Chapter 11: The slasher
A crow comes along. "A few other new slayers are coming along. One of them has questions for you." "That's good I could use the help." A few days later he's back in the capital. There he sees a series of missing persons flyers all over one of the train station's walls. "This is bad." He thought. Meanwhile, "Kristine, I heard the Mugen train is being put on hold. Apparently forty people have gone missing on it." "Is it wrong for to feel glad that it's on hold?" "What do you mean?" "At least it will delay my trip back home. I know it's terrible that all those people have gone missing, I know I should feel guilty about thinking this. But I can't help but be glad about it. I just can't face what's happening back home." "Kristine, you know you can't hide from those problems forever." "What else am I supposed to do? It's not like I can go back here anyways. I'd have to be in that god forsaken racist place."
"You still have friends there." "Not a lot." "We can chat by letter anyways. I can give you my address at least you'll be able to contact me." Tears start falling. "My dad is still going to die soon." "Don't tell me you also want to stay with Kyojuro." "Yeah, not like he would be allowed in. Nanatsu and her family were lucky to get citizenship in America. They stopped allowing Japanese immigrants in two years ago." "So that's the other reason you don't want to leave." "Yeah."
"Regretting that fight you two had before he left?" "Yes." "Here let's go on the town one more time before we leave. Hopefully you can find a way to see him again." They go over finding a noodle restaurant. "Some shrimp tempura for me." "Kristine what do you want?" Yaunping sees her just fiddling around with an Oreo. "Same thing I guess." "Wow you really are feeling down today. You can look at the bright side. At least you can get better access to these." "That's the last thing I need to hear, Yaunping!" "Sorry, I just wanted to make you feel better." "If I wanted to feel better I would have already!"
She storms off. "Miss, is there something wrong?" A woman in a green Yukata asks. "Nothing." She mutters. "Here have some of this bento." "Arigato." "Wow, you are so pretty. I love that dress. The sequins are so lovely. It looks like your wearing gold" "Arigato." She takes out the comb. "I haven't quite gotten how to use this. I've seen it worn in some hairstyles."
"It won't be the best but I can try." She takes out a headband tying her hair up into a high ponytail. The hair band is covered and secured with a hair tie. "Your hair is a bit wild I must say." "Yeah, must be my Scottish ancestry kicking in." "At least we are mostly done." She fastens the comb to it. "If only we had a mirror to see this." "I'm sure it will be good." "Arigato Goyzaimas." Kristine heads back to the restaurant in a better mood.
"Sorry, I just wanted you make you feel better." "I know. I know." "Nice hairdo. And with that comb you were given by Kyojuro." "Someone was nice enough to do it for me." "That's good." She takes the bowl of tempura and giving it to her. "Here, you need to eat at least once before you leave." "Of course." Meanwhile, "God that smell is awful." "Who's that?" "Me." A demon with a bald head and blue markings walks out.
He quickly slashes her. "Why are you doing this to me?" "I can't stand the rancid smell of human food." "Someone please, help!" He continued slashing the girl until he had gotten bored, leaving her for dead. Kyojuro runs over seeing the injured woman. "Here let's get you some help. Get her on a stretcher." "Yes Rengoku-san." She is quickly taken to the butterfly mansion and treated. "Fucking scumbag." He thought.
The next day. "The newspaper says that there is some slasher on the loose. A conductor was just killed and another woman was slashed as well." "Better get my revolver and dagger quickly. That should take care of either a human or Oni." "Let's get something to eat at least." "Ok." They go to the train station and see some bento boxes. "Wow, what a pretty face." states a young employee in a beret. "Arigato." "Gyudon?" "It's a beef hot pot." States an old lady.
She hands the girl two hundred yen taking a box. "Arigato." "And here's a bean paste bun. I'm not big into these. I'm a bit picky on textures and don't really like most sweets with filling in it." Kristine sees a book. "Western cooking." "Yes, I am fascinated with Western culture." "The eggs look a bit like deviled eggs." "I guess so." "How about I give you my mom's recipe for deviled eggs. I see there's not a lot of customers here. Maybe it could attract some more people."
Recipe
Slice eggs in half lengthwise.
Remove yolks to save for later
In a small bowl mash yolks with a fork
Add mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar salt and mustard.
Stuff mixture into the egg whites
Sprinkle on paprika
"I hope it helps." "I sure hope that slasher is gone soon. Business has been bad for us since he showed up. Mom being pregnant is not helping either. Dad's business is only just above water." "You mean the noodle shop." "Yes." "It was some good food." "Arigato." "I hope it gets better for you guys." She leaves the station.
Later. "Umai." Another slayer enters the restaurant. "Umai." "You sure eat with gusto." He hands an additional bowl of noodles. "My treat." "Appreciate it." "I heard a train conductor was killed the other day. On top of that do you know that the Mugen train is out of service right now?" "We've received a lot of reports of people being attacked by the slasher." "Is that right?" Kyojuro states taking a piece of tempura. "Umai!" "How's business?' "How does it look? We've been low on business since that slasher came around. No one wants to come out at night."
They leave the restaurant. Kyojuro sees Yanping and Kristine passing by. He takes out two bags of wisteria flowers. "Give these to them." "Yes, Rengoku-san." He goes to the alley "Ladies." "Huh?" "Someone asked me to give these to you." Kristine smiles taking one of the bags. "Oh Kyojuro." She sighs while blushing. "You seem to be feeling better now aren't you, Kristine? It seems you'll get to see him again after all." He goes back to the station "Let's inspect the station where the conductor's body was found." "Yes, Rengoku-san." "Sigh." "Fuku, don't whine. Eat your bean paste bun. That lady was nice enough to give it to you."
