walk steady on this cruel world's path
By: Aviantei
Part Fifteen:
"Flames Under Cloud Cover"
And now, a little bit more on the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira.
Since they were called Pillars, it's not so surprising that they were considered the core of the Corps' fighting force and major support for the organization as a whole. They also handled other affairs besides fighting, such as patrolling their assigned area and even taking on secondary tasks, LIKE the medical care at Butterfly Manor (the project of Insect Hashira Kochō Shinobu, whom I'd somehow gone my whole stay without meeting). While you could rise to the rank by defeating a total of fifty demons, all of the current active Hashira had met the other qualification of defeating at least one member of the Twelve Kizuki, so they were powerhouses, every single one of them. There were some people in the Corps who treated Hashira with an almost sort of reverence, and I'd heard other Slayers and Kakushi talk them up plenty.
Yes, I'd trained under Sensei for years, but this marked the occasion of my first encounter with an active Hashira. And given that Hashira were sent out for things besides general patrol of their areas when Shit Got Fucked (see: Natagumo-yama, where two Hashira had been deployed), I wasn't sure if I liked the fact that I was encountering one in the field in the slightest.
"I didn't expect to cross paths with fellow Demon Slayers while on the way to my next mission!" Rengoku said—though said was an understatement, since he was all but shouting. With a voice that powerful, he could become a pretty impressive singer if he wanted to. "As said, I'm Rengoku Kyōjurō, the Flame Hashira. You two are?"
"Rairi, no family name, Tsuchinoe."
"U-Urokodaki Shimizu, also Tsuchinoe." Oh, had she ranked up? I wouldn't have been surprised if her involvement at Natagumo-yama had been a part of that, though maybe I should have noticed her promotion already, considering how long we'd been working together. Shimizu seemed to be in awe, her eyes wide. And, yeah, I could feel that, but did she have to be sparkling just while looking at the guy? "You're hunting a demon, Rengoku-sama? Rairi-kun and I are between missions right now. Any way we can help?"
My head whipped towards her, gaping. Shimizu-chan, please! If a Hashira's involved, we'll be in way over our heads! I'm already paranoid about the Plot; don't make me worry about you, too! No, no, calm down! If it's something dangerous enough to need a Hashira, there's no way he'll agree to have two mid-ranked Slayers with him—
But, to my undying horror, Rengoku just laughed, nodding. "I like your enthusiasm, Urokodaki, my girl! If you two don't have any prior responsibilities, you're more than welcome to come along." Hey, you, don't just go and agree without any hesitation!
"Alright! You can count on us, Rengoku-sama!" And you! Why are you going along with him like this is no big deal?! Shimizu looked at me, beaming, and I could already feel my willpower starting to crumble. "Come on, Rairi-kun," she said, taking my hand in hers, which was fatal damage right then and there. "It's not often that you get to see an active Hashira work in person, you know. It'll be incredible experience; trust me!"
So she was saying with enthusiasm, but I could see the wavering in her eyes. She was giving me a choice—but why did I have to go and say all that stuff about trusting her with my life not even five minutes ago? No, no, even if I hadn't opened my mouth, it wasn't like I could just send Shimizu off on her own into something so dangerous. Save for Tadashi or Tanaka swooping in and telling us to split up on official orders, if Shimizu was going, then I was going, too, and that's all there was to it.
"Okay," I said, and Shimizu's face rippled with relief before settling back into her usual peaceful expression. I turned to Rengoku, who had a broad smile. My own face was far less enthusiastic, but at least I managed to keep it polite. "We're in your care, Rengoku-san."
"Yes! A pleasure to work with you both!" Wow, you think that all the early days of training with Zenitsu would have given me a higher tolerance for loud volumes, but I wasn't seeing any of that. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a convenient stash of ibuprofen on me… "Well then, if you're coming with me, it's time to get going. We have a train to catch, you two!"
I downed the last of my coffee, though I wished I could savor it a bit more; Shimizu nodded, leaving enough money on the table to cover the bill, provide a tip, and then some. "Are we going far enough away that we need a train?" I asked as we followed Rengoku outside and through the streets. Since Total Concentration meant you could cover long distances on foot without much trouble, I don't think I'd ever used another form of transportation since I'd gotten here.
