影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi

1 - Oiran

I never knew of my family's long lineage of demon-slaying history, no one ever spoke of it. Raised in the red light district, I also never knew of creatures called demons. To me, the only demons were men. I couldn't imagine anything worse than them.

Little did I know, I encountered one every day until my eighteenth birthday. It was also the day I grabbed my two younger siblings and fled from the district. Don't get me wrong; I had a good life there. We lived in the higher caste district, fed on the finest foods, dressed in luxurious silks, and our only duty was to serve the Oirans. My grandmother, a former Oiran herself, was beloved in the district and wielded great influence. Thanks to her, we had a life of comfort and privilege.

We received a scholarly education, were taught etiquette, and learned the delicate arts of dance. We were shielded from the men, never having to directly engage with them, but from within the walls, we witnessed their disgusting nature. Yet this extravagant and vibrant life came to an abrupt end the day I witnessed the infamous Oiran, Yatamahime, devour one of her clients. I had always felt something was off about her. Every day, a dark, malevolent aura seemed to cling to her, but I couldn't pinpoint it. The feeling of dread gnawed at me, keeping me awake at night, until I finally followed her in secret one evening. I watched as she lured a man into a dark alley and, without hesitation, killed and consumed him.

I didn't confront her. Instead, I gathered a few belongings and, in the dead of night, fled with my sisters Yuka and Haru. We didn't even look back. Leaving my grandmother behind haunts me to this day, but I knew I couldn't offer her the life she had grown accustomed to in the district. Surely, a demon wouldn't prey on an old woman, would they? I wrote her a letter, explaining that we couldn't stay but that I would return for her someday.

And that is a promise. One way or another, I will return and eliminate the threat.

We ended up in a small, abandoned cottage deep within the forest. To survive, we worked in the rice fields, living a modest but comfortable life. My sisters, who idolized me, believed my story without question. They, too, had felt the ominous presence emanating from the demon Oiran. We set traps around our new home, preparing for the worst, but days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and she never came.

But of course, peace never lasts.

~*~

I woke up in a cold sweat, my skin prickling with the sensation of something unnatural approaching—fast. A demonic presence. Quietly, I shook my sisters awake, signaling them to follow our emergency protocol. Their eyes were wide but alert as they crawled across the floor, leading the way to the hidden hatch beneath the house. I followed close behind, my heart pounding as we closed the door above us and plunged into darkness. I wrapped my left arm tightly around my sisters, holding them close. In my right hand was the scythe that we used to cut grass. A means of defense, which I knew wouldn't hurt a demon, but at least I could distract it long enough for my sisters to run.

I sucked in a deep breath; the demon was here.

I was confident we wouldn't be found. My sisters and I had honed the ability to conceal our presence—a skill that had served us well in the district. All we could do now was wait.

The creak of heavy footsteps echoed above, the floor groaning beneath the demon's weight. It was pacing, its shoes scraping against the wooden boards. But this didn't feel like the oppressive, suffocating dread Yatamahime exuded. This was different, somehow less terrifying.

Then, as I held my breath, another presence appeared—one I hadn't sensed until it was directly overhead. My body tensed in shock. This one was human but radiated a quiet rage. A moment later, a loud crash reverberated through the house, followed by the thud of a body hitting the floor.

"You can come out now," a soft, feminine voice called.

My sisters stirred in my arms, unsure. I hesitated, evaluating the woman's presence. There was no malice in her aura, only a steady calm. I moved first, climbing out of the hatch to face whatever awaited us.

"Ara ara, didn't expect to find three of you," the woman remarked, her lips curling into a small smile as she studied us. "I only sensed two. You're quite good at hiding your presence."

I kept my sisters behind me, watching her warily. Her deep purple eyes flickered with curiosity.

"You must be the one who sensed the demon, no?"

"My sisters felt it too."

"Oh my, such naturals," she said with a touch of admiration. "This place isn't safe anymore. Would you like to come with me?"

I noticed she was being deliberately vague, avoiding the subject of the demon. My gaze shifted past her petite frame to the creature lying motionless on the floor. Its shriveled body was drained of life, its skin unnaturally pale.

"Did you do this?" I asked, trying to sound commanding. I wanted to intimidate her, but she didn't so much as flinch.

"Yes, I'm a Demon Slayer," she replied simply.

"Then show me how to do it. I'll pay you," I blurted, the desperation slipping into my voice. She chuckled softly.

"You're brave," she mused. "Most people are terrified the first time they see a demon."

"This isn't our first time," I replied coldly. "And if you won't show me, leave."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, irritation creeping into her previously gentle expression.

"You're scaring my sisters," I said, more firmly this time. "Thank you for saving us, but please go."

Before she could respond, the world around me faded into black.