[Author-san: Mistakes were made today.]
Almost dinner time. They needed to finish preparing the table before dad starts acting up again.
"Ugh, don't put that there!" The eldest sibling screamed, taking the glass away from the small child. "Don't play with that, okay? Not a toy."
She tried to convince the child but he wasn't showing any signs of understanding. For now, she would get back to setting the table, her father would arrive any moment now.
knock-knock
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
"Mom! I think that's Dad!" she shouted, hoping her mother could open the door as she was currently busy.
click...
She heard the door unlock, so she guess she heard her. Seems just in time as she placed the last plate for herself.
"I'm back" Her father said, walking into the dinning room, smiling at the small child before his eyes. "Hey little guy, doing good? Missed me?" He started, getting side tracked once more.
"Is mom still in the kitchen?" she asked, getting her father back to reality as he stopped playing with her brother.
"Yeah, also what's everyone so quite?"
"Quite?" she asked, wondering what he meant.
"Yeah, when I came back, all the neighbors had their lights off and even Satoshi closed up shop. Seems kinda early for bed."
He was right, the sun just set and usually all the people would be getting ready for dinner. For there to be no lights at all, was kinda weird.
"I dont know, but maybe everyone's just tired from working. You shouldn't worry, its-"
knock-knock
She was shorty interrupted from another knock at the door. Which was weird, they weren't expecting anyone else today.
"I'll get it!" she heard her mother scream from the kitchen, she looked at her father as to wonder if he was expecting anyone.
"Take your brother, I'll go see who it is." he said, handing over her little brother and walking off. She felt this odd sensation in the air, something was telling her to be alert. To feel like a predator was lurking near.
click... click...
"What was that?"
She wondered what that sound just was, she could hear the unlocking of the door, but the second one felt more forced and quick. Now she was just to curious.
Leaving the dining room, she made her way to the door. Still holding her brother within her arms, she saw the halway was pitch black. All the lights were off, and a ruff scraping sound could be heard.
"Mom, who is at the doo-" she stopped. Her voice and her breath was caught in her throat, her eyes fixated to the figure before her eyes. Before another second could pass, she instantly hid behind the wall. Tightly holding on to her brother, her back against the wall, she could hear the crunching sound of bone.
Just around the corner within the hallway, was something. She could not make out the creature as it's back was facing towards her, but the height at which it stood and the twisted horns she could see.
"A-a.. a Demon." she mumbled true her breath, trying to calm herself but failing. She was hyperventilating, she was scared, she was... alone.
"The whole village was dark, what if I'm the only one? And what exactly was that thing?" She could not get a grasp on what was going on, but she needed to run, she needed to get away from this... thing.
Slowly she tried to crawl back towards the dining room, there was a large enough window for her to escape. Maybe then-
"Sheepp?" her brother mumbled, gazing up to look at her.
Stopping her once more dead in her tracks. Looking down to him, she saw he was staring towards something else, something above her.
"Oh little one. So close, but I am no sheep. Just a very-very old goat, looking for a nice snack." the creature said, staring down to the human beneath him, a broad smile plastered on it's face. Reaching from ear to ear, was rows of vicious teeth only akin to blades.
"Dont you just look delicious."
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.
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"Lady Shinobu is here to see you, master." the delicate voice from the young girl said, shorty receiving a simple nod from her master.
Lord Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the head of the demon slayer core, and caretaker of all his children- the Hashiras.
"Master..." Shinobu greeted, giving a respective bow to him as she entered. Despite becoming blind in both eyes due to the progression of his illness, he could keenly sense the discomfort in the insect hashira's voice, and possibly even in her smile.
"Is something troubling you, Shinobu?" he asked, wondering if something may have happened.
"I'm perfectly fine, Master." she answered, obviously lying, but that was fine. He knew she has always been 'troubled' after her sisters passing, but this seems different.
"I suppose the mission has been a success?" He asked, hoping for a confirmation.
"We've successfully gained control over the area. Seems an infestation of lesser demons have been festering there." she said, her voice showing more worry than happiness over a mission successful.
