Karma (Kimetsu No Yaiba x Reader)

Sabito Special

A lithe demon stands in front of you, long arms that spiral around it and twist unnaturally where there should be bones, joints. Pale faced, it groans. A quiet sound that barely warrants an echo through the dreary forest. Something drops in your stomach, a void eating at the organ as you swallow the acidic bile rising in your throat. Up, down. Up, down. Your heart jumps as the demon snakes forward, legs not even stable enough to hold it upright. It doesn't have eyes, doesn't need them with the large, elf like ears that sag to the ground and drag behind the wretched creature.

You steady your sword. Palms filthy with mud and blood from your comrades that attempted to flee, only to be snatched by the demon and crushed in its spindly claws. It doesn't speak, which probably makes it worse. You decide in that moment you would much rather have the strongest demon in this forest be some chatty Kathy with a mouth big enough to swallow ten Demon Slayers whole. Anything besides this.. thing.

"Stay still." The wrinkly, red mouth situated on the monsters stomach opens, fog seeping through its brown teeth. "Don't.. move." Fear commands your body to listen but common sense screams at you to run, kill this demon and return to Sabito. Shivers rack your form as your eyes dart between the demon and decaying autumn trees, maybe there's an exit? Some sliver of hope bubbling in your chest begs that to be true.

Heaving chest coming to a steady exhale, you grind your teeth. This was nothing, you'd killed faster, stronger demons before. Doubt purrs in your ear "Are you sure-"

Your blade slices through the demons stick like neck before the thought can fester into something more.

You remember the first time you met the pink haired boy vividly, playing back in your mind like a theatre play. Urokodaki was never the kindest teacher, nor the gentlest. But you could always deal with the bruises easy enough and small cuts from barely dodging his sword hardly stung anymore. It's only when your ankle twisted underneath you one day during training that you finally met the neighboring villages medic.

A lithe boy, just a year older than you with smug eyes and floppy hair that made you question if he slept with a birds nest as his pillow. "This your newest trainee?" The boy points at you with little to no care and you fail to conceal your scowl as Urokodaki greats him with more respect and formality than you've ever had the pleasure of receiving and though the realization stings, what wretches a pained yelp from your throat is the hand that wraps around your swollen ankle with a firm grip and lifts it to be inspected.

"If you don't get your filthy mitts away from me this instant I swear-" He ignores your venomous glare easily and it only serves to fuel your seething as he nods to Urokodaki.

"Definitely twisted."

"Don't ignore me!"

He finally pauses to look at you properly and the slow, almost bored raise of his eyebrow has your stomach twisting in a way that heats your skin. "Stay silent, the adults are talking." Mouth falling open, you gape at the boy as your brain struggles to comprehend the audacity of this pest. There's a light pressure under your chin and your teeth clink together as the boy smiles, condescending as he presses your mouth closed. "Careful or you might catch flies."

To this day you swear that the only reason he avoided your incredibly aimed punch is because of your ankle, and most definitely not because of the way his snicker as he easily dodged your form made you light headed.

The next time you saw him your hand was clutched tightly against your chest, bruised and knuckles most likely broken and a wobble in your lip that you covered with a frown. He opens the door to his shack, a quaint little thing made of straw and wood. Leans against the frame with a raised brow. "Broke my hand." Your voice croaks, unwillingly vulnerable as your shoulders hunch and your skin itches. Eyes flittering to the floor and anything besides him before he sighs.