28 Uppermoon 2 (2)

Shinobu clapped the dust from her hands and sighed, surveying her handiwork. Behind her, a group of cult members was tied securely to the trees with thick ropes.

After parting ways with her sister and Tomioka, her mission had been straightforward: ensure no humans would interfere with the demon slaying or get hurt. How to achieve that wasn't specified, so she decided that tying them up was the best course of action.

"You!" one of the bound girls shouted, glaring at Shinobu with fury burning in her eyes. "Just you wait! Once our founder finds out what you did, he'll kill you all!" Her voice shook with anger, but Shinobu only raised an eyebrow.

Stepping closer, she stopped just in front of the girl and leaned in, her voice soft yet taunting. "Are you aware that your beloved founder is a demon?"

"Shut up!" the woman spat, trembling with rage. "He saved us! You don't know anything! He'll guide us to paradise!" Her faith in the cult leader was unshakable, but Shinobu could only offer her a look of pity.

BOOM!!

Shinobu's eyes widened in surprise as the loud sound echoed through her ears, her gaze shifting toward the direction of the estate. An explosion had ripped through the sky, shaking the ground beneath them. The massive roof of the cult's estate was blasted into pieces, revealing the head of a giant ice statue rising from the debris.

"Oh, our founder!" the woman exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. "He's come to save us!" she cried in awe.

***

Kanae stood atop the ruined roof, panting heavily. She had barely managed to avoid the previous attack, but terror gripped her heart as she thought of her companions. While she had created some distance, Tomioka had taken the brunt of the strike. Seeing the aftermath of the blow, her fear only deepened.

Before her loomed a massive Buddha statue made entirely of ice, its head piercing through the roof, leaving a gaping hole in the structure. The statue began cracking immediately, unable to hold its form.

Cold mist swirled around the broken statue as a tall figure emerged from the icy haze, his heavy footsteps echoing on the shattered tiles.

"Ahh, that was close!" a cheerful voice rang out as Doma stepped from the smoke, casually adjusting his head back onto his shoulders. The wound healed seamlessly, and the statue crumbled behind him, a testament to its rushed and imperfect creation.

"Impossible!" Kanae gasped, her hands trembling on her sword. She watched in disbelief as the demon reattached his head like it was nothing. 'How… why is he alive? Did Tomioka sacrifice himself for nothing?' Kanae swallowed her fear, watching as the terrifyingly tall demon slowly stepped in her direction.

"That guy... I think you called him Tomioka?" Doma clapped his hands together, his smile bright and carefree. "He was so strong! That last attack really surprised me," he said cheerfully before his expression grew somber. "But he was too close to my attack... I'm afraid he didn't survive. How tragic," he added, wiping a fake tear from his cheek.

"You monster!" Kanae spoke, her voice shaking with fury. "Don't pretend to care when you know you're incapable of compassion!"

"Ah, so rude!" Doma pouted theatrically. "Don't worry. Although I usually only eat women, I'll make sure your friend joins us in paradise too!" His grin widened, gleeful and twisted. "But enough of that. Let's have some fun! Play with me!" he chimed happily.

Kanae bit her lip in frustration but didn't hesitate. She dashed forward, her sword ready. Douma mirrored her movement, swinging his fan in a swift, deadly arc. Kanae leaped into the air, avoiding the initial strike, her body twisting gracefully mid-flight.

"Sixth Form: Whirling Peach!"

Her sword slashed toward Douma's neck with blinding speed.

CLANG!

"Wow, you're fast!" Doma praised, easily blocking the attack. Kanae felt as if she had struck a solid wall. Gritting her teeth, she landed and gripped her sword tightly, immediately launching into another assault.

"Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility!"

Her blade flowed like a stream, striking again and again in an intricate dance. Each attack wove seamlessly into the next.

"So beautiful!" Doma laughed, effortlessly parrying every blow. Their figures darted across the ruined rooftop, broken tiles scattering beneath their feet.

Kanae's breath came in ragged gasps, her vision blurring as the freezing air numbed her lungs. She couldn't last much longer. Her legs wobbled, and she collapsed to her knees, coughing violently. "I can't land a single hit," she thought desperately.

"Aw, and you were doing so well!" Doma mocked, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with twisted delight. "What a shame… If not for that other guy forcing me to use so much power, you might've been able to play for a little longer."

Kanae's hands trembled, but she couldn't afford to give up. If she died here, her sister wouldn't stand a chance. With a shaky breath, she forced herself to stand, her body trembling from the cold.

"You're incredible! Getting back up after all that!" Doma exclaimed, but Kanae's attention suddenly shifted, her eyes widening in relief as she looked beyond Doma.

"hmm?" Doma turned his head, curious to see what had startled her since he hadn't sensed anyone's presence. His own eyes widened slightly in disbelief.

Tomioka stood on his own two feet, just a few meters away, his clothes covered in frozen blood and his body barely holding on as his right arm, along with his blade, were completely covered in ice, his skin red from the cold. Yet, despite his grave injuries, Giyu's expression was eerily calm, his eyes were wide open, frostbite mottling his pupils. 

As Giyu's grip on the sword tightened, the freezing ice encasing his left hand and the blade beginning to melt together. Tomioka took a step forward.

Doma flinched involuntarily. "You… survived?" he muttered in surprise, a smile creeping across his face. "Aha, I am so happy!"

Seeing Doma distracted, Kanae seized the moment, gripping her blade and preparing to attack, but Doma suddenly turned back to her, his face devoid of its usual playfulness. She froze in place, terror gripping her but the moment didn't last long.

Doma's instincts took over as he swiftly raised his fan to shield his face. In an instant, Giyu's blade clashed with Doma's fan. 'So fast!' The demon thought, barely managing to block the strike. Kanae widened her eyes in awe, struggling to keep up with their speed.

'Was his blade always this color?' Douma wondered, noticing the sword now glowed a deep crimson. The sight triggered an unfamiliar sensation in him.

He leaped backward, putting distance between them. He glanced at his trembling hand. 'Am I… nervous?' he thought, bewildered. Giyu's red blade had awakened a something within him, Although Doma knew the feeling wasn't his own, he was fascinated by the secondhand sensation. "Lord Muzan?" Doma murmured.

"Tomioka… I'm glad," Kanae whispered, relieved. But her eyes softened as she saw Giyu's condition, his injuries were severe and he needed immediate treatment.

"Kocho, sorry I'm late," Giyu's voice broke through the tension. Kanae held back tears relieved to hear an ally's voice in such a desperate moment.

"Leave the rest to me" he suddenly spoke, his gaze never leaving Doma. Kanae opened her mouth to answer, but he continued. "You can't keep up in your current state. You'll only hinder me."

Kanae's heart clenched as she understood the meaning of his words, he didn't want her to continue fighting.

She wanted to argue, but as she recalled the swift exchanges between Doma and Giyu, their incredible speed and how Giyu had shielded her throughout the battle, it became clear that the demon had never taken her seriously.

Biting her lip, she found herself silenced by the painful truth. She was too weak to fight at their level, yet how could she abandon another Hashira? "I will not-"

"If you die, your sister will be alone." Giyu cut her off, his words hitting Kanae like a final blow, leaving her speechless. Her thoughts raced to her sister. "...I'm sorry..." she murmured, her voice trembling with emotion.