The Spider's Web (Rui Ayaki x Reader/OC)

Ch 13: Peaceful Dream

Rumble. Jingle.

The ground beneath us was torn to pieces, and our peaceful nap was rudely interrupted by the floorboards beneath us being crumbled to mere, useless chunks of wood.

"What the hell!" I screamed in shock, my mind still foggy. Falling and landing swiftly, I saw Yushiro guarding a distressed and dazed Tamayo.

Jingle.

A temari ball mercilessly hopped about the room, breaking all items in its path with its horrifying brute force, before leaving the room by tearing through another hole in the already dilapidated wall.

"Tsk. An enemy attack? I knew letting the demon slayers stay with us was bad news," Yushiro scoffed, ready for ambush.

Just as he said that, two temari balls came bursting in, further destroying the place, as if the first time didn't make the mansion look like already shattered glass.

"Shit," The situation couldn't have been any worse. Plus, why attack us at five in the morning?

As rubble came dangerously close to hitting all of us, I swiftly ran into the room that Hiyori was resting in to see if she was safe. Rui followed suit.

"The outside is too dangerous. This house has a basement, I'm leaving her in your care," Tamayo pointed at an ominous concrete staircase nearby that led to the basement.

"I understand," I said, unsheathing my sharp blade.

"Rui," I looked at him, and he nodded, as if we both had telepathic powers. He quickly ran to aid the weak lady.

I sensed two demon's presence, so the other must be hiding somewhere.

Just as he began retreating into a safer place, a temari ball rushed in at a terrifying speed, aiming for Tamayo, who was looking strangely paler than usual. However, Yushiro shoved her out of the way, leaving himself headless. Rui's eyes widened, but he quickly shut his eyes, focusing on his own task.

"Haha! Killed one of them!" The temari balls returned to their rightful owner, a pale-skinned woman with bright hazel eyes that sported cat-like slits.

I could finally get a clear view of her, she wore a black top with an orange haori that conveniently matched the colour scheme of her hair.

"Alright, time to get serious," she ripped off the haori that she was wearing, revealing her simple black tube top underneath. She cracked her knuckles, preparing for another murderous throw.

"Miss Tamayo, please get to safety!" I exclaimed, my blade still fixed onto the enemy.

"Saki, please do not worry about us," she said. "We are demons after all,".

"Here I go!" The demon exclaimed. The ball leaping towards me at an unfathomable pace.

'Since the ball will curve even if I strike it, I should slash in an arc to try to slow down the ball.' I thought, using the move that focused most on defence among the ten forms that I had.

"Total Concentration Breathing, Breath of the Flower, Second Form, Honourable Shadow Plum!" I inhaled sharply, deflecting the attack by using rotating sword slashes, which slowed the monstrous but annoying ball down.

Managing to pierce the ball through its centre, my blade began to shake. Unfortunately, the ball broke free from my blade's grasp, turning at an odd angle and smacking me in the face in an unnatural manner. I hope it won't leave an ugly bruise.

As Yushiro's head started to grow back bit by bit, the chunks of meat made my skin crawl. I winced as I saw the horrifying intent that was on his face. The female demon sprouted two more pairs of arms, them becoming noticing more muscular this time.

Summoning six temari balls this time, she threw all of them at once, and I activated my concentration breathing once more, dodging and slashing the balls into pieces.

Yushiro, seemingly reluctant, pulled out a piece of paper, pining it to my forehead. All of a sudden, I could see the direction the balls were going to travel to, led by cartoonish and bold arrows coloured in vibrant blue in my vision.

"Thank you, Yushiro!" I yelled, dodging the balls were much easier than before.

"Ninth Form: Withering Orchids!" My blade rotated continuously as it began building up more explosive momentum, creating a stronger slash with each time.

Cutting her arms off painstakingly one by one, the look of crushing anger she had on her face gave me a wave of satisfaction.

"Rui, finally, you're back. I'm counting on you to beat the other demon that's hiding elsewhere," I looked at him, and he nodded, pulling up his bamboo muzzle, as if saying, "Roger that,".

Just as I turned back, the demon laughed hysterically, the blood flowing from her arms flowing like a steady, vicious stream.

"Hah, not bad. Not bad at all! But, did you think that would kill me, or something?" She scoffed, spitting on the ground harshly, leaving a ugly red mark on the grassy floor.

"..."

"Yeah..?" I thought it would maybe, just maybe, kill her.

"How naive," she mocked.

In the blink of an eye, an unnatural crack sounded through the early morning and she grew back those dreaded arms, ready for round two. As if I didn't just use up most of my strength to chop those arms off.

"This is going to be a pain," Yushiro sighed heavily, a quiet but ambitious fire lighting up in his pale eyes.

She continuously threw her weapons, again and again, mercilessly. I could feel myself becoming slower and my moves get sloppy as I quickly got tired from all the dodging I had to do.

As if time came to a momentary stop, I could hear the subtle but explosive jingle of her last temari ball. Harshly, but with utmost precision. The once helpful blue arrow scattered into thin air, leaving only me, and my abilities only.

My mind faded into a momentary frenzy, but I knew that no matter how hard I tried, I could not get away with just mild injuries.

It travelled closer, and closer... I moved my blade but winced for the impact, knowing it was too late, but followed through with my attack anyway.

Before I knew it, I felt a peaceful but enticing warmth engulf me.

A beautiful, intense, but peaceful blue slowly flowed into my shaky vision, like a person finally receiving salvation after a century of fightings. I breathed in, an overwhelming sense to cry battled my vision.

"Breath of Water: Sixth Form, Whirlpool!" The swordsman twisted their body fiercely, slicing the ball cleanly.