Chapter 13 — Interview with a Demon

The inn bed was warm. The blanket, soft. But my eyes stayed open.

I had fought demons before. I had seen them tear people apart, heard them scream and laugh and bite.

I rolled over. My crow snored from the corner. It was louder than it had any right to be.

"Forget it," I muttered, sitting up.

I grabbed the food bundle from the corner—two rice balls and a bottle of water. I tied the cloth and stepped out into the cool night air.

The forest was darker than before. Quieter too.

I didn't bring my blade

i am only going there to talk.

Which was probably the dumbest idea I'd ever had.

The temple ruins hadn't moved. Still broken. Still lonely.

I walked in and sat cross-legged in the center of the crumbling floor. The moonlight filtered through the cracked roof. The wind pushed against old wooden beams that groaned like tired bones.

I placed the food down and cleared my throat.

"Ghost-san," I called.

Nothing.

"I brought food."

Still nothing.

I waited.

Then louder. "Ghost-saaaan!"

Some birds flew off the trees in the distance.

I took a breath and shouted again, hand cupped around my mouth. "Hey, scary demon with the cool sword and emotional damage! I know you're there!"

Behind me, something thudded softly.

I turned.

There he was. Standing on a broken beam, cloak flowing, mask shining faintly in the moonlight.

"Demons don't eat human foods, we eat humans as food.

"More for me, then," I replied, already chewing.

He stepped down, slow and smooth. His sword was at his side, but his posture was relaxed. "Where is your sword?"

"I didn't bring it" "Why?"

"Cause I'm here only talk", I replied. "Are you stupid or braindead?"

"Neither"

"If I ignore you, will you leave?"

"Nope."

He sighed and sat across from me like someone being forced into a group activity.

"So," I said between bites, "you live here?"

"No."

"You always hang out in ruins?"

"No."

"You sleep?"

"Rarely."

"You got hobbies?"

"Not answering questions."

I grinned. "We're off to a great start."

He rested an arm on one raised knee and stared into the darkness.

I pulled out the second rice ball and waved it toward him.

"Hungry?"

"I eat people."

"Okay, fine. But… if you had to eat something else, what would it be?"

He paused.

"…Maybe soba noodles."

"See? That's progress."

He shook his head, clearly regretting his life choices.

I pointed toward his sword.

"That's a real Nichirin blade, right?"

He glanced at it. "Yes."

"How did you get it?"

"From a corpse."

"…Cool. And if it breaks?"

"I'll find another corpse."

"Dude."

"I'm practical."

"Yeah, and terrifying."

After a while, the jokes faded. The silence grew heavier.

I leaned forward slightly.

"Yesterday, you said you knew my technique. That it reminded you of something."

He didn't speak for a long time. Then:

"Yes. It resembles Moon Breathing."

I blinked. "Moon Breathing…?"

"That's one of the original breathing techniques. The only known user in the history is Kokushibo. He didn't teach anyone his technique."

The name felt like a stone dropping in my chest.

I had heard of him. Everyone in the corps had. A monster. A legend. A former demon slayer who turned into Upper Moon One.

"Where did you learn it from?", He asked. "I saw it in my dreams"

"What point of view you had in the dreams?"

"I was using it…, I mean I saw it from the eyes of the user."

"So, most probably…"

"Are you saying…" I began slowly, "I'm connected to him?"

"Yes"

I stared at my hands.

I didn't know how to feel. Proud? Disgusted? Curious?

"So," I said carefully, "you knew him?"

"Yes."

"…What was he like?"

A long pause.

Then Ghost said, "He was... focused. Proud. Trapped in his own perfection."

"That sounds depressing."

"It was."

I looked up at him. "So, did he teach you any techniques?"

"No.. but I know a few tricks as I was with him for years."

"Can you teach me?"

"No."

I waited.

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Still no."

"I'll just keep talking until you do."

His mask tilted slightly.

"You are insufferable."

"I've been told that."

He sighed. Deeply. As if carrying the weight of every mistake that led to this moment.

"…Fine. I'll show you one form. Just one."

I grinned. "Deal!"

He told me to bring out my blade. "You know I didn't bring it."

"You dumb-fu*k"

"Come one, you do have a blade."

"I don't give my blade to amateurs."

I was tired so I didn't argue.

So we just sat for a while.

Talking.

Well, I talked.

He tolerated.

But every now and then, I saw it.

His shoulders lowered. The tension eased. He didn't seem as alone.

When I finally stood to leave, I looked back.

He hadn't moved.

But as I walked away, I thought I heard something.

Not words.

Just… a breath.

A small exhale in the dark.

To Be Continued…