Michikatsu Tsugikuni in the Taisho Era

Chapter 9: Upper Moon Six

There were too many people.. injured.. crying for help.. Michikatsu even witnessed fatal blows on the victims. As Michikatsu continued to save the civilians he was met with a woman who also tried to escort him to safety. "Ma'am please get to the gate as far away as possible this is dangerous!" Michikatsu took a closer look at the female's clothes and realized.. shes a ninja. Tengen mentioned that his wives are skilled ninjas. "You must be one of Tengen's wife.. what your name?" The female ninja got suprised. "I'm Hinatsuru and yes I am his wife. Who are you?" 

"I'm Michikatsu and I am working with Tengen. We were trying to find you and the other two ever since we got here." Michikatsu tried to explain the situation. "Makio and Suma are okay! Tengen managed to find them. Suma told me that Tengen took the yellow haired slayer and a boar mask with him to battle." Hinatsuru quickly pulled out a huge box..? no it has kunais in them. 

 "Well then let hurry and help them." Michikatsu unsheath his sword showing the purple colored sword. Hinatsuru and Michikatsu quickly rushed to the battle but Michikatsu was faster. Michikatsu arrived first and finally found Tengen and.. a demon who got beheaded.

Damn. Tengen easily beheaded her... Michikatsu was told all day that Upper Moons are very deadly and to be cautious when coming accross one but the sound hashira beheaded her at ease. "I'll have you know that I am Upper Moon Six!" Michikatsu grew confused about the demon. "Is she really throwing a tantrum in her last moment?" thats when Tengen was lost in thought.. why is she not disintegrating yet? isn't the demons weakness is getting beheaded by a specialized sword the 'nichirin sword'?

The demon continued to cry until she finally had it. "Please.. HELP ME BROOOOOTHHHEEEEEEER!" and suddenly.. something.. a living being started to deform out of the female's body. Tengen knew he had to do something so he quickly tried to slash the demon and at full speed, he noticed that he missed. Michikatsu noticed the speed of the demon who dodged Tengen's attack. Shocked that he witnessed that there is now two Upper Moons to deal with. Just what is their weakness..? if one get beheaded they are still alive.

"Oh what happened to your beautiful face..? Do you really need me to place your head back for you to re-attach it? you're so silly.." The demon that merged out of the female's body finally spoke.. he was comforting the female. From what Michikatsu and Tengen remember she called him "brother"... could it mean that the siblings.. are both Upper Moons..?

Tengen really had enough and was going to slash the demon's head off. "Tengen wait! no!" Michikatsu knew that was the wrong move until.. it too late. The demon left a scratch on Tengen's head leaving it to bleed.  "Oh look at you.. beautiful hair.. pure skin.. I am very jealous.." the demon continued to compliment Tengen that he had a very sweet life and a handsome body but, it angered him. "Brother..! these slayers been harrassing me!" The female demon spoke. "Oh Daki a little more seriousness would be enough.. it just one hashira." Tengen smirked. "Actually, TWO hashiras. Don't forget that one is under a disguise too!" Tengen pointing at Michikatsu.

Then suddenly the female demon grew confused. "Gyutaro..? why does he look like.. Upper Moon One.?" Michikatsu grew confused.. Upper Moon One? that must be the strongest position in the twelve kizuki but how does Michikatsu look like him? "Huh is that really you Kokushibo? did you turn into human or something?" the male demon spoke. "H-huh.? who is Kokushibo?" Michikatsu is very confused.

Tengen tried to attack the male demon once again but it was deflected. "You can continue showing off your attacks all you want but this scratch I left you. You will succumb to poison very soon." Michikatsu and Tengen noted that the male demon's sickles are filled with poison. Michikatsu is now worried and realized Tengen will not make it because of the poison.

After awhile the three other slayers finally arrived. now it five slayers against two upper demons. "Now I found out how to kill you two! I guess we must behead you both at the same time!" Daki grew irritated and decided to throw her obi to slash Tengen until.. he was saved by Zenitsu! the lightning speed attack is so fast that Daki could not react. Zenitsu took Daki up to the roof. Inosuke followed to help Zenitsu leaving Tanjiro with Tengen and Michikatsu. the male demon started to feel anger.. letting out a very cold words that sent Tanjiro a chill down his spine. the male demon identifies itself as "Gyutaro" and then quickly targeted Tengen.

