quicker than any child should need to, just to survive the wrath and horror that they bring to others.

If I wasn't there to stop them, no one would.

Blood has been spilled onto my palms more than once, each time was for the better of everything around me.

I'll have you know, before we start this story, that I would do it again.

One million times over, if that's what's needed.

Because I am just a mere pawn in a game too big for most to comprehend-

"(Y/N)?"

A voice called out from my left. I blinked, my mouth parting as I snapped out of my small daze. "Are you alright?" The voice inquired once more.

I glanced to my left, never once leaving my still position, spear in hand, uniform swaying with the cool breeze, face as monotone as ever. "Amane.." I began, silently nodding to the woman as I turned to glance forward once again. "Why wouldn't I be?" It was my turn to inquire the woman, leaving her to do nothing but place a hand on my shoulder.

She tilted her head to the side, hoping to get a better angle of my face from where she stood. "It's just, you looked rather distant...are you sure you've been getting enough sleep?" Her voice turned stern all of a sudden.

I hated when she did this. She wasn't supposed to do this. The only person she was supposed to take care of was Oyakata-Sama, the man I was born to protect, and yet...she still stares at me as though I'm a lost child.

I huffed, looking away from her to stare into the gardens. They were plentiful and wonderful. The jade leaves that cascaded down from the purple petaled trees, only to glide to the ground and slide to the heated stone floor that lay just beneath my feet.

The gorgeous hued flowers that roamed around the small pond that perfectly reflected the infinite blue of the sky that held the soft clouds with grace, guiding them across the sky in kindness. The bushes rustled, and the aromas of the air collided with the hums of the bees as well as the flutters of the butterflies and the small buzz of the dragonflies.

A small group of ravens flew overhead, a lone feather slipping from their coat before slithering through the air and gliding next to my feet with the leaves.

"(Y/N).." Amane continued, her violet eyes reflecting the sun's rays as she held a small book to her chest. "You know what Oyakata-Sama told you..."

I closed my eyes, inhaling the sweetness of the atmosphere. "I apologise. I just can't help but feel as though something is wrong." I spoke, my voice harmonising with the melody of the birds chirps. "I only wish for your health to be in good hands." I finished, opening my eyes as the grip around the spear tightened.

Her mouth parted and without another word she let her hand slip from my shoulder to land at her side. "I see.." I continued to stare forward, unwanted to turn away, not even to face her. Perhaps I was slightly anxious about what she was going to say next? "Well, your intuition is hardly ever wrong, but please." She moved around my body to grip the spear. I only gave her a small side glance. "Take care of yourself before us. How are you supposed to protect anyone if you're not taking care of yourself?"

My lips pursed, looking straight once again. I didn't give any type of response.

All she did was sigh before she lightly took the spear from my grasp and lay it against the wall beside me, allowing my hand to fall to the side.

Amane moved to hold my hand, tugging on it lightly to try to get me to follow her. "Come on, if not I'll turn this into an order. You can't go against those, correct-"

The woman was interrupted once I tore my hand out of her grasp and took a step forward, keeping her behind me as a kakushi, who was obviously out of breath, stumbled over to the two of us. He was obviously distressed, from the shaking of his pupils to the panicked short breaths he released,

something was wrong.

Very wrong.

Amane held her hand to her chest, her mouth parting as she watched the kakushu collapse to his knees in front of me. He held his chest, heaving out gasps as his chest rose and fell rapidly.

I crouched to his height, laying hard hand on his shoulder. He flinched.

"Hey, what the hell is going on?" I inquired, quick and simple, easy for someone to understand, even if they were in such a panicked state, like said man in front of me.

"D..." he began, practically begging for air to reach his lungs as he stuttered out a response. "D-..de..." The masked man heaved out a cough. They were dry, and he was obviously exhausted and yet he continued on, swallowing down saliva in hopes of clearing his voice as well as his burning throat. "There's a.." he looked up to meet my eye, grabbing my wrist in the process. "There-theres a-a d-d-demon...!" He cried.

"What..?" Narrowing my eyes, my lips parted and I heard Amana shuffle behind me.

He nodded, his face red as he spoke. "T-the insect hashira, a-a-a-and the water h-hashira...brought back a- a d-demon...!" All I could do was sit and watch as he fumbled with his words. "A-and there was a boy-a demon slayer..! He was defending it!" A demon slayer protecting a demon..."We need a h-h..hashira me-meeting... r-r-right now..!!"

What the hell was going on..?

I stood to my feet, making the man let go of my wrist before I walked past Amane and gripped the spear. Amane only watched silently before looking down and nodding to herself. "I will go inform the master." Nodding, I stepped off the podium and swung my weapon around until it landed in its sheath on my back.

I once again crouched next to the man, patting his shoulder as he shook beneath me, all the while Amane left inside the house without another word, only leaving a few footsteps and the shutting of the door. "Are you alright?" I spoke, my voice just above a whisper as the man quivered beneath me.

He shook his head, his eyes now filled with small tears as he met my gaze. "Why.." He began, looking down ashamedly. I hummed in response, tilting my head. "Why do you care about someone like me when there's a demon here...?"

My lips parted, staring at him in wonder before I shook my head and softly guided his head up, cupping his cheek. "Because you're scared. Is that not reason enough to take care of a fellow comrade?"

The word comrade always meant so much to me. They were more than just people you worked with, people who fought even though they didn't need to, disposable pawns. No. I didn't see them like that. Saw them as humans like you and me. Humans who had friends, family, personal lives, emotions...Yes, they may have gotten caught up in this mess of a world, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve respect.

In my eyes everyone is equal. They're all human, at the end of the day. Just because they are of a different gender, race, social status, or even past, that doesn't make them any less human. That doesn't make them any less worthy of love.

He sat there for a moment, just staring at me with widened eyes that released a tear or two here and there. "You-you're serious..?" His voice suddenly got harder, now only holding a small stutter.

I wasted no time in nodding, my face as hard as stone, yet as soft as you would envision touching the clouds would feel like. "Of Course." I retorted, helping the man to his shaking feet. "What type of soldier would I be if I wasn't." My voice finished, a small glint of kindness shining past my pupils.

It was as though something clicked inside him as he stared into my eyes. He was indecisive, anyone would be able to tell, and yet, he still stared at me as though I was like some sort of guardian looking over him.

He nodded, his body no longer shaking as he clenched his fists. "Right." He lifted out his chest, his brows furrowing in determination. "I apologize, (Y/N)-Sama. Thank you." He bowed his head, standing up to his full height once more before he stepped away and turned so his back faced me. "I will alert Hashira this instant...!" He called out behind him, giving me a thumbs up over his shoulder before running off, his footsteps thudding against the stone tiled ground.

I sighed, moving to stare up at the sun as my hair blew with the soft summer wind. My uniform swung with the leaves and my eyes reflected the wondrous light of the rays as the weapon on my back shone in the day's beams.

A demon, huh?

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶

5,301 words!!!

So! Before we begin, I would like to go over some topics that need to be discussed about (Y/N)!

(Y/N) is going to be going by she/her pronouns, sorry!

Race, and height, will not be specified in this story :)

(Y/N)'s age cannot be specified at this time in the story, however, they do have romantic interactions with some of the older characters, so that should give you a brief outline of how old they are :)

Finally, topics such as blood, violence, swearing, and all sorts of stuff will be included in this story, so if you do not like those types of things, I would recommend clicking off this story.

I hope you enjoy <333