CHAPTER 12 - Hashira: Part 2
"That's interesting. You must be pretty confident to employ only of your one your swords." said Shinazugawa.
"One is good enough for a start." Zoro mocked, "It depends on how much you can take."
"Very well. I'll show my Breath of the Wind. Second Form…" Shinazugawa raised his blade above his head.
"One-Sword Style…" Zoro held the Shusui above his head.
"Claws-Purifying Wind!"
"360-Pound Phoenix!"
Flying-blade attacks clashed in front of the Ubuyashiki Mansion. The force was strong enough to create a tempest. It was a tie. Both of them couldn't justify the outcome. The contenders were just getting started.
"I think this has gone on long enough." Shinobu said.
The others began to agree with her. But Zoro had turned keen to drag on the fight. Tomioka had no intention to interfere. Both the contenders clashed blades glaring against each other.
"That guy is holding his own against Shinazugawa." Uzui was surprised.
"You are holding back, you bastard!" Shinazugawa retorted. The clash broke off. The contenders jumped back to their original positions.
"You are not half bad." Zoro sheathed his Shusui strapping it onto his haramaki, placing it on the opposite side of his other swords. He grabbed his Kitetsu and Shusui.
"I hope you are ready to eat your words. Two Swords - Iai…"
"A draw technique." Shinazugawa observed, taking a step ahead, "Third Form - Clean Storm Wind Tree!"
He was going all out, creating a whirlwind around him as he rushed towards the Pirate Hunter.
"Alright, we need to stop this before the Master shows up." Uzui decided to interfere, agreeing with Shinobu to end the fight.
"Rashomon!" Zoro unleashed his fury.
The whirlwind had disappeared. The great skirmish came to an end. Everyone was shocked by the outcome. Shinazugawa's blade was on the ground diced into two. Zoro took his share of impact charging into the whirlwind. But the end was clearly one-sided. Shinazugawa looked back with a grin.
"What the hell are you trying to pull here?" he shouted, "You weren't serious, were you? Answer me?"
"No, he wasn't." Shinobu replied coldly.
Shinazugawa fell to the ground. He observed Zoro looking back upon him. Two big scars slashed through his chest.
Zoro stood up, removing his bandana.
"If anyone's willing to challenge me, I'm all ears." he said.
"That won't be necessary."
Everyone was surprised to find Master Ubuyashiki in view.
"Master!" Everyone except Zoro bowed down.
"Who are you?" Zoro demanded.
"I've received news of you, Pirate Hunter Zoro." said Master Ubuyashiki, "I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"How do you know my name?" Zoro asked surprised.
"Shinobu and Giyu spoke highly of you back in your journey together." the Master mentioned.
"I was brought here to attend some meeting." Zoro said.
"I'm well aware, and as fact, I wanted you to attend the meeting. After all, your friend has already told me the situation."
"I'm not his friend!" a voice bellowed from inside.
Zoro, Shinobu and Tomioka recognised the voice. Trafalgar Law showed up alongside Master Ubuyashiki.
"It was an unpleasant situation, but I'm back." he said.
"When did you arrive?" Zoro asked.
"Who's that guy?" Uzui was surprised, along with the others.
"I was discovered by some Demon Slayers on the way. They led me here." Law said, "Anyway, you should know of what happened to me after you had landed ashore."
"Well, we can discuss everything once we commence the meeting. Please head in." said Master Ubuyashiki.
The doors were closed, the lamps were lit as everyone sat down. Law and the Master sat facing the rest of the group.
"Why's he sitting alongside the Master?" demanded Pillar Iguro.
"It's quite alright. These men, Trafalgar Law, and Roronoa Zoro have helped reduce casualties, and restricted Kibutsuji from extending his influence beyond the mainland." said the Master.
Law had explained his situation to which only a few of them made sense out of it.
"You have Moria's head with you?" Shinobu was surprised. The Master's daughters brought out a cage.
"You bastards!" Moria yelled from inside. It was a sacrilege to yell around in the sacred meeting, but no one dared to object, finding a living man's head yet alive inside the cage.
"It seems his body has survived after the ship had fallen." Law said.
"You'll pay for this, Trafalgar, Roronoa!" Moria glared upon them.
"I believe you are the one responsible for ransacking the graves?" asked Master Ubuyashiki.
"You!" Moria recognised, "You were at the graveyard. Who the hell are you?"
Shinobu drew her blade.
"You should stop." Law retorted, "This guy isn't dying until he gives me some straight answers. As delayed as we are, Zoro-ya and I are in urgent need to get back to our crews. Mr. Ubuyashiki has decided to lend his help in this regard, and that should mean that I get to do my job. I want no Demon Slayers next to this head under any circumstances. I'll handle his responsibility."
