__________________________

Thoughts 

'Flashbacks' 

Everything else 

Authors Note 

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⚠️Warning: Cursing⚠️

Soon we arrive at the village. "Let's split up and find them." Shinazugawa demanded and we did just that. Yes, we are searching for two demons. I go around the village and ask around if anybody has went missing recently. Unsurpisingly many people, mainly children had gone missing every night. 

The day went on and I start to ask the families of the children. They tell me where their children got missing and it seems to be alwaya in the same area. Soon enough it got dark and there wasn't any sign of Shinazugawa around. 

He probably wants to do everything himself. It's typical of him. 

I walked around for a bit more until I found a stand. I keep walking until my gaze shifts to the menu. They make salmon daikon too. How come I haven't seen this before? I walk inside and an old woman greets me. 

"Hello dear, what can I do for you?" She asks nicely as I sit down. "Just a salmon daikon please." I answer in a unusual soft tone. She nods and starts making it. I suddenly feel a presence beside me and someone sits next to me, panting. 

I look over and see Shinazugawa. "You ran all day?" I ask in a calm voice again. "Hm.. You don't seem exhausted at all. The fuck did you do all day?" He asks, kind of angry. 

"I walked around the village and asked the villagers for information. The demons seem to maily eat children and they take them at a playground not far from here." I explain to him. "Hm. That's like the longest sentence you've ever spoken exept from reports." He states.

I don't respond and keep watching the lady make the salmon. She turns to us. "And what can I bring you young man?" She asks him. "I'll just take the same as him." He mumbles. I look at Shinazugawa and tilt my head slightly, scanning him. 

He isn't exactly nice but not mean either. Why is he acting so strange?

After minutes of silence the food is finally ready and the woman hands us our food. "Thank you." I thank her with a faint smile and take my dinner from her hands. I hear Shinazugawa gasp and look at him again. "What?" I ask. 

He's red again. Is he sick or something? Does he have a fever?

He turns away from me and grabs his food as well. And that's when I noticed it. 

His red string. 

Oh god. 

I follow the thread with my eyes and it leads to my little finger. 

Oh shit. 

I immediately look away and back to my plate. 

Ignore it. Just like you always do. Ignore it and eat your delicious and beautiful salmon with daikon. Food matters now. 

Itadakimasu.

After the first bite I smile slightly again and I know damn well my eyes are sparkling. This is so good! I continue eating and don't actually notice Shinazugawa starring at me. 

It's been some time I've eaten a salmon this good. However, they can't reach to the salmon Tsutako used to make. 

And that's where my sparkles and smile go poof. 

I stop eating and look at my plate. I don't have any appetite anymore but if I don't finish it, it'll be disrespectful. So I keep eating slowly. After a while I'm finished, just on time with Shinazugawa. "Thank you for the meal." I thank her. "Yeah, it was good." Shinazugawa says politely and we get out. 

It's weird seeing him be nice. But I guess he's bit more respectful to elder woman. 

"It will get dark in a few hours. Do you want to search for more information or rest?" I ask Shinazugawa coldly. 

I will keep my emotions a secret. We may be soulmates, but that doesn't mean he will stop hating me. 

"Rest of course. I need full power tonight to beat those demons fucking asses!" He shouts with a crazy smile. I pokerface and start walking to the motel nearby. Behind the front desk is a man who greets us. "Do you have two rooms free?" I ask.

"Oh, I'm sorry. We only have one room for two left." He replies. I hear Shinazugawa groan in annoyance and I sigh. "Fine, we'll take it." I tell him and he nods, giving us the key and instruction to our room. I nod and we walk to our room.

I open the door to- thank god, be greeted by two beds. I sit down on the bed near the window and look out. It's still broad daylight. I listen to Shinazugawa frowning on his bed, muttering something. 

I sit there quietly, just starring out of the window. I don't know how much time has passed but when I turn around, Shinazugawa is sleeping peacefully. My face feels warm at the view and I touch my cheeks. They're burning. 

Then I glance over to the string, connecting each one of our little fingers. I sigh and lay back in my bed, looking at the ceiling. 

Why him? It could be anyone?

I begged for the person to be someone I don't know and will never meet, but we see each other almost every day. 

I close my eyes. Too much thinking isn't good for my brain. I should sleep if I want to get some rest for tonight when we encounter the two demons.

°🌊🍃°

The sun is setting. I'm currently sitting on my bed, waiting for Shinazugawa to finish his shower. He was sweating a lot today so he stinks. I need a shower too but not as fast as Shinazugawa so I'll shower back in my estate. 

After a while I cloud hear the door crack open and a half naked Shinazugawa stepping out of the bathroom. I Immediately turn my face to the other side. My face feels hot. Hell, my whole body is burning. 

What the hell? Why is he stepping out half naked!? 

