Hey all, BossCampers here welcome to my revised version of "A Demon In A Slayers World"! Why did I revise it, you might ask well it was because I wrote it as a script! Yeah I know I committed the worst sin since doing a number 2 on the side of my post office. Plus, it was just bad and I've worked on this new version like it's my child for a few months and now I'm throwing in the woodchipper known as F.F.N
Oh, why did I write this in the first place, well it all started when I saw the combat and said to myself, "How bad could Zoro stomp these bozos?" After that, I came up with a general premise with a (hopefully) better scale to everyone else.
Anyways off to the races with you all!
Chapter 1: Fortune is Strange
KEY
Regular Font: Conversation/Details
Italicized Font: Onomonopia/Inner Thoughts
Just Bold: Signifies a special attack/Breathing
BOLD, CAPITALIZED, AND UNDERLINED FONT: SHOWING MOMENT OF TIME
"How did I get here." muttered the swordsman in deep thought. He didn't normally go out of the way to save someone when there in trouble, even if they looked completely defenseless like a child. But that moment, his body moved on its own stopping that blond... butt chinned guy.
"Luckily I defused that situation, now I just have to stand here on this cross for the next, uh... 21 days or something. Humph, no sweat I've gone without food for a month plenty of times during training. Once I get out of here I'll find Mihawk and become the world's greatest swordsm-, hey who are you?"
In front of him was a pale man clad in a red kimono and black hair with red tips. Incredibly confused, Zoro wondered if the man before him the base itself or had scaled the 20 foot high walls could get into the courtyard.
And yet, there he was, standing before him and calmly uttered, "Are you the swordsman Roronoa Zoro?"
"Yeah, so what if I am?"
A small smile etched itself on his face before turning back into a frown. "I've come to release you," he whispered approaching Zoro.
"Hey, you can't do that!" Yelled the moss head stopping the man's approach. "I made a promise to an-honorable-man that I would stay here for the whole month for what I did to his dog," stated Zoro slightly cringing when he called Butt-Chin honorable.
"I see. I am glad that you're honorable for that is one of the reasons I have sought you out, however, I overheard a man with let's just say an acquired taste of clothes say that he was going to execute a fool in the courtyard in a few days." said the man causing Zoro's blood to freeze.
"However now that I'm here I do not see a fool insight. So I will make you choose, you can either die here like an honorable rat or come with me and help me fall a most troublesome demon."
I don't know what kind of man you want me to kill, but I don't take offers from creepy pasty dudes like you. So about you go into that base and get me my swords and challenge me with that 3rd class katana of yours." joked the lime green man closing his eyes to chuckle. How much time passed between when he closed his eyes and when he re-opened them? Was it an hour? A minute? 2 seconds? Add a time in and if it was a short time, use that in your description of Zoro's shock. only opening them again once he heard the sharp clatter of his three katanas on the ground before him.
"I wasn't sure which was yours so I just grabbed all three of them." said the man in red casually, causing Zoro to sweat bullets and have an aneurysm.
"H-How the hell did he get my swords! I could've sworn that the Navy would have a least put the Wado under some sort of safekeeping."
"Calm down and breathe,"sighing internally. "There's no way this man could've gotten the swords on his own, he must have a strong assistant somewhere that snuck into the base." he thought as he felt all of the restraints holding him up fall down.
""Hm..." Zoro hummed as he gave a judging glare at the man who didn't seem to move a muscle. "Oh yeah, this guy definitely has something odd about him. Maybe he has a devil fruit or something that can cut things." mentally scratching his head as he picked up his swords.
"I'm not sure how you cut those ropes geezer, but I'm not some pushover who'll go down easily." He announced with confidence putting on his bandanna and grinning.
"Bring it on you old far-!" Yelled Zoro to... no one? All of a sudden he felt the two katanas in his hands get light, and as he looked down he saw they were finely cut to pieces as if they were mere vegetables.
And with a sheathing of a sword being faintly heard behind him, he felt his chest being torn open diagonally! He knew it was a shallow wound, but it felt like the sun itself was burning him causing him to go to his knees with the pain.
"Using three swords is such an odd technique. High offense power, but with those slow lumbering strikes, you'll never strike at a real swordsman. So, are you ready to comply, I don't have that much time left." said the man sounding more annoyed as if he was waiting for a temper tantrum to subside.
"Blurgh- sure it's not like can do anything else." Agreed Zoro. Although strangly enough, he felt the pain from the scorched opening start to die down as soon as it appeared.
