Taisho Era Extras
(Welcome back, even more juicy filler content to get some more development for these characters. Enjoy.)
The sun set an hour ago and with it came the night. The city of Shibuya wasn't as bright as one like Tokyo but it was certainly bright enough to remove the need of the moon not being out tonight. A boy with pale green hair walked through the streets of slowly growing crowds with a bag of assorted items inside. He really didn't have time to deal with the people around him, and it almost felt like some type of celebration was going on tonight considering all the merrymaking going on. "Tch, these are the same conditions we met those stupid Demon Slayers and their siblings under. The last thing I want is anyone else showing up under the same pretense… But Kibutsuji wouldn't be here for any reason so I suppose things should be fine." Yushiro took a left down an alleyway that had less people and less light in his eyes.
Drunken idiots and unimportant babble, just annoying things all arou- "All of it!" He couldn't stand anything getting in the way of his time with Lady Tamayo, even if they didn't know they were doing it. The worst things were the idiots that intentionally got in his way of the time he wants to- "You hear me?!" The mere word 'beautiful' doesn't even begin to describe the Woman he served with his very life, and no matter what he'd do everything to make sure that she was always- "I'll skin you alive kid!"
And that actually made Yushiro pay some kind to the dullard brandishing some kind of knife at him. "Oh… Were you saying something? I'm busy anyway so step aside you hooligan." And obviously the tool wouldn't be happy with the, very appropriate, label he'd been given.
"A snarky brat aren't ya?!" He stabbed the knife towards the young demon but whatever was driving him to commit to this crime, whether it be alcohol or opium it clearly threw off his aim. Instead of getting Yushiro somewhere he'd feel it, the knife tore through the bag in his hand and sent the items that Lady Tamayo needed onto the ground… where they didn't belong. "Uh, yeah. That's a warning for-"
How dare this- This dirty fool! Every vein on Yushiro's face looked like it was about to explode with how swollen they were. "You cur!" The man tried to use his knife to protect himself but it might as well have been a rock against- well against a bigger rock since it didn't even break the skin of Yushiro's hand when he grabbed it. "How dare you ruin the items my Lady requested for her work?!" He pulled the knife away then slammed his palm into this buffoon's chest and knocked all the wind from his lungs. "I'm sworn not to harm any humans unprovoked, but I'll break that rule for anyone who gets in the way of my Lady's orders! Especially when they try to attack me in such a chicanous way!"
Imagine having too much of a temper one night and mixing alcohol into the mix, then making the already poor decision to ambiguously threaten someone with a knife… only to have that bite you horrifically in the back of your neck and pin you to the ground to start ripping you apart like wrapping paper. Our unnamed assailant was currently enjoying all the downsides of trying to attack what could be called the worst possible person to attack; A man loyal to a woman, and who swore to be by that woman's side. A series of coordinated blows to the man's head, chest, collarbone, and lower rib cage. None of the hits were full power but to a human being hit by a demon? He was lucky to only have broken bones.
Yushiro picked the torn bag up and tied off the ripped portion with a sneer on his face. "At least the damage you did was reversible, and the same can be said for the beating I gave you." He knelt and started putting the spilled essentials back into the bag; some vials, needles, Petri dishes that managed to stay intact when they hit the ground, sample trays, he'd been tasked to get the medical items from their newest supplier. "Of course I had to fall into the sight of some drunken idiot, now I'll be late getting back to Lady Tamayo… I'd hope she is doing better with her task, Lady Tamayo deserves nothing less than perfection!" He blinked a few times and looked around the alleyway he was in. 'Great… I'm rambling to myself again.'
In the same city there was someone else who was following similar orders to pick up some amenities from a new shop. She had a clean and new orange kimono covering herself, and a toothy grin on her face. It wasn't half bad being under Lady Tamayo when she really considered it, but Yushiro just couldn't help acting like all she did was get in his way. "I guess I messed up the other building but that wasn't my choice or anything! I was just following orders… but I guess that's not an excuse." In her arms was a large crate filled with different things that their new home needed. Some paint, tools, and tools to put the things that she already brought to the house together.
Somehow when she walked down the street people didn't really stick close to her, they actually gave her a decent berth. They either saw that she was carrying some heavy stuff inside of that crate and wanted to give her space or they just felt that her presence was… fundamentally different from a normal human's despite her seeming like one. Key word being that she only seemed human. From her dark hair that ended in orange tips to her orange eyes with toad-like pupils. For some reason she felt like turning down an alleyway that was, actually, a shortcut to her new home. Wouldn't you know it? Two jokers were down this alley and some kid in a flowery yukata was between them. "-nd over what you got."
'Great they're messing with him. I really should hurry back to Lady Tamayo before Yushiro pops a vessel.' Being around a doctor gave you some more knowledge on things you could say to describe an angry person… especially a person who explodes whenever it seemed like the person they work for was even slightly displeased. 'I guess I should help the brat out.' With a quick squat the crate was set onto the ground, then she started rolling her kimono down her shoulders and around her waist. "Oi! You stupid bastards!" Those two clowns actually snapped their necks around to see who was talking that much trash. What a surprise that it was a girl who barely looked into her mid teens.
One of them rolled his eyes and clapped his hands together with a bored expression. "Would you look at that? Little lady trying to help out." That one walked a little closer and started beckoning his friend, who pushed the kid against the wall with a smile.
"So noble to try and help some kid, but there's no helping other people when you can't help yourself." He stopped in front of her and swept his hair back in what- what should have been a suave move but… but it just made him look stupid. "What's your name? You're kinda cute." Of course there was an ulterior motive to getting this close to her… good thing she was always ready for a game.
She grinned that happy grin that you get when something really is going your way, like a kid who's about to win a wrestling match against someone who nearly had them beat but they pull out a move that flips everything around. "My name's Susamaru. Lady Tamayo says I'm not supposed to hurt people, buuut… I haven't gotten to play ball in a while!" She put her hands up and two temari appeared in them. "I hope you guys can catch!"
