Disclaimer:

I do not own nor claim all the rights to 鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba | Demon Slayer; all rights are reserved to its respective creator, Koyoharu Gotōge. This is purely a work of fiction; names, characters, businesses, events, localities, and occurrences are all extrapolated from the author's writings and imagination or utilized in a fictitious manner. As such, any direct or indirect references to actual entities, dead or alive, or events do not, in any shape or form, resemble the opinions of the author.

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"..." = Dialogue

'...' = Internal monologues

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The present situation, under the given circumstances, was definitely not in the Hashiras' favor.

For one, they've sustained numerous injuries—possibly even fatal ones, from a broken rib cage to severe lacerations. In any case, the Hashiras have concurrently incurred both losses of blood and fractured bones; they are at an inherent disadvantage.

Furthermore, their enemy carries the age-old preponderance of instantaneous regeneration, a characteristic that can only be framed as an archetypal trait for demons at this point.

In addition, Haji has recovered both her arms and all of her fallen weapons; she is working at full strength again.

And if that wasn't enough, the revelation that Haji hadn't yet revealed her true strength was beginning to dawn on the Insect and Water Hashiras. In other words, the battle is only just beginning.

And yet, the Hashiras were not dispirited in any way; in fact, they have fully committed to the completion of this task.

One might actually assume that Haji's cruel nature is coming to her detriment, as her brutalization of both Giyuu and Shinobu has tapped into the bridled malice of the other—by hurting their most beloved, Haji has awakened a sleeping dragon within both.

Thus, even as blood stains and wounds are strewn across the bodies of both Hashiras, each carries a hardened look replete with determination and the resolve to destroy this demon once and for all.

The resolve to protect one another whatever it costs.

At the moment, Giyuu was situated anterior to Haji whilst Shinobu was positioned to the Demon's posterior—with the latter having stabbed Haji straight in the back with her Nichirin Blade.

As Shinobu injected a large dosage of poison from behind, thereby momentarily paralyzing the Demon of Shame, Giyuu initiated an attack of his own to complement this maneuver.

'Second Form: Water Wheel,' he leaps forward, aiming for one of Haji's arms.

He performs a front flip and releases a vertical slash along a circular path.

SLASH

One of Haji's left arms has been sliced off.

*Thud*

Giyuu landed close to where Shinobu was standing.

However, the Demon of Shame was quick to recuperate from the numbing effects of the poison.

"I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!!!" She spun around, stretching two rear, dextral arms—the ones that are not stationary or close to the pivot point of her rotation like the sinistral arms were—and launched an attack of her own.

In other words, the two arms were from her right side, whilst her only left arm was temporarily at rest.

Her scythe gyrated ceaselessly, and she swung her blade with imperceptible speed.

'Dance of the Dragonfly: Compound Eye Hexagon,' Shinobu immediately reacted.

Instead of using this six-strike maneuver for purely offensive-related purposes, she instead employed this technique to block Haji's barrage—which consisted of a revolving scythe and a thrust from the blade.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

The first set of strikes helped to curb the momentum of the oncoming blades, preventing Haji from fully following through with the assault.

Then, the Insect Hashira used the remainder of her attacks to fling the weapons out of their intended path.

CLANG CLANG

For the last two, Shinobu redirected the blades in a completely different direction, thereby nullifying this assailment conducted by Haji.

*Plop*

Haji's missing left arm was restored, permitting the brand-new hand to pick up the weapon it was hitherto forced to relinquish.

In spite of Shinobu's poison hampering the regenerative process, it appeared as if Haji was healing faster than ever; the Demon of Shame wasn't holding back anymore.

Therefore, in light of Shinobu's counterassault, Haji remedied this dilemma by deploying her other two arms from the left side—which, too, were carrying a revolving scythe and a rusting katana.

SWOOOOSH

She aggressively swung her left arms.

'Fourth Form: Striking Tide,' the Water Hashira commenced a countermeasure of his own to address this operation undertaken by the enemy—and to protect Shinobu.

