A Crash of Thunder
*Sakura trees’ petals fell to the ground as Keiko and Hiroko sit and have a picnic on a flat rock near the river. Keiko looks around at the koi fish swimming through the river, a Sakura petal lands on Keiko. Hiroko then picks it off and smiles. Keiko and Hiroko lean closer to each other, their lips nearly touching when a shock of pain wakes up Keiko, she had been slapped awake.*
Ashai
Perfectly fine.
*Keiko then looks around and starts to cry.*
Habiki
I thought you said she was fine.
Ashai
She is. She was having a dream. Supposedly romantic.
*Keiko then mumbles incoherently about her dream.*
Keiko
Just let me go back to sleep!
*Tora then slides the shoji door nearly off its rails, a crow perched on her shoulder.*
Tora
No time! The crow says he’s found a demon slayer who knows Wind Breathing!
*Keiko squeals with delight and runs over to the room next to hers and knocks on the door. Inside is Kaito, a pink and green-haired boy with green and yellow eyes, who resembles Habiki more than Keiko. His room is filled with random gadgets and luck charms hanging from the ceiling or placed on a shelf in no particular order. Kaito holds a stray cat in his arms as he strokes it, staring curiously at Keiko.*
Keiko
Kaito, no stray animals in your room.
*Kaito headbutts Keiko in the legs, ignoring the fact he broke a rule. Keiko gives him a sisterly hug and kiss (ON THE FOREHEAD) and takes him outside to see what's up with the crow.*
Crow
North-northwest! North-northwest! Find the demon stealing people's kids!
Giyu
That doesn't sound like a Twelve Kizuki.
Yuno
Why?
Giyu
Most demons that reach a Kizuki level don't care who they eat. Just if they eat. (Not exactly true, take Doma and Akaza for an example.)
*Giyu points to Keiko, Himari, Tora, Ashai (For healing purposes.), Habiki, Kaito (For emergency defenses, and moral support to Habiki.), and surprisingly Yuno.*
Yuno
Me?
Giyu
You haven't done anything here.
Yuno
I've cleaned, cooked, and fed the crows.
*Yuno shudders at the thought.*
Giyu
Fighting wise. You need something to do.
Now set off.
*Tora looks at her map upside down.*
Tora
How far Northeast did the crow want us to go?
Ashai
It was northwest. He wanted us to go Northwest.
Tora
Oh, now we got to turn around.
*The party groans as they retrace their steps.*
*The sun was barely in the sky. Hiroko struggled to get Keiko off his arm.*
Hiroko
Keiko, you're cutting off the blood circulation in my arm!
*Kaito had stopped dead in his tracks to pick up a dandelion on the side of the road. Habiki then picked up Kaito and began walking with him in front of him, struggling to keep Kaito's feet off the ground. (mostly because Kaito is 11 and Habiki is 15)*
Tora
The crow said Northwest, right?
Ashai
Yes.
Tora
Then we're here.
*Tora pointed to a gate that said 'Kakuho.' Himari knocked on the gate and it opened. Himari then walked up to a lady in a purple Sakura pattern kimono.*
Himari
Hello. Very warm evening?
*Himari smiled as she swatted bugs away. The lady held a concerned face.*
Lady
Yes, very warm.
*The lady struggled to keep her eyes away from Himari's sword. Himari followed her eyes.*
Himari
Oh, that's not for killing people. It's for demon hunting.
Lady
Demon hunting?
Himari
We got word that a demon has been taking people's kids.
Lady
Yes. That's why mine are always inside during the night.
*A high-pitched scream was heard inside what was presumably the lady's house.*
Child
Mommy!
*Himari ran inside before the lady could.*
Himari
Don't come in with us! It may be dangerous!
*Kaito hugged the woman (It was more of a restraint than a hug.) as Habiki, Keiko, Tora, and Yuno ran into the building after Himari. Inside, two kids were holding onto each other while a demon crawled out of a portal of some sort, Himari swung for the demon's neck, but he swam back into his portal. Then soon after, appeared behind Habiki who turned into a roundhouse kick and knocked off one of the demon's arms. The children screamed.*
Himari
Look away!
*Tora took a try at cutting the demon's neck but then three other demons that looked exactly like each other appeared.*
Tora
This is what I hate about these goddamn demons. They have replicas.
Ashai
Language, Tora, there are children.
Tora
Shut up.
*Ashai hustled the children outside the door when something grabbed the girl's foot. Ashai grabbed a syringe in her pocket and jabbed it into the demon's arm. The arm turned to ashes as the arm retracted inside the portal that disappeared soon after. The lady and the children reunited as Ashai, Kaito, and Nezuko returned to the house. Inside Himari was being strangled by the main demon.*
Himari
Yuno, do something!
*Yuno hesitated as she planned her attack.*
Yuno
Thunder Breathing, First Form; Thunder Clap and Flash, fivefold.
*Nothing was visible of Yuno as she cut off limb by limb of the demon, then finished him off with a quick slice through his neck. The other demons crumpled as the main demon was killed.*
Keiko
Good job, Yuno!
*Kaito was once again being held in Habiki's hands (in a more comfortable position, although, this time, he was asleep. (Kaito, not Habiki, that would be odd.)*
Keiko
That's a sign we need to go home and sleep.
*Once again, Keiko was holding onto Hiroko's arm.*
Hiroko
Keiko, get off!
*Hiroko turned to Habiki, who gestured to him that he had his hands full with Kaito who was trying to grab leaves from trees overhead.*
Hiroko
C'mon! Please?
Habiki
No.
Hiroko
Please?
Habiki
No.
Hiroko
Pretty please?
Habiki
No.
Tora
Shut up, you two. I'm tired.
