The Past World: Kanroji Mitsuri

'Welcome...to Taisho Era Japan.' Toki introduced them. 'When I was a child, it was Sengoku Jidai, you know? Sensei was alive back then.' she earned incredulous looks at this. 'This well is a Magic Well that takes you to the past where you'll meet with a destined meeting. In my case, I met with sensei. Tsugikuni Yoriichi.'

'Tsugikuni Yoriichi?' Reborn mused.

'He was a young man when he began teaching me...but suddenly when I was 11 one summer, he became an old man in the blink of an eye.' said Toki softly. 'This well then forwards time. MY time with people I was supposed to meet. Yet for me, I would tell him when I could come when we figured out how the well worked so I can go back to mama...the bullies chased me all the way here and with no hiding place, I jumped down for safety, experienced what you all had...and sensei was above the well trying to get water only to learn it's empty and then there's me. His expression was priceless.'

'You told him about yourself.' Reborn stated the obvious.

'Yes, and he believed me because through breathing, he can tell who's lying and who's not. He took me in and we traveled together.' Toki told them as she began walking away, so they followed her. 'Back then we had no clue how to go home for me, he took me with him. He bought me clothes and taught me the sword. At first I was worried he'd quit on me because back then I was clumsy that led to bullying in school. And then when I trained, I never tripped not even once...its like, my clumsiness was gone.'

'I also saw many unbelievable things I effortlessly survived thanks to his protection as he protects me while I hide back then. Did you know that Japan was demon-infested back before the world went truly modern?'

'Wait, what?' Yamamoto blinked at the unbelievable revelation as Toki then handed out three swords that were still in wrappings.

'Demon-infested?' Gokudera blinked.

'Yes. Oni are humans who became monsters...they eat humans in order to get stronger. They regenerate really quickly and hate sunlight as it burns them to ashes. Do you understand why I trained all of you now?' she faced them. 'Right now, it's not sunrise yet. We might meet with one on the way...for now, I'll deal with them. Learn as you watch.'

'Waitaminit, if Oni existed in the past, why aren't they on record?!' Gokudera sputtered out as Toki inserted her sword into her obi, that they followed by example.

'They are active only at night. Disappearances went unanswered. They never show themselves otherwise all hell will break loose with a lot of casualties. Humans will fight a futile battle and just die if they don't know what to truly do.' Toki explained. 'Our swords are called Nichirintou. Forged out of a special ore dug from a certain mountain where it gets a lot of sunlight that the ores absorbed. As if responding to the birth of the Progenitor, the gods helped us with the existence of that mountain that never saw a Cloudy Day. If we cut oni, we instantly cauterize the wounds preventing regeneration. Thus our swords are poison to them in a way. But its best to behead them. They are no longer human, the minute they accepted the Blood of the Progenitor...Kibutsuji Muzan, the first Oni in the world.'

'If you become an Oni, you will lose your memories as a human, but strong-willed ones retain them 1/10. Otherwise you're just a monster. And the stronger and faster, the more humans they ate. Like a videogame character leveling up by defeating monsters. Until they ate enough to develop Kekkijutsu.' she continued her orientation. 'But not everyone can have these swords.' Toki said, her hand on the handle of her sword. 'Only the Kisatsutai have access to these swords. Sensei got seven of them for me when I asked. I even know the location of the Swordsmith Village thanks to him. So incase it broke, we can go there for fixing.'

'Let me guess, government doesn't know.' said Hibari.

'Yes. The government doesn't know slayers exist.' Toki smiled. 'Sooo we carry swords in secret under our Haori or we get arrested!' they got slack-jawed at her. 'Let's face it, who'd believe a small self-sustained organization, right? Let's get to the nearest town before lunch!'

'Can you tell us your history here, Toki?' Reborn asked her as he rode on her head.

'Sure...I was eight years old when I ended up here in Sengoku Jidai...sensei was 22 at the time.' Toki began as they walked downhill. 'He was on patrol for Oni to protect townsfolk. There's a town not far from Namimori. I believe we call it Kokuyo these days, but its original name was Sakurada.' she said. 'He was a member of the organization at the time. He took me there when there's no work, and takes me with him when there's work...sometimes I'm with his older twin, sometimes not. But...between the twins, I liked sensei more.' she told them.

'Michikatsu-san...holds dark feelings I can sense aimed at sensei. Sensei's aware but not even he has any idea what those feelings are. But he still loves his brother anyway. He would tell me things, while showing me all Breath Forms he designed as not anyone can learn his Breath of the Sun technique. I would try everything out but they weren't compatible with my potential until Breath of the Moon was jackpot. I can only learn that Breath with my body. And that is why Kyoya, I had you try things out until you found your calling with Wind.' Hibari blinked at that.

