Odd Demon

Winter thaws to spring

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale, silvery light over the dense forest. A young Demon Slayer, her breath ragged, gripped her Nichirin blade tightly. She was new to this but determination burned in her eyes. Her name was Akira, and tonight she faced a nightmare in the form of Lower Moon Five.

Across the clearing, the demon stood, cloaked in the eerie glow of his own malevolent energy. His body was adorned with a simple black and gold yukata and horns rested upon his head. His eyes glinted with amusement, as if savoring the scent of her fear.

"Come now, little slayer," the demon hissed, his voice a haunting whisper. "Let's see how long you last."

Akira steeled herself, her mind racing. She had trained hard, but nothing could have prepared her for this. She inhaled deeply, focusing her breathing as she had been taught, feeling the energy gather within her.

"Light Breathing, First Form: Radiant Flash!" she cried, her voice filled with resolve.

In an instant, she burst forward, her form becoming a blur of motion. Her blade slashed through the air, leaving a shimmering trail of light in its wake. The demon's eyes widened slightly, impressed by her speed, but it was not enough.

The blade struck, but it was as if she had sliced through a shadow. The demon's body flickered, only for him to reappear a few feet away, unharmed. Akira skidded to a halt, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

"So fast, but not fast enough," the demon taunted, the chains around him clinking ominously. With a flick of his wrist, blood-red chains shot forward, their ends morphing into jagged, razor-sharp blades.

"Demon blood art; blood chains"

Akira barely had time to react. She twisted her body, managing to dodge the first few strikes, but the chains moved with a life of their own, surrounding her, boxing her in. They tightened around her, forming a deadly cage.

"Light Breathing, Second Form: Gleaming Horizon!" she shouted desperately, swinging her blade in a wide arc.

Light exploded from her sword, reflecting off the chains and momentarily blinding the demon. The chains wavered, their grip loosening just enough for her to slip through a small gap. She stumbled out, gasping for air, but the moment of reprieve was fleeting.

The demon snarled, his amusement gone. The chains snapped back together, forming a massive, spiked sphere around her. Akira looked up, eyes wide with horror as the chains closed in. She slashed at them wildly, but the blood-forged metal was relentless, the edges tearing at her clothes and skin.

Her mind raced. She had to think of something—anything. But fear clouded her thoughts, and her breathing became erratic. The light around her blade flickered, then dimmed.

"Is this all you've got?" the demon sneered. "You're not even worth killing."

The sphere contracted, the chains closing in like the jaws of a beast. Akira screamed, slashing out with the last of her strength, but it was no use. The chains tightened around her, the blades biting into her flesh. Blood dripped onto the ground, staining the earth beneath her.

Pain shot through her body, and her vision blurred. She could feel the life draining out of her, the darkness closing in. Was this the end? Was she going to die here, in this forsaken forest?

But even as despair gripped her heart, a flicker of defiance remained. She was a Demon Slayer, and she would fight until her last breath. Akira clenched her teeth, forcing herself to focus. She had to breathe, to keep fighting.

Everything went in slow motion as the chest of the demon exploded and a pale clawed hand ripped through it. The chains on akira loosen up before vanishing into dust. The demon was shocked before it sneered, with an irked look it turned to see who dared to harm him and he was met with the deadliest glare of... another demon?

His long, silver hair flowed like a cascade of moonlight, framing a face that seemed carved from marble—flawless and cold. His golden eyes, piercing and unyielding, held the weight of a thousand untold secrets.

He wore a pristine white kimono adorned with subtle crimson and yellow accents, adding a touch of warmth to his otherwise icy demeanor. A spiked pauldron guarded his right shoulder, and a luxurious fur pelt draped over his left, giving him an aura of nobility and power. 

"Huh? The hell are you and why are you atta-"

The demon paused as its head split into three and fell off its body, though that wasn't enough to kill it.

"Y-YOU!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, INTERFERING!" the demon snarled, its voice trembling with a mix of rage and desperation. It lashed out, its body moving with unnatural speed, the blood chains reforming, now aimed directly at this new threat.

But Sesshomaru didn't flinch. His gaze was as cold and unreadable as ever. He sidestepped the attack with minimal effort, his movements fluid and effortless. The chains lashed out, trying to ensnare him, but they never found their mark. Sesshomaru seemed to dance between them, a ghost in the moonlight.

Without a word, Sesshomaru reached into the folds of his kimono and drew out a weapon—a Nichirin blade, its edge gleaming with a deadly light. He moved with terrifying precision, cutting through the demon's chains as if they were nothing. The demon's eyes widened in realization, its fear palpable.

Sesshomaru knew. He knew how to kill a demon.

The demon's body shuddered, its movements growing more frantic as it tried to escape. But Sesshomaru was relentless. With a final, decisive strike, he brought the blade down, severing the demon's head completely. The body collapsed, disintegrating into ash before it could even hit the ground.

Silence fell over the forest, broken only by Akira's labored breathing. She watched, frozen in place, as Sesshomaru sheathed the Nichirin blade, turning away as if nothing had happened. The weight of his presence lingered in the air, a silent testament to his overwhelming power.

Akira's mind raced, trying to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Her body ached, her wounds screaming for attention, but she couldn't let this moment slip away. Summoning the last of her strength, she managed to push herself to her feet, her voice hoarse as she called out to him.

"W-wait!" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sesshomaru paused, though he didn't turn around. His silence was more terrifying than any words could have been, and for a moment, Akira wasn't sure if she should speak again. But something in her refused to let him leave without an answer.

"Why...why did you help me? Y-your a demon, aren't you..." she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe.

The demon lord remained still for a moment, as if weighing whether her question was worth his time. When he did finally decide he would speak, the female suddenly fell, succumbing to her injuries. Sesshomaru watched her, she was odd. A weakling like her engaging with a foe tripled her size and strength, yet, it was somewhat intriguing; reminded him of father.

"How troublesome" Sesshomaru pads through the snow and over to the passed out female and with a sigh he scoops her up, wrapping her in mokomoko and grabbing her sword. This was the only time hed allow himself to save or even engage with a mortal.