9 Eureka

Another one down the drain, how many of these buffoons would try to stand in my way? It's idiotic, to say the least, can't one respect my ranking in this homicidal system? Nevertheless, this won't interfere with my plans, they merely fiddled their way through the threads to end up at the dead end. Though the fact remains. I was obviously being spoiled in some kind of way with masters respect and tolerance, lucky me. Luck sticks by my side, even though I do not require it to do what needs to be done for my own satisfaction.

Dusting my long jacket and brushing the messy fur collar off of my neck, I peer my eyes down at the dead corpses in front of me. Disgusting. I could feel my tongue twist at the sight, why did it always have to end with death? Their fault. Hm? Eyes tracing down to my clothing itself, I couldn't help but notice the dripping crimson blood on my palms, coming from my stained clothing.

Narrowing my sight, I sigh simply, ignoring the substance that ruined my shirt once more: I'll deal with it later. Strolling through the mindless pathways, I couldn't really describe what I was doing - humming to my own rhythm with piercing irises that could instantly calculate one's actions. Others would always shudder in fear, trembling in my presence, though, I am not certain on the reasoning entirely. In my opinion, I never could understand why they reacted like that; was it fear or anguish? Neither could overtop the other, making the decision unanimous entirely, a bewildering situation.

Silence.

My thoughts were intruded on, was someone listening in? Stopping my paced footing, I turned my head to what lurked behind me, examining the figure that I could recognise without a second thought. Posture straightened still, I veered my body sideways, head lowering in response to this unexpected occurrence though I should have anticipated this. Face plain and neutral, my voice was low, not interested if someone else could describe it.

"Zenitsu."

Carelessly, he jumped down from the upside platform he rested on, rubbing the back of his neck like usual, head turned away with that nervous smile of his. I always was baffled on his anxious behaviour, it was atypical, abnormal. For someone his age, older than me to be specific, he would be expected to be more confident, mature. That didn't matter though, I could care less if he was shy or cruel, it seemed unreasonable to judge on what you perceive in one or another. Some may be surprised I still have my morals in check, though it seems like me to have a dissociative identity which I suppose I do have one way or another.

"We were waiting for you, y'know! Inosuke was on a rampage-"

I interrupted him with my hand, my hand placing on his head only to hear him stop straight away, his eyes distanced compared to mine. For a moment, my kind smile wavered until it inscribed on my face, tilting with my head to the side. Patting him twice, treating him as some sort of child, I chuckle to myself, cherry tinted eyes obvious.

"I'm sorry Zenitsu, I must have forgotten again! We can go now."

When I thought the time was right, I laughed once more, removing my palm for it to slip into my pocket. Agatsuma appeared astonished in his own, bashful method, releasing his hunched shoulders so he could calm down. Why did I not say anything to that? Well, it was too typical of him, something I had to adapt to overtime, but, it wasn't an issue.

A finger snapped in front of my face, how rude. I'd let it slide, Zenitsu was a close ally, no, a friend of mine so why should I scold him? Bouncing off the several distorted platforms, both of us knew exactly where to go; our usual spot. Now that I've been doing this for years, I could do it with ease, not even needing to think of where to go next, same with my other movements. Things were going according to what we always did, nothing ever changed around here.

However, for a single moment, I felt myself distance from the conversation that was about to spark, deadlocked with a strong, opposing scent. Ah, they were here too? Just my luck.

Yeah, just my luck.

Strong gusts of wind blew throughout the building, yet not a single piece of the structure was fazed by the fast movements brushing against each piece. With the area staying intact, the two sped through with ease in between the perplexingly positioned platforms and objects, heels pushing off of each to increase the pace. Not sparing each other a single glance, they reached their destination, a traditional-Japanese styled room, hanging lanterns decorated on the outside with minutes burning flames inside, tinted a sunset tone. It was decently large, shaped like an L, fitting up to three people. Finally, laying on top of the walls keeping it upright, was a large tiled roof, thin eaves hanging off the edge. Small matching hooks curled at the corners of the top, one on each side facing inwards, giving the impression that they were worshipping some sort of god or ruler.

Both boys stood in front of it, a racket of sounds outraging inside, confined. Zenitsu sighed as he opened the sliding door, stepping onto the tatami mat flooring, shoes in hand to show some sort of respect unlike his comrade running around inside like some sort of mad man. His other friend had his shoes off as well, a strand of burgundy coloured hair brushing in front of his face while it lowered, having a sarcastic smile. Inosuke noticed instantly that they had come back, crossing his arms after he put his dual blades swords on his back. Unlike earlier when Zenitsu left, his blindfold was off, showing his pale green eyes, soft if he was in a good mood which didn't appear to be what he was feeling.

"You took too god damn long Kamaboko Gonpachiro! You were fighting some bastards weren't you!"

Laughing, the boy with the glowing red eyes tilted his head at him, merely pretending to be innocent before having that deadly, calculating appearance on his face for a split second, showing exactly what happened with only a flutter of his eyelids. Inosuke ran his hand through his hair, annoyed before furrowing his eyebrows, wanting a fight desperately but he knew his other two close friends weren't in the correct position to, giving him his foul appearance, turning his head away. 'Kamaboko' sighed, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, his name was always spoken incorrectly by Hashibira and he still had yet to get used to it, correcting him in an annoyed tone,

"It's Tanjirou Kamado Inosuke..! Not Kamitopo Nonpichirpo, you know what I mean!"

Zenitsu laughed in response, this would probably be a daily thing for these three, correcting and incorrecting all the time. Slipping his shoes into the shoe rack, he muttered in a quiet tone, his head tilted back at them with that obvious glance that he had, anxious but calm.

"Sooo.. What are we doing today? We do hang out during the daylight all the time so.."

Whilst placing his shoes to a side, Kamado stood up straight, offering Agatsuma his hand which was rightfully accepted before whispering an idea into his ear. Inosuke felt left out, his irritation growing as he stomped over and yelled at the two, not wanting to be excluded.

"Hey! What are you talking about!"

By the time this happened, Zenitsu already understood the plan, nodding to it. Tanjirou was the first to be separated, catching his footing whilst using the rim of the mat to not let him fall, chuckling. Agatsuma was separated from the now nonexistent contact him and Tanjirou had, hitting his head against the wall like the day before.

"Inosuke..! That hurt you know!"

Hashibira grunted, walking towards Zenitsu, fists punching into each other as he cracked his knuckles, annoyed that the boy found that something so weak hurt. It was idiotic, shameful for someone who was supposed to be strong, especially since he was against others. He chuckled to himself, having an enranged appearance, just about to put his rising energy to work.