Author's Notes:

Hey guys, I feel like I owe an apology this chapter. I tried to experiment with some new writing styles but I can't help to feel like I just made the story seem a little more rushed. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy, and thank you for all the positive support so far!

PS: Edited chapter 2's grammatical errors by the ways, but nothing too serious.

A noticeable thump on the ground was emitted just now. A sizable amount of people stood behind what had been placed down. One of those figures first spoke up to that thing.

"Hey… wake up you!"

"Stop it, we don't even know who he is!"

"I don't care! He's still under high suspicion, even if he isn't a demon."

Diego's eyes cracked open slightly, feeling the sun's warmth cast into the eyelids. He could hear voices. Was he moved without noticing? He could still feel his belongings on him, so at least that was nice. It would be nicer if they hadn't tied him up though. Given that he wasn't trying to be extra cautious with this extra chance of life, he would've summoned his stand and wiped out half of these fools by now.

Fully opening his eyelids, he was met by a much more bizarre sight than whatever he thought possible. Multicolored figures stood above him, all with different faces of emotion. Some looked worried, some looked at the ready as if he were about to do something, and one looked like he couldn't care at all. However, that wasn't the first thing he cared about when he began to look around more clearly. The first thing he actually noticed was the blood on the ground in some places around him. Has someone been here before him? Looking behind him, he saw a figure looking over his body. Well, rather, casting a shadow rather than looking. He was accompanied by a pair of young twins.

"And who do we have here?" the blind man asked kindly.

One of the twins replied to his question.

"We have a mysterious man, who appears to be foreign. Unlike everyone else that night, who was either badly injured or dead, this one is perfectly fine. One of the survivors noted that they were saved by this man, and that he appeared from nowhere right before his eyes."

The last part of the comment raised a few eyes, but Diego was especially intrigued by this. Appeared out of nowhere? Perhaps D4C really did do this.

His thoughts wandered off while the multicolored group discussed who he was. Why don't they just ask him instead of theorizing like a bunch of morons?

"Who are you?" asked the blind man.

Oh, well, that answers that.

"Why should I tell you? You all have been pretty rude hosts so far."

One of the guys in the group, with white hair and a crazy looking face, demanded that he respected them. The blind man before them raised his hand to quiet him down.

"I think it would help in your trial. You are before the Hashira, the highest ranking demon slayers in these parts. Your trial is what you are doing here and what your plans are. We received that you also had an interesting ability from our one and only source."

Diego took everything in. Demon slayers? Is this truly just hell that has been overrun by surviving humans? Maybe that's why this place looks so nice. Yet again, why are they all speaking that weird foreign language?

"If you agree to answer some of my questions, I'll answer yours to the best of my ability. Just don't expect me to dump my life story for a bunch of delinquents like you guys. Didn't even have the courtesy of waking me up nicely."

His last few lines seemed to have angered some of the 'Hashira', but they remained silent nonetheless. The blind man replied to Diego's requests.

"Of course, and where are my manners? My name is Kagaya Ubuyashiki. I am the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps."

Diego played around with the man's name on his tongue. He began a reply with his first name (before being met with disdainful looks by the Hashira), but quickly followed it up with his last name. He forgot that you address higher ups by their last names, even if this man was far weaker and prettier than the one and only Diego.

"My name is Diego Brando. I hail from Britain, but participated in a horse racing event in the Americas. I…" he trailed off, not knowing what to say. "I don't know how I got here. It was all a… flash and before I knew it, I was transported to the forest. That may be how I met one of your members."

The Hashira and Ubuyashiki took this information in for a moment, and allowed Diego to continue.

"I have some questions myself though. Demon slayers? Is this hell or something?"

Silence was all Diego received for a few moments. Then, out of nowhere, some of the Hashira began to laugh out loud. Even Ubuyashiki got a chuckle out of his first question.

"What? What's so funny?!"

"Nothing, nothing! Are you sure you didn't hit your head on something? That's a joke, right?" replied one of the Hashira. He seemed to be something related to fire based on the shape of his blade's hilt.

Diego let a breath escape his mouth. At least he knew this wasn't hell or purgatory or anything else like that.

"I suppose you are possibly just an average civilian after all. Well, at least, not a demon slayer," Ubuyashiki started. "Yes, demons exist, but they aren't from hell or something like that. They are disease ridden humans who were transformed by another demon's blood. Think of it almost as those old western story vampires."

Diego nodded his head to the information. Most of the Hashira's laughs had died down for him to ask a second question.

"You asked what my plans were, but I don't exactly have any. I'm lost and I'm not sure I am able to travel back to my homeland currently."

He cut off for a split second to think of the possibility. The possibility that he could return home to fully avenge his mother, but that probably wasn't possible. He would have to just find a place to stay here until the slight chance of opportunity came.

He continues on after a few seconds of internal monologue. "If you give me money, I'll help you with demon slaying as much as I can, but I'm guessing you would want a show of strength or something like that, correct?"

The Hashira didn't laugh at this. They should've, but they noticed how serious Diego was. Instead of Ubuyashiki answering the question, Shinobu did for him.

"Demon slaying isn't officially recognized by the government of this country. While we don't get paid, things like shelter and food are provided by the Wisteria family for compensation."

Diego was content to hear that. He didn't really need money anyways if those were provided to him.

"However, one does not just simply become a demon slayer. You need to put in patience, time, and effort. Most of us are the number one in our element because we spend our entire lives training. I'm sure a simple civilian like you can understand."

Diego's eyes twitched at that. A simple civilian, him? What kind of person did they take him for?

"Now hold on, Shinobu."

Ubuyashiki didn't look down at him, but he was clearly defending Diego.

"We heard you had a power based on the source we had. And we've never tried a gun wielding demon slayer. Perhaps… Shinobu?"

"Yes sensei?"

"Could you test and take care of Diego for the time being? As we've heard, he must've been transported here by someone… possibly a demon. You'll get more information from him and we can continue on with our next trial."

Two of the Kakushi returned and aided Diego up. They took off his restraints as well. Shinobu agreed politely and Ubuyashiki looked back at Diego. Despite his sway of direction, one of his little twin girls spoke for him instead.

"As you've heard, our time here is up and we got the information we needed. You will stay at Shinobu's residence until we learn more about you. For now, you are dismissed to go with the Kakushi, the ones who are next to you, to head down to the Butterfly Estate. Safe travels."

Diego politefully bowed to Ubuyashiki (something he picked up from the rest of the Hashira) and left with the Kakushi. With his questions answered, he was much more at peace than before. Well, at least he's sure that he isn't in some form of afterlife anymore…

Following the Kakushi's guidance, Diego waved his goodbyes to the Hashira. Ubuyashiki began to speculate a bit before the next trial started when he was out of sight. Just who was Diego? He's heard of demons using teleportation powers, but never someone as random as Diego and most definitely not from America. It was most interesting to him, but he and the demon slayers would just have to wait and see what his true colors show. One thing is for certain though. He radiates respect and power, and Ubuyashiki could see that even if that doesn't mean literally.