Kagami held her sword tightly in her grip standing behind the towering, protective figure of Mr. Uzui. In the middle of the darkened building that should've collapsed on itself from the explosion inflicted by him were Gyutaro and his little sister perched on his shoulders. They had been wrapped protectively in a ball of obi created by her and they both seem unaffected by the attack. Mr. Uzui on the other hand had half of his face bloody from an earlier attack by Gyutaro. Except, by the way he was standing, he was still ready to fight.

"You're starting to piss me off. You're a good-looking guy, you have three wives to yourself, and on top of that, you're teeming with confidence," Gyutaro whined gripping his flesh sickles tightly. His growl landed on the blank canvas that was Mr. Uzui. It twitched erratically into a maniacal smile. "You're different, aren't you? You're not like any of the other Hashira I've slaughtered. Normally people have to train to get strong, but I'm sure you were born with strength, weren't you? Being born with talent must be nice. I thought I was envious before, but I'm so jealous right now, all I can think about is tearing you to shreds!"

Kagami knew that demon was insane. Whoever wished to be born with talent and strength didn't know the hardships that came with it. She doesn't feel conceited or vain when she speaks she was born with talent. That she was born natural strength that allowed her to wield Dragon Breathing. But to her it wasn't natural at all.

Yes, she was born with the power of Dragon Breathing, a technique that rivals Tanjiro's Sun Breathing but could never surpass it. The only reason she could handle such a power was because it was forced down on her. Her body was forced to be born strong, to be born talented, in order to fulfill a contract made 500 years ago. A contract that was pushed down her throat against her will. Gyutaro was ignorant when it came to wanting to be born powerful and dangerous. Kagami was, and she hates both she and Tanjiro are stuck in an infinite loop of obligations that will continue down their bloodlines until Muzan Kibutsuji is dead. The contract will kill her if she fails her duty.

"Born with talent? Huh!" Mr. Uzui suddenly scoffed almost cheerfully.

Both Kagami and Gyutaro regarded him with a confused, "Huh?"

A smile was stretched on Mr. Uzui's face. It was almost smug-like when he spoke, "You think I look like someone with any talent to boast of? If someone like me gives that impression, then you're more out of touch than I thought. You may be centuries old, but if you've been stuck in this district, then your ignorance to the real world makes sense."

The sister still perched on Gyutaro's shoulders glared at Mr. Uzui and hissed, "What do you know about the real world?!"

"I know it all too well," He snapped back at her. Even though he sounded upset and frustrated, that smile still lingered on his face. "You have no idea. This country of ours, it's giant! It's full of people who would blow your mind. Some are a complete mystery. They can pick up a sword and become a Hashira in just two months! Yet you're saying I'm special? What a load of crap!" His smile disappeared and Kagami watched a sorrowful and angry look replace it. "Do you have any idea... just how many lives have slipped through my fingers? That's right. Rengoku was always ahead of me in that regard."

Kagami's heart twinged at his memory. Mr. Rengoku didn't hesitate to save the 200 passenger lives on the Mugen Train and sacrifice his own to save not just her, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, but everyone that was trapped underneath and inside from Akaza, the Upper Rank Three demon.

Though, what made grief show itself more inside of her was the fact Mr. Uzui was in despair over the countless of lives that he couldn't save. He didn't show it, not a speck of sadness flew by his face in all the time she'd known him, but it was always dwelling in his eyes. It was especially apparent now. He forced himself to take on the facade of a boastful, arrogant, and confident man to bury those feelings of guilt. That had to be the reason why Mr. Uzui wanted Kagami, Tanjiro, and Inosuke to leave the Entertainment District once Zenitsu was found missing. He wouldn't be able to handle more lives becoming lost and forgotten because of the mission he decided, and wanted, to undertake.

"If you aren't special, then what's going on? Both of my Blood Sickles are drenched with deadly poison. I'm positive it's entered your bloodstream by now, so why aren't you dead?! HUUUUH?!" Gyutaro screamed aloud scratching ferociously at his neck.

"I said I'm a trained shinobi, didn't I?" Mr. Uzui scoffed at him. "I'm immune to nearly all types of poison."

The sister angrily chimed in, "The shinobi were wiped out back during the Edo period, you fool. Don't think you can lie to us."

"It's not a lie," Mr. Uzui snapped before recalling with resentment in his tone, "The shinobi still exist. I had nine brothers and sisters. Seven died by the time I turned 15. Frightened that our clan would live on only in history, my father forced us to train as if our lives depended on it. The only survivors were myself and my brother two years younger than me, and he was exactly like my father. They shared the same mindset, treating subordinates like pawns. His wives were no exception. He just wanted heirs. No one else ever had any say. His word was absolute. And I... I didn't want to become like him."

Uzui found himself in a memory that was stored deep within his mind.

