The eye of the storm (Sanemi x Reader)

11| Painful bullets

As the moon hung low in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the dense forest surrounding the village, Shinazugawa  and I found ourselves on patrol duty together. Shadows danced among the trees, their eerie movements adding to the sense of foreboding that permeated the air.

Walking side by side, the crunch of fallen leaves beneath our feet was the only sound that broke the silence as we patrolled the forest, our senses alert for any sign of demonic activity. The cool night air brushed against my skin, sending shivers down my spines as we moved deeper into the heart of the woods.

Despite the darkness that surrounded us, a sense of determination burned within me, driving me forward with each step. I knew that our mission was a vital one - to protect the village from any demons that dared to venture too close. And beside me, Shinazugawa moved with a quiet intensity, his gaze sharp and focused as he scanned the darkness for any sign of danger.  Together, we moved as one, our footsteps echoing through the night as we remained vigilant against the threat that lurked in the darkness.

"So, Shinazugawa-san, how long have you been patrolling these woods?" I ventured, breaking the silence that hung heavy between us, my voice a soft echo in the stillness.

Shinazugawa's gaze flickered to me, his expression guarded yet curious. "Long enough to know that demons don't take breaks, so neither do we," he replied, his tone clipped and businesslike.

I nodded, acknowledging his dedication. "You're very committed to your duty," I observed, trying to bridge the gap between us with conversation.

He grunted in response, his gaze still fixed ahead. "And what about you? How long have you been a demon slayer?" he asked, a hint of interest coloring his tone.

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Not as long as you, but I've had my fair share of battles," I admitted, my voice carrying the weight of past struggles. 

Shinazugawa stepped ahead of my strides and spoke without looking at me. "I heard you're related to the former Thunder Pillar. Is that why you decided to become a demon slayer? To follow in his footsteps?"

His curiosity caught me off guard a bit; usually, I was the one asking him questions.

My eyes filled with nostalgia before I spoke. "Well, actually, it was my mother who was supposed to succeed my grandfather, but she was never interested in this lifestyle, you know?" A small smile appeared on my face. "At first, my grandfather trained her, confident that she would be the best demon slayer of all, but she fell in love with an ordinary guy. That's when she realized her true dream, to start a family and make it happy. And she did it, she always made me and my father happy."

Shinazugawa gradually slowed his pace to walk alongside me. I think he did it unconsciously, but I thought I saw compassion in his face and doubt about whether continuing to delve into my past was a good idea or not.

"You speak of her in the past tense..." he muttered.

"She died when I was eight years old. My father too. So my grandfather took care of me. He was the one who taught me the techniques to defend myself against any aggression. He saw potential in me and decided to train me to be a demon slayer."

"I've heard that the former Thunder Pillar was one of the best" he said.

I nodded. "Although he taught me to hate demons, I trained thinking of killing a human who acted like a demon without being one. It was that man who killed my father in a fit of jealousy because my mother had rejected him countless times."

Shinazugawa's eyes widened in shock as he asked. "What happened to that disgusting piece of shit? I can help you with revenge. I'll snap each of his damn bones one by one."