Chapter 17: Arrow Demon

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"Be careful!" Tamayo shouted. "Don't let your guard down even a little! If they really are in the Twelve Kizuki, at the very least, they are stronger than the demons you've faced before!"

"Alright! I hear you!" Nezuko replied, her sword raised. "Careful.. keep guard up.. stronger than before! Got it! I'll do my best!"

As Nezuko continued to fight, Tamayo turned to Yushiro and took his hand. "Yushiro-Sama! We could use this diversion to flee.." Tamayo suggested, only for Yushiro to stare at her with a horrified expression. "Heh.. I'm just kidding!" Tamayo quickly added.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro headbutted the side of Yahaba's neck.

"Don't kick up dust!" Yahaba shouted. "It's dirty play!" The eyes on his palms then shut, causing Tanjiro to be yanked backwards and was sent flying.

"Kyahahahaha!!" Laughed Susamaru as her arms regenerated, making cracking and snapping sounds.

She grows new arms so fast! She regenerates much faster than the demons in the Final Selection! Thought Nezuko as she was about to run forward. Before she could, however, Tanjiro crashed into her after being sent back by Yahaba.

"Now die!" Exclaimed Susamaru, throwing another temari in Nezuko and Tanjiro's direction, but Nezuko dodged it while holding Tanjiro before it could hit either of them.

"Demon hunter!" Shouted Tamayo, kneeling on one knee in the large hole in the house. "You take out the arrow guy! We'll face the ball girl with your brother!"

"Understood!" Answered Nezuko, looking down at Tanjiro, who was looking up at her. "Be sure not to overdo it, Tanjiro."

Tanjiro looked over to the large hole in the house where Tamayo and Yushiro, who was covering his left eye with his hand, were walking out of. For a brief moment, he saw Yushiro as his father and Tamayo as one of his crying younger sisters.

Nezuko and Tanjiro then went there separate ways; Nezuko towards Yahaba and Tanjiro towards Susamaru with Yushiro and Tamayo.

Must remember.. I need to get some of his blood! Nezuko thought as she ran towards Yahaba. In order to create the medicine as soon as possible.. I'd fight any demon! Fight.. and win!

Nezuko grew close enough to Yahaba to be able to decapitate him, seeing the opening thread. I can see the opening thread! She thought.

"What a dirty child you are! Stay away from me." Said Yagaba, raising his hand. The eye on his hand then shut, and the thread broke.

As Nezuko swung her katana, a red arrow facing the opposite direction appeared beneath her feet, and she skidded backwards. The eye on Yahaba's hand shut again, and Nezuko crashed into a tree and bounced around like a ping pong ball.

Ow! Oh! This really.. hurts! Nezuko thought as she continued crashing into things.

The eye on Yahaba's hand shut again, and an arrow appeared once more, this time pointing upwards, and Nezuko was yanked upward into the air. The arrow then disappeared, and Nezuko began to fall.

A technique! I'll use a technique to soften the fall! Nezuko thought, raising her sword.

Eighth Form Downfall!

Nezuko swung her sword in a vertical motion, softening her fall.

"Susamaru. Isn't that one over there Yushiro.. the runaway?" Asked Yahaba. "She'll make a fine present."

"Really?" Replied Susamaru, continuing to throw temari after temari at Tanjiro, who dodged each one.

Susamaru then threw yet another temari, this time at the ground, and Tanjiro was about to kick it.

"No! You mustn't kick it!" Yushiro shouted, but it was too late. Tanjiro kicked the temari, and his leg up to his calf, making him fall flat on his face.

"Tanjiro! Roll!" Nezuko yelled, her eyes wide, but Tanjiro couldn't roll in time and he was blown back into a wall. Yushiro rushed over to him.

"This is fun! This is fun! Kemari is good too!" Exclaimed Susamaru excitedly. "Yahaba! Wouldn't it be good to take back four heads?"

Yahaba simply patted his kimono. His eyes were still shut. "No. Just two." He simply said. "The demon hunter's and the runaway's. We don't need the other two."

"Hold still, Tanjiro," said Yushiro. The blood is still flowing. His regeneration is slow. He thought, bringing his hand close to the blood gushing out of Tanjiro's leg. He got out a syringe. "This drug will make your leg heal quickly."

What should I do? I can't afford to lose! Pondered Nezuko, her heart threatening to burst out her chest and sweat trickling down her face. But even if I could see the opening thread, he's so hard to hit. A technique, maybe? But there's no point if I can't make it land as a solid hit. If I'm even slightly off, the technique won't have enough force. He'll use the power of the arrows to change the course of my sword. And I'm sorry, but those eyes in his hands are gross! They just are!

The eye on Yahaba's hand shut again, and at least seven red arrows came flying towards her at a rapid pace.

The speed of those things! And the arrows don't disappear until they hit! Nezuko thought as she attempted to avoid the arrows. Even a katana doesn't cut them. The moment my blade touches one, it sends me flying in the arrow's direction! What can I do?

The eye on Yahaba's hand shut once more, and an arrow twisted around her right arm.

"Everything goes the direction I want! Your arm will twist and rip off," said Yahaba, smirking.

Nezuko spun in the same direction as the arrow, so only her haori was torn off her body.

That bitch! She spun in the same direction as the koketsu arrow! Tsk! Yahaba thought, his smirk being replaced with a grimace.

I can't just keep fighting defensively! I have to fight back! I wonder.. can I change the direction of those arrows without touching them? Nezuko wondered. Apply techniques! I'll wind them up with form one and use footwork of form three!

Get in close! Twist! Wind up!

Nezuko got up close to the arrows, then changed her footwork so she could twist her body.

Drowning In Destruction: Waves!

The eye shut once more.

Second Form: Improved Lateral Boulder of Destruction!

Word Count: 1,035

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