"So the girl was temporarily free from Muzan's control due to his weakened state...so I asked for her help in defeating him. She was hesitant at first, but agreed. Her name was Tamayo...and she had sad eyes"
"Tamayo?! That girl is Tamayo?!"
"Then I heard from my comrades who rushed to me...that my older brother had become a demon. I...had failed to defeat Kibutsuji...and I had allowed Tamayo to escape...and my brother had become a demon, so they banished me from demon slaying. Some even said that I should commit suicide"
"My master who had just become our leader at age six, would not allow that...and I was sure that if I committed suicide, then I would further put Akiko in utter loneliness. I was sorry to further burden a suffering woman and child...who had just lost their own family members"
"But it wasn't your fault, Yoriichi..." Tanjiro says.
"I think...I was born with special strength for the purpose of defeating Kibutsuji Muzan. But I was lacking. And in the I end failed. Because of that, many more people will die from now on. And that pains me.
"I can't...speak. So many things had happened to Yoriichi...that I couldn't find any words to offer. I thought that perhaps my ancestor Sumiyoshi might say something, but...the silence continued for a while..."
"I want to do something...he came here because he's deeply hurt. I need some way to..."
Soon a tiny hand tugged on Yoriichi's sleeve.
"Hug!"
"Uhm...would you mind holding her? She'll be happy if you lift her high, and you're taller than I am so..."
Yoriichi didn't say a word and just lifted the child up high. This made the baby giggle in delight.
"Kya haha haa!"
And because of the child's laughter, Yoriichi spilled tears from his eyes. Seeing the happiness of what a little girl did to him.
"Sumiyoshi, we're back! Akiko helped me pick out chestnuts this year, look how big they are!"
Sumiyoshi's wife and Akiko then stopped to witness Yoriichi hugging little child in tears.
"What happened..? Hmm, oh it's Yoriichi!"
Akiko walks up to Yoriichi and kneels down to him.
"Yoriichi...are you alright?"
Yoriichi looks at Akiko and soon gives her a hug which startles her, but hugs back.
"What has gotten into you? I was only gone for a couple of minutes. *sigh* Did you missed me that much?" She rubs his head.
"I'm sure it'll be fine! Come on I'll feed you a nice big meal! Okay? So cheer up" Yoriichi gets up and looks at Akiko with heartwarming eyes.
"Akiko...thank you"
"For what exactly?" She tilts her head.
"For sticking with me to the end..."
Akiko didn't say anything after and just cupped his face.
"I know it's been hard for us both. But continue living on. Because I'm just happy to be with you till the end..." she softly smiles.
Yoriichi grabs her hands from his face and entwines it with his.
"I know I'm in the middle of a fight...and that Yoriichi died hundreds of years ago, but...I can't help but wish that his heart finds even a little peace...also that woman...she almost has (y/n)'s features...could she be her ancestor? She's so beautiful...I hope she stays with Yoriichi for a long time"
_____
"This is unbearable! I can't seem to get close to him at all!!" You said.
It was bad enough that every swing was getting faster, and your body was slowly starting to get numb.
"I can't shield Himejima! I'm about to be immobile soon!"
It was hard enough with just luck and intuition to see and dodge an attack, and getting hit wasn't the best either for the poison to kick in.
Soon Mitsuri was the one to take major damage.
Oh no, Mitsuri got hit!? I thought she'd dodge that! You thought as panic took over your face.
I can't stop now, or else I'll be dead!
The moment you swing from getting hit, you turn to your brother and saw that he lost his grip from his sword.
"Giyuu!"
You ran to save him but Himejima took care of it.
"Don't space out! Or I'll murder your ass!!" Sanemi says.
Giyuu looked a bit panicked as you were but he got a hold of his sword and continued on.
"We can do this! Let's fight together till the end Giyuu, I'm here for you!" You said.
It hurts...it really does...
Your eyes started to get blurry at this point.
Shit. I can't...keep my eye...open.
