This forest was creepy as shit. It felt like...it was alive. He could constantly hear moving, crawling, eight-legged demons EVERY-FUCKING-WHERE. But he stayed strong. He had to find Nezuko and Inosuke, but more importantly, he had to find Tanjiro.

'So I can kick. his. ass for abandoning me in this HELL FOREST!!!!'

He sighed and listened. Yeah, he regretted doing that and the demon he saw. That nightmare fuel was the last thing he saw as he passed the hell out. And wow as much as he loved dodging spider after spider, he didn't.

None managed to get him, because he heard them long before they even decided to move. His mind was filled with the words of his gramps, memories of his childhood.

That's when he heard the sound of fighting. A loud fight and he heard...Nezuko? And...and...TANJIRO. He was in trouble. And that was all he needed. The demon he was facing took off in the air and Zenitsu wasn't far behind. Powered up and pissed off. In a beautiful flash, he killed the creepy bastard and his little army of mini bastards in one fell swoop.

He let himself fall before kicking off the suspended house and took off in the direction of his friends. After all, Tanjiro couldn't die.

'I HAVE TO KILL HIS ASS FIRST.'

Tanjiro was far from having fun, as young as this demon was, he was powerful. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE SHOULD BE POWERFUL AND DEAD. HE SLICED OFF HIS FUCKING HEAD!

Haha...nope.

That little shit lowered his head down by his threads. "You thought you'd defeated me? Poor kid. Did your pathetic delusion bring you joy? I cut off my head myself with my own threads...before you could cut it off. Enough. I'll kill both you and your sister. I have been this enraged in a long time."

The slayer said nothing and weakly tried to crawl to his motionless sister on the ground. The young demon slowly trekked after him holding his head.

"But I wonder how you didn't get burned. Me and my threads were the only things that were set ablaze." Twisting his head back on, his face was contorted with rage.

Tanjiro didn't respond. He didn't look back. He focused on desperately crawling after Nezuko. Everything hurt. It burned. But he just breathed and didn't stop.

"I don't know if it's your sister's power, but thanks for getting me enraged." He violently stretched out his blood art-infused threads. "Now I can carve you up without regret." The pissed-off demon narrowed his eyes. He sounded so calm but was obviously pissed off beyond belief.

Tanjiro tried to keep crawling but eventually couldn't move his limbs. He could only lay there and not panic as the blood art surrounded him. It was over.

Suddenly he smelled something intense. Powerful. But still strangely comforting and, more importantly...familiar.

'Thunder and...peaches?'

It took an absurd amount of energy but he managed to glance up. He saw gold, then lightning, then white shocking eyes, and finally....

"Zenitsu...."

He watched amazed as Zenitsu darted down to them like a streak of lightning. He smelled his rage, determination, protectiveness, and....sorrow. He then smelled fear and looked at Rui, who finally saw Zenitsu. It felt like time slowed down. He could see the horror in Rui's eyes when he realized he couldn't dodge in time. It was over but this time, for HIM.

Zenitsu was getting closer to the sound, he could hear it. He heard Tanjiro making pained, strained noises as he struggled to breathe. He heard his muscles practically screaming in agony.

'Poor Tanjirou, I know it hurts, I'm sorry.'

He soared higher in the air to get a better feel of his surrounding. Finally, he pinpointed three figures. One motionless on the ground with muffled breathing, Nezuko. Another one the lying on the ground, judging from their sound it was Tanjiro. Meaning the last, a few feet from Tanjiro was his target. It was the demon.

So switching his footing in the air, he immediately bolted down ready to strike, while the demon didn't notice. Only to freeze. Zenitsu finally heard his sound.

It was heart-wrenching.

Time seemed to slow down, he was practically faster than it anyways. He processed this demon's sound. Processed his story. It was gutwrenching. Plagued with unbearable sorrow and loneliness.

'So much pain and anguish.'

It was the saddest sound, he's ever heard, and it shook him to the core. Sheathing his sword, he went for a different approach. He was too close for the demon to attack, so instead, he opened his arms.

Soon, he had an arm full of demon and broke his concentration on his attack. Twisting his position to balance on the ground, Zenitsu continued hugging the young boy. He heard the confusion in his sound and felt the little one twitch. He didn't know what to do. He eventually growled and shoved the blonde away.

'A hug? A HUG?!' Rui figured he was considered evil, but this person was beyond cruel! Who tries to emotionally manipulate a little kid in order to lure them to their death? A fucking MONSTER. Yeah, he was PISSED and far from in the mood for this bullfuckery. AND WHY WERE HIS EYES SHUT!? DOES HE THINK THIS IS A GAME!?

