walk steady on this cruel world's path

By: Aviantei

Part Twenty:

"A Patch of Calm in the Rain"

So in addition to breaking a significant percentage of Vital Things in my body, my encounter with an attack from the now deceased Upper Moon Three had also broken my sword. Again, it was one of those things I should've considered myself lucky for, given how I should've been dead by now, but it still broke my heart to see the shattered remains of my blade when Zenitsu showed it to me.

It's like that superstition that items will go missing or break whenever they're protecting you from something bad, I found myself thinking again, except in this case even my sword getting busted hadn't prevented me from getting way past fucked up—just maybe a little bit less so.

I'd at least recovered enough that I was allowed to sit up on my own, though Kochō still insisted that I have help with things like getting to the bathroom and back. Tanjirō, when he'd returned from the Rengoku estate and survived the Insect Hashira's wrath, had been practicing using Total Concentration to heal, so I'd been trying that more with him. I'd gotten mixed results so far, but it was better than lying around and doing nothing.

Tanjirō's return had also brought two swordsmiths along with him—Haganezuka, who had forged Shimizu's sword and was livid that she'd destroyed it in the most recent fight, and Hanai, who was much calmer when they delivered my blade to me. The outer appearance looked the exact same as before I'd wrecked it, though Hanai had also gone through the trouble of repairing all the nicks and scratches the scabbard, hilt, and tsuba had picked up. When I got the sword in my hands, the new blade reformed to its prior yellow—and I put the thing away before Kochō could see me and assume I was breaking my mandate for bedrest.

"It really is a nice color," Hanai said, still managing to radiate an aura of contentment despite the mask over their face. "Though it's almost a shame that it doesn't match the others', considering—ah, no disrespect intended, Rairi-san."

I shook my head, my braid dragging across my back. "No worries, Hanai-san. I don't mind at all. I like that I match Sensei's, plus it's a little reassuring." I thought back to the lightning bolt patterns dancing up the center of Zenitsu and Kaigaku's swords, how both of them now wielded their weapons with confidence. "That pattern means that they'll both be able to get even stronger, right? I couldn't ask for more for my kōhai." Not if things were going to keep escalating from here. Even without accounting for the Plot, if I were Kibutsuji Muzan right now, I wouldn't have been satisfied about losing one of my Upper Moons, and even more so since it had been over a century since the Corps had succeeded in defeating one of them. "That said, I do appreciate that you went through the trouble to make us matching katanas, Hanai-san. I like to think that we'll be able to work together as Sensei's successors eventually."

If nothing else, Kaigaku had written back to me after I'd updated him on the Mugen Train mission, and he'd mentioned a few details that I'd kind of left out on purpose (What the fuck were you thinking going after the Upper Moon Three like that? You could have died, he'd written, the strokes so rough that the ink almost bled the characters together), so that meant he was reading Zenitsu's letters as well, even if he hadn't replied. I was going to hold onto the hope that they'd be able to get along one of these days.

Hanai was silent for a moment, though their hyottoko mask really got in the way of me being able to guess what they were thinking. "I hope that will be the case for you, Rairi-san." Hanai stood, gathering up the emptied parcel they'd brought with them. "Speaking of your fellow apprentices, though, is Agatsuma-san still here? I figured I could do some maintenance on his blade while I'm already around."

"Oh, yeah, he should be training with Shimizu-chan, Inosuke-kun, and Aoi-chan about now." Their injuries had been deemed well enough to allow for them to start on rehab, while Tanjirō and I still had some time before we'd be cleared for rehabilitation, let alone combat ready. "I'm sure if you find one of the girls, they'd be willing to lead you to—" The door to my sickroom opened, and the person marching in the doorway was unmistakable. "—ah."

"Pardon the intrusion!" Rengoku said, his voice booming through the confined space. If it weren't for the fact that I'd been there on that battlefield and seen him bleeding, I never would have suspected that he'd been suffering from major injuries a little over a week and a half ago. Sure, now he had a patch over his left eye, the flame pattern matching the one on his haori, but otherwise he was grinning as much as the day I'd met him. "I'm glad to hear that you're alright, Rairi, my friend! How's your recovery going?"

