━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 21 ━☂

❁ཻུ۪۪ ━ ❝ Blinded eyes

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The night was still young as the mellow moonlight dripped inside the shadowed room, the silence that used to occupy the relatively modest chamber now occupied with the occasional gentle snores from (Y/n) who dozed soundly on the lush bed, his eyebrows relaxed with his chest surging up and down periodically; this unintentionally alleviating the disinterested male that rested on the other end of the bed, scanning the white and red-colored blade with slight fascination.

Caressing his fingers against the cool surface of the blade once more, goosebumps ran down his body as his still figure was barely brushed by the tender moonlight. Eyes concentrated and steady like an untouched pond, Muichiro side-eyed the snoozing (Y/n) who was blissfully unaware of his scrutinizing gaze.

'How could someone like him come across such a valuable item? He doesn't look strong—both physically and mentally. Perhaps the owner of this blade passed and that foolish soul just happened to come across it? Or is there something that I am just not seeing in this picture?' The more his thoughts ran wild, the more did his gaze become more profound, and this all mounted to where even the languishing (Y/n) could perceive it whilst he was busy reconciling with his brothers in a delightful dream.

Shuddering as he felt the fierce stare of someone (Y/n) groggily opened his eyes as the remembrance of his dream slithered away from him instantly. Now as he peered upon the cracked walls of an unfamiliar room did (Y/n) recognize in what type of position had he found himself in once awakening, driving him to panic as he hastily got away from the bed and planted his hand where the hilt of his sword once was only to feel the comfortable, placid surface of the hilt to be gone. Enlarging his eyes in incredulity (Y/n) glanced down only to discover the area which was now occupied with air.

'My sword...'

"Now that you have woken up, wouldn't you mind telling me where you discovered this sword?" Snapping his head to the front (Y/n) ultimately recognized the existence of another as the stare that he overlooked recently came back to mind, making him directly freeze in alarm. Feeling the dismayed eyes staring at him attentively, Muichiro presented him the exposed sword in its dazzling brilliance as it revealed the reflection of a panicked male whose hair was clumsily bedraggled.

"From what I know, you are not a Demon Slayer, but an imposter who bore the name of Demon Slayer under false pretenses whilst carrying the cherished weapon—Nichirin Blade. Besides, what Demon Slayer would whimper so pathetically just because they fell?" Receiving these allegations that were coming from the serious Demon Slayer (Y/n) pierced his lips, narrowing his eyes as he concentrated on the never-changing faces of the uninterested male.

Not even a negligible alteration of eyes could he detect. Just how good was this Demon Slayer?

Catching the intent gaze that suggested to examine him thoroughly, Muichiro sneered, flashing his eyes over towards the still male as a sarcastic voice came out: "Tell me; what is your Breathing Style?" Not spoiling any time to answer (Y/n) responded seriously, only to be met with jaded silence. After a moment has passed, did (Y/n) see the mouth muscles move. "God's Breathing? I have never heard of such an absurd Breathing Style until today—here I am thinking I have heard all of them." Getting up from his sitting position, Muichiro twirled the blade with bland concern as he gradually peered back over towards the patient male.

Not pleasing to squander any more time (Y/n) decisively spoke up: "If you were to give me back my Nichirin Blade, will I be able to demonstrate to you just how sincere God's Breathing is." Extending his hand out towards Muichiro (Y/n) remained glaring at him without displaying signs of charging soon; which seemed to show just how wonderful of a cheat he was in Muichiro's eyes. Choosing to frown at the boy's statement, Muichiro only shrugged his shoulders and drew out his sword—steel glinting underneath the moonlight as it flowed graciously as if it was nothing but a smooth gale.

"Do you believe I am foolish enough as to trust someone like you with a blade? It is not yours, so unless you prefer to be crippled, I recommend you admit yourself to being an imposter and walk away unscathed." Once realizing that he did not have any means of letting go (Y/n) could only sigh as he measured how much of a chance he had of winning. Though he pleased to regard himself as optimistic, the memories of how fast, swift, and energy-filled that the Demon Slayer before him presented as he was hunting him did not leave his mind, and thus he could only estimate how powerful he was in just those few displays of strength. Principally when he was wrestling with the eccentric rainbow-eyed demon.

Understanding that there was no way he could win (Y/n) also remembered the importance of slaying that demon, and he knew he couldn't perform the task if his weapon was taken away from him. He was experienced with the sword, but not so skilled to where he could perform sword moves adequately without the use of a sword. Now that was just a dream that he had yet to achieve.

Tensing his muscles as he heard the sharp sound of a whistle Muichiro moved to brace himself in case of an incoming attack only to step back as the cheerful sound of a 'caw' was heard soon after as an image emerged from the darkness and into the light, now settling in front of the windowsill as the crow glanced left-and-right nonchalantly as if it was investigating the prevailing scene cautiously.

