~Chapter 10~

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Your hands trembled as you stuffed them deeper into your pockets. It was getting much colder as the year started to come to an end, and as it got colder, more disappearances were occurring. You've heard that a whole family went missing in one night, and no one knew what has happened to them. The neighbors claimed they've heard the family's screams and other sounds no human could make, yet no one knew whether they could believe them or not. You didn't want to believe those rumors, but deep down, you knew something was most definitely not right.

You tried to keep your mind off things by staying at Mitsuri's café for a while, and it did seem like Mitsuri was able to distract you from all these disturbing thoughts. She would always wear a bright smile on her face whenever she talked to you, and always seemed to be excited every time you both would start about talking something new. You wished you could put into words how much you were grateful to have Mitsuri by your side because, without her, you really wouldn't have known what to do to yourself. You would always pray that your friendship would last for the longest time.

You smiled as you waved goodbye to your friend, leaving the café as you were on your way to your place. By then, the moon was already up. You haven't heard a single word from Kyojuro since the morning, which worried you. What if he was hurt... or maybe kidnapped along with all the other people who have disappeared... You frowned at the thought before sighing, shaking your head.

Nah, man talks too much the kidnappers would probably take him back to his house and never think about approaching him again...

You decided it was best to quickly head to the grocery store then right back to your place since you remembered you were almost running out of instant noodles. You mumbled hello to the cashier man, who quietly sat in front of his desk. He didn't say anything back. Instead, he just stared at you. You tried to ignore it and do your shopping.

You noticed how strange-looking the man was. Unnaturally pale skin and yellow eyes with dark blue irises, on his head, was long bright orange hair. He must be sick...

You sighed, picking the last two instant noodle packets off the shelf. You looked to your right and found there were a few bags of sweet potato chips sitting on the shelf. Looking at them reminded you of how Kyojuro's eyes would sparkle whenever he'd see them. Your lips curved into a small smile as you took a bag. Maybe next time there would be an excuse for Kyojuro to stay at your place, you both can share the bag. The thought of the last time Kyojuro stayed at your place made your face ever so slightly heat up. You tried to snap yourself out of those thoughts as you walked back to the cashier man, who still seemed to have his eyes locked on you. You softly clear your throat as you placed your goods on the cashier's desk.

The silence was awkward, slowly killing you inside, as the mysterious man took the prices of your instant noodle packets and bag of chips, placing them in a plastic bag before you pay him. You thanked the man, who still seemed to not say a single word, as you walk out. Just as you stepped out of the grocery store, the lights inside went out, making you freeze in your tracks. You frowned in confusion as you turned around. The grocery store was empty as if no one was there, to begin with. You let your guard up, knowing deep down you might get attacked again. You wanted to defend yourself this time, be able to protect yourself, even if you still weren't sure that first encounter with the weird-looking pink-haired man was real.

If there was anything you hated, it was feeling weak.

Ever since you were young after your grandma's death, your parents would tell you to act like a proper lady, meaning you must act weak and helpless, but it never felt like you. You wanted to be strong, prove to others you're more than what you look. You just wanted to let other people know that you aren't a helpless little girl who can't do shit for herself.

You tense up when you felt an inhumanly cold handhold your neck, squeezing softly.

"Ah... I see it's my lucky day, running into the one," the person breathed into your ear, giving you goosebumps. You immediately knew it was the cashier man after noticing the bright orange mop of hair the person had, "Just imagine how much he would give to such a lower rank demon like me when I turn you in." You suddenly felt it difficult for you to breath, the word demon replaying in your head. Does that mean that the incident with the weird man was all real, and Kyojuro either didn't see him or he was lying to you? Were demons real after all this time? And who is this 'he' he has just mentioned? You pushed away all the questions as you frowned.

Demon or not, I'm beating his ass up.

You hit your elbow as hard as you could onto the demon's chest, making him gasp as you quickly turned around, punching him so hard in the face it pushed him back a few steps. The demon looked up to you with a glare in his eyes as he spit blood onto the floor. Now you made him mad.

He snarled as he lunged at you, dropping you onto the ground with him on top of you. You glared at him as you struggled to leave his grasp, but he just dug his nails into your wrist, they were probably starting to bleed.

"Nowhere to go now, I see." The demon smirked as you grit your teeth, trying to kick him away, but in vain. He seemed to be much stronger than he looked. According to the legend, demons get stronger the more they eat humans, so you guessed he has eaten over twenty humans. Disgusting.

"Let the girl go, demon!" You heard a very familiar voice call, making your stomach tug, "And I'll make sure I'll go easy on you!" You looked up to see a figure standing not so far from you and the demon. You were barely able to make out any features of him other than his fiery eyes that seemed to be glowing in the dark. The same fiery eyes you'd see every day. The male seemed to be carrying a katana in hand as well, holding it up in the sky as the fiery eyes glared at the demon.

"Make me." The demon snarled at the figure, now digging his nails even deeper into your wrists. You felt tears of pain form in your eyes as you winced, trying your best not to cry in pain. Damn, those might leave scars...

"Flame Breathing, second form: Rising Scorching Sun!" The mysterious man exclaimed as his sword lit up with flames. You frowned, knowing you most definitely heard that somewhere before. The demon growled as he tried to lunge at the man. The man ran towards the demon as he released an arching slash attack upwards, cutting off the demon's head. The demon head fell on the floor, screaming in agony, swearing he'd make sure he'd make the man's life hell in the afterlife. In a moment or two, the demon's head disappeared, leaving you with a shook expression.

Was it seriously THIS easy for him?!?!?! Bet he's powerful as heck.

"(Y/N)!" The man exclaimed as you turned to him with a confused expression. You never gave him your name, to begin with.

"Hey, how the hell-" you then froze when the man's face came to view. You gasped, really not knowing how to react to what you saw.

"K-Kyojuro?!"

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 - 𝗞𝘆𝗼𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗸𝘂 𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿Where stories live. Discover now