Hello and welcome to another chapter of The Brooklyn Demon Slayer! As stated in the notes from the last chapter, this one will mostly focus on Himari giving a basic rundown of the demon slayer clans to the main trio and Gordon's opinions on the matter, particularly concerning his grandfather. And speaking of, we'll also find out why Gordon has a strong dislike for his grandfather in his own words.
I'm really sorry this chapter took so long, but you all know what's going on in the world with "that" happening. Hope you guys are playing it safe out there, and I give my condolences to those that perished.
Special thanks to those that liked and favorited the story so far. I'm really grateful you guys took the time to read this considering the times we live in now.
So with all that said, let's get on with the story!
Disclaimer: All characters and settings (including OCs) are properties of their respective owners.
Legend:
"Normal speech"
"[English speech]"
"{Other language}"
"Thoughts (Assume character's native language)"
Third Round - The Family Business
Visual: Gordon applying a fresh sheet of grip tape on his skateboard out on the rooftop of his New York home. Shirone is busy playing with one of the wheels in the background, chasing it around.
June 4, 2017 (Sun)
Early Afternoon
Avoiding the prophecy of my new found lust
You will never live again, soon your life will end
I'll see you die at my feet, eternally I smash your face
Facial bones collapse as I crack your skull in half
The macabre, gore-laced verses of Cannibal Corpse's "Hammer Smashed Face" pounded through Gordon's eardrums as he was browsing the web through his smartphone. The reception was decent, but not terrible considering where he was at the moment.
The place was an isolated area located on the outskirts of town, lined with trees and bushes along mountainous terrain. As someone who's lived in a city like New York for most of his life, it was a pretty sharp contrast. Not even Central Park can hope to compare, and that's the least city-like part of the Big Apple he's been to if you discount the skyscrapers.
As to why Gordon is here, well...
The skater looked up from his smartphone, his grey eyes gazing at the sight before him.
To put it bluntly, it was a bloodbath. A complete murder-fest.
True to the song's lyrics, there were corpses of varying types of monsters lying in his wake. While some either had their limbs cut off or were impaled, others were not so lucky, their bodies mutilated and maimed beyond recognition. A few even had their heads sliced clean off. The putrid and rancid stench of exposed organs filled the air around Gordon, making it a hassle to even breathe without taking it all in.
...Which begs the question, who would be responsible for causing such a grotesque scene that would have Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface running for the hills?
SLICE!
"GREEEEEEE-!"
Another monstrous victim has been claimed, its arm severed from its body while crying in agony. Before it had any chance to direct its spiteful gaze towards its attacker...
SLICE! SLICE!
It has already met its end after it was cut in three, blood spraying from its open gashes as the monster fell forward, revealing its attacker.
There stood Himari, garbed in a maroon, two-piece kimono with dark accenting and a pair of brown boots. Her obsidian ponytail swayed with the mountain breeze, and her white cat ears were on full display. The swordswoman's katana was drenched with the blood of her slain victims, the crimson liquid dripping from its curved blade.
A small herd of monsters soon gathered around the cat-eared swordswoman, who seemed more than ready to engage in another round.
One of the monsters made its move, but Himari quickly countered by cutting its arm off and beheading it. Keeping with the momentum, she moved on to the second monster and cut its chest right in two, causing a spray of blood and digestive juices to erupt from the gaping wound. Pivoting her foot, Himari struck two more that were coming for her, slicing their torsos with a horizontal swing. One monster made the unfortunate mistake of attacking the cat-eared samurai from behind and was met with a painful stab in the throat, causing it to choke on its own blood and eventually fall forward, dying face down on the cold, hard ground.
In little over thirty seconds, the skirmish was brought to a swift close.
It was quite the jarring scene if Gordon has to be honest.
But how it came to this was another story entirely. One the he still has conflicting feelings over.
May 31, 2017 (Wed)
Early Morning
Gordon, Yuuto, and Rinko were all seated in the living room of Gordon's house, the latter two wearing their uniforms and the New Yorker still dressed in his PJs. This following a misunderstanding that happened earlier in his bedroom that involved the ribbon girl nearly clobbering Gordon with her school briefcase upon learning who was with him in his bed.
Facing the trio was Himari, garbed in the same yukata she wore the other night with her cat ears and tail out on display. Unfortunately, the feline appendages didn't sit too well with Yuuto once it was discovered he's highly allergic to cats (coincidentally, this was where Rinko's skepticism was quelled, if only by a little). But since Himari's ears and tail play a vital role in the discussion, the brunet had no choice but to put up with them for now.
Himari cleared her throat a little before beginning her lecture.
"Now the Young Lord may not be aware of this until recently, but in truth, he is a descendant of the Kohgawa family, one of the twelve Demon Slayer families that protected Japan from Ayakashi since ancient times."
The Japanese teens turned their puzzled gazes to Gordon, who was also a bit surprised at the news.
"Demon...Slayer? Evans-san?"
"So you're saying the Skate Punk's some kind of monster hunter or something? How?"
Gordon, on the other hand, started to realize the meaning behind Spider-Tai's words.
Here I find a descendant of the Kohgawas, and it's just some foreigner who hasn't even learned to channel his powers.
The only question worth asking is, how is he related to them?
...No. He already knew the answer from yesterday after piecing it together. To say it was nothing but coincidence would be the understatement of the year.
Nonetheless, Gordon decided to keep quiet about it for now.
"I will get to that, rest assured," Himari promised Rinko before continuing her exposition. "As stated before, the Kohgawas are one of twelve Demon Slayer families that existed since ancient times, dating back to the Heian Era. The government of that period was relentless when it came to the threat of Ayakashi, and in the countless battles that ensued, a large number of Demon Slayers and Ayakashi were killed. Even to this day, there are many descendants of Ayakashi that still loathe these demon hunters."
Yuuto and Rinko both gave slow nods, having been reminded of what happened with Taizou and what he tried to do with Gordon.
"However, one of the Kohgawa heads decided to choose mercy over reward. Rather than slaying the Ayakashi in front of him, he subdued it, knowing that doing so violated his loyalty to the authorities at the time."
It was then that Himari directed her focus on Gordon, catching the young skater's attention.
"The Ayakashi the Kohgawa head spared happened to be my ancestor," she said, giving a broad smile.
Gordon, Yuuto, and Rinko all exchanged curious looks at each other before redirecting their attention to Himari, the ribbon girl being the first to speak up.
