a cowards victory

the demon smiles as he licks more blood off of his hands "very bitter...." he said, licking the last drops off his hand "well always more people to eat." the demon then grabs the corpse of the drunkard and bites into his neck "hey I think you would make a great demon, maybe you could even take my spot in the ranks." he said with all of his eyes looking at Nishinara "oh yeah? what place would I even be taking?" Nishinara slowly pulls out his sword

"upper moon 2." he said which shocks Nishinara as now he knew he was face to face with the second strongest demon in the upper moons ranks, Nishinara slowly slides his sword back into its scabbard "you can try and fight me if you want, you'll still end up dead." upper 2 states as he stood up, his mind now set on Nishinara, then at the other end of the alley Dai appeared with his two swords drawn "hah looks like we've got you cornered!" Dai charges at the upper rank but before Nishinara could warn him he quickly dashed in to save him *plop!* a single drop of blood hits the floor, fusing with the very ground "oh I haven't had some fun in a long time." upper two smirks with his eyes wide open, wide enough for Dai to read the writing that read 'upper moon 2' as Dai read it he was filled with fear but thankfully Nishinara used his immense speed to grab Dai and avoid a strange attack from the demon *BOOOM!!!* the drop of blood that splattered onto the ground suddenly made the ground shoot up in the form of a pillar "you know the people in this town taste amazing..." upper 2 said as he smashed through the pillar, rocks flying everywhere but Nishinara avoided them with difficulty and then his kusanagi crow flew down to him "oi Ando send a message to HQ, tell em we need back up!" the crow then flew away from Nishinara as he kept trying to get away from the demon who kept following him "try as you want hashira but you'll end up like the last thunder hashira!!" upper 2 yells to try and get a rise out of him but Nishinara didn't respond "oh this guys boring...." he states as he pours some of his blood onto a fence which caused the wood to shoot out splinters that Nishinara deflects with his sword.

Sora was sitting down with Kei, both of them eating a salmon they caught from the nearby river "Sora.... I don't know why but theres this weird feeling washing over me." Kei states as a small bit of dread infects her "if its about Dai I'm sure he'll be fine, that boy was the first to awaken his slayer mark." Sora states but it confused Kei "still don't know what those are Sora." "oh yeah you weren't there, my bad." he said with a hint of boredom in his voice, "SQAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKK!!!!!!" Nishinara's crow Ando bursts into the room with the fright causing Sora to nearly choke on his salmon "DAI AND NISHINARA NEED HELP AT THE DOCKS!!!!" Sora watched Kei grab her sword and jump up, Sora did the same as he calmly stood up and grabs the handle of his sword "let's go!"

as upper rank 2 keeps playing with Nishinara and Dai who were still trying to keep themselves away from the demon by hiding behind a fence however a rock was shot through it, nearly taking out Nishinara's head "shit, Dai I've got an idea but i don't know if it will work." Nishinara said as he prepared a stance, (thunder breathing.... 8th form....) Nishinara let's out a crackling sigh (ocean of thunder!) then he disappeared instantly from Dai's eye but however the demon also vanished as then the bolt and streams of lightning and thunder disappeared, all Dai saw was upper rank two holding the severed arm of Nishinara and then he saw him lying on the floor bleeding out "Nishinara....." he muttered fearfully as his hands and feet began to tremble "huuuuuuuuuuhhh? what's wrong slayer, wheres that attitude I was seeing before?" upper 2 asks as he then charges towards Dai ready to deliver the finishing blow until his hand was blocked by another sword, it was Kei who arrived just in time with Sora, the demon chuckles "oh boy this is getting fun!!" he said as he had the look of a maniac *BAM!!!* he recoils his fist and smashed Kei's shoulder with it *crack!!* breaking her shoulder and most likely the rest of the bones in her arm, causing her to fall to the floor and drop her blade "damn that hurts like hell!!" she screamed with the demon raising its leg "bye bye!" he then failed to strike Kei with his leg as she had rolled out the way *BOOM!!!* the collision caused a crater "awww don't run I just want some fun!" he stated with the smile on his face growing more fearsome to Kei "oh no.... its just like...." Kei muttered under her breath as she remembered of a time she thought would've been forgotten...

Kei was resting in her room with her pet cat, the soft purring of her pet soothing her until she heard a blood curdling scream "AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" her mother cried out with her father's scream being silent before suddenly his corpse was thrown through her door *CRAAASH!!!* his body hits the wall with blood splattering onto it "father!" she rushes over to him and rolls his body onto his back, she saw his face was practically torn off with it looking poorly sewn on, "HIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSS!!!" whilst her body shook she raised her head to see what her cat was hissing at only to see a monster... it's back was hunched and pulsating with it wearing her mothers face "morning...." it said in a gravelled tone "stay back! I'm warning you!" she searches for some sort of tool to use against the demon but she couldn't find a thing and as the beast walked into her room her cat leapt onto its face and began to claw it "RAAAAAAAAAWWOO!!!!" the cat screams as it clawed at the demons face, leaving deep wounds until it grabbed the cat and torn it in half with Kei watching with tears flowing down her face and so her fight or flight kicked in... with no other options but flight, she ran away as the demon let's her flee with a smile on its face "there will be another time wench...." it muttered as Kei kept running and weeping until the sun arose.