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Giyuu initiates a series of consecutive slashes along a flowing motion to parry each one of Haji's strikes.

Exploiting this opening created by her partner, Shinobu sprang into action.

'Butterfly Dance: Caprice,' she leaps into the air.

WHOOOSH

The Insect Hashira briskly approaches the enemy, positioning her blade such that it is pointing directly at the enemy.

JAB JAB JAB

She stings the enemy multiple times in seemingly just one maneuver.

Haji grunted in pain, but she maintained her readiness in terms of exacting further damage upon her foes.

With the poison briefly stunning her, Haji was unable to invoke her most powerful attacks in a timely manner.

In lieu of the Demon, Giyuu took the opportunity to land another blow.

'Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin,' Giyuu, emulating his partner's most recent onslaught of poisonous stings, also jumps up.

Seeking the acceleration of gravity to build the necessary force for this downward strike, Giyuu takes to the skies.

Then, he lets himself fall—all the while raising his blade above his shoulders for a slash that will be supported by this downward movement.

Shinbou, too, begins another set of attacks.

'Dance of the Centipede: Hundred-Legged Zigzag,' she starts racing towards the Demon of Shame.

WHOOSH

Twisting and contorting her route in accordance with a zig-zag pattern, Shinobu swiftly approaches the enemy at speeds not even comprehensible to the naked eye—if one were to spectate her, she would merely appear as a blur.

Two attacks were going to simultaneously converge on Haji.

She recognized this.

At this point, Haji was beyond irritated with having this battle prolonged for so long; she truly believes herself to be capable enough to wipe out these two Hashiras on short notice.

But she hasn't. In fact, these puny humans were walking all over her—eluding her offensive maneuvers, parrying her strikes, and pouncing once a blind spot unveiled itself.

She was taking notice of the pattern. Incapacitation by the Insect's poisons and decapitation by the Water's blade.

They are trying to use this strategy to prod for, and seek out, exposed segments along her body for the purposes of incurring a great deal of damage upon her.

It may be their most optimal approach, but it is draining for the two of them.

Haji knows this.

But she also knows that she cannot let herself be relentlessly beleaguered by the Hashiras, lest she actually risks letting herself get killed in the process.

So, she has to break their formation with great haste.

CRACK CRACK CRACK

Shinbobu was rapidly approaching her from the rear, whilst Giyuu was falling from above—both of their Nichirin Blades hoisted and ready to slice the enemy.

This pincer movement might be the beginning of the end for her if she doesn't change her fortunes in time.

While poison still traveled through veins, Haji's frustrations were reaching a boiling point.

It was at that exact moment when a troubling thought passed through her head.

If they defeat her... then her older brother will be next...

They've already killed her sister and baby brother, leaving only the eldest remaining.

Of course, there's her father, but she doesn't care too much about him. It is her brother she's truly concerned about.

She cannot allow them to fight her brother. If that happens, then she will have truly failed him; she will betray the faith her brother placed in her.

Not even the Demon of Shame could resist the urge to feel ashamed for such a mediocre performance.

She gritted her teeth and her face furrowed at the thought.

Under no circumstances can she let that happen.

She will make them pay.

"RAHH!!" she let out a battle cry.

Lifting one of her bulky legs, she interrupts Giyuu's fall by landing an overwhelmingly powerful kick against him.

Seeing this, Giyuu uses his blade to block this forceful and sudden thrust—but at the expense of his breathing style and current momentum.

CLANG

The impact between the foot and the blade is enough to propel Giyuu's entire body in the complete opposite direction at a tremendous velocity.

For the Insect Hashira, Haji is quick to remedy her unfavorable disposition by reacting before Shinobu can complete her Dance of the Centipede.

Turning around to face the Insect Hashira, Haji—in place of clashing with her directly—instead opts to use her scythes to violently scrape the ground, allowing a cloud of dust and particles to occlude the Hashira's vision.

CRACK

As the spinning scythe dug deeper into the concrete floor, fissures cracked the surface open into a million different pieces.

