CHAPTER 34 - Monsters & Regimen: Part 1

Gunshots. He recognised the gun. The flintlock resounded through the snow town. He remembered the snow dyed red, his eyes blurry from the tears gushing down from his eyes. And then, he saw him through the treasure box, glaring back through the sunglasses, grinning with the flintlock aiming back.

Birds chirped outside. His vision returned with a similar blurriness, except he knew he had no tears and felt dry with the morning sun. He felt delirious observing his wounds from the previous day, aching like hell to start his new morning. His delirium was a result not of his pains but of his fever that seemed to magnify since the previous night. And yet, those were trifles compared to the responsibility he had on his hands. His crew awaited him. The alliance beckoned him to plan ahead, and yet, he had little to go on in the current circumstances.

"Captain Law, uh, good morning." mentioned Aoi, who showed up at his door.

Law sat up on his bed but made no reply. He remained dazed in his thoughts for a minute until Aoi spoke up again.

"Are you alright?" Aoi asked.

Law looked at her. Aoi withdrew her face downwards observing his stare.

"How are you feeling, kid?" Law asked. He remembered the events from the previous day.

"I… I'm fine. But I can't remember much from yesterday." Aoi replied.

"Hmm." Law nodded, getting off his bed. He realised his fever hadn't gone down.

"Take it easy, alright." he told the girl.

"I'm sorry, Captain. For all I did." Aoi bowed.

"So you've heard, eh?"

Aoi nodded.

"Then you must know it's the she-Demon who caused all the chaos, and not you. Am I wrong?" Law asked, whilst putting on his jacket and picking up his blade.

"No, but…"

"I told you to take it easy, kid. I was there the whole time. You have nothing to feel wrong about. You let me know if someone says otherwise."

Law observed the pile of papers on his table. Maps and letters alike. He found an unopened letter and observed the envelope.

"This's from Ubuyashiki. Came this morning?" he asked Aoi.

Aoi nodded.

He read the contents, describing advancements of Jack's horde. Aoi observed the angst on Law's face and knew there was nothing good on the paper.

"Where's Zoro-ya?" Law demanded, turning to the young girl.

"He went out a while back with Lady Shinobu, Kanao and Hashira Tomioka. He mentioned of training." Aoi replied.

"Right, right. He did mention." Law nodded leaning his forehead onto his right hand stumped on the table. Aoi observed the pain on his face. Law tucked the letter into his jacket pocket. He saw the mess on his table, maps, letters, his logbook, and medical papers. Sweat dripped through his eyebrows.

"You should rest, Captain. I shall inform Lady Tamayo..." Aoi said in concern. She had a feeling the man had a high fever.

"Not now." Law stood up straight, wiping off his sweat. He put on his hat, "Upon my return. I shall leave in a while."

"I forgot to mention. Lady Mitsuri asked you to attend the Hashira meeting today. She told of leaving in a while."

"Very well. Thanks for the update."

Law checked his effects and took a long breath. He was ready to face the day.

"So, what's this about? We have a meeting with the Master at this hour." mentioned Tomioka.

"Meetings won't do a damn thing if things go the way it's going. Tora-o knows this better than anyone else. He faced some formidable enemies in the past few days just like us, and paid in blood from last night. According to his assessment, our defences are yet vulnerable and we are facing a threat that grows stronger every single day. Jack was one thing, and then was the news of Kibutsuji. There's a possibility of Jack or Kibutsuji, planning attacks on the Headquarters. If you people want to save this place, we need to do better…" Zoro explained, "Haki. That's what I'm gonna explain today."

"You mentioned Haki takes time to master." Shinobu said.

"And besides, you need rest, Zoro-san. You have yet to heal from your wounds." Kanao said.

"I'm alright." Zoro reassured, "I had a good night's sleep. And besides, this takes more precedence."

"You are going to die if this goes on." Shinobu said in worry.

"We all die one day. That doesn't mean I can sit this one off." Zoro replied.

"Fine, your way!" Shinobu retorted.

Kanao was surprised by her sister's agitation. She hadn't seen her worked up like that before. Zoro observed Shinobu for a moment before getting back to his topic.

