Uncertainties

Proceeding into the main residential area of Satokotta, the buildings were very close to each other given the fact that Satokotta is a semi industrial place.The families were mainly tending to their laundry, some families were massive and some were small. Even with so much family together, Faolan could still feel the icy gloom that plagued, an icy terror—

"Hahaha, look a-at me!" A child shouts loudly.

Faolan shifts his head left, seeing the child jogging around a small bucket. The child was energetic, some of the families slowly looked over at the young child who radiated warmth. The child's mother was handling clothing that was in a basket nearby, she giggled as a response. Faolan's eyes were resting with the radiance of the boy, he reminded him of himself with his mother.

"Let's go Faolan," called out Yukina.

Faolan had not noticed that he had stopped for the child and the Demon Slayers had moved onwards for the investigation. Faolan nodded, and speedily walked towards the group once more.

Utazo was leading the group to a destination where he assumes where a particular group of residents may have been a suspect.

Faolan continued to follow slowly behind the Demon Slayers and still wasn't sure about the Corps. However he did not want to make full assumptions of everyone in the Corps because he cannot make an idea of those who are currently around him. Yet he still had the same idea that the higher ups are up to something for their own volition.

'Utazo-kun and Arashi make me think that they are in it for something for themselves entirely, but as for Yukina and Kagero, I don't really know what they're up to, they seem to be the most unpredictable,' Faolan switches his gaze upon each Demon Slayer, when his gaze fixes on Utazo, he felt a guilt with his chest that causes Faolan to look upon his rough palms.

"So Faolan, what's that book on your leg there?" Yukina had slowed her pace to be on Faolan's right side, she pointed towards the book strapped to his leg.

"This book here?" Faolan looked to the book on his leg. "This book used to be my mother's," Faolan planted his eyes into Yukina. Her eyes sort of frowned for a split second.

"I see, it must be a book you two enjoyed for a long time," Yukina returned her eyes back to Faolan with a smile.

"Yea, but she was always reading this book, and when I have the time I want to study it too, because it was really special to her and to me," Faolan observes above.

Suddenly Faolan is slapped on his back, interrupting his focus above. Kagero had also slowed his pace to be on Faolan's side as well.

"So you got two nichirin swords too?" Kagero inspected the sheathed blade on his back and the one on his waist, so did Yukina.

"Did you hear about the book too?" Faolan replies confusingly.

"I heard the last bit too...I think it depends what part you think I heard too," Kagero scratched the hat on his head in an overconfident manner, his statement made Faolan look strangely at Kagero

"This sword…." Faolan thought of his words carefully, he was deciding whether to trust Kagero and Yukina with what he wanted to tell them.

"It also belonged to my mother."

Kagero's eyes widened, and Yukina looked over at Faolan with much more curiosity. "So you're Mother was also a Demon Slayer?" Kagero teleported around the blade on his back.

'I hope that was the right thing to say,' Faolan took responsibility for what he just unraveled, he hoped that with this truth he would gain a bit more trust within these two at least.

"You're following in her footsteps then?" Yukina asks carefully.

Faolan analyzes the question, 'She wants to know if I have the same decree as the Corps, but I may just be overthinking it right,'

Yukina begins to giggle, Kagero was still analyzing the sheath on his back.

'Why is she giggling all of sudden?' Faolan is once again confused.

"I can see that you're a real thinker huh?" Yukina makes a mischievous look.

Faolan makes a slight surprised expression with his eyes.

She giggles again.

"I want to protect the people I care about," Faolan raises his chest and chin with the statement to then shaking his head with his eyes closed.

"I feel the same way, now let's go," Yukina returns his gaze forward, she had a feeling that they were arriving at the hot zone for the investigation.

Faolan watched Yukina continue to look around the residents and she was slowly catching up to Utazo at the same time.

"Faolan-kun, do you use both of the blades?" Kagero had stopped inspecting the sheath. Faolan turned to Kagero, "I only trained to use one blade, I just keep this one for my mother's memory," Faolan held the hilt of his main weapon to signify his very own blade, he drew it slightly for Kagero to see the blade.

'It's—,' Kagero's cheeky energy instantly died down with the sight of Faolan's blade.

Faolan instantly saw his change of attitude and asked, "What's the matter Kagero-kun?"

Kagero took an extra second before he replied.

"Usually the black blade," Kagero stopped himself for the hope that he didn't see the entire blade, he assumed the color and design of his blade began like that.

"Is your blade totally black?" Kagero asked instead.

"Yea," Faolan replied.

"The black blade usually signifies that death is the fate for the user, failure." Kagero's eyes were hidden by his hat.

Faolan looked upon the hilt of his now completely sheathed blade, he sensed Kagero's distraught within his eyes.

'The black blade means death for the user?' Faolan didn't want to believe in such a fate.

"Don't worry about it, my mother has told me before, that I shouldn't fear death and you shouldn't too," said Faolan.

Kagero raised his hat slowly, and nodded.

———

Utazo finally stopped and each of the demon slayers and Faolan slowly came to a halt. There were more families dealing with laundry more than where they came.

"Alright, let's ask any civilian for any signs, the rhythm I sense has stopped around here. I will search for any signs of intensity," Utazo crosses his arms and focuses his hearing along with a slow pace.

"I agree, I'm going to search for a certain family that might've made a particular tea," Yukina holds her palms behind her back and begins to stroll away.

"I'll be looking around to hear if anyone has a clue," Kagero fixes his hat and places his arms around inside his haori.

Faolan now finds himself alone as everyone left to find a clue, he looks upon the people and his blade, the people's expressions are that of fear.

'These people have been terrorized recently,' Faolan breathes.