"What the hell?!" One of them hit the deck hard and the other stood there wordlessly to pay for it. Two temari soared through the air, one of which slammed into the side of a building but kept its momentum and went down the alley. The other crashed into the still standing idiot and carried him ten meters away, then dropped him on the ground like a bag of trash.
Susamaru snickered at the oddly funny sight of a man being sent flying by one of her temari. 'Even now I can smell a little blood, but Lady Tamayo really did modify me for the better!' She flexed an arm to watch her veins expand and swell with a different feeling, and it was even better than what Kibutsuji gave her. "Even when I'm holding back my temari are crazy strong!" Marveling in the new feeling of somehow being stronger while not even needing to eat people… it was a really new sensation to not need human blood in such large quantities anymore but to still have her previous strength, if not even more.
Susamaru was enamored with examining her muscular arm and didn't pay any mind to the guy getting up in front of her. "Alright, we got off on the wrong foot." That actually made the orange haired demon give some attention to this guy again, of course he was probably about to bore her even more. "Let's just start over alright? You said you're Susamaru? Well I'm Fu-"
"A stupid bully!" The kid in the alley raised his voice and interrupted the man from telling whatever lies he had ready. "He wanted to take all the yen my grandpa gave me!" With a closer look one could see a slowly darkening patch of skin on his face, an obvious bruise forming.
Hands on her hips and a snarky grin adorning her face. "Ha. A man beating up a twelve year old kid for some pocket money? That's pathetic. You're pathetic." A fragile ego being cracked by a teenage girl who could somehow send a grown man flying was not the way he thought this would go. Of course being insulted in such a way by a girl regardless of her overwhelming physical strength would send any… less masculine man over a limit.
"Oh you bitch!" He ran at her with his left hand drawing back for a punch. "Fuck you!" He swung. He missed. She sidestepped and tripped him in one swift motion then drew her right foot back with a smile so wide that her face looked like it was gonna split from sheer joy.
"Fuck yourself, it's cheaper!" Her foot slammed into his chest and with a heave she kicked him down the corridor to land on top of his friend. "I couldn't give it my all but you'll feel that in the morning, asshole." Now was the pressing matter of the kid with a bruise on his face and- Would you look at that, now he's got some more yen courtesy of these charitable men. "Here kid. Don't worry they'll have more of their own at home… maybe even some common sense."
"Uhm, well I don't think- It seems wrong to take their money… even if they-"
Susamaru held out the yen with one hand and with her other one she covered the kid's mouth. "Kid what's your name?" She lifted her hand to let the boy speak.
"H-Haida. My name is Haida."
She held up her hand and created another temari. "They tried to beat you up so taking their stuff is fine. Here you can have one of my temari too." The kid reluctantly took the money and the well decorated ball. "Now get outta here and stay out of places like this, never know what creep's hanging around." He wouldn't get the double meaning of that but it didn't matter since he ran back to the illuminated streets. Susamaru fixed her kimono again and started picking up the crate- After brushing some of the spit and blood that got on it away. 'Oh great, if Yushiro got there first he's gonna be so annoying… wait… he's gonna be annoying no matter what. Ugh.'
A quick walk through the back alleys and minor streets brought her into a residential part of Shibuya, out of the centralized city and more towards the quiet forest. In that forest was a new shrine being constructed for the late Emperor of their last period, but the Meiji Shrine isn't where Susamaru had her focus, her attention was towards a dead end pathway some hundred yards from the collection of trees housing the Shrine. For the life of her she couldn't figure out why it always had to be a dead end pathway, would've made more sense to keep a hideout somewhere that didn't pretty much yell; "We're right here! Come get us!" But then again it just looked like a normal wooden wall to divide land between a house and this path.
All there was to it was just stepping through the wooden wall and into a hidden plot of land with sakura saplings growing around a modest two story house. A quick glance around revealed that she actually beat Yushiro somehow! Yes! 'Wait that means-'
"If you have the time to stand around then you can bring more things inside Susamaru!" Yushiro came through the passageway with his usual attitude… great this was going to be her whole night. "We've kept Lady Tamayo waiting for too long already!"
Her eyes moved towards the bag he was carrying and she smirked with all the intent to bite back. "You shouldn't have ripped your bag then, maybe she wouldn't be waiting if you kept your things in one piece." Oh that sweet look of fury on his face made life just that much more worth it.
Yushiro looked ready to explode but he somehow kept himself just barely calm enough to not start yelling at her. "Just… bring the boxes inside." Barely even one level below yelling at her and yet she didn't even care for the anger, she was transfixed on irritating him as much as he does her.
Susamaru pulled her kimono from her shoulders and wrapped the sleeves around her waist. "They'll get inside, don't get so mad that you get your tits in a bind." With a quick grunt and push of her power she grew her two extra pairs of arms and effortlessly grabbed the boxes on their stairway to bring them inside.
"Lady Tamayo! We've returned! Where would you like us to leave the new decor?" Yushiro set his bag down on the table and pushed in one of the two chairs that were there… he definitely didn't make sure that those two chairs were built first for himself and his Lady, that's not something he'd ever do no matter how much the two women who pale in comparison to Lady Tamayo accuse him of it. "Where is Lady Tamayo? I could've sworn that she'd still be here with that annoying spider, Susa-!"
"I'm right here! Don't have to yell when I'm in the same room Yushiro!" She looked around and didn't see anyone in the rooms on this floor, so it made absolutely no sense when Yushiro started frantically looking around to find the lost demon doctor… but it was pretty funny to see him lift the kotatsu off the ground and look under it. "Y'know Yushiro, we have another floor and a basement."
He slid towards the staircase and grabbed the guardrail, somehow not breaking it despite his slight panic. "You're right! Even for an annoyance you can still have some better moments! Lady Tamayo, where are you?!"
Sometimes it really bothered her how enthusiastic he could be but nonetheless he was a valued person to her and she appreciated everything he did… Even when it was a bit misguided. "Yushiro! Susamaru! We're upstairs at the moment!"