Shinobu was surprised with Law's demand. He was serious and quite furious over their own stalemate situation.
"How dare you? An outsider like you!" slithered Obanai Iguro.
"That's enough, Obanai. Mr. Law here mentioned to help out the research of unearthing the secrets of Demons and returning them back to a human, whilst he's here. I don't want anyone of you to be hostile upon him while he's here."
"Like it matters. I'll cut them down if they'd dare." Law mentioned holding his blade.
The Pillars decided not to act. After the defeat of Shinazugawa, all of them decided not to make an enemy out of the outsiders. Master Ubuyashiki's daughters took away the cage with Moria's head inside. The former Warlord was not done with his rants, as his voice left them with silence.
"Despite his defeat, Sanemi's injuries are not severe. And I'd like to apologise to you, Roronoa Zoro, regarding the same." the Master bowed.
"That's alright. I want that matter closed if everyone's okay with it." Zoro said.
The others agreed and decided to drop their hatchets.
"Well since that's settled, I'd like to listen to your stories." the Master said.
Tomioka and Shinobu explained their journey after the fight on the second village back on the island. With elaborations from Zoro and Law, the instances of the massacred forest, the sight of Scratchman Apoo, the battle between the Demons and Moria's Pirate Crew, Jack's introduction, the pursuit of Moria's ship and its takeover, Battle of the Kraken, the involvement of the Navy off-coast Tokyo, and finally the encounter against Kokushibo, on both Zoro and Law's ends.
"What? He showed up again?" Zoro looked surprised upon Law.
"That guy was unlike the other Demons we've faced." Law said, "But for some reason he left without a fight."
"He's planning something." Tomioka said, "Kibutsuji is well aware of the situation by now."
"I agree with Giyu." the Master nodded, "The activities of the Demons have changed after the defeat of Lower Demon Moons No. 5 - Rui, and No. 1 Enmu, the latter who was killed in the train incident. Saddening as it is, we have lost Flame Pillar Kyojuro Rengoku in that fight to an Upper Demon Moon who had showed up later."
"So, it's true." said Pillar Muichiro Tokito, "An Upper Demon Moon doesn't usually show up. I'm surprised two of them have revealed themselves in such a short time."
"And I expect the worse from this. They must be preparing for an attack." mentioned Uzui.
"I'm afraid that might be the case. Also, I can only deduce that Kibutsuji has caught a glimpse upon Tanjiro's sister Nezuko, who has shown resilience to his authority. His army of Demons is becoming aggressive against our losses, but despite the odds, we have been aided in ways more than one. Nezuko, a Demon fighting for humanity, as well as, Pirate Hunter Zoro and Captain Law, who've helped in foiling Kibutsuji's extensive plans."
"So what's your call, Master?" asked Gyomei Himejima.
"I want you to respond to any major instances of Demonic attacks. Kibutsuji's up to something and I'm expecting a lot of human lives at stake. Take your own discretions in the matters, Demon Moons of both Lower and Upper tiers are plausible encounters."
The others agreed and bowed.
"I'd conclude the meeting here, but before that, Shinobu, Giyu, I want you to elaborate Roronoa Zoro and Captain Law's assessment in your journey." asked the Master.
"Why?" Zoro asked. Law was confused.
"The battle at both the villages on the island counted more than twenty Demons of which Zoro was able to kill more than a dozen, the rest being taken care of by Tomioka, myself and Law. Law had taken care of the first wave of Demons associated with Lower Demon Moon No. 3 at the forest north of the second village, some twenty of them, forcing the Demon Moon to flee from fear." Shinobu explained.
Law and Zoro realised the numbers were accurate. They never cared to count themselves.
"During the clash between the Pirates and the Demons, Zoro handled most of the Demon faction all on his own. Pirate Hunter Zoro took care of more than fifty of them, single-handed." mentioned Tomioka.
"What?" Iguro was surprised.
The others were in same boat and continued to observe Zoro.
"Later, he had handled the Upper Demon Moon Kokushibo alone, until the fight ended in abrupt notice." Tomioka concluded.
"I see." the Master nodded.
"What's the significance of this, Master?" Shinobu asked.
"It's uncanny for me to say this since they qualify for the criteria nonetheless. Kyojuro had no Tsuguko to succeed him in his line as the Flame Pillar, and I couldn't ask his father Shinjuro to return back to service." the Master explained, "Young Tanjiro and his friends have shown their potential but they have ways to go. But whilst they are here, I am willing to impart Zoro and Law the title of Hashira, as Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"WHAT?" This time everyone was overwhelmed, including Law and Zoro.
