Madara

"I don't know what I would do without you". "You never have to find out. I'm always going to be by your side". He said placing his hand on top of mine as we sat together in bed. "I know it's only been a few days but the two of us need to get going, we can't stay here forever".

"I know, I should be ok enough to walk around again". "Good". He leaned in and gave me a kiss. I kissed him back right away. His lips tasted just like I remembered them, vanilla and honey. We stayed like that until we eventually had to pull away.

"I love you, Mada". "I love you too hashi". I turned and got out of bed with hashi. I put my clothes that were beside me on a clothes rack back on, grabbed his muzzle, and left with him to find Tamayo and Yushiro.

"It's good to see your up and walking again". Tamayo said. "Thank you for taking such good care of me, I appreciate it". "We both do". Hashi said. "Hashirama, your muzzle". He shook his head. "I only wear it so I can satisfy the other demon slayers. I don't need it.

"I see, I take it you'll be leaving then". "We are". "There's something I wanted to tell you before you left. Yushiro and I will be leaving this region. We're to close to kibitsuji now, it's far too risky to stay here. We need a new place to start.

Besides, I think I've hidden my identity but after treating so many humans I'm sure some of them have figured out I'm a demon, children and the elderly are especially perceptive so Madara, in order to protect Hashirama would you like us to take him with us when we leave?

Obviously, I can't promise his safety but I believe he'll be in less danger traveling with us". "I appreciate the offer but the answer is no, the two of us need to stay together no matter what". "He's right". "I understand, I wish you the best of luck".

"We'll be leaving as soon as we cover our tracks. You should get moving as well". Yushiro said. "We will, thank you for all you've done". I said as we both bowed respectfully to them before heading out.

"Madara wait". Yushiro said before pausing and looking away. "I suppose he is beautiful after all". "As much as I appreciate the apology Madara is much more attractive than I am". "You flatter me". "It's true though".

"South east, the next place you need to go to is south east of here". My crow said as I walked while hashi rested in his box. "Please, please, please marry me"! A man with blonde hair said crying on his knees in front of a young woman.

"I could die any day now, marry me so I don't die alone! I'm begging you please"! "What on earth"? Out of nowhere a small bird came flying towards me, landed in my hand and started chirping away. I understood what it was asking.

I made my way over to the boy and grabbed him by the back of his shirt. "Why are you making a scene in the middle of the road? Can't you see your making this woman uncomfortable? She's clearly not interested in you plus your stressing your sparrow out".

"Wait that uniform, aren't you that guy from final selection"? "Don't go around acting like we know each other because we don't". "But we have met, don't you remember!? Don't get mad at me because your the one with the terrible memory"! He said freaking out.

I let him go and made my way over to the young woman. "I'm sorry for the trouble he caused you ma'am, you can be on your way now". "Thank you sir". She said bowing. "Hang on, don't you interfere! That girl is madly in love with me! The two of us are going to get married"! "I highly doubt that". She made her way over to him and started slapping him. I let her.

"When did I say anything resembling that I loved you!? All I did was come talk to you while you were all crumbled up and disheveled on the side of the road"! "So your telling me the reason you did that wasn't because you were falling in love with me"!?

"Considering that I already have a fiancée that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you. Well you seem to be perfectly fine now goodbye"! She said storming off. "Wait, come back please"! "Will you give it a rest already"?

"Why did you have to get in my way? This has nothing to do with you. The reason I missed out on getting married is all your fault"! "No it's yours. Most woman don't like it when their being harassed by men. It creeps them out and makes them feel uncomfortable".

"Look during my next mission I'll likely die because I'm a weakling do you understand? You have to protect me until I'm able to get married mister". "No I don't actually, I'm a demon slayer just like you and have my own missions to do.

I can't be stuck babysitting you not to mention that your relationship problems have nothing to do with me and one last thing please never call me mister again, it's Madara". "I'm Zenitsu, please you gotta do what you can to save me". "Aren't you being a bit dramatic?

Why did you even become a swordsman? Your acting utterly pathetic right now". "That's a harsh way to put it! I got conned by a woman and racked up a lot of debt! The old geezer that took it over from me ended up being this tough as nails instructor! He made me train to the bone everyday, it was so hellish I just wanted to die!

I was hoping that would happen during final selection but considering I survived this nightmare continues to haunt me! I'm so scared, terrified, frightened! I just know I'm going to get eaten by a demon soon! Please save me"!

My eye twitched in  annoyance as I listened to him whine and complain. I balled my fist and hit him in the head to make him stop.

"Better"? "A bit but now I'm really hungry". "Don't you have any food or rashens on you"? "No".  I let out a sigh then reached into my pocket, took out a rice ball I had wrapped up and gave it to him. "Thank you.

Aren't you going to eat anything"? "That was all I had left". He tore it in half and gave me my share. "Thank you". I took a bite as we walked. "I understand being afraid of demons but try not to stress out your sparrow".

