Suddenly, Goku's eyes opened.
I passed out during the battle... he thought, still a bit disoriented. Then he looked at Akaza and noticed that his head was starting to grow back. His head started regenerating! Even if I severed it!
"Destructive Death: Annihilation Type!" exclaimed Akaza. With incredible effort, Goku got up and ran towards the demon. "Stop there!"
He can still move? wondered Akaza.
It doesn't matter how many times I have to behead him... Giyuu and I will win against Akaza! Goku thought. But then, both of Goku's swords slipped away from his hands. I'm so tired that I can't even hold my swords anymore!
Not knowing what to do, Goku decided to challenge fate. Resolute, Goku punched Akaza right in the face with his right fist. In that moment, Akaza remembered something else.
I hate weak people. They don't face you directly. They put poison inside the well. They're bad and weak. They have no patience. I killed people with fists that were supposed to protect. I tarnished the mighty soryuu style... And I didn't even manage to realize my father's last wish. Now I understand. The one I wanted to kill...
Oh, no! My katanas slipped away, punching him won't stop him! thought Goku. Akaza is trying to use the same technique he used against me six months ago... I have to bring Giyuu out of the range!
Goku ran towards Giyuu.
"Forget about me!" exclaimed Giyuu.
"No, thanks! I'm not losing any other friend!" said Goku. Then, he threw himself at Giyuu, pushing him backwards. Suddenly, Goku and Akaza made eye contact. But something was strange.
Akaza... smiled at Goku.
Why did he smile at him? It felt strange. The demon Goku hated with every fiber of his body was now smiling at him. In that moment, he understood.
Goku didn't know Akaza. Maybe, he's not entirely evil. Maybe he's just misunderstood. Thinking about it, Goku was also misunderstood by everybody because he kept his identity secret.
That smile reminded him of Tanjiro. He didn't know why, but Akaza's smile was very similar to Tanjiro's. But why was he thinking about Tanjiro in this moment? It's as if the time stopped.
Akaza... I've hated you, but now I understand. Your past... must have been tragic. I don't forgive you for destroying my village and killing my parents, but I understand you. After all, it was Muzan who ordered you to do it, right? Maybe, just maybe, we're not so different,Akaza.
Suddenly, with his own Blood Demon Art, Akaza hit himself repeatedly.
He attacked himself... thought Goku. Why did he attack himself?
Slowly, Akaza's body started to regenerate. Stop. Stop regenerating. The battle is over. I lost. In this moment, I suffered a total defeat. The technique Goku used to behead me was splendid. He perfectly read my moves, and he dodged at the right moment. Furthermore, he did it in what I think is his demon form. After all, he has demonic cells inside him. He also beheaded me before I could release my full attack. It's over. I want... to go to hell with dignity.
Slowly, Akaza walked away, where a few rays of sunshine were located.
Where is he going? wondered Goku. Oh, he stopped right in front of the sunlight...
In that moment, Akaza had a vision of his father.
"Otosan... Are you okay now? Are you suffering?" he asked.
"I'm okay, Hakuji. Thank you," said his father.
"I'm sorry, Otosan. I haven't been able to make a life for myself," said Akaza.
"It doesn't matter," said the father. Suddenly, the vision of his father became Keizo.
"It doesn't matter who you became. A son is a son, a student is a student. Even after death, we won't abandon you," he said, caressing his head. "But we can't bring you to Paradise..."
Suddenly, the hand gripped Akaza's hair, and Keizo turned into Muzan. "Didn't you want to become stronger? Is this your end?" he asked.
That's right. I'll become stronger. I want to. What if he slices my head? It doesn't matter, I'll kill them all. I have to keep my promise.
But then, the vision changed again, and two soft hands cupped Akaza's face. The demon raised his head and saw Koyuki.
"Hakuji-san, thanks... that's enough. You can stop," she said.
In that moment, Akaza heard Muzan's voice again. "Akaza!"
But it wasn't important. Slowly, Akaza turned back into Hakuji. Instinctively, the demon--or rather, the boy- hugged Koyuki and started crying.
"I'm sorry! Forgive me! I wasn't able to be with you when you were in need! I didn't manage to keep even a single promise! Please, forgive me!"
"I'm happy you remembered us. I'm happy you're back to be the Hakuji I once knew. Welcome back home, my love."
In that moment, Akaza's body slowly began to disappear right before Goku's eye.
"Until a few minutes ago, I hated you, Akaza. Now I understand you," said Goku. "Your smile opened my eyes. Yes, even the one I keep covering with this eyepatch. You'll probably go to hell, but... thanks for this epic fight, Akaza."
Akaza totally disappeared. In his mind, he disappeared, wrapped in flames and hugging Koyuki.
"It's... It's over..." muttered Goku. "I... I have to reach Okasan..."
But when he tried to get up, he fainted and fell face down on the floor, as if dead.
"G-Goku..." muttered Giyuu. Then, shortly after, the Water Hashira fainted as well.
From afar, Shinobu had watched the entire situation.
They... They did it! I have to heal them! she thought, jumping off the building and landing where the two Hashiras were. Meanwhile, Goku's Kasugai crow, Rin, already flew away to spread the word.
"Goku-kun, Tomioka-san... you've been fantastic..." muttered Shinobu, bandaging Goku's forehead. Suddenly, she thought about what Goku said to her earlier. "What if... What if I'm starting to reciprocate his feelings...?"
Was Shinobu starting to have feelings for Goku? Or was it an illusion? For now, the important thing was healing him and Giyuu.
"Caw! Caw! Goku and Giyuu defeated Upper Rank Three! They fainted from tiredness!" exclaimed Rin. Elsewhere, in a distant room, someone found out about Akaza's death: Kokushibo.
"Akaza's presence has disappeared. So my nephew defeated him... He surely got strong," he muttered. "As for Akaza, he betrayed himself. What about defeating me, you piece of shit? Pathetic."
Irritated, Kokushibo cut a few pillars in the room.
Meanwhile, Douma was still fighting Kanao, his X-shaped wound inflicted by Goku still there.
"Did Akaza-dono die? For a moment, I felt like Akaza-dono became a different being... but since he's gone, I'll never know!" he said. "Now, where was I? Oh, right. I asked you your name..."
"I'm Kanao Tsuyuri, the younger sister of Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho," said Kanao.
"Really? Judging from your skin, you don't seem blood-related!" said Douma. "You know, it's a shame that one-eyed boy didn't let me kill that girl, but it's important, I can still eat you!"
Goku-san... You entrusted me to defeat this demon, and I'll do it, dammit! You even poisoned and weakened him. I have to win!
Chapter 58 - End