Solar Blade

Stitched

[Name] continued to run through the dense thicket of trees, the branches scratching at their arms as they navigated the underbrush with a singular focus. The slayer was clinging to their back, panting heavily, clearly fatigued from the relentless assault of the large demon that had been hot on their heels just moments ago. In the chaotic moments of their escape, [Name]'s thoughts flickered to Tanjiro. They hoped he was safe, wherever he might be. The situation had been precarious, and now they had to tend to the injured slayer before they could make their way back to him.

Once they finally found a somewhat sheltered spot, a sanctuary amidst the towering trees, [Name] gently eased the slayer down to the forest floor, careful not to jostle any of his wounds further. Taking a moment to catch their breath, they assessed his condition with a mixture of concern and determination.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" they asked, their voice steady but laced with urgency as they pulled out their emergency supplies—threads and needles that had been hastily stashed in their pouch.

The slayer, his face contorted with pain, lifted his right arm slowly, pointing to a deep, ragged gash that ran ominously above his elbow. Blood had begun to seep through his sleeve, creating a grim reminder of the battle that had just ensued. [Name] quickly wiped away the crimson liquid with their own sleeve, trying to focus on the task at hand. They took a moment to loop the thread through the eye of the needle, their heart pounding as they considered the gravity of what they were about to do. Stitches were all they could offer right now, but surely it wouldn't be too difficult? Maybe, they thought, human skin was just like clothing, an idea that provided a thin veneer of comfort.

As they steadied their hands and took a deep breath, the air was thick with tension and the musky scent of the forest. They pushed the needle into the slayer's arm, feeling an unsettling mixture of resolve and apprehension.

"Ah! What is that?! It hurts!" the slayer screamed, his voice shattering the silence of the woods and echoing off into the distance.

"Shut up! You'll attract demons!" [Name] barked sharply, their tone firm as they focused intently on the task before them. They could hear the rustling of leaves in the wind, the distant sounds of the forest life, but they couldn't afford to be distracted. Each stitch needed to be precise, a careful dance of needle and thread that would hold the slayer together until they could find more proper medical attention.

Working swiftly but carefully, [Name] tried to keep the panic at bay, reminding themselves that every second counted and the longer they stayed in one place, the more vulnerable they became. With each tug of the thread, they felt a surge of desperation mixed with hope—each stitch was a silent promise that they would protect him, just as they had vowed to protect Tanjiro.

"Just hang in there," [Name] muttered under their breath.

Once [Name] was done with the intricate process of stitching, meticulously weaving the thread through the delicate fabric of flesh, they stood back up, wiping the sweat from their brow. The focus and intensity of their work faded away, replaced by a newfound sense of alertness. They clasped the hilt of their blade firmly, the comforting weight of the weapon still hidden within the confines of their scabbard, a silent reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

The slayer, a ragged-looking figure, offered a heartfelt thanks, their breathless words thick with gratitude. With a swift nod and a determined glint in their eye, they turned and sprinted off into the dense thicket of trees, urgency propelling them forward into the enveloping darkness of the forest. Now, with the slayer barreling away, [Name] felt an unmistakable pull to return to Tanjiro, the motivation igniting a sense of purpose within them.

However, just as [Name] prepared to make their own move through the underbrush, an icy shock jolted through them. A hand, cold and bony, suddenly clamped over their mouth, muffling their instinctive gasp of surprise. Before they could fully comprehend what was happening, they felt several other grotesque limb-like appendages wrap around their body, ensnaring them in a suffocating grip. A demon! Panic surged through [Name] as they tried to struggle, but their hands were bound tightly at their sides, effectively rendering them defenseless and unable to reach for their sword.

A low, gruff chuckle reverberated from the demon that had cunningly managed to capture [Name]. The sound dripped with malice, a chilling indication of the creature's satisfaction at their successful ambush. The weight of dread settled in the pit of [Name]'s stomach as they scanned their surroundings, realizing the perilous position they were now in. The forest, once a sanctuary, had morphed into a trap, and each passing second felt like a countdown to impending doom.

As soon as [Name]'s vision began to blur, a light, unsettling chuckle echoed through the dim space. The sound, sinister and mocking, sent a chill racing down their spine. Just as they struggled to regain focus, a piercing scream erupted from the demon, a cacophony of terror that was abruptly cut short by an unnerving, sickening crack. It reverberated in the air like a twisted symphony of violence, filling [Name] with a primal fear.

Instantly, the demon's grotesque appendages, which had been coiled tightly around [Name], unwrapped with a suddenness that felt almost jarring, granting them a precious gasp of fresh air. Desperation surged through [Name] as they instinctively reached for their blade, their fingers trembling with urgency. Adrenaline flooded their system, charging their movements with an electric energy. With a fierce determination, they swung the blade toward the spot where the demon had just been, their heart pounding in sync with the rapid tempo of their thoughts.

But then, with an unexpected abruptness, their blade was halted mid-air, defying the laws of motion. Confusion clouded their mind as [Name] wobbled slightly, a wave of dizziness washing over them. Their eyes, now widening in shock, traced the path of the blade, astonished to see that its tip was merely inches away from an impossibly pale finger. This finger, slender and elegant, was adorned with a long blue fingernail that glistened like ice under the faint light, contrasting sharply with the surrounding darkness.

Their brows creased as they saw the familiar face. The face of the demon that had saved [Name]. The same demon that [Name] knew as UpperMoon 2.

A/N

Hello! Welcome to Chapter... 'I-Dont-Know-What-Number-This-Is'. 30 something. That's all I know. Anyways, I can't believe that so many people are reading this! I love that an idea I made on the bus out of pure boredom turned into a fanfiction that so many want to read! Anyways, I've got a tonne of other KNY stories in mind, but I'm going to try and finish this one first. Ugh, that's gonna take me forever. Anyways, please feel free to answer this chapter's question!

Question: Which demon slayer character do you act most like?

Taisho Era Secret: Nezuko woke up a few hours earlier, but reduced to tears seeing that her siblings weren't back. Seeing this, Urokodaki made little dolls of Tanjiro and [Name] that Nezuko treasures.