Kneeling on one knee on the small, smooth rocks, his wives Makio, Suma, and Hinatsuru doing the same behind him, he gazed up, wide eyed, at the man standing a few feet from him. He could feel the nervousness radiating from his wives and felt his own starting to rise from the base of his chest.

They knelt on the property of the Ubuyashiki Family, head of the Demon Slayer Corps. It was large, beautiful, and quite frankly flashy. The whole entire property was surrounded by pristine, thick, white walls, tall, dark green cedar trees were planted around the perimeter, a thin, calm river lined with large rocks ran through the center of it with a bright red bridge to go across. On their end, the branches of a large, beautiful, illuminating pink cherry blossom tree swayed gently in the wind. And the man standing underneath was the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Kagaya Ubuyashiki.

"It's hard, isn't it, Tengen, the path that you've chosen?" Master softly and gently asked him.

Uzui was only still a teenager when he first met Master Ubuyashiki and became a Demon Slayer, then later a Hashira. Staring up at the man who was the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, and looked to be the exact same age as him, he was confused to feel... warmth, softness, and tranquility from him. His voice was quite soothing and it helped calm the anxious feeling in his core.

"You've decided to reject the very same values that shaped you into the shinobi you are today and enter the battlefield where those values thrive. It must be painful. Despite carrying all that conflict within yourself, still... you all insist on pushing forward and fighting and for a noble cause too, all so you can protect other people's lives," Master said in the most gentle tone Uzui's ever heard. Then, he turned his head to reveal large bright purple eyes and a bright, toothless smile. A small, purple mark was beginning to spread over his left eye but not yet covering the entirety of it.

Uzui had gasped softly at his next words.

"You have my thanks. You are truly quite a remarkable child."

He stared up at the man who was his master. The man who was the same age as he, whose curse hadn't yet touched half of his face rendering him blind, and shown great maturity and kindness to him. He saw Uzui as remarkable even when he didn't see it in himself. A person who treated him better, who treated him like a human being, when he had been raised by someone who was supposed to love him unconditionally as nothing but a pawn the moment he was birthed.

It is I who should be giving thanks.

The memory faded from view and he was forced back to reality. His hard gaze fell back on Gyutaro and his bratty little demon sister, and thought back to the demons who want to destroy the Demon Slayer Corps. To Muzan Kibutsuji who wants to kill Master Ubuyashiki and destroy everything that stands in his path to obtain his goal.

I'd never think twice about laying down my life for your sake. Those with conflict might be spineless fools, but it's why I achieved everything that I have up until now, and I've never been without it.

The smile on his face twitched with exhaustion and he forced himself to hold back the insistent coughs rising from his throat. A cold sweat ran down his face and back. The throbbing pain produced from the slash to his head was a bitch, and he lied about being immune to the poison Gyutaro's weapons were tainted with. It was just a boastful show he put on for Yamato's sake as well. He couldn't be seen as weak or vulnerable, especially in front of someone as impressionable as her. If he were to show hesitation and weakness now, it would only spell disaster.

Gyutaro was annoyed Uzui seemed unfazed by the poison and damaged inflicted on him until he started chuckling.

"What the hell are you laughing about?" Uzui demanded through panted breaths.

"Slowly, but surely... the poison's affecting you after all, isn't it?! This must be embarrassing after all that talk about it not working on a guy like you, huh?" Gyutaro poked off still giggling like a mad man.

Instantly, Uzui drove the tip of his blade into the ground and slammed his foot, letting the scorched dirt crack and break into tiny pieces. The smile that had faded was back. Stars sparkled around his body and he felt the competitive spirit rise from his belly, exclaiming loudly into the air, "You're wrong! I'm fine! Look for yourself! I've never felt better! I could devour a hundred bowls of tempura don! In a flashy way, of course!" and charged forward!

Grabbing the chain linking his Nichirin Cleavers, and keeping a tight grip on one hilt, he twirled his dangling cleaver through the air at a hundred mile per hour rate and swiped at their bodies! Gyutaro immediately back away at his sudden advancement and narrowly dodged the attack. Uzui didn't hesitate to charge again and slash for the neck! The demon immediately craned his head away... and left the brat wide open!

Ha! Gotcha!

Uzui kicked out his foot so hard the brat was sent flying off his back and into the air behind the Hashira! She gagged and choked on her own breath and spit at the sudden movement she didn't even see coming. Neither of them did. The demons didn't realize the first of his plan was already in motion; to separate the siblings. Separating the brat's head from her neck didn't work the first time. So, if Gyutaro is the main unit, and decapitating his head could kill them both, he doesn't want to bother wasting his time with the brat who couldn't predict a simple kick.

"RAH! Don't you dare lay a hand on my little sister!" Gyutaro howled angrily.

"You scumbag!" The brat then screamed.

As Gyutaro charged and the brat whirled out her obi, the two converging on him at once, Uzui dug into his pockets and tossed out a dozen explosive beads in each direction.

