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He pauses and sighs a little.
“This is another one of Kocho’s games isn’t it…where she gets people to annoy me.” He says. Shinobu steps out of a room, now wearing the same uniform as the new swordsman, with the butterfly haori over it.
“Ah Tomioka-San.” She says, walking over to him and patting him on the shoulder.
“I made friends with this woman Tomioka-San, she has some knowledge of demons so I believe she’ll be able to help.” Shinobu says, Tomioka just nods.
“This is Giyu Tomioka by the way, another one of the hashira.” Shinobu says as they step outside.
“No this is not a game. I was actually talking to her as she had some information I was looking for.” She steps outside and turns to Tomioka. “ Hajimemashite Tomioka-san, I am Brigid McDonald.
Tomioka nods.
“I located someone who knows about this, however she was quite ill.” Tomioka says.
“Ill? You came to the right person then.” Shinobu says, attaching her sword sheath to her belt.
"Was she attacked by the 'bear'?
“I don’t think so, more of a fever, but she knows if it.” Tomioka says. They arrive at the wooden house, Tomioka opens the door. A woman was lying in bed on the floor.
“I’ll treat her as best I can.” Shinobu says, Tomioka just nods.
“Ah, ok then. But she knows of the ‘bear’ so maybe she will be able to tell us more when she recovers.”
“So, you know of demons? What exactly do you know?” Tomioka asks.
“I know of demons, I have been reading about them for some time. I know that they have been around a while but have not been spotted here for a very long time.”
“We deal with them all the time.” Shinobu says.
“We just keep it quiet. Most of the time. The legends from the sengoku period are true.” Tomioka says.
“Meaning they’re not legends, in other words.”
“I suppose that it would be best to keep it quiet. I had a feeling that the legends were more than just legends. But how do you keep everything quiet?”
“Usually we deal with demons before they cause too much damage. We get lucky most of the time because these demons usually fit into local legend.” Tomioka says. Shinobu feels the woman’s forehead to check if she had a temperature. The woman wakes up and immediately reaches for a knife, sitting up.
“Who the hell are you people?!” She asks, Tomioka stands up.
“I guess that has worked for you so far. Its lucky that the demons fit the local legends.” She is quiet as Shinobu checks the womans temperature and begins to get in a defensive stance as the woman reaches for the knife.
"We're demon slayers." Tomioka says. The woman looks at him and raises her eyebrow.
"What...?" She asks.
"Now now Tomioka-San, you have to have some tact." Shinobu says, kneeling down.
"We're here to search for the bear that the locals have described." Shinobu says.
"The bear...yeah, it killed my father...I...I was looking for it."
Brigid kneels down next to the woman. "And did you find anything?"
“I…I uh…” she says, relaxing a bit but still not putting the knife down.
“How about we start with your name?” Shinobu asks.
“Yae…” the woman says, slightly confused.
“Ah, now Yae-San, this…’bear’, did you encounter it?” Shinobu asks.
“I…yes, it killed two other hunters, so I tried to run, I got away but got lost in the snow.” Yae says, Tomioka thinks for a moment.
“Where? Can you lead us too it?” Tomioka asks, Yae hesitates and then shakes her head.
“N…no, I got lost.” She says.
"Do you remember what general area you were in? That could still be useful to us."
“I…” she says, pausing.
“Just to the east, in that treeline.” Yae says, standing up and grabbing her hunting rifle.
“No, you need more rest.” Shinobu says, gesturing for her to sit down. Tomioka looks at her.
“One of your family, or a friend, they acted weirdly, and ended up hurting or killing others, that’s what this is isn’t it?” Tomioka asks. Yae brushes him off and steps towards the door.
“Yae-San, let me clarify something, I’ve never seen a demon return to being a human, never.” He says.
"Thank you. And Shinobu is right, you need to rest but I can tell that you will not give up so easily. So you can come with us, it is probably better because you know where to go."
“I want to alone, I always hunt alone.” Yae says, Giyu and Shinobu look at each other for a moment.
“Well we have to-“ Tomioka starts to say, Yae quickly picks up her hunting rifle and pushed past Tomioka, running out of the house. Shinobu sighs.
“I know you try to save everyone you can Tomioka-San, but at this rate we won’t be able to do so.” Shinobu says.
“She’s paranoid, just lost her father and is in the middle of a fever. She’s terrified.” Tomioka says, stepping to the door and walking out.
"She is terrified and maybe it is best to give her some space for now. We dont want to push her too much."
“I’m following, if what I believe she’s hiding is true, then it’s a demon.” Tomioka says, Shinobu shrugs and follows as Tomioka follows the footsteps in the snow. As the get close to the treeline he draws his sword and cautiously steps forward.
"Of course we follow her but give her space." Brigid is cautious as they approach the treeline.
Tomioka steps forward and then he hears a gunshot, he runs forward and sees Yae holding a rifle, she’d just shot at a demon, tears in her eyes, as the demon lunges at her Tomioka rushes forward, his blue tinted blade slashing the demons arm off.
Brigid sees the demon lunge at her and throws an iceball to slow it down.
Tomioka kicks it away after slicing off it's arms, it's arms start to slowly heal. The Demon was a human man, still clearly humanoid but feral looking, with distinct eyes and fangs.
"T...that's my father! I-" Yae says.
"No. It's not anymore." Tomioka says, Shinobu sighs.
"Such a shame to do this in front of the demons family, still, I have a job to do." Shinobu says, drawing a strange sword that seemed to have a bit of the blade removed.
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