He looked up and saw the man give him- "Ah! Onigiri!" he yelled yelping in pain as he ran over to the handkerchief housing his fuel.
"I hope you like it, I got it from the daughter of that restaurant owner down the street. For being called a demon, you still have at least one supporter no matter how small she is.
Zoro didn't pay attention to the man since he had taken his first bite of the super SWEET onigiri! If he wasn't starving he'd spit it out, but he was so hungry. "Hey, thanks for the food man maybe now I'll actually listen to you."
"Excellent, I apologize for not introducing myself sooner, my name is Yoriichi Tsugikuni and you are a very special person that I am glad that I came across."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"To put it simply I have been drawn to you because both you and I are the only ones to have laid eyes on a progenitor of the demon race and have lived to tell their tale."
"How many times do I have to tell you this, but I've never seen a de...mon."Uttered Zoro slowly as repressed memories rushed back to him.
"Are you ok, you just went pale. Im assuming it was'nt the most pleasent introduction."
"Yeah no shit, damn it! Why did you remind me! All Ive wanted to do is forget about that night!" felling his eyes turn red from the tears as they flashing through his head with terifying clarity.
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
9 YEARS AGO
He rembered that night down to exact detail. The moon is full and is raised to its height with gusts of winds sleepily swaying the surrounding trees and grass. I was there with my rival Kuina, each of us holding real swords with her holding one and me two. We came there at the dead of night to decide which one of us was the better swordsman although this would be my two thousand and first duel. Yet, it was my closest duel due to my hard work, however, that battle was almost predetermined thanks to Kuina's massive gap of skill. Thanks to this, she still bests me again crushing dreams again.
I fell to the ground tears streaming down my face as I tried to suck it up in order not to show weakness. And although I failed, Kuina looked like the one who had lost as she somberly looked down on me.
"You'll surpass me Zoro, I'm just a girl. As girls grow older we get weaker as men grow bigger and stronger. My breasts have even begun to grow and you and our classmates have begun to catch up to my skill day after day."
She said to me "I've always wanted to become the greatest swordsman in the world, but since it's inevitable I hope it's you Zoro," lowering her hand to help him up, but I would'nt take her pity and smacked her hand away as I got up with a scowl.
"Don't be whining after you beat the shit out of me! Don't you know that you're my goal! Boy this, Girl that! Are you gonna say that bullshit when I get strong enough to beat you, do you have any idea how demeaning that is after how hard I trained every single day!?" "So don't say that stuff, just promise me this. Promise that someday, one of us will be the world's greatest swordsman!" I yelled putting my hand out to her.
"Zoro," said Kuina speechless before grabbing his hand in a handshake, smiling like she hadn't done in a very long time.
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
PRESENT
"I was so excited the next day, we had agreed that every night we would have an extra sparing session at the dojo in order to improve both of our skills. She knew personally that her father wouldn't be in at that time which means we could go all out. She seemed so happy for it too, the last time I... saw her," said Zoro pausing slightly.
"Why was this the last time?" said Yoriichi calmly sitting cross-legged.
"Hey, I'm in the middle of a story here, quit being so rude!"
"I'm sorry, how rude of me, please go on." apologized Yoriichi taking a sip of hot tea out of a porcelain cup, causing Zoro to give him a confused look.
"Where the heck did he get a cup of tea?"
"Ahem, Anyways were was I, oh yeah, after finishing my dinner at a local ramen place, I went back to my place to grab my swords before taking the long way back to the dojo in order to dodge any people from the late classes.
It was well into the night by the time I arrived at the front door. The walls were very thin and the inside was bright so I could see the silhouette of her meditating in front of the candles. I was about to walk in, but, that's when the night took a turn for the worst.
There was a noise in the back scaring both of us, I'm sure because I heard her voice shake saying...
"Hey Z-Zoro is that you?!" she said cautiously standing up and walking towards the back.
A loud growl could be heard as Kuina flew across the room landing against the wall with a bone-crunching thud breaking her shoulder. She crashed into the wall so hard, a piece of wood priced her other shoulder pinning her to the wall. I was about to go in and help her but that's when I saw...him!
He was huge towering over her like a giant to a lamb. I opened the door slightly to see who it was and it shook me to the bone. It looked like one of the older students who just left class not too long ago since he was still wearing our dojo's uniform. But his skin was pale like a corpse, but veins were popping out in blood-red all over his face. Blood covered his mouth but I also saw him drooling like a wild animal looking down on it's prey.