Gyutaro's eyes widened and he immediately pulled away, barely missing them, but the brat wasn't that fast-or smart to begin with. Her obi sliced into one of the beads and created an explosive domino effect. All of the beads tossed in her direction lit on fire and exploded directly in her face, causing her to scream aloud in both pain and surprise. A giant cloud of black smoke poured out from behind him and he immediately slashed out his cleaver. He separated the brat's head from her neck once again even through the impenetrable fog of smoke. Both her body and head fell to the ground in a clumped heap. She was too easy, as always, and he knew it'd be best to get rid of her first.

Uzui surged for Gyutaro and swung out his blades!

The demon backed away to avoid the attack, the tip of the cleaver barely missing his neck by a small graze, but gasped in horror when the blade suddenly extended itself to reach his throat! His yellow eyes landed on Uzui and realized he was holding on to the tip of his other blade with just his fingertips! The grip he needed to wield it was insane but Uzui took advantage of the demon caught off guard!

Now!

His blade swung for the neck, knowing the attack was too close to parry, but an explosion of stars and sparks flew in the air.

A harsh vibration flew through the blades and into Uzui's fingertips. Watching in disbelief, Gyutaro managed to deflect the extremely close-range attack with his sickle at an impossible speed. Uzui yanked back on the chain and caught the hilts of his cleavers, his eyes landing on the small cut he only managed to land on the demon's throat.

"I missed my chance to finish him!" He cursed at himself.

"YAAAAAHH!" He suddenly heard something wail behind him. "He just beheaded me again! Damn you! Damn you! I'll make you pay for this! It's not fair... not fair! How come I'm the one who's always getting beheaded?! WAAAAAHHH!"

At the brat's crying, Gyutaro's glower deepened. "Hold on. You're onto us, aren't you, big guy?"

Uzui smirked. "About what?"

"Not that finding out about our little trick will do you any good, since you're going to die a slow and painful death anyway. Even now, as we speak, we're getting closer and closer to your inevitable death, aren't we?" The demon growled scratching harshly at his face.

BANG!

A loud bang suddenly drew all of their attention towards the opening in the building.

"Are you sure about that?! Or did you forget about me! It is I, Lord Inosuke, along with my trusty minion!" The boar-headed self-proclaimed King of the Mountain creep suddenly screamed into the air brandishing his jagged-edged dual-wielding blades. Standing beside him was the annoying yellow hair kid still in his courtesan robes strangely sound asleep, snoring away as if nothing was wrong! What the hell, is he sleep walking?!

Gyutaro only scoffed, "Who the hell are these two idiots?"

Then, two more dropped down into the room from the hole above their heads.

They landed in front of him on one knee and slowly rose to their full height. Their swords were arched high above their heads, their unwavering glares landing on Gyutaro, and an aura of resoluteness and determination radiated off of them in large waves. It was Kamado and Yamato, and they were looking flashy as ever!

Kagami, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke surrounded Mr. Uzui protectively keeping their eyes trained on the demons. Tanjiro had Nezuko's box back on his back. She must be back to normal and asleep, healing herself. He also had his hand tied to the hilt of sword with a white cloth, forcing himself to keep gripping it even after being severely injured. Gyutaro stood before them with a nasty growl spilling from his lips but the sister demon smirked and chuckled sadistically at their appearance.

"I've taught you well! Talk about a flashy entrance!" Mr. Uzui laughed gripping the hilt of his cleaver tightly. "Keep it coming!"

Gyutaro growled seeing the four of them aim their swords at them but let out a snarky chuckle. "You can summon all the underlings you want, but unfortunately your fate was sealed from the start."

None of them said anything. They only glared heavily at him.

At their silence, he mindlessly scratched at his head, creating new wounds that would heal in the next split second, and scoffed, "So look, you're all going to die anyway, right? So drop the act and quit staring at me like that, will you?!"

Kagami only kept glaring. Killing these two demons would be no easy task. They're both Upper Six, but Gyutaro was even stronger than that of his sister. While she and Tanjiro struggled but nearly overwhelmed her, she barely had time to register Gyutaro's attacks and needed the help of Mr. Uzui to keep her from being shredded into tiny pieces by his Blood Demon Art.

He was faster than any demon she had ever encountered, not to mention the aura that radiated from him. It was so thick she couldn't swallow. Her throat and fingers were going numb at just the mere proximity of it. Her hands were even shaking holding her sword high above her head, keeping it arched in an attempt at intimidation. She didn't know whether if it was from exhaustion... or fear. Well, it doesn't matter to her! She gripped her hilt tighter, stifling the shakes, and let out a deep breath. Because either way, no matter how strong they are, they'll-!

"We'll win! 'Cause we're Demon Slayer Corps!" Mr. Uzui belted out victoriously from behind her.

"Yeah, right! Fat chance! Not when your only hope to win is being ravaged by poison," The sister shrilled in disbelief.

