After Goku saved Shinobu from the clutches of death, elsewhere, there was Zenitsu. For once, he was awake and serious at the same time. The yellow boy reached a room and felt a presence.
"You're there, aren't you? Come outside, I know you're there."
Slowly, a hand appeared from behind a wall, and the person showed up. "You shouldn't talk this way to one of your senpai. I see you in a better shape since the last time I saw you, but..."
The owner of the voice showed up. It was a demon, and he had green eyes, a black kimono, and a katana in his hand. On both his pupils, the kanji of 'Upper Six.'
"You're still sloppy, like always. Hisashiburi dana, Zenitsu."
"Kaigaku... Now that you've become a demon... I don't consider you a senpai anymore..." said Zenitsu.
"You haven't changed, you're still a sloppy dwarf," said Kaigaku. "Did you become a Hashira? Did you learn how to use any other form aside from the first?"
"You seem enthusiastic to have filled the missing spot for the Upper Moons," said Zenitsu.
"Ah, you learned how to reply, I see..." said Kaigaku.
"Why did you become a demon? Why did someone ready to acquire Thunder Breathing become a demon?" asked Zenitsu. "OUR GRANDPA COMMITTED SEPPUKU BECAUSE YOU BECAME A DEMON!"
"Really? And what should I do, cry over him?" said Kaigaku.
"He died alone, and there wasn't any kaishakunin!" said Zenitsu. "There was nobody to decapitate him or stab his heart; he had to do it himself!"
"I couldn't care less! Are you saying I should regret my choice? I don't care about those who don't respect me!" laughed Kaigaku. "If the old man died, that's okay! He wanted to make me the successor of Thunder Breathing alongside a scum like you! He may have been a former Hashira, but I don't know what to do with an old fool!"
"Grandpa wasn't a fool," said Zenitsu. "If I'm scum, then you're trash! I'm sorry grandpa has two pathetic successors... I can use only the first form, while you can use everything but the first form!"
"Don't compare yourself to me!" exclaimed Kaigaku. "Thunder Breathing: Fourth Form -- Distant Thunder!"
Zenitsu dodged and got past Kaigaku. "You're too slow, scum."
Suddenly, Kaigaku realized Zenitsu had hit him, because he saw his shoulder bleeding.
He moves like he is another person! thought the demon. This little dwarf surely got stronger, but he still can't rival an Upper Rank Demon...
Kaigaku tried to convince himself he could win. And without knowing why, through Kaigaku's mind rushed the memories of when he became a demon. He remembered when Kokushibo, Upper Rank One, offered him to become a demon, and he accepted. Then, Kokushibo told him something that day.
"Until you're alive, everything will fix. You may have lost your house, but as long as you're alive, you can fix it and become stronger."
"Thunder Breathing: Second Form -- Rice Spirit!" exclaimed Kaigaku.
"You've probably eaten so many people... You don't know the difference between good and evil!" said Zenitsu, while dodging.
"But I can tell them apart!" said Kaigaku. "Third Form -- Thunder Swarm!"
"Those who evaluate me correctly and know my worth are the good, while those who have a low opinion of me are evil!" said Kaigaku. "Fifth Form -- Heat Lighting!"
Zenitsu took the hit.
"How's my blade infused with my Blood Demon Art? An attack that cuts and burns flesh!" said Kaigaku. "Sixth Form -- Rumble and Flash!"
Zenitsu fell from the room and was now falling through a distant corridor.
"As expected, you're scum!" exclaimed Kaigaku.
However, suddenly, Zenitsu leapt onto a wall. I can understand why you hated me. Actually, I've hated you too. But I also respected you from the bottom of my heart, because you always tried your best to get stronger. To grandpa, and to me, you were special. But I'm sorry now, grandpa... Our paths divide.
Zenitsu opened his eyes. "Forgive me... Aniki. Thunder Breathing: Seventh Form -- Honoikazuchi no Kami!"
All of a sudden, Zenitsu rushed forward, and before Kaigaku could react or even notice, his head got severed.
I... didn't see it coming! What technique was that? It was very fast! He used a form I don't know. What did he use? wondered the demon as his head fell right where Zenitsu had fallen before. "Dammit! I knew it! The old man preferred you! He taught that form only to you!"
"No, you're wrong," muttered Zenitsu, who was falling as well, a little above Kaigaku. "I created this form by myself, because I wanted to reach your level and fight in pairs with you..."
He created a seventh form? He, who can only use the first form, created a seventh one? This brat who was weaker than me? Am I going to lose against him? I can't accept it! I can't! thought the demon. No, wait. I didn't lose. He's run out of energies and he's falling too. He'll die with me...
But then, from above, Yushiro appeared. "It's a shame dying alone, you know?"
He grabbed Zenitsu and dragged him to a safe place, while Kaigaku's head dissipated into nothingness.
While fainted, Zenitsu had a dream. He woke up in a place surrounded by flowers and trees. In front of him, there was his grandpa. Only a river was separating them.
"Ojiichan, I'm sorry! I didn't manage to get along with Kaigaku! I wrote him letters, but he never replied!" said the yellow boy. "If I hadn't been there, he would never have become such a person! Do you hate me now? Say something!"
Zenitsu's grandpa's eyes started to well up with tears. "Zenitsu... You are my pride and joy."
"How is he? Will we be able to save him?" asked a slayer, who was holding his katana and protecting Yushiro and Zenitsu.
"Yeah, we will..." said Yushiro. "The Upper Moon you fought couldn't control his Blood Demon Art well yet, and that's good. If the battle had taken place in a year, he'd probably kill you almost instantly,"
Go-Goku, I did it... this is how you defeat an Upper Moon alone, huh? I have to say, that's a great feeling... thought Zenitsu. I managed to survive, my friend... now do the same. I'm trusting you, Goku.
Chapter 53 - End