~*~

ON MT NATAGUMO ~ (Kaito's Pov:)

"Dammit.......the thread, it's reattaching them,"

Tanjiro slices the threads that were attached to him quickly, before seeing the corps members being slowly dragged up by the threads yet again like before. Their limbs tangled and detached or even broken at this point, while grimacing at the distorted sight. 

"Cutting the threads isn't enough!" Tanjiro spoke up. "The spiders will only just replace them.....so we--"

Noticing how he cuts himself off holding his nose, wondering if he might have a sensitive nose or something.

"Hey what's--" I cut myself off, noticing a glint of threads attaching to me again.

Slicing off the threads that were attached to my forearm forcefully, I noticed tiny little white spiders  being flown off with the wind of my blade. Boarface races his blades quickly, "So all we gotta do is annihilate those damn insects, huh?" He assumes, as I roll my eyes.

Is this guy stupid or what?

Shaking my head, "It's not those tiny spiders, there are.......demons," I spoke up, recalling my encounter with one before I fled to gain some energy. "Besides there is more than a million of those tiny spiders, but they're too small to harm............a demon is in control of them."

"So we gotta find the demon that's controlling them, then," Tanjiro clarifies, simply understanding what we have to do. 

"Gotcha!!!!" Inosuke agrees.

However as Inosuke keeps stabbing each small spider slowly, it was no good and especially when they're not the issue. The smell within this very forest was putrid, smelling the dead corpses and rotting flesh lingering. It made all the hairs on my arms and neck stand on end, before a shiver runs down my spine as the sweat makes my hair hair gather in clumps. What would big sis do? Would she go straight for the source, or would she........?

"Dammit..........she's stronger than me, how can I have the guts to find the actual demon?" I curse under my breath, harshly diminishing myself. She's a hashira, and I'm just a Tusgoku......no. I need to stop thinking like this, it won't solve the problem we have to face, or at all for that matter.

"It's no good Inosuke!" Tanjiro calls out, dodging another aimless attack from the demon slayer corps members. "Listen, if you have some power that can pin point the demons location, that would really help!!! This disgusting smell has been blowing in, but I just cant tell where it's from!"

Swiftly I block another attack and sliced off the webs attached to the member, as I wipe the sweat from my brow.

"You! What's your names!" Tanjiro calls to us both, gesturing to Murata and I.

"It's Murata!"

"It's Kaito!"

"Murata.....the two of us will take care of the people being controlled," Tanjiro suggests strongly, noticing how well he is when working with others. "In the meantime You.....Kaito........."

His voice trails off when we both suddenly felt this ominous presence, that a shadow creeps over so quietly stealthy we only managed to be alert for a moment only to see a person in white. Skin pale as the moon, hair like pure snore and eyes that held a intimidating glare upon us. His body seems frail, but his aura radiated a heavy amount of power that I knew for sure it was an upper moon instantly.

"i will not let you disturb my family's peaceful life," The demon spoke, filled with annoyance. "Mother will be sure to make quick work of all of you"

Tanjiro stood there, "Who's mother?"

Suddenly I could hear Inosuke yell filled with rage as he jumps onto a corps member and then a branch before flying towards the white demon. Only for his efforts to be in vain as the white demon was balanced high enough on the thread, it stood on as if floating in the air.

"Damn you!!!!!!!" Inosuke curses, whilst still falling midair and then hits the ground stuck in a small tantrum like a child. "Where the hell do you think your going?! Fight me, fight me no-- Arghhh!!!"

My eyes widen for a split moment, "hey are you okay--"

The boarface shot up to his two feet unfazed, "Why did he show up anyway?!"

"I don't think he's the demon who's controlling our people with those threads!!!" Tanjiro explains, turning to me. "Hey.......I know we shouldn't focus on him now, but........you seemed to be on edge--"

He was cut off when a corps member swung a blade towards him, as I diverted the attack swiftly before guarding in front of the boy.

"......I'm not sure, but.......that demon....." I spoke up, only for Inosuke to shove me causing me to stumble forward into Tanjiro. "What the hell was that for, boarface?! Do you even have anything to locate the one contr--"

"Huh?! Fine, okay okay.....I get it alright You want me to go find the one who is!!!!" Inosuke dodges another attack, and slices off the threads from behind the corps member. The body drops motionless before he thrusts both his double blades into the ground forcefully, "Shutup about it already!!!!"

