A Split in The River of Time

Part 9: Facing Mistakes

(Shorter then normal chapter but not by much. Just to put some unneeded stress on the characters because I  can >:D)

"KANROJI!" Giyuu yelled, seeing the girl trip over her own feet mid battle. He turned back to see the small group of demon slayers who had joined the fight, but were clearly outclassed by this massive threat, were about to be killed by two of the demons.

I need to save the most people possible...

He looked to the pink haired woman, and back to the group. One of the members, a shorter girl who looked about Tanjiro's age, pointed in the direction of the other pillar. He blinked, his eyes feeling heavy, and processed it for a very short moment.

She's telling me... to save Mitsuri? I can't just leave these slayers to die! What kind of hashira am I if I can't save weaker slayers and civilians?

Giyuu's mind raced as the demons closed in on the group, another demon striking at Kanroji. Whichever he chose to help, the other would almost definitely die.

What should I do?  What would they have done? Sabito saved him that day. does he save his loved ones first? Do his friends have more value then these four people? His eyes shot back and forth, time seeming to go in slow motion as he took another step.

Could Kanroji survive the demons long enough for me to get back? They are strong, I don't know if even she can take that much damage for a long time.

After taking only one more step forward, Giyuu's mind was made up.

I need to save who I couldn't before. I'm sorry.

.

.

.

Without another thought, his body erupted from the roof in front of the demons oncoming attack:

Water breathing, Eleventh form: Dead Calm.

The spines and blades of bone shattered as he tore up the arm of the demon, reducing it to nothing more than blood and flesh slowly regenerating. He cleaved straight through its neck with the next move, water breathing's first form. As he stood back up, racing to the girls side, he shook her awake.

"Kanroji!" No response. She began to stir and wake, and he picked her up before dashing in another direction to drop her in a safe building for the time being. He left as soon as she began to wake up to find the group of slayers almost all dead, their bodies strewn about the city block as they were bisected, mauled and thrown around like mere toys. He saw the girl from earlier and rushed over to her,  thinking about speaking before being cut off without being able to get a word out.

"Don't bother apologizing. We all agreed that it was better to save a hashira than four low ranking slayers." She coughed, leaning over to catch her breath. He stood beside the girl, silent as she breathed in and out heavily. After a couple seconds of silence, she found her voice again. Her heavy breath slowed down and crimson fluid poured out of a wound he doubted even serious on the spot surgery could fix.

"Just go kill those things, will ya?" She said, after another deep breath. He nodded.

"... I will." His face remained emotionless, but he could feel this facade breaking. He could never seem to keep everyone safe, just like the final selection with... With Sabito. The girl drew her final breath, and her head tilted to the side. He seriously thought about crying. Almost. But his job wasn't done. After saving Kanroji and killing another demon, two more of these things remained, and he was not about to lie to a dead girl.

"-Ack!" The demon's mouth shut as Shinobus' blade pierced the back of its neck.

"My, my. I really wish we could've been friends." She said to the two demons on the ground. The snake pillar immediately began walking away, the job now done.