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"This girl isn't even my wife," Uzui said blankly, though the flicker in his eyes and tension in his jaw betrayed something else. He wanted you to be.
"I have three wives already," he added, voice flat.
"Three wives?? Are you kidding me? That's unforgivable!" Gyutaro snarled, gripping his bloodied sickles tightly. His twisted smile grew darker, hungrier.
He licked the edge of his weapon slowly, before his eyes zeroed in on you like prey.
"Blood Demon Art... Flying Blood Sickles!"
The sickles flew through the air like crimson comets, whistling as they sliced toward you with terrifying precision.
Uzui acted fast-explosive beads flew from his hands and detonated with a thunderous BOOM, blasting the ground with smoke and sound to knock the attacks off course.
"Bend. Flying Blood Sickles," Gyutaro muttered again, like a predator playing with his food.
The sickles curved mid-air.
You screamed as you ducked, spun, and practically backflipped out of the way.
"I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS SHIT, BRO!!" you shouted, swinging your sword wildly as you barely deflected one. "THIS ISN'T EVEN MY PAYGRADE!"
Your blade clashed with the next sickle, sparks flying. The force numbed your arm.
"WHAT KIND OF ANIME VILLAIN BENDS HIS ATTACKS MID-AIR?! THAT'S ILLEGAL!"
Uzui cursed under his breath beside you. He flipped backward, slicing a sickle clean in half with one fluid strike.
"Focus, Y/N!"
"I am focused! Focused on NOT DYING!"
Another sickle grazed your cheek. Blood trickled down, stinging as the wind hit it.
Gyutaro tilted his head, amused. "Tch... Flashy reflexes, I'll give you that."
You dropped beside Uzui, panting, the heat of the explosions flickering against your skin.
"You know, I was just trying to look hot and sip tea like two hours ago..."
Uzui smirked faintly, still on edge, his voice low.
"You looked hot doing that, too."
You blinked. "Did you just-?"
"Focus," he said again sharply, but you caught the slight blush on his cheek.
Suddenly,Uzui threw a flashing bead toward the demons-BOOM! An explosion roared through the air, blasting straight toward Daki and Gyutaro.
"Well... I can tell this isn't gonna be a walk in the park," Uzui muttered with a smirk, his blades twirling in his hands.
You stood beside him, eyes sharp, watching as Daki whipped out her obi in a blur, wrapping it around her and Gyutaro just in time to shield them from the blast.
"Tch... this is pissing me off," Gyutaro growled, scratching at his face violently, his eyes twitching with irritation.
"Bro, your whole existence is pissing me off," you shot back, your voice dripping with mockery. You twirled your sword on your finger just to be extra disrespectful.
Gyutaro slowly facepalmed, muttering something unintelligible.
"You two... you're different, huh?" he said, narrowing his sickly green eyes at you and Uzui. "You're not like the other Hashira I killed..."
"Erm-hi, not a Hashira," you said, raising your hand like you were in class. "I'm just here to cause problems on purpose."
Daki narrowed her eyes, studying your stance. "Well... your reflexes look like one."
Your face lit up with a devilish grin.
"WAW. You hear that, Uzui?! I'm better than you," you chirped, pointing dramatically at him like you'd just won a game show.
Uzui gave you a blank stare. "You almost got your head cut off ten minutes ago."
"Details," you said, waving it off. "I'm thriving."
Gyutaro stared at the two of you with growing annoyance.
"This is exactly what I mean. What is this dynamic?"
"It's called chemistry. You wouldn't get it," you snapped, your katana resting lazily on your shoulder.
________
________
As Daki and Gyutaro argued with Uzui-tension rising like a ticking bomb-you just stood there... looking around like you were waiting for a bus.
You glanced up at the shattered rooftops, then over at Uzui, who was glaring daggers at the sibling demons, his muscles tensed and glistening from the fight.
You let out a loud groan and dramatically turned your back to all of it.
Reaching into your backpack, you pulled out a crinkled bag of chips.
Crunch.
"Nom. This tastes delicious," you mumbled mid-chew, savoring it like it was the last meal you'd ever have.
Daki blinked, completely thrown off. "Are you seriously-EATING???"