"No, no, the train is our destination. Over forty people have gone missing on it, including several Corps members, so we suspect a demon is on it." At least Rengoku had enough tact to not shout that information in the middle of a crowded street. Beside me, Shimizu was chewing on her lip, and I couldn't blame her. Forty people was a lot in terms of usual demon kill counts, and even more so when Slayers had already gone after it; no wonder Rengoku had been given the job of taking care of the issue. "I know it sounds like this is a formidable opponent, but if you stick with me, you'll be just fine!"
Oh, I'm holding you to that, Rengoku-san, I thought, my eyes on his back. And even if you can't do it, I'll make sure that Shimizu-chan gets out of this okay. No matter what.
We'd boarded the train in the afternoon, but there wouldn't be any demonic activity until evening, so all we could do was learn the details of the mission, familiarize ourselves with the layout of the train, and wait. I'd never had the chance to ride a proper train before, so I was a little too excited about the prospect for someone that was from the twenty-first century, but at least I fit in with the other passengers well enough. Even so, there was a limit to how much I could entertain myself with while waiting, so I tucked in for a quick nap in preparation for the long night ahead while Shimizu and Rengoku chattered about something or another in the seats beside me.
When Shimizu shook me awake, it was evening, the sun was setting outside the windows, and my stomach was growling. Rengoku was nice enough to buy us dinner at the very least, so that earned a point in his favor. I'd never had the opportunity to eat a train bentō before, and I was also maybe a little too excited about that prospect, but it was pretty damn tasty, so I'll consider my reaction valid. At least I wasn't like Rengoku, who'd eaten at least ten of the things, shouting "Delicious!" every other bite.
I mean, yeah, it's good, but does he need to say that every time he takes a bite? Maybe Kimetsu is one of those series where everyone who has a lot of power is a weirdo in one way or another? Shimizu looked amused, at the very least, so I'd give it a pass, even if Rengoku's behavior was drawing a lot of attention to us.
But if we were going to talk about a list of things that drew a lot of attention, I would say the sudden shout of "Senpaiii!" followed by Zenitsu almost crashing into me was pretty high up there. At least I'd finished eating, so it wasn't like food went everywhere, but it still took some adjustment to deal with my newfound case of Sudden Kōhai in My Lap to the tune of other passengers muttering amongst themselves. "I thought I heard you!" Zenitsu said, looking giddy. "What are you doing here?"
"Got recruited by the Flame Hashira to help out," I said, pointing to said offending party. And, yes, Shimizu was also partway at fault, since she'd suggested it, but Flame Boy over there had agreed, and he was in a position of seniority, so I was pretty sure he was liable for whatever the fuck was about to happen. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh! Tanjirō wanted to ask the Flame Hashira some questions about his Breathing Style, plus we got a recommendation from Shinobu-san because of it, so we all came." Zenitsu glanced the direction he came from, and, sure enough, Tanjirō and Inosuke were with him. Shimizu waved to them, and the expected round of greetings went around. And I participated, yeah, but I was also trying to keep my mounting panic very much internal as I put together an obvious equation:
Protagonist Squad + Hashira = Shit About to Get So Fucking Fucked.
Maybe I was overreacting. For living here as long as I had, I knew it wasn't just a story. This was a real world with real people, and that didn't mean things would escalate just because of prior events. But it had been a month or so since the Natagumo-yama mission, and what I'd heard from the boys about their own escapades sure seemed to be following shōnen manga pacing. And, hey, I'd much rather overreact and have nothing happen than underreact and see everything go to hell right before my eyes.
On Natagumo-yama, there was the Lower Moon Five, and there are twelve total Kizuki. Lower Moon Five is way tougher than any other rank and file demon, but low enough on the boss-level structure. Like Rengoku-san said, the Corps thinks this is connected to a Kizuki. Forty people is a hefty body count, but I don't think those numbers alone would make sense for an Upper Moon, unless it just changed locations to this as its new feeding ground? I'd guess we're about to deal with a higher ranked Lower Moon, so someone in the mid-tier level, maybe low-ranked Upper Moon? Oh, god, either way, I think I'm going to fucking vomit—
My own life in danger? Sure! But Shimizu and Zenitsu were here, not to mention Tanjirō and Inosuke. Once again, I knew nothing about Canon. Once again, I was the variable, the one that could make things go better or worse. And the boys have ended up plenty hurt while in the Corps so far, so Kimetsu is willing to give them injuries—or maybe that's just because this is reality, so things are different? No, forget the damn manga! Any time you step into battle, there's a risk of getting hurt, a risk of—
A risk of death.
