Chapter 24

## Former Member of the Twelve Kizuki

**Former Member of the Twelve Kizuki** (元 (もと) 十 (じゅう) 二 (に) 鬼 (き) 月 (ずき) , *Moto Jū Ni Kizuki*?) is the twenty-fourth chapter of Koyoharu Gotoge's Kimetsu no Yaiba.

## Summary

The Drum Demon thinks back to his time as Lower Six of the Twelve Kizuki. He recalls gradually reaching his limit and becoming unable to devour more humans. One day, Muzan Kibutsuji arrived at the mansion and addressed his weakening appetite, revealing his name as Kyogai. The demon quickly asked for another chance but has his engraved eye slashed by Muzan, who became angry at his physical limit reached and stripped the Drum Demon of his position. Kyogai recalls when he had first received Muzan's blood and how he initially thought he could endlessly gain strength, only to be mistaken.

After finding Kiyoshi, Teruko runs to him as they greet each other with tears of relief. Tanjiro introduces himself as a Demon Slayer and treats Kiyoshi's wounds with medicine given to him by Sakonji Urokodaki. When asked what had happened, Kiyoshi describes how Kyogai kidnapped and tried to devour him, but was interrupted by the presence of two more demons in the mansion. The three began a scuffle, arguing over who would be the one to eat Kiyoshi, with the skirmish resulting in Kyogai's back drum being pulled out in the process. The young boy mentions how he used the drum to stay alive so far, beating it to change the rooms and avoid ambushes. Tanjiro mentions "marechi" and Kiyoshi recalls that the demon did in fact refer to him as that. Tanjiro's Kasugai Crow appears and details the meaning of "marechi": demons favored humans with this blood as they hold nutrition equal to about fifty to a hundred people and are considered a great feast.

Tanjiro suddenly hears someone approaching, Kyogai himself. Tanjiro informs the children he must leave the room to battle him and instructs the siblings to use the drum to escape, reassuring them that he was here to defeat the demon and would return. The two children nod, and he praises them for their mental fortitude as he dashes out of the room, as Kyogai peers in looking for his prey. At his signal, Tanjiro dashes out of the room and Kiyoshi beats the drum, placing themselves out of harm's way. The demon angrily refers to Tanjiro as a pest, beating the drum on his stomach twice and turning the room upside-down. Kyogai beats again and the invisible slashes nearly hit Tanjiro. The Demon Slayer begins analyzing the drums and corresponding movements but the demon beats faster, disorienting him.

Tanjiro recalls that Tamayo had treated his wounds after his previous battle but remains injured, wondering if he can win in his condition. He notes being in constant pain since the battle and it was exacerbated when he met Zenitsu and pulled him off the woman, and now, his additional lack of balance threatens to get him sliced by Kyogai's attack. He thinks back to Sakonji's advice, who told him that Water Breathing is extremely versatile having ten forms. Though he realizes he can still fight, he tries to find his spirit to continue and thinks back to Zenitsu's whining that "*a broken Tanjiro won't do!*", annoying him.

Steeling his resolve, Tanjiro prepares to face Kyogai head-on, taking a stance before the demon and motivating himself to fight.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Kyogai
* Muzan Kibutsuji (Flashback)
* Enmu (Vision)
* Teruko
* Kiyoshi
* Tanjiro Kamado
* Kasugai Crows
* Horned Demon (Vision)
* Tongue Demon (Vision)
* Yushiro (Flashback)
* Nezuko Kamado (Flashback)
* Tamayo (Flashback)
* Zenitsu Agatsuma
* Sakonji Urokodaki (Vision)