"I don't know what kind of sick and twisted game you're playing at, but I am NOT FALLING FOR IT!" Launching a barrage of attacks at the blonde using his blood art, Rui aimed to kill. The slayer took it in stride, blocking and dodging, but never attacking.

'WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WEIRDO!? WHY ISN'T HE FIGHTING!?'

He was frustrated and so angry. Mostly because...he wanted to feel that hug again... He could feel tears sting his eyes, but refused to cry. Not in front of HIM. He wouldn't give this monster the satisfaction of enjoying his pain.

"DAMN YOU! FIGHT YOU, COWARD!"

Every time.

EVERY DAMN TIME.

EVERY SINGLE FUCKING TIME, he got close, he showed affection.

Was it pathetic to say he...enjoyed it? That he liked it? How long has it been since he felt genuine affection? How many months or years has it been since he felt true love and not fear? He felt his resolve crumble. It scared him. Terrified him.

Zenitsu cracked Rui's walls every time, he could hear it. Every hug. Every pat. Every smile, meant something. The web around his heart slowly fell apart. When he started unleashing the truly deadly attacks, Zenitsu finally spoke up. "I WAS ALONE LIKE YOU!"

Rui froze mid-attack and stared at him, confused.

"I know how you feel....I-I'm an orphan....I've been abandoned, manipulated, robbed, and had my heart smashed over and over and over again. Practically, every time I opened up. Every time I tried to give my heart to someone. Let them in...I felt nothing but agony. Except for two times. When I met my Jiji and when I met Tanjiro...he was so unwaveringly kind and gentle. He gave me a chance. He gave me hope."

Rui glared in anger. "What are you rubbing it in? Mocking me?! Who would be kind enough or more realistically foolish enough to give me a chance?! There's kindness, and then there's naive idiocy!" His next attack was huge and undeniably deadly.

Zenitsu once again sheathed his sword.

"Then call me a foolish idiot."

He simply held open his arms as the attack came for him. He heard the rather than seeing it. Honestly it was scarier than seeing it coming.

Tanjiro practically held his breath in fear and tried desperately to move. "Zenitsu...no...MOVE GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!!!!"

Zenitsu never wavered. He never faltered. "Give him a chance Tanjiro... as you gave me..."

Tanjiro shut his eyes as tears fell. But he heard nothing... Looking up, he saw the attack fade mere inches from Zenitsu. Fatally close, but the boy never reacted. Tanjiro couldn't even smell fear.

Rui could only stare at the brave boy amazed. "What if I hadn't stopped it?"

The blonde responded immediately. He didn't miss a beat. "Then I would've died."

Rui frowned, "You would've died over a demon? A monster? A killer?"

The blonde shook his head, "I would've died over a lonely boy looking for the family he deserves. Looking to end his loneliness, his pain, the aching in his very being. Looking for somewhere to be happy and belong. And that is worth dying for."

Rui felt his heart beat. He felt the air in his lungs. He felt...alive.

Demonic eyes met golden eyes for the first time. They were warm and gentle. Like the sun. So so kind. Rui blinked as tears fell. Tanjiro and Zenitsu watched his eyes go from demonic to a humane, gentle blue. For the first time, they saw the boy underneath. Or at least Tanjiro did. Zenitsu always saw it.

The blonde smiled and once again, held open his arms kneeling down a bit. The boy stared for a moment before he ran into the hug. It was everything he dreamed of. It was soft, warm, loving, and real. Finally the emotional dam burst. Feelings he thought he lost so very long ago.

Zenitsu simply comforted him through it. He understood the emotions all too well. "Tell me your story." The dam broke and he told the duo everything. He wove a story of tragedy. Being born sickly, being fooled by Muzan (without saying his name, of course, he's no idiot,) his change, his parents, the new family, everything. By the end, he felt light. For the very first time, he felt free.

Smiling he looked up at Zenitsu with curiosity. "What's your name?"

"Zenitsu Agatsuma, your new big brother!" The little demon lit up like the stars and the blonde hugged him again. He couldn't resist...he was too cute!

"My name is Rui Ayaki."

They felt two more sets of arms hold them. Turning, Rui saw Nezuko and Tanjiro holding them. He felt Nezuko pet his head and chuckled. He laughed...!

"You'll never be lonely again. I promise I'll protect you, no matter what."

Zenitsu heard movement coming for them fast and immediately unsheathed his sword. Launching forward, he barely managed to block the flurry of attacks. He saw a black-haired man land by them.

