We arrived after a few minutes of walking when I can see people gathered in front of a house.
I look at Shinobu who glanced at me back before deciding that this was worth investigating.
“Miss?”I tap the shoulder of a woman who was on the ground, crying.
“What happened here?”
“M-my baby boy disappeared!”She was sobbing as I kneel before her.
“Let’s calm down okay?”I took out a handkerchief that had a calming scent of lavender.
“Here wipe your tears and start from the top.”
She took it and starts cleaning up her face.
“The village has been suffering from children going missing in the middle of the night..”She finally calms down as she spoke.
“Anything else that could help us in finding them?”I was now moving my hand in a circular motion on her back.
“The children only disappears at a certain time at night..around 1 am to be exact..”
I look at Shinobu who nods her head in agreement.
“Miss, could you leave this to us?”
“Okay..”
Everyone was shooed off by us as we turn to look at the forest.
“Shall we?”
“Hmm do be careful Butterfly.”
“Of course.”She giggles before we go different ways into the thick trees.
‘Is…that crying?..’
I stop to try hearing the source before locating a cave.
I slash the greenery that was blocking the cave and headed in careful of any demons that might be lurking about.
A small body was huddled in a corner of the cave.
“Are you okay boy?”I carefully approach, not sure if it’s a demon.
He turns his head around to reveal his red eyes, blood in his hand where it covered up a wound near his stomach.
I immediately step back while drawing my blade.
I look at his wound that isn’t closing anytime soon, dirty clothes with his messy hair.
We stare at each other for a while before I broke the silence.
“Did someone else take you here?”I point my blade at him.
“Y-yes?I can’t remember…”
I sigh, still wary of his appearance.
“Come here.”
He makes his way, still clutching his wound on his stomach that wasn’t closing up anytime soon.
I rolled up my sleeve to take blood with a syringe.
“Your arm.”
I inject him with a dosage of my blood, converting him quickly.
I move my clothing back to its place. He groans as the transformation takes place, veins popping on his forehead and arm.
After a few seconds, his hair now white, his eyes turn to his original colour and his wound was closing up.
It seems that my blood could make a demon not crave human flesh or blood. I had experimented on a few demons that I had encountered when I was undercover.
“You can probably live a normal life like this, just change your hair colour to your original colour before we head back.”
He nods as he changes his hair colour, I held him in my arms as we travel back to the village.
“Not a word of this to your parents okay?”I whisper as the village comes into view.
He slowly nods his head as I knock on the door of the mother that I talked to before.
“Yes?-“She looks at me holding her child safe at last.
“My darling boy!”Her tears now stream down her face.
“Mommy!”The boy stretches out his arms.
I let the boy go as the two hugs each other.
I didn’t see Shinobu back yet so I ask if she came back yet.
“No..I haven’t seen the other girl yet…”
Worried, I step back into the forest while calling her name.
‘Where could she be?’
I suddenly hear metal clanking as I turn to my right to see Shinobu fighting against a demon.
“Tch, my poison isn’t working..”
The demon was pressuring her as they got closer to attack.
‘Oh no, you don’t!’
I unsheathe my blade and quickly step in to cut off his arm from striking.
.
.
“Did no one tell you to not harm a female?”I glare at him.
“I- I know you! You’re the Lava Hashira! The one who’s been wiping out the demons like it’s nothing!”He points at me while backing up in fear.
“Gald to hear I have fans.”
‘Lava breathing,Second Form:Magma Chamber Pierce.’
In a flash, I was on the other side, sheathing my blade and the demon was suffering as the magma kills off his airway while burning him alive.
“You okay?”I make quick steps over to where Shinobu was.
“Mhm yeah..”
“Should be head back?”I look at the pathway leading to the village.
.
.
“Hey, Haru.. do you think I am weak?..”We were slowly walking back as she broke the silence between us.
“Hmm no? I think Shinobu is very strong!”I blurt out in a flash.
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses you know?”
“Like you’re very knowledgeable in poisons, I always fascinated at how your poisons work and so on!”
I giggle as I remember back to how I almost died due to a wiestra poison that I touched.
“…” She stares at me with wide eyes before looking back at the path.
“Thanks..”
I gently pat her head.
“Anytime Butterfly.”
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