"Coming Lady Tamayo!" He rushed up the stairs and his fellow assistant followed him with her extra arms pulling back into her body, but her body still had the power to nearly break the staircase they were moving up. "Are you alright my Lady?!" He opened the heavy door and was introduced to the sight of Tamayo injecting a white skinned demon with a yellowish fluid.
"I'm fine you two. I've been performing the last procedure to modify Hima for some time now, you two showed up at a perfect time. I'm just finishing up now." A quick injection into the white skinned woman and her body started shrinking down, but the real change was her skin and hair turning from alabaster white to a rustic brown and dark brown respectively.
Over time these treatments helped deal with the immense hunger for human flesh more and more, and that last injection just removed every major piece of that need to feed. "M-Miss Tamayo! I don't- I don't feel as hungry anymore! It feels like I could go a week without eating someone!" Her looking like a child and saying this with a sparkle behind her eyes made this a much more strange image to behold. "Big sis Susa! I'm just like you now!"
The Temari tosser just scoffed at that one, even with Hima having some blood from one of the actual Kizuki the difference in their real power was like night and day. "I guess so. You're not gonna be fighting me anytime soon so don't even think about it."
Tamayo removed her medical gloves and turned towards the table behind her. A sample tray and a microscope with a Petri dish of powerful blood in it. Yushiro took a particular interest in the contents of that dish. "My Lady, isn't that the blood from Lower Moon Five? Have you found anything of interest?"
Hima kept her bright and cherubic aura at that. "Miss Tamayo found something weird in Rui's blood sample. She said it wasn't like the others, and there's an irregularity." Without the oppressive foot of a Lower Moon on her back she could act like the child she was- the child she had been, and it was nice.
Their mentor added onto her analysis of the situation as it was explained to her. "That is correct. I've found something unusual about the sample that I was given."
Susamaru folded her arms and raised a brow. They were talking about a demon's blood, what kinda irregularity could there be? "What's so special about his blood? There's probably just more of the bastard Kibutsuji's right?" She hunched over from the fist in her stomach, courtesy of an angry Yushiro.
His furious scowl and predatory gaze was locked right onto the clinic destroyer that he was forced to cooperate with, and it was for a just reason n his eyes. "Don't interrupt our dear Lady like that!"
For all his attempts to honor her name… boy did he do it so horribly wrong each time. Susamaru grabbed and lifted him over her head with a shockingly fast display of her strength. "It's worse that you're hitting me for it! Aren't you supposed to show off how much better yo-" Now hold on a second. That aura of concentrated anger wasn't there before. The two bickering demons slowly looked back to the head of their house, one comedically so since he was still in the air.
"Both of you know better than to be so aggressive towards each other… not to mention in the house!" They let go of each other and knelt on the floor with bowed heads.
"Yes! Our apologies!"
"We're sorry!"
No matter how much they didn't get along, the two of them always recognized exactly who was in charge in this clinic and what happened if they went too far with the things they did. "As I was saying there was something irregular about the sample of blood. Compared to the blood of another Lower Moon, it was different. As if Kibutsuji's blood was forced out entirely and replaced, however the blood present is a mix of his own and another's. Susamaru, your blood is similar to it. It's not only your own blood running through you."
"It feels weird. I feel even stronger with whatever's in me now, feels like a house got yanked off my back!" The Lady of the house hummed in thought before turning towards her youngest student.
"Hima."
The aforementioned was currently playing with the elongated sleeves of her kimono since her smaller stature left some room to fill, problems for later. "Yes Miss Tamayo?" The young demon was handed a slip of paper.
"I'll need you to deliver this to Tanjiro and his friends. These new developments were found by them and I believe they have something to do with that red haired brother of Jikon's."
Susamaru looked as if someone just gave her what she asked for as a gift… before she even had a chance to ask for it. "You get to see those guys again?! They were great to fight." A tick mark on Yushiro's forehead, but he kept his mouth closed… barely.
'You should be glad those idiots convinced Lady Tamayo to take you in! Her kindness is only matched by her beauty for such an act!'
Hima stood up and examined her too large outfit. "I need new clothes first, Miss Tamayo. And I don't know where to find them."
"Both things that can be solved quickly, if you'll follow me." She led the demon girl into another room while Susamaru and Yushiro glanced at each other then the examining table and the blood sample on it.
Yushiro knew that he'd add more pages to his journal of Lady Tamayo later but he'd also have to add the details of the blood sample. 'A mixture of the demon's own blood and someone else's? Susamaru was bit by that annoying demon… perhaps he knows something about this.'
Recovery Pt 2
"The only reason a demon like you- like you is even here is because of my bitch of a sister! You shouldn't be staying on our land like this!" He reeked of sake and he was slurring his words with a sway to every motion he made. Shinjuro was being an angry man with a drinking problem right to Koujo's face… and he wasn't enjoying it one bit. Senjuro was standing behind his relative despite his inhuman status, he wouldn't let the boy end up a victim of this alcoholic's anger!
"Shut up you drunk!" They were outside in the direct light of day but with the tensions being as thick as they were between these two- Might as well be nighttime with a group of hungry demons surrounding a lone marechi. "Don't stop me from reading the texts of the previous Flame Breathers! I needed to find out what that Dance of the Fire God Tanjiro did was!"
Shinjuro blinked one eye before the other, his inebriation clear as day. "I told you already! There- There isn't any breathing style named with fire!"
"I know that. It wasn't like any other breathing style I've seen, it was the best one. The texts had a description about the ultimate breathing, a breathing style based on the sun itself. It was amazing just to watch it that night, and I have to figure out how to do it myself. Perfect for killing demons because of how great it is. If that won't help us beat Kibutsuji then I don't know what will." That last bit was to himself.
Shinjuro stopped everything for a moment to think about that. A Demon Slayer that his inhuman nephew knew… used a breath style that looked like fire… one that wasn't Flame Breathing… a type of breathing that was beautiful just to look at and was perfect- "You're lying! You think you know a Sun Breath user?! No- Hrrg! No wonder you think you're hot shit!"
