"Kurogane Shikyou." Gyomei's hand froze on the boy's head. Kurogane Shikyou... Who named their child that?
Gyomei's hand fell to his side and he looked around the village. "I sense no movement around here. They're really dead..."
Shikyou, who had nothing to do than pick pebbles, watched Gyomei bury the bodies of those whose bodies weren't completely burned or turned to ashes.
After that, Gyomei turned to Shikyou who was thankfully not burning again. "Come with me child. I'll take you to a safer place."
"No need for that. I've already dug my grave." The boy pointed at a dugged hole by the side.
Gyomei shooked his head. "You can't die here. Your life is too fruitful to die so young."
Before Shikyou could respond or blink, the scarred swordsman carried him on his sturdy shoulder and turned to look at the village one last time but before he could run into the mist covered forest, a low growl emanated from the village.
"GROWL~"
Amidst the burning village, was a man in a bloodied kimono, staggering back and forth as he tried to control his footing.
Shikyou raised his head slightly, to see why the swordsman had stopped. Maybe contemplating burying him himself? But his gaze landed on the staggering man.
Strange. The man's body, which was supposedly burned, had started regenerating. Slowly but still regenerating.
'Can humans regenerate limbs now?' Caught up in his thoughts, Shikyou barely noticed the tears that fell on Gyomei's face until Gyomei spoke. "What a poor soul. Getting turned into a demon after being burned alive. So pitiful."
Gyomei turned around and pushed his legs apart, going into a defensive stance. Shikyou squirmed. "Hey, you're blocking the view." But Gyomei just took a breath and rolled the ball and chain in his hands.
Before anyone could even breath, the man now turned demon's head was bashed in by the iron ball as blood splattered everywhere. The body fell limp on the floor and turned the ashes which faded into the night sky.
Shikyou, whose vision was obstructed the whole time, didn't flinch at the wrenching sound but rather raised an eyebrow. A swordsman killing a human... wasn't he supposed to save the survivors?
"Why did you kill that man?" Shikyou asked flatly, watching the stars behind. Gyomei started walking towards the village entrance, tears streaming down his face. "That poor soul isn't a man anymore but a flesh-eating demon."
The wind blew behind them as Gyomei ran into the forest, his haori whipping around. Shikyou watched as the village he grew up in became smaller and smaller until it became just a fiery light. A memory that may or may not stick in his mind.
His life had changed in one night and he was being carried to who knows where by a scarred swordsman who looked to tall for his own good.
As the wind hit his face, Shikyou felt his eyes grow heavy as exhaustion finally caught up to him.
'....Demons are real?'