Italics- is used when a person is speaking.

Normal- is used when a person is thinking or performing an action.

Normal- telepathically communicating

KALLUTO POV

I bid goodbye to Yama-sama and headed south-ward.

I have to be at the village by noon, so I could investigate a bit before nightfall.

The Demon slayers are guided by Kasugai crows even in this modern world.

I asked Gyomei-san once and he replied by saying that the modern devices were not really reliable and have a greater chance of breaking during combat.

Now that I think about it, it does make sense.

No they don't have Nokia here, I checked.

I was initially planning on buying a sweat-shirt to put over my uniform but thank heavens I didn't, cause I like this haori much better.

........

I was nearing my destination and could spot the village.

It's a bit far from the nearest city, a bit geographically secluded since it is surrounded by a few mountain ranges.

Perfect spot for a demon...

Kalluto, hurry hurry you've reached! Cawed Gama-kun.

Jeez, he's like the GPS- you've reached your destination, I thought but sped up nonetheless.

I also asked him to stop shouting my surname out loud, I could get in trouble someday.

Initially Gama-kun resisted but after a few pecks to my head and some mochi he agreed.

He'll get along with Tanjiro's crow.

I entered the village and immediately noticed how barren it looked.

The sun was about to set and I could hear people's houses and windows clicking shut.

I contemplated for a bit and then decided to knock on a door.

I heard some shuffling and waited for a but nobody opened the door.

Okay... another approach then.

Hello! Is anybody home, I wanted to ask some questions! I said knocking again.

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after a while I saw a man peek through the letter opening.

He looked at me and his eyes widened a bit.

Go home kid, it's about to get dark it's not safe out here. He said in a gruff voice.

I blinked, and then decided to ask even though I already knew.

Why is it not safe? I asked.

You don't know? Children have gone missing here over the past few days, almost every night, last night Kari's toddler went missing.
Go home kid it's not safe. Said the man as he shut the small opening.

I decided to let him be since I know he wouldn't tell anything else, I could practically sense the fear from him.

Still he warned me, I guess ten years old is considered a kid.

And he gave me some information.

Kari-san huh...?

I walked around a bit and then sensed something.

A person...., I walked in the direction where I sensed a person.

Soon I came by a well.

A woman was sitting there with a dirty dall in her hand and blank dull eyes.

I didn't know how, but I just knew.

Kari-san? I said as softly I could and approached her.

For a second the woman didn't move but then slowly looked up, eyes duller than what Kalluto had previously gotten a glimpse of.

The woman just stared at her.

Are you Kari-san? I questioned.

The woman then replied with a meek voice.

Yes. Was what she just said.

Kari, please get inside. I heard a man say.

So he's the one I sensed approaching earlier....

I scrutinized the man, he looks like her, is he her brother?

The man then turned to me as if suddenly noticing me.

A kid? He questioned.
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I'm Kalluto. I said as I held my hand up.

Listen kid, you aren't from around here are you, you need to leave it's not saf- as he was speaking i interrupted.

That's what I'm here for, I'm here to find the culprit behind the missing children. I said.

Culprit- it's probably the bandits who live westward or something, the man said.

It's the work of a demon. I said.

Demons don't exis- started the man.

Yes they do. I said with conviction in my voice.

It's weird how in a world full of monsters, demons who eat humans and can regenerate easily are still a myth.

Before the man say anything further the woman got up for the first time.

Is what you said the truth? She asked.

Yes, the child 'kidnappings' in this village is the doing of a demon. I said and blinked at her.

No, you said that you're here to help. Said the woman, in a still meek and tired voice.

I blinked.

Yes. I said.

Can you bring my daughter back to me....? Asked the woman, voice now cracking.

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I can't promise that. I said and as silent tears ran down from her face.

But I also can't be sure that she can't be saved. I said and the woman looked up at me.

But I would need your help. I said.

........

Kalluto noticed that the woman Kari had scars, small cuts on her hands, bruises old and new ones...the full sleeves of the  tattered dress failing to hide them.

But the most prominent one, was on her face it was not a big scar, but it was prominent to Kalluto as she recognised it as a burn scar.

Kalluto would know about burn scars.

Kalluto, in the past had a fear for fire, maybe Jubelith did too, she wouldn't know....... the memories of her previous life are scattered as if they don't exist.

When Kalluto was out on her second assassination mission, to kill a low level arsonist....there was an incident.

She doesn't know how but the building caught on fire and she was trapped inside.

Already having a fear of fire she panicked, she managed to get out of there somehow.

She doesn't remember how, the memories seem to be a blur...maybe for the best.

The mission was unsuccessful as the target got out too but in a moment of vulnerability she made the mistake of telling Illumi her weakness.

She told him she was scared of fire.

And Illumi being Illumi started her so called 'fire training' which was somewhat like her electricity training.

It involved him frequently buring her with hot metal rods, lighted up candles, bigger than average lighters etc.

The isolation chamber would smell like burnt flesh.

This continued till she was sent off to heaven's arena

Kalluto is not afraid of fire anymore but has a lot of scars, some faded others more prominent.

She makes sure to cover them as much as she can.

Maybe she's scared of fire because it is the complete opposite of her, she's plain, sulky and morbid.

Yeah. That must be it...

Well atleast she's not afraid of fire anymore...

Right....?

She'll make sure to talk to the woman after she's done with the demon.

It may not be her job but she's not leaving a potentially abused person like that.

.........

Nari-san led me to the spot where she last saw her son, it was in a backyard.

Is this house yours? I asked pointing to the house adjoined with the backyard.

She nodded.

I motioned for them to stop and inspected the area...

There's a trail of something dark unseen by normal eyes....

