༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈--•༶

The halfling only let out a frustrated grumble, shaking her head to herself as she walked the silent halls of the infinity fortress.

She knew what Muzan was doing. She recognised this hall from the past three times she had walked through it, and she knew the eerie silence far too well as she walked. Even (b/n) was silent, sitting on her shoulder and twitching its wings every few moments.

She was placed under a loop.

No demons in sight, not a sound apart from her close to silent footsteps, not a single movement to flinch towards apart from actions made by herself and the robin sat on her shoulder.

She had hardly been able to know how long she had been through these winding halls, sighing to herself time after time, running a hand through her hair again and again, listening to the same ring of silence on and on.

The walls winded like fabric, stringing together and formulating away from her gaze to create an infinite loop through, not only her mind, but also the world around her. And she had no doubt that this was intentional.

The demon still wanted her alive to find Nezuko, after all. Either that, or to waste her time searching for a blue spider lily, she was sure didn't even exist. It was only natural that a coward like him would keep her away from everyone she could find, isolate her, and then wait for the others to die before he found her again and tried to make her turn against her allies.

Though, the one thing she was glad for was the fact it worked.

The plan Akaza created to keep her alive- to keep her as safe as he could manage.

If it wasn't for the blood he gathered from not only himself, but upper moon 1 and 2, she could heal in time to heal after the explosion, almost at the same rate as Muzan himself, and then rush towards the bushes to find the hand guards and then disappear into the smoke until she could regain her own mentality and finally strike at Muzan with whatever she could offer in her time of grief.

It was exhausting, and it took her a moment to regain herself after she collapsed in her own tears, but she was able to stand up once more, ready to fight with something more than just a deep flame for revenge-

Redemption.

To her, she was weak. In that moment, when the only people she'd ever considered family died in front of her eyes as she remained in chains, stuck to her knees in exhaustion, she felt so weak.

Muzan saw she was weak. The last time Ubuyashiki and Amane saw her, she was weak. When she tried to regain herself, drenched in her own blood and tears...

She felt weak.

No more.

That's what she would tell herself ever since she stood back on her feet and began to, at first, stumble down the long corridor. That's what she told herself as she began to think of all the pain and suffering she had gone through.

That's what she said to herself as she thought about Muzans reign of terror.

No more.

She refused it. The very idea of going against it made her sick to her core. No more would she fall to her knees, too weak to stand. No more would she have to watch her family die while she has anything to do about it. No more would she live a life of pain and constantly have to hide everything about even just her emotions...

No more.

The halfling decided that he would die tonight. And whether it's by her hand, or the light of the sun, she would make sure of it.

Her fists clenched at her side, teeth gritting at her own thoughts. She scoffed to herself, the bird on her shoulder tilting its head at her sudden actions before she spoke. "I'm sorry you got wrapped up in all this, (b/n). You must've been scared when you saw the explosion.."

The bird only tilted its head, looking away before softly nodding its head with a low, almost saddening chirp of its voice. The halfling only nodded, looking to the ground as well, but her feet didn't stop moving. "But, you don't need to worry anymore. Because, as long as I can still breathe, I can stand..." She went on, the bird turning its eyes back to her as she spoke. "And if I can still stand, I can walk. I'm not going to let you feel scared anymore, alright?"

Just as she spoke those words, a rumble shook the ground beneath her feet. She widened her eyes, her hand gripping to the wall and her other hand cupping around the bird to keep it steady on her shoulder. "Watch out!" She cried, watching as the roof above her began to crack, a sickly snap following each extension of the cracks until they made it to the walls.

She retracted her hand, breath hitching in her throat and a determined look cast upon her features as the room still shook. It was mighty, the roar of the castle around her and the bird, almost deafening as the walls cried for help, but nothing reached them in time.

It seemed as though the world around her froze as the corridor in front of her suddenly crumbled to the ground, the walls caving in on themselves until the hallway crumbled, leaving no way forward. She turned around, about to move and escape the other way, but by the time she had turned, the exit had been sealed by another layer of rubble.

"Damnit-" She scoffed, gritting her teeth and blocking her face with her free arm. The woman couldn't help but let out a grunt as she watched the cracks in the roof above her head begin to deepen. It seemed as though it was trying to hold itself together, almost desperate, but with one final cry, the roof came toppling down over the halfling and the bird.

She couldn't help but let the world around her come to a pause, all air stilling around her, and all sound halting in its place, standing still and waiting for the woman to comprehend her situation.

And...done.

It was only a moment that she needed. The rubble was just about to fall on top of her, surely about to hurt her, and potentially kill the bird in her grasp, but to that she said

No more.

Storm Breathing, Seventh form: Lightning strike.

There was a flash of lightning. Then another, and then yet another, all before, in a bright flash, the rubble shattered into dust, broken apart bit by bit, and without warning, her image appeared in the centre of it all.

She simply stood, hair blowing in the breeze, eyes closed and a visible breath leaving her lips, small jolts twitching at her palms around her spiked hand guards, and the dust falling around her like snow. But, it wasn't the pale, pure snow that soothed her memories, straying her sadness away from her mind, and replacing her cold heart with a sense of warmth, no...

