"Blah" — Speech

"Blah" — Speech in another language

'Blah' — Thoughts

[ Blah ] — Text

*Blah* — Sound effects in speech

(Blah) — Author's notes

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters of 鬼滅の刃| Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba; they belong to Koyoharu Gotōge. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Giyuu glances at Shinobu. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, but first," She tilts her head at his blade. "Can you kill a demon with that?"

"No, it's not made of Nichirin."

"Then we'll have to rely on Kanao-chan." She glances at Kanao. "Are you good with that?"

"Yes nee-san."

Dōma looks to the side. "What? Did Akaza-dono just die?"

Giyuu flinches.

Dōma continues, "It felt weird for a moment…"

Shinobu ignores it and nudges Giyuu. "Who is Akaza?"

"He is-was Upper Rank Three."

Shinobu feels her hope rise up. "Then we can kill this monster then."

Giyuu shifts his stance. "…He is Upper Rank Two."

Shinobu smirks, "Not for long, he's going to be a human soon with the cure I gave him."

This time Giyuu can't help but look at her. "You mean…"

"Yes. We did it Giyuu. We made it. Nezuko's cured and you'll be human too."

Giyuu smiles, "We did it."

"Yes. Now the monster will get weaker and we can kill it."

"Yoohoo." Dōma waves its hand as it wipes its tears away. "Are you done talking? My best friend is dead you know. I made a speech about him and the both of you ignored me."

'What a liar.' The Pillars shift back into position. "Be careful not to breathe around the ice and mist it makes; they can shred your lungs." Shinobu looks at them. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"Yes nee-san."

"Go."

Giyuu charges forward, Kanao goes to the right, and Shinobu moves to the left. As she faces them, Giyuu attacks and blocks Dōma's ice lotus. 'It's distracted. Dance of the Bee Sting: True Flutter.' Shinobu dashes forward and stabs her sword at its side.

Shink

Dōma bends slightly toward the attack as it glances at Shinobu. "That liquid again…"

Giyuu stabs the other shoulder as Kanao charges from the side with her sword poised for the neck. 'Go for it Kanao-chan!'

But Dōma flaps its fans and mist forms around their body.

'Dammit!' Shinobu pulls her blade away and she pulls back as Kanao did the same. 'What a nuisance, but I got more of the cure in it.'

Giyuu stays and pulls out his blade to go for a neck swing.

'Right. Giyuu is still a demon.'

Dōma blocks the attack with the right fan while it waves the left fan at Kanao. Ice lotuses form and vines shoot at her while went for Giyuu's back. Kanao cuts the vines away while Giyuu is forced to disengage with Dōma. With the right fan free, Dōma waves it at Shinobu and several icicles fly toward her.

'Tch.' Shinobu dodges and makes her way toward the others. "This is bad. We can't get close with those annoying ice blood art."

Giyuu slowly shifts her feet forward. "I'll try to immobilize his fans. If anything, I can regenerate and keep fighting."

"W-wait!"

Giyuu tilts his head. "Shinobu?"

'What am I doing? We're fighting Upper Rank Two and we need to use every asset we have. Like he said, he can survive and regenerate any lost limbs…but…' Shinobu gulps, "Please be careful Giyuu. We don't know how fast the cure can slow and hamper your regeneration."

",,,Mhm. Still—"

Crack

"Eh?"

Everyone look up at the ceiling as it breaks open.

Boom

Out of splintered pieces comes out a boar mask.

"OHHHHHHH Inosuke-sama has descended from the heavens!

"Inosuke-kun?!"

The teen falls directly above Dōma and he spins at the demon. "Nyhahahaha! Taste sun-steel you demon!"

Dōma swings the fans and the vine lotuses appear again.

Giyuu charges and jumps forward to cut the vines. After that, He catches the boy and runs back to the group.

At the time Giyuu made his move, Shinobu pulls out a syringe and throws it at Dōma's heart. 'That's the last specialized one.'

Shink

Dōma stares down and take out the empty syringe. "Again…"

As Giyuu brings the boy back, Inosuke wiggles in the hold. "Unhand me peasant!"

Giyuu puts him down.

"Ha." Inosuke dusts himself off and turns to Giyuu. "Now apologize and grovel…" He stares at Giyuu's face.

Giyuu stares back.

