After that kiss… life had taken a relaxing turn. Mitsuri was now my official girlfriend. Kagaya congratulated us. Sanemi still glared at me, jealousy clear in his eyes. Though it wasn't jealousy of my having snagged Mitsuri, nah, it was cause he couldn't get closer to Kanae.
I wanted to box the fucker in the ear, he screamed and shouted, bullied his younger brother, didn't listen to anyone except when Kie Kamado forced him, and he was wondering why Kanae wouldn't look at him in a romantic way.
Tanjiro on the other hand returned as an official Demon Slayer. We had thrown a celebration in the Butterfly Mansion when he came back. The celebration was also for Kanao and Genya, who started coming around more often after he realised I could kick the shit out of his brother.
When he wasn't training with me, he was out doing missions. The boy was determined, I'll give him that. Kie would scold him when he came back looking scuffed or with ripped clothes.
He told me about some friends he had made, Inosuke and Zenitsu. They had cleared a 'haunted' house together. But I knew that it was a former lower moon sulking in that so called haunted house. That in itself was impressive.
Three fresh slayers defeating a former lower moon. If I remembered correctly, it was the drum fucker who had a budget version of Nakime's demon magic shenanigan.
"Satoru-nii!" A small excited voice called to me, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Oh? Nanami-chan? Did you finish your lessons or did you sneak off again?"
Nanami, Mitsuri's younger sister, pouted. "Lessons are so boring though. I want to be a police officer like you and Mitsuri-neesan!"
"Hmm… well if you skip out on lessons, how do you ever expect to be smart enough to pass the police officer exam?"
"Ah? Exam?" Nanami tilted her head.
"Nanami!" Ayame came out with a frown. "Get back here young lady!"
"Yabe! It's mom… RUN AWAY!!!!" Nanami shouted out, turning to run.
She didn't get more than ten feet before tripping over her kimono and faceplanting into the ground. I fought back a snicker. Mitsuri came out of the house in a light green kimono. A bright smile on her face.
"Ready Satoru-kun?"
"Mm, let's go then," I turned to her mom, "we'll be back tonight Ayame-san."
"Moh… I already told you Satoru-kun… call me Kaasan." She smiled.
Mitsuri's cheeks flushed a bit as she grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the gate. Mitsuri waved at her mother, I turned around to wave too only to see Ayame picking up Nanami by the back of her kimono like a stray cat.
"Pfft… poor kid." I snickered.
"Don't laugh Satoru-kun…" Mitsuri admonished, despite the smile forming on her face.
"Whatever," I chuckled, "so what's the plan Mitsuri-chan?"
Kagaya had given us the mission of keeping watch over the dynamic trio, consisting of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke.
They had been assigned to a mission in the area. We were supposed to keep an eye on them and make sure that nothing went wrong.
Kagaya knew full well that I was going to slack off though, why else would he have had Mitsuri come along as back up. Clearly the man wanted to give me time alone with my girlfriend. Or else he wouldn't have sent the two of us to 'supervise' three slayers who were strong enough to take on most demons, spare the actual Kizuki.
Mitsuri had reservations at first, but after I told her to think of it as a secret recon mission, she relented. We were now going to go on a date in her village where the trio's mission also coincidentally was taking place.
I didn't really care, coincidence or not, I was the strongest. There was nothing in this world that would give me any trouble.
[Scene Break]
I had another reason for insisting on this date, other than just wanting to be with Mitsuri.
It was Valentine's Day, I didn't know if people in Japan celebrated it before modern times. But even if they didn't, it would be pretty romantic to start a 'new' tradition with Mitsuri.
The major religions were still Buddhism and Shinto, so I doubted anyone really knew or would be celebrating a western religions holiday.
Not until the late 1900s at least, maybe around 1990 where the world kinda went through a boom of technology and science.
'The Catholic Church won't be too mad if I stole their holiday right? Someone has to quote unquote invent it here… maybe even start a chocolate company… yeah… chocolate is good… chocolate makes money.'
Mitsuri and I walked around her village. A bright smile on her face as she introduced me to shopkeepers she knew and some family friends.
An old lady had given us two sweet rice buns with a smile and a mutter of 'What a handsome couple'. Mitsuri had blushed, I had given her a kiss on the cheek.
Hey, I might have adored the ever loving hell out of her but I had some class. I wasn't going to go around making out with my girlfriend, not when the culture of the people around us was still very conservative.
I had her feelings to think of, I could tell that getting called a shameless tramp by that demon had put a scratch on her self esteem. Not that it should have, someone as beautiful as her shouldn't take the opinions of ants so seriously.
I heard her squeal in delight next to me after biting into a pink ball. Her cheeks flushed as she practically danced on the spot.
"Satoru, Satoru… try this." She offered me a bite of some treat a lady had given her. She had a wide smile on her face.
"Hmm, okay…" I opened my mouth and let her feed me, "mmm, it's good. We should buy some more." I nodded.
She popped the rest of the treat in her mouth, "Umu! I could eat a whole plate of these!" She took my hand and dragged me back to the stall.
'Well there goes my wallet… whatever, her happiness is worth so much more than money. I could always mug some thugs later or something.'
[Scene Break] (POV shift)
The sun was already setting, Kamado Tanjiro stood in front of the rotting wooden gate of the abandoned mansion at the edge of the town. The hustle and bustle of the village had faded away behind him and his companions.
