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[Kuroko No Basket belongs to Tadatoshi Fujimaki]

[English isn't my first language, so please be kind]

4

The Half-Demon

Sana P.O.V.

- An oni? - my voice was quavering - Do you mean a demon that eats humans?

It was already the fourth time I asked that question since Kise had told me about his friend identity.

We traveled together in the back of the wagon for two full days as the driver was kind enough to allow us to ride with him for much of the way, but he would avoid the oni forest like all the other traders did, so we jumped a few kilometers before the forest.

- Not all oni are bad - Kise finally gave me an answer after avoiding the subject for too long - Aomine is nice.

Kise chewed his onigiri fervently. We had stopped walking for a while because my legs could only last short distances and I refused to get on his back.

- Aomine? - I pondered - Do all your friends only have surnames?

We had already passed through all the villages, plantations and paths that I knew since my childhood and from now on everything would be new, I mean, I could still go back if I wanted, but if I kept going forward, everything would be different.

Kise patted the top of my head as if reading my fearful thoughts. I didn't want to admit it out loud, but traveling with him wasn't so bad. During the two days we stayed in the wagon he protected me from the cold, giving me the only blanket we had available, he also let me eat the largest portions of food and kept an eye on the men who passed us.

- Come on, be brave - Kise challenged me - or else we can go back and start setting up our house, I already have a cave in mind.

- What? - I jumped up - No, I will never live in a cave!

Kise smiled, the motivation worked. I really wanted him to have a real name and I was thinking of one, I just didn't want him to know it, so I hoped that if he was indeed reading my thoughts, he wouldn't read this one.

- I thought there would be a village near the forest - I said, finding the empty surroundings strange. The forest went towards the mountain and there was a trail right in the middle.

- There was a village here before - Kise said, he didn't seem worried at all, in fact his gaze followed a yellow butterfly that kept trying to land on his head - but because of the oni only half of it is still standing, it's on the other side of the mountain.

I nodded, still apprehensive. The silence made me uncomfortable and the forest seemed, somehow, too intimidating with its tall trees.

I looked at the stone path that formed the trail we were supposed to follow, probably made when the village was still intact. The entrance to the forest was formed by a swirl of bamboo that formed a long arch above our heads.

"Like a portal to another world", I thought.

Kise was the first to cross, once again as if it were nothing, as if it were normal to meet a strange girl and propose marriage.

- Are you coming or not? - He reached out his hand to me and I took it.

Then we were in the oni's territory.

I tried to be okay, not to look so scared, but every sound and chirp that came from inside the forest scared me, which led me to look for Kise's hug more than once.

According to my mother, an oni was just a horror story, but kitsunes also didn't exist according to her logic and here I was, engaged to one.

- How ugly is he? - I asked, because I had heard enough stories about oni to know that they were burly and scary, with huge teeth, horns, and three eyes.

- The ugliest creature on earth.

I tried to make my legs keep moving, but Kise's comment didn't help. I could handle seeing something hideous, couldn't I?

- I think I should have accepted your marriage proposal - I whispered.

- Really? Have you changed your mind, Sanacchi?

- It was just an expression of my fear! Leave me!

I pushed Kise, and his hopeful look disappeared from her face. I almost felt sorry. Even so, the fox helped me not to trip and to stay on the trail.

Kise was leading the way, until he stopped, and his nose started to move, he smelled something.

- I think he's around here.

- What? - I ran and grabbed his haori.

Kise's normally would hug me back, but this time he moved my fingers away from his clothes. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about it.

- I need to find him, stay on the trail, Sanacchi, a friend will come and pick you up.

I was ready to retort when Kise disappeared from my sight. It was too fast, I could barely follow him with my eyes and I finally realized how much I was slowing him down on foot.

Suddenly I found myself alone in the middle of the forest, on the stone path, feeling oppressed by the large trees that grew around me and hid the sky and sunlight.

