[right][img]https://i.imgur.com/omaX2NY.png?1[/img][hr][sup]interactions: [@Jacky] | Tatsuo Isao[/sup][/right][hr]
A flicker of laughter escaped from Kikumi at her student's enthusiasm. [color=fad7c3]"Good. I'd imagine the Spirit Pillar will be doing most of the 'hunting'. There will be excitement for us too, but for the time being we should enjoy the peace while it lasts. The only heads we will be cutting off right now are from demons."[/color] Having more students was good for the corps. The estate was well defended too, considering it was filled with demon slayers. Still, Kikumi couldn't help but feel a little threatened by recent events. She would be fine. She was a Pillar after all, and that kind of position is not something to be taken lightly. But as for her other students - a lot of them were fairly new demon slayers. Big enough of a threat, and so many of them... it would never end well.

Ah. She had forgotten Tatsuo was there. She looked up and blinked at him, registering his presence once more. [color=fad7c3]"We will see what the future holds. Keep up the good work. I wouldn't keep you around if I thought you were not capable of it."[/color] Kikumi gave him a small smile, sliding her mask back into place. She was about to continue when she was interrupted by a sharp tap on the shoulder. Behind her, a woman of about average height with long brown hair. She smiled sweetly, watching Tatsuo with unclear intent, and looking rather entertained. [color=f49ac2]"Welcome back, Mori-san."[/color]

[color=fad7c3]"Ah, Sakao,[/color] Kikumi said. [color=fad7c3]"Any news?[/color] Possibly the only person she knew in the estate that consistently did what they were told. It was a little absurd. It wasn't like Kikumi worked them [i]that[/i] hard, at least by her standards. 

[color=f49ac2]"Not too much. A broken window somewhere, and there's new blood waiting for you at the front gate. Oh, and Tsurugi said he was looking for you,"[/color] Emi chirped. [color=f49ac2]"The tall one, that is. He arrived while you were out. I think he's probably chatting up some of the ladies in the ward, if you'd like to appease him."[/color]

[color=fad7c3]"I see,"[/color] came the monotonous response. [color=fad7c3]"Sort out rooms for the new ones."[/color]

[color=f49ac2]"Ah, but I just finished- never mind. Of course, Mori-san,"[/color] Emi sighed. Still, she kept her smile up, waving at the Pillar and Tatsuo as she began to walk off, making her way along the longest route possible. Kikumi watched her as she walked off, nodding appreciatively. [color=fad7c3]"You could do with taking after her. This is a start, at least. I'll be seeing to those newcomers now. Come if you'd like, consider it a break. Unless you'd like to keep on working."[/color]

She left before he could answer, as per usual. Whether he wanted to come or not wasn't something she needed to waste time over. Besides, the new slayers didn't need to be kept waiting for too long. They were always especially pessimistic when they were fresh, and it would be best to get them settled in as quickly as possible. The sooner they were off her hands, the sooner they could start training. That was what made good demon slayers.

Kikumi slipped out of the gate, surveying the new slayers. Ten of them all, looking about as miserable as she had expected. A few of her subordinates were helping them with their belongings - though the newcomers rarely had very many. There wasn't a lot of storage space in the estate anyway. She watched as her underlings began to clear away, leaving only her and her new students. She bowed to them, before continuing to stand in silence for another agonising minute. When she finally spoke, it was underwhelming.

[color=fad7c3]"Welcome to the Sea Pillar Estate."[/color]

The gate had to be silent, otherwise it was impossible to hear Kikumi's voice over the lull of the sea and the soft chatter coming from the estate. [color=fad7c3]"I am Kikumi Mori, the Sea Pillar. I hope you will make the most of your time here. Your training begins tomorrow. Get some rest."[/color] Nothing particularly motivational or thrilling, but simple and straight to the point. With a slight gesture, she prompted her staff to open the gate fully. The new slayers were free to go inside and get some well-deserved food and rest, though they tended to be reluctant to be the first inside. Or, they could pester her with questions. They'd either do it then or later, so it didn't really matter to Kikumi.

As long as they became competent demon slayers, anything was okay. That was her job, and that was their fate. That was all there was to it.