"What does that have to do with anything? So one of the Skate Punk's ancestors decided not to skin yours, big whoop."
"That's...a bit cold, Rinko," Yuuto said, sniffling in between.
"Hey, I'm just saying. And you," Rinko jabbed her finger at Gordon's bicep. "How come you never told us you were part-Japanese during our chat yesterday? Would've made connecting the dots a lot easier."
The sepia-skinned skater held his arm with a frown. "Hey, I got my reasons, okay? Wah-!"
Gordon suddenly found himself pulled up into a tight and affectionate embrace by Himari, the cat Ayakashi holding his head close to her cheeks. Due to the difference in height, Gordon was bent down slightly. He wasn't complaining, but could she at least read the atmosphere a little?
"But of course it does! From then on, it was decided that a pact be made that would have my ancestors serve the Kohgawas for generations to come!"
"..."
"..."
Yuuto and Rinko stared at the pair with incredulous looks as if they had just caught sight of Godzilla shopping the streets of Tokyo like it was a regular occurrence.
Just what in the world did they get themselves into? As if the Spider-Tai incident wasn't crazy enough as it stands, this only takes it up a notch further!
...Wait, shouldn't they be doing the-?
"EEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?"
Yep, there it is. There it is.
"H-H-Hold on a sec, Cat Princess! Are you basically telling us you're the Skate Punk's slave or something!?"
"Hey, that's really pushing it, Ri...! Ah...! AH-CHOO!"
"Yeesh, your allergies really are acting up, huh?"
As Rinko handed Yuuto a fresh tissue for his ailment, Gordon managed to successfully pull himself away from Himari after a bit of a struggle, regaining his bearings while shaking the cobwebs from his head. And here he thought he could finally, finally get away from Aunt Angelique's bear hugs. Nope. Even in another country, Gordon still has to suffer from them. It really doesn't help that his new housemate-slash-servant(?) isn't human to begin with.
"Young Lord."
The New Yorker turned to face Himari once more, the ravenette now wearing a determined expression, her eyes narrowed.
"From this day forward, I shall become your shadow. At times, I will become your sword, and at others, your shield. Whatever evil that approaches you, I shall vanquish it without fail."
Silence took over the living room for several moments after Himari's solemn pledge before it was broken by Yuuto, after blowing his nose out with a tissue.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask. Is that okay with you, Himari-san?"
Himari shook her head. "I do not mind."
Yuuto took a curious glance at Gordon before moving on with his question.
"...How is Evans-san related to the Kohgawas, anyway?"
Himari was silent for several seconds before releasing a long sigh as if knowing this kind of question would come up sooner or later.
But just when catgirl was about to give her answer...
"I'm headed upstairs."
Himari and the others blinked in surprise when they saw Gordon step out of the living room.
"H-Hey, Skate Punk! Aren't you gonna-?"
"No."
The sudden shift in the New Yorker's tone almost caused the two brunettes to jump. It was cold and distant, if not hostile, a sharp contrast from his mostly informal way of speaking. "Mostly" as in only using honorifics towards respectable people, such as teachers and upperclassmen, to name a few. Even the look in his eyes was stone cold.
"I already know, and I want no part in this. Plus, we're all gonna be late for school if I don't get changed. Later."
With those words, Gordon left the room, the eventual slam of his bedroom door bringing an apparent end to the topic.
"..."
"..."
Once again, silence hung all over the living room, Yuuto and Rinko exchanging apprehensive looks while Himari slowly shook her head and gave a weary sigh.
Up in his bedroom, a half-dressed Gordon was fixing up his hair, his mind recalling what his grandmother told him several months ago.
I believe you will find the answers you have long sought regarding who your grandfather was. Whether or not to accept it, however, is up to you.
"Figured that old bastard would be involved in this," he muttered with a grimace.
Later...
"Alright, listen up. I know it's a bit sudden, but starting today, we have a new transfer student coming to our class."
A familiar figure patiently stood in front of Gordon's class at Touryou High, wearing a red school uniform with a black skirt and thigh-high socks of the same color. The pink ribbon holding her ebony ponytail and wine purple eyes were also a dead ringer to the young skater.
"This young lady here is Himari Noihara-san and her family just moved into town roughly a week ago. That being said, I hope you all will treat her the same way as Evans the other day."
As Gordon stared at Himari in complete bewilderment, the smartphone in his pants pocket vibrated, prompting him to take it out, of course keeping it hidden from Ms. Kisaragi's sight.
It was a message from Rinko.
Ribbons: How'd the Cat Princess get enrolled in our school so fast!? WTH!?
Gordon shifted his attention towards the girl in question, who was giving him a look that went along the lines of, "Hey, don't look at me, ask her already!"
Gladfully taking the hint, the New Yorker texted his reply.
Gordon: Fine, I'll ask when I get a chance to, 'kay?
Pocketing his smartphone, Gordon took an aside glance at the window beside him, ignoring the chatter from the male students about how beautiful Himari looked and how they want to ask her out. It would be a snowball's chance in hell for that to happen, unfortunately, considering he's her master first and foremost.
Master... Young Lord... Both were unfamiliar terms Gordon has just now only started to grow accustomed to. Heck, him being some kind of demon hunter is just another thing to add to the growing laundry list of things he more or less gave a damn about.
"I would like to borrow this seat, if you were to be so inclined."
"Huh? Oh yeah, sure! Take it!"
"You have my thanks."
Gordon heard the sounds of sliding coming from a nearby chair, causing the grey-eyed skater to turn his head to see Himari seating herself beside him, a gentle smile spread across her face.
Of course she would have a seat next to him. It's almost a given at this point.
"Evans!"
Gordon raised his head to find Ms. Kisaragi's gaze directed towards him. "Yes Sensei?"
"Be sure to give Noihara a hand if she needs anything."
The Brooklyn teen gave a nod at the teacher before turning his attention to Himari.
"Pretty sure Sensei didn't tell us 'bout a new student coming a day after I came in. So what's the deal? Used some Jedi mind tricks or somethin'?"
"I do not understand the phrasing, but I suppose you may call it that. T'was a simple spell that I cast upon this area the other day to make the people here more accepting of me."
Gordon let off a dismissive shrug while looking ahead. "Whatever; doesn't bother me at least."
"Young Lord."
