Burn to ash

Flamboyant pair

Years, its' been years since we've been assigned the entertainment district. Maybe 3 or 4 years to be exact. At a decent pace, we made rank and climbed the totem poll enough to be respected by others. Though we don't go on various mission like others so, vanquish the same , if not more demons that the average slayer. We defeat so many demons yet so many still remain. It feels as if this mission will never end but it isn't unbearable. Tengen and his wives, Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma are the greatest people, and greatest friends I could ever ask for. Every night, Tengen and I would patrol the streets while making connections with various tea shops and shop owners while his wives gathered information and listening to rumors during the day while servicing the inn. It's a good system and that's what led us to where we are now. Before a lower moon, who had wandered into path.
He had a well maintained outward appearance, possibly in the hopes to have blended in with the crowd but thanks to our connections and traps, we were easily able to identify him as a stranger, more than that though, men had begun to go missing from the shops he visited. His hair fell above his eyes, completely hiding the sight of his eyes but he tips his head up sniffing the air.
" Two of you? Smells like a woman and man. Demon slayers? That man had warned me of you two in this district." Even before we can reacts, he's already attacked us. From his sleeves erupted tentacle like limbs that flew at us like spears and the shinobi and I could only dodge, unable to find an opening to attack. This demon didn't talk much but it's possible that he relies only of senses other than sight to attack. I look to my side for e brief moment to see that my partner had come to the same conclusion as I. We're forced to retreat further when an attacked comes from below us. Not only is he fast and strong but also smarter than the average everyday demons. It's to be expected of one of 12 Kizuki.
I get into a stance. " Third form: Thunder swarm." I can't help but to whisper under my breath as I lunge froward. Waves of electricity swarms and surrounds the demon while I try to cut off as many of his limbs as I possibly can from all direction. I hear Tengen beginning his attack as well. '
" Hou! Get out of my way!" I jump out of his way as he releases his first form and it is indeed a roar. I will never be able to get used to how loud his attacks are. A unbelievably strong slash downward with both his blades all the while detonating paper bombs as well. I find my way to stand beside him. We watch as the demon's head rolls screaming profanities. It's body counties to struggle to hang onto the little life it had left, blindly attacking anything near. I decided that for our safety, it'll be best that we finish it quickly and so I hold my sword to the side, my blade gleaming under the red lights, I breath in deeply. " Second form, rice spirit." It's hard to tell what exactly I cut because of how habitual these moves have become over time. The confidence I have that I will hit my target no matter what. Swiftly, I sheath my blade and watch as the body disintegrates and the demon is finally at peace. I offer a final prayer.
" May you find peace in the next life." I hold my hands together for a moment with my eyes closed out of respect before I hear Tengen again. Being used to my routine, he knows to give me a few moments before speaking.
" He wasn't strong but we should probably report to Oyakata-sama about this since he was a 12 Kizuki. It's possible that Muzan will appoint a new one real soon." As as he says this, our crows scream for us to leave to meet with our master. My partner sign rubbing the back of his head before nodding back towards the Main Street. He sends crow to tell others that we are leaving before throwing me over his shoulder and jumping to the roofs. He laughs as I struggle to get out of his grasp. He hops easily from roof to roof until we reach the outskirts of the town. There he drops me and calls for the mice to bring out our things. These mice slowly walked with our belongings over head. Such tiny creatures carrying items at least 10 times larger of heavier than they are.  One of them brought me my haori which I slipped on easily over my uniform after handing the kimono and obi to them. I leave the earring in as it's not much a nuisance but I release my hair from its updo. Looking to my side, I see Tengen replacing all of his jewelry and trinkets. His signature hitai ate back on his head.
" Ah. There's the Houzuki I know." He teases at my staring but I throw his a quick glare before securing my blade to my back and beginning to walk in the direction of our destination. He runs a few paces to catch up.
" Don't me pissy Hou. It's doesn't look good on you. Not flamboyant." He drops his heavy arm on top of my head as we walk. A question came to mind. " Tengen-san, why do you insist on calling me Hou. My name is clearly Houzuki. It's not difficult to say and it's not as if you are adding a title after Hou either." I've always wondered this since the first time he called me.
"I saw your name written on your collar that day we meat. Your name was written as Hoozuki with the characters for oni and light. After talking with you, I knew your name didn't fit especially the demon part. So I changed the meaning, or at least the first character to Hou, for treasure. So instead of a demon light, to me, you're a treasured light. Since your my precious friend." A swell of emotion fill my body and I have to look away in embarrassment.
" You have a horrible sense of character Tengen-san. We'd only known each other for a mere few minutes. I was anything but precious." He just laughs.
" but you wished for you to get along too. And I knew that we'd definitely make a flamboyant pair." He laughs out loud pounding on my back. I know that in the time that I've known him, he's shown a lot of care for his people. His wives, his friends, his workers, his mice. They are all important to him, more than any mission or task. On numerous occasions he's yelled at me to run when a demon was uncharacteristically difficult or if I had been injured. He'd put himself in the life of fire to save me if he had to. He's a person who overflows with care for his loved ones. It makes me wonder why he left his clan.
" You're precious to me too Tengen-san and we do. We do make a pretty flamboyant pair." I give him my best smile.