Suddenly a cat pops out of nowhere in the air and shoots out remedy out to everyone. It went towards your neck.
Everything happened so fast that you didn't know what happened, but the medicine that lodged in you quickly made the poison inside go away.
Your body started moving better like normal again.
"I have no idea what the fuck just happened, but a stray cat just saved my ass!" Sanemi says.
Muzan became more frustrated and aggressive as he knew Tamayo was behind that.
"Don't struggle in vain! Just die like men, you obsessed freaks!!"
Everything was moving too fast and again everyone was getting cut and couldn't find an opening. And then all of a sudden, Iguro flew up in the air.
"Iguro!?"
Muzan's arm came towards him. But Iguro's death never came when Muzan's arm was suddenly cut.
And just like a miracle, everyone else you knew started joining in.
"You guys were alive!" Himejima says.
"Did you see me die, you idiot! Also I carrying all this paper!" Inosuke dumps a bunch of talisman sheets.
Iguro went for an opening and was the first to cut through Muzan.
"If he's cut with a red blade Muzan's regeneration will be slow!" Sanemi says.
"Then let's take that opportunity, we have a chance!" You cut through the arms.
Himejima was able to attack Muzan by his shoulder blade and you can just see part of his spine.
"Giyuu take this!"
Sanemi sword gives Giyuu's a reaction of changing the color of it red.
"Caaw one hour and three minutes til daawn!"
You quickly grab a talisman and placed it on your head. And suddenly you were able to see more clearly through Muzan and everyone around you.
Awesome.
"Zenistu, Kanao! I wanna turn my blade red too!" Inosuke says.
"It's not that easy!! First you need to be as strong as me!" She says.
Seeing inside, Muzan had multiple brains and hearts, and with that it was just very complicated. But attacking all places simultaneously can give everyone a winning chance.
It's frustrating, but maybe I can go for his legs...wait, why's the ground shaking?
You didn't have enough time to react when you felt your left side get enormously cut.
"GAAH!!"
And before you knew it you were in the air for a second then fell on the ground hard. It almost felt like your life was flashing before your eyes.
I...I couldn't see that...he hit my blindspot...Giyuu...Tanjiro...where are you when I need you...
You slowly lift your head and see fire around Muzan.
Fire?
Soon Tanjiro was back in the scene as he saved Kanao from death.
"Tanjiro..."
"Sorry I'm late. Take care of her" he says.
"Y-yes of course!"
Tanjiro stands in front of Muzan as Muzan takes in his features.
He was very much alive, but his face seemed to have seen better days.
"You look positively awful, Kamado Tanjiro...you make my skin crawl"
"Let's end this...Muzan"
_____
"Yoriichi!! You saved our lives!! So we will carry on your legacy!! Your life is not without value! Don't ever think...! That you didn't accomplish anything! I won't ever let anyone...! Say that about you! I will pass down these ornaments and the sun breathing in the future! I promise!!" Sumiyoshi pants as his eyes swell in tears.
"...thank you" Yoriichi smiles. And with that surprised Akiko, but she smiled. He waved goodbye.
_____
Tanjiro gripped his sword and took a deep breath as he went towards Muzan and uses his fire techniques. It was as if Muzan thought he saw Yoriichi himself.
Tanjiro had been hit here and there, though he kept going as he swing his sword. He just never stopped. He was going to perfect all twelve forms.
There was a lot going on and it took Muzan to realize something crucial, looking back when he killed Tamayo. He realized that he was starting to age. And he aged at least about 9,000 years.
"Caaw! Fifty-nine minutes till daawn!!"
And every moment, Tanjiro didn't stop using each form he had. As soon as he got up to all twelve forms, he repeats the cycle again.
_____
Ah...how long have I been here now...? Feels like eternity. I feel cold. Am I dying already? My bones feel crushed...
You then started hearing mumbled voices. Your vision starts to adjust and see other demon hunters aiding you.
"Miss Tomioka, hang in there!"