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3RD POV
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Hokuro Yasu
The forest was filled with the cacophony of lumbering footsteps and shallow, labored breaths, all of which signaled the presence of a wounded young man with navy-blue hair. He wore the tattered remains of a demon slayer uniform that bore the marks of battle. His body was riddled with strange arrows that seemed to greedily drink his blood, sapping his strength with every move he made.
Every step he took was an agonizing struggle, and his grip on his nichirin sword grew weaker by the moment. He moved desperately through the dense woods, driven by the need to escape the relentless pursuer hot on his heels. More of those ominous arrows whizzed past him, as if taunting him with their deadly accuracy. It was a torturous chase, one that seemed almost impossible to evade. Every inch of his body was pierced and bleeding, and he couldn't fathom how he was still alive in the midst of this relentless onslaught.
This day couldn't have gone any worse. Yasu cursed under his breath as he desperately tried to elude his relentless pursuer. As if things weren't bad enough, his faithful kasugai crow had been mercilessly shot down by one of those sinister arrows the moment it arrived at the scene. The bird, a vital companion for demon slayers, was gone in an instant, and Yasu felt a pang of grief and anger.
It was evident that the demon had known the significance of these crows to slayers, and its cruel strategy was designed to enrage Yasu. And it had succeeded brilliantly. In his fury, Yasu had charged recklessly at the demon, his judgment clouded by anger, a mistake he would normally never make.
But who could blame him? He had shared years of his life with that crow, and it had become more than just a companion; it was a dear friend. This lapse in judgment had led him to underestimate the demon's cunning, and now he found himself in a desperate flight for survival, with the taunting laughter of the demon echoing in the distance.
"Run, run, little deer," a mocking, feminine voice trailed behind him, and Yasu could sense the demon toying with him, toying with his life. Two more arrows narrowly missed him, causing him to stumble as he struggled to avoid them. Yet, despite it all...
"...Damn it!" Yasu cursed as he stumbled over an unfortunate rock, crashing to the forest floor with a painful thud. His fall drove some of the arrows deeper into his already wounded body, and he winced in agony. He struggled to rise, his determination warring against the weakening grip of blood loss, but his body betrayed him, refusing to obey his desperate commands.
"Move, move, move!" he muttered through gritted teeth, each word a battle cry against his own helplessness. But his efforts were in vain, and his strength waned with every passing moment. The pursuing demon drew nearer, her mocking voice taunting him as she effortlessly closed the distance.
"Oh? Feeling tired already?" she taunted with a hint of disappointment, gracefully touching down on the forest floor. She had pursued him with effortless grace, leaping from tree to tree while he stumbled in desperation. Her attire was that of a Kyudo archer, and the strange, blood-sucking arrows adorned her back. In her delicate hands, she held a meticulously crafted bone bow.
Her skin bore a pale, sickly shade of green, marked with arrow tattoos that mirrored the deadly projectiles she used. Pine-colored hair framed her face, crowned by a distinctive horn protruding from her forehead. Her eyes, eerie and devoid of pupils, glowed with orange sclera, emphasizing the unnatural menace of her presence.
The demon towered over Yasu, her disappointment palpable as she regarded him with disdain for his lackluster performance. "Is this all the effort you can muster? How utterly disappointing," she lamented, her voice dripping with scorn. She took measured steps before pausing to observe the wounded slayer, who gasped for breath, blood dribbling from his lips.
"Pathetic," she scoffed, her voice a cruel mockery. "You dare call yourself a demon slayer? You are the most foolish one I've ever encountered. At least the others had the sense to think before attacking."
Summoning every ounce of defiance left in him, Yasu lifted his head with great effort and shot a venomous glare at his tormentor. "Damn you... just finish me off already!" he spat, his words a bitter retort to her mockery.
A sinister smirk curled upon her lips as she crouched down to meet his eye level, her tone dripping with condescension. "Oh? Can't handle the harsh truth, can you?" she taunted, her amusement evident. "Why should I listen to your pitiful pleas? Watching you writhe in agony is far more entertaining."
With a cruel twist, she plucked one of the blood-sucking arrows from his back, causing Yasu to cry out in pain. She examined the arrowhead and couldn't help but sneer. "And your blood... it's hardly appetizing at all," she remarked, her voice filled with disgust. She licked the arrow's tip before recoiling in distaste. "Tastes like dirt. What a waste."