The New Yorker cast a sideways glance at Himari, a serious expression worn on her face as she quietly opened her notebook.
"Please understand why I am doing this. As your bodyguard, it is necessary that I..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Gordon cut her off, taking out his notebook and going over his notes with a bitter scowl.
"Not like that geezer's done enough to screw my life with this demon-slaying BS," he murmured, nearly whispering to himself.
You know...
When I think of "family business," Gio's and Pops' barber shop are usually what come to mind.
...Right, guess I should give a quick rundown.
Gio's is the name of the deli Dante's dad and uncle run in Bensonhurst. It's been with 'em for a few generations now, ever since their great-grandfather migrated from Italy to set up shop.
As for Pops' barber shop, it's been around before I was even born. Sometimes I work there after school, but it's usually the minor things for the most part.
You see, those are the kind of businesses I'm familiar with.
Killing demons, on the other hand...
Yeah, try getting a job with that written on your resumé.
Present-day...
Since Himari entered Touryou that day, she quickly became popular among the second-year students, especially with the boys. Gordon has even heard some of them call her, "The mysterious, beautiful transfer student with the big tits."
...
...
He wished he was joking when he first heard that title. Those guys sure like to wear their hormones on their sleeves, do they? He's seen enough of Dante in his so-called "Stallion Mode" and one of his coworkers at Pops' barbershop to know where their lives are heading.
Of course, Gordon couldn't deny that Himari is indeed a beauty to behold, considering he's been with her for only a week now. Not only that, she is also proven to be quite the athlete as well, having demonstrated to easily surpass Rinko in nearly every school sport. It wasn't even a rivalry at that point. If anything, it would be like comparing complete novices to Olympians. Or tomatoes to nuclear warheads.
Though there were a few things Gordon wished Himari would stop doing, primarily when he's sleeping. He's worried that she might accidentally kill him one day with how he's more or less become her body pillow. Again, Aunt Angelique's bear hugs quickly come to mind.
But getting to the issue at hand...
Him being connected to the demon slayers... having to fight and kill these "Ayakashi"... It was like the whole world was flipped on its head the moment Himari came into his life.
But again, this "family business" of Gramps wasn't any of his concern. Why did he have to be the one to inherit something like this in the first place? Pops' barber shop would be a much better alternative since, you know, he knows it a lot better?
...Wait just a second. Speaking of Pops, how come he wasn't involved in all this? If Gramps wanted to hand down his so-called "business," then Pops should've been the successor, logically speaking.
He'd better ask Himari about that later.
Gordon took his attention off his smartphone just as the cat-eared swordswoman swung her bloodied katana to the side in a downward swing, causing the red substance to hit the ground in spatters. With a swift movement, Himari then brought the katana to its scabbard and slowly ran it over a cloth before resheathing it.
Feeling there was no need to keep his headphones on now that the proverbial Samurai Jack-ing was over, Gordon took them off his ears and hung the cans around his neck as he watched Himari take a deep breath.
"Eh?"
The cat Ayakashi quickly took notice of a blood spot on her left wrist, just near the sleeve of her kimono. Her violet irises became glazed over as she moved her wrist close to her face. She slowly extended her tongue towards the spot of blood and started to lick the carmine substance, holding her other hand close to her chest.
"Nnnh... *Slurp* Nnn... Haah... Hnn..."
A disturbing chill ran down Gordon's back before the skater averted his gaze, though that didn't last long.
Also, was it just him, or does the sounds she's making and the pose she was holding seem like...like she was actually getting off on it?
Nevertheless, it served as another reminder that the beautiful girl in front of him wasn't human. How can he if she's capable of producing massacres like the one he witnessed just a moment ago?
In the end, aren't all cats hunters at heart? It's part of their natural instinct, after all. There's a reason why lions are called Kings of the Jungle, and it's not because they look awesome. They have to show they mean business. Same goes for any kind of cat out there. Leopards, cheetahs, tigers, panthers, even the typical house cat can become a fearsome predator if they put their minds to it.
So why wouldn't Himari be any different since she's his bodyguard first and foremost?
"Is she really okay with this? Wah-!"
Gordon nearly jumped the moment he saw Himari in close proximity. Though her definition of "close" meant almost coming up to his face in a sensual and/or teasing manner.
"Y... Yeesh, don't do that, Scarlet!"
"Fufufu~ I cannot help it when you look so dazed."
When Himari first proposed the idea of going to the mountains for what she considers a "date," Gordon expected something along the lines of "going out on a hike" or "having a picnic on the hillside."
But of course, it had to involve the "family business." At this point, why wouldn't he be surprised? He just saw Scarlet create a monster bloodbath a moment ago, for fuck's sake!
"And now that I do not sense any Ayakashi in this area..."
"Hm? Whoa-!"
Gordon quickly found himself caught in Himari's embrace, the raven-haired cat samurai snuggling up to him. With the difference in height, Himari's head only reached the skater's chest. Not that it mattered to her since she found the position ideal.
"C-C'mon, Scarlet, quit it!"
"Ehehe~ I refuse~"
Himari continued to nuzzle her head on Gordon's chest, letting out a relieved sigh as her cat ears twitched in delight.
"Friggin' hell, this girl..."
Of course, Gordon didn't mind this level of affection from Himari. He has dealt with Shirone for several years and he's thankful for that bundle of joy that is Rika's cat. It's just that, well...
Shiro is just an ordinary house cat, no use denying that for sure.
Himari, on the other hand, is one that can take the form of a beautiful teenage bombshell. And it definitely shows if what was pressing against his torso were of any indication.
And still...
"Ah, screw it."
Gordon reluctantly laid his hand atop Himari's head and began stroking it gently, getting a feel of her smooth ebony locks. Every now and then, he would play around with Himari's cat ears, eliciting a soft and gentle purr.
"Seriously, what am I doing...?"
This wasn't the first time he's done something like this, either. Some mornings, he would wake up to find his hand resting on one of Himari's ears, often leading to the cat Ayakashi teasing him for minutes on end.
"I swear she likes this way too much," Gordon muttered frustratingly. Judging from Himari's blissful expression, it looked like he was right on the money.
"Hehehe~ Mrowr~"
...
...
...
Goddammit, WHY!? Why did she have to sound so effin' adorable right there!? At this rate, he is sure to develop a catgirl fetish sooner or later. He really didn't want that right now!
Feeling Himari had received enough pampering (and mostly to preserve his sanity), Gordon let his hand off, catching her off-guard.