The sheer power of Haji's hit against the concrete causes the material to dissolve into a flurry of particulates that gusts toward Shinobu like a deadly avalanche.

This sudden, blinding storm of gravel forces Shinobu to halt her run and take cover from the needle-like sensation she would've otherwise felt if she hadn't done so.

Using one of her arms, she pulls her haori closer to the front and shifts her body to the side, thereby shielding herself—and, more importantly, her eyes and head—from this onslaught.

'I can't see a thing,' she mentally notes, knowing that Haji might exploit this.

And, sure enough, the Demon did.

Right as this storm settled, Haji virtually teleported close to Shinobu, swinging her blades and scythes at her.

CLANG CLANG

Shinobu managed to block the spinning scythes with her katana, but—having to quickly assume a battle stance and readjust to a more confrontational position on such short notice—the Insect Hashira failed to effectively parry the blades.

So, Shinobu resorted to her acrobatic agility to dodge the swords.

Making use of her nimble legs, she constantly changed her footing every few seconds, swaying and twirling away from the strikes as if she was rhythmically following the beat of some dance.

Then, as she discerned an opening, she went in for the kill.

'Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter,' she lunges ahead.

With great strides, she jumps and targets Haji's head.

JAB

She pushes her Nichirin Blade forward, stabbing the enemy right in the eye whilst infusing a concoction of Wisteria substances.

*HACK* *HACK*

Despite subsequently retching blood and spittle, Haji seemed unfazed by this attack.

Much to the consternation of Shinobu, her maneuver left her entirely exposed to an assault from beneath—as she had her blade stuck within the enemy.

Shinobu attempts to swiftly withdraw from the premises before a counterattack could be devised, but Haji was already one step ahead: the Demon of Shame had already raised her blade and was seconds away from impaling the Insect Hashira straight in the stomach.

Fortunately, before such a thing could transpire, Haji felt that same arm chopped off.

SLASH

Giyuu had returned from the previous debacle with Haji's kick, using his Nichirin Blade to cleave the arm that was about to gravely endanger Shinobu.

With that, Shinobu is able to narrowly avoid Haji's counteroffensive.

But, seeing Giyuu reappear, Haji reacted harshly, violently tossing her other three arms around so as to hurt the enemy somehow.

Giyuu attempts to parry these moves, but he is suddenly caught off guard once his blade makes contact with the demon's weapons.

CLANG

SWOOSH

The force exerted from the collision between the Nichirin Blade and Haji's scythe sends the Water Hashira flying again, much to his and Shinobu's surprise.

It seems Haji has suddenly augmented her physical prowess. To what degree and by what means, the Hashiras did not know. But it was making their mission all the more onerous.

Around the same time, Shinobu tries to inject another round of poison again.

But Haji, taking notice of this from her peripheral vision, provides the Insect Hashria with the same level of treatment she gave to Giyuu.

CLANG

SWOOOOSH

Like Giyuu, Shinobu parried the blade. And, like Giyuu, she was hurled into the distance.

Unlike Giyuu, the Insect Hashira's flight was far more powerful and much longer—a fact that can only be attributed to her lighter body mass.

As the Water Hashria recuperates from this unexpected catapult, he sees his fellow Hashira also airborne.

"Shinobu!" he rushes towards her.

However, Haji suddenly appears before him—speedily intercepting him—and promptly strikes him with all her force.

CLANG

Again, Giyuu is nearly sent flying again, but he maintains his footing by merely redirecting the blades—this way, the potential force released by the blades will not be concentrated on him, but it will simply be lost by Haji having to follow through with the strikes.

Still, parrying each attack was putting a strain on him, confirming his suspicions of Haji's abrupt power-up.

This was bad news.

Given that the Hashiras are already injured, Haji's increased strength will only extend the battle's duration and further drain Giyuu and Shinobu.

Giyuu has incredible stamina, so he can hold out for a while. However, he's worried that Shinobu will be reaching her limit soon.

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Haji is hitting with such intensity that lustrous sparks from the metallic collisions singe the air, setting the vicinity ablaze with flares of coruscating light.

