The greek hashira chapter 9

The next day I woke up and saw most of the trainers training the many slayers hard, but I couldn't find Zenitsu, Inosuke, or Tanjiro. Ayano was up doing some light sword training against one of the trainers when she noticed me and walked over to give me a hug and kiss me on the lips.

I chuckled and said, "ahh Ayano, I guess you got up early?"

Ayano nodded and said, "I thought it would be a good idea to warm up before going to wake up the new blood."

I laughed and said, "nah you spend this time training I'll go and check up on them, I bet you if anything they have a hangover."

Ayano smiled and chuckled saying, "last night was a lot of fun though."

Winking at her I said, "it really was especially for us last night after we went to my room."

This made Ayano blush in embarrassment as she said, "cdcbdjdbdodwndlkwqdw UM, UM I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE SAYING! LAST NIGHT I WENT STRAIGHT TO BED! ALONE TOTALLY NOT TO YOUR ROOM!"

I laughed and waved as I headed over to the living quarters where I found them lying in bed still in so much pain and with the blinds closed so that no light could come in.

"FWEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA UP AND AT EM! ITS TIME TO TRAIN TILL YOUR DEAD!" I laughed.

Tanjiro groaned and said, "too sick, I feel like I am gonna die please let us sleep in a little while longer."

Inosuke groaned as he gripped his boar's head and said, "head hurts too much, room spinning is this death?"

Zenitsu groaned in pain rolling from side to side slowly and as I looked around the room I saw the barf bucket near each of their beds and tried my hardest not to laugh. These three drank a lot last night and it looks like it was starting to kick them in the ass. I didn't feel pity though as I walked over to their beds so I was staring down at Tanjiro.

"Lets see you grit those teeth!" I shouted picking him up and threw him out the window before doing the same to the other two and watched as they moaned and groaned.

Looking out the window at them I shouted, "if you don't get your lazy butts in gear I wont allow you to eat breakfast!"

This shocked them awake and I said, "oh so you're motivated by food! Okay I'll make you work for your breakfast, 20 laps around Slayer town followed by 20 squats, 20 push ups, 20 weighted leg lifts, and 20 bicep curls! Ayano follow them and make sure they do it right cause if they don't they got to run the gauntlet again and again till they get it right!"

Ayano nodded at me and picked up a stick and started to whack their bare backs with it saying, "come on ladies the Hashira gave you an order and I will make damn well you either come back with bloody backs or in bloody bags!" and she chased them off smiling as she did.

Boy that girl loved making them suffer. Once they got back, I started in on introducing them to their trainers and making sure they were accustomed to the life style of a slayer trained at the bronze pavilion and then sent them to Kuroko, one of the most lethal archery trainers I had.

I watched as Inosuke marveled at the horse saying, "woaaaah and people ride these into combat!"

I nodded and said, "yes, horsemanship is a basic skill all slayers should know as it gives you an advantage in combat, observe" before nodding to Kuroko who took off on her horse with a bow and arrow and expertly shot some targets like a badass before leaping off the horse and slicing the head off some practice targets.

I chuckled and said, "Kuroko is one of the most lethal archers in the bronze pavilion and as such she'll be your teacher while I watch."

Kuroko walked forward and said, "archery is all about eyesight and as such we'll be starting with the basics."

I watched as the Trio tried their best to do archery, but they seemed almost distant as if they were distracted by something which worried me and as the weeks went on according to the other trainers, they did seem distant and hesitant as if something was in fact bothering them.

Ayano later approached me and said, "Nezuko seems to be progressing well in her training Niko I think she might be ready soon to also go into the Agoge."

Giving a soft smile I said, "I hope you are right…but the trio…"

Ayano looked somberly to the floor and said, "Tanjiro's sword grip is getting weaker every day…its like whatever spark he has is fading…you think rengoku's death is hitting him?"

Pulling out Rengoku's tsuba and clenching it I said, "Rengoku sensei's death weighs heavily on also of us, the trio watched him die fighting so it's only natural for their spirits to be the way they are, they think that there's no hope, that if upper moons can kill hashira what chance do they have…I have to be the one to change that."

Ayano looked at me and said, "be honest with me Nikolaos do you think these guys have any chance at becoming slayers strong enough to defeat the upper moons or even an eclipse?"

