xAlter

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Jae-eun Yoshihide

^{Location: Torigaya Onsen
Mentions: @Yu Narukami@Haha@Arminwraith@Randomguy}

---

Jae-eun's head tilted, just slightly, his single eye tracking upward. The electrical lines sagging across the street were heavy with weight that shouldn't be there. Ravens. Dozens of them, perched in perfect, unnatural stillness. No rustling of feathers. No caws. No heartbeats. His enhanced hearing, sharpened through years of Total Concentration Breathing, picked up nothing from the birds. Not the flutter of life, not even the faint pulse of blood through veins. They were props. Stage dressing. A message, or perhaps a surveillance network. Either way, they weren't natural, and they certainly weren't alive.

Then came the wave.

From inside the onsen, a pressure descended like winter itself had crawled out of the water and wrapped its fingers around the world. Cold. Brutal. Suffocating. It radiated outward in a twenty-meter sphere, and even standing outside, Jae-eun felt it prickle against his skin like frost on glass. Bloodlust. Raw, unfiltered, and devastatingly familiar.

Guen.

His smile didn't falter, but something behind his eye sharpened. The former Deputy Commander. The rogue Hashira. The woman who had more rumoers than truths to her right now. His comrade, not former comrade, never former comrade. Grief took many forms and to belittle Guen's was to make light of his own. He wouldn't do that to her, or to Hikaru's death.

Takaya had shielded her from criminal prosecution, but the Kyoto Branch had issued a capture-and-execution order. She was wanted. Dangerous. And now, apparently, picking a fight with Miyuki in the women's bath, if the sounds were to be believed.

"Of course she is," Jae-eun murmured to himself, his tone light, almost amused. "Why wouldn't she be?"

Then, movement.

His gaze snapped to the approaching figure. A man, walking with purpose toward the onsen entrance. Jae-eun's hearing zeroed in immediately. Footsteps—measured, deliberate. Breathing—steady, controlled. The thrum of the man's blood was loud, violent, and angry. Jae-eun's fingers flexed at his sides, the scarlet ore dust still humming faintly in his veins. The man was a demon. A high-ranking one, judging by the confidence in his stride and the complete absence of nervousness.

Ryunoko Keodis, the Western Dragon.

Guen had been getting information from somewhere. Despite the rumors, Jae-eun knew Guen, or at least he thought so. She never moved without purpose, without direction, and someone was giving her info. The Corp had many brokers, but this one, Jae-eun recognized as he got closer. A former Upper Moon. And now this demon was here, drawn by the bloodlust, by jealousy, or simply by the opportunity to cause chaos. Or perhaps...

Jae-eun let a frown cross his face briefly as the scuffle continued inside. Whatever the reason, Jae-eun couldn't let him get any closer to the onsen. Not with Tenko inside. Not with Himari inside. Not with Guen already on the verge of tearing Miyuki apart. Not with the powder keg of tension that was about to explode.

Jae-eun stepped forward, placing himself casually but deliberately in the demon's path. His smile remained bright and pleasant, his posture relaxed, his hands loose at his sides. To an outside observer, he looked like a friendly local offering directions.

"Ah! Good evening!" Jae-eun called out, his voice warm and cheerful. "You must be looking for the main entrance. It's actually around the other side. Easy mistake to make! The signage here is terrible, isn't it? Very confusing for first-time visitors." He gestured vaguely to the left, as if helpfully redirecting a lost tourist. But his single eye was locked onto Keodis, sharp and assessing. His weight had shifted, almost imperceptibly, into the balls of his feet. His right hand, still hanging loosely, was angled just so—ready to snap into Suzuwari at a moment's notice.

"The men's side is closed for maintenance tonight, unfortunately," Jae-eun continued, his tone still light, still friendly. "Such bad timing, I know! But there's another onsen about two kilometers down the road. Much nicer, actually. Better view as well. I'd be happy to give you directions if you'd like."

His smile widened, his head tilting in that guileless, almost childlike way that made him seem harmless. But beneath the pleasant facade, his mind was cataloging everything. The demon's posture. His breathing pattern. The faint scent of blood that clung to him like cologne. The way his gaze flickered toward the onsen entrance, hungry and intent. The air hummed, and Jae-eun realized with a startle their was something off about this demon.

"Or," Jae-eun added, his voice dropping just a fraction—still cheerful, but with a subtle undercurrent, "you could tell me what you're really here for. That works too! I'm a very good listener." His hand twitched, just once. The faintest echo of explosive force hummed through his knuckles, a promise wrapped in a smile.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Jae-eun Yoshihide

^{Location: Torigaya Onsen
Mentions: @Yu Narukami@Randomguy@Haha@Aku the Samurai}

---

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."