Inosuke pulls his swords back. "Demo—"

Shinobu moves in front of them. "Wait Inosuke-kun! He's our ally! It's Giyuu!"

Inosuke stops and stares at them.

Shinobu points at herself and Kanao. "Look, we're okay and Giyuu hasn't attacks us."

Kanao nods her head.

Inosuke tilts his head. "Oh. Ohhhhh. So that's what the crow was talking about."

'Huh?' Shinobu shakes her head and looks over to see Dōma still looking at the syringe.

Inosuke flourishes his swords at Dōma. "Good to have you back Dumioka."

Giyuu sighs, "It's Tomioka."

"Tomioka?"

Everyone looks at Dōma at it scratches its head with the needle.

Dōma tilts its head. "Tomioka, Tomioka, Tomioka…" It then perks up and snaps its fingers. "Oh! Now I remember!" It then stabs its middle finger into its brain.

Squelch

Shinobu flinches at that. 'What in the—'

"Mmm yes. There was a woman who a similar face to yours Mizu-chan. She was a young and beautiful girl that my followers brought in."

Shinobu cups her mouth as she looks over to see Giyuu's wide eyes. 'No…'

"Let's see…" It twists the finger around. "Her name was… Tsu…Tsutako Tomioka was it?" Dōma smiles, "Yes that's her name. She was very delicious."

Shinobu feels a chill and shivers from the aura where even Inosuke backs away from Giyuu.

Ripple

Shinobu glances at the pond to see the water move and she puts up a guard. 'Enemy blood art?'

It pulls out the finger. "Well would you look at that. Fate has brought all of us together!" It spreads its arms. "Do you two want to meet your sisters in me? I'll make an exception and even accept you Mizu-ch—"

Giyuu is already there mid-swing at Dōma's neck.

Crack

Boom

"Ah!" Shinobu jolts and looks at the floor crack and splinter as wood chips fly everywhere. She looks back in time to see Giyuu cut a miniature ice sculpture of Dōma. The ice pieces then stick on his sword.

"Oh my what a scary face there Mizu-kun—"

Some wavy water column with a dragon's head rises from the pond and bites for Doma's head.

Snap

At the last second, Dōma turns its head and parts of it head was bitten off.

Dōma laughs, "Oh wow, was that your blood art? It's just like your name I gave you. How come you never showed it to m—"

"Shut up."

Somehow, the ice melts from his sword and Giyuu swings his sword in multiple angles.

"Ahahaha let's dance Mizu-chan." Dōma counters and swings its fans.

Shink

Dōma's jaw hangs loose.

Thwack

Several ice lotuses are embedded deep into Giyuu's face and torso before they melt away, leaving deep gorges. After a second the wounds regenerate.

Shing

Dōma's intestines spill out. "Ahahahaha." Dōma uses one hand to grab the organ before throwing it over Giyuu's neck. Giyuu in turn brings his free hand up to stop the loop. "Aw. This will have to do then." The exposed intestine and Giyuu's arm freeze over.

"Gh." Giyuu cuts his arm as a water sphere rises from the pond and it speeds toward Dōma. But before it made impact, it freezes and shatters on impact.

"Aw that's too bad Mizu-chan. It looks like we're a bad matchup." Dōma swings its fans and several icicles shoot toward Giyuu who just raises his regenerated arm to cover his face.

Shunk

Shink

Shinobu jolts and gasps as an icicle stabs into his shoulder and shaves off a part of his head, exposing his brain and broken skull. Shinobu can see the brain pulsate and—

Retch

Shinobu turns away and covers her mouth as she barely keeps her stomach contents inside. 'This-this is too much!' She grits her teeth. 'Get a hold of yourself. You're a doctor for Kami's sake.'

"Oh that's interesting. I can see now why my ice mist doesn't work on your lungs."

'What?' She glances to the side to see the icicle inside of Giyuu melt into mixture of blood and water. In fact, a small radius around Giyuu's feet is just wet wood.

Snap

Plop

She flinches as Dōma swung its fan and got a glance blow at his sides before parts of his ribs lands in the water near them. Giyuu ignores it and continues the assault. 'He's not even bothering to evade!'

Shake

Shinobu jolts and turns to see Kanao shaking her shoulder. "Nee-san we have to do something. Giyuu-sama won't last much longer like this. We have to kill that demon before he becomes human."

