Kotoha was humming as Ume and Gyutaro waited for their master on the porch of the estate. Ume helped organize some chemicals while Kotoha straighten out some of the beds. They were the only ones at the estate at the moment, more would come by morning or earlier. The three were only expecting one or two Hashira to stop by.
Gyutaro staring off in the distance, his brow crunching as he senses something. For a moment he thought he was wrong till something leaped high above the wisteria trees that ward off weaker demons.
"OI!!" Gyutaro had his sickles out as he ran out to confront who had just arrived. Ume unsheathed her sword and stood at the doorway. Kotoha for her part reached for an acid bottle that hadn't been put away yet.
Wings unfold to reveal a female demon with purple eyes and fangs that smile toward them. Kotoha took note of how they seemed to drip violet, venom perhaps.
"Ara, Ara, I thought I would only have to kill one tonight but I guess three won't be trouble." Gyutaro was tense as he read her eyes. A Kizuki member, this may be difficult but he could hold her off if he can't chop off her head.
That smile was sickly sweet when it was suddenly in front of him.
Gyutaro swiped for her only to have the demon flip over him. He spun around to see her going for the entrance. Ume at the ready but the demon also slips past them. They aren't fast enough when the demon burst through the ceiling.
"KOTOHA-SAN!!" The woman was struggling in the arms of the demon who was flying higher till she was hovering out of reach that not even the highest jumper could make.
"Ara,ara it's the songbird! Please do struggle, maybe he'll see!" Kotoha froze at that. She whips around to look up at the demon.
"Before I came, I had the Ice Hashira trapped, he should be able to see us if we are this high up. He'll see his world die in front of him like he did to me." Kotoha should cry but she spots something gold reflecting in the distance.
"Douma wouldn't ever let that happen." Kotoha turns around and still Shinobu holds her smile. The lack of fear does surprise her considering the woman was nothing compared to her. "He will fight to the very end."
Kotoha with all her strength slams the bottle of acid in her hand into the head of the lower moon. The demon's skin blisters and she hisses, letting go of the woman.
Kotoha is falling and she can hear Gyutaro and Ume crying out to her. She isn't worried as she hears roof tiles break under the pressure of someone jumping.
Arms wrap around her and soon they are landing. Kotoha tears up then when she is set down.
Douma wipes her tears, but he doesn't smile. No, he snarls as he spins, slicing for Shinobu who decided to come for him when his back was turned. Her wound healed and now she was even more vengeful.
"YOU TRIED TO KILL HER!!" Douma pushes the demon back and she hisses.
"OF COURSE!! It's what demons do!" Shinobu smiles once more before lunging over his shoulder, intending to slip passed him again. Douma wraps his arms around her, his grip tight on the snake that dares to go after his love.
"DON'T YOU DARE!!" He slams her down and she viciously bites into his shoulder, venom instantly pumped into his system. Douma didn't care.
"UME, GYUTARO!!" He didn't need to call for they were already there. Douma grabbed her head, ripping her fangs from his shoulder and tossing her to his fellow slayers. The three were lunging for her, no way for her to escape as Douma came from above, Ume from the middle, and Gyutaro from below.
Shinobu smiles at Kotoha, tears coming to her eyes at the last moment as she was sliced into pieces. Her head is taken off by a golden fan.
As the demon fades, all became silent except the panting of the slayers. But one was worse than the others.
Douma was huffing, his chest expanding and decompressing so quickly as he looks at Kotoha. He smiles even as he was trying to catch his breath. The Hashira was shaking when Gyutaro finally notice the smell of blood on him.
"Oi, Jiji-!" Gyutaro tried to stop him as he took a step to Kotoha.
"Kotoha-chan-" To Kotoha's horror, Douma passes out with Gyutaro catching him.
"Gyutaro help me get him to a bed!" Before they could move, another had joined them once again. But instead of fear, relief crosses her face.
"Hakuji!" The Stone Hashira looked around and didn't need to be told what to do. Douma though much taller than his fellow rank was easily carried by Hakuji with little assistance by Gyutaro.
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Douma was much paler than ever before, panting in his sleep as Kotoha wiped his brow and went to remove his top. Hakuji cut away his pants leg and see the extent of his injury. Purple spider webs were coming from the bite mark and Kotoha couldn't help but glance at his leg.
Her eyes became filled with tears. Her heart clench more as blood pooled from his left leg. It's only now she sees how mangled his limb was. The majority of the muscle was gone and it looked like it was cut up. Bone was even peeking through. It was a miracle that he could stand let alone fight.
"Kotoha-san, we need to operate." Hakuji, reasonable and calm, look at her.
"Are you ready?" She nods and can only hug Douma once, still panting and closer to death than ever before.
"Yes, let's begin Hakuji-dono."
He saved her, now it was time for her to save him.
