Military Co-operation: Hill top offense

~~~~~1909~~~~~

The aftermath of the fights in Takoi Village, with the group who dealt with Anson. Mary was still hugging her father's blue yukata. Crying a little bit as she did, though her tears still flowed they were not as intense as before. Tanya, Rengoku, and Viktoriya all were silent for a while, but Tanya was starting to get antsy. She started to walk and leave "we still have a mission to do. We need to finish surveying the village for any more demons, if we are lucky the others have taken care of the rest and we can just report to the base." While Rengoku and Viktoriya still felt sympathy for Mary they both knew Tanya was right. 

Tanya put her hand on Mary's shoulder. "You too, time to go. You can grieve, but after we are-" she was cut off when the sad girl on the ground smacked her hand away. Mary stood up, she took her face out of the yukata. She looked mad, very agitated. Tanya's eyes widened 'that's the same way she looked at me before…' she flashed back for a moment, thinking about the very harsh fights she had with Mary sue in their previous lives. She backed away from Mary, who then spoke "Kocho, how could you? He said he had no choice!" Mary spoke out of pure emotion, and a little bit of hatred on her tongue. 

Tanya sneered a little, a bit peeved with Mary. "yeah, I bet those people he killed and likely ate had no choice either." she was aware of how ironic those words were coming from her, but she did not care. Mary clenched her father's yukata more intensely "he did not want to become a demon and do those things, it's not his fault!" Tanya could see Mary was clearly only listening to herself. So she walks up to Mary and does something she wanted to do for a very long time, she slaps the other girl. The sound of the slap echos through the semi-destroyed street. 

"T-tanya" Viktoriya stutters out, not expecting the female flame breather to do such a thing. Rengoku remains silent. Tanya gripped Mary by her arm and pulled her down to her face, the girl remained silent, still reeling from the slap. "Listen to her, it's not a matter of choice, I am sure most if not all demons did not choose to become one. But that. Does. not. Excuse. Their actions!" she spoke fervently. And said the next part with much more emphasis "if Viktoriya had not stepped in, I would not have been able to protect Rengoku from those iron barbs, even then I only just barely made it in time. Would you have been fine with that? With Rengoku dying? Or would that have been the nail in your stubborn little coffin that your father could and would kill anyone of us?" 

It was rare for Tanya to speak with such grave and intense emotion in her voice. But the fight had pushed her and she did not care if her bedside manner was poor at this point. Mary looked like she was about to say something but closed her mouth. She got out of Tanya's hold and suddenly started to run off away from the three. "Mary wait" Viktoriya yelled, about to run after her but Tanya stood in front of her. "She needs time to herself. Come on we have a mission to finish." Viktoriya saw Mary was almost already out of eyesight. 

"TANYA KOCHO! you could have done it better, slapping her probably just made her feel worse" Rengoku shouted, still smiling despite his tone sounding less than positive. Tanya sighed "I know, but my patience has been pushed. Maybe I'll apologize, maybe I won't." she was not planning on it. 

The three walked in awkward silence for a little bit, before running into Granz, Weiss, and Wilibald. Oh and Lehren? The last one looks quite worried. "Finally, I found you all!" he spoke with great haste and worry. Weiss rubbed the back of his head "we found glasses running into the village from the base, he looked like he needed help. Then you guys showed up." seems Lehren did not get around to telling either of them what happened if anything did happen. He adjusted his glasses which kept slipping due to how sweaty he had gotten from the running he did down the hill and into the village. "Please…help…them…the general," he spoke in between wheezing gasps of air. "Easy, just tell us what happened." 

They led him to a stool to sit on, after he caught his breath and relaxed Lehren quickly explained the situation. how a demon of the 'Twelve Kizuki' was in the base, and that he somehow got control of half the men based inside. And likely the general as well. "What did the demon look like?" Tanya asked simply, but Lehren shook his head. "I never saw him, General Ruderkodia did. He said the demon was 'lower six' I don't know if that means anything. But he has managed to take down the other demons that were inside. Meaning it's just soldiers fighting possessed ones. And…it is likely the general has been possessed by whatever the demon did to the others." Weiss held his head "seriously?! Shit, we will need all hands on deck to get past him." 

The demon's slayers nodded, ready to head up the mountain. Rengoku winced a little, as his knees were still in pain, but he said nothing. He just needed to keep his total concentration breathing up and he would hopefully be fine. "Wait stop!" they heard Lehren yell. He was shakingly pointing at Wilibald. The wind breather lifted up his hand and saw black coloring outlining his veins. "That, that's the same thing that happened to the soldiers inside, you must have drank something spiked by the demon." The demon slayers turned at Wilibald, who suddenly grasped his hand. "I…I can resist it, but only for a little bit. Head up the hill quickly."

