Sky Lighter (Demon Slayer OC Story)

Scary Monsters

"Heh... What a horrible dream..." A hazy thought echoed. "Demons... What bullshit did my mind come up with?"

Sekien slowly began waking up, but feeling too groggy to even open his eyes. But instead of the cold wooden feeling of the attic floorboards he was used to sleeping on, Sekien felt like he was lying in... clouds, or something like that?

"Two weeks now, huh?" A sudden, unfamiliar male voice spoke before sighing. "Geez... Where's Lady Shinobu when you need her?"

Confused, Sekien opened his tired crimson eyes, before being blinded by a lightbulb above in the room he was in. But as he was squinting his eyes, the blonde haired boy felt something tug around his left bicep.

Rolling his head to the side, Sekien saw a figure dressed in an all black uniform, with a mask covering their lower face, and head coverings, leaving only the eyes of the man visible. He crouched beside where Sekien was sleeping, tying bandages around the boy's arm.

"Well, at least you won't be dying in your sleep any time soo-"

The masked man suddenly paused, noticing, and now looking directly into the confused crimson eyes of the boy he was treating. Seconds passed in absolute silence as the two stared at each other. Until...

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" They both screamed at the same time, scaring each other.

With fight or flight instincts kicking in, Sekien reached over with his right arm, punching the masked man right in the face, sending him stumbling back.

Sekien then rolled back across where he once slept, and onto the wooden floor. He then saw that he was previously in a bed, compared to his confused cloud misconception, and that he was currently shirtless, wearing only light blue pants. He backed up from the masked man across from him, breathing hysterically now being in full alert.

"Who the hell are you?!" Sekien screamed at the man, who was now recovering from the punch. "Where the hell am I?! Why..."

The panicked boy pointed aggressively at the masked figure he was backing away from. But it didn't take long for Sekien to notice that his left arm barely responded with him. Like his muscles couldn't perform as they should.

"My arm..." Sekien rasped, trying, but failing to get it to function. "Why isn't it..."

Suddenly, Sekien's eyes widened, remembering what happened crystal clear.

"The bomb..." Sekien realized. "The shrapnel from it hit my arm. And that happened because-" His thoughts were suddenly interrupted, remembering in perfect detail of the six eyed gaze from that Demon. The 'Upper One' writing, etched into Sekien's memory like it was there from the very beginning.

"W-Wait a minute!" The man from across the room yelled. "I didn't mean to react like that! You just scared me, that's all!"

But these words fell on deaf ears, as Sekien's hysteria, fear, and confusion grew all at the same time, as the boy continued backing away. "Let's just talk this out, alright!" The masked man continued, slowly stepping around the bed, and carefully approaching the frantic boy. "Take a deep breath. You're okay-"

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Sekien yelled, causing the masked man to stop. "Any closer, and I'll kill you!"

There was nothing but uncertainty in Sekien's mind as he stepped back. Even with the Yakuza looming and pulling strings over his childhood, Sekien always felt like he had control over scenarios. Even being faced with death, the boy was always clever enough to get at least something out of each problem he encountered.

But now all control is gone. Once familiar, and predictable enemies, were no more. With what little he had now stripped away in an instant, Sekien didn't know what to do. He couldn't trust anyone but himself anymore.