CRACK

What's more, Giyuu—who is parrying these powerful strikes by a thread—is feeling the ground beneath him lose formation and crumble under the weight of each attack.

"RAAAH!!!!!" Haji, again, bellowed out a battle cry.

"ARGGH!!!" Giyuu's countenance corrugated and he released a guttural sound indicative of the stress being placed upon him.

The pace at which blows were exchanged was simply ruthless; there were probably over ten strikes delivered in total by both sides within the span of just one second.

Giyuu couldn't find an escape route from this siege, as Haji was closing in on all sides.

Luckily, he wasn't alone in this fight.

JAB

Shinobu's Nichirin Blade went straight through Haji's head, with the Kissaki (Point) of the Katana appearing on the opposing side of her face—as Shinobu had impaled the enemy from behind at the hind head.

Without hesitation, Haji firmly gripped the upper half of the blade which was present in front of her and pulled it upwards—slicing her head vertically while also dousing her hand in dangerous compounds of Wisteria.

Purple contusions and bruises charred her body once more, weakening her physical faculties and disorienting herself in the process.

"ARRRHHRHRHRH!!!!!!!" Haji yelped in pain but was ultimately successful in apprehending the Insect Hashira by clutching the poisonous blade.

SWOOOSH

By swiveling and then lobbing the aforementioned blade, she then savagely hurled the Insect Hashira at her own partner.

BAM

Shinobu collided with Giyuu, sending the two into the distance like twigs on a windy day.

"ARGH!" they both reeled from the unadulterated pain of the impact.

Although Haji had been debilitated by the poison, the thrust of her throw was no less painful or fierce.

THUD THUD

Both brutally alighted close to each other, though not close enough to be touching each other, and the crash nearly knocked them out due to the unhuman force that was projected onto them.

"Argh..." Giyuu groaned and panted heavily as painful, pulsating sensations radiated throughout his body.

Nevertheless, he was soon able to pick himself up to at least a seated posture.

*HACK*

Shinobu, however, was coughing blood. She lay dormant on the ground, as if she was already a dying warrior about to exhale her final breath.

Indeed, by pushing her small body to its limits, she was now experiencing the aftereffects of shouldering such physical strains.

"Shinobu!" Giyuu quickly lifted her upper body—carefully resting it along his arms.

'She was really pushing herself back there... She must be in unimaginable pain... Her body is delicate...' Giyuu's anxiety went through the roof as he held her gently.

The Water Hashira stole a quick glance at Haji, seeing if she was going to engage or not. Thankfully, she was wallowing in pain from Giyuu's incisions and Shinobu's poison.

This will buy much-needed time.

He already has a plan in mind.

"Shinobu, I will make this quick since there's little time left," Giyuu starts.

The Insect Hashira's raspy gasps for air continued, giving no indication as to whether she has acknowledged his words or not—she couldn't utter a single word due to her crippled condition.

But Giyuu was confident that she was aware of what he was saying; he has the utmost confidence in her.

"Your poison will defeat Haji. I'll deal with the demon for the time being, but I'll make sure to create an opening for you to administer as much poison as you possibly can," he explains.

Shinobu remained unresponsive.

"Can you do it?" he asks.

".... Of course... I can..." Shinobu whispers weakly.

The Water Hashira nods.

Thereafter, he picks her up bridal-style and chooses a suitable location for her temporary convalescence.

"Alright, stay here for now," Giyuu speaks softly.

He promptly rests her body against a vertical wall.

Following that, he turns his back on the Insect Hashira—readying his blade for a solo confrontation against Haji.

*Tug*

Using her index finger and thumb, Shinobu clasps the sleeve of Giyuu's haori.

Giyuu is slightly taken aback by this gesture.

That is, until he recalled a certain, aching memory from the past.

..

"Don't leave... Stay..." She speaks softly.

Giyuu, however, can't read the room or her feelings. He fails to reciprocate her gesture.

"Until we meet again, Future Hashira," he simply replies.

He frees his haori from her fingers.

