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Chapter 25

"Inosuke-!"

"Y/N! Can you throw me down that way?!"
Tanjiro catches my attention, pointing down. I can see a large mass of threads and nod.

"Got it!"
I open my glider and hold on, going up high with Tanjiro before sending him the way he told me to before I allow myself to fall down.

I see Tanjiro in the distance and catch up with him, stopping once I see the head of the demon fall on the ground, her body fading into ash.

She looks so... tranquil.
As if... As if a nightmare has just ended.

She spoke before vanishing completely, her voice ever so soft and gentle as she warned us.
"There's a member of the Twelve Kizuki here. Be careful."

My eyes widen, Tanjiro rushing to her, but she was gone.
"Wait-!"

I walked up to Tanjiro.
"A member of the Twelve Kizuki...?"

"They're with us on this mountain."
He looked at me, and we both share a determined nod.

"That means blood connected to Kibutsuji. If we can extract some, we'll be closer to finding a cure for Nezuko..."

He nods, and we're both suddenly aware of how silent it is, looking at each other before we speak up.

"Inosuke!"

Running back, Inosuke is fuming, his cuts now bleeding all over him.
"So? Did you defeat it?"

"Inosuke! You're hurt!"
I reach to look at his cuts and he slaps my hand away.

"Did you defeat it or not?!"

Tanjiro answered, just as concerned as I am.
"U-Uh yeah. But are you alright, Inosuke?"

"Don't go showering me with all your sensitivity and kindness! Got that?! Remember than anything you can do, I can do, too!"

Yeah... He's definitely still Inosuke.

"Before you know it, my forehead will be harder than yours, and I'll fly ever better than you can! Not to mention... Not to mention... Um..."

He ran out of breath, and I sigh  getting closer to him.
"Inosuke. You're hurt. Just sit down for a minute, please? At least let me try to patch you up."

He grumbled but agreed, making himself a seat out of rocks, flinching with every move.
He's really wounded...

"Tanjiro, do we have anymore water on hand?"

He shook his head.
"I used it all up to heal your bones back at the mansion."

I nod, just using the regular bandages we brought along to treat Inosuke.
"Inosuke! Sit still! I can't patch you up if you keep moving!"

He kept insisting he didn't need any assistance, making me huff.
"Even someone as great as you needs to be patched up from time to time, Inosuke! Please, let me help!"

Inosuke paused for a moment, mildly stunned, and sat still enough for me to bandage him.

"There. You're done. Would've finished sooner if you didn't squirm around like a giant koi fish out of water."

"Say that again?!"
He growled, and I pay no mind to him as I get up, looking at Tanjiro who seemed deep in thought.

Eventually, we all start walking, wandering around by a river.

I was pitiful this battle. I'm a disgrace to my mother and what she achieved. I still feel like balling up somewhere and crying.

I hope Zenitsu is ok, though... He's strong, but I still worry about him...
I get cut off, feeling something strange.

I jump and hold my arm up high, I can feel the air around me, sensing a distant and yet strange vibration.
Zenitsu...? The last time the air felt this was with him. He isn't so far, that's good.

The loud echo of thunder can be heard, and I smile wide, happy that Zenitsu is safe.

"Was that lightning?"
Tanjiro commented, and I nod.

"That's our lighting alright."

"Zenitsu?!"
He seemed surprised.

"Probably. Though with the weather on this mountain I can't be so sure."

Inosuke went on to start crossing the river on the boulders he summoned, Tanjiro calling out to him.

"I think I'll go that way. You stay with Y/N."

"Tch! Do whatever you want!"

"Are you descending, then?
I ask.

"Huh?"

"Are you going down the mountain, Inosuke?"

He pointed at me.
"Why would I?! Just beat it!"

"You're still wounded, Inosuke."
He had long managed to take off his bandages, no matter how tightly I put them back on, he always ripped them off some time after.

"I'm not wounded at all!"

Heavens give me patience... He's lucky he's just cute.

I see someone approach, a young girl similar in appearance to the other spider demon staring us.

I grab my sword, Inosuke yelling like usual.
"I'll rip you to shreds, demon!"
He started chasing after her, the young girl calling out for...

"Father!"

"Who the hell are you calling "Father", Huh?!"

I immediately notice the massive demon about to pounce on Inosuke, and I grab him and drag him back.

The demon was gigantic, muscular and absolutely ready to crush us! Its multiple eyes glared at us, and it clenched its fist.

"Don't come near my family!"

I see him move to strike, and I grab Tanjiro and Inosuke and jump up with them to dodge, their combined weight bringing us all down faster. His fist smashed a boulder like it was nothing!

I was about to be punched because I used my own body to shield these two, Tanjiro getting up to strike.

His Water Wheel proved useless, sword barely cutting through the demon's arm.

Before he hits again, Inosuke is the one to stab both of his swords into the demon's arm, still to no avail.

I panic, looking around for what I could do.
Then I realize I'm by a river.

End

● Chapter 25 : ●
● "Letting Someone Else Go First." ●