The two instantly went outside to fight while Tanjiro and Michikatsu followed. "Tanjiro.. go help Zenitsu and Inosuke. I'll help Tengen" Tanjiro nodded and quickly rushed to climb at the roofs. Michikatsu joined in and quickly went after Gyutaro. As the two hashiras managed to corner the demon Gyutaro used both of his sickles to deflect Michikatsu and Tengen's atacks. The sickle just strangely deformed to hold the two weapons. Michikatsu was trying to pull it out while Tengen had trouble doing so, he had two cleaves and when he was gonna hit another Gyutaro did a 360 degrees head turn and stop the attack with his mouth. Michikatsu managed to pull his sword back and was going to behead Gyutaro. but it missed the demon quickly retreated and jumped down. 

Tengen followed Gyutaro as well and Michikatsu noticed someone else was next to him. It Hinatsuru with the turret-like weapon that shoots kunais. She waited for Tengen to be far from Gyutaro until the moment has come. She pulled the trigger and Gyutaro quickly noticed it. He used his sickles to slash all the kunais away and it suprised Michikatsu and Hinatsuru. "Not good! the kunais are made of wisteria to immobilize this demon." Hinatsuru explained Michikatsu and in the blink of an eye. Tengen quickly dashed in. A bunch of kunais managed to hit him but he had to stop Gyutaro from deflecting them. Thanks to Tengen a few kunais managed to hit Gyutaro.

Tengen was left alone dealing with Gyutaro. One of bloody spinning circles which seemed sharp was going towards Michikatsu and Hinatsuru. He grabbed the female ninja and quickly jump high enough to land on the other roof. "WOOOAAHHH!... thank you Michikatsu but that scared me to death!" Michikatsu turned around and noticed Inosuke was carrying a head. It Daki, they managed to behead her. They just need to behead Gyutaro and-

In a blink of an eye, Inosuke was stabbed in the vital point. "INOSUKEEE!" Tanjiro screamed. Inosuke started to collapse. "How.? wasn't Tengen.. " When Michikatsu looked down.. he noticed that Tengen is on the floor.. bleeding.. and... missing an arm..

Michikatsu eyes widened. "Thats enough!" Michikatsu yelled and quickly jumped in front of Gyutaro along with Daki who got her body back. "Are you sure you're not Kokushibo's twin by any chance? You look eaxctly like him." Gyutaro questioned.

"Just who is Kokushibo?! you keep mentioning him but I don't know anything!" 

"Come on.. same hair color.. same marks on your face and neck and look at the design of your haori. purple and black colored." Michikatsu grew entirely confused. what is going on..?

Michikatsu had to change his clothes before escorting the civilians to safety and entering the battle. The plot body armor was important. But the haori he was wearing just made him discover something just so confusing to him. But he went straight to the point.

"You two did enough damage. I will destroy you both." Michikatsu raised his sword and another slayer appeared behind him. It Tanjiro! hes safe but badly injured. "Ohh why don't you become a demon little one? that box over there must be your sister right? if you become a demon YOU will have the strength to protect her!" Gyutaro smiled maniacly and stared at Tanjiro. "No way brother!" Daki didn't like her brother's idea.

In a blink of an eye, Michikatsu dashed at high speed to behead Daki but Gyutaro got in the way. Michikatsu was very angered he decided to do this all by himself and in his own way.

"Moon Breathing!" 

Daki and Gyutaro quickly stepped back while Michikatsu performed his form but he continued to follow them. "What in the world..? no hashiras been this.. Daki watch out!" Gyutaro is shocked at Michikatsu's speed who also managed to behead Daki. He threw her head at least far enough before it reaches the body while he deals with Gyutaro. The real intense battle have begun. Gyutaro did all he could to catch up Michikatsu's speed as he felt few of his limbs were getting cut off but regenerated quickly. Michikatsu gave a kick to Gyutaro and then Tanjiro, had the chance... to behead him.

Upper Moon Six.. is finally defeated.