I just binged the Hobbit Movies because I had an urge to watch a Hugo Weaving movie, so I've been thinking about another crossover. Anyways, classes for me start tomorrow, and with other schools also starting, please stay safe, everyone.

A special training session began amongst the entirety of the Demon Slayer Corps— Pillar Training. Those who ranked lower than the Pillars trained with each of them, one by one or in groups depending on the Pillar.

Usually, the Pillars would only train their successors— if they had any— and no one else due to how busy they were. Between Musashi constantly moving around to gather information and take on missions, along with the other Pillars protecting and patrolling their assigned regions and also doing their own missions, the Pillars would normally be quite busy.

But ever since Nezuko conquered the sun, the demons suddenly stopped appearing in larger numbers. This left the Pillars with Night Patrols and Day Training as their only focus— well, for the most part.

It was certainly a lull— Shuten mused it was a simple 'Calm Before the Storm' and Musashi and Kyojuro both had to agree with her.

The Pillar Training, from what Musashi could hear, was a bit hellish. While neither Shinjuro, nor Urokadaki had taken up the request (always a request, Ubuyashiki rarely ordered Slayers who had retired) to assist in the training, Uzui had jumped at the chance with his wives.

So, between the available Pillars, Uzui, and Shuten, the group of them had a decent setup for putting the other Slayers through the wringer.

In trial one, Uzui handled the initial hazing of the other Slayers— the basic stamina training. Kanroji was next with training in flexibility while Tokito dealt with quick movements and reaction training. Following those three were Iguro with his focus on sword skill revision, Shinazugawa with a general beat down, Kyojuro with refining and reviewing the basic breathing techniques. Following that were Shuten and Musashi with Poison resistance. Himejima's training would be last with muscle reinforcement. While every Slayer had to at least try the Rock Pillar's training, they had no need to stay with it if they did not desire to.

Neither Kocho nor Tomioka were planning to participate in the Training of the other Slayers.

It was a shame, but there was little the others could do about it. Kocho simply said that she was unable to do so and Tomioka kept his stance in that he wasn't like the rest of them.

So, the rest of the Pillars upped their normal intensity with their own Training. They made sure that the rest of the Slayers were in top shape and by doing so, they also trained themselves.

Musashi stretched as she leaned against a large boulder. She and Shuten were stationed in the forest not far from the Rengoku Estate (as the three Rengoku men were using the estate for Kyojuro's training) for Shuten's portion of the training.

Of course, the first Slayers who had arrived had been more than apprehensive to Shuten, but wisely shut up after Musashi beat them into the dirt. Musashi herself had taken a full dose of one of Shuten's poisons, slowly testing and resisting the effects and well, the other Slayers learned very quickly that even when poisoned, the Pillars were insanely strong.

And fighting while poisoned wasn't easy.

Fighting Musashi while poisoned when Shuten was nearby intoxicating people with her mere presence was another story entirely.

Of course, there had only been a few who managed to get to Kyojuro's trial, so Musashi only had to beat down a few Slayers who were sent her way. She was the one who had the final say if the Slayer could move on to Himejima or if they had to go and start all over again.

Shaking her head, the duel wielding swordswoman watched as the few Slayers who managed to get to her and Shuten struggled to combat the poison-induced fever.

She shouldn't have been too surprised, though. Even among the Pillars, only three of them had managed to reach a full dose— Iguro, Himejima, and herself. Shinazugawa and Kocho were almost there, but Shuten had suddenly stopped and barred Kocho from continuing.

The Oni didn't say why and Musashi didn't ask.

Shinazugawa stubbornly continued.

That said, with the lack of Slayers to supervise and beat down, both Musashi and Shuten found that they had an overabundance of free time on their hands.

For Shuten, that meant taking off to, what Musashi suspected, bother Himejima. For Musashi, that meant planning.

So far, she had ran countless scenarios through her head.

Her priority was to keep Ubuyashiki alive in the first stage of the attack. Amane had already given her a kimono that fit, along with a haori to conceal some of her blades.

She had arranged with Himejima and Uzui to secure a place for the Master and her to land. Of course, there was the fact that Musashi wasn't planning to go into battle wearing one of Amane's kimonos, but she also wasn't willing to simply toss it to the wind. She planned to wear her normal attire under it, nonetheless, but details still needed to be worked out.

Then there was the fact that Muzan was unlikely to show up on his own.

If she did her math right, the Demon Moons were smaller in number— Akaza, Hantengu, Gyokko, and the two demons who made up Upper Moon Six (Gyutaro and Daki, if she remembered what Uzui had told her correctly) were all dead. That left only two Upper Moons. At least.