I didn't want to continue alone, but staying still wouldn't bring any solution, so I decided to trust the fox. Walking was difficult because of the poorly aligned stones and the moss under my shoes, but the worst thing was my imagination.

"I could be devoured at any moment!" was what my mind screamed. "What if Kise's oni friend wasn't the only one who lived here? The forest is too big."

I started to remember my brother Sota and how travelers who passed by the inn spoke of a woman who lived in the forest. I felt like there was a snowball in my throat. If there were two oni, one would eat me alive in one mouthful. Maybe I wouldn't even have time to scream for help.

I heard a noise coming from above, but it was just some birds caring for their babies. Then I heard another crack nearby, but it was a deer running. I tried to focus on the trail, but then I heard an echo, and the echo soon turned into humming, and I knew I wasn't alone anymore.

I left the trail immediately, because if someone was really following me, they would probably be on the stone path. I hid behind a large tree and looked for a rock that I could throw if necessary. Seconds turned into minutes, which felt more like entire years. I tried to stifle my breathing waiting for something to happen, but what appeared was not a scary being, a monster, not even a man, but a girl.

Unlike me, she walked calmly down the trail, holding an empty basket.

Her gaze met mine because I was careless, but before we could say anything my vision was blocked by what appeared to be a tall, tanned man holding a huge iron club. A man with a horn on his forehead.

I had just been found by the forest oni.

I woke up to the smell of grilled eel and the delicious crackling of pans as food was being prepared. I was no longer in the forest surrounded by intimidating trees, but in a room in what looked like an ordinary house. I was still lying down, looking at the wooden ceiling when the door opened and the pretty girl I saw in the forest smiled when she saw that I was awake.

- I'm glad you woke up! - she said, looking relieved - The food is almost ready.

The girl helped me up and made sure I wasn't hurt.

- Daiki is intimidating when you don't know him - she said - but he has a good heart.

I didn't know who this Daiki was, so I remained silent. The girl was even more beautiful up close, with her purple clothes. Her long hair was brown as were her eyes and she had a much more striking body type than mine, which was noticeable even behind all that fabric.

The girl seemed to be a little older than me, and was also taller. She held my hand and gently showed me the way. Actually I just wanted to get to where the food was being served.

- Hey - the oni greeted me, he was sitting comfortably on the cushions in the neighboring room.

I was ready to run, but the girl held my hand tightly.

- He won't hurt you! - she stated - Look, your Kise is also here.

She pointed to the table next to the oni's. Kise was comfortably settled there, legs crossed, waving at me.

- You finally woke up, Sanacchi! Come on, the food is almost ready!

He seemed so relaxed that I was overcome by an uncontrollable feeling of fury. A volcano that suddenly imploded.

- He's not my Kise - I replied, but I still ran towards him, hiding behind his body to avoid the oni's arrogant gaze.

- I'll ask Shoichi if the food is ready - the pretty girl said, then looked at the oni, who should be the Daiki she called, before leaving - be gentle.

The girl left, leaving me alone with those two strange creatures. It was a very awkward moment of silence.

- I can't believe you confused my smell - Kise said to the oni, he served me some tea, which I accepted - it doesn't even seem like we've been friends for so many years, Aominecchi!

- It's not my fault she smells like fox - said the oni, his voice was harsh, and unlike tea he was pouring himself a strong drink.

I looked at Kise asking for an explanation, but he shrugged. I noticed that his ears were clearly visible, as was his tail. He didn't seem to be worried about hiding here.

- Where are we? - I asked.

- On the other side of the mountain. Aimicchi found you...

- Don't say her name like that - the oni got angry, but Kise didn't care.

- You fainted from fear of Aominecchi, so I brought you here to eat something hot before we went up the mountain again to their house.

- Their house? It means that...

- Aimicchi and Aominecchi are a couple, they live in the mountain.

- I already told you not to call her that! - the oni threw the glass on the floor and threw himself at Kise, who laughed while the demon tugged at his ear.

They didn't look like horrifying creatures, but like two normal young men.

