Many years ago, just as he had devoted his life to becoming a Demon Slayer, to become a better and useful person for society by slaying demons preying on the weak and innocent, Uzui knelt in front of his family grave. He lit a bundle of incense and placed it at the bottom of the stone monument. He replaced the dead, wilted leaves from either side of it with fresh and vibrant flowers. He even cleaned the dusty and dirt-covered stone with a wet brush before leaning back on his heels with a small grin.
The entire area was beautiful and felt almost peaceful. Other family monuments stood around his family's, a small stone fence encasing the large space, with a large, fully grown cherry blossom tree standing beside them. The wind's gentle breeze flew softly through their hair, clothing, and the tree branches. Small buds of cherry blossom flowers flew through the air and fell to the ground, giving it the appearance of light-pink snow falling on a wintry, snowy day. It was a wonderful and flashy place for his siblings to be laid to rest.
Uzui placed his hands together in prayer and closed his eyes, hearing his wives standing behind him do the same. They stayed like that for a long period in silence. He prayed for the souls of his brothers and sisters, whose lives were tragically and brutally taken from him by his father's training and Uzui's own hands, to find some sort of peace in the afterlife. To forgive him for what he's done.
In one final gesture, he grabbed the gourd of sake he brought along with him and unstopped it. "If my siblings were still alive... maybe we would have gone drinking one day," He spoke softly and tilted the gourd over the family monument. He watched the clear, strong-smelling liquid spill over and onto the stone, teasing lightly with a delicate smile, promising, "Forgive me, but I haven't died just yet. So I brought some fine sake to try to make up for it. I promise we'll all grab drinks in the afterlife at some point."
Sitting across from each other in front of the monument, placing their homemade lunch boxes in the center, Uzui opened them up and smirked seeing their delicious meal; poached salmon, steamed celery and carrots, rice balls, fried shrimp, a bowl of fermented garden beans, and a small plate of konpeito.
Uzui took a deep drink of sake from his tiny glass that could barely be held in three of his large fingers and sighed out in complete satisfaction, feeling the liquid burning his insides as it went down. "Now dig in everyone, and make it flashy!" He said enthusiastically grabbing his chopsticks and eagerly digging in.
At his first taste of the fried shrimp, he gasped in delight, "Whoa, these are tasty! Don't hold back you three!"
He thought nothing of it when his wives didn't move to eat; they only continued to stare at him with small smiles on their faces.
Uzui took another delicious bite of his meal when Hinatsuru delicately spoke up, "Pardon me, Lord Tengen."
"Hmm?" He hummed out, mouth still chewing, when he turned his eyes on her.
Hinatsuru didn't meet his gaze. Her smile had faded and her face looked solemnly to the ground. "Forgive me for asking. Do you think about your departed siblings often?" She asked just as delicate and soft.
Uzui was slightly taken back at her curiosity but even moreso when Suma and Makio looked at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.
He gently placed his chopsticks on his plate, the smile he had forced on his face eating his food falling into nothing, his eyes he commanded to sparkle ceasing to a dull maroon color, and lowly answered, "Of course. Not a day goes by that I don't. I always think about the day I left my homeland with you three. It feels like only yesterday it happened."
Almost immediately, he grabbed his chopsticks again and took a bite of his poached salmon. "Hey, this one's tasty too!" He exclaimed with a smile and glanced at his wives. "Come on! Join me!"
Their eyes still stared concernedly at him, worrying about his sudden change of demeanor from a man mourning his siblings back into the enthusiastic composure he always held, but nodded their heads nonetheless. "Right," They softly mumbled and grabbed their chopsticks.
Uzui watched, with a small grin, as Suma took her first bite and blushed from its delicious flavors. "It's delicious!" She squealed in joy.
Makio's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, scoffing, "Slow down! Would it kill you to show restraint?"
Hinatsuru tenderly giggled, speaking, "Settle down."
Suma didn't seem affected by Makio's reprimand. She only continued to smile and repeat, "But Lord Tengen told us to dig in! Here you go, Makio. Open wiiiiide!" grabbing a piece of her meal before shoving it inside Makio's mouth.
Makio's annoyed face gradually turned to one of thoughtfulness as she kept chewing. She swallowed and gasped out, "Mmm. It is good."
"Isn't it?" Suma giggled with a bright, cheerful smile.
Uzui continued to stare at the three beautiful, strong, and courageous women sitting across from him. Before, he had been faking the smiles and grins leading up to that moment, but seeing his siblings again and watching his wives enjoy themselves with what little normalcy they could afford made a small genuine smile form on his lips. When he left the shinobi clan, they chose to go with him as well knowing they would never be welcomed back. He would be... forever grateful for their loyalty and dedication, but it was not something he deserved.
"In the end, I'm going straight to hell."
They all turned to him with wide eyes and a small gasp.
Uzui softly scoffed out in a teasing tone, "Whoops. Shouldn't have said that out loud. I guess I just earned another tongue-lashing from you three, huh?" remembering the times he had spoken it before. In response, Hinatsuru would cry, Makio would get angry, and Suma would bite him. It had become a habit but after seeing their reaction he stopped. That moment was a rare time it slipped out.
He turned to look over his shoulder, resting an arm on his bent knee, and gazed his eyes upwards toward the stone monument. "Mark my words. I'm gonna live the flashiest life possible for my fallen siblings," He promised and toasted again in their honor with another deep gulp of his sake. He then raised his glass again, turning to smile at his wives, adding with a resolute, "With you three."
Their smiles deepened at his promise to be with them, always, and agreed. "Right."
The gentle breeze shifted to a harsher blow for a moment but the most elegant display of cherry blossom buds continued streaming through the air. The tiny light pink flowers swayed falling towards the ground, coloring the green terrain and baby blue sky with its light, pastel color. He gently reached forward and plucked a small petal from Hinatsuru's hair.
Cheekbones growing red, Hinatsuru placed a hand against her cheek, speaking bashfully, "Oh, you didn't have to do that."
"No?" He chuckled lightly.
"Lord Tengen, look at this!" Makio quickly spoke up and redirected his attention to her. "I've got a few in my hair too," She pointed out gesturing to the half dozen petals lining her yellow bangs with her cheekbones blushing the same rosy red.
Uzui raised an eyebrow at her and sighed out, "Why do I feel like you put those on yourself?"
Makio looked guilty but she still blurted out, "What makes you think I would do that?"