He had expected to do this mission alone. 'Mitsuri-san and Satoru-sensei always do missions alone or with each other.'
He looked to his sides, he didn't mind them. They were just a bit… much.
Zenitsu and Inosuke, individuals that had been in the passing batch of slayers in the recent Final Selections. Though Inosuke had unknowingly taken part, he was still welcomed into the Corps.
Zenitsu, though rather cowardly, was still a good companion. He offered insight to many things that neither Tanjiro nor Inosuke had as both had basically been raised on a mountain.
Inosuke was a different matter altogether. When they had all first met, Tanjiro had thought that the boar mask was Inosuke's actual head. They had fought a strange demon that manipulated rooms with a drum and Inosuke had proven himself to be a capable fighter.
The boar mask had come off during the fight, both Zenistu and Tanjiro had mistaken Inosuke for a girl with his rather effeminate face. Since then though, the trio had been inseparable.
"Tanjirooo!" Zenitsu hissed, "are you sure this is the place?! It feels like we got the wrong place… it's getting dark. What if we run into a… g-ghost."
"Oi! Tontoro! This is the place right? Let's kill this ghost so that you can fight me!" Inosuke barked.
Tanjiro sighed, "For the last time, it's Tanjiro, Tanjiro, not Tontaro, not Kentaro, not—
"Kamaboko Gonpachiro! I can sense someone following us!"
"Who even is that?!" Tanjiro finally snapped.
Tanjiro knew who was following them of course. It was hard to miss Mitsuri's pink-green hair or Satoru's white. Tanjiro had a feeling they were just watching, as if this mission was a test. He didn't want to disappoint his sensei so he tried his best to keep a handle on things.
"Followed?!" Zenitsu whisper screeched.
"Gahahaha, let me at them! I'll show them why they call me Lord Inosuke!"
"Relax guys, it's just my Sensei." Tanjiro let out another sigh.
That immediately shut up Zenistu, "Your sensei? Wait! You're the Wandering Hashira's Tsugoku right?"
Tanjiro nodded, "He saved me and my family from a demon, I have been training with him since."
Zenitsu seemed to have found some confidence, "Well then, with a Hashira watching us there's no need to worry!"
Zenitsu confidently walked through the gate, followed by Inosuke who was looking around as if trying to spot Satoru. Tanjiro shook his head with a small smile on his face.
"I hope nothing crazy happens… with sensei here it'll be safer at least." Tanjiro whispered as he stepped into the abandoned estate.
Everyone drew their swords once they entered the overgrown courtyard. The house loomed ahead, looking every bit like a haunted mansion.
The sliding doors hung open, half torn off their rails. The paper screens torn and stained with something dark. Scratch marks marred the wooden panels and posts.
As they stepped into the mansion, the boards creaked beneath their sandals. Zenitsu let out an audible gulp as something clattered further in. Inosuke made a show of sniffing the air. Tanjiro inhaled deeply, taking in the scents himself.
Something foul lurked ahead, the sour smell of rot hung thick in the air. They stepped closer, the lantern on Tanjiro's hip casting long shadows that danced eerily on the walls.
They came to a stop in front of an intact sliding door. There was a faint dripping sound coming from behind it.
"This is it…" Tanjiro spoke softly.
Zenitsu whimpered, "Do we have to go inside?"
Inosuke didn't wait for an answer, he kicked the door down and burst into the room.
Inside the shadows clung thicker than they should have. Tatami mats rotted beneath their sandals and at the center of the room was a demon.
Its body was mangled, limbs twisted and broken. Head twisted at an impossible angle. Zenitsu let out a frightened squeak while a sharp intake of breath came from Inosuke.
Tanjiro just frowned, he had trained under Satoru. He had seen the mangled remains of demons that came from Satoru's strange technique. This was something else, something had mutilated this demon.
Wryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy a chilling voice came from above them.
Tanjiro's eyes shot up to the ceiling and immediately yanked Zenitsu and Inosuke backwards just as the thing on the ceiling jumped down with a loud thud.
Inosuke and Zenitsu looked at where the thing had landed. They were looking around the room as if trying to spot it. Tanjiro quickly drew his sword, this thing wasn't normal.
Zenitsu and Inosuke didn't seem to see it, the way its face twisted, its claws dripping with purple blood, its limbs too long and corpse like.
More tasty humansssss, delicious bloooood. The thing crooned.
'What is this thing?'
"Tanjiro?! What was that?!" Zenitsu let out a shout.
"Where is it?!" Inosuke growled.
"It's right there!" Tanjiro pointed at the monster with his blade.
Zenitsu and Inosuke looked at him as if he had gone crazy.
"Monjiro… there's nothing there." Inosuke grunted.
"Gaaa it's a ghost!!!" Zenitsu shouted as he jumped behind Tanjiro.
You can see meee? The monster tilted its head, dieeeeee
The monster's claws gleamed as they arced down, aiming straight for Tanjiro's chest. His arms refused to move, his breath seized in his throat…
"Oi, oi…" a voice drawled lazily, as if scolding a child who had dropped a rice ball.
"You freeze up like that, Tanjiro, and you'll be demon food before you even get to swing that sword."
Relief and awe flooded Tanjiro's chest all at once.
"Satoru-sensei!"