"Your saying it was distressed"? "It said your always refusing to go to work, always hitting on girls and you snore loud". "Wait so you can understand animals"? "Yeah". "No way, you gotta be lying to me". "Run Madara, run Zenitsu. Head to your next destination". My crow said flying above us.

"That crow is talking"! I ignored him and continued walking. "Maybe I should just hang back for now, even if I do tag along I won't be able to do anything". He complained as we walked to the house we were supposed to head to.

The scent of demons is getting stronger.

"I can smell blood". I said as we reached the house. "You can smell something here"? "Yeah". "I can't say I'm getting that. What about that sound? Your able to hear that right"? "A sound"? I looked at him then noticed two kids holding onto each other while they stared at the house.

Their scared.

"Their are kids here"? "Hi there". I said as I made my way over to them. "Is there a reason your out here by yourselves"? They didn't say anything. I kneeled down to there level and smiled. "I want to show the two of you something". I reached my hand out to them and showed them Zenitsu's sparrow.

"Isn't this little guy cute". I asked smiling as the sparrow chirped away happily. They both relaxed at this. "Talk to me. Is this your house"? "N No, t this house, it belongs to a monster. Our big brother got taken away.

We were walking down the road at night and this thing appeared infront of us. It grabbed our brother never giving us a glance". The boy said. "Did it take him into that house"? "Yeah, that's right".

"So the two of you followed them all the way over here, that was very brave of you". "We used the traces of his blood to follow them. He's hurt really bad". Everything will be alright, I promise". "Hey Madara, what is that strange sound?

It's really unnerving and never stops. It sounds like a drum". "A drum? I don't hear anything". We all looked at the house and watched as a boy got thrown out an open window. He had blood covering his entire body and looked extremely weak.

"Cover your eyes". I said to the boy and girl as I made my way over to the third kid. I made my way to him and gently took him in my arms, there was no hope for him. He lost to much blood already.

"Even though I was able to escape from that horrible place and make it here was it still not enough even though I'm going to die"? The boy said weakly to me before closing his eyes.

I'm sorry you had to suffer this way.

"Is this your brother"? "No, he was wearing an orange colored kimono". "I see, Zenitsu let's go". He shook his head frantically. "The only people that can help are you and me, now get a grip and do the job we trained for". He still said nothing.

"Fine then". I turned and headed for the front door". "Wait Madara I'll go". He said grabbing ahold of my leg. "Don't let me force you". "I said I'll go". We made our way inside and started searching.

"Hey Madara, whatever's inside of here you'll protect me from it right"? "My job is to protect those kids and hopefully rescue their brother, not babysit you. In my last fight I broke a leg and multiple ribs, none of which have fully healed yet.

If anyone should be complaining it's me not you. If you can't do your job then stay out of my way". "What!? You have broken bones!? What do you think your trying to do to me!? If your in that condition my fate has been sealed!

I'm gonna d d d die! What am I gonna do!? Im finished! It's all over for me! I can't believe you have broken bones! I'm a dead man now! Completely and utterly dead"! "You are so annoying. My little sisters braver then you.

Then only thing she was afraid of was insects although she did make an exception for butterflies and ladybugs". I then smiled the young kids coming in. "Head back it's not safe here". "We're sorry but we got scared". "It's ok, just stay close".

They were around Haru and Haruto's age, I couldn't be mad at them for being scared. All of a sudden we heard the house start to shake. Zenitsu accidentally knocked me and the girl into a room and the next then I noticed was that the room changed completely as a drum sound was heard throughout the house.

This must be the demons ability

"I'm sorry you got separated from your brother but I'm going to protect you no matter what and Zenitsu is going to protect your brother. The two of you are going to be just fine". I said drying her tears. This reminded me of how I would comfort Ryuko when she was upset.

"What's your name"? "It's Teruko". "It's beautiful, my names Madara". I was soon interrupted by the demons scent. I quickly covered Teruko's mouth so she wouldn't make a sound, he hadn't noticed us yet.

His scent is the strongest out of everyone's here. He has to be the master of this place.

"If it hadn't been for them and their meddling". It spoke. I slowly kneeled behind Teruko and whispered in her ear. "Try not to scream, the room might change again so don't go far. Now go and hide behind those shelves". She did as told.

"Thanks to them he was able to get away. That prey was mine and mine alone. Dam them. Why do all these unwanted guest keep barging into someone else's home? It's maddening, that prey belonged to me. I found it with my own two hands on my own property".

I drew my sword. "Those filthy rats. l'll make them pay". "The only one who's going to pay for his actions is you". I said as I made the first move. I was about to swing when he hit one of the drums that was on his body making the room flip.

I thought this might happen. The entire house is his territory.

I smelled another scent approaching. This one was human but it wasn't Zenitsu. "You better watch out because ready or not here I come"! A man with a boar hat over his head said as he charged into the room wielding two swords.

"Alright you monster, die on the battle field and serve as my catalyst so that I may become even more powerful and sore to new heights"! "Infuriating, just infuriating". "Hope your ready for me cause I'm coming through"!

Word Count. 2294