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Jae-eun Yoshihide

^{Location: Wasegawa University
Mentions: @Yu Narukami@Randomguy@Digmata@King Kindred}

---

Jae-eun watched the exchange with a placid, almost detached curiosity. He observed Soyama Kenzo's booming entrance, a man whose presence was as overwhelming as his daughter Miyuki's was sharp and pointed. He listened as Kenzo spoke of hardship, of demons evolving, of the Corps' long struggle—all familiar refrains. The grandmaster's passion was like a bonfire, loud and crackling, drawing all attention.

When Kenzo asked about Hikaru, a heavy silence fell. Jae-eun watched Kairi deliver the news with a grim professionalism that he respected. He saw the shift in Kenzo's boisterous demeanor, the way the light in his eyes flickered and died. Another stone dropped into the well. Another life tethered to so many others, now severed. It was a story Jae-eun knew all too well. It was his own story, echoed in the grief of a stranger.

The demonstration with the demon, Chozen, was… illuminating. The speed, the impact, the visible dampening of regenerative abilities—it was a tangible answer to a problem that blades alone couldn't always solve. Jae-eun cataloged the movements, the angle of the strike, the point of impact. His mind, always working beneath the serene surface, analyzed the technique's potential. This was more than just unarmed combat; it was a weapon forged from flesh and bone, infused with the power to truly harm a demon.

Miyuki’s subsequent speech was less illuminating and more… abrasive. Jae-eun listened to her explanation of the scarlet ore, the breathing techniques required, the inherent danger of it all. It was a difficult path, but a logical one. The ore acted as a catalyst, something to be circulated through the body to achieve a temporary "Red Blade" effect through their strikes. It was ingenious. It was also incredibly dangerous.

Her disdain for the Hashira, however, was as sharp and unpleasant as thorns on a rose bush. She called him and Himari out directly. He didn't react to her jab, simply letting the insult wash over him like water. Her anger was a shield, just like his smile. She was hurt, disillusioned by loss, and lashing out at the symbols of a system she felt had failed. It was predictable. It was… sad. When Kairi's voice dropped, thick with restrained anger, the air grew taught. The Mirage Hashira was not one to be disrespected, and Miyuki, for all her skill, was testing the patience of a woman who commanded yakuza and slayed demons with equal poise.

Jae-eun stepped forward slightly, placing himself subtly between the two women. His smile remained, a gentle, placating thing. "Miyuki-san," he began, his tone light and airy, as if discussing the weather. "You must be very strong. To carry so much anger and still have room to teach others… it's really quite impressive! It’s like trying to hold a hot coal in your hands while teaching someone how to weave a basket. You’re bound to burn yourself, aren't you?"

He tilted his head, his one good eye holding a look of guileless curiosity. "You hate us because you think we have the power to protect everyone, and yet people still die. That’s fair. It’s a heavy burden, being a Hashira. It’s like being told to catch all the rain in a thimble. You do your best, but some drops will always hit the ground."

He gestured gracefully toward Himari, who was bristling. "And Himari-san… she’s not whining. She’s trying to clean up a mess left by a family member a long, long time ago. It’s like your family keeps a beautiful house, but there’s a terrible stain on the floor that everyone sees first. She’s just trying to scrub it out. We all have stains we're trying to deal with, don't we?"

Finally, he looked directly at Miyuki, his smile softening into something that almost looked like genuine empathy. "You're right. We should get down to business. I'm ready to learn. You don't have to like me, or her, or anyone here. But we're all here for the same reason, to kill demons and save lives. So please, teach me. I promise I'm a very good student."

His words were a gentle stream, designed to divert the torrent of Miyuki's anger without challenging it head-on. He was offering a truce, not a surrender, acknowledging her pain while gently nudging her back toward their shared purpose. "Break my body down and reforge me into a weapon." Jae-eun said, his face and tone going flat. "A broken blade is of no use to its master."

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

<Snipped quote by xAlter>

Actually, I was wondering since Jae-eun's sister was the cheerful sort, does Tenko reminded him of his sister, if at all?

@Randomguy

Probably. But while he also might be reminded about Min-jun alot, he might alps become more guarded about letting someone in/past his walls.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Jae-eun Yoshihide

^{Location: Wasegawa University
Mentions: @Yu Narukami@Randomguy@Theyra@Digmata@JrVader}

---

The strand of hair slipped from Jae-eun's fingers. He straightened, the pleasant mask still fixed in place, but his shoulders squared and his hands found their proper position—respectful, attentive. When Takaya's soulless eyes locked onto his, he didn't flinch. He simply bowed, deep and deliberate.

“Oyakata-sama,” he said at last, gentle as porcelain on a tray. “you're absolutely right. I apologize. No more flowery words today. Thank you for speaking plainly.”

