To Hell (
Summary[]
Since birth, Rui had always been weak, so much so that walking was hard. One night, he was visited by Muzan, who transformed him into a demon to "save" him. His parents were upset to discover what had happened; while he became strong, he could no longer be out in the sunlight and was forced to feed on human flesh. They once found him after he had killed someone; Rui's father demanded to know what he had done while his mother cried in anguish. Previously, he had heard a story about a father who drowned saving his child from a river. He was touched and considered it an act of true parental love.
To him, dying to save your child was a parent fulfilling their role, before then questioning why his parents tried to kill him. Rui awoke to his father raising a knife to kill him, while his mother sobbed nearby. He fatally wounded them and sat outside, remarking that his mother's love was fake and that they weren't a real family. To his surprise, she apologized to Rui for not giving him a strong body despite giving him life, before dying. Upon hearing her last words, he remembered his father had said that he will die with him as well; in his anger, he failed to realize his father was willing to die and share his sin of killing someone.
It was then that Rui understood they truly had a strong family bond and he was the one to have just severed it. Muzan then appeared to comfort the young demon, stating that his parents were to blame because they could not accept what he became and telling him to be proud. Unable to bear the weight of his actions, Rui believed him, despite knowing that he was at fault.
Tanjiro comforts the dying Rui.
Even when he irrationally blamed his parents, he sorely missed them; creating his demonic family did not stop the feeling of emptiness, and because he was the strongest, no one in his family could truly protect him. As Giyu looks on, the demon's burning body falls short of reaching Tanjiro while recalling that the stronger he became, the less his human memories remained. In the end, all he could do was reach out to connections he lost and failed to recreate. Tanjiro senses the scent of sadness from his body and places his hand on him, Rui remarking it is as if warm sunlight is on him.
Rui is reunited with his parents, apologizing for his actions.
Having remembered his parents once more, he wishes he could apologize to them for something he accepted is his fault, but knows that by killing scores of people, he will go to Hell and doesn't deserve to be with them. In the afterlife, a hand comforts Rui and tells him that where he goes, they will go too. His father and mother appear, who tells him that even in Hell, they will go with him. As his appearance returns back into a human, Rui breaks down in tears and hugs them tightly, incessantly apologizing for his actions, as the fires of Hell consume the family; Lower Five finally fades into nothing.
Giyu steps on the demon's clothes and accosts Tanjiro for showing sympathy, stating that even when he looked like a child, he was still a centuries-old monster that ate people. Tanjiro retorts that to appease the spirits of those killed by demons and prevent more bloodshed, he will not hesitant to behead them, but he will not belittle the demons who regret their actions and suffer because of it, "Because demons were once human. Because they were human like me!", begging Giyu to move his foot. To Tanjiro, they are not ugly and worthless, but pitiful creatures who now exist as empty shells of their former selves.
Giyu then recognizes him and Nezuko, much to his surprise, before he then looks up to see something moving towards him. He swings his sword and blocks Shinobu's attempt to kill Nezuko. Surprised to see his actions, she recalls when Giyu had said that demons and humans cannot coexist, before saying his actions are why he is hated.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Rui
- Muzan Kibutsuji (Flashback)
- Rui's Mother (Flashback)
- Rui's Father (Flashback)
- Nezuko Kamado
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Giyu Tomioka
- Shinobu Kocho
Events[]
- Rui's past is revealed:
- Once a frail young boy, he was later transformed by Muzan.
- When he first ate someone, his parents tried to kill him out of atonement, but he killed them.
- Muzan lies to him and said his parents were at fault for not accepting him; Rui believed him, unable to bear what he had done.
- Rui created the Spider Family in a failed attempt to remember his parents.
- Tanjiro comforts Rui as he dies; when Giyu confronts hi, he explains his belief that demons are tragic and suffering creatures.
- Giyu remembers and protects Tanjiro and Nezuko from Shinobu.