Hinatsuru giggled and turned her eyes back to him. "Lord Tengen, if you don't mind, could you give me that petal?" She kindly asked.
Uzui was baffled at her request but nonetheless nodded his head. "I don't mind at all, but there's tons of them everywhere," He said waving a hand to the sea of cherry blossom petals still falling all around them.
She delicately held up both hands, cupping together, and said instead, "The only one I want is that one."
Uzui, no matter how strange the request was, didn't hesitate to give her the petal. He was still quite baffled she would treasure a piece of flower he had touched, but even moreso when Suma and Makio started crying and begging for one as well!
"Lord Tengen, I want one, too!" They cried rushing up to his face with tears running down their cheeks.
Uzui gasped and exclaimed with a stammer, "J-Just pick up one of the petals yourself!"
"You're so cruel!" They screamed causing Uzui to scream back in confusion and Hinatsuru to giggle at their interaction.
It had been a memory flashing through Hinatsuru's mind watching Lord Tengen, a boy in a green and black checkered haori, and a girl with a dragon's tail as a hilt for her sword, surge forward at an impossible speed, roaring at the top of their lungs, for the demon Gyutaro! It was currently subdued by the wisteria-laced poison she managed to inject him with and momentarily stun its regeneration process! They were almost there! They could decapitate it once and for all!
Uzui, Kamado, and Yamato roared at the top of their lungs slashing out their swords! They didn't hesitate in their swing or in their step, moving as fast as they could, to the demon who couldn't even move! They can do it!
All three of their blades had been inches apart, about to be within reach of its throat, when the kunai embedded in the demon's neck shot out.
A wide smirk spread across Gyutaro's lips. New legs instantly grew from the stumps Uzui had created and slammed them down in the ground during the second the three had reached out to slice his neck! Uzui's eyes widened in horror at what he had just seen, his hope in slicing his throat immediately dissipating!
He regenerated his legs?! Damn it! He's already neutralized the poison!
"Man... that poison sure packed a punch, but now it's my turn!" Gyutaro mocked with a sinister laugh. He pushed his arms out from his body, growling under his breath then belting out into the air, "Blood Demon Art, Rotating Circular Slashes: Flying Blood Scythes!"
Violent, circular waves of dark, solidified blood was unleashed from his arms. The scythes circling his arms spun so quick and appeared so quick Kamado and Yamato couldn't react fast enough! The blood sliced into his arm and into her sides, grunts and gasps of agony spilling from their bloodstained lips. Uzui had been just as much as caught off guard as they were. The demon can attack without swinging his arms... with such range?!
He needs to stop the attack and lessen the damage that had already been inflicted! To do that, he needs to get them out of the way! He didn't hesitate to whip out his leg and slam it into Kamado and Yamato's abdomens. They were quickly launched behind him and he heard them land roughly on the ground, choking on their breaths and spitting grunts of pain from their oxygen-deprived bodies.
Uzui stretched his swords in front of him, the chain tightening with a sharp clink, and started to spin them rapidly all around him. "Sound Breathing. Fourth Form, Constant Resounding Slashes!" He screamed into the air tossing dozens upon dozens of explosive beads into the air.
Just as the circular blood scythes expanded and released from Gyutaro's arms, they arched and swirled in the air toward Uzui. At the seemingly hundreds of explosive beads flying through the air, the blood weapons nicked them and immediately exploded on impact. Those that somehow missed a bead were deflected and dispersed by the whirlwind twirling of his swords at breakneck speed. Engulfed in a war of beautiful colors of blue, pink, red, yellow, and purple explosives blinding his eyes, the pops and loud bangs piercing his ears, and the shiny amber color of Nichirin Cleavers slicing through the air leaving traces and afterimages of its luminous color, he didn't notice Gyutaro had disappeared.
Only when the explosions died down, the scythes disappearing, and the large curtain of white smoke dissipating from the street did he realize his enemy was no longer in front of him.
"He's gone?" Uzui gasped through panted breaths.
A shuddered growl left his mouth. Grasping his blades tightly in his fists, his eyes carefully and shakily scanned the area around him-
"Lord Tengen, watch out!"
He immediately whirled around at the sharp warning and flipped backwards in the air. He jumped high, twirling to avoid the dozens of obi-sashes appearing out of nowhere, but only ended up trapped in its snare. Even in the midst of being attacked, he frantically scanned the skies, searching for the familiar voice that called out to him, and spotted her. Through the small gaps the obi belts haven't yet manage to cover, he found her kneeling on the rooftop of the building next to him watching him with concern.
"Hinatsu-!" He fearfully called for her through gritted teeth and wide eyes but choked back on his words seeing the obi nearly crush him.
Kunais flashed in her grip and he watched them whip towards him. The black knives pierced the obi threatening to wrap his face and crush his head, subduing it with its wisteria-laced poison. Hinatsuru brandished more from inside her own obi, quickly speaking, "I'll draw the belts' attention! Don't mind me! I'll take care of her! You find that dem-AH!"
Uzui's breath was choked out of him, his body going rigid, at the sight of a gnarly, pale gray hand wrapped around her mouth in the second she had been speaking.
Her eyes were flashed with pure horror, pupils quivering tremendously, flitting to the menacing figure kneeling right next to her. Whimpers, though muffled, sounded clear as day through the sky as Gyutaro bared his teeth, razor-sharp, at her, growling lowly, and angrily, under his breath, "You've got some nerve jumping into this fight. But now... you have to suffer the consequences of that choice!"
"HINATSURUUUUU!" Uzui screamed wildly hard and fearfully into the air in pure terror.
The only thing that mattered to him in that moment was racing to her side to slice that filthy demon's hand off of her! The thought completely consumed him! So much so he took a step forward and nearly into the path of an obi belt moving it to slash off his leg! Dozens more belts surrounded him blocking his path and encircling him in a cage he couldn't fight his way out! No matter how much he slashed and severed the sashes in his way, more popped up and replaced those lost!
"Damn it! These belts are blocking me!" He growled in pain feeling his beating heart race faster and faster with every precious second wasted trying to find and create an opening!
But one never came.
His breaths left in quick succession, to the point he had begun hyperventilating, and watched, heart shattering into a million pieces, the small opening exposing of Hinatsuru's frightened figure disappear, replacing her with an obi belt. He had been left in darkness. His blood thrummed and pounded dread and terror throughout his body, his hands shook violently and uncontrollably at his side, the clinking chain of his cleavers never ceasing, and all he could do, in that moment of defeat, was breathlessly gasp her name. "H-Hinatsuru..."