Tanjiro beside Kagami gasped in horror. "Poison?" He mumbled.

When they gazed up to the Hashira, purple discoloration staining the sides of his face, blood dripping from his forehead and down to his chin, they didn't see a defeated man who was going to give in to poison. No, they saw a warrior fighting and smiling through the pain, laughing tauntingly, "Does it look like I care, you idiots?! I'm at the top of my game when I got a little poison in my system!"

"Drop the act, already!" The sister demanded with a snarl.

He looked down at her with a scowl, snapping back, "It's no act! You just underestimate humans!"

Gesturing to all of them standing around him, watching him with a lights twinkling in their eyes, with the exception of sleeping Zenitsu, Mr. Uzui didn't hesitate to shout victoriously in the air, "All four of these kids are my brilliant Tsuguko! They have relentless grit! And they'll fight even if their limbs fall off! Not to mention, I've already figured out how to bring you two down! And that's to behead the both of you simultaneously! That's why you don't just absorb your weaker sister completely. Keeping your talents separate makes you harder to kill. Ha! This'll be easy-peasy!"

Kagami gulped the small lump rising in her throat and sighed out, still staring at Mr. Uzui with admiration in her eyes. When he spoke, the excitement of battle and his strong will to defeat the demons no matter the cost reminded her so much of Mr. Rengoku. So much that... she regretted her initials thoughts of the Hashira. There was far more to him than meets the eye. She had thought of him as arrogant, boastful, and selfish. These past few days completely changed her mind of him. He is courageous, brave, still arrogant, but caring, confident, and strong-willed. He will do anything to defeat the demons and protect them. He is the Hashira she never thought he was. He is Mr. Tengen Uzui, their Hashira.

"HAHAHA! It's as simple as that, isn't it?! Then we've already won, haven't we?!" Inosuke laughed along brandishing his blades.

Gyutaro smirked at their confidence and drawled, slowly scratching at the surface of his neck, "You say that, but the Demon Slayers who perished before you didn't find that task to be so simple. Not even the Hashira! Fifteen for me, and seven for my sister, that's how many we've devoured."

"You heard him. Not a single one of those fools even lived to see daybreak!" The sister cackled smirking along. "After all, we always have the long nights on our side. Your deaths are inevitable, so just die!"

No one had been paying attention to her. They were more focused on the devious and stronger threat of the duo, Gyutaro, they didn't see her throw out her belts in an attack that was meant to surprise them. Even Mr. Uzui was caught off guard. He was forced to tear his eyes away from the brother and they landed on the belt that was an inch from slicing his head off!

That was until the clap of thunder interrupted her attack.

Kagami watched, completely in awe, at the beam of white and blue electrical light bouncing violently across the room at the speed of light to the sound of roaring thunder. A flash of yellow and white was encapsulated by the light, the beam emitting from the figure within, generating so much power, force, and momentum with each bounce it made. The air was vibrating and thrumming with so much electrical power it sent tingles down her spine. By the sixth bounce, it soared straight for the sister demon, completely disrupting her attack, and used its energy to launch her out of the house and into the dark night sky above.

As the ceiling was destroyed in mere seconds, the power of electricity exploded with another clap of thunder and lightning. It broke away to reveal two figures illuminated by the bright full moon shining in the sky. It was Zenitsu! Even though he was still sound asleep, electric energy still crackled threateningly along his body, emitting sparks, with a ferocious glare spread across his face.

Kagami didn't realize it before but this was the first time she's actually seen Zenitsu use his breathing technique. In the Tsuzumi Mansion, Mount Natagumo, and the Mugen Train, they had been separated and he was forced to fight by himself or alongside someone else. To actually see him in action...! He should stay asleep more often!

"Zenitsu!" Tanjiro screamed for him in worry.

"Leave that Worm Lady to me and Mr. Sleepyhead! You three focus on taking down the praying-mantis-lookin' guy!" Inosuke quickly instructed them crossing his swords over his body and whipping them out determinedly, turning to leave towards battle.

Kagami turned to look over her shoulder, shouting, "Please be careful!"

"Yeah, yeah," He replied with the nod of his head before zooming away.

When she turned back to Gyutaro, his face revealed a sinister and dark smile. He raised his flesh sickles, coating half of his body in haunting darkness. "I'm not about to let you kill my sister," He chuckled lowly and menacingly.

Zenitsu and Warabihime, whether that was her real name or not, landed on the rooftop of a nearby building after they clashed. He was still sound asleep, but had complete awareness of his surroundings even during battle. He could sense the change of tone in a person's voice, the rhythm of their heart, their breathing, and the slightest movement they made. At the sound of her shrilled voice getting rougher, the sudden spike in her heartbeat and breath, and the movement of her feet and sashes readying to attack, he intercepted her and took the two of them outside away from the battle Uzui, Tanjiro, and Kagami were about to have.

