Mist Hashira Seina Yūrei 幽霊 清名

Kuro's defeat had indeed brought temporary reprieve to Seina and Haruto, yet in that misty air still felt the tint of ominous foreshadowing. Merciless had been that fight, and they were triumphant, yet Seina had taken to heart a certain phrase from the battle-sigil-just a doorway. What could lie beyond such an ominous portal? Was Kuro really the most potent evil to face?

They walked through the smoky, burnt woods, the smallest light of dawn filtering in through the mist. Haruto walked a pace ahead of him, his sword resting on his shoulder. He hadn't said much since the battle ended, but Seina knew he was deep in thought.

"What do you think Kuro said about the sigil?" she asked, out of the blue.

Haruto turned to her, his face serious. "I don't know for sure. But if demons are using sigils to amplify their power, it's not just a random occurrence. Someone-or something-is orchestrating this."

Seina frowned. A deeper threat lurking in the shadows did little for her confidence. "You think it's Muzan?

Haruto shook his head. "Muzan's power is absolute, but he has never relied on sigils like this. This feels different, almost another force altogether."

Seina shivered at the mere thought. "Another force? As if one wasn't bad enough."

Haruto chuckled, though it held little mirth. "Welcome to the life of a Demon Slayer. Always another battle, another mystery.".

The more obvious signs of Kuro's rampage they saw as they drew closer to the village: cinder houses, trees uprooted, and in the air was this faint smell of ash. Villagers, cautious glances thrown at them, began to mill around them. There was relief, gratitude on their faces.

"You did it!" exclaimed an elderly woman, quivering, her voice seemingly ringing with echoes. "Is the demon gone at last?"

Seina nodded. "It's over. You won't get any more bother from it now."

The people rejoiced-joy amidst despair, voices signaling a ray of hope. Children gathered around them, Seina and Haruto, their eyes wide-eyed with admiration. A little boy grabbed Seina's arm.

"Are you, like, some kind of hero?" he innocently asked.

Seina knelt, a soft smile on her lips. "I'm just trying to protect others."

The boy grinned and ran off, his laughter echoing through the crowd. Haruto watched the interaction, his expression softening. "You're good with people," he noted.

Seina shrugged. "They've been through enough. The least we can do is give them hope."

The village leader, a grim-looking man with creased, weather-worn features, stepped forward to them. "You have done for us more than we can ever hope to repay," he said, bowing his head deep. "But I must warn you… there are rumors of other villages falling under similar attacks. The sigils-they've been appearing elsewhere."

Haruto's eyes narrowed. "Do you know where?

The leader hestitated before pointing east. "There is a small village near the mountains. Rumors of bizarre occurrences have been circulating there-people vanish, and weird symbols appear overnight."

Seina looked over at Haruto. That battle with Kuro was damn tiring; but for their mission, there was nothing more to say. And neither could relax, knowing that possibly other people might be at risk, too.

"We shall investigate," Haruto said finally. "Thank you for information."

The way uphill to the village had been quite hard: in-forest winding paths, steep slopes-the air grew colder and grayer with every step. Seina felt that she was being watched; she never allowed her hand to be far from her blade.

"Do you feel that?" she asked quietly.

Haruto nodded, scanning the treetops. "We are being followed.".

Before Seina could respond, a figure stepped out from the shadows. It was a woman, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, and her kimono, though elegant, was stained with dark splotches.

"I see you've defeated Kuro," the woman said, her voice as smooth as silk. "Impressive. But you've only scratched the surface."

Haruto stepped forward, his sword held high. "Who are you?"

The woman smiled, an expression that chilled Seina's blood. "You may call me Ayame. I am… an observer, let's say."

Seina frowned. "Observer? Of what?"

"The chaos to come," Ayame said, a dry edge of humor lacing her tone. "You've disrupted our plans, but it's only a minor setback. The sigils are merely the beginning.".

Haruto's grip on his blade tightened. "If you're linked to the sigils, then you're our enemy."

Ayame laughed, a soft, cold sound that was more unnerving than any scream. "Oh, I have no intention of fighting you. Not yet, at least. Consider this a warning. The sigils are but the tip of the iceberg. What's beneath will shake the very foundations of your world.".

In but a moment, Ayame was gone into the fog, her figure dissolving, tenuous as smoke. Seina and Haruto said nothing to each other-the weight of her words upon them.

The farther on they went, the feeling of foreboding Ayame's warning elicited would not leave Seina's thoughts. Who was she? And what could she have meant with "shaking the foundation of their world"?

"We have to let the Corps know about this," he finally said, breaking the silence, "in case there's something even bigger we're dealing with."

Seina nodded, but her mind was already racing with so many questions. "You think the Corps would believe us? About the sigils, about Ayame?"

"They will have to," Haruto replied. "This is too big an affair for just us to handle."

But Seina could sense the layer of nervousness beneath Haruto's confident words, and what had seemed at the time almost like a test of strength against Kuro felt more and more each day like only the beginning.

Soon, the sun was set altogether, and so the two pitched camp near a small stream. The sound of running water served to break a silence that had grown between them since the events that transpired between Ayame and them. Haruto sat by the fire, his blade laid beside him.

"She wasn't an ordinary demon," Seina finally said, "Ayame, I mean. She felt… different."

He nodded. "She was more intuitive, more poised. If she's involved, then everything changes."

Seina watched the fire, her mind racing. What lay ahead was a bad omen, but one thing for sure was that this battle with Kuro would only be the tip of the iceberg. The sigil, Ayame, and whatever had fired it all up-the pieces of a puzzle that would surely test their resolve and not their strength.

For the first time in her life, Seina felt the burden of being a Demon Slayer. And she knew that road to fulfilling that purpose was going to cost her everything she had to give-and more.