Chapter 40: Upper Demon Moon Two, Douma
Notes: Part 2 of the Infinity Castle Arc. OK, I'll be honest I'm not sure what more I can actually do with it. There is a possibility I will come back to this, because in places it still feels…off, but for the time being, this goes as is, so I can continue updating the story. So, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, I give you chapter 40.

Tanjirou frowned and stood before Shinobu, hiding her from the demon's eyes.

"Oh? You're a cute little boy." he said, "But I don't like eating boys so much. Though, I could make an exception for your eyes." he chuckled and took his hat off, revealing a bloodstain, "Why, I am being rude to my guests! Hello there, very nice to meet you. My name is Douma. It's a very nice night out tonight, isn't it?"

Tanjirou's nose twitched, picking up Shinobu's rage spike.

"H…He…Hel–Help…Help me!" a woman called out.

"Shhhh! We're talking right now…right?"

Shinobu moved faster than he'd ever seen her, moving the woman away from Douma's reach.

"Are you okay?" she asked kindly the scared woman.

"Whoa! You sure are fast. Are you a Pillar?" Douma asked with a smile.

"Ah… Ah…" the woman panted.

Tanjirou blinked and ran.

"Shinobu!" he called out not making it in time to save the woman in his friend's arms.

"There we go." the demon said, "Ah, don't worry about her! Just leave her over there. I'll make sure to make a proper meal out of her later." he said, standing up, revealing a pair of fans, "I am the founder of the 'Eternal Paradise Cult'. My duty is to make all my worshipers, including myself, happy. So I will devour her thoroughly and let nothing go to waste." he said.

Tanjirou listened horrified.

But what worried him more were Shinobu's feelings. He…hadn't smelt this much hatred and rage from her.

"…Make everyone happy? Don't be ridiculous. This girl was screaming for help just now." Shinobu said.

"That's whyI saved her, right?" Douma said, "She's not feeling any morepain. Nor is she suffering. Nor is she afraid." he said, with that calm, gentle voice of his, "You know, everyone's afraid of dying. And that's why I eat them all up. Now they get to live on together with me. Forever. I firmly take all the feelings of my worshipers. Blood. And flesh. I made sure to accept, rescue, and guide them all to enlightenment."

Tanjirou stared.

"There's no way you're sane. Are you right in the head? You really make me sick." Shinobu scoffed.

"Eeeeehh? How come you're being this harsh even though we met just now? Oh, I know. I get it. How sad. If there's anything bothering you…I'll make sure to listen. So come on, speak up. You can tell me."

"Anything bothering me? You're the one who killed my sister, right? Don't you recognise this haori?" Shinobu seethed.

Tanjirou froze.

'He killed Kanae-nee.' he thought.

"Hm? Ahh! You mean the flower breath girl from before? She was such a sweet and cute girl. I missed out on eating her because of the sun coming up. I remember her. But I really did want to eat her all…up."

Two blades struck him.

Shinobu's sword pierced through his left eye, while Tanjirou struck at his heart, slicing him in two.

"You…" Tanjirou breathed out heavily, "…are making it hard on me keeping a clear and calm head and heart."

"Whoa! That was an amazing thrust. I couldn't stop it with my hand. And you covered your friend's attack on me really well." he smiled.

Tanjirou felt the chill and saw the attack before the demon thought of it.

"Shinobu."

The two Pillars jumped back.

Douma swung his right hand and ice lotus flowers spread out.

'Ice. But there's danger in this. One wrong breath…' Tanjirou realised, as his nose twitched.

"Hmmm. Very fast! You both really are fast, huh." he said, reassembling himself, "But it's just too bad ." he said, using his fan to point to his eye, "You can't kill demons just with stabbing, or pointless slashing. It's the neck. You really do have to sever the head."

"Well, I may not be able to kill you with stabbing, but what about with poison?" Shinobu asked, sheathing her sword and watching her poison take effect.

He fell down, coughing blood.