At the distance between Warabihime and Gyutaro's voice, he knew instantly that Uzui had separated them. At the mention of his goal to have them decapitated simultaneously to kill them permanently, Zenitsu already knew the plan Uzui didn't have to speak; keep them separated and make sure both heads are beheaded.

"It's you, the little brat!" Warabihime growled.

Zenitsu stood there back straight with his hand gripping the sheath of his sword at his side. "There's something I need to tell you," He spoke lowly and sternly down at her. "Apologize to the girl whose ear you pulled."

At the confused sound spilled from her lips, he continued, "Even if it really was your earnings that kept the house afloat and provided for everyone, it still doesn't make those girls your belongings. You have no right to treat them like that."

Warabihime scoffed and cackled at his words. "Oh, please. Don't bore me with your high-and-mighty lecturing. With unfortunate looks like yours, what makes you think that you can talk down to me, exactly? In this city, women are merchandise, the same as objects. They are bought, sold, and then discarded. Such is the right of an owner. Those without beauty don't deserve even a grain of rice. It only makes sense the wretches shouldn't be treated as humans."

Zenitsu listened, silently, waiting patiently for her to finish. Then, he said, contemplating the words and hidden meaning dwelling beneath them, "You shouldn't inflict the pain that was done to you onto others."

Warabihime smirked.

"You couldn't be more wrong!"

Warabihime's words were echoed, or rather spoken simultaneously, with Gyutaro. Unbeknownst to Tanjiro, Kagami, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Uzui, the siblings could hear each other speak, listen to conversations played on each other's ends, and feel the pain, excitement, and sadism coursing through each other's veins. They were both connected, they were practically one, and their voices, opinions, and minds nearly correlated with one another. It was evident when they both clenched their fists in anger, in thirst for revenge, and spoke to their attackers who believed they could defeat them.

"The horrible things done to us, the things that made us suffer, it only makes sense to give back what we received. We might have been driven to misfortune, but we make up for it in the revenge we exact upon the blessed. Do you understand now? That's the way we've chosen to live our lives!"

Zenitsu felt the presence of Warabihime's power strengthen. He didn't need to be awake, or have his eyes open, to know the demons gave each other strength, power, and fortitude. A vertical crease formed in Warabihime's fore-head and opened to reveal a golden sclera lime-green eye with the kanji inscription of Upper Six inscribed in the iris. Black dots resembling ink spread from the eye outward and Zenitsu recognized both from the pattern of Gyutaro's skin and his eye.

"We have killed off anyone who's ever crossed us, anyone who's ever slighted us. We're going to slash through your gullets just like we did to all who came before you!"

Kagami's glare at Gyutaro hardened at the sinister speech he gave but the shaking of her hands wouldn't still. She felt the bloodlust radiating off of his body in large and consistent waves. The way he stared at them with just one eye open, as if contemplating on how to dissect them slowly, violently, and torture them with his weapons, poisons, and eat them alive, ran chills along her entire body. Goosebumps rose on every single extremity of hers. It only confirmed he is the true Upper Rank Six demon. Her body screamed for her to run away at the realization.

But running away wasn't an option. It will never be an option. She has Mr. Uzui and her friends at her side. She knows she is strong, capable, and had grown more powerful over the last four months she had been training. Mr. Uzui has been poisoned, Tanjiro is injured, and even though she is wounded herself, she must protect them. She won't allow another Hashira, another friend, to die on her. She won't!

Kagami will strike with her sword the instant the demon makes his move! The moment she notices an inch of movement, a centimeter, she will take her chance and slash with everything she has-!

A gasp choked out of her.

The demon was already right in front of Tanjiro. He was too fast for either of them to comprehend. The arch of the flesh sickle blade was pointed upwards. The tip was being driven towards his jaw to infect him with the same deadly poison he inflicted Mr. Uzui!

He needs to evade it! Evade it! Bend backwards! Do something!

To her horror, Tanjiro was too slow and stricken with fear he couldn't move!

As if her prayers were answered, Mr. Uzui was just as fast, maybe even barely, matching the speed of Gyutaro. With his hands firmly grasping his Nichirin cleavers, he grabbed the scruff of Tanjiro's clothes with just two fingers. Just as he threw the boy over his head and behind him, whipping out his leg to kick Kagami behind him into safety, he charged forward and met Gyutaro head on.

Kagami twirled in the air, landing on all fours, and stared at the battle already ensuing without her. The bright sparks of red and gold mixed and clashed together. The powerful ringing of steel pierced her ears over and over again. The fight between Hashira and demon was so powerful the air vibrated and thrummed with energy. The force behind every single hit disrupted the wind and sound around her. Reality didn't seem real at all, it felt like an illusion within the presence of such power. Her eyes had barely kept up with the battle between Mr. Rengoku and the demon Akaza, but this...! This was unreal. Her head might explode trying to understand the blows being traded between the two.

