影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi x reader |

16 - Festival

"I didn't notice any suspicious activity, but I overheard a couple talking about the festival."

"Yeah, so?" Sanemi grunted, not bothering to hide his disinterest.

"I have a hunch the demon will show up there," I said, crossing my arms, sensing his resistance already.

"Hunches don't kill demons, dipshit," he shot back, leaning back slightly. His chest tightened under his uniform, drawing my attention, even if it was unintentional.

"Everyone's going to gather there—it's basically a demon buffet," I argued, frustration bubbling up as he continued to rebuke my instincts.

Sanemi rolled his eyes with a sigh, a small grunt escaping him. "Fine. We'll go. But if you're wrong, you're paying for dinner." He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his expression challenging.

"You're on! If I win, you have to buy me a gift" I grinned, triumphant. "But first, we need yukata."

"The hell am I going to—"

~*~

"Awww, Sanemi, you look so cute in that yukata." I gushed, admiring the soft green of the yukata he was wearing. It complemented the one I was wearing.

"Call me cute one more time, and I will physically—"

"Look! Hairpins!" I cut him off mid-threat, racing over to a nearby stand displaying an array of colorful hairpins. One, in particular, caught my eye—a delicate pinwheel design that spun when blown on. "Sanemi, this one reminds me of you," I said, blowing on it gently, delighted when it turned.

"Remember why we're here, brat" he said, suddenly beside me, his glare sharp, though I could sense his patience thinning. I nodded, returning the pin gently to its place.

"Sorry," a young woman spoke when she accidentally bumped into me. "It's alright." I called and turned back around to Sanemi.

"Alright, let's split up once we've scoped things out." I was a little surprised when Sanemi didn't immediately vanish, but instead, he walked beside me, arms crossed, as if still defying the situation he found himself in. His rigid demeanor softened ever so slightly as we passed through the festival stalls, the vibrant energy of the crowd and music in the air. When the fireworks finally started, I noticed his gaze shifting skyward, his eyes softening for the briefest moment as they reflected the bursts of light.

"Can you see the colors?" I asked, my voice softer than usual. "Besides the blue, I mean."

Sanemi's eyes lingered on the sky for a moment longer. "They're muted," he replied quietly. "But I remember the way they looked when I was a kid, watching them with my siblings." His voice was so low I barely caught the words, but they stirred something in me—a small smile tugged at my lips.

He caught my smile before turning away, a familiar sharpness returning to his expression. "It's time to work," he said curtly.

He didn't need to tell me twice. Without a word, I slipped into the shadows, the vibrant energy of the festival behind us as we silently began our hunt for demonic activity.

~*~

I sprinted along the valleys, keeping my senses sharp, eyes straining for anything out of the ordinary. My vision quickly adjusted to the darkness, and I came to an abrupt halt when I felt two pairs of eyes on me. That was always a tell—no normal civilian could spot me; I was practically invisible. I focused, whipping my head toward the source. It was the young woman from earlier, the one who had bumped into me. She disappeared from my sight, and I took off after her, swiftly signaling Sen, my crow, whose onyx wings blended seamlessly with the night.

"Tell Sanemi I might've found a demon," I whispered before leaping onto a nearby balcony, immediately picking up the woman's trail. She vanished into one of the buildings, so I kicked the door open and followed her down the flight of stairs, chasing her until she reached a dead end. The distant hum of the festival was the only sound in the background.

"May the gods have mercy on you," I said coldly. The woman turned around, revealing demonic eyes. Fear flickered in them, and I hesitated for just a second.

"Don't hesitate—kill." Sanemi's deep voice cut through the night. 'He must've just arrived', I thought to myself. Without a second thought, I swung my scythe, severing her head cleanly. The demon didn't utter a single word in our exchange.

"Did anyone bump into you?" I asked Sanemi, who crouched on the rooftop above before leaping down beside me, a thoughtful expression on his face. His eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, briefly. Why?"

"That demon bumped into me earlier. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I think she was marking me." I pulled up my sleeve to reveal a faint red handprint on my shoulder. "I knew it." I showed it to the Wind Hashira.

He rolled up his sleeve, exposing a similar mark. "Shit," he muttered.

"Alright, you head toward the festival and try to find the one that branded you," I pointed towards the buzzing crowd.

His eyes flashed with irritation. "Don't forget who you're talking to. You don't get to order me around." He was clearly frustrated by the fact that he hadn't detected the demon earlier.

"But you're such an obedient little Hashira," I shot back sarcastically, tired of him dismissing my ideas all night. That was a mistake.

"Careful," he warned in his deep voice, stepping closer. His aura was overwhelming, and for once, I felt a bit of genuine intimidation. Sanemi never raised a hand against me, but I could see why people feared him—his presence alone could make anyone crumble. No wonder a Kakushi once pissed himself because Sanemi yelled at him. Despite the tension, I felt a sudden heat rush to my cheeks. Damn it, why now? I hated having a stupid crush on the short-tempered man. However, he had a point. He was the Hashira, and it was my first time dealing with a lower moon. I swallowed my pride.

"What do you suggest?" I asked in a firm voice, holding back an eye roll but refusing to back down as he glared at me.

He turned toward the festival. "We'll use my blood," he said, referring to his rare marechi blood—blood that demons couldn't resist.

I nodded slowly. "That's... actually a good idea," I admitted under my breath. I saw Sanemi smirk, fully aware his plan was solid. His ego could be insufferable sometimes. "Ew, what the hell, Sanemi?!" I yelped when he suddenly sliced his arm with a hidden blade from his yukata and smeared his blood all over my arms. The feeling made my skin crawl.

"Stop being a wuss. You'll be the bait," he said, tightening his grip on my arms so that I couldn't retract them. 

"Thanks so much, Sanemi. I just love being coated in your blood," I said sarcastically, not bothering to pull my arms away anymore as he smeared even more on me.

"Good girl. Now off you go." He jerked his chin in the direction I was supposed to head to.

I nearly dropped my jaw. Good girl? Why did he have to call me that? It would've been easier to focus if he stuck to my usual nicknames: little shit, dumbass, idiot, dipshit, asshat, chucklehead (my personal favorite). Lately, even brat had been throwing me off. I could feel my cheeks flush as I fought to keep my expression neutral. I quickly slapped my cheeks, earning a metaphorical eyebrow raise from Sanemi. 

"What are you doing, dumbass? You're wasting time," he snapped. Ah there it is.

"What are you going to do?" I quickly asked.

"I'll circle the outskirts of the festival in case the demon's lurking outside. That way, we'll know for sure if it's here."

I nodded, and like a shot, I dashed into the crowd.

~*~