Yasu's eyes narrowed in anger, directed mostly at himself for the predicament he found himself in. He berated himself for not being more cautious, for letting his guard down. Dying was an accepted risk for a demon slayer, but to meet his end in such a humiliating and pathetic way was infuriating. He had even allowed his crow to perish in the process. What would his brother think of him? He had no right to bear the title of Tsuchi—
However, his introspection was abruptly interrupted by the infuriated demon, who slapped him hard on the head and grabbed his hair to shake his head forcefully. Yasu let out a pained "ACK..!" but refused to beg for mercy.
The demon sneered and demanded, "How dare you ignore me, huh? Unacceptable! You should be begging for your life now, so I can crush your hopes! Come on, beg!"
Defying her expectations, Yasu responded with a withering glare. "Go fuck yourself!" he snarled, his anger overshadowing his fear.
The demon's eye twitched with irritation. "You insolent brat!" she growled, preparing to release an arrow and end his life. However, Yasu continued his defiance.
"And you," he spat, despite his injuries, "are an eyesore to my existence!"
The infuriated demon was about to fire her arrow when her pointed ears caught a distant voice approaching their location. It was an odd sound, suspiciously like... singing?
"....ick of it. Into the thick of it. Into the thick of it. UGH"
'what is this language?!' / 'is that...english?'
"we're tramping through the bush, on and on we push!"
Yasu and the demon exchanged puzzled glances, momentarily distracted by the unexpected sound. Their confusion quickly turned to incredulity as they both watched a tall figure, shrouded in a dark cloak, emerge from the rustling bushes.
"into the thick of it!"
The mysterious figure exclaimed as he entered the scene, only to stop abruptly as he realized he had an audience. He slowly turned his masked head to look at Yasu and the demon, causing a brief silence as they all stared at each other. Then, the figure whistled, seemingly grasping the situation, and looked back and forth between the two.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Yasu, despite being near death, found the strength to shout at the newcomer, though he couldn't see the person clearly from his position. "Idiot! Can't you see that it's a demon?! Ru-" His words were abruptly cut off as he received a kick to the face that nearly knocked him unconscious.
The masked individual winced.
Yasu cursed himself internally. 'S-shit! Because of me, an innocent is going to die...!' He fought to stay awake.
Meanwhile, the demon turned to the newcomer with an elated grin, disregarding the nearly lifeless slayer at her feet. "Well well well, aren't you an unlucky human? And here I thought things would remain boring! But for a new prey to come to me by itself? How lucky!" She giggled and even stomped on the slayer's arm to gain his attention, causing him to cry out in pain. "Oi look! Another prey! Isn't that fantastic? If you had done your job properly, maybe this person wouldn't have stumbled upon the great me! Hahaha, useless!" She mocked, then turned to the masked figure who remained unresponsive, seemingly engrossed in adjusting the mysterious box he was carrying. The demon's curiosity was piqued. What could be inside that box?
The masked person, sensing an opportunity, gently placed the mysterious box on the ground and leaned on it, adopting an unusual posture as he waited for something, although it wasn't clear what exactly he was waiting for.
The demon was taken aback by this unexpected behavior and questioned the masked figure. "What are you doing, human? You heard him, right? Shouldn't you be running for your life?" She tilted her head to the side, one hand on her hip, clearly surprised by the person's lack of reaction to her presence. She scrutinized his outfit, the kitsune mask, and the long cloak. The absence of a katana confirmed he wasn't a demon slayer, putting her at ease. It seemed she was dealing with a simple, oblivious human who didn't realize the danger he was in.
The masked figure nonchalantly responded, "Oh well, I must've crossed paths with you guys for a reason, not gonna waste an opportunity to experiment." He casually placed a gloved hand on top of the rectangular wooden box, further mystifying the demon.
"Experiment?"
"Yeah, also, do you mind removing your foot from this poor guy? He doesn't look okay," the masked figure pointed a gloved finger toward Yasu, who was struggling to remain conscious despite his injuries.
Yasu, still on the ground and injured, clenched his teeth in despair, silently urging the masked stranger to run away. He wouldn't mind sacrificing himself, but the thought of another life being at stake filled him with frustration. His vision blurred as his remaining energy dwindled rapidly due to the arrows sapping his blood.
