Chapter Nine: Tanjiro and Nezuko VS Susamaru and Yahaba.
After using their powers to locate Tanjiro's location. The Temari Demon pummeled the house with her temari balls destroying the cloaking spell that was hiding the house. Tanjiro, Nezuko and Yushiro were shocked by the appearance of their new foes, these two demons were more powerful than what they faced before. The Temari Demon who's name was Susamaru called apon her partner The Arrow Demon Yahaba and asked him what he sensed. Yahaba deduced that the hidden house was due to the work of a blood demon art wielder adept at hiding objects. He also sensed the presence of a demon accompanying their target, confusing him. This made Susamaru excited at the prospect of killing them. Yahaba chided Susamaru for her immaturity and childish behavior his kimono also got dusty from the initial attack wich he also complained about. Susamaru jabed him in the ribs to stop his whining as they have found their targets anyway. Tanjiro was shocked...the temari woman was able to destroy the house just through her temari balls!...Yushiro wonderd if she's a servant of Muzan?!.
Susamaru continued her assault and pummeled the house with her lightning speed forcing everyone to duck for cover. One temari almost hit Yushiro who stood in the way to protect Tamayo the temari then swerved unnaturally and smashed into Yushiro's head beheading him. Horrified at the sight of Yushiro's decapitated body, Tanjiro tasked Nezuko with protecting the injured woman from Asakusa and to take her outside but Tamayo said that the basement was much safer so Nezuko and the injured woman followed Tamayo to the basement, meanwhile Tanjiro stood up and observed Susamaru. He noted that the temari woman possessed a completely different scent compared to past demons...one that was thicker and far stronger. Susamaru saw Tanjiro and declared that he was the one that Muzan wants 'Your lives are in grave danger you must leave now!!!' Tanjiro said to Tamayo asking her and Yushiro to flee to safety but Tamayo told him to continue fighting without them in his concern reminding him that they are demons so they don't require protection, at that moment Susamaru hurled a temari ball at Tanjiro with incredible speed. With the ball hurling towards him Tanjiro had to quickly think of a moon breathing form that can defeat it, the young slayer decided to use the first form Dark moon Evening palace, and with a crescent strike from his sword Tanjiro cut the temari ball in half, the temari woman then summoned the now cut ball back to herself with the two severed halfs flying off the floor on their own. Tanjiro noted that the temari balls moved unnaturally with out spinning just like when it struck Yushiro.
Tamayo watched as Yushiro heald his mouth and jaws to speak, the boy complained that he was right not to let themselves get involved with Tanjiro especially since his blindfold technique isn't fully working still, he is currently only able to mask objects and isn't able to fully hide their existence yet. Tanjiro realized that it was Yushiro's blood demon art that inadvertently hid their attackers until they destroyed the house. Yushiro declared that he hates and despises anyone that ruins his time with Tamayo calling it unforgivable!...Susamaru heard and laughed at Yushiro's message.
Susamaru disregarded her kimono so she can fight more freely she also grew two extra arms and formed four new temaris to fight with, ' Ha Ha Ha you will have the honor of being killed by me a member of the twelve kizuke! ' declared Susamaru. Tamayo explained that the twelve kizuke are demons that serve directly under Muzan they were his personal servants and bodyguards. Now enjoying the battle the temari woman launched all six of her temaris at the house, this forced Tanjiro to evade them all while one ended up cutting Yushiro's face.
'What was that?!' said the injured woman she was frightened by the sound of the six temaris crashing into the house.
'I have to help my brother!... no matter what happens do not leave this basement!' Nezuko said with an urgent tone in her voice as she quickly rushed to help her brother.
Tamayo tried to think if she can cast her spell now but she saw that Tanjiro would be affected to, while Yushiro needed more time to regenerat to heal in order to attack again. Tanjiro was starting to get overwhelmed by the greater number of temaris wich injured Tamayo and Yushiro, as the boy was wondering how he can defeat the enemies to save the two demons Tanjiro noticed that there are two demon scents present.
Yushiro told Tanjiro to follow the arrows to determine the temaris path and dodge them. Tanjiro stated that he couldn't see the arrows so Yushiro irritably gave Tanjiro a paper talisman imbued with his sight. Upon receiving the talisman. Tanjiro could finally see the arrows that were directing the path and trajectory of Susamaru's temaris. Tanjiro thanked Yushiro for this new insight. 'Nezuko let's take this outside...you deal with Yahaba while i fight Susamaru!' Tanjiro said to his sister as they head outside to battle their opponents.
Susamaru declared that she will bring Tanjiro's head to Muzan as she launched all her temaris. Tanjiro evaded the attack but the temaris continued to pursue him as he was running away, meanwhile Nezuko had found her mark The Arrow Demon Yahaba who was hiding in the trees, she came at him with the first form of WaterBreathing Water Surface Slash. Nezuko released a singular horizontal slash aiming to decapitate her enemy, this distracted Yahaba as he dodged Nezuko's attack causing the arrows to fade away stopping the temaris movement. With his chance in sight Tanjiro unleashed the fifth form of Moonbreathing Moon Spirit Calanitous Eddy. Tanjiro kept repeatedly slashing the temaris with his Saber stacking one crescent slash on top of the other. Tanjiro was able to overwhelm Susamaru he quickly sliced the temaris and Susamaru's arms. Tanjiro asked Tamayo if these two demons were closely related to Muzan, wich Tamayo believed to be true, with that information Tanjiro declared that he will take their blood for sure!.
