Chapter Text
ryn.09/06/2020
Kobayashi Miyuki stood in the doorway of the Kobayashi residence, wiping her hands over her apron. She had been getting things ready for dinner that night, as she always did. Usually her second youngest Robin would help, but she was currently walking with Hana, the baby, so she would settle down for a nap.
"Kaleb, your face is dirty. Come here. Let me wipe it." She gestured for Kaleb to come, using her apron as a wipe to get the charcoal dust off.
"You don't have to go into town today, you know. The snow is high, it could be dangerous."
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb looked over when his mama called him over and made his way over. He knew his mama cared for him, and he loved her a lot, but he was growing older now, he figured he could judge some things for himself.
"I know, but I don't want people to go without food for the night because they don't have anything to keep them warm or to cook their food." Kaleb then smiled. He could smell what his mama was cooking and knew it was going to be a good meal for him.
"I'll only go sell a little bit, I won't be gone for too long." The problem was, though, the mountain they lived on was quite big, so going to and fro wasn't easy. And he wasn't going to bring the cart with such a small load.
ryn.09/06/2020
The cart wouldn't run on the snow either. But Miyuki smiled and patted Kaleb's cheek gently.
"You're such a hardworking boy." She turned and saw Link running from the other side of the house. He had his younger brother in tow, the sleepy yet hardworking Kunio.
"Hey, onii-chan, are you going into town today? Can we come? Please?"
"No, boys, your big brother can't carry you home. The cart won't be going down either." Miyuki hummed, kneeling at the boys' feet.
"No fair!" Link grunted. "No fair!" Kunio echoed immediately after, voice scratchy from the cold he was getting over.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb let out a soft chuckle and rubbed both boy's heads.
"Ne, why don't you go and help kaa-san with dinner?" He smiled when the younger boys nodded and Kunio reached out to give him a hug.
"Good luck nii-san." He sniffled and then attached himself to Link before the two went into the house.
"Jakkii!!" Kaleb called out, watching the slighter younger brother look up with a bit of a disgruntled look. He was entering his teen years, so he was a bit unhappy nowadays. Especially since their dad had died...
"Could you cut the wood for today? I know you're strong enough to do it!" Kaleb grinned when the younger brother pouted a bit and then nodded.
"I thought we could do it together."
ryn.09/06/2020
(he's cute
Eventually they all agreed that Kaleb would go. He was pretty quick anyways, so chances were, he'd be back in time for dinner.
"Come home soon!" Link called, waving with his brothers and mother while their eldest brother walked away. However, there was one more roadblock before the male could go.
"Nii-chan." Robin smiled, looking up at her younger brother. She was the eldest child, but Kaleb was the oldest son. They were very close in age. She wore her hair up in a bun, curls snarled about the ribbons holding it in place, while she wore her usual green kimono.
"I just put Hana down for a nap. She would have carried on if she saw you leaving." She looked over her shoulder at the sleeping girl, wrapped in blankets. "Everyone has been stuck to your side since Papa died."
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb smiled and reached out to pet the little girl’s head. Hana and Kunio had both gotten sick that winter, but both kids were recovering remarkably well. That was good. Kaleb wasn't sure if anyone's heart could take it to see any of the little ones not make it...
"I know, you take care of everyone while I'm gone, okay?" Kaleb smiled and hugged his sister close before he had to let go and begin his descent on the mountain. He was faster going down because of all his little shortcuts, but going up was more of a challenge, especially after a long day.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin smiled. "See you later, nii-chan." She walked back towards home, glad that she could attach Hana to her back and return to helping her mother with food. Then she could do some sewing, which was one of her favorite hobbies, since it silenced the worries in her head.
The night would come quickly, and then Kaleb would be home. New Year's would pass by and they could celebrate properly.
