A Butterfly Frolicking in the Water Chapter 38, a kimetsu no yaiba/鬼滅の刃 fanfic

"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.

"-cho-sama!"

Shinobu groans and shifts around.

"Kocho-sama!"

Shinobu blinks her eyes open to see a slayer in front of her. "What…" She then notices the night sky. 'Wait…'

Gasp

'The night sky?!' She shoots up and looks around at the buildings. 'So we're outside of that fortress and in the real world.' She then looks at the squad surrounding her. 'They're the one from before…' Behind them, she glances at the unfamiliar buildings and electrical posts. "Where are we?"

The slayer closest to her looks around. "It looks like a city, but it doesn't seem to have a Corps base of operations."

Caw

"An hour and a half until sunrise!"

Caw

Shinobu widens her eyes and looks down to still see Tamayo in her hand. "Tamayo-san! Thank Kami you're still here. How are you?"

Tamayo coughs some smoke out of her mouth. "I'm doing fine dear."

Shinobu looks around to see several slayers walk in a daze and some pulling others out. She looks at the squad. "Get everyone able and organize the rescue process."

"Yes Kocho-sama. Where should we bring the wounded?"

Shinobu looks at the city. "Away from the epicenter of this and behind the building—"

BOOM

Shinobu turns to the sound and watches as Muzan rise from the ruins. New marks spread across its upper body and head. The hand returns back to humanoid shape but eight whip-like appendages appear on the back.

Muzan looks around. "Do you intend to keep me until sunrise!?" The hands transforms back into bladed tentacles. "Try it if you can!"

The appendages whip around Muzan in frenzy.

"EVERYONE TAKE COVER!"

Some of the slayers react and jump into cover while others throw their bodies over their half-buried comrades.

Squelch

But in an instant, several slayers didn't react in time and were cut down to pieces.

"No!" Shinobu grits her teeth and turns to them. "Get everyone out of here!

"Yes Kocho-sama!"

She watches as the squad splits off and directs the survivors away from the monster. 'Good.' She moves toward some cover and looks at Muzan to see the Pillars and Tanjiro cover the retreating slayers. Obanai ducks under a strike and moves closer to Muz—

"Wait. What are they doing!? Kocho-san, tell them to stop!"

Shinobu brings Tamayo up at the battle. "What do you mean?"

"Muzan can't die even if you cut off his head. We have to use the sun!"

Shinobu widens her eyes as Mitsuri and Kyojuro shift closer to Muzan. 'Oh no!' She runs closer to them and cups her mouth with her free hand. "STOP! YOU CAN'T CUT OFF THE HEAD! KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND WAIT FOR THE SUN!"

The three Pillars stop their advance.

Muzan glares at their direction. "You fucking wench!"

A whip appears in her vision.

'Too fast—'

Shink

Giyuu's upper body flies past her and crashes into a building.

Shinobu whips her head at her partner. "Giyuu!"

Giyuu waves his arm. "Go! I'm fine. Get Tamayo and yourself out of here."

Shinobu tightens her hold on Tamayo and runs back to cover. As she runs, she notes his regeneration. 'It's slower than before. He's getting closer to becoming a human.' She shifts her focus to see his sword broken. 'Damnit. It's my fault that this happened.' She then notes at the blood soaking the ground and her eyes widen. 'Water!' She charges at a nearby building and crashes though the door.

"Ah!"

"Sorry Tamayo-san." Shinobu looks around to see tables with chairs on top of them. 'A restaurant.' She clears the chairs away and places Tamayo's head down. "Keep watch for me Tamayo-san."

"What are you doing?"

Shinobu pulls out a kunai and starts tearing the table cloth. "Something to hold your head. I need both of my hands free."

"I see."

Clang

Shink

Squelch

Shinobu tries not to jolt as the battle rages outside the building. 'Faster! I need to find water and something to substitute his broken blade.' After agonizing seconds, she holds up her work. 'Done!' It was a makeshift hood. She wraps the hood and places Tamayo's head in the hole. "It's going to be tight Tamayo-san."

"That's fine. Now what?"

Shinobu then makes her way to the back kitchen. "There should be vases with water—"

Step

"Come on move through here."

"We got to regroup with the rest."

Shinobu pauses at the sounds. 'Those could be slayers,' She opens the back door to see a squad moving though the alley. "Hey! Wait!"

The squad stops and they turn to the sound. "Kocho-sama?"

She waves them over. "Quick! I need your help."

The slayers nod and come in. "What do you need Kocho-sama?"

"Do any of you practice Water Breathing?"

One of the slayers raises his hand. "I do."

"Will you allow Giyuu to use your sword?"

"Tomioka-sama? Of course!"

Shinobu nods, "Good. Now," She looks to see several vases of water. "I need your help to carry these vases out." See their confused stares, she elaborates, "Giyuu has a blood art that allows him to control water. He needs that and a new sword."

"Understood."

Several of them carry the vases while Shinobu leads them back to the front. She holds up a hand to stall them and then peeks out of the door.

The Pillars and Tanjiro move around as they deflect Muzan's appendage.

Shinobu looks back at the squad and nods at them. The group moves from cover to cover until they were behind Giyuu. After they get behind so ruins, they set the vase down. Shinobu crawls up the ruin and spots Giyuu. "Giyuu!"

The half-demon turns to her. "Shinobu?"

She waves him over. "Over here!"

Giyuu glances back at the battle before he jumps over to Shinobu. "Shinobu what are you—" He finally notes the group.

"I got you a new sword and some water. You're welcome by the way."

Giyuu then looks at one of the slayers. "Murata?"

