𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖳𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗏𝖾
Y/n had only encountered three Kizuki in her life prior to meeting Rengoku, and she'd only ever fought one.
She couldn't really tell what the gap between their strength was like, as she was currently fighting with numerous injuries that had required time to heal.
But, if she had to estimate the difference between Rengoku's strength and her own at the moment—
It'd be like an ant trying to fight an elephant.
There was a clash as y/n blocks Rengoku's sword with her own, preventing him from striking a passenger only just beginning to wake up from their Demon Art induced slumber.
"You're still recovering from your injuries, yet you're still able to defend yourself and the passengers in such a small space!" Rengoku exclaimed, "Good... that's good!"
'Just barely.' y/n thought wearily, 'I could use my breathing style, but my body isn't at its best right now. I wouldn't be able to guarantee my ability to avoid hitting the passengers, so I'm stuck on the defensive until they get out of here!'
"I've been wondering something since our first meeting, Tokito!" Rengoku hummed as y/n forced his blade away from the passenger, only able to continue defending herself as she was slowly backed towards the door of the train car, "Just how determined are you to protect everyone on this train, hm? How long can you ignore your injuries just to ensure the safety of the passengers?"
"Honestly, not long." y/n admitted before flinging open the door behind her, letting in a gust of cool night air.
She grabbed Rengoku by the front of his clothing, only catching a brief look of surprise on his face before she flung him out the door and out into the night.
Y/n was about to hop on out after him, but paused to give the shell shocked passengers one last look.
"Try to stay out of the way of the people with swords." she advised before slamming the door shut and hopping off the back of the train.
She cleared a fair distance before landing lightly, taking a moment to watch the train speed off before glancing back towards Rengoku who was dusting himself off.
"And here I was hoping that I could enjoy testing your skills back on the train for a just a little longer." Rengoku sighed as y/n remained attentive, ready for whatever came next, "But then again, your decision to take the fight away from the passengers was the best one you had available. You were holding back, weren't you?"
Y/n didn't waste time talking, drawing in a breath as she darted forward. Left. Right. Left. Yes, the left.
Rengoku was ready to cut the h/c haired girl down as she appeared at his left only for her to move at the last second. The demon's grin seemed to grow as he attempted to catch her blade only for it to slice right through his hand and head right for his neck.
Moon Breathing, Thirteenth Form
Grazing Occultation
'Even in such poor condition, her speed is incredible.' Rengoku noted as he blocked y/n's attack with his own blade, forcing her back only for her to return just as quickly with speed that only seemed to double, 'Not only is she quick, but her strength is just as impressive! Yet she still isn't giving it her all.'
"Is it that you're waiting for me to stop holding back, Tokito?" Rengoku inquired as he inspected her carefully, all while blocking each strike that only seemed to come closer and closer to reaching his neck.
"I'm waiting for you to quit talking." y/n retorted in a flat tone, "Quit 🚚ing around, I'm getting annoyed."
"As you wish!" oh good lord that booming voice was back. It took all of her will power not cringe as she took in more air, steeling her nerves and gripping her blade a little tighter, "I'll give this battle my all as well!"
Moon Breathing
Y/n's world seemed to slow as she zeroed in on Rengoku's body, watching how he moved even as she approached with breakneck speed.
Third Form
As she neared, she noticed something wrong.
Something horribly wrong.
'Is he... steaming?!'
Blood Demon Art
Gold and red eyes with the kanji for flame engraved in them locked onto y/n's, and that unwavering grin brought a horrible sense of dread to y/n's body.
'💩!'
The demon's bright red blade tore through the air in a single slash, and a trail of fire glowing tones of orange and yellow followed. It curled around him a spiral of brilliant flames, the heat burning y/n right through her uniform as she was forced to twist her body midair.
She just barely made it through the spiral of fire, a few flames burning right through her uniform and leaving red hot burns against her skin.