He promptly extricates himself from the room, leaving only an invigorated, but sullen Shinobu on her own in the study.

..

His face stiffens and his lineaments brim with a powerful expression of resolute and unswerving determination.

"I won't leave you again," he simply answers.

He then steadily ambulates away, with Shinobu's grip eventually being involuntarily released from the haori due to the space now imposed between them—she didn't want to let go.

"Giyuu..." Shinobu called tenderly, reaching out her hand for him.

Giyuu leaped into the distance, now beyond her reach.

She felt a surge of despair and frustration within her heart.

She hated that he was going to solo Haji, no matter how short it may be. It means she won't be able to protect him.

He's too rash! Why did he come up with this plan???

'Why... is he leaving me...?'

It's because Shinobu is too weak to upraise herself right now. Her weakness, once again, is putting someone she loves in danger.

Nonetheless, Giyuu has entrusted her with a very important task.

She has no other choice but to follow this plan.

For now, she will have to accept the reality that Giyuu will, for the time being, be beyond her protection.

But he'll be too far for comfort.

Too far for her heart to endure it all again—to endure his absence, like back then...

..

..

Haji managed to collect herself.

That bout of poison really did a number on her, but her regenerative powers always come in handy when she is most susceptible and nearly beaten.

'Now then, where are those pesky slayers,' she scans the area.

But, much to her surprise, she spots the Water Hashira closing on her at blistering speeds.

'Tenth Form: Constant Flux,' Giyuu invokes.

The blue, animated water dragon was summoned once more to help its master carry out his duty.

Giyuu conjured all of his remaining reserves for this final push against the enemy. It was now or never.

The Water Hashira sprinted along this flowing, yet vicious, motion that imitated the crashing waves of a stormy sea. The dragon, meanwhile, drifted alone, finding home in its natural habitat which is this capricious ocean.

From the Kissaki (Point) of Giyuu's Nichirin Blade, the dragon flew in accordance with its adorned stream and tidal waves—this is the pathway it is compelled to follow, which is determined by the movement of the blade itself.

With every stride forward, Giyuu was building ever-greater momentum for a strike, which, in turn, compounded more momentum for another strike—and so on and so forth.

This seemingly never-ending cycle of power being infused into the blade made 10th Form one of the most formidable of the breathing techniques; its emphasis on a purely offensive procedure was a slight deviation from the defense-heavy Water Breathing Style.

Giyuu was very serious about bringing an end to this folly confrontation.

In light of this development, Haji hastily swung all of her blades at Giyuu—from the gyrating scythes to the rusting katanas.

CLANG

Sparks were emitted from the metallic impact like before.

However, unlike before, it was now Haji's turn to feel the wrath of her opponent; it was now her turn to be swatted away like some feeble fly.

The force of Giyuu's attack pushed Haji back, which perturbed her beyond reason.

'What?! How is able to apply that much force against ME?! I HAVE TO PUT MORE PRESSURE INTO MY ATTACKS!!!' Haji panicked.

The Water Hashira did not stop, and he raced forward again and raised his Nichirin Blade for another strike.

Likewise, Haji swung her arms again.

CLANG CLANG

With the power of Giyuu's successive strikes compounding, this next set of assaults was enough to send Haji flying backward.

WHOOOSH

Haji's entire body was sent airborne and soaring through the chamber like a projectile.

But the Water Hashira did not stop here either.

Pushing himself to his limits, Giyuu raced—faster than ever—and incessantly assailed the Demon of Shame; he refused to grant her a rest of any sort or length.

CLANG CLANG

The two fighters were traversing the large, expansive chamber at an indiscernible rate, with the tempo of their battle reaching heights neither have ever witnessed before.

Giyuu was merciless with the application of this 10th Form as he constantly performed a continuous flowing attack that was ceaseless with its build-up of speed and strength.

So much so that even someone as powerful as Haji was clueless as to how to reverse this situation.

"DON'T GIVE ME THIS SHIT!!!!" Haji yelled as she tried to attack Giyuu from all angles.

