Why was everyone so official? Why are the other brats introducing themselves? Why are the lights so GODDAMN LOUD??!?
Ryunosuke's brain was still wracked with the pain of a hangover. He vaguely remembers Kairi ushering him along a hallway, a few familiar faces, and a few unfamiliar ones. To be honest, he lost himself in his own thoughts. Now, regaining some form of lucidity, he finds himself in the Hashira meeting. He sees his master, Takaya, addressing the penny crowd. He thinks he hears mentions of training, new faces, calls for him to fight his alcoholism? His inner self scoffs at the idea. He's not an alcoholic! He just likes the buzz it brings... Ok he might be an alcoholic.
Inner contemplation aside, he's silent and disobservant in his corner. Even when Takaya was listing off the names of the deceases, he was detatched from the wider conversation. Sure, he held his own reservations, but those were for himself only. He doesn't need any of them knowing his true thoughts. Hell, he doesn't need any of them! To Ryunosuke, the greatest insult he was ever given was being named a Hashira. His mother spoke of them like venerant gods. Legends in their own right. The best of the best of the best the Demon Slayer Corps had to offer.
He hated them.
Nihilistic sycophants with a martyr complex. Those who would sooner squander their power in sacrifice than use it for personal gain. It was a waste of god given talent. You want a hero's end so much? Fine, let the little guy take the killing blow. Let the legend live on. Hunt demons, kill whoever's in your path. Don't pander to the small man. Don't be the leader. Be the weapon, the killer, the self-righteous prick you were meant to be. And, in a twist of irony, Takaya-Sama mantled the title onto him with little discussion. There was a reason Ryunosuke distanced himself from the Corps. More than just him hating to work with others.
He hated the Hashira. She hated the Slayers, the Corps, the whole lot of them
Well- all except one.
In his fugue state, he hardly gave Tenko any thought. A smallish-figure with a bubbling personality, and eyes that betrayed her youth. A paradox, if Ryu had to put a title to it. She was too happy, too demure, yet deadly all the same. Ryu still knows how to gauge an opponent, even in the stupors of a hangover. She was skilled. Some kind of switch in her... The longer he analyzed her, the more his head hurt. "Look, kid-" he manages to mutter. "If its an autograph you want, tha-"
“Umm…Kamado-san? Are you all right? I have aspirin if you’d like.”
He froze midsentence. He was stunlocked. What was this? A... genuine act of kindness? A heartfelt gesture. Not one of pity, or misplaced care, but undiluted kindness?
The paradox of Tenko Thompson grew to an unfathomable scale. Can this person... really be a Slayer? Is she a hallucination? An angel, sent by God to aid Ryu in his time of need? Was it an apparition? A joke? Anything??!?
But no. All it was was a genuine act of kindness. To Ryu, that bottle of water and packet of aspirin were like an oasis in a desert. Someone... was actually being nice to him. And without any prerogative to do so. He collected himself before he could leave his mouth agape for too longer. He grunted as he stood up and gingerly grabbed the water and medicine. The aspirin was almost as sobering as their short interaction.
"Uhm- thanks, kid. I'm good, for now." For anyone who knew him, or even been around him, this must have been shocking. Ryunosuke is never this diplomatic to anyone. No snarky remark, no backhanded compliment, no unneccessary beligerance. It was almost too neutral for him. Something uncharacteristic.
'Tenko... I gotta remember her.'
POST-TIMESKIP
His jailor turned into his sparring opponent... As if this day could get any worse. The lingering effects of his night have all but subsided. Thanks to the efforts of that strange Kinoto, the Dragon was back in tiptop shape. "Yknow something, Kai, there's a real fuckin irony about all of this. We, swordsman, are learning how to hamper an opponent using our fists. On top of that, that fuckin demon that's gaslighting as a regular human!"
He really wished he was back in Shinjuku. He never should have traveled to Tokyo. Buuuut, who was he to decline Takaya-Sama? He still curses to himself for listening to the pipsqueak. "Soooo, what's next? We get you hopped up on some iron dust?" he put a sarcastic emphasis on the 'you'. "Who knows, that shit might give you a fighting chance against me."
”Would you fetch me some soaked towels, little sparrow?” Mura’s words quietly dribbled out as she pointed to a young human boy mixing herbs in a large boiling pot.
Young may have been a bit broad. He looked to be in his late teens or early twenties with blonde hair and deep blue irises. His complexion and physiognomy would spill the secret of his western lineage, likely the child of a foreigner who may have died in Japan or needed to leave him behind for one reason or another. He did not speak, maybe he was a mute or perhaps because he didn’t have the confidence within himself to speak in the presence of his proprietress.
Nonetheless, he jumped at her request and pattered quickly on the freshly scrubbed and polished footboards, sliding along the way until he reached a single panel closet to pluck the pristinely white towels out. She didn’t specify an exact amount, so a stack of four would be brought to her just as quickly as he left— bowing deeply once he stood before Mura.she wasn’t all too much shorter than the boy, standing somewhere closer to five feet in height than him.
”More than necessary, quite the overachiever aren’t you?” The faintest of smiles tugged up at the corners of her red-painted lips. The expression was small, but it radiated a genuine warmth that the boy dubbed Little Sparrow basked in.
Her left arm extended out, wrapped in what seemed to be thin painted wood and cloth. It all seemed to be bound together with little ropes with small polished stone magetama dangling from red knotted tassels. The woman’s hand landed upon the mess of roughly trimmed blonde hair and gave his scalp a few soft pats, her crimson slit eyes remaining on him for perhaps a few moments too long— but all the while he did not seem to mind. His payment was given and thus she turned with the towels and tucked them over her now interlocked arms, then made her way to each of the open air bathrooms to set towels down for those within to use at their leisure.
It wouldn’t take long for the task to be completed, and once she was done she’d return to the front desk where a small wooden pipe and ash tray remained for her. She’d lift it up towards her lips, chewing on the open end for some time as she watched the door for new customers to enter— sucking some smoke out to blow rings in idle boredom. Waiting for something interesting to happen today. Right above the door’s entryway was a massive beam of wood where over a dozen ravens roosted to watch passersby on the road. The outside of the onsen looked quite traditional other than the new-age painting style of graffiti stylized lettering displaying the facility’s name.
When Xaku leaves the bar, she doesn’t immediately head back to her prepared accommodations. She would deign to follow her orders when and how she saw fit; she wouldn’t rush forward just because of a simple threat. There was something more important she had to do first.
Xaku makes her way to the outskirts of the city, though not quite far enough to be outside the city limits. There, she gazes up at the night sky as she slowly unsheathes her katana. The reflection of her scarlet eyes in the simple blade betrays nothing of her thoughts, as always.
She rolls up her uniform sleeves without fanfare and quietly stares at her smooth, bare, unmarred left arm. The scars from her past are long gone, thanks to her demonic nature, leaving behind no trace of what she endured. What she suffered.
She doesn’t miss them.
Her lips part to release a slow, concentrated breath, her eyes falling gently shut. Focused.
█████ Breathing: First Strike.
She severs her arm without blinking.
The starkly pale limb drops to the ground, twitching erratically with uncontrolled power, before she impassively dices it into hundreds of pieces. She watches as all the power that Tsugikuni Michikatsu saw fit to “bless” her with dies along with it, leaving behind only a spatter of blood that would be gone by morning. The fingers on her newly regenerated arm spasm unconsciously, then clench into a loose fist.
Blood Moons received boons from their King. She was not one of them, and she never would be. The very idea of her ever needing help is insulting. If her blood was meant to be spilt for the last time, then so be it.
Just then, she feels a presence approach from behind. She doesn’t turn around, doesn’t even seem to acknowledge them at first. After a few moments of silence, she deigns to address them.
“... Yaguchi-san. Report.”
The figure, Yaguchi, bows deeply. “Xaku-sama. Squad One has arrived in Funachi. They are awaiting your orders.”
Xaku doesn’t react to the news beyond a slight tilt of her head, a simple, inexpressive acknowledgement. She sheathes her katana, but still doesn’t turn around. The silence is taken as permission to continue.
