𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 [𝕘𝕚𝕪𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕠] (KNY)

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟣𝟤: 𝒟𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈 & 𝒢𝒾𝓇𝓁𝓈

A/N: In this AU, Shinobu does not inject wisteria poison into her blood.

Shinobu POV:

He wasn't moving. His pulse was still there, but too faint to count on. 

The stupid medicine bottle still wouldn't open. I twisted and wrenched the lid furiously until finally it popped off. Quickly, I parted Tomioka's mouth and dumped the apple-green medicine into his mouth. I propped his head up so it would go down. All the while, that blasted demon stood behind me, laughing his head off.

I wanted to bandage his wound, but the demon was there and I knew I couldn't risk an incident. 

So I stood up, threw away the empty, cracked glass bottle and picked up my katana, whirling around to face the demon. 

"Come back to earth?" the demon grinned. "I'm Douma. Nice to meet you."

Without further warning, he lashed out, a strike so quick I didn't even process it. My body dodged automatically, but he missed me by only half an inch. Another strike like that and I might not be able to dodge. 

I resumed my battle stance, gritting my teeth while making a discreet move with my foot that signalled to my crow to go for help. It was a signal Oyakata-sama had taught everyone years ago. The ultimate move you made, when there was even a hint of danger in the air. 

Douma stepped, but this time I was ready. I made the first strike, using a feint and managing to buy myself two seconds as he binked, confused. I feinted with my left foot and went in for his neck. Though deep down I knew I wasn't going to make it- beheading was supposed to be Tomioka's job in our partnership- I still did my best to drive my sword through his neck.

I gasped. It was rock-solid; I barely made a wedge in his neck. It was of course stupid to go in for the kill when Douma hadn't taken in any poison yet, which meant he far outpowered me.

Douma's hand reached out, going in for a strike while he was still turned away from me. I flipped, my hand on the handle of my katana which was stuck in his neck. I flipped a 360 using the katana as an anchor and pushed off his body, using the strength to force my sword free. 

The shallow cut on his neck healed instantly. Douma grinned his maniac grin as I skidded back, breathing hard. 

"I'll go easy on you if you stop fighting back, you know." Douma laughed. "I only devour pretty girls like you; you don't have to worry about that boy with you. He won't survive that cut, anyways."

"Shut the hell up." I hated talkative demons and adjusted my battle stance. "You've chosen the wrong Hashiras to mess with."

"Don't you mean Hashira, singular?" Douma laughed again. Furious, I went in for a strike again at his neck, using a trickier feint that again bought me a few seconds to slice my katana. But this time, I used cutting his neck as a cover for my real intention. 

Within half a second I produced a miniscule bottle of purple poison and in one precise throw, splashed it all into his open mouth. 

There. Let's see how well he can regenerate with Kanae's strongest poison in his system.

I have to win this battle. 

I have to.

A/N: don't forget in this AU kanae is alive so shinobu has no idea who douma is!!