━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 20 ━☂

❁ཻུ۪۪ ━ ❝ Crybaby senpai

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As swift as fleeing light, a figure moved up and down buildings, their haori flowing smoothly behind them, as even the moon didn't seem to spot him. Without a sound coming from the male, the figure stood on top of a soaring building, their (e/c) eyes smoldering gingerly under the moonlight as the dazzling lights under him highlighted his smiling lips.

"Caw! The demon prays mostly on youthful children! Caw! Slay the demon quickly!"

"Whatever you say, Sho."

Without a second to lose (Y/n) plunged down from the building and quietly settled inside of a deserted and gloomy alleyway, rubbish cluttered everywhere as the ground was damp and bloodstained. Kneeling down on the floor (Y/n) gazed at the bloodstains thoughtfully, his eyes burning brighter for a second before he raised his head and peered over his shoulder.

Getting up from his kneeling position (Y/n) coolly strolled down the alleyway grounds, his hand placed on the hilt of his sword. Tapping his finger lightly on his hip, Sho detected this and promptly got the message, flying away as he docked some place far from him in order to not endanger his urgent mission.

Approaching the end of the alleyway (Y/n) scanned left and right, and discovering there was nothing (Y/n) hummed. "We truly must stop meeting like this." Drawing out his sword (Y/n) expression turned deep, the metal of his sword gleaming against the moonlight. Tender laughter echoed behind him, the dragging of sharp claws making (Y/n) still for a moment.

"Why? I find it quite fascinating that the universe seems to be constantly drawing us two together. Truly I do." In a second (Y/n) showed up on the other end of the abandoned street, his sword held readily in front of him with his eyes radiating with danger. "I'm pleased you're enjoying yourself, Demon-sama."

Hearing a sigh of discontent, the demon emerged from the shadows and into the moonlight, his rainbow-colored eyes staring down at (Y/n) with adoration. "I thought I told you to call me Ma-chan, not Demon-sama!" Protesting in front of the official Demon Slayer, Doma puffed his cheeks playfully, positively relishing in the adorable expression of (Y/n) pursuing to be serious.

"You know... being serious doesn't suit you, and I think you know that well." Chuckling, Doma popped up in front of (Y/n), this visibly startling him as he tried to take a step back only for Doma to swiftly grasp his waist into his clutch. "Now, now, don't fall for me too soon. Though I can't say the same for me!" Beaming merrily at (Y/n), the said male glared on, hesitant about what to do.

(Y/n) knew he should try to flee, however—Doma has done nothing, and has even protected him from almost crashing to the ground. Now that (Y/n) thought about it, why should he be struggling to strike Doma? Because he was a demon? Well, yes—but that didn't mean he was evil.

No one was is genuinely 'evil'.

Bewildered by the male's abrupt silence, Doma tilted his head, about to say something, only to freeze as he felt a delicate hand being placed on his chest, tenderly nudging him away as the weight that was located on his hand was now gone. Dusting off any dust that could have turned up on his haori, (Y/n) smiled over his shoulder at the demon, his sword now located inside of his sheath as he showed to have no more killer intent on towards him.

"I'm aware that you had butchered no one here, thus my mission isn't directed at you, Demon-sama—rather, on someone else. Forgive me for cutting our conversation short, but I must be going. Much to do. Demons to execute. Just the everyday stuff. I hope you understand, Demon-sama!" Waving at the demon behind him without turning around (Y/n) continued his route as he chased the fading figure of the killer, his eyes focused.

Staring blankly at the escaping figure, Doma chuckled. 'What a peculiar human.'

"Hey," Presenting besides (Y/n), Doma accompanied him on foot as he gazed down at the human's impassive face. Glancing over at his eyes, Doma smirked as he saw that there was nothing but concentration inside of his (e/c) orbs. "kill me. That's your job, right? To slaughter demons?" Hearing this question (Y/n) nodded his head resolutely.

"Yes, that is our job as Demon Slayers. However, you are presently not the demon that I am seeking, thus I have no interest in you. Please go away. I am very restless at the moment." Hastening his striding as he walked down another alleyway, Doma gazed at him a little longer before sighing, shaking his head.

"I really don't understand you. Is this supposed to be nonviolent teachings derived from your religion? If so, that's foolish." Halting his footsteps upon hearing the demon's comment (Y/n) snapped open his sheath as he stuck his palm on top of the sword's hilt, gradually turning around as he blankly stared at the puzzled demon.

"Please don't disrespect my gods. Their teachings are far superior to anything humankind has ever thought of and has better improved thousands of lives. I don't disrespect your beliefs, so please, don't disrespect mine." Turning back around (Y/n) returned to his path and was about to reach the opening to the street market, only for a voice so quiet and whimsical to come gliding into his ears sending goosebumps up and down his arms.

"Die demon."

Without warning (Y/n) sensed something clash between him as a pair of muscular arms enclosed around his waist, drawing him closer to the stranger's chest as a flash of red zoomed in (Y/n) vision before withdrawing. Now on top of a building (Y/n) pushed the stranger away with his entire force as he ran over to the ledge, gazing down at the alleyway only to find it deserted. Feeling a bit panicked (Y/n) glanced around the sky, working to sense the familiar route of the demon only for nothing to be left of him.

"It seems that bastard left. Oh well, I'll just track him down..." Recognizing that there was someone up there with him (Y/n) turned around only to see the back of a short child, his hair a pitch-black color as the edges of his hair were a light green mint. Observing more intently (Y/n) found out that he was also bearing the same Demon Slayer uniform as him, only with different writings on the back.