"GIYU-SAN NO!"

It took Giyu a hot minute to remember Nezuko and Tanjiro, until Nezuko again took her protective stance, this time for Rui as well.

It hit him like a sack of brick, then Giyu frowned, "Why are you protecting him?"

Zenitsu didn't tremble. Or panic. Or cower. The weak, cowardly Zenitsu has left the chat, no one hurts his Rui. "He won't hurt anyone!"

Clearly, the man didn't believe that. Once again blocked all of Giyu's attacks smoothly. "My breath is lightning, and yours is water, this fight will not go the way you're hoping."

Giyu cringed in realization and at the blatant implication. Looking at Rui, the elder groaned at the cute little human eyes he saw.

"Tanjiro please stop converting demons everywhere you go."

Tanjiro laughed shyly, "I didn't do this one, it was all Zenitsu."

Zenitsu glared at Giyu with an overprotective aura, and he saw Rui adorably cling to Zenitsu. Clearly, this boy could've bodied him but chose not to fight. He saw no ingenuity or malice, it's like he was tamed.

Giyu, as usual, felt a migraine come on from dealing with these kids. Sighing, the man pivoted. Immediately, he blocked the incoming attack from a beautiful butterfly girl.

While they talked or calmly argued really, Zenitsu looked at Tanjiro and Nezuko and hugged them, "Thank you." They smiled and hugged him back tightly.

"Of course, Zenitsu! If you believe in him, so will I! You gave me the same grace and courtesy with Nezuko. How could I not? Plus, he smells sweet now."

Rui blushed and looked at Tanjiro, confused and flattered. "Long story, that has to be saved for another time!"

Giyu gave them a look, and the four took off into the forest while he fought Shinobu. They sprinted as fast as they could when another butterfly girl came out from the shadows like a ninja????

Zenitsu just ran faster with Rui and Nezuko, until he saw Tanjiro get sidelined and then his ass kicked. Zen snarled and gave Rui to Nezuko. He kicked the girl off his Tanjiro. She literally slammed into a tree and crumpled.

Tanjiro and Nezuko's jaws hit the ground, rightfully so.

Rui closed Nezuko's mouth and fixed her muzzle.

"Did...did you just hit a girl...?" Tanjiro genuinely couldn't process this.

Zenitsu was far from in the mood and not playing games. "Damn right, let's go bitch."

Tanjiro would have never believed it if someone had told him this. Actually, fuck that, he STILL didn't believe it, and he was WATCHING it. His blonde drank "respect wamen" juice with every meal. And yet, still just smashed his heel into this girl's face.

Zenitsu and the girl went toe-to-toe, hand-to-hand, blade to blade. Didn't matter. They were scrapping.

The other three just stared and thought the same thing, 'DAMN, SHE PISSED HIM OFF.' For once, he was consciously fucking someone up, and this girl was getting her ass whooped.

He was about to knock her out when a crow sounded overhead. It mentioned bringing Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Rui, and Nezuko back alive.

He gave the girl a glare that said, "Fine, you get to live...FOR NOW."

Getting off of her, he made a box for Rui out of the trees around them and used his haori to ensure no light got in.

Rui looked at Nezuko, who gestured for him to shrink. When he did, it took five minutes to get Zenitsu to stop snuggling him so they could get moving. Again can't blame Zenitsu. He's so cute!

Zenitsu was cranky and in a demonic ass mood when they got there. He got no sleep and used a lot of energy throughout the night. Physical and emotional energy. At this point, he made most demons look pacifistic by comparison.

He saw a bunch of colorful ass fruity-looking people. While he was confident most of them were friendly, he was far from in the mood for bullshit.

TLDR: Zenitsu was beyond pissed, they took Rui and Nezuko, AND they were bound.

'Fuckers...'

A few of them caught his eye, but one in particular. He had a bright smile, fiery hair, and his sound screamed determination, overall goodness, unyielding burning passion, searing love, and full-on purity. The man was a walking beam of sunshine and good vibes with the ability to snap your spine like a toothpick.

Zenitsu stared at the man in pure awe and amazement. The man looked at him, and his smile became more genuine, kind, and somehow BIGGER.

Unfortunately, he didn't get to say a word before a guy with scars, white hair, and wild eyes comes over with their respective boxes and, by extension, siblings. He didn't listen to a word he said. Zenitsu was focused on the boxes and heard Rui and Nezuko's fear. Their distress... Hahaha, he was gonna snap this fucker kneecaps...

