━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Chapter 24 ━☂

❁ཻུ۪۪ ━ ❝ Who are you?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚⋆｡˚ ⋆

┊ ┊ ┊ ⋆

┊ ┊ ★⋆

┊ ◦

★⋆ ┊ . ˚

˚

"Thank you Oki-san! I am eternally in your debt for such generous hospitality you have offered me these few hours. I wish we meet again in a much more positive context than in our first encounter; so sorry for having to overload you with taking care of me. Here," With his approval (Y/n) gently gripped the wrinkled hand of the senior and opened his hand, depositing a small bag of seeds on the elder's palm before closing his fingers. "these wisteria seeds have been consecrated in a day's worship by capable monks. These should prove useful against any threat that dares to set foot in your domain." Showing the elder another thankful smile, Oki-san grinned back as he held the back close to his chest, his closed eyes turned into crescent moons as he only swayed his head slightly. "I should be the one thanking you, demon slayer, for protecting humanity in its darkest hour. I have something for you as well." Searching around in his back pocket for a few seconds, Oki-san plucked out a handful of something before putting it on (Y/n) open palm. "Acorns; for good luck on the treacherous journey ahead of you."

Peering down at the items that were carefully given in his hand (Y/n) felt a sunny smile spread across his cheeks as he examined the acorn's polished and smooth surface as it shined under the early morning sun, the cool feeling of the nut flowing across his hands comfortingly. Glancing back up at his senior (Y/n) bowed a proper forty-five degrees as Oki-san did the same, both of them uncoiling up at the same time as they said a final farewell as (Y/n) turned around and departed from Oki-san's sight.

Sighing, Oki-san stared at the vacant spot where (Y/n) used to stand, dismay falling over his face as he didn't dare look behind him to gaze upon the face of the demon.

Silence; and then 'thud'.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ultimately stopping on the outskirts of the famed city (Y/n) speedily accelerated his pace as he didn't prefer to exempt any more time in such an adult-like habitat more so than he already had. Without glancing back (Y/n) raced out of the city gates and onto the somewhat isolated road as he made his towards his next destination: Koharu Village. Disembodied people have been discovered dangling by prickly vines every next morning, and this has been going on for two weeks. No one was biased more than the other: young and old, woman or men, all of them could be found—at least once—swinging dead by a vine, most of what was their body being identified with what little flesh was left the next morning every single time. Before he went on this mission (Y/n) interrogated Sho, asking him questions about whether another slayer was to accompany him on this mission or not. And his answer was a very affirmative "no" which (Y/n) was very pleased to hear. He aspired to flex his power properly without someone else intruding in his way. This could serve as a way to get tougher, (Y/n) thought.

Already out of the fairly dissolute road and inside the mountain (Y/n) hummed a modest tune as Sho stood perched on his shoulder, listening to the tones as he bobbed his head up and down repeatedly. For once, after what felt like years, it was just him and Sho—all alone, no one there to disturb them as they quietly made their way towards their next terminal on foot under the morning rays. The bottom half of the mountain range was crowded with thick trees that towered at imposing heights, all of them evenly spaced out with bare snow only being seen near the very top—other than that, the way down was reasonably simple being that it lead to one of the most populated and most intermittently toured cities known to Japan, but right then no one migrated back and forth the city as it was daytime, and times in pleasure could only perfectly prosper in the night.

Humming the tune in one of its very last notes (Y/n) was about to end the song only for the humming to stop short once the chill sensation of something passing through him chilled him to the bone, the hair on his body standing up as his eyes expanded in shock.

'What was that?'

Turning his head left and right rapidly (Y/n) smile turned into a thin line as he scrutinized his surroundings warily whilst Sho had already turned into high alert the minute his master's singing ended. Attentively scanning his location (Y/n) narrowed his eyes, positive that there was something nearby that he couldn't yet identify. Then, just when he thought it must have just been the wind, (Y/n) jumped up in surprise as the feeling threw him off once more, his hair sticking up full way; this time, Sho squawked noisily and flew away, perching himself on a tree branch a good few feet away from where his master was presently. Not disliking the abandonment of his comrade (Y/n) lay his right hand on the hilt of his sword, eyes sharp as the wind turned cold once again—this time, it was his turn.

'God's Breathing: First Form - Falling Grace: Third stage.' In a flash (Y/n) sword was already pulled out as the tip was pointed to the ground making the earth below his feet tremble as massive, dense spikes poked themselves out of the soil and into the open air as it started to instantaneously pursue the unseen target around giving (Y/n) a precise view of where his rival was. "I suggest you give in forthwith and expose yourself unless you wish to get hurt! Demon-sama, I don't wish to hurt you, so please—don't be stubborn!" Yelling this out as confidently as possible (Y/n) sighed in discontent once no answer was heard. "One last chance! Come on, demon-sama, I really don't want to do this!" Even while saying these words in the most sincere voice possible (Y/n) still readied his sword as he arranged for a second attack—ablet shyly as he didn't see there a reason to strike. The demon didn't attack first, so why should he? Ah, yes, because his sensei had told him to become a "man" and kill any demon on sight. For his sensei.