He lowered his eyes while the ledger breathed its terrible rhythm. Each name struck with the soft sound of a shoji closing, one after another, a house filling up with rooms that no one lived in anymore. He did not flinch at Tsugikuni Hikaru, though something small and invisible in his posture folded itself away like a paper crane being unmade.

“They were our siblings,” he said, and his voice was light but steady. “They will not be reduced to a list while any breath remains in this body. Not on my watch. Not in my city.”

He inclined his head to Takaya, the movement crisp, exact. “I understand, Oyakata-sama. Fight only in the moonlight. No commotion or unrest. Vigilance must be maintained. Disengage at the first sign of flamboyance. And look after each other as if that is the only rule that matters.” A slow blink, almost a smile. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Lady Tenko and Lord Eizo.” A small, pleased hum escaped him, as if tasting tea brewed just right. “They will be given clear objectives, steady cadence, and room to grow without breaking. Tenko-chan’s light will not be overtaxed. Eizo-kun’s storm will be grounded and given a horizon to aim at. Under my care, they will not merely survive, they will flourish. If they stumble, my hand will be there, if the hand fails, my back will carry them. This is a promise. On my pride as a Hashira.” When Takaya mentioned the Blood Moons and the Demon Lords operating in pairs, Jae-eun's expression darkened slightly. The timing wasn't coincidental. Hikaru's death had drawn them out like sharks to blood in the water.

He turned toward Kairi with a courteous tilt, eyes half-lidded and bright in that eerily empty way of his. “Uzui Kairi-sama. Welcome to Tokyo. The Mirage suits the night here. It’s a city of reflections and very clean knives. Thank you for delivering Kamado Ryunosuke in one piece and a uniform that fits his legend.” The corners of his mouth lifted, almost playful. “Conquering a bottle is much harder than conquering a battlefield. Your advice was kind because it was sharp.”

Kairi’s aside about Guen drew no visible offense, only a faint, knowing breath through the nose, as if acknowledging a draft no one else felt. His own grief would be addressed in due time. He would process the loss of one of them, a Pillar in these dark times. “Grief is a long hallway with many doors,” he murmured. “Some people take their time choosing which one to open. When the Water returns, it will be because the tide decided, not because we knocked too loudly. Besides, Guen-san is still our leader. When she's ready to come back, she'll be sharper than ever. Until then, we honor her by doing our jobs well."

His attention slid back to Takaya like a compass needle finding north. “The Western Dragon Izakaya, the Shibuya Crossing and The Funeral Parlor. I will coordinate with Uzui-sama and the Kyoto Branch. Our cooperation will make a romantic weep. Reports will be precise, dull, and timely. Dull is good. Dull means alive.” A small, almost boyish shrug, self-effacing and neat. “Tokyo does get noisy, Oyakata-sama. But a dragon can move without ripples if it cares to. Consider that arrogance retired for the season. I am your blade and fire. Use me as you see fit.”

Then, after a moment of silence, softer he spoke again. “Thank you for carrying the weight of the names. Allow me to carry the weight of the night.”

He stepped back half a pace, hands unthreateningly visible, posture open, the perfect student at the front of a very dangerous class. “No questions, only readiness. On your word, we shall begin. Perchance the izakaya has hot tea waiting for us, hmm?”

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

Updated my OOC relationships in the OOC chat as well as on my CS to add Himari

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

<Snipped quote by xAlter>

And that's exactly why she'd do it. Help him see the other side of this life as well as bringing him around humans that aren't in the business. Who just want to live and be happy.

@King Kindred

Awesome! Anything else?

Anyone else want to do some discussion too?

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

<Snipped quote by xAlter>

That sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing how Jae-eun and his story plays out. I could also see her bringing him around the Tsukikage Ryū's soup kitchens and make him an honorary member since he created Dragon Breathing. She'd actually admire that he did that.

@King Kindred

I think Jae-eun would probably like that too. The soup kitchen would probably help him feel more at ease, helping people that doesn't require him to kill.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

<Snipped quote by xAlter>

I meant teaching him how his emotions/hatred would get him killed by showing how it makes him entirely too readable. Himari's been Hashira level for a while. She just wasn't officially one because her older brother was the Moon Hashira.

@King Kindred

Definitely at least she would try. I haven't gotten to it yet, but in IC, I am going to make it so Jae-eun is definitely aware he's being self-destructive. It's not that he doesn't know, but he kind of just glosses over it, or doesn't see it as important. She'd probably get glimpses of the real him.

Kimetsu no Yaiba AU: Temen-ni-Guru (Arc 2)

<Snipped quote by xAlter>

Yeah, I think they would've been close. She would've definitely tried to help him cope with his loss and the hatred that stemmed from it. In training she would've tried to teach him how it could get him killed.

@King Kindred

I feel like it would've been the other away around? Considering Jae-eun is the Hashira. But I can definitely feel she would dig into it, and Jae-eun would keep deflecting.