Um, I've upgraded to friend status, now? I mean, yeah, it's not like there's a good gender-neutral equivalent for the whole "my boy/my girl" thing, but isn't that a little bit too much, Hashira-sama? Are you forgetting that I was talking shit about you not too long ago?

Hanai used Rengoku's entrance to vacate the room, and I couldn't even blame them. "I'm doing well enough, all things considered, Rengoku-san," I said. Again, it could have been much worse. "I'm impressed that Kochō-san's letting you up and around like this, though." For real, didn't his medical report include broken ribs and extensive internal bleeding along with that ruined eye of his?

Rengoku laughed the same as ever, dropping down with gusto into the chair set up at my bedside. "She was upset that I'd gotten up and traveled a bit early, but I did receive her full permission not long after getting back. Kamado mentioned it to you, didn't he? That you can use Total Concentration to help facilitate recovery." I nodded; it was because of that advice that I'd managed to at least get my head wound to heal a little bit faster than usual, though you had to have a detailed understanding of your muscles and blood vessels to pull it off right. In my free time, I'd been attempting to read through one of Kochō's medical texts on the workings of the spine to help that whole process out, but even my perfect understanding of kanji still left me with some of the information flying right over my head. Rengoku pulled a fist up to his chest. "Not to brag or anything, but most of us Hashira have refined the technique enough that we can get back to our full condition in a matter of days. Since we're pillars and all, it wouldn't do us any good to stay down and injured for long!"

Do you hear yourself talking right now, Rengoku-san? I understand that this is Fantasy Taishō Era Japan, but isn't that a bit much to say without hesitating? If all you Hashira can do that, then you're a bunch of monsters!

But it was because of that exact level of ridiculous that Rengoku had been able to hold off the Upper Moon Three for as long as he did. I gripped onto the blankets resting over my lap, staring down as my hold created creases in the seafoam-colored fabric. "Rengoku-san. Thank you for protecting all of us back there. If it wasn't for you, then…"

Then I wouldn't even be here to say anything.

"No, no, I should be thanking you, Rairi, my friend," Rengoku said, his voice restrained for once. My head snapped up to look at him because what fucking planet are you even living on, but he continued before my uncontrollable tongue could get anything out. "You upset Akaza's attack enough that I was able to take a partial injury. And your courage made the others step in as well, which helped me score the finishing blow." His lips were still turned upwards, but there was still something somber burning in his fire-colored eyes. "As a Hashira, it's my duty to protect the seeds of talent in the lower ranks, so I would have died without regret in that battle if it meant the rest of you would have made it. But I didn't have to do so thanks to your and the others' efforts. And for that, you have my most sincere thanks."

Rengoku dipped into a bow, and I stammered over several failed sentences before I managed to get out, "T-that's not necessary, Rengoku-san!" A Hashira bowing to me? For being a fucking idiot and getting myself beat up? It was bad enough that he was thanking me! "If nothing else, I'm grateful to you, too, for keeping my kōhai and friends safe, so just count us even if you have to! Please, sit back up!" I can't handle something as stupid as having a Hashira in my debt!

Rengoku did as requested, chuckling as he grinned at me. God, if it wouldn't be rude af to the person that had protected me, I would have just lied down and feigned needing some rest to get this conversation over with. "If you insist, Rairi, my friend," he said, and I sighed in relief for having avoided that potential minefield. I should have known better by now, though, as it seemed that clearing one field of bullshit would just always lead to another. "That said, I have been thinking about what you said back on the train, about how we Hashira can do better. I do intend to take Kamado on as my Tsuguko if he accepts, but I know that's not enough. So, like I said I would, I did mention your thoughts on the Corps members issue to Oyakata-sama."