He could remember the reports of the situation that waa happening towards a forest north from here. Where they spoken about how the trees felt alive and corrupted, the grass being akin to razor blades as they could cut true flesh. The leaves red with a texture of flesh along with the drips of blood that came from them. It was obvious to see that this was the workings of a demon, but it seems he did not need to worry to much of the problem.
"And what about civilians, any deaths?" he asked, still a bit skeptical all could have gone well with how weird the reports was.
"No civilians died as the villages were far from the demons nest, but the demons themselves were the oddity of it all." She spoke in a more serious tone about her findings. "They seemed to be a corrupted version of the wildlife that once inhabited the forest. Deers and boars with a more monstrous form, sharing healing abilities similar to other demons. Only humanoids were from the corpses that were buried there, but even they were weaker than most demons."
Kagaya took a moment to digest this new information, the findings of a corrupt forest like this was a rarity. Unlike the recent incident at Mount Natagumo, concerning the spider demon and his 'family', this was a infestation that directly effected the nature around it.
"This is very troubling news, I will have to send some of our doctors to look into this. For now, merely take samples of this forest's corruption then burn it down in a controlled manner." he ordered, not wanting a wild fire to burst out and harm anymore than they have to.
"It will be done, master." Shinobu said with a light bow, standing to exit the room but Kagaya first stopped her.
"There was something else I wanted to ask..." He spoke, gaining her attention before she could leave. "It's about the incident at that small village near the river. The one Tomioka told me about."
"Oh, that mission."
He was referring to the recent findings of The water hashira, from the ghost town. It was a very secluded and isolated village with not to many travelers going in and out. It could be easily forgotten to even exist, but the water hashira apparently encountered a member of this ghost town.
A deranged women within her late teens, screaming and running true out the forest. She was sent to a mental housing, but the things she spoke about were to graphic and detailed.
"I'm sure you have heard her tale, about the demon she encountered?" He asked Shinobu, but even true his blindness he could sense the doubt within her current expression.
"Yes, master, I have heard the odd things she said while she was within my care. Before they took her away." she added, referring to the mental institution she was sent to, only for those who were beyond repair.
"I think her story may hold more truth than we think."
Off course, that was relying more on faith than actual proof. The women's story was enough for them to act and send one of their slayers to scout the village, which showed that nothing was wrong. All the villagers were going about their day with not a care in the world. Her parents even told them that they thought their daughter died in a hunting accident, but it seems something else might have occurred.
"I know her story of the entire village being slaughtered by a demon apears false, but I believe she may have encountered one. Trauma can mess with the mind." Kagaya tried convincing her, he instead would love if they would take part in this mission willingly.
With a readjustment to her smile, she nodded and agreed to her masters words.
"Yes, I have not thought of that possibility. I doubt the demon would have stayed there until now, with all our slayers moving in and out from the area, but I will look into it."
"That's wonderful, if I may..." he quickly added ,once more stopping her from leaving. "Why not take another Hashira along. I've heard that Tengen was near to that village, somewhere within the red district I believe."
"That would be fine. I would not like to disturb him further." she said, not explaining further before leaving. With the closing from the door, Kagaya wonders...
"Does she perhaps not like Tengen's company?"
Well... it would not matter now. He already informed Tengen of her arrival, so he can only hope they would not mind handling this mission together.
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Clean... clean... swipe... and clean again.
Tanjiro must say, he did not think this mission would be this... relaxing. Ever since arriving at this establishment, he was a bit worried with the thought that a demon could be lurking near by, but the cleaning and chores he had to do were somewhat comforting. Reminding him of his times back home.
Was a bit abrupt when Lord Tengen, more or less, sold them away to work at these places. Besides the heavy makeup, it was not that bad.
"Okay Girls, time for a break." the old lady said, taking Tanjiro away from his thoughts. This would be around the time that they should report back to Lord Tengen, only problem was...
"What should I say?"
He didn't exactly discover anything out of the ordinary yet, so he was a bit lost on what to report. Lord Tengen seemed to grow impatient with the constant dead ends and lack of any evidence for a demon. And with how Zenitsu and Inosuke are, they weren't helping that much with his patience.