Faolan strolls around, he felt intense heaviness within his eyes when he continued further into the residential area, he spots a woman with 4 children, this family was working together with very little mood, their behavior was very off putting and intense, Faolan's eyes drew him to this family, he was slightly nervous.

"Hello ma'am, I've heard that something happened recently."

The woman does not spare a look at Faolan, "A lot of things have been happening recently boy, you can feel it right? The entire village feels the same way as everyone," Her words were sharp and angry, the children did not look at Faolan.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out ma'am," replied Faolan.

She does not respond.

Faolan's eyes widened, "I'm here to solve the problem of this village...the lives of the village can be saved if you share anything you may know."

She stops and she sighs deeply, "Listen there are tragedies happening around the entire village, if you want to know about what's happening around here, go ask somebody else," The woman's voice grew.

The woman turned to face Faolan, her eyes were full of sadness and fear.

"If—if you don't leave me alone! I'll call the authorities!" she cried.

"I understand, please forgive me," Faolan bowed in respect for the woman's wishes.

Faolan walked away from the torn woman, he stared onwards into the road ahead. The cold air filled his mind, and his thoughts were attempting to formulate a clue based on what he just was told by the woman.

'We know that the village is being attacked all over, but how… I already now suspect that there can't be just one demon here, but we don't know if this demon is one of Muzan or one of Aika's kind. I can't make a total assumption until I find this demon, but something just doesn't make sense.'

"Hey Mister." A boy tugs on Faolan's haori, disrupting his thoughts.

"Oh, hello," Faolan greets the boy.

"Are you looking for something, by the way you look, are you the police?" The boy asked.

"I wouldn't say I'm an officer, but I'm here to help people," Faolan replied.

"You're here to help?" The boy's eyes widened with a glimmer of light.

"Ayaaaaaaaaaaanoooo!" A fatherly voice shouts from behind the boy.

The boy hears the call, and turns around to raise his arms, "PAAA PAAAAA," the boy shouts.

Faolan quietly watches as the boy's father rushes towards him.

"BOY! I've told you that it is completely dangerous to be wandering out here alone," the father wraps his arms around the child and picks the child up.

"Paaa paaaa, this mister says he can help us" the boy said.

"What? No Ayano!" The father rejected the notion and turned to Faolan.

"You don't look like you're from around here boy, it's dangerous to be alone," stated The father.

"I'm here to help, could you tell me what's been happening?" Faolan asked.

"Paaa paa, tell him!" The boy shouted.

The father looked reluctant at first, his eyes were saddened.

"It's too dangerous to speak about….." The father choked.

"I do not fear this danger," Faolan eyes now were filled with fiery justice.

"Huh?" The father replied in confusion to Faolan's warmth.

Faolan's mind was now filled with the drive of justice, the emotion of righteousness shocked every inch of his being, Faolan being in Satokotta for such a short amount of time can already understand the massive amount of fear the entire village was in, he wanted to bring joy upon the people, Faolan's mind was tired of the repetitive feeling of dread, Faolan believed that this was evil, and evil should be eliminated.

'Nobody should live in fear!'

"I understand if you cannot explain to me what's happening and this goes for everyone else who's listening to me, but I will continue to ask around for anyone who is willing to end such dread upon your families, and I'm not planning to stop anytime soon, I will bring justice no matter what and that's a promise!" Faolan held the hilt of his blade with righteousness as he shared his gaze with the other families.

The father's eyes watered, and the residents looked to Faolan who spoke very loudly, his warmth melted the chill in the air.

"There—there have been kidnappings, or at least that's what we believe because our families haven't been coming back and the authorities cannot find any evidence of what may be happening," The father spoke his mind, Faolan looked around at the other villagers, and some nodded and others did not show anything. "That is all,"

Faolan nodded in respect, the father took the child to his home soon after. The child waved at Faolan with a smile, filling Faolan's eyes with hope.

'This demon can leave no evidence behind as if it were never there.' Faolan notes.

——-

A young woman in the crowd of families who heard Faolan's announcement, pushed through the families who were watching the boy, she had found a new hope because of Faolan's courage to speak about justice, she approached Faolan to speak her mind, however, she was worried sick that her words would have no help for no authority would believe her and the many people people who may have been a victim.

"Boy, is it true that you can help us?" a young woman asked.

She was thin; her eyes were beautiful, and her appearance was completely clothed, with her hair covering the majority of one side of her body.

"I will," Faolan turned to the young woman who asked.

"I may know something," she said.

"Tell me what you can," Faolan replies.

"I don't know when, but I'm not sure you'll believe me because no one has believed me at all," she stated.

"Tell me," Faolan said.

She looked upon the boy's eyes, they were filled with hope and justice, it was gentle to her.

"I've told the authorities, but I've seen a limb appear out of a mirror from my home," The woman clenched herself in shame at her statement.

'This might be it!' Faolan's eyes widened.

"I believe you," Faolan stated.

"Thank you very much, not many people do and with what you said, if you can help with what has been lost—" the young woman smiled greatly as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"There will be justice; I'm going to need your help; if you want to come with me, you can," Faolan's eyes continue to give her hope.

She paused before making her decision.

"I'll—I'll help you. I'll take you to where I saw the limb." She wiped the tears from her eyelids.

"Call me Okami Faolan," Faolan bowed in respect.

"Takeda Masami pleased to meet you," she returned a bow with greater respect.

"I'm going to take you to one of my comrades so that he can help with the investigation," Faolan reassured her, and she nodded.

'I only hope he'll be able to cooperate with me after our argument,' Faolan was worried.

He needed to search for one of the Corps members who probably hated him as much as he probably hated Kagero, the only problem will be if he will work Faolan for this woman's clue. However, Faolan is slowly starting to see many inconsistencies with the investigation site of the sheds and what is occurring to these villagers.