Suddenly I detected the same presence from the trail.

And along with it another presence, a human kid.

Stay here with her! I said to the man without looking back and jumped over the compound wall and onto the roof of another building.

I let my senses guide me hoping from roof to roof and over parapets.

I came to the spot where I could feel a cluster of demonic energy.

Hmm, from that area, I quickly thought and ran without pausing and stopping.

Suddenly, I came on top of a building adjoined to an alleyway with a dead end.

I had my hand on the hilt of my sword the whole time.

I looked down and saw a kid walking towards a demon.

I quickly dived down scooped up the child who looked about four years old in my arms while while simultaneously dodging a punch thrown my way which created a creater in the ground.

He was ready, despite using Zetsu he knew I was there from the moment I was about to leap off the building.

It's like nen doesn't exist to them...

Kekeke.....a demon slayer? A micro one at that....how about you just turn back and let me have the kid, you see it's time for his nourishment so that he tastes better later. Said the demon..

Micro.....?

Who are you calling a pint sized bug who you can squash under your feet!  I said, it isn't my fault I have to be a kid again.

Wait.....have I heard that before.

I shook my head, anyways.

Hey, Koto-san hold this kid for a bit would you? I asked turning to the man who was a distance behind me Kari-san wast there too. They had followed me earlier despite me telling not to.

Well, nothing we can do now.

I turned to the demon and cut off the kick he aimed at me, jumping forwards and creating a safe distance between the three people and the demon.

Suddenly a fireball came my way and I instinctively dodged.

Another and another.

Fireballs..?

I looked at the wall behind me on which the fireballs crashed, no burn marks or impact.
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I purposely let one hit me, on my right hand, my non-dominant hand.

And the hand with which I'm handling my sword.

As expected, no damage....just illusions huh?

I looked at the demon who again lunges forward.

This time though I activated my ten and punched him in the gut.

The demon flew back onto the dead end and crashed into it.

Hmm, that was just like a normal punch.

Nen really doesn't affect them.

Did you take my Rumi? Asked Kari-san from a distance, the voice was louder than I've ever heard her talk in.

The demon paid no attention to her but answered.

Don't bother learning prey's names, I've already eaten all the kids except that little delicacy over there, kekeke. He said referring to the boy in Koto-san's arms.

Kari-san collapsed on her knees.

That's it. This guy has officially done a good job getting on my nerves. My mind raged.

Delicacys...? You turd-face, i'd give you a nasty look but you've already got one.

And Stop your damn keke-ing! I said.

Sakura breathing first form - silent blooming!!

I lunged forward with my attack, the Demon trying to dodge my attack but getting caught halfway.

Let's finish this.

Sakura breathing second form - falling cherry blossoms!

I summer-saulted and created two whip like fast attacks.

There!

The demon's head rolled off.

Ke-ke-did this runt actually?Damn you!!!!! Damn you!!!! Screeches the demon and Koto-san flinched but Kari-san remained unmoving.

The demon started to disintegrate.

I t-sked and waited for him to completely disintegrate.

Then I turned on my heels and walked towards the three

I may have sympathy for most demons, but I don't have any for this one.

I don't care what his story is.

.....

I walked upto Koto-san and started speaking.

The demon was using illusions to draw children in, it probably had an hypnotising effect that's why none of them could be heard crying. I explained checking the kid's hazy eyes.

My eyes then moved to Kari-san and kneeled down before her.
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He-didn't want a daughter....she started saying and I listened.

Her voice was cracking, tears streaming down her face and her voice muffled due to her nose being blocked.

He used to ignore her but lately he started hitting her.....after the first time I took each and every hit for her.....

That explains her injuries.

It didn't seem like she was speaking with me, she was just talking in her grief.

Yesterday, I was in the kitchen......and he locked her out in the backyard.....and.

She sobbed

I can't see my little girl ever again........she put both her hands over her mouth.

Soon the sobs turned into wailing.

I just held the woman's hands and allowed her to cry.

There was nothing I could do or say.

Words and actions would never be able to take the grief away.

The grief of losing a loved one.

This grief is of a mother losing a child, one that I can never understand.

......

Koto-san was crying too.

After a while Kari-san said.

I have a son too, he's an infant..she said.

You do? I asked.

The sun was starting to rise.

I don't want my son to turn out like that wreched man. I'm going to divorce him. She said with a broken voice, but a voice that didn't lack conviction.

I couldn't protect my Rumi...but I'll protect my son. She said and just sat there.

I finally got up and turned to Koto-san.

She's your sister right? I asked in a calm voice.

Take her husband to court, you've got all the proof. I said gesturing to all the marks that were visible..

Koto-san nodded and said, I was going to do that.....but all this happened.

I'll trust you to return the kid to his parents. I said gesturing to the kid that was limp leaning against a wall.

Yeah, you can count on me. Said Koto-san, voice still hoarse from all the crying.

I dipped down and gave Kari-san a hug.

I started walking away, Koto-san will handle the rest.

And Kari-san is strong she will fight.

She's lost one of her reasons to live, she's lost Rumi, but she's got her son to protect.

Kalluto-chan, thank you! I heard Koto-san shout from a distance, I just turned around and gave a smile.

Then I walked out of the village.

......

Head east! Head east! Reach before nightfall! Shouted Gama-kun.

Seriously?! I just finished my mission? I whined.

Gama-kun just started pecking my head.

This damn crow!!

I'll roast you alive!!!! I threatened.

Cawwww!!

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What an eventful day.....er night.

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                            👾......👾......👾

                                    Author

Well another long chapter. 👾✨

This chapter made me emotional, it actually hurt to write 🥹.

I'm not good at writing fight scenes, but I'll try! ✨✨💪