Relieved to see his friend in such a critical position (Y/n) stretched out his arm extending Sho a silent encouragement to land on his forearm—of which Sho did so enthusiastically, flapping his wings as he tenderly caressed his head against the silky fabric of (Y/n) clothes.

"Sho, what was my announced mission?"

"To slay the demon that has been—Caw!—killing youths in Chiharu! Caw!"

Delicately petting the smooth feathers from Sho's head (Y/n) turned around to face the tense Muichiro as a thin smile danced on his lips. "And who is the owner of the sword that the emo kid is presently holding?"

"Caw! (Y/n) Katsuo! Freshly recruited Demon Slayer and student of-" Closing his beak with his free hand (Y/n) gave him a closed eye smile. "Someone who takes away my precious sword isn't allowed to know of my distinguished master." Hearing (Y/n) say this, Muichiro couldn't help but scoff. Who did this boy think was far grander than him? He wouldn't even wish to oblige him to hear their name? This thought truly bothered him.

"A Demon Slayer..." Quickly seizing the approaching object (Y/n) heartily hugged his Nichirin Blade as he spun around, flowers blossoming around his head as blazing stars twinkled in his eyes. He had spent almost his entire life training to one day gain this blade; so the next time that some absurd idiot tries to take it away from him, he would reassure them they will never have a cold pillow to rest on after a long day. Every time they do something unjust (Y/n) will not put up the nasty finger—instead, he will give them a thumbs down!

Stiffly examining the shifting expressions that were coming from (Y/n) that fluctuated from determined to gallant, Muichiro couldn't help but ponder over what the dim-witted newbie was thinking about. Perhaps he was speculating about food? Or bread? Speaking of bread, he was fancying some mandarin rolls right about then...

Once becoming "over" his contentment for him subsequently receiving his sword back (Y/n) peered over to where Muichiro stood only to find the male now in a stupor as he gawked at the moon, his eyes blurred as his moves now seemed stagnant. Inclining his head in bewilderment from what he was receiving (Y/n) was going to stroll up to him only for Sho to drag him by the sleeve, compelling him to complete his mission. Even though (Y/n) wished to at least thank him properly, he could only sigh in his heart as he stood by the windowsill, prepared to descend; but before he could fall, he took one last look at the apathetic male and smiled at him affectionately.

"Thank you, comrade."

So, he descended the two-story building as he made his way back towards where he last found a trace of the demon.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"May your tormented soul find reconciliation alongside the gods of which had created you. Farewell, brother." Finally cut off the demon's head (Y/n) observed as the body gradually evaporated away whilst holding the hand of the demon, softening his thumb over its coarse skin as the both of them watched the maturing moon together. Peering over to the young boy, the demon chuckled as a heartrending smile sprouted on his cracked lips. "Have you ever... loved a demon?" With its last breaths, the demon returned the boy one last look before sailing away, not allowing for (Y/n) to ask him what he meant by what he had said.

Remaining in the spot for a few more seconds (Y/n) exhaled, not wanting to contemplate over what he had said there but in his apartment where it was particularly peaceful. Besides, he was hearing two pairs of footsteps sluggishly approaching with the vague smacking sound of two wet surfaces; and frankly, he did not wish to dawdle there for long and found out what the sounds were.

Getting up from his sitting position (Y/n) dusted off his haori and flattened out his hair, only to freeze as he heard the hushed 'slash' sound come from where he heard the two. Shifting his eyes over to where the two once were heard (Y/n) could see the image of what he could only think of as Doma with two bodies sprawling beside him on the ground, lifeless.

"Hello, my dear little darling! I came back because our conversation was cut short by that little child and—Oop!" Standing behind Doma with the tip of the blade almost striking his stomach Doma drifted away promptly as an entertained chuckle arose from his throat, his rainbow eyes sparkling with elation.

"Oh, aren't you just so adorable when you're trying to secure a hit on me? Yet I am afraid that won't be possible, darling—you're just too..." Quickly trapping his words, Doma instead became silent as the same shallow smile stretched on his lips. Clenching his hold on the blade tighter (Y/n) gaze became more intense as what was about to come out of Doma's mouth (Y/n) could now only hypothesize, but he was sure of what those words were going to be, and it never made him so agitated before.

He was already having some suspicions about him being deserving of wielding a sword, and as of right now he was sore on that topic—so for someone to just bluntly try to say something that he was rather sensitive about...

(Y/n) wasn't sure why he did what he did next, but he would sometimes think of it as an emotional backlash as him letting his impatience and self-doubt on others. It was just a moment of his vulnerabilities voluntarily being presented, yet in that instant, all of his judicious movements were thrown back at him in full force.

Without giving Doma any time to react or think (Y/n) arrived on top of him, sword raised as his aura seemed to smother the enveloping area, suffocating him and the two others that were there.

"God's Breathing: Sixth Form- Burning Love: Third Stage!"

𑁍┊𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑 ˎˊ˗

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ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!

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