'…She's right.' Shinobu takes a breath and sets her shoulders. "Thank you Kanao-chan."

Kanao nods. "What should we do?"

"We need to bring Giyuu back and stall for as long as possible."

Inosuke turns to them. "Oi shouldn't we attack now? We can team up and get his head."

Shinobu shakes her head. "It's been playing with us all this time. Even now, it's not even serious against Giyuu, a former Upper Moon Four."

Inosuke scratches the boar head. "Then what the hell do we do?"

Shinobu brings them close while keeping their heads at the battle. She leans next to their ears and whispers, "I've given the entire specialized drug to that monster."

"What make it special nee-san?"

"Besides the cure turning it to human, I've added a side drug that accelerates his age where each minute passes, that monster ages fifty years."

Kanao looks at Shinobu. "Then that means he's going to get hungry and make mistakes."

Shinobu nods, "When that happens, we will strike."

"And with all of the blood art he's using, he's going to get more tired."

"So what, we just stand around as Tomioka keeps fighting?"

Shinobu grits her teeth. "We'll have to. If we go in, we would be getting in his way. But get ready regardless." Shinobu takes out a syringe case and presses it to Kanao's side. "Here Kanao-chan. Use your eyes and throw it when you have the opportunity."

Kanao takes it. "I thought you were out of them?"

"Only the specialized ones. This one is the regular cure but it can still help us."

Thunk

Splash

Shink

Plop

Shinobu blinks as Giyuu ducks under a fan swipe. 'Oh?'

Giyuu then cuts the ice blood arts before he looks at Shinobu and gives a subtle nod.

'Oh thank Kami.' Shinobu pats their shoulders. "Giyuu came back to his senses. Get in position."

"Finally." Inosuke and Kanao crouch low and sneak on the wooden bridge. Shinobu does the same as she re-sheathes her blade and brings it out.

As Dōma pushes Giyuu back and makes an ice wall, it turns its head toward them. "Ahaha nice try, but no matter how quiet you are, I can still sense you."

Shinobu clicks her tongue. "Move!" Shinobu and the others got up and run around Dōma.

Dōma swings its fan and- "Oh?" It slips and stumbles forward. It then turns and glares at Shinobu. "What did you to me!?"

Shinobu smirks, 'It's finally working.' The wall breaks and Giyuu charges and stabs at one of its shoulder. At the time, she catches Inosuke and Kanao closing in. 'This is it! Dance of the Centipede: Hundred-Legged Zigzag.'

The floor cracks as Shinobu bounds in a zigzag pattern toward Dōma's opposite side. Before it can swing the fan at Kanao, Shinobu is there and pierces the other shoulder, immobilizing its attack. "Go Kanao and Inosuke!"

"Yes nee-san!"

"Got it!"

Kanao and Inosuke jump and swing their swords at Dōma's neck—

Dōma looks up and shouts, "Nakime can I get some help here?"

All of sudden a rectangular box shoots towards Kanao.

'No time!' Shinobu lets go of her sword and jumps toward Kanao. She pushes Kanao out of the way—

"Gah!" Shinobu's back aches as she finds herself being pushed by the object. Shinobu tries to push herself off but the force keeps her flat against the wall as she watches the opposite walls comes closer and closer. 'No—'

Flutter

Shinobu finds Giyuu in front of her. "Giy—"

Giyuu cuts a shape around her. "Hold on."

Shinobu follows his words and then she feels weightless. Behind Giyuu, she watches as the wall with the missing hole slams into the wall. Then she feels herself fall and she tightens her hold. 'Oh dam—'

Giyuu twists them around.

"Giyuu what are you—"

Crash

Shinobu jolts as they slam onto something and start to roll around. After several seconds they stop with Shinobu on top of Giyuu and she pants her breath. "Kami that was something. Thank you Giyuu."

"Mhm."

Gasp

Shinobu shoots up. "Kanao-chan! Inosuke-kun!" She runs to a nearby door.

"Shinobu wai—"

Shinobu opens the door to find an empty room. "What?" She turns to Giyuu. "Where are they?"

Giyuu walks up to her. "Nakime's blood art must have taken us somewhere far. We could be on opposite ends from them."