The demon burst into laughter, finding the masked figure's response utterly ridiculous. "Do you hear yourself?" she exclaimed, incredulous. "You know I will kill you, right?" To emphasize her point, she aimed her bow and arrow directly at the person, ready to release a deadly shot.
However, the cloaked figure remained unfazed. He nonchalantly shrugged, displaying a complete lack of concern for the impending threat to his life. With an air of indifference, he held his chin with both hands and proceeded to execute a peculiar knocking pattern on the wooden box at his feet. "Knock yourself out."
"Blood Demon Art: Life Draining Arrows!"
The demon exclaimed, immediately launching a barrage of arrows at breakneck speed, an attack that would be virtually impossible for a normal human to evade. Her lips curled into a vicious grin, confident that the human would be unable to escape her deadly onslaught. Yasu, though unable to see the exact events, recognized the attack's name and urgently shouted for the person to dodge. But it seemed too late, as the arrows closed in on their seemingly immobile target, poised to pierce him.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the door of the wooden box slammed open with tremendous force. The next moment, instead of witnessing a punctured figure or hearing the stranger's cries of pain, Yasu and the demon were met with an entirely unexpected sight. The arrows, which were once directed at the cloaked figure, lay scattered on the ground, cut into pieces, and swiftly turned into ashes, as if they had been sliced apart by a nichirin blade.
A moment of stunned silence hung in the air as the demon's gaze shifted between the cloaked figure, the now-open box whose contents remained concealed from her, and the remnants of her disintegrated arrows. "What...?" she muttered, utterly bewildered by the turn of events.
The cloaked figure, however, couldn't contain himself any longer and burst into laughter. "Pfft," he chuckled, his amusement evident in his muffled voice.
The demon, recovering from her daze, narrowed her eyes at the human. "Are you mocking me...?" she demanded, her incredulity evident in her tone.
"Oh please, I would nev-HEH"
Veins bulged on her face as rage contorted her features into a snarl the moment she heard the cloaked figure's chuckles. Even without seeing his face, she could easily imagine the mocking expression he was likely wearing. The audacity of this human to mock her infuriated her beyond measure.
Yasu, still lying injured on the ground, could only watch as the demon summoned an innumerable number of arrows seemingly out of thin air. She shot them with inhuman speed, unleashing a rapid succession of deadly projectiles aimed squarely at the cloaked figure, this time with the intent to kill. However, to her growing shock and disbelief, the same mysterious phenomenon occurred again, causing her arrows to disintegrate into nothingness mid-flight.
"What is the meaning of this?! How are you doing this?!" she screeched in frustration, her sense of superiority shattered. She prided herself on her precision and marksmanship, so this inexplicable turn of events left her baffled.
"Heh. Wouldn't you like to know? Weren't you supposed to kill me?" the cloaked figure taunted once more, his fingers idly tapping the box while he rested his chin on a hand. His mockery further infuriated the demon, and she readied herself to lunge at him and make him pay for his insolence.
However, her intentions were abruptly halted as something emerged from the opened box. Her pupilless eyes widened comically in terror as she saw a new presence grow and tower over her. She could barely speak, her voice a mere whisper, as fear gripped her. The sight of a demon coexisting with a human, especially this demon, was an impossible and horrifying concept that sent shivers down her spine. What in the world was happening, and why was HE involved?
Yasu struggled to comprehend the abrupt shift in his arrogant opponent's behavior. His vision, red and blurry, hindered him from fully grasping the unfolding scene, reducing everything before him to a mere blob of colors. This prompted him to rely more on his hearing to piece together what was happening.
Suddenly, the air filled with the sound of swift slashing, too rapid for his impaired vision to follow. But what followed was a blood-curdling shriek that seared into his ears, making him flinch.
What was going on?
Before he could make sense of the situation, he felt something land right in front of him with a heavy thud. Startled, he couldn't help but let out a yelp as he realized that it was the demon's head.
"W-WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?! WHY ME?! I JUST WANTED A GOOD HUNT DAMMIT! THIS IS NOT FAIR! DAAAD-"
Her cries for help were abruptly cut short as her mouth turned into ashes, followed by the rest of her head, causing her to vanish completely.
Had the demon been slain? By whom? Had another slayer arrived to finish the job? Thank goodness...
"Ah, and here I thought you wouldn't come out! Thanks!" Yasu heard a voice chirping nearby. It sounded vaguely feminine, but his weakening consciousness couldn't be entirely certain. The voice seemed to be engaged in conversation with someone or something, but Yasu couldn't see or understand the details. His breath grew ragged, and his eyelids felt heavier as fatigue overtook him.