(muzan's name literally means horrible asgdfhgs
(his surname is demon dance
DaggerKid09/06/2020
(that's the english equivalent of naming someone horrible hansen alsdkfjlksdf
Kaleb had a bit of a whirlwind when he'd walked into the village that early afternoon. Several people were happy to see him and he was happy that he'd made enough charcoal. He was only supposed to sell a little, but everyone kept asking if he had any in stock and because he did, well... And then there was that one boy who'd nearly gotten beat to a pulp if Kaleb hadn't stepped in to see what was going on. He couldn't explain it, but he had a way with touch. So when the broken dishes were presented to him, he could tell a cat had done it by the slight markings against the clay.
Finally he was able to go home, and while he was climbing up the mountain, a man stopped him on the road and told him it was too dangerous to go up the mountain. He tried to object but the man insisted and he came along. He felt sad, he wasn't able to assure his siblings and mother that he was okay, now.
He was told a strange tale of demons that came during the night to kill and eat humans. It all sounded far-fetched to him, but he was asleep before he was able to offer much of a rebuttal. If demons were so prevalent, they'd have killed everyone by now. It was silly... Demon hunters sounded silly...
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin looked at the door worriedly. She had changed into her dressing robes for the night, hair loose around her shoulders. The others were worried too. Where was Kaleb?
"Did he get eaten by a bear?" Link asked in hushed tones, but Kunio papped him from their futon. "Onii-chan, don't, that's scary."
"I'm sure he's fine. He probably found a place to stay the night while it snows. The neighbor is a kind man." The girl assured her younger brothers, looking to their mother for support. Before Miyuki could say anything, there was a knock at the door.
"Onii-chan's back!" Kunio leapt from bed and ran to the door. Robin lifted a hand. Something smelled wrong. Like the worst, most bloodthirsty smell she had ever scented.
"Kunio, no--"
The door was slung open, and a strangely dressed man stood there. Her heart plummeted, and instinctively, she grabbed Hana in her arms.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
(robbie smacking link aldsfjsfldk
ryn.09/06/2020
(are you gonna play muzan
(and cut to black when he attacks
DaggerKid09/06/2020
(weh
(fine alsdkfjdlsk
DaggerKid09/06/2020
While Kaleb had fallen asleep very quickly in his bed, he was completely unaware of what horror befell his family while he was away.
---
The man that stood in the door was no man, in fact, he was in search of a man with a particular set of traits... Hanafuda earrings and bright blonde hair. It appeared that the man had children, because he saw two faces that looked just like that man. He growled and then lightly smiled.
"Such a shame he's not home to greet your lovely faces... He's dead now, but I can't have any of you following in his footsteps." The demon then unsheathed his claws and aimed his horrible mass of blood red muscle at the woman rising from her futon. The children screamed when their mother was dragged all throughout their house, her arms flailing before she could so much as breathe... The pale pink eyes turned to look at the children. He saw the oldest sibling and then the younger one similar to her...
"I'm going to have fun here."
---
Kaleb had strange dreams that night. And it wasn't until he'd trek up the mountain later would he understand what they meant. It was very strange...
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin looked on in horror as her mother and siblings were taken one by one, lanterns smashed so she couldn't even see what was happening. She only heard one voice. "Onee-chan, run!!"
She took off, running towards the door, holding Hana while she wailed. She had to get away, had to find help...
Then suddenly terrible pain, something piercing her in the head. She collapsed, looking up sluggishly at the pink eyed man. Everything hurt. Her body was burning--
Then everything went black.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
"You'll do nicely. The legacy of that man won't continue, and all that will be left is his family working for me against their will... It's the perfect revenge." Muzan smiled before he disappeared in practically thin air.
---
Kaleb felt strange while walking up the mountain. He hadn't felt that was this morning but... Now that he was getting closer and closer to his home, he felt a lump in his throat. For a moment he wondered what would happen if demons actually existed... and they'd just waited on their dad to die...
"What is this feeling..." He shivered and then looked up when he felt his heart quicken for no particular reason. Then he saw-- Blood. Everywhere. What-- No-- Please no--
"What-- No-- What happened-- Robin-chan--" Kaleb skidded to Robin's side and saw his baby sister... with a hole where her heart should be.
