The Sound Hashira's Apprentice // tengenuzui x reader

Chapter 1

Each of my steps dilated against the crisp, unforgiving air and old snow. The trees hummed in silence with my exasperated breaths, absence of anything but the towering pine's decorated in white. My target was only a few feet away from me, calf muscles shuddering from the strain as I caught chase.

My mission had sent me to a rural village in the depths of a foresting mountain base, where a suspected demon was feasting on its occupants. It did seem like an easy task to complete for someone that's been with the demon slayer corps for a couple years now. Not to mention my recent transition to Kinoe.

My Kasugai crow reported the afternoon before about a upper mid, yet small demon. I was unphased by this, knowing that I have slayed many of such ranking with less experience. However, despite my experience and admirable rank, this mission had faced me with unusual circumstances.

Only minutes within my arrival to this village, the demon itself was on its rampage, continuing its streak of murder to feed itself. I did not anticipate that the demon I was suppose to kill, was a child. Or should I say it presented itself as a young child, about 5 to 7 years old tops.

My nerves were unsettled at committing the act of slicing it's head. Though I knew better, that this creature was anything but a child. Especially with how fast and powerful the demon was, as it jumped back and forth between the dense branches of the foresting trees. It was obvious it had been around for a while, accumulating dangerous power by taking lives of innocents.

I had counted a total of 3 casualties once I'd arrived. That of a young family, on top of it's 10 reported victims since it's existence became known by the demon corps. I berated myself for not coming here sooner despite much fault was not mine to bare. That was the usual process my mind played through.

I may be a well-experienced slayer, but I was anything but extraordinary. Perhaps that was the credit to what I thought of myself.

I lived a pretty mundane life, in fact I was mostly sheltered for it. I hated that.

The way my family shielded me through fear-mongering had attributed to becoming a pretty average person until I up and left to join the corps. As I found myself thrown in the chaos of my role, I realized my lack of life-experience had jarred me comparably to my comrades. They were more talented, more hardworking and more naturally skilled.

Perhaps I was privileged to even think that. Many of the corp members carried trauma that had compelled them to join in the first place. Though even despite my upbringing and guaranteed safety, sitting back and letting others do the nasty work to protect the community didn't feel courteous. Living in that very privilege, whilst achieving nothing above average made me feel like it was not deserving. I had to do more.

"CAN'T CATCH ME! "The young demon cackled, causing a break between my thoughts.

I had to finish this soon, it was getting boring playing chase and not coming close to landing a blow. I assessed my landscape.

The only way is to get onto his playing field.

I plummeted myself upwards on to the branches, careful not to get too high. I began mimicking it's movements behind him, finally gaining ground.

He looked back to peek up at me with a grin but it was wiped the moment he saw I was closing the space between us. And fast. 

I used this opportunity, whilst he was caught off-guard, to plunge myself forward. My hands easily grasped his tiny shoulders, the velocity from my jump causing us both to fall to the ground.