𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲| | 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

二十一

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𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫

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Fwoosh!

The quiet sound of the flame igniting the oil in the pit of their lanterns entered (Name) and Reina's ears as they thanked the stranger who offered to lights them. Both giving a bow, they took the four lanterns with them. Each holding two, the walk back was quiet, (Name) didn't like the lack of conversation and since she was walking with a woman who was just insulting her, she didn't like this silent walk even more. 

She would sneak a glance at the girl from the corner of her eye from time to time, noticing the concentrated look on her face (Name) closed her eyes and opened her mouth. "...How long have you been a demon slayer?"

Reina looked at (Name) from the side of her eye then forward again, ignoring her question and keeping her mouth shut. Silence continued between the two and (Name) sighed. Opening her mouth again, she spoke once more.

"This is my first year. Obviously you can tell because of my rank, but I've been killing demons before I became an official slayer."

Reina raised a brow, a kid, killing demons before becoming a demon slayer? Absurd. She turned her head to look at the girl and gave her a questioning look. 

"I'm Shinazugawa-san's Tsuguko."

The older woman let out a small 'oh', completely seeing how the teen before her killing demons before becoming a slayer was plausible now due to the well known reputation of the hot-headed wind hashira. A moment passed before the girl furrowed her brows and looked at (Name) again. 

"Wait- how the hell did you of all people become his tsukugo? I was for sure he'd never take in anyone, let alone a kid."

"Hey! I'm sixteen, not a kid. A teenager!"

"Same thing."

(Name) huffed, "Whatever...Anyway, I forced him to become my teacher." 

Reina let a laugh slip from her mouth, "You? Get the big and bad Shinazugawa-sama to train you through force? I don't believe it!" Shaking her head at the girl's joke, she ended with an amused sigh. (Name) stared at the woman beside her and frowned, why was it so hard for her to believe that? I mean, it wasn't the entire truth what she told but, that's kind of how it went.

"Why don't you believe me? I totally made him take me in, I beat him and everything." She asked calmly. Reina looked at (Name) again, examining her face and choice of weapon. "Why a naginata of all things?" Switiching the conversation over, she noticed (Name) look at the weapon in question before answering.

"I dunno. Just my preferred weapon." She shrugged. There was no chance she was going to tell the woman she failed horribly at her sword skills, that would give her something else to nitpick about the teen. Reina hummed at this answer and nodded her head.

"Four years." Reina answered. 

Confusion graced (Name)'s features before she realized the woman was answering her question from earlier. Honestly, she was shocked. With someone as hotheaded as Reina, she can't believe she managed to survive this long. Now, she knows she can't be saying much given the fact that Sanemi was just a ball of unhinged rage but he had the skills and smarts to back it up. From what she's heard from the argument between Reina and Murata, the girl didn't seem to be the brightest strategic wise. That's when Inosuke came into mind. Did she think he was an idiot? Well, no. But he did seem to be a bit out of touch with reality. However, reality and smarts don't tie in all too close, because even the most craziest of people can be some of the smartest you ever meet. Afterall, she still had yet to truly see both Inosuke and Reina in action.