I couldn't move, I was stuck there like a complete coward. And she cried...all night her flesh being ripped off of her bones. He made sure to keep her alive as long as possible lavishing in her howls for help.
I watched her die in front of me due to the inevitble blood loss, she didn't even see the sun again. But that monster kept eating her until nothing but her clothes and bones remained.
When there was no more nutrition for it, it stood up looking around and sniffing. It saw me for the first time peeking through the door and began to run at me.
I opened the door in shock and since it was dawn the sun saved me from the same fate. The demon cried in pain before turning to dust in a matter of seconds leaving nothing behind.
I dropped to my knees, it was all just to much. Everything after became a blur, Her mom came back to her body torn to shreds and beat me to within an inch of my life. Sensi came however and saved me. He knew it wasn't me, but he wouldn't buy my explanation about the demon.
He came up with the flimsy excuse that she fell down the stairs, but anyone who saw her wouldn't think any stairs can rip all your skin and muscle off, so naturally, that's where the rumors started. They called me Zoro the demon thinking I killed Kuina in a surprise attack after losing so many times. And who wouldn't after losing so many times, ill tell you people who have no pride.
It was hard, people talked behind my back, threw eggs at me, and only dojo challengers who were ignorant of my skill would duel with me. But, despite all the rumors and anger from his students, sensi never gave up on me. He continued to teach me the way of the sword and gave me someone to talk to.
"And finally, when I was 17, Sensi gave me his most prized possession left, the ivory scabbarded blade Wado Ichimonji. It was the last sword that his daughter ever wielded, and now it is a sword I prize and protect over even my own life," he said motioning to the sword. "You know I'm so lost in my head sometimes it's like I can still feel like she's there-huh,"
He looked up and saw Yoriichi was... crying! "Hey I'm the one telling the sob story I should be the one crying!"
"It's just so sad how you couldn't do anything."
"Would you like to rephrase that, Y O R I," said Zoro slowly cracking his knuckles.
"What I mean is that you are incredibly unlucky. It's as if the gods purposely gave you this horrible life."
"Are you trying to get pummeled!?" he yelled now boiling red in anger.
"For you to meet the progenitor of the demon race on his first hunt, truly saddening," he said bowing his head to the ground. "Please do not let my phrasing come across as rude. I am truly sorry for your loss."
Zoro just stood there with his mouth agape. He hardly told the true story to anyone, and when he did they normally laughed or called him a loon for believing in demons. But, this man, was bowing.
"Please Yoriichi raise your head. Please tell me what plan you have," said Zoro steely-eyed as Yoriichi raised his head.
"Ok, get comfortable Roronoa, we have much to go over."
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
"Woah. That's a lot of information, I think some of it leaked out of my ear," muttered Zoro droopy-eyed before getting smacked by a scabbard.
"Sigh, luckily that's all the information you need," said Yoriichi looking wide awake compared to the sleeping moss. "Do you need a refresher?"
"No! Dear god no!" yelled Zoro with desperation clearly evident.
"I see... you can't bear without the information," he said in realization.
"ARGH!"
"Ok, I'll quickly run you through it. I give you this purple spider lily," he said pointing to a purple flower. "With this, you will travel to the time when sun breathing is revived. You will guide and help perfect all the forms of sun breathing. Once he is ready and defeats Muzan you will be sent back here to your world to continue your training as the greatest swordsman, got it... uh Roronoa? "
Zoro was on the ground with eyes rolled behind his head, with his mouth drooling.
"Oh brother, Roronoa!" he yelled slapping him with the scabbard on the head again jolting him awake.
"WHAT! YEAH! SUN BREATHING! PROTECT! GREATEST SWORDSMAN! KUINA! Huh, wow I was really out of it." said Zoro sheepishly.
"No no you got it down." He said waving his hand. He then gave Zoro the Purple Spider lily.
Looking at the flower Zoro said "So you're not coming huh?"
"No, no I am not. Once someone uses the flower they can only stay in one place at a time. It is greatly saddening, you see my brother is most likely still alive in the future because of the curse. I would've loved to have talked to him one more time and release him from his torment. But that is why you will do it. You are the the torch that will light the sun that will burn the demon race!"
"Yeah that's cool and all, but, do I uh eat this?" He asked looking down at the lily.