He found himself staring in awe at a landscape, wide and long full of green grass, small hills, and beautiful flowers, illuminated with the rich, warm colors of deep red, orange, and yellow. The sun was already settling just below the horizon, the sky nearest to it a bright yellow and traveling further and further away revealed dark colors of blue, purple, then finally black, stars twinkling as they revealed themselves from behind the thick curtain of clouds. Dragonflies and various bugs flew, jumped, and bounced through the tall grass and leaves, getting ready to sleep in for the night. After a few years of being a Demon Slayer, and successfully becoming a Hashira, it was the one of the first time's he ever felt free and at peace.
"Wow! It's beautiful here, don't you think, Lord Tengen?" Suma giggled running up to his side with a bright smile. "Dragonflies! I wish I could soar like one of them."
Uzui, with his hands on his waist, smiled and chuckled, "Hey, now that's a flashy dream if I ever heard one!"
"There you go again, spouting nonsense like a lunatic!" Makio berated Suma from behind with her fists planted on her hips.
"What?! Why do you have to be so mean all the time? I hate you, Makio!" Suma tearfully declared.
"What was that? I dare you to say that again!" Makio threatened with the raise of her eyebrow.
Uzui watched two of his wives bicker in amusement. His eyes adoringly ran along Suma's and Makio's delicate features; they skimmed their jawlines, lips, ruffled hair, curvaceous bodies, and finally landed on their eyes. Eyes that held so much adoration, dedication, and loyalty to him lit up brightly under the setting sun's colors. Their expressions were always on their faces, their hearts on their sleeves, whenever they teased each other. It was fun seeing their faces contort with annoyance with lingering love for each other underneath. Life was never dull around them and he preferred it that way. He promised to live a flashy life and his wives certainly helped in that aspect.
A delicate giggle suddenly cut through their argument and all of their eyes landed on Hinatsuru. Her shoulders shook slightly, her smile never wavering, not once, when she looked back up and locked her gaze with his.
"Lord Tengen, once we've defeated an Upper Rank demon, what do you think about us all stepping back from the front lines and just living as civilians?" Hinatsuru kindly offered with the small tilt of her head. At their stunned silence, she continued, just as soft, "While none of us chose to become shinobi, we can't just walk away after all the lives we took. We still need to set things right somewhere along the line. Otherwise, we could never hold our heads up again or dream of ever living a normal life. When that day comes, one of us might not make it. But no hard feelings, right?"
Hinatsuru had smiled at him and wished for the life of normalcy with him, Suma, and Makio. The thought of dying while trying to atone for her sins didn't scare her. But it scared him one of his wives wouldn't be there to experience what it felt to live just as... civilians. He made sure they knew to prioritize themselves first, then the civilians, and him last.
If anyone was going to die atoning for their sins, for anything, it was going to be him. He always thought he'd be the one dying in battle, but never his wives. None of them deserve such a fate!
Hinatsuru...
Hinatsuru!
HINATSURU!
Gritting his teeth so tightly, feeling to have almost cracked them under the force, steeling his resolve with determination, fury, and unyielding bitterness, he swiped his blades outward so forcibly, the wind and air shattering from the abrupt momentum. His eyes, wide and wild with panic and wrath, landed on Gyutaro, a roar so harsh it burned his throat and chest bellowed out of him. "LEAVE HER ALOOOONE!"
Kagami inhaled a sharp gasp, her lungs aching and screaming with agony, but fought against the pain. All she could remember was Mr. Uzui pushing out his leg and kicking both she and Tanjiro to safety. She had been knocked out cold, recovering and saving what little breath she could maintain, but gasped awake hearing the heartbreaking, fearful, and angry pleas of the Hashira ringing through the air. Hand drifting to her side, wincing under the pain of the open wound, letting her blood spill in inconsistent droplets, she lifted her head and saw two figures standing on the rooftop. A woman trapped in the grasp of... Gyutaro!
She's going to die! She's going to die if Kagami doesn't do something!
Move! Move! Don't let another innocent person die just because you think you don't have what it takes! Run, and save her!
Kagami quickly jumped on her feet and instantly raced closer to the building where the two were kneeling on. This is one of Mr. Uzui's wives, Hinatsuru. She heard him screaming that woman's name in such anguish it tore her heart to shreds. He cares deeply for her, and Kagami will do whatever it takes to save her!
Come on! Come on! Move faster! Close the distance! Jump on the roof! You've been protected by Mr. Uzui countless of times, but enough is enough! You can't always be protected. You can't always count on the help of others. You can't always be weak. You must stand up and fight for your own life! Be strong! Be useful! Be the Demon Slayer you want to be and save Mr. Uzui's wife!
She belted out a scowl seeing dozens of obi belts surge for her and slashed out her sword. Left, right, down, up, twirling and spinning in place, she managed to deflect and parry their incoming attacks, but she grew more anxious by the second. She can't waste time with the obi belts! By the time she would be through with them, Miss Hinatsuru would be dead. Though, she did notice one thing in the tense moment; Gyutaro never made a move to stop her from getting closer. He doesn't acknowledge her as a threat! Making an unpredictable move could potentially save Miss Hinatsuru's life! She needs to try it!
"Dragon Breathing, Third Form, Beating-!" She had started to speak seeing her blade rise in flames but choked on her own breath.
A lightning bolt of pain struck through her chest and she nearly collapsed on her knees.
It was no use, she's at her limit. She's completely out of stamina. Not to mention she was beginning to sweat large droplets from her fore-head, her skin feeling as if it would erupt in flames just as her sword did. Is she running a fever? No, it can't be, it has never happened before! Besides, there's nothing else for her to do! What can she do in a situation like this?! She can't save Miss Hinatsuru without any energy!
Calm down! Stop trying to fight on your own!
That's right! She has Tanjiro! They can combine their breathing technique and feed off of each other's energy, just like how they have always done! Kagami whipped her head around to him and saw him struggling to breathe, stutters of flame spewing from his mouth. She stared frightfully at him, the sense of defeat seeping into her core, but paused seeing the constricted realization of his eyes. He has an idea!
"I will follow your lead! Do what you believe is necessary!" She confidently said lifting up her sword and giving him the firm nod of her head. Tanjiro didn't hesitate to nod back.