'When I came back here after six months of going home...ten years passed by.' she went on. 'He told me he met a family of Coal Burners he befriended and visits time to time...I met them too when he had me meet them. I knew then that there will be gross time-skips influencing History. Sensei knew it too. The gaps got wider each school vacation until I found him as an old man in his eighties...by then I mastered the Breath of the Moon. Just that, my body needed a lot of power-training to make it worthwhile. But...'

'But?'

'In the time we were separated...Michikatsu chose to become an Oni, betraying us all. He calls himself Kokushibou now. He was the reason sensei was expelled from the organization.' said Toki, getting irked over the revelation. 'His dark feelings for sensei...choosing to become a threat to humanity, becoming an Upper Moon Member even...in the end, sensei and I never knew, why such dark feelings existed when sensei genuinely loved him. I cannot see even see him because if I did, I'll die too. So I trained really hard...to live long enough for answers. But I got a feeling that his answer will piss me off.' she growled in anger, veins bulging on her temple. 'I can't forgive him. No matter what. He killed sensei.'

They never saw this side of her before until now. Before, she was a serenely-smiling person who was there for them. This was another thing entirely.

'You want revenge.' Reborn stated. 'Remember, you have a lot to live for. So leave Kokushibou to the people of this era.' he sternly reminded her.

'I know. Not even being able to face him because of my future just gets me angrier. I can't even get an answer to put sensei to peace.'

'Sawada...' Yamamoto mused sadly. This was the girl who saved him from his depression? Yet she also bore some form of loathing within her?

xxx

They traveled for days, buying supplies and eating Katemeshi, a common food in the time for peasant-folk in the countryside when big cities in Tokyo are already enjoying things like curry and Tonkatsu.

'Only the big cities we know went modern so small-time towns and villages still look traditional.' Toki would tell them. 'Big cities went western first because its where all the trading happens with other countries. Don't expect light bulbs and airconditioning here! Hell, the electric fan exists only in Tokyo right now!'

'Ahahaha of course we won't!' said Yamamoto sheepishly.

'Wow, a genuine cultural experience where technology hasn't spread yet!' Gokudera squawked out in excitement while Hibari was twitching.

Toki took the lead in teaching them how the past works.

They even illegally bought Alcohol because in this era, the practices of young marriages remain while the big cities were changing still. Some fathers took interest in Toki for their sons for her looks that they had to run!

And that was how they met Kanroji Mitsuri!

She was eating in(and out) of a Ramen Stand.

'Oh my goodness! Are you children OK? What and why are you running from?' the very cute-attractive young woman asked them.

'Some idiots are chasing Sawada for marriage to their sons and we're not even from here!' Yamamoto cried while they all gasped to relax.

'Why do WE have to run when we can just beat them.' Hibari looked disgrunted.

'You're too strong Kyoya, you'll make them cripples in a heartbeat and you gotta think about family and livelihood here!' Toki choked out. 'Their sons don't work yet!'

'Grrrr fine.'

'At any rate let's have dinner for now...' Toki sighed. 'We have to travel the road still because we need to go to Oyakata-sama's place as soon as possible first.'

'Oh, you guys work for a boss?'

'You work for him too actually, by the looks of things.' Toki pointed at the woman's sword. 'I want to leave behind a Will to him for him to plant in a certain place because my situation is kind of...complicated. That, and we will train here hunting for man-eaters, yes?'

'Oh!'

The woman figured it out!

'Yes, oh.' Toki smiled back.

'I'm Kanroji Mitsuri! I just became a Hashira last year!' Mitsuri introduced herself happily so the kids introduced themselves to the kind woman. 'Nice to meet you kids! What rank are you though?'

'We're on our way for the Final Selection Exam.' Toki lied while the boys glanced at her worriedly. 'So we're not ranked yet.'

'Awww really? I hope you guys make it in though.' said Mitsuri. 'We're getting really thin on numbers~ Shinazugawa-san's complaining a lot about quality turnout lately~not many Mizunoto survive as of last year, there are no newcomers anymore.'

'Heee...'

'Well, to make him feel better, shall we spar for a bit so I have a story to bring home at least?' Mitsuri suggested. 'And maybe I can give Oyakata-sama your Will on your behalf? Final Selection lasts a week as you know. Even I went through it after Oyakata-sama heard of me and rescued me from my dismaying situation.' she said gloomily.

'Dismaying situation?' Yamamoto asked. In their journey here, they learned from Toki that they should be glad their mothers are born in Heisei, not Taisho-backwards.