"What? Don't look at me like that now, I know I could've handled things, but I wanted to see if you'd protect me! Does that mean that you like me? Aw, don't be shy—Oi, don't ignore me! Hm, what is it? What are you looking at—Oh!" the mysterious figure suddenly realized something, gasping in realization. "Holy shit, totally forgot about you! Please hang on, dude!" Their hurried footsteps drew closer to Yasu's body, but he was immobilized by pain. Everything hurt.
Blood flowed from him profusely now that the arrows were no longer embedded in his flesh. Was this the end for him? He thought about how pitiful his situation was...
As the figure approached his location, Yasu was tempted to tell them not to bother since it was too late for him.
Sleep sounded so inviting...peaceful. Surely, no one would mind if he just closed his eyes for a bit...right?
The young man missed the figure's glowing outstretched hand reaching toward him as he closed his eyes, convinced this would be his final moment—
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"..su..!"
...huh...?
"..Ya...!"
This...this voice...
"...lease...wake..up!"
...wake...up? What do you mean, wasn't he dead? What the-
He felt something repeatedly poking his head, which annoyed him, but he could tolerate it. That was until the poking got dangerously close to his eye, jolting him awake. His eyes snapped open, and he gasped as he sat up.
"Where-"
"Oh my god! Miho is so glad that Yasu is okay!" a voice cawed loudly in relief, feathers brushing against his face, "Thank god thank God thank god-"
"...Miho?" Yasu asked in disbelief, recognizing the voice. It was his kasugai crow! "Miho!" he cried in shock and embraced the bird, who squawked in surprise. He hadn't expected to see the crow in the afterlife, but he was overjoyed to see her! "I can't believe it, did we really die? I'm so sorry! I should've been more careful!"
"Huh? 'Die'? Yasu's alive, idiot!"
"Alive...?" He muttered in shock. That wasn't...wait. He remembered being sent to investigate a nearby village where there was a rumor about a demon terrorizing its inhabitants. As a freshly promoted tsuchinoe, he had taken the mission confidently. However, once there, his crow was struck down by an arrow, enraging him enough to foolishly attack in retaliation and suffer the same fate. So how on earth was he okay?
Yasu finally took in his surroundings and noticed that dawn was approaching, realizing that he was still in the forest. This could only mean one thing: he must have lost consciousness for a few hours at most. The big question now was HOW THE HELL WAS HE OKAY?! WASN'T HE LIKE, DYING EARLIER?! Aside from the fact that he was no longer injured, which puzzled the heck out of him, he-
"Savior!" his crow chirped happily, interrupting his thoughts.
"Savior?" Yasu muttered in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"A mysterious person appeared and healed Miho before Miho could die! He saved Yasu too, that's why Yasu got no injuries! Savior! Savior!"
"Now come on that's not possiACK-"
"it is! How does Yasu explain his state, Yasu dummy! Dummy!" the bird shouted, rudely poking him on the cheek to his dismay.
Yasu sighed, realizing that Miho was right. He couldn't explain it, but he was indeed alive and breathing. It felt as though he'd never gone on the mission in the first place. Despite the damaged uniform and the vivid memory of his companion being injured, it almost seemed like a surreal experience. Perhaps it was a spirit or some divine intervention. Whatever it was, he saw it as a second chance at life, a sign to become stronger and more cautious. He couldn't afford to let such a reckless incident happen again. What would his siblings say if they knew about this? They'd surely scold him for his recklessness, and he couldn't blame them.
The young slayer decided to get up, still feeling a bit disoriented but otherwise okay. He retrieved his sword and sheathed it, pondering the mysterious person and the cloaked figure. Miho had confirmed they were one and the same, leaving him both amazed and intrigued.
Yasu walked along the path leading to the village, and his crow, as energetic as ever, glided over to him. He couldn't help but wonder about the strange events that had transpired.
"Was he the one who killed the demon?" Yasu inquired. He recalled the demon's head in front of him and the overwhelming fear it had displayed. Whoever had defeated it must have been incredibly powerful.
"No!" Miho responded energetically, "it was a swordsman! Really powerful! But Miho didn't see it clearly! Too fast!"
