Been interested in KnY for a while now and have been thinking about creating a story. This is the result. Enjoy :).
Soft moonlight was shining down on the ground. The stars twinkling, visible in all their beautiful glory, with the sky free of any cloud or fog. The moon remained high above the sky, destined to cycle earth in its inescapable orbit.
Down below on the ground, calm stillness was the only thing remaining in a lush forest. Most of the animals already gone to sleep, only a few nocturnals were remaining and searching for food or shelter.
A gust of wind scattered leaves on the ground, scaring some small rodents nearby. The crunching of little twigs the only sound they leave behind while they scurried away.
Crunch Crunch Crunch Crunch
A louder, more rapid crunching sound could be heard throughout the forest. Vanishing as soon as it arrived, accompanied by a strong rush of air.
Nocturnal animals perked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, their instincts telling them danger is imminent. Even before they could react, a tall figure passed them, faster than they could perceive.
The humanoid figure was fast, too fast for its size. It dodged left and right, no tree managed to graze him. Animals, shrubs, and bushes were jumped over. There was nothing that managed to stop the figure, be it intentionally or unintentionally.
A river was in its way, large with a current strong enough to snatch anyone unfortunate enough to cross it along.
If someone was able to observe the figure, they would see him tensing his legs, his pace not slowing down. With one mighty jump, the humanoid shape leaped across the river. In a beautiful display of acrobatics, the figure rolled across the ground, and without slowing down, resumed his fast momentum.
The rest of the forest was traversed in relatively small amount of time, since it didn't take long for the figure to reach the edge of the forest. Dirt and stone were thrown up, as he abruptly stopped running.
The figure hunched over, hand on its knees as it took deep breaths, it's chest rising and falling in rapid succession. With one final intake of breath, the figure straightened itself out, brushed the dirt of his clothes and focused on something in the distance.
The moon, bathing the humanoid form in its ethereal light, showed a curious figure. A tall, lean body could be seen. Its frame was that of a young man, one hand on a black hilt and the other against his hip.
Black hakanama pants, fastened with a belt. A dark long-sleeved shirt and a black-and-white haori, the colors separated horizontally in the middle. The right side white, the left side black.
On his face was a plain, pure white oni mask, with curved horns jutting out of its forehead. No extra features could be seen, no mouth nor nose, expect a small bump and two holes to breathe. The only visible features were two small eye sockets.
An average sized katana with a black hilt was sheathed and secured, and a red strip of cloth was fastened around his right wrist, two loose ends swaying in the air.
In the distance was a sizeable village, quiet and still. He couldn't see anyone from his vantage point, but that would soon change when the sun came up, and if he had to take a guess, it wouldn't take long until the first villagers arose.
This village was his destination. Some weeks had gone by since he heard the rumors of a strange cult practicing some twisted, human-eating rituals. Gossips of members suddenly vanishing, rumors about death and human bones appearing in the village.
The few people willing to talk to him about this place were very insisting that he shouldn't set foot in there. They talked about the situation in there, how it was an unwritten rule not to question anything. Most told themselves the deaths were nothing more than accidents, animal attack or natural causes.
For many ordinary people, it was what they wanted it to be. Nothing but rumors, something they could talk and whisper about in the safety of their homes. Only few people existed who knew the truth, including him.
It was better that way. Nothing but panic would be spread in the whole empire if the truth came out.
The truth about man-eating monsters, prowling in the night. About inhuman 'humans', who were stronger than bears and faster than any living being.
About beasts feasting on blood and humans. Unbeatable, unkillable and untouchable. Those words would the average human use to describe them.
He was, of course, talking about demons.
A scowl grazed his face. Even the thought of them managed to disgust him. Vile beasts that need to be put down. Abominations that shouldn't be alive. He despised them, with every fiber of his being. They trample and ruin the lives of innocent, and give no regards about anything besides their instincts. Like rabid animals. And he would put them down like rabid animals.
