A Crack In The Wall / Giyuu X Sanemi/ Sanegiyuu

Chapter 18

Warning: What's wrote here is spoilers from the manga

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Giyu's heart pounded as he fell through the darkness of the Infinity Castle. The sensation of free-falling was disorienting, but his mind was sharp, scanning his surroundings. He quickly realized he had lost sight of Sanemi. A pang of worry struck him, but he pushed it aside. *He's Sanemi Shinazugawa. He's capable on his own. Right now, I need to focus on myself.*

Above him, he noticed Tanjiro, his face set with determination, eyes locked on Muzan. Giyu called out, "TANJIRO!" but it was clear Tanjiro was consumed by his mission. As they continued to fall, Giyu managed to stabilize himself by hitting a ledge. He looked up just in time to see Tanjiro plummeting towards the abyss. Without hesitation, Giyu's body moved on its own, grabbing Tanjiro by his clothes and swinging him up onto the stable ground.

"Are you alright?" Giyu asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Tanjiro caught his breath, "Thank you, you saved m—" His words were cut off as a demon lunged at him from behind. Tanjiro reacted swiftly, slicing the demon in half. Giyu's eyes widened as he saw more demons pouring in through the door.

"TANJIRO!" he yelled, readying his stance. "Water Breathing, Third Form: Flowing Dance!" he thought, moving with precision and grace. Tanjiro mirrored his movements, preparing to use "Water Breathing, Sixth Form: Whirlpool."

Together, they unleashed their techniques, cutting through the demons with ease. Tanjiro couldn't help but admire Giyu's skill. *Giyu is amazing! From my slight movement, he grasped what technique I was going to use and then used one himself, moving to make sure we didn't cut each other.* He looked up at Giyu, who had a blank stare, his focus unwavering.

*It's freaky! What's that look on his face?* Tanjiro's thoughts were interrupted when Giyu spoke, "Let's go."

"Alright!" Tanjiro replied, and they began to run. Suddenly, a window appeared beneath Tanjiro, and he nearly fell through. He grabbed onto the floor, pulling himself up just in time.

"STAY SHARP!" Giyu warned.

"GOT IT!" Tanjiro responded, his mind racing. *This building throbs as if it were alive... It's trying to separate me from Giyu. I've got to try to join the other Corps members and get to Muzan. I don't know how long Tamayo can hold on. But the place where Muzan is...*

Before he could finish his thoughts, a crow's voice echoed through the castle. "KAAAW! DECEASED!! SHINOBU KOCHO IS DEAD!! SHE FOUGHT WITH AN UPPER-RANK KIZUKI AND DIED!!" The bird kept repeating the dreadful news.

Sure, let's continue the story from where you left off, expanding on the intense battle and the emotions of the characters:

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Both Giyu and Tanjiro's eyes widened in shock. The loss of Shinobu was a heavy blow. Tanjiro started tearing up as he heard the news. Giyu tried to stay focused when he noticed a crow. *THE CROW...WHAT'S THAT PAPER ON ITS NECK? THE MESSAGE CAME UNUSUALLY FAST,* he wondered.

After a bit of running, Tanjiro's mind started wandering again. *WE'RE NOT RUNNING INTO ANY UPPER MOONS... ARE WE STILL THAT FAR FROM MUZAN!? ARE THE OTHERS STILL OKAY!?* His thoughts turned to Shinobu. *SHINOBU-SAN...!! WE'LL WIN FOR SURE. I'M SURE EVERYONE... WE WILL!!*

A few seconds later, as they were running, a loud "POW!" was heard in the distance. They both stopped running. Giyu spoke, "WHAT IS THIS TREMOR!!"

Tanjiro replied, "GIYUU-SAN! STOP!! CALM DOWN."

*IS SOMEONE STILL FIGHTING?! DID SOMEONE DIE AGAIN?... NO, THAT'S NOT IT, IT'S COMING CLOSER! THIS SMELL...* Giyu quickly noticed something. "FROM ABOVE! STAY BACK, TANJIRO!" he warned him.

