1 ➰Kadzuki➰

Using my ripped pale blue sleeve to wipe the red ooze leaking out of my mouth. Thick but fast falling, disgusting smell but so appetizing. I let out a shaky breath fighting tears...

Guilty tears.

The taste of iron filled my mouth, laid a thick blanket across my tongue and swimming around in my throat. My stomach growled from being bloated. Having an overly big meal. Meal. How can I say that? I whimpered letting tears streams down my face and into my lap.

I looked around at my surroundings, trying to distract myself from the guilt and feeling of loneliness washing over me. I sat at the very back of a small, cramped little cave, with my knees to my chest and continually scooted back away from the sunlight. The cave was shallow and short in height, causing me to slouch in my already crouched position. Not to mention the small stalagmites hanging from the ceiling. The cave was damp and moldy, making my pale blue kimono into a dirty blue-green. 

The sun kept creeping closer to me as it started to set and shinning into the cave. A ray of sun shined on my feet and I screamed in pain, quickly pulling my feet further into myself. The sun was creeping closer and faster so I thought fast and decided to dig down, my sharp nails or should I say claws, digging through the dirty quickly. Soon creating a deep little hole I dug myself into. I whimpered louder this time, seeing the blood on my sleeve once again being reminded of my sins. My glutton.

I didn't mean to... I-I didn't want to!

I pushed my head into my knees and held myself tightly. I was disgusted with myself. I couldn't bear to live with myself, I didn't even know who I was at this type. The setting of the cave was now covered in a blanket of dark blue but I still refused to go out. I'd just sit here and rot.

That's what I told myself until I realized I was already a few feet out of the cave. This was driving me crazy. It's like I had no control over myself anymore! I heard a crunch of leaves behind with footsteps following. I quickly spun around and glared at the person. either ready to run to save their lives or to pounce and have a feast. I didn't know what I'd do anymore. 

My eyes widened once I saw the sword sirring on the stranger's waist, I could sense the sun's power radiating off of it.

A demon slayer. 

I looked up at the person's face to get a better look at their face. She was tall I'd give a guess of 5'7 without the platform geta's, and had long blonde hair with bright red streaks decorating it. Her eyes were bright green with a haze of gold over them. Truly firey. She had a deep orange kanao that was decorated with black designs, almost like dark clouds. I saw her nichirin hanging on her waist, it was a deep red with shadow-like shapes decorating the shinny blade. She had it slighting unsheathed, standing in a position suggesting ready for battle.  

"You're a demon slayer?" I asked frantically. She didn't say anything. "Please! Please kill me! I don't want to be this!" She blinked slowly and stood up straight, a brow quirked up at me as she slowly slid her sword into its sheath. "No! Please! Kill me off right here! I-..." I let out a quiet sob "I-I don't when I'll hurt someone else..."

"What's your name?" She spoke. Her voice was loud but clear, silky but rough, friendly but demanding. 

"Huh?" I looked up teary-eyed. I could barely make out her face through my tears. 

"I said," She stepped closer, bending down to my kneeling form. "What is your name?" I started up at her, not understanding why a demon slayer was talking to me and not killing me.

"Y/n."

"Well y/n, I'm a demon slayer in training. I haven't even gone to final selection yet." She smiled sweatdropping. "Probably shouldn't be telling you that right?" I didn't answer just continued to stare down at my lap. "You... wanna tell me what happened? huh?" 

"... A lot..."

She sat there in thought, I could hear her hum quietly. I continued to sit down at the ground, shaking, waiting for her to get it over with. To kill me. Instead, I could hear her get up and start to walk away. "Hmmm, well alright. Guess I'll see you around then!" She waved at me walking away from. I took no time to scurry to my feet.

"Wait! You're not going to kill me? Why?!" My h/c was frizzed up with stress and the bags under my eyes were dark. 

She stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at me. Her eyes were wide and focused, her brows furrowed and a warm smile to tie it all together. "Why? You haven't attacked me and I haven't seen you attack anyone else." 

Looking at her stance and the way she smiles. I knew exactly who she was and where she's from. "You're a Rengoku. Aren't you?" I asked quietly as if I was scared to speak loudly or demanding to her. She didn't respond just continued to smile. "I can't stay here... I'll hurt someone..."

Her smile widened slightly and her eyes softened at my pitful shaking form. She turned all the way around and started walking away again. I felt tears well up again as I began to shake, feeling my knees start to go weak. "Well! Are you coming? We don't have all night!" My head snapped up and saw her looking over her shoulder at me. That smile still on her face. Wasting no time I ran to catch up to her. "My name is Kadzuki Rengoku. Look at that, you were right." She chuckled.

I nodded response. This didn't feel right, a demon walking around with a demon slayer? Shouldn't we be at each other's throats? 

"I'm on a mission right now, I'm heading Natagumo Mountain." I couldn't see her face but she seemed happy and cheerful. As always.

"But... I thought you said you were in training? How do you already have a mission?" Her face stayed the same but I could see the color drain from her face.

"Let's save that for later yeah?"

"Why are you taking me with you?"

"I'm lonely." Still smiling.

"What's happening at Natagumo Mountain?"

She sighed a breath of relief. "Finally! A good question," I irked at her "I'm not completely sure actually. There has been a report of multiple demon slayers going missing in the forest covering the mountain." 

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Well... yeah, but it's my job."

"What happens when the sun comes up? What will I do?"

"There is a rice farm on the way there I'll ask for one of their baskets."

I finally decided to stop asking questions and simply follow behind her like a puppy. Rice baskets tend to come in large sizes and are made tightly with no holes to keep rice from slipping through. I was able to fit in one when I was 10 but I'm 16 now and I've grown. Maybe Kadzuki's long hair would cover my head sticking through the top.  

I looked down at her geta's, they were a bright crimson red and were at least 6 inches tall adding to her already tall height. They made her a whole foot taller. I inhaled and exhaled. I think it would be wrong not to trust her and what else was I supposed to do? I was planning to rot but now that just sounds like a stupid waste of time. 

I want to make it up to my family.

I want to do something and avenge them.

Even if it was my fault.