"No," Shinobu stumbles but Giyuu catches her. "We have to go back."

Giyuu shakes his head. "We can't. Nakime would make sure we can't go back. Actually," Giyuu looks around. "She must be distracted otherwise she would have continued."

Shinobu shakes her head. "No, no! These two are stuck with that monster. We have to—"

Giyuu grabs her shoulder. "Shinobu." He shakes her shoulders. "Shinobu."

"Abbababa s-sto-op Gi-iyu-y-uu!"

Giyuu stops. "Do you trust them?"

It takes a few seconds before Shinobu's brain stops shaking. "What?"

"Do you trust them? During the fight, I can feel him become weaker than before. I assume your cure is working as intended?"

"I-yes I suppose so."

Giyuu nods, "I suspected so. When I use my blood art and felt something."

Shinobu's mind goes overdrive. 'Hmm. I guess using the blood art could speed up the process since the art uses up the demonic blood. Since Giyuu forced that monster to use a lot of blood art, it could accelerate the process, and made it hungrier.'

"I ask again, do you trust them?"

'Kanao-chan and Inosuke-kun have been training so much for this moment.' She sighs, "I'll have to."

"Good."

Tremble

Shinobu now realizes that Giyuu's hand is trembling on her shoulder. She paces her hand on top of it. "Are you okay? We found out that monster was responsible for your sister's death."

"I'm…I will be. For now—" Giyuu shoots up and looks to the side.

Shinobu watches him. "What is it Giyuu?"

"…I sense Muzan close to our position."

Shinobu freezes up.

"I also sense another demon close to him."

Shinobu gasps, "That could be Tamayo-san."

Giyuu looks back Shinobu. "You know of her?"

"A lot has happened when you were gone. But anyway, we have to save her."

"…Are you sure? It would be only two of us."

"…Yes." Shinobu nods, "Yes. She has done so much for us." She gets close to Giyuu. "She gave me chance to get you back. We're going to get her."

Giyuu stays silent before he nods, "Okay. Let's go." He turns and walks toward a door and opens a door. "Ready?"

Shinobu stops slightly behind Giyuu. "Ready." Giyuu nods and runs through the hallway with Shinobu following him.

After several minutes of turning and running, Giyuu tilts his head. "Nakime must be really distracted."

"How so?"

"She would have used her blood art to stop us from getting this close to Muzan."

Shinobu blinks. 'Oh right.' She bits her lips. 'Should I ask him now?'

"Shinobu?"

She jolts, "Hm?"

"What is it? You look distracted."

Shinobu works her jaw. "Since you have a blood art…did you…" Giyuu glances behind and Shinobu tries not to shiver at the 'Four' kanji staring back at her. Even with his vision elsewhere, he still leads them through the hallways.

.

.

.

"…No, I haven't."

'Oh thank Kami.'

"However,"

Shinobu tenses, 'Oh please no.'

"Dōma…forced me to watch him eat so many women."

"I…I'm so sorry."

"Mhm."

Shinobu gnaws her cheeks. 'I have to shift topics.' "Then how do you have a blood art then?"

"It must be because Muzan injected his blood into me after I became a demon. I noticed I was able to control liquids and have absolute control inside my body."

"So that's how the ice mist didn't affect you."

"Mn."

Giyuu stops at the door and looks back. "He's behind this door."

Shinobu gulps and looks at herself. 'My sword is gone. I have a few kunais and wisteria eggs with the last syringe. It looks like Giyuu will have to take on Muzan.' She looks up and nods.

Giyuu nods back and open the door to reveal a perpendicular hallway. Shinobu steps forward and just below them is some kind of flesh cocoon in the open space with several tendrils sticking to the walls. She stops at Tamayo's head. "Tamayo-san!"

Her head twitches toward them. "Kocho-san? Oh thank Kami you're here."

Shinobu glances at the fleshy mass. "Is that Muzan?"

"Yes. He did this to fight against the cure and I believe he's close to breaking it down. Please get me out."

"Okay." Shinobu looks around. 'There's no way we can pull her out. It seems most of her body is absorbed into the cocoon.' Her eyes stop at Giyuu's sword. "Giyuu, are you sure your sword can't kill a demon?"

"Yes." He then glances at Tamayo's head. "Do you mean…"

Shinobu nods, "It's the only way. You cut and I'll catch her."

