A bond lost in the forest

Chapter two_^• •^

Giyuu's POV:

"Nee-San, you look amazing! When are we going?" I asked excitedly as I stormed into the room, my heart pounding with joy. Tsutako stood before the mirror, adjusting the white kimono she would wear for her wedding ceremony. Her smile made the entire room glow.

"You seem more excited than I am. Are you sure you're not the one getting married?" she teased, her eyes soft and full of warmth.

"Nee-San!" My face flushed red. She giggled, that lighthearted laugh that I adored so much. It filled the room with a sense of peace that I always felt around her. It was as though nothing bad could ever happen while she was there.

We continued chatting and laughing, reminiscing about silly stories from our childhood. For a while, everything felt perfect. Suddenly, a noise — like distant footsteps — interrupted our conversation. My smile faltered.

“What was that, Nee-San?” I asked, a hint of worry creeping into my voice.

“Probably nothing,” she said, trying to reassure me, though a flicker of unease crossed her face.

Before I could ask again, the air in the room changed. A sudden eerie chill crept into the space, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Before we could react, the door crashed open, and a monstrous figure stormed into the room. It was a demon, hideous and terrifying. Tsutako and I stood frozen, paralyzed by fear.

The demon’s eyes locked onto me. It lunged, and Tsutako and I barely had time to react before it hurled itself at me, its claws glistening under the pale light.

I squeezed my eyes shut in terror, shaking uncontrollably. But then, something soft and warm slammed into me, forcing me backward. My eyes flew open just in time to see Tsutako falling, her body thrown between me and the demon.

The next few moments blurred together — a terrible scream, Tsutako’s bloodcurdling cries, and the demon tearing into her. Blood splattered the walls, staining her wedding kimono with dark red.

I opened my eyes, horrified by the sight of Tsutako lying in a pool of her own blood. The demon tore into her with brutal efficiency, its growls echoing through the room. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I was frozen, paralyzed by fear and helplessness.

Tsutako's lips moved despite the pain, her voice weak and strained. "Giyuu... live for me... please, live... your sister loves you." Her eyes lost their light as her life slipped away.

Tears streamed down my face as I knelt beside her, sobbing uncontrollably. My body wouldn’t move. I wanted to help, to save her, but I was paralyzed by fear, guilt, and helplessness. The demon continued its horrible feast, and I could only watch as my sister died right in front of me.

Then, the door opened again. Her fiancé appeared, his cheerful voice calling out her name. He stopped abruptly when he saw the scene before him. "Wha-" he gasped, his face twisting in horror. But before he could react further, the demon turned on him, killing him instantly and starting to devour him as if it had completely forgotten I was there.

Then something inside Giyuu snapped. He scrambled to his feet and ran out of the house, screaming and crying for help. The villagers emerged from their homes, some annoyed, others concerned by Giyuu's frantic yelling.

"My- my si-sister..." he stammered. "She-she's... a monster..." He tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat. After a while, the villagers managed to calm him down and decided to investigate.

A small group of six people set off towards his house. As they walked, the stench of fresh blood and rotting flesh grew stronger, making the villagers uneasy. They reached the open door, the air inside thick with the smell of death. The strongest man among them led the way in, with everyone else following closely behind.