"Oh, yeah?" I was a little impressed. Not because I hadn't believed Rengoku would do it, but because I would have thought that he would have higher priorities what with dealing with his injuries and a new Tsuguko and the whole defeat of an Upper Moon thing.

"Yes, indeed! I believe it's important for us Hashira to better help the rest of the Corps, even if we can't always afford the time to do it directly. Oyakata-sama seemed interested as well, Rairi, my friend, so he hopes to talk to you once you've recovered enough to travel!"

"Well, that's good then—wait, what?!" The leader? Of the Demon Slayer Corps? Wanting to talk to me? I grabbed onto Rengoku's shoulders, and I would have shaken him if he didn't have such impressive core control that I couldn't even make him budge even if I had been at full strength. "Y-you're kidding, right, Rengoku-san? There's no way that the leader would want to waste his time on talking to a Tsuchinoe like me, that's just silly—"

Rengoku laughed. "Don't sell yourself short, Rairi, my friend! Your help on the Mugen Train has earned you a promotion to Hinoto!" I choked on my own damn air, and Rengoku patted my back before leaning me down on my pillows. I pressed my hands to my face and tried my damnedest to just die right then and there, but it didn't work out. "The others received promotions as well, I believe, since you've all done such great work. Congratulations to you all!"

Don't just change the subject like that! Could I even handle being in the presence of the leader? I'd heard that the Hashira's collective loyalty to him was unshakable. I'd already proven many times over that I couldn't control my damn mouth; there was no way I was getting out of that alive!

Why, yes, I'd chosen to attack the Upper Moon Three, and I was now freaking out over talking to the leader of my own damn organization. Was that even surprising?

Calm down, Rairi. It's not gonna be anything major. With your luck, you can chat for a bit, you'll get told your complaints are silly in the face of capital-T Tradition, and then you can go back to being an ordinary Demon Slayer without ever having to deal with the upper ranks again!

Oh, denial. The best way to keep hold of your sanity.

I lied face down on my bed as Kochō's thin fingers poked at the muscles in my back. After assessing the situation, both of her palms rested on opposite sides of my spinal cord. When she pressed down, a series of clicks resounded, and the process repeated a few more times as she moved down each of my vertebrae. Kochō hummed under her breath, checking the bones and muscles again before she said, "Go ahead and sit up, Rairi-san." I did as instructed, pulling my braid out of the way as she checked over my shoulders as well. When she stepped back, Kochō was smiling, and not one of her expressions with the darkened undertone. "Congratulations, Rairi-san. You've recovered well enough that you can start physical rehabilitation now."

I punched my fists into the air (gently and slowly mind you, but the end pose was still the same). "Yaaay." After a while, being stuck to a hospital bed started to drag you down; I felt starved to get back into shape. My display of mirth done, I dipped into a bow. "Thank you again for your help, Kochō-san."

"No, no, thank you for being such a cooperative patient." Unlike some other people, the tick in her smile said. "Your understanding of Total Concentration has also helped matters. Please do your best to keep that skill in mind going forward."

I nodded. If the Plot was somehow going to get worse than freaking Upper Moon Three from here on out, I didn't mind in the slightest having another bullshit fantasy skill to help keep me in one piece. "Should I join the others tomorrow, then?" I asked, thinking of my rehabilitation. I was kind of looking forward to it, though I knew it'd be rough after so long stuck to bed.

Kochō shook her head, and I raised an eyebrow. "Any other time, I would say yes, Rairi-san, but you're already spoken for these next few days." I raised the other eyebrow for good measure, because I had no memory whatsoever of making any plans aside from spending some time in the morning with Zenitsu and the shamisen he'd managed to uncover in one of the estate's many rooms with Aoi's help. Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho all enjoyed hearing him play, too, so I tended to have plenty of company these days—which was great, since it kept me from being left alone with my thoughts following the godawful nightmare the Lower Moon One had put me through. "Since I've given you medical approval, Oyakata-sama has requested your presence. A Kakushi will be here to pick you up tomorrow."