Murata jolts and then presents his sword. "Please use this Tomioka-sama."

Giyuu accepts the sword—

"Kyah!"

They turn to see Mitsuri on the ground with a whip speeding towards her, "Mitsu—"

Thwoom

Squelch

An iron-spiked ball breaks the appendage.

Shinobu blinks and then follows the chains to see Gyomei. "Gyomei-san!" The giant of man is in just his slayer uniform with several shallows cuts across his skin.

Shink

Shinobu turns back to Muzan to see Sanemi cutting the demon right down the middle. "Wai—"

Muzan instantly regenerates and attacks Sanemi. He in turn flips over the attacks and throws several gourds at Muzan. The demon king cuts them and some kind of liquid cover Muzan.

Splash

Sanemi lights a match and throws it at Muzan.

Fwoosh

Muzan pats himself to put the fire out. "That's dirty—"

Kyojuro, Gyomei, Tanjiro, and Obanai close in and take out several appendages.

Sanemi looks at their direction and hops over. Once there, he looks at Giyuu. "You look like shit as a demon."

Giyuu blinks, "Hello Shinazugawa."

Sanemi then looks at Shinobu and points at a building. "We need your help. My brother and Muichiro are heavily injured over there." He then jumps back into the fray as Mitsuri recovers and joins in.

Giyuu looks at Shinobu. "You should go Shinobu." He points at a group of kakushi members escorting wounded slayers out of the area. "The others need your help."

Shinobu watches the battle. '…We all have our specialty.' "I better see all of you resting in my infirmary."

"Hm." Giyuu concentrates and a large of sphere of water rises from the vase. He then jumps into the battle with the sphere above him.

Shinobu frowns, 'That's less than the last time.'

Tamayo moves her head. "We should go Kocho-san."

"Right." Shinobu turns to the squad. "Go help the others." She then points at Murata. "You tell a kakushi squad to come with medical supplies to that location where Muichiro-kun and Genya-kun are."

They salute. "Yes Kocho-sama."

They split off whereas Shinobu runs and hops behind ruins while the battle goes on. After several jumps, she stands at the area where Sanemi pointed. "Muichiro-kun? Genya-kun?"

"Here."

Shinobu runs to the sound and finds them behind a building.

Gasp

"Oh Kami."

Shinobu looks over them. 'Muichiro-kun is unconscious and is missing a left arm. Puncture wound at the right shoulder. Right hand is tied to a red blade-' Shinobu blinks, 'Red?' She then shakes her head and then shifts to the other slayer. 'His legs are cut off with the upper thighs remaining. I need to stop the bleeding.'

Step

Shinobu turns to see a group of kakushi members carrying medical supplies. "Kocho-sama."

"Good timing. Let's get started."

"Yes Kocho-sama." The kakushi team moves to the injured slayers.

As they work on them, Tamayo speaks up. "Are you going to do blood transfusions?"

"Right." Shinobu looks at one of the kakushi members. "Are there any hospitals in this city?"

The member points at a direction. "The hospital is on the other side."

Shinobu grits her teeth. "It'll take a long time to get there. I'd rather not move them more than necessary. In addition, I don't have the tools to identify blood types."

Tamayo nudges her head. "I can."

"What? How?" Shinobu then looks at the head. "Oh right." She looks at the kakushi members. "Are there any volunteers?"

All of them raise their hands.

"Right. I'll test you all one by one." She points at one of them. "You. Take the needles and tubes for transfusion."

"Yes Kocho-sama." The kakushi searches through their supplies.

Shinobu then grabs several swabs and starts with Muichiro. She dabs the swab and presents it to Tamayo.

"Okay. I have the taste. Now for the volunteers' blood."

After each member dabs their blood on the swabs, Tamayo licks them. "Okay. Those two have the same type as him."

"Got it." Shinobu points at the member who took out the needles and tubes. "Get started on Muichiro-kun." She then swabs Genya and presents the blood.

Tamayo's eyes widen, "Are you demon?"

Shinobu widens her eyes as well. "What?"

Genya shakes his head. "Sort of. I can eat demons and become a temporary demon." He looks around. "Damn, are there any demonic parts around here? I can heal my legs again."

Shinobu glances at Tamayo. 'Would she be opposed to it? Maybe just a piece-' She blinks, 'Wait.' She looks back at Genya. "Can you eat a flesh katana?"

Genya perks up. "Yes I can! I've done it before with Upper Moon One's sword."

Shinobu raises an eyebrow at that, 'Upper Moon One?' "…I see." Shinobu then looks over Muichiro. 'The bleeding seems to have stopped. I wonder if he's unconsciously closing the wounds.' She looks at the elevated position of the kakushi as the blood travel from their arm to Muichiro's arm. 'He's stabilizing.' She points at one of the member. "Come with me and carry Genya-kun."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

Shinobu looks at the rest. "Everyone else, keep him stable. If the battle gets worse or too close, you have my permission to move him."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

She points at one of the kakushi member. "Are you ready?"

"Of course Kocho-sama." She wraps the teen's arms around her necks and looks back at him. "Are you feeling fine?"

The teen slightly tinges and he glances at the side. "…Yeah."

'Wow.' Shinobu shakes her head and gestures the kakushi to follow her. "Let's go."

"Yes Kocho-sama." The kakushi member holds onto his thighs and runs after Shinobu.

As Shinobu takes them around the battlefield, she glances at Genya. "So you fought Upper Moon One? I assume you fought with Muichiro-kun, Gyomei-san, and your brother?"

"Yes Kocho-sama."

"Was it a difficult battle?" 'I can't imagine the gap between that demon and Dōma.'