The other demon slayers saw none of the rest of them have the black outline, so only Wilibald. "No, one of us has to stay behind to ensure you don't attack the villager Koe." Tanya was sure that despite being at the base of the hill where the military base was, Wilibald would go for the villagers first the moment he came under the cursed blood effects. Granz walked forward "I'll do it, Koe may be more skilled, but I just have to defend and keep his focus on me." the others nodded, 'I wanted Rengoku to do it so he would have less risk, but I suppose this works.' Tanya kept these thoughts to herself of course. Lehren nodded "it seems that your ally started to see the symptoms of this demon skill the moment he reached the base of the hill. If there are any soldiers in the village also infected by it I'll need to make sure they know to stay away and just prepare for a defense of the Takoi village." they all understood, and so he ran off, slowly this time. 

The blackness was going further up Wilibalds body, getting up to his neck. With Granz staying behind the rest ran up the mountain. "Granz…try not to die, I will try my best not to, but I may not have a choice in killing you soon," Wilibald spoke hesitantly. Granz nodded "I will try, and while I doubt I ever could do it, I will try to remain from harming you too much." Wilibald nodded, as the blood soon reached his head. 

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Mary had made her way out of the village, not wanting to come across anyone while she cried and wallowed over everything, her loss of her father, the fact that he was turned into a demon, that Tanya was the one that killed him, and of course the argument they had resulting in her being slapped and given a brutal reality check. She had her head buried in her now-deceased father's yukata. Mumbling "why…" and other grievances into it. She lifted her head when she heard some rustling grass, she turned her head to see Gunner. Though she did not know him she could tell he was a demon, she weakly moved away and reached for her sword. 

Gunner was prepared to attack the girl but he saw the yukata she was holding "that's…Mister Sue's" he said in a shocked tone. Mary's eyes were strained from the crying, but she could see his wide eyes. "H-how do you know my father?" the demon's eyes widened even more, he stuttered out "you're his daughter? No way, he said you went to the states." Mary took her hand away from her sword, wiping her face but still looking down "he was taken down….I am sorry." Gunner could tell the girl was still in her grief, and he too had just found out about Anson's death. He gulped and sat down. "What happened?" 

Mary, despite being shaken and quite upset managed to tell it. She had to wipe her face a few times due to the tears that flowed out throughout her story. Gunner clenched his fist 'so that girl and boy from so long ago took out Anson? Damn it…' he knew that by now the demon slayers were likely going to face Zettour soon if they were not already. He looked back at Mary, he felt something he had not felt in a very long time, guilt. "Hey, Mary right? Want to hear about your father's life as a demon?" while Gunner wanted nothing more than to take out this Tanya girl for killing his friend, he knew Anson hated being a demon. But did not hate other demons, at least not the ones he came across. Mary looked up at the demon sitting by her and nodded. 

"Well…despite still eating humans, he often tried his best to do so as little as possible, at least when he was a lower moon demon. Heh, he even managed to have more than a few of us follow under him, often allowing us to eat before him. Hell, he ate so little that despite being powerful he was removed from his rank…" he chuckled, noticing Mary listening in on his story about her father. "But even after that those that followed his command stayed. His constant refusal to fight unless necessary, and eat only when necessary was interesting. But the reason we stayed is that no matter what, he refused to let us forget we were once human. And for a while, we would only attack humans that harmed other humans" 

His eyes narrowed "but then Zettour came along, the demon who had taken Anson's place as the lower six demon. And he made us attack this village where soldiers were based nearby. Never even telling us why. Anson hated every moment of it, he wanted so desperately for any of the demon slayers that arrived to slay him. But of course, none were able. While I do not like the thought of it, when he was slain tonight, he probably was happy. Probably a little happier he got to see you one last time before he died." Gunner smiled widely. 

Mary had smiled as well, but it fell quickly "I hate her…" she mumbled, referring to Tanya. Gunner sighed "I am not saying you have to forgive her for killing your father. I'm not, but I think she was right about what she said to you. Most of us did not choose to be demons. She also said something your father told to us many times, but she left something out." Mary looked at him with interest "that it does not excuse our actions, but our actions deserve forgiveness. Then he'd go on some ramble about a god and then is when I tuned him out often." Mary giggled "yeah, I am mad at Tanya, but I don't hate her. I can forgive her but not yet…" 

Gunner nodded. "Well, I am getting out of here. I would recommend you go help your friends. Normally I would not want my fellow demons to die, but I hate Zettour so I can ignore it this time." he then looked at Mary after he stood up "beside...you'll know his blood technique's weakness. Its…" 

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Tanya, Viktoriya, Weiss, and Rengoku ran up the hill, making their way to the military base. As they were nearing the top, they saw someone standing in front of the gate of the base, an old-looking man wearing a worn-out military uniform. Tanya froze, grimacing at the sight 'of course it was a Zettour, of. Course.' she thought to herself, cursing Being X more as well. 