"Eh? Young Lord?"
Gordon drew himself away from Himari while turning his back, in turn making the swordswoman worry a little.
"Is something the matter?"
The skater directed his eyes at the forest, not focusing on anything in particular. He wanted to save the question he had about Pops for another time, but...
"Young Lo-"
"Can I ask you something, Himari?"
...He figured he should get it off his chest instead of waiting it out.
Himari stopped a few inches from Gordon's back the moment he cut her off. "What might that be?"
Gordon pocketed his hands inside his chinos before moving on with his question.
"It's...about Pops. My dad, I mean. I want to know...why he's not involved in all this. This whole 'demon-slaying' business. It'd make sense since he's Gramps' son and all, right?"
The New Yorker finally turned to Himari, his ash-grey eyes narrowed slightly.
"So why me instead of him?"
...
...
...
The rustling of leaves and chirping of birds were the only sounds that passed through the forest as the two stared at each other in silence. That is until Himari began averting Gordon's gaze, eventually letting out a long and drawn-out sigh.
"I...did not expect you to ask that so soon, Young Lord."
The somewhat grim tone of her voice was more than enough to let Gordon know it wasn't good news. Nonetheless, he allowed her to continue.
"While it is true that your father should have been the Kohgawa clan's head in the technical sense, Grandpa Tai - your grandfather - thought otherwise."
It was the first time Gordon ever heard Gramps' name. Not that it matters to him, anyway; he still hates that man's guts.
"The moment your father was born, Grandpa Tai requested a friend that his powers be sealed away, thus rendering your father unable to inherit the clan."
...
...
...
Gordon was rendered speechless at what he just heard. At first, the skater thought Himari was toying around with him; however, the graveness in her voice was more than enough to convince the sepia-skinned teen she was not lying.
It was the honest truth, plain and simple.
"I understand if this surprises you, Young Lord, but it is the truth. As it currently stands, you alone are the sole heir to the Kohgawa clan. I apologize."
Himari gives a short bow to show her condolences, but that did little to clear the already-tense atmosphere the revelation produced.
...Words alone couldn't describe how I felt about what I just learned.
...Why did Gramps do it?
Why did he have to do that?
Was I just an afterthought to that old bastard? I figured he must've done it to shield Pops, but still...
Pushing this kind of burden on me... Is he seriously leaving me with the short end of the stick here?
And here I thought him skipping mom's funeral was enough to make my blood boil. This just takes it up further.
Gordon's fists were clenched tight - so tight, in fact, that his knuckles were gradually whitening. Though that only lasted a brief moment before the skater turned his back and began walking away, naturally catching Himari's surprise.
"Young Lord, where are you-?"
"I'm gonna cool down for a bit. I won't take long."
With those curt and bitter words, Gordon ventured out into the forest, hoping to clear his head and also rid his nose of the blood-laced stench.
Meanwhile, Himari silently looked over to where her master left with a worrisome expression.
"Young Lord..."
After spending several minutes wandering through the forest, Gordon eventually found a spot to relax. It was an open area with a wide river dividing it, a much-needed change from the blood-drenched warzone he was in earlier.
The Black teen stood by the riverbank, staring towards the other end of the woods with no particular focus.
The moment your father was born, Grandpa Tai requested a friend that his powers be sealed away, thus rendering your father unable to inherit the clan.
As it currently stands, you alone are the sole heir to the Kohgawa clan.
"[Grr...! Rrgh!]"
Gordon can only kick the ground in frustration, sending several small rocks flying towards the river, landing in the water and producing multiple ripples.
After watching the ripples fade, Gordon closed his eyes and slowly breathed in the crisp mountain air before letting it all out in a controlled exhale.
He didn't want this.
He never asked for any of this. It's not as if he wanted his life to turn out like this the moment he started school here. The only reason he even bothered coming to Japan in the first place was that his Crewmates - Dante, Olivia, and Hiro in particular - thought it would be a cool experience for him, especially considering the latter has never been to Japan despite him and Rika being Japanese themselves. That and he did promise them some photos and souvenirs.
Also, Gordon couldn't just say no to his grandmother, even if it did concern Gramps.
"[Was this even worth it?]" The skater couldn't help but wonder. A small part of his mind was telling him no, but it was too early to decide that now. He couldn't just bail out.
"[I really am stuck between a rock and a hard place, aren't I? Haaah...]"
It was frustrating as hell, but...
Even if he is supposedly the last Kohgawa thanks to Pops having his powers neutered, Gordon just couldn't imagine himself dedicating the rest of his life hunting down Ayakashi. Surely there must be some that don't mean any harm and just want to live among humans, right? Only problem is, are those Ayakashi willing to look past the Demon Slayer stigma he now has to carry?
...
...
...
He really didn't like the situation he's been faced with, but as much as it pains him...
"[Guess I got no choice but to roll with it, huh?]"
Gordon once again kicked the dirt, lightly this time. Yeah, as if that wasn't an option by itself. Yeesh, why did Grams have to go and fall in love with that geezer?
BURBLE BURBLE
"[Huh?]"
The sounds of bubbling water quickly brought Gordon's attention, the skater raising his head to see a section of the river bubbling up before him.
"What the...?"
He certainly doesn't remember this part of the forest having some kind of geyser. There would be signs posted all over were that to be the case.
Something was definitely wrong here.
As if to confirm Gordon's suspicions, the bubbles continued to intensify until a head of dark green hair emerged from the water. It then rose a slight bit, revealing a pair of garnet-colored eyes.
BA-THUMP!
A sub-zero chill ran up Gordon's spine the moment those eyes made contact with his. Common sense was telling the New Yorker to get away but found himself unable to move, his feet inexplicably locked into place.
"H-Huh, what the!? I can't-!"
With no avenue of escape, Gordon was forced to watch the head of hair reveal more of itself as it slowly approached dry land, the grey-eyed skater becoming further shocked upon seeing the head's full form.
It was a little girl.
A young, prepubescent girl whose height nearly edged out Gordon's torso, wearing nothing but a white dress with a red ribbon strewn across the chest. Her dark emerald hair barely grazed her shoulders, a section of it falling right between her eyes and the top featuring two raised parts, almost like one of those ram-air intakes you would find on some vintage muscle cars.