From what Musashi gathered, the Lower Moons had been dispatched— Enmu had been killed by her hand, and Rui by Tomioka, the others were most-likely killed by their creator's hands.

"Well, two Upper Moons wouldn't be too hard," Musashi murmured as she brushed her bangs back. She glanced over to one of the Slayers who had hauled herself to her feet, panting and loosely gripping her sword.

That was impressive.

She smiled before she moved from her leaning position, walking up to the girl with a hum.

"Very impressive," she said before a light tap to the forehead made her collapse again. "But, you're still too weak to stand. If I were a demon, you'd be dead! You just came from Rengoku's trial, use those skills you gained then to combat the poison that a high tier Demon gave you!"

"R-Right!" the girl panted, eyes focusing and Musashi smiled.

That was the main reason that Kyojuro's training was before her's. Combating certain poisons was similar in nature and breathing style to stopping the bleeding of a wound. While it was impossible to heal, it would control the spread until the body dealt with the poison on its own— or until an antidote was given. And if the Slayers could withstand a few drops of Shuten's poisons… well, Musashi highly doubted that any other poisons would ever affect them. But that was if Muzan didn't have a stronger poison.

Musashi looked up as she heard the trees rustle. It was only a moment before Shuten landed, her arrival startling the struggling Slayers. The Oni only smirked at them before she poked Musashi's eyepatch.

"Still struggling, it seems~?" she hummed and Musashi nodded.

"One of them, the girl with the ponytail, managed to stand up. That's about it though. I'm gonna have to send them back," Musashi sighed, shaking her head and Shuten laughed.

"Fufu, such a pity," she said, taking a drink from one of her gourds. "Did you figure out that problem of yours?" she asked, her lips curling up more as the one-eyed woman grimaced.

"Not quite, I think in the end I just won't tell him," Musashi said with a sigh. Shuten nodded.

"Whatever you choose," she said with a hum before she stood. "Well you seem to have everything covered here~" "Going off to go bother Himejima again? Weren't you just there?" she asked and the Oni laughed.

"Perhaps."

(x)

Featherlight touches on his shoulder were the only indication that she had decided to show up again. That was before the scent of Alcohol assaulted his senses.

Gyoumei sighed internally as short cut hair tickled his cheek.

"Working hard," Shuten's voice crooned next to his ear, "Or hardly working~?"

"Shuten Dōji." he greeted, not stopping his work as he continued to push the large boulder with his bare hands. The Oni hummed and he shivered involuntarily as she traced her nails against his arm. There was silence between them as she held herself with surprising strength against his back, not seeming bothered with the awkward slant or the constant movement.

"Ignoring me? That's alright," she said after a moment, the scent of alcohol wafting over the two, singling that the Oni had decided to drink while she bothered him.

None of the other Slayers had gotten to his training as of yet, apparently, Shuten's task was more strenuous than they had initially thought, but it was imperative that poison resistance was built up. Gyoumei sighed internally as he continued to push the boulder.

Shuten Dōji was… Well, he wouldn't be lying if he said he was wary of her— despite him vouching for her against Shinazugawa. She would be helpful to have on their side— and as long as Musashi kept her reigned in and as long as Shuten had her fill of drink and hatred of Muzan… hopefully, she would stay an ally so long that she and the Demon Slayers had a common enemy.

What would happen afterward… well that was anyone's guess. If worse came down to it, Musashi had stated that she could take on the Oni if needed to… though she would prefer not to. Gyoumei had felt and 'witnessed' the battles Musashi had fought when they had teamed up— he and all the other Slayers were under no illusions that Musashi was strong. Her battles were intense, and he would be hesitant to want to bear witness to a fight between the two.

The Pillar sighed silently, grimacing a bit as he felt teeth bite into his shoulder.

Shuten would still take blood— willingly or not from Slayers and it appeared that he and Shinazugawa were favored... victims.

"Must you do this now?" he asked and Shuten laughed, pulling away and lightly tapping his arms.

"Oh please," she said, "When else am I supposed to get blood?"

"You could simply ask the Master for assistance in gaining donated blood," He suggested as the weight of the Oni left his back. Shuten lighted down, humming as he rightened himself, feeling his joints crack just a bit.

"Asking isn't as fun," she said, sighing and not for the first time did Gyoumei wonder what the hell she was talking about. "And at least I get away unscathed here. That Wind boy is such a drag."

Ah, so she had attempted blood from Shinazugawa… Well, it would only make sense that he would retaliate. And then knowing what he did about Shuten Dōji…

The blind man shook his head.

He only hoped that the tentative alliance between the Demon Slayers and the Oni Ruler of Mt. Ōe didn't crumble.

Some Shuten and Gyoumei shenanigans because I could.