Loyal Follower: Kami

The direction we were heading was North, as that was the last place the Demon had been sighted. The murders that had occurred were done sloppily as the Demon himself was easily seen multiple times in public, leading for the Demon Slayer Headquarters to label it as a low-level Demon. However, in the off chance that the very first mission that Kanae takes after a couple years of reclusion it goes wrong, I plan on being there.

Both securing the safety of Kanae and Shinobu. Following close behind Kanae with Shinobu standing next to me, I could feel her excitement oozing off her.

"Why're you so excited, aren't we going to go and kill something?" I ask worriedly.

"Why wouldn't I be excited?" Shinobu exclaims. "I finally get the chance to prove the research I've been doing sing you arrived is actually useful. And even if we are going to kill something, it's all for the betterment of the Demon Slayer War."

"But how do YOU plan to administer the poison to the target?"

"Well obviously, I put a poison coated needle in the Demon, observe the effect then move on from there." Shinobu explains.

"Wouldn't that require either Kanae or I to hold the Demon down? Isn't that risking the safety of us and therefore you?"

Continuing with my questions, Shinobu stops abruptly before thinking seriously.

"Well, it's only a low-level Demon, so I believe in you to handle the Demon while I inject my poison."

Showing me an overly optimistic smile after saying this, her words influence me to simply go along with what she says. Taking three days to reach the town where the Demon was sighted, we had appropriately reached the town just as the sun reached nine in the morning.

Spending our first hours investigating the movements of the Demon, we felt its trace was extremely weak, but it had recently murdered a citizen who was seemingly picked at random. Knowing that we would simply have to keep our senses open, the rest of the day lay in our hands.

As the three of us began to explore the town, Kanae eventually fell behind and then disappeared, going to explore another section of the town by herself. At realizing that it was only the two of us, both Shinobu and I turn our heads at the exact same time. Blushing slightly, Shinobu realized I was going to speak and gave me the right of way.

"This is a ghost town. Even after arriving with the sun shining clearly through the town, the people seem to remain in their houses."

Putting on her haughty explanatory attitude, Shinobu spoke. "Well of course. The Demon Slayer Corps is a private organization know by very few communities. The Corps receive no help from the government and rely on their own strengths to help these communities of people."

"You seemed to have studied up on the Demon Slayer Corps. Was it because you wanted to impress me with your knowledge?" Showing a teasing smile, Shinobu face in response grows into a blush before turning her head away.

"Of course not. My own sister is a Demon Slayer, so I thought of it as an obligation."

"Well, if it was for me." I continue. "Then I am certainly impressed."

Walking at a faster pace than before, Shinobu notices the increased distance and runs to catch up with me.

-

Standing on a roof with Kanae next to me and Shinobu behind me, we stare out into the town with the shine of the full moon illuminating our line of sight. Simultaneously, both Kanae and I feel the weak yet distinct feeling of a Demon entering the Town.

"Shiro, you go assess the situation. If the light is green, then I will proceed to move in with Shinobu. If the situation is red, then I give you full rights to eliminate the demon right then and there. Now go."

Receiving orders from Kanae, I proceed to jump from roof to roof, moving towards the Demon. Landing on a roof next to the home the Demon was about to enter, I push myself off the roof and put myself behind the Demon.

Grabbing it by the scruff of the neck, I rip the Demon backwards, sending it flying into another buildings wall. Watching as the dust from the impact cleared, I watched as a Demon, with the appearance of a normal businessman, removed himself from the wall.

Wiping his clothes of dust, the Demons attention boredly lay on me.

"You Demon Slayers sure took your sweet time to arrive here. My name is Kami, a name so graciously blessed upon me by my Lord. Since you finally arrived here though, it means I can finally end my ceaseless killing of such pathetic humans. The plan my Lord laid out could never be more perfect, so I hope you will excuse me as I kill you. It's all for hoping that I will become one with my Lord."

Finishing his small speech, I hear the clicking of his briefcase and watch as three papers fly out from it. Crumpling in on themselves, the paper then sharpens to a point before then shooting forwards towards.

Diving off to the side, the paper wizzes by my head, implanting themselves in the house walls behind me. Surprised by the speed that this Demon was able to produce, I look up to find him pleasantly surprised.

"Seems like you managed to dodge my attack. I would say a job well done, but I've barely even started."

Watching as he manually opens his briefcase, Kami mumbled 'Blood Demon Art: Paper Drill' before an unnumerable number of papers flew out from his case, flying in on each other to form a gigantic drill head, floating above himself.

