Train arc, train arc! I edited this instead of working on a paper that was due. So here's an early chapter.
To those who stopped reading until the movie: That's totally fine. From this chapter onwards this going to have Manga spoilers. This is the LAST warning to those who are ANIME only. Those who read and watch KnY... well, we're gonna fix some stuff. And break some other things. If you're curious about to the extent, the Tags for this story on Ao3 kind of summarize it. Anyways, SPOILERS AHEAD! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED, ANIME ONLYS, THERE ARE SPOILERS.
After the Pillar Meeting, the weeks passed without too much incident. Shinazugawa was still pissed about the Kamado siblings, but he didn't go against the Master's orders. Musashi didn't bother with paying much attention to the Wind Pillar's grumblings if she could help it.
Nonetheless, after a few missions on a smaller scale, the Void Pillar found herself with new orders. Orders that detailed a mission with Kyojuro, but unfortunately, the said mission involved trains.
Trains always unnerved Musashi. No matter what era she was warped into, they unnerved her to no end. Boats were fine, but the idea of being in an enclosed space moving at max speed? She wasn't overly fond of it.
And the other Pillars knew it.
The first train came to Japan two hundred years after she was born and even though she had been dimension hopping for most of her life, it was still unnerving to her. Especially since she was used to being on foot or horseback during most of her travels.
So, Ubuyashiki had always been careful about where she was sent. Missions that were farther from her location were always accompanied with a few bills and coins for her to get access to a horse. Missions that she was required to use the train (usually in cases of urgency) would end with her restless and constantly twitchy. In response to it, Kocho had created a type of sedative that would lull her to sleep, yet still keep her senses alert in case of an attack. It worked both ways for her and whoever she was with.
Usually, it was with Kyojuro. Occasionally Kanroji or Kocho, but more often than not it was the Flame Pillar.
The Flame Pillar had jokingly complained that he was tired of having to tie Musashi up in his Haori to keep her still.
(Kocho would later tease the man with Uzui about it, telling him that he definitely didn't mind. Musashi would later wonder if Ubuyashiki was trying to create a set-up.)
Musashi had just returned from a mission, reporting in to Ubuyashiki at the same time the Flame Pillar had been. The two of them got their next orders then and there— investigate the Infinity Train. To be exact, Kyojuro had been ordered to investigate the train and the strange disappearances that surrounded it. Musashi had been asked to accompany him, despite her deep aversion to the locomotive. But she couldn't go against Ubuyashiki's orders (it would be like kicking a puppy— a blind puppy) so she had gone to Kocho for the sedatives she made.
A good thing too...
...
...
...
Kyojuro had gotten tired of her twitching and leg bouncing before the train even started moving. He eventually tossed her the small container of sedatives and she was asleep within minutes.
The Flame Pillar glanced over to the sleeping swordswoman with a soft look on his face. In all honesty, he was glad that Oyakata-sama had Musashi join him. He figured that he could take on whatever this mission was by himself, but she was always welcome.
It was strange if he thought about it more, he realized as he dug into one of the many bentos that he had been eating. Ever since he had found Musashi in that village two years ago, the two of them had ended up working together seamlessly. At first, he had simply wanted to be on good terms with the strange yet powerful woman, so he had offered her lodging until she could get a permeant place to stay— even if someone preferred to travel, it was always nice to have a place to return to.
Then the shift from 'friendly coworkers' to 'close friends' had happened and he found himself drawn to her. He listened when she scolded him, and she listened when he did the same. They fought flawlessly together, and he noticed that whenever the Pillars trained together, she was watching and taking note of everything the others did.
Musashi was a mystery still, but as of late he started to feel something pounding at his chest whenever she was close. When she grabbed his haori in order to hide her laughter at the Pillar Meeting he felt his heart thud in his ears. He couldn't take his eyes off of her when she tackled Shinazugawa to the ground. When she fought, she moved with such grace and when the two went out to eat, she just laughed off the insane amount of food the two of them.
He felt twitchy whenever Uzui joked about making her his fourth wife (He had three already!) and he had begun to feel secretly satisfied when she directed her attention to him.
Walking Furnace is what she called him. He liked that she stood next to him and always was between him and Kanroji during Pillar Meetings! He was even happier that she and Kanroji got along so well. The Love Pillar had been his former tsuguko, after all.
He wasn't sure what to call the burning feeling in his chest, but Kyojuro decided that he could figure it out later. It was important to focus on the mission, after all. "Tasty!" he hummed as he ate, leaning back in the train seat. His eyes glanced over to where Musashi was. Her usual kasa was resting on the seat as she leaned against the window of the train, her bangs falling into her face. The vibrant pinks and magentas peaked out from under her bright blue haori. He didn't know why she chose to forgo the Corps uniform when so much protection from the weather and lower-ranked demons was offered with it, but he assumed it had to do with her Dimension Hopping status.
He dreaded the day she would inevitably vanish.
Shaking the depressing thought off, he felt his hand twitch as a boarding passenger glanced down at Musashi as he passed. Specifically her legs and the skin that her haori and stockings didn't manage to cover. The gaze lingered there for only one or two seconds, but that was too long in Kyojuro's books!
