When Obanai-senpai moved, Zenitsu couldn't follow him with his eyes anymore. It was as if the ground under the man itself was made of air, and Zenitsu could do nothing more but put some semblance of pressure on his deepest cuts and stare after the blurry figure currently keeping himself between Zenitsu and the two demons hellbent on killing them both.

'I should help', he though; slowly sliding down the tree, breaths coming out in ragged puffs of vibrations. 'I need to get up and... I need to help him'.

But try as he might, he just couldn't push his feet under him and along with his blood loss his consciousness was starting to slip too. No, he couldn't afford to black out now. He could die! And if he did, who did Obanai-senpai come all the way here to save? If he died Obanai-senpai wouldn't even have someone to bring his corps back to since his family were-

Shaking his head furiously, the blonde teen cut of the thought before it even had a chance to take root. No time for that. No time for that at all. He just needed to get up and do something, anything.

Suddenly the space before him shifted and out of thin air Obanai-senpai reappeared, dropping low and swinging his leg outward to sweep the feet under the demon who'd just appeared a second after. He missed, but the blade he struck out against the demon's shoulder hit its mark. Both monster and pillar hissed in unison and to Zenitsu's shock, an almost perfect punctuation wound; replica of the one the demon was currently sporting suddenly appeared on his senpai's previously injury free shoulder.

The lower moon laughed and threw a handful of knives in their direction as he jumped backwards; putting some distance between himself and them.

Obanai-senpai managed to deflect all but one, and the minute the tiny blade cut a thin line just under his eye, an equally thin and bloodied line appeared down the demon's own cheek.

What the hell?

"Senpai?"

"I know."

"But how?" His words came out more like a wail, because how was this fair? For some reason this demon was able to inflict wounds on Obanai-senpai without even touching him and how could that even be? It was as if any damage either of them took, both of them suffered. Was it-

"It's his demon art." The snake pillar answered as if he'd read his thoughts. He was looking away from him again, eyes resting squarely on the two demon's no farther than a couple of feats away. "Something about damned souls." The older male didn't sound very happy about their current situation either. "Any injury on me is an injury on him and any injury on him is an injury on me, which wouldn't be a problem," his senpai said slowly; lifting one eyebrow as he took a quick peek back at him. "If-"

"If he couldn't heal unlike you," Zenitsu finished the sentence, chills running down his spine because this was bad, really really bad.

Obanai-senpai nodded but then he shook his head. "I don't have a problem with that either. Not as much as you think I do."

"You don't?" The blonde had no idea how he even had enough energy left to keep up with Obanai-senpai's conversation. The pillar shook his head.

"Strength wise, I can kill him easily. But cutting of his head means cutting of mine."

Blinking, Zenitsu smacked his lips twice; sensing how sluggish he was starting to feel. "That's going to be a problem," he muttered. Panic might or might not have been climbing up his spine, but honestly, he wasn't sure he cared much about anything at this point. Everything felt just too heavy. Just too hot, too suffocating. Obanai's eyes narrowed as he closely trailed his gaze up and down Zenitsu's body.

"You need medical help brat."

The blonde only nodded, and that seemed to tell the older what he needed to know, because in the next second he was three steps into a run, blade swinging dangerously near the giant's throat. The demon ducked out of the way and Obanai-senpai caught his own body out on a back spring with one hand and straightened himself out five steps away from the demon, just to flatten himself across the floor immediately after as three sets of knives impaled against the tree behind him.

Zenitsu heard him curse softly under his breath and it made him wince. Obanai-senpai's movements were a lot less sharp then they should be and it was clear his leg wound most have reopened at some point, because there was no way his senpai in full fit condition would have missed that opportunity to cut of that demon's head. No way.

"Pathetic," the lower moon hissed. Surprisingly, it wasn't directed at either of the demon slayers. No, the shorter demon's glare was solely fixed on the now cowering giant. "What reason were you assigned to me again for?" Every word held spite and by the way the lower moon was looking up at his fellow demon in disgust, he didn't think much of him.