Most of all, she hated she wasn't able to do anything! She wasn't able to move! She wasn't able to deflect Gyutaro's attack that would've killed Tanjiro. Mr. Uzui had to step in once again and save both of them. They were supposed to be helping him but now they're just a hindrance!

Without warning, the ceiling started become riddled with holes!

Her vision was filled with dozens upon dozens of obi sashes from the sister demon! They violently stabbed into the building and into the ground from above, smoke and ash rising high from the floor, making way throughout the entire building, shaking its very foundation. She and Tanjiro immediately lifted their swords high above their head and almost caved in under the force pressing against their blades!

Groans of pain spilled from her lips feeling the belts insistent and powerful push against her. Her own sparks spilled out like a sea of flames from the attack. It was too much! She can't deflect so many belts at a single time!

Inosuke flipped on to the building Zerisimo and the ugly Worm Lady landed on after he performed his super cool lightning attack from before! Terako and Korami had looked surprised at the sudden move but Inosuke, as the great and amazing leader he is, reassured them and told them not to worry, that they should focus on the Praying Mantis demon! He and Zoranimo would take care of the Worm Lady, it didn't seem too hard considering she looked weak and wimpy with her head chopped off earlier!

Except, when he joined Zenko on the rooftop, she was laughing and giggling like a creep! She even looked more horrendous! He didn't think it was possible, but she proved him wrong! A third nasty eye developed on her fore-head and it looked eerily similar to the Praying Mantis' demon. Gross!

"Huh?! She's got three eyes?! EW!" Inosuke screamed out in disgust.

The Worm Lady's smile spread from ear to ear, giving her a maniacal look, and she shrilled into the air, "I can see everything now, including all of your movements! Now that Brother's awake, I'm able to show you what my true power looks like!"

"Shut up! Your shrill voice is really making my head hurt!" Inosuke scoffed resting the dull edge of his blades against his shoulders.

Only one woman's voice can make Inosuke believe he is back living peacefully on the mountains; fighting wild animals, sleeping in the wilderness, and toughening it out with nothing but his own instincts and raw strength, and she is down there fighting the Praying Mantis! She believes in him, and he is not going to fail against some ugly, screechy, bratty demon!

As soon he and Zucchini moved to decapitate her ugly head, more obi belts appeared! Even though she had more than a dozen obi sashes striking into the building beneath her into where Teriyaki, Kahlua, and the Old Man were fighting, she had a dozen more pop up out of nowhere and attack them! They curled and curved in the air above them like a spider's legs, moving and surging for them like pasta noodles, keeping them from getting close! They couldn't even move from their initial spot at the very end of the rooftop! It was so annoying!

"HAHAHA! You won't get close enough to even start fighting me!" The Worm Lady bragged with a growled snicker.

Inosuke easily parried and blocked the multiple and persistent belts, flipping backwards and avoiding attacks that tried to take him by surprise from underneath and behind, snapping back, "I told you to shut up, Worm Lady! If you're really as strong as you say, then why run your mouth the whole time instead of killing us?!"

The Worm Lady's smile widened even moreso and the sadistic glint in her eye sparkled. A small chuckle spilled from her lips. "Be careful what you ask for!" She screamed and erupted more dozen belts from underneath spiraling for them at an unnatural speed, and with even more ferocity than before!

Ah, crap!

Inosuke and Zanini had no choice but to forget about advancing and just dodge the obi sashes stabbing for them!

The onslaught of Gyutaro's and Daki's attacks, synchronous and now working as one, merged into one confrontational battle. It was already overwhelming the Demon Slayers.

Kagami kept herself from sliding across the ground. She planted her feet firmly in the dirt and fought back against the belts pushing themselves harder and harder into her blades. Her eyes flitted frantically between Tanjiro, Mr. Uzui, and Gyutaro. All three of them were fighting against the obi sashes that interrupted Mr. Uzui's battle between Gyutaro, and the brother demon stood there relishing the moment of them fighting against the power of his sister.

"Them being your Tsuguko was a lie. Your movements are so out of sync, it's almost laughable. And here I thought you'd be different," Gyutaro laughed mockingly at them still watching them struggle to deflect the belts pinning them in place.

Uzui deflected the attack and charged in to resume the battle!

The ringing of steel continued. The sparks of crimson red and amber gold flashed across the air from the clashing of Tengen Uzui's Nichirin Cleavers and Gyutaro's flesh sickles. A constant stream of obi sashes stabbed and punched through the building insistently, constantly and continuously interrupting Uzui's battle with the demon. He was forced to deflect, parry, and swerve around the flesh sickles whizzing by his body and head as well as dodge and avoid the sashes aiming for him striking from above.