"NO!!" Kaleb screamed. Please no--
He looked off to the side and then held a hand up to his mouth. Everyone was hurt.
"Mama.... Link... Jakki-- Kunio-- Robin-- Hana--" Kaleb couldn't believe it.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin was still unconscious. But she was warm. She wasn’t aware of anything that was happening, just that her body hurt and she couldn’t move.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb felt around and as much as it sickened him to... flop his family's bodies to make sure they were... gone, he had to. Only Robin was warm enough. Hana had felt warm at first but all the warmth had left her once she was out from under Robin. No... No.
Kaleb armed himself with his father's axe and growled as he picked Robin up. His heart was pounding while he took a blanket to wrap around Robin to keep her warm. It hurt him so much but... He walked quickly through the snow.
He couldn't run, it was too far and Robin was too heavy on his back for him to run all the way down, even with his shortcuts.
"It's okay, Robin-chan-- I'll get you to a doctor. You won't die. I won't let you die-- You'll live!"
ryn.09/06/2020
As they headed down the mountain, suddenly, Robin woke up. She growled low, voice getting louder and louder as she tilted her head back. Her eyes were rolled back, showing the whites.
But because of all the moving around, they slipped into the snow below.
While they fell, Robin rolled away and got to her feet, shakily, staring down at the snow as if she were asleep.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb heard Robin growling and called out to her. When he looked behind, he had to pull his scarf down so he could see-- Then he saw her looking so much like the old man's stories. He felt his foot slip and cursed as they fell. He shouted until his back managed to hit the perfect pile of snow thanks to how it was piling around the side of the road.
Kaleb gasped and sat up. If he was okay then where was Robin-- Oh please let her be okay.
"Robin-chan!?" Kaleb shouted. Then he saw her. She was standing. Oh thank the heavens!
Kaleb stood up and ran over to her.
"I can carry you, it's okay, I can get you to a doctor, Robin-chan, just get on my back--" Wait... her eyes--
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin looked up. She didn’t recognize the boy in front of her. All she saw was a human. And she was so so hungry. He smelled good. She was starving, she just needed a bite—
She lunged with a loud snarl, trying to bite at Kaleb’s neck.
“Rrragh!! Ugggh!! Rrraaaagh!!”
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb shouted as he scurried away from Robin's grasp, calling out to her before he lifted his axe up to-- SHE BIT THE HANDLE?!
"Robin-chan!! It's me! It's Kaleb!" He didn't know what had gotten into her, but he knew that she wasn't a demon since birth. That was impossible. She had fell to protect Hana, this was something else entirely but... Kaleb kept remembering the old man's words in his mind. A demon. A human eating demon...
"What the--" Kaleb had always known Robin to have a special strength about her. She was also older than him by a year so the fact that she was stronger than him wasn't too surprising. But this?? Was she getting bigger?? Why did it look like she was sprouting fur??
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin snarled and tried to push. She finally shoved the human down into the snow. She grasped at the handle with her teeth, sharp and blinding white, claws digging into the snow on either side of Kaleb.
She grew bigger, frustrated. How could this human fight back? She was hungry, her stomach hurt so bad—
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb grunted when he felt back into the snow. He just had to keep his arms steady. As long as his elbows were pressed into the ground, the only thing from keeping Robin from winning this was his arms balance and... bones.
"Robin!!" Kaleb called out to her then. All that time he was sleeping with food in his belly... they were probably suffering and crying. Screaming even.
"I know you can fight it! You're strong! You've always been stronger than me!" He offered a sad smile while his eyes welled with tears.
"I know you can do it, Robin."
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin barely showed any sign, light blue eyes shining sharp as she drooled around the handle. She needed food. She didn’t care—
But that voice. Something was familiar. That scent. She shook a little but beared down.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
"Robin-chan please! I know you can fight this!!" Kaleb cried out. His arms were hurting now, but if he could just-- keep her up there, maybe she'd also grow tired and he could get to the village. All he had to do was get her to a doctor. He had to keep that goal in mind!!