Zettour walked forward and clapped "well well, seems the demons I sent to the village are gone then. Such a shame." he opened his eyes to reveal the symbols for 'lower six'. "Guess I…or rather he will have to take care of you." after he said that a large figure jumped off the outer wall of the base. Tanya's eyes widened "MOVE!" they moved out of the way as Ruderkodia, holding his lance slammed down right in the middle of where the group of demon slayers was. Causing a massive dust cloud to appear in the middle. After it cleared they saw Ruderkodia with black outlined veins, and his eyes blank. He was twitching slightly but was combat-ready, and facing them. The now puppet of the demon stomped out in front of Zettour's path, it was obvious they would have to get through him to get to the demon. 

"Crap, this is bad. General Ruderkodia is very strong, and his lance has far reach." Weiss said as he had his large blade ready. The other got theirs ready. Rengoku prepared for his recovery by breathing "everyone, defend against Sir Ruderkodia, try to find an opening to get to the demon!" he shouted. Zettour chuckled, notably raising his hand before saying "Ruderkodia, make take kill them, do it with everything you have!" he ordered as if the general was his guard dog, which for now he pretty much was. 

Ruderkodia spun his lance, taking a deep breath in and out "Stone breathing, first from; Serpentinite bipolar!" he shouted as he made one large attacking motion with his lance. "Flame breathing, fourth form-" "stone breathing, third form-" Rengoku and Weiss yelled as they went in to defend against the attack, the former just barely keeping his stance. Tanya and Viktoriya took this as an opportunity to attack Zettour. The old demon raised his hand when he noticed this "make sure none get to me!" suddenly Ruderkodia used his strength to push the males away and rushed at the others. 

He jumped in front of them, readying an attack. Tanya tried to make sure he did not get it. "Flame breathing, first form; unknowing flame!" she was aiming to try and hit the lance out of Ruderkodia's hand. The man blocked the attack with his lance. Viktoriya would join in "flower breathing, fourth form; Crimson Hanagoromo!" the two clashed against the lance, managing to push the stalwart general back. But then he took deep breaths in and out "third form, stone skin" suddenly he makes a large slash, which pushes the two into the sky. They nearly hit the ground, being saved from the crash by Rengoku catching Tanya and Weiss catching Viktoriya. 

Weiss put Viktoriya down, "Thanks…you can let go now," Tanya said to Rengoku who did so immediately. Tanya noticed Rengoku wince some more, catching her must have distributed the technique he was using to keep himself in the fight. "This isn't working, the general is too strong. And if Ze- the demon is a twelve Kizuki, then even if he is lower six I doubt he is a pushover either." Tanya spoke, trying to think of a solution, a plan, but it was not so simple. Even if they got past him there Zettour would just order his new puppet to focus on whoever was coming after him. She noticed something, Ruderkodia was not coming after them but standing in a defensible position. 'His last orders were 'make sure none get to me' he can only be under one command at a time!' 

"Tanya, you have a plan?" the other three seemed ready for anything they had to do. She looked back at the general and the demon. She was confident that either she or Rengoku could take Zettour down. They just needed to keep the general off them. "Kinda, Weiss I need you to get the general to focus on you. Viktoriya, back him up. Rengoku and I will aim for the demon." Weiss grinned and flexed one of his muscles "you got it!" he ran at Ruderkodia without further question, Tanya rubbed her forehead and shook her head. "If he focuses me or Rengoku we will lure him…" she grinned in her patented way "actually…" 

Weiss and Ruderkodia clashed. Soon after Tanya and Rengoku did the same thing they did when Mary got in their way earlier, they split off circulating around the general as Weiss tried his best to keep him in a single spot. Zettour scoffed, he raised his hand "focus on the Hashira, Ruderkodia!" he pointed at Rengoku. Ruderkodia huffed, and immediately pushed Weiss, making him land with a grunt two feet away. His feet boomed as it ran on the ground. Both Rengoku's sword and the general's lance clashed, moving against one another like a lion facing a bear. Tanya moved toward Zettour. "Flame breathing, third form; blazing universe!" she jumped and her sword enveloped in red flame, Zettour, however, smirked. And moved out of the way faster than she anticipated. 'What?' he was right behind her. "Fourth form!" she turned and slashed away his hand, cutting off his thumb but it quickly grew back. 