Seventh Form
Mirror of Misfortune - Moonlit
Y/n slashed only for Rengoku's blade to meet hers, sending little sparks flying. The sheer heat forced y/n to retreat a fair distance back, her breathing uneven as she forced it to regain its pattern.
"Your reflexes are excellent as well." Rengoku hummed, "Despite swapping forms so quickly, you were able to make it through my attack relatively unscathed. You're quite the swordsman, aren't you?"
Y/n didn't respond, breathing was more important.
'That was too close. If I hadn't moved when I did, I would've been burned badly.' she thought, giving her burnt sleeves a brief glance, 'The area around him itself is extremely hot, so much so that just getting close makes me feel like I'm being cooked alive. Is that perhaps his Blood Demon Art at work?'
She could feel uncertainty creeping up on her, but she moved before it even had the chance to take hold. Y/n couldn't hesitate, not now. Not while Yuichiro, Nezuko, and the passengers were still at risk!
"Your form is incredible! Air tight! You're leaving no openings for me to use against you! You're balanced, and as quick as ever!" Rengoku exclaimed, blocking and attacking as needed with relative ease as he complimented his opponent, "I can see that flame within you burning brighter, but you're still not going all out!"
The demon's blade seemed the glint as more flames shrouded it, the heat so intense that y/n felt the unbearable need to shrink away.
'Faster, damn it!' y/n thought as she felt the heat burning her skin each time Rengoku's blade got inevitably closer to cutting her, 'Move faster! Breathe!'
"Don't let your breathing falter! You'll be killed if you relax even for a moment! Move faster, strike harder! Keep increasing your body's power, or die!"
'Damn it, shut up! I'm tired of your damn voice!'
Y/n's leg gave out for a split second and her speed declined for a split second. That time was all Rengoku needed and white hot pain engulfed y/n's entire side as his blade sliced right through her uniform and into one of her wounds that was still healing.
The h/c haired girl recoiled, biting her lip to silence the noise of pain that nearly slipped out as her breathing faltered yet again. Damn, that 💩 burned!
"Your flame is wavering, Tokito! Don't tell me you're giving up now!" Rengoku exclaimed. Damn, his voice was annoying as hell.
"Shut the hell up!" y/n forced out through gritted teeth, 'It burns... I think I blacked out for a second-! Damn it, what the hell is it with this dude?'
Not now. She couldn't stop now.
'Not when Yuichiro still needs me!'
Right. Yuichiro still needed her.
But Nezuko was a capable slayer, kind too.
If anything were to happen to y/n, the ebony haired girl would make sure Yuichiro made it back to Uta and Yoriichi at the very least. ...right?
Y/n came to a halt.
'Ah, that's right. They can care for Yu-chan, even if something happens to me. In that case...'
Rengoku paused with a small, "Oh?" as he got a good look at y/n's face. Hoo, boy, he knew that look. It made his blood boil with excitement. Literally.
E/c eyes looked up to stare at the demon.
The eyes someone with nothing to lose.
Nothing holding them back.
Dangerous delight flickered in Rengoku's gaze, like a hungry blaze just waiting to devour all in its path.
"Are you finally going to show me that brilliant flame of yours?" the fiery haired demon demanded, his voice somehow louder than before, "Tokito Y/n!"
'Damn it all, I'm not dying till I kill this 🚚er!'
~~~ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ•°*
"You're a crazy little 💩, you know that?"
Y/n winced as a firm yet careful hand tended to the various cuts and gashes which littered her body. The ointment burned against the raw cuts on her back but she was unable to move away from the painful burn as another held her still, careful not to cut her with sharp nails.
"You're human, remember? Your body doesn't regenerate when harmed, and an injury in the wrong spot could put you out of commission for good!" a stern voice scolded her, sharp and unforgiving despite the words of concern which were spoken, "You can't fight so recklessly! You'll die, dumb🍑!"