This left Yasu in a state of bewilderment, mulling over the peculiar turn of events. Perhaps he'd inquire with his siblings if they had heard of a cloaked figure roaming the night as well. It was a mystery he couldn't simply ignore.
__________
"IDIOT!"
"ACK!"
"I CAN'T BELIEVE- WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO RECKLESS?! ARE YOU DUMBER THAN I THOUGHT?!"
"I said I was sorry!" Yasu whined, massaging his throbbing head with a pout. "You didn't have to smack me this hard.."
"Yeah. 'sorry' WON'T ERASE THE FACT THAT YOU NEARLY DIED! WHAT WOULD KIYOSHI THINK?! THE KID LOOKS UP TO YOU, WHAT WOULD HE SAY?! HUH?! AND I WILL SMACK YOU HOWEVER I WANT, I'M THE OLDER SIBLING, DAMN IT. "
"Just by 5 minutes.."
"SHUT THAT MOUTH OF YOURS YOU BRAT."
Yasu sighed through his nose as he watched his brother lecture him, fully aware that he deserved it. He had come dangerously close to death the day before, saved only by this mysterious 'savior' who had rescued him and Miho out of nowhere. Speaking of the bird, he threw a subtle glare in her direction, but it wasn't subtle enough, and his twin noticed, promptly bonking his head once again.
"Oh, don't glare at Miho like that! She did a great job telling me what happened since Mister here didn't find it necessary to tell me!"
"Alright, just calm down, Suya! I'm alive, and that's the end of the story!"
Hokuro Suya
Suya's eye twitched. "Alive thanks to this 'savior' of yours, otherwise, you'd be dead and buried six feet under!" he fumed, patting the unapologetic bird's little head. "I can't believe you have such a dumb owner."
"idiot!" Miho chirped from her spot on Suya's shoulder.
"idiot indeed," Suya confirmed with a nod, irritating his kneeling brother who let out an offended "Oi" in response. The two of them were currently inside a Wisteria house that Yasu had stumbled upon on his way, conveniently located where his brother was resting after a mission. Unlike Yasu's close brush with death, Suya's mission had gone smoothly, aside from a broken arm that was on its way to healing. Yasu had watched in horror as his crow had flown back and practically spilled the beans to Suya about everything, which infuriated his brother, leading to their current conversation. After being told to kindly keep the noise down because they were apparently bothering other slayers, the twins found themselves at a table, both garbed in the house's signature purple-colored yukatas.
"So, do you remember what this 'savior' looks like? We should find him and thank him for saving your sorry ass," Suya inquired, still a bit annoyed by his brother's recklessness but also immensely relieved for Yasu's survival. Being demon slayers wasn't the path to a long life with a spouse and children, but they needed to protect their younger siblings from these monsters. They had already lost their dad a year ago.
"No," Yasu shook his head, munching on his fish. "I couldn't see a damn thing, though Miho told me that he wore a cloak and a mask. That's all I know," he revealed before pausing at his brother's gaping face with a frown, chopsticks halfway in his mouth. "What?"
"No way..."
"What? What is it?"
"I can't believe it... Tell me, was he wearing a kitsune mask?" Suya leaned in, his eyes suddenly sparkling, which weirded his brother out, causing him to lean back.
"Uh... yeah? What of it?"
"What of it? Yasu, Taiyo-shin just saved your life! How lucky!"
"Kami, keep it down, would you?! And who's this 'Taiyo-shin' you're yapping about?" Yasu hissed, finding his brother's sudden enthusiasm strange as hell.
Suya deadpanned, wondering if his brother was a lost cause. "Are you serious?" After only receiving a confused look in response, Suya sighed and proceeded to enlighten his brother about this sun god, with his enthusiasm returning halfway through the discussion.
"You have no idea how many people are after him! Even the Pillars are seeking him out without success!" Suya informed.
Yasu pondered it for a while as silence settled. He glanced up at his brother. "Say, Suya,"
"Hm?"
"You said he's mostly seen wandering alone, right?"
Suya cocked his head to the side in question. "Yeah, what of it?"
"I was wondering, did anyone notice a swordsman accompanying him?"
"A 'swordsman'? Not to my knowledge, why?"
Yasu proceeded to explain what his crow told him a day prior, confusing Suya.
"Hm, from what I heard, he travels alone. I've never heard of a swordsman accompanying him. However, he was recently seen carrying a box sometimes. That's all I'm aware of. He's slippery as a snake! No one knows what he's up to. Did Miho see what the swordsman looked like?"