"Hm, why of course." stated Yoriichi as if it was obvious.
"Gulp, ok here goes nothing," as he chewed, there was a *crack* as the crispy flower crunched in his jaw.
"Argh! What the hell did that flower just crunch in my mouth!?"
"Yes, it has to be sturdy in the mountains to survive"
"That fucking- huh, what the," questioned Zoro as purple sakura leaves flurried around him like a twister picking him up in the air
"Roronoa!"
"Yeah!" Yelled Zoro drifting off higher and higher his skin shedding off into flowers.
"Please... SUCCEED!"
Smiling far away Zoro have him a confident smile as his body embraced the force of the lily and drifted away into the sun
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
It was a cold night today. The snow was drifting down forcefully upon the earth, blanking everything in a blanket of white. All of his children were out in the field all across Japan even during the Lunar New Year. Every time this time of year comes in, he wishes at least one of his children could spend the night with him and his family, but that would be greedy of him.
He knew that holidays were the most brutal times for people in Japan since the young, the old, and the drunk would be out late at night being easy prey for any wandering demon.
However, this year through would be different. He spent what little free time he had reading all about the Lunar New year. It was apparently a way for people to honor their ancestors which was something he wanted to instill in his kids, especially Kiriya. So that day Kagaya and his family spent their time hanging lighted red lanterns all along the exterior of their manor.
A concerning event happened when a stray piece of grass flew into his right eye. To anyone else (other than Gyomei) when one of your eyes closes like this, you simply open the other one. However the curse had spread, and although he could open his left eye, he was just in darkness. Being helped by his wife and daughters he said "I'm fine Amane, but thank you," he said trying to shake it off for them unsuccessfully.
When dusk came, the snow began to fall and they retreated to the warm insides of their home. After a while, Kagaya stood up and looked out a window at the setting sun. His wife seeing this walked close behind saying, "Kagaya-san? Are you well?" she said her concern unintentionally leaking out.
"Sigh, I am. It's just, is it greedy Amane, to want the rest of my children to join us for New Year Celebrations?"
Walking next to him, Amane put her soft hand on his shoulder saying, "It's not greedy to desire it, but you know that they have no holidays or free time to spend. Even so, most of them have their own families they'd rather celebrate with."
"You're right thank you fo-!" said Kagaya before being cut off by the caw of one of his beloved Kasugai crows, and he recognized this specific shriek. "Kyojuro!?" he yelled questioningly as the bird flew down gracefully upon the window sill.
It did a little bow and gave its high-pitched message, "CAW! THE HASHIRA KYOJURO RENGOKU, HIS TSUGUKU, MITSURI KANROJI AND A SMALL BAND OF KANOE SWORDMEN ARE ARRIVING TO YOUR ESTATE, CAW!"
"What! Why! Are they injured do we need to tend to their wounds!" said Kagaya with an urgent tone.
The crow just blinked at this response, and gave him a raspberry and then responded back, "NO SILLY BILLY, CAW! FOR THE NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES OF COURSE! HE WOULD NEVER LET YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CELEBRATE SUCH A KEYSTONE HOLIDAY BY YOURSELVES, CAW!"
Kagaya was so happy, he probably would've teared up had his wife not been right next to him. "When will Kyojuro arrive, my feathered friend?" he said with a smile.
The crow was about to shriek out an answer, before turning his head behind him. "SQUAWK! WHY HE'S NOW!" squawked the crow for the last time as it once again bowed gracefully and flew off. However, this time it didn't have to fly far this time, flying only a few feet away before perching on the shoulder of Kyojuro the warmth of his smile almost warming his companions.
Almost however is the keyword here, as Mitsuri and the other Kanoe class slayers had their arms in a self hug, shivering from head to toe.
"Heh-heh hello Ka-Kagaya-Sama." said Mitsuri chattering her teeth.
"Good evening master! I have arrived for the new year celebrations! And look I brought a special guest!" announced Kyojuro bombastically doing a sharp side-step to the right revealing his younger brother Senjuro who was covered in a large fur coat with mittens and large bulky boots.
"Ah, um good evening Master Kagaya, happy Lunar New Year!" he said curtly with a small bow.
"Ah, Kyojuro, Mitsuri, it's so pleasant to see you on such a beautiful night please come in all of you," said Kagaya motioning for them to come inside.