“We believe that we have found the location of the Demon Slayers.”
Xaku moves then, her head turning just enough for her icy scarlet gaze to fall upon Yaguchi. Her voice, when it comes, is soft, almost curious, “... You believe?”
Yaguchi’s eyes widen, and his forehead slams into the damp grass hard enough to bleed. His answer is a frightened stutter, “M-My apologies, Xaku-sama. I–I will confirm the validity of the information right away!”
Xaku doesn’t respond. She simply turns her gaze back to the night sky as Yaguchi hurriedly disappears back into the city to do as he said. The world in her vision bleeds red for a split second before snapping back to normal.
The mornings on the Daikaku shrine were peaceful and silent. Despite having an incredibly long history, the small shrine was not frequently visited, saving the occasional wandering monk and the few locals, usually elders who preferred the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the Daikaku shrine compared to bigger, more popular shrines. Much like most of the frequent locals, Kōshin himself didn't mind the silence, but he had to admit that ever since his master had passed away, his morning routines were a bit more silent than they used to.
"Namo Buddhaya. Namo Dharmaya. Namo Sanghaya." Kōshin repeated, the rhythmic cadence of the mantra paying homage to the three jewels of Buddhism bringing calm and peace of mind as he lit the incense sticks in front of the Buddha statue, enshrined at the very center of the Daikaku shrine.
The statue, having been carefully maintained through the years by many different monks, had been there for countless years, it's origin being shrouded in mystery. According to the stories passed down through the monks that took care of the Daikaku shrine, the statue was older than the very temple itself.
With slow and calm movements that were almost second nature to Kōshin, he continued his morning routine. From dusting and maintaining the central statue, sweeping the floors to taking care of the garden outside. Compared to some of his other, more 'serious' duties as the head of the Daikaku shrine, these felt peaceful and gratifying. At first, he thought them as mere, boring 'chores' when he was younger, but as the time passed and his master's teachings were absorbed by him, Kōshin came to appreciate the quiet repetition of these daily chores, which to him, brought a similar peace as the mantras chanted by him and his master on their morning prayers.
Finally done with his daily routine, Kōshin calmly walked to the peach tree in the far corner of the garden, sittind down on the grass by it's shadow. The silence of the shrine, being broken only by the delicate chirps of the sparrows playing and the calming sound of running water leading to small pond had a peaceful, almost ethereal feel to it. Right next to where Kōshin was sitting down, a small, simple stone pagoda marked the place where his master was buried with a few wooden memorial tablets, called itatoba, leaning against the peach tree.
The inscription on the stone pagoda and the memorial tablets, aside from prayers, was a simple one, bearing only his master's title of Roshi along with his full name. Daikaku Hōren. Much like maintaining the shrine itself, sitting in quiet meditation near the place where his old teacher rested became a part of Kōshin's routine. A silent gesture of respect and gratitude for everything Hōren sensei had taught and done for him, only to be interrupted after some time when a ripe peach fell on top of his head.
Laughing, Kōshin grabbed the peach, taking out a big bite and savoring it's delicately sweet taste before he turned to the stone pagoda that marked his master's final resting place.
"'Life is too precious not to be enjoyed.' right, Hōren sensei?" Kōshin said with a smile as he stood up, remembering the words his master often used to say whenever he thought Kōshin was taking things too seriously and forgot to simply enjoy the time he was given on this earth.
"Once again, thank you for everything Daikaku Hōren Roshi." Kōshin said, bowing as he gave a firm knock on the tree's trunk, making another ripe peach fall on his hand before putting it in front of his master's grave.
"You always hated this title, didn't you?" Kōshin said with a chuckle as he walked back to the temple.
Miyuki got what she wanted, Hikaru was nothing like Himari,after all, her brother was like family to hers, this is the first time Miyuki meets Himari and there's one thing he's right, she gets pissed off as easily.
‘Selfless State. Just like Father.’ She thought.
“Big deal. So by that logic, beating a Consort will give you the Hashira pass, if so anyone can do it, so work ethics don't matter anymore, and we are not the same, I am adopted, hence I have to earn everything, you're nothing but someone born from a bloodline, blessed with everything.”
“Blessed? You really do know nothing. My bloodline is cursed. And I've had to work hard to even reach this point. If being born from a bloodline mattered we wouldn't still be fighting and losing to demons today. My brother would still be alive. And if anyone can do it, why haven't you? You sit on your high horse but watch others fight and die before you.”
“You fool, Father just didn't come up with the technique himself, what I was doing was helping him perfecting it, 7-years ago. The brain is needed for the muscle to work. I've been working at the back end of things, why do you think Kyoto is so stagnant compared to Tokyo? Like I said, big talk, for belonging in a branch that got the most deaths. It's because Tokyo is not afraid to use Demons! Who do you think is behind Takaya's operations, it's not just Guen-san,Hmm!”
Himari sighed. She was getting nothing through this thick one's skull. She then had the nerve to bring up her betrothed’s operations as if she were ignorant of the dealings of the Corps. “You're blaming me for Kyoto's state? Why do you think I was assigned there? To help change and cleanse Kyoto. Everyone I love was in Tokyo, but I did what I needed to do to ensure we wouldn't lose more lives. And if you think I'm ignorant of what goes on with my Takaya-sama, you're sorely mistaken.”
Miyuki assumed her stance, she knew that with the Selfless State, it would be difficult.
She played the psychologist part.
“Oh and where the heck were you, when your brother was dying? Yanagi and I were trying our very best to keep him alive, I was gonna tell dad until Kairi came.” Miyuki being poor in comms as always, in the matters of the heart.
“I wasn't assigned to the mission. If I were, my brother would still be alive. And excuses. You had plenty of time to tell your father instead of letting the news be dropped on him like this.”
Miyuki got a flashback of the times she spent with Hikaru, she liked him but too bad, he already got a fiance. Hikaru was not only a fighter but a mind of his own, Hikaru was an inventor, he was one of the few Kyoto Idiots, who aren't bound by tradition.
“Compass Breathing: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Miyuki gets into a horse stance, and will anticipate every faint movement and attack upon any mistake Himari makes.
“Moon Breathing: First Form: Dark Moon, Evening Palace.” Himari entered a low crouching posture before quickly dashing forward swinging her right hand horizontally like a katana before curving it up like a crescent moon.
“Soryūshiki: Suzuwari.” The same move, Miyuki used to disarm Kuwajima-senpai earlier, rather than disarm, it was catching Himari's attack, pound for pound, their clash released quite a shockwave, which dented the tatami flooring and the walls around the area, even the pictures of the Grandmasters before them.
“Good form. I knew you're a doer, instead of a listener, but it would be stupid if I yield now, do I? I could have done that earlier.” Miyuki speeds up, there were 7 mirages of her, Afterimages.
“Compass Breathing: Leg Type, Break Dance!” Miyuki performs multiple leg sweeps, flips and kicks, shockwaves that were strong enough to destroy their surroundings, and her moves were erratic. “Iai-Shūto: Windmill!” She switched using Wind Breathing, achieving the same crescent slashes as Himari.
Himari stood still and waited to react. She wasn't using her eyes, she was using her senses to determine which of the images were actually Miyuki. When the real leg sweep came she flipped backwards to avoid the incoming kicks and slashes. The girl had an impressive amount of speed and power. But she'd show her real crescent slashes.
“You're not going to beat me with cheap tricks. I'll always be able to tell the real you.” Himari said as she entered another stance placing both arms in front of herself and crossing them like an X. “Moon Breathing: Fifth Form: Moon Spirit Calamitous Eddy!” She swung her left arm down before quickly arcing it up sending actual crescent slashes forward. She followed it up with her right arm arcing it above the way her left hand slashed. She followed the attack immediately with dual slashes from both arms. The way she moved made it seem like a dance, but if it was, it was the dance of death.
Miyuki deduced that Himari has the same fighting style as hers.
