A Soul Contract

1

Long ago— Well, not that long ago— a group of men went missing in a forest.

But they didn't disappear in any spooky forest, no. They went missing in The Forest of The Moons.

The exact tale is a bit blurry and varies from person to person. However, the result is the same.

Men who enter the forest become bloodthirsty beings of pure darkness, while women hang themselves. The non-conformers? Well, that depends on their body.

Nowadays, the forest is closed off due to... 'idiotic' people deciding that they could get leads on the story. Rumors started by the utmost desperate say, "only the truly gifted and determined are...

...able to enter the forest unscathed." Mitsuri said as she shut the book.

"What a tall tale," Shinobu said as she stirred her tea.

"I believe in it!" Rengoku exclaimed before he popped some chips in his mouth. "With the legends and our powers in consideration, it's hard to deny." Nezuko sighed.

"True, but it's always good to be skeptical," she commented.

"Even with that, doesn't that make us out to be pretty special? Maybe I'll finally be able to make my parents proud!" Mitsuri exclaimed.

"You don't need to have a husband," Shinobu added, sipping her tea. "Just do what you do best, art."

"I agree with Shinobu! Go with what your heart desires. Stroke the flame that burns the hottest!" Rengoku said as he set Shinobu's cup ablaze.

"Just don't try to burn radioactive glassware," Shinobu added with an annoyed chuckle as she took the cup and all the other glasses.

"Even if we are gifted, we shouldn't stick our noses into what we can't handle. I don't want my brother to worry." Nezuko commented.

"Now that you point that out, I also worry about my younger brother. Every hour I'm away, it seems my father treats him worse," he said as his smile went.

"My brother already lost one of his friends to the forest, so I'm sure he wouldn't want to lose his sister to it as well," Nezuko added. Mitsuri sighed as she nodded.

"I understand. We can all head home if there's nothing more to discuss," she said, waving off the group.

"Mitsuri! I'm deeply and madly in love with you! Ever since you came to the academy, you're all I think about! Please accept my confession and go out with me!" a boy exclaimed as he bowed before her, making her smile sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, but-"

"Jeez, you don't need to be such a bitch about it! Go kill yourself!" he snapped, stomping away.

What a lucky gift of an ability she had... The ability to have anyone fall in love with her, but if she declines their affection, they hate her. Initially, she took the words to heart and considered that maybe she did deserve it. But thanks to an eccentric psychic, she learned she wasn't to blame. It was more or less her ability.

She was happy to know that she wasn't at fault, and better yet, it encouraged her to figure out how she obtained these abilities and find people like her.

This led her to create the "Anomalous and Aberrant Discovery" club and find her three clubmates.

Nezuko, with regenerative abilities. But regenerating any wound or injury brought pain akin to broken bones.

Shinobu, with healing abilities. However, any injury she healed would be put on her.

And lastly, her former tutor, Kyojurou, with pyrokinesis... And no control over his flames.

Ever since she knew of his ability, she's been itching to know how it was caused. Neither she nor her friends had any powers while they were young and only experienced gaining these powers when one of the Kamado's friends and Kyojurou's went missing. It was a real mystery that— at least in Mitsuri's mind— could only be solved by venturing into the forest.

But she didn't want to do it alone. The forest could probably end their lives as they knew them, but what if the missing people were just within reach? While that'd be highly unlikely, it never hurts to have hope. However, if nobody was going to join her, she might have to go searching herself.

Sighing, she paused by the door to her apartment. The forest was just a stroll away from here. And so, after a moment of internal debate, she decided to head in.

"You looked thirsty, Drowned." a masked demon sneered as he poured a bucket full of water on another demon's head.

"We don't get thirsty, Masked." a drenched Drowned commented.

"Come now, that's not very flamboyant!" a sparkling one added. "Also, can you stop humming, you mindless canary?!" he shouted at a yellow-clothed demon.

"You all are beyond annoying. Especially you, Immolate." Masked growled.

"I'm hurt!" Immolate exclaimed.

"Shut up, incubus."

Within the forest reside four highly active demons who lost not only their lives but also their memories. Names reduced to their deaths.

"At least I don't kill who I eat." Immolate sneered.

"At least my main prey isn't women," Masked responded.

"Be quiet. Our saviour may be coming soon." Drowned muttered. Thankfully, they heard and ceased their fighting. Immolated hit the yellow demon over the head to make him quiet as it was the only way.

"Good riddance, Perforated." Immolate muttered.

"You shouldn't hit him. He's already hurt enough as is." Drowned commented.

"Since when were you a softie?" Masked uttered, giving Drowned a shove.

"I can't help the fact I can hear almost everything, y'know?!" Immolate responded.

They went back and forth for a while before they were interrupted by their 'saviour'. He told them of a young woman coming to the forest and how she must be killed immediately, the usual. But what was unusual was to not play with her and to kill on sight without hesitation.

The demons were more than happy to comply, considering that the humans were beginning to get smart and avoid the forest. But there are always stupid people within a crowd.

Masked was boredly walking around the forest when he faintly heard a woman talking.

"I probably should have brought my other flashlight," she uttered sadly. Masked stalked closer toward her voice, blending himself into the shadows of moonlight. When he observed her closer, he instantly noticed something was different about her. Even though he had just set his eyes on her, he knew she was no ordinary stupid woman.

Mitsuri sipped her water as she carefully snuck through the forest, which was thankfully corpse free. As she stepped over the overgrown roots and indistinguishable bones, the moonlight dissipated into darkness as it hid her path. Grumbling, she tried to fix her old flashlight, but its light couldn't even be considered light anymore. She muttered some choice words before it abruptly began working again.

"Leave." a voice in the wind whispered. She flinched and looked around anxiously.

"Whose there?" the forest was silent for a moment before a figure appeared before her.

"Who or what I am is none of your concern. Leave," it growled. Mitsuri was quiet as she took the demon in.

"Are you... Obanai Iguro?"