Then something slammed down on the floor. It was Upper Moon Three, Akaza. He was smirking and started saying, "IT SURE HAS BEEN A WHILE. I'M SURPRISED YOU'RE ALIVE, BEING THE WEAKLING THAT YOU ARE, KAMADO!" He charged at Tanjiro. "TANJIRO!!!" he yelled, continuing to charge at him.

Tanjiro's face filled with fury. He replied, "AKAZAAAA!!!" Tanjiro jumped up, flipping himself behind Akaza as Akaza tried punching him. In the air, he thought, *GO!! GO!! GO!! I HAVE TO AT LEAST CUT HIS ARM OFF, OR THERE'S NO WAY I CAN GET HIS HEAD.* He successfully cut Akaza's arm off. *I GOT HIM!! AND I DODGED HIS ATTACK! THIS WILL WORK! I CAN FIGHT!* As he landed, he looked back, thinking, *I COULDN'T AIM FOR HIS HEAD! BUT NEXT TIME...*

In that split second, Akaza punched towards Tanjiro, who reacted using "DANCE OF THE FIRE GOD: PARHELION RAINBOW." He successfully dodged Akaza. Akaza was surprised, turning back to see a cut appear on his head. Tanjiro had not only dodged him but was able to cut him. Giyu, standing and holding his blade, thought to himself, *TANJIRO... YOUR TECHNIQUES HAVE IMPROVED BY A LOT.* Giyu's eyes widened. *It's no joke to say... Your power matches that of a Pillar! That day... THAT SNOWY DAY WHEN YOU FELL INTO DESPAIR, YOU BOWED YOUR HEAD AND DID THE ONLY THING YOU COULD DO: CRY AS YOU BEGGED ME TO SPARE YOUR SISTER'S LIFE... BUT NOW YOU CAN FIGHT. SO YOUR LIFE AND YOUR DIGNITY WILL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY,* Giyu thought.

Akaza started speaking, "THIS BOY ISN'T WEAK. DON'T INSULT HIM. I NOW ACCEPT THAT KYOUJUROU WAS RIGHT TO SAY THAT. YOU ARE TRULY NOT WEAK. I WILL SHOW MY RESPECT FOR YOU." He got into a stance to use his demon blood art. "TECHNIQUE DEPLOYMENT. OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED. IT'S TIME FOR THE FEAST," he said, smirking.

After a while, both Tanjiro and Giyu worked together to fight Akaza. It looked like they were going to lose until suddenly something appeared on Giyu's face... a mark. Charging at Akaza, he tried slicing at him. Akaza thought, *THE MARK ON HIM... HIS SPEED... HE GOT FASTER!*

After more tiring fighting, Akaza taunted, "LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE USED ALL YOUR WATER FORMS ALREADY. THAT'S ENOUGH, GIYUU. I'LL END THIS NOW. I'M AMAZED AT HOW YOU LASTED THIS LONG!!" He made Giyu lose his balance, but Giyu caught himself and swung his katana down at Akaza. However, Akaza broke it with a punch from the side. Giyu thought, *YOU'RE KIDDING ME? I WAS SWINGING MY BLADE DOWN AND HE SOMEHOW BROKE IT BY PUNCHING IT FROM THE SIDE.*

Akaza broke his thoughts, saying, "Farewell," and went to punch Giyu in the stomach, just like he had ended Rengoku's life. But before the punch made contact, Akaza noticed his hand was cut off. Stunned, he looked and saw that it was Tanjiro who did it. *TANJIRO CUT HIS ARM OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS ATTACK... THE SOUND IS DIFFERENT FROM HIS BREATHS. HIS HAIR AND EYES ARE DIFFERENT AS WELL. I WAS SAVED BY TANJIRO!* As Giyu charged at Akaza, Akaza punched him into a wall.

Akaza offered, "DON'T DIE LIKE KYOUJUROU AND TANJIRO. BECOME A DEMON LIKE ME."

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Authors note: Not gonna lie. It was 1:55 when I finished writing almost went past the time I usually post these but yeah so manga spoilers for part of these.