She closed her eyes as Himari's barrage was at its peak, feeling the air around her, the changes in motion and the faint presence that Himari has, for a new Hashira, she's proven worthy of having the title, thus Miyuki got some scratches, to what extends to clothing damage and some minor cuts, her left cheek was bleeding.
Parrying pound for pound on what Himari has been throwing, Kenzo noticed what Miyuki was about to do, before he could react, it was already too late, “Miyuki stop! Don't use that!
“Miyuki-chan don't!” Even Yanagi told her to stop.
The air around them was vehement and it was visible, still her control of actual air was precise, it's not destroying the place.
“I'll say this once. Yield. You don't wanna know what's gonna happen next.” Miyuki threatens Himari.
As intense as the wind was, Miyuki's presence became more faint.
Himari felt the intense wind picking up around them and wasn't scared in the slightest. She crouched into another fighting position extending both of her arms behind her back. Just as she did so her mind flashed back to one of the last training sessions she had with her brother.
Himari and Hikaru's wooden katanas clashed with each other with such force that it caused hers to splinter and break. Despite this she entered another stance ready to continue.
“Why must you fight so hard, Hima?” Hikaru asked her.
“I have to win. If I don't beat you, how will I kill a Demon Lord let alone Michikatsu?”
“You don't have to win. You have to survive. This is just training. Is that really why you fight? I thought you learned more from leading the Tsukikage Ryū.”
Himari dropped her head. “No. We fight to protect innocents from those who lurk in the darkness.”
“That's right. How can you protect them if you're dead? Not all battles require victory. Sometimes the best option is to live to fight another day and if you get injured or die in training who are you protecting?”
“Sheesh. I get it already. I yield.”
Himari's mind returned to the present. She looked at Miyuki and the injuries she caused her so far. She had already proven her point. If this fight went any further one or both of them would end up seriously injured. Even her father didn't want her using this next move.
“Tch. Even when you're dead you still can't stop teaching me, Hika.” Himari said aloud before placing her arms to her side and bowing to Miyuki to honor their spar. “I yield. You should listen to your father. Certain attacks are reserved only for the enemy. I almost forgot that myself.”
Miyuki in a split second, calmed down briefly and in that instance, that thing she summoned finally receded, as if it wasn't there but for those with a perception as sharp as an eagle, they could've seen such visceral patterns.
“It was fun.” She showed a genuine smile, like as if nothing happened, whether it's fake or real, that smile was at least vague.
The air around them stopped feeling dense.
Himari nodded in agreement. This Soryu style was pretty interesting. To be able to do so much without the use of a blade. It was almost like Blood Demon Arts. No wonder it packed quite the punch against demons. “It was. Now you've got me pumped to learn.”
Tenko let out a sigh of relief as Himari and Miyuki both backed down. From what she had seen, interfering would just make the two stew in their irritation, festering grudges, so she reluctantly watched silently. She was about to interfere just before that last attack, but thankfully, they both stopped at the last second, and things were settled for the time being. It looked as if she had made the correct judgment then. “Yeah, you can call me Miyuki-chan, Tenchan.” She gives an affectionate gesture to Tenko.
“Try not to break too many things. I wouldn't want to break you, though you already know, between us, Jae-senpai.”
“Alright, I was wrong about you lot, we all had so much grief, it's nothing new, but make no mistake, I hate people who just got their ranks for shits and giggles, all of you are worthy of what you got right now.”
“Soryu is meant to embrace but not succumb to that inner darkness, like water’s reflection, will you be able to fight your inner demons? If you can't, then you'll lack that focus, let alone to even control that scarlet inside you, everyone?” Demons…Tenko wondered what hers would be. Of course, being a student of psychology, Tenko knew that everyone had one. Though the nomenclature changed from Jungian ‘shadows’ to the more modern Cognitive Dissonance, it was something that existed to some degree or another within all humans. Self-diagnosis was a bad practice both as physicians or psychologists, but if Tenko were to guess what her ‘demons’ were…it would probably be related to her faith in some manner or other.
A distinctive sound of a sword being sheathed would be heard as Kairi let out a sigh of relief. “That is a little too close, closer than I'm comfortable with.” she admitted as the singular blade disappeared into her jacket.
Her eyes gazed at Miyuki as she spoke. “This better never happen again.” the overprotective captain warns Miyuki as she stares at Ryonosuke with clear authority.
“Let's go and get those materials, the faster we return the better.” she declared as she walked away from the Dojo, mapping out the routes they needed to take. It won't take them longer than fifteen minutes.
Miyuki smirked, of course, something like this will happen again, it's better to let emotions out, than bottle it.
“Hey, Captain. I don't suppose you wanna run an entire loop, do you?” The University, Wasegawa & this plane, are two separate dimensions, this is Yanagi-chan’s BDA.”
Yanagi popped out of nowhere and provided all the Hunters with talismans to know the in and outs.
Kairi would be spooked by the appearance of the demon but managed to restrain herself to get the talisman. “A nifty little trick.” she admitted as she inspected the talisman with a close eye.
“Alright let's get those ores and candles, you might want to have those prepared beforehand next time.” Kairi spoke as she put the talisman on her pocket and went her way.
From the edge of the dojo, the Agatsuma twin sat, crossed legged, and watching as Himari and Miyuki sparred. He didn’t feel the need to intervene between them when things started to get a bit serious, not being dumb enough to try stopping Himari when she’s getting revved up. Instead he focused on the scarlet dust, practicing Total Concentration: Breathing, every breath deep and exhaled at a slow rate. Kousai couldn’t afford to not be ready, he was willing to learn whatever technique necessary to slay the demon threat. The flame nichirin katana sat across his legs, giving him comfort as he practiced. A moment from his past flickered through his mind, a visage of his brother, as his eyes watched Himari, Miyuki throughout his breathing practice.
”Captain, I can also help if need be.”
Kousai spoke loud enough so that Kairi could hear him, for if there was anyone here that she likely found reasonable then it was Kousai, and he always endeavored to be helpful to Kairi and the few people in the corp that he saw as comrades. Taking a stand and a break from his practice, the Rumble Hashira decided to make his way to the middle of the dojo, facing toward Himari.
”Dear sister, must you always cause a scene?”, Kousai spoke with a comforting but mischievous smile.
Himari chuckled in response. “Me? Cause a scene? Never. I just enter the scene and steal the show when it starts.”
Miyuki had a faint smile too.
Kairi would let out a sigh and stand her ground, “No, the faster you learned these techniques the better so focus on learning, so leave the boring parts to this big sister, got it?” she spoke as she left using Mirage Breathing to get away faster.
Kousai nodded at Kairi’s response, turning his attention back to Himari, giving a slight chuckle before speaking, “Seems like the other slayers are starting to catch up to us. And here we thought being the few to slay even a consort would make us the stars of the corp.”
Himari shook her head. Despite bringing it up earlier to prove a point to Miyuki she never considered defeating a Consort to be a real accomplishment. Not when they were so easy to replace and still paled in comparison to the Demon Lords. “I'm not surprised. This war has been pushing us all to grow at exceptional rates, but I've never been satisfied with just killing a Consort. My goal was always Michikatsu. Now it's also the Demon Lord who killed my brother. Until their blood and ash cover my blade this star won't be able to shine.”
These past six months changed Himari and reshaped her life drastically. She lost her brother but gained even more to protect. She needed to get stronger. She'd have to thank Takaya for initiating this training. It was exactly what she needed to see her limits and break through them.
“It's true, consorts are easy to replace, you'll find Tokyo doing more than just recruiting Demons but also inventing new ways to kill Demons.” she said with honesty.
Kousai gripped his brother’s blade tightly when she spoke of her brother’s passing, despite his jokes, he knew they weren’t any closer to stopping the demons. He stood a bit firmer, his back straightening up, and face losing the mischievous.
”Well it is in our best interest to follow in their footsteps. Kyoto will be free of the demon menace. That will always be my goal.”
ـــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــــــــــــــﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ــــــــــBoth Branches, Tokyo & Kyoto learned to put aside their differences by the training that Oyakata, Takaya enforced. For the past 60-years, there was nothing but dread as the Demon Slayers were just surviving against most Demons until sunrise, since common decapitation methods don't work. Even with the vast advantages that an elite Hunter would reap, like the Demon Slayer Mark, for the past 60-years, a lot of them died.