"Hey, wait a minute! You're a Demon Slayer as well, aren't you?" Stepping closer to the male, the unknown figure paused, though did not turn their head around to face him. "Yes, and I presume that you're not?" Tilting his head in complexity at the question, (Y/n) shook his head. "You got it wrong—I'm also a Demon Slayer, just like you! It looks like we were both sent out for the same mission..." Thinking about the unusual coincident, (Y/n) shrugged.

'Seems I'm just someone who looks as if they need to be paired up with someone to survive.'

Turning his body around to stare at the towering male, the mysterious Demon Slayer sized him up with his eyes, scrutinizing every inch of his body and spirit. "You look too feeble to be an actual Demon Slayer. Besides—you don't even have the Demon Slayer uniform on." Quickly peering down at his body (Y/n) chuckled anxiously, rubbing the back of his neck as he smiled down at the shorter male.

"Yeah... I don't really like another haori being on top of the one I have right now. The only thing I really have to identify for my title is my Nichirin Blade-Hey!" Screaming in surprise (Y/n) glanced up as he saw the impassive male gazing down at his Nichirin Blade that he held liberally in his hand, posture relaxed as he didn't seem to hold much enthusiasm.

"An imposter like you doesn't deserve a sacred sword such as this. You are just too easy of a target on a demon, aren't you?" Before (Y/n) could retort, the male already left, hopping up and down buildings as he still carried his precious sword prisoner.

"Peppermint! Come back you jerk!" Running at maximum speeds (Y/n) used all of his techniques and energy trying to catch up with the blade snatcher only for the smaller male to still outrun him, not even glancing behind to see if (Y/n) was picking up to him as his acceleration remained the same, never altering.

"Why should I give an imposter a sword that doesn't belong to them? Feigning being an actual Demon Slayer is beyond offensive. Your ancestors must be disappointed in you." His voice was placid as he continued jumping, not offering concern for the numerous invisible arrow-stab wounds (Y/n) suffered because of his taunts.

"Please, give it back! I promise on my family that I'm really a Demon Slayer! I just really, really don't like the haori given to me! Peppermint!" Proceeding to scream out his sword's name (Y/n) felt fresh tears form inside of his eyes, his breathing becoming harsh as he felt he was going to lose his whole life's work. Seizing back his tears the best he could (Y/n) moved up his sleeve and dried away the incoming tears, only to yelp in shock as he felt he was quickly plummeting down.

With his vision still cloudy (Y/n) panicked as he felt his heartbeat speed up. 'My eyesight!' As fast as he could (Y/n) struggled to regain back his former vision only for his eyes to still be blurry. Seeming like an impaired animal (Y/n) brainstormed with fear, as he was uncertain of what to do now that he couldn't see that well. To him, his eyesight was the only reason he made it so far in the first place, so for his vision to become fuzzy was as much as disconnecting the gorgeous wings of a free bird.

All the training regimens he did with his Sensei were now retired from his mind, as the only thing that he could think of was how pitiful and powerless he was. Having to hinge on only his eyesight? How would his Sensei answer to that? He was nothing without his eyes, and now he couldn't see, meaning that he couldn't do anything but just let himself sink to the ground.

'Maybe the ex Demon-sama was right... oh, what a misuse. I just squandered the god's time with me, especially Senseis. They were pursuing to make me into something I'm not. Maybe I should have listened to that old man selling the oranges—I am too fragile-looking to even fight back from anything. All I ever had was my eyesight, and now that was gone. Now I'm sailing down from a building with my sword snatched from someone stronger. Just why... why am I so weak?'

The apprehension of failing his Sensei, the gods, and his caretakers was too heavy in his heart for him to ever think favorably about. He just really wanted to demonstrate to others that he wasn't a sickly little boy, that he could do more than just go to the village and purchase groceries. That he could sustain lives—that he could even make those who cherished for him his entire life proud. But how could he when the only thing that kept him conscious was his eyesight?

'Because of me being such a big crybaby, now I'm going to die. Really... why did the gods choose me?' The bitter whipping air hit his back, though (Y/n) didn't care anymore. If he couldn't even make those who cared and cherished him proud, then really, what was worth anything anymore?

"You're... you're really foolish." Feeling the powerful arms of someone cloak around his body (Y/n) continued to let his tears stream down his baby cheeks, hushed whimpers stumbling out from his mouth as he struggled his best to curl his body enough to not grant the other Demon Slayer to see him in such a miserable state.

"God, you're like a little kid. Crying over something so silly as falling. Come on, stop it. It's annoying." Overlooking the man's insistence (Y/n) continued crying, rocking his head tenderly. "I-I can't!" Groaning in annoyance, Muichiro peeked down at him and sighed. "You're like a little kid that needs safeguarding..."

Watching as (Y/n) proceeded to cry in anguish, Muichiro exhaled and strode away, jumping on top of the buildings as he headed towards a vague building. "Just shut up. I need to go somewhere and I don't need someone drawing so much attention." Once again, he was ignored.

With a last sigh, Muichiro settled inside of a room that was presently being rented by himself. No lights were on as everything was as black as the night, though that didn't mean Muichiro couldn't still see from where he was going. Detecting that the male was now quiet, Muichiro glanced down at the male only to see his tear-streaked face, now tranquil, soft snores coming out of his mouth as he showed to be really pleased from where he laid.

Muichiro deadpanned. "You've got to be kidding me..."

𑁍┊𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑 ˎˊ˗

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