Oh. Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

With a few weeks between my conversation with Rengoku and the present, I'd kind of let myself forget that he'd even mentioned such a thing. But it looked like things had caught up with me at last, so there wasn't much else I could do but deal with the situation as it came—which was to say that I spent the rest of the day panicking and unable to appreciate that I was able to do little things like join the others in the dining hall for meals and move about the manor without help.

True to Kochō's word, a Kakushi arrived after breakfast the next morning. Though I was approved for general activities but not full physical exertion via Total Concentration, getting transported was the quickest way to get me to Headquarters, plus there was a bit of secrecy in the place's location. If I'd thought Butterfly Manor was large, this place was even more so, with intricate stone gardens lining the outside and in-bloom wisteria everywhere. I was dropped off at the edge of a porch which looked over an expansive garden complete with a clear blue pond under some trees. I thanked the Kakushi who'd transported me before they dashed off, leaving me with Rengoku and a couple of people I didn't recognize by sight but had no doubt were other fellow Hashira.

Fucking. Hell.

"Rairi, my friend!" Rengoku called, waving at me and dragging the attention of the others right onto me. "Glad to hear that you're doing well enough to move out and about again!" I nodded, trying to keep it cool and take a seat beside Rengoku on the ground, since that seemed to be where we were expected to be. "Allow me to introduce you: this is the Love Hashira Kanroji Mitsuri and the Serpent Hashira Iguro Obanai!"

It was time to put some faces to the names I'd heard thrown about. Kanroji was distinguishable by her braids formed from bright pink hair that tinted green at the ends, and she wore a simple white haori over her Corps uniform—though the jacket was open in the front enough to show off some of her breasts in such an anime bullshit maneuver that I had to hold back a sigh. Well, if she went around wearing it and didn't have a problem, it was none of my business. Beside her was Iguro, whose shoulder length dark hair seemed plain in comparison to his mismatched eyes: one golden yellow, the other turquoise. It was tricky to tell what the most eye-catching thing about him was: the bandages concealing his lower face, the bold black and white stripes of his haori, or the albino snake coiled around his shoulders.

"It's nice to meet you," I said, bowing and hoping that a little bit of upfront politeness would be enough to at least earn me a painless death whenever I said something rude as all hell in front of the leader. "My name is Rairi, no family name, Tsu—ah, recently promoted Hinoto." Because I still didn't quite feel like I'd earned that rank up, and I sure didn't want people to expect too much from me because of it.

"Rairi-san! It's so nice to meet you," Kanroji said, her peridot eyes sparkling and her smile almost on the same level of pretty as Shimizu's. "I heard about what you did to help Rengoku-san. It's so wonderful!"

"No, no, I didn't do much—" Over Kanroji's shoulder, Iguro narrowed his eyes, and I swallowed the end of my sentence. I didn't know what he was so upset about, but I wasn't going to chance pissing him off already when I had no clue how long this meeting with the leader was going to take. "I'm honored that a Hashira has such a high opinion of me, Kanroji-san," I said, watching Iguro. When he didn't seem to take further offense, a little bit of relief fizzled through my blood. Didn't Kochō-san say I'd strained my heart in my last fight? Wonder if I could do that again and knock myself the fuck out.

Rengoku laughed, smacking his large hand against my back almost hard enough to send me face first into the stones we were sitting on. "Well, of course, Rairi, my friend! I've been telling everyone about what you've done for me." And dear lord I wish that you wouldn't!

Iguro made a noise that sounded rather close to a snort. "You think you'd be less enthusiastic considering the disrespect they showed you before." Aaand Rengoku had been spreading my inability to keep my mouth shut around, too. Why had Kochō healed me and not just let me perish already? Would have saved us all some trouble.

"Don't be like that, Obanai-san," Kanroji said, and Iguro didn't protest. "Rairi-san was just worried about the wellbeing of their fellow Slayers. I think the idea of having a new system in place to help lower ranked Corps members is great! Right, Rengoku-san?"