A fast exhale of crimson flames and a hard clenched fist showed Koujo's current emotions. This drunken ex-Hashira was already toeing the line by insulting him as much as he'd been for the last week, not to mention the two separate occasions he nearly cut off his head, but that didn't compare to how he not only just finished insulting his mother and his friend. It's bad enough to make fun of a man's friend, but his mother as well? "Those are fighting words." Request from Kyojuro be damned, he was about to hurt the shell of a man in front of him… or at least he was going to try, this was a Hashira at some point so his chances of winning that scrap would be in the air. Shit. If he won he'd get branded as dangerous and probably put through another meeting or just killed, but if he lost it could be written off as him trying to attack someone and the same thing happens… a conundrum.
"Koujo don't! Father doesn't mean that, he's just angry at the idea of someone using that technique." Those words made Shinjuro turn his attention for a quick scowl towards his son but it didn't go past that. Shinjuro turned away with an angered huff and muttered about needing to buy more sake. "I'm sorry that this keeps happening to you. He wasn't always like this."
"Yeah I know. Kyojuro told me about your mom. And he told me that you weren't learning much of the family style and that you weren't really gonna be a swordsman." They started walking off their land but they got interrupted by the sounds of a bell and footsteps. The two of them looked closer and saw a man with a pink mask on his- "Haganezuka? You're already here?"
The swordsmith visibly tensed up and his footsteps became heavier, almost like he was stomping towards them. Well it didn't make any sense of why he'd be stomping on such a beautiful- "YOU!" Oh boy. "YOU HAD THE NERVE TO GIVE AWAY A SWORD I MADE?!" Right, that did happen. Haganezuka looked ready to explode at the slightest provocation but at the same time he had an air of caution around him, like he was scared but putting on the best face he could to cover his real feelings.
"They were gonna take it from me. At least I didn't break it." Oh if he was angry before now he was definitely angery. No, not angry, angery. Koujo swore that he could see the mask turn red with rage for a second but for the life of him he couldn't figure out- 'OH! Tanjiro broke his sword! No wonder he's about to scream!' Instinctively putting an arm in front of Senjuro and making sure that he wouldn't be in the way of the sword smith's ire, Koujo tried to reason with the man. "Hey look, it's not anyone's fault what happened on Mount Natagumo. There were really tough demons there."
On the upside that actually calmed the man down but on the downside he looked like he was about to be overly excited again. "True as that is, I've finished your new sword." He took the wrapped weapon off his back and started to reveal what was inside. "Once I was told that I'd be making a blade up to the standards of the Rengoku family I was excited. You didn't hear this from me, but as swordsmiths for the Corps we don't actually make every sword of the same quality-"
Koujo covered Senjuro's ears. "This doesn't sound like something he needs to hear."
"It's not that important of a detail. The swords of your average Slayer aren't made as well as the sword of, say, a Hashira. Hearing that you were a demon was one thing, but finding out that you were in need of such a high quality weapon put things into perspective for me. I spent an entire day reading over the techniques used to forge a high quality weapon, fitting a Rengoku swordsman, and I used them to create your new sword. Nothing less for a request by the Tsugoku of the Flame Hashira."
The entire weapon was unwrapped and what Koujo saw made him glad that he didn't get executed. The sheath was solid red with blue circles, but it had more to it than just looking good.
"The scabbard is well crafted and fireproof, perfect for you. The designs you asked for were done as asked." The hilt followed the same idea of red leather wrapping with blue accents, but the real centerpiece was th-
"Wait a second, I'm not Kyojuro's Tsugoku." He finally processed that comment and decided to clear up the confusion. Wait, was there confusion? "He never said I was being trained as his Tsugoku, all he did was tell me that I had to get to a respectable level for our breathing style."
Haganezuka didn't even acknowledge that tangent. He just kept describing the details of the sword even while the two in front of him just watched. "The most intricate piece of this goes to the guard. I hope this yellow rose and its crimson outline were what you envisioned." The guard was a rose with eight yellow petals and, as its craftsman said, a crimson outline for each petal design.
Koujo attached the weapon to his left hip with a smile, deciding to wait until it was a better time to draw it and watch the colors change. Haganezuka stood there in wait for a few moments but he started to understand that his charge wasn't gonna unsheathe the weapon yet. With that message being clear he decided to take his leave with a casual wave.
"Where are we going again?" Senjuro just realized that he wanted to tag along without even asking where they were going.
"The place that my brother and Tanjiro are healing up at. It's called the Butterfly Estate and they've been there for a while now… maybe they're ready to go on a mission again. But like I was saying you couldn't learn any of Flame Breathing?"
The boy shook his head with a downtrodden expression. His sadness was both obvious and justified. "Big brother tried to teach me but I didn't have any aptitude in demon slaying… I couldn't get my sword to change its color. Where is the Butterfly House?" Koujo was surprised that the kid never actually went to the medical property, but then again if he wasn't a Demon Slayer then how would he ever get hurt by a demon and have to go to the hospital? That gave Koujo an idea.
"Hey Senjuro."
"Uhm yes?"
He continued "You're a kind kid, and that reminds me of Tanjiro. Did you ever try another sword style? I learned more of Water Breathing just like Tanjiro but I'm better with Flame. Maybe you need something better for who you are."
That was definitely something to think about. Is there a breathing technique that would help him live up to his heritage? And if there is then- 'What could I learn to live up to Father's legacy?'
"Quit thinking about what Shinjuro wants and think about what you want. You wanna be a swordsman so do it your way." And now if Senjuro didn't see what Koujo's blood demon Art was he could be convinced that his cousin's ability was to read minds, and it was genuinely creepy how accurate it was.
But Koujo was right about the type of man that Senjuro needed to be if he wanted to be a swordsman at all. 'I'll try my best again to stand by you and my brother.'
A normal day at the Butterfly Estate. A perfectly normal day with clear skies and a calming breeze.
"PLEASE I CAN'T TAKE THAT GROSS MEDICINE AGAIN!" Yep. A perfectly normal day.
