Tale of the Last Demon Slayer

Chapter 15

HATORI’S POV

It’s morning already, the demon was devoured by the light from the sun but here I am, still staring a the axe pinned on the tree and holding this heavy stone. I wasn’t able to do anything about my coward sel. I wasn’t able to kill a single demon in front of me that had devoured countless of human. I can’t even kill a demon that is already helpless and cornered. I can’t ill. I can’t save my sister in my current state.

“Kid, the demon is already gone.” A voice from behind uttered.

“Sir, I can’t kill it. I don’t have the courage to kill a demon.” I said. I fall onto my knees and my eyes seems to cry. I can’t believe that I experienced all that in a single day and night.

“I know. I saw everything.” He patted my shoulder. “Kid, all demons are former humans who sold their humanity in exchange for power, they feed on humans to survive. You can feel sorry for them but you must kill them.” He said while sitting in front of me. I can’t see his face since he is wearing a mask. “Those are the most common demons here in villages and mountains, there are more lot stronger out there.”

“Sir, I want learn how to fight demons.” I said.

He didn’t answer, instead he stands up and walk closer to Akuma. My eyes widened when I realized that Akuma is still laying on the ground and I don’t know if he’s still alive.

“You want to learn to slay demons but you are being accompanied by a demon.” He said. He is now standing in front o Akuma. I’m waiting for him to pull out his sword but in my surprise he bent down his knees and comb Akuma’s hair using his hands.

“Sir, he is not a bad demon.” I said while trembling. I’m afraid that he might struck Akuma while it’s unconscious.

“I know.” I don’t know why but I sighed in relief. “I am just surprised that there still demons from the ancient times who do not eat humans and still alive.”

“You know about them?” I asked as I walk closer to the both of hem. I saw him nod. I can’t see his face but I can smell his intentions when I got closer to him. I think he might be in his fifty’s, his hair is white and his Kimono is plain blue that old people usually wear. Though he might be old, I can see his good built and his intentions is pure. I know that he will not hurt Akuma after I got to smell his aura.

“They are friends with humans in the past but that was before man eating demons started to hunt humans.” He stands up and walkaway.

Immediately get on my knees to se where he’s heading, he walks towards the empty house so I rum after him. I smile when he started to carry the corpses one at a time. He is a good person. I helped him bury all the dead bodies from the house. We made a grave at their front yard and offered prayers to the dead. It took us the whole morning but the old man never had a complaint. He quietly done it so I didn’t bother to ask. I just reminded myself about my own family. At that point I remember how I buried my family alone in our front yard while crying in sadness and despair.

When we finished the old man said he needs to leave but Akuma woke up and started to ask me questions. As usual our normal conversation went to shouting and insulting each other.

“Who is this old hag?” He innocently asked pointing his pointed finger to the old man.

“ Fool! He is the who save us.” I yelled.

“Twerp! He saved you. I saved my self, brat! I’m a monster and do you think you will survive if this old hag didn’t show up?” he pointed me.

“I know! I know, you don’t need to yell at my face. Your saliva is all over my face now, you ungrateful monster.” After I shouted back I heard the old man cleared his throat. He is staring at us. I felt embarrassed but Akuma just crossed his arms and turn around. “I’m sorry, Sir. Thank you for saving me earlier.” I said while awkwardly smiling and scratching my head in embarrassment.

“You need to go home, Kid.” He’s about to leave when I block hi way with my arms wide open.

“Sir, can I please know your name?” I shamelessly asked. He stared at me for a while but then I just found my self being patted by his heavy hands.

“Ushio Rosuke.” He said. Wait! Did he say Ushio Rosuke? “What’s wrong, Kid?” He asked when I started to look for my pocket and sleeves.

“My name is Hatori Sasaki and...” I tried to pull the paper inside my kimono. “....and, I’m looking for this man.” I said and showed him the paper that I was keeping since yesterday. “Soma-niisan asked e to find this man.” I pointed the name on the envelope.

The old man grab the paper rom me. He opened the enveloped and read what is inside. It might be Soma-niisan’s writing but I wasn’t able to read it. All I was asked was to find the man who can help me become a demon slayer. When he finished reading the content of the letter he hid the letter under his kimono and look at Akuma and then look at me afterwards.

“Follow me.” I sighed in relief knowing that I was able to find the right man in the letter.

Akuma and I followed him as he took the way in the deeper part of the forest. We continued walking for more than ten minutes now but I can’t see any houses or village. Akuma is on my head again since he came bac to his puppy form. This demon is really lazy. When we stop by the river to rest, Ushio-ojiisan started to ask me questions. He asked me the reasons why I want to be a demon slayer. I was able to share everything with him. I told him the reason why I’m traveling to find a certain demon.

“My family was devoured by demon the night before I met Soma-niisan. But my sister was taken away and I tried to follow her scent but I lost her in the mountains, all I know is that she’s still alive.” I explained to Ushio-san.

“I see. I’m sorry for your loss.” He said sincerely. He went down on the river and pull his sword out. “Can you start a bonfire, Hatori-kun?” he asked so I nodded and immediately prepared the materials to create a bonfire. While we are preparing for lunch, Ushio-san continues to ask me questions. “How did you meet, Akuma-kun?”

“I found him in our basement when I was about to leave home. He said he’s a thousand years old demon who’s friends with my father.”

“I see.”

After that he did not ask anymore questions. We cook the fishes he catch on fire an after grilling we both enjoyed eating. In the middle of our random conversation, Akuma wakes up.

“How dare you eat while I’m starving, Brat?!” he yelled right after he woke up.

“Just eat if you want and just shut your trap, fool.” I said and handed him a grilled fish. He jump down from my head and gram one. He sniffed it first and stare at it like it is harmful.

“I think I prefer eating it raw.” He said and returned to his demon form. He jumped into the water and started catching fish. We watch him try to catch some fish using his claw, he repeatedly tried to struck his claw in to the water but he can’t eve get a hold of a single fish. He is now growling angrily and cursing the fishes. He even yelled at the fishes telling them goo to him so he can eat. I tried my best no to laugh but i did not succeed. His stomach is growling louder than him and he looks terribly idiotic right there.

“Gramps, stop it! You look awful!” I said while laughing.

“Damn it!” the water splashes on my face. I look at him and now he’s staring at me. He splashed the water towards me again and again.

“HAHAHAHAH! i***t!” I said and jump in to the river and started to throw water at his face. We continued doing that until we gone tired on laughing and playing in the water.