In his final moments, as he perishes to ash and dust, Rui tells the story of how he came to be, his family and the family he created.
Seeing Tanjiro try to protect Nezuko even as he collapses triggers memories of Rui's own past. Once a sickly boy, he became a demon after meeting Muzan Kibutsuji who gave him a share of his blood. But after he turns into a demon, his own parents try to kill him. Ever since then, he has been searching for a family. Seeking a bond that he can never hope to acquire.