It was tainted. It seemed as though the world around it had stained it black, but it was fighting to remain pure, to remain white. It seemed almost desperate.

(b/n) jumped from her shoulder, extending its wings and flying away from her, all before her eyes reopened and she allowed another visible breath to leave her lips.

As long as she could breathe, she would stand.

And if she could stand, she would fight.

No more....

No more.

She extended her hand out to the dust that fell around her, some landing on her palm and others slipping away from her grip before she turned her gaze to the sky above her, eyes clouded, as if they were lost in the stars.

The night of the beaming sky shone down on her features, the jewels that glistened with the moon that hung loosely in the sky watched her like a mother caring for her child as the ebony of the night kept the halfling safe, hiding her away from all the dangers in the world. Her closed eyes seemed clouded with obsidian that hugged her tight, never once letting her go as she basked in its warmth, even though the nip of the night touched her exposed skin.

"It's...the sky?" She mumbled, brows furrowed in confusion. "But...the fortress.." The woman turned to look down at her feet, where she stood at the top of a large pile of rubble, the walls of her nightmares finally shattered, and what used to be the bloodstained ground, broken down into nothing but rubble and dust...

The castle...it was destroyed..

"One hour and a half! One hour and a half left!"

She snapped her head to the sky, eyes widening as she watched a raven fly overhead, crying out its call over and over again on repeat, a talisman strapped around its neck as it flew. It wilted a feather, the object gliding down from the sky, slipping through the air, all before it slithered to land at the woman's feet.

"One hour and a half! One hour and a half left!"

"An hour..?" The woman mumbled, brows furrowing with confusion as she spoke, a small breath leaving her lips. Yet, before she could even manage another word, a crash sounded through the area, her head snapping to the noise and her eyes flinching to narrow.

She could hardly see it, but she didn't need to. She could feel his presence. Muzan.

She could practically reach out and grab him if she wanted to.

And she would kill him.

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈--•༶

"We hit him but we didn't cut him?!"

"No, we did cut him! I'm sure of it! It's just that..." Giyu felt his heart sink at his own words feeling as though the world was slowly beginning to close around him as he spoke. "This monster...regenerates as soon as we cut him.."

The group felt their eyes widen at this, Iguro narrowing his eyes as he skidded to a pause beside Kanroji, both of them holding wide eyes. "We can't...we can't slice him.." Iguro mumbled to himself, teeth gritting under the bandages. He didn't understand...not only did they have to hold him back for an hour and a half, but on top of that, they couldn't slice him at all with anything they had...

They couldn't win..

They'll die before it reaches morning and he'd get away, then their sacrifice would have meant nothing...

Nothing at all..

Iguro was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice the demon's whips reach towards him, and before he knew it, they were right in front of his face, about to strike. He was about to die..

"Iguro!"

"IGURO!"

"No!"

Without warning, a blast sounded through the area, and a smoke screen clouded Iguro as the vines finally reached him, no doubt killing him...

...if not for the woman who stood in the way.

She tensed, teeth gritting in determination and a grunt leaving her lips as her palms gripped at the demon's mutated arm, holding it in place, even as it pushed back, her feet skidding against the ground. She panted, hair falling over her features before she began to push back against the demon, her eyes filled with a fire not even Rengoku could manage.

Iguro watched, eyes wide and body frozen in place as he watched the halfling, still in her human form, push against the demon, the flesh of the attack digging into her flesh, and all she did was release a small grunt, her lips releasing a breath to calm herself.

The man hardly saw her or even sensed her before she was in front of him, blocking the attack from a demon they could hardly touch...

And even though she was a halfling, the only thing Iguro saw in front of him was a woman pushing to protect her family. A human woman willing to give whatever it took until the monster was destroyed.

When the fog cleared, Mitsure could hardly contain the small tear that fell from her eyes, watching the woman she fought was dead, fighting back against the demon. "(Y/N)...you-...you're alive.." she gasped out, watching as the halfling let out another cry, pushing back against the demon.

And with one final cry, she shoved the whip away, turning to Mitsuri with a small smile and a nod, but when she turned back to the demon, her gaze hardened, and she turned hardly recognizable to Mitsuri. She knew (Y/N) would never give her a stare like that, but...why did she feel a shiver run down her spine?

Giyu couldn't help but let his eyes widen at the woman as she took a step forward, arm stretching to the side to protect the man behind her. Her hair blew in the breese, eyes narrowed, and a deep glare cast upon her features as dust blew past her frame. "So now you try to kill my friends? How's about I kill you instead?."

Muzan only narrowed his eyes on her. "You impure halfling...you really think that someone of your kind is able to kill a pure demon? How wrong you are, stupid girl." The demon scoffed at her actions

She only narrowed her eyes at him, scoffing to herself as she took another step forward. "No, I know I wont be able to do it on my own, no matter how much I hate you.."

And as she stood, Muzan could only watch as groups of demon slayers slowly stepped through the dust that remained, standing behind her a whole army of slayers, from all ranks, genders, shapes, and races. They all stood behind her, weapons ready and teeth grit in determination.

"So, that's why I brought some backup..."