Throwing himself on the ground, the giant; the same giant that had made Zenitsu's life a living hell moments ago, was now shaking by the feet of a monster half his size. "I'm sorry," he whined; forehead pressed with such a force into the ground it left a dent. "I promise I can prove myself. Just give me a chance sir! One chance!"

The lower moon lifted his foot and stepped on his head; pushing giant's face even further into the dirt. "Don't disappoint me."

Nodding vigorously, the giant didn't make a move until his superior had stepped back and given him the space he needed to stand up again.

"I won't let you down," he mumbled as he pushed himself back to his full height. No more chance for a conversation was permitted as Obanai-senpai was on them again, kicking the lower moon away and slicing the giant's arm clean off. A startled sound escaped passed the lower moon; not expecting to be ignored for a lesser demon.

"Bambo," he barked, somersaulting and landing on his feet. "Do something."

The giant nodded and Zenitsu frowned. He was going to do something, something-

His eyes widened and he opened his mouth to call out to Obanai-senpai because damn it, blood loss was no excuse to be sloppy. Unfortunately, his body didn't feel the same. The minute he tried to speak, his throat convulsed and wheezing Zenitsu couldn't help but start coughing. Chest rattling he clamped a hand over his mouth and tried not to hack out his lungs. His vision was blurring something dangerous and it was only his meticulous hearing ability that allowed him to notice the diversion of Obanai-senpai's attention and the demon took advantage of that split second of momentary slip in focus to use his demon art.

"Blood demon art: Dancing illusions!"

"No," Zenitsu coughed, but for the life of him he couldn't say anything, couldn't warn Obanai-senpai, and as his vision evened out he noticed the moment the older man was caught in whatever nightmarish illusions Bambo had bestowed upon him. "No," he whispered coughing even harder. "No."

Obanai-senpai had frozen where he had crouched down to charge into another fight. His face had grown pale and and – was he shaking?

Zenitsu couldn't stop coughing, couldn't breathe but – he needed to do something! Anything, because Obanai-senpai wasn't supposed to look scared, not ever. Not for as long as Zenitsu had known him and right now, that's exactly how he looked. Eyes wide and fingers just loosely holding up his sword. He looked like he had one foot in the grave. Whatever he was seeing what doing a number on him.

This was bad.

Lower three approached Obanai-senpai slowly, and – Obanai-senpai flinched; taking three giant steps backward and bringing up one arm to press up against the bandages over his mouth.

"Oh," the demon said, coming to a stop and grinning like the cat who'd gotten the canary. "How fascinating. Bambo what are you showing him?"

Bambo didn't answer. Instead he staggered away from the lower moon and collapsed against the nearest tree he could find. "I'm sorry sir," he mumbled; fingers clutching against his bloated head. "He's not letting me see. He's fighting me. I-" suddenly he turned on his side and wretched.

"But your illusions?" The lower moon waved with his arm in Obanai's direction. "It works?"

The giant nodded. "I just can't get into his head," he gasped. "Can't go in there and manipulate it. He's being crippled by what he's seeing. Must be powerful stuff."

"Indeed." The short man sounded so gleeful it sent chills down Zenitsu's spine and God, he couldn't let things end like this. Obanai-senpai he-

"Senpai," he screamed suddenly; surprising himself along with the two demons. "It's not real senpai!" His chest was burning. "Snap out of it!" His throat was tightening. "It's not real!" He couldn't breathe. "Senpai!"

It didn't work. It didn't do anything and all Zenitsu could do was scream in horror when the lower moon backhanded the snake pillar so hard he flew into the deep covers of the forest.

"Senpai! Sen-" He swallowed the rest of the words as the lower moon was suddenly standing only a hairbreadth away from him.

"Hello little boy," he smiled.

Zenitsu whimpered.

The demon smiled even wider. "So you're the boy he's been trying to protect all this time. Are you grateful?"

Zenitsu nodded. Not trusting himself to make any coherent sentences.

