14

                                    

                                          
Before I knew it, two years had passed. Countless missions, countless beheaded demons. We had all collected our fair share of scars, Sanemi especially. He was a little weird about his special blood stuff, it's like he liked giving himself injuries. We just let him and his little crazy mind be.
Except for Kanae. She loved learning how he thought and why he was the way he was. I had a bet going on with Uzui. I said that they'd be married before 25, he said that there was no way he'd be man enough to do it until he was at least 30. She'd also become a hashira a year back.
We had killed enough demons to be ranked Kinoe. Now, it was a matter of waiting until some of the current hashira's retired before we could be Hashira's ourselves. We didn't mind waiting though, Sanemi, Kyo and I were only 16, (pretend ok i know I got the ages fucked up but just like pretend. I have a plan and I'm the author so i can do whatever i want hehe) and I wanted the current hashira's, especially Shinjuro, to end their reign as Hashira with dignity.
Right now I was on a mission with Kanae. It had been a while since we had talked face to face, we mostly conversed in letters because of the distance between us. 
"Where do you think we should start? It seems like there must be some sort of festival or something on." I asked her. The city we were at was completely empty on the outskirts, but brilliant shows of light and cheers came from the middle.
"The briefing said that this demon was hiding in a cult. We're not sure if they lead it or are hiding in its ranks, but the cult itself is definitely suspicious."
"Well, we should split up then. I'll start at one end of the celebration and you start at the other. Send your crow if you find any new information."
With quick goodbyes and goodlucks, we split up. This demon was thought to be extremely powerful and unpredictable. It's not uncommon to hear of demons infiltrating cults and indoctrinating innocent people, but one of this scale was unprecedented. 
I stuck to the rooftops. Who knows if these people were actually on the demon's side. One word of a slayer's presence and this demon could disappear right under our noses. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me, people were cheering and having a good old time. Suddenly, the cheers became even louder, and fireworks erupted.
A throne, shrouded in fabrics and carried on the shoulders of men exited a building. I wondered why this person was so eager to cover themselves even though they were so revered by their followers.
It was almost like they were afraid of the sun.
I smirked.
"Got ya"
I sent my crow for Kanae, to tell her to follow the throne. I raced after it myself, it appeared to be heading to the outskirts of the city. I watched as it stopped suddenly. The person, or demon, inside was moving. All of a sudden, they stepped into the sun. And waved. At me.
How did they know I was here? 
"Demon! Kanae! Follow me!" Kanae's crow, Hime, flew around, panicked.
"Fuck! It was a decoy!" From the corner of my eye, I saw ice shoot up above the trees, and the tell tale pink colour of Kanae's breathing style. I bolted. I left her. She's fighting by herself. I have to get there. Run. Faster. Faster than you ever have before.
I reached the forest and I saw the fight in slow motion. Upper Moon 2. About to slash through Kanae's chest. With a roar I shouted
"THIRD FORM: HEAVEN'S BIDDING"
Slashing the demon's arm off, I grabbed Kanae and jumped back.
"Ah shucks, I was having so much fun with her. I was sure you'd take long-"