Giyuu nods and crouches low. "Whenever you're ready."

"Make sure to make it clean with none of Muzan's flesh with her." Shinobu looks at Tamayo. "Get ready Tamayo-san. Also we're sorry for doing this to you." She crouches down as well.

"Wait wha—"

"Now."

Giyuu blurs and rolls to an open hallway.

"Ack—"

Shinobu speeds through the opening and catches her head. "Got you." She continues her trajectory and rolls next to Giyuu. After she stands up, she checks over Tamayo. "Are you alright? Are you turning into ash?"

Tamayo's eyes dart around. "I…no I'm not. I'm still here."

Shinobu sighs, "Oh thank Kami."

"This—"

Giyuu looks at them. "I sense multiple people coming to this location."

"What?" Shinobu cradles Tamayo's head and runs to the opening.

Just then, multiple slayers appear in all of the openings that surround the cocoon.

Step

Step

Shinobu looks behind to see a couple of squads behind her. 'So many here.'

"Look. It's Muzan!"

"Can anyone reach it?"

"Wait, is that Kocho-sama?"

"Isn't the person next to her Tomioka-sama?"

"But isn't he a demon? Look, his eyes are marked Upper Four."

"Kiriya-sama told us that Tomioka-sama is on our side though."

'I need to clear any possible misunderstanding.' She gestures to Giyuu. "Giyuu is our ally! He has regained his sense and will fight Muzan."

The slayers start to get excited.

"Wait…"

Shinobu looks down at Tamayo. "What is it?"

"Get them away…Muzan has nullified the humanization cure. He's going to wake and will be extremely hungry."

Shinobu widens her eyes and looks to the cocoon shifting. 'Oh no.' She swipes her hands. "ALL SLAYERS RETREAT FROM THIS LOCATION! MUZAN HAS AWAKENED!"

"But we can defeat him now—"

Just then a ponytailed slayer shows up with a crow. "Orders from Kiriya-sama are the same as Kocho-sama. Retrea—"

Squelch

Shinobu drops her jaws as Muzan bursts forth from the sack. She immediately notes the changes. 'White hair. Multiple mouths. It looks like it's optimized for…eating.'

Boom

Shinobu staggers from the force beside her and she looks up again to see Giyuu charging at Muzan. She looks around to see the slayers staring at them in awe. "RETREAT!"

The slayers finally move back and retreat. One of the slayers behind her tugs on Shinobu's shoulder. "We should go Kocho-sama."

Shinobu takes a step bac—

Shing

Muzan crosses his arms and blocks the attack as it glares at Giyuu. "You fucking traitor. I knew I should have killed you on that day." It shifts its eyes and focuses at Shinobu's direction. "Tamayo." It swipes Giyuu away and charges at them.

"Move!" Shinobu jumps back and throws her kunais right as Muzan lands on the edge.

Shink

Shink

The knives embedded inside the head. "Really? Poison?"

Shinobu turns around. "Run!" She holds on Tamayo as she runs after the slayers. She looks behind as Muzan pulls out the knives.

Just as it took a step, Muzan moves to the side and an object blurs past it.

Giyuu rolls and rights himself just to block a swipe from Muzan.

Shinobu looks forward again. "Move! Giyuu will be our rearguard. Get out of here!"

Clang

As she runs, she looks down to see Tamayo's eyes droopy. "What's wrong Tamayo-san?"

Squelch

"I'm sorry about that. It took…everything in my power to purge Muzan's cells inside me. I'll be fine. I just need rest."

Thwack

Shinobu's eyes narrow. "I see." She looks at the nearest slayer. "Hold your sword out."

"Yes Kocho-sama?" The slayer still holds her sword out toward the Pillar.

Shinobu grabs onto the sword and slides her hand.

Shlick

Shinobu grits her teeth as the edge cuts open her palm.

"Kocho-sama?!"

"I'm fine! Keep moving." Shinobu shoves her palm into Tamayo's mouth.

"Mph? Koch—"

"Suck. We need you awake and help us against Muzan."

Tamayo blinks but sighs and starts to suckle on the open wound.

Shinobu jolts, 'Kami that feels weird.' She looks behind to see that they gained distance but Muzan is still pushing Giyuu. She looks forward and looks at herself. 'Something. Anything to help Giyuu.'