A beautiful display in the middle of the day, and a lovely rhyme for that specific time. Zenitsu was struggling to resist having to ingest that awful tasting stuff they tried to tell him was supposed to help him heal properly… their lies wouldn't help him stomach the stuff no matter what they said.
Jikon was pinning the Thunder breather onto the ground and aggressively making sure that his friend would swallow this awful smelling mixture. "Zenitsu! Just! Take! The! Medicine!"
"NOOO! IT'S TOO DISGUST- AGGBL-!" In the wake of yelling he left his mouth wide open and Jikon took full advantage of that to pour the medicine down his throat. He stood up and watched his friend hold his throat like he was choking to death.
"There! It wasn't so bad!"
"IT'S SO AWFULLL!"
"Shut up! I'm training!" Ami yelled at the two idiots on the deck from the garden where she was practicing her sword swings. Somehow she recovered enough to practice while Tanjiro and Inosuke were in their reconditioning training yesterday. They started it just a few days ago when Shinobu came into the recovery ward.
"Oh my, it looks like you two are having fun!" Speak of the devil and he shall come- er- She shall come. Jikon looked over while Zenitsu sputtered and hacked, trying to clear the taste of that medicine out of his mouth… it wasn't working very well since it was still layered all over his tongue. "And you got Zenitsu to take his medicine? Well done!" Her smile infected Zenitsu without even trying but Jikon… Jikon could see the truth without even trying now. The young Hashira walked inside and Jikon went with his gut instincts and followed her.
"Miss Kocho, wait a second." He stopped her right when she opened a door that had some- Oh right that was the door to the basement where she was keeping Yuka. "I wanted to speak to you."
That was out of nowhere. "Oh? About what? I enjoy our talks, Hakuga." Small conversations about average everyday things in their lives, but they never actually had any conversation about personal matters or their real interests. Shinobu Kocho was easily the most beautiful woman that Jikon ever laid his eyes on and he wanted to be around her as much as possible, but he never actually had meaningful conversations with a girl that wasn't his age but two years older than he was! "I've nearly finished helping Yuka! I'd have preferred to get it all done in one go but I had to break it into sessions as you've all heard." There it was again, that fake smile and that fake happiness. Why was she pretending?
"Is it helping you?" That definitely took the smile off her face. "Is hurting her actually making you feel better?"
For a moment Shinobu blinked owlishly but her, very fake, smile went back onto her face. "This isn't for me to feel any better, Hakuga. I'm doing this so that Yuka can atone for what she's done!" Even if he hadn't learned how to read the difference in a real smile in the last few days from how often he saw her, his nose definitely wasn't wrong when it came to smelling emotions this close to someone.
"You're not happy."
"Come again?"
He added more onto that observation. "You smell like you're angry, but… but whenever you're down there you don't smell mad. You smell like you're just not happy, like what you're doing isn't helping anyone feel better. And your smiles are fake. Miss Kocho, why do you feel this way?" Not a damn thing he just said was untrue, and Shinobu knew that. There wasn't any reason to actually indulge his curiosity about her personal issues… yet, he did seem like he genuinely cared about what her issues were. Okay maybe she could tell him some things… that little smile of his was dangerous.
"I'll admit that having Yuka atone isn't as satisfying as I thought it would be. At first I thought it would be nice to have… one of them feel some of the pain that we humans feel but- but it's empty, like a bittersweet feeling at it's best. At the worst I feel just like a demon myself, eighty hours of this and I'm not even at sixty."
So that's why she didn't smell like anything was being solved internally, it wasn't actually making her feel better. "Why are you doing that stuff to her? Rui said it was because you're friends but-"
"It's so we can become friends."
"You don't do that to all your friends do you? I don't heal like a demon."
She stood there for a second in silence… then started to snicker. "I'm- That's- You- Hm, heh ha- Get ahold of yourself Shinobu." That last part was to herself to get out of the giggling fit but Jikon heard it all the same. "My sister- One moment. My older sister was always so happy, she almost always had a smile on her face. She believed that it was possible for humans and demons to get along someday, but-" Of course there was a but to this story.
"Something happened to her." The smell of anger started leaking from her pores like water through a broken roof.
The sound of Shinobu's fists clenching hard enough to pop knuckles rang through the silent hallway. "She was killed by a demon… one with blood stained hair. I try to be like her and keep that smile but… but I'm angry because she believed in her dream and she died before it could happen! I want what she wanted! I want peace for humankind against demons!" With the veins on her face Jikon would've thought she was a demon, but this was an entire human in front of him. A human that was rightfully angry over an injustice that happened to someone they cared about.
"I uh, I understand that. Me and Koujo started out wanting to help Tanjiro find a way to cure Nezuko from being a demon but now... Well I still want to help him, yeah, but now it's more for not letting anybody else die from mindless demon attacks." A memory of what started their journey to have come this far. "I knew demons were real but when I first encountered one- A Slayer named Kai, he died for me and Koujo but we couldn't even beat him. Tomioka had to save us." Shinobu understood that feeling that he conveyed to her just then. That feeling of being inadequate, not being enough to do anything good, feeling like no matter what you did it wasn't enough to actually help. "And when Koujo turned into a demon, that's when I wanted to help kill the pale freak that did it! Okay I haven't actually seen him myself but he calls him that. I will help stop the violence between humans and demons, and killing Kibutsuji is our best bet."
"A very bold statement to make but actually going about that will be harder than you think. You were barely able to deal with a demon on Natagumo that wasn't Kizuki level, although according to what Tomioka says about you you seem to make sudden growth in a dire situation. Maybe you'll be the next Water Hashira! Of course bringing peace to humans from demons is a goal that doesn't seem very possible."
There was something that she didn't count on though, something that was unimaginable and unexpected. "You've seen it already, before your sister lived to see it but you got to. First Nezuko was a demon that didn't hurt people."
"Wasn't that because of Urokodaki's influence?"
"Then Koujo got turned into a Demon, and nobody had to make him not want to eat people. He even helped one of the demons who came to kill us and broke Kibutsuji's curse, and he helped Rui come to our side. And there's Yuka, and we met-" He started coughing violently to recover from almost giving away some information that probably needed to stay under wraps. "Excuse me, but there's demons that are finding ways to live with us."