I take a few breaths to calm myself down and pull my knees to my body, holding onto them. Shinazugawa keeps muttering something but I just stare at the ground, trying to get the picture of a half naked shinazugawa out of my mind. 

After he finally put on his uniforn and haori, we get out of the motel and make our way to the playground, there are a few children with their parents.

I don't understand why you would still bring your child to a playground where couple of children went missing.

Shinazugawa ans I stay in the background. "Tsk, this is boring. I'm gonna search for that demon, you stay here and protect the people." He demands and sprints off without waiting for my answer. 

I sigh to myself and watch the children play and the parents chat while keeping their eyes on their kids. My eyes soften at the sight of the children laughing happily. Times like this remind me, why I am a demon slayer. To protect these lives. To save their happieness. Even if its on my own expense.

°🌊🍃°

It has been awhile and I'm still leaning on the tree. It's now dark and the families are making their way home. I follow them with my eyes as I spot a plush in the sand. Was that there before? A child, a girl, turns around and her eyes widen in amazement at the teddy bear plush.

She says something to her mother and runs back to the playground. I unshield my sword. I can sense the demon but not it's location. It will attack soon. I have to keep the girl safe. 

She leans down to grab the plush but as soon as she touches it, she screams and gets pulled inside. I widen my eyes and run up to her immediately. There's still a hole and I jump inside before it can close. 

🍃𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢:🍃

Ugh, there's no sign of the fucking demon in this forest. 

That shitty airhead must have heard wrong. I could've done a better job at finding the demon alone but he just had to come with me. I stop and look at the ground. I clench my first and puch a tree.

Now my first is bruised and the tree has a hole. I grunt and put my sword back in it's shelter as I remember todays events. I look back down to the red thread on my little finger. 

Oh for fucks sake, why him?!

I left that airhead there. I should go back now. I start running back to the playground by juts heading north. I soon arrive just to be greeted by an empty glayground. 

Where is he?

"OI! Shithead where are you?" I yell and walk around. No response.

 Am I late? Did he find the demon? And he dares to fight it alone? Who the fuck does he think he is!?

I'm about to shout again, but stop as I feel a demons presence nearby. I hear giggling and turn around but there's just the forest. Again giggling and I look around. I unshiueld my sword and grin. "Oh, you like to play games huh? Now how about hide and seek, if I find you I'll kill you!?" I request with a crazy smile. 

The giggling turn to laughing and the voice seems to be everywhere. "Even if you do, you will not be able to kill mee~." A female voice sings. I smirk. "You will beg for help from your shitty ass partner, I'll make you!", I shout.

She laughs again. "I think the one begging for help will be the pretty water boy down there. Atleast that's what I expect Yasho to do." She giggling and starts laughing maniacally. 

I widen my eyes and grip my sword tighter. "WHERE THE FUCK IS TOMIOKA!?" I scream while I look around for that demon. 

Down there, where down. What the fuck does she mean my down there- No what the fuck. Why am I so worried. He's a fucking hashira, he should be able to handle a none-high-leveled demon by himself. 

The sound of sand makes my flinch and I immediately turn down to the sandbox. There's a hole from which not clothes jump out. These seem to be from children. I grit my teeth and hear the demon again. 

"Oh what a shame. Seems you know where Yasho is now. However I will not let you get there." She says and I hear the sound of strong wind pass by quickly but I dodge just in time, jumping away and I look at the demon. 

I hear a scream from the hole and then a familiar voice. "Water Breathing, first form: Water-surface-sla-" and that's where the hole was closed. The demon licks her lips and stares at me. "I haven't eaten a grown boy in a long time. How about you just give up let me devour you." She grins. "HA! You wish. Die bitch!" 

Wind Breathing; first form: Dust-Whirlwind-Cutter.

I dash forward and slash both of her arms off. "Ugh! How the hell? You aren't a normal demon slayer, are you?!" She screams while trying to regenerate her arms. Before she can do that I form an attack again. "Nice you figured it out, you're daring to fight a hashira!" I laugh at her.

Wind Breathing, eighth form: Primary Gale Slash.

I leap into the air and swing my blade to generate circular torrents of wind that slice up the demons head in an instant. "NO! HOW DARE YOU! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU SO THAT I COULD FINALLY CHALLENGE A MOON! WHAT HAVE YOU DO-" I cut her off by smshing her head with my feet. 

I ignore the disintegrating body and run up to the sandbox, digging a hole. "Fuck, fuck, fuck. C'mon." I mumble to myself as I keep digging. After digging deep enough I finally see an opening and jump inside. 

Time to help that asshole.

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1982 Words without the Authors Note

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I'll try to make my chapters long enough and I'm sorry, I'm really bad at describing fighting scenes. See ya and I hope you stay healthy!

-Frog