You held up a finger. "Mhm. Mid-fight snack break. Self-care, bitch."
Gyutaro blinked slowly, then looked at Uzui. "Are they always like this?"
Uzui didn't even flinch. "Worse on missions."
You tilted your head. "You mad? You want a chip?"
"What even is that?" Uzui asked, facepalming as he noticed you casually crunching on something mid-battle.
You groaned inwardly. Right. This is the Taisho era. No one here even knows what chips are.
"Something," you muttered vaguely, shoving the half-eaten snack bag back into your backpack like it was contraband.
Before Uzui could question you more, a sudden sharp pain exploded in your upper arm.
"AGH-!" you gasped, staggering back a few steps, clutching your bicep. Blood trickled down your sleeve, warm and fast.
Gyutaro's sickly voice rang out from the smoke, "Looks like the poison is working after all. Claiming it didn't affect you was just bravado. Pretty humiliating."
You gritted your teeth. "Yeah? And your whole existence is humiliating-yet here we are."
"YOU DAMN DEMON!" Uzui yelled, ignoring Gyutaro's taunt as he leapt into action, his dual blades glinting in the moonlight. "I'M SO ON FIRE I COULD EAT A HUNDRED BOWLS OF TEMPURA UDON!! IN A FLASHY WAY, OF COURSE!"
He lunged forward in a blur of movement, tossing a handful of explosive beads across the battlefield. They erupted in brilliant flashes, smoke trailing behind him as he punched Daki in the face, launching her away from Gyutaro with brutal force.
"Don't you dare kick my little sister!" Gyutaro howled, voice cracking with rage.
You watched wide-eyed as Uzui twirled and brought one blade up in a perfect arc-slicing Daki's head off clean. Her body slumped to the ground. Without pause, Uzui moved for Gyutaro next, attempting to decapitate him too.
Unfortunately, the hit landed only partially, carving a deep gash but not fully severing his neck.
"He beheaded me again! DAMN YOU!!" Daki screeched from where her head rolled near the rubble.
You stood still for a second, catching your breath and holding your arm.
When should I even join in...ugh decisions decisions..?
Before you could decide, two chaotic voices suddenly burst into the scene.
"DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE LORD OF THE MOUNTAINS!!" Inosuke yelled as he flipped onto the rooftop beside Uzui, dual blades already slashing the air.
Right behind him, Zenitsu blitzed in like a lightning strike-completely asleep, yet moving with lethal precision.
"Thunder Breathing... First Form..." he muttered under his breath as he zipped past a flurry of Gyutaro's flying blood sickles.
"Who the hell are these guys?!" Gyutaro growled, eyes twitching as he tried to keep up.
And then-
"Y/N!!"
You turned your head to see Tanjiro running toward you, panting, his sword still drawn, eyes wide with concern.
"Are you alright?! Are you hurt? Did they poison you?! Are you bleeding?! Did someone say something to you?!" He rattled off his questions without breathing.
You blinked. "Tanjiro, breathe. I'm okay-just a little poison. No biggie."
Uzui, who had been glancing back, narrowed his eyes.
"Get off her, you idiot! We're in the middle of a battle!!" he snapped, frustration-and something else-thick in his voice.
Tanjiro jumped away from you, flustered. "S-sorry!"
You just sighed
Uzui, blade still in hand, glanced at you from the corner of his eye. There was a flicker of something beneath his usually confident, flamboyant persona. A silent worry. Maybe even... jealousy.
"You can summon all the underlings you want," Gyutaro sneered, his twisted smile deepening as blood sickles hovered in the air beside him. "But there'll still be no blissful future waiting for you."
Uzui scoffed, twirling his blades in each hand with flair. "Us Demon Slayers will win! That's a flashy fact."
"No way you can win! Not when the Hashira who's your only hope is ravaged by poison!" Gyutaro cackled, eyes gleaming with sick enjoyment.
"Poison?" Tanjiro exclaimed, alarmed. "You too, Uzui-san?!"
"Shut up!" Uzui snapped, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. "Don't you dare underestimate humans! And I've already figured out how to take you down."
Before another word could be spoken, Daki's shrill scream echoed from above as she sent multiple obi ribbons toward Uzui.
But a yellow streak shot past.
