Blood in Flame and Water

The New Start

Night had fallen, casting the land in a bright sheen of silver seafoam light. There was a slight breeze, making the air brisk and frigged. There was not a cloud in the sky obstructing the stars from peering eyes down below. Darkness brought on by the less luminous night was filled with the warm glow of flames shielded by lanterns strung up to a wood overhang that belonged to a train station.

Many people bustled around, luggage in one hand and a ticket in the other. A man unlike the -at least- fifty people looking to board this train stood apart so outrageously he blended right in. The man stood in the center of the platform, arms crossed over a broad chest and a smile on his face. Piercing golden firework eyes scanned the area with rapt perception. Not with a trace of subtlety, the man watched the people move by, scanning their faces for a trace of inhumanity or demonic traits his experience has allowed him to find at a mere glance.

A piercing whistled shrill came from the East. Everyone simultaneously lifted their heads and turned to look. With another piercing whistle, the Mugen Train pulled into the station and hissed to a stop after a screech of the wheels. Steam hissed from the chimney, blooming into the air with exhaust and thick smoke. After a moment, the train creaked and eased onto the tracks and the doors slid open.

As the doors to the train opened for people to enter, Rengoku allowed for most of the civilians to enter first before he made his way inside. Stepping onto the train, Rengoku looked around the cart before finding an open seat. Smiling to himself, the man walked over to the seat. Leaning forward, Kyojuro reached for the backpack and held onto the straps before sitting down and dropping the backpack. With the sound of the box hitting the ground, along came the sound of an ' oof' .

Rengoku paused before looking at his backpack with a confused expression. Slowly and resistantly reaching for it, Kyojuro rested his hand against the handle of his nichirin blade. Grabbing the latch to his back, he opened it quickly, only to freeze with his grip on the sword and wide eyes going wider. Inside his bag was a small child, a child oddly similar to the child that was supposed to be sleeping on his futon back at Mizūmi Village.

Mitski chuckled awkwardly, "... Hi. "

Rengoku sighed and let the hand resting on his handle fell limply to his side. Reaching up, Kyojuro rubbed his face from top to bottom while looking down at Mitski in disappointment, "Mitski…Why in the name of… That was a very poor decision! You should be ashamed! "

Mitski looked down and frowned deeply, "Look, I was aiming to make a run for it when you put me down, but you never know when to stop! "

Rengoku crossed his arms over his chest, "Then where would you go? It would be near impossible to make it back to the village before nightfall, and you could get eaten by a demon. "

Mitski huffed and crossed their arms too, "I would have called for Yasha! He comes to find me whenever I call him…always. "

Rengoku sighed heavily at the sight of Mitski's sea green opal eyes shimmering in unshed tears. Reaching out, he set a heavy hand on the child's head. He watched as Mitski glanced at him through their bangs.

"I am certain that this demon you are so attached to is nothing but that…-a demon. They are night creatures that take what they want and leave destruction in their wake. I do not know exactly how you have come into contact with this demon, but no demon I have encountered, and I have come across a lot during my time as a Slayer, have ever shown any form of compassion outside of their own benefit. "