Hiii! So, new chapter! I was very happy over my first review ever! Thank you so much injanammanchey! Also, today I had an interview for an intense course at my job. Wish me luck for next week!
Chapter 6
As they arrived to Sakurashimachi, Kumo could inmediately notice the difference between this village and hers. Sakurashimachi was way bigger with more elaborated buildings since more industrialized businesses took place there. It was a bit overwhelming and exciting to see so may people in one place. As they approach the market, Kumo lost herself in the variety of fruit and vegetables she saw. She could also smell delicious yakitori and different meat being grilled. It was making her mouth water. Man, I wish I could buy it all. Can't wait for my first salary!
« Kumo, we've arrived to our stall. You can look around town and be back a couple hours before the sun sets » her father instructed as he organized the rice bags. « Don't forget to show your back as much as possible » Kaa-san had sewn DELICIOUS RICE AT STALL 45 on the back of Kumo's work yukata to get some marketing going. The market was packed with people so it might just work.
« Don't cause any trouble, though! » her mother warned with a glance « We have to give a good imagine to potential clients »
« Hai, hai~ , see you guys later! » Nice, time to explore!
And well, exploring for Kumo meant going through almost every other food stall there was. But who could blame her? This market was huge in comparison to her village's and she didn't know when she'd be back. Of course, it was mostly windowshopping since she couldn't really buy anything, her family was still on a very tight budget and she had yet to start working as a demon slayer. All in due time.
After an hour of walking around, she saw a familiar blond hair with red ends from the corner of her eye. But something was wrong, his size was way smaller, almost like a child. Ah! The little brother! Sanjiro? Tanjuro? She forgot his name. She walked closer and she noticed he was carrying a big bag of vegetables that basically covered his whole face. Just before a walking woman pushed him into the ground, Kumo quickly took the bag on one arm and move him away from the busy alley.
« Watch where you walk! » the woman yelled as she went.
"Jeez, some people should really learn how to be nice sometimes" she said with a frown and then turned to the boy « Are you OK? »
« H-hai! Th-thank you for your help » the nervous boy bowed down nervously. Cute.
« Heh, no need to be so formal. I'm Sugawara Kumo. You can call me Kumo" She smiled at him to make him feel more comfortable "Are you…related to Rengoku Kyojuro-san by any chance?" As in big chance.
"Oh! You know aniki?" the child asked excitedly « Are you a demon slayer, too?! »
« Yes! And, well, I'm still waiting for my uniform and sword » she rubbed her head, embarrassed « But I should be going on my first mission in about a week! »
« Wah, so cool! » the kid said with stars in his eyes. He really admired demon slayers.
"Haha, tell me that after my first successful mission. Anyways, kid, what's your name? » She didn't mind using mini Kyojuro-san, but he might mind.
« Ah, gomen! I'm Rengoku Senjuro. Nice to meet you" the boy blushed slightly, having forgotten his manners for a second.
« Nice to meet you Senjuro-san. Did you come here alone or…" Kumo felt uncomfortable leaving the child alone with a big weight. He might fall eventually.
"Ah, I came to the market with aniki to get some groceries » he looked around, trying to find his brother "but I don't know where he is…" his eyes started tearing up "…I think…I lost…aniki-
"Now, now, don't worry! I'll help you find him" the sight of Senjuro about to cry tugged at Kumo's heart "Your brother and I are friends, you know?" she offered a hand to the kid while carrying the bag with ther left arm.
"Really?" he tried to blink the tears away as he took Kumo's hand timidly "Ah, I think he mentioned you, Kumo-san"
"Oh, he better have! I'm not easily forgotten, ya know?" She dramatically huffed, getting a small laugh from Senjuro "I even gave him flowers as a gift! He better have praised me as the best first impression ever! »
« Haha, he said you were funny and I agree, Kumo-san!" gone was the distress from Senjuro's voice, which pleased Kumo greatly.
« Thanks! Now let's go and find your aniki! »
« Hai! »
As Kumo predicted, it didn't take long to find Kyojuro. His head was literal torch and his sound was just as bright. He was at the liquor store carrying four big tokkuris full of sake while talking excitedly to the seller. Apparently, he had been caught up in a conversation. As they walked closer, Kumo could listen to some of the exhange that was happening.
«I understand your concerns but you needn't worry! » Kyokuro said to the nervous vendor.
« I do worry, young man. I can't really sell all that to a kid » the man used a cloth to wipe the sweat that had formed on his forehead « What if an inspector comes by? My business will be ruined! »
« Haha! It'll be fine!" Kumo sweatdropped at his words.