The teen nods, "It was. There were several times I thought I died. I think what saved us was that the three of them threw some kind of syringe at him." Genya tilts his head. "Aniki told me it was the cure used on Nezuko and it definitely helped since I saw that demon weakening."

"I see." 'They must have used after hearing Giyuu becoming our ally.' Shinobu glances at the battle: Everyone but Giyuu seems be panting for breath now. Mitsuri was too slow to react to a sneak attack, but a sphere of water splashes against the whip. When Tanjiro transitions his moves to an unknown technique, Giyuu jumps by him to deflect an attack. Throughout the battle, Giyuu moved around the battle to protect the others. 'His unlimited stamina is a Kami-send.'

They reach to the back of the crater where Giyuu first crashed into. She looks at them. "Stay here. We'll look for the blade." After they nod, Shinobu sneaks to the front and starts to look for it. 'Come on.' She moves rubble out of the way. 'Where is it?' She picks up a brick—

"Kocho-san I see it."

Shinobu stops, "Where?"

"To your left and upward."

Shinobu follows the instructions and finds the top half of Giyuu's blade. "Thank you." She picks it up and crawls back to the group. "Here Genya-kun."

"Right. I need to sit down and get these wrapping off of me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. They'll just get in the way of my legs."

"I suppose so." Shinobu helps the kakushi to place Genya against the wall and cut off the gauze around his wounds. "Here." She gives the blade to him.

"Thanks Kocho-sama." He holds the blade above his mouth. "Here we go again." He opens his mouth and plops it into his mouth.

Shinobu stares as the teen chews on the blade. "What does it taste like?" Shinobu blinks at that. 'Whoops, didn't meant to say that aloud.'

After a few seconds of chewing, he swallows it and his eyes become like demon slits. "It's similar to Upper Moon One but more," He tilts his head. "Watery and salty…if that makes sense." Just then flesh and bone grows from his wounds before his legs grow out.

Tamayo's head shifts in the hood. "Fascinating."

"Right," He picks up a double-barreled shotgun. "Now I can help out." He stands up and leans over the cover.

Shinobu strands up. "Wai—"

Boom

Shinobu jolts as the sound cracks through the sky. 'Too loud.' Shinobu looks at the battle to see pellet-sized holes peppered across Muzan's torso.

Muzan looks down. "You think that—"

Small bulges appear around the holes and move around the body.

Muzan stumbles, "You little—"

Smash

A ball destroys Muzan's head, but even it destroyed, the whips still attacks the Pillars and one of them speeds towards Genya.

"Oh shi—"

Sanemi cuts the whip and glares at their direction.

'Huh,' Shinobu takes notes of spots of his skin bulging out and colored purple. 'Is he infected—'

"What the hell are you doing!? Get Genya out of here!" He immediately jumps back to the fray.

"Right." Shinobu tugs on Genya's sleeve. "We're going back."

"But we—"

"Done enough. You just got your legs back and we need—"

Meow

Genya turns and draws his gun—

"Wait!"

Genya stops as Chachamaru walks out of the shadow.

"It's fine. The cat is on our side."

Genya looks at Shinobu to which she nods. Genya lowers the gun and the cat comes close to them.

Tamayo smiles, "Right on time."

Shinobu looks at the demon head. "For what?"

"Open the pack."

Shinobu bends down and opens it to see several modified vials with small needles in them.

"I've made these for the Pillars since we've talked about stalling Muzan until the sun comes out."

Shinobu picks up one. "What are these?"

"They're the serum to stave off Muzan's poison."

"What?!"

"You've seen it. Your friends' bodies are riddled with lumps of skin. It's most likely scratches from his whips and his blood got into their systems."

"…I see." 'I guess Giyuu isn't affected by that.'

"Unfortunately, Chachamaru's pack can only shoot out four at a time. We need to find a way to administer the rest of them to your friends."

Shinobu looks at the pack to see four vials sticking out of some kind of contraption. 'Huh.' Shinobu moves the vial up and down. 'It has the same weight as a kunai.' She looks back. "I'll throw the rest of them."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'm the best one here." She looks at Genya and the kakushi. "Go back to the others."

Genya shakes his head. "No. I'm staying here and helping out."

'Tch. Stubborn like your brother.' "Fine, but you'll staying by my side and listen to what I say. Got it?"

He nods.

The kakushi looks for a second before she nods, "Then I'll take my leave." She runs off.

Tamayo looks at the fight. "Now then, let Chachamaru go first."

"Right." Shinobu holds a vial on one hand while the others are in the other hand.

Tamayo looks down. "Go Chachamaru."

Meow

The cat scampers off toward the battle before it jumps up in the air above Muzan.

"Wha—"

The vials pop off from the pack and speeds toward Kyojuro, Gyomei, Sanemi, and Obanai.

Shink

A whip cuts off the cat's head.

"Oh my Kami—"

"It's fine."

Shinobu looks back. "What?"

"I turned Chachamaru into a demon before the battle. As long as we can get the head and body, Chachamaru can regenerate. Now we have to get the antidote to the others."

Shinobu looks back at the injected Pillars to see the lumps gone.

Sanemi flips over a whip. "I have no idea what the fuck just happened, but a stray cat just saved my ass!"

Muzan swings the whips again. "Stop struggling and just die!

'Right. Focus.' Shinobu looks at Genya. "Let's go."

"Right Kocho-sama."

They move throughout the battlefield from cover to cover. After several seconds, they reach their first target. "Tanjiro retreat!"

"Eh?" Tanjiro ducks under a whip and jumps back. "Shinobu-san why—"

Thawck

"Ow!"

A vial is sticking on his bicep.