I chuckled putting away Rengoku's Tsuba and said, "I know they can if they have the right motivation, I'm gonna go do some light training of my own, let the trio know I want to see them in the hot spring when they're on done."

Ayano bowed and muttered, "I was hoping for some alone time but maybe later…."

I got really close to Ayano and with a grin I rubbed her butt and seductively said, "oh trust me we can have some fun alone time afterwards and that body will be mine~"

Ayano blushed super hard and turned beat red as she hit my arm and started saying, "whywouldyousaysomethinglikethatyoubigpervertgodtherearedayswhereiwonderwhyiaminlovewithyou!"

Running away laughing I did my light training moving a huge boulder up a mountain and fighting 5 bears easily be.

Relaxing in the hot spring later that night I heard a knock and said, "who is it?"

Tanjiro answered, "Lord Nikolaos, it's us…Ayano said you wanted us to relax in the hot spring?"

I nodded and said, "you may enter".

The trio then entered and got all ready and then entered the hot spring and felt some of the sharp rocks pierce their skin but draw no blood.

Chuckling I said, "feels weird, doesn't it? Ayano had the idea to add the stones as an acupuncture method of relaxation, it takes a bit of getting used to but once you find a comfortable position it becomes super relaxing."

Zenitsu struggled and said, "ow! What is wrong with you! oh god are these gonna leave marks will I have marks on me!" and rolling my eyes I took a small rock and flicked it at his forehead knocking him out.

Inosuke chuckled and got in and said, "how is the water this hot!"

I pointed to the mountain and said, "Hill Olympus over there is a natural heat source, possibly a dormant volcano but the heat makes it all nice and warm, so you're probably wondering why I wanted you guys to come to my personal hot spring right?"

Tanjiro nodded and said, "whats wrong?"

Leaning back I said, "you seem distracted by something and I want to know what exactly is going on"

Tanjiro stuttered and said, "well its just we're not used to"

I then slammed my fist against the rim of the hot spring and said, "Bullshit! Look something is up with you guys I trained with you during your stay at the butterfly manor and I saw you guys with fires as bright as the sun! now tell me the truth, no lies, no stories I just want to know whats wrong."

Inosuke was the one to give and said, "we miss big bro…"

I sighed and said, "I figured as much…Rengoku's death weighs even on me…look I get it though his death was traumatizing but we need to look past it, he's dead and gone…but his influence is ever present" holding up rengoku's Tsuba which I wore around my neck.

Tanjiro looked a little shocked as I said, "Rengoku sensei trusted me with training you guys so you need to man the fuck up cause if you don't all his hard work and sacrifice will be for nothing."

Zenitsu looked pissed and was about to say something, but Tanjiro stopped him and said, "you're giving us the tough love treatment…I get it that's why Rengoku wanted you to train us!"

I nodded my head and said, "look I won't lie I pray you three make it through the Agoge as it means that you will truly be ready for whatever comes your way, I've also gotten word that no lower moons have been found…which means Muzan has probably killed the others and as such that means only upper moons like Douma and the upper moon Rengoku sensei fought along with the remaining three Eclipses are all that remain and I can't with good intentions train you at the bare minimum so don't expect me to show you any mercy, I wanted to see why you acted the way you did today and now that I have an idea you best be ready cause I'm gonna start pushing you even harder!"

We then spent the rest of the night relaxing and talking about the past and what to expect, even talking about how I derived Pantheon breathing from flame breathing as Rengoku wanted me to continue as His Tsuguko.

The next day things went differently as the trio started to train a bit harder. This time I could feel a bit of their fire coming back but not enough. Chuckling I put them through harder Pankration training and even had them square up against Ayano.

"Begin!" I shouted.

Ayano took up a simple stance and bounced on the balls of her feet a bit as the trio looked at her with hesitant looks.

[authors note: listen to the song bullfight from red vs blue and you'll get an idea of the ass beating these guys are going through]

Tanjiro muttered, "okay guys we need to play this smart, she is the Tsuguko to lord Nikolaos and his right hand, so she's got to be tough as nails, Inosuke how about you."

But before Tanjiro could say anything Inosuke laughed like a mainiac saying, "imma rip her head clean off!" before rushing her only for Ayano to twirl around him and grab him by the arm and threw him back at the trio taunting them.

"you call yourself the king of the mountain? Damn that's probably a very big mole hill you're the king of" Ayano laughed.