Zenitsu, still in his trance-like sleep, moved with lightning-fast precision, slicing through the obis as he launched Daki into the air with one clean strike.
"LEAVE THAT WOMAN TO ME AND SLEEPYHEAD!" Inosuke yelled as he jumped after them, swords gleaming wildly. "YOU THREE TAKE DOWN THAT DAMN PRAYING MANTIS!!"
Gyutaro snarled, blood boiling. "I won't let you kill my sister!"
With a roar, he lunged forward toward Tanjiro and Uzui, dual sickles ready to slash-
-but he never reached them.
You were already there.
Your blade clashed against his, sparks igniting between your weapons. The force pushed you back slightly, but you planted your feet, unwavering.
Tanjiro's eyes widened. "Y/N?!"
Uzui smirked behind you. "Heh. Not bad..."
You narrowed your eyes at Gyutaro as adrenaline surged through your veins. The poison still pulsed in your arm, but you ignored it. Now's not the time.
'Yoriichi... I need your help. Your breathing style-this one's tough...'
His familiar voice rang inside your mind, calm and low. 'Gladly.'
You could almost feel his soft smile through the bond.
A glowing warmth blossomed in your chest as the world around you seemed to slow. Your breathing steadied, your vision sharpened. The flames of the sun itself surged through your limbs.
You exhaled.
"Sun Breathing: First Form... Dance."
The world ignited.
Your blade moved in an elegant, blazing arc, golden flames trailing behind the swing. You spun on your heel and lunged at Gyutaro, the dance of the sun illuminating the battlefield.
He raised his sickles to block, but your blade was faster.
The heat from the slash scorched his arm, forcing him to stumble back in shock. "Tch-what the hell kind of breathing is that?!"
But you didn't let up.
One step, two steps-your footwork was precise, almost hypnotic. Your sword sliced horizontally, a second wave of sunfire flashing past Gyutaro's chest. He ducked, barely missing the full blow.
Your hair whipped around your face as you flipped back, landing beside Tanjiro and Uzui.
"I got his attention," you said through gritted teeth, eyes still locked on Gyutaro. "You guys good?"
"Y/N..." Tanjiro said in awe. "That was-hinokami kagura...?"
Uzui, surprisingly quiet, gave a nod of approval. "Flashy as hell."
Gyutaro's eyes widened, his twisted smile faltering for the first time as he took a cautious step back. "Your moves... they're fast. Too fast..." he muttered, voice almost a growl.
You didn't respond. You were focused-locked in the rhythm of Sun Breathing, the searing power still blazing in your lungs. But then-
A sharp, stabbing pain suddenly flared in your chest, ripping through your ribs like a blade.
"Ah-!" you gasped, staggering as the heat in your limbs turned from strength to agony. You dropped to one knee, clutching your chest, your breaths ragged and uneven. Your vision blurred for a moment.
Shit... My body's not used to this breathing. I pushed too far.
The Sun Breathing had taken its toll.
Gyutaro tilted his head, a slow grin crawling back onto his face. "Heh. There it is. Cracks in the glass."
Before he could advance, you forced yourself to stand and threw your arm out toward Uzui and Tanjiro, signaling them to move in.
"Go! Tag in!!" you barked between labored breaths.
Tanjiro looked at you, wide-eyed and hesitant. "Y/N... are you okay?!"
"I'm fine," you lied, sweat dripping down your brow. "Just go, alright?! Before he recovers!"
Uzui gave you a sidelong glance, eyes sharp and calculating. He noticed how your hand trembled. He didn't argue.
"Come on, Kamado. She made an opening."
Tanjiro nodded reluctantly and darted forward, blade ready.
You stumbled back and leaned against the nearest beam, forcing your lungs to slow. Every breath burned, but you wouldn't show weakness.
That was reckless, Yoriichi's voice echoed gently in your head.
"I know," you muttered under your breath, eyes locked on the fight unfolding in front of you. "But I needed them to get the upper hand..."
Your vision steadied. Tanjiro and Uzui were now closing in on Gyutaro from both sides-one moving with fiery determination, the other with calculated speed and explosive grace.
You could rest-just for a second.
But you knew... you'd jump back in the second they needed you.
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