My stomach, still full from the train bentō I'd been so excited about before, twisted as a familiar acidic taste crawled into my mouth and permeated my taste buds.
"Senpai?" Zenitsu asked, peering at me from the window seat he'd taken beside me. "Are you okay? You sound a little…"
Shit, Zenitsu could hear feelings, and we'd known each other for long enough that he could read me with plenty of accuracy. Even if I kept my mouth shut and a neutral expression on my face, my body would be broadcasting my panic like a beacon to him. "Sorry," I said, settling on a half-truth since he'd be able to pick out a bold-faced lie if I gave one, "my stomach started to feel kind of upset. I'm sure it'll settle." A crease formed between his eyebrows, and I made sure to pat his head in reassurance. "Those two are talking about Rengoku-san's Breathing Style, then?"
"Mm," Shimizu said with a nod while Inosuke stared out the windows of the train, fascinated. "Remember when Tanjirō-kun was talking about being able to turn the dance his father taught him into a Breathing Style technique?" Oh, yeah, he'd mentioned about it in passing while we were still back at Butterfly Manor. "Since it manifested fire, who else would you ask about that besides Rengoku-sama?"
That was a fair point. That said, as far as I knew, there wasn't a Fire Breathing style, and the wording for any Total Concentration techniques was specific in every source I'd read. Still, if anyone would know anything, it would be the Corps' Flame Hashira. A little curious myself (and more than glad for a distraction from our impending doom), I looked to the seats opposite of ours on the aisle where Tanjirō and Rengoku were talking.
"So that's it, huh?" Rengoku said once Tanjirō had finished explaining what had happened on Natagumo-yama. Based on Rengoku's thoughtful tone, I was sure he was about to dispense some Lore, but he only beamed with the brightness of a hot flame himself and said, "Well, I don't know! And this is the first time I've heard of the Hinokami Kagura. But it's great that your father was able to apply the kagura to fighting. And that's enough of that topic!"
Changing the subject just like that? I couldn't help but think. Hm, if we were talking about tropes, did Rengoku count as My Pace, then?
Tanjirō's expression seemed just as disbelieving as I felt. "Huh?" he asked. "Can't you help a little more?"
"There has to be something you can do, Rengoku-sama," Shimizu said, putting her hands on her knees and leaning a little bit across the aisle. "Hasn't your family passed down the title of Flame Hashira for generations? You must have some records about your Breathing Style somewhere. Maybe there's something in those that could help Tanjirō-kun out?"
Rengoku laughed. "I suppose you're right, Urokodaki, my girl. While the Rengoku family does have such documentation, I haven't read them! And any information about Breathing Styles is well protected, so it's not something I'd be able to just lend out." In the span of a few sentences, Tanjirō's expression had rotated between hopeful and dejected. Rengoku, on the other hand, had the same broad smile as always. "However, there's an easy solution to that! You should be my Tsuguko. I'll look after you!"
Tanjirō's face twisted up into further confusion, and even Zenitsu let out a startled, "Whoa!" behind me. I guessed, as The Protag, it would make sense for Tanjirō to become a Tsuguko, since it would give him an opportunity to grow stronger while also helping him uncover this Hinokami Kagura mystery. But even so—
"Just like fucking that?" I asked, and everyone's eyes (save Inosuke's, who was still distracted by the world rushing by outside the train) snapped to me. "On a complete and utter random whim, you decide that he's worth your time to train? Even when there are hundreds of other people in the Corps who don't receive any further training after they've gone through their Cultivator and Final Selection?"
Shimizu was gaping at me, wide-eyed, and Zenitsu hissed, "Senpai, you know that's a Hashira, right? A Hashira!"
"Yeah, what of it?" Rengoku blinked, and I stared him down without any shame. "I respect that he's obtained his position through great skill and that he's a valuable piece of the Demon Slayer Corps. But that doesn't mean that he gets a free pass for being negligent." I'd thought it before, but the Corps structure was beyond fucked over. "I can understand not being able to find a student that's capable of succeeding your title as Hashira. That's a big role to fill. But would it kill you or any of the other Hashira to look after a few Mizunoto and Mizunoe instead of tossing them to the damn wolves? Or at least build some sort of system where other higher-ranked slayers keep an eye on them? There are skills like Total Concentration: Constant that could be saving people's lives, but goodness gracious, why even bother teaching anyone that? Instead, throw bodies at the demons until it becomes a big enough hassle to send in the big guns! Real fucking responsible of you lot. Just took you over a thousand years to realize that letting everyone run solo was a bad idea. What an incredible accomplishment. You higher-ups must be so proud."