"Hold on one moment master, let me prepare our bodyguards!" said Kyojuro turning back to the freezing 5 man squad of Kanoe slayers. Despite the cold, they were only wearing the recommended summer uniform (that being a thin long sleeve shirt, with black dress pants) and it showed. They were huddled in a circle as the cold winter winds slashed their faces causing them to turn red.
"Alright, men listen up! Your duty is to patrol the surrounding area in the case demons followed our sent or path! If any threats arrive make sure four of you converge to neutralize it, the remaining one will notify us of the danger. IS ALL OF THIS UNDERSTOOD!" barked Kyojuro waking them from their sub-zero stuper.
"Listen you five, do you see the symbol on your uniforms?" he said pointing to their chest, which on it had a flaming tiger on it. "That symbol means that you will do anything to protect one another and anyone who cannot defend for themselves with the ferocity of a tiger sprinting towards its prey!"
"Are you willing to make Sensi Torajuro weep due to your weakness!". Those words awoke their freezing bodies like they've been burned by adrenaline as shouted from the heart, "Yes Rengoku sir!" as they ran into the surrounding forests.
Kagaya couldn't have been more proud. Kyojuro has truly become a fantastic leader since his first days as a demon slayer. "Thank you for your urgency Kyojuro, now will you come inside."
"Hold on one second I think I dropped a bento box back on the tr-."
"Of course, we'd love to come inside! We're on our way Kagaya-San!" she said grabbing the two flame brothers and dragging them inside for some warmth and tea.
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
"Hm, The sun seems to be setting." Thought Zoro as he watched the sun fade to the ground causing the sky to turn dark. He was in a small open field with dead trees surrounding him with a cliff overlooking the golden sun. "Man, wish I could've picked what time of year to come. It's freezing here and no directions to boot, maybe I'll just walk in that direction and hope for the best," he thought pointing to the sun.
"That's fucking stupid Zoro." said someone behind a tree. "This whole plan is stupid, how on earth are we going to find a sun breather, who knows how big this island is. Shoot since were time traveling on top of dimensional traveling why not add the point that he might not be born yet or has already died of old age." said the person bitterly.
"Well, the way I see it I'm just paying a man back for freeing me. Sure it may be a bit of a detour, but once we find the sun guy and kill this Muzan dude we can go back and defeat Mihawk. Plus, it's better to do this rather than die and let our dream end right, Kuina?
Stepping out from the tree, Kuina had her arms crossed with a pout plastered on her face. She was still the same elegant self he remembered back in the day. Seeing her in front of him almost made him think it was her every time he was there, but he knew it was nothing but his mind trying to soothe him. On second thought, soothe probably wasn't the best word to be using as she was yelling profusely at him.
"Yeah, to an extent Zoro! But eating random flowers offered by strangers is a quick way to wind up dead from poison! Honestly, if you're asking me your way too lucky for your own good, you moron." she said glaring at him
"Hey I'm not a moron! I at least have a good idea of where to go."
"You mean walking in the opposite direction of this sign that leads into the next town." she said mockingly as she leaned on a short wooden signpost that said "Town 3 KM away."
"Whatever you're dead," he said softly walking past her.
Veins popped up in her head as she heard the comment. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SAY!" she said with enough malice to kill an Ox. Zoro was having none of this as he ran downhill into a dirt path.
Kuina looked down as he kept running at top speed with a confused look. "Eh! I just pointed to the sign and he completely ignored it! That's it, I swear I'm leaving him this time... gah, but I wonder if he's ok? Ugh, why don't I just pass on already." she said huffing in a stomp after him.
(-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-)
"Check!"
"Ok what if I move over here?" said Senjuro moving his king one spot to the left.
Kiriya after seeing the move, moves his rook (the castle piece) diagonnally blocking the king from all exits. "Check-Mate!"
"Argh I can't believe you got me again" said Senjuro in frustration moving his hands to his head. "This is the 3rd time in a row and you beat me in only 11 moves," he pouted.
"Actually Senjuro-san, it was actually 10, that was the last game we played." he said with a smile, causing Senjuro to blush in embarrassment.
"Oh yeah your right. Your really good at this game Kiriya, I can beat my brother and dad, but you tore me apart."
"Please don't say that. I'm not good at all, I'm actually the worst player in my family." he said with an embarrassed smile.
"No way! No wonder the Ubuyashikis are leading my brother and the others, it's like you guys can see the future or something."
The last part made Kiriya nervous, so he curtly ended the conversation with, "Oh wow that smells good! Come on Senjuro-san lets check it out!" he said jumping off his cushion running towards the kitchen.