Tanya noticed claw-like fingernails were now extended out of Zettour's hands. He chuckled "if I get a scratch on you my blood will infect yours, you'll be nothing more than a puppet little girl." Tanya shook physically, the thought of being under the old man's thumb again made her want to crawl into a hole. Zettour seemed surprisingly fast, Weiss had tried to come in behind but Zettour quickly dodged out of the way. He was now surrounded by three demon slayers and yet smiled as if he had the advantage. Viktoriya held her sword up "what do we do now?" the demon smiled wider "come at me, I'll be happy to make you my puppets as well." 

Tanya was sure Zettour wanted them to run at him, he could just stab a nail into one of them and then their lines would be broken. 'Seems just like him' she grimaced again, they would play right into his hands. And she knew it. Suddenly though they heard some shouting "...Holy voyage!" as if it made up the last part of a sentence. A line of bright golden strikes surrounded Zettour but never hit him "huh?" he seemed confused as were the others. Mary rushed forward through the bright slashes. "Blessed breathing, fourth form; Divine smite!" she shouted, not aiming for his neck since she could not reach that but one of his arms, it cut through it like butter. 

"AHH!" Zettour shouted as he held his arm. The constant gold slashes went away, and Zettour retreated away, taking his nails out, and running for Viktoriya, who clashed with him, and quickly moved away back towards the other. Which was what Zettour wanted as now all four of them, especially the new demon slayer were in his direct sight. He noticed the arm that was cut was not growing back, leaving it and one of his hands on the ground. "What's going on? That can't be!" he shouted in frustration. 

"Mary you're back! And just in time." Viktoriya said with a grin, Weiss nodded as well. "Welcome back, and thanks," Tanya said calmly, remembering how the fourth form of Mary's unique breathing style allowed her to impede the healing of a demon. Now Zettour only had one hand. Mary smiled at Tanya, and then the others. "thanks…I still haven't forgiven you. But I also know what I did was wrong as well. So I'm sorry Miss Kocho." Tanya sighed and nodded "I'm sorry as well, not for taking him out but for being to brass to you. And for slapping you…a little. Oh and if we take this demon out, you have my permission to call me Tanya like the rest do." Though she did not look, Tanya could tell Mary smiled and liked that. She was still a little peeved at the girl, but they both were peeved at each other so it's fine. "Everyone, one last time, takes out the demon. Mary, you focus on his other hand. Use your technique to cut it off if he tries to cut one of us with his nails!" 

Mary spoke up, remembering what Gunner had told her before he left "in order to give commands to people under his control he needs to be able to raise at least one of his hands to do it. If we take off the other we can prevent him from ordering anyone he does manage to scratch!" The others understood. And understood that his arms, hand, and his neck were their main aim.

Rengoku and Ruderkodia were still clashing, the ground around them was scorched and had many cracks and holes. He breathed in and out heavily "you really are strong sir, I hope to duel with you again when we both can go all out." the flame Hashira was certain that in his current injured state, even with recovery breathing that Ruderkodia would have killed him by now had the puppet-like control of him not held him back, or rather if the general was not holding himself back with what little control he had. Rengoku looked over and Mary had joined the others. His near-permanent smile raised "guess it's time for my part." he coughed a little and then ran at the puppet Ruderkodia, and as he got close, immediately changed course, having his opponent follow him as He is who Ruderkodia was focused on.

"Flower breathing, first form; orchid blossoming!" Viktoriya yelled as after dodging Tanya and Weiss for a few seconds Zettour was in her range. He moved out of the way and attempted to stab a nail into her, but instantly had to move away as Mary went in for another 'Divine smite' attack, both moved away from each other. Tanya rubbed her chin 'our plan is working, With Mary only getting close to Zettour when he tried to attack someone else he can't get us. But his speed keeps us from getting him either.' Tanya heard a not-so-distant booming sound. He looked over and saw Rengoku heading their way, jumping and ducking whenever the puppet general went in for an attack. 'He remembered the plan, good.' 

Their plan, which Tanya did makeup on the spot, was for whichever one Ruderkodia went after. They would lead Ruderkodia to Zettour, and when they got close enough, quickly move out of the middle of the two during an attempted attack. Forcing him to either have his own head cut off by his puppet. Or to be distracted by giving a new order, giving enough time for those around them to take off Zettours head. 'And now that I know without his arm, or rather his hand he can't issue new orders. I am sure we will succeed.' 

