After the fight between Zenitsu and Kaigaku ended, Giyuu was still walking forward when suddenly, he heard a voice.
"Hey, Giyuu, I'm back!" It was Goku, who arrived alongside Shinobu, who now had enough strength to walk on her own.
"So your suppositions were true, after all..." said Giyuu.
"Yeah, they were," said Goku, adjusting his eyepatch. "This fool, beautiful girl was about to get killed, and I rescued her, even if it was part of her plan!"
"S-stop flattering me, Baka!" Said Shinobu, blushing.
"Ha! You're blushing again!" said Goku, but then, the Sun Hashira heard something from up above.
"Something's coming..." he said, alarming Giyuu and Shinobu. Then, someone crashed through the ceiling. Goku immediately recognized him: Akaza.
"I'm surprised a weakling like you managed to survive and even become a Hashira..." he said. "Goku... Tsugikuni!"
"AKAZAAA!" screamed Goku, extracting both of his swords.
Elsewhere, in the core of the Infinity Castle, Muzan started his transformation and wrapped himself inside a cocoon of flesh. Tamayo was there as well, getting absorbed by the cocoon.
"This cocoon of flesh... Probably, he's trying to neutralize the drug I gave him, and it'll absorb me, too!" she muttered. Please, someone, come quickly... please, Goku-kun, come here... please!
"Sun Breathing: Fourth Form -- Burning Bones, Summer Sun!" exclaimed Goku, defending himself and Shinobu from the attack. If I don't manage to cut his arms first, I won't be able to cut his head either!
"First Form -- Dance!" he exclaimed, cutting Akaza's left arm.
I hit him, and I even dodged his attack... thought the one-eyed boy, proud of himself. I have to protect Shinobu-chan... She is currently unable to fight. I can't let her get hurt...
Just as he turned, though, Akaza tried to punch him.
"Sun Breathing: Eleventh Form -- Fake Rainbow!" exclaimed Goku, and he disappeared.
Where did he go...? wondered Akaza. Goku reappeared behind him, and when Akaza turned, he realized Goku had slightly cut his face.
Goku... Your techniques improved a lot... now I understand why you wanted to train with us all... wondered Giyuu.
"Well, you're surely much stronger since the last time we met..." muttered Akaza. "Let's get this party started."
"Water Breathing: Third Form -- Flowing Dance!" exclaimed Giyuu.
"Oh, a Water Hashira! It's been fifty years since I last encountered one!" said Akaza.
While Giyuu fought Akaza, Goku dragged Shinobu away to a safe place.
"You're not in the condition to fight," he said. "I'll go help Giyuu, don't move until we defeat Akaza."
"O-okay... thank you for protecting me..." said Shinobu.
"Don't worry, I'll always be there for you," said Goku. Then, he got up and started to head back on the battlefield. Suddenly, he felt something from behind. He quickly realized: Shinobu was hugging him from behind.
"Please, Goku-kun... don't die...!" she said.
"I won't," said Goku, blushing a bit. I have one more reason not to die now... Bring it on, Akaza!
"Water Breathing: Eleventh Form -- Dead Calm," said Giyuu.
"I've never seen that technique! The Water Hashira I killed didn't use it!" said Akaza. Suddenly, Goku appeared from behind.
"Sun Breathing: Second Form -- Clear Blue Sky!" he exclaimed, but Akaza disappeared. He disappeared!
Akaza reappeared behind him.
"Water Breathing: Second Form -- Water Wheel," said Giyuu, cutting Akaza's arm before it could pierce Goku's chest.
"Sun Breathing: First Form -- Dance!" exclaimed Goku, attacking Akaza.
"Destructive Death, Leg Type: Flying Planet Thousand Wheels!" exclaimed Akaza, kicking Goku before he could land his blow. The Sun Hashira blocked the attack with both swords. Then, his mark activated.
I forgot to use it...
Giyuu arrived once again.
"What a magnificent art!" exclaimed Akaza. "What's your name? I want to remember it forever!"
"I won't tell my name to a demon," said Giyuu. "And I hate talking, so don't talk to me."
"Really? I love talking, so I'll ask your name again and again!" said Akaza. "Destructive Death, Leg Type: Flowing Light Flash!"
Giyuu flew away, crushing through several walls.
"Giyuu!" yelled Goku.
"Oh, so his name is Giyuu, huh?" muttered Akaza, closing the distance with the boy.
"Sun Breathing: Third Form -- Raging Sun!" exclaimed Goku.
"Destructive Death, Leg Type: Cap Tip Slice!" exclaimed Akaza, delivering a single, powerful kick to Goku, who managed to block with his swords, but finished several feet backwards.
"Well, nothing to say, you're stronger than six months ago," said Akaza. "You know, that night, three years ago, when I destroyed your village... I could've killed you, but I decided not to."
"I know, I remember," said Goku. "You looked at me right in the eyes, but you just left. Why did you spare me?"
"I didn't spare you. It's simple: you were so weak, you weren't even worthy to be killed," replied Akaza. "But look at you now! Sun Hashira, keeping up with Upper Rank Three and fully mastering Sun Breathing! You really changed, didn't you?"
"I had to," said Goku. "Because if I didn't get stronger, people'd continue to die right before my eyes! Just like that night, when Tanjiro-kun died..."
"Tanjiro? Oh, you mean that brat with the hanafuda earrings?" Akaza said. "Well, glad he's dead. You know, those hanafuda earrings look better on you than on him..."
Tanjiro-kun, I'll win this also for you... Thanks for these earrings, and thanks for everything! thought Goku. "You know, you're lucky I only have one eye now. If I had both, I'd defeat you much easier."
"Oh, so you're being funny now, huh? I like it!" exclaimed Akaza. "Let's see how much stronger you really got, Goku Tsugikuni."
"You'll find out soon, Akaza..." said Goku, preparing both of his swords. "Let our Round Two begin."
Chapter 54 - End