Red flame spewed from her sword. Water spilled from the edge of his blade. Their eyes landed on the hands holding Miss Hinatsuru hostage and their hearts burned with determination. They gripped the hilt of their swords tightly and stared daggers. She ignored the pain in her side and took a deep breath. They started to breathe as one... but something was different. His breathing wasn't constant, it continuously fluctuated like a seesaw. It was strange and caught Kagami off guard, though, she went along with it nonetheless. She recognized the difference and familiarity in the breathing he was implementing. She trusts him whole-heartedly and knows whatever it is, it's going to work!
Renewed power and energy flowed through her veins, waking her body alive with its rejuvenation! Together in a synchronous beat and rhythm they had perfected many times, they charged straight for the demon! They twisted and turned, the colors of the swords shifting erratically from deep blue, to red-orange, to purple, and then to turquoise blue lit up the night sky, building momentum and force as they went! They danced along the side of the building, along the rooftop, the power building higher and higher, leaving a trail of rainbow-colored flames in their wake. She felt it thrumming and vibrating in her hands, but the threat of exhaustion and breathlessness loomed right over their heads. They needed to save Miss Hinatsuru now!
They finally whipped out the edges of their burning blades and slashed off Gyutaro's arms, taking Miss Hinatsuru and disappearing in that same split second!
The demon stared, wincing in pain, confused and frightened at the sudden loss of his hands. Replacing them were bloody stumps.
He turned his eyes to the sound of a thud on the other side of the rooftop and they narrowed landing on Kagami and Tanjiro standing protectively over the pained Miss Hinatsuru. With one hand whipped out to shield her and the other still gripping their swords tightly, the two Demon Slayers stared down the demon with wet coughs and wheezing spewing from their mouths. Their breaths left in pants, sweat dripping down the sides of their heads, but they didn't back down no matter how exhausted they were.
Though, that, at the moment, didn't cross her mind. All she could think was: We did it. We saved Miss Hinatsuru! It was all thanks to Tanjiro's efforts.
When their minds became one during their attack, Kagami was able to see into his head and understand his plan immediately. He was blending the Breathing Techniques of Hinokami Kagura and Water Breathing. He used both in combination. That's why his breathing fluctuated, that's why the color of their power alternated so much to take the form a spiraling rainbow of flames. It also explained why their moves were faster, longer, and more powerful than it originally was. Tanjiro figured the swordsmen who have been fighting demons till then have been pairing Breathing Techniques with the swordskills that suit them best and modifying them into a form that draws out their full power. Maybe that's how they were able to create different techniques like that!
Modify it... into any form. Be flexible. That's the kind of fighting style that Mr. Urokodaki taught us to use. Even if I can never fully master Dragon Breathing the way my mother had, even if Tanjiro can never fully master Water Breathing like Mr. Tomioka, no matter what, we are determined to never let what Mr. Urokodaki taught us to go to waste!
A gasp choked out of her seeing Gyutaro already inches from them.
"Enough fooling around! You're going doowwwwn!" The demon furiously growled slashing a sickle out towards them.
Kagami and Tanjiro immediately separated, dodging his initial attack, and she quickly lifted up her blade for his second one. His sickle hooked around her blade and held it in place, taking away her ability to fight back! She stared scornfully up at him and tried to pull with all her might, but the demon was stronger than she had anticipated. He raised his right sickle up, a maniacal smirk crossing his lips, and moved to bring it down... but the flash of silver and gold appeared from behind him!
"Tanjiro Kamado and Kagami Yamato!" Mr. Uzui screamed suddenly appearing behind Gyutaro!
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Miss Hinatsuru gasped, thinking he was upset at them for getting caught again, but instead, his poison-tipped daggered glare was on the demon!
"You have my utmost gratitude!" Mr. Uzui exclaimed into the air swinging his blades out for the demon's throat!
While Uzui, Kagami, and Tanjiro have seemingly pinned down Gyutaro on the nearby rooftop, all three moving in to slash off and decapitate his head with even more drive after the attempt on Hinatsuru's life, Inosuke and Zenitsu were still facing trouble of their own with Daki, his sister.
The annoying Worm Lady kept spiraling dozens of obi belts in Inosuke's and Zerolit's direction pushing them back and keeping them from advancing any closer toward her! He'd twist, turn, and flip backwards to avoid one, two, then three sashes, but everywhere he looked, every second he thought he could grab a breath of air, there were more belts flying in his direction! They spiraled, twirled, and changed direction mid-air rearing back and racing forward to slash at him! Inosuke had already been cut across his chest, arms, and mask!
"RAH! There's too many of these things to keep up with!" Inosuke growled racing forward and bringing both blades down on four sashes following Zeberoco!
Just as before, his blades couldn't even make a dent in them! Not even a scratch in what was supposed to be soft fabric! What a pain!
"They might be slithery, but these things are hard as a rock!" He grunted pressing his swords into the belts with all of his energy but none of them gave way! He instantly jumped away, forgetting about those belts, sensing two more charging for him from above. Where he had been standing were two hard sashes crackling and breaking the rooftop tiles into tiny pieces!
Even while he was in the air, the belts still relentlessly attacked! He slashed, deflected, and parried them as fast as he could, the ringing of steel and sparks flying from each hit. He'd jump from belt to belt, taking them for a small ride, as he tried to collect his breath and energy. The sheer amount of them, the feeling of no-end to them, was starting to piss him off! The inability to slash them off and get within reach of the ugly Worm Lady made him angry!
Except, his anger turned to panic when he looked down from the sky toward where the Old Man, Kabaka, and Tajine had been! They held the praying mantis guy in place and the Old Man was already about to decapitate him!
"YAAAHHH! Damn it! Damn it! They're gonna decapitate him without me!" Inosuke screamed fearfully into the air.
"Inosuke, incoming attack!" Zeronimo yelled above his voice.
Inosuke immediately circled at the warning and spun forward, narrowly missing a volley of belts, landing on his feet only to instantly dodge left and right, more belts slashing persistently at him.
He and Zephyr still couldn't reach the Worm Lady! Every small step they took to advance toward her was immediately hit with double the amount of belts she previously threw at them. It was back to the same old, tedious, and annoying routine they had started with since the beginning of the battle! The only way to bring this one down is for us to strike at the same time! We're able to hold our own by dodging her belt attacks, but we can't expect to win just by avoiding her. We have to act! If we can close the distance, we can go for her head!
