The man stared deep into Yuji's eyes as he spoke. “Why are you protecting that demon?”
Yuji gritted his teeth, pulling Nezuko close. “She’s my sister. She wouldn’t hurt anyone!”
The swordsman’s grip on his weapon tightened, his gaze unyielding. "That's hard to believe when she's standing there, ready to rip you apart."
Yuji’s heart pounded, torn between desperation and defiance. “There was someone else—someone else’s scent was there. She didn’t do this!”
The man’s eyes narrowed, his grip on the sword unwavering. "Demons don't have families, they don't spare anyone, especially not their own blood. You're naive if you think she's different."
Yuji tightened his arms around Nezuko protectively, feeling the faint warmth of her breath as she clung to him. He met the swordsman's cold gaze, refusing to back down. "I know my sister! She didn’t do this, and she wouldn’t hurt me. Please… she’s all I have left."
The Demon Slayer’s expression shifted, a slight flicker of something that could have been pity, but he shook it away, raising his blade. “Your resolve is weak. You couldn’t even protect your family, yet you think you can protect this… creature? Do you really believe you can handle the burden of keeping a demon alive?”
Yuji flinched at the man’s words, feeling them strike deep into his heart. He knew the truth in them—how he’d failed to protect his family, how he’d been powerless to stop the horrors that took place in his own home. But he also knew, with every fiber of his being, that he couldn’t give up on Nezuko. Not now.
“I may be weak,” Yuji admitted, his voice rough, “but I won’t abandon her. Not after everything. I’ll find a way to turn her back—no matter what it takes!”
The Demon Slayer scoffed, stepping forward with his sword at the ready. “Stubborn fool. Demons can’t be turned back. She’s a threat, and it’s my duty to end her life before she becomes a danger to others.” He lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air toward Nezuko.
In a split second, Yuji reacted purely on instinct, throwing himself between the sword and his sister. With a speed and strength that caught even the Demon Slayer off guard, he deflected the blade’s path with his forearm, narrowly avoiding a fatal cut. A shallow wound opened on his arm, blood seeping through his sleeve, but Yuji barely flinched, his gaze locked on the swordsman.
The swordsman raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Hmph. You’re… fast. Stronger than I expected. But skill and discipline are what keep you alive in battle, not brute strength."
Yuji clenched his fists, breathing heavily but keeping his stance. "I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if I don’t have your skill, I won’t let you hurt her!"
Without hesitation, Yuji charged forward, forcing the Demon Slayer to take him seriously. His raw strength and speed were undeniable, a force to be reckoned with, even if he lacked the finesse of a trained swordsman. Each time the Demon Slayer tried to slip past him, Yuji countered with surprising agility, his desperation giving him an edge.
The Demon Slayer struck again, his movements calculated and swift, and this time Yuji barely managed to dodge, the blade grazing his side. Pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and kept going. He couldn’t stop—he wouldn’t stop. Not until he made this man understand.
In the midst of their clash, Nezuko lunged forward, stepping between Yuji and the swordsman, her arms raised protectively. Her eyes, though demonized, held a fierce determination. She snarled, but it wasn’t directed at Yuji. Instead, she positioned herself to shield him, as if daring the swordsman to attack her brother.
The swordsman froze, his gaze shifting between Yuji and Nezuko, an unreadable expression crossing his face. He lowered his sword, taking in the sight before him: a demon willing to protect a human, her own brother, rather than attack him.
Yuji, panting and battered, steadied himself and met the man’s gaze, silently pleading.
After a tense pause, the swordsman sighed and sheathed his sword. “I see. She may be… different.” He walked over to Nezuko, who flinched slightly but held her ground, and chop her on the neck, causing her to slump forward as he knocked her unconscious.
He retrieved a bamboo muzzle from his belongings and carefully fitted it onto her mouth, ensuring she wouldn’t harm anyone, even if her demon instincts took control.
“Listen,” the swordsman said, turning to Yuji, his tone now softer but still firm. “If you truly intend to protect her, then you must understand what lies ahead. Demons are hunted for a reason, and even one slip could mean death for you both.”
Yuji nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "I understand. I’ll do whatever it takes."
The swordsman hesitated before speaking again. “There’s a man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives at the foot of Mount Sagiri. Seek him out. He may be able to help you… but know this: do not, under any circumstances, let her be exposed to sunlight. It will kill her.”
The weight of the words hung heavily in the air, but Yuji nodded resolutely. “Thank you… for sparing her.”
The swordsman said nothing, simply nodding before disappearing into the shadows, leaving Yuji alone with Nezuko.
As the dawn approached, Yuji took one last, heart-wrenching look at his family’s graves, committing each face to memory before turning away. He held Nezuko’s hand, feeling the fragile thread of hope that still connected them.
“Come on, Nezuko,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “We’re going to get through this… together.”
With the Demon Slayer’s warning lingering in his mind and the weight of an uncertain future ahead, Yuji took his first step on the long, perilous journey. He didn’t know what awaited him, but he knew one thing: he would fight for his sister, no matter the cost.
YOU ARE READING
Crimson Bonds
Fanfiction(ART IS NOT MINE) After a brutal demon attack leaves his family shattered, Yuji Kamado embarks on a harrowing journey to save his sister Nezuko, who has turned into a demon. Armed with only his incredible strength and unbreakable resolve, Yuji enter...