"Aniki!" Senjuro ran into Kyojuro's side
"Oh, Senjuro. Gomen, I got a bit delayed" the older brother apologized, his eyes widened with surprise as he noticed Kumo standing behind Senjuro. "Kumo-san? What are you doing here?"
" I came here with my parents to sell rice. I'm in charge of marketing! » She turned around so both brothers could see the back of her yukata, Kyojuro let out a laugh « I just happened to see Senjuro struggling with this bag so I helped »
« I see, thank you Kumo-san!"
"Do you need to go somewhere with all this food?" Kumo tilded her head curiously "I still got a couple hours before going back to my parents. I don't mind carrying it for Senjuro »
« Ah, we need to go back home" the elder brother sounded a bit hesistant as he looked at Senjuro "If you don't mind Kumo-san, please walk with us there. It isn't very far."
"Alright!"
And just like that, the trio went off. Senjuro took place between the two teenagers, holding Kumo's hand as they walked.
« So, Kyojuro-san, why did you buy so much sake? Is there a party at your residence or something? » she felt very curious and slightly hopeful about this because if there was a party, there was food and well, she hadn't eaten yet.
"Party? Haha, no! There hasn't been any kind of celebration in our home for a while" Kyojuro said with a soft voice. Oh no, is this another- "It's for…uhm, our father"
Sore topic. Shit.
« Ah, if I remember correctly, you said he used to be a hashira so I guess he's a great man, very strong for sure, right?"
Senjuro looked up nervously at his older brother who kept a serene face as he answered.
« He was a great man…but ever since our mother passed away, he hasn't stopped mourning and has just...given up »
Double shit.
« I'm so sorry. I didn't know, I thought-»
« Don't worry about it! Ah, look! We arrived! » Kyojuro stopped in front of the front gate of his residence « Let's put all the groceries in the kitchen. Sorry, for the bother Kumo-san! »
« No, no. It isn't at all" Kumos said quietly while following Senjuro inside their house. Maybe she needed to stay quiet for a while, she didn't want to make anything worse. She was never afraid of speaking her mind but, she should start caring about others' feelings, specially when they're her friends.
She placed the bag on a counter and helped Senjuro put everything away by following his instructions. Kyojuro left the room with the sake saying he'd be back soon.
« Kumo-san, would you like some tea?" Senjuro asked shyly "As a thanks for helping"
"Of course! I'd love to try your tea!" Kumo said happily as the kid went to heat up some water. She noticed that their house was quite big but lacked people? furniture? She wasn't sure but it felt kinda...lonely.
She heard steps coming up but they were heavier than Kyojuro's. As the sound got louder she could see Senjuro tense up inmediately. She frowned at this. A few seconds later, a way older and drunker version of Kyojuro opened the door harshly. He was wearing a dirty yukata and he looked quite disheveled. He was also carrying an empty tokkuri.
« Oi, where's my sake? » the man asked Senjuro who started shaking lightly "And who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
"Fa-father, th-this i-is -» the child stuttered out of nervousness, Kumo could hear just how anxious he was so she decided to interrupt.
« I'm Sugowara Kumo. I just entered the Demon Slayer Corps. Nice to meet you, sir » she said with a fake smile. He was being rude.
« Ah, so you're also playing swordsmen like Kyojuro?" he jokingly said "Just by looking at you I can see you also lack talent. You'll just get yourself kill in no time! » Kumo felt her eye twitch and the man let out a laugh.
Calm down.
She could hear, however, that underneath it all, Kyojuro's father sounded...scared?
« Father, th-that's not nice » Senjuro said quietly.
« Ah?! Did you say something? Speak louder, boy!" that just made the child start shaking out of fear as his father directed his attention back to him « Stop being such a coward! »
"There you are, father! I left the sake in your room as usual! » Kyojuro went past the older man as he stood in front of Senjuro protectively « Ah, I see you met Kumo-san, a fellow slayer and a friend!" he said to deviate the focus on Senjuro.
« Yeah, I had the displeasure »
Her eye twitched again.
Calm down.
"And a friend you say? Ha! We've been over this, Kyojuro. All the friends you make, the ones you laugh with, will be killed by a demon eventually. So give up on your silly dream of becoming a hashira before you get killed too"
Oh, fuck it.
"Oi, you sound like a real jerk for someone who is just scared" Kumo said with an even voice but loud enough so everyone could hear her clearly.
She could regret it later.
First cliffhanger!