While walking to his room, he thought of what to say. Still lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the open window with the two small guests standing there.
"Muscle Muscle!" The squeaky words shocked him for a bit, until he looked to his rooms window. On the window frame, was mice. Very muscular mice.
"Uh... thats a nice head band you got there..." He commented, not exactly knowing what to say to the small creatures.
From the flashy jewelry, they most likely belong to Lord Tengen, so they are probably here with a message.
"Muscle!" They said, before lifting a giant saki bottle, throwing it directly in his room before storming off.
"Hey Wait! You can't leave this... here..." Tanjiro tried to yell for the mice to stop, but before he knew it, they were gone.
"Uhm, what am I suppose to do with this? Must I drink i-" before he could finish the thought, the very detailed memory of his mother reminded him he was still a minor.
"I should leave it here for, wait.." Raising it, he found that it was pretty light. "Is here... oh!?"
Looking in the bottle, behind the logo was something written on it.
"Wow, very secretive stuff." he said, pressing his eye upto the opening trying to see the hidden message.
"Uhm... Beware-The... workers, they are... in to it..."
They were into it? Into what? Wait, they are workers... from the entertainment district, also known as the love district... so does he mean.
"No, he wouldn't send a secret message just to say that, or could he mean they were working with the demon? Let me see further, I think there's more written..."
Trying to see the rest of the message, he pressed- more like forced- the bottle onto his eye. Directly on his face, he tried until-
"Sumiko?"
The sudden call of his false name made him freeze up, until he realized what he was holding in his hand... and currently against his face. Which was against the rules of the establishment.
"It's not what-it uh- it's.." He quickly tried to make an excuse to his coworker, but instead... she smiled?
"Oh, the stress is getting to you?"
"Uh, yeah.. no, yes it is... not." He wanted to lie but, well, how?
"Don't worry, it's break time right? Wanna join us for a bit, feel like relieving more of this stress. The shop near the high establishment is a great place, better than drinking alone in your room."
"Uh, yeah, um off course..."
Very very dumb thing to do, but it is break after all. So might as well, aslong as he doesn't lose his currently fake job. What's the worst that could happened? Being invited to drinks with a coworker was a good sign of trust, but he didn't want to break their trust.
"This is gonna be way harder than I thought..."
Deciding to go out with them might be the best choice, he was tag along and just sneak away when the drinks arrive.
"I'll just say I got a stomach cramp."
Not seeing a way out, he could only hope that they will forget this ever happened, and he may even find out some new information.
Leaving the room, with his current 'best friend' ,he left the bottle on the floor, forgetting the unfinished message inside.
From the window, a red mist seeped within the room, soon taking a controlled form. One of the fairy imps made by the Supreme one gazed at the bottle before magically pulling out the hidden message inside.
[Workers are controlled by a blood demon art involving a red mist]
The imp frowned from seeing it, seems that shiny human is more smarter than he gave him credit for. Good thing he made that women interrupt this boy from reading the rest, he could feel the child had a little resistance to his attempts at making him leave the bottle on his own, but either way they stopped the spread of crucial information.
"No matter, the supreme one will be arriving soon. Fellas, let's move the plan up a notch." It spoke, directing its words to the cloud of red mist behind it. Many eyes gazing from within the mist at their appointed leader.
"The Supreme one will be arriving earlier than expected. We shall prepare this offering with grace and beauty. These humans will be honored to be within his presence, and will feel gratitude for his mercy of giving them a peaceful death."
"Sir..." One of the lower imps called to him, seeming to say something. "What about the presence of that demon?" The imp asked, only making their leader scowl with annoyance.
"The Supreme One have order that we do not act. He will be coming here personally to see this... demon."
With the final orders given, they have learned enough of these humans and can finally move on to preparing them for the Great One's arrival.
May their souls bring joy to their master, or he will destruction to their homes. Only time could tell which he will choose...
Prosperity... or Disaster?
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[Author-san: Well... uh... hmmm... very bad]