"No, he was too fast for her to see and disappeared along with him."
Suya finished his meal with pursed lips and a hand holding his chin as a thoughtful expression took hold of his features. "Well, not much is known about him, so it might've been a one-time thing, who knows." he shrugged. "Though, word is out that he might actually be a divinity in disguise. You know what? I'm inclined to believe it since you're here alive and kicking." He grinned.
Yasu blinked before shrugging. "Huh, maybe it's a demon pretending to be a god? Wouldn't be that far-fetched," he mumbled, skeptical about it.
"Impossible," Suya shook his head adamantly, "he's also seen outside under the sun. There's no way for him to be a demon."
"How do you explain the cloak, then?"
"Privacy? Anyway, why on earth would he help us if he was a demon? Use that brain of yours for kami's sake!"
Yasu glanced at him blankly, then he squinted. "Why are you defending him anyway? Could it be that you caught feelings for him too? Really, you should fix that u-"
Suya's grip on his chopsticks tightened suddenly. "DON'T BRING MY LOVE LIFE INTO THIS, YOU IMBECILE!"
"AH! SO I'M RIGHT THEN!"
"SHUT UP! I'LL KICK YOUR ASS."
"WITH YOUR BROKEN ARM?"
"OH DON'T PLAY WITH ME YOU LITTLE-"
The shoji door slid harshly, interrupting the bickering duo who both snapped their heads toward the intruder, only to blanch at the sight of the livid person currently glaring at them. They quickly scrambled to their feet, disregarding their dinner, both sweating profusely in dread.
Veins were visible on the person's scarred face, which seemed at this point rightfully pissed off. It seemed like his sleep had somehow been disrupted if his puffy eyes were any indication. "You bozos better SHUT THE HELL UP before I give you both a real reason to be here, got it?" He threatened, pale purple eyes narrowing viciously on the twins who flinched, then immediately bowed in apology.
"H-Hai! Shinazugawa-sama!" they both exclaimed in unison, knowing better than to argue with a pillar.
[WIND PILLAR]
Shinazugawa Sanemi.
Sanemi clicked his tongue, "The old lady told you to shut it earlier, didn't she? Are you two deaf, or do you want me to beat some sense into you?!" he snarled, his grip on the door partially damaging it. He briefly glanced at the door before returning his gaze to the duo. He'll apologize later to the owners, but as of now, he was boiling.
The twins apologized once again, truly terrified for having angered the Wind Pillar of all people! Talk about bad luck! Yasu didn't just escape death only to be killed by the fierce warrior. The white-haired male sniffed before slamming the door shut, presumably walking away, leaving the shaken duo to their own devices.
"..." Yasu stood there, dumbly watching the door as he straightened up along with his twin. "May I ask, dear brother, why you didn't see fit to inform me of the presence of the Wind Pillar?" he asked suddenly.
"I forgot."
"You forgot."
"Yeah."
"Huh. Do you mind telling me why you're blushing then?"
"That's none of your business!" Suya snapped out of his daze, hissing with slightly red cheeks, eliciting a snort from his brother, which he smacked afterward. "Anyway, don't question me. If Taiyo-shin was truly an enemy, you wouldn't be here being a fu-"
The door slid open once again, startling the duo, both of whom stiffened at the sight of the same pillar who was now looking at them with a contemplative frown. Dear kami, what did they do now.
"How much do you know about him?" Sanemi marched inside, scrutinizing the two with a squint. His scarred torso was visible for the world to see, and boy did Suya struggle not to peek. He maintained a respectful attitude, otherwise, he'd risk getting mauled by the pillar, but could you blame him?!
" 'Him?'" Yasu parroted since his brother seemed to be struggling to talk.
"This 'Taiyo-shin' you idiot," Sanemi grunted, folding his arms. "Heard you mention him earlier, now spill."
Before Yasu could open his mouth to respond, his brother beat him to it by dragging the younger twin in front of him as if presenting Yasu to a bunch of people. "My brother actually had a run-in with him during his last mission yesterday, Shinazugawa-sama!"
This seemed to pique his attention as a grin slowly formed on his face, intimidating the duo all of a sudden. The atmosphere immediately shifted as both siblings tensed when they met the wind pillar's gaze. Uh oh.
"Well then, tell me more about it."
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[Taiyo-shin]
(Art by me)
EDITED