𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊˚ʷⁱˡᵈ ᵒⁿᵉ‗ ❍ ⁱⁿᵒˢᵘᵏᵉ ˣ ᶠ.ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ [ ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ ]

₊˚✧ 10

(Y/N) began humming to herself as she strolled along the thick pathway. Her crow, Sakura, was still perched on her shoulder as she walked, giving her directions to the mission location. It was spring season, so all sorts of stunning flowers were starting to bloom- causing (Y/N) to smile as she continued her journey. She had finally found a way to tie the bundle of food Mitsuri gave her like a backpack, so she didn't have to carry it by hand. 

"Hey, Sakura. What's our mission?" She asks her crow softly. It could have been anything under the sun, so she was hoping for a more laid back first mission. After all, she was still healing. 

"Head to the house north! Demon's have been spotted rendezvousing there! Clear the area!" Her crow exclaims, and she gulps. Of course her first mission wasn't going to be so easy. She takes a shaky breath and continues walking, giggling whenever Sakura yelps out directions. 

"When am I going to be meeting Inosuke again?" She murmurs to herself as she toys with the sword on her hip. One thing she was excited about was trying out her new blade, and she found herself what the colours meant several times during her journey.

"Inosuke Hashibira is waiting for us at the next town!" Her crow exclaims once more, causing the girl to jump slightly. Who could blame her, it's not everyday you befriend a talking crow for your job. Tree branches danced softly as she walked, making her feel somewhat relaxed. She had been walking for at least an hour now and her legs were being to ache. She couldn't complain though, her efforts were going towards a good cause. Stone brick roofs come into view as she walks across the gravel pathway, and she immediately turns to her crow.

"Is this the town?" (Y/N) asks quickly, wincing at how desperate she may sound. She squints her e/c eyes as she looks at the town, trying to spot anything that would point them towards their location.

"Slayer Hashibira is waiting! Approach the town!" Sakura chirps before flying away- leaving (Y/N) confused. She shakes her head for a second and then sets off in a light jog towards the town. As she jogs she feels pebbles make her way into her shoes and she winces- stones in your shoes is one of the worst feelings out there. She'd just have to empty them out when she reaches the town. Chatter fills the air as she gets closer towards the entrance, and she sees an oh so familiar figure lurking around.

Inosuke is lent on one of the wooden beams of the entrance, his arms crossed. He had his famous boar mask securely on his head, and (Y/N) could see the brand new swords attached to his trousers. It seems as if he hadn't spotted her yet, and she sighs at his stupidity. The mask must block your vision quite a bit.

"He's bold, wearing them out in the open like that" She chuckles to herself. This town was one of the more busy ones, so she dreaded to think what would happen if someone reported him for having swords- after all The Demon Slayers weren't exactly recognized by the government. 

"Hey, pig man!" (Y/N) waves as she approaches him, giggling when she hears him scowl. She spots his crow fluttering around his head, and she sighs.

"What took you so long, dumbass" He asks with his arms still folded as they make their way through the town. She scoffs and shakes her head, slapping him on the arm.

"Yeah, good to see you too Inosuke" She teases, and he grunts. The town was quite cute considering it was in such a remote location. Children ran about, weaving in and out of houses as they played with their homemade toys. (Y/N) smiles at the sight, and Inosuke watches her out of the corner of his eye. His stomach tenses up as he watches her, causing him to groan. Why did this keep happening to him? It happened at final selection, when he was waiting for his blades and when he reached the town and discovered they were going to be working together. What did this dumb feeling mean?

"So, do you know much about our mission?" (Y/N) asks as they exit the town, the trees around them growing slightly thicker with each step. Luckily there was a dirt path that they had to follow, so they had no way of getting lost. He shrugs his shoulders slightly, causing her to roll her eyes. Her eyes flicker down to the swords on his hip, and she notices that they were already chipped.

"How have you broken them already you idiot?!" She exclaims as she pears at them, and a deep chuckle sounds from his mask. He pulls the blades from their holsters, and he forms an x shape with them- blocking the pathway. (Y/N) stands with her arms folded as she watches him jump around with them, yelling random words.

"I bet you're just jealous, (Y/N)" He cackles as he waves them about, and her eyes widen. Her hand goes to her mouth and Inosuke stops what he was doing- and he stares at her.

"Did you...did you just say my name correctly?" She asks in shock, not quite believing what she just heard. He didn't call her dumbass, or weakling, or (Mispronunciation of your name)...he actually called her (Y/N). She claps her hands together frantically, causing him to tilt his head. 

"You're so strange, dumbass" He snickers and the moment is over almost as soon as it started. Sighing she pushes past Inosuke slightly so she could continue up the path, and he responds by flicking her forehead.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" She hisses as she clutches her head, and he laughs maniacally- clutching his toned stomach. She scoffs and speeds up her pace as she walks along the pathway, meaning he had to sprint to catch up. As the two made their way towards their mission point she could feel her stomach tightening. Something about the air seemed strange, and she took that as the first warning sign. The path began to grow thin as they made their way up it, and (Y/N) saw the house come into view. Broken bricks were laid out on the floor around the entrance, and vines had began growing in the cracks of the building.

She spotted faint blood splatters on the wooden entry way, and she feels her heart rate rise. Inosuke seems oblivious as he walks towards the house, his swords positioned.

"Don't just run in, stupid. We need to survey the area first" She hisses, causing the boy to groan. He just wanted to get into the action, and show off in front of the girl. She peaks her head around the side of the house, only spotting big boulders that must have fallen from the side of nearby mountains. Taking a deep breath she unsheathes her katana, and she turns towards Inosuke. She sends him a nod, and they both rush towards the exit. As soon as they step inside, (Y/N) gags slightly. All she could smell was iron and decaying wood peeling off the walls. 

"Oh god" She mumbles, causing Inosuke to grumble in reply. He scans his head around the bleak hallway trying to spot something out of the ordinary. The inside of the house was as decrepit as the outside, with patches of grass growing on the tiled floor. The two walk shoulder to shoulder as they look around the place.

"I thought this place was supposed to be overrun with demons?" (Y/N) says to herself, her blade still clutched in her hand. As the two look around, the bang of a taiko drum fills the air. As soon as she blinks, she finds herself in a completely different room. It was dimly lit by a makeshift chandelier, and there was chips all along the wooden walls.

"INOSUKE?" She yells out, her heart beating in her throat. Her head was reeling as she looks around. Less than a second ago she was stood out in the musky hallway with him, so where the hell was she now? She hears scratching behind her, and she feels herself tensing up.

"My my, you look tasty" She hears a muffled voice exclaim, and she turns around slowly. A figure emerges from the shadows in the corner of the room, it's bones creaking with every step. It walked on all fours just like a house pet- and it's clawed hands were massive. Without Inosuke in sight, she was going to have to face the demon alone.