𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 × 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 [OLD]
𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖳𝗐𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗒-𝖮𝗇𝖾
The night had its charms.
Sure, there were demons lurking.
And danger was always around the corner.
Most nights were spent fighting for survival, too.
But there was always something serene about them.
Still, the sun was something to be fond of as well. The way it rose into the sky, bringing a new day and warmth was always a sight to behold.
As ironic as it was, the sun's radiance couldn't compare to that of Rengoku Kyojuro. That uplifting and reassuring light of his was loved and adored by all who knew him, and nothing would change that. Not even his unfortunate passing.
Y/n was going to remember.
She would hold onto her memories of him, and keep on getting stronger. Continue training to ensure she wouldn't have a friend killed right in front of her ever again.
"Y/n, you dumb 💩, what the hell are you doing?!"
Maybe not out in the rain, though.
Sanemi didn't seem to appreciate it.
Y/n had hardly noticed it when the sun set and rain began to fall heavily, soaking the training grounds as she continued to brutally batter training dummies until they were reduced to fragments of soggy wood.
She intended to ignore the Wind Hashira's shout, but he grabbed her by the top of her head and began dragging her back inside the dojo, "Wh— Shinazugawa-san!"
"You're not getting sick again! Get your 🍑 in here!"
Y/n didn't get to have a little idle grieving period, as she was immediately dispatched on another mission shortly after returning from the Mugen Train.
Unlike Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, she was relatively unharmed despite getting tossed around and pushing herself two far with the swapping breath styles thing.
'Moon breathing feels a lot more taxing than I remember. I've gotten soft.' y/n noted as she departed from the dojo early in the morning.
Shiori was perched on her shoulder, rambling about the mission, but y/n just... didn't hear her. At all.
'Maybe I ought to be listening... I can think about all of this stuff afterwards. And maybe talk to Tanjiro.'
"-and this demon is really tough to kill apparently." Shiori was saying, the duo making their way through a large woodland area, "The first group sent were all killed and get this... their Kasugai Crows were murked too!"
Oh. How frightening. Y/n let out a quiet hum, "Is that so? Well, I guess you shouldn't come with me."
"And let you go in there alone!? No way!"
"I'll be with the second group."
"So? I wanna see some drama!"
Y/n exhaled through her nose, "I'll never understand you... any more information I should know about?"
"Ah, well, there were reports from a single crow who survived..." Shiori murmured, "The people within the forest weren't killed by the demon. Rather... they were either killed by natural means in the forest or they killed one another."
"Killed one another?"
"Yes, yes! Keep in mind, the first group of Demon Slayers were stuck in there for weeks without any sources of food or water. It's to be expected that they turned against one another." Shiori reminded y/n, "But still... something isn't quite right..."
Y/n only hummed quietly. Well, that was definitely scary. The walk dragged on and on and on and... god damn the walking, but they eventually spotted a little town up ahead.
Next to it was the forest, a thick layer of fog surrounding the trees and giving it a rather ominous appearance.
"...tell me more about the second group."
"Sure thing!"
As Shiori rambled on and on about the group, y/n entered the town. It seems rather normal, far more welcoming than the forest that it sat next to.
She sensed no signs of demons anywhere but spotted a familiar uniform disappear into an inn nestled amongst the other buildings in the town.
"Ahem, there's one Mizunoto, one Kanoto and one Hinoe!" Shiori was saying as y/n entered the Inn, "And get this, the Hinoe is actually someone who uses Thunder Breathing like cheese head! Cool, right?"
"I suppose so..." y/n hummed.
"He has a raven instead of a crow, he's super strong and probably has the potential to be a Hashira but damn, he's one mean dude." Shiori huffed, "I spoke with his raven once, she's a sweetheart, she speaks rather highly of him. Apparently, he's really nice to her."
"Is that so?" y/n said quietly, narrowing her eyes at a Demon Slayer who was harassing a woman who clearly didn't want to be spoken to.
'A Kanoto. He looks to be in good condition and skilled, yes, but rather full of himself...' y/n thought with a scowl, 'And he's harassing that woman.'
The h/c haired girl began approaching when the Demon Slayer grabbed the irritated woman by the arm, shouting something at her.
"Wanna know his name?" Shiori asked as y/n neared her fellow Demon Slayer.
"Not really."
"I'm gonna tell you anyways, it's-"
Before y/n could intervene with the situation, someone basically shoved her aside and grabbed the Kanoto by the back of his uniform.
'He's... he's a Hinoe, isn't he?'
Y/n watched in awe from behind her mask as the Hinoe practically lifted the Kanoto off his feet, slamming the dude's head against the table once. The collision produced a loud bang which caught everyone's attention as the Kanoto yelped.
"K-Kaigaku-san!?" The Kanoto cried as the one who'd attacked him glared at him with furious turquoise eyes.
'Reminds me of lightning.' y/n thought as the ebony haired young man scowled down at the lower ranked Demon Slayer.
"Oh! That's him!" Shiori chimed.
Kaigaku was of average height, wore the standard demon slayer uniform,, had his sword's sheath across his back rather than at his hip and wore a necklace with a yellow magatama pendant on it.
It only took a single glance for y/n estimate just about how strong he was. Shiori was right. He did have potential, y/n had to admit.
"Quit fooling around you buffoon!" the ebony haired Hinoe shouted at the frightened Kanoto, "You're supposed to be resting, not harassing women, dip💩!!!"
"Yeah! Get em!" Shiori exclaimed and seemed surprised when y/n took a step forward, "Huh, y/n?"
The young lady gripped the Hinoe's wrist which held the trembling Kanoto's uniform, "Release him."
The Hinoe, Kaigaku, turned to glare at y/n instead and demanded, "Who are you?"
"Y/n. Rank Kinoe." y/n replied without missing a beat despite the lie, "I was instructed to join you on this mission."
"Kinoe, huh..." Kaigaku murmured before releasing the Kanoto, "Fine."
"Thank you." y/n said simply before helping the Kanoto stand up while Kaigaku walked back to his seat, grumbling something.
"Whew... thank you so-" the Kanoto didn't get to finish, y/n delivering a nasty punch to the dude's jaw.
The force practically sent him flying, the lower ranked Demon Slayer crashing into the table.
The other Demon Slayers within the Inn and the normal folks too all looked at y/n in shock. Kaigaku's brows only raised a lil bit.
"I hate bastards like you who think they can do whatever the hell they want just because they're a Demon Slayer." y/n growled as she cracked her knuckles, "If your punk ass bothers someone ever again, I'll do more than punch you in the jaw."
And with that, y/n exited the Inn. Not before shouting a, "And by the way! We leave for the forest at dusk!"
There was silence in the Inn after y/n left but the excited chatting started up after y/n wandered into an alleyway and dropped to her knees there.
"Y/n? You okay!? Are your lungs failing or something!?" Shiori cried, hopping from her shoulder and circling her anxiously.
"No, I'm fine-" y/n murmured, taking off her mask so she could breathe better, "I just..."
Shiori deadpanned at the sight of y/n's embarrassed expression. She was practically sweating bullets...!
"...that Hinoe dude was super scary..."
"Oh come on, y/n!"
~~~ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ•°*
When the sun set, y/n met up with the group of Demon Slayers near the forest.
She met the Mizunoto, a sweet boy who was probably a year or two younger than y/n. Perhaps around Nezuko's age?
He had deep auburn hair and luminous maroon eyes. He was rather sweet and was very upbeat. If y/n was being honest, it seemed like he was trying not to show any signs of fear in front of y/n.
She had to admit, he was doing well.
Chisuke somethin. Y/n had forgotten his surname but the ball of sunshine had happily allowed y/n to call him Chisuke.
One of the Kanoto, the dude Kaigaku beat up, his name was Iori or Aoki somethin-somethin. Y/n didn't care enough to remember his name so she just called him The Pest.
The Pest had short ebony colored hair and pale green eyes too. Y/n compared his eyes to a bug's and got yelled at.
There was another slayer, but we'll call her Death Fodder. Don't ask why. And then there was Kaigaku...
We don't talk about him.
As the six Demon Slayers stood before the forest in silence, Chisuke looked around as though unsettled by the silence.
"Wow, this place is creepy, isn't it?" he chimed, "But at the same time, it's like it's urging us to enter!"
"Super creepy!" Death Fodder agreed.
"It's giving me the creeps..." The Pest grumbled.
"Come on, let's head inside. The sooner we find that demon and kill it, the better." Kaigaku ordered before fearlessly walking on into the forest.
"Tch, this guy's full of himself." the Pest grumbled as the others followed Kaigaku into the forest, "Who died and made him leader?"
"What? Did you hope they'd make you the leader?" Death Fodder teased and the Pest gave her a sharp glare.
"Shut up!!!"
Chisuke began to snicker which earned a furious, "Be quiet, shrimp!" from The Pest.
"Oi, don't talk about Chisuke-kun like that!" Death Fodder snapped when Chisuke gasped as though he were offended.
"Will all of you shut the hell up!?" Kaigaku shouted over his shoulder at them.
Everyone fell silent though Chisuke pursed his lips and whispered to y/n, "Y/n-san, tell me about yourself...!"
Y/n stared at the younger boy while he smiled back at her despite looking right at that damn oni mask of hers.
"...how..."
"I dunno, where you grew up, stuff like that! Here, I'll go first!" Chisuke whisper shouted, "I live with my brother and my Aunt since my parents passed away when I was young!"
"Why is that?"
"They got very sick."
"Ohh, I see. I'm sorry for your loss."
Chisuke smiled, "It's alright, they're much happier now! That's what nii-san tells me!"
'...cute.' y/n thought simply.
"What about you?"
"...I have a younger brother."
"Oh? What's his name?"
Y/n was silent before continuing, "I have a cat too. Instead of a crow. The ball of fluff laying on my shoulders. She's called Shiori."
"Shiori..." Chisuke echoed, "Oh! The cat who told Kaigaku-san to beat up Aoki-san!"
"Mhm."
"She seems really fun!" Chisuke chirped.
"She's a bit of a weirdo."
"That's alright! After all, being 100% normal sounds rather boring, right? ^^"
"...I guess so."
"Keep an eye out you guys. This is where the first group of Mizunoto disappeared." Death Fodder announced, "Chisuke-kun. Stick close to us, okay?"
"Right!" Chisuke exclaimed.
Y/n took a moment to observe her fog covered surroundings, staring warily at the trees. It was quiet. Too quiet. Yet at the same time, the forest was rather lively.
It seems like everything around her was alive... watching them, waiting... eugh, it gave her the creeps!
"Something is nearby." Kaigaku suddenly turned, his hand resting on his blade as he glared off into the woods.
Everyone else turned, remaining back to back with a puzzled Chisuke in the middle.
"Hey? What's going on?" the boy demanded, "Move, I wanna see...!"
Y/n raised a hand, "Calm down."
Death Fodder blinked at y/n curiously, "Y/n-san?"
"It's just one of the Mizunoto." she hummed just as a rather ruffled looking girl came stumbling out into the open.
She was breathing heavily, dark gray eyes wide and filled with tears as she panted. Her short white hair had dirt, leaves and sticks in it plus her uniform was slightly ripped.
"Finally, they sent help!" the girl gasped, relieved.
"You, what's your name?" The Pest demanded and the girl halted, seeming a little startled.
"O-Oh, it's Kurosawa! Kurosawa Azami!"
"Kurosawa-san, is there anyone else who survived?" y/n asked.
"No, they were either taken during the night or killed by the others." Azami replied, eyes glittering with tears, "We tried to find our way back to the exit but it was like we were going in circles!"
"Circles?" Chisuke murmured then chimed, "Hey, now that I think about it, wasn't the exit just behind us?"
All eyes turned to the boy, "Huh."
Chisuke shrunk under the gaze of everyone else in the group, in addition to y/n's terrifying mask, "Did I... say something wrong?"
Kaigaku looked back in the direction they'd come from only to find fog, "Damn."
"Damn???" the Pest demanded, pale green eyes filled with alarm, "What do you mean damn? Elaborate!"
Kaigaku turned his gaze to the panicked guy and stated, "The entrance. It's gone."
...
"HUHH!????" everyone aside from Kaigaku and y/n cried in unison.
"There's no way it's gone! How do you know?" Death Fodder demanded, "We should go back and check!"
"No, it's gone. We walked past where it should've been twice already." Kaigaku replied.
"And when we did, there were just more trees where it initially was." y/n added, to which the Pest groaned.
"Well, why didn't you say anything?!"
Kaigaku and y/n turned their heads away.
"So... we're trapped." Chisuke murmured, it was more of a statement than a question.
"Seems to be the case." Kaigaku confirmed.
"Well isn't that just great?" The Pest groaned, "Thanks a lot, woman."
Death Fodder glared at the ebony haired Pest, "I know damn well you're not talking to me."
"I am talking to you!" the Pest snapped, "This wouldn't have happened if you'd just paid attention!"
"Excuse me-!?"
As Death Fodder and the Pest began arguing, Chisuke gently tried to comfort the trembling Azami while Kaigaku grew gradually more and more irritated.
"You idiots!" Azami cried, "Do you realized just how doomed we are?"
"What do you mean?" y/n inquired.
"There is no demon, it's the damn forest!" Azami shouted, "It's a man-eating forest and it'll keep us here until it decides it wants to eat us!"
Y/n frowned beneath her mask, "Well that certainly isn't good."
"No shit, Demon Lady!" The Pest snapped at y/n, "Aren't you rank Kinoe or some shit? Do something!"
"I..."
Y/n retreated to go rest her head against a tree and sulk, "M'sorry..."
"H-Hey, let's calm down!" Chisuke suggested, "We won't be able to think of a way out of this situation if we're freaking out."
"No, no, do keep arguing. I need my daily dose of drama." Shiori complained from where she'd woken up from her nap on the miserable y/n's shoulder, "And I need more dirt on that bug eyed ♀️🐶."
"WHO ARE YA CALLIN BUG EYED, RAGGEDY ASS CAT?" The Pest shouted.
"YOU! WITH YO MUSTY LOOKIN ASS!"
"Will you shut up already? The shrimp is right." Kaigaku said sharply, "You, Kurosawa, tell us what you know."
Azami nodded, "Okay, listen closely."
____________________
Shiori: YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS, TIME FOR A TAISHO SECRET, MADDA FACKA!!!
Shiori: Y/n will always be the last person to panic about being trapped. Why? She was trained to be calm in situations like these, duh.
Shiori: And that training is definitely going to come in handy soon, ohoho
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