Chapter 49 : First casualty?

Haruto and Kanao were warmly invited by Tsutako. For Tsutako, although her younger brother Giyu is cheerful, he still have trouble making friend because of his somewhat introverted nature. So Giyu doesn't have someone to call his friend and this is the first time someone has been invited to her home by her younger brother.

Naturally, hospitality is required. If it were not for the guest in front of her she would have shed a tear or two in happiness.

"It's rare for Giyu to bring someone home. You don't have to be restrained, just treat it like your home" Tsutako said making Giyu embarrassed. Then she pointed at a table. "Sir, you can take it easy and you can take off the bamboo hat at the table."

"you don't have to be so respectful sister. You can just call me Haruto, I'm not that old than Giyu and this here is my fiance Kanao." Haruto said gesturing towards Kanao. Although Kanao didn't show any reaction to it, making it a little awkward.

"Sorry she have trouble speaking to strangers." Haruto replied again with a sheepish smile.

"It's fine, she's quite cute." Tsutako smile not taking any offence. After Haruto and Kanao Sat down, Tsutako poured a cup of tea for both of them. Seeing that Haruto was still wearing the bamboo hat, she stretched out her hand to help Haruto take it off.

Haruto hastily stretched out his left hand and pressed down on his hat and waved his right hand at the same time: "I have a strange appearance and it's not quite pleasant for other's eyes."

If the hat is removed, the demon horns on his head will be directly visible. It will be impossible for him to explain them about it than and it's not like anyone can see a demon and still be hospitable to it.

"Well you can keep the hat if it makes you comfortable but my brother and I won't mind taking it off either." Tsutako nodded helplessly. Haruto thanked them for that.

"Well you know sis, Haruto is a powerful swordsman, even the guard captain respected him."

Giyu spoke to his sister from the side.

"Then my cute brother has to learn from his example and you can become very powerful person in the future."

Tsutako bent down and patted Giyu on the head.

"I will work hard."

Giyu clenched his fists and said seriously. Looking at Giyu who is so talkative and cheerful now, it is quite difficult for Haruto to connect him with the future stoic water hashira. Then time passed as they continued on their light chat and Tsutako fawning on Kanao, which she didn't seem to mind.

...........

The night came quickly and

* tak tak tak *

While they were talking a knock sounded on the door. Tsutako hurriedly walked to open the door, Haruto also looked over curiously. A young man with faded golden hair and pleasant vibe entered, a with the wind a smell of blood mixed with sweat came in the room. Haruto sniffed and realized that the smell of blood was not from human blood. But...dear blood.

Giyu also stood up to help and at the same time, he did not forget to introduce to Haruto: "It's Kai Isaki my brother in law from tomorrow onward. He's quite well-known Hunter in the town."

Although the job of hunter sounds humble, for people living in a town near forest, this job means having no worries about food, clothing and safety. Haruto nodded, no wonder there was a bloody smell all over his body.

It was quite obvious that the couple liked each other seeing Tsutako happy expression helping Kai and Kai's gentle wyes looking at her. It was quite unsettling seeing the couple hopeful for tomorrow, considering the tragedy coming their way soon.

"So Giyu brought guests home? It's good they can stay for tomorrow's event too."

Kai spoke happily glancing at Haruto and Kanao.

"Yes more the merrier."

Tsutako with a little blush poured a cup of tea and handed it to Kai, together with a clean towel. She really was a very considerate and gentle woman. Kai took the teacup, took a big gulp and wiped off the sweat on his body with a towel. Then he started chatting with Haruto.

"Well how did the two of you meet anyway?" Since Haruto was curious he asked Kai right away

"Hahaha it's quite an embarrassing story. At first I didn't like Tsutako that much seeing her independent and free of parent's nagging. You could say it was childish jealousy since my parents used to nag me a lot. But when I lost my parents, that's when I realised it's not a blessing to be free of parent's nagging, instead it was a huge burden for a girl to survive that too with her brother without any parental figure. That's when I fell in love with her hopelessly." kai spoke passionately making Tsutako blush red like a ripe tomato.

"What did you do then?"

"Well after that I chased after her with all my might. You couldn't believe how many times I got rejected. hahaha but as they say, do it till you make it. She finally opened her heart."

"Well at that time I didn't have time to respond because I had Giyu." Tsutako stammered.

"Hmph don't lie sis. You used to come home full of smile at that time." Giyu exposed his sister mercilessly making Kai's smile wider and already red Tsutako almost faint.

"Well what's the story between you two then?" Kai asked making the other two curious as well.

