Halfway to the uphill town, snow had begun gently falling. Saburou's breath became slowly visible as the temperature dived. Each step grew louder as fresh snow crunched under his feet.

A sudden pain struck his head. Instinctively he reached for his blade and listened, peering into the darkness. The moon's rays were bright but limited due to the thick brush surrounding him. This pain, his 'sense' told him that a lower ranked demon was ahead and sure enough the faint sounds ofa chase could be heard with faint shouting

His mind jumped wondered if it was an innocent trying to escape, would someone be out this far? There was no time for deliberation. Saburou broke into a sprint, the cold air pierced his lungs, steam slowly emitting from him as he chased after the faint sounds into the darkness.

Closing in, it became clear that it was indeed a chase. Sounding as if it were a predator playing with it's prey. RUnning along the tracks he found, he could see the panick in the footsteps. The uneven stride, wide gait, it explained the fear they felt as they escaped in the disturbed snow. But from what? There was no trail behind them. Saburou looked between the trees and even the steadily whitening limbs seemed undisturbed.

"Leave me be you monster!" shouted a voice filled with defeat. Saburou hurried praying he was not too late. Breaking past some foliage, his ears radiating warmth and covered in a thin layer of perspiration, Saburou saw an unexpected sight. In the moonlight a demon was shouting at a solemn figure, fear prevalent in it's eyes.

"Form two, Mountains Peak," Isobu muttered. Without regard to Saburou's presence. Darting forward, his sword thrusting upwards, connecting with the demon's neck at the last second and severing it. With elegance and ease he had taken the beast's life. An icy aura emanated from his blade as he sheathed it, releasing a breath colder than the freezing air as miniscule pieces of ice appeared and dissipated. The severed head landed in some nearby brush, shaking the fresh snow off as its body collapsed and began disintegrating.

Saburou stood astonished. Not only at the execution of the form but the unique style he had never seen. Unable to restrain himself, he hesitantly asked. "What breathing form is that?"

With disinterest, Isobu answered. "Ice Breathing, form two." His eyes remained on the ashes, unwavering. His response was serene yet despondant, akin to the snow surrounding them.

"I've never heard of that. Where did you learn it? Did you make it yourself?!" Saburou rapidly asked, his curiosity piquing and leavinglittle room for Isobu to answer.

"Quiet" demanded the older boy, inspecting his surroundings. After assuring they were alone he answered. "No, I didn't invent it, I was taught by an old hermit." With his reply given, Isoby motioned for Saburou to follow him up the mountain. "I was wondering if you were going to wake up before I finished this mission."

"You could have woken me." Saburou responded defensively, feeling slight embarrassment at being told off. "Was that the first one you've come across up here?"

"Second, I have a feeling we'll run into 2 or 3 more before we reach the village." Isobu stated as they returned back to a clearer path. Clear of trees, the moonlight illuminated his grayish white hair. Certainly unique from everyone else Saburou had seen in Japan.

"I sense 3 more further up. I'm not sure if one of them is the 'village demon' we were sent after however" informed Saburou, rubbing his temples. While the headaches were mild, he culd sense three in different spots as his head vaguely indicated the locations.

"You can sense them?" Isobu asked, eyeing Saburou up and down suspiciously.

"Ever since I was a child" he answered with a snicker, having grown use to the skepticism. "I get headaches whenever demons are active. Be it blood demon art or killing, I feel it. The more powerful the demon, the more severe the headache." he explained readying himself for their encounter. "I can also somewhat sense what direction they are, Kind of just an intuition like feeling.

The sight of a small cabin met their eyes near the roads bend ahead.

"It's helpful, but also a nuisance to say the least." Saburou continued as the pain in his head spiked, a demon was fast approaching from the right.

"Die slayers!" the demon shouted as it burst from the tree line.

Isobu felt static in the air as he reached to pull Saburou out of the way and engage but found himself grasping at nothing. Meeting the female demon mid air, Saburou had jumped instantly and severed her head at the neck.

Sheathing his sword and taking a breath of cold air, Saburou turned to see Isobu with a curious expression. "It seems you have more tricks. How did you-" Isobu asked with a raised brow.

"Thunder breathing" Saburou confidently declared. "I've trained for years and can confidently say I'm a little faster than the average slayer."

"I see, you were out of my reach and sliced that demon's throat faster than I had thought you capable of," Isobu complimented.

