Giyu Tomioka/Synopsis

Past
When Giyu was young, his family was killed by Demons. Giyu survived as he was protected by his elder sister.

After his elder sister died, Giyu told other people that she was killed by a demon. People considered that he became mentally ill and tried to send him to his relative who was a doctor and lived far away. On the way, Giyu ran away and he almost died on the mountain, but a hunter who knew Urokodaki rescued him.

When Giyu was 13 years old, he met Sabito and they became great friends due to their similar pasts and age. They both entered the Final Selection in the Wisteria Flower Mountain together, however, Giyu was injured due to a Demon attacking him. Luckily, Sabito saved him before heading off towards another cry for help. It appeared that Giyu fainted and after the week was over, he was accepted. As for Sabito, he was the only one who died during that selection.

Final Selection Arc
While Tanjiro Kamado was struggling to fend off the attack from his Demon-turned sister Nezuko, Giyu attacked the latter from behind, only to fail as the former moved his target out of the way. Recovering quickly, the swordsman asked the youth why he had protected the Demon and the boy said that it is because the creature is his sister. Looking at the maddened Nezuko, Giyu questions this statement, before swiftly removing the girl from her brother's grip.

As Tanjiro called out to his sister in alarm, Giyu told him not to move, stating that it is his job to kill demons like Nezuko. The swordsman then listened as Tanjiro attempted to defend his sister and explain their current predicament, commenting afterwards that her change in demeanor is simple to explain: any open wound bathed in Demon blood causes that person to become a Demon themselves, thus increasing their overall numbers. When the boy exclaims that his sister hasn't eaten any humans, Giyu reminds him of what had just transpired, shortly thereafter bluntly commenting that there is no way to cure a person once they are turned into a Demon, despite Tanjiro's pleas to the contrary. As Tanjiro continued pleading, Giyu brought his sword up to Nezuko's throat.

When Tanjiro then prostrated himself before the swordsman, begging for his sister's life, Giyu grew angry, stating that he has no authority over who lives or who dies, as he was too weak to protect his family, and that all of his talk about finding a cure for his sister's condition and finding his family's killer is ridiculous. Stating that neither he or the Demon Lords would have any respect for such a miserable display, Giyu demanded that Tanjiro proved his dedication to protecting his sister by drawing his axe. As the boy pondered these words, Giyu silently encouraged him to find the resolve necessary to accomplish all of the lofty goals he had placed upon himself. He then stabbed Nezuko in the chest, causing Tanjiro to throw a stone at him in fury.

Giyu blocks the stone with the hilt of his sword, avoiding another of the projectiles as Tanjiro charged at him. Seeing the attack attempt as only a simple act of emotion, the swordsman angrily drove the hilt of his sword into his attacker's back, knocking him to the ground. Staring down at the fallen youth, Giyu wondered where his opponent's axe was. Looking up, he saw the weapon spinning towards him through the air, and narrowly dodged it. He then mused over Tanjiro's clever strategy, without even realizing that the boy as empty-handed at the attack. Thinking that probably the youth's plan had been to take him out even though he would have perished as well.

Distracted, the swordsman was attacked by Nezuko, dodging backward from her kick. Cursing himself, Giyu watched as the girl reached for her brother, certain that she was going to devour him. To his surprise, she instead stood protectively in front of his prone body, before charging at him in rage. Giyu recalled Tanjiro's previous assertion that Nezuko wouldn't eat humans, noting that somebody a long time ago had said the same thing and had been killed regardless. He further reflected on the nature of Demons, in particular, the high amount of stamina lost during the transformation process, and what they do to alleviate the lost stamina and prevent starvation: eat humans, even those closest to them. Seeing that Nezuko was not following this example, Giyu sheathed his sword, incapacitating the unusual Demon with a barehanded blow to the neck.

While Tanjiro and Nezuko were unconscious, Giyu wrapped the latter in a clean cloth and strapped a bamboo muzzle-like tube across the girl's mouth. When Tanjiro regained his consciousness, the swordsman instructed him to visit Urokodaki Sakonji, and also to not take his sister out in the sun, before leaving swiftly. He would later send a letter to Sakonji, asking him to train Tanjiro and explaining the boy and his sister's circumstances.

Natagumo Mountain Arc
Giyu later reappears at the Ubuyashiki residence alongside Insect Pillar Shinobu Kocho, with the two of them being ordered to travel to Natagumo Mountain to assist the lower-ranked swordsmen. Upon arriving, he kills the Lower Moon Five Rui, saving Tanjiro at the last minute. He later defends Nezuko from Shinobu's attack, breaking the rules of the Demon Slaying Corps. However, he stands by as Tanjiro and Nezuko are arrested following Oyakata's order.

Dimensional Infinity Fortress Arc
Following Oyakata's death, Giyu is seen with the other Pillars attacking Muzan Kibutsuji. He eventually enters Nakime's Dimensional Infinity Fortress alongside Tanjiro. The two are soon ambushed by Akaza, with Giyu quickly sent flying away by Akaza's Destructive Leg Form: Flowing Light Flash. Giyu soon returns, angry, and finally manifests a mark as he begins fighting Akaza, causing his speed to increase. Akaza immediately matches Giyu's new speed and eventually gains the upper hand, breaking Giyu's blade with a punch. As Akaza closes in for the final blow, his hand is cut off by Tanjiro mid-attack, saving Giyu. Giyu then re-engages Akaza once more, but is eventually defeated by Akaza's End Style: Chaotic Blue Metal Afterglow, breaking through Giyu's Eleventh Style: Lull. Giyu then watches as Akaza is beheaded by Tanjiro.

After Akaza's beheaded body begins attacking Tanjiro, the injured Giyu defends Tanjiro, vowing to protect Tanjiro with his life even as he continues to take damage. After Akaza's death, Giyu falls unconscious from fatigue alongside Tanjiro.

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Гию Томиока Giyu Tomioka