"Why…" The lumps on his face disappear. "I see! Thank you Shinobu-san! Tamayo-san! And good to see you Genya!" The teen rushes back in.

"Last on—"

"Watch out!" Genya tackles Shinobu to the ground.

Thum

Pieces of the building fall over near them.

'That was close.' "Thank you Genya-kun." Shinobu stands up—

Sanemi stops by them. "What the hell! I thought I told you—"

"Shut up I know!" Shinobu starts to move. "Let's go before your brother attacks us instead."

"…Right."

They move cover to cover before they get behind Mitsuri. "Damn, we're going to wait for this one." Shinobu watches as Mitsuri twirls her whip-blade around to counter Muzan's whip. The Love Pillar retracts her blade and brings her arm back—

Another whip swings at her head.

"Ah!" Mitsuri dives behind a ruin. She then scrambles to stand up.

'Now!' "Mitsuri-chan over here!" Shinobu throws the vial.

"Eh? Shinobu-chan?" Mitsuri turns her back toward—

Thwack

"OW!"

Shinobu winces, "Oooo."

The vial is sticking out of Mitsuri's butt.

Mitsuri looks behind and pulls the vial off before finding Shinobu. "What the hell Shinobu-chan?" She then stops and looks at her lumps to see it disappear. "Oh? I feel better now." She then drops the vial and points at Shinobu. "I'm getting you back for this."

Shinobu gawps, "But it helped didn't it?"

Mitsuri huffs and runs back.

Shinobu shakes her head. "Honestly this is the thanks I get?"

Genya looks at Shinobu. "Admittedly you did get her in the…" He blushes, "backside."

Tamayo nods, "That was an odd area."

"Look, I thought she would turn toward us-" Shinobu does a double-take. "What the hell is Obanai-san doing!?"

Obanai is standing in the streets with both hands on the blade. Shinobu focuses to see him gripping the sword as hard as he can. "Seriously—"

Two whips swings at the Snake Pillar.

"You idio—"

Kyojuro and Giyuu blocks the attacks.

She sighs, "Thank Kami."

"Kocho-sama did you see that?"

"What?"

Genya points at Muzan and Shinobu catches Muzan regenerating an arm. "What happened?"

"I don't know. In a single moment, it looked like it was severed."

"Severed? Not cut?"

Muzan's other arm drops to the ground.

"See?"

"I did. What in the world is going?"

Tamayo gasps, "Oh! It's—"

Muzan's whips flail randomly around and the ground cracks from the force.

'What the—'

Kanao, Inosuke, and Zenitsu appear out of nowhere.

"Kanao-chan?! Inosuke-kun and Zenitsu-kun? How are they here?"

Inosuke screams and throws a bunch of paper into the air. "I got more from where these come from. Take them!"

Tamayo nudges Shinobu. "Get those Kocho-san. Those are Yushiro's talisman that allows the person to be invisible."

"That sounds really useful." Shinobu grabs Tamayo's head and plops her onto Genya's hands. "Hold her."

"Um, okay?"

Shinobu hops over the ruins and dashes for the papers. As she gets close, she spots Obanai dive in to cut both of Muzan's arms and several whips with a red blade. 'Red?' As she bends down to grab several talismans, she notes the regeneration. 'It's…slow.'

"Slow!" Sanemi laughs, "His regeneration slows down when he's cut by a red blade."

Shinobu runs back to the group and sticks one talisman on her forehead. 'Red like Muichiro-kun's blade?'

Clang

Shinobu looks back to see Gyomei had smashed his weapons together in a shower of sparks. After the sparks die out, she notes the weapons turning red. 'So he's doing the same.'

Clang

Shinobu gets back to Genya and Tamayo. "Here." She places the talismans on their foreheads.

Clang

Shinobu looks over to see Sanemi clashing his sword against Giyuu's sword.

Both of them turn bright red.

"Nice!" Sanemi rushes over to Kyojuro and does the same.

"Umu! My thanks Shinagawa-san!" Kyojuro cuts down the whips.

Giyuu in the meantime dashes over to Tanjiro and swings his blade at the teen's sword.

Clang

Shinobu smiles, 'Yes! With this we can—'

CRACK

Shinobu wobbles behind the cover as the ground suddenly shakes underneath their feet, 'What was that?' After the shaking died down, She looks up and—

'What?' She quickly looks around the area. Sanemi's feet are sticking out of that hole in the building across from them. Kyojuro's upper body is inside the ruin near to their hiding spot. Giyuu's body is strewn over Tanjiro's body. Obanai is over Mitsuri's body at the alley way. 'How? We had the upper hand.' She looks back and watches as Kanao falls to the floor on her knees. "NO!" She rises up and pulls out several kun—

Genya plops Tamayo's head back onto Shinobu's hands. "Hold her."

"Wha—"

Genya pulls his shotgun and pulls the trigger.

Boom

Shinobu watches as a whip spin and only a few pellets got through.

The whips looks around the area before it stop at their general location—

"Get down!" Shinobu pulls Genya's uniform down—

Shink

"Gah!" Genya drops to the ground and holds his bleeding shoulder. Beside his head is his talisman torn in half.

"Dammit!" She checks over the wound to see it slowly regenerate. "You're going to be fine." She looks over and sees Tanjiro in front of her with Kanao in his arm. She jolts, "Eh?" She glances behind to Muzan missing its arms and several whips.

Tanjiro places Kanao down. "Take care of her Shinobu-san."

'He can see me?' Shinobu touches her forehead for the paper but she only feels her skin. 'Oh, it must have been cut already.' She then quickly places Tamayo on her hood and accepts Kanao. "I-I will."