But the one thing about the girl that stood out the most to Gordon was how...unnaturally pale her skin looked. It was a far cry from Himari's healthy lily-white, almost as if he was staring at a drowned corpse that suddenly came to life. The droplets of water continually dripping off the girl's skin and creating a puddle at her bare feet certainly didn't help that image.
...Just what on earth is she?
"Forget... Demon Slayer..."
The little girl spoke to Gordon, her voice a cold and dreary monotone, deprived of any and all emotion. Not even Ben Stein in his acting roles sounded this chilling.
And the way she addressed him as "Demon Slayer" just now meant... an Ayakashi!?
Crap, talk about the worst timing imaginable! And with him being away from Himari's sight, Gordon was pretty much a sitting duck, figuratively and literally!
"If you choose to remain on this path...you will die."
After voicing her apparent warning to Gordon, the little girl's body became transparent, dissolving into water that cascaded towards the ground. Within seconds, she disappeared.
Almost immediately after the girl vanished, Gordon stumbled and collapsed towards the ground, the strange sensation he felt having left his body.
"[What...the hell...?]"
Seriously, what the hell was that just now!? Was that...the girl's killing intent he was feeling? No wonder he couldn't move an inch! It was like his whole body turned into lead or something! Even breathing was starting to get difficult under her gaze, almost to the point of suffocating!
But if the little girl's warning was anything to take away from...
"I better warn Himari, and fast!"
Thus Gordon sprinted off into the woods in search of the Ayakashi swordswoman.
Elsewhere at a nearby lake, Himari has been busy washing herself of the sweat she accumulated over the series of skirmishes. The cold water provided a refreshing sensation as the raven-haired beauty splashed some onto her body, creating a glistening wet sheen all over her ivory skin.
Even though she doesn't take to water very well, being a cat and all, it was somewhat of a pastime for Himari back home in Noihara, where she would find a shallow part of a lake or river to bathe in after a long day of training. The bath at Grandpa Tai's house is also worth taking a dip in. Nothing beats a traditional Japanese bath, after all.
As Himari continued bathing, the cat reflected on how her master reacted to the news of his father's powers being sealed away.
Of course, she already knew of her master's dislike for Grandpa Tai from the letters Lady Lucille wrote. Part of the old woman's request was to help alleviate that animosity, but with things as they are now...
"I fear this may take much longer than anticipated."
And not only that, while she was fighting the horde of Ayakashi earlier, Himari did not sense an inkling of the Kohgawas' power from the Young Lord at all. She expected the omamori's protective spell to have released his power after it had receded. However, that didn't appear to be the case.
"Haaah..." Himari lets out a weary sigh, uncertain of what the future holds for her master. Shaking her head to perish those thoughts, the cat Ayakashi resumed her bath, splashing more water onto her body.
"Hm?"
Himari swiftly turned her head after hearing a faint rustle coming from the woods.
"An Ayakashi!?"
...No, that cannot be the case. If that were, she would have detected their demon ki beforehand. Then again, some can mask their demon ki to render themselves undetectable.
Even if that were the case, Himari is not the type to back down from a threat, whatever they may be. Thus, she prepared to face down her potential opponent.
"Scarlet! Scarlet, can you hear me!? Where are you!?"
However, the familiar voice and nickname caught Himari well off-guard.
"Y-Young Lord? When did he-? Ah-!"
Realizing she was still naked from her bath, there was no time to warn him as the man in question emerged from the brushes.
"Scarlet, there's something I gotta...!"
Gordon finally managed to get out of the forest after spending several minutes running. He was given view to a large lake, all of which was overshadowed by who was in it.
Himari was standing near the shallow end of the lake, her face showing an astonished expression.
It was not hard to see why Gordon suddenly turned speechless upon seeing her.
Turns out, Himari was in the middle of taking her bath...
And as a result, the Brooklyn teen was given a full view of the samurai beauty's wet, naked, and curvaceous form.
The first thing Gordon laid his eyes on was Himari's svelte and slender legs, which were quite long given her short frame. While they were mostly covered up by the usual black thigh-highs from her school uniform, there have been a few occasions where Gordon has seen them bare like her gym uniform. They were also well-toned and looked firm as well, no doubt thanks to whatever kind of training Himari had to undergo. Unfortunately - or perhaps thankfully for Gordon, one of Himari's hands covered her crotch, barring the young skater a view of her "Secret Garden."
Gordon's eyes then trailed up to Himari's stomach. Like her legs, it was also firm and well-toned, having little to no shred of body fat. Yet like her legs, it wasn't overly muscular, either. Once again, striking a perfect balance between beauty and athleticism.
Next came Himari's large and shapely chest. Of course, Gordon has already had some experience with them on more than one occasion, mostly from the nights he was forced to spend as the cat samurai's body pillow with his face stuffed between them. However, it was the skater's first time seeing them bare like this.
Last came Himari's long, obsidian tresses that clung to parts of her body. Of course, Gordon has seen her hair in that state many times at home, right after she comes out of the shower. In all honesty, he found the sight to be quite alluring.
No... Rather...
Everything about Himari's naked body was alluring, entrancing even! He'll have to tell Dante about this when he gets...!
Wait, no! Now is definitely not the time to be checking out Scarlet like this! He has to warn her about...!
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
WHACK!
"[Gagh!]"
Oh, too late.
Himari, out of sheer embarrassment of having been seen naked, had reached down and threw Yasutsuna at Gordon like a spear, striking the Black teen square in the forehead and knocking him out.
"God, I fucked up so bad," were Gordon's final thoughts before his mind faded to unconsciousness.
...
...
...
"[Nnnn... H-Huh?]"
A younger Gordon slowly opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by a patch of dense fog amid the darkness. The grey-eyed boy can make out several silhouettes of trees up ahead and he can feel grass beneath his feet, giving the impression he was in some kind of forest.
"[What...is this place? And what's with this fog?]"
Gordon then looked down at himself and realized he was still in his sleepwear, a simple t-shirt-and-shorts combo, the former bearing a silver Autobot logo.
"[Wait, I'm...asleep? But...]"
Gordon couldn't help but look around one more time, despite there being not much to see with the fog obscuring the area.
This...can't be a dream, can it?
Curious, the young New Yorker began his walk through the forest, squinting his eyes through the dense fog to make sense of where he's headed. It didn't take long for him to wander aimlessly, nearly bumping into several trees and tripping over a few branches. It was really getting frustrating after a certain point.
