Yamibari laughed loudly:
"Hahaha, don't even think about it, I won't give you the chance. I'm going to kill you now!"
"In your current state, with your head pinned to the wall by my sword, it will take a long time for your body to regenerate from your head."
"But you want to control your body remotely, don't be foolish. I didn't stop you just now because I wanted to give you hope, only to make you despair later."
"I've been a demon for decades; it's not like I haven't experienced decapitation. How could I not know your little tricks?"
"Are you feeling desperate? You just thought you had a chance, but you didn't expect that I saw through you long ago, did you?"
"I gave you a chance, but you're useless."
"Haha, die in despair!"
As he spoke, Yamibari stepped forward. The demon slaying blade pinning Akihiro's head to the wall transformed into blood-colored energy and was reabsorbed into Yamibari's body.
Yamibari held Akihiro's head in one hand, smashing it repeatedly against the hard rock of the cave wall. He intended to harm Akihiro this way until the sun rose, letting this little demon suffer and die.
The continuous heavy blows caused Akihiro's consciousness to scatter, and the control he had painstakingly gained over his body vanished.
But at this moment, a gentle voice faintly reached Akihiro's ears.
"Akihiro, don't forget to breathe~"
In his hazy consciousness, Akihiro recalled his father Tanjuro's teachings.
That year, at eleven, Akihiro insisted on going up the mountain with Tanjuro to chop wood. Tanjuro initially refused a few times, but seeing Akihiro's persistence, he took him along.
And trekking in the mountains was incredibly hard work.
Though Akihiro was mentally determined, his body was small, and he quickly became exhausted.
But he stubbornly continued to follow closely in Tanjuro's footsteps.
Then, Tanjuro stopped, looking at Akihiro with amusement.
"Little one, if you can't do it, just go back."
Akihiro pursed his lips:
"No, I can do it."
Tanjuro was stunned for a moment, then, with a smile in his eyes, he knelt down and patted Akihiro's head, helping him straighten his somewhat messy collar.
Then he spoke in a gentle tone:
"Akihiro, don't forget to breathe."
Akihiro, however, rolled his eyes:
"Dad, I'm always breathing! People die if they don't breathe, you know."
Tanjuro flicked Akihiro's forehead gently with his finger:
"You rascal, daring to roll your eyes at me now."
Akihiro chuckled:
"I'm just speaking the truth! Who ever forgets to breathe?"
At this point, Tanjuro's smile faded, and he spoke in a very serious tone:
"Akihiro, listen carefully."
Sensing Tanjuro's seriousness, Akihiro tilted his head, carefully trying to listen.
"What do you hear?"
"Hmm... I hear the rustling of leaves blown by the wind, and some birds chirping passing by."
"Oh, and I just heard my stomach growl."
Tanjuro sighed helplessly:
"Just say you're hungry. After we're done here, I'll take you down. Kie should be cooking."
He became serious again:
"Akihiro, you must remember, all things in this world have a breath, a rhythm to follow."
"And human breathing is chaotic and disorganized. But if you can master the correct breathing technique, you can achieve many things beyond human limits."
"Remember the rhythm of my breathing. This is our family's inherited breathing technique, the Hinokami Kagura."
"You and Tanjiro, you two must pass on the Hinokami Kagura, and our family's earrings, in the future."
With that, Tanjuro closed his eyes, signaling Akihiro to pay attention to his breathing.
In Akihiro's perception, Tanjuro's aura underwent a monumental change in that instant.
Lively, energetic, passionate, scorching... and even a hint of inclusiveness.
Tanjuro, who had always been in poor health, now gave Akihiro a feeling of boundless vitality, fervent passion, and an all-encompassing, nurturing presence.
This feeling was very peculiar.
And Tanjuro's breathing rhythm was etched into Akihiro's memory.
Then Akihiro immediately tried the Hinokami Kagura breathing technique, but as soon as he took a big breath, he choked, tears streaming down his face and snot running, almost unable to catch his breath...
Tanjuro opened his eyes, patted Akihiro's back, helped him regulate his breathing, and then teased:
"Did you feel the Fire God's gaze?"
Akihiro rolled his eyes again:
"I only felt the Reaper's gaze... Dad, you were tricking me, right?"
Tanjuro burst into laughter. When his laughter subsided, he became serious again:
"Akihiro, Dad wasn't tricking you."
"You're still young now, and your body can't withstand the Hinokami Kagura breathing technique; it's very overbearing..."
"When you grow up later, and your body is strong enough, don't forget to breathe, don't forget the Hinokami Kagura."
"You must firmly engrave this breathing technique in your heart."
Akihiro rarely saw Tanjuro so serious. Although he thought Tanjuro was playing a trick on him at the time, he still nodded solemnly, indicating that he would firmly remember the Hinokami Kagura.
Seeing the obedient and sensible Akihiro, Tanjuro sighed imperceptibly.
"Akihiro, it's a pity Dad can't watch you grow up. My time, it's almost up."
"I can already feel it, you and Tanjiro, both of your talents are stronger than mine. One day, you will truly master the Hinokami Kagura."
"As for me, I'll go ahead and greet the Fire God."
---
"Yes, when did I start forgetting to breathe?"
"I can feel it; Father is still helping me, even though he's gone."
"Your soul, it must be watching me from above now."
"I'm sorry, Akihiro forgot to breathe, and couldn't protect our family..."
In a daze, Akihiro seemed to see Tanjuro.
Tanjuro sighed slightly, then, as he always did, gently stroked Akihiro's head.
"The one who should be saying sorry is me."
"I'm sorry, because of me, Akihiro had to bear such a heavy burden, and also fell into self-reproach and regret."
"Akihiro, don't blame yourself or feel guilty. I never blamed you, and neither did your mother and siblings. We only wish for you to live well."
"Even if you become a demon, you must uphold your true self."
"Akihiro, don't forget to breathe~"
The voice faded. Akihiro knew Tanjuro had left, returning to be a star in the sky, watching over him.
"Father, I will not disappoint you."
In Yamibari's hand, Akihiro's head repeatedly healed, only to be repeatedly smashed against the wall and burst open.
Watching Akihiro's pained expression, Yamibari revelled in it.
But Yamibari now noticed that Akihiro's expression was no longer painful, but peaceful and calm.
At the same time, a strange sound echoed around Yamibari.
"What is this sound?"
"It sounds somewhat like a Demon Slayer Corps swordsman's breathing technique..."
Meanwhile, Akihiro's bloodied head, with its perpetually dim eyes, grew brighter and brighter.
"Hinokami Kagura!"
"Blood Demon Art: Blazing Feathers!"
---
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