It wasn't until I started talking that I realized how much it pissed me off, the way this whole system worked. I'd been lucky that my earlier missions were something I could handle by myself—how many fresh Mizunoto didn't have that luxury? What about all the people sent to Natagumo-yama before the Hashira got deployed? What if Zenitsu and the others had been sent there sooner? Would they have made it out alive? Was that supposed to be okay, an acceptable loss?
Bull fucking shit. You're in charge. You all can do better than leading lambs into the slaughter.
As expected, my words left a stunned silence in their wake, though I could sense Zenitsu developing an anxiety attack without even looking back to him. But this wasn't something I was going to back down on, no matter how much trouble I could end up in for talking shit to someone who held the highest combat position in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Just you wait, our esteemed leader! At this rate, I'll be mouthing off to you by the time the year is out!
"Well," Rengoku said, sounding not quite sheepish, but at least a little bit more subdued than his usual energetic tone, "when you put it that way, Rairi, my boy—"
"Not a boy," Zenitsu said before I could even open my mouth.
"Also not a girl," Shimizu added. Well, I guess if they both wanted to stand up for me, it wasn't like I was going to stop them from doing it.
Rengoku gave me another look that had very little to do with every insolent thing that had come flying out from between my teeth. I shrugged, hoping the gesture conveyed the yup, that's about it that it was supposed to. "I see," Rengoku said after a moment. "I confess, this is new for me, but I didn't mean any disrespect." Well, that made at least one of us in this conversation. "Regardless, what I was trying to say was that you do make a good point, Rairi. Even we Hashira were discussing that there have been many…ah, skill gaps in the Corps as of late. Perhaps that is an issue we should accept our own blame in allowing to pass." I snorted, because that much was obvious, though at least he had the decency to admit it. "Once this mission is over, I'll be sure to share your thoughts with Oyakata-sama and see what we can do."
My arms crossed, I nodded. "That might be a good place to start. I'll be much more impressed if words turn into action, though."
Rengoku nodded before he turned back to Tanjirō. "Well, despite the deserved change in topic, I did mean what I said about making you my Tsuguko! Flame Breathing has a long history, after all!"
And with that, Rengoku started talking about the different Breathing Styles, asking Tanjirō questions about his sword color—which happened to be black, such a Protagonist result that I wasn't even surprised. Inosuke had escalated from pressing his mask against the window to opening the thing and hanging out like some dog. While Zenitsu attempted to pull him back in, I closed my eyes and let the chilly air wash over me, deep breaths helping my earlier nausea abate. Somewhere in the middle of Shimizu explaining to the boys that there was a demon on this train, the conductor came by to punch our tickets, and I passed mine over without much thought.
Despite the fact that I'd woken up from a nap not even a full hour earlier, sleep claimed me once more.
[Author's Notes]
And so I use Rairi to point out my gripes with the Demon Slayer Corps like why do they go straight into missions with no backup when they're new Slayers that's just dumb—
Thanks go out to Hashirama1710, ILikeFoxes828, Phanta (Guest), ToBetasered, ladyamy26072003, BloodyOracle, The New Shinka, noobkid53, Blue-Lancaster, tika234, Multi-Reborn, demonicnekomaster, wfkiwi, TristanSilverk9, ManlyGirl, and UltraNex for the faves, follows, and reviews since last chapter. This is now my most followed fic ever, which is wild? I also noticed a good chunk of you are just following me in general, so, uh, welcome to my weird eclectic fanfic collection.
Also I normally don't do this sort of thing, but it was my birthday this past week, so maybe drop me off a review if you're enjoying the story? I'm really curious on what you think Rairi's Enmu dream will be like, so I'd love to hear them, heh.
It's time for a Taishō Era Secret! The more time Zenitsu spends with a person, the more skilled he becomes at reading their feelings. This is because he has more experience in their usual range of sound, so he can pick out small variables in it much easier. As such, he can read Rairi with a high level of accuracy—however, he also trusts them, so he knows if they're lying, it's for a reason, hence why he doesn't push the issue here. He may be more confident than canon at this point, but he still hesitates a bit when it comes to calling out the people he cares about. More on Zenitsu state of mind soon!
Next Time: Fall asleep and dream. Please look forward to it!
-Avi
[07.17.2021]