"How precious."

He was going to die.

"How wonderful. To have that kind of trust." The demon crouched down in front of him. Making sure they were at eye level with each other. "I wish I had that kind of trust in someone else. But alas," reaching out a hand he pressed it gently against Zenitsu's cheek. It was cold. Zenitsu didn't dare to move away. So he sat there and stared. "I don't have anyone like that."

"I'm sorry," he whispered; eyes wide and voice shaky. The demon chuckled.

"You have nothing to apologize for child." The cold fingers slowly moved down his face and circled around his neck. "Nothing to apologize for at all."

This would be it for Zenitsu but-

He saw the minute the demon's expression changed from faux gentleness to shocked surprise. It was as if the moment had been slowed down just for his own enjoyment and that split second of widened eyes and dented cheek as Obanai-senpai's legs connected with the demon's face, was probably going to be the single moment of this night that Zenitsu was going to treasure with savage amount of glee. The lower moon was flung away from the blonde. One moment he was there and in the next his head was stuck through a tree and his arms were twitching fiercely by his side.

"Obanai-senpai," Zenitsu breathed; not believing his own eyes.

His senpai still looked dead inside; gaze not focused on anything and face still pale as a ghost but he was here.

"Obanai senpai?"

The older male didn't look at him. Just reached around his own neck to untie his bandages. The action was meticulous and precise if not for the uncontrollable shaking. As it came off, he threw them around his eyes instead and swiftly tied it back around his head. His upper half face now covered with thick white cloth and his mouth and cheeks completely visible for the whole world to see.

Zenitsu hadn't noticed it before, hadn't really payed much attention, but-

Tiny whitened scars littered all around his senpai's mouth. They were obviously old, but to see those little bumps across his lips, it was – disturbing.

"Senpai?"

Ignored again, but at least now the older man looked a bit less tense. Slight color had come back to his face and the shaking was slowly subsiding. It was as if by taking away his own ability to see whatever horrors lay before him, Obanai-senpai could finally get the situation under control.

"Agatsuma."

He flinched in surprise. "Yes?"

"Be ready to swap." The snake pillar didn't say anything else before he was off again. Battling the two demons with a new bouts of energy. His leg was slowing him down and not being able to see didn't help, plus the whole cannot chop of the demon's head bit, but Obanai-senpai was still holding his own and with a quick spin of his heels, the snake pillar was behind the lower moon and he took that opportunity to grab the demon by the arms and kick him harshly in the back. Zenitsu could hear the ugly snap from all the way on the other side and he winced as the demon screamed.

Dropping the now broken armed demon, Obanai-senpai stepped back and lifted his sword in the air.

"Fool," the lower moon screamed as Bambo quickly got out of the way. "If you kill me you'll die too!"

Obanai-senpai nodded. "I know. Breath of The Serpent Fifth Form: Slithering Serpent"

Both demons flinched back, but strangely enough, it wasn't aimed at them. No, the snake pillar targeted the ground with his attack and as dust rose between them and obscured their visions, he vanished from his position and reappeared next to Zenitsu.

"Your sword brat. Give it to me."

"You can't! He-"

Obanai-senpai's eyes were still covered but the blonde could still feel the heated glare directed at him all the same. "It's my sword his ability is connected with or I wouldn't have been able to inflict any damage on him, so your sword." He beckoned his fingers at impatiently "Now." Zenitsu picked it up from the patch of grass next to him and handed it over.

"Be careful?"

His senpai scoffed. "It's you that need to worry. I will kill the lower moon and then the grunt. Don't let your guard down."

It was a clear warning as any that Obanai-senpai wouldn't be able to keep an eye out for him now. Not now when he was aiming for the kill on a lower moon and one of his senses were cut off.

Zenitsu nodded and then quickly muttered "I understand," when it occurred to him that Obanai-senpai wouldn't be able to see his action.

"Good," and again the man was gone. It only took Zenitsu a second to notice that his senpai had left his own sword with him.

