"Are you alright...?" 

"I...." 

I saw a man. He had long, black hair with a unique looking haori. One side was a red colored haori and the other side was green and yellow.

"Help.... Me...." I spit out before passing out.

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

"Ara Ara! You're already awake?" 

"Hmm..?" 

I woke up and found myself in a room. I assumed it was a hospital.

I saw a lady in front of me. She had black - purple hair tied to a bun with a butterfly hairpin and butterfly haori. She was wearing the same uniform as that man I met.

"Uhm, sorry but where am I..?" I asked the lady.

" You're in the butterfly mansion! I'm Kocho Shinobu! What's your name?" She answered with a smile.

" I'm Haru Akiko! Nice to meet you, Kocho san!" I responded.

" Ara Ara! You seem very cheerful after such an accident! Well, I suppose being positive won't hurt." 

I was actually just trying to be friendly but whatever.

"The man you saw, Tomioka Giyuu brought you here after you passed out!" She explained.

" I see..." I smiled a bit.

"You seem like someone Tomioka san needs in his dull life!" Kocho san commented.

" Eh? Is he always around negative and rude people?" I questioned wth a confused expression.

"Ah! Not at all! He's just always glumy and doesn't communicate a lot!" 

(Shinobu POV)

""This girl's quite strange... I've only just met her yet I've told her a lot of things already..."" I pondered.

"He sounds so depressing." Haru chan commented. "Indeed." I spoke.

"You should meet master tomorrow!" I talked. "Master?" "Mhm!" 

" He's the master of all demon slayers like me!" I started explaining. She looked like she was amused.

"Us, demon slayers hunt down demons for the sake of humanity... Demons are evil creatures that devours humans..." 

" Oh, I see..."

(Akiko POV)

"Are the governments aware about this..?" I asked. " Not at all!" She answered. ""Makes sense"" I thought in my head.

"I know that you don't have anywhere to go... Tomioka san investigated a bit." 

" Well that's creepy..." I commented.

"Oh don't think of it like that!" 

"I'll try....?" 

" He just asked the villagers about your situation... At least, that's what he told me!" Kocho san explained.

" Alright."

" You'll stay here until tomorrow, when master makes his decision!"

" Okay, Kocho san! Thank you so much!" 

Kocho san walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"" Everything just went by so fast... I wonder how my sisters are doing..."" My expression changed more gloomy and sad.

"" I don't wanna think about them..."" 

In the end, I just fell asleep and such...

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

It was the next day.

Kocho san gave me a spare Kimono since mine was bloody and ripped.

She led me to the demon slayer headquarters where I will meet master. She told me that this was a special meeting. 

I saw a blind man with black hair and something purple on his face. He had 2 little girls next to him. I assumed that they were his daughters.

"Hello Shinobu and Akiko. Shinobu already told me your name." The man spoke gently with a smile.

" Hello master!" I greeted.

"What a cheerful child." He commented. "Arigato!" I spoke. 

" I heard that you have nowhere to go... We could send you to an orphanage." He talked.

" If I may, I would like to be a demon slayer!" I said with a big smile.

" Are you sure? Being a demon slayer is dangerous especially for a child." He explained.

" If it weren't for Tomioka san and Kocho san, I would've been dead or worse! I would like to repay it by serving you! Please, I insist!" I talked loudly, praying that I'd be accepted.

I would've felt so guilty if I did nothing.

"If you really want to, then I suppose I can let it happen." Master said.

" Thank you very much master! I'll do my best!" I slightly shouted with excitement.

" I would love for you to be trained by Giyuu. He would need your spirit. Maybe he would open up more..." He commented.

"I would like that!" I responded.

"Shinobu, please take Akiko to Tomioka's estate. He's most likely in his estate." 

" As you wish, master"

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

I was so excited to be trained by Tomioka san! He seemed like a cool guy!

"Now I must warn you that he's rather cold to everyone!" Kocho san commented. "I see! Don't worry, I'll be fine!" I replied.

" Moshi mosh~! Tomioka san?" Kocho san knocked on the door multiple times until it finally opened.

"Kocho. What do you want?" There was the man.

" Ara Ara Tomioka san! Don't be so cold! We have a quest, you know!" She pointed at me. 

"Hello Tomioka san!" I greeted with a smile.

" Who are you?" He straight up asked.

"" Kocho san was right... He's quite cold..."" I thought.

"Her name is Haru Akiko! Master requested that she would stay in your estate and be trained by you! You won't dare disobey master, right, Tomioka san?" Kocho san explained everything.

" I see..." He responded.

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

"It's nice to meet you again, Tomioka san! I'm looking forward to be trained by you!" I greeted again.

"... Follow me...." He muttered to me.

"Okay!" 

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

"This will be your room..." 

"Thank you Tomioka san! It looks lovely!" I commented

" Make yourself at home..."

I could tell that he was socially awkward. Well, I can't blame him.

The room was really nice. A medium sized white plain futon, some windows, a cabinet, a closet,  a table and a chair!

The cabinet was rather bigger than usual but maybe my family just liked to save money but who knows.

I noticed some shelves on the wall which was really nice.

Tomioka san can really make guest rooms look nice! Although I doubt he ever had guests but whatever.

"You can go shopping for clothes and such..." 

""Woah! Tomioka san can really sneak up behind someone! No wonder he's a demon slayer!"" I thought.

"Okay Tomioka san!" I said.

"Here's 60,000 yen. Go buy yourself some clothes... Or do you want me to come with you..?" Tomioka san offered.

""GAAH!? 60,000 YEN?? THAT MUCH? FOR CLOTHES? AND HE SAID IT SO CASUALLY! HOW MUCH MONEY DOES HE GET PAID??"" My jaw broke down and left me in shock.

"So much for clothes, Tomioka san??" I questioned just I'm case my ears lied to me.

"It's a reasonable price... You'll see when we get there...." Tomioka san responded as he walked off.

"Wait for me Tomioka san!!" I yelled as I rushed after him.

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

We came back from buying stuff. Tomioka san is really nice and generous! I feel so bad and guilty - spending someone else's money just for myself. Such a terrible act!

He even came with me! I'm terrible for accepting his offer, right? 

The prices here are so expensive! It's like two times more expensive!! And I thought bread in my town was awfully expensive but compared to clothes here?? Not even a match!

I set down all my stuff while Tomioka san was doing something else. He told me that my training starts tomorrow! So exciting yet scary!

What if I fail? Would I be thrown away in an alleyway? The thought of it makes me shiver. Hopefully not!

{ × ~ • [♡✯✿✯♡] • ~ × }

{Word count: 1236}