He was forced to throw out his explosive beads and use the uncontrolled attacks of the belt to set them off. They exploded and crackled like fireworks, enveloping the building and debris littering the ground in small flames. A fog of smoke permeated the air. The obi sashes went in retreat, spiraling and whipping through the ceiling, dropping shaken and destroyed pieces of wood in the process around him. The air was nothing but smoke, dirt, and ash rising from the ground. Everything in his vision was colored in malicious red, yellow, and orange from the flames he produced. And he was given no time to rest or adjust. Gyutaro sliced through the dark smog, a vicious smirk on his lips, and immediately slashed for Uzui's head!

"JUST DIE ALREADY!" He screamed ferociously in the air with the most insane thrill-of-the-hunt excitement he's ever heard.

Uzui nearly gasped and immediately brought down his cleavers to deflect his initial attacks! They were not like before; they were faster, harder, and his sickles twisted and swerved through the air, movements that mere straight swords couldn't produce! He was instantly forced on the defensive, only able to use the chain of his cleavers to whip them through the air and fight off both sickles with both weapons. The fighting style of the demon was completely unorthodox and unlike anything he's fought before! He really was a praying mantis!

It was all he could do to just deflect and dodge, but it wasn't enough. He fought against the pain of the sickles slicing his cheek and leg, pushed the thought of more poison being driven through his body at the back of his head, and kept engaging the demon.

Exhaustion was starting to run through him trying to keep up with the demon. Embers and crackles of fire and flame rose up to kiss and nick at their skin, burning the flesh slightly, but unlike the demon he won't heal from those wounds instantly. What made matters worse was the obi belts cutting through the ceiling and swirling around his battle area like a tornado of fabric. Deflecting and parrying the sickle attacks, swirling his cleavers through the air by the chain linking them, trying to get a cut or scratch in at least once, jumping and flipping over the flying blood sickles spinning through the air, took every single ounce of his concentration.

So much he almost didn't see the flying blood sickles returning back to his owner from right behind him. But he couldn't move. If he moved away from the demon, he'll get hit by an obi belt. If he moves to deflect the blood sickles, the demon would immediately take the advantage of the Hashira making himself wide open and kill him. He's trapped!

"UGH!"

Uzui gasped at the sudden appearance of Tanjiro Kamado and Kagami Yamato intercepting the blood sickle attacks!

All three blood sickles converged and slammed viciously against their blades. They grunted and cried against the impact that shook their entire body but held their ground. They thought deflecting multiple obi belts at the same time was bad but these blood sickles were so heavy! It felt as if a ton of weight was being pushed actively against them! Their arms were beginning to go numb and if they were to hold that position for too long, they'll surely cave in and get shredded to pieces! Not to mention, their swords will break and they'll be left defenseless!

They must remember Mr. Urokodaki's training! If it's power versus power, the weaker side always loses. They cannot misjudge the flow of power. They must redirect it as necessary. The flexible Water Breathing technique is better for defense, Tanjiro knows this. He also knows if he had done it before against his fight with the Belt Demon... his blade never would've gotten chipped!

Tanjiro exhaled deeply and began to maintain Total Concentration, Constant, once again.

Water spewed from the tip of his blade and swirled around him like a powerful waterspout. He twirled his blade around his and Kagami's body and the powerful vortex of bright blue water clashed with the blood sickles. Almost instantly, the blood veered off course and sliced harmlessly by them!

Impressed by Tanjiro Kamado's display of strength at deflecting the blood sickles, Uzui was now free to attack!

Sound Breathing, Fifth Form, String Performance!

Uzui held one of his Nichirin Cleavers in a reverse grip and spun the other using the chain that connected them at such a high speed it disrupted the wind and dark smog clouding the entire area around them! Dozens of explosive beads had filled the air and detonated! He didn't hesitate to charge straight for the demon, letting his cleavers scratch the explosives as he ran! The colorful explosions of red, blue, yellow, orange, and purple blinded the world around them, snapping and popping erratically, his cleavers still swinging at the speed of light! The explosives destroyed the blood sickles and the obi belts forcing the demon to retreat into the streets of the Entertainment District!

"You can use your noisy moves all you want, Hashira, but it changes nothing!" Gyutaro cackled with a wide malicious smirk and sent out more blood sickles everywhere through the sky!

Daki still laughed and giggled victoriously and sadistically in the air. She was watching everything her brother could see, timing her attacks just right with his, as she continued to fend off Inosuke and Zenitsu's advancements.

"Drop dead, you ugly toads!" She howled into the air sending waves upon waves of obi belts in their direction.

Inosuke and Zenitsu panted, huffed, and continued to flip, dodge, and parry the obi sashes. Not even slicing them with their swords could get them to cut. Though, what caught them off guard were the blood sickles spiraling and flying in their line of sight. As soon as they avoided an obi belt, they were forced to duck and swerve around the blood blades. If it was hard to get close to the demon, it was nearly impossible then!

