chan! I don't want to die!" she screamed. And then, Daki's head disappeared. "Ume!" exclaimed Gyutaro. Then, the demon remember.
(That's right. My little sister's name was Ume. Not Daki. What a god-awful name... No, Ume was pretty bad too... Since you were named after the disease who killed our mother. We were born in the lowest class of the Entertainment District. Chldren were seen as extra mouths to feed, so we were cursed for just living. My body was weak, but I hung to life as hard as I could... I was mocked for my voice and appearance, and rocks were thrown at me for being filthy. I was especially despised in the Entertainment District. When I was hungry, I ate mices and insects. But things started change for me after Ume was born. She was my pride and joy... After a tender age, I discovered I was good at fighting. I revolted everyone, and they all feared me. I had the feeling... what we were on the fast track for a better life. Until you turned thirteen, Ume. Because you stabbed a customer with a hairpin, blinding him, you were bound hand and foot out of retaliation and then burned alive. I wasn't there. I just returned from work and saw you burned into a crisp... Fortunately, she was barely breathing. No one helped us. That day, it started snowing. I remember. That day, we met Douma. At the time, he was Upper Moon Six. Now he's Upper Moon Two. He offered me to become a demon. I didn't refuse. I don't regret becoming a demon. But if I did have one regret, that would be making you becoming like me, Ume. You could have become a respectable Oiran. If you'd been born to normal parents, you'd be a normal girl. Maybe you only turned out like this because I was the one who raised you. My only regret... I guess it was you.)
After this flashback, Gyutaro's head disappeared as well in Tanjiro's head. (I wonder if they made up...) he thought. Suddenly, Tengen heard a voice. "So, that boy who keeps filrting with Kanroji-san defeated two Upper Rank Demons?" it was Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira. "Yes, he did. And he's not flirting with Kanroji. That's only in your head," said Tengen. "Well, flirting or not, he still defeated two Upper Moons, so when he wakes up, I'll congratulate him," said Obanai. "Even if I don't want to..." he added. "I think he doesn't care if you congratulate him or not..." whispered Tengen. "As I can see, you lost a hand, didn't you?" asked Obanai. "I did. But this boy lost an eye," said Tengen. "Fine. I've brought demon slayers with us. They'll bring you all at the headquarters to heal," said Obanai. "You know, I think I'll retire. There's no way I can fight with just a hand. Even if I don't think Goku-kun is planning to retire..." said Tengen. "I could have imagine..." said Obanai. At the headquarters, Goku's Kasugai crow, whose name was Rin, flew to Ubuyashiki. "Caw! Goku, Tengen and the other three slayers defeated Upper Rank Six!" she noised. "Good job, Goku-kun. I'm sure that eventually, we'll reach for that man..." said Ubuyashiki, coughing due to his illness. "Goku Tsugikuni... Our little, hidden sun."
Five days later...
Five days had passed since Daki and Gyutaro were defeated by Goku. In these five days, Goku didn't wake up. He remained on the bed of the Butterfly Mansion, unconscious. The sun was enlightening the room. Goku opened his eyes. Or rather, his eye. His entire body was bandaged. The only part with no bandages was the left part of his face, just to allow him to see something. (Where am I... What happened...) he wondered, disoriented. Then, he remembered. (I remember... I fought against Daki and Gyutaro... How much time has passed since the fight... I have no idea...) he thought. (This... is the Butterfly Mansion... I'm all bandaged...) he realized. Goku sat up, shaking his head. (If I didn't die, I have to thank my demonic cells... I risked this time... Too much...) he thought. Suddenly, Aoi entered in the room. "Goku-san! You're finally awake!" she exclaimed, smiling. "Hey, Aoi-chan..." said Goku, waving a hand at her. "We have to inform Ubuyashiki-sama and the others!" exclaimed the girl. "Hey, everyone! Goku-san has woken up!" she shouted, so that everyone could hear her. In a blink of an eye, the Hashiras, the trio and even Nezuko arrived in the room. "Hello, everyone. Did I make you worry?" asked Goku. "GOKU-KUUUN!" yelled Mitsuri, hugging Goku tight. "I was so worried! I cried when I saw your conditions!" she said, crying. "Thanks, Mitsuri, but... don't hug me so tight, or you'll break the few bones I still have with me..." said Goku, hugging her back. "So, you defeated those Upper Rank Demons all by yourself?" asked Rengoku. "Yes, I did. Even though, as you can see, the win had a price..." said Goku, pointing his lost right eye. "I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but... you're tough... bro," said Sanemi. "I didn't expect you to congratulate me, Sanemi..." muttered Goku. "My prayers have been answered..." said Gyomei. "Or maybe he's the one tough to die..." muttered Obanai. Then, he walked towards Goku, whispering in his ear. "If you ever hug Kanroji-san in front of me, I'll kill you, got it?". Goku sighed. "Got it. And, for the record, she hugged me first..." said Goku. "You've been amazing, Goku-kun..." muttered Muichiro. "You finally remembered my name, Tokito-kun..." smiled Goku. Then, Tengen entered in the room. "Yo, pirate," he said. "Let me guess: I've been flashy out there," said Goku, anticipating him. "That's right. You're the flashiest guy I know, I swear!" exclaimed Tengen. "You're missing an arm, as I can see," said Goku. "And you're missing an eye. Between the two of us, you had a better time," said Tengen. "Are you planning to retire any soon?" asked Zenitsu. "Ha! You're joking, right? A missing eye won't make me retire, Zenitsu-kun!" exclaimed Goku. "Words cannot describe how amazing are you, boss!" exclaimed Inosuke. "Inosuke's right, Goku. You're truly amazing," said Tanjiro. "Come on, enough flattery. I almost died. And without you, I would have definitely lost my life..." said Goku. Then, Nezuko walked towards Goku's bed. "Mh!" she said. "You healed me, right? Thanks, Nezuko-chan..." said Goku, patting her on the head. "We're not so different after all, are we?" he asked. "Mh!" said Nezuko. "Oh, right, you can't talk..." sighed Goku, smiling. Then, in the room, entered the person Goku didn't want to: Shinobu. (Oh no, she's here... I don't want her to see me in these conditions...) thought Goku, panicking. But then, Shinobu didn't say nothing, just walked towards Goku, and in front of anybody, she hugged him. (She.... She's hugging me... In front of anybody...) thought Goku, as his face became crimson red. Then, Shinobu spoke up. "Baka," she said. "I've been worried sick, you know? Never do it again, you hear me?". Goku blushed even more. (She was... worried? For me?) he thought. "I'm sorry," he then said. "Please, just don't die on me," said Shinobu, breaking the hug. "I won't, I promise..." whispered Goku. "Now it's better if we leave him alone. He needs more rest, even now," said Rengoku. And so, everyone left. (Shinobu hugged me... She hugged me...!) repeated Goku in his head. (Now, I need to rest. I survived, but I was lucky. Next time, I won't be so lucky...) he understood. Then, he clutched his right eye. (I'll need an eyepatch...) he realized. Then, Goku fell asleep once again, conscious of the fact he just won death itself.
Chapter 28 - End.