Whether by the natural causation of the Mark's Curse, whereupon Death claims all lives at 25-years-old, died trying to awaken it, died while using it, just died after a late awakening of age & overusing it, the most detestable thing is to those who've forsakened the Corps, by becoming a Demon — just to overcome the Curse of The Mark. 4-years ago, hope finally came, former Wind Hashira - Soyama Kenzō, made the Soryū Scarlet Method, an unarmed method, made to disable healing factor of Demons regardless of Rank, unfortunately he retired after critical injuries from the ordeal he got with a Demon Lord. Hence, the mass production of the Soryū Scarlet didn't get passed on and led to so many casualties.
Oyakata of Kyoto, Tsugikuni Haruka was pleased to hear the outcome, having read Takaya's report.@JrVader@Digmata@13org@TimelessParagon Event: Scarlet Dawn Upon The Blue Spider Lilies
Tokyo's Oyakata-sama, Ubuyashiki Takaya has brought with him two elite Hashira at the Daikaku Shrine. Alongside them was former Wind Hashira, Soyama Kenzō & some Hinoe-ranked Demon Hunters as bodyguards. Flashbacking to what Miyuki's told Kairi prior leaving.
It's confidential, whatever you and that slacker do, stays there. Don't tell anyone.
"Awesome!" Asechi, a Hinoe-ranked Demon Hunter was in awe of the ancientlike construct that they set their foot upon - it was like a throwback to the haydays of Edo.
Asechi was puzzled, they could've gone during the day but why at night?
Takaya smiled reassuringly. "Everyone, this is the place, where the Soyama Family gets their ingredients from."
Nearby, Takaya saw his collaborator, not one of the Corps but an ally.
"Long time no see, my friend. Daikaku Kōshin. Fear not, my Demons are outside, putting up a barrier with their Blood Demon Art, so no one finds out about this place."
The place itself, the Daikaku Shrine, was in fact made out of Nichirin. Even if a Demon tried going in, they'll die not just from the metal itself but the vast amount of Wisteria Flowers. If they managed to get deeper, they'll die by having engaged the Daikaku Monks.
Memories come rushing in Ryoshu's mind, it was the memories of the fallen, the former Moon Hashira, Tsugikuni Hikaru, it gave him an inkling on where to go.
Kenzō said. "Yo, Shin-chan, we're here for more scarlet iron sand, scarlet metal and some blue spider lilies! I'm trynna experiment on my Soryu, you see?!"@Haha@King Kindred@Randomguy@xAlter@Taka@Aku the Samurai Event: The Lesser Evil
Miyuki was so cheerful and from the training itself, it appears that Jae-un was the only one that didn't tire, training from Morning till Dusk, the felt their sore muscles & that's something that one would expect, having so trained rigorously.
"Come on guys, don't tell me you're all too tired, sheesh!" Miyuki was so casual and cordial with her group, forgetting that she was such a strict Teacher – who trained them hellishly. The Training was so intense that it's not only their muscles that are sore, their lungs was also pushed to the utmost limits.
Of all her newfound friends, she spent the most time with Tenko Thompson, next was Himari, then Kousai and last Jae-un.
Based on their Training Regime from 8am to 7pm, Hellish Hours.
All were trained with Suzuwari, the basic of the basics.
Tenko was drilled most with Kicks, Miyuki made her kick air until she broke, followed by kicking multiple training dummy trees until it broke, especially she's the only one in the group that's not a Hashira.
Miyuki's intent was to improve Tenko's physical prowess, it took 3 hours to train Tenko, with little breaks yet among all her students, who were equally given a hard ass time besides Jae-un, Tenko was given insights and compliments about her enhanced senses, Miyuki showed her a glimpse of Mugaryū.
Himari being as skilled as Miyuki, that she herself gave quite a beating. They sparred for 2 hours, until Himari was pushed beyond her lung capacity.
Miyuki's intent was to teach Himari how to go forward and plow her enemies down, hiding with the Selfless State was a great feat but relying on it overly was an entirely different matter.
It was also a Stamina Training, the Selfless State, drains the user's stamina big time, Miyuki was also surprised that Himari was subconsciously infusing the scarlet with her moon, that could result to something else.
She quoted earlier before they left for the Hot spring. Hide and Seek can only take you so far, hide all you want, the simpled exposure will just be your end.
Kousai was better than his Tsuguko. Obviously.
In fact, Miyuki made Kousai and Himari spar for 3 hours until they break.
Jae-un was the real deal. He picked up fast. Miyuki refused to elaborate and only had 30 minutes with him.
Now...
"Come on guys, we are already here, y'all deserve a break! Tomorrow we train till we break! Though I'll have Jae-un and Kousai with me at the latter night, we'll be patrolling! Guen-san said this place is great to heal wounds!"Four Hours Earlier: @Arminwraith
"What the--?!" Once again, Isaka was cut down, this time, not by crescent blades but by waterjet torrents, FYI, he's still alive but that should knock him out.
The door was cut into pieces and Isaka was knockback, breaking the TV.
"You punk rat." Guen was oozing bloodlust the moment he saw Keodis.
"Wasegawa almost lost its cover. I don't think Muragarasu is that low to spill the beans, but you, you're quick enough to bend the knee to anyone who bids higher. I heard from a reliable source that a Demon of a Higher Level, managed to snuck in, even with Yanagi-chan's Blood Demon Art" Little did she know, she was referring to Ryoshu.
"Of all the Demon Informants in Tokyo, you've been giving me quite the time for the past 7 years!" Guen was furious with Keodis.
"Talk, you know what happens when you mess with me."
She assumed and accused Keodis of leaking info, without knowing the Moons found out.
As the solemn veil of night fell on the Daikaku Shrine, the chirps of birds and swallows gave place to the faint noises of crickets and a few frogs croaking, blending beautifully with the ever present noise of running water. Standing right in front of the shrine, Kōshin was merely sitting at the steps of the main temple, looking at the bright night sky... That was until the noise of footsteps broke the silence. The visitors, being heard before they could be seen by Kōshin were entirely unexpected. Not only due to the time of the day, but also because of the relatively isolated place the shrine found itself.
As the visitors got closer, a familiar voice greeted him, making him smile in return upon seeing the familiar face of an old friend.
"Welcome, Ubuyashiki Takaya. It is good to see you again in good health! My master always spoke fondly of you." Kōshin said, greeting Tokyo's Oyakata-sama with a smile and a friendly bow.
"I must admit, I wasn't expecting guests tonight. It was, most definitely, a pleasant surprise though." he said as he silently nodded towards Soyama Kenzō, another familiar face to Kōshin, having already visited the Daikaku shrine a number of times seeking ingredients such as Blue Wisteria flowers and Red Iron sand.
The Blue Wisteria flowers, carefully cared by Kōshin and the other Daikaku monks, were carefully harvested when fully grown and kept, along with the Scarlet Iron sand and the Scarlet Iron Ingots they were able to forge, in a well guarded vault in the back of the temple, ready should the Demon Slayer corps need them.
"Both virtues and vices can find fertile soil regardless of race. Worry not, having the trust of Tokyo's Oyakata-sama is more than enough for me to trust them as well." Kōshin replied as Ubuyashiki Takaya mentioned his demons being outside. His words hinting at the fact that Kōshin, unlike most of the members in the Demon Slayer Corps didn't discriminate between Demons and Humans, judging them by their actions instead of their race.
"It's good to see you as well, Kenzō-san. I see there are some new faces accompanying you and the Oyakata-sama this time. Have you taken a disciple yet?" Kōshin asked, looking to Kenzō with a playful smile before looking to the newcomers, some of them clearly in awe as they looked around.
"Welcome all to the Daikaku Shrine." Kōshin said looking to the newcomers as he gave a step to the side, extending one of his hands as he showed the main temple.