He took a deep breath to calm himself down, no need to agitate himself when there was no need. He would use the anger, when he fought against them. Until then, he would manage.
With one final deep breath, he rushed into the village, intending to find something or someone to decapitate.
/-\\
Today, or more precisely, tonight has not been a good night for Kanae. Her cute little Kasugai Crow had directed her towards a remote village, which was not odd in itself. Being directed towards villages was as normal as it could get for a Demon Slayer.
No, the 'odd' thing was much more disturbing than she realized. The rumors of a cannibalistic cult weren't rumors at all. But not in the sense of cannibalistic that most would think. No, the cult was led by a Demon. One of the strongest Demons, in fact. The Upper Moon Rank 2.
The third-strongest demon known to the Demon Slaying Corps.
Kanae knew her chances of defeating that Demon was non-existent. In the last hundred years, no Upper Rank was defeated by the hands of Demon Slayers. It's even speculated that three or four Hashiras are needed to win against an Upper Rank., what chance would she have? One lonely Hashira against something like him.
She alone would never be able to do that, but what she could do was fight defensively. The sun would be rising in a few minutes, if she managed to hold out until then, then she would be able to survive this awful night.
She hoped no one was still out and watching, it would break her heart if someone innocent died because of a mistake she made. If it came to that, she would protect them with her life.
Dodge!
Only her instincts saved her right now, as half-a-dozen stalagmites made out of ice impaled the ground in front of her.
She had no room to catch her breath, even staying still for a second would mean her death. A trio of ice-spears narrowly missed her head, razor-sharp icy flower petals tore into the spot she stood and just as she dodged them, another volley of small ice-petals were launched at her.
A sharp cry escaped her lips, there were too many to dodge, so she had to deflect them. Her sword moved faster than the human eye could see, blocking and stopping the ice-petals from cutting her vital spots, but they still managed to cut her arms and legs, their icy coldness biting into her very bones and flesh. Her movements were getting slower and more and more sluggish. She had to hold out longer, only a few minutes until the sun rises!
She could see him in the distance, Kanae held her sword protectively in front of her body. He was holding one of his golden war-fans before his lower face, half-hiding his impish smile.
The form of the Demon was a tall, moderately muscular young man. With a pale complexion and pale golden blond hair. Something resembling a blood-stain was on his head. He was sitting on the rooftop of a house, his legs crossed in front of him.
Upper Moon Rank 2.
Or, as he called himself, Doma.
"Hey, don't run away the whole time. You should try attacking me too, you know." His rainbow colored eyes were wide open, a good-natured smile was on his face.
His voice was kind, as if he was having a pleasant chat with a friend, and not currently trying to kill someone. But Kanae managed to see through his mask. Every emotion he displayed was faked, even his voice was just for show. He didn't show his true self even once in their fight. She didn't even know if he had a true self.
He moved his fans, and instantly more ice stalagmites were created above him. With a flick of his hand, they were launched at her, with barely perceivable speed. They were too big and fast to deflect, so dodging was the only option.
She would have gone to decapitate him long ago if she could, but he managed to freeze the surrounding air, causing her lungs to freeze up as well. While her Flower Breathing technique could behead a demon like Doma, she wasn't sure she'd live if she got too close to him.
His Blood Demon Arts was one of the worst things a Demon Slayer like her could fight against. The ice projectiles were manageable, but the ice-mist he released, would harm her lungs too much. The demon could turn the most valuable thing of a Demon Slayer against them, the very air they needed for their Breathing Techniques.
Oyakata-sama and the other Slayers need to know about Doma's abilities.
She had to fight, had to defend at all costs, until the sun came up. Not only that, but she promised Shinobu, Kanao and Aoi that she would be home very soon.
Another volley of projectiles, small lotus flowers, were launched at her. Some missed her, some she deflected and few managed to cut her.
Her clothes were torn up, blood soaked her uniform and her face and body were dirty.
