Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

❀五❀

Year 195

Often working in this town as a local healer to the peacekeeper's pack and helping out the locals with their shops, brought about a type of stress I didn't need, but when I had time to stop and relax-a bath was often the way to go- the perfect solace on a day bound to be stressful.

A bath here...was soothing, healing, and calming. It centered my body and mind. It releases toxins from my body that slow everything down and made my brain feel cloudy. It relaxed my muscles and allowed my body to enter a state of rejuvenation. The body and mind are directly related after all– calm body, calm mind, calm body, calm mind.

Steam rose from the heated waters of the bath. The tall bamboo stalks architecturally placed to separate my bath from other areas in my home. The floor was of smooth cut stone.

I sighed in content as the heated waters relieved me of stress. The hot waters were stimulating my skin. "N-nnnnhhh~" I let out softly as the hot waters engulfed my form.

Ever so relaxing, but I knew it couldn't last, I knew that more than ever.

I rose from my bath and wrapped myself in a towel and let the water down. I left the bathroom and wander out to the common area where my kitchen was and noticed the knife I threw at Benimaru still in the wooden pillar.

It was one of my favorite knives too but all I could do was look at it in disgust because it brought my thought back to Benimaru. I turned back around and headed towards my room to get dress in one of my summer yukata.

The moment I exited out of my home, I was met with a dark, charcoal skin and perpetually on fire was right in front of my home- an Infernal stood stoically near the entrance of my home.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" someone chanted while hitting the bells.

It was eerie that this Infernal was rather calm just standing here. Not even attempting to attack me or make a spectacle, it was as if the infernal wanted to see me.

"Uh uh," was the only sound it made as he remained there. It was just looking at me. I often heard that internals can be influenced by any strong desires or personal connections they had as a human. Was it possible that this infernal knew me personally?

"Inori!" Konro yelled out as he ran with his brigade men to my supposed rescue.

I turn back towards the Infernal as it had opened its arm. Was this its way of asking me to kill it?

"Inori, get away from it!" Konro yelled, "Beni, take care of the infernal."

The men in the brigade threw their matoi in the direction of the Infernal. While in the air, they combusted into flames and were heading in the direction of the Infernal and myself. With great celerity, I ran back into my home with the Infernal following my actions. Weird.

"Inori!" Konro yelled, "Men, make sure she is safe!"

They shouted in agreeance and followed Konro into my home. But once they entered, they seen nothing but ashes on the floor, burn marks marking the wooden floors.

"Inori?" Konro asked looking around, walking into my home further.

"K-Konro, what could have happened, it didn't even take us 30 seconds," one of his men questioned.

"I am not sure, but it would be best to search the perimeter." Konro questioned, "Inori needs our help."

"ANOTHER INFERNAL AND IT'S BIGGER THAN THE OTHER ONE!" another person yelled.

"Two in one day!" Konro yelled, "Crap!"

"I'll handle the Infernal! Keep on looking for Inori!" Benimaru yelled as he used the Matoi to propel himself into the air.

"No, the infernal that was here was docile, we will go with you and check in with Inori," Konro commanded as hesitantly back out of my house, "The faster we handle that infernal, the faster we can come back here."

"Yes!" the brigade yelled.

Soon their footsteps disappeared from the house. I jumped down from my rooftop and landed on the floor on my foot while looking at the opening of my home. The noren was moving in the direction of the wind. I turned my attention towards the pile of ash near my feet.

"How did you turn when I was helping you yesterday with your shop and you made such a big sale?" I asked myself.

Yes, it was within a fraction of a second I knew that the infernal was the shop owner I had assisted the other day with sales as her employee called out. It was quite sad to have put an end to her but I knew at the end, she didn't feel a thing.

I looked at the sword in my hand. It was a merciful sword stroke that brought about a gentle warm rain and brought about a tranquil end to her life. She didn't want the traditional ending that many residences usually get here at Asakusa but a peaceful one brought by my hands. She was the only one who knew that I was capable to slaying an Infernal, that I was a skilled swordswoman, and that I had pyrokinetic abilities, and now she was gone....that secret remained with me and me alone.

With her gone, I felt lonely. The men in this town only wanted to marry me, the Hikeshi brigade sexist views didn't allow me to fight along side them. I only had the women in this town to lean on or the children of this town.

I sighed and walked to my garden. I knew those peacekeeper's would come in to check in on me and probably interrogate me...I guess I could use this time to come up with a constructive lie.