Tanya looked at her blade and smiled, remembering what she did against Anson. "That's it!" she started to head towards Zettour, who had moved away from another one of Weiss's attacks. "Wait, what is that Hashira doing?" the demon finally noticed both Rengoku and Ruderkodia coming his way. He smirked 'simple, once he gets close I'll just order him to protect me. In fact…' Zettours thoughts were cut off by Tanya slashing at him while the others were out of the way. Zettour smirked "I know your plan, it will fail." Tanya gave an evil smile, one that made him shake inside. "Oh, will it now?" she planted her feet on the ground "water breathing, third form and Flame breathing, and flame breathing, fourth form; Flowing dance of blooming flames!" suddenly Tanya made various flames surround Zettour as she motioned her body along with the flowing dance around him. 

Zettour was confused, remaining defensive as constant flowing and moving flames surrounded. "What are you doing? Stop this nonsense!" he was distracted for long, and the flames only went away when a certain smiling red and yellow-haired boy rushed through them. "First form; unknowing flame!" he tried moving but Tanya cut from behind. Combined they both cut off Zettours remaining arm, along with his hand. When the flames from the combined breathing techniques dissipated, it was only then that Zettour saw a lance swinging at him, meant for Rengoku, but the puppet general only saw them go into the flames, and not that his 'master' was inside it. "STOP IT!" his arm did grow back, but only when the lance's special blade was halfway through his neck. His head was cut off it banged and rolled along the floor. Zettour's body went limp and his head rolled down the steep hill they had been fighting on. 

Ruderkodia was about to go for another attack against Rengoku. But he stopped, he blinked and looked around at the injured demon slayers around him, especially the one he was about to stab with his lance. "Huh….well, I guess you got him. Ugh." he held his head and fell to his knees. "You okay general Ruderkodia?" Weiss asked, placing a hand on the old man's shoulder. "Yeah, just… light-headed after all that." Viktoriya smiled and jumped a little "we did it guys, the demon is dead!" she said as Zettour's body was beginning to disappear. Everyone, except Ruderkodia, was smiling. 

Meanwhile, down the hill where 'Zettour's' head was by a collection of trees, something was happening. Something not even the demon slayers saw. As his head was beginning to disappear it got less wrinkly, his hair began more colored black than grey, and his eyes began more circular, the only thing that remained the same was his 'lower six' "Damn you…" he spoke as someone walked behind him. There stood a new Zettour, or rather the actual one. He laughed "don't blame me Janoi, you're the one that agreed with my plan. I commend you though on your excellent acting. You really got me down flat." he laughed again, harder, but not loud enough that anyone could hear. 

'Zettour' or rather Janoi grumbled "you said Ruderkodia was strong enough to take on a whole army of demon slayers! There were barely five of them! And he got held off by one! Worse, he was lured into killing me!" Janoi shouted as now half his face was gone. Zettour grinned "its not my fault your power limits them slightly. Thought I will commend you on one thing, it certainly is useful to me." the old demon dropped Janoi's eye patch, while three soldiers came out. All blank-eyed with, but white outlines instead of black ones. Janoi's mouth went agape "h-huh?!" 

Zettour laughed and kneeled by the dissipating head of the lower six demons "My blood demon art isn't changing bodies, that is one I copied from a different demon." he held up his index finger with a nail that now matched how Janoi's looked when he looked like Zettour "you see, my blood demon art is incapable of harming a human, but that's because it can copy the abilities of other demons. So long as I drink plenty of their blood. And when you basically gave your blood to the water supply of the Military base, well- all I had to do was drink from that when Soldiers weren't around." 

Janoi's face was almost fully gone, and before his mouth went away he managed to say "Zettour, you bastard-" his head and face were gone now. Zettour stood back up, Janoi was merely a pawn so that he could get his useful blood demon art. He looked at the soldiers now under his control "come now, I am going to use you to cover my tracks. And by that, I mean to kill you so that they think Janoi is dead, and by extension, me." he said this even though he knew it did not matter, they would listen to either way.

 As they walked away Zettour rubbed his chin thinking about the fight he had been secretly watching. "Ruderkodia, that flame Hasira that's always smiling, the weak looking girl who can impede the healing of demons, and that little girl who can use more than one breathing form at once." he smiled "I will make them mine, at a later date, as my next step towards becoming an upper moon" he smiled at the moon which was a couple of hours away from setting. "And after the upper moons…" he whispered to himself. He opened his eyes, revealing his true lower moon number. 

-Lower 2-