All of his anger and frustration that been building since the beginning was about to make Inosuke do something extremely crazy! He felt like he was going insane from the constant back and forth! He tried to restrain himself, groaning, grunting, and shuddering in effort, the shaking of his hands, the rush and adrenaline of his battle, and the anger from the tide that was not going to turn in his favor, but he couldn't do it! He couldn't let go! The neck... the neck... he just needs to go for that stupid neck! He just needs to rush forward and decapitate her! He needs to for Kamakoi and to end this stupid battle already!
"RAAAAH!" He bellowed into the sky and started to race forward like a moron! But, a moron on a mission!
He charged for her, swords raised, with a war cry still spewing from his mouth! He swatted the belts away, still charging with everything he's got, but a horde surged for him from above. He glared heavily up at it, his pride and anger wanting him to just continue running and get the battle over and done with, but, instead, he jumped backwards into the air and avoided their attack!
Zebroid joined him in the sky, blood dripping from the cuts embedded in his face, head, and arms, instructing him firmly, "Inosuke, calm down! We don't have to strike simultaneously! We just need to make sure the two demon heads aren't connected!"
Suddenly, multiple belts converged to wrap around his entire body and squeeze him to death, but he reacted faster than they could move. A slash mimicking a lightning bolt, a thunderous clap roaring overhead, whipped out at the belts. By the time he sheathed his sword, the belts were singed and cut into multiple pieces, flying uselessly through the wind. As if nothing significant happened, he continued to speak to Inosuke, "Even after they've beheaded their demon, we have to fight with all we've got!"
Inosuke was only half-listening to what he had been saying. His eyes stared wide in shock and disbelief staring at the wimpy pipsqueak barking orders at him. He wasn't the useless crybaby anymore, he was actually badass!
"You're like a completely different person now, aren't you?! What gives?!" Inosuke shouted raising his sword and waving it, nearly missing the point of what he had just been told! He needed to satisfy his curiosity, it would kill him if he didn't, of why Zeninsmo was acting... was actually... pretty cool!
Go for his head! Use this chance to go for his head!
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Mr. Uzui swung their blades out seeing Gyutaro's unpleasant surprise at the sudden arrival of the Hashira. It looked as if they could do it, the demon was too caught off guard to move and blocked their attack! That means... this battle might finally end!
CLINK!
No way!
Kagami's jaw set in horror at the sound of steel clashing together. Their eyes widened, shaking uncontrollably, seeing their blades not even gracing the demon's neck but pushing into the hook of his sickles! Their blades aren't budging either! Once again, in a move faster than than the speed of light, Gyutaro lifted his sickles and placed them against his neck protectively, ultimately blocking and deflecting their attack! How-why-does that keep happening to them?!
Snickers of mockery spilled from Gyutaro's lips and he flashed them a fiendish smile. "You really think you're capable of cutting off my head? Hate to break it to you, but that's not gonna happen!" He growled menacingly his hands shaking as they restrained their blades, keeping them from digging into his skin.
In an unexpected move, flesh wrapped around the sickle grew longer and extended themselves to their blades like fungus, taking on a veiny appearance and glowing red from the contact. Disgusted, Kagami tried to pull her sword free but realized it was completely stuck! Those pieces of flesh attached them to the sickles of the demon's and now she can't pull them apart!
Mr. Uzui immediately jutted out his second cleaver and aimed it straight for the back of Gyutaro's neck!
Without missing a beat, Gyutaro's head spun a perfect 180 degree angle, his neck twisting and contorting at an unnatural angle, and caught the cleaver in his mouth!
"Of course a freak like you can swing his head all the way around like that!" Mr. Uzui tsked angrily.
Kagami couldn't see but she sensed the smirk Gyutaro flashed Mr. Uzui. But then, her vision was filled with red and her eyes sharply turned to the arms holding their swords hostage. Large, thick veins protruded from his shoulders and arms, and reappearing to finish them off were the rotating circular blood scythes he had unleashed upon them earlier! There was no way they could avoid it at that close range and come out alive! Mr. Uzui had protected both she and Tanjiro but now all three of them are stuck!
"Kamado, Yamato, hang on tight!" Mr. Uzui suddenly ordered them from behind the demon.
The two of them gripped their hilts tightly, Miss Hinatsuru grasping Nezuko's box, and watched the rotating blood scythes circular motion become more violent and ferocious in the next passing second. Slamming a foot so hard down on the rooftop, the surrounding tiles immediately shattering upon impact, Mr. Uzui jumped from the rooftop! The flesh holding their swords hostage ripped apart from Kagami and Tanjiro's blades with the sheer force pushing them backwards and off their feet. Mr. Uzui freed them them! But their eyes fearfully watched the Hashira take Gyutaro with him down to the street below by himself!
"Mr. Uzui!" Kagami and Tanjiro screamed for him in fright.
The moment their bodies landed a few feet away, the three of them rushed on their feet and moved to peer over the side of the roof. If they had moved any closer, the spiraling madness of blood scythes would have sliced them all to bits, just as it did to the ledge of the rooftop, breaking it apart and smashing it to smithereens.
Kagami checked for any new injuries on herself, Tanjiro, then Miss Hinatsuru, but they all looked fine for the moment.
"Look out!"
Did that sound like Inosuke? Shouldn't he be fighting the sister?
She turned her head, following his voice, and gasped in surprise.
Inosuke and Zenitsu jumped backwards, joining them on their rooftop, followed by a throng of obi belts! The sashes curled all around them like a demon's hand reaching out to grab them in their grasp, slithering, twirling, and spiraling through the air in a barrage of attacks Inosuke and Zenitsu barely kept up with! Kagami and Tanjiro raced for the end of the roof, taking Miss Hinatsuru with them, to get as far away from the onslaught, but the belts still surged for them. They kept running as Inosuke and Zenitsu came to their aid.
The boar-headed freak swatted multiple blades away, sparks and stars following with each hard strike, explaining quickly with a growl, "They're forcing us to change our strategy! I can't close in on the Worm Lady, no matter what! So us four will take her on, while the old man deals with the praying mantis guy alone!"
The slash of a lightning bolt lit up the darkness momentarily. A clap of thunder roared overhead as Zenitsu's blade made contact with an obi belt. "Well, at the very least, she's the weaker of the two! We need to behead her first! Tanjiro, Kagami, can you still move? Can you still fight?" He barked out holding strong in determination and confidence.
