Author's Note: Hello, Howdy, Good Morning, and every other
salutation, This is my first story so I hope y'all can enjoy it even if
it isn't as good as other fanfics I've read on this wonderful site
Also manga spoilers will be in this story, so you have been warned
and breathing styles will be actually using the element of the style
anyways thanks for putting up with me and lets get into the story.
Warning(s): Violence and some swearing
Kimetsu No Yaiba is not owned by me
it is owned by its author, Koyoharu Gotouge
Osaka
Rushing through the crowds of people, trying to get as far away from this man as possible, a boy in his early teens can be seen running away from a clearly angry man that appears to be in his late 30s.
"Hey, stop that kid! He's a thief!" Yelled the victim attempting to catch up to the thief, but quickly falling back unable to continue running as he watched the teen get away.
?
Quickly rushing into the alley the thief would stop and quickly ducking behind stacked crates, clearly exhausted from his quick raspy breaths.
"How...Can...Such an...Old man...Run so fast..." The young man practically spat out as his breathing slowly stabilized, he was sure he was going to get caught or faint from exhaustion, but somehow he had avoided it. Still staying low to the ground he slowly leaned and peeked out the side of the crate. Seeing no one he quickly got up and began walking through the alley way, he knew pretty much every alley way on this side of town, this stunt hadn't been his first, a few days ago he had also almost got caught by police for robbing some guy's room at the inn.
Stepping out into the main road, the city-lights shining down on him, you could properly see the individual. Standing at around 5'6, but being very skinny if his arms proved anything. His fading purple haori being the most defining feature, his light-brown eyes, and black ruffled hair allowing him to blend in with the crowd as he skillfully navigated through it, slowly reaching the outskirts.
Outskirts of Osaka
After escaping the main road and taking another alley way, our thief would arrive in a clearly poor area if the dingy-built houses and little cleaning would've been clear enough. Staying on the side road he would make his way to a house that in comparison to the rest looked average, nothing special, nothing different. Approaching the house he would take out a key and would unlock the door entering the home.
"Is that you, Masato? Why are you home so late?" a feminine voice called from a room down the hallway.
"Yes, mom, it's me, and I was able to work a few extra hours today." Masato replied walking down the hallway and opening the door to his left upon sliding the door open, he would be greeted by a clearly sickly woman, with lavender eyes, and long black hair giving him a warm smile.
"Well at least you are safe, you had be worried somethin-" her sentence was interrupted by a severe coughing fit causing the named thief, Masato to quickly run over to a nearby pitcher and fill a cup with water afterwards rushing to his mother's side and helping her up and handing her the cup.
"Thank you dear." His mother replied, drinking the water and laying back down.
"You don't have to stress yourself, you should get some rest." Masato said snuffing out the lantern and moving to a nearby closet, taking out another futon and laying it down, and getting in it he would contemplate on how he could get more money for his family, slowly fading into unconsciousness.
Later The Same Night
The sound of a door opening and someone walking into the house could be heard, quickly waking Masato who silently moved to the sliding-door, opening it to see a figure down the hallway.
"Father? Is that you?" Masato spoke a little weary, he knew his father came home late due to him trying to work as long as possible to provide for them, but he never stopped being anxious and paranoid when that door closed.
"Don't worry Masato, it's me you can head back to sleep, I'll be there soon." Spoke a gruff voice, which almost instantly had calmed Masato, and he returned to the same room, reopening the closet and laying another futon down, onto the right side of his mother who was fortunately still sound asleep. Carefully moving to his futon so as to not wake his mother. He would return to his previous position staring at the ceiling, however, as per usual he couldn't sleep properly this wasn't abnormal for him, if anything it was a ritual every time he would wake to greet his father he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep he decided to try anyway leading him to thinking of better times.
