The Eternal Paradise Arc (Demon Slayer)

10 - Upper Moon Two, Douma

Tanjiro's heart pounded as he trailed Yumiko into the dense forest, the undergrowth crunching beneath their feet while the moonlight struggled to pierce the canopy above. The darkness pressed in on him, but the fresh air, free from icy poison, sharpened his senses—every rustle, every snapping twig registered as he ran.

Yumiko stumbled slightly, the strain of their escape clear in every faltering step. Tanjiro quickly reached out to steady her, his hand warm against the cold, clammy skin of her wrist, which was covered in blood, sweat, and sake. "Keep going, Yumiko," he urged gently, his brow furrowing at the sight of her injuries. "Just a little bit further, okay?"

Unbeknownst to them, Tsunashima, who had been lying in wait, stirred from his unconscious state. His eyes fluttered open, noticing the pair darting through the trees. The sight jolted him fully awake. With a groan of pain, he gritted his teeth, quickly assessing the situation. He then pushed himself up, discreetly hiding his scythes under his robes as he prepared to follow.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro noticed Yumiko slowing down even more. She was breathing heavily, each step becoming more laborious. Without a second thought, he gently pulled her to a stop. "Yumiko, wait," he said, his voice laced with concern. He quickly examined her, noticing the deep gashes and the blood soaking through her clothes. Her hands—or what was left of them—were already bruised and rather unsightly, stirring a deep sense of protectiveness in Tanjiro. "We need to stop this bleeding."

Yumiko nodded weakly, her vision blurring as she leaned against a tree. Tanjiro quickly tore a piece of his haori, using it to bandage the wounds on her head and arms.

"Give me your hands," he murmured, wrapping each one with care. "This should help," he whispered, securing the makeshift green and black checkered bandages. "But you need to hide now—Douma is close."

Once again, Yumiko nodded, her strength waning. "Tanjiro," she whispered, tired eyes filled with worry. "P-please... be careful."

"Don't worry about me," he replied, giving her a reassuring smile before helping her find a small crevice in the roots of a large tree where she could hide. "I'm a professional!"

"But... your jaw looks like it's about to fall off."

Frowning, he slumped his shoulders. "You don't have to be so brutally honest..."

"Hey," she snapped, reaching for his hand but literally unable to grasp it. "No matter what happens tonight, at least I'll face it knowing the truth... so, thank you."

"Thank you for trusting me."

With that, Tanjiro darted further away, ready to continue the fight as the air suddenly grew colder, frost creeping over the grass and trees. His instincts flared, and he spun around just in time—Douma lunged from behind a large tree, his glowing eyes mere centimeters from Tanjiro's terror-filled gaze.

"Found you!" Douma beamed, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight. "What a lovely night for a walk in the woods!"

Tanjiro barely had time to draw his sword before Douma was upon him, the air around them freezing as Douma uttered, "Blood Demon Art: Freezing Clouds." Tanjiro managed to parry the first strike from Douma's war fans, the impact sending vibrations up his arm, but the cold nearly blinded him. Douma attacked relentlessly, each swing of his fans unleashing sharp, icy gusts of toxic air toward Tanjiro.

So fast! Tanjiro noted inwardly, disheartened by his own lack of speed.

His thoughts clashed as he dodged and countered, his breathing techniques helping him keep pace with Douma's Blood Demon Art. Initially, Tanjiro could sense that his adversary was holding back, with the Upper Moon's attacks meant to probe rather than overwhelm. However, as the fight dragged on, Tanjiro began to suspect that Douma might be shifting to a more serious approach. "It's been too long since a demon slayer stumbled upon my humble stomping grounds," Douma mused, his voice tangled with unnerving amusement. "A powerful one, no less! But so very slow..."