"Caw! Caw! Cawsei! Hayashi! You have a mission! Head to the eastern town! Disappearance near the riverbank! Hurry up! This is your first assignment! Hunt demons!"
"What? A mission? Finally! It's been a week, I thought they forgot about me."
I rushed out of bed, putting on my new black stiff collared uniform and securing my green nichirin blade to my white sash.
I quickly headed eastward and began to contemplate my future.
This is my first mission, my goal is to complete as many missions as possible in the shortest time frame and rank up.
The stronger demons I face, the more strength I can gain but I have to do it incrementally, otherwise I'll just end up in an endless loop of death.
But since I live far out, in the border of the Tokyo prefecture, missions like this rarely come.
If I want to achieve my goal I need to stay constantly travelling around. Otherwise missions like these will be handled by more accessible demon slayers.
Currently I'm the lowest rank of Mizunoto. If I kill fifty demons and or defeat one of the twelve Kizuki after becoming a kinoe, I can become a Hashira.
That reminds me, I also need to find someone to teach me a breathing style. The most common breathing style is water style thanks to it's flexibility.
Anyways, after two days of running, I made it to the town located to the east.
I approached closer to my destination, the tranquil sound of trickling water, the smell of wet, heavy earth filled the air.
The village was built near a river, streams of water cascaded down through blades of a wooden water mill built into the small bridge which I used to cross into the town entrance.
It was mid-day. I walked through the town, couples walked together along the paths, children frolicked and markets flourished.
I walked around for a bit searching for a lead. But this village seemed just fine.
"Hmm, what should I do now that I'm here? That stupid crow should've told me more information."
Caw! Caw! Figure it out yourself! Stupid!
(He could hear me?!)
He's right though… I should probably go around and ask people about the rumours regarding the people going missing at the river bank.
But before I even had the opportunity, I overheard murmurs of two gossiping women as they walked by me, piquing my interest.
"It was terrible what happened to her."
"Did Ayame's son really go missing?"
"I heard he was playing near the river at night."
"Apparently she's gone crazy, saying it was a demon who took him away."
My ears perked up immediately.
I quickly turned back to ask them a quick question.
"Excuse me but could you please tell me what happened to Ms.Ayame son in more detail?"
The two women blinked in surprise, "Who are you?"
"Uhh… I was sent to investigate what happened?"
"Oh wow, you're quite young to be in the police force."
(Police Force? Did they mistake my uniform as the one law enforcement wears? I guess I should play along.)
"Ahem yeah, I'm younger than I look. So about where Ms. Ayame lives?"
"Oh, she lives in that house right there." One said pointing down the street.
"But she's become quite reclusive since her son disappeared." The other woman added.
"How sad… Thank you for telling me."
"No problem, we hope you can get to the bottom of this problem, a lot people have been scared to go near the riverbank these days."
As they walked away, I turned my gaze to Ms. Ayame's house.
I walked calmly to her house and gave a few knocks, the hollow wood echoed in her house.
But after waiting a moment there was no response.
Why is she not responding? Is she not home?
"Hello, Ms. Ayame are you there? I have a question about your son"
After a moment, the door creaked open and a pair of eyes peered out.
"You said you wanted to talk about my son."
She opened the door fully, revealing her messy hair and puffy eyes, reddened from days of weeping.
"Yes, I came here because I've heard about the demon near the riverbank. I know you're still grieving but any information will help."
As I uttered those words she frowned slightly and began to close the door.
"Did you come here to ridicule me like all the others?!"
"No!" I said preventing the door from closing, " you might not believe this — but my job is to kill the demons. Could you please hear me out?"
…
"Thank you for sharing what happened, I promise I'll avenge your son."
Although she was a bit skeptical at first, when I told her my story, she softened up a bit and shared what happened to her son a few nights ago.
A few nights ago, she and her son went for a walk along the riverbank during the evening. She had recently become widowed and her young son was lonely.
They were enjoying their walk and time flew by and before they had realised it, the moon hung high in the sky.
It happened when they turned back to go home.
An old man with brows descending his face, hollow eyes and frail frame walked out of the river.
He had a fishing pole in his hands and a straw hat partially shading his face.
Then suddenly—
Whip!
The line cast outwards, hooking onto her son and dragging him into the water.
She panicked running towards her son but then she saw the demons face and realised he wasn't human.
She thought she was next and trembled
However, the demon didn't target her, instead he only took her son into the water and before she knew it — he was gone.
She hurried back to the village in search of help but no one believed her.
And now, she's left all alone.
…
I made it to location where Ayame's son was last seen, my hand gripped firmly on the hilt of my blade and I was searching vigilantly.
But then I saw him.
He stood there, neck deep in the river, his fishing line bobbed up and down as he peered into the distance, with an empty gaze.
Then out of nowhere, I heard a metallic hook zip towards me.
It gouged into my shoulder, reeling me in.
With one arm holding the handle of my blade and the other on my injured shoulder, I hacked at the thin fishing line, snapping it.
"Don't panic boy, I won't let you won't drown — like he did."
He slowly crept out the river, resisting the heavy flow of water against him.
His heavy-lidded eyes gave the impression of having no eyes yet I could feel it directed at me with malice while he gripped the bamboo fishing rod propped up on his shoulder.
He swung his fishing pole, casting the line towards me yet again.
