Hikaru Akito. Demon slayer, swordswoman, orphan. The tragedies of her past follow her like shadows, and she's not sure if she can ever escape them. She maintains a distance from everyone else because she knows that tragedy can strike anytime, anywhe...
Shimmering rays of moonlight cascade down onto the mountain, soft silver dappling the forest floor through the foliage. The night sky is astoundingly clear tonight, and the sight of glittering stars against the black backdrop is truly beautiful.
It really is a shame that so much blood has to be spilled on a beautiful night such as this.
Your blade cuts through the thin mountain air with great speed, and a moment later a scream of pain erupts from the demon on the receiving end of your katana. Its wound heals back almost instantly, of course, but you're not too worried about its recovery rate. After all, the demon would be dead soon, due to expire to the cold steel of your Nichirin blade.
The demon leaps backwards, desperate to create some distance from you, but finds itself cornered against a tree trunk, to its terror. Seeing this, you draw closer, step by step, your sword clutched in your left hand as you prepare to finish the job. "It looks like you have nowhere left to run," you muse out loud. Your tone is light, almost mocking, and serves as further provocation to the demon. Go on, show me all your tricks. It's all you can do at this point.
At your calm words, the demon's eyes flash with fear and rage, just like you had expected them to. So predictable. "Shut up! You think the fight's over?" You see it gathering the last of its power and narrow your eyes in anticipation, your body poised to move.
"Blood Demon Art: Dark Obstructing Mist!"
Suddenly, the clearing you're in becomes shrouded in a dark smog, which upon closer inspection, smells of smoke. The demon has disappeared from view, melting into the mist in a matter of a second. It doesn't seem to be poisonous... you think. It doesn't appear to be an offensive ability at all- is it just to hide its presence? Your lips quirk up into a bemused smirk. If so, this demon is quite unfortunate...
All you have to do is take a swift look around the smoke that settles heavily over the clearing. There's a flash of black to your side, considerably darker than the color of the smog that surrounds it. Immediately, you dash forward, your katana raised and ready, eyes focused intently on the target.
"Breath of Light, First Form- White Flash."
You sprint forward with astonishing speed, your blade swinging forward in a horizontal slash. It looks as if the Nichirin blade is coated with remnants of the silver light of the moon as it slices through the mist. A strangled cry from the demon confirms that your strike has met its mark, and as the air clears, you look down to see the disintegrating head on the ground.
"H-How?" The demon croaks, staring up at you in disbelief. "My Blood Demon Art should have blocked both your sight and hearing! I should have been undetectable!"
"Oh, really?" you say. "It's a good thing I have this eye, then." You point toward your left eye- its color is as silver as the moon, with its iris an onyx black. It's a sheer contrast from your gold-colored right eye, and with it comes your ability to see the auras of both humans and demons.
Flicking drops of scarlet blood from the white blade of your katana, you slip the weapon back into its sheath. You've always found it interesting that a demon's blood is the same color as a human's. We're so different, yet so alike.
The demon struggles to speak as its flesh scatters into ashes. "...Damn you... Demon Slayer..." it manages to choke out before it fully dissolves. "I just... wanted the strength...to protect..." you don't catch the last bit, but you don't need to. Again, we're so alike.
Letting out a sigh, you brush the necklace that's tucked under your uniform with a finger. It provides a sense of comfort, however brief it may be.
Even if you won't hesitate to slice the head off any demon with hostile incentives, you still remember that even these creatures had been human once. Is it pity or sympathy that you feel toward the ones who experience regret at the end of their lives? Perhaps it's both, but you choose not to linger on the topic.
You check your clothing over for any stray splashes of blood, but except for an occasional drop or two on your black haori your uniform remains clean. It's the same with your black hair, cut short just above the ears with white tips and two long strands on either side. Thankfully, none of the blood had soiled the white cranes that adorn the haori.
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(The haori, for reference^^)
"Hikaru Akito!" The screech of your name makes you glance upwards, and with a flurry of feathers, your Kasugai crow descends onto your shoulder. "Your next assignment! Head to the East! The East! To a village! Young children are disappearing! Disappearing! Kill the demon behind this! Kill the demon!"
"Nice to see you, too, Kuroe." You reach up to pet the crow, who has already started preening his sleek feathers. At your touch, Kuroe screeches in disapproval, taking flight and landing on a nearby branch instead. From there, he turns his beak at you and resumes preening as you let out an exasperated sigh. Ah, I forgot how particular my crow is with touch.
"Kuroe, come on," you try to persuade him so you can be off to the job he assigned you to, mind you. "I'm heading to the next assignment. You have to guide me there. It's your job, remember?
Kuroe doesn't budge, deciding to flat out ignore you while turning his head away completely. What are you supposed to do if your Kasugai crow refuses to do its damned job? It's one thing your training had not prepared you for.
You sigh, rolling your eyes. "Fine, fine. I apologize for touching you without your permission." Kuroe's tail feathers twitch, and you continue on. "I'll buy you your favorite apples later if you guide me."
At your bribe, your crow finally glides back down to your shoulder. Damn crow, you think with fond annoyance. It's my fault for spoiling him. "Shall we go?" you ask.
"To the east! To the east!" Kuroe caws in response, and you begin to head down the mountain toward your next assignment.
***
Not even half a day later, you find yourself at the entrance of a village, some ways from the foot of the mountain. The morning sun has just risen, and you can't help but feel that you had arrived at your destination too quickly. "Uh..." you turn to your crow quizzically. "This isn't where my assignment is, is it?"
"More! More to the east!" Kuroe squawks in return.
"Then..." you turn away, starting to walk back in the direction of the road. "We don't need to stop by here, do we?" You can certainly go on for longer, at the very least until nightfall, thanks to your mastery of Total Concentration Breathing: Constant. It's a rather helpful technique you had mastered recently. You see no reason to hang around a random town, especially when your demon slaying skills are needed at another location.
In response, Kuroe begins to flap his wings furiously, as if he's trying to take off with you in tow. He screeches his lungs out in indignance, attempting to tug you back toward the village.
"Kuroe, what- ouch! Watch your claws-!" You wince as the bird's sharp talons pierce through your clothing and prick at your skin. Frowning, you gently but firmly remove him from your shoulder, holding him carefully an arm's length away from you. "What's gotten into you?"
After watching Kuroe struggle in your grasp for a few seconds, something comes to mind.
"Don't tell me... Did you lead me here because you wanted apples??"
The crow stops struggling, letting out a few happy caws instead. "Are you serious?" you sigh, releasing him now that he's calmed down. "All this for an apple? Well, I suppose a promise is a promise." Recalling your bribe to him on the mountain, you give in, choosing to head toward the village again with a sigh.