It was impolite!
With a huff, he set aside his bento and pulled his own haori off, gently tossing it over Musashi. It settled and covered her from prying eyes and the Flame Pillar let out a satisfied hum.
He picked his bento back up. "Tasty!" he hummed again as he continued to eat.
Musashi shifted a bit as the train lurched, starting to move. It seemed as if it was time.
"Tasty!"
If he was lucky, would he be able to see how Musashi's Niten Ichi-Ryuu was in a true battle? Whenever the two fought together he was always focused on slaying the demon and whenever they trained with the others, she held back out of not wanting to kill anyone. He was curious. How much more weight and intent did her strikes carry?
He set the bento aside, picking another one up as Musashi's hand twitched. He glanced at her, tilting his head.
Maybe she was dreaming?
He felt his smile relax a bit as he gazed at the woman.
He hoped it was a good dream.
(x)
Whatever Tanjirou had been expecting when he, Inosuke, and Zenitsu got their orders to meet up with not only the Flame Pillar but also the Void Pillar, it wasn't this.
He knew who the flame Pillar was. It wasn't hard to figure it out even without all the scents of the Pillars. A fiery looking man like him?
There was no doubt about it— the man with the golden and red colored hair had to be the Flame Pillar.
Rengoku, Kyojuro.
Of course, he wasn't sure who exactly the Void Pillar was when he first got his orders— all three of the women Pillars didn't smell like a particular element (or animal, Iguro smelt like a snake) to him. Perfume, Medicine, and something that smelt like a mix of the trees in the spring and static.
Thank the gods that Miss Shinobou had described what she looked like when he asked.
The Void Pillar was the eyepatched woman who tackled the Wind Pillar and talked about "Karma" in relation to demons. A woman with impressive strength and the scent of trees and static.
Her name was Musashi Miyamoto and she preferred to be called by her given name.
Still, maybe it was just because of his initial impression of the two Pillars at the Meeting, but he didn't expect to find them like this. With Rengoku shouting 'Tasty!' as he ate and Musashi sleeping soundly through the noise that her fellow Pillar was making, Tanjirou decided that he didn't blame Zenitsu's incredulity.
"Um… excuse me…?" Tanjirou ventured as he approached the Flame Pillar.
"Tasty!" was the only response he got, so he tried again.
"Re- Rengoku..."
The Flame Pillar finally turned to him, eyes bright and as piercing as ever with the duel colored irises. "Tasty!"
Tanjirou sweat. "Ah- I- Understand very well already…" he said slowly before he moved to sit on the Flame Pillar's other side. He was careful not to disturb Musashi, though it ended up being in vain as soon as Rengoku's over-exuberant voice expressed that he had no idea what the 'Dance of the Fire God' was— much to Tanjirou's disappointment.
The boy startled when Rengoku's haori (which had been laying over Musashi, he realized) was suddenly flung right into the Pillar's face.
"Kyojuro, for the love of Buddha, you're too loud," a tired voice said and Tanjirou looked over, eyes wide and startled as the previously sleeping woman stretched.
"I apologize!" the man said happily, pulling his haori off of his face and putting it in his lap. "Did you need more medication? Is that why you're awake?"
"Well yes," Musashi said, leaning forwards a bit as she readjusted her sitting position. Tanjirou noticed a slightly agitated scent rolling off of her. Her fingers were tapping on her leg quite rapidly as she glanced around.
"I see! Actually, before you go back to sleep, Musashi, young Mizoguchi wants to know about a Breath Style called Dance of the Fire God!" Rengoku said as he handed the woman a small container. She snorted, raising a brow.
"If you want to know about Breath Styles that Kyojuro doesn't know about, then it would be better to talk to Kocho or even Oyakata-sama," she pointed out. Tanjirou bit his lip, shifting a bit.
"I already asked Miss Shinobou about it," he admitted, "And she told me to ask Rengoku."
The woman hummed, nodding as she pulled a small, round capsule that looked like a berry or something from the container.
"All Breath Styles branch from the Four Elements: Fire, Water, Wind, and Rock. The base styles," she explained, popping the capsule into her mouth and swallowing before she spoke again. "Even my own, which is the accumulation of all four, comes from them. The Void is the Void. Absolute Zero."
Rengoku nodded, arms crossed as he hummed. "Young Higashida, what color is your blade?" he asked.
"Kyojuro, I know you can be a bit bad with names, but it's Kamado," Musashi said flatly as she settled back in her seat, adjusting her haori.
The man just laughed as Tanjirou stared. The two were certainly a weird duo, but something told him that this wasn't how they always were. Musashi's restless and nervous scent, the fact that she had medication… maybe she didn't like trains?
"Um, she's right, it's Kamado, and my blade is black," he told the Flame Pillar who gazed straight ahead.
"Black! That's tough!" he said with a laugh.
"Is it tough!?" Tanjirou asked, jolting a bit.
The man nodded. "Mm! I've never seen a swordsman with a black blade become a Pillar," he admitted before he glanced over to Musashi. Tanjirou followed his gaze and startled again.
She had fallen back to sleep that fast!?