"Robin-chan please wake up!!!"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin suddenly stopped. Tears began to pour from her eyes, dropping onto Kaleb’s cheeks. She could recognize him. Brother. Her little brother.
She sobbed around the axe, looking down at him with sheer pain in her eyes. She couldn’t believe she had almost hurt him. She hurt so bad.
Something was coming. Her eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder.
A sword came down and chopped her hair off, but not before the siblings rolled away.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb saw Robin slowly coming to and felt tears hit his cheeks from above. He gave her a smile and let his guard down for a moment... Only to kick himself from the ground to quickly dive over Robin when he felt danger in the area. Kaleb huddled over his older sister and looked over his shoulder, seeing a man with a dark blue katana starring at him.
"Don't-- It's okay!! She's fine now!" He held Robin in his arms and had his body between hers and... whoever this guy was.
ryn.09/06/2020
Giyuu stared down at the siblings. He had missed. But he wouldn’t again. He had missed the killing of that poor family, and now the girl was a demon.
“Why did you protect it?” He asked coolly, katana out as he waited for an opening. He couldn’t attack if the boy was in the way.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb held Robin close and swallowed.
"She's my older sister!! She wouldn't hurt a fly, but it's okay I called her down-- Please put you weapon away-- You're making her nervous--"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin snarled and roared at the man. He could hurt them. She needed to get them away.
But then Giyuu rose a brow.
“That thing is your sister?” He moved fast, faster than the demon or boy could see, and had Robin by her arms, bound behind her back.
She screamed and writhed, trying to get away. She had to protect Kaleb, she had to—-
“Don’t move,” Giyuu warned the boy. “My job is to kill demons. And that means I have to decapitate your sister, of course.”
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb saw the look in the man's eyes and tried his best to hold onto Robin to keep her from charging. Then he was suddenly on his knees in the snow, Robin gone from his grasp and the man in front of him.
He scrambled up but then froze the man's voice telling him to not move-- He had to do something-- Divert--
"No!! Don't!! Robin didn't kill our family! She hasn't killed anyone! I promise!" How in the world could he explain that he could feel the world around him in a way that made sense... He could lie-- Say he say someone else leaving--
"I-I could tell it wasn't her-- She was in the snow and there was a completely different feel to the house-- You have to believe me!" Kaleb took a step forward and swallowed.
"Robin's not like that. She's strong and brave!" Not timid and quiet like he could be... "She's not a demon!"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin snarled loudly and tried to fight in her predicament. But her feet found barely any purchase in the snow, bare and freezing even if she didn’t feel much cold.
“If one is bathed in demon blood, then they become demons too. That’s how demons reproduce. Even if your sister didn’t eat anyone, she was about to eat you.” Giyuu warned darkly.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb furrowed his brow and felt himself shaking from much more than the cold. He flexed his hands and then just... Squeezed them into fists.
"You're wrong. She's scared. We just lost our whole family! Robin wouldn't hurt anymore, even as a demon. I'll find a cure for her!" Kaleb steeled himself and shook, tears falling from his eyes.
"I will. You don't have to do this-- Just-- I'll do anything-- I'll carry your bags, I'll polish your blade-- Just don't hurt my sister." Kaleb bowed his body forward and clenched his hands at the snow, his gaze never leaving the man in front of him. A sign of submission but not completely begging... His eyes flicked towards Robin and then he let out a sob as his forehead laid across the back of his hands.
"I'll do anything but please don't hurt my sister!! We've lost enough!"
ryn.09/06/2020
Giyuu didn’t like that. Not one bit. It was disgraceful. His normally stoic face grew into an angry snarl.
“You can’t grasp the authority over someone else’s life and death!*” He tossed an arm to the side, gesturing with his sword.