You could see?! As in follow me with your eyes?!" Saburou asked in surprise"

Isobu shook his head. "More like I knew where you were going to be. It's a rather straightforward move."

Saburou frowned at the comment. 'Isn't that just saying I'm predictable?' Clearing his mind, Saburou clarified the technique. "Harnessing the element of thunder allows one's body to move at speeds no ordinary human should perceive." he recited, reciting his master. "Still though, I have room for improvement. Or so my master says."

"He's right snickered Isobu beginning to walk again."

Before Saburou could retort another pain struck his head. He informed Isobu the two demons in the cabin were now fleeing uphill. The two slayers then gave chase, finding and cutting them down before the village's entrance. A small series of buildings with no walls, only fences and some walled off buildings separating properties.

Despite the remoteness of the village, it was still larger than expected with some buildings made of stone. Cautiously the two walked down the main road, through the rows of buildings. No guards or watchmen patrolling to impede them as they strolled in. Immediately they noticed the strange air about.

The town felt empty, a hollow presence with no sounds or lights, no sign of life. Saburou quietly walked down the road gazing at the silent doors. It felt like time had frozen in the middle of a wintry night.

"Where is everyone?" he asked

"Do you really need to ask?" replied Isobu.

The vague answer did not improve Saburou's mood. "They may just be hiding inside" he reasoned.

"Let's see then" Isobu said as he eyed the lock to a front gate before breaking it in two.

"What are you doing! You can't break in!" hissed Saburou chasing after Isobu who approached the front door.

"Of course, of course, not like this'' Isobu apologized as he turned his back to the door. "This is easier. '' He said, throwing a leg back and kicking the wooden door in, snapping it's wooden latch behind. "Let's go."

Mouth agape, Saburou ran after his compatriot, shouting apologies to the occupants within as Isobu nonchalantly entered. The sight within set a grimace upon Isobus' face. Saburou looked back confused at his reaction while still apologizing to the family of three sitting at the hearth of their living room.

"I'm so sorry for his actions! We'll leave now, I promise-"

"Shut up and look," demanded Isobu.

Confused, Saburou looked into the home once more. A father, mother, and an elementary age daughter sat around a tea kettle… Except there was no fire despite the dark and biting cold. His eye's now adjusting to the dim abode within Saburou saw the grim details Isobu had.

The three were dead, slowly decomposing due to the cold and lack of insects. Their stiff body's were propped up as if living a normal, daily scene, dressed in the clothes they were slain in.

As Saburou stared aghast at the sight, Isobu spoke up. "They were moved here."

"How can you say?" asked Saburou

"They're all wearing clothes for travelling. Blood on their backs but not on the floor. My guess is they tried to run not too long ago and were slain for it. Why they are propped up as dolls, I am not sure of yet." Deep in thought Isobu inspected the corpses. Saburou waited outside on guard, preferring not to see the sight of another childs corpse.

He just couldn't get the young girl's petrified face out of his mind.

Isobu allowed himself into a second, and then a third home, the same scenes repeated themselves each time. Saburou quickly grew sick of it.

"Are we going to search every building here or are we going to make that demon pay?" he hissed.

Isobu turned to his impatient partner, his eyes gazed jadedly as he gave no answer.

The indifference of his comrade and lack of conflict embittered Saburou further. "I've had a nagging pain telling me where the bastard is since we entered the first home!" Exaggeratedly, he swung a fist and pointed down the road. "That has to be the village chief's house! That has to be its lair!"

Isobu exhaled out his nose and instead walked in the opposite direction of the assumed chiefs house. "Where are you going?" demanded Saburou.

Without stopping Isobu proceeded on, speaking over his shoulder. "It's clear the chief's house is a trap. She hasn't moved since we arrived right?" Saburou didn't answer, freezing at the realization. "Despite her underling's not reutrning to her and your incessant shouting?" The deduction was obvious, Saburou bit his lip in frustration.

Isobu turned on his heel and faced Saburou. "Come with me, or are you going to leave that old man without an answer as to his daughter's fate?"

Saburou's eyes lit up. How could he have forgotten his promise? Of course Isobu knew as well.

Seeing his expression, Isobu deigned to explain himself for once. "He asked me as well, practically begging anyone who would listen to come up here. Now hurry up" he grunted, not waiting for Saburou's answer as he turned to continue his investigation.