⚔ His Protector - Demon Giyuu X Tanjirou ⚔

⚜ ~ 39 ~ ⚜

The walk had not been long; though neither expected it to be long. They knew there was a target on their back. That they would be the first targets. Traded glances, Tanjirou gave a weak smile, his fingers latched around a vial that he'd snagged from Shinobu. The Pillar was a whiz in poisons. 

"You remember the plan, correct?" Giyuu hesitated, feeling the approaching presences before he nodded, intertwining his fingers with Tanjirou's.

"I will follow your lead, Tanjirou. Where you go, I shall follow." The maroon haired Demon chuckled, his expression falling when footsteps became audible. Both had readied themselves, Tanjirou pulling his sword into the open. Sliding the vial into his mouth, he pressed it loosely between his cheeks and teeth, assuring he didn't break the glass. While it was a small vial, it was quite potent, even for Tanjirou. But that was the plan. 

"Looks like you've accepted your fates!" That rather sickly sweet voice filled the eve as Muzan came from beyond the dense foliage. Behind him were the remaining Uppermoon, most tossing their hatred openly toward the two Demons opposing them. Giyuu stood ready, speaking in his usual cold tone. Those eyes like shimmering crystals.

"We've not accepted anything beyond defeating you. There was simply no need for anyone else to get involved that would hold us back." Muzan raised a brow, scoffing.

"Arrogance is rather dense tonight. Let us see where that confidence gets you both!" Tanjirou spotted Muzan raise his hand, leaving him to steady his breath. He took a single look back to Giyuu, offering his calming smile as he snatched the box where the cure presided. Holding it tightly, he focused on his breathing as fire followed his breaths, illuminating the night as Tanjirou easily evaded an attack. It left some baffled, beyond Muzan who had taken the opportunity to move as the sword washed past his old location. That midnight black hair fell into a snow white, red markings dragging along Muzan's frame as he grew serious about the fight. As for the Upermoon, they were left attempting to get back to Muzan, only to find Giyuu persistant in slowing them. 

Daki and Gyutaro had been the first two to approach Giyuu, both working a good duo to take him down. Only they were at a disadvantage. Giyuu dodged Daki's attack, slipping beyond their defenses. With Douma and Akaza out already, the fight was hardly fair for the Uppermoon. With every movement, Giyuu broke the distance, finally reaching the two as he grabbed hold of them. It was only then they found their feet locked in place, panic setting in as Giyuu narrowed his gaze, a torrent of water rising before engulfing the two. In a split second they were gone, leaving only the raven below the moonlight. It drew most attention from the Uppermoon, including Uppermoon 1.

"So that was your plan. You want to lock us off from this reality! That won't kill us, though." Giyuu kept a blank expression, his voice so empty.

"I am aware, but you'll never come back from my personal space. Once inside, only I can let one out. I hold the key to your eternal prison." Kokushibo frowned, his hand pulling out his sword before he readied to fight. All he had to do was kill Giyuu. Simple as that. Or so he'd believed. He had expected the others to help, only to find the screams as two of them went up in flames, burned into a smoldering ash. It left Kokushibo at a loss, losing focus as Giyuu took the chance. 

He charged forward, spotting the other swing for him. The blade hit his shoulder, taking clear off his arm as Giyuu was a foot away, that empty expression replaced with something sinister. Something filled with a twisted joy. Feeling fingers land along his stomach, it made Kokushibo yell out, his breathing changing as once more he made a desperate attempt. As the wall of water rose up, he could feel himself being pulled under; yet he also felt the blade connect. Felt the rush of blood as it sprayed outward, hitting the other. It gave a temporary hope, if not for the placement of the blade. Last second, Giyuu had changed his body, the blade embedded into his other shoulder, taken clean through. It had stopped once free, Giyuu's torso already attempting to mend itself as a calm voice that seeped with dread washed over every word.