"Aaagh! Well…this one is a lot stronger than the one you used on Rui-kun's mountain." he said, "The mixture…can adapt to any demon. That's what that man said, too…!" he coughed, "Ohhh? It seems I was able to decompose your poison. Sorry about that. And I know you worked so hard to use it on me. Your blade makes a very unique sound when you put in your sheath Is that where you change the poison mix? Oh maan, this is so much fun! Getting attacked with poison is totally interesting! I might actually make a habit out of it! Hey, do you think your next mix will work on me? Let's try!" he laughed.

Shinobu drew her sword, twirling it around herself.

"…Alright. That's fine by me." she said, "Well, I half-expected this to happen, personally."

Shinobu charged and stabbed Douma with another mix.

Douma retaliated, but his move was stopped by Tanjirou, acting as Shinobu's shield.

"Shinobu. Don't breath." he said, "That Blood Demon Art is really troublesome."

Shinobu nodded and they charged again and again and again.

"Hmm… That's the fifth time. And that's no good either. It didn't work. It's getting less and less effective. How many more times can you make poison? Oh, are you having trouble breathing? You're sweating a lot. Are you alright?"

Tanjirou laughed. Suddenly. Unexpectedly.

"All right?" he asked, raising his body from its stance, "We are breathing without breathing. And we're fighting the demon who took someone very important to us, so we're very, very angry. And at the same time I had been studying you."

"Oh?"

"I wanted to see how far you'd take the act. But you seem hell-bent to keep it up." Tanjirou frowned, "Out of all the living and nonliving things I've met, you're the first one to not have emotions. You don't feel anything, do you? People born in this world can feel joy, sadness, anger and other emotions so strongly they tremble. But that's all a mystery to you, right?" he continued.

Douma took a sad look.

"That's really harsh of you, you know."

"But you're smart enough…to make up for it by lying. You can only pretend to be happy or have fun or be sad, so you won't reveal your empty heart. Enjoying happy things, fun things…facing difficult things and painful things…you're actually an empty shell."

"In the end, it seems I was wrong. You're not cute at all." the demon frowned.

"You took Kanae-nee from us. And I was never one to lie, no matter who I am talking to. If the truth hurts you, it is not a fault of mine." Tanjirou said seriously.

Just then Shinobu struck the demon.

"You really are fast! Maybe the fastest Pillar I've met so far!" Douma said, with the appropriate amount of awe in his voice, as he countered.

"SHINOBU!" Tanjirou called running to her side, as blood burst from a cut to her left lung.

"You should have cut off my head instead of using poison. If you're that fast, you might have beaten me. Awwww… Maybe not. Because you're small." he said airily.

Tanjirou knelt beside her and wiped her tears.

"There's no one stronger than the Insect Pillar Kochou Shinobu, demon." he said coldly, "I won't allow you to talk about her like that."

"Oh? What is she to you, then? Why are you letting her suffer like this? Are you that weak…?" he started, trailing off upon noticing Tanjirou's earrings, "Aren't you…?"

"Insect Pillar." Tanjirou looked back with a smile. He took off his haori and placed it over her, "Please, rest. I'll take it from here."

"I promised, nee-san." she wheezed.

"Kanae-nee will understand if I take over for you. I can't have you dying on me just yet. We have a talk to finish, you and me." he smiled warmly at her.

Then he picked her up and set her as far as he could from where he'd be fighting, out of Douma's range.

"I need you to stay alive, Shinobu." he said softly, in her ear, "Please."

Shinobu patted his cheek.

"I guess it won't hurt to rest for a bit." she sighed.

With a smile and a kiss to her forehead, Tanjirou turned towards the demon.

'Sun Breathing; Combined Tenth Form: Hundred Shining Rays of Grace.'

He charged, moving in a zigzag pattern, weaving in all directions, that gained speed and confused Douma.

'Sun Breathing; Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow.'

Douma swung his fan and it cut through an afterimage.

"Eh?"

The demon barely had time to dodge the horizontal slash to his neck.

"You…" he said, drawing away from Tanjirou, "Aren't you the Sun Breathing slayer he has been trying to kill?"

"I didn't know I was famous."

"You are interesting, boy. I'll play with you for now." Douma said, "I'll even make an exception and eat you too. If being with you is what makes her happy, you two being with me will make you two happier."

"I am going to kill you. For Kanae-nee and for Shinobu." Tanjirou said, taking a new stance.