He eventually tuned into the man's rambles, "-I don't understand why you want to protect these things. One is a mass killer, and the other will become one. Killing them is the just thing to do." Oh, he was rambling bullshit.

Zenitsu growled and scoffed in anger. "No, you'd be killing them out of revenge, not justice. Do NOT mix them up."

Multiple multicolored eyes snapped at him, with emotions ranging from shock to pride to curiosity to just plain impressed at his balls.

"Justice would allow someone the opportunity for redemption, should they genuinely desire it. Should they be willing to truly desire to change. Everyone deserves a second chance. You simply desire to punish one child for being manipulated and turned into a monster, then left heartbroken. And the other for not even getting a choice or option for what she turned into. THAT IS NOT JUSTICE, THAT IS REVENGE AND CRUELTY, RESPECTIVELY."

Lesson finished, the blonde snarled, his patience has finally run out, "PUT THEM DOWN NOW!"

All eyes were on him, but he ignored them.

Unsheathing his sword, the man gave him a challenging look, "Make me." He moved to stab the boxes, but he ended up stabbing his own arm. Everyone stared at the display in utter bewilderment.

Only Kyojuro managed to see it, merely because he was looking for it. The only one that noticed what happened. The blonde took the boxes in a flash. WITH. HIS. TEETH. It was a fluid movement. A bolt of lightning covered the distance.

Nobody else realized until they heard the gentle thud of two boxes.

Golden eyes were practically molten as he stared at Sanemi in utter disgust. "This little piece of absolute scum....."

Zenitsu chuckled darkly, "No need to insult yourself so hard, buddy." His voice was dripping with venom.

Sanemi snapped and immediately attacked the blonde, who evaded the sword attacks and countered the physical ones using his legs. They were his literal strongest feature.

Zenitsu managed to get Sanemi to cut his ropes but in addition, his back. Ouch....

He didn't acknowledge the pain. At least not that pain. However, the kick to the stomach left him wheezing and retching (dry-heaving) on the ground in agony.

"Zeni!"

Through tears, Zenitsu saw Rui's box peeking open and saw Rui reach out. Immediately, the little one retracted his hand in pain at the burn from the sun.

"RUI, NO!"

Arms held his box shut before the child could say screw it and try again.

"LET ME OUT! ZENITSU!" The boy banged on the box.

"Your brother will be fine! He is strong! But he'll lose if he has to worry about your safety, young one!!!" It was the flaming man that held the box closed.

A whistle caught Zenitsu's attention, and he saw a younger boy with oversized sleeves, holding up his sword. He flipped over a charging Sanemi, narrowly missing a swing of his blade, and caught his sword as it was thrown to him. Throwing the sheath aside (a tall man with white hair caught that), he glared dangerously at his attacker.

The battle was fierce and fast. It was almost hard to keep up with. Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. There was only the clang of swords, and the faint crackle of lightning heard throughout the fight.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Using a little of his breath, he cut the man's sword at the handle.

The scarred man did not appreciate that. "I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!!!"

"No, you will not."

Everyone snapped their heads to the new voice, and the pillars instantly bowed at the newcomer. Kyojuro gestured for Tanjiro and Zenitsu to do the same. They do hesitantly and reluctantly, again respectively.

"I want no more fighting." His voice was gentle and sweet. It made Zenitsu tired.

Zenitsu zoned out for the most part. Dizzy from the heavy exertion and pain in his ribs and really, the rest of his body. Especially his le-"You there, Zenitsu Agatsuma."

Snapping into focus, Zenitsu looked at the man, cautiously.

"How can you guarantee, that Rui will not cause harm? He's done it before."

"He almost burned to death in the sun trying to help me. He didn't break out of his box or lash out at the pretty, fiery man when he could have. Rui instead chose to trust him and take him at his word." He gestured to Kyojuro, who blushed a little at the compliment and laughed.

The white haired man with his sheath snickere at the box, "That box is honestly pathetically made. A harsh sneeze could make it fall apart."

Bitch he had less than ten minutes, give him a break!

It was Kyojuro who spoke up, "I will test him! He may not attack Zenitsu because he trusts him, but what about someone he despises?"

Bringing Rui and Nezuko into the room behind the strange-looking man, he opened their boxes. Soon, he walked in with Sanemi and carefully cut the grey-haired man's arms before restraining him tightly so he couldn't attack.

Rui glared at him furiously and seemed to heavily debate killing him before ultimately turning to Zenitsu. His worry overpowered his anger. For now.

"Are you ok, nii-san...?" Zenitsu smiled proudly and nodded.

