An Odd Team

The following day, the Demon Slayers ventured into the pulmonary sections of Satokotta. They were heading towards a wood ridden crossroad filled with industrial dirt to investigate where the most popular Demonic Presence was. Faolan notices that the people of Satokotta are even gloomier, their expressions displaying a magnitude of silence. Faolan's eyes frowned for he felt little warmth and the icy air that had entrapped everyone in the village.

Arriving at the crossroad the Demon Slayers stop. Jasumin Tsugumi, who is leading the Demon Slayer of the investigation now turns to Ketsueki and Arashi.

"Can I trust that you two can handle the last briefing for the others?" Tsugumi made a unsure look between Ketsueki and Arashi.

"I shall play my part and follow what was planned," Arashi bowed as an answer, he was doing his best to avoid contact with Ketsueki after the argument they had last night.

"Understood," Ketsueki crosses his arms behind his back and answers casually, proceeding to bow slowly.

"Alright then," Tsugumi sighs, unsure of how the two will proceed with the mission, she then begins to head back into the direction from whence they came, she left for another investigation site. Seeing her depart Arashi inhales a deep breath of focus.

Arashi then quickly turned, completely ignoring Ketsueki and continued towards where Faolan and the others were. The Demon Slayer Warau Kagero positioned his chin to the earth, his hat covering his expression and eyes. Faolan noticed his movements were extremely slow and wobbly.

"Oi oi, Chin up Kanoto rank!" Arashi shouted at Warau who raised his chin slowly.

"Huh?" Warau brushes his fatigued eyes with his knuckles.

Faolan and Yukina watched as Arashi's vein begins to enlarge from his neck, Utazo repositions his eyes with a stern gaze away from Arashi without emotion as Ketsueki approaches next to Arashi with a casual posture.

Once Warau finished brushing his eyes, Faolan witnessed a ruby filled sharpness within Warau's eyes,

"Im completely fine though," Warau released a wide grin.

"I'm pretty sure you were sleeping Warau-kun," Yukina with a softly squint, tilts her head with a neutral smile contradicting his grin.

"I could've been doing anything, just because I was positioned in a manner that Arashi-san may have not liked doesn't mean it is true to what is believed to be seen by you Yukina-sama," Warau smoothly transitions into raising his hat to gain a wider view of where they were, and noticing Faolan for the first time, he didn't know that a new Demon Slayer has arrived for the mission, and he loved to meet new people around his age.

"Just listen up already," ordered Arashi. The Demon Slayers draw their attention back to Arashi.

"You all will be investigating one of the previous accounts of Demon activity near the residences," Arashi points towards his left which included the majority of the residence of Satokotta, as well as small markets.

"Since the area of activity is large including the civilians, you may decide how you want to proceed with the investigation, be wary even when this lead is the oldest activity," Ketsueki intervenes with the statement, laying his eyes at Faolan.

"You, who came here with Ketsueki, you're new so follow the steps of your fellow Corps. Members," Arashi adds.

"Understood," Faolan bows respectively, 'However I need to find out what might be truly happening,' Faolan raises his body, 'I trust that you may find something as well,' Faolan spots Ketsueki eyes and nods.

"Alright you are all dismissed to your mission, kill the demons," Arashi finishes and heads towards a more socialized direction of the village with Ketsueki who returns Faolan with a nod.

The Demon Slayers now head to their mission.

————

Reaching the residential district of the village, The Demon Slayers found many civilians hanging about, there weren't many children running around. Faolan believed that this was the case for Demonic attacks. Eventually, they reached to the site of the latest activity of Demons, which was an open alleyway vacated of people separated by small sheds. Faolan noticed blood splattered across the ground from one shed to the another shed, there were scracthes from the walls of both of the sheds.

"What a strange mystery we have here huh?" announced Warau.

"Something seriously strange happened here," Yukina's expression changes to a critical appearance.

Faolan exhales at the horrid sight.

"I'm going to check over there, if you need me, only communicate to me about the mission," Utazo continued to the shed to the right, the others see Utazo's hardened posture.

"I want to go see the shed on the left," suggested Faolan, but now was approached by Warau.

"I see that I haven't introduced myself, I'm Warau Kagero, you can call me Kagero if you want, if not I don't mind," Kagero bowed, greeting Faolan.

"I'm Okami Faolan, I.. uh.. don't mind if you call me Faolan," Faolan returned with a bow to Kagero.

"Kagero-kun, you mind looking into the other shed with Utazo-kun? Don't piss him off okay?" asked Yukina who returned to her original mischievous-like expression.

