A Crack In The Wall / Giyuu X Sanemi/ Sanegiyuu

Chapter 7

**Chapter 7: Shadows of Betrayal**

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The air hung heavy with the scent of blood and desperation. Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, staggered to his feet, his vision blurred from pain and poison. Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, lay motionless nearby, his chest heaving as he fought to regain consciousness. The young girl he was carrying was unconscious a few bit away from shinazugawa, it had seen he threw the young girl before he was hit. The demon responsible for this chaos stood before them, her crimson eyes gleaming with malevolence.

"Pathetic," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Two Hashira, reduced to mere playthings." Her blood-soaked kimono billowed around her, a macabre dance of death. "You thought you could defeat me? Foolish."

Giyu clenched his teeth, his katana trembling in his hand. The poison coursed through his veins, weakening him with every heartbeat. He glanced at Sanemi, who was slowly stirring. They had to buy time—time for their comrades to arrive, time to find a weakness.

"Sanemi," Giyu rasped, "we need a plan."

Sanemi's eyes flickered open. "Plan? We're barely standing, Giyu. What can we do?"

Giyu's mind raced. The demon's blood art was devastating, but there had to be a way. He remembered the wound on his palm and as he looked closely he realized who she was.—the wound that refused to heal. "Her blood," he said, his voice low. "It's the key."

Sanemi frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The poison," Giyu explained. "It's in her blood. it's that same demon from the inn who poisoned me. " He explained as he figured it out "If we can find a way to use it against her—"

Before he could finish, the demon lunged. Giyu parried her attack, gritting his teeth against the pain. Sanemi joined the fray, his blade slicing through the air. But the demon was agile, her movements fluid and unpredictable. She danced between them, taunting them with each strike.

"Your futile struggle is amusing," she hissed. "But it ends now."

Giyu glanced at Sanemi. They needed a distraction. "Sanemi," he said, "I'll hold her off. You find a way to expose her blood."

Sanemi nodded grimly. He stepped back, analyzing the demon's patterns. Giyu lunged, forcing her to defend. Sanemi circled, eyes sharp. Then he saw it—the tear in her sleeve, a glimpse of crimson skin.

He lunged, aiming for her arm. But the demon was faster. She twisted away, her blood art erupting. Giyu barely dodged, his haori singed by the flames. Sanemi wasn't so lucky. The blast knocked him back, blood dripping from his forehead.

"Sanemi!" Giyu shouted, rage fueling his next attack. He slashed at the demon, forcing her to retreat. "You won't hurt him!"

The demon laughed, her eyes wild. "You're both fools," she spat. "I am beyond your comprehension."

But Giyu had an idea. He focused on the wound in his palm, on the poison that refused to heal. If he could transfer it to her—

He feigned exhaustion, stumbling back. The demon followed, hungry for victory. Giyu whispered a prayer to the water, channeling its energy. Then, with a desperate lunge, he slashed his palm across her cheek.

Her eyes widened in shock. Giyu felt the poison flow from him to her. She screamed, clawing at her face. Sanemi seized the opportunity, driving his blade into her side. She crumpled, blood pooling around her.

Giyu collapsed, his vision fading. Sanemi knelt beside him, breathing heavily. "We did it," he said, wiping blood from his forehead. "But at what cost?"

The demon's body disintegrated, leaving only ashes. Giyu closed his eyes. "We'll heal," he murmured. "Together."

As darkness claimed him, Giyu wondered about the demon's cryptic words. Who was she? And why had she targeted them?

But for now, they rested—the Water and Wind Hashira, bound by duty and sacrifice.

**To be continued...**

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*Author's Note: Thank you for the intriguing prompt! I hope you enjoyed this dark chapter. If you have any requests or want to explore more of this fictional world of free writing, feel free to ask!*