Well she had to admit that it was pretty useful having the Lower Moon around the estate… although convincing him to wear a similar outfit to the three girls was trouble that they had to ask Shinobu to help with... and it was hilarious to see him in those shorts and that shirt despite being one of the strongest things to currently exist. But remembering how Koujo was willing to get in Shinazugawa's way just to protect his brother and Tanjiro did prove that there were actually some demons who cared about humans, even if just a few it was a start.
"I suppose that's true, and that means that Kanae's dream could come true. But let's not forget that there are still demons who exist that will kill and eat humans without hesitation."
Jikon grinned and put his hands on his hips to proudly proclaim his next statement. "Those are the demons that we kill proudly. I'll make sure that your sister's dream comes true, every demon that hunts people will be destroyed. You can count on me, Miss Kocho." His charismatic aura bled out, and like a radiant flame it spread to Shinobu to infect her with his positive mood.
"Hm hm! Alright Jikon, I suppose I'll count on you to make that dream come true." Now Jikon stopped smiling and stared at Shinobu happily, why you ask? Because Shinobu smiled at him. She smiled and it reached her eyes from cheek to cheek… and that made him lose some of his mental faculties for a bit. There was also the small detail of her not calling him by first name until just now. "You can call me Shinobu if you'd like, so long as no other Hashira are around." Yep his brain shut off. "Jikon?" The typical action of waving a hand in front of his blank eyes to get his attention… it worked enough to snap him back into the real world.
'What? Oh. Great! Now I look stupid!' Focus. He had to focus. He needed to focus to keep the conversation going. He couldn't focus on anything other than the beautiful woman still smiling at him.
"Well if that's everything then I'll have to go unrestrain Yuka, goodbye now."
He had to say something to restart the conversation now! 'Think Jikon! Think!' What was something that would start another conversation?! Or at least give him something to work with next time they spoke?! Something interesting that she'd either know about or he could teach her about! Wait! His dad took him closer to a city and showed him something, it was something he didn't understand but maybe someone as smart as Shinobu would. "Shinobu!" Now she turned back to look at him with curiosity, and concern over why he said her name so loudly.
His next line would be the start of something he didn't anticipate… and he'd hate it for the rest of his life. "Ya like jazz?"
…
…
…
…
…
"I don't believe I've ever heard of that." Well he didn't look completely brain dead so now was his chance to follow that with something substantial.
With a casual scratching of the back of his head he furthered his explanation. "It's a really new type of music from the west, my dad showed me it. Maybe if I can find a record you could listen?" His nervous smile beamed like the sun and damn it that made her feel better about things she didn't even know she had to feel better about.
"That does sound nice. I'll accept that offer, but for now I have to let Yuka out of that room." That was accepting the offer… She actually said yes to that? You know what, he'll take it. "For now can you go make sure that Zenitsu isn't causing any trouble?"
"Ami wouldn't let him do anything stupid…" He paused and turned to head back outside. "I'll go check on them."
Balance herself. Focus and breathe no matter how sore you feel. 'Kedamono no kokyu…' (Beast Breathing). Ami's muscles swelled with blood and made her already large frame look even more intimidating. 'Practice my swings and get even stronger!' They were very hesitant to let her get her sword back to train but since she only needed some bed rest she was allowed to practice outside and in view of someone else… unfortunately it just had to be Zenitsu today.
"You can do it Ami~" His dopey face kept distracting her from her motions but nobody was gonna stop her from practicing. If Inosuke was doing that rehabilitation then she'd be doing her own practice to close that gap between her and- "Jikon? What are you doing back out here?"
"I had to make sure Ami doesn't get hurt… or that you do something stupid."
"Whaah?!"
Ami didn't even turn her head to pay them any mind. 'Ichi no kata.' Solid muscle rippled under her skin and she flipped over in a surprisingly elegant show of flexibility. 'Kujiku!' (Smash). Slamming her sword into the ground with enough force to ruin some of the grass under her- The actual ground was even worse off with how it cracked beneath her attack. "That'd kill a demon no problem… but I need to be able to kill a Kizuki!"
Last night she actually convinced the strong bug lady to let her have Rui practice with her but that's where she learned how weak she really was. The lesson learned was that Rui's threads are weaker than his bare skin somehow, and even with all the strength her still recovering body had she couldn't manage to cut one of his blood-red webs. Even a normal white one took everything she had in her… and that already made the annoying girl with the white apron try to make her stay in all day today.
In her reminiscing over her failure she forgot that there were two other people messing around twenty feet away from her. "AHH!"
"Zenitsu! Why are you yell-" In the second it took her to face the two idiots she went from aggravated to aghast.
Rui just stepped outside with a black parasol in his right hand. The blue butterflies decorating the oil-paper of the parasol clearly showed who owned it. "Watch your step." His butterfly attendant outfit was still surprising but it wasn't the full on shock and awe that made the girl freeze. "Be careful. In your state… any sunlight is bad." The ex-Lower Moon was guiding a heavily bandaged demon with his left hand, carefully holding her blood soaked and bandaged hand in his own.
"R- Ru- R- Rui?" Zenitsu was right behind Jikon for cover.
The Spider demon glanced over to the cowering Slayer then quickly looked behind himself into the building. "Lady Kocho… they're out here…" And now Shinobu walked out with that same smile Ami always saw on her face… actually it looked a little different now, weird.
The Insect Hashira waved at- She waved at Ami? Why the hell would she- "Hello Gyomei!"
A rustling of prayer beads combined with heavy footfall. "Hello Shinobu." Ami jumped when she heard the appearance of another Hashira behind her. "I was taking a calming midday walk when I noticed this young lady practicing her breathing technique. Such devotion even when injured is commendable." The soft rustling of those prayer beads accompanied by tears running from his eyes. "Your movements resemble those of a Breath of Wind user, yet I can tell they aren't suited for you."