"Yes! That's why I brought it to the attention of Oyakata-sama—"

"And I'm grateful you did."

The voice that spoke next was smooth, and my earlier worries felt like they melted down to nothing. That voice was stillness, was a dollop of calm in the storm, was just what you would want to hear talking to you on an ASMR video as you went to sleep. Beside me, all three Hashira shifted their positions to a kneel of subservience, and I mirrored their posture, only daring to glance up after Rengoku said, "We're honored that you're gracing us with your presence today, Oyakata-sama. May you continue to be in good health."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya was another person that you could have underestimated if you saw him. His dark hair contrasted with his pale complexion, and the scar tissue spread over his face, all the way from this hairline to partway down his nose, beneath his unseeing eyes, and spilling over onto his left cheek. He did not wear a Corps uniform, but instead a plain black kimono with a white haori that had red patterns scattered over the lower half. At his sides were two children with white hair and purple kimonos—his eldest daughters and the older sisters of the two children that aided the Final Selection process, if I was remembering right.

This was the Demon Slayer Corps' Leader, the one that the Hashira referred to as Oyakata-sama.

"Thank you, Kyōjurō. I'm glad that we could all come together today. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rairi," he said, and I waited with bated breath as to what he would say next. "I do apologize for pulling you out here whenever you haven't made a full recovery, but I'm very interested to hear your ideas on how we could better structure the Demon Slayer Corps."

[Author's Notes]

Oh, look, it's the obligatory recovery chapter before we ramp up into the next arc. For anime onlys, you don't have to worry about spoilers just yet, since we'll be conducting a fanfic original arc. Unless you consider knowing that there's a time skip a spoiler...?

Extensive, extensive, extensive thanks to gg (Guest), lordfarquadd, Gresho88, enryu100, Zet4, ILikeFoxes828, kayserzacharias, XLazyBonezX, ceb0063, aznblackhowling, Tsukkitsukki, TawnySongbird, SpacyDoge, CruelRuin, VastoMenos, and DCosmicSage38 for the favorites, follows, and reviews! It's thanks to you all that we've crossed 300 follows and 100 reviews, which is the most attention I've ever gotten on a fic while it's active, so thank you all very much! I drew a Rairi doodle to celebrate, which you can find on my Instagram as aviplotbunny. My highlight reels there also includes the amazing Rairi commission art by bunbaoie that I received this past week. If you're not interested in my art, at least go look at this gorgeous rendering of Rairi, because I've been freaking out about it all week.

So, yeah, Rairi's been bitching a lot about the Corps throughout this story, and the day of reckoning has come! We also get to introduce more Hashira, so Iguro and Mitsuri are on the scene! Mitsuri is definitely my favorite Hashira, so I had to give her a role in this fic, so expect to see more of her as we go along!

Also, just so we're all clear: while Rairi and Shimizu helped with Akaza, Rengoku is still the one who killed him, so no Hashira titles for RaiMizu just yet. Everyone did get promotions, tho!

This time I'll do shameless self promo of my own work. First up, I wrote an Evangelion OC one shot to vent my feelings about the 3.0+1.0 film: that's "let me sleep by your side (anywhere is okay). And then I finally finished the last handful of chapters for one of my Durarara! fics, Ragnarok, so that'll be updating on the opposite weekends to this fic if you want something else to read on the in-betweens.

Season two starts next month, babyyyyyy; what a perfect time to celebrate the chapter twenty milestone of this story! My how far we've come and how far we have yet to go...

It's time for a Taishō Era Secret! Thanks to Rairi's interference, the fight against Akaza played out differently than canon (look forward to seeing the exact details later!). One of the more notable differences is that Tanjirō doesn't have to throw his sword after Akaza, so his blade is unharmed. Shimizu, on the other hand, busted hers up. Haganezuka isn't pleased with either of them whatsoever.

Next Time: This organization is Fucked, Rairi can never stop running their mouth, and an unexpected reunion. Please look forward to it!

-Avi

[09.25.2021]