"I shall take you to the vault where we keep the Scarlet Iron and the Blue Spider Lilies that were harvested and prepared. Should you have any question, please do not hesitate to ask." Kōshin said as he prepared to lead the group inside.
Tenko let out a sigh of relief as they reached the hotspring. Miyuki may look like an adorable girl to her eyes at first—which she was, even now—but she was a total slave driver during training. Her legs felt sore all over after all the kicking drills. Still...having caught a glimpse of the result when it was demonstrated on Kenzo, she didn't mind the pain. It would be worth it.
Besides, a certain prolific Christian writer once wrote that 'climbing into the bed with a soreness in one's legs from a good day of walking is pleasurable'. She certainly agreed with the sentiment, only it was 'going into an onsen' rather than 'climbing into the bed' and a 'good day of kicking drills' rather than a 'good day of walking'. Either way, she could only imagine how heavenly it would feel to soak in the hot water of the onsen all the while feeling sore in the legs.
She then turned her attention to Miyuki, which seemed much more cheerful than before. She had some rough edges, so to speak, but Tenko hoped that after spending time with them, Miyuki had become more relaxed in their presence.
"You know, I don't mind helping with patrols to if needed. I think my ability to sense demons can come in handy."
". . . goddammit, that TV was EXPENSIVE." Turning to face the enraged Hashira, Keodis seems incredibly at-ease with the presence of one of the greatest human warriors in the world being within 50 feet of him. "Alright, let's hear it. Come on in, and try no to let what remains of my door hit you on the way in." Keodis walks away from the entrance, slipping through a velvet-roped queue and stepping through a door that says "VIP LOUNGE". Inside, the thump of the club floor's music travels through the walls, giving the entire room a vibration. There's a small full-service bar, and seating for both a formal board meeting, and a traditional meal. On the wall, a set of sliding paper doors are built into the foundation. They are painted delicately, displaying the art of Ogata Korin, specifically the piece "Red and White Plum Blossoms." "Do you like the space? I put it together for the times any person with a more... mature artistic taste takes a trip to my humble home. That right there, is a genuine Edo period fusuma. I beg of you with my whole soul, PLEASE don't break it. That costs more than the sword in your hand, and every sword back in your compound, combined." Keodis goes, gets two platters of sake, and sets one down on the traditional table. "Now, to the reason you broke my door. I can't give you too much info, as, well... you aren't a paying customer. However, I will give you this, free of charge. I swear upon my parents and progenitor, I did not give away the location of Wasegawa. If the secret is broken, it wasn't by my hand or word." He smiles slightly, and takes a sip of his sake. "Now, for what you could learn. I could tell you just how the infiltrator knew. Or, I could tell you how they got in. Or, I could tell you who exactly it was. However, you've been... quite rude, haven't you, Mr. Guen." Keodis lets his shades slide down his nose, exposing the slashed eyes of an Upper Moon. "You broke into my establishment. A place that is recognized as neutral ground by both Tsugikuni and Ubuyashiki. You hurt one of my employees, who is human and was doing nothing other than his job. You demanded information from an informant, who has been working with you for years now. And finally..."
He holds the silence for a few seconds, before scoffing, and slowly reeling himself in. "You may want to take some Potassium Iodine pills once you see yourself out, Water Hashira. If you want the information, send someone else. You've burned your goodwill here, and you are henceforth banned from the Western Dragon's premises, along with any of my other holdings. DO. NOT. DISTURB. MY. PEACE."
”Robin, would you be a dear and take the herbal soak the women’s room?” The pipe was plucked from between her teeth before she gestured toward the large pot ‘Sparrow’ had been previously stirring. The steeping of medicinal herbs filled the large entry room with an aromatic mist, giving off a holistic calming sensation.
Robin, a girl clad in a lilac kimono artistically decorated with the prints of what seemed to be various flowers in a dark blue dye. This employee of the onsen fit the mold visually more-so than the other bird-named personage. Long black hair cleanly fell at a length of her central back, with her curtain bangs cut above her brows. This one even spoke, ”Yes ma’am.” she chirped out in a mousy tone despite the fact that she was the tallest person in the immediate area.
Everyone here seemed to have a job, with soft footfalls of a few other figures being heard in the separate rooms throughout the bath house. Robin grunted as she heave-ho’d to lift the tub filled with the mixture and slowly waddled down a long hallway. The location designed for women specifically was marked with beautifully painted sakura flowers along the paper panels, while the opposite side held spider lilies that were carried along the wind for men. The wooden pot would plop down loudly with a little bit of the water splashing out, though Mura paid no mind to it as she kept her eyes locked upon the door.
”Oh— that friendly man who sells takoyaki with his wife are setting up their stand again.” The front-facing onsen windows faced a building directly opposite to them where a company of carpenters lived. There wouldn’t be any sign of the vendors she spoke of, but the crimson eyes of Mura flicked from left to right as if her vision was elsewhere. The trance would be broken as she looked to the youngest members of her ensemble as Robin and Sparrow returned to the front room. “You two have worked hard today, take my purse and go buy yourself some. Just don’t take too long, I expect we’ll have a busier evening than usual.”
There a moment of silent communication between the proprietress and the two youths. They’d then look amongst themselves with starry eyes before darting for the black suede purse set directly next to Mura, fighting over who would get to hold it briefly before rushing out the door with Robin hurriedly peeping, ”Thank you ma’am!”
The proprietress would smile warmly, offering the pair a wave as they left. But of course, they did not leave her sight as she watched from on high through the eyes of many ravens that made their nests upon the rooftops. Her perception would split as her expression grew colder. The reasoning for this, of course, being the large number of recognizable individuals arriving at her onsen. She’d seen a few of them alone, separate from the rest— but such a large gathering obviously ignited her nerves to such a degree that a pit formed in her stomach.
“Welcome, welcome! Please make yourselves comfortable, many of baths have just been refilled and some salves have been set out in the rooms if you have any particularly painful areas.” Mura was a masterful actress, as anyone who wished to blend in to society for hundreds of years would be. Her face glowed with a warm radiance, like a sun, fully intent on broadcasting a charitable hospitality that such a woman should have.
However, if nothing else, she was a reasonable woman. Squad One had been fresh off a week-long assignment when she called them out to Funachi. It was only fair that they be given time to relax before she sent them on another one, and as their commanding officer, it was her duty to ensure they were well-rested and prepared for their next mission. Their skill and effectiveness made them more than deserving of a relaxing break. If they wished for it to be at an onsen, then so be it...
... Is what she would have thought if that was actually the case. Unfortunately, the children in her ‘A-team’ are not that.
“Xaku-sama! Xaku-sama! Look what I learnt! Look, look!”
“I am not here to witness your techniques, Hina-kun.”
The pink-haired demon pouts at Xaku’s flat response, her shoulders slumping slightly as the ball of water between her hands falls to the floor with a splash. Another demon with orange hair pulls herself out of the water and slings her arm over Hina’s shoulders, her pink eyes glittering.
“Aw, cheer up, Hina–chan! You know what our Chief is like, all serious all the time. Isn’t that right, Suzu-chan~?”
The question is directed at the dark-haired woman sitting calmly in the water, seemingly the only human amongst the trio. A cup of tea rests on a coaster held daintily in her hands.
“It’s Suzuha, Ria, and Xaku-sama is simply a professional. She has standards, unlike you.”
Ria sticks her tongue out at Suzuha, to no visible reaction. The unbothered woman simply takes a sip of her tea and ignores the provocation.
The scene isn’t exactly a new one for this particular group. Xaku is well-known for a great many things, but a sense of humour is not one of them. Not a single member of Squad One has ever seen her so much as crack a smile in all their years on the force.
And they have tried to change that. Unsuccessfully.
Suddenly, Xaku goes still, more so than normal. Then, her head tilts, and a single finger on her left hand twitches. Chips of wood explode from the rear wall, carving a massive trench at the top of the wall. Sawdust fills the air, but not a single particle touches her uniform.
A yelp, followed by a splash of water, rings out.
“... You do not belong here.”
Hina and Ria’s jaws go slack for a moment before Ria’s eyes narrow into blood-red slits.