Susamaru was absolutely terrified and intimidated by Tanjiro he destroyed her temaris and cut off her arms like they were nothing and the way that he was able to heal all the injuries that she inflected on him only demons were supposed to be capable of that...that demon slayer was some kind of monster and freak of nature!!!...there was no way that he was entirely human was that why her master wanted that boy's head and why he gave her and Yahaba more of his blood?. Even Tamayo and Yushiro were shocked if the temari woman was a member of the twelve kizuke then she must be a formidable demon and yet she feard Tanjiro. 'Ha if you are a member of the twelve kizuke like you claim to be then your master must be terrible at choosing his recruits since he allowed a weak woman child like you to join!' Tanjiro said with a smirk on his face mocking Susamaru that triggerd her invoking her wrath and giving her the strength to continue fighting...that brat will pay for what he said...nobody mocks her great demon lord Muzan!!!.
Meanwhile Nezuko was clashing with Yahaba. The Arrow Demon had grown irritated at Nezuko for the dust that she was getting on his clothing so he used his arrows to launch the girl away from him, at the same time Susamaru had regenerated her severed arms and Tanjiro noted that her regeneration is faster than any demon from final selection.
Nezuko was sent flying by Yahaba and she ended colliding with her brother...it was a good thing that they were part demon and able to heal and regenerat their injuries or that collision could have been much worse!, meanwhile Yahaba himself landed on the ground to join Susamaru.
She hurled a temari and nearly hit the two but thanks to their superior speed and senses they were able to dodge the attack much more faster and easier than normal slayers. Yushiro informed the siblings that they had to deal with Yahaba first as she handed Nezuko the same paper talisman that he gave Tanjiro...Nezuko was going to continue battling Yahaba while Tanjiro was going to continue fighting Susamaru. Nezuko charged at Yahaba with the intent of extracting his blood to produce the treatment she sensed The Opening Thread with her enhanced senses but the demon used his arrows to disrupt her footwork causing her to miss, using his arrows he flung Nezuko throughout the surrounding area causing her to slam into the trees and into the ground hard. Yahaba then launched Nezuko high into the air and then disabled his arrows to drop the demon slayer to her death but in the nick of time Nezuko used the eighth form of WaterBreathing Waterfall Basin to stop her momentum and save herself.
Susamaru then launched her temaris at Nezuko who successfully evaded them all. She turned around to see Tanjiro and Yushiro but Yushiro suddenly vanished from view leaving only Tanjiro, the demon slayer began attacking her with his sword while Yushiro struck the Temari Demon with multiple punches and chops whilst invisible, together Tanjiro and Yushiro were able to bring Susamaru to her knees. Yushiro then revealed himself and both Tanjiro and Yushiro deemed Susamaru unforgivable for hurting Nezuko and Tamayo. Yahaba had overhead their threats and realized that Tamayo is a fugitive from Muzan. Susamaru got up, she concurred Yahab's idea of taking Tamayo as well before launching another temari at Nezuko.
Nezuko saw the temari hurling towards her and got out of the way. Tanjiro saw this and quickly rushed at Susamaru, he came at her with the sixth form of MoonBreathing Prepetual Night Lonely Moon-Incessant. Tanjiro unleashed several vertical slashes, he again severed Susamaru's arms and incapacitated her, 'Ah i will make you suffer for this you miserable little brat!!!, Hay Yahaba why don't we bring him four heads instead of just one!' Susamaru asked delighted.
'Four heads is too much for us to carry, let's just bring him the head of the slayer with the hanafuda earrings and the head of the traitor ' replied Yahaba. Susamaru was content with that.
Tanjiro and Nezuko continued to face Susamaru and Yahaba, but Nezuko noticed that even sensing the opening thread was pointless unless she could strike with pinpoint accuracy. Yahaba sent multiple arrows at her forcing the demon slayer to evade them all, she tried to cut the arrows with her blade but but making contact only took her to the arrows path, she could have just used her blood demon art and ended this fight quickly but they need a sample of the two demons blood.
The arrows slammed Nezuko into the wall and she fell onto the ground in pain!, the girl dropped her sword and saw an arrow wrapping around her arm to twist it off, thinking quickly she ran up a tree to be mid-air when the arrows spind her arm saving herself. After recovering her sword she heard Yahaba commending her for evading his attack. Nezuko realized that she must avoid the arrows path with out touching them, meanwhile Tanjiro was dodging Susamaru's temaris, he was trying to get close so he could decapitate her. Enraged the two demons prepared a final assault on the Tsugikuni siblings, the two demons displayed surprisingly good teamwork with Susamaru distracting Tanjiro with her relentless attacks trying to kill Tanjiro while Yahaba launched numerous arrows at Nezuko trying to kill her. Quickly thinking Nezuko used the sixth form of WaterBreathing to trap the arrows and the footwork of the third form to close in on the Arrow Demon. As the arrows converged on her Nezuko twisted herself into a combined attack Twisting Whirlpool Flowing Water. With his arrows being spun around. Yahaba lost his focus and Nezuko despite the heavy wight of the attack on her sword was able to get close him and she used Second Form: Improved Lateral Water Wheel to decapitate Yahaba. While Tanjiro used the fifth form of MoonBreathing to destroy Susamaru's temaris and then used the sixth form to cut off all of Susamaru's arms and used the first form to decapitate Susamaru.
Author's Note: thank you for reading and please don't hesitate to leave a review, i love hearing your feedback and it helps encourage me to keep the story going.