"You... want me to go with him?"

Y/n sat in front of Shinobu, looking perplexed as her mask sat in her lap.

She'd been dragged away from helping out with Rehabilitation Training since Shinobu had something to ask of her.

Apparently, one of her patients was about to head out on a mission. The Insect Hashira wanted y/n to go with him but the young Demon Slayer was curious as to why.

"Is he still injured? If that's the case, maybe you should have him stay a little longer to rest." y/n suggested, "I don't really think it's a good idea to let an injured person go out on a mission, he could injure himself further."

"He's not injured, it's just..." Shinobu gestured y/n closer and the girl obeyed, leaning close so she could hear.

As the Insect Hashira whispered the details to her, y/n's expression slowly gave way to horror and confusion.

"WHAT!? EATS THEM!?"

"Yes, yes, I know it's surprising." Shinobu reassured y/n as the girl was trembling, mumbling incoherent words, "All I need you to do is to watch him for me, that's all. You can do that, right?"

"Hnngh..." y/n was squinting, clearly unsure.

Shinobu crossed her arms and sighed, "Oh dear... and here I was hoping that you'd help. Guess I can't convince Shinazugawa to let you go on the Infinity Train Mission..."

"Done and done." y/n stated, standing up abruptly as she slipped on her mask, "Where can I find him?"

"I requested that he wait for you outside the Butterfly Estate." Shinobu chirped, "Be careful, y/n! Thanks again!"

Y/n halted by the door as she was preparing to leave, "Will do. Erm... I, uh... see you later, Shinobu-san."

Oh??

Before Shinobu could say anything, y/n exited the room in a bit of a hurry. She was burning up with embarrassment again but she'd done it!

'Good job, me!'

Improvement is improvement.

Y/n found this person in no time, going off of the description Shinobu had given her.

Apparently he had a scar across his face... so he'd be easy to find! Maybe. A lot of people had scars in the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Ah... probably should've asked her to come along with me.." y/n sighed heavily, "Damn it."

Just as y/n was about to mentally prepare herself to return to Shinobu and apologize, she spotted black hair.

Curious, she turned and saw a boy.

He was tall and was awfully intimidating but y/n was used to intimidating faces. She would've just went somewhere else had she not spotted the scar across his face.

'That must be him.' y/n realized and inhaled deeply, 'Alright, be calm. Be cool. Be relaxed.'

The masked Demon Slayer approached the scary boy calmly with a, "You. Are you Genya?"

"Huh? Who are you?" the boy demanded and y/n almost pissed herself on the spot, alarmed.

'Scary...!!!' "My name is Y/n. I'm here to accompany you on your next mission." y/n said, managing to keep her voice steady at the expense of her trembling legs.

Now that y/n was closer, she found that this ebony haired boy seemed familiar... where had she seen those eyes...?

"I don't need your help!" the boy snapped, voice almost as sharp as blade and y/n's legs locked up.

"Shinobu-san told me to come with you." y/n pointed out, "Just make this easier for the both of us and cooperate."

"You-"

"Y/nnnnn!" Shiori called, running over to hop on y/n's shoulder, "Huh? Who's this guy? He looks like a gremlin!"

"Shiori. Stop." y/n told the cat before awkwardly looking back at Genya, "Sorry, Genya. My crow has no filter. At all."

Genya raised a brow, "That's a cat. Are you an idiot?"

"Oh, no, I meant- uhm..." y/n began to stumble over her words, face feeling awfully hot, "I meant that she's— well, she's kind of my— uhm-!"

"I'm her crow!" Shiori snapped, "Except I'm better than a crow! Quit being mean to my train wreck! Or I'll castrate you right here and now!"

"WHAT'D YOU SAY TO ME, FURBALL?"

"YOU HEARD ME, SCAR FACE!"

"Ah... Shiori... Genya-" y/n's voice remained at a whisper as she tried to stop the cat and the boy from arguing.

"Hmph! Fine! I'll stop. But don't think this is over, Scarface!" Shiori hissed, "Listen up you two! There's a demon eating a bunch of hot young men at a town located not too far from the Swordsmith Village!"

Genya scowled, "Just men?"