CLANG CLANG

At this point, Haji's back reached the wall, but that wasn't going to prevent the Water Hashria from carrying on with this assailment.

BOOOM

Haji's entire body was forcefully smashed through the structure, irreparably desecrating the makeup of this sewage apparatus.

Giyuu followed her, not wasting a moment's notice to strike her again.

"FUCK!!!!!" Haji cried out, now putting everything she could possibly conjure up into a devised counteroffensive.

"ARRH!!!" Giyuu, similarly, did everything possible to suppress the throbbing pain and aching growing throughout his arms and legs.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

"RAAAAH!!!!" Haji continues this attempt to break out of this cyclical trap built by her opponent.

"ARGH!!!" Giyuu could feel the veins protruding from his temples and arms.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

The two were delivering blow after blow without stopping, and their arms were violently swinging at a pace even they couldn't fully comprehend.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG

"RAUUGHGHGHGHH!!!!!!!" Haji let out another battle cry.

"ARGGHHH!!!!!!!" Giyuu's guttural yelps were indicative of how much pain he was enduring.

Both were going berserk.

BOOM

The area around them trembles and shakes violently.

BANG

The ground beneath them was melting away as if plumes of hot magma were situated atop it, slowly eating away the surface.

An inferno of sparks and flashes of grinding metal wrought a terrible conflagration upon the environment.

BOOOOM

The earth roared and shattered as the intensity of the battle refused to wane, with earthquake-like conditions having manifested merely due to this exchange of strikes.

JAB SLASH JAB

With all his attention and concentration poured into the execution of 10th Form, Giyuu was receiving a host of cuts and grazes along his arms, face, and torso as he partially neglected his defensive capabilities.

But the Water Hashria did not stop.

The great Water Dragon roared in a spirited cry, beckoning its master to maintain this increasing rate of assaults on the enemy—lest he risks losing everything, from the battle to Shinobu, at this very moment.

Giyuu heeds the call and persists with this operation.

SLASH SLASH SLASH

Three of Haji's arms were suddenly and unexpectedly sliced off by the Water Hashira.

This was a deliberate move.

CLANG

Giyuu launches a powerful, Left-Upward-Diagonal (Kiriage) strike, ramming into the only remaining scythe—and arm—Haji now dons.

The resonance of this impact rings in the ears of all.

But the Water Hashira does not stop.

SWOOOSH

Haji is pushed back once more, except the trajectory of her projectile mass is being sent upwards—she is now airborne.

Giyuu pursues her, leaping into the air and—finally—ending his 10th Form.

His whole body hurt and ached, and his arms were bereft of any remaining vitality to continue undertaking 10th Form in its entirety.

Haji observed this as well.

'Ah SHIT! I was close to death far too many times to count! But that matters not, because Water Boy is out of energy, and his powerful technique can't be replicated again!!!' The Demon of Shame took consolation in this fact.

'I could easily finish him off with even just one arm!' Her pride was getting the better of her.

"DIE!!!!" she screamed as she thrust forward with her remaining arm and scythe.

Giyuu, however, was still active.

'Drop Ripple Thrust, Curve!' he, too, propels his Nichirin Blade towards Haji.

JAB

His blade stabs the spinning instrument at the epicenter, depriving the scythe of the necessary torque required to spin properly.

Simultaneously, his blade also pierces the weapon to such a degree that the scythe is splintered and shattered into pieces.

So strong was the incision, in fact, that Giyuu manages to impale Haji's palm as well.

"ARGHGHG!!" Haji yelps.

However, she wasn't going to let him get away with this.

BAM

Letting her hand become completely sliced by the Nichirin Blade, Haji pushes her hand completely through the blade and lands a hefty punch square into Giyuu's face—knocking him out for good.

"HAHAHHA!!! YOU FOOL!! YOU LOST!!!" she triumphed in this victory.

But then...

WHOOSH

A white haori with a butterfly wing pattern discloses itself, moving at blinding speeds.

Using Giyuu's shoulder as a launching pad to lunge herself toward Haji, a petite but bloodied Shinbou raises her blade.

