•|• Avatar •||• Hashibira Inosuke x Reader •|•

Chapter 29

He grabbed Nezuko's box, stomping on it before letting his blood drop on the wood.
"Hey, demon! It's time to eat! Sink your teeth in this!"

From inside, I could hear Nezuko grumble, scratching at the wood inside in discomfort.
"No need to force yourself to hold back. Just show us your true colors. And I'll obliterate you here, right now!"

"Nezuko!"
Tanjiro and I both call her name.

"It's no good doing it in the sunlight, Shinazugawa. We have to go into the shadows or the demon won't show its face."
The man with the snake added.

"Master. Forgive the discourtesy."
He airbent himself into the shade, throwing Nezuko's box on the ground, stabbing her again.

"Stop that!"

"Don't hurt her!"

We were both pinned down again by the snake man, his elbow crushing us with unbelievable force as we choke, unable to move or breathe.

"Come on out, demon!"
He stabbed her again.
"Look! It's the human blood you love so much!"

No...
How dare he?!
Who does he think he is?!
Hashira or not, I won't let this happen while I sit and do nothing!

"Stop... that..."
I growl, trying to use breathing to break myself free, but he only pressed harder.

Nezuko got out of her box, grumbling weakly from the damage she was dealt.
She glared at him, drool dripping down her chin. She growled at the sight of his wound, restraining herself as she clenched her fist, blood dripping down her palm from the force.

"Ease up a bit, please."
The butterfly woman gently spoke.

"I'm only holding them down because they're trying to move."

"Kamado. L/N. If you use any breathing techniques while your lungs are being squeezed, your veins will burst."

Another man spoke up, awfully excited.
"Their veins will burst! I like it! Sounds flamboyant! Come on! Start bursting!"

I kept struggling, Tanjiro easing up a little.

"Poor souls. Such weak, pathetic children. Namu Amida Butsu."

I feel adrenaline rush through me, and I continue to force against the ropes.
"Stop struggling."

Using only a moment to gather strength, Tanjiro and I struggled even harder against the ropes, tearing them apart, Tomioka-San grabbing the man's arm.
I get up with Tanjiro and we both run to the platform's edge, calling out together.

"Nezuko!"

"What's the matter, demon? Come on! You know you want it!

She growled, holding herself back as much as possible.
And in a moment, her head snapped away, eyes wrenching shut in denial.
I calm down, panting, but relieved.

"What just happened?
The Master spoke, one if the young girls replying.

"The demon girl turned her back in disgust. Although she'd been stabbed three times by Shinazugawa, and despite his flaunting of his bloody arm in her face, she restrained herself and did not bite."

"So, now it's been proven that Nezuko won't attack humans, right?"
He turned to us, and we look up at him in surprise.

"Tanjiro, Avatar Y/N. I'm sure that even after this, there are some who won't accept Nezuko. You must prove to them, starting now, that you can fight alongside Nezuko as Demon Slayers. That you can be useful. That you will bring back balance to the world."