Just where on earth is he? Why was he in this forest to begin with? And will he ever get out of this dream? Those were the thoughts that ran through Gordon's head as he continued his trek through the misty forest.
Eventually, Gordon arrived in an open area. It appeared to be devoid of people, which made it much eerier given the current atmosphere.
"[Hellooo~! Anyone here~?]"
He called out, hands cupped over his mouth.
No response.
"[Yooooo~!]"
Gordon called out, louder this time. Again, no answer.
The Black youth gave a defeated sigh. Yeah, right; what was he kidding? Of course no one would answer him in his...
"[Heh. So you managed to find your way out, huh, little boy?]"
...Dream?
A woman's voice brought about Gordon's attention, causing him to look around for it. Of course, the fog was making things difficult.
That is until he looked up at the trees.
The moment he did, he saw a pair of golden eyes looking down at him from one of the tree's branches. They gave off a bright and luminescent glow that stood out against the dense patch of fog. Because of that, Gordon can make out the owner's silhouette.
The silhouette clearly was an adult woman's from the look of things, and she was also lounging sideways on the tree branch with one of her legs dangling freely in a provocative manner. He couldn't make out the woman's clothes through the fog right off the bat, but her hair looked rather long, and...
Wait, what...are those things on top of her head? And why do they look like a cat's? Also, are those...tails behind her? Two of them?
What the heck...?
"[You sure kept me waiting, haven't you?]"
The cat-eared woman spoke, her feline appendages twitching and her gaze never leaving Gordon's.
"[Who...are you?]" The boy asked, only for the woman to respond with a cold and pretentious huff.
"[Like I'd tell you who I am. Besides...]"
The cat-eared woman narrowed her eyes at Gordon in a threatening glare, her round pupils becoming thin slits.
"[I would never want to associate myself with your kind.]"
The woman suddenly disappeared from the tree, startling Gordon who stepped back in shock until he bumped into something. The grey-eyed boy turned around and let out a loud yelp the moment he saw a now-familiar pair of golden eyes pierce through his, falling flat on his rear after tripping on his feet.
He was beginning to get scared. Scared of what this woman might do to him.
"[Wh-Wh-What do you mean by that? What do you mean 'my kind'?]"
The woman knelt down at Gordon, the contemptful leer never fading from her catlike eyes as she firmly held the New Yorker's chin.
"[Don't play dumb with me. There's no way I can forget what you and the other families did to my brethren all those years ago.]"
Brethren? What did she mean by that? And what did she mean by "other families"? He couldn't understand any of it at all!
Also, was it just him, or is his jaw really starting to hurt from the woman's grip? Thankfully, it didn't last long as the cat-eyed woman forcefully released her hold on Gordon, allowing the dark-skinned boy to retreat several inches.
"[My sister may have taken a liking to you, but I sure won't.]"
A black flame materialized in the woman's hand as she brought it close to her face, illuminating it under the fog to reveal a set of purple lips contorted in a frown.
"[I'll make sure you're prepared...FOR DEATH!]"
The woman threw the shadowy fireball at Gordon, forcing the frightened boy to raise his arms to shield himself from his impending doom...
All while letting out a terrifying scream.
"[Ah-! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!]"
"[Ah-!]"
A sharp gasp passed through Gordon's lips as his eyes snapped open. The skater felt a cold sweat rush through his entire body while his vision slowly adjusted to the daylight.
...Yeesh, what on earth was that strange dream just now? And why did it feel so familiar to him?
"Right... I was eleven when I had that dream."
And if memory serves him right, it happened on Rika's eleventh birthday in September. He remembered that day like the back of his own head since it was the day the Fenimore Street Crew was finally rounded out once Kuroka and Shirone came into their lives. Both were friendly towards the other Crewmates for the most part, but when Gordon tried to pet the black kitty, he nearly got his face mauled (Rika was able to rein her in, thank god). That incident marked the beginning of a one-sided rift between the two that still persists to this day.
But what confused Gordon was, why did he have that dream again? Or more importantly...
Why did he seem to have forgotten about it until just now?
"Are you awake, Young Lord?"
"Hm?" Gordon was brought out of his reverie by a knowing voice, causing him to shift his head towards a familiar sight.
Himari was looking down at the New Yorker with a worrisome expression at first before it changed to a relieved smile.
"Scarlet..."
...Right. Last time, he saw Himari was at that lake, and...
Images of the swordswoman's naked body soon flooded his head, forcing the skater to shake his head and rid himself of the memory. Hormones can be a bitch to reel in sometimes, not helped by his adolescent age. At least he can handle them way better than Dante ever could. As for Ronnie, he could very well be the champ if such a competition exists, given how unfazed he seemed to look every time Olivia teases him. Must be a benefit of living under the same roof as her.
That aside, his head seemed to be resting on something soft, so...a pillow, perhaps?
Gordon moved one of his hands and immediately felt a smooth and silky fabric grace his fingers. No doubt it was a kimono, and it was a given that Himari would wear one.
...Wait, hold on a sec. If Himari was looking down, does that mean...?
Gordon gave a hard pinch at the kimono's fabric and was immediately met with some squirming from underneath.
"H-Hey, please do not pinch me there," the cat Ayakashi chided, confirming the skater's suspicions that yes, his head was resting on Himari's thighs. They somehow felt remarkably soft despite how firm and toned they looked back at the lake. Looks can be deceiving, it seems.
"But I am glad to see you awake, Young Lord. You nearly had me worried the last few moments."
Huh? Worried? What could she mean by...
Oh yeah, right, that. It would be normal for Himari to show concern for his well-being, being a servant and all.
"What do you mean?"
"You were moving around rather uncomfortably, and you were nearly short of breath towards the end. I was considering waking you up at that point before you managed to come through."
Yikes, that bad, huh?
"I see. Sorry for making you worry. Also, uh..."
"Hm?"
"About what happened at the lake..."
A tinge of crimson welled up in Himari's cheeks as she looked away from Gordon.
"T-That is...!" A clearing of the throat. "That is because I had worked up a sweat earlier and needed to cleanse myself. I saw there was a lake nearby so I decided to take a bath there."
Well, that explains everything he saw, mostly the naked part.
"S-So I was startled when you suddenly came over and, well..."
"Yeah, yeah, I sorta get the point," Gordon hastily interrupted. "Sorry 'bout that."
Himari fervently shook her head. "Please do not apologize, Young Lord. If anything, I should be apologizing for the way I had reacted back there."
It was pretty clear to Gordon she was really embarrassed from being seen in the buff. He would be, too, if he was in the same boat. Still, how was he supposed to know she was taking a bath?
"A-Anyway..."
"Hm?" Gordon's expression turned curious when Himari hastily reached around and presented something wrapped in a cloth. It looked rather large and box-like judging by the shape.
"I figured you might be hungry, so I brought some lunch for us to eat."
Gordon's eyebrow piqued in interest before the sounds of his stomach grumbling caught him by surprise, causing Himari to let out an amused giggle in response.
"I believe now would be the right time to partake, no?"
Himari and Gordon had relocated themselves to a hilly plain that provided a picturesque view of Takamiya City. After setting up their picnic spot, the cat samurai unveiled the wrapped lunch, revealing a woven picnic basket with several sandwiches and rice balls. She reached inside and presented each to Gordon.
"I do not know if you prefer Japanese or western food, so I made a few of each."
"Heh. Sweet, hadn't had a jelly donut since I first came here," Gordon smiled, taking a rice ball and eating it.
Himari raised a puzzled eyebrow. "Um, Young Lord, clearly that is a rice ball you are eating."
"Yeah, I know, just screwing with ya," he said after finishing his bite. Guess he should count himself lucky Himari doesn't watch much TV. She probably wouldn't know that reference unless he explained it to her somewhat.
The two continued their lunch, exchanging small talk in between bites while enjoying the view of the city from below.
When Gordon first heard Himari propose the idea of them going to the mountains together, he sort-of pictured something like this. Just a boy and girl out enjoying a picnic together. Would it count as a date, though? Himari would definitely think so (and even said so herself), but for him, not so much. If anything, it reminded him of his typical weekend outings at Prospect Park with his Crewmates, the ones where either Kibou or Grams bring them food and have a huge picnic afterward. His mother also used to bring food once upon a time.
After finishing his lunch, Gordon decided to just lay back and watch the clouds pass by, opting to rest his head on Himari's lap again. He was pretty sure Himari didn't mind at this point and it's not like he had any ulterior motive. He just needed to rest his head on something soft.
While relaxing, Gordon's mind unconsciously recalled what Himari had told him about Pops' inability to inherit the Kohgawa name. Now that he had time to cool off a bit (in more ways than one), he honestly didn't know what to think. Like it or not, he is the sole heir to his grandfather's family and Gordon more or less made up his mind. After all, if there's a shoe that fits, why not wear it?
If you choose to remain on this path...you will die.
Though that doesn't mean he'll feel comfortable wearing them if the warning from the drowned girl Ayakashi were of any indication.
"[Hmm...]" Gordon unconsciously let off a disconcerting hum that caught Himari's attention.
"Something troubling you, Young Lord?"
"Huh? Oh, uh..."
Crap, he let his thoughts out. In that case, should he tell Himari how he's been feeling about the "family business," now that it's come to it? She'll probably listen to almost anything he'll say at this point.
"Might as well, I guess."
Gordon took one deep breath before turning his attention to Himari.
"Actually, there is something I wanted to get off my chest. You wanna hear it?"
Himari had a puzzled look at first but it quickly turned into an understanding smile and nod.
Having been given the apparent green light, Gordon got started with his story.
"It's...about Gramps. There's a lot to take in after everything you've told me. As you probably would've guessed by now, I'm not too fond of him. In fact, you might say I pretty much loathe him."
Himari had a worried expression at that last part but allowed her master to continue.
"The truth is, though, it wasn't always like that. When I was little, I wanted to learn more about Gramps after Grams first told me 'bout him. So I kept asking her 'bout what he did, what did he look like, what his life was like, how his life was different from hers, Pops' and mine, nearly everything I could think of."
Gordon heaved a heavy sigh while turning his head away.
"None. I got nothing out of Grams no matter how many times I asked her. Only thing I got was that he ran some kind of family business. Why would she act so guarded around Gramps if he's our relative? At some point, I got so frustrated that I decided to just give up asking. I was around eight when I did.
"But the real nail in the coffin came at my mom's funeral a year later. All of my Crewmates, Auntie, and some of mom's colleagues from the hospital she worked at took part in the service. Deep in my heart, I wanted to see Gramps come more than anyone else, so I kept my eyes locked on the entrance hoping he'd show up."
The skater let out another sigh, his expression slowly becoming grim.
"In the end, he never walked through those doors, and at that point, I was beyond pissed. Why the hell didn't he come? Why didn't he at least write a letter or something expressing his regret if he wasn't planning on coming? Doesn't he care that his own daughter-in-law was shot and killed? Anything would've been better than just, you know, not showing up at all.
"When I got home from the funeral, I...lashed out at Grams and told her...that I wouldn't forgive Gramps, that I would hate him for the rest of my life."
Gordon took a short glance at Himari who had a pained look on her face, her eyes downcast. Of course, he expected a reaction like that, since she apparently knew Gramps more than he ever could.
"I seriously don't know why Grams would marry someone like Gramps, someone who never took time outta his life to see his own son and grandson, let alone his dead daughter-in-law. And now he expects me to take over his demon-slaying business? Something I was completely clueless about until literally a week ago? Yeah, no thanks."
Gordon got off Himari's lap and stared off towards the city below.
"...Or that's what I wanna say, anyway. But what's the point if I'm already wrapped up in it to start with?"
The skater took a sideways glance at Himari, the raven-haired ayakashi having a conflicted look. She then scooted closer to him until the two were practically rubbing each other.
Gordon gave Himari a studious look, as if expecting her to say something.
After a few moments, she finally spoke.
"I understand you have your share of grievances against Grandpa Tai, Young Lord, but aren't you being a bit harsh in your criticisms?"
Gordon raised a brow. "Whaddaya mean?"
Himari shifted her seating position, moving her legs out to the side.
"What I'm trying to say is, wouldn't it be best to give Grandpa Tai the benefit of the doubt? I understand it may be difficult for you, however you should still reconsider. 'Tis unhealthy to hold a grudge, after all."
Gordon continued to look at Himari with a skeptical eye before deciding to lay back on the grass again.
"It ain't that simple, Scarlet. You're right when you said I should move on with Gramps, but I still can't bring myself to forgive him, at least not yet."
Himari sighed inwardly at her master's decision. While it may be a turn in the right direction, his unwillingness to ease his grudge still bothers her a little. Either way, it's still progress.
"Very well. I will not try and force you on that issue. However I still believe you should consider reconciling. Like it or not, you are Grandpa Tai's successor."
"Tell me something I don't know, Jack," Gordon thought bitterly.
"And who knows..."
Gordon turned his attention to Himari who had a gentle smile on her face.
"The first Ayakashi you slay may very well be me, right?"
"Say wha-!?"
The moment he heard Himari say that, Gordon quickly shot up from the grass, giving an intense glare at the ravenette.
"Are you nuts, Himari!? Why would you say somethin' like that outta the blue!? No way in hell that's gonna happen!"
Seriously, what the hell made her think that all of a sudden!?
Himari blinked a few times at the skater's outburst before her confused expression slowly turned to one of her many friendly smiles.
"It was a mere jest."
Now it was Gordon's turn to be confused, though that soon turned into a combination of frustration and anger.
"Aaaagh...! Freakin' hell, Scarlet, don't scare me like that!"
Himari let out a playful chuckle as she clung to Gordon's arm.
"Ack! C'mon, quit it!"
"Ehehehe~ Nope~"
The two (or rather, one of them) enjoyed their lighthearted camaraderie, unaware of a malicious presence eyeing them from afar.
The drowned corpse Ayakashi was observing Gordon and Himari from high up in the trees, her garnet irises narrowed in a spiteful leer.
"That boy... I'll make sure he regrets not heeding my warning... You know."
To be continued...
Extra: "How to Deal with Becoming a Body Pillow"
Tonight was that kind of night again.
"Zzz... Nnn..."
It has been an entire day since Gordon started sharing a bed with Himari. The Brooklyn teen had hoped it would just be a one-time thing given she has a room of her own now, but...
Let's just say Himari was really, really insistent on the idea. Or to put it in her words:
I wish to fulfill my duty as a bodyguard whenever possible. Therefore, I believe it is necessary that we share a bed from this day forth.
It was still an awkward experience for Gordon at the end of the day. Here he was, in bed with a beautiful girl his age, the cat ears and tail notwithstanding. Heck, he doesn't even know if he should consider himself lucky since Dante would undoubtedly kill to be in his position.
He does have one complaint worth addressing, though.
SQUEEZE~
"Ack!"
And that is being used by Himari as her personal hugging pillow! Not only that, whenever he tries to move away, she just hugs him tighter! Don't get him wrong, he appreciates the affection and all, but would it at least kill Himari to show some restraint this one time? Is she seriously planning on killing him in his sleep one of these days? Aunt Angelique's hugs were already painful enough on their own, thank you very much!
Also...
SMOOSH!
"[Mmph!]"
Gordon's face was smothered deep within Himari's generous bosom, making it very difficult for the young skater to breathe. Her holding his head to keep him from moving certainly didn't help.
To say Gordon was in heaven would be the overstatement of the year. If anything, he was working up a nervous sweat in the deepest pits of Hell imaginable.
How was he gonna get out of this? Using brute force was definitely out of the question for sure, what with Scarlet possessing a much greater deal of strength. Doing so was pretty much a death sentence, and Gordon was pretty sure Scarlet wouldn't want to see his unconscious body first thing in the morning.
"Gotta make Himari let go somehow!"
No way will he be put through this torment, however tempting or tantalizing it may be!
Only question is, what would it take for Himari to let go if she's got him in a position where he can barely move his head and she's nearly suffocating him with her boobs.
Wait. If Gordon was stuffed in Himari's chest, embarrassing as it is, then maybe...
"No! I can't do that! That's pushing it too far, even for me! Guh-!"
Gordon felt another tight squeeze from Himari, the sleeping kitty shoving his face deeper inside her cleavage.
"Mmmmmmph!"
Shitshitshit, not good! Forget being unconscious; he might as well die from suffocation if this keeps going!
...Fuck it, he's doing it! No turning back now!
Taking a deep breath and swallowing his saliva (and dignity), Gordon very slowly extended his tongue. He can feel his heart beating like mad, but he'll have to bear it! Right now, his life is on the line!
With little hesitation, he placed his tongue on Himari's skin and proceeded to lick her.
The result is...well...
"A...Ahn! Hnn... Mew! A…Ah!"
Much more suggestive than Gordon would've anticipated.
Though despite that, it seemed to be working a little bit as the Black teen can feel Himari's grip slowly loosen. But just when freedom was well within his reach...
SQUEEZE!
"Gah-!"
Gordon felt another intense hug coming from the sleeping kitty, one that threatened to crush his ribs. Dammit, this isn't the outcome he wanted at all! If licking her chest doesn't work, what else can he do!? He can't even move his arms in this position!
...Wait a second! His arms! If he was lying on his side, Gordon should be able to get at least one of them moving! Geez, why didn't he figure this out sooner? It would've saved him all that embarrassment!
Wasting no time to act, Gordon wrestled his hand out from underneath and reached for Himari's torso. The skater then proceeded to tickle the catgirl on her stomach.
"Mya! Heh-heh. Fufufu~ Funya!"
Himari, as it turns out, was quite ticklish around that area. This proved to be a boon for Gordon as he can feel the cat's near-Herculean grip on him falter little by little.
"Fuhahaha! Hahaha!"
It was at that point Gordon can finally move again, and the Black teen seized the opportunity to turn his body away from Himari's chest, just mere moments before the sleeping Ayakashi pulled him in a tight hug once more.
"Phew... Yeesh, that was nuts."
Finally at last, Gordon can rest easy for the night. Although...
SMOOSH!
The pillow-like sensations pressing against his back would beg to differ otherwise.
So you guys can already tell there's a conflict brewing in regards to Gordon's demon slayer heritage. While he more or less accepts it due to the circumstances he's learned, he is hesitant to fully take his grandfather's mantle because of his years-long grudge, one Himari hopes will settle down as time passes by. This will be one of the central conflicts found throughout the story. Call it a clash of identities, if you may.
Also, Kuroka makes her first real appearance, albeit in a long-forgotten dream of Gordon's. In case you couldn't tell from her dialogue with the younger Gordon, she really doesn't like the demon slayer clans, the reasons why will be covered in a tie-in fic I'm working on, titled Stories from the Boroughs.
So like always, feel free to leave a review and I'll see you guys in the next chapter. Laters!