Chapter Text
Matsumura stumbled through the forest, his sword held out in front of him like it would ward off unseen dangers lurking in the shadowed foliage of the trees and bushes.
He took a wobbly breath to calm himself as his crow landed on his shoulder, squawking out his mission orders to him like a record stuck on repeat. The mission he was on was a simple one, a smaller demon had been terrorizing a nearby village and ambushing any Kakushi that ventured into the area and ransacking their supplies. It should be simple enough for a low rank slayer like him if he was careful, he assured himself as he continued on his way through the reaching branches of the forest.
The demon was described in the report as being the size of a young child with long dark burgundy hair, the Kakushi wrote that it was hard to spot due to its small size making it more of an ambush orientated fighter.
He froze as the bushes in front of him rustled, his crow letting out a frightened squawk and taking off from his shoulder to watch over him from the safety of the trees.
He braced himself as he lifted his sword, body tense as his breathing slowed and paced the moonlight casting an eerie glow overhead.
The branches parted and a small form could be seen in the low light seeping between the leaves before it darted out towards him with a shouted “RAWWWR.”
He stumbled back, feeling baffled, his eyes wide as he tried to process the situation he had found himself in.
The demon was small, maybe only 3’5 in size being big enough to easily pick up.
The little thing had its chubby arms held over its head, fingers curled into claws, its round face scrunched up as it bared his fangs at him.
Its long kimono trailed behind it, getting caught on branches causing it to stumble in its approach towards him.
He stared at the demon before him, sword lowering slightly as he felt a mix of bewilderment, relief and delirious amusement.
The demon looked around hesitantly as if seeking approval before growling at him with a sound that was more of a purr than a threatening guttural sound and approaching him slowly, tripping occasionally on the hem of its kimono.
He could feel the complicated mix of feelings bubbling up out of his chest in a wheezy laugh, this was the demon he had been sent to deal with?
It paused, face scrunching up in clear confusion as it looked at him, hands lowering slightly.
“Rawr?” it insisted, shifting slightly to try and seem more intimidating, round squishy cheeks puffed up as it showed more of its kitten-like fangs.
He couldn't help but laugh at the sight, shoulders shaking.
Its face fell at his reaction, hands falling to its side.
He managed to steady his hands pointing his katana in its direction. He felt a bit hesitant deep down at pointing a weapon at something so childlike but he couldn't waver in his dedication to his mission.
Its lower lip started to wobble as large ruby eyes began to water leaving him reeling in surprise.
It began to sniffle, hiccuping quietly as it rubbed its face with the large sleeve of its kimono.
He froze as a shadow fell over him from behind the hair on his nape rising to stand on end, quiet breathing fanning against his skin as pure fear turned his blood cold.
He forced his body to move, head turning slowly as all thoughts of the small demon before him vanished.
The demon behind him was everything that they were made to be.
It had sharp blue eyes, skin pale and long black hair draped over its shoulder in a low ponytail. Sharp electric blue horns poked from its forehead and curved through the thicket of its hair.
It started him down, the kanji for upper three sending chills rippling through his body as his heart practically stopped dead in his chest right then and there.
It swept past him, sweeping up the smaller demon into its arms as it sniffled into the larger demon's haori.
“It's alright, you did well with what you know. We’ll work on your skills.” It rumbled out to the smaller one before turning its attention back to him.
Its face was impassive but he could practically feel the malicious intent rolling off it as a long scaled tail swayed behind it. His sword clattered to the ground as he moved to flee, legs wobbly as he fled into the forest.
There was a scream and the loud caw of a crow as the night thickened.