Slosh

She looks up and stares at the gourd bouncing off of the slayer's hips. 'That's it!' "Slayers!"

The closest slayers glance at her.

"Pass this order to the front of the group: To anyone who has a gourd of water, cut the top off and leave them alongside the walls." Seeing their confused stares, she continues, "Trust me, this will definitely help Giyuu."

The slayers look at each and then nod. As they pass the order, the slayers bring out their gourd and moves to the side. They cut the top off and place them down.

Shinobu turns around. "Giyuu! There's water inside the gourds and they're at the side!"

Giyuu nods as he parries a hand and jumps past the first gourd. Just then the water rises from the opening and slams into Muzan's leg, Muzan stumbles and Giyuu cuts off a hand.

Muzan swipes its other hand but the water reforms and deflects it. "Parasite. Using my gifts against me?"

"We're entering a room!"

Shinobu looks back to see a doorway as the slayers exit through it. After a second, Shinobu runs through and blinks at the bright lights. She readjusts her sight to see a very spacious room. They stop in the middle of the area. 'This is it.' She looks at the slayers. "Anyone who's still holding a gourd, place them here and get out of here."

"But Kocho-sama—"

Boom

Shinobu turns to see Muzan breaking a wall.

She turns back. "You'll just be food for Muzan. Now go!"

They finally nod as they place the gourds down and run to a room.

Caw

Shinobu looks up to see a crow.

"Caw. He has wide-range attacks. Don't get too close to him. Keep him here. More Pillars are on their way to this location."

Shinobu nods, "Thank you. Please stay a safe distance away."

Caw

The crow—

"Wait."

"Caw?"

"Do you know the status of Kanao-chan and Inosuke-kun?"

The crow tilts its head. "Caw. Kanao Tsuyuri and Inosuke Hashibara have defeated Upper Moon Two with non-fatal injuries."

Shinobu relaxes her shoulders. "Oh thank Kami."

Boom

Muzan and Giyuu enter the room.

Caw

The crow flies away as Shinobu runs close to the gourds. As they continue to fight, Shinobu watches as the water rises from the gourd and floats toward Giyuu. 'That's all of the water.' She looks down and pulls her hand back, "How are you feeling?"

Tamayo licks her lips. "Much better, thank you Kocho-san."

Twish

Muzan's hands transforms into bladed whips as it swings them at Giyuu, He in turn forms a water whip to deflect one while he blocks the other with his sword.

'So he's using the open area.'

"Kocho-san."

Shinobu looks back down. "What is it?"

"Just keep stalling for time. The drug I've given him…"

"What about it?"

"…I'm sorry but he'll hear us."

'Did she add something else to the formula? Well, that makes sense since she's being so secretive about it.' "All we have to do is stall right?"

"Yes. In time, it will show and we will win."

As they continue to fight, Shinobu passes her hand over her equipment. 'Damnit. If I used them, I might hit Giyuu and he'll get distracted.' She grits her teeth and stamps down that ugly emotion. 'I have to stay here and look out for everyone.'

Clack

Shinobu turns to the sound and smiles as she spots Kyojuro and Tanjiro running towards her. "Kyojuro-san. Tanjiro." She waves her hand. "Over here." As they run over, she notes black flame marks across Kyojuro's forehead. 'So he's got one.'

Tanjiro smiles, "Shinobu-san! I'm glad to see you."

"Umu! Same as me. I'm glad that the training helped."

"Thank you all, but now is not the time." She points at the battle. "Giyuu needs your help."

"Giyuu-san!?"

"Focus." Shinobu places Tamayo's head down and wraps her wounded hand with gauze. "Now he uses wide-range attacks so keep your distance and stall for as long as possible."

"Umu!"

"Got it-Eh?" He looks down at Shinobu's lap. "Tamayo-san?"

Tamayo smiles, "Don't mind me. Go."

"Umu!" Kyojuro grabs Tanjiro's shoulder. "Let's go Tanjiro-boy."

"Right."

The both of them rush in where Kyojuro deflects one arm while Tanjiro parries the other. Giyuu hesitates but he nods at them as water surrounds his body. When Tanjiro was about to deflects a whip, two more whips grew from Muzan's back and it attacks the boy. Tanjiro only deflects one of the whips but the other two—

Shink

Splash

Giyuu cut one tip down while a water sphere surrounds the other tip and changes the angle of the attack.