The area where they were playing chess was the living room. The Ubuyashikis have multiple of these rooms for recreation and business activities. They were all connected by warmly lit hallways to the beds and kitchen area.
As Kiriya finally arrived, the smell was unbelievably delicious. It was as if someone had collected the food of the gods and put it on their table. The scene in the kitchen however, did not suit the calmly smell of meats and breads.
Kyojuro was chopping up wild boar and herring that Mitsuri and him caught. He was holding a cutting knife dashing to and from the vegetable, meat, and bread cutting boards. At one moment he would be chopping up the boar, the next he would be putting them into the soft warm dough. Rolling it up with vegetables too he rolled them all up into balls while adding some bazel on top. Afterwords he tossed them into a pot and boiled them.
"My my Kyojuro the aroma is delicious, where did you learn this recipe?" asked Kagaya being attracted to the dumplings just as much as everyone else.
Smiling Kyojuro said, "They were my mother's recipe. She used to make them back when we all celebrated the New Year together." As he did this he put the last batch in to boil.
"I'm sure she'd be proud that your continuing her recipe." smiled Kagaya.
"Yeah I'm excited too, Kyojuro only makes them for the holidays so I hardly get to eat them. They're so good, I could eat them all day!" said Mitsuri whimsically, practically on top of the pot to smell them.
Aburptly, one of the bodyguards patrolling the outside burst in letting the roaring winter storm into the house. He had a bad cut on his shoulder and his lungs were shot out as if he sprinted a marathon. In the confusion, Mitsuri tripped and knocked over the pot of delectable dumplings, but this was not the time for dumplings!
"Master Kyojuro! There's, there's a demon outside!" yelled the man at the top of his lungs. "He came out of nowhere running right towards the mansion, but I stopped him! The demon had three swords and was too strong for me to handle!" he said clutching his bleeding shoulder harder. "I alerted the others and we attacked together, but he held his own so the others ordered me to get you!" he said bowing his head to the floor now wheezing from the effort.
"Where is it!" he said running over to the guard with his ear to the floor.
"It's.. its outside. Straight ahead into the forest." He gasped collapsing to the floor stomach first crying from the pain.
"Kiriya, Hinaki take him to the medical room now!" ordered Kagaya as his children took the man and as quickly as they could, walked to the medical room. On the way, Senjuro finally arrived in the kitchen seeing the man and the twins leave the way he came.
Shock, anger, and fear littered his face as he asked," Brother what's going on?!"
"Senjuro go inside! Keep watch over them."
Stepping outside, Kyojuro stood stoically outside, the harsh winds blowing through his flame red hair as all that lay ahead of him was snow and desolate trees. "Mitsuri!" as he said this Mitsuri hopped outside, her bubbly demeanor dissipating in the situation.
Standing side by side she asked, "What's the plan Kyojuro-Sensi?"
"I am going to engage with demon first, while he is distracted I want you to go deeper into the woods to get our other 4 companions out of here and back inside. Do you understand?" asked Kyojuro taking a second to look away at the forest ahead to reassure her.
Before snapping his head right back in front of him hearing a whizzing sound ahead as a human body rocketed towards Mitsuri. Thinking fast, as the body was mere inches away, Kyojuro yanked its shirt towards the ground as it fell in a heap.
"Is-is he alive?," she shakily observing the body that he blocked. The man's face was bloodied and bruised beyond all reasonable belief, cut wounds paved along his chest. His teeth were also broken, but the man still tried to speak to them, "ʰᵉ'ˢ...ᵗᵒᵒ."
"Strong?"
Moving their heads upward at the same time they saw a true demon. A green bandana was tied to its head, its white shirt stained brown and bright red from old and new blood. And although the demon wasn't much taller than him, its bloodlust was almost suffocating and seemingly inescapable. The demon was also holding three swords, one for each hand and one in its mouth reminding Kyojuro of an ancient Oni from myth. Although looking closer at the swords he noticed that the two in his hands were his comrades Nichiren swords stained with blood causing his stomach to sink.
Taking a sword out of its mouth, the demon spoke with a ragged deep voice saying "Hmph, are you those weakling's superiors?".
"And what if I am?"
"Then you should hire stronger swordsmen to guard this town unless flame head here and double gum are going to take me down." said the demon swordsman pointing at him and Mitsuri with one of its swords.
