41 The storm (2)

Tomioka's figure spun violently through the air, eyes wide in shock as he struggled to balance himself while the cold wind stung his face. He could feel the icy sting of the high-altitude air as his body finally stopped rising, leaving him suspended for a moment above the treeline.

His mind raced as gravity took hold again, pulling him into a fatal fall. The world seemed to blur as he plummeted back toward the ground, the speed increasing with every second, but his focus was locked on Muzan.

Muzan's attention, however, was not on Tomioka. Instead, his gaze was set on the Kamado family, who were fleeing through the snow-covered forest. Desperation surged through Tomioka as he gripped his sword with trembling hands, the heat radiating from the blade soothing him, bringing a brief moment of clarity amid the chaos.

"Water Breathing," Tomioka muttered under his breath, taking a deep inhale as his clothes flapped violently in the wind. His mind raced, calculating his next move. He planed to use Muzan's attack as a way to make his landing not so fatal. It was a gamble, but he had no other option, not only his life but also the Kamado's family lifes was the price if he failed.

"Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin!"

Tomioka's descent accelerated as his body fell with alarming speed, his blade flashing downward in a powerful strike. The force of his movements created the illusion of a massive torrent of water cascading in his wake. His target was Muzan,

The demons looked up just in time, his red eyes narrowing as the clothes on his back exploded outward. Dozens of tentacles, each lined with razor-sharp blades, erupted from his back and whipped toward Tomioka in a lethal flurry.

But to his surprise, Tomioka's red blade sliced through the tentacles, cutting them as it closed in on Muzan. Although in the process, Tomioka lost some of the force behinf the swing.

"DIE" In a fit of rage, Muzan raised his arm, the muscles in his forearm flexing before exploding intro a grotesque mass of flesh bristling with razor-sharp blades.

-BAMMMM!

The force of the impact was catastrophic. Tomioka's sword clashed against the onslaught of Muzan's bladed tentacles, sending a shockwave through the air. Snow was blasted away, leaving the ground bare as the violent clash rattled the forest.

Tomioka's body was thrown backward by the sheer force of the collision. He tumbled uncontrollably through the snow, only coming to a stop as he crashed into a tree with a bone-jarring thud. Pain lanced through his back as he groaned, struggling to push himself up from the snow. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt like his entire body was on fire. He clutched his side, feeling the sharp ache of cracked ribs.

But there was no time to dwell on the pain, he grtted his teeth as he pushed his body to move right as a shadow loomed over him, and without needing to look, Tomioka's instincts screamed at him to escape.

"Twelvth Form: Vivid Splash Burst."

Muzan's bladed tentacles cleaved through the air where Tomioka had been moments before, but instead of cutting through flesh, they met the illusion of slicing a mass of water. Tomioka had already retreated a small distance away, his breathing ragged and his body trembling with exhaustion. His vision was clouded with pain, and he knew he couldn't keep this up much longer.

Muzan's presence was overwhelming, like a natural disaster bearing down on him, and every breath Tomioka took felt heavier.

"You're like a cockroach," Muzan sneered, his voice cold and dripping with disdain. His scarlet eyes glinted with malicious intent as he prepared for another attack.

***

"Let's keep going," Kie Kamado urged her children, her voice strained as they walked through the snow. The thick white blanket crunched under their feet as they moved, trying to keep a steady pace despite the cold biting at their skin.

In the distance, sounds of crashing trees and explosions echoing sent shivers through them, a constant reminder for the reason they had left their home

Takeo Kamado couldn't help but glance over his shoulder, worry gnawing at him. He wasn't sure what was happening, Someone unknown appeared, was it not just his brother coming back home? But after seeing him, Mister Tomioka seemed to panic, the next moment he was suddenly dragged away from his home by his sister, Nezuko.

The sounds behind them were terrifying he had to admit. His instincts had told them to keep running, that they were no longer safe at home. But a sinking feeling had settled in his chest, one that made him feel powerless. After his father had died, He had always been told that in his brother absence he was the man of the house, he had to protect his family and home so why was he running away from his home now?

"What if his brother had returned home and was out there searching for them? If anything, Mister Tomioka was the one who seemed suspicious."

The thought churned in little Takeo's mind, growing louder and louder until he couldn't bear it any longer. His small, trembling hands clenched into fists, he knew deep down that he wasn't as strong as Tanjiro. He was only a 11 years old who didn't know better.

He couldn't fill his brother's shoes, if anything would happen to his big brother his family would not be able to survive alone. Without thinking anymore, he stopped running, skidding to a halt in the snow.

His mother, noticing that her son had stopped, turned around, her face etched with worry. She was carrying one of her youngest children in her arms as she called out to Takeo, "Takeo, what are you doing? Don't stop!" Her voice trembled, a mixture of fear and urgency.

Takeo's brows furrowed as he looked back toward the direction they came from. "Mother, what if Tanjiro comes back?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty. His mind was racing, and the thought of abandoning his brother was tearing him apart. "I need to see if my brother is back!" he shouted before bolting in the opposite direction, startling his mother.

"Takeo! Come back!" she cried out, taking a few desperate steps toward him, but she couldn't chase him. She had the rest of her children to worry about.

Nezuko, who had been running alongside them, immediately turned to her mother. "I'll get him back!" she promised, passing her younger sibling to her mother before sprinting after Takeo.

Kie Kamado watched in horror as Nezuko ran after her brother. She wanted to chase after them, to bring them both back, but her younger children needed her. She couldn't leave them in the cold. She could only pray that Nezuko would bring Takeo back safely. "Please hurry back!" she called after them, her voice trembling.

Nezuko's legs pumped furiously as she dashed through the snow, her heart pounding in her chest. The scary sounds coming in the direction of their home grew louder as she neared her brother who was still running. Takeo was just ahead of her, his small figure darting through the woods at a surprising speed.

"Takeo!" she yelled, her voice breathless. "Stop!"

But Takeo didn't stop. His mind was set on finding Tanjiro, and nothing was going to stop him. His small body was fueled by reckless determination as he ran.