"What use am I have if I'm not willing to die fighting for my brother?" y/n whispered, "I already lost one, I'm not going to lose the other."
"Well you sure as hell won't be able to do 💩 for him if you're a corpse!" the harsh voice snapped and y/n grimaced when his free hand pinched her cheek and gave it a rough tug, "Fight smarter! Crazy 🍑 brat!"
"And if I'm in a situation where I know I'll die?"
There was silence, and y/n turned her head to look into the speaker's sharp pale purple eyes. He clamped a hand on y/n's head and forced her to look ahead again.
"Then, by all means, go wild."
Moon Breathing, Fourth Form
Full Moon
More fiery blood flew, splashing onto y/n's face and burning her cheek as she sliced right through Rengoku's sword and ever so slightly into his throat.
'She's getting faster.' Rengoku noted as his sword regenerated in an instant, poised to slice her in half.
Blazing Universe
The blade sliced a fraction of y/n's shoulder clean off, leaving a steaming mess of blood and burnt flesh as she charged right at the Kizuki, her eyes focused and as bright as ever.
Ninth Form
Waning Moonswaths
Flame Tiger
With each slash y/n made, Rengoku met them with a fiery one of his own. Each time his sword was sliced, it grew right back whilst sending more burning blood flying right onto y/n who did not falter even under the immense heat.
Her body felt like it was on fire.
No, she was burning. But she didn't stop.
She couldn't. She wouldn't!
"I can see it...! That brilliant blaze growing brighter and brighter with each strike!" excitement was creeping into the demon's tone, and he looked downright fanatical as he took in as much of the glorious sight before him as he could.
Y/n looked horrible, really.
But in Rengoku's eyes, she was perfect.
Severe burns along the side of her face and neck and the few parts of her body left exposed by the burnt remains of her blood soaked uniform. The look on her face was amazing, so much so that Rengoku wished to behold it for all of eternity.
'Eternity, huh? Wouldn't that be nice.' Rengoku thought, "Tokito— no, y/n. Become a demon."
Y/n didn't respond, continuing to attack fiercely as Rengoku began to put more and more effort into keeping her back without killing her.
"You're an incredible human, but you can be far greater as a demon! Your humanity leaves you at risk of wasting your potential!" Rengoku shouted, "I want to be able to see this side of you more, for the rest of eternity."
"I refuse." y/n's response was simple and quick, and oddly enough, Rengoku began to feel... frustrated.
The seconds were ticking by, and with each one that passed, y/n's inevitable death drew near. As amazing as she was, her weakened body just wasn't able to keep up with the commands she was giving it.
She'd already been exposed to his blood, and she hadn't taken the proper steps to neutralize it, so with each moment that dragged by, it was burning further and further into her. If y/n was allowed to continue, she practically fall apart.
'As much as I find her stubbornness and persistence endearing, it's troublesome. She's willing to toss everything away. All that potential, going to waste.' Rengoku's smile was flattering, and his brows furrowed as a pensive look began to settle in, 'I can't let her throw it all away. She has to become a demon, she will become a demon.'
Time seemed to slow as Rengoku got a good look at those e/c eyes, taking a moment to just admire them even as her blade closed in on his neck.
'Fine. If she won't give in on her own—'
Blood flew into the air as y/n's sword finally sliced into Rengoku's neck, only making it half way before something pierced her chest.
'I'll make sure there's no other option but to give in!'
There was a moment of shock as y/n's concentration snapped and she felt nothing. Then, she felt all of it.
Rengoku's blood burning her from the inside out, the wounds she'd sustained in her reckless attempt as killing the Kizuki shedding more and more blood, her body screaming in agony, and of course.
Her heartbeat becoming stagnant for a split second before working overtime against the agonizing burn to keep her alive.
Y/n looked down, and there it was.
That accursed bright red flame blade piercing into her chest, and right through her goddamn heart. Well.
'💩.'
(Literally Rengoku this entire chapter:)
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