"What does that mean?" Zoro asked.
"Huh?" Everyone exclaimed, Shinobu most of all.
"That means we have to take responsibility." Law got up, "With no disrespect, Mr. Ubuyashiki, I don't believe that's a good idea. We are Pirates, not Demon Slayers. I had agreed with you to research the libraries on our current stranded situation. We can't provide time to find this guy, Kibutsuji. If you'd ask me, it was a complete coincidence that everything has happened."
"I don't think that's true. As a matter of fact, Kibutsuji has taken an interest in the both of you. Sending Kokushibo to fight you at the beach was a very plausible reason. I've also heard you mention of the pirate crew who had pursued after you through the sea, as well as, the encounter with the Imperial Navy off the shore."
"That's right." Law replied.
"I had received a report from the coast, mentioning of a pirate ship. It described a flag with two horns and a skull."
Law was shocked that Master Ubuyashiki described them of the Beast Pirates' Jolly Roger.
"They sunk two of the Navy ships." the Master continued, "I'm expecting they are planning to make landfall. The report came in this afternoon."
"Damn, this whole thing is becoming a big mess." Law was serious.
"What do you have in mind? Do we face them now?" Zoro asked.
"I thought to outrun them. Jack is a formidable man. We might be able to defeat him with a plan but that could trigger something worse. Worst case, Kaido might show up himself, and that's one thing I'm completely against right now." Law replied.
"That man Jack is dangerous, Master." Shinobu mentioned.
"There's no other choice. We'll have to hold off Jack if he should make landfall." Law said, "He has his fleet to command and we don't have Moria's ship anymore."
"We should get out and confront the enemy at the harbour. We cannot let them march inland." Zoro mentioned.
"Then I have the perfect assignment, which you can take it to your advantage." revealed the Master, "It's expected the enemy ships to land on the eastern shore. My contacts shall help you confront the enemy if you are willing to accept it. And to ease your woes, I'm allowing you to take any one of my Pillars to aid you."
"I don't want to put you guys in our troubles. The help from your scouts should be enough." Zoro told the Master. He looked upon Law, "I'll head out, what about you?"
"I should, but I have to take custody of Moria. Also, I'll need to get a ship and the information needed if we want to return back. I'll stay here for a while."
"Alright." Zoro nodded, "I'll head out as soon as possible. Old man, I'll need a map. I'll be handling the situation alone."
"I'll go with him." Shinobu volunteered.
"Oh my! Shinobu." Mitsuri blushed.
"No. Don't you think you've had enough with our situation?" Zoro asked.
"He's right." Law agreed.
"Well, I won't budge from my answer. You'll get lost without my help." Shinobu gave an argument.
Zoro cringed as he knew that she was right.
"Very well." Master Ubuyashiki nodded.
The meeting was concluded, and everyone except for Giyu Tomioka left the mansion. He had a private talk with Master Ubuyashiki before showing up outside.
"What happened?" Shinobu asked.
"He knows." Tomioka replied calmly, "He told me of Master Kuwajima and your sister."
"Damn, that man is a dangerous snoop." Zoro remarked, "How does he know all this stuff?"
"And?" Shinobu was curious.
"I mentioned that we were planning to provide a proper funeral to remove their soul-shadows. But he had insisted me taking them along on a mission." Tomioka explained, "I think it's distantly related to the case with Jack, but more intended towards a Demon Hunt. He asked you to take Kanae Kocho in your expedition."
"Geez, what is that Ubuyashiki thinking?" Law wondered.
"If the Master says so. I don't mind." Shinobu agreed, "What do you think, Zoro?"
"Whatever. But, we need to be prepared before long." Zoro said.
Tomioka departed on his own way, towards his residence, whilst the rest of them followed Shinobu to the Butterfly Mansion.
"So, why did you invite us? We could've stayed with Tomioka and looked out for the others." Law asked.
"The Master told me to work with you regarding the studies based on the Demons. You can use my library for your work. But it'd ask to you take care of the patients who are wounded from battle. My assistants shall help you with your work." Shinobu smiled.
Law growled annoyed, "Fine."
"And congratulations on becoming Pillars, though I wasn't surprised." Shinobu looked upon them, "I hope you do your best." She bounce-walked ahead, the Butterfly Mansion in view.
"She reminds of someone from my crew." Zoro observed her.
"Yeah." Law agreed.
TO BE CONTINUED...
P. S. - The poster has been released :-D