Kagami was hesitant to team up with Inosuke and Zenitsu. She turned her head and peered down at the fight ensuing between Mr. Uzui and Gyutaro. While most of the battle was clouded with smoke and dirt, it was lit up by bright colors of the rainbow swiftly exploding from within like a firework show. She could clearly see flying blood sickles swirling and attacking the Hashira from every angle. He countered by tossing more explosive beads, swinging his cleavers rapidly all around him to deflect and parry both blood sickles and the weapons on the demon's hands. His face, full of concentration, was holding his own for now against Gyutaro, but it wouldn't be long before he runs out of energy!
Obi belts spiraling around her body blocked her vision of Mr. Uzui and quickly closed in on her. She gripped her hilt tightly and slashed sharply downwards, a fiery blaze engulfing her sword and forcing the belts to retract from the hot flames! "Yes, I can!" She declared loudly glaring at the sashes curving around in the air above her.
A waterfall basin erupted from within another sphere of obi sashes, pushing them away, and revealed Tanjiro. His face and jaw were set hard with determination. "So can I! However," He quickly began to add, "Mr. Uzui has been poisoned, and he's in bad shape 'cause of it. So we have to hurry, or else he won't make it!"
"Tanjiro!" Kagami screamed dashing forward and whipping her blade out. It made contact with a blood sickle and veered it off course away from his head.
What she thought were stray blood sickles from the fight between Mr. Uzui and Gyutaro were actually deliberate attacks. More and more flew towards them, rearing and surging for them, with Kagami and Tanjiro barely reacting fast enough to block it. This made the battle harder and harsher. That demon was attacking them at the same time he was fighting Mr. Uzui? It was unbelievable!
"Miss Hinatsuru!" Kagami called for her seeing her standing at the edge of the rooftop.
She quickly shook her head, calling back, "You shouldn't worry about me at all! I'll hide for now! You just focus on winning!"
"Look out! Behind you!" Tanjiro screamed.
Behind Miss Hinatsuru, belts surged for her at an unnatural speed. She gasped in fear but two figures rushed to her rescue! Unbridled energy dashed by Kagami and vibrated the air around her. It was Tanjiro and Zenitsu, but their power... instantly connected! Lightning crackled and ran along the vortex of water that spewed from the edge of Tanjiro's blade lighting it up to a bright baby blue! With just two slashes, the belts aiming for Miss Hinatsuru were slashed away.
"Incredible!" Kagami gasped.
Landing on their feet, Zenitsu turning back to the fray, Tanjiro whipped to Miss Hinatsuru, asking, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, thanks to you!" Miss Hinatsuru answered with the strong nod of her head. Then, she jumped backwards and away from the fight that she knew would only hold them back if her presence were there.
Kagami immediately focused on her attention on the sister demon, hearing her sadistic and maniacal cackles pierce through the air. That's when her eyes focused on the golden one embedded in the demon's fore-head and quickly came to the realization Gyutaro's eye, the one he had been closing shut their entire battle, was helping her in her fight against Inosuke and Zenitsu, as well as her belts interfering in their battle against her brother. "I can see that your movements are getting more and more sluggish. I wonder which of you ugly brats will be the first to fall apart?" She taunted with another laugh.
Inosuke surged forward and felt his heart squeeze tightly in his chest at their odds.
Damn it! Monichi and I are still practically unscathed! We've got to start getting serious. The other three are banged up from giving it their all. What was the point of all that brutal training?!
Memories of their training; transporting hay barrels that weighed more than a ton hefted on their shoulders, practicing and perfecting their Breathing Techniques, racing through the forest to see who'd finish first, bickering and arguing amongst each other, and eating delicious meals together afterwards, flashed through his head.
What was the point?
Tears lined the brim of his eyelids at the memory of Bug Eyes exhaling his last breath, with Gonpacho, Kawagimi, Zalisi, and even himself sobbing their hearts out watching him die right in front of their eyes. The man was the reason why they wanted to train so no one else would die because of their weak bodies! Even then, another one is going to die because he can't even slice off a stupid Worm Lady's head!
WHAT WAS THE POOOOINT?!
"Inosuke!"
He gasped and turned his head to see Kabilika running forward with her sword raised high. She slashed incoming attacks and never faltered in her step when she closed the distance between them, shouting, "This demon's neck is too soft to cut normally! It's going to take a lot of speed! Otherwise... we'll have to slash her from multiple directions! Got that?!"
Inosuke stared at her determined and focused figure hurrying towards him, completely captivated by her. Then, he noticed something peculiar. Now that the belts were heading toward her as well, it seemed like the attack has... ever so slightly slowed down. Eh?! Maybe I'm seeing things here, but I'm gonna assume it has!
Completely reinvigorated with refreshing and unrestricted energy, feeling the weight of her eyes trained on him and feeling her confidence and faith flow into his body, Inosuke leaped high into the air, soaring straight for the demon! Both blades ran along the sides of belts, a sea of red-orange sparks emitting from where they clashed, and pushed them off of him! With loud roars and maniacal laughs spilling from his lips, he twirled in the air and continuously slashed multiple belts soaring all around in the air.
"Alright!" He hollered into the air with excitement. He crossed his swords over his chest in intimidation, the jagged edges lining and burning brightly with a pale, silvery flame sparking and crackling enthusiastically at the battle to come. "You want multiple directions, leave it to yours truly, Lord Inosuke, the dual-wielder! As long as you three have my back... together, we can beat her!"
Tanjiro nodded his head, replying, "Understood!"
He turned his head to Kagami and Zenitsu, speaking, "Protect Inosuke!"
"Got it!" Zenitsu nodded his head.
Kagami lifted her red-bladed sword revealing the same silvery flames conjured from Inosuke's blade streaming out of hers. Her green irises shifted into a milky white and felt every sense in her body heightened to a degree she's never felt before. She had an idea ever since she saw Tanjiro and Zenitsu's power connect. It had been in the back of her head thinking her and Tanjiro's powers combined because of their contract, but in that moment it was because of an ancestral pact forced on them. It was because of their unyielding and unconditional loyalty, trust, courage, and faith in one another and their abilities. She let it flow free from her and wrap itself around Inosuke, and was pleasantly surprised he felt the exact same way; that his dedication to them was just as strong.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu stood back to back, and Kagami and Inosuke allowed each other's power, energy, and senses to travel within the other. Their hearts, minds, and souls connected, and unleashed a loud growl from their lips.
