Half Of A Whole || GiyuShino

-Chapter 4-

Shinobu is tasked to patrol Mt. Natagumo once more. Former demon sights usually have important information within them that can get them one step closer to their goal of defeating the demon king.

The insect hashira proceeds with caution, a place being nothing but peace and quiet doesn't automatically mean it's a safe place. Sometimes the predator lingers longer to stalk its prey.

She jumps up to the trees, not only to have a better look of the area, but also cloak herself behind the leaves and branches. Hearing a distant voice, she quietly makes her way towards where the sound is coming from.

"Oh my~" The voice of a man said to himself "Rui really left this place in quite a state~"

The man comments about how the lower rank kizuki, Rui, left the dark forest in such a damaged state.

The tall man wears a maroon turtle neck sweater with a melting pattern around the neck, paired with a crown shaped hat and in his hands, shiny gold fans.

Looking up the trees, he smiles. His spotted his prey.

"I see you~"

Shinobu's eyes widen, seeing the mark on the man's eyes. Upper Rank 2. That is no man.... that is a demon!

Before she could react, the demon appears behind her with a smile plastered on his face, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"For a stalker, you sure are pretty~"

Shinobu draws her sword, turns around then stabs him in the eye before jumping back, away from the Rank 2. She lands on the dirt on both feet, putting her sword back in he sheath to mix more poison on the blade.

"Nice to meet you too!" Rank 2 jumps down and lands a few feet across from her "I'm Douma, what's your name?"

She didn't reply, she knows she has to back away but her pride won't let her. She's a hashira, she will not back down from a fight, now matter how strong the demon is.

"Not introducing yourself is considered extremely rude, you know?" Douma smiles "Even among enemies~"

Shinobu smiles back at him, countering his psychotic expression. Douma on the other hand fell in love with her smile, he can recognize how fake a smile can be, but hers just made her more attractive.

"My heart is about to explode!" He expressed

"Good~ Let it" She replies, then lunges towards him

Douma wanted to have some fun, so instead of using his weapons or his blood demon art, he simply uses his fist

"Akaza would be so proud of me!" He thought to himself, before landing a blow on Shinobu's stomach. When she got winded, he lands another on the left of her chest, breaking her ribs.

She wheeze in pain, each breath she took to keep herself conscious was excruciating. Falling on the ground, she tried to get as much air as she can in her system, enough to keep her from blacking out.

"Ahhh~ now I get why he prefers his fist, it feels so nice to punch someone!" Douma said in his thoughts. He kneels down to Shinobu, and tilt his head "Sorry, I was just defending myself~"

Shinobu looks up at him and those eyes.... those rainbow eyes... she recognizes those pair of color full yet empty iris.

He grabs her then starts to carry her away. He tried to be as gentle as he could, as if she was very fragile.

"For a hashira, I thought you could do better~" He comments, insulting Shinobu's skills.

"F-fuck you...." She coughed out blood

She thought she will be taken away to some place, but then...

A slash with a green blade across the arms and legs of Douma was heard. The person catches Shinobu before she fell, as Rank 2 fell on the ground without any limbs

It didn't take a second for him to regenerate, but he didn't even bother chasing them. He was just sad someone took away the pretty Butterfly girl.

"Man... she was mine!" Douma pouts, as he sits down like a baby playing with blocks, except he was fiddling with his fingers.

The person carrying the insect hashira was muscular, the hair was messy, face covered with scars. He takes her to the field medics, places her on he gurney and orders everyone to evacuate because of the danger of an Upper Rank demon in the area.