Chapter 1: Introduction
“Bu, we don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Giyuu paused as he held her hand, a look of concern as he looked down to his girlfriend, or soon-to-be fiance once this demon is done with. “I can get rid of him with Shinazugawa instead,”
The aromatic scent of pine and the crisp mountain air filled Shinobu's lungs, and she realized she hadn't stopped to notice such things in years. She leaned against Giyuu's sturdy frame, admiring the magnificent view before her. Though her breath grew heavy from hiking up the slope, she felt invigorated, far removed from the chaos of battling hordes of demons on behalf of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Giyuu's hand remained wrapped around hers, and she appreciated his unspoken support.
A cabin nestled among the trees creaked rhythmically in the breeze, revealing a somber atmosphere within. They were here to punish Douma for the immense suffering he had caused Shinobu's sister.
"Shinobu, hold the incense," Giyuu quietly requested. He took a small pouch from his bag, extracted a pinch of wisteria incense, and added it to the brazier at the center of the cabin.
Shinobu thoughtfully watched as the purple bloom of incense slowly curled upwards, its fragrance permeating each corner of the aged wooden structure.
A sly, cold smile spread across Douma's terrifying face, contrasting sharply with his constantly changing appearance. He chuckled deeply, eyes gleaming insidiously. "You'd burn wisteria incense to keep me weak? How predictable yet amusing."
Through her shock, Shinobu's lips curled into a resolute frown.
"Yet, our only means of making you pay for your sins."
Douma let out a patronizing hum. "Punishment, you say? I assume you're unarmed, so you've brought me here to deliver a futile moral lesson."
Giyuu tensed. "We have more than enough power to contain you, Douma. And it's about time someone taught you a lesson."
Shinobu cautiously unwrapped the cloth that encased her slender sword.
"We may not be as physically imposing as you, but we are from the Demon Slayer Corps, Douma. You would do well not to underestimate us."
Douma gazed lazily at the revealed sword, then shifted his gaze back to Shinobu. "Hm. I can't deny the slight tingle I'm feeling. The incense does weaken me, slightly."
A cold gust of wind blew through the open cabin door, eliciting a shiver from Shinobu.
A wisp of the cloying wisteria incense drifted past her nose, and she inhaled deeply, feeling something shift within her.
Douma's grin never faltered, despite the weapon's revelation. "Impressive. Nevertheless, you should know better than to think you can keep such an agile beast in a cage without any issues."
The hint of a storm brewed in Giyuu's icy gaze.
He stepped protectively, if cautiously, between Douma and Shinobu. "Then you'll have to be patient, demon, since this particular cage is fitted with just a bit more security."
Douma remained undeterred by Giyuu's announcement, mocking laughter bubbling forth. "A shame that your desperation is as apparent in your actions as your lack of strength."
Shinobu's grip tightened around the sword, the blade's edge shining dully in the dim light. "We've killed your kind before, Douma.
We won't hesitate to do it again, if need be."
The cabin's silence seemed to grow thicker, creating a viscous barrier between Douma and the determined young lovers.
Shinobu's heart raced beneath her breastbone, her breath sawing in and out of her chest. Her voice, however, remained steady. "We've prepared ourselves for this encounter, demon. Your threats don't scare us."
Douma's eyes shone like a predator confronted with a fresh challenge.
He laughed softly—a mirthless, joy-infused sound that sent shivers down Shinobu's spine. "I applaud your bravado, young demon slayers. But you might wish you'd taken my warning seriously."
Shinobu's heart raced as she prepared herself for battle, her senses on high alert. She held her slender sword firmly, its blade gleaming defiantly in the dim light of the cabin. The wisteria incense continued to dance around the space, its hypnotic undulations casting a spell over everyone present.