Muzan regenerates the lost limbs. "You think you can take me on alone?"

Tanjiro stands up and turns around. "Let's finish this Muzan." His figure blurs and then reappears behind Muzan.

Shing

Tanjiro alone cuts down Muzan's arm and several whips.

'Amazing. He's keeping Muzan busy all by himself.'

"Tan-Tanjiro…"

Shinobu looks down to see Kanao reaching for the teen. "Kanao-chan!" She inspects the wounds. 'Heavy bruises throughout her body. Cuts on her forehead and some blood got on her eye.' She pushes Kanao to the ground. "Stay here." 'I need to get some supplies.' She looks around and clicks her tongue. 'I should have brought some with me.' She cups her mouth. "Kakushi! I need medical teams here now!"

Step

Shinobu turns her head to see the first squad of kakushi with medical supplies run toward her.

"We're here Kocho-sama." Four of them work on Kanao and Genya. "More will come later."

"Good." Shinobu points at one of them. "You stay here and relay these orders to the others."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

She ushers the members over the cover and points at the downed Pillar members. "Once more kakushi come, split them into smaller groups and give medical treatment to the injured members. We need them up and assist Tanjiro against Muzan as fast as possible. He-" She looks back to see Giyuu joining in on the fight. "He and Giyuu will keep Muzan distracted but if you are able, move the wounded out of danger." She then points at Kyojuro. "I and two members will go to Kyojuro first because he is the closest."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

Shinobu looks down to see the tall teen's arm slowly regenerating. "Genya-kun. I need you to protect people here. No more of that reckless act. Got it?"

Genya gulps before he nods, "Got it."

"Good." She turns to the members on standby. "Ready?"

They shoulder their packs. "Ready Kocho-sama."

Tamayo's head move in the hood. "I can assist you and identify matching blood types if need be."

"Thank you Tamayo-san."

Caw

"Fifty-five minutes until dawn!"

"It's going to be rushed but they need all the help they can get." She looks at the fight. "Wait… They're too close to Kyojuro-san right now."

Tanjiro and Giyuu push Muzan to another part of the street.

"Move!" Shinobu and the two assistants rush over to Kyojuro.

As the members place the pack down and Shinobu take out the supplies, Tamayo lists off the injuries: "One puncture wound on his right side. I can see some his rib bones shaved off. The force of whatever attack must have cracked the rest of the ribs and bruised nearby organs. Slash marks across his arms and one across the forehead. In addition, some of Muzan's cell is inside of him."

"Thank you Tamayo-san. We'll take care of the puncture wound first." She holds up the gauze and looks at the kakushi members, "Take off the shirt."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

As they did, Kyojuro groans and opens his eyes and looks at Shinobu. "Shinobu-san?" He looks around. "What happen?"

She shakes her head. "We don't know. One second the ground cracked around Muzan and then all of you but Tanjiro were injured."

"Is there anyone fighting Muzan right now?"

Shinobu takes a glance and looks back to Kyojuro. "Giyuu and Tanjiro are keeping Muzan in place right now."

Kyojuro tries to rise up. "Then I have to join—"

Shinobu gently yet firmly pushes him back down. "Nuh-uh. I'm treating your injuries first before you get up." She looks at her jacket. "Not only that, I'll probably have to give you a small amount of the cure since I have to distribute it to the rest of the injured."

"Oh the cure?" Kyojuro reaches inside his jacket and takes out the box. "Here. You can use this."

Shinobu blinks before she continues her wrapping. "I thought you would use it against your demon."

"Akaza didn't really give me time to take this out."

"I see." She finishes the knot and takes the syringe out. She turns to the kakushi member. "Do we any replicable needles? I'd rather not give them an infection."

The member looks up from wrapping Kryojuro's arm. "Yes Kocho-sama."

"Great." Shinobu sticks the needle and gives a portion of the cure. "This will take care of Muzan's cell—"

"TAMAYOOOOOO!"

The ground shakes as Shinobu stabilizes herself. "What—"

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY BODY!?"

Tamayo smirks, "It seems the aging effect is taking in effect."

"Good." Shinobu takes out the syringe and replaces the needle. She then looks around and she spots several kakushi teams move to the injured. 'They can be stabilized and I-' "Isn't that Yushiro?"

"Where?"

Shinobu points at the corner of a building. "He's treating Gyomei-san."

"What a good boy."

Shinobu looks around the area to see several slayers with backpacks run around to give treatment and give serums to the kakushi. "Is that the serum your cat used before?"

"Yes."

"Perfect. We can split the work now." She looks down and pats Kyojuro's shoulder. "Normally I would tell you to stay but I know you won't do that."

"Umu!" He picks up his sword and stands up. "I will rest in your infirmary after this battle Shinobu-san." Kyojuro runs to the battle.

Shinobu shakes her head and looks to see more kakushi run to her side. "Let's move to the next patient."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

Shinobu and her group run to the couple.

Three kakushi members pick up Obanai. "Careful." They place him face-up next to Mitsuri.

Shinobu winces at three slash marks on his face. 'One of his eyes is gone.'

One of the members jolts, "Did he get injured on his mouth?"

"No," She stares at the old scar tissue around Obanai's mouth. "It's an old injury."

"Ah," The kakushi members dab the blood and then wrap his face.

Shinobu looks at Mitsuri. "Puncture wounds on her left cheek, arm and side." She looks at the other members. "Begin the treatment."

"Yes Kocho-sama."

"Urrgh."

Shinobu turns to see Obanai trying to stand up. "Stay down." She pushes him back down and the members work again.

"Where's Mitsuri?" Obanai tries to look around. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine." Shinobu tilts her head to the side. "She's getting treated. Now let the others finish their work on you."

"Kocho-sama."

She turns to a kakushi member. "Yes?"

He holds up a box. "We found this in their belongings."

'More syringes.' "Is there another one?"

He points at the side where there are the remains of a box "This was found."

"Damn." She takes the box and takes out the syringe. 'It seems undamaged.' She flicks it and then plunges it in Obanai as his wounds were dressed. "The cure will make sure that your body will be immune to Muzan's blood."

"I see." He slowly rises up with his sword in his hand. He stares at Mitsuri's form for several seconds. "…Take care of her for me."

"We will," Shinobu places the new needle into Mitsuri's arm and pushes a portion of the cure in. "But I better see you two at a wedding altar." She takes it out and replaces the needle.

"Heh. Same for you as well." Obanai turns and runs to the battle.

"Right." Shinobu turns to the members. "Who else—"

Caw

"Thirty-five minutes until dawn."

"That long—"

"HE'S RUNNING!"

"MUZAN IS RUNNING!"

Shinobu looks and watches Muzan tries to run but Giyuu and Kyojuro blocks its path. "What a coward."

Tamayo chuckles, "He's been one for centuries."

Just then his arm starts to swell up.

Shinobu glances at the head. "Is that another of his techniques?"

Tamayo laughs, "Just watch."

The swelling then deflates.

Muzan blinks at the arm and then looks around. "TAMAYO!" It dodges the sword strikes and runs again.

"…What was that?"

Tamayo smirks, "It's the third stage of the drug. It activates and prevents Muzan from trying to split himself into smaller pieces."

"He's done this before?"

"It was centuries ago when he was about to be killed by that swordsman I mentioned before. It's in Muzan's nature to try to survive in any means possible."

Shinobu can't help herself as she jogs closer to the battle. She watches as the Pillars and Tanjiro chase after Muzan.

"Now for the fourth stage."

"What's that?"

"Cellular destruction. His cells will slowly wilt and die. This works in conjunct—"

ROARRRRRRR

Shinobu gasp and she drops to the ground—

'Can't breath—'

She coughs up blood.

"-cho-san!"

Her body locks up and convulses on the ground.

'Can't focus- What—'

"Kocho-san!"

'My lungmylungmylung—'

"Kocho-san! Use the cure!"

Shinobu's hand shivers as she reaches for the syringe. 'Come on!' It feels like an eternity for Shinobu to open the box. Her fingers then grasp the handle and she plunges it into her heart.

Shink

Shinobu pushes the rest of the cure into her body.

"There there." Tamayo soothing voice reaches her ears. "The cure should cancel the blood art."

"It-does-doesn't feel like- it." Shinobu keeps stuttering as she curls up in a fetal position.

"Then focus on my voice. Breathe in. Breathe out."

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

"Are you feeling better Kocho-san?"

Shinobu can feel her convulsions fade out. "B-Better than before." She looks at the discarded syringe next to her head. 'Damnit. I accidently used all of that.' She looks around and spots a broken syringe on the ground. 'Dammit again. But I still have one more.'

Clang

Shing

Thunk

Shinobu looks up to see Tanjiro pinning to Muzan to a building. 'What in the world happen in that brief time I was down?' She staggers toward them—

Muzan's arm-whip spears—

Mitsuri grabs it. "That's enough out of you stupid!"

Rip

Mitsuri tears off the arm.

Muzan's back-whip swings at her—

Kyojuro jumps in and cuts the tentacles.

On the other side, Sanemi cuts the rest of whips and pins his sword at Muzan's shoulder.

Muzan's face then splits and a giant mouth forms from the head to the chest.

"Oh Kami!"

Two figures blur in and attack Muzan. Giyuu comes from the left and pushes his body into the massive rows of teeth in order to protect Tanjiro.

"Giyuu!"

Shink

On the other side, Obanai sinks his blade into Muzan's side.

"Yes!"

Shinobu's ears ring from Tamayo's shout.

Sanemi pushes his sword deeper. "Keep him here! The sun is rising!"

She jolts at that. 'Wait,' She stares at Giyuu and then Tamayo. A moment passes, 'Damnit what do I do? Do I go to the shade first for Tamayo-san? Should I throw it at Giyuu? Is this syringe enough to turn him into a human before the sun goes up? But Tamayo-san is a full demon.' She grits her teeth. "Tamayo-san we should go bac—"

ROARR

Shinobu feels herself fly backward—

Thwack

Crack

"Ah!"

Shinobu groans as she rubs the top of her head. 'Kami that hurts.' She then brings her hand in front of her face to see a slight tremble. 'It's weaker than the first shockwave.'

Light touches her hand.

Gasp

'Oh no!' She flips herself over and crawls to the shaded area of an alleyway. "Tamayo-san!" She unties the hood and brings the head forward. "Are you alright?"

Tamayo blinks her eyes. "I-I'm fine. I think I have a concussion."

Shinobu sighs, "You're out of the sun at least." She jolts and gasps, "Giy—"

"WAHHHHHH!"

Shinobu drops her jaw at the growing giant baby on the wall. 'Is…that…Muzan?' She shifts her focus down to see Giyuu covering his face but his exposed skin sizzles under the light. "Giyuu!"

Tanjiro pushes Giyuu away before the teen gets swallowed by the demonic baby.

"Tanjiro!"

Shinobu whips her head around. "Yushiro!? Is there anyone there!?"

When no one showed up, Shinobu looks down. "I'm going to leave yo—"

"What do you want Insect lady?"

Shinobu looks behind to see Yushiro peek his head from a door. "Good, you're here. Catch." She tosses Tamayo toward Yushiro.

