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It wasn’t all that often that you were assigned to tasks alongside another slayer. Mind you, it had happened once or twice before, but it was often with those of the Mizunoto rank: to be fair, you were more of a guiding presence than anything. However, as a fairly experienced Hinoe, you believed that you were more than capable of handling small hordes of demons on your own. Briefly your mind drifted to the notches on the hilt of your katana: thirty-one notches for thirty-one felled demons.
In this particular case, your own beliefs in your demon-slaying capabilities were overruled. After another quick glance at the paper curled in your grip, the writing was unmistakably that of the Ubuyashiki family. A mission sent from the very top of the hierarchy, then. And there, at the very end of the scroll, was a time, a day, and a place of meeting.
Yet, looking up and towards the horizon, the only unusual thing was your crow, a bobbing black dot against the hazy sunset. Where was your soon-to-be teammate?
Something was wrong.
Haphazardly stuffing the message into the inside of your haori, you pursed your lips, a sharp whistle piercing the air. Your crow, alight high above, let out a faint caw. Their words were lost to the wind, but by the sharp turn of their wings, they’d gotten the message and were off to scout the path ahead. To your understanding, at least what the Intel had provided, whoever you were supposed to meet was coming from the opposite direction. Quietly you murmured a prayer that they were indeed up the path, and not somewhere where you’d be unable to find them.
Your gait wasn’t so much an all-out run as it was an urgent jog. In the case that your fellow demon slayer had run into trouble, it wouldn’t do well to waste all of your energy sprinting needlessly. The sun wasn’t even set, yet, and the village you were heading towards was where the demonic activity had been reported. Perhaps the slayer had decided to stay in the area and handle it themselves, all without your help. You certainly wouldn’t put it past some of the slayers that had recently come into the ranks. Either they were a pompous asshole or a lone wolf. Seeing as you had yet to meet them, you weren’t going to make random assumptions.
Regardless, making the trek to the village – with your legs aching from the journey during the day – was not something that you were going to thank this slayer for. Out of habit you clutched at the hilt of your katana, which was safely sheathed and tucked close to your side. Although the sun had yet to dip completely from the sky, some demons were awfully bold. Better safe than sorry, you supposed.
By the time the town was in your line of sight, two feathered shapes came swooping from the sky, wings flapping in a frenzy. With the last rays of the sun dissipating in the distance, and the worried words that the crows croaked, your suspicions were confirmed. That slayer had decided to take on the nest all on their own.
Shrugging so that the kasugaigarasu would lift themselves from your shoulders and you could move freely, a sharp sound cut the air, your katana sliding out from its covering. Moving with careful steps you crossed the threshold of the village, a stone wall marking the entrance. As you had many times before, you schooled your emotions, pushing them down deep, deep into your core. The faintest hint of a smile curled at your lips, if only to quell the fears of any villagers who may set their eyes upon your prowling form and not see the demon slayer insignia brandished on the back of your coat.
Mind you, with the sky darkening and the knowledge that a demon nest lie directly in the centre of their town, not a single soul was outside. Everything was shuttered shut: windows, doors. Yet still the demons wreaked their havoc.
Ah, there they are.
Straightening your back so that you were not so much of a prowling creature of the night, and more a presentable demon slayer, you approached your fellow from behind.
“Thinking of tackling the nest along, I take it? You could’ve at least sent your crow with a message.” Your voice rang out clear and sonorous, devoid of any abrasiveness that may rub the stranger the wrong way. However, the implications still lay buried in your words.
Although not outright startled, they – he – turned towards your approach, mouth agape ever so slightly. Quietly you drank in his features. The sides of his head were shaved, and yet a mane of hair tumbled down the middle of his scalp. A jagged scar sliced its way along his cheek and the bridge of his nose, accenting the already intimidating aura he gave off.
Nonetheless, you were unperturbed by his furrowed scowl and narrowed eyes. A slayer was a slayer, and you were supposed to be working together, anyways. The closer you got, the redder his face seemed to grow, and the less enthusiastic he seemed to be in meeting your gaze.
“I, uh,” his voice was uncharacteristically quiet, and though it was deep and rumbled, you wouldn’t have pinned him as being the quiet type. And shy, too. It was oddly endearing.
Before he could speak any further, you offered a quick bow of greeting, easy smile always present on your visage. “You’re Genya Shinazugawa, I take it? Wonderful to meet you, I’m [name].” It took a few moments, but he offered you a bow in return, eyes constantly flickering to the very empty looking house that you two now stood in front of.
Coughing into a fist, Genya made a sound lingering between some unintelligible murmur and a strangle gargle. After retaining some of his former composure, the words slipped from his mouth, evoking a slight noise of surprise from yourself.
“I’ve handled the mission already.”
“Already?” You were clearly in disbelief. “The sun wasn’t set until I arrived.”
He seemed quite hesitant to explain himself, and though he didn’t quite splutter again, it was clear that Genya was unused to having company. “I rooted ‘em out during the day. There wasn’t anywhere for them to run.”
“Huh.” Hands on your hips, an awkward silence descended. The revelation took your breath away that was for sure. “Well. That’s certainly something. Nice work, Shinazugawa. I suppose we should find somewhere to stay for this rather uneventful night, then?”
Genya was off like a shot as soon as the words left your lips. Blinking, you hurried to check up, and were relieved to find that he was making a b-line towards the nearest inn. Silently you noted that Genya was an absolute giant, and it took some effort to keep up with him. A ryokan soon came into view, and as the shadow to Genya’s towering form, you and your fellow slipped through the front entrance, which was – mercifully – not barricaded, unlike many places within the village. Once morning came, you were sure that business would return to normal.
An employee of the inn startled at the two slayers who had come in noiselessly, and you muttered a quick apology for seemingly appearing out of thin air. They asked if you’d like a room, and when you confirmed that both you and Genya were in need of accommodations, a grimace crossed the worker’s face.
“We–” the employee was hesitant to speak, especially with Genya staring him down. “We, I’m afraid that we only have one room available. Is, uh, is that okay, revered slayers?”
As you opened your mouth to respond, you risked a glance at Genya and were unsurprised to find him ready to keel over and faint. Before he could deny the offer and disappear out the door, you let the largest smile split your face, and turned back towards the worker.
“Sure, that sounds fine. Would you mind showing us to our room?”
Genya’s soul just about left his body.