Yahaba - Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
Yahaba (矢琶羽) was a demon who aspired to join Muzan Kibutsuji’s Twelve Demon Moons allying with Susamaru in the Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) series. Yahaba called himself one of the Twelve Demon Moons, but was revealed to have lied about that fact. Yahaba is usually seen with his eyes closed, and possessing eyes on his palms. Partners with Susamaru, they were ordered to bring the head of a Demon Slayer with hanafuda earrings referring to Tanjiro Kamado. Using his Demon Powers, Yahaba was able to find Tanjiro in spite of Yushiro’s efforts to hide their location. Voiced in Japanese by Jun Fukuyama, and Xander Mobus in the English dub version of the series. He made his debut in Chapter 14 of the manga, and Episode 8 of the Anime.
”I have decided to kill the target cruelly.”
—Yahaba
Appearance
A young man with an average build and pale, gray tinted skin, and wears a rosary on his neck. He has very short hair and short bangs that reveal his forehead. He has red eyes shaped to resemble a beast which are usually kept shut, and on his hands are orange eyes with an arrow marked on each iris. He wears a plain olive colored yukata with a brown sash. Over his yukata is a dark gray haori, decorated by a strip of green running down his arms from his shoulders to his wrists.
Personality
Loyal demon to his master, Muzan Kibutsuji; he only seeks his masters approval and chance to become one of the Twelve Demon Moons. He has a serious aura and sadistic personality, preferring to settle things in a mature and quick manner. Yahaba hates getting his yukata dirty, and doesn’t get along with his partner Susamaru’s immature attitude. In the end, his only regret is that he wasn’t able to win his master’s approval in his mission of slaying Tanjiro Kamado.
Asakusa Arc
Yahaba and Susamaru are sent by Muzan in search of a Demon Slayer with hanafuda like earrings. Eventually finding Tanjiro, and attacking him before they can recover or figure out what the situation is. He with Susamaru, his partner creates a combo of attacks in order to fulfill their master’s order.
Yahaba performs a supporting role in the attack, hiding away from the action in the woods. He uses the Koketsu Arrows to direct the temari of Susamari, ripping up the house and even daring to take off the skull of Yushiro, the younger Demon man. Finally Yushiro returns and tells Tanjiro that Yahaba uses arrows to unnaturally steer the balls Nezuko Kamado is sent by Tanjiro into the branches to prevent Yahaba. She identifies him and executes a powerful strike, but he catches it and sends her away soaring with a Koketsu Arrow after ordering her to avoid stirring up dust. Yahaba leaves the woods and Muzan's disciples face out with the four adversaries.
Tanjiro is only focusing on Yahaba while the others are pursuing Susamaru. On the Arrow Demon he smells an opening thread but it disappears as soon as Yahaba deploys his ability. He sends Tanjiro flying around, causing him to crash into the ground, as well as several trees.
Yahaba acknowledges one of the others as the fugitive Lady Tamayo, and also swears to bring her head to Muzan. Susamaru asks whether they can carry four heads to Muzan but Yahaba says they only have to bring two. With his bows, Yahaba drives Tanjiro on the defensive, and coils one around his head. Tanjiro turns toward the arrow to avoid losing his head.
Through triggering its demon art, the Arrow Demon tries to force Tanjiro backwards, but only manages to affect Tanjiro’s blade, making his katana incredibly heavy. Even so, Tanjiro succeeds in cutting the sword and beheading Yahaba with the total concentration technique, Water Wheel. Slowly disappearing, Yahaba laments his impossibility of gaining the approval of Kibutsuji. For digging his face into the ground he curses Tanjiro and decides to take him out with him. The corpse of Yahaba positions Koketsu Arrows on Tanjiro, as a parting gift from all directions Tanjiro struggles by unleashing successive swordplay techniques one by one to prevent being crushed. Yahaba evaporates before he can execute him but succeeds in keeping his opponent out of the majority of time throughout the battle.
Abilities
- Enhanced Strength: Easily blocks one of Nezuko’s powerful kicks and immediately counter attacks, sending her flying away.
- Regeneration Although Yahaba prefers to fight in long range combat, he still possesses basic demon strength and regeneration from any mortal wounds.
- Blood Demon Art: Koketsu Arrow He uses his two eyes on his hands to control and guide his senses to track footprints. Also able to conjure vector arrows when they blink, to force the desired target in any direction the arrow is pointing. Since he is able to change the trajectory of the arrows at will, it makes it hard for the target to deal with.