"God's Breathing: Sixth Form - Burning Love: Third Stage!" Shooting towards the target (Y/n) ran side-to-side creating a blurred image of him performing on one side when he was actually on the other as he jumped up from where he stood undetected, his sword above his head as he trained himself to stick down at where he considered the demon was only to tether in his movements once he saw the face of this alleged 'demon'. Long, untamed peach hair that dropped to their neck outlined the protected face of a mask—a kitsune mask, to be more explicit, with two white dots as eyes and a frown near the lips and a pair of fake ears on top, no expression clear to (Y/n) eyes as all were well-hidden from view.

Though it was too late—the attack had already been formed. Watching as an outburst of fire swelled down to the target at intractable speeds (Y/n) did the only thing that he could think of at that moment—counterattack his attack.

"God's Breathing: Second Form - Trapped Lamp: Third Stage."

Green veins cloaked themselves in a wide ball around the two figures as the attack bumped just in time with the veins, causing a sudden burst of light to pierce through the protective barrier only for it to die down a few seconds afterward. Not hearing the raging fire anymore (Y/n) made a small slit from the inside as he peeked out, only to see the fire gone as it had already somehow dispersed, leaving behind dead grass and scorched trees in its wake. Unraveling the veins as they shrunk back into his sword (Y/n) quickly looked over towards where he last saw the person, only to raise a brow as he saw no one there—just the wind and him.

"Listen, I don't think you should hide anymore! I already know that you're here, so why don't you just come out and let us speak—Eck!" Jumping back in curiosity once the transparent image of the stranger popped up in front of him (Y/n) stared at the male in shock before steadying himself, letting out a deep breath as he sheathed back his sword. "You scared me there! Though, that's not important right now—are you hurt? Have you been burnt anywhere? Oh, I'm so sorry for thinking you were a demon! I am an airhead... what an idiot." Scolding himself (Y/n) bonked himself on the head as he stepped forward to check the stranger's state only, instead of (Y/n) coming to him the stranger did it instead as he promptly walked over towards (Y/n) and placed his hand where (Y/n) bonked himself, tenderly rubbing the red area with his hand with great care. Whilst this was happening (Y/n) stood there, frozen, unsure of how to react as he didn't exactly know if he should tell the person whom he almost killed to back off.

"You shouldn't do that to yourself, you idiot. Hurting yourself is never okay—even if you are proving to scold yourself for doing something wrong, reflect on it instead of injuring yourself, okay?" Saying these words with worry and care (Y/n) became even more confused as he didn't know how to react to that as well. To say such caring words as if they were close would have been normal if they at least knew one another, but they didn't, and so-

"Um, I'm very sorry sir, but um... have we perhaps met before?" Once those words left (Y/n) mouth, the stranger dropped what he was doing and promptly backed off, bowing down as an apology which made (Y/n) even more confused about why the male should apologize and not himself. "Please, get up—you did nothing wrong, sir. I should be the one to apologize for such an imprudent behavior-"

"Sabito."

"Excuse me?"

"My name is Sabito; what's yours?"

Staring at the male in negligible dislocation (Y/n) just unwittingly answered with a challenging tone, as if he himself didn't know his name. "My name is Katsuo (Y/n), but please, just (Y/n) is fine." Humming in judgment, Sabito walked closer towards (Y/n) and stood by his side, drawing out his sword as he presented it to the still bewildered demon slayer. "I, too, am a demon slayer. May I join you on your journey?" Though (Y/n) was still bewildered by what was currently happening, he still nodded his head, happy to have a partner by his side in the dreary days to come.

"Good."

"Well, partner... I have a mission in the Koharu Village about some demon so would you like to go there with me?" Declaring this with an enthusiastic speech (Y/n) face lightened up in jubilation once Sabito nodded his head 'yes'. "Great! Come on! I have so many questions for you!" Beaming at the quiet kitsune-bearer (Y/n) dragged him by the arm as he again began his journey to the village, completely unaware of the almost passing-out Sabito who was currently working his best not to freak out that his lover was finally in his reach—touching him.

"What rank are you?"

"Mizunoto."

"Same! Don't worry, we can climb the ranks and get cooler-looking swords!"

Hearing this, Sabito stared at him blankly; or what (Y/n) thought he was doing as he only turned his head to stare at him dead straight. Not paying attention to the disputing mood Sabito was giving him (Y/n) just smiled and chuckled. "I want a baguette as a sword! Just imagine fighting off a demon with a piece of bread—it's the future!"

"The future is dead."

"Long live bread!"

𑁍┊𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐑 ˎˊ˗

⠀ ⠀________

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ┊

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ┊

⠀⠀┊ ┊ ✫

⠀⠀┊ ⊹ ⋆

⠀⠀┊. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

⠀⠀✧ ⠀

┏━━━━━━❂━━━━━━┓

ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!

┗━━━━━━❂━━━━━━┛