“Stop that miserable looking squat! If you tried to do that, it wouldn’t stop your family from being killed! Search for the killer? Cure your sister? It’s highly ridiculous!! For the weak they have no choices. The strong can make others surrender! The demons may know a way to cure your sister, however, I don’t think they’ll even consider your request! You think I’ll accept your request?! Not on your life! If you want to protect your sister, you’d take your axe against me! Is it okay if I skewer your sister right now?!”
He aimed the tip of his blade for Robin’s chest.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb squeezed his eyes shut, feeling his blood boil. There were some things in the world that he just didn't understand despite being instructed on how to handle certain situations. Why wasn't he allowed to be angry sometimes? Why wasn't he allowed to speak out?
Kaleb rose up and shook while he grasped his father's axe. The handle had Robin's bite mark in the dead center.
He didn't know how to fight, but he would be damned if he lost another of his family.
ryn.09/06/2020
Giyuu saw that and decided to truly test Kaleb. He had a stoic face, hateful eyes because of the demon.
He stabbed Robin through her upper chest. She let out a scream of pain and tried to wiggle away.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb's eyes went wide when the man hurt his sister. He grit his teeth and shouted something incomprehensible to his own ears, but he was running. Quick while he threw a rock he picked up as he stumbled. He had no real form or direction, just a goal. Get his sister back-- Make this man pay-- Get Robin to a doctor and forget about this mess--
"LET HER GO!" Kaleb had tussled with his siblings to know as much as an older brother could about fighting. He kicked out some snow then attempted a strike with his axe.
ryn.09/06/2020
Giyuu growled and blocked the rock with his hilt. It bounced uselessly off into the snow.
An emotional based attack. He could see it clearly. What a fool.
He used the hilt and whacked Kaleb right on the back, knocking him down into the snow.
But then he blinked. Where was the axe he was holding?
Just as he looked, he dodged with a head tilt as the axe hit the tree behind him. What?!
Had this boy played a trick? Giyuu suddenly was hit away by the demon. No— she was going to eat the boy—
But surprisingly, Robin threw herself between Kaleb and Giyuu, arms spread out. She growled in defense at the swordsman. She made a lunge and Giyuu narrowed his eyes, dodging every attack.
Maybe... Maybe Robin was different.
He sent a hard whack to her neck with his hand and she fell.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb had literally nothing he could do except for divert the man's attention. It was all he had. It was all he could do--
"GAH--!" Kaleb fell to the ground with a ache at his back and his breath sucked from his lungs as he hit the ground chest first. He tried to gasp and tell Robin to run but-- All he could do was feel the vision fade in his eyes. No... he had to get Robin somewhere safe-- He had to—
ryn.09/06/2020
Giyuu wrapped the demon in a blanket, putting a bamboo muzzle in her mouth. She wouldn’t accidentally have a chance to consume blood or taste it.
——-
Miyuki and the family sat around Kaleb in his dreams. They all looked sad, but not hurt anymore.
“I’m sorry for leaving you, Kaleb. Please protect your sister.” She whispered.
And then the dream ended.
———
Giyuu looked down at Kaleb. “Are you awake? Find the elder named Urokodaki Sakonji at the base of the mountain. Tell him that Tomioka Giyuu sent you. And get your sister out of the sunlight.”
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb could hear his family around him. Ah... so it was a cruel dream then? Kaleb groaned and rolled onto his back with a cough, watching the clouds begin to part and look so bright... He grasped at Robin's clothing and then snapped open his eyes, wondering exactly where in the world they were--
Kaleb sat up and clutched Robin close to him, unable to hold back his tears while he watched the man that, just a moment before, said the weak didn't deserve to have a choice in what happened to them. He swallowed and then nodded. Keep Robin out of the sun... He'd remember that.
Kaleb had brought Robin back to their home to... set their family to rest. It didn't bother him that Robin didn't help, he figured she wouldn't be able to since... Everything, and it might pain her to be so close to those that died in front of her, but that was alright.
