Chapter Text
After the final selection, you really had hoped that the hardest part of fighting demons is behind you. This was supposed to be the hardest test you'd ever have to pass.
First day of being official demon slayer proved you wrong. Since then it became clear that with nearly every task you had to put your life on the line, but this was the first time you were so screwed.
Your evening started with the sight of female demon in black flowery haori. Her red, short hair shimmered in the moonlight that entered the place via terrace when she was consuming her latest prey. As always, you were painfully reminded of the first demon you'd ever encountered. Heart aching, you promised yourself this will be the last victim of this ugly creature. You rushed through open door into the house, raising your light green sword. The technique you tried to master was related to wind, but you were still struggling with anything more than very basic version of first and second forms. It worked for most of demons you've encountered on a daily basis.
Unfortunately this particular demon dodged your first stroke and dashed across the room. You noticed multiple white items flying up into the air.
"You filthy kid. Let me teach you not to interrupt others' meal" she hissed. You were awfully aware of the blood dripping from her mouth, but you didn't pay much attention to the opened book she held. Suddenly you heard flutter of multiple wings and raised your sword just in time to deflect multiple paper cranes. One of them broke through your guard and cut through your sleeve opening fresh wound on your left arm. By the time you realized what kid of blood demon art that was, hundreds of new origami cranes were flying fast towards you. Your face and clothes were soon covered in multiple stinging wounds, none of them deadly. You were forced to use your weak wind breathing techniques, which worked surprisingly well, but only until demon took first senbazuru out of her book. Thousands of white cranes connected in lines were flying towards you, accompanied by demon's wicked yell. Paper cords twisted like snakes and cut through tatami floor. When one of them reached you, it quickly turned out cutting through them with a sword only detached couple of cranes before rope was back in one piece. You flew back, pushed by senbazuru and fell painfully on the wall. Demon didn't allow you to take the next breath. Paper crane rope cut your shoulder, missing neck just by millimeters. Your blood stained senbazuru with red. The more you fought, the stronger demon seemed to be - or maybe you were the one getting weak. Even with your best ever performance of the Dust Whirlwind Cutter you were able to get as close as to cut her leg. After that, wall of paper cranes covered you like angry swarm. You notices paper cranes were constantly getting red from your blood, but it also seemed they were going back white in no time. Could it be possible that demon was seeping you blood through paper?
By the time you realized that, she was already too strong. It didn't matter how fast you were - she was just a step ahead with her senbazurus. Finally she managed to wrap one cord around your leg, making you fall down on the floor. Second cord quickly found its way to your neck and clenched on it nearly as strong as you wanted to cut demon's throat. Unable to stand up, you could only watch as demon jumped on you.
"Mm, how tasty you look with all these small cuts" - she dug her finger into the wound on your shoulder. You whined with pain as she licked your blood from her own hand. Then in a blink of an eye her jaws clenched on the same place, piercing your flesh and breaking bones. The pain was unbearable. Just when you thought these was going to be your last moment, everything turned into fire.
All you knew was that demon no longer held you in her possession and there was someone standing between the two of you. White cape, blonde-red hair.
"Are you alright?" he asked, turning his head to take a look at you with piercing red-gold eyes.
"Yes" you replied weakly. There was no way you could be of use to him in your state, but you decided to warn him at least. "Watch out for the cranes, she's drinking blood through paper."
Your savior smiled at these words.
"Thank you!" he said before he disappeared. He was moving so fast you could barely notice him. You managed to use your right arm to raise yourself and move away, so he didn't have to protect you in case demon wanted to take you hostile. Your total concentration breathing came back soon and so you stood up. The fight in front of your eyes was truly amazing. Compared to your savior, you could be civilian as well. Suddenly the idea hit you. You were 100% sure interfering with their fight would do more harm to everyone, but the urge to help was too big. It has always been biggest flaw - fear of being helpless. You suspected that demon's art could be broken if you took her book away and your wind technique should be perfect to do just that. If she lost control over cranes, she should be easy target to the flame-breathing demon slayer. One more try of first form, even not the perfect one, should do the trick - you thought, clenching your fists in the sword.
You dashed towards fighting pair, doing your best in ignoring the pain of your left shoulder. Even if whirlwind helped you to speed up, you ended up in applying single cut from Claws-Purifying Wind right at demon's hand. Cutting through flesh, the book had fallen. You focused on catching it and running away, but demon immediately turned her attention to you.
"Run!" you heard and obeyed, not even daring to look back. As soon as the last senbazuru clenched around your neck, scratchig it painfully, it disappeared into dust. You heard it very well even if you didn't see it. The other demon slayer managed to cut her head off. You collapsed on your knees.
"Thank you" you whispered, though you were sure he didnt hear it and allowed yourself to slip into the sweet world of unconsciousness.