"Oh, what are you going to use now?"

'Sun Breathing; Combined Seventh Form: Sunflower Thrust – Curve!'

He started with the combination with the fastest Water Breathing move, a fast and accurate stab.

Douma countered.

'Sun Breathing; Combined Twelfth Form: Unknowing Flame Waltz!'

Tanjirou changed his breathing pattern and charged toward the demon at high speed, slashing at his neck.

'Sun Breathing; Combined Eighth Form: First Solar Heat Haze!'

He dashed forward with multiple slashes, driving Douma back, closing in on him.

Tanjirou could feel the strain on his lungs, but he knew he could manage it this time. He trained for this.

'Sun Breathing; Combined Eighth Form: Solar Heat Haze Clouds!'

Tanjirou charged towards the ice lotus Douma send his way, blowing them away in a flurry of slashes.

'Sun Breathing; Enhanced First Form: Waltz Flash!'

"So many different attacks!" Douma said airily, "Aren't you tired, though? Your breathing seems to be irregular."

Tanjirou smiled.

"You keep not listening, demon. I said I was stalling. And I said I will kill you. I never said for how long I'd stall for or when I'll kill you."

Just then the door behind him opened and Kanao stepped in.

"Master!" she called out, noticing Shinobu resting near the door. Safely tacked away from the fight between Tanjirou and Douma.

"Ah." Tanjirou grinned, "Could you please look after my partner? I couldn't apply any first aid, really. And try not to breath his technique. His ice is troublesome."

"Yes." Kanao nodded, reaching Shinobu's side.

"Now then. Shall we continue?" Tanjirou asked, turning back to Douma.

"I see. You used fast movements to keep me away from her." he smiled, "Very admirable! I am impressed! I didn't even notice it! Let's see how you deal with my attacks now."

Douma moved his fans in arcs, creating frozen waves.

'Sun Breathing; Combined Sixth Form: Bone Burning Sun – Shadow.'

Tanjirou defended himself against the attack.

With another swing of his fans, Douma released ice vines.

'Sun Breathing; Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow.'

He found himself behind Douma. The demon quickly turned to defend himself.

'Sun Breathing; Eighth Form: Soaring Flame Haze!'

Tanjirou slashed at Douma.

"Oh, you missed."

"Did I?" he smiled.

A deep cut appeared on Douma's stomach.

"Oh, you didn't!" he seemed delighted.

"Seriously, this act of yours is becoming tiring." Tanjirou sighed, getting ready once more.

Douma appeared before him in a flash, striking at him with his fans. Tanjirou barely managed to backflip away from the attack.

"You were holding back on me earlier, weren't you?" he grinned, creating two female figures that breathed out ice.

Tanjirou dodged, moving away from the attack.

"Tanjirou!" Kanao was looking at the fight closely, "Watch out!" she called out a warning.

He looked up and saw the icicles on the ceiling, falling straight down on him, like a deadly rain.

Tanjirou dodged to the side, getting nicked by stray ice.

"You're good at dodging." the demon smiled, "But you have to get closer to cut my neck. You did so many fast attacks before. Can't you do them again? Maybe one of them will reach my neck."

Suddenly he vanished. At the same time, Tanjirou moved.

'Sun Breathing: Fourth Form: Fake Rainbow.'

"Ah! You saw through that! I was trying to take your sword so you would come closer."

Douma scattered ice lotus petals.

"Tanjirou! Go left!" Kanao called out, "I'll lead you to the safest location!"

"Thank you!" he called back, moving according to her directions.

"Such amazing teamwork. It moves me to tears." the demon said, "Maybe I should kill her first, hm?"

'Sun Breathing; Enhanced First Form: Waltz Flash!'

He moved quickly to intercept the demon's fans, blocking him from striking Kanao and Shinobu.

Douma changed his attack, scattering ice lotus petals around him.

Just then, the ceiling opened and Inosuke came crashing down.

"OORAAAAGH! Inosuke-sama has descended from the heavens, comin' in!" he called as he fell, using his Fifth Fang to clear the petals from around Tanjirou, "Bullseye! The crow's directions were was spot-on!" he laughed, "FIGHT! FIGHT!"