"Town? Did this demon get lost looking for a town? Of course, he must've been on his way to the town nearby and smelled my comrades on guard duty!"
Clenching his sword and getting into his battle stance, Kyojuro called out to the oni announcing," My name is Kyojuro Rengoku and I am a Hashira under the Demon Slayer Corps! I have never personally fought a swordsman demon before, so, I will personally give you a swordsman courtesy and ask for your name before I duel you"
The Oni seemed to chuckle at his statement as if seemingly complimented. " Humph, thank you for the courtesy, the names Roronoa Zoro and I'm an expert in Santoryu."
"How interesting, I am a master of a technique known as Flame Breathing."
"Hm never heard of it. But hey, since you were so gentlemanly with me, ill let you know when I strike first." said the demon in a snarky tone as he put his white hilted katana back in his mouth.
"Mitsuri, go now."
Nodding her head without a word, Mitsuri ran to the right of Kyojuro into the woods to sidestep the demon's gaze.
"Think fast!" howled the demon as it closed the several meters between them in several blinks of his eyes as they clashed with a resounding clang as the demon swung hard with his left. Before forming any sort of plan, the bleached sword from the mouth slashed down causing him to back step in order to dodge it fully.
"Drats, I'm having a harder time with his three swords than I first thought. I need to push him further." Dashing forward at blitzing speed, he jumped up on one of the side roofs and jumped down with a two-handed barrage of slashes that Zoro had to use all three katanas, which is just what he wanted. Getting back on the ground, he sidestepped behind him breathing deeply gathering up air for another attack to decapitate. Somehow, Zoro managed to get the foresight and agility to do a shockingly elegant backflip behind him. Looking back he saw him position his colleague's swords on his chest and charged with ferocity and malice yelling, "Onigiri!"
Keeping a level head he noticed that since all the blades were on his chest, there were none defending his side. So although the Oni had charged as fast as a raging bull he was faster running barely out of the way moving his sword to slice a deep gash on his opponent's ribs. Interestingly, the gash should've healed almost instantly for demons, but it didn't with this one. Even more strange, was that the bleeding wouldn't stop and he was limping leaning more on his dominant foot than before.
"Damn, you really put me on the back foot" huffed the swordsman out of breath. "I was going to save this technique for when I fought him, but you seem more than a worthwhile opponent." Putting his white-hilted sword back in his mouth, he moved his hand swords together at an angle and began to spin them in a circle like a turbine moving them faster and faster still. Once he got enough speed he began to charge at him like a wild animal on his last legs.
"Three Swords Style Secret Technique!"
"He's moving faster than before,I have to block it!" thought Kyojuro as he readied both blade and body for the attack.
"Flame Breathing First Form: Unknowing Fire!" he roared as he charged forward towards him ready to finish this fight with a single blow.
"Three Thousand Worl-dagh" Stoped the demon mid yell as out of nowhere Mitsuri of all people jumped out from the forest kicking Zoro with a knee to the temple of his head smashing his body into the building head first. Kyojuro dug his feet in the dirt to slow to a stop as he looked in shock at Mitsuri who by the looks of it was also shocked wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her own actions.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Oh, I didn't mean to do that! It was just reflexes I swear!" Cried Mitsuri as she had her hands on her mouth looking back at him and the hole she had made into the side of Kagaya-Sama's house.
"Mitsuri!" he shouted making her stop whining. "Thank you, that came just in time," he said giving her a warm smile of appreciation, which only caused more tears to leak out of her eyes. He took a deep breath in to collect himself asking Mitsuri with caution, " How were the three in the forest, are they alive?
Mitsuri gave him a bright smile that confused him before clarifying, "All three of them are alive."
"What? They are?"
"Yep they all have shallow cuts and bruised ribs and faces, but all alive and will be fine in a few weeks top!"
"Incredible" he muttered under his breath looking at the damaged building. "That really does prove my theory then."
"Theory?"
"Of course during the course of my fight the demon seemed rather odd. First off, he never mentioned anything about eating people which demons often gloat about. Second, his attacks were strong and refined so much in fact that he should've been able to use a blood demon art, but he never did. And the fact that he didn't kill our comrades is something a would never do, meaning that man is definitely human."
"Aah that's so smart I never would've thought about that," said Mitsuri as if a lightbulb went off in her head.
