Demon Slayer: Wisteria Furin

Refuge

The sound of water crashing got louder and louder as she roused. There was a throbbing pain in her leg and something clutching her side.

As the Demon Slayer's eyes opened, she found the child she had saved nestled to her, his hands gripping her Haori and his face buried in her shoulder. She looked to the spot where her pain was emanating and found it bound tightly by a strip of cloth. She could see that parts of it had already been soaked through with blood, but also that the pattern matched the boy's own tattered clothing.

She reached over and gently shook the boy, who looked up at her with a tear-stained face.

"Did you do this?" She hovered her hand over her injury.

"Y-yes,..." he stuttered.

She kindly smiled and moved to put both of her hands on his shoulders.

"What's your name?" She asked sweetly.

"Ha-Hajime,..." he answered.

"I owe you a great debt Hajime. My name is Koharu."

Koharu looked around, taking in the rest of her surroundings. They were put up in a damp dark cave. The waterfall was only a few meters away from them. Again she was still, trying to feel the wind.

The wind has died,...

"Tell me, are there others in this marsh?" She asked, turning back to him.

"Y-yes. I couldn't wake them up to come with me,..." he explained.

"You did well to get away. I'm sorry to ask you this, but can you take me to them?" Koharu regretted asking him, but with no wind and no focus due to her injury, she was out of options.

"B-but,..." his shoulders tensed as he stuttered, understandably hesitant.

"It'll be okay. It's my job to protect you." She reassured him with a smile. His tension released slightly.

"And, thankfully,..." she began. She cupped her mouth with her hands.

"Whiiiipwaaaaooo"

The sound of a bird call, unique but natural enough to blend in with the environment echoed.

Within moments, a crow swooped down into the cave and perched itself on her arm.

"Help probably isn't too far away." she continued. Hajime looked on in awe.

The marsh, for now, is quiet. The young demon slayer and the boy tread carefully as to blend in with the natural quiet. They move side by side, Koharu allowing him to guide her but still be close just in case. Time was of the essence, so as hard as it was, Koharu had to keep pace with Hajime.

The wound was throbbing, she could feel the warmth of blood still seeping out.

My leg is throbbing. How deep did he cut me? This is bad, he could smell us and we're vulnerable.

Her hand tightens around Hajime's, but she quickly makes the effort to lessen the grip.

No,...don't let it show. Be strong for Hajime.

The lumbering noises of something approaching them broke through. It was fast, faster than Koharu could feel in her state. He emerged at full speed from the thicket of trees, his long arms were outstretched.

Koharu yanked Hajime behind her. She crouched and pulled him onto her back before pushing off the ground, dodging the advance by flipping back through the air.

"Bloody bloody bloody girl,...it doesn't matter where you go, I can smell you out. A marechi becoming a demon slayer is a death sentence. Tell you what,... you give me your life, and I won't have to eat the other humans." He stretched his hand out, a sickening grin on his face.

She could feel Hajime's hold tighten, his short, terrified breaths on her neck.

Before I find the others, he needs to go down.

Koharu pulled her blade from its sheath and waited. She couldn't expend energy on a full-blown first strike. She'd have to let him attack so that she could counter. Sweat beaded up on her brow.

Again, the demon lunged. She leaped to the side and thrust her sword towards its neck.

"Aaah!" Hajime shrieked. She looked down and saw that the demon had Hajime's leg in his grasp. She could feel the child being pulled away from her.

"Roku no kata: Kokufū Enran!"

The marsh demon's body hit the trees, but he was still standing. The arm that had held Hajime was pretty cut up though.

Koharu huffed and took a knee. The bloodstain on her bandage was getting bigger.

"Trying to attack and defend like that is also a death sentence!" The demon cawed as he stepped forward.

Koharu was taking shaky breaths at this point. There was a dizziness setting in, one that was getting harder and harder to fight off with every movement.

"I got you pretty good, huh? Demon blood art: Living wound! I'm surprised you haven't keeled over already. You will bleed until the art is undone."

A demon slayer with a white haori had entered the marsh. His crow floated nearby.

"You can't tell me where?" the young man asked.

"Southeast! The Akawa Marsh! Reinforcements called!" The crow screeched.

"But where?" He asked again.

"Southeast! The Akawa-" The crow was interrupted by the stones thrown its way, the annoyed slayer being the one chucking them.

"You stupid bird! If you're not going to be helpful then just shut up!" he shouted.

Twing

His head snapped in the direction. The noise was almost familiar.

"...Furin?"

He let his feet carry him in that direction.