“That... damn... pervert! Ugh, I am so gonna–”
Xaku shoots her a warning look, and her mouth closes immediately, though her expression still seethes with rage.
The sound of someone hastily stumbling to their feet echoes in the onsen.
“Detain him. Do not, kill him.”
Xaku turns on her heel and marches towards the entrance, ignoring Yusuke’s sputtered protests. Ria’s furious roar rings out, followed by a high-pitched, decidedly unmanly yelp of pain.
Xaku doesn’t turn back.
On her way to the entrance, something catches her attention. She smells them before she sees them.
The sharp, almost stinging tang of Nichirin is a familiar scent, one she associates with more memories than she cares to admit. She doesn't slow her steps even a little as she gets ever closer to the source.
“Muragarasu-san. Once your other guests are settled, would you mind joining me for tea?”
Kairi looked at the shrine with a nostalgic smile, the place reminds her of the headquarters she resided in Kyoto, it is a little heartwarming that despite the many breaches to traditions the Tokyo branch had made some things are kept the same.
She let out a sigh as she tuned out the conversation before her, logically she knew why this branch took in some demons, in fact she knew some cases where it worked. Yet, she cannot help but fear for the day that it will turn out that the attempt to reach their hand is a mistake.
Someone needs to be prepared, someone needs to be vigilant when it happens and if Guen is too busy grieving to be that person then she would be.
Kairi’s mind returns to the real world as she hears Kenzo talking about experimenting on his Soryu. “I would like to see the process myself; perhaps it could provide insight a simple instruction couldn’t provide.” Kairi spoke as she looked around the temple.
“While we’re at it, I would look into the recent news around this city, it would help navigate Funachi once I began my incursions.”
"...Anyway, don't hesitate to assign me some patrols, I'm still fit for dut—"
Tenko stopped mid-sentence, as she visibly tensed. A familiar, prickling sensation as if her skin were pierced by needles ran through her body. A sensation that she started feeling after moving to Japan in certain areas. One that she finally associated with the presence of a demon.
Tenko’s hands reached for her hairband, before shifting its position so that the ribbon moved from the left side of her head to the right side. Almost like a switch, her eyes narrowed, all trace of cheerfulness and warmth people would associate with her vanish, as her expression became taut.
Tenko Thompson did not have the natural disposition to be a demon slayer. She was too soft, too liable to feel sympathy for the demons she had to slay, giving rise to moments of hesitation that would prove fatal.
In fact, on her first assignment to slay a demon, such a thing almost happened. Something that almost made her to be taken off the corps entirely—her presence in the corps already being met with staunch refusal by the Rengoku Clan—which forced her to seek a solution. If she were to take up her mother’s proverbial sword, and continue where she left off to be the light that defend humanity against the darkness of demons, then she needed to harden her heard.
And thus, she found her answer in ‘anchoring action’. A solution befitting of a psychology major university student. A ‘psychological trick’ that conditioned a specific state of mind when the action was made. In Tenko’s case, ‘shifting one’s hairband to the right’ became the signal to ‘be Tenko the demon slayer’ and cease ‘being Tenko the University Student’.
"Is Yanagi-chan, Chozen-san, or any other demons affiliated with the Corps here? Because a demon is around," she said to the rest of the group.
Perched atop the roof of the shrine, overlooking the entirety of the estate, Ryunosuke was lounging. Smoking a homemade blend of Wisteria and Soryu dust, he lazily dangled his legs off the perch of the roof. He could hear everything. The running water, the ambience of nature, fragments from the multitude of conversations. It was all so peaceful, serene. Something an idealist would call nirvana. Ryu hated it.
He's used to the chaos of Shinjuku. He's embellished in it. So much so that now, in tranquil moments, he can't help but feel on edge. The lack of chaos is unnerving to him. He chuckles, huffing his burner as he does. He eyes the groundskeeper. Koshin, was it? He knew the type. Spiritual, humble, philosopher... fuck, he already hated him. Spiteful as Ryu is, he can still sense power in Koshin. it feels similar, like Koshin and Ryu's powers are rooted from a similar source, but a different side. He ponders for a moment. Could his Buddhist faith actually be the driver of his breathing form. Ryu wouldn't be surprised. All great hunters have to derive their power from something greater than just breathing forms and practice. In his case, his narcissistic ego and unbreakable drive help propel his abilities to the nth degree. Maybe... this groundskeeper finds his catalyst in Buddhist teachings? 'Shit, I gotta pick up some holy text.'
Laughing at the thought of himself becoming some blasphemous holy-man, he stands and starts walking to the apex of the roof. Feeling abashedly sober, his internal confliction has taken a hold of him. He's made it a point to stay clear from the other Hashira. His lifestyle, his ethos, hell even his breathing form all promotes independence. And now, all of that is gone. His material, his legend, his kingdom. All in the name of some fucked mission he's being held partly responsible for.
Get more powerful? He laughs to himself. He was already powerful. Hell, he was the most powerful out of everyone here. Who else has a mark? Who else can use sun breathing? But yet... other hashira have defeated upper moons, or some of the consorts. Ryu has yet to do that. Does that mean...
No, nonono, it can't be.
'No one here is stronger than me! That's impossible! I'm me!?! Right??!?!?' There was no one around to reply. His thoughts were only for himself. Now more than ever. In this stillness he hated. He felt weak. He hated feeling weak.
He wanted to scream. To fight. To get in his car and drive to the ends of the earth. He wanted to pick up his sword and fight. To feel the burn from his Mark. To remind himself just how powerful he is. But there was none of that here. Just the serenity of peace. He hated peace.
What was this feeling? Insecurity? Trepidation? He's never felt anything like this before... Staring into the sun, he thought back for a moment. Ever since Hikaru's death, things have changed. Before, Ryu had an equal. a pillar he could pawn his responsibilities off too. Someone he could at least compare himself too. Hikaru was important to more than just Ryu, as well. He was the staple of the Demon Slayer corps. A husband, a brother, a mentor, a competitor...
And now that's all gone. Death never meant much to Ryunosuke. Hew flirts with it constantly. He's seen his fellow slayers die. He's killed himself. But the absence Hikaru left felt more real than anything he's felt before.
A core pillar is gone. One of the two hashira given the honor of carrying an ancient breathing form. Without the Moon, the sun shines too bright. Without the sun, the moon can't illuminate the starry sky. Ryu is a sun that shines too bright, too quick. And now... there's no moon.
He shakes his head. No, no, there is still a moon. A fledgling, in his eyes. Himari, she alone carries Hikaru's responsibilities. Alongside the other Hashira and their newfound compatriots, they carry the hopes of the unborn future. They themselves will carve a victory form this near defeat...
Hikaru once told something to the Dragon, after one of their many bouts. He said "We, as hashira, are more than just an elite group. We are the manifestations of our paths. Each of us, an epitome of what our forms mean. You, the rage and passion of the sun. Me, the serenity and comfort of the moon. And our peers, as well, each a walking philosophy preached by our power. All slayers look to those who walked before, to lead those who walked after. I hope, someday soon, you realize the world is bigger than you think. And that the burdens you inherit are a testament to the story you can carve for yourself. I have faith that, one day, you will think for others as much as you think for yourself. And when that comes, your sun will become a guiding light for those who tread their paths, and those who have yet to start it."
Ryu hated this philosophical feeling he gets. In a sense, he becomes one of the things he hates the most. Usually, he softens this feeling through copious sin. But this time he finds a weird catharsis from it all. 'If Takaya saw me right now, would he tease me for being so soft?' He thinks to himself.
Driving his gaze from the sun, back to the gathering in the lawn, he makes a promise to himself.
"Long ago, I vowed to live only as I wanted too. Nothing more, nothing less. "I will make you all Hashira worthy of the title. This is what I want. "Nothing more. Nothing less."
Ryu finishes smoking his burner, and sulks off to a private Onsen. If he's gonna learn to love peace, he might as well do it in the comfort of a hot spring.