No longer placing this Demon in the category of low-level, the drill then begins to spin. Increasing its speed at a dramatic pace, small wind gusts begin to whip off from the drill. Hearing the click of Kami's briefcase closing, the drill then shoots forward towards me.

Quickly unsheathing my sword, I use 'Water Breathing Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop' and instantly plunge my sword into the paper drill. Watching as the papers extend outwards, my blade continues to thrust forward until the technique burst, causing an enumerable number of papers to fly off.

Before all the papers can fall to the ground, they suddenly stop their fall, levitating there until Kami utters 'Blood Demon Art: Paper Prison'.

All of them fly towards me, constructing a wall around me. Being placed in darkness, I barely hear the words of Kami as he says, 'Blood Demon Art: Execution Day'. Blinded by the sudden introduction of moonlight, I look to find that a single row of papers, instead of standing vertically like every other paper, now stood horizontal.

Shooting across the prison, at bullet like speed, I quickly put myself out of the way. Understanding that the paper would swing at me like a guillotine if I stayed in here, I painfully change my breathing pattern and use 'Wind Breathing Third Form: Clean Storm Wind Tree', cutting cleanly through the entirety of my paper prison.

Seeing as his paper became shredded, the Demon seems to put immense focus into controlling the tiny strands of paper I had just cut. Exemplified by his face dripping with sweat, Kami then uses 'Blood Demon Art: Paper Monster'.

Watching confusedly as the paper I originally thought would be used to cut through me, the paper scraps form a cocoon around Kami. Mere moments later, Kami emerges from the cocoon, his body a sludge of what I can guess to be paper. His head on the other hand, remained untouched, leading for his head to twist to impossible angles as he stared at me.

"You're quite a strong Demon Slayer. But my Lord would never take that as an excuse, so I'll be sure to end the fight right here and now."

Finding the Demons words to be cultish compared to the two other Demons I've spoken to, I slowly ask him, "Who exactly is your Lord?"

"Such a dumb question to ask young Demon Slayer." Kami states while looking to the sky with utmost passion. "Who else would I serve other than the one, the only, most gracious Upper Moon Two. Even his Master can't compare to the grace that he shows."

Being struck by the fact that Doma was most likely watching this town, I began to breath heavily while worrying for the safety of Kanae and Shinobu. Putting myself in a run towards the Demon, I once again painful switch breathing patterns, and go into the execution stage of 'Water Breathing Tenth Form: Constant Flux'.

The second that Kami shoots blasts of paper towards me, the figure of a dragon emanates from my blade, easily slashing through his attacks. Rapidly increasing my rotations after that very first slash, every attack sent by Kami gets turned into a watery mush. As the worry from the Demon begins to increase, his attacks start to become more desperate but in return also become more predictable.

Having created a dragon with enough power to destroy the blade of any other Nichirin Blade, I conduct my very last rotation before then putting my blade through what should be the Demons neck. Seeing that the paper creature began to disintegrate, I began to convulse under the kickback from using such a powerful version of Constant Flux.

Finding the decapitated head of Kami, I once again see the look of disbelief and hysteria.

"I… I can't die. Everything…. EVERYTHING I've done so far had been for Master. So, there's no way I died. No way, right?"

Hearing chuckles of insanity, Kami's head eventually fades into nonexistence, leading for his laughter to echo from all around me. Gathering enough strength, I began my search for Kanae and Shinobu. Luckily, the first direction I traveled; I found the two of them on the outskirts of the town.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I continue to move as quickly as I can. Finally stopping on a roof closest to the scene, I hear Doma state, "I'll make sure to kill both you and your sister. You've made a grave mistake Demon Slayer, and execution seems to be in order."

As Doma goes to put himself into a combat ready state, Kanae dashes forward, instantly using 'Orchid Blossoming'.

Choosing to let Kanae fight Doma, even if only for a short period of time, I allow myself to recover from my fight with Kami.

Putting myself next to Shinobu, I can see her visibly shaking while watching the ongoing fight fearfully. Grabbing her drooped hand, she squeals out in both surprise and fear, but upon noticing that it was me, tears start to flow from her eyes.

Closing her eyes and putting her head against my chest in hoping that everything would be solved when she opened them again, I stroked her back reassuringly while making sure to keep a close eye on the fight occurring between Kanae and Doma.

"Help her." I hear Shinobu shakily demand.

Removing Shinobu from my embrace and looking her dead in the eyes, I show her my most reassuring smile, before stepping out in front of her and clicking my blade from its sheath. Watching as the aura around Kanae and Doma began to slightly change simultaneously, I use 'Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash'