The Native Hunters of Hokkaido
Hello everyone and a Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you all! As you've no doubt guessed already, the holiday has kept me a little occupied and thus, this week's chapter is gonna be a little shorter. Well that and I've also resumed my story 'The Adventures of Team WA: Volume 2'. I'm still fiddling with how I want to approach writing the two stories, but enough of that. As always I'd like to give a shout out to LoneTaker, Noble Eight, and groche9655 for their input on this and other chapters. Now, without any guest reviews or further ado, on to the chapter!
A Train Station in Hokkaido: Midday
It was cold, as he had been informed it would be. Thankfully, Subaru had made preparations for the possibility of encountering especially cold weather with an extra thick cloak, gloves, furred snow shoes and an extra layer beneath his slayer uniform. He'd also brought a pack of provisions, which thankfully meant he didn't even need to explain the presence of a large wrapped blanket with him given the current weather as most people seemed to assume, somewhat correctly, that he'd be venturing in the wilderness. What was more, the people on the train also seemed more able to recognize the fact that he was a Matagi, something he shouldn't have been all that surprised about given that the area he'd be searching with the Hashira was said to be near a Matagi village.
In a way it was strange for Subaru to think about. Sure, he'd continued hunting during his two years of training with his Father, but ever since he became a slayer the thought of hunting regular animals had seemed an almost secondary concern. 'Perhaps this would be a good time to reconnect with my roots a bit,' mused Subaru as he walked out of the station and began scanning the street with his eyes. Hokkaido, like Okinawa, was one of Japan's islands and in this case it was the island in the northernmost prefecture. Unsurprisingly, being that far north meant it was also subject to some of the coldest weather Japan had to offer at any given time of the year.
That being said, if the report about the area's current unusual weather was anything to go by, the climate was behaving strangely even for being a naturally cold and snowy area, hence the snow in July. To his understanding, Subaru had been called up there to lend his wilderness hunting expertise to the Hashira he'd be meeting up with, or at the very least to help protect the guide that had apparently been hired to lead them to the location where demon activity was believed to be taking place. Of course, he'd actually need to find said Hashira first. A task which turned out to be much easier than expected given that the Slayer in question, was apparently over seven feet tall.
"Ah, you've finally arrived," observed the Hashira as he 'looked' at Subaru while keeping his hands together with red prayer beads wrapped around them. It hadn't escaped Subaru's notice that the man was blind back when he was on trial, even despite the other worries he'd had at the time. "It is good to see that our initial meeting a few months back has not dissuaded you from your duties as a slayer. Perhaps this would be a good time for us to get reacquainted under a more civil atmosphere. I am Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Pillar."
"Well you already know me," replied the Matagi before shrugging and bowing anyway, "but since we're trying to start fresh here, I am Subaru Genjirou. Fingers crossed we get along well this time."
"I shall pray earnestly for such an outcome," said Gyomei as he hefted his own massive pack on his shoulder, "in the meantime, come, our destination is outside of this town and it would be best if we arrived before nightfall."
"You got that right," said Subaru as he followed the large Hashira through the town streets and out of the gates. He ignored the looks everyone was giving him and Gyomei, fairly certain they'd just never seen a man as tall or powerfully built as he was. In a way it spoke to how many things he'd experienced over time and especially recently. Had this been two years ago, he would've been somewhat intimidated himself to meet someone like Gyomei. Now, he was mostly just noticing the oddities of the Hashira.
"At least he's relatively polite," commented Azakeru, "all the other Hashira had one weird thing or another about them. But aside from being blind, this guy seems pretty normal."
"You say that like a seven or so foot tall, blind giant of a man is normal," Subaru pointed out in his mind, "and that's not counting the constant praying pose with the beads."
"It's still better than having a snake hanging around his neck or being more stoic than a freakin' statue," Azakeru pointed out, "and don't even get me started on the prick with the scars and green sword."
"You do realize it's only thanks to Tomioka that we're even still alive, right?" Subaru pointed out. "Do you really think I could've pulled the trigger on Nezuko that day or jammed my hunting knife into her, even if I thought of it as an act of mercy?"
"If you got there in time to save Tanjiro, maybe," replied Azakeru, "but looking back on it I guess it's better that we never got to find out. I just hope this big guy is capable of holding a conversation and doesn't keep that chant up the whole way."
"Namu Amida Butsu," chanted Gyomei as the two continued to walk. He would indeed repeat the phrase numerous times along their journey. They would also find his ability to hold a conversation was, there, but he always seemed to revert back to his praying after a bit. It made for something of an awkward journey to the village.
Nighttime: The Nearby Matagi Village
'So this is what one of Father's village's looks like,' thought Subaru as he glanced at the straw-roofed buildings made of wood. Though one or two of the buildings were more modern Japanese buildings, likely for village meetings and other necessary purposes. As the two slayers approached, one of the Matagi stopped what she was doing and walked up to meet them. She wore a cape made of bear fur with a reddish-brown top that resembled that of a kimono but with some tribal designs around the sleeves.
She also had on long pants that were covered on the ends by furry snow boots. "So," she said while adjusting the bandana on her head which held her long black hair out of her eyes, "I'm guessing you two are the ones sent by the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"We are indeed young one. I am Gyomei Himejima," replied the Hashira, "my apologies for not arriving sooner. The train carrying my associate here faced a mild delay due to another snowstorm."
"Everything is getting delayed because of that, unfortunately," said Yae, "I'm just glad I was able to get word to one of your talking crows. By the way, isn't your associate here a Matagi?"
"Born and raised," replied the Hunter in the Matagi language. It felt almost strange to be using it after so long, "you can call me Subaru Genjirou, and you are?"
"Just call me Yae," she replied with a shrug, "and not that I'm not grateful that you two showed up, but aren't Shinobu and Giyu supposed to be patrolling up this way?"
"The Hashira have many responsibilities," informed Gyomei, "Shinobu and Giyu have both been dealing with an increase in demon activity as of late in other parts of their own districts. I have had less of an issue in mine, which was why I was sent in their stead. As for my fellow slayer, Subaru, I believe it's rather obvious why they sent him up here to assist me."
"Well why don't we discuss the finer details inside," said Yae as she motioned for them to follow, "Matagi or not, I'm sure it's common knowledge how much colder it gets once the sun sets." That was in fact the very reason neither Subaru nor Gyomei put up a fuss about heading inside the larger, more Japanese style building. It still had numerous decorations unique to the Matagi culture as well as a few charms that would normally be used to ward away evil spirits. What was abnormal, as noted by Subaru, was how many extra charms were hanging around the enclosure.
"Please tell me," said Gyomei as they entered one of the rooms filled with numerous lit candles where they all took a seat and began storing their stuff, "what has led you to suspect that demons are involved in the unusual weather patterns around here? Historically speaking, the climate has a way of shifting from time to time when we least expect it."
"Because I recognize the signs," said Yae with a mild shudder, "like I told you both before, I met those demon slayers, Shinobu and Giyu, about two years ago when another incident involving a demon occurred. During that time I….the demon that was going around killing everyone….was my Father. He killed my Mother, the rest of my family and even destroyed our home. I tried to hunt him down myself…..but Shinobu and Giyu wound up saving me. Since then, I'd been looking for whatever reason I could to live on-."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the door sliding open, prompting Subaru to reach for his revolver until he realized it was only a girl of about eleven or so. "Yae, are these the people you've been waiting on," asked the girl. She wasn't terribly tall, coming up to a foot above Subaru's waist at best and wore an outfit resembling Yae's though with a more blue color scheme and her bandana was a little more fancy. The animal skin on her back was also that of a deer as opposed to a bear.
"They are, Isosange," said Yae, "did you finish prepping your arrows like I said?"
"I put the same amount in every one," said the now named Isosange as she sat down with the rest of them. "I just hope it works like you say it does, given how hard it was to find."
"Pardon me if I'm stepping into sensitive territory," said Subaru to the new arrival, "but you're an Ainu, aren't you?"
"I am," replied Isosange before pointing at Subaru, "and you're a Matagi. Are you from one of the other villages around here?"
"My Father may have been," said Subaru, "but I was born and raised in the Japanese mainland."
"Are there a lot of bears down there as well?" Questioned Isosange.
"There are plenty in the mountains," said Subaru, "and the weather's pretty cold too depending on where you live. Though not quite as cold as it is here right now."
"I thought Matagi only used Murata rifles," noted Isosange as she pointed at Subaru's weapon, "why's that one got a funky lever on it?"
"I adopted this 1895 Winchester for demon slaying," replied Subaru as he held the rifle up for her to see better, "it was my Father's idea. He actually used a Murata rifle during his own time as a demon slayer and, after a few near death encounters, decided it was best if I had more than a single shot at a time to use against the more dangerous demons."
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that some of our people joined the Demon Slayer Corps to hunt those monsters," said Yae.
"People from all walks of life have joined the Corps over the centuries," said Gyomei, "all with varying reasons for doing so but ultimately with the same collective mission, to rid the lands of the menace of demons."
"And you're, a monk of some sort?" Isosange tried to guess as she pointed at the large Hashira.
"I was raised in a temple," replied Gyomei, "and I pray often, but I would not consider myself to be a monk necessarily. And before I forget my manners, I am Gyomei Himejima, one of the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. It is a pleasure to meet you, young Isosange."
"How many bears did you eat to get so tall?" Questioned Isosange innocently.
"I've, uh, never eaten any bears to my knowledge," replied Gyomei, not entirely sure how to answer such a question.
"Alright I think that's enough questions for now," said Yae as she stood up, "it's already getting late and we've all got an early start tomorrow. I've also got to get a few more things together for leading you two out to where that thing might be. I hope you guys also packed for a long haul."
"You need not concern yourself," said Gyomei, "the both of us have trained extensively in harsh conditions. We shall locate and eliminate the threats to you and your people here without fail. You have my word on that."
Early the Next Morning
Despite her insistence that it was time to sleep, Subaru and Gyomei still patrolled around the village for a few hours after sunset. They split up the patrolling in shifts with one sleeping while the other kept watch, a pattern the group would need to get used to now in order to be prepared for a hunt which might last a couple of days. Yae and Isosange eventually awoke early in the morning, unsurprisingly before sunrise as the rest of the village also began to stir. No one said much of anything to them for the moment, knowing they had to focus on the task at hand. Even the ordinarily curious children were told to let them be as they prepared.
So it was, after several minutes of packing and checking to insure they were well supplied, did the trio set out with Yae in the lead, Gyomei in the middle and Subaru picking up the rear. While Subaru had argued that Yae should be in the middle she was quick to point out that she knew the way and that they'd need a good lookout in the rear with Gyomei being blind. The stone Hashira hadn't objected, stating that he was confident in his ability to fight no matter where they placed him as his other senses were honed to a fine point. Not much else was said as the group moved down the snowy path for several minutes.
Subaru had also been quick to note that morning that Yae was using a Russian Mosin-Nagant M-1891 rifle, which he'd found odd as he'd assumed she'd only have a Murata after the comments made by Isosange the night before. "I got it off a Russo-Japanese vet who thought it'd be fun to make a side bet against a girl at a horse derby," explained Yae, "I wound up picking the right horse and won the bet, which included this rifle that he put up as part of it. It's not a half bad gun, all things considered, so it's kind of become my main weapon for bad situations like these."
"Two weapons with five round ammo capacity apiece would make for some good demon hunting as long as you remembered to coat the bullets like I showed you," said Subaru.
"I even used that extra-strength paralytic stuff you gave me," replied Yae as they arrived at the top of a hill overlooking another village, "I just hope it works as good as you say. The last demon I shot just shrugged off the bullet hole in his head."
"If it did not work, I imagine Subaru Genjirou would not be conversing with us right now," Gyomei pointed out as he started down the hill, "now let us continue. I feel a large amount of bloodlust radiating from that village." Subaru felt it as well, even without Azakeru's input as they cautiously approached and entered the village's main entrance. It was a pretty fair size for a Matagi village, dotted with even more huts than Yae's village, though it lacked the larger Japanese influenced ones hers had had. This fact made it all the more strange that no one was present.
"I don't like this," said Yae as she swept the area with her rifle, "I was here just a few days ago and the village was doing just fine save for a few people that had disappeared."
"With the recent snowstorms and demon attacks, is it possible that they fled and their tracks got covered by the snow?" Questioned Gyomei as he kept his ears open for anything strange.
"If they did, it was in a hurry," said Subaru as he carefully peered into one of the huts, "there are still a lot of essentials in here. And some blood."
"But they would've fled straight to my or the other nearby villages if that's what really happened," said Yae, "a single demon wouldn't have been able to kill everyone here without someone escaping."
"It's possible we're not dealing with just a single demon," said Gyomei, "only a more powerful one could've done this alone and the only way for a demon to become that powerful is to devour a number of humans over an extended period of time. But to my understanding, these disappearances have only been occurring in recent months."
"What if it was a demon who received-," Subaru started to say before he caught a sliver of movement and aimed his rifle at a hole in the foliage. Yae and Gyomei stepped up behind him with their own weapons ready before a small figure popped out of the bushes.
"You demon slayers walk a lot faster than I thought," said a familiar dark-haired girl as she worked to catch her breath. "If I hadn't already known where you were going, I never would've caught up."
"Isosange!" Exclaimed Yae as she slung her rifle back over her shoulder and put her hands on Isosange's shoulders. "What are you doing here?!"
"Where Yae goes, Isosange goes," she replied, "that's what you told me after you found me."
"I meant that in regards to hunting animals and traveling," said Yae, "but what we're going after right now are creatures straight out of our nightmares! We are not harvesting them in the way our traditions demand, we are exterminating them! Do you have any idea how close you just came to getting shot right now?!"
"But I can help," pleaded Isosange, "you and some of the local Ainu have taught me all about hunting and fighting, I even put the wisteria poison in my arrows."
"Isosange, this is not-," Yae started to say before the sound of snapping wood could be heard in the distance. Growling quickly followed after which grew closer very quickly.
"GET BACK!" Exclaimed Gyomei as he grabbed both girls and yanked them away from the bushes before a grey arm lashed out at them. But the monster got little further than that as the moment it poked its head out, Subaru put a bullet in it before backing up into the center of the village with the rest of the group.
"Well we were gonna do baiting eventually," said Subaru as Gyomei and the rest of the group readied their weapons, "but this wasn't quite what I had in mind." His reason for the comment being that a number of other demons had started emerging from the foliage and all around the rest of the village.
"T-These are," stammered Isosange as she looked around, "wen kamuy." In the Ainu dialect, it roughly translated to 'Evil Spirit' or 'Evil One'. And while Subaru would most definitely disagree with the former translation as these were no spirits, they most certainly fit the latter definition given their current intentions. And these so-called evil ones currently had them surrounded on all sides. Their escape, would prove to be rather difficult.
And so the Hokkaido Arc has begun with a demon-infested village. What is it with Subaru's luck and encountering demon hordes anyway? Perhaps you all might have an explanation, so feel free to let me know what you think in the comments along with what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters. Be sure to stop in next time as our heroes encounter a ghost from the mainland's past. 'Til then.