Whilst keeping my round and smoothly diverting the attacks, Inosuke knelt down and opened his arms wide straight with a grumble. 

"Beast breathing: Seventh form.....spacial awareness!" He summons, while waiting for him to locate the demon that's the centre of the puppet thread attacks upon us. A deep rumbling groan comes from him, as I grew more creeped out by every single second that boarface stands near me. Finally after a few more seconds, "I found you, you demon!"

"Wait you did?!"

"You find them?!" Tanjiro asks him, in surprise.

Inosuke stood up grasping his blades, "Yeah follow me that way, I'm sensing a strong presence over there!!!"

"You are? Way to go Inosuke!!!!" Tanjiro encourages him, proudly.

Before we all could even head in that direction, all the corps members gathered in that very direction to prevent us from going further. Growling beneath my breath I knew i was the highest rank out of the three, so I should do my part to go ahead and get the gritty part over and done with.

"Dammit we can't even get anywhere with these guys around!!!" Inosuke growls, jumping back to not land a scratch on the slayers. "To hell with this crap!!! That's it, I'm just gonna demolish them all at once!!!"

"Enough!!!!" I raise my hand, standing taller in front of inosuke. "You can't, we will be able to find another way to stop this!"

Murata suddenly blocks an attack that was directed towards Tanjiro, causing him to stumble back for a moment.

"Murata?"

Murata turns to me, "Just let me handle these guys, Kaito here is rank Tsuchinoe......." he explains to the other two, as he held a determined look in his eyes despite how tired we were. "You go guys on ahead--"

"Big talk from the guy who pissed his pants!!!!" Inosuke remarks, accusingly.

"I never did anything of the sort, you stupid Boar!!!!!" Murata barks back, with an irk near his brow. "I wasn't even talking to you, so butt out!!!! I know i wasn't very brave back there, Kaito......Tanjiro.....but I'm still a demon slayer! I'll find a way to hold them off! I know now that I just need to cut the threads and that their move patterns are very basic, so I should be fine! I'll watch out for the spiders too! There have to be people under greater control that are closer to the demon, you have to help them!!!"

Nodding, "You've got it Murata, I'll let my crow inform me of your status......I'll come find you once we've located and annihilated the demon,"

"Got it! Stay strong!" Tanjiro grabs Inosuke's upper arm, dragging him with us as we run in the direction Inosuke located the Demon was.

Inosuke began to throw threats at Murata the further we leave Murata, as we resume rushing through the long dark trees. 

~*~

Minutes later we manage to push through another crowd of slayers, the stronger they've become. In the end we manage to locate the demon recognising her strong aura, due to the many corpses that laid in our wake the further we entered her territory or her comfort zone we call it.  After annihilating a powerful body that wasn't even human, Tanjiro had spot the scent of the demon.

Driving my blade into the dirt, I cup my hands and aided Tanjiro in hoisting him into the air above us along with the help of Inosuke as he went flying high as the moonlight glows around his figure.

Locking onto his target below I could see him diving towards the demon, and soon I couldn't see him any longer. 

"Did he do it?" I murmur to myself, as Inosuke let's out a puff of steam from the boar mask's nose.

"Well obviously! All because i threw him better!!!!" He points at himself proudly, while I roll my eyes.

"Good for you," I mutter out, while taking a moment to gain some energy after using a few of my breathing styles. My lungs were burning from the cold, despite how much I've trained my body using that damn gourd. Geez, that butterfly girl could do it so easily. Slowly I did a few long deep breaths in and out, maintain my composure while trying to regain the energy I needed.

After a few minutes I hear feet running towards us both, realising it was Tanjiro assuming he must've killed the demon.

"So did you take out that monster?!" Inosuke plants his hands on his hips, with blood dripping from his wounds.

"Are you okay? Your bleeding?!!!--" Tanjiro presses forward, ignoring the boarfaces question.

"I asked you if you defeated that thing or not?!" Inosuke repeats himself, more loudly dismissing the fact he's cut in a few spots on his body.

"Did you?" I ask steady.