Jikon quickly realized the most important part of that entire statement. 'Wait a second, how did he notice anything? He's blind!' Even when he's recovering he asks the right questions. Of course he kept that question in his mind so he wouldn't disrespect the Stone Hashira in any way.
"They don't? I dunno about that. I think I'm pretty good with Beast Breathing. I got the basics with a sword down as a kid but I picked up breathing fast."
Gyomei stopped crying and his blank eyes looked contemplative. "Yes. And I can tell that you would be able to adjust your technique with proper help." There was an addendum to that wasn't there? Just had to be. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to teach you the Breath of Stone."
Shinobu exclaimed a simple, "Oh!" When her associate made that offer. Zenitsu looked surprised at all of this.
'Wait… he just offered to train her? Does that mean Ami'll be a Hashira?' The yellow haired Slayer contemplated what such an offer could mean and he was coming up short by all means. From what he rarely saw of the girl learning under Shinobu, Kanao, only the best got to train under a Hashira. 'Does that mean he can see something in her that we- Wait a second Zenitsu! He's blind! How does he know that she can learn another-!'
"Zenitsu, get off my brother!" He noticed that he started squeezing the air out of Jikon like a python does a rat, and Koujo just appeared out of nowhere with a boy with yellow hair and red highlights in tow.
"AUAAH! SORRY!" He jumped away from Jikon, and to his own delight the demons standing in the garden. The brown haired Water Breather gulped in air like a fish out of water, not even uttering a thanks with how much he took in.
Ami looked up at the mountain of a man and remembered what it was like to feel small compared to someone else again. This guy wanted to teach her another Breath style and she didn't see any reason to actually say no. Maybe he could just tell that she was a cut above the rest, bears are the best around. "I'll learn under you. I'll go get my stuff." She ran into the estate through another door away from the group, presumably to pack some things, and was gone without a second thought.
Gyomei smiled to himself and rolled his beads. "Such enthusiasm among the newer generation, I'm grateful that she is so eager to learn. Namu Amida Butsu." With that the gentle giant took a few steps away towards the walkway he entered the plot through and waited patiently.
Shinobu walked into the sunlight and stepped up to the demon pair. "Well Yuka I'm glad that we're finally friends now! I do want you to know that I'm sorry about what I had to do, but I'll do my best to make it up to you!" That was a very one sided conversation on account of the minor issue of Yuka not being able to talk right now, why was that? Because she didn't have a tongue. "Also the wisteria poison should wear off by tomorrow afternoon, so be careful until then!" The Insect Hashira approached Gyomei while the two demons digested that information.
Rui held her hand just a little bit firmer and she slightly tilted her head towards him. "I'm sorry… for everything I did… Not sure how but… I'll make it all up." Baby steps with this genuine bond thing but he definitely was trying. He noted that she actually gave the slightest squeeze back to respond to his apology.
"Gyomei, if you're going to be training Ami then I have a few things to say." He nodded to her, paying full attention to whatever she needed to let him know. "For one she hasn't entirely recovered from her injuries so please don't rush into things."
"Of course."
She held a finger by her chin and made sure the next part stuck. "Most importantly, if she shows any signs of her injuries flaring then I'd like you to get her back here as quickly as you can." Her superior medical knowledge meant that this suggestion was an actual command. A patient can't exactly get treated if they weren't taken to a doctor.
"I understand. I'll remember to keep this all in mind." Well their conversation finished at the right time since Ami came outside with her normal outfit and bear pelt covering part of her face. She had a bag of unknown things and her sword in her free hand, trying to put it in its sheath. Most importantly she was grinning and ready for this training. "I take it that you're prepared?"
"Yes sir!" She raised her fist high and proud to show her excitement and the Stone Hashira smiled.
"Alright. Please follow me." He started walking the trail and Ami followed right behind him, and Shinobu waved them off.
"Have fun!" For a second she grimaced when the thought of that poor girl training with the strongest Hashira entered her mind but it was out of her thoughts that very same instant.
Jikon looked his brother up and down with much more care now that he wasn't dying from a lack of oxygen and he saw the outfit first. "Where'd your sleeves go?" Koujo's new Demon Slayer outfit came in but now it was sleeveless.
"Well I wanted to show off these marks. Doesn't make sense to have them and not let people see them." That was a good point but then Jikon saw his eyes.
"Why are the whites of your eyes- Uh- White again?"
This one took some guesswork but Senjuro actually answered that with what he knew. "Big brother said that when he's relaxed his eyes are normal. Once he starts fighting they turn that way." Jikon looked at the boy and pieced together the parts of that puzzle quick.
"This is Senjuro? You look like a polite young man, keep that up." He smiled at the compliment and that introduction of something so pure reminded Koujo of why he wanted to bring- "Is that your new sword?!"
Oh yeah he did have that on his hip. "Mhm. Haganezuka wasn't okay with me giving the old one away but he made this one even better."
Jikon admired the design of the sheath and before long his gaze landed on the guard. "Doesn't look like any normal flower, it's pretty elegant."
Wait, elegant? RIGHT! What he came here for. "Miss Shinobu!"
Zenitsu jumped again and looked at the Demon with anger on his face. "Why are you yelling when she's right there?! Didn't your parents teach you not to yell for a girl's attention?!" Right. Keep Senjuro away from Zenitsu's bad habits.
"Yes? Oh you've brought Rengoku's brother." Huh, her smile looked real. Well her emotions aren't his business so no point in asking.
"I wanted to know if you know any Breathing Style that's gentle, or graceful in some way." He ruffled his cousin's hair and idly held the hilt of his sword. "I don't know if Insect Breathing would work but it's the only one I thought of."
A quick tapping of her chin and she came to a quick conclusion. "I don't believe I'd call any style more graceful than another. I'm sorry but nothing comes to mind." Only Jikon could see through that lie, but there was another who had something else to say.
"The Tsugoku. Kanao." They all looked at Rui and he looked back. "I helped her practice the day before yesterday… Her movements were elegant, and beautiful flowers were with her swings."