"Oh," he mumbled; reaching out for it and trailing the tip of his finger over the blade. Maybe Obanai-senpai didn't like having a sword hanging on his side while fighting but it was still nice to know he trusted him with his own.

A scream suddenly rang out across the forest and Zenitsu's head snapped up to look. The lower moon who'd been nothing short of obnoxiously confident all night was staring down in horror at his two severed arms. "How dare you!" He screeched. "How could you? My demon art. My blood demon art!"

It was then he must have noticed the sword because the outrage was quickly switched out in exchange for fear. "No," he said, stumbling back. "No."

Obanai-senpai just reaffirmed his grip around his new sword and prepared himself to strike.

"No nononono," the lower moon hissed. "Blood demon art: Kidnapped so-"

"Breath of The Serpent Second Form: Venom Fangs of the Narrow Head!"

Head was cut lean of and it rolled onto the forest floor with a silent thud.

It was over.

Or it should have been if not for the dark shadow that fell suddenly fell over the blonde. Apparently for a giant, this demon was really good at sneaking up on Zenitsu. He should have been scared. He felt scared maybe looking up at the angry demon snarling down at him, but – he just felt so tired and everything was blending together from the corner of his eyes. His vision finally fading into black at the same instance Bambo reached out to probably kill him.

Huh

He was going to die? Was he already dead? Who was left to mourn him?

It didn't matter either way. To go out like this? It wasn't so bad and besides, he always had nice dreams. Dreams where he was strong and powerful. Dreams where he could defend the weak and avenge his family. Dreams were both gramps and Obanai-senpai were proud of him.

It was funny, how Bambo was still here, in his dreams. Staring down at him, trying to grab him.

Too bad, Zenitsu thought, ducking under his arm and kicking him under the chin. This was his dream and, in his dream, Zenitsu always won.

Dancing out of the way of another strike, he breathed deeply and slide down to snatch up Obanai-senpai's sword.

How cool would it be? To be like Obanai-senpai. To be great.

"Breath of Thunder First Style: Thunderclap and Flash"

Giant didn't see it coming. No one ever did. Not in his dreams.

Putting away his borrowed sword he suddenly found himself tipping over to one side.

Huh?

Why did he feel so heavy? Why did it hurt so much?

Blinking slowly he felt his dream blurring into itself and his eyes opening up to look into the mismatched pair of his senpai's.

Oh, so Obanai-senpai was the one who was holding him up. And his eyes – his mouth was covered again.

"Senpai?"

His whole body was screaming, and he couldn't for the life of him see where that demon went. Did Obanai-senpai kill him? Was he still lurking somewhere?

"Senpai?" He felt like he was dying.

"It's ok brat," Obanai-senpai muttered. "You did good. It's over now."

Over? What was over?

"Impossible!"

Obanai-senpai's eyes flicked away from him and to the lower moon who was slowly turning into ash. Zenitsu tried to do the same too, but he couldn't move. His body felt ten times heavier than usual.

"You were supposed to be dead!" The demon screamed again; sounding maniac and crazed. "Thunder breather! How are you still alive! A promise has been broken! A promise has been broken!"

"What are you talking about?" Obanai-senpai was suddenly lowering him back on to the ground; being careful yet quick, before he marched over to the vanishing demon. "What do you mean he should be dead?"

Lower moon three was now laughing. A maniac little thrilling sound. "Oh, I wish I could be around to see the look on his face when master finds out. Serves him right! Serves him right!"

"Who are you talking about?"

Impatience was starting to color Obanai-senpai's voice.

"Nakime-sama was supposed to have killed them all. It is what was promised in return of master's gift." And with those final words, he vanished.

Phew, it took me forever to finish this fight but now it's over and I didn't kill or permanently damage either of my boys *I'm almost impressed with my kindness* Can't say the same for their mental state though ;) Also, I shall give you all a little more fluff and happiness from now on (the worst is still yet to come but for now) you have earned a little more happiness in this story so I shall give you 10%