As the Past Interwines

The Actions

"Mr. Murata!" screamed Tsukika, as Aka's demon blood art knocked the poor demon slayer to the ground.

Murata awkwardly rolled over the tatami floor, bumping into one of the doors that surrounded the room. One and half meter away, there lies his precious Nichirin blade. Nevertheless, Aka was just about to smash the blade, the only weapon that can protect him in this cruel fight against the aggressive demon twin sisters. In the speed of light, Murata vigorously stretched out one of his sored legs, giving the blade enough force to reach Tsukika's side.

" Tsukika-san, take my sword for your own sake! Don't mind me! "

Tsukika rapidly grabbed the sword and adjusted herself into ready position. Dealing with Aka's demon twin sister, Giyuu Tomioka on the other hand, took a small glance of the on-goings on Murata's side. Analyzing that his companions may need his help, he increased the speed and force in every water breathing form, trying to find the flaw in his enemy's fierce attacks. With the power of the Water Pillar, it wouldn't be long for him to win over demons without the rank of twelve moons.

" Well well well... So you have learned how to use this so-called 'Nichirin' sword, am I right? " Aka sarcastically spoked as she twirled a string of her golden hair and let it go.

To both Murata and Tsukika's surprise, the Nichirin sword wielded in Tsukika's hand gradually turned into the color mist white.

" So what now? Color changing? What a cool trick! " Aka insulted, twirling her hair with her skinny fingers.

" It means I may have a chance to show everyone what a horrible creature you are, no matter if you're a demon or a human." Tsukika answered with a plain tone, however, in her heart the urge of vengeance burned in flames.

"Oh! I am looking forward to it!"

In a flash of the water, the older one in the demon twin sisters, Kikuko, felt a gentle but cold touch go through her neck. Then the world in her eyes went upside down, seeing the emotionless black haired man's chilly blue eyes looking straight at her. Even more frightening, it feels like his eyes were freezing her up.

" What the? "

Aka frivolously took a glance at her sister's clumsy body, trying to pick up its top.

" Do you really think we can be defeated that easily? "Aka scoffed.

Tomioka just returned a plain look at Aka then to the decapped demon sister.

" So it means we need to decapped you two in the same time." the Water Pillar concluded, in a plain tone.

Tsukika's sapphire eyes met Giyuu's, letting him know that she understood. While talking, Kikuko already picked up her own head and attached it back to where it used to be.

"You demon slayer bastard! " Kikuko screamed as she demonstrated her blood art, thousands of sharp blades flew toward Giyuu like rainfall from the sky.

The halved-haori demon slayer did not waver to find his defensive form.

"Water breathing, eleventh form..."

"Well, there's no eleventh form in Water breathing! " Kikuko muttered to her surprise, " Aren't there only tenth forms? "

Without movement, thousands of sharp blades scattered into pieces as it reached Giyuu's surroundings, not hurting any part of him. As Kikuko could tell, the demon slayer didn't even wave his sword at all.

" ...eleventh form, Dead Calm."

On the other side, Tsukika struggled hard with Aka's attack, for she wasn't really trained to be a demon slayer. All her skills learned were from the time she asked Giyuu or Murata to teach her a few katana art. Not even mentioning the breathing style, all she knew was the Water breathing forms that Giyuu once told her in their chat. But for one thing, she did practice, practice in her spare time using the wooden katana Murata gave her. However, without the perfect guidance every time in practice, Tsukika was afraid that she might lose her life to this hideous demon.

" You are weak, Tsukika. Even weaker than the demon slayer I ate last time. " mentioned Aka, as she licked her bloody tongue over her lips.

"Good to know." Tsukika commented, blocking Aka's attack with Murata's Nichirin sword.

"You may just succumb yourself to the mayor. Everyone knew it was you who killed her." Aka stated, " You are the MURDER."

Tsukika felt her heart tremble in the sea of pain and hatred, as she strengthened her hold on the katana. The face of Kae, her once closed friend, emerged from the blurry memories she wished to forget. Even before Kae's death, she firmly believed Tsukika took her life. No matter how much words, tears, and proofs Tsukika tried to show her friend in her counting-down time.

" I don't believe you." was all Kae left out of her last breath.

Tears misted Tsukika's eyes, she managed to keep steady of her breath, nevertheless it was useless against the tide of unutterable sadness.

" You may let everyone believe that I am the murderer ! But I know what I did and what I didn't do ! " Tsukika howled, the tears were no longer in her control. Droplets of tears went down her cheek followed by her fiercely attacks. " I saw YOU! Killing her right after 'that someone' offered you the chance to turn into a demon!"

" The anger in you reveals your flaws, Tsukika." Aka let out a cold grin as the demonstration of her blood demon art started. " Now be gone."

" Tsukika! " Giyuu let out an ear-piercing shout, as Tsukika flew over half of the room and crashed into one of the doors. Murata's Nichirin sword fell out of her grasp, leaving a vibrant sound while hitting the floor.

" You will pay for what you have done." Tsukika struggled to let out, feeling the taste of blood in her mouth.

Murata's Nichirin blade rolled over the battlefield, stopping itself next to Giyuu's feet. Feeling the cold metal section of the sword, the Water Hashira swiftly grabbed it between his strikes.

" Oh~focus on fighting me, handsome brute." Kikuko giggled."Don't mind that bxtch."

The response of the Hashira is all but another deadly charge.

" Defeated at last, Tsukika." The younger sister of the demons sinfully announced, manifesting her most powerful blood demon art.

" The real murder will never change, even if you killed me." Tsukika slowly declared, finding her back touching the door with no way to back off.

" Well, in fact, they will still believe it's you! " Aka menacingly laughed, approaching Tsukika , "Goodbye forever, Tsukika."

In the speed of thunder, a white flash of light darted through the battlefield.*no, it's not Zenitsu* The Nichirin sword was back in Tsukika's hand.

" Tsukika, take your chance and trust yourself, it's now or never! "

It was the Water Hashira's firm words.

Unable to notice the quick turn, Aka exclaimed as she figured out Tsukika got her blade back. Despite all the pain and bleeding, Tsukika forced herself to lift up the heavy saber.

" Ugh! You ARE the murder, not me!" Tsukika sobbed, " Aka, be gone with your sister!"

The blood of the younger demon tinted the tatami in dark red. To Aka's shock, the world before her spinned like it was never going to end. The blood demon art in her hands faded away, leaving the hands unconsciously waving in the air. On the other hand, Kikuko experienced the emptiness of her body once again, with Giyuu swaying the blood of the demon off of his blade. And elegantly inserted his Nichirin sword back to its holder.

Rainfall of tears ran down Tsukika's cheek, wetting her cloth.