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“Oyakata-sama didn’t tell us anything about the mission.”
“I know.”
“Don’t you think that’s fuckin’ weird?”
“Yeah.”
Sanemi was getting annoyed. He was always annoyed with Giyuu. They simply did not get along well together- or, well, Sanemi didn’t get along well with Giyuu.
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Sanemi was getting wary. There is something wrong. The trees didn’t seem to look normal. They were watching him after he passed.
Giyuu’s eyes were focusing straight ahead, seemingly unaware of everything. The sun was starting to set, but the forest was endless. The occasional cottage the two passed had an eerie undertone to it- the people inside were watching them.
Sanemi looks at Giyuu, who looks at the trees. The strange carvings on them seemed to shift under his gaze. Giyuu doesn’t notice.
The hashiras do not say anything during the duration of their journey. Nothing is needed to be said. They are not aware of the creatures that are not demons that come out at night, wearing masks similar to kitsune masks, blood dripping from them.
Giyuu seems to be on edge. He is aware. Sanemi is watching him. Giyuu starts to walk quicker than before. The two do not seem to realize that they have passed by the same rotten tree stump three times.
Sanemi catches up to Giyuu. He hears the cry of an owl. It is nearby. Sanemi wants to look up. Giyuu places a hand on Sanemi’s shoulder. It is the warning. Do not look anywhere but straight ahead, Sanemi realizes what Giyuu is trying to tell him.
Their blades change into a different color. The hashiras do not notice. Both of their nichirin blades have become a dark red. Their minds have become corrupt. The warning was unknown at first.
The farther the hashiras go, the more animal remains they see. Were rituals common in this area?
The stars were gone. There was only a half moon. It did not illuminate enough. The glowing eyes from forgotten kitsune masks helped.
When was sunrise?
Sanemi felt dread. It was the first time he did upon entering the forest. Did Giyuu feel the same?
Giyuu’s eyes look darker. Wait, do they? Weren’t they always this dark?
They passed by broken nichirin blades. Eight of them. A few bodies of decaying lower-ranked demon slayers were near them. This wasn’t the work of a demon.
Why aren’t there any demons? What is scaring them away?
The sun is coming up. Or so it seems to be. The bodies disappear after the hashiras pass by them.
Sanemi hears whispers. The language of the whispers sounds dead. At least, that’s what Sanemi thinks. He doesn’t need to know that they’re talking about Giyuu.
They are near the exit of the forest. The inhabitants of the forest say farewell.
The village seems like a safe space. It resides right next to the forest.
Sanemi doesn’t look back. He knows he shouldn’t. The villagers are looking at them in awe. Giyuu looks at the villagers with a crazed look. Giyuu looks at Sanemi after what felt forever.
The villagers know. They know about what goes on in that forest.