The night air was cool against Jae-eun's skin as he stood outside the onsen, arms crossed loosely over his chest. His tattoos—intricate patterns that wound across his shoulders and down his arms—prevented him from joining the others inside. It was a small inconvenience, one he'd grown used to. The ink marked him as different, an outsider even among outsiders, but he'd never regretted it. The designs were his armor, his history etched in black and gray.
He flexed his right hand, feeling the residual ache in his knuckles from the day's training. Suzuwari. Bell Splitter. The foundational technique of Soryū Karate. It was a strange name for something so devastatingly simple: strike a descending blade from the side, break it with minimal effort. Offense is defense. Defense is offense. A single motion that embodied both protection and destruction.
He'd picked it up with surprising ease. That, in itself, was surprising.
Jae-eun had expected resistance. He'd expected his body—trained for years in the flowing, acrobatic movements of Dragon Breathing—to rebel against the rigid, explosive power of Soryū. But instead, it had felt... natural. The way his weight shifted into his hips, the way his fist drove forward with all the force of his core and legs behind it, the way the impact reverberated through his bones like a bell being struck—it was as if his body had been waiting for this all along.
He'd expected to struggle. But he hadn't.
Perhaps it was because Dragon Breathing, at its core, was already about precision and force. His naginata strikes were designed to cleave through demons with devastating accuracy, to channel every ounce of passion and rage into a single, overwhelming blow. Soryū simply asked him to do the same thing with his fists. The philosophy was the same: commit fully, strike decisively, leave no opening.Or perhaps it was something else. Something deeper.
The legend of Soryū spoke of a man who had taken down sixty-seven armed opponents with nothing but his bare hands. Sixty-seven. The number haunted Jae-eun in a way he couldn't quite articulate. It was a massacre, a brutal expression of skill and will that bordered on the inhuman. And yet, he understood it. He understood the kind of singular focus, the kind of all-consuming drive, that would allow someone to do that.
It was the same drive that had led him to create Dragon Breathing. The same possessive, unyielding force that had turned Love Breathing's gentle passion into something sharp and unforgiving. He uncrossed his arms and struck the air experimentally, feeling the explosive release of energy through his fist. The motion was clean, efficient, devastating. It felt good. Too good.
He smiled at the proprietress. She was pretty, in the way a poisonous flower was pretty. The hotsprings looked lovely, but again, Jae-eun would not be bathing tonight. Such was the consequences of his decisions.
Tenko's voice cut through his thoughts, her expression tight with alarm. Her ribbon had shifted and Jae-eun noticed. Her question entered his mind like a gunshot.
"Relax, Tenko-chan." Jae-eun's smile was as placid as ever, his tone light and unbothered. He didn't even turn to look in the direction she was indicating. His single eye remained fixed on the distant treeline, half-lidded and serene.
"I know. I've been listening to it for the past five minutes. It's subtle, and quiet, extremely so. It's heavy, old, dangerous." He tilted his head slightly, as if considering a particularly interesting puzzle. He raised his right hand, curling it into a loose fist. The motion was casual, unhurried, but there was a weight to it—a promise.
"We shall remain cautious. We are guests here at the hotsprings. Let us not ruin what little downtime we have by engaging in carnal violence where it may not be needed." His voice remained cheerful, almost sing-song, but beneath the pleasant facade, there was something else—something cold and certain. If a fight broke out now, it would be total annihilation for one side or the other. He just didn't want to find out which. He flexed his fingers, feeling the scarlet ore dust circulating through his bloodstream, the faint heat of it pulsing in time with his heartbeat. It was intoxicating, this new power. Dangerous, yes—Miyuki had made that abundantly clear—but effective.
"But... I must confess.. I want to see if Soryū really works."
Today's training had been intoxicating for Himari. She hadn't been pushed that much since her training sessions with Hikaru. As they made their way to the Onsen she replayed her spars with Miyuki and Kousai in her mind. Five hours of sparring until her body could no longer give in. That's exactly what she needed. The pain throughout her body was a testament to the growth she was forcing herself to experience in such a short period of time. She still had a long way to go, but she felt closer to her goals of avenging Hikaru and the Tsugikuni clan.
She was surprised by how much she and Miyuki ended up getting along after their initial interaction. She wasn't as much of a spoiled brat as Himari originally believed. She was also a pretty decent sensei, though she wondered how differently training would have gone under Kenzo instead as the progenitor of the martial arts. Maybe one day she could seek one on one training from him. After all he did face both a Demon Lord and Consort together and survived to tell the tale. And as a close friend of Hikaru she was sure that he had some stories to tell that even she didn't know yet.
Himari stretched her arms in the air when they reached the Onsen's entrance allowing the gas bubbles in her joints' synovial fluid to burst creating that addictive popping sound. She sensed the demons inside as well, but wasn't as bothered by them as Tenko had been. Had she not said anything she would've completely ignored their presence. Demons were in a way still human. She wasn't surprised that they also had the inclination to rest, relax, and take a nice bath. All she cared about at the moment was if this onsen banned tattoos or not.
She gave a warm smile to the proprietress. "Thank you, madame." She then followed the others inside.
She shook her head at Jae-un when he suggested wanting to try out Soryū in a real fight against a demon. As much as she agreed with the sentiment she was not going to let either of them disrupt their downtime. "Let's not disrupt this business and ruin my soak just to test our skills. I'm going to the women's bath. You coming, Tenko?" She didn't wait for an answer and headed to the women's room to disrobe.
It smelled wonderfully in the women's room. Whether this was a place for demons or humans it was clear that the proprietress knew how to make the environment welcoming and pleasant to her guests. Himari didn't waste time disrobing and washing her body with the herbal soap provided. Once she was done cleansing herself she grabbed a towel and walked out into the bath area. She didn't wrap it around her body since she had nothing to hide from fellow women. She didn't care what the other guests thought about her tattoos either. She stepped into the steam-filled air and inhaled deeply before letting out an exhale. "This is great. I can't believe it's my first time here."
She looked around to see other women already in the hot spring. She gave them the same warm smile she gave the proprietress and walked over to a non-occupied part of the path and stepped in letting out a deep, "Ahhh", as she submerged her body. "That's the stuff."
Ryoshu breathed deep the cool air as he nocked an arrow against his bow. No trace of his usual illness remained as he morphed into full demon form, loose bloody robes battered in the night winds straining against the nails pinning them in place. A dozen eyes scanned each inch of the terrain below until he found his target. While the temple itself was hidden even against his sight, the demons casting it were not. The moon Hashira's memories made located them a simple matter.
Concentrating for a moment he drew his daikyu to full draw, crimson arrow glimmered in the moonlight before being let go with a "Twang". Thin as a hair and faster than thought, it flew without sound, crossing the mile long distance between both sides in an instant before pinning the demon employing the shrouding art against the outside temple wall via his throat. The man tried to scream but a dozen more joined the first, striking his nerves and preventing movement. Blood poison moved quickly overwhelmed the immobile demon's body but did not seek to devour him. "Remain silent for now misguided one, for redemption may still find thee at proper time." muttered the artist directly into the defenseless demon's mind using his invading cells. Without its caster, the blood demon art quickly withered apart, revealing the temple within in all its glory.
A sentry barely had time to react before being impaled through the gut, his body morphing and twisting as it blossomed with unnatural life. The man's dying agony alerted his compatriot in the bell alcove above before they suffered the same fate. Yet as the flowers ravaged the sentry he managed to sound the alarm. Striking the bell with all his might. Sending the quiet temple into a spiral of activity.
From the shadows Fifth Heaven unleashed a veritable barrage of arrows upon the shrine's occupants. Killing at random, using his blood demon art again and again, scattering about clouds of deadly mist while trees blossomed all around. Blood for blood, what was dealt must be repaid tenfold. Such was the way of the yakuza.
“…I think that if there is a demon, it would be our duty to ascertain their motives and ensure that innocents who are visiting this establishment would not be at risk,” Tenko said, as she watched Himari entering the woman’s bath.
Knowing the existence of demons like Chozen and Yanagi meant that Tenko did not think merely because a demon was at an onsen that they were there for nefarious purposes. But it was also true that demons such as Chozen and Yanagi were the exception, not the rule.