"However, we shouldn't let this man off the hook just because he's not a demon." walking towards the rubble of the building he saw Zoro unconscious looking in better shape than he should've with a kick that strong to the face. "Keep an eye on him I need to talk with master about him right now," he ordered walking away without looking for an answer.
It was a small walk back to the kitchen where Master Kagaya and his family were treating the wounded with medical supplies on hand. "Master Kagaya are you well?" he asked on one knee.
"I am more than fine Kyojuro, I'm glad that all of you are alive albeit in various states of it" Looking back at the five slayers who were on the ground unconscious. "How was your fight against the demon?"
"That's exactly why I am here. You see the man I fought was not a demon but rather a formidable swordsman named Roronoa Zoro who is a master of Santoyru."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I want, if possible, a trial to see if we should let him into the Demon Slayer Corps." he announced seeing a mixture of shock and confusion on the normally calm face of his master.
"Why would we let someone who hurt your comrades into the corps?"
"Because I can tell by the look in his eyes that he isn't out to hurt people and it showed in his actions using non-lethal force against them. He also is a strong and skilled combatant who despite not using the breathing techniques fought on par with me for a short time. I am also asking because I know are upper ranks are lacking since Kanae passed, with training he could reach that level."
"I see those are in fact good reasons. How do you propose we set this trial?"
"I came up with it a small time ago so I can't properly explain the specifics, but it will involve the Hashira being present."
"I see." mused his Master deep in thought. "I believe I can do that for you," he said helping him to his feet and hugging him. "Thank you for being here."
"Of course master, of course," he muttered returning the hug wondering what would lie ahead
Oh hey, I did it I wrote a story! WAHOO! I'm not really an experienced writer so this took a really long time but I'm glad I got it off chest. Now the challenge is to not make this a one-shot, that'd be nice. Comments and support helps but I'm not greedy it just helps my monkey brain.
Read On!
OMAKE: Middle Aged Adventures
As Zoro disappeared in a flurry of purple flower petals, Yoriichi felt relieved that his work was finally finished, thought to himself...
"Man that guy was such a jerk, I truly hope he can be of some hope to my successor it still seems like a long shot. Whatever the outcome I'm glad I can finally rest," he said closing his eyes and putting his hands together to end the meditation.
However, after a minute of doing this nothing happened, he was still there, standing in the middle of an empty marine courtyard."Hmm why isn't working, I could've sworn I did it right," he mumbled starting to panic, but it was halted when someone threw a stone at his head.
He looked to his right where he saw two boys hanging around the outer wall. One had pink hair and big round spectacles, and the other (presumably the one who threw the rock) had black hair, a bright red vest, and a straw hat.
"Hey Koby, is that the Zoro guy out there?," whispered Luffy quite loudly.
"Shhhh! Although... he doesn't look much like Roroanoa, he looks a little older." Said Koby raising his glasses in confusion.
"HUH REALLY! HEY MIDDLE-AGED GUY! HAVE YOU SEEN RORONOA ZORO?! I NEED HIM TO JOIN MY CREW!" Yelled Luffy at the top of his lungs scaring the life out of Koby.
"You see, I sent him to-," calmly explained Yoriichi before a giant blond man jumped down from the roof of the base right behind him. Yoriichi looked behind him to the man looking down on him with an... ax hand?
"What are you doing on my property!? You must know that the penalty for trespassing is death by decapitation!" yelled Morgon swinging his ax hand down on him, which he dodged with ease.
Morgon kept swinging at him over and over again each time missing his hits by what might as well be miles. Yoriichi was getting bored of this man but didn't want to kill him since he was a figure of authority around this island.
So he sheathed his sword and flurried him with a barrage of strikes sending him flying backwards with red lumps piled up on top of his head. He felt bad for this man, he was just someone upholding a sensible sense of justice and now he was beaten to a pulp.
He barely mourned this man before his thoughts were interrupted by whooping and hollering from the kid from the wall. When he turned to scold the kid for his poor manners, he shot his arms out like a musket ball wrapping around his whole body.
"WOW, THAT WAS SO COOL MIDDLE-AGED MAN! WHAT'S YOUR NAME!?"
"My name is Yori-,"
"GREAT YORI, THAT'S AN AWESOME NAME, I KNOW A GUY NAMED THAT OR SOMETHING! YOUR WAY COOLER THAN THIS ZORO GUY, YOU'RE TOTALLY JOINING MY CREW!" He screamed lifting him up and running with him right out of the courtyard with a mentally stunned Yoriichi speechless.