Osaka Eight Years Ago
A young child could be seen playing with a small ball, as his mother watched. The lady in question had similar long silky hair, but soft lavender eyes that made her seem like a spirit. The lady looked much healthier and was sitting next to a tall man, with short-cut wavy black hair, and light-brown eyes. Besides his considerable height he looked rather ordinary. The couple both watched their child play with a smile on their faces. It truly seemed like life was perfect.
As quickly as that thought had come it had left as the wind picked up and the skies darkened, and rain began to fall. The young boy saw as his mother quickly degraded and his father's once warm smile disappeared clean from his face, never to return again.
Okudo Household
Almost jumping out of his futon Masato would wake up from his nightmare, feeling the light from the warm morning sun hit his skin through the window, he held his head feeling the perspiration brought on by the summer heat, and he quickly got up and dressed himself for the new day, leaving his signature faded-purple haori this time, it had been to close of an encounter yesterday and they would still be looking for him, he wasn't taking any risks by wearing his grandfather's haori, quickly putting on his shoes he would head out closing and locking the door behind him.
Ikumi Village
After traveling about an hour from his house Masato would reach Ikumi Village, a nearby small-town that he worked in. The villagers where very nice to him an and his employer, a farmer on the outskirts of the village was generous enough to give him a small amount of the yearly harvest, he wished that if his father would allow for it that they moved out here, but the treatment for my mother could only be found in Osaka plus all of his father's work was in Osaka and the round trip would be to far. Continuing down the dirt road he would be greeted by a couple of villagers, all of which he had done odd jobs for or helped in some way.
"Hey Masato, I see you're working early again. If you want you could stop by my house for lunch." Spoke a man standing on a balcony, the man in question had hired Masato to help build the balcony he was currently standing on.
"No, it's alright Kenta-San, I've already packed lunch." Masato spoke calmly, he always felt bad for lying to the villagers, they were always nice to him and looking out for him, but he couldn't stand to burden them with anything at all, and what if they're just using it to try and get free favors.
"Well if you insist, but remember my door is always open to you no matter what." Spoke the man returning inside and closing the sliding door.
Masato would continue down the dirt road, similar interactions occurred between him and the villagers, but he always shot down their offers, and made his way quickly through the village eventually finding the side road he needed to take. Getting on the side road he would turn a corner and would see an open field, and his current destination. He would continue to walk towards the farm eventually seeing a tall man with broad shoulders working on something, his back facing Masato as his shirt was damp from perspiration.
"Tsutomu-Sama I've arrived, what would you like me to help you with?" Masato spoke as he stopped a few feet away from making sure he stood with good posture.
"Ah, Masato, you've come early, and you know you don't have to talk to me so formally, I don't mind you just calling me Hironaka." Hironaka spoke firmly towards Masato, who simply nodded in recognition "Anyways I'd appreciate it if you would gather some wood for me. I need twelve good-sized logs."
"Of course, I'll get to it right away at Hironaka-san." Masato replied leaving the farmer to continue working on his "project" or something like that he never asked for specifics after all this job is like a dream for him, he wouldn't jeopardize it just to fulfill his curiosity. Reaching the shed he would grab one of the two axes, and would head into the forest.
Returning to the Tsutomu residence Masato would see Hironaka speaking with an oddly dressed man. He wore a pair of red sandals with a white gaiter, black hakama, and a black uniform with the word for "Destroy" on the back of the uniform, and most alarmingly the man had a katana on the left-side of his waist.
Hironaka, seeing Masato approaching the house, would motion for him to come over, causing the sword-wielding man to turn and look at him. his appearance didn't seem out of the ordinary, his green eyes being his only definitive feature.
"Hironaka-san, who is this man?" Masato spoke slightly worried for the man's safety; he didn't know this sword-wielding individual and didn't know if he had some "unfinished business" with his employer.
"His name is Satow Hotaka, and he's asking about the disappearances around the village." Hironaka spoke with his usual tone, but his usually boisterous firm tone diminished at the mention of the disappearances it clearly affected him personally, Masato on the other hand had heard about them from the villagers usually while he was doing work for them, but he usually tried to keep to himself while he was working.