"Ah—"

"DON'T THROW TAMA—"

Shinobu turns around and sprints back to Giyuu who is crawling toward the fleeing baby with his face covered. "Nuh uh." Shinobu grabs Giyuu's collar and drags him back to ruins. "You're coming with me."

Giyuu looks back. "Shinobu? I have stop Muzan and get Tanjiro back."

She notes that one of his eyes is dark blue. 'He's not turning to ash but his skin is still burning.' "And you can' do that with being dead. I didn't do everything just to have you die in front of me." After she drags him to shaded spot, she takes out her last syringe. "Now hold still." She sticking in in him and pushes all of the liquid in. "Now stay—"

Crash

Shinobu looks up to see a book shelf crash into the baby.

Shink

Crack

Several of the slayers throw their poisoned knives and wisteria eggs at it.

"WAHHH!"

The knives barely penetrated the skin and the baby continues unimpeded through the purple mist before several cars crashes into it. "RAGH!" It raises its fist and smashes the car but the kakushi members got out safely.

"Dammit! It's not enough." Shinobu looks around. 'I need to rouse the others.' She then spots Mitsuri trembling on the ground. 'There's Mitsuri-chan!' She runs to her. 'Where are the other—'

Clink

"He's trying to dig through the earth!"

Shinobu turns back to see Gyomei's chain wrapped around its neck as its trying to dig through the ground. Several kakushi members hold onto the giant man as Giyuu, Kyojuro, Sanemi, and Obanai try to cut into the demonic flesh. With her sight, She catches Giyuu's skin had stopped burning but it's getting red. 'Damn his stubbornness.' She turns back and rushes to Mitsuri. 'We need her strength to keep Muzan in the sun.' She bends down and pulls Mitsuri. "Come on Mitsuri-chan. We need you now more than ever!"

"Blergh." Mitsuri groans as she holds onto Shinobu and pulls herself up on shaky legs.

"Even if I have to carry you we're—"

Sqelch

Shinobu stops as the baby recoils from the ground, blood spurting from its mouth.

'What the…'

"WAHHHHHHH!"

The baby starts to disintegrate and the ashes fly through the wind until there is nothing left.

"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

"WE DID IT!"

"HE"S DEAD!"

Everyone cheers at the death of Muzan.

Shinobu and Mitsuri leans on each other. "Oh Kami," Shinobu can feel her eyes wet. "We did it."

Mitsuri starts to sob, "We did."

"It's not over yet!"

Shinobu jolts as a kakushi member sweeps their hand.

"Treat the wounded!"

That sobers up Shinobu. 'Right.' She leads Mitsuri toward them. "Let's get going Mitsuri-chan."

"Leave me here Shinobu-chan I can take care of myself."

"You're injured too."

Mitsuri wipes her eyes. "I can't believe I was so useless in this fight."

"Shut up. You helped and fought against Muzan with everyone else. You were more useful than I ever I was."

"No you shut up! You made sure we could keep fighting together with that talking head. You also got Tomioka-san back with us. You were not useless."

Obanai jogs back to them. "Mitsuri. Shinobu-san."

"Obanai!" Mitsuri throws her arms open and falls to the ground.

"Woah!" Obanai rushes forward and catches Mitsuri.

Plop

They still fell to the ground.

"Ow."

"Blergh."

Shinobu blinks, "…Are you two alright?"

Obanai looks at Shinobu. "We're fi-…we're tired. You go on ahead. The others need your medical help. Especially Kyojuro-san. He took the brunt of the shockwave to protect us."

'Muzan was still that powerful then? I guess I got lucky since I was farther away from them.' "Okay. I'll send a couple of kakushi members to looks after your wounds." Shinobu jogs for several seconds and the first she sees is Zenitsu. She stops by the group. "How is Zenitsu-kun doing?"

The kakushi working on him looks up. "He's going to be fine Kocho-sama."

"Wahhh."

"Oh stop crying. Be happy that you're alive."

Shinobu sighs, "That's good." She jogs toward the unconscious Kyoju—

"Ahhhh!"

"Take some steps back!"

Shinobu stops and looks at the direction of the scream. "What is—"

"Those who can still move pick up your weapons and gather together!"

'That was Giyuu.' Shinobu starts to run toward the sound. It takes several seconds before she spots Giyuu plunging a sword into Tanjiro and keeping him on the ground. "GIYUU WHAT ARE YOU Do…ing…"

Tanjiro snarls his fangs as his face burns from the sun.

'No…no…how? We defeated Muzan.'

Tanjiro then stops burning.

'Oh no.'

He swings his arm and smashes Giyuu's chin.

Smack

Giyuu's head whip back as Tanjiro goes for another swing for his hea—

Shing

"What the hell are you doing!?"

Inosuke rushed in and smacked Tanjiro's arm with his swords.

That jolts Shinobu and runs a little closer. "Please Tanjiro! Come to your senses!" She pats her pockets to look for her syringe. "We can cure…" Her face pales as she feels nothing. 'I used it all up on Giyuu.'

Tanjiro leaps at Inosuke and swipes at his face. Inosuke steps back and swings his sword.

Shinobu takes her kunai and egg out as she runs to the side. 'Dammit.' The both of them move about as they fight each other. 'I can't get a good line of sight on Tanjiro.'

Inosuke swings his sword at Tanjiro neck.

But he stops.

Tanjiro takes this chance and thrusts him arm at Inosuke.

'Damnit!' Shinobu pulls her hand back—

Flutter

Shinobu blinks as Nezuko charges in and hugs Tanjiro. She blinks, '…What? When did she get here?'