Rengoku tossed his Haori back over her with a hum. "Then again, Musashi's blades aren't colored at all! She's still a Pillar despite it," he said, thinking. "I suppose it's all about how strong the Pillar is!"
Tanjirou gazed at him, a familiar scent rolling off of the Pillar as he spoke. It was similar to that scent his mother always had when she and Father would talk.
Affection?
Did Rengoku have feelings for the other Pillar? Was that why they were together on this mission? He recalled that Musashi had been between Rengoku and another woman at the Meeting and that the two of them had been very friendly— if he heard correctly, that flashy Pillar had uttered something about him being "whipped", though Tanjirou had no idea what that meant.
He tilted his head before Rengoku's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"—I understand that you don't even know what kind of swordsmanship to master!" he said, humming as he nodded, arms crossed over his chest again. "I'll train you at my place, so be at ease now!"
A shout from Inosuke made him glance over, sweating as Zenitsu pulled the other boy from where he was hanging out the window. Rengoku's smile never faltered as he also watched.
"That's dangerous, moron!" Zenitsu yelled as he smacked Inosuke's boar mask.
"I'm gonna get out and run!" the shirtless boy yelled over the wind of the rushing train. "I'm gonna have a race to see which one of us is faster!"
"There are limits to idiocy!"
Rengoku hummed. "That's dangerous!" he agreed, "I don't know when the demon's gonna appear!"
That stopped Zenitsu and the blonde-haired boy turned to look over at them.
"Huh?" he asked as panic slowly overtook his features. "You're kidding! A demon's gonna appear on this train!?"
"It will!" Rengoku nodded.
"It will!? NOOOOO! So we're not going to a place with demons, but one's gonna show up here!?" Zenitsu cried, startling a few of the other passengers and Tanjirou glanced back at Musashi. The woman didn't wake, only shifting a bit.
"In a short period of time, more than forty people have disappeared on this train!" Rengoku explained, "We sent a number of swordsmen here, but none of them reported back! So Oyakata-sama sent Musashi and me here as Pillars!"
"Haaaah! I see!" Zenitsu said, crying. "I'm getting off!"
Tanjirou sweat before a soft voice made him and the others look forwards.
"I will… look at… your tickets…" a gaunt man dressed in some sort of black uniform said softly. He tilted his head.
"What's that?" he asked Rengoku as the Pillar held their tickets out to the man.
"The conductor is coming around to confirm your tickets and punch holes in them!" the Pillar said before he reached over, lightly nudging Musashi. "Musa! Tickets!"
"Gave it to you already…" came the tired grumble from the woman, whose eye remained closed. Her head leaned against the window of the train and Rengoku's haori covered her fully as she seemed to speak to them in her sleep.
The Flame Pillar just hummed, checking his pockets before he perked, pulling another ticket out. "Oh! I see!" He held it up to the conductor. "Sorry about that!"
The man just gave him a tired nod as he punched holes into the tickets. His eyes were sunken and dark bags were under his eyes. He looked miserable, in a word, as he moved forwards to collect the next tickets.
Rengoku stood suddenly as a strong scent hit Tanjirou's nose.
It smelt bad, evil.
A demon was here already!
"Conductor! It's dangerous, so stand down!" the Flame Pillar told the man as he stepped into the aisle. "It's an emergency, so I would prefer is you don't ask me why I have a sword on me!"
A few screams from the back of the car made Tanjirou turn and gasp as a demon seemed to suddenly appear, growling.
Rengoku's smile never faltered as he drew his sword. "Big guy! Were you hiding with your Demon Blood Techniques?" he asked, "It was hard finding you, however! If you're bearing your fangs at sinless people…"
He suddenly felt a shiver go down his spine at the intense look Rengoku had in his eyes.
The man was no longer the exuberant man that he had been talking to on the train, but the Flame Pillar he had witnessed at the Meeting. The man that was ready to kill him and Nezuko at the slightest indication— if it hadn't been for Oyakata-sama and Musashi.
"The Red Flame Sword of Rengoku will burn you down to the bone!"
The demon let out a roar and Rengoku shot forwards, removing its head in an instant.
Tanjirou's eyes widened. The Pillar had been so fast and had ended the demon so easily. He hadn't even seen him move! He knew the pillars were respected and strong, but to be that strong?
"That was awesome, Aniki!" He cried, "That was amazing swordsmanship! Make me your disciple!"
"Sure thing," Rengoku said as he walked back over, sword fixed back into place. "I'll make you into a fine swordsman!"
"Me too!" both Zenitzu and Inosuke piped up and the Flame Pillar just seemed more enthusiastic.
"I'll look after every single one of you!"
if Kocho can make medicine that reverts Zenitsu's limbs from being spider-like then she can create sedatives. pills did exist in the 1920s, though were a bit rarer. Still, it's not a major stretch here.
Once again, more headcanons. Since this isn't LB Musashi, she hasn't been in the Shadow Cruiser (Border? Whatever). I just feel like if someone was from an era where horses and foot travel were the norm, a train or car would be a bit... startling to them and they'd be warier.
Anywaaaays. How do y'all think this is gonna end? Haha, just joking— You know how it ends.