That was why the Demon Slayer Corps was for, after all. The protection of the innocents against demons.
Still, it was also true that an escalation might end up endangering the innocent people in the onsen. The demon, who might not be inclined to cause violence initially, might do so the moment they see a Demon Slayer nearby.
She still sensed the demon…no, several demons? In the vicinity, but given that there was no commotion, it seemed likely that no violence had started. So for the time being, it seemed that the demons were content keeping the peace.
She sighed, “…I still think that we should investigate, but I will defer to both Hashira present, for now.”
"Though we should probably launch a formal investigation on this establishment later," she added to Jae-Eun
Tenko then adjusted her ribbon once more, before taking it off, preparing to join Himari in the onsen.
And so it escalated... This feeling of premonition, my nose itched, ever since I got here.
That feeling of being watched by, I dreaded it, ever since I got here.
No other killing intent has pushed my senses this far, not since a Blood Moon.
I gasped, as many of the Hinoe died, and Captain Kairi & Kousai, reacted within a nick of time.
I didn't wanna remember it, the blood spilt, Hikaru's sacrifice, I was a fool for all of it. That bravado & swagger, got so many people killed – all because I drown upon my sorrows, drinking. This foreboding sensation, I can only cope by drinking to my heart's content & ignorant bliss.
Ryunosuke found himself entranced by the grotesque murder, reducing him into an anxiety-induced panic attack!
The veins of his sunesque crimson eyes, protruding & the massacre was flashing before his eyes, glistening!
Everything was on mute, each sensation of sounds, were reduced to white noise as from Ryunosuke's eyes, we see the one-sided murder!
Screams of people, begging him for help. Ryunosuke's heart, was on an er day as he heard his late sister's voice.
Brought back by the voice of his sister, Ryunosuke heard Kenzo's voice, amidst the merciless massacre.
"Ryunosuke! Snap out of it!"
Ryunosuke's closed and opened his eyes, witnessing the massacre, and the noises, no longer white, he hears them all.
He breathed in-and-out, and as he opened his eyes, everything seemed slow and transparent. In that moment, he moved faster than lightning, falling like a meteor to the one that he'd hunt.
"Hinokami Kagura: Burning Bones, Summer Sun"
In a blink of an eye, Ryunosuke summoned the Mark's power, thousand times, the force, echoing from his right cheek, spreading across his body, the Mark appeared in both his arms, molding it into a fiery shape, parrying everything Ryoshu, dished, plenty of Fake Rainbows were of Ryunosuke's flexible evasion.
"Hinokami Kagura: "Clear Blue Sky!
In that instance, Ryoshu, surprised, by the sheer speed of the Sunswordsman.
The Blood Moon, Demon King of The Fifth Heaven, lost both his hands, and his head, nearly decapitated, barely regenerating.
"What is so fun about this? What made you think this is interesting...what exactly do you think the value of life is?"
All that Demon Lord could see was visions of a man, immobilizing a Demon King, & then an elderly version of the Sunswordsman, beating their current Demon King.
"You're a guy, I presume you must be a Demon Lord. Tch, if this was art school, I'd say you're trash." Ryunosuke taking a jab out of his foe.
I could've humored a certain Dictator, but that'd make a lot of people offended.
Ryunosuke thought. Seriously? Is this a Demon Lord? I don't see the difference fighting a Consort.
Arrogantly, letting his guard down, gloating, turning his back against his foe.
"GUYS! IT'S ALRIGHT! I GOT HIM!
Ryunosuke's on a catharsis.
"Seriously...why the heck did the Yatsuchizuki sent a feminine looking Demon? It felt as though, I dominated a Consort, no different from a Woman."
Rarely turning, and when he turned back, he splitted and kicked that son of a bitch, and turn his back against it again.
"Yo, I swear, if you're a Demon Lord, you should be demoted to Consort, you look like a woman that is a hot man, Demons can control their biology yeah? Why don't you just throw your demonic manhood away and give birth, grovel in the dirt and you're gonna like it, I will also kill your demonic children!
HAHAHA! Cry me a river, any man that is weak, is simply, a woman!"
"YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A WEAK WOMAN! YOU'RE WEAK, JUST LIKE YOUR CONSORT SISTERS, YOU SERVE ONE PURPOSE IN LIFE, YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO BREED FOR 9 DAYS. CONCEIVE AND EASILY GET REPLACED. IF I HAVE A YEN FOR HOW MANY RASETSU THE CORPS HAVE KILLED, I'D BE RICHER THAN THE OYAKATA-SAMA!"
”Most certainly, once my assistants return I’ll have them set a table for the two of us.” The honeyed words that spilled out from the proprietress’s painted lips were less restrained when speaking to the chief of police as there was no need for smoke and mirrors with an old friend.
”But until the young ones return with their lunch, have a smoke, relax, change into something more comfortable.” She was coy with the White Devil, the fox’s tongue was serpentine as a glowing smile stretched from cheek to cheek as her lipstick stained teeth appeared for the terse woman.
Mura bent down to clasp the wooden handle of a small drawer beneath her at the greeting desk. Within were a number of old kiseru, forged of polished brass and liquor soaked wood. One that smelled faintly of poppy wrapped in a dark red ribbon would be plucked out and the proprietress would gracefully walk to Xaku before handing it to the fellow ancient. ”I’ll have Robin retrieve the blend with rose and lavender to enjoy with our tea, tea and tobacco go well together for conversation.” She winked at the chief before passing by her to step along to the nearest hallway; she didn’t head for the baths this time, instead making a sharp turn early on where two white doors separated staff from those who visited the onsen.
Mura didn’t enter, instead she just peaked her head in and spoke at an elevated volume. ”Sake, two cups, and fresh sashimi.” It was the kitchen where two Japanese men in white aprons were meticulously washing plates and cups that had been dirtied throughout the day. The proprietress was just about to leave after giving the short order but she would duck right back in to say in a much lower volume. ”We also have some young ones so— snacks.” The double doors closed and she popped back towards the front desk as her vision went blank again, it wouldn’t be much longer before the two staff members who left for lunch returned.
The mirthful expression on Muragarasu’s face would’ve absolutely frightened anyone who knew her from the past, but the mute and the young girl simply saw a benevolent matron that cared for them and gave them work. Robin saw the crowd of new people and immediately wiped the grin off of her face and dusted the leftover crumbs off of her hands. Sparrow would take a moment, watching his friend notice before actually looking around the onsen himself to take note of the activity. ”I’ll bolt to the woman’s bath to see if there’s anyone requesting anything!” Robin sputtered to Mura before she would very quickly rebut.
”No.. you’re going to set a table in my room for me and an old friend to enjoy some tea. Could you also fetch that old pepper box with the peacock feathers?” Mura’s words weren’t even answered with words and instead a quick bow and the girl named Robin flew away, bolting through the hallways with acute memorization of how and where to find what the proprietress was looking for.
Her crimson eyes would flutter as she glanced back to Xaku with a nod of her, swaying in her kimono to beckon the chief to follow her to the west-most side of the onsen away from the baths where a large false wall would open discretely with a simple touch of her black painted nail. The room wasn’t unnecessarily large, but it could hold a large group of yakuza with enough space to move around. At the center was a table, where tea and cups had already been set for them. The smell of iron filled the air, along with other things— jasmine, poppy, and maybe just the slightest bit of opium. Mura would sit down on the tatami to face Xaku. She would take her own pipe out, untucking it from the side of her kimono to find her lips once again and sucking from the still burning coal nestled inside.
Smoke would slither and sputter from her lips and nostril as her expression melted away, replacing it not with remorse or anger, but rather a vapid seriousness as a frown tugged along the corners of her lips. ”O’ chief of police-san, why is such a volatile group of children in my onsen this eve?” As the burning question escaped her lips, Robin would come dashing in with the pepper box to set it down in front of the White Demon. It was a simple wooden box with three peacock feathers set into the top of it, opening it up would have Xaku find finely ground tobacco for the pipe she was offered.