It was as though they were all one. All united over one man's death, ready to slay the final demon at whatever cost they had to pay. Each and every one of them was there for a reason, whether that being because they lost a loved one to demons, or because they grew into a family who understood demons, or whatever reason they may have..

They all had one target

And they would stop at nothing until they knew the future of mankind was secured.

"An army?" The demon scoffed, head tilting to the side as a tick mark formed on his forehead, a small smirk on his features. "You seriously think you can kill me? You're all delusional."

"What a shame that is." The halfling mumbled as Giyu moved to her side with Tanjiro. She gave them both a side eye, her gaze softening as she lay a hand on Giyu's shoulder. She gave him a firm nod, to which he returned with slightly teary eyes.

Tanjiro smiled at the woman, feeling pools of tears begin to form as he looked at the woman. "(Y/N)-san.."

"Where's Shinobu and the others?" She inquired, head tilting to the side to stare at them, but still keeping a firm eye on the demon.

Giyu flinched at the name, looking away and swallowing down before he felt the grip on his katana tighten. "She...Shinobu, and Muichiro are..." He was hardly able to finish his sentence, teeth gritting and eyes clenching.

The halfling hardly was able to react, her eyes widening slowly at his words, teeth gritting as she let out a scoff to herself. "I see.." She mumbled out, turning back to the demon with clouded eyes. "I'll kill that monster..we all will." She spoke, taking another step towards him.

At the step, Muzan shot a mutated arm at her. She simply spun to the side, her eyes closing and her lips letting out a shaky breath as the weapon sliced just past her, inches away from her torso. "You've killed far too many tonight...No more. I am the guardian of the Demon slayer corps, and I'll be damned if I let it fall to you."

And with that, she reponed her eyes, her hand reaching to punch the snake-like arm, destroying the end of it with one blow. She turned back, her teeth grit and tears slipping down her cheeks before she raced towards the demon, a cry leaving her lips as she did.

The demon slayers all let out a cry in response, raising their swords in unison as the hashira and Tanjiro watched in awe as they all cried the same words to the world.

"Protect the hashra!"

Muzan unleashed his attacks at the hashiras and at the halfling racing towards him, but before it could reach any of the hashira, slayers began to race to their sides, jumping in their way and getting sliced to the ground with a grunt.

The hashira froze in shock.

The hafling extended her hand out to the side, tears sliding down her face until they thudded to the ground beneath her, all before she crouched to the ground, picking up two bloodied swords from the ground, left from dead soldiers, as she raced towards him.

"Go! Keep advancing!"

"Become human shields for the pillars!"

Iguro grunted as he was pushed out of the way, thudding to the ground as he watched another slayer take his place dead on the ground. Mitsure cried, watching as another fell to the ground as they hugged around her body to protect her from the slices, and all Giyu could manage to do was let his eyes widen at the bloody scene around him.

People getting sliced to bits all in the name of the demon slayer corps. Peoples bodies thudding to the ground covered in blood all so that he could survive. Demon slayers racing into battle, all behind (Y/N)..

It was hard to watch.

"NO! STOP! ALL OF YOU-"

(Y/N) grunted as she crouched lower, dodging another attack from Muzan. She dashed, faster than most could see, all before she outstretched one of her two katana's and gritted her teeth.

Storm breathing, first form: Ice-Bound Blizzard

She jabbed the swords at him, one of them jabbing into his shoulder, and the other striking through his forehead. The demon narrowed his eyes, his body healing around the blades before she could pull them out. The halfling scoffed, her head tilting to the side to avoid another blow.

(Y/N) then launched her fist forward. But, before it could land, the demon avoided the blow by tilting his head. He attacked, slicing off her hand and allowing it to thud to the ground. It healed instantly, and she resumed her attacks.

She reached to attack him again, eyes blazing with rage. Muzan smirked. "Ah, I see...So it was Akaza wasn't it..?" She gritted her teeth, tensing at the name before she launched another attack. This time it landed, striking and blowing off the right side of his head. He regenerated. "That traitor was gathering blood all this time, just for you...how pathetic."

She let out a cry before she jumped back, crouching and allowing small jolts of electricity to bounce off her body. In a flash of light, she dashed towards him.

Storm Breathing, Seventh form: Lightning strike

"Not as pathetic as you, demon." She grumbled, slicing through all his upcoming attacks, all before slicing through his stomach with her fists and finger guards.

She skidded to a stop, but she could feel herself tense in place as she heard a familiar voice let out a heart, and no doubt, bloody cough. She felt her eyes widen as she watched the boy stumble to the ground, blood all over his features. "Those who die quickly are fortunate." Muzan began, and the woman flinched when she felt his hand grip around her mouth, nails digging into her cheeks. "Even if they dont die right away, those who attack me are done for. Just look that way."

Her eyes widened, Tanjiro letting out a gasp before his body fell silent. She froze, a shiver running down her spine.

"That is the beat of my heart, a heart that won't beat for much longer at this rate. I want you to keep theirs going. That will be your new mission, from this point on. You will continue to be a part of this family, but I want theirs to continue on until Muzan has been crushed. Train them. Train them as you see fit. Keep them alive. I'm asking you