I CAN'T ANYMORE! — CHAPTER #12 — IS THIS... REALLY THE END FOR ME...?

The intense battle with the spider demon had taken its toll on you, leaving you lying on the ground, caught between the fragile line of life and death. The poison coursing through your veins had ravaged your body, its effects evident in your weakened state. Zenitsu and Ozaki, filled with a profound sense of concern and fear, knelt beside you, tears streaming down their faces.

"(Y/N)!! Oh shit! What are we going to do Zenitsu?!"

"I... I don't know! Fuck! What if she actually dies?!"

"Don't even think about that, you dumbass!"

"I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT! I JUST DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE PERSON I LOVE THE MOST, OK?!"

"..." Ozaki's gaze met Zenitsu's tear-filled eyes, reflecting the same turmoil that consumed her. She understood his anguish, sharing the same depth of worry for your well-being. The deafening sobs escaping his lips echoed through the air, carrying a mix of desperation and helplessness. "Let's calm down first! We need to find a cure or at least try to slow down the poison!"

"Slow down the poison? Can she even do something like that-"

*Khhhhzzzz*

"(Y/N)!! SHE'S BREATHING! OH LORD! (Y/N), CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Yelled Zenitsu. Slowly, you gave him a thumbs up. To your surprise, you found yourself instinctively performing the breathing technique. It was as if your deep-rooted knowledge of the series and your curiosity-driven investigations had unconsciously ingrained the technique within you. Though you couldn't recall every single detail, your fanatical fascination with Kimetsu No Yaiba had left a lasting impression, enabling you to tap into this newfound ability.

"Hear me out! I don't know how you're doing it but! Keep doing that! Zenitsu will stay with you! I'll go check if I can find something to cure you! Don't die on me, please!" With a determined expression etched on her face, Ozaki dashed forward, her footsteps resounding with a sense of purpose. The throbbing ache in her body served as a constant reminder of the stakes at hand, but she pushed through the discomfort, driven by her unwavering commitment to your safety.

"You're doing the breathing technique to slow down the flow of toxins in your body, right?! I'm surprised you knew about it! You're doing a great job (Y/N)!" Zenitsu kept giving you words of encouragement. Suddenly, Chuntarou got out of your pocket and cried by your side. "Chu chu! :("

As Chuntarou said that, he flew away, in the direction Ozaki was going.

"Everything will be okay (Y/N)! You're gonna live and... and we are going to see Tanjiro and Inosuke! We're all gonna get a good rest and hang out together like we did in the Wisteria house! So, d-don't worry! You're... You're not g-going to d-d-die..." His tears kept interrupting his speech. He truly wanted to sound convincing for you but he couldn't. He cursed at himself.

As Zenitsu felt the feeble grip on his wrist, his heart nearly stopped. He turned his gaze toward you, your kind eyes filled with tears that streamed down your face. Despite the pain that etched every line on your expression, you mustered a fragile smile, trying to offer him reassurance.

"Sorry... me sorry, Zenitsu..."

Tears welled up in Zenitsu's eyes as he frantically shook his head. He couldn't bear the thought of losing you, not after everything you had been through together. With a trembling voice, he pleaded, "Don't apologize! Everything is okay!Please, don't leave me!" As you closed your eyes and your grip on his wrist weakened, his panic intensified. His heart raced with a mixture of terror and determination, unwilling to accept the possibility of losing you. Luckily, you were just resting your eyes. You were not dying... yet.

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"Huh?" Tanjiro turned around as he sensed something. "What was that sound? Did lightning just strike?"

"How should I know?" Responded Inosuke, looking around.

"But I'm not smelling any thunderclouds... The acrid odor in the air is stronger now, so I can't tell..."

...

"Hey, Inosuke..."

"Whaddya want, fuckface?"

"...Do you think (L/N) is okay?"

"Of course. You're such a scumbag. Minion isn't that weak. She's probably fine." Inosuke's rough and abrasive exterior did little to hide the flicker of concern that resided within him. Deep down, he couldn't help but worry even a tiny bit for your well-being, although he tried his best to suppress those thoughts and bury them beneath his bravado.

"Sorry... You're right. I should have more faith on her... Thanks."

"HAHAHA, Lord Inosuke is always right!"

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"Haa... Haa... Haa..." You were now in a critical state, the poison coursing through your body, wreaking havoc with every passing moment. The effects were visible on your skin, as veins protruded and your body shrank in size. Each breath became a struggle, your weakened lungs fighting for air. Wounds and grotesque openings adorned your body, a stark reminder of the severity of the situation. This was a dire moment.

'No, no, no! This can't be happening! She's getting worse by the second! Where are Ozaki and Chuntarou?! There has to be something I can do to help!' Zenitsu berated to himself, overwhelmed with guilt. If only he had been more careful, perhaps you wouldn't have been poisoned in the first place.

Your weak voice broke through his frantic thoughts.

