Sureiyazu

Episode 5: Be Yourself!

The castle wasn't at all what Akuma was expecting.

It was fairly large, with multiple wings, and had the traditional style of a slanting roof and sliding doors. The thing that was odd was that it seemed very old, like it might crumble any second. Surprisingly, though, it didn't, even when the team of four walked in.

A man with white hair and a long coat sat on the floor, facing in the opposite direction.

"Sureiyazu," he said. "You have returned."

Aya smiled. "Yes, master, and we have found the fourth Sureiyazu, the girl you told us about."

She didn't know why, but Akuma was startled at this. She knew she would be staying with the Sureiyazu, but it never occurred to her that she was going to be one of them. A life killing demons with no reward in return . . . was this something she wanted to do? Did she have a choice?

"Have you?" asked the man, who must have been the legendary Shi, the demonslayer. Akuma's eyes were wide.

Suddenly the master's voice turned stony. "Have you brought . . . it?"

"We have, master," answered Kasai, usually carefree but now serious.

"Bring it to me."

Kasai walked slowly up to the master with a small wrapped package. The master took it carefully. Akuma and the other Sureiyazu walked closer to Shi as "it" was opened, and revealed as . . . a wagashi?

"It's a sweet?!" said Akuma in surprise.

"Of course," replied Yuri happily. "Master Shi has us bring him back candy. He just has a little sweet tooth is all."

Akuma watched as the master's face was overcome by a hungry gin and the wagashi stuffed in. Once it was swallowed, he returned to normal and his calm, cool face took over again.

"I enjoyed that," he said. "Thank you." Akuma blinked, and even when the rest of the team walked out, had to pull herself away from staring at Shi. A little sweet tooth? If the beams holding up the walls of the castle were made of candy, he would have eaten them up without second thought. She forced herself to follow the rest of the Sureiyazu.

Akuma found her team in the dining room and took a seat on the floor at the low table. Aya was drinking tea, but the other two just sat patiently and waited for her to finish.

Akuma opened her mouth to ask about being one of the Sureiyazu, but Kasai held a finger to her lips and scooted over to her.

"Don't interrupt Aya's tea drinking," she whispered. "She hates it."

Aya put down her cup. "I don't hate it," she corrected. "It's disrespectful and uncivilized to disturb someone who is peacefully drinking their tea."

Kasai raised her eyebrows as if to say, See what I mean? Akuma nodded in reply.

"However," continued Aya, "As Akuma is new to being a demonslayer, I'll make an exception if she needs to ask any questions."

Kasai and Akuma exchanged glances. She was already picking up on the Sureiyazu's ways of communicating.

Yuri was lost in a daydream and staring at the wall, smiling to herself.