Zenitsu hesitated but said, "for Inosuke!" before charging in too only to have her hit him square in the jaw followed up a strong right uppercut sending him flying back.

Tanjiro looked at his friends unaware that Ayano was rushing up to stare at him as he said, "guys come on we need to work together! Am I the only one who thinks that!"

Ayano tapped him on the shoulder and said, "boy it must suck working with idiots, I know how that feels!" before getting low to punch him in the nuts and following it up with a powerful drop kick.

Ayano then twirled up and did an axe kick on Inosuke before circling around Zenitsu hitting him in his open spots and then guarded herself as Inosuke rushed in to try and fight her. He did manage to break her guard but she turned it on its head by picking him up and throwing him over her shoulder into Zenitsu.

"Watch it Monichi!" Inosuke growled pushing Zenitsu off of him.

Zenitsu got annoyed saying, "Oi who are you calling Monichi! Its Zenitsu!"

Meanwhile Tanjiro rushed Ayano actually holding his own till Ayano elbowed him in the face and followed it by twirling around him and punching him to the ground.

Tanjiro then got up as Ayano leapt back and said, "okay this time we need to stay together!" but Inosuke and Zenitsu weren't listening as they just rushed in trying to land a punch on Ayano only to get flung into one another, and once Tanjiro entered the fight it just got worse as Ayano walked up on Tanjiro's chest like a wall and kicked all three of them knocking them unconscious.

Face palming, I sighed and said, "they got a lot of training to do…" before deciding to get some grub while I watched the other slayers train while Ayano beat the shit out of the trio

As I ate, I was approached by Tanjiro who looked at me and said, "Nikolaos why did you want to fight us at full strength?"

Taking off my helmet I said, "it's how I get an idea of how strong your will is, I can learn a lot about my opponent through combat and know their drives, their passions everything about them basically."

Inosuke sighed and said, "uuugghhh so you learn from combat, sounds like a perfect skill to learn, can you teach it to me?"

I shook my head and said, "I wish it were possible, but this is a skill you either have or don't have, you can't learn it sadly."

Tanjiro looked at me and said, "well then fight us, I want to see how well we fight against you!" before taking out the training Xiphos.

I could see his hands quivering as he held the sword, whatever they fought with Rengoku sensei has left them shattered. It broke my heart in twelve pieces seeing people who had such high hopes be broken like this.

Sighing I said, "very well I will face you, ready yourselves as I will not be holding bag!" before getting up, putting on my helmet and taking up a phalanx stance.

Tanjiro then shouted, "and go! Water breathing seventh form drop ripple thrust!" before rushing me.

I gave a quick smirk and lunged forward with my shield causing him to lose focus as his blade clashed against my shield and hurt him. I think the force of the blow must have hurt him as he staggered back and held his arm lowering his guard.

I laughed loudly as I blocked Tanjiro second attack and used my spear's flat edge to move Inosuke out of the way before pinning Zenitsu to the wall.

I could feel their will of fire diminished…I think Rengoku's death also weighed heavily on them. I was afraid of that.

Tanjiro tried to use that same Hinokami kagura but this time it was a bit stronger but still no match for my shield as I lunged forward and slammed him in the face before pinning him to a wall with my spear and then switching to the Kopis to duel Inosuke.

Inosuke laughed and said, "come now great Lion is this all you can do all you ca-"

Before he could say anything else I dropped my kopis and shield and picked up him and suplexed him knocking him unconscious.

Zenitsu screamed as he tried to attack me saying, "I think I can do it!" but I hit him square in the jaw knocking him unconscious.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw my spear get throw at me, but I managed to spin out of the way grabbing it and taking up another stance as Tanjiro roared and came at me with everything, he had but yet again he was no match for me as I used the shaft of my spear to knock him clean out.

I sighed in boredom and picked up my kopis and shield before walking over to a nearby rock to take a seat.

Sighing as I look over the unconscious bodies of the three, I said, "Rengoku Sensei…. what did you see in these three Malakas."

I looked toward my left and nearly went pale as it looked like Rengoku was sitting right next to me watching over the training.

Rengoku laughed and said, "there wills of fire are like yours Nikolaos, an edge dulled from pain and fear, what they need isn't just a rough and vicious hand, they need compassion and someone to hone it, I can trust no one else but you."

