The sound of multiple footsteps resounded in the town as people went about their daily lives. Idle chatter was the norm with people talking about several details, but among those numerous bits of gossip some important details could be picked out.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
Whispers echoed.
"It's about Mr Okumura, word is his daughter is missing."
"She probably just ran away from home. She is still a teenager."
"But what about mrs Nakada's neice, don't you think it's a bit strange."
Behind the cheerful smiles of the people lay uncertainty. However short it was, there had already been a string of disappearances and with each new victim the uncertainty was sure to increase.
Humans were such strange creatures. They were inherently weak by nature but found respite in colluding as a collective mass, that didn't change the fact of their weakness but they were ok with that.
For the people whispering about the mysterious disappearances it seemed like no more than gossip to pass the time, but was it? It was something much more unsettling. They weren't the ones with a missing family member so their apprehension was close to none.
Chisuke pondered about the fate of the missing victims. From what he could tell, in all honesty they had most likely passed on to the next life. He knew that much from his sense of smell. There was a demon somewhere in the town and demons needed to eat humans for sustainance.
He found it rather comical how he didn't feel the least bit bothered by the crimes of the inhuman feind lurking in the shadows. Perhaps it was because he wasn't human himself, he also wasn't a demon. He was more than that, he was cursed.
While lost in thought, a short figure momentarily bumped into Chisuke. In that instant he caught a glimpse of red. A shade of vibrant red was the colour of her hair. It was beautiful and oh so fleeting. Just as soon as Chisuke caught a glimpse of the colour, he lost sight of it.
A short girl nimbly made he was through the crowd with practiced ease. Her appearance was rather haggard in summer lounger wear. Her jinbei had seen better days, it's edges adorned with tatters as it came apart at the seams.
Her body was petite but not immature, her brown eyes held a mischievous glint and her hands a purse full of coins.
A smile spread across the girl's face as she chuckled. Maybe it was born out of her experience in her line of work, but the girl had confidence. So much so that she could steal from a swordsman without a second thought.
"Pretty good haul if I do say so myself."
She tossed the purse up a couple of times catching it with skillful movement. The motion continued for a while before the girl deemed it fit to stop, placing the purse inside her dress.
The girl clapped her hands twice in a motion of prayer. It made for quite a sight considering her profession, perhaps she was giving thanks for her haul or asking for mercy.
"With this I should finally be able to cover big sister's treatment."
A solemn look replaced the one of mischief on the girl's face as she stopped in front of a alleyway.
"I hope so."
The girl quickly dispelled her gloominess and happily trailed off.
I wonder what big sister is going to make for dinner.
"Big sister's cooking."
The single though of that gave her enough joy to overwhelm her sadness.
Behind the girl, Chisuke moved with the presence of a predator stalking its prey. His crimson eyes glowed through the slits when he finally got close enough for an ambush.
Chisuke grabbed the girl's hand and violently slammed it into the wall, completely immobilizing her with one fluid motion.
"Got you."
The girl's eyes widened in shock as she stood like a caged animal between Chisuke and a wall. If before the sight of Chisuke's mask was something she thought amusing, now it was a symbol of terror.
The girl shuddered. She had been caught, and now she was going to face her punishment. The sight of Chisuke's swords as well as the darkness behind his mask made her feel nothing but dread.
While holding the girl with his left hand, Chisuke swiftly drew his katana with his right.
The girl expected to hear a high pitched shing as the blade was drawn, but her expectations were dashed. A soft whisper was all that was heard as the katana escaped its wooden sheath.
Drops of red flowed down the black blade that broke her skin just before stopping. It's colour was mesmerizing, a shade of absolute black like charcoal.
The blade was like a shadow whose every inch of the blade seemed to devour the light of day, lest for the part that was already covered by blood.
On the sword was an engraving, it bore a name. The characters Yami no ken, a blade forged of darkness.
The patch of crimson on the blade was a clear reminder to the girl that her life hung by a thread and even the least bit if movement could disrupt the balance.
The girl was by no means experienced with a blade, but she could tell the young man in front of her was. Enough so that taking her life posed no challenge, his blade had moved so fast that she only realized it after it's cold, black steel came upon her neck.
Chisuke took a deep breath.
"That's not right."
Almost as soon as Chisuke drew his blade he brought it down in a fluid stroke that threw the blood of it before returning it to it's sheath.
"You're not the demon."
Chisuke had extraordinary senses far beyond human ability that allowed him to perceive the demons. That was what had led him to this town, and the thieving girl in front of him.
He could smell it. The heavy stench of blood that loomed over the girl, but that was all.
"You're a girl. No, a boy?"
For some reason his senses went haywire around the girl. It was like she was some sort of unknown entity, even to the extent that he mistook her for a boy.
Taken aback by the girl, Chisuke momentarily loosened his grip. A moment was all it took.
The girl wasted no time in wrenching herself free and fleeing.
Chisuke watched as she ran off into the alleyway with frightening speed, and then she took a turn. She was gone.
Chisuke scratched his hair as he stared at the spot where the girl disappeared from.
"Weird stuff."