Her face is expressing anger of the highest order.

Especially as Giyuu's unconscious body falls to the ground.

'Wait... I can't die here...' Trepidation overtook Haji's thought processes.

She was completely exposed. Her arms were stuck to Giyuu's blade, and her other arms hadn't yet regenerated.

'Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter,' Shinobu presses her Nichirin Blade forward, straight for Haji's neck.

'No... wait... I CAN'T DIE HERE!!!' Haji's mind ruptured into a state of chaos.

JAB

Shinobu's Nichirin Blade thrusts deep into Haji's neck, deploying an obscene amount of poison and concoctions beyond one's wildest imagination.

"ARRGHH!!!" Shinobu pressed down on the blade.

"AAHHH!!!" Haji bawled uncontrollably at the pain.

The two bodies were now falling down, with Haji's heavy weight and Shinobu's downward push causing them to accelerate incredibly fast in this descent.

BOOM

Haji's body broke through the ground, entering a lower level.

"ONII-SAN!!!" Haji cried out for help, but it was in vain.

"ARGGH!!!!" Shinobu continued pushing down, all the while unceasingly releasing Wisteria compounds into this foul creature.

BOOM

Another floor is decimated, and they are still falling.

Haji's skin pigmentation now turned purple, and her filthy orifices were leaking a deluge of blood and other substances.

"ONII-SAN, HELP!!!" She let out a wail.

BOOM

Another floor.

At this point, Haji's body had lost the ability to regenerate. Too much poison was entering the systems in too little time.

"ONII—"

BANG

Haji finally landed on a ground that didn't collapse from her weight.

The impact was enough to send Shinobu off Haji and into the air herself, although her Nichirin Blade remained attached to the Demon's neck.

*Thud*

Shinobu eventually crash-landed on the ground, also being knocked out as a result.

The Demon of Shame's limbs instinctively twitched for a moment before finally settling down.

This was the end of the line for her.

It is truly over now.

Haji had been defeated.

..

..

..

..

..

..

Three siblings were present near the entrance of this humble abode.

One, the younger sister, was holding an infant—her baby brother—in her arms. She was bidding farewell to her older brother. She was cheerful and jovial in nature. Her essence evoked this tender feeling of love and childish innocence.

And the other, the eldest brother of the family. This teenage boy exuded this comported warmth only seen in the attentive and responsible eyes of an eldest son; he exhibited all the characteristics of an honorable family man, only being deficient in terms of physicality.

After all, being the eldest child came with the inherent tasks of looking out for one's younger siblings.

"Onii-san, how long are you going to be gone?" the girl asks lightly.

"I won't be out for too long. I have to run a few errands today. With father working, I have to take up the work," he replies.

"But..." the girl frowned. "You said you would play with me today..."

The brother smiled.

"Maybe tomorrow, Etsuko?" he pats her head.

Etsuko's face lit up, "Ok!"

"And..." the brother looks at the infant cradled in Etsuko's arms. "Look after Isamu. Mother and Father are especially fond of him."

"Me too!" Etsuko exclaimed.

"Not too loud," the brother rebuked gently.

"Oop— sorry," Etsuko whispers.

The brother then caught the outline of another individual from the peripheries.

"Eiko," he calls out.

A reticent girl then peeked out from the corner.

"Don't you want to say goodbye?" the brother asks.

"Sorry..." she answers shyly, slowly revealing herself and making her way to the genkan section.

The brother smiles warmly, "I'll be going now. As the eldest sister, you ought to look out for Isamu, Etsuko, and Mother while I'm gone."

"I... I will..." she mumbles.

"Onee-san, why are you so quiet? That's why no one wants to marry you!" Etsuko declares audaciously.

"Etsuko..." the brother gives a disapproving look.

"I'm not wrong," Etsuko pouted.

"I'm sorry, I'm a burden," Eiko said with downcast eyes.

"I have a hard time socializing, and it's hard to understand people... People don't make sense, yet they make fun of me for being the weird one... Am I weird, Onii-san?" she adds.