A tick mark made its way onto Shinobu's face. "Oh right! The Breath of the Flower, a branch of Water Breathing. It's quite elegant and focuses on agile motions, but I'm not sure that young Senjuro would want to learn such a thing."
'Well she smells angry again, and it's got something to do with- Oh-' Never let it be said that Jikon was stupid. He had a pretty sharp mind and could think fast, his timely questions were testament to this. So when he realized exactly what was making Shinobu so angry he couldn't help but understand why. 'Flower Breathing had to have been her sister's. She doesn't want that sacred technique going to just anyone.'
Senjuro didn't waver from that doubtful expectation. "Actually, uhm, that sounds great. When Big Brother tried to teach me it was too aggressive, but Flower style sounds much more calm."
Zenitsu focused his ears and heard the footsteps of a haggard Tanjiro and Inosuke making their way back to the ward they sleep in, meaning their rehabilitation was finally over and done for the day. 'And I have to join them next week! I'm not ready!'
"Well if you truly are so interested then I suppose I'll have Kanao teach you everything she knows. Although I have to warn you that she's a bit hard to understand at times, I hope that won't be a problem." Shinobu's twitching eye betrayed her real feelings on the matter but her words were true to what she said, Senjuro could try and learn Flower Breathing. "Come with me and we can find her, she should be in the dojo room."
Jikon patted his upper body and removed a slip of paper from his medical wear. "This is from Master Urokodaki, he's a little upset with you."
"What why?" He took the missive and opened it up to start scanning.
Zenitsu looked around and realized that now it was just him, Jikon, and some demons… Well it was about time to hit that old dusty trail anyways. "I'm going back to the ward now. I'll see you up there Jikon."
"I'll be up there soon enough Zenitsu."
Koujo, I hope this letter finds you well. I received your message about becoming a demon and the circumstances surrounding it, firstly I must say that your rash behavior and lack of restraint are fully to blame!
'Ouch old man.' He kept reading despite the stab to his heart.
Being a freshly inducted member of the Demon Slayer Corps I'd assumed you'd have the common sense to not attempt a direct attack on Kibutsuji, but here I stand corrected by your lack of retaining my lessons! However, some fault lies with my inability to fully ingrain that concept into you. For that I am sorry.
Damn. Apologizing even though he wasn't the one who messed up? 'Old man… Thank you.'
Now you are fully aware of the normal rules of what a cultivator must do if a student they teach becomes a demon, however due to your intent I am allowed an exemption from this tradition. You've still slain demons and intend to slay more, for that I couldn't slit my own stomach. If I did then I would only be punishing myself for teaching you well.
"Are you sure he was mad at me?"
Jikon stood up and stretched his nearly recovered body. "I didn't read the whole thing."
Please continue on your current path and continue to fight the demons that threaten humanity with their presence. Do that and make me proud. But please have some restraint on your journeys, I don't enjoy the idea of a student of mine perishing.
His right hand drifted to the fox mask on his hip and he ran a thumb across the smooth material. "Well it's settled, I can't die. For Old man Urokodaki's sake." Now he took the mask and flipped it into the air only to catch it without even trying.
Jikon laughed at his sibling's way of showing resolve but understood the idea behind it. "Well I have to get back to recovering so-"
A piercing cry of a hawk and they both looked to the air. Noka came down and landed on the deck alongside them. "A new mission! An urgent mission for Koujo Itadake. Towards the West, people have recently been vanishing from a town near a shrine. Likely demon related. You're to investigate right away. Hurry!" It's been a while since he saw him but Noka's voice was reassuring. Some things don't change it seems.
"A mission… you have to go?" Rui didn't look like he knew exactly how to feel but he clearly had some feelings on the matter. Yuka gave his hand a light squeeze and he made sure to hold the parasol over her more than himself. "Right. We'll be fine. We aren't under… his curse anymore."
"Hopefully whatever Lady Shinobu did to her heals soon. It was scary when she asked me to break the curse on a demon that was tied to a table like that." Reminding himself how Yuka started off some days ago creeped him out even now, but there was no time to have the heebie jeebies because he had a mission.
Jikon stopped his brother and looked him dead in the eyes, they stared at one another and conveyed a silent message. They didn't have to say anything to each other. It was clear as glass for the both of them… although it was strange to view from the outside looking in.
The younger half brother nodded and went into the building without another word towards his sibling. Yuka gave a slightly more firm squeeze of her caretaker's hand and he looked at her. "You've had enough of outside?" A follow up squeeze with less of the already minuscule force in it. That wisteria was really dampening her physical strength, and it slowed her regeneration to a crawl at best. Forgetting what it's like to be mortal is one thing for a demon but getting tossed back into that understanding isn't something Yuka would forget. Especially when she understood just a slight feeling of what she's done to people. "Then we can go back in." He carefully lead her like a mother duck would her ducklings and after some off balance steps they were passing Koujo on the deck. "Good luck…"
Noka flew up and landed on the forearm of his master to preen some of his wing feathers. Koujo looked to the West with a small smirk present on his face. "Well master Koujo, are you prepared for this mission? Shall we depart now?"
It's been some time since he got to go on a mission but his mind finally realized that this would be his first official undertaking as an official- As THE official Demon Demon Slayer, the only Demon Slayer that was a Demon currently. "It's a little after noon right? Let's eat something first and then we head out. I'm ready for whatever demon I have to deal with."
"We don't have confirmation that there is a demon, just that it could be demon related." Noka clarified.
"Whatever it is, I'll make sure it's dealt with. First let's eat, I'm starving." Maybe rice and salmon? Or udon with pork cutlets. Ramen is a tried and true option as well. So many choices but time was of the essence. "I say we get some udon, come on Noka." His hawk flew off and lead the way to their first stop. Their next stop?
Kyoto Prefecture
Alright! I'm learning Stone Style!
Stone breathing Ami, and don't go too hard on that. You're the only one that can help Zenitsu take his medicine other than me.
DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT GROSS STUFF
Zenitsu! Geez! I don't wanna go deaf right before my mission.
Be careful. I want to show you my progress with Miss Kanao.