Boom

The whip is embedded on the floor with the surrounding area wet.

Shinobu bites her lip. 'There goes some of his water.'

Muzan then increases the frequency of attacks but each hit was deflected, parried, or evaded. It narrows its eyes and then stops their attacks.

"Eh?"

Tanjiro slightly stumbles but rights himself. At the same time, Kyojuro stays in places while Giyuu shifts back between them.

Muzan looks at them. "…You're stalling time. For what? The sun? You're wasting time since light won't reach inside this fortress."

Shinobu looks at Tamayo. "Do we have any other—"

"Can you really manage with just six Pillars?"

Shinobu jolts, 'What?'

It glances at Shinobu. "That one is useless while the one with the stripped haori and other woman Pillar are already dead from my subordinate."

Shinobu hears a ringing in her head as she stares at the wall behind Muzan. 'No…no…It can't be.' She can feel tears form at the corner of her eyes. 'Dammit Mitsuri-chan. Obanai-san. Why? I fulfilled my promise…'

"…-cho-san."

"Kocho-san!"

Shinobu jolts and looks down at Tamayo's eyes.

Her face softens, "I know this is hard for you, but you can't lose focus now. That…monster is getting desperate because he's getting afraid. He is and will always be a coward."

Muzan glares at them. "You shut your mouth Tamayo." It disappears from sight—

Shinobu widens her eyes as she grabs Tamayo and jumps away. "Oh Kami!"

Crack

She feels the ground where they were break from some monstrous force.

Woosh

Ting

As Shinobu rolls and rights herself up, She looks behind to see Giyuu, Kyojuro, and Tanjiro deflecting the flailing whips. 'That was close.' Shinobu turns and moves farther away from the battle. After a safe distance, Shinobu looks down at Tamayo. "Can we stall with the three of them?"

"Unfortunately, no. Even with him being hungry from breaking down the cure, he'll eventually overwhelm them. I'm assuming you gave the cure to Tomioka-san?"

"Yes."

"Then he will get tired as well."

"Well, what about the second stage? Won't it affect Muzan?"

"I don't how long it'll take to see the effects."

"And the other… stages?"

"They'll take time as well."

'So the sun it is.' Shinobu looks around at various openings and doorways. "Is there a way to get Muzan out of here?"

"We would have to find the demon using this blood art."

Shinobu bites her cheeks as she watches the battle. 'Would it be better for me to look for that demon? But how would I find it? Giyuu was the one who led us—' She looks at Tamayo. "Can you sense other demo—"

Crack

Boom

Shinobu drops her jaws as Mitsuri drops from the ceiling. "Wha—"

"Eat this you meanie!"

Mitsuri swings multiple slashing attacks at Muzan.

Squelch

A tentacle grows on its back and easily deflects her attacks.

"Shinobu-san."

Shinobu jolts and turns to see Obanai. "Obanai-san? But I thought you were dead?"

"It was—"

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING NAKIME!?"

Shinobu turns to see Muzan screaming at a random direction. 'Nakime? Isn't that—'

Everything shakes and shifts upward.

Obanai taps Shinobu's shoulder. "I'll be quick. Your demon friend took control of the demon controlling this fortress."

Tamayo gasps, "Yushiro!"

Obanai glances at the head. "…Right."

The floor changed into different doors designs at a rapid pace.

"Wah!"

They look to see Mitsuri clinging on a moving rectangle while Kyojuro and Giyuu attacks.

Everything stops for a second.

"I see," Tamayo looks at the shifting designs. "Muzan and Yushiro are fighting over for the demon. Keep him distracted and Yushiro could take us to the natural world."

Obanai nods, "I'll join—"

A large gap opens underneath Muzan and the others.

"Wha—"

Muzan squeezes its fist.

Creak

Shale

Tremble

Clatter

Shinobu places a hand down on the floor to stabilize herself. "What's going on?" She looks up to see Obanai join Mitsuri and Giyuu in fighting off the whip appendages.

Tamayo shifts her head. "I don't know, but he must have done something to the demo—"

The entire floor rises up toward the ceiling.

"Watch out!" Shinobu crouches down and covers Tamayo's head—