I drank some more tea until the girl, Aimi, came back with another guy, who also looked human. They held two huge trays of food and the smell was delicious. Only her arrival made Aomine return to his seat and leave Kise alone.

- Why can't you behave, Aomine? - said the other guy with straight, messy black hair and gray squinted eyes behind his glasses. - The customers will listen to you and then all the tourism in the village will disappear.

- This is the Imayoshi family's restaurant - Kise explained while helping the girl serve the food to me, perhaps because he thought I was feeling weak - the corridor behind us connects the house to the restaurant.

- We are always serving those who want to venture into the mountain after the monstrous oni - Imayoshi pointed to Aomine, who was now devouring a bowl of rice - they just don't know that he dines with us sometimes.

I tried to control my shocked expression, but I couldn't, which made Imayoshi laugh. I didn't like his smile.

- Thanks again, Shoichi - Aimi said, she followed him into the corridor - I know we shouldn't come during the day, but it was an emergency.

I couldn't hear his response, but I noticed that the way he looked at Aimi was different from the way he looked at me and Kise. The girl had a small bandage on her left hand that I hadn't noticed before due to the long sleeves of her clothes, and Imayoshi examined her for a long time before leaving.

- Here, Sanacchi - Kise offered me a spoonful of hot rice with grilled eel - say aaaaah.

- I can feed myself.

- I know, but this is more fun, c'mon, say aaaaah.

I sighed, burying a smile. Despite everything Kise was funny, so I played along. I hadn't eaten unadon in a while and my stomach screamed with joy when I tasted the sweet-savory sauce with the steamed rice.

- You eat so well, Sanacchi! - Kise said when I started to eat alone. Usually I would eat slower in front of boys, but I had no need to hide my appetite from him.

At the other table, Aomine and Aimi seemed to be immersed in their own world, enjoying their food while exchanging passionate glances.

The more I looked at the oni, the less monstrous it seemed to me. There were no huge teeth or a third eye. If it weren't for his big black nails and the horn that grew through his hair, he would be normal. But I don't think a normal guy would have the strength to carry an iron club that size.

But Aimi didn't seem bothered by any of that.

- Alright - the oni placed the glass on the table and turned to Kise and me - it hasn't been long since you visited us and you're back, but now with a...

- Wife! - Kise said with a smile.

- We're not that... - I tried to interrupt him.

- You're right, the marriage hasn't been consummated yet, but anyway you're my soulmate.

I blushed with embarrassment. I should be paying some kind of karma.

- Anyway - Kise sighed - she wants to undo our bond, but the problem, besides me being against it, is that I don't know how to do it.

- If you don't want to undo it then why are you here? - the oni asked. He had a strange habit of raising his voice when he spoke, but Aimi held his hand and he soon returned to normal.

I wanted to answer that question, but Kise and I looked at each other almost at the same time. I hadn't noticed until that moment how his eyes shone with a gentle light.

- Because that's what Sanacchi wants - Kise looked away, looking gloomy, and somehow him looking sad made me sad.

What was happening?

- How stupid - Aomine snorted - I would never allow something like that to happen to me.

- Daiki! - Aimi argued with him, her look of disapproval was enough for him to stop, and it was strange to see a being his size being scolded by someone with a more fragile appearance.

- If something like that happened to me I would rather die - the oni said to our surprise, but it didn't seem surprising to Aimi, she must have been used to hearing that type of declaration of love.

- Come with me, Sana - Aimi said after we finished eating, no one spoke again about my situation with Kise - I'm going to see how the restaurant is and then go up the mountain, we'll leave them talking for a while.

- Climb the mountain? - I looked at Kise, and soon regretted it. I can't believe he was being my security reference.

- Go with her - he smiled - I'll be there in a moment, Sanacchi.

- This is a very big house - I said when we were alone. Aimi guided me through the large corridor that led us to the restaurant. The environment was clean and spacious, but there were several closed doors.

- This also functioned as an inn before the legend of the mountain oni spread. The older people got scared and left, but now the village is full of tourists.

