Every Beat || Tankana

XV

CHAPTER 15: Infinite Fortress

And so the battle begins.

Raging with fire, their hearts were ablaze. Blades sharp and minds set to one and one thing only; kill Muzan.

The air was crisp with ash and smoke from what was once a home. There was nothing left but the remains of a man who had a mission and a drive to end the demon lord's reign. The Hashiras' hearts ached at the thought.

And now, as they point their weapons towards the enemy, they tend to end everything tonight.

But before they could lay their swords down Muzan's skin, he had opened the ground and they all fell into his lair. His land.

The place was filled with clusters of buildings, doors, roofs, and windows all shooting up from the walls and the grounds in a discord. They were separated, all of them. Landing and waking up in confusing twists and turns.

One could easily get lost and get killed in an endless train of caos, but their crows guided them. They avoided doors in which demons loomed, their mission was to find Muzan while he is still in the process of healing.

Ubuyashiki Kiriya, Kagaya's only living son, guided them with Yushiro's mekakushi. Though it was a challenge to lead a whole corp for a boy only at eleven years of age, --who had recently lost his family at that-- he pushed through. He bit back his tears and put on a brave face and led them through war along with his younger sisters.

The Hashira's passed by danger at every turn. Lumps had clogged their throats at the thought that they were in the demons' turf and that death was closer than it ever was before.

One by one, the Hashira's met their opponents. The plan was to kill the upper moons before Muzan completely heals. And so they looked.

Tanjirou roamed, killing demons in his way. His nose was clogged with the enemy's scent to the point that his head started to spin. He gripped his sword and pushed through the distorted halls making it his goal to find Muzan.

But upon his journey towards where his crow guided him, he came across who he thought he would never see again.

The demon who nearly killed Rengoku all those years ago. He stood infront of him, like a cat ready to pounce upon an unknowing mouse. His eyes stared at Tanjirou smugly, those eyes marked with upper moon three.

Akaza.

"Well, you're still alive," he chuckled haughtily. "Kamado Tanjirou."

Alone, Tanjirou couldn't stand a chance. He's seen him before; how he fought, his techniques, how he injured the previous Flame Hashira so much, he was forced to step back from the frontliners. But he didn't lose hope. He took a deep breath, scraped his sole against the ground, and drew his blade back.

After all, he was determined to win.

Like everyone.

And as Zenitsu stared at his own opponent, his heart settled, dangerously hanging on the edge. He found it easier to control his breathing by keeping his eyes on the ground. The floors croaked, unstable like his mind was, ready to burst out every emotion he'd been bottling up.