"Just stop that will you? I must sell as many of these as I can. It's hard enough with mom being pregnant and dad's business going under." "Oh, good evening. The moon is exquisite tonight. Haven't seen any Oni, have you?" "What just like that?" "Kyojuro-sama you mustn't be so blunt." The girl screams. "Careful you'll drop your bean paste bun." "Stay away from me!" She screams while throwing her bean paste bun. It hit Kyojuro in the face. He grabs the bun. "Umai." "I don't believe in Oni."
"You continue working after dark to sell these? I can't be more grateful. No one should ever harm honest hard workers like you." Fuku looks up concerned. "I'm sure he means no harm." He starts to leave. "Excuse me. Would you like to buy some bento?" "Of course, in fact I will buy all of it." He wraps the bento in some purple fabric giving it to the other slayer. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" "Of course, it can be lunch for some of the crew."
"Fuku, I can feel a chill running down my spine. Let's leave." "Yes, grandma." Meanwhile on a train one of the conductors opens the door to see the blonde sitting in one of the seats. "Who are you?" "A bento box vendor. I'm trying to see where the Mugen train is." "It was sent to a repair station not too far from here." He points to where the station is. "Arigato." He takes the bento and jumps out of the train. "Is this guy crazy?" the conductor thought.
He goes to the repair station standing in front of the Mugen train. "Who are you?" "I was sent from the railroad station to give you these bento boxes." "Lunch everyone." "The Mugen train. Word on the street says it's a man-eating train. You know how bitter that makes us. Our job is to put her back into service." "Give this to some of the workers in the back as well." "Chief! Help!" "Oni." the crow yells. He rushes over seeing a young boy held by a demon, it was bald, muscular and had pale skin with blue marks."
"Chief!" The demon's nails cut into his chest and face. "Ugh. What is that stench?" He states stepping on one of the bento boxes. "Hey, those boxes were made by love from people I know. "I find the scent of human food to be unbearable. I only eat humans that I find tasty. But the ones I find to smell bad I just slice and leave for dead." His nails dug in deeper. "If you don't like me then catch me." Blue lines appear as he runs around Kyojuro. "See if you can slash me."
He appears from behind "No one is faster than me." "Don't worry. I'll save you. Don't get cocky either." "I slashed this other woman until I got bored. It's a shame the other girl left. I loved the scent of lavender perfume on her." His eyes widen for half a second. "Thank God, I got them those wisteria bags." He thought. "We thought you had left in fear. But we found her and got her treatment. She will recover without a scar." "I will find her again and make sure that she is dead."
"Her location is a secret you will not find her." "Then how about those bento vendors." "Leave them out of this. They did nothing wrong." "But you said you knew them. How about I kill them to spite you. Then I'll find that foreign girl next." "No, you won't." His claws went deeper into the boy. "Guess I'll have to kill him first." Kyojuro runs up swinging his sword cutting off his arms. The demon runs out as he catches the boy quickly regenerating his arms.
"I'll be going right ahead." He sniffs the air before running. Kyojuro takes some fabric, adding pressure on the boy's wounds. "My comrades will be here shortly." "This way! This way!" The crow states. A bunch of other slayers arrive. "Rengoku-san what is needed?" Asked a female demon slayer. "Get this guy some first aid. I have a demon to take care of." He rushes forward on the tracks. "Total concentration breathing." A circle of flames circle around him as he moves.
Meanwhile, "Fuku, I said I can handle the early mornings." "No, I'm going to help grandma." "You're here. Early as ever I see." Fuku starts setting the store up. "It's you, isn't it?" "Who are you?" The demon shows his face. "I can smell those rancid bento boxes on you." She backs up. "Nothing personal. Just getting some revenge." Suddenly he is hit by a bento box. "Fuku, run!" The girl flees but the demon catches up to her on the tracks. He attempts to crush her throat.
A ball of flames is seen as Kyojuro arrives slicing the demons left Achilles tendon." "Are you okay?" "Oh, God my grandma." She proclaims. "Hey old hag. How about I rip your throat out." The demon stumbles over. "You caught up to me?" "I said not to get cocky." "See if you can kill me. If I win the hag dies." Swinging his sword, he cuts the demon's head off. "Too slow. Flame breathing form one Unknowing fire."
"You saved me twice." "Grandma? What are you talking about?" "Twenty years ago, Me and Fuku's mother were saved." "That must have been my father. I followed in his footsteps. I'm honored to have protected you like he did before." "I'm sorry I didn't believe the demon stories." He chuckles. "Honestly it is better to live in blissful ignorance of them. I pray that they will soon be exterminated. There would be no better way to live out your life then without the worry of them."
"Flame Hashira? Are you ok?" "I am fine. However, I believe the slasher was nothing more than a distraction. He was no more than a nuisance to me. If it were really one of the twelve kizuki he wouldn't have been so easy to dispatch." "The Mugen train is back in operation." "I'll take care of it from here."
A few hours later the train boards. "Kristine, hey I-." She walks off. "Hey, I'm sorry if I was a bit harsh last time." "Don't worry, Kyojuro. She just has some things going on and they have nothing to do with you." "Excuse me. Here's a free bento box. We couldn't be more grateful towards you." "I'm honored and I will also buy the rest." "Hey that's the western girl. You know her?" "Yes, that's my girlfriend." "You seem to have lucked out, haven't you?' "Yes, I did. Too bad she's in a bad mood." "Lovers quarrel?" "You can say that." The old lady hands him a Hershey's chocolate bar. "Western women are said to love chocolate. It's often seen as a romantic gesture to give her one. Hopefully that will make her feel better." "Arigato." He states as he boards the train.