𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝑒 [ ObaMitsu fanfic/ R-(MA)] Kimetsu No Yaiba

Chapter 70 - What's going on?!

The moon cast an eerie glow over the snow-blanketed neighborhood, its icy light mingling with the chaotic red and blue flashes of emergency vehicles clustered in front of the girls apartment complex. Shinobu and Giyu rounded the corner, their footsteps crunching in the snow, their quiet discussion about Sanemi's father's death dying in their throats at the sight before them.

Yellow police tape snaked across the entrance to the building, cutting off the familiar path they had walked countless times. Officers moved with an air of grim determination, their faces set in a mix of urgency and unease. The sharp, metallic tang of blood seemed to linger in the frozen air, mingling with the acrid smell of exhaust from a nearby ambulance.

The wailing siren of the ambulance pierced the silence as it sped away, its tires spinning slightly on the icy road. Shinobu's breath hitched, the sound of the siren echoing in her ears like a scream. Her eyes darted to the elevator doors, now guarded by two officers.

"What the hell happened here?" Giyu muttered, his normally calm voice tight with tension.

Shinobu approached the yellow tape, her heels crunching against the frozen ground. She flagged down an officer, her tone calm but insistent. "Excuse me, officer. We live here. What's going on?"

The officer glanced at her, his expression impassive. "I'm sorry, ma'am. This is an active crime scene. I can't give you any information at this time."

Shinobu's patience wore thin as the officer turned away without elaborating. "We have a right to know if it concerns us," she pressed, but the officer ignored her, stepping into the building.

Giyu placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back gently. "Let's listen for now," he said softly, nodding toward a small group of neighbors gathered near the tape, their voices low but frantic.

"Did you see him?" one woman whispered, clutching her coat tightly around her.

Another man nodded, his eyes wide. "I saw him. Running out the back, covered in blood. He was wearing a maintenance uniform, but... something about him didn't look right."

"Covered in blood?" a third neighbor repeated, her voice trembling. "And in the elevator? I heard the manager was stabbed numerous times around the neck and the stomach."

Shinobu's stomach churned, her mind racing. Her hand instinctively went to her pocket, pulling out her phone. "This isn't random," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she dialed Kanae. "Come on sis, pick up."

But the phone rang and rang, each unanswered buzz filling the icy air with unbearable tension. Finally, it went to voicemail. Shinobu's heart sank as she tried again, only for the same result. "She's not answering! What could she be doing?!" she hissed, her panic rising.

"Calm down," Giyu said firmly, his hand steadying her arm. "Don't spiral. Try someone else."

With trembling fingers, Shinobu dialed Mitsuri, but her call went unanswered as well. Her breath came faster, clouding in the cold air as she muttered, "Why isn't anyone picking up? What if—what if—"

"Shinobu." Giyu's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, his tone calm but commanding. "Take a breath. Panicking won't help."

Shinobu swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she nodded reluctantly. Giyu took his phone with a grim resolve, dialing Obanai. His jaw was tense, his usual calm now shadowed by a growing dread.

The line clicked after a single ring. "Giyu. What's going on?" Obanai's voice was sharp, his concern breaking through the static on the other end.

"Obanai, it's bad," Giyu said, his voice low and urgent. "The manager at the girls' apartment has been killed. Witnesses saw a man in a maintenance uniform fleeing, covered in blood."

There was a heavy silence before Obanai's voice returned, colder now. "I'll check the cameras. Give me a second."

Shinobu's heart pounded as the seconds dragged on, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. She clung to Giyu's arm, her breath fogging in the freezing air. Finally, Obanai cursed sharply.

"I can't get through to the live feed," he muttered. "The connection's been cut."

Shinobu's knees nearly gave way, and Giyu steadied her instinctively. "What do you mean, 'cut'?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Can you check the recordings? Please, Obanai, you have to see what happened before the feed went down."

Obanai's breathing was heavy as he dug deeper into the footage. Moments later, his voice turned to ice. "It's him," he growled. "It's Doma. I know that sick smile anywhere."

Shinobu's breath hitched. "What did you see?"

"I got about thirty seconds of footage before the feed died," Obanai said bitterly. "The manager and someone dressed as maintenance were wandering around the living room. The guy had shoulder-length hair—no doubt, Doma. He looked right at the camera, grinning like a goddamn lunatic, before he stepped out of view. Then the feed cuts. I bet he tampered with the router."

Shinobu's chest tightened, the confirmation hitting her like a physical blow. "Can you save the recording? We need to take it to the police."

"I'm sending it now," Obanai replied curtly. "Listen, you two need to leave the area. Don't stay there tonight. Find somewhere safe, regroup in the morning. For now, Kanae and Mitsuri don't need to know. Not yet."

Shinobu bristled at his words. "They need to be warned! If Doma's—"

Obanai's voice hardened. "Shinobu, trust me. Sanemi and I are armed. If he shows up, he's done. But the girls don't need to carry this fear with them. Not yet."

Her lips trembled, her voice cracking. "Okay... but Obanai, did you check the news?"

Obanai paused, his suspicion sharpening. "No. What is it?"

"Look at your news app," Giyu interjected, his voice low and somber.

A cold silence fell as Obanai pulled out his phone. The line remained quiet until a sharp intake of breath broke through.

"Deputy Officer Kyogo Shinazugawa found dead early this morning... multiple gunshot wounds..." Obanai's voice faltered as he read the headline. "He was found in a secluded area—this can't—" His breath hitched, the realization crashing down. "Sanemi's father..."

Shinobu and Giyu exchanged a stricken glance, their hearts sinking further as Obanai's tone shifted from disbelief to fury. "What the hell is going on?! Doma's playing some twisted game, and now this?!"

"Obanai," Giyu said firmly, "we'll leave now. Stay focused. Handle things with Sanemi carefully—don't let him spiral."

Obanai's voice was ragged but resolute. "Get out of there. Stay safe, stay low. We'll be back tomorrow night, and the girls are staying with us. Doma won't get near them. I'll deal with Sanemi."

The line went dead.

Giyu wasted no time, gripping Shinobu's hand and leading her away from the chaos. The two sprinted through the icy streets, their breaths visible in the biting cold as they raced toward the train station.

Behind them, the snow continued to fall, its pristine beauty stark against the grim reality they had uncovered. The glow of the flashing lights faded into the distance, but the chilling presence of Doma lingered in the shadows, an ominous reminder that their nightmare was far from over.