The Scarlet Cherry Blossom (Giyu Tomioka Love Story)

Chapter 32

Mika's P. O. V:

"Cherry Blossom Breathing, Second Form: Honourable Shadow of Cherry Blossoms," I say and swing my nichirin blade in front of my body to block incoming attacks. While we continue fighting, the night wears on. When I see the right moment, I lunge and behead a few demons. "Cherry Blossom Breathing, Third Form: Flash of Cherry Blossoms." I lunge for another demon as my blade blurs and behead it.

"It's useless," Says Shin in a mocking tone. "You'll never find me! Why don't you just give up?!"

"I'll never give up!" I snarl, using my Seventh Form to decapitate another demon. "I will find you, that's a promise."

"I highly doubt that! No one's ever defeated my Blood Demon Art before."

I continue to cut down more and more demons as they lunge at me.

I barely dodge more attacks as I swing my sword back at the demons.

Where is he? The real one has got to be hiding amongst the illusions!

I use my Eighth Form to avoid more attacks and slash back at the demons. Stay calm, Mika. Stay calm and think.

As an illusion of my parents suddenly get thrown into the mix, I slash my katana through their necks before they had a chance to say anything.

Maybe now would be a good time use that form...

"Cherry Blossom Breathing, Tenth Form," I say lowly as I calmly close my eyes, "Equinoctial Vermillion Eye!" I snap my eyes open and immediately feel them become strained, mostly in my right eye, and focus my gaze on the demons surrounding me.

In a heartbeat, I'd found the real Shin.

Found you!

I ready my sword as I say lowly, "Cherry Blossom Breathing, Ninth Form: Cherry Blossom-Like God." My whole body blurs and sways like the pendulum of a grandfather clock as my nichirin sword does too, as all ten techniques blend together, making it impossible to tell which one I'll use.

This causes the demons to pause as they try to pinpoint how and where I'll attack from. I smirk to myself before I use my enhanced speed to rapidly spin towards the real Shin, using my Eighth Form.

This time, Shin couldn't dodge my attack as I spin in front of him. Everything seems to be moving in slow motion as I spin before Shin and swing my sword.

It slices clean through the demon's neck and a heartbeat later, it hits the ground with a sickening thud. It was followed by the rest of its body.

"No... that's impossible! I've never been defeated! How did you...?!" Shin stammers as my comrades gaze around in confusion.

I answer as I straighten, "My Equinoctial Vermillion Eye allows me to slow down the enemy and attack them. Now it's over."

Shin could only stare at me in shock and disbelief as the rest of his body fades away.

Tanjiro says, "Look, the illusions are fading."

"It's because Mika defeated the demon," Inputs Shinobu.

I flick the blood off my sword before I sheathe it. I mace have lost the gradient in my right eye but I could still see out of my left.

"You did it, Mika-san!" Tanjiro cheers as he and his teammates—Zenitsu is now awake—run over to me. I was smiling at them until Tanjiro stops short with a startled gasp at the sight of my right eye. "Mika-san! Your right eye!"

Inosuke asks, "Was it the demon?! Are you gonna be okay? Or are you blind now?"

I wave my hands gently back and forth as I reply, "Hey, it's okay, you guys! I'm not blind—I can still see."