"...Bye... Zenitsu..." The words hung in the air, heavy with resignation. You had reached your limit, succumbing to the unbearable pain and despair.

"WAIT, (Y/N)! DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T DIE ON ME! (Y/N), PLEASE! DON'T-"

"Yoo-hoo! Is this lady the one you were speaking of?" A glimmer of hope pierced through the darkness as salvation arrived in the form of a young woman. Clad in a butterfly-patterned haori, she emanated an aura of strength and purpose. Zenitsu couldn't help but wonder who she was, a fellow demon slayer, perhaps?

"Yes! It's her! Please, help her! I beg of you!" Ozaki's tear-streaked face lit up with a mix of relief and desperation as she pointed towards you, her voice trembling with urgency. The new lady approached you, her presence both gentle and determined. Zenitsu, driven by instinct, stood up and created a space for her to tend to you. He moved towards Ozaki, his heart heavy with worry and a glimmer of hope.

"Who is this?" Whispered the boy, looking at her with suspiciousness.

"She's a demon slayer who knows a ton about this stuff! She told me she could help her!"

The butterfly lady, Koucho Shinobu, knelt before you, her presence calming and captivating. With all your strength, you opened your eyes, and there she was—Shinobu herself—

...

SHINOBU!

'OH MY GOD! IS THAT SHINOBU!? OH MY AHHHHHHH!' Your heart raced uncontrollably as excitement and nerves flooded your senses. Attempting to sit up, you were met with a wave of weakness, causing you to cough. 'GODDESS SHINOBU IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! SHE'S EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL IN PERSON! IS THIS SOME KIND OF HEAVENLY DREAM?'

Wanting to make a good impression, you desperately searched for the right words. As an ardent fan of Shinobu, this moment felt surreal. Finally, you mustered the courage to speak your mind. "Beautiful..." It was simple, but it felt sincere. 'Yeah, this works.'

Ozaki and Zenitsu, overcome with shock and disbelief, gripped each other tightly, their internal screams echoing in their minds. 'DID... DID SHE JUST CALL HER BEAUTIFUL?!'

...

"Oh? Is that how you see me?" Shinobu inquired, her interest piqued.

"...Yes."

"Oh my, hahaha! Thank you for the compliment!" A hint of amusement played on her lips as she reached into a nearby box, retrieving a syringe and preparing the antidote.

"Indeed, you did a remarkable job slowing down the spread of the poison with your breathing technique. Without your quick thinking, you would have succumbed to becoming a spider long ago. Now, I will gently administer the antidote. It might sting a little, but I'll do my best to minimize any discomfort." Shinobu tenderly clasped your hand, which had become noticeably smaller. Fortunately, it hadn't reached the size of Zenitsu's hand from the anime. As she began to inject the antidote, a fleeting moment of pain washed over you, but it was far less intense than you had anticipated.

"It's okay, sweetie. I finished." Shinobu announced with a gentle smile.

"Oh my god! Zenitsu! She's saved!" Ozaki cried out, embracing the boy tightly.

"Oh my god! Ozaki! SHE'S SAVED! WAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The blondie joined in, their tears of relief flowing freely. Even Chuntarou fluttered around in joyous celebration.

"You seem to have good friends." Commented Shinobu, observing the emotional scene.

"..." You simply nodded, closing your eyes. A delicate smile graced your lips.

"I must attend to other matters now. I hope you recover quickly!" Shinobu bid farewell to you, who were already drifting off to sleep.

'Hmhm...? Is that a... frying pan?' Shinobu couldn't help but notice that you still held onto a frying pan. 'Well, anyway...'

"Please, when any of you are available, take care of these two!" Shinobu instructed the kakushi, gesturing towards Zenitsu and Ozaki. Both of them had lost consciousness, their injuries more severe than they appeared. Ozaki had cracked bones and open wounds, while Zenitsu bore the wounds from his battle with the spider demon.

"I shall take my leave now!" Shinobu gracefully departed from the scene.

The available kakushi hurriedly rushed to tend to Zenitsu and Ozaki. One of them initially approached you but you opened your eyes, deterring their assistance. "Me... Fine..." You weakly assured them.

"Are you sure? I still need to check-"

"Me okay... check others..." Your stubbornness was evident in your words.

"...Okay... If you feel unwell, don't hesitate to ask for help!" The kakushi acquiesced and moved on to attend to the injured individuals.

...

...

...

With a determined expression, you rose to your feet and walked purposefully in a specific direction.

"Chuntarou! Chuntarou! Please... come!" You called out to the sparrow. Within moments, Chuntarou appeared before you.

"Chu chu?"

"...Tanjiro... Take me to... Tanjiro, please!" You spoke with a serious tone.

"Chu chu chu!"

"Please, Chuntarou!" The sparrow hesitated, concerned for your well-being, but ultimately agreed. He would guide you to where Tanjiro was at that moment. A sinister smirk crept across your face. It was a devilish grin, full of cunning and determination.

'Time to set my plan into motion.'