"I'm fine with that, but good luck over there Faolan-kun," Kagero heading passed Yukina reaches whisper distance to Faolan, "Watch out, I bet she can get quite scary," Kagero whispered loud enough for Yukina to hear while making a frightened look and a strange sound, "EeeeEeeeeEeeeeeeeEeeee," he grinned right after he finished his strange sound.

On hearing what Kagero said about her, Yukina shook her head calmly. Faolan was confused with Kagero, so he made a worried look for his sake.

"Let's go," stated Yukina

Faolan silently nodded and they both headed to the shed onto the left. Faolan notes the blood stains from the ground reaching the other shed, he also noticed that the floor seemed awkward, in contrast with the environment. They proceeded inside the shed, the indoor was kept well, little sign of possible demonic aggression.

"It feels off doesn't it? Even when everything here seems to be in place," Yukina asks.

"Yea," Faolan investigates the indoor walls hoping to find a clue, he lands where the scratches would be on the outside, hints of blood were indoors.

They searched all around for some time, the air inside grew colder and sharper once again.

"I'm finding little to nothing here, hmm," Yukina inspects a miniature stove where tea could be made and takes a whiff,

'I can still feel the tea, strange', Yukina gathers the perception of a certain herbal green tea.

Faolan glances over to Yukina who was kneeling, and wonders about the situation,

'Based on what I can see, something did happen indoors but I can't pinpoint it,' He returns to see similar but a faint description of scratches inside the shed.

"I think I'm finished with what I can find Faolan-kun," Yukina raises herself from her knees while fixing her gloves.

"Seems like something did happen indoors but not at the same time, I'm starting to see faint scratches along this wall" Faolan speaks out, pointing to the wall.

"Possibly, I may have got a clue of who could've gone missing," Yukina replies.

"You know?" Faolan asked.

"More like, someone may have seen who this person is," Yukina stated.

"Which means we have to go to the other residents," added Faolan.

"Pre—," *BAAAAAAAAM*

Yukina is interrupted by the loud bashing of the entrance opening.

Kagura enters the room with a wide grin, and Utazo enters soon after, still with a stern expression and a firm fist.

"We have a lead," Utazo states.

"What have you found?" Yukina asked.

"Someone might have escaped from whatever has happened here. In the other shed, there were signs of an extreme pace of movement, the rhythm of movements make a sound heading into the residency." Utazo points out into the direction of the resident area.

"I'm expecting that you two have found any indication of what may have occurred here," Utazo slowly pushes in his eyewear.

"How can you tell off sound?" Faolan asked, Utazo gently glared at the question and sighed.

"That's what I can do. Do you not learn of the people you will work with before you start your mission?" Utazo shakes his head in disappointment.

"Do you know what I can do?" Faolan tilts his head, returning a glare. Utazo notices Faolan's passive aggression and quickly strikes back.

"Well…. I would but since you just arrived out of nowhere, how could I? You weren't part of the plan from the start," Utazo closes onto Faolan holding his chin high, "Watch yourself, idiot,"

"Who's the one who should be watching here?"

Faolan holds his ground and crosses his arms.

'Faolan,' a voice calls.

Kagero pats the chests of both Faolan and Utazo. "Okay okay, everyone there doesn't need to be some hostility between you gentlemen, when were after the same thing?" However Utazo slaps Kagero's forearm.

"Ara ara, you boys are a mess," Yukina giggles.

"Whatever, I wanna focus on the mission," Utazo prompts Yukina to release what they have found. After she finishes giggling she gathers herself to speak.

"We also gathered a lead that will take us into the residence, there might be a shop that sells a certain tea," Yukina holds her palms behind her.

"Certain tea huh? In the other shed, there were many pots for tea," Kagero added.

"Wait!" Kagero rubs his chin, looking into the wall as everyone gazed at his way.

"This wall has the texture as the other one, and on the outside of this shed there's a scratch the stretched across if you remember, and the other one there's scratch the would be on the inside," Kagero points his finger upwards, "That might've sounded confusing haha," he shrugs.

"That's something we have to note for later, let's go into the residence now," Yukina commented.

"Sounds good to me," Utazo exits immediately.

Faolan returns to the wall where he felt that there was something off with the faint scratches.

"Kagero-kun, you said that this wall had scratches in the other shed just like the one outside this one?" asked Faolan.

"Yesssshh!" Kagero gave Faolan a thumbs up as he exited outside.

Faolan could not understand the feeling within his eyes, 'If what Kagero-kun says it's true, there is something very wrong here,' Faolan still could not pinpoint what he felt, so he breathed to calm his mind.

'Utazo mentioned the rhythm or sound of what occurred at the other shed… hmmmm,' Faolan begins to think for any possible explanation for both of the sheds.

