Snowflakes drifted through the cold morning air. A temple lay in ruins—walls half-buried in frost, ice creeping along the scorched earth like death's whisper. Among the shattered remains stood Sanemi Shinazugawa, Wind Hashira, blood staining his haori. Opposite him, breathing ragged yet eyes aflame with fury, was Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira.
The chill wasn't from the wind.
It came from the demon before them.
Douma.
Smiling, unbothered, his delicate fan rested loosely between two fingers. His appearance was eerily serene—multi-colored eyes glowing with amusement, a grace that masked grotesque cruelty.
"Ah... what charming company," Douma said, voice syrupy and cold. "I was beginning to think the Hashira wouldn't show up."
Neither Sanemi nor Shinobu replied.
Douma's gaze drifted. "You… the insect girl. You remind me of someone. Oh, yes… the one with such beautiful eyes. What was her name?"
Then he smirked.
"Ah. Kanae Kocho. She begged me not to hurt anyone else as she died. Sweet, wasn't she?"
Shinobu froze.
The snow was forgotten. Her heartbeat surged. Her blade trembled—not from fear, but fury.
"You…" she whispered.
Sanemi blinked, confused—until he saw Shinobu's expression. Her rage.
Then he turned to Douma, piecing it together.
"...Kanae?" he asked, voice low.
Shinobu didn't answer.
But something in Sanemi cracked.
He remembered her—Kanae's gentle smile, her warmth, her quiet voice that somehow made him feel calm. A moment in his storm. The only one who ever truly softened him.
And now, this monster was mocking her memory.
"YOU KILLED HER?!"
Wind exploded.
Sanemi launched himself, blade roaring with pressure and fury. Shinobu followed in a flurry, her form flickering through the snow with pinpoint precision.
But Douma danced.
Ice blossomed with each step—lotus-shaped, beautiful and deadly. His fans weaved frost that sliced and froze. Despite their combined strength, they could barely touch him.
Sanemi's wind was deflected. Shinobu's poison-laced thrusts were shattered mid-air. Every strike they landed healed instantly. Every wound they took slowed them down.
Douma chuckled. "So passionate, so… human. You'd make wonderful ice sculptures."
Sanemi panted, blood dripping from his forehead. "I'll kill you with my last breath."
Shinobu, despite a broken rib, steadied her blade.
Douma's smile widened. He paused… and tilted his head to the sky.
"Ah, the sun's rising."
Warm light crept over the horizon. Douma sighed with exaggerated regret.
"We'll continue our little dance later. I'm starting to enjoy your company."
Then, like melting frost, he dissolved into mist.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Shinobu stared at the spot where he'd vanished. Her fingers clenched the hilt of her sword so tightly her knuckles turned white. Sanemi dropped to one knee, teeth gritted.
"Kanae…" he muttered.
Shinobu turned her face away.
Tears were falling.
But the fire in her eyes had only just begun to burn.