After a quick prayer and a moment of long silence, Kaleb stood up and gently took Robin's hand to send a small smile her way, his voice shot and cracked as he spoke.
"Let's go."
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin seemed barely aware. She stared meaninglessly at the bodies, hidden under the dirt. Her eyes were lighter blue than before, almost like ice. But the slits were full shaped versus cat like as they had been before.
When her hand was taken she gave a soft hum, smiling with her eyes at Kaleb. Yes. They could go.
But eventually they stopped at a cave to hide. Robin sat inside of it and just looked up at Kaleb.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb knew that the sunlight was eventually going to go through the clouds, so Kaleb kept the cover over his sister, but he was worried about her still... She could lose that cover so easily, and he didn't want to meet a demon hunter that wouldn't give him so much as a second glance. He had been worried that Tomioka-san was just going to take her from him... but he didn't. Even through the personal rage Kaleb felt, he could also tell in reflection that the man was doing this for a purpose.
"Ne, Robin-chan?" Kaleb said while he sat by Robin in the cave... He supposed she couldn't eat anything... which was unfortunate...
"I'll see about finding you some proper coverage, okay?" He pat his sister on the head and looked out. Yeah... it was pretty sunny now.
Kaleb gave Robin a promise that he would be back and scampered off to go find... something to at least hold her in-- The charcoal basket would be perfect but that was all the way up the mountain and Kaleb didn't want to get his sister all dirty in it.
"Excuse me, would it be alright if I asked for some bamboo stalks and that basket over there?" He asked a man working the rice fields. The man looked up at him and nodded.
"That's fine, but there's a hole in it, so I wouldn't expect too much from it."
Kaleb blinked and then bowed.
"Thank you. How much?" He rose back up and saw the confused man.
"Uhm-- Free. There's a hole in it, didn't you hear me say that?"
Kaleb blinked again.
"I know, but I'm willing to pay for it--"
"I don't think you understand-- Just take it--"
Kaleb walked up to the man, took his hand, and placed coins in his palm and curled his fingers around them perhaps a bit too hard and looked up with pure determination.
"Thank you for the basket!"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin just sat and settled in. But the sun was starting to peek through. Her instincts were so loud. She had to do something.
The demon dug a hole into the bottom of the cave and hid herself in it. She only lifted out when Kaleb spoke.
She groaned in pathetic tones. Sunlight was scary.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb thought for a moment that Robin had dug a tunnel away from him and he nearly cried at the thought but when he called for her, she poked her head up for him. He softly sighed out and smiled as he settled by the hole she'd dug for herself.
"Robin-chan, you scared me!" He giggled a bit and gave her a gentle gaze.
"I'll have something nice fixed up for you for daytime. I know the sun is scary, but I've found something wonderful so you can come with me."
He held up a finger and went outside to begin working on the hole in the basket. His mama had taught him how to weave with bamboo in case the charcoal basket popped or something. Kaleb worked into the late afternoon on the basket and moved back into the cave into his sister's view.
"Robin-chan," he smiled at her. "I have something for you. Can you get in here? I wanna see if you fit." Kaleb tipped the basket over for Robin to crawl into.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin looked at the basket before humphing. She crawled out of the hole but instead just... shoved herself into the basket. Her back end and legs stuck out.
She just laid there as if she had given up. Hmm.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb made a slight noise of surprise and then snorted. His sister could be so silly.
"Well, maybe you're bigger than I thought you were, but I'm still taller~" He grinned. The day he'd noticed he'd whooped for joy... he was the smallest between the two for a while, okay--
"But... maybe there's something we could do..." He couldn't make the basket taller, but then he remembered that Robin had grown on top of him...
"Robin-chan? Do you think you get itty-bitty for me? Like how you got bigger before?" And also sprouted fur at her cheeks, but he wasn't going to mention that.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin made a hum. She took a second, but she tipped the basket upright again and shrunk, now the size of a young child. She looked up at Kaleb from where she sat and humphed.