"Faolan-kun, I'm still here you know, is there something you want to say to me?" Yukina spoke softly and wielded a mischievous smile.

"No, I was just in my thoughts ," Faolan stands and turns to Yukina.

"Ahh, I see," Yukina giggles as she exits.

Faolan tilts his head in confusion almost feeling uncomfortable,

"Ah..uh..okay," Faolan shakes his head.

The Demon Slayers exit the alley, leaving the sheds behind in the cold. Faolan looks back into the alley one last time, the odd feeling of the two sheds now lingered in his eyes, the feeling wasn't sinister or suspicious, but something off-putting and it intoxicated the entire valley more than the possible violence that had occurred at the two scenes. Faolan turns around, strolling behind the Demon Slayers wondering.

The sheds in the cold alleyway seemed like it was waiting for the Demon Slayers to leave. In total silence the sheds shake uncontrollably, fading in and out like an aberration.

———————

In another investigation site of Demonic Activity, Ketsueki and Arashi had reached a pond the site included blood that seemed to be dragged into the water, there was the icy air like always, yet it could not freeze the pond, but left the blood crackling. Ketsueki stared into the blood with gloomy eyes, Arashi was searching for any signs of a track that could lead where a Demon could've come from. They had been searching for any sign that could lead them to the location of Demon or who was attacked. The two had rarely spoke to each other since then, Ketsueki had been staring at the blood that seemed to be dragged into the pond for quite some time, Arashi now was bothered at Ketsueki since he's been static for so long.

"Are you going to keep staring at the blood?" Arashi asked with a certain attitude without trying to look at Ketsueki's way.

"I'm not just staring at the blood you piece of shit, I'm searching looking to see if there was any Demon blood that could've been dropped," Ketsueki fixes his scarf in a nonchalantly manner.

"Shut the hell up, I'm making sure you do your job," Arashi replied.

Ketsueki now gazed upon the pond, he felt that the pond was off putting, the pond is extremely shallow, but Ketsueki didn't understand why the blood was being dragged into a pond.

"Hey shit head, I'm gonna try something," Ketsueki called for Arashi.

"What! you—," Arashi gathers his temper and strides to Ketsueki who is now standing at the center of the pond, "What do you plan to do?"

"I'm gonna strike the pond," Ketsueki unsheathes his katana.

"You think there is something connected to the pond?" Arashi asked.

"Maybe, just watch out," Ketsueki raises and holds his katana downwards and readies himself for a thrust into the water.

"Fine," Arashi holds his hilt ready.

A brief moment of stillness and Ketsueki thrusts the katana into the pond, the blade splashes the water and water bubbles form from underneath the water. Ketsueki raises his katana from the pond and inspects it.

"Is there something in the pond?" Arashi asked.

"Hmm," Ketsueki scratches his head in thought, he then notices that some water has been soaked into the blade,

"Water? No." Ketsueki's casual expression now is withering.

"It's blood isn't it?" states Arashi.

Ketsueki stares into the pond, looking for some kind of clue, but his own reflection was all that could be seen from the pond. Ketsueki's eyes shut, he trembled, something within him, bleed with agony. Ketsueki then sighed and raised his view to Arashi who stood on the cold dirt.

"Yes, note that the demon was here, let's report to Jasumin," stated Ketsueki.

"At least we know that this bastard is still around," Arashi wipes his hair, "We gotta stop it before it takes anymore lives," Arashi stomps, melting the dirt with fiery steps.

Ketsueki and Arashi exit to report Jasumin for clues that could lead to the Demon's whereabouts. Ketsueki's eyes grew heavy, he adjusted the scarf that covered his mouth all the time, Ketsueki's mind stuttered, all he could see was blood dripping from his palms.

He remembers the words he gave Faolan

"I will lay down my life for you,"

"No, that won't be necessary." Faolan replies.

Ketsueki's eyes widened, returning from his mind to see that he is now lagging behind Arashi,

"You caught a cold or something, I don't need you slowing down now, hurry the hell up" Arashi calmly shouts.

Ketsueki sighs, and finishes adjusting his scarf,

'We will put a stop to what is going on here,'

The pond that they left alone now, was in complete stillness, the icy wind blew no wave, and for a moment the liquid vibrated violently, like an aberration fading in and out. There was something lurking within the liquid, a deformity that sung a distinct smell. A refreshing smell.

The icy wind blew the smell opposite to where Ketsueki and Arashi departed to, heading into the commercial district where many more civilians lived. The smell flew past many humans, finally resting into a mirror inside of a shop

And the mirror shook violently, revealing soft hands reaching towards the edge of the frame.