Rui could tell he was lying, but let it go temporarily when he heard Nezuko. She was panting in hunger and salivating, but she stayed rooted to the spot.

Rui gently touches her shoulder, "Nezuko, come on, you're stronger than that, plus, I'm sure he tastes as rancid as his personality."

That snapped her out of it and got a laugh from her (and the pillars), and had Zenitsu rolling in laughter. She was finally able to turn away from Sanemi and clean herself up.

Kyojuro gives everyone a confident smile. "Rui successfully swallowed his reasonably demonic homicidal urges in favor of compassion and managed to ground Nezuko, but I don't believe she would've attacked either way!"

The master turned to the others, "Any other objections?"

"I DO-AH!!!!" Sanemi attempted to speak up...only to have his foot smashed by Kyojuro.

Everyone else wisely remained silent.

"Then it's decided, they will all join us as allies."

Kyojuro released Sanemi, who almost swung on him until he saw the rage in those usually gentle and kind eyes. Despite his smile, he was not having it. That was NOT a fight Sanemi wanted and certainly wasn't one he'd WIN.

He stormed off with a growl.

Zenitsu and Tanjiro ran to their respective demons and hugged them tightly. Zenitsu checked on Rui's hand, pleased to see he was already healed.

Zappy locks fixed his gaze on the pretty fiery man, "Excuse me?"

He didn't seem to hear him.

"Excuse me!!!"

Looking down at him, he smiled and kneeled down. "Yes?!"

Ah, he is hard of hearing.

Zenitsu spoke up more, "Why did you help us?!"

Kyojuro thought before smiling, "Firstly, you're were ready to fight for your little brother's safety, something I relate to completely. Secondly, you remind me of myself! Your fire, passion, compassion, and fighting spirit! Your refusal to give up, no matter the obstacle! You were tied up and still ready to kick his ass! You desire to do what's right, rather than what's the rule! Your good heart will take you far. Let it lead you! I'm here for you, if you need it! Always! Both of you!"

The man grinned down at Rui, who quickly took a liking to the man. Once again, Sir Zappicus gazed at the man in wonder, before smiling and hugging him. It was gladly returned and man, he gave great hugs!

"Why did you protect me, then?" Kyojuro's gaze again flicked to the young demon by Zenitsu.

"You obviously mean a lot to Zenitsu, for him to risk death to protect you! And despite being a powerful demon, with perfectly good awareness that the sun is deadly to you, you still ignored that fact and was ready to charge out of that box and die for him. That is the most human thing anyone can do. Clearly, you were no threat, just someone who found what they needed to make their heart beat again."

Tears filled Rui's eyes, and he yelped as he, too, was pulled into the hug, which he shakily reciprocated.

Soon Zenitsu was lying in the darkened infirmary after being treated. Rui was asleep in his arms, and he was gazing at the ceiling, processing his previous night and current day.

"Zenitsu...are you awake?"

The blonde turned to the gentle whisper, "Yes, what is it Tanjiro?"

The redhead sat up and looked at him, "I-I just wanted to say, you were amazing out there! Last night and this morning...you were incredible! I had no idea you could fight like that! Well I did...but you never showed that level of skill in you!"

Zenitsu blushed like a madman but resisted, his usual freakout for Rui's sake.

"I-I didn't know I could do that, but it felt good...You fought so hard, Tanjiro. You always fight so hard. I'm happy I could relieve some of the burdens from your shoulders."

Tanjiro's smile (somehow) managed to get softer and sweeter, "I knew Zenitsu was sweet and kind, so brave. Thank you for letting me see this side of him."

Zenitsu could've fainted on the spot.

The two demons continued to "sleep" and waited in anticipation. Both echoed the other's sentiments.

'Please kiss. Please kiss! PLEASE KISS! PLEASE KI-'

"W-Well, we should get some rest. We're rather messed up after all."

'DAMNIT!' Rui and Nezuko sulked in defeat at their brothers' idiocy before rolling over and finally going to sleep. They agreed on one thing, 'THE SHIP WILL SAIL!'

Unaware of their siblings' thoughts, the blushing oblivious dimwits yawned and laid down to rest. After all, it WAS a very eventful day.

Well, besties, I hope you like this chapter I wrote, I might make this a little book, filled with one-shots I write when the inspiration strikes for Demon Slayer. I just love Rui so much, he deserved so much better. SO I'M GIVING IT TO HIM. Also, does anyone else think Zenitsu's is criminally underused or is it just me? Anyway, leave a comment or whatever, bye byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.