She placed her clawed hands on her drawn up knees.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb watched with... a bit of amazement as Robin shrunk down like he'd asked. Well-- That was awesome but--
"Arigatou, Robin-chan," Kaleb pet Robin's head. "You've done amazing today, now why don't you rest up, ne? I can carry you where we need to go, okay?"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin hummed and looked at Kaleb with a tired look. She was ready to sleep. It had been a long day.
She shut her eyes and nestled against the side of the basket that was up against Kaleb’s back.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb kindly asked for directions for the man named Urokodaki Sakonji. He could only guess what kind of man he was based off Tomioka-san, but Kaleb felt that first impressions could be misleading. People could put up a front easily in these times, so as much as the other man wanted to look cold... Kaleb knew he wasn't. Though, his nerves were also shot and he was running on nothing but instincts back then. He hoped he was right.
Kaleb held Robin's hand now that it was nighttime and guided her to a possible safe place. He looked back at her and grinned.
"See? There is a cabin here, your brother wouldn't lead you wrong!" Kaleb giggled in good humor before he stopped... Something about this place felt off... He looked around and then jogged up to the cabin, his sister in tow.
"Someone might have gotten hurt, c'mon, Robin-chan! Let's see if we can help!"
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin held Kaleb’s hand and just wordlessly followed him. As they walked, she saw the cabin. Huh.
She smelled something. Her hands tightened harshly on Kaleb’s.
There was a demon inside, standing over the bloody corpses of a couple.
The new demon stared, eyes wide, breathing heavily. Her mouth watered, spilling out from under the muzzle.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb took a step back and held a hand over his mouth to keep him from vomiting. This was... awful. An entire family. And this demon just casually spoke like it was a regular day. Kaleb shivered and then looked over at Robin.
"Ne-- Ne-- Robin-chan, look at me--"
The demon that had squatted at the corpses it had created growled out.
"This is my territory-- Who are you? You a human?" The demon turned towards Kaleb and dashed, knocking him down the steps, but not before Kaleb had his axe out and slashed. He already hated this life. It was so bloody and unforgiving... But he wasn't going to lose his light--
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin stared at the corpses, hands at her side and clenched tight. She was so hungry. So so hungry. Her stomach hurt. But she knew she couldn’t eat, Kaleb had told Giyuu that she would never eat a human.
She breathed hard. Just a taste... But then she heard Kaleb scream out.
She made a dash for the demon over her brother and with one well-placed kick, decapitated him.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb couldn't hold this guy back like he could Robin, this guy was much stronger... this Demon was much stronger. Kaleb already didn't like the look from the guy's face. This was so hard--
Kaleb gasped when he saw Robin suddenly over him with her leg extended-- AND THE DEMON'S HEAD FLY OFF?!
He scurried out from under the corpse and stood up with a noise.
"Th-Thank you, Robin-chan--"
ryn.09/06/2020
Well. It wasn’t a corpse. Just as the claws went for Kaleb, Robin placed another kick at the body’s ribs and kicked it away.
The two were separated at that moment, the head of the demon with arms now grown from it holding onto Kaleb’s axe blade. Robin was busy trying to shove and kick the decapitated body away from her.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb wondered what was happening and then he remembered the tales of demons he was told by the village elders... So it was all true then? Or at least most of it?
Kaleb didn't have much time to think because quite quickly did Robin have to fend for herself. The boy stood up and went to hack away at the body with his axe. He didn't get very far, unfortunately, thanks to the demon's head suddenly sprouting arms and holding onto his blade with his teeth--
"GET OUTTA MY WAY!!" Kaleb didn't know what else to do but headbutt. The Kobayashi's had strong heads thanks to their mama, so when Kaleb's head connected with the demon's, there was an awful crunch in its wake.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin watched as the demon head was attached to a nearby tree stump, unable to even move. Her own instincts for battle kicked in, and she tried to get the demon's body off of her.