I sighed and said, "but they're all so weak…and their wills of fire are more like a match…. how can I make it burn brighter…"

Rengoku laughed loudly and said, "a flame like this needs good wood so keep fighting, keep training and they will be burning as bright as you! there is no other Hashira I trust with such as task, Nikolaos my dear Tsuguko you are that wood to help them burn brighter!"

I chuckled and said, "very well Rengoku sensei I will do whatever it takes to make these kids burn as bright as the sun…"

Ayano walked up with Nezuko and said, "sun will be shining soon Niko- oh woah you really beat them up…"

I laughed and got up helping pick up and cart Tanjiro and his group into the medical tent for recovery.

"So, do you think the three of them have what it takes to honor Rengoku sensei?" Ayano asked.

I nodded and said, "they have his will of fire no doubt about it, but they need aid."

Ayano chuckled and said, "and I assume we'll be aiding them?"

Smiling I said, "yes, I have no doubt about it that we can hone their edge."

A couple weeks would pass by with them learning from the various trainers till all the trainers came back to me telling me they were ready for training with me and Ayano. First though I wanted to see how well they fought without weapons; a true warrior should be able to fight without their weapons. I had all the slayers assemble in the ring for a pankration match and smirked walking over to my pile of floor pillows.

I sat down and said, "okay you all know the rules of Pankration, and if not, here they are, get your opponent to concede by any means necessary, or push them out of the ring, no weapons, no going for the eyes or below the belt, first round Inosuke versus my dearest Ayano!"

Ayano walked into the ring with her hair tied into a bun and dressed in shorts and tape around her boobs as she cracked her knuckles and said, "okay you bastard let's see what you got!"

Inosuke walked forward getting very low and crackling saying, "come on shitty hair! Let's see what you can do!"

Ayano's eye twitched as she said, "okay ya know what, I can deal with Niko but you! oh by god be prepared you pig!' before rushing him and grappling with him.

Inosuke did have a bit of a speed advantage as he was low to the floor like a wild animal, bobbing in and out of her blind spots before Ayano managed to grip him by the arm and pull him into a strangle hold before pummeling him to the floor and punching him in the nuts.

I laughed and said, "and the first round goes to Ayano!"

Inosuke looked pissed and said, "oi that wasn't fair! I wasn't ready but now I am!"

I chuckled and watched as the two sparred for a while with Ayano winning every time against Inosuke.

"Enough, I want to give the others an opportunity to fight!" I said raising my hand as Inosuke managed to finally pin Ayano after 49 losses.

Inosuke would pound his fist in defeat and would walk away grumbling as more matches would continue between the slayers and the trio to prove themselves.

This would go on for 2 more months and within those two months I felt like they were getting better and better with their skills even besting my elite trainers and even slayers of rank Kanoto and Tsuchinoto with ease. In the day they trained their hearts out learning about archery, horsemanship and even going as far as to learn Greek wrestling and how to control their own nervous system to dull pain and come back from life threatening injuries and poisons greater than those of the spider family. It got to the point where I even saw the trio innovating on what they know such as Zenitsu carrying around a satchel full of strong lavender to induce sleep so he could fight better, inosuke learned how to use his swords as saws instead of just normal blades and I taught young Tanjiro how to better control his breathing and heart momentum so he can switch between the Hinokami Kagura and other styles of breathing without as much injury.

I made it a point of making sure that by the end of the day if they weren't resting in the medical tents from injuries after training that I would train them through the night myself and soon I found them enjoying their training and getting stronger and happier too and soon I felt they were almost ready to finish the Agoge challenge which excited me but first I needed to test them myself and see if their fires have changed.

End of chapter

Ayano (still chugging wine): boy that was a fun chapter we got to be up children!

Nikolaos: hell yeah we did and now we get to send them off to the Agoge, but now time for a short Taisho era secret!

Ayano: fun fact Nikolaos holds a lot of say amongst the other slayers due to his training regiment which produces the strongest demon slayers and as such he can request slayers stay at Bronze Pavilion and let HQ know to deny any slayers access to their Kasugai crows until they prove themselves worthy of continuing their journey as slayers!

Nikolaos: I only believe the best demon slayers should be out there and refuse to let anyone less out into the line of fire! Next chapter the Agoge challenge a villain appears!