Tanjiro nods uncertainly "Uh....yes I did, but enough about that......your wounds--"

"Don't go showering me with your mushy senstivity and kindess!!!!" Inosuke shouts, planting a fist on his chest proudly. "I don't need it! Ya got that?! Afterall anything you can do, I can do too! Before you know it, my head will be....ergh....my head will be harder than yours! Not to mention.....n-not to mention....not to mention...."

"Inosuke your not well, and you know it!" I scold him, while Tanjiro panics for a moment assuming Insouke will lash out again. He didn't. Snatching the gauze from my small satchel under my haori, and tug Inosuke towards me causing him to struggle out of my grip. "Just shut up and let me prevent you from bleeding further!!!! Damn idiot!"

"Hey cut it out!!!!!" He yells, but I grip his arm tightly more than I should've, that causes him to stop thrashing and complied instantly. Did I use my strength too much? Even I'm stronger than the boy under the boar mask. Taking my chance I began to bind the gauze around his arms securely, while my eyes avoid his own intense gaze through the mask.

Shit...........

"Inosuke?" Tanjiro was surprise, assuming he was used to him shouting constantly.

Inosuke mumbles incoherent words, whilst I managed to gauze his wounds up before wiping the sweat from my brow and unwrapped my headband.

"I've............got this strength I can't control," I  mention quietly, as I rake my fingers through my disheveled hair before I tie the headband back around my temple to the back of my head. "It seems your strength is sense of smell, Inosuke is sensory.......and my own is physical strength. It's been a friend and enemy to me.........that's probably why he shut his mouth......"

Tanjiro exclaims, "No wonder I felt such strength when you gave me a boost before! I thought it was Inosuke seen you look delicate with your face, but your hands........" he takes them suddenly, noticing how scarred they were. 

"Everyone's hands look like that Tanjiro," I chuckle, before pulling them away and collected my sword from the ground that was driven into the soil. "Anyway let's get moving........."

~*~

The sound of thunder clapping echoes.......

"Huh? What was that sound?" Tanjiro murmurs to himself, as we were approaching a large river not far with large stepping stones. "Did lightning just strike?"

"Not sure........no storm I can sense," I spoke up, while heading to the stones that trails in the centre of the rushing river.

Inosuke marches past us both with a grumble, "How should I know?"

"Well I can't smell any thunder clouds," Tanjiro replies, still in confusion while we stood out in the open patch of grass where I could see the moon rather clearly than before. "But that odour got stronger and is messing with my senses again.......hey Kaito, I might take that path........Inosuke!"

Glancing over my shoulder I saw Inosuke comes to a halt with one leg stretched on the boulder that trails through the river and the riverbed, "What?" he questions, with a strained voice clearly in pain still.

"I think I'm gonna go take that path instead," He informs him.

"Why are you telling me?!" Inosuke grizzles. "Do whatever you want!!!"

"So I assume you're heading back down?" I question him, adjusting my grip on the hilt of my blade. 

"Back down?" he stops for a moment, turning around in confusion. 

"Down the mountain, I mean?" I repeat myself, arching a curious brow.

Suddenly he blows it, "Why would I do that?! Just beat it!!!!" he dismisses us both, waving his hands towards us to scoot.

"But....what about all your wounds though?" Tanjiro inquires, in concern. "I know Kaito dressed them hastily, but still--"

"What are you talking about?! I'm not hurt at all!!!!!!!" Inosuke snaps angrily, causing Tanjiro and I to standing there in shock whilst I gave the boarface a deadpanned look of 'are you for real?'.

"Whaaaaaaat? You've gotta be kidding Inosuke, anyone from a mile away see how bloody you are--" Tanjiro tries to reason with Inosuke, correcting the dumb boarface that he was critically injured. 

Suddenly I heard someone approaching us from the other side of the river, before my eyes fall upon a white skinned demon like we saw before that walked by us like nothing. Yet this one is a female, with a pure white kimono and two teal sphere like balls pinned her hair below her chin either side. Must've been the wind that blocked Tanjiro's sense of smell, as she approached us without any sound.

"Arghhhhh! Listen up you damn demon, I'm gonna tear you to shreds!!!!!" Inosuke yells ferociously, causing the girl to back away and began to run away from the riverbed back into the dark morbid forest. "Hey! Get back here!!!"

