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

Ch 14: Cause and Effect

"Breath of Water: Sixth Form, Whirlpool!" The swordsman twisted their body fiercely, slicing the ball cleanly, as reality settled in once more.

I stared in awe, my mouth slightly agape. Goosebumps tread my bleeding skin.

"Tanjiro?" I whispered, tightening my grasp on my sword.

"Sorry I'm late," he turned to me, a small, tired smile laced on his face, before snapping back to the being he was fighting.

"What the! Two demon slayers?" I could finally get a good look at the second demon that has been hiding. He was a young man of an average build with pale, gray-tinted skin and very short black hair. His eyes kept shut, the necklace of large blue pearls jingled when he scoffed in annoyance.

He was strong, though. Not to mention, smart too. I could tell that Rui was having a hard time with him, scratches, bruises and all. Of course, wounds of that caliber wouldn't hinder him much.

"Persistent pests," the female demon sighed in frustration.

"Saki, get up. Let's defeat them and get out of here," Tanjiro gave me one more glance, as if reassuring me.

"Alright.." I whispered to myself, using what was left of my stamina to stand up once more.

"Hah, no way I'm letting you do that. Susamaru, let's get out of here. I smell another demon on their side, what freaks," he searched for possible escape routes.

"Well, no way I'm letting you do that, then," Rui pulled his crimson strings, his arms forming a criss-cross.

"Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Cage," he muttered, confining his prey in his webs. Blood sputtering out of his wound, he raised his hand, pair of pale-ringed orange eyes on the palms of his hands glaring fiercely at Rui. A red upward-pointing arrow marked on each of the irises activated, and the pale haired demon was sent flying.

His rage and annoyance became apparent when he balled his fists, slamming Rui repeatedly into the cold, blood-stained ground.

I focused my attention back to my opponent, a cheeky smile on her face. An ominous arrow appeared on my chest, launching me into the vast sky.

"Why me!" I screamed, quickly trying to regain my form. A small, arrogant smirk rested on the male demon's face.

Rui outstretched his arm, creating a web that I could safely land on at the last second. Bouncing on the cushioned lacework, I hopped back onto my feet, immediately rushing to attack her. I dodged her incoming attacks, but I was only able to inflict small degrees of slashes on her.

The clouds slowed, the trees stoped swaying. The sky turned grey, the world stopped moving.

"What?" I looked around. Everyone seemed to be in slow motion.

"Ow!" My eye bled. It stung, really, really bad.

"What is this? Did I... subconsciously unlock a new technique?" I raised my sword, sending a devastating blow to Susamaru.  What was left of her was a chunk of her torso, and her head, and her fearful, confused expression.

"Damn you! What did you do!" She screamed, falling to the floor.

Before she could regenerate, a familiar, but at the same time unrecognisable figure appeared. She had long, black hair, and beautiful pink eyes. She immediately engaged in hand to hand combat with the demon. The demon, of course, did not stand much of a chance.

I limped to Tamayo, my eye bleeding more every second.

"Your eye. What happened?" She asked, sitting me down and grabbing my cheek with her soft hands, applying first aid to my eye.

After she was done, I turned my head. Rui was done with the male demon. His claw-like, bloodied hands gripped the demon's head, before walking out of the shade and setting it down gently in the dim sunlight. Commanding his spiderlings once more, they scurried over to Susamaru, confining her. If she healed over the webs, it would probably cause a lot of pain.

A sweet smelling aroma wafted through the air, and I noticed that it was coming from Tamayo. Her hand was bleeding. Must be a spell of hers. I saw the previous pink-eyed demon drowsing off.

"Nezuko! Are you okay? Let's get you some rest," Tanjiro slung his storage box off his back, and carefully placed Nezuko in it. Before he closed the door, she weakly outstretched her hand, towards me.

"Me?" I asked, walking towards her.

She grasped my cheek and caressed the bandage that was on my face. Nezuko held my hand, and placed it on top of her head, before drifting into a deep sleep. I smiled. How did I not notice that this was Nezuko?

"Do you know Kibutsuji's true nature?" Tamayo questioned Susamaru, her messy hair was soon falling off of its clip.

Susamaru, who seemed to be ticked off by something, shouted at her, "What do you mean?" She struggled against the webs.

She was clearly taken aback. I wonder why she was so offended.

"He is nothing but a coward," she said, calmly.

"No, no! Our lord isn't as petty as you said!" She shook her head, a futile struggle.

"His power is simply unparalleled! No one can beat him!" She gritted her teeth, bearing against the unbearable pain.

"Lord Kibutsuji is...!" She spoke, but gasped, her face turning pale. She covered her mouth with her shaking hands.

She looked so scared. I almost felt bad for her. Do the bad guys ever wish they never chose their path?

"...You said his name." Tamayo closed her eyes, feeling sorry for her, for she knew Susamaru only had a few moments, seconds left.

"The curse will now activate," she said, Susamaru coughing up crimson red blood. Splattering onto the ground, she clutched her neck, as a desperate, futile attempt to stop the blood.

Before we knew it, an ominous, black creature emerged from her body, tearing her up from the inside. Hell, could I even call it a creature?

Three large hands emerged, one from her mouth, and two from her abdomen. One grabbed her head, her quivering in fear. "Please.. forgive.. me.." it muffled her plead for help.

Clutching its fist, her head was soon crushed to smithereens. My blood went cold, and I collapsed. A mix of fear, disgust and exhaustion, I suppose.

"Hey, Saki. Don't look at it anymore," Rui whispered, rushing towards me and resting my head against his chest. Using his body to cover the scene, he cupped my ears. I could rest for a bit, to the sound of his heartbeat. I gripped his hand. Did she deserve that?