The brother's face softened, "Not at all. You're special, Eiko. That's what makes you... you. And there's nothing wrong or weird about that."

"But—" Eiko protested.

*Pat*

The brother placed his hand on her head.

He smiled, "Eiko, you shouldn't ever be ashamed of yourself; always raise your head up high and be proud of who you are."

It was then that Eiko's face brightened up.

Her brother was truly an extraordinary individual. Eiko has always admired him for being affable and compassionate.

Maybe with her brother's support, she can achieve the impossible.

"T-Thank you... Onii-san..." she smiled softly.

..

..

..

..

..

..

Shinobu

I woke up on the gravel floor, which was replete with dust particles and rocks.

I grunted slightly as my awakened sense caught wind of the intense pain pervading my body.

I really did it this time, huh? Pushing my body this hard, it's a miracle I'm still alive.

"Argh..." I slowly hoist myself up.

Finally, I was able to stand on my two feet. Although, I can't exactly walk properly; I have to rely on limping my way around.

I look around.

I spot the enemy perched on a mountain of rubble.

"Haaah... Haaah..." She was still breathing.

But she also wasn't regenerating.

It's clear as day that she's dying.

Thank god... Thank god...

It's over.

Then, I realized something: "Giyuu!"

He's still up there and knocked out!

Giyuu needs medical attention immediately.

I need to somehow climb my way back up and—

"Shinobu..." I hear a familiar voice.

No...

I slowly turn my head to the source.

No way...

It's Kanae.

She was smiling as warmly as ever.

"N-Nee-san...?" I blurt.

"You've worked so hard..." she says.

"I..."

"Sleepless nights of training, studying, and tending to patients... Those were lonely nights, weren't they?" she said in a forlorn tone.

I felt a lump in my throat.

"Yeah... They were..." I whisper.

"It was exhausting, wasn't it? The anger, the pain, and the frustrations... I'm sorry I couldn't be there with you... I'm sorry I let you join the Corps," she frowned.

"N-No! Don't blame yourself! None of it was your fault, Nee-san!" I quickly object.

"Shinobu..." She looked me straight in the eyes. "You've done... a good job..."

I could a wetness in my eyes.

How I wish she had been alive, how I wish to turn back the clock and talk to her one more time.

How I wish for so many things.

"Nee-san..." I whimper.

Nee-san then opened her arms for an embrace, "Come, Shinobu..."

"Nee-san...! Nee-san!" Like a lost child finding her parents, I come running into Kanae's arms.

I hugged her.

"I'm sorry I was so weak! I'm sorry I couldn't save you!" I sobbed.

"Shh," Nee-san consoles me, "it's ok..."

"I miss you! I miss you so much, Nee-san! I miss Otōsan and Okāsan! I miss you all!" I continue weeping.

"It's alright, we miss you too," Nee-san answers soothingly.

"Nee-san!!!" I was like that little girl again.

That little girl who clutched her older sister tightly in the worst of times and in the best of times.

The outpour of old emotions sequestered away for so long was almost relieving.

It felt good.

"Shinobu..." Nee-san's voice darkened.

"Yes, Nee-san?" I managed to say coherently despite the crying.

JAB

I felt a sudden, fierce push against my lower abdomen.

Blood started spilling and the pain started welling.

My eyes dilated with shock.

My face straightened and my cries were no more, "N-Nee-san..."

I look up at her face.

She had this cold, austere look. It's as if a completely different personality had taken over.

"N-Nee-san... W-Why..." I was starting to lose my balance.

Everything was becoming blurry.

I was falling, but I desperately held onto Nee-san.

But she did not reciprocate the gesture.

Instead, she was holding her Katana.

A katana that was now deep within my abdomen.

Then, with a sudden jerk, she abruptly pulled out the blade. 

"ACH!" I fell to the ground.

I could feel a puddle of blood forming underneath me. 

"I apologize, Kocho Shinobu. But this is for the greater good," were the last words I heard.

I blacked out.