Hastening my approach, I dodged the metal hook that was darting towards me and waved my blade towards his neck.
Clang!
Is that fishing pole really made of bamboo?!
My blade recoiled back, with only a slight indent formed the bamboo shaft.
I tried to swing again but he hooked onto my ankle with the blade, launching me into the air.
I plopped behind him into the river, despite thrashing about I couldn't escape.
A torrent of water pummelled me relentlessly.
I could feel my strength waning and I began to gurgle as my oxygen supply ran out.
I tried to slice the hook but with the resistance of water against my blade, no force was generated.
My lungs filled with water, my grip loosened and my world turned black.
*
Gurgle Gurgle Gurgle
I reawakened. Still under the oppressive weight of the water, burbling drowned out the maniacal cackle of the demon in the background, I was still thrashing about as I griped to myself.
Why the hell did I respawn here!
This is the worst spot to be in, I can't use my breathing thanks to being under water and my sword is useless.
I continued to struggle and with the demon causing my body to swish and flail in the water with the hook, I couldn't regain my bearings.
I trailed around the river, led by the string of my leg.
My blade glided smoothly against the water, aiming to cut the line.
Bubbles seeped out of my mouth as I mustered force, twisting my body, water whirled.
However, the force was mediocre.
The blade tugged on the thread but fell short of cutting it.
All my energy went into that swing, I tried again and again to sever the connection but my vision was fading rapidly.
And then, darkness…
*
I returned only to die again… and again
The experience of my deaths caused a sharp increase in my proficiency in water.
Foam spiralled with my blade, swarming around me, as I struck the cord latched onto me.
But I continued to fail.
…
This pattern continued until my fourteenth death.
With each death my movements grew more fluid, more dynamic.
My body flowed with the current, my limbs learned to move with the rhythm of the water and eventually, I achieved what I was aiming for.
Fwish!
A storm of rushing water enveloped my body as I rotated in a wheel.
Jets of water spiked along the circumference of my strike and I quickly swam back up, resurfacing on the riverbank opposite to the demon.
"What?! You seriously esca—!!"
Before he could finish his sentence I jumped across the river.
The glimmer of my blade faded into a green blur, blazing towards his neck. At the same time my body gyrated mid-air avoiding an incoming fishing hook.
I could feel it, my striking changed, it was more fluent and graceful. My body adapted to the water, altering my style.
My swordsmanship lost its rigidity and I could evade attacks with ease. It's like I created my own form of water breathing.
"GAH!!"
My blade tore through his body diagonally, from his neck to his rib cage, his bisected body fell, rippling the thin layer of water he stood on.
His upper half plopped to the ground and incinerated.
…
Knock Knock Knock
It's still late at night so she's probably asleep. But I should tell her anyways
"Ms. Ayame, thanks to you, I slayed the demon."
I walked away without hearing a response.
I headed to the local inn to rest up and allow my shoulder and leg injury to heal.
Fortunately the injuries were only minor and could probably heal in a few weeks.
A Few Weeks Later
I rested up and left the town, as I began heading towards the nearest town, my stupid crow landed on my head and began knocking on it incessantly.
"Caw! Caw! South-West! South-West! Next Location! Demon Terrorising Travellers On Mountain!"
"Okay Okay. I got it! Can't you be a bit more quiet and get off my head!"
One day I'm going to cook that crow and eat it.
I started running towards the mountain in the far distance. Without any skyscrapers, the vast stretches of land allowed me to see far ahead.
My gaze locked onto the the beautiful mountains and clear blue sky distracting temporarily.
"Caw! Run Faster!"
"I'm running as fast as I can! Just shut up you stupid crow!"
Man that crow is annoying…
After listening to my crows bickering for my entire journey I made it to the mountain.
At the entrance to the trail was a wooden sign with sharp kanji stating " Danger! Wild Bears! Be Wary At Night!".
I trekked up the mountain searching for the demon but he was no where to be seen.
"Seriously, I thought being a demon slayer would be full of action but most of the time it's just travelling."
But then, a familiar voice echoed.
"Why are you following me?!"
"Calm down Sanemi. Sensei told me to watch over you, you always end up with new injuries every time you're left alone for long enough. Also you can call me by my name, it's Masachika Kumeno remember."
Huh? Is that Sanemi… And the black short haired one with two score like scars under his right eye is Masachika, the one who fought alongside Sanemi when he killed the lower moon one to be promoted to hashira right?
I ran up to Sanemi waving my hands, "Sanemi! Long time no see!"
"Hm? Sanemi do you know him?"
"You! You're from the final selection? Why are you calling me by first name like we're familiar!?"
"What?! I thought we were friends? Especially after I saved your life." I said wrapping my arms around his shoulder.
He shoved my arm off, "Shut up! I don't even know who you are!", he barked, turning a tinge of red out of anger.
"Pfft! Sanemi why didn't you tell me you made a friend during the final selection? Green haired kid, what's your name?"
"Oh, my names Kousei Hayashi, it's nice to meet you uhh… Mr. Kumeno."
"You already know my name? And there's no need to be formal just call me Masachika."
"I overheard your conversation earlier, anyways, it seems we were all sent on the same mission together."
"Tsk! Why did they send you here as well."
Then we heard the rustle of the leaves above us.
Clack Clack Clack
"I smell it… rare blood."