"Now we have blood blades flying towards us with the belts?! If this keeps up, then I'll never be able to get near the Worm Lady!" Inosuke huffed flipping, jumping, and bending backwards to avoid an attack coming at him with every breath he exhaled. "Those blood blades are bad news! I can sense that even a scratch from them would be deadly! RAAAAAH!"

Even so, as the battle raged on, Inosuke and Zenitsu did not give up, and neither did Tanjiro and Kagami!

Half a dozen sashes completely ignored Inosuke and Zenitsu and soared straight for Uzui! He couldn't shift his attention from Gyutaro. It could mean his death! But Kagami immediately raced to his rescue!

Dragon Breathing, Eight Form, Flashing Strike!

A trail of flaming red hot fire followed in her wake, pushing her forward, and she immediately jabbed her sword into the sashes and stabbed into the ground! They narrowly avoided decapitating and carving Uzui into large pieces of meat but she is keeping them securely pinned. Even better, the flames of her sword burned hotter and hotter seeing it bounce and slide up the pink fabric. She could see it writhing and twitching in agony at the scorches she was inflicting on them. She had no idea they would work, but she wanted to be useful! She needed to be useful! She can't let the demon attack any way he wants. By the disgruntled and frustrated expression of his, he wants Uzui to focus his attention on him and get completely caught off guard by the obi belts!

Not if I have anything to say about it!

Uzui's eyes flickered in the middle of his clashing battle between Kagami and Tanjiro fighting the obi belts, successfully keeping them off of him in the mean time. With only one look, he could see how badly injured they were. The boy's shoulder wound must be really deep. He seemed to have stopped the bleeding for now, but that left hand tied to his hilt is the only thing keeping his grip. The wound in the girl's gut is going to reopen if she keeps making such violent movements with her breathing technique, even if she did manage to cauterize and close it, and she'll bleed out within minutes.

All because I let myself get poisoned, Uzui thought shamefully and angrily thinking how they must be suffering trying to help him in his poor condition. If I don't take care of this now, we'll be annihilated!

Uzui and Gyutaro's blades clashed. A scornful glare met a gleeful smirk. The urgency to kill versus the relishing of a tortuous battle.

Kagami and Tanjiro were forced to busy themselves with fighting the obi belts purposely keeping them away from Uzui engaging Gyutaro. They rolled, spun, and flipped through the air, on the ground, and on each other. The belts were persistent and didn't let them catch a breath, not once! Every second spent was keeping themselves alive! So much was going on at once they both felt their breath leaving them in quick succession. Blacking out seemed inevitable. They needed to begin Recovery Breathing, or they'll fail Uzui and will all die!

Suddenly, a beautiful woman appeared from the rooftop of a building next to them and wielded a kunai volley crossbow! A sleeveless lavender dress, plunging neckline, red-violet obi, big almond-shaped violet eyes, and thigh high stocking; Uzui immediately recognized her as one of his wives, Hinatsuru, and she fired the hail of knives unto them!

At the new, unexpected attack, the demon immediately jumped away from his clash with Uzui. His eyes scornfully ran over the kunai as if they were a nuisance. Ugh. It's gonna be a pain dealing with this many of them in front of a Hashira. Could they be any more annoying?! There's still four fledgling Demon Slayers too. Well, even if they do hit me, these things are no prob-Wait, would they really try to pull of such a meaningless attack?

Not wanting to risk it, Gyutaro immediately huffed, "Blood Demon Art! Rampant Arc Rampage!" and unleashed his own volley consisting of blood sickles. This time, they swirled around him in a protective dome created by the solidified blood, shielding and defending him from the incoming attacks. Just as he expected, the kunai were instantly deflected and bounced uselessly away in the air.

Then, something he didn't anticipate happened.

Even before the blood sickles could disappear, Uzui surged forward with his Nichirin Cleavers ready at his side and closed in on the demon! He didn't care about the kunais stabbing his face, arms, and legs! It was nothing but a simple love tap! And the display of the kunais not even fazing him sent the demon recoiling in surprise and shock.

The demon swiped for his head but Uzui ducked and swiped his cleavers at the demon's legs! They were sliced clean off and, right afterwards, a single kunai managed to get embedded in his neck.

It was working just as intended. The demon's legs weren't regenerating at all. That was because the kunais are tipped with poison laced with wisteria flowers. The best kind of poison to use against a demon's whose regeneration is too fast and too annoying for someone like Uzui. Not to mention it makes their body go numb long enough to finish them off!

Now was their chance to decapitate him!

Kagami and Tanjiro surged forward, purple flames burning brightly between them, moving synchronously as they always had been whenever their breathing techniques combined, and swiped straight for the demon's neck. The violet flames desperately reached out for lick, for a taste, of the demon's neck. The yearning, the desperation, to behead the demon was almost all consuming! It was completely overwhelming them! They were right there! They were so close! The anxious smirk on the demon's face at the sudden beat and rhythm they found with each other flashed across his lips, and they wanted to wipe it off!

THEY WILL BE VICTORIOUS!