"You can bring all the ugly freaks you want to the fight, but it's not gonna change a thing! A marechi's worth is only through their blood. You're still a hideous little brat and I will savor every last drop from your disgusting body-!" The sister demon had started to laugh cruelly staring straight into Kagami's eyes.
"God, just shut up already!" Kagami groaned in complete annoyance, interrupting the demon's remark, and arched her blade high above her head. Settling her glare and baring her teeth at the demon, she spat, "I honestly do not give a damn of what you think of my "hideous" body. Or my supposed-worth! I know I am pretty! Hell, I know I am beautiful! I am also strong, courageous, and brave! I can be both! I am both and there is nothing wrong with that! My blood doesn't define who I am, because I know who I am! I am a Demon Slayer, we are Demon Slayers, and we are going to kick your ass!"
They lunged forward and four of their blades met with dozens of obi belts spiraling from her body and from the air. Each of their blades whipped through the air slashing, slicing, and deflecting belts that attacked them in rapid succession. An ocean of sparks and smoke rained down all around them as their blades clashed and brushed against the tough, ferocious fabric. Their bodies twirled in the air, front, back, and diagonal, avoiding the interweaving attacks, and landed smoothly on their feet. Then, Tanjiro and Zenitsu pushed themselves to the side with Kagami retreating to the back.
"Now, Inosuke!" Tanjiro belted into the air.
Inosuke shoved the tip of his blades back behind him and growled, "LET'S GO! Stay close and don't let me down, underlings!"
"You got it!" All three of them replied without any argument.
As Inosuke took a deep breath, strengthening every muscle in his body, the three of them surged forward and jumped high in the air, deflecting the oncoming attack of sashes. Kagami could feel every murderous intent from every single, individual obi belt and sash curling around them, all thanks to Inosuke's heightened senses. She could feel them all around her, could differentiate which one will reach her first and which have the most force and momentum to slice a part of her body clean off. Combining powers with Inosuke was a really, really useful idea.
"Beast Breathing. Eight Form... EXPLOSIVE RUUUUUSH!" Inosuke screamed and took off in a powerful charge!
It's now or never!
All at once, hundreds of obi belts coiled and twisted in the sky before darting solely for Inosuke, but he didn't hesitate! He didn't falter, jump back, or move to deflect the attacks! Instead, he kept running at a blinding speed, ignoring the incoming attacks, and left it in the hands of his friends!
One after the other, Kagami, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu raced to his aid.
"Water Breathing. Third Form...!" Tanjiro chanted and immediately twirled his body in the air, a water vortex so powerful, so agile, and fluid, poured out the edge of his blade, and pushed himself forward across the roof ahead of Inosuke. With smooth motions of his sword twisting, circling, and spiraling through the sky, a trail of baby blue water crackling with electric power followed after him and wrapped around his body protectively. He commanded it, and it followed his orders without complaint. He fought off and deflected a dozen obi belts with every rotation, and kept surging forward with a powerful roar!
Zenitsu released a low hiss, exclaiming, "Thunder Breathing. First Form...!" and disappeared in a blinding yellow light in a bolt of lightning. The beam of light bounced erratically from one sash to the other, numerous loud claps of thunder roaring and booming from the sky above at each hit, and his crackle of energy took on the strange appearance of water. The energy crackled and swirled around his blade, shooting outwards in multiple directions fending off more attacks!
Kagami jumped high and over Inosuke's head, slashing her arm with her own blade. She watched her crimson red blood pour from her self-inflicted wound and drip onto his body. Without hesitation, she bellowed, "Dragon Breathing. Sixth Form... Armor of the Doragon!"
Inosuke's entire body was briskly enveloped in dark red scale-like armor. It traveled down his torso, along his arms, covered his hands and fingers, and trailed up his neck into the mask where his face was hidden. Once covered, his body illuminated in the night, taking on the appearance of hundreds of thousands rubies shining in a dark cave where light refracted. It shouldn't slow down his pace; it only hardened the exterior of his skin and should give him more confidence about racing toward the demon! Kagami had been previously nervous about using that form, she wanted her blood to stay inside her body, but for Inosuke, she's willing to spill anything to protect him!
The dance Kagami and Tanjiro knew the song to was joined by Zenitsu. No longer was it a two-person routine but now three. Gray flames, red-orange-blue ombre colored lightning, and baby blue, electric water outlined with the silver flames flowed through, over, and in between one another as they jumped, ducked, and swerved around each other to attack the slashes aiming to kill Inosuke. Their moves became synchronous, their hearts conjoined into one, feeling and feeding off of each other's desperation, courage, strength, and bravery, and their minds relished the thought of prevailing in this battle against the demon!
"Flowing...!"
"Thunderclap and Flash...!"
"Dragon Breathing. Ninth Form...!
Kagami, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu converged in the sky above and far in front of Inosuke, their trails of power mixing together forming a midnight black fire flowing like water and crackling with energy, blades raised high, hands grasping their hilts tightly, jaws set tight, and sharply swung out, screaming:
"DANCE!"
"EIGHTFOLD!'
"GOLDEN WALL OF BLAZING FIRE!"
Their built up momentum, the energy that thrummed, pounded, and seared into their blood and very bones, quickly divided and drove their blades forward. A large wall of flames rose so high into the water, burning so bright and so hot, dozens of obi sashes recoiled from the intense heat. Water swirling over, under, and around the obi sashes deflected them all into one area. A beam of yellow light bounced all around stray belts, zooming and whizzing across the entire rooftop, before completely tearing the group of belts trapped into one pile. They eviscerated all of the surrounding obi leaving the path completely free!
"YAAAAAH!" Inosuke howled into the air still running and running, noticing the reflection of the beautiful explosive colors against the tiles, but focused his mind on one thing: the Worm Lady's head!
No matter how much the sashes cut into his arms, head, and legs, tiny bits of red scaled-jewels his woman Kagami placed on him for extra protection clinking off, he won't stop moving! He won't let those little wimpy cuts slow him down! He will finish this! Especially at the frightened expression this ugly baby had taken seeing him already inches from her! He whipped his silver, fiery blades through the air and placed the jagged edge blades on either side of her throat! Just as he suspected, it was hard as a rock! But he found a way, Lord Inosuke always finds a way!