"I did mention Haki takes a lot of time to master, but what I am going to try teaching you are the basics. And it depends on your skills, abilities, and your experiences through life and battles. Now, there are reasons for why I want to train you three."

"What of sister Kanae?" asked Kanao.

"I considered the thought. But you do know her present life is a special case derived from Devil Fruit powers. She gave me an insight that the shadow binding her soul belongs to a living Marine capable of Armament Haki in the New World, something Moria had revealed to her and later she mentioned to us. Now, that was a convincing reason for me to lead the thought ahead and teach her Haki control. But for some reason, she rejected the idea last night later after we met her at Tomioka's place."

"Must have been something to do with Moria's head. She was shocked by the events." Tomioka analysed.

"Maybe. Last night was a close call. It seems Kibutsuji has some knowledge of Moria's abilities. If Moria loses control of his power, all his shadows are done for, from what I have seen. That wouldn't have boded well for Kanae. Going no further on that idea, she wanted to act as a scout instead for us whilst our enemies are busy plotting. Old man Kuwajima will aid her and join us should an invasion becomes inevitable."

Zoro took a moment of pause.

"I'll go with your idea." Shinobu said, "It's obvious, we need to get stronger if we are to face Kibutsuji and Jack."

"Right." Zoro nodded.

Kanao and Tomioka agreed.

"Alright." Zoro began explaining, "As you may know, there are three forms of Haki. Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's. Before I begin anything, I'll need to work out your affinity, and depending on that I can teach you the basics of either the first two or both. Now, I have observed all three of you in battle. Based on that, I may have a fair idea of your capability. So," Zoro drew out his Shusui, "your first task. Attack me with all you have."

"What?" Kanao was surprised.

"You are wounded." Shinobu reminded.

"I haven't said I'll show slack." Zoro replied, imbuing his blade with Haki.

"What's the point of this?" Tomioka asked. He had to wonder, since fighting Zoro was not only unethical, him being wounded, but also the risk of Tomioka and the sisters being thrashed against fighting a monstrous combatant.

"I shall know what you are capable of. Given the limited time we have on our hands, I won't waste my time assuming things."

"Very well." Tomioka agreed. Zoro made sense.

The former drew out his Nichirin sword.

Shinobu and Kanao followed suit drawing their blades.

"Don't hold back." Zoro warned.

Law was found in the infirmary. He discovered the kids crowding two of the beds. Nezuko and Inosuke were bedridden since the previous night.

"Captain Law!" Zenitsu shrieked to find the man by the door.

"Pipe down, kid. You look alive." Law replied.

"By a margin! What I saw last night won't fade away for days, maybe years."

"That's the job, isn't it?"

"It is, but still…"

"You did good. Better than I hoped." Law appreciated.

"So how are these two?" he asked.

"I'll be alright." Inosuke mumbled, having lost his enthusiasm after being defeated by Aoi-possessed Daki.

"Nezuko shall be fine. She needs rest." Tanjiro mentioned.

Law observed the girl, unconscious and at peace. The horn on her forehead and the marks throughout her body had disappeared overnight.

"She was pretty worked up last night." Law mentioned looking upon Tanjiro, "It seems she hates these Demons more than any of us."

"There must have been more to that." Tanjiro said.

"Red flames began to glow from her blood. Those marks and the horn showed up after her fury. Blood Demon Art, I believe." Law said.

"I remember her Blood Demon Art. It happened before. But I haven't seen the horn or the marks back then." Tanjiro remembered.

"She was trying to protect the Captain." Zenitsu said, "The Upper Moon was getting out of control."

"She fought well." Law nodded, "Nasty affair for a kid to go through such misery. But stopping the Demons is something that needs to be done. The fights must end."

The others agreed.

"You are her elder brother. Take care of her." Law told Tanjiro, observing the unconscious girl, "She's worth it."

"Captain." A calm voice beckoned.

Law and the kids turned around to find Lady Tamayo enter the infirmary.

"I needed to check on you." she said.

"Not now. I came here to drag these two away for some work." Law indicated Tanjiro and Zenitsu, "They are fit to fight?"

