The Pig, The Mask, and The Slayers [Redux]

[~Chapter 3: Mundanity~]

The Water Hashira sighed, walked over to the ladder and began to climb up it. He might as well help out. It wasn't like there was anything he could do. Well, he could make a run for it, but with the others in the forest, there was a chance that they would find him and recapture him.

So, he wasn't going to risk it. Instead, he got to work. He noticed that whenever he placed a glass pane down, it just... stuck. It didn't fall out, it just remained there. Even when there was no glue to keep it in place. It just... stayed there.

Maybe it was the Demon's Blood Demon Art? If that was the case, then it was kind of bizarre. Just what else could it do? Honestly, Giyuu didn't care. All he cared about was getting out of this place and reporting what he found to Oyakata-sama.

Demons, living with humans, and living a regular life. It made no sense to him. It went against everything that he was taught by his master and by his in-person experiences.

Demons, by their very nature, were monsters. They ate other people and showed no remorse. He had seen it more times than he could count. There was no such thing as mercy when it came to these creatures. They were unrelenting, flesh-eating, horrific entities that cared only for themselves.

So... for a group of Demons to be living in the forest with humans, not so much as doing anything but scolding them when they did something stupid... it felt wrong.

There was something he wasn't getting. He would figure it out, no matter how long it took.

"So... you're a guy, right?" Pink Skin randomly spoke up, the sun passing overhead. It looked like it was about to set in a few hours if the sky changed colour from a brilliant blue to a shade of light blue with pink and yellowish hues off in the distance didn't clue him in.

"Yes, I am," Giyuu stated plainly as Pink Skin raised an eyebrow.

"Okay... I'm just trying to understand. Because, to me, you smell like a woman. You know, uh... as creepy as it sounds, pheromones and all that jazz. Demons can just naturally smell that stuff," Pink Skin said as he placed in the final pane on his side. Giyuu still had a few more on his end to patch up.

Giyuu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand. "I don't understand how it's hard for you to understand. I am a man. I was just—"

"Born in the wrong body. I know, Dream said something like that a few days ago when we interrogated you. But... I've lived for a long time. At least 5,000 years, and I've seen and met people like you before. But I've never understood it," Pink skin interrupted as Giyuu stared at him flatly.

"Then you understand why I am a man then. So why are you asking?" Giyuu said as Pink Skin shrugged.

"It's just... when I take you to the lake, do you want me to be there or to be gone? Most people I met who were like you told me to leave, so I don't know how comfortable you are with someone else being there. I gotta get clean too, so..." Pink Skin said as Giyuu shrugged.

"I've bathed with others before, though only with those I trust. But seeing as I'm not really being given much of a choice, I don't see the problem. Just don't ask stupid questions and we should be fine," Giyuu stated plainly as Pink Skin nodded.

"Got it," Pink Skin replied, hopping off of his ladder before picking it up, and making it disappear in the blink of an eye. Giyuu had to do a double-take when he saw it but ultimately didn't question it. Again, it must've been something to do with his Blood Demon Art.

Pink Skin went back into the house and came back with two sets of clothes. He passed a set to Giyuu, who looked at it. A roll of bandages—he assumed were for those horrible lumps he had on his chest—a white blouse and some black leather pants.