The last attack left her vulnerable, she was just too exhausted to fight back, something Doma instantly noticed.
Doma rushed in this time; in her weakened state, she was nothing more than easy pickings for him. The Demon appeared in front of her, fans raised and ready to strike her down.
At the last second, she raised her sword to block the attack, his strike connected and split her sword in two. Even the only means to defend herself was destroyed.
His other fan arose, ready to finish what the other had failed to do. During their fight, the Demon's smile never faded, and she didn't know why, but she felt sorry for him.
She perceived his attack in slow-motion. She could see every detail around her and every detail on that faked emotional face of his. Now she knew why she felt the Demon faked his emotions. It was his bright-colored, rainbow eyes. Something in them wasn't as easy to fake as his facial expression and voice, even then, she could barely identify that true emotionless gaze of his.
Her last thoughts went to her sisters, she hoped they would manage without their big sister. Kanae could trust Shinobu, to protect the others. She just wished, she could have spent more time with them.
In the end, she wasn't able to survive this night. In the end, she couldn't keep her promise.
In the end, she couldn't see demonkind and humankind making peace between each other.
Maybe it was a forlorn dream.
'I am sorry, Shinobu. Your big sister won't be there with you anymore. Take care of Kanao and Aoi, while I'm gone. I'm so... sorry.'
Before the deadly strike managed to cut her down, somethi- no, someone collided with the demon, his body flying through a nearby wall.
Fatigue and exhaustion set in before Kanae could steel herself, her body went limp, the remains of her sword clattered on the ground and she, herself, fell down.
Kanae looked up at her savior, he (she guessed it was male) had his back to her, he looked over his shoulder at her and instead of a face, she saw a white, nearly featureless mask with horns jutting out of its forehead. What she could see were two sky blue eyes looking down at her.
And after what felt like an eternity he spoke.
"Hey, you okay there?"
Instead of a harsh voice, like she expected for some reason, a smooth and concerned voice greeted her. If she had to guess, she would say it belonged to someone in her own age-group.
"Y-Yes, I am fine. Don't worry about me, these are just some light injuries."
She wouldn't really call them light injuries, but she didn't want him to worry too much about her, instead he needs to be more cautious while fighting against the demon and his ice-based attack, she quickly told him about his abilities.
"Ice attacks, huh? That's going to be a bit problema-"
"Look out!"
He didn't finish his words, his sword rising and deflecting ice-spears, he couldn't dodge lest he want them to hit her.
And a few moments later, the Demon appeared from the ruined wall.
"Hey now, don't you know it's unkind to just attack without introducing yourself?"
The friendly and jovial smile was still on his face, whatever damage he received from his collision with the wall, was already regenerated and healed, only his hat was missing. He stopped for a moment and sniffed the air.
"Oh, what an interesting smell you have. You are not just human, are you? My my, how interesting."
Kanae didn't know what Doma was talking about, but the way she saw how the mysterious young man tightened his grip on his sword, told her the demon struck a nerve.
"You don't know anything about me, demon filth! Say whatever you want, I don't care, but I will take your head."
His stance changed, before it was more-or-less defensive, but now his whole form changed. His legs were evenly set apart, both hand gripped his sword hilt and the tip was pointed at the demon.
"This is the last time you ruined the lives of innocent people, I will make you regret becoming a demon."
One of the strongest demons in existence against an unknown young man, with the sun just around the corner.
Maybe she would survive this night.
Kanae began to hope.
Brutal combat next chapter? Or maybe they will drink warm tea and talk about their problems? Who knows. And look at that, its Kanae, surprisingly not dead. Maybe it will change? Maybe not? Tell me your opinion on Kanae, I'm interested to hear it.
I hope this writing style wasn't as bad as I think it is, since I am trying something new. Next chapter only if I get 5 thousand follo- haha just kidding. Next chapter hopefully soon. Thank you very much for reading.
