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

[~Chapter 3: Mundanity~]

"If they're too big, let me know and I'll re-tailor them to fit you. The bandages, I figure, are for... uh... well, ya know. I found them in your Haori when you were asleep. My apologies for rummaging. I was checking for extra weapons," Pink Skin stated as Giyuu sighed.

"Don't do it again. But... thank you for getting them for me," Giyuu said, feeling the hint of a small unwanted smile creeping up on his face. He quickly shook it away, frowning. Pink Skin, on the other hand, smirked, then scoffed.

"You shouldn't hide your smile when you're happy or proud about something," Pink Skin stated as Giyuu frowned sharply, staring at the Demon with a hint of hatred. Hatred that he seemed to notice and shrug off. "Suit yourself, I guess. Come on, let's go. We have a bit of a trek to get to the lake."

With tired eyes and even more tired bones, Giyuu followed the Demon into the woods, much to his mind's dismay, his inner voice telling him to run for the hills while he could. And while tempting as it was, he'd rather not risk his life just because his gut was telling him to flee.

He quite liked to remain breathing, thank you very much.

He didn't know if he could ever trust this... thing. Especially given the circumstances he had been afforded. But it wasn't as if he had much of a choice in the matter. It was either this or continue to reek of sweat and dirt. Something he'd much rather avoid if possible.

Although, one thing was for sure: Pink Skin was right about this being a bit of a trek. The snow and ice didn't help much. He had almost slipped and fallen face-first into the snow, only to be helped by Pink Skin.

It was only then did he notice that Pink Skin's body radiated heat like that of a furnace. His skin, while not scolding to the touch, was wicked hot. It was almost like an aura of heat surrounded him at every given moment.

It made him wonder just how this Demon could be slain. Would his Nichiren blade melt if it got too close? No, because if that were the case, it would've melted when Pink Skin presumably took it from his unconscious body. Either way, it was something else to add to the list of oddities that surrounded the Demon.

First, he never showed an ounce of predatory behaviour around the two humans he lived with. Second of all, whatever he built or had a hand in building, magically stayed in place as if it was already glued together. And finally, his body radiated an almost unreal amount of heat.

Just how many more unnatural and bizarre things would he learn about this Demon? He knew Demons were beyond human understanding—one good look at any of the Abnormals and that was more than clear as day—but still! There had to be a line in the sand somewhere.

When they finally arrived at the lake, he noticed the amount of light surrounding it. Lamps hung off of sticks wedged into the ground, and steam was rising off of the lake like a natural hot spring. Rock barriers were separating the lake into two, and there was a waterfall coming from above another cliff.

Plopped about the strange lake were lily pads, leaves, and whatever else you could find in nature. And, most bizarrely of all, surrounding the pool were red spider lilies. A symbol of death and mourning. Why would this lake be associated with such things?

Unless...

"What is with the spider lilies?" Giyuu questioned Pink Skin as the Demon shrugged.

"Thought they looked cool, so I planted them. The reason they bloomed so quickly was because of the bonemeal I used—crushed-up animal bones with growth hormones infused, to clarify, just in case that sounds like something that would throw you off," Pink Skin explained as he placed his clothing down on what appeared to be a bench made of stone.