The Hidden Demon Slayer (DEMON SLAYER X OC)

Chapter 9: Old and New Friends

"Now where do I go again?" Nariko scratched her head as her instincts were giving up on her. She wasn't familiar of Asakusa, neither did she know the way out. She was used to being sent to small villages for missions, but she wasn't new to cities. She's just bad at directions. The worst part is, the road she's walking is isolated. Even birds don't appear.

"I really should've thought this through. I'm just gonna walk straight, I guess," she said to herself. She started walking, but then, she saw a glimpse of sunlight. It was already dawn. She wasted her time battling with the annoying demon that she almost lost track of time. "Oh no."

She headed in the forest, running for her life and hoping that the sun wouldn't reach her. She felt the burden demons face and it was hard for her. She looks like a criminal running away from her crimes. But since it was her choice to stay like that for the meantime, she just accepted it. She kept running until she finally found a cave. She swooped in and hid herself. The sun shined brightly everywhere. It was finally morning.

"Guess I have to stay here until it gets dark."

She tried to entertain herself, but she failed. Five minutes passed, but it already felt like forever. She was extremely bored, until she found some sticks. As childish as she is, she picked them up and made a tiny house out of it. She felt a bit satisfied with her craft that she decided to find more sticks. She went to the deeper side of the cave and it was evidently wide. She even saw a small pond. She also saw her reflection. Shame was all she could ever think of. She knew that it was payback for not being able to save her family.

Then she started to weep. Tears were running down her face like a waterfall. She kept on crying until she fell asleep. Just like that.

"Hey, wake up. Miss, wake up!" Someone was shaking her arms to wake her up. She slowly opened her eyes, blinking them for a moment.

"Thank goodness, you're awake. You were almost devoured by a bear!" The young kid cried as she pointed at the lifeless bear as it bathed at its own blood.

"Wait, what? What time is it?"

"It's already noon. I came here an hour ago when I saw the bear trying to eat you. Good thing my father taught me how to hunt and kill wild animals, and I also brought my axe with me. I ran towards the bear and aimed for its head. After it died, I checked if you got nibbled. I was actually right on time," the kid cheerfully said.

Nariko was surprised. The girl looked very young, but she was so skilled that she killed a really humongous bear.

"Thank you for saving me. I would have died back there. But why are you all alone out here?"

"Same goes for you. Why did you choose to sleep in this place when everyone knows that bears live here?"

She was lost for words. A kid actually managed to turn the question around to her favor. It was clear that she was more mature.

"Well, I am depressed. Maybe I decided to end my life so I slept here. Whatever, just go home, kid. I can handle myself now. Besides, I had enough sleep."

"No way. You're going to sleep again and another bear will come here and try to eat you," the kid protested.

"How old are you anyways?"

"I'm actually nine years old."

"Wow, you're too mature for a nine-year old. When I was your age, I used to skip rocks across the river and my father never even taught me how to catch a fish. But you single-handedly killed that bear."

"Well, I'm braver than you are," the kid arrogantly declared.

"Ok, kid. You know what, just go home and forget everything that happened here. Your family might be worried sick," Nariko suggested, making an excuse to let the kid leave.