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Chapter 39

The women screamed, and I distracted them with wind, grabbing and dragging Inosuke the other way.
"It's coming down, this way!"

Once more the sound changed, and it left us in a mess of circles as we got confused.
We panted to catch our breath, Inosuke grinding his teeth in anger.

I slammed my fist into the wall, the two of us away from other people.
"Damnit!"

"Where the hell did it go?!"
He growled.

We were heavily scolded, and the okami made us work for hours on end for it, this punishment allowing us to go and meet up with Tengen, who frequently came by and got our report.

"I'm telling you, it's massive!"
I shout, Inosuke mimicking it with his hands.

"It was like this!"
He moved his hands to form a spider.

"That thing moved so fast my head was spinning!"
I nod.

Tanjiro listened to our ramblings as neither of us really made much coherent sense.

"Yeah... Y/N, Inosuke, let's wait for Uzui and give our report."

I sigh and cross my arms, startled when I see him out of the corner of my eye.

"Zenitsu isn't coming."
As usual, he was silent and stealthy in his appearance. It was really impressive. He didn't even shift the air in the slightest.

"What? What do you mean?"
I worry, Tanjiro echoing my feeling as well.

His demeanor really changed. He was stern and serious, not like his usual loud and confident self.

"I think I've put you guys in serious danger. I wanted to help my wives, and that led me to make some bad decisions. I've not heard  from him since last night. You three leave the hanamachi. Y/N, you first. We especially can't afford to lose you at any cost. If there's an Upper Moon here, you won't be able to handle it. When someone goes missing, we consider them as good as dead. From now on, I'll operate alone."

I quickly protest.
"No-! Uzui, sir! We-!"

"There is no shame in this. Survival is victory. The Master is expecting you return in two days tops. Do not lose this chance."

"Wait!"
Before Tanjiro finished, he had already left.
"Maybe he doesn't trust us because we're the lowest rank?"

"What? No, we've moved four ranks up already. We're Kanoe now!"
Inosuke declared.

"Huh?"

"Reveal your rank."
I hold my fist towards him and clench it tightly, the mark darkening and showing that indeed, I was a Kanoe rank.

"They engraved our hands with wisteria on the mountain. You remember, don't you?"

"Not really..."

Inosuke patted his back.
"Cheer up!"

"Right! Sorry, there's no time for this."

I nod.
"We need a plan of action."

"As soon as night falls, I'll come get you at house Ogimoto. Wait until then. We don't know how safe it is to act yet. I'll finish investigating house Tokito today."

"Huh?! Why do we have to wait?!"
Inosuke grabbed Tanjiro.

"I'm telling you, there's a demon at our place! Come now!"

I try to stop Inosuke.
"Pighead, don't be stupid! Uzui watches our houses every night, doesn't he? But Zenitsu still disappeared and the demon at our place doesn't show itself!"

"Right! That means there must be a secret passage somewhere."
Tanjiro nodded.

Inosuke stopped hitting Tanjiro.
"Passage?"

"Yeah. The demon isn't coming and going, so it's probably someone who works there. If it is, then it's good at pretending to be human, and has to be careful about who it kills and when so nobody notices."

I listen to Tanjiro, nodding.

Inosuke seemed to understand as well.
"Oh yeah, blood stains aren't that easy to clean. Hiding a murder sure is hard."

I nod.
"This place is a night town, so it's very convenient for demons. But there are still plenty of inconveniences. They can't get things done during the day, people would get suspicious."

Tanjiro grabs both of our shoulders.
"I think that Zenitsu and Uzui's wives are all alive, and I'm acting on that belief. I want to rescue them, and I want you two to do the same. And I most certainly don't want either of you to die! Got it?"

I smile, Inosuke doing the same before we part.

"I agree."
I nod.

"Everything you said... I was just going to say the same thing!"

I quickly hug Tanjiro before we leave.
"Take care."

He hugged me back.
"Of course. You too."

We all went our separate ways, Inosuke helping me back inside the house.

We waited until sunset for Tanjiro, who ran awfully late, Inosuke growing impatient.

"He's late!"

"I know he is!"
I worriedly reply, pacing around the room.

"The sun's setting and he hasn't come! That fool, Soichiro!"

"Tanjiro."
I correct him quickly, weary.

"Same thing!"
Inosuke huffed.
"I'm done waiting! Let's settle things ourselves!"

He jumped and stuck his head through the ceiling, shouting for the Ninju to bring us our swords and uniforms.

Inosuke didn't even bother and just tossed off his kimono, making me flustered as I turn my back to him.
"Inosuke! Decency!"

"HEH?!"

"Just- N-Nevermind! Mice, get me my uniform, please!"

The small creatures brought my clothes, and I changed in the room connected to ours, calming down and feeling far more comfortable in my flexible uniform.

Inosuke burst through doors once we were ready, causing a massive commotion.
"WE'RE GOIN' DEMON SLAYIN'! HEADLONG RUSH!"

I shouted quick pardons as we ran through rooms, swords at the ready.

"Alright, Inosuke, what do we do?"

"We find the demon, and we kill it! I'm sick of this place!"

《 •|• 《♡》 •|• 》

● Chapter 39 : ●
● "Operation : Entertainment District" ●