"They are." Tamayo reassured, "But what about you? Aoi told me you weren't in good shape."

"I'll be fine for now. Let me know if the girl or the boar-head are ready to walk. I have decided to train them all."

"What?" Zenitsu bellowed in surprise.

"That's right. Remember that Demon last night? You won't last long against those kinds with your present skills." Law reminded.

"We are grateful. We won't let you down." Tanjiro said in earnest.

"That's more like it."

"It's unheard of for any Demon Slayer, let alone a human to survive against Upper Demon Moons. And yet, you had rescued the kids, defeating Gyutaro and Daki more than once." Tamayo described Law's feats.

"Nothing's easy, I assure you." Law replied. He told the boys, "Depending on your field experiences, the training might help enhance your attack and defence."

Tamayo looked at the boys, "Better to take his offer."

"Of course." Tanjiro replied.

"Alright." Zenitsu sounded less confident.

"Captain Law!" bellowed Mitsuri from the door, "I've been looking for you."

"Right. The meeting." Law remembered.

"You two come along." he told the boys, "We'll begin right after the meeting."

"I mentioned the Master relating your health. I searched for you in your cubicle to tell you that." Mitsuri said, "You should be resting."

"Later. We need these meetings to prepare for the uncertain. Kibutsuji's minions might strike at night. We best be ready." Law replied.

"Shinobu mentioned she had some errands to run. Her Tsuguko went along with her."

"Zoro-ya and Giyu-ya won't join the meeting. They all are out."

"That leaves Obanai, Himejima, Uzui, you and myself."

"There should be two more Hashiras?"

"Shinazugawa and Muichiro Tokito are out in their sectors."

"I see."

"They can handle their own."

"Kibutsuji targets Zoro-ya and myself. Let's hope we can muster a formidable plan before they can strike."

"So, this place has its own troubles. Demons, you say?" Jack asked.

"That's right." mentioned Speed, "They were trouble."

"And what about the Pirate Hunter and his friends?"

"They are nowhere to be found."

"I know that! It's your job to find them!"

"Sorry, sir."

"They are a problem. Especially Trafalgar Law and the Pirate Hunter. They took down Doflamingo twice already." Jack slammed his leg on the ground. A small tremor formed.

"So, what's this with the Demons?" Jack asked.

"They can regenerate and are hard to kill. Besides that, they haven't shown much formidability." said Speed.

"That's not what I have heard from Batman."

Batman stepped up.

"That's right." he said, "I saw the fight between this particular Demon and the Pirate Hunter. This one seemed a destroyer. The Flying Six (Tobiroppo) might find him a challenge. Gave Roronoa a formidable fight."

"Capable of going toe-to-toe with the Flying Six, eh?" Jack wondered.

"There were three swordswomen with Roronoa Zoro. They fought another of these beasts capable of shooting wind blasts. Both of those Demons were defeated in that battle."

"That is concerning. You do know Straw Hat was the one to defeat Doflamingo at his home base. Now, his subordinate swordsman is holding the reins taking down Hawkins and Doflamingo. They have fled our grasp long enough." mentioned Who's-Who, one of the Flying Six of Kaido's crew, "I should have been there to take Roronoa down. Doflamingo turned out to be pretty useless."

"Speak for yourself." mocked Jack, "You were supposed to stop Eustass Kid and his subordinate, Killer. And here you are, alive and talking to us, without their bodies."

"Right, Captain Kid. We have to be wary of that one." said Who's-Who, "But they have nowhere to go. We can find them anytime we may want. As for Trafalgar Law and the Pirate Hunter, they need to pay."

"I have sent scouts to follow the Pirate Hunter's last trail. We shall gain some idea of their whereabouts soon enough." mentioned Speed.

"Very well. Get to the job. I am tired of these Imperial troops getting to us ever since we stomped that town." Jack said, glaring over the disaster in front of him.

Mainland Imperial troops of a Battalion strength were soundly defeated in front of the pirate crew.

"They got what they deserve." commented Sheepshead.

TO BE CONTINUED...