Inosuke began to follow her, "Wait Insouke!!!" Tanjiro calls, noticing another presence not far.

"Now father!!!!!!" The female demon yells.

"Who are you calling father?!" Insouke cuts himself off, when a shadow falls from above him. Just barely missing him another large figure lands on the shallow river bed, with a huge wave of water coming from each side with a forceful and unsettling entry. The figure's hair flicks away from the face, before meeting the many eyes of a spider like face and many rows of teeth. We all were stunned by the ghastly sight of a giant spider like man, with silverly white hair.

"Don't you come near my family!!!!!" His voice comes out, in a gremlin like voice before throwing a fist directly towards us. 

Inosuke manages to doge the attack again causing the demon to shatter a boulder that rested between the two riverbeds. Without warning it lunges towards Inosuke which gave Tanjiro and I to react quickly. Drawing my blade swiftly I inhale sharply, "Dragon Breathing: Fifth form.....Severing wave!!!!!!!"

"Water Breathing: Second form.....Water wheel!!!!!" Tanjiro yells, as we both come at different directions.

Driving our blades through the thick flesh of the demon, I managed to dig my blade into the thick flesh as I could. However Tanjiro couldn't manage as much damage as I have judging by our differences in strength and technique, but I allowed that to our advantage regardless of strength. "It's no good, I can't cut through!!!" Tanjiro exclaims.

Trying to keep the other still to prevent further harm to Tanjiro's side, Inosuke manages to score a hit himself and holds the spider guy down.

"It's.....body.....is so.....tough!!!!!" Inosuke utters out forcefully, through his teeth as he found it harder too. 

Without a second to think or move, we all were blown back from the demon as I landed swiftly on a boulder the centres the river. 

"Kaito......you managed to dig your blade further.......your strength must be it!!!" Tanjiro claims in acknowledgement.

"Even so.......he's still immensely strong," I reply, as my eyes focused on the large brute of a demon before us.

The demon growls charging towards us both, "I'll say it again, so you understand!!!!!" he gravels out angrily, before throwing another powerful punch directed towards us. "Stay away from my family!!!!!!"

We both dodge the attack as I land back on the ground, before, "Hey, eyes over here!!! All nine of them!!!" Inosuke yells from above with his blades ready to land an attack, only for the demon to raise his arm and slammed it hard against Inosuke as I saw him colliding into the water like skipping stone. He soon comes to a halt beneath the water as he emerges from the surface, gasping for air with annoyance noticing the extent of his wounds.

"Dammit, Tanjiro.........what--" Before I could question our next move, the Spider guy began to chase Inosuke down the shallow river. 

Following along the river side thinking of a way to prevent the demon from touching Inosuke, I noticed a thick tree not far from the river. Tanjiro knew exactly what i was thinking and runs faster than me, and sliced through the thick stump. The tree creaks slowly before falling directly down upon the Demon, as it crushes it to the bottom of the river. 

"Inosuke! Are you alright?!" I question him, rushing towards the edge of the river. "Tanjiro! Don't let your guard down!"

"I won't!!!"

Tanjiro prepares himself seeing him grip his blade better, as his aura suddenly changed whilst inhaling total concentration by his stance. He soon makes a run towards the head of the Spider demon, yet suddenly the tree was lifted and swung directly towards Tanjiro. My eyes slowly widen in horror realising the limit of the demons physical strength, as Tanjiro was thrown so far from us.

"kantaro!!!!!!" Inosuke shouts.

"Tanjiro!!!!!!!" I call out.

"Kaito! Inosuke! You'll have to hold on til I make it back!!!!!" Tanjiro calls out, as his voice fades away from us by each second. "That's one of the twelve kizuki, you can't die here.....promise me you won't die!!!"

For a moment my guard was on high alert when suddenly the demon was hovering above Inosuke, with such a venomous aura as I growl beneath my breath hotly.

"Well shit....."

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Hey guys! 

I apologise so much for not updating for so long, as one of my family members had an accident and I ended up taking care of them. So it has put me to a halt in updating more. So I apologise again!  Hopefully i can update soon!

Thanks for being patient!

~ Little bean