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Chapter 22

I'm relieved that she's alright.
"It's me, Nezuko... I'm okay..."

I hear her small huffs and sigh in relief, only to hear Zenitsu scream and run toward me, cowering behind me.

That same boar guy from before burst through a door, laughing maniacally.

"Hey! You two! Fight me!"
He yelled, pointing his swords at us.

"What?! Wait, aren't you a Demon Slayer too?! It's against the rules for us to fight each other!"
I yell back.

"I don't care! Fight me, fight me, fight me!!"
He tried charging at us, swords at the ready, only getting a deep cut on me before I throw him off with a kick.

"What is wrong with you?! My bones are broken, you can't just jump at me!"
I use my staff to stand up, feeling something hard hit my gut as he used earthbending to throw me aside.

"Not you! I want that!"
He pointed at Nezuko's box.
"I found you, demon!"

I coughed up blood, using everything I've got to throw him away.
"GET AWAY! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT BOX, OR ELSE!"

I barely even get another word out as he earthbent yet another boulder into my side, going for Zenitsu, who now covered the box with his body.

"STOP!"

"Huh?! Who the hell are you?!"

"My name is Zenitsu Agatsuma! Me and the girl are demon slayers! The same as you!"

"Oh? Are you now? Then you should already know we need to get rid of that thing at all costs!"

"I'M WARNING YOU, PIG-HEAD! LAY A FINGER ON IT AND YOU'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ME!"
I blast him away again, only for him to jump back, laughing.

"JUST GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!"
He started hitting Zenitsu, and by now my vision is too clouded to get a good aim on him.

"I REFUSE! This belongs to Tanjiro!"
Zenitsu yelled.

"Don't you argue with me! I'll deal with him and his box if that's the case!"
Yet, Zenitsu didn't hit back, just holding Nezuko's box tightly to protect it.

"C'mon! Do something! Fight me!"

He kept yelling, Shoichi worried by my side.

"Y/N! Are you okay?! Can you hear me?!"

All my attention was on that stupid boar-headed asshole.
"I-I'm fine, Shoichi..."

"Do you wanna die?"
He had his sword ready to cut off Zenitsu's head.

"This box... I won't let you touch it! I don't know what's inside but I know it's precious to my friends!"

"Are you serious?! Use your damn head! There's a demon  inside that box! Don't you get that?!"

"Of course I get that! I've known from the very start!"

I look up in surprise. Zenitsu knew? Of course... Why wouldn't he...?
Yet... He's protecting Nezuko.
He knows she's a demon and he's protecting her.