" Kaw, Kaw, Southeast side. Southeast side of the mountains." The Kasugai crow screamed .

" Ha, Ha I told you I get it. You don't need to repeat it over and over." The man said lightly. He was moving with a remarkable speed through the forest, tackling trees , bushes and bumps very gracefully. The crow followed him from above and despite being told otherwise, it repeated -

" Southeast, Kaw, kaw- village at the bottom of the mountains. Two attacked when sighting. Kaw kaw. Ice Hashira ordered to slay the demons."

I wish his voice was a little softer- Douma thought.

 Even if he ran twice as fast as he was running now, he wouldn't be able to reach there before 15 minutes. So it doesn't really do much to keep screaming in his ears urging him to move- except hurt his ears.

And as for the people who may loose their lives... well it can't be helped.

Douma just started his patrol an hour ago before sunset. There were sighting of demons near these mountains but he didn't expect the attack would be on the opposite side. As if the demon exactly knew where they'd decide to patrol.

" Hakuji dono would be so frustrated if he was in this situation." Douma told himself. " I wonder how many will die until I reach there," he imagined the clenching fists and gritting teeth of his fellow Hashira.

Should he mimic that same expression?

Nah, it doesn't really suit him.

********

" How... how did you slash me so fast!! I'm a demon moon! " the demon screamed at Douma as he realized he had been beheaded.

" Really? Oh dear, I didn't notice!" Douma made a circle with his index and thumb and looked through it at the demon's head .

" Oh... you're a lower moon, lower six too. And here you got my hopes up that I may have defeated an upper moon," He sighed.

" Don't mock me!... Curse you!... Curse you!!! " The head screamed as it faded in to ash.

Douma watched the sight unfazed, "There- let's see the damages then-

The demon had attacked three houses that were joined and stayed as a community. It killed seven and consumed five already. He was going to approach a man to ask if they saw another demon then he heard another terrified scream.

" KYAAH! HELP! SOMEONE! THAT GIRL IS A MONSTER!" a woman almost fell at his feet, crying and screaming.

A girl had walked out of the house that was invaded. She had long hair, two butterfly hairpins shining in the moonlight. She was walking unnaturally as if she was drunk.

" Help! please(sob)... I went to find the girls as their parents were killed.. (sob)... she bit her sister and she attacked me!! she lifted up her face and people who came near to help her gasped as a ghastly claw wound revealed across her forehead down to her cheeks.

 The girl, now glaring at the crowd - let out a growling noise. Her face was emitting the aura of a predator, veins popped up, nostrils flaring and fresh blood stains on her mouth. Her irishes turned bright red- almost glowing in the dark.

The girl has turned into a demon. How unfortunate.

Douma swriled open his fan, his special Tssen* built of Nichirin iron. Unlike most slayers Douma was skilled in Tssenjutsu and used his blade fans to slay demons. He said he preferred to use something that was not conventional among the slayers .

" Stay back everyone, she's no longer human. I'll take care of it and end her misery-

" NO!" a desperate cry stopped him.

Another girl was waddling out of the porch, obviously the one who had been bitten. A huge chunk of flesh was ripped off from her right shoulder and she was bleeding heavily.

" Please- she's my sister! Please I beg you, don't hurt her!"

" Shinobu what are you doing!? " A man shouted . " She's a monster! Look what she did around!"

" It wasn't her!" Despite of her condition she threw a poisonous glare at the man. " You saw that, it was another-

" But Kanae did scratched me! " The woman from before sounded almost hysteric. " And she did bite you! She bit off flesh out of you! I saw it with my own eyes!"

" But she didn't mean it!" Shinobu tried to defend herself. " She was - she's infected! We- can cure her! Please- just don't-

Before she could continue she collapsed on the ground , breathing heavily. Douma realized the girl had already lost a lot of blood, but that wasn't his concern now. The sister in question had already turned around, agitated by the smell of so much blood. It was miracle enough luck for the girl that her sister had let her previous prey go after biting, to chase another.

" I'm sorry young miss, but it's too late for your sister. I'll make sure to end her pain quickly."

" N..no..

Breath of ice, first form - "Freezing lungs".

In a swift motion Douma strikes his fan at the demon girl. A basic attack, but clean and always worked perfectly.

"!! NEE CHAN!! "

Shinobu shrieked in utter horror as she watched her sister's head fall on the ground.

" Noo!! How could you! Nee chan! Nee chan-

the girl couldn't take anymore of the stress in her weak body and finally lost consciousness.

" Oh, dear. She's in poor condition. Somebody please treat this girl quickly." Douma suggested and after a few people carried away her unconscious body, a elderly couple approached him.

" Mister, you're our savior. Thank you so much! "

" I'm just doing my job", he smiled at them .

Everyone was settling down as the fear of danger disappeared, some inspecting damaged property and others were finally grieving the lost lives. Douma, who was never a man with sentiments, just wanted to leave as his job was done.  " Is everyone remaining okay? There is no other demon right? "

" There was another girl...where did she go?" The injured lady from before asked out of the blue- her voice still trembling. Her wound was being treated by a boy  who replied, " The little girl Kochos took in? I haven't seen her."

" She was with them! When Kanae attacked her younger sister." the woman insisted. " She was alive-"

" She's probably a demon too! ", the guy who was yelling at Shinobu earlier proclaimed. " Sir, you you please go and find out!? " he urged Douma.

" Masoku weren't you supposed to get engaged with Kanae? " An elder said in a disgusted tone. " You seem to have no remorse at all,  at lest show some respect to the poor girl who just died."

" ... I am grieving! But we have to keep others safe too!"

A troublesome type, Douma thought. " It's alright I'll take a look around all the houses." He stated.

He knew he had to stay at the scene until the Kakushi's arrived with medical care and others help, the hospital and police service were very far away so. The slayer attendant volunteered help in isolated places such as these. If he left without clearance, master Kibutsuji would get angry .

He approached the house from where the Kocho sisters came out, and just as he was about to step inside the door he got startled a bit.

In the shadows was a little girl, standing silently. Her hair ponytailed in side, adorned with a similar butterfly hairpin to the sisters. Her eyes open wide as if she was shocked, but her face expressionless.

" Hey there... little girl, are you okay? "

No answer.

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Thank you for reading the chapter! I want to update it weekly but that will depend on my schedule. All votes and comments are appreciated!