The next day, in the morning, Tanjiro and Inosuke found themselves on the roof of a house.
"I'm telling you I saw a demon!" exclaimed Inosuke.
"I believe you, I really do!" said Tanjiro.
"Where are the boss and that old man...?" muttered Inosuke.
"Right here, Inosuke-kun," said Goku, appearing behind Inosuke.
"Whoa! Boss, you scared me!" exclaimed Inosuke.
"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to..." said Goku, slowly walking towards Tengen and sitting beside him, on the edge of the roof.
"Where is Zenitsu?" asked Tanjiro.
"He won't come," said Tengen.
"Why? asked Tanjiro.
"I do not know, but I do know he won't come," repeated Tengen.
"What's on your mind, bro?" asked Goku.
"Nothing... It's just that Zenitsu has disappeared, just because I dragged you here..." replied Tengen. "From now on, I'll continue alone. You can go back to the headquarters."
Goku's eyes widened as he playfully punched Tengen's arm.
"Are you dumb or what? You'll get killed if you continue alone! I'm continuing with you!" he exclaimed. "What about you two? You in or what?"
"Of course we're in, boss!" exclaimed Inosuke.
"Can you stop calling him 'boss'?" asked Tengen. "Technically, I'm the leader of this mission."
"Shut up, I don't care!" shouted Inosuke. "The only one I take orders from is Goku!"
"Come on, Inosuke-kun, stop it, I'm not your superior..." sighed Goku.
"Technically, you are our superior!" exclaimed Tanjiro.
"Uh? What do you mean, Tanjiro-kun?" asked Goku.
"In the ranks, we're Kanoto, while you're already a Tsuchinoe, which is higher than Kanoto!" explained Tanjiro. "So yes, technically, you are our superior!"
"Oh, fine. I don't see myself as one, though," said Goku, turning back. "Anyway, since Zenitsu-kun has disappeared and Inosuke-kun saw a demon, I'll reach him in House Ogimoto, while you, Tanjiro-kun, will reach House Kyogoku to search for Zenitsu-kun. This is the plan. Tengen and I have already discussed it, and he agrees with me. Don't you, bro?"
"Yeah, I do," said Tengen.
"Fine! Then that's it!" said Goku. "At night, I go to House Ogimoto, Tanjiro-kun, you go to House Kogyoku!"
Later that night, as planned, Goku was jumping from one roof to another.
"Inosuke-kun... Wait for me, I'm almost there!" he said. However, suddenly, Goku felt something.
(I feel a presence... Is it a demon...?)
Without hesitating, Goku ran to reach House Tokito, where the presence was. As he arrived, he opened the door, and he found something creepy.
A female demon with long, black hair.
(A female demon...?)
The demon's bands were tied all over a woman's body.
"Are you a demon slayer?" asked the demon.
Yeah, ma'am," said Goku. The demon turned and recognized Goku.
"You... You are Goku Tsugikuni, right?" she asked. "The Hidden Sun..."
"Yes, I am Goku Tsugikuni," said Goku. "My father was Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Muzan's biggest nightmare."
"How dare you say his name? Why didn't you die?" asked the demon.
"Because I was created by my father, not by Muzan," explained Goku. "So I don't have his curse on my body. Anyway, I don't feel any pleasure to say the name of such a filthy being..."
"You dare to insult Muzan-sama?" the demon thundered.
"Yes," said Goku. "I despise him with all of my cells, including the demonic ones."
"Tsk, anyway... He told me to kill you, you know?" said the demon. "I'm Daki, Upper Moon Six."
Goku's eyes widened.
(U-Upper Moon Six? How am I supposed to beat her...? But wait... I faced Akaza, who's the Three... And now I'm stronger than that day, so why am I afraid?)
"Fight me, Daki!" Goku shouted.
"Fine! I was waiting for you to say that!" said Daki. (He seems pretty strong... And he's also very cute...)
"Flame Breathing: Ninth Form -- Rengoku!" exclaimed Goku. Before Daki could react or realize, the entire room seemed to explode from the inside. Daki got pushed away and smashes on the wall of another house.
(Ugh... He's also very unpredictable...) She realized. Goku got outside the hole he created with the form and faced Daki.
"Is that all you got?" he asked.
"S-shut up..." said Daki. "That form... Only the Flame Hashira is able to use it... Didn't he die?"
"You talk too much, Daki," explained Daki. "Kyojuro's alive. And yes, he was the only one able to use it, but guess what: He taught me how to use it as well."
"Weren't you able to use Sun Breathing?" asked Daki.
"I am, but this isn't the right moment to use it," said Goku. "It's complicated, and it drains a lot of energy. I can't use it from the beginning."
"Listen, you're very cute, why don't you switch sides with the demons and run away with me? I promise I'll be a good wife..." she said, trying to seduce Goku.
"Will you stop talking nonsense?" said Goku. "I would never switch sides with demons, nor marry a demon. And, most importantly... My heart is already occupied."
"Really? And who's the lucky one?" asked Daki.
"The Insect Hashira. But that's none of your business,"
"Do you really prefer someone who stinks like insects than a beauty like me? What does she have that I don't?"
"She's more beautiful, gentle, has a prettier face, has beautiful eyes, heals me when I get hurt, and most importantly, she doesn't try to kill me."
"Tch... Fine, be that way. I was just trying to avoid killing you..."
(It didn't work... Though I really think he's handsome...)
"Enough talking, Daki!" exclaimed Goku, jumping towards her.
"Take these!" exclaimed Daki, throwing her bands at Goku.
"Flame Breathing: Second Form -- Rising Scorching Sun!" exclaimed Goku, cutting Daki's bands and clashing with her. The two of them split and finished on the floor.
(She has infinite stamina, I don't... I have to end this while I can...) thought Goku.
"You're strong, but I want you to use Sun Breathing!" exclaimed Daki.
"Tsk, fine. Don't say I didn't warn you..." said Goku. "Tsk, just kidding."
"Flame Breathing: First Form -- Unknowing Fire!" he exclaimed, dashing towards Daki, who miraculously dodged.
(He's fast...)
The fight just began.
Chapter 22 - End