Kei began to panic as she stares at upper rank two with ber body shaking like a stray cat in the rain and as upper 2 raised his hand in a chopping motion "how pathetic!!" *BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

theres a long pause as the smoke clears up with the watching Dai and Sora having a jolt of fear spread out their body but as it clears up they saw Nishinara standing tall and proud guarding Kei "don't you... *gasp* dare..." The man was still bleeding and trying to catch his breath "call a subordinate of mine pathetic!!!" he then digs his sword deep into Upper 2s arm, plunging it deeper and deeper at a snails pace "Nishinara?" Dai looks at where the hashira once laid to see cracks in the floor until then they were all blinded by a bright light that seemed as if heaven itself graced them "you think you can best m-" as upper 2 was talking he saw Nishinara disappear right before his eyes "huh...." his arm then plops to the floor *thud!!* everything seemed to have went silent once Nishinara disappeared "you blinked." the voice of Nishinara muttered out as then the three slayers watch the demon suddenly vanish before their eyes *FWOOOOOOSH!!!!* confusing everyone until the most ear shattering sound echoed out, causing even the very water in the docks to ripple *BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Nishinara was then briefly seen as he seemingly kept teleporting all over the docks with Upper 2 being dragged by him since Nishinara's sword was firmly inside his abdomen "what!?! HOW CAN A HUMAN BE THIS FAST!?" upper 2 asked as Nishinara kept zigzagging all over the docks which caused Upper 2 to fear for his life (i have to find a way to free myself..... before he goes after my neck!!) Upper 2 panics with his breathing becoming unstable, his mind rushing through every outcome possible and so he then slits his wrist and splashes the blood onto the wound where Nishinara's arm used to be "ERUPT!!!" as Nishinara then travelled to the shore the right side explodes which exposes parts of his rib cage and tore off some skin from his face, causing them to fall from the sky and plop into the ocean *FWOOOOOOOOOSH...* As they struck the water Nishinara began to sink deep into the water with Upper 2 frantically swimming upwards to the surface (finally... I can make escape!!!) he thought as he slowly reaches the surface until Nishinara grabs Upper 2s leg (ARE YOU KIDDING ME HE'S STILL ALIVE!? JUST DIE!!) he looked at the mangled Nishinara who was slowly losing consciousness (its my job.... to make sure....) his arms slowly began to close (those three don't get hurt....) he then shuts his eyes and sadly passes away however the grip on Upper 2s legs didn't subside, Upper 2 looks up to the surface and saw that the water was beginning to shimmer "hmmmmmp!!!" he then forms a slashing motion with his hand and slices off his leg.

Sora looks at the shore with him holding up Kei and Dai "the suns rising... you think Mr Nishinara won?" he asked them as then they saw Upper 2 rise from the ocean with a look of defeat on his face "he.... lost..." Dai mumbles with Upper 2 walking closer to them "stand back!" Sora tumbles forward and draws his sword but Upper 2 noticed that the sun was rising "ugh..." he then dashes to the side and ran away like a coward with Dai not being pleased at all, anger spreading across his face "YOU FUCKING LITTLE WIMP!! EVEN MR NISHINARA, A HUMAN COULD BEAT YOU!" Upper 2 turns back as he walks into the forest with a frown (did he just say.... the hashira won?) he asked himself as he stares intensely at Dai who's eyes pierced right through his exterior "THATS RIGHT, NOT EVEN A DEMON LIKE YOU IS STILL WEAK AND PATHETIC!!!" Upper 2 then steps one foot out into the sun with his foot slowly burning to ash however he ignored the burn "NEXT TIME WE MEET I'LL BE THE ONE WHO WINS THIS FIGHT! I'LL SLAUGHTER YOU LIKE THE ANIMAL YOU ARE!!!!" Dai bellowed and before Upper 2 could walk out of the forest... he turns back and walks back into the forest to find shelter "THATS WHAT I THOUGHT COWARD!!" Dai yelled out one last insult and then he fell to the ground, curling up into a ball and sobbing his eyes out as he slams his fist into the sandy shore, gripping it with sand finding its way into his nails.

whilst he cried Kei comforts him and began to cry with him however Sora saw Nishinara's corpse float up to the shore due to the tide with Sora dragging the hashira's body and burying him, planting his sword firmly into the burial as well, praying for him and most of all.... thanking him.