"I'm getting it done this time," He lowly growled, feeling the harsh vibration rising from his chest, and stomped a heavy heel into the ground. Without wasting another beat, he snarled, "Beast Breathing. Sixth Fang...!"
With a vicious continuous roar pouring out of his chest, a mixture of frustration, shame, and ultimately power, strength, and pride flowing through his core, he began to move his arms back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth without relenting! He was sawing her throat like a damn log with his chipped blades, and he was going to make sure it actually comes off!
He kept screaming, crying, and roaring, the flames dancing along his blade bouncing on the Worm Lady's head, helping sear away the skin and used every last bit of power he felt Kagami feeding him. What kept him going, what drove him even further, was the skin and meat under his blades shredding and bleeding!
Inosuke sawed faster, faster, and faster, until-!
"PALISADE BITE!" He finished with a wary cry feeling his blades come free... and seeing the demon's head fly high into the air.
Landing on their feet, the shaking of their muscles nearly giving way, panting heavy breaths, Kagami, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu watched the sister's head separate from her body... in awe and relief!
"Inosuke, you did it!" Kagami cried out feeling tears of exhaustion but joy rise in her eyes.
Tanjiro smiled widely and exclaimed, "Using your blades like saw blades was genius!"
Inosuke leaped in the sky and caught the sister's head in his arms. Holding it in between his blades, he started to run away with it held up high above his head. "I got her head! I got her head! I'm gonna take it far away so she can't stick it back on!" He quickly pointed out still running further and further away.
He effortlessly dodged the sashes and belts making a desperate, last-ditch effort to get her head back, and laughed as he ran. "You three go help the old man! I'm gonna run around with this head until you guys beat the other one!" He shouted over his shoulder.
"Will do! Be careful, Inosuke!" Tanjiro agreed shouting after him.
"Got it!"
Kagami smiled at Inosuke's running figure, letting the connection between them snap shut, and quickly looked over to where Mr. Uzui's battle was.
She and Tanjiro jumped from building to building, trying to listen for any sign of battle, but couldn't find any! Maybe Mr. Uzui killed the demon while they were still fighting the sister, but if that was the case her head should've started disintegrating already. Did their battle take them to another part of the district-?
"UCK!"
At the sound of skin snapping, the ringing of steel, she whirled around and let out the most terrifying, heartbreaking scream she's ever produced. Trembling hands flying to her mouth in pure terror, tears running down her face with the power of waterfalls, heart twisting severely until she couldn't breathe, Kagami's cracking voice shrilled into the air, "INOSUKE! INOSUKEEEEE!"
Gyutaro had appeared right behind him... and stabbed his sickle straight into his chest.
Kagami collapsed on her knees, still screaming out her lungs, watching a river of blood spew from the mouth of his mask, from his chest, and down his body.
"INOSUKE! INOSUKE!" Tanjiro cried for him in pure horror and shock from beside her. "This is bad! The poison! Was he stabbed in the heart?! It's too dark to see! Damn it! Why is he here?! He was fighting Mr. Uzui!" He began to spit out in complete panic.
They watched Inosuke's body collapse on the rooftop and lay unmoving! Gyutaro took back the head of his sister from his limp grasp, laughing as he did!
THAT BASTARD!
Kagami stood on her feet with a loud shriek and held her sword tightly in both grip.
Inosuke... is not dead! He is not dead! I refuse to believe he is dead!
Her hands trembled violently holding her sword and sobs spilled uncontrollably from her mouth.
You damn boar-headed freak...! Don't you die on me! Don't you dare die on me! I won't have it! I'll personally find you in the afterlife and kick your ass if you dare leave me! I won't have someone else I love die in front of me! I need you! You know I always need you! If you leave me, I'll never forgive you!
"MR. UZUI!"
Kagami, momentarily, was snapped out of her bloodlust-induced daze, forcing her wild, shaking eyes off of Gyutaro, and looked to where Tanjiro had screamed following his gaze.
More shuddered gasps of dread and fear choked out of her throat. As the curtain of smoke, ash, dust, and dirt parted from the street below them, it revealed Mr. Uzui... laying unconscious with his severed left hand laying beside him, the chain shackling his cleavers together shattered. Blood pooled under his body, his grip on his sword limp, and he... wasn't moving at all. He wasn't getting back up. He wasn't standing on his feet to face the demon again. He... He...
More tears trailed her cheeks at the sudden memory of Mr. Rengoku dying in front of her.
No, no... Mr. Uzui... Big brother... Please... Please don't do this... Don't leave us here like this...
"Tanjiro! Kagami! LOOK OUT!"
Kagami was too late to react when she turned around. Her mind, focused on Inosuke and Mr. Uzui's dying moments, couldn't register the bright red glow that suddenly overtook the Entertainment District. It covered the entire horizon in a sinister crimson red color, glowing brighter and brighter, before unleashing hell.
A gasp spilled from her lips at the harsh shove into her shoulder with her back colliding into Tanjiro behind her. Then, her body met air.
In that same split second she had fallen off the roof, hundreds of erratic lines glowing a neon pink sliced into the buildings all around her, far and wide for miles to go. Where she had been standing, her body would've been sliced in half and she would've been instantly killed if it hadn't been for Zenitsu disregarding his own life to save hers, to save both of theirs. But why... why would he do that?
Zenitsu... you shouldn't have...
Kagami cried reaching her hand out to grasp his but... he was too far away.
I wasn't paying attention... I was too focused on the thought of losing Inosuke and Mr. Uzui within the same minute of each other I was consumed with grief and vengeance. My plan, Tanjiro and I, failed miserably... You, Inosuke, and Mr. Uzui are paying the price for it instead of me! Why... Why would you sacrifice yourself to save me...?! I don't deserve it...
She felt inside the pocket of her haori and sobbed feeling the outline of the flame-shaped sword guard.
Mr. Rengoku, I'm sorry... I failed you.
Her eyes landed on Inosuke's figure falling among the rubble, Mr. Uzui's laying incapacitated on the ground with the threat of the buildings falling on him, to crush him, and felt shame rise in her core.
Inosuke, if I had noticed the demon sooner, you wouldn't... you wouldn't be...! No, if I hadn't left Mr. Uzui's side in the first place, this never would have happened.
It's my fault... I'm sorry, everyone. Please forgive me...
I'm sorry... Father...