'Sniff...I was born with this hair and who-knows-why. My hair turned into this when I was fifteen.' said Mitsuri gloomily, tugging at her hair. 'Bad enough I was naturally strong since I was a child...I mean, as a toddler I lifted a pickling stone weighing 4 kan(1 kan = 15 kg). Nobody wants to marry me because of my strength...my muscles are weird and my omiai partners would tell me they'd rather die than marry me in fear of their children having my hair color! Never mind me but they speak as if the children I'd bear are only theirs and I have no right?!' she sobbed. The future people winced at how callous the past was. 'Oyakata-sama heard of me and tested my muscles...and they determined that I'm physically as strong as Himejima-san, the Stone Pillar! My muscles have eight times density even if my arms are thin! And training made me twice-over stronger to survive this job until I became a Pillar!'

'I joined the organization in hopes of finding a man who would love me, nevermind my hair color and my power.' Mitsuri sniffled. 'I once dyed my hair black, ate like a normal person and pretended to be things I'm not just to be accepted...but even then, I had to live a fake personality for acceptance? Even I thought that was insane...eating like a normal person made me very ill in just two days as I need a lot of food to stay normal condition...I can't be with normal people...all I wanted was acceptance and for a man who'd accept me the way I am before I'm too old to marry! I'm 19 already!'

'Wow, that's a low-blow towards you Kanroji-san.' Gokudera frowned. 'It's OK for women to be strong these days! How will they survive nasty abusive men otherwise? They probably don't like you're strong so they can't pull domestic abuse shit on you!'

'Sawada's our teacher and she's crazy strong!' Yamamoto said defensively. 'She taught us some skills! She's our teacher in kenjutsu and does that look weak?!'

'Boys...' Mitsuri trembled at being defended. She looked at the oldest boy who looked at her with an unreadable expression.

'The men of this era are worthless trash. They don't deserve you.' said Hibari. 'They care more for appearance and their pathetic hubris, overlooking that you are a good person who genuinely wanted to be a good wife and mother. Instead of you chasing men for marriage, you should watch out for men who actually cares for you and your happiness. They could be near you in the organization and you didn't realize.' he said. 'Look back in time. Who was it who was by your side? Who makes you happy when you're sad? Whose presence comforts you the most? And who is it who always thinks of your feelings and makes you smile? If you find that man, you have a winner.' he told her. 'Men like that, tend to be good husbands and fathers.'

Those who knew him looked at him in shock.

Hibari Kyoya of all people said something like that?! Him, of all people when usually...

'Wow Kyoya, that's the most I heard you speak and we're friends for years!' Toki gasped out, her eyes popping out. 'And you're so deep!'

'Are you really Hibari?!' Gokudera howled in disbelief, his eyes also popping out.

'Senpai must have eaten weird food today! Haha!' Yamamoto laughed.

They were ignored, as he was looking at Toki flatly.

'To be fair you don't talk much either.' Hibari drawled. 'We're similar in that regard, but her situation pissed me off.' he growled, temple veins bulging. 'Everyone has the right to be strong. Its them who chooses in the end whether to be strong or pathetic. And strong doesn't always mean muscles.'

'T-thank you...all of you...' Mitsuri was in tears of happiness this time. 'Nobody ever said that for me!'

Nobody in Taisho would, Reborn thought. They were Heisei Humans. Their way of thinking is thus, different.

In Heisei, women can do what men can do now. Privileges, education, work...their human rights improved astronomically.

xxx

After a meal in the Ramen Stand...they were outside of town.

Its now Mitsuri VS Toki.

'We'll just clash swords together without injuring the other.' said Toki. 'We can't afford nasty injuries. And about three minutes tops.'

'That's true, I still have a job to do before I go home.' said Mitsuri sheepishly...

Mexican standout in an iai drawing stance...

...before a split-second later, it was a clash of swords and evasion skills at its insane fastness!'

Hibari then understood what Toki meant he'll die if she went all out.

These girls are insane! They clashed and dodged each other so quickly! They were all slack-jawed in shock.

Reborn was glad he's recording EVERYTHING but can he even slow this down frame-by-frame to send home? All this is accomplished by breathing? What the fuck?

Mitsuri with her thin, soft whip-sword thingy wasn't inferior to Toki's normal sword. And it's as long as a nodachi! But even then Mitsuri can use that complicated thing effectively.

Three minutes ended, and they weren't even winded!

'Wow! You're a Pillar-Class!' Mitsuri gushed out in delight. 'How old are you again?!'

'I'm 13.'

'13! A year younger than Tokito-kun who became a Pillar in no time flat two years ago! Shinazugawa-san can't complain now!' Mitsuri squealed happily. 'And you taught the boys yes?'

'In order of seniority...Kyoya who was my best friend for years, then just recently, Gokudera and Yamamoto. Kyoya quickly grows.' Toki smiled. 'Wanna try him? He should be a Kinoto-Class Slayer by now in skill though he has yet to kill any...'

'Can I?!'

'...hn.' Hibari wants to test himself against Mitsuri now...how would he fare against someone with that type of sword?