Justice is Blind |『 Female OC 』• Kimetsu no Yaiba

Act 18: Wrapped into the Coldest Mist

The trio walked along the forest path leading to the Watakami Summit. The trees around them grew taller and denser, their leaves rustling softly in the cool breeze. Above them, the sky was a crisp, clear blue. The crisp air filled their lungs, a prelude to the colder climate awaiting them.

Above them, Shiratori flew in a wide arc, her eyes scanning the terrain below. Then, she flew down and landed on Shirayuki's shoulder. "The summit is near," Shiratori said, shifting the three slayers' focus to her.

"Once we reach it, we will come across a large hill. At its peak is Fuyukawa," said the owl, which caught Kage's attention. "Fuyukawa..." he mumbled, making Shirayuki face in his direction. "You know about it?" she asked, making Kage nod.

"Only stories, but apparently, it used to be bustling with life," he began, seeing a small cold breath leave his mouth. "But due to the increasingly cold atmosphere, the inhabitants were forced to leave for more comfortable environments," he explained.

Hearing his explanation, Shiratori nodded. "That is what the public believe. However, the truth is far more sinister..." trailed off the owl. Ayuna furrowed her brows, her pace slowing as she processed Shiratori's words. "Why? What happened?" wondered Shirayuki as Shiratori hooted softly. "The inhabitants never left," she revealed.

"So they all stayed..." lingered Shirayuki before tilting her head toward her owl. "We are going there to help them, right?" she asked softly. However, a heavy silence followed her question. This brief silence was enough for Ayuna to start piecing things together.

"Wait a minute," she began as she looked at the owl. "Are you saying they were all turned into demons?" asked Ayuna. Shiratori nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's correct," she confirmed, causing Ayuna to sigh. "So we're not just dealing with a few stray demons. The entire city is infested," she murmured.

Kage whistled softly, shaking his head. "That's a grim situation for sure," he realised before looking at Ayuna. "You figured that out pretty quickly. Maybe you're smarter than you look," he said.

Ayuna's eyes narrowed, a spark of annoyance flaring up. "Watch it, Kage," she retorted, glaring at him. "I do have a brain," she reminded him, making Kage smirk at her. Beside them, Shirayuki smiled gently at her irritation. "I think I might have said something similar to you once, Ayu-chan," she said, tapping her chin to remember.

Ayuna sighed in exasperation, her earlier annoyance doubling. "Yeah, you did," she said before rolling her eyes. "I'm not as dense as you guys think I am," she said before crossing her arms. "I would like to differ," countered Kage as Ayuna glared at him, making the boy smirk.

Shirayuki's smile remained as she turned her attention back to her owl. "So, are we really going to run into a city infested with demons?" she asked before turning her head. "This sounds...reckless," she added, but her expression showed what she truly felt.

Rolling her eyes, Shiratori pecked the girl's cheek. "You can't even hide your excitement," she scolded, making Shirayuki chuckle softly and starch under her beak. Leaning into the touch, Shiratori hooted softly before responding.

"Originally, Oyakata-sama planned to send a hashira for this mission. However, all of them are currently occupied with other urgent tasks. That's why he entrusted this mission to the three of you," explained Shiratori, making the three young slayers nod.