There was a cliff nearby and they had to be careful.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb leaned back and hit the demon again, growling out as he slammed the head of the axe into the tree in front of him and huffing while he saw the demon get pinned. Good.
"Robin-chan!" Kaleb called out as he ran. He ran as fast as he could and tackled the headless body of the demon, completely unaware that there was a cliff just beside them. He cried out and tried to reach for something-- Anything!!
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin reacted quickly, far quicker than she normally would have. Her hand zapped out, and very calmly, she grabbed Kaleb's arm. He wouldn't fall anymore. She helped him up quickly, wincing a little when she saw the demon's body near explode from the impact below.
She turned and gestured to the demon head pinned to the tree. What could they do now?
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb's breath caught in his chest when Robin grabbed him. He was so glad she was there. If he was alone in this venture, he would have already died.
"Thank you, Robin-chan..." Kaleb quietly sighed and gave her a hug. He felt like a child in her presence sometimes due to how mature she acted... Then she could just flash a simple grin and suddenly they were both kids tumbling down a hill laughing while the other's cheered them on. Kaleb smiled at the memory before he looked over and gulped a bit.
"I-I don't know-- Do we just leave it? Tomioka-san... spoke about keeping you out of the sun... Oh-- But that sounds painful--" Kaleb felt a pit form in his stomach.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin knew her brother was compassionate. They were both very empathetic people. Their parents had raised them to be that way and it was more so the nurture of their kind of hearts that made it permanent. Even though she was a demon, she didn't want to hurt anyone, even though she would hurt anyone who tried to attack her little brother.
She shook her head slowly. No good. They had to do something. Maybe Kaleb's hunting knife.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb looked over at Robin and then looked at where her eyes landed. Ah. The knife he never got to use. He unsheathed it and walked up to the demon's head. If the kick Robin gave it was anything to go by, this thing wouldn't die easily... But if he didn't kill it, it would just go about hunting people again. He had to do something...
Kaleb gulped and rose his hand, the knife tip shaking just slightly to show that... he was unsure if this would even work.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin smelled something coming. But she was too slow to even make a sound, watching as an older man's hand clasped Kaleb on the shoulder.
The man was wearing a wave patterned haori, as well as a hood and a red tengu mask. His voice came out deep but scarred over.
"Do you intend to kill it with that dull blade?" He asked.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb felt someone nearby, but he was still stunned.
"Hnn?" Kaleb looked over his shoulder to see a man much older than he was wearing a mask. Ah... Who was this?
"Uh-- If this won't work... What will?" He was truly lost, his earrings telling of his unknown lineage lightly swayed in the new wind.
ryn.09/06/2020
The man spoke gruffly next. "You need to ask? Can you not think for yourself?" He offered no help. If the boy wanted to survive, he had to think for himself.
He watched and thought quietly to himself. Even though the demon was vile and heartless, this boy had the scent of kindness. It was strange. Would he make it? Probably not. But Giyuu rarely wrote, especially not about other slayers or potential students. This had to be something.
DaggerKid09/06/2020
Kaleb furrowed his brows. What was he supposed to do?! He looked back at the demon and then started to think. A rock would be good... Oh, but Kaleb always cringed at the poor animals that his father and he found out hunting that got hurt or killed by fallen limbs and rocks from the mountain side. He wasn't sure if he could crush the head of something that looked so human...
Kaleb gulped and rose the rock, prepared to do it but-- The sun started coming up.
ryn.09/06/2020
Robin saw the very first inch of sunlight and instantly ran, shifting into a child and hiding in the basket. The blanket covered her head and she hid, not daring to come out. She heard and smelled the demon from before burning up alive before disintegrating completely.
Urokodaki just moved on. He went into the depilated cabin and gave the couple who had been killed a proper burial. He knelt by the graves and said nothing. When Kaleb came up, he spoke.
"I am Urokodaki Sakonji. I assume you are the one Giyuu spoke of?" With a confirmation, he interrupted the boy.
"Kaleb. What will you do if your sister decides to feast on a human?"