"Bitch..."

"..."

Kanao blocks the demon's attack towards Tanjiro. Kanao applied a little force on her katana; seemingly overpowers the demon's attack.

"Tch!"

The demon took the opportunity to back off, giving a distance between the two demon slayers.

"Kanao... Argh!" Tanjiro tried to stand up; enduring the pain, but Kanao stopped him.

"It's alright. Leave the rest to me." Kanao reassures Tanjiro from worrying.

"Hey! What's that I'm seeing? Acting all lovey-dovey there!" The demon, completely ignored, took the attention of the young slayers.

Kanao averted her eyes from Tanjiro and looked at the demon; staring stoically. The demon just put a smug on its face upon seeing Kanao's emotionless face.

"'Leave the rest to me' you say? Oi, you sure about that? You're just a girl. What can a girl with that physique can-!"

The demon's provocation was cut off when Kanao suddenly attacked him in the blink of an eye, forcing him in its back.

"Brat... How the hell did you do that?!"

"..."

'Damn it. This girl, is not an ordinary brat. Shit, can't underestimate kids nowadays.' the demon thought while being forced back. 'Damn. This girl is strong. Stronger than that brat with earrings.'

"Not saying anything? Well then, I'll end you right here!"

The demon prepares an attack for Kanao. Using its free hand, it changed into a claw hand, then attacked Kanao. Unbeknownst to him, Kanao waited for that moment.

"Flower Breathing, Sixth Form: Swirling Peach!" Kanao dodges its attack; swirling her body, then delivers a counterattack amplified with her body weight.

"What the-!"

The demon thought of dodging her counterattack but it is impossible. The demon tried to block her attack with its claws. It barely hit her katana; slipping it a bit to avoid critical hit, and the arm it used to block the attack was torn apart.

"Tch!"

The demon stepped back to give distance between it and her. Kanao knows what the demon is planning to do, so she catches up to it and delivers her attack.

"You thought you can hit me? No you can't!"

The demon yelled at Kanao, asserting dominance with its mocking tone. The demon's body started to turn into ashes. Little by little, it disappeared from its vicinity.

'Now that she can't find me, I must get to a location where I can heal my wounds.' The demon thought of a plan.

"Flower Breathing, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo!" Kanao unleashed a single slash attack towards the demon.

"What-?! Crap!"

The demon turned his sights to Kanao, surprised. It returned to its original state then tries to parry Kanao's attack. Kanao's attack pierced through the demon's defense, and once again, its arm was ripped apart. After her attack, the demon was thrown off away from Kanao.

'How did she-? Why can she see my movements? Damn it!' The demon thought, pissed off.

"You brat! You'll pay for what you've just done to me!"

"This is the end."

"No, I don't think so!"

The demon's wounded arms regenerated in an instant.

"You pissed me off! I won't hold back anymore, brat!"

The demon's arms changed into sharp blade, just like a hornet's sting. Then it dashed towards Kanao; attacking her with consecutive thrust attacks.

Kanao prepared a technique to block its attacks. "Flower Breathing, Second Form: Plum Spirit!" Kanao deflects the attack the demon throws at her.

While attacking, the demon observes Kanao's movements. 'She can see all of my attacks? So that's one of her skill, huh?'

The demon stops its attack then took a step back to give a distance between it and Kanao.

"Then how about this!"

The demon used a technique. Suddenly, a large cloud of ashes formed from the back of the demon and then exploded; covering the entire environment with ashes as if a sandstorm had arrived.

"Flower Breathing, Fifth Form: Peony of Futility!" Kanao randomly attacks with nine consecutive attacks around her, thinking it would hit the demon.

"Hahahahahahah! Where do you think you're attacking to? It wasn't even close to hit me!" The demon laughed at what Kanao did.

'She can't see nor detect my presence. Time for me to attack her' The demon circled around the ash storm to find Kanao's openings and where to strike.

'Right there! I got you now!' The demon decided to attack Kanao behind her.

Just as when the demon is about to attack, something strucked in its stomach. When it looked at its stomach, it saw the blade of a black katana.

"You bastard...!"

"Kanao! Over here!" Tanjiro yelled to notify Kanao.

"You sneaky brat...! Take this!"

