--- in Mitsuri's past ---

"Splendid" Kagaya says as Mitsuri kneels in front of him, "you're someone the God's have a special love for, Mitsuri. Like Sakura said, you should take pride in the strength you've been gifted. All those who speak ill of you fear your talent and wish they could be you, that's all".

"Thank you very much" Mitsuri says as she starts to cry.

Kagaya finishes the meeting and Mitsuri leaves.

"So you decided to take my advice" Sakura says as she stands at the corner Mitsuri walks around.

"Sakura-san, your words were right" Mitsuri says with a smile, "I shouldn't have to make myself out to be something I'm not in order to make myself seem better. I should accept who I am and own it".

"I'm glad you decided to join us" Sakura says as she puts her arm around Mitsuri, "I'm planning to pair you with another demon slayer called Kyojuro Rengoku. He practices Flame Breathing. For now, I'll have you learn that breathing style. But I'm planning on making one for you".

"Thank you, Sakura-san" Mitsuri says happily.

Father, Mother, thank you for making me strong from birth! Everyone in the demon slayer corps has accepted me! The people I protected from demons thanked me with tears streaming down their faces.

"Only a Hashira, just one strike" the other demon slayers say in awe as they watch Mitsuri take down the demon they were struggling to defeat.

"I've gotten rid of the evil demon, so you're okay now" Mitsuri says as she wipes the tears of the Mother and Son they just saved, "don't worry!".

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!" the woman says as she continues to cry.

"Thank you!" the boy says happily.

Even Iguro-san who seemed to be super prickly gifted me some long green socks!

"Here" Obanai says as he holds out the socks to Mitsuri.

"What? What? What is this?" Mitsuri asks as she covers her mouth, "what's this? Iguro-san, what's this?".

"Take them" Obanai says as he looks away from Mitsuri.

"Huh? For me?" Mitsuri asks excitedly as Obanai nods, "what? I'm so happy! I promise you, I'll treasure them!".

"No need to treasure them" Obanai says as he rests his head on his hand.

"No way" Mitsuri says as she looks at the socks, "that would be such a waste".

"It's fine" Obanai says as he looks at Mitsuri, "if they get ripped, I'll buy you them again".

"Okay!" Mitsuri says with a smile.

--- present day ---

I've wondered to myself 'should a girl be this strong?'. Would people say yet again that I couldn't be human? I was afraid so I've been holding back my power. But not anymore!

Mitsuri says as she stands up.

She's our ray of hope!

Mitsuri remembers Tanjiro's kind words.

"Just leave it to me!" Mitsuri says as the demon sends three dragons towards the four of them, "I'm going to protect you all, okay?".

Mitsuri runs at the three dragons as she takes them all down without issue.

"I'll take care of this one" Mitsuri says as she grabs one of the dragons, stopping it, "so you guys go on ahead and defeat the main body!".

"Nezuko, Genya!" Tanjiro says as he stands up.

The two of them nod as they look at each other.

I have to increase my heart rate! I need to speed up my circulation to get faster and stronger! More!

Mitsuri says as she continues to take down the dragons.

You little brats.

The demon says as it spots Tanjiro, Nezuko and Genya making a break after the main body. One of the dragons aiming for Mitsuri changes its path as it goes after the three of them. Mitsuri doesn't let it get anywhere close as she cuts all the way through it, splitting it down the middle.

"Didn't I say I was going to protect them?" Mitsuri says confidently, "I'm not letting you go that way!".

"Tanjiro, where's the thing protecting the main body?" Genya asks as the three of them run, "can you spot it?".

"I can!" Tanjiro says as he takes a deep breath in, "I found it! This way!" he says as they turn a corner.

While Kanroji-san's holding off that child demon, we have to slash the demon's main body as soon as we can!

Tanjiro says as he looks ahead.

This young girl, she's moving even faster than before! What did you do? What are you doing? What on earth-

The demon asks as he spots a flower mark on Mitsuri's chest.

A mark? Did she have that from the start? That looks a lot like a demon's crest! This is beyond annoying! Thanks to this slip of a girl, I can't unleash my dragons on those brats! Despicable! Nevertheless, it won't last forever. She's sure to lose stamina! All humans do!

The demon says as Mitsuri shreds through her attacking speed, continuing to take down the dragons as the demon creates more.

"When I say I won't let you go, I mean I won't let you go!" Mitsuri says as she lands on the ground.

"That's it!" Tanjiro says as he points to the ball of wood, "it's inside that tree!".

There's no doubt in my mind! The demon's inside that tree!

Tanjiro says confidently.

"Let's catch up to it!" Tanjiro says as they all pick up their pace, "almost there!".

"Stop, you bastard!" Genya yells as he swings his sword, his swing having no effect on the wood.

The wood grows as it goes into the air, coming back down as it hits Tanjiro, taking him up into the air as he stabs his sword into it. Nezuko and Genya grab hold as well as they hold on for dear life.

"Don't let it shake you off! Hang tight!" Tanjiro yells as he looks down at them, "hang tight! Before the tree thing, before that dragon-snake-lizard thingy comes this way! While Kanroji-san's stopping it from attacking!".

I can't even swing my sword like this! So all I can do is this!

Genya says as he bites into the wood, ripping it with his teeth as he swallows it.

"Genya, stop that! Why are you biting the wood?" Tanjiro asks worriedly, "your teeth must be crazy strong or something! But won't that give you an upset stomach? Genya, are you gonna be okay?".

"By devouring demons, it's only temporary, but I can gain demonic traits!" Genya explains as he continues to eat, seeing Nezuko try it out of the corner of his eyes, "Nezuko, stop it! It won't work for you!" he says as she pouts, "anyway, if I consume a strong demon, it boosts my regenerative abilities and increases my muscular strength".

Genya manages to bite his way through the wood, snapping it in half.

It's down. Now!

Tanjiro says as they hit the ground, Tanjiro going in for the attack. The wood starts to split as the broken off bits whip around, threatening to hurt them. Nezuko cuts her hand with her nails, throwing her blood on the wood as it starts to burn.

"Nezuko, thank you!" Tanjiro says as he looks at the wood, "it's sluggish now thanks to the flames! It's going to work! I can do this!" he says as his flame lights up again, "Hinokami Kagura, Flame Dance!".

The log splits as Nezuko and Genya help pull it apart as Tanjiro looks for the demon within it. The fire stops as they realise the demon isn't in there at all.

"It's gone! It ran off again!" Tanjiro says as he looks around, "where'd it go? It can't have gotten that far!" he says as he hears the grass rustle behind him as he turns around, spotting the demon, "you bastard! Don't run away!" he yells as he runs after it, Genya and Nezuko following him, "don't run away from your responsibilities! For every sin you've ever committed, every evil deed! I'm going to make you pay for everything you've ever done! You're not getting away, no matter what!".

Genya grabs a tree, ripping it from the ground with all his might as he throws it at the demon, barely missing it by a hair. The demon looks back as Nezuko jumps into the air, heading straight towards the demon with a kick.