"Well you can say we were engaged since birth. After some incident we decided to travel the world together"

Haruto spoke slowly. But at that moment Haruto suddenly stood up. Kai also stood up looking at Haruto confused, Haruto looked serious and even had his hand clenched at the hilt of blade.

"What happene....."

Then he noticed that Haruto's eyes have been staring outside intently. Kai couldn't help but also look out. He gazed at the sky outside, light having already faded beyond the horizon, with a contemplative expression in his eyes. The wedding was scheduled for tomorrow, but according to tradition, he shouldn't be here tonight. He had arrived at Tsutako's home late today mainly to keep the hunt here but he was also a little worried now.

"It's getting late. I won't go back today, Tsutako. Prepare a room for the guest. I will stay at the living room for tonight," Kai said, his tone gentle and reassuring as he turned to address Tsutako.

Tsutako blushed and looked embarrassed. You know, although she will marry the other party tomorrow and will sleep together in the future, after all, it will be after marriage. "You don't need to stay at the living room I'll put an extra futon in Giyu's room. You... you can sleep with Giyu, tonight."

"Although we're not married this much should be okay?" Tsutako lowered her head and said in a low voice, feeling a bit conflicted. Kai's reliable actions making her heart a little warm.

"Okay then i'll stay with Giyu for today and it's already night you can start to prepare dinner," Kai spoke agreeing with Tsutako "I'll help you with the meat in a bit." As he spoke, he glanced at Haruto who was was still staring outside without much reaction and called out to get his reaction. "Haruto there should be nothing outside at this tiime of the night. If you want, then you can quickly freshen up. Tsutako can help your fiance at that."

Haruto didn't say anything right away. Under the bamboo hat, he glanced at the other party lightly with golden eyes. Kai was really a good guy! He could clearly feel that Kai really cared for the Tomioka family, and was worried there will be too much work for Tsutako to host them. That's the reason behind him staying.

He turned his head and looked at Giyu. "Your sister is really lucky huh"

"Hmph! the lucky one is him. If it were for me I would never give my sister to anyone." Giyu snorted, although it's clear he didn't mean what he said. Truth to be told Giyu was really happy to see her sister getting married and happy with the one she loved. It made his heart lighten up from the burden of knowing that her sister would have continued just taking care of him without minding her own life, if Kai didn't open her heart.

Haruto was glad seeing Giyu lively but the problem outside was making it hard for him to focus on anything else. Since despite Haruto's wish, the demon that stalked Giyu before in the ruined shrine was not the one that killed Giyu's family. He can clearly feel the scent of a different demon coming toward Giyu's home.This one should be responsible for the future tragedy.

Tsutako was also lowering her head with a blush at this moment, with an unspeakable sweetness in her heart. But at this point, as a upright girl, she tried hard not to not show it outside on her face. Which was proving hard due to Giyu's teasing. then shaking her head to get rid of useless thoughts , Tsutako raised her head. Seeing her younger brother's eyes full of teasing, she stretched out her hand unconsciously and patted his younger brother's head lightly. "If you say something more, I will puni..."

* tak *

However, before Tsutako could complete her scolding, there was a knock on the door again. Tsutako tilted her head with some doubts. It was quite late and so there should be no more people coming to visit. Just as she was about to walk over to open the door, haruto called to stop her.

Tsutako turned her head and looked at Haruto puzzled, only to see Haruto's hands on the blade in his waist. Although his face was completely covered by the bamboo hat, it was conceivable that Haruto had a serious face at this moment. "The one knocking is not a human. It's a demon." he spoke softly.

Tsutako couldn't help but shake a little and Giyu beside her spoke "Haruto, are you joking? How can there be demons in this world?" Seeing the disbelief on the faces of Tsutako, Kai and Giyu, Haruto was also a little helpless. Although there are demons in this world, people in this world are naturally ignorant of the demons and don't believe that there are really demons in this world.

"Ha ha…" There was a sound of little laughter. Kai patted Tsutako and looked at Haruto "it's okay Haruto. It should be someone from the town coming to find me or something"

While talking, Kai walked to the door slowly. "I will go see what they need."

Seeing Kai walk to the door step by step, Haruto wanted to remind him again but knew it was futile. In the end he didn't speak, he just followed behind Kai. Haruto knew it will be waste of time trying to make them accept the existence of demons right now. Kai walked to the door, just about to push it open.

* Boom! *

Suddenly there was a big hole in the door and a dark claw pierced through it. Kai, who was just about to open the door, watched the inhuman hand coming towards his heart dazedly. "Demons... so they really exist!"

...........