The demon backhanded Tanjiro's cheeks, flying him over to the side. After that, it tries to deattach the katana stucked in its stomach.

'Damn that brat! Shit, it won't get off!'

After many times it tries to remove the katana from its stomach, it is finally off from its body.

"...!"

Startled, it saw Kanao leaping towards its direction. Not wasting a moment, the demon prepared itself to counterattack her.

"Just die!"

'Dear...'

"Eh...?"

The demon heard a familiar voice and saw a mirage of its wife as Kanao is approaching to behead the demon. The demon left motionless, staring at Kanao that resembles its wife.

*slash*

"Dear..." A female voice spoke to him.

"Hmm?"

"Take care of the kids when I'm gone."

"What are you talking about? We're going to take care to them."

"..."

"Nervous?"

"A little bit."

"Don't worry, everything's gonna be alright.

He hugs his wife to reassure her and took a peck on her forehead.

'I... How did I forget...? My wife's final request to me... To take care of my kids... Why... Why did I forget it?'

The beheaded demon starts to deteriorate slowly. While turning into ashes, the demon took a final look at Kanao.

'...Without your hairclip, you looked just like her... I'm sorry for blaming you for the death of your mother...'

Kanao just stands and stares at the demon ashes dissipating. Not for long, the demon completely disappeared in thin air.

"*pants* Kanao! Are you alright?! Ouch...!" Tanjiro approaches Kanao then stops for a moment for he felt a pang in his wounds.

Kanao, noticing Tanjiro, turned around and proceeded to his side.

"I'm okay, but you aren't! Lay down for a moment!" Just by looking at Tanjiro's condition, Kanao can't help but raise her voice to him.

"Nah, it's just a scratch. Nothing to worry about. Besides, I used a breathing technique to stop the bleeding." Tanjiro reassures Kanao from her worry.

"Wait for a moment. I'll patch that wound." Kanao reached for bandages in her pockets.

Thinking it would be better to just do what she asks, Tanjiro obeyed Kanao. Kanao then attended the wound of Tanjiro that's in his arms.

While Kanao fixing Tanjiro's wounds, Tanjiro breaks the silence between them.

"So it is true? That was... your father?"

Kanao nods.

"...did you regret... Putting and end to him?"

Kanao didn't respond.

"I'm sorry, I'll not ask questions aga-"

"Tanjiro!" Kanao awkwardly called the male demon slayer whom she's been tending wounds to.

"Y-yes!" Startled by her voice, Tanjiro straightened his body and responded Kanao in a polite way.

"I'm sorry. I've been a burden to you while you were fighting my father." Kanao bowed down her head towards Tanjiro.

"Y-you don't have to apologize! It's also a demon slayers' job to protect people from the demons. My comrade is not an exception. That's why, lift your head up."

Kanao did lift her head. She looked directly at Tanjiro's eyes and tries to speak again.

"Also, thank you. Because of what you said to me back at the butterfly estate; to follow what my heart desires. Thanks to your words, I'll be able to change myself."

Listening to her, Tanjiro was dumbfounded. He didn't expect that his words would inspire a person. He just wanted to say the words he think would help solving a person's problem.

"You're welcome..."

"..."

"Look. You even fixed my wounds so now we're even." Tanjiro touched his patched-up wound to let her know that he is thankful for it.

"Oh, I almost forgot." Tanjiro reached to his pockets; pulling out a familiar butterfly hairclip. Tanjiro hand it over to Kanao.

"Here."

Kanao took it gently and quietly.

"I found it when I was coming to you."

"Is that so...? Thank you for picking this up."

"You're welcome again."

...

"...I think I can walk properly now." Tanjiro says and stands up. He then offered his hand to Kanao.

Kanao stared at Tanjiro's hand for a moment and then she gladly took his hand; helping her to stand.

"Well, shall we go home now?"

"Yes."

Annnnnnnnnd, done. Finally, I've posted it. This last two chapters were finished in the early days of January. I've been busy for the past 2 months and didn't have time to finish this. Pardon me for the late upload.

I think this will be my first and last fanfic because I think writing a story is not for me. I really want to write a story though. Hell, even a novel of my own! Maybe in the future, if my pessimistic trait would cease.

Anyways, what do you think of my fic? Drop some reviews so I can improve my writing skills.