The Scarlet Cherry Blossom (Giyu Tomioka Love Story)

Chapter 43

Mika's P. O. V:

"We should have at least two Hashira guarding Oyakata-sama at the minimum," Sighs Sanemi, cheek in hand. Another month has passed and we were currently in a Hashira meeting to discuss how we're going to protect Oyakata-sama since his illness has worsened. I sit next to Giyu.

Mitsuri asks, "Can't you do something about this, Himejima-san?"

"... Impossible. I became a Hashira when I was nineteen and I have been asking him for eight straight years. But he refuses to budge..." Gyomei says with tears leaking from his eyes and hands clasped together. "He insists that someone as strong as a Hashira shouldn't be wasted on the likes of him... it's a problem..."

Shinobu inputs, "I heard that the heads of the Ubuyashiki family had never even had a bodyguard throughout history..."

Suddenly, a massive explosion goes off near the Ubuyashiki mansion, startling all of us.

We run outside and Giyu and I stand before Tanjiro as we gaze in the direction of the explosion.

We then take off towards the Master's estate but Gyomei beats us to it. When we get there, we find a dark haired man with piercing red eyes with spikes all through his body, his finger in the right eye of a woman.

"Blood Demon Art: Chain of Thorns!" The man sends out several thorns at Gyomei.

"Breath of Stone, Third Form: Igneous Reflection!" Gyomei deflects the attack with his chained weapons.

Sanemi yells angrily at the woman, "You bitch!! What the fuck did you do to Oyakata-sama?!!"

"Oyakata-sama!" Mitsuri cries as she runs onto the scene.

"Oyakata-sama!" Obanai exclaims, running forwards.

Gyomei warns us, "It's Muzan! Kibutsuji Muzan! This guy won't die even if you cut his head off!"

"So that's Muzan Kibutsuji...!" I think with shock. The Hashira, Tanjiro and I all ready our weapons.

"Breath of Cherry Blossoms," I think, "Seventh Form: Cherry Blossom Shaped Fireworks!"

We're all about to land our attacks on Muzan, when...

"You seriously thought you could corner me?" Muzan asks. "You're all going to hell now! You pathetic Demon Slayer pests. I'm slaughtering you all tonight!"

Tanjiro roars, "You're the one going to hell, Muzan! You're not getting away! I will defeat you for sure!"

Muzan ducks inside a castle that had appeared. He says, "If you can! Come and get me, Tanjiro Kamado!"

We follow the demon lord inside his castle.

                         🗡🗡🗡

Giyu and I had found a safe way inside but it was like a maze.

"Where in the heck are we?" I wonder.

"I'm not sure. We have to find Muzan," Giyu says as we sheathe our swords.

Just then, we hear the sound of air rushing as we wander onto a balcony. Giyu and I look up to see Tanjiro free falling inside.

I let out a gasp and move before Giyu could. I latch onto Tanjiro's wrist before before he could hit the bottom, gripping the railing with my other hand.

Tanjiro gasps as he gazes up at me while I grit my teeth. I then throw him onto the floor.

I ask in concern, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah!" He replies. "Thank you!" Tanjiro was unaware of a demon about to grab his head from behind. "You... saved me..."

Tanjiro whirls around and uses his First Form to behead the demon.

"Tanjiro!" Giyu and I call, seeing another more hideous demon emerging from the door behind him.

Giyu and I leap into action.

"Cherry Blossom Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Cherry Blossom," I think as I realise Giyu is about to use Flowing Dance while Tanjiro uses Whirlpool to avoid causing any damage.

Colour me impressed,

We all behead the demon and turn to each other as Tanjiro crouches before Giyu and I, looking eager or excited, I couldn't tell which, but it was kinda freaky.

Sheathing my katana, I say, "Let's go."

"Alright," Utters Tanjiro as he gets up. We turn and head further into the castle to find Muzan.

🗡🗡🗡

Giyu, Tanjiro and I climb further into the castle. We haven't come across Muzan yet.

Ahead of Tanjiro, Giyu calls back, "Stay sharp!!"

"Got it!!" Tanjiro responds.

Just then, Giyu's kusagai crow flies by and calls, "Caw! Deceased! Shinobu Kocho is dead! She fought with an Upper Rank Kizuki and died!!" This stuns all of us, and sadness tugs at my heart. "Kaw! Shinobu is dead!"

Shinobu... is dead...? Impossible!

I fight back tears as I push forward with Giyu.

I notice that the crow has a piece of paper with a spiral symbol with a snake in the center on its neck. What's with that symbol?

As we were running, a hand tears right through the ceiling above us, scaring the shit out of us.

"What is this tremor?" Giyu asks, our bodies quivering.

"G-Giyu-kun, stop!! Calm down," I say gently.

"This smell," Murmurs Tanjiro as he looks up. "From above!"

I call warningly, "Stay back, Tanjiro!"

The ceiling caves in and a demon with blue markings over his body lands before us in a crouched position.

"It sure has been awhile," Says a red haired demon. "I'm surprised you're still alive, being the weakling that you are. Tanjiro Kamado!" The demon lunges for the redhead.

"AKAZAAAAAA!!" Tanjiro yells in fury.

Tanjiro flips over Akaza's head and sweeps his sword in an upward arc, sending out flame. Or, rather, I should say, fire. Tanjiro manages to cut off Akaza's left arm but then Akaza swings his right arm back towards Tanjiro.

Just before Akaza's fist could strike him, Tanjiro vanishes and reappears behind him.

Giyu and I were stunned by the damage Tanjiro caused.

So he's the one who killed Kyojurou-kun!

Anger boils in me as I remember what Tanjiro told me after the battle at Mugen Train.

""This boy isn't weak. Don't insult him." I now accept that Kyojurou was right to say that," Akaza says as he faces Tanjiro. "You are truly not weak. I will show my respect for you." Akaza gets into a stance with his right foot and hand forward, while he holds his left hand back. "Okay. Let's get started. It's time for the feast."