"And fugly little boys like you. Better hope Y/n over here is willing to protect your 🍑! Otherwise, you're getting eaten too!" Shiori snarled but refrained from saying any more when a miserable sigh came from y/n, "Your job is to kill the demon! Since it's pretty close to the Swordsmith Village, we don't wanna risk it stumbling upon the village on accident and making a five course meal out of our lovely swordsmiths!"

Y/n glanced at Genya and the boy looked back, grimacing when he had to look at that disturbing mask of hers.

"Can your crow show us the way?" y/n questioned, "Shiori would only be able to walk on foot with us and give us directions as we go."

"My crow?" Genya echoed then his expression turned a little bit bitter as he remembered how his crow flew off and never came back, "Mm... no."

"Oh. I was hoping it could." y/n murmured, "That way we could've avoided conflict between you and Shiori..."

"No worries, y/n! I'll be good!" Shiori exclaimed, rubbing her face against y/n's cheeks while glowering at Genya, "I'll spare Genya this time. Just for you, pookie!"

"Pookie...?"

While Shiori was trying to explain the word to y/n, Genya had snuck a glance at the masked Demon Slayer.

He'd heard about a strong slayer who wore an oni mask. Genya certainly hadn't expected this nervous trainwreck and her demented cat.

Apparently... she was one of the Hashira's tsuguko and had rarely made visits to the Butterfly Estate. At least for a physical wound or anything of the sort.

Y/n was kinda off in her own world, trying to think of a plan to kill the demon as she gave up on understanding the eccentric cat.

And so, the two walked in silence.

The entire way.

~~~ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ•°*

By the time they reached the town, it was dark out. There were couples still hanging about, laughing together and talking.

"It's near." y/n stated, turning her head to look at Genya, "We should just wait for now. Are you hungry? There may be a place to eat nearby."

"Sure. Whatever."

Y/n frowned beneath her mask but said no more, slowly walking on.

As they were walking, two small children ran by while one bumped into y/n's leg and fell onto his butt.

"Ah! Sorry!" the little boy cried, looking up to y/n before flinching, "Eek!"

"Are you alright?" y/n asked as she reached to help the trembling kid up.

"WAHHHH! IT'S A MONSTER!!!" the boy shrieked before jumping up and running off.

People were looking at the two now, y/n's face growing warm with embarrassment.

"You should really take off that mask. It's creepy as hell." Genya said simply as they went back to walking.

Y/n was silent for a moment.

"...I prefer to keep it on at least at night." y/n murmured, "Just for safety purposes, you know?"

"Safety purposes?" Genya questioned, "For what? Demons or other demon slayers? People don't care if they see your face."

"Yeah, but I do. I feel more... comfortable this way."

More silence until...

"You two! The lovely young couple!" someone shouted as y/n and Genya passed by a building with a delicious smell coming from it.

It was a moment before the voice tried again, "You two! The ones with the oni mask and scars!"

"?" y/n halted and turned her head to see a man waving to her and Genya with a bright smile.

"You two look like an amazing couple! Have you stopped by here to rest?" the man questioned, urging y/n and Genya to come closer.

The duo wandered over and the man briefly looked a little frightened now that he had a clear view of them.

I mean, Genya is almost 6 feet and he's hecking intimidating. Don't even get me started on y/n, everything about her is menacing with that mask on.

"Ah, we were actually just passing through..." y/n murmured, "That's all."

"Why don't you stop and take a rest to at least grab something to eat?" the man offered with a somewhat forced smile, "We have a couple's discount this evening!"

"Oh, we're not-" Genya began to say but y/n covered his mouth, earning a muffled, "What the hell?"

"That'd be lovely, thank you."

Genya gave y/n a confused look and she shrugged back at him. No way she was passing up the opportunity to get a discount.

And so, the two Demon Slayers followed the man into the building without much hesitation.

While Genya was oblivious, y/n was acutely aware of a powerful demon nearby. Not an Upper Moon... possibly a Lower Moon.

It wasn't in the building, but near.

Perhaps the forest?

Killing it would be a little tougher since y/n had to keep an eye on Genya and wouldn't be able to go all out but that was alright.

____________________

- Y/n, before she learned how to cook the food Mitsuri likes, often took the Love Hashira out to eat which is why she likes discounts

- Mitsuri used to drain her of almost all her money within the span of two meals together

- the man had assumed y/n and Genya were a couple simply from how quietly they were talking to one another, he thought the two of them were flirting

- Shiori fell asleep on y/n's shoulders