"Well Tsutomu-san if you get any information on the disappearances please, tell me, I'll be staying at the inn until this situation is resolved." Satow spoke, his voice being firm, almost hard, the type of voice you'd hear from soldiers or those who have to fight daily. This intrigued Masato, who knows maybe he's a mercenary, and that just opens more job opportunities.
"Well, if you don't mind me asking Hotaka-san. Why do you have a sword? And why are you so interested in the disappearances?" Masato spoke, ensuring every word was clear and concise, and waited for a response.
"I'm a mercenary. I work for an organization that goes and ensures protection of civilians, as for why I wield a sword, that's for personal protection and defending others." As Satow spoke Masato was impressed by how well he could hide the fact he was lying, but unfortunately for Satow, Masato had experience finding liars, if he didn't how could he ensure he was going to get paid? Or ensure that those who he steals from don't catch on to his plan, but he did believe Satow wasn't lying when he said that he had that sword for protecting and defending others, however, Masato only trusted people based on how far he could throw them.
"Well that sounds like a dangerous job. Do they have non-combative roles?" Masato responded, playing dumb and hopefully making the "mercenary" believe he had successfully lied to him, Satow looked a little conflicted for a few moments before beginning to speak.
"Our organization does have non-combative roles, however, we only hire those that are recommended by a select few trusted people." Satow replied, choosing his words very carefully as he was clearly thinking something, but Masato had heard enough that if they have specific requirements he probably won't be hired anyway.
"Well thank you for the information either way, I hope you can catch the individual responsible." Masato then turned back to the Tsutomu residence, and headed inside to talk to Hironaka, as he headed inside he could hear the self-called mercenary's footsteps as he walked off. With him gone he decided to confront Hironaka, he was worried for the man's safety and while he wouldn't admit it he did slightly trust the man.
"Hironaka-San, do you know that man at all?" Masato asked Hironaka who was currently sanding a wheel for his cart, Masato always noticed how Hironaka always ensured finer details he was unique in that way he guessed, most would be fine with at the very most ensuring it would work for a long time, Hironaka on the other hand treasured everything and almost anything, and poured his soul even into lesser objects.
"Not at all, Masato, but I've heard of some rumors." As Hironaka spoke he stopped sanding and quickly turned sticking out his tongue and holding his arms over his head as he said "That there are man-eating demons! And that there have been reports of some similarly looking individuals wielding swords that supposedly fight demons." As Hironaka said this he could clearly tell Masato was not buying what he was selling. As Masato's completely blank unimpressed face wasn't a dead give away.
"Yeah, yeah sure whatever you say Hironaka-san." Masato responded with nothing but sarcasm and a snarky grin plastered over his face.
"I don't expect you to believe them, I barely do myself but I always remember that my grandmother had told me similar stories." Hironaka replied as he went back to sanding "besides I've never seen a demon in my thirty years of life, so that's got to say something right?"
"I'm sure it does, but It's getting late and I have a long walk to get home, and still thank you for giving me this job." Masato spoke softly, he held nothing but respect for this man but he did think he sometimes was a little too excessive.
"I should be thanking you, work hasn't been easier since you've been here, so for your help, thank you." Hironaka spoke his usual boisterous voice, taking a calm tone as he continued sanding.
"I appreciate the thanks Hironaka-san, and as much as I would like to stay I have to get going, see you tomorrow." Masato spoke descending the stairs and opening the door he walked in the direction of the village taking the side road, however, he would stop in his tracks as he saw the mercenary fighting a... Three-armed monster?
And that's the end of chapter one, sorry for it being so long I thought it would be better
to get the boring stuff out of the way before getting into the real action, and it would be
great if you would leave a review on what you think I should improve, work on, etc.
Have a good night, day, morning, afternoon, whatever time you're in currently!