I could see a large room with tables, similar to the one in my house, but twice as big, when we went down the stairs. There were many people eating and laughing.

Aimi went to one of the rooms on the ground floor, away from the noise of the lounge, close to a garden. She opened the sliding door and quickly entered. There was a man lying there, sleeping, Aimi just checked his temperature and left.

- Shoichi's father has been sick for a while, so now he takes care of the restaurant alone.

We continued our way to the kitchen, a room whose heat was noticeable even outside, where Imayoshi was leading some cooks. He seemed focused, but he saw when Aimi called out to him.

- Are you leaving already? - he hurried to the door, closing it behind him, not letting the others see Aimi.

- Yes, the food was delicious as always, but Sana was scared by the forest so I think it's better to go back early.

The man in dark clothes stared at me, and soon his expression didn't seem so amused anymore. I didn't like him, I didn't know why.

- So, I'm going now...

- Wait, Aimi! - Imayoshi grabbed her wrist and for a second he looked paler than usual, I think I understood why, he was crossing the line - Here...

He took out a red silk ribbon from his pocket, which didn't really match Aimi's purple clothes.

- Thanks! - Aimi smiled - I'm going to use it right now to tie up my hair.

Imayoshi smiled slightly, but somehow he still looked worried.

- Thank you for everything - I said even though I felt uncomfortable, after all he had given me food.

Aimi led the way, guiding me through the back of the restaurant until we found an exit that led straight into the forest.

- You don't need to be so tense, Sana - Aimi said, she was actually tying her hair with the ribbon - Shoichi is a friend.

- I hope you're sure about that - I said - anyway, do you really live in the forest with the oni?

- Yes.

- But onis are demons!

Aimi covered her smile, she should have heard that one already.

- Aomine is a half-demon - she said.

- What do you mean by that?

Aimi took the stone trail and I soon realized that there must be several paths like that throughout the forest, probably made when the entire village was functioning.

- Aomine's mother was human, that's why he looks like that.

I wanted to say he still looked hideous, but Aimi was smiling. She must have loved him very much despite everything, so I remained silent, filled with envy.

Kise P.O.V.

Watching Sana eat was wonderful, but I knew she thought she wasn't acting like an elegant woman, so I didn't comment. In fact, I liked everything Sana did, even though we had known each other for such a short time.

There was no rule for soulmates, and if they existed I wouldn't be following them, just my heart. And my heart said that I belonged to Sana, even if she rejected me. That's why I couldn't do anything that would make her sad.

- Enough drinking, Aominecchi - I said, trying to take the glass out of his hand - tell me how I can win Sana over!

- I don't know! I don't know anything about women! - Aomine replied. He was right about that. The fact that he had Aimi with him was basically a miracle, perhaps that's why he was so protective of her.

I sighed. If I couldn't win her over, then all I could do was give her what she wanted.

- So how can I undo our bond?

- Wow, do you really want to do this? You must have hit your head really hard this time… - Aomine seemed surprised. His clothes were always messy or half-done, and today I could see all the bandages on his abdomen.

- If I don't do this, Sanacchi will be sad and I can't allow that!

Aomine shook his head several times. It was getting dark fast and I think it was a good idea to take Sana to the mountain early. She could be afraid of the darkness of the forest.

- I don't know anything about foxes - Aomine said, leaning against the wall, almost drunk, if that was possible - but I think I know someone who can help you.

- Really? Who?

- But you have to be sure of what you want when you go looking for him, I heard that he makes very difficult deals.

- Yes, yes, Sana doesn't want me, who is this guy?

- He is... - Aomine stopped, then grabbed his giant club and jumped out the restaurant window.

It took a moment for me to smell the blood. There was something in the forest.

Sana and Aimi were in danger.

So far this chapter has been my favorite to write. I'll be traveling next week so I'll try to post at least one chapter mid-week. Thank you for reading. There's still a lot to happen and a lot of characters to appear!