"RARRRGH!"

Tanjiro bites Nezuko and rushes forward—

Zenitsu and a kakushi member tackle Tanjiro to stop him in his path. "Stop it Tanjiro! It's your sister! You're going to kill her like this!"

Shinobu moves side to side. 'I can't get a good line of sight.'

"We said stop it!" Inosuke smacks his fist at Tanjiro's head.

Shinobu grits her teeth. 'We'll have to restrain him and get him to the Estate.' She sheathes the tools and rushes forward and grabs onto Tanjiro's arm. "Tanjiro please! Come with us to the Estate. We can cure you."

Inosuke continues to smack his head. "Go back to the original Tanjiro!"

ROARRRRRRRR

Thwack

Shinobu gasps and coughs blood. 'Wha…what happened?' She tries to stand up but she flops back. 'It's the same attack Muzan used, but,' She feels arms legs and arms numb. 'I think I hit some nerves.'

Boom

She looks up and stares At Tanjiro who in on all fours and several whips sprout from his back. 'No…' Nezuko wraps her bloody arm around Tanjiro's neck and was saying something to Tanjiro. From the edge of her vision, Giyuu lunges and fights the whips. 'Dammit,' She grits her teeth and tries to force her muscles to respond. 'Move!' Her legs and hands twitch. 'Faster!'

Thud

Shinobu looks up to see Kanao running toward Tanjiro. "K-Kanao-chan!?"

Once she gets close enough, Kanao swings her arm at Tanjiro, but he also swings his arm for her eye.

"No!"

At the last moment, Kanao flips over Tanjiro and stabs a syringe into his back.

'The cure! She still had it.'

Shink

At the same time a whip pierces her side.

Kanao flops to the ground.

"KANAO-CHAN!"

Shinobu tries to more her shoulders forward but she flops back to the wall.

Plop

A second later, Tanjiro falls to the ground as well.

She squeezes her eyes and throws her head back. "ANYONE! HELP! WE NEED HELP!"

Step

Finally a platoon of kakushi members rushes to the scene.

Several seconds later, Giyuu limps toward Shinobu. "Are you alright Shinobu?"

She shakes her head. "I'm fine. How's Kanao-chan?"

Giyuu looks back. "I see several members treating on her wound."

"How are the others?"

"They're being treated as well."

She sighs, "Good." Shinobu looks at Kanao. "Can you take me there?"

"Of course." Giyuu crouches down and places the sword to the side. He leans forward and hooks his arms around her back and knees. He grunts and picks her up. After some time, he places Shinobu close to Kanao as kakushi wraps her wounds with gauze.

Shinobu puts all of her efforts to reach for Kanao but only managed to lift her hand. She sighs and gives up. 'It's something.' She looks at the kakushi. "How is she?"

The kakushi looks up from his work. "The wound is non-fatal. She's going to make it."

Shinobu relaxes in Giyuu's arm. "Oh thank Kami." Shinobu then looks at him. "How about you? Are you doing alright?"

Giyuu looks down with two dark blue eyes. "I finally feel tired."

Shinobu smiles, "That means you're human. And besides, I like your eyes blue. The kanji were a little tacky."

Giyuu nods his head. "That's good to hear. Can we check on Tanjiro?"

"Sure. You're the one with control of their legs."

"Mn." He stands up and walks over to the large group overlooking the sleeping Tanjiro. On the side are Nezuko and Zenitsu while Inosuke is near Tanjiro's head. Giyuu goes to the other side and sits down. He looks at the nearest kakushi. "How is he?"

"Still unconscious."

"Hm." He shifts Shinobu to the side. "May I?"

"Sure."

Giyuu places Shinobu on his side and wrap one arm around her waist while he places his other hand on Tanjiro's chest. "Tanjiro. You must wake up. Everyone is waiting for you."

Step

"Oh Kami Shinobu-chan!"

Giyuu leans her to the side to see Obanai and Mitsuri limp their way toward them.

"Are you alright?"

Shinobu smiles, "I'm fine. I just can't move for a while."

They stop and sit down next to them. "What happened? We heard shouting."

"Ah. The short story was that Tanjiro became a demon."

Mitsuri gasps, "Oh no!"

"Luckily, Kanao-chan had the cure on her and she was able to inject it into Tanjiro."

"Oh Kami is she alright?"

Shinobu looks at Kanao's direction. "She's receiving treatment but she'll make it."

"Mnnngh."

Everyone looks at Tanjiro and holds their breath.

Tanjiro opens his eyes and looks around. "What…"

Shinobu blinks at the eye color change. 'Oh my. It's a dull pink-gray now.'

Nezuko sobs, "Onii-chan."

Tanjiro cries as well. "I'm sorry. Are your wounds okay?"

Several of the kakushi members stand up and throw their fists in the air. "Tanjiro is back!"

"YAYYYY!"

Everyone cheers.

Shinobu huffs, 'Is this it? Is it finally over? Can we be happy now?' She catches something moving in the windows. 'Hmm?' She focuses on the figures and it was Yushiro holding Tamayo''s head. She huffs again. 'A shame they can't join us.' Her eyelids start to grow heavy. 'I guess my body ran out of adrenaline.' She forces herself to reach for Giyuu's hand but it drops on Giyuu's lap.

Plop

"Hm?" Giyuu looks at the hand. "Do you need something?"

Shinobu smiles, "Just your hand."

Giyuu places his hand on hers. "Then you can hold it forever."

Shinobu chuckles, "What a way to accept my wedding proposal." She tilts her head and lets it fall on Giyuu's shoulder. As she watches the others celebrate, Shinobu finally lets go and lets darkness take her.